Putin – Alan Sargent

Posted on October 26, 2019October 26, 2019 by 40477641 — Leave a comment

CLARITY – 10-26-19 Friendship?

CLARITY

A Biblical Response to Current Events – 10-26-19

Friendship?

It’s Happening: “Filipino President Duterte, making his second trip to Moscow in less than a year, may be seeking a strategic relationship with Russia, in particular Vladimir Putin. He has bought Russian military hardware (specifically helicopters and kilo-class submarines), which has been a poke-in-the-eye to the U.S., ostensibly to protect its interests in the South China Sea, a bone of contention with China. To make a confusing alliance even more chaotic, let’s not forget the ideological relationship between the Russians and the Chinese…both ‘Communist’ countries (https://nationalinterest.org/feature/new-realignment-between-russia-and-philippines-90901). The recently appointed by Moscow, Manilla Defense Attache was quoted as saying, ‘What we can assure you, if you are going to procure military equipment for us, we are going to give you brand new ones and not second hand’. This was a thinly-veiled poke at recent Philippine purchases from the U.S., which had purportedly used their allies as a dumping ground for old military hardware.”

Knee-Jerk Response: “Why should I care who the Filipinos have as friends?”

Biblical Response: “Because friendship implies certain strategic alliances…and they might not have America’s best interests at heart. Putin has a history of offering friendship with an angle. Talk about ‘quid pro quo’, it’s hard to say ‘no’ when the supplier of your military hardware makes certain demands on you. I have no idea what those demands might be, but you don’t load the gun of the guy who’s got it in your back. (Sure, the Filipinos might have elected the wrong guy, but they stuck with him for now…the Dems probably feel the same way aboutTrump.) The moral of the story is that friendship has consequences…not all of them positive (James 4:4).”

“Christians? We know that friendship with a poisonous snake requires that certain precautions be taken…and that it rarely turns out harmless. That’s why choosing the short-term over the long-term seldom works out well (Matt. 6:19-21).”

Here’s a Prayer You Can Pray: “Heavenly Father, help us to choose our friends carefully…that way, we don’t always have to watch our backs; in Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Share as you like, just give credit appropriately. For buying any of Alan E. Sargent’s books or to subscribe or to comment on any of his CLARITY blogs, go to the following link:subdeo.com.’

Posted on December 18, 2018December 18, 2018 by 40477641 — Leave a comment

CLARITY – 12-18-18 As Goes the King

CLARITY

A Biblical Response to Current Events – 12-18-18

As Goes the King

What’s Happening: “Maybe some church splits are good – in any case it’s happening, and the departure of the Ukrainian arm of the Russian Orthodox Church of Kiev is a good thing in the eyes of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (https://www.yahoo.com/news/ukraine-church-picks-bishop-leader-050000393.html). ‘What kind of church is this? This is a church without Putin,’ said President of Ukraine Poroshenko.”

Knee-Jerk Response: “All splits are bad. What about appeals for unity?’

Biblical Response: “Yeah? And what about appeals to ‘come out from among them’ (2 Cor. 6:17)? Of course that’s a decision to break off…now they have to choose a leader – and they have: 39-year old ‘the Metropolitan of Kiev and Ukraine, Epifaniy,’ also known as Serhiy Dumenko. Of course, ‘as goes the king, so goes the kingdom.’ This may be alright for America, with the presumption of a Christian majority (I’m thinking of a founder’s quote: ‘Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.’ John Adams) As soon as you have a leader named, he (or she) is leading somewhere…good or bad.”

“Christians? We are not exempt from this principle. However, we believe in ‘God-rule’ not ‘self-rule.’ Untransformed, Man’s heart is wicked. All the more reason for choosing God-ordained leadership (‘…If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. …’ Rom. 12:8 NLT).”

Here’s a Prayer You Can Pray: “Heavenly Father, help us to examine a man’s character and submissiveness to Your authority, as we must follow his lead; in Jesus’ Name, amen.”

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

Posted on July 17, 2018 by 40477641 — Leave a comment

CLARITY – 7-17-18 Controlling the Narrative

CLARITY

A Biblical Response to Current Events – 7-17-18

Controlling the Narrative

What’s Happening: “The news is abuzz about what Trump said about our intelligence services…that he believes Putin over them…that he believes maybe Russia didn’t meddle in the the 2016 election…that his ego is so big that he couldn’t see past the ‘witch hunt’ of the Mueller probe and even doubted the indictment of the twelve Russian spies…and that’s the conservatives (https://www.dailywire.com/news/33123/trump-slams-his-own-intelligence-agencies-insists-ben-shapiro?utm_source=cnemail&utm_medium=email&utm_content=071718-news&utm_campaign=position1). But perhaps he’s just taking a cue from the liberal playbook and controlling the narrative. Even conservative Allen West tweeted: ‘There are those who say you do not go into such a summit to embarrass, or confront. I say you do not sit with the devil and offer him something cool to drink.’ Perhaps a better saying is: You don’t confront a snake about the viciousness of his bite!’”

Knee-Jerk Response: “Dumb like a fox?”

Biblical Response: “Yeah…kind of. I mean, you know what the liberals are going to say…whatever you say they are going to find fault with it. And you know how everyone believes (including Putin) about the size of your ego…say something that will give Putin pause. If you want to charm a tyrannical despot (or a snake), you can’t start by making accusations, however true they may be. Again…controlling the narrative..”

“Christians? Controlling the narrative is what the Sermon on the Mount was all about (Matt. 5-7). Read how many times Jesus said what was written in the law, then went on to say ‘But I say…’ or started his edicts with a ‘But…’ (Matt. 5:32,37,39,44; 6;3,6,7,15,17,23, 27, 33). I’m not saying President Trump is so wise or does not have a huge ego, I’m just say that controlling the narrative determines the direction of conversation…you attract more bees with sugar than with vinegar.”

Here’s a Prayer You Can Pray: “Heavenly Father, help us to gain victory over the enemy by being wise as serpents and gentle as doves (Matt. 10:16); in Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Posted on July 14, 2018 by 40477641 — Leave a comment

CLARITY – 7-14-18 AND Stick

CLARITY

A Biblical Response to Current Events – 7-14-18

AND Stick

What’s Happening: “Let’s see, President Trump has told NATO they need to stop immigrating so many disaffected people and contribute more to defense, met with U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May and hinted he was not too pleased with her visions of implementing Brexit, has pledged to spend on our military over $700 Billion this year (and over $700 Billion next), and is scheduled to meet in Helsinki with Vladimir Putin…sounds like he believes strength is the best negotiating position (https://www.yahoo.com/news/whats-stake-trumps-summit-putin-215539617.html). ‘If I were still secretary of Defense, I would have urged President Trump not to even hold the summit at this time,…’, said former Secretary of Defense William Cohen.”

Knee-Jerk Response: “It’s a dangerous game.”

Biblical Response: “In fact, it’s no game at all. This is serious stuff, but I’d much rather not exclusively use the carrot…all the benefits peace with us might engender them…but also the stick…what will happen if you don’t. We,ve already expelled some diplomats (over Russia’s use of nerve agents in the U.K.), indicted 12 Russian spies (for election meddling, offered Germany the option of buying their natural gas from us (rather than Russia), put trade tariffs on the Chinese, and peace with North Korea might be imminent. Sounds like President Trump believes in the old apothegm: “Fear of loss is a greater motivator than hope of gain.”

“Christians? Sounds peculiarly like that scripture in Proverbs: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Prov. 9:10) Of course, the fear of Trump is miniscule (or it should be) when compared with God. But it’s a cinch strength is more riveting than weakness.”

Here’s a Prayer You Can Pray: “Heavenly Father, help our leaders to use time-tested biblical principle when negotiating with our allies and adversaries; in Jesus’ Name, amen.”

Posted on March 31, 2018 by 40477641 — Leave a comment

CLARITY – 3-31-18 One-Up-Man-Ship

CLARITY

A Biblical Response to Current Events – 3-31-18

One-Up-Man-Ship

What’s Happening: “Some are saying this smacks of a second Cold War,; some say we all need to devise new ‘duck-and-cover’ drills; some say it’s just a measuring game or a display of testosterone…but the release of a video of ‘Russia’s new ‘Satan 2’ ICBM is no joke. Putin’s promise of a new weapon that is ‘invulnerable’ to western defenses seems to be ringing true (http://www.foxnews.com/world/2018/03/30/satan-2-nuclear-missile-again-test-launched-by-russia-as-putin-brags-invulnerable-arsenal.html). ‘No defense system will be able to withstand it,’’ Putin is reported to have said. With his congratulations for winning re-election, Trump is reported to have said, ‘If you want to have an arms race, we can do that…but I’ll win.’”

Knee-Jerk Response: “Sounds just like them…but who gets to do the drills? We do!”

