SCRIP-BITS

Lamentations 2:19.    Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street.
 
Oh Friends, the ole fella’s been driven to lamenting for our world, for it’s indeed a sad day when the inmates are running the asylum. To begin, I’m querying the responsibility quotient of the latest round of Wiki Leaks exposures. Who are the people behind this foolishness, that’s only fodder for more hate, anger and resentment in our world? How did they get hold of these documents, and aren’t they liable to persecution in a court of justice for spreading these state secrets? Yuh know it’s only in the good ole U.S. of A that that kind of stuff is tolerated. It’s good to have transparency in government, but some things ought to remain secret, especially with our world already in such a heightened state of tension. I wonder if these same fools who are releasing this material would like what is said or done in the privacy of their homes or offices broadcast so publicly around the world? I very much doubt it. They would be the first ones to raise a hue and cry over their precious privacy and threaten to sue the whole world. Steups! Oh Friends, we all say and do things in private that we possibly should not, but we expect them to stay private since they would only inflame already touchy relationships. And what’s the role of the big newspaper chains in this tragedy eh? Are they acting responsibly in printing the stuff? I guess they’d argue that if they don’t print it someone else will, and it’s obviously a revenue boosting set of circumstances. Hn! But moving on, the next question is: And what of Haiti? It’s arguably the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere, but paradoxically sits very close to the richest. For generations it’s been plagued by corruption, then recently devastated by several natural disasters in a very short space of time, tormented by a cholera epidemic and now more upheaval because of botched Presidential Elections. Ah Lord eh! And if you want some more tense stuff, check out Lebanon, where Hezbollah, the Iranian backed Lebanese Shiite political party and militia are threatening to up their militancy if any of it’s members are arrested for the 2005 assassination of Lebanon’s Sunni President, Rafik Hariri. It’s been widely expected that an international tribunal is soon expected to do so. A country that not too long ago suffered through many years of civil war then hostilities with Israel, now getting a breath of polluted peace, could be thrown right back to the wolves again. Add to the mix that just this past week, the current President, Saad Hariri, the late President’s son, visited Iran, all smiles and well-wishes. What to make of that eh? Oh my people, there are so many undercurrents of tension in our world that it’s enough to drive you crazy. And we’re only talking about the simmering situations, not the ones already boiling and bubbling over. And one such situation we need to watch very closely is the North and South Korean standoff. Sabres have not only been rattled, but some interaction has been had. And when talking about gross irresponsibility the North Korean situation takes the cake. It’s citizens are literally starving while the ruling elite, living high on the hog, is focused on nuclear armament and military might and facetiously promising to wage war on their South Korean neighbours. And there are many more irresponsible, ungodly, inhumane, disgusting and detestable situations around our world, but that’s enough for one Bit. No wonder when I asked the Lord tonight for guidance in finding a Bit, I opened the Good Book right at Lamentations. Oh Friends, our God’s lamenting over the sad state of His Creations; His beautiful world and His proudest workmanship, His sinful, disgusting, disobedient children. Oh my people, like Jeremiah so rightly warned his countrymen so long ago, I’m warning us today, to: ‘Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street.’ Oh mih breddren, our world has most certainly gone mad! And all the technological inventions that make communications so much easier and quicker are fomenting more dissension, division and dislike than bringing us together, as many hoped it would. Chuh! Beelzebub and his evil cohorts are using it to the max to spread their evil and malicious tentacles, while the followers of Christ sadly lag behind in their efforts to spread the Word, the good news of Christ and His Salvation. But Friends, there’s solace to be had, always is for believers. So let’s turn to the Good Book and lament some for our unfortunate world. And what better place to start than with the longest chapter therein, Psalm 119: ‘I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O Lord: I will keep thy statutes. I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies. I prevented (rose before) the dawning of the morning, and cried (for help): I hoped in thy word. Mine eyes prevent (are awake through) the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word. Hear my voice according unto thy LOVING-kindness: O Lord, quicken (revive) me according to thy judgement (justice).’ (Ps.119:145-149) Oh mih people, it’s essential that we get up from our lazy slumber and cry out to the Lord for help, both day and night, for deliverance from our enemies! But only in so much as we are obedient to His Word, can we expect His help. Yes Friends, we need to develop an intense longing for God as Psalm 42 directs: ‘As the hart panteth after (the deer longs for) the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my meat (food) day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday (a pilgrim feast).’ (Ps.42:1-4) Oh my brethren, as Jeremiah asserts, though our God is omnipotent and all-knowing, the only way He will appreciate our problems is if we pour out our hearts like water before Him; communicate with Him seriously, sincerely and steadfastly, let Him know that our hearts are right and that we hunger for His LOVING-kindness and mercy. If we don’t come before Him with our petitions, we’ll just be left to our own devices, which obviously aren’t working very well. Anyway Friends, time and space have run out on us, so we’ll have to continue this topic tomorrow, God willing. But in closing, let’s read this scripture and hang on to it for dear life, as we lament over the sad state of our world. ‘Why art thou cast down (bowed down), O my soul? And why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance (presence).’ (Ps.42:5) Hold fast and hang tight my brethren, our God is still in control! Much LOVE!…like Humpty Dumpty…our world is falling apart…but the good news is…Jesus can put it back together again…Praise the Lord…