Friday, September 26, 2008

The Price of Corruption

I've been watching a lot of news lately. At first I wasn't sure exactly what all the economic hubbub was about but I think I am beginning to get a better grasp on things now.

I am a little perturbed about the whole "bailout" business, not because I am personally going to immediately suffer, although I am not delusional enough to expect I will not get hit by it eventually, but because of the social implications of what this bailout means.

I am a "free-market" type person. I believe that hard work should pay off and not carry penalties. The idea of taking from the rich and giving to the poor absolutely infuriates me. I am by no means rich but if someday I work hard enough to find myself in that status I do not want it taken away from me. With that being said, I believe that those who are corrupt in acquiring their wealth incur bad karma and eventually there will be consequence to their corruption. And now we are seeing that the consequence has indeed happened. I feel extreme sadness for our country and those that will suffer unduly because of the greed of others but I believe that also is a price of passivity. We did not stand up when we should have to speak out against corruption and put a stop to it and now we will pay a price for that. There is no vote of "present" for those with integrity, they must actually take a stand and position. Presence with inactivity is in all actuality simply a dolled up term for "accomplice".

What are we an accomplice too? A deception. A deception that we can live beyond our means. A deception that the presence of credit gives us a false sense of security that simply is not real. We rely on credit to make us feel better about our lives. The percentage of our country that actually lives on cash is minuscule but they are the ones who are now sitting in true security while the rest of us are trembling in our boots. We have believed a lie. Credit is not real wealth people! What we have realized this last week is the true impact of what the disappearance of credit would mean to each and every one of us. If that realization entails the idea that one would have nothing left, then they truly do live in bondage to an inescapable slavery. Get away from this false sense of presence and security and begin to truly save and accumulate real money that cannot dissipate simply because your signature on a piece of paper, that by the way may take your soul along with it, has been deemed worthless. If we Americans as a whole had been more diligent with our prosperity, we might not be facing this present crisis. But we have lived a lie and now we will face the consequence of that lie.

This bailout will not allow for any consequences to be suffered, at least not by those who created the problem, but will be felt by those of us who did not stand up when we ought to have. I am against this bailout, because no matter how much it may eventually hurt me, it will hurt those who were corrupt more. If this bailout does occur then I think it is vital that we walk away from this with a lesson well learned and not forget that lesson. We cannot stand for corrupt practices and we must speak out against them, no matter what the cost. Whatever the cost of your voice may be it will never be as great as the consequence we suffer when we do not speak out.


Friday, September 12, 2008

Wonders Never Cease

Sooo much is going on this week, I don't even know where to begin. I finally finished my book - I know I've said that before but this time I think it's true.

I had certain requirements that needed to be met before I would know my writing was done and those were met this week. I needed to establish contact with a certain someone of well repute who would be willing to read my work and give it a fair theological shake. Well... far beyond any realistic expectations I had... that happened. His office called me this week and set up a lunch meeting next week to discuss my manuscript. I'm still in shock... I had expected more of a "sure, mail it to me and one of my 'underlings' will read it and tell you what I think" if any response at all! If that were the case then I felt a lot less pressure about it all. But that's not how it played out. Now I am actually going to sit down face to face with him and tell him my thoughts on God. I am overwhelmed. I need a LOT of prayer so that I can adequately express myself without feeling intimidated. I don't know why this is the way it worked out. Everything about this would suggest God's hand is at work... imagine that.

Good grief... I'm shaking while I'm trying to type.

The entirety of the time I was writing the book I kept praying that if this person was to evaluate it that God would open the door and speak to his heart, to impress upon him that what I was feeling and writing was important to the body of Christ. I hope that is indeed what has happened. Of course there's the other side of it, that maybe he thinks I'm some crazy woman and a stop must be put to my heretical insanity... ok not really... I'm just being paranoid (insert nervous giggle here).


Anyway... all that to say, please please please pray for me this next week. The meeting is on Saturday, September 20th.