To start, I must admit that I missed you all last week. I will also admit that the vacation break was great. It was just good to get away and clear out the mind.
In a brief overview of the road trip, we stopped first in Emmitt, Idaho and shared in our oldest granddaughter's high school graduation. Then we traveled through Idaho and up into Yellowstone National Park where we shared the roadway with buffalo, elk and moose. After a few great photos and careful driving, we proceeded on to Wyoming and Montana for a few days and then, 2500 miles later, back home here in western Oregon.
Including all the wildlife in Yellowstone and the cattle drive up U.S. 12 in Montana, I would have to say that the true highlight of the trip was the graduation ceremony of our granddaughter. - In a few short words, this small school in Idaho shared God throughout the program. The graduates as well as school staff prayed together and gave thanks to Almighty God for all things.
It was so refreshing because all we hear today is how God and prayer is being stripped from all public school and community programs. In fact, no sooner had I gotten home and began my usual news research routine did I stumble on to these articles: "Home: No Place for Bible Study" (San Diego, CA) -- "Mandatory 'Gay Day' for K-5 Students" (Alameda County Schools, CA) -- and on it goes. -- My hat is off to the staff and students at New Plymouth School District.
Also all over the news these past few days is the continuing current deteriorating economic condition. -- I know we talk and hear about this a lot, but being "out of it" for a week and then jumping right back in, I can see it progressing more rapidly than I would have thought possible. Here are some examples:
◆ We (U.S.) have borrowed more in the last six months than over the past thirty years combined.
◆ National debt currently stands at $64 trillion (That's approximately $550,000 per household)
◆ GM, one of America's business icons, for all intents and purposes, is no more - and Chrysler needs to partner with a foreign company or it faces the same fate.
◆ One in every eight American homeowners are either delinquent on their mortgage or in foreclosure - (It was one in ten just a month ago.)
◆ California will be out of money in twelve days. The illustrious Senator Barney Frank is working on a plan to have the government guarantee their debt -- (with what?) - This, of course, will set off a chain reaction for every other state with budget deficits to follow suit. (I think that's all but three, Montana, Wyoming and North Dakota).
◆ The Federal Reserve is buying up as much "toxic" debt as it can handle. (Remember, this is part of our bankrupt government and the one who already guarantees all personal accounts up to $100,000.)
◆ President Obama wants to implement the National Health Care Plan right now! (of course, there's no apparent money available to fund it.) -- Then, in the next breath in an interview with C-Span, he reveals to us in his infinite wisdom, "Well, we are out of money now." -- Any fool can tell you we never had any money in the first place. -- Amazing! (It's rather sobering when a liberal, spend-happy politician tells us we lack the ability to generate new cash.)
There's much more, but you get the picture. -- And just this morning, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke stated before Congress that we must reduce the deficit or face dire consequences in the near future. This will be very difficult to do considering tax revenues are down some $138 billion due to unemployment revenue losses. Couple that with the current administration's voracious appetite for more massive federal programs and guaranteeing of toxic debt, it would appear impossible.
Let me share with you an interesting but chilling article in Russia's Pravda newspaper. It states, "The final collapse has come with the election of Barack Obama. His speed in the past three months has been truly impressive. His spending and money printing has been record-setting, not just in America's short history, but in the world. If this keeps up for more than another year, and there is no sign that it will not, America at best will resemble the Wiemar Republic and at worst Zimbabwe." (In both cases, their currency became worthless and inflation ran out of control.)
And the final nail in the so-called American financial coffin is the King of the East -- China. Their government's purchase of U.S. Treasuries has been critical for our government to fund its debt obligations. As old debts come due and new treasury notes come up for auction, the Chinese may finally say, "Thank you, but we've had enough." -- Then where do we turn?
Also on my return to the news headlines, the rapid deterioration of the American/Israeli relationship is staggering! Here's just a quick few: "Obama Promises Arabs Jerusalem Will Be Theirs" (WND - May 30) - "Israel Fears Obama Backing Out of U.S. Commitments" (WND - Jerusalem Bureau - June 1). -- "Relations With U.S. Plunge as Israel Snubs Barack Obama Over Settlements" (Guardian - UK - May 28).
So what does this mean for America? I, along with many other Christians, believe America has been truly blessed because of our support of the Jewish state. -- So what will happen if this support fades away? - I believe we will see retribution -- God's wrath come upon this country. -- And how will we see it?
◆ The economy -- already disintegrating
◆ Terrorist attacks - with the slackening of our security, this becomes inevitable
◆ Civil unrest - with unemployment rising and talks of new federal taxes, there will be a breaking point in the previously pampered populace. Gun and ammo sales have been "off the charts" and I don't think its because of an increased interest in hunting.
There's more of course. - So what should we, the church, be doing in these coming perilous times? -- First, we need to stop wringing our hands and get to work. - All evidence indicates that people search for spiritual answers during times of chaos and unrest. We, as Christians, should not be surprised by what is going on. Scripture spells it out quite clearly. We should see this as a time of opportunity to win souls for Jesus. -- And remember, no matter how bad it gets, do not be afraid. 1 Peter 3:14 says, "Do not fear what they fear: do not be frightened."
I would like to share a dream I had back in 2002. "I'm lying on my back in an open field looking up at the sky when I'm prompted to sit up. I look and see a very large storm on the horizon. It was very dark in color and had what appeared to be a funnel cloud in the center. I immediately got up, turned and went into an old building -- a barn of sorts. I looked for a place to take shelter, but there was nothing in this place that could provide that.
I went back out of the building and saw that the storm was much closer than before. It was also much larger, darker and angrier. But what was really different was that it was full of raging fire! I knew I needed to flee!"
I've had my own thoughts about this dream and also have had several interesting "interpretations" along the way, but I now know what the storm represented as well as the inadequate shelter. It stands for the coming world chaos descending upon us and the failure of man's inept institutions to protect us. -- The only real and lasting shelter is that of faith and trust in our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the lasting and eternal shelter.
The storm clouds are on the horizon and are moving our way quickly. -- Luke 21:36 states, "Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the son of man."
Until next time,
Red