A Modest Proposal About China

News reports vary regarding the origin of the current COVID-19 (Coronavirus) epidemic.  The evidence strongly suggests that a laboratory (Wuhan Institute of Virology) in Wuhan, China was conducting research on bats, which carry the virus.  The possibility that the virus was transmitted to the community from the laboratory appears likely, but it is still under investigation.  We know that people were allowed to leave Wuhan, and Hubei Province, and to travel outside China to flee the COVID-19 outbreak.  As a result, over half a million people world-wide have died, and trillions of dollars’ worth of damage has been done to the economies of other nations.  The final cost in lives and wealth is still growing.

Reports (Japan Times, New York Post, Fox News) seem to indicate that the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic out of China was not deliberate and was due to mismanagement on the part of the Chinese government.  Let us hope that is correct.  Time will tell.

On television, I have heard some commentators call for China to be “consequenced.”  That is newspeak for punished.  If after the dust settles, we learn that China deliberately unleashed this plague on the world for nefarious reasons, then I agree that they should be punished  economically by the rest of the world.  However, given the way the economy of the United States (and other countries) is entangled with the Chinese economy, I urge that we proceed with caution economically.  If we are not careful, we might hurt ourselves as much, or more, than we hurt the Chinese.

Instead, I think we should support the efforts of the Trump Administration to create a trade environment with China that is fair to both sides.  Then, I think we should begin to create and pursue a long-term strategy setting economic and geopolitical goals that will strengthen our economy while gradually reducing our dependence on Chinese goods. Whatever other nations do, America needs to act in ways that will return our businesses and jobs to the United States.  It is time that we do a cost/benefit analysis, and then plan and act accordingly over the next 20 years.  China is a superpower that was built by foreign business and foreign consumers.  If we built it, we can take it away.

In the near-term, America must produce all goods in the U.S.A. that would be needed for survival should we have a war, natural disaster, epidemic, or economic problems.  If we go to war, if Yellowstone blows up, if California finally has “the big one,” or if there is another pandemic then we need to be making our own bullets, tires, boots, blankets, steel, medicine, computers and bandages.  Whoa, how did we ever let it get this bad.  It needs to get fixed … now!

One last thing, China has priors:

1.    the Asian flu (H2N2) in 1957

2.    the Hong Cong flu (H3N2) in 1968

3.    the “Russian” flu (H1N1)1977

4.    the 2003 SARS pandemic (SARS-CoV-2)

The international community must find ways to exert diplomatic pressure on the Communist government of China to correct its public health problems and the effectiveness with which they deal with them.  For example, we might send their non-essential diplomatic personnel home, close all cultural exchange activities, and suspend further enrollment by Chinese students at our universities.  We might suspend participation by our athletes in Chinese events, and temporarily halt tourism to China.  I am sure there are lots of other things that I didn’t list.  World-wide diplomatic efforts should continue until China can show to our  inspectors (not the UN’s) that their sources of disease have been cleaned up.  We need to act together.  The rest of the world has a stake in this, too.  The United States, the European Union, Russia, the Middle East, and China’s Asian neighbors cannot afford to spend trillions to fix China’s mistakes.

He is Risen!

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. So the disciples went away again to their own homes.

But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.
(John 20:1-18 NASB) *

*   https://biblehub.com/nasb/john/20.htm

Never, Ever, Ever Give Up

Anybody have any toilet paper?  I don’t know about you, but I think that running out of toilet paper is a serious thing.  Maybe the French have a good idea, and we should all start using bidets.

I enrolled in Economics 101 when I was earning my BA.  I withdrew almost immediately after I had a chance to take a look at the text and the course syllabus.  I’m afraid I will never be an Economist.  I can, however, use common sense.  I think the economy will rebound after the Coronavirus lockdown is lifted, because people have not been able to buy the things they need.  They haven’t been able to get together with friends and relatives.  You get sick of your own cooking.  How about going out for some pancakes?  Anybody want to take in a movie?  Or, how about sending the kids back to school?

For a while, some people will have less money to spend because they have been laid off or lost their jobs.  The income of many others hasn’t been interrupted.  Regardless, people are going to spend what they can for the things that they have not been able to get.  Ultimately, this will put people back to work, and then they will spend their earnings for what they have not been able to get.  Eventually, things will even out and get back to “normal.”

An artificial scarcity of consumer goods has been created by the restriction of buyers’ access to those goods.  The problem has been made worse by hoarding.  The higher the price, the more product producers will make available.  However, the more something costs, the less consumers will buy of it.  People will be trying to balance their need for groceries against their need to pay their mortgage.  As the wild card of artificial scarcity diminishes, the push-pull of supply and demand will eventually create an equilibrium.  Until then, we hope the government will be on guard against price gouging.

I urge everyone to be patient until it is safe to go out again.  Then, I urge everyone to just buy what you need.  Don’t panic.  Those who hoarded toilet paper will be stuck with too much.  They won’t be competing with the rest of us when it becomes available again.

