"Hypocrisy can afford to be magnificent in its promises, for never intending to go beyond promise, it costs nothing." Edmund Burke

Hello again and welcome to a brand new work week here on this Monday, March 4, 2013. The other day a state representative here in Texas found out what happens when you come up with a great idea that would likely contribute to the well being of our young people. He began to float the idea of raising the age for the purchase of cigarettes to be the same as the purchase of alcohol, from 18 to 21 years. A variety of health industry experts immediately applauded his efforts. However. The committee that reviews this type of change got wind of this proposal and wanted to know what the impact would be to state revenues. The early estimate is somewhere around $50 million per year. That's out of a nearly $100 billion dollar budget, but, none-the-less, he was told he needed to go back and get a better story. It reminds me of how the lottery was initially sold. The electorate were promised that all the proceeds will be dedicated to education. That didn't last long. Now it's used out of the general fund so as not to put any limitations on our elected spenders. One analyst commented that anything that decreases a penny of the very hard to come by revenues coming in had little chance of passing, period. The supporters of making this age requirement change say those cuts would be offset by improvements in health, but those, as we all know, are hard to quantify, and right now they have the $50 million already spent.

I heard about this idea last week on the radio as I was driving home. It may not be a great idea. On it's face, I like the sound of it, but there are some who argue we shouldn't provide for 18 year olds to enlist, serve, and die for our country and then restrict their purchases based on an age requirement. I see their point as well, and my reference was not to try and decide the issue, it was to point out how that the controlling decision making trigger is tax revenue, and that obviously trumps everything in today's approach to government. It wasn't the merits, it's the money. Speaking of that, I surveyed the British tabloids last Friday and none of the major ones had hardly anything to say about the Great Sequester Disaster occurring in the United States. They typically jump on top of these potentially life altering calamities. Nothing. Now some who hyped this to no end are attempting to back it off a bit. Even the President seemed to be trying to pour a little fire retardant on the huge flames he has been spreading for weeks. At his press conference last Friday he said he had confidence that the American people would be able to deal with the ill effects brought on by these cuts in spending. Just the day before he was making it sound like there wouldn't be an America left if these cuts were triggered. I think we see a pattern, or maybe it's just my new glasses. Whatever, my views may not seem to be that clear but I can assure you I'm not seeing them through rose colored lenses.

But, it is another Monday, and another work week that we are blessed to participate in. My diabetic numbers were a little out of whack while I was trying to decide whether to be puny or not, but, I'm thankful they tend to be trending more close to the range I try to achieve. Each week during our time of sharing prayer requests among our local fellowship, it's obvious that we all have needs. For family, friends, and for decisions and issues that impact our day by day living. For our nation and for those who serve to defend our way of life, we are a needy people. The good news is that our great God knows what we stand in need of before we ask, (Matthew 6:8), but, He has given us prayer as a way of communicating directly with Him as we seek His help and as we offer up our thanks, our praise, and our worship. It can be done anytime, anywhere. In fact, the Apostle Paul instructed his followers that they should pray without ceasing. (1st Thessalonians 5:17) We understand that to mean we should be in an attitude of prayer as we go along life's way. This means we have an ongoing awareness of ourselves, our needs, and how that God is there for us, all the time, no matter what. Uncle Si would add, "And that's a fact, Jack!" Have a good day and may God bless each one. Amen. .......More later.