Priority: "A preferential rating; one that allocates rights to goods and services usually in limited supply: something given or meriting attention before competing alternatives."
We all have priorities whether we acknowledge them or not. They help us order our lives in important ways. Governments also have priorities and how they are arranged tells us a lot about them. In England during the 1600's the idea of Divine Right of Kings was still in vogue, especially by kings, and the church held supreme power below the monarch. (I realize there is some dispute as to whether the king was over the church or vice versa. It's not all that important in this context.) In that time where did the citizen fall? Last of course. In fact they were not called citizens at all. They were subjects. The list of priorities would be as follows: God- King- Church- Subject.
The framers of our Declaration of Independence didn't think very highly of those directives. They came up with something that was unique in all of history. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights: that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." The next sentence reveals their belief about government, "...deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."
Our Founding Fathers turned the older priority list (mostly) on its head. Their order is: God- Citizens (us)- Government. First and foremost we are responsible to God. Then we pursue our own intersts. Lastly we are answerable to government. Government's first priority is to preserve our right to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. The Bill of Rights is the legal framework for preventing government from usurping power over the citizenry.
What is the order of priorities in our nation today? The President- Government- Us. Notice that God is not there. He has been deleted from the list. In His place is - well - you know. You and I are now subjects. We must first and foremost answer to government. After they steal their 'share' we must make do with what, if anything, is left. I use the word 'steal' correctly because the majority of what they take from us is not authorized by our Constitution.
Generally when an individual's priorities get out of whack everything else in their life goes too and they are in for a fall, or at least some hard times. With our present government and legislators this is also true. We are in deep trouble without a safety net. We have a President who attended a church for 20 years and never seemed to realize the pastor was a racist, whose early heroes were communists and enjoys like minded super-majorities in both houses. The solutions offered so far have been to enlarge government dramatically and spend lots of money (If a trillion is a lot to you.) on questionable projects that have produced little if any results. They have put us on a road to bankruptcy as a nation in more ways than one. They also believe their actions will not be called into account by the very people who voted them into office in the first place.
There is hope if enough Americans will stand. The Declaration of Independence also says this: "That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government..." The time has come for us to take this to heart. Elections are coming this November. A strong statement must be sent to the powers-that-be of our disapproval. The people we elect to replace them must understand their mission: To return our federal government to its constitutionally designated priorities. It will not be easy. It wasn't easy for our nations Founders either. They fought a war to gain something more important than personal prosperity. Liberty. Today we are fighting a war to keep from losing the same thing.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
God Economics: The Broken Window Fallacy
In 1850 a Frenchman by the name of Frederic Bastiat published a work of economics titled: "That Which is Seen and That Which is Unseen." In it he tells a parable to demonstrate economic truth. Today it is called the Broken Window Fallacy.
The essence of the fallacy is this: A man owns a store or shop. His son accidently breaks a window and now it must be fixed. There are some well meaning friends who tell the owner this is a good thing, because it brings business to the window repairman. What would they do if there were no children? Bastiat says this is incorrect. In economic terms there is a net loss, not a gain. The reason is that something of value, the window- has been needlessly destroyed and capitol must be expended to replace it.
The fallacy is exposed when a simple question is asked. "What would the shop owner do with the money if he didn't have to pay for a new window?" He might have bought more stock for his store, shoes or a book. Then the money would have been invested in something of benefit rather than lost.
Taken to extremes this might imply that all the window repairment should hire people to throw rocks because it would produce loads of business for them. Instead it would mean crime and ultimate anarchy.
Believe it or not there are times when a large scale disaster, such as a hurricane is said to be beneficial to a community because it 'stimulates growth'. Money is spent upgrading homes, stores, infrastructure, etc. But, what would people, government agencies and insurance companies otherwise do with the money? It might be invested in all kinds of other worthwhile things.
Bastiat was a pretty smart guy, but it should be known that he was not the originator of this concept. He put into economic terms what was first proposed some eighteen hundred years earlier. The one who originated the idea was another smart guy, none other than the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Romans. In chapter 5 he is making a contrast between law, sin, faith and grace. He concludes with this: "The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (20,21)
In chapter 6 he begins with an argument to head off those who might take advantage of this grace. He says: "What shall we say then? Should we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means!" Sin, in Paul's mind is the behavioral equivalent of the broken window. It causes needless damage and it sends the believer back into a cycle he has been delivered from. Nothing good is accomplished. It would be better to invest that grace in something profitable, like living a life worthy of the resurrected Christ. This is something which has eternal rewards. He is demonstrating the 'economics' of grace so the believer can understand and live accordingly.
"We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." (6:4) What will YOU do with God's grace?
The essence of the fallacy is this: A man owns a store or shop. His son accidently breaks a window and now it must be fixed. There are some well meaning friends who tell the owner this is a good thing, because it brings business to the window repairman. What would they do if there were no children? Bastiat says this is incorrect. In economic terms there is a net loss, not a gain. The reason is that something of value, the window- has been needlessly destroyed and capitol must be expended to replace it.
