On Guard

The National Guard is blowing into the Windy City. 

For weeks, tensions have been brewing in Chicago over increased immigration enforcement, including some violent clashes between protestors and ICE agents. On Saturday, President Trump authorized federalizing Illinois’s National Guard to deploy 300 Guardsmen to Chicagoland to deal with the “lawlessness.” Illinois Governor Pritzker (D) criticized the move, saying there is “no need for military troops” in the Prairie State.

Meanwhile, a federal district judge blocked Trump from deploying 200 Guardsmen to Portland, Oregon, until at least October 18, saying POTUS’s claim that unrest in Portland was out of control was “untethered to the facts.” 

The White House has appealed and deployed some already-federalized California National Guardsmen to Oregon—a move that California Governor Newsom (D) called a “breathtaking abuse of the law and power.”

ABOVE ALL, LOVE
Whether you’re critical of your government or think it’s unfairly criticized, the command for Christians is to love neighbors and enemies alike. That requires speaking about others with dignity and respect, even when we feel like they haven’t earned it. 

“With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in God’s likeness. Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way… Who among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct he should show that his works are done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom.”
James 3:9–10, 13 (CSB) (read full passage)