Jubilation

President Bush (41) was severely criticized because he did not go all the way to Baghdad in the first Gulf War. In the second Gulf War (Iraq War), President Bush (43) ordered troops to Baghdad and the Army entered on March 20th, 2003. In a television spectacle called “Shock and Awe”, planes were dropping bombs on the city, tanks shelling the city in every direction. As I listened to the unprovoked terror, I could not help but think of the women and children; huddled in homes, scared beyond all comprehension, not knowing what was going on. Meanwhile, Americans sat watching such on television, thoroughly entertained, enjoying the horrendous spectacle while eating their popcorn. Baghdad, one of the world's oldest and most fascinating cities, fell on April 9. Then until now, warfare, death and sorrow. I know of no jubilation at any time in Iraq. In these Middle East wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, now in Libya, and to a limited extent, many other places, we see the beginning of WWIII.

After almost ten years, some Americans felt the need for jubilation after hearing of the “supposed” death of Osama bin Laden. Islam is a one-way street, many enter, but few leave. We forget that the one billion Muslims in the world, like the rest of us, were created by God. I can find no joy or jubilation at the death of Muslims any more than I can understand the weird actions of Muslims celebrating in the streets when the “supposed” planes' burning kerosene hit the towers in Manhattan. I have tried to understand how and why burning kerosene (the fuel of jets) did not destroy the cook stoves, heating systems, lighting systems (almost all made of metal) in the homes of so many of the world's citizens.

What joy can anyone possibly take in the troubles of other people, even your supposed enemies, in warfare or actions of nature...floods in the Midwest, fires in Texas, tornadoes throughout the south land, earthquakes and tsunamis in the Pacific areas? God talks to us in all these things, but so few listen. More or less like this past Easter Sunday, the resurrection story, so many leaving church the same way they entered: unaffected.

The news first broke about the “supposed” death of Osama bin Laden about 10:15 pm. It came via Twitter from someone in the intelligence circles of government. Then, with great fanfare, the master politician of all times, President Obama, playing the announcement to the extreme. Now and always, using all of the “rules for radicals” played to his base...those who so desire to be jubilant about anything that this man does. They have not yet realized what is going on in this country. That Obama, like Osama, will both face the wrath of God.

We live in a world where it is difficult to recognize our enemies. Even so, the apostle Paul tells us to pray for our enemies. Then, now and always, in every action of every nation, our only hope is the mercy of God. ...for his mercy endureth for ever. (Psalm 106:1) ...for his mercy endureth for ever. (Psalm 107:1)...because his mercy endureth for ever. (Psalm 118:1) ...for his mercy endureth for ever (Psalm 136:1)

The supposed killing this weekend, a victory for the military and intelligence, is not the end of terrorism...it may even encourage such. For political purposes, we have home-grown terrorists. Through wisdom is a house built; and by understanding it is established (Proverbs 24:3) History proves that it takes a providential guiding hand to build, but not much intelligence to destroy. Soberly, we rejoice when God brings justice. Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth. Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. (Proverbs 24:17-18)

Because of our open borders, we can depend on backlash; because there are those wanting one world government, we can depend on increased scanning at airports, less freedom and more interference in our lives. As Dr. Franklin said, “we will forsake all privacy for security.” Remember the fragility of life and possessions. God owns everything, we brought nothing with us and will not take anything away.

Osama bin Laden must have had a wretched life, coming from a wealthy family, has a world-wide following, but living as a haunted, hunted man...supposedly very ill. There are many forms of extremism, such as the killing of 53 million babies in America. Planned Parenthood clinics, financed from your tax dollars ($360 million in government grants)... just think, 52% of all black babies are aborted. The largest abortion clinic outside the nation of China, located in Houston, TX (fourth-largest city in the US) in the minority area of the city.

America will not escape justice any more than any Islamic country (Psalm 98:9). When Bush (43) said, “bring it on”, there was no reason for Americans to be jubilant. Remember, only a Christ-less eternity and the justice of God awaits those who are lost, no matter their religion, skin color, or nationality. It is a mental disorder to celebrate death, warfare; jubilation over the death of your enemy; even the defeat of your enemy in time of war, does not lessen the grief and pain of the innocent.

Truth On The Scaffold

James Russel Lowell (1819-1891), American writer, looking over history said, “truth forever on the scaffold, wrong forever on the throne.”

