UNIMAGINABLE AND UNPRECEDENTED

From My Perspective - - -

If one scans his/her lifetime, many events come under a heading of being UNIMAGINABLE. Events such as Great Depression; rise of Nazism in Germany; War In Europe; sneak attack by Japan on Pearl Harbor; World War; use of Atomic Bombs; Increase In Nuclear Proliferation; rise and spread of Communism; Liberal bent of Politics in America; Sudden Attacks of September 11, 2001; recessions; Financial Bailout of Financial Institutions and Industries with excessive amounts of tax dollars; etc. It is shocking to see the financial needs and requests from Public Education (1) A School in Detroit, Michigan needing funds for basic supply of Toilet Paper and Light Bulbs so they keep functioning, whereas (2) Schools in Chicago, Illinois spent $67,000 on Cappuccino Machines that no one requested and few are using. It’s difficult to determine whether or not these things are “Unimaginable” or just plain “Ridiculous”!

We are witnessing today Government of Largesse (“Liberality in bestowing gifts, especially in a lofty or condescending manner. Money or gifts bestowed.”)… The Drudge Report has a banner headline this morning that quotes President-Elect Obama: “We’ll Spend Our Way Out Of This”! There is an interesting sub-headline that gives the sense on how this will be done: “Let’s Print More Money”! That is tantamount to saying, “we’ll deal with Inflation and Devaluation of our currency when we get there” – and – get there we will! There is even a hint that this could mean years of recession and the need for higher taxes. On a practical and personal level, none of us could operate personal finances in that way. Who would allow an individual to say: “I want your product for my use now but I won’t be able to pay for it – so – bill it to my Great Grandchild yet to be born”! INCREDULOUS (“Incredible; not easy to be believed”), you would hear – and – INCREDULOUS it would be!

A sobering article in the Wall Street Journal for January 8^th, 2009 - THE DEFICIT SPENDING BLOWOUT – states: “The Congressional Budget Office released its latest budget forecast yesterday, and we now really do have red ink as far as the eye can see. Thanks to a 6.6% decline in revenues due to recession, a spending increase of some $500 billion or 19%, and assorted federal bailouts, the U.S. deficit for fiscal 2009 (ending September 30) will nearly triple to $1.19 trillion. That's 8.3% of GDP, which CBO says "will most likely shatter the previous post-World War II record high of 6.0 percent posted in 1983." It certainly blows away any deficit this decade, not to mention the Reagan years when smaller deficits were the media cause celebre. But there's more. None of that includes the new fiscal "stimulus" that President-elect Obama has promised to introduce upon taking office in two weeks. The details aren't known, but Mr. Obama and Democrats have been talking about at least $800 billion, and probably $1 trillion, in new spending or various tax credits and reductions over two years. Toss that in and add more expected bailout cash, and if the economy stays slow the deficit could reach $1.8 trillion, or a gargantuan 12.5% of GDP. That 2006 Democratic vow to pass "pay as you go" budgets seems like a lifetime ago, which in political terms it was.”

Consider these things with me - - - The Government and Christian Faith are incompatible with each other. God’s name is invoked in a deferential and/or ceremonial way but never with that as being part of a Core Value. In difficult times and at all times, followers of Christ and those committed to Biblical Christianity should embrace the following as a personal core value for times such as these: (1) Luke 1:37, in terms of the supernatural “…nothing is impossible with God…”, and (2) Ephesians 3:20-21, in terms of Faith and Confidence, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” The words of Daniel’s Friends – words of Confidence and Determination – “Our God Is Able and He Will…!” should be our commitment and encouragement. That’s the only place the rhetoric that espoused: “Yes! We Can!” is operative and functional! Try It – you’ll see!