How angry you were when your sons died in Vietnam.  What a great rebellion was set on fire as your sons and daughters rebelled against your strength.  And as your sons have died in subsequent conflict you cried great tears of grief.

Your precious desire was taken from you and no one asked permission.  They were stolen in the night and trained for war.  Many you have never seen again.  And many have returned to you less than they were when they left.

How does it feel to lose your greatest desire?  Is America greater for its loss? 

How many bodies of desire does history hide; for no one is left to read it?  The parents of decades gone by, now laying their grave, their sorrow quieted.  You do not mourn for them for you have forgotten.  You do not learn from history, you rewrite it.

You have stolen the Lord’s desire.  With great joy, you have made for yourself your own gods.  And you worship them with great abandon. 

“To profit!  To profit!  Let us aspire to ease!  Let us put the horror of history behind us!  We will gather to ourselves great riches, and this for free!”

All the while the Gospel of Christ Jesus, the Holy One of the Most High God, languishes as it goes forgotten in your streets and houses.  You have stolen the desire of God to save your souls.

By your sparkling rebellion you have turned your face away from he who shed his very blood that you may know his love and live.  You have counted him as worthless as the sons who died before you were born. 

As you paint the crosses of the historically dead, so that is the extent of your worship.  Off to spend and gain for your own selfish pride, you have no time for what is holy and good.

What possible benefit might you expect to receive from the one who made you and gave his life for you?  Do you think he will remain patient and silent?  Do you think you will not be noticed as you gorge yourself with things you have stolen from his excellent mercy?