The fallacy is exposed when a simple question is asked. "What would the shop owner do with the money if he didn't have to pay for a new window?" He might have bought more stock for his store, shoes or a book. Then the money would have been invested in something of benefit rather than lost.
Taken to extremes this might imply that all the window repairment should hire people to throw rocks because it would produce loads of business for them. Instead it would mean crime and ultimate anarchy.
Believe it or not there are times when a large scale disaster, such as a hurricane is said to be beneficial to a community because it 'stimulates growth'. Money is spent upgrading homes, stores, infrastructure, etc. But, what would people, government agencies and insurance companies otherwise do with the money? It might be invested in all kinds of other worthwhile things.
Bastiat was a pretty smart guy, but it should be known that he was not the originator of this concept. He put into economic terms what was first proposed some eighteen hundred years earlier. The one who originated the idea was another smart guy, none other than the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Romans. In chapter 5 he is making a contrast between law, sin, faith and grace. He concludes with this: "The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (20,21)
In chapter 6 he begins with an argument to head off those who might take advantage of this grace. He says: "What shall we say then? Should we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means!" Sin, in Paul's mind is the behavioral equivalent of the broken window. It causes needless damage and it sends the believer back into a cycle he has been delivered from. Nothing good is accomplished. It would be better to invest that grace in something profitable, like living a life worthy of the resurrected Christ. This is something which has eternal rewards. He is demonstrating the 'economics' of grace so the believer can understand and live accordingly.
"We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." (6:4) What will YOU do with God's grace?
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Some Thoughts on Free Will and Predestination
In my last theological discussion the subject was Pharaoh. I attempted to answer this question: "Did God force Pharaoh to do the things he did?" The answer to that question was "no". At all times Pharaoh was able to choose. Today we will discuss some further thoughts on Free Will and Predestination.
A little groundwork is necessary:
We should know that man is a limited creature. Our knowledge is limited. Our time on this earth is limited. We are part of a finite universe. This does not mean we are completely helpless. On the contrary, God created us to work within the confines of this world. We are designed with intelligence to be able to understand nature and work within it. "Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness and let them rule...." (Gen 1:26)
To say I am a completely free agent is incorrect. I cannot do just anything. For example: What if I go crazy one day. I grab my wallet, jump in my car and drive off to Las Vegas. There I drop all my money on the tables and wind up flat broke. I find out pretty quick I really can't do whatever I want. I can do until my credit and cash is used up and my car is out of gas. After that, I starve and I walk. My world is limited to what my own intelligence, energy and opportunity present.
Is it too much of a stretch to suggest I also have some limited choice when it comes to spiritual matters? More on this in a moment. Next we should consider that God limits Himself in His work on Earth. This does not mean that God is limited. He purposefully works this way in order to gain greater glory. God performed miracles in the past like the parting of the Red Sea. Jesus also carried out miracles during His ministry here. Yet today we do not see those same types of actions; even though God reserves the right to them at any time. God has chosen to primarily work through several means - The lives of believers, the Scriptures, and the Church.
I have a small problem with the Calvinistic teaching of Unconditional Election. That would be that God picks who He wants to be saved. I believe we do have some (perhaps very small) choice in the matter. For two reasons:
First: The language suggests so. When Peter was preaching on the day of Pentecost his listeners were so convicted they did not wait for the invitation. They yelled at Peter and the others: "Brethren, what shall we do?" Peter's reply: "Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ...." We also know he continued to preach to them. The word Repent means to change your thinking. That requires an act of will. A decision has to be made. Later, in Acts 16 we have the Philippian Jailer kneeling at Paul's feet. "What must I do to be saved?", he cried. Paul's reply: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved." Again, belief implies an act of will. All the language of the New Testament whether it be preaching, personal testimony, or written Epistle is presented as if the individual must make a decision concerning Christ.
Second: God gets greater glory. There is some criticism from Calvinist teaching that if we do have a choice somehow we are in collaboration with God for our salvation. This can become a point of pride. In effect we are agents of our own salvation. Let me ask a few leading questions: Who created the World? Who created us? Who created this wonderful Plan of Salvation? Who applied this Plan consistentenly throughout history? Who sent His Son to die on die on the cross? Who demonstrated His Power by resurrection from the dead? Who convicts us about the need for salvation? Who saves us? Who seals our souls forever?
Where in all this is any point of pride on my part? Nowhere. It is all because of Him. The thought question I would like to present is this: Does God achieve greater glory because He picked certain individuals for salvation? Or: If He so constructs His message that everyone must make a choice, in their own limited way, to accept Him?
