Sadly we have an increase in alcohol related deaths here in New Mexico……very tragic…..can the news get any worse in the state? Albuquerque had another killing yesterday. Tragically the city is on pace for a record amount of homicides. They do not count the number of babies that are killed through abortions, but God does, He knows all.
The Governor is pushing her pro-abortion bill and to legalize pot. All pro-death bills as far as I am concerned. There is a cloud of death over New Mexico, so much death. Pot heads driving? Enough innocent people are killed in this state now, like babies.
“Legalization” Of Marijuana In New Mexico – Is This Really A Good Idea?
In our country and yes, our state, it has become almost fashionable to support the growth and use of marijuana, whether for medicinal use or recreational use. So much so, that even our state executive and many legislators consider government sanctioned and controlled distribution of marijuana to be a worthy effort as means to acquire tax dollars. Let’s consider some of the well-established issues facing New Mexico. For many years, we’ve been rated at the bottom or almost the bottom for quality of education, children living in poverty, drug use (e.g., opioid use), drug trafficking (I-40, I-10, I-25 and the southern border corridors) and DWI offenders (including the associated deaths). Is there really wisdom in enhancing these issues by creating a culture of “legalized” use of marijuana here in New Mexico?
A wise man once told me that if you have any doubt as to whether to do or say something, then ask yourself, would you look to Jesus and say “Lord, I do this thing as unto You” or “Lord, I give You thanks for this which I am about to do.” If the answer is no, then why are you doing it? Would you ask Jesus to bless your firing up of a joint or bowl or eating of a laced edible so that you would experience a high? The scripture says we should seek His wisdom. According to Proverbs 4:7, “[w]isdom is the principal thing; [t]herefore get wisdom [NKJV].” Ephesians 5:15-21 instructs us to walk in wisdom: “[s]ee then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ [NKJV].” Just because we CAN do something doesn’t necessarily mean we SHOULD do something.
My background includes a few years as a Special Agent with the USAF Office of Special Investigations, during which much of the training involved drug enforcement. I spent the first year after completing the initial academy leading the Travis AFB, CA Joint Drug Enforcement Team and subsequently worked for several years at Holloman AFB, NM participating in drug enforcement operations with the other agents. Once you have strapped on the equipment and executed a few warrants, you tend to develop a very different perspective about “low level drug use,” as the small amounts of drugs came from someone who was probably not your next door neighbor, and that person’s drugs came from a trafficker – a very dangerous person. The perspective that I’m not hurting anyone is a big lie. It is not surprising to me that the military and local or state police have had to lower standards in order to acquire acceptable cadets. Today, our children and youth often do things as a result of cultural or peer influences which can devastate future employment opportunities. How much worse it is when our children’s parents are the ones modeling this behavior? I thank God that our Lord is forgiving and merciful, and am reminded that we are called to forgive others and to help guide our friends, family and others unto salvation and into their God-given destiny!
It’s interesting to hear discussions about “legalizing” recreational use of marijuana at the state level. If a state allows something that is forbidden at the federal level, it is not really legal, but what is happening is that the federal government has elected, as a matter of enforcement discretion, to refrain from seeking prosecution under certain circumstances and the state has elected to ignore existing federal code or statutes. The federal Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”), 21 USC 812, establishes five schedules of controlled substances, identified as Schedules I, II, III, IV and V. Schedule I lists substances that have been determined to have: 1) a high potential for abuse; 2) no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States; and 3) a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or substance under medical supervision. The psychoactive substance in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol (“THC”), remains to this day a listed Schedule I substance. Because of this, many states have struggled with the medicinal and recreational use of marijuana and declare legality, when in point of fact, what is occurring is simply enforcement discretion at the federal level and a glaring lack of willingness of the federal government to take a solid position one way or the other.
There is MUCH remaining to be said about this issue, including the increasing levels of THC in modern-grown marijuana plants provided by dispensaries and technologically-advanced illicit grows, the lack of clear means for law enforcement to easily determine the degree of driving impairment compared to determining alcohol impairment, the effect that such has or may have on us developmentally, mentally and physically, the wisdom and procedure for assuring sound regulatory controls at the federal and state level – and assuming this issue isn’t going away quickly, the spiritual implications of encouraging, yet another mind altering substance for use by our residents, demonstrating yet again, the wisdom of man in the face of the wisdom of God.
