That None Should Perish

James F. Gauss, Ph.D.

May 10, 2022

Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked,

but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways!

For why should you die . . .

Ezekiel 33:11

In this evil world and under tyrannical governments it is often difficult to keep God’s perspective on evil.  Evil is all around us.  However, as Christians we are called to separate the evil from the evil doer.  That is hard to do when one is being directly confronted by evil in the form of a human being.  Centuries ago, King Solomon wrote, “He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord” (Proverbs 17:15).

It is not wise to overlook evil or the evil doer.  Today, just like all the centuries before, there are those who will condemn the just or those who stand for and try to do good.  Through Isaiah, God spoke these words: “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20).  This verse seems very apropos for today’s political and civil environment.  The more wicked our leaders and others in society become, the more likely they are to condemn and even commit acts of violence against those who speak or stand for good.  No one can deny today that there are stark divisions between those who are pro-life vs. those who are pro-choice; those who are against sexual perversion in schools vs. those who promote it; those who understand the biological differences between male and female vs. those who pervert it.  The list goes on and on for such divisions that are violently tearing apart the fabric of American society whose flames are fanned by the evil one.

The author of the letter to the Hebrews, correctly stated: “But solid food [of the Gospel] belongs to those who are of full [spiritual] age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:14).  Evil doers have a hard time deciphering good from evil.  Whatever makes them happy or gives them pleasure, no matter how evil or the consequences for others, is of no account.  It’s all about them and their satisfaction.  There is no thought about the needs of others or what would be best for all.  They measure the results, not by God’s word and His standards, but by their earthly, fleshly morals.

Despite their ungodly, self-serving desires, God still offers them life instead of death.  “‘Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?’ says the Lord God, ‘and not that he should turn from his ways and live? . . . For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,’ says the Lord God. ‘Therefore turn and live!’” (Ezekiel 18:23, 32).

It is often said that bad news travels much faster than good news.  Evil also travels much faster than good.  Those that desire to do good and serve God do not use the same hate-filled tactics as those who, knowingly or unknowingly, seek to do evil.  That is why good people are often referred to as “losers” or “weak” because they refuse to use the same tactics as those who practice evil.

However, those that desire to do good on behalf of another are called to a higher plain of God-consciousness. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).  As challenging as it is in daily life, the true follower is called to see others as God sees them.  Afterall, we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

Right before delineating all the evil in the world, Apostle Paul provides this admonition for Christ followers: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith’” (Romans 1:16-17).  Christ-followers are called to live by faith, not by feelings.  That is a hard code to live by, especially when one is being confronted by the voice or actions of evil right in front of you or against a loved one.  Not many truly know how they will respond until such an event happens.

In admonishing the members of the church in Corinth, Apostle Paul reminded them, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled” (2 Corinthians 10:3-6).

That is a “hard row to hoe” one might say.  When confronted by evil, whether afar or “in our face” we are not to respond in-kind.  Easy to say, I know.  Especially if our emotions and adrenalin are screaming, “say something, do something.”

Once again, Paul encourages us: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

To his young protégé, Timothy, Paul had this to say: “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4).  We do not know if Timothy was able to master this directive from Paul.  However, it should be the goal of all of us who seek to live the righteous life of Christ in us.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

John 3:16-18

Order the author’s book, Revelation 18 and the Fate of America here.

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Biden’s Build Back Better Boondoggle 2

James F. Gauss, Ph.D.

May 7, 2022

And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing,

but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’

“Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy,

and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears,

and understand with their heart, and return and be healed.”

Isaiah 6:9-10

Illegal Immigration.  President Biden and the Democrats have not an inkling of concern about America’s sovereignty, safety, legal process, health issues or a host of other threats that come along with open borders.  From day one, Biden and his administration have done everything they can to ignore America’s safety and security.  According to the CBP (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) illegal immigrants from 106 countries entered the U.S. in 2021.  Border patrol agents have apprehended drug smugglers, known terrorists and Islamists, sex traffickers, child abusers and kidnappers, murderers and other criminals, gang members and thousands of other anti-social malcontents that have no right to be legally or illegally in the United States.

Not completely satisfied with the destruction of America’s border security, on May 23 Biden wants to abolish Title 42 public health law from 1944 and implemented by President Trump in March, 2020 to prevent the spread of COVID by immigrants.  It made sense then and it still seems wise now.  Right now, the Border Patrol cannot test every illegal for COVID or any other infectious disease.  Such a reality is a great threat to the health and well-being of American citizens.

