It is well....

Reading the paper, watching the news, listening to the politicians can sure drag on a person's spirit today. Since it is an election year the reporting of doom and gloom is even worse, the press has a vested interest in making sure we feel very bad about ourselves and our lives right now (see here as to why).

The latest 'shot' came from the AP titled "Everything seemingly is spinning out of control"

People are hearing a bunch of words that mean absolutely nothing and calling it "hope". People are turning away from churches because the church "pastors", in trying to become "relevant" are leading people far away from the truth, weak, boring and powerless (this is not aimed at Johnny Hunt but at the decline). People are looking to the government to relieve them of any burden, responsibility and hint of challenge in their lives and people demand the "right" to happiness (not the right to life, liberty and the PURSUIT of happiness).

If you think those last few statements are harsh, check out these stories, just from the past few weeks:

Uncle Sam can fund retirement

Stories like these

Government should bail out my bad purchasing decisions

Government should fix gas prices (by raising taxes no less)

Government should take over US companies

Bottom Line, times are tough (kind of feels, smells and sounds like the late 1970's to me!!)

Yesterday in church (yes, I still believe in that) the praise band sang an old, irrelevant, outmoded, old fashioned, not cool and really unhip song called "It is well with my soul". That song sent my soul flying unlike any song I've heard in a long, long time.

If you want to know what to think about today's society, events and challenges please take a moment and click on the movie below and read these words along with the instrumentalist music.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

Refrain

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Refrain

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

Refrain

But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!

Refrain

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Refrain