The Pope's Birds of Pray Attacked by Birds of Prey

In a symbolic gesture in St. Peter's Square last week, Pope Francis released two doves of peace after praying for peace in the Ukraine. Then (symbolically), the just-released doves were attacked by a black crow and a sea gull. Short of a few feathers, the doves broke free and flew away, their ultimate fate unknown.
 
It’s hard to imagine a more fitting picture of failed attempts at peacemaking. From the birth of civilization to the present, the world suffers violence. So, nations seek peace. Leaders negotiate for it. Millions pray for it. Militaries fight for it. Imagine a leader who could promise world peace.
 
But that won't happen until Christ returns: “The government shall be upon His shoulder; and His Name shall be called the Prince of Peace. And of the increase of His peace there shall be no end…” (Isa. 9:6-7). Ignorant of this, however, the world's quest for peace continues, until the arrival of a false man of peace, the Antichrist (Dan. 8:25) who will swoop down like a bird of prey on people who are as naïve as doves.

Will there be a Change of Government this Year?

The angels announced Jesus’ birth with the declaration: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men of good will” (Luke 2:14).  The prophetic words harken back to Isaiah: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Is 9:6).  Only part of Isaiah’s prophecy has been fulfilled: the Child was born and the Son was given. We are still waiting for the Prince of Peace to establish His government on Earth.

2014 is an election year when many U.S. citizens are hoping for a change in government. Though no one can foresee that outcome, we can safely predict this: it will not bring peace on earth. That will only come when the Lord returns. And while citizens of Heaven wait for that day, “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope” (Rom 15:13).

Shutdown: Good or Bad?

We’re now into the second week of a stand-off between Republicans and Democrats that has shut down the Federal government. In and of itself, a “shutdown” can be a good thing. Everyone needs to power down occasionally. Even my computer does. A shutdown should equal “stillness”—all activity coming to a quiet halt.  But not this one. Everyone in D.C. is running around in a senseless angst.

But think about it. Is all this “disquiet” a metaphor? No one ever powers down anymore. Are media rich, always-on, multi-tasking persons capable of stillness? And if you could escape the cacophony, can “stillness” be found? Yes—but not in a place. In a Person. “Come unto me all you who are weary and burdened, and you will find rest (shutting off activity) for your souls” (Matt. 11:28-29).

Of course it will help you to set a time and place: “Can two walk together unless they have an appointment?” (Amos 3:3) The Bible says in the early morning while it was still dark (Mark 1:35), Jesus shut off the world, and shut Himself in with God (Ps. 46:10). Likewise, let us shut down; power down; shut ourselves in with Him. Now that would be a good shutdown!

Lies and Spies: Who Will They Trust?

There was a lot of spying and lying in the news this week: Private Bradley Manning was convicted of giving classified material to the website WikiLeaks; and Edward Snowden, the U.S. intelligent contractor who revealed the NSA’s secret program to collect American phone records, was granted temporary asylum in Russia. Add to that, star baseball player A-Rod has been lying about his use of performance-enhancing drugs (who can forget Lance Armstrong?). And Congressman Anthony Weiner, NY mayoral candidate, who resigned in disgrace last year for ‘sexting,’ was caught doing it again.

Will this make Americans more cynical, adding to a growing distrust of government (Benghazi, IRS, Fast and Furious). Where will Americans turn? Who will they trust? Is this a set-up for the end times? The Bible says the anti-Christ will offer new hope.

You and I know “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people or princes” (Ps. 118:8-9). But our fellow Americans don't know that. If you'll allow me a little 'tongue in cheek' here, perhaps as we near the latter days, believers should have “In God We Trust” stamped on our foreheads. And wouldn't that be a great preemptive strike to counter the mark of the Beast!

Is Government Coveting our Money?

Every working American has federal, state, local, Social Security and Medicare taxes taken out of his/her paycheck. But did you know there are more than 40 other taxes we pay? To name a few: unemployment and workers compensation tax, sales, property, and utility taxes, gas taxes, and even taxes for dog licenses. The average American spends 46-58% of his or her income on taxes!

I read an interesting article yesterday that our government is guilty of breaking the 10th commandment: “You must not covet your neighbor's house… or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” And then Moses goes on to say, “You shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, who hate covetousness, to be your rulers.” (Ex. 20:17; 18:21) Clearly, God did not want coveters ruling over the people, taking what is not theirs.

I worked for the federal government for 25 years. And every year when the budgets were prepared, I watched with disgust as our Agency competed with other agencies to get more money than it got the year before—whether they needed it or not. It was nothing less than unbridled greed. Paul said the end-times would be characterized by men who are exceedingly greedy (1 Tim 3:1-2a) Is government over-taxation another sign of the times?

In God (not Government) we Trust!

When I hear people talk about the ‘government’ as the ultimate fail-safe that will always take care of us, I wonder if they realize it is just made up of very average people who work 40 hours a week and take their families to the movies on the weekend.  As a former government supervisor, I know some are trustworthy; some are not. But believe me—there are no super-humans among them!

In a recent survey, 55 percent of Americans believe they can trust the government if disaster strikes. Do you believe our government can take care of 312 million people if there is a financial collapse, a pandemic, or power grid failure! Yet, a majority of Americans say, “In Government we trust.” 

Conversely, our National motto is “In GOD we trust.” But over the last decades our government is running away from that creed, having outlawed Bible and prayer from schools and now trying to eliminate any trace of God from the public square—the latest being a movement to take the words “In God we trust” off our currency.

I don’t know about you, but I am not putting much trust in a government that doesn’t trust in God. “Don't put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there” (Ps. 146:3).

Uncle Sam is on Life Support

Yesterday San Bernardino became the 3rd California city in a month to file bankruptcy. Last fall, Jefferson County, Alabama, filed the biggest municipal bankruptcy in American history. This week, to avoid bankruptcy, Scranton, Pennsylvania reduced every one of its salaried employees to minimum wage. Government employees who depend on Uncle Sam for their livelihood have reason to worry.

Many of you know that Uncle Sam paid my salary for 25 years, and now gives me a pension and Social Security benefits. Though I'm grateful, I wonder how long he’ll be able to keep it up. After all, he’s only human—eventually, he will die. In fact, he’s already on life support. But I’m not worried—a statement that has yet to be tested—because I know my Father, not my Uncle, is my Provider.

Anyone who thinks Uncle Sam is going to live forever is wrong! And if they (we) haven’t done it yet, it is due time to exchange faith in our Uncle for faith in our Father. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or what you will wear...your heavenly Father knows that you need them. And if you will seek first his kingdom all these things will be given to you as well” (Matt. 6:25-33). When Uncle Sam passes, a lot of his heirs will be very grieved, and worried that he was broke!  But surely not the children of God.  Right?