First it was an astronaut, Lisa Nowak, who drove 900 miles in a diaper to intercept another woman in her love triangle. That was bad enough. A mother of three, highly trained and disciplined as an space shuttle astronaut whose personal life cracks, spinning her into a bizarre tale you thought you would only see in high school. But to compound the sorry story the news networks spent hour on Wednesday and Thursday covering the non-story.

Then on Thursday afternoon another non-event, the death of Anna Nicole Smith, knocks the astronaut story off the number one slot. The sudden death of Ms. Smith, a truly sad event for her family and friends, is a non-event to everyone but those who are obsessed with celebrity stories. And that, sadly, is quite a few people in today's world. Ms. Smith was famous only for being famous, not for any significant achievement or contribution to the betterment of the world. Since the death of her twenty year old son last fall her appearances showed the strain of an out of control life plastered in front of millions who seem to vicariously  enjoy watching the sad spectacle of a life that wasn't working.

In the meantime this week at least three American soldiers died in Iraq along with dozens of Iraqis. Iran inched closer to developing a nuclear weapon. And America's political process continues to show the coming rancorous debate over the Iraq policy. Is there anyone who is really serious about the momentous issues directly in the road ahead?

I am reminded of the passage in Amos 6:1-8

       Woe to you who are at ease in Zion,
      And trust in Mount Samaria,
      Notable persons in the chief nation,
      To whom the house of Israel comes!
       2 Go over to Calneh and see;
      And from there go to Hamath the great;
      Then go down to Gath of the Philistines.
      Are you better than these kingdoms?
      Or is their territory greater than your territory?
       3 Woe to you who put far off the day of doom,
      Who cause the seat of violence to come near;
       4 Who lie on beds of ivory,
      Stretch out on your couches,
      Eat lambs from the flock
      And calves from the midst of the stall;
       5 Who sing idly to the sound of stringed instruments,
      And invent for yourselves musical instruments like David;
       6 Who drink wine from bowls,
      And anoint yourselves with the best ointments,
      But are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.
       7 Therefore they shall now go captive as the first of the captives,
      And those who recline at banquets shall be removed.
       8 The Lord GOD has sworn by Himself,
      The LORD God of hosts says:

Our nation is afflicted with serious social, political and moral problems. Those who control the information channels often operate with out a rudder or moral compass. Their quest for ratings and a audience share trump good sense, decency and morality. They feed those who "stretch out  on couches" and are responsible for enabling the decline of our people.

Take a good look at this week's events. This is the freedom America's men and women are dying for in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is the same freedom that lets me write this blog and be a part of a work announcing the good news of the kingdom of God. I am grateful for their sacrifice, but will not waste it on triviality.

It is time you and I pray ever more fervently "Thy kingdom come". Pray with the zeal that God will hear the voice of His elect and send Christ swiftly to establish a better world beyond today's.