Remember there is a Price

Freedom is not free

Remember those who paid the price 

What is the cause?

The world seems to be going crazy. All the recent tragic events have been the root cause of evil.  Everyone is trying to analyze the true causes and blame, but the real presence of demons is the real cause.

God did not create us to be evil. We are born into this world as good as God intended, but evil does exist and influences the world.

We must pray every day to guard against evil.

St. Michael Prayer

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the Power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits, who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls.  Amen.

Capitalizing on Change

The pandemic completely changed the way we do business.  The opportunities to reinvent the way we do business have a massive potential for entrepreneurial investments. 

Probably the most significant change is the working-from-home environment.

Here is just a short list of ways someone could invest:

• The home office - items could be either rented or purchased.
•  Home office warehouse - distributing office furniture like desks, cabinets, etc. for a corporation; these items would also be retrieved once an employee leaves the company.
• Office supplies - a growth opportunity for companies like Staples and Office Depot for home delivery.

What will be the next opportunity to expand?

Can a current distributing company expand to cater to home-office opportunities?

This is the American way - capitalism at its best

  

The Culture of Business Now

The internal working environment before the pandemic was a traditional office culture of a desk, phone, and computer in an office or cubicle and, depending on the position, maybe had a few more office perks. Most people working in an office thought the pandemic would be over in a few months and everything would return to normal. But now, as people have returned after working from home for over two years have discovered the culture of business has changed.

Now - going into the office to do a day's work is inconvenient. The common practice of working from home is the norm. 

Now - Meetings are no longer conducted in a conference room with everyone present in their business attire. Meetings are via zoom call from a home office, kitchen, den, or wherever is the most comfortable. And the dress depends on who's in the meeting but could range from extremely casual to suit and tie.

Now - the hours of sitting in rush hour traffic are gone. One could live hours away from the office or live in another country.

Now - the office lunch bag is gone; an employee could cook their lunch in their own kitchen.

This could go on and on, but the culture of a business office has changed forever, which brings up the next topic - how can new business ventures capitalize on this changing culture? 

Photo: louisehoffmann83/pixabay

 

    

  

What is Truth?

Is it something we hear or read?

Is it something we determine?

Is it a rule or law?

Does it come from God?

I think all of these, at some point, would be true. 

_________________________________________________

Webster's definition:

truth noun 

\ ˈtrüth  \

plural truths\ ˈtrüt͟hz  , ˈtrüths \

Definition of truth

1a(1): the body of real things, events, and facts : ACTUALITY

(2): the state of being the case : FACT

(3)often capitalized : a transcendent fundamental or spiritual reality

b: a judgment, proposition, or idea that is true or accepted as true

truths of thermodynamics

c: the body of true statements and propositions

2a: the property (as of a statement) of being in accord with fact or reality

bchiefly British : TRUE sense 2

c: fidelity to an original or to a standard

3a: sincerity in action, character, and utterance

barchaic : FIDELITY, CONSTANCY

4 capitalized, Christian Science : GOD

in truth

: in accordance with fact : ACTUALLY

_________________________________________________

The next question is, what do we trust?

This helps us to determine what is truth. We can hear a statement that tells us that it is "the truth," but how do we know it? The assessment is then all on us to accept or reject. We also have to consider our own knowledge, which is a significant factor because if we do not have any prior knowledge of the truth, it could readily be accepted. Rules and laws have been determined to be fact-based, but do we just follow them? I think in the majority of cases, yes.

I am trying to explain the truth because the world is going crazy now.  Almost every day, we can tune in to the latest news and ask ourselves, "is that really true? It's hard to believe"

The only absolute truth comes from God. So, how does God's truth apply to all the events in the world?

We have to pray, read the Bible, and follow the experiences of the Saints. We have a base of knowledge of truth in God. If we follow His commandments and teachings, it will guide us to all matter's truth.    

Psalm 25:5 

"Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You, I wait all the day."

1 Corinthians 2:5

"so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of mankind, but on the power of God."  

 

Are You Convinced?

