thestream--2020-04-01--‘Prepared in Advance for Us to Do’: Trump Positioned to Fight the Coronavirus War

“ For we are God ’ s handiwork , created in Christ Jesus to do good works , which God prepared in advance for us to do.
” ( Ephesians 2:10 , NIV ) It ’ s a cliche , but it ’ s never been more true .
When God made Donald J. Trump , He broke the mold .
History has not given us many like The Donald .
Even fiction writers would struggle to come up with such a character .
Comedy writers will never again be so lucky .
Yet , as we wage war against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ … unique bit of God ’ s handiwork has been prepared in advance to lead the fight .
Writing in the Washington Examiner , historian Doug Wead argues that of our recent presidents , Trump is the best suited for this battle .
“ The current fight favors a president quick to decide , willing to let businesses help out , friendly with the media and with a ‘ deep desire to do right . '
” None of the presidents going back to Gerald Ford have all four qualities .
But only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bill Clinton and Donald Trump .
And , argues Wead , Clinton likely would have been entangled in his personal scandals to fully take care of the task at hand .
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has been earning high marks for his response to the coronavirus pandemic rocking his state .
He , too , appears to have been prepared in advance for this time .
What New York needs is a governor who can communicate calmly , rationally , even movingly to his people .
Moreover , it needs in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who has been to the show before , who knows every single nook and cranny of the state government , who knows how to use every single tool in the state ’ s arsenal .
Andrew Cuomo was practically raised in the New York State House .
He watched his father ’ s rise through state politics and was at Mario Cuomo ’ s side during his three terms as governor .
It ’ s hard to imagine anyone else being as prepared .
Wead only scratches the surface .
Adding Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his failures , one can ’ t help but conclude Trump was raised up for this very hour .
My Pillow ’ s Mike Lindell said essentially the same thing Monday in the Rose Garden and was widely mocked .
Yes , the mainstream media hates the notion of God having a hand in America .
God shedding His grace on thee is soooooooo quaint .
A folksie self-made millionaire sooooo ridiculous .
But there ’ s no other way to explain a President Trump .
Trump winning never made much sense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders , given a GOP field crowded with strong believers .
But consider the evidence .
Who Do You Want in the Chair ?
Start with the resume .
Donald Trump is a builder .
In his line of business , when there ’ s a problem , theory doesn ’ t cut it .
Neither does good intentions , nor endless deliberation .
The elevators either reach the top floor or they don ’ t .
The AC reaches each room or it doesn ’ t .
The building either stands or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , creative solutions , timely solutions are all that matters .
When coronavirus is creating massive problems on multiple , seemingly endless fronts , who do you want in the Oval Office ?
A pragmatic problem solver or a politician ?
If you are trying to move heaven and earth , it helps to start with a guy who ’ s actually moved around some earth .
When the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers is rushing to build hospitals at hot spots across the country , who do you want in the Oval @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who ’ s forgotten more about building than most politicos will ever know ?
When the room is filled with CEOs responsible for maintaining the supply chain that ’ s keeping America alive , who do you want in the chair ?
A community organizer or someone whose had to actually had to deal with supply chains every day for decades ?
Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
When dealing with the travel and service industry , how good to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
When dealing with the airline industry , how good to have someone who actually had his own airline .
When dealing with small business owners , how good to have someone who ’ s launched small businesses .
When dealing with corporate titans , how good to have someone who is a business titan .
When dealing with endless data , how good to have someone whose been crunching numbers since his days at Wharton Business School ?
Even when dealing with daily press briefings , how good to have a communicator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TVs .
And consider his personality traits .
Even the ones that are oftentimes maddening .
When dealing with red tape , how good to have a stubborn someone who won ’ t take no for an answer .
When dealing with troublesome companies or countries , how good to have someone who can be brutal .
When dealing with an urgent global crisis , how good to have someone who seems tireless .
When dealing with a frightful situation , how good to have someone who is fearless .
When in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commander-in-chief who is a fierce fighter , who doesn ’ t concede an inch to any enemy ?
Who simply does not quit , does not stop charging ahead regardless of incoming fire .
The virus is not playing by the Marquess of Queensberry rules .
Good for us we have a street-fighter from Queens .
So far I ’ ve spoken about Trump ’ s positive professional experiences as having prepared him for this day .
Perhaps more important have been his failures .
And there have been many .
Ventures that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump Airline .
Trump Water .
Etc .
Etc .
His critics would love sharing with you the entire list .
God calls it “ preparation in advance.
” What insight did he gain from having his hand in such an array of diverse industries ?
What lessons in perseverance were learned from his failures ?
How good is it to have a president who very nearly lost it all ?
On Tuesday , Trump warned Americans “ This is going to be a very painful two weeks .
Our strength will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said , there will be a “ burst of light.
” Over and over for weeks now , Donald Trump has been saying , “ We will bounce back , ” “ We will recover.
” Again Tuesday , “ We will prevail .
We will win.
” These are not just words .
He is speaking from deep personal experience .
Conviction .
He knows .
Just a few short years before The Apprentice , Donald Trump was in a massive hole .
A real estate collapse had left him nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ front of the whole , wide , laughing world , the cocky , famous Donald J. Trump was knocked to his knees , and almost knocked out of the game .
But he fought his way back .
It was a growth period , he would later write : “ I learned a lot about myself during these hard times ; I learned about handling pressure .
I was able to home in , buckle down , get back to the basics , and make things work .
I worked much harder , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of a box .
Don ’ t get me wrong — there were moments of doubt , but I never thought in negative terms.
” By the time he ran for president , Donald Trump was far more successful than he ’ d ever been .
In this hour , Trump ’ s past successes serve the country well .
He wrote The Art of the Deal , and boy do we need a wheeler and dealer right now .
But Donald Trump also wrote The Art of the Comeback .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon .
Donald Trump could not have imagined during those moments of doubt that his time in the valley would be used to serve the nation .
He didn ’ t know it .
But God did .
It ’ s a lesson we can all embrace : “ For surely I know the plans I have for you , says the Lord , plans for your welfare and not for harm , to give you a future with hope.
” ( Jeremiah 29:11 ) Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration .
You can follow him at @ StreamingAl .
And if you aren ’ t already , please follow The Stream at @ Streamdotorg .

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10, NIV)
It’s a cliche, but it’s never been more true. When God made Donald J. Trump, He broke the mold. History has not given us many like The Donald. Even fiction writers would struggle to come up with such a character. Comedy writers will never again be so lucky.
Yet, as we wage war against COVID-19, it seems this … um … unique bit of God’s handiwork has been prepared in advance to lead the fight.
Best Suited
Writing in the Washington Examiner, historian Doug Wead argues that of our recent presidents, Trump is the best suited for this battle. “The current fight favors a president quick to decide, willing to let businesses help out, friendly with the media and with a ‘deep desire to do right.'” None of the presidents going back to Gerald Ford have all four qualities. But only two had three of the four: Bill Clinton and Donald Trump. And, argues Wead, Clinton likely would have been entangled in his personal scandals to fully take care of the task at hand.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo as Well? New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has been earning high marks for his response to the coronavirus pandemic rocking his state. He, too, appears to have been prepared in advance for this time. What New York needs is a governor who can communicate calmly, rationally, even movingly to his people. Moreover, it needs in this desperate hour a tough, veteran leader who has been to the show before, who knows every single nook and cranny of the state government, who knows how to use every single tool in the state’s arsenal.
Andrew Cuomo was practically raised in the New York State House. He watched his father’s rise through state politics and was at Mario Cuomo’s side during his three terms as governor. It’s hard to imagine anyone else being as prepared.
Wead only scratches the surface. Adding Trump’s experiences and personality, his successes and his failures, one can’t help but conclude Trump was raised up for this very hour.
My Pillow’s Mike Lindell said essentially the same thing Monday in the Rose Garden and was widely mocked. Yes, the mainstream media hates the notion of God having a hand in America. God shedding His grace on thee is soooooooo quaint. A folksie self-made millionaire sooooo ridiculous. But there’s no other way to explain a President Trump. Trump winning never made much sense. It was certainly befuddling to evangelical leaders, given a GOP field crowded with strong believers.
But consider the evidence.
Who Do You Want in the Chair?
Start with the resume. Donald Trump is a builder. In his line of business, when there’s a problem, theory doesn’t cut it. Neither does good intentions, nor endless deliberation. The elevators either reach the top floor or they don’t. The AC reaches each room or it doesn’t. The building either stands or it doesn’t. Practical solutions, creative solutions, timely solutions are all that matters. When coronavirus is creating massive problems on multiple, seemingly endless fronts, who do you want in the Oval Office? A pragmatic problem solver or a politician? If you are trying to move heaven and earth, it helps to start with a guy who’s actually moved around some earth.
When the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers is rushing to build hospitals at hot spots across the country, who do you want in the Oval Office, a lawyer or a guy who’s forgotten more about building than most politicos will ever know?
When the room is filled with CEOs responsible for maintaining the supply chain that’s keeping America alive, who do you want in the chair? A community organizer or someone whose had to actually had to deal with supply chains every day for decades?
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
When dealing with the travel and service industry, how good to have someone who owns hotels and resorts.
When dealing with the airline industry, how good to have someone who actually had his own airline.
When dealing with small business owners, how good to have someone who’s launched small businesses.
When dealing with corporate titans, how good to have someone who is a business titan.
When dealing with endless data, how good to have someone whose been crunching numbers since his days at Wharton Business School?
Even when dealing with daily press briefings, how good to have a communicator who can keep people glued to their TVs.
His (Sometimes Maddening) Personality
And consider his personality traits. Even the ones that are oftentimes maddening.
When dealing with red tape, how good to have a stubborn someone who won’t take no for an answer.
When dealing with troublesome companies or countries, how good to have someone who can be brutal.
When dealing with an urgent global crisis, how good to have someone who seems tireless.
When dealing with a frightful situation, how good to have someone who is fearless.
When in a war, how good to have a commander-in-chief who is a fierce fighter, who doesn’t concede an inch to any enemy? Who simply does not quit, does not stop charging ahead regardless of incoming fire.
The virus is not playing by the Marquess of Queensberry rules. Good for us we have a street-fighter from Queens.
We Will Recover
So far I’ve spoken about Trump’s positive professional experiences as having prepared him for this day. Perhaps more important have been his failures. And there have been many. Ventures that bombed. Casinos that went kaput. Trump Airline. Trump Water. Etc. Etc. His critics would love sharing with you the entire list. God calls it “preparation in advance.” What insight did he gain from having his hand in such an array of diverse industries? What lessons in perseverance were learned from his failures? How good is it to have a president who very nearly lost it all?
On Tuesday, Trump warned Americans “This is going to be a very painful two weeks. Our strength will be tested and our endurance tried.” But he said, there will be a “burst of light.” Over and over for weeks now, Donald Trump has been saying, “We will bounce back,” “We will recover.” Again Tuesday, “We will prevail. We will win.” These are not just words. He is speaking from deep personal experience. Conviction. He knows. Just a few short years before The Apprentice, Donald Trump was in a massive hole. A real estate collapse had left him nearly a billion dollars in debt. In front of the whole, wide, laughing world, the cocky, famous Donald J. Trump was knocked to his knees, and almost knocked out of the game.
But he fought his way back. It was a growth period, he would later write: “I learned a lot about myself during these hard times; I learned about handling pressure. I was able to home in, buckle down, get back to the basics, and make things work. I worked much harder, I focused, and I got myself out of a box. Don’t get me wrong — there were moments of doubt, but I never thought in negative terms.”
By the time he ran for president, Donald Trump was far more successful than he’d ever been. In this hour, Trump’s past successes serve the country well. He wrote The Art of the Deal, and boy do we need a wheeler and dealer right now.
But Donald Trump also wrote The Art of the Comeback. And boy, will we need that very soon.
Donald Trump could not have imagined during those moments of doubt that his time in the valley would be used to serve the nation. He didn’t know it. But God did.
It’s a lesson we can all embrace: “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author, with @JZmirak, of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration. You can follow him at @StreamingAl. And if you aren’t already, please follow The Stream at @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-04-01--Should We Bail Out Boeing?

