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Money, Money, Everywhere?

Posted by peripheral on Wednesday, July 07, 2010 6:58:42 AM
From My Perspective - - -

Years ago, the Humorist Will Rogers commented: “This is the best Congress money can buy!” Since then, books have been written on that same subject and theme. Amazon lists one of them along with these comments: Philip Stern has written a wonderfully insightful book about our political system that would be an eye-opener for any American. This fine, articulate journalist speaks from the politicians' point of view and, as you can glean from the title, reveals the misery and constant stress politicians are under to raise funds for their campaigns. We complain about politicians being greedy and preoccupied with fundraising, but after reading this account of the political process you realize the politicians don't like it any more than we do. We learn that they simply have no choice…Stern also lets us hear the other side, the viewpoint of the unions and the Political Action Committee's who wield such power over our system with the almighty dollar, and hence, make up the best Congress money can buy."

The White House is required to reveal a list of all employees at the White House and the salaries they receive. The complete listing indicates 469 employees receive a combined salary of $38,796,307.00. “Twenty-three top aides, including chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, press secretary Robert Gibbs, speechwriter Jon Favreau, White House counsel Bob Bauer and senior advisers David Axelrod and Valerie Jarrett, make the top full-time staff salary of $172,200. (Two health-care policy “detailees” — Michael Hash and Timothy Love — make $179,700.) By comparison, Vice President Joe Biden makes roughly $230,000 a year, according to Senate records.” All of this data can be viewed at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/disclosures/annual-r ecords/2010. The Federal Government is gradually and increasingly becoming the primary Employer in this country. At the other end of the spectrum are the unemployed in the nation: “The Labor Department estimates 3.3 million people could lose extended benefits by the end of July if they are not renewed. Altogether, 9.29 million people were collecting some type of unemployment benefits in the week ended June 12.” The amounts received vary but many receive almost $400.00 per week. However, “the best Congress money can buy” took no action to extend benefits for the unemployed before they left for their 4th of July recess.

If “Money, Money, Everywhere” is a reality, where exactly is that surplus located? For the person earnestly seeking employment, where is that person to go? And, if they find some employment – will the wage be equal or greater than the unemployment benefits being received? Is there an incentive to seek employment? Are private businesses willing to hire a full staff when (a) their taxes are scheduled to increase, and (b) health care benefits for employees may be required by the Federal Government? Obviously, it is a very difficult time for millions of people – and – there seems to be no immediate remedy.

In desperate times, one would hope there would be a return to the Lord and seeking Him for His provision, sustenance and guidance. There are two interesting prayers in Scripture that give a perspective in terms of the source and resource for all things. First, I Chronicles 29:11-14, “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.” Second, Proverbs 30:8-9, “Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.” The basic request in The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:11) is: “Give us this day our daily bread…” In the NLT it reads: “Give us our food for today,” Will the God of Heaven honor His Word? Yes! Will the Lord hear the cry of His people?  Yes! Will the Lord prove Himself faithful?  Yes!  Consider these things with me!
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Does It Sound Familiar?

Posted by peripheral on Monday, July 05, 2010 7:16:02 AM
From My Perspective - - -

The adage states: “Those who fail to remember History are doomed to repeat it!” It seems as though our nation is willing to forget and/or re-write History. A good illustration of this is the monumental perspective and writing of: The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire written by English historian Edward Gibbon and published in six volumes. Volume I was published in 1776. It is striking that Volume I was first published at the time when this nation was being born and The Declaration of Independence was written and circulated throughout the colonies.

Gibbon gives certain factors that brought about the lessening influence of Rome and the ultimate decline of an empire that lasted from 27 BC to 476 AD. Gibbon cites as “The Major Causes for the Fall of the Roman Empire” the following:
  • Decline in Morals
  • Decline in Ethics and Values
  • Antagonism between the Senate and the Emperor
  • Political Corruption and the Praetorian Guard
  • Fast expansion of the Empire
  • Constant Wars and Heavy Military Spending
  • Barbarian Knowledge of Roman Military Tactics
  • Failing Economy
  • Unemployment of the Working Classes (The Plebs)
  • Slave Labor
  • Natural Disasters
  • Barbarian Invasion.
Do any of those things listed sound familiar and contemporary? This nation that has just celebrated the 234th Anniversary of its birth – are any of the above common to our nation and culture today? Should it give as pause for sober reflection in terms of where we are and where we are headed? Have we convinced ourselves that History will not repeat itself in terms of our nation and its loss of virtue and core values that cause commitment to foundational moral standards and ethical focus? Do we think we have become impervious to such a decline? Impervious is an adjective meaning: “not permitting penetration or passage; impenetrable: incapable of being injured or impaired; incapable of being influenced, persuaded, or affected.”

A reason for Rome’s Decline listed by Gibbon – Christianity - is omitted above. This brought about a charge against him that he had embraced paganism. That was never proven. However, Christianity did have an influence over the empire and its accepted practices. At the time of the Birth of Christ into the times of the Apostolic writings, Rome exerted considerable influence and fostered persecution. It was about The Roman Empire that the Apostle Paul referenced certain behavioral and moral declination. In Romans 1 and 2, Paul addresses the last step on the way down: (1) Humanity turning away from God, and (2) God giving them up and over to sexual immorality. In Romans 1:24-29 (NLT), when people refused to acknowledge God, this summary of behavior is given: “God let them go ahead and do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other's bodies. Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies…That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relationships with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men and, as a result, suffered within themselves the penalty they so richly deserved. When they refused to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their evil minds and let them do things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness and sin…” Take a look at what we allow in this nation! Will God view us any differently than He did with Rome? History will repeat itself unless we quickly repent!  Consider these things with me!
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Justice Delayed

Posted by peripheral on Saturday, July 03, 2010 5:40:09 AM
From My Perspective - - -

The Pledge of Allegiance expresses these majestic and magnificent words: “…with Liberty and Justice for all.” That declaration was not the reality for many people in this nation over the years. In part, it gave birth to the Civil Rights Movement. The adage is well-stated: “Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied.” It is often heard in terms of criminal cases where Trial By Jury happens weeks, months or years down the road. We celebrate the Fourth of July as our Independence Day – but – how “independent” are we? An Internet News Source publishes: “Go ahead - celebrate Independence Day, but keep in mind that dependency on government (entitlement programs) is growing at an incredible rate…16.3% increase just last year.”

