thestream--2020-10-02--This Week at War: Fighting COVID-19

This Week at War: Fighting COVID-19

For seven months , the U.S. military has been quietly fighting a war on COVID-19 .
That fight will surely continue amid the stunning early Friday morning news that the commander-in-chief had tested positive for the coronavirus .
The Stream is praying for President Donald Trump , the First Lady and all Americans battling COVID-19 .
Tragically , an eighth U.S. service member has succumbed to the virus .
According to Military.com , Sgt .
1st Class Mike Markins passed away on September 26 in Elizabethtown , Kentucky .
The 48-year-old Army reservist was stationed at Fort Knox and had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 28 years .
According to the fallen soldier ’ s obituary , SFC Markins leaves behind a son , father , girlfriend and two sisters .
Please join The Stream in praying for them during this difficult hour of loss .
As of Thursday , there had been 45,759 COVID-19 cases inside military ranks , according to Department of Defense statistics .
Of those infected , 30,756 have been classified as “ recovered ” and 618 have been hospitalized .
Around the country , members of the National Guard and other branches are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and medical supplies , and assembling and administering COVID-19 tests .
Thank you to the heroes of the U.S. military for bravely manning the front lines of America ’ s war on COVID-19 .
On the west coast , a different kid of war is being fought against deadly and destructive wildfires .
As you may have read last week on The Stream , thousands of National Guard troops , joined by hundreds of Marines and sailors from around the country , are battling the blazes from southern California all the way up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Idaho .
The above images show just how hard members of the military are working to help firefighters extinguish these massive blazes .
From helicopters and large buckets to other essential equipment and personnel , our brave men and women in uniform are stepping forward to protect our population .
Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by these terrible fires .
It ’ s easy for a politician on either side of the aisle to claim the war in Afghanistan is ending or almost over .
As members of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is simply not the case .
Nearly 19 years after the start of America ’ s longest war , Military.com reports that a new Afghanistan deployment is on the horizon for the U.S. Army ’ s storied 10th Mountain Division .
“ The 2nd Brigade Combat Team , based in Fort Drum , New York , will replace the 10th Mountain ’ s 1st Brigade Combat Team and participate in the U.S. counterterrorism mission against al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups , according to an Army news release , ” Military.com defense reporter Matthew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still about 8,500 U.S. troops in Afghanistan , although President Trump has repeatedly said that number will shrink by approximately 4,000 before November 3 .
Meanwhile , military families continue to bear the heaviest burdens of war while most of us look away .
America should pay more attention to the war in Afghanistan until every single U.S. service member is home safely .
As Special Forces warriors hunt down and kill ISIS and al-Qaeda terrorists in Syria , American forces continue to face danger in Iraq .
On Tuesday , six rockets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in northern Iraq .
Three of those rockets struck a military base where U.S. troops are stationed , but thankfully , no injuries have been reported .
Please pray for all U.S. troops in harm ’ s way , as well as for their families here at home .
The new submarine USS Indiana is back home after leaving for its first voyage amid the COVID-19 pandemic .
The U.S. Navy said that other than two stops in Spain , the submarine ’ s command and crew had “ little contact with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , heroes !
Thank you for your sacrifices and enjoy the well-deserved time with your families .
Tom Sileo is a contributing senior editor of The Stream .
He is co-author of Three Wise Men , Brothers Forever , 8 Seconds of Courage and Fire in My Eyes .
Follow Tom on Twitter @ TSileo and The Stream at @ Streamdotorg .

War on COVID-19
For seven months, the U.S. military has been quietly fighting a war on COVID-19. That fight will surely continue amid the stunning early Friday morning news that the commander-in-chief had tested positive for the coronavirus. The Stream is praying for President Donald Trump, the First Lady and all Americans battling COVID-19.
Tragically, an eighth U.S. service member has succumbed to the virus. According to Military.com, Sgt. 1st Class Mike Markins passed away on September 26 in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. The 48-year-old Army reservist was stationed at Fort Knox and had served in the military for the past 28 years.
According to the fallen soldier’s obituary, SFC Markins leaves behind a son, father, girlfriend and two sisters. Please join The Stream in praying for them during this difficult hour of loss.
48-Year-Old Army Reservist Is 8th Service Member to Die from COVID-19 https://t.co/vUz3A3SxJY — Military.com (@Militarydotcom) October 1, 2020
As of Thursday, there had been 45,759 COVID-19 cases inside military ranks, according to Department of Defense statistics. Of those infected, 30,756 have been classified as “recovered” and 618 have been hospitalized.
Around the country, members of the National Guard and other branches are still protecting nursing homes, distributing food and medical supplies, and assembling and administering COVID-19 tests.
Photo of the Day: @AZNationalGuard members prepare and deliver boxes of groceries to area residents at a food bank while supporting the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. https://t.co/lK7jeunACb #InThisTogether pic.twitter.com/r7keGYhYXi — National Guard (@USNationalGuard) October 1, 2020
Thank you to the heroes of the U.S. military for bravely manning the front lines of America’s war on COVID-19.
Wildfires
On the west coast, a different kid of war is being fought against deadly and destructive wildfires.
As you may have read last week on The Stream, thousands of National Guard troops, joined by hundreds of Marines and sailors from around the country, are battling the blazes from southern California all the way up to Washington and further east to states like Idaho.
Cal Guard aviators and military helicopter managers from @CAL_FIRE FIRE work together to secure firefighting buckets aboard their CH-47 Chinooks at the Creek Fire helicopter base in Fresno County, Sept. 26, 2020. (U.S. Army National Guard photos by Staff Sgt. Eddie Siguenza) pic.twitter.com/0FaF9dRvts — The California National Guard (@CalGuard) September 29, 2020
The above images show just how hard members of the military are working to help firefighters extinguish these massive blazes. From helicopters and large buckets to other essential equipment and personnel, our brave men and women in uniform are stepping forward to protect our population.
Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by these terrible fires.
Middle East
It’s easy for a politician on either side of the aisle to claim the war in Afghanistan is ending or almost over. As members of the military know all to well, that is simply not the case.
Nearly 19 years after the start of America’s longest war, Military.com reports that a new Afghanistan deployment is on the horizon for the U.S. Army’s storied 10th Mountain Division.
“The 2nd Brigade Combat Team, based in Fort Drum, New York, will replace the 10th Mountain’s 1st Brigade Combat Team and participate in the U.S. counterterrorism mission against al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups, according to an Army news release,” Military.com defense reporter Matthew Cox wrote this week.
There are still about 8,500 U.S. troops in Afghanistan, although President Trump has repeatedly said that number will shrink by approximately 4,000 before November 3. Meanwhile, military families continue to bear the heaviest burdens of war while most of us look away. America should pay more attention to the war in Afghanistan until every single U.S. service member is home safely.
Photo of the Day: U.S. Army Sgt. Derick Bauman, left, and Spc. Nathan Hensal, crew chiefs with the 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, watch the sunset from a CH-47 Chinook helicopter as it flies over their area of operations in the Middle East. https://t.co/aqSXPzO9GC pic.twitter.com/boBZjercDz — National Guard (@USNationalGuard) September 30, 2020
As Special Forces warriors hunt down and kill ISIS and al-Qaeda terrorists in Syria, American forces continue to face danger in Iraq. On Tuesday, six rockets were reportedly fired at Erbil International Airport in northern Iraq. Three of those rockets struck a military base where U.S. troops are stationed, but thankfully, no injuries have been reported.
Please pray for all U.S. troops in harm’s way, as well as for their families here at home.
Coming Home
The new submarine USS Indiana is back home after leaving for its first voyage amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Navy said that other than two stops in Spain, the submarine’s command and crew had “little contact with the outside world since March.”
Welcome home, heroes! Thank you for your sacrifices and enjoy the well-deserved time with your families.
Tom Sileo is a contributing senior editor of The Stream. He is co-author of Three Wise Men, Brothers Forever, 8 Seconds of Courage and Fire in My Eyes. Follow Tom on Twitter @TSileo and The Stream at @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-10-02--‘Internet Kill Switch’ Is a Tool for Tyranny. This Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Wants to Get Rid of

‘Internet Kill Switch’ Is a Tool for Tyranny. This Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Wants to Get Rid of It

