From My Perspective - - -

Some pithy statements from years ago were: “Look before you leap!”; and, “Think before you speak!” It seems that nowadays we find far too many who keep on speaking until they can think of something to say. The result is a growing confusion and considerable disorder. Perhaps we should conclude: “There’s a whole lot of kerfuffling going on! To kerfuffle is to be part of: “a disorderly outburst or tumult; a commotion.”

An example of this is based upon the recent address given by Rush Limbaugh at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). In his address, Rush Limbaugh reiterated what he had said previously regarding the economic direction of this nation. The context of what he said is the following: “This notion that I want the President to fail, folks, this shows you a sign of the problem we've got. That's nothing more than common sense and to not be able to say it, why in the world do I want what we just described, rampant government growth indebtedness, wealth that's not even being created yet that is being spent, what is in this? What possibly is in this that anybody of us wants to succeed? Did the Democrats want the war on Iraq to fail! They certainly did. They not only wanted the war in Iraq to fail, they proclaimed it a failure. There's Dingy Harry Reid waiving a white flag: ’This war is lost. This war is….They called General Petraeus a liar before he even testified. Mrs. Clinton said she had to, willingly suspend disbelief in order to listen to Petraeus. We're in the process of winning the war. The last thing they wanted was to win. They hoped George Bush failed. So what is so strange about being honest to say that I want Barack Obama to fail IF HIS MISSION IS TO RESTRUCTURE AND REFORM THIS COUNTRY SO THAT CAPITALISM AND INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY ARE NOT ITS FOUNDATION? WHY WOULD I WANT THAT TO SUCCEED?”

The phrase one hears most often in recent media presentations is: “I want Barack Obama to fail!” The statement is taken out of context – but – that best serves the purpose of those who wish to Kerfuffle (and encourage others of like mind to do the same thing). A Play by William Shakespeare, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING comes to mind at this point. A summary of the play indicates: “The mode in which the innocent Hero before the altar at the moment of the wedding, and in the presence of her family and many witnesses, is put to shame by the most degrading charge, false indeed, yet clothed with every appearance of truth, is a grand piece of theatrical effect in the true and justifiable sense.” The misrepresentation allows for the kerfuffle (the disorderly outburst and condemnation) that is not based upon fact or reality but upon supposition and rumor and innuendo. It could also lead to a ruined life and relationship.

Rush Limbaugh defends his position with these words: “…there's some people you can't say you want the President to fail. Ladies and gentlemen of the United States, the Democrat Party has actively not just sought the failure of Republican presidents and policies and now wars for the first time, the Democrat Party doesn't stop at failure. Talk to Judge Robert Bork or Justice Clarence Thomas about how they tried to destroy lives, reputations and character, and I'm supposed to say I don't want the President to fail? We're in for a real battle. We are talking about the United States of America -and there will always be an America, don't misunderstand me - we're talking about it remaining the country we were all born into and reared and grown into. And it's under assault. It's always under assault. But it's never been under assault like this from within before. And it's a serious, serious battle.”

From My Perspective - - -

One of the several goals of the new administration in Washington, DC pertains to a form of Universal Healthcare. The suggestion is that 47 million people are without Health Coverage and the Government must assume the responsibility to provide coverage for all residing within our borders. That coverage will very likely provide coverage for those who are not yet citizens, as well as for those who are illegal aliens. In the address President Obama presented before the Joint Session Congress and to the nation made reference to the following: “The cost of health care now causes a bankruptcy in America every 30 seconds.” Is this true or is this a mischaracterization?

The issue rests upon extrapolation versus interpolation. The explanation and rationale for this can be found in The American Heritage explanation regarding Extrapolation and Interpolation. They are, “A mathematical procedure which estimates values of a function for certain desired inputs given values for known inputs. If the desired input is outside the range of the known values this is called EXTRAPOLATION, if it is inside then it is called INTERPOLATION. The method works by fitting a curve to two or more given points and then applying this function to the required input.” Gary Langer is Director of Polling at ABC News. He observes the following in his report entitled, “The Numbers”! In that article on March 05, 2009, he notes the following: “Medical Bankruptcies: A Data-Check (responses from the lead author of the Harvard study, Dr. David Himmelstein, are included) “President Obama’s kicking off his health care reform today in the worst possible way: with a mischaracterization of data. The cost of health care now causes a bankruptcy in America every thirty seconds, Obama said at the opening of his White House forum on health care reform. The problem: That claim, based on a 2001 survey, is simply unsupportable. The figure comes from a 2005 Harvard University study saying that 54 percent of bankruptcies in 2001 were caused by health expenses. We reviewed it internally and knocked it down at the time; an academic reviewer did the same in 2006. Recalculating Harvard’s own data, he came up with a far lower figure – 17 percent. A more recent study by another group, approaching it another way, indicates that in 2007 about eight-tenths of one percent of Americans lived in families that filed for bankruptcy as a result of medical costs. That rings a little less loudly than “one every 30 seconds.”

