Whose Debt Crisis?

The current debt crisis is both political and personal. We can easily fault the US for financial irresponsibility. At first glance, the riots in Greece over austerity measures seem justified as a reaction to their government’s financial failure.

But those riots seem hypocritical when it’s revealed that a third of Greeks don’t pay their taxes! If they did, perhaps the country’s troubles would be over. In other western countries, a smaller percentage may evade taxes, but large numbers of citizens claim handouts illegally.

Then, how many of us are living beyond our means. Personal debt keeps rising, and if we think we can continue living like that without consequences, we are tacitly assuming the government can also and giving permission to do so.

Until we individuals are willing to put our own finances in order, and consider paying our dues a priority over entitlement, the crisis will rumble on, even if it doesn’t explode immediately. The Bible exhorts us to pay our taxes, and get out of debt—except the debt of love.

“This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another,” Romans 13:6-8.

Amy Winehouse

The death of Amy Winehouse is a tragedy on two fronts. First, the death of any young person and the loss of the talents she displayed is always a tragedy. Several news reports mentioned that several singers, like Amy, have died at 27 years of age.

Whatever we may feel about the way Amy used her talents, they were a gift of God, and at some point could have been used for His glory. Every death is a loss to the world of the abilities and contributions he or she could have made to us all.

Second, the adulation she received from those who enjoyed her music, showed little regard for the lifestyle that eventually took her life. The search for fulfilment in the glamour of stardom seduces many and seems to be the goal of many more—a few episodes of Canadian or American Idol soon confirms it.

It’s easy to forget that we are engaged in a spiritual warfare, and the devil is having a heyday devouring whom he will. Every death before conversion is a person cut off from reconciliation with God; whether it’s another Amy or millions facing starvation in Somalia, prayer is our primary weapon.

Pray for those caught up in “the good life,” that their life may be extended until they realize the real source of life is in Christ. Especially pray for Somalia, that the unfolding tragedy there may be averted at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pray-for-Somalia/240301665988261.

Somalia

 

I’m sure you, like me, have been distressed by the recent news from Somalia, where drought is causing the worst humanitarian disaster for twenty years. Television portrays thousands of refugees streaming into Kenya and Ethiopia after days of walking without food or water to find shelter and relief.

The size of the problem overwhelms us, as potentially millions face starvation. We can send $50 or so to a trusted organization, but it seems pitiful in the face of so much suffering.

Even the idea of prayer seems pointless in the face of such great calamity. God can, but will he respond to my piteous prayer? It might accomplish $50 worth! But what if we all prayed fervently for the need? And publicly on facebook?

Any of you hackers out there able to open a “Pray for Somalia” Facebook page? I would do it, but deficient knowledge would take this.................long. Even then I might not get it right. Just a simple page where we could deposit our prayers, even update information about the tragedy.

That child could have been mine. Apart from an accident of birth, that could be me in that line-up. Ruling Islamist gangs make aid dangerous and ineffective. But a hundred or a thousand prayers publicly displayed on facebook may alert the world of the alternative to the world’s inability to “fix it.”

Let me know when the page is up. My prayer would be one of the first. Let’s be sure both God and the world hear us.

Redeeming the Time

It is difficult for Ann and I not feel the tide rising as we wade into our mid seventies. If there is any time that we feel more jealous of the days we have left, it is contemplating our mortality and how little of it we may have left. Mind you, our concern is less about our death that how we use our time before full tide.

I recall, as an architectural student, an outdoor freehand sketching class. I never enjoyed freehand drawing—never felt adequate enough for it. So I tackled it with a high level of disregard. However, the instructor advised, ”You are putting two hours of your life on this paper—two hours you will never have again.”

His words remain with me to this day, becoming evermore meaningful as I age. I’ve found increasing age brings a reversal of attitudes and goals fostered in youth. For instance, I have more confidence and less doubt about my faith—just as well when facing eternity!

