Sirach 36: 1-22

Sirach 36: 1-22

A Prayer for God’s People

Come to our aid, O God of the universe,

and put all the nations in dread of you!

Raise your hand against the foreign people,

that they may see your mighty deeds.

As you have used us to show them your holiness,

so now use them to show us your glory.

Thus, they will know, as we know,

that there is no God but you.

Give new signs and work new wonders;

show forth the splendor of your right hand and arm.

Rouse your anger, pour out wrath;

humble the enemy, scatter the foe.a

Hasten the ending, appoint the time,

and let people proclaim your mighty deeds.

Let raging fire consume the fugitive,

and your people’s oppressors meet destruction.

Crush the heads of the hostile rulers

who say, “There is no one besides me.”

Gather all the tribes of Jacob,

that they may inherit the land as in days of old.

Show mercy to the people called by your name:

Israel, whom you named your firstborn.

Take pity on your holy city:

Jerusalem, your dwelling place.

Fill Zion with your majesty,

your temple with your glory.

Give evidence of your deeds of old;

fulfill the prophecies spoken in your name.

Reward those who have hoped in you,

and let your prophets be proved true.

Hear the prayer of your servants,

according to your good will toward your people.

Thus all the ends of the earth will know

that you are the eternal God.

Wag the Dog - the movie

(1997)

Movie Trailer

https://www.imdb.com/video/vi920715545?ref_=ext_shr_lnk

The movie scenarios could easily fit into the current political environment as well as past presidencies.  It was about an election year and the current President poll numbers were falling due to a sex scandal. So, the President calls in a specialist (Robert De Niro) to sweep the scandal away and improve his poll numbers. He recruits a movie producer (Dustin Hoffman) to create a fake war to distract the American public by using the news media to help convince the public to re-elect a failing President, sound familiar.  

Over-all, I liked the movie, didn't really care much for the progress-left actors, but a good movie.  

I watched this movie for the first-time last night. I will have to say it was thought provoking and at times funny and other times alarming.

I will usually take what I hear in the news with some analysis of history, some knowledge of politics, past experiences (comes with age) and critical thinking. Watching it I could not help thinking, could this happen in real life? And especially now with the current president (not my president).

Take a look that the pictures from a recent Press Conference with Biden.

    

Who is in charge of this actor? and more importantly who is the producer?

 

Signs of Life - 2

 

Bluebird eggs - picture from a couple of days ago. 

Stay tune for more updates.....

Is it the Best or Worst of Times?

 

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times"

                      - Charles Dickens -

Does anyone feel like we are going through both good and bad times?

I try to have those days of hopefulness; some days are really good and then the next day it seems to vanish and the reality of the worst of times settles in for the remainder of day. And I go back to 2019/2020 it was like someone flip a switch and everything drastically changed overnight. 

At this moment, news reports of mask mandates possibility being lifted, some local governments are working on cutting taxes to ease the cost of inflation. People are getting out more going to sporting or music events. But then you hear the reports of doom and gloom of war, food shortages, and mass migrations of illegal immigrants crossing the US border.

I think we are at the point of just taking one day at a time, to enjoy those brief moments where all seems right with the world. And for those bad times, just pray to God and hope for the best.      

photo - Alexas_Fotos - pixabay 

Oscars 2022 - real or fake or do you care?

 

First, I did not watch the Oscars last night and have not in years.

I saw the Chris Rock vs Will Smith exchange. I really don't care if it was fake or real. 

I am a fan of classic movies from silent film of the 1920's up to movies in the 1960's. After the 60's, movies seem to go downhill from there, with some exceptions. 

Why does everything have to be dramatized. This incident, fake or not was not good for the movie industry.  The Oscars have been struggling to get there ratings up and this didn't help. And for those who watched it and thought it was good entertainment, your acceptance of this is why our country is in the shape it is in. 

We cannot continue to go down the path of just accepting everything as it happens, there has to be consequences to actions. I realize this was just one show but when does this type of action result in some form discipline.  I would believe if this happened in the 1950's the actors involved would be banned or fined from the film industry.

Just my opinion. 

photo -  onkelglocke - pixabay    

Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

 Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,

but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,

“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

So to them Jesus addressed this parable:

“A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father,

‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’

So the father divided the property between them.

After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings

and set off to a distant country

where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.

When he had freely spent everything,

a severe famine struck that country,

and he found himself in dire need.

So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens

who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.

And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed,

but nobody gave him any.

Coming to his senses he thought,

‘How many of my father’s hired workers

have more than enough food to eat,

but here am I, dying from hunger.

I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him,

“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

I no longer deserve to be called your son;

treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’

So he got up and went back to his father.

While he was still a long way off,

his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion.

He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.

His son said to him,

‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you;

I no longer deserve to be called your son.’

But his father ordered his servants,

‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him;

put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

Take the fattened calf and slaughter it.

Then let us celebrate with a feast,

because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again;

he was lost, and has been found.’

Then the celebration began.

Now the older son had been out in the field

and, on his way back, as he neared the house,

he heard the sound of music and dancing.

He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.

The servant said to him,

‘Your brother has returned

and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf

because he has him back safe and sound.’

He became angry,

and when he refused to enter the house,

his father came out and pleaded with him.

He said to his father in reply,

‘Look, all these years I served you

and not once did I disobey your orders;

yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends.

But when your son returns

who swallowed up your property with prostitutes,

for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’

He said to him,

‘My son, you are here with me always;

everything I have is yours.

But now we must celebrate and rejoice,

because your brother was dead and has come to life again;

he was lost and has been found.’”

Are You Ready?

 2019 was the last year we knew of a "somewhat normal" way of life.

Since then, we have had the following:

• Pandemic
• Election Fraud
• Civil Unrest and Protest
• Business Closures
• School Curriculum Controversy
• Supply Chain Breakdown
• Interest Rate Increase
• Stock Market Down
• War in Ukraine
• Threats of Nuclear War 
• Cyber Attacks
• Rising Gas Prices
• Progressive vs. Conservative

Is there more to add?

All of this has affected us in some way or another. It is important at this time to be thinking about preparedness. Actually, if you are just now thinking about it you are already behind. So, without going into some major details about preparedness, which will be a later post, think about how the above list of events affected you.

Did you feel at any time you were un-prepared?

What could you have done differently?

Thinking about current events, could our country be affected?

Has the supply chain and the increase cost affected you?

If you could not get supplies, do you have enough now to last at least month?

What if all utilities (water, electricity, gas) were cut-off?

What would you do if all communications collapsed?

And the last question, Are you Ready?

  

photo - ArtTower - pixabay

Supreme Court Nominee

 The last day for hearings for Ketanji Brown Jackson has clearly demonstrated how political this whole process has become in the last several years.  The Dems are set to confirm her as the next Justice on the Supreme Court.  They have not criticized her at all. But the last three Justices, Kavanaugh, Barrett, and Gorsuch were questioned so much to the point of almost classifying them as criminals. And to be fair, the conservatives have done their part in questioning her ability to do the job.

I think these positions should be elected positions because they represent America in the interpretation of the Constitution.  Judges in the lower court systems are typically elected. 

Why not have the highest court in our country be elected by the people?   

Signs of Life

 

Every Spring we look forward to the return of the Bluebirds.  This is still a work in progress, but I would believe soon we will be seeing eggs.  More to come...... 

God's Creation

Don't mess with God's creation.

I understand that throughout history some people have felt they were trapped in another body. I'm saying for those transgenders, do not physically change what God gave you.  The main reason I say this is - God does not make mistakes.

 

All this has come into the news lately, about men competing in women's sports. The sports authorities want to be politically correct and are afraid to offend. Transgenderism - no matter how much one tries to change physically via hormones, the bone structure and muscle mass will always remain what God gave them.

Everything that God creates is good.

A Chess Game

The leaders of the world's largest nations are playing a chess game as everyone watches the events in Ukraine.

Russia is wondering where to make their next attack. 

China is thinking which the is best nation to become allies with them.

United States is trying to only give assistance to Ukraine but not really get involved.

North Korea is just waiting to see who wins and then join team.

Iran is just waiting from someone to make them a nuclear deal.

We thought 2020 was Bad a Year

All of this year's events have been overwhelming with mandates and vaccine enforcements, supply chain issues, high gas prices, the trucker rebellion, elementary and high school curriculum wokeness.  And "men" having babies and competing in women's sporting events. I also, should mention the threat of World War.

How crazy does this sound?

2020 was bad, but 2022 is not the best of times so far.

A bit of all this chaos has continued on from the last couple of years and seems to be getting worst. Our politicians from a local level all the way up to the Biden Administration need to get out of the way and let a preferably conservative leader take charge. 

This madness has to stop!         

Zelensky - an opinion

 I watched President Zelensky speak to the US Congress.

I have mixed opinions about the situation. On one side I feel the humanitarian aspect to help those in dire need. The US has always been the go-to country for aid to those in need either by disasters or any other high casualty situation.  

On the other side is, any assistance beyond what we are already doing will clearly draw the United States into WW III. In the most recent wars, the US has fought many years to defeat a single country.  The possibility of WW III will bring us into a war fought on multiple fronts including air and naval battles with not only Russia, but China, Iran, and North Korea, and all of these countries have nuclear capabilities.

The only resolve to this situation, if we agree to the no-fly zone, which will then fully commit us to fight Russia and their allies - the strength of the United States military will have to combine forces with our allies in Europe. The added military muscle of our allies would absolutely crush Russia.     

WW III would be catastrophe to the world. The advanced weapons technology systems of today would make the casualty rate much higher than WW II.  The United States would have to activate the military draft system, for casualty replacements and this would now include women.

I pray to God this will end soon.     

Where did it go?

Where did COVID go?

Watching the news this morning and saw a report about the anniversary date of lockdowns due to COVID infections, which at that time was only 17 people in the county.  Two years ago we saw the beginning of a shutdown of the entire United States. Since then, multiple variations of the virus and vaccines have dominated our world for two years.   

But until today I haven't heard much about the virus, pandemic, and absolutely nothing from Fauci. So, where did it go? 

The agenda of keeping everyone distracted on the pandemic has now been replaced by the war in Ukraine. Why are we constantly being distracted, because I think our economy is about to collapse which will eventually effect every aspect of our life, from filling our gas tanks to going to the store to get our necessary supplies. The price of everything is going to go up. 

If you have noticed the Biden administration has blamed all of this on someone or something, its never on them.  I believe the motive behind all of this is to keep the distractions going until right before the 2022 elections and then a major Biden press conference will probably happen sometime in October 2022 and like a wave from a magic wand all the problems will be resolved and the Democrat's will be the heroes, just in time for the elections. 

    

Bogart and Hepburn

 

One of my favorite movies with Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn.

A classic movie from 1951

A great story of love and struggles in wartime. Be sure to check it out. A movie of adventure, drama, and romance.

Snow again?

I thought we were done with the last of the snow of the year.

The temperatures next week will be upper 60's to mid-70's. I'm ready for the summer.

Stop the Insanity

 It is hard to believe after Biden made his big announcement about no more Russian oil, the country is in a panic to find more oil from another country - to make a deal with another communist/dictator.

When will the insanity stop?

We have more than enough oil here. We have to get rid of this insane president, who believes he is making good decisions or the people who are telling him what to say - they are just as insane as he is. 

Trump 2024!! 

Photo pixabay - geralt

American Independence?

The announcement yesterday from the Biden administration to stop the import of Russian oil should have happen months ago.  But we should not have been doing business with them at all. 

I remember a time when I was younger, if I saw any product that was made in another country it was a rare thing and nowadays its rare to see an American product.

We have lost our independence on goods.  We have come to dependent on other countries and just like American companies are closing off goods and services to Russia the same could happen here. If a country is in disagreement with US foreign policies they could easily eliminate the export of their goods to America. And the commerce battle lines will be laid out.

The United States historically has been known for independence and freedom, we are no longer that country.  The next time you buy any product take note where it was made, then come to the realization it might not be available the next time. Now is the time to buy American and take in consideration the materials used to make that product. 

Do those materials come from another country?

Buy 100% American made products, I realize this is a difficult task because of the convenience of just buying what you need and not doing the research.  This is the only way for us to regain our independence.  

 

Photo Pixabay -  Mediamodifier   

Luke 4:1-13

 The Temptation of Jesus

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan

and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days,

to be tempted by the devil.

He ate nothing during those days,

and when they were over he was hungry.

The devil said to him,

“If you are the Son of God,

command this stone to become bread.”

Jesus answered him,

“It is written, One does not live on bread alone.”

Then he took him up and showed him

all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant.

The devil said to him,

“I shall give to you all this power and glory;

for it has been handed over to me,

and I may give it to whomever I wish.

All this will be yours, if you worship me.”

Jesus said to him in reply,

“It is written

            You shall worship the Lord, your God,

                        and him alone shall you serve.”

Then he led him to Jerusalem,

made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him,

“If you are the Son of God,

throw yourself down from here, for it is written:

            He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,

 and:

            With their hands they will support you,

            lest you dash your foot against a stone.”

Jesus said to him in reply,

“It also says,

            You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”

When the devil had finished every temptation,

he departed from him for a time.

The Oil Agenda

 

The gas price continues to go up, and there is no end to when it will stop. 

Once upon a time, we were completely independent in America, with no dependency on anything from another country.  But, somewhere, we lost that independence. Well, we are paying for that loss now.

The Biden administration refuses to open our oil reserves because it goes against their climate change/green energy agenda. They believe if the price of oil continues to go up, people will eventually stop buying gas because it will be too expensive. And here is the real reason, if America stops buying gas, the government can expand the electric car industry and force people to rid themselves of the oil industry.

We have enough oil in our country to be completely independent, and we should stop the insanity of paying for oil from Russia and other Middle Eastern countries.  I like driving gas-powered vehicles, and as long as we have those oil reserves, we need to continue to drill.