Soul and Spirit

Survival: USA, President Obama, Israel

Can they all survive these perilous times?

I got to pondering that question on Tuesday of this week (ie April 6, 2010).

My conclusions?

  • I do not see how President Obama can survive to complete his first term in office.
  • Nor do I see how the United States can survive almost three more years of what it has experienced in the first year plus of the Obama Presidency.
  • About Israel, well, take man’s measuring rod and she’s doomed also.

I should remind you at this point that I am a two-separate-kingdoms Christian. I am apolitical and my comments are likewise.

I believe we are in a period of intense peril for the USA, for President Obama, and for Israel. I believe this great peril exceeds anything any of those three have experienced before (at least if we limit the scope of that comment to the modern nation-state of Israel and not historical Israel).

The course presently charted for the US will hasten its collapse or at least the collapse of her system of government (which would be catastrophic enough). I will not elaborate on why I think that.

President Obama surely has more than the usual potential assassins plotting his destruction. Again, I’ll not take the time to elaborate. I don’t see how the Secret Service can keep him safe.

Israel need only look at the radical change this week in the American nuclear posture to doubt her own survivability. The US has just declared it has taken a nuclear counterstrike off the table as a response to a non-nuclear WMD attack. If the US will not retaliate that way to such an attack on itself, why should Israel think the US will stick its neck out for her when she’s attacked with chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons? Couple that with other developments of late, and Israel appears dangerously alone.

Well, I have taxes to do. And a Sunday School class to prepare to teach in the morning. And missionary reports from Mexico to get ready for tomorrow afternoon’s Mission Board meeting. And other pressing matters pressing me. I already spent too much time on this. I shall have to forego the pleasure of expanding my points.

In closing, these points:

  1. As I understand the Scriptures, Israel survives, thanks only to dramatic divine intervention.
  2. About the United States and about President Obama, I don’t know. I’m not that kind of prophet.
  3. I just don’t see how they survive another three years.
  4. I pray they do.

I call on God’s faithful people to pray that way as well.

PS: Am I going off the deep end?

PS, Jr: I’m not fearful nor paranoid. Nor am I a kook. 😉

Kyrgyzstan: Did You Know?

Will religious freedom increase with new Kyrgyz government?

While Kyrgyzstan’s President Bakiyev refused to resign, an interim government has been established, headed by Former Foreign Minister Roza Otunbayeva.

Wednesday’s coup has left many in the country in fear, says Sergey Rakhuba, vice president of Russian Ministries.

[…]

Rakhuba is hoping the coup also means a repeal of restrictive religion laws.

[…]

That could happen as Otunabayeva wants the new government to draft a new constitution and hold new elections in the next six months.

In the meantime, reports indicate Bakiyev is trying to rally supporters in the southern portion of the country, which could mean additional bloodshed.

Love Your Neighbor

Two months and two days ago, Ruby (she’s my wife!) pointed out these March 6 entries in two of our day-by-day flip calendars.

First, from Light for the Day:

A man cannot touch his neighbor’s heart
with anything less than his own.

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 19:19 (b) NASB

Then, with amazing synchronization, from For the Love of a Friend:

The love of our neighbor is the only door out of the dungeon of self.
George MacDonald

Love your neighbor as yourself.
Mark 12:31

I was blessed by that.

She Sees Red

I tend to be wary of research these days. But this research meshes with what I believe to be true:

Calvin College professor’s research shows adults who remember being spanked are more well-adjusted

While timeouts and other disciplinary methods work for some parents and is encouraged by some child psychologists, a Calvin College psychology professor says her research shows corporal punishment forms more well-adjusted people later in life.

Marjorie Gunnoe says the study finds children who remember being spanked on the backside with an open hand do better in school, perform more volunteer work and are more optimistic than others who were not physically disciplined.

“This in no way should be thought of as a green light for spanking,” said Gunnoe, who has studied spanking for more than a decade.

Her research contradicts claims spanked children are more aggressive and have other detrimental consequences.

The practice should be considered when lawmakers across the county consider banning spanking, Gunnoe said, noting 24 countries have barred the punishment.

“This is a red light for people who want to legally limit how parents choose to discipline their children,” she said. “I don’t promote spanking, but there’s not the evidence to outlaw it.”

I saw the story Saturday night.

Among other thoughts, one wandered to the so-called Greatest Generation. I suspect the majority of them were spanked as children.

I thought of the so-called Founding Fathers. I suspect they were spankers as well as spankees.

I thought of the pioneers. Ditto.

Now we’re beginning to reap the fruits of a different approach to raising children. And it ain’t a pretty picture. Only God can reverse the trend and delay the consequences. I hope He does. Frankly, though, I doubt He will. Especially if His people pray and fast about it as much as I do.

😯

Above all, love God!