Monday, February 8, 2010

Are You Listening? - How About Those Saints!

Sarah Palin was the main speaker at TEA Party convention in Nashville over the weekend. No matter what you think of Sarah Palin or the TEA Party movement (personally I am mixed over both), here are the messages you don't want to overlook.

Many are familiar with the saying: Neither a borrower nor a lender be, and some attribute it to the Bible, but it is a quote from Shakespeare. The Bible is clearer on the issue. "...the borrower is a slave to the lender" (Proverbs 22:7).

If the Bible is true, we have become slaves to China and other foreign investors. If you don't believe that, just look at the manufacturing labels next time you are in Wal*Mart. Unbridled consumerism in the US has forced manufacturers to secure the cheapest labor they can find. The past prosperity and easy credit only fueled the competition. Had we had tariffs in place to level the economic playing field, the bubble of economic happiness would have been much smaller.

Our country is trillions of dollars in debt and the message to states and the Feds is: STOP spending what we don't have!

Even after the State of the Union speech, that message doesn't appear to be something that resonates with Washington. In November, Americans will vote to extend terms or replace many in the US Congress. The economy and out-of-control spending will most likely have a referendum. As a Christian, I hope to vote for those that will cut the deficit, just like my wife and I have to in our personal finances.

Part two of the message was National Security. After hearing this: "An attempted attack, the priority is certain, I would say." Director of National Intelligence Dennis C. Blair. (MORE) Apparently more needs to be done to secure America. Beyond the politics, the spin and rhetoric, doesn't it seem reasonable that we get our act together in terms of the State Department, CIA, FBI and NHS? As a Christian-American and human being, I prefer security over insecurity and war.

The current administration (that is the one that can do something - and the blame Bush credits are all used up MORE) needs to rethink their noble peace initiative. It appears to me, that Washington does not believe that we have a problem with domestic terrorism. I am sure that would have changed if the Underwear Bomber had succeeded in doing more than burning his crotch. (I am so tempted to make an off color comment.)

Part three of the message was accountability, responsibility, and policy over politics. As Christians, and now, finally, it seems as Americans, we need to vote for people that will do what they say regardless of their party affiliations. We should be praying, and looking for godly wisdom, not having "Christian sounding opinions."

And finally, Palin said "If there is hope for Massachusetts (voting for Republican/Independent Scott Brown) then there is hope for the Nation.

In November we have a chance to put things back on track. Regardless of the promises of man, we have the promises of Heaven. As Christians we can work for biblical principals without choosing parties, titles, labels, and wings. We can be strategic about who we support, and we can say NO when needed. Our views, and our votes, are not to benefit us personally, but to promote the Kingdom of God.

Won't it be a great day in the US when an election turns the course of this nation to a more biblically influenced society, and we can say, "how about those Saints?"
Even if you don't comment, please vote below.

8 comments:

Tracy said...

I totally agree with what you are saying here.

I remember sitting with my husband and listening to our president's state of the union address & getting excited when he started talking about cutting spending, only to be disappointed when he said it would start in 2011 (I couldn't help but think that he sounded like an overweight person does when they are eating their second slice of chocolate cake and talking about starting a diet at the beginning of next week). I became even more disappointed when he repeatedly blamed things on the Bush administration; when he first got into office, although I found it disrespectful, it was at least plausible, but now I wish he and congress would step out and lead. Cut spending and work toward minimizing the debt. Stop pretending national security isn't an issue and use military courts to deal with suspected terrorists.

About the party thing, of course I agree that we should vote the best person, but there really are basic ideological differences. Who I perceive to be the best candidate is affected by those ideologies. Which means that most of the time I end up voting the same party because I actually look at the world in a certain way. I really believe in small government, independent business, and that capitalism will be effective if the government backs out. I do not have a thing against rich people and think that the rest of us benefit from the jobs they bring (so I don't want them taxed out of business). I don't believe it's the government's job to take care of me. These are not Christian issues, they are just a take on the world that affects who I perceive to be best, and who I vote for.

