“A White House in Chaos”
March 4-7, 2018
Yesterday, while working outside building a pool pump house, in the distance I heard the “bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam” of a semi-automatic rifle. Someone, probably a guy, was shooting his semi-automatic weapon. I listened as he or perhaps another emptied his entire magazine four times. This is over eighty bullets shot in less than 15 minutes. As to the cost of all these bullets, I cannot say. I felt in my heart this individual wanted just to prove to all our neighborhood that he could shoot as many times as he wanted to, and no one could stop him. So, I immediately prayed for this person, “Help him, Lord Jesus! Help this angry young man to find the Savior and to take out of his heart violence and instead fill his heart with the love of God and the wondrous peace of Jesus!” Five times I prayed for this young man, that he might find the love of Jesus.
Now you may say, “How do you know this young man was not a Christian and he was simply shooting for sport?” I do not know, of course, but the way the shots rang out, it seemed like an angry young man shooting to me. It was both frightening and disturbing, especially as all our suburban neighborhoods surrounding are full of many children, young and old. Even the dogs stopped to listen and wondered at this great noise! It made me realize just how close violence can be to anyone’s home, anywhere, and anytime! God, we surely live in a confusing and messed up world!
By the time you read this article, the gun debate in Washington, DC and in Florida where the last gun related violence occurred leaving 17 dead, may have reached either a conclusion or another stalemate. Our politicians are known for a great deal of talk and not too much substance. President Donald Trump on one day said, “I am not afraid of the NRA… He then called even for confiscation of guns without due process if used in violence or violence was threatened. On the very next day, after his meeting with the lobbyist from the NRA, he apparently had switched positions. God knows what eruption of illogical logic will come from this President’s mouth!
On another day, this same President places a 25% tariff on steel imports and a 10% tariff on aluminum, not realizing the cost to employment will be thousands of American jobs. There will also be the cost to the American consumer when these new tariffs make it harder to own anything made out of steel, including washing machines, automobiles and so many other things, as well. This President may ignite a trade war with even our closest allies, Canada, Mexico, Britain, Europe, Japan and even Brazil. China is the 11th in total exports on steel, with Canada near the top producer selling to the United States. To add insult to injury, President Trump remarks, “It is easy to win a trade war,” which is ludicrous, of course. Today, Gary Cohn, one of the few remaining reasonable voices in this administration resigned. He advised the patient about economics and trade. Does it take a rocket scientist to realize why he is leaving? Now Trump is only advised by those who agree with him. What a wonderful life he has! Surrounded only by those who say yes! Trump, our embattled President said when asked why so many are leaving his administration, said, “Everyone wants to be in Washington with us.” In what dream world he is living… One has to wonder who is now advising this President. It is said he plans to sign these tariffs on Saturday this week. Every American who uses anything with steel or aluminum will pay a hefty price! And there will be retaliation on other items! Trump says, “Trade wars are easy to win!” This man lives back in the 18th century. He has learned nothing from the lessons of history. He knows nothing except what bounces around inside his hollowed out head! He daily sends ripples of disturbance throughout all the markets of the globe. It is a form of madness to use the Presidential Office as he is doing! He is behaving as “the emperor of the world!” One begins to wonder whether this man knows anything about the modern interconnected world economy at all! He may know how to buy and sell real estate, but that hardly qualifies him to run the greatest economy in the world. So let us ask Warrant Buffet to advise him. Now there is a billionaire who knows something about managing money! At least then, we might have some type of coherent policy of government. At least our country could have someone with consistent thinking not filled with an 18th century philosophy of protectionist stupidity! Perhaps Buffet would even stay focused at one thing long enough to inform congress of a bill the House and Senate might be able consider as a consensus legislation and this would actually pass. Republicans, the party of “free trade” are imposing tariffs on the United States economy! Let us talk about bizarre politics. They elected this strange man! God knows what other mischief he may yet conceive.
