American Pride: Veteran shares special flag with Bearcat football

 (Note: This story appeared in the Sept. 23 edition of The Anderson News. I have copied here to share with a wider audience.)

“Is this the first time you've been to our little town?

...I don't like to brag but we're kinda proud of that Ragged Old Flag.”

--Johnny Cash

The flag the Anderson County football team rallies around is not yet ragged. It might never be tattered or threadbare.

But the same message it waved in the winds near one of the world's hot spots is the one the Bearcats want to shout every time they take the field for the battle of a football game.

The Anderson County Bearcats take the field with the American Flag.

It's all about patriotism. It is about the freedom to play a game. It's about the sacrifice and cohesion needed for success in something as little as a football game or in fighting for the freedom that flag represents.

Anderson County is a place where people like to wave the red, white and blue. Just sit along one of the main highways that mark the county and chances are it won't be long until you see the Stars and Stripes flying from the back end of a pickup.

It's just who Anderson County is.

Just as Kirby Alexander's flag being carried by one of the Bearcats for Friday Night Lights is now part of the fabric of the community.

Service was 'something to do'

An Army veteran, Kirby Alexander was just trying to become a part of his new community when he started attending high school football games six years ago.

He'd been a pretty good player at Montgomery County High School in the early 1970s, but joined the Army after graduation. He saw much of the world before leaving the service and eventually coming to Lawrenceburg.

“I just started going to the (Anderson County) football games,” Alexander says.

He became a regular, regardless of the location.

“I first met Kirby at Marion County,” remembers Steve Carmichael, who had two sons line up as quarterback and lead the Bearcats to district and regional championships. “I thought he was a bus driver, but he was at the game and we just started talking.

“I tell him I thought he looked like he was part of the Duck Dynasty crew.”

It was in 2008, not long after Kirby started calling Anderson County home.

Instead, Kirby became part of the field painting crew charged with getting Bearcats' home turf ready for Friday nights. “He was very dependable,” remembers Carmichael, who was also on the crew.

“I just enjoy it. It gives me something to do,” says Alexander, now 58 and retired.

Little did anyone know the guy who just showed up at games because he wanted to be a part of his new community would grow into a fixture.

Band of Brothers carry flag to battle

About the same time, Anderson football coach Mark Peach, an avowed history buff, had been reading Stephen Ambrose's classic, “Band of Brothers.” Fascinated with the incredible stories of Easy Company of the 101^st Airborne in World War II, Peach believed he could apply some of those lessons to the football field and teach his team about sacrifice and service in the real world at the same time.

The Anderson County team gathers under the flag before a game.

“The kids started talking about wanting something to carry into battle,” Alexander says. “I started thinking this flag might be the best thing they can carry. The players are very patriotic and want to thank the veterans for serving every day.”

“This flag” is not just any red, white and blue fabric, though.

Alexander, at one time a paratrooper, was assigned to the 2^nd Infantry Division at Camp Casey, South Korea, located near the Demilitarized Zone. The base is manned to deter aggression from North Korea and to provide defense, if necessary.

When he returned to the United States, Alexander brought a flag home with him.

That same flag which flew in sight of Kim Jong-il's Communist regime would teach some lasting lessons.

“I put the flag on a 10-foot pole and drove up there,” he says of a trip to the 2011 regional championship game at Conner High School. “Nobody knew what I was going to do. … I told Coach Peach and he said, 'Let's go ask the kids. I have no problem.'”

Not a good luck charm

It would be wrong to think that the Anderson football team sees the flag as a good luck charm. Nor is the Band of Brothers military theme a careless use of military terminology to get high school athletes to play a game with raw emotion.

What Kirby's flag represents is much, much deeper and meaningful.

“You have to be chosen by the rest of the team to carry it,” says current Anderson senior Nathan McGregor, one of the team captains. “It is an honor.”

Carmichael, an Air Force veteran, liked what he saw in the Band of Brothers theme and what Alexander's flag had made it hit close to home.

“The kids had bought into the Band of Brothers theme,” he says. “They gained an appreciation for people who serve and the representation of that flag and the freedoms we have because of that flag. It means something for these kids to be able to take it on the field.”

Peach has used the Band of Brothers theme to talk about sacrifice and teamwork, but is quick to remind any who listen that a game is nothing compared to war.

“It's not even close,” says Peach. “But we can honor people who have served when we do sacrifice.”

Getting the message right

Alexander says his adopted hometown and team are getting it right.

