thestream--2020-04-17--This CPA Helps You File Taxes and Saves Your Marriage

Infidelity and pornography are two of the biggest reasons for America ’ s high — though declining — divorce rate .
But right up there are financial issues , especially among poorer Americans .
And it is with divorce prevention in mind that Manassas , Virginia ’ s Chris Peden , President of Peden Accounting Services , brings two business cards every time he helps a couple with their taxes .
“ Money is one of the leading causes of divorce , and it is usually because the spouses are not on the same page , ” Peden told me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each spouse a business card and tell them that when they have a disagreement or are unsure about an action to take , give me a call so we can talk about it.
” This outsider look allows for objectivity and gives Peden the chance to “ present a solution in which they both have a vested interest.
” “ Marriage is the bedrock of society , ” he explained .
“ I have seen too many broken marriages that have an adverse effect on the kids .
I was lucky to grow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very few disagreements regarding money .
This leads to a more stable home , which gives the kids stability to grow into well-adjusted adults.
” Peden says that accountants provide a number of benefits for couples .
“ By relying on a professional , you don ’ t spend the time you could spend with your family researching tax questions .
Researching taxes leads to frustration , fights , and higher stress levels in the home .
By turning to a pro , you can get the correct answer and get help implementing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s perspective also takes the ego out of the situation .
It ’ s now about the team , not a solution oriented to one spouse or the other after much bickering , ” said Peden .
Finally , “ by saving families money on taxes , ” accountants help people have more money on hand to pay for everyday things as well as their dreams , explained Peden .
“ When you don ’ t have money for everyday things , it can lead to bickering and fighting between mom and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope to cut down on this and help families live the life they dreamed about when they got married.
” Peden has become a problem-solver not just through his professional work , but also through raising two autistic children .
“ When everything revolves around your children ’ s issues , they really do become the most important thing in your lives .
I have often said that if the kids had been neurotypical , I probably would have worked 80 hours a week in Tyson ’ s Corner with no time for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to divorce — so our kids being autistic may have saved my marriage !
” While he and his wife “ do have our moments of self-pity , ” Peden said they work hard “ on finding solutions .
If you need to find someone who can think of outside the box solutions to problems , talk to the parent of an autistic child .
We specialize in coming up with solutions in the midst of chaos.
” Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ t kept his parenting wisdom private — he authored a book on parenting autistic children , “ The Blessings of Autism : How raising a child with Autism helped develop my faith and my life better.
” He and his wife also help less-experienced couples raising autistic children , including at Mass .
“ There are times when we see someone struggling with an autistic child , and you can see the embarrassment on their faces .
We are able to go over and say , ‘ It ’ s ok. Don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are doing just fine .
We have been where you are and you will be ok. ’ ” Keep Calm and Remove Your Ego “ It is what you do when things aren ’ t going well that is going to have the biggest impact ” in a marriage , said Peden .
“ Keeping calm and being supportive in a moment of crisis will reap more rewards than two dozen roses.
” “ In terms of money , take your ego out of money decisions .
Just because you had spent money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to spend money on a bad solution .
And just because your friends are doing something with their money doesn ’ t mean you have to follow them and do likewise .
Talk to a professional who will help you hash out what needs to happen.
” Proven Media Solutions CEO Dustin Siggins is a parishioner of St. Rita ’ s Catholic Church in Alexandria , Virginia .
Peden Accounting Services handles Siggins ’ taxes and is a syndicator of Proven Media Solutions ’ monthly business principles column .

Infidelity and pornography are two of the biggest reasons for America’s high — though declining — divorce rate.
But right up there are financial issues, especially among poorer Americans. And it is with divorce prevention in mind that Manassas, Virginia’s Chris Peden, President of Peden Accounting Services, brings two business cards every time he helps a couple with their taxes.
The Bedrock of Society
“Money is one of the leading causes of divorce, and it is usually because the spouses are not on the same page,” Peden told me. “What I do is give each spouse a business card and tell them that when they have a disagreement or are unsure about an action to take, give me a call so we can talk about it.” This outsider look allows for objectivity and gives Peden the chance to “present a solution in which they both have a vested interest.”
“Marriage is the bedrock of society,” he explained. “I have seen too many broken marriages that have an adverse effect on the kids. I was lucky to grow up in a very stable home with very few disagreements regarding money. This leads to a more stable home, which gives the kids stability to grow into well-adjusted adults.”
Peden says that accountants provide a number of benefits for couples. “By relying on a professional, you don’t spend the time you could spend with your family researching tax questions. Researching taxes leads to frustration, fights, and higher stress levels in the home. By turning to a pro, you can get the correct answer and get help implementing necessary changes.”
“Having an outsider’s perspective also takes the ego out of the situation. It’s now about the team, not a solution oriented to one spouse or the other after much bickering,” said Peden.
Finally, “by saving families money on taxes,” accountants help people have more money on hand to pay for everyday things as well as their dreams, explained Peden. “When you don’t have money for everyday things, it can lead to bickering and fighting between mom and dad. Through my work, I hope to cut down on this and help families live the life they dreamed about when they got married.”
The Blessings of Autism
Peden has become a problem-solver not just through his professional work, but also through raising two autistic children. “When everything revolves around your children’s issues, they really do become the most important thing in your lives. I have often said that if the kids had been neurotypical, I probably would have worked 80 hours a week in Tyson’s Corner with no time for the family. This could have led to divorce — so our kids being autistic may have saved my marriage!”
While he and his wife “do have our moments of self-pity,” Peden said they work hard “on finding solutions. If you need to find someone who can think of outside the box solutions to problems, talk to the parent of an autistic child. We specialize in coming up with solutions in the midst of chaos.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Peden hasn’t kept his parenting wisdom private — he authored a book on parenting autistic children, “The Blessings of Autism: How raising a child with Autism helped develop my faith and my life better.” He and his wife also help less-experienced couples raising autistic children, including at Mass. “There are times when we see someone struggling with an autistic child, and you can see the embarrassment on their faces. We are able to go over and say, ‘It’s ok. Don’t worry about the looks. You are doing just fine. We have been where you are and you will be ok.’”
Keep Calm and Remove Your Ego
“It is what you do when things aren’t going well that is going to have the biggest impact” in a marriage, said Peden. “Keeping calm and being supportive in a moment of crisis will reap more rewards than two dozen roses.”
“In terms of money, take your ego out of money decisions. Just because you had spent money on something doesn’t you should continue to spend money on a bad solution. And just because your friends are doing something with their money doesn’t mean you have to follow them and do likewise. Talk to a professional who will help you hash out what needs to happen.”
Proven Media Solutions CEO Dustin Siggins is a parishioner of St. Rita’s Catholic Church in Alexandria, Virginia. Peden Accounting Services handles Siggins’ taxes and is a syndicator of Proven Media Solutions’ monthly business principles column.


thestream--2020-04-17--Was the Coronavirus Red China’s Pearl Harbor Attack?

My mom was not a model of ethnic sensitivity .
Once she made me cringe when a bunch of visiting rural Cajuns ( led by a friend of mine ) took us out to New York City ’ s Little Italy .
We couldn ’ t find a spot , so I suggested parking in neighboring Chinatown .
Mom took a stand on principle .
Absolutely not .
“ Oh no , ” she said , in her twangy , George-Costanza ’ s-mom Astoria accent .
“ I haven ’ t trusted those people since Pearl Harbor.
” She ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and her brother ended up getting wounded fighting at Normandy .
Though not against … the Chinese .
I stepped in , pedantically , “ But that was the Japanese !
The Chinese were our allies !
In fact , the oil boycott Roosevelt slapped on Japan in support of China likely provoked — ” The rural Cajuns looked at each other .
They ’ d expected big city New Yorkers to be a little bit … different .
“ I don ’ t care , ” Mom said , puffing a Marlboro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to me .
Those people give me nightmares .
They eat cats.
” “ I … can ’ t argue with that , ” I answered .
And we didn ’ t park the car .
In whatever bubbling corner of Purgatory mom sweats out her sins , I know she ’ s cackling now .
I can see her raising her eyebrows and saying , “ They eat bats , too.
” But of course , she ’ d be wrong .
( Again , Mom !
Again . )
The habit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ endangered pangolins , apparently wasn ’ t the cause of the Wuhan flu ’ s transmission .
The Coronavirus ’ origins appear not to be nearly so innocent or quaint .
There is increasing confidence that the COVID-19 outbreak likely originated in a Wuhan laboratory , though not as a bioweapon but as part of China ’ s attempt to demonstrate that its efforts to identify and combat viruses are equal to or greater than the capabilities of the United States , multiple sources who have been briefed on the details of early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen relevant materials tell Fox News .
This may be the “ costliest government cover-up of all time , ” one of the sources said .
The sources believe the initial transmission of the virus – a naturally occurring strain that was being studied there – was bat-to-human and that “ patient zero ” worked at the laboratory , then went into the population in Wuhan .
The subsequent weeks were a black comedy of errors , as Communist bureaucrats covered their butts , silenced whistleblowers , jailed scientists , and lied to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they had the help of the compliant World Health Organization .
( No wonder President Trump has suspended funding to that organization . )
And a timid , sold-out , or frankly pro-China Mainstream Media .
The Chinese response recalled the Soviet handling of Chernobyl , except a whole lot worse , since the stakes were higher .
The radiation from that plant wasn ’ t going to spread from Ukraine to New York , London , and Rome .
The Victims of Communism Foundation has produced a detailed timeline of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s ( PRC ’ s ) actions surrounding the outbreak .
The Foundation notes : For a video account of how China mishandled the virus outbreak in order to cover up its true origins , watch this stunning , one-hour documentary from The Epoch Times .
That paper is one of the few media outlets willing to subject the Communist regime to honest scrutiny .
But we haven ’ t even gotten to the really bad part of China ’ s behavior , the part that seems like a piece of biological warfare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Buried in Fox ’ s report we find the following shocking paragraph : Did you get that ?
Not only did the Chinese Communist regime know that the virus spread by contact , and lie about it .
It shut down the infected province to travel inside China , but continued to send people from there all around the world .
Does that remind you of anything ?
Maybe old stories of U.S. soldiers giving smallpox-infected blankets to Indian tribes they hoped to wipe out ?
Or the German general staff shipping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its tottering regime in 1917 , and knock it out of the war ?
Elizabeth Vaughn at Redstate also noticed this incendiary assertion .
She quotes the conversation between reporter Bret Baier and host Sean Hannity on Fox News , during prime time : Hannity notes , “ It certainly would speak volumes if they are not allowing people from Wuhan to travel to China or to any other areas of China , but they ’ re letting them travel internationally .
That would mean they knew the risk was real .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ else and we already know that they were not forthcoming.
” Baier said , “ My sources…they ’ ve been briefed on this and they seem pretty confident .
The fact that they ’ re saying it like this is news in and of itself…We really want to see the evidence , the hard , direct evidence and we ’ ll see if we can get that.
” Vaughn concludes : “ If it is proven that the CCP stopped air traffic to and from Wuhan to contain the spread of the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wuhan to foreign countries , it would be a game-changer .
China will truly become a pariah on the global stage .
I can ’ t imagine anything President Xi could say or do to redeem himself.
” Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
I ’ ll go further .
If we can verify that China protected its own citizens from this virus , while sending those likely infected all around the world like human bioweapons … that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much more infamous one than Pearl Harbor , in fact .
At least that sneak attack targeted soldiers , not old people in nursing homes .
At this point , off in eternity , my mother lights a Marlboro from the purgatorial flames and blows a smoke ring .
“ I told you so.
” John Zmirak is a senior editor at The Stream , and author or co-author of ten books , including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism .

My mom was not a model of ethnic sensitivity. Once she made me cringe when a bunch of visiting rural Cajuns (led by a friend of mine) took us out to New York City’s Little Italy. We couldn’t find a spot, so I suggested parking in neighboring Chinatown. Mom took a stand on principle. Absolutely not.
“Oh no,” she said, in her twangy, George-Costanza’s-mom Astoria accent. “I haven’t trusted those people since Pearl Harbor.” She’d been 14 when that happened, and her brother ended up getting wounded fighting at Normandy. Though not against … the Chinese.
I stepped in, pedantically, “But that was the Japanese! The Chinese were our allies! In fact, the oil boycott Roosevelt slapped on Japan in support of China likely provoked — ”
The rural Cajuns looked at each other. They’d expected big city New Yorkers to be a little bit … different.
“I don’t care,” Mom said, puffing a Marlboro, “they all look the same to me. Those people give me nightmares. They eat cats.”
“I … can’t argue with that,” I answered. And we didn’t park the car.
In whatever bubbling corner of Purgatory mom sweats out her sins, I know she’s cackling now. I can see her raising her eyebrows and saying, “They eat bats, too.”
From a Research Lab, Not a Wet Market
But of course, she’d be wrong. (Again, Mom! Again.) The habit of eating virus-laced bats, or even endangered pangolins, apparently wasn’t the cause of the Wuhan flu’s transmission. The Coronavirus’ origins appear not to be nearly so innocent or quaint.
Fox News reports:
There is increasing confidence that the COVID-19 outbreak likely originated in a Wuhan laboratory, though not as a bioweapon but as part of China’s attempt to demonstrate that its efforts to identify and combat viruses are equal to or greater than the capabilities of the United States, multiple sources who have been briefed on the details of early actions by China’s government and seen relevant materials tell Fox News. This may be the “costliest government cover-up of all time,” one of the sources said. The sources believe the initial transmission of the virus – a naturally occurring strain that was being studied there – was bat-to-human and that “patient zero” worked at the laboratory, then went into the population in Wuhan.
The subsequent weeks were a black comedy of errors, as Communist bureaucrats covered their butts, silenced whistleblowers, jailed scientists, and lied to the world. In all of that, they had the help of the compliant World Health Organization. (No wonder President Trump has suspended funding to that organization.) And a timid, sold-out, or frankly pro-China Mainstream Media.
The Chinese response recalled the Soviet handling of Chernobyl, except a whole lot worse, since the stakes were higher. The radiation from that plant wasn’t going to spread from Ukraine to New York, London, and Rome.
A Long Record of Lies
The Victims of Communism Foundation has produced a detailed timeline of the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC’s) actions surrounding the outbreak. The Foundation notes:
[T]he first case was recorded in Wuhan, China, on November 17, 2019 — a fact still not acknowledged by the PRC. Despite readily available information and a rapidly spreading outbreak, it took more than two months for the PRC to inform the world that the coronavirus was being transmitted among humans, which the regime finally admitted on January 20. The PRC knew about human-to-human transmission by late December, yet ordered the evidence destroyed. Such information was vital to preventing the global pandemic.
For a video account of how China mishandled the virus outbreak in order to cover up its true origins, watch this stunning, one-hour documentary from The Epoch Times. That paper is one of the few media outlets willing to subject the Communist regime to honest scrutiny.
Biological Warfare Against the World
But we haven’t even gotten to the really bad part of China’s behavior, the part that seems like a piece of biological warfare aimed at the rest of the world. Buried in Fox’s report we find the following shocking paragraph:
There were doctors and journalists who were “disappeared” warning of the spread of the virus and its contagious nature and human to human transmission. China moved quickly to shut down travel domestically from Wuhan to the rest of China, but did not stop international flights from Wuhan.
Did you get that? Not only did the Chinese Communist regime know that the virus spread by contact, and lie about it. It shut down the infected province to travel inside China, but continued to send people from there all around the world.
The Communists shut down the infected province to travel inside China, but continued to send people from it all around the world.
Does that remind you of anything? Maybe old stories of U.S. soldiers giving smallpox-infected blankets to Indian tribes they hoped to wipe out? Or the German general staff shipping Lenin to Russia, to bring down its tottering regime in 1917, and knock it out of the war?
China a Global Pariah State?
Elizabeth Vaughn at Redstate also noticed this incendiary assertion. She quotes the conversation between reporter Bret Baier and host Sean Hannity on Fox News, during prime time:
Hannity notes, “It certainly would speak volumes if they are not allowing people from Wuhan to travel to China or to any other areas of China, but they’re letting them travel internationally. That would mean they knew the risk was real. They protected their own country, but nobody else and we already know that they were not forthcoming.” … Baier said, “My sources…they’ve been briefed on this and they seem pretty confident. The fact that they’re saying it like this is news in and of itself…We really want to see the evidence, the hard, direct evidence and we’ll see if we can get that.”
Vaughn concludes: “If it is proven that the CCP stopped air traffic to and from Wuhan to contain the spread of the virus, but continued to allow travel from Wuhan to foreign countries, it would be a game-changer. China will truly become a pariah on the global stage. I can’t imagine anything President Xi could say or do to redeem himself.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
I’ll go further. If we can verify that China protected its own citizens from this virus, while sending those likely infected all around the world like human bioweapons … that’s an act of war.
And a much more infamous one than Pearl Harbor, in fact. At least that sneak attack targeted soldiers, not old people in nursing homes.
At this point, off in eternity, my mother lights a Marlboro from the purgatorial flames and blows a smoke ring. “I told you so.”
John Zmirak is a senior editor at The Stream, and author or co-author of ten books, including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism.


thestream--2020-04-17--Some Practical Thoughts on Contemporary Prophetic Ministry