During the Civil Rights Movement, a book was written by one who involuntarily (at first) became a prominent participant in the cry for justice. A paragraph about his book states: “His brother died in his arms, shot by a Deputy Marshall. He was beaten and tortured by the Sheriff and State Police. But through it all he returned good for evil, love for hate, progress for prejudice and brought hope to black and white alike. The story of John Perkins is no ordinary story. Rather, it is a gripping portrayal of what happens when faith thrusts a person into the midst of a struggle against racism, oppression and injustice. It is about the costs of discipleship - the jailings, the floggings, the despair, the sacrifice. And it is about the transforming work of faith that allowed John to respond to such overwhelming indignities with miraculous compassion, vision and hope.” The book referenced is: “Let Justice Roll Down” by John Perkins. The overview given is: “This civil rights classic tells the story of Dr. John Perkins road from (Mendenhall) Mississippi poverty and racism to leading the charge for racial reconciliation and ministry with the poor.”

Another author who addressed the civil rights struggle was Langston Hughes. He is characterized by his starkness in his writings represented in – The Panther and The Lash – where Hughes writes about the many injustices in the world. The Publishers summarize his work with these words: “From the publication of his first book in 1926, Langston Hughes was America's acknowledged poet of color, the first to commemorate the experience-and suffering-of African-Americans in a voice that no reader, black or white, could fail to hear. In this, his last collection of verse, Hughes's voice is more pointed than ever before, as he explicitly addresses the racial politics of the sixties in such pieces as "Dream Deferred," "Birmingham Sunday." and "Daybreak in Alabama." Sometimes ironic, sometimes bitter, always powerful, the poems in The Panther and the Lash are the last testament of an American writer who grappled fearlessly and artfully with the most compelling issues of his time.” He is pointed, and at times profane, but always bold.

Yahoo tried to define Justice. The one who wrote the response gave three alternative and possible meanings: ”Justice can be broken into three major categories: social, personal, and supernatural. (1) Social Justice includes a government's legal system, (2) Personal Justice involves the a person's own ethics, and (3) Supernatural Justice refers to God’s Standard for Life.” The problem with having them as separate entities is that they are interwoven and each is a part of the whole. When the Prophet Amos was addressing the injustices of his day, the thrust of his message is summarized in Amos 5:21-27 (NLT), "I hate all your show and pretense - the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies. I will not accept your burnt and grain offerings. I won't even notice all your choice peace offerings. Away with your hymns of praise! They are only noise to my ears. I will not listen to your music, no matter how lovely it is. Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, a river of righteous living that will never run dry…” We need to see a new “…mighty flood of justice, a river of righteousness…” in our day. There are so many who strive for justice only to have it continually elude them. They need and deserve fairness – the joy and opportunity to succeed. They keep reaching for Justice – but – so often it is denied them. I hope they don’t give up! I hope they won’t become disillusioned or discouraged! I hope they’ll hang in there a little longer! Look to the Lord for true Liberty and Justice! Consider these things with me!
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Anaerobic Aerobics

Posted by peripheral on Friday, July 02, 2010 7:11:44 AM
From My Perspective - - -

Maggots made the news this week when a US Airways plane in Atlanta returned to the passenger gate. It resulted because of a level of panic and fear – maggot mania - when maggots started to fall from an overhead bin onto the passengers. The Flight Attendants urged everyone to remain in their seats and to be calm. One passenger commented: "I felt like they were crawling all over me because it only takes one maggot to upset your world…And as they're telling us to stay calm and seated, I see a maggot looking back at me and I'm thinking: These are anaerobic, flesh-eating larvae that the flight attendants don't have to sit with.” The word “anaerobic” means: “(of an organism or tissue) living in the absence of air or free oxygen…” The gist of the story is: “Maggots falling from an overhead bin from a spoiled container of meat forced a US Airways flight to return to the gate in Atlanta so the bin could be cleaned. A Passenger said she noticed a couple of flies on the Monday flight when she got to her seat but didn't think much of it. Then, as the plane was taxiing, she heard a passenger behind her causing a commotion and refusing to take her seat. Then I heard the word ‘maggot' and that kind of got everybody ‘creeped out’…All of a sudden, I felt somebody flick the back of my hair and on the front of me came a maggot, which I flicked off me. A passenger had a container of rancid meat in a carry-on bag and brought it on Monday's flight bound for Charlotte, N.C.” A Headline could have been: “An Anaerobic Caused A Degree Of Aerobic Movement.”

Another form of “maggot-mania” is the Labeling that is done in our society. For some strange reason, the words “Nazi” and “Nazism” are used by one political party against those who are opposed to them and their legislative proposals. By the same token, those who are labeled “Nazi” in turn label those with opposing views as being “Marxist”, “Progressives”, and “Socialists”! The Maggots that brought about the delayed flight in Atlanta and caused it later to be taken out of service so it could be completely fumigated have a similarity to the Labels Politicians use about each other as they endeavor to retain power. The politicians need to be returned to the passenger gate and either be (a) totally fumigated, or (b) taken out of service. Its time that the mantra of the citizenry should be: E-I-E – Enough Is Enough! If left unattended, the Maggots and Labelers will gnaw away at the substance and fabric of who we are.