“A lot of people don't really understand what a soldier has to do,” he says. “No soldier can do it alone. You have to have a team. You have to have cohesion, leadership, dedication and sacrifice. And you have to use your intelligence to get things done.

“I have no problem with (using the military theme). I wish more schools would take the concept.”

Over the years, the Bearcats have become more than a football team as they engage in various community service projects such as Challenger League baseball for special needs children and cleaning up around The Healing Field, a collection of flags remembering every Kentuckian killed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Alexander says he salutes the field every time he drives past it on Broadway in Lawrenceburg.

“Over the past five or six years, I have seen the football team with very much integrity,” Alexander says. “I can't explain the word for it. I see them go to The Healing Field at the Legion, clean it up and not say a word.

Younger children want to help Kirby Alexander with his flag.

“I have seen two of the boys in Alton Station drive by in a pickup truck. They didn't know I was behind them. They stopped and helped a lady who was mowing her yard with a push mower. They ended up mowing the yard for her. They got in their truck and drove off without taking any money.”

And sometimes that service goes beyond doing something in the community.

Several players have chosen some form of military service when they finish high school. “I had nothing to do with their decisions,” Alexander says, “but I think the military is a good career.”

The Anderson County flag tradition was borne on a cold November night at Conner High School. The Bearcats drove for the winning touchdown with 44 seconds to play.

The young man who caught Seth Carmichael's fourth-down pass, Matt Sprague, had already decided what he wanted to do with his life.

He'll graduate from the United States Air Force Academy next spring.

So we raise her up every morning, we take her down every night.

We don't let her touch the ground and we fold her up right.

On second thought, I'd like to brag

'Cause I'm mighty proud of the Ragged Old Flag.

--Johnny Cash

Shooting of TV reporter hits clost to home

     As I sat in my home office this morning, I was shocked when the news came that two journalists for a Virginia television stations were killed while conducting a live interview for the station's morning news show.

     I had planned to catch up on some personal work but really have not been able to get my mind off these young people, both in their 20s, whose bright futures ended so abruptly as they were doing what appeared to be a positive feature about a business district.

     You might have seen the video and the look of horror on the face of Alison Parker, the young reporter, just before her life was senselessly taken.

     As someone who has made my living, or at least part of it, in journalism over half of my life, I hurt for the people involved. I never met either and have no ties other than being in the larger journalistic fraternity.

     But I can't say I was shocked. We live in a crazy, mixed up world in which anything goes and the deranged walk the streets with us.

     Even though I work for a small town newspaper, I have seen glimpses of the dangers of just doing this job.

     It is not uncommon to have my camera bag or brief case searched. At first, I thought it was kind of silly, but the fact is that anyone could be capable of lunacy. If someone does not know me personally, I now have no problem showing the security detail what I have with me. I don't have anything to hide.

     Over the years, I have witnessed people in the stands who give me reason to pause. While I have never felt threatened with serious injury while working the sidelines, I have seen people at games who appear unstable or so belligerent that I wonder if they are capable of serious violence.

     I won't go into details here. Let's just say it happens and most any journalist knows exactly what I mean.

     Journalists also receive e-mails or letters threatening varying degrees of ill will. While I believe most are from people who have had a bad day and really have not thought through what they say, you can never be too careful.

     Now we have seen tragedy on live TV.

     That makes it hit close to home.

Still singing after 40 years! Oak Ridge Boy Joe Bonsall talks about the fair, his book and my mom

(Note: The following column appeared in the Aug. 12 edition of The Anderson News. Joe Bonsall of The Oak Ridge Boys graciously gave of his time before the Oaks took the stage at Renfro Valley in June. We talked about 20 minutes and I found him to be very funny and engaging, down-to-earth and one who genuinely cares about people.)

Those who know me best think I only recognize two music groups: 1. The Oak Ridge Boys 2. Everybody else.

It's not quite that way, but it's close. What can I say?

I was attending Oak Ridge Boys' concerts before doing so was cool. I was listening to them when their hits were songs like “I Know” and “Jesus is the Man for the Hour.” A concert meant you got a chance to talk with them at a record table set up in a church foyer.

That was all a few years before the Kentucky State Fair made The Oaks as much a part of the annual lineup as Freddie Farm Bureau, handmade quilts and Hereford bulls.

Next Sunday, Aug. 23, will mark the 40^th straight year the Oak Ridge Boys will perform at the fair. I plan to be there, just like thousands of others from around the Commonwealth and it will be my 30^th Oak Ridge Boys' concert.