The ABC News article continues with these observations: “A good part of the problem is definitional. The Harvard report claims to measure the extent to which medical costs are ‘the cause’ of bankruptcies. In reality its survey asked if these costs were “a reason” – potentially one of many – for such bankruptcies. Beyond those who gave medical costs as “a reason,” the Harvard researchers chose to add in any bankruptcy filers who had at least $1,000 in unreimbursed medical expenses in the previous two years. Given deductibles and co-pays, that’s a heck of a lot of people. Moreover, Harvard’s definition of “medical” expenses includes situations that aren’t necessarily medical in common parlance, e.g., a gambling problem, or the death of a family member. If your main wage-earning spouse gets hit by a bus and dies, and you have to file, that’s included as a “medical bankruptcy.” When I asked the lead author, Dr. David Himmelstein, about his definitions of medical bankruptcy back in 2005, he said, “It’s a judgment call,” and added that any death, for example, “to our mind is a medical event.” A last problem was sampling: The Harvard researchers surveyed bankruptcy filers in five federal court districts accounting for 14 percent of bankruptcies nationally; projecting this to the other 86 percent is sketchy. Said Himmelstein: “Obviously the extrapolation is rough.”

From My Perspective - - - 

At the same time, an article entitled, THE OBAMA ECONOMY, Wall Street Journal - March 3^rd, 2009 has been published. It reviews the financial plight of our nation and what they consider to be a root cause for the present state of affairs: “As 2009 opened, three weeks before Barack Obama took office, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 9034 on January 2, its highest level since the autumn panic. Yesterday the Dow fell another 4.24% to 6763, for an overall decline of 25% in two months and to its lowest level since 1997. The dismaying message here is that President Obama's policies have become part of the economy's problem. Americans have welcomed the Obama era in the same spirit of hope the President campaigned on. But after five weeks in office, it's become clear that Mr. Obama's policies are slowing, if not stopping, what would otherwise be the normal process of economic recovery. From punishing business to squandering scarce national public resources, Team Obama is creating more uncertainty and less confidence -- and thus a longer period of recession or sub-par growth. So what has happened in the last two months? One negative revelation has been the way he has chosen to spend his scarce resources on income transfers rather than growth promotion. Most of his "stimulus" spending was devoted to social programs, rather than public works, and nearly all of the tax cuts were devoted to income maintenance rather than to improving incentives to work or invest. His Treasury has been making a similar mistake with its financial bailout plans. The banking system needs to work through its losses, and one necessary use of public capital is to assist in burning down those bad assets as fast as possible. Yet most of Team Obama's ministrations so far have gone toward triage and life support, rather than repair and recovery.

Meanwhile, Fox News Reports today: RUSSIAN SCHOLAR SAYS U.S. WILL COLLAPSE NEXT YEAR. “If you're inclined to believe Igor Panarin, and the Kremlin wouldn't mind if you did, then President Barack Obama will order martial law this year, the U.S. will split into six rump-states before 2011, and Russia and China will become the backbones of a new world order. Panarin might be easy to ignore but for the fact that he is a dean at the Foreign Ministry's school for future diplomats and a regular on Russia's state-guided TV channels. And his predictions fit into the anti-American story line of the Kremlin leadership. There is a high probability that the collapse of the United States will occur by 2010," Panarin told dozens of students, professors and diplomats Tuesday at the Diplomatic Academy… Vladmir Putin, the former president who is now prime minister, has likened the United States to Nazi Germany's Third Reich and blames Washington for the global financial crisis that has pounded the Russian economy…”

Consider these things with me - - - It is possible The End is nearer than most suspect. However, even if that is the case, the person of faith should remember and practice PSALM 20:6-9, “Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving might of His right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright.” Many suggest that one should read the end of The Book (Bible) – We Win! God will prove Himself faithful to all who trust in Him. There’s a growing list of places and people who have duped many and are not worthy of trust. But The Lord – you can always Trust In Him – He Never Fails and is Always Faithful to His people!

From My Perspective - - -

There is an abundance of commentary in terms of the Financial Markets and Meltdown in our country, as well as in the World Markets. Some of the commentary in this country allows that our current economic collapse is due to dishonesty, greed and mismanagement. Basically, permissiveness began to rule the markets and reality of values was pushed aside. People were permitted to borrow against a floating (ARM) interest rate on housing that had become inflated in value. Thus, the housing boom has become a housing bust.

