thestream--2020-04-19--The Viral Pandemic of Distrust and Misinformation

The information age is full of both plusses and minuses , especially during a time of national crisis .
Among the blessings we should count is the ability of many of us to work from home , and the ability to stay in touch with people we can not visit .
Another , at least in my line of work , is that so many more of the teachers contributing to our virtual Truth , Love , Together event now know how to use Zoom .
The main minus , though certainly not the only one , is the constant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social media posts — some true and some false , some helpful and some very unhelpful and even misleading .
Information comes at us in waves , with conjecture in the place of facts and assertions in the place of arguments .
Even before the coronavirus was given the name pandemic , misinformation was passed on by both major media outlets and personal social media accounts .
In most of these cases , political ideology masqueraded as certainty about things that were , at the time , unknown , such as how deadly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was like the flu , and whether scientists and experts were misleading us .
Misleading voices on both the left and the right confidently asserted the virus really wasn ’ t that bad .
More than one conservative talk show host , motivated to keep the President ’ s wins front and center , compared COVID-19 to the common cold or seasonal flu .
And more than a few liberal voices also downplayed the seriousness of COVID-19 , apparently hoping to seize an opportunity to portray Trump ’ s travel restrictions to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
Having now mostly pivoted on the seriousness of the virus across the board , many of the same voices continue with speculations , assertions , and analysis that are proclaimed with all the undeserved confidence as before .
After Samaritan ’ s Purse set up a temporary hospital in Central Park to treat coronavirus patients , The Daily Beast ran a hit-piece warning of “ sub-standard care and “ discrimination , ” chiding the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Graham , for their allegedly “ spotty record.
” Given the actual record of Samaritan ’ s Purse , the article was pure fear-mongering .
Still , it paled in comparison to a horrendous op-ed by Katherine Stewart in the New York Times which blamed evangelicals for “ paving the way to coronavirus hell ” by “ denying science.
” She also accused us of looking to faith-healers and miracle cures instead of medical experts .
It was vicious , historically ignorant slander , and published in America ’ s newspaper-of-record .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ridiculous article was not only poor — it ’ s ironic , given the paper ’ s commitment to expose fake news and conspiracy theories about the virus .
They keep a full list : COVID-19 is caused by 5G cell phone towers .
It ’ s a foreign attack .
It ’ s a plot by Microsoft founder Bill Gates .
All ridiculous claims , of course , but no more ridiculous than the Nero-like claim that evangelicals are to blame for this pandemic .
Brad Littlejohn made a key point over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has surely come as a judgment on our divided , post-truth society .
Judgment does not merely punish , ” he points out , “ it reveals … what COVID-19 has revealed in America is a society that has reached a point of crippling mutual incomprehension and distrust … that runs so deep that it leaves few if any shared handholds for common knowledge informing common action.
” At all times , but especially during a pandemic , some degree of common knowledge and common action are essential for a society .
How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be committed to truth , navigate this ( mis ) information age ?
Who is right , who is not , and how do we know ?
And , how can we be catalysts toward the renewal of a critical national resource : trust ?
An essential part of the answer , and an essential part of a Christian worldview , is discernment .
According to Paul ’ s prayer for the church at Philippi , love “ abounds ” best when accompanied by truth and discernment .
And in an information age @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to deception .
Eighteenth century British author Samuel Johnson called discernment “ the supreme end of education , ” before offering the best definition I know of discernment : “ the power to tell the good from the bad , the genuine from the counterfeit , and to prefer the good and the genuine to the bad and the counterfeit.
” In other words , discernment involves both wisdom and will .
The wisdom to evaluate truth claims , and the will to understand the reality of our fallen world , which includes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it will make our side look good and their side look bad .
Bearing false witness is a sin , and truth must take precedent over wanting something to be so or not wanting it to be so .
And finally , a necessary ingredient of Christian discernment is confidence in God ’ s sovereignty .
Fear , on the other hand , often spoils discernment .
Discernment won ’ t end put an end to misinformation overnight , but it can slow its infection rate .
And as with the actual pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difference .
Originally published on Breakpoint.org : BreakPoint Commentaries .
Republished with permission of The Colson Center for Christian Worldview .

The information age is full of both plusses and minuses, especially during a time of national crisis. Among the blessings we should count is the ability of many of us to work from home, and the ability to stay in touch with people we cannot visit. Another, at least in my line of work, is that so many more of the teachers contributing to our virtual Truth, Love, Together event now know how to use Zoom.
The main minus, though certainly not the only one, is the constant flow of news, headlines, and social media posts — some true and some false, some helpful and some very unhelpful and even misleading. Information comes at us in waves, with conjecture in the place of facts and assertions in the place of arguments.
Even before the coronavirus was given the name pandemic, misinformation was passed on by both major media outlets and personal social media accounts. In most of these cases, political ideology masqueraded as certainty about things that were, at the time, unknown, such as how deadly COVID-19 would be, whether or not it was like the flu, and whether scientists and experts were misleading us.
Misleading voices on both the left and the right confidently asserted the virus really wasn’t that bad. More than one conservative talk show host, motivated to keep the President’s wins front and center, compared COVID-19 to the common cold or seasonal flu. And more than a few liberal voices also downplayed the seriousness of COVID-19, apparently hoping to seize an opportunity to portray Trump’s travel restrictions to China as racist or otherwise misguided.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Having now mostly pivoted on the seriousness of the virus across the board, many of the same voices continue with speculations, assertions, and analysis that are proclaimed with all the undeserved confidence as before. After Samaritan’s Purse set up a temporary hospital in Central Park to treat coronavirus patients, The Daily Beast ran a hit-piece warning of “sub-standard care and “discrimination,” chiding the Christian ministry and its president, Franklin Graham, for their allegedly “spotty record.”
Given the actual record of Samaritan’s Purse, the article was pure fear-mongering. Still, it paled in comparison to a horrendous op-ed by Katherine Stewart in the New York Times which blamed evangelicals for “paving the way to coronavirus hell” by “denying science.” She also accused us of looking to faith-healers and miracle cures instead of medical experts. It was vicious, historically ignorant slander, and published in America’s newspaper-of-record.
The Times’ decision to publish such a ridiculous article was not only poor — it’s ironic, given the paper’s commitment to expose fake news and conspiracy theories about the virus. They keep a full list: COVID-19 is caused by 5G cell phone towers. It’s a foreign attack. It’s a plot by Microsoft founder Bill Gates. All ridiculous claims, of course, but no more ridiculous than the Nero-like claim that evangelicals are to blame for this pandemic.
Brad Littlejohn made a key point over at Mere Orthodoxy, “This virus has surely come as a judgment on our divided, post-truth society. Judgment does not merely punish,” he points out, “it reveals … what COVID-19 has revealed in America is a society that has reached a point of crippling mutual incomprehension and distrust … that runs so deep that it leaves few if any shared handholds for common knowledge informing common action.”
Discernment involves both wisdom and will. The wisdom to evaluate truth claims, and the will to understand the reality of our fallen world.
At all times, but especially during a pandemic, some degree of common knowledge and common action are essential for a society. How can Christians, people who are to be committed to truth, navigate this (mis)information age? Who is right, who is not, and how do we know? And, how can we be catalysts toward the renewal of a critical national resource: trust?
An essential part of the answer, and an essential part of a Christian worldview, is discernment. According to Paul’s prayer for the church at Philippi, love “abounds” best when accompanied by truth and discernment. And in an information age, discernment is the only true antidote to deception.
Eighteenth century British author Samuel Johnson called discernment “the supreme end of education,” before offering the best definition I know of discernment: “the power to tell the good from the bad, the genuine from the counterfeit, and to prefer the good and the genuine to the bad and the counterfeit.”
In other words, discernment involves both wisdom and will. The wisdom to evaluate truth claims, and the will to understand the reality of our fallen world, which includes evaluating truth claims beyond whether or not it will make our side look good and their side look bad. Bearing false witness is a sin, and truth must take precedent over wanting something to be so or not wanting it to be so.
And finally, a necessary ingredient of Christian discernment is confidence in God’s sovereignty. Fear, on the other hand, often spoils discernment.
Discernment won’t end put an end to misinformation overnight, but it can slow its infection rate. And as with the actual pandemic, that could make a world of difference.
Originally published on Breakpoint.org: BreakPoint Commentaries. Republished with permission of The Colson Center for Christian Worldview.
CALL TO ACTION: COVID-19 is causing massive disruptions in life. The Stream’s parent organization, LIFE Outreach International, is helping send a first wave of help. LIFE’s local mission partners are already distributing thousands of surgical masks, gloves and other sanitary supplies to first responders, hospitals and nursing homes. In addition, other partners have focused on distributing as many meals as possible to help those who need food. You can help with these efforts. Click here to donate.