Those who are struggling to survive and those see no light at the end of their tunnel are further exasperated by those who govern and who seem to be out of touch with the real world. Those who present the talking points that the Stimulus Plan is working and that jobs have been saved and created are out of touch with those are part of the 10% unemployed and who have lost their homes through foreclosure. Those who tell you that the Banks have money for investment are out of touch with those who have tried to secure a loan to purchase some real property and have been refused – even though their credit score is high and they have been a Depositor in that Bank for many years. Regrettably, here’s another label – it is a form of “Brain-Washing” (“Intensive, forcible indoctrination, usually political or religious, aimed at destroying a person's basic convictions and attitudes and replacing them with an alternative set of fixed beliefs.”).This is not the Change people had Hoped for in the 2008 Election.

In the meanwhile, those who are committed to Trusting in the Lord, should remind themselves that (a) There is a God in Heaven and He is always in control; (b) one’s Trust and Hope should never be in man but always in the Lord; (c) Circumstances are temporary and Romans 8:28 remains functional: “…we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”; and (d) when fear grips one’s heart and mind – Psalm 56:3-4, “But when I am afraid, I put my trust in you. O God, I praise your word. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?” The road before us may still have many twists and turns, and may even be a bit bumpy! There is an old Church Chorus that contains the words: “Safe am I, Safe am I, In the hollow of His hand; Sheltered o'er, sheltered o'er With His love forever more. No ill can harm me, No foe alarm me, For He keeps both day and night, Safe am I, Safe am I, In the hollow of His hand.” Consider these things with me!
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Termites Have Eaten The Big Stick

Posted by peripheral on Monday, June 28, 2010 6:27:12 AM
From My Perspective - - -

If left unnoticed and unattended, Termites can quickly undermine the integrity of a structure. The intriguing fact is that Termites are very small but can cause considerable damage as they work in a united way as an army with a mission to accomplish. The only remedy for Termite damage is to (a) immediately attack and treat the area of termite activity, and (b) almost as immediate, replace what has been damaged by the Termites. Where there is an area of Termite activity, one would be very wise to pay the Treatment costs rather than the modification and reconstruction costs. Could it be that the Termites have begun to gnaw on The Big Stick of American Diplomacy?

Big Stick ideology, Big Stick diplomacy, or Big Stick policy was the slogan describing President Theodore Roosevelt’s corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. The term originated from the phrase: "Speak softly and carry a big stick." The idea is to negotiate peacefully, while simultaneously threatening with the big stick, or the military. By application, it means to always negotiate from strength and not from weakness or a Caspar Milquetoast posture. In his style of governing, Theodore Roosevelt described his style of foreign policy as "the exercise of intelligent forethought and of decisive action sufficiently far in advance of any likely crisis”! It is contrary to the Caspar Milquetoast style of life and governing (a milquetoast is a weak, ineffectual or bland person. It is derived from the character Casper Milquetoast from the 1924 comic strip The Timid Soul). For those of you too young to remember, “Caspar Milquetoast was a comic strip character created by H. T. Webster for his cartoon series, The Timid Soul. It featured Caspar Milquetoast, a wimpy character. Webster described Caspar Milquetoast as "the man who speaks softly and gets hit with a big stick". The character's name is a deliberate misspelling of the name of a bland and fairly inoffensive food, milk toast. Milk toast, light and easy to digest, is an appropriate food for someone with a weak or "nervous" stomach. When the term is used to describe a person, it typically indicates someone of an unusually meek or submissive nature, who may appear overly sensitive, timid, indecisive or cowardly.”

The classic example that could be cited is the Historical Meeting of Neville Chamberlain, Prime Minister of England with Adolph Hitler, Fuhrer of Germany. The issue was to seek restraint on the part of Germany with its ambitions in Eastern Europe, most notably, Czechoslovakia. Chamberlain thought he had received an honorable agreement with Hitler by the signing of the Anglo-German Agreements. German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop remonstrated with Hitler for signing it, the Führer replied, "Oh, don't take it so seriously. That piece of paper is of no further significance whatever." England thought otherwise. The Prime Minister would state: “My good friends, this is the second time there has come back from Germany to Downing Street peace with honor. I believe it is peace for our time. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Now I recommend you go home, and sleep quietly in your beds…” The King of England, King George VI, issued a statement to his people: "After the magnificent efforts of the Prime Minister in the cause of peace, it is my fervent hope that a new era of friendship and prosperity may be dawning among the peoples of the world." That wasn’t to be! World War II would soon begin. Great atrocities would occur and millions of people would die in both Europe and Asia.

It becomes vital for us to know and embrace the true source of peace. It will not be achieved as elected officials bow to foreign leaders who would like to see our demise as a nation and power. Our peace is based upon a relationship with Jesus Christ. He has stated – John 14:27 (NLT) – “I am leaving you with a gift -- peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn't like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid.” In Psalm 91:1-2 are these words: “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, (You are) my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." The Chorus to an old Hymn contains these words: “Under His wings, under His wings, Who from His love can sever? Under His wings my soul shall abide, Safely abide forever.” Positionally – that’s where you can be – under the protecting, sheltering, comforting, peace-providing wings – where the Lord will be for you a refuge and a fortress. Consider these things with me!
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Holes

Posted by peripheral on Friday, June 25, 2010 6:43:17 AM
From My Perspective - - -

No matter where we are or where we go, Holes are a reality. We have Pot-Holes, Doughnut Holes, Sink-Holes, Key-Holes, etc. What is a hole? Can we exist without some frame of reference to a Hole? At Dictionary.com, there are twenty-seven entries to define a Hole. Some of them are: (1) an opening through something; gap; aperture: a hole in the roof; a hole in my sock; (2) a hollow place in a solid body or mass; a cavity: a hole in the ground; (3) the excavated habitation of an animal; burrow; (4) a fault or flaw: They found serious holes in his reasoning; (6) a deep, still place in a stream: a swimming hole. In construction, there is the drilling of holes in steel, concrete, wood; (7) a water hole where animals can quench their thirst; (8) rings; and (9) wells for locating water or oil. In gardening, there is the digging of holes to plant bulbs, trees, shrubs. Animals dig holes (gophers). Golf is based upon ones skill in putting a small ball into a hole. Swiss Cheese looks better (and seems to taste better) if numerous holes are present in a slice. A person who is greatly indebted is in a financial hole. An intellectual in a debate will try to pick a hole in the other person’s logic or argument. Fill Dirt is purchased to fill holes, whereas Excavators are hired to dig holes (for buildings, fish ponds, mining). There are occasions where one must repair a hole in the roof of a home or other building. In the building of roads, dynamite was used to make holes (tunnels) through rock. For hunters, criminologists, investigators there is the awareness and analysis of Bullet Holes. Astronomers and Astrophysicists spend a lifetime studying The Black Hole and Neutron Stars. There seems to be no end to ones involvement with Holes in the ebb and flow of life.

