Tears of Joy

“Crying in the Chapel” was written by Artie Glenn and first recorded by his son, Darrell.  The song was made famous by Elvis Presley, who also enhanced the lyrics:

"Crying in the Chapel"

You saw me crying in the chapel.
The tears I shed were tears of joy
I know the meaning of contentment
Now I am happy with the Lord

Just a plain and simple chapel
Where humble people go to pray
I pray the Lord that I'll grow stronger
As I live from day to day

I've searched and I've searched
But I couldn't find
No way on earth
To gain peace of mind

Now I'm happy in the chapel
Where people are of one accord
We gather in the chapel
Just to sing and praise the Lord

Ev'ry sinner looks for something
That will put his heart at ease
There is only one true answer
He must get down on his knees

Meet your neighbor in the chapel
Join with him in tears of joy
You'll know the meaning of contentment
Then you'll be happy with the Lord

You'll search and you'll search
But you'll never find
No way on earth
To gain peace of mind

Take your troubles to the chapel
Get down on your knees and pray
Your burdens will be lighter
And you'll surely find the way

https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/elvispresley/cryinginthechapel.html

At times, nothing else has the special way of touching the heart that a song does.  This is one of my favorites.

DACA Dilemma

President Trump has chosen not to extend DACA unless the House and Senate end the so called “refugee lottery” (Diversity Immigrant Visa Program) and “chain immigration.”  The Democrats are threatening to block government funding and budget legislation unless DACA is included in the planned spending … effectively “shutting down” those operations of the federal government not governed by mandated spending.  Certain “moderate” (establishment) Republicans have gotten together with the Democrats to carve out changes to immigration policy that they are calling “bipartisan” even though many Republicans disagree with it; and President Trump will probably veto it.  In short, it is politics as usual in Washington, D.C.

What Is DACA?

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a kind of administrative relief from deportation. The purpose of DACA is to protect eligible immigrant youth who came to the United States when they were children from deportation. DACA gives young undocumented immigrants: 1) protection from deportation, and 2) a work permit. The program expires after two years, subject to renewal.

What Are The Requirements For DACA?

• You were under 31 years old as of June 15, 2012;
• You first came to the United States before your 16th birthday;
• You have lived continuously in the United States from June 15, 2007 until the present;
• You were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012 and at the time you apply;
• You came to the United States without documents before June 15, 2012, or your lawful status expired as of June 15, 2012;
• You are currently studying, or you graduated from high school or earned a certificate of completion of high school or GED, or have been honorably discharged from the Coast Guard or military (technical and trade school completion also qualifies); and
• You have NOT been convicted of a felony, certain significant misdemeanors (including a single DUI), or three or more misdemeanors of any kind. Consult with an attorney about ANY contact you have had with law enforcement or immigration authorities.

https://undocu.berkeley.edu/legal-support-overview/what-is-daca/

There are policy questions that involve border security, the rule of law, protecting American workers, the effect of cheap labor on the wage scale, preserving the dominant language and culture, controlling gang activity and drug smuggling, and more.  The moral question facing the American people is, “How can we deal with the problem of illegal migration into the United States and still maintain a just and humane society?"  I call it the DACA Dilemma.

The “Dreamers” are the foreign-born children of parents who entered the United States illegally and stayed.  Some have spent most of their lives here.  For them, returning to their country of origin might possibly be like moving to a foreign country.  Or, so we are told.  We are also told that deporting their parents while leaving the Dreamers here, or vice versa, would break up families.  Naturally, the dream would come true if everybody could stay in America with a path to citizenship.

I think that I should, at this point, say that we wouldn’t have this problem if our government had done its job.  The DACA problem is just one of many that have been the “unintended consequences” of the government’s abject failure to stop illegal migration into our country.

