To Be Seen of Men

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Especially now, people everywhere find themselves in need of help in various forms. They struggle with financial, physical, psychological, and spiritual burdens made all the more dire by the fact that the world itself is also up in arms, literally. Most people prefer to give money because it's easy, but what they need isn't usually money, even if money would temporarily help, because that's just a symptom of the larger problem.

I was a regular downtown Friday afternoons to feed the homeless for over a year. Eventually, the North Las Vegas Police kicked us off the property, after it grew so much that we looked like an eyesore on an important afternoon. People came from everywhere to help us dish out what was provided, and some even chipped in money or arranged for donations, but they were intimidated by the homeless. I was there, ironically enough, because the homeless were intimidated by me. I walked up and down the line, ostensibly to keep order, but mostly because I was talking with the people about their spiritual and psychological needs. I knew that the best thing I could really give them, even if I concurrently handed out socks, was my time and my attention.

Most people however satiate themselves caring for only the physical needs. They would rather feed a man for a day than teach him to fish. We tend to the physical needs of people for two reasons. First, it's easy to see it bear fruit and rarely costs us much. It works immediately, provides feedback immediately, and costs you cash, which is easy because it's not personal. Secondly, we can take credit. We have been trained to do things so we can put them on our resume or college applications or whatever. A direct link can be established between the recipient and the giver, and so we will go out and take credit for things unjustly ascribed to our actions.

We do not take care of the spiritual needs of people because it's harder work and harder to tell we made a difference. Besides that, ultimately, we don't do any of it, because the soul is healed by the Savior. Where there is sin or struggle or pain, ultimately there is little in our poor power to do. At best we, like I did down on the Strip, can only listen and show empathy, but ultimately the healing happens some other way.

Today I listened to members of my congregation thank other members of my congregation for their great help. While they do this to alleviate temporary albeit urgent needs of the people, they ignore the fact that others labor under guilt, shame, grief, and other burdens that cannot be solved by food baskets and cashier's cheques. I wondered if these members of my congregation did what they did to be seen of men- so that people would thank them publicly, so they can take credit. Even if they're helping others deal with other problems, we'll never know because those things should be secret, and if we do reveal them, it's a gross violation of confidence.

For the most part, I do what I do in silence. I prefer to fly under the radar and just do what I do because I ought. I don't like public recognition or awards. I like getting paid, but I don't publish or parade around my paycheck so all may note what great contribution I make to the school. While I keep a file of nice notes from students, I also keep it in a box under this desk, where I can read it when I feel down but where it otherwise remains anonymous. God knows what I did and those people know what I did, and that's where the accolades belong- between us.

When we act to be seen of men, our reward ends there. We have our praise, our plaques, or our paychecks, but our existence lasts far beyond retirement. I am laying up treasure in that other world knowing that lasting things last and immediate gratification rarely satisfies. I am perturbed by the focus on being seen on applications for college, programs, and such. I even hated having to read through resumes for an opening in our group because I had to rank people based on how well they lather themselves with accomplishments. Ultimately, all that we have and are comes from God. In Him we live and move and have our being. It is because of Him that anything we do or are is seen of any man, and I thank Him for His mercy giving me this day so that you can see this. All glory to Him. He's the source of all my good ideas, phraseology, and actions. I justly ascribe everything good you have through your association with me to Him. Give the glory to God.

Unashamed of My Past

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In his funeral oration for Caesar according to Shakespeare, Marc Antony sardonically points out that “the evil that men do lives after them [while] the good is oft interred with their bones”. As humans, every one of us has a part of his past with which he’d rather dispense, particularly when the lens of public or private scrutiny investigates his behavior and associations looking for problems. Having previously applied for a security clearance, I have already had the government go over my life with a fine toothed comb, and the things that might be cause for concern have been resolved to the satisfaction of the government. In short, they decided they can trust me, and so can you.

Many people cannot say that. I encountered a nice woman a few weeks back who inquired into college prospects for her daughter. When I suggested that she come get a degree and upgrade her life, she informed me that she had made a series of unwise choices when she was younger and had ascended as high as she expected to. I felt sad. I also have a great deal of respect for this woman because she did not try to hide it.