Biblical Response: “Probably just a bunch of bluster…but I get the sentiment. Besides, the ‘duck-and-cover’ drills may spare you the initial flying debris of a nuclear blast but there’s no drill for the fallout. I’m not sure those drills were/are for any more than to make the drillers feel better…I don’t think they really do much. The greatest deterrence is still termed appropriately MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction). Oh well, we’re all going to die sometime.”

“Christians? Sure, we hate to succumb to a meaningless nuclear holocaust, but it’s the second death (Rev. 20:14) we really need to prepare for (Rev. 2:11). I’m all for preparing for whatever our enemies have developed (and spending the resources to defend), but death is inevitable…it’s not how we die that God judges us for, but how we live.”

Here’s a Prayer You Can Pray: “Heavenly Father, help us to make decisions based on Your will for our lives, not from fear of what might happen; 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

Posted on March 3, 2018 by 40477641 — Leave a comment

CLARITY – 3-3-18 A Race Nobody Wins

CLARITY

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

A Race Nobody Wins

What’s Happening: “Russian President Putin, in his equivalent of our state-of-the-union message, boasted of a new arsenal of weapons that were designed to defeat all countermeasures by the west: missiles that have limitless nuclear engines and fly erratic patterns, underwater drones capable of carrying nuclear warheads, etc…..all signs that the cold war is heating up and may be spawning a new arms race. The last one bankrupted the old Soviet Union and resulted in their demise in 1991 (https://www.yahoo.com/news/putins-invincible-weapons-worried-001929405.html). ‘We already knew about the ‘Sarmat’ and we already knew about big complications with the rocket.

At the end of 2017 it wasn’t the rocket itself that was tested, but a mock-up. I suspect we were shown an edited clip: first the mock-up takes off, then another rocket is flying,’ said analyst Alexander Golts. Putin’s bellicose speech may herald a new arms race nobody can win.”

Knee-Jerk Response: “Trump says, ‘We’re going to win so much we’re going to get tired of winning.’ Was he wrong?”

Biblical Response: “His statement was, no doubt, not in THAT context, as that is a race nobody wins! They make something ‘invincible’…we overcome it…we make something ‘invincible’…they overcome it. It is a philosophy that is aptly named: MAD, Mutually Assured Destruction. We already (and so do they, allegedly) have enough nukes to obliterate the world.”

“Christians? Thankfully, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (2 Cor. 10:4). The question is not who has the bigger button, but whose kingdom will survive such a holocaust? We should only be mildly concerned about the first death…the second death?…well, that’s a different story (Rev. 20:14).”

Here’s a Prayer You Can Pray: “Heavenly Father, give our leaders the requisite wisdom and discretion to run that race we always win; in Jesus’ Name, amen.” © Alan E.Sargent

Posted on February 27, 2018 by 40477641 — Leave a comment

CLARITY – 2-27-18 Ceasing or Increasing?

CLARITY

A Biblical Response to Current Events – 2-27-18

Ceasing or Increasing?

What’s Happening: “Although the U.N. Security Council has unanimously declared a ceasefire in Syria, government troops continue to fight (shell, bomb, and even use chemicals) because it says that al-Qaida was included in the agreement. So far, 12 have been killed since the ceasefire was proclaimed, mostly in Eastern Ghouta, though Putin has set a corridor for escape from 9:00am till 3:00pm, beginning today (https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/02/26/588813002/despite-u-n-call-for-cease-fire-strikes-continue-on-damascus-suburb). ‘In this suburb there are said to be a small number of rebels who are aligned with al-Qaida. The government and its allies are basically using that as an argument to say … the cease-fire doesn’t apply here,’ says Ruth Sherlock of NPR.”

Knee-Jerk Response: “i thought whatever the Security Council voted unanimously on was law.”

Biblical Response: “That’s what you get for thinking. Seriously, they have no standing army to enforce their ‘edicts’ so, they’re only ‘desires.’ It’s mostly political posturing, not anything those on the frontline pay any attention to…unfortunately, those recently killed would say..if they could…which they can’t.”

“Christians? It would be great if we could have peace by just proclaiming it. It doesn’t work that way in the Kingdom of God…or on earth. As I’ve said before, there won’t be peace on earth until the Prince of Peace rules in the heart of every man. (Lk. 2:14)”

Here’s a Prayer You Can Pray: “Heavenly Father, we don’t need unrealistic expectations, but patience; in Jesus’ Name, amen.” © Alan E.Sargent