thestream--2020-03-21--COVID-19: Eight Things You Need to Know From a Pastoral Perspective

We are all affected by this turbulent moment in our world ’ s history , but the Bible does provide solid choices in unstable times .
All these points are also available in a sermon I recently delivered .
It can be heard here .
Unless the authorities are blatantly going against God ’ s Word , the Bible commands ( not encourages ) us to submit to their leadership .
Titus 3 and Romans 13 immediately come to mind .
If ordinances are passed to help contain the virus , we would be wise to heed those instructions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ scenarios , but the primary principle is to obey those in authority .
Christians don ’ t send the right message when we come across with a renegade spirit of rebellion in gray areas .
2 .
We run into battle , not away from it .
It ’ s crucial that we use wisdom , but we can not let fear control us .
John Piper argues that “ the overwhelming thrust of the New Testament is that the disciples of Jesus incline from the heart toward meeting needs at the risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ought to — than we incline toward staying safe and comfortable by neglecting risky helpfulness.
” Again , just so I ’ m not misunderstood — we are called to use wisdom , to guard our families and prevent the spread of any disease .
Wisdom tells us that our current healthcare system can not facilitate a massive outbreak .
Jesus said that even if we are bitten by a snake or drink poison ( Mark 16:18 ) , He would protect us if it ’ s according to God ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not mean you or I should grab a rattlesnake or drink poison .
The point is to trust God , not challenge Him .
Help us champion truth , freedom , limited government and human dignity .
Support The Stream » But we also can not forget the last half of the verse in Mark 16:18 — that those serving Christ “ will place their hands on sick people , and they will get well.
” There is a fine line between faith and presumption .
We need much prayer , repentance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get direction .
We need orders from Headquarters before marching into battle .
3 .
Be very gracious — not everyone sees things the same way .
Some want to run right into battle .
Others want to self-isolate .
I ’ ve had to delete a few posts on social media because they didn ’ t edify .
How about you ?
We should run everything through the Philippians 4:8 filter before posting : “ Finally , brothers and sisters , whatever is true , whatever is noble , whatever is right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lovely , whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.
” As pastors , we also need a lot more grace .
Not unlike governing authorities , we have to make decisions related to both spiritual and physical health that affect others — from newborns to the elderly .
We have to look at the big picture and make corporate decisions that may not make sense at the individual level .
We are living day to day .
Decisions that seemed right a few days ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all need a lot more grace , patience , and understanding .
Because of sin and a fallen world , we have to deal with these issues .
God will allow sickness and disease because it often turns people back to Him .
It gets our attention .
Scripture is also clear that these types of events can be a judgment .
While this pandemic may or may not be one , when judgment does fall , it affects the just and the unjust , the righteous and the wayward .
Instead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from God , use this opportunity to repent and realign your life with Christ .
Those who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved — not saved from death , but from judgment .
This truth is not popular , but it is powerful .
5 .
Get information from reliable sources that don ’ t have an agenda .
The Bible reveals that the devil is the prince of this world .
Therefore , we must pay close attention to what we watch and listen to — the influence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ultimately attempting to control us .
Romans 8:6 states , “ If your sinful nature controls your mind , there is death .
But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind , there is life and peace.
” Many media outlets are using this for political gain .
For example , Bill Maher recently said to “ bring on the recession ; ” that he was hoping for a crashing economy so we can “ get rid of Trump.
” This is unacceptable .
Where is the outcry ?
There isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the media will do whatever it takes to remove President Trump and push their own agendas .
Wake up , America .
Yes , get to the voting booth , but more importantly , get to the prayer closet .
6 .
Be informed but not overwhelmed .
Respond spiritually .
I ’ m so thankful that the president ordered a national day of prayer .
There is a God who governs the affairs of men , and we must seek Him .
Churches can promote online prayer and worship services as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call of repentance is not to Hollywood , Washington , or the media ( although that would be great to see ) .
His call is to us : “ If My people turn back to Me , I will heal and restore ” ( 2 Chronicles 7:14 , my paraphrase ) .
The silent majority needs to wake from their spiritual slumber .
Revival does not come without pain and travail .
It ’ s good to stay informed and to understand what is happening around us , but we need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and worshiping .
Watch healthy entertainment that encourages your family .
Kids need to be built up and strengthened , not drained and discouraged .
7 .
Do what you can physically .
The downside to being at home and isolated is that many will look to food for comfort .
As a result , I ’ m predicting that we will see a big rise in obesity and health habit-related illnesses .
( Aren ’ t we trying to prevent that ? )
God does care about what we eat , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our bodies strong and free of disease .
I also strongly encourage you to consider fasting during this season for spiritual and physical benefits .
In our churches , we teach about stewarding our finances , our marriages and our giftings — but why not our health ?
Granted , the physical benefits of fasting are secondary .
The spiritual benefits are the priority .
( For those needing help in this area , links are available here where you can download my books on health , fitness and fasting .
Free download @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) 8 .
Saturate your mind with the truth .
These may be familiar passages , but : • His Word is an ever-present help in times of trouble ( Psalm 46:1 ) , and His promises are a source of great comfort .
• Proverbs 3:5 reminds us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and not to lean on our own understanding .
When we forget this principle , it leads to increased fear and anxiety .
• Psalm 28:7 reminds us that the Lord is our strength and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Matthew 6:25 not to worry about anything because He is in control .
• Philippians 4:6-7 adds : “ Do not be anxious about anything , but in every situation , by prayer and petition , with thanksgiving , present your requests to God .
And the peace of God , which transcends all understanding , will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
” Do you have this peace that Jesus talks about ?
If not , take time now and repent and commit your life to Him .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ can look back and see the cross of Christ between us and our sins ” ( D.L .
Moody ) .
Shane Idleman is the founder and lead pastor of Westside Christian Fellowship in Southern California and the creator of the WCF Radio Network .
His program , Regaining Lost Ground , points us back to God and reminds us that although times change , truth does not .
His books , blog , and sermons can all be found at ShaneIdleman.com .

We are all affected by this turbulent moment in our world’s history, but the Bible does provide solid choices in unstable times. All these points are also available in a sermon I recently delivered. It can be heard here.
1. Obey the authorities.
Unless the authorities are blatantly going against God’s Word, the Bible commands (not encourages) us to submit to their leadership. Titus 3 and Romans 13 immediately come to mind. If ordinances are passed to help contain the virus, we would be wise to heed those instructions. Granted, there are many variables and scenarios, but the primary principle is to obey those in authority. Christians don’t send the right message when we come across with a renegade spirit of rebellion in gray areas.
2. We run into battle, not away from it.
It’s crucial that we use wisdom, but we cannot let fear control us. John Piper argues that “the overwhelming thrust of the New Testament is that the disciples of Jesus incline from the heart toward meeting needs at the risk of loss more regularly — at least we ought to — than we incline toward staying safe and comfortable by neglecting risky helpfulness.”
Again, just so I’m not misunderstood — we are called to use wisdom, to guard our families and prevent the spread of any disease. Wisdom tells us that our current healthcare system cannot facilitate a massive outbreak. Jesus said that even if we are bitten by a snake or drink poison (Mark 16:18), He would protect us if it’s according to God’s sovereign will. But that definitely does not mean you or I should grab a rattlesnake or drink poison. The point is to trust God, not challenge Him.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
But we also cannot forget the last half of the verse in Mark 16:18 — that those serving Christ “will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” There is a fine line between faith and presumption. We need much prayer, repentance, and time in His Word to truly get direction. We need orders from Headquarters before marching into battle.
3. Be very gracious — not everyone sees things the same way.
Some want to run right into battle. Others want to self-isolate. I’ve had to delete a few posts on social media because they didn’t edify. How about you? We should run everything through the Philippians 4:8 filter before posting: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.”
As pastors, we also need a lot more grace. Not unlike governing authorities, we have to make decisions related to both spiritual and physical health that affect others — from newborns to the elderly. We have to look at the big picture and make corporate decisions that may not make sense at the individual level. We are living day to day. Decisions that seemed right a few days ago may not seem right today. We all need a lot more grace, patience, and understanding.
4. Understand the spiritual significance.
Because of sin and a fallen world, we have to deal with these issues. God will allow sickness and disease because it often turns people back to Him. It gets our attention.
Scripture is also clear that these types of events can be a judgment. While this pandemic may or may not be one, when judgment does fall, it affects the just and the unjust, the righteous and the wayward. Instead of focusing on whether this is a judgment from God, use this opportunity to repent and realign your life with Christ. Those who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved — not saved from death, but from judgment. This truth is not popular, but it is powerful.
5. Get information from reliable sources that don’t have an agenda.
The Bible reveals that the devil is the prince of this world. Therefore, we must pay close attention to what we watch and listen to — the influence controlling the majority of the media is ultimately attempting to control us. Romans 8:6 states, “If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.”
The silent majority needs to wake from their spiritual slumber. Revival does not come without pain and travail.
Many media outlets are using this for political gain. For example, Bill Maher recently said to “bring on the recession;” that he was hoping for a crashing economy so we can “get rid of Trump.” This is unacceptable. Where is the outcry? There isn’t one, because too many people in the media will do whatever it takes to remove President Trump and push their own agendas. Wake up, America. Yes, get to the voting booth, but more importantly, get to the prayer closet.
6. Be informed but not overwhelmed. Respond spiritually.
I’m so thankful that the president ordered a national day of prayer. There is a God who governs the affairs of men, and we must seek Him. Churches can promote online prayer and worship services as well as corporate fasting. God’s call of repentance is not to Hollywood, Washington, or the media (although that would be great to see). His call is to us: “If My people turn back to Me, I will heal and restore” (2 Chronicles 7:14, my paraphrase).
The silent majority needs to wake from their spiritual slumber. Revival does not come without pain and travail. It’s good to stay informed and to understand what is happening around us, but we need to spend way more time praying, reading and worshiping. Watch healthy entertainment that encourages your family. Kids need to be built up and strengthened, not drained and discouraged.
7. Do what you can physically.
The downside to being at home and isolated is that many will look to food for comfort. As a result, I’m predicting that we will see a big rise in obesity and health habit-related illnesses. (Aren’t we trying to prevent that?) God does care about what we eat, and nutrition is an important part of keeping our bodies strong and free of disease. I also strongly encourage you to consider fasting during this season for spiritual and physical benefits.
In our churches, we teach about stewarding our finances, our marriages and our giftings — but why not our health? Granted, the physical benefits of fasting are secondary. The spiritual benefits are the priority. (For those needing help in this area, links are available here where you can download my books on health, fitness and fasting. Free download links are available for each ebook.)
8. Saturate your mind with the truth.
These may be familiar passages, but:
His Word is an ever-present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1), and His promises are a source of great comfort.
Proverbs 3:5 reminds us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and not to lean on our own understanding. When we forget this principle, it leads to increased fear and anxiety.
Psalm 28:7 reminds us that the Lord is our strength and our shield.
Jesus told us in Matthew 6:25 not to worry about anything because He is in control.
Philippians 4:6-7 adds: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Do you have this peace that Jesus talks about? If not, take time now and repent and commit your life to Him. “There is no peace until we can look back and see the cross of Christ between us and our sins” (D.L. Moody).
Shane Idleman is the founder and lead pastor of Westside Christian Fellowship in Southern California and the creator of the WCF Radio Network. His program, Regaining Lost Ground, points us back to God and reminds us that although times change, truth does not. His books, blog, and sermons can all be found at ShaneIdleman.com.


