December 27, 2011
As we come to the close of 2011, a full 10 years since that
tragic day in September of 2001, what is the current state of the nation? Have things deteriorated since “9/11” when Americans came together in unity
and in devotion to God and country? Are
things now the “WAY THEY
ARE SUPPOSED TO
BE”? As background, it is
interesting to note just how fast the optimism and hype (though there were a
few “prophets” who were warning of a coming “storm”) which greeted the new
millennium plummeted with the fall of the World Trade Center towers on top of a
stock market that had begun to fall around the spring of 2000 while Mr. Clinton
was still in office.
Even prior to the new millennium, the LORD issued His indictment
on America, and found it GREEDY!!
He used these biblical verses:
James 5:2-6. Later, when people
would not heed Him, nor His prophets, and would not repent, He pronounced HIS
JUDGMENT, releasing JAMES 5:1. He
indicated that “security would fall asleep, and that the 'thief' would
come in and do what he wanted”! And in
the spring of 2000, or thereabouts, He indicated that a 'mighty wind' would
come against the east coast of America, causing tall buildings to fall! This was all fulfilled on “9/11”!!! God knew what was going to happen. He warned, and gave the reason behind
it. It could have been averted, but
interestingly many church leaders were not hearing from God and were not
proclaiming God's warning to the public!
Could the same thing be happening AGAIN?!! Even worse, many were pronouncing the
exact opposite! Many were awash with
false prophecies and false prophets spreading the 'prosperity' message! That was one of the worst messages ever
in that it actually encouraged the problem – GREED!!! That message HURLED PEOPLE HEADLONG INTO
DISASTER!!
For the most part people were completely caught off guard,
unprepared. That tragic day should have
been a wake-up call. It should have
triggered an awakening. But except for
some knee-jerk reactions a few “lights”, like Jerry Falwell, who connected the
dots between this tragedy and America's sin, what should have happened
didn't. Yes, people got patriotic and
began to pray – for a while. Yes,
Hollywood simmered down its sinful ways – for a while. It was not lasting. The bitterness with which people greeted the
election of George Bush in 2004 was phenomenal. And greed ran rampant again, creating a
“housing bubble” built on sub-prime mortgages – risky loans that apparently
executives at the 2 government – formed mortgage giants, Fannie Mae and Freddie
Mac, hid from the public view, setting the stage for a monumental
collapse! So where does America stand
now, in the wake of wake-up call after wake-up call?
Let us look at the different sectors of American society to
evaluate the state of things in 2011, and since we have already mentioned the
church, let us continue. As prior to
“9/11”, God is still speaking – even through a 12–year– old boy! The book, “A Message From God”, was published
in 2007. It recounted the story of a
12-year-old South African boy by the name of Aldo McPherson who was involved in
a horrific car accident with his family – including his mother Retha, Mrs.
South Africa – and of his experience in Heaven. Here was a family which had everything going
for them – MUCH LIKE AMERICA, but whose lives were going to be
abruptly interrupted by the Lord in a way that would drastically change them
and catapult them into becoming catalysts for CHANGE!!! One may seek the book at www.destinyimage.com. One of the startling and sobering messages
which Aldo brought back with him from his experience in Heaven was that today's
church is the “Church of Laodicea”- the “lukewarm” church which thought
they were “all that” and whom Jesus addresses in Revelation 3.. Thus, God used a 12-year-old boy as His
mouthpiece to rebuke today's church.
Just like God.
And what do we see in today's church here in America? According to the Barna Group less than 10% of American Christians even
have a biblical worldview! That is
pretty devastating, and is right in line with the “Laodicean church”
revelation! Personally, have travelled
to four states since 2007, we have yet to find even one congregation with a
serious prayer program, dedicated to praying for America and for REVIVAL IN
AMERICA, despite the manifold problems facing the country. What Bible are they reading?
While on the mission field in Africa, the Lord revealed to
us that Americans are too focused on “themselves, trivial things (like
gadgets), and on living the 'good life'” ! That was pretty much the same problem in
America leading up to “9/11”!
And just recently during the Christmas season of 2011, beginning right
after Thanksgiving, we have seen film footage from different parts of the
country of people lining up for hours in the dark just to buy shoes, waffle
irons, etc., pushing, fighting, and disrespecting others in their stampede
for “mammon”! It is shocking. I have not seen this level of greed since
Africa! What is America becoming? And what is America heading toward? The wanton greed and selfishness in America is
even destroying one's love of neighbor. This
fulfills yet another end time prophecy: “And because iniquity shall abound, the
love of many shall wax cold.” Matthew
24:12. Indeed, this was evident in
America and even in the American church while we were in Africa. Family members, pastors and ministers would
not even write us. Their “inward focus”
and greed and selfishness were so great that they did not care about the plight
of poor and needy Africans. So, though
even minority youth here can stand outside for long hours, and push and shove
to do all they can to pay $150 or so for gym shoes, people would not even
communicate with us, much less send even $20 to help a child. {Are there people in America willing to
give up a pair of gym shoes to help some child and mother, or street child, or
street teenage girl in Africa having to sell her body in order to survive?}
People's misplaced priorities were clearly
evident. This was one of the primary
factors behind our return to the States
in 2007, for we did not go to Africa to watch people there suffer and die. Jesus loves those people, and He wants to
make a difference in their lives! How
sad it is when the Body of Christ -HIS CHURCH – do not fulfill the will of God. “But God shall not be mocked.” “Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of
the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.” Proverbs 21:13. God promises JUDGMENT for those who neglect the poor! And He does not even have to initiate it, for
one “reaps what they sow”! And
what has been one of the great features of 2011? It has been the grinding recession and
America's declining wealth even as weather extremes and NATURAL DISASTERS have
GREATLY INCREASED along with America's NATIONAL DEBT!! There were 12 BILLION-DOLLAR NATURAL
DISASTERS in 2011, breaking the old record of 9. They exceeded $50 billion in damages! Who can forget the 100's of tornadoes that
hit in a 24-hour period? And who can
forget the MILE-WIDE, 200 mph tornado that devastated Joplin,
Missouri? Just try to get your mind
around the size and force of that tornado! There is a price for greed and selfishness,
and America is paying in the BILLIONS AND TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS!! If people
would only REPENT. If people would only learn that one of the
best ways to meet one's needs is to go out and meet someone else's needs!
Even we have greatly desired to raise awareness here
of the problems in Africa, thinking that maybe then people would wake up and
catch a vision! But we have been deeply
surprised and dismayed by people's wholesale lack of interest or even regard
for Africa, though they have someone in front of them who had spent over 5
years there! We have sadly even learned
that it is best not to even announce to church leaders that we are
missionaries! Once we tell them, they begin to “pull away from”
us. Our very presence must remind them
of their neglect, and their selfishness.
That would also explain why there is such a woeful lack of missionaries
from America in Africa. AND, as the Lord
surprisingly revealed recently: people here even treat their animals (house
pets) better than the church treats its missionaries!
And all those “false prophets” who had been promising
“prosperity” for America? With great
shame have they repented? If only it
would be so! Some are shamelessly now
proclaiming the great things God is going to do to “restore” America! If God has to “restore” America (and He
does, and wants to, and even will!), does not that in and of itself signify
that these “prophets'” messages of
prosperity were false to begin with?!!!
And once again these “false prophets” are erring, and are only
aiding in setting America up for an
even BIGGER DISASTER!!! By and
large they are neglecting to utter the KEY
WORD, the 'trigger', that will bring God's restoration! And that word is REPENTANCE. What?!
Do they expect God to restore America so that America can continue on
with its sinful ways?!! God
forbid. Some even harshly attack those
who try to warn people of God's judgment, as though America is good! What?!
America's greed, selfishness, corruption, crime, violence, drugs,
disrespect for one another, profanity, obscenities, lewdness, abortion,
licentiousness, and homosexuality is good?
What are they looking at?!! They
understand neither the times, nor the Bible.
One of the great attributes of America is LIBERTY, but not liberty as a “cloke of
maliciousness” - I Peter 2:16. Clever
manipulators have designed and propagated a malignant form of “liberty” upon
America. We are to use our liberty as “servants
of God” (same I Peter 2:16), and not for killing the children (abortion),
nor for filthy speech, nor for wantonness, nor for pornography, nor for
licentiousness, nor for sharia (the restriction of liberty), nor for
abomination (homosexuality)! Are people “free”
in America to destroy the country, as the Wall St. protesters want to do? And because we have misused the LIBERTY
given us to sin against God and man, to biblically correct the false prophecies
out there: “For the time that judgment must begin at the house of God, and
if first at us, what shall the end of them that obey not the gospel of
God?” I Peter 4:17. And indeed this was the message the Lord
gave 5 of the church bodies in Revelation with whom the Lord had something
against. REPENTANCE AVERTS
JUDGMENT. This was the experience
of Nineveh after they received Jonah's short message! But by and large today , after years of
proclaiming “prosperity”, I now hear these “false prophets” proclaim
“restoration”, instead of repentance that will lead to restoration. Thus, the necessity for pain – to lead
people to real change. The “false
prophets” either do not understand, or they conceal God's order. And passages like II Chronicles 7:14 and
Hosea 14: 1-9 (God's Word to America)
clearly reveal what that “order” is.
People cannot just sit on their hands, do nothing, and then expect God
to do something!
So what is the state of the Church in America in 2011? Even according to the stats and research of
the Barna Group, and the Church of God magazine (summer of 2011) admitting
their lack of passion for missions, what we see is this:
- a “lukewarm” church,
- having a “form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (II Timothy 3:5),
- riddled with scandals – even among big names and ministries - “immorality in the 'monastery'”,
- tragedies,
- divisions – the Body of Christ is to be ONE, not divided by congregations, denominations, ethnicities,
- whose pulpit is heavily influenced by a “very strong secular spirit”,
- compromising the Word of God,
- preaching to “itching years” according to people's lusts,
- afraid of confronting evil so as not to “offend” or “inconvenience” anyone,
- afraid of being sued,
- afraid of confronting government control and intimidation tactics,
- tolerating sin and evil practices (even homosexuality and cross-dressing),
- filled with unbiblical practices (I Peter 4:9, I Cor. 14: 26-39, Acts 2: 42-46,.....),
- false teaching, (oftentimes through omission of verses such as Luke 12:33, Matt.7:21-23, Lk.14:33),
- false doctrine (such as regarding the gifts of the Holy Spirit, sitting vs. doing, wealth, ),
- with leaders engulfed by the “NFL coach syndrome”, arrogant, controlling, unapproachable
- totally impressed with their own self-importance,
- “lording over the flock”, instead of “feeding the flock”,
- with many in the congregation feeding their egos with flattery and adoration,
- sitting in pews, not ministering,
- becoming “hearers only”, not doing the Word of God – James 1:22.
