Lethargy

It was new and a real mystery to me, “Rush Week” at the university. Colleges and universities with fraternities, sororities, “so-called” Greek houses, elitist social fraternities where living arrangements, meals are served, for the elitist students... those from the “well-connected” families were Rushed into membership. I understand that the most exclusive collegiate fraternity in the world, the one to which the Bushes, (41 & 43) Kennedys, John Kerry were members, (skull and bones) requires a membership of several thousand dollars just to get in, very much like the famous Yellowstone Country Club, Montana, to which Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, Ted Turner, are members, requires an initiation fee of several million to get in and then daily fees can run $650.00.

I remember walking by these fraternity houses, Chapel Hill, hearing all the partying, profanity, emanating from these buildings and I would wonder, Just what goes on there but, this “outsider” has had a curiosity about what goes on in many places, some rich homes-country clubs-golf clubs, even some “social” churches. Two Alabama state officials invited this veteran to a meeting at Tuscaloosa, Alabama on a football weekend. Of course, “Bear Bryant-Crimson Tide,etc.”, this was the social enlightenment, debutante-antebellum cloture scene of the old South. I thought, now I KNOW WHAT ELITISM IS ALL ABOUT. As these “frat” men were greeted by the butlers, who, too, like them, inherited the jobs of caring for these “upper-sets”. There were dining room buffets covered with food. My companions, outstanding men, the many there to whom I was introduced, all from a caste of privilege. I was there because of my degrees and military rank... I KNEW “MY PLACE”. But, I know how to handle myself in any situation, elitist or poor. I lived poor but know that I should not put my hands in my pockets around prestigious people such as a Governor or President.

One of my friends there, a professional-business man of privilege and connections, having matriculated many years previously said, “the parties never end in a fraternity house because you would be forced to clean up.” Very much like alcoholics who keep drinking because they do not want to face a hangover. In my lifetime, this is the essence-truth of what has happened to our country, your news every day, every problem in your life, your nation refusing to stop borrowing-spending... just increasing debt, now to the place that it can never be repaid. Most, when in a hole, stop digging. Not only does our government keep digging, but keeps raising the debt ceiling. In every business there are ups and downs, natural as breathing in and out. You learn to live through these times. But, with government, only ups, never downs because it would be “unpopular” with the electorate, particularly one half the population... entitled, to live off the work-tax of the others.

In my lifetime, from a time of “pay as you go”, lay away plans, debt and credit has taken over.

The question is asked me, what are Christians to do in a time like this, credit cards? “the Big I, little U mentality of idol worship... cell phones, plasma TVs, houses and businesses under water. The answer, the Christian does not get himself into this mess... credit, mortgages, loans for any and everything. Just as a new creation in Christ prepares for a realistic life on earth, an expected life after death, He prepares for the realities. Life is reality, not perception.

In Samaria (2 Kings 6), the Syrian army in camp nearby, the people in the fortressed city starving, even to the extent of cooking and eating their own babies, a donkey's head selling for $1200.00, even eating bird poop, the prophet Elisha told the starving people that they would soon have cheap flour and barley. The government-paid gatekeeper mocked Elisha.

However, outside the gate, 4 lepers, not permitted to enter the city, starving to death, one said to the others: Why sit we here until we die? If entering the city, where everyone was staving, they would die. The lepers decided to go to the encampment of the Syrian army, the enemy. There, they found that the Syrian army had fled, leaving behind food, silver, gold, clothing. The lepers filled themselves, hid part of the treasure, and then went back to the starving people of Samaria and told them what had they had found. The people trampled the government gate-keeper, as they rushed to the Syrian camp.

The poet said, “God moves in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform” hymn by William Cowper. God had put into the ears of the Syrian army sounds of rushing, mighty forces, and they had fled, leaving everything.

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There are no surprises with God. He is in charge of everything... knows how to care for His own. When you have government, government officials with all their decadence and satanic behavior (President Obama, Congress, IMF, bankers), then you have what THEY can do. But, when you have God on your side, (His promises, prophesies) then you have what God can do. He does not have a calendar, does not wear a watch, never gets rushed, but will be there ahead of you... not lethargic