tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90445716292934884182024-03-05T02:06:30.128-05:00Bags All Packedmeemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104303592278897991noreply@blogger.comBlogger395125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044571629293488418.post-44223773929001657612022-11-05T12:30:00.006-04:002022-11-05T14:31:25.293-04:00Slippin' and Slidin'<p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNP_draQeH8kZgPYT5O4z8Z40J67MjG26nm8rFi1ktP7AY6IdCYho8xiHt0i4qV2K9LlBGP6LXCIEhECqMK3_JVHEFoZszzcJvCyB2a4Zu7YFAxzSa1qc3Jy1qaK0HOeJF6UuGwvWYvFTa_T4dTMb3tpt_rFDidaC3clI94KSxXpFLEjYvxF5fybPQQ/s864/FUR.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="692" data-original-width="864" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNP_draQeH8kZgPYT5O4z8Z40J67MjG26nm8rFi1ktP7AY6IdCYho8xiHt0i4qV2K9LlBGP6LXCIEhECqMK3_JVHEFoZszzcJvCyB2a4Zu7YFAxzSa1qc3Jy1qaK0HOeJF6UuGwvWYvFTa_T4dTMb3tpt_rFDidaC3clI94KSxXpFLEjYvxF5fybPQQ/w420-h335/FUR.jpeg" width="420" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> I'm s<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue";">lippin' and slidin' under the radar.</span></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;">I've been pushing the envelope for the past month to get my website up and running. Old eyes, waning energy, and old ways of doing things in this modern world made the task that once was so easy, but now is triple difficult. But I did it and the push to get it done was a growing concern and an ill boding of something wicked rising.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">All the true Christian influencers that I trust seem to be getting the same message - buckle up, slide into Plan B.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Given that I am not an influencer I was not sure why I felt the need to create a bridge, an alternative Plan B and thus a place to escape from the platform provided free by the great and powerful Gog - [btw, nothing is free, Gog gets something out of it or I would have been kicked aside long ago]. </p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">So, It's up and running, though just in its infancy, still needs tweaking and adding to, and until any and all things determined to be 'Christian' or that goes against the current stream of consciousness narrative is outlawed, I will continue posting there. </p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">As long as this site is up, I might post here from time to time. </p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Maybe.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Two links:</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://bagsallpacked.com" target="_blank">bagsallpacked.com</a></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://bagsallpacked.com/posts.html" target="_blank">Fast link to new posts</a></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">For Him</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">:)meema</p>meemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104303592278897991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044571629293488418.post-60753997086072956412022-10-16T08:43:00.000-04:002022-10-16T08:43:19.681-04:00Endings & Beginnings<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqpAPQSDQIXrmXWowwhvEsERgcMDUHOCkm7-w1ARUPaoYqK4dDjML2vZdPT26g1zNMSPrFomB_CEV18kbhuo4GphDHfhOfLFHo2kSYQ5anVnfZ1ODiVpg-t-aN8meD9oY_JbaR5HQI7IsULlHodLEYYcZrkz-eugk9mHKdsdVUtWy-fnL8RFTDyJtqQ/s720/endings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="621" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqpAPQSDQIXrmXWowwhvEsERgcMDUHOCkm7-w1ARUPaoYqK4dDjML2vZdPT26g1zNMSPrFomB_CEV18kbhuo4GphDHfhOfLFHo2kSYQ5anVnfZ1ODiVpg-t-aN8meD9oY_JbaR5HQI7IsULlHodLEYYcZrkz-eugk9mHKdsdVUtWy-fnL8RFTDyJtqQ/w323-h374/endings.jpg" width="323" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">All things old are new again, they say. If you live long enough you get to see things change and then come back again - hip huggers and bell bottom pants come to mind. </span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">It feels as though I have come full circle. Back to the beginning. Back to simple.</span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">When I started this blog in 2011, I was encouraged to 'monetize' it, which, of course, also gave Goggle a share of the potential income. But I wasn't interested. I just wanted to post my thoughts and observations as I had done for a decade in my old website. But blogging seemed to be the modern step I needed to make so I jumped in with no expectations other than making a new place to share my perspective on life and the human condition, gently showing, not just telling, why having a personal relationship with Christ was possible even without manmade religion, which I know is tantamount to heresy. </span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I did eventually add links to books that my grandkids and I published but I didn't make those the reason for the blog. My goal wasn't about making money off my blog, in any form. As usual it has mostly been an outlet for me to write and thereby find out what I think. </span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I know many, if not most, sites exist to produce income but I have to say when I enter a website and the first thing that happens is I am interrupted with a text block asking for my email and/or a subscription before I can continue, I usually click off. I may or may not make the effort to get to what I went in there to read. </span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Regardless, whatever the owner/author wished to tell me apparently wasn't as important as getting me to subscribe/fund the effort. But the worst is when I enter a site that has one or more blinking, animated ads demanding my attention, I can't click off quick enough. Why is this not understood, that you cannot bully me to look at, much less buy, your product, not just by advertisers but also by the host site that allows it? I guess being old school I am missing how this marketing strategy is supposed to work. </span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I do appreciate that there are folks who actually subscribed and followed my blog. I have enjoyed the comments from those who wanted to add to the topic. Since the notification function was removed, (I suspect because there was money to be made by forcing me to subscribe to a new notification service), there are no more announcements of new posts sent out. For me that was just another nudge toward returning to my old ways of doing things anyway. If I'm going to be talking to myself I prefer to do it on my own terms, in my own space.</span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">As I've always said, the day does come and change is unstoppable. Nevertheless, even as I do not resist change, I still cling to old ways when they make more sense. I'm severely practical like that. </span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">My focus now is on keeping things simple even as the world becomes more complex ... and the new normal is monetized. While I still have eyes to see and albeit old, but still reliable, skill sets, I just want to share things and hope they can enlighten, mentor, comfort and encourage anyone who wishes to hit the download link. </span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, this is sort of an ending but also a return to the beginning. I'll be posting in my new website (when I get it up and running) from this point forward. No subscriptions needed, no ads, and no notifications when new stuff is added. But, of course, the old way of bookmarking the site is still possible. </span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm just an old lady, with an old lady's perspective on what matters and what doesn't. My bags are all packed, waiting for my ticket home. In the meantime, I am doing what I still can do while I still can do it.</span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I will post the link when the site goes live.</span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">For Him,</span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Meema</span></p>meemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104303592278897991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044571629293488418.post-850514449957647722022-09-22T07:15:00.000-04:002022-09-22T07:15:06.360-04:00Change<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRQo6ZzJr1x_5yR3h3aWhi5A40NaT37xVhoIbHek3IXhN0kmZUqEEdJeQio2HUVI3cGmDIgyuPGm4R_yYC0CjYOVQ5bHKg6MBtlJI2sDrxPknANBpQnuKLHv_MHJsIelwhONeeCJ8htIwZQy_HRbP8dI-iY7jn1zt8jUhJckOpxI9ZqeNkbIUfzU11Q/s2642/change.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1428" data-original-width="2642" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRQo6ZzJr1x_5yR3h3aWhi5A40NaT37xVhoIbHek3IXhN0kmZUqEEdJeQio2HUVI3cGmDIgyuPGm4R_yYC0CjYOVQ5bHKg6MBtlJI2sDrxPknANBpQnuKLHv_MHJsIelwhONeeCJ8htIwZQy_HRbP8dI-iY7jn1zt8jUhJckOpxI9ZqeNkbIUfzU11Q/w563-h304/change.jpg" width="563" /></a></div><br /> <b style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">When I was 11, I woke up one morning and realized that I was too old to play with dolls anymore. This was just prior to the first Barbie doll being introduced so the epiphany probably came at a good time otherwise I might have hung on a bit longer. My collection of plastic actors that performed great stories from my imagination were all small dolls of one kind or another including one Madam Alexander doll that is likely worth a bundle now.</b><p></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>But, given the way I am constructed, once I see an end to something, I do not drag it out, I finish and move on. So, I carefully packed my beloved assorted dolls into an old shoe box and, as a way to punctuate my decision, I walked next door, rang the bell and handed my childhood over to our neighbors' five year old daughter. </b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Done and done. </b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>In keeping with my usual way to process great change, I sat in my swing in our backyard and pondered my next step. I knew it was an ending but also a beginning, though I didn't know for what.</b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>To give my imagination a chance to adjust to not having dolls to act out my epic dramas I switched to writing stories on notebook paper. I could not bring myself to give them titles, because that would be too presumptuous of me, as though I thought I was an author or something. Sometimes I would make sketches in the margins of characters I envisioned in my compositions. When I was done I folded the paper and stuffed it in the bottom drawer of the vanity, deep under my socks. It wasn't long before I progressed to writing poetry and eventually a journal called 'Shadows Speaking' ....ohhhh....so deep.</b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>In reflective moments I wish I could read those early efforts. Then in keeping with my done-is-done attitude, I conclude the keeping of the memory as an ideal is usually better than the reality. </b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>As I have aged out I have passed through many such phases. Always determined that just because I have reached a clear reason to end a thing does not signal the end, but rather just announces a closure that allows for a new door to be passed through. </b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>As my eyesight wanes due to glaucoma, I have been looking ahead and wondering what is next that I might still be able to do. But first I can't help but revel in all the things I have done only because God inspired me to keep looking/moving forward, even as I have had to let go of things that were destined to pass. As I simmer gently in reflection seasoned with gratitude, I can't think of a single thing to complain about.</b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>I've always marched to a different drum beat and therefore I, more often than not, never quite fit into the mainstream or a collective. When I have tried to write about what it's like to be an 'older' only someone who is old, like I, could possibly understand. When I read blogs or commentary of those who are fifteen to twenty years behind me, I don't know how to say, 'been there done that' without sounding like a boring know-it-all. </b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>One thing I have sworn to not be is an old lady who only wants to talk about her past.</b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>However, I do wish I could share what change does to one so that I could also mentor how to keep believing that stepping through the next door is always the end of something but the beginning to something else. </b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>If you step out in faith, God will either make a step or give you wings. </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Been there done that.</b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b>For Him,</b><b></b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Meema</b></p>meemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104303592278897991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044571629293488418.post-34689455569085753602022-09-10T08:36:00.001-04:002022-09-10T08:36:32.185-04:00And Now A Word From Our Sponsor <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmMKzCFxxWyUQa5bgbEu0ix-5exlPmiGOf_rgM5y3MjF4OXm_DQS9cVIgqNVuL6-9j3d_u7LxXqdJxrPnvKxp1NQoejJpcymMXoUF135EGVdntozS391Wwki4Djo0gLe8BBLAmGYf84-krMkampvstSOwCtriPh_FCyT4gCXX-OanjnhqHsY98a6Vzw/s960/slide_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmMKzCFxxWyUQa5bgbEu0ix-5exlPmiGOf_rgM5y3MjF4OXm_DQS9cVIgqNVuL6-9j3d_u7LxXqdJxrPnvKxp1NQoejJpcymMXoUF135EGVdntozS391Wwki4Djo0gLe8BBLAmGYf84-krMkampvstSOwCtriPh_FCyT4gCXX-OanjnhqHsY98a6Vzw/w397-h298/slide_1.jpg" width="397" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>I've often referred to this time in history as being a redo of the movie The Matrix, where everything is just illusion - life imitating art.</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Lately, though, I think it feels more and more like being stuck in a fly-by-night roving carnival. Everything in the center looks lit up, exciting and colorful, even as everything behind the scenes is dismal and all too real.</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>The carnies bark their persuasions to "Come win a prize!" to the passersby even as they know the odds are definitely against those who are willing to give up their money to try to get a bullseye in a moving target or land a ring around a stick. They all know it's just a game. </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Here in carnie world, there is no topic or news so serious, even life altering, that cannot be interrupted by a commercial or a plea for funding. Example: the serious talking head reports a horrific school shooting, then the same voice shifts to a lighter tone to talk about a new product that will make your life so much easier.</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Online sites offer information then either interrupt with a pop up window to ask you to subscribe to the site. "If you appreciate this work, donate today!" "We cannot keep doing this important mission without your help!" "My work is completely sponsor supported!" </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>For me, the worst of the worst, are those who have turned Christianity into a lucrative business. Crazy me, somehow I do not think that is what Christ had in mind when He told the wealthy man to give up all he owned and follow Him. Matthew 19:16-30</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>I have a lifelong memory from my youth of being with my mother as she ironed my father's dress shirts. I was occupied drawing, as I usually did, and she was listening to a broadcast on the radio. It was a preacher she liked, Brother Lester Roloff, who seemed to be a good man, at least in his down to earth preaching and missions.</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>On that day, however, he spent the entire 30 minutes weeping and begging for donations. He pleaded that he would be taken off the air if he did not raise a specific amount of money. </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>As the sermon ended, without looking up I said, "If he preached about Jesus he wouldn't have to beg for money." </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>After a long pause, I felt a sensation that my mother had stopped ironing so I glanced up to see her stunned expression looking down at me. Then she said, almost under her breath, "Out of the mouths of babes." I had no idea what that meant, at the time. </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Of course, as I grew up and read the words in Scripture, the moment was etched in my memory as it all came together. I think it established a boundary for me. Whenever I see humans, declaring themselves to be champions and bearers of the Gospel, even as they pause their mission to sell their products, books, CDs and art, as they amass great wealth in the process, I have to wonder what Jesus thinks. </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>So, what brought all this to mind? </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>I receive emails, multiple times a day, from all sorts of people whose words and thoughts I am interested in. Some are political, some are religious, most are doing what they do as their livelihoods. I guess I get that they solicit me for donations, on average, sometimes more than they give me information. Like all other citizens of the Matrix and visitor to the carnival, I find I am immune to the common phrases used to entice me to give up some of my money, which is a big tell in and of itself.</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Recently I read a lengthy report recalling multiple miracles of Divine Intervention in an American Native Reservation due to the fervent prayers of several simple women. Fires, tornadoes out of nowhere, lightening strikes, all destroying properties of drug cartels, thus answering their prayers for God to “Command the works of the enemy to be destroyed.”</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>At the end of the collection of stories, the author concluded with his plea for support of his ministry. Apparently they were $40,000 short of their 'goal'.</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Talk about a buzz kill.</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>I could not help but recall that day I said a few words that struck my mother so profoundly, that caused her to see a tough truth as well as plant in me the seeds of critical discernment.</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>I wondered if the man who wrote the article about all those inexplicable miracles had not thought to get those women to pray for funding as well, would he have needed to beg for money from strangers?</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>I know that God wants His own to participate, to step up and be willing to put even our lives on the line for Him, but where is the line drawn between praying for His intervention, support and protection and turning the mission into a profitable business?</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Since I cannot answer that, I can only ask that God guide me to to know the difference between His missions and man's missions. </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>For Him,</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Meema</b></p>meemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104303592278897991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044571629293488418.post-60682249886026610562022-09-03T08:19:00.000-04:002022-09-03T08:19:40.112-04:00Handbasket Meet Hell<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnwTCUeFgjCThBMouMfySmmDR3HBZbW58OKQKx1zKaZN5I1YLbJCvY7ad_BiGTQzRSrDIaLtiYox6PLQtkqsMPIlCDuYUoxHxAlRFBjdVvqP3iFL0kNdsejf8eBmqOUkoG1z9H-sqJO5rTsSHvsZ3WCmXT3ccbwZ6tje8UUjL8e3DoJCdQQtDsH6azQ/s1152/dark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="815" data-original-width="1152" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnwTCUeFgjCThBMouMfySmmDR3HBZbW58OKQKx1zKaZN5I1YLbJCvY7ad_BiGTQzRSrDIaLtiYox6PLQtkqsMPIlCDuYUoxHxAlRFBjdVvqP3iFL0kNdsejf8eBmqOUkoG1z9H-sqJO5rTsSHvsZ3WCmXT3ccbwZ6tje8UUjL8e3DoJCdQQtDsH6azQ/w485-h343/dark.jpg" width="485" /></a></div><br /> <b style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; text-align: justify;">Two unrelated but somehow scarily correlated images came up yesterday. One looked like a replay of a 1938 celebration of the Third Reich. The other confirmed that the war with dark principalities is no longer a vague spiritual concept.</b><p></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Though I don't wish to be a Debbie Downer, but I have to warn anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear we have reached a critical point where evil isn't hiding in the shadows anymore. Whereas evil adores itself and cannot resist hiding in plain sight with cryptic symbolism, it seems a door has opened enough to allow the dark imagery and smarmy messaging of minions of satan to gleefully announce their agenda.</b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>How many ways and times can I say, the day does come? Evil has officially risen to a peak of desperate all out push to overcome and erase God's creation. And, I might add, for the record, God is allowing it, for His purpose. </b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Seems to me that time has speeded up too - for the elect's sake? I always wondered what that meant - now I think I know - it means what was a slow sneaky slide is now an unstoppable all out rush to completion. </b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>So, seems like the day has also come to choose whom you will serve. </b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>For Him,</b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Meema</b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Disney goes full out satanism. Watch the trailer but also be sure to watch the second clip to see the performers revel in the chance to give paganism a place at the table. </b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://citizenfreepress.com/breaking/disney-embraces-satan-in-new-show-little-demon/"><b>https://citizenfreepress.com/breaking/disney-embraces-satan-in-new-show-little-demon/</b></a></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Even so, come Lord Jesus. </b></p>meemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104303592278897991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044571629293488418.post-39540703731131735172022-08-19T15:30:00.001-04:002022-08-19T15:30:28.282-04:00The Dark War<p> </p> <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cg5i7OPRaNg" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">On April 3, 1965 a Paul Harvey 'The Rest of The Story' segment was broadcast on ABC Radio titled<i> If I Were The Devil</i>. His clever presentation ,through the viewpoint of satan, gave us some eerily accurate prognostications.</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">First, imagine how different culture was 57 years ago, (excluding the evil things going on even then that we were too naive to envision). And yet Paul Harvey could see ahead to the unimaginable that is now our current reality.</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">In April 1965 I don't specifically recall hearing this broadcast when I was a month away from turning 18, but I'd have to guess I would have tucked it away rather than dismiss it altogether, given I have history with end days predictions, but still when you are 18 you want to move forward hoping for the best. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">However, as sobering as his words were, for all the things beyond conceivable in 1965, Paul Harvey could not have foreseen so much more that satan had planned. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Like, for example, including but not limited to:</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Men who claim to be women are celebrated and deemed acceptable to compete in women's sports and are permitted to walk about naked in showers and locker rooms in front of real women. Even as some men are arrested for indecent exposure. Classic modern hypocrisy; this is okay but this is not, even though it is the same.</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2022/08/the_predatory_male_behavior_of_socalled_transgender_women.html" target="_blank">Click here for more on this topic</a><br /></span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">As bad as this is, even more unthinkable, those who dare to speak out about this insanity are threatened with jail time because it's against the law - or something. Apparently the term 'Hate Speech' can only be defined by certain privileged/woke members of modern society. Thus, if someone claims someone else has hurt his/her/its feelings, that offender ought to go to jail. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I have to bet not even Paul Harvey saw that coming.</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Though he did predict that the concept of marriage would be tossed aside he attributed that to the new societal preference for indiscriminate uncommitted sex. He couldn't forecast the underlying darker agenda for decimation of the family unit which has slowly evolved to ending human reproduction. The less people the better ...to save the earth..or something. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">It would have been a huge leap for him to predict that human fetuses, once considered to be the miracle of life, would be redefined as a clump of cells and therefore not human and more like an invasive tumor that should be removed for the sake of women's health. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSklV2UWS0-6l_5ZvH2EE_t9jGzA4iqXhJrA4TVy-h5xBiZgNTHDw7zLCKrNo-l_iFnjC0Y8X-SntuvCveLknOTa2kiHdXqXRh6qEbxzBeuiXMKoTwQetWwCPfTqBJLOzs75mHAOs2hdGaWVC4N87JwMweQfeRit9rLI6yiF9I_e9fbKfpZyjo7hspPw/s1983/life.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1983" data-original-width="1588" height="569" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSklV2UWS0-6l_5ZvH2EE_t9jGzA4iqXhJrA4TVy-h5xBiZgNTHDw7zLCKrNo-l_iFnjC0Y8X-SntuvCveLknOTa2kiHdXqXRh6qEbxzBeuiXMKoTwQetWwCPfTqBJLOzs75mHAOs2hdGaWVC4N87JwMweQfeRit9rLI6yiF9I_e9fbKfpZyjo7hspPw/w455-h569/life.jpg" width="455" /></a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><p></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I also very much doubt he could have predicted that parents would allow their young children to be exposed to Drag Queen shows, and taught how to pole dance for dollars. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7xjICD4QlpFf4D4zPuZ-0zwlRysg9nV0IeTSLiP3IHP7UVQZJxDvWwlW5vBs27YYiL2bpeLZ3HoXMy8DoALoVOQedXtgPDagISKsc8zA4gUqupTD7AfeZ25SvP3TdgZLgb77wI9xeAg6PdmeeunDweawgKf_N5FrjIBy4uqcHfDbwDW6l7vDLCoitQ/s2702/drag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1826" data-original-width="2702" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7xjICD4QlpFf4D4zPuZ-0zwlRysg9nV0IeTSLiP3IHP7UVQZJxDvWwlW5vBs27YYiL2bpeLZ3HoXMy8DoALoVOQedXtgPDagISKsc8zA4gUqupTD7AfeZ25SvP3TdgZLgb77wI9xeAg6PdmeeunDweawgKf_N5FrjIBy4uqcHfDbwDW6l7vDLCoitQ/w567-h383/drag.jpg" width="567" /></a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><p></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Even as I fully recognize the dark agenda to promote the wholesale reordering and disassembling of the sanctity of life, I find it incomprehensible that medical professionals are eager and willing to mutilate young children in the name of gender identity. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">And, tell me how this is not considered child abuse? </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Harvey foretold that teaching 'feelings' over common sense would be adopted but could he have known that parents would be declared 'Domestic Terrorists' for daring to object to pornographic books allowed in school libraries or the teaching of controversial/political doctrines that undermine and seek to decimate the principles that founded this country?</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">It's not likely he could have known about the coming revolution in worldwide instant communication via the yet to be implemented Internet and cell phones and social media (<i>the second beast in Revelation 13?</i>) so it's not likely he could have foreseen the exponential rise in narcissism that is like a cancer destroying us with the religion of worship of the god of SELF.</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">So, how could he have known that it would take less than 60 years for:</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><ul>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Everything to be interpreted by and through sex, as morality, decency and self-accountability is deemed old fashioned and thus abandoned</span></b></li>
</ul><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">• Lies to be more readily believed than truth</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">• Illusion accepted as better than reality </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">• Science redefined to explain the preferred illusion as unquestionable</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">• Definitions constantly changed to accommodate lies</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">• Mental illness/insanity embraced as 'diversity, inclusion and equity'</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">• Criminals excused and released without bail as their victims are ignored and/or vilified</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><ul>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Rampant open use of lethal illegal drugs, promoted and provided by government even as billions of tax dollars have been spent on the 'War on Drugs'</span></b></li>
</ul><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">• Corporations assuming political positions and therefore not caring that they alienate potential customers/clients so long as they are seen as virtuous by those in power</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">• The rise of a global dictatorship operating disguised as 'democracy' in keeping with the new world order of lies more acceptable than truth to a now sufficiently dumbed down population. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">How ironically predictive and sadly true that Paul Harvey's foresight and wisdom would never be allowed to be broadcast by any modern media today. He would be cancelled, banned by Facebook and Twitter as hate speech/disinformation and perhaps even jailed, never to be heard from again. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">And the devil smiles bigly - for now.</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">For Him,</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Meema</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Headlines from 2022 that would shock even Paul Harvey</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNYh7LdHV6Mz7J5f0Vh0pmM8LVSxKyNHj6DXhrLji6PmFSR__C6UFWPp9FiC84GrSI5di8qEISNg0-NQvlrN1P0ByqptHrAPbuhB94x3bTJx9Tqpr8-zmhkWSIIUxmYRS0x_AlFN4Ob2tr_luRXTQzwi6-a9dj9wW3BkcYMAXO3sJff3yiCfM0N3CjA/s2054/headlines.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1684" data-original-width="2054" height="479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNYh7LdHV6Mz7J5f0Vh0pmM8LVSxKyNHj6DXhrLji6PmFSR__C6UFWPp9FiC84GrSI5di8qEISNg0-NQvlrN1P0ByqptHrAPbuhB94x3bTJx9Tqpr8-zmhkWSIIUxmYRS0x_AlFN4Ob2tr_luRXTQzwi6-a9dj9wW3BkcYMAXO3sJff3yiCfM0N3CjA/w585-h479/headlines.png" width="585" /></a></b></div><b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><p></p><div><b><br /></b></div><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"> </div></blockquote>meemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104303592278897991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044571629293488418.post-14721364201377401572022-08-12T13:52:00.001-04:002022-08-12T13:52:25.364-04:00Salt and Light<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3geWaABJ1401I3Q6lMSv44PVso0X7B1kquifRda2yqL8jUqKFQokC3Am5PPWzaJwCXggwAsc3_DBYvUZrNsvPNRjFrBaofHFNV1IcgysgI5tMt6yBnp7j7kQS5TVqSc--YG0MUYp2PAdTVyYC8Vaj5Ajj5KZcZehYTkOb-xt0e8qTT6giQUfryzylA/s1698/salt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1698" data-original-width="1315" height="453" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3geWaABJ1401I3Q6lMSv44PVso0X7B1kquifRda2yqL8jUqKFQokC3Am5PPWzaJwCXggwAsc3_DBYvUZrNsvPNRjFrBaofHFNV1IcgysgI5tMt6yBnp7j7kQS5TVqSc--YG0MUYp2PAdTVyYC8Vaj5Ajj5KZcZehYTkOb-xt0e8qTT6giQUfryzylA/w351-h453/salt.jpg" width="351" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><b></b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">In her last seven years, my older sister, Jo, and I had a weekly routine of going out and about. At least once a month we had pedicures and lunch and then poked around in a favorite second hand shop before our final stop for groceries, then home for a nap. Old lady stuff.</span></b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">One of our frequent destinations included the Kohls department store where we bought clothing that we didn't need. The last couple of years, before she became ill, we, more often than not, left without buying anything because apparently the company garment 'buyers' decided that plus-sized old ladies really should like hip hugger pants and tops with necklines that plunge to center chest.</span></b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Spoiler alert: as you age out and you cross through all sorts of thresholds, given that you reach peak and the downward slide moves you along at an accelerated pace, you learn to accept what you cannot change - like fashion, social customs, language and certain predictable cause/effect outcomes based on hard earned experience. </span></b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">In other words, there is no use kicking against the pricks when you know your opinion is no longer germane and has zero impact whatsoever. Jo and I complained to each other but it was just our way of venting frustration on the inevitability of becoming irrelevant. </span></b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Among other things we also grumbled about thin pale type used in everything from instructions to advertising to web pages because it is the 'trend' and not in the least bit practical for old eyes. But trend is how new replaces old as each new generation seeks to find and establish its unique significance. It is a force to be reckoned with as much as it is a circle. One day the current trend influencers will be shocked to find another generation has replaced them too. What goes 'round comes 'round.</span></b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Often change is a good thing, of course, though sometimes it is not, even as it is inevitable and unstoppable. For every change that seems to advance civilization there is often a downside that can be cited. Anyone with an ounce of intuition or discernment or who has lived here on this ongoing experiment for fifty or more years can make a list of such gives and takes in the repeating process of the rise and fall of civilization. Personally my list is very long but again, my voice is like a tinkling bell in a wind storm so I'll focus on one example.</span></b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Salt shakers.</span></b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">In this modern fast-paced world, simple, and what works, and has always worked, is relegated to antique category and is therefore no longer acceptable, often ending up in garage sales and second hand shops.</span></b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">New inventions influenced by modern tech, most usually with complex internal workings that require batteries and/or periodic charging, have all but replaced tools that simply stood at the ready to do a specific job. Like the now antiquated small glass container with holes in the lid that held already ground up salt. </span></b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">With a simple pick up and shake over a plate of food, added, without drama or a need to whack or stop to replace the batteries or clean off the battery connections due to corrosion, the tool for using the ancient ingredient that has always represented enhancing, adding onto and preserving does exactly what it was designed to do. No muss no fuss. </span></b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I cannot help but see a painful allegory to Matthew 5:13 as I continue to console myself that I am salt that has lost its savor. Then I wonder if I am the salt or should I be the simple shaker that is always ready to do the job, however small and unnoticeable and un-modern?</span></b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Then Matthew 5:14 declares that we should be the light too because a town built on a hill cannot be hidden. </span></b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">So, at this age, I might be completely out of step in terms of the latest trend, but like an old fashioned salt shaker that can't stop me from doing what I was crafted to do. I keep on keeping on, pertinent or not to the here and now. </span></b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">So many things I can no longer do. But I can pray, I write and let God determine the relevance. In new, modern texting shorthand vernacular:</span></b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Be salty - stay lit. </span></b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">For Him,</span></b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Meema</span></b></p><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDKkdYSVm0IpSDfrMBrKQYrhw_6Yuf9YRsz4_-XW2PzDVYbH_TJCymq5JaxWom4xZOV86UtVMbsqxM_jYPtD1Cl0CRpgusF03NkAw2kbn9JkHDtE-mbZTF4FR-zInfqpMpKCyWV_SZCKbx-vW936jTKz-WK39xbHL602FMf_GdZdgK3DLo9nHmuctXA/s1786/matthew5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1786" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUDKkdYSVm0IpSDfrMBrKQYrhw_6Yuf9YRsz4_-XW2PzDVYbH_TJCymq5JaxWom4xZOV86UtVMbsqxM_jYPtD1Cl0CRpgusF03NkAw2kbn9JkHDtE-mbZTF4FR-zInfqpMpKCyWV_SZCKbx-vW936jTKz-WK39xbHL602FMf_GdZdgK3DLo9nHmuctXA/w479-h257/matthew5.jpg" width="479" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b></div></div>meemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104303592278897991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044571629293488418.post-55989941902708438592022-07-28T13:10:00.000-04:002022-07-28T13:10:46.108-04:00Enough Meet Never<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWQwejoAoIAVqxTSTgRuHzrQRirDOuhqMSbIB3igbZEeayo_OwDKQt5csHIVn_V9q0H1yWVifSXbgyOQd8VuTOew4enk1FsxlnIXuLC0AUYIDq6LVSl6oHXPx6Dk8YKMoLzTeKk6-utKZDeyM6bMFwANcZbrNNJHQnuB9Pc6FCIC-3GucrBkP4VilOQ/s868/enough2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="837" data-original-width="868" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlWQwejoAoIAVqxTSTgRuHzrQRirDOuhqMSbIB3igbZEeayo_OwDKQt5csHIVn_V9q0H1yWVifSXbgyOQd8VuTOew4enk1FsxlnIXuLC0AUYIDq6LVSl6oHXPx6Dk8YKMoLzTeKk6-utKZDeyM6bMFwANcZbrNNJHQnuB9Pc6FCIC-3GucrBkP4VilOQ/w439-h424/enough2.jpg" width="439" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>This is #7 in a series</b></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>The links form here:</b></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #734e78; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://bagsallpacked.blogspot.com/2022/06/rock-meet-bottom.html"><b>Part 1: Rock Meet Bottom</b></a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0000e3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://bagsallpacked.blogspot.com/2022/06/plenty-meet-dearth.html"><b>Part 2: Plenty Meet Dearth</b><span style="color: #0000e3;"><b></b></span></a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0000e3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://bagsallpacked.blogspot.com/2022/06/safe-meet-free.html"><b>Part 3: Safe Meet Free</b><span style="color: #0000e3;"><b></b></span></a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #734e78; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://bagsallpacked.blogspot.com/2022/06/godly-meet-godless.html"><b>Part 4: Godly Meet Godless</b></a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0000e3; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #734e78; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://bagsallpacked.blogspot.com/2022/07/logic-meet-absurdity.html"><b>Part 5: Logic Meet Absurdity </b></a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #734e78; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b></b></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://bagsallpacked.blogspot.com/2022/07/good-meet-evil.html" target="_blank">Part 6: Good Meet Evil</a></b></p><p>---------------------------------------------------------------------</p><p><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Wrapping up this series I want to point out that if you live long enough you are likely to be able to claim you have pretty much seen it all, and/or done it all, and interacted with most every kind of human personality type - the good, the bad, and the ugly - all of which affords you a type of hard earned wisdom.</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Thus once you have had such experiences you can probably also claim you can spot from a fairly good distance and predict certain dark circumstances looming and problematic people rising up, which hopefully gives you a heads up and time and opportunity to run the other way. </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>In the previous posts in this series I have been somewhat focused on the dire state of the world in this moment in the continuum and how we got here. I know how things begin, slowly, innocently, and then, over time, get taken over by those who are determined to hold power over others. Not to mention how easily those 'others' are willing to be overtaken. </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>In almost every case the rule of thumb can be established at FOLLOW THE MONEY. But that isn't the whole answer. </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>When those who have amassed more money than they can spend in two lifetimes keep striving to manipulate how the rest of us live, there must be another influence. I have tried to pin down the cause for this repeating formula in human history, (other than satan seeking to destroy us, of course).</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>It occurred to me that the patterns that repeat over and over again on the large scale are just reflections of the way humans tend to overdo and have insatiable appetites for more. It doesn't matter whether it is a collective, for example, like a government, or large corporation, or it is a single entity like a mayor or HOA president, a supervisor or even domineering family member, those who are determined to have things go their way seem to know how to manipulate others to get the results they think they want. </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>It is also why we, as we exist in the flesh, have to be changed somehow because we would never be happy in paradise. We would soon get bored with status quo no matter how good and perfect it is.</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>This is a mechanism in our DNA that, on the upside, drives us to carry on in spite of difficulty, but it also interferes with our ability to pause and be grateful. As I have said before, there are two dimensions to this, flesh and spiritual, and on the flesh side is about how childish human nature is and that it cannot grow up beyond toddler stage. Toddlers are never satisfied. Toddlers always want more.</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>The downside is, once we achieve what we think we want, we find that it is never enough. More has to be acquired. The finish line moves. This is when that which was benign often becomes toxic. </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>On a global scale what starts as a small advancement is never going to be enough. And thus, unless something stops the madness, will continue on to become the final undoing of modernity as we know it. History is replete with the rise and fall of civilizations. Apparently we just never learn.</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>In the human condition, this often manifests as those who are never quite happy, regardless how blessed they are, their internal drive is restless and forever wanting more and therefore often endlessly expecting more from others. This can show up in any manner of ways, like gaslighting and passive/aggressive behaviors. At the worst it manifests as various forms of psychopathy. </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>At rock bottom it shows up as oppressive tyranny.</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>If I was pressed to declare the underlying cause of most of the ways society ruins itself with the insatiable quest for more, I'd have to go with - lack of gratitude. When nothing is enough it is because there is neither perspective or boundary of when enough is actually enough. </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Much wants more and loses all, as the Aesop fable warns.</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>So, here's my conclusion - I still have no idea how bad it will get before it gets better. All I know is that while my human side has learned, by experience, what to look out for, what my spirit has gained in the learning curve, is that, while we were designed to keep moving forward, gratitude is a profound attitude changer and the antidote to the toddler nature that often needs disciplined. </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>When this fundamental reality is truly embraced is when amazing things happen that are then truly more than enough. </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>In that I find peace and rest.</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>For Him,</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Meema</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></p>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_konpE3pcMw" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>meemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104303592278897991noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044571629293488418.post-24075705802118842682022-07-19T07:47:00.003-04:002022-07-21T06:26:02.705-04:00Good Meet Evil<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNK4e7TprO7QrIcC5Af4Fk0nKFOE9CkvMYF-IjCe6L8UpbDA0oJJJQz6J8APpILBC3xggSsOsES0_yZnSoPts2YGqXCXsr9n2oCLvZOBvaKBJxeQr8dTtMKr5AurqQpO8F39eJIzH2yNdhazh8Hh69EUHJA16Qk2n3UFTuDQQILFQ5fcEeQ5e1cvnjw/s640/goodvsevil2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="545" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjNK4e7TprO7QrIcC5Af4Fk0nKFOE9CkvMYF-IjCe6L8UpbDA0oJJJQz6J8APpILBC3xggSsOsES0_yZnSoPts2YGqXCXsr9n2oCLvZOBvaKBJxeQr8dTtMKr5AurqQpO8F39eJIzH2yNdhazh8Hh69EUHJA16Qk2n3UFTuDQQILFQ5fcEeQ5e1cvnjw/w377-h442/goodvsevil2.jpg" width="377" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>This is #6 in an ongoing series</b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>The links form here:</b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0000e9; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://bagsallpacked.blogspot.com/2022/06/rock-meet-bottom.html" target="_blank">Part 1: Rock Meet Bottom</a></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0000e9; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://bagsallpacked.blogspot.com/2022/06/plenty-meet-dearth.html" target="_blank">Part 2: Plenty Meet Dearth</a></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0000e9; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://bagsallpacked.blogspot.com/2022/06/safe-meet-free.html" target="_blank">Part 3: Safe Meet Free</a></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0000e9; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://bagsallpacked.blogspot.com/2022/06/godly-meet-godless.html" target="_blank">Part 4: Godly Meet Godless</a></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0000e9; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0000e9; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://bagsallpacked.blogspot.com/2022/07/logic-meet-absurdity.html" target="_blank">Part 5: Logic Meet Absurdity </a></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0000e9; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #0000e9; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b></b>----------------------------------------------------------------------</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The signs are like blinking neon lights that we are deep into the edges of a major turning point in human history as insanity/mental illness has now been redefined and embraced as 'diversity'. </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">But what I think and say is of little consequence. I am not a known name, I am not an influencer and so I could write a million words and still it would be like a teardrop hitting the middle of the ocean.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">However, lately, I've heard and read some very interesting commentary from others, from the most unexpected sources, that have made my heart quicken. Is it possible that eyes are opening? And would it not be ironic if the opened eyes, that are now seeing the real cause underneath the demise of our civilization were not those of the preachers or well known Christians but of those who claim to be 'not religious' or who have been staunch supporters of liberal ideals which are generally speaking not particularly in line with Christian values?</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">What has sparked my attention is the calling out of the overtly demonic influences in every corner of our society. Evil is being called out as what it is ... well... demonic.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Just a few examples:</span></p>
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<ul>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The decimation of the basic distinct male and female biological reality. </span></li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Human sacrifice renamed as 'women's health'. </span></li>
</ul>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">• Debased, pornographic sexualizing even the youngest of children in schools and libraries is praised as 'equity'. </span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">• Self defense against an assaulter is now a criminal act. </span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">• Calling for violence and insurrection is noble (unless it is against the accepted narrative). And those who dare to declare the Emperor is naked (and demented) are summarily silenced, vilified, canceled and destroyed. </span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">• Up is down, down is up, good is evil, evil is good. I believe there is Scripture that predicts such a set of circumstances covering the world like poisonous mold ( Isaiah 5:20 ; 2 Timothy 3:1).</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, here it is - my interpretation of what is underneath the rise of evil, that has been redefined and celebrated as VIRTUOUS and RIGHTEOUS and now being called out as 'demonic' by others:</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, it is demonic but let's call out who/what has been allowed to direct the script - it's satan pulling out all the stops using his minions in an all out determination to destroy God's creation. Is this, then, the time for sorting of the wheat and tares? What has been hidden is now being revealed? Those who refuse to see are blinded lest they see?</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Spoiler alert: What the minions don't know is that, first, they are minions, with no original ideas, everything they believe and stand for was planted in their minds that they should believe the lie and therefore bring to completion God's plan. (After all, God did write the script and knows how the story ends).</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">And second, they also are oblivious to the harsh reality that satan could care less what happens to them when he is done with them - they are all expendable. Thus they will reap the rewards they have so faithfully earned.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">One day, hopefully sooner than later. </span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">We, as Christians, who adhere to what is now deemed archaic principals, are often silenced by Scripture taken out of context and sharpened into a weapon to keep us in stand down mode. When evil is taking advantage of the faithful, we are told to love our enemies and pray for them. We are told to turn the other cheek instead of defending against assault. But the Holy Scriptures are full of circumstances that allow for Christians to stand up for what is truly right, rather than be subservient to evil. Christ turned over the sellers tables in the Temple, did He not? </span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Conclusion: I'm not required to love satan or his minions but I am allowed to discern who the enemy is and resist anything that is clearly in direct opposition to God. That includes, btw, fallen Christianity, of every denomination, that has acquiesced to the current stream of consciousness in order to go along to get along lest those who have amassed great wealth under the disguise of Christianity lose their standing.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b><i></i></b><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">To wink at iniquity for the sake of peace is not a proof of superior spirituality; it is rather a sign of a reprehensible timidity which dare not oppose sin for fear of the consequences. For it will cost us heavily to stand for the right when the wrong is in the majority, which is 100 percent of the time. </span></i></b></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">~ A.W. Tozer</span></i></b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b></b><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b></b><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">For Him,</span></b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Meema</span></b></p><div><b><br /></b></div></div><p><br /> </p>meemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104303592278897991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044571629293488418.post-57092360377256102852022-07-17T09:01:00.002-04:002022-07-17T09:05:30.500-04:00Logic Meet Absurdity<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr2Yao03HCaqJIxBLAOM_PrjKRx7vg5n2L8ugFPnRv0M6VHo61oRh9q0EmKGkqbfN1PKPGSIYyewLCLxr4LH521xeZ1li0oR-bdaOjUhhiF9QYmGkSXUcyIKBIZJS-A63SB5UU4JMkdo6GaiRH89AniH1-s0ynzfPmQqGOhOfn0tHaqFLA0MVQy3Ki5A/s1152/herds.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="935" data-original-width="1152" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr2Yao03HCaqJIxBLAOM_PrjKRx7vg5n2L8ugFPnRv0M6VHo61oRh9q0EmKGkqbfN1PKPGSIYyewLCLxr4LH521xeZ1li0oR-bdaOjUhhiF9QYmGkSXUcyIKBIZJS-A63SB5UU4JMkdo6GaiRH89AniH1-s0ynzfPmQqGOhOfn0tHaqFLA0MVQy3Ki5A/w532-h432/herds.jpg" width="532" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>This is #5 in a continuing series.</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">The links form here:</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://bagsallpacked.blogspot.com/2022/06/rock-meet-bottom.html">Part 1: Rock Meet Bottom</a></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://bagsallpacked.blogspot.com/2022/06/plenty-meet-dearth.html">Part 2: Plenty Meet Dearth</a></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://bagsallpacked.blogspot.com/2022/06/safe-meet-free.html">Part 3: Safe Meet Free</a></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://bagsallpacked.blogspot.com/2022/06/godly-meet-godless.html" target="_blank">Part 4: Godly Meet Godless</a><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">-----------------------------------------------</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">When you dig out and isolate all the bits and pieces that have contributed to the current insanity that has taken over the wheel, you find a recurring pattern underneath. </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Something starts randomly, but not necessarily negatively, but overtime is hijacked and morphs into something else, more often than not, dark and agenda driven. This is likely the most common cause of most of the missteps that lead to pain and suffering on earth. Human misinterpretation, misuse, and skewing a thing to fit a mindset or narrative results in absurdity and sometimes war, almost always contributing to the final demise of civilization. </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">One might conclude the pattern seems diabolically planned.</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Using just one example I've done cursory research on the history of veganism, which has morphed from a lifestyle choice based on personal taste, perceived health advantages, religion, and animal rights into what is now a solution for saving the planet. Here, nearing the end of this cycle, plant based meat is gaining a type of acceptable normality, meaning more and more food processors are jumping on the band wagon and might explain why Bill Gates and George Soros are buying up thousands of acres of American farm land. </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">But I digress.</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fifty years ago I only knew one vegan. She was raised on a farm and had great sympathy for the pigs her dad raised specifically to become food. She was not a crusader or champion for animal rights, she just could not eat the animals she once fed and cared for. And she was not self-righteous about it. It was a personal choice.</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Flash forward to forty years ago, veganism became a war cry for animal rights. I once saw a bumper sticker on a car that said it all - Eating Meat Is Murder!. </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now skip ahead to twenty years ago when not eating animals became a war cry for saving the earth from _______________ {fill in the blank - cooling/warming/change}. Apparently raising herds of animals to become food harms the environment because they pass gas... or something. </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's my question: </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">If/when the vegan animal rights activists get their way, and no one is allowed to raise animals for the purpose of food for humans, what will we do with the animals? Will they be eliminated? Will that cause the animal rights activists to step in to condemn eliminating animals? Will animals then be allowed to live wild and open range, free to procreate? </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Will they still pass gas? </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Globally farmers and ranchers are now being required to reduce their herds because of the 'harm' done to the earth by the animals passing gas. Has anyone noticed the huge wild herds of four-legged hooved animals running amuck all over the world and especially in Africa and Alaska? </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do they pass gas? </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here in the Age of the Great Delusion - given logic and reason have been all but outlawed, absurdities just keep coming and get worse with each passing day. Like a snake eating its own tail there is no rationale that produces a good conclusion.</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Apparently the 'PLAN' is working. </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">For Him,</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Meema</span></p><div><b><br /></b></div>meemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104303592278897991noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044571629293488418.post-65157577357578401742022-06-26T08:13:00.002-04:002022-06-26T08:16:04.252-04:00Godly Meet Godless<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicreN9nPyE-Hbjw8gmPzHSZxNPwAlehCkJt2aMKUXxTUEJf_AU-wRiiOMQnhSDc1-6--ddmYXh3qwu3OHeAbl6kLK6FHOvBvS8sFaMYNwlx689YrrgRinqPVaflAqsx8-smN4gfs-F2vNTSLY7QLEtwAIAqdAkZcCsZfdJI2TkpFAmhV-PJUkI4lTgVQ/s864/values.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="864" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicreN9nPyE-Hbjw8gmPzHSZxNPwAlehCkJt2aMKUXxTUEJf_AU-wRiiOMQnhSDc1-6--ddmYXh3qwu3OHeAbl6kLK6FHOvBvS8sFaMYNwlx689YrrgRinqPVaflAqsx8-smN4gfs-F2vNTSLY7QLEtwAIAqdAkZcCsZfdJI2TkpFAmhV-PJUkI4lTgVQ/w451-h331/values.jpg" width="451" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>I feel a multipart series coming on. Given that satan has pulled out all the stops in the final push to eradicate any trace of morality, common decency and common sense, thereby erasing any vestige of the values that keep humans restrained by the God created universal laws of civility, I see no downside to speaking up for God's side. If I get arrested or just canceled, I'm okay with that. I have chosen the hill I am willing to die on.</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>The links form here:</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://bagsallpacked.blogspot.com/2022/06/rock-meet-bottom.html" target="_blank">Part 1: Rock Meet Bottom</a><br /></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://bagsallpacked.blogspot.com/2022/06/plenty-meet-dearth.html" target="_blank">Part 2: Plenty Meet Dearth</a><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://bagsallpacked.blogspot.com/2022/06/safe-meet-free.html" target="_blank">Part 3: Safe Meet Free</a><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">-------------------------------------------------------------------</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Every morning I wake up, get my coffee, toddle into the living room, pull my 'puter onto my lap, take a deep breath and dread reading the headlines. This is the new normal - demons in charge of everything pouring out lies and schemes and demands for reducing the population of earth to save it - for what and for whom I haven't figured out. </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>I have lots of questions. </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Conundrums and hypocrisy have spread and infected the world like a diabolically manmade virus. It has now gone beyond calculated to inexplicable mindlessness.</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>I wish I could believe that overturning RvW is a victory. Personally it feels too little too late. Maybe I'm just numb to all the insanity swirling together like the gathering of a perfect storm so I remain on guard expecting another deadly blow to what used to be a God blessed country. </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Given the demoncrats in charge and the RINOs supporting them, I see this as a path to a very quickly put together bill passed by both house and senate, making it Federal law across the board in effect nullifying any new or existing state laws on abortion. They have certainly used highly emotional moments to quickly push through legislation on other topics - like gun control for example. Strike while the iron is hot as they say. </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>MY BODY MY CHOICE! A war cry that covers infanticide but does not apply to being forced to accept an ineffective and dangerous vaccine in order to keep your job.</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>It would seem the determination to destroy future generations is revved up now deep and wide and includes parents who allow their vulnerable, impressionable children to be entertained and sexually groomed by mentally ill men who think they are women. Teachers assigning explicitly illustrated child pornographic books for summer reading for 11 year olds. Aren't laws in place regarding child porn? So much irony you could build a battleship.</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Of late I have wondered what did we imagine Tribulation would look like? Could anyone have imagined such a time as this even ten years ago? A senile, crooked old man seated in the highest office of the land whose wife allowed him to shower with their daughter? <----didn't think of that angle did ya.</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Looking up and out all I see is a reprobated civilization that makes Sodom and Gomorrah look like Disney World. </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Oh... wait... </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>I can't count how many times I've said this but I don't know a better way to say it </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>...when anything goes, everything does. </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>I also could add, when all things Godly are kicked aside, all that remains is godless. Good/Godly builds but evil/godless destroys. Every. Single. Time. Sounds more and more like a plan to destroy God's creation, doesn't it?</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>However, as bad as it is, and while it promises to get even worse, though it won't be easy for the faithful, there is indeed a plan and - spoiler alert - this does not end well for the godless. </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Revelation 17</b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #8f2019; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>15</b> And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>16</b> And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>17 </b><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b>For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will</b></span><b>, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.</b></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>18</b> And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Revelation 18</b></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>1</b> And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #8f2019; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>2</b> And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #8f2019; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>3</b> For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #8f2019; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>4</b> And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, <b>Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.</b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #8f2019; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>5</b> For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.</p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>For Him,</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Meema</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p></div><p><br /> </p>meemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104303592278897991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044571629293488418.post-15103855197194514352022-06-21T07:31:00.000-04:002022-06-21T07:31:57.707-04:00Safe Meet Free<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6ejKyGBYIPetJfJXz8H_93sVgdG26PFb7ZMwJGsxBiyx1DvZnZw8cHcDhsZJJAO6fmfRVG-U4Q2t7AmBQzaENOHK7RvLy1NeFJbD5Y1Z3dQcBGyM8ICDSHK8kXBX13YK699xk15wvy6DJMsajouJu0Y0zGQBSCIUduHQ1UZNQFL96vPSO0QpYXc8gg/s640/goldfish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6ejKyGBYIPetJfJXz8H_93sVgdG26PFb7ZMwJGsxBiyx1DvZnZw8cHcDhsZJJAO6fmfRVG-U4Q2t7AmBQzaENOHK7RvLy1NeFJbD5Y1Z3dQcBGyM8ICDSHK8kXBX13YK699xk15wvy6DJMsajouJu0Y0zGQBSCIUduHQ1UZNQFL96vPSO0QpYXc8gg/w533-h400/goldfish.jpg" width="533" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 13.2px; text-align: justify;"><b>I feel a multipart series coming on. Given that satan has pulled out all the stops in the final push to eradicate any trace of morality, common decency and common sense, thereby erasing any vestige of the values that keep humans restrained by the God designed universal laws of creation, I see no downside to speaking up for God's side. If I get arrested or just canceled, I'm okay with that. I have chosen the hill I am willing to die on. </b></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 13.2px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>The links form here:</b></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://bagsallpacked.blogspot.com/2022/06/rock-meet-bottom.html" target="_blank">Part 1: Rock Meet Bottom</a><br /></b></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://bagsallpacked.blogspot.com/2022/06/plenty-meet-dearth.html" target="_blank">Part 2: Plenty Meet Dearth</a><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 23px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>---------------------------------------------------------------------------</b></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I was known as a 'prepper' in 1999. Generally it was a derogatory term applied to those who were concerned that all things digital might run into some glitches when the clock rolled over to a minute past midnight January 1, 2000.</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I didn't care, as I never do, what names I am called. I, as I always have done, had Plan B - just in case. Thing is, there actually was serious concern about many strategic services that operate via computer code, like, for example, the electric grid. Major corporations hired techs who were working overtime reprogramming the source code others had written years before who forgot to factor in the change from 19 to 20.</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">So, yes, the threat was real and even if only a few things were impacted or shut down, even 22 years ago, this world is so interdependent and interconnected by ones and zeroes, it could have been a disaster as each domino fell. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Indeed, there were a handful of hiccups as computers adjusted but when the all clear was called on January 2, 2000, I was both relieved and not the least bit sorry I had extra supplies. They came in handy over time. I didn't have to buy toilet paper for several years. :-)</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Independent as I have always been, until this episode in my life, I, an ordinary American, had never been in a position to ask whether I would choose freedom over safety even as there are numerous quotes from our famous founding fathers on this very topic. I was admittedly willing to be prepared for potential hardship but I had not considered the possibility of losing the natural freedoms this country was founded on in exchange for being kept safe and fed like gold fish in a bowl. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Those who made fun of the preppers not only were willing to bet nothing would happen, they also were convinced that even if something did happen those who had the power would take care of us. Because, you know, our government always makes good, sound decisions that are in our best interests. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">While I never was one to consider building an underground bunker nor did I have 'bug out bags' packed and ready to grab if escape was the only option, I did wonder what I would do if push came to shove and martial law was declared and citizens were rounded up and forced into FEMA camps 'for our safety'.</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Twenty one years later, watching the news in horror as several countries forced their citizens into lock down and Covid camps, I had a flashback to those days when I asked myself what I would prefer - being safely imprisoned or being independently able to live or die on my own terms? </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I chose freedom over safety. Not unlike the Pilgrims who risked everything to load their families on boats and set sail for a primitive, unknown, uncharted land. Modern history revisionists will call these brave souls derogatory names but no one can deny they risked everything to be free. It was, in fact, that pioneer spirit that gave birth to the country that millions of others have sought to escape to for nearly 250 years, in a quest for what has been dubbed 'The American Dream'. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The single most important element in the concept of the American Dream is the promises made in our Constitution which include God given natural rights all of which require individual freedoms.</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">History is crowded with examples of the consequences of giving up liberty for safety and not a single case turns out well for those beholden to those with the power to impose rules that can be presented as good but do great harm instead. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Given that satan is always working to find ways to convince us that we don't need God in order to disarm us, slavery often uses invisible shackles presented as good sounding lies. Once several generations have been born into and lived as serfs without recognizing it, they don't even know what freedom is nor would they know how to be free. China and North Korea come to mind. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">So the question remains - which is better - bondage even if renamed 'safety' or the riskier, more challenging condition of living as a freethinking individual - the kind of human who builds and innovates, and can survive in spite of threat of insecurity...or unplugging of the AI in control? </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">More than two decades beyond the Y2K wake up call that all things controlled by a system that requires Artificial Intelligence rather than genuine God-created human logic and reason, we have not only forgotten and abandoned the call to think as individuals, we now trust and depend on the invisible shackles that require we be non-thinkers.</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Personally I'm going to stick with liberty or death, like Paul Revere and Benjamin Franklin and all the pioneers who were willing to die for the cause of being free to be. I would rather be a free swimming fish in the ocean, dodging hooks and sharks all day than a goldfish in a bowl.</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">But then, that's just me, thinking like the antique independent that I am. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">For Him,</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Meema</span></b></p>meemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104303592278897991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044571629293488418.post-81195354378707016872022-06-11T06:19:00.000-04:002022-06-11T06:19:50.248-04:00Plenty Meet Dearth<p><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; text-align: justify;">I feel a multipart series coming on. Given that satan has pulled out all the stops in the final push to eradicate any trace of morality, common decency and common sense, thereby erasing any vestige of the values that keep humans restrained by the God created universal laws of creation, I see no downside to speaking up for God's side. If I get arrested or just canceled, I'm okay with that. I have chosen the hill I am willing to die on. </b></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The links form here:</span></b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://bagsallpacked.blogspot.com/2022/06/rock-meet-bottom.html" target="_blank">Part 1 - Rock Meet Bottom</a></span></b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">------------------------------------------------</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnxqnCQml0bsa6b9bEOYn1Pki5ZpZaNwZkT-mWR0RU_voI5ZyJJNutAkXZQVI-xWEMeuPxMTpUViuTxekxLKX9TvoM1goyuFfv9v1kanqj9RtAR4IajP_sC1YZ_dqVk18orRA1-tDlv8eXdaeMLFwS2KmG3S5h2qNhTEmRnEVll-2I4tIx13q40ctTaA/s432/dearth-plenty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="432" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnxqnCQml0bsa6b9bEOYn1Pki5ZpZaNwZkT-mWR0RU_voI5ZyJJNutAkXZQVI-xWEMeuPxMTpUViuTxekxLKX9TvoM1goyuFfv9v1kanqj9RtAR4IajP_sC1YZ_dqVk18orRA1-tDlv8eXdaeMLFwS2KmG3S5h2qNhTEmRnEVll-2I4tIx13q40ctTaA/w474-h358/dearth-plenty.jpg" width="474" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I recently had an opportunity to have a reflective moment with a twenty year old grandson over lunch. The conversation began with the state of the world in this moment and how it's a challenge to find a restaurant because no one wants that kind of job in post Covid Lockdown World. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Chatting with a twenty year old reveals the maturing process. You can talk about your history with a 20 something grand because he or she realizes it is also their history. A younger person is bored by such reminiscing because it doesn't plug into their current interests.</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I asked him what young people are doing for money and he enlightened me about all the ways young adults make money online. Some of which prudence guides me to not repeat in this blog.</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">But the topic opened up the opportunity for me to give him a bigger view of how things have been in the past because it seems we might be about to repeat a few things. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">After all, like it or not, my history is his history too but more importantly his future is my concern.</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I started with the fact that my parents were teens during the early years of the Great Depression so they knew all about doing without and making do with what they had. There were and always have been the elite wealthy class even in the worst of times who hardly feel any inconvenience or lack, just as there are the extremely poor who suffer dearth in what we label third world countries, but from 1929 to 1942 the majority of the American citizenry experienced first hand not having quite enough all the time. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">As my parents hit their adulthood WW2 caused even more reasons for most people to have to do without. My parents had two small children to care for even as ration cards were the normal way to acquire a small allotment of scarce food and supples. Given the limited availability of goods and much of what was redirected to what they referred to as "the war effort" most people simply did not expect much and therefore were accustomed to having nothing and next to nothing including what we, in the age of plenty, would consider necessities.</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">My point in relaying this bit of history to my grandson was to encourage him with another perspective because his generation and that of his parents have mostly only known abundance. Multiple choices of everything on shelves from floor to 25' ceilings in warehouse sized stores produced by numerous competitive companies make it nearly impossible to imagine empty shelves here in the modern prosperous western world.</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">But the complications and challenges of the past year or so have introduced the possibility that we might be faced with a similar harsh reality that my parents grew up thinking was normal. Making do and doing without are conditions that loom large as the gears of our long prosperous economy grinds to a halt. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The generation that suffered their youth in conditions of great paucity and then went off to war as they reached their budding adulthoods, many never coming home, were dubbed the Greatest Generation. I have to wonder, though, was it the circumstances of experiencing great deprivation that toughened them up to return home from the horrors of war ready to move on with life, to find mates, to have children, to create businesses and birth a new age of plenty that the world had never known?</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Or was it something more profound and difficult to define? Like good character, integrity, morality, work ethics, love of God, family and country that shored them up and kept them moving forward? </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">What if it is these qualities that are necessary to meet the challenges of the loss of prosperity and the new normal of dearth? What if the up and coming generation is not prepared to face such challenges because they have revised definitions for how to exist in a modern world?</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Which is better - to grow up with making do with practically nothing and moving forward to build to the point of too much - or growing up knowing nothing about having to do without and suddenly finding there is nothing to be had?</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">So many questions.</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">For Him,</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Meema</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Proverbs 22:16</span></b></p><p style="color: #010f18; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.</span></b></p>meemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104303592278897991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044571629293488418.post-53250678458271684632022-06-03T05:18:00.001-04:002022-08-09T13:54:38.899-04:00Rock Meet Bottom<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2EQXgbdJ0wcs1W4XTvZ6h9sNxymhwx0OCEdNlbfbqyxyTJJndkPrsNeXpJQInskyWPR4sjsq8eu7J0ysZXUyGQ2RLIKzJ6bGpkL4KHV-q0fRid3rRyM5YNfeVwDeaCGVi5VEJif0KiLQ2cbnk2uvTR6xsmC-AOWKJYgPfV0vNY5np7WHqPI1KNyv0A/s432/rock.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="432" height="429" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS2EQXgbdJ0wcs1W4XTvZ6h9sNxymhwx0OCEdNlbfbqyxyTJJndkPrsNeXpJQInskyWPR4sjsq8eu7J0ysZXUyGQ2RLIKzJ6bGpkL4KHV-q0fRid3rRyM5YNfeVwDeaCGVi5VEJif0KiLQ2cbnk2uvTR6xsmC-AOWKJYgPfV0vNY5np7WHqPI1KNyv0A/w429-h429/rock.jpeg" width="429" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>This is #1 in a 7 part series. </b></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>The links form here:</b></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0000dc; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://bagsallpacked.blogspot.com/2022/06/plenty-meet-dearth.html"><b>Part 2: Plenty Meet Dearth</b></a></span></p>
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<p style="background-color: white; color: #652a9f; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://bagsallpacked.blogspot.com/2022/06/safe-meet-free.html"><b>Part 3: Safe Meet Free</b><span style="color: #652a9f;"><b></b></span></a></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #734e78; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://bagsallpacked.blogspot.com/2022/06/godly-meet-godless.html"><b>Part 4: Godly Meet Godless</b><span style="color: #734e78;"><b></b></span></a></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #0000dc; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #734e78; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://bagsallpacked.blogspot.com/2022/07/logic-meet-absurdity.html"><b>Part 5: Logic Meet Absurdity </b><span style="color: #734e78;"><b></b></span></a></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #5f3a65; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><b><a href="http://bagsallpacked.blogspot.com/2022/07/good-meet-evil.html">Part 6: Good Meet Evil</a></b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://bagsallpacked.blogspot.com/2022/07/enough-meet-never.html" target="_blank">Part 7: Enough Meet Never</a></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p></div><p></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>History teaches us that the slow slide downward often begins with one small push that guarantees a destiny with destruction. With the current rapid advancement of the decline of modern society, I think we may have reached the point of speeded up momentum. </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>They say hindsight is 20/20 meaning we usually ignore the repeating patterns as they happen. Certain signs stand out like red flags though. Like child/human sacrifice, for example, which seems to be the hallmark of a doomed society.</b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>I'm old enough to recall the original very gentle shove was the argument that abortion should be legal and therefore safe so that women who were victims of rape or incest or who had life threatening medical conditions would not be forced to kill themselves with a hanger or find a rogue back alley abortionist. </b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>The plea sounded so reasonable and included what most considered the rational caveat of 'in rare cases'. But once the downhill roll of all that is civil about civilization has begun, there is no stopping the inevitable progression. We are now at the point where the process is redefined and defended as 'women's health' thus killing millions to prevent a few from being stupid is logic kicked aside to facilitate the predicable collision with rock meet bottom. </b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Decades into the descent of this dark hill we have evolved from early gestation abortion to vigorously defend killing full term babies, whether just on the verge of first breath or now even days after birth by the latest legislation proposed. </b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Based on my personal experience of having been through pregnancy and childbirth three times, I keep asking the question - why would a woman go through nine months of pregnancy and then choose to kill her viable new born? No one seems to have an answer, not even a dumb one. I can think of very sinister possibilities that involve money exchanged. Clearly the billion dollar industry of selling human parts is somewhat impacted by reducing the number of abortions. But I struggle to dwell on those thoughts lest I sink into hopelessness.</b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>I also have to wonder how it is that humans can be so much more compassionate and willing to go to great lengths to rescue animals even as fresh, viable human infants are considered completely expendable. </b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>What am I missing when I ask crazy questions like - why do those who rally to the cause of snuffing infants under the sanction of 'safe' abortion also demand that children should be protected from gun violence? In other words, why are some children okay to save and others can be stabbed at birth? </b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>I am forced to point out that My Body My Choice! is a cry roared in unison by liberated females unless and until it applies to women refusing to have ineffective, proven to be harmful, vaccines injected into their arms. </b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>So many inconsistencies and conundrums not to mention hypocrisy.</b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>We are now so far down the slope, the pattern of extremism should be predictable, i.e., some now call for a woman having the right to determine whether or not her toddler is allowed to live. But that opens another question - a woman is granted the right to kill her child but can't object to what is being taught or done to the child whom she chose to allow to live?</b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>What can be said of a society that has no problem snuffing the life of a full term infant, turning a blind eye to children being groomed for sexual deviancy, to mutilation by surgery and puberty blockers without parental consent or knowledge, to refusing to address the millions of children held captive in sex trade slavery, even while claiming that the only way women can be treated as equals is to give them the right to be 'safe' from motherhood? </b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Even while allowing mentally ill males to invade the restrooms and sports of their daughters. Aren't they women too? It's not even safe to be a woman in prison anymore as all a male prisoner has to do is declare he is a woman and is then transferred to a woman's prison and then allowed to commit rape with no consequence. </b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Because...?</b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Tell me again, what is the latest definition of insanity? I am struggling to keep up here.</b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>What does bottom even look like? When the questions pile up with no good answers are we there yet? Will we know when there is no place else to go? Will we feel the impact? Will some survive and be able to feel regret? Will we - can we - recover? </b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Civilizations rise and fall and apparently the only way to stop the downward roll is to hit bottom.</b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>If by Grace we get a re-do, this time, will we rinse and repeat? How many do overs do we get?</b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>So many questions.</b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>For Him,</b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Meema </b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><i>For what shall it profit a man [or woman] if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Mark 8:36</i></b></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>meemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104303592278897991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044571629293488418.post-40153671678310515142022-05-15T10:21:00.002-04:002022-05-15T10:21:39.850-04:00Thoughts On Turning Seventy-five<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDv8rjPvdgDq80FYLf_C4PnfPY9-0aKyaYxipIyHrOGIQ4s5gJbepbTGpbmLa_HPCaKodO8Xf3X9cUeRhBwHZh3E7LFS7mrFlx6oSPWoIBYUpO8KQyoaUzFgU14shdCacl8T3RT85mUF83U-DXZf5pGAFeZBlnvJnjtVzPycDdMPAYCsF-DOmJKXdjA/s1152/75.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1152" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDv8rjPvdgDq80FYLf_C4PnfPY9-0aKyaYxipIyHrOGIQ4s5gJbepbTGpbmLa_HPCaKodO8Xf3X9cUeRhBwHZh3E7LFS7mrFlx6oSPWoIBYUpO8KQyoaUzFgU14shdCacl8T3RT85mUF83U-DXZf5pGAFeZBlnvJnjtVzPycDdMPAYCsF-DOmJKXdjA/w444-h333/75.JPG" width="444" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><b></b><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>I've always been a maverick, an outlier, someone who has to do things in the way I was able to do them. I started, at a very young age, writing down my thoughts and impressions without a clue why. I did love to read and I freely admit that I also don't recall when I first began to read but I know I've never gotten over it.</b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>However, though that sounds like the beginnings of what should have been a writing career, my personality type interfered with my being able to admit that I could be a 'writer'. I never granted myself a byline or even put a title on anything that I composed because that would have been too presumptuous. Instead, I stuffed the lined notebook papers that held my stories and poems into the bottom of my sock drawer. </b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Eventually, as I matured, I started keeping a journal. Still no titles or bylines but I did call the collection - Shadows Speaking. Cracks me up when I read those earnest passionate thoughts of my younger self.</b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>I was a dreamer from the very beginning and so it was common for me to ponder things deeply. I wasn't good at self promotion so I was mostly talking to myself but I did secretly believe I had profound insights into human existence. I even thought I could imagine what it would be like to be old. I wrote several poems about aging.</b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><b>I didn't have a clue. Clueless I was. But my old self is willing to be lenient on my young self. At least young self was trying to understand the aging process.</b><b></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><b></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><b>What old self knows now is that until you wake up with the same aches and pains you went to bed with, until you start toddling and shuffling with carefully placed steps because you are no longer steady on your feet, until you realize that you have to let go of so much of what you worked so hard to learn how to do, until that which was once so important to you now seems irrelevant, you can't possibly know what it's like to be old. The downside should be obvious. </b><b></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><b></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><b>But wait... there 's an upside.</b><b></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><b></b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-align: justify;"><b>When you are officially old, you have history, the good, the bad and the ugly but hopefully mostly good. You can be proud of those things you used to do with vigor and energy but you don't have to do them anymore. You have built in excuses for eating dinner early so you can go to bed early. Others understand if you can't do certain things anymore. You can have cereal for dinner if you want. Or cake. </b><b></b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>If you wear your shirt wrong side out no one thinks anything of it. You can accidentally lock yourself out on the back deck, (twice) and someone will pop in and rescue you and think nothing of it. You can forget things and say dumb stuff and be grumpy sometimes and get excused because... well, because.</b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>So, yes, there is certainly a downside to aging but there is also a silver lining to the dark cloud - you can be what/who you are without having to prove yourself or compete with the current standards du jour of expectations for perfection. Better yet, you are way closer to finishing your last story. </b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>I officially title this one Pioneer.</b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>And this time I get to claim the byline. </b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>For Him, </b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b>Meema</b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></p>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="sproutvideo-player" frameborder="0" height="354" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" src="https://videos.sproutvideo.com/embed/a79edfb31e1fe9cb2e/c3b7a7708e93f4b3" width="630"></iframe>meemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104303592278897991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044571629293488418.post-15806717657459068342022-05-09T06:22:00.000-04:002022-05-09T06:22:22.305-04:00Lesson In The Lesson<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPW4AkCJ99L_YpNRDNijzIo_aTPaFc_iFm9GMaT6hWZHTQ_7UaZjinF4Rji39MyQiPZC2G_R2T4ay_BlZ_H4N5O8b4I6w1UgYRkhdZdVjby5-y6KzmqU1-pnmeXi1W-IH_kgvv-2w-sKP92s758rdbanv-cdGMJewFMzzi-WwvjEBDoQh1qKCRTQ03kg/s1440/on%20becoming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1428" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPW4AkCJ99L_YpNRDNijzIo_aTPaFc_iFm9GMaT6hWZHTQ_7UaZjinF4Rji39MyQiPZC2G_R2T4ay_BlZ_H4N5O8b4I6w1UgYRkhdZdVjby5-y6KzmqU1-pnmeXi1W-IH_kgvv-2w-sKP92s758rdbanv-cdGMJewFMzzi-WwvjEBDoQh1qKCRTQ03kg/s320/on%20becoming.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXx11fNFcKWX17swXgn8E7ybOj07N5gKbw7-5uK2U6oTa8C_XOokF_U0FyVL0ZcYk92XDWEgpBVM4r0_1DhgLBhuGm5rcbN-Fx9UF3ZXNRCq5FM4iigWvCTVAYqC7wQ7_3E16JU-Nv6Fi7T2gsnzxdzjgJGn0d3lUI9tiynTBdtHYZUfBL9TuaYgJCRQ/s1122/poen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1122" data-original-width="864" height="413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXx11fNFcKWX17swXgn8E7ybOj07N5gKbw7-5uK2U6oTa8C_XOokF_U0FyVL0ZcYk92XDWEgpBVM4r0_1DhgLBhuGm5rcbN-Fx9UF3ZXNRCq5FM4iigWvCTVAYqC7wQ7_3E16JU-Nv6Fi7T2gsnzxdzjgJGn0d3lUI9tiynTBdtHYZUfBL9TuaYgJCRQ/w318-h413/poen.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">We saved the fun stuff for our last study unit in Keaton's junior year homeschool program - Self Expression Through Art and Poetry. </span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Because homeschool, especially in the upper grades, allows for flexibility in how a student contributes to the content of the learning curve, Keaton declared he wanted to try his hand at more realistic art. He's been doing abstract art since he was four so stepping outside of his comfort zone seemed like a sign of growth.</span></b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">We discussed the subtle differences between Realism and Impressionism and the basic fundamentals of all art, contrast, color combinations and movement, Then we got down to the point of why art is one of many ways to express an idea, just as is writing, regardless the form. Ancient cave drawings represent a human's compulsion to record his ideas in some way more permanent than the spoken word.</span></b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">In this assignment Keaton had to consider an idea captured both in art and type keeping in mind a theme that could be represented in paint on canvas as well as words in a poem.</span></b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">'Twas definitely a learning curve and an experience out of his familiar art form.</span></b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Once he settled on a theme of 'On Becoming', he narrowed it down to the idea of what it is like to be on the brink of leaving childhood behind with what he perceives as the light at the end of the tunnel just ahead but being so much closer now.</span></b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">As he began his art, he felt the discomfort of not knowing where to begin and was not nearly as daring and confident as he has always been when throwing paint all over the place (as my basement floor can attest). He made a sketch then began with small hesitant strokes and then stepped back, frustrated with the results. He asked for help. He needed a reminder that art is a process of trial and error, just like life. Sometimes you choose the wrong color or make the wrong stoke so you back up and admit the outcome wasn't what you had visualized. But you don't give up. You don't quit just because what you started with fell short of your expectations. </span></b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">You keep working it and reworking until you believe it is as good as you can make it. </span></b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">And sometimes you have to pause to clear your head before you think you are done.</span></b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">On the day he decided it was finished he let it be known that he was disappointed. Then an interesting thing happened two days later when it was time to add his initials to the dried image. He saw it again, hanging on the wall and he was surprised.</span></b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Human perceptions are often reordered when we see something in a different context. I have a lifelong habit of walking away from something I have created to give my brain a chance to process input and to reset. Most usually I find I was too judgmental or critical of a project in the creation process being too myopic and too determined for a specific outcome. Revisiting it some time later somehow softens the expectations and inspires new perspective. </span></b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I think this technique works in all areas of the human condition as well. Context matters.</span></b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">There are always hidden lessons to be gained in the process of attempting to learn. If nothing else realizing that not expecting perfection on the first try keeps us headed to the light at the end of the tunnel instead of disabling us in a stand still. </span></b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">And what is perfection anyway? Only God is the creator of perfect. The best we as flawed humans can do is to give what is in front of us our all and then be content that we, at least, tried. Sometimes we don't even realize that innovation is only birthed by doing differently. I've always adhered to the old adage - those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt the one doing it.</span></b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">We will never know if that ancient human who carved stick figures on the wall of the cave he lived in was pleased with his efforts to express himself. </span></b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">But that he was willing to try remains a lesson for us all.</span></b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">For Him,</span></b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Meema</span></b></p></li></ul></div><p><br /> </p>meemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104303592278897991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044571629293488418.post-28214232208723950692022-05-07T08:57:00.001-04:002022-05-07T08:57:47.481-04:00Thank You, Mom<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_sq5PZDgSf5HFB4n2UA8Vl0yK8Xrm5-owlBYTvXYKHU7eNGcJF8JqwZ9nm5n50M1iDtUJG5id2HIwFWaYm798LHTlsduw4gbAWXJXUM_9i2DZjnRs1YA0D1aDtTaMQ9daKZlTe1DNA9ToU3rxTMyLbur5YqBPsuL11_cCOh2s5LrZkV5dAR_2Q2DLQ/s864/thankyoumom.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="864" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_sq5PZDgSf5HFB4n2UA8Vl0yK8Xrm5-owlBYTvXYKHU7eNGcJF8JqwZ9nm5n50M1iDtUJG5id2HIwFWaYm798LHTlsduw4gbAWXJXUM_9i2DZjnRs1YA0D1aDtTaMQ9daKZlTe1DNA9ToU3rxTMyLbur5YqBPsuL11_cCOh2s5LrZkV5dAR_2Q2DLQ/w502-h359/thankyoumom.jpg" width="502" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div><span style="font-size: large;">Not only does this vid never get old, it gets better as the years scream by.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Love,</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Meema</span></div><p> </p>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="sproutvideo-player" frameborder="0" height="473" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" src="https://videos.sproutvideo.com/embed/d49ddcb11b19e7c05c/951bce783e3665d3" width="630"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>meemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104303592278897991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044571629293488418.post-79817169986935949112022-05-03T12:41:00.000-04:002022-05-03T12:41:44.826-04:00The Plan<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquD3fA_lKI8snKWhcD6uwg3A6IHEEh-gvAD4ndUA9QuUfmbHUTX6WhJO3wciRCLUYDmkqfDIkeMomncfriFS4V_JEVGZ7sk6Eo2luQqgha4XT918aVCVqN4AT3LEtsodmLTCyimvkZF99lz9r4tIICxGyql9b4p7FrVOaMxVoXH6JSU-SbRi_PJJpgQ/s768/warning.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="768" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquD3fA_lKI8snKWhcD6uwg3A6IHEEh-gvAD4ndUA9QuUfmbHUTX6WhJO3wciRCLUYDmkqfDIkeMomncfriFS4V_JEVGZ7sk6Eo2luQqgha4XT918aVCVqN4AT3LEtsodmLTCyimvkZF99lz9r4tIICxGyql9b4p7FrVOaMxVoXH6JSU-SbRi_PJJpgQ/w543-h338/warning.jpeg" width="543" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the beginning was the Original Plan. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">And then came the Assumptions. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">And the Assumptions were without form. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">And the Plan was dismissed as being without substance. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">And darkness was upon the face of the Women. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">And they spoke among themselves, saying, </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"It is not fair, and it stinketh." </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">And the Women protested and held up signs 'My Body My Choice' and yelled, </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"It is a pail of dung, and none may abide the odor thereof." </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">And the Advocates went unto their Legislators, saying, </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"It is a container of excrement, and it is very strong, </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">such that none may abide by it." </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">And the Legislators debated among themselves, saying, </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"It is a vessel of fertilizer, and none may abide its strength." </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">And the Legislators spoke to the Judges, saying one to another, </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">"A New Plan contains that which aids plant growth, and it is very strong."</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">And the Judges then ruled that "The New Plan promotes growth, and it is very powerful." </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">And the Women celebrated, shouting "It is healthcare!" </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">"This New Plan will actively promote the growth and vigor </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">of the world with powerful effects." </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">And the world looked upon the New Plan, and saw that it was good. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">And the New Plan became Policy.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">And over time the Men decided the New Plan made it better to be Women so the Policy was enhanced to determine that Men could be Women.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">And the World declared it was good.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">And the Women became disgruntled and began to protest that they could be Men.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">And the Policy was altered to allow for Women to be Men.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then the Altered Policy was declared to be fair and right and became the New Policy.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">And then the New Policy was altered to determine that Women should no longer be Women but Birthing Persons. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">And the world declared it was good.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">And satan smiled. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">For Him,</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Meema</span></p><div><br /></div>meemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104303592278897991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044571629293488418.post-84093287625889596812022-04-20T12:02:00.003-04:002022-04-20T13:22:41.373-04:00Building The Lie<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47O7gwRGCkI-s9LJtAH7ydXeu_zqdpfldZzUflsU8oOljfYBV1NjxIfNviEFspu8Oxb6U03VYkQ2312uJeKVwxkI2XrlYTndx_kWdwxnXEfzkaEGsRw4maDOLaLfqRNvo10jcGet-8yph8VxG_EcU1Ix_fRGN13k4GLio1NU2w2oBON6Z1Lp5IoYGTg/s474/not%20gold.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="474" height="493" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47O7gwRGCkI-s9LJtAH7ydXeu_zqdpfldZzUflsU8oOljfYBV1NjxIfNviEFspu8Oxb6U03VYkQ2312uJeKVwxkI2XrlYTndx_kWdwxnXEfzkaEGsRw4maDOLaLfqRNvo10jcGet-8yph8VxG_EcU1Ix_fRGN13k4GLio1NU2w2oBON6Z1Lp5IoYGTg/w493-h493/not%20gold.jpeg" width="493" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><b></b><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">My husband started a business 21 years ago from scratch. We went without income for two years as he slowly built his clientele list. Because he is old school his business model depended solely on offering a good product for a competitive price. This was not easy but certainly better than two decades later when businesses are required to take a position on social or political issues. Because he has been quite successful without such mandates, he prefers to continue to exclude such things from his work ethic standards.</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">In recent years, as the call for businesses to be more declaratory about social issues, to rally to causes even if they have nothing to do with the business itself, my stubborn, old school businessman husband has been able to sidestep this new paradigm even as it becomes more and more difficult. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Recently his company bid on a job for a school district in a neighboring state. He has successfully done other jobs for this client but there are new rules in place. He is now required to 'qualify' in order to bid and to qualify there are boxes that must be ticked off and each box has a numerical rank that helps to make a total sum that must be met.</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">One box declares that his business has helped a minority or woman owned business to get a loan. The total requirements are similarly overreaching and include his being a small business in which the owner cannot have more than a certain dollar amount in personal assets.</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I could post a screen shot of all the requirements, each more absurd than the others, but I think anyone with half a brain can see how ridiculous this is and where it is likely to go. But there is a twist here that is more diabolical than just a business demanding other businesses follow their great virtuous path of goodness. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I call this dynamic Building of THE LIE. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">You see, my husband has had lengthy conversations and email exchanges with the individuals in charge of the project, declaring that he is not willing to check boxes that are not true. His bid is the best and they have assured him they want him to do the job but they are stuck in their own version of life imitating art. They would be quite happy if he would lie so they could fulfill their declared business model of being socially virtuous and still get the job done well and for less. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Hubs isn't cooperating.</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I've often referred to modernity as being a form of life imitating art using the example of the sci-fi movie The Matrix. It seems to be a reference tool for many others now when seeking to point out that we are following the theme of alternate reality of life being just one big illusion controlled by unseen operators. The red pill/blue pill analogy is now embedded in our societal construct. Humanoids now reside in a make believe world where what they trust to be real is nothing more than digital graphics. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The problem, however, is not that it is happening but that this is the preferred state of being. I sum this up as humans seeking to replace God with their own interpretation of godliness.</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Fiction that is accepted as fact and untruth accepted as truth is not a new concept though. Historically speaking, the rise and fall of great civilizations seem to be traceable to the population rising by advancing on absolutes and then slowly being conditioned to prefer lies over truth which then destroys them from the inside out. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">In the film, the brave mavericks who chose not to believe in the illusion were declared outlaws who dared to question make believe world. In the version of this theme now playing out in real time, these daring souls are vilified and called names, conspiracy theorists and racist or some other slanderous term du jour. To shut them up they are what is now known as being 'canceled'. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">There have been times in history when this determination by some with the power to silence opposition became a reason to go from measures taken to shut down the resistance to eliminate permanently by death. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Like a broken record, I keep harping on this theme because I can see that we are so very close to transitioning from a living version of a fictional story to the diabolical repetition of the all too real results of holocaust. Any means adopted as justifying the desired end. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Those who choose to be real and honest, preferring tough truth over soft lies, and do not go along to get along might die trying but they will reap the eventual rewards of standing on the truth. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">For Him,</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Meema</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">2 Thessalonians 2:10-11</span></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #010f18; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">…<span style="color: #983203; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">10</span>and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them. <span style="color: #983203; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">11</span><span style="background-color: #f2f2f2;"> <a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/1223.htm"><span style="color: #0e76e4;">For this reason</span></a> <a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/2316.htm"><span style="color: #0e76e4;">God</span></a> <a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/3992.htm"><span style="color: #0e76e4;">will send</span></a> <a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/846.htm"><span style="color: #0e76e4;">them</span></a> <a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/1753.htm"><span style="color: #0e76e4;">a powerful</span></a> <a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/4106.htm"><span style="color: #0e76e4;">delusion</span></a> <a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/1519.htm"><span style="color: #0e76e4;">so that</span></a> <a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/846.htm"><span style="color: #0e76e4;">they</span></a> <a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/4100.htm"><span style="color: #0e76e4;">believe</span></a> <a href="https://biblehub.com/greek/5579.htm"><span style="color: #0e76e4;">the lie,</span></a> </span><span style="color: #983203; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">12</span>in order that judgment may come upon all who have disbelieved the truth and delighted in wickedness.</span><span style="font-size: 16px;">…</span></p>meemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104303592278897991noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044571629293488418.post-39996155053613217462022-04-16T08:33:00.000-04:002022-04-16T08:33:30.748-04:00It is Finished<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes I have to shut out the noise and be silent. So many things that could be said, so many things that matter and just as many that don't anymore and therefore don't need to be said.</span></span></p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">But I felt that I should say something to acknowledge this holiest of times as I have done in this blog for ten years but what I want to say is mostly summed up with overwhelming gratitude that God would choose to give His only begotten Son up for the ultimate sacrifice for us. How do we fully grasp that?</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, I had to go back and find a couple things already posted and put them together.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Resurrection Day,</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">He Is Risen</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Love, </span></p>
<p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Meema</span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">-----------------------------------------------------------</span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
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<div><br /></div><div><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">When I try to imagine being one of those women on that horrific longest day - the ‘Sabbath’ after Christ was crucified - the agony of waiting in the paralyzing silence of defeat, I temporarily set aside knowing the rest of the story - the great good ending. I try to fully experience their grief and dismay, the crushing weight of unanswerable questions - the frustrating unknowable. </span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I do this because I need to embrace, firsthand, the fear that they must have felt, the confusion, the despair. I still myself, eyes closed, and put myself there, sitting with them. No one able to speak, hopelessness settled in around them slowly sucking the oxygen out of the space. My heart feels like it’s being compressed by a vise. </span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I can’t stay there too long or I’d become dysfunctional. I only need a glimpse of what they must have felt so I can confirm the old saying - it’s always darkest just before dawn - as a solid truth not just a good sounding platitude. </span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Because I do know the rest of the story, I can also imagine the shockwave that must have shot through, head to toe, those faithful women who returned to the tomb to finish the job, to pay their respect and demonstrate their love for this man whom they had believed was the Son of God and were not prepared for, nor understood what had to happen. </span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Have you ever been there? So immersed in fear and dread of the unknown, convinced you are done for, at the mercy of great evil, then in a flash you are rescued? One minute it’s nothing but darkness, the next minute all is light - exquisite relief.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have. I’ve been there many times in my now officially long life. While it most certainly is darkest just before dawn, there is another truth - dawn does come - and always right on time. </span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">When it seems that evil has finally won the upper hand, I go back in time and sit for a few minutes with the women who found the tomb empty. Then I fast forward to the happy ending of Christ risen. The war is won. Until He returns we must continue with the small battles, the minor skirmishes with evil, that test our mettle, that keeps trying to distract us away from faith, when we must sit in the darkest dark and wait for dawn, not just believing, but confident it will come. </span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Right on time.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">For Him,</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Meema</span></p></div>meemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104303592278897991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044571629293488418.post-32812277223463268762022-04-10T10:59:00.000-04:002022-04-10T10:59:20.054-04:00The Power of Prayer and Faith<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9gujrK-w1HhmuHFDfTNP-xVgMi7_JAK80_sNy05Mv7JtGkahJ-TE3iTWkfhQzOUkh-TBUExjlhS42RN3qnM0kiZ4T_zHTlIyT-wIIe_lkkLfW4iFYFbLrGRIY4KhWxIIulkIFa5YmBevGnTogRzdQk1WwtySmg41RTK006AdbOWg2Y6NKmsA9tTDzrw/s900/rev8incense.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9gujrK-w1HhmuHFDfTNP-xVgMi7_JAK80_sNy05Mv7JtGkahJ-TE3iTWkfhQzOUkh-TBUExjlhS42RN3qnM0kiZ4T_zHTlIyT-wIIe_lkkLfW4iFYFbLrGRIY4KhWxIIulkIFa5YmBevGnTogRzdQk1WwtySmg41RTK006AdbOWg2Y6NKmsA9tTDzrw/w502-h376/rev8incense.jpg" width="502" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I venture to submit that those who claim to be surrendered Christians can no longer ignore that the war with dark principalities has gone from smoldering in the shadows to bursting into flames all around us. </span></b></p><p></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The war on all foundational laws of decency and morality is now being fought in the open. If I trusted worldly media or had a shallow wavering faith I might be worried that evil could possibly win this. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">But my faith is tough and I'm armored up. Some of this claim might be attributable to experience - having lived through many tough times to reach the other side. I can't say for sure how, why, or when it happened but once I passed through the threshold of having faith with no reservations I found I could let go of those fears that kept me from believing and trusting that faith is the goal and not just a means to an end. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">When we arrive at the place where our trust in God's perfect will is the endgame even though it might not be what we think we want, we float free of the worldly ties that bind us. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">But regardless how spiritually mature we are, we are humans and still have desires and so we pray and conclude as Christ did in the Garden, <i>even so... Thy will be done</i>. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">There is another angle by which to look at this though.</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">God could have made robots who simply do as they are programmed to do. Certainly satan is all in on that and is working overtime to make that a reality. Instead, God gave us free will and the opportunity to choose Him over anything else. What He wants is for us to participate with Him in the process of our becoming. He takes the 999 steps - we just have to take the one big one to Him.</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">In order to participate, though, we have to be open, willing vessels, allowing that He is the potter as we are merely the clay. When our spiritual senses are fine-tuned to the still small voice, we pay attention and obey even if we aren't sure what the grand plan is. The call to prayer is like a call to battle. He knows the outcome but we don't so our choice to participate is on us. That's when miracles show up, at least what humans define as miracles. We call it 'answered prayer' but I think it would be better named - 'answered call'.</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">During the first week of April 2022, a call went out that quickly reached an army of prayer warriors whose earnest petitions filled the Throne with sweet incense for successful surgery on my left eye attempting to slow the process of glaucoma.</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The success of the surgery is optimistic and still being monitored but my faith assures me that whatever the outcome, all is as it should be according to God's plan. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I have two things to conclude this with - one, my heartfelt thanks to all who prayed for the best outcome and, two, a closer look at what can be accomplished when two or more gather in His name. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">God works in mysterious ways and layers that we often cannot understand. What if the health of my eye was not the only object of the exercise? </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">[spoiler alert] Evil does not get to win this war in the end. What we don't know is how each battle here in the middle unfolds based on how many respond to the call to be willing warriors in God's army.</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Based on the daily headlines, I recommend we keep the incense strong at the Throne by praying without ceasing now. </span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 17px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b></b><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">For Him,</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Meema</span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Revelation 8:2-4</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tIZcmocvzWlTgOcTJCZSgzBPnVm-SVZ2INmKQSCG0hWQRgMqSDAX009Gx-W3B1gfxagdQ9r9ptGsxfGzcLkgDZkZnU6KovH9roXWDdwAWobQ7i_Hsu13Gb7EchN5v2ssnsh4VshzB4DkM9s5b9SCMqSHWq2dZLm7XaSePk_Y1Yo8tbJS-vfcJ7JsVA/s1152/rev8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="1152" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tIZcmocvzWlTgOcTJCZSgzBPnVm-SVZ2INmKQSCG0hWQRgMqSDAX009Gx-W3B1gfxagdQ9r9ptGsxfGzcLkgDZkZnU6KovH9roXWDdwAWobQ7i_Hsu13Gb7EchN5v2ssnsh4VshzB4DkM9s5b9SCMqSHWq2dZLm7XaSePk_Y1Yo8tbJS-vfcJ7JsVA/w543-h265/rev8.jpg" width="543" /></a></div><br /><p><br /> </p>meemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104303592278897991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044571629293488418.post-61903009296165329442022-04-01T10:41:00.001-04:002022-04-01T10:41:28.868-04:00Little Is Much<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPKSOH-GcNE3c_2nfx_KJ1WnCUBSFbuAnfqAFhgyN4LmuXzZnSGetxX9xntTs9FgxTUrK3b1oIVitAAuQtUJxnqRhzjn0WOBYv7yBcDNIERM_f02VFUe2s_JcW-Bz4f0Mc1Bbtoq_5XouB1iU1XAMGLOzji16Iyz6Jpjyy0ZQqQ66N-2FKN1x7bxHMzQ/s512/little.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="512" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPKSOH-GcNE3c_2nfx_KJ1WnCUBSFbuAnfqAFhgyN4LmuXzZnSGetxX9xntTs9FgxTUrK3b1oIVitAAuQtUJxnqRhzjn0WOBYv7yBcDNIERM_f02VFUe2s_JcW-Bz4f0Mc1Bbtoq_5XouB1iU1XAMGLOzji16Iyz6Jpjyy0ZQqQ66N-2FKN1x7bxHMzQ/w508-h286/little.jpeg" width="508" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">This time two years ago, as the covid madness was really getting up a head of steam, my dear sister was a week out from leaving it all behind her for much greener pastures. She had fought the good fight for 18 months against breast cancer. </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">In her last week she was confined to a hospital bed that hospice had provided. I consider that as a small miracle given so many elders were forced to die alone in a hospital during the worst of the plandemic. Since Jo had been with us in hospice care in our home for over a year she was already in place. Some might say that was a lucky coincidence but, as I have said before, I don't believe in luck or coincidence. not in my life anyway. </span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Besides great hospice nurses, she had family taking care of her. In February of 2020, before she was confined to the bed she got to have a day of fun and laughter, and a sit down dinner with her family, three children, two grands and five great grands, some of whom had to fly to get here. Another lucky coincidence - shortly after they returned home flying anywhere became a nightmare for nearly two years. </span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">When I recall Jo's last days with us and all the small miracles that we didn't notice at the time, even as we were more focused on the stresses of the moment, I have to acknowledge all the little things that God orchestrated months in advance without our acceptance or understanding. </span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">We are like children who do not know or see what our parent does for us. And, like children, we often resist what our parent does for us and we groan and complain. </span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">In hindsight I can count dozens of positive small things turned large that were made possible by the horrors of lock down and isolation. For one thing parents got to see what their children were being taught because of zoom classes. </span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">All things come together for good for those who love the Lord.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Apparently the size of things does not matter to God. A few fishes and loaves of bread can feed thousands when He is in it. I am compelled to also note that sometimes He requires much of us in order to be saved from ourselves. </span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">For Him,</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Meema</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
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<p style="background-color: #072444; color: white; font-family: Arial; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 21px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 24px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Begin with your own, available resources. Even though it is little, trust God to make it much. As the song says, little becomes much when it is placed in the Master’s hand. <span style="color: #343434;"><b>It’s amazing when you think you have nothing and you wind up feeding thousands. God can use small things;</b></span> He used the tear of a baby to move the heart of Pharaoh’s daughter. He used a shepherd’s stick to work mighty miracles in Egypt. He used a sling and a stone to conquer a nation. He used the little girl to lead Naaman to Elisha. He used a widow with a little meal to sustain a prophet. He used a little child to teach His disciples the meaning of humility and salvation. He used Balaam’s donkey to preach His truth, and the jawbone of another donkey to slay 1,000 men. He can use a small thing for a great end. Jesus likes to have the weak; that way, when things happen, we know it’s His power. – John MacArthur</span></p>meemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104303592278897991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044571629293488418.post-36737459641257559422022-03-19T09:17:00.000-04:002022-03-19T09:17:29.333-04:00Not If But When<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIF64th5ZCFaRqv6NhA7LMvXsbSJ57EkL-9KuLIWU_3XaRjo2GLX8Rzp_idzPtEkRNR2YaZsxgMrT4fPnJ97EY3lMOtBqDfPaQ784diF_i1oQZr7YxOLL1mzysLey1tGyYsONk0gN35-6VnlbVgsRkdmk9o20WF83kdBVJ6bbDaWOUBgZ1H5Uz9qSm5Q/s752/joshua-24-15.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="752" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIF64th5ZCFaRqv6NhA7LMvXsbSJ57EkL-9KuLIWU_3XaRjo2GLX8Rzp_idzPtEkRNR2YaZsxgMrT4fPnJ97EY3lMOtBqDfPaQ784diF_i1oQZr7YxOLL1mzysLey1tGyYsONk0gN35-6VnlbVgsRkdmk9o20WF83kdBVJ6bbDaWOUBgZ1H5Uz9qSm5Q/w598-h312/joshua-24-15.jpeg" width="598" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the here and now, truly we need both courage as well as faith and hope. Courage is best built with tough truth, knowledge and discernment. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">And open eyes.</span></p>
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<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I thought maybe someone else's words might ring the bell that ought to be rung so I copied excerpts from someone else's posits, who copied the original complete essay from someone else. It's an Internet thing. Thus the first author is unknown - to me anyway - but the words still matter regardless who says them.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">--------------------------------------------</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Men, like nations, think they’re eternal. What man in his 20s or 30s doesn’t believe, at least subconsciously, that he’ll live forever? In the springtime of youth, an endless summer beckons. As you pass 70, it’s harder to hide from reality.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nations also have seasons: Imagine a Roman of the 2nd century contemplating an empire that stretched from Britain to the Near East, thinking: This will endure forever…. Forever was about 500 years, give or take.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">France was pivotal in the 17th and 18th centuries; now the land of Charles Martel is on its way to becoming part of the Muslim ummah.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the sun never set on the British empire; now Albion exists in a perpetual twilight. Its elderly sovereign is a fitting symbol for a nation in terminal decline.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the 1980s, Japan seemed poised to buy the world. Business schools taught Japanese management techniques. Today, its birth rate is so low and its population aging so rapidly that an industry has sprung up to remove the remains of elderly Japanese who die alone.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I was born in 1942, almost at the midpoint of the 20th century – the American century. America’s prestige and influence were never greater. Thanks to the ‘Greatest Generation,’ we won a World War fought throughout most of Europe, Asia and the Pacific. We reduced Germany to rubble and put the Rising Sun to bed. It set the stage for almost half a century of unprecedented prosperity.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then we rebuilt our enemies and lavished foreign aid on much of the world. We built skyscrapers and rockets to the moon. We conquered polio and small pox. We explored the mysteries of the Universe and the wonders of DNA…the blueprint of life.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">But where is the glory that once was Rome? America has moved from a relatively free economy to socialism – which has worked so well NOWHERE in the world.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">We’ve gone from a Democratic Republic guided by a Constitution to a regime of revolving elites, one more corrupt than the other. We have less freedom with each passing year. Like a signpost to the coming reign of terror, the cancel culture is everywhere. We’ve traded the American Revolution for the Cultural Revolution.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ivy League graduates routinely fail history tests that 5th graders could pass a generation ago. Crime rates soar and we blame the 2nd Amendment and slash Police budgets.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">We can’t defend our borders, our history (including monuments to past greatness) or our streets. Our cities have become anarchist playgrounds. We are a Nation of dependents, mendicants, and misplaced charity. </span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Homeless Veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are given money and plane tickets and flown to cities in mostly red states in the middle of the night. Rapists, murderers and anarchists are set free with no bond and Americans who gathered to protest a stolen election rot in prison for over a year without even being charged. Even as thousands of Americans had to be rescued from Afghanistan by independent heroes because our government wouldn't, an Afghan 'translator' who cannot speak English can rape a three year old at the military base where he is housed because it's part of his culture.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">A state government representative can, boldly and without question, introduce a bill in Maryland that makes it legal to allow a newborn up to 28 days old to be left to die. We rescue aged, diseased animals and post loving, heartfelt videos about their recovery in their 'forever home' but we have no problem allowing a fit and healthy human child die from legalized abandonment? Because... why? Human life has less value than pets now.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our culture is certifiably insane. [<i>Allow me to add demonic</i>]. Men who think they’re women. Women are now referred to as 'bleeding or birthing people' and not a single feminist protests this clear disrespect. People who fight racism by seeking to convince members of one race that they’re inherently evil, and others that they are perpetual victims. A psychiatrist lecturing at Yale said she fantasizes about ‘unloading a revolver into the head of any white person.’ </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Instead of teaching children the basics of reading, writing and math, elementary schools spend more time on skin color and sexual identity. </span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Could you have ever imagined a time when a substitute teacher could be videoed by a student masturbating at his desk in front of his class? Or parents being put on the FBI's terrorist list for questioning their school board and the curriculum taught?</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our National debt is so high that we can no longer even pretend that we will repay it one day. It’s a $28-trillion monument to our improvidence, mismanagement and refusal to confront reality.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Patriotism is called insurrection, treason redefined, and perversion sanctified. A man in Blue gets less respect than a man in a dress. We’re asking soldiers to fight for a nation our leaders no longer believe in.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">How do nations slip from greatness to obscurity?</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fighting endless wars they can’t or won’t win to enrich merchants of war</span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Refusing to guard their borders, allowing the Nation to be inundated by an alien horde </span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Surrendering control of their cities to mob rule </span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Allowing indoctrination of the young </span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Moving from a government of a free people to an oligarchy </span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Losing national identity </span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Indulging indolence </span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Vilifying faith and family – the bulwarks of social order. Legalizing killing our infants and future generations.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;">Idolatry and abandonment of universal laws of morality</span></span></li>
</ul>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">-----------------------------------------------------</span></p>
<p style="color: #0e0e0e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">(Isaiah 5:20) <i>Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!</i> </span></b></p>
<p style="color: #0e0e0e; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">--------------------------------------------------------</span></b></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">We condone and profit from global sex slavery even as we champion handing out reparations to people who were never slaves.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">In America, every one of these symptoms is pronounced, indicating an advanced stage of the disease.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">While the prognosis is far from good, only God knows if America’s day in the sun is over.</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">----------------------------------------------------------</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">To which I must add - when we are at the end of something we rarely know it until it is too late to change the outcome. Only in hindsight can we see where we should have been paying attention. Civilizations rise and fall and it's not a question of if ...but when. </span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">There is hope though and it comes in knowing, historically speaking, God always keeps a remnant. However, it is also pertinent to know that those who are counted among that ragtag minority first choose to serve Him regardless the clear and present danger. </span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">For Him,</span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Meema</span></p><div><br /></div></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p>meemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104303592278897991noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044571629293488418.post-648715080990474152022-03-13T12:57:00.000-04:002022-03-13T12:57:07.662-04:00How Close?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6RW_P6_g4PFwqLTSn0bMSUla5_NwMuhkFwdp0FXN9yq6z0Y_oXYlD6JqaVhtgIs14FbGIGgODwzz4-KAJvC69EafHq2b-x6y1X90JucbcM7F1Y0PVOWeUeiFh2D9W9TNLXM-J9-z1phP0MgqIpRJc9PRnBFEu2yIbcoMqyh47vMYgS7aFGMyQi9xmeQ=s1490" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1490" data-original-width="864" height="663" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi6RW_P6_g4PFwqLTSn0bMSUla5_NwMuhkFwdp0FXN9yq6z0Y_oXYlD6JqaVhtgIs14FbGIGgODwzz4-KAJvC69EafHq2b-x6y1X90JucbcM7F1Y0PVOWeUeiFh2D9W9TNLXM-J9-z1phP0MgqIpRJc9PRnBFEu2yIbcoMqyh47vMYgS7aFGMyQi9xmeQ=w385-h663" width="385" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times; text-align: justify;">A long time bloggerite (I made that up) Linda Skelton, who did her best to abandon her call to write, recently blessed us with her keen observations titled - <a href=" http://ponderings.theskeltons.org/2022/03/11/what-do-i-want/#comments" target="_blank">What Do I Want</a>. As always she zeroed in on a critical point forcing one to dig deeper into the realm of a spirit led life goal.</span><span style="font-family: Times; text-align: justify;"> </span></span><p></p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">What is it we want from God? </span></p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">So happy to see her writing again, I posted a comment declaring all I can think of to ask God for is deliverance from evil, protection from tragedy and grace because we usually have no clue what we are doing.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then today, I watched a video - 48 minutes well worth spending. And now I have a different question. </span></p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p style="font-family: Times; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">What does God want from us?</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: Times; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I confess I've run out of words and ways to say them, to reinforce the stark reality of where we are in this time in history. Others with more clout than I are sounding the alarm but I fear too many don't want to hear. </span></p>
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<p style="font-family: Times; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">What does God want from us in the here and now? Push come to shove I think it might be unfaltering faith, perseverance and will to purpose which begins with opened eyes and ears. Discernment.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: Times; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">How close are we to World Government? It's probably just one World War away. How close is that war? Probably a lot closer than most people realize.</span></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://rumble.com/vx4mua-world-government-only-one-crisis-away-with-gary-kah.html"><span style="font-size: large;">https://rumble.com/vx4mua-world-government-only-one-crisis-away-with-gary-kah.html</span></a></span></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fore warned is forearmed,</span></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">For Him,</span></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Meema</span></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p>meemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104303592278897991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9044571629293488418.post-80322609851247066472022-03-09T10:48:00.002-05:002022-03-11T06:32:20.709-05:00Otherwise Known as Ego and Greed<p><br /> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhB1Bdx2wjFuwIVpDfMQCu3U6xdmtQd9xUAZfk6k67qdSQItrTW4yKQIGhGhBEOXUtjWuAp6PSlOER8a9tGsTUnh5y4tV9XYLodyhrYKSni2ahziNfLbdkcGgI-oL2F4iWnqaQoYu6qUIHFuRpSE8kvWNgMk73CwlRpqu4bx_cON1iv2K9LmIm9AQSPBA=s1728" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1728" data-original-width="1296" height="648" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhB1Bdx2wjFuwIVpDfMQCu3U6xdmtQd9xUAZfk6k67qdSQItrTW4yKQIGhGhBEOXUtjWuAp6PSlOER8a9tGsTUnh5y4tV9XYLodyhrYKSni2ahziNfLbdkcGgI-oL2F4iWnqaQoYu6qUIHFuRpSE8kvWNgMk73CwlRpqu4bx_cON1iv2K9LmIm9AQSPBA=w486-h648" width="486" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">I know there are way more serious topics to think about but sometimes you need to nit-pick the little things because they often add up to much bigger things that you might ought to pay attention to. </span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yes, this is too long but there is a point at the end.</span></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">--------------------------------------------------------------</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Since most of my life transactions are done online nowadays, my physical 'snail mail' is usually unsolicited junk/advertising.</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Recently I received two such pieces, totally unrelated but somehow representative of modern trends in marketing. I know I am old and out of date but I'm not as senile as I look and I have thoughts about the bigger picture. </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, one envelope contained a heartfelt 'thank you!' letter for my one time donation to Hillsdale College and included a plastic stamped membership card to an exclusive but 'free to me' monthly newsletter. The overt rationale for sending me this letter, card and printed return envelope was to encourage me to confirm that I had received my membership card in good order - and since I was sending the return envelope anyway they suggested I include another donation for good measure. </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not sure why I needed a plastic membership card but... clearly I am appreciated.</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The ongoing, relentless, pursuit of me (my money) began last year when I took advantage of free online courses offered by Hillsdale to use in our homeschool program. Because I know what it takes to put things together and the cost of maintaining a website, I willingly gave a donation. </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Apparently that was akin to signing a contract agreeing to support Hillsdale College into perpetuity. </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Almost immediately I started receiving invitations in both my snail mailbox and sometimes several times a day in my email, to donate more, for the 'cause'. The paper mail often had compelling hooks in the letters, which apparently I am too sufficiently dumbed down to notice. For example, one was a shout out to make sure I had received my membership because they were concerned since they had not heard from me. And since I was returning the confirmation anyway... you know...$$$</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">The daily, sometimes multiple times, emails were also very personal and ardent, addressing me by name until they started addressing me as Dear Mr. ... which was annoying, but I could easily ignore and delete. And then one day my hubs got a text message on his phone thanking him for his donation and asking for another. He was confused. I told him to block the number. </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Think about that. Someone in the marketing department had to research me, to find my husband's name and phone number. Even with modern tech that took a bit of effort. I have to give them props for due diligence but I also have to try to imagine the planning meeting where the marketing team decided a great strategy was doing a background check of slagging donors to find relatives who might be prodded into donating. </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I also have to wonder if the president of Hillsdale College, Larry Arnn, is aware and approves of this kind of donation solicitation? If so that is in itself disturbing because he is old enough to know better.</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's come to this - aggressive marketing flooding potential contributors with requests for business or support seems to have gone to the dark side and that I can't ignore. I've had a long time theory about how things go from <b><i>some</i></b> to <b><i>more</i></b> to <b><i>too much</i></b> and it can be applied to all sorts of scenarios in the human condition. In the case of non-stop modern marketing I think we've reached the point where too much has given way to natural elevated resistance, which has ramped up what I can only describe as up-in-your-face-relentless-hounding tantamount to bullying.</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Given all the printed material, postage and man hours Hillsdale College Marketing Department has spent on me trying to coax more out of me, I have to say, they have likely consumed my original donation and perhaps more, so they might ought to do a bit of applied accounting.</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or maybe this technique works and old folks like me are considered risk management?</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Regardless, one might counter that I can easily delete the emails or mark them as spam and throw away the paper, which I do, but there is more to this topic of modern marketing than annoying solicitation tactics. There is also the issue of the second piece of junk mail and another kind of problem. </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I know all about current trends and style. I get it. Designers do what everyone else is doing as far as look and fads. It's a time tried cultural tradition to stay fresh in 'the look'. Trends come and go and the designers are often understandably more focused on how a promo effort fits into the current stream of consciousness than the reality of the potential customer. Even including taking a social or political stand.</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes common sense should trump style though.</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Enter the growing trend toward pale thin font type - it's everywhere now, especially in online sites. Fortunately you can increase the screen size of your computer or phone so you can read it. Unfortunately, the mystery of 'where is the box you want me to click in?' still continues even when you expand the type to the max. I have to ask - why pale out the box you want someone to click in? It makes no sense I don't care how good your vision or what the trend is. </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">I bought a printed book recently that had pale type. Really? I endured for three chapters and then had to buy the ebook so I could expand the text. </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">IT. MAKES. NO. SENSE. See what I did there? All cap one word sentences - the trend for attention getting text. My high school grammar teacher would have a stroke.</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">But I digress - when you are talking about a printed mailer, sent out to a targeted market, like advertising for a retirement community, and the text is composed of pale green type on mottled green background, you have to wonder - do they have a clue about failing eyesight in people getting ready to retire? Tell me again what is the objective? </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">As far as the beautiful printed completely unreadable invitation to come look at a retirement community, I hope the paper it is printed on is biodegradable since it's going straight to the dump. </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">As far as Hillsdale College adopting passive/aggressive marketing - while I believe they have a great program and it might be one of the only institutions of higher education I'd be willing to send my kid to, but someone ought to tell them their modern marketing techniques do not reflect their core commitment to high standards. Something does not compute.</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">And that, for me, is the crux of all this - two pieces of unrelated junk mail that represent a disturbing sign of the times perhaps? One reveals complete disregard for the target audience with more focus on style or Ego and the other uses bullying to reach a monetary goal which could be labeled as Greed. </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Is the devolution of what was once best business practice merely a small reflection of the larger issue of the decay of civilization? In the age of anything goes have we been so conditioned to expect to be treated as shapeless marks, manipulated, bullied and lied to so that we don't know when it is happening to us or worse...don't care?</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">What do perilous times look like? When we have arrived at the era of anything goes, does that mean everything will? How long does it take? </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Asking for a friend - as they say...</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">For Him,</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Meema</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;">2 Timothy 3:1-5</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>1 </b>This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>2 </b>For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>3 </b>Without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>4 </b>Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>5 </b>Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.</span></p>meemahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09104303592278897991noreply@blogger.com0