Audacity Absurdity

From My Perspective - - -

Audacity means: “boldness or daring, with confident or arrogant disregard for personal safety, conventional thought, or other restrictions…effrontery or insolence; shameless boldness…” The concept gained attention in a book authored by the current U.S. President entitled, The Audacity of Hope. In an October 2006 Book Review by the NY Times, the following is observed: “The Audacity of Hope…is…a political document…Mr. Obama…rejects what he sees as the either-or formulations of his elders who came of age in the 60’s. The victories that the 60’s generation brought about - the admission of minorities and women into full citizenship, the strengthening of individual liberties and the healthy willingness to question authority - have made America a far better place for all its citizens. But what has been lost in the process, and has yet to be replaced, are those shared assumptions - that quality of trust and fellow feeling - that bring us together as Americans…Mr. Obama writes that conservatives and Bill Clinton were right about welfare as it was previously structured: By detaching income from work and by making no demands on welfare recipients other than a tolerance for intrusive bureaucracy and an assurance that no man lived in the same house as the mother of his children, the old A.F.D.C. (Aid To Families With Dependent Children) program sapped people of their initiative and eroded their self respect…Mr. Obama strives in these pages to ground his policy thinking in simple common sense — be it growing the size of our armed forces to maintain reasonable rotation schedules or reining in spending and rethinking tax policy to bring down the nation’s huge deficit…”

In July 2009, a news item appeared - The Audacity Of Honduras with a sub-title, As The OAS Stumbles, Give Diplomacy A Chance. The subject is the ouster of the President Manuel Zelaya of Honduras. “On Sunday, July 5, Honduran authorities rejected the ultimatum issued by the Organization of American States (OAS) to reinstate ousted president Manuel Zelaya…The international community is so fixated on the car wreck that they have failed to notice that Hondurans have put their own legal house in order. Although the duty fell to the military to enforce a court order against Zelaya, no soldier ever held power. The duly constituted Congress--about half of whose members are from Zelaya's own Liberal Party--reviewed Zelaya's crimes and voted almost unanimously to remove him from office…While Honduran authorities have opened an inquiry into Zelaya's treatment, the Supreme Court has held its position that the military acted properly. Zelaya has been indicted on many crimes--including treason--and some of his associates with ties to corruption and drug trafficking are finally facing justice.

This week, the idea of American Audacity appeared in a column: Liberals urge Obama to do more on Honduras By Mike Soraghan. “A group of liberal lawmakers urged President Obama to do more to reverse the coup in Honduras, such as freezing the assets of those involved, and denying them entry into the United States. We are … increasingly concerned by the many reports of flagrant human rights violations that are being committed under the current de facto regime," said a letter to the president, which was signed by Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), co-chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and 16 fellow members of the caucus…President Obama has repeatedly called for Zelaya's return to power, but the President also said Latin American critics calling on him to do more are hypocritical…those criticizing the U.S. for not intervening enough are the same people who say, ‘Yankees, go home.’ You can't have it both ways…”

Psalm 2 asks a question: “Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?” The reason given by this Psalm is that nations and rulers “…set themselves and take counsel together against the Lord and His Anointed…” In other words, all restraints and all sound values have been diminished and jettisoned. The result is an increase of chaos in the world of men and in individual lives. Will nations and lives naturally become better? No! The Psalm states: “…He (The Lord) shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure…” It appears our nation has succumbed to ‘The Audacity of Hype’ and forgotten the possibilities of Biblical Hope. The only remedy is yielding to the Authority and Control of God. Consider these things with me.

Taxing Times

From My Perspective - - -

The challenges, events, massive legislation, financial upheaval, spending programs of Congress, frustration, inability to gain audience or redress, ridicule and demeaning verbiage for those who protest, loss of civility, a total lack of consideration for “We The People…”, incredibly increasing national debt, international power ploys and posturing, an “Enemy’s List” (those who make “fishy” statements about the current administration, government, programs), a fabricated rush to enact various Bills of Congress that very few have read or understood, a growing polarization in the nation – the List could be longer and more overwhelming – but all of this is being done “for the American people”!

