Congressman Anthony Weiner and a Thing Called Ethics!

Congressman Anthony Weiner (NY) has admitted to sending a lewd photo of himself to a female and to having online "relationships" with other females. First, he denied the photo thing claiming it was the work of hackers -- is such a denial called lying any more -- and now admits to it. Demands that he step down are growing by the day.

The subject of ethics seems to surface and maybe even a call for an "investigation" as to whether rules of the House of Representatives in the U.S. Congress may have been violated when a member of that body is alleged to have engaged in questionable behavior.

The scandals seem to be picking up the pace as time marches on. In recent times high profile persons have been involved in behavior that at least used to be considered a "no-no" for elected officials -- Bill Clinton, Charlie Rangel, John Edwards, Bob Ney, Tom DeLay, Ted Stephens, Newt Gingrich, Arnold Schwarzenegger, to name a few! A friend of mine has accused me of being a bit prejudiced and only picking on a Democratic president while not mentioning the latter two persons because they are professed "conservatives" when it comes to my "tirades" against the moral deficiencies of our nation and its leadership.

For the record, I am a non-affiliated registered voter in Cambria County PA and as for the likes of Gingrich and Schwarzeneggar, I would not vote for them under any circumstance. And if Newt should be the Republican candidate for president in 2012, I will not vote for him -- I may do a write-in if that is the case and write in Beetle Bailey -- he would do a better job anyway! Newt, of course, is regularly featured on Fox News. But a little of Fox News goes a long, long way and at times you wonder if you are not viewing a competitive beauty pageant laced heavily with TV ads and then here and there a bit of "news" inserted!

But, alas, I digress -- on this issue of ethics as it pertains to elected officials. Why even make an issue of it now anyhow. They pretty much do what they want to do -- proof of that is seen in the lavish salaries and perk benefits they have voted and continue to vote for themselves -- just check what they get for retirement alone and the health care benefits they get -- and then some member of the Congress talks about ethics and an "investigation?"

But even worse -- what kind of ethics are we talking about when a president and the members of the U.S. Congress do absolutely nothing about paying down the national debt which is now creeping fast toward 15 trillion dollars. They quibble about reducing the deficit by a piddling amount. That scenario is like trying to plug a small leak in a dam with bubble gum at one end while at the other end the breastworks is breaking away and millions of tons of water are gushing forth to bring death and destruction to all who live in the area below the dam!

What really has happened is that there has been a rejection of the original Book on ethics which is commonly known as the Holy Bible. Some subsequent "man-made rules" on ethics have been devised, but even these are rarely heeded. Once in a blue moon there may be some stirrings and a conviction of some kind, but more often than not, we scheme and connive to "look after our own!" And this is the situation with both Republicans and Democrats.

As I just recently told a friend -- I am personally about fully convinced that the situation in Washington DC is terminal and beyond healing. Likewise it is pretty much the same in the state capitols as well, especially so in Harrisburg PA with about the most cumbersome legislature of any in the entire republic!

As with the ancient kingdom of Judah a few centuries before the birth of Jesus Christ, so it is with us -- we are fast ripening for judgment at the hands of a holy God. Compassionately He has been using events, sounding the warning, and appealing for a return to Him through repentance of all sin (individually and corporately) but the response has been the same as recorded in the 36th chapter of 2 Chronicles -- a thumbs down with a thundering "No!" With leadership such as we have (church and political) how long will it be until the ruins of our culture will be scattered from the Atlantic to the Pacific, on some islands known as Hawaii, and in a frigid area known as Alaska?

Ethics? Who has time to consider such a subject, much less try to implement it into our daily way of life?

Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, to the oppressing city! She has not obeyed His voice, she has not received correction; she has not trusted in the LORD, she has not drawn near to her God. Her princes in her midst are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves that leave not a bone till morning. Her prophets are insolent, treacherous people; her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. --- Zephaniah 3:3-4

Needed – New Dress Code for Washington D.C. Politicians Immediately!

News releases related to the U.S. Senate and its handling of “ObamaCare” legislation mentioned millions of dollars in bribery money going to the states of at least two senators in return for their vote in order to keep the legislation “alive!”

Yes, they usually wear dress suits with ties and the females also dress immaculately when they are doing whatever at the White House and on Capitol Hill. However, there is an urgent need to change the dress code. It has been a growing crisis ever since the November election of 2008.

