People at extreme ends of viewpoints will eventually become violent when challenged. It takes the need to belong, attached a violent narrative and turns it into a community of hate. This could be aligned along political, racial, religious, national, geographic, or ideological lines.
Leaning in to me means to embrace a difficult or less than ideal situation, doing enough to make it through the bad situation, but also to ensure it doesn’t happen in the same way again.
We cannot stand for any program that promotes the efforts of anyone seeking to dehumanize someone just because they hold different opinions. And before you say “my side would never”, your side is and will continue to do this if left unchecked.
Frequently our actions are guided by a combination of the expectation of a reward, or a sense of duty and/or guilt. Our will, our true freedom to take action is one of the greatest gifts that we have. Rational thought to direct our actions is one of the things that separates us from animals. Behavior that directs us to place others’ needs before our own is truly a landmark of humanity.
Underneath the systemic issues in our political world is rampant, forced polarization of views. Media, social and traditional uses recommendation engines to favor content that is sensational, even if it’s not fact-based to encourage users to view, like and recommend it to others, further polarizing people’s views.
here are millions of people from every social, cultural, racial, economic and every type of background who suffer with mental illness. Literally no group is immune from these conditions. Despite the challenges that come with mental illness and depression, anxiety, bipolar, etc, there is a way forward for you.
I made a goal to lose 60 pounds in 90 days, at 265, I was 75 pounds above my ideal weight. I contribute almost all of my success to diet, but exercise was a crucial element as well. All of the struggling has been the thing that reminds me that there is still a fight to be had, something to win at the end, whenever that end comes.
Just as God extends his grace to me, I believe that his grace is there for those leaders who strive to do their best despite weaknesses to lead a global, diverse church in tumultuous times. In truth I am really grateful for their mistakes, it reminds me that I am unpolished and have need to repent and do better.
I believe the government is there to serve the people and party politics and fighting between parties and within a party is doing little to serve the purpose of helping the people. Electing a president like Mr. Trump is something that is a result of a broken political system, one that has become progressively more broken.
