As 2025 dawns, it's somewhat comforting to see that we are where we have always been: experiencing the best of times and the worst of times. That Dickensian truism holds up politically, culturally, even spiritually. Consider…
Political Worst of Times
How grotesquely fitting that just days after President Joe Biden's monstrous plea deal with the terrorist masterminds of September 11, 2001 was held up by a military appeals court, another Islamic terrorist who allegedly spent time in the U.S. military masterminded a hideous assault on innocent Americans in New Orleans. "Hellbent on creating carnage" was the phrase used by authorities to describe the terrorist who turned a pick-up truck into a missile aimed at citizens lining Bourbon Street to celebrate the new year. Another reminder that we are never promised another moment, that no place is safe in this fallen world, particularly with leaders paralyzed by notions of multiculturalism, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Political Best of Times
It seems apparent that the country is on the verge of a significant transition in terms of its stance on terror, and the connection between such threats to the homeland and a porous southern border. With terror gangs in Latin America launching attacks against U.S. border agents in a final push to gain access to the country before the new administration begins, with President-Elect Trump vowing to treat drug cartels south of the border as terror networks worthy of military response, and with the incoming administration having already condemned the New Orleans massacre in far stronger, far more serious terms than the current one, there's reason to believe things may change soon.
Cultural Worst of Times
Those with consciences are still reeling from the appalling news that came out of Georgia just before Christmas, where a gay couple was convicted and sentenced to 100 years in prison for a horrifying spectacle of sickening sexual abuse they committed against their "adopted children." The details of what William and Zachary Zulock did to two children the state unconscionably placed in their care through the adoption process were grotesque: they raped the 12 and 10-year-olds, filmed them for a pedophilic pornography ring, and prostituted them out to other gay sexual abusers. That a "Christian" adoption agency was used to procure their victims is yet another indication of how depraved our rainbow-seduced society - even those pretending to be agents of light in darkness - has become.
Cultural Best of Times
Though it's highly unlikely American society will ever turn from the precipice of moral oblivion upon which she now stands, there are small victories that are always worth celebrating. One of the greatest purveyors of the sexualizing, mutilation, and gender-bending of children, the Walt Disney Company, recently backed away from their cultural onslaught, pulling plans to introduce a transgender storyline in their upcoming Pixar film "Win or Lose." To be sure, Disney hasn't righted their morally corrupt ship, and they deserve no credit for making a calculated business decision. But it is a sign worth celebrating that they thought the blowback from their perversion wasn't worth it.
Spiritual Worst of Times
Taking a breather from pushing climate change and open borders, Jorge Bergoglio (aka "The Pope") pushed out some sweet New Years nonsense for everyone to enjoy:
Why in the name of all that is holy would we entrust any sinner saved by the grace of God alone, with our worries, sufferings, joys, or concerns? Why not entrust those things to the God who alone saves through His grace? Why would we entrust one whose soul had to be redeemed from eternal Hell with the "whole world," and not the One who redeemed her and us? Christ's work was perfect and complete. It is His righteousness that is needed, not Mary's.
Spiritual Best of Times
Yet as frustrating as it is to see a man like Bergoglio, who wields so much influence, ignore Scripture, mislead millions, and perpetuate a faith unto himself, how refreshing is it to see an elderly man like this minister (whose name I do not know, nor need to know), who wields little earthly influence, yet uses it to glorify God, quote Acts 2:38, and baptize a wayward sinner into the eternal Kingdom of Christ?
Courtesy of the folks at Protestia:
