At the risk of being misunderstood once again, and likely to stoke the coals of heated debate, I am  compelled to wade back in to this topic that has hit a nerve with so many people; and if you do respond, be nice...it’s my birthday today ;-)

This has to do with the complicated dilemma of what do we do with the untold numbers of undocumented people who currently reside in this country. As I mentioned the other day, I don’t know what that actual count is, because everything I read suggests between 10-12 million, but the administration continues to insist 20 million crossed over during Biden’s presidency; so I just don’t know how many are here.

This is going to be like juggling tennis balls as I walk a tightrope here, because I still want to be clear that my messaging of late is not intended to focus on ‘immigration’ or undocumented immigrants who entered this country ‘illegally’; but it is going to sound...at first, like that is what I am wanting to ‘discuss’. Can we all agree up front, that the reason we have such a problem in this country with this one issue (which has been around for a very long time)...is because it can be complicated, and the longer you ignore a problem, the more challenging it becomes to fix. And I'm not suggesting that I have some 'easy' solution.

Let me also state up front for the skeptics...I believe we need to obey the laws of the land. Period. Could I make that any more clear? We are a nation of laws, we like to think of ourselves as ‘law abiding citizens’, and we expect any and all who come here...to do the same. Yes...coming here ‘illegally’ is not a good way to demonstrate your intentions of becoming just that...a ‘law abiding citizen’. Someone asked if other countries have this same problem as we do...and I honestly do not know the answer to that question. I do know that becoming a citizen in this country can be a lengthy process, cost lots of money, and involve multiple hoops to jump through, which I am not condemning or condoning. Nor do I have any idea what is involved in obtaining a ‘green card’ for people to live/work here. But again, that is simply not my overall concern or interest here, as much as some of you might think.

If you are of the persuasion that all 15 million +/- undocumented immigrants who do live here now...are nothing but either drug-crazed, violent criminals...or freeloaders who want to ‘milk the US taxpayers for all they have’...then there is no point to continue reading here today; you won’t get anything else I have to say. God be with you.

Another factor to consider, and this is by no means an attempt to excuse, justify, or condone anyone entering this country illegally, but we hear so many different stories and reasons as to why people have come here to begin with, many risking all...to get their families here safely and out of a number of horrific conditions that most of us probably cannot identify with or relate to. If you refuse to believe that is even happening, I’d be curious to know why you refuse to believe so or remain skeptical. You have to admit, one would have to be pretty desperate to make some of the treks these people make over hundreds and thousands of miles to flee from dangerous conditions...with the hope they can forge a better life for their families here. Who can fault them for that? (not saying that's the case every single one who is here though.)

And who knows what little they even know about coming here and entering this country before they even begin the trip. But no doubt, the stories and reasons as to why so many have made that attempt over the decades are numerous and varied. The bottom line is...they are here and we are still conflicted over what to do with them. Many people in this country who call themselves ‘Christian and/or Conservative’ are insistent that every last one of these ‘illegals’ be sent packing... back to where they ‘came from’, and do not even sound open to reasonable discussion on alternatives. Many have made their feelings known that if you came here illegally, get out and then come back the ‘legal’ way; and you are entitled to that conviction.

So indulge me here and consider a very plausible and simple scenario. A family of Latino descent live in your town, maybe on the outskirts in a very modest home. They keep to themselves but are known around town because the father/husband works various jobs, ranching, construction, hauling trash, doing whatever ‘grunt’ work he can find. The wife/mother cleans homes, offices, maybe cooks or whatever she can find to help support the family’s needs. The kids attend school with your kids, they attend church with your neighbors, and play in the same soccer/ball league; but they are not ‘legal’ citizens of this country, and they have no documentation to prove they came here legally.

Perhaps you’ve heard bits and pieces of their story and were told they were brought here to this country by their parents long ago...and have done all they know to do to survive. Perhaps, due to a lack of knowledge, or resources, they have never ‘come forward’ to obtain citizenship, or any kind of ‘legal status’ where they could remain in your town doing what they do. Fear may play a role in their reluctance to get their status in order; so they just keep living their lives and hoping for the best.

Now, the winds are changing here in this country and it seems that a president has stuck to his promises and wants to do something about the ‘problem’, and support is growing for his efforts. I’ve seen where more than a few people in my own ‘feed’ here have expressed full support with this idea that they "all" need to ‘go back’ from where they came from; which leads me to ask...exactly ‘where’ and ‘how’ does a family that have set down roots in this country...’do that’? Can you think that through for a moment? Oh, that’s not your ‘problem’ to worry about because they are the ones who ‘broke the law’? Oh...give them a check for $3000 and send them on their way... to where?

Now my next question is...how many ‘illegals’ living in this country...might possibly be living this very exact scenario that I describe....a half of dozen families maybe? A hundred families? Maybe a couple of thousand? Certainly not several million...as you just ‘know in your gut’ that most of them are bad folks out to drain and destroy this country, right? And all of them must go, period! You reap the consequences when you break laws! Oh, and how fair is it to all those ‘other people who are waiting in line to enter the country the ‘proper way’? Right? So there’s that!

So the day comes and ‘authorities’ show up in town and are there to arrest this family, put them in a van and ship them out because...after all...there are consequences to breaking our laws! And every country has laws that need to be obeyed! You happen to drive by on the day this happens and witness the fear and tears and desperate looks on the faces of your ‘neighbors’... as they are piled into the van.

You also consider yourself to be a ‘God fearing Christian’... so let me ask: What is going through your mind...and heart as you watch this unfortunate drama unfold? Where does ‘mercy’ come in to play here? What ‘role’ or ‘position’ should the ‘Christian’ have and take here? And can I just say that ‘feeling sorry for someone’ ...does not equate to having ‘mercy’?!

May I also be so bold as to say...that the ‘church’ here in America, if not America itself is being ‘tested’ right now. And when I say ‘tested’, I’m referring to having our hearts exposed to reveal what is in them; and you know what gives us that exposure into our hearts? That which comes out of our mouths; “for out of the heart the mouth speaks”. (Matt. 15:18)

I should have mentioned yesterday, when I touched on the story of the 'Good Samaritan', that Jesus was quite intentional when He used a 'Samaritan' in that parable. No doubt, it would have 'hit a nerve' with His audience...in a way like if He told that story today and used a term...like "Democrat"...instead of a 'Samaritan'.   ...........Yeah...that's the 'feeling' they probably had.

Tomorrow...a lesson on what it means to ‘have mercy’. I will also explain then why my messaging here has nothing to do with our 'immigration challenges'. I would strongly encourage you to join me ...and bring your Bible.  You have no idea how serious this 'test' is right now.