Should We Bail Out Boeing?

The federal government has agreed in a bill that passed Congress and was signed into law last week by President Trump to offer Boeing bailout funds .
The company is in financial trouble since the airlines — its customers — have experienced a massive 90 % drop in travel .
Boeing has asked the government for a minimum of $ 60 billion in access to public and private liquidity , including loan guarantees , for the aerospace manufacturing industry .
An outspoken conservative , Nikki Haley , resigned from its board of directors over the request .
Boeing brought some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heavily borrowed cash when it wasn ’ t easily available , instead of tightening its belt .
From 2014 to 2019 , Boeing spent almost $ 60 billion for dividends and stock buybacks , instead of saving for a rainy day .
Which is ironically the same amount it is requesting in bailout funds .
More recently , the company spent over $ 1 billion of dividend checks to its shareholders three weeks ago , when the epidemic was starting ( it finally suspended dividends last Friday ) .
So far , Boeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Why ?
The government would require partial ownership in return .
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in an interview with Fox Business , “ Boeing has said that they have no intention of using the program .
That may change.
” Boeing can get money from the private sector instead of the government , the company ’ s CEO David Calhoun said .
“ If they force it , we just look at all the other options , and we ’ ve got plenty of them , ” he told Fox News .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
Partial federal government ownership is what happened when the government bailed out General Motors in 2008 .
The government took a 61 % share and sold the stock when the company rebounded .
However , the government spent $ 11 billion more on the bailout than it got back from the stock sales .
After the 9/11 attacks , the government bailed out airline carriers , but many of them filed bankruptcy anyway .
The $ 2 trillion stimulus bill that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion in credit for businesses “ critical to maintaining national security.
” Sources say it was crafted with Boeing primarily in mind .
The Treasury Department would receive equity or warrants in the businesses .
However , another $ 454 billion in loans and loan guarantees in the stimulus bill do not contain that caveat .
Some of the airlines may receive bailouts , but certain conditions need to be met .
They can ’ t fire or furlough workers until September 30 .
A writer for Salon claims at least partial nationalization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t save Boeing , ” writes Richard Eskow .
“ Public rescue must come with significant public ownership.
” He even suggests that full nationalization may be necessary .
France is considering nationalizing its aerospace industry .
The U.S. nationalized the steel industry in 1952 .
The Korean War was looming , but the steel workers were striking .
When attempts to bring them back to work failed , President Truman nationalized the industry .
The Supreme Court struck down the seizure in Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the authority to do so .
Boeing Can not Just Ignore This The company has to do something , anyway .
Rep. Rick Larsen , ( D-Wash. ) , who chairs the Aviation Subcommittee of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee , said “ the impact of COVID-19 on the economy is already devastating .
I don ’ t know what word is worse than devastating , but that ’ s what it would be if production had to shut down even for 14 days.
” Eric Fanning is CEO of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most of its major U.S. suppliers as well as its competitors on the defense side .
He says the industry supports 2.5 million jobs and the threat from the coronavirus already “ looks way bigger than 9/11 was.
” As some said about the bank bailouts in 2008 , others now claim Boeing “ is too big to fail.
” Bijan Vasigh , an economics and finance professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University , said Boeing ’ s importance to the U.S. economy can ’ t be overstated .
Considering , however , Boeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowing a situation like this to cause more havoc than it should , and considering its CEO says it can find relief instead from the private sector , it seems obvious that the latter is the way to go .
Boeing has a stellar credit rating and its liquidity puts it in a great position for the private market .
The 737 MAX ’ s return to service in the next few months will also bolster its cash flow .
Two of those planes crashed after it entered service in 2017 , killing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the market until they could solve software problems .
Whenever government gets very involved in private industry , we ’ ve seen what happens .
It doesn ’ t work well , and it ’ s often a disaster .
Calhoun and the board of directors need to hold firm and find the solution in the private sector .
So far , good for them standing up against partial government takeover .
Follow Rachel on Twitter at Rach_IC .
Follow The Stream at streamdotorg .
Send tips to rachel.alexander @ stream.org .

The federal government has agreed in a bill that passed Congress and was signed into law last week by President Trump to offer Boeing bailout funds. The company is in financial trouble since the airlines — its customers — have experienced a massive 90% drop in travel. Boeing has asked the government for a minimum of $60 billion in access to public and private liquidity, including loan guarantees, for the aerospace manufacturing industry. An outspoken conservative, Nikki Haley, resigned from its board of directors over the request.
Boeing brought some of this on itself. The company heavily borrowed cash when it wasn’t easily available, instead of tightening its belt. From 2014 to 2019, Boeing spent almost $60 billion for dividends and stock buybacks, instead of saving for a rainy day. Which is ironically the same amount it is requesting in bailout funds. More recently, the company spent over $1 billion of dividend checks to its shareholders three weeks ago, when the epidemic was starting (it finally suspended dividends last Friday).
Take the Money?
So far, Boeing isn’t accepting the money. Why? The government would require partial ownership in return. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in an interview with Fox Business, “Boeing has said that they have no intention of using the program. That may change.”
Boeing can get money from the private sector instead of the government, the company’s CEO David Calhoun said. “If they force it, we just look at all the other options, and we’ve got plenty of them,” he told Fox News.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Partial federal government ownership is what happened when the government bailed out General Motors in 2008. The government took a 61% share and sold the stock when the company rebounded. However, the government spent $11 billion more on the bailout than it got back from the stock sales. After the 9/11 attacks, the government bailed out airline carriers, but many of them filed bankruptcy anyway.
The $2 trillion stimulus bill that was passed last week includes $17 billion in credit for businesses “critical to maintaining national security.” Sources say it was crafted with Boeing primarily in mind. The Treasury Department would receive equity or warrants in the businesses. However, another $454 billion in loans and loan guarantees in the stimulus bill do not contain that caveat.
Some of the airlines may receive bailouts, but certain conditions need to be met. They can’t fire or furlough workers until September 30.
Full Nationalization Coming?
A writer for Salon claims at least partial nationalization is coming. “Market forces can’t save Boeing,” writes Richard Eskow. “Public rescue must come with significant public ownership.” He even suggests that full nationalization may be necessary. France is considering nationalizing its aerospace industry.
The U.S. nationalized the steel industry in 1952. The Korean War was looming, but the steel workers were striking. When attempts to bring them back to work failed, President Truman nationalized the industry. The Supreme Court struck down the seizure in Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer. The court ruled the president did not have the authority to do so.
Boeing Cannot Just Ignore This
The company has to do something, anyway. Rep. Rick Larsen, (D-Wash.), who chairs the Aviation Subcommittee of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said “the impact of COVID-19 on the economy is already devastating. I don’t know what word is worse than devastating, but that’s what it would be if production had to shut down even for 14 days.” Eric Fanning is CEO of the Aerospace Industries Association that represents Boeing and most of its major U.S. suppliers as well as its competitors on the defense side. He says the industry supports 2.5 million jobs and the threat from the coronavirus already “looks way bigger than 9/11 was.”
As some said about the bank bailouts in 2008, others now claim Boeing “is too big to fail.”
As some said about the bank bailouts in 2008, others now claim Boeing “is too big to fail.” Bijan Vasigh, an economics and finance professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, said Boeing’s importance to the U.S. economy can’t be overstated.
Considering, however, Boeing’ poor decisions in the past, allowing a situation like this to cause more havoc than it should, and considering its CEO says it can find relief instead from the private sector, it seems obvious that the latter is the way to go. Boeing has a stellar credit rating and its liquidity puts it in a great position for the private market. The 737 MAX’s return to service in the next few months will also bolster its cash flow. Two of those planes crashed after it entered service in 2017, killing hundreds, so Boeing took it off the market until they could solve software problems.
Whenever government gets very involved in private industry, we’ve seen what happens. It doesn’t work well, and it’s often a disaster. Calhoun and the board of directors need to hold firm and find the solution in the private sector. So far, good for them standing up against partial government takeover.
Follow Rachel on Twitter at Rach_IC. Follow The Stream at streamdotorg. Send tips to [email protected].


