Follow the Money    

   What do Apple, IBM, General Electric, Google and PepsiCo have in common? They are among companies with enormous amounts of money stashed abroad.

   The tax code allows this. Fortune 500 companies alone accounted for $2.6 trillion held offshore in 2016. 

   Apple led the way at $246 billion. Next in order were Pfizer, Microsoft, GE and IBM, all among 30 companies which accounted for two-thirds of the total. 

   Other familiar names include, Johnson & Johnson, Exxon Mobil, Procter & Gamble, Chevron, Intel, Coca-Cola, Goldman Sachs, Wal-Mart, Hewlett Packard and Bristol-Myers Squibb. 

   Apple, Pfizer and Microsoft were in triple digits, the rest ranging from $82 to $23 billion.

Ozone Recovery

   The Northern Hemisphere, upper ozone layer will be repaired by 2030. The Antarctic ozone hole should disappear by 2060.

   I can't wait!   

       Jimmy


   

Don't Mind Me     

   I'm a white male. I don't count anymore. Boohoo. 

But, if you're interested, here's what I've learned 

from Dr. Ravi Zacharias and others:

   Loving and patient though He is, God judged the pre-flood world, ancient Israelites and tolerated other nations in the years A.D. Seeking a better way, our country's founders chose a new path.

   That doesn't make us superior. We're just fortunate to have a citizen-friendly Constitution, and a faith that doesn't behead blasphemers. 

   Yes, we have a sad history of mistreatment. 

   The young American church was God-fearing. We understood God the Father, and God the "Son," who appeared in human form, paying the ultimate price for our sins. We believed the accounts of people who said He visited them, alive again! 

   Eventually, someone rediscovered the third Person of God, the Holy Spirit, sent by the Son to usher us though life with grace, truth and power. Who knew? 

   Here's the order: The Spirit guides our spirit, which oversees our mind, which in turn tames the flesh. 

   More is expected of Christians, because we've been shown more. When the age of the Gentiles, the "grafted branches," comes to an end, God will turn his attention back to Israelites, the "natural branches."

   When King Henry VIII died, Jesus lives. When Napoleon died, Jesus lives. When the Kaiser, Lenin, Stalin, Mao, Hitler and your favorite leader died, Jesus lives. 

   We still need grace, and a Savior.

   Some of us care more about our temporary American home than our eternal home. But unless we Christians seek the Lord's presence, other forces are ready to dictate the terms.   

   Cathedrals, holy places, religious ceremonies and attractive personalities don't save anyone, or a country. I believe God used America to take down two evil empires in World War II. That was then.    

      Jimmy

What About Opioids?    

   Many Americans have opioids in their medicine cabinet. These are prescribed for conditions like back pain, neck pain and headaches. 

   While helpful, opioids can lead to serious dependence, addiction and overdose. More than 115 Americans die from overdose every day. 

   Common brand names are Vicodin, Norco, OxyContin, Percocet and fentanyl. Since the 1990s, the sale of prescription opioids has risen dramatically. 

   UnitedHealthcare's magazine says patients should understand why the script is needed, interactions with other drugs, how long to use, possible side effects and risks of dependency. 

   There are alternatives: over-the-counter pain meds, topical pain relief creams, counseling, physical therapy, exercise and other lifestyle changes. 

   About 70 percent of misused opioid scripts are received, stolen or purchased from a friend or relative. As with any dangerous item, medicines should be secured, and never shared. takebackday.dea.gov lists collection sites for unneeded drugs.

   UnitedHealthcare says opioid addiction is a medical condition, not a bad habit or personal weakness. Recovery from addiction is difficult, but possible. 

   Help is available at 1-800-662-HELP, or findtreatment.samhsa,gov for information on treatment programs. 

       Jimmy



   

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit   
    
   Where did this idea come from? 

   Islam? Hinduism? Buddhism? Shintoism? Communism? No. No. No. No and No. 

   Name a culture of spiritism where they assembled to "establish Justice ... insure domestic Tranquility ... promote the general Welfare and secure the Blessings of Liberty." 

   Our "more perfect union" was not formed to promote Christianity. But, most of our founders were believers in Jesus Christ, or at least, "Providence," whatever that meant. 

