CLARITY

From My Perspective - - -

It is vital that one maintain credibility at all times and at all costs. However, Credibility without Clarity can prove to be wooden and ill-defined. A person can have Credibility but if that person never articulates his/her worldview with Clarity there can be little benefit to and for anyone from that Credibility. We live in a period of History where there are rapidly changing events on the world’s stage. Very often, the reporting of those events is in terms that are vague, misleading, ambiguous and deceitful. The truth becomes enshrouded with intrigue. That which seems obvious is blurred by those who desire to maintain a personal narrative of the events for their own designs and purposes. Deceit reigns where Clarity should be in the forefront.

Occasionally, a voice is raised that cuts through the verbiage of the day, and utters the truth in a commanding way. It becomes a breath of fresh air penetrating through the stench of subterfuge. On September 27th, when Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel addressed the United Nations, he spoke definitively and with Clarity. Part of his address included the following: “Three thousand years ago, King David reigned over the Jewish state in our eternal capital, Jerusalem. I say that to all those who proclaim that the Jewish state has no roots in our region and that it will soon disappear. Throughout our history, the Jewish people have overcome all the tyrants who have sought our destruction. It’s their ideologies that have been discarded by history. The people of Israel live on…”

Netanyahu then addressed his view of Modernity when he said: “In Israel, the past and the future find common ground. Unfortunately, that is not the case in many other countries. For today, a great battle is being waged between the modern and the medieval. The forces of modernity seek a bright future in which the rights of all are protected, in which an ever-expanding digital library is available in the palm of every child, in which every life is sacred. The forces of medievalism seek a world in which women and minorities are subjugated, in which knowledge is suppressed, in which not life but death is glorified. These forces clash around the globe, but nowhere more starkly than in the Middle East…Israel cherishes life, Israel cherishes peace and seeks peace. We seek to preserve our historic ties and our historic peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan. We seek to forge a durable peace with the Palestinians…We won’t solve our conflict with libelous speeches at the UN. That’s not the way to solve it. We won’t solve our conflict with unilateral declarations of statehood…Israel wants to see a Middle East of progress and peace. We want to see the three great religions that sprang forth from our region – Judaism, Christianity and Islam – coexist in peace and in mutual respect. Yet the medieval forces of radical Islam, whom you just saw storming the American embassies throughout the Middle East, they oppose this. They seek supremacy over all Muslims. They are bent on world conquest. They want to destroy Israel, Europe, America. They want to extinguish freedom. They want to end the modern world…Ultimately they will fail. Ultimately, light will penetrate the darkness.”

In Jeremiah 9:4-6, we have a word from The Lord: “Beware of your friends; do not trust your brothers. For every brother is a deceiver, and every friend a slanderer. Friend deceives friend, and no one speaks the truth. They have taught their tongues to lie; they weary themselves with sinning. You live in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me, declares the Lord.” Similarly, in Ephesians 4:25 (NKJV), “…putting away lying, Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.” In 1968, Francis Schaeffer wrote, Escape From Reason. Part of his thesis was: “It is an important principle to remember, in the contemporary interest in communication and in language study, that the biblical presentation is that though we do not have exhaustive truth, we have from the Bible what I term true truth. In this way we know true truth about God, true truth about man, and something truly about nature. Thus on the basis of the Scriptures, while we do not have exhaustive knowledge, we have true and unified knowledge.” We need to return to the foundations of Truth and be emboldened to declare The Truth with Clarity. Consider these things with me.

CREDIBILITY

From My Perspective - - -

One of the major issues before the nation and world is (a) who/what can you believe, and (b) who/what can you trust! In our political climate, there are many voices that can be heard. Across the landscape of our nation, there are politicians and their surrogates speaking, accusing, promising, and wanting votes from anyone and everyone. With all of the verbiage and analysis one can hear, how much of it is credible? Credibility carries with it the idea of what is plausible; what is reliable; who represents integrity; who is more or most believable. Is that what we are hearing?

