I appreciate the thoughtful comments of 'Mark' who responded to last week's blog. I had read in a national news mag about the Black Panthers intimidating white voters at a polling site but I must have missed the date it occured or the editors of the mag were remiss in checking their source. Also, in further conversation with 'Mark' I found that Rosie is very generous in funding certain charities. A good reminder that most people have an altruistic part of their life we are not aware of. Thanks 'Mark.'

My blog will be coming out at random times instead of regularly. It does take time and I have a lot of other interests; too many, probably.

Fancifulfloyd's Fearless Forecast, continued

After reading today that many incoming college freshmen do not wear watches, have never used a phone with a cord attached, do not write in cursive or use email, I realized how far behind the times I am. Some of my "Fearless Forecasts" now appear quaint and, though only guesses, way off the mark. Changes in technology and its effects on society are accelerating at a dizzying pace. Young people readily accept tech change but it can strike fear in the hearts of the middle-aged and elderly or at the least make them very uncomfortable. They may feel the world is racing ahead without them and whatever significance they had is disappearing. But there are others in the older age groups who may not fully embrace rapid change but who jump on for the ride and reserve their opinions 'til they see where it takes them.

Aldous Huxley, in his book "Brave New world," was remarkably prescient. Written in novel form around 1930, many of his predictions have come to pass. One in particular has remained with me even though I read it some 40 years ago. In the future Huxley saw the nuclear family as we know it, father, mother and children, has disappeared except for one family that is exhibited ------in a zoo.

Could it be that our nation is moving in that direction? Not long ago having a baby out of wedlock stigmatized both mother and baby. Today, there is slight, if any, such stigma attached to unwed mothers or their offspring. The divorce rate hovers around 50% of all marriages. It is interesting to note that the divorce rate is slightly higher for couples in which one or both individuals are Christians. In the future there will be far fewer divorces because marriage itself is being progressively viewed as archaic and unnecessary. Sex is regarded as recreational and considered an integral part of dating. This is another indication of the fading influence of the church which was once the arbitor of morals in a community.

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Please read Matthew 20:1-16

This Jesus' parable of the landowner who hires day laborers at different times of a day, promising to pay them "what is right" for their services. At the end of the day the landowner directs his farm manager to pay the workers beginning with the last hired and then going to the first. Work for a full day was from 6:00 in the morning to 6:00 in the evening and was worth one denarius. Imagine the astonishment and resentment of those who had worked all 12 hours when they saw that those who had worked only one hour and the others who had worked less than a full day got paid a whole denarius. When it became their turn, the full-day laborers expected to be given more than one denarius. When it didn't happen they let the landowner hear about it. Their attitude was: We worked longer; we deserve more pay than these others, it's only fair.

"Not fair? " the landowner said. "I didn't deceive you. You got the going rate of one denarius for a day of work. I choose to be generous and I can do as I wish with my money. Take your denarius and go home."

The landowner represents God. Those who were first hired may be seen as the Pharisees and other leaders who saw themselves as having labored since the time of Abraham. They and their ancestors had been following what they understood to be God's directions for a long time and felt they were entitled to a greater reward. Note that that the landowner was not compelled by law, need or custom to hire any of these men. He could have gone on and found others who might be looking for a day's pay. It was the landowner's choice.

Many Jews in Jesus' day believed wealth was a sign of God's favor and a person's righteousness. But God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34) and he is free to dispense his grace as he sees fit. God's generosity is shown in the landowner's hiring of every laborer available and paying the last as much as the first. Jesus says we can trust God to be fair and the last who come into the Kingdom will be treated as well as those who entered first. Note also: the early hires were content with the usual denarius for their work until they saw that the latecomers were getting the same. Instead of being grateful that they had what was promised them and they could now feed their families another day, they began to concentrate on what they didn't get. This is one of the chief causes of discontent and misery personally, nationally and internationally.

I recently watched a tv program of an interview with a man born without arms or legs. It would seem he had cause to berate God for letting him be born with that condition. Instead of complaining, he took what he had been given and became an evangelist for Christ. Wherever he goes people are drawn to him, amazed at his joyful spirit and that he glorifies God who, in opinion of many, dealt the man a really bad hand.

We should thank God for what we have. No matter what condition we are in there are millions of people in the world who would gladly change places with us. "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice!" Philippians 4:4

Next blog: The mosque in New York City

Fancifulfloyd's Fearless Forecasts (continued from last week) What do you think will happen in the future? Will I be close or way off in my guesses? Make up your own mind about whether these changes, if they come to pass, will be for the better or the worse.



Next 25 years: 2010-2035



Medical (Addendum to last week's predictions) Assumptions were made based on Obamacare becoming law. If Supreme Court finds it unconstitutional that people must buy the insurance or pay a fine, then the whole thing will come down like a house of cards. The Court may also, and should, find it totally unreasonable to use Interstate Commerce as the boat to float the requirement.


Society


Gay Marriage



Slam dunk by or before by 2011 in California; in the rest of the nation by or before 2025. There is growing public support and tide is turning in favor of gay marriage. Objections are generally being regarded as religious only. Supporters say religion should not stand in the way of, nor should Christians impose their views on, what supporters feel is a strictly civil matter . Many young people have a much more liberal attitude about this matter than their elders so the next generation will provide the final push.


Race Relations.


Anglos are usually singled out as the main source of racism and all other ethnic groups as the victims and objects of their disdain. Any honest observer can see that is not true. Racism is a two-way street. It is passed on from generation to generation and deeply embedded in all ethnic groups.



A possible solution would be for all 220 million people, who label themselves as 'Christian' to actually live out the Golden Rule as stated by Jesus. The situation is as complicated and defying of resolution as trying to get members of the Aryan Nation and the Black Panthers to peacefully co-exist. It does not help that the current attorney general of the U.S. did nothing when Black Panthers threatened white voters at a polling place. Did our president know of this and have a part in the decision to look the other way? Hmm.


Politicians and demagogues have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo. To discredit them, some office seekers find it effective to brand opponents as racists. It doesn't have to be true; there will be plenty of people ready to believe it even without proof. Hucksters found they could make a very good living keeping the racial stew stirred up and served hot. The elite of our nation, who fancy themselves as the all-knowing intelligentsia, do their part in invoking history to create a sense of guilt for events none of us had anything to do with.


I think a possible remedy for racial antagonism is already underway. It lies in the inexorable movement of our nation away from being predominately white to predominately 'tan.' Interracial marriages are on the increase. They seem to have found acceptance and interracial marriage will be the vehicle which will carry the nation to 'tan-hood' and perhaps an end to the senseless strife of racism.

On the hand, racism may be so set in concrete that it won't be abolished until Jesus returns. Nevertheless, nation-wide tipping point of white to tan: around 2040.



More next week.

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Rosie O'Donnell recently said, "Fundamental Christianity is as dangerous as fundamental Islam." Really? Where did she get her information? I'd bet she doesn't know much about either one and it's my opinion she is more dangerous than either of them because of her lack of knowledge and she will soon have a talk show where she can spread this blather. Part of the reason for her astonishing statement is to call attention to the new talk show. Another part is she may actually believe what she said.

Far too many critics of Christianity see it as a hammer pounding on two nails: abortion and gay marriage. "Christians hate gays and women who have abortions." That is the message critics say they are getting and the one I think may be behind Rosie's statement and also being drilled into the mind of unbelievers. As if to reinforce that message, a misguided man claiming to be a Christian shot and killed an abortionist doctor.

What's happened to Jesus' message of love, peace, compassion and forgiveness? It is much more attractive and winsome than constantly harping on the negative.

As for Rosie: She has a right to say whatever she wants and I am a firm believer in the right of free speech. Pray that God will soften her heart and increase her spiritual wisdom. I don't feel any animosity toward her. Instead, I feel she is an unhappy and lonely person who needs Jesus in her life.

But, what do I know? My first wife answered that with, "Not much."

Fancifulfloyd's Bold Predictions.
(Not prophecies; only guesses based on trends, history and experience.)


The next 25 years: 2010-2035


Marijuana


Legal in California by or before 2015

Legal in other states (a few holdouts; Idaho, Utah, etc.) by or before 2020

Taxed like cigarettes creating a black market run by drug lords (dl)

In the meantime, violence escalates along the U.S.-Mex. border. U.S. border guards and ranchers and other citizens killed/kidnapped by dl, forcing our president to finally take military action. Bush is blamed. (Only kidding)
Drug gangs unite; they assassinate Mexican president in plan to take over Mexico.

Drug use will continue in the U.S. Stupidity cannot be wiped out. Besides, too many powerful and not so powerful people have financial interests in the continued flow of drugs.


TV and Movies

No limit on obscene language and full frontal nudity on TV (10 p.m. and later) and on R-rated movies to occur before 2025. Explicit sex acts will be allowed to be portrayed by 2035 on "premium" channels.
If you are thinking it could never happen you may not have noticed how those responsible for tv shows are constantly pushing back the borders of decency. If you're over 70 just think back to when toilet paper was advertised as 'bathroom tissue" because the word "toilet" was not allowed on tv. Jack Paar, host of the "Tonight Show" quit the show temporarily because he was not allowed to use the word "commode" in a skit. Young people, used to the coarse language of today, would not believe these restrictions ever existed. More recently, comedian George Carlin made a list of obscene words that he said could not be used on tv. He didn't live to see he was mistaken.
When I was a youngster I went to see "Gone With the Wind" when it first came to our little town. I can still remember the collective horrified gasp that came from the audience when Clark Gable said, "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn." Damn was not to be said in public.


Medical


30 million (or the real number) people who will receive med insurance under Obamacare will get care equal to Medicaid. There are not enough MD's now, nor will there be, to provide a higher level of care. There will be a dramatic increase in the number of Nurse Practioners (NP) in a ratio of at least 3 NPs for each physician. Patients will be seen by NPs; physicians will limit themselves to the more acute cases. Only very sick or injured patients will be allowed hospitalization. Cuts in Medicare, increases in premiums, will be made to help finance Obamacare, so Medicare patients will fare only slightly better. Patients will pay full cost of elective surgery.

More predictions next week.
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A recently ordained minister was scheduled to perform his first wedding. He consulted an older minister for advice. After going over the mechanics the older minister offered a word of warning. "Sometimes it happens that even the most seasoned minister will suddenly go completely blank during the service and forget what goes next. It helps to say a passage of scripture to get your mind get back on track."
Sure enough, it happened. While trying to reassemble his thoughts, the young minister spoke the first scripture passage that came to him, "Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do."
I don't know about others, but those words applied to me at my first wedding. I didn't know what I was doing. Still in the Navy, pitifully small savings, 20 years old, etc. My plans were to go to college and become an architect when I left the Navy. I had never even met an architect and had no realistic idea about what an architect did. Talk about clueless. I liked to draw so I felt that was all I needed to know. (After we know it all, what we learn becomes our real education.) Nothing prepared me for the reality of architectural practice: dealing with clients, budgets, contractors, deadlines, building committees, codes and government regulations, etc.
There are other areas of life where we comfortably believe we know what we need to know. I recently listened as a friend gave her testimony as part of the Sunday school lesson she was teaching. She had been raised in a Christian home, faithfully attended ss, church services and youth activities. When she became an adult she felt, she said, that she knew what it meant to be a Christian and was comfortable with her beliefs.
But then, still quoting her, she and her husband attended a Life in the Spirit seminar in our home and met the real Jesus. She gave me credit but I can't change anyone. I credit it completely to the work of the Holy Spirit who caused the spiritual life of she and her husband to change.
The reach of the Spirit is not limited. He can work anyplace to deliver an epiphany to us. Church, Sunday school, living room, at the kitchen sink (as happened to a friend of mine,) at a bar, while driving, reading, walking, etc.
God knows I don't mean to challenge anyone's Christianity. If you've confessed Christ as your savior and believe it in your heart, you are, according to scripture, a Christian. What ever is the state of your relationship with God is your business. I'm saying some people bop along thinking they have this Christian thing nailed and then, because they are prompted by the Spirit to know more of Jesus, their spiritual eyes are opened. There is always more of Jesus for us to know. All we need is the desire.
"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4