The best way to handle problematic issues for me has always been to face them head on. I find when you try to avoid or delay problems they grow and fester and eventually flank you at a time when you least expect and can least afford to face them. I have been the victim of false accusations. I have been the target of false aspersions. I try to take things with a grain of salt when other people claim something. Recently, I discovered this chastisement from God in the book of Job: “Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man…and answer thou me.“ It’s powerful, and it reminds me of how extremely common it is for people to assume that what they hear is true without doing any research on their own.

Last night, I told my class that I used to go to Wikipedia and alter the articles so they were false. This week, I read about a political candidate who has altered her records so as to obfuscate details and remove references, making it more difficult for people to find out the truth of who she is and what she has done. That looks very suspicious. I begin to think she has something to hide. I do not come out and advertise what people might believe to be skeletons in my closet, but if you discover one, I still have my paperwork from my SF-86, and I can show you that those incidents were words without knowledge, and I have never tried to hide these events. I just choose normally to mention other things.

In attempting to hide her past this candidate threatens her future. It raises questions when people find out you doctor documents. I mean, Harry Reid claims that Romney altered his tax returns. I don’t know how you do that, but if it’s true, it’s no less serious of a crime for Elizabeth Warren or Barack Obama to have done so, since both of them are under suspicion of trying to hide the truth from folks.

Everyone makes mistakes, because everyone is human. The trick is to not let your mistakes make you. I am unashamed of my past and unafraid for my future, because the choices I made led me to become the person I am, and the person I am is a person I desire to be. I made choices back then with the best information I had, and when I discovered that I made errors, I made course adjustments. I have been focused for several years now on divine correction and direction, and because I believe in Christ, I believe that for the truly penitent man the past is done away and the Lord remembers it no more.

As we left the exam last night, I told one of my students that I expect great things because I’m trying to make of the rising generation a better one than that to which I belong. I desire them to be better so that we as a people can advance, and so I do not worry if they see my weaknesses, because I know they are smart enough to sort out the wise parts of my life from those that are otherwise. I do not mind sharing my philosophy because I believe it will help them forge their own path, and I have already seen that bear fruit. I take strength from my beliefs, values and norms. They guide my actions and help define who I am. If you find my thoughts amusing, laugh. If you find they support yours, rejoice. If you are taken aback at my lack of wisdom, thank God that He made manifest my weaknesses to you that you may learn to be wiser than I, and that’s why I write this blog in the first place.

Gracious Behavior

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Years ago while in High School, my US History teacher showed us the movie “Glory” in class. It was rated R, and as a Junior, I was not 17 until just before finals. Having not produced a signed permission slip, I should not have been allowed to see the movie (which offended my sensibilities), and so I filed a complaint with the school district. My teacher, who shall remain nameless, was promoted from teaching to “Dean of Discipline” at my same high school. I have always found that to be a paradox on many levels.

As I grow older, I find this paradox to be the rule rather than the exception. Rather than punish or remove the miscreants, they promote them to positions of both higher authority as well as higher remuneration. I have found this to be true in almost every job I have ever held, that the worst amongst us are promoted while the people who carry the lion’s share of the work are burdened more and more until they quit and go elsewhere.

Frequently, I wonder how these people rose to positions in the first place. As Democrat politicians bemoan the lack of “civility” from GOP “attack ads”, they blissfully ignore the graphic and violent hatred spouted from their own side. Rather than punish or fire these people, I expect they will be promoted and rewarded. After all, it seems to be a badge of honor with DEMs to be immoral, unethical, and unashamed thereof (Lewinsky, Chappaquiddick, and Solyndra ring a bell?). I suspect it’s a basic form of cronyism, where people surround themselves with people who agree with them rather than with people who are the best at the job.

I rather suspect that people refuse to promote me, not as a punishment to be, but as a means to promote themselves. When my manager at Wal-mart refused to promote me, I rather suspect his bonuses depended on his being able to rely with confidence on my performance. When I unexpectedly quit, that must have cut his apparent productivity; they needed me more than I needed them (I now earn twice what they paid me for the same work hours).

