January 18, 2026

Is it a sin to love your country? It’s certainly a sin to love your country more than you love God. But we love our families without guilt. Our pets. Our Alma mater. We love movies and songs that awaken memories. All those things are dear to us and we tend to hold them close.
But lately there is a tendency in the press to hate everything American. Especially government employees who work for ICE. These people are mostly decent men and women sworn to uphold the laws that are in place in our land. Have there been mistakes? Confusion in orders? Probably. It will come down to ongoing investigations and conclusions that are made without the frenzied conflicts, the outraged citizenry, and a media that thinks of every story as a form of rage bait.
We can love our country. We shouldn’t have to defend it for upholding long standing laws. If you travel, you know we have few rights in foreign lands. They don’t apologize. They insist we obey their rules. Do I feel bad for the two citizens lost in Minnesota? I do. Am I worried ICE will harm me? No. I understood conflict was inevitable as these two factions came together in an atmosphere of chaos, rumor, and many politician’s personal agendas. Love God. Love your country. Do not apologize.
Lord, these are confusing times. Help me understand where to take a stand. Help me practice patience before I jump to conclusions and do things I might later regret. Father, I pray Your Will will be done in our country and in this world. Prejudice is wrong, Lord. But to exchange old prejudice for new prejudice is pointless. It fixes nothing. Please, Lord, let love, empathy and mercy have more influence than anger, blame and judgement.
“To fear the Lord is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, evil behavior, and twisted speech.” Proverbs 8:13 GW