Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.  (Psalm 33:12).

Pondering and wondering.

I think our spiritual environment and cognitive, feeling and behavior atmosphere have portals & portholes in the spirit world. The kingdoms of good and evil.   A nation is not “blessed” meaning it has direct access with Yahweh. Neither does it mean we are His favorites, and we get sacks of candy on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The nation is “blessed” because it has made decisions that are congruent with Him, and that nation makes room to invite His presence and His principles, plans, laws and love.

The portals between man’s place and the separate two fountainheads of good and bad; righteousness and evil, are determined by “Thy will be done on earth as in heaven.” Pray that and set one’s body, soul (thinking, acting, feeling), and spirit to that outcome to keep the “porthole” open and under God’s control. That would be true for each of us and as a country.

The keys to the portals are held and kept on the belt loops of whomever the nation’s population selects to represent them. Not just for political agendas or policies. Our government representatives set the tone, morality, virtue of the whole nation. We are blessed when God is also the LORD of heads of government.

Listening to a doctor talking about nutrition in the food from current land usage. He said, “The dirt is dead.” Aside from his alliteration, he says “We are seeing planting and harvesting from dirt instead of soil.” His solution is to rotate crops. Maybe added to letting the land rest every 7^th year.

One of my odd experiences of the summer occurred at HyVee. I watched a young woman wrestling a big watermelon out of a shopping cart. I held the door for her and then asked if I could open her car door for her. Later, I asked myself why I didn’t offer to carry the melon. The answer is, I didn’t want her to think I was aiming to steal it. Thinking that through makes me laugh. How would I look running to escape while carrying a large melon? The lady was appreciative. We shared gardening stories. We both were disappointed in the melons we planted this year. Small and filled with seeds. Tomatoes didn’t mature. In fact, our garden was a bust. It could be there weren’t enough visits from bees which may be evidence of a smaller number of bees. The young lady suggested it was due to toxic mulch or dirt. I asked Carole. She said the dirt is dead.

A friend responded to my comments about the decline of respect for government by erasing the Senate’s Dress Code.  She observed that “I wonder if the decline of student’s behavior coincides with the relaxing dress code.”

There is a “stick-it-to-the-man” worldview and mindset in today’s Western Culture and society. That flows through the torn open portal from the fountain of evil into a feeding trough of options and things to consider.

• Corrupt leaders by example tell followers “This is the way to do it.”
• I suggest that a national leader who has sex in the Oval Office rips open immorality for the nation. The current sexual identity confusion and excesses with no society boundaries may be traced to what the Bible calls sin that grows into mainstream debauchery,
• I’m wondering if the Head Honcho who can be bribed and is open to use money not his/her own, can lead to gangs raiding stores to shoplift vast amounts. Theft by the wealthy or the flash mobs not only is personally wrong, but it is also response to the portal of evil. In another word, it is demonic.
• How about kids’ games where the target is a human or humans as displayed in Hunger Games? Add that to 60 million abortions. The value of life is diminished, and the quality of life slips and as Gen Z is experiencing, existential nihilism. How can violence be celebrated in movies, TV, and games without it impacting brains, and souls?
• You undoubtedly can add to this list.

Yesterday, 3000 illegals breached our southern border in two hours. Day before yesterday, 4000 bum-rushed the border. Our evening family discussion centered around, “Explain to me how that being allowed makes sense to anyone.”

How does that make sense? The dirt is dead. It is an invasion in response to a stated invitation. “Sure! Come on in!” Our mental, spiritual, emotional, legal ecological systems are polluted to the degree they reject incoming virtues. Romans 12:1-3 is an important paragraph for our current “climate crisis” which has not much to do with C₂0.

When the soul of a nation is bartered or abandoned, the soil becomes toxic. The soil has no nutrients to grow life-related produce, fruit. There is a prohibitive factor that keeps the nation from saying, “Wait! This is wrong! We are better than this—or should be.”

How does the soil rejuvenate?