thestream--2020-03-21--Lessons From China: Humility Before God as We Deal With the Coronavirus

I returned from China to Seattle on January 15th .
Unknown to me , another passenger , probably arriving on a different flight , was COVID-19 — the virus that is causing deaths , and a Black Tuesday like run on toilet paper , around America .
Local scientists have shown it is the offspring of those first bugs that have made my hometown the American center of the pandemic .
We hurriedly prepared a downstairs apartment at my sister ’ s place for my Mom , who is in the vulnerable population , since most of the deaths have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been staying in for the past month .
I am not a medical doctor , but I teach research for a living , and have been carefully following the course of this disease for two months .
Yes , take it seriously .
Ignore the idiots online , even if they ’ re friends or political allies .
Stay home .
Take a few weeks off work or school , and let the healthcare professionals get control of this pandemic .
If we don ’ t take such precautions , hospitals will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loved us all their lives may end those lives alone , gasping for breath .
One variable seems to be the degree to which the health care system is overwhelmed .
This is why it is vital that everyone , not just the old , keep away from folks as much as possible for a few weeks .
If you ’ re young , think of your parents or grandparents .
I am embarrassed that China , not long ago a Third World country and still run by a Maoist control freak who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has dealt with this crisis so much more effectively than the West .
Sure , they screwed up at first .
Sure , there was some initial denial , which cost lives , and allowed the disease to spread .
But the crisis in Italy , never mind Iran , is already worse than it was in Wuhan .
The death rate in America will almost certainly exceed that in China many times over .
Yes , that ’ s partly because the Chinese are good at locking people up .
Look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times , at every gate to my apartment complex waits a security guard to check who is coming and going .
That ’ s no doubt one reason the crime rate plunged in China in recent decades .
Chinese governments have made use of that infrastructure of control to essentially keep everyone indoors .
Some of my students have only left their apartment two or three times in the past month and a half , even though their town has had very few cases .
Help us champion truth , freedom , limited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stream » It ’ s worked .
The infection rate in my home town , Seattle , is now many times higher than it ever was in any Chinese city outside of Hubei Province .
( Though we have been exceedingly lax in testing , so we can ’ t be sure exactly . )
In the 19th century , Christian missionaries brought not only modern medicine , but an attitude of concern for others , to China and other nations .
China has learned the medicine , even if public compassion is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t realize about modern China is that the government takes the “ nanny ” part of “ Nanny State Government ” seriously .
Local governments are hyper conscious of certain dangers .
For instance , when you walk into the mountains around the town where I work , sensors along the trail activate cameras and speakers inform you , “ Your actions are being recorded , ” then give a “ Smokey the Bear Meets 1984 ” warning against forest fires .
During peak season , trails are shut down .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are adorned with signs that say , “ Danger !
Deep water !
” Some of this is over-done .
But when it came to saving the life of China ’ s elderly , an enforced siesta at home for everyone can be interpreted as compassion .
( Or self-preservation , since China ’ s leaders are also elderly . )
One need not be gullible or a lover of the “ Chi-coms ” to recognize that both motives may coexist in the most ruthless heart .
Alexander Solzhenitsyn , a victim of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and forth at night planning purges , picturing himself as a master giving a puppy ( the human race ) a bowl of milk ( happiness ) .
“ Here , drink up !
” China sends its children to America to learn .
Let us not be so proud that we think we can learn nothing in return .
Our ally South Korea followed similar measures , and halted the spread of their epidemic almost cold .
The key is humility , first of all before God .
God ’ s Word @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Isaiah described another disaster , the conquest of Judah by Assyria , in terms that sound modern and colloquial .
The king of Assyria saw himself as a “ bull ” who “ dislodged those who sat on thrones , and my hand reached the wealth of the peoples which were as in a nest ( the stock market ? )
.
” In modern , slang Chinese , “ bull ” or “ ox ” is used as an an adjective .
It means “ studly , ” only without sexual connotations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s smart and in your face .
But God replies , “ You ’ re just a tool , fool ” : “ Should an ax boast over the man who hews with it ?
Or a saw brag over the one who uses it to cut wood ?
Should a stick wave the man who picks it up ?
” Isaiah reminds us that God , not the president , not Congress , and certainly not some crown-wielding , glorified strand of rogue RNA , rules human history .
Nations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and worship the creature rather than the Creator : our flag , our wealth and power , the wise writings or righteous victories of our ancestors .
We think God must reward us because of our collective virtue , even as that virtue drains away in selfish spending for pleasures , in a throw-away culture of death , in neglecting to love God and our neighbor as ourselves .
God called the king who thought such proud thoughts a tool .
And then sent him a “ wasting disease.
” Let ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As we deal with our own wasting disease , let us remember our Creator , who is Lord of history .
We have a duty to take practical measures to protect ourselves and those around us : cut the coming bulge in critical cases down to size , keep our medical personnel from being overwhelmed with the coming spike in intensive care by protecting ourselves and our loved ones .
Stay home !
Be Howard Hughes !
Perhaps a few weeks off from work will also give us time to consider our sins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humble ourselves , turn from our sinful ways , and seek God ’ s face .
( 2 Chronicles 7:14 ) If nothing else , it is the humble who learn from others — even from strategic competitors .
Dr. David Marshall holds a B.A .
in “ the Russian and Chinese Languages and Marxism , ” an M.A .
in Chinese Religions , and a Ph.D. in Christian Thought and Chinese Tradition .
His most recent book is Jesus is No Myth : The Fingerprints of God on the Gospels .

