From My Perspective - - -

Sinking is a frightening word. The Online Dictionary lists 40 different possible uses for the word. The definition used here is: “to displace part of the volume of a supporting substance or object and become totally or partially submerged or enveloped; fall or descend into or below the surface or to the bottom…” In World War II, many Allied Ships were sunk.“According to the War Shipping Administration, the U.S. Merchant Marine suffered the highest rate of casualties of any service in World War II. Officially, a total of 1,554 ships were sunk due to war conditions, including 733 ships of over 1,000 gross tons. Hundreds of other ships were damaged by torpedoes, shelling, bombs, kamikazes, mines, etc. Foreign flag ships, especially those with Naval Armed Guard on board as well as ships belonging to U.S. territories such as the Philippines, are included in this list.” At Pearl Harbor, most of the Pacific Fleet was either sunk or greatly damaged. Sinking is not ones anticipation or desire when boarding and setting sail on a ship of any description. No one would have sailed on the Titanic if they had any idea it would hit an Iceberg and sink!

The word “ship” has been applied to other areas beyond a sailing vessel. The “Ship of State” is one such reference. How secure is that ship? How safe can one anticipate being? Is the “Ship of State” capable of sinking? An interesting article appeared in Daily Finance on October 17, 2010 (an AOL Money and Finance Site) entitled: “Disturbing Statistics On The Decline Of America's Middle Class” by Bruce Watson. Part of what he wrote is: “In American public life, it's hard to escape the long shadow of the middle class…Mainstream values are described as middle class, as are common tastes and preferences. Economists often state that the middle class is the engine of commerce, and industries from construction to education to consumer electronics rely on a strong middle class…my Daily Finance colleague Charles Hugh Smith laid out a fairly clear argument for the disappearance of the middle class, at least in terms of wealth. As Smith notes, the top 20% of the American populace holds roughly 93% of the country's financial wealth, and the top 1% of the country holds approximately 43% of the money in the U.S. Meanwhile, the middle 20% of the population -- what would, officially, be called the middle class -- holds only 6% of the country's total assets. While disturbing, even this minuscule share of the wealth pie dwarfs the bottom 40% of the country, who control less than 1%...So how did the middle class become second class citizens…Not surprisingly, the answer is complicated, involving factors like the rising cost of education, the loss of pension funds and affordable health care, falling middle class wages, and the skyrocketing price of housing. Yet one clear answer lies in manufacturing…a good number to start with is 42,000. That's the total number of factories that the U.S. lost between 2001 and the end of 2009. Put another way, this translates into the outsourcing of 32% of all manufacturing jobs in America.

One begins to sense and realize that the “ship of state” depended upon has lost its mooring; the anchor is no longer present; the rudder is malfunctioning; the drift is headed toward perilous Seas; hope and confidence is waning; and – sinking appears to be the imminent result. What should one do in a “sinking” moment and situation? When in peril – what is there left to do? Mark 4:36-41 (NLT) tells of an incident where Jesus and His Disciples have boarded a ship: “…But soon a fierce storm arose. High waves began to break into the boat until it was nearly full of water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. Frantically they woke him up, shouting, Teacher, don't you even care that we are going to drown? When he woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the water, Quiet down!(Peace! Be Still!)! Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. And he asked them, Why are you so afraid? Do you still not have faith in me?" In your moments of fear, anxiety, panic or peril – who or what is your reference point for life and survival? Whatever one may think of the Disciples, at least they did the right thing at the right time. They came to Jesus! They awaken Him! Their question – don’t you care that we are perishing – may have meant – “we need everyone to help bail out this boat – get a bucket and help!” All Jesus had to do was speak – Peace! Be Still! He can and will do that for our nation as the “ship of state” takes water and is beginning to list. If we turn to Him, he will enable us to stay afloat. Consider these things with me!