THE FAILURE OF TRUTH

From My Perspective - - -

More than half a century ago, Dr, Francis Schaeffer wrote a brief treatise entitled, “Escape From Reason.” A description of this book states: “Truth used to be based on reason. No more. What we feel is now the truest source of reality. Despite our obsession with the emotive and the experiential, we still face anxiety, despair, and purposelessness.” Schaeffer contended: “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 truth about God, 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.” He added this additional thought: “People today are trying to hang on to the dignity of man, but they do not know how to, because they have lost the truth that man is made in the image of God. Adam was an un-programmed man, a significant man in a significant history, and he could change history.” The sad reality is that man chose to sacrifice his significance by his looking and turning away from truth and succumbing to a lie.

The progression of such a choice is seen in the unfolding history of man with his journey and struggle through life. Part of his struggle is the search for True Truth in a world that has chosen the least common cultural denominator for life. In our current human history, we are witness to the power of persuasive speech. No one is pausing to measure the truth or error of what is being said and heard. A great divide has been promoted that separates those who have from those who don’t; separation of those who are gainfully employed from those who have gained an entitlement consciousness and desire. In a day of unemployment, bankruptcy, foreclosure and repossession – few seem concerned about a National Debt or what it means for all of the citizenry. For instance, in fiscal year 2012, the debt of the US Government climbed by a total of $1.3 trillion according to the Treasure Department. That translates to approximately $3.8 billion a day; or $145.8 million per hour; $2.5 million per minute; and $40.5 thousand per second. This is a truth and reality check that should generate both concern for the present and a discipline to curb the propensity to spend and the insatiable desire to receive entitlements.

There is a practical statement about a people who have chosen to ignore truth and reality in Isaiah 59:1-15 (Selected – NKJV). Note some of what the Prophet is representing in the name of The Lord: “…your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear…Your lips have spoken lies, Your tongue has muttered perversity. No one calls for justice, nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies…Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their ways; they have made themselves crooked paths; whoever takes that way shall not know peace. Therefore justice is far from us, Nor does righteousness overtake us; we look for light, but there is darkness! For brightness, but we walk in blackness…Conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. Justice is turned back, And righteousness stands afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. So truth fails, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey…”

Note Isaiah’s definitive description, “…righteousness stands afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. So truth fails…” The misdirection of our nation today is because of the choices made that are similar to those stated in Isaiah 59. Is there a way out of this dilemma and morass? Can we get ourselves turned around and committed to a right way and a new direction? The answer is – YES! It will begin at and require one to embrace the True Truth of John 14:6, Jesus said, I AM the Way, I AM the Truth, I AM the Life; no one comes to the Father except by/through Me. You can avoid the cultural roadblock by receiving and believing this Truth. Make the wise and best choice now – come to The Truth - Jesus Christ!  Consider these things with me!

CONVOLUTED CAPITAL

From My Perspective - - -

A tradition in the United States is the annual State of the Union Address by the President. Of late, it has been followed by the Minority Party response to that address. With all of what is stated in both addresses, on area that is absent from comment is the prevailing moral proclivity within the nation. Rather than the typical talking points about gun control, immigration focus, climate control, job creation, etc., the greater focus might be on the moral erosion and loss of integrity within the nation. One might say that within the Capital, there is a convoluted mindset about such matters. Convoluted is that which is twisted and entangled, turned or twisted; a confused matter or condition.

A year ago (March 2011), the Huffington Post reported: “There’s something about government towns and extramarital affairs. A new study by…a dating website for people who want to cheat on their significant others -- found that Ottawa leads Canada in the number of people looking for a little something on the side. And according to the website’s research -- which is based on its subscription rates - the same is true in the United States where Washington, DC leads the pack." Today, the Wall Street Journal Radio Report referenced the follow-up story reported in the Huffington Post yesterday: “Washington D.C. isn't only our nation's capital. For the second year in a row, it's also the capital of infidelity. According to a press release…D.C. was recently named ‘America's Least Faithful City’ for the second year in a row. The title was based on data collected by the infidelity website, which found that D.C. had the highest number of sign-ups per capita in 2012, boasting 34,157 new members. Two Texas cities -- Austin and Houston -- came in at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively…” The founder of the website stated: "With enormous public attention paid to political cheating scandals this year, including the Gen. Petraeus affair, there was no doubt that Washington residents would be influenced," he said in a press release. "Living in D.C., it's crucial to keep up appearances and therefore adultery has become a way of life for many of the city's most powerful residents."

