The Meaning of Uncertainty

Def: uncertainty – n. 1. The quality or state of being uncertain, 2. Doubt, 3. Stresses lack of faith in the truth, reality, fairness, or reliability of something or someone.

Many have been saying it, including Democratic party leader and fund-raiser Terry McAuliffe, who recently announced on Hannity that “U.S. corporations are sitting on three trillion dollars that could be used to rev up the American economy, but they are holding it back because of uncertainty in the nation.”

Uncertainty.

I’ve heard that word dozens of times in the past few months. Banks are uncertain. Lending institutions are uncertain. Businesses are uncertain.

Uncertain of what?

Even the people that control the money supply, the Federal Reserve, are concerned about uncertainty. The following article is from Marketwatch on September 1, 2010: (I will bold the dreaded word for impact.)

“Political uncertainty about taxes and the costs of hiring workers is holding back the U.S. economy, a Federal Reserve official said Wednesday.”

“‘What is restraining the economy is not a shortage of current liquidity; rather, it is uncertainty, high household debt burdens and a lack of confidence in future income growth,’ said Richard Fisher, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, during speech in Houston. A copy of his remarks was made available in Washington.”

“Fisher repeated a theme he’s hit before: Businesses are reluctant to hire and to expand because they aren’t sure about tax and regulatory rules. Politicians are acting ‘in a capricious manner that makes long-term planning, including expanding payrolls, difficult, if not impossible,’ Fisher said.”

“Some business owners have said that they aren’t hiring because of uncertainty about what will happen with taxes as well as about health insurance, credit availability and the cost of energy.”

“As long as political uncertainty is the main obstacle to growth, Fisher said the Fed shouldn’t create more money to stimulate the economy. ‘Further accommodation might be pushing on a string,’ he said — and in the worst case, it could ignite inflation,’ he added.”

Obviously “uncertainty” is a big problem.

When I think of the word “uncertainty” I usually think of things that are completely out of my control–like the weather. I’m uncertain whether we’re going to have rain or sunshine today. Or I’m uncertain about who will win the football game on Sunday. Used this way, it’s normal to talk about “uncertainty” because nobody is ultimately responsible.

Uncertainty usually mans we don’t have any control over what is about to happen.

But is that what we’re talking about when we use the word “uncertainty” to describe the American current economic climate?  I don’t think so.

Here’s the meaning of uncertainty in 2010:

Will socialism succeed in America?

Or worded another way, will the Obama Administration succeed in fundamentally changing the American nation from a free, self-governing people into a bloated and bankrupt European style social democracy? The entire world is waiting for an answer to that question. It may just determine the direction of history in the coming years.

All of the uncertainty relates to changing America’s freedom-oriented economy to a controlled one. Vast amounts of government spending and stimulus, the threat of increasing taxes to fund the welfare state, and the increased costs of health care via a government managed system will fundamentally alter the United States of America.

Entrepreneurs and businesses are looking at these changes and holding their breath–and money. If these trends are not reversed, they may not survive and cannot expand. They also can’t create jobs because they will not be affordable. If socialism succeeds in America, then the entire game changes.

Let’s state an obvious truth after twenty months of observation. Barack Obama is a socialist–plain and simple. He believes the Federal Government should “manage” the economy of the United States and “redistribute” vast amounts of money from the wealthier parts of society to various interest groups. 

Twenty months of taking over banks, financial institutions, car companies, and the health system of America (Obamacare) , plus appointing “czars” over every area of America life clearly reveal the goal of the present administration.

They don’t like “America”– the land of the free. They want to radically change it from a faith-and-freedom based nation to a secular-based socialistic state.

“Yes We Can” means the triumph of social democracy. Barack Obama and his appointees do not believe in freedom. They believe in controlling your life.

Yes, there have been other presidents with controlling, socialistic tendencies. Woodrow Wilson was cut from the same cloth and desired a “League of Nations” that would control the world. Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal policies created the devouring federal monster we face today.

