Being Honest


Every elected official wants to save money. At least that is what they say. In Wisconsin, the legislators have had an opportunity to prove if they mean it or not. Its Governor has introduced legislation that requires a put up or shut up vote.
In the Badger State, 14 state senators did not want to put up or shut up. Rather than fulfill their responsibilities and debate then vote on a proposal by Governor Walker, they skedaddled to other states. Some were reported partying in Chicago. What was the proposal these party-going senators feared so much? It was a budget repair bill – a debt refinancing that would save Wisconsin taxpayers $165 million in fiscal year 2011. They were torn between voting in a way that reinforced their rhetoric or voting for some core supporters. On the last day of February, Governor Walker warned these AWOL senators that if they refused to return to Madison, establish a quorum and cast their votes the bill would die. And, the next day –March 1- an option to refinance a portion of the state’s debt would expire. An opportunity to save the taxpayers’ money would be forever lost. They returned, some under arrest, to cast their votes.
I am not interested in writing about the legislation or the politics involved. But it does concern me that a group of state senators would flee the state to avoid debating and voting on a bill. Isn’t this one of their functions, perhaps even the primary one?
At this point, I have to tip my hat to Governor Scott Walker. The son of a pastor (he can’t be all bad), the man evidently is a rare commodity: an honest politician. He ran on a platform of fiscal austerity, advertising that this budget cutting measure is exactly what he would propose. His opposition campaigned against it. Now he has followed through, expressing the wishes of the voters. An interesting article in the February 26, 2011 edition of The Wall St. Journal was written by John Fund. Titled “Wisconsin’s Newest Progressive”, it is a very revealing narrative of state of present affairs in Wisconsin.
Mr. Fund quotes Governor Walker as saying, “I won (the election) because people will ultimately respond to the truth.” This has been the pattern of his campaigns in Democratic Milwaukee County, where Walker has won three county-wide elections. He goes among the people, conducting what he calls “reality tours” and laying the cards on the table. People may not like what they hear or his proposals, but they find the candor and honesty refreshing. They understand that the solutions may not be painless because he tells them otherwise. But they vote for him anyway. After all, it makes little difference whether Republican or Democrat, an honest person in an elective office is valued by everyone. Maybe Scott Walker has learned from history. It is no accident that “Honest Abe” Lincoln is considered our greatest President.
This article is not an attempt to promote Scott Walker; but it is an attempt to promote honesty in government, business and our personal lives. This kind of transparency is what is meant in the words of 1 John 1:6-7, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” While these verses have primary application to our communion with God, the term “walking in the light” refers to transparency and honesty – before God and others.
“Walk in the light” states the Bible. “Tell the truth” says Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. There is no substitute for …

Being honest.

The Best Protection for Your Job

I have been reading with interest about the public workers unions’ demonstrations in Ohio and Wisconsin. The public union and collective bargaining battles are actually spreading across the United States. With money not available to provide the benefits which had been expected and with the opportunity to strike being threatened, these public demonstrations are cause for concern. Change is in the wind. These demonstrations are reminiscent of the workers’ strikes in the 1930’s. Those strikes led to the founding of the American labor union movement, the most notable union becoming the AFL-CIO with its well-known spokesman, John L. Lewis. Just as those strikes changed the face of American labor, so do these current strikes speak of change that is looming. And, be assured, it is looming.

I have been wondering about the future of labor unions. If they continue to exist (I think they will), what form will they take? Of course, if they become extinct - well, the question becomes moot, doesn’t it?

Most laborers in “the rank and file” – the ones who do the physical work – paid some pretty hefty dues to support the union bosses – the ones who do the negotiating and provide information to the press. During the time of union prosperity, the rank and file made decent wages and the bosses became wealthy. At least, that was the talk around my boyhood home, near Akron, Ohio where the URW (United Rubber Workers) were headquartered. A sad thing has happened however. The rubber workers have disappeared from Akron and the URW was swallowed up by the United Steel Workers in the 1990s. Perhaps they overreached. Good wages and outstanding benefits being paid, along with the job protection afforded loafers invited foreign competition. And foreign competition, especially from Asia and South America, meant lower prices for the consumer. How could Akron with its cost of labor compete against an Asian or South American company that paid its worker a pittance in comparison? Why not take the factory where you can pay for cheap labor? If not to a foreign company, then at least move the factory to a “right to work” (workers not forced to join unions) state. That way the company can compete.