In June 2012, Forbes Magazine published a column by Ty Kilsel entitled: “Who Do You Trust?” The column referenced, “A 2009 international study originally posted on the Harvard Business Review and titled, ‘Managing Talent In Troubled Times’, suggested ‘the majority of people say they trust a stranger more than they trust their boss.’ James Kouzes and Barry Posner in their book, ‘The Truth About Leadership: The No-Fads, Heart-of-the-Matter Facts You Need To Know, suggest that trustworthiness and credibility are foundational to leadership. If you were afraid that transparency would be used as a club, would you willingly provide it to your boss?”

The Forbes Column goes on to state, “According to Posner and Kouzes, If people don’t trust you, they won’t believe what you say. You might be interested to know they also argue high-trust organizations tend to outperform low-trust organizations by 286 percent. What’s more, a Price-Waterhouse-Coopers study of corporate innovation among the Financial Times 100, showed that the number one differentiating factor between the top innovators and the bottom innovators was trust. That means if people don’t trust you, your organization (or team) is likely to under-perform and be slow to innovate.” Part of their overall thesis and suggestion is, “Politics, religion, businesses and even teams and work groups thrive in an environment of trust – and fail when trust doesn’t exist.”

In the current day, as the United Nations meets, one voice that is heard above all others is “Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who said Tuesday that a new world order needs to emerge, away from years of what he called American bullying and domination.” He has also allowed that Israel is a false and fake government and needs to be eliminated. He spoke of the very restrictive view regarding homosexuality in Islam and Iran. Does he have credibility or is this merely political swagger on the world’s stage? Does he telegraph his intent for the world as he perceives it or is it just saber-rattling rhetoric? When the United States President speaks and indicates this nation will stand with Israel without restriction, does the world come to attention and listen and believe it? Is he viewed as being credible or as one who is good in making speeches? Is there any voice being raised in terms of what is morally right? Does our nation no longer have the credibility when it comes to voicing “Christian” values? Has the world become convinced that the United States is no longer a "Christian" nation?

What will it take for one to have credibility? What will it take for our nation to regain credibility and to have a voice that others will want to hear and to which they will respond? A place for the nation to give heed is Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” The nation needs to get right with God before it can do things that will have credibility as it tries to do what’s right in the world. In terms of what we say, in Matthew 5:37 Jesus instructs, “Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No';

 anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” The Message Paraphrase of Matthew 5:35-37 states it, “You don't make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say 'yes' and 'no.' When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.” What is the bottom-line of your life? Are you a credible follower of the Lord Jesus Christ? Do people you meet believe it? Do they believe you? Consider these things with me! 

VICTIMS

From My Perspective - - -

We use words freely in our world and culture. One of them currently receiving some attention is the word “victim”. It occurred when a political candidate stated that 47% of the American population, those who pay no Income Tax and who are receiving some form of Government subsidy, such as Food Stamps or Unemployment and or Disability Allotments, are “victims.” A “victim” is (1) “a person who suffers from a destructive or injurious action or agency”; (2) “a person who is deceived or cheated, as be his or her own emotions or ignorance, by the dishonesty of others…”; (3) “a living creature, person or animal,  sacrificed; war victims.” The politician might have done well to have found a better word to use. Many people are in their current situation through no fault of their own. The broad range of economics is a major factor. There is outsourcing of manufacturing and industry; a persistent high level of unemployment and underemployment; a low and declining GDP (Gross Domestic Product) - the output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States. In that sense, there are a number of people who are victims of the nation’s economic policies.

In the general discourse regarding “victims”, the thought is in terms of the bigger picture. There is a website, “The History Place: Genocide in the 20^th Century”, that offers these following introductory observations. First, “Adolf Hitler to his Army commanders, August 22, 1939: "Thus for the time being I have sent to the East only my 'Death's Head Units' with the orders to kill without pity or mercy all men, women, and children of Polish race or language. Only in such a way will we win the vital space that we need. Who still talks nowadays about the Armenians?" Second, “The term 'Genocide' was coined by Polish writer and attorney, Raphael Lemkin, in 1941 by combining the Greek word 'genos' (race) with the Latin word 'cide' (killing). Genocide as defined by the United Nations in 1948 means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, including: (a) killing members of the group (b) causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group (c) deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part (d) imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group (e) forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.” In the minds of many, these two observations characterize those who are or have become “victims” through  no fault of their own.

