99 Balloons - Eliot's Story

This is one of the saddest, yet most amazing, videos I've ever seen.
What an amazing story --- of love, faith, hope and inspiration.
I hope it touches your heart and stirs your faith!

7 DEADLY SINS & WESTERN CULTURE

I just recently watched this documentary series on the History Channel about the 7 DEADLY SINS. It was creative, enjoyable, and entertaining.

It outlined the history of how the current list of the 7.D.S. came into being and how the list has evolved through the history of the Catholic Church and the last 2 millennium of Christianity. It was quite fascinating!

If you don't remember the list, here it is: (in no particular order)
1. PRIDE
2. WRATH/ANGER
3. ENVY
4. SLOTH
5. LUST
6. GLUTTONY
7. GREED

Anyway, as I was watching this series, I began to think of Western Culture. More specifically, American Culture. I have to be honest when I say that --- AT THIS POINT --- all signs point toward a moral decay in our society, which will, in turn, point to the eventual destruction of our society. This same decay has been seen historically, time and again, with other great cultures as well.

Please allow me to preface this by saying: I am a HUGE fan of the United States, and I love the glorious freedoms afforded to us by our great and matchless Constitution.

However, as Thomas Jefferson once wrote in Query XVIII of his Notes On The State Of Virginia: "God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever."

Obviously, I am not the first to ponder the fall of the United States from the Pedestal Of Grace on which it has sat these past 200+ years.

I just wonder: which of these 7 Deadlies will lead to our nation's ultimate demise? Will it be one individual sin? Or will it be a combination of many? If so, which will be the proverbial straw that breaks the camel's back? (does this sound like I'm too much of a Negative Nancy about our Nation???)

Please hear me: I pray that we may not have to endure the fires of judgment. I implore Almighty God that our Nation would turn from it's wickedness and seek the forgiveness and grace offered through Jesus Christ. With that said, I'm not sure that we can continue with at this same pace, with this same hell-bent attitude, without God stepping in and hitting the cultural reset button.

John Adams, our 2nd President, put it perfectly in a letter he wrote to Thomas Jefferson.
He wrote: "Have you ever found in history, one single example of a Nation thoroughly corrupted that was afterwards restored to virtue?... And without virtue, there can be no political liberty... Will you tell me how to prevent riches from becoming the effects of temperance and industry? Will you tell me how to prevent luxury from producing effeminacy, intoxication, extravagance, vice and folly?"

I would love to have you weigh in --- which of the 7 Deadly Sins will be most responsible for the demise of our Nation?