I believe deeply in prophetic ministry today .
I believe God still speaks to and through His children .
And I believe that some are specially called to serve as “ prophetic ” voices , both to the Church and to the world .
How is it , then , that there is such a mixture in contemporary prophetic ministry ?
How is it that , in some circumstances , these prophets can be so accurate and right while in other circumstances they can be so inaccurate and wrong ?
The Prophetic Gifting is Active Today , But It Must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe it comes down to the importance of staying in our proper lanes and use the prophetic gift properly .
What , exactly , do I mean by this ?
Having been in Pentecostal-Charismatic circles for most of the last 48 years , I have personally witnessed or heard about some amazing prophetic words .
In a few cases , they were spoken through me .
At other times , they were spoken to me .
In many other instances , they were spoken to or through friends of mine .
If I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would make for a staggering , God-glorifying , Jesus-exalting collection .
In fact , the collection of prophetic words would stretch all credulity .
Did the Lord really do that ?
Let me give you three illustrations .
Word 1 : “ When You Hit 180 People , the Explosion Will Come ” A pastor had planted a church in his city , and little by little , it was growing .
A prophetic brother who was well-known in the community told him one day , “ When you hit 180 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pastor kept that in mind , waiting for that explosion in numerical growth when their congregation reached 180 .
Then , one Sunday morning , the pastor noticed that , out of the 182 chairs they had set up , there were only two empty seats .
They had hit 180 .
Later that afternoon , when the building was empty , a gas line ruptured and the building exploded .
Yes , when they hit 180 , the explosion came !
This was not what they were expecting , but it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The pastor told me this story himself , with a smile .
And , he added , they then moved into a much better , permanent facility , and the church took off from there .
Who would dare call this a mere coincidence ?
A powerful woman of prayer was asked to speak at a church banquet , and on the way there , she heard the Spirit say to her heart , “ I want you to bring a prophetic word to each person there.
” When she arrived , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people sitting there , and so she thought to herself , “ I can bring a word to each of these 12.
” Then , some doors swung open , and to her surprise , there were about 300 people seated at other tables .
She thought to herself , “ How can I possibly bring a prophetic word to all these people ?
” At that moment , she noticed a silver-haired woman seated in that front table and received this message for her : “ Keep on truckin ’ !
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an old woman that the Lord was saying , “ Keep on truckin ’ !
” ?
But she couldn ’ t shake the feeling , and she went ahead said to her , “ The Lord says , keep on truckin ’ !
” The whole place instantly erupted with shouts and applause .
The prophetic word was for all of them .
You see , this elderly woman had recently lost her husband , who owned a large trucking company .
The widow had asked the church to pray for wisdom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company going or not ?
God answered their prayers directly with a very clear word .
Our Father cares enough to do things like this .
Word 3 : “ God Says That He Hates Mommies and Daddies ” This last story was told to me by a friend of who witnessed what happened at a small Bible study one night .
A prophetic brother was visiting , and he sensed he had a word for a young woman there .
He felt to tell her , “ God says that He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind of message was this ?
Doesn ’ t the Bible teach us to honor our fathers and mothers ?
Still , he couldn ’ t shake the word and finally told the woman what he was sensing .
At that , she began to weep , sharing through tears what the word meant to her .
It turns out that , when she was a little girl , her father would get into bed with her and sexually abuse her , leaving her with deep emotional scars .
He would tell her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play a little game called Mommies and Daddies.
” Now , years later , in a deeply personal way , her heavenly Father was telling her that He knew about this abuse and that He hated what happened to her .
Why Do We See Both Accuracy and Inaccuracy ?
Again , I could give you endless stories like this , some of which I witnessed myself , pointing to the reality and accuracy of prophetic ministry today .
Yet few , if any , contemporary prophets predicted the current pandemic in advance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did in 1987 , see here ) .
You can be sure that critics of contemporary prophecy have been quick to point this out .
Other prophetic leaders have given words that now seem inaccurate , leading to mockery on atheist and leftwing websites .
How can this be ?
How can some of these same people be so accurate with personal and directional words and yet be so inaccurate with these other words ?
I believe that it has to do with staying in our proper lanes , since , for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not so much focused on predicting the future as much as on bringing correction and help to the Church .
( For my interview with Jeremiah Johnson where we discussed this very subject , see here . )
And in stark contrast with the role of Old Testament prophets , who often stood alone and whose words could lead to revival or apostasy , New Testament prophets are no different than pastors or evangelists or teachers .
In other words , they too are part of leadership teams .
They too must submit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeping with the clear teaching of Paul ( see 1 Corinthians 14:29 ; 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 ) , their words must be tested .
Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
Even more importantly , all New Testament believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and can potentially hear the voice of God .
That ’ s why Paul encourages all believers to seek the gift of prophecy ( see 1 Corinthians 14:39 ) .
It is a truly edifying , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
This is not to say that the Lord will never use New Testament prophets to warn us of major events to come .
We have examples of this in the Book of Acts ( see especially Acts 11:27-30 ) .
And six weeks before the 9-11 terrorist attacks , David Wilkerson shared that “ the Holy Spirit forewarned our pastoral staff that a calamity was coming.
” So , they cancelled all their coming events , some of which were major , and they “ decided to hold prayer meetings four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ During this visitation from the Lord , the Holy Ghost revealed there was a reason for the weeping in our hearts .
We were being so moved because a tragedy was coming .
A severe calamity was coming to the nation .
And even though we didn ’ t know what it was , our hearts were stirred to intercede concerning it.
” When the tragedy hit , the church was ready .
Prophetic Words About the Presidency Were Inaccurate in 2012 , But Accurate in 2016 .
Why ?
During @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before them ) , there were striking prophecies about Donald Trump becoming president .
This was at a time when he was the least likely candidate of them all , especially for evangelical Christians .
Looking back , it seems that God used these words to get our attention .
( For a comprehensive listing of every relevant prophetic word and article , see the new book by Prof. James Beverly , God ’ s Man in the White House : Donald Trump in Modern Christian Prophecy .
For our interview on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the previous presidential election , some had prophesied that Romney would win .
( If you missed the news , he didn ’ t . )
What was the difference between 2012 and 2016 ?
In 2012 , with Romney , I believe Christian leaders operated outside of their spiritual gifting , trying to prognosticate , prophesying out their own hearts .
In 2016 , these prophetic words caught people totally off guard , getting us to think outside of the box .
And they were confirmed by several leaders at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Testament Versus the New The reality is that we are not living in Old Testament times , when every major divine action would be revealed in advance to the prophets ( see Amos 3:7 ) .
We are living in New Testament times when the whole church is called to be prophetic ( see Acts 2:17-21 ) .
In other words , as a people , we should understand the times .
We should know how to live .
And we should bring God ’ s message to the world .
( See @ @ @ @ @ @ @ About the Coronavirus May Prove to Be True To be sure , there is still time to evaluate some of the words that have been spoken regarding COVID-19 , including one which I referenced on March 30 .
According to this prophecy , the virus began in a Chinese lab and would be highly contagious .
The word also stated that Democrats would use the virus to bring down Trump , but that on April 15 or 16 ( coinciding with the end of Passover ) , we would enter the second phase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on , the prophecy said , the virus would diminish .
There was also a reference to a cure being found .
Well , on April 16 , headlines announced that Trump was moving forward with plans to reopen the economy , starting May 1 .
The strategy was dubbed the “ next front in our war.
” There was also major news that stocks rose sharply after reports of a successful cure , developed by Gilead Sciences .
( Note that the company gets its name from the “ balm of Gilead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) There has also been much speculation that the virus did , in fact , begin in a Chinese lab .
Even CNN reported that , “ US investigates possibility of Covid-19 spread originating in Chinese lab.
” Again , time will tell whether this prophetic word was true or not .
The Primary Call of Prophets is Not to Foresee the Future Already , however , it ’ s clear that some of the other prophecies about the virus were inaccurate or simply false .
And it ’ s clear that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the world did not receive advance warnings of the pandemic .
But that ’ s not because they are all frauds ( although I ’ m sure there are some frauds and charlatans out there ) .
Nor is it because they are playing hit or miss .
Rather , it ’ s because their primary calling is not to be prognosticators or predicters .
And they are certainly not called to be the Christian equivalent of astrologers or horoscope readers .
( My long-time friend Ron Cantor has laid out some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d encourage you to review them after you finish this article . )
Prophets are Called to Give a Clear Witness for Jesus Instead , they are primarily called to wake up a sleeping Church , to direct God ’ s people to Jesus and to holiness , and to bring words of comfort , healing , blessing , and warning .
As the Scripture says , “ For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus ” ( Revelation 19:10 , NLT ) .
If contemporary prophets would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flourish , many lives would be transformed , Jesus would be glorified , and reproach would be avoided .
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 .

