Hiss! Boo! Phooey!

From My Perspective - - -

At a different time and a less “politically correct” day, there was a host of characters who were part of the folklore of the South. “The name Joel Chandler Harris may not be as familiar to some as the characters he immortalized. For over a century, Brer Fox, Brer Rabbit, Brer Bear and the Tar Baby have played tricks on each other, visited the Laughing Place and generally cut up and carried on as told by Uncle Remus. The stories appeared in newspapers, storybooks, a Disney film and in oral tradition. Though the stories about this cast of characters originated on Southern plantations and were the stories slaves told their children, Harris, then an associate editor at the Atlanta Constitution, began writing the stories down and publishing them…” One of the instincts and characteristics of Brer Rabbit was his ability to “lay-low” when that would serve his purposes best. Governor Mark Sanford needs to learn a lesson or two from Brer Rabbit.

Mark Sanford erred! How? Governor Sanford told members of his cabinet in a session called so he could apologize to them in person and tell them the business of government must continue. The Associated Press reports: “…he brushed aside any suggestion he might immediately resign, citing the Bible and the story of King David — who continued to lead after sleeping with another man's wife, Bathsheba, having the husband slain, then marrying the widow.” He reportedly said: “What I find interesting is the story of David, and the way in which he fell mightily — fell in very, very significant ways, but then picked up the pieces and built from there…” That is a convenient reference and re-write of what happened with King David.

God was displeased with David and sent the Prophet Nathan to David. "Why have you despised the word of God, to do what is evil in his sight? You have smitten Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife…” The prophet addresses the Lust, Adultery, Scheming, and Plot to Murder which had occurred! David had to be brought very low. PSALM 32 and PSALM 51 are some of the commentary about this incident in David’s life. If Governor Sanford wants to base his life on that of David, where is the evidence of Psalm 32 and Psalm 51 in his life? Where is the genuine repentance? Note some of King David’s turmoil of soul as he processed his sins before his God - -
PSALM 32 - -
1 A psalm of David. “Oh, what joy for those whose rebellion is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! 2 Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of sin, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! 3 When I refused to confess my sin, I was weak and miserable, and I groaned all day long. 4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. 5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, "I will confess my rebellion to the LORD." And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. 6 Therefore, let all the godly confess their rebellion to you while there is time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment…”
PSALM 51 - -
“…Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. 2 Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. 3 For I recognize my shameful deeds – they haunt me day and night. 4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight… 7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me – now let me rejoice. 9 Don't keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt.10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. 11 Do not banish me from your presence, and don't take your Holy Spirit from me.12 Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you…”

One thing Governor Sanford has right is a comment he made about his betrayed wife, Jenny: “I'd simply say that Jenny has been absolutely magnanimous and gracious as a wonderful Christian woman in this process." To her credit, Jenny is focused on the “character of her four sons”, not the continuance of her husband in his elected office. Hooray for Jenny! Pray for Jenny and her boys! Pray for Governor Sanford that he may deal with his sin and repent of it! Consider these things with me!

Sentence Succinctness

From My Perspective - - -

On Friday, June 26th, Peggy Noonan wrote about the wise and simple use of words that can be confined to one sentence. She writes: “The Sentence idea comes from a story Clare Booth Luce told about a conversation she had in 1962 in the White House with her old friend John F. Kennedy. She told him…that ‘…a great man is one sentence.’ His leadership can be so well summed up in a single sentence that you don't have to hear his name to know who's being talked about. ‘He preserved the union and freed the slaves,’ or, ‘He lifted us out of a great depression and helped to win a World War.’ You didn't have to be told Lincoln or FDR." She wondered what Kennedy's sentence would be. She was telling him to concentrate, to know the great themes and demands of his time and focus on them. In retrospect, perhaps his sentence was: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country!”

Peggy Noonan continues: “New White Houses are always ardent for change, for breakthroughs. They want the sentence even when they don't know the sentence exists, even when they think it's a paragraph. The Obama people want, "He was the president who gave all Americans health care," and, "He lessened income inequality," and, "He took over a failed company," and other things. They wants a jumble of sentences and do a jumble of things. But an administration about everything is an administration about nothing. Mr. Obama is not seeing his sentence. He's missing it. This is the sentence history has given him: "He brought America back from economic collapse and kept us strong and secure in the age of terror." That's all anybody wants. It's all that's needed.

The current news cycle has inundated us all with all kinds of unnecessary information. For more than two days, the news coverage regarding Michael Jackson has been constant. A sentence might’ve sufficed: “He was a tremendously talented man but with misguided priorities and unwise choices.” The same is true of Governor Sanford of South Carolina. All the barrage of sordid details, emails and excuses. A sentence by him would have sufficed: “I made a terrible mistake and I cast myself upon the mercy of God, my family, my constituents, my colleagues – all of whom I deceived and embarrassed…Can you find a way to forgive me and to give me a second chance!” Perhaps the greatest farce of all is the current Congress of the United States – voting on a Cap and Trade Bill which they had not received and the 1201 pages they had not read, and the 300 page amendment slipped in at 3:00 AM – the content of which was unknown to them – but – they were urged to vote – and vote they did – 219 to 212 in favor of a Bill that will over-burden most Americans with increased taxes and higher utility bills, etc. A sentence we might desire and covet about the current Congress would be: “they were a do-nothing Congress!” But this Congress did something – and generations to come will rue the day that they did. It would have been preferable if none of this happened.

All of this causes one to wonder what one sentence might define who we are, what we represented, what we were able to accomplish, etc. Before the Congress of the United States, General Douglas MacArthur closed his address regarding Old Soldiers Never Die – They Just Fade Away – by adding, “I now close my military career and just fade away, an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the light to see that duty.” Hebrews 11 is a partial listing of God’s Servants who walked and lived By Faith. In verse 5, one is singled out in a special way: “By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.” To “please God” throughout one’s life – all commitments; all actions; all relationships; all thoughts; all words; all choices – Pleasing To God. What sentence is the best description of you? How do others define you now? How will they define you after you are gone? Micah 6:8 might be a good starting point for us all – “the LORD has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Consider these things with me!

Argentina Acquiescence

From My Perspective - - -

To acquiesce means: “A silent or passive assent or submission, or a submission with apparent content; distinguished from avowed consent on the one hand, and on the other, from opposition or open discontent; quiet satisfaction.” South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford conducted an agonizing Press Conference yesterday afternoon. It was his Moment For Truth! A brief summary states: “After going AWOL for seven days, Gov. Mark Sanford admitted Wednesday that he had secretly flown to Argentina to visit a woman with whom he was having an affair. Wiping away tears, he apologized to his family and gave up a national Republican Party post, but was silent on whether he would resign as Governor. ‘I've been unfaithful to my wife,’ he said in a news conference in which the 49-year-old governor ruminated on God's law, moral absolutes and following one's heart. He said he spent the last five days crying in Argentina.”

Ironically, the confession by the Governor can easily be linked to: "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" the best-known song from the 1978 musical Evita with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. It appears early in the second act as Evita addresses the crowd from the balcony of the Casa Rosada and features a sweeping melody tied to broad emotional themes of regret and defiance…” Some of the Lyrics parallel the recent events in the Governor’s life and journey:

“It won't be easy, you'll think it strange; When I try to explain how I feel; that I still need your love after all that I've done. Don't cry for me Argentina; The truth is I never left you; All through my wild days; My mad existence; I kept my promise; Don't keep your distance.
And as for fortune, and as for fame; I never invited them in; Though it seemed to the world they were all I desired; They are illusions; They are not the solutions they promised to be; The answer was here all the time; I love you and hope you love me.
Don't cry for me Argentina! Have I said too much? There's nothing more I can think of to say to you. But all you have to do is look at me to know - That every word is true!”

Some of the email between the Governor and Maria border on the erotic. Parts of two emails indicate the intricacy and extent of the involvement of an “innocent” friendship. From the Governor: “In the meantime please sleep soundly knowing that despite the best efforts of my head my heart cries out for you, your voice, your body, the touch of your lips, the touch of your finger tips and an even deeper connection to your soul…” From Maria, described as the mother of two sons, she wrote in an email on June 9, 2008: "You are my love…Something hard to believe even for myself as it's also a kind of impossible love, not only because of distance but situation. Sometimes you don't choose things, they just happen…I can't redirect my feelings and I am very happy with mine towards you."

Once again, truth and moral values get squeezed out of a person’s life for a passing pleasure. One is reminded of the words in JEREMIAH 5:1-5, “Run up and down every street in Jerusalem, says the LORD. Look high and low; search throughout the city! If you can find even one person who is just and honest, I will not destroy the city. Even when they are under oath, saying, As surely as the LORD lives, they all tell lies! LORD, you are searching for honesty. You struck your people, but they paid no attention. You crushed them, but they refused to turn from sin. They are determined, with faces set like stone; they have refused to repent. Then I said, But what can we expect from the poor and ignorant? They don't know the ways of the LORD. They don't understand what God expects of them. I will go and speak to their leaders. Surely they will know the LORD'S ways and what God requires of them. But the leaders, too, had utterly rejected their God.” Crying in Argentina for five days because the truth will be disclosed is one thing! Weeping in repentance because of Moral Failure, violating his Marriage Covenant, ignoring his duty to his four sons, and disobeying God’s Word and standard is another. Some would judge this man severely and harshly – but all should be reminded – but for the Grace of God, go I! Consider these things with me!

Butchers For Hire

From My Perspective - - -

The news was terse and shocking: “George Tiller a Kansas doctor was shot and killed on Sunday as he entered his church congregation. Tiller has been one of four U.S. physicians who performed late-term abortions, making him a target of anti-abortion protesters. He testified that he and his family have suffered years of harassment and threats. His clinic was the site of protests in 1991 which were marked by mass demonstration and arrests. The clinic has been bombed in 1985, and an abortion opponent shot him in both arms in 1993…”

Equally shocking is a report contained in an article by Charles Colson entitled: “WHERE’S THE CHOICE IN THIS?” While the attention of the nation is diverted by Trillion Dollar Deficits, the following was unfolding: “…a young Chinese woman ran afoul of the Chinese government. She had become ‘illegally pregnant.’ By the time the authorities found out, she was seven months along. Family planning officials tied her to a bed, induced labor, and, when the baby was born, killed the baby. What happened is an abomination - one, however, that tragically takes place regularly in China. But now, thanks to the U.S. Congress, you and I will be paying for it. Last March, Congress passed a bill providing $50 million for the United Nations Population Fund. This organization promotes abortion around the globe - including China…This blows the lid off the argument that abortion is all about giving a woman choice. If Congress really stands for choice, as they claim, why did they vote for coercion? If feminists are really for choice, why aren't they fighting this law? Why isn't our pro-choice President demanding that this brutalization of women be stopped? Abortion is a glaring example of the difference worldview makes. Are all children, Chinese babies or inner-city African American babies - worthy of protection? Are babies just mouths to feed, and a strain on the environment - or are they potential producers and contributors? Do parents have the right under God to have as many children as they desire? Or should governments dictate this decision? Let's be clear: Coercive family planning is a humanitarian disaster…”

Between the years 1920 and 1940, Murder Incorporated thrived. “In Brownsville, Brooklyn, NY…stood a small 24-hour candy store named Midnight Rose’s. This wasn’t any ordinary candy store. It housed some of the most lethal for-hire contract killers, consisting mainly of Jews and Italians, that this country has ever known. These men, dubiously named Murder Incorporated by the press, carried out over eight hundred contract murders… Murder Inc. supplied its members with lawyers when they needed one and bought their own police protection and politicians. Anastasia was one of the most brutal men ever to walk the streets of New York. When the Syndicate approved a hit it would be sent down to Anastasia and he would make sure it was carried out with the utmost of care. Mistakes, such as killing an innocent bystander, would not be tolerated. Many of their victims ended up murdered, missing, or never to be heard from again. At one point, Anastasia had over one hundred contract killers on the payroll for as little as two hundred dollars a week…”

How did we arrive at the place where politicians or criminal organizations can dictate who lives and who dies. When did it become acceptable and legal to pay to end a life? While Abortions are near 45 million in the USA, they are 10 times that number in China (over 400 million with their one child per family law). There was more of an outcry regarding the murder of Dr. Tiller than there ever was about the more than 60,000 third-trimester abortions performed by him. Why? What happened to the sensibility and sensitivity realities in this nation? Both conception and development of the fetus is stated in Psalm 139:13-19 (NLT): “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous – and how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed." Consider these things with me and let your voice be legally and appropriately heard. Men and Women are needed to stand in the gap and to defend the defenseless, and to protect the innocents!