   As in the beginning, American flesh rebelled before, during and after our Revolution. Church denominations chose not to "unite," Irish Catholics were not welcome, slavery thrived, and Christian men fought each other during the Civil War. 

   Now we receive immigrants from around the world. We assume most come for the Blessings of Liberty and economic opportunity. Many pass the test for legal citizenship, but how many acknowledge the Source of freedom?

   Some people worship or venerate buildings: a temple, cathedral, mosque, tabernacle, little brown church in the vale. Or places: Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem, Salt Lake City, Vatican. Or persons: Abraham, Moses, Muhammad, Young, Luther, Buddha, saints. Native Americans worshiped the "great spirit," and some still do. 

   Who can we trust to keep us free? Here at Views, we say the "bride of Christ" needs another great awakening. We don't need God to bless America. We need to bless him. Where light fades, there is darkness.  

   Jesus died to save the world. He is not an American. Revisit the tragedy of ancient Israel if you think God will be patient with us no matter what.  

      Jimmy




   

An Aura of Glory   

   Saturday we watched some college football on TV. 

   A few times after a player did something extra well, a special-effects person put a lighted circle around the player's feet. As they reran the play, the circle accompanied the athlete so viewers could better appreciate his performance.

   It was like a halo, only on grass, not over his head. One dictionary definition of halo is, "an aura of glory."

   Sunday as we drove to church, it suddenly occurred to me to imagine a halo beneath/around our vehicle. 

   The Bible says the earth is the Lord's, and everything in it. 

   So it was good to think of ourselves - being children of God - briefly occupying a tiny part of the Lord's earth along our 15-mile drive...on man's roads. 

   We don't know who occupied those spaces before or after us, but so what?

   If you belong to the Lord, you too can imagine a halo wherever you are. His Spirit is with you at all times. 

   Imaginary halos are not angelic, for sure, and not glorious, just a "special effect" to remind us whose ground on which we occupy until He calls us home. 

     Jimmy

Whom to Fear; Whom Not to Fear      

   Acting as if we are what we are not. That's hypocrisy.

   Acting publicly as godly while hiding immorality, greed, lust etc. - hypocrisy, living a lie. Think, Pharisees. And from time to time, most all of us.

   Jesus told a large crowd that no one gets away with it. 

   There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. - Luke 12:2  NIV 

   I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. ... Fear him who, after killing the body, has power to throw you into hell. 

   He tells them/us that He sees all his creatures, yet we are worth more to him than many sparrows. He even numbers the hairs on our head. In other words, the Lord knows us inside and out. Everything. He wants us everyone to know him:

   I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God. 

   Then, Jesus makes a remarkable statement, well before his Last Supper discourse and Pentecost, 50 days later:

   And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. (Also in Matthew 12.) 

   Blasphemy: The deliberate rejection of the Holy Spirit's witness to Christ, his Word and his convicting work against sin. The voice of the Spirit alone leads us to forgiveness. Grieving, resisting the Spirit leads to hardening of heart, which leads to depravity, and at God's determination, the Spirit ceases to lead one to repentance. (From Bible commentary.)

Nice Work     
If You Can Get It    

   Swamps don't like being drained. "Retired generals, admirals and government procurement officers are still accepting lucrative positions with companies that do business with the military." - Washington Post   

   The Project on Government Oversight (POGO) says, "Major U.S. defense contractors have hired hundreds of former high-level government officials, including at least 50 since Donald Trump became president." Maybe it makes sense, and cents, for people with knowledge to work both ends of the contracts. 

   Or, maybe not.

   POGO found 645 cases over the past decade in which a retired, senior official, member of Congress or senior staff member became a registered lobbyist, board member or executive at a major contractor. Some retirees worked for multiple companies.

   These cases included 25 generals, nine admirals, 43 lieutenant generals and 23 vice admirals. 

   This is not unlawful. The concern is that government officials might seek favor with contractors in hopes of securing future employment. And, there is opportunity for lobbyists to lobby former subordinates still in government.

   Measured by contract receipts, the top defense contractors are Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics. 

   Are there outsiders who could lobby just as well? We don't know. It might require some knowledge of complicated systems. 

Tomorrow: Who to fear, not to fear. 

      Jimmy