News

In barely half a year, there have been terrorist attacks in London (March), Paris (February), Berlin (December), Hamburg (October), and last week in Stockholm. In 2016, terrorist attacks in Europe claimed the lives of 150 people (USA Today, April 7, 2017).

Just days after U.S. President Trump tweeted he would “‘solve the problem’ of North Korea” if China did not exert more pressure on its neighbor, North Korea warned there would be “catastrophic consequences” to any further provocations by the U.S. (Guardian, April 11, 2017). North Korea has threatened a nuclear response against the U.S. mainland should they feel threatened by U.S.

I just saw the movie “The Case for Christ,” based on Lee Strobel’s book by the same name, depicting his investigation into the facts of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And what strikes me most is not Strobel’s search, but where it ended.

We hear a lot about “fake news” these days, which term calls into question the integrity and veracity of what is being reported. Consumers of news media are finding it hard to trust any reports.

Most people try to avoid prickly situations. You know, those awkward, uncomfortable moments when one says or does the wrong thing, which is embarrassing for all concerned. The customs and procedures most people consider “good manners” resulted from the need to have standards of social conduct that govern courteous, considerate human interaction.