We think that things cannot get much worse. During the years of Jesus Christ's ministry, the Romans were the worst of ruthless occupiers. Of course, the liberal religious Jews befriended their occupiers; remember, it was the popular, religious Jews who gave Judas thirty pieces of silver to betray our blessed Lord.

Exactly 74 years ago, today, Europe saw the worst of hatred of one group toward another, the first blitzkrieg in history. General Franco allowed the German Luftwaffe completely to destroy a Spanish city, Guernica. The bombing lasted for 5 hours, every building in the city was destroyed, along with most human life. It was a small religious Basque settlement involved in the Spanish Civil War. Picasso painted a marvelous canvas depicting the terrible destruction.

A friend in New York City told me of his father's escape from the holocaust. A family of wealth in the town, his father escaped into the hills, carrying with him a bag of his mother's inherited jewelry. The jewelry was later placed in a lockbox in Madrid bank, only he and his father had the combination to the vault. Since he had suspicions about his father's political relationships in Spain, he flew to Madrid without informing his father, went directly to the bank, emptied the box, and brought all the jewelry back to America. In this we have an indication of the values placed on things by people, and truthfulness involved...Franco's relationship with his fellow Spaniards, Germany's willingness to spatter one small city in another country, the willingness of one group to fight another, even in another country (as was so clearly described by Ernest Hemingway, writing about the Spanish Civil War), a father's value system in leaving his family in a blitzed town as he ran away with their wealth, a son knowing so little about his father's political aspirations, more concerned with the wealth that his mother had inherited.

74 years later, have things changed at all? Planes blitzing Libya, killing women and children, and if you can believe anything the government tells you, planes swooping down in the most affluent area of Rawalpindi-Islamabad, Pakistan killing Osama bin Laden. Instead of the ruthless killing of so many innocent civilians in the most prosperous country in Africa, even more prosperous than South Africa, instead of the destruction of Libya, why not swoop in with helicopters and SEALS and rid the world of Colonel Gaddafi, bury him at sea...or even Dr. Assad of Syria? (Assad, ophthalmologist, involved in London hospital when his father died)

Much like the lies of babies being thrown from incubators in Kuwait, other killing in other places, a burial at sea, with all our gadgetry, electronics, we are expected to believe anything at any time. The best example of our expecting to believe anything, anytime: President Obama's newly-produced birth certificate. What a hoax, what a fraud! In 1961, his father might have been referred to as “black”, “colored” or “negro”, but not “African”.

Abraham Lincoln said, “God made our country for serious purposes. God help us to find these purposes.” God knows what He is doing, when will we realize that? Remember, it is our country, our votes that put the present power brokers in control. It is our tax dollars used for evil as well as good. Just as it was the German people's tax dollars that bought the bombs which the Luftwaffe dropped on the innocents of the town Guernica (1,600 killed), so it is our tax dollars buying the bombs, depleted uranium, and other weapons of disaster that are dropped by drones in Iraq, Afghanistan, and now Libya.

Has it occurred to anyone, particularly the spenders in Congress, that this warfare, these killings cost American tax dollars? You, me, and the man behind the tree. In just a few years, 2020, it will take every American tax dollar just to pay interest on the national debt. History reminds of us of the Wiemar Republic, or even present day Zimbabwe where, exponentially, prices double on everything each 31 hours. Traveling the world, I have been in countries where inflation was on a rampage, (such as we can expect soon) there people in stores whose only job was to mark through old prices and write in the new, increased price...every article covered in prices of inflation. The truth hurts, but this is truth.

Moses came up with 630 laws because our first ancestors could not keep one (not to the touch the fruit on one tree). In the longest chapter of the Bible, Psalm 119, we find the words “whole heart”, for example, Psalm 119:10. Those who have experienced tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, know terror to the heart. The most vital element of survival is faith. Even the German-Jewish holocaust survivors with faith have lived the longest. Over and over, we heard the survivors from Tuscaloosa and other tornado-ravaged areas speak of their faith. The most expensive and fastest growing population in America are those over 85. 50% of those over 85 will develop senile dementia, but we find that those of faith do not go into dementia.

The most important element of faith is forgiving. In this time, celebrating national day of prayer, there should be much prayer for forgiveness, the forgiveness of America, as well as its citizens.