Happy Veteran’s Day!  Thank you for your service and sacrifice!

As Thanksgiving is coming up we should stop and meditate on what God has given us.   Therefore taking a cue from my wife I will list five things that I am thankful for.

1.  I am thankful that I have a job during these troubling times.

2.  I am thankful to God for the savation which he has given me through Christ Jesus.

3.  I am thankful for my wife - that God has given me such a giving, kind and godly women.

4.  I am thankful for the time that I had with my father – even up to the week that he passed away.

5. Thankful that the Iraq situation has improved so much – I am hopeful that this conflict will soon be over – in honor.

Just reported by USA Today; “With an average national temperature of 55.9 degrees through October, 2008 is shaping up to be the USA’s coolest year since 1997, when the nation’s temperature was 55.7 degrees.”   They mentioned this and then ran to the CO² global warming crowd for an explanation.   The quoted experts stated that the cold weather was caused by more cloudy weather in North America.  Brillant!  But the question is WHY is there more clouds?   As mentioned in a past post - I hold to a theory where a low sunspot count – means higher-energy rays reaching the atmosphere and that these cosmic rays affect cloud formation, meaning colder weather.  

It should also be noted that as far as global temperatures goes – October has been the lowest temperature in the last eight years.   As the months go on this winter there will be more hemming and hawing by the experts as to why the temperatures are dropping.  

                                      
Why did Senator McCain lose this election?    McCain whole strategy can be summarized in this, that he was not President Bush.    He was a maverick and would lead this country in a different bi-partisan direction then President Bush did.   In my opinion this was a losing strategy from the get-go.   Who’s going to win a race on who’s not Bush more than Senator Obama.   McCain threw President Bush under the bus and spent much of his time criticizing the sitting president, as if there was nothing redeeming about the present administration.   Instead he should have educated and reminded people of the good that was done of the Bush administration. 

McCain also should have pointed out that the present financial situation was not caused by conservative’s deregulation, but by liberal regulation.   It was through regulation what encouraged the giving of loans to those which did not have proper collateral.  Affordable housing was begun under Carter, expanded under Clinton, and guarded by the Democrats in the House of Representatives.    Affordable housing is where you give loans to those which are risky and would not under normal situations.  This disaster should have been tied around the democrat’s neck by Senator McCain – but instead of defending truth – he ran away from it, and allowed the President to take the fall. 

Lastly, the election should have been about how dangerous the world is and that we need an experienced President, day one.   We need someone that can keep all the balls in the air – not someone that will have to learn as he goes.   I don’t know about you  - but such a thing is scary and I believe American would have made a sensible choice, not a radical one.    This is why I was upset that Senator McCain chose Governor Palin as his running mate.   While I agree with many of her positions – her resume was extremely thin, and undermined McCain’s argument that experience was vital.   Those that argued that she was a great choice reasoned that the democrats would not go after her on experience – but they did and they pulled it off. 

Again he was running as a maverick that wasn’t Bush – how could he win?  

Even though many among the converted come to the conclusion that they do not grow, it is nevertheless true that they do not grow as much as they ought to.  How many blessed means they have! There is the precious Word of God, the sincere milk; there are spiritual and faithful ministers who have excellent gifts and are inclined to lead everyone by the hand; and there are eminent examples which ought to stimulate all to emulation.  How little they benefit from this, however, and how little growth there is by many! One must frequently be amazed – and many are amazed about themselves – that they do not grow more.   Thus they rightfully rebuke themselves, for it is indeed their own fault.   They think:  “What is the cause of all this?”  My answer is: “You are the cause.”

First, there is at times the secret and carnal thoughts that one shall nevertheless be saved, for if one has grace – whether to a smaller or greater degree – salvation will ensue upon this.  This is God’s promise to the regenerate, and thus growth is not that essential.  My response is that this proceeds from the flesh, for the principle of grace is of a different nature.  Yes, even if growth were not essential, the spiritual nature is nevertheless inclined towards growth.  It is the live and delight of this nature, and it knows that this is pleasing to God.  Therefore, away with this sinning at the expense of grace.  

Taken from The Christian’s Reasonable Service, Spiritual Growth (page 152-153), Wilhelmus à Brakel (1635-1711)

to be continued….

Daniel 2:21a 
And he (God) changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings

1 Timothy 2:1-3
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

———————————-

Edit:   I wrote this entry (the two Bible verses) before knowing the final outcome of the election.   Now we know that Senator Obama was the winner, and while he is a man of authority now as a Senator – these verses will apply as a President, Lord willing, he is sworn-in this January.   We are to remember that while things appear bleak, because of his past liberal positions,  God is sovereign and is in control of all things – that God has his reasons.   

Praying for President-Elect Obama does not mean that you have to automatically agree with him.   However you are to pray that God bless his rule and God would ultimately rule and over rule in his decision making.   When the future President is in the right – that the decision would be blessed and when he is wrong his efforts are thwarted.   

While I am writing about President-Elect Obama I would like to add that I am very pleased to see an African-American win an election.    It’s a historical event.   It shows the great strides of Americans –  to look past each other differences.   The truth is that there is only one race – and that is the human race.   Go far enough back and all of us are the children of Adam and Eve.