God cannot be pleased with what He sees. The growing flood of evil in America in 2011
is testimony that the “light” is not doing its job. “Light” and darkness do not coexist. If the “light” is bright, then darkness
(evil) will flee! The continual
scandals with church hierarchy, and all the congregations in the news for the
wrong reasons are testimony that the church’s “light” is not shining
bright. The pastor Z. Tims scandal in
Florida, and the Eddie Long scandal in Georgia are just two of the most
recent. Now Eddie Long’s Christian
Academy is closing, and the ex-wife of pastor Tims is suing the church board
over the appointment of a new pastor to replace pastor Tims who died
unexpectedly in a New York hotel room!
Biblically-speaking, whenever we see the people of God not
living up to, nor performing God's will, invariably it opens the door to
evildoers to carry out their wicked agendas, and - with
the promulgation of evil agendas – God's hand of blessing and protection is
lifted with ensuing trouble and judgment.
There are a certain order to things.
The sun “rises” in the east, and “sets” in the west. And whenever things are NOT THE
WAY THEY ARE
'SUPPOSED TO BE',
then THINGS HAPPEN THAT
ARE NOT 'SUPPOSED
TO HAPPEN'!! One cannot expect corn if one has
planted apples! And one certainly
cannot expect luscious fruit trees if one has planted “weeds”!
Thus, given the “lukewarm” church largely devoid of a
biblical worldview, we can expect to see negative repercussions in society at
large and we do. For example, long ago the church abdicated its
responsibility to the poor to the government. The government established “welfare”
programs which, instead of eliminating poverty, actually encouraged
men to engage in irresponsible behavior, using welfare checks to buy
alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs, not marrying the mothers of their children,
allowing their children to grow up without a dad's love and discipline,
becoming easy prey for the “family” of gangs and the “home” of street
life! End result: POVERTY INCREASED,
AS DID DEPENDENCE ON THE GOVERNMENT,
UNWED MOTHERS, CRIME, DRUG USE, VIOLENCE, ETC.,...... Though Mr. Obama was supposedly the
“agent” of hope and change, what hope or change did he bring to Chicago's south
and west sides? Go see for
yourself! If he couldn't do it for
Chicago, then how could he do it for the nation? Government programs invariably flop. Remember “low-income housing”, which
became “the projects” - urban blights of crime and gangs, which Chicago
had to eventually begin to tear down?
Who had that bright idea - “let's help the poor by putting them all
together, one on top of another”, where 'bad apples' could infest the “whole
barrel”?!! So, are more government
programs the answer? That might sound
obvious to you, but apparently not to a majority of Americans who basically
answered in the affirmative by electing Mr. Obama in 2008. And what do we see in 2011? America is worse off than in 2008! -------
- Unemployment is higher.
- The national debt is much higher!
- America has dropped from S&P's AAA to AA.
- The Solyndra scandal, taking with it 100's of MILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS!
- The “Fast and Furious” scandal.
- Higher gas prices.
- 3 consecutive years of DEFICITS OVER A TRILLION DOLLARS!
Under the guise of compassion, politicians –
especially Democrats – learned that they could enhance their own power base,
and greatly further their own greedy, selfish, corrupt agendas by using
other people's hard-earned taxpayer money to basically buy votes,
further enabling and increasing irresponsible behavior among the
poor. And if anyone questioned what was
happening, they were attacked with the divisive 'race card'! And with the lure of access to power,
African American 'religious' leaders flaunting their “reverend” status (God is
to be “revered”, not man!) were recruited to deliver the vote of their people,
while simultaneously providing cover for their “pimps” (the Democratic
political machine), and serving as “attack dogs” against anyone daring to
question what was going on. These
so-called AA “religious” leaders were willing to “sell their own
people out” to the drug of dependency on government welfare on the
“government plantation” in order to gain political access and with it
power! The church opened the door, corrupt politicians took advantage!
This trend has created an “entitlement mentality”
that has continued into 2011. If
anything, it has become worse! Now, it is just not a government check
people want, but also they want what others have – even though they have
not done anything for it! One
of the main tenets of a “free market” society, is that people do not have to
part with currency unless they receive a good or service which is commensurate
with its value. This automatically weeds
out bad products and services from the economy, encouraging those with the best
products and services to move forward, grow, innovate, and to provide even more
good products and services. But one of
the main goals of the Wall St. protesters is to take from those who are
successful to reward those who have done nothing! This is socialism, and history and practical
application has shown this to be disastrous!
