RIOTS UPDATE: 9.23.16 - The surge of dark side and your light

The surge of dark side and your light - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com

 

America is under a great attack from the dark side. Police killings, terrorist attacks, racial unrest, corruption, finger-pointing, demagoguery are all part of the obvious problems. It seems like the floodgates of evil have been opened and the demons are having a field day. Some will call it judgment, others will say it's consequences. Irrespective of your perspective, it is obvious that there are deep-rooted issues that need to be addressed. They are issues that have come to a head after years of bad leadership-both spiritual and political. Until there are changes in leadership, these types of issues will continue. We cannot keep doing the same thing and expect different results. This is how the dark side arises.

 

The question is, "What can we do?" Many want me to tell them what to do. That is not my charge, nor my calling. But I can encourage you. In the deepest darkest night, the ships in the ocean look upon the horizon for signs of danger. If they see a lighthouse, they know they are approaching land and must exercise caution. That little bit of light shines through the darkness and gives direction, hope and safety. Those of us who proclaim Christianity have a particular calling in times like these. Jesus said in Matthew 5:14, "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid." Ephesians 5:8 says, "For you were once darkness, but now are you light in the Lord: walk as children of light."

 

Those who do not know the Lord cannot be held to the same standard as those of us who do. Yes, they need to obey the laws and understand that taking a life, or lives, is wrong. But in the absence of the light of the world, which is Jesus Christ, are their hearts changed beyond the law? Romans 10:13-15 says, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"

 

You can make a difference. In fact, you are called by Christ to make a difference. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." America is experiencing a great darkness. Within you is the light of Christ. As Paul exhorts in Romans 13:10-12, "Love works no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. And this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light." While many seek a political solution to the darkness, the best remedy for the dark side is the Light of Christ. You have it. Share it as the Holy Spirit leads you.

 

 

Finding a better way - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com

 

Police shootings have sparked both nonviolent and violent reactions across America. From professional football players peacefully demonstrating to the riots in Charlotte, North Carolina, there is extraordinary attention focused on how police handle the use of deadly force. Many are upset that the National Anthem would be used as a vehicle to draw attention to this issue. Let's take a breath. Don't hit that unsubscribe button just yet. Hear me out. The vast majority of police are upstanding examples and caretakers of the public. Some are not. There is a perception if you are a person of color that whatever you do, police will err against you. This is a form of soft tyranny. And the perception for many is reality.

 

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are basic tenets of our nation. As is all men are created equal. These are rights, as our Founders said, endowed by our Creator. Examples: Equality--1 Samuel 16:7 says, "for man looks on the outward appearance, but GOD looks on the heart." Life-The Lord says in Deuteronomy 30:19, "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live." Governments are instituted to protect these rights. Generations have lived under the soft tyranny of being "lesser." While America has worked diligently to right these wrongs, and many of us live our lives with love toward all, there is still much work to do.

 

I can hear all the "Yeah, but..." arguments welling up inside many who are reading this. Respect for authority is important and should be taught and adhered to. Don't argue with an officer. Police have families, too, and just want to make it home safely. All this is understood. There is, however, a base issue at play: Life is precious and all efforts to preserve it should be first and foremost. We have a problem in this nation that law-abiding people of color live under the constant concern that they may become victims of violent acts against them by police and other government authorities. It is widespread. Police shooting unarmed people of color amplify these concerns. No matter what has led up to it and/or caused it, we as a nation need to address it. It will not go away by getting angry, stereotyping, or making generalized statements.

 

There must be constructive dialogue on how to solve the issue. Meetings between police, clergy, rights organizations and elected officials should take place where questions can be answered, people can be educated, and solutions can be developed. All sides may be surprised at what they would learn if they can have honest, respectful discussions with an eye toward making improvements. It's really easy to point fingers, it's a lot harder to come together and solve problems. As Christians, we should hold to the tenets of our faith and treat others how we would like to be treated. If a family member or a friend has an issue, would we not hear it out no matter how much we disagreed? Would we not try to offer a solution? Would we not try to educate and be educated, discuss the facts and find a better way? In Christ, we can.

 

 

A Second Night of Riots Rocks Charlotte as America Teeters On the Edge of Chaos - By Michael Snyder - http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/a-second-night-of-riots-rocks-charlotte-as-america-teeters-on-the-edge-of-chaos

 

Rioting and civil unrest are becoming a common occurrence in America. The city of Charlotte has been hit by a second night of violence even though authorities are desperately pleading for calm. What sparked the chaos in Charlotte was the shooting of a 43-year-old black man named Keith Lamont Scott. It appears that he was armed when he was shot, and the police officer that shot him was also black, but those facts have done little to ease the fury of the protesters. On Tuesday night 16 police officers were injured by rioters, including one that was hit in the face by a rock. Hopefully there will be fewer casualties by the time the violence on Wednesday night is over.

