Honest Illegals

Rick Perry says it's heartless to oppose his scheme to give illegal immigrants a break on college tuition. He's close--it's mindless. Perry seems to find it easy to play fast and loose with his constituent's money. That's not a trait I look for in a president.
In a way Perry's idea makes sense in Texas. They've always had a certain affinity for outlaws. Personally, I have trouble making the subtle distinction between illegally slipping over the border and slipping a bank teller a stick-up note. I'm a bottom line kind of guy and the demand is just the same:
"Hand over the money and nobody gets hurt."
I know we're suppose to believe that illegal entry to America is a victimless crime. And it is--if you don't go to school or hospitals; pay taxes; or vacation at Turner Falls.
I'm told illegals only take jobs Americans don't want. There's a lot of those around nowadays---right? Illegals are honest, hard working, family men/women. Honest illegals; isn't that an oxymoron? The real problem with illegal immigrants is not that they might pay extra to attend a state college, but that they are in the state in the first place.

Mourning Cujo

            There’s a scene from To Kill A Mockingbird in which a rabid dog staggers down the street toward a group of kids. The sheriff, unsure of his aim and skill with a rifle, hands the weapon to Atticus Finch. The lawyer, and father of two of the children in the story, kills the dog with a single shot. Afterwards, he is the only one not celebrating.

            Killing a rabid dog is a distasteful, dirty job. There’s always a lot of hoopla in the aftermath, but after the dust settles, there’s no real use for either the dog or the shooter. I’ve done a few distasteful jobs in my time. You know, the kind folks want done, but don’t want to dirty their hands or reputations doing. Trust me on this, it’s no fun and there’s no glory.

            I have no objection to hunting down terrorists and tyrants like dogs. Nevertheless, I find something despicable about those that rejoice over the death of another human being even if he is seen as no better than a rabid dog. The world is likely a better place without Colonel Gadhafi, but you won’t find me dancing in the street or campaigning for chief dog catcher because he’s gone.  

Do You Know What Time It Is?

Telling Time

               “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace… I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.”

               Perhaps, the real secret to life is nothing more than knowing what time it is. 

What the Blind Man Saw

What the Blind Man Saw

I’m either extremely myopic or a greater pessimist than I ever imagined. Somehow I failed to see a peaceful, democratic nation in the mob that dragged Muammar Qadhafi into the street and shot him. The man was a tyrant. He had no qualms about torturing and killing his own countrymen. He was without mercy and so deserved none.

Yet, what did the Libyan people do to demonstrate a shade of difference between them and their former leader? What I saw was a bloodthirsty, violent people without restraint. The chance that a civil nation capable of the peaceful transfer of power will ever grow out of that mayhem are slim and none.

A still more frightening prospect is the trillions of dollars our government will spend on Tripoli before they find out the Libyans have no democratic notions. The President is hailing our role in the overthrow as a foreign policy victory. Real victory will only come if we leave that murderous mob to their own devices.

Let Allah sort it out.

Well Done

Glendon Allen

"There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.
Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools."

I've grown weary of hearing and rehearing the tragic tales of the drug-induced, deaths of the rich and famous who lived only to gore their appetite for adulation. I find nothing to admire or inspire in their lives, nor yet, anything to mourn at their passing. There is, however, consolation in knowing the dead have their reward.

The world will not likely hear of the passing of Glendon Allen. Nevertheless, the world will be poorer for it. There are so few souls like his whose life flowed upward to God and outward to others. The sadness I feel this morning is not for Bro. Allen; it is for myself and for all those who already miss him. Well done, good and faithful servant.

"His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."

Do In Lunch

"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are...?." When you take the devil's money; there's hell to pay. I hear the government is planning to restrict the number of potatoes kids eat at school. To be honest nothing the government dreams up surprises me these days. What troubles me is how easily people accept intrusion upon their lives.
When Christians suggest people "do what's best for them," we're trying to force our standards on everyone. But when Uncle Sam does it, like obedient puppies we all follow along. We darn well better go along with Sam; he's paying the bills and as long as we live under his roof...well, you know how the rest goes.
We are raising a generation indoctrinated in the proposition that government has the right to tell us all what to eat; what to weigh; what habits are bad; what advertisements are safe to see; which companies are too big to fail; and even whether or not we can get a toy with that Happy Meal.
I don't know the answer to the question: "How stupid can a person be?" I've done some study on it, but haven't found the bottom. However, I can tell you exactly where the government is driving the herd--into the branding pen.
"Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind...Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh."      

