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This time of upheaval in which we live and that continues en route to denouement is seen everywhere from the weather to scenes in a courtroom to what can only be termed a rash of little but growing street uprisings.

Uprising in Greece. Uprising in the Middle East. In England. In Spain. Uprisings -- on a micro scale -- in fast-food restaurants in the United States.

Everyone seems fraught with emotion because we are disturbed at the spiritual clouds that are forming around us (heavy with rain, these, with distant but closer thunder). Actually, with the Lord, we need not be disturbed (nor discouraged) by anything.

But here are some recent headlines (from just last weekend):

Mob in Peoria shoots fireworks at police, firefighters...

MAYHEM IN MOBILE: 300+ fight on street corner, man shot in face...

13 stabbed, shot in Boston in just 5 hours...

CHICAGOLAND: 5 Dead, 23 Hurt Over Violent Holiday Weekend...

4-Year-Old Boy Shot While Watching Baltimore Fireworks...

2 Shot During Massive Brawl Outside Atlantic City Casino…

Dozens of teens loot store, then attack passersby...

There are disturbances. There will be more. But we are disturbed only when we are cultic and overly attached to humans.

We get this in the mail: "Tonight, around 11 p.m., a group of at least 60-70 African-American youth marched down one of the side streets (W. Thrush) to the 4 lane main drag (Sheridan). They were yelling threats to white residents. Things such as we need to kill all the white people around here. They were physically intimidating anyone calling for help from the police. They were surrounding cars. Cars on the main drag had to slam on their brakes to either avoid the youth blocking not only all four lanes, but a large section of the side street as well. fights were breaking out among them. They were rushing residents who looked out their doors, going on to porches, yelling threats to people calling the police for help. Residents are very shaken, both black and white alike. This is the fifth large mob action in about a month with smaller groups of ten to twelve are out threatening children and adults a few evenings a week or later into the night. The times vary, even occurring during the day. In talking to the police officer, they are short staffed. Residents were advised to simply keep inside and to lock their doors. In other words buckle down, it's not even safe to sit on your porch or go into your yards."

It is not a racial issue. The emotional upset crosses all boundaries. In fact, racial discord is in many ways at a low point. But not so the spirit of turmoil. There are church uproars. Profanity slashes across radio and TV. Internet blogs have become arenas for blood sport. There are scandals: What scandals there are!

Are we really surprised?

Are we really surprised when they hit close to home?

Some recent ones we have heard rumblings about for years, causing us to distance, although not to judge.

Surely we should not be surprised because they are signs of the times as are court cases that contravene a sense of evil that may speak of actual demonic infestation (call it "bipolar," or sociopathic, or psychopathic, if you want to avoid the spiritual truth). Evil pervades entire families.

The sense of unease leading to many uproars -- profane homosexual marches, church defacements, "flash-mobs" -- will only increase if the economy sinks further.  "For historical context," says one columnist, "consider this: In the 1870s, (the Long Depression) debt-to-GDP reached 166 percent.  In the 1930s, (The Great Depression) debt-to-GDP reached 300 percent. Again, today, debt-to-GDP is 350 percent."

How good it is to know that with Christ -- and only with Him -- are we prepared for what is ahead and that only with Him are we protected (yes, from anything).

In the midst of the stir, in the midst of mayhem, in the midst of even a hurricane (this looming storm season), will always stand the infinitude of the Cross, which towers over all and will bring to rein (eventually, after the denouement) chaos itself. The truth is the Lord's, as is justice.

[Announcing a retreat in Denver]

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