In August, 2021, American Military News reported, “Over 20 percent of illegal immigrant unaccompanied minors and 18 percent of family units who recently crossed the U.S.-Mexico border have tested positive for COVID-19 prior to being released from U.S. Customs and Border Protection . . .”  In current and past illegal immigrant populations crossing the U.S. southern border, thousands have been diagnosed with mumps, leprosy, Dengue fever, measles, tuberculosis, diabetes, and many other diseases.  The Biden Administration is unmoved and unconcerned about these health risks to American citizens or the stress and financial burden it will put upon America’s health care system that is already trying to recover from the pandemic.

However, among the greatest health disasters ravaging America is the importation of thousands of pounds of the deadly opioid drug Fentanyl.  In April of this year the CDC released drug overdose data for November ’20 – November ’21.  During that one-year period ODs increased 12.5% nationwide.  The worst state was Alaska with a 75.18% increase in drug overdose deaths, followed by Kansas at 50.79%.  Two-thirds of the deaths were from synthetic opioids, such as Fentanyl.  In December, 2021 it was reported that Fentanyl was the number one cause of drug overdose deaths among 18-45 year-olds.  Border Patrol has seized pills, cocaine, methamphetamine, and other drugs laced with Fentanyl coming across the border.  The primary source of the deadly drug is China.  Last year, Border Patrol agents in El Paso, TX reported a staggering 4,000 percent increase in Fentanyl seizures over a three year period.

All these threats to American safety and sovereignty are of no concern to President Biden or his Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas.  For FY2022 the entire budget for Operations and Support for our Border Patrol is only $13.4 billion.  To put that in perspective, President Biden now wants Congress to approve $33 billion (in addition to the billion already spent) to help Ukraine in its border war with Russia.  So, Biden wants to give Ukraine 2.5 times the annual budget for our border protection to another country to protect its border, while leaving ours wide open.

Sexual Perversion.  In his letter to the church in Rome, Apostle Paul was terse and to the point.  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetous-ness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents (Romans 1:28-30).  Other translations use “reprobate” or “depraved” mind.  We have long been at that point in America.

We are now being governed by those who are completely demented when it comes to God-given sex.  Sexual dysphoria and confusion, including perverted sex education are running rampant in our schools, politics, society and even in our churches.  Who, in their right mind, would believe that they would ever see the day when supposedly educated people could not distinguish between a male and female?  Or would insist that men can use the ladies’ room just because they claim to be female.  Are they idiots, demented, or demon possessed?  How on earth could our Senate approve a woman for the Supreme Court who could not and would not define who is a woman?

Now, the Democrats want to “re-imagine” Title IX into a perverted sex law, allowing boys and men who claim to be girls or women to compete against biological girls and women.  This is pure insanity and evil.

Prophet Isaiah warned about this depravity.   “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20).

If the Church and Christians remain quiet, the perversion will grow.  In Oregon this week, the state has mandated that all boys’ and men’s restrooms must contain Tampon dispensers and instructions on how to use them.  Really? It has also been reported in multiple states that young children are being instructed and helped to change their gender without parental knowledge.  This is not only biologically impossible, but it is sinister to the highest degree.

How can God continue to bless a nation that kills his creation in the womb and perverts those that survive? 

We all growl like bears, and moan sadly like doves; we look for justice, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far from us.  For our transgressions are multiplied before You, and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with us, and as for our iniquities, we know them:

In transgressing and lying against the Lord, and departing from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.

Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.  So truth fails, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.

Then the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him That there was no justice. He saw that there was no man, And wondered that there was no intercessor; Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; And His own righteousness, it sustained Him.

For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head;
He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak.

According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay, fury to His adversaries, recompense to His enemies; the coastlands He will fully repay (Isaiah 59: 11-18).

For Part 1, click here.

Order the author’s book, Revelation 18 and the Fate of America here.

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Biden’s Build Back Better Boondoggle 1

James F. Gauss, Ph.D.

May 4, 2022

When you cry out for help, let your collection of idols save you!
The wind will carry all of them off, a mere breath will blow them away.
But whoever takes refuge in Me will inherit the land
    and possess My holy mountain.”

And it will be said: “Build up, build up, prepare the road!
    Remove the obstacles out of the way of My people.”

Isaiah 57:13-14

President Biden’s “Build Back Better” mantra and its outcome has become an unmitigated disaster for the United States and its citizens.  It will likely take decades to correct, if possible.  However, it is not just America that is impacted.  The entire world has been the unwarranted recipient of the Biden Administration’s ill-advised, woke and downright dangerous policies that are heading us to a worldwide recession at best and massive food and fuel shortages for hundreds of millions of people everywhere.  WARNING!  This will not be a temporary condition, but likely ongoing for years. 

Admittedly, this “perfect storm” of crises is not totally President Biden’s fault.  However, everything he and his administration have done has either created a new crisis or exasperated an old or ongoing one.  There are way too many serious ones to deal effectively with them all in this post, but they will be enumerated, in part, and some will be addressed more completely in following posts.

