"The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion." ~ Edmund Burke

"It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen." That's the opening sentence from George Orwell's classic 1949 fictional work, "1984". This is what I am stewing about on this Monday, February 24, 2014. Here's a copied crib note summation of what Orwell's book was all about: "The overall message is that totalitarian governments such as those of Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia are/were bad. When Orwell wrote 1984, he was concerned that governments were moving more toward totalitarianism.  He worried that these governments might start taking away more and more of people's rights and freedoms. Because of this, he wrote the book to try to get people to think about what could happen if governments kept becoming more controlling and totalitarian. So, the book is kind of a warning about what might happen and a call for people to be careful so they can make sure they are not letting their governments move in this direction." Does any of that begin to resonate with where we are today? It's eerie to contemplate just how far government intrusion has slowly crept into the everyday lives of us as citizens. Perhaps it is time that we all took seriously the quote attributed to the Irish statesman from the 18th Century, Edmund Burke: "The only thing needed for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

I know that's some heavy duty, thought provoking stuff being served up for breakfast on this back-to-work Monday, but, it really is something we all need to give our attention to. I heard a news report saying the Department of Education has issued a directive telling all school districts to not withhold food to children because their parents have failed to pay for their lunches. This was in response to the incident widely reported from out in Utah where some children were embarrassed in front of their peers, and given only a meager lunch because their parents had failed to put money into their lunch accounts. Do I think that problem needs to be addressed? I most certainly do! Do I think the federally run Department of Education should be dictating to local school districts how they will administer their lunch programs? Absolutely not! There's accountability already in those school districts where locally elected officials in Utah are scrambling to correct those problems. Folks, we do not need Big Brother intruding into matters best left to the states or local authorities. One small step leads to the next one and pretty soon we see government in total control of our most precious future resource, our children.

Okay. I promise to put that aside. For now. I do hope and pray that you and yours are well. The Apostle John had this to say to those he wrote to and cared deeply about, "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers." (3rd John, Chapter 1, Verse 2) Some teach that he was praying for great financial riches to be heaped upon them. I don't think so. While we need God's blessings in every area of life, I believe he was most likely talking about prospering in things like peace, contentment, hope, love, kindness, and service. Sorry, but I just can't even begin to tolerate the materialistic 'name it and claim it' approach to reading God's Word. This doesn't mean that God doesn't bless people with financial means. He does. If we are the recipients of this type of provision we should think seriously about how He would have us to use it to be a blessing to others. But, that's just how I see it. I also pray that we all will prosper in those things that count and those things that make a difference, for time and eternity. Amen.  .....More later.