Saturday, March 11, 2006
National Security?
Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat-- for he grants sleep to those he loves. Psalm 127: 1,2 (NIV)
Well, where to start. What do you think of United Arabs Emirates and DP World's attempt to operate port terminals? What are your thoughts and feelings about N. Korea and Iran processing uranium and possibly building nuclear weapons? What about President Clinton selling nuclear secrets to the Chinese or President Bush and the wiretap scandal? Is the war in Iraq a mistake or are there legitimate reasons to be involved? Who is benefiting from all the pork barrel addendums to congressional bills? Is there really a gas crisis or just one created by big business? Who cares who is MVP, National Champion, Super Bowl or World Series or World Cup Champions?
You know there is a gluttonous amount of 'scandal' surrounding and intrinsic to politics and government. I might add it is prevalent on all levels of government; local, state and national. And as important as it is to be aware and even involved in the process of government, it is not my primary concern. Yes, I want to be secure in my home and my country. But more importantly, I would want my home, city, state and country be under the guidance of Christ.
Did God build this house; this country? Yes, He did. Abe Lincoln said,"Our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." Jesus said in the Gospel,"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
These 'fathers' dedicated their lives to liberty and freedom. Freedom of many acts of tyranny and liberty to persue happiness that does not infringe on others. Their bliefs were based on a belief in God, a Creator Being and that God would sustain them if they held to a straight and true course. A course 'by the people and for the people." Any more we are seeing community, a state, a nation only focused on the needs of the politicians and not their constituency.
Are the 'watchmen' standing guard in vain? Yes, the 'watchmen' are more occupied with minutia and their selfish endeavers rather than the soverenty of the community, state or nation and rather han serving its citizens. And why are we, also watchmen and women, not being more diligent in keeping our elected protectors doing the work for which they were 'hired'.
We are apathetic and lazy. The people of this nation are made up of individuals only focused on self. People accept rather than resist inflationary practices. People either can't or don't know how to unite. The people of this nation split along party, religious and philosophical lines, many time without consideration of what is best for their neighbors.
Rom 12:3
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. (NIV)
I remember dad assisting people in need. Not just his immediate friends and neighbors but strangers as well. I remember a trip to North Platte for one of my tennis matches in high school. Dad stopped to help another farmer gather in some cattle that had walked over a down fence. We didn't know the man, but he need our help. Back then the mentality of the nation was of 'service to others', the exception was 'individuality'. The transition to self gratification is blurred. But I do know this, I am a result of this blurring. For years thinking of only myself, even as a pastor. Now, though the ugly head of selfishness still raises its head, I am aware of when it does and process the moment. But why do I have to process my self serving character? Where did I and so many others in this 'land of the free and home of the brave' change priorities. When did we become the 'land of big business and home of the big government'?
Was it the '60s free love movement? The '70s confusion? The 80's recovery? The 90s excessiveness? I believe each generation since WW II has contributed to the problem of national explotation and societal rape exponentially compounded the nation's ideal of bigger and better until the bigger element has enslaved the smaller component of the country.
George Orwell wrote in ANIMAL FARM, "The boar asserts, 'Man is the only real enemy we have. Remove Man from the scene, and the root cause of hunger and overwork is abolished for ever. Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough, he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. Yet he is lord of all the animals.' "
Unless we overcome ourselves, our self centered, unhealthy egocentric nature, we will be destroyed by our greed and false pride. We are no better than the next person to whom we stand. We are no better than the immigrant, the executive, the homeless, the preacher, the housewife or factory worker if we fail to see the equality of personhood. A twist on the words of Oliver Hazard Perry from the Battle of Lake Erie, 1812, "We have met the enemy and it is us."
What will it take for us to be friends with ourselves much less others? We need revival. We need to 'grow up' politically and spiritually. Vote your faith, not your party.
Well, where to start. What do you think of United Arabs Emirates and DP World's attempt to operate port terminals? What are your thoughts and feelings about N. Korea and Iran processing uranium and possibly building nuclear weapons? What about President Clinton selling nuclear secrets to the Chinese or President Bush and the wiretap scandal? Is the war in Iraq a mistake or are there legitimate reasons to be involved? Who is benefiting from all the pork barrel addendums to congressional bills? Is there really a gas crisis or just one created by big business? Who cares who is MVP, National Champion, Super Bowl or World Series or World Cup Champions?
You know there is a gluttonous amount of 'scandal' surrounding and intrinsic to politics and government. I might add it is prevalent on all levels of government; local, state and national. And as important as it is to be aware and even involved in the process of government, it is not my primary concern. Yes, I want to be secure in my home and my country. But more importantly, I would want my home, city, state and country be under the guidance of Christ.
Did God build this house; this country? Yes, He did. Abe Lincoln said,"Our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." Jesus said in the Gospel,"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
These 'fathers' dedicated their lives to liberty and freedom. Freedom of many acts of tyranny and liberty to persue happiness that does not infringe on others. Their bliefs were based on a belief in God, a Creator Being and that God would sustain them if they held to a straight and true course. A course 'by the people and for the people." Any more we are seeing community, a state, a nation only focused on the needs of the politicians and not their constituency.
Are the 'watchmen' standing guard in vain? Yes, the 'watchmen' are more occupied with minutia and their selfish endeavers rather than the soverenty of the community, state or nation and rather han serving its citizens. And why are we, also watchmen and women, not being more diligent in keeping our elected protectors doing the work for which they were 'hired'.
We are apathetic and lazy. The people of this nation are made up of individuals only focused on self. People accept rather than resist inflationary practices. People either can't or don't know how to unite. The people of this nation split along party, religious and philosophical lines, many time without consideration of what is best for their neighbors.
Rom 12:3
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. (NIV)
I remember dad assisting people in need. Not just his immediate friends and neighbors but strangers as well. I remember a trip to North Platte for one of my tennis matches in high school. Dad stopped to help another farmer gather in some cattle that had walked over a down fence. We didn't know the man, but he need our help. Back then the mentality of the nation was of 'service to others', the exception was 'individuality'. The transition to self gratification is blurred. But I do know this, I am a result of this blurring. For years thinking of only myself, even as a pastor. Now, though the ugly head of selfishness still raises its head, I am aware of when it does and process the moment. But why do I have to process my self serving character? Where did I and so many others in this 'land of the free and home of the brave' change priorities. When did we become the 'land of big business and home of the big government'?
Was it the '60s free love movement? The '70s confusion? The 80's recovery? The 90s excessiveness? I believe each generation since WW II has contributed to the problem of national explotation and societal rape exponentially compounded the nation's ideal of bigger and better until the bigger element has enslaved the smaller component of the country.
George Orwell wrote in ANIMAL FARM, "The boar asserts, 'Man is the only real enemy we have. Remove Man from the scene, and the root cause of hunger and overwork is abolished for ever. Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough, he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. Yet he is lord of all the animals.' "
Unless we overcome ourselves, our self centered, unhealthy egocentric nature, we will be destroyed by our greed and false pride. We are no better than the next person to whom we stand. We are no better than the immigrant, the executive, the homeless, the preacher, the housewife or factory worker if we fail to see the equality of personhood. A twist on the words of Oliver Hazard Perry from the Battle of Lake Erie, 1812, "We have met the enemy and it is us."
What will it take for us to be friends with ourselves much less others? We need revival. We need to 'grow up' politically and spiritually. Vote your faith, not your party.
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