As some of you know—my wife left me! Don’t faint. It’s not what you might think. She is on vacation–an all expense paid, two week cruise. Having never been on a cruise or out of the country, this is a once in a life-time treat for her. I thank God that He has given her this wonderful opportunity. God sure is good!

So, here I sit–home alone. Well, I’m not actually alone. I’m sharing the house with Narco, my son’s dog (a three pound Pomp-Chi, that loves to sleep). I gotta tell ya–it ain’t the same without my bride. I miss her like crazy! When you’ve been married almost 49 years it’s not easy being seperated for any great length of time.

Sitting here day after day has caused me to think about those who have, through divorce or death, suffered the loss of a spouse. It’s hard to imagine how difficult it would be to live the rest of my life without the one I love so dearly. Yet that is exactly what a lot of folks are forced to do. God forbid that we ignore them.

As Christians we need to remember those who are going through such hardships. We need to pray for them and minister to them. There are hurting people all around us. The Bible tells us that,”Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction–“(James 1:27). So, instead of sitting around feeling sorry for yourself, get busy being a blessing to someone who needs you. That’s the best cure for depression. Seek to be a blessing to someone else and you will be blessed. Remember–when you’re good to others you are best to yourself. Do yourself a favor and help someone today. Think about it!

One of the blogs I enjoy reading is “Whirled Views with Dan Burrell”. I enjoy it because it makes me think–not because I always agree with him. In the case of the following article, I do agree with him and I hope it makes you think:

Here’s a Way for the Government to Save Money

February 5, 2009 at 1:57 pm · Filed under Links, Misc. Musings, Politics

This one is going to surprise some of my friends, but here goes….

Today’s headlines are reporting that President Obama is going to “strengthen” the Faith-Based Office and programs that funnel government funds to religious organizations for social and humanitarian projects.  Story HERE.

I have a suggestion…Close the whole program down.  Defund it.  Shutter the doors.  End it.

What?  “But you are in the ministry!”  How could this be?

There are two big lies in the world.  (Well, not just two, but these are big ones.) “The check is in the mail” and “I’m from the government and I’m here to help you.”

The government has no business being involved in faith-based initiatives or in partnerships with churches and religious organizations.  I opposed this when Bush was in office and I feel no less strongly about it with Obama.  It’s a bad, BAD idea.

With the power to tax comes the power to control.  That’s why I’m against taxing religious charities and churches.

Conversely, when religious charities and churches take government money, they become entangled with the government.  Not smart.  They will become dependent upon it.  Strings will come.  Independence will be ceded in exchange for resources.  It’s just not a good idea.

You know the ol’ cliche’ about the “Golden Rule”?  “He who has the gold gets to make the rules.”  Well, (and I don’t blame them for trying) when the government give money away, they almost always try to get some control with it.  (Wouldn’t you?) Already, there are those who want to require certain hiring practices among those who are faith-based and take federal money.  In California, that means not being able to discriminate in hiring Gay/Lesbian/Bi-sexual/Transgender folks even if your faith considers that wrong.  The policy is now under review at the federal level.  (See the article above.)

Churches and the government can work in tandem.  On some things like humanitarian crises, they can even work in partnership.  But if we don’t want government intrusion on our religious faith, we need to stay out of the money.  I don’t want my tax dollars supporting Islamic charities or Mormon building projects.  My liberal non-religious friends don’t want their tax dollars building evangelical day schools and supporting Baptist rescue missions either.  That’s fine.

What about my article from yesterday decrying the effort to stop funding for schools that have religious organizations using their facilities?  Different issue.  There is rent involved.  If the Muslims want to rent a school auditorium, I don’t have a problem with that as long as they have to pay the same rate as the Athiests, the Baptists and the Cub Scouts.  You shouldn’t be excluded or given a different rate simply because you are religious.

But we need to be consistent.  The government needs to keep their money and smart faith-based organizations should refuse it.  Our Father owns it all anyway – or so we say.  If we really believe that, then He’ll meet our needs.  We don’t need a Sugar Daddy in Washington helping us out.  Maybe we need to be a lot more like George Mueller and simply pray it in.  Better yet, when the offering plate comes by, put something in it.  What was it James told us about “True Religion”?  We should put our money where our mouth is and where we say our heart is.