A little groundwork is necessary:
We should know that man is a limited creature. Our knowledge is limited. Our time on this earth is limited. We are part of a finite universe. This does not mean we are completely helpless. On the contrary, God created us to work within the confines of this world. We are designed with intelligence to be able to understand nature and work within it. "Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness and let them rule...." (Gen 1:26)
To say I am a completely free agent is incorrect. I cannot do just anything. For example: What if I go crazy one day. I grab my wallet, jump in my car and drive off to Las Vegas. There I drop all my money on the tables and wind up flat broke. I find out pretty quick I really can't do whatever I want. I can do until my credit and cash is used up and my car is out of gas. After that, I starve and I walk. My world is limited to what my own intelligence, energy and opportunity present.
Is it too much of a stretch to suggest I also have some limited choice when it comes to spiritual matters? More on this in a moment. Next we should consider that God limits Himself in His work on Earth. This does not mean that God is limited. He purposefully works this way in order to gain greater glory. God performed miracles in the past like the parting of the Red Sea. Jesus also carried out miracles during His ministry here. Yet today we do not see those same types of actions; even though God reserves the right to them at any time. God has chosen to primarily work through several means - The lives of believers, the Scriptures, and the Church.
I have a small problem with the Calvinistic teaching of Unconditional Election. That would be that God picks who He wants to be saved. I believe we do have some (perhaps very small) choice in the matter. For two reasons:
First: The language suggests so. When Peter was preaching on the day of Pentecost his listeners were so convicted they did not wait for the invitation. They yelled at Peter and the others: "Brethren, what shall we do?" Peter's reply: "Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ...." We also know he continued to preach to them. The word Repent means to change your thinking. That requires an act of will. A decision has to be made. Later, in Acts 16 we have the Philippian Jailer kneeling at Paul's feet. "What must I do to be saved?", he cried. Paul's reply: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved." Again, belief implies an act of will. All the language of the New Testament whether it be preaching, personal testimony, or written Epistle is presented as if the individual must make a decision concerning Christ.
Second: God gets greater glory. There is some criticism from Calvinist teaching that if we do have a choice somehow we are in collaboration with God for our salvation. This can become a point of pride. In effect we are agents of our own salvation. Let me ask a few leading questions: Who created the World? Who created us? Who created this wonderful Plan of Salvation? Who applied this Plan consistentenly throughout history? Who sent His Son to die on die on the cross? Who demonstrated His Power by resurrection from the dead? Who convicts us about the need for salvation? Who saves us? Who seals our souls forever?
Where in all this is any point of pride on my part? Nowhere. It is all because of Him. The thought question I would like to present is this: Does God achieve greater glory because He picked certain individuals for salvation? Or: If He so constructs His message that everyone must make a choice, in their own limited way, to accept Him?
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Reflections on a Wedding
June 12, 2010
I woke up early that morning with a song playing in my head. The song is from a movie we had watched many times when the girls were young. "My Fair Lady" and the part was when her dad was singing "....get me to the church on time..." I knew today was going to be a good one, but I was still prepared to help with any emergencies that arose. Days like this always have a few anomalies. Not to worry. We would get to the church on time. In fact we would arrive almost 5 hours before the wedding for pictures. It was going to be a long day....
I first met her just a few minutes after she was born. Her delivery took place at the Medical College of Virginia, a teaching hospital. Some of the med students were invited in for the delivery, so she came into the breathing world among a crowd. Just after birth they all took her over to the corner accompanied by coos and baby talk while they felt her fingers and pulled her toes. I smiled at them. There's something amazing about a new baby! Moments later she was in my arms and I looked into her unblinking eyes for the first time.
"You are Elizabeth Michelle Hall", I said. She was mine. And yet she wasn't. I knew that down the road one day she would be on her own. At that time I didn't care. I could not take my eyes off her. At the wedding James' sister Becky would tell me he sort of had a crush on Michelle in the first grade. I told her I've had a crush on her since she was born. Tears came into my eyes when I said it, and I could hardly finish the sentence. Wow! Emotions are really near the surface on days like today. The smallest things can set them off. I determined to try and avoid those moments, if possible.
There were some minor emergencies. I had to make a quick trip back to the hotel because something was left there, returning in time to take a few pictures with Michelle and the rest of the wedding party....
We named her Elizabeth after my grandmother. But we intended from the start to call her by her middle name of Michelle. We found out later this can cause problems. Usually with banks, health and legal forms. The require her full name, so it gets a little mixed up sometimes. Sorry about that!
I had been given a master key and it came in handy that morning. Our coordinator, Barbara had locked the building after the wedding party changed to help secure their personal items. A great idea. Early in the day I headed over to the gym to set up the tables and chairs. My granddaughter Makenzie, age 5, wanted to help. No problem! I would un-stack the chairs and she would slide them into place. She even helped me with the tables. We make a great team.
