This is more of an urgent alert, rather than the usual messages. I recently received an alert from a dear friend who lives in the Fort Washington area. It reads as follows: “A next door neighbor shared that she read on the “Next-Door Neighbor” website that in the last week, there have been two incidents of women being assaulted at the intersection of Indian Head Highway and Livingston Road by Sunnybrook. In the first case, a lady was stopped at the light waiting to make a left turn onto 210 when suddenly two men approached her car with guns. Fortunately, she had enough foresight and space to go through the light. In the second incident, a lady pulled into the Shell Gas Station at the intersection and was robbed.”
It is advised that you put forth a concerted effort to avoid this intersection. My suggestion is that all of us become more intentional about being aware of our surroundings at all times. This type of behavior is not limited to this intersection alone. This is unprecedented behavior that is occurring in what might be considered the best of communities. There is no longer a community that can drop their guards and believe they are an exception to crime and bad behavior. The smallest of towns and the largest of cities are witnessing crime like never before. Now a days, persons who conduct these heinous acts are not concerned about your gender, race, community, economics, status, age, etc. None of us are the exception to the rule.
It does not matter what community you live, just know that it is time to put some safety precautionary measures in place for you and your family. This is not to instill fear in anyone, rather to prevent you from having to experience such traumatic incidents.
We may all agree that the COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges for both people and society. It has had a profound effect on the lives of people all over the world. It feels and looks like the pandemic changed the way we treat our brothers and sisters. Something has triggered and caused us to begin to disrespect and hate each other, and it is not limited to race alone.
If we search the Bible close enough, we will find the words like these found in Isaiah 3:4-5: “I will make boys their leaders and toddlers their rulers. People will oppress each other-man against man, neighbor against neighbor. Young people will insult their elders, and vulgar people will sneer at the honorable.”
I believe those words, boys and toddlers, describes a nation who has lost its way. It is possible to interpret boys and toddlers as leaders whose behavior is like that of children. Our leaders have really dropped the ball on so many issues that it is inconceivable to determine where we are headed as a nation and people.
Again, this is not to instill fear in anyone, but it is an attempt for us all to become realistic and understand we are living in unprecedented times.
The New Testament reading from 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (ESV) makes it simple and clear: “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”
The apostle Paul describes the behavior of people in society during the last days. I think all of us would agree that we are living in our last days based on the above passage of scripture.
Yes, may we pray for God’s covering every day, but may we also avoid potential dangers!
Not a sermon, just my thoughts!
Robert Earl Slade, Pastor