thestream--2020-04-02--Coronavirus: A Biblical, Historical Perspective

Many if not most of our nations are being violently shaken by the coronavirus outbreak .
In Austria , for instance , schools and all non-essential shops are closed from Monday .
Restaurants must shut after 3 p.m. , and pretty much all public life , including church service , has been suspended .
Italy , Switzerland , France and Spain are hit worse in terms of infections — with hospitals in Italy stretched beyond breaking point and doctors having to decide which patient they will save and who they will let die , because they don ’ t have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
Many other nations , parts of the U.S. included , may well be headed that way .
When , if not now , is the church called to rise and shine ?
Coronavirus , Loving Our Neighbor , and Quarantine in the Bible In the Old Testament , we find very strict quarantine regulations for those suffering of infectious diseases ( see Leviticus 13 ) .
So , when Christians follow government and medical advice to , say , drastically reduce all social contacts , this is not an expression of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the power to protect or heal us ) .
Rather , it is a demand of wisdom and , especially , of neighborly love .
Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
The equation is simple and sobering : The flatter the rate of viral infection progresses , the smaller the number of vulnerable people who will die .
Wherever we can contribute to that outcome , we should !
While wisdom , solidarity , and love of neighbor lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ epidemic as far as possible , I am reminded of the many times in history where the light of Christian charity has shone with dazzling brightness amidst dark times of infectious disease and societal upheaval .
In fact , Christians overcame the impulse to flee to safety and isolate themselves from the suffering of others : In 165 a plague swept through the mighty Roman Empire , wiping out one in three of the population .
It happened again in 251 when 5,000 people per day were dying in the city of Rome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their families to die in the streets .
The government was helpless and the Emperor himself succumbed to the plague .
Pagan priests fled their temples where people had flocked for comfort and explanation .
People were too weak to help themselves .
If the smallpox did not kill you , hunger , thirst and loneliness would .
The effect on wider society was catastrophic .
Yet following the plagues the good reputation of Christianity was confirmed , and its population grew exponentially .
Why is this ?
Christians did not come armed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evil .
They did not enjoy a supernatural ability to avoid pain and suffering .
What they did have was water and food and their presence .
In short , if you knew a Christian you were statistically more likely to survive , and if you survived it was the church that offered you the most loving , stable and social environment .
It was not clever apologetics , strategic political organisation or the witness of martyrdom which converted an Empire , so much as it was the simple conviction of normal women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the least of their neighbours they did for Christ .
( Stephen Backhouse , quoted in Simon Ponsonby ’ s Loving Mercy : How to Serve a Tender-Hearted Saviour ) Now , of course , we know that thoughtful apologetics did in fact play a very important role in the conversion of the Roman Empire .
So it ’ s not an either or .
Ravi Zacharias has said it beautifully , “ Love is the greatest apologetic .
It is the essential component in reaching the whole person in a fragmented world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is also imperative that we be willing to follow the example of Jesus and meet the need.
” Wouldn ’ t it be wonderful , if in our time , too , we Christians would primarily become known for the generous , selfless love of our neighbors , rather than the many things we oppose and judge ?
Uncertain times , societal upheaval , the threat of poverty , sickness and death — all this naturally leads to fear .
In situations like these , one of the best things we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how good , how strong and mighty , how faithful our God truly is .
Through Jesus Christ , each one of us can know Him as our heavenly Father .
Personally , I find it most helpful in such situations to meditate on verses of Scripture that I know by heart , that I think through , pray through , feel through , chew through , carry in my heart , and digest inwardly .
For example , the 23rd Psalm .
Do you know it by heart yet ?
Reverend Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Germany and Switzerland , a research fellow at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics , and , most recently , the author of Making Sense of Old Testament Genocide : Christian Interpretations of Herem Passages ( Oxford University Press , 2018 ) .

Many if not most of our nations are being violently shaken by the coronavirus outbreak. In Austria, for instance, schools and all non-essential shops are closed from Monday. Restaurants must shut after 3 p.m., and pretty much all public life, including church service, has been suspended.
Italy, Switzerland, France and Spain are hit worse in terms of infections — with hospitals in Italy stretched beyond breaking point and doctors having to decide which patient they will save and who they will let die, because they don’t have enough machines to care for all of them. Many other nations, parts of the U.S. included, may well be headed that way. When, if not now, is the church called to rise and shine?
Coronavirus, Loving Our Neighbor, and Quarantine in the Bible
In the Old Testament, we find very strict quarantine regulations for those suffering of infectious diseases (see Leviticus 13). So, when Christians follow government and medical advice to, say, drastically reduce all social contacts, this is not an expression of unbelief (as though God did not have the power to protect or heal us). Rather, it is a demand of wisdom and, especially, of neighborly love.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
The equation is simple and sobering: The flatter the rate of viral infection progresses, the smaller the number of vulnerable people who will die. Wherever we can contribute to that outcome, we should!
Christians, Epidemics and Revival
While wisdom, solidarity, and love of neighbor lead us to participate in containing the current epidemic as far as possible, I am reminded of the many times in history where the light of Christian charity has shone with dazzling brightness amidst dark times of infectious disease and societal upheaval. In fact, Christians overcame the impulse to flee to safety and isolate themselves from the suffering of others:
In 165 a plague swept through the mighty Roman Empire, wiping out one in three of the population. It happened again in 251 when 5,000 people per day were dying in the city of Rome alone. Those infected were abandoned by their families to die in the streets. The government was helpless and the Emperor himself succumbed to the plague. Pagan priests fled their temples where people had flocked for comfort and explanation. People were too weak to help themselves. If the smallpox did not kill you, hunger, thirst and loneliness would. The effect on wider society was catastrophic. Yet following the plagues the good reputation of Christianity was confirmed, and its population grew exponentially. Why is this? Christians did not come armed with intellectual answers to the problem of evil. They did not enjoy a supernatural ability to avoid pain and suffering. What they did have was water and food and their presence. In short, if you knew a Christian you were statistically more likely to survive, and if you survived it was the church that offered you the most loving, stable and social environment. It was not clever apologetics, strategic political organisation or the witness of martyrdom which converted an Empire, so much as it was the simple conviction of normal women and men that what they did for the least of their neighbours they did for Christ. (Stephen Backhouse, quoted in Simon Ponsonby’s Loving Mercy: How to Serve a Tender-Hearted Saviour)
Now, of course, we know that thoughtful apologetics did in fact play a very important role in the conversion of the Roman Empire. So it’s not an either or. Ravi Zacharias has said it beautifully, “Love is the greatest apologetic. It is the essential component in reaching the whole person in a fragmented world. The need is vast, but it is also imperative that we be willing to follow the example of Jesus and meet the need.”
Wouldn’t it be wonderful, if in our time, too, we Christians would primarily become known for the generous, selfless love of our neighbors, rather than the many things we oppose and judge?
On Dealing With Fear
Uncertain times, societal upheaval, the threat of poverty, sickness and death — all this naturally leads to fear. In situations like these, one of the best things we can do is remember just how great, how good, how strong and mighty, how faithful our God truly is. Through Jesus Christ, each one of us can know Him as our heavenly Father.
Personally, I find it most helpful in such situations to meditate on verses of Scripture that I know by heart, that I think through, pray through, feel through, chew through, carry in my heart, and digest inwardly. For example, the 23rd Psalm. Do you know it by heart yet?
Reverend Dr. Christian Hofreiter is Director of RZIM Austria, Germany and Switzerland, a research fellow at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics, and, most recently, the author of Making Sense of Old Testament Genocide: Christian Interpretations of Herem Passages (Oxford University Press, 2018).
Originally published at RZIM.org. Reprinted with permission.


