2016: The Year of Decision

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Joel 3:14

Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision!

For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

NKJV

The dominant theme of the Book of Joel in the Bible is the “day of the Lord.”  For some reading this, the “Day of the Lord" might represent a time of judgment of sin (Isaiah 13:9).  However, for those who have repented of their sins and accepted God’s free gift of salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ shed upon the cross, the day represents a time of restoration  (Joel 2:12-14).  The question everyone reading this needs to settle is whether we view the “Day of the Lord” with dread or joy. 

I urge everyone reading this to settle this important question right now by choosing to be on the side joyously anticipating the “Day of the Lord” by taking a moment to pray with me. 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

If you took a moment to pray this prayer with me, know that the question of how God judges you is eternally settled.  Granted, we are not perfect and will slip up but instead of judging us to eternal damnation, now that we have accepted God’s free gift of salvation, He judges us as righteous (1 John 1:7).

Every four years in the United States, voters decide whom to vote for as President and 2016 is one of those years.  In addition, since the President is term-limited to two terms in office, the current occupant of the White House cannot run for reelection.  (1)  This means that the voters in the United States will be selecting someone new to occupy the White House in 2016.  With all the changes and turmoil in our world and nation, I believe the decision this election is critical and will affect the United States and world for generations to come.

The basis for my opinion is,

1)      Economic uncertainty – Recently, the economic growth numbers in the United States for the third quarter of 2015 were downgraded, making this the tenth straight year economic growth in the United States was less than 3%.  This economic growth is well below the historical norms more than six years into what the current administration touts as a robust recovery.  (2) (3)  With record numbers of people not in the labor force (4) any economic recovery occurring is a jobless one.  For those not working this represents economic insecurity and puts a strain on already strained entitlement programs.  Evidence for this is supported by increased debt and the need to continually raise the nation’s debt limit to accommodate the fact that the nations cash flow continues to be in the red.  (5)

2)      Social instability – For most of the first 200 years of the United States, the society functioned with the basic values of the sanctity of life and the preservation of the traditional family.  During this period, the nation went from a struggling new nation that won its independence from England to a world super power.  However, we are now asked to believe that these values are somehow racist and must be transformed to accommodate abortion on demand and the acceptance of same sex marriage.  Many politicians avoid these social issues believing they are unimportant when compared to issues like national security or the economy.  However, there is an economic and national security component to these issues.

a.       The recently passed omnibus spending bill funds Planned Parenthood.  (6)  This means that taxpayer money of those valuing the sanctity of life is funding an organization that believes the life of an unborn only has value only when aborted and its organs harvested in the interest of medical research.  (7)

b.      Money spent to fund the atrocities of Planned Parenthood is money that the nation could spend to enhance border security and fight enemies of our nation such as ISIS. 

3)      Global insecurity – in July of 2015, the Washington times cited a Pentagon report that stated that climate change is an “urgent and growing threat to our national security.”  (8)  As absurd as this statement seems in light of recent terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, the recent UN climate change agreement from Paris, (9) demonstrates the inability of world leaders to recognize the clear and present danger to national security posed by terrorist organizations such as ISIS.  (10)

In this year of decision in the United States, I urge voters to be diligent and vote for candidates supporting true economic recovery including jobs for those that have left the labor force.  I urge voters to vote for people supporting the values that made the nation great.  Finally, I urge voters to vote for candidates that understand the real threat to national security posed by ISIS. 

We as voters must also exercise caution for most candidates will say they are for job creation, the sanctity of life, and protecting the nation from terrorists.  Unfortunately, however, some candidates only say these things to earn our votes and then once in office, flip-flop on the issues.  For this reason, it is imperative for us as voters to dig into each candidate's past in order to determine who genuinely supports these values. 

In this year of decision, it is important for us as voters to make well-informed decisions on who will lead this country back to its position of greatness for failure to do so will continue the United States’ slide downward.  I for one do not want to see this happen and will be doing my research on candidates.  The question is will you join me in this.

1. The U.S. National Archives & Records Administration. The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription. www.archives.gov. [Online] [Cited: August 6, 2013.] http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/print_friendly.html?page=constitution_transcript_content.html&title=The%20Constitution%20of%20the%20United%20States%3A%20A%20Transcription.

2. Bartash, Jeffery. U.S. Economy Set to Grow Less Than 3% for the 10th Straight Year. www.marketwatch.com. [Online] Market Watch, December 22, 2015. [Cited: December 26, 2015.] www.marketwatch.com/story/third-quarter-growth-trimmed-to-2-2015-12-22.

3. Poor, Jeff. Obama Touts Job Growth, Pushes for Budget in Weekly Address. www.breitbart.com. [Online] Breitbart News, September 5, 2015. [Cited: December 26, 2015.] www.breitbart.com/video/2015/09/05/obama-touts-job-growth-pushes-for-budget-in-weekly-address/.

4. May, Caroline. Record 94,610,000 Americans Not in Labor Force. www.breitbart.com. [Online] Breitbart News, October 2, 2015. [Cited: December 26, 2015.] www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/10/02/record-94610000-americans-not-labor-force/.

5. Hahn, Stephen K. Bannon & Julia. Pasul ryan Betrays America: $1.1 Trillion, 2,000-Plus Page Omnibut Bill Funds 'Fundamental Transformation of America.'. www.breitbart.com. [Online] Breitbart News, December 16, 2015. [Cited: December 26, 2015.] www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/12/16/paul-ryan-betrays-america-1-1-trillion-2000-plus-page-omnibus-bill-funds-fundamental-transformation-america/.

6. Sullivan, Peter. Planned Parenthood unscathed in spending bill. thehill.com. [Online] The Hill, December 16, 2015. [Cited: December 26, 2015.] thehill.com/policy/healthcare/263464-planned-parenthood-praises-spending-bill-for-avoiding-cuts.

7. Otto, Amy. Don't Let Planned parenthood Use 'medical Research' to Whitewash Its Baby Body Parts Atrocities. thefederalist.com. [Online] The Federalist, July 22, 2015. [Cited: December 26, 2015.] thefederalist.com/2015/07/22/dont-let-planned-parenthood-use-medical-research-to-whitewash-its-baby-body-parts-atrocities/.

8. Scarborough, Rowan. Climate Change 'Urgent and Growing Threat' to National Security: Pentagon. www.washingtontimes.com. [Online] The Washington Times, July 29, 2015. [Cited: December 26, 2015.] www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jul/29/climate-change-urgent-security-threat-pentagon/.

9. Harvey, Fiona. Paris Climate Change Agreement: The World's Greatest Diplomatic Success. www.theguardian.com. [Online] The Guardian, December 14, 2015. [Cited: December 26, 2015.] www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/dec/13/paris-climate-deal-cop-diplomacy-developing-united-nations.

10. Bell, Larry. ISIS Not the Greatest Threat for Obama. www.newsmax.com. [Online] Newsmax, November 30, 2015. [Cited: December 26, 2015.] www.newsmax.com/t/newsmax/article/703883.