thestream--2020-04-19--‘Hope Rising’ Benefit Concert Tonight! Kirk Cameron and Candace Cameron Bure Team to Inspire Hope

Kirk Cameron and his sister Candace Cameron Bure are on a mission to inspire the masses with true hope .
The brother and sister duo have teamed up to organize and co-host “ Hope Rising , ” a benefit concert aimed at helping raise funds to address the COVID-19 crisis .
Kirk appeared on “ The Pure Flix Podcast ” on Friday to explain that the inspirational event — which will air on Facebook at 8 p.m .
ET on April 19 — will feature some of the biggest names in Christian ministry and music .
The goal ?
Cameron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , especially “ those on the frontlines.
” And in the midst of chaos and consternation , he ’ s hoping people will remember to “ stand on the promises of God and his faithfulness.
” The event will include For King & Country , Casting Crowns , Mercy Me , T.D .
Jakes , Priscilla Shirer , Tenth Avenue North and many others .
“ Everybody did it for free , ” he said of the famous speakers and artists who will be included .
“ [ We ] are simply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Purse.
” Cameron said the event came about after he was speaking with a friend and the two began chatting about recent benefit concerts aimed at helping amid the COVID19 crisis .
“ He pointed out the fact that there ’ s one big thing missing — and that is God , ” he said .
“ The one who we ultimately need to be looking to right now … our healer , our provider , our protector , the great physician.
” So , Cameron called his sister , Candace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help .
She naturally said “ yes , ” and the two started calling their friends in the music and ministry space ; the results were stunning .
“ It was one of the biggest outpourings of , ‘ Yes , I want to be a part of it , ’ ” Cameron said .
The actor also revealed that there was at one point a network interested in airing the special , but that it eventually dropped its interest .
“ All the networks turned it down , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking for hope and they want to connect with each other … and they want to close the gap between them and God , the networks said ‘ no ’ and we think it ’ s because the faith content scared them away.
” Cameron said he and his sister are hoping people share the event with their friends , loved ones and social networks ( you can do that ) .
Be sure to tune in on Sunday night !
This article .
Billy Hallowell is an author , journalist and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Flix .
His books include “ ” and “ .
” Visit his website for more of his work .

Kirk Cameron and his sister Candace Cameron Bure are on a mission to inspire the masses with true hope. The brother and sister duo have teamed up to organize and co-host “Hope Rising,” a benefit concert aimed at helping raise funds to address the COVID-19 crisis.
Kirk appeared on “The Pure Flix Podcast” on Friday to explain that the inspirational event — which will air on Facebook at 8 p.m. ET on April 19 — will feature some of the biggest names in Christian ministry and music.
Listen to Cameron describe this powerful event:
The goal? Cameron said they’re hoping to help people, especially “those on the frontlines.” And in the midst of chaos and consternation, he’s hoping people will remember to “stand on the promises of God and his faithfulness.”
The event will include For King & Country, Casting Crowns, Mercy Me, T.D. Jakes, Priscilla Shirer, Tenth Avenue North and many others.
“Everybody did it for free,” he said of the famous speakers and artists who will be included. “[We] are simply just asking people to donate to Samaritan’s Purse.”
Cameron said the event came about after he was speaking with a friend and the two began chatting about recent benefit concerts aimed at helping amid the COVID-19 crisis.
“He pointed out the fact that there’s one big thing missing — and that is God,” he said. “The one that we ultimately need to be looking to right now … our healer, our provider, our protector, the great physician.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
So, Cameron called his sister, Candace, and asked if she wanted to help. She naturally said “yes,” and the two started calling their friends in the music and ministry space; the results were stunning.
“It was one of the biggest outpourings of, ‘Yes, I want to be a part of it,’” Cameron said.
The actor also revealed that there was at one point a network interested in airing the special, but that it eventually dropped its interest.
“All the networks turned it down,” he said. “During a time where people are looking for hope and they want to connect with each other … and they want to close the gap between them and God, during this crisis, the networks said ‘no.’ And we think it’s because the faith content scared them away.”
Cameron said he and his sister are hoping people share the event with their friends, loved ones and social networks (you can do that here). Be sure to tune in on Sunday night!
Update: Hope Rising is now available to watch on demand here.
This article originally appeared on BillyHallowell.com. Billy Hallowell is an author, journalist and the director of communications and content at Pure Flix. His books include Armageddon Code and Fault Line. Visit his website for more of his work.
CALL TO ACTION: COVID-19 is causing massive disruptions in life. The Stream’s parent organization, LIFE Outreach International, is helping send a first wave of help. LIFE’s local mission partners are already distributing thousands of surgical masks, gloves and other sanitary supplies to first responders, hospitals and nursing homes. In addition, other partners have focused on distributing as many meals as possible to help those who need food. You can help with these efforts. Click here to donate.


thestream--2020-04-19--Hospitality During the Coronavirus Crisis

Hospitality means primarily the creation of free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy .
Hospitality is not to change people , but to offer them space where change can take place .
It is not to bring men and women over to our side , but to offer freedom not disturbed by dividing lines — Henri Nouwen , Reaching Out .
Although I am an introvert who doesn ’ t fear long hours alone in study and writing , I long to welcome people into my home .
After long years of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than a home , it has been recently transformed into a bright and warm place for others — a place for hospitality .
That means a place to offer food and drink , a place for studying and a place for intellectual exploration as I show people around my capacious library and offer to loan books .
In the last sentence , I kept writing a place .
But now , in virus lockdown , this place is only for my wife , myself , and my dog , Sunny .
Any hospitality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Even time outside is hampered by fear of contagion and the ill-named “ social distancing.
” Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
Hospitality is the public outgrowth of love .
Compassion and caring always moves outward , towards the other in hopes of friendship , fellowship , service and community .
As Pascal said , “ Respect means put yourself out.
” How much more does love mean “ put yourself out ” ?
Hospitality is a Christian virtue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if any spiritual life in the church and witness to the world .
The Apostle Peter writes this : “ Above all , love each other deeply , because love covers over a multitude of sins .
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling ” ( 1 Peter 4:8-9 ) .
So many other texts could be cited , but we need to realize that the imperative to be hospitable is rooted in God ’ s own hospitality in offering us hospitality through Jesus Christ .
The eternal Son took on a human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grace and truth , making the Father known ( John 1 ) .
Hospitality means welcoming or restoring someone into our good graces — or at least offering this .
We can extend kindness to others through all the media available to us and perhaps reach into the lives of others we have neglected .
We may seek reconciliation with those with whom we are estranged , as Jesus taught us to do in the Sermon on the Mount .
Since “ love covers a multitude of sins , ” we should not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ By so doing , we become hospitable and refuse to grumble .
Even in our aloneness and retreat , we can ponder and pray about the meaning of hospitality being eager for its return to our homes , schools , places of worship , and our life together .
Douglas Groothuis is Professor of Philosophy at Denver Seminary where he heads the apologetics and ethics masters degree program .
He is the author of 12 books , including Christian Apologetics : A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith .

Hospitality means primarily the creation of free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy. Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place. It is not to bring men and women over to our side, but to offer freedom not disturbed by dividing lines — Henri Nouwen, Reaching Out.
Although I am an introvert who doesn’t fear long hours alone in study and writing, I long to welcome people into my home. After long years of my residence being more of a hospice than a home, it has been recently transformed into a bright and warm place for others — a place for hospitality. That means a place to offer food and drink, a place for studying and a place for intellectual exploration as I show people around my capacious library and offer to loan books.
In the last sentence, I kept writing a place. But now, in virus lockdown, this place is only for my wife, myself, and my dog, Sunny. Any hospitality I now offer is crimped by aloneness. Even time outside is hampered by fear of contagion and the ill-named “social distancing.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Hospitality is the public outgrowth of love. Compassion and caring always moves outward, towards the other in hopes of friendship, fellowship, service and community. As Pascal said, “Respect means put yourself out.” How much more does love mean “put yourself out”? Hospitality is a Christian virtue and without it, there is little if any spiritual life in the church and witness to the world. The Apostle Peter writes this: “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling” (1 Peter 4:8-9).
So many other texts could be cited, but we need to realize that the imperative to be hospitable is rooted in God’s own hospitality in offering us hospitality through Jesus Christ. The eternal Son took on a human nature and dwelt among us full of grace and truth, making the Father known (John 1).
Hospitality means welcoming or restoring someone into our good graces — or at least offering this. We can extend kindness to others through all the media available to us and perhaps reach into the lives of others we have neglected. We may seek reconciliation with those with whom we are estranged, as Jesus taught us to do in the Sermon on the Mount. Since “love covers a multitude of sins,” we should not hold others’ sins against them. By so doing, we become hospitable and refuse to grumble. Even in our aloneness and retreat, we can ponder and pray about the meaning of hospitality being eager for its return to our homes, schools, places of worship, and our life together.
Douglas Groothuis is Professor of Philosophy at Denver Seminary where he heads the apologetics and ethics masters degree program. He is the author of 12 books, including Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith.
Originally published at DouglasGroothuis.com. Reprinted with permission.
CALL TO ACTION: COVID-19 is causing massive disruptions in life. The Stream’s parent organization, LIFE Outreach International, is helping send a first wave of help. LIFE’s local mission partners are already distributing thousands of surgical masks, gloves and other sanitary supplies to first responders, hospitals and nursing homes. In addition, other partners have focused on distributing as many meals as possible to help those who need food. You can help with these efforts. Click here to donate.


