The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming
in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Psalm 121:8 (KJV)

Today is Veterans Day. The event is especially moving for me this year due to the recent loss of my brother who had a stint in the Navy from 1959-63. No, he wasn’t what you’d call a “hero.” He enlisted because he believed it was his duty to serve his country, and he did that willingly. He knew not all young men would share that sense of duty, and wasn’t critical of them, but for him it was simply the right thing to do before getting on with a career and eventually a family life. The “military honors” part of the service was especially powerful for me… more for this one than any other funeral I’ve attended where they’ve done the gun salute and the folding of the flag, etc.

“Let us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores to preserve our heritage of freedom; and let us re-consecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain.” (Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1954, upon the renaming of the holiday)

The people of the United States owe deep gratitude to all who have served or are serving in our armed forces, all the way back to the Revolutionary War and for all the years since.  Whether in peace time or in times of war, we need to remember and thank all who have given their lives or suffered injuries, and even those who never see combat.  When you encounter a member of the military, please remember to thank them for their service.  I’ll do my best to do this, too.  Without their service the liberties and freedom we cherish would not be as secure.  While we cannot be there to protect them in their “work,” we can pray that God will be at their sides, that they will seek Him and know Him.  He will stand with them, direct their paths and sustain their faith! 

In honor of those who have served, The Skit Guys have shared a short video to help  us reflect on the importance of the sacrifices made.  I hope you’ll watch!

(Video in post:  If you are viewing this via email subscription, you will need to visit our site to watch the video.)

With Gratitude and Remembrance,

Linda

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 ‘Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities.’

Romans 13:1 (NKJV)

My mother and I believe that God is a Republican.  Just kidding.  Actually, the Bible is very clear that a Christian can live and worship as a child of God in any kind of government.  It just takes a lot of strength and courage.  In a country like the United States, we are free to worship as we please.  If we don’t feel like getting up on Sunday and going to a church building and worshipping the Lord, we don’t have to.

In some countries, getting up on Sunday and gathering with other Christians is a crime.  In some countries, that crime is punishable by imprisonment or even death.  Currently, Christians are being murdered in Africa just because they are Christians. 

When Peter wrote his letter to the Christian Jews, he talked about an imminent persecution.  This was probably the coming persecution of Nero.  Peter didn’t tell them to rebel against the government.  Peter told them to ‘…submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.  For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men- as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.  Honor all people.  Love the brotherhood.  Fear God. Honor the king.’  I Peter 2:3-17. 

Peter is telling those who are about to suffer to submit.  They are to submit and show the true nature of God.  Christ submitted to His father and obeyed, even to a death on a cross.  We are to submit to authority even if we are persecuted as Christians.

This is a very hard concept.  As Americans, we know that we have the freedom to assemble and to protest.  But, should we?  Personally, I believe that anything we do must be within the law.  God is in control and any government, free or not, is set up by God, the King of kings.  Our duty as citizens is to obey and pray for all of our leaders (I Timothy 2:1 & 2).  If we live under a hostile and repressive government, we are to submit and pray for the leaders to look to God for guidance.  That was the challenge for the Christian Jews under Nero.  They were being persecuted, even put to death, for being Christians.   Our first priority is to worship and obey God.  If that means we are to be persecuted, so be it.  As children of God, we must do as we are commanded.  Even if doing so means we will die.

My instinct is to argue that we must fight to change the laws of the land if we cannot worship the way we want.   My knee jerk reaction is to fight for freedom and rights as human beings.  But, we must be careful.  We must not break the law of the land unless it demands that we must break God’s law.

Thank God we live in the United States and we have the freedom to worship and the freedom of assembly. 

I pray for the leaders of our nation to look to God for guidance.  May He keep his hands on us and may we always live in a country where we have the freedom to worship the one true God.

In Christ,

Janet

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I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”

Psalm 91:2 (NKJV)

2011 National Day of Prayer

The “theme” for today’s 60th annual observance of the National Day of Prayer is “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.”  The “official site” for this annual event displays Psalm 91:2.  For me, it also brings to mind the hymn written by Martin Luther in 1529, which some sources say is a paraphrase of Psalm 46.