It is very revealing to read an item in today’s news regarding Bank Of America. The story appears on Financial Times.Com and states: “Bank of America’s request for $20 Billion of government money to prop up its acquisition of Merrill Lynch was a “tactical mistake” that made the bank appear as weak as Citigroup, Ken Lewis, Bank of America’s chief executive told the Financial Times on Monday. Mr. Lewis vowed to stay on as chief executive of the North Carolina-based bank until it paid back the $45 Billion of government money it received under the US Treasury’s bank recapitalization program, possibly within two to three years….In hindsight, it was a tactical mistake because it put us in the same category as Citigroup…We could still have had 8% tier 1 capital after a $15 Billion loss but we wanted a cushion… it would have been better to request only $10 Billion for that purpose…that could have helped to curtail investor fears that further problems were in the offing. The scale of government assistance for Bank of America and Citigroup has helped fuel speculation that outright nationalization could be necessary for one or both banks. The fears have contributed to a 76 per cent drop in Bank of America’s share price since its acquisition of Merrill Lynch closed on January 1…”

A revealing phrase in the above article is – “BUT WE WANTED A CUSHION”! The Robin-Hood-Virus has a way of blinding ones reality factors and allowing for the greed factor to rule. Government Handouts of Billions of Dollars to those who are oriented to Capital Growth and Gain is the wrong remedy for the Robin-Hood-Virus. It seems as though we are bent in the direction of continuing this process and procedure with the soon to be announced Budget. Redistribution of Wealth has just begun! It is not even a clear view of the “tip of the iceberg” in terms of what lies ahead. We are Slouching Toward Gomorrah and Bankruptcy – and – there seems to be no way to slow or alter that momentum. At this rate, Capitalism will succumb to Socialism and the only concern will be – “WE WANTED A CUSHION” – corporately and personally.

Consider these things with me - - - It is never too late to correct ones direction and to get turned around. This is the serious possibility and goal of true HOPE. In the ministry of Jesus Christ, He clearly set before anyone who would follow Him the Cost Factors of doing so. In Luke 14:28-32, Jesus states: “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, This fellow began to build and was not able to finish. Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.” The question for this consideration is: “Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?” The Robin-Hood-Virus is now impacting the Dow Industrial Average and Stock Markets around the world. There is a basic loss of confidence. Investors can no longer trust those who chose to gamble away the investment and retirement funds of countless numbers of people. In this time of concern, or discouragement, or maybe even anxiety, we would do well to remind ourselves of the words from a Worship Chorus: “God will make a way, Where there seems to be no way; He works in ways we cannot see; He will make a way for me! He will be my guide; Hold me closely to His side; With love and strength for each new day, He will make a way, He will make a way! Let your Hope, Trust and Confidence be in the Faithful God Who will make a way, and Who will provide for all of ones needs, according to His riches in glory - by Christ Jesus!

To indicate that our nation is living in changing and strange times is an understatement. What is occurring is something more than just a mere transition. If our nation shifts from being Capitalist to Socialist – that is a major revamping of the very foundations upon which we were founded. Additionally, if we somehow lose our moral compass and conscience as a nation, we will become directionless and susceptible to new behaviors that are borne out of a personal rationale that has freed itself from either ethical or moral values and standards. We are beginning to see sad evidences and consequences of these behaviors.

Last month (February 12), we were confronted and shocked by the headline that read: “Bridges TV Founder Charged with Wife’s Beheading”! This did not occur in some other country where beheading is a so-called “religious practice.” This occurred in Buffalo, NY at a radio station. Sadly, it leaves two children aged four and six deprived of their Mother and separated from their imprisoned Father. Also, we read and hear all too frequently about missing children and their subsequent deaths. A lurking question pertains to whether or not “filicide” lurks in the psyche of a growing number of people within our culture.

FILICIDE is not historically new. It is the deliberate act of a parent killing his or her own son or daughter. The word filicide derives from the Latin word “filius” meaning "son". In some cultures, killing a daughter who is deemed to have disgraced the family is a common occurrence (see honor killing). A 1999 US Department of Justice Study concluded that between 1976 and 1997 in the United States, mothers were responsible for a higher share of children killed during infancy while fathers were more likely to have been responsible for the murders of children age 8 or older. Furthermore, 52% of the children killed by their mothers were male (maternal filicide), while 57% of the children killed by their fathers were male (paternal filicide).Sometimes there is a combination of murder and suicide in filicide cases. There are some historical examples of Filicide:

• Ptolemy XII of Egypt had his daughter Berenice IV and her husband beheaded in 55 BC. This was after she had dethroned him and poisoned her sister, Cleopatra VI.
• Ivan IV of Russia (Ivan the Terrible) killed his son and heir to the throne in a fit of rage.
• Peter the Great of Russia had his son tortured to death, being present at several of the torture sessions and allegedly participating in some of them.
• Josef and Magda Goebbels poisoned their six children, in order to protect them from the invading Soviet Army, before committing suicide.
• Motown singer-songwriter Marvin Gaye was shot to death by his father on April 1, 1984.
• Professional wrestler Chris Benoit killed his seven year old son Daniel, along with his wife and himself, on June 23, 2007.

