I forget if I quoted this Bible verse to you or to someone else: "Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute." - 2 Peter 2:2, NIV. There are many enemies of truth, justice, and righteousness, always has been, always will be. It seems to be their mission in life, completely discouraging and frustrating us all, pitting one against another - and doing these things in so many ways...

As a result, many people blame God, Jesus, and the Bible for all the bad things that befall us. However, I contend that God gave us a gift in our existence, in our individual lives: We have our own individual wills, the freedom to choose. We, therefore, have the responsibility to choose whatever, whenever. The fault lies with our choosing whatever, whenever. That includes deciding who we listen to, the "influencers" in our lives.

Please, don't let the depraved and the deceivers keep you from God, Jesus, and the Bible. (In my days as a young man, we had VietNam, Race Riots, and many such socio-political evils, but many chose to push on through and to push on by. I chose to push on by, to follow that path (not very well, I'll admit), and it eventually led me into a saving knowledge of Jesus and a continuing relationship with God, Jesus, and the Bible.

As hard as that is to believe (sometimes I cannot believe it either), yet, now, I've been using this way of explaining: "I would be very angry or extremely depressed or both, if it wasn't for the fact that Jesus is such a good friend."

I was just interrupted by by Diabetic blood sugar monitor, and I thought, what a strange predicament, being tied down by a device that is keeping me healthy. I suppose it could be considered like a parable. That is, this health device my doctors recommended may be keeping me healthy, but is it tying me down or is it freeing me up?

So, I'll leave you with this promise of Jesus' : "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." - John 10:10, NIV.

Don't let them steal from you, destroy your life, or kill your spirit.