"Not My President's Day"

I have made no secret of the fact that when he was President I disagreed with almost every thing that Barack Obama said and everything that he did.  One of the few statements he made that I agreed with was, "Elections have consequences."

However, I never disrespected the Office of the President.  I recognized that Mr. Obama was the duly elected President of the United States.  Elections have consequences, and in a constitutional republic like ours you live with the results of our elections until the next one.

If you have read my previous posts, you know that I have misgivings about President Trump.  I have been clear, however, that I agree with him on most of the issues, and you should know that I think he has done a lot better, so far, than I expected.

President's Day is a holiday during which we remember George Washington and Abraham Lincoln on the occasion of their birthdays.  These days it is common to remember other great presidents as well.  It is disrespectful to the Office of the President to twist the meaning of the holiday for political purposes to protest a duly elected President of the United States.

I respect the right of citizens to peacefully assemble, speak freely, and to petition their government.  During a time when soldiers were often scorned; I served.  I did it to defend the rights guaranteed to us by the constitution.

I know those of you who took part in "Not My President's Day" think you are in the right, but the way you are expressing your opposition to President Trump is wrong.  As we used to say in the Army, if you can't respect the man respect the rank.  Elections have consequences.

Riches

We Americans have more individual freedom than the citizens of most other countries.  We have a higher standard of living than many people in other parts of the world.  Most people in the poorer countries would consider even the poorest of us wealthy.  There is nothing new in saying this, and most of us would agree to it.

President Trump says that he wants to, “Make America great again.”  Certainly, there is still a lot of room for improvement in our circumstances; especially after eight years of Progressive government under President Obama.  We all hope that “The high tide raises all boats.” and that all Americans will benefit from a better economy.

However, we will not be saved by wealth; as individuals or as a nation.  We need a strong military, but even then we are still vulnerable.  Only God can preserve our country and continue our existence as a free and prosperous people.  Fellow Americans, please place your trust in God, and not in earthly things.

Jesus gave us the following teaching:

Watch out!  Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. (Luke 12:15 NIV)

The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.  He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do?  I have no place to store my crops.’

     Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do.  I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.  And I’ll say to myself, 'You have plenty of good things laid up for many years.  Take life easy; eat, drink, and be merry.'

     But God said to him, ‘You fool!  This very night your life will be demanded of you.  Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself.’ (Luke 12:16-20 NIV)

And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.  For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your father knows that you need them.  But seek his kingdom, and all these things will be given to you as well.
(Luke 12:29-31 NIV)

No servant can serve two masters.  Either he will love one and hate the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and money. (Luke 16:13 NIV)

Paul instructed Timothy:

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. (1Timothy 6:17 NIV)