I returned from China to Seattle on January 15th. Unknown to me, another passenger, probably arriving on a different flight, was COVID-19 — the virus that is causing deaths, and a Black Tuesday like run on toilet paper, around America. Local scientists have shown it is the offspring of those first bugs that have made my hometown the American center of the pandemic. We hurriedly prepared a downstairs apartment at my sister’s place for my Mom, who is in the vulnerable population, since most of the deaths have occurred in facilities like the one she had been staying in for the past month.
I am not a medical doctor, but I teach research for a living, and have been carefully following the course of this disease for two months.
Yes, take it seriously. Ignore the idiots online, even if they’re friends or political allies. Stay home. Take a few weeks off work or school, and let the healthcare professionals get control of this pandemic. If we don’t take such precautions, hospitals will be overwhelmed — and many who have loved us all their lives may end those lives alone, gasping for breath.
One variable seems to be the degree to which the health care system is overwhelmed. This is why it is vital that everyone, not just the old, keep away from folks as much as possible for a few weeks. If you’re young, think of your parents or grandparents.
China’s Handling of the Virus
I am embarrassed that China, not long ago a Third World country and still run by a Maoist control freak who shudders with fear at Winnie the Pooh, has dealt with this crisis so much more effectively than the West. Sure, they screwed up at first. Sure, there was some initial denial, which cost lives, and allowed the disease to spread. But the crisis in Italy, never mind Iran, is already worse than it was in Wuhan. The death rate in America will almost certainly exceed that in China many times over.
Yes, that’s partly because the Chinese are good at locking people up. Look at the Uyghurs. Even in good times, at every gate to my apartment complex waits a security guard to check who is coming and going. That’s no doubt one reason the crime rate plunged in China in recent decades. Chinese governments have made use of that infrastructure of control to essentially keep everyone indoors. Some of my students have only left their apartment two or three times in the past month and a half, even though their town has had very few cases.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
It’s worked. The infection rate in my home town, Seattle, is now many times higher than it ever was in any Chinese city outside of Hubei Province. (Though we have been exceedingly lax in testing, so we can’t be sure exactly.)
Compassion? Or Self-Preservation?
In the 19th century, Christian missionaries brought not only modern medicine, but an attitude of concern for others, to China and other nations. China has learned the medicine, even if public compassion is often missing.
But something most people don’t realize about modern China is that the government takes the “nanny” part of “Nanny State Government” seriously. Local governments are hyper conscious of certain dangers. For instance, when you walk into the mountains around the town where I work, sensors along the trail activate cameras and speakers inform you, “Your actions are being recorded,” then give a “Smokey the Bear Meets 1984” warning against forest fires. During peak season, trails are shut down. Shallow creeks with three inches of flow are adorned with signs that say, “Danger! Deep water!”
Some of this is over-done. But when it came to saving the life of China’s elderly, an enforced siesta at home for everyone can be interpreted as compassion. (Or self-preservation, since China’s leaders are also elderly.) One need not be gullible or a lover of the “Chi-coms” to recognize that both motives may coexist in the most ruthless heart. Alexander Solzhenitsyn, a victim of the Gulag, described Stalin pacing back and forth at night planning purges, picturing himself as a master giving a puppy (the human race) a bowl of milk (happiness). “Here, drink up!”
China sends its children to America to learn. Let us not be so proud that we think we can learn nothing in return. Our ally South Korea followed similar measures, and halted the spread of their epidemic almost cold.
The key is humility, first of all before God.
God’s Word to the King of Assyria
The prophet Isaiah described another disaster, the conquest of Judah by Assyria, in terms that sound modern and colloquial. The king of Assyria saw himself as a “bull” who “dislodged those who sat on thrones, and my hand reached the wealth of the peoples which were as in a nest (the stock market?).”
In modern, slang Chinese, “bull” or “ox” is used as an an adjective. It means “studly,” only without sexual connotations. The king of Assyria brags that he’s smart and in your face.
Isaiah reminds us that God, not the president, not Congress, and certainly not some crown-wielding, glorified strand of rogue RNA, rules human history.
But God replies, “You’re just a tool, fool”: “Should an ax boast over the man who hews with it? Or a saw brag over the one who uses it to cut wood? Should a stick wave the man who picks it up?”
Isaiah reminds us that God, not the president, not Congress, and certainly not some crown-wielding, glorified strand of rogue RNA, rules human history. Nations too easily take success to heart, and worship the creature rather than the Creator: our flag, our wealth and power, the wise writings or righteous victories of our ancestors. We think God must reward us because of our collective virtue, even as that virtue drains away in selfish spending for pleasures, in a throw-away culture of death, in neglecting to love God and our neighbor as ourselves.
God called the king who thought such proud thoughts a tool. And then sent him a “wasting disease.”
Let’s Deal Protect Ourselves and Our Loved Ones
As we deal with our own wasting disease, let us remember our Creator, who is Lord of history. We have a duty to take practical measures to protect ourselves and those around us: cut the coming bulge in critical cases down to size, keep our medical personnel from being overwhelmed with the coming spike in intensive care by protecting ourselves and our loved ones. Stay home! Be Howard Hughes! Perhaps a few weeks off from work will also give us time to consider our sins. Maybe it’s time to humble ourselves, turn from our sinful ways, and seek God’s face. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
If nothing else, it is the humble who learn from others — even from strategic competitors.
Dr. David Marshall holds a B.A. in “the Russian and Chinese Languages and Marxism,” an M.A. in Chinese Religions, and a Ph.D. in Christian Thought and Chinese Tradition. His most recent book is Jesus is No Myth: The Fingerprints of God on the Gospels.


thestream--2020-03-22--Christians Will Get Through This — Better Than Others, and For Them

It was 1978 .
I was eight years old .
A second grader in Manchester , CT. My grandmother took me into downtown Hartford , because she wanted me to see the Hartford Civic Center .
Not an interesting building to look at .
No historical significance .
Just a big building that hosted big events .
The roof had collapsed .
The New York Times reported , “ the roof groaned and then slumped , first in one section and then the rest .
Fourteen hundred tons of twisted steel tresses and lightweight gypsum concrete fell almost , evenly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The ten people in the building were not hurt .
Just six hours prior to the roof ’ s collapse , almost 5,000 people had been present to watch a UConn men ’ s basketball game .
My best friend was there .
So was my uncle .
Had the roof collapsed during the game , all those people might have died .
Both the will of God , and his great mercy , were evident that day .
To my grandmother , it was a sign of human frailty .
“ Man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not , ” she told me .
“ Remember the Tower of Babel .
Whenever we start to think like that , God will humble us.
” Christians are , I believe , better prepared — psychologically , emotionally , spiritually — to weather the present crisis than are many of our fellows .
People who believe in traditional faith and morals know what ’ s coming and what to do .
For two reasons .
First , because we worship “ the Great I AM , ” not “ the Great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , how The Hartford Courant closed a front page Coronavirus story last Sunday , on what it thought was a reassuring note .
“ And as forced isolation and social distance increasingly took their toll on his congregants , Olsen , the Norfolk pastor , spoke about collective wisdom , unity and faith , ” the editors declared .
Then they quoted Olsen : “ That ’ s really the bottom line , for us to be able to remember that through all of this , whatever comes , we recognize that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we choose to call God .
That makes a huge difference.
” Last Sunday , some Americans looked to “ whatever we choose to call God.
” Good luck with that .
We are , almost overnight , a more serious country than that .
Those churches that you see on the main street of almost any town ?
The ones with a giant rainbow flag ?
Their congregants may be emptying out of those buildings very soon , on a search for The Real Thing .
We need to be there for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve Been Here Before Second , because Christians have been here before .
An upheaval in our financial and political systems disorients all of us .
We all dislike being isolated from each other and being kept from worshiping together .
But this is not our first rodeo .
We ’ ve seen our world turn itself upside down .
Help us champion truth , freedom , limited government and human dignity .
Support The Stream » In just the past few years , we have seen marriage redefined .
Nuns told to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bathed in rainbow colors .
Biological boys competing against girls in girls high school sports .
Drag Queen Story Hour for toddlers at public libraries .
Celebrities publicly crediting their abortions for their material wealth .
The governor of Virginia openly defending the practice of babies , who survive an abortion , being left to die .
People who believe in traditional faith and morals already know what it is like to have society suddenly upended all around us .
Our fellow citizens who erroneously thought themselves to be “ on the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experience the current upheaval more acutely than us .
We need to be there for them .
We Need to Be There The smallness of man was not the only lesson my grandmother sought to impart that day .
I remember her dwelling in particular on the mercy of God .
As with the Hartford Civic Center roof , so with the Coronavirus Pandemic .
God does not will that bad things not happen .
But he does will that through them good should be done .
He always has his purpose .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the good fight .
We have kept the faith .
We will do so again .
This time , in a crisis that binds us all together , even as the social distancing requires us to be separate .
We do this just for ourselves , our families , and our friends .
For everyone .
Including all those who see us as their enemy .
Maybe especially them .
If we don ’ t point them to the true hope that is Jesus Christ , who will ?
This appeared as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the members of the Family Institute of Connecticut from executive director Peter Wolfgang .
It has been revised for The Stream ‘ s readers .
He lives in Waterbury , Connecticut , with his wife and their seven children .
The views expressed on The Stream are solely his own .

