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To the Editor:
This year, America celebrates 245 years of freedom. However, the sad fact is few are completely free and most are in slavery to sin, fear and addictions. Everyone is made up of spirit, soul (mind, emotions and will) and body. The placebo effect and near death experiences prove we are more than just a body. The Bible tells us our body is the least important part of us. Jesus will very soon give all true Christians a new eternal body at the rapture. 
Those controlled by their body are acting like animals. Even if their body isn’t behind bars, they aren’t free if their mind is controlled by, sin, fear or addictions. In America millions are addicted to eating, shopping, video games, alcohol, sex, pornography, gambling and drugs. Addictions have caused people to lose their friends, job, house, spouse and lives! In fact, U.S. drug overdose deaths set a record as over 87,000 people died in the 12 months ending in September 2020. Drug abuse and overdoses increased as a result of COVID 19  stress and isolation. Drug abuse and overdoses have also increased as a result of the recent stimulus payments.   
Demonic drug gangs like MS 13 have worked overtime selling their drugs. COVID 19 caused a record amount of fear. Doctors said don’t go within six feet of others not even around family or church until it’s safe. I agree with Dennis Prager at www.prageru.com who said, “until it’s safe means never. Nothing is perfectly safe.” Prager says don’t let fear of pain or disease hold you back from a joyous life. Prager’s advice is: don’t take an unnecessary risk (like not wearing seat belts or texting and driving) but don’t let fear, safety or fear of death completely preoccupy you. 
Playing it safe leads to its own negative undesired consequences and pain is part of life. You can’t escape it. You can’t live a full life or a life pleasing to God by having safety as your highest priority. Don’t let “safe” take your joy.  Don’t let safe keep grandparents from hugging their grandchildren. Don’t let “safe” keep you from church. On Veterans Day we celebrate and thank veterans who took risk for America and freedom. On Memorial Day we remember veterans who didn’t play it safe but gave their lives to protect the freedoms we often take for granted. Ben Franklin in 1755 said, “Those who would give up essential Liberty(freedom), to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety!” Choose freedom over safety. People still isolating themselves from others aren’t getting real safety but a perception of safety that is not actually there. Real actual freedom and safety can only be found in Jesus and His blood covering your sins! 
More people have addictions than ever before. Addictions destroy people and their families and hurt everyone by causing crime. Addictions can begin because parents fail to lock up their drugs, alcohol and pornography.  Slave to drunkenness always want one more drink. Slaves to drug addiction always want one more high. Slaves to sexual lust always crave another score or more pornography. Slaves to materialism or greed always seek more to acquire. Slaves to bitterness and self-pity always look for someone to blame. Slaves to pride always seek more fame or popularity for themselves. They don’t care whom they hurt. They are only focused on themselves.  You always know Christians by their love and you usually know evil people by their pride and selfishness. Great writer C.S. Lewis said, “Look for yourself and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin, and decay. But look for Jesus and you will find him and with him everything thrown in!”  
Doctors say it can take 18 months to overcome some addictions. Many addicts who became Christians say Jesus took away their addictions in one day. No education, counseling, positive thoughts, high self-esteem or good intentions can overcome our evil. We must turn from evil and change our minds and believe in Jesus blood, death, burial and resurrection as our only way to heaven. It’s only by abiding in Jesus that a Christian believer may be free from manipulation and have true, God-given self-control and true freedom. As America rejects Jesus the people are dying from the inside out and there is more disunity as Jesus holds everything together. To those without Jesus they become angry and life becomes bitter and hopeless. Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted and set people free. This was the first message Jesus preached. The solution is rebirth and transformation from the inside out that only comes from Jesus and the Holy Spirit. America needs a Jesus revival for survival!                                                                                                                                                         
You can’t be a slave if Jesus has made you a son or daughter. “Entertainment will leave you empty, power will leave you heartless, lust will leave you loveless, money (and things) will leave you comfortless, drugs will leave you senseless or dead; Jesus won’t leave you regardless! Jesus led the most freeing revolution in history washed in blood, His own. His revolution is one person at a time from the inside out. There’s only one way to have true freedom and live free in Tennessee and for eternity-Jesus!

D.D. Nave
Elizabethton