Content and Blessed

            I’m not rich (by American standards); not even well to do. Middle class lies somewhere just beyond the next hill. I have some experience with being poor. However, that was some years ago and I was never very good at it. I had to modify some dreams to escape, but so far, I have avoided going back. I’m not complaining. I’m just telling it like it is. Wealth is a poor way to judge the quality of one’s life or to predict future happiness.

               For my oldest son’s fifth Christmas I drew him a picture of the Starship Enterprise. It was a 2x3 foot crayon on butcher paper. Rather well done if I do say so myself. Almost certainly youthful poverty shaped his character. However, given the curse of paternal genes he had to overcome, he’s reasonably well adjusted; which is a good thing since he carries a gun.

It may be cliché, but there really are some things money can’t buy. Contentment comes from a steadfast pursuit of that which transcends time. Contentment fills without envy; satisfies without regard to quantity; and brings peace without surrendering vision. “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

               

Anything You Can Do...

               My Dad could hammer nails faster than anyone I've ever seen. Those guys on HGTV with their nail guns got nothing on my Dad, except that Dad was limited to the number of nails he could hold in his mouth at one time. Until I was seven or eight I thought my Dad had two thumb nails on each thumb. Then, one day I realized skill with a hammer comes at a price. He’d split those thumbs so many times that the nails gave up trying to grow back together. 

             The experience that brings us mastery doesn't come easy or cheaply. Every vocation exacts a toll on its practitioners. The reward is the satisfaction of knowing that you do a job well. Whether you’re a sanitary engineer or an electrical engineer; a doctor of philosophy or a doctor of medicine; a driver of NASCAR or a driver of nails; skill born of experience and knowledge set you apart from the crowd.

That is true everywhere, of course, except in the mind of the crowd. Television has taught us that whether people are surviving, dancing, cooking or singing, we all know how to do it equally as well---if not better. We cast our vote with a certain inward satisfaction that comes from our own perceived expertise and proposed improved method. It’s so easy to play from the bleachers. I hit a hundred home runs every baseball season right from the couch.

But, no matter how many times I’ve watched my Dad; I still can’t drive nails. Opinions are nice. The fact that everybody has one does nothing to increase their value. Ability, like silence, is golden. Remember, once you’re off the ground, never tell a pilot how to fly.

Just Passin' Through

               “All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.” As certainly as we came into this life; we shall pass from it again. What profit is there in life seeing that it must end? If that were the whole story—there is no point in anything but to eat, drink and be merry. However, there is more to life than this world. Our life here is like a vapor. We walk the valley of life only long enough to decide the existence and justness of God. Once this matter is settled and we have given our judgment, it is God’s turn to judge.

               “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

               Christ doesn’t appear to us the second time as a suffering savior. The second time we shall see Him as He is. Judgment Day is not a far off, post-Apocalypse, meeting in the air. Judgment Day comes the moment our hearts beat no more. At that moment our fate is sealed. There will be a day when men stand before God to give an account of their life. This is not the judgment. It is our last word before sentence is carried out.

               Today, while you are working out your eternity, remember this question.

               “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”

Fixations

Living on a Fixed Income

               I get tired of hearing people say: ”I’m on a fixed income.” Maybe it’s because I don’t know for sure what they are talking about. Isn’t most everyone on a fixed income? I know I am. My income is rigidly fixed by the number of hours I work every week. I’ve tried to find employment that pays for hours I don’t work, but employers can be so stubborn on this point.

               Maybe people that complain about fixed incomes are referring to sick leave. My boss doesn’t like to pay overtime so the only way I can arrange extra pay is for one of my co-workers to get sick or die. It seems so mean spirited to pray for that to happen. On the other hand, if I call in sick, my paycheck is hundreds of dollars short. Is that what happens on Social Security too? Do your food stamps go down if you get sick? I don’t know, I’m just trying to figure this fixed income thing out.

               I have health insurance, but I make it a point to know where all the exits are in my doctor’s office. If he starts talking about lab tests or xrays, I may need to make a quick exit. My income isn’t fixed to handle that kind of thing.

Volunteers

            “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves…Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.”

            This message of Paul to the Christians of Rome makes me wonder where America’s Founding Fathers stood with God. We call Washington, Adams and Jefferson heroes. The case can also be made that they were nothing more than rebels kicking against the rule of Parliament and the king. (Which is exactly the case that would have been brought against them at trial had it come to that.) However, it seems to be the consensus today’s Christians, as it was among the Founding Fathers, that Parliament no longer represented them or their interests. If that is just grounds for revolution, it is time Christians examine their blind allegiance to the government in Washington. The republic to which we once pledged that allegiance, clearly, no longer represents us.