The uncivil and the miscreants talk the loudest about how everyone else is uncivil and miscreant. I love this video from Milton Friedman that illustrates how we project our faults on others and unjustly ascribe to ourselves the best that is in us as if the rot does not exist. As Friedman says, “It’s always the other person who’s greedy”. Thus they clothe their naked villainy with odd old ends stolen forth from holy writ and seem saints when most they play the devil (Richard III Act I scene iii). What’s more frustrating is that people believe the act! People actually believe that Democrats give a flying pinwheel about them even while anything the Democrats do helps coincidentally more often than purposedly. Much of it actually hurts.

Jesus warned me about this in John 15:19

If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

The world does not reward virtue. The world rewards those that give it special favors. The world is a self-licking ice cream cone that likes to taste itself, so when you offer it more of its own, it will favor you as a supplier, but when you feed it what it ought to (salad fixings), it will spew you out of its mouth. I thank God that, in spite of my quixotic quest I have done as well as I have. I justly ascribe that favor and prosperity to Him. His behavior is because of His grace, for I have received far better than I deserve.

For most of my adult life, I have been working toward and living the law of a world far different than the one I inhabit. I know full well that what I believe and do and feel will be little esteemed nor long noted in this world. I do not expect to be treated graciously by most people, but when they represent themselves as virtuous and then reward people for things other than virtue, I thank God that I believe in and rely on Him for His tender mercies. He is the only reliable source of truly gracious behavior. As James Madison said, "If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If men were governed by angels, no controls on government would be necessary". It's too bad we're not angels. Prove anyone who claims to be one.

State of the Church

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Jefferson's immortal phrase "wall of separation between church and state" has become a topic of much debate. I find that paradoxical in that it comes from a personal letter sent between men who were not part of the Constitutional convention. From all the writings of Thomas Jefferson, I cannot conclude that it was ever his intent to dissuade men from religion or to squelch their beliefs or morality. Rather, I think he might consider it a great breach of honour to assault the faith of another person. At the very least, it's exceptionally tacky.

If we are to consider letters as authoritative, I have a few I'd like to enter as evidence. I'm sure you also have letters from former relationships professing "undying love" that is no longer welcome, let alone gospel. Personal letters are not necessarily valuable; unless of course twitter and instagram are now the substance of great literature. No no, I feel this is more a convenient way for them to phrase a rhetorical argument that serves them no matter which way they cut the political cake.

As the world reels in the wake of anti-American protests among Muslims, the President calls for toleration of Muslims. The UN calls for a mandate to criminalize any derogatory reference to Muslims, pretending that 1000 years of crusades somehow didn't happen and didn't matter. In doing this, they propose to violate the Constitution itself that prohibits Congress from making any law establishing any special privileges for any Faith or prohibiting the free exercise of the same. What other Faith has received this kind of protection, let alone the offer thereof from the chief executive's office?

I side with the Bill of Rights on this issue. I do not believe it just to amingle religious influence with civil government, whereby one religious society is fostered and another proscribed in its spiritual privileges, and the individual rights of its members, as citizens, denied. Yet, that is exactly what we're seeing right before our very eyes as they mingle religious influence and seek to afford special privileges to Islam. However, as they prop up some religions, they beat down others. When they cannot do it by fiat, they do it in public and popular pressure, making it uncool to stand for any kind of moral code unless that code's only commandment is "Thou shalt not get found out, and if thou art found out, at least get rich selling a sensationalized memoir". It is evil to stand for the family, for abstinence, for unborn babies, for just war, and the like, but it is ok to riot in the street, practice witchcraft, and pray to the Rolling Stones. In America, you are free to believe and live as you like unless you're a Christian or a Jew.

Just after the riots began, I tweeted before I heard it anywhere else about why it's ok to mock Romney but why one must apologize to Muslims. While the Muslim miscreants rape and pillage and destroy, nobody worries about upsetting a Mormon. That's because Mormons don't pull people's arms out of their sockets when they lose. When was the last time a Mormon blew up a building in the name of their religion? It is no mark of maturity to say "give me what I want or I will be a miscreant".

