Kathy,

I realize the words, under God, were added later.  In fact, the original
pledge of allegiance hardly looks anything like what we have today.  My
answer is, no, it wouldn't change my mind.  The U S flag, is my way of
thinking, it completely unique because, this entire country was founded on
Biblical principles for Biblical reasons.  I know aspects of that statement
can be argued until the cows come home, too.  Regardless, it is true this
nation began by those who wished to worship God individually rather than by
state rule.  Perhaps I am too patriotic in my view.  I grew up in churches
with both flags displayed so call me old fashion, too.  Just call me old for
that matter.  I don't personally feel the way the flags are displayed the
way you have them now is worth a knock down drag out.  If it was a direct
theological debate, man, I'd be right in the thick of the thing.  Honor the
vets, if you can, but if your personal convictions tell you otherwise, then
stand on your convictions.  If I were a member in your church, I wouldn't
care if they were in the church or not, the flags, I mean.  Then again, I am
not a vet.  I don't know what it is like to fight, and die, for my country,
or live as I watch my buddies die beside me.  The last church we were in,
without flags by the way, had about four vets in it.  They were almost all
in their seventies, except for the pastor and he was fifty.  Our Sunday
school teacher was wounded twice in WW2 and had several metals.  I wish he
were still alive because I would love asking him about this controversy
because he was such a wise and reasonable man.  Plus, he knew what it was
like to live, and watch others die, so we could have church freely every
Sunday.  If the American flag means that to the vets in your church, I can
certainly understand why they feel the way they do.  This whole thing is a
very interesting dilemma since it crosses Biblical lines of beliefs while at
the same time including the idea that this country is free because of that
flag.  Man, what a controversy to try and unravel.  Call me a
sentimentalist, but I put vets in an elite class of their own.  They make
Sunday morning church possible in my book.  Without them, I honestly believe
there would be no churches in this country.  At the same time, the Christian
flag has meaning that is beyond imagination.  Many Christians have given
their lives for what they believed, too, and that makes the foundation of
the church mighty strong.  So, it beats me what to do.  In God we Trust,
Under god?  Pretty important words for all the darkness this country lives
in but I know unsaved, non born again vets, who would freely and easily give
their lives again to fight that those words would stay right where they are.
That attitude I cannot explain nor understand but I know it is true from
what they believe.  They believe this is a Christian nation and will die to
keep it that way and most of them likely have never seen a Christian flag.
It puts me in mind of those who died on September eleventh.  They died,
jumping from buildings, burning to death in building, being crushed to death
in buildings, and dying in crashing airplanes because they were Americans
and not because they were Christians.  I can identify, and do identify, with
them in New York at the Trade Towers because I, too, am an American.  Yes,
the terroest hate Christians but they hate American more because in their
twisted way of thinking, Americans are Christians.  I'll die with the
Americans, if it comes down to that, because I am a Christian.  So which
came first?  The chicken or the egg?  Ask the pastor which ain't me.  I'm
just a member of the Body of christ.  I have a feeling, though, that vets
view the American flag as something Christian.  they don't worship it but
they do respect it because it means freedom and liberty and the opportunity
to go to church.

Phil.