I believe deeply in prophetic ministry today. I believe God still speaks to and through His children. And I believe that some are specially called to serve as “prophetic” voices, both to the Church and to the world.
How is it, then, that there is such a mixture in contemporary prophetic ministry? How is it that, in some circumstances, these prophets can be so accurate and right while in other circumstances they can be so inaccurate and wrong?
The Prophetic Gifting is Active Today, But It Must Be Used Properly
In short, I believe it comes down to the importance of staying in our proper lanes and use the prophetic gift properly.
What, exactly, do I mean by this?
Having been in Pentecostal-Charismatic circles for most of the last 48 years, I have personally witnessed or heard about some amazing prophetic words. In a few cases, they were spoken through me. At other times, they were spoken to me. In many other instances, they were spoken to or through friends of mine.
If I could recall everyone of them today, it would make for a staggering, God-glorifying, Jesus-exalting collection. In fact, the collection of prophetic words would stretch all credulity. Did the Lord really do that?
Let me give you three illustrations.
Word 1: “When You Hit 180 People, the Explosion Will Come”
A pastor had planted a church in his city, and little by little, it was growing. A prophetic brother who was well-known in the community told him one day, “When you hit 180 people, the explosion will come.”
The pastor kept that in mind, waiting for that explosion in numerical growth when their congregation reached 180.
Then, one Sunday morning, the pastor noticed that, out of the 182 chairs they had set up, there were only two empty seats. They had hit 180.
Yes, when they hit 180, the explosion came!
Later that afternoon, when the building was empty, a gas line ruptured and the building exploded. Yes, when they hit 180, the explosion came!
This was not what they were expecting, but it was a very literal fulfillment of the prophecy.
The pastor told me this story himself, with a smile. And, he added, they then moved into a much better, permanent facility, and the church took off from there.
Who would dare call this a mere coincidence?
Word 2: “Keep on Truckin’!”
Here’s another story I heard firsthand.
A powerful woman of prayer was asked to speak at a church banquet, and on the way there, she heard the Spirit say to her heart, “I want you to bring a prophetic word to each person there.”
When she arrived, there was a table with about 12 people sitting there, and so she thought to herself, “I can bring a word to each of these 12.”
Then, some doors swung open, and to her surprise, there were about 300 people seated at other tables. She thought to herself, “How can I possibly bring a prophetic word to all these people?”
At that moment, she noticed a silver-haired woman seated in that front table and received this message for her: “Keep on truckin’!”
What? She is supposed to tell an old woman that the Lord was saying, “Keep on truckin’!”?
But she couldn’t shake the feeling, and she went ahead said to her, “The Lord says, keep on truckin’!” The whole place instantly erupted with shouts and applause. The prophetic word was for all of them.
You see, this elderly woman had recently lost her husband, who owned a large trucking company. The widow had asked the church to pray for wisdom in the matter. Should she keep the company going or not?
God answered their prayers directly with a very clear word. Our Father cares enough to do things like this.
Word 3: “God Says That He Hates Mommies and Daddies”
This last story was told to me by a friend of who witnessed what happened at a small Bible study one night.
A prophetic brother was visiting, and he sensed he had a word for a young woman there. He felt to tell her, “God says that He hates mommies and daddies.”
But what kind of message was this? Doesn’t the Bible teach us to honor our fathers and mothers?
Still, he couldn’t shake the word and finally told the woman what he was sensing.
At that, she began to weep, sharing through tears what the word meant to her.
It turns out that, when she was a little girl, her father would get into bed with her and sexually abuse her, leaving her with deep emotional scars. He would tell her, “We’re going to play a little game called Mommies and Daddies.”
Now, years later, in a deeply personal way, her heavenly Father was telling her that He knew about this abuse and that He hated what happened to her.
That simple word changed her life.
Why Do We See Both Accuracy and Inaccuracy?
Again, I could give you endless stories like this, some of which I witnessed myself, pointing to the reality and accuracy of prophetic ministry today.
Yet few, if any, contemporary prophets predicted the current pandemic in advance (for the possibility that David Wilkerson did in 1987, see here). You can be sure that critics of contemporary prophecy have been quick to point this out.
Other prophetic leaders have given words that now seem inaccurate, leading to mockery on atheist and leftwing websites. How can this be?
How can some of these same people be so accurate with personal and directional words and yet be so inaccurate with these other words?
The Purpose of Prophesy
I believe that it has to do with staying in our proper lanes, since, for the most part, New Testament prophecy is not so much focused on predicting the future as much as on bringing correction and help to the Church. (For my interview with Jeremiah Johnson where we discussed this very subject, see here.)
And in stark contrast with the role of Old Testament prophets, who often stood alone and whose words could lead to revival or apostasy, New Testament prophets are no different than pastors or evangelists or teachers. In other words, they too are part of leadership teams. They too must submit to spiritual authority. And, in keeping with the clear teaching of Paul (see 1 Corinthians 14:29; 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21), their words must be tested.
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Even more importantly, all New Testament believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and can potentially hear the voice of God. That’s why Paul encourages all believers to seek the gift of prophecy (see 1 Corinthians 14:39). It is a truly edifying, helpful gift (see 1 Corinthians 14:3).
“A Calamity Was Coming”
This is not to say that the Lord will never use New Testament prophets to warn us of major events to come. We have examples of this in the Book of Acts (see especially Acts 11:27-30). And six weeks before the 9-11 terrorist attacks, David Wilkerson shared that “the Holy Spirit forewarned our pastoral staff that a calamity was coming.”
So, they cancelled all their coming events, some of which were major, and they “decided to hold prayer meetings four nights a week.”
Wilkerson explained that, “During this visitation from the Lord, the Holy Ghost revealed there was a reason for the weeping in our hearts. We were being so moved because a tragedy was coming. A severe calamity was coming to the nation. And even though we didn’t know what it was, our hearts were stirred to intercede concerning it.”
When the tragedy hit, the church was ready.
Prophetic Words About the Presidency Were Inaccurate in 2012, But Accurate in 2016. Why?
During the last elections (as well as before them), there were striking prophecies about Donald Trump becoming president. This was at a time when he was the least likely candidate of them all, especially for evangelical Christians.
Looking back, it seems that God used these words to get our attention. (For a comprehensive listing of every relevant prophetic word and article, see the new book by Prof. James Beverly, God’s Man in the White House: Donald Trump in Modern Christian Prophecy. For our interview on the subject, see here.)
Yet in the previous presidential election, some had prophesied that Romney would win. (If you missed the news, he didn’t.)
What was the difference between 2012 and 2016? In 2012, with Romney, I believe Christian leaders operated outside of their spiritual gifting, trying to prognosticate, prophesying out their own hearts.
In 2016, these prophetic words caught people totally off guard, getting us to think outside of the box. And they were confirmed by several leaders at the same time.
Prophesy in the Old Testament Versus the New
The reality is that we are not living in Old Testament times, when every major divine action would be revealed in advance to the prophets (see Amos 3:7).
We are living in New Testament times when the whole church is called to be prophetic (see Acts 2:17-21). In other words, as a people, we should understand the times. We should know how to live. And we should bring God’s message to the world. (See 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11.)
This Word About the Coronavirus May Prove to Be True
To be sure, there is still time to evaluate some of the words that have been spoken regarding COVID-19, including one which I referenced on March 30.
According to this prophecy, the virus began in a Chinese lab and would be highly contagious. The word also stated that Democrats would use the virus to bring down Trump, but that on April 15 or 16 (coinciding with the end of Passover), we would enter the second phase of the pandemic. From that time on, the prophecy said, the virus would diminish. There was also a reference to a cure being found.
Well, on April 16, headlines announced that Trump was moving forward with plans to reopen the economy, starting May 1. The strategy was dubbed the “next front in our war.”
There was also major news that stocks rose sharply after reports of a successful cure, developed by Gilead Sciences. (Note that the company gets its name from the “balm of Gilead,” mentioned in Jeremiah 8:22.)
There has also been much speculation that the virus did, in fact, begin in a Chinese lab. Even CNN reported that, “US investigates possibility of Covid-19 spread originating in Chinese lab.”
Again, time will tell whether this prophetic word was true or not.
The Primary Call of Prophets is Not to Foresee the Future
Already, however, it’s clear that some of the other prophecies about the virus were inaccurate or simply false. And it’s clear that, with rare possible exception, contemporary prophets around the world did not receive advance warnings of the pandemic.
But that’s not because they are all frauds (although I’m sure there are some frauds and charlatans out there). Nor is it because they are playing hit or miss.
[Prophets] are primarily called to wake up a sleeping Church, to direct God’s people to Jesus and to holiness, and to bring words of comfort, healing, blessing, and warning.
Rather, it’s because their primary calling is not to be prognosticators or predicters. And they are certainly not called to be the Christian equivalent of astrologers or horoscope readers. (My long-time friend Ron Cantor has laid out some very helpful guidelines, and I’d encourage you to review them after you finish this article.)
Prophets are Called to Give a Clear Witness for Jesus
Instead, they are primarily called to wake up a sleeping Church, to direct God’s people to Jesus and to holiness, and to bring words of comfort, healing, blessing, and warning. As the Scripture says, “For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus” (Revelation 19:10, NLT).
If contemporary prophets would focus on that, their ministries would flourish, many lives would be transformed, Jesus would be glorified, and reproach would be avoided.
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--2020-04-17--Dr. Phil Voices Concerns for How the COVID-19 Lockdown is Impacting Mental Health

As the US unemployment rate surpasses 22 million , many people are facing economic stress like never before .
At @ @ @ @ @ taken to “ flatten the curve ” of the coronavirus cause more damage than they @ @ @ @ @ Laura Ingraham last night , Dr. Phil expressed his great concerns about the mental and @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 shutdown .
“ I can ’ t show you an X-ray of anxiety , @ @ @ @ @ matter is , the longer this lockdown goes on , the more vulnerable people become.
@ @ @ @ @ a voice to some important but under-reported issues emerging during this crisis .

As the US unemployment rate surpasses 22 million, many people are facing economic stress like never before. At what point do the measures taken to “flatten the curve” of the coronavirus cause more damage than they are worth?
Speaking to Laura Ingraham last night, Dr. Phil expressed his great concerns about the mental and physical health risks of the COVID-19 shutdown. “I can’t show you an X-ray of anxiety, but the fact of the matter is, the longer this lockdown goes on, the more vulnerable people become.”
Watch as he gives a voice to some important but under-reported issues emerging during this crisis.


thestream--2020-04-17--Trump Outlines 3-Phase Approach to ‘Opening Up America Again’ Amid COVID-19

President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a cautious , three-phase approach — one that still gives wide latitude to governors — for reopening the shuttered economy in states that have had low rates of transmission of COVID-19 .
“ Based on the latest data , our team of experts now agrees that we can begin the next front in our war , which we ’ re calling , ‘ Opening up America again , ’ ” Trump said .
“ … We are not opening all at once , but one careful step at a time.
” The president has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy moving again by — or even before — May 1 in some states .
He said the plan is based on “ hard , verifiable data ” and that the peak death rate from the disease is now behind us .
> > > When can America reopen ?
The National Coronavirus Recovery Commission , a project of The Heritage Foundation , is gathering America ’ s top thinkers together to figure that out .
Learn more here .
“ Thanks to our all-out military operation and the extraordinary devotion of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far fewer deaths than even the optimistic projections , ” Trump said .
“ We have incredible people that we ’ re working with , and we ’ re going to bring our country back , and it ’ s going to be bigger and better and stronger than ever before , ” he said .
Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
Dr. Deborah Birx , coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force , presented slides to explain the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country .
Birx said each phases would be “ related to 14 days of decreasing evidence of illness.
” • Phase one is designed to “ mitigate the risk of resurgence ” and would allow public venues , such as arenas , theaters , and restaurants to reopen , only under certain social distancing conditions .
However , “ all vulnerable individuals should continue to shelter in place , ” and low-risk individuals should continue social distancing .
• Phase two only applies for regions with no evidence of a rebound .
Visits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar locations will remain prohibited .
However , schools , day care centers , and camps can reopen , and nonessential travel can resume .
Public venues can begin to ease social distancing restrictions .
• Phase three is also for states or areas with no evidence of a rebound , but has fewer restrictions than phase two .
Even vulnerable individuals would have more freedom , but should still practice social distancing , while others are urged to avoid “ crowded environments.
” The president noted that “ benchmarks must be met @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president ’ s plan , Heritage Foundation President Kay C. James stressed that “ good public health policy is good economic policy.
” “ The administration is rightly working to restore livelihoods in the midst of catastrophic job losses , while also taking care to balance Americans ’ health and safety , ” said James , who is also chairwoman of The Heritage Foundation ’ s 17-member National Coronavirus Recovery Commission .
The panel is working to provide recommendations to federal , state , and local governments , as well as to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to working with the administration to help move prudently toward getting Americans ’ lives back to normal , ” she added .
Vice President Mike Pence said the phased approach will focus on preventing recurrence of the coronavirus in states where it has declined .
“ There is a focus in the president ’ s new guidelines on the most vulnerable , ” Pence said .
“ We made this very clear to the governors today .
These new guidelines for opening up America again can be implemented on a statewide basis or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ predominant and completely driving element that we put into this was the safety and the health of the American public , ” said Dr. Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , who also serves on the White House ’ s coronavirus task force .
Fred Lucas ( @ FredLucasWH ) is the White House correspondent for The Daily Signal and co-host of “ The Right Side of History ” podcast .

