Tag: U.S.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

CLARITY – 9-26-20 The Pot Calling the Kettle

 CLARITY

A Biblical Response to Current Events – 9-26-20

The Pot Calling the Kettle

What’s Happening: “The irony was palpable…so was the anger…first, the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. had scathing remarks to make about China Thursday (in regard to their role in spreading COVID-19), then the Chinese Ambassador leveled an angered response. Sure, there were other remarks made by other nations (African nations asking for more economic relief from the coronavirus), but mostly it was the brouhaha between China and the U.S. Trump’s remarks, lately calling the disease the ‘China-virus,’ has succeeded in only inflaming the Chinese delegation, even if the facts do seem to support their claims (https://www.yahoo.com/news/enough-enough-china-attacks-us-194210842.html). In an AFP article that appeared yesterday,  authors Philippe Rater and Valerie Leroux related: ‘Using a phrase often told by US leaders to China, Zhang said, ‘The US should understand that a major power should behave like a major power. The United States ‘is completely isolated,’ he said in remarks enthusiastically backed by his Russian counterpart.’” 

Knee-Jerk Response:  “The U.N. is mostly impotent…does anyone pay them any attention, anyway?”

Biblical Response:  “Probably not as much as they would wish…that comes from not having a standing army (this is not an appeal for one) and having no real set of laws all subscribe to…there’s just too much disagreement. The report of Thursday’s bloviating is a good example of: saying what you feel, feeling good about it, but nothing really coming of it.”

Why do we have the United Nations, anyway? Maybe because we know we should pursue talking over fighting…but don’t really know how. Like I’ve said before: ‘There will never be peace on earth, until the Prince of Peace rules in the heart of every man,’ That’s not likely to happen any time soon because of wickedness (Is. 48:22)…at least not when we are looking for peace elsewhere.”

Peace is not the absence of conflict…that’s just detente (an agreement to disagree). You could argue that it sure beats fighting, with all it’s unintended consequences and collateral damage. But any peace achieved that way seems only to be temporary.”

“Christians? Oh, we believe in pursuing peace, alright…but it’s probably unachievable between fallen men. We all need Someone more powerful than we are, to hold our feet to the fire, Oh, wait a minute…if we only acknowledged that is exactly what is happening.” 

Here’s a Prayer You Can Pray:  “Heavenly Father, help us to seek true Peace…and realize it’s really a Person;in Jesus’ Name, amen.

Share as you like -just give appropriate credit. 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.’ If he’s not in Twitter/Facebook/Email jail, he also tweets/posts.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

CLARITY – 11-22-19 Thumbing Our Nose

CLARITY

A Biblical Response to Current Events – 11-22-19

Thumbing Our Nose

What’s Happening: “Whether it’s wisdom or folly remains to be seen…. The U.S. Navy Wednesday and again yesterday, sailed in waters in the South China Sea that are claimed by Communist China…and simultaneously by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Viet Nam, and Taiwan (which China also claims as its own wayward province), although China says its claims are ‘indisputable’ (https://www.yahoo.com/news/1-u-warships-sail-disputed-234158904.html). The Southern Theatre Command for the Chinese government said, ‘We urge (the United States) to stop these provocative actions to avoid any unforeseeable accidents. China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and its surrounding area.’” 

Knee-Jerk Response:  “We surely don’t want a physical war with them, do we?”

Biblical Response:  “No, of course not. At the same time, we need to stand up for the little guys. Building these islands by bringing sand onto the reefs is bad enough…but then militarizing these islands by making them airstrips for military planes is not good. Of course, angering the Chinese may not be good, either. The Scripture tells fathers not to provoke their children to wrath (Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:21)…when it’s your main economic competitor…well, they may not take it too kindly. It seems to me…with differences over North Korea, Hong Kong human rights, tariffs, etc., eventual conflict is inevitable. And it will be costly. But, as in most things, time is a multiplier.”

 “Christians? We believe that conflict should be avoided…but not at any cost. There was once a conflict between God and Man…and look what it cost to achieve peace…the death of the Savior,” 

Here’s a Prayer You Can Pray:  “Heavenly Father, may Your will be done in this dispute, and may it glorify You…peacefully; 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.’  Copyright © 2019 Alan E. Sargent

Reader:

May I indulge in a little self-promotion? Many of you read CLARITY every day…and you hopefully forward it on to still others. Some even subscribe from the website. Thanks! (one mother wrote that she wanted to subscribe to read it to her children everyday – read away!) However you get CLARITY, would you consider donating on the website? I’m happy to find useful purpose in helping folks stay informed and supplying what I think God has to say on the subjects of the day…still, I want to get this word out to others…which is what I’ll do with your gifts. Thanks in advance.

