After quite a few “softer, introductory” posts about who I am, time to move to on to the harder stuff. As I worked this morning and listened to Christmas music (yes, totally out of season … but I love Christmas), I came across this song by Sixpence None the Richer (check this out). It occurs to me that with all the turmoil going on in the world today — people blown up or beheaded on almost a daily basis — we’re missing something.

Congress can’t get anything done. The free world is threatened, and more attention is paid to the rights of child rapists and terrorists than to freedom-loving citizens. There’s a total vacuum of leadership. Corporate leaders are more selfish than they’ve ever been. The family is falling apart as an institution. The education system is in the toilet, even though we’re spending more money on education than any country ever has in the history of civilization. Politicians are all on the take. The savings rate went negative this year. Our oil addiction is funding the terrorists, and nobody seems to care. Personal responsibility is a thing of the past, and it’s abdication is taking us closer and closer to a world government. Dependency — whether on government aid or on blaming someone else for my problems — is an epidemic. And most people care more about American Idol than anything else.

Where is the courage? Where is the leadership? Where is the faith? And as I listen to this song, I realize anew… We don’t understand power. God gave us the answer, and we’re pissing it away. We were given this country, these freedoms, this opportunity to be a city on a hill. But we aren’t anymore. We’re weak … because we lack the faith to trust in God. We lack the will to obey Him any more. And until we do, there’s no hope. And it has to start with me. I hope this song speaks to you as it did me.

Babe In The Straw (listen) Lyrics: Steve Hindalong / Music: Derri Daugherty Originally performed by Derri Daugherty, Riki Michelle, Steve Hindalong

Who is this child, asleep in a manger?
The heaven’s are bright, the stable’s so cold .
On this holy night, have you come to redeem us?
Little child in the straw …
Little child in the straw

Who is this babe? Prince of the universe.
A donkey is braying, angels are singing.
The prophets did say you would come to redeem the world.
Little babe in the straw …
Save us all

And if we lose sight of your sweet face,
At the birth of grace, at the birth of grace.
Light of truth, shine like Bethlehem’s star.
Lead us to where you are. Show us who you are.

Merciful One, Lover of every soul,
The Father’s own Son, Emmanuel.
Yes, we believe, you are able to heal us.
Noel, Noel, save us all…

save us tonight (repeat)

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