It was 1978. I was eight years old. A second grader in Manchester, CT. My grandmother took me into downtown Hartford, because she wanted me to see the Hartford Civic Center. Not an interesting building to look at. No historical significance. Just a big building that hosted big events.
The roof had collapsed. The New York Times reported, “the roof groaned and then slumped, first in one section and then the rest. Fourteen hundred tons of twisted steel tresses and lightweight gypsum concrete fell almost, evenly onto the 10,000 empty seats below.” The ten people in the building were not hurt.
Just six hours prior to the roof’s collapse, almost 5,000 people had been present to watch a UConn men’s basketball game. My best friend was there. So was my uncle. Had the roof collapsed during the game, all those people might have died. Both the will of God, and his great mercy, were evident that day.
To my grandmother, it was a sign of human frailty. “Man thinks he is in charge but he is not,” she told me. “Remember the Tower of Babel. Whenever we start to think like that, God will humble us.”
We Worship the Great “I AM”
Christians are, I believe, better prepared — psychologically, emotionally, spiritually — to weather the present crisis than are many of our fellows. People who believe in traditional faith and morals know what’s coming and what to do. For two reasons.
First, because we worship “the Great I AM,” not “the Great Whatever.” That was, almost literally, how The Hartford Courant closed a front page Coronavirus story last Sunday, on what it thought was a reassuring note.
And as forced isolation and social distance increasingly took their toll on his congregants, Olsen, the Norfolk pastor, spoke about collective wisdom, unity and faith,” the editors declared. Then they quoted Olsen: “That’s really the bottom line, for us to be able to remember that through all of this, whatever comes, we recognize that we’re in the hands of whatever we choose to call God. That makes a huge difference.”
Last Sunday, some Americans looked to “whatever we choose to call God.” Good luck with that. We are, almost overnight, a more serious country than that.
Those churches that you see on the main street of almost any town? The ones with a giant rainbow flag? Their congregants may be emptying out of those buildings very soon, on a search for The Real Thing. We need to be there for them when they do.
We’ve Been Here Before
Second, because Christians have been here before. An upheaval in our financial and political systems disorients all of us. We all dislike being isolated from each other and being kept from worshiping together. But this is not our first rodeo. We’ve seen our world turn itself upside down.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
In just the past few years, we have seen marriage redefined. Nuns told to provide abortion drugs. The White House bathed in rainbow colors. Biological boys competing against girls in girls high school sports. Drag Queen Story Hour for toddlers at public libraries. Celebrities publicly crediting their abortions for their material wealth. The governor of Virginia openly defending the practice of babies, who survive an abortion, being left to die.
People who believe in traditional faith and morals already know what it is like to have society suddenly upended all around us. Our fellow citizens who erroneously thought themselves to be “on the right side of history” are likely to experience the current upheaval more acutely than us. We need to be there for them.
We Need to Be There
The smallness of man was not the only lesson my grandmother sought to impart that day. I remember her dwelling in particular on the mercy of God. As with the Hartford Civic Center roof, so with the Coronavirus Pandemic. God does not will that bad things not happen. But he does will that through them good should be done. He always has his purpose.
Through all this, we have fought the good fight. We have kept the faith. We will do so again. This time, in a crisis that binds us all together, even as the social distancing requires us to be separate.
We do this just for ourselves, our families, and our friends. For everyone. Including all those who see us as their enemy. Maybe especially them. If we don’t point them to the true hope that is Jesus Christ, who will?
This appeared as a March 20th, 2020, email alert to the members of the Family Institute of Connecticut from executive director Peter Wolfgang. It has been revised for The Stream‘s readers. He lives in Waterbury, Connecticut, with his wife and their seven children. The views expressed on The Stream are solely his own.


thestream--2020-03-22--NY Gov. Cuomo Says NY to Begin Trials for Malaria Drug Touted by Trump

New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said Sunday that his state is set to begin clinical trials this week for a malaria drug that President Donald Trump has touted as a possible treatment for coronavirus .
“ The president is optimistic about these drugs , and we are all optimistic that it could work , ” Cuomo said at a daily press conference in Albany .
Cuomo said that state health officials have procured 750,000 doses of the malaria drug chloroquine ; 70,000 doses of its derivative , hydroxychloroquine ; and 10,000 doses of the antibiotic Zithromax to use in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health officials have expressed cautious optimism after lab trials and a clinical trial conducted in France showed that chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have been effective at fighting the virus .
Dr. Peter Hotez , the dean of the school for tropical medicine at Baylor School of Medicine , told the Daily Caller News Foundation that chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have “ a lot of potential , ” but that “ we ’ re not going on a lot of data yet.
” Trump on Thursday directed the Food and Drug Administration to speed wave “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ various anti-viral therapies for use against coronavirus .
On Friday , he called the chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine potential “ game-changer ( s ) .
” Help us champion truth , freedom , limited government and human dignity .
Support The Stream » Dr. Anthony Fauci , a leading infectious disease expert on the White House coronavirus task force , tamped down Trump ’ s remarks at the same press conference , saying that studies so far have been “ anecdotal ” and not definitive .
“ It was not done in a controlled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t make any definitive statement about it.
” Despite those caveats , Cuomo expressed optimism Sunday , saying that the drugs will work .
“ I want to thank the FDA for moving very expeditiously to get us this supply .
The president ordered the FDA to move , and the FDA moved , ” Cuomo said , adding that health experts have told him that “ there is a good basis to believe that they could work.
” The coronavirus pandemic has hit New York harder than any other state .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15,168 cases , or more than half of all cases in the U.S. More than 6,200 of those cases are in New York City .
Several other clinical trials are underway for the drugs .
The University of Minnesota started a 1,500-patient trial last week .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday that his state is set to begin clinical trials this week for a malaria drug that President Donald Trump has touted as a possible treatment for coronavirus.
“The president is optimistic about these drugs, and we are all optimistic that it could work,” Cuomo said at a daily press conference in Albany.
Cuomo said that state health officials have procured 750,000 doses of the malaria drug chloroquine; 70,000 doses of its derivative, hydroxychloroquine; and 10,000 doses of the antibiotic Zithromax to use in trials set to begin Tuesday.
Some health officials have expressed cautious optimism after lab trials and a clinical trial conducted in France showed that chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have been effective at fighting the virus.
Dr. Peter Hotez, the dean of the school for tropical medicine at Baylor School of Medicine, told the Daily Caller News Foundation that chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have “a lot of potential,” but that “we’re not going on a lot of data yet.”
Trump on Thursday directed the Food and Drug Administration to speed wave “outdated rules and bureaucracies” to test various anti-viral therapies for use against coronavirus. On Friday, he called the chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine potential “game-changer(s).”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, a leading infectious disease expert on the White House coronavirus task force, tamped down Trump’s remarks at the same press conference, saying that studies so far have been “anecdotal” and not definitive.
“It was not done in a controlled clinical trial. So you really can’t make any definitive statement about it.”
Despite those caveats, Cuomo expressed optimism Sunday, saying that the drugs will work.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says his state will start implementing the trial drugs on Tuesday recently approved by the FDA and have received 70,000 Hydroxychloroquine, 10,000 Zithromax, and 750,000 Chloroquine from the federal government.pic.twitter.com/Nkx3zLDPo0 — Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) March 22, 2020
“I want to thank the FDA for moving very expeditiously to get us this supply. The president ordered the FDA to move, and the FDA moved,” Cuomo said, adding that health experts have told him that “there is a good basis to believe that they could work.”
The coronavirus pandemic has hit New York harder than any other state. Cuomo said Sunday that the state has 15,168 cases, or more than half of all cases in the U.S. More than 6,200 of those cases are in New York City.
Several other clinical trials are underway for the drugs. The University of Minnesota started a 1,500-patient trial last week.
Copyright 2020 The Daily Caller News Foundation
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].


thestream--2020-03-22--COVID-19 and Life Under ‘House Arrest’: Lessons from Others Who’ve Been There

