War on Drugs

The “War on Drugs” like the War on Alcohol in the 1920’s was lost at inception. In both cases the over zealous government created a monster that caused more crime and filled the jails. Thanks to the three strikes laws there are thousands of people serving life sentences for possessing small amounts of marijuana. We have created a drug culture much like the bootleg culture of the 1920’s and Mexico, Central and South America are paying the price.

As with controls on alcohol and tobacco, including sin tax, a realistic set of controls and tax on legal drugs needs to be enacted.   It is a matter of making sense concerning people’s rights to personal choices for their lives. The use of heroin and marijuana for medical purposes could be place under the same controls as present prescription narcotics. Currently doctors can not prescribe heroin for sever pain hospice care.

I do not promote the use of alcohol, tobacco or drugs and would advise against all of them. I have made the choice not to use them. I do not need to limit other people their right to choose for them selves.

Generations of Generosity

I love the idea of  “Generations of Generosity” because it reminds us that generation after generation followers of Christ have faithfully preserved and proclaimed the Gospel for almost two thousand years. It has been an awesome task and often dangerous. For most of the first three hundred years of the Christian Church it was a crime to be a Christian. The penalty for being a Christian was death in the Roman Empire until 324 AD. For us to remember that those early Christians kept the faith under those conditions makes being Christian in America today seem very easy.

Allow me to give you encouragement and a prayer that you will faithfully respond with the same faith as past generations of Christians to pass along the Gospel message to the next generation. Now it is up to each one of us to take the time to personally examine our faith in God, our commitment to Christ and His church, and live our lives proclaiming the Good News that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and our Savior.

This can be a time of decisions and grace for you to stand with those early Christians. Think of it they put their lives on the line every day to tell others about Jesus. What does it cost you to tell others about your faith in Jesus? Open your heart and mind to be generous with your faith.

Changing Crowds

I heard a preacher say that the fickle crowds that praised Jesus as the Messiah on Sunday shouted for his death on Friday. Actually I have heard that sermon many times in my life. I do not think that it is a true statement even though it may make for a good sermon about back sliding Christians.

The people who lined the street as Jesus entered Jerusalem were likely the common people who were anxiously looking for the Messiah. They praised God and shouted hosanna blessed is he that comes in the name of the lord. Those people were out in the light of day for all to see.

The people at the trial were out while it was still night. The Jewish leaders who wanted Jesus out of the way very likely routed friends and family out of bed to show up at the early morning trial to support their case. They were prompted to urge Pilot to kill Jesus or he would not be Caesar’s friend. It was a conniving and political crowd that shouted for his death.

It was not the people in the Sunday crowd who changed it was the crowd itself that was different.