“Income Inequality” – The Fad Phrase of the Day

Much is being said in the talking head media about income inequality since the president began stressing the issue. In my youth the saying was “the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.” So it seems that the issue wasn’t invented yesterday. Maybe it was “re-invented” yesterday. A lot of things are being “re-invented” every week, right?

Maybe instead of “re-inventing” or repackaging old ideas to give them a new “spin” we just need to “re-think” the issue entirely.

You know, the Bible has a little to say that might just be “relevant”, to borrow an early ’70s word.  As Americans we often get focused on climbing the economic ladder. We try to keep up with the Jones-es. The balance of our checkbook seems to take priority over the condition of our immortal soul.  Matt 16:26 warns us there are more important things than how high we climb in society.  Rev 3:17-18 sets the premise clearly in the stark light of day.

The lilies of the field are dressed by God in beauty, and yet they wither and die in a short time.  Maybe we need to redirect our thoughts from “income inequality” to “spiritual maturity”.

 

 

The Devil Made Me Do It…or Did He?

Flip Wilson back in his ’71 television show used the phrase “The devil made me do it” to much comedic effect. Even pagans or other unbelievers could see through the ruse.  Rationalization is probably the most often used tactic to escape responsibility for our perceived “missteps”. (No one wants to call it SIN anymore, after all.) Yet there are whole ministries in Christendom built around giving Christians the obvious out of “The devil made me do it” ploy. Have you ever heard of so-called “demonic strongholds” in the life of a believer? How about “generational curses”? Then there are the multitude of “deliverance” ministries, prominently promoted on many Christian TV networks. Does Scripture tell us that Christians can be possessed by a demon? Or so heavily oppressed or influenced that we escape responsibility for our actions? I think not. Scripture does talk about being carried into sin by our own lusts and desires, but we’d rather have someone or something else to blame for our sin, right?  This is nothing new of course.

Eve tried to pass the buck immediately, saying in effect “the devil made me do it” or : “The Serpent deceived me” ploy,

But Adam was even worse. “That woman.”  (blame Eve)…  “You gave me.” (maximum hubris…blame God!)

Yeah, that has been around a long time. About time we gave it up, ya think?

Virginia moves to allow increased use of electric chair | Fox News

I don’t have a philosophical objection to the death penalty per se. However, there are way too many people being exonerated by The Innocence Project to make me become comfortable with its continued use in it’s present form. The death penalty is certainly called for in some instances of particularly heinous crimes. Like the “gentleman” in Texas who drowned a grandmother and granddaughter in the toilet back in the eighties.  But a free society cannot afford to execute a single “innocent” individual for a crime he did not commit. There have been far too many instances of prosecutor overreach, and downright malfeasance to always trust juries to reach the correct decision. They were being shown a bogus case in many instances.  Doesn’t really matter whether the execution is through the needle, hanging, firing squad, or the electric chair; we gotta make sure we have the right perpetrator in our clutches before we proceed. I’m just sayin’.

Virginia moves to allow increased use of electric chair | Fox News.

Times Squared

There are times when I am completely content
and there are times when I rage at the world.
In times like these…in times like these…
My frustrations overload my senses…
and I see RED.
Columbine…Paducah…Ruby Ridge…
Waco…Miami…
Remember the Alamo!
Our forefathers seemed to have a grasp on
reality.
A clear sense of the “right thing to do”.
My world is crumbling around me and I feel
Helpless.
Impotent.
Blind.
Lame.
Am I the only one? Does ANYONE feel as I do?
Am I simply a child of digital delivery?
Sensory overload?
In times like these…

In God We Trusted…yesterday

We came from all around the world, in search of liberty.
Searching for a land of promise, longing to be free.
Landing safe on virgin shores, our ships with scales encrusted,
Giving thanks seemed proper then, because in God we trusted.
We built a nation with His help; a nation full of honor,
His blessings, they were just poured out with love so strong upon her.
Because in God we trusted then, we suffered no defeat,
That declaration on our coins, it made our life complete.
Yet, God was taken from our schools, We found no room for Him.
For generations yet unborn, the Light was growing dim.
And far from God we soon discovered wages would be paid.
Rejection brings His judgment down, just like the Bible said.
Earthquakes, famine, then the sword, night always follows day.
Unrighteousness it’s own reward: the price we’ll always pay.
And yet do we repent our sins? Do we bemoan our wrong?
Of course not! Compromise and greed have blinded us too long!
In God we trusted…yesterday.
In God we trusted…But still we walked away.
Fall on your knees, America, and humbly start to pray:
“Oh Lord Have Mercy, heal our land and take our sins away!

Sensory Deprivation

Will we ever hear…
The warmth of the morning sun,
The urgency of the climbing rose,
The longing of the willow,
The fragrant offerings of the magnolia.

Will we ever hear…
The stillness of the night owl,
The trembling of the field mouse,
The struggle of the emerging chick,
The molding of the mushroom.

Will we ever hear…
The love of a child,
The hatred of enemies,
The mourning of the lonely,
The victory of the runner.

We can hear…
But will we listen?

Alone – Save One

The mourning dove’s wistful call
alone in the silent pasture,
awakens thoughts of isolation.

I sip from my cup.
My breath makes puffing clouds
of effort as I climb the hill.
The dew-stained grass leaves
the trail of my passing for
all to see. But not for long.
Soon the sun will erase my path.
And I will be completely alone.
Alone with God…Who loves me.