Roosting Chickens

From My Perspective - - -

“America’s Chickens Are Coming Home To Roost” is a phrase lifted from a sermon delivered by the Pastor of our current President. The Rev. Jeremiah Wright served as Barack Obama’s Pastor for more than 20 years at Trinity United Church of Christ on Chicago’s south side. His comments were based on what he described as his reading of the Gospels and the treatment of black Americans: "The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law and then wants us to sing God Bless America…the United States had brought on al Qaeda's attacks because of its own terrorism. We bombed Hiroshima, we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon, and we never batted an eye…We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because the stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back to our own front yards. America's chickens are coming home to roost…”

Are these “chickens coming home to roost” now for President Obama. Wikipedia states: The idea of an “Axis Of Evil” is a term coined by United States President George W. Bush in his State of the Union Address on January 29, 2002 in order to describe governments that he accused of helping terrorism and seeking weapons of mass destruction. President Bush named Iran, Iraq and North Korea in his speech.” This notion was decried by the Candidate Obama and the minions of his loyalists. Regardless of ones wishes and thoughts now about Iraq and Afghanistan, the swagger and boasts of Saddam Hussein would lead one to believe his thoughts were on Weapons of Mass Destruction and how they could be used. Our current news cycles are saturated by reports from and about North Korea – ships possibly delivering weaponry to rogue nations; a missile aimed at the United States (Hawaii) with a target date for launch on July 4th; Announcing the Truce between South Korea/United States with North Korea is now vacated; etc. Reports from Iran area about demonstrators and blood on the streets of Tehran because of a suspected “stolen” election.

There is an interesting Column penned by Michael Barone from June 20th and posted on The Washington Examioner.Com entitled: DODGE FACTS, SKIP DETAILS, GOVERN CHICAGO-STYLE. “…let me offer my Three Rules of Obama. FIRST, he likes to execute long-range strategies but suffers from cognitive dissonance (a harsh, disagreeable combination of sounds; Lack of agreement, consistency, or harmony; conflict) when new facts render them inappropriate. His long-range strategy of propitiating America’s enemies has been undercut by North Korea’s missile launches and demonstrations in Iran against the mullah regime’s apparent election fraud. His assumption that friendly words could melt the hearts of Kim Jong Il and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad have been refuted by events. SECOND, he does not seem to care much about the details of policy. He subcontracted the stimulus package to congressional appropriators, the cap-and-trade legislation to Henry Waxman and Edward Markey, and his health care program to Max Baucus. The result is incoherent public policy: indefensible pork barrel projects, a carbon emissions bill that doesn’t limit carbon emissions from politically connected industries, and a health care program priced by the Congressional Budget Office at a fiscally unfeasible $1.6 trillion. THIRD, he does business Chicago-style. His first political ambition was to be mayor of Chicago…From Chicago he brings the assumption that there will always be a bounteous private sector that can be plundered endlessly on behalf of political favorites. Hence the government takeover of General Motors and Chrysler to bail out the United Auto Workers, the proposal for channeling money from the private nonprofits to the government by limiting the charitable deduction for high earners,

We may be living closer to The Last Days than some care to admit. Ponder Revelation 11:17-18, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. The nations were angry; and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great-- and for destroying those who destroy the earth.” Roosting Chickens – think about it!

Mumbo-Jumbo Time (Chameleon Logic)

From My Perspective - - -

Language is a vital tool for communicating accurately and clearly with one another. However, it does seem as though some use language to either blur or obfuscate (to make so confused or opaque as to be difficult to perceive or understand; to render indistinct or dim; darken). This can be illustrated by the “mice print” in contracts. It takes considerable magnification to be discernible and/or readable. The reality is that most do not take the time, or have the patience to try and read all the “fine print” terms and conditions. If there is an ultimate lawsuit, it’s amazing how a defendant can suddenly produce a legible version of the “mice print” that had been previously used to confuse and/or befuddle the signer of the contract.

We find parallels to the crafted use or misuse of language in the Government pronouncements and posture on various matters. This is where the “Mumbo-Jumbo” enters: “Unintelligible or incomprehensible language; gibberish; language or ritualistic activity intended to confuse; a complicated or obscure ritual…” Real Clear Politics published an article yesterday (June 18, 2009) entitled: UNDERSTANDING THE AGE OF OBAMA by Victor Davis Hanson. The question and premise posed: “Are you confused by all that has changed since President Barack Obama took office in January? If so, you're not alone. Perhaps, though, this handy guide to Age of Obama "logic" might be of some assistance.” He then proceeds to share at least ten (10) areas of Obama Logic. Some of them are: (1) THE BUDGET: Wanting to cut $17 billion from the budget is proof of financial responsibility. Borrowing $1.84 trillion this year for new programs is "stimulus." The old phrase "out-of-control spending" is inoperative. (2) TERRORISM: Acts of terror disappeared about six months ago. Thankfully, we live now in an age where there will be…only occasional "overseas contingency operations" in which we may be forced to hold a few "detainees." At the same time, ongoing military tribunals, renditions, wiretaps, phone intercepts and predator-drone assassinations are no longer threats to the Constitution. And just saying you're going to close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay is proof that it is almost closed. (3) THE WEST: Western values and history aren't apparently that special or unique. As President Obama told the world during his recent speech in Cairo, the Renaissance and Enlightenment were, in fact, fueled by a brilliant Islamic culture, responsible for landmark discoveries in mathematics, science and medicine. Slavery in America ended without violence. Mistreatment of women and religious intolerance in the Middle East have comparable parallels in America. Read the rest of the article at: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/06/18/obamawo rld_97044.html.

