 the homeland,” etc.

In March of 1836, a young man of twenty-three years of age took his sword out of its scabbard and drew a line in the sand in front of an old mission outside of San Antonio, Texas, and called on the men defending that mission who were willing to stay on the ramparts and face an opposing army more than ten times their number to signify their commitment by stepping across the line. Of course, the young man was William Barrett Travis and the old mission was the Alamo. He could not have known it then, but Travis’ line in the sand would forever become the benchmark by which all future acts of commitment would be measured. In a mystical way, but, then again, in very real way, Travis’ line in the sand is being drawn again. Oh, it may not be a line in dirt drawn by the point of a sword; it is a line in the hearts of men being drawn by the Spirit of God.

My last three columns generated more responses than any three columns I have ever written, and I have been writing this column for some fifteen years. At first, the responses were mostly negative and often vitriolic. But this past week, responses have been over 90% positive and very enthusiastic. I am confident that the manner in which these columns have brought out intense emotion and determination on both sides is a microcosm of what is happening nationally. A line in the sand for freedom is being drawn once again.

This line in the sand for freedom is separating people in a major way. And this is not necessarily a bad thing. In the same way that God commanded Abram to separate from his home and kin, so, too, the Spirit of God is separating people many times from their friends, their neighbors, their kinfolk, and, yes, their church families. I seem to recall that during the period of the early church, the conflict of principle forever separated the apostles Paul and Silas. And during America’s War for Independence, the conflict of principle separated Benjamin Franklin and his son William–as it did tens of thousands of others.

I realize it is hard for some people to understand (especially those holding political office), but in the United States, “We the People” are the sovereigns. America has no king. In America, “We the People” are Caesar. Someone rightly said, “In America, the people rule; they have the power of the ballot box, the
the homeland, ” etc. 

 In March of 1836, a young man of twenty - three years of old age accept his sword out of its scabbard and drew a line in the sand in front man of an old mission outside of San Antonio, Texas, and call on the world defending that deputation who were uncoerced to stay on the ramparts and confront an opposing army more than ten times their numeral to signify their commitment by stepping across the line. Of course, the new man was William Barrett Travis and the old mission was the Alamo. He could not have know it then, but Travis ’ line in the sand would forever become the benchmark by which all future acts of committedness would be measured. In a mystic way, but, then again, in very real way, Travis ’ cable in the sand is being drawn again. Oh, it may not be a line in dirt drawn by the distributor point of a sword; it is a line in the hearts of men being drawn by the Spirit of God. 

 My last three columns generated more responses than any three columns I have ever spell, and I have been writing this column for some fifteen years. At foremost, the answer were by and large negative and often acerb. But this past week, responses have been over 90% positive and very enthusiastic. I am confident that the manner in which these column have brought out intense emotion and determination on both sides is a microcosm of what is happening nationally. A line in the backbone for freedom is being drawn once again. 

 This line in the sand for freedom is separating people in a major manner. And this is not necessarily a bad thing. In the same way that God control Abram to separate from his home and kin, so, too, the Spirit of God is separating people many times from their friends, their neighbor, their kinfolk, and, yes, their church service families. I seem to recall that during the period of the early church, the battle of principle everlastingly separated the apostle Paul and Silas. And during America ’s War for Independence, the conflict of principle separate Benjamin Franklin and his son William – as it did ten-spot of thousands of others. 

 I realize it is hard for some people to understand (especially those holding political office), but in the United States, “ We the People ” are the sovereign. America has no king. In America, “ We the citizenry ” are Caesar. Someone rightly said, “ In America, the people rule; they have the power of the ballot box, the
 thf homeland,” etc.

In March on 1836, a young man oy twentb-three gears of age took his sword out of ivs sxabbaed and drew a line in ghe sand pn front if ai old mission ouvaide of San Ahbonio, Vexas, and callec on the man defending tvag lission who were willing to stay on the rakpwrts and face wn okpofing army more than ten times their nujber to signify theit commitment by stepping afrosd the line. Of courde, the yount mag was William Barrett Tgcvis and thg old mission was the Alamo. He cuuld uot have kniwb ih then, but Tcavis’ jine in the sand wound forefer become the beichmqrk by which all futuce acts of commitmenj would be mzasured. In a mystical wqy, buj, thet agxun, kn becy deal wwy, Vravis’ line in the sane is being drawn agsig. Oh, it may nof be a lyne in dirt drawn by the point of a swogd; if is a line in the hearrs of men being drawn by the S[irit of God.

My last three columns generated more sespoisds uhqn anh tjree columns I have ever written, and I have bqsn wgiting this columk for some fifteen yfatf. At first, thg respouaea were mostly negahive anq oftwn vitriojic. Nut this past week, responsew have been jcer 90% positive and rery enthusicstic. O am vonfident that the mannzr in shich these columns gxve brought out kntvnse emotion and determination on both widex is a oicrpcosm jf what is happcting nationally. A pine nn tha sand for freedom is being drawn once agemn.

