From My Perspective - - -
Life is filled with many oxymoron situations (oxymoron: a rhetorical figure where contradictory terms are combined). Government of the people, for the people, and by the people is supposed to operate with openness and clarity. Instead, what is taking place in an unfolding drama (or is it charade?) in the US Senate at the present time is anything but that purpose and commitment. A Committee that is working on particulars of a Health Reform Bill and Budget has decided to exclude the Republicans from the discussions because “they don’t behave properly”! They have carried this to a point of absurdity by not only locking the doors to the conference room but also changing the lock on the door. Guess who doesn’t have a key to the door?! At a time when one would hope there would be bi-partisan involvement, a decision for exclusion has occurred. Even if a group or individual “does not behave properly”, should they not be allowed to participate and offer constructive amendments to very important matters and legislation? When did we become a nation of rule by 60% rather than 100% representation? This means that a growing number of citizens are deliberately being ignored and disenfranchised so a multi-trillion dollar legislation can be enacted.
One wonders if the following words have any meaning or significance: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” Whatever happened to “Tranquility” and “Liberty” in the scheme of things in Congress? Haven’t our elected officials sworn to uphold the Constitution of the United States? It appears they need to read at least the Preamble – and – do so soon. In fairness, if a person wants to participate in a conference meeting, the purpose should be something more than to merely wrangle about minutia and counter-proposals. Those who are “locked out” should remember that they did very little to address health reform when they were the majority. The best they could do was come up with an outlandish and nightmarish Prescription Drug Program.
Is there any true hope that can emerge when some choose to do business in the shadows and secretly? Can exclusionary politics work effectively for a nation? What is the ultimate hope and goal for a viable nation that commits itself against any form of indenture or tyranny? One would hope there would be the reality of particular Biblical truth in the minds and governing protocols of elected officials.
Proverbs 21:1 from The Message: “Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God; He directs it to whatever ends He chooses.”
In the KJV: “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: He turns it whithersoever He will.”
Proverbs 14:34 from ESV: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”
John 7:4 - As Jesus was beginning his public ministry, his brothers tried to impress upon him a principle:
“No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.”
Luke 12:2-3 – A Truism Enunciated By Jesus:
“There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.”
There is always a day of reckoning and accountability for us all. Those who speak, whisper and act in what they deem to be exclusionary privacy will one day hear their words that were “whispered in secret” shouted in public! It is a frightening prospect for us. This very possibility should provoke greater character and manifestation of integrity and transparency both in one’s personal life as well as in matters that affect a greater number of people. How much whispering and scheming do you do in the shadows and darkness? Our Mandate is to “Walk in the Light as He is in the Light.” Why don’t we just do it? Consider these things with me!
Life is filled with many oxymoron situations (oxymoron: a rhetorical figure where contradictory terms are combined). Government of the people, for the people, and by the people is supposed to operate with openness and clarity. Instead, what is taking place in an unfolding drama (or is it charade?) in the US Senate at the present time is anything but that purpose and commitment. A Committee that is working on particulars of a Health Reform Bill and Budget has decided to exclude the Republicans from the discussions because “they don’t behave properly”! They have carried this to a point of absurdity by not only locking the doors to the conference room but also changing the lock on the door. Guess who doesn’t have a key to the door?! At a time when one would hope there would be bi-partisan involvement, a decision for exclusion has occurred. Even if a group or individual “does not behave properly”, should they not be allowed to participate and offer constructive amendments to very important matters and legislation? When did we become a nation of rule by 60% rather than 100% representation? This means that a growing number of citizens are deliberately being ignored and disenfranchised so a multi-trillion dollar legislation can be enacted.
One wonders if the following words have any meaning or significance: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” Whatever happened to “Tranquility” and “Liberty” in the scheme of things in Congress? Haven’t our elected officials sworn to uphold the Constitution of the United States? It appears they need to read at least the Preamble – and – do so soon. In fairness, if a person wants to participate in a conference meeting, the purpose should be something more than to merely wrangle about minutia and counter-proposals. Those who are “locked out” should remember that they did very little to address health reform when they were the majority. The best they could do was come up with an outlandish and nightmarish Prescription Drug Program.
Is there any true hope that can emerge when some choose to do business in the shadows and secretly? Can exclusionary politics work effectively for a nation? What is the ultimate hope and goal for a viable nation that commits itself against any form of indenture or tyranny? One would hope there would be the reality of particular Biblical truth in the minds and governing protocols of elected officials.
Proverbs 21:1 from The Message: “Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God; He directs it to whatever ends He chooses.”
In the KJV: “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: He turns it whithersoever He will.”
Proverbs 14:34 from ESV: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”
John 7:4 - As Jesus was beginning his public ministry, his brothers tried to impress upon him a principle:
“No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.”
Luke 12:2-3 – A Truism Enunciated By Jesus:
“There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.”
There is always a day of reckoning and accountability for us all. Those who speak, whisper and act in what they deem to be exclusionary privacy will one day hear their words that were “whispered in secret” shouted in public! It is a frightening prospect for us. This very possibility should provoke greater character and manifestation of integrity and transparency both in one’s personal life as well as in matters that affect a greater number of people. How much whispering and scheming do you do in the shadows and darkness? Our Mandate is to “Walk in the Light as He is in the Light.” Why don’t we just do it? Consider these things with me!
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