There were more deliberate and reasonable times in America. The year – 1963. The President – John F. Kennedy. The Minority Report for August 9, 2009 indicates some of the thinking of this charismatic leader who raised the hopes of the citizenry by challenging them: “Ask not what your country can do for you – Ask what you can do for your country.” In an effort to adjust fiscal fairness and to stimulate the economy, John F. Kennedy stated: "A tax cut means higher family income and higher business profits and a balanced federal budget. Every taxpayer and his family will have more money left over after taxes for a new car, a new home, new conveniences, education and investment. Every businessman can keep a higher percentage of his profits in his cash register or put it to work expanding or improving his business, and as the national income grows, the federal government will ultimately end up with more revenues." In his tax message to Congress in 1963, Kennedy asked that the top income tax rate be brought down from 91% to 65%. His goal was to reduce all statutory income tax rates by about 30%, including a reduction in the bottom tax rate from 20% to 14%. He allowed in January 1963: "Lower rates of taxation will stimulate economic activity and so raise the levels of personal and corporate income as to yield within a few years an increased – not a reduced – flow of revenues to the federal government…: In September 1963, he addressed the nation and said: “Our tax system still siphons out of the private economy too large a share of personal and business purchasing power and reduces the incentive for risk, investment and effort – thereby aborting our recoveries and stifling our national growth rate…"

In I Kings 12:3-7, a change in government had occurred and a hopeful moment presented itself: “Jeroboam…and the whole assembly of Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him: Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you." Rehoboam answered, "Go away for three days and then come back to me." Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. "How would you advise me to answer these people?" he asked. They replied, "If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants." In other words, lighten their load of forced labor and heavy taxation.

However, Verse 8 states: “Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him…” So the King chose to ignore the opportunity to bring reasonable “change” or to grant “hope” for the oppressed and disenfranchised. Instead, he followed the counsel of his generation (the group with a Chicago-type political instinct and mentality, and A.C.O.R.N. skill at organizing)…” In Verses 10-11: The young replied, "Tell these people who have said to you, 'Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter'--tell them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist. My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.” The rest of the Chapter is a sad commentary regarding what occurs when compassion and wisdom is disregarded. Rehoboam chose to surround himself with his Czars and minions who were adept at organizing Astroturf Rallies, but who had a flagrant disregard for the citizenry. A day of true change and valid hope will occur. Abraham Lincoln allowed in 1859: “Let us have Faith that Right Makes Might!” He was right! Stay Hopeful! God Is Still Able! Consider these things with me!

Paranoia Realities

From My Perspective - - -

The Literature Network gives a summary of the George Orwell Book, 1984, in which the author visualizes a new and different world. “1984 is set in a world beyond our imagining…1984 is set in Oceania, which includes the United Kingdom, where the story is set, known as Airstrip One. Winston Smith is a middle-aged, unhealthy character…an underling of the ruling oligarchy, The Party has taken early 20th Century totalitarianism to new depths, with each person subjected to 24 hour surveillance, where people's very thoughts are controlled to ensure purity of the oligarchical system in place. Figurehead of the system is the omnipresent and omnipotent Big Brother. But Winston believes there is another way…his job is to change history by changing old newspaper records to match with the new truth as decided by the Party. ‘He who controls the past, controls the future’ is a Party slogan to live by and it gives Winston his job, but Winston cannot see it like that. Barely old enough to recall a time when things were different, he sets out to expose the Party for the cynically fraudulent organization that it is. He is joined by Julia, a beautiful young woman much in contrast with Winston physically, but equally sickened by the excesses of her rulers.”

The London Evening Standard reported in 2007, “According to the latest studies, Britain has a staggering 4.2 million CCTV cameras - one for every 14 people in the country - and 20 per cent of cameras globally. It has been calculated that each person is caught on camera an average of 300 times daily. Use of spy cameras in modern-day Britain is now a chilling mirror image of Orwell's fictional world...On the wall outside his former residence, flat number 27B, where Orwell lived until his death in 1950, an historical plaque commemorates the anti-authoritarian author. And within 200 yards of the flat, there are 32 CCTV cameras, scanning every move…”

And now the 21st Century, where from the White House Website (www.whitehouse.gov) the following is a current Big-Brother-Type solicitation: “There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care. These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we can't keep track of all of them here at the White House, we're asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to: flag@whitehouse.gov.” The interesting words used – “…If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy…” Words that seem “fishy” – you are to report them to your government. Nothing is said in terms of what they will do with these reports about your “fishy” email or words. Why do you think they want to know? Is this a step in the direction of Big-Brother-Mind-Control? Is it to bring us to a stupor-like response as indicated in the following description from 1984: “Love of Big Brother - A spontaneous ritual of devotion to Big Brother ("BB") is illustrated at the end of the "Two Minutes Hate": At this moment the entire group of people broke into a deep, slow, rhythmic chant of 'B-B!...B-B!...B-B!'- over and over again, very slowly, with a long pause between the first 'B' and the second - a heavy murmur-sound, somehow curiously savage, in the background of which one seemed to hear the stamps of naked feet and the throbbing of tom-toms. For perhaps as much as thirty seconds they kept it up. It was a refrain that was often heard in moments of overwhelming emotion. Partly it was a sort of hymn to the wisdom and majesty of Big Brother, but still more it was an act of self-hypnosis, a deliberate drowning of consciousness by means of rhythmic noise…”