Millions of us are under house arrest right now for nothing we did wrong .
What can we learn from others who ’ ve been there before ?
Granted , that ’ s not exactly the truth .
Quarantine isn ’ t arrest , and neither is self-imposed isolation due to this virus .
Every life is unique , every experience different .
Most of us , though , can at least get out and take a walk or maybe even a drive .
We don ’ t have guards ; we may not have many visitors , either .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ extreme economic and/or health concerns , for ourselves or for others we love .
Yet there are similarities there , too .
You might think it ’ s bleak enough on its own without calling it “ house arrest.
” I have a reason for going there , though , and it ’ s simply this : We ’ re not the first .
Others have made it through even worse confinements , and we can learn from them .
Some have been victims of errors in the justice system , others incarcerated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( and are ) political prisoners , and others have been persecuted for their religious beliefs .
Today I ’ m starting a short series on what we can learn from some of them , starting with the apostle Paul , then the early Christian writer Boethius ( a political prisoner with profound Christian insights ) .
I ’ ll read from Dietrich Bonhoeffer , another political prisoner , and his Letters and Papers from Prison , then Martin Luther King Jr. ’ s Letter from a Birmingham Jail .
( Any other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it rough : And that doesn ’ t even include his many imprisonments .
He wrote four letters generally called “ Prison Epistles.
” Ephesians , Phillipians , Colossians , and Philemon .
His second letter to Timothy also came from prison ( 2 Tim .
2:9 ) .
Help us champion truth , freedom , limited government and human dignity .
Support The Stream » Phillipians is the best of them all for telling how he was doing there , and its one overriding theme is joy .
He finds joy in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in the advance of the gospel , in the assurance of his future with Jesus .
( You can find the references — read the book ! )
He is cheered by Timothy , Epaphroditus , and the Phillipian church he was writing to .
He considers it of “ surpassing worth ” to know Christ , including the privilege of “ sharing in his sufferings.
” He caps it with the instruction to “ Rejoice in the Lord always , and again I will say , Rejoice.
” How ’ d @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maintain such joy ?
Paul knew that “ to live is Christ , and to die is gain.
” That ’ s the sum of it , as far as I can see .
He wanted above all to live in fellowship with Christ , and to teach , instruct , evangelize , and encourage others to do the same .
Paul knew that Christ was with him in prison as much as anywhere .
He knew that he was Jesus ’ bondservant , which simplified his own duties to obeying and following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He had the discipline to focus on whatever is true , honorable , just , pure , lovely , commendable , and excellent .
What a great way to keep from falling into bitterness and resentment !
And he had “ learned in whatever situation I am to be content , ” because “ I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
” The power of God himself gave him strength to maintain his joy .
That ’ s lesson one from Paul : Keep Christ at the center Paul gives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to maintain joy in confinement : • Music and Praise : He and Silas were singing hymns to God at midnight when God freed them from the Phillipian jail ( Acts 16:25 ) .
• Prayer : His prison epistles are filled with prayers , too many to list here .
Mostly he prayed for people he cared about .
Read the letters listed above for yourself and see !
• Visitors : He asked Timothy to come to him ( 2 Tim .
4:9 ) , and he was eager to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In his house arrest in Rome ( Acts 28 ) he “ welcomed all who came to him ” ( Acts 28:30 ) .
• Sharing the Gospel : “ Proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
” • Reading : He asked Timothy to bring him his books in prison ( 2 Tim .
4:13 ) .
• Writing : This one is almost too obvious to see .
He wrote at least five letters from prison , to people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teaching them .
We can do all of these .
Some ( 3 and 4 ) might be by phone , video , or social media in these days of extreme social distancing .
That ’ s real enough to count , though .
And these are the kinds of things that can lend real personal meaning to what we do , even if it ’ s from a confined place .
Tom Gilson ( @ TomGilsonAuthor ) is a senior editor with The Stream , and the author of A Christian Mind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 .

Millions of us are under house arrest right now for nothing we did wrong. What can we learn from others who’ve been there before?
Granted, that’s not exactly the truth. Quarantine isn’t arrest, and neither is self-imposed isolation due to this virus. Every life is unique, every experience different. Most of us, though, can at least get out and take a walk or maybe even a drive. We don’t have guards; we may not have many visitors, either. Some of us are weighed down with extreme economic and/or health concerns, for ourselves or for others we love.
Yet there are similarities there, too. You might think it’s bleak enough on its own without calling it “house arrest.” I have a reason for going there, though, and it’s simply this: We’re not the first. Others have made it through even worse confinements, and we can learn from them. Some have been victims of errors in the justice system, others incarcerated because of prejudice alone. Some were (and are) political prisoners, and others have been persecuted for their religious beliefs.
Today I’m starting a short series on what we can learn from some of them, starting with the apostle Paul, then the early Christian writer Boethius (a political prisoner with profound Christian insights). I’ll read from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, another political prisoner, and his Letters and Papers from Prison, then Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail. (Any other ideas?)
Paul
The apostle Paul had it rough:
Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. (2 Cor. 11:24-27)
And that doesn’t even include his many imprisonments. He wrote four letters generally called “Prison Epistles.” Ephesians, Phillipians, Colossians, and Philemon. His second letter to Timothy also came from prison (2 Tim. 2:9).
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Phillipians is the best of them all for telling how he was doing there, and its one overriding theme is joy. He finds joy in God’s people, in Christ, in the advance of the gospel, in the assurance of his future with Jesus. (You can find the references — read the book!) He is cheered by Timothy, Epaphroditus, and the Phillipian church he was writing to. He considers it of “surpassing worth” to know Christ, including the privilege of “sharing in his sufferings.” He caps it with the instruction to “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I will say, Rejoice.”
Christ at the Center
How’d he do it? How did he maintain such joy?
Paul knew that “to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” That’s the sum of it, as far as I can see. He wanted above all to live in fellowship with Christ, and to teach, instruct, evangelize, and encourage others to do the same. Paul knew that Christ was with him in prison as much as anywhere. He knew that he was Jesus’ bondservant, which simplified his own duties to obeying and following Christ in whatever circumstance he was. He had the discipline to focus on whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, and excellent. What a great way to keep from falling into bitterness and resentment!
And he had “learned in whatever situation I am to be content,” because “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” The power of God himself gave him strength to maintain his joy.
That’s lesson one from Paul: Keep Christ at the center
Practical Lessons
Paul gives us practical examples, too, for how to maintain joy in confinement:
Music and Praise: He and Silas were singing hymns to God at midnight when God freed them from the Phillipian jail (Acts 16:25). Prayer: His prison epistles are filled with prayers, too many to list here. Mostly he prayed for people he cared about. Read the letters listed above for yourself and see! Visitors: He asked Timothy to come to him (2 Tim. 4:9), and he was eager to see Epaphroditus (Phil. 2:26). In his house arrest in Rome (Acts 28) he “welcomed all who came to him” (Acts 28:30). Sharing the Gospel: “Proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.” Reading: He asked Timothy to bring him his books in prison (2 Tim. 4:13). Writing: This one is almost too obvious to see. He wrote at least five letters from prison, to people he cared about, encouraging them and teaching them.
We can do all of these. Some (3 and 4) might be by phone, video, or social media in these days of extreme social distancing. That’s real enough to count, though. And these are the kinds of things that can lend real personal meaning to what we do, even if it’s from a confined place.
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.
Copyright 2020 ThinkingChristian.net. Originally published March 21, 2020. Republished with permission.


thestream--2020-03-22--Pandemic, Oil Glut Leave Venezuela More Vulnerable to Chinese, Russian Advances

Venezuela is vulnerable .
The White House in August new economic sanctions on the country and the oil glut caused by the coronavirus pandemic , meanwhile , is rendering Venezuela ’ s vast supply of recoverable oil near-worthless .
“ [ N ] o other country in the region will be as hard hit as Venezuela , which relies on oil sales for 85 percent of its government spending , ” Andres Oppenheimer , a columnist for the Miami Herald .
“ Last year , Venezuela ’ s oil exports had already fallen to $ 9 billion , from $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ factors — U.S. sanctions on Venezuelan oil , the coronavirus pandemic and consequent oversupply of oil on the global market — combine to make a perfect storm that leaves Venezuela susceptible to further bankrolling by China and Russia .
President Donald J. Trump can ’ t allow these opportunists to swoop in and exert more control over a crumbling Venezuela .
If he does let China and Russia further wrap their tentacles around socialist President Nicolas Maduro ’ s finger , he runs the risk of surrendering important strategic ground in the struggle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indebted to both countries ; for more than a decade , China and Russia have poured billions into the collapsing country .
As the Los Angeles Times , “ China and Russia are Venezuela ’ s two main creditors , and they have been the principal economic force keeping the Maduro government afloat , making the difference between solvency and bankruptcy , financial experts say.
” That was at the beginning of 2019 , well before the coronavirus pandemic began sweeping the globe .
Maduro last week announced the country , in response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Europe and Colombia .
More recently , he businesses in six states and the capital city of Caracas to close and people to remain at home .
School was beginning Monday , March 16 .
Otherwise , Maduro ’ s response to the global pandemic is underwhelming , to say the least .
As is the case in other countries , there are very few coronavirus tests and some Venezuelan healthcare workers , their hospitals battered by years of socialism , don ’ t even have enough supplies to wash their hands , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protectors .
We have no gloves , masks or soap , something so basic , ” Dr. Jose Soto , a specialist at a hospital in Caracas , the capital of Venezuela , told Bloomberg .
“ We now treat five patients where we used to treat 25 just six years ago , ” he said .
Help us champion truth , freedom , limited government and human dignity .
Support The Stream » Furthermore , many healthcare providers in Venezuela have left the country because of the demise of the nation ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are grossly understaffed and therefore ill-equipped to meet the inevitable demand for lifesaving medical care .
The nation is teetering on the edge of collapse and grossly unprepared for the devastation that could befall them .
These circumstances make Maduro easy prey for China and Russia , who would like nothing more than to strengthen their foothold in the country .
President Trump for good reason has imposed sanctions on Venezuela , but should act to protect the American oil assets that remain in the battered country by allowing American energy companies to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our national security interests and the interests of the Venezuelan people , who only stand to benefit from the continued presence of American energy companies .
The blow of the coronavirus pandemic otherwise will be far more devastating to the Venezuelan people .
The White House , instead of pulling out and cutting off Venezuela entirely , should be protecting our interests in a nation with an 500 billion barrels of recoverable crude oil because — if there ’ s a time to get tough with China and Russia — it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like it will exert more control over Venezuela in much the same way Russia co-opted Cuba during the Cold War .
Cuba to this day gets from the Russian government .
Maduro is in a precarious position and will do all he can to maintain power over the Venezuelan people .
The time to counteract Chinese and Russian advances is now , before it ’ s too late .
Ken Blackwell is a former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Human Rights Commission and serves on the advisory board of Donald J. Trump for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ret . )
William Gerald “ Jerry ” Boykin was the United States Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence .

Venezuela is vulnerable. The White House in August imposed new economic sanctions on the country and the oil glut caused by the coronavirus pandemic, meanwhile, is rendering Venezuela’s vast supply of recoverable oil near-worthless.
“[N]o other country in the region will be as hard hit as Venezuela, which relies on oil sales for 85 percent of its government spending,” writes Andres Oppenheimer, a columnist for the Miami Herald. “Last year, Venezuela’s oil exports had already fallen to $9 billion, from $73 billion in 2011.”
All these factors — U.S. sanctions on Venezuelan oil, the coronavirus pandemic and consequent oversupply of oil on the global market — combine to make a perfect storm that leaves Venezuela susceptible to further bankrolling by China and Russia. President Donald J. Trump can’t allow these opportunists to swoop in and exert more control over a crumbling Venezuela.
Important Strategic Ground
If he does let China and Russia further wrap their tentacles around socialist President Nicolas Maduro’s finger, he runs the risk of surrendering important strategic ground in the struggle for energy security. Venezuela is already indebted to both countries; for more than a decade, China and Russia have poured billions into the collapsing country.
As the Los Angeles Times reports , “China and Russia are Venezuela’s two main creditors, and they have been the principal economic force keeping the Maduro government afloat, making the difference between solvency and bankruptcy, financial experts say.” That was at the beginning of 2019, well before the coronavirus pandemic began sweeping the globe.
Maduro last week announced the country, in response to the coronavirus, is suspending flights from Europe and Colombia. More recently, he ordered businesses in six states and the capital city of Caracas to close and people to remain at home. School was canceled beginning Monday, March 16.
Underwhelming Response
Otherwise, Maduro’s response to the global pandemic is underwhelming, to say the least. As is the case in other countries, there are very few coronavirus tests available and some Venezuelan healthcare workers, their hospitals battered by years of socialism, don’t even have enough supplies to wash their hands, reports Bloomberg.
“There are no eye protectors. We have no gloves, masks or soap, something so basic,” Dr. Jose Soto, a specialist at a hospital in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, told Bloomberg. “We now treat five patients where we used to treat 25 just six years ago,” he said.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Furthermore, many healthcare providers in Venezuela have left the country because of the demise of the nation’s healthcare system. Consequently, hospitals are grossly understaffed and therefore ill-equipped to meet the inevitable demand for lifesaving medical care.
The nation is teetering on the edge of collapse and grossly unprepared for the devastation that could befall them. These circumstances make Maduro easy prey for China and Russia, who would like nothing more than to strengthen their foothold in the country.
The White House’s Response
President Trump for good reason has imposed sanctions on Venezuela, but should act to protect the American oil assets that remain in the battered country by allowing American energy companies to continue their operations.
It would bolster our national security interests and the interests of the Venezuelan people, who only stand to benefit from the continued presence of American energy companies. The blow of the coronavirus pandemic otherwise will be far more devastating to the Venezuelan people.
The White House, instead of pulling out and cutting off Venezuela entirely, should be protecting our interests in a nation with an estimated 500 billion barrels of recoverable crude oil because — if there’s a time to get tough with China and Russia — it’s now.
Otherwise, Russia and nations like it will exert more control over Venezuela in much the same way Russia co-opted Cuba during the Cold War. Cuba to this day gets support from the Russian government. Maduro is in a precarious position and will do all he can to maintain power over the Venezuelan people. The time to counteract Chinese and Russian advances is now, before it’s too late.
Ken Blackwell is a former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Human Rights Commission and serves on the advisory board of Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. Lt. Gen. (Ret.) William Gerald “Jerry” Boykin was the United States Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence.


thestream--2020-03-22--No Cheat Days and No Exceptions: A Key to Sustaining a Healthy Lifestyle

We know that the best defense against sickness and infection is a strong immune system .
And the best way to strengthen our immune systems is by long-term , healthy eating .
But that is where we often fall short : sustaining a healthy lifestyle for the long term .
That ’ s why I have written this article : to give you an important key that will help you sustain this life-giving lifestyle .
As explained by Dr. Joel Fuhrman , “ The immune system is the body ’ s defense system against irritants , toxins , infections , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an arsenal of ‘ soldiers , ’ such as T-cells , B-cells , antibodies , macrophages , etc.
, the immune system can detect , attack , and remove potential dangers to optimal health .
A nutrient-dense eating style with a variety of immune supporting phytochemicals is required to maintain an effective immune system.
” Put another way , healthy eating will help keep you healthy .
It really is that simple .
But how do you sustain this for the long haul ?
How do you avoid falling off the wagon and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ habits ?
Allow me to give you some practical advice .
( I do as someone who ate poorly the first 59 years of his life , only to experience a dramatic , life-changing transformation over the last 6 years . )
The advice is simply this .
Once you get into a healthy lifestyle , don ’ t deviate from it .
Not even a little .
Otherwise , you run the real risk of falling back .
And , as my wife , Nancy , details in our book Breaking the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot harder to get started again once you ’ ve fallen back .
That ’ s why former alcoholics ( or , as some would describe themselves , recovering alcoholics ) never drink alcohol .
Not even a sip .
Not even for a wedding or special celebration .
They realize that one wrong step could prove fatal .
Just one drink , and they can be enslaved all over again .
It ’ s the same thing with unhealthy foods .
It ’ s best to swear them off for life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food addict ( by which I mean you have previously been addicted to unhealthy eating ) .
Help us champion truth , freedom , limited government and human dignity .
Support The Stream » For several years , Nancy interacted with others on one of Dr. Fuhrman ’ s blogs , and she heard the same story over and over .
“ I was doing great for three years .
I went from 300 lbs .
to 140 lbs .
and got off all my medication .
Then , on a special vacation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those old , unhealthy foods — just for a few days .
Since then , I ’ ve gained back 130 lbs .
and can not seem to break free again.
” How sad , and yet how common .
A colleague in Israel said to me , “ I was a chocoholic for decades but was able to break free , and I didn ’ t have any chocolate for 6 years .
Then , about 6 years ago , a friend convinced me that one little piece of dark chocolate wouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then , I ’ ve been bound.
” For me , having received so much incredible grace from God to change my lifestyle , I don ’ t want to play games .
I don ’ t want to take that grace for granted .
I don ’ t want to find out what would happen if I decided to have chicken parmigiana again , followed by a chocolate fudge brownie .
One possibility is that it would suddenly open up all the old cravings .
That would be a disaster .
How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Another possibility is that the healthy foods wouldn ’ t taste good anymore .
After all , you have to train your palette to enjoy healthy foods when it has been used to eating unhealthy foods drenched with sugar or salt or the like .
That ’ s why , when pastors and other friends ask me , “ How often do you cheat on your diet ?
” , I ask them in return , “ How often do you cheat on your spouse ?
” Of course , I realize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sinful in God ’ s sight , under all circumstances .
In contrast , it might not always be sinful for you to have an ice cream cone or to enjoy a big slice of pizza .
But for me it would be sin .
It would be compromise with the flesh .
And it might well lead to serious backsliding with regard to my diet .
And this leads to is the biggest reason I don ’ t make exceptions or allow for cheat days : if I could make an exception @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make an exception tomorrow .
The reasons to cheat are endless .
It ’ s an anniversary .
Or birthday .
Or holiday .
Or vacation .
Or , I just finished a crazy ministry schedule .
Or , I ’ ll be traveling 45 hours to reach my destination .
Or , I ’ m hardly ever in this country .
Or , I just published a new book .
The reasons ( = excuses ) for deviating are endless .
Yet in the end , for many of us , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years of futility and frustration .
That would be a terrible loss .
To be clear , you might be one of the few people who can maintain a really healthy lifestyle yet splurge a few times a year .
If it works for you , great .
But for most of us ( or , at the least , many of us ) , the splurges don ’ t work .
The cheat days don ’ t work .
The exceptions don ’ t work , quickly becoming the rule .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life as if you ’ re a recovering food addict , set free by the Lord .
You don ’ t want to play with your freedom .
And if this seems overwhelming , take it one day at a time .
When I first made the radical change in August , 2014 , I would talk to Nancy about what I wanted to eat on my first cheat day , projected a few months down the line .
Nancy would say to me , “ Try using this trick on yourself .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ I can eat whatever I want , only not today.
’ ” That would do the trick , alleviating that sense of pressure .
And as the months ( and now , years ) went on , any thought of deviation became more and more distant , to the point of non-existence .
Add in the remarkable vitality that I currently enjoy , and it ’ s not even close .
The little bit of sustained discipline that is required is overwhelmingly outweighed by the blessing of overflowing life .
Give it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it for good .
It ’ s more than worth it .
Dr. Michael Brown ( www.askdrbrown.org ) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program .
His latest book is Jezebel ’ s War With America : The Plot to Destroy Our Country and What We Can Do to Turn the Tide .
Connect with him on Facebook , Twitter or YouTube .

