FBI – Alan Sargent

CLARITY – 4-10-18 Cohen Raid “Disgraceful”

CLARITY

A Biblical Response to Current Events – 4-10-18

Cohen Raid “Disgraceful”

What’s Happening: “The FBI raided several (four warrants were issued) offices of Trump’s personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, late yesterday amid Trump’s cabinet-level discussions on the U.S.’s reaction to Syria’s alleged chemical attack. He termed the raid “disgraceful” and a “witch hunt” that he said may have started as soon as he got nominated for President in 2016 (https://www.axios.com/trump-blasts-fbi-raid-on-michael-cohen-as-disgraceful-situation-1523312632-f2fe7944-7b87-415a-b904-c6afd0cc9600.html). The President said, ‘They continue to just go forward and here we are talking about Syria, we’re talking about a lot of serious things … and I have this witch hunt constantly going on for over 12 months now. Actually it’s much more than that. You could say right after I won the nomination it started.’

Knee-Jerk Response: “I sure hope he’s not too upset over the raid to make decisions as Commander in Chief.”

Biblical Response: “Probably not…a President is elected because he’s capable of walking and chewing gum at the same time. Seriously, has there ever been a time when Trump has only faced ONE crisis? He regularly juggles the ambitions of: Iran, Russia, China, North Korea (to say nothing of the border wall, Turkey, ISIS, trade deals, etc.). I’m sure what he might term a witch hunt and Syria can just be taken in stride. ”

“Christians? We have to be careful not to conflate the challenges we face. If we come home from the office and take our frustrations with things over which we have no control (our boss, the price of our competitor’s products, etc.) on those things over which we think we do have some control (our spouse, the kids, the dog), we may just be giving in to anger…which is by itself, not a problem. However when it leads to sin (Eph. 4:26), not so much.”

Here’s a Prayer You Can Pray: “Heavenly Father, we need You to manage the emotions of our leaders and give them the courage of their convictions; in Jesus’ Name, amen.” © Alan E.Sargent

Share as you like; just give credit appropriately. For buying any of Alan E. Sargent’s books or to subscribe to any of his CLARITY blogs, go to the following link: http://subdeo.com/. He also tweets on Twitter.com every day @alanesargent

CLARITY – 3-17-18 With Great Power…

CLARITY

A Biblical Response to Current Events – 3-17-18

With Great Power…

What’s Happening: “Andrew McCabe, 2nd in command at the FBI, was fired only hours before the deadline to receive his much-vaunted retirement by Attorney General Jeff Sessions – he was following the recommendations of the Inspector General. Accused of deliberately misleading questioners, many times under oath, the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) also recommended the action (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/03/17/former-fbi-deputy-director-andrew-mccabe-fired.html). ‘This attack on my credibility is one part of a larger effort not just to slander me personally, but to taint the FBI, law enforcement, and intelligence professionals more generally,’ McCabe said.”

Knee-Jerk Response: “First James Comey (former FBI Director), then Andrew McCabe…what’s the FBI coming to?”

Biblical Response: “Hopefully integrity and trustworthiness. I mean, everyone hates to see him and his family not receive his long-awaited pension…at the same time, had he been someone much less powerful, he’d have been gone long ago. You can’t not let him go (bad English – good sense). To quote an old equal- justice-under-the-law saying: ‘What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander’ or to quote the superheroes’ mantra: ‘With great power, comes great responsibility.’”

“Christians? We are not unfamiliar with the requirements of power (Acts 1:8). The sword of justice swings both ways and the very laws we judge by become the laws we live by (Matt. 7:2). Thankfully, just as the Lord knows we are incapable of such integrity, He has made a provision for us (Rom. 5:8). Can’t we just be merciful to him? Yes, but that requires repentance first (Luke 13:3). ”

Here’s a Prayer You Can Pray: “Heavenly Father, we do pray for Andrew’s family…that you will make a provision for them in spite of their breadwinner’s behavior; in Jesus’ Name, amen.” © Alan E.Sargent

CLARITY – 3-6-18 The Difference of 15 Minutes

CLARITY

A Biblical Response to Current Events – 3-6-18

The Difference of 15 Minutes

What’s Happening: “The Florida State Senate voted to ban the sales of AR-15’s, the most popular sporting gun in America…and then voted 15 minutes later to reverse themselves. To be fair, the first vote was a voice vote and ruled ‘passed’….and the second one was a roll-call vote which reversed the amendment 21-17, two Republicans joining the Democrats to make the 17 (https://conservativetribune.com/senate-bans-ar-15s-15-minutes/?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=patriotupdate&utm_campaign=weeklypm&utm_content=libertyalliance). The measure now goes to the House, hopefully by Monday (yesterday), to be considered. It must pass and be signed by the Governor before they adjourn Friday to become Florida law.”

