Looming Disaster Or A Time To Refocus

From My Perspective - - -

We began to get hints of problems within the United States Postal Service on May 18^th, 2011 when two headlines appeared – “4 Months Until Post Office Defaults...” and “Next Up For Bailout: Post Office...”  Other Headlines appearing that indicated the issues were not being fabricated were:  June 22 – “Post Office Halts Retirement Contributions for Employees...”; July 20 – “Post Office Home Delivery 3 Days A Week?”; August 11 – “Post Office Proposes Cutting 120,000 Jobs, Pulling Out Of Healthcare Plan...”; September 04 – “Broke: Post Office System May Shut Down Entirely This Winter...Unless Congress Takes Emergency Action…” The immediate need is for $5.2 billion to meet operating expenses. One of the raised concerns is that 80% of revenues received are needed and used for employee costs. At UPS, 52% of revenues go toward employee costs, and at FedEx 36% of revenues go toward employee costs. The above Headlines are grim and the possible result for 120,000 Postal employees is dire. This is just one illustration of several that could be mentioned.

Where is the solution to the problems facing the nation and individual lives? How can and will one survive in difficult times? Can the elected politicians solve the problem? They seem at their best and being most adept when they are casting aspersions and blaming others – Obama blames Bush; Democrats blame Republicans (and vice-versa); the poor blame the rich; One Race blames Another; Class Warfare is generated; etc. Where is the answer and resolve in times that are impacting people materially, physically and spiritually? Following September 11, 2001, Adrian Rogers addressed the aftermath of the terrorist with these thoughts: “The Christian’s Response To Terror.”

Adrian Rogers basic presentation included: “Many have asked how should Christians respond to what happened in America on September 11. The first thing I want to tell you is to trust God. He will see us through this. His anchor holds in the storm. Proverbs 18:10 says, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runs into it, and is safe." Psalm 20:7 says, "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God." America may go to war with manmade weapons, but our safety and ultimate victory comes from the Lord. Second, we need to gather and pray…We need pray for God's kingdom to come and God's will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. God's word says, "I exhort therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, then giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty, for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior." (1 Timothy 2:1). We need to pray for and we need to work for peace. Third, all the prayer in the world is not going to do any good unless we repent. In II Chronicles 7:14 it says, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."  We, as a nation, must repent. We, as Christians, who have stood back in apathy and allowed our nation to slide into a cesspool of immorality, need to repent for our sins…”

It is difficult to adapt to the cultural times that impact individual lives, especially those who wish to maintain Biblical and Christian values. The temptation is to cut corners and compromise – even though one knows better. In the early 1900s, A.B. Simpson stated in a sermon: “I shall never forget a remark George Mueller once made in answer to a gentleman who asked him the best way to have strong faith. The only way to learn strong faith, he replied…is to endure great trials. I have learned my faith by standing firm in severe testing… Be not afraid, only believe. If you are afraid, just look up and say, What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee…” These are words from Psalm 56:3-4 (NKJV), “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You…In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?” The Psalmist learned to trust The Lord Who is His Shepherd in all situations and at all times. Is this what you have learned and believe? Consider these things with me!