My oldest brother who was a coach of young men and was killed at 24 when a drunk driver hit him head on as he traveled to meet his team at a basketball game used to say around the supper table at the farm, “Only believe half of what you see and nothing of what you hear.” While I was only about eight years old at the time, that was a statement I pondered a lot. In high school and college, I was paid for my articles on various events by several news outlets, and later became an award-winning journalist. I wanted people to know that I was reporting the facts responsibly and that they could believe what they saw from me. Truth was not relative to me as a writer. How things have changed in journalism today.

Nowadays, we cannot trust that the news media will give the facts. There is a slant on news where the lines between reporting facts, editorializing, and just plain omitting details that change the entire basis of the event are so blurred that it is difficult to discern truth.

We have so many blogs by so many so-called journalists that even they do not know when they are writing factually or just offering their opinions. News programs that have the look and feel   of real news are often laced with opinions and half-truths, making it even more difficult to figure out what is going on. A twist of a word here, an alteration of an action there, and you has an entirely different “narrative.”

Take the case of Hillary Clinton’s health. You can see by her actions, the way she talks and laughs, the way she walks and carries herself, that something is amiss. And you can get several entirely different takes on her condition from just an allergy to pneumonia to the onset of dementia to stroke to heart condition to traumatic brain injury.

Her “doctors” are trying their best to convince people that she is physically and mentally fit to handle the office of president. Depending on the news outlet you read, view or listen to, you will hear one or more of the variables on these themes. The one thing that you can discern from all this is that Clinton has something wrong with her and nobody is telling us what it really is.

A good journalist without an agenda would get to the bottom of the story. But most are just reporting supposition. It is no wonder that Gallup reports that “Americans” trust and confidence in the mass media “to report the news fully, accurately and fairly” has dropped to its lowest level in Gallup polling history, with 32 percent saying they have a great deal or fair amount of trust in the media. This is down eight percentage points from last year.

2 Timothy 3:13 says, “But evil men will wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” The media in the United States was supposed to keep these deceivers in check, but they are so deceived themselves with strong personal opinions on morals and politics that they cannot see the truth.

Have a blessed and powerful day!

Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com

It is written in 1 Timothy 2:7, “For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” The apostle Peter recorded in 1 Peter 4:7-8, “But the end of all things is at hand: be therefore sober minded, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent love among yourselves: for love shall cover a multitude of sins.”

It is not sound-mindedness when some Christians question the Christianity or salvation of other Christians—because they are expressing their political beliefs. This is wrong-mindedness. This political election cycle has viciously divided many of us who should have God’s love and affection one for another. Sober-mindedness needs to be employed. We need to have unity.

Because of what I have written in The Daily Jot about Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, some claiming to be Christians—have called into question my salvation. They say that I cannot be Christian and support a man like Donald Trump.

Let’s see, Trump has recently gone on record as saying supports the sanctity of life, would appoint pro-life, conservatives to the Supreme Court, work to repeal the rule not allowing pastors of 501C3 churches to speak on politics; he would reverse the policies against Israel; defeat the Islamic State; stop illegal and dangerous immigration; and stand up for Christians being persecuted around the world. He also said he would bring jobs back to the US and reduce taxes.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is ardently pro-abortion and admires Planned Parenthood’s racist founder Margaret Sanger. She has committed to appoint “progressive” (meaning Communist) pro-abortion justices to the Supreme Court.

Hillary Clinton believes pastors should not be protected by the First Amendment. She plans a TRILLION-dollar-plus tax increase. She will continue the U.S. policies against Israel and promote non-vetted Islamic immigration into the US. She will continue the globalist economic policies that keep Americans out of work. Her reckless custody of national security secrets and endless trail of scandals speak volumes. Clinton will continue the unsecure and dangerous US border policy.

Which candidate more aligns with the biblical definition of leadership selection found in Exodus 18:21-able men, respecting God, men of truth, hating covetousness (taking what you have and giving it to themselves or others)?

And people want to question another’s salvation for supporting Trump?

Elections tend to bring out the worst in people because emotions run high. Putting personal offense ahead of common sense is wrong-minded and lacks discernment. Justifying a non-vote or a vote for someone who can’t win based on principle, is nothing short of cowardice. Going to the websites of both candidates, studying up—choosing the one that more closely matches with Christian beliefs is making an informed decision and exercising sound-mindedness.

Respectful discussion demonstrates love.

Have a blessed and powerful day!

Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com