“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.    Selah

Psalm 46:10-11 (ESV)

To read the 4/29/11 Proclamation issued by President Obama for the 2011 National Day of Prayer, go here.

Today’s National Day of Prayer is intended to be a reminder to Americans to turn to God.  We need to ask Him for His continued blessings upon our nation, and also to ask for His guidance and protection. 

Bobtx’s article for the National Day of Prayer last year provides the history of this annual event, which eventually was established as the first Thursday in May with President Reagan signing the bill in 1988.

There are many days when it seems the movement to a more secular society is winning the battle.  We must resist those efforts and work to restore our early Christian foundation. 

The colonists settled here to begin new lives in a new land where they could enjoy religious freedom and liberty.  They were thankful for that freedom and for the abundance this continent had to offer.  The Founding Fathers knew how important it was to acknowledge from where our rights came and that belief is reflected in the Declaration.

if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:4 (NIV)

Whether or not you are participating in an organized gathering of friends, family, neighborhoods or your church, please do take time today to pray for our nation, our governments (local, state, national), our leaders and our pastors.  Ask God for His continued blessing on our country, and pray that more of our people will turn their faces to Him.  We need His protection and guidance as much or more than we ever have.  Our prayers should continue  every day, of course.  Without God’s protective hand, our challenges will be greater, with our liberty and prosperity more difficult to preserve.

Prayerfully,

Linda

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“Then the LORD raised up judges who delivered them from the hands of those who plundered them. Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they played the harlot after other gods and bowed themselves down to them. They turned aside quickly from the way in which their fathers had walked in obeying the commandments of the LORD; they did not do as their fathers.”

Judges 2: 16-17 (NASB)

After the death of Joshua in Judges 2, the book transitions from his leadership to reveal the stark contrast in the spiritual condition of the nation of Israel.  A nation of obedient, faithful and blessed people had now become willingly disobedient. They forgot God! Because of their repeated disobedience, God gave them into the hands of their enemies.  We need only look at our own nation to see many similarities.  We still have our God-given American spirit, but surely you’ve noticed that our nation, overall, has turned away from Him.

God was faithful to protect the offspring of Abraham and called multiple judges to save Israel from various enemies over a period of nearly five centuries.  The judges settled dispute after dispute which were disrupting the nation as they battled the Canaanites and other enemies.  Every time Israel repented and followed His direction, God lovingly led her to victory. When the people disobeyed and did things their way, the nation suffered severe consequences.  Just as a disobedient child needs discipline, God needed to discipline His children.

The Canaanites became even more determined to occupy the land, and “the sons of Israel” one by one took their eyes off of the one true God – the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Joshua.  And, they focused on the strength of their enemies with their iron chariots.  Instead of driving out the idolatrous nations and living righteously under God, Israel allowed them to remain and share the land.  Eventually they paid homage to the Canaanites and began worshipping the false Gods of Baal and Asheroth.  Are there false Gods and idols in our lives and nation today?  Absolutely! 

Because of their unending disobedience and their idolatrous worship, God’s anger burned against the tribes of Israel, allowing them to be defeated. They found themselves in great distress, “just as he had sworn to them.”

When God raised a judge, the people obeyed, but when the judge died, they turned back to their evil ways.  Just like us, the people of Israel wanted to do it their way.  

In chapter 4 of Judges, we meet Deborah.  Many might have thought she was an unlikely leader, but God saw her heart.  It was one ready to be used in service for Him, and He chose her to be a prophetess-judge.  Just as God found the heart of Mary, one to entrust His only begotten Son, Jesus.  If God were to look at your heart today, what would He see?  Would he see a heart he could use?

From reading commentaries about Deborah, I learned she was the first female Old Testament prophetess-judge. One called her a fearless patriot.  I love that! Deborah was also a warrior, an encourager, a poetess, and Judges 5:7 refers to her as “the mother of Israel.  She often sat under a palm tree, and the “sons of Israel” came and sought her advice.  Deborah’s obedience to God and her love for Him allowed her to help the nation of Israel find their footing for a season.

Many Christians, like me, believe our nation is losing its way. Our culture has changed its moral fiber since I was a child in the sixties.  Those were great revival years with many coming to Jesus.  Yes, some are still seeking God, but our Godly families, values, beliefs, priorities and many things we once held sacred and dear are vanishing.