The path to demise and perishing is stated in II Thessalonians 2:7-11, “For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work…And then the lawless one will be revealed…The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” We are stampeding toward a godless culture and a certain destruction. Many choose to avoid this truth and do so to their own peril. Don’t you be one of them! Consider these things with me!

Money, Money Everywhere?

From My Perspective - - -

The saying: “Water, Water everywhere but not a drop to drink!” is sadly familiar to the plight of the nation in terms of “Money, Money everywhere and not a dime to spend (or spare)!” The current monetary philosophy and policy is spend more - print more - increase debt more - - The solution to everything is to increase the Taxes on the “Rich” in this nation. After all (it is said), they have all the money and benefits – let them pay for the extravagances (needs?) of others. If only there was some integrity to research and report the facts!

The latest figures from the year 2007, according to the Tax Foundation (and posted by Neal Boortz) are: “The top 1% of taxpayers officially paid 40.4% of total federal income taxes. This is the highest percentage in modern history. Compare that number to twenty years prior (1987) when the top 1% of taxpayers paid 24.8% of income taxes. Lest you think they monopolized the wealth, they actually earned about 22.8% of total adjusted gross income. How much does a person have to earn to be in this top 1%? Total: $410,000. The share of taxes paid by the top 1% of taxpayers now exceeds the share paid by the bottom 95% of taxpayers. Again, the top 1% paid 40.4% of incomes taxes while the bottom 95% paid 39.4% of the income tax burden. This means that the top 1% of taxpayers (which is 1.4 million people) paid a larger share of the income tax burden than the bottom 95% of taxpayers (which is comprised of 134 million people). The key to and problem with these numbers is that 9 out of 10 Americans will never see them nor will anyone ever share these numbers with them. The Democrats will, in spite of these numbers, be able to continue to demonize the evil rich and spread the lie that somehow they aren't ‘paying their fair share.’ To make things worse, Democrat demagogues will continue to promote the idea that all of their social welfare programs can easily be funded with additional taxes on the rich. Where do they stop? When the top 1% is paying about 80% of all income taxes?”

For too long in our nation, we have ignored Biblical Principles by which our lives could and should be governed. In 1 Timothy 6:6-12 we read: “Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it…People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with much grief…” Some may identify with the old country preacher who lamented: “It’s not the love of money that’s my problem – it’s the lack of money!” The key is (a) Contentment, and (b) Confidence that God will provide and sustain! This precise point is stated in Hebrews 13:5-6, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. So we say with confidence, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" The answer to that postulate is: Nothing! Absolutely Nothing! The entire world may be turned upside-down, and financial bankruptcy become universal – but – that does NOT change who God is or what He is able to do for those who will seek and follow Him.

An argument can be made for one having “pride” in his/her appearance, accomplishments or accumulations. Care must always be exercised to prevent that from becoming one’s sole preoccupation and/or sense of self-worth. An important balance to this is found in Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” A classic example of Pride is given in Daniel 4:29-34, “…as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty? The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle…until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes…” The King ultimately repented: “I…raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.” Have you? Will you? Consider these things with me!

When Outgo Exceeds Income

From My Perspective - - -

One would easily get the impression that our nation is currently insane, stupid, drunk, or controlled by the greatest number of miscreants (depraved, villainous, or base) ever assembled to form the Congress of the U.S. Perhaps – it is all of the above. The lead story this morning on Yahoo News is an AP Item entitled simply: “Federal Tax Revenues”! The article states how bleak the financial horizon is currently and the blindness of the big spenders who keep promoting large programs, entitlements and stimulus spending. “The recession is starving the government of tax revenue, just as the president and Congress are piling a major expansion of health care and other programs on the nation's plate and struggling to find money to pay the tab. The numbers could hardly be more stark: Tax receipts are on pace to drop 18 percent this year, the biggest single-year decline since the Great Depression, while the federal deficit balloons to a record $1.8 trillion. Other figures in an Associated Press analysis underscore the recession's impact: Individual income tax receipts are down 22 percent from a year ago. Corporate income taxes are down 57 percent. Social Security tax receipts could drop for only the second time since 1940, and Medicare taxes are on pace to drop for only the third time ever. The last time the government's revenues were this bleak, the year was 1932 in the midst of the Depression. Our tax system is already inadequate to support the promises our government has made…”

