To find out more about us, please visit us at our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/thisgrandlifetheology/ or email us at [email protected]                         With everything going on in the news right now, in our backyard and around the world it makes we wonder.  Wonder if we have any hope, wonder if there is a reason for everything we do.  Our neighbors to the north and the east right now are dealing with large fires.  Both the Dixi Fire and the Caldor Fire are currently growing in size with little containment as neighborhoods and entire towns are evacuated.  Our neighbors throughout California dealing with evacutations and fires need to stay in our prayers.  We need to do more than pray though we also need to offer a hand to those that are currently affected by the fires.  We need to let us neighbors know that we are there to assist as they need.  I have done so and will continue to do so as long as our friends and neighbors are affected.  On the east coast we see our fellow Americans facing tropical storm henri with flooding and destructive winds.  In Afghanistan we are finally pulling out and while I’m happy we are leaving the war zone, I find myself disheartened to see the Taliban take the country back so quickly.  It makes me wonder what the last 20 years and the thousands of Americans and countless Afghani lives were lost for.  As a veteran myself I find myself torn between being happy that our Service Members are leaving the area and upset that the country is going back to how it was 20 years ago.  It’s definitely enough to discourage and anger many. That is when I have to remember that Problems, large and small, will always present themselves to us throughout our whole existence. Regardless of how sharp, clever, or happy-go-lucky we are, we will encounter struggle, challenges, difficulties and at times, heart wrenching moments.  That is one of the greatest reasons that we have religion. Think for a second what is the essence of religion?  “Religion is people telling stories of hope.” When we are discouraged about personal concerns, health issues, or national and world events. When you face difficult challenges, when your heart is broken, what gets you through it?