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2016: A Year of Hope or Gloom?
This past year brought us some very disturbing events and trends in the world and in our nation. I fear that this new year will continue the same path, with our country torn apart by anger, fear and ignorance. I think we can expect more terrorist attacks, more damaging mischief by Obama, economic uncertainty, and more toxic populism from our presidential candidates — resulting in fear and loathing among our fellow citizens. Let’s face it, there’s a good chance this year ends with Hillary Clinton, a person comprised of nothing but raw ambition with a complete lack of integrity, as our President-elect.
The Bible predicted all of this, of course. Paul told us that in the last days, many would depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and the doctrines of devils; speaking lies with hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron. He said that men would be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. We see all this and more in our society.
On the other hand, God will pour out His Spirit in greater measure upon the earth’s people and we will see love, sacrifice and service increase in many parts of the land. The beauty will increase along with the horror. In the end, we must not give in to despair. We must seek out the worthy and the chaste; the good and the honest. We must continue our quest for truth and hold fast to the principles we hold dear and upon which our great country was founded. We must fortify our families against the gloom and seek for the light. We must reach out to our fellow men in love and compassion.
I can be as pessimistic as anyone, but my message to you is that we must not give up hope, no matter what 2016 brings.
Let’s roll!
Published in General
Amen, bro.
Knowing what awaits me is what sustains me through all the above.
Knowing what awaits me is what sustains me through all the above.
****
I agree with you, HoA – it is my bless-ed hope as well, despite the spiritual darkness in our land now (indeed, the world). I am comforted by many passages in Scripture, but one I’ve been ruminating on lately is found in Genesis: “After these things the Word of the LORD came unto Abram in a Vision: I am your shield, and your exceeding great reward.” (Gen. 15:1 – KJV). Amen!
I’m old enough that barring some apocalyptic event I’ll probably be OK. I’m very sorry for my children and grandchildren though.
Augustine wrote as if the world as he knew it were coming to an end. As it happens, the world as he knew it was coming to an end.
The Sunday after Obama got re-elected our pastor dropped the line that “the sun came up as usual” (in the context of “you of little faith who are concerned about such things should lighten up and take an eternal perspective”). Yes, it did. The sun also came up the day after Nero became emperor, it came up the days after Stalin and Mao ascended to power. I have no doubt the sun is going to continue to come up for a long, long time. What it shines down upon is another story though.
It is difficult to avoid pesimism, if our heart yearns for a more righteous America. There is so much evidence that what Frozen Chosen said is all around us. It breaks my heart. We can work support what we think is right. I feel it is a duty, but my optimisism resides in the life beyond mortality. Never the less, we can love and be loved, serve and be served, we can personally prosper, and we may sacrifice for the good and find we are well.
Unfortunately, I think this will be the most dangerous year we have faced since the end of the cold war. Tyrants around the world know that this is the last year of the presidency of the most incompetent, pusillanimous person to ever hold that office. Their window of opportunity for mischief may close in November, and they know it.
This is akin to my greatest fear.
The last acts of desperation of progressive treason. If we get past Labor Day and the Republican nominee has a comfortable lead and HRC is beset by scandal that actually sticks I do not think there is any length Obama will not go to finish the job he and Valerie Jarrett started 8 years ago.
Hope isn’t based in what we see in our circumstances, but it sure can be hard to lay hold of our hope amid the stuff swirling around us. That’s our call though, to live the hope we have in our hearts and make it known around us. Cynicism and despair may have the credibility of history, but we are trying to impact a people and a society for the really long run, and cynicism & despair don’t attract, they repel.
“Be not afraid” paired with wisdom and insight is a good way for us to live our lives in these times of swirling chaos. Doom & gloom isn’t.
If people believe what this post says – what the Bible says, then it is not only out of our control, but if the prophets foresaw these days, then there is a reason and purpose to what we are seeing unfold. I cannot speak for other faiths, but as a Christian I believe it is our job to be salt and light – defenders of the faith, to be a positive force to counteract the negative. It’s always been that way, and it will get harder to do so. We must see it as a privilege, and support one another. Our place in these events may hold back evil for a time, but it is not our job to question God’s plan – take comfort that He is in charge. There is a happy ending and its not 70 virgins.
I interpret the apocalyptic narratives as descriptions of the nature of man’s civilization. We will always face evil and will be subject to evil doers among our governance. People with power over us manifest all the characteristics Paul chronicles. These accumulate and crush until they don’t and there is renewal. So we must be in a place where we get renewal and it is hope and faith that brings it.
I just can’t be optimistic in terms of grand things–meaning things bigger than me. I am expecting my first child this year and have a wonderful wife, but what kind of world are we going to have in the coming years? I am blessed in any number of ways and hope to continue to receive those blessings. However, I see a great reckoning for this nation coming soon. I see an upheaval in our society that has not been previously seen, even prior to the Civil War. We are going to pushed to the brink by the Cultural Marxists and we will be forced to make a very important and very grave decision. Do we fight back in more ways than electing more Republicans to dog catcher? Or do we just begrudgingly acquiesce to their demands and sit back and watch our society become like Europe’s? (And yes, Claire, Europe sucks unless you have substantial means.) I truly fear for my country.
Ultimately it is always a year of hope. That does not absolve us of carrying out His commission.
I celebrated New Years last year and got 2015. This year, we drank champagne at 10:00 at home, then at 11:55 we lit 2 sparklers and 3 small packs of firecrackers and called it a night. One neighbor a block over fired off some semi-professional rockets. After about 12:05, I hardly heard any. I suspect the fireworks folks had an off year.
Went to a Rubio rally today and attendance was very good. He was himself and the crowd was enthusiastic. There was a Q&A and 1/3 of the questions came from kids. Some families have done a good job raising their children. He stayed in the Meet and Greet until all who wanted to meet him and take selfies had their chance.
He remains in my top three. I do not care to narrow my choices in the next month. People have become so emotional that some say they will stay home if they don’t get their choice. I don’t intend to become so OCD.
Not that I would complain…
What do female terrorists get?
Hopefully Hell,just like the guys.