But President Obama is different from Wilson and Roosevelt in a number of ways.

First, he does not love and respect the heritage and exceptional principles that created the United States of America. As Dinesh D’Souza points out in his hard hitting new book The Roots of Obama’s Rage, Barack Obama’s roots (via his father) in Islam and Marxism give him a very jaded, colonial view of the nation that he leads. He does not believe in our past and wants to change our future.

D’Souza summarizes the Obama worldview this way:

“We are today living out the script for America and the world that was dreamt up not by Obama but by Obama’s father. How do I know this? Because Obama says so himself. Reflect for a moment on the title of his book: it’s not Dream of My Father, but rather, Dreams from My Father. In other words, Obama is not writing a book about his father’s dreams; he is writing a book about the dreams that he got from his father.”

“Think about what this means. The most powerful country in the world is being governed according to the dreams of a Luo tribesman of the 1950’s—a polygamist who abandoned his wives, drank himself into stupors, and bounced around on two iron legs (after his real legs had to be amputated because of a car crash caused by his drunk driving). This philandering, inebriated African socialist, who raged against the world for denying him the realization of his anti-colonial ambitions, is now setting the nation’s agenda through the reincarnation of his dreams into his son. The son is the one who is making it happen, but the son is, as he candidly admits, only living out his father’s dream. The invisible father provides the inspiration, and the son dutifully gets the job done. America today is being governed by a ghost.”

Secondly, our current president does not appear to understand nor appreciate our unique Christian foundations which made America a light to the world for over two centuries. Barack Obama says he is a Christian, but his “conversion” came through an Afro-centric, America-bashing pastor–Rev. Jeremiah Wright–who was the founder of a quasi-Christian cult. Obama’s “faith” seems to be more of a political calculation than a heart-felt conviction. 

Exhibit A is that Barack Obama is far more comfortable with secularism and Islam than he is with the claims of Christ. That’s why the vast majority of his policies on abortion, sexuality, marriage, economics, and foreign policy are largely pro-secular, pro-Muslim, and anti-Christian. He even canceled the National Day of Prayer activities at the White House and while welcoming Muslim gatherings and prayer sessions.

And finally, Barack Obama does not share a deep and abiding faith in human liberty and freedom. He believes that political elites know best how to control and guide the economies and social structures of nations. This can only be accomplished through massive government spending, redistribution of wealth, higher taxes and increased regulations.

He is doing everything is his power to establish socialism in America as he sees it practiced in Europe.

That political fact has created uncertainty in 2010. 

Will socialism succeed in America?

Good question.

The Heritage Foundation looks at it this way:

“The stakes couldn’t be higher for our nation at this moment. In the coming months, Americans will help choose which direction our nation’s future will take. Will the federal government continue to spend more, tax more, control more, and defend our liberties less? Or will we choose a new and bolder direction that returns power to the people? All indications are that we are approaching one of those pivotal moments in our political history, a tipping point. It will be a test of our national character. “

I agree.

Maybe the November 2 elections–and much prayer beforehand–will help us answer that vexing question of uncertainty.

 

 

Glenn Beck & 8-28: Pointing Us the Right Direction

Some friends attended the August 28 rally at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. spear-headed by talk-show host Glenn Beck.  Most estimates pegged the crowd at 250,000 to 300,000 people. That’s an incredible turnout for a hot summer day. My friends came away amazed, excited, and encouraged that God is indeed at work in our nation.

I wasn’t able to be there due to attending a reunion in Montana. But from Big Sky Country I interceded for our nation on 8-28 from a golden wheat field in the morning and joined a prayer group at night in one of the farm houses that dot the landscape.

I believe August 28, 2010 was a special day for re-directing America.

