World News Through the Third Lens: America's Problems Are Moral, Not Financial

A posting from the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform (CBR)stated today that America's problems are moral, not financial. They then went on to cite the Tea Party Movement (TPM) as being a reflection of America's discontentment with the the direction this country is going, while stating that the TPM doesn't go far enough. They stated that with few exceptions, the TPM fails to address the greatest human-rights tragedy of our day - the abortion of pre-born children. I agree completely with this statement.

CBR went on to say that this September they are going to be displaying large photos of aborted pre-born babies on truck mounted billboards in key gubernatorial and Senate states, such as Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, Florida, and Ohio. Fr. Frank Pavone, Director of Priests for Life and a CBR board member is wholeheartedly behind this effort. I applaud this effort as well as the efforts of such dedicated organizations as Operation Save America. Please God, may the shedding of innocent blood end in this country, now!

Through the third lens of Scripture: The Bible is so clear and simple on this issue that it sounds almost trite to restate it; yet I declare this to be the absolute truth as revealed by the Holy Word of God - life is sacred from conception until natural death. In fact the idea of death of any sort is so contrary to the will and nature of God that in His great love for the world, He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life.

Regarding life in the womb, God has this to say: Speaking to Jeremiah as He called him to be a prophet of Israel, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." (Jeremiah 1:5) King David was given this divine insight which he penned as follows: "For you [God] created my inmost being; you knot me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well....your eyes saw my unformed body..." (Psalm 139:13-14,16)

God, the author and creator of all life has made it clear; it's not a lump of tissue; it's not a problem; it's not a woman's right to privacy' it's not a reproductive health care issue; IT'S A BABY! And this is a very important issue. God states clearly that He detests those who shed innocent blood (Proverbs 6:16-17) and He will exact vengeance because of the shedding of innocent blood (Jeremiah 22:17-19). While abortion may top the list of egregious national sins, it is still a symptom of the wholesale abandonment of righteousness that has occurred in the USA in the past 50+ years. "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people." (Proverbs 14:34). God bless the people who don't shy away from controversial issues but who seek to promote righteousness on a community and even national level. It has become a huge task and is much more than one issue. Consequently (and this is not a criticism of them), but CBR hasn't gone far enough. The church, the body of Christ, hasn't gone far enough. The standard of truth, which is Jesus Christ and His Gospel has been entrusted to the church but what have we done with it? The answer to that is, "Apparently, not enough!" and is a subject for another day.

In closing, I can only encourage those who claim to be followers of Christ to take up your cross daily, and in denying yourself, make a difference in your world. Bring the truth of the Gospel to bear on an issue that burns in your breast. Our country's problems are many, and like Israel in Jeremiah's day - we may have crossed the line and can only expect judgment. That's not my call - my call is to speak and live the truth as well as I can, by the grace of God....and so is yours.

World News Through the Third Lens: The Love of Money

Trustee: Man owes trust funds $2.2 million read the banner over a one column story on the front page of today's local paper. This blog is not being written to exploit or defame anyone. Decades ago my mother taught me, when looking at someone elses plight, rather than be judgmental, say, "There but for the grace of God go I." I will try to write in that spirit without watering down the truth. I will say that this incident strikes closer to home than most things I read from various news sources because I know many of the parties involved. Needless to say, the whole thing came as a shock.

There is no need to reiterate the number of transgressions that were reported in the article, nor to speculate beyond that which was reported. Rather I would like to use this as a launching pad into a brief look at God's Word. Some people have gone through the Gospels and have concluded that Jesus spoke more about money than He did about any other subject. I can't prove or disprove that, but I can assure you that God does have a lot to say about money.

Through the third lens of Scripture: The very first money Scripture that comes to mind is one that is often misquoted. "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil..." (1 Timothy 6:10a). Often times the word "love" is left out, incorrectly stating that money itself is a root of all kinds of evil. Money is neutral - it's man's affection for it that leads either to good or evil. The verse goes on to say: "Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." (1 Timothy 6:10b). So a poor man can be eager for money and live to rue the day he departed from ethics, morals, or even common sense in an attempt to get it. A rich man may succumb to a pattern described by the richest man ever, King Solomon, in these words: "Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless." (Ecclesiastes 5:10).

I live in the southeastern part of Connecticut, where in the last 15 years, two of the largest casinos in the world have arisen out of the ashes of an industrial-military economy now only a shadow of its former self. During this period of time there have been many accounts of fiduciary accounts in the hands of lawyers and accountants being mishandled; trustees of the public treasuries caught embezzling funds, and non-profits being ripped off by their treasurers - often to feed or cover up a heavy involvement in gambling. I don't know whether today's reported incident has a gambling connection or not, but some of the money being held in trust for certain beneficiaries was loaned (without collateral) to a former chairman of the tribe which owns one of the afore mentioned casinos. Here's just one of many biblical warnings to those who seek to get rich quick (the desire which fuels the gambling industry): "A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished." (Proverbs 28:20).

To bring this little blog to a conclusion, a trust account was created because one man worked hard and shrewdly, yet he went the way of all flesh and left his wealth to another. "For all can see that wise men die; the foolish and the senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others." (Psalm 49:10). A successful accountant was charged with managing the trust for the benefit of its beneficiaries. It appears that, although he was successful and wealthy in his own right, that the desire for more clouded his judgment and his ethics were tossed to the wind. "People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction." (1 Timothy 6:9).

I've learned some of my lessons the hard way, and I've learned some of them by sticking to God's Word. I've come to prefer the latter; so I pass this on to you, the reader, with hope that by following the Lord's instructions, you will be blessed. "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life." (1 Timothy 6:17-19). And to those who have blown it, there is a word of encouragement: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9).