The first line of Charles Dickens' book, A Tale of Two Cities, reads like this, "It is the best of times and the worst of time." Oh how vividly that depicts the times we're living in.

A foolish preacher just recently quoted that line and sarcastically said, "They say the worst of times, but we're living in the best of time because of all our technology." I guess because we don't have to ride in wagons any more he considered it better times and one fellow made jokes about being rough to ride in a wagon for a hundred miles like they did a century ago.

He couldn't have been thinking, because a century ago and better most likely they would have ridden a train. My great-grandfather rode a troop train down into Florida and got there one day after the battle of Oluste during the Civil War and if they had not run out of wood to fuel the train they would have made it quicker than you can going 60 mph in a luxury car. So there you go!

But going back to the wagons. I would gladly go back to those days although they were rough if that's what it took to return to the morals of those times or preferably for Jesus to return and take us out of this mess.

It's not worse some critics say! Not so long ago when I was a child, nobody much locked their doors and we didn't have all these drugs, ex- cessive crimes, pornography, sexual murders of children, hideous murder of unborn babies in the name of choice, sinful degradation, rampant

divorce, prison overflow, terrorist attacks, random acts of violence, children murdering children in school, serial mass murderers, mad men going on a killing spree, deadly killing

snipers and oh it's not worse because we've got air-conditioning and computers which through the internet is leading many down the highway to hell.

We've got all this modern day stuff that has come at an awesome price. As my uncle used to say, "Prosperity will be the ruination of this nation." Folks spoiled rotten, laziness, and greed -- all side effects of a got it too easy society. Even church folks are too much in love with the things of this world and the word says, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world; for if anyone loves the world the love of God is not in him." We must love the souls of people but not this sinful worldly system.

The true Christian's focus must be more on Heaven and our treasures there than on this world. As Paul said, "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain." How many of us will and can say that?

To the scoffers who help fuel the flames of hell: yes, we remember about Pearl Harbor, the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby, the Boston Strangler, the hangings, Jesse James and Billy the Kid, Al Capone, Baby Face Nelson, the Charles Manson murderers and although as bad as it all is, it pales in comparison to what has come to America, is coming, and will come, because America has become a murderous nation. It is a nation that was a shining example to the world.

America and the whole world are plagued by fear. Never before have folks been so fearful. Fear is one of satan's greatest tools.

September 11, 2001, was to strike painful fear into "Everything's okay Americans." Well, everything is not okay. We are living in the best of times and the worst of times. We are living in the last days. But if you truly are born again, then let not your heart be troubled. Take comfort in the fact that Jesus is coming soon.