President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a cautious, three-phase approach — one that still gives wide latitude to governors — for reopening the shuttered economy in states that have had low rates of transmission of COVID-19.
“Based on the latest data, our team of experts now agrees that we can begin the next front in our war, which we’re calling, ‘Opening up America again,’” Trump said. “… We are not opening all at once, but one careful step at a time.”
The president has said he would like to see the economy moving again by — or even before — May 1 in some states. He said the plan is based on “hard, verifiable data” and that the peak death rate from the disease is now behind us.
>>> When can America reopen? The National Coronavirus Recovery Commission, a project of The Heritage Foundation, is gathering America’s top thinkers together to figure that out. Learn more here.
“Thanks to our all-out military operation and the extraordinary devotion of our people, we believe we will experience far fewer deaths than even the optimistic projections,” Trump said.
“We have incredible people that we’re working with, and we’re going to bring our country back, and it’s going to be bigger and better and stronger than ever before,” he said.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, presented slides to explain the phases of the process of reopening the country. Birx said each phases would be “related to 14 days of decreasing evidence of illness.”
Phase one is designed to “mitigate the risk of resurgence” and would allow public venues, such as arenas, theaters, and restaurants to reopen, only under certain social distancing conditions. However, “all vulnerable individuals should continue to shelter in place,” and low-risk individuals should continue social distancing.
Phase two only applies for regions with no evidence of a rebound. Visits to hospitals, nursing homes, and similar locations will remain prohibited. However, schools, day care centers, and camps can reopen, and nonessential travel can resume. Public venues can begin to ease social distancing restrictions.
Phase three is also for states or areas with no evidence of a rebound, but has fewer restrictions than phase two. Even vulnerable individuals would have more freedom, but should still practice social distancing, while others are urged to avoid “crowded environments.”
The president noted that “benchmarks must be met at each phase.”
Reacting to the president’s plan, Heritage Foundation President Kay C. James stressed that “good public health policy is good economic policy.”
“The administration is rightly working to restore livelihoods in the midst of catastrophic job losses, while also taking care to balance Americans’ health and safety,” said James, who is also chairwoman of The Heritage Foundation’s 17-member National Coronavirus Recovery Commission. The panel is working to provide recommendations to federal, state, and local governments, as well as to the private sector.
“I look forward to working with the administration to help move prudently toward getting Americans’ lives back to normal,” she added.
Vice President Mike Pence said the phased approach will focus on preventing recurrence of the coronavirus in states where it has declined.
“There is a focus in the president’s new guidelines on the most vulnerable,” Pence said. “We made this very clear to the governors today. These new guidelines for opening up America again can be implemented on a statewide basis or on a county-by-county basis.”
“The predominant and completely driving element that we put into this was the safety and the health of the American public,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who also serves on the White House’s coronavirus task force.
Fred Lucas (@FredLucasWH) is the White House correspondent for The Daily Signal and co-host of “The Right Side of History” podcast.
Copyright 2020 The Daily Signal


thestream--2020-04-17--‘We’re All in This Together’: A Therapist Talks Fear, Depression and Anxiety During Coronavirus

God created fear .
But Satan uses it .
“ Every single thing that humans struggle with is something that God created and Satan hijacked , ” explains licensed family therapist Bob Hamp .
Fear is not a bad thing , he says .
All fear means is that we give something power over us .
The question is what we fear .
And who .
“ When we attribute power rightly to God , then that ’ s the beginning of the foundation of all wisdom .
It ’ s how you use it that ’ s the problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that makes us stronger and wiser.
” To get free from fear , we must change our focus from getting free to becoming who we ’ re meant to be .
“ None of us are created to be crippled by fear .
Paul told Timothy [ we have ] power , love and a sound mind .
When we understand and focus on finding power , love and sanity , we haven ’ t just overcome fear .
We ’ ve actually changed our focus , which puts fear in its place.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ than he was before the lockdown .
But most of his clients aren ’ t asking for help with the circumstances of the coronavirus .
They ’ re asking for help with what has surfaced as a result of the virus .
Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
“ There ’ s some really , really beautiful things happening [ that ] people in the forced slow down are discovering.
” People are finding that their relationships with their family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I ’ ve had several people say , ‘ Hey , I ’ m going to make some little changes no matter what comes next because what ’ s happening now I value so much .
I never want to lose it . '
” Bob has some advice for those who are struggling with depression and anxiety .
“ Don ’ t feel shame about working with a professional , ” he says .
But find a clinically trained professional .
“ I hear a lot of bad advice .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s anxious and you tell them not to worry , that actually makes them worse .
And when you talk to someone who ’ s depressed and you tell them not to be sad , that makes things worse.
” Don ’ t be alone , he warns .
“ Both anxiety and depression tend to make people choose things that isolate them .
Whether or not you ’ re going for professional help , at least be with people that are meaningful in your life .
Don ’ t push people away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Everyone wants to know what “ normal life ” will look like after the pandemic is over .
Bob hopes that people will recognize that as life slows down it gets better .
“ I hope that people will latch onto that.
” He also hopes that people will recognize , in the culture of excess , that while removing some of the excess may be painful at first , it ’ s better for our souls .
“ We would all be better off , ” he says .
We ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be tough , every person is going through this difficulty at the same time .
“ We ’ re all in this together .
… Everybody is going through the same change simultaneously.
” It ’ s easier to handle when everyone is dealing with the same crisis , Bob says .
“ If I ’ m having an economic crisis and the rest of the world isn ’ t , I could end up in some pretty terrible places.
” But the fact that everyone is going through this makes the difficulty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one has an advantage .
“ Even if we ’ re moving downward , we ’ re all moving downward and so we ’ re all together in this.
” Believers in Christ can experience a powerful season ahead .
“ I hope that we respond with compassion and move into people ’ s pain and not away from it .
Jesus was a man who was acquainted with sorrows and acquainted with grief .
If we , as believers , can get uncomfortable , or at least be willing to be uncomfortable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a powerful one.
” He adds : “ People are hurting right now .
People are going to hurt worse .
I hope we see the best of humanity in response to that.
” Nancy Flory is an associate editor at The Stream .
You can follow her @ NancyFlory3 , and follow The Stream @ Streamdotorg .

God created fear. But Satan uses it. “Every single thing that humans struggle with is something that God created and Satan hijacked,” explains licensed family therapist Bob Hamp.
Fear is not a bad thing, he says. All fear means is that we give something power over us. The question is what we fear. And who. “When we attribute power rightly to God, then that’s the beginning of the foundation of all wisdom. It’s how you use it that’s the problem. Fear used rightly is a gift that makes us stronger and wiser.”
Power, Love and a Sound Mind
To get free from fear, we must change our focus from getting free to becoming who we’re meant to be. “None of us are created to be crippled by fear. Paul told Timothy [we have] power, love and a sound mind. When we understand and focus on finding power, love and sanity, we haven’t just overcome fear. We’ve actually changed our focus, which puts fear in its place.”
Bob says he’s busier than he was before the lockdown. But most of his clients aren’t asking for help with the circumstances of the coronavirus. They’re asking for help with what has surfaced as a result of the virus.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
“There’s some really, really beautiful things happening [that] people in the forced slow down are discovering.” People are finding that their relationships with their family are deepening in a very meaningful way. “I’ve had several people say, ‘Hey, I’m going to make some little changes no matter what comes next because what’s happening now I value so much. I never want to lose it.'”
Depression and Anxiety
Bob has some advice for those who are struggling with depression and anxiety. “Don’t feel shame about working with a professional,” he says. But find a clinically trained professional. “I hear a lot of bad advice. When you talk to someone who’s anxious and you tell them not to worry, that actually makes them worse. And when you talk to someone who’s depressed and you tell them not to be sad, that makes things worse.”
Don’t be alone, he warns. “Both anxiety and depression tend to make people choose things that isolate them. Whether or not you’re going for professional help, at least be with people that are meaningful in your life. Don’t push people away unless they’re harmful people.”
Everyone wants to know what “normal life” will look like after the pandemic is over. Bob hopes that people will recognize that as life slows down it gets better. “I hope that people will latch onto that.” He also hopes that people will recognize, in the culture of excess, that while removing some of the excess may be painful at first, it’s better for our souls. “We would all be better off,” he says.
We’re All in This Together
While circumstances may be tough, every person is going through this difficulty at the same time. “We’re all in this together. … Everybody is going through the same change simultaneously.” It’s easier to handle when everyone is dealing with the same crisis, Bob says. “If I’m having an economic crisis and the rest of the world isn’t, I could end up in some pretty terrible places.”
But the fact that everyone is going through this makes the difficulty a bit easier to bear. No one has an advantage. “Even if we’re moving downward, we’re all moving downward and so we’re all together in this.”
Believers in Christ can experience a powerful season ahead. “I hope that we respond with compassion and move into people’s pain and not away from it. Jesus was a man who was acquainted with sorrows and acquainted with grief. If we, as believers, can get uncomfortable, or at least be willing to be uncomfortable, then the next season can be a powerful one.”
He adds: “People are hurting right now. People are going to hurt worse. I hope we see the best of humanity in response to that.”
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.
Nancy Flory is an associate editor at The Stream. You can follow her @NancyFlory3, and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-04-17--Has the Lockdown Worked?