Chameleon Logic is not just limited to politics and contracts (and other legal matters). Regrettably, Mumbo-Jumbo has infiltrated into many pulpits, as well as featured Media presentations. In I CORINTHIANS 14:6-14, the Apostle Paul makes a very compelling point regarding clear and precise communication: “…in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning…” In the Sermon on the Mount, MATTHEW 5:33-37, Jesus states regarding Oaths: “Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” These words are repeated in JAMES 5:12, “Above all, my brothers, do not swear--not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned.” A Directive in ZECHARIAH 8:14-17 underscores how we should communicate: “This is what the Lord Almighty says: “…These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this, declares the Lord.” You can make a difference by clearly communicating truth. Rather than Chameleon Logic and/or Mumbo-Jumbo, you can be the trumpet that sounds a clear call. Rather than obfuscation, you can be a champion of openness and clarity. While your Freedom of Speech remains as one of your Rights, use it wisely and frequently!

Desensitized To Warnings

From My Perspective - - -

An interesting Children’s Fable/Fairy Tale tells of Henny-Penny’s desire to give a warning to the King. The story line is: “ONE day Henny-penny was picking up corn in the corn yard when--whack!--something hit her upon the head. 'Goodness gracious me!' said Henny-penny; 'the sky's a-going to fall; I must go and tell the king.' So she went along and she went along and she went along till she met Cocky-locky. 'Where are you going, Henny-penny?' says Cocky-locky. 'Oh! I'm going to tell the king the sky's a-falling,' says Henny-penny. 'May I come with you?' says Cocky-locky. 'Certainly,' says Henny-penny. So Henny-penny and Cocky-locky went to tell the king the sky was falling. They went along, and they went along, and they went along, till they met Ducky-daddles, etc.” They keep adding to this envoy/entourage until they happen upon the opportunist – Foxy-Woxy. Foxy-woxy schemes and sets a trap by telling the others of the wrong way to go – and if they follow his directions – he will have an easy prey and meal!

On the Highway, most Warning Signs are ignored. How many people reinterpret Speed Limit Signs by their belief that 55 MPH means one can drive at 62 MPH? How many ignore No Passing Zones because they’re able to see nothing is coming in the other direction (besides – one is in a hurry, or – everyone does it)? We may have been conditioned to ignore Signs and Warnings because of Dumb Signs and Dumb Warnings, such as: (1) At entrance to jail a sign reads, ‘No weapons beyond this point.’ Message is also written in Braille underneath. Sheriff’s Dept., Warren County, IN; (2) Caution water on road during rain. Clemson, SC; (3) Warning: For indoor or outdoor use only. Christmas Lights; (4) Caution: Contents may catch fire. On Match Box; (5) Warning: Do not attempt to remove blade while lawnmower is running or plugged into an outlet. Craftsman Push Mower… The list can be much longer. The point is that we can easily become desensitized to Labels; Signs; Warnings; etc. because so many of them express the mundane or the obvious.

The activities of Government have been happening at an increased level of urgency and speed. Speed is not the friend and ally it is made out to be. Ed Feulner, President of the Heritage Foundation, in writing about the Stimulus and other Actions of this Administration and Congress reminds us: “Sin in haste, repent at leisure, the saying goes. Well, our government just acted in haste. And American taxpayers will be repenting that action for years to come.” The suggested Universal Health Care Plan with an estimated cost of $1.6 Trillion will still leave 30 Million with no Health Care Coverage. How can that be? Why the rush (before July 4th)? What is the consequence for The Nation and the enlarged Deficits? Why is it that few seem to care that we are Bankrupt and will soon be indentured to China or some other Nation? Whatever happened to the Checks and Balances within our Government? Is anyone sensitive to the times in which we live? Should there be an Iranian-Type reaction/protest-rally to a Government racing out of control with no knowledge of how to apply the brakes to either slow down and/or stop?

There is a clear Warning in II Timothy 3:1-5, “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.” We read in I Timothy 4:1-2, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron (desensitized to right and wrong)…”We seem to be living in the midst of a decadent and decaying culture. The level of indifference toward sound fiscal policy is at a high level. The momentum is moving the Nation at an accelerated rate toward impotency and insignificance. The projected deficit for the coming decade means every citizen is indebted at more than $200,000 per person. Are you going to be able to ante up your portion of this indebtedness? Will it require the Government issuing you a personal Bill for that amount to cause you to begin to Care? You need to Care! You need to be part of the Solution – not a continuing part of the Problem!

The Mesmerized Masses

From My Perspective - - -

Years ago, a talented and funny comedian – Red Buttons – would include in his routine a character who would allow “Strange Things Are Happening…” and then go into a litany of some unusual events. If he was alive today, he would be inundated with material for his routine. Indeed – Strange Things Are Happening! As an example of the “Strange Things”, consider the Governmental Proposals for (a) A War Supplemental Bill, and (b) the 2010 Budget. When the President was campaigning, he made a great point of stating – “The day of earmarks is over!” Just a casual reading would indicate that was a forceful and resolute statement. Interestingly, the first stimulus bill that came along in this administration contained hundreds of earmarks (more than a thousand) – but – the President signed the Bill!

The War Supplemental Bill and the 2010 Budget are moving through Congress. Do you think the representatives of the people have any discipline or thrift as they review the Bills? Do you believe there is any evidence of a concern to be frugal when the nation is borrowing Trillions of Dollars so it can operate? Does anyone believe there is either a concern or remedy for the addiction to earmarks and spending in the present Congress? If you wish to be annoyed, frustrated and angry – “Under increasing pressure to reveal earmarks and their sponsors, the House Appropriations Committee made available a 76 page list of home state budget projects added on to the Commerce, State, Justice bill. You can look through it at appropriations.house.gov where you can also see the lawmakers who sponsored each project….There are almost 1,100 projects, which total approximately $368 million. And: http://wsbradio.com/blogs/jamie_dupree/2009/06/let-the-earma rks-roll.html to see who is adding the earmarks to the Bills and how much they have requested.

