Today, we rest.

Jun 23, 2024, 6:59 AM

And, I give prayerful thanks to the Lord for good results from my latest heart test. There is a HUGE history of heart problems on both sides of my family. My Mom was one of ten kids, and nine of them died from heart related issues. The tenth got blown up by a mortar shell in France not long after D-Day. My Dad also had heart issues, and eventually died from congestive heart failure. I have already had my own triple bypass surgery, back in 2015. So, to find out from these most recent tests that everything is currently looking good at least puts the mind somewhat at ease.

I continue also to pray for resolution to the current areas of conflict around the world, most notably, Ukraine and Israel. I find it strange that, even though both these countries are fighting for their right to exist, public opinion seems to be solidly behind Ukraine, but not so with Israel. Had the public been through the Holocaust, they might feel differently.

I pray for the families of the victims of the latest mass shooting here at home in the US. There will of course be the usual outcry about outlawing guns, but that is not the real problem. Guns have been around forever. The real, current problem is the devaluation of human life. A generation of broken people is being raised to accept that it is ok to wade into a crowd and start shooting, at the slightest provocation. I call it the I. ME, MINE, NOW mindset. That means, whatever you have should be mine, just because I want it, right now, consequences be ######. Unless and until that mindset is done away with, mass shootings and other gun crimes will continue to escalate. No laws will stop them. But, at least by outlawing gun ownership by known felons, police have one more reason to put them back in prison if they commit another crime with one.

So, I pray that in the end, we learn to love one another a little more, and attempt to reach those who may be isolated, or feel that they are. I don't believe that ANYONE is "born bad". But, the circumstances some find themselves in certainly do stack the deck against them. I pray that someone, somewhere, somehow, reaches out a helping hand, and changes the narrative. In Jesus name, I pray,

AMEN.

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The Sprite slogan really summarizes what's wrong with our culture:

Obey Your Thirst

This "whatever I feel like doing is right for me" is destroying our culture. Our nation was built on doing what is best for you, the family, and the country. This involves sacrificing what you want for what is ultimately best. Worshiping your passions is what is ruining people, the family, and our culture.

Of course, this is all by design. When the family gives parenting over to phones and screens, kids grow up satisfying their passions with a couple of clicks. Parents aren't willing to sacrifice their desires for spending time doing what's best for a child. This produces a culture of people who have never learned to get along with others - have never learned to exercise discipline over their individual passions in order to do what's best for themselves, their family, and the country.

A good recent book on this is "The Anxious Generation". The author also did a podcast with Humberman that explains all of this:

https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/dr-jonathan-haidt-how-smartphones-social-media-impact-mental-health-the-realistic-solutions

The reason that all of this is by design is that with a culture of people with no ability to do what's truly best for everyone, the family fails, and all that you're left with is a larger government that has to help people make "good" decisions. This is why the screens and LGBT agendas are being pushed so much - people need a bigger government to help them when they can't really help themselves.

Of course the answer is Christ. Unlike the deities of all other religions, he didn't come to be served. In fact, the first few verses of the Bible show a God who creates a world of people who he can love and serve and send his son to die for. The God of the Bible teaches by example how to have the best life possible - serving him and serving each other. Rather than living life to "obey my thirsts" I live to do what's best, with his help, for me, my family, and my community.

Jesus said that he "did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life to rescue others." He can and will help people to truly live the best life.

Today, we rest.

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