Blessings,

Alan

Posted on by — Leave a comment

CLARITY – 12-5-18 Tariffying

CLARITY

A Biblical Response to Current Events – 12-5-18

Tariffying

 

What’s Happening: “The stock market fell almost 800 points yesterday making it the biggest sell-off since October 10…mostly on fears of tariffs: ours on China ($250 Billion) and China on us ($110 Billion). Also, the starting date of the 90-day pause in those tariffs, agreed by Presidents Trump and Xi at the G20 Summit, was corrected from  January 1 to begin December 1 (https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/04/stock-market-dow-futures-fall-amid-us-china-trade-deal-skepticism.html) ‘ From a math standpoint, this is screaming buy. The only concern I have is people are going to start getting irrational. That’s when the emotional trading starts taking place,’ said Steven Dudash, president of IHT Wealth.”

Knee-Jerk Response:  “Sell!”

 

Biblical Response:  “That’s just the kind of emotionalism that a lot of financial experts are warning against. Sure, you can probably find those that urge the other way…maybe just as many, but I’m cautioning against fear. The Scripture says, “Fear hath torment” (1 John 4:18). Of course, fear of danger can also help you escape. But we are not called to react, but act. Will the U.S. and China settle their differences? Yes…eventually. Isn’t it better to leave the timing of that to God?”

 

“Christians? To be ruled by fear is just what the enemy wants. To be ruled by faith is what God wants. Is it ever time to sell? Of course…just not out of fear. Better to do things slowly, at the prompting of the Holy Spirit.”

 

Here’s a Prayer You Can Pray:  “Heavenly Father, give us the wisdom and attentiveness, financially, to invest and divest at Your leading, not from the basis of fear; 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 by — Leave a comment

CLARITY – 6-4-18 Good News or Bad

CLARITY

A Biblical Response to Current Events – 6-4-18

 

Good News or Bad

 

What’s Happening:  “It’s anybody’s guess ,really, the replacement of the DPRK’s top military brass…is it good news or bad? Analysts say that this gives Kim Jong-un more control of the  Korean People’s Army (KPA), preparing for the summit with Trump by surrounding himself with more like-minded leaders. If Kim really intends denuclearization, this might be good news. If he intends to keep North Korea on its historic path of deception and promises made, but not kept, it’s bad. The South thinks it’s good, but someone with “no dog in the hunt” needs to be heard (https://www.yahoo.com/news/north-korea-shakes-military-leadership-ahead-trump-summit-033547734.html). ‘If Kim Jong Un is set on making peace with the U.S. and South Korea and dealing away at least part of the nuclear program, he will have to put the KPA’s influence in a box and keep it there,’ said the director of the International Affairs Group, Ken Gause.’”

 

Knee-Jerk Response:  “Surely, it doesn’t matter much….this summit.”

 

Biblical Response:  “Not unless you mind the first truly nuclear war! What’s at stake is more serious than anyone can possibly imagine…it’s certainly nothing to yawn at. While I do understand the obvious advantage of approaching peace from a position of strength (thank you, Mr. Trump), I want someone in our delegation in Singapore that has nothing to prove (thank you, Mike Pompeo).”

 

“Christians? Oh we believe in Good News (this gives us hope)…and know the repercussions of bad news (Read Rom. 7 sometime). What we need June 12 is good news… ‘Good news from far away is like cold water to the thirsty.’ (Prov. 25:25) Yep. That just about sums it up.”

 

”Here’s a Prayer You Can Pray:  “Heavenly Father, help those involved in making peace have NO hidden agendas; 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 by — Leave a comment

CLARITY – 4-9-18 Peace at What Price?

CLARITY

A Biblical Response to Current Events – 4-9-18

 

Peace at What Price?

 

What’s Happening:  “A successful missile attack, likely taken by Israel, resulted in Russian and Syrian accusations of first France, then the U.S. (both have drawn a red line in the event of Syrian use of chemical weapons) for the sarin  gas attack that killed at least 40 in rebel-held East Ghouta. Several countries have called for an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council (https://apnews.com/d965ed6a364f46fd9888acb9001de501). The Syrian government, of course, denied the claims of using chemical weapons saying,  ‘The army, which is advancing rapidly and with determination, does not need to use any kind of chemical agents.’”

 

Knee-Jerk Response:  “There is no excuse, if true, for using chemical weapons!”

 

Biblical Response:  “If true?! Children coughing up blood is not enough proof?! I will agree that there is no excuse or reason…except the blatant ignoring of international conventions… for the use of chemical weapons. Assad has never let world opinion govern his actions and the Russians (as evidenced by their recent attempted murder in the U.K. by a nerve agent) are a bad influence as an ally. ”

 

“Christians? While we are not for war and all its collateral damage, as Solomon wisely said, there is ‘a time for war’ (Eccl. 3:8). Some people do not listen to reason (OR follow convention). Those people must be spoken to in a language they do understand. When any dictator deems it too expensive (powerwise) to take an action he will desist…and not until. Let us pray that God will speak to Assad and Putin before we have to…then again, maybe we’ll be His mouthpiece.”

 

Here’s a Prayer You Can Pray:  “Heavenly Father, let peace prevail, but not peace at any price; 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