Overreaching could happen to the public workers unions also. Let’s face it. Some things have to change.
Mediocre workers can no longer be paid the same as productive ones. The unions can no longer afford to foist this economic policy on Americans. This applies to public workers as well as those employed in the private sector. Firemen who can’t fight fires and policemen who won’t police need to be replaced. Poor teachers in the schools have got to go, making room for teachers who prepare their lessons and challenge the students to learn. Bringing it home, mediocrity in the pastoral ministry should end also (pastors have no union, but should work diligently, too). People need to take pride in their work and need to work at their work. Employees need to see employers as partners, not as adversaries. Employers and management need to treat employees and workers well, knowing that apart from the person “on the floor”, there will be no business and no job for anyone.

But wait a minute. Does all that ranting sound like it comes from the First Century? Maybe even from the Bible?
“Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism. Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven” (Colossians 3:22-4:1).

In those words are bits of wisdom for you and me. Seek high standards of reliability. Work hard and be a producer. Keep in mind that the annual review is not as significant as the eternal review – you are working “as for the Lord, not for men.” Increased productivity and honest, diligent work is what God wants from us all.

These principles provide economic success and economic success is…

the best protection for your job.

National Bankruptcy

This morning I read in the daily paper that the Federal Government might close down. From Associated Press, the exact words were “In a deepening struggle over spending, Republicans and Democrats swapped charges Thursday over a possible government shutdown when funding expires March 4 for most federal agencies.”

Along with state workers demonstrating in Wisconsin and Ohio, it appears that something everyone fears is finally on our doorstep: our country is drowning in debt. The debt crisis is unusually grave and it is no time to blame others. If we can unite on this issue, Republicans and Democrats alike, it may not be too late for resolution.

But don’t hold your breath. And don’t stick your head into the sand, either. It is time to expect a difficult episode in American history. Let’s just admit it and stop the denial coming from Washington: the country is broke. The official accumulated debt of the federal government has passed $14 trillion dollars and this is understated. According to the U.S. Treasury, in a report dated January 21, 2011, the public debt is just under $21 trillion dollars. This includes “off-budget” items like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, student loans, bailouts and other debts that are presumed uncollectible. And like the Energizer Bunny, it just keeps going and growing. This is a number that is, frankly, unimaginable. I have read commentators’ pieces where they write about trying to imagine this debt. It goes something like, “imagine you had a trillion dollars in $100 bills. Now stretch those bills from end to end and they would stretch from New York to St. Louis…” Sorry. I can’t imagine like that. Perhaps others can, but regardless it is a grim picture of greed, avarice and irresponsible politicians trying to buy the next election. There may not be any elections to buy in the not-so-distant future. Nearly every country that has undergone financial upheaval has seen a despot or the military take control, at least for a temporary period. Witness Chile under General Pinochet.

By the way, I have written nothing about Social Security, local governments and their problems, nor the public threats made by Moody’s, the debt-rating agency, to downgrade the credit rating of many states. This downgrade, if it occurs, will make borrowing more expensive if even possible by those states. Look for the state governments threatened by a downgrade to exercise bully efforts against Moody’s. And for heaven’s sake, think twice before purchasing a municipal bond.

You would think that with the peril this poses for every citizen, something would have already been done. Incredibly, just last December, three months ago, Congress (the previous one, not the sitting one) passed a 2% reduction in Social Security withholding. Intended to stimulate the economy, it adds to Social Security’s woes and serves to worsen the debt.

Other than being prudent in managing our own finances, we must ask God to guide our national leaders in the decisions to be made. We are still under the command to pray for our rulers (1 Timothy 2:1-2). If the debt problem of the United States is not handled properly and soon, we will face…

national bankruptcy.

Pray for a Positive Outcome in Egypt

Are you praying for a positive outcome in Egypt?

The stakes are high in this most populous Arab nation. As this is written I might also add that the tensions are high as well.

Any person who has seen the televised news has noticed the enormous crowd gathered in the public square in Cairo. Most are young and most are desperate. They desperately desire a new life, with opportunities for personal growth, for jobs that pay decent wages and a brighter future. Many – perhaps most – have set aside their personal differences in the hope for an American style democracy. The United States is regarded as the bastion of liberty. The Christian-based moral code in America has provided a basis for genuine liberty – freedom within the boundary of mutual respect for others and reverence for God. Actually, apart from the aspect of reverence for God, there is no basis for respecting others. It will not occur. Hence it is one boundary.