thestream--2020-04-02--Pestilence in an Age of Decadence

Pestilence in an Age of Decadence

Interesting that Ross Douthat ’ s new book , The Decadent Society : How We Became the Victims of Our Own Success , was published on the cusp of the COVID-19 alarm .
“ Decadence , ” he writes in italics , “ refers to economic stagnation , institutional decay , and cultural and intellectual exhaustion at a high level of material prosperity and technological development.
” “ The truth of America and the West , ” he continues , “ is that we have not been hurtling anywhere — except maybe in a circle .
Instead , we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the past and no longer optimistic about the future , spurning both memory and ambition while we await some saving innovation or revelation , burrowing into cocoons from which no chrysalis is likely to emerge , growing old unhappily together in the glowing light of tiny screens.
” Many Americans are living out that last sentence at this very moment .
Substitute “ social distancing comfortably ” for “ aging comfortably ” and you ’ ve pretty much summed up the last two weeks as we ’ ve happily traded our freedom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s book is sobering and more than a bit depressing .
We ’ re rich and comfortable and living in luxury far beyond our great-grandparents ’ wildest dreams .
We ’ re also stagnant , living off the fumes of past inventions , successes , and achievements .
If not disrupted by something , this could go drearily on for ages .
Catastrophes , Douthat notes , have a way of disrupting decadence .
And now there ’ s COVID-19 .
Will this tip decadence into economic depression and chaos followed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new vibrancy and rebirth ?
I hope and pray ( and suspect ) it won ’ t .
Mass poverty , ruin , and death are not my idea of a good solution .
People will get back to work before we go over the cliff .
This is a wake-up call : a wake-up call to our decadent culture and to decadent Christians and decadent churches .
Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
If you ’ re old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1970s , you ’ ll know what I ’ m talking about .
If you ’ re not old enough , find someone to tell you about it .
The Charismatic Movement on both sides of the Tiber shocked a lot of people , alienated a lot of people , and ( let ’ s be honest ) wounded a lot of people .
But it also energized millions of individual Christians as well as congregations and parishes .
That included Christians , congregations , and parishes that were not charismatic at all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new churches , new apostolates , new schools , new believers all suddenly appeared on the scene .
While at seminary , we spent lunchtime on the Boston Common evangelizing .
We prayed for and worked for the conversion of our neighbors and learned apologetic arguments .
Some set off for long-term , career missionary service intending to convert , not console .
We read Lewis , Schaeffer , Sproul , Bonhoeffer , and Dostoyevsky , debated about existentialism and modernity , and worked to “ take every thought captive to obey Christ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even while studying at secular colleges and universities .
Contradict and debate the professor ?
It happened more often than you would think .
Just writing about it brings back some of the excitement , the thrill of the Christian faith , the sense of being part of the Church militant battling the world , the flesh , and the devil while laboring in those fields “ white for harvest ” ( John 4:35 ) .
Yet for the great majority of my generation of Christians , I don ’ t think it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yes , we still believe and practice the faith , but we don ’ t evangelize .
We ’ re more comfortable than thrilled .
And far too many seem to regard church as something you can take or leave rather than central to Christian life , faith and mission .
And my impression is that it ’ s not just my generation .
Rather than standing against cultural decadence , we — with a weary yawn and a sigh — have succumbed .
It may be a decadent rut , but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mission : Unlock the Prison of the Whole World In his book Everlasting Man , G.K. Chesterton noted , “ Christ founded the Church on two great figures of speech .
… The first was the phrase about founding it on Peter as a rock ; the second was the symbol of the keys.
” Regardless of what you believe about Peter the rock , it remains a bedrock that Christians carry the Gospel as a key .
Chesterton wrote , “ [ The Early Church ] definitely asserted that there was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that no other key was like it ; in that sense it was as narrow as you please .
Only it happened to be the key that could unlock the prison of the whole world ; and let in the white daylight of liberty.
” That ’ s a good summary of our mission : unlock the prison of the whole world , a prison that is clearer today than it has been in years .
So don ’ t wait around for your pastor or priest or bishop to act .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and death are on our neighbors ’ minds as they sit cocooned in their well-appointed , high-tech prisons .
They don ’ t have the key .
Our political leaders don ’ t have the key .
The media doesn ’ t have the key .
But you do and I do and , breaking with the dull decadence of our age , we can set the captives free .
Dr. James Tonkowich , a senior contributor to The Stream , is a freelance writer , speaker and commentator on spirituality , religion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ author of The Liberty Threat : The Attack on Religious Freedom in America Today and Pears , Grapes , and Dates : A Good Life After Mid-Life .
Jim serves as Director of Distance Learning at Wyoming Catholic College and is host of the college ’ s weekly podcast , “ The After Dinner Scholar .
”

Interesting that Ross Douthat’s new book, The Decadent Society: How We Became the Victims of Our Own Success, was published on the cusp of the COVID-19 alarm.
“Decadence,” he writes in italics, “refers to economic stagnation, institutional decay, and cultural and intellectual exhaustion at a high level of material prosperity and technological development.”
“The truth of America and the West,” he continues, “is that we have not been hurtling anywhere — except maybe in a circle. Instead, we are aging comfortably and stuck, cut off from the past and no longer optimistic about the future, spurning both memory and ambition while we await some saving innovation or revelation, burrowing into cocoons from which no chrysalis is likely to emerge, growing old unhappily together in the glowing light of tiny screens.”
Many Americans are living out that last sentence at this very moment. Substitute “social distancing comfortably” for “aging comfortably” and you’ve pretty much summed up the last two weeks as we’ve happily traded our freedom for a little extra safety.
COVID-19 is a Wake-Up Call
Douthat’s book is sobering and more than a bit depressing. We’re rich and comfortable and living in luxury far beyond our great-grandparents’ wildest dreams. We’re also stagnant, living off the fumes of past inventions, successes, and achievements. If not disrupted by something, this could go drearily on for ages.
Catastrophes, Douthat notes, have a way of disrupting decadence. And now there’s COVID-19.
Will this tip decadence into economic depression and chaos followed by, in the best case scenario, a new vibrancy and rebirth? I hope and pray (and suspect) it won’t. Mass poverty, ruin, and death are not my idea of a good solution. People will get back to work before we go over the cliff.
This is a wake-up call: a wake-up call to our decadent culture and to decadent Christians and decadent churches.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
If you’re old enough to remember the spiritual awakening the 1970s, you’ll know what I’m talking about. If you’re not old enough, find someone to tell you about it.
We’ve Grown Comfortable
The Charismatic Movement on both sides of the Tiber shocked a lot of people, alienated a lot of people, and (let’s be honest) wounded a lot of people. But it also energized millions of individual Christians as well as congregations and parishes. That included Christians, congregations, and parishes that were not charismatic at all. New music, new missions, new churches, new apostolates, new schools, new believers all suddenly appeared on the scene.
While at seminary, we spent lunchtime on the Boston Common evangelizing. We prayed for and worked for the conversion of our neighbors and learned apologetic arguments. Some set off for long-term, career missionary service intending to convert, not console. We read Lewis, Schaeffer, Sproul, Bonhoeffer, and Dostoyevsky, debated about existentialism and modernity, and worked to “take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5) — even while studying at secular colleges and universities. Contradict and debate the professor? It happened more often than you would think.
Just writing about it brings back some of the excitement, the thrill of the Christian faith, the sense of being part of the Church militant battling the world, the flesh, and the devil while laboring in those fields “white for harvest” (John 4:35).
Don’t wait around for your pastor or priest or bishop to act. You will probably be disappointed. Danger and death are on our neighbors’ minds as they sit cocooned in their well-appointed, high-tech prisons.
Yet for the great majority of my generation of Christians, I don’t think it’s that way any more. Yes, we still believe and practice the faith, but we don’t evangelize. We’re more comfortable than thrilled. And far too many seem to regard church as something you can take or leave rather than central to Christian life, faith and mission. And my impression is that it’s not just my generation.
Rather than standing against cultural decadence, we — with a weary yawn and a sigh — have succumbed. It may be a decadent rut, but it’s our decadent rut.
Our Mission: Unlock the Prison of the Whole World
In his book Everlasting Man, G.K. Chesterton noted, “Christ founded the Church on two great figures of speech. … The first was the phrase about founding it on Peter as a rock; the second was the symbol of the keys.”
Regardless of what you believe about Peter the rock, it remains a bedrock that Christians carry the Gospel as a key.
Chesterton wrote, “[The Early Church] definitely asserted that there was a key and that it possessed that key and that no other key was like it; in that sense it was as narrow as you please. Only it happened to be the key that could unlock the prison of the whole world; and let in the white daylight of liberty.”
That’s a good summary of our mission: unlock the prison of the whole world, a prison that is clearer today than it has been in years.
So don’t wait around for your pastor or priest or bishop to act. You will probably be disappointed. Danger and death are on our neighbors’ minds as they sit cocooned in their well-appointed, high-tech prisons.
They don’t have the key. Our political leaders don’t have the key. The media doesn’t have the key. But you do and I do and, breaking with the dull decadence of our age, we can set the captives free.
Dr. James Tonkowich, a senior contributor to The Stream, is a freelance writer, speaker and commentator on spirituality, religion and public life. He is the author of The Liberty Threat: The Attack on Religious Freedom in America Today and Pears, Grapes, and Dates: A Good Life After Mid-Life. Jim serves as Director of Distance Learning at Wyoming Catholic College and is host of the college’s weekly podcast, “The After Dinner Scholar.”


