Thoughts From My Heart

Hi, Dear Friends of Conservative Truth, 

I want to make an effort to write something every week for this publication. But…sometimes I just don't know what to say, or about what. There is so much to talk about and discuss, but everyone else is talking about it all. 

Endlessly. Exhaustingly. Excruciatingly. You can't hardly get away from it. Emails - texts - TV and radio news and talk shows - Facebook and Twitter and other social media - AND THE ADVERTISING!!! I get so sick of it all. 

So…I just shut it off for a little while. Take a break from it whenever you need to. 

Tonight (8/20/23) my wife and I got to see the Christian music group PETRA in a small-venue concert at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, IL. It was fantastic. They have been doing music for around fifty years, since 1972. I first heard their music in 1985 and loved it from the start. It is in the genre of classic 1960s to 1990s classic rock, but with a clear and definite and unashamedly Christian message. They know the Bible, and they put their trust in God. Their music is for me some of the best of what Christian believers can do to use an art form to convey the eternal message of God's love for us. The lead singer John Schlitt is now 73, and he can still rock and sing! 

While at the concert, we saw a number of old friends we hadn't seen in a while. In a way, it was like a little family reunion, only without the drama that many such gatherings might have. 

My heart is still heavy concerning Maui, my old home of years ago from 1983-1994. There is such devastation and death and heartbreak. We personally know at least four or five families who lost their homes and all their possessions. At least one of our old friends is among the deceased. 

So much heartache. So many problems around us, from politics and the mess our country is in, to the weather issues, to every single care on each and every one of our hearts as we lay our heads down each night. I wrote a piece on peace recently (here), and it means a lot to me. 

Let me leave you with this, from Philippians 4:4-9 in the New Testament:

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!
Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Till next week, God bless you all and be safe! God loves you!