The article continues: “While much of Washington is focused on how to pay for new programs such as overhauling health care — at a cost of $1 trillion over the next decade — existing programs are feeling the pinch, too. Social Security is in danger of running out of money earlier than the government projected just a few month ago. Highway, mass transit and airport projects are at risk because fuel and industry taxes are declining. The national debt already exceeds $11 trillion. And bills just completed by the House would boost domestic agencies' spending by 11 percent in 2010 and military spending by 4 percent…” An important question is asked: “Is there a way out of the financial mess?” An answer that could and should be given is – “Yes!” Stop the grandiose programs and spending! It is the road and path to Bankruptcy! The article’s rationale is: “A key factor is the economy's health. The future of current programs…will depend largely on how fast the economy recovers from the recession…” The numbers for 2009 are striking, head-snapping. But what really matters is what happens next…If it's just one year, then it's a remarkable thing, but it's totally manageable. If the economy doesn't recover soon, it doesn't matter what your social, economic and political agenda is. There's not going to be any revenue to pay for it…The sheer magnitude of the tax decline, however, points to the deep recession that is reducing incomes, wiping out corporate profits and straining government programs…"

From an article in The Christian Century: “Christian realism had become all too rare among those entrusted with the common good—as should have been evident when Alan Greenspan, commenting last fall on the collapse of major financial institutions, confessed with uncharacteristic clarity, ‘Wow! I didn't see that coming!’ How could he not have seen it coming? Where did we ever get the idea that financial institutions were best left to regulate themselves, as if the all-too-human tendencies toward greed, wishful thinking and incompetence somehow diminished as the size of bonuses for investment bankers increased? …The rich are as capable of egregious levels of self-deception, recklessness and indifference to the common good as any of us, under similar circumstances, might prove to be. Why then would anyone have fallen for the idea that leaving them to pursue their collective self-interest would result in anything other that the wholesale pillaging of our hard-earned savings and investments?

An apt warning and instruction from the Word of God in Deuteronomy 8:17-21 – “You may say to yourself, My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me. But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth…If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. Like the nations the Lord destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the Lord your God.” Consider these things with me.

Overwhelmed and Overloaded

From My Perspective - - -

There are two fatal flaws that can become part of one’s psyche and culture: Ignorance and Apathy. It degenerates to – “I don’t know and I don’t care.” This is the beginning stage of being overwhelmed. The word means: “to surge over and submerge; engulf; to defeat completely and decisively; to affect deeply in mind or emotion; to present with an excessive amount – overwhelm.”

The HinzSight Report on June 14th, 2009 asks in a column: “Overwhelmed and Feeling Like Giving Up?” In that column, David Hinz writes: “TARP! Federal Government takeover of the banking industry! Cap-and-Trade! Stimulus Spending Bill! Automobile Company bailout and takeover by the federal government! Employee Free Choice Act! ACORN criminal activity! Fairness Doctrine! Omnibus Spending Bill! Universal Nationalized Health Care! Federal government regulation of the internet! Defense spending cuts! Worldwide apologize for America tour! Mainstream media adoration for President Obama! Dozens of Czars approved by the President! As your head reels from one federal government sucker punch to another, do you ever reach a point where you find yourself ready to give up? To just…let them do whatever they want, I am just too sick of hearing about it anymore to fight it?" This is maximum Overwhelmed Overload!