thestream--2020-04-19--‘It Kind of Felt Like I Was Ending His Life’: Nurse Tells Heartbreaking Story of Facilitating Final

‘It Kind of Felt Like I Was Ending His Life’: Nurse Tells Heartbreaking Story of Facilitating Final FaceTime for Family of Dying Coronavirus Patient

• Ally Marcello , 24 , works at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York , where the coronavirus pandemic has taken the lives of more than 14,000 statewide .
• Early Wednesday morning , while most of America slept , Marcello helped a family say their final goodbye to their father over FaceTime .
• “ We love you and we forgive you for anything , ” she described the family members saying to their father .
“ You can go in peace.
” Nurse Ally Marcello works at the epicenter of New York ’ s coronavirus outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she held up a FaceTime call to help a family say their final goodbye to their father .
Marcello , 24 , has worked nights as a critical care nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park for almost two years , she told the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Her hospital began to notice the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic in the middle of March , and emergency room doctors told staff to brace for impact , she said .
“ Things got bad pretty quickly , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of ISeeU Blankets , a project that provides home-made blankets to patients and family members in her ICU ( intensive care unit ) .
“ The surge in the hospital went way up and we started having to float to different units , and you started hearing medical rapid responses being called overhead , which is when they sent the rapid response team to people who are on the regular floors who aren ’ t doing well and might need critical care.
” As of Monday , Long Island Jewish Medical Center had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had tested positive for coronavirus , and 115 of them were on ventilators , Marcello said .
Only about 15 % of those on ventilators will make it off , she added .
Marcello would typically work three days a week with an occasional fourth shift and focus on two very sick patients who need hourly checks and special medication every couple of minutes .
But due to the pandemic , Marcello has been working five days a week and caring for four ventilated patients at a time .
“ We know what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but it just is so different , ” she added .
“ I never thought I would be taking care of four ventilated patients at a time .
I never thought I would be creating ICUs out of thin air on regular med surge floors that were not meant for critical care at all .
And I never thought we would be staffing nine ICUs at a time .
It just is crazy.
” Marcello and her fellow nurses are no strangers to sickness and death , but they aren ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people that they must tend to every day .
She expressed sadness that the pandemic limits the TLC ( tender loving care ) that nurses wish to show their patients .
This wears on their emotions , she said .
“ Nurses get into that because they love people , ” Marcello said .
“ They want to talk to the families , they want to talk to the patients .
And the fact that now that we don ’ t really have time to do so as much as we would like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of people.
” Earlier this week , Marcello cared for a patient who had recently been transferred to Long Island Jewish Medical Center — a patient she identified as A.S. to protect his privacy .
The hospital has received many more patients since Democratic New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo deemed the hospital a “ coronavirus hotspot , meaning the hospital would receive more funding and more resources than other hospitals , ” she said .
Marcello can not recall exactly how long the patient was in the ICU , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ couple of days .
One of her fellow nurses had been caring for him , but the nurse could not be on duty that night and Marcello offered to care for him .
“ It ’ s hard to manage these patients , first of all , because we don ’ t exactly know what we ’ re dealing with , ” she said .
“ We were fighting against the clock and trying to do what we could for him and it just , it wasn ’ t really working for him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started quickly increasing.
” As Long Island Jewish Medical Center focuses on the pandemic and scales back surgeries and pediatric cases , responsibilities at the hospital have shifted .
Scrub nurses who usually only work in the operating room have been helping out as “ FaceTime facilitators , ” she said , allowing the nurses to give care to all the patients who need it without prohibiting the patients from talking to their families .
When one of these facilitators came through around 8 p.m. , Marcello made sure she got on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gravity of the situation — that things were not looking good for their father .
She let the family know that he was requiring more blood pressure medication , that he was not breathing on his own , and that he was on “ pretty significant ventilator settings to help open up his lungs.
” “ They understood that he was very sick , but I don ’ t think they understood exactly how quickly he would pass , ” she said .
As the night progressed , A.S. became worse .
Around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maxed out on all the blood pressure medications to try to keep him alive long enough to FaceTime his family so they could say goodbye .
“ We did a multiple-person FaceTime call , so that way , all of his kids could be on at the same time , ” she said .
The family expressed their love for him and spoke to him in Spanish .
She could understand some of it .
She continued : “ And you know , they were just expressing their love for him and speaking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s mostly what he spoke.
” “ ‘ We love you and we forgive you for anything , ’ ” she described the family members saying to their father .
“ ‘ You can go in peace.
’ ” Their father ’ s heart stopped as they were still speaking to him , she said .
Marcello struggled for words , fearing she would offend the grieving family .
She wanted to show them respect and sympathy .
Usually it would be the doctor who would call and tell the family that their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and this usually happened after the patient had passed .
In this rare coronavirus situation , she said , the family was actually present virtually when their loved one passed .
She stayed by A.S. ’ s bedside and held the phone up for another 30 minutes so the family could see their father ’ s face .
“ Probably the hardest part was finding the best time to kind of hang up so that way I could start the postmortem care , ” she said .
“ When they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love him , how do you choose when to say , ‘ Okay , I ’ m so sorry but we have to go now ?
’ It kind of felt like I was ending his life in a way , even though he had already passed.
” After she hung up the phone , she broke down and cried .
“ This post was not to make you feel sorry for me , but it was to express my pride , ” Marcello wrote in an Instagram post the morning after her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love my job how I get to fill in for them as family when there ’ s can ’ t be present .
I love that I am able to make the patient and his/her family comfortable in their last moments .
I love to give my all to my patients but I pray this virus ends soon.
” Marcello is thankful she has had time to process the situation by talking to her coworkers , friends , family and her boyfriend Tim .
“ It was tough , but you know , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together , ” she said .
“ I had a really big cry for 15 minutes and the other nurses picked up my other assignment , my other patient I was taking care of .
So that way I can kind of let it out , collect myself .
And then sadly , you kind of just have to go back to work .
You could still be sad about it , but you got ta think about the other patient that ’ s also in your care.
” As Marcello rests up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , she wants people to understand that even though the situation appears to be getting better , things are still bad in the hospital , especially for the ICU .
She encourages everyone to listen to the government on when Americans can resume normal activities .
“ People are still getting worse and you know , there ’ s always the risk for a second wave to hit us when people start going out again , ” she said .
“ You know , people can be carriers and not have symptoms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could spread it when they start going out ’ cause the weather ’ s getting better.
” Marcello is motivated to keep caring for the sick throughout the pandemic , even at the risk of her own safety , by both her patients and by her coworkers .
“ I work with amazing , amazing people and you know , every time I go in we still somehow find a way to have a good time and keep each other happy and positive , ” she said .
Marcello and her coworkers in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started a GoFundMe on March 25 , “ Help LIJ ’ s SICU Fight The Pandemic of COVID-19 , ” which has surpassed its goal of $ 2,000 by over $ 3,000 .
“ Everyone ’ s been really supportive , ” she said , describing how almost every shift she works , people donate snacks and food and send pictures and letters .
The nurses have a wall in the cafeteria that is covered in letters from students , she said , and her friends send her care packages in the mail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jewish Medical Center the other day , she added , and firefighters lined the walkway and clapped for the health care workers .
“ We do it for the patients and their families because we put ourselves in their shoes , ” she said .
“ We want the best care for our family members or for ourselves if we got sick .
It ’ s just little things , little acts of kindness and appreciation from the community .
It ’ s all those little things that kind of add up together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seem very frustrating .
”

