I was busy at work last weekend, I am a sous chef at a resort in Northern California, and was abruptly struck by something I had observed while passing through the dining room. We have two very large flat screen tv's on opposite ends of the clubhouse. One is over the fireplace and the other is right over the bar. Since we work at a golf course one always has the golf or sports channel on and the other has local or national news. It was right on the tail end of the breakfast hour and we had a big tournament going on so we were quite full. As usual the tvs were on and I noticed quite a few people watching intently one of them. It almost looked like an old E. F. Hutton commerical where everyone in a restaurant abruptly turns around and looks when someone says, "My broker is EF Hutton and he says... But to my surprise, it was the golf tournament not the news story that was on that diverted the attention away from the many tranquil tableside conversations. It was a players golf shot not the incendiary meltdowns raging in the middle east and around the world against our country that captured their interest. For a moment it struck me as odd, then normal, then odd again and sadly odd at that. Now, I am not trying to downplay the importance of personal enjoyment and fellowship with friends over a great meal and good times on the golf course. But these people are usually at the course almost every day as they are retired and seasonal residents of the area. I mean they live golf! It's not as if this is a privileged event, on the contrary it's their lifestyle. These folks are mostly retired and worked hard for their money, raised their children and now are enjoying their golden years, but the irony of the moment seemed to be a microcosm of the world today.
We act like we don't care or simply have accepted the sad fact that other people's or society's problems are not ours and won't be either. We go on as if we have blinders on and run around conducting our lives as if we were a bunch of ostriches burying our heads in the sand. Certainly I am not judging these folks as the vast majority of them are very nice and good people. But this is a conditional problem that is seeping into our very souls and it's the greatest hinderance in my humble opinion to the restoration of our country and world in these very precarious and troubling times. You've heard it before if you've read my blog. It's the worst kind of malady and it's called apathy. Because of modern technological advances in communication and entertainment we are bombarded by images and stories of tragedy, sorrow, rage, catastrophe and wars all day every day. We have become shockingly numb and tragically naieve to their impact. Yet so many suffer and we are beginning to see the ripple effects of a fallen and rebellious world here in America. We are like the captain on the Titanic who boldly proclaimed that, " Even God can't sink the Titanic!" I and my family have been through enough personally in the last five years as most of you know to maybe have my antenna raised a bit more to the warning signs. But I am alarmed at how indifferent we have become overall to the world around us. The dark cold is seeping in and we must fight back! We have the most important election in probably our nation's modern history, severe and I mean severe problems economically, morally and ethically across the board both here and abroad, yet we seem to be as disenfranchised and disconnected as I can remember in my 52 years here on earth.
Do me a favor, in the middle of your busy and sometimes overwhelming lives, take a few moments and look around. It won't take you long to see the numbing side effects of chronic apathy. We need to get more involved, now, not tomorrow. Wake up from our false sense of security and start caring about our nation and the direction it is going. Our once great lamp is running out of oil and the flame of what we stand for is dying. Render yourselves worthy to personal and spiritual renewal. Committ time to your faith walk or beginning one if you haven't. Seek the One who has the answers to our problems and hopelessness. Become passionate again from your inside out and replace apathy with sympathy, empathy, and action. Most of us have children and grandchildren who are inheriting this mess and the dire repercussions of it's failings. Do something while you have life and breath. My wife and I have committed our lives to spreading the hope and glory of Jesus Christ. Because where man fails time and time again, He does not. Jesus is the seat of our future government and it will rest upon His shoulders. But we can do more and if we would walk in His light we could do much of His work and help others who are lost and need it too. God has plenty of time for you to enjoy your lives and He wants you to rest and laugh and fellowship. But the adversary to His kingdom is busy and satan knows his time is short. That's why you are seeing the rage of evil spread so quickly around the world. One of satan's greatest weapons is your false sense of security and indifference. If he can keep you from doing anything good or choosing Christ as your savior, it's as much a victory to him as you becoming inherenty evil. Don't let that happen to you!
Matthew 34: 37-3
As the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. 38 For in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah boarded the ark.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Friday, September 7, 2012
Real Change Is Within You.
This past week or so many Americans, myself included, have been watching with rapt attention the two major political conventions going on in Tampa and Charlotte. Every four years we go through the same process of endorsing the incumbent on one end and formally nominating their challenger on the other. The platforms are ratified, the delegates assembled, the speakers arranged and filed out with seemingly endless wisdom and solutions for our ailing country. It's flawlessly choreographed into one spectacular extravaganza that culminates with the sitting president or his challenger laying out their plans to unify, rectify, and satisfy we the people but ultimately only end up glorifying themselves. Hollywood it seems has nothing on Washington DC for pure unabashed fantasy and entertainment. I, for one am not amused anymore.
You see people I don't care what political affiliation you are or what your personal ideology is. But I do care what you think and feel and experience everyday in your lives. Because contrary to the illusions and delusions painted by many of our failed political leaders living in their ivory towers, it's we the people who stand unprotected against today's endless storms. How many of them have watched a family crying as the sheriff's sale notice is posted on the front porch of their soon to be foreclosed home. Or a father or mothers entire career is wiped out and they can't find work. Your savings and retirement accounts are decimated and you don't have anymore lifelines. Families and households are crumbling under the stress and enormous debt
of ruined lives. College aged adults have nearly one trillion dollars of student debt and can't find decent jobs. The elderly feel that nobody cares about them and the unborn don't have even have the basic precious protection for the sanctity of human life. Our once great industrialized nation has outsourced entire industries overseas which will never come back. I could go on and on but why wallow in the misery. Now what I am going to say next may shock you but just think about it for a minute. Your vote on November 6th will not make a difference at all! There I said it. I didn't say not to vote, no. We as citizens of our nation should all vote in every election so we can make a difference. What? Has Rick lost it? No, on the contrary I have never in my adult life had a more clear outlook and perspective on what I believe is needed to turn our nation around.