Unbelief, disobedience, sin and hardship are always knocking at our door, but with God in our hearts, we can resist and find strength for the journey.

When we compromise our Christian values behaving as the secular world does, we open the door to losing our spiritual compass and blessing.  Many may think we can make it in this world without God, as they did in the early days of the nation of Israel. We see how that led to folly, confusion and destruction.

Our nation was founded on Judeo Christian principles.  A nation governed with God at its core will find His favor and blessing.  We must continue to pray that our leaders will show honor and respect to our Lord.  Pledging allegiance to our flag and our nation is a great thing, but honoring and obeying God in our everyday lives helps us understand the importance of having Godly leaders — those who are accountable to God and to the nation.

“and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

I Chronicles 7:14 (NASB)

 * My American Patriot Bible opens with “The Seven Principles of the Judeo-Christian Ethic.”  Our nation’s founders relied on these principles when drafting the founding and governing documents: 

1. The Dignity of Human Life
2. The Traditional Monogamous Family
3. A National Work Ethic
4. The Right to a God-Centered Education
5. The Abrahamic Covenant
6. Common Decency
7. Our Personal Accountability to God

”In God We Still Trust” sung by Diamond Rio

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVcoQcdjrsA

* “A Call to Action”

1.  Pray – Chronicles 7:14
2.  Process – James 1: 23-25
3.  Participate – James 4:17
4.  Persevere – Galatians 6:9

Will we answer the call?  Our Godly influence and involvement will make a difference in the lives of generations to come.  What really matters is our own personal relationship with our Heavenly Father.  Our nation is in dire need of prayer.  May we continue to stand firm praying for her and our leaders.  

 “So we Your people and the sheep of Your pasture Will give thanks to You forever; To all generations we will tell of Your praise.”

Psalm 79:13 (NASB)

By His Grace

Joan

* The American Patriot’s Bible – Thomas Nelson

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Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 
No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs,
but rather tries to please his commanding officer.

2 Timothy 2:3-4 (NIV)

photo credit: Beverly & Pack

The first “Armistice Day” was observed on November 11, 1919 to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the end of World War I.  That war was supposed to be the “war to end all wars.”  We all know that did not prove to be true.  Wars, conflicts and peace-keeping interventions sometimes seem to be on-going and unending. 

The day became a federal holiday in 1938.  By then Americans already knew that WWI, which had ended 20 years prior, wouldn’t be the last one.  After the end of WWII, the observance of Armistice Day continued to be held on November 11.  The first “Veterans Day” was held on 11/11/53 in Emporia, Kansas.  Congress shortly passed a bill to rename the holiday, and in 1971 the observance of the holiday was moved to the fourth Monday in October.  Some other holidays were moved to Mondays, too.  However, Veterans Day was restored to November 11th beginning in 1978.  Clearly this important date was valued more than a three-day weekend.

As WWI clearly was not the “war to end all wars,” our nation continues to maintain various armed forces, and all branches should be acknowledged and appreciated every day, especially on holidays such as this.  Our military members continue to serve, consistently obeying orders, and the majority of the troops do so because they have a deep love for their country and feel an obligation to keep us all safe.  For some in this country, this may be contrary to their personal beliefs.  I am not one of them.  Without a strong military, it is my personal opinion our nation would be at greater risk.  And, it is my belief that our country, which has been so blessed with freedom and prosperity, has a responsibility to deter aggression taken by unfriendly, nefarious countries.  One of the ways the USA does this is by remaining strong.

Obviously just being strong hasn’t always succeeded.  We owe a deep debt of gratitude to all who have served since the days of the Revolutionary War right through to the present.  That includes those who have served during peace time, too, as without those dedicated volunteers we would be very ill-prepared.  Of course we need to especially remember all those who gave their lives while serving and all who have suffered injuries.  But, we also need to take every opportunity to say “thank you” to members of the military we know or when we encounter them in public.  They deserve our heartfelt gratitude, and we should never be shy about expressing it.  God Bless them!