Ally Marcello, 24, works at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York, where the coronavirus pandemic has taken the lives of more than 14,000 statewide.
Early Wednesday morning, while most of America slept, Marcello helped a family say their final goodbye to their father over FaceTime.
“We love you and we forgive you for anything,” she described the family members saying to their father. “You can go in peace.”
Nurse Ally Marcello works at the epicenter of New York’s coronavirus outbreak. At 1 a.m. on Wednesday, she held up a FaceTime call to help a family say their final goodbye to their father.
Marcello, 24, has worked nights as a critical care nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park for almost two years, she told the Daily Caller News Foundation. Her hospital began to notice the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic in the middle of March, and emergency room doctors told staff to brace for impact, she said.
“Things got bad pretty quickly,” said Marcello, who is also the founder of ISeeU Blankets, a project that provides home-made blankets to patients and family members in her ICU (intensive care unit). “The surge in the hospital went way up and we started having to float to different units, and you started hearing medical rapid responses being called overhead, which is when they sent the rapid response team to people who are on the regular floors who aren’t doing well and might need critical care.”
The Situation at Long Island Jewish Medical Center
As of Monday, Long Island Jewish Medical Center had 790 patients: 592 of these patients had tested positive for coronavirus, and 115 of them were on ventilators, Marcello said. Only about 15% of those on ventilators will make it off, she added.
Marcello would typically work three days a week with an occasional fourth shift and focus on two very sick patients who need hourly checks and special medication every couple of minutes. But due to the pandemic, Marcello has been working five days a week and caring for four ventilated patients at a time.
“We know what to do. We learned about it, but it just is so different,” she added. “I never thought I would be taking care of four ventilated patients at a time. I never thought I would be creating ICUs out of thin air on regular med surge floors that were not meant for critical care at all. And I never thought we would be staffing nine ICUs at a time. It just is crazy.”
Marcello and her fellow nurses are no strangers to sickness and death, but they aren’t used to the sheer amount of sick people that they must tend to every day. She expressed sadness that the pandemic limits the TLC (tender loving care) that nurses wish to show their patients. This wears on their emotions, she said.
“Nurses get into that because they love people,” Marcello said. “They want to talk to the families, they want to talk to the patients. And the fact that now that we don’t really have time to do so as much as we would like to, it can be taxing on a lot of people.”
The FaceTime Farewell
Earlier this week, Marcello cared for a patient who had recently been transferred to Long Island Jewish Medical Center — a patient she identified as A.S. to protect his privacy. The hospital has received many more patients since Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo deemed the hospital a “coronavirus hotspot, meaning the hospital would receive more funding and more resources than other hospitals,” she said.
Marcello cannot recall exactly how long the patient was in the ICU, but she believes he was there for a couple of days. One of her fellow nurses had been caring for him, but the nurse could not be on duty that night and Marcello offered to care for him.
“It’s hard to manage these patients, first of all, because we don’t exactly know what we’re dealing with,” she said. “We were fighting against the clock and trying to do what we could for him and it just, it wasn’t really working for him. And his blood pressure medication requirements started quickly increasing.”
As Long Island Jewish Medical Center focuses on the pandemic and scales back surgeries and pediatric cases, responsibilities at the hospital have shifted. Scrub nurses who usually only work in the operating room have been helping out as “FaceTime facilitators,” she said, allowing the nurses to give care to all the patients who need it without prohibiting the patients from talking to their families.
When one of these facilitators came through around 8 p.m., Marcello made sure she got on the call and let the family know the gravity of the situation — that things were not looking good for their father. She let the family know that he was requiring more blood pressure medication, that he was not breathing on his own, and that he was on “pretty significant ventilator settings to help open up his lungs.”
“They understood that he was very sick, but I don’t think they understood exactly how quickly he would pass,” she said.
As the night progressed, A.S. became worse. Around 1 a.m., Marcello said she had maxed out on all the blood pressure medications to try to keep him alive long enough to FaceTime his family so they could say goodbye.
“We did a multiple-person FaceTime call, so that way, all of his kids could be on at the same time,” she said. The family expressed their love for him and spoke to him in Spanish. She could understand some of it.
She continued: “And you know, they were just expressing their love for him and speaking to him in Spanish since that’s mostly what he spoke.”
“‘We love you and we forgive you for anything,’” she described the family members saying to their father. “‘You can go in peace.’”
Their father’s heart stopped as they were still speaking to him, she said.
Marcello struggled for words, fearing she would offend the grieving family. She wanted to show them respect and sympathy. Usually it would be the doctor who would call and tell the family that their loved one had passed, she said, and this usually happened after the patient had passed. In this rare coronavirus situation, she said, the family was actually present virtually when their loved one passed.
She stayed by A.S.’s bedside and held the phone up for another 30 minutes so the family could see their father’s face.
“Probably the hardest part was finding the best time to kind of hang up so that way I could start the postmortem care,” she said. “When they’re all crying and saying how much they love him, how do you choose when to say, ‘Okay, I’m so sorry but we have to go now?’ It kind of felt like I was ending his life in a way, even though he had already passed.”
After she hung up the phone, she broke down and cried.
Pride in Her Job
“This post was not to make you feel sorry for me, but it was to express my pride,” Marcello wrote in an Instagram post the morning after her patient’s death. “I love my job how I get to fill in for them as family when there’s can’t be present. I love that I am able to make the patient and his/her family comfortable in their last moments. I love to give my all to my patients but I pray this virus ends soon.”
Marcello is thankful she has had time to process the situation by talking to her coworkers, friends, family and her boyfriend Tim.
“It was tough, but you know, you kind of have to bring yourself together,” she said. “I had a really big cry for 15 minutes and the other nurses picked up my other assignment, my other patient I was taking care of. So that way I can kind of let it out, collect myself. And then sadly, you kind of just have to go back to work. You could still be sad about it, but you gotta think about the other patient that’s also in your care.”
As Marcello rests up before she heads back to fight the pandemic, she wants people to understand that even though the situation appears to be getting better, things are still bad in the hospital, especially for the ICU. She encourages everyone to listen to the government on when Americans can resume normal activities.
“People are still getting worse and you know, there’s always the risk for a second wave to hit us when people start going out again,” she said. “You know, people can be carriers and not have symptoms and not know it, and they could spread it when they start going out ’cause the weather’s getting better.”
Marcello is motivated to keep caring for the sick throughout the pandemic, even at the risk of her own safety, by both her patients and by her coworkers.
“I work with amazing, amazing people and you know, every time I go in we still somehow find a way to have a good time and keep each other happy and positive,” she said.
Marcello and her coworkers in the Long Island Jewish Medical Center SICU started a GoFundMe on March 25, “Help LIJ’s SICU Fight The Pandemic of COVID-19,” which has surpassed its goal of $2,000 by over $3,000.
“Everyone’s been really supportive,” she said, describing how almost every shift she works, people donate snacks and food and send pictures and letters.
The nurses have a wall in the cafeteria that is covered in letters from students, she said, and her friends send her care packages in the mail. Someone played bagpipes outside Long Island Jewish Medical Center the other day, she added, and firefighters lined the walkway and clapped for the health care workers.
“We do it for the patients and their families because we put ourselves in their shoes,” she said. “We want the best care for our family members or for ourselves if we got sick. It’s just little things, little acts of kindness and appreciation from the community. It’s all those little things that kind of add up together and keep you going even when things seem very frustrating.”
Copyright 2020 The Daily Caller News Foundation
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CALL TO ACTION: COVID-19 is causing massive disruptions in life. The Stream’s parent organization, LIFE Outreach International, is helping send a first wave of help. LIFE’s local mission partners are already distributing thousands of surgical masks, gloves and other sanitary supplies to first responders, hospitals and nursing homes. In addition, other partners have focused on distributing as many meals as possible to help those who need food. You can help with these efforts. Click here to donate.


thestream--2020-04-19--‘Totally Unscripted’: MSNBC Host Reveals Story Behind TD Jakes’ Viral On-Air Prayer

MSNBC anchor Craig Melvin recently sent a viral shockwave through the cable news and Internet realms when he randomly asked the Bishop T.D .
Jakes to pray on live TV .
In an interview with “ The Pure Flix Podcast , ” Melvin revealed that the incredibly viral moment was “ totally unscripted ” and that he hadn ’ t told producers beforehand .
“ We got to the end of the segment … in that moment it felt like we could — collectively , we could use a little prayer , ” the NBC and MSNBC host said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was there and , without giving my producer or directors a head up , I asked him to bow and pray.
” Melvin said the moment was embraced by many , calling the overall reaction to it “ very positive.
” And he also believes the current COVID-19 crisis has exposed some fascinating realities about the human experience .
“ We are living in the most unusual time of my life , where people … are being asked … to stay away from each other , ” Melvin said .
“ But at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is this new connectedness that has emerged from this.
” Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
He added , “ I don ’ t think as many people fully appreciated how much we actually need to interact with each other face-to-face — that is part of who we are as creatures of God.
” Listen to “ The Pure Flix Podcast ” to hear Melvin explain the prayer segment , his path into media and his belief in the essentiality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a journalist and commentator for more than a decade .
He is the director of communications and content for PureFlix.com , the former senior editor at Faithwire.com and the former faith and culture editor at TheBlaze .
This article was originally published on Pure Flix Insider .
Visit Pure Flix for access to thousands of faith and family-friendly movies and TV shows .
You can get a free trial here .

