An 8:00 am flight out of Detroit, through Phoenix to Los Angeles seemed simple enough. The airport was only fifteen minutes from the hotel, and after returning my rental car, I was two and half hours early—just like I had planned. The check-in area was unusually busy and airline agents were everywhere barking orders and handing out white sheets of paper. Police with sniff dogs were walking at a brisk pace through the crowds.

Upon finding the e-ticket line at my airline, I secured one of these leaflets. It was obviously printed hurriedly, but the message was clear: No liquids or gels of any kind were being allowed on the airplanes. Toothpaste, eye-drops, perfume, and deodorant were all banned from carry-on luggage.

Yes, it was Thursday, August 10th and earlier that morning a terrorist plot to blow up ten airplanes over the Atlantic through liquid bombs was foiled in Britain. As a result, the nation was under high-alert and new security measures were being implemented. I thought quickly about what was in my carry-on and knew that there was nothing in there that would be a problem. I do have several sermons that have “bombed,” but I was pretty sure I had left those at home! The majority of people in line were very nonchalant about the leaflet being distributed. One lady in front of me asked to see mine and said, “Oh, is this that liquid thing?” After glancing at it, she handed it back as if it had nothing to do with her. Read more »