Unfortunately, many members of the main-stream media missed it. The once illustrious New York Times–the paper that famously says it gives you “All The News That’s Fit to Print”–buried the story on page fifteen though Glenn Beck lives and does radio and TV from their fair city. Apparently this type of gathering was not “fitting” to their their secular progressive agenda.  To its credit, the Washington Post put the story on its front page, but CNN labeled the rally “Conservative” and highlighted the large number of white people in attendance.

When was the last time you saw an environmental rally called a “Liberal” rally? And last time I checked, the United States was 65% made up of Caucasians–so they usually predominate at all rallies.

Obviously, the “Conservative” and “white” labels were deliberately used to create the impression that the people who attended 8-28 were “out of the mainstream” “fringe” and “extreme.”

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The 8-28 Rally was grassroots America awakening to a time of desperate need. It represented the true mainstream American.

I believe that libertarian Mormon Glenn Beck heard a word from God and obeyed him in calling for the 8-28 rally. He’s not Billy Graham, and he’s not the prophet Jeremiah. He’s not even an evangelical Christian. But he’s a concerned citizen with a respected voice that is pointing the way forward to liberty and renewal.

That’s a desperately important message because the current course of America is backwards–toward tyranny, poverty and mediocrity.

Now–after the rally–it’s time for the leaders of the American Church–pastors, teachers, evangelists and prophetic voices–to flesh out that direction for our people and nation and guide us back into the favor and blessing of God.

Here’s where the 8-28 rally pointed and how we must go forward.

HONOR – this was one of the rally’s great themes. Beck used the occasion to greatly thank the American troops who’ve been laying down their lives for freedom, both at home and around the world.

It’s time for the spiritual leaders of this nation to teach and preach the importance of courageously fighting evil during our time.

CHARACTER – The 8-28 rally took place on the same day that Dr. Martin Luther King gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech at the same location–the Lincoln Memorial. Some of Dr. King’s most famous words were prominent at the Beck event–that we should be “judged not by the color of our skin, but by the content of out character.” Glenn Beck exhorted America to “self-regulation”–what used to be called “self government”–which is at the heart of successful societies.

Self-regulated people do not seek entitlements or allow themselves to become slaves to a growing welfare state.  They agree with the words of James Madison who said: ” We have staked the whole future of American civilization not upon the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future of all our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self-government, upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments.”

It’s time for our spiritual leaders to equip God’s people to live lives of holiness, self-control, and to speak out against the sins of our day that are destroying our families and our children.

PRAYER – The 8-28 Rally didn’t focus on prayer as Washington For Jesus did in 1980, but prayers to God were uttered, expressing our need to turn to Him. Returning to God begins with prayer as humble intercession is the doorway to friendship with our Creator. God made us to be dependent beings on Him. One of our great sins of our affluent time period is the spirit of independence which brazenly reveals itself in prayerlessness.

It’s time for our spiritual leaders to lead the way back in prayer!  We must fast and pray, make prayer a prominent feature in our corporate life, and learn once again that “what a person is on their knees before God, that’s what they are–nothing more.” (Robert Murray McCheyne). A growing prayer revival is the most certain means to national reformation.

REPENTANCE – This vital area was not taught in detail at 8-28, but it was implied by the very gathering itself. Glenn Beck said “We need to return to God.” That’s the basic definition of repentance–a U-turnaway from self-centered living into a God-centered lifestyle that serves and blesses others. Repentance is change from a me-orientation to a God-and-others outlook. It’s having the necessary humility to admit where we’ve gone wrong and to change directions.

It’s time for the spiritual leaders in our churches to call their congregations, cities and towns, to repent before God. We need to learn once again to hate sin and love righteousness. This was the greatness of past American revivals: the pastors of the nation led the people in repentance and faith. It is needed once again.

UNITY – This was one of the crowning achievements of the 8-28 gathering numbering hundreds of thousands in Washington, D.C. . They dropped their petty differences, theologies, races, and issues, and came together in heartfelt unity to call the nation back to God. When times are desperate, you shouldn’t care whether a Mormon, a Quaker, or even dumb donkey calls you to attention. What’s important is agreeing on the truth of the message. I’ve read some people who take issue with Glenn Beck’s Mormonism or possible motivations. I don’t care. His message is from God.