In warfare, a problem in World War II was on Pacific Islands where the Japanese had dug a network of holes and tunnels from which they could mount an attack at will. This same strategy was employed during the Viet Nam War as the Jungle and Tunnels were used by the enemy to their advantage against the American and Allied forces. There is Biblical reference to this type warfare in I Samuel 14:6-14. Jonathon, the son of King Saul confronts a militant Philistine force. The text reads: “Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, Come, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few. Do all that you have in mind, his armor-bearer said. Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul. Jonathan said, Come, then; we will cross over toward the men and let them see us. If they say to us, Wait there until we come to you, we will stay where we are and not go up to them. But if they say, Come up to us, we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the Lord has given them into our hands. So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. Look! said the Philistines. The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in. The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, Come up to us and we'll teach you a lesson. So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, Climb up after me; the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel. Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and killed behind him. In that first attack Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre.”

The most crucial area of Holes has to do with the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This became a faith-issue for Thomas after the declared resurrection of Jesus Christ. In John 20:24-28 (The Message Translation): “Thomas…one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, We saw the Master. But he said, Unless I see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger in the nail holes, and stick my hand in his side, I won't believe it. Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, Peace to you. Then he focused his attention on Thomas. Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don't be unbelieving. Believe. Thomas said, My Master! My God!” If one refuses to believe that Christ died for his/her sins, and rose again from the dead – there is another hole referenced in this regard. It is called the “outer darkness” and “the lake of fire.” If you have doubts, then do what Thomas did – check out the nail holes in Jesus’ flesh – and believe! Consider these things with me!
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Falling On Your Sword

Posted by peripheral on Thursday, June 24, 2010 7:02:05 AM
From My Perspective - - -

One should always be willing to accept both the responsibility and consequences for words spoken or actions taken. An idiom that is sometimes used is: “Falling On Your Sword”! It is an expression that means: “If someone falls on their sword, they resign or accept the consequences of some wrongdoing.” We have just seen this unfold yesterday as a four-star General – Stanley McChrystal - was humiliated in public, dressed down by civilians, and relieved of his command in Afghanistan. Even though he has served this nation bravely, courageously and well, comments that he made and allowed in a Rolling Stones imbedded interview brought about this sudden change in a selfless career. Could it be that his frustration over civilian interference in combat readiness and battle execution boiled over into his untimely remarks? What if you had been told additional troops and equipment would be sent to the battle zone, and then a long-wait ensues – is that not an occasion for frustration to some degree? What if you see the death-toll of your troops begin to increase and the enemy becoming more daring while your hands are tied, would that cause a reaction by you? Even though an Officer should maintain decorum and discipline at all times, it is understandable how a trained and experienced General would feel frustrated by the mixed signals of an untrained and inexperienced Commander-in-Chief.

There is another example on “Falling On Your Sword” in History. In the July 3rd issue of World Magazine, a review appears regarding must-read Books Of The Year. In a column - If We Lose The Battle - by Eric Metaxas and Marvin Olasky, our runner-up for book of the year is Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy (April 2010, Thomas Nelson). The review raises these thoughts: “What if we found ourselves living under dictatorship, with our children and ourselves given daily instructions to kill those who disagree? This year brings the 65th anniversary of the Nazi hanging of Dietrich Bonhoeffer for his attempt to overthrow Adolf Hitler, and that martyrdom is well known—but Metaxas illuminates, mile by mile, the road to full resistance. Early this summer the book rose to The New York Times bestseller list, suggesting contemporary resonance with its 20th century themes. Metaxas describes a man of aristocratic background and intellectual talent who descended from social and university heights to do the hard work of ministry. In doing so he placed himself on a collision course with Hitler, a man who so envied and hated aristocrats and academics that he devoted his life to forcing them and millions of others to bow down to him…Bonhoeffer's belief was that "it was the role of the church to speak for those who could not speak." He fought Nazi attacks on Jews and called for "costly grace" by which Christians would give up comfortable lives to follow Christ's call: "Costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life…Bonhoeffer in 1933, at age 26, understood these holes in men’s souls and gave a radio talk on the problem only two days after Germans elected Hitler to be their chancellor. He said, "Whereas earlier leadership was expressed in the form of the teacher, the statesman, the father…now the Leader has become an independent figure. The Leader is completely divorced from any office; he is essentially and only the Leader… continued his critique of the Führer principle: If he does not continually tell his followers quite clearly of the limited nature of his task and of their own responsibility…then the image of the Leader will pass over into the image of the mis-leader, and he will be acting in a criminal way not only towards those he leads, but also towards himself. The true Leader…has to lead the individual into his own maturity…He must let himself be controlled, ordered, restricted."