This system punishes those who work hard and who are successful,
and encourages lackluster work performance. This is already clearly seen among many a
government work force. It is legendary:
one guy digging, 3 others standing around watching! The college campus, partly state funded,
where I worked a number of months this year was yet another example of this
kind of poor work ethic. Add government
unions to the miry mix, and even if supervisors wanted to weed out
unproductive employees, it is very difficult unless there has been a major
problem. Just the bureaucracy of
government is very inefficient, producing delays. What a mess – poor work ethics,
government unions, bureaucracy! How can
government get anything done decently, efficiently, and with good
quality?!!! Now add corrupt and greedy
politicians at the helm of government! But
these protesters either have not figured it out, or are so disingenuous, along
with their Democrat backers, as to this, and the fact that even
collecting more taxes from the wealthy (besides limiting their
income-producing productivity) would probably still not even be enough to
meet what government is currently spending and its ENORMOUS DEFICITS!! How are more taxes to pay for what
government is mismanaging and wasting going to improve the economy? But do you see where this “entitlement
mentality” has taken us? Instead of
being grateful (as most people in the world would be to live in America),
loving, and charitable, Americans have become greedy, unloving, rude,
self-centered, and complainers! Why
do people want to live in envy and in resentment when life could be rewarding?
Even the facts stand against these protesters. A research project by 24/7 Wall Street shows
that Wyoming, Nebraska, and North Dakota are among the best-run states in the
nation. All of them are
“conservative”! Their books are
balanced, debt is at a minimum. For
example, Wyoming has NO PERSONAL OR CORPORATE INCOME TAX, becoming the most business-friendly state in
America! Their “economy is booming”,
and “citizens are employed”! Crime rate is low. Education is among the best. North Dakota has a booming oil industry. Unemployment rate is the lowest in the
nation. But the BO administration is trying to “shut down
North Dakota oil”! The 3 worst states
are Democrat, fringe left strongholds of
Michigan, Illinois, and California..
Michigan is the worst for unemployment, home foreclosures, and crime. What happened with all that “stimulus”
money? Illinois has the worst history
for political corruption. California
has massive debt, and “crushing” taxes.
People and businesses are fleeing California – taking their money with
them! People in California can actually
get more on welfare than on a job!
Thus, California's welfare policy is actually taking money from those
who do produce to give to those who don't produce, and encourage them to
continue not producing. Instead of
changing their dreadful economic policies though, California is trying to
figure out how it can raise its taxes even more! It would seem rational and logical to
follow the MODELS OF
SUCCESS.
The objective should be to encourage businesses to grow and
to produce, and get government out of the way.
Why grow government? Government
does not produce, IT SPENDS, IT WASTES, AND IT MISMANAGES!! Government does not have money, it takes the
money of those who do produce!
Government takes OUR MONEY, and then ungodly men and women in government
have the gall, while enriching themselves at our expense, to tell us that they
know what is better, and to become our DICTATOR! Do people even realize what the
AMERICAN REVOLUTION was all about?!!!
Not only has the federal government enslaved our children
to pay off enormous amounts of debt because of its OWN FISCAL
IRRESPONSIBILITY, which includes bankrupting Social Security, but it has
also sold this country's citizens out! It has allowed sophisticated goods to go
to RED China, in exchange for an influx of their cheap “cheap” goods which
has caused American industry in too many cases to either shut down or move to
another country! That one move by our
government has both strengthened America's enemy while dealing a major blow to
America's economy. What kind of
government strengthens its enemies, while weakening its own country?!! Some of China's products have even been
poisonous! And now Democratic
leadership in government openly support these Wall St.
protesters – socialists, communists, and Nazis – marching down the
street with the goal of collapsing America's free market system! They are basically applauding the “red
army” marching down American streets to destroy America! How can our government, how can
Americans allow this to happen? What
kind of PERVERSION is this? What?
Will people use LIBERTY in America to destroy America's
freedoms and its economy?!! Are
America's enemies now “free” to just set up camp in the middle of America –
with the SUPPORT OF UNIONS AND DEMOCRATS – to destroy the country?! It is out in the open. “Haman” is in our midst, but do people even
see?
America has foreign
enemies, but there are also domestic enemies now. Just as America's enemies openly and
impetuously taunt America, criticizing America's weaknesses, so also BO
freely travels around the world to also criticize America! Well, America, ARE YOU WEAK? Except for “El Partido de Te” most Americans
tremble like the “tin man” in the Wizard of Oz whenever government officials
bellow out their intimidating “smoke” and accusations. Many on the “government plantation”
have either whimpered, or have rambunctiously agreed when BO issues such
statements against America, maybe hoping
that their groveling will somehow produce more of other people's tax money for
themselves!. All of them “selling
America out -along with Democratic government leaders, unionists, and the “red
army” marching in the street – for THEIR
30 “PIECES OF
SILVER” !!! Are they not
“traidores, todos”?! How this must
encourage America's enemies, both foreign and domestic..Do people not see how
government trembles when “WE THE
PEOPLE” show up with the facts
and a video camera?!! The TRUTH
is a powerful antidote for a corrupt government. It cuts right through and exposes their
evil agenda. And when American
government officials support America's enemies, then their agenda is evil. So say so.