Knee-Jerk Response: “Great! More deaths by AR-15’s!”

Biblical Response: “Not necessarily; in fact, while sales have recently skyrocketed, deaths by AR-15’s have gone down. Since we are not willing to ban blunt objects, baseball bats, and fists (all of which have caused more death than the AR-15), we may see more deaths. Actually, we might get more desired results by just enforcing the laws already on the books (of course, law enforcement might actually have to respond with real action – hear that Sheriff’s Department and FBI?). Parents and students might feel safer by passing new laws (and I’m not saying our mental health system doesn’t need an overhaul), but for there to be an end to shootings you’d have to ban evil – wait a minute, that’s what all existing laws do..”

“Christians? We like that verse in Proverbs 29:27, ‘The good hate the wickedness of the wicked, and the wicked the goodness of the good.’ Of course, maybe if we didn’t hate the wicked, just their wickedness, a few more things would change.”

Here’s a Prayer You Can Pray: “Heavenly Father, help us not to ‘throw out the baby with the bathwater;’ while we should despise the evil that infects people, we need to love the people it infects; thank God You did; in Jesus’ Name, amen.” © Alan E.Sargent

CLARITY – 2-6-18 They Said…They Said

CLARITY

A Biblical Response to Current Events – 2-6-18

They Said…They Said

What’s Happening: “Again, it depends on to whom you talk…the Democrats (with their response memo) or the Republicans (with their Nunes memo saying the Trump Dossier was the reason for the FISA Court approval of wiretaps). Nobody but the House Intelligence Committee has read the Democrats’ memo…and they voted unanimously to release it. Trump can stll block it (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/02/05/intelligence-committee-approves-release-dems-rebuttal-to-fisa-memo.html). ‘We think this will help inform the public of the many distortions and inaccuracies in the majority memo,’ Schliff, the memo’s author, said.’”

Knee-Jerk Response: “Who are we to believe?”

Biblical Response: “Both…and neither. Everyone’s got an agenda. The Republicans are convinced the FBI and DOJ of the Obama Administration were biased. The Democrats say they weren’t. (probably they were – and so are those Trump has picked to lead his FBI and DOJ). If you think the leadership of anyone appointed by one administration or another is unbiased, you don’t understand the foundation of political appointees (I know that the FBI and the DOJ are supposed to be apolitical, but do you really think it ends up that way? – sure, the lower you go the more independent your leadership is – but at the top…not so much). No thinking person expects lack of bias. Elections have consequences.”

“Christians? In a perfect world everyone does what is absolutely right. But until then, we’ll have to learn how to discern through all the distortions – Republican AND Democrat – that are told by fallen men (John 8:32).”

Here’s a Prayer You Can Pray: “Heavenly Father, help us to read between the lies and understand the varying perspectives of what our leaders will swear is the truth; in Jesus’ Name, amen.” © Alan E.Sargent

CLARITY – 2-3-18 Yawn…Is Anybody Surprised?

CLARITY

A Biblical Response to Current Events – 2-3-18

Yawn…Is Anybody Surprised?

What’s Happening: “The memo from Nunes is released…without redactions…to the Democrats’ chagrin (and the FBI & DOJ) and the Republicans’ glee. It establishes the Hillary Campaign and the DNC as the funders of the dossier, and the dossier as the primary reason the FISA Court approved wiretapping Gates (to be of the few to read the full text of the memo, go to the link) (https://www.axios.com/read-nunes-memo-fbi-doj-fisa-mueller-7fb8bcb7-1f18-4294-aa95-628d2f67bcdf.html). Rep. Devin Nunes: ‘The Committee has discovered serious violations of the public trust, and the American people have a right to know when officials in crucial institutions are abusing their authority for political purposes.’”