Unless, of course, I have not counted some of those all-night singings my mom used to attend when I was a little boy.

The Oak Ridge Boys sing at Renfro Valley in June.

The Oaks might have faded from the top of country music, but they routinely pack Cardinal Stadium for the annual concert that began when they opened for country singer Eddie Rabbitt. Even last year, several thousand people braved a steady rain for nearly two hours of those familiar hits that everyone had heard time and time again. It's a phenomenon that is just in the fabric of the Kentucky State Fair.

If you haven't seen The Oaks in Cardinal Stadium, then you really haven't been to the fair. There's never been anything like it, anywhere.

“It will never happen again in history,” says Oaks tenor Joe Bonsall. “I can't even imagine it happening with any act playing at the same venue that many times.”

I caught up with Bonsall when the Oak Ridge Boys made their annual trip to Renfro Valley back in June. He graciously gave some of his time to talk about The Oaks, the fair, his book, their latest CD and my mom.

Yes, my mom. Some of her story is mentioned in Bonsall's latest book, “On the Road with The Oak Ridge Boys.”

It all came about when the Oaks were going to perform at Renfro Valley in June of 2014. Early that Saturday morning, I took to Twitter saying something about heading to the concert that night and my mom being ready to sing “Elvira.” I thought nothing more about it.

About 90 minutes into the show, Bonsall, who sang lead on “Elvira” and serves as the group's master of ceremonies, said, “Where is John Herndon?”

Joe Bonsall and I chat about his career and about my mom.

Not knowing what was going on, I raised my hand. Joe grinned and said, “We don't need to talk to you. We just want to say hello to your mom.”

At that moment, all four of the Oaks moved across the stage to wave at her.

It was totally unexpected. And it made my mom's night.

The next day, I sent Bonsall a message thanking him for what he did and telling some of Mom's story and the fact she had suffered a stroke two years before. He got back with me, asking permission to use her story in his latest book, which was released earlier this year. For the record, the episode is found on pages 182-184 of the book.

I had told Bonsall about mom and her sister taking me to gospel concerts when I was a kid and that she had been a fan even before he joined the group. (Bonsall tells me a concert we attended at Louisville's Memorial Auditorium in 1973 was his second as a member of the Oaks.)

The book, which has countless behind the scenes stories, has a simple message and he references I Corinthians 13:1 as what drives him.

“I think if you live (one's faith), you let your light shine and people know,” Bonsall said. “In a book situation – I have done a lot of writing – if you are not going to bring a message of hope and faith, if you are not going to let your light shine, based on what you are doing, then the writing is a tinkling cymbal.”

Bonsall noted that when “Elvira” had everybody oom-boppa-maw-mawing in 1981, Twitter, Facebook and even e-mail were not around. “Back then, if John Herndon sent me a letter and said, 'My mom and me are going to be at a show. Would you dedicate this song to her?'

“I may have never seen it with all the mail we get at the office. … The reason you are in the book is it was a tremendous example of the difference in social networking. Now I can say, 'Hi,' to John Herndon's mom and do something meaningful for someone that maybe I would have missed before or we might have missed before.

“I thought your letter was beautiful. Your mom and your story was beautiful to me and your long-time coming to see the Oak Ridge Boys was meaningful to me. It was beautiful to me.”

Which is how millions of fans feel about the Oak Ridge Boys and their music. Whether one started listening when the group was singing “Jesus is Coming Soon,” or “Bobbie Sue,” the message has always been about faith, family and some old-fashioned American values.

“I think (the positive messages) are very big things and they are a reason for our longevity,” Bonsall said. “Middle America still comes out to see The Oak Ridge Boys. We are a clean group. We are the guys you see at the state fair. We are the guys you can see at Renfro Valley and bring your whole family.

“It is a fast-paced show with a lot of music and a lot of hit records. You won't be able to hear them all but we are going to give you a big dose of them. We are going to wave the flag a little bit and we are going to sing some gospel. That is just The Oak Ridge Boys and that is the way we do it.”

That flag-waving has earned the group numerous honors from veterans' groups over the years. Just last week, the group received the Bob Hope Award by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. It is the society's highest award for service to veterans in the entertainment industry and the group joined people such as actors Mark Wahlberg and Tom Selleck, the last two recipients of the award.

