January 3, 2019 – Click here to listen
Someone asked me about the government shutdown the other day and how I felt about it. Predictable came to mind. Those who hate Trump are automatically against anything he supports and will work tirelessly to stop progress on any idea, no matter how good it is for our country. Democrats who were in favor of building a wall not so long ago now oppose it and vilify Trump for the very issue they supported when they held majority in congress. In the meantime, drugs, sex traffickers, and criminals stream across our borders and they laugh all of the way to L.A. and all points beyond. I say get used to it. The Democrats will soon control the House and I hate to sound like pessimistic, but all we will see is gridlock and investigation after investigation. It’s predictable.
So, we should not be surprised nor dismayed at their conduct. And yes, they will be joined by RINOs like Mitt Romney whose political ambition knows no bounds and his quest for vengeance against Trump for accomplishing what he could not himself achieve knows no bounds. Predictable! I had a photo of him standing with my wife and I that was taken at a fundraiser for him when he ran against Obama. I took it down yesterday and threw it away after his Washington Post op-ed railing against Trump. Ugh!
I’m going through The book of Proverbs, (I use the Living Bible), daily with a friend. Each day we read a chapter and remark by e-mail to each other what the Lord has brought to our attention for the day. There are only 31 chapters so if a chapter a day is read, that equals about a month to read it in its entirety. My comments today are as follows: I read verses 13-15 with interest this morning. “’Knowing right from wrong, having good judgment and common sense makes a man happier than the man who is immensely rich.’ In verses 3-6 we are told to never tire of loyalty and kindness and if we want good judgement and common sense then we must trust in the Lord COMPLETELY and never trust in ourselves. In everything we do we must put God first in order that he might direct us and crown us with success . . . When setting 2019 goals this should be incorporated – No?”
So, are politicians capable of having common sense? In 1776 Thomas Paine, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, authored a monumentally influential pamphlet that reached 500,000 people at the start of the American Revolution and inspired the patriots in 1776 to declare independence from Britain. The pamphlet was entitled “Common Sense,” and it set forth his arguments in favor of American independence. “Common Sense” is considered one of the most influential pamphlets in American history and is generally credited with uniting average citizens and political leaders behind the idea of independence, “Common Sense” played a remarkable role in transforming a colonial squabble into the American Revolution.
So how did Thomas Paine end up? In prison. He did not use common sense and good judgment and put God first in his life and in fact wrote yet another pamphlet only this time he mocked Christianity. He was imprisoned in France for inciting unrest there and President James Monroe used his diplomatic connections to get Paine released in November 1794. He then returned to the U.S. where he died in 1809. Only six people attended this Founding Father’s funeral as he had been ostracized for his ridicule of Christianity. Predictable!
If only politicians would learn that common sense and good judgement come from God . . .
Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil . . .