That is, if I truly believe why I’m here is why I’m here.

But if I write why I think I’m here, many of you won’t want to hear it. Then again, many will, but then eventually they won’t. That’s something I found out – albeit several weeks after I wrote what I wrote – with one of my recent columns about one of the biggest wedges ever introduced to our political spectrum, known as Tina Peters and the idiocy that always seems to surround her antics and lawbreaking.

To quote another famous person who seems surrounded by insane actions: “Oops, I did it again.”

But back to what’s perplexing me in my personal and professional life. And what should scare all of you to varying degrees depending how you interpret 900 words or so every week. Trust me, I ponder this all the time, and so should you. It’s mankind’s most-often-asked question: Why am I here?

Permit me to answer for me. I’m here, in Grand Junction, Colorado, owning a newspaper that has somehow survived with me at the helm for 25 years – in spite of my leadership, recessions, 9/11, fiscal crisis on national, epic levels and God knows what else – to do one thing: Present my best take on what I think is God’s perspective on life, faith and hope as I see it and spread it to the masses, no matter how small my mass is on this blue dot God chose out of all the dots He created on that first day.

That’s it. Even for those of you who can’t see the hand of God in what I do, think or say must admit I’m only here by the grace of God. Oh, the blessed irony in that line.

But with such amazing grace comes responsibility. I was talking to my Heavenly-sent Sensei the other night – well, talking in the current vernacular known as texting – discussing my last column about the death threats and threats toward my daughters that came from folks most people would describe as “right-wingers,” and even he was adamant I get up each morning and “put on the armor of God” in my role as publisher of this “tiny” publication in western Colorado, to paraphrase some jackwagon back east who started all the threats.

And why do I have to put on said armor? Sadly, only because I speak my mind. And then I am silly enough to put my name on it – unlike those “numb-nutzes” who anonymously threatened me while I could see their names on caller ID or had their emails from their posts to my website. Did I say I love irony? Then again, these folks think I shouldn’t be allowed to write my opinion because dumb people may follow my writing and do dumb, and harmful, stuff all while following the writings of someone asking or telling them to do dumb and harmful stuff. But they think words can’t spark violence – while both sides declare the other side’s words indeed do just that.

Yes, I see the (frightening) irony there as well.

Back to my chat with Sensei. I came to this conclusion: If I need to put a statement of why I’m here, it comes down to this from the Book of Ephesians, chapter 6, verse 12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Now, name the one entity that fits this description. Allow me to assist if you’re struggling. Yes, I know many of you know before you read the next line. It’s government. Particularly governments that believe nothing is above them, which best describes what almost all levels of government in the United States have become. The be all, end all of every aspect of life. Ironically along with them, the life government “allows” you to live.

And I say allows for a simple reason, the reason they call them lawmakers. The only reason they make laws is for control. It sure isn’t to expand and protect freedom.

They make laws because they need lawbreakers. They also make laws, so they can allow special lawbreaking, so they can create more laws, because they create more lawbreakers. I know that sounds convoluted, but we have the perfect example happening on the streets of Minneapolis right now. And it’s spreading.

We have immigration laws. Laws about our borders. Laws protecting the “inalienable” rights of citizenship. Bad laws on top of bad laws. Yet only select ones are allowed to be broken, or protected, or violated or enforced – always when it’s too late – and people are dying as a result. Is our government allowing this because it’s better to play politics with people’s lives whether immigrant – legal or not – or citizen?

On a somewhat lighter note, how else do you explain Lauren Boebert harping about the President not wanting “clean water” for rural Colorado? Is she saying she really doesn’t care if folks drank dirty water the past 60 years unless it benefits her political “career?”

Closer to home, how else can you explain Jason Nguyen saying the people should boycott businesses that don’t agree with his “vision” for Grand Junction? Is he saying only certain businesses should be allowed to thrive as only he sees fit?

I see the answer to the above as yes. How can I not write against such things?

So, yes, I’ll keep writing. Because the One should be above them, is above me.

It’s why I’m here. In Truth and freedom.

Craig Hall is owner and publisher of The Business Times. Reach him at 424-5133 or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com