The COVID-19 crisis has taken an enormous human toll , with more than 200,000 Americans having succumbed to the virus , according to government data .
So , too , the sweeping government response has wrought both unprecedented economic and public health consequences .
Thus , in addition to the obvious health consequences , one major concern posed by the COVID-19 crisis is that unprecedented government power grabs may be here to stay .
Consider that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention used the coronavirus as pretext to unconstitutionally outlaw evictions nationwide in a de facto nationalization of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gretchen Whitmer baselessly made lawn care services illegal , and it quickly becomes clear why a bipartisan group of legislators is now seeking to limit the government ’ s power to take drastic action in future emergencies .
Right now , the executive branch technically has the authority under a World War II-era amendment of the Communications Act of 1934 to seize control of , monitor , or shut down “ any wire communication ” if the president deems it necessary for “ national security ” and declares an emergency .
This power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ include the ability of a president to , amid a crisis , seize control of the internet or even shut it off in swaths of the country in the name of national security .
It even appears the president could do this all unilaterally .
Thankfully , on September 23 , Sens .
Rand Paul , Gary Peters , and Ron Wyden joined forces with Reps. Thomas Massie and Tulsi Gabbard to introduce a bill rolling back these drastic powers .
“ If you give government an inch , it takes ten miles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the surveillance state ’ s overreaches in a time of seemingly endless war , ” Paul said .
“ No president from either party should have the sole power to shut down or take control of the internet or any other of our communication channels during an emergency.
” “ The oath that I took as a Soldier and as a Member of Congress was to support and defend our Constitution , ” Gabbard remarked .
“ No President should have the power to ignore our freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declaring a national emergency.
” “ When governments around the world turn off internet access , they do significant harm to their national economies and their citizen ’ s civil rights , ” Massie said .
“ This bipartisan bill will ensure that no future American president can unilaterally trip an ‘ internet kill switch.
’ Americans do not have to accept the premise that one person can deprive them of their 1st Amendment rights by flipping a switch.
” Why Restraining the Government ’ s ‘ Emergency Powers ’ is Necessary Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roll back emergency powers over the internet .
After all , they would only ever be used in a true extreme emergency , right ?
Why wouldn ’ t we want the government to have all the available tools to address a genuine crisis ?
The problem with this stance becomes clear when you take even a cursory glance at how often the word “ crisis ” is bantered about in modern political discourse .
Politicians call student loan debt a “ crisis , ” the affordability of housing a “ crisis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Others dub everything from the national debt to overregulation a “ crisis.
” None of this is to say these issues are not pressing , important , or even urgent .
But it ’ s apparent that just about every issue under the sun can be considered a “ crisis ” or “ emergency ” to its most ardent advocates .
So , the notion that emergency powers will only be used in extreme circumstances is deeply naïve .
And both perceived “ crises ” and actual crises alike are often used as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As Friedrich Hayek once observed , “ ‘ Emergencies ’ have always been the pretext on which the safeguards of individual liberty have been eroded.
” Robert Higgs concurred in his seminal work Crisis and Leviathan , in which he explains how the government obtains new powers each time a crisis emerges , but rarely if ever fully relinquishes them when the crisis passes .
“ In one form of another , great crises will surely come again , ” Higgs wrote .
“ When they do , governments almost certainly will gain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ … For those who cherish individual liberty and a free society , the prospect is deeply disheartening.
” We ’ ve seen this play out time and time again in American history .
During World War II , President Franklin Delano Roosevelt used the emergency posed by the war to round up Asian Americans and Asian immigrants and throw them in internment camps without due process or even any suspicion of wrongdoing .
In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks , the emergency was used as justification for unconstitutional warrantless spying on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleged “ enemy combatants ” without any due process .
Many of these spying powers are still in effect today , nearly two decades after the attack .
And the internet “ kill switch ” is itself a remnant of emergency powers granted during World War II but never rescinded .
Imagine the havoc a power-hungry federal government , controlled by either party , could wreak during an emergency , real or perceived , by seizing control of wireless communications .
Yet this isn ’ t a far-fetched fantasy .
If we leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to shut down the internet on the books , it ’ s likely that it will eventually be exercised to the detriment of Americans ’ civil liberties .
And once the power is exercised , it ’ s unlikely we ’ ll ever be able to scale it back .
This is not a hypothetical .
China shut down the internet in Xinjiang for an entire year in 2009 in response to protests and riots in the region .
Iran temporarily killed the internet in 2019 to shut down the spread of information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as India have exercised an internet “ kill switch ” in some regions to control the populace and stifle communication .
But this dystopian fate isn ’ t inevitable for the United States .
We should be thankful for the bipartisan group of legislators working to ensure that this nightmare scenario never comes to life here .
It doesn ’ t matter whether you ’ re a Democrat or Republican , liberal or conservative .
It doesn ’ t matter whether you despise Donald Trump or are horrified by the thought of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of your political opponents wielding unilateral control over the internet disturbs you , that ’ s a good sign it ’ s a power the government should not have .
Brad Polumbo is a libertarian-conservative journalist and the Eugene S. Thorpe Writing Fellow at the Foundation for Economic Education .

The COVID-19 crisis has taken an enormous human toll, with more than 200,000 Americans having succumbed to the virus, according to government data. So, too, the sweeping government response has wrought both unprecedented economic and public health consequences.
Thus, in addition to the obvious health consequences, one major concern posed by the COVID-19 crisis is that unprecedented government power grabs may be here to stay. Consider that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention used the coronavirus as pretext to unconstitutionally outlaw evictions nationwide in a de facto nationalization of the rental market or that Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer baselessly made lawn care services illegal, and it quickly becomes clear why a bipartisan group of legislators is now seeking to limit the government’s power to take drastic action in future emergencies.
Right now, the executive branch technically has the authority under a World War II-era amendment of the Communications Act of 1934 to seize control of, monitor, or shut down “any wire communication” if the president deems it necessary for “national security” and declares an emergency. This power applied to the modern age would certainly include the ability of a president to, amid a crisis, seize control of the internet or even shut it off in swaths of the country in the name of national security. It even appears the president could do this all unilaterally.
Thankfully, on September 23, Sens. Rand Paul, Gary Peters, and Ron Wyden joined forces with Reps. Thomas Massie and Tulsi Gabbard to introduce a bill rolling back these drastic powers.
“When governments around the world turn off internet access, they do significant harm to their national economies and their citizen’s civil rights,” Massie said.
“If you give government an inch, it takes ten miles, and this has been vividly illustrated by the surveillance state’s overreaches in a time of seemingly endless war,” Paul said. “No president from either party should have the sole power to shut down or take control of the internet or any other of our communication channels during an emergency.”
“The oath that I took as a Soldier and as a Member of Congress was to support and defend our Constitution,” Gabbard remarked. “No President should have the power to ignore our freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and violate our civil liberties and privacy by declaring a national emergency.”
“When governments around the world turn off internet access, they do significant harm to their national economies and their citizen’s civil rights,” Massie said. “This bipartisan bill will ensure that no future American president can unilaterally trip an ‘internet kill switch.’ Americans do not have to accept the premise that one person can deprive them of their 1st Amendment rights by flipping a switch.”
Why Restraining the Government’s ‘Emergency Powers’ is Necessary
Some might fail to see the need to roll back emergency powers over the internet. After all, they would only ever be used in a true extreme emergency, right? Why wouldn’t we want the government to have all the available tools to address a genuine crisis?
The problem with this stance becomes clear when you take even a cursory glance at how often the word “crisis” is bantered about in modern political discourse.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Politicians call student loan debt a “crisis,” the affordability of housing a “crisis,” and healthcare a “crisis.” Others dub everything from the national debt to overregulation a “crisis.” None of this is to say these issues are not pressing, important, or even urgent. But it’s apparent that just about every issue under the sun can be considered a “crisis” or “emergency” to its most ardent advocates. So, the notion that emergency powers will only be used in extreme circumstances is deeply naïve.
And both perceived “crises” and actual crises alike are often used as justification for sweeping government power grabs. As Friedrich Hayek once observed, “‘Emergencies’ have always been the pretext on which the safeguards of individual liberty have been eroded.” Robert Higgs concurred in his seminal work Crisis and Leviathan, in which he explains how the government obtains new powers each time a crisis emerges, but rarely if ever fully relinquishes them when the crisis passes.
“In one form of another, great crises will surely come again,” Higgs wrote. “When they do, governments almost certainly will gain new powers over economic and social affairs … For those who cherish individual liberty and a free society, the prospect is deeply disheartening.”
History Shows How ‘Emergency Powers’ Lead to Disastrous Abuses
We’ve seen this play out time and time again in American history.
During World War II, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt used the emergency posed by the war to round up Asian Americans and Asian immigrants and throw them in internment camps without due process or even any suspicion of wrongdoing. In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the emergency was used as justification for unconstitutional warrantless spying on Americans and the detention and torture of alleged “enemy combatants” without any due process.
Many of these spying powers are still in effect today, nearly two decades after the attack. And the internet “kill switch” is itself a remnant of emergency powers granted during World War II but never rescinded.
If the thought of your political opponents wielding unilateral control over the internet disturbs you, that’s a good sign it’s a power the government should not have.
Imagine the havoc a power-hungry federal government, controlled by either party, could wreak during an emergency, real or perceived, by seizing control of wireless communications. Yet this isn’t a far-fetched fantasy. If we leave the federal government’s sweeping power to shut down the internet on the books, it’s likely that it will eventually be exercised to the detriment of Americans’ civil liberties. And once the power is exercised, it’s unlikely we’ll ever be able to scale it back.
This is not a hypothetical. China shut down the internet in Xinjiang for an entire year in 2009 in response to protests and riots in the region. Iran temporarily killed the internet in 2019 to shut down the spread of information during anti-regime protests. Even democratic nations such as India have exercised an internet “kill switch” in some regions to control the populace and stifle communication.
But this dystopian fate isn’t inevitable for the United States. We should be thankful for the bipartisan group of legislators working to ensure that this nightmare scenario never comes to life here.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative. It doesn’t matter whether you despise Donald Trump or are horrified by the thought of President Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. If the thought of your political opponents wielding unilateral control over the internet disturbs you, that’s a good sign it’s a power the government should not have.
Brad Polumbo is a libertarian-conservative journalist and the Eugene S. Thorpe Writing Fellow at the Foundation for Economic Education.
Originally published at FEE.org.


thestream--2020-10-02--Prayers of a Nation: President and First Lady Test Positive for COVID-19

