Epidemic!

When my friend Jill called about three weeks ago and I explained how I was coughing, she exclaimed, “Oh my goodness! You’ve got that old crud!”
“You’re kidding!” I replied. “Is that what it is?”
“That’s what they call it. I had it for over a month.”
Later when another friend called and I explained that I had the crud, he told me his wife coughed so much when she had it, her eyes swelled shut.
I had never heard of such a thing, so I went to the dictionary and it explained that “crud” was a slang word meaning “worthless rubbish”. Well, that’s a pretty good mountain-ese sounding word, I decided. As far worthless rubbish, I, and everyone else who has been sick will agree.
We didn’t know it then, but we were smack in the middle of an epidemic that has spread across the entire country. Almost every time we talk to anyone they have been sick or know someone who was or is. Some said that their whole family was sick, and later Emory got sick too.
So what did we do for this “crud” thing? We went to Dr. Jesus in prayer. We took medicine, we moaned, we grumbled, but eventually we got through it.
Dear Readers, have you realized that our great nation, beginning in Washington, is suffering a far more serious epidemic? It’s called “a fearful confusion”. Never in all my life have I ever witnessed such a break down of every part of our society: our government, economy, workforce, and national security, morals, and families who are controlled by evil and greed. Folks are frantic and running in circles wondering what to do. They cry, “Is there any way to stop this madness?”
Beloved, may I suggest a cure? First, go to the Great Physician and tell Him all about it. Repent of any failure on your part, become a Christ follower if you are not already, and then take regular doses of God’s Word.
Here are some starter doses: “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah” Psalm 46:1-3. “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?” Psalm 56:3-4. “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” Luke 11: 9-10. The Bible is full of just such medicine. But you have to look for it.