As Obama protracts his war on faith and the Faith, we cling to our bibles. As he forces churches to provide things contrary to their dogma, we continue to look to God. I have said before that the most important thing we can do is to repent and bind the Lord to bless us with chains of righteousness. Until then, the state of the church, like that of the world at large, will remain precarious. God will deliver us, but He is only bound when we do what He says. How well are you doing?

Joy in the Journey

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Sometimes when I take people hiking, the hikes don't turn out as we planned. I have had to turn back because someone opted out as well as because of my own choices. However, there is no need to apologize if we don't reach the waterfall or sign the register at the peak. I don't just hike for the destination. I actually do it more to get out and get exercise. For me, the experience is about more than just the end.

Before I moved to Vegas, I worked a strange shift. It left me off on days when other people were working, and so I took dozens of road trips alone. Basically, I picked a road, filled the tank, and drove as far as I could on a tank of gas there and back, seeing whatever I could along the way. Sometimes I saw what I planned. Sometimes I saw other things. Sometimes the things I saw by the way were more interesting than the original goal. I even used to stop at all those roadside stands that claim they have the best beef jerky ever and buy some. Trust me, some of them are not all that great!

A few years back, my close hiking friend said that "the real objective of every hike is to get back to the car safely". Meanwhile, we get to see a few things. Last time we went hiking, we saw mountain wildflowers in bloom, wild horses, leaves turning colors, and an old propeller driven plane from WWII. Sure, it was nice we made it to the waypoint we picked, but we still had a nice workout and got out to a much nicer place than the typical Vegas summer offers. It was fun.

I am not an objective oriented person when it comes to recreation. I recreate to recreate. I don't really get a big rise out of winning or the championship or such stuff. After that, it's kind of a big crash as you are let down. The pent up energy of the chase climaxes and then dies. The longer the journey and the more you joy in the road along the way, the longer your enjoyment, and the memories last an extra, extra long time. Gum?

I realize I enjoy working on things more than I do checking them off a list. Maybe that's why I abandon some projects, because the ones I finish, well, now that they're over I don't know what to do with the rest of my life. I already had to write a bucket list when I turned 30 to give myself some goals, and much of that is already marked off as complete. I just wish there was someone with whom to share my life for greater synergy, a way to have joy in the journey rather than just in arriving. That's how I feel anyway.

Obama's Annual Review

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My annual review is due on 8 October every year. Usually this happens just in time, not that I’m worried, but when it comes last minute, it’s usually hurried and at a time inconvenient to me. I anticipate that it might be a tricky situation this year. I had some coworkers who were recently promoted without any cause I can see, and if I receive any less than excellent, I will be disappointed. With all humility, I am the best they have, and I look forward to the best compensation they can grant me. If they like it, then they should put a raise on it.

A close friend of mine who once managed people announced last weekend that he intends to vote for Obama. I invited him as I invite you to consider Obama as if he were an employee up for an annual review this November, because HE IS. He works for us, and we pay his salary. If he were your employee, would you rehire him or fire him?

Every indicator of prosperity is in the wrong place under this president. What would you do if one of your employees promised a project by a certain time at a certain price and then, when the due date arrived, announced that the cost would triple and the time frame increase to twice the original term? Would you give him a raise? A bigger budget? Four more years? Yet, that’s exactly what some propose.

I have long protested this notion. During graduate school, a ‘collaborator’ took data I generated and published it as his own work without any attribution. He never shared anything. He stole my intellectual property, and then he returned to his home country with his PhD secured forever. I do not like other people getting paid for my work. I resent the fact that I have more work than when I was hired in 2007, but that I earn less now than I did when I was hired while coworkers receive promotions. I want to see their annual reviews and see how their promotions are justified, particularly if I don’t receive a single senine.

However, this is about more than me. This is about something I love- my country. When the time comes for the President’s annual review, remember that he gave himself an incomplete, which means he has not met the benchmarks. Bench him, and hire someone else.