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have tested positive for COVID-19 .
Both are said to be “ well at this time.
” The news comes several hours after top aide Hope Hicks was found to have the virus .
The Stream family joins in praying for the quick and speedy recovery of the first couple .
President Trump tweeted about the news .
He said he and his wife will begin their quarantine and recovery process immediately .
“ We will get through this TOGETHER !
” Melania also tweeted , saying , “ As too many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ POTUS & I are quarantining at home after testing positive for COVID-19 .
We are feeling good & I have postponed all upcoming engagements .
Please be sure you are staying safe & we will all get through this together.
” The President ’ s Physician : Both “ Are Well at This Time ” In a statement , Physician to the President and U.S. Navy Commander Sean Conley said , “ The President and First Lady are well at this time and they plan to remain home within the White House during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expect the President to continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering , and I will keep you updated on any future developments.
” How the COVID diagnosis will impact the presidential race in the coming weeks is too early to determine .
The president obviously will not be on the campaign trail .
Commentator Mike Cernovich set the stage for the latest drama in a year of drama .
Actor James Woods posted his wonder at the challenges the Trump family has had to face since coming to the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed most.
” Indeed the snickers have already started and will reach frenzy come morning as America wakes up to the news the President of the United States has tested positive .
The Stream will be updating this story .
READ THE STATEMENT FROM THE PHYSICIAN TO THE PRESIDENT :

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have tested positive for COVID-19. Both are said to be “well at this time.” The news comes several hours after top aide Hope Hicks was found to have the virus.
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told reporters Friday morning that Trump “does have mild symptoms.” He added that Trump “continues to be not only in good spirits but very energetic.” The first lady tweeted that she has “mild symptoms but overall feeling good.”
Thank you for the love you are sending our way. I have mild symptoms but overall feeling good. I am looking forward to a speedy recovery. — Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) October 2, 2020
The Stream family joins in praying for the quick and speedy recovery of the first couple.
President Trump tweeted about the news. He said he and his wife will begin their quarantine and recovery process immediately. “We will get through this TOGETHER!”
Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 2, 2020
Melania also tweeted, saying, “As too many Americans have done this year, @POTUS & I are quarantining at home after testing positive for COVID-19. We are feeling good & I have postponed all upcoming engagements. Please be sure you are staying safe & we will all get through this together.”
As too many Americans have done this year, @potus & I are quarantining at home after testing positive for COVID-19. We are feeling good & I have postponed all upcoming engagements. Please be sure you are staying safe & we will all get through this together. — Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) October 2, 2020
The President’s Physician: Both ‘Are Well at This Time’
In a statement, Physician to the President and U.S. Navy Commander Sean Conley said, “The President and First Lady are well at this time and they plan to remain home within the White House during their convalescence.”
“Rest assured I expect the President to continue carrying out his duties without disruption while recovering, and I will keep you updated on any future developments.”
The Presidential Campaign
How the COVID diagnosis will impact the presidential race in the coming weeks is too early to determine. The president obviously will not be on the campaign trail. Commentator Mike Cernovich set the stage for the latest drama in a year of drama.
Nothing else matters anymore. The lead character is in peril, the world watches. The only issue now on the ballot – Will Trump survive? If he does, landslide. — Cernovich (@Cernovich) October 2, 2020
Actor James Woods posted his wonder at the challenges the Trump family has had to face since coming to the White House. “God challenges those who are needed most.”
In my 73 years on this earth I have never witnessed a man and his family be put to the test like this President and First Lady have been. God challenges those who are needed most. While the Left is no doubt sniggering with glee, we patriots pray for our @POTUS and our @FLOTUS. pic.twitter.com/I8ahcFjYHs — James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) October 2, 2020
Indeed the snickers have already started and will reach frenzy come morning as America wakes up to the news the President of the United States has tested positive.
The Stream will be updating this story.
READ THE STATEMENT FROM THE PHYSICIAN TO THE PRESIDENT:
CALL TO PRAYER: Lord, we pray President and Melania Trump remain well and beat this virus quickly, thoroughly and with no lasting effect. May they find comfort and healing from You and draw closer to You in these days. And may the nation in its hardened heart find its true American spirit to come together to pray for the well-being and speedy recovery of the first couple. May God be with the United States.


thestream--2020-10-03--Don’t be Suckered Into Diversion Over Debate Chaos

Don ’ t fool yourself ; the Democrats and the mainstream media don ’ t want to cancel the next two presidential debates because they are worried about Americans ’ delicate sensibilities .
Are you kidding me ?
They know that the ailing Joe Biden is hanging by a thread , and they ’ re scared .
Even if they believe Biden won the debate , as they claim , they know it was only by default — because of a possible negative reaction to Donald Trump , as opposed to anything impressive coming from Biden .
They ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking the risk of being blown out of the water in upcoming debates .
They understand Biden doesn ’ t have the juice , the ideas or the record to win a debate against Trump on his own .
Without help from Trump , future moderators or the post-debate media chorus , Biden can ’ t win .
Granted , even some Trump supporters think Trump helped Biden out by being rude and interrupting too much .
But former George W. Bush aide Ari Fleischer observed that Biden started it .
Let ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in telling Trump to shut up , calling him a clown and the worst president we ’ ve ever had , and again falsely smearing him as a racist .
Yet Biden gets a complete pass for his rudeness .
It ’ s almost as if the media were biased or something .
Try to put yourself in Trump ’ s shoes going into this debate .
He has been ceaselessly and unfairly maligned for four years .
He ’ s naturally going to be loaded for bear .
Plus , he and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know how Biden mocked , bullied and interrupted Paul Ryan during the 2016 vice presidential debate .
They saw what happened when Ryan allowed himself to be steamrolled by the “ empathetic ” Biden .
Maybe Ryan figured it was better to appear above the fray than to fight back — an attitude that he may have acquired from his running mate , Mitt Romney , who all but threw in the towel after destroying then-President Barack Obama in the first debate .
But playing nice for the sake of accolades and at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Trump ’ s DNA .
His team surely told him he couldn ’ t afford to let Biden run over him with insults and innuendo , and should instead be himself and play offense .
If you think he went too far , fine .
But could the Democrats , the media and never-Trump Republicans please spare us the fake shock over Trump ’ s debate conduct , as if they had expected him to have a personality transplant and behave like George McFly ?
They know better .
They ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Their post-mortem would have us believe Americans are too weak to endure more debates .
Quit treating the people like babies .
Voters can handle a little conflict .
Those who can ’ t are perfectly free to not watch next time .
Those claiming that Americans were traumatized by a contentious debate are the same ones who are telling you to look the other way while their beloved leftist anarchists burn the country down .
They ’ re the ones wanting to defund the police .
An unruly debate is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agitating , looting , arsonist Marxist antifa movement is just an innocuous idea .
In the meantime , don ’ t be sucked in by the left ’ s glowing assessment of Biden ’ s performance .
If leftists felt good about it , they ’ d be begging for five more debates instead of praying for a plausible excuse to cancel the next two .
Biden and his handlers know that Trump has implemented an array of successful policies , that he built a phenomenal economy before COVID-19 and is already doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsibly reopening the economy .
They also know that Biden ’ s agenda is extraordinarily confused and problematic .
Biden outright lied in denying his support for the Green New Deal , as anyone with access to a computer can discover with a quick trip to his campaign website .
He lied because he couldn ’ t afford to admit backing such a preposterous plan .
Trump wasn ’ t exaggerating that it carries a $ 100 trillion price tag — for real , to quote Biden .
Actual support for this monstrosity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fully understood what it entails .
Biden better keep lying about it if he wants to stay in the race .
Further , Biden refused to answer whether he ’ d pack the Supreme Court , because he knows that answering either way involves great political risk .
( Say what you want about Trump , but you know where he stands on the issues , while Biden ’ s finger remains hoisted in the wind . )
Proof that Biden and his party have no answers to America ’ s problems is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t be surprised to see Democrats and the media disgracefully demand 20 more times that Trump denounce white supremacists but make no corresponding call for Biden to denounce the real instigators of violence , who are on the political left .
Democrats are Thrilled With the Diversion So be upset over Trump ’ s excessive interruptions if you choose , but don ’ t let the left blow this sideshow out of proportion .
Democrats are thrilled with this diversion , ecstatic that they can talk about Trump ’ s rudeness instead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is no way , even today , that Americans will knowingly choose socialism and tyranny over capitalism and freedom ; anarchy over law and order ; judge-made laws over the Constitution ; and deliberate racial division over honest aspirations for racial colorblindness .
David Limbaugh is a writer , author and attorney .
His latest book is Guilty by Reason of Insanity : Why the Democrats Must Not Win .
Follow him on Twitter @ davidlimbaugh and his website at www.davidlimbaugh.com .