thestream--2020-04-02--Nashville Nurses Pray Over Patients On Hospital Roof During Their Break: ‘Go To The Helipad And Pray

Nashville Nurses Pray Over Patients On Hospital Roof During Their Break: ‘Go To The Helipad And Pray’

A group of Nashville nurses went to the roof of the hospital during their break to pray for hospital staff and patients suffering from coronavirus .
Nurses Angela Gleaves , Sarah Franklin Kremer , Beth Hofflin Tiesler and McKenzie Gibson went to the roof of Vanderbilt University Medical Center to pray over the patients and staff in their hospital .
Photographs show the nurses praying with hands folded on the rooftop of the building before posing for selfies with one another .
“ When you have a few extra minutes at work you take the time to go to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a Facebook post .
“ We prayed over the staff in our unit as well as all of the hospital employees.
” She added : “ We also prayed over the patients and their families during this trying time.
” “ We also prayed for all of our colleagues around the world taking care of patients , ” Gleaves said .
“ It felt good to do this with some of my amazing co-workers .
We could feel God ’ s presence in the wind .
Know that you are all covered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Gibson also posted photos of the incident with the caption , “ To pray is to turn over kingdoms .
To kneel in humility and uncertainty of the times toward the certainty of Love and Peace is an act of holy war against anxiety and fear .
To silence the voices of doom before the presence of God and stand in prayer for our colleagues fighting in every minute , here and all over the world.
” Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ has not yet responded to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation , told TODAY that “ we just wanted to share ( the pictures ) to let everyone know that we were praying not only for our hospital , but all the patients and the families.
” “ It ’ s just a really hard time for families as well as patients right now because a lot of hospitals aren ’ t allowing visitors , ” she added .
Gleaves formerly served as a flight nurse and helped transport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arranged with the flight communicator that the nurses could go up to the helipad for about 10 minutes to pray , she told TODAY .
“ It was a great moment .
There was a little bit of wind , and I felt like it was God pushing us to care for these patients and do what we ’ re trained to do.
” Copyright 2020 The Daily Caller News Foundation Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

A group of Nashville nurses went to the roof of the hospital during their break to pray for hospital staff and patients suffering from coronavirus.
Nurses Angela Gleaves, Sarah Franklin Kremer, Beth Hofflin Tiesler and McKenzie Gibson went to the roof of Vanderbilt University Medical Center to pray over the patients and staff in their hospital. Photographs show the nurses praying with hands folded on the rooftop of the building before posing for selfies with one another.
“When you have a few extra minutes at work you take the time to go to the Helipad and pray,” Gleaves wrote in a Facebook post. “We prayed over the staff in our unit as well as all of the hospital employees.”
She added: “We also prayed over the patients and their families during this trying time.”
“We also prayed for all of our colleagues around the world taking care of patients,” Gleaves said. “It felt good to do this with some of my amazing co-workers. We could feel God’s presence in the wind. Know that you are all covered in prayer ♥????”
Gibson also posted photos of the incident with the caption, “To pray is to turn over kingdoms. To kneel in humility and uncertainty of the times toward the certainty of Love and Peace is an act of holy war against anxiety and fear. To silence the voices of doom before the presence of God and stand in prayer for our colleagues fighting in every minute, here and all over the world.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Gleaves, who has not yet responded to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation, told TODAY that “we just wanted to share (the pictures) to let everyone know that we were praying not only for our hospital, but all the patients and the families.”
“It’s just a really hard time for families as well as patients right now because a lot of hospitals aren’t allowing visitors,” she added.
Gleaves formerly served as a flight nurse and helped transport patients during airplane and helicopter transports and arranged with the flight communicator that the nurses could go up to the helipad for about 10 minutes to pray, she told TODAY.
“It was a great moment. There was a little bit of wind, and I felt like it was God pushing us to care for these patients and do what we’re trained to do.”
Copyright 2020 The Daily Caller News Foundation
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].


thestream--2020-04-02--Getting God’s Perspective on the Current Crisis

It is terrible to hear of thousands of people dying , including a bishop , pastor , and elder in the same city .
It is terrible to hear of millions of people losing their jobs .
It is terrible to hear about so much suffering and grief and turmoil .
Yet in the midst of this crisis , God is at work .
In fact , He has a plan .
A redemptive plan .
It is imperative that we get a divine perspective on the current crisis .
On March 18 , I sent an email to my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ A Crazy Idea ?
” The “ crazy idea ” was this .
Since I had been feeling so stirred to write and speak and preach on biblical themes related to the virus , should I try to put together a book to get out immediately ?
Could it be ?
My editors said yes — they had been sensing the very same thing — and 8 days later , I had completed the manuscript .
The book is due out on April 15 with the title , When the World Stops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Wisdom in the Midst of Crisis .
Less than one month to write and publish a book .
This does not happen every day .
Redeem This For My Glory But I share that here to say this : God has much to say to His people in this hour .
And if we will step back and hear His voice , I believe we will hear Him say this : “ Redeem this for My glory !
” One of the chapters of my forthcoming book is titled , “ Seize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I relate the account of Jesus healing the man born blind in John 9 .
It reads : As [ Jesus ] went along , he saw a man blind from birth .
His disciples asked him , “ Rabbi , who sinned , this man or his parents , that he was born blind ?
” “ Neither this man nor his parents sinned , ” said Jesus , “ but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him .
As long as it is day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him who sent me .
Night is coming , when no one can work .
While I am in the world , I am the light of the world.
” ( John 9:1–5 ) Do you see what happened here ?
The Lord never told His disciples how this man became blind , other than it was not the result of personal sin .
How , then , did the man come to be born blind ?
Jesus doesn ’ t tell us .
He doesn ’ t say , “ My Father @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say , “ The devil did it.
” He doesn ’ t say , “ This is a purely natural phenomenon.
” Instead Jesus says that the man “ was born blind so that the acts of God may be revealed through what happens to him ” ( John 9:3b , NET ) — meaning , through his healing .
Please note that carefully .
The Lord didn ’ t say this man was blind to the glory of God but rather that his blindness would be an occasion for the glory of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s terrible , difficult , lifelong condition was an opportunity for the Lord to be exalted .
That is the Jesus mentality .
As He said , “ While I am in the world , I am the light of the world.
” The darkness is the divine setup for the light .
The sickness is the divine setup for the healing .
The current crisis is the divine setup for the church to arise and shine and make a difference .
We must seize this moment before it passes ( and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it passes ) .
We must milk it to the full for the glory of God .
Does your heart bear witness to my words ?
We Wonder What Caused the Virus I also have a chapter in the book titled , “ Who or What Sent the Virus ?
( And Does It Really Matter ? )
” I focused on this question because we are endlessly wondering about the cause of the virus .
Was it entirely natural ?
Was it manufactured in a lab ?
Was it a combination of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the devil ?
Did God send it as a judgment ?
Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
I have heard numerous “ prophetic ” perspectives , with Christian leaders offering their viewpoints .
And I have heard numerous “ secular ” perspectives , with political pundits and scientists offering their viewpoints .
And while these are certainly important questions to consider , the biggest question for us is this : What does God want to accomplish through this crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man born blind .
Jesus didn ’ t see his blindness as the direct result of personal sin , even though in the Bible , sin and sickness are often connected .
And Jesus never explained directly why the man was born blind .
He only stated that this was a divine opportunity .
The blindness was an opportunity for healing .
That is where we find ourselves today , and I believe God wants us to seize this unique moment in history .
To recognize how things can turn on a dime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are praying .
How the table has been set for a massive harvest and awakening .
The Fields Are White for Harvest So , let ’ s step back and ask the Father for His heart .
For His perspective .
As Jesus once said to His disciples , “ Do you not say , ‘ There are yet four months , then comes the harvest ’ ?
Look , I tell you , lift up your eyes , and see that the fields are white for harvest ” ( John 4:35 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ field , more than we have seen in many years .
Let us seize the moment .
Let us redeem the crisis .
Is it not time ?
Dr. Michael Brown ( www.askdrbrown.org ) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program .
His latest book is Jezebel ’ s War With America : The Plot to Destroy Our Country and What We Can Do to Turn the Tide .
Connect with him on Facebook , Twitter or YouTube .