It's been a good year for the Oaks. They'll be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in October, of which Bonsall says, “There is nothing bigger for the Oak Ridge Boys than to be in the Country Music Hall of Fame, where the circle will not be broken. It will be the four of us together, as it has been, as it will be and even after we are gone, it will be there still.”

They released a CD, “Rock of Ages,” filled with old hymns, too. “We put our heart and soul into that,” he said.

One day, the run at the fair will end. Bonsall is the young 'un of the group at 67. The other three singers – Duane Allen, William Lee Golden and Richard Sterban – have all passed 70.

Still, Their non-stop energy on stage belies the calendar.

“After this Hall of Fame thing came down, one of the questions thrown at us was 'What do you do now?'

“We said, 'We sing. We are music men.’”

Those music men stay true to their roots.

“Not that much has changed,” Bonsall says. “The years have gone by and we are more experienced. We don't worry about things any more. When we were younger, we worried about this and that but we don't worry about a doggone thing anymore. We just pray that God gives us the help to do it.”

And the Oaks plan on being on Louisville in August as long as the Kentucky State Fair will keep booking them.

“I think to a man, the Oak Ridge Boys know what a legacy this has been and nobody wants to see it stop,” he says. “Nobody, in our hearts, wants to see it end.”

And neither does this fan.

More than 50 shows for man with Anderson ties
            John Blakeman still remembers that first time he saw an Oak Ridge Boys’ concert.
            “It was the Oaks and the Sego Brothers and Naomi. What a pair!” says Blakeman, a Louisville resident whose parents grew up in Anderson County.
            Blakeman still keeps up with what is going on in Lawrenceburg through Twitter and has family in Anderson County.
            Blakeman was 15 years old when his mother took him to Memorial Auditorium for that show in October, 1974. When the legendary group hits the Kentucky State Fair next Sunday, Blakeman plans to be there, taking in a show from his favorite group. He says he’s already done so over 50 times.
           Since the Oaks started making an annual appearance at the fair 40 years ago, Blakeman says he has missed the Country Music Hall of Famers only a handful of times.
           His reasons for making the annual trip to Cardinal Stadium are similar to what Oak Ridge Boy Joe Bonsall believes is the reason for the group’s incredible longevity.
          “They are upbeat,” Blakeman said. “They sing happy songs. They sing about our faith and our freedom as Americans.”

Isaacs to pack em in at Sand Spring Baptist

 (Note: This story about one of my favorite music groups appeared in the July 8, 2015 edition of The Anderson News.)

One of the biggest names in Nashville will be performing Friday night, July 10, at Sand Spring Baptist Church.

The Isaacs, a world-renowned acoustic group, will be the headliner as part of the Sand Spring Gospel Concert series. Also performing will be The Shireys, another family group from South Carolina which has become a local favorite at Sand Spring.

The program begins at 7 p.m. There is no admission charge but a love offering will be taken.

The Isaacs have been traveling in full-time ministry since 1986, according to Lily Isaacs, who along with her three children – Becky, Sonya and Ben – make up the group that has won numerous Dove Awards from the Gospel Music Association. The Isaacs have also been nominated for several Grammys.

The Isaacs in concert in January 2014.

The Isaacs strive to bring a message of hope based on their own life experiences, Lily said in an e-mail. She was born in Germany to Polish Jewish survivors of The Halocaust. The family moved to New York when she was 2 years old. At age 35, she was diagnosed with breast cancer but beat the dreaded disease.

“I certainly hope that our ministry is an experience of hope,” Ms. Isaac said. “Through all of our personal trials and victories, we've tried to incorporate this message in song and testimony. Of course, this includes my my history with my parents as Halocaust survivors and my battle with cancer.”

Lily Isaacs is now a 31-year cancer survivor and her fight was the inspiration for perhaps the group's most well-known song, “I'm Gonna Love You Through It.” Written by Sonya Isaacs, her husband, Jimmy Yeary, and Ben Hayslip, the song was a major hit for country music superstar Martina McBride. The Isaacs perform the song extensively.

When the idea for the song came about, Lily says, “they called me and asked some very personal and soul-searching questions. The next day, (Sonya) sang the song to me. I was deeply moved and I know the song has been a great blessing to millions of people world-wide.”

The words to the chorus say,

When you’re weak, I’ll be strong

When you let go, I’ll hold on

When you need to cry, I swear that I’ll be there to dry your eyes

When you feel lost and scared to death,

Like you can’t take one more step

Just take my hand, together we can do it

I’m gonna love you through it.

