SEATTLE

Yesterday, while I was out running errands,  I noticed two backpack carrying males fighting right in the middle of the parking lot.  The clerk asked, "Are they fighting or playing? Should we call 911?"  I said, "I have never seen anything like that before."  We didn't know what to do.  Just as Chris and I were leaving the store a police car showed up.  Good, I thought somebody called the police. 

This made me think about the news report we watched last week.  KOMO TV presented an in depth report on the homeless and drug addiction problem in Seattle.  Seattle has tried everything from building tiny houses, opening safe lots for camping in cars, and sent social workers into the camps to find out if any of the people would accept help.  Most would not.  With this report my eyes were opened to what the problem is--it is really addiction or mental health. At the end of the report it was suggested that the law against living outdoors on public property should be enforced.  The people who try to camp on public land should be offered jail or treatment.  

So when I saw what had happened in the mall parking lot--I said, "Those guys should be given the choice of going to jail or going to treatment.  They need to be off the street for their own good."  Click on the You Tube above to see the report.

A popular policy for helping the homeless has emerged over the past decade and a half.  It’s called “housing first.”It’s an approach that grants housing to homeless persons… usually without requiring changes in behavior—like sobriety.Welfare reformers point to rising homeless numbers as evidence the policy doesn’t work.  Here is a news story about something that does work.

Here is a white paper on "How Seattle's Homelessness Policy Perpetuates the Crisis and How We Can Fix It.

Isaiah 55:6 “Seek the Lord while he may be found;
    call upon him while he is near;

SPOKANE

Spokane River

Thought these photos were beautiful.  Chris took them when we traveled back to Spokane for his 50-year high school reunion.  Showing the power of the Spokane River made me think back to our living aboard our boat.  Because of the many electronics on board we needed to keep our batteries charged.  To do this off shore we relied on water power (a towing generator), solar power, and wind power.  Waterpower produced the most power.  I will add more photos of the river and then some of the Riverfront Park, and Duncan Gardens at Manito Park.  My mom would enjoy these photos, as she always loved Spokane.  Actually, I have always loved Spokane too.  I have many fond memories of spending time with relatives and friends there.

Romans 1: 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,[g] in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 

COMBAT EVIL WITH GOOD

As we once again view horrendous scenes of senseless killing at a religious site in New Zealand we are horrified that humans could be so evil.  In this poignant blog by a writer for National Review the necessity of having even places of prayer guarded by security--  including dogs to sniff out danger--  is lamented.  I pray and ask God "How long until you take vengeance on Your enemies?  My eyes stream tears for Your law is not obeyed."  As usual the Billy Graham organization sent chaplains for a rapid response to the tragedy.  Click here to read the blog.  Meanwhile in Nigeria 120 dead.  Click here for the link.

HAS CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS FAILED?

Jordan Peterson, a professor of psychology at the University of Toronto, is a non-Christian.  His message to students is something like, "pick yourself up by your own bootstraps.  Life is cruel and then you die."  The Christian message is that if you believe in Jesus then you will live forever with Him in heaven.  Also, that He will never leave you or forsake you. I like this verse-- Jesus speaking of Satan says in John 10:-- 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.  

Esther O’Reilly beautifully writes this blog about Christian apologetics.  She has been writing extensively about the Jordan Peterson phenomenon and what the Church can take away from it.  I highly recommend the article for those who are interested in apologetics and also for those who are not.