America’s midterm elections in November will not be able to correct the immense damage already done, but only slow certain future impacts if conservatives overwhelmingly win both houses of Congress and have the tenacity and courage to do what is right for the citizens of the nation.  But one should not hold their breath.

A year ago, I was telling those who would listen that we are living in the most dangerous times in our country’s history.  No, I was not predicting the Russia/Ukraine war.  We now live in a country—supposedly a free country—where the government is now the enemy of the people.  The rights of the electorate are routinely stepped upon, constitutional laws are readily violated, the courts are compromised, hardworking Americans are taxed and regulated to death, a handful of unelected bureaucrats dictate every aspect of our health care and daily tell us what we can do, say, or believe.  Yet, many Americans, who have been thoroughly indoctrinated are absorbing this new reality as if it is gospel and beneficial to one’s wellbeing.

Early this year I wrote that 2022 was a “watershed” year for the country, but most importantly for the Church in America.  The war in Ukraine and its associated complexities and worldwide consequences make it an even more dire turning point for America, but now, for the whole globe.  Never has the U.S. and the world been closer to a nuclear holocaust than now.

In Isaiah 59, God warned the Israelites about the errant path they were on and the consequences of their evil deeds.

For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perversity.  No one calls for justice, nor does any plead for truth.  They trust in empty words and speak lies; they conceive evil and bring forth iniquity (Isaiah 59:3-4).

God continues His accusations against the people.

Their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands. Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.

The way of peace they have not known, and there is no justice in their ways; they have made themselves crooked paths; whoever takes that way shall not know peace.

Therefore justice is far from us, nor does righteousness overtake us; we look for light, but there is darkness!  For brightness, but we walk in blackness! (Isaiah 59:6-9).

Employment.  While the unemployment level remains low, there is a perplexing labor situation developing.  In March, 4.5 million workers (about 3% of the labor force) quit their jobs.  This follows 4.4 million who did the same in February.  According to the U.S. Labor Department there are now 11.5 million job openings that employers are having a hard time filling.  Pre-pandemic, the highest number of job openings on record was 7.7 million. What’s up?  Before the “pandemic” typically 3.6 million quit their jobs in a typical month.  The presumption is the pandemic and rising inflation has forced many workers to seek higher paying positions with better benefits and working conditions.  Sounds reasonable.  However, this worker movement, dubbed “The Great Resignation,” is forcing employers to up the ante with higher wages, etc.  For Main Street America and the consumer this translates into higher prices for goods and services and an ongoing cycle of inflation.  Which mostly harms the low to moderate income individual, families, and retirees on fixed incomes.

Could all the preceding have been avoided?  Possibly.  With a better handling of the pandemic and not shutting down the American economy, the outcomes might have been dramatically and more favorably achieved.

President Biden deceptively and repeatedly tells the American people that he and his administration have created millions of jobs.  The truth is, they are not new jobs, just people returning to the workforce after the COVID shutdowns.  According to USAFacts, in 2020, 9.3 million lost their jobs at the height of the pandemic.  During 2021, 6.7 million of those returned to work.

However, let us look at issues the Biden Administration could have impacted but chose not to or mad them far worse.

Abortion.  President Biden, his administration, and the Democrats want to “codify” Roe v. Wade, making it the irreversible law of the land.  Yesterday, it was leaked from inside the Supreme Court that a draft decision in favor of overturning Roe v. Wade was reported.  The pro-abortionists are enraged.  President Biden was quick to condemn the potential decision (draft decisions are not binding and can be changed).  He warned that if this decision is forthcoming that it would be “really quite a radical decision.” Wait?  The SCOTUS decision of 1973 that made it the “law” of the land for fathers, mothers, and doctors to kill 63+ million American children was not radical?  It was not only radical, but it was also heinous, blood-letting sinful.  “If sustained,” the President continued, “ a whole range of rights are in question.” This, from a president and administration who believes that Americans have no rights other than what they say we have.

If Roe v. Wade is overturned and the lives of all babies, in and out of the womb, are once again deemed precious, then America might have a chance at redemption.  If not, all bets are off on America’s survival.  No nation in history has survived who willingly and wantonly killed its children.  End of story!

The Economy.  It is clear, either Biden and his administration know little to nothing about running a country or its economy, or they are just bent on destroying it and making the population serfs of the government.  Do not be fooled.  Our nation’s economy is in a world of hurt that it is not likely to recover from for quite a while—perhaps decades. There is no question, that due to ill-advised economic shutdowns and strangling of the nation’s economy over a virus outbreak resulted in a dramatic negative impact on the nation’s GDP and quick recovery. 