Bonhoeffer demonstrated what it means to “Fall On Your Sword.” He would be executed on April 9th, 1945 days before the Surrender of Germany in World War II. The times in which we live are uncertain and may become dangerous. We might do well to embrace the commitment and choice stated in Acts 20:24, “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.” In The Message Translation of Acts 20:25-27, Paul wrote: “And so this is good-bye. You're not going to see me again, nor I you, you whom I have gone among for so long proclaiming the news of God's…kingdom. I've done my best for you, given you my all, held back nothing of God's will for you.” This is complete abandonment to a just and worthy mission and cause. Are we up to a similar task and stand?  Consider these things with me!
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Dad's Day - Make It A Special Day

Posted by peripheral on Friday, June 18, 2010 6:08:54 AM
From My Perspective - - -

Some of us were not fortunate to have a Dad to be part of our lives and/or to serve as a role model. Some have only vague memories of a brief time with the one called Dad. Dad’s have a unique opportunity to invest their lives in their children so they will be enabled to be responsible and mature adults in their generation. In my case, my Dad became ill and was removed from our home when I was five years of age – he would die when I was seven years of age. Over the years, I have clung to all that I have left of a childhood memory of my Dad – the last Birthday Card he sent and signed, and the last gift he gave me (still in its original form after almost seventy years). I occasionally look at that card and gift and muse with some what ifs. All of the what-ifs are subjective and will be forever unknown.

I became a bit nostalgic as I read and thought about an article from the pastor’s weekly briefing. The following is most of that article. In is entitled - FATHERS: THE PRIDE OF THEIR CHILDREN. Carey Casey is the CEO of national center for fathering. The national center for fathering has a wealth of information that might be used by leaders…in developing a strategy to reach and mature America's Dads. The Weekly Briefing indicates - based on the U.S. Census data and projections, there are 64,300,000 Dads in our country. Of that number, there are 26,500,000 Dads with children under 18 now living in the United States. That represents a whole lot of influence. I have long believed that the difficulty the church is having in our society can be traced to the low number of fathers actively involved in the Body of Christ (The Church). I can't prove it. I just feel it.

"The National Center for Fathering has a survey for those dads who will take the time to read it that helps put into perspective the true role of Fatherhood. They deal with issues such as:
• I often discuss things with my child.
• I praise my children for things they do well.
• I know what encourages my child.
• I am a good example to my children.
• I try not to vary much in the way I deal with my children.
• I read the scriptures with my children often.
• I express affection to my children.
• My child and I often do things together.
• I know what motivates my child.
• My children know what to expect from me.
• I pray with my children.
• I tell my children they are special to me.
• We have a family worship time in the home.
• I teach my children skills.
• I talk about spiritual things with my children.
• My child and I have fun together.
• I tell my children I am proud of them.

These are just a few of the topics that questions on the survey ask about. But, they are very revealing, even for Dads and Granddads…Father's Day Sunday can be awkward, but it can also be a lot of fun, because Dads really do like to laugh at themselves. I am hopeful that Father's Day for you and your family will be very meaningful. "Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents (fathers) are the pride of their children" (Proverbs 17:6)."

I would have loved to have known my Dad but that wasn’t the case. There are just a few pictures of him and the lingering thoughts of what might have been. The Heavenly Father does fill that void in many lives – but those of you who can – don’t forget your Dad and Granddad – they would love to know that you care about them. Consider these things with me!
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Bleating Sheep and Bleeding Hearts

Posted by peripheral on Thursday, June 17, 2010 5:57:02 AM
From My Perspective - - -

Two news stories that don’t quite mesh - Story No. 1: “BP chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg said Wednesday the British energy giant cared about the fate of the small people hit by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, vowing to look after all affected…he said the British energy giant had always met our obligations and responsibilities. We have made clear from the first moment of this tragedy that we will live up to all our legitimate responsibilities…adding all claims for compensation would be met swiftly and fairly. We will look after the people affected, and we will repair the damage to this region…President Obama said he had urged the BP bosses to remember when they were meeting in the boardroom to keep in mind those individuals, that they are desperate, may lose business that have been in their families for two or three generations. Svanberg agreed…: We care about the small people.”

Do Svanberg and Obama really care about “the small people”? Story No. 2 tells of how the funds will be provided and who will be the source of them. The Headline reads: “Obama Bullies BP Into 20 Billion Fund For Oil Spill Victims... But British Pensioners Will Pick Up The Bill.” The article states: “The crisis engulfing BP has plumbed new depths as President Obama bullied the company into depositing 20 billion into a fund to settle compensation claims for the calamitous Gulf of Mexico oil spill. After a face-to-face showdown with the President at the White House, BP chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg revealed the payment meant the oil giant would be forced to suspend dividends to its shareholders until at least next year.” Ah, yes – “the small people” about whom President Obama and Carl-Henric Svanberg care – share their dividends in yet another redistribution of wealth. The Poet had it correct when he penned in Gentlemen-Rankers:

We're poor little lambs who've lost our way, Baa! Baa! Baa!
We have done with Hope and Honor, we are lost to Love and Truth,
We are dropping down the ladder rung by rung,
And the measure of our torment is the measure of our youth.
God help us, for we knew the worst too young!
Our shame is clean repentance for the crime that brought the sentence,
Our pride it is to know no spur of pride,
And the Curse of Reuben (See: Genesis 35:22) holds us till an alien turf enfolds us
And we die, and none can tell Them where we died.
We're poor little lambs who've lost our way, Baa! Baa! Baa!
Gentlemen-rankers out on the spree, Damned from here to Eternity,
God ha' mercy on such as we, Baa! Yah! Bah!

In II Samuel 12:1 through 9, Nathan…speaks to King David about “the small people” in these words: "There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him. Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him. David burned with anger against the man and said…As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this deserves to die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity. Then Nathan said to David, You are the man! This is what the Lord…says: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master's house to you…I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you even more. Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own…” The poor little lambs slaughtered yet again. Bah! Yah! Bah! Consider these things with me!
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Abstractions and Considerations

Posted by peripheral on Wednesday, June 16, 2010 6:51:49 AM
From My Perspective - - -

Abstraction No. 1: Life is lived in a hurried pace and the thoughts or ideals from a previous, more tranquil time are forgotten or unheeded. There is a song titled "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" (music by Jerome Kern; lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II) from their 1927 musical play "Show Boat," that includes these lyrics: "Fish got to swim, birds got to fly, I got to love one man till I die. Can't help lovin' dat man of mine."
We now have the crisis of a Gulf Oil Spill and the chilling effect that fish can’t swim and birds can’t fly there now. Seafood may be impacted for years to come, and the migratory birds habitat may take years to clean – and a question pondered is – will the fish survive and swim there again and will the birds survive and fly there once again.

