A partial set of notes and Scriptures:

We live in an increasingly stressful and challenging world.

The internet and the news services continually bombard us with information about all the violence, injustices, wars, famines, diseases...

All of this should MOTIVATE us to PRAY: " THY KINGDOM COME"... Remember God's promises.

They do NOT know the way of Peace.

Romans 3:10  As it is written: "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE;
Romans 3:11  THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS; THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS AFTER GOD.
Romans 3:12  THEY HAVE ALL TURNED ASIDE; THEY HAVE TOGETHER BECOME UNPROFITABLE; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, NO, NOT ONE."
Romans 3:18  "THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES."
Romans 3:19  Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Isaiah 2:1  The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
Isaiah 2:2  Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the LORD's house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it.

Isaiah 2:3  Many people shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Isa 2:4  He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war any more.

Ideas have consequences as they generate. impact and influence behavior.

Matthew 24:12  And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

Matthew 22:36  "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?"
Matthew 22:37  Jesus said to him, 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'
Matthew 22:38  This is the first and great commandment.
Matthew 22:39  And the second is like it: 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'
Matthew 22:40  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

John 14:15  "If you love Me, keep My commandments.

LOVE FOR GOD leads us away from SIN...
Sin tolerated EXPANDS, spreads, infects.... and CORRUPTS.

Revelation 2:1  "To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, 'These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:
Revelation 2:2  "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them, liars;
Revelation 2:3  and you have persevered and had patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary.
Revelation 2:4  Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
Revelation 2:5  Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.
Revelation 2:6  But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Revelation 2:7  "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." '

Abandoning God's Standards... leads to love GROWING COLD... and Corruption increasing and multiplying.

2 Timothy 3:1  But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
2 Timothy 3:2  For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2 Timothy 3:3  unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
2 Timothy 3:4  traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
2 Timothy 3:5  having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

The common thread: LACK OF Godly Character !!!!  IF we join in... it will IMPACT US...
IF we are NOT aware and FIGHTING IT... we will be "assimilated" ...

Narcissists, selfish; lovers of money which becomes our God. We do WIT to obtain it...
blasphemers... making claims about GOD that are FALSE!!
disobedient to parents - ultimately destructive to ourselves and society... Leviticus 19
Unthankful - with no regard for the gifts of life, NO attitude of Gratitude... deep sense of ENTITLEMENT... we think WE made it happen...

Unholy, lacking in God's characteristics... His Values, Ethics, and Moral instructions.

UNLOVING... self-focused, no good way of treating others. [parable of Good Samaritan]

UNforgiving ... turn the other cheek... you do NOT avenge yourself.

Isaiah 35:1  The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose;
Isaiah 35:2  It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, Even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, The excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, The excellency of our God.
Isaiah 35:3  Strengthen the weak hands, And make firm the feeble knees.
Isaiah 35:4  Say to those who are fearful-hearted, "Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you."
Isaiah 35:5  Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
Isaiah 35:6  Then the lame shall leap like a deer And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert.
Isaiah 35:7  The parched ground shall become a pool, And the thirsty land springs of water; In the habitation of jackals, where each lay, There shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
Isaiah 35:8  A highway shall be there, and a road, And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, But it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, Shall not go astray.
Isaiah 35:9  No lion shall be there, Nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it; It shall not be found there. But the redeemed shall walk there,
Isaiah 35:10  And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, And come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Philippians 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

William Wilberforce - slave abolition?

The world around us wants to corrupt OUR thinking, feelings, and spirituality and it is doing a great job in its efforts as we see the entire world increasingly corrupted...

Ephesians 4:1  I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
Ephesians 4:2  with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
Ephesians 4:3  endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.