Happy Endings...

As the polls close this evening and the results begin trickling in, nearly half of the population will bewail the results...and in another year, perhaps more.

Walking home from the election booth, the weight of the election weighed heavily on me. We are already in such a mess. What will the coming years bring?

But reflecting on our nation's history and of the church brings such hope. Turning the pages, time and again God's hand is evident, guiding the story and bringing happy endings out of truly awful situations.

Once again, I am reminded to trust God. No matter who is elected Mr. President, God's throne is not endangered.

In God We Trust

"In God We Trust. It is the choicest compliment that has ever been paid us, and the most gratifying to our feelings. It is simple, direct, gracefully phrased; it always sounds well -- In God We Trust. I don't believe it would sound any better if it were true."

-attributed to Mark Twain

With elections in our country just around the corner and the economy enjoying some time on the roller coasters, this cynical yet humorous quip was a timely reminder for me.

As November 4th fast approaches, it is easy to get caught up in the political furor and worry about the fate of our country if the right candidate isn't elected. Will America be plunged deeper into a recession? What judges will be put in place? [*shudder*] Will the war ever end? What will be the fate of marriage? Is their any area Big Brother won't seek to control?

The list goes on and on. Honestly, the platforms of both Obama and McCain trouble me and if our trust were in the president of America it would truly be a frightening time. Looking into my little girl's eyes, I wonder what this country will be like when it's her turn to raise children.

Yet even the King's heart is in God's hands and He rules over the affairs of men. As George Washington's mother told him when he departed home to serve this country "Remember that God is our only sure trust. To Him, I commend you." Though action is a duty, until we can truly say once again "In God we trust" any gains made will be fleeting.

photo by kgdsgn

All things economics: few favorite post this week...

Stories of the floundering economy are flooding the news these days and sometimes it's hard not to worry and be upset. Looking at the current economic situation in light of The Law, it's easy to see a plethora of ways in which Uncle Sam has overstepped his bounds. As Bastiat so poignantly points out:

"In regulating industry, the government has contracted to make it prosper; otherwise it is absurd to deprive industry of its liberty. And if industry now suffers, whose fault is it?"

But I know that the blame doesn't lie just in the direction of Washington and that for change to occur there, it must begin at home.

Anyway, enough rambling. :) Here are a few of my favorite posts on the topic of current economic events.

"Why I am not worried" The stocks are falling, the housing market's a mess, gas is expensive... but the Fed will take care of us all. Yeah, just kidding. But, as Christians we have a sure confidence.

Crystal had a really great post on where changes in Washington must start: with me.,

In an interesting and thought provoking post, Doug Wilson proposes humor as a vital skill for the days ahead. :)

And here are some more great reminders about things we can learn from the current economic situation from Katrina.

The Simple Dollar had a good post on fear, or rather NOT fearing: The Only Thing to Fear is Fear Itself.

These are a few of my favorite posts this week. Check out others favorite things here.

The Law: Book Review

In this masterpiece Frederic Bastiat clearly and concisely champions the cause of liberty and limited government. Though written over 150 years ago, its message still rings true today.

Bastiat begins his discussion by defining the law.

"What then is law? It is the collective organization of the individual right to lawful defense. Each of us has a natural right- from God- to defend his life, his liberty and his property.... It follows that a group of men have the right to organize and support a common force to protect these rights continually "

The purpose of the law is simply to do what each man has a right to do individually on a larger scale. To protect justice. That's all. Period.

As the book continues, Batiat lays out a compelling argument. Each citizen has the God-give right to life, liberty and the work of their hands and to defend these rights against infringement. However, individuals may not plunder others for their own benefit or even to help others.

And just as you and I may not plunder our neighbor, so the government may not plunder. Anytime the law permits the taking of goods from one set of citizens to be used to benefit others: whether the legislators, the merchants, the poor.... it is perverting justice and permitting legalized plunder of the people.

According to Bastiat, there are only three ways to settle the question of legalized plunder:

1. The few plunder the many.
2. Everybody plunders everybody.
3. Nobody plunders anybody.

He clearly proposes the third as the only just, logical and peaceful choice. Even when plunder is proposed for "philanthropic purposes", Bastiat contends that it defeats liberty and extends far beyond its limited scope. We see this today.

And if the government undertakes to provide education and food and prosperity to the citizens, who is to blame when the children can't read, the poor go hungry and the economy staggers?

It is not the duty of the law to provide charity or fraternity or education. The purpose of the law is to defend justice and liberty.

Bastiat ends The Law with a passionate appeal to us to "reject all systems and try liberty. For liberty is an acknowledgment of faith in God and His works."



photo by creationc