Jerry Falwell got this right during the days of the Moral Majority, which, at the least, retarded the pace of cultural decline in America during the 1980s.  Dr. Falwell, a strong fundamentalist, didn’t care who joined the coalition to improve American morality. All hands were needed on deck. When the ships going down, it doesn’t matter who mans the bailing cans. The 8-28 rally ended with hundreds of different leaders uniting in prayer and common commitment.

It’s time for the spiritual leaders of America to call for sacrificial unity among people of good will. United we can stand tall once again. Divided, we will collapse as a nation and civilization.

VALUES OR WORLDVIEW – At the center of the 8-28 rally was the recognition that our nation was built upon Judeo-Christian foundations that are the secret to liberty and prosperity. In fact, the American Revolution was a quantum leap in applying Christian maxims to governing institutions. A decidedly Christian worldview is the genius of the United States of America. That worldview shows great toleration to people of all faiths and those of no faith.

But you can’t have America without Christian beliefs. This is why the people gathered on 8-28. Our current leaders are trying to dismantle the Christian foundations in this nation and replace it with a godless secularism. That is the wrong direction. We must turn back to faith in God and put his principles back to work in all aspects of our culture. America can’t exist without a Christian worldview.

The spiritual leaders of the US must teach the Christian worldview to their people and the nation. We must once again believe that “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Corinthians 3:17).

Glenn Beck and the 8-28 rally are pointing us the right direction. Honor, character, prayer, repentance, unity and Christian values. 

Spiritual leaders of the USA: Rise to your duty and lead us all the way home! May your pulpits once again be aflame with righteousness for the glory of God.

 

Glenn Beck – a Modern-day Jeremiah?

Who we trust–who we seek out for perspective and advice–says a lot about our values and priorities.

If we’re wise, we’ll trust God as our most important Wonderful Counselor. We will also seek out godly people (another way of hearing from Him)–those with wisdom in various dimensions of life from whom we can learn, benefit, and be encouraged to make good decisions.

In 2006, I’d never heard of Glenn Beck. Over the past couple of years, I’ve listened to him occasionally on the radio and a watched him a few times on television. The more I hear, the more my respect for the man grows–especially in one area that he talks about constantly.

I’m beginning to wonder if he’s a modern-day Jeremiah to America and this generation.

First of all, I admit that I listen to many people to gain understanding. Loren Cunningham, the founder of Youth With A Mission, believes that the more humble a person is (and that’s a good trait!),  the more you will recognize authorities in your life–in many different categories.

My wife and parents are high on my list. Shirley gives me wise family counsel and compassionate perspective. My parents are prudent financial and “life” counselors. I have board members and leader friends that I go to for business and corporate advice. 

There are also other astute voices in the public arena that I pay attention to:

  • I like Rush Limbaugh when it comes to understanding liberalism (secularism).
  • I respect Michael Medved, Ann Coulter, and Charles Krauthammer for their intellectual clarity on social issues.
  • I’m amazed at the constitutional insights of Mark Levin and Jay Sekulow.
  • For political hunches, I appreciate the perspectives of Sean Hannity, Dick Morris, and Karl Rove.
  • On family issues, I trust James Dobson. On military strategy, I admire both Oliver North and John McCain.
  • I have many religious heroes–including numerous YWAM leaders, Rick Warren, Leith Anderson, Franklin Graham, David Yonggi Cho, and David Wong.
  • Danny Lehmann and Nancy Wilson are my evangelism heroes. I love the literary brilliance of Max Lucado.

This list could go on and on. There are so many voices that I value in my life and work.

