Politics! November 18, 2022

If your listen to the news for too long it’ll make you sad or angry. Sometimes we just need to splash some cold water on our face and take a deep breath! The following is a collection of excerpts from a column Will Rogers wrote starting in 1922 and ending with his death in 1935. I see these a something of a splash of cool water AND a breath of fresh air! Read ’em and smile! There is nothing new under the sun and no matter who is in office; YHWH is on the Throne!

I love a dog. He does nothing for political reasons.

Congress is so strange. A man gets up to speak and says nothing, nobody listens and then everybody disagrees.

Never blame a legislative body for not doing something. When they do nothing, they don’t hurt anybody. When they do something is when they become dangerous.

I really can’t see any advantage of having one of your party in as President. I would rather be able to criticize a man than have to apologize for him.

It’s no disgrace not to be able to run a country nowadays, but it is a disgrace to keep on trying when you know you can’t.

It looks to me like any man that wants to be President in times like these lacks something.

They’ve already started arguing over who will be the speaker at next year’s conventions. What they better worry about is who is going to listen.

There should be a moratorium called on candidates’ speeches. From now on, they are just talking themselves out of votes.

A President-elect’s popularity is the shortest lived of any public man’s. It only lasts till he picks his Cabinet. 

The promising season ends on Election Day. That same night, the alibi season begins and lasts for the next four years.

Our government is the only people that just love to spend money without being compelled to, at all. But the government is the only people that don’t have to worry where it is coming from.

Last year we said: “Things can’t go on like this!” And they didn’t — they got worse.

In Washington, yesterday, everybody I tried to talk to was a Presidential candidate. Both Houses spent all week arguing politics. Did you ever figure it out? They are the only people that are paid to do one job and do every other one there is but that.

Lord, the money we do spend on government, and it’s not a bit better than the government that we got for one-third the money 20 years ago.

This inflation was brought on by the actions of many peoples of the whole world, and its weight will be lifted by the actions of many peoples of the whole world, and not by a Republican or a Democrat.

With old inflation riding the headlines, I have read till I am bleary-eyed. We are living in an age of explanations, but no two things that have been done to us have been explained twice the same way, by even the same man.

When it comes to a showdown, Washington must never forget who rules — the people.

The Best of Will Rogers 1979 by Bryan B. Sterling, Crown Publishing, Inc., NY, NY.

Is God on our side?  Nov 11, 2022

Happy Veteran’s Day – thank you for your service!

Like many of you, I was a little disappointed in the election.   I totally believe that there are good people, and not so good people on both sides of the political divide, but the side I was rooting for didn’t do as well as I had hoped.  That said, I know  that I will share heaven with people who had hoped for another outcome.  The truth is both sides want the “bums*” thrown out and there was probably plenty of disappointment to go around.   What we really want are policies and philosophies that align with our understanding of what’s best.  I, for one,  need to remember that God is the judge, I am not! 

Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?” (Ezek. 18:23)

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.”

2 Peter 3:9-10

The truth is, He will crush evil in His time, but the time is now for us to be holy and work for His glory.  When life doesn’t give us what we want, the appropriate question is, “What does God want from me”?

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”

1 Peter 1:6-7; 4:12-13

Just some thoughts from your very human Pastor!

Scott

*”Throw the bums out” is a phrase from a political cartoon published in 1994, it captures the general dissatisfaction with politicians experienced by both sides of the political spectrum.