I cannot understand how anyone who knows anything about business would want to keep Obama on the team. I have been part of organizations in the past that eventually cleared themselves of the riff-raff. If it were up to me, and it is partly, I would rather work with an orange juice can than with Barack Obama in the Oval Office. He disrespects the office and doesn't seem to care about the Founding principles. He has got to go. Then we'll deal with Romney...

Myth of Equality

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Yesterday I felt a bit guilty because I had a good week and others faced trials. Yes, I had two exciting and dangerous days, but all in all things have been really well. I even went kayaking safely for the first time and was able to run a 10K this morning without any hiccups. Life is good, but societal pressures make me feel like it's not ok to celebrate good news.

As I opined this with a close friend who is sick, she told me it was ok to be happy, because she's happy I had a good week. I'm not going to go get myself sick to bring myself down. That doesn't help either of us. How can one man be caregiver if both are sick? Yet that seems to be exactly what people propose when it comes to economic duress. In their quest for the supposedly desirable notion of 'equality', they attempt to bring those who are successful down. How does that help the people who are economically sick to spread around the infection? Making everyone sick doesn't make anyone healthy any more than making everyone poor makes anyone rich

Equality is secretly code for a campaign for larger government. In order for there to be true equality, someone must define it and enforce it. Government is the only thing large enough and powerful enough to do that besides an internal conscience, and most people will admit that morality holds far too little power to accomplish this. What those who tout equaility really want is that you become dependent on government. Thomas Paine reminds us that "this therefore is the origin and rise of government, namely a mode made necessary by the inability of moral virtue to govern the world (Common Sense, pg 3)."

How else can one explain the celebration over welfare programs? We now have 47 million Americans on food stamps, as if 47 million among us would starve if not for that assistance. We now have 47% of the population who pay no income taxes. They are takers. These programs are clothed in odd old elements stolen forth from holy write to make the administrators thereof seem saints when most they play the devil. They claim to help the poor, but they keep men poor.

For example, this morning the radio reported that the RTC in Vegas reports a fare increase, which will hurt the poor. Rich people dont' ride the bus, particularly after some yahoo smashed into a bus stop while intoxicated at 100mph and killed several people including one of his own passengers. They want us out of our cars where they can control us. My car, ugly and old as it is, is freedom. The RTC monthly pass costs just over $1/day. Sure, it costs me $4/day in gas for work, but I am free to do a lot of other things. I can get up and work out, read scriptures, drive to work, run errands enroute or on the way home, go out for lunch, work a second job after work, etc. The extra money I pay is for the convenience to do what I want on my own terms. Government wants to set the terms.

This is even why they attack religion. You see, "there is God and there is government; God is greater than government, and government doesn't like that (Inga Barks)". As long as God sets the terms and dishes out the rights, there is something more powerful than they are. They seek power. It's very Luthorian of them to think they can partner with General Zod and not also be ruled by him. It's acceptable to mock Mormons but not Muslims, and that's because Mormons won't pull people's arms out of their sockets if they don't get fair treatment. You don't see Mormons tearing down flags and killing ambassadors because of a Broadway mockumentary on the Book of Mormon. That's the 'religion of peace' that responds to a film.

Most of the politicians who promise equality do not mean prosperity. There is only one way to guarantee equality- to make all men miserable. That's where they are headed. Who is better off than four years ago? Barack Obama is. He got is. To hell with you, which is exactly what they propose to build here. They ignore the fallacy of trying to make on earth, which is fallen, the utopia that heaven alone can sustain.

Superman- a Metaphor?

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With great celebration and a small hiccup, I procured the first Superman movies starring Christopher Reeve last week. As I watched them, I started to see things in the movies that made me wonder if the script writer intended the movie to be a metaphor. Even if he didn't, the original superman can be taken as an extension of American culture and faith.

Begin with the planet Krypton. It orbits a distant sun, peopled by a race of advanced humans who have managed to make peace and work without money. They have few criminals, and those few that rise are imprisoned in the Phantom Zone, doomed to wander the universe unless freed by a nuclear explosion. They are scientists. They live with crystals under their feet. They have great strength, wisdom, and power, attenuated on Krypton by the radiation of their red supergiant star.