When I was in college, I took a philosophy class.  I will admit this was a deep subject and sometimes challenging to follow.  One thing I remember is in presenting an argument about a particular topic, you had to understand both sides.  It was a way to understand the opposing point of view, which helped explain your own viewpoints.  This was not just to say who was right or wrong, but it could open discussion without judgment. Although the objective was to convince the opposing viewpoint to your own.  In the past, I've been in conversation with people of opposing views, and once they discovered my take on a particular topic, this escalated into an argument. It became the I'm right, and you are wrong discussion, which never came to a conclusion.

I'm stating this to say, with all the controversial topics, abortion, COVID, immigration/border, the economy, progressive/conservative politics, and the list goes on... 

I realize people feel strongly about their own philosophy, but when the realization of trying to convince the opposing view to your own, the conversation could become endless. At this point, one must end with a final statement, "we are going to have to agree to disagree," and hope the two parties can remain civil.

My philosophy here is to share my opinions and hopefully convince those who might read them to consider other points of view.

Photo: geralt/pixabay

    

Homelessness

Homelessness has been a topic in the local news lately.  The State passed a law making it a felony to camp on public or State property.  

This is a complex problem because homeless people are there for multiple reasons, primarily mental illness, drug abuse, or financial issues. The law states if they occupy the prohibited property, they will be committing a felony which means they could be arrested and taken to jail. 

The problem with this is that the city has no cash bail, and criminals who have committed armed robberies or have extensive criminal histories are being released, and now we will replace them with the homeless. This is not right. I agree there needs to be a way to help the homeless population, and there are significant concerns with them on public land. I don't know the answer, but it's not putting them in jail.     

    

Supreme Court Draft Opinion

 

The important note in the news leak is that this is a draft opinion. It is not official yet. The Supreme Court does not accidentally leak information about major decisions.  This was clearly intentional by the progressive Justices to rally the pro-choice protesters.  Why would they do this?  Because if the progressives get enough attention in the media, then I'm sure the Biden administration will get involved somehow and change it. We had the BLM protest in 2020. This will be the 2022 summer protest. 

About half of the United States is Pro-Life. This will be the battle of good versus evil - Pro-life vs. pro-choice. We must protect life from the moment of conception to till the last day. 

God help us all.

The Disinformation Governance Board ?

The news in recent days has covered the new sub-department of Homeland Security - The Disinformation Governance Board. 

And some of these reports compare it the novel 1984.  So, without getting into an opinion on this matter, below are the best definitions I could find on the two topics.  

What are your thoughts?   

 

1984 By George Orwell

1984 is a classic dystopian novel—a novel that describes a society with great suffering—written by George Orwell and published in 1949, a few years after WWII ended. It was published at the beginning of the height of the Cold War, and people gravitated toward a book that spoke of such things as government control and "doublethink".

The novel is set in 1984 in Airstrip One, formerly England. Airstrip One is part of the nation Oceania. It is run by an authoritarian-style government called Ingsoc, and it requires complete obedience. It is led by Big Brother, who is said to be a philosopher and war hero, and who inspires loyalty and fear. One of the slogans of Oceania is "Big Brother is watching you." It has one political party, simply named the Party. The government changes historical records to suit their needs and produces propaganda and all the entertainment for the citizens.

Source: Ministry of Truth in 1984 by George Orwell | Quotes, Slogan & Description - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com

I could not find an official government website with the actual definition, so here is the Wikipedia version.

The Disinformation Governance Board is a United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) board announced on April 27, 2022 during a 2023 budget hearing before the United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security. Its aim is protecting national security by combatting foreign misinformation and disinformation. Specific problem areas mentioned include false information propagated by human smugglers encouraging migrants to surge to the Mexico–United States border, as well as Russian-state disinformation on election interference, the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, and COVID-19 vaccines.[1] In a statement, the DHS said the board would "protect privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties" as part of its duties.[1][2]

Source: Disinformation Governance Board - Wikipedia 

Signs of Life - final

This is the last photo. They have some of their feathers I would say within the next week they will fly into the world. 

Justification - a definition

justification - noun

jus·​ti·​fi·​ca·​tion | \ ˌjə-stə-fə-ˈkā-shən  \

Definition of justification

1a: the act or an instance of justifying something : VINDICATION - arguments offered in justification of their choice

b: an acceptable reason for doing something : something that justifies an act or way of behaving - could provide no justification for his decision

2: the act, process, or state of being justified by God (see JUSTIFY sense 2a)

3: the process or result of justifying lines of text (see JUSTIFY sense 3a) software that provides automatic justification of text

 Justification Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webste

___________________________________________________________________________________

The word justification is a powerful word. It is used everyday but not in the form of using the word in conversation or text. We use it in our thoughts and actions.  Think about the decisions you make daily and how many of them involve your justification for your actions.  Take another look at the definition, can you understand how your justification is applied?

