Overnight, Donald Trump became the president of the United States. The man is flawed. My daughter (back in college) thinks, in that good Canadian way, the Septics have elected Literally Hitler and wants to check in after a week or so. But live will go on. For the defeated and the victorious in politics. Glory is fleeting and status is not be trusted.
What I noted is that there were children in the picture: grandchildren, perhaps great-grandchildren (Trump is 70: I am not going to google -fu his kids). The family has grown. And he knows children are a blessing.
What are we in Christ to do? What we had to do under Obama, and what we will have to do post Trump. We need to live in truth, and preach truth: beginning with Christ. Our duty does not change when the Prime Minister falls, the elected King of the United States changes, or on the death of her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth (may her reign be longer). Our fight is memetic. For the love of theory is the root of much evil.
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 11Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. 15As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. 16With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. 19Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.
21So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus will tell you everything. He is a dear brother and a faithful minister in the Lord. 22I am sending him to you for this very purpose, to let you know how we are, and to encourage your hearts.
23Peace be to the whole community, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24Grace be with all who have an undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.
There are many who are angry and disappointed, and there are many in the USA who are rejoicing. For both, the issue is not as much who is in Washington. Yes, the US Federal government is oppressive and reaches even to Dunedin, where their audit teams visit to check on clinical trials. The people who run the instutions of the USA have not changed, and the elite has not changed. Their ideology has not changed.
This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end: that is in the hands of Christ. But it may be the beginning of a reformation, and a return to the gospel. May this be so. For when those who would destroy all protections and encourage the faithless
The policies and attitudes need to change. Scott from the Borg: his wife is sick, so he has taken leave to care for the children while she is in hospital. I don’t need to add that this is against regulations and illegal.
This week has been the first time it really cost me to be a traditional dad with a stay at home, homeschooling mom.
I have received a very strong vibe from my colleagues and leadership that I chose to have kids, and I chose to have my wife stay home with them (instead of paying the state or other institution to keep them all day) therefore I am being selfish for staying home with them while mommy recovers
This is why I believe we are doomed.
The short sidedness of the “freedom” to have 0-1 kids and then shuffle them off to someone else will crush us demographically.
Society used to HELP people in my position.
You are welcome for the fact that I am providing the next generation of enslaved debt straddled wage earning tax payers so there can still be an infrastructure (and army pensions) in a few decades..
We need to therefore work on our skills. We need to reach the point of minimum dependence on the state. We need to build our families, we need to live righteously, restore the correct governance of our churches, and start preaching again that sin is wrong, and choices have consequences.
We will be attacked. The left is organized, and has no qualms about microregulating others while not applying the same laws to themselves.
Let us each day resolve to do as much good as we can, praise God as much as we can, pray as much as we can. Knowing that we will fail. But also knowing that it is the days you struggle that make you strong.