We also forget the example of Forms of Filicide in the Bible – (a) Cain killing his brother Abel; (b) the sacrificing of children to Molech in the fire (Leviticus 20:1-5). The force of the Lord’s intent is summarized in Leviticus 18:21, “Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the Lord.”

From My Perspective - - -

All of us are familiar with “Lists”! There is the List of items needed from the store; things that need one’s attention more immediately than not; bills that have to be paid; appointments that need to be kept; school assignments and test schedules; people who should be written or called; etc. When we approach Christmas-Time we are reminded in the song: “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” – that – “he’s making a list and checking it twice, he’s gonna’ find out whose been naughty or nice…”

Every year, Forbes publishes a list of the richest Americans. At the top of that list is Bill Gates of Microsoft, followed by Warren Buffet. Four of the Top Ten are Waltons who are heirs of the Wal-Mart empire. In terms of politics, C-Span developed a recent listing of the Top Best and Worst Presidents of the United States. Abraham Lincoln was ranked the best. George Washington was second, followed by Franklin D. Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, Harry Truman and John F. Kennedy. Ronald Reagan was 10th. Bill Clinton was 15th. The survey graded each president on a scale of one ("not effective") to ten ("very effective"). The bottom five were: James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, Franklin Pierce, William H. Harrison and Warren G. Harding. George W. Bush was 36th on the list. His dad was 18th. Such listings are subjective and will vary as time passes.

The United States Constitution is a statement regarding how this nation is to be governed. Attached to that Constitution are 27 Amendments that make stipulations and guarantee freedoms and rights. It makes this a land of law and order.  “In the United States, the law is derived from four sources. These four sources are constitutional law, statutory law, administrative regulations, and the common law (which includes case law). The most important source of law is the United States Constitution. All other law falls under, and is subordinate to, that document. No law may contradict the Constitution. For example, if Congress enacts a statute that conflicts with the Constitution, the Supreme Court may find that law unconstitutional, and declare it invalid.”

When we come to human behavior, we tend to relegate it to the Ethical norms. “Ethics refers to standards of behavior that tell us how human beings ought to act in the many situations in which they find themselves-as friends, parents, children, citizens, businesspeople, teachers, professionals, etc.” Ethics is not the same as feelings. Feelings provide important information for our ethical choices. Ethics is not religion. Many people are not religious, but ethics applies to everyone. Most religions do advocate high ethical standards but sometimes do not address all the types of problems we face. Ethics is not following the law. A good system of law does incorporate many ethical standards, but law can deviate from what is ethical. Ethics is not following culturally accepted norms. Some cultures are quite ethical, but others become corrupt. Ethics is not science. Social and natural science can provide important data to help us make better ethical choices. But science alone does not tell us what we ought to do.

Consider these things with me - - - God gave His people the Ten Commandments that instructed them what they were to believe about God and what duties God required of man. In like manner, God gave man the Fruit of the Spirit that was to serve to develop positive Christian Behaviors for all of one’s interactions. It fits within the framework of what Paul wrote Timothy - "Be an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12); and "Do your best to present yourself to God as a workman who is approved…who does not need be ashamed" (2 Timothy 2:15). Making a list and following it is NOT the desired goal, whereas making a Commitment to Christ and His Word IS the goal. Effectiveness in touching the lives of others will flow out from the level of Commitment one has made to the Lord Jesus Christ. Our Goal is to Know Him and to Make Him Known. As we do so, we will please and honor Him!

