Does California media reflect the data? I don’t honestly know as I don’t live there.

It appears about 70% of deaths are drug and alcohol related in Cali and mostly drug which is probably fentanyl.

Californians who are more concerned about firearm and covid deaths seem to be well off the mark. They ought to be leading the campaign against overdoses and the most knowledgeable and concerned about it. I don’t seem to get this from Cali but maybe I’m wrong.

Now I know this verse is not in the context of this but is applicable none the less.

“Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.” – Jesus Matthew 24:23

This verse was more in the context of the Pharisees who were putting certain good things above more important things and Jesus exposing it.

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” – Jesus Matthew 23:23

Never let good things get in between you and God!

“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” – Matthew 6:31-34

In a world that all things were created very good there can only be one evil choice. To put a very good thing above the one who created it thus making an idol of it.

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.” – Matthew 22:37-38

The greatest sin would be to break the greatest commandment! God first….His kingdom and righteousness first…Jesus first or you are leaving behind the weatiest matter of the law when we should be doing good unto others also and caring for their eternal well being as Jesus did!

“Thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins” – Jesus Matthew 1:21

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:6-8

“And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” – 1 Timothy 1:14-17

Sin is sin whether it is against one another or God himself! It needs atonement and Jesus is He! God bless…

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” – John 1:29