Church Times

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose
Romans 8:28

I feel the tears that you cry
I see the pain in your eyes, its calling to the heart of me
I heard the words that you spoke in your mind
Saying today there’s no hope but i just want to let you know
Troubles won’t last all night (God would see it through the evening)
You’re saying there’s no use for your life (He’s the man to worship)
Even when things ain’t so right
But i try to sing out your song through the night
You feel so broken; it’s got you crying through the midnight
There’s no use in hoping that everything will work out right
All that you see is the worst day of your life
And now you feel like you’re dying on the inside

Chorus:
Troubles won’t last through the night
(God would see it through the evening)
You’re saying there’s no use for your life
(But he’s the man to worship)
Even when things ain’t so right
To sing out your song through the night
Troubles won’t last through the night
(God would see it through the evening)
You’re saying there’s no use for your life
(But he’s the man to worship)
Even when things ain’t so right
To sing out your song through the night

Troubles Don't Last, sung by Russell Leonce

Enough of the introit. I was sitting in Minnesota, minding my own business the other day. And found myself in Poland. And then, I couldn't even bring up the world map in eRepublik, to see where I was. So, I moved, using only the pull down menu as a guide. Not a very satisfactory situation.

So, I may have even said something like this in the past – what if they invaded the eUSA and nobody paid any attention ? For, if we look at the reaction – or lack thereof – it would appear now that my hypothesis is being tested now. Having been wiped off the map once, and having wiped Spain off the map in retaliation, the expectation now appears to be set this low: where does one go when the nation gets wiped off the map ? Few indeed, are the voices rallying the nation to arms. Indeed, the White House press reports seem strangely disconnected from the facts on the ground – if one is to believe their statements, we're in the process of recruiting a low-bar entry level citizen's militia. Great – to win our states back, right !!! Well, not exactly that, if one follows DoD orders...and the posse comitatus is launched to defend the Amazon, or maybe win back Greece ??



In the meantime, we of the SFP have not been entirely idle. Admittedly, our orders are sparse indeed, and often commit our thirty members also to far-flung ventures. No doubt, the injustice of Hungarian aggression in the plains of Eastern Europe trumps all other priorities...really ? But since most of these campaigns are finished practically after they are started, we fight as free agents, and the most obvious places to fight are the many resistance wars that have sprung up in North America. But there is something fishy when one sees, as I noted in Maine, an apparent training war going on between the Serbian and the Polish militias, little tank battles where BH medals could be had in the low six figures, for those with sufficient gold in hand. Being of frugal character myself, I didn't choose to expend my hard-earned savings in the effort to secure such baubles. But the thought occurred to me – are our adversaries just playing with us now ? Where, indeed, did they acquire such strength ?

As always, it is customary to cast a suspicious glance on the admins, who appear now to have perfected a perpetual motion wargame where conflict has advanced so far as to feed on itself – rather than burning out of its own accord, war has so many rewards and so few risks that the entire planet is sinking into an orgy of battle. Is Plato's world becoming that place where justice is the will of the stronger ? So it would appear.



Given the opportunity to provide feedback to the admins, I confess that my words were as few as the grades I gave out were low. And I would encourage others who are like minded not to hold back. Don't be bashful. Tell 'em like it is.

We must reinvigorate our efforts to study this game, not just to look for the few options the admins have given us, but to better understand ourselves as we seek to learn more of what is actually going on in this game. For, as Gauss said, to measure is to know. And only by accruing knowledge, the hardest and most ungiving treasure of all, can we work for the good we are promised. This is why we must pursue the dream of eFoundation and make it real.

But in the meantime, we are playing the game we have to play, and not the one we'd like it to be. Even if the gifts we've been given are for nothing better than bad Afro-American music, even if the harmony is lame, the song we sing must be this. Troubles don't last. There is a better future to be made. You can feel it, see it, be it. Let's go to Mr. Leonce's second verse.

Verse 2
And when the days at its end just know in Christ you’ve got a friend
Who’ll stay through the storm, who’ll say and it won’t be long
Till brighter day shall be restored and hurt and pain shall be no more
My child don’t give up, my child don’t give in.

(Chorus)

Troubles won’t last, won’t last,
won’t last, your troubles won’t last
Troubles won’t last through the night (night)
Troubles won’t last through the night(night)
Troubles won’t last through the night (night)

Amen.