Pause for a moment and reflect on that observation and statement – “adultery has become a way of life for many of the city’s most powerful residents.” If true, that is a tragic indictment of those who are “leaders” for the nation and world. Sadly, the owner of the website goes on to state: “This week is a big one…as the site claims that the day after Valentine's Day is one of their busiest days every year. In 2012, the site saw a 439 percent increase in membership signs-ups on February 15 (as compared to the typical number of daily sign-ups), with married women largely driving the spike…” Pause again and observe “a 439 percent increase” and “married women largely driving the spike…”

Our nation loves to sing “God Bless America” – but – can we expect God to bless this nation? Do we expect that God will condone that which he condemns? Does Genesis 6:5 have any validity for our day? When Jesus referenced that passage in Matthew 24:37-39 about His coming again when times and conditions are similar to those in the days of Noah, did He envision our day as such a day and condition? When Paul gave his scathing analysis and proclamation in Romans 1:18-32 about the convoluted perversions of mankind – sexual impurity of every description, would he allow that the United States should be excused from similar judgments by Almighty God? If possible, would the judged souls of Sodom and Gomorrah have a basis to suggest that great injustice occurred toward them if the behavioral trends and moral choices within the United States should be unnoticed and unpunished? Within this nation, the “Church” (so-called) and the Nation should understand that we are at the cusp – the point or appointed end – and in His righteousness and holiness – He will return and judged the earth. People were not paying attention to the warnings in the days of Noah, nor are they today. The “church” has become too accommodating to the alternate lifestyles and ignored God’s Standards and been too silent about holiness and righteousness. The end is rapidly approaching. Are you ready? Consider these things with me.

SIGNATURE MOMENTS

From My Perspective - - -

In a Blog by Rick Harris, “Why Signature Moments Are Not Enough”, he writes: “Since 1984 when Jan Carlzon, then CEO of Scandinavian airline SAS coined the term ‘moments of truth’, businesses have been seeking out an X factor for their customer experience. The logic runs that you first identify the critical points in the customer journey – perhaps a moment when customers expect a possible problem or delay, or a first impression that lives in the memory. Then the business creates a ‘signature’ or ‘WOW’ moment at that point, aiming to surpass customer expectation, and encourage positive word of mouth and future loyalty. An often-quoted example of a ‘signature moment’ is from the Westin Hotel chain, notably their Heavenly Bed, built to be so comfortable, it exemplifies the brand goal of an experience that leaves guests feeling better than when they arrived. The problem with this approach is that: (1) It assumes that customers stay ‘wowed’ each time they repeat the experience. (2) It assumes that competitors can’t copy the signature moment. (3) It assumes that the market stays static, and is not impacted by new trends, economic conditions or legal requirements. The reality is that these assumptions are optimistic at best, and naive at worst...”

In current times, “Signature Moments” are becoming fewer and Empty Rhetoric dominates the ebb and flow of opinion and public debate. In January 2013, Peggy Noonan wrote about the place of “thinking” as one contemplates what to write or say. She quoted: “David McCullough, who once noted that people tend of ask him how long it took to research a work of history and how long to write. They rarely ask him about the thinking, which is what really takes time. To write is to think, he said. Good writing is good thinking.” She goes on to observe: “If you try to write “good lines” you'll likely wind up with strings of dumb, unconnected applause lines. The audience will probably applaud—crowds of supporters are dutiful that way, and people want to be polite—but they'll know they're applauding an applause line, not a thought, and they'll know they're enacting enthusiasm, not feeling it. This accounts for some of the tininess of much modern political experience.” She adds: “You must be serious when you're doing serious work. So don't “try to write a sound-bite” when you write a speech. Don't try to come up with a great line. Try to write well. Which means try to think well. Try to put clearly the position you're advancing of the thought you're explaining. Try to explain why your policy is the best one, your attitude the right one, your program the more just one. Lose yourself in the work and the words will come.”

One other observation by Peggy Noonan pertains to the size of one’s signature. Other than a John Hancock deliberately large signature, most notable people are modest in the way they sign a document. However, she gives certain current examples of overly large signatures and observes: “Almost always when people come into my office and look at the commissions they notice the signatures and note the change in size from one era to another. To me it’s a metaphor for the growth in the power and size of the federal government the past quarter century and, frankly, the more flamboyant egos—or, a nicer way to say it would be the bigger personalities—that populate it today.”