In the fall of 2007 Scott Truitt founded The Gratitude Campaign to teach civilians a simple gesture to express thanks to military members we encounter.  Read about how the campaign began here.  The gesture goes back to the 18th century in France.  Please watch the video, practice the gesture and don’t be afraid to use it.  It’s appropriate for others, too — anyone who is serving in their communities, such as policemen, firemen, emergency workers, even teachers and medical care providers, to name just a few.  It’s a simple way to say “thank you from the bottom of my heart,” which is the actual meaning of this gesture. 

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSfFYxSdKdo

With deep gratitude,

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Unless the LORD builds the house,
its builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,    
the watchmen stand guard in vain.     

Psalm 127:1 (NIV)

How do we reconcile our faith — our commitment to give our whole lives to God — with our civic duty, our concern and involvement in politics and how that impacts our country?  Many days that concern may go well beyond our daily prayers for our nation, her leaders and all those elected to serve in public office.  There are times we need to be more engaged and more active  in the process, but we can’t let politics occupy our minds and hearts to the level where we forget to nurture and grow our relationship with God.

An important thing all of us who are 18 and over must do is vote.  Along with voting, I would hope we’re all studying the candidates sufficiently enough to know if their ideology and positions on the issues are in sync with our own.  This is more easily assessed if they are already in office so you can check their voting record.  It’s more difficult when a newcomer is running, but there are some research options, such as watching or listening to debates, studying their websites or even contacting them to ask specific questions.  And, if they ring your doorbell to ask for your support, do not hesitate to “interview” them!  Whatever it takes, you owe it to yourself to learn as much as possible about the candidates.  If you have children or have any influence on young people, please do your best to instill in them a love for God and country and the necessity of being informed.  Encourage everyone to exercise their right to vote, hopefully choosing candidates of good character.  Often that means those candidates who have strong faith and are not afraid to say so.

“How can we hope to retain our freedom through the generations
if we fail to teach our young that our liberty springs from
an abiding faith in our Creator?”  (Ronald Reagan)

Very few, if any, candidates are “perfect,” so you’re left with choosing whoever most closely matches  your own political leanings.  We don’t want to vote for someone who is clearly on the opposite side of our own principles, do we?  How will we know that if we aren’t actively gathering information?  Here in Nevada we have the option to vote for “none of the above” in many of the races.  But what does that accomplish?  In my opinion that gives an advantage to the incumbents, which is something I may not want.

If your chosen candidates are elected, it is also wise to be a regular observer of their positions on various bills that are underway, either in the U.S. Congress or in your state legislatures and city councils.  If you learn their positions conflict with your wishes, you should at least let them know you do not agree and ask them to vote according to your wishes.  Of course this doesn’t always work, and about the only thing you can do is let them know that when they stand for re-election you will be voting for the challengers.  And, then do it!  Never again should we the people allow those elected to represent us to ignore our wishes.  They need to be held accountable, and the ballot box is the best and usually the only recourse we have.

For too many years, decades even, the American people were pretty much disinterested in the political process.  Too many have happily led their lives the way they chose and were oblivious to what was happening in front of their eyes.  Since the middle of last year, however, there has been an awakening of the electorate like we haven’t seen for many, many years.  This happened for various reasons, the struggling economy for one, but also because it became clear our representatives and senators were not listening to us.  Even worse, they were not voting according to their constituents’ wishes.  Although that is a bad thing, it is also encouraging in that the citizens are now more watchful, informed and determined to compel their elected officials to represent the people, not their own interests.  Our government is to function with our consent, not contrary to our wishes.

The citizens of the United States must not only elect representatives with proven integrity and character, but also recognize the importance of those traits in their own lives. They must return to being the religious and moral people John Adams referred to. 
(Steve McCann at American Thinker, 7/22/10)

With the declining morality in our nation — I doubt I’m alone in that assumption — another place to discuss matters that affect the overall health of our country is in our churches.  We should encourage our pastors to speak about issues important to us.  They have nothing to fear in doing so if they are not promoting specific candidates or political parties.  As Christians, shouldn’t they have the courage to speak about God’s Commandments in modern-day terms, about purity, civility, respect for others and their property, devotion to parents and family, bullying, gossiping, etc. and, of course, how to be good citizens.  If pastors hesitate to discuss these things because they’re afraid of offending someone in the congregation, I’d just have to ask them why?

