THE BUDGET MESS

See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of the Father who is in heaven (Matthew 18:10).

As a result of the recent budget battle in Washington, I am not optimistic that we will ever balance the budget.  The result of deficit spending is always inflation.  Inflation is a cruel thief, stealing from the poor and the elderly, those who can least afford it.  The irony is that liberal/progressive politicians, who claim to be the champions of the poor and the elderly, are the ones who are responsible for the huge deficits that are the cause of the high inflation rates staring us in the face.  In spite of the rhetoric, these politicians have done as much to hurt the cause of the poor and elderly as to help them.

The reason I am so negative about our financial future is that we cannot even stop tax-payer dollars from going to support planned population control--I should say planned parenthood. Planned parenthood is the single largest abortion provider in the United States and the single largest abortion promoter in the world.  PP has challenged common-sense legislation such as right-to-know laws and has backed partial birth abortion. In 2009 PP took in $149.9 million of revenue just from doing abortions which accounts for more than a third of the the $404.9 million of total PP revenue.  In terms of the total US budget that is small potatoes, but life is a core value. How we, as a society, look at the value of the unborn is indicative of how we, as a society, arrive at our other values.  If we refuse to protect the right to life of the unborn, the rights of every other person are expendable too.  I think as we begin to know more and more of what is in ObamaCare we will understand how expendable our rights are.

Materialists view every problem as a money problem.  But there are some problems that money cannot solve no matter how much is spent.  The real problem is a "heart" problem that will be resolved in Jesus Christ or in judgment.  The angels of the "little ones" might not prevent their abuse and deaths, but they certainly make a record of their abusers, preparing for them the hottest places in perdition.

Our Father's Love,
Tom

WHY GOD MATTERS

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.  Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.  It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep (Psalms 127:1-2 RSV).

I am reading through the Psalms, but not reading very fast.  This was in my reading yesterday and I thought it appropriate to share with you, my dear reader.

As we live our lives there are some basics that must be in place so that our lives can be lived with confidence and in peace of mind.  The most important basic is God, believing in Him, trusting in Him and obeying Him.  Without God as the foundation, the building of your life will come apart.  Without God as the watchman the city of your life will be invaded by every enemy and no defense mechanism can stop it.

With God as our co-builder and as our co-watchman we can be assured that our lives will matter, giving blessing  and peace to those around us.

I like how the New American Standard Version translates the last line of this text:  for he gives to his beloved even in his sleep.  When God is made the foundation stone of our lives, he blesses the labors of our hands so that, even while we are getting a normal night's sleep, God is working for us.  It is not to say that there will never be a time when we do not put in loong hours, but the anxious working of long hours to get ahead can destroy the most important things in life; like a family. 

So remember this verse from the book of Hebrews: Without faith it is impossible to please God.  Those who come to Him must believe that he exists and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him  (Hebrews 11:6 Tom Steele's Memory Version).

Our Father's Blessings,
Tom

THE BENEFITS OF BELIEVING

The 103rd Psalm is a Psalm of David.  If anyone needed these blessings from the Lord, he did!  David committed the "big" sins of theft, adultery and murder.  David was much like us.  Though his sins were big and many, he tried to cover them up just as we do.  We might not have committed the "big" sins, but we have deceived ourselves into thinking that lust, gossip, greed and laziness are not quite so bad as the "big" sins.  God doesn't see it that way, so we are just as much in need of God's pardon, forgiveness and other blessings as David was.  Because of His grace and mercy, God supplies these blessings to those who believe in Him and seek Him:

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's (Psalms 103: 2-5).

I encourage you to read the whole of Psalms 103--it is one of my favorite Psalms.

Our Father's Blessings,
Tom