While “I’m Gonna Love You Through It” is perhaps the most well-known song to originate with The Isaacs to make it big on the country charts, it is almost impossible to put the group in any one category. Their repertoire includes country and bluegrass the Isaacs often appear at the Grand Ole Opry. The group is most well-known for its work in the gospel music industry and is a regular feature on the Bill Gaither Homecoming series and the concert schedule is loaded heavily with appearances in churches.

The Isaacs in concert in 2014 at Sand Spring Baptist Church.

“I'm not sure we can be labeled as bluegrass or country or gospel, only,” Lily says. “We actually are more Americana, in my opinion. We've had many opportunities to perform in many different genres. I feel like this happens because we are not concerned about being categorized. We just write songs and arrange them the best way they sound. Our family writes songs about real life issues and that's gospel music to me.”

This week's schedule underscores Ms. Issacs' assessment. Sunday, the group was to have played at the Brooklyn Tabernacle in New York. Thursday, the Isaacs are scheduled to play at the Bill Monroe Memorial Park in Bean Blossom, Ind., before heading to Lawrenceburg on Friday.

The music is full of variety, from “I'm Gonna Love You Through It” to a spine-tingling version of the old hymn, “I Must Tell Jesus” to the bluegrass standard, “Daniel Prayed,” to a fun adaptation of the Bing Crosby-Andrews Sisters hit from 1944, “Accentuate the Positive.”

Recently, the group was asked to sing at the funeral for country star Jim Ed Brown.

“We befriended Jim Ed Brown by being on the Opry over the past 20 years,” Ms. Isaacs said. “He was a wonderful person and good friend. When the family requested that we sing at his funeral, we were humbled. We recorded (Brown's hit) “The Three Bells” on our “Naturally” CD and have had the opportunity to sing this song with him on the Opry stage several times.”

The Isaacs last appeared in Lawrenceburg when they packed the house at Sand Spring last January. Another full house is expected Friday.

“We always enjoy coming to Lawrenceburg, Ky.” Ms. Isaacs said. “We hope to have a wonderful time of praising God and enjoying fellowship.”

An old-school message to modern times

(This column was originally published in The Anderson News on June 24, 2015)

Tommy Bowden is a football coach. At least that’s how he’s known to the masses.

And even though he’s been away from the sidelines for more than six years, that success he had at Tulane and Clemson give Bowden an avenue to share his first love.

Bowden, who also spent a year as Bill Curry’s first offensive coordinator at the University of Kentucky, was in town over the weekend, speaking at Hope Community Church Sunday morning.

 Tommy Bowden speaks at Hope Community Church.

He was using a platform given by his enormous gridiron success to talk about his deep Christian faith.

“I have a big platform because of what I did,” he told those gathered to worship Sunday morning.

What Bowden did was forge a 90-49 record and take teams to nine bowl games in 11 full years of coaching. However Clemson and he parted ways midway through the 2008 season. Since then, Bowden has been working television – he’s now analyzing the ACC for Fox Sports South – and talking about what is his real life.

It’s a message that is as old-school as the single-wing delivered to a modern crowd.

“I believe in the inerrant and infallible Word of God,” Bowden said during Sunday’s worship hour.

It was a simple statement. But it forms the core of his message and one he learned from his famous father, Bobby Bowden, who was the second-winningest college football coach of all-time when he was let go at Florida State after the 2009 season.

“My father was my Sunday School teacher,” Bowden said later as we talked between Hope’s two main services. “I would see him at home reading the Bible. He was a great example. I had a great mentor.”

Part of Bowden’s message focused on life’s ups and downs. They hit his family hardest on the football field.

Tommy Bowden spoke of the Bible being one's guide.

Tommy Bowden, who never had a losing season as a head coach, shared a bit about his ouster at Clemson during the 2008 season. The Tigers were 3-3 when things came to an end. “They said I resigned to soften it, but my contract said if I resigned, I didn’t get the buyout,” Bowden remembered.

An ESPN report from the time said Bowden offered to resign after the team lost to Wake Forest but that he would be paid through the end of the season and receive a $3.5 million buyout.

Less than a year earlier, he

“You put two-and-two together,” Bowden smiled as we talked Sunday morning.

Bowden now lives in the Florida panhandle. In addition to his work with Fox, he also does some commentary for Raycom. He’s also busy as a speaker at Christian conferences and motivational gatherings.

“All of my stuff is faith-based,” he said. “I enjoy the church service more than any of (the speaking venues.)”