Don’t fool yourself; the Democrats and the mainstream media don’t want to cancel the next two presidential debates because they are worried about Americans’ delicate sensibilities. Are you kidding me? They know that the ailing Joe Biden is hanging by a thread, and they’re scared.
Even if they believe Biden won the debate, as they claim, they know it was only by default — because of a possible negative reaction to Donald Trump, as opposed to anything impressive coming from Biden.
Biden Doesn’t Have the Juice
They’ll do everything they can to avoid Biden taking the risk of being blown out of the water in upcoming debates. They understand Biden doesn’t have the juice, the ideas or the record to win a debate against Trump on his own. Without help from Trump, future moderators or the post-debate media chorus, Biden can’t win.
Granted, even some Trump supporters think Trump helped Biden out by being rude and interrupting too much. But former George W. Bush aide Ari Fleischer observed that Biden started it. Let’s also recognize Biden’s rudeness in telling Trump to shut up, calling him a clown and the worst president we’ve ever had, and again falsely smearing him as a racist. Yet Biden gets a complete pass for his rudeness. It’s almost as if the media were biased or something.
Trump Did His Homework
Try to put yourself in Trump’s shoes going into this debate. He has been ceaselessly and unfairly maligned for four years. He’s naturally going to be loaded for bear. Plus, he and his team do their homework. They know how Biden mocked, bullied and interrupted Paul Ryan during the 2016 vice presidential debate. They saw what happened when Ryan allowed himself to be steamrolled by the “empathetic” Biden.
Maybe Ryan figured it was better to appear above the fray than to fight back — an attitude that he may have acquired from his running mate, Mitt Romney, who all but threw in the towel after destroying then-President Barack Obama in the first debate. But playing nice for the sake of accolades and at the expense of the nation are not in Trump’s DNA. His team surely told him he couldn’t afford to let Biden run over him with insults and innuendo, and should instead be himself and play offense.
Spare Us the Fake Shock
If you think he went too far, fine. But could the Democrats, the media and never-Trump Republicans please spare us the fake shock over Trump’s debate conduct, as if they had expected him to have a personality transplant and behave like George McFly? They know better. They’re not appalled; they’re posturing.
Their post-mortem would have us believe Americans are too weak to endure more debates. Quit treating the people like babies. Voters can handle a little conflict. Those who can’t are perfectly free to not watch next time.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Those claiming that Americans were traumatized by a contentious debate are the same ones who are telling you to look the other way while their beloved leftist anarchists burn the country down. They’re the ones wanting to defund the police. An unruly debate is a threat to the republic, but the agitating, looting, arsonist Marxist antifa movement is just an innocuous idea.
In the meantime, don’t be sucked in by the left’s glowing assessment of Biden’s performance. If leftists felt good about it, they’d be begging for five more debates instead of praying for a plausible excuse to cancel the next two.
Trump’s Successful Policies
Biden and his handlers know that Trump has implemented an array of successful policies, that he built a phenomenal economy before COVID-19 and is already doing it again, despite Democratic resistance to responsibly reopening the economy. They also know that Biden’s agenda is extraordinarily confused and problematic.
Biden’s Confused and Problematic Agenda
Biden outright lied in denying his support for the Green New Deal, as anyone with access to a computer can discover with a quick trip to his campaign website. He lied because he couldn’t afford to admit backing such a preposterous plan. Trump wasn’t exaggerating that it carries a $100 trillion price tag — for real, to quote Biden.
Actual support for this monstrosity would be political suicide if the public fully understood what it entails. Biden better keep lying about it if he wants to stay in the race. Further, Biden refused to answer whether he’d pack the Supreme Court, because he knows that answering either way involves great political risk. (Say what you want about Trump, but you know where he stands on the issues, while Biden’s finger remains hoisted in the wind.)
Proof that Biden and his party have no answers to America’s problems is their nonstop racial smears. Don’t be surprised to see Democrats and the media disgracefully demand 20 more times that Trump denounce white supremacists but make no corresponding call for Biden to denounce the real instigators of violence, who are on the political left.
Democrats are Thrilled With the Diversion
So be upset over Trump’s excessive interruptions if you choose, but don’t let the left blow this sideshow out of proportion.
Democrats are thrilled with this diversion, ecstatic that they can talk about Trump’s rudeness instead of the candidates’ respective agendas, because there is no way, even today, that Americans will knowingly choose socialism and tyranny over capitalism and freedom; anarchy over law and order; judge-made laws over the Constitution; and deliberate racial division over honest aspirations for racial colorblindness.
David Limbaugh is a writer, author and attorney. His latest book is Guilty by Reason of Insanity: Why the Democrats Must Not Win. Follow him on Twitter @davidlimbaugh and his website at www.davidlimbaugh.com.
COPYRIGHT 2020 CREATORS.COM


thestream--2020-10-02--Do You Make This Common Mistake With Christians Who Have Questions?

Christians are under pressure like never before , here in the West to give up the faith .
What ’ s the best answer ?
Is there any guidance in the Bible ?
There is , actually .
You may not have seen the Letter to the Hebrews this way , but it was written to people in a situation a lot like ours .
Their culture was pressing hard against them .
It hadn ’ t turned violent ( Heb .
12:4 ) , but they were insulted , they had property taken from them , and some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
They had “ need of endurance ” to do the will of God ( 10:36 ) .
That should sound very familiar .
Christian bakers , florists , and others in the wedding business have laid it all on the line .
College students regularly have to do the same .
Christians are systematically excluded from university faculties .
If none of that touches you directly , you ’ re still under fire from entertainment media , which is almost universally anti-Christian .
How Not to Encourage Christians Who Have Questions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hebrew Christians needed it .
So how should we strengthen each other ?
Let ’ s take a quick look at the model a lot of churches follow .
Please read this carefully , especially the second half .
It starts in Hebrews 1:1 .
Long ago , at many times and in many ways , God spoke to our fathers by the prophets , 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son , whom he appointed the heir of all things , through whom also he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature , and he upholds the universe by the word of his power .
After making purification for sins , he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high , 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs .
5 That means Jesus is really , really great .
And that ’ s enough , right ?
6 What else could you possibly need to know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for you ?
7 You don ’ t need to ask questions .
Just believe .
8 If you insist on asking how anyone knows it ’ s true , there ’ s something wrong with you .
Your faith is too weak .
I hope that caught you off guard .
If not , then you really need to open up your Bible and read the original again !
The first four verses came straight from the English Standard Version .
The last four ?
Definitely not in the Bible .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though , you ’ d be wrong .
They ’ re a composite of what too many ex-believers have told me they heard in their churches while growing up .
“ Don ’ t ask .
Just believe.
” Some Christians think that ’ s good advice , when in fact it ’ s spiritually disastrous .
I have a hard time blaming people for walking away from religion like that .
Who wants to follow a worldview that can ’ t stand questions ?
It isn ’ t just bad strategy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too .
The Letter to the Hebrews gives us a completely different model .
Hebrews ?
Yes .
I know , the book scares some us off because it refers to the Old Testament so much .
( It doesn ’ t help that some of the names are hard to pronounce . )
You ’ d be amazed how relevant it is , though .
Its theology is crucial , as it ’ s the Bible ’ s most complete explanation of Jesus in relation to Old Testament religion .
But there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the book , or at least a point we ought to be talking about more than we do .
It ’ s not about what this writer wrote , but about why he wrote it .
Where to Find Answers When They Ask For basic reasons to believe , I always start with J. Warner Wallace ’ s Cold Case Christianity for basic reasons to believe .
My own Too Good to be False echoes in updated form what Hebrews does in its first several chapters : It shows how Jesus is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter what .
For contemporary cultural issues , I recommend you start your search here on The Stream or else at Stand to Reason .
For questions about theology , rather than trying to sort out different denominations ’ opinions , I ’ d just suggest you ask your pastor .
Most scholars agree the author sent the letter because these Hebrew believers were under pressure to give up the faith , and they needed encouragement to keep on believing in Him .
The pressure they felt was all about the religion their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In that light , you can see why they had questions .
So let me give you the world ’ s fastest Bible-book outline to show how he answered .
In the first eight-and-a-half chapters , he explained they should follow Jesus because he ’ s greater than the angels and all the Old Testament heroes .
( He sprinkled some strong exhortations in along with that , too . )
Then he went on to show they could safely move on from their familiar Jewish sacrificial system , because Jesus had fulfilled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ten he explained how they could keep trusting even during struggles , because God disciplines us in love , as a father does a child .
Then in chapter 11 , they could adopt a life based on faith because faith was how the Old Testament saints lived , too .
All those because words signal something : He was giving them reasons to believe .
Reasons not to give up .
Reasons to keep following Christ .
That ’ s the model .
This scary-looking book of Hebrews isn ’ t so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why it was written .
These people needed reasons to believe Jesus was good enough for them to follow Him , instead of the religion they and their ancestors had followed for centuries .
There ’ s a lot of doctrine in the answers he gave , but there ’ s a simple lesson underneath it all : Let the people ask .
Then if you know the answer , help them understand it .
Our questions are different now , but the principle remains .
When Christ ’ s people are under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trusting Him .
They need what we call apologetics today .
It ’ s just another name for reasons to believe , taken from a Greek word roughly meaning “ to give an answer.
” Pastors , teachers , leaders , parents , please hear the message here .
“ Just believe ” is unbiblical .
It ’ s wrong .
And it produces more atheists than anything else I ’ ve seen in my decades of experience .
Let your people ask — especially young people .
Then guide them toward answers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a senior editor with The Stream and the author or editor of six books , including the recently released Too Good To Be False : How Jesus ’ Incomparable Character Reveals His Reality .