Following the shenanigans of what has been going on for the past few months in D.C. it is time that the citizens of our republic insist on a new dress code to be worn when these people, starting with the president, are on the “job!”

In an effort to rally the required number of votes on key legislation bribery has been used. Two of the more notorious instances are millions of dollars going to two states in order to “buy” the votes of a senator from each of those states. And who knows how many other bribes have been involved during the past few months.

Then there is the intended closing of Gitmo and the transfer of the terrorist prisoners there to a prison in – a state that just happens to be Illinois – please tell my why I am not surprised! What kind of deal or combination of deals do you suppose went on there with the “political mafia” of Illinois and Chicago involved? Who will make big money out of that "arrangement?"

Once in a while we learn of the strong arm tactics, the bribery, the late night sessions, the "wheeling & dealing" and the literal “sneaky” moves made by those who are supposed to be “leaders” in government. A detailed list of these highly questionable activities is much too long for this brief space -- it is a kind of ethical and moral "cancer," didn't you know?

If a lot of this kind of stuff was done in the private sector, especially the bribery to buy votes, criminal charges would be filed, and the guilty perpetrators would be doing jail time. And the worst of it is the fact that it is our money they use in such criminal activity!

So in order to present a more accurate picture of the people who claim to “govern” in Washington D.C. let them wear clothing that reflects what they really are – one of two possible types of clothing. Either a black and white striped suit with the broad stripes running horizontally or a blaze orange one piece suit that has the bold letters D. O. C. (Department of Corrections) inscribed on the back!

That way all citizens would see these people for what they really are. Take a detailed look at their salaries and “perks” if you still need some convincing – then see where you can find the identical set up in the private sector! Yes, Virginia, it does make a difference when you have the power to vote on your own wages and extensive perk benefits, plus very little service time required in order to get a fat pension on top of it all!

I rest my case for having a mandated dress code for all elected officials in Washington D. C. as defined above.

Your princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; Everyone loves bribes, and follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, nor does the cause of the widow come before them. --- Isaiah 1:23

The princes of Judah are like those who remove a landmark; I will pour out my wrath on them like water. --- Hosea 5:10

Her princes in her midst are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves that leave not a bone till morning. Her prophets are insolent, treacherous people; her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. --- Zephaniah 3:3, 4

As God Withdraws, What Will We Do Now?

With their flocks and herds they shall go to seek the LORD, but they will not find Him; He has withdrawn Himself from them. They have dealt treacherously with the LORD, for they have begotten pagan children. Now a New Moon shall devour them and their heritage. --- Hosea 5:6, 7

It happened to a nation a long time ago. They had become very powerful and they had prospered immensely. In the earlier years the people of that nation had appreciated God, consistently worshipped Him, took His commandments very seriously and sought to obey Him fully. The leaders (political and religious) and the citizens shared in the conviction that God and His intended purpose for them were to be given top priority on a daily basis.

But then something happened. As time passed God began to be treated as though He were a meddlesome nuisance. His commands were ignored, spiritual adultery was adopted as a desirable way of life and the nation sank so low that the sacrificing of their small children alive to heathen deities became a common practice!

At a certain point God said He would withdraw from them. Now then – guess Whom they came running to and calling on when calamities really set in? But there was no response – God had withdrawn from a nation of people who made the hypocritical claim that God was their God!

Since we are duplicating the same pattern as did those people many centuries ago and since there is overwhelming evidence that God is withdrawing from the United States, what will be the response of Obama, the U. S. Congress, the “religious” leaders, and the citizens to that withdrawal?

Will there be a spirit of genuine repentance as expressed by Daniel in his prayer (see Daniel 9)?

Or will there be bitterness and accusations that God has no right to do things that disrupt us in our idolatrous and immoral ways of life?

Or will the president and the Congress actually make a concentrated effort to ram through legislation in the vain attempt to offset all the negatives that take place because God has withdrawn from this republic?

Will church leaders attempt to stage some extra church activities – maybe even suggest that perhaps some extra praying should be done, as God in the process of withdrawing does something else – the “famishing” of the numerous idols that have been set up in a republic known as the United States of America?

What say YOU?

