Propaganda proliferation

Propaganda is filling the airwaves, everywhere there is news broadcast, whether over the Internet, AM/FM TV radio wave airwaves, or cellphone signals, it doesn't matter which vehicle it is; it's filled with lies, distortion, and half-truths. There is some truth but very little, and it's now being throttled, banned, and censored.

Did you know that in the book of Genesis in the Bible, God pronounced all days good except the second day in the creation account? 

Genesis 1:6-8 ESV

6 And God said, "Let there be an expanse[a] in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters." 7 And God made[b] the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. 8 And God called the expanse Heaven.[c] And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

It may be that in that expanse is where Satan dwells. You know the person in that expanse, don't you? The expanse is the air.

Ephesians 2:2

in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—

Well, if you have half a brain, you know that when government, big corporations, and big tech get on the propaganda wagon, it's like living in a totalitarian state. Pravda, Goebles, and Orwell would be blushing at the blatant propaganda mill the U.S. elites are putting out. 

We have met the enemy before, and he is defeated. So when and where is the only question. 

Dress for the virtual office

 We work from our home office. As Virtual Assistants, we have the luxury of not having to travel to the office. We have a garden room we turned into a fantastic workspace. 

We have always done in the home workspace is that we dress like we are going to the office. Both my wife and I don't feel comfortable in workout clothes or sweats. We work better when we dress professionally. I believe it has a subliminal effect on the level and quality of our work. 

I am a firm believer in the adage that you can only work to your appearance level unless you are one of those super geeks that never see the light of day and prefer to look like subterranean nerdy creature. That being said, you are dressing for success because that's the cultural norm.

Gentlemanly behavior and etiquette.

Here I will define gentleman in a generic sense. So yes, ladies, you can self-identify as a gentleman  (in this context) and still be a lady and a female as God made you. 

Polite and civil behavior seems to be out of fashion today. However, I don't know precisely when manners became passe. 

An especially disturbing trend is the common acceptance of profanity. Not only is it unbecoming, it just shows a lack of intelligence as well as good breeding. 

Rudeness is rampant in 2021. That can't be a good thing for our society. 

I grew up in Appalachia in a small industrial area it wasn't around a very sophisticated society. However, we were instilled with rudimentary manners. Howbeit we were not well-bred in the customs of polite society.

I am reading about and studying gentlemanly manners and hope to be a polished gentleman someday. But, in the meantime, I'll stick to being a nice reformed red-neck.

October is here.

 October is one of my favorite months. I grew up in central Pennsylvania, and it was so beautiful when the leaves changed color. The mountains turned into a blazing glory of orange, reds, and assorted other fall colors.

There was always a chill in the air, and pumpkins and apple cider were the seasonal traditions. As a kid in the 50's Halloween and trick-or-treating were a kid's sweet delight.

One of the reasons I moved from North Texas to Missouri was to have the pleasure of seeing fall colors. I am getting in the mood for a cold snap. I do love four seasons and fall most of all, especially October. 

When society breaks down

I assert that we are at the breaking point of our current social structure. Listen, and one can see the hate and vitriol been spawn from the media. Look around at the protests and gatherings that are becoming more violent. Check the hate on social media (even if the moderators see the hate in a biased way). 

Families, friends, and co-workers try to maintain civility, but it's an uneasy peace and a shaky truce. Churches are divided internally and externally. Secular organizations maintain an unstated ceasefire, but it is only a comment away from being fractured. 

One can walk into a public space and see the divide between the masked and unmasked as they glare at each other. That is, if you live in a place without a mandate. But, if masks are mandated, the hostility gets suppressed and it seethes under the surface. 

Bumper stickers expressing viewpoints can often lead to folks flipping the bird or honking and gesturing at the offending driver. Likewise, neighborhood yard signs that state political or religious views are often the source of fights, displays of rage and anger, and sometimes vandalism.

The fabric that is holding society together is stretched to the tearing point. It may not take much before things decline into civil war or chaos. 

Then anarchy becomes the dictatorship and tyranny of the strongest survivor to reclaim some sense of order before everyone is destroyed. 

The breakdown is inevitable and is just a matter of time. 

God Wins!

When we read the last headline on the last day of human history, it will read "God Wins!" I believe this not because I feel it: not because science tells me. I believe this because God has told us in His Word to us. 

No matter what side of escatology you come down to, it all ends with a big "W" for God. So let's occupy until He comes. We need to stay on mission, preach the gospel, and love our fellow believers. We are called to give a good testimony to those outside the church. We are to give of our time and life to pay it forward. A man is no fool who gives away that which he cannot keep and invests it in a place where he can't lose. 

So, then if God wins in the end, all I can say is (only boomers get this): Mad Mag's prophet Alfred E. Neuman  "What me worry?"

Do you think Jesus will spike the football? 

New stages

I turned 70 on Sunday. Wow! I remember as a kid listening to the song "Old Friends" by Simon and Garfunkle, the poignant words struck me, "how strange it must be to be seventy". Well, I am there now.

I feel great. I hit the gym a couple of times a week. I have some askes and pains but nothing major. My body takes a lot longer to heal when I do strain a muscle but I expected that, My mind is pretty sharp. I do daily brain game exercises that work different parts of the brain. 

I try to learn new skills every day. I am learning to touch type and reading regularly, to name a few. 

Now, is a time to make a final lap around the track. I want to finish the race strong. I pray like Apostle Paul.

II Timothy 4:6-8 NKJV

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

I want to finish strong and engaged in the fight. It looks like I am at the right stage of history to be in a fight.