Christians are under pressure like never before, here in the West to give up the faith. What’s the best answer? Is there any guidance in the Bible?
There is, actually. You may not have seen the Letter to the Hebrews this way, but it was written to people in a situation a lot like ours. Their culture was pressing hard against them. It hadn’t turned violent (Heb. 12:4), but they were insulted, they had property taken from them, and some of them may have been imprisoned (10:33-34). They had “need of endurance” to do the will of God (10:36).
That should sound very familiar. Christian bakers, florists, and others in the wedding business have laid it all on the line. College students regularly have to do the same. Christians are systematically excluded from university faculties. If none of that touches you directly, you’re still under fire from entertainment media, which is almost universally anti-Christian.
How Not to Encourage Christians Who Have Questions
We need encouragement the same way the Hebrew Christians needed it. So how should we strengthen each other? Let’s take a quick look at the model a lot of churches follow. Please read this carefully, especially the second half. It starts in Hebrews 1:1.
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. 5 That means Jesus is really, really great. And that’s enough, right? 6 What else could you possibly need to know? Isn’t that good enough for you? 7 You don’t need to ask questions. Just believe. 8 If you insist on asking how anyone knows it’s true, there’s something wrong with you. Your faith is too weak.
I hope that caught you off guard. If not, then you really need to open up your Bible and read the original again! The first four verses came straight from the English Standard Version. The last four? Definitely not in the Bible. If you think I made them up, though, you’d be wrong. They’re a composite of what too many ex-believers have told me they heard in their churches while growing up.
“Don’t ask. Just believe.” Some Christians think that’s good advice, when in fact it’s spiritually disastrous. I have a hard time blaming people for walking away from religion like that. Who wants to follow a worldview that can’t stand questions? It isn’t just bad strategy, though; it’s unbiblical, too. The Letter to the Hebrews gives us a completely different model.
The Secret Relevance of Hebrews
Hebrews? Yes. I know, the book scares some us off because it refers to the Old Testament so much. (It doesn’t help that some of the names are hard to pronounce.) You’d be amazed how relevant it is, though. Its theology is crucial, as it’s the Bible’s most complete explanation of Jesus in relation to Old Testament religion. But there’s another secret point of relevance to the book, or at least a point we ought to be talking about more than we do. It’s not about what this writer wrote, but about why he wrote it.
Where to Find Answers When They Ask For basic reasons to believe, I always start with J. Warner Wallace’s Cold Case Christianity for basic reasons to believe. My own Too Good to be False echoes in updated form what Hebrews does in its first several chapters: It shows how Jesus is great enough to be worth following no matter what. For contemporary cultural issues, I recommend you start your search here on The Stream or else at Stand to Reason. For questions about theology, rather than trying to sort out different denominations’ opinions, I’d just suggest you ask your pastor.
Most scholars agree the author sent the letter because these Hebrew believers were under pressure to give up the faith, and they needed encouragement to keep on believing in Him. The pressure they felt was all about the religion their people had been following for centuries. In that light, you can see why they had questions.
So let me give you the world’s fastest Bible-book outline to show how he answered. In the first eight-and-a-half chapters, he explained they should follow Jesus because he’s greater than the angels and all the Old Testament heroes. (He sprinkled some strong exhortations in along with that, too.)
Then he went on to show they could safely move on from their familiar Jewish sacrificial system, because Jesus had fulfilled and finished its purpose. In chapter ten he explained how they could keep trusting even during struggles, because God disciplines us in love, as a father does a child. Then in chapter 11, they could adopt a life based on faith because faith was how the Old Testament saints lived, too.
Because Means Reasons
All those because words signal something: He was giving them reasons to believe. Reasons not to give up. Reasons to keep following Christ.
That’s the model. This scary-looking book of Hebrews isn’t so bad after all, once you realize why it was written. These people needed reasons to believe Jesus was good enough for them to follow Him, instead of the religion they and their ancestors had followed for centuries. There’s a lot of doctrine in the answers he gave, but there’s a simple lesson underneath it all: Let the people ask. Then if you know the answer, help them understand it.
Our questions are different now, but the principle remains. When Christ’s people are under pressure, they need reasons to keep trusting Him. They need what we call apologetics today. It’s just another name for reasons to believe, taken from a Greek word roughly meaning “to give an answer.”
Pastors, teachers, leaders, parents, please hear the message here. “Just believe” is unbiblical. It’s wrong. And it produces more atheists than anything else I’ve seen in my decades of experience. Let your people ask — especially young people. Then guide them toward answers.
Tom Gilson (@TomGilsonAuthor) is a senior editor with The Stream and the author or editor of six books, including the recently released Too Good To Be False: How Jesus’ Incomparable Character Reveals His Reality.


thestream--2020-10-02--Mike Huckabee’s Prayer of Healing for President Trump, First Lady Melania and Others

We had a preplanned Zoom interview with Gov .
Mike Huckabee this morning , and we knew it was important @ @ @ @ @ President Trump , First Lady Melania , White House senior aide Hope Hicks , and @ @ @ @ @ with COVID-19 .
Please watch and share as we lift them up to the Father @ @ @ @ @ interview with Gov .
Huckabee will post here early next week .
We will be @ @ @ @ @ The Three Cs That Made America Great : Christianity , Capitalism and the Constitution .
@ @ @ @ @ to miss it .
You can view all the videos in this interview series here @ @ @ @ @ Stream ’ s founder and publisher .
He is co-founder of LIFE Outreach International and @ @ @ @ @ He ’ s the author of many books , including Indivisible ( with Jay Richards @ @ @ @ @

We had a preplanned Zoom interview with Gov. Mike Huckabee this morning, and we knew it was important to stop and pray for President Trump, First Lady Melania, White House senior aide Hope Hicks, and others who have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Please watch and share as we lift them up to the Father in prayer.
My full interview with Gov. Huckabee will post here early next week. We will be discussing his newest book, The Three Cs That Made America Great: Christianity, Capitalism and the Constitution. You don’t want to miss it.
You can view all the videos in this interview series here.
James Robison is The Stream’s founder and publisher. He is co-founder of LIFE Outreach International and co-host of LIFE Today. He’s the author of many books, including Indivisible (with Jay Richards) and Living Amazed.


thestream--2020-10-02--A Tale of Two Catholics

A Tale of Two Catholics

The media ’ s skepticism about religion turns on and off depending on the figure under scrutiny .
If it is a liberal , the media asks no questions .
A Joe Biden can proclaim himself a devout Catholic and the media accepts that uncritically .
But it suddenly grows inquisitive at the news of a conservative Catholic nominee for the Supreme Court .
That Amy Coney Barrett follows her faith is “ news ” ; that Joe Biden deviates from his faith isn ’ t .
Barrett , we ’ re told by the media , belongs to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that “ subjugates ” women .
This same media yawns at the countless stories of Biden harassing women .
How that squares with Biden ’ s faith is of no interest to the media .
In his book , The First Family Detail , Ronald Kessler reported that “ Biden has a habit of swimming in his pool nude .
Female Secret Service agents find that offensive.
” According to Kessler , “ Because of Biden ’ s lack of consideration as evidenced by that habit and his refusal to give agents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , being assigned to his detail is considered the second worst assignment in the Secret Service after being assigned to protect Hillary Clinton.
” While the media hounds Barrett for fidelity to her faith , it remains incurious about Biden ’ s aberrant behavior .
Biden promises to restore dignity to the White House .
Never mind that he routinely undermined it as vice president .
Ask Lucy Flores , who ran for lieutenant governor of Nevada .
She has written about her awful experience at the hands of Joe Biden in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ An Awkward Kiss Changed How I Saw Joe Biden.
” She recalls how at a campaign event he came up behind her , pawing her back and kissing the back of her head : I had never experienced anything so blatantly inappropriate and unnerving before .
Biden was the second-most powerful man in the country and , arguably , one of the most powerful men in the world .
He was there to promote me as the right person for the lieutenant governor job .
Instead , he made me feel uneasy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the United States of America had just touched me in an intimate way reserved for close friends , family , or romantic partners — and I felt powerless to do anything about it .
One would think such stories might put Biden on the hot seat .
But they don ’ t .
The media reserves its scrutiny for conservative figures like Barrett , a blameless mother of seven whose views and conduct align with her church .
What perverse priorities drive media coverage !
Surely , the real man-bites-dog story is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a devotee of observant Catholicism while pushing an agenda diametrically opposed to it .
Shouldn ’ t the same media that questions Church officials about Barrett ’ s faith question bishops about Biden ’ s ?
Is it not newsworthy that Biden officiates at gay weddings , an egregiously disobedient act for a Catholic to perform ?
Is it not newsworthy that Catholic Joe Biden declares himself a champion of transgenderism and wants to impose it on schools in defiance of parental wishes ?
Barrett ’ s pro-life remarks are to be expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s claim that “ transgender equality is the civil rights issue of our time ” isn ’ t .
Or take Biden ’ s support for late-term abortion and his vow to resume harassment of the Little Sisters of the Poor for not complying with Obama ’ s contraceptive mandate .
These stances cry out for coverage , but they get none .
Biden is even in favor of communist China ’ s coercive population control measures .
Recall his going over to China and saying that he “ fully understands ” China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in excess of its eugenic quotas .
On issue after issue , Joe Biden stands against the teachings of his faith .
But the media just shrugs .
The only good Catholic is apparently a bad one , judging by the media ’ s sympathetic coverage of Biden .
Barrett is not so lucky .
She is treated as a weirdo while Biden basks in glowing coverage .
“ How Joe Biden ’ s Catholic Faith Shapes His Politics and Values , ” ran a treacly NPR headline recently .
The Twisted World @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that his faith hasn ’ t shaped his politics and values .
He has spent his career running away from it .
But in the twisted world of the media , that guarantees his religious inconsistency benevolent treatment .
This excerpt is from the book The Biden Deception : Moderate , Opportunist , or the Democrats ’ Crypto-Socialist ?
George Neumayr is the author of The Biden Deception : Moderate , Opportunist , or the Democrats ’ Crypto-Socialist ?
and The Political Pope and co-author of No Higher Power : Obama ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ served as executive editor of the American Spectator and Catholic World Report , op-ed editor for Investor ’ s Business Daily , and media fellow at Stanford ’ s Hoover Institution .
Neumayr has written on politics and religion for the Washington Times , The Daily Caller , National Review Online , Human Events , the Washington Examiner , The Hill , and The Guardian .