Abstraction No. 2: Glenn Beck has caused a literary stir by using the words of Rudyard Kipling in a promotion of his newest book, The Overton Window. The words are from The Gods of the Copybook Headings, and state:
As it will be in the future, it was at the birth of Man-
There are only four things certain since Social Progress began:-
That the Dog returns to his Vomit and the Sow returns to her Mire,
And the burnt Fool's bandaged finger goes wobbling back to the Fire;
And that after this is accomplished, and the brave new world begins
When all men are paid for existing and no man must pay for his sins,
As surely as Water will wet us, as surely as Fire will burn,
The Gods of the Copybook Headings with terror and slaughter return!
The critics, without knowing the words were by Rudyard Kipling deemed them to be without merit, An interviewer with The Huffington Post referred to the words as "stupid, simple."

Consideration No. 1: What’s even more intriguing is that some of the words used by Kipling were taken from the Bible - - Proverbs 26:11 – “The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” The Apostle Peter uses them in II Peter 2:19-22. Peter is writing about a world that has alienated itself from God, and says: “They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity--for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: A dog returns to its vomit, and, A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud."

Consideration No. 2: Solomon spoke the sayings of the wise in Proverbs 24:23-34, These also are sayings of the wise: “To show partiality in judging is not good: Whoever says to the guilty, You are innocent - peoples will curse him and nations denounce him. But it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come upon them…Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready; after that, build your house. Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, or use your lips to deceive. Do not say, I'll do to him as he has done to me; I'll pay that man back for what he did. I went past the field of the sluggard, past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment; thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins. I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest - and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.” As societies and nations struggle to survive, it is wise to turn from those things which breed and cause decadence. A free people can choose to live in a world of Abstractions and struggle to survive, or they can embrace the stated Considerations and be guided into a pathway of wisdom and sound judgments. Consider these things with me!
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Boy-Oh-Boycott

Posted by peripheral on Tuesday, June 15, 2010 7:02:41 AM
From My Perspective - - -

When disaster strikes, what should one do? There appear to be at least two possibilities: (1) Devise a Solution. Let ingenuity – part of the fiber and backbone of this nation’s development – be turned loose to create solutions and remedies for the crises at hand. Last Saturday-Sunday, the TV Program – Huckabee – had a string of ordinary people with possible solutions for the Gulf Oil Crisis. Sadly, government bureaucracy has not seen fit to try any or all of these possibilities – even though the demonstration of them showed a positive result. (2) Organize a Boycott. There are people in our nation whose response to a crisis is to see it as another opportunity to be in the limelight by organizing a Boycott. One of the downsides to such an effort is that it is based on disinformation and misdirection.

An example of this appears in a Boortz Report – Nealz News - where he states: “So now we have people showing up around the country calling for a boycott of BP…Can someone please tell me on what level of insanity a boycott of BP makes sense? A few things to consider: (1) The Deepwater Horizon oil drilling rig did not belong to BP. It belonged to a group named Trans-ocean. (2) At the time of the explosion there were 126 people working on the Trans-ocean rig. Only 8 of them were BP employees. (3) The vast majority of BP stations - the targets of the boycott - are privately owned by small businessmen. The employees of these stations are not employees of BP. (4) What sense does it make to, on one hand, try to starve BP of money while, on the other hand, demanding that they pay the costs of the cleanup? - - So what happens when you boycott your local BP station? First, you do little, if anything, to actually cause any financial harm to BP itself. The people you do hurt are the local businessmen who own and operate the stations and your neighbors that they hire. If your…boycotts are successful all you are managing to do is to put people in your own community out of work.

On June 14th, The New York Times Headline read: “Efforts to Repel Gulf Oil Spill Are Described as Chaotic.” Part of the report includes: “It was late May. Oil had been creeping into the passes around Grand Isle. Two fleets of fishing boats were supposed to be laying out boom, the long floating barriers to corral oil and protect the fragile marshes of Barataria Bay. But the boats were gathered on the inland side of the bay — the wrong side — anchored idly as the oil oozed in from the Gulf of Mexico. BP officials said they had no way of contacting the workers on the boats…For much of the last two months, the focus of the response to the Deepwater Horizon explosion has been a mile underwater, 50 miles from shore, where successive efforts involving containment domes, top kills and junk shots have failed, and a spill-cam shows tens of thousands of barrels of oil hemorrhaging into the gulf each day. Closer to shore, the efforts to keep the oil away from land have not fared much better, despite a response effort involving thousands of boats, tens of thousands of workers and millions of feet of containment boom. From the beginning, the effort has been bedeviled by a lack of preparation, organization, urgency and clear lines of authority among federal, state and local officials, as well as BP. As a result, officials and experts say, the damage to the coastline and wildlife has been worse than it might have been if the response had been faster and orchestrated more effectively…” These are good observations – but – where are the current solutions?

Human nature is fascinating. We can be aghast as catastrophes and errors in judgment that demonstrate ineffectiveness are observed. But – what about human life? What about the Christian Life-Choices – how effective have they been? In II Peter 1:5-8, a partial list is given that must be foundational for necessary Life-Choices. Note what is stated: “make every effort to add to your faith goodness; to goodness, knowledge; to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness; to godliness, brotherly kindness; to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ… Kept from being ineffective and unproductive – does that describe you? Obviously, these are Christian values and possibilities that are provable and functional! Consider these things with me!
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Fleece The Sheep - and - Fleece Them Some More

Posted by peripheral on Monday, June 14, 2010 6:19:03 AM
From My Perspective - - -

Is it fair when a sheep has been shorn to try and get more fleece from that same sheep? To do so, will it not begin to cut into the flesh of the sheep? Will that sheep become impaired to the point that its contribution to wool production may actually begin to decrease? Using this as a metaphor, are we as citizens of this nation being viewed as sheep to be fleeced? When we have been shorn, are there ways being devised to fleece us yet some more?