Has the Lockdown Worked?

Why are governments the world over rendering hundreds of millions of their citizens jobless , impoverishing at least a billion people , endangering the family life of millions ( straining marriages , increasing child and spousal abuse , and further postponing marriage among young people ) , bankrupting vast numbers of business owners and workers living paycheck to paycheck , and increasing suicides ?
The reason given is that we must lock down virtually all human social and economic activity in order to prevent millions of people from dying of the coronavirus and overwhelming hospitals .
But is it true @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order to answer these questions , we need to know how many people would have died from COVID-19 if we hadn ’ t ruined the world ’ s economic life .
The truth is we don ’ t know .
And the truth is we never knew .
A large swath of the “ expert ” community cloaked itself with unscientific certitude , beginning , on March 16 , with a model from the Imperial College London — the source governments relied upon for the decision to ruin their economies — which projected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million Brits would die .
Almost every national leader , politician and media outlet in the world believed that model .
As I explained in my last column , modern men and women have substituted “ experts ” for prophets and priests .
Science is the secular religion , and “ experts ” are its prophets and priests .
In fact , they have greater authority among the secular , especially those left of center , than the pope of the Catholic Church has among Catholics .
Whereas popes have invoked the doctrine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history of the Catholic Church , “ experts ” invoke it every day among the secular faithful .
But on what grounds are we to believe that millions would die without ruining the American — and the world ’ s — economy ?
Without our being told by an omniscient God , there is no way to know the definitive answer .
But here are some data that cast doubt on those assumptions , based entirely on the only metric that matters : deaths per 1 million .
The number of confirmed infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people anywhere have been tested for the virus , and we don ’ t know how many people already had the virus and never knew it .
( Moreover , asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic carriers of the virus constitute the majority of those infected . )
As of yesterday , according to the Worldometer website , the United States ranked 12th , with 71 deaths per 1 million people .
( I have not included San Marino and St. Martin because they have such small populations . )
France ’ s death rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times greater than that of the United States , and it went on national lockdown March 17 .
America didn ’ t go on national lockdown because that decision is the responsibility of states .
So , let ’ s take California , the most populous American state ( and therefore nearest to France ’ s population ) .
California went on statewide lockdown March 19 , two days after France .
The death rate from coronavirus in California is 2 per 100,000 .
Two .
Deux .
That means France , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to California , has more than 10 times the death rate .
And Nebraska , one of the few U.S. states that has not locked down — to the intense anger of the state ’ s Democrats at its Republican governor — has a death rate of less than 1 per 100,000 ( according to the Washington Post ’ s daily listing of U.S. coronavirus deaths ) .
What do these statistics say about the efficacy and indispensability of a lockdown ?
To give you an idea of how unreliable much “ expert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times published an article on April 10 titled “ California ’ s Coronavirus Death Toll Is Way Below New York ’ s .
Here ’ s Why.
” In it , the authors , needless to say unquestioningly , reported that Nicholas Jewell , identified as “ a UC Berkeley biostatistician , ” explained why California had so many fewer deaths than New York : “ Just putting those controls in place a single day earlier makes a huge , huge difference in the growth rates , ” Jewell said , referring to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March 19 lockdown order , whereas New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo waited three more days to lock down New York state .
That , according to the expert from UC Berkeley and the Los Angeles Times , explains the “ huge , huge difference in the growth rates ” between the two states .
Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
Then the article added a line that undermined its entire thesis : “ Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April 1.
” Apparently , it never occurred to the Los Angeles Times authors to even look up Florida ’ s death rates .
The nonconservative media have been largely worthless during this crisis — intellectually vapid , and , along with “ experts , ” the primary stokers of panic .
If a few days ’ delay in ordering the lockdown of a state ( or country ) makes a “ huge , huge difference ” in death rates , Florida should have had a worse death rate than New York , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s death rate is among the lowest in the country : 24 per 1 million — despite the fact that Florida , along with Maine , has the largest percentage of elderly people ( those 65 and over ) in any American state .
And then there is Sweden , the one industrialized Western democracy that did not shut down — engendering intense anger from scientists and other “ experts , ” as well as left-wing media ( i.e.
, virtually all major media ) across the world .
Sweden , which still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is far below Spain , Italy , Belgium , France , the U.K. , the Netherlands , Switzerland and Luxembourg — all of which have national lockdowns — in deaths per 1 million .
Yes , Sweden ’ s death rate per 1 million is higher than its Scandinavian neighbors , Norway and Denmark , which did lock down their economic life .
But as of the latest report , in the past two days , Sweden , which has almost exactly the same number of people as Denmark and Norway combined , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus , while its neighbors lost 18 .
The left blames President Donald Trump for our crisis ( as if only America is undergoing economic ruin and loss of life ) .
If they were honest , they would blame reliance on “ experts ” and “ modeling.
” But they hate Trump more than they love Americans — or truth .
Dennis Prager is a nationally syndicated radio talk-show host and columnist .
His latest book , published by Regnery in May 2019 , is The Rational Bible , a commentary on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ No Safe Spaces , ” came to theaters fall 2019 .
He is the founder of Prager University and may be contacted at dennisprager.com .

Why are governments the world over rendering hundreds of millions of their citizens jobless, impoverishing at least a billion people, endangering the family life of millions (straining marriages, increasing child and spousal abuse, and further postponing marriage among young people), bankrupting vast numbers of business owners and workers living paycheck to paycheck, and increasing suicides?
The reason given is that we must lock down virtually all human social and economic activity in order to prevent millions of people from dying of the coronavirus and overwhelming hospitals.
But is it true? Was this lockdown necessary?
In order to answer these questions, we need to know how many people would have died from COVID-19 if we hadn’t ruined the world’s economic life.
We Never Knew
The truth is we don’t know. And the truth is we never knew. A large swath of the “expert” community cloaked itself with unscientific certitude, beginning, on March 16, with a model from the Imperial College London — the source governments relied upon for the decision to ruin their economies — which projected about 2.2 million Americans and half a million Brits would die.
Almost every national leader, politician and media outlet in the world believed that model. As I explained in my last column, modern men and women have substituted “experts” for prophets and priests. Science is the secular religion, and “experts” are its prophets and priests. In fact, they have greater authority among the secular, especially those left of center, than the pope of the Catholic Church has among Catholics. Whereas popes have invoked the doctrine of “infallibility” twice in the history of the Catholic Church, “experts” invoke it every day among the secular faithful.
But on what grounds are we to believe that millions would die without ruining the American — and the world’s — economy? Without our being told by an omniscient God, there is no way to know the definitive answer.
The Data
But here are some data that cast doubt on those assumptions, based entirely on the only metric that matters: deaths per 1 million. The number of confirmed infected people is meaningless, since so few people anywhere have been tested for the virus, and we don’t know how many people already had the virus and never knew it. (Moreover, asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic carriers of the virus constitute the majority of those infected.)
As of yesterday, according to the Worldometer website, the United States ranked 12th, with 71 deaths per 1 million people. (I have not included San Marino and St. Martin because they have such small populations.)
France’s death rate is 229 per 1 million, three times greater than that of the United States, and it went on national lockdown March 17. America didn’t go on national lockdown because that decision is the responsibility of states. So, let’s take California, the most populous American state (and therefore nearest to France’s population). California went on statewide lockdown March 19, two days after France. The death rate from coronavirus in California is 2 per 100,000. Two. Deux.
That means France, which went on lockdown only two days prior to California, has more than 10 times the death rate.
And Nebraska, one of the few U.S. states that has not locked down — to the intense anger of the state’s Democrats at its Republican governor — has a death rate of less than 1 per 100,000 (according to the Washington Post’s daily listing of U.S. coronavirus deaths).
What do these statistics say about the efficacy and indispensability of a lockdown?
Unreliable Experts
To give you an idea of how unreliable much “expert” thinking is, the Los Angeles Times published an article on April 10 titled “California’s Coronavirus Death Toll Is Way Below New York’s. Here’s Why.”
In it, the authors, needless to say unquestioningly, reported that Nicholas Jewell, identified as “a UC Berkeley biostatistician,” explained why California had so many fewer deaths than New York:
“Just putting those controls in place a single day earlier makes a huge, huge difference in the growth rates,” Jewell said, referring to California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s March 19 lockdown order, whereas New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo waited three more days to lock down New York state. That, according to the expert from UC Berkeley and the Los Angeles Times, explains the “huge, huge difference in the growth rates” between the two states.
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Then the article added a line that undermined its entire thesis:
“Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis didn’t impose a stay-at-home order until April 1.” Apparently, it never occurred to the Los Angeles Times authors to even look up Florida’s death rates. The nonconservative media have been largely worthless during this crisis — intellectually vapid, and, along with “experts,” the primary stokers of panic.
If a few days’ delay in ordering the lockdown of a state (or country) makes a “huge, huge difference” in death rates, Florida should have had a worse death rate than New York, let alone California. Yet Florida’s death rate is among the lowest in the country: 24 per 1 million — despite the fact that Florida, along with Maine, has the largest percentage of elderly people (those 65 and over) in any American state.
And then there is Sweden, the one industrialized Western democracy that did not shut down — engendering intense anger from scientists and other “experts,” as well as left-wing media (i.e., virtually all major media) across the world. Sweden, which still has its restaurants and businesses open, is far below Spain, Italy, Belgium, France, the U.K., the Netherlands, Switzerland and Luxembourg — all of which have national lockdowns — in deaths per 1 million.
Yes, Sweden’s death rate per 1 million is higher than its Scandinavian neighbors, Norway and Denmark, which did lock down their economic life. But as of the latest report, in the past two days, Sweden, which has almost exactly the same number of people as Denmark and Norway combined, lost 20 of its citizens to the coronavirus, while its neighbors lost 18.
The left blames President Donald Trump for our crisis (as if only America is undergoing economic ruin and loss of life).
If they were honest, they would blame reliance on “experts” and “modeling.” But they hate Trump more than they love Americans — or truth.
Dennis Prager is a nationally syndicated radio talk-show host and columnist. His latest book, published by Regnery in May 2019, is The Rational Bible, a commentary on the book of Genesis. His film, “No Safe Spaces,” came to theaters fall 2019. He is the founder of Prager University and may be contacted at dennisprager.com.
COPYRIGHT 2020 CREATORS.COM