Some will remember a prescription drug in the 1950’s that caused severe birth defects. CNN has a pictorial history of those who became innocent “victims” when/where this drug had been prescribed and used. “Thalidomide pills were prescribed in the late 1950s for morning sickness and as a sedative. New Jersey-based Celgene Corporation won FDA approval to use the drug for a painful side-effect of leprosy. It was banned in 1962 after causing birth defects.” What is even more telling is not just the infants who were born with physical defects - including shortened arms and legs, and in some cases no limbs at all - but the Corporations admission of any error on their part in the production and distribution of the medication. The New York Times, in an article dated September 1, 2012, reported: “Decades of campaigning by victims of Thalidomide, a morning sickness drug, have taken a new turn, with the first apology in 50 years to the victims and their families by the drug’s German manufacturer and an incensed rejection of the apology as too little and too late from many of those it was intended to placate.”

The Bible reminds us that The Lord cares about all who are afflicted. Psalms 140:12, “I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.” Psalms 9:9, “The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.” Psalms 103:6. “The Lord executes righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.” Zephaniah 1:9, In the same day also will I punish all those that leap on the threshold, which fill their master’s houses with violence and deceit.” We should endeavor to be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. We should assist those who are afflicted. We should point precious souls to Jesus Christ Who will be their refuge and hope. We need to live in such a way that we are a demonstration of the reality of life in Christ. We can do it! We need to be doing it – for Him!  Consider these things with me!

COMPLETE AND/OR FINISHED

From My Perspective - - -

A website that is committed to clean humor states: “No English dictionary has been able to explain the difference between the two words "complete" and "finished" in a way that is easy to understand.” They go on to try and define it in a humorous manner: “Some people say there is no difference between COMPLETE and FINISHED, but there is: (a) When you marry the right one, you are COMPLETE...And (b) when you marry the wrong one, you are FINISHED...And (c) when the right one catches you with the wrong one, you are COMPLETELY FINISHED.” There may be a degree of of validity in their attempt at humor, especially when compared with the submissions in unabridged dictionaries. As an example, the World English Dictionary defines “complete” as: “having every necessary part or element; entire; ended; finished.” The word “finished” is defined as: “ended or completed; perfected in all details.”

How does the secular attempt at defining “complete” and “finished” compare with the spiritual usage of these words? For the word “complete”, there is a personal possibility and application for the individual. It is stated in Colossians 2:9-10 (NKJV), “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.” The Message Paraphrase renders this differently, “Everything of God gets expressed in him, so you can see and hear him clearly. You don't need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him.  When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything.” A.T. Robertson, in his Word Pictures of the New Testament translates Colossians 2:10, rather than using the word “complete”, he states: “You are made full…Christ is our fullness of which we all partake.” Being “made full in Christ” has only one result, namely, one has become “complete in Him.”

The Biblical usage of the word “finished” is usually in reference to the spoken word, or a meal, or a particular task. In John 19:28-30, we find the translation and usage of both “complete” and “finished” in the text: “Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” A.T. Robertson translates the phrase “knowing that all was now completed” as “are now finished” or as complete as anything can possibly be in a given act and circumstance. Robertson then allows that “It is finished” is not a surrender in defeat but “a cry of victory”.

Why is this his conclusion? He submits that Jesus knew the relation of His death to the redemption of His own. It is not dissimilar to the words in Romans 8:29-30, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. Even though these terms are translated in the past tense, they need to be understood as being completed actions in the mind of God. The ones who are redeemed are a work in progress. They have realized what it is to be called and justified. They also understand that the work of sanctification and glorification is not fully realized in this life. The redeemed child of God is progressing to that day when all these things will be completed and he/she will realize that this is the fulfillment of what Jesus had in His mind on the cross when He uttered: “It is finished.” Do you have the assurance of being “complete in Him” and the work of His redemption being “finished” in your behalf? Be encouraged by the Chorus to the Hymn “Golden Harps Are Sounding” that expresses: “All his work is ended, joyfully we sing: Jesus hath ascended: Glory to our King!” Great words about a great truth. Let that reality make a significant difference and change in your life. Consider these things with me.

PATHOLOGY OF DEPENDENCY

From My Perspective - - -

The Pathology of Dependency has a specific focus. Pathology means: “it is the study and diagnosis of a disease.” The word origin is: “Pathology is from Ancient Greek. Pathos means – feeling or suffering; and logia means – the study of.” The word has an application that “refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, such pathological gambling, or lying, or excessive alcohol consumption, etc.” A simple definition for Pathology is: “it is any deviation from a healthy, normal or efficient condition.” The broad question is: Have we as a nation arrived at a point where the Pathology Of Dependency is a growing and consuming reality within our Culture and Lifestyle? Will people willingly give up their Government Subsidies to be once again gainfully employed and becoming more self-sufficient?

While it is a given that in life there will be peaks and valleys, somehow there is a deficiency in grasping and grappling with the valley experiences as and when they occur. More than eighty years ago, the United States was in a valley called The Great Depression. Times were very difficult for multitudes of people. There were no handouts or government provisions to alleviate the challenging times in which people were trying to survive. In 1932, there was a political shift and the election of a new President who introduced some government subsidies. He energized the Works Progress Administration, which was renamed in 1939 as the WPA – Works Projects Administration. Historically, it is known as being the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency. According to Wikipedia, “it employed millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects. There was the construction of public buildings and roads. It fed children and provided food, clothing and housing for many families. Most communities in the country had a park, or bridge, or school constructed by the WPA.” The initial appropriation in 1935 was $4.9 Billion. However, the total expenditure in 1935 escalated to $13.4 Billion.

If we fast-forward to 2012, the nation finds itself in the midst of deep and persistent recession. There continues to be a high rate of unemployment and under-employment. There has been a high level of foreclosures and the writing of new mortgages is at a very low level. There has been the effort to “bail-out” corporations who were said to be “too large to fail” and billions of federal monies were borrowed and given to these corporations so they could avert bankruptcy and preserve employment. Large numbers of people in the nation are in a bracket where they no longer pay Federal Income Tax. Rather than being a giver, they have become a receiver. We are approaching 47% of the population who no longer pay Income Tax and who are receiving several different kinds of Federal and State Aid. It includes basics such as Health Care, Housing Subsidy, Food Stamps and some form of financial assistance through extended unemployment benefits or disability payments. Is this right and the best way for a nation and people to move out of a recession/depression and away from a Pathology Of Dependency?

Both the Old and New Testaments contain instruction in terms of a Biblical Worldview and Work Ethic. One of them is shared by Solomon in Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 (NIV), “I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him for this is his lot. Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work - this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.” Proverbs 12:24 states, “Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor.” Proverbs 13:4 indicates, “The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.” There is an obvious choice that must be made by our nation and in our culture. If we continue on the current path, it means continued poverty, loss of industriousness, and ultimate enslavement. Additionally, continued borrowing by the nation will fuel Inflation and result in National Bankruptcy. Do we need to continue on that path? No! Change can be made and Commitment to become productive can occur. The choice – do you want to be part of the problem or part of the solution? Consider these things with me! 

AN APOLOGY FOR...

From My Perspective - - -

Our nation has made a very dangerous decision that placed us on the quicksand of the world rather than on the solid foundation or moral values and integrity. We have placed diplomacy above principle, and appeasement above resolve. An Embassy in Egypt is violated and the American Flag is torn, shredded and burned - and we apologize. A Black Muslim Flag is raised where the Stars and Stripes should be unfurled - and we apologize. Our Consulate in Libya is attacked and burned; our Ambassador and his aides are killed - and we apologize. Our “close Ally” requests an audience with America’s Commander in Chief, and their Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is refused because our President’s schedule is too full (with a fund raiser in Nevada and an appearance on the David Letterman Show) - but we don’t apologize.

We have successfully managed to get the process of right and wrong reversed. The violated is apologizing to the violator. The victim is apologizing to the perpetrator. Our nation has assumed a posture of weakness rather than strength. We appear to be cowardly rather than brave, and timid rather than assertive. We appear to have lost any resolve or backbone. Like vultures circling in the sky, the enemies of this nation are readying themselves for the death, or demise, or the kill of this nation. Rather than offering an apology, we ought to demand that the perpetrators be apprehended and dealt with appropriately; that reparations be made to our nation and the families of the slain; and that all aid be suspended until there is a satisfactory response.

