There have been so many people these days saying so many things. It's almost like we have information overload. Everybody has an opinion, and we're surrounded with *experts* telling us we have no choice but to be tolerant, telling us how to raise our children, how to vote, how to drive, what to drive, what we're allowed to believe, what we're not allowed to believe, and how to live. We're at the point where even breathing causes some disease or another!

       Not too long ago, you could trust the news you watched to be accurate, and not judgmental. You could trust doctors to give good advice and listen to your concerns without judging the type of parent you are. You could trust teachers to teach, and inspire to learn. You could trust religious leaders to study hard, and give you good, solid information that you could understand and rely on to make your faith stronger, and you could trust their counsel. And you could trust most of our country's leaders to lead with conviction, honor, and dignity, with only concern for the people for which they served.

        What's happened? What's happened to our country? The world has always had it's problems, and our country is not perfect. But what's happened to the country which I have always known and loved?  It saddens me to now live in a country where SO many of the people to whom we looked up to while growing up, and who cared so much about the people they selflessly served, now, instead of holding the respect and honor they earned and deserved, instead hold HUGE selfish agendas in its' place.

       These people in important positions of service to God and to others, are now instead serving only themselves, making themselves their own god-like figures. They are the examples that our children are watching, who instead of being able to point to as a good example, we now must point to instead as a sad, selfish example of one we would never want to emulate. We see them, and instead of smiling, we become deeply sad with pity at the state if their soul. Instead of offering prayers of gratitude for the people and example they are to us, we now pray fervently for the state of their soul instead.

         Today, it's OUR responsibility, and takes countless hours for us to delve into the information overload to research the truth, because the truth is so skewed by selfish opinion, judgment, and by not so hidden agendas that trample it constantly. It takes much effort, and causes us to become weary and faint of heart sometimes. Instead of trusting doctors, we have to research for the truth about our own medical situation. Instead of trusting those that are supposed to deliver the news, we have to research many resources to try to find a balanced truth in every story. Instead of trusting teachers, we have to research the facts which have been replaced and hijacked by one's opinion instead. And sadly, sometimes, instead of trusting preachers, we often have to research many resources to find the truth of what God truly teaches us.

        Not long ago, what people SAID mattered. Selfless action, along with trustworthy words made up someone we could look up to and aspire to be. Today, those persons in places of important positions of serving others are becoming an extinct species.  What we say DOES matter! What we say has an incredible impact on society, on our country, and on the world. God will ask not only for an accounting of our actions, but also an accounting of our words.  I want what I say to have meaning. I want others to be able to listen to what I say and trust it.  Because it's ONLY then that God is able to speak through us...................................