Caution, greed surrounds us!

Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” (Luke 12:15 NIV)

Last night I watched "Sons of Liberty" on the History Channel. I loved it. I could see myself as a freedom fighter. As I was watching the show, I kept seeing parallels to our country today. I know many people have discounted the Tea Party, but I truly believe in order to bring this country back to the people, a rebellion has to occur. Our politicians, our corporate giants, our Wall Street leaders, are so influenced by greed, they have manipulated our democracy to suite there selfish gains. We can't rely on republicans or democrats to lead us out of our mess. They all give lip service to fighting for the middle class, yet fight it, oppress it on every side. We are in a time of powerful money. Greed rules our country, not the people. This is not confined to one party, it's not confined to one financial philosophy. The power of money is prevalent everywhere.

Just as the early founders of this nation, we must stand up for ourselves. Poverty has to be dealt with, oppressive government regulation must be stopped. Taxes should be used for proper support for the homeless, the widows, the orphans. Incentives to give must be everywhere to people, businesses, and other countries. Government needs to get out of the way of the people. We need to rise up and take back our liberty. Our rulers need to be one of us, we can't continue to turn our fate over to those of the privileged class. We must bring common sense to our legislators and leaders. We need to value life of our enemies and the lives of the innocent. We need Jesus and can't be afraid to shout it on Main Street nor should we be ostracized for that faith. 

Greed is the key to the evil in our daily lives. We can not stand by and let it destroy us.

Dear Lord, give us the strength, the perseverance, the determination to take back our freedom from the oppression of greed and the corruption of power. Lord we need you and your direction in this great land. Help us defeat the enemies of love, mercy, and grace. In your great and holy name we ask it. Amen!

USA! USA! USA!

Romans 13

Submission to Governing Authorities

 ¹ Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. ² Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. ⁴ For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. ⁵ Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

 ⁶ This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.⁷ Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

The political season is heating up and as usual it's getting ugly. We are so mean to each other. I don't know how this got to be so popular. It polarizes our nation and after the election we always have hurt feelings. Then stubbornness sets in and then gridlock. Compromise? You never find it any more. We can't seem to get along unless a crisis occurs. 911 is a great example of that. But, recently even a crisis isn't a good enough reason to come together. Now we just argue about money, taxes, debt, entitlements, social issues, morality and a multitude of other minor squabbles. To outsiders it might appear that we hate our country. 

Well, I'm here to tell you I LOVE MY COUNTRY! I love what we stand for. I love our institutions and all our internal bickering. What other country do you know that doesn't resort to bloodshed to solve big issues? If other countries were facing the financial crisis that we are, or the downfall of our financial institutions a few years ago, they would have resorted to violence. We fight, we debate, we argue, and I wouldn't live anywhere else but here. We disagree with our elected officials, we get upset when they let us down. But, we don't go out and shoot them, we elect someone else. We have peaceful transitions between our political parties and we move on regardless if we agree or disagree with the ones in power. I don't care what people might say, Our country is endowed by God. Now, are we prefect? Nope. Governments are made of sinful people. ALL PEOPLE HAVE SINNED and fall short. Our government, run by people, is no different. But, it is the best and I love it! 

Thank You Lord for the wonderful gift to live in this country. We are blessed! May we never forget that the authority you have given them, over us, is real, it is divine, and we are to respect it. Praise God for the USA!

We need a good bath!

Titus 3 (The Message)

 ^1-2Remind the people to respect the government and be law-abiding, always ready to lend a helping hand. No insults, no fights. God's people should be bighearted and courteous.

Oh boy! This is not fair. In the good ole' US of A we have lost complete touch with this.  Our society is all about division, insults and fights.  I am not sure we could run a political campaign without trashing the opposition.  We don't have any concept of compromise or give and take. I am not sure we even know what being bighearted and courteous is. Do we respect our government?  How many of US do everything we can to beat the system.  We believe in getting a helping hand and not giving a helping hand. Our politicians and leaders care more about image than truth, honesty, openness, respect, service, and courtesy. 

I think I'm preaching!

The key is trying to find out how we change the system. How can little ol' me have such an impact that people will begin to change? Well, I don't have a great answer. As far as I am concerned, it seems hopeless. But if we read the next few verses in Titus, we get an idea how it's going to change:

^3-8It wasn't so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God's gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there's more life to come—an eternity of life! You can count on this.

We need a good bath! We need to get as many people we know to change from being stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, hated and hating back.  The only true answer, the only way to change this society from it's present path is Jesus Christ. We need to be washed in the spirit. We need to be restored and changed from within! We need the new life that only he can provide. We need to restore relationships and we need to get our lives back from our sinfullness. Only God can do that.  We can't. We don't have the strength or the power or the will to change.  We need the help only he can provide!

Lord, we know that our country needs you.  We need revival, restoration, and cleansing, that only you can provide. We don't want to be hated or to hate. We can't change on our own. Bless us with your spirit and with your power. Give us the strength to change and to bear witness to your saving grace. Lord save us! Amen!