The Vanity Vision

And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. - Ec 3:16

I am a self confessed news junkie. I read and watch a lot of news, more than I need. I'm not sure why it appeals to me, but I love getting news about something that has just happened and I love being able to look at life all around the world. Of course the downside of this is the risk of developing a Solomon like view of the world. "All is vanity." The world seems to be rushing headlong to its own destruction and won't even need to wait until the Lord comes back to destroy it.

Let me give you some examples of what I'm talking about. Please try not to slip in a Solomonic like state too soon.

Franklin Graham son of the famous evangelist says no one should share the gospel during the Olympics in Beijing. Link What?!? Who is directing Mr. Graham, God or the godless Chinese. "Vanity", says the preacher. Sorry about that just couldn't help it. Get a real call, Frankin!

In Britain, Muslims will out number Christians by 2035. Link This is no surprise since the British have turned their back on God since the 1960s. Here is another frightening look from the same paper. Link England didn't just lose their military supremacy after WWII they lost their way to God. Are we any better in the US today? Not by much.

Several stories this week illustrate the moral wasteland that is the US today, but any day of the week you can read 10 news stories and 6 of the ten will show a moral and spiritual breakdown in our nation today. There is a story about a girl who invited her gay friend to the Prom which is sad and wrong but just so everyone can have their face rubbed in the putrid amorality of this homosexual young man, he will wear a skimpy purple dress from the same girl's wardrobe. Link The local school said no but backed down after the local TV station called about the story. It seems dresses are appropriate on males and females

Also in the news was a High School which allowed simulated sex acts during a talent show dance in the school gym. No link since it is obscene to watch. Google it if you don't believe me. Related to this is a personal experience LeeOra and I had while on deputation. While stopping at a Motel 6 in Meridian, Ms. We we told by the management that it would be noisy because the high school prom was that night and a lot of the student were renting rooms for the night. This was said with a kind of "kids, what can you do" smile on the face of the manager. Wow, really you rent rooms for teenagers to have sex in after the prom? Really? I'm fifty and have lived under the shadow of a promiscuous society all my adult life but this left me shocked and frightened for all of us.

We must reestablish the upper hand of morality and simple right and wrong in our communities before we see the unavoidable precipice that England is now facing. The only way it can be done is from the heart outward. Laws are needed but changed lives are the only thing that can change a sin soaked society.

We need more churches to preach the gospel that affects that change. Help me plant a church and the gospel will be heard in Flagstaff. That is not vanity, it is hope. The only one any of us have.