 

So far things don't look good though. The following is how USA Today is describing the violence that we have witnessed so far on Wednesday night...

 

A second night of dramatic protests gripped this North Carolina city Wednesday night, one day after a police-involved shooting of an African-American man led to angry demonstrations, smashed windows and trucks set ablaze.

 

Protesters beat against a police van and broke a window of the Ciity Smoke barbecue restaurant and bar downtown. Some yelled "hands up, don't shoot." Police tossed out smoke bombs. Protesters running outside of the Omni Charlotte Hotel said someone had been shot but that could not immediately be confirmed Wednesday night.

 

Later on it was confirmed that someone indeed was shot. In fact, local news is reporting that there is a pool of blood on the ground...

 

At least one person was injured in the confrontation, though it wasn't immediately clear how.

 

"They shot him," one witness told WBTV. "They tried to cover up his blood."

 

Firefighters rushed in to pull the man to a waiting ambulance.

 

Officers on bicycles surrounded a pool of blood on the ground and a few people threw bottles and clods of dirt at police.

 

Of course this follows an extremely tense night of violence and chaos that made headlines all over the globe. Just hours after Keith Lamont Scott was shot, hundreds of very angry protesters descended on downtown Charlotte...

 

Several hundred people blocked streets well after midnight, despite the use of tear gas by police in riot gear. Clouds of tear gas drifted over the crowd, and people coughed and fell back before walking toward police lines again multiple times.

 

They held signs that said "Stop Killing Us" and "Black Lives Matter," and they chanted "No justice, no peace." One sign read: "IT WAS A BOOK."

 

The scene was sometimes chaotic and tense, with water bottles and stones thrown at police lines, but many protesters called for peace and implored their fellow demonstrators not to act violently.

 

In addition to 16 police officers being injured, there were reports that rioters were hurling "rocks, bottles and traffic cones off interstate overpasses". A number of vehicles were hit, and injuries were reported.

 

This kind of mindless violence makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Those drivers had nothing to do with the shooting, but an object thrown at a vehicle from an overpass can literally kill someone.

 

How would killing a totally innocent person bring justice for Keith Lamont Scott?

 

Sadly, this is what happens when riots start. They all too often spin wildly out of control.

 

In addition to everything else, one group of protesters decided that it would be a really good idea to loot a Wal-Mart...

 

Protesters headed to the Walmart on N. Tryon in the University area after shutting down Interstate-85 at WT Harris Blvd. early Wednesday morning following the shooting death of 43-year-old Keith Lamont Scott.

 

Officers in riot gear blocked the entry to Walmart after it was broken into. Employees could be seen sweeping up shattered glass at the front entrance.

 

One employee told FOX 46 Charlotte some technology was stolen including, a flat screen television and iPads.

Once again, stealing televisions and iPads is not going to do anything to bring justice for Keith Lamont Scott. There are always people that see chaos as an opportunity to take advantage of others, and this is yet another example. We live in a society that is an advanced state of moral decay, and situations like this bring it to the surface.

 

What is truly unfortunate is that it sounds like the police actually followed correct procedure in this case. According to Police Chief Kerr Putney, Keith Lamont Scott was armed and refused to drop his weapon after repeated demands to do so...

 

Police Chief Kerr Putney said during a news conference that officers were searching for a suspect Tuesday when they saw Scott exit a vehicle with a handgun at an apartment complex on the city's northeast side. "The officers gave loud, clear verbal commands which were also heard by many of the witnesses. They were instructing the subject, once he got out of the vehicle, to drop the weapon... Mr. Scott exited his vehicle armed with a handgun as the officers continued to yell at him to drop it."

 

Unfortunately, we have gotten to a point where a riot is almost expected every time an African-American male is shot by police in this country. I think that Rush Limbaugh put it very well on his radio show...

 

It's a sad observation, folks. I'm telling you, a sad, sad observation but it's an observation that I don't think I'm alone in making. It seems like rioting is almost expected now when there is a cop shooting. A cop shooting, period. Don't care about the details. It seems like it's now axiomatic that there's going to be rioting or massive public protests or threats of rioting or threats of unrest every time the cops have to draw their weapons.

 

Without a doubt, police brutality in the United States is out of control, and this is something that I have been writing about for a very long time.

 

But rioting, looting and violence are not going to solve anything.

 

We desperately need to learn how to love one another, and we desperately need to come together as a nation to work on finding some solutions.

 

Instead, America is becoming increasingly divided, and anger and frustration are rising to unprecedented levels.

 

And if we are witnessing this much chaos now, while things are still relatively stable, what are things going to look like once economic conditions get really bad?

 

Our society is literally coming apart at the seams, and the chaos and the violence are going to get much worse than this. We wanted to push God out of every aspect of public life, and now we are beginning to see what that looks like.