God and Money

 

This year I'm continuing my Lenten commitment to spiritual reading. Usually one book takes me at least half way to Easter. But this year I began reading The Maker Versus The Takers by Jerry Bowyer on Sunday afternoon. By dinner I had read most of it and was looking for a second Lent book by Tuesday. Makers is a slim volume, but that's not the reason I read it so quickly. I finished the book in two days because I couldn't stop reading. Bowyer presents a fascinating analysis of Jesus's statements on wealth, debt, and money when viewed from an economic perspective.

We've probably all heard some version of the "Jesus was a socialist" meme. Modern popular wisdom holds that he abhorred money, period. He told the rich young man to give away all he had. He said a camel could navigate the eye of a needle more easily than the rich could enter "the kingdom of heaven" (an important distinction in terms, as the reader learns). In one of his parables, the rich man who ignored the beggar at his gate goes to hell; the beggar, called Lazarus, goes to heaven. What more proof do we need that Jesus was anti-wealth?

We need context. The modern interpretation of Jesus's antipathy to wealth is one-dimensional and ignores the layers of meaning behind his words. Where was Jesus when he made such criticisms? Who was he speaking to, and why? What is the significance of the locations where Jesus teaches? The Maker Versus The Takers answers these questions. The reader learns that the province of Galilee, where Jesus grew up in the town of Nazareth, was a working class, entrepreneurial place. It was bustling with merchants and shopkeepers--small businesses, if you will. Jesus learned the carpentry trade from his foster father, Joseph, who earned his living through building.

In Galilee, there is no record of Jesus ever speaking a word against wealth or money. Apparently the Lord has no problem with people working hard to make an honest living, to support their families, and to better themselves.

During his years of ministry, Jesus traveled south to Judea where Jerusalem is located. Judea was more wealthy than Galilee; the reader learns about the caste-like socio-economic class system of ancient Israel. Jerusalem, with its priestly class, its political and religious elites, roughly correlates to modern-day Washington DC. The Roman and Israeli rulers of the time were corrupt and greedy; they taxed and exploited the poor and working class citizens for their own gain and to ensure their grip on power. Sounds familiar, right?

All of Jesus's harsh pronouncements on wealth occur in or close to Jerusalem. Most often he is launching pointed barbs at the ruling elites. The author links many of Jesus's quotes directly to Old Testament scripture and provides detailed historical background to support his premise. Some of the facts presented are startling in their modern relevance. For example, I never knew there was a huge financial crisis (akin to the 2008 meltdown) in Rome the year Jesus was crucified, and that its political implications for the Roman governor Pontius Pilate contributed to his condemnation.

I could go on, but that would be a poor substitute for reading The Maker Versus The Takers for yourself. It's a great resource if you're interested in learning a substantive answer to the book's subtitle: "What Jesus Really Said About Social Justice and Economics." The odds are it's not what you think.

Communication Lockdown

A gathering at a colonial tavern

It's tough to know where to begin analyzing the endless insanities of America's continuing left-wing Reign of Terror, but I thought the small business owner interviewed on Larry Elder's radio show recently advanced an excellent theory on at least one topic: lockdowns.

Elder and Paul Scrivano, owner of a popular Los Angeles area bar, believe the government's refusal to reopen restaurants, bars, and houses of worship is because the American Revolution had its genesis in community conversations that were held in taverns, inns, and churches. Think about it. If Americans today are not free to congregate, talk, and exchange ideas, they will remain powerless to address the ongoing, illegal confiscation of their liberty. It appears the left learned something from the American Revolution, after all.

An onerous lockdown to prevent communication among citizens in order to reinforce government power and control makes perfect sense to me. Listen to the interview, linked below, and see if you agree.

Restaurants are Suffering with the Restrictions Governor Newsom Enacted: Larry Elder with Paul Scrivano - TownhallReview.com

Radio Silence

"I don't believe our darkest days are ahead of us. I never have."

~ Rush Limbaugh

I'm a recent fan of Rush Limbaugh. His daily radio show always aired while I was at work, so I only heard random clips of his broadcasts. I know his legendary history, how more than 30 years ago Rush took the dying medium of AM radio and rebuilt it, single-handedly, into the conservative talk show juggernaut that now permeates the airwaves. I enjoyed many of his clever phrases, such as "drive by media." But I must confess my favorite was "Plugs" for Joe Biden.

Just a few years ago, on a weekend drive, I stumbled upon his station's replay of the "Best of Rush." It was a compilation of show clips from the preceding week. I listened whenever I could catch the show during my Saturday travels and quickly became addicted to his clear, insightful, often caustically humorous analysis of current events. I was glad when President Trump awarded him the Medal of Freedom. Rush unabashedly loved our country; he fiercely defended and promoted it in every broadcast.

Since March 2020, when Covid altered my work schedule to three days of working from home, I've been listening to conservative talk radio throughout the day. That is how Rush's show at last became a daily fixture in my day. He had already been diagnosed with terminal cancer, so I'm grateful I was able listen during his last months. I so admired his dedication to continuing his show. The man had enormous courage as well as remarkable intelligence and also, as he described it, "talent on loan from God."

Many of his millions of fans are feeling devastated. I understand; I feel bereft myself, and I haven't been listening to him for decades as so many of them have. A favorite radio host does become akin to family. The excellent and honest ones share so much of themselves and their life with their listeners, as Rush did every day. Although purely auditory, the relationship grows personal and intimate.