MSNBC anchor Craig Melvin recently sent a viral shockwave through the cable news and Internet realms when he randomly asked the Bishop T.D. Jakes to pray on live TV.
In an interview with “The Pure Flix Podcast,” Melvin revealed that the incredibly viral moment was “totally unscripted” and that he hadn’t told producers beforehand.
“We got to the end of the segment … in that moment it felt like we could — collectively, we could use a little prayer,” the NBC and MSNBC host said. “And he was there and I was there and, without giving my producer or directors a head up, I asked him to bow and pray.”
Listen to Melvin reveal these details:
Melvin said the moment was embraced by many, calling the overall reaction to it “very positive.”
And he also believes the current COVID-19 crisis has exposed some fascinating realities about the human experience.
“We are living in the most unusual time of my life, where people … are being asked … to stay away from each other,” Melvin said. “But at the same time, I maintain there is this new connectedness that has emerged from this.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
He added, “I don’t think as many people fully appreciated how much we actually need to interact with each other face-to-face — that is part of who we are as creatures of God.”
Listen to “The Pure Flix Podcast” to hear Melvin explain the prayer segment, his path into media and his belief in the essentiality of truth.
Billy Hallowell has worked as a journalist and commentator for more than a decade. He is the director of communications and content for PureFlix.com, the former senior editor at Faithwire.com and the former faith and culture editor at TheBlaze.
This article was originally published on Pure Flix Insider. Visit Pure Flix for access to thousands of faith and family-friendly movies and TV shows. You can get a free trial here.
CALL TO ACTION: COVID-19 is causing massive disruptions in life. The Stream’s parent organization, LIFE Outreach International, is helping send a first wave of help. LIFE’s local mission partners are already distributing thousands of surgical masks, gloves and other sanitary supplies to first responders, hospitals and nursing homes. In addition, other partners have focused on distributing as many meals as possible to help those who need food. You can help with these efforts. Click here to donate.


thestream--2020-04-19--The Solace of Uncomfortable Prayers

The Solace of Uncomfortable Prayers

During a mission trip in high school , I was distracted by a question that seemed all-important in my 16-year-old world .
Where would I attend college ?
I worried about which schools to apply to , and whether I ’ d get in .
If I was accepted into more than one , I dreaded having to make a decision .
It was less of a big deal than I felt at the time , but it wasn ’ t inconsequential .
Regardless , I was in knots over all the unknown headed my way .
One night a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yellow slip of paper .
It had my name at the top , and a few Bible verses written beneath in tidy black ink .
She handed similar notes to several people .
I don ’ t know how she chose which verses to give me .
Perhaps I ’ d opened up about my worries during the trip .
I don ’ t remember .
All I remember is that I felt those words , deeper than I ’ d felt practically any Bible verse .
The passage was Psalm 143:6-10 : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; my soul thirsts for you like parched land .
Answer me quickly , O LORD !
My spirit fails !
Hide not your face from me , lest I be like those who go down to the pit .
Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love , for in you I trust .
Make me know the way I should go , for to you I lift up my soul .
Deliver me from my enemies , O LORD !
I have fled to you for refuge .
Teach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you are my God !
Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground !
My friend didn ’ t hand me a verse that magically answered my internal query of where I should attend college .
( There ’ s not a verse for that ! )
Instead , she handed me verses that are unsettling and uncomfortable — and that matched my own feelings perfectly .
She gave me words to pray .
That slip of paper became soft and crinkled as I handled it over and over .
Those verses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I don ’ t know how many times I copied those lines in my journal , praying with every stroke of the pen , Make me know the way I should go , for to you I life up my soul … Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground !
Not long after , he did lead me exactly where I needed to go .
To a lot of people , the words David cried amid life-threatening events seem dramatic for a middle class American girl to pray over her life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hands over where I ’ d attend college seems a privileged thing , especially in light of what so many people are facing today — staggering levels of unemployment , loss of loved ones , and uncertainty about nearly every aspect of the future .
What are people supposed to do ?
I wish I had the answer , but I don ’ t .
Like my friend all those years ago , all I can humbly offer is a testimony of God ’ s guidance in my own life , and some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during a time that seems simple in retrospect , but made me anxious then .
In verse 5 , David writes , “ I remember the days of old ; I meditate on all that you have done ; I ponder the work of your hands.
” And in verse 8 he acknowledges that God ’ s love is steadfast .
He is desperate and afraid , yet trusts that God will answer .
This reminds us that faith and Pollyanna-positivity needn ’ t go hand-in-hand .
They usually don ’ t .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
So know that whatever questions you ’ re asking , you ’ re not alone , you ’ re not silly , and God isn ’ t mad at you for them .
In fact , he cares .
If you ’ re wondering how you ’ ll pay bills in the months to come , or whether you ’ ll be able to have the wedding ceremony or family vacation you ’ ve been planning , or how to lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new normal , pray an unsettling Psalm .
Stretch out your hands to God .
Feel the desperation of the Psalmist ’ s plea to answer quickly , Lord !
And if someone dear to you is struggling with hard questions about the future , avoid a trite , “ fix-it ” answer .
Instead , give them some uncomfortable words to pray .

During a mission trip in high school, I was distracted by a question that seemed all-important in my 16-year-old world. Where would I attend college? I worried about which schools to apply to, and whether I’d get in. If I was accepted into more than one, I dreaded having to make a decision. It was less of a big deal than I felt at the time, but it wasn’t inconsequential. Regardless, I was in knots over all the unknown headed my way.
One night a girl on my team handed me a yellow slip of paper. It had my name at the top, and a few Bible verses written beneath in tidy black ink. She handed similar notes to several people. I don’t know how she chose which verses to give me. Perhaps I’d opened up about my worries during the trip. I don’t remember. All I remember is that I felt those words, deeper than I’d felt practically any Bible verse. The passage was Psalm 143:6-10:
I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like parched land. Answer me quickly, O LORD! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD! I have fled to you for refuge. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!
Desperate Times Call for Desperate Prayers
My friend didn’t hand me a verse that magically answered my internal query of where I should attend college. (There’s not a verse for that!) Instead, she handed me verses that are unsettling and uncomfortable — and that matched my own feelings perfectly. She gave me words to pray.
That slip of paper became soft and crinkled as I handled it over and over. Those verses in my own Bible were underlined. I don’t know how many times I copied those lines in my journal, praying with every stroke of the pen, Make me know the way I should go, for to you I life up my soul … Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! Not long after, he did lead me exactly where I needed to go.
Faith and Pollyanna-positivity needn’t go hand-in-hand.
To a lot of people, the words David cried amid life-threatening events seem dramatic for a middle class American girl to pray over her life decisions. I admit, wringing my hands over where I’d attend college seems a privileged thing, especially in light of what so many people are facing today — staggering levels of unemployment, loss of loved ones, and uncertainty about nearly every aspect of the future.
What are people supposed to do? I wish I had the answer, but I don’t. Like my friend all those years ago, all I can humbly offer is a testimony of God’s guidance in my own life, and some Scripture that gave me words to pray during a time that seems simple in retrospect, but made me anxious then.
God Cares About Your Questions
In verse 5, David writes, “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands.” And in verse 8 he acknowledges that God’s love is steadfast. He is desperate and afraid, yet trusts that God will answer. This reminds us that faith and Pollyanna-positivity needn’t go hand-in-hand. They usually don’t.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
So know that whatever questions you’re asking, you’re not alone, you’re not silly, and God isn’t mad at you for them. In fact, he cares. If you’re wondering how you’ll pay bills in the months to come, or whether you’ll be able to have the wedding ceremony or family vacation you’ve been planning, or how to lead your employees or church congregation in the new normal, pray an unsettling Psalm. Stretch out your hands to God. Feel the desperation of the Psalmist’s plea to answer quickly, Lord!
And if someone dear to you is struggling with hard questions about the future, avoid a trite, “fix-it” answer. Instead, give them some uncomfortable words to pray.
Liberty McArtor, former staff writer for The Stream, is a freelance writer in the great state of Texas, where she lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex with her husband and son. Follow Liberty on Twitter @LibertyMcArtor, or learn more about her at LibertyMcArtor.com.


thestream--2020-04-20--The Poor Take the Hardest Hit from Lock-Down: Report from India

