THE SOURCE OF AMERICA'S PROBLEMS TODAY

THE SOURCE OF AMERICA’S PROBLEMS TODAY…….

If you seek HIM, HE will be found by you, but if you forsake HIM, HE will forsake you. 2 Ch. 15:2.

Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the LORD your GOD and have no awe of ME," declares the LORD, the LORD ALMIGHTY. Jer. 2:19.

Those who turn away from YOU will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the LORD, the spring of living water. Jer. 17:13.

THE SOLUTION IS TO TURN BACK TO GOD!

"When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among MY people,

If MY people, who are called by MY name, will humble themselves and pray and seek MY face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Now MY eyes will be open and MY ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.  2 Ch. 7:13-15

SAVE YOURSELF - IT'S TOO LATE FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD

At first look, this may seem like a very selfish idea.  “Forget everyone else, just take care of yourself.”  But in reality, until we are secure in our own future, we cannot help others become safe in theirs.  Besides, it’s only our own salvation with which we can personally deal.

Sadly, even when we know the truth about the status of our fellow earthlings, there is nothing we can do to save them from destruction – they need to make the necessary preparations for themselves.  And when they see us in a prepared state, it is hoped they will have the desire to join us.

And the world’s predicament is indeed bleak!  There no need to describe the handbaskets headed for Hell in which so many find themselves.  Current news and history plainly account for the demise of so many.  Nonetheless, most people will ignore any warnings and accept evil and wickedness as the unchangeable norm.

It is neither smugness nor conceit that enables us to know our eternal destiny. Rather, it’s the ultimate need for self-preservation that gives us this impetus to prepare.  And thankfully God has provided the way of escape for us now, just as he did for Noah and his family in the Ark. Then it was the Ark, now it is the Cross of Christ. They survived the earthwide flood, just as we can survive the fiery judgement that’s coming to the world. There is great pleasure and peace in being prepared, as well as tremendous joy!

But it isn’t pleasant to think about God’s judgement – and He will judge countries as well as individuals.  So before Divine discipline comes to the United States and other nations – save yourself.  It truly will be too late for the rest of the world!

COPYRIGHT 2018 BY CARL E GUSTAFSON

GEORGE WASHINGTON - THE LAST AND ONLY NON-POLITICAL PRESIDENT

No opposition party. No mudslinging. No negative press. No hanging chads. No foreign collusion. No electoral votes against him.

However, the VP election was another story. While Washington got all 69 electoral votes available, John Adams received only 34, with the remaining 35 being split between John Jay, John Hancock and others.

The system then allowed for each of the 69 electoral voters to vote for 2 candidates for President. The person with the larger number of votes became President and the second place candidate became Vice President. So to become VP, Adams had to also run as President, knowing Washington would get elected.

And then began the fun that we know today. Adams, like Washington was a Federalist. Thomas Jefferson was a Democratic-Republican. [A phrase you’ll never see today.] The election of 1796 was won by Adams with a 71 to 68 majority. Jefferson went on to win in 1800 after a tie with Aaron Burr at 73 electoral votes each, so the tie breaking vote was held  in the House of Representatives.

Adams was a northerner, Jefferson a southerner. Thus began one of the many divisive patterns in American politics. It became north vs. south, east vs. west, coasts vs. the middle, red vs. blue, liberal vs. conservative, etc. etc.

 The purpose of this brief history is to remind us that political battles are nothing new. Our current president is not the first to receive harsh criticism, irrational opposition, non-stop verbal and written abuse, and unfounded accusations. Nor will he be the last.

It is our freedoms that allow for such fights. These freedoms were established and upheld through all of our 58 Presidential elections. Let us pray that they will continue for the remaining elections we will have.

God has blessed the USA, is blessing the USA, and will bless the USA – we hope and pray.

COPYRIGHT 2018 BY CARL E GUSTAFSON

OUR AMAZING BRAIN

I was thinking the other day – about thinking.

How do we think? How can the cells of our brain enable us to craft thoughts and ideas? How can we then turn these concepts into spoken and written words? How can we work and invent and laugh and cry? How can we love and grieve and hope?

Animals have brains, but they can’t do what humans can. This is only one of the many differences that place us far above the mammals and other creatures. Man truly was created in the image of God!

We were once told that we only use a small percentage of our brain power, but more recent studies show that we utilize most of our gray matter in daily activities, and even while sleeping.

But sadly this great capacity for thought can be used for evil as well as good. Words can either hurt or heal. Writing can be constructive or destructive [including tweets.] Movies can contribute to society or demean our culture, as way too many have done.

Thankfully, we can decide what we read and watch and therefore we can control what goes into our brains. Because this brain power we have includes a tremendous amount of stored memories, the input from the past affects our thinking in the future.

This is especially important for children. What our schools teach; what parents teach; what TV and movies teach – all affect the lives or our kids and therefore the future of our nation.

This is why the Bible reminds us to think about what is good and wholesome and positive and healthy, and why we must meditate on God’s Word and encourage one another as often as we can.

So, as you think about thinking, think about what you think you should add to your memory. Think about what you should add to the memory of others. Think about using all this thinking power for the good of our communities our churches and especially our families.

COPYRIGHT 2018 BY CARL E GUSTAFSON