Now to that verse at the top from Psalm 127:  Solomon was speaking of families and cities, but doesn’t the same concept apply to states and nations?  If we, either in our families or in our country, no longer rely on God for guidance and protection, aren’t we at risk of having it all crumble around us?  Certainly we can fight to preserve our home or country, but surely our task is easier if we have God’s protective hand over us.

“If we ever forget that we are one nation under God,
then we will be a nation gone under.”  (Ronald Reagan)

Our nation was founded on Judeo-Christian principles, and the framers knew that without faith being a prominent part of the people’s lives, the laws established would be more difficult to enforce.  For most of us it is our faith in and obedience to God that prevents us from stealing from or harming our neighbors, just as much as the fear of legal punishment.  Adherence to our Christian beliefs and basic morality have served our country well since the first colonists landed on the east coast nearly 400 years ago.  Let us not let that be diminished any further than it already is… Please!

“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.”

2 Chronicles 7:14

Don’t forget to vote…. and, remind your neighbors, friends and family members, too…… and, may God continue to Bless America!

Faithfully and patriotically His,

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Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

Proverbs 1:8 (NIV)

It seems our public education system is not doing a good job of educating the children in the USA.  In fact, I believe Horace Mann would be very troubled.  For those of you who have forgotten or weren’t taught it, Horace Mann is widely recognized as the “Father of the Common School Movement.”  Mann (1796-1859) served in the Massachusetts legislature, but left state politics in 1837 to serve on the new board of education; and, his passion for improving public education then began.  He established the first state-funded “normal school” in Massachusetts in 1839 to train high school graduates to be teachers.  He was convinced that a good universal education was necessary to turn the nation’s children into disciplined and productive citizens.

For 40 years or so I believe the public school system has been in decline; and, there are many opinions about the causes.  Sam Peltzman, a leading economist, wrote an extensive article in 1994 about the possible causes of the decline of public education.  He points to the 15 years from 1965 to 1980 as the most dramatic period of decline and attributes a lot of the problem to the rapid growth of unions in the public sector.

There are other factors, too. One is the decentralization of control, especially the financial part.  As larger and larger districts were created to oversee the finances, local decision-making was also diminished. By 1980 the states provided most of the funding, with local boards responsible for only 40%.  That ratio remained when Peltzman wrote the article in 1994.

Peltzman’s theories are not universally accepted; but, I do agree with the problem of concentrating the funding at the state level.  Small districts rely so much on that money, especially when their communities are made up primarily of lower income families or where there are few businesses to bear more of the burden.  Along with the funding, the states may be exerting too much influence in how the districts are managed.   That doesn’t have to be bad; but, I wonder.

As I was searching for sites to learn more about the causes, I was overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of articles and opinions.  Just search under “decline of public education” and you’ll see what I mean.  I didn’t even get started with researching how test scores in the USA compare globally; but, I’ve heard and read much about them.  Our nation’s children are consistently falling behind their peers in dozens of other countries.  And, it seems the decline begins in middle school and accelerates through high school.  To fully understand the causes would take far more research than I’m capable of; so, all I can do is to ask questions and offer some thoughts.  But, I’d love to know your opinions, too — and especially hear your ideas as to how the situation can be improved.

It seems so easy to point to the teachers’ unions as a major culprit.  True, in tough economic times, or in areas of the country where the economy is far worse than the national average, I’d have a more favorable view if they weren’t so rigid in their demands.  Those of us who spent our careers in the private sector do not enjoy anywhere near the benefits so many teachers have in their retirement years — and, that burden falls on the taxpayers.

Read and watch how Governor Christie in New Jersey and Michelle Rhee in D.C. are battling the teachers’ unions.

Of course there are defenders of public school teachers, too.  All teachers should not be placed in the same box, as I’m sure there are thousands of them who are truly dedicated to educating students.  An article from last May in Newsweek points out that the difference between public schools and charter schools is not due solely to teacher quality.  Charter schools, which are also publicly-funded, have different operating criteria; and, as the writer points out, the families who send their children to charter schools are already highly motivated to get their kids a good education.