"It shall be in that day," says the LORD of hosts, "that I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, and they shall no longer be remembered. I will also cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to depart from the land.” --- Zechariah 13:2

The LORD will frighten them, because he will destroy all the gods of the earth. Then everyone in faraway places will worship him wherever they are. --- Zephaniah 2:11 (New Century Version).

Almost Like Judgment Day of a Kind, Isn't It?

Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, to the oppressing city! She has not obeyed His voice, she has not received correction; she has not trusted in the LORD, she has not drawn near to her God. Her princes in her midst are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves that leave not a bone till morning. Her prophets are insolent, treacherous people; her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. --- Zephaniah 3:1-4

Today is the day that politians look foward to more than kids on the day before Christmas. It's the day we citizens experience the horrors of a financial Dracula out of control as we endeavor to satisfy the ever growing demands of the Internal Revenue Service (the United States' version of the Gestapo) -- now don't get upset - there are enough tales of terror documented about IRS operations to verify that preceding remark!

If you want to read how elected officials operating out of Washington DC play fast and loose with our tax money, go to Citizens Against Government Waste -- these people at CAGW have done a fantastic job. You can enter the name of your congress rep or your senator and find out the ugly truth about the earmarks for some real crazy stuff. But then why should they care? It's our money they are wasting plus the added aggravation that we pay them lavish salaries and perks to do it!

Today is also the day of "Tea Parties" all over the United States. It started with an idea of sending tea bags to the people in Congress -- tea representing "Taxed Enough Already!" The idea evolved and now the tea party protest is taking place all over the U.S. Fox News people have played a great part in promoting this and of course, it has captured other media attention as well. Will it accomplish anything of significance with an out of control spender in the White House who talks the kind of talk that "spend like there's no tomorrow" members of Congress will follow like meek little lambs to the slaughter? Not likely!

It's time to return to the original Boston Tea Party days -- you remember, do you not, that the revolutionaries threw the tea off the ships into the harbor. I vote to repeat that with one difference -- instead, throw the White House administration people, the members of the U. S. Congress, and the members of the U. S. Supreme Court overboard and then start with a total fresh slate -- maybe then there might be a glimmer of hope!

I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" --- Revelation 6:12-17

Piracy in State Capitols and the Biggie in Washington DC? What Else Can You Call It?

How about a change in the flags that fly over state capitols and the one over that big building in Washington DC which houses a group of persons known as the United States Congress?

You can easily recognize the one at the very top and it has always been identified with certain unscrupulous persons who go about taking money and valuables from other persons, usually at the point of a pistol or sword!

Yes, I know -- it is bordering on the insane to even suggest such a change! But stop and reason for a bit -- all I am suggesting that we try to have the flag truly reflect what has happened inside the buildings over which it flies.

While there are quite a few things that could build a case for the flag change, let's just cite one notorious instance.

It used to be a long time ago that a couple would marry and have children. They continued to work and accumulate some earthly possessions and get a bank account established -- miracle of miracles, maybe that bank account would build up and amount to a considerable amount of wealth! The time would come that the couple would arrange for drawing up a will that divided all the wealth and property among the children or perhaps they would include their church or a charitable organization in their will.

The day came when the couple exited this earthly life and their estate was divided and dispersed to the parties so designated in their will -- every single cent was passed on to the chosen persons, church or organization as so chosen.

But something happened eventually over time -- politicians, as corruption set in, got the idea that a couple having accumulated an amount of wealth should share a good portion of that with government, at the state level and the federal level. Presto, something called "inheritance tax" was born!

Basically these "pirates" in business suits and claiming to represent the best interests of their "constituents" have pointed the sword at the throats of the citizens and demanded to have a generous share of whatever a couple has accumulated before it is passed on to the selected parties in the will of the couple!

Now in all honesty -- is that right and just? Call it whatever you want, but piracy is a most accurate label to apply to this horrendous practice! We have reached a point where some mention is made of it and once in a while some rumblings may briefly occur in the capitols, but nothing is ever constructively done to correct this mass injustice.

And you'll notice that presidential candidates while professing that they will bring about desired "change" if elected, don't seem to mention this one in addition to the many other critical issues which are causing the nation to capsize!

I admit to being greatly influenced by the prophets of the Old Testament -- if we could resurrect them, the only thing changed in what they said would be names of people and locations -- such as Washington DC instead of Jerusalem!

