Letter Sent to Editors of Newspapers on February 9, 2023

Editor:

President Biden’s State of the Union Address had at least one very glaring inconsistency that stood out like a sore thumb! He mentioned the issue of gun violence, loss of life, and the need to ban assault weapons. At another moment he adamantly expressed his support of the abominable practice of abortion and vowed to veto any legislation that attempts to restrict abortion, which now has resulted in over 64.5 million unborn victims of intentional violent mutilation and murder since 1973! What this man along with millions of others fails to realize is that Almighty God, Who had a special purpose for those whom He was forming in the womb (Note Jeremiah 1:3,4 and Psalm 139), will make a response to this massive shedding of innocent blood and it will not be pleasant. None of us will want to be within the borders of this republic when that happens, and it may be sooner than we would want to think! “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” As stated in Galatians 6:7,8.

Still contending (Jude 3,4) at www.crrange.com
Clayton D Harriger, Retired Elder
Western PA Annual Conference
The United Methodist Church

Fix the Economy? Try Believing and Applying Deuteronomy 28!

The president focused much on the issue of the economy in his state of the union address. And yes, there was mention of the subject of spending and the need to "cut" spending. It amounted to what some would call a "pep rally" with a bizarre political twist to it! --- wide variety of news releases on the state of the union speech

"Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God..." --- Deuteronomy 28:1,2

I've been around the block enough times through the years to know that what is being suggested in these comments stands much less of a chance of becoming a reality than a proverbial snowball has of surviving intact in that very, very hot place you have heard about and is sometimes used by name in profane conversation. It is also a place that is totally denied in terms of literal existence by some theologians, church leaders, and pastors! But I'm going to go ahead and state them anyway.

So here we go -- if our elected officials, starting with the president, and the members of the U. S. Congress really want to fix the economy in this republic, then they need to start believing and intentionally start applying what is revealed in Deuteronomy 28 of the Old Testament Scriptures.

There are statements made that have to do with a nation's economy. There is a specific requirement spelled out if a nation's economy is going to grow and the blessing of great prosperity is going to be experienced by the citizens. Actually, the requirement is rather simple -- listen to and carefully obey God!

Deuteronomy 28 is a very interesting chapter in the Bible. God declares at the beginning that if the people obey Him, then He will bless them richly in many different ways. The people will receive benefits that are difficult to fathom, ranging from an abundance of food, financial prosperity, and a balanced weather system, to a very important matter of concern -- protection and deliverance from all potential enemies -- they will live peacefully! All conditioned upon their obedience to God.

God indicates that His blessing will be upon the people to the extent that other nations will be afraid of them. An expression used to indicate the place of prominence that the nation will have is seen in God indicating that they will be the "head" and not the "tail."

And then the positives so described come to a conclusion and God proceeds to reveal what will happen if the people choose to disobey Him. He takes about three times as much space with a lot of graphic details as to what will happen if they defy Him and rebel, rejecting His commandments and standards as set forth for a sane, sensible, serene, sober, shielded, and satisfying living experience.

Calamities are described with nothing left to the imagination which God will bring on the nation that has made the deadly choice to no longer honor and obey Him. A common word used to describe conditions no matter where a person may be is the word "cursed!" God does have the authority and the power to do such things you know.

One thing among many is evident as the calamities run their course -- the economy will eventually collapse as conditions worsen through time. God puts it this way at one place in the description:

"The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower.

He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail." --- Deuteronomy 28:43,44

No culture has ever survived over extended periods of time when it has chosen to accept an ungodly way of life and existence in defiance of the Creator of this mighty universe.

There will be objections to the use of Deuteronomy 28 and the fact that it has much to do with how we as a nation fare, presently and in the future ahead. There will be those who would say that in context this is in reference to the ancient Israelite people and God's dealings with them at the time of Moses. That is true. But how about the larger context? Is a nation of people bound to seek to know and do the will of God, depending on the light of revelation they have available at any given time?