The death of Rush Limbaugh leaves a gaping void in the airwaves of conservative talk radio. His silenced voice an is insurmountable loss; no one can replace him. I hope in time there will emerge a voice strong enough to carry on for the "talent on loan from God"--now safely returned to its Owner.

The "Whys?" Have It

No doubt I'm far from the only American who's wondering about the following questions:

1. If COVID-19 can have British, Brazilian, and South African "variants," then why can't it be called the China flu?
2. If more than 98% of human beings can have any body cell tested and it will present either an "XX" or "XY" cell--a male or a female--then why don't we follow that science?
3. If breaking into the Capitol building on January 6 constituted an "insurrection," then why didn't the leftist takeover of the Hart Senate Office Building during the Kavanaugh hearings get called the same?
4. Why aren't the attacks on Federal buildings and police stations that occurred throughout 2020, many of which included arson and serious bodily harm, also termed "insurrections"?
5. If the "climate change" crisis is going to become irreversible by 2030, why does China have a climate plan for 2060?
6. If the United States is such a terrible racist place, why are illegal immigrants swarming the border for entry?
7. If Donald Trump was a dictator, why didn't he lock up all of his innumerable and relentless critics in jail or internment camps?
8. Why are Iran, Russia, and North Korea all acting up since Biden's election?
9. Why is Biden ready to restrict Florida travel due to the state's freedom-respecting Covid response, but willing to allow thousands of potential super-spreaders across the southern border?
10. If masks are so effective at preventing the transmission of Covid, why are family members not allowed to be with loved ones in hospitals or care facilities?

Foul Play

Talk about collusion. The debunked, four-year-long Russia mirage had nothing on the coordinated strategic plan by our shadow left-wing oligarchy to manipulate the 2020 election to "victory" for the Democrats. The masterminds of this abuse of power are actually bragging about it in Time Magazine, of all places.

Most Americans know the 2020 election was not on the level. Laws in several states were changed--unconstitutionally--to leverage the pandemic and tilt the advantage to the Democrats. But only state legislatures have constitutional authority over election law.  Changes made by secretaries of state, governors, or election boards have no validity under Federal law. Why that doesn't seem to matter anymore--even to judges--frightens me. It seems the phrase "a nation of laws" can now join "land of the free" in the dustbin of American history.

The 2020 election was dirty, and the bitter chaos roiling in our politics today is the inevitable result. 

The Walk of Life

“Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time.”

- Steven Wright

We all need to stay sane these days. Between politics and the pandemic, we must find our mental respite in some healthful activities we can commit to and enjoy on a daily basis. I have two calming escape hatches from the craziness of today's world: reading and walking.

The article linked here, "Don't Underestimate the Power of a Walk," pretty much sums up the joys of walking as I have come to experience them. Walking is good exercise that gets you out into the fresh air, and provides a refreshing head reset. I often listen to a lineup of favorite podcasts on my walks, so there's the added satisfaction of multi-tasking. Other walking pastimes include praying the Rosary, talking with a friend on the phone, or just clearing my head and preparing an action plan for whatever needs to be done or dealt with when I return home. Some days I just daydream on whatever thoughts pop into my head. Unlike the mental discipline and focused concentration required in competitive sports, walking allows free and limitless choice of what to think about..

For many years I was a runner, but one too many foot surgeries put me on the walking path. While I do miss the exhilaration of running, walking gives me more time to savor the surroundings of the moment. Walking lets me stop and smell the roses rather than speed past them.

The only equipment required for a walk is a good pair of shoes. If you throw on a tee shirt, sweatshirt and/or ball cap, you're in full uniform. Exercise and its accompanying gear doesn't get easier or more affordable than that. And wherever we go, we bring our feet along with us--so why not put them to work for our good health?  I've come to anticipate this beneficial habit; I don't feel quite right if I miss a day. Even more than a boost to the body, a daily stroll soon becomes food for the soul. Who doesn't need that these days?

Get your sneaks on, and get going!

Arrogance on Display

This week Vice President Harris went on television in West Virginia to push new jobs for coal miners. The  miners need to leave those dirty old coal mines and "transfer their skills" to "the work that has yet to be done that needs to get done." So much for the American dream of pursuing your own pathway in life. The government will now tell you where your talents are needed, comrades. Be grateful that the almighty State is here to steer you right. 

Never mind that these are highly skilled miners in a dangerous job who must be educated in a variety of fields in order to successfully execute their jobs. Engineering expertise, safety protocols, good judgment for dynamic conditions, and a capacity for demanding physical labor are all essential components of a coal miner's job. 

A big part of the problem here is ignorance, which when combined with arrogance makes a perilous combination. Kamala Harris would not know a hard day's work from a cocktail party. It is beyond arrogant and insulting to sweep these essential workers aside because she thinks she has a better idea of how they should be earning their money. And speaking of earning money, what's the lag time between having your coal mining job wiped out and another, more trendy occupation assigned to you? Check with the Keystone Pipeline workers--in both Canada and the US--on that question. Where should displaced coal miners send their bills for groceries, car payments, and mortgages in the interim? Or has that minor detail been overlooked by our oh-so-smart rulers?

Harris did not even have the courtesy to notify West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin that she was making this prime time appearance on his state's television sets, which rightly irked the senator. Harris had better watch her step. As the Good Book tells us, pride is the precursor to some nasty stuff.