World Views

Covid Vaccine and Year End Musings

Praise the Lord! Two Covid vaccines are being distributed and are now being administered to front line workers and the most vulnerable. Vice President Pence, his wife and The Surgeon General all received the first of two injections of the Pfizer vaccine, live on TV.  This goes a long way in boosting the confidence of the American people in the vaccine. It reminds me of when Elvis Pressley , in 1956 volunteered to take the Polio vaccine, live on The Ed Sullivan Show. Because of his popularity thousands flocked to the nearest clinic to become vaccinated. As for me, I'm waiting for Mick Jagger to get his, so I can see how it affects the geriatric population. 

The roll out of the vaccine has not been without controversy, somehow we managed to pit the elderly against people of color for vaccine priority. Unless I'm mistaken age itself does not discriminate, you are either old or your not. In America we take care of the old, weak and the infirmed first, because that's what we do. The "woke" need to wake up! I am thankful that we were able to get this vaccine out in record time, a miracle in of itself! 

"The future is uncertain and the end is always near," is a lyric from the Doors song, "Roadhouse Blues." Jim Morrison's answer to this quandary is, "Let it roll, baby, roll." I have heard this song many times but for some reason, just the other day these lyrics just got stuck in my mind. The lyrics sum up Morrison's philosophy of life in the brief lines of a song. Unfortunately, it was also the mantra for many other folks during the late 60's and seventies. Drugs, sex and rock n' roll was the worldview of many in this generation. A hedonistic lifestyle was needed to assuage the uncertainty of the future and eat drink and be merry because tomorrow you may die, was the excuse they needed to carry on. A purposeless life that has led many to destruction, including Morrison himself, who was found dead of a drug overdose, in his lonely Paris apartment. A rejection of God leaves one with no hope and leads to a  life of despair. The Christian worldview, in contrast, we know that we are made in the image of our Creator God with a clear purpose in life. The Bible tells us in Ephesians 2:10, "For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." There is no need for us to let it roll, our future is certain and our purpose is clear. Amen!

We all have lived through a year of great tumult in our politics, a pandemic, panic, paranoia, unemployment, civil unrest. and the painful loss of friends and family. It is too painful to reiterate it all. I will leave that for others to do and maybe I'll go back and read it some other time. "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."  (2 Corin. 4:16-18)

Wishing you all a joy filled Christmas. May the peace of the Christ child rest and abide in your hearts as he is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. Merry Christmas to you and yours, and God Bless you all!

Art

Happy Thanksgiving

 The Desolate Wilderness

Here beginneth the chronicle of those memorable circumstances of the year 1620, as recorded by Nathaniel Morton, keeper of the records of Plymouth Colony, based on the account of William Bradford, sometime governor thereof:

So they left that goodly and pleasant city of Leyden, which had been their resting-place for above eleven years, but they knew that they were pilgrims and strangers here below, and looked not much on these things, but lifted up their eyes to Heaven, their dearest country, where God hath prepared for them a city (Heb. XI, 16), and therein quieted their spirits.

When they came to Delfs-Haven they found the ship and all things ready, and such of their friends as could not come with them followed after them, and sundry came from Amsterdam to see them shipt, and to take their leaves of them. One night was spent with little sleep with the most, but with friendly entertainment and Christian discourse, and other real expressions of true Christian love.

The next day they went on board, and their friends with them, where truly doleful was the sight of that sad and mournful parting, to hear what sighs and sobs and prayers did sound amongst them; what tears did gush from every eye, and pithy speeches pierced each other’s heart, that sundry of the Dutch strangers that stood on the Key as spectators could not refrain from tears. But the tide (which stays for no man) calling them away, that were thus loath to depart, their Reverend Pastor, falling down on his knees, and they all with him, with watery cheeks commended them with the most fervent prayers unto the Lord and His blessing; and then with mutual embraces and many tears they took their leaves one of another, which proved to be the last leave to many of them. Being now passed the vast ocean, and a sea of troubles before them in expectations, they had now no friends to welcome them, no inns to entertain or refresh them, no houses, or much less towns, to repair unto to seek for succour; and for the season it was winter, and they that know the winters of the country know them to be sharp and violent, subject to cruel and fierce storms, dangerous to travel to known places, much more to search unknown coasts.

Besides, what could they see but a hideous and desolate wilderness, full of wilde beasts and wilde men? and what multitudes of them there were, they then knew not: for which way soever they turned their eyes (save upward to Heaven) they could have but little solace or content in respect of any outward object; for summer being ended, all things stand in appearance with a weatherbeaten face, and the whole country, full of woods and thickets, represented a wild and savage hew.

If they looked behind them, there was a mighty ocean which they had passed, and was now as a main bar or gulph to separate them from all the civil parts of the world.

The Wall Street Journal                                                                                                              This editorial has appeared annually since 1961.                                        Copyright ©2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
Appeared in the November 25, 2020, print edition.

The Great Divide

There was nothing like the 2020 presidential election to highlight the division in America. Here is why I feel it is irreconcilable. Philosophically incompatable worldviews, one side believes in the reality of absolute truth, the other side embraces relativism. The Judeo-Christian faiths, have been replaced by a naturalistic and secular worldview. Although the left will identify themselves, as people of faith, they have no moral reluctance in supporting abortion, same sex marriage and ignoring the biological fact that our chromosomal makeup determines our gender, opening the door to a seemingly infinite number of  pseudo sexual orientations. These views lead to  the denigration of the value of life, an assault on the nuclear family and destruction aimed at the very moral fabric that once bound us together as "one nation under God."  John Adams one of the framers of our Constitution said, "Our Constitution is designed only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate for any other." Is it any wonder why we see our constitution being shredded right before our eyes? "Rights" are found where they do not exist. The very separation of powers, so fundamental to our Republic, has been breached, by a methodical well planned attack. Congress's sole power to legislate, has been trumped by the Supreme Court. Once it is determined by the left, that they cannot pass legislation to their liking or strongly object to a law in place, they run to the Supreme Court, where activist judges legislate from the bench. This is possible because they were very careful to fill any openings with partisan activist judges. This is nothing new, because they have controlled the Supreme Court this way for over 70 years. The system has been gamed to achieve the most radical legislation that never would have passed muster through Congress. Now that the Court has recently experienced an unprecedented number of openings, three justice's, have been replaced with judges who respect the Constitution and the rule of law. The left has a plan B. Plan B is to increase the number of judges on the court and pack it with partisan hacks. In addition they want to add an additional 2 states to the Union (Puerto Rico and The District of Columbia), thereby consolidating power in the Senate. Once they have all three branches of government, they eliminate the Electoral College and lift immigration restrictions. Now they have a permanent majority of the popular vote and we will elect our President as if he or she were running for Prom King or Queen. One party rule is the goal. This is not conjecture on my part at all, they have said as much publically, and we are seeing it play out right under our noses. Welcome to "The United People's Republic of the Americas." How can one compromise with this when Truth, our Sovereignty and our Republic is being replaced by a godless mob rule? God help us all.