Our republic has had available from its very beginning God's revelation -- His holy Word, the Scriptures. So we are definitely, as a nation, totally without excuse. Our leaders, political and religious, are accountable and responsible in setting the example of obeying God. Citizens likewise are personally accountable. That is what Deuteronomy 28 is all about -- obeying God and experiencing the best by way of benefits, or disobeying and witnessing the sure and certain disintegration of a rebellious nation! That complete revelation confronts us with the claims and call of God's Son, Jesus Christ, Who sacrificed His life and atoned for the sins of the entire human race - woe to the people and the nation which rejects Him and His offer of total forgiveness!

At this stage, the evidence is overwhelming that we are in that area of Deuteronomy 28 that follows verse 15:

"But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you..." --- Deuteronomy 28:15

Or do you have another explanation for all the calamities that are striking this nation plus the fact that we are wallowing in such a horrendous debt that we can't even begin to comprehend the extent of it! Further, are you willing to go on record as well and say that whether the nation obeys God or doesn't obey God doesn't really matter at all? And our elected officials need not concern themselves at all about such an issue as obedience to God, in their private lives as well as corporately in the affairs of our republic?

Oh, yes - about that flag picture at the beginning -- it's a bit symbolical -- since the prevailing spirit throughout our republic is one in which the commandments and standards as revealed by God for our benefit have been thoroughly shredded, then a shredded flag sends out a message -- "Look, all you who pass by - our shredded flag tells how we as a nation feel about God's commandments!"

How lonely sits the city that was full of people! How like a widow is she, who was great among the nations! The princess among the provinces has become a slave! She weeps bitterly in the night, her tears are on her cheeks; among all her lovers she has none to comfort her. All her friends have dealt treacherously with her; they have become her enemies. --- Lamentations 1:1,2

Degenerate State of the Union!

Degenerate (Def) – a person who has deteriorated from the normal condition or standard, especially one who is subnormal mentally or morally – to pass from a good to a bad or worse state; to lose former, normal, or higher qualities. --- Webster’s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary

It’s time for the big speech of the year – President Obama’s State of the Union address to the U.S. Congress and ultimately to the whole nation – that is, to those who will listen to it.

Advance reports indicated the president would focus on the economy. But no matter what he says, one word sums up the condition of our republic – that word is “degenerate” with definitions appearing above.

Obama, his administration, the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court will not face this reality. The evidence is everywhere to be seen.

1. Innocent blood on our hands due to the intentional mutilation and murder of over 51 million innocent victims. The president gives his “thumbs up” approval to this ongoing practice. And he has many followers in the U.S. Congress which agree with the U.S. version of "holocaust!" There are members of the U.S. Supreme Court also who have declared that it is a "constitutional right" to mutilate and murder unborn children!

2. Pandemic practice of sexual immorality in its many forms of expression such as fornication, adultery, lesbianism, sodomy, bestiality, prostitution, sexual abuse of children, and many media outlets which display such activity. One of the bitter fruits of such activity is that now the CDC in Atlanta has revealed that 1 out of every 4 teenaged females has at least one STD (sexually transmitted disease) and some have more than one! The growing philosophy of "Sex is fun with anyone (or more than one anyone at the same time) anywhere and at any time!" doesn't seem to be working too well in enhanciing our culture does it?

3. Idolatry which ignores the call and claims of a holy God upon every human being. While not fashioning images out of precious metals, stone or wood as was done in ancient times, we craft ours in our perverted imaginations. Money is one of the leading contenders when it comes to the gods of modern U. S. citizens!

4. The trashing of the day of worship by well over half of our citizens is an abomination that is not being overlooked by the Creator Who set the example of working 6 days and then resting the 7th day and sanctified it to be a day of worship and rest for His people. By example the president himself has shown that this day is no more significant than any other day of the week.

5. The teaching of our young that we have evolved from a lower life form which existed in the very ancient past. This teaching is convenient because then you do not need God and having accomplished the dispatching of God, then you make your own “rules” in life – pick and choose what you want by way of a value system and reject what you don’t like – the best part is that you don’t have any “rules” imposed by a divine being usually identified as God!