Which brings me to what I believe is one of the major causes — lack of interest and concern on the part of parents.  Not all, of course, but far too many.  Many children come from homes where both parents work fulltime.  Others are from single-parent homes.  So, who is there at the end of the school day to monitor the child’s homework?  Or, are they able to attend parent/teacher conferences?  Are they paying close attention to all the test scores or just giving cursory glances at report cards?  And, if the child’s grades are slipping, are they taking steps to reverse that trend?  Or, are the parents facing resistance from the teachers and administration when they express their concerns?

Do we know families where the kids have their own computers and cell phones, not to mention the video games and all the other electronic gadgets which consume so much of their time?  Do parents even know how much reading is encouraged or required in school, or the level of proficiency their child has?  Without a solid foundation of reading skill, how does a student master the other basics, such as math, history and science?  Many parents today do not enjoy reading or simply don’t have the time; so, they’re not encouraging their kids to learn to love reading.  Kids get plenty of brain exercise, I suppose, through various media; but, are they fully using their imaginations?  How are creativity and curiosity developed?

Many parents are now opting to put their children in private schools, many of which are church affiliated.  Or, they are able to place them in a successful charter school.  Hundreds of thousands of children are now taught in the home.  Home schooling has advocates and critics, both of which groups are sometimes passionate.  I can’t help wondering, though, about the reasons behind that passion.  Parents are focused on the well-being of their children.  They worry about the quality of education in the public schools; yet, they cannot afford a private school.  Many also have deep concerns about a curriculum which people of faith find especially troubling.  The critics, however, seem to worry more about the lack of social interaction and whether a home-school environment could foster undetected child abuse.  But, could there also be an unstated concern about the decreased funding to public schools because of declining enrollment?  Or, are the teachers’ unions opposed because their members are at risk of losing jobs?

There are so many unanswered questions.  If it’s true that public education is failing, what good is accomplished by criticizing the alternative systems?  Why do so many resist using a voucher system to assist families in moving their children from a failing public school to a more successful charter or private school?  If a home-schooled child is getting an education that is equivalent to or better than a child in a public school, why do home schoolers continually have to fight for their right to use that option?

There is too much skepticism and criticism of alternative education, along with ever-increasing  demand for more government support of the public education system — a system that seems to tolerate poor performance, which wants so little input from parents and concerned taxpayers.  I can’t understand why it’s nearly impossible to fire a poor teacher.  Can’t educators put their heads together and develop a method of measuring a teacher’s performance?  I know “subjective” measures must be avoided; but, there must be some way to evaluate teachers objectively.  And, while they’re working on that, perhaps they could develop more ways to reach out to parents.  How about a massive “public service announcement” campaign to plead with parents to be more engaged?  Just thinking out loud……… and……

Praying for the children,

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 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet
your neighbor’s wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox
or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

 
photo credit: yuan2003

It seems to me  that class envy is being promoted in our country.  This has been happening for many years; and it troubles me.  Politicians, primarily on the left, too often talk about the “wealthy” as if the entire group should be reviled and should have their wealth confiscated.  They seem to advocate the forfeiture of wealth  so others can share in it.  Why?  Is it immoral or illegal to accumulate wealth?  We know a rich man will have a difficult time getting into the Kingdom of God, as we learned in Matthew 6:24.  But, shouldn’t the giving away of riches, or not, be a personal decision between the individual and God?

Do you remember envying your neighbors or friends in your youth?  Perhaps they had what you perceived as a “better life.”  Maybe their house was bigger or they seemed to get a new car every year or two.  Did some of your classmates have more stylish and expensive clothes?  But, did it really matter?  Or, were you fortunate, as I was, to be raised in a community where “status” wasn’t all that important?  I was blessed to grow up in a rural area and attended school in a very small town where we knew nearly everyone.  There were a few families who were probably upper middle class; but, they were good, friendly, Christian people who contributed much to the community.

Even if we dreamed about things we couldn’t have immediately, we didn’t fault others for having such things.  When did it become normal to think of the “rich” as a class of people to be scorned?

Envy (coveting) is a sin; but, it is part of human nature.

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved
by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy,
being hated and hating one another.

Titus 3:3 (NIV)

Having money and possessions doesn’t necessarily mean the person is “greedy.”  There are many who have made their fortunes through hard work, innovation, determination and being focused on their goals.  They may be very generous and good Christian people who have lived sensibly and managed their money well.  Or, they may have inherited some wealth which enabled them to accumulate more.  That doesn’t make them greedy or bad; and, they didn’t deprive anyone else of their money or property to get where they are.

Of course there is greed all around us — in the corporate environment, in politics, among some private citizens who are wealthy, in the entertainment industry and professional sports.  I believe there are greedy people in every demographic and income level; and, there is just no way to generalize about any group.

Greed is a sin; and, the very nature of human beings fosters it. 

Then he said to them, “Watch out!
Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life
does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Luke 12:15 (NIV)

All the dialogue about “tax cuts for the rich” and whether they should be allowed to lapse or be extended bothers me, but not because I’m among them.  It troubles me because the harping about “the rich” may lead many Americans to scorn anyone who is part of the upper income demographic.  When energy is spent worrying about another’s tax bracket, or their bigger home or fancier car instead of focusing on one’s own goals, I believe the motivation to do better is hampered.  In addition, there are already too many who have a sense of entitlement; and, that needs to change.  The primary reason, though, to extend ALL the tax cuts is because most jobs are created by small businesses, many owners of which could very likely fall into the “rich” category.  We desperately need a flourishing free-market economy so that more people can get back to work.

For 2007 (the latest data available) the top 10% of individuals with taxable income paid nearly 71% of all income taxes sent to the IRS.  The bottom 50% paid less than 3%.  Revenue from the top tier has been steadily increasing since 2002, while payments from the bottom tier has steadily declined.  So, contrary to the stories we are told, the tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 benefited ALL taxpayers — not just the rich.  Go here to view the charts for the years 1999 through 2007.

The opportunities to improve one’s situation in this country are the same for everyone.  Certainly those without a HS diploma or GED have a tougher time than those who do finish high school.  And, those with a college degree have higher earning potential.  But, the opportunities are there, right? Others have risen out of poverty through hard work and discipline.  Rather than the unending rhetoric  that the rich need to pay more, why don’t the politicians remind people of what they can do to better themselves?  Things like, “stay in school” … “don’t have children too young” … “wait until marriage” … “get a job and do it well” … “show respect.” 

If I had a chance to talk with junior high students, I’d say all of those things and more.  I’d encourage them to attend church, choose their friends wisely, respect adults and their bosses when they have a job, respect others’ property and, of course, stay out of trouble.  I believe envy and greed can often lead to crime or in some cases cause a person to make poor decisions.  Without sound morals (which aren’t taught in school), the incentive to obey laws is likely not as strong.

The tone of the political conversation needs to improve — a lot.  And, it would help if the leaders had a little more faith in citizens’ abilities and determination.  Nothing much can be accomplished when feelings of hopelessness are fostered rather than hearing words of encouragement. Things can be better, but not when impressionable minds are misled into believing the rich are to blame for their situation.  Our Creator endowed us with certain rights, including liberty and the “pursuit” of happiness.  There is no effective way to ensure happiness or wealth or all the property you desire or to have a higher standard of living.  But, you are free to work hard and acquire those things; and, you should not have to fear having your property, including a sizable amount of your money, taken away by an insatiable, bloated federal government.

“Property is the fruit of labor … property is desirable … is a positive good in the world. That some should be rich shows that others may become rich, and hence is just encouragement to industry and enterprise.” (Abraham Lincoln)

The future should be bright for everyone in this country.  I still believe it can be.  America has been through some tough times in her history and survived.  Right now the deficits seem unmanageable and much work needs to be done by our elected officials.  The citizens, too, need to be more engaged, vigilant, informed and do more to hold those serving in Congress accountable.  We cannot expect our government to take care of our every need.  Cherish your freedom and protect it.  The more intervention we have from government, the less individual liberty we enjoy.

Your thoughts on my opinions about “class envy” would be greatly appreciated.

Praying for God’s guidance,

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photo credit: hoyasmeg

An article by Linda discussing a current political issue is also being posted today in “God’s Country.”  We thought it wise to make you aware that we, as well as the other authors, are Christian Conservatives.  Thus, articles we write which have political opinions and thoughts will be from a conservative point of view.  We’re not apologizing for that — it’s who we are — but, we felt this “disclosure” was warranted.  This post is also to remind you of the important event happening this weekend.

This past July Linda received an email from Wallbuilders, one of the organizations we link to on this site.  She wrote about Wallbuilders on June 15th.  The email spoke of the Alliance Defense Fund’s (ADF) effort to protect pastors’ rights to speak from the pulpit without fear of government intervention.  The effort is called Pulpit Freedom Sunday; and, this year the event will be on September 26, 2010.  That is this Sunday!

Included in the email was a link to a video produced by the “Speak Up Movement” begun by the ADF in 2008.  The first Pulpit Freedom Sunday, in 2008, had 33 pastors in 22 states participating.  In 2009, participation grew to over 80 pastors in 30 states and the District of Columbia.  Hopefully there will be many more this year.

ADF promises to stand with pastors to protect their constitutional rights from censorship or intimidation.  Please visit the “Speak Up Movement” site for more information about Pulpit Freedom Sunday and what you might be able to do to help this effort.  From the site:

“Across America today, pastors and church leaders are being silenced. And when the church is silent, the culture suffers. Unleash the voice of the church and speak up.”

Romans 10:14 (NIV) is quoted, in part, on the site, too:

“And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard?
And how are they to hear without someone preaching?”

David Barton closed his email with this message and a quote:

“Daniel Webster rightly noted:  ‘God grants liberty only to those who love it and are always ready to guard and defend it,’ and the freedom of the American pulpit is a liberty worth defending.  We strongly encourage your church to contact ADF and let them know that you will participate in ‘Pulpit Freedom Sunday’.”

Prayfully,

Joan and Linda

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One word comes to me often when thinking of September 11^th.

“NUMBING”

The shock and almost disbelief of the horrors we witnessed that day drove most of us to a place of emotional vacuum.

The kind of hatred and evil that would drive human beings to do these things to thousands of other human beings they didn’t even know is still today, nine years later, fortunately, incomprehensible to almost all of us.

Most of us have not personally known that kind of hatred and evil – we only serve as witnesses to it.

And so it has been throughout history.  Most of us do not have to suffer a miserable, torturous existence as internees in a concentration camp, or a gulag, or a re-education camp, or as food for lions and the entertainment of our captors and oppressors.

The passengers/captives aboard American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 had no idea what was happening that day.  They didn’t know the plans that their captors had for them.  There was no historic experience for them to suspect how or what they were being used for.

There is some anecdotal information that at least some of the captives aboard  American Airlines Flight 77 had information before they crashed into the Pentagon about the fate of the passengers aboard the earlier two flights.

Reportedly Barbara Olson, a  lawyer, former Reagan White House Legal adviser and at the time a media consultant for Fox News Channel, CNN and a number of other Media outlets and wife of then Solicitor General of the United States Ted Olson, was talking with her husband on her cell phone when the plane she was on, American Airlines Flight 77, was flown into the Western-facing E ring of the Pentagon, which was under renovation at the time and housed the senior offices of U S Air Force Intelligence.

 John 15:13  “Greater love hath no man than this,
that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

But aboard United Airlines Flight 93 things were much different.

Flight 93 was a United Airlines 757-222 bearing tail number N591UA.  It had taken off from Newark International Airport en route to San Francisco a little later than the other three hijacked airplanes that day.

Consequently many of the passengers/captives aboard Flight 93 had the opportunity through all the miracles of modern communications technology to learn from friends, family and loved ones to learn what fate their captors had planned for them.

They chose to meet the challenge.

They chose to deny their captors much of their murderous intent.  Knowing their chances of surviving the challenge of their captors intent, they executed a hastily organized counter-ambush, breached the cockpit and prevented their killers from using them as a part of a plot to kill many more of their unknown brothers and sisters somewhere near Washington DC.

They sacrificed themselves to save others they didn’t even know.

John 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life.”

“Heavenly Father our Lord God, we thank you for your unconditional love that you embrace us with every day.  And we ask that you inspire us with the confidence in your Love so that every day of our lives that we may serve your will by meeting, and challenging hatred and evil whenever, however and wherever it may confront us. Grant us the courage to follow your example and the examples of all martyrs to our faith.”

Respectfully,

Bob

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