It is terrible to hear of thousands of people dying, including a bishop, pastor, and elder in the same city. It is terrible to hear of millions of people losing their jobs. It is terrible to hear about so much suffering and grief and turmoil. Yet in the midst of this crisis, God is at work. In fact, He has a plan. A redemptive plan. It is imperative that we get a divine perspective on the current crisis.
On March 18, I sent an email to my primary publisher with the subject heading, “A Crazy Idea?” The “crazy idea” was this. Since I had been feeling so stirred to write and speak and preach on biblical themes related to the virus, should I try to put together a book to get out immediately? Could it be?
My editors said yes — they had been sensing the very same thing — and 8 days later, I had completed the manuscript. The book is due out on April 15 with the title, When the World Stops: Words of Faith, Hope, and Wisdom in the Midst of Crisis. Less than one month to write and publish a book. This does not happen every day.
Redeem This For My Glory
But I share that here to say this: God has much to say to His people in this hour. And if we will step back and hear His voice, I believe we will hear Him say this: “Redeem this for My glory!”
One of the chapters of my forthcoming book is titled, “Seize the Moment!” In that chapter, I relate the account of Jesus healing the man born blind in John 9. It reads:
As [Jesus] went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:1–5)
Do you see what happened here? The Lord never told His disciples how this man became blind, other than it was not the result of personal sin. How, then, did the man come to be born blind?
A Divine Setup
Jesus doesn’t tell us. He doesn’t say, “My Father did it.” He doesn’t say, “The devil did it.” He doesn’t say, “This is a purely natural phenomenon.” Instead Jesus says that the man “was born blind so that the acts of God may be revealed through what happens to him” (John 9:3b, NET) — meaning, through his healing.
Please note that carefully. The Lord didn’t say this man was blind to the glory of God but rather that his blindness would be an occasion for the glory of God to be revealed. The man’s terrible, difficult, lifelong condition was an opportunity for the Lord to be exalted. That is the Jesus mentality. As He said, “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
The current crisis is the divine setup for the church to arise and shine and make a difference.
The darkness is the divine setup for the light. The sickness is the divine setup for the healing. The current crisis is the divine setup for the church to arise and shine and make a difference. We must seize this moment before it passes (and then, in the aftermath, once it passes). We must milk it to the full for the glory of God. Does your heart bear witness to my words?
We Wonder What Caused the Virus
I also have a chapter in the book titled, “Who or What Sent the Virus? (And Does It Really Matter?)”
I focused on this question because we are endlessly wondering about the cause of the virus. Was it entirely natural? Was it manufactured in a lab? Was it a combination of the two? Is it an attack from the devil? Did God send it as a judgment?
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
I have heard numerous “prophetic” perspectives, with Christian leaders offering their viewpoints. And I have heard numerous “secular” perspectives, with political pundits and scientists offering their viewpoints.
And while these are certainly important questions to consider, the biggest question for us is this: What does God want to accomplish through this crisis?
It’s just like the man born blind. Jesus didn’t see his blindness as the direct result of personal sin, even though in the Bible, sin and sickness are often connected. And Jesus never explained directly why the man was born blind. He only stated that this was a divine opportunity. The blindness was an opportunity for healing.
The biggest question for us is this: What does God want to accomplish through this crisis?
That is where we find ourselves today, and I believe God wants us to seize this unique moment in history. To recognize how things can turn on a dime. How, suddenly, non-praying Americans are praying. How the table has been set for a massive harvest and awakening.
The Fields Are White for Harvest
So, let’s step back and ask the Father for His heart. For His perspective. As Jesus once said to His disciples, “Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest” (John 4:35).
America today is a ripe harvest field, more than we have seen in many years. Let us seize the moment. Let us redeem the crisis. Is it not time?
Dr. Michael Brown (www.askdrbrown.org) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program. His latest book is Jezebel’s War With America: The Plot to Destroy Our Country and What We Can Do to Turn the Tide. Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.


thestream--2020-04-02--We See Data Emerging Now, and It May Be a ‘Game-Changer’

I wrote yesterday about the frustration of hearing scientists in charge of the COVID-19 response call incessantly for data , no matter how long it takes to get it .
Well , Americans sitting at home with no work for the foreseeable future want data , too — but a lot sooner .
For example , we want to know the real infection rates , recovery rates and “ negative outcome ” rates .
( Everybody knows what doctors mean when they employ the euphemism “ negative outcome.
” ) We need these to assess how necessary it is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for months and possibly create global economic collapse , with all the disaster and hopelessness that would bring .
For many , the seriousness of this — the full impact — is just now really starting to hit .
We hear it in President Trump ’ s voice , now that he ’ s had to extend the stay-at-home guidelines .
The kids want to go outside and visit friends .
People worry if they ’ ll have jobs to go back to .
The rent was due on the 1st .
Speaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s bad is because April Fool ’ s Day came and went with precious few April Fool ’ s jokes .
We Have No Idea How Many Have Been Infected Anyway , right now it ’ s impossible to know what the reality is , because we have no idea how many have been infected .
That means “ experts ” are flying blind , too .
An undetermined number of those who pick up the virus are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms that mimic some little respiratory thing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That ’ s why estimates and predictions have been all over the map .
Fancy charts and graphs mean nothing .
You know how it is with computer models ( including those for predicting “ climate change ” ) : garbage in , garbage out .
Any infection rate we plug into these models is guesswork .
Garbage .
The way to get more people back to living their lives is to let them have the blood test for COVID-19 antibodies .
That ’ s especially true , of course , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from knowing they have immunity .
As of last week , an antibody test considered reliable by researchers has become available .
But , as Laura Ingraham pointed out on her Wednesday Fox News show , Dr. Anthony Fauci has said that antibodies testing is not a priority right now .
It will be important , “ ultimately , ” to “ get a feel ” for how far the virus penetrated society , to have an idea of “ the herd immunity , ” but that this is not their “ immediate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Now Say what ?
I ’ m sorry , but that makes no sense .
We need data on this now .
Dr. Birx gets the importance of this test , at least for health care workers .
She ’ s calling on universities to help and says they ’ ll be ready by this Friday .
She says the test is fast and easy — fantastic news for health care workers and all those on the front lines .
But we also need this done on a larger scale to get the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If the infection rate turns out to be a lot higher than we thought , then the “ bad outcome ” rate is far smaller than current guesses suggest .
On a positive note , six pharmaceutical companies , including Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer , are working on a vaccine .
The company Moderna has already started human testing .
Even big tobacco has joined the effort , with Lucky Strike saying they can quickly grow tobacco containing antigens to the virus .
That is incredible .
Still , the vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ optimistic estimate for this to be ready is 12-18 months .
Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
The President wants us all to be able soon to go back to work and get back to normal .
The old normal , the good normal .
But be warned : there are many who aren ’ t focused so much on that .
Researchers want their data .
Doctors want a high percentage of “ good outcomes.
” China wants us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own country want a “ new normal ” of limitless spending and control over our lives , forever and ever amen .
If we ’ re not vigilant , the threat of contagion could easily become a permanent excuse for tracking us all with GPS , monitoring social activities and confiscating guns .
Fun times .
Oh , and now Adam Schiff wants to investigate President Trump ’ s response to the pandemic .
We Need More Immediate Data on Hydroxychloroquine , Other Treatments But let ’ s get back to talking about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Here ’ s the biggest one of all : We sitting at home desperately want to see data on the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine , both as a protective measure and , in combination with azithromycin and zinc , as a treatment for respiratory symptoms .
I don ’ t mean the large controlled studies that take months or years , because we don ’ t have that kind of time , but smaller studies that reinforce the “ anecdotal ” reports we ’ ve been getting .
Some doctors now are routinely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ therapy , though they have to monitor closely for possible adverse cardiological effects .
( Note : this is why I advised against using “ pop-up tents ” outside hospitals to hand out mass quantities of the drugs . )
In fact , eminent infectious disease specialist Dr. Stephen Smith reports that of all his patients , no one receiving at least five days of the drug therapy has had to go on a ventilator .
This supports the results of that early French study that some “ experts ” were dismissing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ chance are , in effect , zero .
He called this “ a game-changer.
” In fact , he told Laura Ingraham , “ I think this is the beginning of the end .
Of the pandemic .
I ’ m very serious.
” Here ’ s another preliminary report of a different treatment that also looks very promising .
If that weren ’ t enough , here ’ s another piece of useful data : The more patients they treat , the more doctors are seeing that the ones far more likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who are overweight or obese and/or diabetic or pre-diabetic .
Sure , the gyms are closed for now , but I can ’ t think of a better reason to start some kind of diet and fitness program at home .
Step it up when the gyms re-open .
And toss away the cigarettes for good !
Save the tobacco for antigen-growing .
Data on the Origin of the Virus : An Interesting Paper Ignored by News Media Finally , again , we want data from China .
And China is actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its leaders ’ efforts to keep the lid on .
I ’ ve been commenting this week on the possibility that the COVID-19 virus originated not in the Wuhan live animal market but inside a nearby biotech lab .
That ’ s not just speculation : scientists from the South China University of Technology have put together a compelling case that one of two labs in Wuhan Province researching coronavirus in the “ intermediate Horseshoe Bat ” is the likely source of the contagion .
Their paper has been online for two months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
( That Australian 60 MINUTES report I linked to yesterday talks about it . )
Tucker Carlson and a few others have reported on it .
But the director of the National Institutes of Health has , inadvertently or not , run interference for the Chinese government by dismissing the idea as “ outrageous.
” No , it isn ’ t .
Maria Bartiromo brought up the subject , with Ted Cruz .
And Jim Treacher at PJ Media has an excellent commentary on this .
Mike Huckabee is the former governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues in culture and current events .
A New York Times best-selling author , he hosts the weekly talk show Huckabee on TBN .