There are many “signature moments” in the Bible. The most outstanding is Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created…” The words about Jesus Christ in Philippians 2:5-8, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ – He made Himself nothing…taking the very nature of a servant…He humbled Himself…He became obedient to death – death on a cross.” That attitude should be evidenced in one’s life. In the words of II Corinthians 5:15, “He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him, Who died for them and rose again.” Jesus also instructed His followers in terms of focus and priority, and how they need to emulate Him. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus said: “…take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls…” This is the signature moment one should seek after and strive for, namely, to be like Jesus. Consider these things with me.

DISMAL DATE

From My Perspective - - -

There are many dates that are worthy of special note, such as July 4th – Independence Day; December 7th – Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (“A Day that lives in Infamy”); September 11th – Terrorism at World Trade Center; etc. In our personal lives, birthdays and anniversaries are important, as are special events in family life, such as children and grand-children’s graduations and other special events in their lives. There is another day that should live in infamy – January 22, 1973. Why? It was on this day forty years ago when the United States of America made it legal to begin a holocaust/carnage upon the unborn.

Wikipedia contains this brief summary: “The Supreme Court issued its decision on January 22, 1973, with a 7-to-2 majority vote in favor of Roe…The Court deemed abortion a fundamental right under the United States Constitution, thereby subjecting all laws attempting to restrict it to the standard of strict scrutiny…The Court asserted that the government had two competing interests – protecting the mother's health and protecting the potentiality of human life…the Court stated that during the first trimester, when the procedure is more safe than childbirth, the decision to abort must be left to the mother and her physician. The State has the right to intervene prior to fetal viability only to protect the health of the mother, and may regulate the procedure after viability so long as there is always an exception for preserving maternal health. The Court additionally added that the primary right being preserved…was that of the physician's right to practice medicine freely absent a compelling state interest – not women's rights in general. The Court explicitly rejected a fetal right to life argument…”

The dismal result forty years later is the fifty-six-million abortions that have already occurred. Equally dismal is a survey in 2013 that indicates sixty-three percent of those polled do not think the Abortion ruling of the Supreme Court should be over-turned. There is an interesting hypocrisy that unfolds in the debate and discussion as it pertains to Gun Legislation and the protection of human life. On December 14th, 2012, twenty children and six adults were senselessly murdered at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Almost immediately, there was an outcry to limit the type gun and ammunition clips that could be purchased in this country so that such instances of murdering the innocent could be averted and/or avoided. The deaths of twenty children stimulated this outcry – whereas – the slaughter of fifty-six-million infants in the womb is ignored and condoned.

The problem is exacerbated by a populace that has (a) grown weary of the issue and (b) ignored any Biblical expression regarding the right to life. Thirty years ago, George Barna concluded in one of his surveys that “…only half of the country’s Protestant pastors have a biblical worldview, which he defined as believing that absolute moral truth exists, that it is based upon the Bible, and having a biblical view on six core beliefs (the accuracy of biblical teaching, the sinless nature of Jesus, the literal existence of Satan, the omnipotence and omniscience of God, salvation by grace alone, and the personal responsibility to evangelize).” Lost in the shuffle of this ministry malaise is the moral standard of God that should govern what one believes about God and what duty God requires of mankind. It has been said: “We cannot plead ignorance as an excuse for disobedience or apathy…God holds us accountable to the standards of His Word, whether we know those standards or not. We dare not be uninformed!”

We need to remind ourselves of Proverbs 24:11-12, “Deliver those who are drawn toward death, and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, Surely we did not know this, does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?” We should also be mindful of the preciousness of life. In Psalm 139:13-16, “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. and in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.” Consider these things with me.

LEAVING A LEGACY

From My Perspective - - -

We’re about ready to complete the second week of the New Year 2013. You may have begun this year with high hopes and ambitions expressed in Resolutions. Usually, ones resolutions focus on fleshly habits and desires, such as – lose weight, exercise more, be more friendly, get family priorities instituted, etc. Very seldom, very rarely does ones resolutions deal with Attitudes and Spiritual Commitment. This would be the place for focus on spiritual development and growth, such as displaying a more forgiving spirit; being more ambitious in terms of Kingdom priorities; displaying the reality of the fruit of the spirit in one’s life; being more kind and tenderhearted toward others; desiring to seek to live more in the presence of the Living God; and being committed to taking a serious God seriously.

