"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
Luke 2:13-14
What did the angels mean? Was this just empty rhetoric? Was it wishful thinking? Given the current state of the world, it certainly wasn't a proclamation of fact.
I've come to decide that it was an exhortation, a call to action. Peace on earth and good will between all are not just nice thoughts. They are Christ's expectations of us.
Lofty goals to say the least, but goals nonetheless.
Inasmuch as free agency means that it is only ourselves over whom we have any real authority, it falls to each of us to be 'blessed' peacemakers and to demonstrate good will.
Perhaps it by sincerely seeking this 'mighty change of heart' that we truly give "glory to God in the highest."
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Random thought
I've wondered at times what the public reaction would be if Pres. Bush or some other national leader were to call a press conference and announce that the cure for our national ills is repentance. If only we were still serious about "In God We Trust".
Sadly, I think I know what the reaction would be.
Sadly, I think I know what the reaction would be.
A matter of perspective.
The news about the economy is bad and getting worse.
My job affords me the opportunity to listen to many commentators on radio. Although they may disagree on timeline, without exception the economic and policy gurus see light at the end of the tunnel. They base this belief on 'history' as they view it: markets, tax policy, government spending, consumer confidence, etc.
As much as I hope they are right, I think there may be some pieces of the puzzle they're leaving out.
Those pieces are our cultural, moral and spiritual health as a nation.
History is full of examples of great civilizations rising and falling. The secular historians and textbooks point to political and economic reasons for those falls. A deeper look, coupled with an understanding of the nature of God, may suggest that the political and economic conditions which led to the collapses were themselves the consequences of cultural wickedness.
Given that perspective, and the condition of our own culture, I'm not as optimistic.
My job affords me the opportunity to listen to many commentators on radio. Although they may disagree on timeline, without exception the economic and policy gurus see light at the end of the tunnel. They base this belief on 'history' as they view it: markets, tax policy, government spending, consumer confidence, etc.
As much as I hope they are right, I think there may be some pieces of the puzzle they're leaving out.
Those pieces are our cultural, moral and spiritual health as a nation.
History is full of examples of great civilizations rising and falling. The secular historians and textbooks point to political and economic reasons for those falls. A deeper look, coupled with an understanding of the nature of God, may suggest that the political and economic conditions which led to the collapses were themselves the consequences of cultural wickedness.
Given that perspective, and the condition of our own culture, I'm not as optimistic.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Parable come to life
During the Savior's ministry he used a parable to illustrate the importance of forgiveness. In this parable, a man that owns a very large debt to the king that he is unable to repay. He asks for leniency and the king forgives the debt altogether.
Later this same man refuses to show mercy to a man that owes him a much smaller debt.
I thought of this story today as I heard on the news that American Express has done the necessary paperwork to qualify as a 'holding bank'. They did so for the purpose of qualifying for a piece of the $7oo,000,000,000 bail out package. They are effectively seeking forgiveness for their bad business decisions and the debt they created.
So I'm sure they will find a new sense of compassion for their customers that find themselves unable to pay their debts. Won't they?
Later this same man refuses to show mercy to a man that owes him a much smaller debt.
I thought of this story today as I heard on the news that American Express has done the necessary paperwork to qualify as a 'holding bank'. They did so for the purpose of qualifying for a piece of the $7oo,000,000,000 bail out package. They are effectively seeking forgiveness for their bad business decisions and the debt they created.
So I'm sure they will find a new sense of compassion for their customers that find themselves unable to pay their debts. Won't they?
Messianic, or Manic?
I'm disappointed in the results of the presidential election. As a conservative, limited government, free market guy, clearly I would have problems with the policies and positions of President-Elect Obama. But there's more to it than that.
I'm troubled by the blind euphoria of so many that seems to be based on nothing.
We have known this man for less time, and know less about him, than any presidential candidate in my memory. The inspirational rhetoric and lack of specificity with which he ran his campaign, coupled with the lack of scrutiny by the mainstream media, enabled him to maintain an image of infallibility to many voters. That is an image that helped him win the election, but may come back to haunt him as he attempts to live up to expectations.
I think I was finally able to wrap my mind around what he really did in the campaign while I was making deliveries the other day. I delivered to a home that had a poster size artist rendering of Obama with the word HOPE across the bottom. It finally sunk in that there are people among us that sincerely see Obama as some type of Messiah, as though he and only he can make the world right.
The good news, I suppose, is that peoples' hearts still desire a savior. Hopefully many of them will be led to Jesus Christ one day.
The bad news is self evident. Obama is not what his devotees believe him to be. I wonder if they'll ever allow themselves to recognize that.
I'm troubled by the blind euphoria of so many that seems to be based on nothing.
We have known this man for less time, and know less about him, than any presidential candidate in my memory. The inspirational rhetoric and lack of specificity with which he ran his campaign, coupled with the lack of scrutiny by the mainstream media, enabled him to maintain an image of infallibility to many voters. That is an image that helped him win the election, but may come back to haunt him as he attempts to live up to expectations.
I think I was finally able to wrap my mind around what he really did in the campaign while I was making deliveries the other day. I delivered to a home that had a poster size artist rendering of Obama with the word HOPE across the bottom. It finally sunk in that there are people among us that sincerely see Obama as some type of Messiah, as though he and only he can make the world right.
The good news, I suppose, is that peoples' hearts still desire a savior. Hopefully many of them will be led to Jesus Christ one day.
The bad news is self evident. Obama is not what his devotees believe him to be. I wonder if they'll ever allow themselves to recognize that.
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