Friday, December 30, 2011

THE STATE OF AMERICA 2011


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:
  1. a “lukewarm” church,
  2. having a “form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (II Timothy 3:5),
  3. riddled with scandals – even among big names and ministries - “immorality in the 'monastery'”,
  4. tragedies,
  5. divisions – the Body of Christ is to be ONE, not divided by congregations, denominations, ethnicities,
  6. whose pulpit is heavily influenced by a “very strong secular spirit”,
  7. compromising the Word of God,
  8. preaching to “itching years” according to people's lusts,
  9. afraid of confronting evil so as not to “offend” or “inconvenience” anyone,
  10. afraid of being sued,
  11. afraid of confronting government control and intimidation tactics,
  12. tolerating sin and evil practices (even homosexuality and cross-dressing),
  13. filled with unbiblical practices (I Peter 4:9, I Cor. 14: 26-39, Acts 2: 42-46,.....),
  14. false teaching, (oftentimes through omission of verses such as Luke 12:33, Matt.7:21-23, Lk.14:33),
  15. false doctrine (such as regarding the gifts of the Holy Spirit, sitting vs. doing,  wealth, ),
  16. with leaders engulfed by the “NFL coach syndrome”, arrogant, controlling, unapproachable
  17. totally impressed with their own self-importance,
  18. “lording over the flock”, instead of “feeding the flock”,
  19. with many in the congregation feeding their egos with flattery and adoration,
  20. sitting in pews, not ministering,
  21. 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! -------
  1. Unemployment is higher.
  2. The national debt is much higher!
  3. America has dropped from S&P's  AAA  to AA.
  4. The Solyndra scandal, taking with it 100's of MILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS!
  5. The “Fast and Furious” scandal.
  6. Higher gas prices.
  7. 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 poorIs 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 ------
  1. There is no movement, and hardly any talk even, on the JOB front.
  2. There is no emphasis on getting America PRODUCTIVE again.
  3. Worse, BO has tried to shut down the important Gulf Oil industry.
  4. The defense of our southern border from criminals, terrorists, and drugs has been stymied.
  5. But BO and Eric Holder have decided to go CHASE after the state of Arizona!                                        
  6.  There is no serious dialogue on BALANCING THE BUDGET.
  7. But BO's allies have money to spare to attempt to ouster a state governor  who does try to balance his state budget!
  8. America's AAA is now AA.
  9. 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

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