" . . appealing to the Supreme Judge of the Universe for the rectitude of our intentions . . " – signers of the Declaration of Independence

IT'S BEER-THIRTY for some people – a half hour past bar time. Myself, I went to bed early last night but had my first cup of coffee at about 1:30 AM. Insomnia is a blessing. Let's you throw another log on the fire, have a midnight snack, and get a head start on the day's duties, plus going to the bathroom.

"In the U.S., Decline of Christianity Continues." – headline by Pew Research Center, 10-17-19

You like polls? Here's a poll for you: Only two-thirds of adults call themselves Christian (down 12 percentage points in 10 years), and 26 percent call them themselves Atheist, agnostic, or "nothing in particular" (up 11 points in a decade). I shudder to think what our publicly indoctrinated younger people think. No wonder I'm writing this at a quarter to three in the morning. I call it "working third shift." Like first responders have to do every night while the smarty pants sleep off an emotional hangover.

Speaking of hot pants, more than one Molotov wannabe have set themselves on fire trying to throw "cocktails" this year. A young woman out in the middle of the night in Madison stopped at a red light when out of nowhere four white bigots came and threw lighter fluid on her and set her on fire, she said. The Hood probably still believes that version of the story, but the authorities think she concocted it. Best guess is she was trying to light a hookah pipe or something. Accidents happen and it's not always "texting while driving." Anyway, I want to get to the point of this week's topic:

The Pew Research poll is quoted in BTmagazine.org, Sept-Oct by John LaBissoniere. A couple of choice quotes:

"In regard to this Great Book, I have this to say, it is the best giftt God has given to man. All the good the Savior gave to the world was communicated through this Book." – Abraham Lincoln

Inside the Bible's pages lie all the answers to all of the problems man has ever known. It is my firm belief that the enduring values presented in its pages have a great meaning for each of us and for our nation." – Ronald Reagan

Even FDR said similar words, but many in latter-day Generation Z have no concept of either a messiah or a Higher Power. End of story?

P.S. Isaiah said, "These are LYING children . . who say to the seers [see-ers] 'Do not preach to us . . get the Holy One of Israel out of our way'."

The first Christian martyr would have related. Talk about a tough audience! The listeners ran upon him with stones and killed him (Molotov cocktails hadn't been invented yet, though beheadings and burning at the stake had been). The Romans burned people slowly, nailed to a stake in the hot Mideastern sun. I guess it was more "fun" that way for the sadists and mockers who believed a lie. And some people still believe the lie about "HANDS UP, DON'T SHOOT" in Ferguson, Missouri.

"The truth of the matter is blacks have never been less oppressed than they are today." – Shelby Steele, civil rights veteran and author

Conclusion by Mr. LaBiss, as he is called: "We too [like Isaiah] hope and pray that people will respond positively to urgent admonitions. However, just as most people didn't listen to Jeremiah [et al], most will refuse to listen . . . "

BUT WE DON'T KNOW THAT FOR SURE YET, JONAH.[Submitted at 3:25 AM, as I finished my first pot of coffee for the day; someone said that anything you get up to write in the middle of the night won't have to be changed.]

PPS: "More than half of Americans have read little or none of the Bible . . Most Americans know first hand the overall story of the Bible – because they never pick it up on their own." – Lifeway Research, 4/25/17

If you are one of those nothing in particular, "whatever" believers, don't get caught running both ways like a squirrel in the "middle of the road."

How long go ye limping, America, between two opinions?