I stayed busy and before long guests were arriving. I did not have to hide like others in the wedding party, so I was able to greet some family and friends. Soon I was asked to take my starting position. I had the greatest honor, to escort her down the aisle. At around that time another challenge presented itself. My grandson Elijah had fallen a few minutes before. He had a lump on his head and was in no mood to attend to his wedding duties. He was crying and clutching a couple of prized possessions; Lucky, his stuffed dog, a Pez dispenser and a sheet from his coloring book. We all tried to assuage his grief, but to no avail. Finally he agreed to walk down the aisle with his soon to be 2nd cousin. He got as far as his dad....
When the girls were young we had this bedtime ritual. I would read them a story and pray with them as I put them to bed. Usually they would try and get me to read more than I planned. I would often comply. It's just sleep! Every night Michelle would ask me to hold her hand while she fell asleep, which I did. There were times when I didn't feel like doing this, but I said nothing. I preferred to give those moments of comfort and miss whatever TV show I wanted to watch. I remember once, when she was a little older, it literally took about 10 seconds for her to fall into dreamland. I can still feel her little hand relaxing in mine as she drifted away.
The rest of the wedding party are now headed down the aisle, the doors to the sanctuary are shut and I'm alone with her while we wait for our cue. I had thought about what I would say -but the words escaped me. There was only the moment at hand. I reveled in the fact that I was near this beautiful lady in the white dress. In a few minutes she would no longer be mine. We chatted about little things, like TV shows, and I felt her hand at my bent elbow. A moment later the door opened and we continued talking as we walked down the aisle. Every eye was on us - no - her. I may as well have been invisible....
Her bedroom was small, so I decided to make her a loft bed. Then we could put some things under it and she would have more floor space. It took me a little while to come up with the design, but the end result was pretty good. When she went off to college I made a remark that I could now get rid of that old thing, but she quickly informed me, in no uncertain terms, that it was hers and one day her children would sleep on that bed. I was secretly pleased.
I blew my line. When Pastor Gray said, "Who gives this woman?" I was to say, "Her mother and I do." I barely got it out. Tears blurred my eyes. Those emotions again! I stepped back and joined her hand with James' hand. My part in the wedding was over. I do not remember anything of the ceremony. Not a single word - even though I paid close attention. All too soon Pastor Gray was, "Introducing for the first time, Mr and Mrs James Snyder!" The music began and we all stood as the newly formed couple exited....
She had always been a determined young lady. While this got her into a bit of trouble at times, I've admired her for it. One year we were on vacation at Nags Head and it rained. So we went into the town of Manteo to find things to do. A YMCA was there and it didn't cost very much for a pass to the facilities. In this case we were interested in the swimming pool. We played for a long time. Michelle had just learned to hold her breath and swim underwater. She would start at the side of the pool and swim to me. Each time I would step back a little to see if she could go further. The last time I was against the opposite wall. She swam the width of the pool underwater. When she came up she said, "That hurt, daddy," and I knew she had reached her limit. I held her and said soft, nice things to her while she recovered. A few minutes later she was ready to go again.
The reception was great. Our caterer had baked not one but three cakes, chocolate, strawberry and lemon. All were very tasty. Call me biased, but it was the best wedding cake I've ever had. (Except for her sister's wedding, of course. The same caterer did both of them.) I had dibs on the leftovers. I didn't eat as much as I could have, preferring to talk to guests and family. I had also been tasked with introducing the happy couple when they appeared. After some thought I came up with, "I would like to introduce to you my daughter, Elizabeth Michelle..." I paused and looked at her, "...Snyder and her brand new husband James Richard Snyder." I said this for my Aunt Faye. She lost her beloved Facie earlier this year. Read my earlier post titled, "Tribute: You Were one of a Kind." About a third of the way down you'll find out why.
After a while Michelle came over to me and expressed a desire to leave as soon as possible. However, there was a small glitch. James' travel clothes were still in the changing room. They needed to be in the car. I was off the make the correction. After the couple left, the party started to break up. The various professionals who needed payment were already taken care of and just a couple of details remained. These were duly attended to and I realized then how much my feet hurt from standing in rented shoes all day.
That evening I was in the hotel trying to put my thoughts in perspective. The best I could come up with I wrote on my Facebook page: "Two great lights came together today. Now an even greater one shines." May it ever be so.
I woke up early that morning with a song playing in my head. The song is from a movie we had watched many times when the girls were young. "My Fair Lady" and the part was when her dad was singing "....get me to the church on time..." I knew today was going to be a good one, but I was still prepared to help with any emergencies that arose. Days like this always have a few anomalies. Not to worry. We would get to the church on time. In fact we would arrive almost 5 hours before the wedding for pictures. It was going to be a long day....
I first met her just a few minutes after she was born. Her delivery took place at the Medical College of Virginia, a teaching hospital. Some of the med students were invited in for the delivery, so she came into the breathing world among a crowd. Just after birth they all took her over to the corner accompanied by coos and baby talk while they felt her fingers and pulled her toes. I smiled at them. There's something amazing about a new baby! Moments later she was in my arms and I looked into her unblinking eyes for the first time.
