Exercise power with responsibility, or the power could be lost

EDITOR:
I do not pretend to be an historian, neither am I a prophet of doom. However, at the age of 77, I have acquired some knowledge of history through reading and studying. Part of my knowledge has come about through Biblical history of nations. Nations go through certain periods, such as the Period of Obscurity, the Period of Popularity, the Period of Power, the Period of Decline and the Period of Servitude.
Since 1776, the United States has experienced or gone through the first three periods. She has become the most powerful and the richest nation in the world. However, what happened on Sept. 11, 2001, to me was a wake-up call for the U.S.A. And how we react to what happened on that date will determine if we as a nation will continue to enjoy that Period of Power.
Based upon the decision that was made in Washington to wipe out the terrorists who attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, causing the loss of thousands of innocent lives, as well as our ineffectiveness to bring about peace in the Middle East, and now with the threat of war with Iraq, places the U.S.A., as I see it, are at risk to forfeit her Period of Power.
Not enough has been done, and not enough attention has been given to what caused Sept. 11, 2001. It was not another nation that invaded our country. Where was the C.I.A., the F.B.I., and other security forces that are to protect our country?
The only answer I have come up with comes from the Holy Bible, in Matthew 13:25, Jesus said, "While men slept, the enemy came and sowed tares."
Fear and uncertainty as to what the future holds for our country is being experienced among many of us citizens. Personally, I don't think we can leave it in the hands of our national government officials to decide. As an American citizen, and as servant of God, war is not the answer to peace. It never has been, and it never will be.
As a Christian nation, we need to know that, according to the Holy Bible, Matthew 12:48, "To whom much is given, from him much will be required." Other Biblical references are to be found in Psalm 33:12, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord..."; Romans 12:19, "...Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord," and II Chronicles 7:14, "If my people which are called by name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
If the leaders of our nation cannot subscribe to the above scriptures, then we need to stop referring to our nation as a Christian nation.
As an American citizen, and as a Christian minister and former pastor, at this point in the history of this country, I can no longer sing, "God Bless America." My song that I have composed is "God Save America, the Land You Have Blessed."
Rev. LONNIE K.A. SIMON
Campbell