thestream--2020-04-18--Neil deGrasse Tyson and Cosmos Promote the Myth That Copernicus Demoted Earth

In episode 8 of the new Cosmos season , “ Possible Worlds , ” host Neil deGrasse Tyson spreads fake history .
I ’ m talking about the claim that astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus ( 1473–1543 ) demoted humans from the center of the universe .
This supposedly challenged the religious idea of human importance .
“ Demoting the earth from the center of the universe was a severe blow to human self-esteem , ” Tyson claims on the episode , which aired on April 30 .
Tyson is among the many promoters of this falsehood .
Atheist Christopher Hitchens , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earth-centered view its “ greatest failure.
” But in this case the atheists failed to do their homework .
I break it down in my book , Unbelievable : 7 Myths about the History and Future of Science and Religion .
Copernicus argued against earth-centered astronomy , but he didn ’ t think this challenged Christianity .
He even once said that God had “ framed ” the cosmos “ for our sake.
” Copernicus was not alone in this opinion .
Most other early supporters of sun-centered astronomy thought the Bible and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that “ Copernicus demoted humans ” makes a false assumption .
It assumes that earlier earth-centered astronomy exalted humans .
But according to the earth-centered astronomy of the ancient Greeks , earth was at the bottom of the universe .
“ Up ” pointed to the perfect cosmic heaven .
Earth was in the “ dead center ” of corruption , they thought .
This makes sense of what Galileo wrote in the century after Copernicus .
He said : “ I will prove that the Earth does have motion … and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ universe ’ s ” filthy things “ collect.
” The idea that Copernicus demoted humans was invented in the mid 1600s to bash Christianity .
By the mid 1800s the myth had entered astronomy textbooks , and by the 1960s it had become the majority view .
The latest version of this story in a college textbook might surprise you .
It is built on the view that exotic dark matter is more common than ordinary matter .
“ It is interesting to consider how far we have moved from our Earth-centered view @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arny .
They claim that our cosmic location is not special , despite recent evidence otherwise that they ignore .
They continue : “ And now we are realizing that the kind of matter that makes up everything we know is just a minor kind of matter in the universe .
This is the Copernican revolution taken to extremes !
” Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
This is subjective storytelling , not science .
One could just as easily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are mostly common , ordinary hydrogen , oxygen , and carbon .
“ See , there ’ s nothing special about the material me !
” Thus , one could make use of either the commonness or rarity of our material parts as grounds for our unimportance .
Humans are losers either way : heads or tails .
It ’ s a rigged game , not a serious argument for a godless view of life and the cosmos .
Some atheists attempt to salvage some meaning and specialness from the Copernican “ demotion.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tyson .
He argues that despite a series of scientific discoveries humiliating humanity , there ’ s hope without God .
We can still find meaning and purpose .
How ?
Because “ the cosmic perspective is spiritual — even redemptive — but not religious.
” Science is our savior !
Tyson insists the Copernican demotion story redeems us from religious ignorance .
He writes : “ The cosmic perspective opens our eyes to the universe , not as a benevolent cradle designed to nurture life but as a cold , lonely , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ series will broadcast this spiritual atheism to middle school and high school .
How so ?
Darwin is said to be the “ greatest spiritual teacher of the last 1000 years.
” He “ worshiped nature , ” Tyson proclaims approvingly .
“ Life is an emergent property of chemistry .
Science is an emergent property of life .
Life can begin to know itself.
” In episode 7 Tyson shares his strange belief that bees and trees can think much like us .
But , of course , they can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after all in the spirituality of the new cosmic atheism .
We figured out we ’ re insignificant — if we confuse significance with size and being in the center .
And this somehow makes us significant ?
This is confused atheism dressed up as science .
Such thinking shouldn ’ t shock us .
Gregory Schrempp explains how popular science writing often works .
It creates new myths to replace ancient religious ideas .
This is a dead-end path and , once we ’ ve done our homework , an Unbelievable one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the History and Philosophy of Science at Biola University , a Fellow of the Discovery Institute ’ s Center for Science and Culture , and author of the new ISI book Unbelievable : 7 Myths about the History and Future of Science and .

In episode 8 of the new Cosmos season, “Possible Worlds,” host Neil deGrasse Tyson spreads fake history. I’m talking about the claim that astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus (1473–1543) demoted humans from the center of the universe. This supposedly challenged the religious idea of human importance. “Demoting the earth from the center of the universe was a severe blow to human self-esteem,” Tyson claims on the episode, which aired on April 30.
Tyson is among the many promoters of this falsehood. Atheist Christopher Hitchens, for instance, called Christianity’s earth-centered view its “greatest failure.” But in this case the atheists failed to do their homework. I break it down in my book, Unbelievable: 7 Myths about the History and Future of Science and Religion.
The Real Copernicus
Copernicus argued against earth-centered astronomy, but he didn’t think this challenged Christianity. He even once said that God had “framed” the cosmos “for our sake.” Copernicus was not alone in this opinion. Most other early supporters of sun-centered astronomy thought the Bible and science are in harmony.
The myth that “Copernicus demoted humans” makes a false assumption. It assumes that earlier earth-centered astronomy exalted humans. But according to the earth-centered astronomy of the ancient Greeks, earth was at the bottom of the universe. “Up” pointed to the perfect cosmic heaven. Earth was in the “dead center” of corruption, they thought.
This makes sense of what Galileo wrote in the century after Copernicus. He said: “I will prove that the Earth does have motion … and that it is not the sump where the universe’s” filthy things “collect.”
Distorting Copernicus
The idea that Copernicus demoted humans was invented in the mid 1600s to bash Christianity. By the mid 1800s the myth had entered astronomy textbooks, and by the 1960s it had become the majority view.
The latest version of this story in a college textbook might surprise you. It is built on the view that exotic dark matter is more common than ordinary matter. “It is interesting to consider how far we have moved from our Earth-centered view,” write Stephen Schneider and Thomas Arny. They claim that our cosmic location is not special, despite recent evidence otherwise that they ignore. They continue: “And now we are realizing that the kind of matter that makes up everything we know is just a minor kind of matter in the universe. This is the Copernican revolution taken to extremes!”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
This is subjective storytelling, not science. One could just as easily have declared humans unimportant because our bodies are mostly common, ordinary hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon. “See, there’s nothing special about the material me!” Thus, one could make use of either the commonness or rarity of our material parts as grounds for our unimportance. Humans are losers either way: heads or tails. It’s a rigged game, not a serious argument for a godless view of life and the cosmos.
Spiritual Atheism
Some atheists attempt to salvage some meaning and specialness from the Copernican “demotion.” Consider a recent book by Neil Tyson. He argues that despite a series of scientific discoveries humiliating humanity, there’s hope without God. We can still find meaning and purpose. How? Because “the cosmic perspective is spiritual — even redemptive — but not religious.” Science is our savior!
Tyson insists the Copernican demotion story redeems us from religious ignorance. He writes: “The cosmic perspective opens our eyes to the universe, not as a benevolent cradle designed to nurture life but as a cold, lonely, hazardous place.”
Tyson’s Cosmos series will broadcast this spiritual atheism to middle school and high school. How so? Darwin is said to be the “greatest spiritual teacher of the last 1000 years.” He “worshiped nature,” Tyson proclaims approvingly. “Life is an emergent property of chemistry. Science is an emergent property of life. Life can begin to know itself.” In episode 7 Tyson shares his strange belief that bees and trees can think much like us. But, of course, they can’t do science! So we are special after all in the spirituality of the new cosmic atheism.
We figured out we’re insignificant — if we confuse significance with size and being in the center. And this somehow makes us significant?
This is confused atheism dressed up as science. Such thinking shouldn’t shock us. Gregory Schrempp explains how popular science writing often works. It creates new myths to replace ancient religious ideas.
This is a dead-end path and, once we’ve done our homework, an Unbelievable one.
Michael N. Keas is Lecturer in the History and Philosophy of Science at Biola University, a Fellow of the Discovery Institute’s Center for Science and Culture, and author of the new ISI book Unbelievable: 7 Myths about the History and Future of Science and Religion .


thestream--2020-04-18--50 Questions for Christians: ‘Why is God So Violent?’