The foremost Authority on human behavior, relationships, and destiny has indicated that the human race would do a repeat of conditions as they existed in the times of Noah before the world wide judgment of the flood wiped out the human race with the exception of eight persons! Jesus Christ also mentioned the conditions which prevailed in the city of Sodom when Lot lived there would also be duplicated in the final stages of human history as we presently see it being played out.

The United States seems resolved with the present leadership to pave the way and show the rest of the world what the word “degenerate” is all about – it is indeed a “degenerate state of the union!” But millions will not hear a word from Barack Hussein Obama about it since this man will not face reality when it comes to the true "state of the union!"

Pressing on in our present course as a nation will lead to sure and certain judgment, details of which are found at Driving the Final Nails!

Moreover Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, besides his sin with which he made Judah sin, in doing evil in the sight of the LORD. --- 2 Kings 21:16

The "True" State of the Union!

President Bush gave his final State of the Union adddress on Monday, January 28, 2008 before the U.S. Congress, other government officials, special guests, and anyone who chose to listen and view by means of TV.

It was pretty much the usual pattern -- the effort by the president in saying that things are going rather well with some areas needing a bit of attention for improvement, the need for bipartisan cooperation in whatever is to be done for the well being of U.S. citizens, and the country does have a hopeful and bright future.

Republicans clapped and cheered at points while Democrats did not -- what a sight -- Dick Cheney clapping while beside him at the same time Nancy Pelosi remained motionless with a look on her face as though she had half a lemon in her mouth!

Once in a while the camera focused on new bosom "buddies," Barack Obama and Ted Kennedy -- this pair looked like their menu for the last few days had been limited to dill pickles! And maybe they had shared some with Hillary Clinton, or was it vice-versa?

And as usual -- responses and the media "autopsy" after the address was completed -- E. coli is not the only thing that can cause one's digestive system to bring on a myriad of trips to the bathroom!

Let's get to it -- what is the TRUE state of the union?

The president, along with all others who hold elected or appointed office in the federal government, blindly overlooks or refuses to address the ethical, moral and spiritual crises that are causing our republic to resemble a cancer victim in the terminal stages of that deadly disease!

There are at least 8 monumental problems which are taking this country on a path to unprecedented disaster unless sure and certain corrective measures are taken very soon. These are:

• a confounded love
  
  
• a conceding church
  
  
• a contradictory government
  
  
• a contagion of idolatry
  
  
• consigned children
  
  
• a conflagration of immorality
  
  
• contaminated sabbaths
  
  
• contrived origins
  

These are described in detail at Driving the Final Nails! A link at the bottom of that area will bring you back here.

Will a true spirit of repentance, rescue and full recovery take place with the nation getting back from its capsized and sinking position and thus gain the favorable blessing of Almighty God? How do you answer that one?

Most cultures over the centuries failed and experienced total collapse. For a number there was a total disappearance from ongoing existence. For instance, where can you go in this world and find a Babylonian, a citizen in what was once known as one of the greatest and most powerful empires in human history!

The tragedy for us is at least two-fold -- too many assume we shall always be on top in this world -- the richest and most powerful country in the world -- and second, that nothing such as a downfall or major collapse/defeat would ever happen here!

But a very small minority of us look at it this way -- the potential of judgment at the hands of a holy God is increasing with the passing of time! A review of "Driving the Final Nails!" mentioned above supports the position that God does hold this country, which claims to be "under Him" fully accountable and will deal with it according to the fruit of its doings!

"But this is what I commanded them, saying, 'Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.' Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward and not forward. Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have even sent to you all My servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them. Yet they did not obey Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck. They did worse than their fathers. Therefore you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not obey you. You shall also call to them, but they will not answer you. So you shall say to them, 'This is a nation that does not obey the voice of the LORD their God nor receive correction. Truth has perished and has been cut off from their mouth.'" --- Jeremiah 7:23-28