Lying has become a way of life in America. In fact, it is so common that we almost expect it.

I don't know if America can ever recover from our acceptance of lying. Honesty used to be a virtue. Today it is a weakness. The truthful are ridiculed. The dishonest are promoted.

Pretty much all the honest truth telling in the world is done by children. ~Oliver Wendell.

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Is anyone besides me tired of being so nice?

That is what they are trying to convince us to be you know....nice.

Funny, isn't it? You can search the Bible through and through and you will be hard-pressed to find that adjective in reference to Christianity. Somewhere along the line we have become convinced that the greatest thing they can ever say about you as a Christian is that you are a "nice" man.

Nice may fit a Bible study, or a vacation with your family, but it is not very useful in war. That is one of the difficult things I am having trouble teaching our Christian football players. Nice has no place on the football field. Character is important, courage is demanded, tenacity fits, but being nice..."pleasing; agreeable; delightful" is a sure-fire way to get the snot knocked out of you. (Is it okay to say snot? Probably doesn't sound very "nice" to some folks.)

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James 2:12-13 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

I have to tell you, I used to be a scoundrel. Actually, I guess I have a tendency to still be one, but I thank Jesus every day for His mercy.

It saved me, you know? Christ's mercy. The Apostle Paul claimed to be the chief of all sinners. I'd give him a good run for his money.

I was a beer drinking, carousing, gutter-mouthed church-goer. Until Jesus came into my life. He changed me. I can't explain it, but something deep inside of me changed the night I fell on my face and repented of my sins.

I jokingly tell folks that the Holy Spirit did for me what a phone booth did for Clark Kent; changed me into a brand-new creature. I have been in over-drive for the Lord ever since. Why?

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We are so blind. Sometimes I feel like I am the only one who can see.

I know that sounds prideful, sort of like I am a know-it-all, but that is not really what I mean. For the life of me I can't understand how Christians and our leadership have become so blind.

I often wonder if I am what many emailers accuse me of "full of hate", "close-minded", or my favorite, "bigoted". Like I said in an earlier commentary, I call them like I see them.

Suffice it to say that I don't see things better...but differently. I haven't figured it out whether it is a gift or a curse.

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