In this keynote address of the 2008 Feast of Tabernacles, John Ritenbaugh, describing the scene in the parking lot following a university football game, in which garbage, litter, and abandoned automobiles covered the grounds, suggested that this scene provided a snapshot of the moral state of America, displaying the despicable character traits of irresponsibility and self-indulgence exhibited by too many Americans. This display of irresponsibility carries over into the larger moral realm, making it easy to break every one of God's Commandments. For America and modern Israel, the handwriting is on the wall. The recent greed driven Wall Street debacle, creating billions and billions of dollars of debt has made America the economic slaves of China and other creditors holding the worthless paper IOU's. Americans are oblivious to the presence and work of God. Absolutely nothing can be hidden from Almighty God. As God's called out ones, we owe God a debt of love which can never be paid. We are obligated to ardently love God more than ourselves and our neighbor as ourselves, realizing that Christ sacrificed His life for us. We need to allow God to change our lives, realizing that the blessings and cursing principle of Deuteronomy 28 remains unchanged from its inception, applying to all who have made the covenant with Him. What God is doing to and through us requires our cooperation. As God dealt firmly but mercifully with our father Abraham, we must not begrudge the necessary tests and trials designed to improve and sanctify us. We need to remain humble and submissive to God, living by every word which comes from God's word. Our life depends on how we respond to His life sustaining Word.

Abraham Beast of Revelation Blessings and curses Blessings upon Abraham's descendants Blessings upon America Blessings upon Israel Borrower servant to the lender Cooperation Covenant relationship Debt of love Debris Discipline False prophet Federal Reserve Garbage dump God's children God's family God's omniscience God's omnipresence God's sovereignty Greed Holy people Irresponsibility Judging our brother Judging Litter Mene Mene Tekel Upharsin National debt Oklahoma State University Self 'Indulgence Tests and trials University of Missouri