Also, look at the second definition - the act, process, or state of being justified by God. Do we base our decisions on what we think or how God's justification is applied? 

Think about it.  

John 20: 19-31

John 20: 19-31

On the evening of that first day of the week,

when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,

for fear of the Jews,

Jesus came and stood in their midst

and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.

The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.

As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,

“Receive the Holy Spirit.

Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,

and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,

was not with them when Jesus came.

So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

But he said to them,

“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands

and put my finger into the nailmarks

and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Now a week later his disciples were again inside

and Thomas was with them.

Jesus came, although the doors were locked,

and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,

and bring your hand and put it into my side,

and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”

Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?

Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples

that are not written in this book.

But these are written that you may come to believe

that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,

and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

Summer and Baseball

 Nashville Sounds Baseball Park

The perfect summer sport

Looking forward to the beginning of warmer temperatures and being outside watching a good game of baseball.

Signs of Life - 5

 

Probably just a few days old.  More photos to come....

No Mask Required - my opinion

The recent judicial ruling on the mask requirement on transportation has been dropped, and when the news was received by those passengers in flight, there was a burst of celebration.  This was the last federal requirement for masks to be mandated on all public transportation. 

But as expected, the political progressives in D.C. did not like it. The Biden administration is expected to repel the decision. The longer this repel takes, and if the decision is reversed, I can't even imagine the protest that will take place.  Some might say if it is repealed, people will conform and give in to wearing masks again.  I say progressive and conservative, or "ordinary non-political" people, might agree to some common ground on this topic of no more mandates. I also realize there will be those who will wear a mask till the day they die, which is their choice.  

We all want this to be over. But I believe the political agenda of the elected progressives will try to force us back into the pandemic lockdowns again because without the control of mandates - they have no power to regulate us. 

photo -  Hatice EROL - pixabay     

Ukraine - my analysis

 

What does this mean?  What is the strategic gain for attacking the city of Lviv?

My opinion and is based on the news feeds I read and some knowledge of military strategy - by no means am I an expert.

Intelligence: Russian Offensive

• Russian forces are occupying major regions in Donetsk, Luhansk, Melitopol, and Kherson regions.
• Russian forces attack on Kyiv unsuccessfully resulting in a withdraw from the region.
• Indiscriminate attacks on civilians and non-military buildings.
• Logistics - initial attacks resulted in a major supply shutdown but in recent weeks logistic issues seemed to have been resolved.
• China is in support with finance and supplies.    

Counterintelligence: Ukraine Defense

• Countries that support Ukraine are increasing their military aid.
• Russia has made threats of major attacks if supporting countries continue to aid Ukraine.

• Poland is the primary logistical hub for supplies and refugees.
• Ukraine applies to enter into the European Union but will not join NATO.

Based on the intelligence, here is my analysis:

•  The attack on Lviv is a distraction in two ways.
• first - Eastern Ukraine offensive will increase.
• second - the region around Lviv will see an increase in long-range artillery attacks with a possible bombardment into Poland to draw NATO forces to attack in defense of the border between Poland and Ukraine.
• The attacks in Eastern and Western Ukraine will result in the Ukraine military being forced to defend those regions and leaving the middle region with limited defenses included Kyiv the capitol city which was the Russia's first objective. 

This week will be a critical time to watch the movement of Russia troops. If satellite images indicate Russian activity on the Nothern border of Ukraine an attack on Kyiv will be inevitable.        

   

Good Friday Reading

John 18: 1-19:42  

Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley

to where there was a garden,

into which he and his disciples entered.

Judas his betrayer also knew the place,

because Jesus had often met there with his disciples.

So Judas got a band of soldiers and guards

from the chief priests and the Pharisees

and went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.

Jesus, knowing everything that was going to happen to him,

went out and said to them, “Whom are you looking for?”

They answered him, “Jesus the Nazorean.”

He said to them, “I AM.”

Judas his betrayer was also with them.

When he said to them, “I AM, “

they turned away and fell to the ground.

So he again asked them,

“Whom are you looking for?”

They said, “Jesus the Nazorean.”

Jesus answered,

“I told you that I AM.

So if you are looking for me, let these men go.”

This was to fulfill what he had said,

“I have not lost any of those you gave me.”

Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it,

struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear.

The slave’s name was Malchus.

Jesus said to Peter,

“Put your sword into its scabbard.

Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gave me?”

So the band of soldiers, the tribune, and the Jewish guards seized Jesus,

bound him, and brought him to Annas first.

He was the father-in-law of Caiaphas,

who was high priest that year.

It was Caiaphas who had counseled the Jews

that it was better that one man should die rather than the people.

Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus.

Now the other disciple was known to the high priest,

and he entered the courtyard of the high priest with Jesus.

But Peter stood at the gate outside.

So the other disciple, the acquaintance of the high priest,

went out and spoke to the gatekeeper and brought Peter in.

Then the maid who was the gatekeeper said to Peter,

“You are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?”

He said, “I am not.”

Now the slaves and the guards were standing around a charcoal fire

that they had made, because it was cold,

and were warming themselves.

Peter was also standing there keeping warm.

The high priest questioned Jesus

about his disciples and about his doctrine.

Jesus answered him,

“I have spoken publicly to the world.

I have always taught in a synagogue

or in the temple area where all the Jews gather,

and in secret I have said nothing.  Why ask me?

Ask those who heard me what I said to them.

They know what I said.”

When he had said this,

one of the temple guards standing there struck Jesus and said,

“Is this the way you answer the high priest?”

Jesus answered him,

“If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong;

but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?”

Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Now Simon Peter was standing there keeping warm.

And they said to him,

“You are not one of his disciples, are you?”

He denied it and said,

“I am not.”

One of the slaves of the high priest,

a relative of the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said,

“Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?”

Again Peter denied it.

And immediately the cock crowed.

Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetorium.

It was morning.

And they themselves did not enter the praetorium,

in order not to be defiled so that they could eat the Passover.

So Pilate came out to them and said,

“What charge do you bring against this man?”

They answered and said to him,

“If he were not a criminal,

we would not have handed him over to you.”

At this, Pilate said to them,

“Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law.”

The Jews answered him,

“We do not have the right to execute anyone, “

in order that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled

that he said indicating the kind of death he would die.

So Pilate went back into the praetorium

and summoned Jesus and said to him,

“Are you the King of the Jews?”

Jesus answered,

“Do you say this on your own

or have others told you about me?”

Pilate answered,

“I am not a Jew, am I?

Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me.

What have you done?”

Jesus answered,

“My kingdom does not belong to this world.

If my kingdom did belong to this world,

my attendants would be fighting

to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.

But as it is, my kingdom is not here.”

So Pilate said to him,

“Then you are a king?”

Jesus answered,

“You say I am a king.

For this I was born and for this I came into the world,

to testify to the truth.

Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

When he had said this,

he again went out to the Jews and said to them,

“I find no guilt in him.

But you have a custom that I release one prisoner to you at Passover.

Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

They cried out again,

“Not this one but Barabbas!”

Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged.

And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head,

and clothed him in a purple cloak,

and they came to him and said,

“Hail, King of the Jews!”

And they struck him repeatedly.

Once more Pilate went out and said to them,

“Look, I am bringing him out to you,

so that you may know that I find no guilt in him.”

So Jesus came out,

wearing the crown of thorns and the purple cloak.

And he said to them, “Behold, the man!”

When the chief priests and the guards saw him they cried out,

“Crucify him, crucify him!”

Pilate said to them,

“Take him yourselves and crucify him.

I find no guilt in him.”

The Jews answered,

“We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die,

because he made himself the Son of God.”

Now when Pilate heard this statement,

he became even more afraid,

and went back into the praetorium and said to Jesus,

“Where are you from?”

Jesus did not answer him.

So Pilate said to him,

“Do you not speak to me?

Do you not know that I have power to release you

and I have power to crucify you?”

Jesus answered him,

“You would have no power over me

if it had not been given to you from above.

For this reason the one who handed me over to you

has the greater sin.”

Consequently, Pilate tried to release him; but the Jews cried out,

“If you release him, you are not a Friend of Caesar.

Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”

When Pilate heard these words he brought Jesus out

and seated him on the judge’s bench

in the place called Stone Pavement, in Hebrew, Gabbatha.

It was preparation day for Passover, and it was about noon.

And he said to the Jews,

“Behold, your king!”

They cried out,

“Take him away, take him away!  Crucify him!”

Pilate said to them,

“Shall I crucify your king?”

The chief priests answered,

“We have no king but Caesar.”

Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.

So they took Jesus, and, carrying the cross himself,

he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull,

in Hebrew, Golgotha.

There they crucified him, and with him two others,

one on either side, with Jesus in the middle.

Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross.

It read,

“Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews.”

Now many of the Jews read this inscription,

because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city;

and it was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek.

So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate,

 “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’

but that he said, ‘I am the King of the Jews’.”

Pilate answered,

“What I have written, I have written.”

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus,

they took his clothes and divided them into four shares,

a share for each soldier.

They also took his tunic, but the tunic was seamless,

woven in one piece from the top down.

So they said to one another,

“Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it will be, “

in order that the passage of Scripture might be fulfilled that says:

            They divided my garments among them,

                        and for my vesture they cast lots.

This is what the soldiers did.

Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother

and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas,

and Mary of Magdala.

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved

he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”

Then he said to the disciple,

“Behold, your mother.”

And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

After this, aware that everything was now finished,

in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled,

Jesus said, “I thirst.”

There was a vessel filled with common wine.

So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop

and put it up to his mouth.

When Jesus had taken the wine, he said,

“It is finished.”

And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.

Now since it was preparation day,

in order that the bodies might not remain on the cross on the sabbath,

for the sabbath day of that week was a solemn one,

the Jews asked Pilate that their legs be broken

and that they be taken down.

So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first

and then of the other one who was crucified with Jesus.

But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead,

they did not break his legs,

but one soldier thrust his lance into his side,

and immediately blood and water flowed out.

An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true;

he knows that he is speaking the truth,

so that you also may come to believe.

For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be fulfilled:

            Not a bone of it will be broken.

And again another passage says:

            They will look upon him whom they have pierced.

After this, Joseph of Arimathea,

secretly a disciple of Jesus for fear of the Jews,

asked Pilate if he could remove the body of Jesus.

And Pilate permitted it.

So he came and took his body.

Nicodemus, the one who had first come to him at night,

also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes

weighing about one hundred pounds.

They took the body of Jesus

and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices,

according to the Jewish burial custom.

Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden,

and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried.

So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day;

for the tomb was close by.

Signs of Life - 4

 

I actually captured this photo my accident.  My intent was to photo just the eggs.  The Birdhouse is higher on the stand so I could not look down into the nest.  My phone camera was placed inside without me know a bluebird was sitting on the nest.  

Stay tuned for more Signs of Life ......

Philippians 2: 6-11

Philippians 2: 6-11 

Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God,

            did not regard equality with God

            something to be grasped.

Rather, he emptied himself,

            taking the form of a slave,

            coming in human likeness;

            and found human in appearance,

            he humbled himself,

            becoming obedient to the point of death,

            even death on a cross.

Because of this, God greatly exalted him

            and bestowed on him the name

            which is above every name,

            that at the name of Jesus

            every knee should bend,

            of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

            and every tongue confess that

            Jesus Christ is Lord,

            to the glory of God the Father.

Baseball Again

 

A couple of days ago Major League Baseball had their opening day, the return of the baseball season. 

The last few years I have not followed any sports at all, because of all the BLM, wokeness, and any other political wind that might be blowing on any particular day.  It seems when all of this started the left was using a captive audience to spew their message.

But here is the important point that people miss. Sports should be a uniter not a divider and especially not a political platform. In the past, fans came to the games from all races, creed, religions, male, female or different political views and no one made statements to lean the fans in a particular direction. The only part of sports that should be controversial is who will win the game, because it's about competition. So, the people should only be comprised of the fans cheering for their teams.

The reason I'm making this statement is I miss watching the game of baseball and for all the negative above statements, I willing to give it another chance. So, this year I will be following my team again - the Alanta Braves.

And also following the Nashville Sounds Minor League Baseball team.

More blog posts to come from a more hopefully optimistic baseball fan.