"You are Elizabeth Michelle Hall", I said. She was mine. And yet she wasn't. I knew that down the road one day she would be on her own. At that time I didn't care. I could not take my eyes off her. At the wedding James' sister Becky would tell me he sort of had a crush on Michelle in the first grade. I told her I've had a crush on her since she was born. Tears came into my eyes when I said it, and I could hardly finish the sentence. Wow! Emotions are really near the surface on days like today. The smallest things can set them off. I determined to try and avoid those moments, if possible.
There were some minor emergencies. I had to make a quick trip back to the hotel because something was left there, returning in time to take a few pictures with Michelle and the rest of the wedding party....
We named her Elizabeth after my grandmother. But we intended from the start to call her by her middle name of Michelle. We found out later this can cause problems. Usually with banks, health and legal forms. The require her full name, so it gets a little mixed up sometimes. Sorry about that!
I had been given a master key and it came in handy that morning. Our coordinator, Barbara had locked the building after the wedding party changed to help secure their personal items. A great idea. Early in the day I headed over to the gym to set up the tables and chairs. My granddaughter Makenzie, age 5, wanted to help. No problem! I would un-stack the chairs and she would slide them into place. She even helped me with the tables. We make a great team.
I stayed busy and before long guests were arriving. I did not have to hide like others in the wedding party, so I was able to greet some family and friends. Soon I was asked to take my starting position. I had the greatest honor, to escort her down the aisle. At around that time another challenge presented itself. My grandson Elijah had fallen a few minutes before. He had a lump on his head and was in no mood to attend to his wedding duties. He was crying and clutching a couple of prized possessions; Lucky, his stuffed dog, a Pez dispenser and a sheet from his coloring book. We all tried to assuage his grief, but to no avail. Finally he agreed to walk down the aisle with his soon to be 2nd cousin. He got as far as his dad....
When the girls were young we had this bedtime ritual. I would read them a story and pray with them as I put them to bed. Usually they would try and get me to read more than I planned. I would often comply. It's just sleep! Every night Michelle would ask me to hold her hand while she fell asleep, which I did. There were times when I didn't feel like doing this, but I said nothing. I preferred to give those moments of comfort and miss whatever TV show I wanted to watch. I remember once, when she was a little older, it literally took about 10 seconds for her to fall into dreamland. I can still feel her little hand relaxing in mine as she drifted away.
The rest of the wedding party are now headed down the aisle, the doors to the sanctuary are shut and I'm alone with her while we wait for our cue. I had thought about what I would say -but the words escaped me. There was only the moment at hand. I reveled in the fact that I was near this beautiful lady in the white dress. In a few minutes she would no longer be mine. We chatted about little things, like TV shows, and I felt her hand at my bent elbow. A moment later the door opened and we continued talking as we walked down the aisle. Every eye was on us - no - her. I may as well have been invisible....
Her bedroom was small, so I decided to make her a loft bed. Then we could put some things under it and she would have more floor space. It took me a little while to come up with the design, but the end result was pretty good. When she went off to college I made a remark that I could now get rid of that old thing, but she quickly informed me, in no uncertain terms, that it was hers and one day her children would sleep on that bed. I was secretly pleased.
I blew my line. When Pastor Gray said, "Who gives this woman?" I was to say, "Her mother and I do." I barely got it out. Tears blurred my eyes. Those emotions again! I stepped back and joined her hand with James' hand. My part in the wedding was over. I do not remember anything of the ceremony. Not a single word - even though I paid close attention. All too soon Pastor Gray was, "Introducing for the first time, Mr and Mrs James Snyder!" The music began and we all stood as the newly formed couple exited....
She had always been a determined young lady. While this got her into a bit of trouble at times, I've admired her for it. One year we were on vacation at Nags Head and it rained. So we went into the town of Manteo to find things to do. A YMCA was there and it didn't cost very much for a pass to the facilities. In this case we were interested in the swimming pool. We played for a long time. Michelle had just learned to hold her breath and swim underwater. She would start at the side of the pool and swim to me. Each time I would step back a little to see if she could go further. The last time I was against the opposite wall. She swam the width of the pool underwater. When she came up she said, "That hurt, daddy," and I knew she had reached her limit. I held her and said soft, nice things to her while she recovered. A few minutes later she was ready to go again.
The reception was great. Our caterer had baked not one but three cakes, chocolate, strawberry and lemon. All were very tasty. Call me biased, but it was the best wedding cake I've ever had. (Except for her sister's wedding, of course. The same caterer did both of them.) I had dibs on the leftovers. I didn't eat as much as I could have, preferring to talk to guests and family. I had also been tasked with introducing the happy couple when they appeared. After some thought I came up with, "I would like to introduce to you my daughter, Elizabeth Michelle..." I paused and looked at her, "...Snyder and her brand new husband James Richard Snyder." I said this for my Aunt Faye. She lost her beloved Facie earlier this year. Read my earlier post titled, "Tribute: You Were one of a Kind." About a third of the way down you'll find out why.