But specifically, I am more concerned with using my time profitably for God’s kingdom, and less on the many frivolities retirement can bring. I feel saddened as I visit our local seniors’ centre. Good healthy people just filling in time, seeking some form of enjoyment, before they die.

So we write. The main purpose is to leave a legacy of our faith and guidance for our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren God has blessed us with. That legacy of faith may well last for many generations; much of our story will not be told before eternity.

If there is a spin off for the encouragement of others, we are grateful. Now, so little time, so much to do. But our greatest comfort is that God will not call us home until our work is done.

The Approaching Sexual Smorgasbord

A news article on ABC News this week reported Marcus Bachman, husband of republican presidential hopeful Michelle Bachman counselled a homosexual that he could change his sexual orientation.

Homosexuality is considered a normal and acceptable practice. The prevailing belief that homosexuality is a normal and fixed orientation, denies the ability to change.

In fact, the reporter continued, trying to change could be dangerous, leading to depression or even suicide when the change did not occur. This incident stigmatized Marcus Bachman as practicing unprofessional, if not illegal, counselling.

Simultaneously, a rerun of a Law and Order SVU episode had a pedophile claiming that perhaps straights are the perverts, pedophlies are normal, and “we’re not going anywhere.” As farfetched as that sounds, the scene could have substituted a homosexual fifty years ago!

Experience in residential schools and the Catholic Church suggest that pedophilia is as common as homosexuality. Why is this not considered a normal orientation also? Why are attempts at “rehabilitation” continued when they are admittedly futile and orientation is fixed?

The problem is that recognition of pedophilia as normal opens the door to its practice. After all, if homosexual or other sexual expression in children is acceptable, even encouraged, why should sexual relations with a willing minor be considered statutory rape?

I am certainly not advocating pedophilia as a practice. What worries me is the trickle down effect that the open door and confusion on sexual identities produces. Practices now abhorred may be legitimized in the future in the name of human rights.

Also in the news this week, Kody Brown, the producer of the American reality show “Sister Wives” that promotes his four wives and sixteen children, is going to court for acceptance of his polygamous relationships.

Today also marks six years of gay marriage. Apparently, according to this morning’s headlines, “Canada hasn’t crumbled from it.” The problem is not gay marriage itself, but what opening the marriage door is leading to

Perhaps the man who wants to marry his dog my not be so far out after all. The news also reports this week that two monkeys in India were secretly married a few days ago. It is illegal for monkeys to marry in India!

Last time I checked, freedom of conscience, speech and religion were still an option to the increasingly doubtful assortment we are driving towards.

Looking Back, Looking Forward

 

This last weekend, Ann and I celebrated 56 years of mostly married bliss. I first met Ann in church, and was immediately captivated by her smile. She was the most beautiful girl I had ever met and I fell in love instantly. That hasn’t changed.

We were married in our late teens in the church where we met. Now, three daughters, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren later, we look back on God’s grace and goodness to us throughout the intervening years.

Sure, there have been bumps along the way. What marriage worth its salt hasn’t? In fact, marriage difficulties, like pain, are a God given warning that something is wrong and needs fixing. They are rarely an indicator that the marriage is finished!

This common misconception results in terminating potentially good marriages too soon. Working through difficulties together results in greater appreciation for our partner and a stronger marriage. No ship’s captain learns his craft on a calm sea!

Have we wasted some of those years? Probably. But as we get older we increasingly realize that we have only so many days given us and need to use each one we have left for eternity.

So our mid-seventies are not a time to kick back and veg out. If they were, we might as well be dead, for we’d simply be waiting to die! As long as God gives us breath, we wish to use whatever time we have left to support others in the faith.

We will continue to enjoy our life together, the world, family and friends God has given us. We will continue to write, to leave a legacy for those who follow us, to remain faithful to each other, and supremely to God who gave us life and fellowship with Him for time and eternity.