Challenging time

 It is a challenging time. When you look around the world, when you listen to the news, whatever news you listen to, you would have to say that this world is a mess. If you are a Democrat, you look at the Republicans and say how terrible they are. If you are Republican, you look at the Democrats and say how terrible they are. Watch the DNC and the RNC and you see the contrast between the two parties and how they address or lack to address the country's problems. If I was to say something that the left didn't like, I would receive responses that would attack my statements. If I say something that the right doesn't like, I would receive responses that would attack my statements. Notice something about this? There is no agreement between the two sides.

Look at what is taking place in Kenosha, WI. There are those who support the protesters and those those that don't. I have to say, the destruction is awful. It makes no sense to destroy people's lives in reponse to the shooting of Jacob Blake. Without waiting to see what the truth is about the shooting, riots began. Really? I know that there will be those who say it is just a result of the feelings that boil over. Does that give someone the right to destroy people's lives? You can say, "The police are the bad people." Do you actually know what took place in this shooting? It amazes me how quickly people are certain they know what took place. They don't want to wait to let justice work. The response will be: There is no justice when police shoot black men. I respond, why not listen to the police and stop. If you are innocent, listen to what you are told to do. 

In our country today we have decided that if you don't like those in authority, you don't need to listen to them. This is against the 4th commandment, but then again, who cares about what God says? We live in a country that doesn't care about God's Word, or what God says. Morality is based upon what I want and the way I think. I pick and chose what I like and what I do. God doesn't have the right to tell me what to do. I chose. I act. And because of that, we see the results.

Ball teams won't play because of this shooting. But what about when Cannon Hinnat was shot in the head? Who is this? Good question. It is a 5 year old boy that was shot in the head by a 25 year old man, in front of his two sisters. Terrible isn't it? Was there any protests? Was there any ball player that stood up and said that it was wrong? Were there riots? No, in fact, it was hardly even reported on. Did you notice what I did at the beginning of this paragraph? I did not mention race of either of them. But race was an issue with it but no one spoke up for the 5 year old boy. It made me sad. 

I know, people will say that as a pastor, I shouldn't say these things. Why not? Does being a man of God mean that I can't speak up when I see something horribly wrong? Does it mean that I can't say that the way our country is acting is wrong? Does it mean that I cannot speak up when I see people's lives destroyed without any real action of justice? 

Stop people. Stop attacking each other. Stop pitting black against white, brown or yellow or whatever color. Stop making everything about race. Stop fighting with each other. Stop. 

I pray for our country. I pray that the Lord will heal the divisions. I pray that we will treat each other with respect, no matter what color our skin. I pray that people will repent of their own personal sins. I pray that each one of us will take the log our of our own eye instead of trying to take the speck out of our brothers/sisters eye. 

Mostly, I just pray, Come Lord Jesus! Come quickly.