One of the principal resources of a country is its
citizens. Equipped by God with wisdom
and the right values of integrity, honesty, hard work, sacrifice, self-denial,
fairness, etc., each citizen can become a powerful dynamic in his/her family,
community, and nation! A secular
government not only does not impart those values, it has lately shown itself to
actually be the antithesis of those values!!
With each GIFT of a new day, we each have the opportunity to use all
that God has given us and blessed us with to serve Him, and to bless others. Then life is full and is rewarding. This is a personal choice that each one of
us has to make. No one can make it for
us. Wisdom will guide us.
The protesters demands are
even contrary to the Bible, which teaches charity for those who
are really poor. Is charity
meant to fund, enable, and to reward
people's bad behavior? And in order to be true charity, any
action taken must be done voluntarily – out of LOVE, not coerced! Also,
in the parable of the talents, we are clearly taught that the one who
did nothing with his “talent” was stripped of it, and IT WAS GIVEN TO THE
ONE WHO WAS SUCCESSFUL – JUST THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT THE Wall St. protesters are
demanding! This is what needs to be
taught. But, again, church leadership
on this important issue is largely AWOL.
Where is the “light”?
The Wall St. protesters cite the greed of
capitalism. If they had stopped at
greed, they would have done well.
Indeed, that is the problem throughout American society – from the White
House to the church house, from the pro athlete to the consumer pushing and
shoving others to get a pair of gym shoes!
The protesters apparently do not even see their own greed! They want what others have! Luke 12:15.
Do they not even see that compared to the rest of the world, most of
America is rich?! They would do
better to implore on behalf of the needs of the poor and needy throughout the
world. America is called to be a
“beacon of light” to the world – a “beacon of liberty”, as well as a “beacon of
charity, love, and compassion” to the world's poor! By becoming inward-focused, and giving
heed to seducing spirits of selfishness, self-importance, self-indulgence, and
socialism, America has failed in 2011 to
live up to its noble calling. It is no
wonder that it has gotten worse in 2011, and that Democratic leadership even
support the increasingly fierce Wall St. protesters since the Lord revealed
some time ago that Mr. Obama himself is infected with the “spirit of Babylon”.
For most of America's 200+ years capitalism functioned
quite well UNDER THE INFLUENCES OF STRONG, CHRISTIAN VALUES which
promoted fairness, respect, charity, love, self-denial, self-restraint, delayed
gratification, hard work, and sacrifice over greed, living for oneself, and
selfishness! Wall St. protesters want
to bring down the system. But we
don't need a “new system” - especially one which has been historically
disastrous, but what we really
need are OUR OLD
VALUES! As Carman sang, “We need
God in America again!”
What has failed us has not been capitalism, but it has been
greed! We must get rid of it! And what has also failed us has been the
lack of morals, and all the corruption in society, including both the business world and government. Capitalism has not failed, crony
capitalism has failed.
Government interference in the free market system with all of its regulations,
and burdensome, complicated tax laws has greatly limited the
“throttle” of American entrepreneurial ingenuity. For self protection, businesses send lobbyists
to Washington to “influence” lawmakers, who are all too happy to enrich
themselves by writing favorable legislation for some companies or by granting
lucrative “earmarks” to supporters at taxpayer expense. Government and business “partnerships” make
for a very SICK AND SORRY ASSOCIATION!
Crony capitalism must be eliminated.
We need public servants again in government, working for the common
good! We do not need the “best
government money can buy”! Government
manipulation of and interference in free markets must cease.
The recent housing bubble collapse, triggered by
sub-prime mortgages is an excellent case in point. The “bubble” in the housing market itself
was greatly due to governmental interference in the market system. The Wall St. Journal's editorial on December
22, 2011 (pg. A18) clearly demonstrates this.
First it was Congress' affordable housing mandates (yet another
government welfare promotion), which put pressure on the markets to lower their
lending standards. Then Congress created
2 mortgage behemoths – Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – 2 giants that enabled
private lenders to not only lower their lending standards, but also to unload
these risky sub-prime loans in exchange for more capital! What a deal, huh?! And where did Fannie's and Freddie's cash
come from? Unwary taxpayers! The government was willing to use
taxpayer-funded guarantees for horrific loans! The pathway to greed and corruption was wide
open. So serious are the assertions that
Fannie and Freddie hid these risky loans that the SEC has now filed a lawsuit
against 6 former Fannie and Freddie executives.
So insidious is this government that Democrats now have the gall to
blame private lenders for the sub-prime mortgage fiasco! That's like the tavern owner blaming the
drunk driver for the accident after he has fed him the liquor and made a profit
off of it!! That's how sick our
government is. And the Wall St.
protesters, supported by these same corrupt government officials CONVENIENTLY LAPSE
OVER THE BAILOUTS
OF THESE MORTGAGE
BEHEMOTHS The less that
government has its hand in, runs, or operates the better! Our founders understood the beauty of
limited government. We must return to
their wisdom. We must return to our
Constitution. There are many lawyers in
our government, but how many even truly understand history or even
economics? Even all the scandals within
government clearly show us that many lack the morals and the character
necessary to hold a position of honor.
