Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all [the] flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ~Ephesians 6:10-17 (NABRE)

When I look around at the insanity that seems to be taking over the world I just can’t understand it. How did we get here? At a base level I like to think that people are basically good. If they are good, then why is there so much hatred, ugliness and turmoil? The very people who are screaming about tolerance are the first ones to try to bully you into compliance. What happened to them? Why do they act like this?

Is it possible that when we started removing God from our schools, our government and our daily lives that we opened up a giant door for the devil to enter? When we removed the shame and stigma from certain behaviors it’s almost as if we were silently saying that they are actually okay to do. Can you hear the door opening even more? At this point I think that we’ve actually ripped the door off and enlarged the hole for the devil to come through.

A few years ago I actually stopped listening to mainstream country music. I grew up listening to George Strait, Diamond Rio, Garth Brooks, etc. After I started attending church regularly and reading God’s word I realized that I no longer wanted to internalize the kinds of lyrics I was hearing on the radio. Most of the songs celebrated drinking, partying, and just having “fun.” That wasn’t what I wanted to listen to anymore. I have to say that I really don’t miss it.

Respect. Love. Treat others as you would want to be treated. Why don’t people follow this anymore? As I’m typing this post it’s 10 pm and I should really be heading to bed because I have to work in the morning. However, there is a person about a block away who is setting off full size fireworks. I can feel the concussion of them before I hear the bang. Why? Where is the respect for their neighbors who are trying to sleep? I should have been fast asleep by now and would NOT have been happy being woken up by their stupid fireworks. I’m trying not to get angry because that’s when you give evil more power. However, I know the person setting off the fireworks is NOT going to listen to reason and realize that they are being an idiot.

Instead, I need to put on the armor of God. I need to stand firm in the Truth. I need to gird my heart from the evil thoughts of punching the fireworks person in the face. I need to find the love in my heart for my fellow man. I just wish that the armor of God included ear plugs of Peace.

Dear Lord, the world is crazy. There are days when I don’t know how I’m supposed to keep going when everything is hitting me in the heart. How can I love others when they make themselves so unlovable? Please help me keep your words on my lips and in my heart. Let me see others through your eyes. And Lord, when all else fails, please dampen their fireworks so that my neighborhood can have one peaceful night this summer. Amen.