In Alabama, when one thinks of Paul William “Bear” Bryant, his/her mind and conversation shift immediately to football and his unique coaching ability. In that regard, Bear Bryant is legendary. However, how many know that he kept a daily devotion in his wallet that was meaningful to him and expressed a goal of his life? The devotion, part of his legacy, reads:

“This is the beginning of a new day, God has given me this day to use as I will. 

I can waste it or use it for good. What I do today is very important. 

Because I am exchanging a day of my life for it. 

When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever. 

Leaving something in its place I have traded for it. 

I want it to be gain, not loss – good not evil. 

Success, not failure in order that I shall not forget the price I paid for it.”

Another historic person who left an important legacy is John Newton. Most know the name and associate it with the hymn, “Amazing Grace! How Sweet The Sound.” What captivated and brought John Newton to that time and place when he penned the words to that hymn? It is said of him: “He was, in his earlier life, a really thorough rascal, a genuine scoundrel, having been a slave trader and engaged in many of the other crimes and sins of his day. But God's amazing grace saved him, cleansed him and made him into a famous Preacher and Pastor. At the age of 82, Newton said: My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things, that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior. No wonder he understood so well grace -- the completely undeserved mercy and favor of God. The Epitaph on Newton's tombstone reads: John Newton, Clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long labored to destroy."

A far greater testimony outlives Newton in the hundreds of hymns he wrote, not the least of which is Amazing Grace. He penned 12 stanzas to that Hymn but two that had special meaning for him were:

Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound! That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, But now am found Was blind but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear. And grace my fears relieved;

How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed!

What legacy will you leave behind and be remembered for? What will your epitaph be? What will be known and appreciated as your legacy? Hopefully, it will be similar to that of the Apostle Paul in II Timothy 4:7-8, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” At the end of the day, what Attitudes will you have adjusted? What Spiritual Commitments will you have made? What Legacy will you leave behind? Consider these things with me!

TERMINAL NONJUDGMENTALISM

From My Perspective - - -

An article on National Review Online website features an article by Wesley J. Smith entitled, “Human Exceptionalism.” The thrust of the article is: “Decadence is on the march! And now, a defense of pedophilia as just another ‘sexual orientation’ has been published in the mainstream left wing United Kingdom newspaper The Guardian.” The article espouses the following: ‘Pedophiles may be wired differently. This is radical stuff. But there is a growing conviction, notably in Canada, that pedophilia should probably be classified as a distinct sexual orientation, like heterosexuality or homosexuality…the Harvard Mental Health Letter of July 2010 stated baldly that pedophilia ‘is a sexual orientation’ and therefore unlikely to change’.” The article continues: “The idea, apparently, is to embrace pedophilia as a normal part of the human condition so that we can help those with the ‘orientation’ refrain…” such as: “…a broader, societal change is needed. Adult sexual attraction to children is part of the continuum of human sexuality; it’s not something we can eliminate…If we can talk about this rationally – acknowledge that yes, men do get sexually attracted to children, but no, they don’t have to act on it – we can maybe avoid the hysteria. We won’t label pedophiles monsters; it won’t be taboo to see and name what is happening in front of us.” Obviously, when the moral values base is jettisoned and the moral compass has been shattered, then an almost matter-of-fact approach is championed as being acceptable and a transitioning into  new norm.

Wesley J. Smith summarizes: “I am sorry, pedophiles can already get help in controlling their urges before they ruin a child’s life–and certainly, many do…But turning the abhorrent and pathological into the somehow acceptable will not protect children. Quite the contrary. Think about it: If the desire for sexual congress with children is just ‘another orientation’…and if some children supposedly ‘like it’ when they voluntarily engage in sex with adults…how long would the absolute rejection of cross-generation congress last? Not very. It wouldn’t be long until we saw the absolute prohibition on pedophilic sex downgraded to a mere ‘taboo,’ which, as the last fifty years teach us, are made to be broken.”