Yesterday, Gallup released his latest Poll titled: “Conservatives Are Single-Largest Ideological Group.” The findings state: “Thus far in 2009, 40% of Americans interviewed in national Gallup Poll surveys describe their political views as conservative, 35% as moderate, and 21% as liberal. This represents a slight increase for conservatism in the U.S. since 2008, returning it to a level last seen in 2004. The 21% calling themselves liberal is in line with findings throughout this decade, but is up from the 1990s. These annual figures are based on multiple national Gallup surveys conducted each year, in some cases encompassing more than 40,000 interviews. The 2009 data are based on 10 separate surveys conducted from January through May. Thus, the margins of error around each year's figures are quite small, and changes of only two percentage points are statistically significant. To measure political ideology, Gallup asks Americans to say whether their political views are very conservative, conservative, moderate, liberal, or very liberal. As has been the case each year since 1992, very few Americans define themselves at the extremes of the political spectrum. Just 9% call themselves "very conservative" and 5% "very liberal." The vast majority of self-described liberals and conservatives identify with the unmodified form of their chosen label… There is an important distinction in the respective ideological compositions of the Republican and Democratic Parties. While a solid majority of Republicans are on the same page -- 73% call themselves conservative -- Democrats are more of a mixture. The major division among Democrats is between self-defined moderates (40%) and liberals (38%). However, an additional 22% of Democrats consider themselves conservative, much higher than the 3% of Republicans identifying as liberal…”

The Mesmerized Masses are dismissive of the above data. To Mesmerize is: “to hypnotize; to spellbind; fascinate; to compel by fascination.” From a spiritual perspective, II Thessalonians 2:9-11 would construe it in a different manner: “The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” This is the end result of irrational and undisciplined self-indulgence! Don't you be dismissive!

Flags Unfurled

From My Perspective - - -

June 14th is officially designated as Flag Day. It is a time to display and recognize the significance of the Flag of the United States of America. The Flag consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of Red (top and bottom) alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton bearing fifty small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars. The fifty stars on the Flag represent the fifty U.S. states and the thirteen stripes represent the original thirteen colonies that rebelled against the British Crown and became the first states in the Union.

There are fixed and particular days when the Flag should be proudly displayed: “The flag should especially be displayed at full staff on the following days: January 1st (New Year's Day) and 20th (Inauguration Day); February 12th (Lincoln's birthday) and the third Monday (Presidents' Day, originally Washington's birthday); May - Third Saturday (Armed Forces Day) and last Monday (Memorial Day - half-staff until noon); June 14th (Flag Day); July 4th (Independence Day); September - First Monday (Labor Day),11th (Patriot Day), and 17th (Constitution Day); October - Second Monday (Columbus Day) and 28th (Navy Day); November 11th (Veterans Day) and fourth Thursday (Thanksgiving Day); and such other days as may be proclaimed by the President of the United States (the birthdays of states, date of admission, and on state holidays).” It is always to be displayed with respect, dignity and appreciation. Reasons attached to what The Flag represents are as several and varied as the sources consulted. Quite simply, the Flag of the United States of America symbolizes Liberty, Freedom, Justice for all.

There is a website that states both the etiquette and protocol for the display of the Flag: http://www.usa-flag-site.org/etiquette-display.shtml. Church Display - From a Staff in a Church or Public Auditorium on a Podium: The flag of the United States of America should hold the position of superior prominence, in advance of the audience, and in the position of honor at the clergyman's or speaker's right as he faces the audience. Any other flag so displayed should be placed on the left of the clergyman or speaker (to the right of the audience); From a Staff in a Church or Public Auditorium off the Podium: Custom and not the flag code hold that the flag of the United States of America should hold the position of superior prominence as part of the audience, in the position of honor at the audience's right.

There must be great care exercised lest the Flag become a symbol of worship rather than a symbol of our being one nation under God with certain inalienable rights…When and Where the United States Flag is displayed in a Church, usually The Christian Flag is also displayed. The history of The Christian Flag is scant: “It is one of the oldest unchanged flags in the world. It was conceived at Brighton Chapel, Coney Island, New York, Sunday, September 26, 1897, and was presented in its present form the following Sunday by its originator. Call it chance, or providence, serendipity, or the plan of God, on that day, the Christian flag was born. The white on the flag represents purity and peace. The blue stands for faithfulness, truth, and sincerity. Red is the color of sacrifice, in this case calling to mind the blood shed by Christ on Calvary, represented by the cross. The first pledge to the Christian flag was written by Methodist pastor Lynn Harold Hough in 1908: "I pledge allegiance to the Christian Flag and to the Savior for whose kingdom it stands. One brotherhood, uniting all mankind, in service and love." The current and most-used version of the pledge is: “I pledge allegiance to the Christian Flag, and to the Savior, for whose kingdom it stands. One Savior, crucified, risen and coming again, with life and liberty for all who believe.” A Scriptural idea for a flag is suggested in Psalm 60:1-4, “O God…restore us…You have set up a banner for those who fear You, that they may flee to it from the bow.” The idea is deliverance and refuge provided by Almighty God - JEHOVAH-NISSI - THE LORD OUR BANNER! Whereas, The American Flag symbolizes freedom from all oppression allowing us to worship openly and without fear, The Christian Flag symbolizes deliverance from the bondage to sin, and the reality of liberty in Christ as His redeemed children! In this country, true believers should deem it a great privilege to be the beneficiaries of what both Symbols represent.

When God Is Gone

From My Perspective - - -

Is “religion” vital and essential for the well being of a nation and its citizens? Is it merely a psychological and emotional “crutch” that gives people a sense of enablement and empowerment? Does it serve any useful purpose to (a) believe there is a God, and to (b) think that he has a concern and ability to make any real difference of any sort in world or personal matters? Have we become pluralistic regarding the “God-Factor” and succumbed to a conglomeration of what different ones identify as “God” to and for them?

The Philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) dealt with this question when he spoke and wrote about “God Is Dead”! The idea is stated in "The Madman" as follows: “God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives: who will wipe this blood off us? What water is there for us to clean ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it?”

This view was later picked up and popularized once again by Bishop John A.T. Robinson (1919-1983) and stated in his book, Honest To God. Reviews about his approach include: “The overwhelming theory of Honest to God is the idea that having rejected the idea of 'God up there', modern secular man also needs to recognize that the idea of God out there is also an outdated simplification of the nature of divinity…He claims that secular man requires a secular theology. That is, that God's continuing revelation to humanity is one brought about in culture at large, not merely within the confines of ‘religion’ or ‘church’, so called.” The book also introduced the idea of situational ethics to an English speaking audience. This was a form of relativism, based on the idea that moral codes are not set in stone, but may be subject to circumstances.

