by Alan Langstaff

I had only anticipated two parts to this series on Donald Trump; but I received a lot of responses, so I thought I would include some of these responses in a third letter together with some extra personal comments.

MY ERROR

Let me start off by confessing an error in the first email. I wrote that Trump was married twice. In actual fact, he was married three times. A number of people pointed out to me that he was married to Maria Maples from 1993-1999. Their daughter is Tiffany.

By the way thanks for all the responses. One person wrote “Thanks for filling me in on President Trump’s life.”

HIS MOTHER AND THE HEBRIDES ISLANDS

One response pointed to one interesting story regarding his mother’s visit to the Hebrides Islands. Here it is –

“One key event that took place that isn’t mentioned here is his mother’s visit to her ancestral home in the Hebrides Islands (west coast of Scotland) during the revival there in the 1950’s. Donald was about four years old at the time of this visit, and he may or may not have accompanied her on that trip (he claimed to have been to the island “once before, when I was a boy, though I don’t remember it…” — this comment took place during the 2016 presidential campaign, when he made a stop there while checking on progress on his golf-course being built on the mainland. I found the article on all of this on the internet years ago, but neglected to print it off, and now am unable to find it again!) At any rate, rumor had it that his mother dedicated her son Donald to the Lord’s service during the revival, and had him prayed for — either in person or in absentia? — before her return to the States. I wonder whether Trump has that sense of “destiny” within him, or if he is just doing what comes “naturally” without any knowledge of said “dedication”. Guess we will have to wait and see the final outcome….”

ANOTHER COMMENT

I mentioned Trump and his bankruptcy and it was pointed out to me that

“Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Harrison, Lincoln, Grant, McKinley, Truman… Each share commonality with Trump. These are the Presidents who have filed bankruptcy.”

TRUMP – A REMARKABLE MAN

One person questioned the description of Trump as “a remarkable man.”

“Yes Alan, by secular standards, no doubt President elect Donald Trump is indeed a very remarkable man! So was Karl Marx ! He was a philosopher, political theorist, political economist, historian, sociologist, journalist, and socialist. His best-known works are the 1848 pamphlet The Communist Manifesto and his 1867-1894 three-volume Das Kapital ; the latter employs his critical approach of historical materialism in an analysis of the dialectic struggle for workers within a free enterprise economic system, which is the culmination of his intellectual endeavors. Marx’s ideas and their subsequent development, collectively known as Marxism, have had enormous influence – good, bad, worst and devastating over millions of people globally- on modern intellectual, economic and political history of the world. Many have loved him and many still hate him! To his credit, Marx was never a politician…… just a thinker!

Can Marx’s contributions measure up to the recent ones from Trump in order to be considered a most remarkable man too?

One thing is certain though… Marx was a wretched sinner…. like Trump!”

A FEW THOUGHTS ABOUT THE FUTURE

Donald J. Trump was sworn in on Monday, January 20th. What does the future hold with Trump as President?

Speaker Mike Johnson of the House of Representatives, an ardent supporter of Trump made his own list. Here it is:

“Are you ready to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN?
This is the playbook that we can ALL follow:
1. Defend Individual Liberty.
2. Limit Government Power.
3. Restore the RULE OF LAW.
4. Create Peace Through Strength.
5. Exercise Fiscal Responsibility.
6. Free the Markets.
7. Respect Human Dignity.
These seven simple principles are all we need to build an America that is bigger, better, and stronger than ever before!”

A CLOSING THOUGHT

As I mentioned in the last Langstaff Letter we should continue to pray for President Trump and his team. I likened him to Samson – a strong leader. As was Samson, so is Trump. God is Sovereign and if He chooses He can use a flawed vessel to fulfill His purposes in His world (see Isaiah 55:8).

So above all pray for President Trump. As 1 Timothy 2:1-3 exhorts us to –

“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.”