The promise of God is, “…and I will heal your land…” (2 Chronicles 7:14). Does “land” also mean “soil”? For that to happen: I wonder what Abraham Lincoln would do in response to the anarchy and chaos that dominates this nation? How would Andrew Jackson handle the invasion? How about the hero who twice led millions of Europeans out of starvation—Herbert Hoover. How would he deal with the darkness? Equally important: how would Vivek respond? Trump? Robert Kennedy Jr.? DeSantis? Nikki Haley?

We know what Lincoln did. He called for a National Day of humiliation, repentance, prayer, and fasting. Remember, this is pondering and wondering. Since the elected leader is our selected representative, he/she and their appointees are keepers of the portals of good and evil. The national restoration begins with their acknowledgement and deep sorrow that we are in one terrible mess and choose to “seek His face.” The dirt is dead. God have mercy on your servant and restore our land.”

An obvious next question is, if the elected leader will not call for a sacred day of seeking, who is positioned to do so? Who has the nation’s ear? Who has street cred and spiritual authority to say, “My fellow citizens…” and raise a quorum? Is there a spiritual Line of Succession if the leader(s) cannot or will not call a National day of repentance and prayer?

There is another option which restores the spiritual ecology. It feels to me like it lets national leaders off the hook.

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Jesus as recorded in Matthew 16:19)

Just wondering. Searching for effective ways to bind and loose.

©2023 D. Dean Benton

I think I’ve been praying for the wrong thing.

I celebrated the “reviving” event at Asbury University and prayed it would expand into a nation-wide spiritual awakening during which many would come into the life and lifestyle of Jesus’ Kingdom. I was/am angry at those who argued that the Asbury event was not a bona-fide spiritual awakening. I want to ask them if they are pleased that it had limited impact. But then, I’m left with—Why the limited impact?

First, we must be clear about words. What we see in such events as “Asbury” is indeed a revival. God’s people were revived, renewed, refreshed and took the next step in their personal faith development. When the prayer movement people talk about revival, they see reviving of Jesus’ Followers and a harvest of souls. I’ve been praying for a revival.

Charles G. Finney was a leader of the 2^nd Great Awakening. One of the earliest stories I heard about the working of the Holy Spirit is about Finney walking through a garment factory. Machines ceased as he passed, and the workers began to weep under the conviction of sin. “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:31). Other stories about entire factories stopping the work as conviction settled on those needing to repent and trust Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross for the only hope of salvation.

Second Chronicles 7:14 quotes God, “If my people, who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray, seek my face, forsake their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and I will heal their land.” That is about revival and fresh commitment.

Jesus said, “And He (Holy Spirit), when He comes will convict the world about (the guilt of) sin and the need for a Savior… (John 16:8). In verse 8 the word convict also implies convince.

Holy Spirit conviction may come as “heightened sensitivity.” If it is manipulative it is not Holy Spirit. Conviction is not limited to conscience. Conviction offers solution, not just guilt. It offers clarity. Holy Spirit responds to a heightened sensitivity that something is missing, perhaps an inner thirst.

“And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins” (Mark 2:22).

Historically, revivals are connected to human leadership. There are contemporary stories of entire villages or tens of thousands responding to the preached message of the Gospel. Expect new containers–methods we have not seen before. The sense is heavy on me that given suspicion and lack of trust, Holy Spirit will also approach entire cities or gatherings in malls or at ballgames to convict of sin apart from preaching. I know! We have not seen anything like this in our lifetimes. That’s what they said in Mark 2 as Jesus spoke and healed.

Jesus is recording by John in 16:8-11,

“And when [Holy Spirit] comes, He will convict the world about [the guilt of] sin [and the need for a Savior], and about righteousness, and about judgment:  ⁹about sin [and the true nature of it], because they do not believe in Me [and My message]; ¹⁰ about righteousness [personal integrity and godly character], because I am going to My Father and you will no longer see Me; ¹¹ about judgment [the certainty of it], because the ruler of this world (Satan) has been judged and condemned” (Amplified Bible).