We hear now rumors that son in law to Trump, Kushner is of running some type of enterprise from the White House which is to help his own business obtain working capital. Kushner was a moderating voice, but he is no longer privy to the nation’s secrets meant to advise the President. His effectiveness and also that of daughter Ivanka may suddenly be much less. If Trump loses Hope Hicks, son in law Kushner and daughter Ivanka, to whom will he turn for advice without his inner circle of trusted family and friends. Should we expect another tirade of terrible tweets in the early am? While the chaos at the White House deepens, Russia’s Putin expands his sphere of influence around the world and we do nothing. Some intelligence analysts say Trump does not even read his daily intelligence briefing. Funds were allocated to counter Russia’s election meddling, some 120 million dollars. But of that money, not $1 has been spent! Trump makes no mention of punishing Russia for meddling in the last election cycle, nor does he seem concerned about the upcoming election of 2018. It stands to reason Russia and other governments would like to sow chaos into our democratic process and weaken trust in the federal process. Yet Trump does nothing about this at all! Instead he vents his morning tweets about inane things, about some guy who does not flatter his ego on Saturday Night Live, the television show. Where are the priorities of this President? Does he really want to make himself into another Mao Tse Tung, like the President of China who is now consolidating power over almost all aspects of his non-democratic society? Does this President even know the basics of a 9th grade civics lesson on the United States? Which country does he pretend to be governing, the republic of Albania?
We know the Republicans will never impeach this cash cow they have in Mr. Trump. So what can be done to save our democracy when we have a politically naïve and inept man in the White House? These are the questions all reasonably minded persons are asking at this time. What if anything can be done to save our democracy? I for one do not know, but for God sake, I hope God raises up someone to lead us out of this chaos of government. This could be bad, really bad for this country!
One has to wonder why God allowed such a President to be placed in the White House? It must be, God’s plan is to diminish this nation’s influence in the world and make way for a reorganization of power into other parts of the globe. If my conservative Christian friends want to make way for Armageddon, this is the way to do it. Strengthen Russia, China and Iran. Bring chaos to the Middle East, so the world welcomes Russia and China to solve this problem. Place Israel into a confined place so only the USA can defend it. Sounds like a scene from Ezekiel to me. “And Gog and Magog shall come down from the north and surround a defenseless nation…” And from the Revelation, “an army of two hundred million comes marching from the east….”
I must now remind myself that God alone rules this world and all of us! There is only one Lord and one Savior, Jesus Christ who loves all men and women and wants all men and women to be saved and come to the knowledge of our Savior! So then, my dear friends, let us get on this bucking horse and ride it to the very end. God knows I do not understand all these things….but I do trust the one who is in charge of bringing New Jerusalem from heaven to earth. “Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also. The body they may kill. God’s truth abideth still! God’s kingdom is forever!” (Martin Luther)
And so my friend, let us lie down tonight and sleep in restful peace! We do have a Savior, a Redeemer leading this charge. God’s Kingdom is For-ever! Amen!
Let all of God’s people say, “Amen!”
“Amen! We praise you Lord Jesus Christ!”
Let us pray:
“God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ: Through your blessed Holy Spirit guide and lead us as your people now through this chaos of wilderness and into your pleasant paths of peace. Lead us by the still waters and into the green pastures of your love, joy and peace. Even if we lose all we own or have, it is nothing compared with obtaining what you have for us. Even if the whole world is full of madness, we know that in your Word of the Gospel we will find our true joy and peace. Even if health and life itself forsake us, we know that you will take us up! Keep us ever in your grace, love and compassion. Let us find our joy and our gladness only in you and not in the things of this world. We know our treasure and our life is truly in another place. Prepare us now in your grace and kindness for those things which are coming upon our world. Unleash in us both thy power and thy peace, so in these days we may be empowered to testify of your goodness, your grace, of your power and your glory! Even now fill us with your Blessed Holy Spirit. Place your Holy Word of Truth, Righteousness and Justice firmly within our whole being so that we are full of your life! May we overflow with testimonies of your power, songs of your gladness and rivers of your holiness and peace! Let there be a separation known between those who serve you, O Mighty God, and those who do not, so that the world may know of your Redemption and of your Great Day which is coming for all men and women and children on this earth. Fill our lamps with holy oil so we may be prepared to meet thee on that great day of holiness and truth and gladness, Most Holy and Righteous Lord, in whose name we pray, world without end. Amen and Amen!”
The voice of one crying…”make straight in the desert a highway
Tweety Bird 