What is an Apology?  It is a written or spoken expression of one’s regret, remorse, or sorrow for having insulted, failed, injured, or wronged another. Some Synonyms are: acknowledgement, amends, atonement, excuse, explanation or plea. There is a time and place for a genuine and meaningful apology. However, it should never be expressed in a plastic manner or sound like an empty collection of words. Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote, “The bitterest tears shed over graves are the words left unsaid and for deeds left undone.” Those words ring true and an apology is part of what is often left unsaid and undone. G. K. Chesterton wrote, “A stiff apology is a second insult. The injured party does not want to be compensated because he has been wronged, he wants to be healed because he has been hurt.”

There is a Biblical instruction regarding how people should deal with one another. Interpersonal relationships are vital and should be safeguarded. Jesus Christ stated in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:21-26, "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment…Again…whoever says 'Fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. Settle matters quickly with your adversary…” The Message Paraphrase states, “If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God…Make the first move; make things right with him…”

Sadly, the “church” is not always the best model for confession, apology, forgiveness and restoration. The “church” has more than its share of those who have never apologized, never forgiven, and never made wrongs right. One is made to wonder how such people can rationalize the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:14-15, “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” In the NLT, “if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Does that describe you? Do you forgive and forget? Do you follow the instruction of Jesus in this regard? Consider these things with me!

HARPING ON A TRIFLE

From My Perspective - - -

We have learned something new and special in the world of politics. According to Senator Durbin (Democrat from Illinois), on Tuesday, the subject of God and Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel was “harping on a trifle.” On Wednesday, the Platform Committee of the Democratic Party decided that God and Jerusalem should be reinserted as part of their Platform. It would require a two-third vote of a quorum present. Any fair-minded observer would conclude that they had neither. That did not stop the declaration of the Chair that two-thirds had voted to amend the platform. It would be fair to describe this decision and procedure a mess.

What exactly do words mean? When a U.S. Senator uses the term “harping”, what is he trying to convey? When he uses the term “trifle”, what is he asserting? The word origin of “harping” has a brief usage, namely, “to talk overmuch about". The Thesaurus is equally brief indicating that it means “to nag”. The possible synonyms are, “dwell, reiterate, repeat.” The word “trifle” is defined in the World English Dictionary as “a thing of little or no value or significance.” If we are to understand what a U.S. Senator thinks is important as a statement in a political declaration of what the Democratic Party believes and is committed to is merely “to dwell on something that is of little or no value or significance.” If words mean anything, and politicians use many of them, the mention of God, as in “God-given potential” is of little or no value or significance.” Additionally, Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel is also of little or no value or significance. Really? Is that a credible and viable policy? Is that what our nation wishes to project in the world as our core belief as a “christian” nation?

Should one who chooses to mention God in public and political discourse be categorized or demeaned as one who is “harping on a trifle”? Is this an admission that our nation is very much at home in the post-Christian world and lifestyle? Historically, other nations foolishly made the decision to ignore God. Around 1500 BC, Egypt and the Pharaohs set out on that course and enslaved the Jewish population. In His time, God asserts Himself in that political arena when He purposes to deliver His people. Amid their reluctance, Egypt finally concedes to let God’s people go. In their journey toward the Promised Land, there is evidence of the miraculous hand of God in the affairs of the people. There is also the need for a God-Consciousness to prevail among the people. An expression of this is given in Exodus 20:2-5, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.  You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God…” That nation, like ours, needed to know that speaking of God was not “harping on a trifle.”

The issue of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel should be a no-brainer. From the beginning of the united kingdom of Israel, Jerusalem was central to their way of life. There is an interesting lament given by Jesus Christ in the Olivet Discourse, Matthew 23:37-39, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" Was Jesus “harping on a trifle” in His lament? Jesus wasn’t in the first century, nor should we be in the twenty-first century. We’re rapidly losing our way and our values. Don’t view matters of faith and practice as merely “harping on a trifle.” Believe and practice the foundational truths now!  Don’t become a generation that wishes you had stood strong and firm in God’s truth. The time to stand for God and His Word is now. God and His Word does not constitute “harping on a trifle.” Consider these things with me!