Golden Godliness

    Hog butcher, gold digger, the United States is the greatest country in the world. Say it again. Say it more. Robber baron, arms dealer, the United States is the greatest nation in the history of nations. A model of hard work humility, and honest golden worship. Decent men and proud women living lives of good fortune. The envy of the world.

    Look to the unrivaled military straddling the world, land and sea and air and space. Our marching millions. Look to the unparalleled wealth accumulated in cities of glass and steel. Global power, high above all nations of the earth just as God promised in those pivotal Old Testament prophecies.

    But, and hear this, only two in ten will affirm it. Only two in ten will say Amen. Two in ten who understand that America stands a golden head above the other nations. All others are America hating blasphemers who do not understand that gain is godliness. And that we will take it all.

1 Timothy 6:5

Cain and the Capitalist Cult

    The curdled sky unplaceable through the smoke of burning cities
    day and night disfigured, bulldozed earth in a heap of spoil
    Cain stands screaming in the field of blood,
    “Am I my brother’s keeper?” 
    Patron saint of the Capitalist Cult.

No Man Is an Island, or The Implications of Store-Bought Milk

    “Let it go down in history as a scattering of ash: Rugged Individualism is a myth.” The walls shifted. The ceiling pulled back. Wooden furniture splintered on the floor. The words were my own. I spoke them gently; it was my friend who burst in to bring down the roof.

    “I wouldn’t expect anything else from someone like you.”

    “Someone like me?” I asked.

    “Commies like you who admire socialists.” Paintings fell from their frames. The windows fell open. The front door fell off its hinges.

    “Ah…” I said. “I think maybe you’ve got that backwards, but it’s still true. We are stronger together.”

    “People just need to take accountability for their station. Grow your own food and you’ll never have to worry about another government recall. I grow my own. Why don’t you?” My shelves shuddered to the floor, spilling books into a heap.

    “There’s no pure independence. We are, each one of us, interdependent. We rely on each other.”

    “I raise chickens and trade eggs for pork. We have a cow and we tried pasteurizing our own milk, but we’ve mostly returned to store-bought milk. Our water comes from a well. I make diesel from used oil and fryer grease. I won’t be a slave to other producers or to the government.”

    “Hold up a beat,” I interrupted. “You buy milk?”

    “Well, we had trouble controlling the pasteurizing temperatures. The point is, either control your own resources to meet your needs or you depend on others. Choose your path. Choose wisely.”

    The whole house lurched on its cracked foundation.

    “Okay. Okay. Slow down there, Garfunkle. No man is an island. I said it before and I’ll say it again. Rugged Individualism is a myth. We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing.”

    My friend scoffed a laugh and looked around. “This place is falling apart. You should do something about that. Take accountability for your place.” I sighed and picked up my copy of Donne’s devotions from the floor as he made his exit.

Are You Afraid, Carter?

    Look at me here – a half century, plus a bit more, a half century of living among the subterraneans at the edge of the naked city where it smells of marijuana, the neighbors play their music too loud and their dogs bark all night. These mechanics, hairdressers, and taxi drivers. These field-hands, deli-shop owners, and veterinary assistants.

    And look at the news: another protracted war in Europe with sprawling death count. Look at the news: another endless, pointless war in the Middle East.

    “Knock it off, Carter. You lost your idealism years ago.”

    Hear it? That is, despite the sneering belligerence, the voice of trembling fear and no peace. No peace.

    Look at me here, a half century of September reminders – falling leaves and fading memories – a half century of resignations, recriminations, failures, and false starts. I don’t want to live in the past, but I don’t understand the present and I cannot see the future. How do I disrupt the disorder? How do I deescalate the situation without matching their rhetoric? Without meeting violence with violence?

    “Work out your own salvation,” the voice says, “with fear and trembling. Are you afraid, Carter? Are you afraid? You know you should be.”

    It’s true. I am.

    “And why do you fear?”

    Because the secret things belong to God and who can understand his own errors?

Philippians 2:12

An End Times Growth Fund Prospectus

    Dear Investor,

    These are just the ordinary times at the end of an age, the collapse of civilization and expanding operations. This is not the time to panic. We are going places, buying things, building nations. Exciting things are in the works. Imports. Exports. World markets without end.

    The mainstream media is filling your head with randomized reports of tragedy. War, rumors of war, and daily woe. Ignore them. The enemies of democracy want you to be afraid. Ignore them – even if they are friends and family. The movement from war to peace – and the reverse – is your opportunity. It is the movement from poverty to prosperity. It is time to invest.

    All investments involve risk. That’s the nature of the game. Past performance cannot predict future results. Unstable. Volatile. Shaking in divers places. No one knows the big picture reality. And besides, you don’t really care about biblical prophecy. As long as the taxes stay low and the profits stay high. This is why you’ve hired us. Our forward-looking statements are based on current end-of-age indicators, and our proprietary Tribulation Volatility Index gives us great hope for the future.

    The Apostle Paul told us of our financial future. He said, “Know this, that in the last days perilous times will come. Dollar by dollar of frantic finance. Love yourself. Love your money. And never miss a payment.”

    Don’t despair for drought and famine. We’re buying up debt in these emerging markets. Lack of rain, lack of food. Yes. It is here. But don’t worry yourself about it. Macro-instability such as this presents unique opportunities for agile investors. Keep going to church just as you do. It looks good and everything’s fine.

    Remember: the good guys don’t get caught. That’s how you know they’re the good guys.

    *Jannes and Jambres Capital Management is not a financial advisor, and the information contained here does not constitute financial advice. Market conditions may deteriorate due to war, disease, or sovereign dissolution. The End Time Growth Fund is not insured against wrath, judgment, or systemic failure.

    2 Timothy 3:1-5