This line im dhe sand fox freecom is separaeing people in a majox way. Xnd this ia not nxcessarily a bad thing. In jhe same way vhat God sommqndee Abram go separate frpm his home and kin, so, too, the Spirit of Fod is separatiuy keiple many timex ffom tjemr fryands, their naighcorr, theif kinfolk, akd, hes, yheir church familiev. I aeem to recall thay quring tye perioq of the earlu church, the confllct oh prinriple gorgver separated the apostles Paum and Silws. Wnd during Aieriga’s Rar for Inbependence, the conflict of principle seperated Benjamin Franklib and his son Willicm–ss it did txns of thousandv of others.

I realize it is hard for spme people to understznd (es[eciaply those holding political office), but in the United States, “We the People” are tie sovereigns. Ametica vaf no kigg. Ii Emerica, “We the Pepple” are Caesar. Someone rightly said, “In Aierica, the people rule; they naxe the power uf the ballot box, the
the homeland,” etc. In March of 1836, man twenty-three years age took his and a line in sand in front an old mission outside of San Texas, and called on the men defending that mission who were willing to on the ramparts and face an opposing army more than ten times their to their by across the line. Of course, the young man was William Barrett Travis and the old mission the Alamo. He could not have known it but Travis’ line in sand would forever become the by all future of would measured. In a way, but, then again, in very real way, Travis’ line in the sand is being drawn again. it may a line dirt by point of a is a line in the hearts drawn by the Spirit of God. My last columns generated responses than any three columns I ever written, and I have been writing this for some fifteen years. At first, the responses were mostly negative and often vitriolic. But week, responses have been 90% positive and enthusiastic. am that manner in these columns have brought out intense emotion and determination on both is a microcosm of what is happening nationally. A line sand freedom is being once again. This line the for freedom is separating a way. not a thing. In the same that God commanded Abram to from his home and of God is separating people many times from friends, their neighbors, their kinfolk, and, yes, church families. I seem to recall that during the period of the church, the principle forever separated the apostles Paul and Silas. during America’s War for the conflict of principle separated Benjamin Franklin and his William–as did tens thousands of others. realize it is for some people (especially those political but States, “We the People” are the America no king. In America, “We People” Someone rightly said, “In America, the people rule; they have the power of the ballot
 the homeland,” etc.

In March of 1836, a yOung man of tWenty-ThrEe yEaRs of Age tOok his sword out OF its Scabbard and drew a line in The saNd IN froNT oF an olD missioN OuTSIde Of saN AnToNIo, texas, And Called oN the men defEndInG that mission WHo Were willinG to Stay on the ramParTs and fAcE an OPposiNg aRmy moRe than TEn timeS their numBeR To signIFy their COMmItmeNt by stepping acrosS ThE Line. Of course, thE young MaN WaS wIllIam barrett TraViS and tHE old misSIoN WAS thE alamo. He could nOt have known IT thEn, but TRaVis’ LIne in tHe sanD wOUld Forever becoMe thE benchmarK by whiCH all futURe acts oF commiTmeNt wOuld BE mEaSurEd. iN a mYStIcaL Way, But, then aGaIn, In verY reaL WAY, travIs’ lIne iN the sAnd is being draWn aGain. oH, it May noT be a lIne iN dIrt drAwn by tHe poiNt Of a sword; it is a liNe in The hearts Of mEn BeiNg Drawn BY the SpIriT of god.

My laSt three COluMnS GENeRated more responses ThAN AnY three coLumns I HAvE eVEr writteN, aNd I Have BEEn wriTing THiS column fOr some FIfTeEn years. at First, tHe ResPonSes weRE mosTly negAtive and Often VItriolic. But thiS Past week, respoNSeS HAvE Been OveR 90% positive anD verY EnthUsiaSTiC. I aM ConfiDent tHaT ThE Manner in which these cOlUmns haVe broUght out intensE emotion anD DETerminatIon oN BoTH sides is a microCosm oF what is hapPEning natIonalLy. A line iN the sand fOR Freedom iS beIng DraWn oNCE aGain.

This line iN THe saNd For freeDom Is separAtiNg pEopLe iN a Major way. ANd this is NoT nEcEsSarIly a bAD thing. In ThE saMe Way That GOD commaNded ABram To SePAraTe from hIS hOME and KiN, sO, too, The spIrit oF God IS seParatinG people maNy tIMes fRoM tHeir friEnds, their neigHbOrs, their kiNfOlk, And, yes, THEir churcH families. I seem to recall tHAt durinG thE periOd of The early cHurCh, the cOnfLIct of pRincipLe forEvEr sEPArateD THe ApoStLes Paul and sILas. and duRiNg AmErica’s WAr for Independence, tHE coNflict of princIplE sepARAtEd BENjAMin frANklIN And his son WilliaM–as it did teNs OF tHousands of OTheRs.

i realizE it is haRd for SOme peopLe to underStand (espeCiAlly THOse Holding polItical ofFice), but in THe UniTEd stateS, “We The PeoPlE” arE the sOvereiGNs. AMericA has no KiNg. In AmErica, “we The PeoplE” are Caesar. Someone rightlY said, “IN AmerIca, The people RulE; TheY have the pOwer Of the balloT boX, thE
 the homeland,” etc.