An article on the Focus On The Family website - “Talking to Your Kids About Sexual Abuse” by Jon Holsten – the following is stated: “The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, describes the natural progression of a culture bent on satisfying fleshly desires – a culture much like ours today. “Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God he gave them over to a depraved mind to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity (Romans 1:28-29, NIV).” Parents who consider their children ‘safe’ from sexual victimization live in false security and set a dangerous course for their families. The U.S. Department of Justice reports that 67 percent of all sexual assault victims are children. Another study by the National Center for Victims of Crime (2000) shows that 33 percent of girls (1 out of 3) are sexually abused before the age of 18. Sixteen percent of boys (roughly 1 out of 6) are sexually abused before the age of 18. These alarming figures demonstrate why parents must work diligently to keep their children out of potential risky situations and teach them what to do if someone tries to exploit them sexually. The person most likely to sexually abuse your child is a person your child knows – and trusts. The sex offender looks for a child who trusts him and can be convinced to stay quiet about inappropriate physical contact. It could be a family member, close relative, neighbor, school teacher or trusted youth worker.”

Let us remember how God viewed such cultural trends and debasement. Genesis 18 and 19, along with Romans 1 are indicators that “Terminal Nonjudgmentalism” is totally repugnant to God. Genesis 18:20 states, “…the Lord said,"The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous…” That was the assessment before the total destruction of the cities and the inhabitants in them. The toleration of non-righteousness was repugnant to God and His complete judgment occurred. What America is forgetting and neglecting is Proverbs 14:34 (NKJV), “Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.” Consider God and His Standard. Consider these things with me. 

THE FIEFDOM CLIFF

From My Perspective - - -

The year-end panic pertains to a “fiscal cliff” and whether or not the way of life as it is known today will be vastly and greatly impacted tomorrow. There are those who believe it is a ploy to accomplish certain goals of the administration, such as (1) promote division among the “classes” within our nation by focusing on the “rich” (at best 2% of the population) and raising their taxes to 39.5% of reportable income; (2) minimize and marginalize the majority party in the House of Representatives by gendering strife and division among those with varying viewpoints (from centrist to conservative); and (3) by focusing on taxing the rich, it allows the administration to ignore curtailing spending and addressing the growing and unsustainable debt of the nation. There will be some compromises and, in most cases, they will be unprincipled and unconscionable.

It seems that several different things are occurring within the nation. In a subtle way, we may be gradually drifting toward the nation becoming a Fiefdom, namely, where a few gain control and are able to exert authority and influence in terms of direction and culture. It would become similar to Feudal Europe. At the outset, the goal and implementation of that goal is to actually produce a peasant class, namely, a culture where the government is the sole provider of a dependent portion of the populace. This will gradually progress until the peasantry begins to lose rights, freedoms and possessions. All too soon, they will become mere pawns in the fiefdom – but – they will realize what they have become – too late. This, in turn, will greatly impact the culture the populace thought they had as a birthright. Someone defined culture in this way: “culture defines who a person is, where they come from [in some cases], what they eat, what they wear, what they believe in.” What that doesn’t say is that a Fiefdom emerges, someone else will determine what you will eat, wear, believe in. The culture as we had come to accept it, namely, “the quality in a person or society in terms of what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits” will be eroded and greatly diminished to the point where fewer and fewer will have that privilege, and more and more will become increasingly dependent upon the few who will mete out in a begrudging manner to those who have become the peasantry within the dying culture and nation.

What can happen in a proportional way in this nation? In Genesis 30 through 50, one can read the Biblical narrative on the life of Joseph. The narrow focus in the Blog will be Genesis 41 and 42 when famine swept across the land and nations. In Genesis 41:36, Joseph had warned Pharaoh that a famine would take place and preparation needed to occur. Note: “This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.” Pharaoh concurred. We then read in Genesis 41:55-57, “When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, Go to Joseph and do what he tells you. When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. And all the countries came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the world.” The narrative continues that when the money people had was exhausted, they brought their farm animals as barter for food. All too soon, when all their possessions were expended, they were required to deed their land to the nation. Afterwards, they worked the land – not for themselves for personal gain – but for the state. Their labors were for the food the government would ration to them. They owned nothing.

Could this actually occur in our nation? Have you heard the phrase used – “the redistribution of wealth”? What do you think that means and who will it impact? The people who have wealth and possessions will have them gradually taken by the state, and those who have become dependent on the state will receive rations from the possessions of others.There is a solution, a starting place, especially for the remnant known as the people of God – the Lord commits Himself to a cure in II Chronicles 7:14, “if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways – then I will hear from heaven, and forgive their sin, and heal their land.” Consider these things with me.