Part of an extended series of answers to Guy P. Harrison ’ s book 50 Simple Questions for Every Christian .
Read the series intro here .
Guy Harrison wants to know how Christians square God ’ s “ violence ” with our “ popular sentiment ” that God is love : “ If he is so violent , then why does he kill so many people ?
” Sometimes the key is in how you ask the question .
We need to make sure he ’ s asking the right one , so we don ’ t answer the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call on “ popular ” impressions about Christian theology : • He calls it a “ popular claim ” that God is love .
That ’ s no mere popular claim ; it ’ s straight out of Scripture ( 1 John 4:8 ) .
• He also thinks it ’ s a “ popular belief ” among Christians that God sends billions of people to hell .
I ’ d say it ’ s a widely-held conviction , but to call it “ popular ” is to miss the point .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claim ” to question , that “ God is purely peace and love.
” That one could only be popular to those who don ’ t know or believe what Christianity teaches .
Popular claims ?
If this “ popular ” God was the God Christians believed in , then Christianity really wouldn ’ t make sense .
Harrison says he ’ s got a Christian background , but it ’ s hard to escape the impression that he ’ s getting his questions from internet atheists , not from any worthwhile Christian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t God ’ s Judgment But His Mercy The God Christians worship is a God of peace and love , yes , but also of goodness , justice , and holiness .
Justice demands that sin receive its due , which is death , and the facts tell us that all have sinned .
The surprise shouldn ’ t be that there ’ s such death , but that there ’ s such life , love , and mercy in our God .
We all deserve death , but He made life possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cross , paying sin ’ s penalty for all who would trust Him for it .
This chapter belies the book ’ s title of “ 50 Questions.
” Harrison bullet-points 14 “ violent ” problems for Christians to solve , each of which could take an entire chapter to handle properly .
I could recommend two books to Harrison that take much time with these problems .
I can ’ t even attempt it all here , obviously .
God Can Act Justly In Spite of Death and Beyond It What I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harrison that this is God we ’ re talking about .
It bothers him that God put most of the world to death in the Flood .
Somehow it ’ s escaped him that God superintends every human death .
He has done so throughout history past , and will continue to for all time to come .
Every .
Harrison has defined his problem way too small .
He should be accusing God for all these deaths .
But he should still remember it ’ s God he ’ s accusing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ God , for whom human life isn ’ t limited to our few years on Earth .
God , who Himself isn ’ t limited by time and space in executing justice .
If something appears unjust in God ’ s treatment of humans on Earth , it ’ s partly because we think “ on Earth ” is the whole story .
If a child ’ s death is unjust in human terms , God has all of eternity to make it right .
And why would anyone set that aside as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Do they not realize how short life here is , and how long eternity lasts ?
Sin Matters More Than We Realize And it ’ s also because we think lightly of the problem I ’ ve already mentioned : sin .
We don ’ t think God should make such a big deal of it .
We think He should be a little less holy , a little less good .
Harrison joins in the common human error of thinking of God more as grandfather than Father , as more indulgent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us .
That ’ s the kind of mistake it ’ s easy to make when we think too little of the alienating , destructive , relationship-breaking effects of sin .
God Is Looking for Something More than “ Sensible ” People Finally , Harrison wonders why a “ loving god [ sic ] ” wouldn ’ t “ have made his story and claims convincing enough … so that every sensible person could be exempt from destruction on doomsday.
” He wraps that question round with a disclaimer : “ Skeptics ask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win arguments or catch Christians in a tough spot … they sincerely don ’ t understand how this makes sense.
” He really plays it as if this were a tough question !
It isn ’ t .
The simple answer is that God isn ’ t looking for “ sensible ” persons .
He ’ s not seeking people who know well enough to look out for their own best interests , if that ’ s the kind of “ sensible ” Harrison has in mind .
He ’ s not looking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in case that ’ s what Harrison is thinking of .
Of course it makes sense to follow Jesus , because He is the way , the truth , and the life .
But “ sensible ” doesn ’ t begin to describe the kind of person God seeks .
What He Really Seeks God is looking for something much less and much more than “ sensible.
” As for the “ much less ” part , all He asks of us is faith , the simple belief that He is real , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that we need Him to rescue us from our faults , and that He provides that rescue through Jesus ’ death and resurrection .
Support The Stream : Serving the Body During This Crisis With Facts .
Faith .
And No Fear .
Is that “ sensible ” ?
Definitely .
But it ’ s also humble .
Is it advantageous ?
Certainly .
But it ’ s not self-protective , the way “ sensible ” things often are .
It ’ s the entry into a loving relationship , not a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where God wants us to meet Him for starters , but He wants to take us much further than that , to places where mere “ sensible-ness ” can ’ t take us .
He wants to take us to a place of self-sacrificial love .
Of worship .
Of increasing awe and wonder at Him , and growing awareness of our humble state as His creatures .
Tom Gilson ( @ TomGilsonAuthor ) is a senior editor with The Stream , and the author of A Christian Mind : Thoughts on Life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .

Part of an extended series of answers to Guy P. Harrison’s book 50 Simple Questions for Every Christian. Read the series intro here.
Guy Harrison wants to know how Christians square God’s “violence” with our “popular sentiment” that God is love: “If he is so violent, then why does he kill so many people?”
Sometimes the key is in how you ask the question. We need to make sure he’s asking the right one, so we don’t answer the wrong one. Harrison really wants to call on “popular” impressions about Christian theology:
He calls it a “popular claim” that God is love. That’s no mere popular claim; it’s straight out of Scripture (1 John 4:8).
He also thinks it’s a “popular belief” among Christians that God sends billions of people to hell. I’d say it’s a widely-held conviction, but to call it “popular” is to miss the point.
He’s got another “popular claim” to question, that “God is purely peace and love.” That one could only be popular to those who don’t know or believe what Christianity teaches.
Popular claims? If this “popular” God was the God Christians believed in, then Christianity really wouldn’t make sense. Harrison says he’s got a Christian background, but it’s hard to escape the impression that he’s getting his questions from internet atheists, not from any worthwhile Christian sources.
The Real Surprise Isn’t God’s Judgment But His Mercy
Harrison joins in the common human error of thinking of God more as grandfather than Father, as more indulgent and less correcting in His care for us.
The God Christians worship is a God of peace and love, yes, but also of goodness, justice, and holiness. Justice demands that sin receive its due, which is death, and the facts tell us that all have sinned. The surprise shouldn’t be that there’s such death, but that there’s such life, love, and mercy in our God. We all deserve death, but He made life possible through Christ’s death on the cross, paying sin’s penalty for all who would trust Him for it.
This chapter belies the book’s title of “50 Questions.” Harrison bullet-points 14 “violent” problems for Christians to solve, each of which could take an entire chapter to handle properly. I could recommend two books to Harrison that take much time with these problems. I can’t even attempt it all here, obviously.
God Can Act Justly In Spite of Death and Beyond It
What I can do, though, is remind Harrison that this is God we’re talking about. It bothers him that God put most of the world to death in the Flood. Somehow it’s escaped him that God superintends every human death. He has done so throughout history past, and will continue to for all time to come. Every.
Harrison has defined his problem way too small. He should be accusing God for all these deaths. But he should still remember it’s God he’s accusing. God, who knows justice perfectly. God, for whom human life isn’t limited to our few years on Earth. God, who Himself isn’t limited by time and space in executing justice.
If something appears unjust in God’s treatment of humans on Earth, it’s partly because we think “on Earth” is the whole story. If a child’s death is unjust in human terms, God has all of eternity to make it right. And why would anyone set that aside as irrelevant or “not good enough”? Do they not realize how short life here is, and how long eternity lasts?
Sin Matters More Than We Realize
And it’s also because we think lightly of the problem I’ve already mentioned: sin. We don’t think God should make such a big deal of it. We think He should be a little less holy, a little less good.
Harrison joins in the common human error of thinking of God more as grandfather than Father, as more indulgent and less correcting in His care for us. That’s the kind of mistake it’s easy to make when we think too little of the alienating, destructive, relationship-breaking effects of sin.
God Is Looking for Something More than “Sensible” People
Finally, Harrison wonders why a “loving god [sic]” wouldn’t “have made his story and claims convincing enough … so that every sensible person could be exempt from destruction on doomsday.” He wraps that question round with a disclaimer: “Skeptics ask this question not because they want to win arguments or catch Christians in a tough spot … they sincerely don’t understand how this makes sense.”
He really plays it as if this were a tough question! It isn’t. The simple answer is that God isn’t looking for “sensible” persons. He’s not seeking people who know well enough to look out for their own best interests, if that’s the kind of “sensible” Harrison has in mind. He’s not looking for the brightest people, either, in case that’s what Harrison is thinking of.
Of course it makes sense to follow Jesus, because He is the way, the truth, and the life. But “sensible” doesn’t begin to describe the kind of person God seeks.
What He Really Seeks
God is looking for something much less and much more than “sensible.” As for the “much less” part, all He asks of us is faith, the simple belief that He is real, that He has revealed Himself in Christ, that we need Him to rescue us from our faults, and that He provides that rescue through Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Is that “sensible”? Definitely. But it’s also humble. Is it advantageous? Certainly. But it’s not self-protective, the way “sensible” things often are. It’s the entry into a loving relationship, not a fire insurance transaction.
That’s where God wants us to meet Him for starters, but He wants to take us much further than that, to places where mere “sensible-ness” can’t take us. He wants to take us to a place of self-sacrificial love. Of worship. Of increasing awe and wonder at Him, and growing awareness of our humble state as His creatures.
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.