I wrote yesterday about the frustration of hearing scientists in charge of the COVID-19 response call incessantly for data, no matter how long it takes to get it. Well, Americans sitting at home with no work for the foreseeable future want data, too — but a lot sooner.
For example, we want to know the real infection rates, recovery rates and “negative outcome” rates. (Everybody knows what doctors mean when they employ the euphemism “negative outcome.”) We need these to assess how necessary it is to grind the U.S. economy to a halt for months and possibly create global economic collapse, with all the disaster and hopelessness that would bring.
For many, the seriousness of this — the full impact — is just now really starting to hit. We hear it in President Trump’s voice, now that he’s had to extend the stay-at-home guidelines. The kids want to go outside and visit friends. People worry if they’ll have jobs to go back to. The rent was due on the 1st. Speaking of that, one way we know it’s bad is because April Fool’s Day came and went with precious few April Fool’s jokes.
We Have No Idea How Many Have Been Infected
Anyway, right now it’s impossible to know what the reality is, because we have no idea how many have been infected. That means “experts” are flying blind, too. An undetermined number of those who pick up the virus are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms that mimic some little respiratory thing and they don’t even get tested. That’s why estimates and predictions have been all over the map. Fancy charts and graphs mean nothing. You know how it is with computer models (including those for predicting “climate change”): garbage in, garbage out. Any infection rate we plug into these models is guesswork. Garbage.
Dr. Anthony Fauci has said that antibodies testing is not a priority right now.
The way to get more people back to living their lives is to let them have the blood test for COVID-19 antibodies. That’s especially true, of course, for healthcare workers, who could benefit incredibly from knowing they have immunity. As of last week, an antibody test considered reliable by researchers has become available. But, as Laura Ingraham pointed out on her Wednesday Fox News show, Dr. Anthony Fauci has said that antibodies testing is not a priority right now. It will be important, “ultimately,” to “get a feel” for how far the virus penetrated society, to have an idea of “the herd immunity,” but that this is not their “immediate problem.”
We Need Data on This Now
Say what? I’m sorry, but that makes no sense. We need data on this now. Dr. Birx gets the importance of this test, at least for health care workers. She’s calling on universities to help and says they’ll be ready by this Friday. She says the test is fast and easy — fantastic news for health care workers and all those on the front lines. But we also need this done on a larger scale to get the true picture of what this virus does. If the infection rate turns out to be a lot higher than we thought, then the “bad outcome” rate is far smaller than current guesses suggest.
On a positive note, six pharmaceutical companies, including Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer, are working on a vaccine. The company Moderna has already started human testing. Even big tobacco has joined the effort, with Lucky Strike saying they can quickly grow tobacco containing antigens to the virus. That is incredible. Still, the vaccine is a long-term answer. Even an optimistic estimate for this to be ready is 12-18 months.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
The President wants us all to be able soon to go back to work and get back to normal. The old normal, the good normal. But be warned: there are many who aren’t focused so much on that. Researchers want their data. Doctors want a high percentage of “good outcomes.” China wants us weak. And leftist politicians in our own country want a “new normal” of limitless spending and control over our lives, forever and ever amen. If we’re not vigilant, the threat of contagion could easily become a permanent excuse for tracking us all with GPS, monitoring social activities and confiscating guns. Fun times.
Oh, and now Adam Schiff wants to investigate President Trump’s response to the pandemic.
We Need More Immediate Data on Hydroxychloroquine, Other Treatments
But let’s get back to talking about the legitimate, worthwhile pursuit of data. Here’s the biggest one of all: We sitting at home desperately want to see data on the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine, both as a protective measure and, in combination with azithromycin and zinc, as a treatment for respiratory symptoms. I don’t mean the large controlled studies that take months or years, because we don’t have that kind of time, but smaller studies that reinforce the “anecdotal” reports we’ve been getting. Some doctors now are routinely treating coronavirus patients with the combination hydroxychloroquine therapy, though they have to monitor closely for possible adverse cardiological effects. (Note: this is why I advised against using “pop-up tents” outside hospitals to hand out mass quantities of the drugs.)
In fact, eminent infectious disease specialist Dr. Stephen Smith reports that of all his patients, no one receiving at least five days of the drug therapy has had to go on a ventilator. This supports the results of that early French study that some “experts” were dismissing. The odds of these results happening by chance are, in effect, zero.
He called this “a game-changer.” In fact, he told Laura Ingraham, “I think this is the beginning of the end. Of the pandemic. I’m very serious.”
Here’s another preliminary report of a different treatment that also looks very promising.
If that weren’t enough, here’s another piece of useful data: The more patients they treat, the more doctors are seeing that the ones far more likely to experience “negative outcomes” are those who are overweight or obese and/or diabetic or pre-diabetic. Sure, the gyms are closed for now, but I can’t think of a better reason to start some kind of diet and fitness program at home. Step it up when the gyms re-open. And toss away the cigarettes for good! Save the tobacco for antigen-growing.
Data on the Origin of the Virus: An Interesting Paper Ignored by News Media
Finally, again, we want data from China. And China is actually giving us some, in spite of its leaders’ efforts to keep the lid on. I’ve been commenting this week on the possibility that the COVID-19 virus originated not in the Wuhan live animal market but inside a nearby biotech lab. That’s not just speculation: scientists from the South China University of Technology have put together a compelling case that one of two labs in Wuhan Province researching coronavirus in the “intermediate Horseshoe Bat” is the likely source of the contagion.
Their paper has been online for two months but our media have virtually ignored it. (That Australian 60 MINUTES report I linked to yesterday talks about it.) Tucker Carlson and a few others have reported on it. But the director of the National Institutes of Health has, inadvertently or not, run interference for the Chinese government by dismissing the idea as “outrageous.” No, it isn’t.
Maria Bartiromo brought up the subject, with Ted Cruz.
And Jim Treacher at PJ Media has an excellent commentary on this.
Mike Huckabee is the former governor of Arkansas and longtime conservative commentator on issues in culture and current events. A New York Times best-selling author, he hosts the weekly talk show Huckabee on TBN.


thestream--2020-04-02--This Week at War on Coronavirus: ‘I Am a Soldier’

If a quote could sum up the selfless fortitude being displayed by our nation ’ s brave men and women in uniform during this new war on coronavirus , perhaps the words of Gen. George S. Patton come close .
“ I am a soldier , ” the World War II hero once said .
“ I fight where I am told , and I win where I fight.
” The first American service member to die from COVID-19 embodied Gen. Patton ’ s call to arms .
New Jersey National Guard Capt .
Douglass Hickok , 57 , died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symptoms on March 21 , according to the Army Times .
“ He was having trouble breathing , ” the fallen soldier ’ s daughter , Shandrea Hickok , told Military Times reporter Kyle Rempfer .
“ He was kind of huffing and puffing and he was going to the emergency room.
” Captain Hickok was a National Guard physician assistant and hardworking medical professional who volunteered to serve in 2010 despite being well over the age of 40 .
Simply put , he wanted to help people .
“ I think that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dad , ” the fallen soldier ’ s daughter told the newspaper .
“ He was just really devoted.
” Please join The Stream in praying for Captain Hickok ’ s children and his entire family as they mourn this incomprehensible loss .
As of Thursday morning , 35 U.S. service members are hospitalized with COVID-19 symptoms out of nearly 900 infected , while 59 troops have recovered , according to Fox News correspondent Lucas Tomlinson .
The most serious outbreak has been aboard the Guam-docked USS Theodore Roosevelt , which had experienced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After the ship ’ s captain pleaded for help , the decision was made to get 2,700 U.S. Navy sailors off the aircraft carrier by the end of the week , according to CQ reporter Andrew Clevenger .
Please say a special prayer for the command and crew of the USS Theodore Roosevelt as they deal with an unprecedented crisis .
Despite serious health risks , tens of thousands of American troops around the world are waking up every day and doing everything they can to help beat the virus .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ civilian medical professionals aboard the USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort are helping coronavirus patients off the coasts of America ’ s two largest cities .
As of Thursday morning , more than 18,500 members of the National Guard had been mobilized in the war on coronavirus .
From the remarkably rapid transformation of the Javits Center in New York to a similar effort thousands of miles away at the CenturyLink Field Event Center in Seattle , America ’ s citizen-warriors are stepping forward in a big way during this crisis .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this commitment in 39 years in the Army , ” Gen. James C. McConville told the Seattle Times this week .
Americans should also not lose sight of the fact that thousands of U.S. troops are still deployed around the world , from hotspots like the Middle East and the Korean Peninsula to COVID-19 epicenters like Italy and Germany .
On Wednesday , President Trump tweeted about Iran possibly targeting American forces or interests , underscoring the threat of a rogue regime or terrorist organization trying to take advantage of the COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to train mission essential personnel , ” Gen. McConville said in a recent Pentagon briefing .
“ But really , what we ’ re trying to do is we ’ re trying to balance protecting the force so we can protect the nation.
” Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
Some troops have faced mandatory quarantines before or after their deployments .
Others have seen their overseas tours extended .
Others are being sent to the southern border .
These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service members , according to Newsweek , but their families .
While it might be impossible for Americans to adequately thank our military heroes for everything they are doing to win the war on coronavirus , perhaps we can start by not only praying for these valiant men and women , but sharing their stories .
Working alongside the incredible doctors , nurses , first responders , essential store workers , delivery drivers and so many others stepping up during this pandemic , U.S. service members are undoubtedly living up to Gen. Patton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a soldier .
I fight where I am told , and I win where I fight.
” Tom Sileo is a contributing senior editor of The Stream .
He is co-author of 8 Seconds of Courage , Brothers Forever , Fire in My Eyes and the forthcoming Three Wise Men .
Follow Tom on Twitter @ TSileo and The Stream at @ Streamdotorg .

