Choose to Choose!

Good Monday morning! Well I suppose gasoline prices has done something I would have not thought possible. It has become just about as much talked about as the weather. That's not exactly the kind of conversation starter we have been looking for, gasoline nearing the $4.00 per gallon price point. I suppose the number one thing that has disappointed me about the gas price situation has been the response of our elected officials. They have essentially thrown in the towel from the get go and mostly have appeared like the see nothing, hear nothing, and know nothing cartoon characters while the nation, especially those least able to afford it, groan in their suffering through choices they have no control over.

I'm not negative towards our President or the House and Senate, or the Governors, and Commissioners, and local authorities. It's just somewhat amazing that with all the power of our great country and all the wherewithal we have and all the brain talent at our disposal, no one knows anything about what can be done about these higher prices. The environmentalist lobby should be happy. They have long desired to see high prices as a way of getting people to change their fuel consumption habits. However, they find themselves in a difficult situation since the political groups they align themselves with are all in the blame mode and want to see the prices come down. It was this same crowd who pushed through laws promoting the conversion of food grains into fuel and now they shake their heads and point their fingers at others as people throughout the world go hungry because food stocks have been used for fuel.

And, just let me say the folks who currently own the oil market are doing quite nicely, thank you. There's even countries taking our money per barrel imported and using it to support groups that actually end up firing bullets at our soldiers. We are some really smart people, aren't we? I saw a clip on how our government is pressuring one of our allies to destroy all the poppy fields in order to curtail the heroin drug market. That government is taking action and sending in police to slash down the crops BUT when they do it leaves the poor people devastated and without any means of income. Some have to sell their children just to survive while others join up with the rebellion that seeks to oust our troops and topple the government. We are some really smart people, aren't we?

The list goes on and on and on and on. How are we to make sense out of all of this? How are we to cope with these policies, decisions, and programs that do, in fact, very much influence our daily lives? I am reminded of that wonderful biblical account from the Book of Joshua where choices had to be made. The Israelites had been through many tough days and the pagan culture was strong around them. There were many who had thrown in the towel and joined up with what looked like the winning team. This meant they had to turn their back on the God who had brought them out of captivity and led them to victory over their enemies. Compromise and concession seemed to be winning the day whenever Joshua stood up and addressed his people. His statement to them should be one that you and I affirm daily as we try to make sense out of all the issues and challenges that surround us. Here it is and we can choose to choose each day: "14) "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15) But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." A good way to jump start our Monday or any other day of the week! Amen. More later......