With A Partial Government Shutdown

     Another day, another $2.74 billion printed up by our federal government's policy of “quantitative easing” designed to rescue our economy. Easing our way into another $1,000,000,000,000 of devaluing our currency again this year has artifically inflated our stock market and contorted our economy. Our $17,000,000,000,000 national debt keeps growing regardless of government shutdowns.
     Righteousness exalts a nation. Political apoplexy merely emboldens our enemies. Some claim that President Obama is willing to shut down the government in order to force us all to provide abortifacient and even abortion coverage through the Affordable Care Act. Others claim that Republicans are practicing scorched earth politics in order to win points with darlings of the Tea Party. Still others have given up all hope in the “House of Cards” that seems to have replaced government of the people, by the people, for the people. When government is “Breaking Bad” for campaign cash, influence peddling, and self-enrichment, what chance does the average citizen have?
     There was a time when departments of governments were copnsidered to be responsible trusts from God to be stewarded as ministries. The largely godless United Kingdom (in which only 15% of the population worship in church on a monthly basis) still retains this quaint reference to public services and servants. St. Paul encourages all Christians to pray for everyone, especially those in authority. The wealthy, well-connected, powerful, and their cronies will survive the shut-down in good shape. We should still pray for them that they be blessed with sanctified common sense and a willingness to put party spirit aside for the good of our country and the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We must also remember to pray especially for the littlest, the lost, the helpless, and the weak (some of whom will actually have greater access to affordable health care if the Affordable Health Care Act works out; some 4,000-5,000 per day who are losing their lives through abortion on demand, whose numbers will probably grow if portions of the Affordable Care Act are not amended and if we do not stop giving Planned Parenthood $540,000,000 per year).
     Pray as if everything depends on God. Inform your conscience and pray for America to enjoy a functional government, serving its citizens and standing as a powerful force for decency in the world. When it comes time to vote, prayerfully consider what the man or woman asking for your vote has said and what they have done. If there is no one worthy of your vote, consider running yourself. Then be sure to vote and as I said before, “Pray!”