Good News, Bad News

I've just about gotten to the point where I don't want to listen to the news anymore. For instance, while listening to the news the first thing as I got up this morning. There's a hurricane in the Pacific. There are two more brewing in the Atlantic. They could bring much, too much rain to the Gulf Coast. Then, there was a recall of toys. Toys, mind you. Things that little children, yea those precious little children play with. There is lead paint in their toys. And magnets. Magnets they could swallow. One swallowed one and threw up green. (I'm not kidding about that. I actually saw the report on that one.) And then, they're not sure if they're going to find the miners alive in the mine in Utah. It's like that every day. Every day. No wonder we have many who are depressed and down and worried and just plained scared!
The apostle Paul had one of those lives. He didn't know if he was going to survive from one day to the next. His life was constantly in danger. He was arrested and take to court for preaching the gospel. Yet, it didn't look good for him. He was beaten with rods (three times), stoned and left for dead, whipped with 40 lashes minus one (five times), shipwrecked (three times) and he calls them light and momentary troubles (II Corinthians 4). He's chained to Roman guards and he says, "...what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ." (Philippians 1:12, 13)
No bad news. Only good. Take what is thrown at you and make something good of it. The gospel is, by definition, good news! That's what we have to proclaim. And if we can't proclaim good news in a society that sees everything through the lens of negativity, then we are truly in trouble.
Bad news? Let me tell you some good news. Bad events? I'll bet some good will come out of that. Bad people? God can change bad people and make them into good ones. And if they don't, don't worry. God will take care of them, too.
I am convinced that we can stand out, as Paul says, like stars. More so now that ever before. Because we can approach the world with a positive attitude and nature. We can see the world with a smile on our faces because we serve the God who can make all things new. I hope your day is a good one. JW