Interestingly, the Media has attributed a form of ‘divinity’ to President Obama. The belief is he is the one who can affect and effect change for the good of this nation and the world. As a matter of fact, on June 5, 2009, Newsweek editor Evan Thomas brought adulation over President Obama’s Cairo speech to a whole new level…declaring on MSNBC: "I mean in a way Obama’s standing above the country, above the world, he’s sort of God." And to think, this adulation is bestowed on one who has declared to the world that the USA is no longer a “Christian Nation” (even though our foundational documents declare otherwise), and then this past week when speaking in Cairo, Egypt to a largely Muslim audience he stated, the USA is one of the largest Muslim Nations in the world (there are 1,500,000,000 Billion Muslims in the world – there are less than 2 million in the USA). However, if President Obama is a “sort of god”, one would suppose in his omniscience this must be true.

This whole idea and notion of denying the One True and Eternal God has been around since time began. Romans 1:18 through 32 is a very clear description of where we have arrived as a nation and how we got to this point. If Evan Thomas is correct about the “sort of God” that we now embrace, the Apostle Paul is even more correct in Romans 1:24-25 - and this apt and accurate summary: “…God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator…” A frightening truth is shared in Hosea 5:4-7, “Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. For the spirit of whoredom is within them, and they know not the Lord. The pride of Israel testifies to his face; Israel and Ephraim shall stumble in his guilt; Judah also shall stumble with them. With their flocks and herds they shall go to seek the Lord, but they will not find him; he has withdrawn from them. They have dealt faithlessly with the Lord; for they have borne alien children. Now the new moon shall devour them with their fields.” Is this where we are today? Is this the stubborn and foolish choice we insist upon? Are we willing to “bend” or must we become “broken” first? Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is still near!

Polls Can Be Polarizing

From My Perspective - - -

Polls and Surveys have become a way of life in our nation, as well as having an influence in areas of politics, religion, trends, etc. For years, we have grown accustomed to the Gallup Poll; Rasmussen Polls; Zogby Poll - in the primary area of politics. We have the Nielsen Ratings for Television Programming Preferences; and the Barna Report for religious trends and direction. Regrettably, the Polls can vary greatly depending on (a) the Sample Group used, and (b) the manner in which the Poll Question was framed.

The Polls Published today demonstrate the variance. On Presidential Approval, Rasmussen has the Approval at 53%, whereas Gallup is 62% and Associated Press is 64%. In terms of Congressional Approval, The Associated Press is at 38% and Fox News is at 41%. In terms of the Direction of the Country, the Real Clear Politics Average shows 45% think it is heading in the Right Direction, whereas 48.7% believe it is moving in the wrong direction. When we get into the area of Religion, people have so many differing affiliations and preferences, that Sampling is extremely difficult. The size of the Sample Group is also significant: Gallup uses 1547, Associated Press 1000, Barna 1004.

Barna begins with the premise, AMERICANS ARE EXPLORING NEW WAYS OF EXPERIENCING GOD and summarizes: Americans are in a new age of exploration, deploying new approaches to marriage, communications, sexuality, education, and more. According the results from a new nationwide survey, the “and more” includes how people pursue their faith and how they choose to relate to God and other people of faith. Barna concludes and shares his findings: 88% of American adults say that “my religious faith is very important in my life…”; 75% say they sense that “God is motivating people to stay connected with Him, but in different ways and through different types of experiences than in the past.” There is a growing sense of release from traditional religious practices in this country. People are suggesting that they want more of God and less of the stuff that gets between them and their relationship with God. This mindset is equally common among Catholics and Protestants; 45% say they are “willing to try a new church.” Almost half of the nation’s 230 million adults – are open to changing their church home…; 64% say they are “completely open to carrying out and pursuing your faith in an environment or structure that differs from that of a typical church.” ; 50% say “a growing number of people I know are tired of the usual type of church experience.” Half of all adults said they are aware of such a willingness to experiment on the part of people they know because those individuals are tired of the common church experience. This awareness was especially acute among blacks (59%) and Hispanics (58%); 71% say they are “more likely to develop my religious beliefs on my own, rather than to accept an entire set of beliefs that a particular church teaches.” Across the board, the research showed that women are driving these changes…”

The organized Church has allowed itself to become a political entity. A small group of “insiders” have gained and maintain control. Any newcomer has difficulty “fitting in” to the internal “power structure”! A tiny minority tends to dominate all church activities, and some people just move on to something different or to nothing at all. The Church knows the teaching of I Corinthians 12:18-26, “God has arranged the parts in the body…just as he wanted them to be…The eye cannot say to the hand, I don't need you! And the head cannot say to the feet, I don't need you! On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor…God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” In Romans 15:7 we are told: “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” There is always “lip service” given to these things but people have a way of claiming ownership of the local church and continue to run “their Church their way”! Other people (newer attendees) tend to move on to other things, and the people in “their church” don’t have a clue. They just never get around to looking in a mirror!

Liberty's Fragility

From My Perspective - - -

Historical Reflection - Adolph Hitler decided to seize power constitutionally rather than by force of arms. Using demagogic oratory, Hitler spoke to scores of mass audiences, calling for the German people to resist the yoke of Jews and Communists, and to create a new empire which would rule the world for 1,000 years. Hitler’s rise to power promised “change” and “hope” for the German people. Hitler's Nazi party captured 18% of the popular vote in the 1930 elections. In 1932, Hitler ran for President and won 30% of the vote, forcing the eventual victor, Paul von Hindenburg, into a runoff election. A political deal was made to make Hitler chancellor in exchange for his political support. He was appointed to that office in January 1933. Upon the death of Hindenburg in August 1934, Hitler was the consensus successor. With an improving economy, Hitler claimed credit and consolidated his position as a dictator, having succeeded in eliminating challenges from other political parties and government institutions. The German industrial machine was built up in preparation for war. By 1937, he was comfortable enough to put his master plan, as outlined in Mein Kampf, into effect. Calling his top military aides together at the "FÅhrer Conference" in November 1937, he outlined his plans for world domination. Those who objected to the plan were dismissed. Hitler ordered the annexation of Austria and the Sudetenland in 1938. Hitler's army invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, sparking France and England to declare war on Germany. A Blitzkrieg (lightning war) of German tanks and infantry swept through most of Western Europe as nation after nation fell to the German war machine.

