[antimedia] antimedia: Why America abandoned God....

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Posted by antimedia:
Why America abandoned God....
http://www.antimedia.us/posts/1182490762.shtml


   ....This second article is a follow-up to [1]What's wrong with
   America? in which I discussed the events that led America to today's
   confusing climate.
   In this article I will discuss the cause of America's loss of faith.
   I begin with a story.
   Throughout my life, with brief interludes of insanity, I have placed
   my trust in God. I expect him to keep me and my family safe from harm,
   to guide me in my decision making, to alert me to danger, to help me
   to prosper. I expect this because that is what God has promised to do
   and because God has performed in the past precisely as He has promised
   that he would. I fully expect him to continue that way in the future.
   I have no illusions about who I am. I'm full of myself, proud of my
   intelligence, convinced that I'm right (most of the time) and fiercely
   proud of my ability to survive on my own and owe no man anything. That
   makes me, of all men, the most difficult for God to work with. I am
   far too easily convinced that my triumphs are all of my own doing,
   despite the obvious hand of God in the background. The famous poem
   [2]Footprints In The Sand is an apt description of me.
   For me to continue to trust in God, I must constantly and continuously
   remind myself who is the guide and who is the follower, who the
   shepherd and who the sheep. Those reminders have become less necessary
   as I have grown in faith.
   Sometimes, God reminds me. Such was the case on our recent vacation.
   We were stuck in traffic, barely inching forward, when I saw something
   moving fast in my rear view mirror. One thought entered my mind --
   "Move! Now!"

   ([3]show)

   I moved as far to the left as I could (we were in the passing lane),
   and just as I finished moving, a Ford F350 dually pulling a flatbed
   trailer sailed past us, the driver clearly trying to steer between the
   two lanes of traffic to avoid killing anyone. He sideswiped the semi
   to the right of us, the pickup truck ahead of the semi and the Lincoln
   Navigator directly in front of us. I suspect the Navigator had at
   least $10,000 worth of damage. The dually was probably totaled.
   He didn't hit us. He left four small scratches, barely discernible, on
   our right side door, a chilling reminder of how close we had come to
   death. Or a heartwarming testimony to God's loving watchfulness. It
   all depends on your point of view, doesn't it.
   Was I just lucky? Did I just happen to look in the rear view mirror at
   exactly the right moment in time? Was I such an excellent driver that
   I was watching for just this sort of incident, anticipated the
   inevitable and moved out of the way in the nick of time? (Yes, I
   actually thought that -- for a moment. I was feeling pretty proud of
   myself.)
   No. God was watching out for us, and when I needed him most, when my
   life depended upon Him, he came through. He compelled me to look in
   the mirror, instantly recognize the danger and decide to move -- in
   the right direction! -- to avoid being injured -- both physically and
   financially.
   I could tell you, literally, hundreds of similar stories from my life.
   God has been a constant companion and comfort and has helped me in so
   many ways that I can't describe them all.
   Now I don't really care if you believe this story or if you think I'm
   deluded or even insane. I don't care if you think it was simply my
   mind or a "sixth sense" or human nature. None of that matters. The
   thing you need to understand is that I believe God guides my life, and
   I act accordingly.
   You may never have thought of this, but your entire life unfolds the
   way that it does because of what you believe as well. If you believe
   it's unsafe to travel to a certain area, you may not, voluntarily,
   travel there. If you have to go there, you will be extremely cautious
   and acutely aware of your surroundings, concerned that the outcome
   might be negative.
   If, on the other hand, you believe that an area is very safe, you will
   also act accordingly there. You will be relaxed, less aware of your
   surroundings, expectant of a good outcome.
   All of life is like this. Everything you do, every decision you make,
   every action you take, is based upon your beliefs. You will associate
   with people who have similar beliefs. You will vote for people who
   espouse similar beliefs. You act out your beliefs every day.
   In fact you can tell what a man believes by how he acts and with whom
   he associates. You might consider that when thinking of your own life
   and actions. The Bible says that "faith without works is dead",
   meaning that claimed beliefs without corresponding actions are empty.
   Conversely, actions are a clear indicator of one's true beliefs.
   When people begin to believe that the answer to their problems lie in
   government, they soon cease to look elsewhere. Government seems so
   much larger than a man, so much more capable of dealing with large
   problems. Is there a danger in flying? Pass a law that makes flying
   safe. Should everyone be able to see a doctor when needed? Institute
   universal healthcare. Are gasoline engines polluting? Write a
   regulation that requires greater fuel mileage and lower emissions.
   After all, man is capable of anything. [4]"Steve Austin: astronaut. A
   man barely alive. We can rebuild him. We have the technology. We can
   make him better than he was. Better...stronger...faster."
   No problem is too big to solve; no mountain too tall to climb. It's
   deceptive because you can see things happening, work being done,
   changes being made. Much of America has grown to believe this. Science
   can do anything. Technology can solve any problem. Government can
   bring peace and prosperity.
   It all seems so real until the illusion collapses in on itself. For
   the truth is, faith in government is a fool's errand. Man is, if
   anything, imperfect. The more power that government gains, the more
   man's imperfections cause government to fail, cannibalized by pride
   and ambition and avarice and craven cowardice until the only thing
   left is slavery to the state -- rule by despots and thieves, those
   willing to sell their souls for power and privilege and crush anyone
   who opposes them.
   Isn't that what we have now? Politicians grasping for more and more
   power, seeking to cut off debate, passing laws they don't obey that
   steal our freedom more and more?
   The nation is in turmoil because the people sense something is wrong.
   America was seduced by her own success, tricked into thinking it was
   her that was all powerful, her that could do all things, her for whom
   all things were possible.
   All is not lost, however. In my next installment I will talk about
   what America needs to do to return to the "glory years".
   ([5]hide)

References

   1. http://www.antimedia.us/posts/1182394398.shtml
   2. http://www.markhargrave.com/index_012.htm
   3. file://localhost/var/www/powerblogs/antimedia/posts/1182490762.html
   4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Six_Million_Dollar_Man
   5. file://localhost/var/www/powerblogs/antimedia/posts/1182490762.html