He also talked about his father, who lost his job after allegations surfaced that the Seminoles had used an ineligible player in 2006 and 2007. “He had a field named for him and a statue in front of the stadium and still got fired,” Tommy Bowden said as we talked.

But those dark times gave Bowden even more experience in the faith he shares. “We have got the most comprehensive safety net for people out there,” he said as we talked.

It was a fraction of the message Bowden had delivered just a few minutes before.

“Football was a huge, huge part of my life, but not the most important part,” Bowden said early in his message, a few moments after telling some jokes, including one about Hope member Freddie Maggard, Bowden’s quarterback in his one year in Lexington.

Bowden did not talk a great deal about himself other than some self-deprecating humor – “When I get home, I am the football coach and my wife is the athletic director. When you are coaching, you have one boss and that’s the AD,” he laughed. Instead, he focused on the timeliness of the message he shared, owing many of the nation’s troubles to pushing the Bible out of everyday life.

“As Christians, we have to have a little backbone and defend the Word of God,” he said during the service. “I want to hear pastor teach the Word of God, not water it down.”

He elaborated a few minutes later.

“I believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible,” he said. “I am not perfect, but that is what I believe. One of the problems is we have compromised the Word and watered it down.

“God wants us to have all of it, or none of it.”

Maggard, in introducing Bowden, said his former coach lived that way. He recalled a time when Bowden led several of the Wildcats in prayer. Not a mundane prayer where the right cliches had been uttered but a real talk with the one Bowden worships.

“I saw a man of God,” Maggard said.

Even though they had not seen each other for 25 years, Bowden’s influence was unmistakeable.

“You can have a lot of influence,” Bowden said. “It is all in your comfort zone.”

It was obvious Sunday that talking about his faith is in Bowden’s comfort zone. It flowed as naturally as talking about Bobby Petrino’s offense or Jimbo Fisher’s defense.

“I am not a Bible scholar,” Bowden told his audience.

Maybe not. There might not be a Master of Divinity by his name, but his message was an enthusiastic and passioned defense of the Bible and a challenge to make it work in ones life.

I had the privilege to meet and interview Tommy Bowden.

It was fitting that toward the end of Bowden’s message, he sounded like, well, a coach. Talking about Christianity’s influence, Bowden noted that each person in attendance had a part in making a difference. He referred back to the earliest followers of Christ.

“The 12 disciples were as ordinary as you can get, but they turned the world upside down,” Bowden said.

He left little doubt he believes the same principle applies to ordinary people today.

Christians can turn Supreme Court decision into a positive

I disagree with the Supreme Court's decision legalizing gay marriage in all 50 states. To those who know me well, that is about as big a surprise as the sun coming up in the east.

Or about as big a surprise as the Court's ruling.

I find the homosexual lifestyle in conflict with the teachings of the Bible, which I have chosen to be the roadmap to my own life and the Bible clearly teaches that homosexuality is a sin. (See Romans 1, I Corinthians 6, I Timothy 1.)

It is  just as divorce, lying, hatred and many other common behaviors are called sin. And they are sins that can be forgiven, just like homosexuality.

That is not to take any of those sins lightly, nor is it intended to ignore the fact that some sins have different earthly consequences than others. However, many Christians, including myself, have the tendency to categorize sin, forgetting that all sin separates us from God.

As a Christian, I understand that and try my best to live my life in that manner. Sometimes I fail miserably. I also understand that Christianity can, and should, run counter to the prevailing thought in contemporary culture.

Instead, my disagreement to the decision is more in line with the dissents penned by Chief Justice John Roberts, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Antonin Scalia. Their opinion focuses on the constitutionality of five persons on the Supreme Court usurping the power of the court. Roberts wrote that the issue should be taken up by the states and that it should not be a concern of the court.

If you want to read the entire 103 pages of legalese, both the majority and minority opinions, you can go to http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/26/politics/scotus-opinion-document-obergefell-hodges/index.html.

However, believing the events of June 26, 2015 were inevitable under the current court makeup, I have been thinking extensively about how I would react to the decision. I still wonder how I will react over the next 5 or 10 years. I know I come in contact with people who embrace the gay lifestyle every day, whether they practice it or simply support it.

I am praying for guidance and hope you are as well.

With that in mind, here are some random thoughts on the decision.

I CAN AND MUST LIVE WITH THE SUPREME COURT'S DECISION.

