Breaking News

Have you noticed that we are assaulted with the most negative news during the first few minutes of our local news and all in the name of "breaking news". Human tragedy has become breaking news and the more salacious the crime the more coverage allotted.Crimes against our neighbors captures our attention and we are drug into an emotional tie with the victims. The more tears and wails of anguish that the videographer captures, the more we are drawn into the story. The public seems to salivate over the woes of others, as murder and mayhem grabs our attention. We no longer treat this news as tragic; our conversation seems complacent as we ridiculously discuss motives and abhorrence with impunity. Tragedy no longer leaves us aghast as we stare into the lives of victims. The conceptual, "You Are There" approach to the news is a bit over the top! Headline news drones on and on... on and on... exploring every cruelty of the story as we sit fixated on coverage of a white SUV traveling the streets of Los Angeles or the remnants of the space shuttle falling from the sky or the smoke and debris of twin skyscrapers and their occupants as they tumble to the ground, lest we ever forget... How many pieces of ourselves can we give up before imagination and reality become so blurred we cannot differentiate? What emotional price must we pay before we say,"ENOUGH!"?
Perhaps for some of us the change to digital television is blessing in disguise. If you have not subscribed to the madness of cable/satellite and you don't own a digital TV, you may have been blessed by the upcoming national conversion. Perhaps your blessing comes in the form of a red alert on your screen soon to be followed by a "snowy" bliss. Perhaps now is your chance to stop this vicious cycle of negativism that invades your life. Perhaps you will turn off your "snowy" picture and turn to a far more beautiful media with positive news. Perhaps God's world will become your consciousness and good news will abound. Perhaps you will pick up your Bible and find this good news:

Psalm 91
Safe in the Lord

1 Those who go to God Most High for safety
will be protected by the Almighty.
2 I will say to the Lord, "You are my place of safety and protection.
You are my God and I trust you."

3 God will save you from hidden traps
and from deadly diseases.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you can hide.
His truth will be your shield and protection.
5 You will not fear any danger by night
or an arrow during the day.
6 You will not be afraid of diseases that come in the dark
or sickness that strikes at noon.
7 At your side one thousand people may die,
or even ten thousand right beside you,
but you will not be hurt.
8 You will only watch
and see the wicked punished.

9 The Lord is your protection;
you have made God Most High your place of safety.
10 Nothing bad will happen to you;
no disaster will come to your home.
11 He has put his angels in charge of you
to watch over you wherever you go.
12 They will catch you in their hands
so that you will not hit your foot on a rock.
13 You will walk on lions and cobras;
you will step on strong lions and snakes.

14 The Lord says, "Whoever loves me, I will save.
I will protect those who know me.
15 They will call to me, and I will answer them.
I will be with them in trouble;
I will rescue them and honor them.
16 I will give them a long, full life,
and they will see how I can save."

Perhaps the beauty that surrounds us in "living color" will supplant the artificial representation on a 20" screen. Have a grateful heart, experience the real beauty of our world. Be a part of YOUR life. Love one another. Love God. Make your "breaking news" the good news of God's Love.