Still Alive

Moderation, as in everything else.

I'm in central, rural Kentucky. Life here for the last few months has been as it was in 2019. Every now and then you may see someone in a mask at Kroger. I just shake my head and move on, just as I did in my days in Seattle when I saw an asian (it was ALWAYS Asian) person wearing a mask. Some people are just hyper aware that life will kill you*. My REAL concern is that in many areas of the world we already have the mark of the beast, at least in spirit. It's a precursor to the "real" mark, IMO. And using this new "mild, common cold" version of Covid (Omicon) to lock down and control populations has forced them to show their hand.

Usually the opposite happens. That is, more contagious but much less deadly. And that appears to be the model this virus is following with Omicron. But past performance does not guarantee future results...

Omicron could be the death of the virus as an international scare tactic. It seems to be just another "version of the common cold". Look at the source country, South Africa. They are in the middle of their fourth spike in cases, but they've only had three death spikes. Their death rate now is still their lowest since this whole thing started. https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/south-africa/ https://www.sunnewsonline.com/omicron-global-clinic-data-confirms-new-variant-is-less-lethal-obaje/ They’re Already Past the Peak in South Africa’s Omicron Ground Zero "Phaahla told reporters that the country’s hospital admission rate of COVID-19 patients 'fell 90 percent in the second week of the current infection wave driven by the Omicron variant' as compared to the second week of the Delta wave. Boiling down the good-for-a-global-pandemic news further, he said that only 1.7 percent of all Omicron cases are being hospitalized, compared to 19 percent of Delta cases earlier in the year."

IMO, I think some may be overthinking this. As a Christian, I have no obligation to go to church every week. However, I and the Christian community are better off if I do. The only place in the bible I can find that even addresses it is the phrase, "Do not forsake the gathering together of yourselves." And there it doesn't say how often, or how formally. If I invite brothers and sisters in Christ over for dinner every now and then, are we not "gathering together"?

Yep. The bottom line for me is that you don't "have to" go to church, but it's definitely beneficial, in more ways than one. Frankly, I can think of no good reason NOT to go, other than living in a community with only one church and it is apostate.

I worship all the time. I do meet with other Christians, usually weekly, that are people I KNOW. That is sort of a "recentering" event for me. I use it to bounce my perceptions off other Christians to confirm I'm not getting off track. Of course, sometimes they only let me know I'm not toeing a particular line that I've decided I should not be toeing. But that is a different subject. I have said for years that I go to church for two specific reasons: To bless others in Christ and to be blessed by others in Christ. And those two blanket topics cover a LOT of ground. That being said, I firmly believe a person can be a follower of Christ and his message and yet never step foot in a church. But it would be difficult. After all, human beings are dogs, not cats. We like to be part of a pack. And that has real benefits. We have an internal need to be both a part of a community and useful to others. It's how we're wired. It's hard to do that if you don't get out. It's also hard to do if you don't become a part of a community of other people that is intimate enough that you KNOW each other.

Sorry, but I've not time to read a post that long from an anonymous poster on the internet. I mean no disrespect to you. If I were you I'd not read a post that long from me either. However, I want to lock into something you said in the part I DID read: "My faith in the LORD God is such that the Holy Spirit 'highlights' the parts that are for us and what is highlighted for us are not the same words that were highlighted for them because we have such different purposes. " I would replace the word "us" with "me", and then I would completely agree with you. On a related subject, I find it interesting that, when quoting the OT, the writers of the NT often quoted the Septuagint word for word, yet our modern bibles use the Masoretic text. And not only do the two disagree in some books, but there are actually books in the Septuagint that are not in the Masoretic text - or our modern English bibles. And then there is 1 Enoch being quoted in the NT, but for centuries we've been "prohibited" from reading it. It's not as clear as our Sunday school teachers made it out to be when we were children. That's why it takes a lifetime of study, and a few more...;)

Regarding Strongs, it does mention Psalm 82: 1,6 "God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:" "I said, 'You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you;'" (ESV) The word for "God" and "gods" are the same word. Strongs 430 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elohim Also: God (I) אלהים - Brill online reference works At its core, elohim is a generic term for "someone in the "unseen realm" of the spiritual world vs someone from our physical world. God is elohim, Satan is elohim, the angels and demons are "elohim". The other gods that Yahweh made responsible for parts of the world (the other gods in Psalm 82) are called elohim. However, there is one Yahweh. He is elohim and the creator of all, including the elohim (other spiritual beings) as well as everything in the physical realm. He created Eden as a place to fellowship with man. And that will continue as it was meant to when the New Jerusalem comes down as described in Revelation. At least, the above is my opinion.

He is an expert on ancient languages and cultures. It will give God's word the correct perspective. i.e. that of the people alive at the time each book was written. It's a couple of levels above strongs. He helps us to understand what the "pure" word may be, vs the content of any English translation, which can never be absolutely precise. I'm reading another book right now from an author with a similar ministry. It's called Old Testament Theology for Christians https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0830851925/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 A friends daughter was taking a class in a Christian college regarding ancient languages, specifically those from which our modern bibles came. I asked here which is the best version that can show you what the bible really means. She said the only way to REALLY know what it really means is to understand the original language in which each book was written, because everything else is flawed, and sometimes overtly so.

Just read Michael Heiser's book, Angels. "Angel" is a job title as well as a generic term for elohim. It's like calling a salmon a "fish". Or calling a human a mailman.

That explains the Milton Berle show. I think we agree more than we disagree. I think everyone that produces any kind of performance art is trying to sell a way of thinking. Not just the overt stuff, but everything. At least to one degree or another.

Heh. We find old TV shows interesting. Two that were surprising: Route 66 was overtly Christian in its stories sometimes. Petticoat Junction would be rated G by today's standards. But I'm finding I'm just naturally losing interest in any modern media. And even then, it's mostly documentaries. Movies and TV have a harder and harder time successfully getting me to suspend my disbelief. I've literally turned of shows ten minutes or a half hour before they end because I honestly don't care how they end. The result is that more and more of my viewing is on Youtube, and then it's not fiction. I'm also finding I'm reading more and more. I'm getting this today from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0830851925/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

RE Bolded: Not in the beginning. When there is a profit motive you give people what you can most cheaply produce and still get enough viewers to support via advertising. Then you have PBS, which had mostly pretty boring stuff for those that were interested. It got better as international sources improved. But even then, would a lot of that stuff existed on commercial channels? I loved the series, "connections", but then, I've always been into documentaries. A lot of people are not.

No disagreement there. The problem is that the audience ultimately set the tone, and resources were limited. They got what they chose to watch. But for it to reach its potential, it had to shift to "on demand", as it is today. It's not lost on me that the first big markets for on-demand viewing of any kind was always porn. It was true of home video tape and even CD-Roms. I remember going to a computer "swap meet" in the early 90's. CD players in computers were just starting to catch on at the time. There was a huge crowd gathering around a particular vendor. Yep. it was porn cd-roms. But all of those formats and those today now cater to all needs - including how to replace the AC clutch in my car as well as biblical history. It's all there and we can choose for ourselves. Finally!

Just wanted to comment on that one line. It really was "eventually" realized. But not with "broadcast TV". I unplugged from any broadcast TV in 1997, but about three years ago we noticed we had access to free streaming videos with our Amazon Prime membership. And we had had a smart TV for about six months, but used it solely for DVD's. And then there is Youtube. Between streaming and youtube, there is a plethora of information at my fingertips on every subject imaninable, and for immediate viewing. On youtube I have the Tony Heller channel on global warming, A ton of channels that have helped me immensely repairing my cars, sometimes regarding things I never would have attempted otherwise. And wiring my new shop building, wall framing, furniture building, how to properly cut down a tree without killing myself, very useful legal advise, etc. And the Ted talks. And all of this because it is so easy to search for what you need. And streaming gives me some of the same plus tons of documentaries on any subject I want, concerts, you name it. In fact, I was at a relative's house a few months ago, and all they have is cable. The concept of having to watch "what's on" was like stepping back into the 20th century. Fortunately, I played around and found "apps" and found Youtube and Amazon Prime. While the women were in the other room I got to watch some footage on how to refinish and paint old cabinets.

Weird. They don't host them here. I'm not sure why there is a limit. I guess I'll just post a link to it since they did approve the video. Just add a third "w" to the "ww" near the beginning.: https://ww.youtube.com/watch?v=4IeVy7jQoz0 On a side note, I just noticed my name is similar to his/hers.

THre is a 20 minute limit on videos posted. Just add a third "w" to the "ww" near the beginning.: https://ww.youtube.com/watch?v=4IeVy7jQoz0

The one thing that annoys me about politics is seeing an American flag on the podium near the preacher. It's been there on pretty much every church I've attended. I was happy to see it and that Christian flag removed at my church about a year ago. We certainly don't "need" a Christian flag, and we are not an "American" church. We are a Christian church. Regarding politics in general, I've been a huge political wonk my entire adult life. I'm now 67 and watching, before my eyes, the very thing so many were warning about for decades. Yet oddly, I've become more and more disinterested. I sort of have a "fiddle while Rome burns" attitude. But there is a reason for that: All I can do is all I can do. And I do. Then I simply put it in the Lord's hands, knowing full well how the movie ends. The good guys win, but not after taking some serious blows. And we learn from those blowes, even if they may kill the body that, truth be told, I'm not that concerned about. Fact is, if you are getting your panties in a wad about politics, it means you may be putting too much weight on the foot you have in this world. The Lord is in control. And most importantly, I remember this verse when dealing with political and cultural issues: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. - Ephesians 6:12 (ESV) This is a spiritual battle. I prefer to fight it in that realm.

For what it's worth, I saw a video regarding nudity in television. It was making the point that women are nude three times as much as men. But then it added, after an apostrophe, "six times as much in Game of Thrones." I've never seen the show, but I've heard some just call it "mainstream porn". But again, I've never seen it. I do know the Critical Drinker thinks the finale was awful, though he really liked the show in the beginning. It just sort of "lost its way". That's what I say about "The expanse". Watch the first three seasons. The story comes to a full end. Then it just becomes an episodic Sci-fi show that they appear to be making up as they go along. And they destroyed the characters as far as I'm concerned. I gave up on it to assure I had good memories of the great show I saw those first three seasons.

I used to say that those that espouse leftist values would not win over conservative and Christian values because, frankly, though the left "owns" the MSM, the conservatives "own" the internet. And the internet is obviously more powerful. I said that because I watched a lot of discussions go down over the years and it was very typical of "the left" to quickly reduce themselves to ad-hominem attacks. Don't get me wrong. All do it to one degree or another, but it seemed to be the left's MO. And as sites started banning people for using ad-hom attacks, the "leftist" members started simply disappearing. Not all, of course, but things were headed a certain direction. Then something changed EVERYTHING. It is evil at its core and is, as I see it, a "scorched earth" solution brought about by the left to win where their "emotion focused" arguments can't win on a level playing field. It is the last arrow in their quiver: Cancel culture. I could expound all over the place on that one, but I think you know what I'm saying and will just leave it at that. Suffice it to say that it is real and a HUGE development, not unlike the tools used to expedite the rise of the Soviets or the Nazis. Except this time it is worldwide. BTW, there is an andrew Klavan youtube video that discusses the cancel culture (before that name was coined), and it does reflect what was going on at the time. It's called "shut up", and was posted a full 12 years ago. Search it out.

First, if I were to connect to scripture it would be 2 timothy 2: 1-9 and Matthew 24 as a starting point. Second, in the last sixty years we've thrown out THOUSANDS of years of human culture and true "common sense" - and wisdom. Specifics include things happening internationally (i.e. this isn't just a US thing), e.g. transgenderism, inability to actually enforce the law, allowing minors to get abortions without their parents' knowledge or even against their permission, allowing males to compete in female sports, wokism, etc. Literally it comes down to this: The WHOLE world is turned upside down in a way that has never happened in human history. Insanity is desperately trying to overturn sanity via the cancel culture, and battle lines are being drawn as I type this. Worldwide we are being deceived by the "MSM". It's easy for me to see, because I dumped TV in 1997 and get my news from many diverse sources. Using the "how to boil the frog alive" analogy, THIS frog jumped out in 1997 and from the outside can see that the water is very hot indeed. Yet the frogs in the water - with only their experience in the pot as their guide - call me crazy. I know better. I know human nature. I know human history. I've had constant conversations with these "woke frogs" since my first forum postings way back in ~1998. What is happening to the world right now is quite clear to me. It's one of the reasons I moved from Seattle to rural KY in 2011, and it's gotten exponentially worse since then. And the other side is "all in" on this. They are in "scorched earth" mode. That is, they will do whatever it takes to win this, even if it means nobody wins. But we are just visiting this life. It is a mist. And I see it almost as a "boot camp" or "test" for believers. And I do my best to live by the Apostle Paul's words: To live is Christ and to die is gain.

Well, like the apostle Paul said, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

I was in a discussion on a political site and, well, I answered the question here. I', Cuban Leaf and it's post number 12. I've been posting there since 1997 (previous name was changed in 2011). It has never been more obvious that we are in the last days. And this has been ramping up exponentially as a hyperbolic curve in just the last 60 years. And the challenges we are facing from the humanists are not an American phenomenon. This is absolutely international. The whole world is in this mess and it will pop fairly soon. Just musing for a second: I wonder what the 2022 election cycle and election results will bring in the US. Hmmm...

Yep. Worthy has less "action" going on, but it is because they don't dwell on the political stuff. There is a musicians' site I used to frequent that, when you select "latest posts", virtually ALL of them are in the political subforum. Some of the music related subforums nave not had a post in months, or as much as a year. i.e. it's just become a political forum. And that is what happens when you live in a world like the one we live in today, especially with the strong differences of opinion regarding the various responses to the virus.