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Nov 6 2008

YES WE CAN!


President Elect Obama

President Elect Obama

As I watched the news unfold last night I couldn’t help but be happy for the people with tears streaming down as they listened while President Elect Obamaspoke to the 100,000 or so folks in Grant Square. I was touched seeing Rev. Jessie Jackson and Opra among the masses, evidently deeply touched that a black man, one of them, was finally elevated to the highest office in the United States. It is easy to brush aside what it must be like to hope that the day will come when people are not treated as less than others because they have dark skin. The raw facts of slavery and the historic struggles of the African American people are seemingly built into the DNA of every person with African heritage. So, my sincere congratulations to President Elect Obama, his family and friends, campaign workers, and all those who voted for him.
It is likely that we know less about Barack Obama than any other person ever elected President of the United States. Soon we will get to know him as we observe how he governs. I’m sure he would agree that it’s one thing to make a speech but quite another to actually put those hopes, dreams, and aspirations into policy and see them through. He will be my President and I wish him the very best. I told someone at an early small group meeting today that I hope he turns out to be the best president in my lifetime. How wonderful would that be? What a statement to the possibilities of being an American citizen?
I did not vote for Mr. Obama based on his lack of experience, poor judgement, and liberal political theory. I hope he now governs differently than what he campaigned on in several areas. I believe he will. I’m sure he does not want to be a one term president, or to preside over the Democrats loosing many of the seats in Congress they have gained in the last two election cycles. I wish him great success.
This historic election is not a rejection of conservative principals and governance but rather this is what filled the void left by it’s absence. I listened to pundit after pundit spout off the death rites of conservatism last evening as I surfed the news channels. Their belief is that the country has now swung left of center because of gains by Democrats and the election of Obama. Nothing is farther from the truth. The ballot initiatives across the states upholding traditional marriage, against homosexual marriage, and for life had wide support. And, there is no sane American who would not like to keep more of his wages and be able to conduct business with less government interference.
Conservatives made the near fatal mistake of believing the lie that the road to success was to straddle the political fence and try to please everyone on both sides. Minus 25 seats in the U.S. Congress last election and 15 more lost this time, and loosing the White House was the reward. Being right wing conservative is not the problem it is rather the lack of it that is the problem. Gov. Sarah Palin was the only conservative in the race and she being a late comer couldn’t carry the water for a weak McCain.
Unless conservatives put forth candidates who are unashamedly pro-life, pro-2nd Amendment, for lower/fairer taxes, strong national defense, tough on crime, lovers of and loyal to the Constitution, for smaller more accountable government, and sensible spending, we will continue to slowly slide away into history and become only what once was.
Liberalism unchecked is dangerous and based wholly upon it’s logical end, cannot be sustained over time. In a system of government that rewards the least productive citizens at the expense of the most productive always leaves the masses of working people poor and oppressed. As Ronald Regan said “Government is not the solution to all of our problems, government is the problem”. He was right when he said it and he is still right.
Finally, I might be the only person in America who still likes Geroge Bush. None, I repeat NONE, of his critics are willing to factor in the tragic events of 9-11 and how that terrible episode changed the course of history. Hypocrites who voted for the war in Iraq are the loudest critics of Bush. I’ll be the first to admit he did some things very wrong. He was wrong on immigration and became a big spender just as if he was a Yellow Dog Democrat. I do believe history will be more kind to him than CNN and MSNBC has been. He is a good man who always tried to do what he thought was right for the country and the world.
Now before us is an unprecidented opportunity to unite behind our leader and work together for the common good. I am all for bipartisanship so long as we are all working toward good policy and practice. I will pray for President Obama, support him all I can, hold him accountable as much as possible, and try to correct him when he is wrong.
Can America still lead the free world? Can we get out of our economic slump? Can we still be the place where the nations of the earth look to for hope and opportunity? YES WE CAN!
God bless Barrack Obama and God bless America
Royce Ogle
Oct 19 2008

God is able, is He willing?


The following verses all say that God is “able“. He is “able” to do anything because He is God. Most believers embrace this idea of God’s ability in their personal belief system. Many of us however are not sure He is willing as we live our lives day by day.

Consider these verses and comments.

Romans 14:4
“Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” God can keep His own from falling, will He?

Ephesians 3:20
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.” Abundantly more than we ask or think! It’s hard to take in. The context is very personal, “according to the power at work in us“. The Holy Spirit, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, is the power we have at the ready to do in us and through us what will glorify God. God is very able but is He willing?

2 Timothy 1:12
“..which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.” What had Paul committed to the Lord? His soul, his future, his hope, his life, all that he was had been given over to the One who is able. He was able to guard what was entrusted to Him until the Day of the Lord. Did He? More than that, will He guard what you have entrusted to Him? He is able, is He willing?

Perhaps the answers are found in these next several verses. God is faithful! Praise His name, I can trust Him completely to do what I am not able to do. He is able, and He is faithful.

Romans 3:3
“What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?”

1 Corinthians 1:9
“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” Our calling into the fellowship of Jesus Christ depends upon the faithfulness of God. If it depends on me I’m in a very dangerous position. He is perfectly faithful even though you and I are not perfectly faithful. (Rom 3:3 above)

1 Corinthians 10:13
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” Temptations are common to us all. When they come, and they surely will, what assurance do we have that we can avoid falling into sin? The faithfulness of God! He knows each of us so intimately that He will allow temptation just short of our ability to resist. He will always provide a way of escape. Were it not for God’s faithfulness we would be overwhelmed by the temptation to fall into grievous sin often and we would not be able to resist. Let no man claim that he had no choice, no way out, God always provides a way of escape.