Few who adhere to a literal interpretation of the Bible and try to live their lives accordingly do. Many feel the decision is an affront to their faith and cite the many Scripture references as support for their position.

However, I see few differences in the homosexual lifestyle whether two who participate in it are married or not. Granted there are some legal differences, such as inheritance, insurance and other legal matters, but those are beyond the scope of this blog entry.

The main thing I am concerned about is the ability of Christians being forced to accept the lifestyle and being forced to give implicit endorsement. Would a minister be forced to officiate at a ceremony celebrating that which he holds strong convictions against? Would a business person be forced to “participate” with his services? We have seen the concrete examples such as screen printers, bakers and florists.

(For that matter, I am continuously baffled by the insistence of those participating in the LGBT lifestyle that businesses cater to them. If someone does not want your business, there are others that do. It's simple.)

Lost in much of the shouting from both sides of the issue is the fact that even the five Supreme Court justices who voted to make same-sex marriage the law of the land addressed this issue.

“Finally, it must be emphasized that religions, and those who adhere to religious doctrines, may continue to advocate with utmost, sincere conviction that, by divine precepts, same-sex marriage should not be condoned.  The First Amendment ensures that religious organizations and persons are given proper protection as they seek to teach the principles that are so fulfilling and so central to their lives and faiths, and to their own deep aspirations to continue the family structure they have long revered. The same is true for those who oppose same-sex marriage for other reasons. In turn, those who believe allowing same-sex marriage is proper or indeed essential, whether as a matter of religious conviction or secular belief, may engage those who disagree with their view in an open and searching debate. The Constitution, however, does not permit the State to bar same-sex couples from marriage on the same terms as accorded to couples of the opposite sex.”

For now, it appears the Supreme Court is acknowledging the right of churches, faith-based groups and individuals to still freely exercise their faith. Whether the current or future administrations will heed the wording of this decree without another day at the highest court remains to be seen.

THE RULING COULD ACTUALLY BE GOOD FOR CHRISTIANS.

Anyone who has seen a freshly cut tree has seen the small rings that can give you some idea of how old a tree is. Those rings aren't formed during the growing season but in the winter when things are tough for any plant to survive. The rings also provide the strength in the tree trunk. Without those rings, formed when the weather is worst for growing, the tree becomes weak and will not stand.

I believe the church can actually be made stronger by testing. If anything, the tests and opposition to God and those who try to live in His will can make us stronger. We will need to examine ourselves and see if we really are “all in” or not in our commitment to Jesus Christ.

RESPOND WITH LOVE.

That might be very hard. While those who agree with the Supreme Court's decision rejoice at a “victory for equality,” the strongest venom I have seen or heard has come from those who claim to preach “tolerance.”

A Facebook friend derided opponents of the ruling with a profanity-laden post questioning people's intelligence and questioning their knowledge of what being American is all about. Suffice it to say that as of June 26, that person is no longer on my Timeline.

That should not be taken as an indictment of everyone on the left. I have some friends who are happy with the ruling and have expressed that with grace and civility. I have also seen and heard plenty of vitriol from conservative Christians who seem to think that people will respond positively when backed into a corner.

Take it from someone who grew up on a farm and has had plenty of experience: Backing a creature into the corner only makes it fight harder.

Some proponents of the LGBT lifestyle – or any lifestyle that has been traditionally believed to be contrary to the Bible – argue with bizarre interpretations of the Word. Then, when one disagrees, the “You are not tolerant!” mantra takes over. When that happens, it is also easy for us to act like an animal backed into its corner.

Yet, what Jesus DID teach over and over again that we are to love people. One of my favorite passages is John 8:1-11, where a woman, who was caught in the act of adultery was about to be stoned by the religious leaders of the day. Jesus told them, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.”

And to the woman he said, “Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.”  Notice that Jesus did not say what she did was OK. He loved her and said, “Go and sin no more!”

Disagreement is not hatred. Christians should not give anyone an opportunity to portray it as such.

CHURCHES SHARE SOME OF THE BLAME FOR OUR COUNTRY'S MORAL DECLINE.

I have come to this conclusion over the last 15-20 years and believe it more today than ever before.

We want people to worship with us. We want to make them feel welcome, as we should.

However, have we become so “non-threatening” that the sinner has no conviction to change his lifestyle?

Have we argued so much over worship styles and being “relevant” that we have actually become irrelevant?

Have we preached so much about the love of God (which we should!) that we have neglected the parts about being called to Christ means there is a transformation of self?  Have we so emphasized there is a heaven that we have neglected to teach about the horrors of hell?