For those who think this policy is quite acceptable -- that is, government at some level taking a generous portion of the estate of persons who have worked all their lives and want certain parties to receive ALL of that estate after those persons have passed on to the next life -- if this is considered an OK thing, then how about having a good heart to heart talk with God about it? Below you will see His feelings about such activity -- it happened centuries ago -- seems piracy is too often an ongoing thing when it comes to governing officials!

Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain...... Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, to the oppressing city! She has not obeyed His voice, she has not received correction; she has not trusted in the LORD, she has not drawn near to her God. Her princes in her midst are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves that leave not a bone till morning. Her prophets are insolent, treacherous people; her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. --- Ezekiel 22:27; Zephaniah 3:1-4

Why Hammer McCain? They're All Being Held Hostage!

"...Mr. McCain helped found a nonprofit group to promote his personal battle for tighter campaign finance rules. But he later resigned as its chairman after news reports disclosed that the group was tapping the same kinds of unlimited corporate contributions he opposed, including those from companies seeking his favor. He has criticized the cozy ties between lawmakers and lobbyists, but is relying on corporate lobbyists to donate their time running his presidential race and recently hired a lobbyist to run his Senate office..." --- as published at the New York Times web site on Feb. 21, 2008

At times the media are as happy and contented as fat sows playing in the mud on a hot summer day! One of those times is now -- this juicy bit about John McCain and an alleged relationship with a rather attractive lobbyist.

In an election year the media people will do about anything and pay just about any price to dig up some kind of "dirt" on an aspiring candidate for political office -- and especially if that office is the presidency of the United States! Didn't you know? A "scoop" of that kind sells more papers, gets higher ratings for the network, and brings in more advertising revenue -- this means more money in the pockets of the people involved who have done the "scoop" thing!

But back to the McCain "scandal" and his alleged connection to a lobbyist -- why single him out -- the whole bunch is being held hostage and has been for a long, long time. Ever since someone in the past got an idea to pay money to people to put great pressure on political office holders to pass legislation that will favor certain groups or corporations.

Part of the strategy here is that by contributing generously to one's election in ways that are "above board" or "under the table" then the office holder is now under obligation to grant certain "favors" and "special consideration" to supporters. Again, as always -- greed being the unscrupulous commodity in our culture that it is, money is the dominant player in the game!

It means that the average citizen is no longer of primary concern -- it is now the groups -- the "special interest" crowd whether an organized group of old gray headed men and women, a powerful union group, a school teachers group with high handed political clout that is national in scope, an oil company, a mining outfit, or a bunch of little kids that wants to put a bed of daisies in the middle of a town somewhere!

What makes this thing even more vicious is the fact that a number of retired politicians and/or members of their families get into this lobbying game -- it's a big money thing and the pay off cannot be measured in terms of the benefits for the highly favored ones for whom the political "hostage" has gone to bat!

ALL lobbying at federal and state levels in particular should be outlawed -- totally -- no exceptions and contributions to the election of a candidate for political office should be limited to at least $50 per person per candidate! Corporate and special group contributions would be illegal -- violations would result in mandatory prison terms for persons involved!

The only acceptable lobbying (and legal) would be individual -- that you and I as private citizens could personally one-on-one appeal to our senators or representatives about issues over which we are concerned and that would be it!

Will it ever change? Not really. Things will continue as they are when it comes to the corrupting influence of lobbying -- private citizens will be thrown a few tid-bit morsels from time to time -- but the "special interest groups" and their paid professional lobbyists will get the lions' share of benefits out of the government "trough" as they continue to hold elected officials "hostage."

Come to think of it -- perhaps the above reference to the wallowing hogs in the slime is also an accurate picture of that lobbyist crowd and their "hostages!"

But hang on folks -- there's good news concerning the future -- it's not always going to be like that -- for a real picker-upper today, just go to Good News! A Day Coming in Which All Politicians Will Be Removed from Office! A link at the bottom of that area will bring you back to this place.

Of course, you realize, do you not, that this also means the absolute end of lobbying and all lobbyists will also be out of a job? Let's hope and pray that the day will come very soon!

Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, to the oppressing city! She has not obeyed His voice, she has not received correction; she has not trusted in the LORD, she has not drawn near to her God. Her princes in her midst are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves that leave not a bone till morning. Her prophets are insolent, treacherous people; her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. --- Zephaniah 3:1-4

You Think You've Had Nightmares Before? Here's a Possible "Granddaddy" for 2008!

Now a word was secretly brought to me, and my ear received a whisper of it. In disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake. Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair on my body stood up. --- Job 4:12-15

After her embarrassment in the Iowa caucus, Mrs. Clinton got a measure of revenge over B. Obama in New Hampshire. These two Democratic front runners are in a real slugfest to say the least. It will be brass knuckles all the way through successive primaries in the coming weeks and months.

How about this for a winning "combo" come election time in November 2008? Mrs. C. and B. O. hooking up in an effort to win the White House for 4 years starting in January 2009?

Each of these is appealing to and receiving support from certain segments of the population -- add them together and you have a number that no other candidate, Democrat or Republican, can match!

Never happen, you say? That could be and I am certainly no prophet nor the son of a prophet on such matters. But I do remember back when John Kennedy was running for president -- he and Lyndon Johnson despised each other, but it was recognized that Kennedy had to take Texas if he was going to have a chance at winning the presidency -- and so, politics being the smelly and hypocritical business that it usually is, L.B.J. was put on the ticket as Vice President and Kennedy won Texas and the office of President of the U.S.A!

Now in the Mrs. C. and B. O. deal -- with each possessing an ego that makes Mt. Everest seem like a miniature mole hill by way of comparison, there could be more than a bit of tension as to who has what slot -- but B. O. is a very young man in the political realm -- he could serve 2 terms as a V. P. and still be young when it comes to making a run for the presidency.

Many have been amazed at the meteoric rise of B. O. in such a short time in the game of politics, but remember this -- a meteor makes a very bright and spectacular flash in the sky for a short time and then it's done -- there's nothing left afterward but dust and ashes! Politicians in recent decades have resembled this process again and again with lots of dust and ashes left in their wake!

If the Mrs. C. and B. O. combo should actually happen, look out -- a nightmare of indescribable horror will begin in January of 2009!

But then if either one of the above captures the presidency with someone else as her or his V.P. it will still be one that will qualify for an entry in the Guinness Book of Records as the most horrifying happening ever to hit a republic known as the U.S. of A!

Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, to the oppressing city! She has not obeyed His voice, she has not received correction; she has not trusted in the LORD, she has not drawn near to her God. Her princes in her midst are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves that leave not a bone till morning. Her prophets are insolent, treacherous people; her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law. --- Zephaniah 3:1-4

Are the U. S. "gods" Finally Coming Under Fire?

"For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD." --- Exodus 12:12

The new year of 2008 isn't starting off with a host of pleasant and nice things for the United States. Lots of calamities of one kind or another are erupting!

After going through a rash of destructive wild fires, California is now being hammered again with a massive storm which has resulted in mass power outages, a big bunch of snow in high elevations, and threatened mud slides in those areas burned off by the fires earlier.

There are other weather related problems which have or are taking place in other parts of the country and causing more than just a tad of havoc!

And then there is the bad news of higher unemployment and the loss taking place in the stock market -- the U. S. dollar is taking a hammering in more ways than one throughout the world!

International relations are not the best as we continue to struggle with the Iraq and the Afghanistan debacles. The assassination of the former Prime Minister of Pakistan has not helped the U. S. as it continues to "wage war" against terrorism as President Bush attempts to define it!

The United States used to be a nation highly respected throughout the world decades ago, but such is no longer the case. We are a country more often than not mocked, ridiculed, and intensely despised by many people in other nations. And when some high ranking official from the U. S. government goes on a "mission" to some other country for the purpose of improving relations or resolving some conflict his or her efforts often prove to be fruitless due to not having any significant measure of respect -- for instance, just how effective has Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice, been in solving the problems anywhere she has gone during her foreign junkets? It's been talk, talk, talk with a news report of some kind saying that the discussions have been "productive." But in actuality, there has been no significant "production!"

A possible explanation for all this? Could it be that the false "deities" which we have fashioned for ourselves, especially during the last half of the 20th Century, are coming under fire by Almighty God? He has judged nations in the past and in the process has singled out their various idols as a target of His wrath! Ancient Egypt is a classic example, but not the only one!