I live in India .
It is not uncommon for me to come across those who live in abject poverty .
But the coronavirus pandemic has shown me , and others , how bad the consequences of poverty can be .
The nationwide lock-down began in March .
It is scheduled to end in May .
But the damage is already done — not by the coronavirus , but by the loss of livelihood for millions .
The Plight of the Poor and Needy It is estimated that 300 million in India are under the poverty line .
Many others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day , the media here have been reporting the plights of the poor and needy who have lost their only means of survival .
Most poor families don ’ t have their own houses .
Few have any savings .
They were left without food and shelter when they lost their jobs in the lock-down .
It is estimated that at least 100 million Indians ( 1 in 14 ) will not receive free food from the government , because they are undocumented .
The caste system still prevails in most of rural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lower castes suffer more from the lock-down than others , leading to higher morbidity and mortality .
Visuals that emerged after the lock-down announcement were heart-breaking .
Men traveled hundreds of miles on foot to return to their hometowns because they could not afford to stay in the big cities .
They carried children on their shoulders in the hot sun .
They ate as little as one meal a day , despite walking what accumulated to hundreds of miles .
Casualties were unavoidable .
A man in his early 20s died attempting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his hometown in Tamil Nadu .
In Delhi , migrant workers and homeless people were forced to stay near the banks of the River Yamuna without shelter and without food .
In desperation , some fed on decayed bananas dumped near a graveyard .
All this in just one country .
Globally , around 1 billion people live in slums .
All of them are susceptible to the novel coronavirus infection .
But even more distressing is that the lock-down is impairing their ability to afford food .
There are many reasons the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recent study suggests that coronavirus infections could be much higher than expected because many who are infected experience no or only mild symptoms and so are never counted .
This means that the death rates ( deaths per number infected ) could be much lower than currently believed .
I am not a public health expert or an economist .
But as a common man living in India , I meet and greet some of the world ’ s poorest people .
I can observe directly how the lock-down devastates them .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the tragic impact of the lock-down .
While some efforts to slow the spread of the disease are surely justified , governments across the globe must take a balanced approach to containment .
They should ease economic activity in areas that are not affected .
The more they delay in restarting their economies , the more people will die of hunger , malnutrition , depression , and desperation .
The lock-down could prove more fatal than the coronavirus even in developed countries .
It will certainly have even worse results in Third @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Environmental Science , University of East Anglia , England ) , is a Research Contributor for the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation

I live in India. It is not uncommon for me to come across those who live in abject poverty. But the coronavirus pandemic has shown me, and others, how bad the consequences of poverty can be.
The nationwide lock-down began in March. It is scheduled to end in May. But the damage is already done — not by the coronavirus, but by the loss of livelihood for millions.
The Plight of the Poor and Needy
It is estimated that 300 million in India are under the poverty line. Many others are daily wage laborers. Day after day, the media here have been reporting the plights of the poor and needy who have lost their only means of survival.
Most poor families don’t have their own houses. Few have any savings. They were left without food and shelter when they lost their jobs in the lock-down.
It is estimated that at least 100 million Indians (1 in 14) will not receive free food from the government, because they are undocumented.
The caste system still prevails in most of rural India. Reports show that people from lower castes suffer more from the lock-down than others, leading to higher morbidity and mortality.
Visuals that emerged after the lock-down announcement were heart-breaking. Men traveled hundreds of miles on foot to return to their hometowns because they could not afford to stay in the big cities.
They carried children on their shoulders in the hot sun. They ate as little as one meal a day, despite walking what accumulated to hundreds of miles. Casualties were unavoidable. A man in his early 20s died attempting to travel 600 miles by foot to his hometown in Tamil Nadu.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
In Delhi, migrant workers and homeless people were forced to stay near the banks of the River Yamuna without shelter and without food. In desperation, some fed on decayed bananas dumped near a graveyard.
All this in just one country. Globally, around 1 billion people live in slums. All of them are susceptible to the novel coronavirus infection. But even more distressing is that the lock-down is impairing their ability to afford food.
There are many reasons the lock-down must be lifted soon: a recent study suggests that coronavirus infections could be much higher than expected because many who are infected experience no or only mild symptoms and so are never counted.
This means that the death rates (deaths per number infected) could be much lower than currently believed.
I am not a public health expert or an economist. But as a common man living in India, I meet and greet some of the world’s poorest people. I can observe directly how the lock-down devastates them. I receive reports from all over my country about the tragic impact of the lock-down.
While some efforts to slow the spread of the disease are surely justified, governments across the globe must take a balanced approach to containment. They should ease economic activity in areas that are not affected.
The more they delay in restarting their economies, the more people will die of hunger, malnutrition, depression, and desperation. The lock-down could prove more fatal than the coronavirus even in developed countries. It will certainly have even worse results in Third World countries.
Vijay Jayaraj (M.Sc., Environmental Science, University of East Anglia, England), is a Research Contributor for the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation.
CALL TO ACTION: COVID-19 is causing massive disruptions in life. The Stream’s parent organization, LIFE Outreach International, is helping send a first wave of help. LIFE’s local mission partners are already distributing thousands of surgical masks, gloves and other sanitary supplies to first responders, hospitals and nursing homes. In addition, other partners have focused on distributing as many meals as possible to help those who need food. You can help with these efforts. Click here to donate.


thestream--2020-04-20--What’s at Stake with the Reopening of the Nation

America ’ s leaders have some very difficult decisions to make in the days ahead .
If they wait too long to reopen the nation ( or , their state ) , they risk crippling the economy .
This would result in much human suffering for years to come .
But if they open things up prematurely , the virus might spread out of control .
This , too , would result in much human suffering , especially in the short term .
What is the right thing to do ?
At the outset , I want to state plainly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expertise .
I am not the one to figure out the wisest economic strategy or the safest medical path .
My Ph.D. is in Near Eastern Languages and Literatures , and I did not take a single undergraduate or graduate class related to economics , science , or the medical field , let alone epidemiology .
( The fact that my doctoral dissertation focused on the Hebrew word for healing allows me to speak with expertise about related biblical , linguistic , and spiritual topics , not about the best national procedures for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my purpose here is not to figure out which strategy is wisest .
Instead , it is to lay out the potential scenarios that could unfold in the coming months , especially in terms of how this could affect the elections and the country as a whole .
Focusing in on President Trump , he was elected in 2016 as the people ’ s champion , and he is positioning himself in that same way today with his calls to “ liberate ” different states .
It is now Trump , standing with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mayors .
If he proves successful , it will also be Trump standing with the people against Big Pharma or a One World Order or another perceived ( or real ) enemy .
In short , if the economy can be jump-started , if there is not a spike in sickness and death , and if “ normal life ” is resumed fairly soon , Trump should have a strong path to reelection .
No rocket science here .
Conversely , should the strategy fail and should steps to reopen the nation prove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be quick to argue that he has blood on his hands .
His reelection would be very difficult .
More importantly , people will have died needlessly .
Of course , his critics have already gone on the attack , blaming him — rightly or wrongly — for a slow start in combating the spread of the virus .
As Hollywood director Rob Reiner tweeted , “ Trump will lose in a landslide because Americans will literally be voting for their lives.
” Or , in the words of Nancy Pelosi , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dismantled the infrastructure handed to him which was meant to plan for and overcome a pandemic , resulting in unnecessary deaths and economic disaster.
” Yet there remains great debate , even in the scientific community , as to how deadly this virus is and how effective the shutdown has been .
The Numbers Have Been Wrong There was an initial warning that at least 15 million Americans could die .
This was based on the theory that half of us would get infected ( roughly 165 million ) and that 1 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least 15 million ) .
And this prediction came from Dr. Brian Monahan , the attending physician of Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court .
Then there were worst-case scenarios estimating that 2 million could die .
Then 200,000-300,000 thousand .
Now we ’ re told the numbers will be closer to 60,000 .
( Or roughly what you see in a severe flu season . )
Who do we trust ?
Whose figures are right ?
Some would say that the reason the numbers have dropped so dramatically is because of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They may be entirely right .
I honestly do not know .
As Rich Lowry argued at the National Review , “ If we are going to have 60,000 deaths with people not leaving their homes for more than a month , the number of deaths obviously would have been higher — much higher — if everyone had gone about business as usual .
We didn ’ t lock down the country to try to prevent 60,000 deaths ; we locked down the country to limit deaths to 60,000 ( or whatever the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emphasis ) .
In support of this argument would be the admission of the Prime Minister of Sweden that he didn ’ t take strong enough measures quickly enough .
Others , however , have claimed that there was no real pandemic to start , that the lockdown measures have done little , and the reduction in deaths follows a natural cycle .
That ’ s the view of Professor Yitzhak Ben-Israel of Tel Aviv University , who also serves on the research and development advisory board for Teva Pharmaceutical Industries .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also believes that he can account for the high mortality rate in Italy as compared to the low mortality rate in Germany .
Shutdowns , in his mind , are not the key .
Writing for the Washington Times on April 14 , Cherly Chumney pointed to a recent Johns Hopkins study that indicated that “ 0.17 percent of America ’ s population has been infected by the coronavirus .
That means 0.007 percent of America ’ s population has died from the coronavirus — we think.
” ( See also here for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this justify the potential crippling of our economy ?
Douglas Axe , a professor of Molecular Biology at Biola University and director of Biologic Institute has argued on The Stream that , “ The coronavirus doesn ’ t seem to have noticed mandated measures in either of the two largest states ” ( his emphasis ) .
Dennis Prager has also raised some valid questions about the recommendations of various health “ experts.
” Again , I do not who is right , and I do not know if there are any simple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s true that he enacted the then-controversial China-travel ban at the end of January .
But he also downplayed the seriousness of the virus as well .
( For the record , so did some health experts , along with Democratic leaders and left-wing media . )
This would be in keeping with Trump ’ s optimistic approach to life and leadership .
Yet , when strong health concerns were brought to him , he enacted all major recommendations .
( According to Task Force member Dr. Anthony Fauci . )
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to well-intentioned but misguided “ experts ” ?
Is there a happy medium ?
On the one hand , Trump is moving forward cautiously , taking counsel from a wide variety of scientific , economic , and even faith leaders .
That , hopefully , bodes well for the future .
At the same time , he is positioning himself as the champion of “ liberation , ” fighting against autocratic state and city leaders .
Should his push to reopen America come in time and succeed , he will emerge triumphant , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corner .
Should his push be premature , not only will his political opponents capitalize on his error , but precious lives will be lost .
Can we join together , regardless of our feelings for the president and the Democrats , and pray that God would give him and his team , along with governors nationwide , supernatural wisdom ?
A lot hangs in the balance .
A whole lot .
Dr. Michael Brown ( www.askdrbrown.org ) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program .
His latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Words of Faith , Hope , and Wisdom in the Midst of Crisis .
Connect with him on Facebook , Twitter or YouTube .