A major influence upon liberal thinkers and proponents of “change” was Saul Alinsky in his book (1971), RULES FOR RADICALS. Some of the 13 Rules are: 1. Power is not only what you have, but what the enemy thinks you have. 2. Never go outside the expertise of your people…3. Whenever possible, go outside the expertise of the enemy. Look for ways to increase insecurity, anxiety and uncertainty. 4. Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules. 5. Ridicule is man's most potent weapon. It is almost impossible to counteract ridicule. 6. A good tactic is one your people enjoy. 8. Keep the pressure on, with different tactics and actions, and utilize all events of the period for your purpose. 9. The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself. 13. Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it…” Other comments include: “What we are finding today is every group finding itself eligible for government benefits -- rich, poor, weak and strong. All business is finding itself suddenly engulfed by government.” The American Thinker outlines how ACORN has been instrumental in bringing about the current crisis through its housing demands, and how President Obama was a part of that. “In the 1980s, groups such as the activists at ACORN began pushing charges of ‘red-lining’-claims that banks discriminated against minorities in mortgage lending. In 1989, sympathetic members of Congress got the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act amended to force banks to collect racial data on mortgage applicants; this allowed various studies to be ginned up that seemed to validate the original accusation…” Some conclusions reached by Hinz: “Having orchestrated the mortgage house-of-cards collapse that brought about the financial house-of-cards collapse, which caused the credit house-of-cards collapse, which lead to the automobile house-of-cards collapse, all of which has contributed to the staggering unemployment house-of-cards collapse -- President Obama has now rewarded ACORN with billions of dollars in new 'stimulus' money, with which to carry on its valuable work. And the public, bombarded on all sides with media calling for the very solutions that caused the crisis -- supporting the perpetrators who initiated the crisis -- throw up their hands in disgust and give up…” Some of it is similar to the techniques used by Tokyo Rose and Axis Sally to demoralize Allied Troops during World War II. This is a different kind of war – but – war nevertheless.

EZEKIEL 3:14-15 states: “The Spirit lifted me up and took me away…I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the Lord upon me. I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Abib near the Kebar River. And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven days--overwhelmed.” Why was he overwhelmed? It was not just the Vision he saw but the Words that he heard. It was about how the people appeared to God: rebels, transgressors, impudent, stubborn, refusing to listen. It will result in their exile to Babylon… He could not persuade them otherwise and the reality that no one cared enough to repent and change their behavior caused him to be overwhelmed. Sound familiar? Consider these things with me!

Bottoms-Up

From My Perspective - - -

Overexposure is a concern for many performers. Perhaps it would be a good concern to be embraced by many politicians, not the least of which is our current President. Because of a comment he made “off the cuff” (or with his favorite prop – the Teleprompter), the focus for several days on racial profiling and the actions of a white policeman arresting a black professor in Cambridge, MA. In an attempt to ameliorate this situation, the President invited Officer Crowley and Professor Gates to the Rose Garden for a Beer Summit (and to balance the racial components, Vice-President Biden was a late minute addition to the Beer-garden. It was somewhat ironic that a Summit called to try and bring some unanimity they were unable to agree on one beer to be served – four different beverages were served (one to each person at the table).

Did anything significant occur at this “Summit”? Was there any apology offered by anyone about anything? Was there any agreement about anything at all? The answer is – “No!” Many people are beginning to get annoyed at the constant statements about racial divides and racial-profiling in our nation. An illustration of this is: “In a March 21, 2008 syndicated column headlined "A Brief for Whitey," conservative commentator and MSNBC contributor Patrick J. Buchanan asserted, ‘America has been the best country on earth for black folks. It was here that 600,000 black people, brought from Africa in slave ships, grew into a community of 40 million, were introduced to Christian salvation, and reached the greatest levels of freedom and prosperity blacks have ever known.’ Buchanan was discussing Sen. Barack Obama's March 18 speech addressing race and controversial comments by his former pastor, Jeremiah A. Wright. He continued, ‘Wright ought to go down on his knees and thank God he is an American.’ Buchanan then asserted that ‘no people anywhere has done more to lift up blacks than white Americans…

Buchanan continued his statement by adding: “Barack says we need to have a conversation about race in America. Fair enough. But this time, it has to be a two-way conversation. White America needs to be heard from, not just lectured to. This time, the Silent Majority needs to have its convictions, grievances and demands heard. And among them are these: First, America has been the best country on earth for black folks. It was here that 600,000 black people, brought from Africa in slave ships, grew into a community of 40 million, were introduced to Christian salvation, and reached the greatest levels of freedom and prosperity blacks have ever known. Second, no people anywhere has done more to lift up blacks than white Americans. Untold trillions have been spent since the '60s on welfare, food stamps, rent supplements, Section 8 housing, Pell grants, student loans, legal services, Medicaid, Earned Income Tax Credits and poverty programs designed to bring the African-American community into the mainstream. Governments, businesses and colleges have engaged in discrimination against white folks - with affirmative action, contract set-asides and quotas -- to advance black applicants over white applicants. Churches, foundations, civic groups, schools and individuals all over America have donated time and money to support soup kitchens, adult education, day care, retirement and nursing homes for blacks. We hear the grievances. Where is the gratitude?”

It seems there are many assumptions – the vocal minority with their sweeping claims and indictments, and the silent majority with varying views on race and what is fair and right for our nation. ACTS 17:24-30 is comprehensive when it declares: "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us…since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone--an image made by man's design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.” Consider these things with me.