Conviction—the encounter with the Holy God and awareness of personal sin, righteousness, judgement. Holy Spirit conviction is not about God telling us how bad or flawed we are. It is about revealing that we have a need for forgiveness by God and healing. I sense one more element.

Jesus was not only talking about individuals when he said sin, righteousness, judgement. He was talking about neighborhoods, families, nations, and cultures. He was talking about USA-2023.

I was about to launch this blog. But I needed to exercise a bit. As I walked, I listened to the Mark Rutland podcast—The Leader’s Notebook. Rutland powerfully says what I am trying to say. This came heavily onto my spirit as I calculated where Western culture is.

https://the-leaders-notebook-with-dr-mark-rutland.castos.com/episodes/ep-172-the-journey-home

Yes, we are to pray, “Lord, revive your people.” A spiritual awakening also demands His people pray, “Lord, send Holy Spirit conviction and convincing.” As you pray that supplication, can you visualize what conviction of sin, righteousness, judgement will look like? And a renewed nation?

©2023 D. Dean Benton,   Meanderer, Wonderer, Ponderer, Opinionator.

Happy Labor Day ‘23.

We watch YouTube homesteaders. I think some are on Carole’s prayer list. Watching someone build a house having heard them say they knew nothing about construction and have no inherent skills is interesting to me. A resource we didn’t have was how to do everything–just ask Google.

Homesteading families who recapture land for production stimulates. Joel Salatin is a good resource no matter what your vocation. One of the families that uses Salatin’s teachings is The Justin Rhodes family in North Carolina. Their homestead is a family operation. The “ownership” the kids display is remarkable. I wondered if they resented early morning chores. It appears they respect their parents, see value in their work and are assets to the family farm. Their knowledge of animals and what needs to be done next captured my attention. If those kids were to incorporate and go public, I would invest in them and know the ROI would be huge.

My consulting career may not be working out—consulting and commenting on all things political, all things baseball and TV commercials. So, I’ve been wondering how my life would be different today if I had grown up on a homestead. What would I have learned from the labor and skills on a farm? During the Farm Crisis of the ’80s, a proverb spread widely: “Willing the family farm to your kids is called child abuse.” I published a magazine article titled, “Until and unless you have manure on your boots.”  A County Agent in South Georgia told me the best resource for the bankrupt or foreclosed  farmer is someone who has been through it–“someone with manure on their boots.”

Justin Rhodes interviewed a homesteader on the video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-75_YgTDKQ

He didn’t know anything about chickens. He had no farm experience, yet…. But the vocation he left–he was a CPA. The expertise he learned as a CPA gave him skills to run a business—be an entrepreneur. Whether you manage a car wash or sing professionally, you need to know what makes business work.

Two other YouTubers I learn stuff by watching: Cole the Cornstar. His labor grows out of working with his family near Gladbrook, Iowa. Cole The Cornstar – YouTube. And his education at University of Northern Iowa. Both resources depend on the other. Another YouTube mentor is Red Poppy Ranch. “Red Poppy” is about one man’s labor, his imagination and philosophy. He tells meaningful stories about his heritage, planned destiny and trends. In the intro YouTube video, this rancher in Idaho lists all the skills one needs.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCORtBvRVwy8s4vAvwWJ_A3A

That chicken rancher story started me questioning what inherent skills or knowledge did he and his brothers possess? It was certainly more than the difference between debit and credit and balance sheets. As I consider a new career or side hustle, I’m calculating what I’ve learned in my former “lives” that can be generalized. Surely, like Caleb, there is another mountain waiting for me to develop. Some side hustle that can benefit from my work experience.

This is not narcissistic. On this Labor Day weekend, I’m thinking about you. What pieces of knowledge your past work experience have given you unique perspectives, abilities, perceptions, and manure on your boots?

Thanks for your sweat and forehead rubbing and midnight pacing.

©2023 D. Dean Benton—Wonderer, Meanderer, Ponderer, Consultant, Kitty litter monitor.