The U.S. financial picture is still barreling ahead at a default pace.  We are rapidly approaching $31 trillion in National Debt; federal spending is out-of-control to the tune of $2.1 trillion over budget and tax revenue.  That is bad enough.  However, U.S. Total Debt (household + state and local governments + financial institutions + Federal government) has increased $3.46 trillion in less than two months to $90.23 trillion.  U.S. Unfunded Liabilities (the Feds promise to pay out for Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, etc.) has increased by $4.23 trillion in the same time to $169.14 trillion.  There is no intention or motivation on either side of the political aisle to suppress or reverse America’s mushrooming debt problem—there never has been one. 

The truth is we have passed the point of no return.  The debt is insurmountable with no painless economic solution.  Which should make every American nervous about what is on the horizon.  Cashless society?  Global financial controls?  How will America and many other countries deal with their irreconcilable debt issues?  One way or the other, the financial bubble must burst, and when it does, it will not be pretty. Some economists believe that the those in control will attempt to inflate the country out of debt.  While theoretically possible, it would be a financially painful for most Americans.

Inflation.  After the pandemic a degree of inflation was expected.  However, just about every economic and political move the Biden Administration has made has greatly compounded the inflation picture.  So much so, that many economic experts believe that inflation will go into double digits and will stick around for some time.  The problem with inflation, once something goes up 10%, 20% or 50%, it rarely falls back to the price it was before inflation.  If it does, then we are in an economic recession or worse and people are losing jobs and income, so it is not helpful for them.  In 2020 the inflation rate was a meager 1.23%.  In 2021, fueled by economic expansion, the economists say, inflation hit 7%. 

In March 2022 it was 8.5% and the “experts” are foreseeing a further rise as the year progresses.  But, John Williams’ Shadow Stats calculates that “real” inflation has already crossed the double digit mark in March.  Economists had forecasted a 4.3% inflation rate for this year.  So, what happened?  Joe Biden, that is what happened.  The President and his cabal continually tell those who are still listening that inflation is due to Russia/Ukraine war.  However, that is a blatant lie.  The inflation rate we have now was in effect before the impact of the war, as were the Biden-inflated fuel prices.

Energy.  The adage, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, sure applies to the swift and reckless decisions of Biden and his team.  Canceling the Keystone pipeline on day one in office and then clamping down on oil drilling in the U.S. had the immediate impact of shifting America and its economy from self-sufficient in energy production to one of dependence on other nations, including those that are our enemies.  When the gasoline and diesel crisis was in full swing, rather than ramping up our own production resources, President Biden went hat in hand panhandling to America’s sworn enemies (Iran, Russia, Venezuela, and Saudi Arabia) for greater oil importations.  Energy prices, therefore, continued to ramp up to record levels BEFORE Russia invaded Ukraine.  The “war” has just complicated things.  If the U.S. was still energy independent, the war would likely have a negligible impact. Instead, American energy consumers are likely looking at a long-term energy crisis that is going to get much worse before it gets better and have a tremendous effect on the cost of living.  This will be explored in more detail in a future post.

For all his character flaws (we all have some), one must admit that President Trump put American energy back on track.  America was enjoying energy independence and low energy costs.  It only took President Biden less than a month in office to destroy that reality and raise the cost of fuel and living for every American by a substantial amount.

Biden and his political wonks want to force Americans into their “Green Energy” fiasco.  They have also demonstrated that they know little to nothing about the energy sector.  While it sounds all fuzzy and squeaky clean, the truth is electric vehicles will be beyond the reach of most Americans, will be impractical and very costly for commercial use, will cause more pollution to make the batteries than combustion vehicles, and have no safe way of used battery disposal.  It is a pipe dream that will cost taxpayers billions of dollars with no substantial positive change in the environment.  

Read Part 2 here.

Order the author’s book, Revelation 18 and the Fate of America here.

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Gauss Fine Arts

Announcing James Gauss Fine Arts

I kindly solicit your help with a new venture. I have been a photographer since grade school, but never took it seriously. Recently, I established a Fine Arts site at: James Gauss – Official Website (pixels.com). I have uploaded dozens of my photos that can be made into prints and a host of household and personal items. I’m not asking you to buy anything (unless you really want). Mainly, I would like you to visit the site, leave a comment, give me feedback and pass the link onto all your social media contacts.  God bless you and thank you so much.

A few examples.

In addition to framed and unframed prints of various sizes and on different media (e.g., canvas, metal, wood, etc.), most are available on greeting cards, tote bags, iphone covers, shower curtains, towels, puzzles, ornaments, coffee cups and a host of other items. Check it out. Only launched the end of April and already visitors from 15 states, as well as Canada, France, Germany and New Zealand have visited the site.

P.S. The site is very competitive with hundreds of thousands of great artists. So, it takes a lot of visitors to get noticed, as well as the grace of God. Thank you for your consideration and help. God Bless!