When I began this blog in April of 2013, my plan was to articulate hope even amid difficult circumstances. Actually, I wanted to articulate hope especially during difficult and challenging times. That desire stems from my personal experience of battling cancer twice. I know how hard it is to keep fighting the good fight when hope is gone. Thus, I wanted to fan the flames of hope, or provide that spark of renewal for those who needed it. I wanted people who were hurting to see "new life" in each day regardless of the struggles.
I currently find myself at a loss for words as I watch our country turn into a lawless nation. Where do we find hope among the riots?
Is there an organized network behind the scenes of the riots funding the chaos? If so, why? What is the end game? What is the power to be gained in doing so?
On the other hand, if this really is a spontaneous response, is there really any hope left for us to ever find healing in our country?
Although it has been forty years since I sat in my college classes studying human behavior, the "contemporary social problems" studied in 1980 seem to be relatively similar to the current situation in 2020. There is still plenty of crime, poverty, unemployment, lack of good educational opportunities, lack of adequate housing, and a loss of hope. Throw in a tragic incident between a white police officer and a black suspect and watch the tensions escalate. Whether the incident was racially motivated or not, it has the appearance of that factor being in play. Perception then becomes reality.
As the video of the incident spread across all media outlets, righteous anger against the officer and his actions were mounting. For a brief moment in time, most of the country was united in their anger. Did you notice that? There was solidarity between the races in recognizing how wrong and disturbing the actions of the police officer were in leading up to the death of George Floyd. But then came the riots and the focus shifted.
There is plenty of blame to go around. We have lost the ability to have civil discourse. There is no respect for positions of authority. We have become a faithless nation. Social structures which once supported the stability of a community have been transformed into agenda-driven institutions designed to implement "progressive" ideologies. Collectively, we have erased much of what the Founding Fathers put in place for our safety and well-being.
For instance, why has there been such a large endeavor to squelch the Christian religion? Even non-believers have recognized the value of religion to society throughout history. It has been worded in a variety of ways by different sociologists. Emile Durkheim argued that "religion provides social cohesion and social control to maintain society in social solidarity." Thus, even if you don't have faith, religion serves a purpose.
There is a quote frequently credited to Napoleon Bonaparte which says, "Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich." I'll leave that quote stand on its own.
Where do we find hope today? We find it in the Fire of Pentecost. With God, all things are possible. Ask for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in your life today.
To lighten the mood I will close with these two thoughts. First, did you notice that the riots ended the Covid 19 problem? Secondly, the riots have sparked renewed interest in the space program. Look at how many people are expressing jealousy on social media that the two astronauts had the opportunity to get off the planet.
As we turn the calendar to the month of June tomorrow, may we find renewal in the warmth of longer days, and hopefully, more peaceful nights.
I currently find myself at a loss for words as I watch our country turn into a lawless nation. Where do we find hope among the riots?
Is there an organized network behind the scenes of the riots funding the chaos? If so, why? What is the end game? What is the power to be gained in doing so?
On the other hand, if this really is a spontaneous response, is there really any hope left for us to ever find healing in our country?
Although it has been forty years since I sat in my college classes studying human behavior, the "contemporary social problems" studied in 1980 seem to be relatively similar to the current situation in 2020. There is still plenty of crime, poverty, unemployment, lack of good educational opportunities, lack of adequate housing, and a loss of hope. Throw in a tragic incident between a white police officer and a black suspect and watch the tensions escalate. Whether the incident was racially motivated or not, it has the appearance of that factor being in play. Perception then becomes reality.
As the video of the incident spread across all media outlets, righteous anger against the officer and his actions were mounting. For a brief moment in time, most of the country was united in their anger. Did you notice that? There was solidarity between the races in recognizing how wrong and disturbing the actions of the police officer were in leading up to the death of George Floyd. But then came the riots and the focus shifted.
There is plenty of blame to go around. We have lost the ability to have civil discourse. There is no respect for positions of authority. We have become a faithless nation. Social structures which once supported the stability of a community have been transformed into agenda-driven institutions designed to implement "progressive" ideologies. Collectively, we have erased much of what the Founding Fathers put in place for our safety and well-being.
For instance, why has there been such a large endeavor to squelch the Christian religion? Even non-believers have recognized the value of religion to society throughout history. It has been worded in a variety of ways by different sociologists. Emile Durkheim argued that "religion provides social cohesion and social control to maintain society in social solidarity." Thus, even if you don't have faith, religion serves a purpose.
There is a quote frequently credited to Napoleon Bonaparte which says, "Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich." I'll leave that quote stand on its own.
Where do we find hope today? We find it in the Fire of Pentecost. With God, all things are possible. Ask for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in your life today.
To lighten the mood I will close with these two thoughts. First, did you notice that the riots ended the Covid 19 problem? Secondly, the riots have sparked renewed interest in the space program. Look at how many people are expressing jealousy on social media that the two astronauts had the opportunity to get off the planet.
As we turn the calendar to the month of June tomorrow, may we find renewal in the warmth of longer days, and hopefully, more peaceful nights.
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