Knee-Jerk Response: “Perhaps I can see why the swamp must be drained.”

Biblical Response: “You think?! George Washington, in his farewell address, warned of party factionism (I’m a registered independent). It’s a big deal to go against the status quo (keeping things the way they’ve always been). It’s an even bigger deal to vote differently. Sure, we pay lip service to ‘draining the swamp.’ but once we get into the voting booth, we pull the lever the way we always have. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the definition of insanity.”

“Christians? We’re not immune to insanity, either. The Scripture has lain out a clear path for us (Is. 55:8-9; Prov. 3:5-6). Taking that path, however, requires a death to self, but any other path is unthinkable (Prov. 16:25). Should we just not vote? Perhaps that’s why we’re in this mess in the first place.”

Here’s a Prayer You Can Pray: “Heavenly Father, help us to realize that the name ‘Christian’ carries stern responsibilities; in Jesus’ Name, amen.” © Alan E.Sargent

CLARITY – 2-1-18 It’s Only a Memo

CLARITY

A Biblical Response to Current Events – 2-1-18

It’s Only a Memo

What’s Happening: “The FBI has indicated the Nunes’ memo, which might be released today (the President has had it since Monday – he has five days to decide whether it should be released – the Senate Intelligence Committee voted for it to be released) might not be accurate and should not be released – of course, they fear the contents of the memo might show that they have abused the FISA Warrant’s power and the unmasking that might have occurred (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-memo/fbi-expresses-grave-concerns-over-republican-memos-accuracy-idUSKBN1FK25P). ‘The FBI was provided a limited opportunity to review this memo the day before the committee voted to release it,’ the FBI said. ‘As expressed during our initial review, we have grave concerns about material omissions of fact that fundamentally impact the memo’s accuracy.’

Knee-Jerk Response: “What about the Democrat’s memo? Whom should we believe?”

Biblical Response: “The Republicans have blocked the Democrat version (presumably because they hold the majority on the Committee). As far as belief? Neither…Both… Whatever…it’s just a memo…it has no officiality (is that a word?). As if we didn’t have enough to worry about! (the DPRK is on the cusp of declaring nuclear war…so is Iran, Palestine is apoplectic about our declaring Jerusalem as Israel’s capital [which we actually did back in 1995 … by law], we just had a suicide bomb kill over a hundred in Kabul, we’ve declared that Pakistan, [a nuclear state] is not our friend, etc.).”

“Christians? Do we give much credence to something written about something? Not as much as the ‘something’ itself (John 21:25).”

Here’s a Prayer You Can Pray: “Heavenly Father, while we need and want to be led only by the truth, let us not get too worked up over what others think; in Jesus’ Name, amen.” © Alan E.Sargent

CLARITY – 1-23-18 It Depends on to Whom You Talk

CLARITY

A Biblical Response to Current Events – 1-24-18

It Depends on to Whom You Talk

What’s Happening: “What is in the Nunes Memo? Is it really the Watergate of our day? (With all the leaking going on in Washington, the classified text conclusions of the House Intelligence Committee’s Chairman, Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) personal investigation into the Russia probe, might be on public display anyway). It really depends on to whom you talk (https://www.npr.org/2018/01/24/580068641/the-memo-the-bureau-and-the-missing-texts-get-caught-up-on-the-war-over-the-fbi). The Democrats say it’s a smokescreen, the Republicans may prefer to talk about the memo, rather than release it’s content. Then there’s the conveniently missing five months of texts (56,000 texts) from FBI agent Strzok to FBI lawyer Lisa Page.”

Knee-jerk Response: “Whom are we to believe?”

Biblical Response: “Again, it depends on to whom you talk. I mean, who’s got the absolute perspective? God. I’m going to write a book someday on “The Myth of the Closet.” We do all sorts of things ‘in-the-closet’ thinking no one can see…but God does.”

“Christians? We’re some of the worst offenders…or should I say ‘self-deceivers.’ Thankfully, Someone’s already paid for that (Rom. 5:8). Still, it behooves us to deal in absolute truth. And that’s what the Holy Spirit is for (John 15:12-13).”

Here’s a Prayer You Can Pray: “Heavenly Father, help us to see beyond others’ bias and from Your absolute perspective; in Jesus’ Name, amen.” © Alan E.Sargent