We are back in warming trends.  However, not as hot and the day gets warmer later, and cools off sooner as we feel the fall coming on.

Doing better each day, still up and down, but there are far more ups than down.

Poor Carla, she is maintain a positive attitude through all of this (two plus years,) it is good to have her by my side.  The kids have been great and have given of their time, especially Deed and Teresa, to help; it would be much more difficult to go through this without them.

Jeremiah 20:10 For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.

(* all verses are from the KJV on line bible at BibleGateway.com)

Revenge for slights perceived appears to be the mandate in America today.  We have people baiting others to try and make them say or do something so they can retaliate ‘righteously.’

Video cameras, either phones, or whatever are everywhere catching people in the act of making poor choices, or because the recording started late it misrepresents the actions – yet, people persecute, attack and spread vicious lies based on their idea of what occurred.   

It has come to the point that if there is a disagreement between two people that one or the other is racist, or being a ‘hater.’  People who have a non-politically correct idea are automatically chastised and attacked verbally, and more and more, physically.

Every ethnic group in America, at one time or another has been victimized and discriminated against.  Some more than others.

The cry of we must be revenged by violence and atrocities has become the battle slogan of anyone who feels they have been wronged.

Of the almost one million police officers that go about their daily lives protecting and helping others in an unbiased manner, there have been a few that have not done so – and may have even used their authority wrongly – yet officers all over are being targeted and attacked because they wear the uniform.

Now, people are wondering why recruiting police officers is becoming more difficult.

In the 1960’s and 1970’s there was a spirit of rebellion in this country and some of it was for a good cause – but it became so important to be ‘politically correct’ that every person in authority became the enemy, without regards to who they were and what they truly represented.

I was a police officer in the 70’s.  Those that served in the late 60’s and 70’s had to endure many taunts and accusations that just weren’t true.  We were the most visible of authorities and thus became subject to dangerous encounters solely because we wore the uniform.

But even back then the turmoil in America had not come even close to what is happening in America today.

We watch movies, television, video games – all of which glorify an attitude of violence against those that we don’t agree with, revenge for perceived wrongs.

We allow violence in our sports that if done on any city street in America would be cause for arrests for criminal assaults – yet we find fans yelling in support of the behavior.  These assaults are premeditated, revenge and/or done so that the person is so injured they can no longer play – at least that day.  While most of them are errs of technique, many are not and the officials use a higher level of punishment for them.

And those more serious and deliberate attacks are criminal behavior and should be dealt with as such – yet, we allow it.

Most players follow the rules.  Most are good examples of ethical players who do great things for the communities – yet they are tainted by those few that commit these criminal acts.  Most would welcome, maybe secretly at first, the standard that other citizens are held to, when committing a criminal act.

There would not be the activity there is now.  Even if inclined it would make a player think twice before he allowed himself to get out of control.

Last week two high school football players deliberately assaulted a referee on the field, one blind-sided him from the back and the second hit him while he was down.  Yes, an investigation must be conducted, but based on the evidence that clearly shows the assault any police officer in the country would arrest them for assault on probably cause if it happened on the street.

Yes, there is still questions, video doesn’t tell it all, however, it is very graphic as it shows them hitting the man who was standing several yards, all by himself, from the line of scrimmage – no appearance of accident.  If this happened on the street there is probable cause to make an arrest, this is serious and dangerous actions – why haven’t these young men been charged with an assault?  It happened on a playing field. 

The age of the players is being used as an excuse as well as the possibility of being told to do so by a coach – notwithstanding the fact that every player in every sport knows you are not allowed to strike an official, period.  They knew better, age and illegal orders doesn’t exonerate them from having committed a criminal act.

This would not be the first coach that told his player to take someone out.  One of our football players in the early 60’s, while getting up from the sidelines, heard the opposing coach tell one of his players to take out our quarterback – our guys protected him even more, but the player didn’t try, either.

The coach denied he said anything, saying our player misunderstood what he was saying.

It wasn’t acceptable back then, it is not today.

Some say that the official made a racial slur – even if true there are means to deal with that behavior, criminally attacking him is not an acceptable option.

But it is a microcosm of what this country is becoming – offended by someone, attack him, attack others, destroy things, ‘make them pay’ – whether they are involved or not.

Emotions are running high and there doesn’t seem to be anyone who either can be the voice of reason, or will be listened to by one side or the other when he does.  Rants and ravings have become the call signs and slogans that allow criminal behavior to occur and all too frequently either endorsed or overlooked.

Neither side is 100% right nor 100% wrong – yet, neither side have leaders that will openly discuss it – indeed, some are out there just stirring the pot and are taking advantage of the discourse to line their own pockets.

One of the things USSR leaders said back in the 1950’s was America would destroy itself from inside.  We laughed at that in the 1980’s when they went to their knees.  I dare say, any thinking American today is no longer laughing.

As Christians we have an obligation to stand for Christ.  We cannot let our faith and beliefs go silent.  We need to be in prayer for this nation and the bleeding of its people.

We need to recognize that the division in America has some basic reasons – on both sides – but the violence being perpetrated is satan induced.  Non-believers won’t listen, they will berate, belittle and laugh in derision, but they did the same to Christ, the Apostles and Christians for almost 2000 years.

That should not prevent us from obeying God and spreading His gospel wherever we go. 

Ephesians 6:11-13 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

¹³ Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Christianity is the only sanity in a world that has truly gone insane.  Most of those people engaged in the confrontations going on do not realize they are being used by satan, we do and we need to do what we can to defeat him through Christ.

We are God’s first line of defense, let us not fail Him.

Later, Art :-)

From the ColumbiaRiverGorgeous
May Our Good Lord Bless and Keep YOU....’til we meet again