1 Thessalonians 5:24
“He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” Do what? This verse is immediately preceded by verse 23 which says “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ“. God will sanctify (set you apart for Himself) you completely (there is no room for failure), and your whole person will be kept blameless until Jesus comes. Not only will you be blameless then, your are now blameless, and will stay blameless because God is faithful and He will surely do it.

2 Timothy 2:13
“if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.” At some time every person living in sinful flesh is less than faithful, but while we disappoint even ourselves, God is faithful on our behalf. He cannot be otherwise and be God.

Hebrews 7:25
“Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” I doubt that any of us are capable of grasping the depth and breadth of this promise. One thing is for sure, those who have put their confidence in Jesus and are resting completely upon Him are safe. Saved, being saved, and will be saved in the end is the promise to all who come to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Hebrews 10:23
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” What a wonderfully powerful challenge and promise! Do you expect the sun to shine tomorrow? It very likely will. There are no rainy days in God’s faithfulness. He is always, eternally, faithful and because of that truth we who are His are at rest.

Galatians 5:22
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness”  God the Holy Spirit is at work in each believer forming us into the likeness of Christ. One of the ways He is doing that is to produce in our lives faithfulness. Faithfulness is one way we are like our Father.

God is not only able, but faithful. Amen.

Standing in grace,
Royce

Oct 14 2008

Obama the Tax Cutter


Who deserves a tax cut?

Who deserves a tax cut?

The top 50% paid 97.1% of all federal income taxes in 2006. (the above illustration is slightly outdated) Which means the lower 50% paid a grand total of only 2.9 %. And, the bottom 5 % of wage earners who pay federal income taxes received over $8.00 in government assistance for each dollar they paid in 2000. (the $’s are more now)
So, I ask you, who deserves a tax break? Mr. Obama and the Democrats decry giving tax breaks to the “rich”, but why not? When the top 5 % of wage earners are already paying far more than their share (53.25 %) I suggest a tax reduction for them is in order. Oh, by the way it is mainly them and the rest of the top 50 % of wage earners who provide almost all the jobs in America.
Obama tells the same lie several times a day; “95% of every one earning under $250,000 per year will get a tax deduction under my plan”. A technical term for that is “hogwash”. Since the bottom several percent (about 45 %) of wage earners already pay no income tax how is it possible to give them a tax break? The numbers just will not work. The real number, according to the usual rules of logic, is about 50 % and they are the ones who need it less.
What a nutty system! Punish the most productive citizens for being successful and reward the dead beats and encourage more irresponsibility and immorality. We must take care of those who are really needy but our government assistance programs are out of control.
Obama should wear a Robin Hood outfit. It is his goal to, in his words, “spread the wealth around”, translated rob the rich and give to the poor.
Each year millions of people come to the United States from socialist countries for education, health care and medical procedures, and financial opportunity. Why does anyone with an IQ above a turnip think Democrats can fashion a better socialist government than those other countries?
It’s too bad that we don’t have some of the best running for President. No matter who wins, we are caught striving for either national failure or mediocrity at best.
Royce
Oct 10 2008

The Fear of Falling


Around the globe financial markets are in sharp decline and the end is not in sight. A bloated housing market in the U.S., stupid policy by the U.S. congress, irresponsible consumers, and greedy Wall Street types have all contributed to the financial tsunami that began in the U.S. and has spread around the world.

Many wonder what the connection is between the U.S. markets and Asian, European, and other international markets? Why have they fallen as the DOW plunges downward? There are some rather meaningless monetary connections but the principal common denominator is simply fear.

Global citizens are not unlike we Americans in most ways. Our cultures and languages are different but we have the susceptibility to run away emotions and fear in common. Even after a bone headed congress ripped U.S. taxpayers off to the tune of $700,000,000,000 (billion) dollars and the problems weren’t fixed over night, people have been gripped by fear of the unknown and the result is stupidity unleashed.

The most elementary rule of investing in the stock market is “Buy low and sell high”. Tens of thousands of Americans, who are making emotional decisions, have started to sell assets and run from the market. And the more people liquidate investment dollars the more fearful people sell off and the market spirals steadily downward. Almost all of the problems we have experienced this week are driven by fear, the “Fear of Falling”.

Americans are fed a steady diet of bad news by news anchors who are almost giddy that things are terrible because they know the Democrats are vested in loosing wars and failing economies. Without one or both, Democrats don’t have a chance of winning the White House. And, on both sides of the political foot ball, campaigns are using tactics to create fear of the other candidate.

I remember as a young boy going to the movie in down town Asheville where i would sit in paralyzing fear watching a scary movie. I remember watching a scene in a movie not many years ago and being so tense my body was sore in anticipation of an impending murder. The fact is, in both instances, is was completely safe. I was in no danger other than the damage that might ensue from eating buttered pop corn. Our emotions will lie to us. The sooner we realize that emotional decisions are often bad ones, the more likely we are to be calm and collected in the face of bad news on the 6 o’clock news.

When President Franklin D. Roosevelt was sworn into office the country faced more dire circumstances than we face today. In his inauguration speech Franklin said “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself“. Perhaps those words are more true today than when they were spoken in 1932. The economy will turn around the very day that most Americans have hope that things will get better. Unfortunately we do not have strong leadership in either political party who can effectively convey the message of hope to the nation. In the absence of hope, as a nation we will continue to know “The Fear of Falling”.

The personal, individual solution, is to make important decisions based entirely on facts, not on fears. We should vote, invest, purchase real estate, and decide every other important event of our lives based on factual information if at all possible. To do so requires more than watching the news on TV or reading forwarded emails on your computer monitor. In my view most people are too lazy intellectually to make good decisions about most anything.

Finally, who do you trust with your future? I hope you are finding your security in God and a relation with Him through Jesus Christ. Pity the man who trusts in what he possesses.

Peace,
Royce