Part of the tragedy in such an experience is that usually the leadership, political and religious, as well as the citizens refuse to face the reality of this. The response they often make is in the form of a question -- "Why is God doing these things to us?" Note the pattern which was set many centuries ago -- the only difference is that we have more technology with which to do more evil at a faster pace than did those people of ancient time!

"And it shall be, when you show this people all these words, and they say to you, 'Why has the LORD pronounced all this great disaster against us? Or what is our iniquity? Or what is our sin that we have committed against the LORD our God?' then you shall say to them, 'Because your fathers have forsaken Me,' says the LORD; 'they have walked after other gods and have served them and worshiped them, and have forsaken Me and not kept My law. And you have done worse than your fathers, for behold, each one walks according to the imagination of his own evil heart, so that no one listens to Me.'" --- Jeremiah 16:10-12

Think about this as we move through 2008 and each time some kind of calamity takes place in some form or other in our republic, ask this -- "Is God using this to try to wake us up and bring us to repentance, as individuals and as a nation?"

By the way, some of the more prominent U. S. "deities" are mentioned along the way in Driving The Final Nails! A link at the bottom of that area will bring you back to this place. A warning in advance -- the experience could upset you quite a bit!

The LORD will be awesome to them, for He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth; people shall worship Him, each one from his place, indeed all the shores of the nations. --- Zephaniah 2:11

Is Your God the One Who Will Do It, OR Will Your god Be a Victim of It?

The LORD will be awesome to them, for He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth; people shall worship Him, each one from his place, indeed all the shores of the nations. --- Zephaniah 2:11

Thus you shall say to them: "The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under these heavens. He has made the earth by His power, He has established the world by His wisdom, And has stretched out the heavens at His discretion. When He utters His voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens: and He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, He brings the wind out of His treasuries." --- Jeremiah 10:11-13

"As the thief is ashamed when he is found out, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they and their kings and their princes, and their priests and their prophets, saying to a tree, 'You are my father,' and to a stone, 'You gave birth to me.' For they have turned their back to Me, and not their face. But in the time of their trouble they will say, 'Arise and save us.' But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble; for according to the number of your cities are your gods, O Judah. Why will you plead with Me? You all have transgressed against Me," says the LORD. --- Jeremiah 2:26-29

He has done it at times throughout human history and one of these days the republic of the United States will undergo a similar experience.

Cultures have only one extremely critical issue to settle and time is limited as to whether that issue is settled correctly for the citizens’ well being and ongoing survival or incorrectly with the result that disintegration and ultimate disaster takes place! That issue is simply choosing who will be the deity (or deities) that all the citizens will honor, reverence, love, and obey daily.

Will the choice be to worship and obey the living eternal God Who loved us humans so much that He gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, to be the atoning sacrifice for every sin committed by every human since Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden for their disobedience to this God?

OR will the choice be to reject this true God and concoct a myriad of false deities as has been demonstrated by cultures down through the millennia of human history and continues at a vigorous pace in today’s world?

God has also demonstrated something most graphically. He targets His judgments not just at defiant human beings but also at the false deities they have created for themselves. What could be more explicit than this:

'For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. --– Exodus 12:12

Egypt was in a bad state of affairs after this incident. The Egyptians also discovered too late that they had made some very bad choices when it came to selection of deities around which they would rally! Can’t you just picture those Egyptians desperately calling on their sun god during those 3 days in which it was so dark you could almost slice it with a knife?

Now, are you ready for this? For decades a large number of U. S. citizens have established their own peculiar brand of false deities – no, not the kind that are crafted of wood, stone, or metal but nevertheless they are still very real in the lives of millions of all ages. The living God Who put this great universe together by simple spoken commands is ignored, insulted, and blasphemed on a 24/7 basis! The day set aside in which He is to be worshipped and honored has been trashed in countless ways – Sunday should be renamed Funday in order to more accurately reflect how low we as a society have sunk in the decades following WW II!

So how will it be in your case? Is the God Who will eventually bring all the deities now prominent on U. S. soil down and crush them into dust your God Whom you seek to honor and serve with all your heart?

OR will your god (or gods – you could have accumulated quite a number of them as did the ancient Egyptians) be the helpless and defenseless victim/s of indescribable judgment of the living God and Creator of this mighty universe?

