Parking the Problem

I just wanted to randomly rant for a moment. I made an interesting connection, and wanted to share it. There is a point to this, so try to stick with me.

I had this thought as I was driving home last night. While at the coffee shop downtown, I struck up a discussion with one of the employees who knows me well by now. We talked about parking downtown, about the high cost of tickets and the lack of spaces. I mentioned how it’s a very detrimental pain to have to go through.

First of all, there is a strict limit to when you can park, and the rules of parking and times and lengths vary from block to block. Then, if you don’t move your car, you get a $20 ticket (but it goes up after a few days).

If you are mindful of the time, you have to stop what you’re doing, no matter what it is, to go do one of two things (depending on the time). 1. Put more money in the meter, or the new machine at the other end of the block (but at least it gives a receipt). 2. Move your car.

So let’s say you’re shopping downtown. You have two hours to spend your money. Now, my wife can take two hours in a store, let alone the entire mall. Or maybe you work downtown. Then you spend your break looking for a new spot or putting your paycheck into the meter. Or you could be like me, enjoying a coffee shop, researching online, and writing blogs. No matter who you are, you have to stop what you’re doing to move a car. What if there’s not a spot? Too bad. That means that every two hours (the time limit for most areas of downtown Milwaukee) I have to pack up my laptop, wrap the cords, bundle up and look for a new parking spot. If I find one, guess what happens to my table at the coffee place? Gone; and I can’t risk leaving my stuff there in case I don’t get a spot. Shopping? You only have two hours, then you can’t spend any more (or spend $20 and stay put).

Here’s what I realized: There are meetings and meetings and all kinds of public and official agendas to find out why downtown is suffering and what they can do to improve it. Here’s a thought: “Stop making it such a pain to be there!”

It seems like they want your business, but they don’t want you to be there. They put it on the news, they report it in the paper, and they send mass emails and newsletters inviting the public and a ton of agencies to rallies and conferences. They ask how they can improve the downtown economy, improve businesses, and be more inviting. They put money into painting and decorating and street repair and give businesses a start-up advantage. The solution always seems to be this: Pay for it with more parking tickets. Send out the checkers and “generate some income.” This isn’t the solution. It’s the problem.

Downtowns are suffering. Not just in Milwaukee, but all over. If you want people to be there, you have to welcome them. Why make it so difficult? Why tell someone, “You only have two hours to spend your money in our district,” and then wonder why they aren’t spending more? The mall has come very close to closing in recent years. Many businesses have gone under, and others are struggling. There is nothing wrong with the business, just the streets around them. There isn’t too much crime (although, any crime is too much). The stores are nice, the jobs are good, and the restaurants are superb. But, I don’t want to go down there.

As I dwelt on this conversation, I thought, “What if we applied that principal to the country?” America has changed. Dramatically. We have a wild generation behind us. We have higher crime, greater risk of terrorism, rampant diseases, a housing crisis, crashing stocks, massive layoffs, and an economic crisis that some are calling “unparalleled”. And what is our countries attitude? “This is America. You can do whatever you want.”

It’s true that we started out as a Christian nation. Early settlers were trying to escape religious dictatorship. Thomas Jefferson said that we should have a separation of church and state, meaning that the government should not be allowed to control religious beliefs. Of course, most of America took that the other direction, saying that we can’t mix the two. The intention was that neither would control the other.

In our country’s youth, we encouraged church, faith, family values, and a solid moral standard. We built schools for the sole purpose of teaching Scripture, using the Bible as a tool to learn to read, write, and the mathematical practices implied therein. Harvard, Yale, Notre Dame. All started as Christian schools. Now they’re liberal.

As a young, Christian country, we were blessed with farming, industry, economic stability, and an increase in population, advances in science, medicine, and technology. It didn’t take long for us to screw that up. We took the Bible out of schools, the Ten Commandments out of courtrooms, and faith off the grid. President-elect Obama once said in a public speech, “We are no longer a Christian nation.” What a shame. In the land of “freedom”, there is one group who’s being silenced- the Christians.

As we said everyone could do what they want in our wonderful free land, some said, “I want to be atheist,” and we said that it was okay. They said, “I want to be gay,” and we said that it was okay. They said, “I want to kill my unborn child because I’m not ready to have responsibility,” and we said it was okay. Then they all got together and said, “Those Christians are telling me I’m wrong.” And what did America, the land of freedom, tell the Christians? “You can’t do that. It’s not okay.” No more Bibles; no more preaching; no more commandments; no more talking about abortion; no more talking about homosexuals; no more campaigning from the public pulpit; no more evangelism anywhere; no more praying in public. In fact, you have to accept them and support them or you’ll get a fine and go to jail.”