After a while Michelle came over to me and expressed a desire to leave as soon as possible. However, there was a small glitch. James' travel clothes were still in the changing room. They needed to be in the car. I was off the make the correction. After the couple left, the party started to break up. The various professionals who needed payment were already taken care of and just a couple of details remained. These were duly attended to and I realized then how much my feet hurt from standing in rented shoes all day.
That evening I was in the hotel trying to put my thoughts in perspective. The best I could come up with I wrote on my Facebook page: "Two great lights came together today. Now an even greater one shines." May it ever be so.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Do You Know The Secret? Part 3
I had originally thought I could address the book "The Secret" in two articles, but there is another statement that is so out of alignment with the intent and purpose of scripture it deserves attention. It is this:
"Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and Jesus were not only prosperity teachers, but also millionaires themselves, with more affluent lifestyles than many present-day millionaires could conceive of."
Let's talk about the lives of some of these men to see if they measure up to this claim.
"I will bless you and make you great..." This was a promise made by God to Abraham. Was he actually a 'prosperity teacher'? Did he live his life by the tenents of the so called 'law of attraction'? We know nothing of Abraham's early life. He was 75 years old when God appeared to him. Most of the rest of his life was spent wandering - which means he probably lived in a tent for that time. He did live for periods in what could be called the lap of luxury- in Egypt the Pharaoh took a liking to his wife and he was treated well because of her. He was also treated well by Abimelech, a Philistine king. Both relationships ended badly. It seems Abraham had a problem with lying. He told these leaders his wife was his sister. A number of Abraham's problems were self inflicted. The behaviors he demonstrated are certainly not in keeping with sending happy thoughts to the universe. I'm not even sure if his emotional condition is ever mentioned. However, he is known by one outstanding trait. Obedience to God. He did acquire a great deal of wealth along the way. Most of that was in the form of livestock.
While Isaac seems to have inerited is father's penchant for misrepresentation, his sons took it to a new level. Jacob used deceit to steal his brother's birthright and lived most of his life in fear of his sibling, who had vowed to kill him. Years later when they met again Jacob was so afraid he split his possessions in half, thinking that if one group was attacked, the other might be able to get away. He came along last. He was not what we would call a picture of ebullient self-confidence.
Joseph, was of exemplary character and competence. As a young man his jealous brothers sold him into slavery. Later he was falsely accused of philandering with his boss' wife and thrown into prison for a number of years. Finally, some two years after interpreting the dream of one of his cell mates, he was called into the presence of Pharaoh himself. His interpretation of Pharaoh's dream was accepted and he became one of the highest ranking officials in Egypt. The rest, as they say, is history. Nothing bad is ever said of Joseph.
Joseph would be the closest of these who would have lived a luxurious lifestyle. But not before all the other bad things happened. Those events were not in his control. His life should be studied, not for how richly he lived, but because of his attitude and perseverance.
I've already written about Jesus in a previous article, but I will mention a few things. Was his lifestyle the envy of millionaires today? Not exactly. At one time when asked where he lived he replied, "...foxes have holes, birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has not where to lay his head...." He never amassed riches for himself and spent His life exclusively in the service of others. His death on the cross was to atone for the sins of all mankind.
Jesus taught that putting faith in Him was of supreme importance, above any kind of riches, business success, or health. He told his followers that gaining the wealth of the entire planet was worthless if they died without Him.
It would be incorrect to say that any of these people "...lived more affluent lifestyles than many present-day millionaires could conceive of...." Even the richest king of Israel, Solomon, who made approximately a billion dollars in gold each year, couldn't flip on a light switch, turn on a TV, or reach into a refrigerator and pull out a cold drink. An American of modest means today has it better than these people did for most or all of their days.
The scriptures help us put things in perspective. While having a lot of money and the attendant material things can be good, their weight becomes very small when compared to eternity. Especially if those things become a hindrance to a right relationship with God. "...lay not up for yourselves treasure upon the earth, ...but rather lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...." This is the kind of prosperity taught by Jesus. We would do well to follow His advice.
"Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and Jesus were not only prosperity teachers, but also millionaires themselves, with more affluent lifestyles than many present-day millionaires could conceive of."
Let's talk about the lives of some of these men to see if they measure up to this claim.
"I will bless you and make you great..." This was a promise made by God to Abraham. Was he actually a 'prosperity teacher'? Did he live his life by the tenents of the so called 'law of attraction'? We know nothing of Abraham's early life. He was 75 years old when God appeared to him. Most of the rest of his life was spent wandering - which means he probably lived in a tent for that time. He did live for periods in what could be called the lap of luxury- in Egypt the Pharaoh took a liking to his wife and he was treated well because of her. He was also treated well by Abimelech, a Philistine king. Both relationships ended badly. It seems Abraham had a problem with lying. He told these leaders his wife was his sister. A number of Abraham's problems were self inflicted. The behaviors he demonstrated are certainly not in keeping with sending happy thoughts to the universe. I'm not even sure if his emotional condition is ever mentioned. However, he is known by one outstanding trait. Obedience to God. He did acquire a great deal of wealth along the way. Most of that was in the form of livestock.
