Patience

Before I begin talking about patience, I would like to reassure you all that my blog is not turning into a religious pulpit. I will occasionally blog about technology and any other topic that suits my fancy. I include posts that consider religious topics because the doctrines of Christ will lead us to live better lives and improve our productivity at our jobs and in anything else we do.

Patience can be misapplied. The case of Eli (1 Samuel 2) could be interpreted in a few different ways. One interpretation of why he didn't restrain his sons is that he was trying to be patient with them. Perhaps he was trying to prevent hurting their feelings or making them look bad by removing them from their office. Perhaps he thought they would repent and do better so he left them in the office so he wouldn't have to remove them and then put them back in soon. Or maybe he was trying to preserve his own reputation: what would people think if he removed his own sons from their office? Would they think that he wasn't a good father and therefore unfit to be the high priest? We can be sure that Eli should have honored God more than his sons, for that was God's accusation (1 Samuel 2:29).

We should be patient in some, if not all, cases. How do we know when to be patient and when not to be patient? Should we always be patient with those that afflict us that are not within our responsibility, and determine on a case-by-case basis for those that are under our responsibility? The Lord suffered all manner of false accusations and physical harm, and he was patient in all His suffering. Whatever we come up with, we can be sure of one thing: we must honor God above all else in our actions and thoughts.

Immigration and the United States

The reasons that immigration shouldn't be opened to anyone that wishes to come include: the need to filter out terrorists, the possible disruption of the economy, and the need to document all those that come so they cannot easily change their identity and hide amongst the people.

As for the need to filter out terrorists, how effective is that? The government of the country of origin could give us a criminal history of the person, but could terrorists somehow sneak into the country? Immigration has become stricter since the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, but how far should the Government go in filtering immigrants?

As for the possible disruption of the economy, the economy has proven to fix itself in many instances. If work becomes scarce, people will move to places with higher demand for labor. The problem of welfare freeloaders could be exacerbated. Many already complain that immigrants are taking their jobs. Such complaining comes from those that are too lazy to find other employment or to rise to the competition that the immigrants supply. Utah County is experiencing a labor shortage that could be alleviated by immigrants that are willing to work. If one believes they aren't getting paid fairly, he should find another job that pays better and switch rather than fight his current employers for higher pay. If everyone acts like this, those that don't pay enough will either have to pay more or go out of business due to a shortage of employees. The trucking industry seems to be in such a position. It has been difficult for them to attract drivers: potential drivers don't seem to believe that the pay compensates for the cost to them to be drivers (time away from family, boredom, long hours). The market will correct itself if everyone plays the market right. In some cases, it is necessary to involve the Federal Government to correct some things. For example, food safety, workplace safety, and the enforcement of contracts. But it would be better for the Government to not meddle with prices or wages: the market will take care of those things.

The need to document people as they enter is necessary since they don't have a birth certificate in the United States, another way must be found to uniquely identify them. Perhaps an immigration record would suffice.

One of the possible reasons Rome finally collapsed in the 500's or 600's was the desire of the Romans to not let the Germanic peoples become part of the empire of Rome. Are we making the same mistake? Shouldn't we be friendly to all? We can be friendly to all and still maintain our interests.

Not All Religions Lead to Heaven

Many people believe that in the end it doesn't matter which religion you follow, you'll get to heaven anyway. But Matthew 7:13-14 says, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." And verses 21-23 of the same chapter say: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

One isn't necessarily following Christ by joining a religion that professes to believe in Him. To know which religion to join: ask God.