Bill Wilson

Govt Shutdown: Dangerous Words Fuel Dangerous Times :: By Bill Wilson

Published on: by RR10

The government shutdown once again exposed a deep divide in American politics—not just in policy, but in tone and intent.

On one side, leading Democrats responded with fiery, personal attacks against President Trump. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY) claimed Trump “wants to make sure that kids are dying,” while Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (NY) and House Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY) called him “erratic” and “unhinged.” Jeffries labeled Republicans “chaos agents. Senator Cory Booker (NJ) accused Republicans of wanting “to take your healthcare away.” These words aren’t policy debates; they’re emotional grenades meant to demonize political opponents and inflame public anger.

Meanwhile, the Republican explanation for the shutdown is markedly different in tone and substance. GOP leaders argue that Democrats are demanding more than a trillion dollars in restored federal spending for expansive liberal programs and insisting on taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal immigrants. These are items they say are unacceptable in a time of record debt and inflation. Their argument focuses on policy priorities and fiscal realities, not personal attacks. They contend the shutdown is the inevitable result of Democrats refusing to compromise on excessive spending and open-border policies that burden taxpayers and undermine national security.

The contrast matters. Emotional rhetoric from powerful leaders can act, as we have seen all too vividly, as a dog whistle to unbalanced individuals already teetering on the edge. Painting Trump as a monster, Republicans as villains, or conservatives as hateful extremists is not just dishonest—it’s dangerous.

History and recent politically motivated violence show that inflammatory words can spark real-world violence when amplified by a biased media that repeats and legitimizes them. Instead of debating budgets and policy differences, the Democratic narrative reduces political opponents to enemies of humanity.

That framing turns fellow Americans into targets, not rivals, and in today’s volatile climate, that’s playing with fire.

It’s time for the rhetoric to cool down. America needs leaders who will debate ideas rather than incite outrage, who will address disagreements without dehumanizing their opponents. Democrats have been warned repeatedly that their language escalates division and hostility, yet they continue to pour gasoline on the fire.

As the Apostle James warned, “The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity… it sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell” (James 3:6).

If we are to restore trust, peace, and civility in our republic, it must start with words spoken in truth, not hatred.

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Posted in The Daily Jot

 

When God Seems to Be Absent :: By Bill Wilson

Published on: by RR10

Deuteronomy 31:1-30, Vayelekh (“He Went”), is the shortest portion in the Torah—just 30 verses—yet it’s packed with meaning.

Moses, now 120 years old, tells Israel that his journey is ending. He will not cross the Jordan River, but God Himself will go before them. His message is simple but powerful: “Be strong and courageous. The Lord will not fail you or abandon you.”

Before the nation, Moses commissions Joshua to lead them into the Promised Land, a foreshadowing of Messiah guiding us into God’s promises. He then entrusts the Torah to the priests to read publicly every seven years during Sukkot, ensuring future generations remember the covenant and walk in God’s ways.

God then gives Moses a sobering prophecy: after his death, the people will turn to foreign gods and break their covenant, triggering divine judgment. “I will abandon them and hide My face,” God says, warning that calamities will follow their rebellion (Deuteronomy 31:17). This “hiding face,” or hester panim, describes a time when God’s presence seems absent, not because He is gone, but because sin blinds people to His hand.

The Book of Esther shows this beautifully: God’s name is never mentioned, yet His providence orchestrates Israel’s deliverance. Idolatry leads to exile and silence, but confession (vidui) and repentance (teshuvah) restore fellowship. Esther and Mordechai’s three-day fast illustrates how earnest seeking breaks through divine silence.

The sages teach that when God hides, it’s not rejection, it’s an invitation. His absence stirs the soul to search for Him. David understood this when he wrote, “When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek’” (Psalm 27:8).

That’s why Vayelekh is read before Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. These High Holy Days are about returning—about turning from idols, distractions, and self-reliance back to the God who never left us.

Divine hiddenness is not divine indifference. It’s a Father calling His children home. Even when heaven feels silent, He is closer than we realize, waiting for repentance to reopen the door to blessing and guidance.

And when we do return, God’s heart is overflowing with mercy. Yeshua’s (Jesus’) parable of the prodigal son captures it perfectly: the father doesn’t scold or punish but runs to embrace his wayward child. “Let’s feast and celebrate! For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (Luke 15:23).

God’s “hidden face” is never the end of the story. It’s a call to seek, to turn, and to be restored.

May we refuse to drift into spiritual complacency. Whatever challenges or failures weigh us down, may we respond by seeking His face daily—because when we do, we discover that He has been watching, waiting, and welcoming us all along.

As in Jeremiah 29:13, “You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

Posted in The Daily Jot