Take a Stand By Michele Lentz Its time to take a stand!

In the few minutes that we have together I want to highlight some contemporary challenges that we face as a nation; Problems that I hear people talking about on national and individual levels. Then I want to share some perspective on how others in history have dealt with the challenges of their day and what was at the core of their courage. It may help us with the present day problems we face. Do you feel anxiety about us? Is there an uncertainty regarding what the future holds with the conditions of our economy, the threat of terrorism, and conflicting messages in our pop culture? Everyday we hear about rising unemployment, bank bailouts and government spending on the back of our children and grandchildren. Every major nation on every continent has had to deal with attacks from radical Islamic terrorists, and a look at the news headlines on any given day reminds us that our culture is in trouble. The political rhetoric these days is intense, would you agree? Yet I invite you to consider that enduring solutions are not going to come from expedient politics and the rhetoric that wins the day, but from a return to the principles upon which our greatest American document, the US Constitution was founded. It is these principles of life and liberty with which we are endowed by our creator, for

which so many have fought, and for which we must fight again today if we are to overcome our current challenges. One of our founding fathers, John Adams said We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and true religion. Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. - John Adams How does this quote from John Adams apply to our present day circumstances? Before I give my perspective on that, lets look at how some in history faced the challenges of their day. Do you remember Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr? They took a stand for the dignity of all people. In the face of great opposition, at the risk of their own freedom and life, they fought against discrimination because it was immoral. And I ask you today are there still some who will continue the fight for these principles of life and liberty. Are these very freedoms in danger? Friends, if you dont stand for something you will fall for anything. DO you remember Sept 11? Do you remember the pride you felt at seeing the courage our fellow Americans showed at ground zero? Do you remember the outrage America felt at the site of our land and people being attacked? We will not tolerate an attack on our life and liberty from another country or group and we should not tolerate it from our own government in the form of laws

that weaken and undermine this document, for it is this very document that unites us as Americans. Our history is filled with the stories of men and women who believed in this constitution. These courageous people lost careers, wealth and even their lives because they took a stand for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Our founding fathers gave their life to this document. So is there an opportunity for us to reconfirm if not reawaken to our commitment to these principles; principles that formed the foundation of our US Constitution, a document written for an ethical people? Our fathers and grandfathers fought in wars to protect these freedoms. And I fear these freedoms are under assault not just from radicals in other countries, but from abuse in our own government. We tolerate each others politics and religion because it is this document that unites us. Underneath all our individual differences lie a moral foundation that we hold sacred- life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And so I invite you to take a stand. Never before in history has a nation declared that the rights of the people come from God and not the king. Make no mistake, there are forces that will fight against us and every generation will need to work to preserve these beliefs. Friends, are you willing to fight for this? Please read this document, know this document!

Then have the uncomfortable conversations and debate the ideas. Take a stand even if the cost is high. Hold our legislators accountable when they do not honor and give voice to these principles. Are you willing to fight for these ideals that unite us Americans? Are you willing to fight to preserve this Document? I sure hope so. It is for this day and these times in our society that we have been called. It is our moral duty. We can restore this country to the principles of our US Constitution, a moral document that affirms our rights are from God. So be courageous; what are we standing for? Or maybe the question isWhat are we falling for?