Once again Minnesota has been brought to the attention of the whole world by 2 concurrent stories.
The FIRST story concerns the massive amount of fraud that has been uncovered.with dozens of people, mainly of Somali origin, being convicted in the ‘Feeding Our Future’ scam,
Apparently Somali culture is not founded on biblical morality. Fraud and ‘piracy’ are’normal’ practices in that country, and so it is no surprise therefore that when transplanted into a different culture that has traditionally been Judeo-Christian this problem should arise
Compounding the problem is what is known locally as “Minnesota NICE.” where things can remain superficial, to avoid the conflict that comes with honest accountability.
More fraud surfaces by the day. This morning the Epoch Times reported
‘Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said that a building in Minnesota, which used to be a linen factory, is housing 400 Medicaid-billing fraudulent businesses which collectively billed an estimated $380 million to Medicaid, ‘
The SECOND story, is the current administration’s resolve to deal with boarder security and the consequent heightened activity here of the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE
This morning Barry wrote to us from England “Does it feel like you are back in Belfast in the ‘Troibles’?”
Our move to the US in 1994 from Belfast co-incided with the ‘Good Friday Peace Agreement’
I would say tongue in cheek to people here who made the connection,
‘Yes. Peace broke out there, either because they got rid of the troublemakers, or because our assignment was completed.’🙂
The year we moved to Minneapolis it seemed like we had jumped from the frying pan into the fire because murders in the city had soared earning it the nickname “Murderapolis”
We were lead to join in prayer with a group meeting in the heart of the troubled area. We could hear gunshots in the street outside. We prayed,
‘Lord, let Murderapolis become Mercyapolis.’
God answered our prayers The murder rate dropped.
Then there was the George Floyd storm, and now once again, even though in the last year murders are down 20% nationwide, Minneapolis has been made a focal point of violent division and discontent
This morning Matthew wrote to us from Scotland,
Good Morning Paul
I woke up this morning in pain as I read the news in Minnesota and how there seems to be so much conflict around the world between people.
I decided to worship Jesus and was drawn to your Song – Simply Jesus.
I am not sure what God is saying to me but I was moved to tears.
I believe he is saying that, simply Jesus is the ONLY answer.
Psalms 147:17 says
‘Sleet and hail fall from the sky, causing waters to freeze before winter’s icy blast.”
God knows exactly what is happening, demonstrating his power, and communicating to us through the elements. We are currently experiencing the coldest and iciest winter since moving here.
On Friday evening Ben and Kim, Hilary and I worshipped with Luke in his Anchor Fish and Chip restaurant, in the heart of the troubled area.
Once again at 32 13th Ave, we sang our appeal to our Father from Habakuk 3:2
‘Lord we have heard of your fame and we stand in awe of your deeds. Lord hear our prayer come renew them again in our day in our time make them known.
……..in judgement remember mercy’
Then Ben sang, “Let There Be Mercy”
Immediately Hilary’s face became ‘inflamed ‘
I believe it was the Lord pointing us to the next verse.
‘Then he speaks his word and it all melts away; as the warm spring winds blow, the streams begin to flow.”
Believing that “The best is yet to come”
.