We know that the best defense against sickness and infection is a strong immune system. And the best way to strengthen our immune systems is by long-term, healthy eating. But that is where we often fall short: sustaining a healthy lifestyle for the long term. That’s why I have written this article: to give you an important key that will help you sustain this life-giving lifestyle.
Healthy Eating Keeps You Healthy
As explained by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, “The immune system is the body’s defense system against irritants, toxins, infections, and the development of cancer. With an arsenal of ‘soldiers,’ such as T-cells, B-cells, antibodies, macrophages, etc., the immune system can detect, attack, and remove potential dangers to optimal health. A nutrient-dense eating style with a variety of immune supporting phytochemicals is required to maintain an effective immune system.”
Put another way, healthy eating will help keep you healthy. It really is that simple.
But how do you sustain this for the long haul? How do you avoid falling off the wagon and falling back into your old, unhealthy habits?
Some Practical Advice
Allow me to give you some practical advice. (I do as someone who ate poorly the first 59 years of his life, only to experience a dramatic, life-changing transformation over the last 6 years.)
The advice is simply this. Once you get into a healthy lifestyle, don’t deviate from it. Not even a little. Otherwise, you run the real risk of falling back. And, as my wife, Nancy, details in our book Breaking the Stronghold of Food, it’s a lot harder to get started again once you’ve fallen back.
That’s why former alcoholics (or, as some would describe themselves, recovering alcoholics) never drink alcohol. Not even a sip. Not even for a wedding or special celebration.
They realize that one wrong step could prove fatal. Just one drink, and they can be enslaved all over again.
It’s the same thing with unhealthy foods. It’s best to swear them off for life, especially if you are a recovering food addict (by which I mean you have previously been addicted to unhealthy eating).
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
For several years, Nancy interacted with others on one of Dr. Fuhrman’s blogs, and she heard the same story over and over. “I was doing great for three years. I went from 300 lbs. to 140 lbs. and got off all my medication. Then, on a special vacation, I decided to splurge and eat those old, unhealthy foods — just for a few days. Since then, I’ve gained back 130 lbs. and cannot seem to break free again.”
How sad, and yet how common.
A colleague in Israel said to me, “I was a chocoholic for decades but was able to break free, and I didn’t have any chocolate for 6 years. Then, about 6 years ago, a friend convinced me that one little piece of dark chocolate wouldn’t hurt me, and since then, I’ve been bound.”
For me, having received so much incredible grace from God to change my lifestyle, I don’t want to play games. I don’t want to take that grace for granted. I don’t want to find out what would happen if I decided to have chicken parmigiana again, followed by a chocolate fudge brownie.
One possibility is that it would suddenly open up all the old cravings. That would be a disaster.
How Often Do You Cheat on Your Spouse?
Another possibility is that the healthy foods wouldn’t taste good anymore. After all, you have to train your palette to enjoy healthy foods when it has been used to eating unhealthy foods drenched with sugar or salt or the like.
That’s why, when pastors and other friends ask me, “How often do you cheat on your diet?”, I ask them in return, “How often do you cheat on your spouse?”
Of course, I realize that cheating on your spouse is always sinful in God’s sight, under all circumstances. In contrast, it might not always be sinful for you to have an ice cream cone or to enjoy a big slice of pizza.
But for me it would be sin. It would be compromise with the flesh. And it might well lead to serious backsliding with regard to my diet.
And this leads to is the biggest reason I don’t make exceptions or allow for cheat days: if I could make an exception today, I could find a reason to make an exception tomorrow. The reasons to cheat are endless.
It’s an anniversary. Or birthday. Or holiday. Or vacation.
Or, I just finished a crazy ministry schedule. Or, I’ll be traveling 45 hours to reach my destination. Or, I’m hardly ever in this country. Or, I just published a new book.
The reasons (= excuses) for deviating are endless. Yet in the end, for many of us, just one deviation can lead to many years of futility and frustration. That would be a terrible loss.
A Recovering Food Addict, Set Free by the Lord
To be clear, you might be one of the few people who can maintain a really healthy lifestyle yet splurge a few times a year. If it works for you, great.
But for most of us (or, at the least, many of us), the splurges don’t work. The cheat days don’t work. The exceptions don’t work, quickly becoming the rule.
That’s why I suggest living your life as if you’re a recovering food addict, set free by the Lord. You don’t want to play with your freedom.
And if this seems overwhelming, take it one day at a time.
When I first made the radical change in August, 2014, I would talk to Nancy about what I wanted to eat on my first cheat day, projected a few months down the line.
Nancy would say to me, “Try using this trick on yourself. When you feel tempted, say, ‘I can eat whatever I want, only not today.’”
That would do the trick, alleviating that sense of pressure. And as the months (and now, years) went on, any thought of deviation became more and more distant, to the point of non-existence.
Add in the remarkable vitality that I currently enjoy, and it’s not even close. The little bit of sustained discipline that is required is overwhelmingly outweighed by the blessing of overflowing life.
Give it a try, and then stay with it for good. It’s more than worth it.
Dr. Michael Brown (www.askdrbrown.org) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program. His latest book is Jezebel’s War With America: The Plot to Destroy Our Country and What We Can Do to Turn the Tide. Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.


thestream--2020-03-22--Climbing Above the Crisis

Climbing Above the Crisis

Playing high in the tree house with my grand-darlings made the coronavirus feel distant and diminished .
Swinging comfortably in the hammock , listening to the rain fall softly on the tin roof , and planning wistfully for an outdoor sleepover bolstered my Gammy-heart above the crisis , chaos , and confusion of our altered lives .
Alas , one can not live in a tree house forever , and I eventually needed to return to our worried world .
At dusk , I gingerly climbed backwards , down the narrow ladder to our coronavirus earth and the absorbing challenges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provided for you and me , His beloved children , a far more secure refuge than even my tree house hideaway .
Rather than leaving us nervous , scared , and confused , He invites us into an eternally secure shelter in the strong and sturdy branches of His glorious Word .
Come — climb the ladder with me and rest in the soothing , sanitized certainty that only He can guarantee .
Climbing Above the Crisis , we read : “ I sought the Lord , and He heard me , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Psalm 34:4 NIV ) .
“ God is our refuge and strength , an ever-present help in trouble .
Therefore we will not fear , though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea ” ( Psalm 46:1-2 NIV ) .
“ You will keep him in perfect peace , whose mind is stayed on You , because he trusts in You ” ( Isaiah 26:3 NKJV ) .
“ Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fields produce no food , though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls , yet I will rejoice in the Lord , I will be joyful in God my Savior ” ( Habakkuk 3:17,18 NIV ) .
“ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him , so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit ” ( Romans 15:13 NIV ) .
“ But he said to me , “ My grace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power is made perfect in weakness.
” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses , so that Christ ’ s power may rest on me ” ( 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV ) .
“ Be anxious for nothing , but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God .
And the peace of God , which surpasses all comprehension , will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus ” ( Philippians 4:6-7 NASB ) .
“ And my God @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His riches in glory in Christ Jesus ” ( Philippians 4:19 NASB ) .
“ For God has not given us a spirit of fear , but of power and of love and of a sound mind ” ( 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV ) .
“ His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness ” ( 2 Peter 1:3 ) .
“ May we continue to prioritize our intimacy with Jesus .
May the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and communication with the Father our source of comfort and strength.
” Steve Sellers , Cru National Director Debby Thompson , author of The Leader ’ s Wife , Living With Eternal Intentionality® , is an award-winning writer and speaker .
Debby and her husband Larry have served in global missions with Campus Crusade for Christ International ( CCCI ) since 1974 , and are counted among the pioneering Western missionaries who lived covertly behind the Iron Curtain in communist Poland .
They and their three children were witnesses to a period of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Now living in Cincinnati , Debby serves on the Global Leadership Council of Athletes in Action International , the sports ministry of Cru .
An active grandmother of six , she is also a sought-after author , speaker , and mentor for women around the world .
Debby blogs at DebbyThompson.com .
You may mail her at Debby.thompson @ cru.org .

