Have you ever regretted taking up a hobby?, a project?, following through with an idea or plan? Back in the mid '70's when I entered the full time ministery I decided that for me to keep with what was happening in my community, my Province, in my country and around the world I would start watching the news more closely. I would sometimes use news items to illustrate certain ponts in my sermons, Sunday School lessons, etc. I became so engrossed in the news that it didn't take long for me to become a news "junkie." Like any addiction it was (is) difficult to break away. I still am a news "junkie" in fact as I am typing this I am listening to the news. I will listen to CTV, CHCH, CBC, GLOBAL and CNN. Some negative side affects to this addiction is severe discouragement, depression, anger, laughter, tears, groans, etc. Over the years I have noticed that a lot of the News Stations will end their news report with some "good" news which may include cute and funny people, animals, etc. I assume this is to take the edge off the not so good  stories of what is happening around us. In the month of July 2012 there have been 4 or 5 major shootings in one case at a neighbourhood BBQ where 25 people were shot, two killed, a 14 yr old and a 23 yr old. Among the wounded was a 22 month old baby who was grazed by a bullet. Yet officials say these are isolated occurrences - really? As a Social worker I witness more than I care to remember, as a minister there were tragic incidents that I cannot earse from my memory including the one incident were a father shot and killed his 8 yr old and 8 month old sons.
In all the many years I have been on the "net" I read many posts that are so positive, talking about God's love for us, his compassion, his care for us, how he guides us, how he heals us, how he forgives us, etc. These are encouraging words giving us hope. Sometimes I wonder though if we haven't overdone it with the "good news" we hear so much of how God is a God of love, a God of compassion, a holy God, a righteous God, a forgiving and a giving God. Yet we appear to avoid ( not forget) talking about a just God, a God who does not tolerate sin even though we might. We talk about heaven and how our loved ones who have passed away are now in that glorious abode. The tragic fact is that not everyone goes to heaven. Did you know good people don't go to heaven? Ok now I may have raise the ire of some. Stop and think about it. Why did Christ give the disciples and us (His church) the GREAT COMMISSION? There are millions, billions who are without Christ. Maybe I have head in the sand like the proverbial ostrich but I hear so very little of missions, both local and world-wide. Are there any missionaries out there? Well yes,, because a good friend of mine recently died serving the Lord in a third world country. Though she died as a result of an accident she died while serving our Lord and Saviour.The Bible is full of "negative" stories, full of "bad news" happenings but lots of good stuff as well. We need both. When we hear so much bad stuff we appreaciate the good even more. We are to teach, preach, verbally and through the written literature, and internet, etc. the love of God, His plan of Salvation, His forgiveness but also we are to teach His justice. We are to teach the negative and positive of Christ's message without making judgement or condemnation. His Word does that but share it all - Christ did.
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