From My Perspective - - -

Most would agree that we are living in unique and extraordinary times. The pace of societal and cultural change is mind boggling. An article entitled Exponential Times, the observation is made: “The exponential increase of human presence over the past 200 years is clearly overburdening our planet. In 1800 world population approached one billion. Today we’ve passed 6 billion We are in a period of unprecedented mass extinction of species, with die-off occurring 1000 times more than usual…”

A You Tube Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL9Wu2kWwSY) by Karl Fisch is entitled, “Did You Know?” Some of the data shared includes - - -

• China will soon become the Number One English Speaking country in the world
• If you are “one in a million” in China, there are 1,300 just like you
• 25% of India Population with highest IQ is greater than the entire population of the USA
• India has more Honor Kids than the USA has kids
• 1 out of 8 couples married in USA last year met online
• There are 200 million registered users of My Space
• If My Space was a country it would be the 5^th largest in the world (between Indonesia and Brazil)
• There are 31 Billion searches on Google every month
• The first Commercial Text Message was sent in December 1992 – Today, the number of Text Messages sent and received every day exceeds the total population of the Planet
• It is estimated that 4 Exabytes of unique information will be generated this year – that is more than in previous 5,000 years
• There are 540,000 words in English Usage – that is 5 times as many words as during the times of William Shakespeare

There is a flood of data and estimates available. The point to all of this is that we are living in the midst of Changing Times and the change appears to be accelerating. The basic concern is in terms of how the average individual governs his/her life and functions responsibly and reasonably in the midst of the accelerated changes. The wise person is the one who knows his/her Foundational Principals, as well as what and where one’s anchor points are located. Each one must establish a Compass for Life and follow through in that right direction commitment. With all the change one sees and experiences, the Compass of Life remains constant. “Right” will always be “Right” and “Wrong” will always be “Wrong”!

From My Perspective - - -

Valentine’s Day is a time set aside where expressions of Love are to be expressed and demonstrated. Most do this by sending a card, or giving Candy, or sending a Bouquet of Flowers. As a matter of fact, “The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year world-wide.” In many classrooms in our nation, younger children exchange cards with their teachers and friends. Basically, this is intended to be an expression of love.

Love is more than an expression. It should be an overflow from the character and personality of one individual that affects and impacts another. It is an inner gift that utilizes words and deeds to demonstrate true feeling and emotion. Someone noted: “…in spite of all those cards that are exchanged, the Valentines that really matter are the ones we receive and give where love is unconditional, that say, No matter what- I love you!” One of the things that occurs in a pluralistic society is the blurring of the more meaningful gifts and allowing for something lesser as a substitute. For instance, George Barna recently conducted a Spiritual Gifts Survey and found the following: “…the latest study shows that just two-thirds of Christian Americans (68%) say they have heard of spiritual gifts…” The follow-up question asked which gifts the respondents believed they had. “The most commonly claimed gifts were teaching (9%), service (8%) and faith (7%). Those were followed by encouragement (4%), healing (4%), knowledge (4%), tongues (3%), leadership (2%). The influence of the secular and pluralistic is seen in many of the respondents (21%) who deemed their Spiritual Gift to be: “a sense of humor, singing, health, life, happiness, patience, a job, a house, compromise, premonition, creativity, and clairvoyance.” This is obviously a drift toward the subjective rather than an embrace of the objective.

The Word of God is very clear in its discussion of Spiritual Gifts and what they are: the passages of Scripture that teach about gifts include - Romans 12: 6-8, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4: 7-13, 1 Peter 4: 10-11. When it comes to Matters Of The Heart, I Corinthians 13:4-8 (NLT) is a passage that could and should be personalized by each of us - - -  

·         Love is patient and kind.

It has been suggested that one insert his/her name where “Love” appears and the reading would be: “Jack/Jill is patient and kind; Jack/Jill is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude, Jack/Jill does not demand his/her own way, etc.

Consider these things with me - - - How much different life and relationships would be if we mutually embraced the words of Jesus recorded in John 13:34-35, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." A secular song penned by Jackie DeShannon in 1965 reminded us from a secular viewpoint: “What the world needs now is love, sweet love, It's the only thing that there's just too little of…” Let us be among those whose hearts overflow with love and compassion in our lives, families, communities, nation and world.

From My Perspective - - -

An old expression goes something like: “The more things change, the more they remain the same!”  And so it appears with our nation and the political actions and appointments since Inauguration Day 2009. A Candidate and a Political Ambition promising “Change” and “Yes!, We Can!” and no more Lobbyists and business as usual approach has already proven to be false. From outcries against Billion Dollar Deficits during the previous administration to the glibness of Trillion Dollar Expenditure or “Investment” currently underway, the actions belie all the rhetoric to the contrary.