I am so proud Alex Avritt, who I got to know from the days when she played high school basketball at Anderson County High School. Alex is in college now but on her Facebook timeline Friday, she wrote, “The Bible makes it clear that homosexuality is wrong. And the Word of God NEVER changes, regardless of how much this world has changed. Isaiah 40:8 & 1 Cor. 6:9-10.”

Alex also wrote on Twitter, “You either live the Bible entirely or not at all. You can’t just choose bits and pieces of it that YOU want to live by because it’s not about you, it’s about HIM.”

Speak on, Alex! Speak on others like her!

WHEN WE RELY ON PEOPLE OF THIS WORLD, WE WILL BE DISAPPOINTED.

Human government, while it is ordained of God (see Romans 13), is still made up of people. People are fallible, even when they are on the Supreme Court of the United States.

For too long, many conservative Christians have almost equated Christianity with the Republican Party. I am as guilty of this as anyone.

While it is true that conservative Christians identify more readily with the GOP, we must remember that the Bible does not say, “Ronald Reagan is the way and Rand Paul is the truth.”

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.”

He also said, “My kingdom is not of this world.”

While we should be involved in the political system and should make our presence known – Jesus calls his followers, “Salt of the earth” – our ultimate allegiance is to GOD. He is first. Our citizenship is in his kingdom.

And He will not disappoint.

Charleston victims and families demonstrate real Christianity

            We saw evil personified last week.

Maybe you didn't see it in flesh and blood, unless you were in Charleston, S.C., but we saw the photos and videos. We couldn't miss Dylann Roof's mop haircut and glazed eyes in the daily papers and in the national news.

We should have been heartbroken. Nine people went to their church for Bible study and never came home. Their ages ranged from 26 to 87.

We saw again that evil has no boundaries. A young man with life ahead of him and an elderly grandmother who had lived her life trying to do good are gone. So are seven other good people, vibrant lives snuffed out because of the color of their skin.

If we can't be heartbroken by that, we have no heart.

We can be heartbroken for Roof's family, who, according to news reports, called police when they saw the photos from a church security camera. A sister postponed her wedding. And for years to come, the family name will be tarnished.

Different circumstances but still heartbreaking.

Almost immediately after evil reared its ugly head, the answers started coming in: Ban the guns. Take down the Confederate flag. Beef up the security. Arm the churches.

They're well-meaning, all of them.

But they all fall short of meaningful change at the heart of the matter.

While making it difficult for lethal weapons to wind up on the hands of the emotionally-disturbed is a noble goal, we have seen time and again that if someone wants to do harm, that person will find a way, making the call for fewer weapons naïve indeed.

It's just as sad to tell those who attend worship services they should be armed in what should be a sanctuary of peace. Do we really want to say, “Pack your Sword of the Spirit and a Glock 27?”

Such thought runs counter to the message of Jesus Christ, who preached loving the unlovable.

The call for taking down the Confederate battle flag from a government grounds is certainly understandable and is long past due, given how honoring a cause that included holding Black people as slaves is so offensive to so many.

But while that would be a visible sign, it's still trying to heal an open, festering wound with a Band-Aid.

The problem is much deeper than a battle flag. It's a problem that can't be solved with an absence of guns, nor can it be solved with an abundance of firepower.

Real healing has to come from the heart and until we understand that basic fact, the racial problems that still divide us 150 years after the Confederacy was defeated will live on. Hatred lives on, regardless of laws meant to insure that men who are created equal are treated equally. We might nobly try, but in the end, we can't fully legislate decency and goodness in people.

That brings us to one of the most haunting stories to come out of Charleston. According to multiple sources, Roof told investigators he almost backed out of his planned massacre because the people at Emanuel AME Church were “so nice to him.”

The personification of evil had come face to face with real Christianity.

At Roof's bond hearing, relatives of the victims said things like, “You hurt a lot of people, but God forgives you, and I forgive you.”

“May the Lord have mercy on your soul.”

“We would like you to take this opportunity to repent. Repent. Confess. Give your life to the one who matters the most, Christ, so he can change your ways no matter what happens to you and you'll be OK. Do that and you'll be better off than you are right now."

In a world where baiters of all races fan the flames of hatred, we also saw people loving one who had taken loved ones away. We saw people loving the unloveable.

We saw people offering real healing instead of a Band-Aid.

It is a living, walking Christianity that can truly change the world.

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