ASCEND INTO HEAVEN

This weekend, news accounts of graduation exercises everywhere. From the smallest crossroads high school to the most prestigious universities, the “pomp and circumstance” of graduation. The tragedy, unlike any other time in history, the graduates having put forth the energy – egotism to undergo the rigors of scholastic achievement, fulfillment with a job is very remote.

In Japan, finishing school and getting a job with the government is called “ascending into Heaven”. When I graduated from college, exactly 60 years ago, no one looked for a government job. Those unable to do anything else took the jobs as school teachers, bureaucrats. The “fulfillment of dreams”, the prospect of making good money went with the industrious entrepreneurs, professionals. Like everything else in living, it has all changed in my lifetime. Physically and spiritually. Even confusion with the church, revenue and righteousness. There was a time when we would avenge the church, even by wading through swamps. The church should show the world that we are as convinced in our beliefs as a great terrible army with banners. Who is she that looks forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and awesome as an army with banners? (Song of Solomon6:10)

Please Lord, next year at this time, tomorrow at this time, let there be more of You and less of me but, let me never forget the freshness of the morning I remember as a child on the farm, a college student on my way to an 8:00 class. Help me never to hide beneath the tent of human comfort. Help me to always know the risk of competition, making my own way, not seeking the sundry indolence of an easy life, easy government job. The word retirement is not mentioned in the Bible. In my lifetime I have seen people more concerned with vacations, retirement...in the workforce, whether preacher or professor, more interested in the packet than the product. This nation and the world, hanging on a cliff of financial ruin by our very fingernails because of entitlements, people looking forward to laying around and doing nothing.

I know a school teacher who graduated from college at the age of 22, nothing unusual. For thirty years she drew a school teacher's salary, while in the summers, getting advanced degrees. By the time she retired, after 30 years, age 52, she could have sat around and done nothing, comfortable, drawing as much salary as she started with the in the beginning. Still young, still in good health, she taught another 20 years in a private school. Still able, at age 72, to “double-dip”, having lived a life of holidays, sick days, accumulating a small fortune. Newspapers are full of stories about law enforcement, politicians, who have retired in comfort. I know one US Senator, who served one 6-year term, drawing a beautiful retirement while Veterans, some returning 100% disabled, such as one Private who has made the news...having lost both legs, draws $753.00 per month.

Think of the Mom and Pop private business...buildings, insurance, government regulations, all the risks involved, now competing with the Wal-Marts of the world. Selling Chinese products made with Chinese slave labor, yet, it is private business which pays the taxes to government in order that government can pay it's many government employees. Most owners of private businesses never expect to retire, never expect to take a vacation, never take a holiday.

Man cannot build anything that God cannot tear down. Your ability to face the unexpecteds in life, the tsunamis, is what makes the difference. Basic Christianity determining fullness from emptiness. Basic patriotism, thankfulness for a country which gives you opportunity.

I have not forgotten, nor forgiven, the State of North Carolina where state jobs were only available to those supporting the Democratic party. It truly was like “ascending into Heaven”. In my lifetime, in this state, if Democrat, you could get a state job teaching, highway department, prison or hospital jobs. My parents, grandparents, always conservative, God-fearing, tax paying Republicans, informed us early in life that we were on our own, that Republicans could not get jobs in government. Strange, that those most discriminated against, blacks, now are the greatest supporters of this bigoted party.

We see throughout God's book that He has little patience with sorriness. Remember, Jesus and His disciples owned nothing. The dumbest among us should recognize global controls...from the United Nations to the Bilderbergers. The Rockefellers, Rothechilds, Royal Families (Three R's), want control of the entire world. And in the haphazard, blasphemous, mish-mash of party politics, the common man is used as a pawn on the international playing board. Such a conspiracy, the dumbing down by education, the sorcery of technology, people grabbing for the free cheese in the trap. Those with a mind of Christ are not the prey. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (1Corn 2:16).