One of the greatest things that I love and admire about America is the spirit of freedom.  Not freedom as in speech or movement, which I also greatly appreciate, but mainly freedom of spirit or thought.  Let me explain what I mean:

When God commanded Adam to be fruitful, He gave him an unlimited ability that would match the unlimited resources God had placed on the earth.  There is an appointed lease time for man to live here on the earth.  As long as that lease is active, there is no lack of resources and no limit to what man can do.  It is not a Ltd corporation but rather an un-Ltd.

Of all the countries in the world that I have seen, the United States is the only country in the world (I have traveled to fifty plus countries and have lived in four of them) that allows an individual to fully function under this divine provision, i.e. there is no limit placed on an individual to what he or she may accomplish.   Lately however, a dangerous trend is developing which is of great concern to me.   You see, I lived 18 years in a country with a dictatorship system, I lived 10 years in two countries with a socialistic system, and I grew up with many communists and ministered for many years in communist nations.  So when I claim that I am familiar with these three systems, I am not exaggerating. 

In a communist system, the thought realm becomes limited to one common idea, a good idea, but only one idea.  That instantly kills the initiative in man's spirit.  Man can no longer operate in his God given potential and ability with the unlimited resources that God placed in him.   In a socialistic system, the ideas are allowed, but those ideas are taxed to extinction (I do not mean money wise, necessarily).   Socialism is upgraded Communism.  It allows a sort of limited freedom just to keep the people on the fringe of being satisfied, but again it kills the initiative because one must go through so many steps to accomplish his or her idea.   That is why it is known as "Social Democracy."  And that is the system that has been operating all over Europe since WWII.   In Sweden for instance, where I lived for 8 years, I experienced this system.   For example, in Sweden, there is only one major furniture manufacturer known as Ikea.  99% of Swedes have Ikea furniture in their homes.   Great furniture, but just Ikea - not Ashly, Thomasville, Broyhill, Ethan Allen, Bassett, or many other brand names, but just Ikea!

Social Democracy is safe.  After all, it is easier to watch over one bank such as Bank of America than, let's say, two hundred banks.   It is manageable and controllable.  Every one is safe guarded - but then again, you can only sit on one type of sofa in the bank foyers - Ikea!  With the financial crisis that America is facing these days, and with the quick fix mentality that has been developed in the American psyche lately, it would not surprise me if America turned more to social democracy than a free enterprise system.   Watch out, your next sofa will be bought at an Ikea store!!!   Many are blaming President Obama for making drastic and unhealthy changes so rapidly.  But the fact of the matter is that he was elected by the majority of the people for a change.  And "change" they are getting.    The question is, can we stop this trend or is it really the American spirit that is changing?

When I look at recession, I think of a forest fire.   When acres of forest land burn, it looks as though all hope is gone.  But be patient, new shoots of fresh seeds are blooming out, possibly new species of plant life.  Who wants to save a half burnt tree anyhow?   Bailouts are a thing of social democracy, where safe is the pattern.   If you have to bail out a financial corporation, it means they did not know how to manage money.  How will your help change their system, unless you control them?  In either case, you are promoting control which is another word for a social democracy!

I travel over 100,000 miles every year.  There is not an airline in America with which I enjoy traveling.  Their services stink!  Many of flight attendants are mean and unpleasant.  As long as I am concerned, they can all go bankrupt.  My only concern is the people who lose their jobs.  But if we put up with their bad business we will never again have good service, in our lifetime, flying.   Is that the spirit of America?   I got enough of Ikea's furniture my 8 years in Europe!

I encourage you to pray for America and especially for President Obama (according to 1 Tim 2:1-4.)  He can drastically change the course of this nation in the next four years, if we do not pray.   Let's keep America grand.  This is a great nation and we must protect it for the sake of the Gospel.