When I started listening to Glenn Beck, I asked myself: “What can I learn from this man?” What wisdom or perspective does he possess that I need to hear and comprehend? After listening carefully for a couple of years now, his role is coming clear.

Glenn Beck, a Mormon, a former alcoholic–a man born and raised in my home state who is now a shooting star on both radio and television–just might be America’s foremost prophetic voice. 

He just might be a Jeremiah to this generation. (He’s also an expert on “progressivism.”)

Here’s why. Jeremiah the prophet served during the time of Israel’s greatest testing as a nation. By the time he was born, Israel had grown as a tribe for nearly a thousand years, and a nation for four hundred. They had experienced numerous cycles of national revival and decline.

In Jeremiah’s day, they were facing a terminal judgement situation. If they didn’t turn to God they would lose everything–at least for a time.

Jeremiah pleaded with the nation to return to the Lord. He called them to return to God for forty faithful years (627 B.C. to 586 B.C.). Unfortunately, it’s not recorded once in the book in the Bible that bears his name that the people took the message seriously.

So in 586 B.C., God allowed the Babylonians to carry Judah off into captivity–they experienced a national collapse–and their way of life was lost for centuries. In fact, they never really recovered.

Back to Glenn Beck.  Over a year ago, Glenn began to call the American nation back to God.

One day I turned on the radio to listen to his show (the third largest audience in the U.S.). He spoke for twenty straight minutes on Ephesians 6:10-18 (putting on the armor of God). I was stunned. Another day I heard him speak for fifteen minutes on the need of Americans to turn to God. In the coming months, he kept returning to that theme.

Some months ago he announced he was facilitating a gathering in Washington D.C. called 8-28 (August 28). He said there was a need for the nation to come together to get right with God, understand our Christian heritage and founding, and restore respect and honor. Later he announced that he’d rented the Kennedy Center on 8-27 for a leaders night before the main event on August 28.

That sounded awfully familiar. On April 28, 29, 1980, I served as the capital city coordinator of Washington For Jesus (WFJ) which brought 700,000 people to our nation’s capital to fast, pray, and call the nation back to God and its roots. John Gimenez, a Puerto Rican ex-con had received a burden from God to bring the people of faith together in the nation’s capital. A highlight of that day was watching 1.4 million hands stretched out toward the Capitol Building while an African American named Ben Kinchlow prayed for major changes in the United States government and leadership.

Six months later, Ronald Reagan swept into office and multitudes of corrupt incumbents were tossed out. Reagan’s election was viewed as “morning in America” and brought twenty-five years of economic growth and prosperity. According to Arthur Laffer (an economist I trust), the Reagan Revolution gave birth to the greatest period of economic growth and freedom in the history of the world.

Yes, I said that right. Between 1982 and 2007, 20 million US jobs were created and America’s household net worth increased by 32 trillion dollars. That’s Trillion with a T.  Prayer, repentance, unity, faith and sound economic principles brought blessing to the nation during that era.

WFJ–a unifying event–was a part of the equation.

God had used an ex-con to bring us together.

Now he’s using an ex-alcoholic Mormon.

Our God is amazing.

In 2010, radio/TV personality Glenn Beck is calling the nation to once again gather in Washington, D.C at the Lincoln Memorial. He says we need to return to God. He believes we need to understand our history (David Barton of Wallbuilders will be teaching this subject on 8-28). He says we must put on the full armor of God, and restore faith, honor, integrity, and respect in American life.

I know of no other person–with anywhere near as large a megaphone–making this call in America today. It’s the right emphasis, at an extremely critical time.

If you live in the Washington D.C., or can travel to the nation’s capital for 8-28, I strongly encourage you to go. In other parts of the nation, between 10am and 1 pm EDT on August 28, 2010, let’s bow our hearts before God and ask for his gracious intervention in our national affairs. We need his forgiveness, favor, and vision to awaken a nation for his glory.

Glenn Beck just might be a modern-day Jeremiah.

What kind of responders will we be to his message?