Today represents the 65th Anniversary of the D-Day Invasion of Normandy, France by Allied Forces. A great invasion force stood off the Normandy coast of France as dawn broke on 6 June 1944: 9 Battleships; 23 cruisers; 104 destroyers, and 71 large landing craft of various descriptions as well as troop transports, and mine sweepers, the largest Armada ever assembled. 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. General Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which ‘we will accept nothing less than full victory.’ More than 5,000 Ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, and by day’s end on June 6, the Allies gained a foot-hold in Normandy. The operation brought together the land, air and sea forces of the allied armies in what became known as the largest invasion force in human history. It was given the codename OVERLORD, delivering five naval assault divisions to the beaches of Normandy, France -Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno And Sword.

War Is Costly - People Get Wounded; Maimed; and Killed; Things Get Broken and Destroyed. At Normandy, stands a wind-swept cemetery with rows of white marble crosses on a bluff overlooking the Omaha landing beach. It's an place that holds the remains of 9,387 Americans. Over 425,000 Allied and German troops were killed, wounded or went missing during the Battle of Normandy. There are the countless thousands and millions who suffered and died horribly in German Concentration Camps. The Holocaust is a grim reminder to be remembered. War also causes some sacrifice and infringement on the Liberty of all. World War II required rationing (food; gasoline; etc.) and restriction; Blackouts and Air Raid Wardens; Identification Tags for children in large city schools… War Bonds were sold to raise finances for this nation.

In our own nation, “change” and “hope” has been proclaimed by a very gifted orator. One change now is the appointment of Czars (15 so far) to oversee the nation’s business, with authority to regulate how money is distributed and how it will be used. A Czar is: “an autocratic ruler or leader; any person exercising great authority or power in a particular field.” Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.) became concerned enough to send a cautionary letter to Obama: “...The rapid and easy accumulation of power by White House staff can threaten the constitutional system of checks and balances…” Psalm 11:3 asks: “When the foundations are destroyed (crumbling), what can the righteous do?" The answer: Psalm 11:1 - “In the Lord I take refuge…” Psalm 11:4-7 states: “…The Lord is in His holy temple…the wicked and those who love violence His soul hates…For the Lord is righteous, He loves justice; upright men will see His face.” This is Real Hope!

As The World Scoffs

From My Perspective - - -

The world has become a comparatively small place since the advent of satellites and internet, etc. Almost instantly, events unfold at a rapid pace. The affairs of our nation are universally known, and the world is disinterested in what our diplomats state or the talking points they attempt to share. The world sees and knows! In terms of our nation, an old phrase – from the sublime to the ridiculous – is no longer apropos! It is more like moving from the ridiculous to the absurd. This week there have been some instances that indicate the world’s thoughts regarding the United States – its trends and behavior...

On Monday, June 1st, PRAVDA published an item: "AMERICAN CAPITALISM GONE WITH A WHIMPER". The article states: "It must be said, that like the breaking of a great dam, the American decent into Marxism is happening with breath taking speed, against the back drop of a passive, hapless sheeple…" Cleverly using the word “sheeple” PRAVDA masks their scoffing and derision of the USA. The intent and meaning is: “Sheeple is a term of disparagement, a portmanteau (a blend of two (or more) words) created by combining the words "sheep" and "people." It is often used to denote persons who acquiesce to authority, and thus undermine their own human individuality. The implication of sheeple is that as a collective, people believe whatever they are told, especially if told so by authority figures, without processing it to be sure that it is an accurate representation of the real world around them. The term is generally used in a political or religious sense. (the singular form of the term is sherson).”

Also on Monday, June 1st, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner was in China to reassure the Chinese government that its huge holdings of dollar assets are safe and reaffirmed his faith in a strong U.S. currency…”Chinese assets are very safe, Geithner said in response to a question after a speech at Peking University…His answer drew loud laughter from his student audience, reflecting skepticism in China about the wisdom of a developing country accumulating a vast stockpile of foreign reserves instead of spending the money to raise living standards at home.” Laughter and Derision is the response of a discerning world regarding the USA that has chosen a pathway of bankruptcy in areas of financial responsibility and credibility, as well as the overall approach and lifestyle in terms of ethics, mores and morals.

The Washington Post reported yesterday, June 3rd: “The nation needs to begin planning now to reduce the budget deficit, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Wednesday, arguing that even as the government acts to bolster the economy in the short run it must ensure that spending and revenue will come into line in the longer term. Congress and the administration face formidable near-term challenges that must be addressed…But he warned that the economy will suffer “unless we demonstrate a strong commitment to fiscal sustainability in the longer term…he even connected recent swings in the market for U.S. Treasury bonds to worries about the nation’s long-term deficits. The interest rate that government must pay to borrow money for 10 years or more has risen sharply in the past two weeks as investors in the United States and around the world have become more wary of the nation’s growing debt load.”

If PRAVDA is correct – that we are a “sheeple” nation – laughter, ridicule and scoffing are among the least of our concerns. The descriptive words in Isaiah 59:1-2, 9-11: “The Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear… justice is far from us, righteousness does not overtake us; we hope for light, and behold, darkness, and for brightness, but we walk in gloom. We grope…we hope for justice, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far from us.” Also, Matthew 9:35-38, “Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages…proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom…When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd…” The solution is not seeking appeasement with Muslim nations. This nation must return to the Lord, and seek Him, and obey Him! Think about these things with me…

Hoisting Or Foisting

From My Perspective - - -

As our nation is represented in foreign countries, we have heard our national leader offer an apology for the attitude and arrogance of the USA toward other nations. One wonders if this is an attempt at amelioration, or a reintroduction of a proven failed approach 70 years ago of attempted appeasement by then Prime Minister of England, Neville Chamberlain. He returned to England in 1938 and waved a Document and “,,,delivered his famous ‘peace for our time’ speech to delighted crowds in London.” This was on the eve of World War II.

Currently our leadership is going to the Middle East and the BBC reports: “US President Barack Obama said Monday that the United States cannot impose its values on other countries, but argued that principles such as democracy and the rule of law were universal… the United States must lead by example…The danger I think is when the United States or any country thinks that we can simply impose these values on another country with a different history and a different culture…Democracy, rule of law, freedom of speech, freedom of religion - those are not simply principles of the West to be hoisted on these countries, but rather what I believe to be universal principles that they can embrace and affirm as part of their national identity…I think the thing that we can do most importantly is serve as a good role model. And that's why closing Guantanamo, from my perspective, as difficult as it is, is important. Because part of what we want to affirm to the world is that these are values that are important even when it's hard, even especially when it's hard, and not just when it's easy (Obama has vowed to close the camp by January 22, 2010).”

