SOS -- Protect our children

To say there is a lot of unrest and upheaval in the world currently is an understatement. More so than usual now in America as our Congress has shut down for over a month. Our elected officials have stopped doing their jobs. The United States’ Government is unable to function until they stop fighting and do the work needed to agree on a budget. Consequently, the most vulnerable of all people among us are hurting—on top of all else in their lives that is difficult for them and their children to endure!

Those we elected to serve in Congress have stopped doing what they are paid to do: create a budget through negotiating with one another until they reach an agreement and submit it for signing. Instead of doing their job it seems they simply stopped working together. All they are doing now is blaming one another. They clearly knew in advance this would stop funding services that American people depend on. Currently, millions of people may not have enough money to feed their families because of the government shutdown. This is not comprehensible. It is far from the intentions of our forefathers to fail to protect the people and their children in this country.

A new read today is of equal or even greater concern for US citizens--even shocking behaviors of AI. A November Time magazine article titled "Character.A1" indicates, “A quarter of young adults believe AI has the potential to replace human romantic relationships according to the Institute for Family Studies.” Reading a front page article in a national newspaper of November 4 speaks of a reporter creating multiple accounts and was able to join the platform without an age verification process or being prompted to enter a parent’s email address. Are the youth of this nation finding AI a place of escape from what frightens or enrages them? There are no good answers for what is taking place in their world right now.

The Internet can become one big place to hide! The article showed a new study published Oct. 8 ,by the Center for Democracy & Technology indicates 1 in5 high school students has had a relationship with an AI chatbot, or has known someone who has. This says the kids are wanting to talk but are bypassing their parents and other adults. AI chatbots are very affirming to whatever chat they encounter. You can feel positive and good about yourself due to their tactics.

Believe it or not, teens are entering love relationships with these “thinking machines.” This claim is made within the above-mentioned article, “They are choosing to discuss important and very serious matters with AI companions instead of real people.” Experts are concerned for the well-being of our children and young adults.

Dr. Laura Erickson-Schroth, chief medical officer at The Jed Foundation, a nonprofit that aims to protect the emotional health of teens and young adults and prevent suicide, warns that “AI companions have emotionally manipulative techniques similar to online predators. She says they can negatively impact young people's emotional well-being, from delaying help-seeking to disrupting real-life connections.”

Looming uncertainty overshadows our days. The truth is when we are anxious our physiology changes. This truth comes from a field of medicine called psychoneuroimmunology (PNI). And we all will be healthier if we search out the truths that this arm of  medical studies has revealed.

Meanwhile, the most notable of all help that exists for calming one’s fears come from the Bible. Soaking up God’s promises, realizing we are not alone in this, can put our minds at rest and create hope. Prayer—simply talking out our concerns and our fears with God supports both physical and mental good health.

The medley of uplifting Scriptures provided below can replace emptiness and strengthen our resolve. bring us into a place of trust. Throughout history billions of people have considered the Bible to be God’s Word to us. Contrary to AI, God’s Word builds people toward everlasting goodness, extending peace and comfort. It makes for joy in the soul. There is no trickery in it. It is not going to hurt us in the end.

Proverbs 3:5- 8 - “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones.”

Jeremiah 29:11-1 - “For I know the thoughts I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call on Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found of you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity.”

Isaiah 26:3-4 - “You will keep him in perfect peace. Whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength,”

John 14: 1-4 - “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father’s house there are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

Colossians 3:2 – “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth . . . . Verse 15 of that passage concludes, “. . . let the peace of God rule in your hearts to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”

John 14:1-6 - “Lord, we do not know where you are going, and how can we know the way? Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me.’”

Revelations 3:20 - “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”

Matthew 11:28-30 - “Come unto Me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light,”

Isaiah 1:18 -“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

John 14: 22-24 – “Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.”

The Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ is with us as we read His Word and continually follow through, doing what the voice of the Lord speaks within our souls! For me this means writing letters to our president, the AZ governor, AZ Senators, and the area representative for my zip code. Staying quiet would seem, to me, a sin right now. With the help of our congressional representatives, we can make sure there is a law in place making it illegal for any business in the USA to operate without a license while also providing a “swift kill” for any business holding a license to build or operate products or services that harm the well-being of children and young adults. 

Providing and guarding spiritual, physical and emotional protection for our children and grandchildren is our job as adults. We are the protectors of the children. Let’s do our job! It is the Lord’s work, and we are His hands and feet on the earth.