Some blame the Democrats.  They say that our Progressive friends favor lax enforcement of immigration laws because immigrants are more likely to vote Democratic.  Others say the Republicans are to blame because they want cheap labor.  I think that there is plenty of blame for both sides.  I think it is time that we do like Henry Ford said:

Don't find fault, find a remedy.

https://www.brainyquote.com/search_results?q=Henry+Ford

Hopefully, each American will determine for themselves where they stand.  Whatever the outcome, we must not let the fate of the Dreamers create another back door by which people can “do an end run” around our immigration laws in the future. We do not want a situation like the 14th Amendment babies delivered on American soil by foreign mothers so that the babies will be U.S. citizens.

As for myself, the DACA Dilemma is a difficult moral problem.  In my old self, I want to say that the Dreamers should be deported along with their parents … end of story. However, I can’t get around the call of the Holy Spirit to follow in Jesus’ steps.  Jesus taught us to:

·         Love others as we love ourselves.

·         Treat others the way we want others to treat us.

·         Turn the other cheek.

·         Forgive others, as we want God to forgive us.

·         Be merciful, and we will obtain mercy.

Peter taught that we should be obedient to civil rulers.  However, he also told the Sanhedrin that if he had to choose, he would obey God rather than men.

In the Old Testament, the gist of things is to treat aliens and strangers well.  However, aliens were forbidden to participate in the Passover or break the law.

Therefore, I say that we should allow the Dreamers to stay in the country as “provisional” resident aliens.  Believe me, I have had to struggle with myself over it.  However, I put it in God’s hands and asked Him to give me His strength.

I do not think that the Tea Party Republicans in the House and Senate, or President Trump, should agree to allow the Dreamers to stay as a stand-alone policy.  The Democrats and swamp dwelling Republicans will not honor their pledges to deal with other immigration issues later.  DACA should not be continued unless the Dreamers:

·         Get to the end of the line of those waiting to become citizens.

·         Are verified not to be terrorists or criminals by comprehensive background checks.

·         Refrain from any illegal activity on pain of the loss of their provisional status and   immediate deportation.

·         Have no history of gang activity.

·         Can pass an English proficiency examination.

·         Are in school or holding verifiable and steady employment.

·         Will pledge to be loyal to the United States, while they reside here.

·         Will agree to refrain from using drugs deemed illegal by the federal government, as   verified by random drug tests.

Further, at a minimum, the Diversity Immigrant Visa lottery, and the policy of allowing the extended family members of immigrants to enter the country as well, must simultaneously cease when DACA is continued.  The President must be allowed to exercise his legal authority to ban anyone from any country from entering the United States for reasons he deems to be in the interest of national security.  And, let President Trump build the wall, if for no other reason than it will help to disrupt the flow of drugs into the country.

From Martin Luther King, Jr.

A man can't ride your back unless it's bent.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

https://www.brainyquote.com/search_results?q=Martin

Resolution Revolution

Goodbye 2017!  Don’t let the door hit you on your way out.  That is the way one might feel as we begin 2018.  We always the hope for better things to come.  To that end let’s consider the old saw that is sometimes attributed to Albert Einstein:

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over,

and expecting a different outcome.

What to do?  I’ve got it, we can make New Year’s resolutions.  Nobody’s perfect.  Everyone can find something to improve upon.  We really should and ought to, you know.

So, we trot out the same old list of things people always resolve to do.  I’m going to quit smoking, drinking, cheating on my spouse, spending too much time at work, or yelling at the kids.  I’m going to lose weight, get more sleep, look for a new job, or have a date-night with my spouse once a week.  Often, we find that we have blown it by the end of the first week or so.  It is just too much hassle.

To paraphrase Albert Ellis:

The most difficult thing a person can do is to identify something in their life

that needs to be changed, and then to change it.

Agreed.  That has certainly been my experience.  I think it is because we try to change in our own strength.  We struggle, strive, and try to persevere.  Then we fail and give up.

The answer is to let go and let God.  Your resolution can be a revolution if you resolve to allow Jesus Christ to be your Savior and your Lord.  Let Him save you from slavery to sin, because (as we have seen) you can’t save yourself.  He will be in you and you in Him.  The Holy Spirit will live in you. If you surrender to the Holy Spirit, you will want to please the Spirit and not your old worldly self.  You will still fail occasionally, but if you confess to God that you are sorry, and that you really want to change, He will forgive you, set you back on the right path, and give you the desire and strength to change.  It is by faith that you can have victory.