America’s leaders have some very difficult decisions to make in the days ahead. If they wait too long to reopen the nation (or, their state), they risk crippling the economy. This would result in much human suffering for years to come. But if they open things up prematurely, the virus might spread out of control. This, too, would result in much human suffering, especially in the short term. What is the right thing to do?
At the outset, I want to state plainly that I claim no scientific or economic expertise. I am not the one to figure out the wisest economic strategy or the safest medical path.
My Ph.D. is in Near Eastern Languages and Literatures, and I did not take a single undergraduate or graduate class related to economics, science, or the medical field, let alone epidemiology. (The fact that my doctoral dissertation focused on the Hebrew word for healing allows me to speak with expertise about related biblical, linguistic, and spiritual topics, not about the best national procedures for dealing with viruses.)
So, my purpose here is not to figure out which strategy is wisest. Instead, it is to lay out the potential scenarios that could unfold in the coming months, especially in terms of how this could affect the elections and the country as a whole.
Concerning President Trump
Focusing in on President Trump, he was elected in 2016 as the people’s champion, and he is positioning himself in that same way today with his calls to “liberate” different states. It is now Trump, standing with the people against tyrannical governors and oppressive mayors.
If he proves successful, it will also be Trump standing with the people against Big Pharma or a One World Order or another perceived (or real) enemy.
In short, if the economy can be jump-started, if there is not a spike in sickness and death, and if “normal life” is resumed fairly soon, Trump should have a strong path to reelection. No rocket science here.
Conversely, should the strategy fail and should steps to reopen the nation prove premature, then Trump’s critics would be quick to argue that he has blood on his hands. His reelection would be very difficult. More importantly, people will have died needlessly.
Who do we trust? Whose figures are right?
Of course, his critics have already gone on the attack, blaming him — rightly or wrongly — for a slow start in combating the spread of the virus. As Hollywood director Rob Reiner tweeted, “Trump will lose in a landslide because Americans will literally be voting for their lives.”
Or, in the words of Nancy Pelosi, “The truth is that Donald Trump dismantled the infrastructure handed to him which was meant to plan for and overcome a pandemic, resulting in unnecessary deaths and economic disaster.”
Yet there remains great debate, even in the scientific community, as to how deadly this virus is and how effective the shutdown has been.
The Numbers Have Been Wrong
There was an initial warning that at least 15 million Americans could die. This was based on the theory that half of us would get infected (roughly 165 million) and that 1 in 100 would die (hence, at least 15 million). And this prediction came from Dr. Brian Monahan, the attending physician of Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Then there were worst-case scenarios estimating that 2 million could die. Then 200,000-300,000 thousand. Now we’re told the numbers will be closer to 60,000. (Or roughly what you see in a severe flu season.)
Who do we trust? Whose figures are right?
Some would say that the reason the numbers have dropped so dramatically is because of the extreme measures we have taken.
They may be entirely right. I honestly do not know.
As Rich Lowry argued at the National Review, “If we are going to have 60,000 deaths with people not leaving their homes for more than a month, the number of deaths obviously would have been higher — much higher — if everyone had gone about business as usual. We didn’t lock down the country to try to prevent 60,000 deaths; we locked down the country to limit deaths to 60,000 (or whatever the ultimate toll is)” (his emphasis).
In support of this argument would be the admission of the Prime Minister of Sweden that he didn’t take strong enough measures quickly enough.
Others, however, have claimed that there was no real pandemic to start, that the lockdown measures have done little, and the reduction in deaths follows a natural cycle.
That’s the view of Professor Yitzhak Ben-Israel of Tel Aviv University, who also serves on the research and development advisory board for Teva Pharmaceutical Industries.
He is obviously no slouch, and he also believes that he can account for the high mortality rate in Italy as compared to the low mortality rate in Germany. Shutdowns, in his mind, are not the key.
Writing for the Washington Times on April 14, Cherly Chumney pointed to a recent Johns Hopkins study that indicated that “0.17 percent of America’s population has been infected by the coronavirus. That means 0.007 percent of America’s population has died from the coronavirus — we think.” (See also here for further, relevant data.)
Does this justify the potential crippling of our economy?
Douglas Axe, a professor of Molecular Biology at Biola University and director of Biologic Institute has argued on The Stream that, “The coronavirus doesn’t seem to have noticed mandated measures in either of the two largest states” (his emphasis).
Dennis Prager has also raised some valid questions about the recommendations of various health “experts.”
Again, I do not who is right, and I do not know if there are any simple answers.
Can’t We Pray for Supernatural Wisdom?
As for President Trump, it’s true that he enacted the then-controversial China-travel ban at the end of January. But he also downplayed the seriousness of the virus as well. (For the record, so did some health experts, along with Democratic leaders and left-wing media.)
This would be in keeping with Trump’s optimistic approach to life and leadership. Yet, when strong health concerns were brought to him, he enacted all major recommendations. (According to Task Force member Dr. Anthony Fauci.)
Did he overreact? Did he listen to well-intentioned but misguided “experts”? Is there a happy medium?
On the one hand, Trump is moving forward cautiously, taking counsel from a wide variety of scientific, economic, and even faith leaders. That, hopefully, bodes well for the future. At the same time, he is positioning himself as the champion of “liberation,” fighting against autocratic state and city leaders.
Should his push to reopen America come in time and succeed, he will emerge triumphant, with his political enemies backed into a corner.
Should his push be premature, not only will his political opponents capitalize on his error, but precious lives will be lost.
Can we join together, regardless of our feelings for the president and the Democrats, and pray that God would give him and his team, along with governors nationwide, supernatural wisdom?
A lot hangs in the balance. A whole lot.
CALL TO ACTION: COVID-19 is causing massive disruptions in life. The Stream’s parent organization, LIFE Outreach International, is helping send a first wave of help. LIFE’s local mission partners are already distributing thousands of surgical masks, gloves and other sanitary supplies to first responders, hospitals and nursing homes. In addition, other partners have focused on distributing as many meals as possible to help those who need food. You can help with these efforts. Click here to donate.
Dr. Michael Brown (www.askdrbrown.org) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program. His latest book is When the World Stops: Words of Faith, Hope, and Wisdom in the Midst of Crisis. Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.


thestream--2020-04-20--Military Photo of the Day: Medical Pre-Screening

A National Guard soldier provides medical pre-screening to soldiers starting duty on April 15 , 2020 in Eastover , South @ @ @ @ @ and safe week , everyone !
Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This @ @ @ @ @ .
And No Fear .

A National Guard soldier provides medical pre-screening to soldiers starting duty on April 15, 2020 in Eastover, South Carolina.
Have a healthy and safe week, everyone!
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thestream--2020-04-20--The Revival We’ve Been Praying For — Could It Be Happening Right Now?