While Isaac seems to have inerited is father's penchant for misrepresentation, his sons took it to a new level. Jacob used deceit to steal his brother's birthright and lived most of his life in fear of his sibling, who had vowed to kill him. Years later when they met again Jacob was so afraid he split his possessions in half, thinking that if one group was attacked, the other might be able to get away. He came along last. He was not what we would call a picture of ebullient self-confidence.
Joseph, was of exemplary character and competence. As a young man his jealous brothers sold him into slavery. Later he was falsely accused of philandering with his boss' wife and thrown into prison for a number of years. Finally, some two years after interpreting the dream of one of his cell mates, he was called into the presence of Pharaoh himself. His interpretation of Pharaoh's dream was accepted and he became one of the highest ranking officials in Egypt. The rest, as they say, is history. Nothing bad is ever said of Joseph.
Joseph would be the closest of these who would have lived a luxurious lifestyle. But not before all the other bad things happened. Those events were not in his control. His life should be studied, not for how richly he lived, but because of his attitude and perseverance.
I've already written about Jesus in a previous article, but I will mention a few things. Was his lifestyle the envy of millionaires today? Not exactly. At one time when asked where he lived he replied, "...foxes have holes, birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has not where to lay his head...." He never amassed riches for himself and spent His life exclusively in the service of others. His death on the cross was to atone for the sins of all mankind.
Jesus taught that putting faith in Him was of supreme importance, above any kind of riches, business success, or health. He told his followers that gaining the wealth of the entire planet was worthless if they died without Him.
It would be incorrect to say that any of these people "...lived more affluent lifestyles than many present-day millionaires could conceive of...." Even the richest king of Israel, Solomon, who made approximately a billion dollars in gold each year, couldn't flip on a light switch, turn on a TV, or reach into a refrigerator and pull out a cold drink. An American of modest means today has it better than these people did for most or all of their days.
The scriptures help us put things in perspective. While having a lot of money and the attendant material things can be good, their weight becomes very small when compared to eternity. Especially if those things become a hindrance to a right relationship with God. "...lay not up for yourselves treasure upon the earth, ...but rather lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...." This is the kind of prosperity taught by Jesus. We would do well to follow His advice.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
An Imagined Conversation
This would have taken place on either April 23rd, or April 24th of this year.
Me: Hello, is this the President of BP?
(The responses are up to your imagination. This is the conversation from my side of the phone. )
This is the President of the United States:
I'm very sorry to hear about the explosion of your oil rig. My condolences for those who have lost their lives.
Let me ask: Have you made arrangements for those who died in this disaster and their families?
What about the injured? Are they being taken care of?
Is everyone who was present on the rig accounted for and safe?
OK. Great.
I understand the pipe is leaking right now, do you have a contingency plan in place for this?
How can the United States help you stop this leak?
I've got my top disaster guy here on the phone too. I'm going to turn this over to him. Whatever you need he'll arrange to get for you.
How hard could it be?
Me: Hello, is this the President of BP?
(The responses are up to your imagination. This is the conversation from my side of the phone. )
This is the President of the United States:
I'm very sorry to hear about the explosion of your oil rig. My condolences for those who have lost their lives.
Let me ask: Have you made arrangements for those who died in this disaster and their families?
What about the injured? Are they being taken care of?
Is everyone who was present on the rig accounted for and safe?
OK. Great.
I understand the pipe is leaking right now, do you have a contingency plan in place for this?
How can the United States help you stop this leak?
I've got my top disaster guy here on the phone too. I'm going to turn this over to him. Whatever you need he'll arrange to get for you.
How hard could it be?
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Do You Know the Secret? Part 2
This is the second part of a series based on "The Secret". What I am trying to do is show where the ideas in the book agree with scripture and where they do not. The first part is about those areas I have a problem with. This will show some areas where "The Secret" compares rather well with scriptural principles. Many of these agreements have to do with our attitudes. Let's look at a few of them.
JOY: .... What your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.... A job well done is anything but drudgery. It is joy. It is a great thing to be able to accomplish something in any area, business, sports or in personal living.
Some years back I was working at a small company designing machines. One day my boss, AJ comes in and says, "I've got some good new and some bad news." "What's the good news?" I asked. "You get to design an new machine." "And the bad news?" "I need to take it with me when I leave- next Friday!" Did I tell you this was also Friday? I had less than a week to design and build a machine. "OK." I said. The next Friday we tested that machine and loaded it into the back of his truck. It was a week of hard work. It was also a week of pure joy.
