So I'm watching The Bachelor with my lady, and have stopped wondering what Hell is like...
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I heard on the radio the other day about a group that would walk the city streets praying for the people and the city. The called themselves the SWAT Team, Saints Walking Around the Town. I am no saint, but I did like the concept of turning to God to solve the problems of our cities, and families. Perhaps some of you out there might like to help organize a SWAG Team, Standing with Almighty God, to pray away the violence, hate, the feelings of hopelessness and despair in our city and the surrounding areas. We can organize, and pray on a Thursday evening, or every Thursday evening, before the weekend starts to ask for the Lord’s peace and protection. As brothers and sisters in Christ let us join together and pray for His healing spirit to remove the stain of violence in our city and surrounding areas. We can pray for our young people, the elderly, your friends, your family, and our police officers. I truly believe that we can not depend on the government to solve the problem of violence in the streets. The responsibility to turn the tide belongs to us. We must turn to the Lord to change hearts and attitudes. I would ask that you prayerfully consider being part of the revival to turn darkness into light, lead the lost to Christ, and with changed hearts, end the violence that is destroying our nation. So, consider getting your SWAG on, and with the Lord’s help; we can make a difference in our community by praying and showing God’s love for us all. “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 The violence we are witnessing in not only our area, but around the nation is disturbing. While it is easy to blame guns for much of the violence, it is unfair. The use of a gun to kill or injure someone is the end result of years of neglect. That neglect starts at home with parents that want to be their child's friend or the other extreme where the child is not just wanted. Single parents often overworked and tired; slowly lose their influence to the gangs. Without the direction of the parents, churches sit empty on a Sunday and moral relativism takes over in our communities.
In many aspects the government has replaced the church. At the federal, state and local levels people turn to government to feed, house, educate, employ, set moral standards and solve problems. It could be argued that the government is the leading charity organization in the country. We have become reliant on the government instead of our neighbors and religious institutions. Unfortunately the government has no vested interest in our success; our neighbors and community do. The government can impose all the laws that it likes, but it is our communities that can change the culture of violence faster and more effectively. There are thousands of gun laws on the books, yet it seems, the murder rate continues to climb. Why? Prosecutors accept plea deals that drop the gun charges; cases are dismissed or lost because witnesses refuse to cooperate. Could it be possible that the crime in the street actually is caused by law abiding citizens who take a "don't ask, don't tell" position on the violence in their own neighbor hoods? Often after a tragic death there are protests, speeches and posturing by political and community leaders. However, once the television crews have left so has the will to solve the problem. What if we actually followed through on the pomp and circumstance, and actually made a stand against the thugs that are killing our youth and destroying our neighborhoods? To do that we need to make a stand against those committing the acts of violence, relying more on our communities, and less on the government. We are currently fighting a "War on Terror" around the world. How much longer will the battle need to be to stop the terror that rules our streets? Ask yourself if it is possible to teach our young people that respect doesn't come from a barrel of a gun. Can we get our young men to believe that women are not as portrayed on MTV and BET? Can we convince our young men and women that sex is not love? Is it possible to get adults to make lifelong commitments to their spouse and children? What type of a commitment are we as a community willing to make to end the violence on the streets? Turning off the television or radio and putting down the newspaper are not options. We need boots on the ground in this battle, and they need to be ours. Do we suffer because we lack faith; or do we lack faith because we suffer?
Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” Matthew 17:19-21 It is a shame that the Democrats hate Trump more than they love their country.
I called on the Lord in distress; The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
Psalm 118:5-6 Who needs an amusement park. There are enough twists and turns in my life; that the last thing I need to do is get on a roller coaster.
"In our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God."-Aeschylus
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john Gregory ParksI only worry about the things I can control; as I control nothing, I have no worries. Archives
January 2023
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