Hello Again

Just because I haven't blogged in a while doesn't mean that I've stopped reading the news and keeping up-to-date. Here are a few articles that caught my attention recently.

War...
Obviously the war in Israel\Lebanon has been in the news. True, a cease-fire has been agreed to, but, in my opinion, that don't mean a thing. The UN has never been good at keeping peace (and I've never understood how a military keeps peace -- politicians do that -- militaries fight wars and train to fight wars); nor have they been good at being "neutral." Just notice how they gave away information on Israeli fighting positions\strengths to the whole world. I guess it would have been fair if they also gave away the same information for the other side (the terrorists)... but they didn't. I don't think that the peace-keeping force will have much of an impact on the peace or non-peace as the case may be. (I also was amused that the peace keeping talks were held in Rome)

From wars and rumors of wars to droughts and famines...
According to the latest reports, one in three people in the world face a water shortage. It was thought that would not happen until 2025, but it has now. (Sorry for the link not being to the full article... it was full when I read it. I will look for it someplace else, but I'm on dialup and it may take me a while...) Not that the report should be alarming - we've all seen the pictures from afar and had the water restrictions locally. Nor should it be frightening - we know this has to occur before the end.

The new Hate Speech?
Witnessing = hate speech?? For now this is just one person's opinion. A bit extreme of a stretch if I may say so, but it would not surprise me to start seeing speech codes banning witnessing. It would most likely start on campuses and other public places -- but this is a way to start limiting what Christians can say. Trying to convert someone is not being tolerant. And since tolerance is society's new top ideal, anyone who is intolerant is hateful. And since hate speech can be banned, so might Christian speech. Will it take time? Yes. But don't be surprised if that starts to come true. These days might be evil, but they will continue to grow more so. Be afraid? No. Be surprised? No.

Until next time...