The media’s skepticism about religion turns on and off depending on the figure under scrutiny. If it is a liberal, the media asks no questions. A Joe Biden can proclaim himself a devout Catholic and the media accepts that uncritically. But it suddenly grows inquisitive at the news of a conservative Catholic nominee for the Supreme Court. That Amy Coney Barrett follows her faith is “news”; that Joe Biden deviates from his faith isn’t.
The Media Yawns About Aberrant Behavior
Barrett, we’re told by the media, belongs to a charismatic group, the People of Praise, that “subjugates” women. This same media yawns at the countless stories of Biden harassing women. How that squares with Biden’s faith is of no interest to the media. In his book, The First Family Detail, Ronald Kessler reported that “Biden has a habit of swimming in his pool nude. Female Secret Service agents find that offensive.” According to Kessler, “Because of Biden’s lack of consideration as evidenced by that habit and his refusal to give agents advance notice of his trips back home, being assigned to his detail is considered the second worst assignment in the Secret Service after being assigned to protect Hillary Clinton.”
On issue after issue, Joe Biden stands against the teachings of his faith. But the media just shrugs. The only good Catholic is apparently a bad one, judging by the media’s sympathetic coverage of Biden.
While the media hounds Barrett for fidelity to her faith, it remains incurious about Biden’s aberrant behavior. Biden promises to restore dignity to the White House. Never mind that he routinely undermined it as vice president. Ask Lucy Flores, who ran for lieutenant governor of Nevada. She has written about her awful experience at the hands of Joe Biden in a neglected piece for The Cut entitled “An Awkward Kiss Changed How I Saw Joe Biden.” She recalls how at a campaign event he came up behind her, pawing her back and kissing the back of her head:
I had never experienced anything so blatantly inappropriate and unnerving before. Biden was the second-most powerful man in the country and, arguably, one of the most powerful men in the world. He was there to promote me as the right person for the lieutenant governor job. Instead, he made me feel uneasy, gross, and confused. The vice-president of the United States of America had just touched me in an intimate way reserved for close friends, family, or romantic partners — and I felt powerless to do anything about it.
One would think such stories might put Biden on the hot seat. But they don’t. The media reserves its scrutiny for conservative figures like Barrett, a blameless mother of seven whose views and conduct align with her church.
The Media Just Shrugs
What perverse priorities drive media coverage! Surely, the real man-bites-dog story is that Joe Biden holds himself out as a devotee of observant Catholicism while pushing an agenda diametrically opposed to it. Shouldn’t the same media that questions Church officials about Barrett’s faith question bishops about Biden’s? Is it not newsworthy that Biden officiates at gay weddings, an egregiously disobedient act for a Catholic to perform? Is it not newsworthy that Catholic Joe Biden declares himself a champion of transgenderism and wants to impose it on schools in defiance of parental wishes?
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Barrett’s pro-life remarks are to be expected from a Catholic. But Biden’s claim that “transgender equality is the civil rights issue of our time” isn’t. Or take Biden’s support for late-term abortion and his vow to resume harassment of the Little Sisters of the Poor for not complying with Obama’s contraceptive mandate. These stances cry out for coverage, but they get none. Biden is even in favor of communist China’s coercive population control measures. Recall his going over to China and saying that he “fully understands” China’s policy of killing children conceived in excess of its eugenic quotas. On issue after issue, Joe Biden stands against the teachings of his faith.
But the media just shrugs. The only good Catholic is apparently a bad one, judging by the media’s sympathetic coverage of Biden. Barrett is not so lucky. She is treated as a weirdo while Biden basks in glowing coverage. “How Joe Biden’s Catholic Faith Shapes His Politics and Values,” ran a treacly NPR headline recently.
The Twisted World of the Media
The true story is that his faith hasn’t shaped his politics and values. He has spent his career running away from it. But in the twisted world of the media, that guarantees his religious inconsistency benevolent treatment.
This excerpt is from the book The Biden Deception: Moderate, Opportunist, or the Democrats’ Crypto-Socialist?
Reprinted by permission of author.
George Neumayr is the author of The Biden Deception: Moderate, Opportunist, or the Democrats’ Crypto-Socialist? and The Political Pope and co-author of No Higher Power: Obama’s War on Religious Freedom. He has served as executive editor of the American Spectator and Catholic World Report, op-ed editor for Investor’s Business Daily, and media fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution. Neumayr has written on politics and religion for the Washington Times, The Daily Caller, National Review Online, Human Events, the Washington Examiner, The Hill, and The Guardian.


thestream--2020-10-02--How Worried Should We Be for the President and First Lady?

Just as we were starting to recover from the first presidential debate , news broke that President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump had tested positive for COVID-19 .
At the moment they ’ re showing only mild symptoms .
But what ’ s their risk of serious illness , or even death ?
If you ’ ve followed the news of the pandemic , you know that the coronavirus poses a much greater danger to elderly people , especially those who are otherwise ill. President Trump is 74 and Melania Trump is 50 .
Both are in good health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than he should be .
Still , to judge from his energy on the campaign trail , he seems robust .
At the moment , though , the best we can do is look at the statistics .
One simple way to measure their danger is to look at the fatality rate for this bug — based either on infections or cases .
We spend a lot of time on this in our forthcoming book The Price of Panic .
We ’ ll just boil it down here .
The infection-fatality rate ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Take the total number of people who have died from the bug and divide it by the total number infected by it .
That ’ s easier said than done , since there ’ s no easy way to count the infections .
Test results give us one number .
But that number always depends on another , highly variable number : how many people have been tested .
The case-fatality rate ( CFR ) , in contrast , is simple in practice but more ambiguous in definition .
The number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s divided by the number of infected people who have become “ cases.
” What ’ s a case ?
Well , someone who shows up at the hospital to be treated , usually .
But cases in the COVID-19 pandemic aren ’ t like that .
They ’ re a mix of people who show up at hospitals and those who show up at testing sites .
Some don ’ t show up at all .
That is , some sick people are probably too afraid to seek treatment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counted .
How many ?
Nobody knows .
If reported deaths are too high — for example , if many who died with and not from the virus are classified as COVID deaths — then the case-fatality rate will be too high .
Undercounting or under-reporting the actual cases would also make the rate too high .
The numbers reported by the media over the last several months probably contained both problems .
More relevant than the case-fatality rate is the infection-fatality rate .
This is the number that might tell you how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus — sort of .
The problem is that , for months , most infected people weren ’ t tested because they had few or no symptoms .
What ’ s the real infection-fatality rate , then ?
Right now , no one knows for sure .
Experts using intelligent sampling of the data , such as verified autopsy reports , will estimate it later .
Still , some studies have already commenced .
One put the “ infection-fatality ” rate “ of symptomatic patients ” at a whopping 1.3 % !
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate ; that ’ s just another way to state the case-fatality rate .
Why ?
Those who were infected but didn ’ t have symptoms weren ’ t counted in the study .
Other studies yielded case-fatality estimates as low as 0.3 % , which means the infection-fatality rates must have been lower still .
The case-fatality rate for the flu is about 0.1 % .
Based on those figures , we could say COVID-19 is three times deadlier than the flu — if you become a “ case , ” that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ’ s a lot of ambiguity about what makes a COVID-19 case .
What ’ s certain is that the infection-fatality rate must be lower than the case-fatality rate .
A study of asymptomatic rhinovirus infections ( the most common cause of the common cold ) estimated that “ asymptomatic infection was four times as common as symptomatic infection.
” For MERS-CoV ( a virus sort of like COVID-19 , but much more common in children ) , on the other hand , asymptomatic cases were only 1 % to 42 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the COVID-19 case-fatality rate was around 0.3 % to 1.3 % , then , using the rhinovirus estimates as the lower bound and the larger MERS estimate for the upper bound , the infection-fatality rate is likely around 0.15 % to 0.26 % .
Of course , that range applies to the population as a whole .
The risks go up with age and declining health .
As of September , the CDC numbers match our own estimates .
They suggest the following survival rates for different age groups : Based on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump easily has over a 99 % chance of recovery , and President Trump has about a 94 % chance .
But their cases were caught early .
They ’ re also in good health and have access to top health care .
As a result , we ’ d guess that their odds are much better than that .
So , long story short , there ’ s no reason to panic .
But there ’ s still plenty of reason to pray for their fast and complete recovery .
Jay W. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are the authors of The Price of Panic : How the Tyranny of Experts Turned a Pandemic into a Catastrophe .