Appease the Liberal Base; appease Europe; appease the Middle East; don’t HOIST our values on others; etc. It’s almost as though our Leader is suggesting we are trying to FOIST (To impose something or someone unwanted upon another by coercion or trickery; insert fraudulently or deceitfully) such as the appeasement act of 1938, rather than HOIST (to become raised or lifted) and champion democracy in its most pure form. This week we commemorate D-Day. “The D-Day operation of June 6, 1944 brought together the land, air and sea forces of the allied armies in what became known as the largest invasion force in human history. The operation, given the code-name OVERLORD, delivered five naval assault divisions to the beaches of Normandy, France…The invasion force included 7,000 ships and landing craft manned by over 195,000 naval personnel from eight allied countries. Almost 133,000 troops from England, Canada and the United States landed on D-Day. Casualties from the three countries during the landing numbered 10,300. By June 30th, over 850,000 men, 148,000 vehicles, and 570,000 tons of supplies had landed on the Normandy shores.” Shall we apologize to the thousands of the brave Americans who are buried in France as we “Hoisted” liberty upon them? Shall we apologize to Saudi Arabia for “Hoisting” our commitment to right and defending that kingdom from the attempts of Saddam Hussein? Shall we apologize to Kuwait for “Hoisting” our sense of integrity by the removal of Iraq from their small kingdom and Iraq’s seizure of the oil wells there? Shall we apologize for the young men and women who are maimed or who have died as we “Hoisted” a standard of values and rights in a war against terrorism and terrorists (even if we change the name, the war is still the same)?

The Lord Jesus Christ left His followers an Imperative (a Command and Mandate) in Matthew 28:18-20, “…All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” In many ways, we fail to do this adequately in our own neighborhoods and communities, and have allowed other things to dim the vision for reaching our world for The One Who has ordered us to Go…Make…Teach – Hoist all of what Jesus has taught and commanded… Shall we apologize to our Master for failing to adequately obey His Command? Shall we apologize to the nations for our fear or failure to share this Teaching and these Commandments with them? Will we one day stand in shame before our Master for our lack of follow-through to His Mandates? Think about this with me…

Whatever Happened To Charlie Brown

From My Perspective - - -

In January 2009, The Harris Poll conducted its regular Hero Survey of a cross-section of Americans regarding Our Top Heroes. Asked whom they admire enough to call their heroes (up to three names), those mentioned most included: 1. Barack Obama; 2. Jesus Christ; 3. Martin Luther King; 4. Ronald Reagan; 5. George W. Bush; 6. Abraham Lincoln; 7. John McCain; 8. John F. Kennedy; 9. Chelsey Sullenberger; 10. Mother Teresa; 11. God; 12. Hillary Clinton; 13. Billy Graham; 14. Franklin D. Roosevelt; 15. Mahatma Gandhi; 16. Colin Powell; 17. George Washington; 18. Bill Clinton; 19. Condoleeza Rice; 20. Oprah Winfrey; 21. Sarah Palin; 22. George S. Patton; 23. Bill Gates…In another question, responders were asked to select from a list of choices what made someone a hero. The top definitions given were: (1) Doing what's right regardless of personal consequences (89%); (2) Not giving up until the goal is accomplished (83%); (3) Doing more than what other people expect of them (82%); (4) Overcoming adversity (81%); Staying level-headed in a crisis (81%).

Some might ponder why the one with whom many can identify - Charlie Brown - did not make the list. Charlie Brown tried to achieve and succeed – but – was most often frustrated and seen as a loser. An apt and brief biography of him is: “Charlie Brown is a loveable loser, a child possessed of endless determination and hope, but who is ultimately dominated by his insecurities and a permanent case of bad luck, and often taken advantage of by his peers.” Charlie had no lack of desire and was motivated to give many situations his best effort – but all in vain. He can be viewed as a hero because he (a) tried his best; (b) he was trusting of others; (c) he was wistful and wanting to believe the best about his peers and others; (d) he never responded in anger; (e) he demonstrated perseverance; etc. Charlie was not caught up in the webs of intrigue, nor the possible manipulation of others. He was who he was and tried to do what was right and best – with principle, ethics and a sound moral base.

This nation seems to be roaring into a new age. Individual rights are being marginalized; Business Protocols are being usurped; National Focus and Resolve are being diminished; Indebtedness has reached proportions heretofore unimagined; and Expenditures are only limited by the speed of the Printing Presses to generate more Currency to saturate the nation and world (is it any wonder that China and Brazil no longer want to have the American Dollar as the Monetary Standard for International transactions?). The Pundits add to the confusion and absurdity of our time by speaking of Capitalism fading into Socialism, while same allow that the Republic is rapidly becoming Fascist or Marxist. While there remains some subtlety to the all of this, the rapidity at which things are transpiring may get the nation to an unseemly destination so rapidly that there will be little or no possibility of averting the impending disaster. An illustration is a news item from yesterday headlined - FEDERAL RESERVE PUZZLED BY YIELD CURVE STEEPENING: “The Federal Reserve is studying significant moves in the U.S. government bond market last week that could have big implications for the central bank's strategy to combat the country's recession. But the Fed is not really sure what is driving the sharp rise in long-dated bond yields, and especially a widening gap between short and long term yields…”

Lurking in the background is the Harris Poll that (a) makes a distinction between Jesus Christ and God in the first place, and (b) relegates Jesus Christ to second place, and God to eleventh. Although a man may pronounce that “we are no longer a Christian nation”, does not and will not be able to alter or deny Psalm 47:6-8, “Sing praises to God, sing praises…For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm! God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne…” In Psalm 59:5-8, “You, Lord God of hosts, are God…Rouse Yourself to punish all the nations; spare none of those who treacherously plot evil…There they are, bellowing with their mouths with swords in their lips for ‘Who, they think, will hear us?’ But You, O Lord, laugh at them; You hold all the nations in derision. O my Strength, I will watch for You, for You, O God, are my fortress…” Whether Polls rank God second, eleventh, or not at all – the fact remains - He Is Lord - and one day will cause all nations to bow down and acknowledge that He Is Lord to the Glory of God the Father!