Where does this leave our nation and each citizen of our once successful nation? The February 16^th cover of Newsweek Magazine declares: “We Are All Socialists Now!” A premise of this Cover Story Article suggests: “In many ways our economy already resembles a European one. As boomers age and spending grows, we will become even more French…Whether we like it or not—or even whether many people have thought much about it or not—the numbers clearly suggest that we are headed in a more European direction. A decade ago U.S. government spending was 34.3 percent of GDP, compared with 48.2 percent in the euro zone—a roughly 14-point gap, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. In 2010 U.S. spending is expected to be 39.9 percent of GDP, compared with 47.1 percent in the euro zone—a gap of less than 8 points. As entitlement spending rises over the next decade, we will become even more French…”  The oxymoronic conclusion of the article states: “The Obama administration is caught in a paradox. It must borrow and spend to fix a crisis created by too much borrowing and spending. Having pumped the economy up with a stimulus, the president will have to cut the growth of entitlement spending by holding down health care and retirement costs and still invest in ways that will produce long-term growth. Obama talks of the need for smart government. To get the balance between America and France right, the new president will need all the smarts he can summon…”

Is Newsweek correct? The American Heritage Dictionary defines Socialism as: “Any of various theories or systems of social organization in which the means of producing and distributing goods is owned collectively or by a centralized government that often plans and controls the economy. The stage in Marxist-Leninist theory intermediate between capitalism and communism, in which collective ownership of the economy under the dictatorship of the proletariat has not yet been successfully achieved.”  If this definition is valid, then we are moving dangerously toward being an Antepenultimate Nation. Antepenultimate is the third syllable from the end. In other words, we are one step away from the end of this nation as a capitalist republic that has been blest greatly by the Eternal God Who has favored our nation in unusual ways.

Consider these things with me - - - While I was in the Rehab Center as a patient this past week, a young lady who brought the Mail and a Daily Newspaper asked me a poignant question: “If things are as bad as we’re being told, why has no one said we should stop where we are and as a nation Pray?” The simple answer is that we ought not to need politicians call this nation to prayer – churches and preachers should be calling their people to do that very thing – not just for a day, but on the continuum – until our nation comes to its senses and returns to a foundational principle, namely, “In God We Trust!” The more complicated answer to this young woman’s question is that we have become a pluralistic society where “God” and “Prayer” have different meanings for different people. With all the hoopla regarding Inauguration Day Prayers and who offered them, the overall impression of these so-called “Prayers” was that they became inclusive (use of Koran for name of Jehovah) to a Benediction that was a civil-rights refrain that lacked being a benign solicitation of the Divine Blessings of Almighty God upon our straying nation. In Matthew 24:44, Jesus states: “Therefore you must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” And in Revelation 18:17, “In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin…” If our nation is going to repent, the place is HERE, and the time is NOW! May God have mercy upon us!

From My Perspective - - -

Somewhere in the 1950’s, Baskin-Robbins started Ice Cream Franchises that featured 31 different flavors. Even though the Chain is somewhat diminished from its peak popularity, where it continues to be operational, they advertise and boast of now having more than 1,000 flavors. Some of us grew up being very content with Vanilla, Chocolate or Strawberry – but – that was then and this is now.

It seems as though the Baskin-Robbins Concept has become engaged in other parts of our experience ranging from the food choices available, to the religious variants, and the changing political climes. During the Inaugural Prayer Service, when a Unity Prayer was being offered, it seemed as though it was a type of Religious Cross-Cultural Seminar. There was a range from an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi to a Hamas sympathizer to a Television Preacher (T.D. Jakes) attempting to quote from Star Wars and calling it Star Trek, when he said: “I say to you as my son who is here today, my 14-year-old son - he probably would not quote scripture. He probably would use Star Trek instead, and so I say, 'May the force be with you." In the name of being contemporary and relevant, the misquote also represents a missed opportunity to stand tall and represent clearly that all-power belongs to the Eternal God and He allows one to temporarily have a portion of power to work in the affairs of State and to lead in a righteous way.

Where was the prayer suggesting the words of Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace/reproach to any people…” – to offset the Inaugural Benediction of a weary and hackneyed civil rights proponent (Joseph Lowery) who prayed: “Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get in back, when brown can stick around... when the red man can get ahead, man; and when white will embrace what is right. That all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen. Say Amen!" Only in America can one view a Political and Historic event – The Inauguration of A President – while at the same time being exposed to an ecumenical hodge-podge of religious talking (prayer?) points?!

Where was the alternative word regarding the movement toward a Tax Rebate for all Americans – even the more than 40% who pay no taxes at all – with the word from God, “If a man doesn’t work – neither should he eat.” (This does not suggest or imply that people groups should starve to death! What it is suggesting is that people need to be motivated to be diligent and productive – becoming a people who can arrive at a point where they can share with others rather than conniving to receive from “the system”!) It’s an idea the Apostle Paul shared in II Corinthians 9:10-12, “Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.”

From My Perspective - - -

TULIPOMANIA = “A violent passion for the acquisition or cultivation of tulips” -- In Holland, in the first half of the 17th century, the cultivation of tulips became a mania. It began about the year 1634, and, like a violent epidemic, seized upon all classes of the community, leading to disasters and misery such as the records of commerce or of bankruptcies can scarcely parallel. In 1636, tulip marts had been established in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Haarlem, Leyden, and various other towns, where tulip bulbs were sold and resold in the same manner as stocks are on the Stock Exchange of London.

HOOPLA = “Boisterous, jovial commotion or excitement; Extravagant publicity; Talk intended to mislead or confuse…” A play by Shakespeare entitled: “MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING” - The main plot in Much Ado About Nothing is the same as the story of Ariodante and Ginevra in Ariosto; but the secondary circumstances and development are very different. The mode in which the innocent Hero before the altar at the moment of the wedding, and in the presence of her family and many witnesses, is put to shame by the most degrading charge, false indeed, yet clothed with every appearance of truth, is a grand piece of theatrical effect in the true and justifiable sense…” This Title – Much Ado About Nothing - has been varied along the way until it recently was used in reference to the final episode of The Jerry Seinfeld Show when it became MUCH ADIEU ABOUT NOTHING. Observers noted: “How important is the last episode to American tele-viewers? A 30-second commercial spot costs $1,500,000. A 35-foot-high screen was erected in Times-Square to carry the event, while negotiations were taking place to televise the show on a giant screen to 500,000 viewers in Central Park. The Smithsonian Institute in Washington made inquiries about obtaining the entire set of Seinfeld. It was the climax of a show which people said defines our generation, and is the quintessential identification of the '90s. It was a final judgment built on nine years of hype (hope's replacement in a world of synthetic images). It was, as some said, a national holiday."

Misplaced Values and Cultural Saturation with Minutia bring one to the threshold of “hype” versus bonafide “hope”! In other words, we have delved into Fiction and Fantasy to such a degree that we are unable to find authenticity. It brings nations to a place where it allows lofty rhetoric to super-impose itself where bottom-line factualness has become a void. This occurs across all strata of culture and life until we reach the point of “hype” replacing (or becoming) “hope” – and – authenticity is deliberately blurred to smooth the way for adoption of a new agenda. As a result “right to an abortion” becomes “pro-Choice”; “redistribution of wealth” (welfare) becomes “reinvestment”; etc.

Consider these things with me - - - During the earth-ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, many times he would employ a word or phrase – “Verily, Verily, I say unto you…” VERILY means: In truth; in fact; With confidence; assuredly…” Some examples are: John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Matthew 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.  Matthew 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. Matthew 26:21 And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. Attention and commitment should be placed in what is factual – the Verily – words of The One Who stated: “I am the way; the truth; and the life! No one comes to the Father except by Me!” Tulipomania can bring about a “herd instinct” where people will be caught up by the rhetoric and miss the authentic. Hoopla is what it suggests – much activity and lofty platitudes – but – very little result and great disappointment regarding what one “hoped” would be when the “hype” was innocently embraced.

From My Perspective - - -

The Feature Headline in the Drudge Report for Monday, January 19^th is: “Anything Possible”! In a Pre-Inaugural speech, The MY-WAY Report states: “Two days from the White House, President-elect Barack Obama joined a vast throng Sunday at a joyous pre-inauguration celebration staged among marble monuments to past heroes. Anything is possible in America, declared the man who will confront economic crisis and two wars when he takes office. Despite the enormity of the task that lies ahead, I stand here today as hopeful as ever that the United States of America will endure - that it will prevail, that the dream of our founders will live on in our time,"

Years ago, based on the words of Matthew 19:26 - "Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." - Eugene L. Clark penned the words to a meaningful Inspirational Chorus. The words are:

Nothing is impossible when you put your trust in God;
Nothing is impossible when you're trusting in His Word.
Hearken to the voice of God to thee;
Is there anything too hard for Me?
Then put your trust in God alone and rest upon His Word;
For everything, O, everything, yes everything is possible with God.

Amid all the Pomp and Circumstance that surrounds the Inauguration of the 44^th President of the United States, there continues to be the relentless hew and cry of all types of people expressing opposition to praying “in Jesus’ name…”; or in the Oath of Office to state the words – “so help me God…”etc. If there’s anything that illustrates how the United States has drifted into a post-Christian era, this concerted effort by the Atheists and Humanists and Gay Activists speak volumes. Is it possible that we are approaching, or are at, the day Jesus warned about in Matthew 24:9-12, “You will be hated by all nations because of Me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved…”

Consider these things with me - - - Despite where we may find ourselves in the geo-political turmoil and economic crises of such great magnitude, we continue to have a God-given responsibility to activate I Timothy 2:1-4, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.” And even in the most difficult circumstances, I Peter 2:13-17 instructs and urges that we - “Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.” It may involve and entail assuming the role of Moses, Elijah, Daniel and his Friends, or John the Baptist as one takes a stand for righteousness. We must guard against being trapped in the whirlpool of indifference or the malaise of matter-of-factness. As you live in an unfocused world, you must maintain the true focus as you walk and sing throughout your life - - -

From My Perspective - - -

Chuck Colson shared some of his thoughts on the Right To Life Issue and commented in a recent Breakpoint editorial: “In the painting The Slaughter of the Innocents, baroque artist Peter Paul Rubens depicted the horror: a soldier dashing a child against a Roman column, another lancing a mother who tries to hide her babe. The painting also shows a woman weeping over the body of her dead infant. It's a scene from the Bible none of us likes imagining. Matthew quoted Jeremiah to describe the atrocity: A voice is heard in Ramah... Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted... Those who heard Matthew's gospel…would have associated Ramah with the deportation of the Jews during the exile. In that vicinity, the Babylonians tore Israel's children away from their mother's arms and carried them off as slaves.” As barbaric as this sounds, much of what passes as a safe and sound medical procedure when Abortion is done in this nation, is similarly barbaric. Colson’s additional thoughts are: “And where did Evil strike? It attacked life in its most vulnerable form. The very first assault of Satan after the birth of Christ is against society's weakest members-infants. He attacked the least of these. Even today, the Enemy's mode of attack hasn't changed much. We're painfully aware of the slaughter of the unborn, and the devaluation of the elderly, the poor, the disabled, and the prisoner…we mustn't be deceived. There is a real battle with real casualties. We remember that we wage war not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. We shouldn't be surprised at setbacks and assaults upon us. Of course the Enemy won't go down without a fight. But remember, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. So lay hold of it, and don't let go.

Consider these things with me - - - The secular press will brush aside such statements as being either biased or uninformed. That is part of the tension/dynamic of a juggernaut approach on the one hand (a massive inexorable force that seems to crush everything in its way) versus those who embrace a view and/or position that becomes nothing more than a foible: (a minor weakness or failing of character.)”…What should matter most to us is a Biblical imperative to be involved in the Cultural War that engages us as followers of Jesus Christ. Remember Proverbs 24:10-12, “ If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength! Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.  If you say, But we knew nothing about this, does not He Who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not He Who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?”  And, Psalm 139:7-16, “… For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!” The bottom line for us is – and always will be – God’s Way or man’s way. These positions are an eternity apart!

From My Perspective - - -

It seems as though an innate propensity for many leads one to negative opinion and bent rather than to a more positive approach and inclination. This is reflected in our national elections and the close percentages in terms of how the citizenry votes. Even with an exceptionally gifted orator and a national mood for change, the vote was nevertheless closer than one would have thought – 53% versus 47%.

A broader question is whether or not we want to see our nation and its leadership succeed or not. It should be the desire of every citizen to want our government to be wise in their decisions and prudent in their choices. The 47% who voted for someone other than the President-Elect should nevertheless want the choice of the 53% to succeed and to gain the support and respect of all.

Above all, we don’t want to be a nation that forgets God in terms of the body politic. Recently, Paul Harvey included in his “The Rest Of The Story” broadcast, the following: Billy Graham's Prayer For Our Nation - -
Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance.  We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done.

·         We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.

·         We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.

·         We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.  

·         We have killed our unborn and called it choice.

·         We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.  

·         We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem.  

·         We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.  

·         We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.  

·         We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.  

Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and Set us free. Amen!

And then, as we approach Inauguration Day, Max Lucado is encouraging people and churches to make it a special time of Prayer Focus and is appealing with the following: Ask Your Church  to Pray for Obama - - - Thanks to your desire to pray for the next President of the United States, we have almost 100,000 individuals and groups who have committed to pray for President-Elect Obama on Inauguration Day. But we want to see more. In this last week before the inauguration, would you email or call the leadership from your church and ask them to visit PrayForPresidentElect.com and pledge to pray for the new leadership of the United States?

Consider these things with me - - - Effective Prayer for the nation always begins on a personal level. That’s a reason why in Psalm 139:23-24, the Psalmist prays: “Search ME, O God, and know MY heart; test ME, and know MY anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in ME, and lead ME in the way everlasting.” Similarly, in II Chronicles 7:14-15 the Lord states: “…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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.” The bottom-line is whether or not you believe there is a personal God who cares greatly about a relationship with you. It also matters whether or not you believe an Eternal God will intervene in the affairs of temporal people. In Jeremiah 29:12-14, the Lord says: “…you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord…” And it is also recorded in I Peter 5:6-7, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” This sounds like a better idea for times such as these!