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One’s quest for truth will show him independence. Independence, that is, from vestures of concepts, mentalities, and machinery around them that want to control them - a system that is in the business of control, dependency, and putting him to sleep. If you only know how to get in your car and turn the key, you are totally dependent on the car dealer, the mechanic, the manufacturer, or anyone else that knows what to do if it doesn’t start. But if you have some background of auto mechanics and how they work (or why they don’t), you have become independent from others who want $50 an hour (or more) to fix it for you. So it is with everything around us - including a knowledge of the truth. If you know how a magician does his tricks, he can no longer keep you in the dark. You can watch from the rear of the audience at his fascinating illusion, and chuckle under your breath because you are one at least who has an edge on the crowd. It’s the same with economics, politics, technology and practically every aspect of life around us. It is also the same with things we can’t see - ways we think, opinions, philosophies and beliefs. And this is where the plot thickens, because I am going to cover a lot of asburd topics, and ask a lot of provoking questions. But the end result is to make you think. I cannot tell you what the truth is on any subject. My opinion is no better than the next person’s. But I can tell you how to find it. It is about humility. It is about "teachableness". It is about "forsaking". It is about dying to self. You have to be willing to walk away from those you have been associating with. You have to count the cost of your reputation, career, friends, family, etc. A professor in college said something I never forgot. "Salvation is free, but it will cost you everything!" What is more ironic is that he may have a list of degrees on the subject. But you know as well as I do that two people - both with PHD’s on some subject, may have come to totally opposite views on an idea or belief. Someone with a lifetime of education may come to a certain position on some subject. Yet someone else with the same background of studying behind them may see it differently. Then you find differing views from people in a Biblical background of studies, with education and studies in college and seminaries. Why? How can so many people from so many denominations and groups have totally differing views on doctrines and beliefs, yet all have had training in original languages and intense study in the Bible? “Their training is prejudicial”, you say. But they look at you as no less than arrogant. So let’s look use tools to help us find the truth. I know of individuals who are involved in ministry. If they even entertained the idea of any theological persuasion different than their peers they would have to resign. So they are "stuck in the theological mud", so to speak. They have no choice, but to just "play along" and play their game, and make all the right clucking noises, like Chip and Dale trapped in a chicken barnyard! So you take a hard look at life, and your search for truth. You start applying principles to life that we find in the Bible! Matt. 19:29 "And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life." Matt. 10:36 "And a man's foes shall be they of his own household." I have been to churches all over the country for 50 years. I have sat in Sunday School classes. I have listened to preachers on TV, internet, etc. And I cannot EVER remember anyone EVER quote those verses. They are "politically incorrect." But practice that principle, and you will find the truth..."and the truth shall make you free" John 8:32. alturl.com/68zw4

One’s quest for truth will show him independence. Independence, that is, from vestures of concepts, mentalities, and machinery around them that want to control them - a system that is in the business of control, dependency, and putting him to sleep. If you only know how to get in your car and turn the key, you are totally dependent on the car dealer, the mechanic, the manufacturer, or anyone else that knows what to do if it doesn’t start. But if you have some background of auto mechanics and how they work (or why they don’t), you have become independent from others who want $50 an hour (or more) to fix it for you. So it is with everything around us - including a knowledge of the truth. If you know how a magician does his tricks, he can no longer keep you in the dark. You can watch from the rear of the audience at his fascinating illusion, and chuckle under your breath because you are one at least who has an edge on the crowd. It’s the same with economics, politics, technology and practically every aspect of life around us. It is also the same with things we can’t see - ways we think, opinions, philosophies and beliefs. And this is where the plot thickens, because I am going to cover a lot of asburd topics, and ask a lot of provoking questions. But the end result is to make you think. I cannot tell you what the truth is on any subject. My opinion is no better than the next person’s. But I can tell you how to find it. It is about humility. It is about "teachableness". It is about "forsaking". It is about dying to self. You have to be willing to walk away from those you have been associating with. You have to count the cost of your reputation, career, friends, family, etc. A professor in college said something I never forgot. "Salvation is free, but it will cost you everything!" What is more ironic is that he may have a list of degrees on the subject. But you know as well as I do that two people - both with PHD’s on some subject, may have come to totally opposite views on an idea or belief. Someone with a lifetime of education may come to a certain position on some subject. Yet someone else with the same background of studying behind them may see it differently. Then you find differing views from people in a Biblical background of studies, with education and studies in college and seminaries. Why? How can so many people from so many denominations and groups have totally differing views on doctrines and beliefs, yet all have had training in original languages and intense study in the Bible? “Their training is prejudicial”, you say. But they look at you as no less than arrogant. So let’s look use tools to help us find the truth. I know of individuals who are involved in ministry. If they even entertained the idea of any theological persuasion different than their peers they would have to resign. So they are "stuck in the theological mud", so to speak. They have no choice, but to just "play along" and play their game, and make all the right clucking noises, like Chip and Dale trapped in a chicken barnyard! So you take a hard look at life, and your search for truth. You start applying principles to life that we find in the Bible! Matt. 19:29 "And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life." Matt. 10:36 "And a man's foes shall be they of his own household." I have been to churches all over the country for 50 years. I have sat in Sunday School classes. I have listened to preachers on TV, internet, etc. And I cannot EVER remember anyone EVER quote those verses. They are "politically incorrect." But practice that principle, and you will find the truth..."and the truth shall make you free" John 8:32. alturl.com/68zw4