"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." .. Matthew 18:3 .. (NIV) .. It was in 1973 when my wife & I made the decision to leave the sinful & corrupt world of Rock & Roll & search out a better lifestyle for our family. .. We soon after bought a little 4-acre farm in the beautiful little town of Colton, Oregon. .. Not long after arriving, I went to work for the Colton School District, which ended up lasting some 10 years. .. Needless to say, the change from Southern California to Colton was life-changing! .. For the first time in our family's young life, we discovered a sense of 'normalcy.' It was about a year later when my oldest daughter, which was about 10 years old at the time, presented me with this message that I'm about to share with you .. a message that has stayed with me since its inception. .. Needless to say, it had a profound effect on me, & still does to this day. .. So now, let me share this message ......... "If I had all the power in the world for one day, I would fix all the problems in the world.  All war would be ended.  The air would be fresh and clean.  The people of the world would not starve, and the rich man would share with the poor.  People would be nice to one another.  The white man would like the red people, yellow, black and brown.  We would have oil and gasoline.  The Russians would trade us oil for grain.  We would share with all parts of the world, and they would share with us.  We aren't different from anybody else.  No matter what color, shape, or size, we are all the same." Oh, the simplicity of the young mind! ... Not long after she presented this to me, I wrote these song lyrics ... "Little girls & little boys - writing their words of fears & joys ..  A simple line full of feeling - a simple plan for all mankind ..  A true heartbeat for human healing - please remind .. "Little girls & little boys - looking around at their broken toys ..  They seem to sense what they are facing - they seem to know & want to change ..  A dying world, their minds are racing - it's so plain .. "Tears trailing down - a dirt-stained face ..  Staring at a world - of sheer disgrace ..  Emptiness - it's all they feel - in their hearts, there's no place .......... " You can sense when comparing these two messages that my little one's thoughts came from an innocent perspective, while I was clouded by my own life's experiences. .. She still maintained the beautiful, child-like honesty & directness that so often goes missing as we emerge into adulthood. ... How sad! .. Keeping in mind that these words were written some 40 years ago, it is absolutely mind-boggling as to just how much has taken place concerning the onslaught of sin in this world. .. I so worry about the young people today as to how they are subjected to so much more than my 10-year-old was back then. .. I mean we made it a priority to have dinner together every night & discuss our day together. .. We actually were able to listen to one another because we weren't distracted by all the technology of today's world. .. Machines have replaced relationships! .. No one seems to talk together unless it involves the machines! .. & what these machines expose to our younger generations today?! .. It does tell me I lived in the 'Ozzie & Harriet' generation (the millennials will have no idea of what I'm talking about) .. I know I'm a dinosaur, but hey, at least I had the opportunity to visit with my wife & children EVERY DAY for at least a little bit! .. ......... OK, Red .. calm down, for heaven's sake .... Going back to the opening verse for a moment, Jesus understood that the innocence of a child would keep us somewhat insulated from all the sinful ways of the world. .. But then, He also told us that the craziness we are seeing all around us in today's world would come .. that the increase of the sinful ways would increase like "birth pains" just before His return (Matthew 24:8) .. And me just stopping for a moment and reviewing all that has taken place in these past 40 years, the prophesied "birth pains" are as real as everything else that was foretold to us in scripture. .. Just look at the prophet Daniel's words in his chapter 12, verse 4, where it says, .. "But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end;  many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase." (NKJV) ... Think these words aren't true today?! .. Are we not 'running to and fro,' & isn't knowledge exploding all around us by the moment?!  .. In closing, we know from the Word of God that the world will continue to grow more & more chaotic & sinful as we draw ever closer, but we as individuals can make an impact on those around us by adopting a more child-like attitude towards the world. .. We can try our best to focus on the simplicity of loving everyone instead of either shutting them out or finding fault in everything. ... Will it be easy? .. NO! .. In fact, it will be maybe the most difficult thing we ever do. .. But I promise you this .. if you even try, you will begin to see a difference in not only yourself, but also those around you. .. Some may suggest therapy however, but don't give up. .. And the great thing about this is that it becomes easier & easier as time goes by. ..  Hallelujah! OK .. I'm done for now ... Know that I love you all & am praying for each & every one of you, & God knows exactly who you are! .. Again, Hallelujah! ... Until next time, Red