Did you notice that the blog was absent yesterday?  I have no idea who even reads here on any basis.  But maybe there are one or two who come here occasionally at the least.  Another project called for my attention last night.  Combine that with the extra stuff that comes with parenting this week and you run short on time.  That task is now completed so it seems a good idea to return to the world of blogging.  We may not write tomorrow evening but one never knows until the time arrives.  You usually do not know that you miss something until it is gone.

That is the question of the night in our nation's capitol.  How do you get a handle on what is going on when it becomes harder to continue.  People in each political spectrum can agree that things are out of hand when it comes to the government budget.  We may not see eye to eye on solutions but most every political figure is out in public screaming about spending or the debt.  Everyone has to balance their budget whether in families, state legislatures or business.  It is our federal system that is badly misplaced.  Shutting down our national government may be only a few hours away at this point.  Some believe that it would be a good thing to do.  Others call our attention to how it may affect our military or other critical programs.  Everyone in Washington is in turmoil over this while mainly pointing fingers at the other side.  Spending is seen as the villain in this drama.  Our current tax system also contributes to the difficulty.  Real courage is required to work out a long term solution.  I'm afraid that having guts may not be a trait we will see demonstrated now. 

For over one hundred years there was a relative calm about this issue.  Government was not extending itself with all of the massive programs we have now.  You cannot seriously tackle reforming these mainstays without being seen as a scrooge or other cruel character.  Eighty or so years ago things changed.  Whether this is change for good or bad is debatable.  One thing is true either way.  No one really wants to yield on the benefits received for health care or retirement or anything else.  Once a person learns to be dependent on others is the time our ethic begins to degrade.  I truly believe that if money was plentiful that far more people than you imagine would vote to keep taking these benefits.  However, the source of income is light years short of our outflow.  My expectations for a sensible resolution are less than low.  What do I think?  My opinion is that some taxes must be raised along with serious reform for all of the loopholes.  I also think spending must be slashed while again reforming these huge programs that are draining finances.  It cannot be either/or.  This is a both/and problem.

What do believers do when our nation is pulling itself apart through partisan warfare?  We continue to be involved in the process through prayer along with participation.  Now is not time for fearful behavior on the part of God's people.  We also need to be better informed while using the brain given us by God.  No one pundit, website or viewpoint has all of the answers.  We are needed to think seriously about our condition without becoming just noise to be swallowed up in the fray.  We also should remember that we are here for only a time.  Contribute all we can to solutions for the sake of those who come behind us.  But never forget that this is not our permanent home.  Do not sacrifice spiritual maturity for the argument of the day.  There is a land that is fairer than day on our horizon.  Let's be sure we make this land better for both us and our posterity. 

Bro. Trey