There is so much to consider these days following the trial of President Clinton for perjury and obstruction of justice, which may have proved once more that this is not a nation of equals. Never has been. Never will be. Oh, we all like/love the words. Many have died for the various ways of expressing the freedoms we believe exist, whether they do or not.

Certainly there is nothing many of us would fight for quicker, or more vehemently, than for equal rights. Indeed, the battles are waged daily. But the bottom line, freedom too often is bought. Purchased far too easily by the one who has more money, power, or the better attorney. ëTis the American way. Ask John Grisham.

Being a woman of faith and one who refuses to believe that God sleeps through anything, I have to believe that He is aware of all things. In recent weeks I have proposed that we look at two (of many) scenarios which presently exist in this nation "under God."

Scenario Number One: First, President Bill Clinton sinned.

Second, our president states that he has confessed his sin and feels he is accountable only to his family and his God.

Third, Bill Clinton has been forgiven by the only One who really matters.

Now, if this scenario is true, try to imagine what God can do in and through a man in the position of our president. Remember King David of ancient times... Is there a limit to how many times history can repeat itself? Is there a limit to God's forgiveness, to the far-reaching impact of His unconditional love?

And now for Scenario Number Two: The events of the past year have all been a complex, staged production complete with scripts straight out of Hollywood, great lighting and only the best coaching. And the American people, who have long worshiped a good act, have fallen for the ultimate one. In other words, if there was no real contrition, only a fleeting shame at getting caught, then the charismatic leader, so capable of mesmerizing young and the old alike, continues to perfect his phenomenal art of deception.

Is it Scenario Number One or Two?

Who rules this land today? Who will rule tomorrow? Time will tell.

Will it be the majority? Ah, but one man with God on his side may be a majority.

Will it be a people who know in their hearts that they must forgive in order to be forgiven?

Will it be people whose own sins still lie hidden, who fear in their own hearts the shame of exposure?

Is God on His throne, and is all more right with the world than many believe just now?

If Bill Clinton turned to his God and has been forgiven by One whose love for him far surpasses any purported by his family, his political supporters, his international friends, or any one person or group of persons, then who am I to argue with the equal or unequal way in which the wheels of "justice" are turning?

President William Jefferson Clinton sinned behind closed doors. We all have. Then he faced the humiliation of having those sins come to light. His secret sins were made public. Perhaps all our sins will be exposed to similar light sooner or later. Perhaps this nation under God is long overdue a cleansing which can only be brought about by true repentance. Perhaps our leader is attempting to show the way.

But how can we know? The bible tells us we will know others by the fruit they bear. And what fruit is that? What should we be watching for in our president?

Jesus Christ taught that each tree is known by its fruit. He said men do not gather figs from thorns or grapes from a briar bush and that the good man out of the treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil because his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

In his letter to the church at Galatia, Saint Paul spoke at length about freedom and truth and walking in the spirit, while pointing out that, "...the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control..."

And when he wrote to the Colossians, Paul admonished those with a heart for God to seek things above. He said to give up immorality, impurity, greed, idolatry; and put away anger, wrath, malice, abusive speech and lies. Instead, Paul's readers then and today were, and are, to have a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.