It's not about the price of used trucks

 A Facebook poster lamented the price of used trucks and thought it was time to move to another country.  The response was overwhelmingly negative.  Most invited him to leave. But others tried to engage the idea that he was trying express, namely, the problem with the tariffs.

 What I'm really concerned about is what this draconian imposition of tariffs on every country of the world, tells about the inner workings of the mind of Trump. He is at base, authoritian. He is exactly the kind of person the founding fathers (and mothers) would warn against. They made a constitution to stand against kings. They made a constitution to reign in the power of depots. And yet, here we are. The king of the con has taken us in with promises to keep us happy in our silence about his authoritarianism. Let's not worry about the price of used trucks. Let's take a stand against the conman who has taken us for a ride.

https://open.substack.com/pub/jamesbgreenberg/p/the-confidence-game-how-trumps-con?r=dpmei&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

Empathy is not a Sin

In her timely post on substack Keri Wyatt Kent takes on a very important topic that is being discussed in the church at large. The importance of empathy.

This is a tricky subject because both law and grace are important in the life of the believer. The law of love does preclude sinful behavior. In country where we say we are a governed by laws and where Christians are expected to submit to the governing authorities, law about, for example, immigration, are to be followed. However, law is to be tempered by grace. In the woman caught in adultery, Jesus takes into account the law, but extends the grace of forgiveness. Empathy must temper the cold harshness of law. Warren Wiesby once said, “Truth without love is brutality, and love without truth is hypocrisy.” I think that same could be said about law and grace and empathy. Law with out empathy is brutality, and empathy without law is hypocrisy. Bringing empathy and law together is difficult, but it is a difficulty that that loving our neighbor demands.