As I sit here sipping my coffee, thank you Irishman for that, I ponder my freedom to do so, my freedom to sit and browse the internet, read Dear Abby and scan the funnies. I thank God everyday that I was born in a country where I am free to not only sip coffee, but work any job I want to, freedom to vote, freedom to drive, freedom to go shopping without a male escort. Freedom from persecution simply because I am a woman, a Christian woman to boot.
Although that last freedom, freedom of religion, the primary reason the Pilgrims came here (thank you pilgrims) seems to be fading. Well, let’s be honest, freedom to be a Christian, we are asked time and time again to water down our belief system, it is only a matter of time before it becomes a mandate and not a request.
I read recently that the Duck Dynasty family, during contract negotiations, was asked to lessen the talk of God and guns, the head of the family, Phil, reportedly looked at the executives and said no. Power packed two letters, he said if you want us to water down our Christianity and not talk guns then we don’t need to be on television. You see Phil and his family don’t need the money, they have enough, so it wasn’t an issue for them to walk away. A&E backed down, rather quickly from what I read in the news, and signed the crew up for another season.
I am thinking I really need to watch this show, we need more Phil’s in this world, people who stand up for what they believe in, people who don’t care if they are  famous. I admit, fame lures me, it teases me, I so would love to be on the radio every day. I have to warn you, I don’t water down my belief system either, God, family, career, that is the way it is supposed to be. If it is any other way, it doesn’t work, as we see with divorce rates, cheating spouses, killings. It is a sad world, it is a world that has forgotten who to put first, I am hopeful though. Hopeful that, we as a country, can not only recognize our freedom of religion roots, but go back to it. No one should have to water down what they think for fear of offending someone else. Yes, there are tactful ways of sharing ones faith without being belligerent, I don’t think that is the way to go either.
In this country, one that was founded by Christians, please don’t use the Thomas Jefferson reference, when one does my eyes glaze over, this is not a great example of a non christian, he fathered children with his slave and then kept them all slaves until he died. Yes, let’s tout him as a great non-christian founding father, seriously, brilliant man, questionable morales. Hmmmm, makes one think, doesn’t it.
I am Baptist, FreeWill Baptist, I am not provincial, nor backwater white trash, I am a simple woman from Owasso, Oklahoma, who loves Jesus, loves coffee, loves shoes and will not be watering down any of those loves.
Angie World 