Father, in the name of Jesus, I ask that You would speak to the hearts of those in a position to encourage, allow, regulate and/or spend tax dollars on marijuana matters in our beautiful State of New Mexico (and across this nation). Give us ears to hear and eyes to see what is the will of God. May wisdom guide our discussions and determinations, with a mighty hedge of protection over all who are doing Your will and serving Your people, in light of this challenge. But regardless, help us to always love. Always. Amen.
Chuck Akeley
Albuquerque, New Mexico
“The great work of intercession is needed for the returning of the Lord. It is here that the coming revival must find its strength. Let there be, with every minister and worker, ‘great searching of heart’ (Judges 5:16), as to whether they are ready to give as much time and strength to prayer as God desires. Let them, even as they are in public, leaders of their larger or smaller circles, give themselves in secret to take their place in the front ranks of the great intercession host.” (Andrew Murray)
America is plagued with violence at new heights in every city. Each state in these United States is failing her people and the whole of the nation nearly to the point we may soon be referred to as the former “United” States. I pray for this land that I love; I pray for the churches which I love beyond simply affection in every city and corner of America.
I have been often requested of late to pray for New Mexico, and more pointedly, the City of Albuquerque. On a road trip across this great land last month, I was blessed to drive and pray for a total of three days in New Mexico. My wife and I on the last leg of our trip were blessed to spend the night in Albuquerque. As we were approaching this grand city, Ruthi was on her iPad attempting to make a reservation in a hotel for that night. The hotel site on the internet was not very cooperative, so entering the city proper, I found a shopping mall parking lot where we could stop and make connection on her cell phone and speak with an actual human.
I had parked at the far end of the lot away from the buildings and other cars for privacy and less distraction. As Ruthi was making connection, my eyes fell on the only movement in front of our car. At first, I was aware of a lone young woman extremely casual in dress riding up on a bicycle. She stopped and dismounted her bike and sat on a curb approximately 50 feet from the front of our car. Within a very few moments, another rider, this time a male of similar age and dress slowly approached where she sat, made a couple of circles around her then he joined her on the curb. They apparently knew one another, but there was so sense of intimacy. They did not say much to one another, but seemed to be looking all around, but not at the same places at the same time. In my innocence, I did not think much of it.
However, my curiosity was peaking as a third individual on a bike approached the first two, only he never got off his bike but stood straddling. This later musketeer’s eyes never ceased to dart around as if being on guard from something unknown to me. In a moment when he was satisfied in his gazing, he tossed what might have been some folded and clipped together dollar bills toward the young man seated on the curb. The bills, or whatever it was, stayed on the pavement near the man’s feet until he felt safe in slowly picking it up. He quickly thumbed as if counting and placed in a backpack, got on his bike and slowly road away.
In a matter of moments, the young lady seated on the curb dropped a packet of something in front of her feet pushing it toward the last male on the bike, and she got up and rode away in a different direction. The last male stood still straddling his bike while watching all disappear and checking his surroundings. When he was at ease he reached down and scooped up the packet of whatever it was, placed it in his pocket as his bike was now slowly in motion in yet another direction.
No. This was not an act of violence, but in part it may have been fuel for violence at another time and place.
The next morning we enjoyed breakfast with our dear brother, Dewey Moede of For God’s Glory Alone Ministries. Dewey shared his heart for his city and state, and implored that we pray.
I pray for Albuquerque and New Mexico as I pray for the cities and states of my beloved homeland. Believer, we must pray in these days of anger, hatred, and confusion in the streets of our land. Pray for the church in her sleepiness and self-satisfaction. May I share with you some things I pray for?
In no particular order:
I pray for the Spirit of Prayer to invade with power all the churches in this land which name the name above every name, Jesus Christ the LORD (Acts 1:14).
I pray for churches to be revived, quickened, or made alive again by the Holy Spirit through repentance leading toward humility, holiness causing unity among all God’s people.
This must happen! Pray On!
“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes. New wine will drip from the mountains and flow from all the hills.” (Amos 9:13).
Beloved, when the Spirit- awakened Church is displayed in neighborhoods, towns, cities, and nation, light will shine the way of hope and escape to a disillusioned and discouraged world. The Master is waiting for His church to take the task when we are willing to use the anguish, sorrow, and necessity of this sin-sick, dark, present world to change our inactive displeasure into dynamic, fervent, effectual, desperate intercessions for the land.
“And I sought for a man among them, that should
make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should
not destroy it: but I found none.” (Ezekiel 22:30)
Church, you are the conduit God prefers to use to bring the world to Himself. Pray On!