God bless each one who reads this, and God bless the United States of America.

Let Go and Let God

The current pandemic COVID-19, caused by the Coronavirus, is a serious, life-threatening illness, and I urge everyone to take every measure available to them to protect themselves.  In writing this post, I am not attempting to diminish the threat that COVID-19 poses to all people, regardless of their age or physical condition.  If you are sick, contact your doctor or local emergency room by telephone and follow their instructions.  COVID-19 is potentially fatal, and not to be trifled with.

News reports I have heard said that people are suffering from anxiety, fearing that they, or their loved ones will be infected.  Many people are worried about their livelihood.  In the short term, such fears are justified and understandable.  In the long term, this will eventually pass.  Things will return to “normal,” whatever that is these days.  We have gone through challenges before.  We have survived.  Sometimes things come out better than they were before. (Book of Job)  So, hang in there.  Take it to the Lord in prayer.  Lay your worries at His feet, and trust Him.  He will provide.

Several times in my long life I have had everything I worked for taken away.  God always provided a way back. (Romans 8:28)  It also taught me not to get too attached to the things of this world.  Lay up your treasures in heaven. That treasure cannot be stolen or destroyed. (Luke 12:27-34)

Please Take a Moment to Pray

Please join us prayer that God will restrain the spread of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease) pandemic, help those who are infected, and bring the whole horrid mess to a rapid end.  To those infected, and to those who have lost loved ones, we extend our sincere sympathy and best wishes for a rapid and complete recovery.

A Tribute to Jack Van Impe

We learned today that Dr. Jack Van Impe died on January 18, 2020.  He was 88 years old.  We know, however, that when the earthly bodies of the saved die, their soul is immediately  present with the Lord (2Corinthians 5), and we know that Jack is with Jesus now.  We thank God for the time Jack was here, and for all the people he brought to Christ.  He and his wife, Rexella, made each listener feel like we were their brothers and sisters in Christ.  His reward will be great, and we are confident that he will be one of the first to lay his crowns at the feet of Jesus.

He shared his ministry with his wife, and they focused on warning people that the time is short, that Jesus’ return is imminent … and then asking people to accept Jesus as their Savior.  Every one of their TV broadcasts and other recorded messages that I saw ended with an alter call.  Dr. Van Impe was uncompromising in calling the church to holiness.  He fearlessly defended Christianity against all opponents.

Of his work that I am familiar with, I will testify that he was at his best as a Biblical expositor, especially in the area of Bible prophesy.  I highly recommend two of his DVD recordings: Revelation Revealed Verse by Verse, and Daniel, Final End Time Mysteries Unsealed.  They are available from the ministry for a small contribution. ( jvim.com )  They may also be found on eBay.

Prophesy was always a mystery to me.  Then my wife introduced me to Jack and Rexella’s TV program.  It took a long time, but thanks to Jack Van Impe, Hal Lindsey, and the Holy Spirit I think I’ve finally got it.  I am in their debt.

The old guard like Billy Graham and Jack Van Impe are being called home.  Let us pray that the Lord will raise up worthy successors.

Forgiven Much

The church I am attending uses contemporary Christian songs for the music portion of the worship services on Sunday.  The pastor has explained that the church wants to attract young people, and that winning the next generation to Christ is important if the church is to survive in the future.  This is becoming common practice in many churches.

I agree with using contemporary Christian music for praise and worship, first to attract younger people to church, but also because contemporary Christian music can be a blessing to persons of all ages … if you let it, and are careful to select songs that are doctrinally correct.  Nevertheless, some of the older people complain.  So, our church includes an older hymn on many Sundays.

I think it is a bit selfish to fuss over whether the music ministry of the church is contemporary or traditional.  To the older folks who are being closed-minded about contemporary music, I will say along with Don Francisco, “Just because you don’t like it, don’t mean it’s a sin.” (see Ephesians 6:4)   However, the older hymns are a blessing, and it is good to include them in the music service, too.  So, to the younger folks I would urge that due respect be shown to their elders. (see Ephesians 6:1-3)

Last Sunday, we sang the hymn “It is Well With My Soul,” by Horatio Spafford (lyrics) and Philip Bliss (music). (1876)  It was written at a time of overwhelming tragedy for Spafford, and it is a witness to the strength we find in Christ, no matter what our circumstances.

The second stanza spoke to me very personally, and I would like to share it with you:

            My sin – O the joy of this glorious thought – my sin not in
            part, but the whole, Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more:
            Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

I have been forgiven much, and the heavy burden I was carrying from the way I was living has been lifted from my shoulders by Christ Jesus, our Savior.  I am very grateful to my Master:

Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.”

And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.” “A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. “When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. “You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. “You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. “For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” Then He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”  (Luke 7:36-50 NASB) *

*  biblehub.com/nasb/luke/7.htm