On a broader and more general area, should you ever be required to surrender your Constitutional rights due to a government action or enactment? Is the Constitution of the United States meant as a safeguard for human rights and liberties? A friend (with whom I most often disagree) has written an interesting Blog – “The Constitution is Un-Constitutional?” He raises some interesting thoughts and points (most points he should sit upon and maybe he’d get the correct point). If you would like to peruse his Blog, go to: http://www.thoughts.com/colinstmichael/blog/the-constitution -is-un-constitutional-576170/. This past week his thoughts were timely, in a way, for my wife and me when we visited the Doctor’s Office for a routine check-up. We were handed a sheet that was required to be filled in “to update our file…” Most people just affix their signature to such a document without much of a glance regarding the content. One section of the form had to do with the collection of fees and the use of a Collection Agency if payment was not received. However, there was this sentence contained in that paragraph which read: “I hereby waive my Constitutional rights in this State of Residence, as well as in any other State forever.” My wife and I refused to sign it and were told: “Then you cannot be seen by the Doctor!” Before we left the office, we were asked to visit with the Office Manager. Her basic approach was: “Well – this is part of Obamacare.” We disagreed with her premise and said they had gone too far in asking any patient (much less citizen) to wave his or her Constitutional rights forever (forever is a long and interminable length of time - “Forever” means: “without ever ending; eternally…continually; incessantly; always”).

From The Law Dictionary, we find this definition of Waiver: “Waiver Legal Definition – (1) A voluntary relinquishing of a right or privilege. Although a waiver may result from an explicit surrender or by circumstances, courts frown on accepting waivers of constitutional rights. The party waiving a right must have knowledge of that right and the informed intention of surrendering it. (2) The paper by which a person surrenders his or her rights; for example, when the courier delivered the package, the recipient may sign a waiver relieving the former of any further responsibility. An Expressed Waiver: A deliberate and voluntary waiver. An Implied Waiver: A waiver of certain rights based upon the action of the waiving party. For example, if a person tells a courier he does not care what condition a package is in as long as it arrives by a certain time, that person has waived the right to require the courier to treat the parcel with the normally expected care. A Prospective Waiver: A waiver of something that may occur in the future; for example, the right to participate in an award from a future, anticipated law suit. Prospective waivers are often deemed to be unenforceable, as the party giving up a right cannot, by definition, know the parameters of what is being given up.”

As Jesus prepares His Disciples for the task of communicating The Gospel throughout the world, He shares these words with them in Matthew 10:16-17 (The Message Translation): “Stay alert. This is hazardous work I'm assigning you. You're going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so…be as cunning as a snake, inoffensive as a dove. Don't be naive. Some people will impugn your motives; others will smear your reputation - just because you believe in me.” Sheep in a world of Wolves indicates there is danger lurking in many of life’s experiences. Sheep are timid, naïve and oftentimes stupid. One definition of “sheep” states: “a meek, unimaginative, or easily led person.” While the primary goal of a Christian life is to live righteous and holy lives, there is also the duty to stand for truth and to defend the weak, helpless and defenseless. Be gentle! Be wise! Be strong! Stand Up and Be Counted! Consider these things with me!
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Languishing Language

Posted by peripheral on Tuesday, June 08, 2010 6:04:02 AM
From My Perspective - - -

Do words define who we are? The adage states: “Actions speak louder than words!” – that’s true in and of itself – but words are the expression of what most readily comes to mind for one to say. Words – our Dictionaries contain more than 450,000 of them. It is the way one verbally communicates with others in a constructive, cogent and discernible manner. How did profanity become the acceptable language of our day?

CMI (Culture and Media Institute) in a report by Nathan Burchfiel on June 7th, 2010 regarding the MTV Awards Program uses this sub-headline: “Music Network’s Movie Award Show Features 100 Swears In 122 Minutes.” The article contains the following: “Ready to make the censors’ ears bleed? That’s how Anna Kendrick summed up MTV’s attitude toward decency June 6 during the network’s annual Movie Awards broadcast. It wasn’t just the censors who endured a two-hour swear-fest. The television audience had the pleasure of hearing 30 percent of the vulgarities uttered throughout the night. A Culture and Media Institute review found the 122-minute show littered with at least 100 bleep-worthy words – that’s more than one per minute not including commercials…The network’s censors caught 70 curses…It would be difficult for MTV to claim these were accidental. The show seemed obsessed with using offensive language…” The response by MTV is contained in the following: “Update - The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that MTV has apologized. In a statement, the network said the show is a live televised event known for irreverent comedy and a party atmosphere where our guests speak more freely than they otherwise might…We sincerely apologize to those in our audience who were offended by any objectionable words that might have slipped by [the censors] for the live airing. The statement conspicuously lacks any pledge to tone down future shows.”

Moving from The Entertainment World to The Political Culture, there are critics of the President who state that he appears too cool and aloof – such as the BP issue in the Gulf of Mexico – and that he should show more emotion. How does that statement resonate in the President’s mind? How best can he - will he display more emotion? Will it be by his actions? Will it be based on his determination to remedy that which has been a failure for the past 51 days in the Gulf environmental debacle and disaster? What would you do to show you are “tough” when that is the order of the day? How does the culture respond when it wants to be seen as “tough” in the circumstances and situations of life? One has a glimpse of the attempt of the President in an Associated Press Release for today, June 8th by Tom Raum. Their headline (slightly edited by this Blog writer): “Obama Talks Tough On Spill; Derrieres In Peril.” The report states: “President Barack Obama says his talks with Gulf fishermen and oil spill experts are not an academic exercise. They're so I know whose derriere to kick. One target for the presidential foot: Tony Hayward, the embattled chief executive of BP. Obama was asked by Matt Lauer of NBC's Today about Hayward's past comments that: I want my life back, that the Gulf was a big ocean and that the environmental impact of this disaster is likely to be very, very modest. He wouldn't be working for me after any of those statements, Obama said, according to excerpts released by NBC. The interview was to air Tuesday. NBC aired portions and put out some excerpts Monday night. It was part of a stepped-up White House effort to show Obama is actively engaged in dealing with the worst oil spill in the nation's history, and to distance itself from the London-based oil giant…” Is that valid emoting? Is that toughness?

