Canada became the second country in the world to legalize recreational marijuana on June 19, 2018, though it would be four months before becoming effectively legal. And because it’s now legal, many people assume that means it must be safe and harmless. It’s a natural product and has proven medical benefits. But are we hearing the whole story? Are there facts about marijuana that you’re not being told? And if so, what are those facts?
How do you separate the news from the noise? This is one of the many challenges of living in the information age. In decades past, the news was a one-hour event where news anchors would describe a handful of the day’s issues and emerging trends in an attempt to keep the viewer well informed. Today’s 24-hour news channels rely on an innate ability to extend a popular story. Once it's understood that a particular item will attract viewers every detail—relevant or otherwise—every comment and every tweet become breaking news and is dissected ad nauseum.
We learn and communicate so much more when we meet face to face. Words are a big part of communication, but the face expresses so much of what is in the heart. David, the Psalmist, spoke of seeking God’s face. How can we seek God’s face if we can’t see Him?
The coronavirus pandemic has magnified cracks in the foundation of the European Union, causing many member nations to go it alone in their attempts to handle the crisis. For years, Germany has been a primary advocate of a strong and centralized EU, yet in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Germany has felt compelled to make unilateral decisions.
This week the World Health Organization (WHO) held the 73rd annual World Health Assembly by teleconference instead of in Geneva, Switzerland. What made this meeting unique is the fact that it was held in the midst of “the worst pandemic in modern history,” which has most of the world locked down in quarantine (NPR, May 17, 2020).