August 12, 2016 (Friday)
There is a trend in the world that requires our attention. In some countries, there are more people over 65 than people 15 and under. That trend is spreading around the world, and will reach the United States just 14 years from now.
The economic reality that must be faced is that many people 65 and over are no longer in the workplace, and pay no income taxes. There are exceptions to that, and I am one of them. At 84, I’m still a pastor and I still pay Social Security and Income taxes. It’s probably safe to say, however, that most retired people are actually retired. Many of them receive Social Security income and some of those also receive a pension of some kind.
The approaching scenario will feature more people receiving income from funds into which fewer people will be paying. It does not take a genius to see that the situation will require action of some kind to solve the intricate problem.
I am still alive at 84, and thankful for that. Every day is a precious day for people like me. You can understand, then, why we are confused and perplexed when a young person straps on a bomb with the intention of killing as many people as possible by the death of himself or herself. No one’s life is expendable. Every life is of inestimable value. Life itself is a gift from God and therefore sacred.
You made my whole being;
you formed me in my mother’s body.
I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way.
What you have done is wonderful.
I know this very well.
You saw my bones being formed
as I took shape in my mother’s body.
When I was put together there,
you saw my body as it was formed.
All the days planned for me
were written in your book
before I was one day old.
READ THE ENTIRE PSALM BELOW
Psalm 139
New Century Version (NCV)
God Knows Everything
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 Lord, you have examined me
and know all about me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I get up.
You know my thoughts before I think them.
3 You know where I go and where I lie down.
You know everything I do.
4 Lord, even before I say a word,
you already know it.
5 You are all around me–in front and in back–
and have put your hand on me.
6 Your knowledge is amazing to me;
it is more than I can understand.
7 Where can I go to get away from your Spirit?
Where can I run from you?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there.
If I lie down in the grave, you are there.
9 If I rise with the sun in the east
and settle in the west beyond the sea,
10 even there you would guide me.
With your right hand you would hold me.
11 I could say, “The darkness will hide me.
Let the light around me turn into night.”
12 But even the darkness is not dark to you.
The night is as light as the day;
darkness and light are the same to you.
13 You made my whole being;
you formed me in my mother’s body.
14 I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way.
What you have done is wonderful.
I know this very well.
15 You saw my bones being formed
as I took shape in my mother’s body.
When I was put together there,
16 you saw my body as it was formed.
All the days planned for me
were written in your book
before I was one day old.
17 God, your thoughts are precious to me.
They are so many!
18 If I could count them,
they would be more than all the grains of sand.
When I wake up,
I am still with you.
19 God, I wish you would kill the wicked!
Get away from me, you murderers!
20 They say evil things about you.
Your enemies use your name thoughtlessly.
21 Lord, I hate those who hate you;
I hate those who rise up against you.
22 I feel only hate for them;
they are my enemies.
23 God, examine me and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any bad thing in me.
Lead me on the road to everlasting life.
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.