Proverbs 10:19 (NLT) states: “Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.” The NIV renders it: “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” The President is a man who loves to “talk” and does it well – but rhetoric is a far cry from practical action. There is an old Hymn that contained a lyric: “What you are – Speaks so loud – the world can’t hear what you say! They’re looking at your walk – not listening to your talk…” The enjoinders of Scripture are: “Speak the truth in love…let your yes, be yes and your no, be no…respond with kindness – not anger…” Ecclesiastes 5:2 teaches: “Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.” Consider these things with me!
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The Daze Of Remembrance

Posted by peripheral on Saturday, June 05, 2010 4:58:23 AM
From My Perspective - - -

We so easily and soon forget our history…important events…our heritage…the privilege of freedom and liberty…landmarks of conflict… One of the Landmark moments occurred 66 years ago - June 6th, 1944 – called D-Day, a day of determination to set captive peoples free. Cemeteries dot the landscape of Europe denoting the price that was paid as brave men died in the accomplishment of a great and worthy cause.

As Allied servicemen invaded Nazi-occupied Europe on this date, President Franklin Roosevelt addressed the nation and world as he offered the following remarks and prayer. “MY FELLOW Americans: Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our allies were crossing the channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far. And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:
“Almighty God - Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our republic, our religion and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity. Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith. They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph. They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest -- until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war.
“For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home. Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.
“And for us at home -- fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters and brothers of brave men overseas -- whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them -- help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice. Many people have urged that I call the nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.
“Give us strength, too -- strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces. And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.
“And, O Lord, give us Faith. Give us Faith in Thee; Faith in our sons; Faith in each other; Faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose. With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogancies. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace, a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men - a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil. Thy will be done, Almighty God. Amen.”

That was then – but what about now? Psalm 33:10-18 shares these basic and important truths: “The LORD foils the plans of the nations; He thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord…From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind…He who forms the hearts of all, Who considers everything they do. No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,” Let us be among those who both know and remember these truths. Consider these things with me!
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BP - Boomerang Pretentiousness

Posted by peripheral on Friday, June 04, 2010 9:57:29 AM
From My Perspective - - -

"Oily to Bed – Oily to Rise" – such is the plight of those trying to cope with the largest oil catastrophe ever. We are constantly made aware that BP (British Petroleum) is responsible for the costs and expenses on this contamination, as well as compensating those who have been impacted financially because of the ruptured oil lines more than 5,000 feet below the surface of the Gulf. Politicians posture themselves as being “in charge” but everyone knows they’re not! For them, “BP” has come to symbolize – “Boomerang Pretentiousness”! When it looked like the well might be successfully capped, our President was there to claim he was in charge from Day 1 and the “buck” stops with him. When the cap failed, then “BP” came into play again, namely: (a) its British Petroleum’s fault; and (b) the Boomerang Pretentiousness that allows one to think he can claim credit while bearing none of the blame! “Boomerang” (as a verb) means: “to come back or return; to cause harm to the originator; to backfire.” To be “pretentious” means: “being full of pretense or pretension; characterized by assumption of dignity or importance; making an exaggerated outward show; being ostentatious.”

Can this gushing oil be stopped? At some point, Yes! Can it be stopped immediately? So far, No! Every effort has been marked by failure and now some speculate that a nuclear detonation may be necessary to seal the pipeline. Posturing won’t do it! Rhetoric won’t do it! Frequent photo-op trips to the Gulf won’t do it! Increase of taxes won’t do it (they can sell their oil product to any number of other nations – China comes to mind). A Bloomberg report today indicates: “Since the April 20 explosion aboard the Deepwater Horizon rig, which BP Plc leased from Trans-Ocean Ltd., administration officials have increasingly criticized BP, saying their faith in the company to contain the oil flowing from a mile-deep well was ill-placed. The blast killed 11 and triggered leaks that a government panel said spew an estimated 12,000 to 19,000 barrels of oil a day into the Gulf of Mexico…“The more the images of oil in marshlands, and dead birds washing ashore, the angrier the American people are going to get…Largely, it’s been directed toward BP. But as the weeks turn into months you can feel, almost on a daily basis, the public’s furor start heading toward the White House.” It does seem as though there’s adequate blame to be spread around. However, the “blame-game” accomplishes little. This is true for a ruptured pipeline. It is likewise true for a ruptured life. We live in an “instant” world – everything designed to be faster, quicker, sooner – people line up for hours and days to buy the latest technology at inflated prices so they can be first and faster. The lifestyle and philosophy of life has little room or desire for patience. We have become a people who follow a mantra: “I know what I want – and – I want it now!”

A passage in Genesis 1:26-28 has been referenced as The Cultural Mandate. It states: “ Then God said, Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.“Basically, God’s plan was that man would act and behave responsibly with His Creation – that they would subdue the earth and develop superiority over all beasts. Man was also made with the desire to explore. There are countless examples of man’s achievements as he has honed his skills and mind to bring about great inventions and practical uses for them. The fact that Oil is Gushing at will in the Gulf and contaminating wildlife refuges is tragic. However, man with his ingenuity will – in time – arrive at a determination of how that Oil Pipeline can and will be subdued. In the meanwhile, “BP - Boomerang Pretentiousness” is evident and, it too, is gushing freely. Can either the Pipeline or Pretentiousness be easily contained? No! There was no contingency plan for such an event with the pipeline; and there is no restraint for the pretentious. Time will bring about a solution. Meanwhile, patience and understanding are needed! For a while, those working on the pipeline will continue with their routine of “Oily to bed – Oily to rise” until resolve and remedy are realized. Consider these things with me!
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