For 35 years I ’ ve been praying for revival in America ; desperately , urgently , praying , that God would turn our people back to faith and life in Himself .
I ’ ve been one of ( I ’ m sure ) tens of thousands of Christians praying the same thing .
Throughout all these decades I ’ ve tried to picture what that revival would look like here .
Never in my wildest imaginings did I suppose it could happen invisibly , underground .
Now , though , I wonder if it ’ s going on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , right now , in the middle of a revival such as the world has never seen — and won ’ t see , at least not openly , until the lid comes off and the churches open up again .
No one knows , but signs indicate there ’ s room for hope , at least , in the midst of all our coronavirus pain .
First example : Many of America ’ s favorite gods have been toppled .
Sports is gone for now , from kids ’ soccer games to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too .
Commercialism may not be dead but it ’ s hurting badly .
Evenings at the bar ?
They ’ re gone , as is most partying .
Sometimes when we won ’ t give up our idolatries , the true God will take action to show how false these gods really are .
Meanwhile churches are reporting extraordinarily high numbers of participants in their online services .
Shane Idleman mentioned 400,000 .
A pastor friend of mine said numbers were running seven times greater than usual .
The church I attend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 5,000 involved , but over Easter weekend we had some 40,000 connecting with us online .
I ’ m also hearing of new church-wide prayer emphases across the country .
How could it be otherwise when the world is at such risk , and when individuals are in such spiritual , emotional , and relational need ?
Historically , corporate prayer has been a very strong indicator of revival .
What do these numbers represent ?
Quick , casual drop-ins or serious seeking ?
It ’ s too early to say .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be like none other in history .
The closest I know of would be — ironically — the almost-invisible , underground growth of Christianity that ’ s being reported in Muslim lands today .
Maybe It Needed To Be This Way ?
Revival — a large-scale , authentically repentant , powerfully praying turn to Christ by His Church — is normally a public event with public effects .
The same goes for awakenings , in which large numbers of unbelievers turn to Christ .
The two are not the same , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , revivals and awakenings have tended to start in well-defined cultural and/or geographic regions .
Typically they suffuse that region thoroughly , not only with prayer and church attendance , but also with huge , positive social change .
Following the great Welsh revival early in the 20th century , there was so little crime the police complained they had nothing to do .
Therein lies the question , though : social change .
Everyone is fine with lower crime rates ( well , almost everyone ) .
Not everyone would be happy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Anti-Christian hostility is concentrated among the wealthy , educated , powerful elite .
Our economy has billions if not trillions of dollars invested in outright sin , ranging from pornography to human trafficking to drugs to power to you-name-it .
With all that in view , I could never picture revival happening without huge opposition .
It wouldn ’ t just be sparks flying , humanly speaking , at least .
It would be look a lot more like an explosion .
God can answer prayer any way He wants .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make one happen .
He could tamp it down , too , if He wished .
Or He could set revival/awakening in motion invisibly , so the opposition doesn ’ t even see it building .
And what if that were going on right now ?
What would that mean for what happens when the lid finally comes off ?
What if the church doors open , and we get seven times the normal count of people attending physically , not just virtually ?
Then the deed would have been done .
Our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revival/awakening would have started so that nothing could extinguish it .
The opposition would be there , but it would be too late to prevent the work of God — as if anything could stop His work anyway .
Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
God is not afraid to use hard circumstances to cure spiritual evils .
When dozens of prophets over hundreds of years failed to persuade Israel and Judah to give up their idols , God let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Judah be deported to Babylon .
It was hard medicine , but it worked : When they came back cured , they were cured , as devotedly monotheistic as any culture could possibly be .
Is a cure like that worth it ?
Some of the opposition will scream “ No !
No ‘ religion ’ could be worth this kind of pain !
” Many , many , though , will thank God for the pain that finally brought them to realize it isn ’ t “ religion , ” it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ God ’ s grace and truth , God ’ s eternally good life ; and it ’ s the sudden clarity that reveals how empty all our other gods have been .
Is He doing something like that for His people right now ?
I don ’ t know .
It ’ s at least possible , isn ’ t it ?
I can ’ t wait to find out .
In the meantime , there are still tens of thousands of us praying God would make it happen .
Tom Gilson ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with The Stream , and the author of A Christian Mind : Thoughts on Life and Truth in Jesus Christ and Critical Conversations : A Christian Parent ’ s Guide to Discussing Homosexuality with Teens , and the lead editor of True Reason : Confronting the Irrationality of the New Atheism .

For 35 years I’ve been praying for revival in America; desperately, urgently, praying, that God would turn our people back to faith and life in Himself. I’ve been one of (I’m sure) tens of thousands of Christians praying the same thing.
Throughout all these decades I’ve tried to picture what that revival would look like here. Never in my wildest imaginings did I suppose it could happen invisibly, underground. Now, though, I wonder if it’s going on — even today! We could be, right now, in the middle of a revival such as the world has never seen — and won’t see, at least not openly, until the lid comes off and the churches open up again.
No one knows, but signs indicate there’s room for hope, at least, in the midst of all our coronavirus pain.
Signs of an Underground Revival
First example: Many of America’s favorite gods have been toppled. Sports is gone for now, from kids’ soccer games to Major League Baseball. Concerts are, too. Commercialism may not be dead but it’s hurting badly. Evenings at the bar? They’re gone, as is most partying. Sometimes when we won’t give up our idolatries, the true God will take action to show how false these gods really are.
Meanwhile churches are reporting extraordinarily high numbers of participants in their online services. Shane Idleman mentioned 400,000. A pastor friend of mine said numbers were running seven times greater than usual. The church I attend is a large, with about 4,000 to 5,000 involved, but over Easter weekend we had some 40,000 connecting with us online.
I’m also hearing of new church-wide prayer emphases across the country. How could it be otherwise when the world is at such risk, and when individuals are in such spiritual, emotional, and relational need? Historically, corporate prayer has been a very strong indicator of revival.
What do these numbers represent? Quick, casual drop-ins or serious seeking? It’s too early to say. Granted, if it were revival it would be like none other in history. The closest I know of would be — ironically — the almost-invisible, underground growth of Christianity that’s being reported in Muslim lands today.
Maybe It Needed To Be This Way?
Revival — a large-scale, authentically repentant, powerfully praying turn to Christ by His Church — is normally a public event with public effects. The same goes for awakenings, in which large numbers of unbelievers turn to Christ. The two are not the same, but they often go together.
Historically speaking, revivals and awakenings have tended to start in well-defined cultural and/or geographic regions. Typically they suffuse that region thoroughly, not only with prayer and church attendance, but also with huge, positive social change. Following the great Welsh revival early in the 20th century, there was so little crime the police complained they had nothing to do.
Therein lies the question, though: social change. Everyone is fine with lower crime rates (well, almost everyone). Not everyone would be happy with what else might come, though. Anti-Christian hostility is concentrated among the wealthy, educated, powerful elite. Our economy has billions if not trillions of dollars invested in outright sin, ranging from pornography to human trafficking to drugs to misuse of power to you-name-it.
With all that in view, I could never picture revival happening without huge opposition. It wouldn’t just be sparks flying, humanly speaking, at least. It would be look a lot more like an explosion.
God can answer prayer any way He wants. If he wants a social explosion He can make one happen. He could tamp it down, too, if He wished. Or He could set revival/awakening in motion invisibly, so the opposition doesn’t even see it building.
I Can’t Wait to Find Out
And what if that were going on right now? What would that mean for what happens when the lid finally comes off? What if the church doors open, and we get seven times the normal count of people attending physically, not just virtually?
Then the deed would have been done. Our prayers would have been answered. The revival/awakening would have started so that nothing could extinguish it. The opposition would be there, but it would be too late to prevent the work of God — as if anything could stop His work anyway.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
God is not afraid to use hard circumstances to cure spiritual evils. When dozens of prophets over hundreds of years failed to persuade Israel and Judah to give up their idols, God let them be conquered, and allowed all of Judah be deported to Babylon. It was hard medicine, but it worked: When they came back cured, they were cured, as devotedly monotheistic as any culture could possibly be.
Is a cure like that worth it? Some of the opposition will scream “No! No ‘religion’ could be worth this kind of pain!” Many, many, though, will thank God for the pain that finally brought them to realize it isn’t “religion,” it’s God’s love, God’s grace and truth, God’s eternally good life; and it’s the sudden clarity that reveals how empty all our other gods have been.
Is He doing something like that for His people right now? I don’t know. It’s at least possible, isn’t it? I can’t wait to find out. In the meantime, there are still tens of thousands of us praying God would make it happen.
Tom Gilson (@TomGilsonAuthor) is a senior editor with The Stream, and the author of A Christian Mind: Thoughts on Life and Truth in Jesus Christ and Critical Conversations: A Christian Parent’s Guide to Discussing Homosexuality with Teens, and the lead editor of True Reason: Confronting the Irrationality of the New Atheism.