Those who have made bad choices in determining their deities will be in a very precarious position to say the least. Don’t be one of them. Make sure you are “squared away” in your relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ. And that you are living each day with the blessed assurance that He indeed is Savior and Lord in your life and the One Whom you are expecting to return to rule this world forever.

Further information on this eternal issue is found at How to Become a Christian! A link at the bottom of the area will bring you back to this location.

Further information with graphic details on the many deities to which citizens of the United States are giving enthusiastic devotion is found at Popular Deities of American Culture! A link at the bottom of the area will bring you back to this location.

"And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified.” --- Daniel 5:23

"You shall have no other gods before Me. --– Exodus 20:3

Wow! The Dow Blasts Through 13,000 -- But That Doesn't Mean a Chicken in Every Pot!

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! --- 2 Timothy 3:1-5

Wall Street ready to throw a party in the streets -- money rolling like a mighty river -- "experts" on investing so excited that they might even dampen their britches and start looking for some Pampers to assist them in their "emergency" circumstances!

Yes, for a time there are some who are making money like crazy -- as one convicted "insider" said years ago, "A little greed is a good thing!" For a time he served in a "country club" prison environment (designed just for "white color" people) and then was released to spend all his millions made with a bit of "manipulating" in the world of finance.

But the masses within our republic will reap no benefits from this supposed "boom" as the DOW ascends to new heights. It can be proven by data available that the gap between the rich and poor is an ever widening chasm.

Greed is the motivating factor more and more with obscene profit figures being released by a growing number of corporations such as those dealing with petroleum, pharmaceuticals, etc. And there is that Haliburton outfit (with which Dick Cheney had direct connections years ago) which is making money by the truck loads under the guise of "reconstructing" Iraq, and which has made a move to shift headquarters into an Arab country! Anyone out there noticed lately about an "accountability" problem with millions and millions of dollars in the so-called "reconstruction" of Iraq?

A number of companies have dismantled operations here in the U. S. and have set up shop somewhere overseas or across the border in Mexico where workers will be paid a piddling amount under unhealthy work conditions to put together a product which will be sent here for sale! Have you made it a practice to look at where your purchased consumer items have been made? Write down the names and see how soon you have a quite a listing of countries which occupy representative seats at a place called the United Nations!

But who cares? So long as the select "few" make tons of money in the process everyone will be happy, right? And every once in a while we hear a word from that dark, dismal and depressing place known as Washington DC about how great the economy is doing!

OK -- enough of the attempt to bring us down to reality! This republic which finds itself in a most tragic state of spiritual, moral and ethical bankruptcy will discover likely too late that what seems to be a financial "boom" really is not, and is to be likened to an overinflated balloon about to pop! And guess who has the pin in His hand ready to prick it?

Among the many "idols" which have been set up over the years in this nation, the one which occupies the #1 position is most likely money. God has indicated that He will judge a nation and in the process He will bring its gods to nothing! He did it in ancient Egypt and in ancient Babylon as well as in dealing with many other peoples as history has run its course -- here is God's declaration about the matter:

The LORD will be awesome to them, for He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth; people shall worship Him, each one from his place, indeed all the shores of the nations. --- Zephaniah 2:11

In fact it is predicted that the time will come as human history reaches its final stages that fear will drive even prominent, powerful and very wealthy people into the recesses and cavities of the earth's surface! You don't think it will happen, do you? If you disagree, you'll have to have a heart to heart talk with the One Who said this:

The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day, but the idols He shall utterly abolish. They shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, from the terror of the LORD and the glory of His majesty, when He arises to shake the earth mightily. In that day a man will cast away his idols of silver and his idols of gold, which they made, each for himself to worship, to the moles and bats, to go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the crags of the rugged rocks, from the terror of the LORD and the glory of His majesty, when He arises to shake the earth mightily. --- Isaiah 2:17-21

It's really not a question of whether that Wall Street "balloon" will pop, but rather WHEN it is going to happen!

Stayed tuned for the next edition of further discussion on this interesting subject of money and how to be wise in handling whatever amount God sees fit to entrust to your care -- that way you won't get burned as will happen to the majority in the future!

"After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.' His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'" --- Matthew 25:19-21