Complaining or Contented!

Time to get up and get going! It is Monday, July 28, 2008. Yesterday a lady in the Bible study class I teach gave a brief testimony about her visit back to her childhood home in Ohio. She had not been back there in many years. The area she visited has been devastated by the loss of most of its manufacturing jobs and now the difficult economy has made a bad situation there even worse. She said it was hard to imagine the difference between that place compared to our area where we are still prospering because of being driven by the oil economy. She said she came back with a renewed sense of thankfulness to God for the fact that our area has not yet suffered the extensive declines she witnessed in her old hometown.

I heard this morning that the newest Batman movie had surpassed $300 million in its first 10 days. Someone is paying to see this film. When I was in the big mall early Saturday morning to do my walking, I saw two groups of people in line waiting for the Apple Store to open so they could get a shot at purchasing the new I-Phone. There were probably at least 50 people waiting and my understanding is these devices are not cheap. On the other end of the mall there was another forty people waiting to get into one of those hair salon places. They obviously had some big promotion but it was early and the people were there! When I came back at 1 p.m. to bring my wife's lunch I had to park at the very end of the parking lot. Just like Christmas time! I wonder how many look around at this, look at all this activity, and then look up to thank God for His provisions.

I recently heard a conservative commentator talking about how difficult it is to separate those who are truly hurting versus those who are inconvenienced by the economic conditions that prevail at this time. We have become accustomed to a standard of living that for many includes a whole lot of accommodations that may be above and beyond that which is needed. Let me make clear there is no doubt in my mind that there are literally millions who are suffering as they try to meet even their basic needs each day. However, there are many more who complain because they have to forgo some luxury item or delay some purchase that others would never even dream about. This is what Senator Phil Gramm was talking about when he called us a nation of whiners. It was directed toward those of us who really have it pretty good but whine all the time about any and all inconveniences that come our way. Of course the national media picked up on his comment and caused such a rucus, he ended up having to resign as one of John McCain's closest advisors.

Each day that we wake up and are able to get up and go, we are blessed. Each day that we are able to feed, clothe, and take care of ourselves and our families, we are blessed. Each day we are able to live in a land of freedom and opportunity, we are blessed. Each day we who are believers, with or without any of the things mentioned above, are blessed beyond that which we might ever hope or dream. We are God's very own children. We are His special treasure. He has bought us with the price of the blood of His own dear Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Therefore, we should echo the Apostle Paul's sentiment expressed in his letter to the Church of the Philippians, and I paraphrase, "As a believer, regardless of any and all things that come my way, the good, the bad, the ugly, the happy, the sad, the painful, overflowing, or empty, up in the clouds, or down in the dumps, I can be content in all things because of the strength to do so that comes from the abiding presence of the living Lord in my life, Jesus Christ! Amen. ......More later.