Just as we were starting to recover from the first presidential debate, news broke that President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump had tested positive for COVID-19. At the moment they’re showing only mild symptoms. But what’s their risk of serious illness, or even death?
If you’ve followed the news of the pandemic, you know that the coronavirus poses a much greater danger to elderly people, especially those who are otherwise ill. President Trump is 74 and Melania Trump is 50. Both are in good health, though the president is clearly heavier than he should be. Still, to judge from his energy on the campaign trail, he seems robust.
At the moment, though, the best we can do is look at the statistics.
One simple way to measure their danger is to look at the fatality rate for this bug — based either on infections or cases. We spend a lot of time on this in our forthcoming book The Price of Panic. We’ll just boil it down here.
IFR vs. CFR
The infection-fatality rate (or IFR) is simple in principle: Take the total number of people who have died from the bug and divide it by the total number infected by it. That’s easier said than done, since there’s no easy way to count the infections. Test results give us one number. But that number always depends on another, highly variable number: how many people have been tested.
The case-fatality rate (CFR), in contrast, is simple in practice but more ambiguous in definition. The number of dead is the same, but now that’s divided by the number of infected people who have become “cases.”
What’s a case? Well, someone who shows up at the hospital to be treated, usually. But cases in the COVID-19 pandemic aren’t like that. They’re a mix of people who show up at hospitals and those who show up at testing sites. Some don’t show up at all. That is, some sick people are probably too afraid to seek treatment, so they stay home and are never counted. How many? Nobody knows.
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If reported deaths are too high — for example, if many who died with and not from the virus are classified as COVID deaths — then the case-fatality rate will be too high. Undercounting or under-reporting the actual cases would also make the rate too high. The numbers reported by the media over the last several months probably contained both problems.
More relevant than the case-fatality rate is the infection-fatality rate. This is the number that might tell you how likely death is if you catch the virus — sort of. The problem is that, for months, most infected people weren’t tested because they had few or no symptoms.
The Real Infection-Fatality Rate
What’s the real infection-fatality rate, then? Right now, no one knows for sure. Experts using intelligent sampling of the data, such as verified autopsy reports, will estimate it later.
Still, some studies have already commenced. One put the “infection-fatality” rate “of symptomatic patients” at a whopping 1.3%! But that’s not a real infection-fatality rate; that’s just another way to state the case-fatality rate. Why? Those who were infected but didn’t have symptoms weren’t counted in the study.
Other studies yielded case-fatality estimates as low as 0.3%, which means the infection-fatality rates must have been lower still. The case-fatality rate for the flu is about 0.1%. Based on those figures, we could say COVID-19 is three times deadlier than the flu — if you become a “case,” that is. Right now, though, there’s a lot of ambiguity about what makes a COVID-19 case.
What’s certain is that the infection-fatality rate must be lower than the case-fatality rate. A study of asymptomatic rhinovirus infections (the most common cause of the common cold) estimated that “asymptomatic infection was four times as common as symptomatic infection.” For MERS-CoV (a virus sort of like COVID-19, but much more common in children), on the other hand, asymptomatic cases were only 1% to 42% of symptomatic cases.
So, if the COVID-19 case-fatality rate was around 0.3% to 1.3%, then, using the rhinovirus estimates as the lower bound and the larger MERS estimate for the upper bound, the infection-fatality rate is likely around 0.15% to 0.26%.
Based on the cold statistics alone, Melania Trump easily has over a 99% chance of recovery, and President Trump has about a 94% chance.
Of course, that range applies to the population as a whole. The risks go up with age and declining health. As of September, the CDC numbers match our own estimates. They suggest the following survival rates for different age groups:
0-19: 99.997%
20-49: 99.98%
50-69: 99.5%
70 and over: 94.6%
Based on the cold statistics alone, then, Melania Trump easily has over a 99% chance of recovery, and President Trump has about a 94% chance. But their cases were caught early. They’re also in good health and have access to top health care. As a result, we’d guess that their odds are much better than that.
So, long story short, there’s no reason to panic. But there’s still plenty of reason to pray for their fast and complete recovery.
Jay W. Richards, Douglas Axe and William Briggs are the authors of The Price of Panic: How the Tyranny of Experts Turned a Pandemic into a Catastrophe.


thestream--2020-10-02--The Forgotten Story: Sedition, Cultural Marxism, and the Attorney General’s Plan to Protect America

With the election just a month away , it ’ s easy to forget an important story .
One such story underlies all the others .
It ’ s the story of radicals waging real attempts at subverting America .
It ’ s the story of cultural marxism in action on our streets .
And of the attorney general ’ s attempt to stop it .
I am talking about Attorney General William Barr telling “ the nation ’ s federal prosecutors to be aggressive when charging violent demonstrators with crimes , including potentially prosecuting them for plotting to overthrow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. government — indeed , the nation as we have known it — is exactly what is happening in our streets right now .
The prosecutors would use “ a rarely used sedition law … one addressing conspiracies or plots to overthrow the government.
” The Associated Press reports that a “ memo cited as a hypothetical example ‘ a group has conspired to take a federal courthouse or other federal property by force.
” It ’ s not hypothetical .
That happened in Portland .
And not just as a protest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are just angry and destroying whatever they can destroy .
Barr told NBC News : “ No question , Antifa is a movement .
They have websites .
They are organized.
” He pointed out that “ Anyone who has spent a moment at these things and heard their chants and what they ’ re calling for can see right away that they are , they say they are , revolutionaries , that this is a revolution.
” The radicals are not exactly hiding it .
They could not tell us any more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America .
That is what is happening when the Columbus statue in front of City Hall in Waterbury , CT is decapitated on the 4th of July .
And a note is left on it by the vandal , instructing people as to the statue ’ s alleged racist origins .
That is what is happening when the New York Times popularizes “ the 1619 project , ” which claims that our nation ’ s real founding was the arrival of the first slave in 1619 .
Not the Declaration of Independence in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the false claims of the 1619 project will now be taught as history in the public schools .
That is what is happening when Colin Kaepernick shames Nike into removing the Betsy Ross flag from its sneakers .
Our first flag is a symbol of pride in all that is best in our nation .
The rioters tell us they want the end of America when they smash statues of Washington , Jefferson , Lincoln , Grant and Frederick Douglass .
Frederick Douglass !
And when they demand the removal of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our heroes .
America was built on their accomplishments .
The radicals are saying that their only lasting legacy are their sins .
They are unworthy to be in the public square .
Those statues say “ This is who we are.
” Destroying them isn ’ t just a protest against racism .
It ’ s an attack on the nation itself .
And the Democratic party ?
They say nothing .
Their candidate and other party leaders might condemn the riots — eventually .
They say not a word against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t defend America .
This is why Barr is right .
We face something way beyond the normal tug and pull of democracy .
We are looking at the beginnings of a potential regime change .
A change of the kind that occurs when Marxists or Islamists take over .
Erasing history and heritage , changing the names of entire cities , rewriting the laws , imposing their will on people who disagree with them , preaching freedom while they ruthlessly suppress dissent .
History has seen it before .
When the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became Leningrad .
The new rulers desecrated churches and turned them into barns and warehouses .
They made the clergy submit to their authority and tortured and killed the ones who didn ’ t .
They forced every child into schools that taught them marxist materialism , and urged children to turn in their “ counter-revolutionary ” parents .
The communists tried to erase the old Russia to build the new Soviet Union .
Fans of The Man in the High Castle — a dystopian show about an alternative reality in which America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scenes in which our Nazi occupiers smash the Lincoln Memorial and melt down the Liberty Bell .
Something like this is already happening in real life .
And not by Nazis .
By a different kind of fascist , who call themselves anti-fascists .
Of course America isn ’ t perfect .
Our heroes weren ’ t perfect .
But our nation has changed , repented , corrected itself .
It ’ s a nation that weaves our different stories into the larger patriotic story of the nation herself .
Some don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this story .
We should find a way to convince those who think they have no stake in a common American identity that they , in fact , do .
And that the alternatives will be far worse .
The vandals of 2020 seek to overthrow the nation .
That ’ s what they ’ re saying when they destroy the statues of our national heroes .
They reject the foundations upon which the nation was built .
In urging prosecutors to charge the seditious with sedition , Attorney General Barr is fighting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He is right to do so .
We must fight the Cultural Marxists now .
While we still can .
Peter Wolfgang is president of Family Institute of Connecticut Action .
He lives in Waterbury , Connecticut , with his wife and their seven children .
The views expressed on The Stream are solely his own .

With the election just a month away, it’s easy to forget an important story. One such story underlies all the others. It’s the story of radicals waging real attempts at subverting America. It’s the story of cultural marxism in action on our streets. And of the attorney general’s attempt to stop it.
I am talking about Attorney General William Barr telling “the nation’s federal prosecutors to be aggressive when charging violent demonstrators with crimes, including potentially prosecuting them for plotting to overthrow the U.S. government.” Plotting to overthrow the U.S. government — indeed, the nation as we have known it — is exactly what is happening in our streets right now.
This is a Revolution
The prosecutors would use “a rarely used sedition law … one addressing conspiracies or plots to overthrow the government.” The Associated Press reports that a “memo cited as a hypothetical example ‘a group has conspired to take a federal courthouse or other federal property by force.” It’s not hypothetical. That happened in Portland.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
And not just as a protest. These aren’t people who are just angry and destroying whatever they can destroy. Barr told NBC News: “No question, Antifa is a movement. They have websites. They are organized.” He pointed out that “Anyone who has spent a moment at these things and heard their chants and what they’re calling for can see right away that they are, they say they are, revolutionaries, that this is a revolution.”
The radicals are not exactly hiding it. They could not tell us any more clearly that they want the end of America.
This is What’s Happening
That is what is happening when the Columbus statue in front of City Hall in Waterbury, CT is decapitated on the 4th of July. And a note is left on it by the vandal, instructing people as to the statue’s alleged racist origins.
That is what is happening when the New York Times popularizes “the 1619 project,” which claims that our nation’s real founding was the arrival of the first slave in 1619. Not the Declaration of Independence in 1776. That is what is happening when the false claims of the 1619 project will now be taught as history in the public schools.
That is what is happening when Colin Kaepernick shames Nike into removing the Betsy Ross flag from its sneakers. Our first flag is a symbol of pride in all that is best in our nation. The rioters tell us they want the end of America when they smash statues of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Grant and Frederick Douglass. Frederick Douglass! And when they demand the removal of a statue of Teddy Roosevelt.
These are our heroes. America was built on their accomplishments. The radicals are saying that their only lasting legacy are their sins. They are unworthy to be in the public square. Those statues say “This is who we are.” Destroying them isn’t just a protest against racism. It’s an attack on the nation itself.
And the Democratic party? They say nothing. Their candidate and other party leaders might condemn the riots — eventually. They say not a word against the radicals destroying the statues. They don’t defend America.
Looking at Regime Change
This is why Barr is right. We face something way beyond the normal tug and pull of democracy. We are looking at the beginnings of a potential regime change. A change of the kind that occurs when Marxists or Islamists take over. Erasing history and heritage, changing the names of entire cities, rewriting the laws, imposing their will on people who disagree with them, preaching freedom while they ruthlessly suppress dissent.
History has seen it before. When the communists took over Russia, St. Petersburg became Leningrad. The new rulers desecrated churches and turned them into barns and warehouses. They made the clergy submit to their authority and tortured and killed the ones who didn’t. They forced every child into schools that taught them marxist materialism, and urged children to turn in their “counter-revolutionary” parents. The communists tried to erase the old Russia to build the new Soviet Union.
Fans of The Man in the High Castle — a dystopian show about an alternative reality in which America lost World War II — will recall scenes in which our Nazi occupiers smash the Lincoln Memorial and melt down the Liberty Bell. Something like this is already happening in real life. And not by Nazis. By a different kind of fascist, who call themselves anti-fascists.
Of course America isn’t perfect. Our heroes weren’t perfect. But our nation has changed, repented, corrected itself. It’s a nation that weaves our different stories into the larger patriotic story of the nation herself. Some don’t feel they have a place in this story. We should find a way to convince those who think they have no stake in a common American identity that they, in fact, do. And that the alternatives will be far worse.
The Vandals of 2020
The vandals of 2020 seek to overthrow the nation. That’s what they’re saying when they destroy the statues of our national heroes. They reject the foundations upon which the nation was built. In urging prosecutors to charge the seditious with sedition, Attorney General Barr is fighting to preserve American freedom and democracy.
He is right to do so. We must fight the Cultural Marxists now. While we still can.
Peter Wolfgang is president of Family Institute of Connecticut Action. He lives in Waterbury, Connecticut, with his wife and their seven children. The views expressed on The Stream are solely his own.