The scenes of the crowd and the interviews of young adults in Cairo who want hope, jobs and liberty lead me to recall the French Revolution. The French Revolution was a mass movement against an autocratic king, and it had as its motto: “Liberty, Fraternity and Equality.” The masses poured into the streets and gathered in Paris, where eventually the king was guillotined. Celebration occurred for a while – and then, because there was no Christian moral foundation upon which to construct a new government, “might makes right” became the law. The French Revolution became one of the bloodiest and worst in history.

The Christian morality that had established order and security – respect for others was advocated, violence was eschewed, and this even though the king was not liked – had been undermined by “reason.” That is, leading intellectuals had led the French to believe that the Biblical basis for law, the way we treat others, was archaic and obsolete. God was not absolute. Man’s reason was absolute. Man was not a sinner who needed restraint, but inherently good and this goodness should be expressed. This expression would take the form of whatever a person desired. That is, whatever he or she wanted to do, then simply do it. At the start of the French Revolution, a “Festival of Reason” was held, where a prostitute climbed onto the altar at the Notre Dame Cathedral and was proclaimed “goddess of reason”. The deceived masses then declared – someone declared, anyway – that the cathedral was now dedicated to her worship. This was like saying, “anything goes.” Before long, people moved from one indulgence to another, eventually murdering one another. The French were rescued from this fratricide by Napoleon, the ruthless dictator. This little man with the big ego consolidated the French by turning their now violent nature loose not on one another, but on neighboring states.

But back to Egypt. Many of those gathered at Cairo’s Tahrir Square think that American style democracy is waiting in the wings for them – if only they can persuade Hosni Mubarak to resign as President. Perhaps they are right. But they may be wrong. Waiting in the wings may be a despot and unspeakable factional violence.

This is why we pray for Egypt and the Egyptian people.

Pray for a positive outcome in Egypt.

A Contentious Spirit


I have been following the events in Egypt recently. Having visited in the country, I have a real concern for the people.

The events also make me think about the issue of contention and strife.

Contention among people, even those who share much in common, is not all that unusual. The Bible records many such instances. There were Cain and Abel, in the very beginning of the human race, then Ishmael and Isaac, Rachel and Leah – Biblical history is full of contentions, and it continues today. Pastor James asks the question in his epistle, Chapter 4, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?”

In reading modern literature, you might conclude that the causes of contention and strife are racism, poverty, nationalism and religion. However, these topics are not the cause, but are symptoms of an underlying dysfunction. It is the dysfunction of the individual soul, or “heart” as the Bible calls it. We could say, “the heart of the problem is the heart.” In essence, James tells us that people become contentious and fight because of covetousness. People want something that belongs to another, and if they can’t get it through legitimate means, they will fight for it.

Ever heard the word “hedonism” used? It refers to the satisfying of immediate, pleasurable urges through indulgence. To be hedonistic means also avoidance of considering long-term consequences. The word translated in James 4:1 as “desires” is actually “hedonism” (“hedone”). People engage in covetous pursuits and strife without consideration of the long-term consequences. They make enemies of others who would prefer being friends; they sully themselves by preying on the vulnerable, they ruthlessly attempt to seize what they desire. They even make plans for conquest: the word translated “battle” is “strategize.” Ambushes, artillery barrages, and preemptive strikes are all part of strategizing in war time. In personal attacks and office strife, to strategize usually means undermining, slandering, backstabbing and all other types of attempts to discredit others.

Returning to Egypt: yes, there are grievances. Good jobs are lacking in this non-industrial country, large families are the norm, overcrowded living conditions in Cairo especially, and a long-ruling President who has made no real dent in these pressing problems have generated frustration. But there is no mass starvation, the military offers a secure job for young men and protects the citizenry, and the treaty established with Israel has brought peace and stability to the country. Consequently, there is much for which to be grateful. This is why there exists the conflict between those who support and those who oppose President Mubarak. If a new President is selected, will anything change? My opinion is that it could change for the worse, but not likely for the better.

It should come as no surprise to those who have read James 4 that strife and conflict arise from the fallen nature of man. We all want the perfect world. The perfect world once existed, but sin has ruined it. We need to work at rehabilitating this imperfect world through good works, and be mature enough to understand that only the return of Christ will forever fix the problems we face, making our world perfect again. Pray for the Egyptian people and the witness of the Church in that troubled land.

And while we are praying for others, let us pray about our own covetous attitude.

Avoid a contentious spirit.

Down – But Not Out


He had been knocked down many times, but never had he been knocked out.

And he wanted the other Christians to know it – and follow his example.