Then September 11^th happened. And the hurricanes in the gulf. And the wildfires in California. And all the people said, “Where was God?” God said, “I’m not allowed here.”

New York. Known for being liberal. A large homosexual population, widespread drug usage, gangs and violence. New York barely survived the eighties.

New Orleans. Known for the sanctified orgy called Mardi Gras, where hundreds of thousands expose themselves in shameful ways, get drunk, do drugs and brag about it with pride, often on video.

California. Known for gay marriage and bikinis. They’ve outlawed homeschooling, almost intentionally to attack Christian values. They won’t teach them in schools, and won’t allow you to teach them at home. They allow gay couples all the legal rights straight couples have. In fact, they encourage them to sue anyone who disagrees with their practices.

In every instance, people wonder why God doesn’t heed their call. If I were God, and I thank Him I’m not, I would most certainly be fed up with it. “You kick Me out and then ask Me to protect you?” Perhaps the problem with the country is the same as my parking issue: The solution is the problem.

America has taken so much pride in being “free”, that we’ve given ourselves away. We have sacrificed everything that made us great in the first place. If we don’t have a president, governors, mayors, councilmen, aldermen, representatives, and every other member of public office get down on their knees and repent, we are in for some SERIOUS trouble! They must repent of the raping of this land, the beheading of our blessing, the utter destruction of all forms of holiness, or we will see more deaths, more destruction, and we will be handed over to our enemies, both known and unseen. God promises blessing for those that follow Him. Right now, America is so far behind God, that she can’t even see His shadow. I believe that the only reason this country hasn’t been utterly obliterated is due the millions that remain faithful to Christ.

If you want this country to have a dramatic turn around to the positive, write, email and call your elected officials, all of them, and tell them that they need to repent. They need to reach out to God, ask for forgiveness, and walk uprightly according to God’s principals, and no longer their own. Then have everyone you know do the same. Should enough people ask of this, some might actually respond. Some publically, some in their own homes, out of sight. Whatever their response, we cannot sit idly by and watch our nation be handed over to darkness and evil at our leaders’ hands. Pray for your officials, contact them, and tell them how our solution might just be our problem.

7 Deep Things of God

7 Deep things of God – 1 Cor. 2: 7-12

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory…But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:7-10)

Part I. 7 DEEP THINGS THAT GOD WILL REVEAL TO THE CHURCH

1. Deep love and affection –

That you may be able to comprehend….what is the width and length and depth and height– to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge… (Ephesians 3:18-19)

Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? (Romans 2:4)

2. Deep displeasure – because of His deep love unto deep judgment

Then He shall…distress them in His deep displeasure (Psalm 2:5)

My own fury, it sustained Me. I have trodden down the peoples in My anger, made them drunk in My fury… (Isaiah 63:5-6)

3. Deep judgments – complex in purpose and nature

Your judgments are a great deep; O LORD (Psalm 36:6)

How unsearchable are His judgments…(Romans 11:33)

4. Deep thoughts – hidden plans of the mystery of God

How great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep. (Ps 92:5)

His ways are past finding out! (Romans 11:33)

We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory… (1 Corinthians 2:7-8 )

Also see Eph 3:9; Col 1:26; Luke 19:42

5. Deep wisdom – administration of His plans

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33)

…in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:3)

6. Deep knowledge – possesses vast info

Oh, the depth of the riches of …the knowledge of God… (Romans 11:33)

7. Deep secrets – hidden manna

He reveals deep and secret things; he knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him. (Daniel 2:22)

“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. (Deuteronomy 29:29)

The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him… (Psalm 25:14)

His secret counsel is with the upright. (Proverbs 3:32)

Part II. ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK

Called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,” of whom we have much to say and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. (Hebrews 5:10-11)

Order of Melchizedek – Holy Spirit merger with perfect harmony of kingly and priestly dimension of kingdom.

1. Warring with worship .2. Outreach with gazing 3. Working with loving 4. Ruling with adoring – NOTE: ruling that is in the flesh is “me” focused however, adoring is “God” focused.

Dull of hearing makes a false distinction between the kingly and priestly heart and function. This false distinction exists within the heart of the dull.

 

Source: Friends of the Bridegroom www.FOTB.com