I am compelled to write about this subject.   Guy BollingerGuy Bollinger My patriotism to our country is not necessarily because I personally lost someone I love in combat, though I am sensitive and very honoring of those precious families of each who have defended us and lost their lives.  I don't even have many close family members who have served in the armed forces, with the exception of my father-in-law, who did not speak often of the subject.  He was in the air force and flew somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 missions in a bomber in WWII.  I know very little about these planes or exactly what his role was.  I do know it was a dangerous job and though he made it through the war, many of his comrades did not.  

My own father was never drafted.  He was more than willing to serve, but one of the "in-between" generation fortunate enough to not be called on.  My husband has not served, but his brother was in Vietnam and I am sure saw his share of heartache and sadness during his time there.  I have many friends who have fought and a few acquaintances or distant relatives who I vaguely remember even paid the ultimate price.  However, I have little experiences of hearing war stories or missing a loved one who was there to truly grasp or imagine its reality.

Yet, there is a very real heart swell within me about the love of our country.  Same call that patriotism.  I'm not even sure that is what it is.  Though I love my country and have been forever grateful for its freedoms, I am saddened about the compromises of its leadership and people, particularly in the more recent years.  It has broken my heart to see an "every man for himself" mentality and seemingly selfish motives and attitudes being modeled and taught to our children.  Many have forgotten, or never learned the reasons this nation came to enjoy the blessings it has.  Our history is not only fading in the minds of a new generation, but much is being left out of our educational systems and lives in general as it relates to morality and righteous standards upon which many of our forefathers came to establish and respect.

Many would disagree that Christianity was one of the foremost reasons for pioneers to venture to this "new" land they would call America.  I am sure there were other reasons, including exploration, curiosity, hopes for wealth, fear of tyranny, greed and more.  Righteousness will always be accompanied with humanity and subject to temptation and sin!  But I cannot help but believe that many who packed up their families to travel into unknown and unchartered areas across an enormous ocean had to have some convictions that went far beyond pure human motives.  I believe God inspired many of those men and women to make that very difficult decision to seek freedoms that we have continued to enjoy for over three centuries.

I also believe they were called to those freedoms within the canopy of His standards of righteousness.  I do not believe He called them to evolve back into the kind of man-controlled system from which they exited, but rather to honor His precepts and abide in Him as their only God.  Many of those early settlers were loyal to that God.  And though varying denominations and church theologies shot up, the loyalty to Him seemed to continue - the God who sent His precious Son, Jesus to die and the God who left us the presence of His power, comfort and peace in the Holy Spirit.  Documents were signed, treaties drawn, worship was encouraged, the Bible was included as children were taught, and men and women had conviction and some level of understanding that it was God to whom praise was due, even in the shadow of hardship and death.  God's name would remain on the papers, convenants, and lips of these people and communities in general, even though sin would continue to varying levels.  

Basic Biblical truths have remained foundational in this country for many years, even with growing resistance.  There have been human issues, disagreements and sin - so much so that wars have been fought and many, many people died.  Yet somehow God's mercy has brought this country general blessings, forgiveness and favor in still many aspects.  

As darkness continues to roll across our land and compromise and sin abounds, nothing is new to God - except that perhaps it has come to unprecidented numbers.  Just as the human tendency without God is to spiral to self destruction as was in the days of ancient Israel when Moses brought the people out of bondage as instructed by his God, so it continues in our lifetime.  In the face of God and of those who have sought to stand for righteousness and defend that standard, I watch as godlessness abounds.

I do not know how "Thou shall not kill" works when it comes to war.  It puzzles me how war has been a part of even Biblical mandate.  I suppose it is because we do in fact live in a fallen world and there is a much bigger picture than we can see as to how God cleanses nations and sin.  But I do believe nations are called by God to resist evil, and likewise I would resist if it were my children being sought after by an enemy.  

So I pray for our soldiers.  I pray that we might remain a country favored by God.  I am afraid God's patience is running thin. His word tells us that judgement comes to nations who do not turn from wickedness.  I don't even pretend to know at what point God's hand is raised in that kind of declaration.  But I pray for this America that I live in.   I pray for people's hearts to turn and re-turn to the God who gave us all we have to this point.  I pray for radical decisions on the part of each individual as we are faced with the question today of choosing who we will serve.  I pray for our leaders who are making decisions that will affect every one of ours and our children's lives.  I pray for those and their families who have faithfully sought to please God by standing against evil, some to the point of losing their lives in battle for it's sake, and for those who even as I write, are putting their lives at risk defending us.  I too have sung this country's popular hymn, "God Bless America", but I must say today, "May America bless God".