Ronald Reagan challenges big government--farewell address #ronaldreagan

President Reagan, a wise man, defines the American government in a nutshell.

But this is from a purely human perspective--"man" (as in men and women in this life) are not free if the government leans on them with rules and regulations. But the apostle Paul was never so free as when he was confined to a cell. I've experience this myself, and it's hard to wrap my mind around earthly freedom and heavenly freedom.

When I was struck with COVID for the second time in 11 months (yes, I had all the shots--huge mistake) at first I felt defeated--I'd had a horrible 2023 and was so depressed, I NEEDED to leave town and get out of my own mind. But then very quickly I realized that with the confines of COVID quarantine, I was free from all the distractions of the world and could focus on Christ, meditate and let God get through to me.

Satan comes to us in those things of the world, some good, some bad, but anything that gets between us and God is not good. I want to say evil, but perhaps too extreme. Satan distorts the good things of this life (sex, striving for success, enjoyment of food) into idols (pornography, ruthless drive while taking no prisoners, gluttony).

I believe we should strive to be free in this life, but be prepared to see that God's best, at the moment, may look like the worst. What worse thing (other than death) could you do to God's prophet than shut him up in prison? Just watch....