Playing high in the tree house with my grand-darlings made the coronavirus feel distant and diminished. Swinging comfortably in the hammock, listening to the rain fall softly on the tin roof, and planning wistfully for an outdoor sleepover bolstered my Gammy-heart above the crisis, chaos, and confusion of our altered lives.
Ahhh, if only …
Alas, one cannot live in a tree house forever, and I eventually needed to return to our worried world. At dusk, I gingerly climbed backwards, down the narrow ladder to our coronavirus earth and the absorbing challenges we face.
God’s Secure Refuge
However, God has provided for you and me, His beloved children, a far more secure refuge than even my tree house hideaway. Rather than leaving us nervous, scared, and confused, He invites us into an eternally secure shelter in the strong and sturdy branches of His glorious Word.
Come — climb the ladder with me and rest in the soothing, sanitized certainty that only He can guarantee. Climbing Above the Crisis, we read:
“I sought the Lord, and He heard me, he delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4 NIV). “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea” (Psalm 46:1-2 NIV). “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3 NKJV). “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Habakkuk 3:17,18 NIV). “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13 NIV). “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV). “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NASB). “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 NASB). “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV). “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3).
So going forward,
“May we continue to prioritize our intimacy with Jesus. May the Word be our source of perspective, and communication with the Father our source of comfort and strength.” Steve Sellers, Cru National Director
Debby Thompson, author of The Leader’s Wife, Living With Eternal Intentionality®, is an award-winning writer and speaker. Debby and her husband Larry have served in global missions with Campus Crusade for Christ International (CCCI) since 1974, and are counted among the pioneering Western missionaries who lived covertly behind the Iron Curtain in communist Poland. They and their three children were witnesses to a period of dramatic social, political and spiritual change. Now living in Cincinnati, Debby serves on the Global Leadership Council of Athletes in Action International, the sports ministry of Cru. An active grandmother of six, she is also a sought-after author, speaker, and mentor for women around the world. Debby blogs at DebbyThompson.com. You may mail her at [email protected].
Originally published at DebbyThompson.com. Reprinted with permission.


thestream--2020-03-22--Here’s How You Can Help Your Neighbors During the Coronavirus Pandemic

As both the death toll and cases of COVID19 increase across the globe , President Donald Trump has declared a state of emergency and urged Americans to self isolate in order to prevent the spread of the disease .
Not everyone has the same ability to care for themselves during this crisis , however .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) has warned that the elderly are particularly at risk for the coronavirus , and those who are hospitalized may not always receive the care that they need unless their neighbor steps up to the plate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus crisis in a variety of ways .
Many Americans may be in extra need of food throughout the pandemic , particularly workers who are underpaid or out of work and their families .
Schools that regularly provide meals for low-income students have closed across the country , and while some of them are offering meals , Americans can aid their neighbors by donating to local food banks .
You can donate to your local food bank through organizations like Feeding America , a nation wide book bank that distributes 4.3 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you not to donate broken , dented , opened , or expired items , as well as items in glass packaging , foods that need containers , dairy , baby formula , perishables , or unlabeled packaged food .
The CDC has warned that older adults who are 65 years and older are at higher risk for severe illness from the coronavirus .
“ Older people are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 which may result in increased stress during a crisis , ” the CDC warns .
“ Fear and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overwhelming and cause strong emotions.
” Family , friends , and neighbors can care for the elderly in their community by buying food for them and dropping it off at their homes .
This alleviates the necessity of the elderly going to a grocery store where they could be exposed to the coronavirus .
Restaurants across the country are taking major losses due to the pandemic as Americans are told to self isolate and avoid large gatherings .
This also negatively impacts restaurant workers and their families .
Many of these businesses are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , delivery , and drive through transactions instead of sit down meals .
You can help your local restaurant by buying gift cards to use later on , and by buying or ordering takeout .
“ This is not like a natural disaster that ’ s located in one particular area that passes quickly and we focus on rebuilding , ” Sean Kennedy of the National Restaurant Association told NPR .
“ This is a nationwide problem in which states and localities are just shutting down restaurant operations across the nation without a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for us and our workforce.
” Watching Children For Those Who Must Work Not everyone has the privilege of working from home , especially health care workers , which can be stressful for those who have children that need to be cared for and fed during the day .
Neighbors can assist one another by reaching out to those who may need childcare and offering to watch their children .
Help us champion truth , freedom , limited government and human dignity .
Support The Stream » While the CDC says that children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher risk for COVID-19 than adults , ” children are more likely than adults to not show symptoms of the coronavirus even if they are actually carrying the disease .
Neighbors who do offer to care for them should take this into consideration .
The United States is facing a dire blood supply shortage , the New York Times reports , and though coronavirus treatment does not require blood transfusions , other medical procedures often do .
“ It ’ s an unprecedented situation , ” Dr. Pampee Young , who is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the American Red Cross , told the Times .
“ We are already actively triaging units , determining which hospitals can and can ’ t get blood.
” “ The worst case scenario could be a bleeding young patient who was in a car accident , and there ’ s no blood , ” Young added .
“ We ’ re not quite there yet , but that is the ultimate fear.
” Those who wish to donate blood can visit the American Association of Blood Banks locator , the Red Cross website @ @ @ @ @ @ @ options .
Checking In On Family And Friends The CDC has recommended self isolation as the best way to prevent illness , since there is currently no vaccine to prevent the spread of the disease and coronavirus is spread from person-to-person .
But self isolating and the constant news about the pandemic can produce both fear and anxiety .
“ Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children , ” the CDC warns .
“ Coping with stress will make you , the people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stronger.
” Neighbors can bring one another solace and support by reaching out and checking in on one another during this period of isolation .
This is especially important for friends and family who may be living alone during this time .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

As both the death toll and cases of COVID19 increase across the globe, President Donald Trump has declared a state of emergency and urged Americans to self isolate in order to prevent the spread of the disease.
Not everyone has the same ability to care for themselves during this crisis, however. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned that the elderly are particularly at risk for the coronavirus, and those who are hospitalized may not always receive the care that they need unless their neighbor steps up to the plate.
Americans can help their neighbor survive the coronavirus crisis in a variety of ways.
Donating to Local Food Banks
Many Americans may be in extra need of food throughout the pandemic, particularly workers who are underpaid or out of work and their families.
Schools that regularly provide meals for low-income students have closed across the country, and while some of them are offering meals, Americans can aid their neighbors by donating to local food banks.
You can donate to your local food bank through organizations like Feeding America, a nation wide book bank that distributes 4.3 billion meals each year. Food banks encourage you not to donate broken, dented, opened, or expired items, as well as items in glass packaging, foods that need containers, dairy, baby formula, perishables, or unlabeled packaged food.
Helping the Elderly Buy Food
The CDC has warned that older adults who are 65 years and older are at higher risk for severe illness from the coronavirus.
“Older people are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 which may result in increased stress during a crisis,” the CDC warns. “Fear and anxiety about the COVID-19 pandemic can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions.”
Family, friends, and neighbors can care for the elderly in their community by buying food for them and dropping it off at their homes. This alleviates the necessity of the elderly going to a grocery store where they could be exposed to the coronavirus.
Buying Gift Certificates to Local Restaurants
Restaurants across the country are taking major losses due to the pandemic as Americans are told to self isolate and avoid large gatherings. This also negatively impacts restaurant workers and their families.
Many of these businesses are retooling and relying on take out services, delivery, and drive through transactions instead of sit down meals. You can help your local restaurant by buying gift cards to use later on, and by buying or ordering takeout.
“This is not like a natural disaster that’s located in one particular area that passes quickly and we focus on rebuilding,” Sean Kennedy of the National Restaurant Association told NPR. “This is a nationwide problem in which states and localities are just shutting down restaurant operations across the nation without a lot of warning and with tremendous impact for us and our workforce.”
Watching Children for Those Who Must Work
Not everyone has the privilege of working from home, especially health care workers, which can be stressful for those who have children that need to be cared for and fed during the day.
Neighbors can assist one another by reaching out to those who may need childcare and offering to watch their children.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
While the CDC says that children “do not appear to be at higher risk for COVID-19 than adults,” children are more likely than adults to not show symptoms of the coronavirus even if they are actually carrying the disease. Neighbors who do offer to care for them should take this into consideration.
Donating Blood
The United States is facing a dire blood supply shortage, the New York Times reports, and though coronavirus treatment does not require blood transfusions, other medical procedures often do.
“It’s an unprecedented situation,” Dr. Pampee Young, who is a chief medical officer of biomedical services at the American Red Cross, told the Times. “We are already actively triaging units, determining which hospitals can and can’t get blood.”
“The worst case scenario could be a bleeding young patient who was in a car accident, and there’s no blood,” Young added. “We’re not quite there yet, but that is the ultimate fear.”
Those who wish to donate blood can visit the American Association of Blood Banks locator, the Red Cross website, or call 1-800-RED-CROSS, among other options.
Checking in on Family and Friends
The CDC has recommended self isolation as the best way to prevent illness, since there is currently no vaccine to prevent the spread of the disease and coronavirus is spread from person-to-person. But self isolating and the constant news about the pandemic can produce both fear and anxiety.
“Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children,” the CDC warns. “Coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.”
Neighbors can bring one another solace and support by reaching out and checking in on one another during this period of isolation. This is especially important for friends and family who may be living alone during this time.
https://twitter.com/jessica_roy/status/1240683483782995969
Copyright 2020 The Daily Caller News Foundation
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].