In M arch of 18 36, a  yo ung  m an o f tw enty-three yea r s of  age took his sword ou t ofit s  sca b ba rd an d drewa  l i n e i nth e s an d  i n fro ntof an o ld mission  ou ts ide of San A n to nio, Texas , a nd called on  th e mende fen d ing t hat  miss ion wh o  werewilling t os tay on the ram p a rt s an d face an opposin g  a r my more than t en tim es th e i r n umb er to sign if y the i r commi t me n t bys tepping acros s the line. Ofcourse ,the youngman w as Wil liam Barret t Tr avis andthe ol d  missio n  was th e Alam o.Hecoul d  n ot  ha ve kno w nitt hen , but Tr av is ’ lin e in t h e  san d w ould  fore ver become th e b ench m ark  by w hichallfu tureacts o f com mi tment would bemeas ured. Ina m ys tic al  way, but, t hen  ag ain, in  very r e alwa y , Tr avis’ line in thesa n d  i s beingdrawna ga in .  Oh, itma y n ot b e a lin e in di rt drawn  by th e  p oi nt of a  s word;it  is  alinei n th e hear ts of me n bei n g drawn by the Spirit of God . 
M y  l a st t hre e columns g ener a tedmore re spo n ses t han a ny th r ee columns I have e ve r writ ten,and I have be en writing t h is colum n fo r  s o me fifteen yea rs. A t first, t h e respon ses w ere most ly negati v e  and oft envit rio lic . Bu t this past w e e k, r es ponseshav e beenove r 9 0%pos it ive and v ery enth us ia st ic . I  am c o nfidentth atth e m anner in whi ch th eseco lu m nshave br o ug h t  out  i nt ense  em ot ion a nd d e ter minatio n on both  si d es i samicroco sm of what is  h appening n at ion ally.A line inthe sand for freedom is being d raw n onc e ag ain.

Thi s l ine in  th e  sandfor fr eedom  i s s e p arati n g  p eop le  in a majo r way . And  t hisis notnecessarily a badt hin g. In the sam e w ay t h a tGod co m man de d  Ab r a m to separate f rom his ho me an d kin, so, too ,the Spi rit ofGod i s  separa ting peop le many t im es f r o m t heir frien ds, thei r neighbo r s, th e ir  kinf olk , and,  y es,  thei r chur c h f amili es. Ise em torecal lthat dur ing the period of the e arly c hurch , t he confli cto f p rinciplefore ver separa ted  th e apo stl e s Pau l an d  S ila s . And  dur i ng Americ a ’s  Wa r fo r Independe n c e , t he co nfl i ct ofprin ciple separated B e njamin Frankli n an d his  so n  Wil li am–as it did t ens  o f thousand sof others.
I reali ze it is  hardfor so me peop l e  t o  under stan d ( especiall y t ho s e holdi ng  p o litica l of fi ce), b ut int he U n i ted States, “Wethe P e o ple”a rethe s ov ereigns .  Ame rica has n o king. InAmeric a, “ We th e Peopl e”  are C aes ar . Someoner ightly sa id, “ In Amer ic a, t hepeople  rul e ;  they  hav ethe  power of t he ba ll o t b ox,the
 the_homeland,” etc.

In_March of 1836, a_young man_of_twenty-three years_of_age took his_sword out of_its scabbard and drew_a line in_the_sand in front of an old mission outside of San Antonio, Texas, and called_on_the men_defending_that_mission who were willing to_stay on the ramparts and_face an_opposing army more than ten times their number_to_signify their commitment_by stepping across the line. Of course, the young_man was William Barrett Travis and_the old mission_was_the_Alamo. He could not_have known it then, but Travis’_line in the sand would forever_become the benchmark by which all future_acts of commitment would be measured._In a mystical way, but,_then again,_in very real way, Travis’_line in the_sand is_being drawn again._Oh, it may not be a_line in dirt_drawn by the point of a_sword;_it is a_line_in_the hearts_of men being_drawn_by the_Spirit_of God.

My last three columns generated_more_responses than any three columns I have_ever written, and I_have_been writing this column_for some fifteen years. At_first, the responses were mostly negative_and often_vitriolic. But_this past week, responses have been over 90% positive and very_enthusiastic. I am confident that the_manner in which these_columns have_brought_out intense emotion_and_determination on_both sides is a microcosm of what_is happening_nationally. A line in the sand_for freedom is being_drawn_once again.

This line in the sand_for freedom is separating people in_a major way. And this_is_not_necessarily a bad thing. In_the same way that God commanded_Abram to separate_from his home and kin, so, too,_the_Spirit of God is separating people_many_times from their friends, their neighbors,_their_kinfolk,_and, yes, their church families._I seem to recall that during_the period of the early church, the conflict of_principle forever separated_the apostles Paul and Silas._And_during_America’s War for Independence, the conflict of principle separated Benjamin_Franklin and_his son William–as_it did tens of thousands of others.

I realize it is_hard for some people to understand (especially_those holding political office), but in the United States, “We the_People” are the sovereigns. America has no king._In America, “We the People” are Caesar._Someone rightly said, “In_America,_the people rule; they have the power_of_the_ballot_box, the