The names are symbolic. I do not know if they translate, but Kal-el, and Jor-el sound Hebrew to me, and "el" in Hebrew is an allusion to God. They are certainly, compared to the people of earth, what we might consider gods in 1950, people who can fly, fry, run, lift anything, and cannot be killed by anything on earth. In fact, Superman's only weakness is something that is not of our world that a man manages to get. He is weak and almost dies in essence because a man is allowed to have power over him. That man also does not, just as satan is dependent on God's will, ultimately have power to destroy Superman or kill anyone on earth.

Superman's mission resembles that of the Christ. He came from a distant star, learns lessons from his father, and goes about doing good, or in his words, "Fight for Truth, Justice, and the American Way". This he does without payment or scrip, without any place to lay his head. He doesn't seem to take advantage of mortals, until he becomes one of them by surrendering his powers in that special chamber in Superman II. He fights overwhelming odds. He fights battles humans cannot win. He even brings people back from death. This he does for us, even when men revile him and persecute him and cast him out. He doeth in secret so that his father will reward him openly.

I know it's not perfect, but it made me think. When I think about the measurements given me in scripture to judge the value of a thing, Superman with Mr. Reeve exceeds most of the media's quesquilia. It led me to think about Christ, and so I conclude it might be sent forth by the spirit and power of Christ.

Reeve is no longer with us. I suspect most of the people intimately involved in the plot are gone too. I wonder if they did it on purpose or if it is a happy accident of a mind prone to inquiry beyond the action scenes. Consider what superman means to you. For me his worth has grown, like his power, to be out of this world.

QE3 Bad For You and Me

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The market is all atwitter today that Ben Bernanke issued another round of Quantitative Easing. However, that means bad things to you and me. It means two things and two things only: the FED will print money (they talk about taking money from our reserves, but we have none because we're in debt), and they will buy mortgages. Big woop. That will not create jobs. It will affect you and me in very small ways, mostly negative.

Unless you are buying "mortgage backed securities", you won't see any positive changes from this. THe FED will buy mortgages from banks and then sell that to investors, but chances are you're not much of an investor, and even if you were, you probably wouldn't buy these. They are "toxic" bonds like those that precipitated the Panic of 2009. If you're a homeowner, it will change to whom you pay your mortgage, but chances are the FED already owns your loan. They bought mine six months after I bought my house, which I found odd since I bought my house from Freddy Mac in the first place. In essence, I bought it from them, and they bought my note from my bank, so now they own the note again. Seems fishy.

Meanwhile, most regular folks will see the negative side of this. Eventually, inflation will expand beyond the gas and food sector which is bad enough, and in an economy bereft of job creation, raises, and promotions, we will pay more for the same but have less with which to do it. Pretty soon, you'll have to earn $250,000/year just to pass the poverty line!

Far too many people equate doing something with accomplishing something. Although you must do something in order to accomplish something, we all know about busy work. In fact, this morning an old friend of mine asked me if I require my students to turn in their lecture notes. Why would I want to read 30 copies of the same thing I originally said? Sounds like busy work to me, something that they do to keep us busy but not with any particular objective in mind.

Bernanke's choice and the market's reaction indicates that the financial sector is wrought with panic. The market has risen, not because we created wealth and the companies are worth more, but because the dollars in which they are valued are worth less. Another crash is coming, but some people insist, like former Senator Ensign told me once in a letter that "to do the wrong thing is better than to do nothing". QE3 is artificial, ineffective, and contrary to Romney's request. It smacks of insanity, because they are doing for the third time something that did not work twice before.

That's the attitude of the Obama administration. they never acknowledge that they are wrong; they just insist it hasn't been done enough or for enough time or whatever. More dollars are not more wealth; companies do not exist to provide jobs; QE3 will not help the 'middle class'. This is done to help rich people, investors, the people who know how to buy "mortgage backed securities" without getting hurt. I don't see how it's good for you and me. If Obama gets reelected, that might prove good for him, but I'm not convinced that Obama has done anything good for you and me either.

Do me a favor, Mr President, and don't do me any favors.