If a quote could sum up the selfless fortitude being displayed by our nation’s brave men and women in uniform during this new war on coronavirus, perhaps the words of Gen. George S. Patton come close.
“I am a soldier,” the World War II hero once said. “I fight where I am told, and I win where I fight.”
The first American service member to die from COVID-19 embodied Gen. Patton’s call to arms. New Jersey National Guard Capt. Douglas Hickok, 57, died last week after being hospitalized with coronavirus symptoms on March 21, according to the Army Times.
Family remembers first service member to die from COVID-19 as devoted officer, loving fatherhttps://t.co/cWsJBxjl4j pic.twitter.com/F9h99QZfuh — ArmyTimes (@ArmyTimes) March 31, 2020
“He was having trouble breathing,” the fallen soldier’s daughter, Shandrea Hickok, told Military Times reporter Kyle Rempfer. “He was kind of huffing and puffing and he was going to the emergency room.”
Captain Hickok was a National Guard physician assistant and hardworking medical professional who volunteered to serve in 2010 despite being well over the age of 40. Simply put, he wanted to help people.
“I think that’s an important aspect of my dad,” the fallen soldier’s daughter told the newspaper. “He was just really devoted.”
Please join The Stream in praying for Captain Hickok’s children and his entire family as they mourn this incomprehensible loss.
Pentagon: Covid-19 cases in U.S. military worldwide have tripled in a week, nearly 900 now infected — Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) April 2, 2020
As of Thursday morning, 35 U.S. service members are hospitalized with COVID-19 symptoms out of nearly 900 infected, while 59 troops have recovered, according to Fox News correspondent Lucas Tomlinson.
The most serious outbreak has been aboard the Guam-docked USS Theodore Roosevelt, which had experienced at least 93 infections as of Wednesday. After the ship’s captain pleaded for help, the decision was made to get 2,700 U.S. Navy sailors off the aircraft carrier by the end of the week, according to CQ reporter Andrew Clevenger.
Please say a special prayer for the command and crew of the USS Theodore Roosevelt as they deal with an unprecedented crisis.
I had the honor of visiting the USS Theodore Roosevelt and meeting the service members deployed there in the Persian Gulf. Hoping they get off ASAP and have healthy recoveries. Impossible to socially distance on those carriers. https://t.co/bPdUlvB5Hr — Gianna Toboni (@GiannaToboni) April 2, 2020
Despite serious health risks, tens of thousands of American troops around the world are waking up every day and doing everything they can to help beat the virus. At this hour, thousands of military and civilian medical professionals aboard the USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort are helping coronavirus patients off the coasts of America’s two largest cities.
Iconic photos of the USNS Comfort arriving in New York provides a glimmer of hope https://t.co/OeSMjXX8st pic.twitter.com/IWbubZSclB — CNBC (@CNBC) March 30, 2020
As of Thursday morning, more than 18,500 members of the National Guard had been mobilized in the war on coronavirus. From the remarkably rapid transformation of the Javits Center in New York to a similar effort thousands of miles away at the CenturyLink Field Event Center in Seattle, America’s citizen-warriors are stepping forward in a big way during this crisis.
“I’ve never quite seen the scope of this commitment in 39 years in the Army,” Gen. James C. McConville told the Seattle Times this week.
Rows of beds and medical equipment line the floor in the CenturyLink Field Event Center in #Seattle. The site is undergoing transformation from a sports arena to a world-class #Army hospital to help free up bed space in hospitals … https://t.co/FH5zZakmUZ #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/IZo4xm7oq0 — DVIDSHub (@DVIDSHub) April 1, 2020
Americans should also not lose sight of the fact that thousands of U.S. troops are still deployed around the world, from hotspots like the Middle East and the Korean Peninsula to COVID-19 epicenters like Italy and Germany. On Wednesday, President Trump tweeted about Iran possibly targeting American forces or interests, underscoring the threat of a rogue regime or terrorist organization trying to take advantage of the COVID-19 crisis.
“We’re continuing to train mission essential personnel,” Gen. McConville said in a recent Pentagon briefing. “But really, what we’re trying to do is we’re trying to balance protecting the force so we can protect the nation.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Some troops have faced mandatory quarantines before or after their deployments. Others have seen their overseas tours extended. Others are being sent to the southern border. These stark realities impact not only about 90,000 service members, according to Newsweek, but their families.
More troops are headed to the border to help federal agents deal with the coronavirus pandemic https://t.co/aElp8HdjfT — FOX 5 San Diego (@fox5sandiego) April 2, 2020
While it might be impossible for Americans to adequately thank our military heroes for everything they are doing to win the war on coronavirus, perhaps we can start by not only praying for these valiant men and women, but sharing their stories. Working alongside the incredible doctors, nurses, first responders, essential store workers, delivery drivers and so many others stepping up during this pandemic, U.S. service members are undoubtedly living up to Gen. Patton’s words.
“I am a soldier. I fight where I am told, and I win where I fight.”
Tom Sileo is a contributing senior editor of The Stream. He is co-author of 8 Seconds of Courage, Brothers Forever, Fire in My Eyes and the forthcoming Three Wise Men. Follow Tom on Twitter @TSileo and The Stream at @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-04-02--Man Donates 12K N95 Masks to Hospital in Honor of His Late Father, Company’s 43rd Anniversary

A Dallas-area businessman donated 12,000 masks to UT Southwestern Hospital this week in honor of his father , Vernon , who passed away last month , and the 43rd anniversary of the construction business Vernon started in 1977 .
The masks were given to protect those in the hospital from getting the coronavirus .
Tim Proctor told The Stream he decided to give the masks — purchased by Vernon 18 months ago for his business , Mart , Inc. — to the hospital because they took good care of his father while he was there .
Vernon was diagnosed with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital staff “ helped try to keep him as comfortable as he could be in his last days.
” Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
Vernon was a man of integrity and faith .
“ Everything was about integrity and hard work for my dad .
… and [ faith ] has just been passed down from generation to generation.
” At 76 years old , Vernon went on several mission trips , including Haiti after the 2010 earthquake , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tim said his dad would ’ ve agreed with the gift .
“ I think he would be excited about it .
This is the right thing to do.
” Proctor hopes his gift will be the catalyst for others to give .
“ We ’ ve certainly been blessed in our family over the years , ” he explained .
“ If you ’ ve been blessed , then now ’ s the time to step up and try to give those donations for people that are in need.
” Proctor , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , gave the masks to the hospital Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. “ They were very ecstatic and very joyful that they were getting the masks .
They were using a thousand masks a day .
… This would give them 12 days ’ worth .
This was the biggest single donation that they ’ d ever had for this.
” Although Proctor said he ’ s had more interviews that he ever wanted in a lifetime , it ’ s been good for him , too .
“ It helps the grieving process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , into something really positive in helping people .
And that ’ s kind of what my dad was about , was helping others when they were down.
” Nancy Flory is an associate editor at The Stream .
You can follow her @ NancyFlory3 , and follow The Stream @ Streamdotorg .

A Dallas-area businessman donated 12,000 masks to UT Southwestern Hospital this week in honor of his father, Vernon, who passed away last month, and the 43rd anniversary of the construction business Vernon started in 1977. The masks were given to protect those in the hospital from getting the coronavirus.
Tim Proctor told The Stream he decided to give the masks — purchased by Vernon 18 months ago for his business, Mart, Inc. — to the hospital because they took good care of his father while he was there. Vernon was diagnosed with liver cancer just weeks before. The hospital staff “helped try to keep him as comfortable as he could be in his last days.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Vernon was a man of integrity and faith. “Everything was about integrity and hard work for my dad. … and [faith] has just been passed down from generation to generation.” At 76 years old, Vernon went on several mission trips, including Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, and Japan after the 2011 tsunami. Tim said his dad would’ve agreed with the gift. “I think he would be excited about it. This is the right thing to do.”
Blessed
Proctor hopes his gift will be the catalyst for others to give. “We’ve certainly been blessed in our family over the years,” he explained. “If you’ve been blessed, then now’s the time to step up and try to give those donations for people that are in need.”
Proctor, who has taken over the family business, gave the masks to the hospital Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. “They were very ecstatic and very joyful that they were getting the masks. They were using a thousand masks a day. … This would give them 12 days’ worth. This was the biggest single donation that they’d ever had for this.”
Although Proctor said he’s had more interviews that he ever wanted in a lifetime, it’s been good for him, too. “It helps the grieving process to turn something bad, a death, into something really positive in helping people. And that’s kind of what my dad was about, was helping others when they were down.”
Nancy Flory is an associate editor at The Stream. You can follow her @NancyFlory3, and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.