David said...

Thanks for the comment, Tracy.

As a Christian, I used to either not vote, or vote for a Christian candidate - then Bill Clinton took office and within days reversed some pro-choice legislation. Since that time, I am a strategic voter. I try to best see what will promote the Kingdom of God.

Like you, I can end up voting one way - but with the last special election here in MA, I voted to the candidate that would break the insanity of a filibuster proof Senate. That was Scott Brown. He is a moderate on social issues, where Christians are generally conservatives.

In any case, look what’s happened! I hope we don't put all our eggs in one party ever again. The debate and checks and balances are healthy.

photogr said...

The woes we are suffering from today in politics just didn't happen over night but has been going on for decades. It just seems the last year we are digging our selves into a deeper hole budget wise thinking spending more taxpayers money ( that is not there yet) is going to get us out of that hole.

Then top it off with a socialist thinking agenda in Washington now is going to be of any help is like still beliving in the Tooth Fairy.

The current two party system we now have has grown so corrupt and fat to the point is is a self serving monster consuming our tax money, rights and freedoms.

What we need is a new party dedicated to the foundations our forefathers built this country on with Christian values holding moral and ethical beliefs to the highest pinacle.

We have seen what lawyers have done for the last century running our political offices over run with corruption. I think it is about time to put into position in political offices people with strong business backgrounds that understand economics, operations and finance in order to balance the budget and curtail the tax and spend mentality we are now facing.

we need people with strong foreign policy experience that will not sell America short just to get kickbacks from special interest groups overseas.

We need patriotic Americans that will serve the voters, not the party agenda or special interest groups.

I will now step off my soap box and humbly fall back into oblivian.

endtimesencouragement.blogspot.com said...

I am very empathetic to the posts and the comments. After all is said and done here, I can't shake the bigger picture that the Holy Spirit has been painting before my eyes for at least two years now. Much of the spiritual revival my Christian brothers and sisters speak of is infused with a mixture of patriotism and "the American Way of Life."

The American Way of Life has become so perverted over the years that it would be difficult to describe it today in terms of righteousness (the very thing which exalts a nation). I'm afraid that what many of my Christian brothers and sisters (not any of you necessarily) are thinking when they speak of revival is more people in church with the malls still full of stuff and full employment plus easy credit still fueling the materialistic appetite.

Unless abortion on demand is done away with and the sanctity of marriage and family is restored, this country is on the broad path that leads to judgment and destruction. Only the true church will survive, just as it does in countries obviously already under judgment today. This is true regardless of who is in office.

God hlep me speak the truth in love.

David said...

@End Times - There is going to be a judgment for sure. I would like to hope that this country would turn around with a huge revival, but so many other (global) signs point the acceleration towards the tribulation, I am not sure that it will get better.

I am not sure I think the end is near in years, but certainly a few decades. I am just watching the seasons.

Thanks for reading along.

Anonymous said...

>> Many are familiar with the saying: Neither a borrower nor a lender be, and some attribute it to the Bible, but it is a quote from Shakespeare. The Bible is clearer on the issue. "...the borrower is a slave to the lender" (Proverbs 22:7).

If the Bible is true, we have become slaves to China and other foreign investors. <<

Wait a minute - didn't you just attribute this quote to Shakespeare? I like the Bard as much as the next man, but I don't think that he wrote any of the Holy Book.

- a not a mousse

David said...

>> Many are familiar with the saying: Neither a borrower nor a lender be, and some attribute it to the Bible, but it is a quote from Shakespeare. <<

>> The Bible is clearer on the issue. "...the borrower is a slave to the lender" (Proverbs 22:7). <<

The proverbs verse is similar to the Shakespeare quote, but Proverbs is of course, the Bible.

Anonymous said...

I was out of town when you posted, but if you are interested in some friendly discussion on this topic, I can respond politely tomorrow.

But blog posts, like inlaws and fish, do tend to be best fresh, and I see this thread is a few days old.

- a naughty moose

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