Thus, why are they even given such power over the country and its
citizens? In 2008 America elected
someone who as far as I know never even ran a hot dog stand! And in 2011, the economy clearly shows it!
So, as we close 2011, and move on to a new year, what do we
see in government?
We see a government that is VERY DISORGANIZED, not getting anything done or
accomplished.
We see leadership that is AWOL. It is “hiding” behind the “troops”, ducking
press conferences and serious questions.
BO and his wife are good at taking expensive vacations on the taxpayer
dime, and at playing dozens of rounds of golf, but not at leading. Thus ------
- There is no movement, and hardly any talk even, on the JOB front.
- There is no emphasis on getting America PRODUCTIVE again.
- Worse, BO has tried to shut down the important Gulf Oil industry.
- The defense of our southern border from criminals, terrorists, and drugs has been stymied.
- But BO and Eric Holder have decided to go CHASE after the state of Arizona!
- There is no serious dialogue on BALANCING THE BUDGET.
- But BO's allies have money to spare to attempt to ouster a state governor who does try to balance his state budget!
- America's AAA is now AA.
- The Muslim Brotherhood have now infiltrated the U.S. Government according to Franklin Graham.
And in the midst of not moving America ahead on important
issues, this current government has been busy attacking states, and dividing
America by continually playing the “ethnic” and “class warfare cards”! Even while speaking to an Hispanic
audience, BO exclaimed, “We must punish our enemies!” Who was he talking about? Why was he trying to incite Hispanics to
“punish” Americans?!!
Interestingly, he does not take that tone when talking about
muslims. Also, doubly interesting, he
said during his campaign that he has trouble with people who have Bibles! Indeed, it is reported that the Egyptian
Foreign Minister admitted that BO confided in him that he is indeed muslim! And the dots continue to connect to Jeremiah
Wright, under whom BO sat for 20 years, who is good friends with the muslim and
anti-American Louis Farrakhan! When
Nigerian churches were brutally attacked during the Christmas season, the BO
administration did not even want to use the word muslim. So just why is it that BO perpetually
lauds islam in the face of so many of its atrocities and persecution of
Christians around the world?
Why does he so readily identify himself with those who attacked
America on September 11, 2001? One
must wonder if there is a purpose, an ulterior motive, to why BO and his
administration are so eager and willing to foment dissension among Americans!
Thus, while busy on vacation, not addressing the important
issues of America, BO and his
administration has shown its resolve in shutting down the Gulf Oil industry,
in undermining America's economy, fiscal
irresponsibility, not defending America's borders, attacking
American states, in fomenting dissension along ethnic and class lines,
and now in supporting the marxist-style street protesters, who want to
collapse America's free market system, and who have already been
scandalized by sexual assaults on women, murder, and filth. This is leadership? Towards what?
And that is the sad state of affairs in America's government as we close
2011.
This country has basically made a “pact” with the devil,
and the church has basically stood by watching and has even handed over
the country to the devil. The church
abdicated its responsibility to the poor, handing over its role to the
government – with DISASTROUS RESULTS!
In the beginning in this country, it was the church that took the
lead in educating our citizens and even in building hospitals. For example, the Harvard of John Adams' day
in the 1750's was much different than the socialist bastions of ungodly,
demonic spirits so characteristic of many an institution of “higher” learning
today, inundated with debauchery and all kinds of immorality! The day for a student at Harvard in
the 1750's began at 6 a.m in the chapel with prayers, and ended at 5 p.m in the
chapel with prayers! Now it is
difficult to even find a church open daily, praying morning and night, much
less a college campus! As part of the
college rules “scholars” were expected to “behave themselves blamelessly,
leading sober, righteous, and Godly lives.” There was to be no lying, fornication,
nor drunkenness! (John Adams by
David McCullough, 2001, pp.35-36). How
things have changed! Last century, the
church allowed the Bible and prayer to be taken out of America's schools,
handing this country's education system over to the devil to “watch over”. How many of you UNDERSTAND that when someone
has someone else to “watch over” their “house” for them, that that
person will come to “collect”?! And the
devil has, for he comes to “kill, steal, and destroy”! The standards in our schools have
dramatically fallen, even as crime, drugs, sexual assaults, and killings have
shot up! Too many schools
have become 'war zones' with all the fighting, metal detectors, and police! Now schools will pass out condoms to
coincide with teaching “sex”! They will
even encourage children to read books about witchcraft, even as they teach
them about islam and homosexuality!!
BO even appointed a man to be the “Safe School czar” who wrote the
forward to a book about “Queering” American schools!!! And government wants to improve the schools
with more of their programs?!! NO,
we have had the devil in our school system long enough, with disastrous
results!
The church also largely stood by and watched the culture in
America change to a death culture with abortion. Why did the church ever allow the courts and
the government to DICTATE IN MATTERS OF
MORALS?! Where were the
Christians, if church leadership would not stand up and preach against this
evil? Were there not enough Christians
in America to vote the judges and the politicians pushing this wretched killing
of children on America out of office??!!
