Absolution

From My Perspective – - -

Most were able to view many hours of the Senator Edward M. Kennedy Funeral events this past week. There were some very human and touching moments as different family members shared their recollections and vignettes of the many happy experiences they shared together.

The ABC-TV Boston Affiliate shared the following report prepared by Veronica Haynes, Senior News Editor: “…Kennedy’s friend, retired Washington Archbishop Cardinal Theodore McCarrick officiated the brief, but poignant, graveside service. They called him the Lion of the Senate, and indeed that is what he was. His roar and his zeal for what he believed made a difference in our nation’s life. Sometimes, of course, we who were his friends and had great affection for him would get mad at him when he would roar at what we believed was the wrong side of the issue. But we always knew and we were always touched by his passion for the underdog, the rights of working people, for better education, for adequate health care for every American…McCarrick also read from a letter that the ailing senator wrote to Pope Benedict XVI asking for his prayers and guidance as he entered the final chapter of his life. The letter was hand-delivered by President Barack Obama during a recent visit to the Vatican: I am writing with deep humility to ask that you pray for me as my own health declines. I was diagnosed with brain cancer more than a year ago, and although I continue treatment, the disease is taking its toll on me…I know that I have been an imperfect human being, but with the help of my faith, I have tried to right my path.”

Senator Kennedy’s letter also contained these words: “I want you to know, Your Holiness, that in my nearly 50 years of elective office, I have done my best to champion the rights of the poor and open doors of economic opportunity. I’ve worked to welcome the immigrant, fight discrimination and expand access to health care and education. I have opposed the death penalty and fought to end war. Those are the issues that have motivated me and been the focus of my work as a United States Senator. I also want you to know that even though I am ill, I am committed to do everything I can to achieve access to health care for everyone in my country. This has been the political cause of my life. I believe in a conscience protection for Catholics in the health care field and will continue to advocate for it…I have always tried to be a faithful Catholic, Your Holiness, and though I have fallen short through human failings, I have never failed to believe and respect the fundamental teachings…”

A key phrase is: “…I believe in a conscience protection for Catholics in the health care field and will continue to advocate for it…” Is this a carefully worded appeal seeking absolution for a personal focus and voting record on abortion? Can this be a desire to remove guilt from any inference regarding euthanasia in the much discussed National Health Plan? Absolution is: “an act of absolving; a freeing from blame or guilt; release from consequences, obligations, or penalties.” In Roman Catholic Theology, it also means: “a remission of sin or of the punishment for sin, made by a priest in the sacrament of penance on the ground of authority received from Christ. The letter is almost an appeal for Absolution without giving Definitive Statement regarding why such Absolution is being sought. In the vernacular, it would be “covering all the bases” just to play it safe! In Psalm 19:7-14 (NLT), The Psalmist David makes his appeal before God: “The law of the LORD is perfect…The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy…The commandments of the LORD are right…The commands of the LORD are clear…The laws of the LORD are true…They are a warning to those who hear them; there is great reward for those who obey them. How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. Keep me from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Words and deeds have consequences. The Grace of God alone can absolve one of sin and guilt but it has to be remembered that such Absolution is “not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:9). This kind of Absolution is based on Christ’s work on the cross, not on man’s deeds or terms. Consider these things with me!

Hypocritical Hallucination

From My Perspective – - –

Many have insisted that the words in our Pledge of Allegiance must always contain, “one nation, under God” – but – whatever happened to “and to the Republic…with liberty and justice for all. We live in a time that is marked by disillusionment and confusion. We have been bombarded by “change” that is difficult to understand and assimilate. Those who are more cynical than others suggest that: “Obama’s health care plan will: (a) Be written by a committee whose head says he doesn’t understand it; (b) Be passed by a Congress that hasn’t read it (but exempts themselves from it); (c) Be signed by a president who smokes (and also hasn’t read it); (d) Have funding administered by a treasury chief who did not pay his taxes; (e) Be overseen by a surgeon general who is obese; and (f) Be financed by a country that is nearly broke. What could possibly go wrong?” A Congressman calculated that if we halted all debt accumulation today, and froze all expenditures, and began to pay off the current Budget Deficit at the rate of one million dollars per day, it would take more than 34,000 years to pay off the national debt. Tax Revenues coming in average approximately $17,500.00 per person – but – the expenditures going out average approximately $31,500.00 per person. It is an unsustainable Debt that is being heaped upon future generations of our nation.

Some have asserted that “The Lion of Liberalism” in the US Senate, Edward (Ted) Kennedy, was part of the problem and cause of the trends of our times. However, an interesting column posted by Cal Thomas on August 26, 2009 – entitled – My Friend, Ted Kennedy – shares some of the following thoughts: “…my 25-year relationship with Sen. Edward Kennedy…began in 1983 when I received a call from a Washington Post reporter. I was working for the Moral Majority at the time and a computer had spit out a membership card for Senator Kennedy and then inadvertently sent it to him. The reporter asked if I wanted the card back. No, I said. We don’t believe anyone is beyond redemption. In fact, I hope Sen. Kennedy comes and speaks at Liberty Baptist College (now Liberty University), the school founded by the late Jerry Falwell. A few days later, I received a call from Kennedy’s chief of staff. The senator accepts your invitation. I was stunned and so was Falwell, but Kennedy came and was well received. He spoke on faith, truth and tolerance… Kennedy said: “I am an American and a Catholic; I love my country and treasure my faith. But I do not assume that my conception of patriotism or policy is invariably correct, or that my convictions about religion should command any greater respect than any other faith in this pluralistic society…When people agree on public policy, they ought to be able to work together, even while they worship in diverse ways. For truly, we are all yoked together as Americans, and the yoke is the happy one of individual freedom and mutual respect…Separation of church and state cannot mean an absolute separation between moral principles and political power. The challenge today is to recall the origin of the principle, to define its purpose, and refine its application to the politics of the present…”

The Core Values of Senator Kennedy are now overshadowed by the reality of those who don’t share those values and qualify for the designation of being a Hypocrite. A Hypocrite is: “a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, that he or she does not actually possess; one who puts on a mask and feigns himself to be what he is not.” In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addressed the issue of Hypocrisy in Matthew 6:2,5,16. It pertains to the ways in which the Scribes and Pharisees did their giving to the poor; how they would pray in public; and the manner in which they fasted – all to be seen and noticed by the community and organized religion. Jesus condemned it for what it was – not honoring God but merely acts of self-aggrandizement. Cal Thomas shares one other thought about Ted Kennedy: “I came to see Sen. Kennedy not as a symbol, but as a fellow human being who did not get up each morning seeking ways to harm the country. I know of things he did for the poor and homeless on his own time and in his own way without a press release or a desire for public approval. I know of other hurts and concerns he shared with a very few he could trust about which I would never speak.” How many of us give proper expression of our belief system and persuasions. Is it done in a way that honors the Lord or does it meet with His disapproval? Are we wearing a mask of Hypocrisy or are we the “real deal”? Consider these things with me!

A Bridge To Nowhere

From My Perspective – - –

Feeling abandoned to the inevitable is the plight of many. People find themselves in impossible situations and feel they are both trapped and helpless in their circumstance. All motivation to go on seems lost; hopes have faded; the will to be and to do has dissipated; the personal spirit has been broken or crushed; one seems suspended in time and space – uncared for and abandoned to unwanted and harsh realities. One tries to smile in spite of adversity but the pain of a broken heart prevents the brightness of that smile. What is one to do? How can one escape such complicated circumstances? How did one ever arrive at this point? It is like being on an endless treadmill or traveling on a bridge that goes nowhere – except for the further affliction, anguish and pain.

The above can describe all too many lives and marriages. It is a sad case and event of being abandoned to a very difficult context for one’s life. What is Abandonment? What does it look like? How did it occur? A frequent place where Abandonment is observed is in certain Marriages. The definition of Abandonment is: “to leave completely and finally, forsake utterly, desert; to give up, discontinue, withdraw from…” Synonyms are: Abandon, relinquish, renounce, to give up all concern in something; to give up or discontinue any further interest in something/someone because of discouragement, weariness, distaste, or the like…”

Abandonment can occur in several areas – individually, as a family unit, or a particular group (such as military units being taken as Prisoner of War). It impacts and crosses several areas of one’s being – Emotional; Physical; Financial; Fiduciary; etc. EMOTIONAL: Where a spouse no longer maintains a viable relationship with another or having any concern for another’s feelings, needs, worth; PHYSICAL: where a spouse no longer maintains a viable interpersonal relationship, or is just not present to demonstrate any responsibility or care; or being harsh and cruel – abusive; FINANCIAL: where a spouse no longer provides for the upkeep of another; a family; a property; relationships; a total disregard for everyone and everything except self (narcissism run amuck); and FIDUCIARY: where a spouse ignores mortgage responsibilities (as a person to whom property or power is entrusted for the benefit of another) and other legal obligations are neglected – this is the DNA of the one who abandons and who has disregarded all duty, responsibility and trust. In a marriage and family situation, this can imperil the ones a spouse had vowed loyalty to and oneness with in a forever relationship (until death us do part). However, one is deserted and abandoned – left with hopelessness and despair – on a bridge to nowhere.

The Bible states how the irresponsible and/or abusive spouse is viewed from a heavenly perspective: (I Timothy 5:7-8 – NLT): “But those who won’t care for their own relatives, especially those living in the same household, have denied what we believe. Such people are worse than unbelievers.” And the same verses in The Message: Tell these things to the people so that they will do the right thing in their extended family. Anyone who neglects to care for family members in need repudiates the faith. That’s worse than refusing to believe in the first place.” That being said, what about the abandoned and/or abused person and family?

The Bible speaks of those who found themselves abandoned – trapped with no where to go – Jonah in the whale; Elijah as he fled from the threats of Jezebel; Job when he lost all of his family and possessions; Israel when they disobeyed God and chose idols instead. For these, and others, there was a reality check – their abandonment would end through deliverance by the Lord’s hand. A word of encouragement for the weary, oppressed, abandoned is Isaiah 42:5-6, “This is what God the Lord says– He who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you…” He will take you from The Bridge To Nowhere and place you on a road to somewhere – He will hold on to you and never let you go! He will lead you safely from where you are to a place that is right and good for you! Enjoy being in His grip! Consider these things with me!

Abandonment

From My Perspective – - -

Robinson Crusoe is a novel by Daniel Defoe first published in 1719, and sometimes considered to be the first novel in English. After a tumultuous journey that sees his ship wrecked by a vicious storm, his lust for the sea remains so strong that he sets out to sea again. This journey too ends in disaster as the ship is taken over by pirates, and Crusoe becomes the slave of a Moor. He manages to escape and years later, he joins an expedition to bring slaves from Africa, but is shipwrecked in a storm about forty miles out to sea on an island – which he calls the Island of Despair. His companions all die. He proceeds to build a fenced-in habitation near a cave which he excavates himself. He keeps a calendar by making marks in a wooden cross built by himself. He reads the Bible and suddenly becomes religious, thanking God for his fate in which nothing is missing but society. The immediacy of his situation is the sense of abandonment – having been left completely and finally; forsaken utterly; deserted and alone to either survive by ingenuity or to die in despair. Crusoe chose to live and devised a plan of survival and deliverance from his Island of Despair.

In a similar way, a recent film – CAST AWAY – tells the story of Chuck Noland who is a time-obsessed FedEx systems analyst, who travels worldwide resolving productivity problems at FedEx depots. A Christmas with relatives is interrupted by Chuck being summoned to resolve a problem overseas. While flying through a violent thunderstorm somewhere over the southern Pacific Ocean, an incident occurs on Chuck’s plane which results in it crashing into the ocean. Chuck is able to escape the sinking plane and is saved by an inflatable life-raft, which floats for some time in the storm before being washed up on an island. It soon becomes clear that the island is uninhabited, and Chuck’s early attempts to make visual signals for any searching aircraft, and to escape the island in the remnants of his life raft are fruitless. Four years pass, and after a large sheet of plastic washes up on the island, Chuck decides to use it as a sail in the construction of a raft. After spending some time building and stocking the raft and deciding when the weather conditions will be optimal, Chuck launches the raft and finally escapes the island. After some time on the ocean, the raft is virtually destroyed by a storm. Distraught, Chuck resigns himself to his fate and abandons his attempt to find rescue. Half-dead and sunburned, he is found drifting a short time later by a passing cargo ship. Upon returning home Chuck discovers that he has long been given up for dead by everyone he knows; his family and friends held a funeral; and the love of his life had married someone else.

Some situations of abandonment occur by accident, whereas others happen by design. In Genesis 37, there is the account of Joseph being sold into slavery. His older brothers feel he is more loved by their father than they are, and come to the point where they hate him. At first, they plan to kill him but them decide to sell him to a passing caravan. A commentator (Boice) shares his impressions of Joseph: “Joseph, being seventeen years old: He was loved and hated, favored and abused, tempted and trusted, exalted and abased. Yet at no point in the 110 year life of Joseph did he ever seem to get his eyes off God or cease to trust him. Adversity did not harden his character. Prosperity did not ruin him. He was the same in private as in public.”

What is it that sustained Joseph in his abandonment? How did he manage to survive rejection, hatred, being alone, and having become chattel in the hands of others? It is the truth shared throughout all generations and eloquently stated in Isaiah 41:10, “Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; I will help thee; I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” There comes a time during a famine when Joseph will be in the company of his brothers one more time. They are at his mercy and revenge could be so sweet. But – what will Joseph do at such a moment? How will he respond to those who hated him and wanted him dead? In Genesis 50:19-21, “Joseph said to them…You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done…And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.” He forgave them and fed them! Don’t let adversity or abandonment harden your character. God has not abandoned you! Consider these things with me!

Up and Uppity

From My Perspective – - -

Language is vital for verbal communication but it can often stymie one when it comes to clarity of expression and definitive discourse. Those with communicative skills and abilities are a delight to hear. Those who have mastered the English Language should be appreciated. In our lifetime, we have been exposed to speakers and orators who possessed these skills – Martin Luther King, Jr.; John F. Kennedy; Billy Graham; William F. Buckley; Ronald Reagan; Barack Obama. Their political agenda and personal persuasions aside, they possessed the necessary skills to communicate in and excellent fashion. However, they – like us, are trapped by the way words are used in the English Language.

Someone came up with these thoughts regarding a simple word “UP”! In the Online Dictionary, there are 13 Definitions and 93 examples of usage given for the word “UP”! The following is an illustration submitted for the word “UP”: It’s easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP? At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? Why do we speak UP and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report? We call UP our friends and we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, warm UP the leftovers, and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP the old car. At other times the little word has real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses. To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP is special. And this UP is confusing: A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP. We open UP a store in the morning, but we close it UP at night. We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP! To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP, look the word UP in the dictionary. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4 of the page and can add UP to about thirty definitions. If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don’t give UP, you may wind UP with a hundred or more. When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP. When the sun comes out we say it is clearing UP. When it rains, it wets UP the earth. When it doesn’t rain for a while, things dry UP. One could go on and on, but I’ll wrap it UP, for now my time is UP, so…Time to shut UP!”

When it comes to the word “UPPITY”, there is a significant change and the Online Dictionary submits just two meanings and applications: “affecting an attitude of inflated self-esteem; haughty; snobbish; rebelliously self-assertive; not inclined to be tractable or deferential.” It’s difficult to ever get to know an uppity person. There is so much façade and image-projection that prevents one from ever seeing or knowing the “real” individual. Some have a drive and felt-need to impress others with their loftiness and persona. They walk through life impressed by themselves and hoping to impress everyone else with their air of self-importance.

An interesting contrast occurs in Colossians 2 regarding the use of the word “UP”! First, Colossians 2:6-7, “… just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, ROOTED AND BUILT UP IN HIM, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Second, there is an opposite use given in Colossians 2:18, “Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and HIS UNSPIRITUAL MIND PUFFS HIM UP with idle notions.” The one who is brought low before Jesus Christ becomes the one who is built UP in Him, whereas the one who struts in his self-importance and is PUFFED UP will one day be brought low. The message should be clear to each one – no matter the difficulties of life or on the journey – Keep Looking UP – and – Never Give UP! Consider these things with me!

Taxing Times

From My Perspective – - –

The challenges, events, massive legislation, financial upheaval, spending programs of Congress, frustration, inability to gain audience or redress, ridicule and demeaning verbiage for those who protest, loss of civility, a total lack of consideration for “We The People…”, incredibly increasing national debt, international power ploys and posturing, an “Enemy’s List” (those who make “fishy” statements about the current administration, government, programs), a fabricated rush to enact various Bills of Congress that very few have read or understood, a growing polarization in the nation – the List could be longer and more overwhelming – but all of this is being done “for the American people”!

There were more deliberate and reasonable times in America. The year – 1963. The President – John F. Kennedy. The Minority Report for August 9, 2009 indicates some of the thinking of this charismatic leader who raised the hopes of the citizenry by challenging them: “Ask not what your country can do for you – Ask what you can do for your country.” In an effort to adjust fiscal fairness and to stimulate the economy, John F. Kennedy stated: “A tax cut means higher family income and higher business profits and a balanced federal budget. Every taxpayer and his family will have more money left over after taxes for a new car, a new home, new conveniences, education and investment. Every businessman can keep a higher percentage of his profits in his cash register or put it to work expanding or improving his business, and as the national income grows, the federal government will ultimately end up with more revenues.” In his tax message to Congress in 1963, Kennedy asked that the top income tax rate be brought down from 91% to 65%. His goal was to reduce all statutory income tax rates by about 30%, including a reduction in the bottom tax rate from 20% to 14%. He allowed in January 1963: “Lower rates of taxation will stimulate economic activity and so raise the levels of personal and corporate income as to yield within a few years an increased – not a reduced – flow of revenues to the federal government…: In September 1963, he addressed the nation and said: “Our tax system still siphons out of the private economy too large a share of personal and business purchasing power and reduces the incentive for risk, investment and effort – thereby aborting our recoveries and stifling our national growth rate…”

In I Kings 12:3-7, a change in government had occurred and a hopeful moment presented itself: “Jeroboam…and the whole assembly of Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him: Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.” Rehoboam answered, “Go away for three days and then come back to me.” Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked. They replied, “If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.” In other words, lighten their load of forced labor and heavy taxation.

However, Verse 8 states: “Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him…” So the King chose to ignore the opportunity to bring reasonable “change” or to grant “hope” for the oppressed and disenfranchised. Instead, he followed the counsel of his generation (the group with a Chicago-type political instinct and mentality, and A.C.O.R.N. skill at organizing)…” In Verses 10-11: The young replied, “Tell these people who have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter’–tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.” The rest of the Chapter is a sad commentary regarding what occurs when compassion and wisdom is disregarded. Rehoboam chose to surround himself with his Czars and minions who were adept at organizing Astroturf Rallies, but who had a flagrant disregard for the citizenry. A day of true change and valid hope will occur. Abraham Lincoln allowed in 1859: “Let us have Faith that Right Makes Might!” He was right! Stay Hopeful! God Is Still Able! Consider these things with me!

Money, Money Everywhere?

From My Perspective – - -

The saying: “Water, Water everywhere but not a drop to drink!” is sadly familiar to the plight of the nation in terms of “Money, Money everywhere and not a dime to spend (or spare)!” The current monetary philosophy and policy is spend more – print more – increase debt more – - The solution to everything is to increase the Taxes on the “Rich” in this nation. After all (it is said), they have all the money and benefits – let them pay for the extravagances (needs?) of others. If only there was some integrity to research and report the facts!

The latest figures from the year 2007, according to the Tax Foundation (and posted by Neal Boortz) are: “The top 1% of taxpayers officially paid 40.4% of total federal income taxes. This is the highest percentage in modern history. Compare that number to twenty years prior (1987) when the top 1% of taxpayers paid 24.8% of income taxes. Lest you think they monopolized the wealth, they actually earned about 22.8% of total adjusted gross income. How much does a person have to earn to be in this top 1%? Total: $410,000. The share of taxes paid by the top 1% of taxpayers now exceeds the share paid by the bottom 95% of taxpayers. Again, the top 1% paid 40.4% of incomes taxes while the bottom 95% paid 39.4% of the income tax burden. This means that the top 1% of taxpayers (which is 1.4 million people) paid a larger share of the income tax burden than the bottom 95% of taxpayers (which is comprised of 134 million people). The key to and problem with these numbers is that 9 out of 10 Americans will never see them nor will anyone ever share these numbers with them. The Democrats will, in spite of these numbers, be able to continue to demonize the evil rich and spread the lie that somehow they aren’t ‘paying their fair share.’ To make things worse, Democrat demagogues will continue to promote the idea that all of their social welfare programs can easily be funded with additional taxes on the rich. Where do they stop? When the top 1% is paying about 80% of all income taxes?”

For too long in our nation, we have ignored Biblical Principles by which our lives could and should be governed. In 1 Timothy 6:6-12 we read: “Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it…People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with much grief…” Some may identify with the old country preacher who lamented: “It’s not the love of money that’s my problem – it’s the lack of money!” The key is (a) Contentment, and (b) Confidence that God will provide and sustain! This precise point is stated in Hebrews 13:5-6, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. So we say with confidence, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” The answer to that postulate is: Nothing! Absolutely Nothing! The entire world may be turned upside-down, and financial bankruptcy become universal – but – that does NOT change who God is or what He is able to do for those who will seek and follow Him.

An argument can be made for one having “pride” in his/her appearance, accomplishments or accumulations. Care must always be exercised to prevent that from becoming one’s sole preoccupation and/or sense of self-worth. An important balance to this is found in Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” A classic example of Pride is given in Daniel 4:29-34, “…as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty? The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle…until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes…” The King ultimately repented: “I…raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.” Have you? Will you? Consider these things with me!