CHANGE

From My Perspective - - -

In the political climate of our time, “CHANGE” appears in speeches of the candidates, as well as on Posters in their audience, or on the Podium being used. Do most people know what the “CHANGE” is that they are promoting? How do they define the “CHANGE” they are hoping will occur? Is it “change” in the sense that Democrats will replace Republicans? Is it “Change” in terms of who is taxed and who receives re-distribution of wealth as an additional benefit desired? Is “Change” a 21^st Century phenomenon that was promoted first by Barack Obama and has now been seized upon by many others?

“CHANGE” means: “to make the form, nature, content, future course of something different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone… to transform or convert… to transfer from one to another… to become altered or modified…” The dictionary lists 38 different possibilities for the word “change”! It is also interesting to note philosophical thought regarding change. For instance, Hercalitus (540-460 BC) stated: Nothing endures but change,” A more modern day Philosopher-Politician once remarked: “There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered! (Nelson Mandela, 1918- A Long Walk To Freedom).”

When a politician speaks of “change”, one should immediately want to know: What is it you want to change? It is one thing to blame a sitting President and suggest we need to change from that governing style, but the question should persist: What do you plan to do differently? And, how do you expect to achieve it? When a candidate states he will reduce taxes for 95% of the people, why doesn’t someone ask how that’s going to be done with the 40% that do not, and have not, paid taxes for years? Isn’t that just a semantic “change” that sounds and looks good in campaign rhetoric and appearance? Does “change” mean there will be a down-sizing once again of the Military? Does “change” mean there will be more of a ‘tax and spend” agenda than not? The election hasn’t even transpired but the Democratic Leaders are so persuaded in terms of how they believe it will go that they are going to call Congress back into session to approve more spending bills and a stimulus bill. Is that the “change” that will benefit the entire nation and improve our image and impact in a dangerous world?

Spending and Give-Away Programs may be a form of therapy for some, but it surely doesn’t lend itself to Stability for troubled times. A return to Normalcy could be an immeasurable benefit to this nation. Learning to live within our means and the curtailing of expenditures is a discipline that is lacking and much needed. We have got to Stop Spending What We Don’t Have to Get What We Don’t Need!! We need to return to the fundamental foundations that birthed our nation and review what it is that we believe must “Change”! A basic premise and principle is: “Foundations Are Forever!” When one tampers with the foundations, the superstructure becomes very unstable and collapse is not far away.

Consider these things with me - - - and remember words from the Holy Scripture: “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? (Numbers 23:19).” And in Malachi 3:6, “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.” We should also note Hebrews 13:8-9, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.” Perhaps the time has come for this nation to return to the Lord while He may be found! We have “changed” from prayer, Bible Reading, Moral Principles and Standards, Worship of God, foundational truths – and to what end? It has served to erode us as a nation, and we find ourselves out of focus and lacking unity of purpose. Divide and Conquer is a formula of an enemy – we have made it an integral part of the body politic. We would be wise to make the correct “Change” before we are irretrievably Changed and ultimately helpless.