You see the answer. As the Barna
Group has discovered, over 90% of American Christians do not even have a
biblical worldview!
And even though BO publicly argued for the killing of
babies born alive during an abortion, still a majority of Americans
decided it was okay to sin with their vote by electing a 'man of sin”
who had both an abortion and a homosexual agenda! Now the government has even decided to lift
the ban on sodomy and beastiality in the military! How depraved is this country becoming?
As with our schools and our culture, the church also
handed over the movie industry along with much of the TV industry over to the
devil as well to “watch over”! Is there no one artistic enough in the church
to make a good movie? Has the Lord
passed out so few “media talents” to those in the church? THE
CHURCH USED TO
BE THE “BACKBONE OF
AMERICA”. And God blessed America, and the country grew
and prospered. Now, as a “drunken
mother lying on the floor”, the church is powerless to even aid its children
“being raped right outside her door” by the pernicious evil of society!!! By '”handing over” so much of the movie and
TV industry to the devil, the church has allowed the souls of
this country's children to be poisoned with profanity, obscenities,
licentiousness, vile behavior, and violence.
And America is reaping the results.
Yet, so much of the church is so “drunk on itself” , so many
leaders walking around so impressed with their own self-importance, that
it acts oblivious to society crumbling around her! The Laodicean church Jesus
said was “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” even
though they said of themselves that they were “rich”! Blind pride.
Sad. Everyone knows that a MONOPOLY
is not good for business – it wields TOO MUCH CONTROL, and eventually
becomes ABUSIVE and OPPRESSIVE! For
some reason, the church has allowed the ungodly in America to MONOPOLIZE AMERICAN
SOCIETY from the womb to the school room! The church handed much of America – even
its pulpit – over to the devil to “watch over”, and now it stands around congratulating
itself on what a good job it is doing!
Sad, sad, sad, Revival will
therefore not go through the door of the clergy, but rather will have to go
through the “door of the laity”!!!
Judgment is coming. I Peter
4:17. Sad, it could have been averted
had the Church awoken to sound the alarm.
And what is the state of our military? Sadly, as earlier mentioned, the government
recently lifted the ban on sodomy and beastiality in the military, guaranteeing
that the “wheels” will come off the military “vehicle”. Just as 'dirty fuel' would be expected to cause a vehicle to break
down, so also this disgraceful move can be expected to cause God's
protective hand and His blessing to lift off of the military as it crumbles in
the moral sewer of depravity.
Has America in 2011 forgotten one of the premier history
lessons of all time? And that is
that “ROME FELL FROM
WITHIN”!! America is great
because of its goodness. But once its
morals and Godly values are eroded, then the future of America itself is at
stake.
A strong, tall building does not have just a
top and a bottom floor. There are other
floors in the middle of the building that tie everything together!
So also, a good, healthy sandwich that imparts health
and strength to someone does not just have 2 pieces of bread! A healthy sandwich must have the right
ingredients between the pieces of bread!
So also, in order for society to be VIBRANT, “HEALTHY”,
AND STRONG, it must have the right components, or VALUES that hold
it together and help it to grow!! These
values consist of such things as HONESTY,
TRUTHFULNESS, INTEGRITY. For example, we see where the lack of these
key ingredients were very instrumental in causing the housing bubble and
collapse, bringing pain and suffering to many people, as well as crippling the
American economy. There are other
values, such as LOVE, RESPECT, KINDNESS, COURTESY, CHARITY, HARD WORK,
SACRIFICE, PATIENCE, PURITY, ETC..
Society functions better when these values are present and in use. Where there is evil, destruction and
suffering is not too far behind. This
fact was well brought out in the movie “BLINDSIDE”, based on a true story of a
Christian family who rescued a boy off of the streets and became the difference
to him one day becoming a pro football player! But people in the “hood” from which he
came, sorely lacking the right values, would not be so fortunate.
People in America used to care for one another. You'd be surprised how this one attribute, so
characteristic of America in the past (albeit there have also been those who
lacked it), has so contributed to America's blessings and greatness. As I have traveled to different parts of the
world (some 15 years living and working in developing countries on 2 different
continents), it is quite remarkable to see JUST HOW
DIFFERENT AMERICA IS
FROM OTHER COUNTRIES, AND – MOST IMPORTANTLY – THE
REASONS WHY!! And on this one point there is a wide
difference. In some places, it is quite
evident and open that people only care for themselves, and mayyyybe a few close
acquaintances and family members. In
other places, it is a little more hidden.
Outwardly people portray a friendly attitude, but underneath the
surface – in their hearts, there is jealousy, hatred, etc.. And in many countries where there is
witchcraft, what people will do is smile in another's face and greet them, but
then secretly try to use witchcraft in the middle of the night against those
very people. It is quite widespread in
both South America and Africa. And it
could be just because of envy for how another person is prospering. This is notoriously legendary in Africa, as
the anecdote goes - “if one African man takes one step forward there will be 10
to pull him back”! This one attribute
strongly contributes to hindering a country's progress. And it is one reason why countries on
different continents, though blessed with great weather and resources, struggle
to even develop!