In the Hand of God

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For two reasons, this theme crosses my mind today. First of all, I was spared from a tragic and perhaps fatal crash last night on the way home. Secondly, as we rely on gods of steel and stone to protect us, I am reminded that prevention of another 9/11 attack relies more on repentance than on technology. Know ye not that ye are in the hand of God and that at His word the earth shall be rolled together as a scroll?

Last night while driving home from lecture, I was already kind of tired. I had the radio on to keep me awake and the window down for the same reason. As a semi truck approached me from the rear to pass in the fast lane, I registered a strange noise. For some reason, I have paid attention to noises made by wheels lately, probably because it was two years ago that I had a blowout and wrecked. I felt like I should look at his wheel well, and when I did, I saw that it was already full of rubber as his tread was probably separating. Right then, I felt impressed to slow down and pull over to put plenty of space between me and the truck. I did so, and as I reached the right shoulder, the truck's tire blew out and flew across the freeway in front of me, striking a road construction barrel with such force that the barrel flew over the edge of the freeway into the neighborhood below. Rubber shrapnel flew everywhere as the truck jack knifed across the lanes of traffic and the truck careened to the right, where I would have been if I'd kept up my speed. If I had been there, he would probably have crushed or flipped my Saturn.

Some of the comments were interesting. People observed that I "must have said my prayers that morning", and in the moment right following the blowout, I tried to pray as I continued on home, but all I could say was thanks. Aside from being stiff this morning from being on edge or in shock, I seem to have escaped unscathed. I don't really consider myself all that special, but it seems important to the universe that I not only survive but survive without any harm. I feel very unworthy of this blessing, not because I am wicked per se, but more because I feel rather insignificant.

As we commemorate the 11th year since the 9/11 attack, many people talk about the use of force to protect Americans. I maintain that the best protection we can procure is the intervention of the Almighty. If we desire His assistance, protection, and intervention on our behalf, now is the time to repent so that, when we need it, His Spirit CAN be with us. To illustrate this, I quote General George Washington from his farewell address to the army:

A contemplation of the complete attainment, at a period earlier than could be expected, of the objects for which we contended against so formidable a power, cannot but inspire us with astonishment and gratitude. The disadvantageous circumstances on our part under which the war was undertaken can never be forgotten. The singular interpositions of Providence in our feeble condition were such as could scarcely escape the attention of the most unobserving; while the unparalleled perseverance of the armies of the united States through almost every possible suffering and discouragement for the space of eight years was little short of a standing miracle.

I think sometimes about why the United States actually emerged victorious and free. I cannot speak to the actual state of grace of the people at the time, but I can say that more of them were talking of Christ and trying to stand in holy places.

In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, the citizenry did too. It was suddenly not only acceptable but fashionable to pray, to ascribe blessings to God, and for the President to reference His interpositions. Today, we labor under a president about whom the following can better be said that "There is God and there is government. God is greater than government and government doesn't like that (Inga Barks)." For our current crop of leaders, they desire government to be the ultimate source of everything. The ax boasteth itself against him who heweth therewith.

We are protected and safe today in spite of President Obama. He had to be persuaded to move forward with the Bin Laden mission. He has not removed our troops from combat or closed Gitmo. I am confident that today, as then, the singular interpositions of Providence keep us safe. As soon as we cast out the righteous from among us, as happened betimes in Sodom and Gamorrah, we will be ripe for destruction. We are safe and free and happy and prosperous still today at least to some degree because we are in the hand of God. He holds us up. He upholds us. If we spurn that, we have no promise.

If America desires to continue or increase in goodness, she must repent. Her people must change their hearts, change their directions, change their directions, and become better people. We must ask God to forgive us, ask our neighbors to forgive us and then seek to make it right. I looked up in my copy of the Royal Standard English Dictionary (1756), and "penitence" meant "willingness to make atonement" or willingness to make things right. Only the penitant man shall pass. Only the penitant man shall persist. Those are the ones God keeps in His hand, protected from dangers and elevated to life and salvation. Today I thank God that I was preserved by the power of His matchless hand. I do not know why. I shall endeavor to be worthy of it.