Next year, on New Year’s Eve, you won’t need to make a resolution.  Put everything in God’s hands. You can trust Him to work things out for the best in the end.

Well done, Congress, now get to work!

Well done to the Republicans in the U.S. Congress for passing some very respectable tax cuts.  We all hope that the expected economic growth will provide enough revenue to meet current needs (balance the budget), and provide a revenue surplus that will reduce the national debt.

Please be reminded that Ronald Reagan combined tax cuts with eliminating the growth in spending for programs where spending was not mandated; except for defense spending.  I believe you must have cuts in both spending and taxes if you want the kind of economic turnaround that President Reagan achieved.

Now … you have about six months left to change the course of American history.  Get to work, and pass the rest of President Trump’s plan to “Make America Great Again!”  Republicans, if you do not stop your bickering and work together, you will lose what may be our last, best opportunity to save this country.  If you can’t show some significant progress by July, you can’t win in November.

Merry Christmas, 2017

At Christmas time, we get so busy that it seems like we forget to remember what Christmas is all about.  It’s a cliché, but it’s true.  To counterbalance the materialism, and sometimes hedonism, there is a lot of talk about the spirit of giving, showing kindness to the less fortunate, and peace on earth.  Certainly, Jesus taught us to do these things.  Please allow me to contribute the following passage, that I hope will provide an additional reason for the season:

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out

from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.

This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.

So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth,

into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem,

because he was of the house and lineage of David,

to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.

So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes,

and laid Him in a manger,

because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields,

keeping watch over their flock by night.

And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them,

and the glory of the Lord shone around them,

and they were greatly afraid.

Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold,

I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior,

who is Christ the Lord.

And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe

wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host

 praising God and saying:

"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven,

that the shepherds said to one another,

 "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass,

which the Lord has made known to us."

And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph,

and the Babe lying in a manger.

Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known

the saying which was told them concerning this Child.

And all those who heard it marveled at those things

which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

(Luke 2:1-19 NKJV)

https://www.biblestudytools.com/nkjv/ 

May the Lord bless you and keep you close to Him this Christmas, and throughout the New Year. 

It was 255,500 Nights Before Christmas

Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the prophet Isaiah foretold the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, about 700 years (give or take) before it happened.  I hope it will bless the start of your Christmas Season to read these prophesies:

Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign:

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son,

and shall call His name Immanuel.

(Isaiah 7:14 NKJV)

For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon

His shoulder.

And his name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

(Isaiah 9:6 NKJV)

The Holy Spirit, through Isaiah, tells us why Jesus came down from heaven to live with us.  He also describes the kind of death our Lord would die for us.

I gave My back to those who struck Me,

And My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard;

I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

(Isaiah 50:6 NKJV)

… many were astonished at you,

So His visage was marred more than any man,

and His form more than the sons of men …

(Isaiah 52:14 NKJV)

Who has believed our report?

 And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant,

And as a root out of dry ground.

 He has no form or comeliness;

And when we see Him,

There is no beauty that we should desire Him.

He is despised and rejected by men,

A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.

And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;

He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

Surely He has borne our griefs

And carried our sorrows;

Yet we esteemed Him stricken,

Smitten by God, and afflicted.

But He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities;

The chastisement of our peace was upon Him,

And by His stripes we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray;

We have turned, every one, to his own way;

And the Lord has laid on Him

The iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and He was afflicted,

Yet he opened not His mouth;

He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,

And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,

So He opened not His mouth;

He was taken from prison and from judgement,

And who will declare His generation?

For He was cut off from the land of the living;

For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.

(Isaiah 53:1-8 NKJV)

Jesus left the glory of heaven to live a sinless life at a primitive and cruel time in history.  Then He took the punishment we deserved for our sins, died, and rose from the dead to give us eternal life.  What a Christmas gift!  Please give Him something back this Christmas.  Accept the salvation He has given you; then follow in His steps.