As I said, people in America, USED TO CARE FOR ONE
ANOTHER. But, more and more I see
America veering so far “off course” that it is actually becoming like impoverished
countries – in both its economy and in its heart attitudes! People pushing, shoving, and fighting for material things DURING THE
LOVING, GIVING, FRIENDLY
SEASON OF CHRISTMAS is not a sign that things are the
“way they are supposed to be”! The slightest thing now will set people off
in an angry, profane, obscene torrent of abusive language. A person can get a fist in his face at work
for asking a question. Apparently,
according to some employers, even telling someone “GOD BLESS YOU”, or “MERRY
CHRISTMAS” is now “offensive”!!! Wow!
There must be a lot of “Scrooges” out there and people in a bad
mood! If people are “offended” by
God, then I will personally be most happy to relieve them of every piece of
currency they have which mentions God!
People used to be kind and courteous. But now make a mistake in traffic, and people
erupt in “road rage”. A Wall Mart
greeter recently asked a shopper for her receipt and got punched in the face! Tattooed youth walk around with their pants
pulled, and with a mean demeanor and a ‘chip on their shoulder”, itching for a
fight should anyone say anything to them!
There needs to be a drastic change in direction, and we
don't need another boondoggle government program to accomplish it! The people have the power, always
have, unless they relinquish it to the government and/or its “red army”. Each person can decide, while he/she/you still
have the freedom to do so, to make a difference – first in their own
life, then in the lives of others!
“If you want to change the world, change yourself”. It starts with one – the “power of one”. Each person can decide to change their
“inward focus”. We can be so “into
ourselves” that we even forget and neglect past relationships and friends. As we take stock of where America stands at
the close of 2011, and just how far we as a people, a nation, have veered “off
course” from the principles and values we once had and which greatly benefited
this country, as imperfect as we have been at times, let us each make a
decision as we cross over into 2012 – which
promises to be a VERY TUMULTUOUS year – to be different.
“Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground, and dies,
it remains alone. But if it does, then
..'. That one grain can produce many
more! Sacrifice, letting go of
greed and selfishness, to meet other people's needs not only helps them, but it
multiplies and ends up helping us as well!!
This was one of the main driving components to America's remarkable
growth, its strength, and its vitality!!!
Yes! Just as the single
grain of wheat MULTIPLIES when it is
planted, so also the act of GIVING, far from being loss, MULTIPLIES and RETURNS
TO THE GIVER!!! The
“multiplication” produces “bread” for the “sower”, as well as more “seed” to be
“planted”, yielding even a great multiplication! When America began to stop “sowing
'seeds' of kindness”, it began to negatively affect its own “harvest”.
And each of us can begin to reverse this tragic
“harvest”. We must break this “inward
focus”, and the greed and selfishness that accompany it. And we can go to God to ask Him to give us
new hearts that truly care for others and their well-being of
others. And we can begin in simple
ways, in simple steps, to begin to reach out to others,
maybe beginning with past relationships and friends we have forgotten and no
longer contact. Somewhere, there may be
people who feel “all alone” even though there are others who bustle by them all
day long, not knowing their name, nor asking or caring about how they are
doing. There may be “crying stars” out there ALONE IN
THE DARKNESS that few can reach –
BUT YOU
CAN! - , just needing to be touched with an act of kindness. Though they may not even live near us
anymore, each of us can decide to at least write “a crying star”
to let them know that you remember them, are thinking about them, and thus do
care.. It was shocking in Africa to see
how the poor and humble responded to us.
Just our very presence and our simple gestures spoke to them that we
cared. And in a land of so little love,
they responded overwhelmingly, wanting to be our friends for life though we
had little to offer them materially!!
Just that simple act of writing someone else can begin to
get us out of thinking about ourselves all the time. Then, we can begin to take other gestures of
reaching out to others, and eventually it will become one of our character
habits. As a recent video demonstrated, ACTS
OF KINDNESS can become
contagious – that is the “power of one” – it can TRIGGER something much bigger than ourselves, one person at a
time. We don’t have to ‘change the world”,
just help to make a difference in the lives of the people God puts us in
contact with (past and present) ! And
let God do the rest.
2012 promises to be a very trying year. Just based on the “state of things” at the
end of 2011, we as a country are not ready for more problems. The good news is that WE CAN
GET READY ! We will have to learn to return to God, His
will, His values – including caring for one another, helping one another.. If we do these things, then we will be able
to get through it with God's help! UNITED WE
STAND! ESCHEW DIVISIVE
POLITICS – from the government, socialists, elitists in academia, and
from the “red army” marching in our streets.
ESCHEW DIVISION IN THE CHURCH –
denominationalism, congregationalism, and along ethnic lines. “A house divided cannot stand”, Jesus
taught! The “'gang colors' must be
dropped“!! The fighting must end, the
caring must begin. The greed and the
selfishness must end, and the loving must begin! “WE
ARE OUR BROTHER'S
KEEPER”!!!
Paul Leonard Jr.
africamis@yahoo.com
