police are not "your" employees

The police in an incorporated city do not “work for you”, they work for the city.  They are not beholden to you in any regard.  Their job is to enforce local laws as directed by their employer, the city.  You do not “pay their salaries”, you don’t.  You pay taxes, which are spent at the discretion of your elected officials, according to the laws of that city to, theoretically, serve the needs of that city, as determined by your elected officials.  Keep that in mind the next time you meet up with a police officer.  You are not “their boss”.  If that was true, no one would ever be cited or arrested.

What’s your role?  Pay your taxes, and vote wisely for your elected officials.

Should a civil servant act in a courteous, intelligent, knowledgeable, compassionate, honorable, expeditious manner, according to the scope of their employment and the laws of the community?  Certainly.

Do they owe you anything more than that?  No, in my opinion, they do not.  Take it up with your elected officials and their delegated management if you have a complaint, not with their employees.

Have a peaceful day.

good friday

I heard someone on the radio this morning wishing another a "Happy Good Friday", as if it was a day of celebration.

There's nothing to celebrate here.  Jesus died on the cross.  As a Christian Believer, I know that this was the ultimate sacrifice, purchasing my eternal freedom with His blood, and offering that gift to any man, woman, or child who would receive it. but that's no cause for celebration, it is instead a time for remembrance, for meditation, for acknowledgement, for gratitude.

On Sunday we celebrate His resurrection, but today we look deeply within ourselves and contemplate that sacrifice, the pain, humiliation, degradation, and torture that Jesus endured for us.

"As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall, but when he tasted it, he would not drink it.

And when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots. Then they sat down and kept watch over him there. And over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”

Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”

So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.”

And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink.  But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.

And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” "

Matthew 27:32-54 ESV

care for others, in peace

For my Christian brothers and sisters, a timely message that I encourage you to watch to the end, and share the message.

Christians in Crisis - How to Respond to the Coronavirus Outbreak - March 15 - Scott Christenson

john 16:33

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  ~ John 16:33 NIV

Jesus spoke these things to His disciples, just before going to the garden, where He would be betrayed by Judas, led to the court of Pilate, and given to the Romans for crucifixion.  He knew what was to come, for Himself, for His disciples, for the world.  His thoughts were on us, to comfort us in our turmoil, even as His was to begin.

Jesus died, was risen, and reigns forevermore.  We can trust Him; He alone knows what is and what is to come, for all of us, for each of us.

If Jesus is your Lord, trust Him, lean on Him, seek peace and joy in Him.  Praise God.

If you have not yet trusted in Jesus, not yet received Him as the Lord of your life, He's waiting for you now.

Go here, study the text and scriptures, let me know what you think, or how I can help, or just if you want to discuss.