CONTENTMENT: ...Eat your bread with happiness... Godliness with contentment is great gain... These days there is a lot to worry about. However, over the years I've found out that over 90% of the things I worry about never come to pass! That means I've wasted a lot of mental energy thinking about the wrong stuff. Now if some worry comes to mind I'm a little bit relieved. Odds are against it happeneing. On a larger scale, contentment is a demonstration of faith. Not that I am somehow in control, - God is.
THANKFULNESS: ... In everything give thanks... Rejoice evermore...Come into his presence with singing. It is in this area that "The Secret" comes very close to scripture. Giving thanks is one of the great hallmarks of a person of faith. King David recognized this. Praise and thanks are scattered all over the Psalms. David recognized that being able to come into the presence of the Living God is the greatest honor that can be enjoyed in this life.
GENEROSITY: ...Freely you received - freely give...When you give to the poor do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing...Give to him who asks of you.... All these statements were made by Jesus. He was demonstrating a principle. I am freely giving of Myself to you. Now you do the same.
The above attitudes are great, but having them does not guarantee that success in any area of life (such as business or wealth) will absolutely follow as implied in "The Secret." You can have the best attitude in the whole world and your business still fail. That failure may have nothing to do with you, your efforts or your thoughts. For example, lets say you are a farmer. You plant at the best time of year and in the best possible way. This does not guarantee a successful crop. Things may happen which are not anticipated. What if there's a drought? What if some careless person starts a fire and it gets out of hand? What if some kind of pestilence comes? In any endeavor, be it farming, any other business or sports there is always some uncertainty. That's one of the things that makes life so interesting. Solomon say this in Ecclesiastes 11:6: "Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well." He acknowledges uncertainty and suggests for us to always be looking for opportunities. One may fail. In that case there are others which may not.
In light of this, what is my best attitude to have? I am a creation of God. My most important relationship is to Him. I can have eternal life through faith in His Son, Jesus. The above attitudes, Joy, Contentment, Thankfulness and Generosity flow from my relationship with God and sipll over to other people around me. If I gain any material succes in life, great! If not I can always rest in the fact the God will not leave me or forsake me. It is He who guarantees my soul. This does not mean I should not strive for excellence in all I do. To the contrary my actions are a form of worship. All is for His glory.
JOY: .... What your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.... A job well done is anything but drudgery. It is joy. It is a great thing to be able to accomplish something in any area, business, sports or in personal living.
Some years back I was working at a small company designing machines. One day my boss, AJ comes in and says, "I've got some good new and some bad news." "What's the good news?" I asked. "You get to design an new machine." "And the bad news?" "I need to take it with me when I leave- next Friday!" Did I tell you this was also Friday? I had less than a week to design and build a machine. "OK." I said. The next Friday we tested that machine and loaded it into the back of his truck. It was a week of hard work. It was also a week of pure joy.
CONTENTMENT: ...Eat your bread with happiness... Godliness with contentment is great gain... These days there is a lot to worry about. However, over the years I've found out that over 90% of the things I worry about never come to pass! That means I've wasted a lot of mental energy thinking about the wrong stuff. Now if some worry comes to mind I'm a little bit relieved. Odds are against it happeneing. On a larger scale, contentment is a demonstration of faith. Not that I am somehow in control, - God is.
THANKFULNESS: ... In everything give thanks... Rejoice evermore...Come into his presence with singing. It is in this area that "The Secret" comes very close to scripture. Giving thanks is one of the great hallmarks of a person of faith. King David recognized this. Praise and thanks are scattered all over the Psalms. David recognized that being able to come into the presence of the Living God is the greatest honor that can be enjoyed in this life.
GENEROSITY: ...Freely you received - freely give...When you give to the poor do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing...Give to him who asks of you.... All these statements were made by Jesus. He was demonstrating a principle. I am freely giving of Myself to you. Now you do the same.
The above attitudes are great, but having them does not guarantee that success in any area of life (such as business or wealth) will absolutely follow as implied in "The Secret." You can have the best attitude in the whole world and your business still fail. That failure may have nothing to do with you, your efforts or your thoughts. For example, lets say you are a farmer. You plant at the best time of year and in the best possible way. This does not guarantee a successful crop. Things may happen which are not anticipated. What if there's a drought? What if some careless person starts a fire and it gets out of hand? What if some kind of pestilence comes? In any endeavor, be it farming, any other business or sports there is always some uncertainty. That's one of the things that makes life so interesting. Solomon say this in Ecclesiastes 11:6: "Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let not your hands be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well." He acknowledges uncertainty and suggests for us to always be looking for opportunities. One may fail. In that case there are others which may not.
In light of this, what is my best attitude to have? I am a creation of God. My most important relationship is to Him. I can have eternal life through faith in His Son, Jesus. The above attitudes, Joy, Contentment, Thankfulness and Generosity flow from my relationship with God and sipll over to other people around me. If I gain any material succes in life, great! If not I can always rest in the fact the God will not leave me or forsake me. It is He who guarantees my soul. This does not mean I should not strive for excellence in all I do. To the contrary my actions are a form of worship. All is for His glory.
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