ThePoor

We are blessed !!!

Let us be thankful 

As we remember those

less fortunate . . .

During the Christmas season, people often focus on the joy and cheer of the holidays. 

However, it is important to remember those in our communities who are not as fortunate. 

Poverty does not take a break for Christmas, headlines illustrate the harsh reality of poverty during this special time of year. 

Recent news stories have reported on how poverty continues to affect more and more people around the world.

NEW YORK/PORT-AU-PRINCE, DECEMBER 22, 2022—

The international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has begun supporting a cholera vaccination campaign in Haiti as a resurgence of the disease has affected more than 15,000 people and killed approximately 300 since the end of September. 

The campaign is being led and managed by Haiti's Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP).

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For people migrating through Central America to the United States, the only certainty is suffering. From crossing treacherous rivers and hiding from predatory gangs in the jungles of the Darién Gap to immigration fines in Honduras and robbery and extortion in Guatemala, those who flee their countries in search of a better life often face extreme danger and violence.

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https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/drawing-journey-migrants-share-stories-road-through-central-america

When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

In despair I shook my head . . . 

https://tinyurl.com/27yyjvuy

TheJust

Fairness

"I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved"

There is very very little that 

humans can know for sure.

Beliefs are only helpful if they 

are scriptural and from God.

Where does that leave us?

Pretty much 'in the dark' most of the time awash in meaningless facts and data?

Some lean hard on various professional "opinion", legal and medical opinions can be sought and bought for varying prices depending as usual on the market 'forces' of supply and demand. 

It is with this in mind that the biblical statement stands out in the mind of the believer (Rom 1:17, Gal 3:11, Heb 10:38)

Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons . . . 

thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 

Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 

But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew 

first, and also to the Gentile: 

For there is no respect 

of persons with God.

KNOWLEDGE 

https://youtu.be/kXhJ3hHK9hQ

PHILOSOPHY CRASH COURSE

https://tinyurl.com/3pv2z96w

Chris

What a difference a shepherd makes . . .

"Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly." - John 10:24

When trust is withheld - fear of pain

https://tinyurl.com/mtkvftfc

Good Lord I want to be like Chris

https://tinyurl.com/3n7umvxn

Do I have An untrusting heart and a Critical attitude that keeps putting 

others on trial ? UNBELIEF!  

https://tinyurl.com/mr2pnh27

25Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. 26But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. 27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30I and myFather are one.

Same

Are we Better than they?

Catholics, Baptists, Republicans, Pentecostals, Gays whatever . . . 

Galatians 3:22

the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe

https://tinyurl.com/87v6ynys

Whoever it is that I think 

I am better or worse than

Am I deceived?

POKE

Pocket Monster?

Criticisms and controversies

Morality and religious beliefs

Pokémon has been criticized by some fundamentalist Christians over perceived occult and violentthemes and the concept of "Pokémon evolution", which they feel goes against the Biblical creation account in Genesis.[63] Sat2000, a satellite television station based in Vatican City, has countered that the Pokémon Trading Card Game and video games are "full of inventive imagination" and have no "harmful moral side effects".[64][65] In the United Kingdom, the "Christian Power Cards" game was introduced in 1999 by David Tate who stated, "Some people aren't happy with Pokémon and want an alternative, others just want Christian games." The game was similar to the Pokémon Trading Card Game but used Biblical figures.[66]

In 1999, Nintendo stopped manufacturing the Japanese version of the "Koga's Ninja Trick" trading card because it depicted a manji, a traditionally Buddhist symbol with no negative connotations. The Jewishcivil rights group Anti-Defamation League complained because the symbol is the reverse of a swastika, a Nazi symbol. The cards were intended for sale in Japan only, but the popularity of Pokémon led to import into the United States with approval from Nintendo. The Anti-Defamation League understood that the portrayed symbol was not intended to offend and acknowledged the sensitivity that Nintendo showed by removing the product.[67][68]

In 1999, two nine-year-old boys from Merrick, New York, sued Nintendo because they claimed the Pokémon Trading Card Game caused their problematic gambling.[69]