Of course, I am speaking of Paul. And, of course, if you are familiar with his epistles, you know that I am referring to 2 Corinthians. It was from people in this church that he had received harsh and unjust criticism. Some had even gone so far as to allege that he was in ministry for the sake of pride and influence, perhaps to gain wealth.

You really have to wonder why anyone would say such things. Was it jealousy? Perhaps someone disliked the message Paul presented. He might then have decided that since he couldn’t change the message, the messenger would have to go.

“Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked long and hard, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm” (2 Corinthians 11:24-27, NLT).

I can hear someone say now – “Hey Paul, if you had more faith these things would not have happened to you. Just think about a new chariot and a healthy, young horse to pull it. If you don’t envision it, you’ll never have it.”

That kind of attitude is exactly what his enemies had developed. His only crime, if I can figuratively say it, is that he chose to faithfully pursue and complete his calling from God.

The attitude of keeping on and of keeping the faith is becoming lost to contemporary American Christians. We in the Western world have become accustomed to instant gratification. Consequently, we easily put aside long term gain, which may invite inconvenience or discomfort. The value of persevering through difficulties is lost. Everything has to be quick, fast, instant. And easy.

The fact is, it takes time to cultivate the spiritual graces. God is very interested in seeing spiritual values developed in our lives, and He is in no hurry.

We can all be very glad that Paul, the Apostle, chose not to seek sympathy from others, did not exaggerate his victimization, and did not retreat from adversary. He was neither interested in instant gratification nor in doing things the easy way. Had he been a 21st Century American, he might have done just that. But he chose to be courageous and to persevere in the face of difficulties. We are the beneficiaries.

Does life seem difficult for you right now? If so, may you gain strength from the same source as did Paul. Persevere through troubles, knowing that the living God is with you. He is using any difficulty you may face to develop spiritual values and Christian graces.

Its okay to get knocked down, but don’t let yourself be knocked out.

The Forgiving and Life-Restoring God


Ever heard of Katyn Woods?

As the year 2010 was ending, the Russian government finally provided an answer to a puzzling situation remaining from World War II. The puzzle was: what really happened at Katyn Woods, Russia (an area near Smolensk)? The grisly truth showed the true character of the dictator, Joseph Stalin. Stalin was guilty of many crimes, but Katyn Woods was exceptional.

In 1939, Stalin and Adolf Hitler had their respective representatives sign a non-aggression pact. Part of the pact involved the partition of Poland. That is, Germany would invade, the Soviet Union would not intervene and then the two countries would partition Poland, half going to Germany and the other half to the Soviet Union. Nice little agreement between the two monsters, wasn’t it? Following the defeat of Poland by the German forces, the Soviet Union sent in an army to “stabilize” the region. It was stabilized all right. Stalin, who earlier had had his best generals executed – he feared them – now had the Soviet army round up the top Polish military minds. Thousands of Polish military officers were taken to Katyn Woods, where on March 5, 1940 Stalin himself gave the order that they should be shot. They were – and then buried in a mass grave. This mass grave was later discovered by the German army and exposed to the world.

But for decades scholars have wondered who was responsible. As time progressed, the Polish people became more suspicious that the Soviets were responsible for the needless slaughter of their fathers, brothers and sons.

The Russian Duma (the legislative body), in a gesture intended to resolve the tension and mistrust that has existed between itself and the Poles since 1940, provided information from its archives proving Russian responsibility for what happened at Katyn Woods. Russian propagandists had for years attempted to blame the Germans for the massacre, but finally had to admit culpability.

This episode, sordid as it is, does remind me of an important scripture: Numbers 32:23 – “…you may be sure that your sin will find you out.”

The practice of sin will most certainly manifest itself – it is just a matter of time. The effects are not only witnessed in a person’s life, but also manifested in his personality. Matthew Henry, a Bible commentator from an earlier era, has written for every era these words: “Be sure your sin will find you out. Sin will surely find out the sinner sooner or later. It concerns us now to find our sins out, that we may repent of them, and forsake them, lest they find us out to our ruin.”

Listen, my friend, you cannot get away with wrongdoing. It will catch up with you sooner or later. The time to turn away from such practice is now. Need help doing it? Then seek the presence and power of God in your life.

The announcement from the Russian Duma concerning Katyn Woods helps to write the history books correctly. The sin of the Soviet government, carefully hidden for sixty – five years, has now been found out.

Your sins will be found out, too. Turn from them now, and turn to the forgiving and life-restoring God.