            The time is passed for any sort of Christian political activism. Our system of courts ruled by the law of cultural correctness has negated that opportunity. It is time to come out from among them and be separate. A spiritual, financial, and cultural secession is needed. Step into the ark and shut the door. Let the government fill its coffers and its military gristmill from the ranks of the worldly, the illegals and the downtrodden it loves so much. America needs the message seen on church signs everywhere—get right or get left.    

            

True Evangelicals

True Evangelicals

               Those who can—do. Those who can’t—criticize. Israel wandered forty years in the wilderness waiting for God to give them a second chance at their promised land. During all that time their clothes never wore out; neither did their shoes. Six days a week they could step out the tent door and pick up bread from heaven. Water sprang from a rock for them to drink and quail walked right up and nearly threw themselves into the pot. Maintaining a nation on the move is no easy task. Moving that same nation, intact, across the desert is impossible. Nevertheless, Moses with God’s intervention did it.

               Sure, Moses is a hero now. But, in his day, there was not a sandal print in Sinai that wasn’t accompanied by a complaint. Everybody, even Moses’ brother, knew how to do it better, faster, and with less effort. The sad part is such behavior is human nature. Man is an unhappy creature. Moreover, he is evangelical in his misery forever sharing the message of his poor condition.

               The good news is that there are those like Moses, Joshua and Caleb who remain doers in the midst of their detractors. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

Lies

Lies We Believe

               Some lies make life easier and who doesn’t like easy? Easy is what Man is all about. But, lies have a way of catching up to both tellers and believers. The notion that social welfare is compassionate is a lie. Social welfare programs, as practiced in America, are nothing more than a salve for the conscious of those too self-centered to be bothered with the poor. We draw an imaginary line and say—here’s some money. Now, go away. True constructive help never enters the picture. The reason for this is simple. Building productive people is time consuming, costly, and offers few positive results.

The culture of living on the government runs deep. Sparks of incentive are quickly extinguished; usually at the family level. I’m for helping the poor, but help with no teaching or responsibility attached is no solution. It serves only to prolong dependence and stifle effort. So, do we just boot everyone off welfare? No, but we do set goals for the day benefits stop. In medicine and nursing discharge planning starts on admission. Why not welfare? For those too disabled, mentally or physically, appoint independent guardians or mentors to manage benefits.

Granting independence is not the same thing as teaching it. A child with a credit card, even a limited one, needs instruction in its use. Want can be an excellent teacher, but not long term. We have an obligation to teach or stop enabling.

“We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”

“But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak…”

“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.”   

Carrying a Torch

               I recently discovered that I still carry a torch for Lady Liberty. I thought those old feelings of devotion died a long time ago. Then, suddenly, I find myself passionately opposed to those I believe are actively seeking her destruction. Who knew?

               I’m not talking about Islamic extremists or the criminals slipping over our borders. Those are external dangers and relatively easier to deal with. I’m talking about the cultural quislings among us; those whose career goals are to “get on a check” and the leaders that inspire such lofty aspirations. I’m talking about those who drop mom off at the local hospital when she gets to be too much trouble. I’m talking about farms, banks, manufacturers and ordinary citizens living on government subsidies. I’m talking about a society who thinks nothing wrong with two years of unemployment payments and columns of Help Wanted ads living side by side. I’m talking about companies too big to fail and home buyers too politically popular to lose out.

               Our country is bleeding red ink. We are told the only solutions are higher taxes and more debt. Are you kidding me? Experience, hard earned and sadly won, says differently. Uncle Sam and Lady Oklahoma were nowhere to be found when we were drowning. Are we just better swimmers? Family, friends and faith can save. Is it too much to ask our fellow citizens and governmental leaders find some?

               “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. “

               If you are too modern and evolutionary to believe that—what of survival of the fittests?

Dust in the Wind

               Adam Bonhaven rode his Harley south on I-95 headed for Miami and a lot of fun in the sun. His dark hair streamed out on the wind. The warm sunshine reached right down to his soul while the haunting melody of a Kansas tune played in his mind.  Life was good. Mile maker thirteen flew by; no hurry; he’d get there. A sparkling fleck of dust blown from the roadside hit Adam’s eye. Instinctively, be blinked back the irritation and tried to brush it away.

The Harley swerved. Still fighting the dust in his eye, Adam over corrected. The big bike laid on its side pinning Adam’s leg and dragging him across the asphalt. The trucker following Adam slammed on his brakes, but not in time for Adam to escape. The truck jack-knifed across three lanes of traffic taking out a minivan and a church bus before coming to rest in the grass. Traffic along I-95 backed up for miles as police and fire-rescue cleared the bodies.

No man lives to himself and no man dies to himself. Dust we may be and to dust we return, but no life is insignificant.