All the problems I mentioned up above have affected almost everyone of you or someone you know to a degree. You can relate to the pain and hopelessness on a somewhat personal level. I for one, have experienced most of them. I don't overtly blame President Obama, Congress or the Supreme Court although they certainly are accountable to a great degree for the continued degradation and lack of integrity in dealing with our crisis. I blame WE THE PEOPLE. That's right folks us. This government so Divinely inspired and created was formed for we to be the guardians of government, business, schools, churches, financial institutions, courts families and human lives. It is we that have failed. Just look around you and see what watering down and secularizing every major aspect of our society has done for us. In the absence of restraint and Moral Absolution we have become a backstabbing, wheeler dealing, take one step forward and two steps back flimflam man of a country. We have no credibility because instead of being good stewards of our bountiful blessings, we have become self serving, apathetic and wasteful. Too concerned about me and not about we. Too harsh for you? I know. I thought so myself until God said to write it anyway. You see Jesus knew that in order for us to establish His kingdom here on earth we had to be like minded. Honesty, charity, compassion, unconditional love, hope and forgiveness all describe Him perfectly. They should describe us but they don't by a long shot anymore. No matter what you may think, His life. what he stood for and ministry is indisputable even by the most skeptical of historians. Because He cared about us first His decisions were always just and fair. They served the common good and benefited all mankind. He preached that we should love our neighbors and help the poor and downtrodden but to not give pearls to swine either. We are quite simply to live our lives in faith with moral restraint. Not our own, ours is too depraved and compromised, but in His. Let Him be our guide and helper. America can see quite clearly now where this unfortunate separation from our Lord has gotten us. So, if we want to defeat the enemy and rise again as a nation we must change. Each one of us, from the inside out. The communists used to say to win a war you don't need guns you need to change the minds and hearts of your enemy. How did Godless tyrants have more wisdom then We The People? I urge you please, to reflect on where we are at and renew your faith in Christ. If you don't know Him introduce yourself. If you've rejected Him really examine the tenets of your life and how they benefit anybody but yourself overall. Politicians can't help you there is but one way out of this mess and you can begin to fix it today one very personal heart at a time!
You see people I don't care what political affiliation you are or what your personal ideology is. But I do care what you think and feel and experience everyday in your lives. Because contrary to the illusions and delusions painted by many of our failed political leaders living in their ivory towers, it's we the people who stand unprotected against today's endless storms. How many of them have watched a family crying as the sheriff's sale notice is posted on the front porch of their soon to be foreclosed home. Or a father or mothers entire career is wiped out and they can't find work. Your savings and retirement accounts are decimated and you don't have anymore lifelines. Families and households are crumbling under the stress and enormous debt
of ruined lives. College aged adults have nearly one trillion dollars of student debt and can't find decent jobs. The elderly feel that nobody cares about them and the unborn don't have even have the basic precious protection for the sanctity of human life. Our once great industrialized nation has outsourced entire industries overseas which will never come back. I could go on and on but why wallow in the misery. Now what I am going to say next may shock you but just think about it for a minute. Your vote on November 6th will not make a difference at all! There I said it. I didn't say not to vote, no. We as citizens of our nation should all vote in every election so we can make a difference. What? Has Rick lost it? No, on the contrary I have never in my adult life had a more clear outlook and perspective on what I believe is needed to turn our nation around.
All the problems I mentioned up above have affected almost everyone of you or someone you know to a degree. You can relate to the pain and hopelessness on a somewhat personal level. I for one, have experienced most of them. I don't overtly blame President Obama, Congress or the Supreme Court although they certainly are accountable to a great degree for the continued degradation and lack of integrity in dealing with our crisis. I blame WE THE PEOPLE. That's right folks us. This government so Divinely inspired and created was formed for we to be the guardians of government, business, schools, churches, financial institutions, courts families and human lives. It is we that have failed. Just look around you and see what watering down and secularizing every major aspect of our society has done for us. In the absence of restraint and Moral Absolution we have become a backstabbing, wheeler dealing, take one step forward and two steps back flimflam man of a country. We have no credibility because instead of being good stewards of our bountiful blessings, we have become self serving, apathetic and wasteful. Too concerned about me and not about we. Too harsh for you? I know. I thought so myself until God said to write it anyway. You see Jesus knew that in order for us to establish His kingdom here on earth we had to be like minded. Honesty, charity, compassion, unconditional love, hope and forgiveness all describe Him perfectly. They should describe us but they don't by a long shot anymore. No matter what you may think, His life. what he stood for and ministry is indisputable even by the most skeptical of historians. Because He cared about us first His decisions were always just and fair. They served the common good and benefited all mankind. He preached that we should love our neighbors and help the poor and downtrodden but to not give pearls to swine either. We are quite simply to live our lives in faith with moral restraint. Not our own, ours is too depraved and compromised, but in His. Let Him be our guide and helper. America can see quite clearly now where this unfortunate separation from our Lord has gotten us. So, if we want to defeat the enemy and rise again as a nation we must change. Each one of us, from the inside out. The communists used to say to win a war you don't need guns you need to change the minds and hearts of your enemy. How did Godless tyrants have more wisdom then We The People? I urge you please, to reflect on where we are at and renew your faith in Christ. If you don't know Him introduce yourself. If you've rejected Him really examine the tenets of your life and how they benefit anybody but yourself overall. Politicians can't help you there is but one way out of this mess and you can begin to fix it today one very personal heart at a time!
Psalm 119
Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! ...
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