thestream--2020-10-02--Lift Up Your Eyes

Lift Up Your Eyes

If you ’ re looking for cutting-edge , political analysis , this is not the article for you .
If you ’ re looking for the latest insights on the presidential elections , you ’ re in the wrong place .
But if you ’ re looking for spiritual wisdom and encouragement , if you want to be uplifted and inspired , then keep reading .
This article is for you .
The fact is that 2020 has been an exhausting year .
We were already worn out as a country before COVID-19 .
The constant political tension , culminating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The continual flood of sensational news , coming from all sides , was wearying .
The deepening divisions in our society , revealing massive fissures ready to split , were wearying .
Then we got hit by the virus .
( In case you missed it , it ’ s still here . )
Then we had the lockdown .
Then the protests .
And the riots .
And the looting .
And the vandalism .
And the shootings .
One day Minneapolis was in flames .
Then Kenosha .
Then Louisville @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rioters , marching into our suburbs .
The next day , we can ’ t leave our houses without a mask .
( If your computer or phone have facial recognition , you have to take down your mask just to identify yourself to your own gadgets . )
As for our normal distractions , like going out to eat or watching sports , most of them disappeared for months on end as well .
And the end is not yet in sight .
What if there is a vaccine ?
Should we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Or is it part of some government ploy to monitor our lives ?
Or is this just Big Pharma ’ s way of making more money ?
Is there anyone we can trust ?
The medical profession ?
The FBI ?
The media ?
Spiritual leaders ?
Yes , this is America in 2020 , and frankly , it is exhausting .
Added to all this is the ticking time bomb of the November 3 elections .
The first Trump-Biden debate underscored the chaotic nature of the hour , and there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be settled .
Even when the votes are finally counted , will either side concede with grace ?
Will multiplied tens of millions of Americans ( again , on either side ) accept the results and move on ?
You might say to me , “ I thought you were going to encourage and uplift me !
I ’ m feeling much worse now than when I started this column .
Thanks for nothing !
” Well , here comes the encouragement in just four short words : lift up your eyes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the one who never changes and is never shaken or moved .
Lift up your eyes and look to the one who is perfect light , without any darkness at all .
Lift up your eyes and look to the one who sits enthroned in heaven , ruling and reigning over all creation .
Lift up your eyes and look to the one who cares so deeply for you that He sent His one and only Son into the world to die so that you and I could live forever .
Look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the moment .
Look away from the confusion and despair of the hour .
Look away from the division and dissension of this age .
And look up .
Look up and worship the King .
Look up and worship the one who is love personified .
Look up to the Savior and Redeemer .
Then , rather than complaining or gossiping or spouting off , begin to worship .
If you need some words to say , try these , saying them out loud if you can : Or maybe these : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many times , we will feel overwhelmed by the pressures of life , be they financial or emotional or physical or spiritual or relational .
That ’ s why there are so many prayers of desperation found in books like the Psalms , with words like these : “ From the ends of the earth I call to you , I call as my heart grows faint ; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
” ( Psalm 61:2 ) That “ rock ” is the Lord Himself , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we will not be moved .
Our perspective will dramatically change .
That ’ s why the psalmist also wrote these words : “ I lift up my eyes to the mountains — where does my help come from ?
My help comes from the LORD , the Maker of heaven and earth .
He will not let your foot slip — he who watches over you will not slumber ; indeed , he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep .
The LORD watches over you — the LORD @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; the sun will not harm you by day , nor the moon by night .
The LORD will keep you from all harm — he will watch over your life ; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
” ( Psalm 121:1-8 ) So , look away from the craziness of 2020 , lift up your eyes , and begin to worship .
Your heart will be lightened .
Your resolve will be strengthened .
Your spirit will be encouraged .
Your courage will be renewed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to escape , you ’ ll be looking for a way to serve and love others .
Dr. Michael Brown ( www.askdrbrown.org ) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program .
His latest book is Evangelicals at the Crossroads : Will We Pass the Trump Test ?
Connect with him on Facebook , Twitter or YouTube .

If you’re looking for cutting-edge, political analysis, this is not the article for you. If you’re looking for the latest insights on the presidential elections, you’re in the wrong place. But if you’re looking for spiritual wisdom and encouragement, if you want to be uplifted and inspired, then keep reading. This article is for you.
The fact is that 2020 has been an exhausting year.
We were already worn out as a country before COVID-19.
A Flood of Bad News
The constant political tension, culminating in the impeachment hearings, was wearying.
The continual flood of sensational news, coming from all sides, was wearying.
The deepening divisions in our society, revealing massive fissures ready to split, were wearying.
Then we got hit by the virus. (In case you missed it, it’s still here.)
Then we had the lockdown.
Then George Floyd was killed.
Then the protests. And the riots. And the looting. And the vandalism. And the shootings.
One day Minneapolis was in flames. Then Kenosha. Then Louisville.
One day it’s masked rioters, marching into our suburbs. The next day, we can’t leave our houses without a mask. (If your computer or phone have facial recognition, you have to take down your mask just to identify yourself to your own gadgets.)
The Loss of Normalcy
As for our normal distractions, like going out to eat or watching sports, most of them disappeared for months on end as well. And the end is not yet in sight.
What if there is a vaccine? Should we take it? Will it be safe? Or is it part of some government ploy to monitor our lives? Or is this just Big Pharma’s way of making more money?
Is there anyone we can trust? The medical profession? The FBI? The media? Spiritual leaders?
Yes, this is America in 2020, and frankly, it is exhausting.
Added to all this is the ticking time bomb of the November 3 elections. The first Trump-Biden debate underscored the chaotic nature of the hour, and there is no guarantee that on November 4 anything will be settled.
Even when the votes are finally counted, will either side concede with grace? Will multiplied tens of millions of Americans (again, on either side) accept the results and move on?
You might say to me, “I thought you were going to encourage and uplift me! I’m feeling much worse now than when I started this column. Thanks for nothing!”
But God . . .
Well, here comes the encouragement in just four short words: lift up your eyes.
Lift up your eyes and look to the one who never changes and is never shaken or moved.
Lift up your eyes and look to the one who is perfect light, without any darkness at all.
Lift up your eyes and look to the one who sits enthroned in heaven, ruling and reigning over all creation.
Look up and worship the King.
Lift up your eyes and look to the one who cares so deeply for you that He sent His one and only Son into the world to die so that you and I could live forever.
Look away from the chaos and pain of the moment. Look away from the confusion and despair of the hour. Look away from the division and dissension of this age. And look up.
Look up and worship the King.
Look up and worship the one who is love personified.
Look up to the Savior and Redeemer.
Worship is the Key
Then, rather than complaining or gossiping or spouting off, begin to worship.
If you need some words to say, try these, saying them out loud if you can:
“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalm 103:1–5)
Or maybe these:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Revelation 5:12; try repeating this a few more times!)
You see, the Bible recognizes that many times, we will feel overwhelmed by the pressures of life, be they financial or emotional or physical or spiritual or relational. That’s why there are so many prayers of desperation found in books like the Psalms, with words like these: “From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” (Psalm 61:2)
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
That “rock” is the Lord Himself, and when we stand firm on His foundation, we will not be moved. Our perspective will dramatically change.
That’s why the psalmist also wrote these words:
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains — where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip — he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you — the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm — he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” (Psalm 121:1-8)
So, look away from the craziness of 2020, lift up your eyes, and begin to worship.
Your heart will be lightened. Your resolve will be strengthened. Your spirit will be encouraged. Your courage will be renewed, and rather than looking for a way to escape, you’ll be looking for a way to serve and love others.
Lift up your eyes!
Dr. Michael Brown (www.askdrbrown.org) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program. His latest book is Evangelicals at the Crossroads: Will We Pass the Trump Test? Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.