In 2001, Saudi Arabia banned Pokémon games and the trading cards, alleging that the franchise promoted Zionism by displaying the Star of David in the trading cards (the Colorless energy from the Pokémon Trading Card Game resembles a six-pointed star) as well as other religious symbols such as crosses they associated with Christianity and triangles they associated with Freemasonry; the games also involved gambling, which is in violation of Muslim doctrine.[70][71]

Pokémon has also been accused of promoting materialism.[72]

Animal cruelty

In 2012, PETA criticized the concept of Pokémon as supporting cruelty to animals. PETA compared the game's concept, of capturing animals and forcing them to fight, to cockfights, dog fighting rings and circuses, events frequently criticized for cruelty to animals. PETA released a game spoofing Pokémonwhere the Pokémon battle their trainers to win their freedom.[73] PETA reaffirmed their objections in 2016 with the release of Pokémon Go, promoting the hashtag #GottaFreeThemAll.[74]

Health

Main article: Dennō Senshi Porygon

See also: Burger King Pokémon container recall

On December 16, 1997, more than 635 Japanese children were admitted to hospitals with epileptic seizures.[75] It was determined the seizures were caused by watching an episode of Pokémon "Dennō Senshi Porygon", (most commonly translated "Electric Soldier Porygon", season 1, episode 38); as a result, this episode has not been aired since. In this particular episode, there were bright explosions with rapidly alternating blue and red color patterns.[76] It was determined in subsequent research that these strobing light effects cause some individuals to have epileptic seizures, even if the person had no previous history of epilepsy.[77] This incident is a common focus of Pokémon-related parodies in other media, and was lampooned by The Simpsons episode "Thirty Minutes over Tokyo" in a short cameo[78] and the South Park episode "Chinpokomon",[79] among others.

Monster in My Pocket

In March 2000, Morrison Entertainment Group, a toy developer based at Manhattan Beach, California, sued Nintendo over claims that Pokémon infringed on its own Monster in My Pocket characters. A judge ruled there was no infringement and Morrison appealed the ruling. On February 4, 2003, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed the decision by the District Court to dismiss the suit.[80]

Pokémon Go

See also: Criticism and incidents

Within its first two days of release, Pokémon Go raised safety concerns among players. Multiple people also suffered minor injuries from falling while playing the game due to being distracted.[81]

Multiple police departments in various countries have issued warnings, some tongue-in-cheek, regarding inattentive driving, trespassing, and being targeted by criminals due to being unaware of one's surroundings.[82][83] People have suffered various injuries from accidents related to the game,[84][85][86][87] and Bosnian players have been warned to stay out of minefields left over from the 1990s Bosnian War.[88] On July 20, 2016, it was reported that an 18-year-old boy in Chiquimula, Guatemala, was shot and killed while playing the game in the late evening hours. This was the first reported death in connection with the app. The boy's 17-year-old cousin, who was accompanying the victim, was shot in the foot. Police speculated that the shooters used the game's GPS capability to find the two.[89]

New

3 Scammers scamming

The God of the ALGORITHMS 

https://www.osc.org/popular-science-myths-debunked-•-clearing-up-misconceptions/

According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, to "debunk" is defined as: "to expose the sham or falseness of." The New Oxford American Dictionary defines "debunk" as "expose the falseness or hollowness of (a myth, idea, or belief)"

https://youtu.be/fH66n2r867A

#MustBuythemTrunks

Calves

1. an idea, custom, or institution held, especially unreasonably, to be above criticism (with reference to the Hindus' respect for the cow as a sacred animal).

   "the sacred cow of monetarism"

TheTest

TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY

https://youtu.be/rFApbg-wcmE

REPENTING OF . . . 

Sinfulness Stubbornness Stupidity 

Being Silly Sinful Stubborn or Stupid? 

a) often 

b) always

c) sometimes

d) never

e) seldom 

rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.

Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Discussion Debate Discourse

Have we become incapable 

of 'healthy' conversation?

PASSIONATE?

opinionated 

intolerant 

Quarrelsome 

accusatory 

Argumentative

bigoted 

belligerent 

Pedantic?

is an insulting word used to describe someone who annoys others by correcting small errors, caring too much about minor details, or emphasizing their own expertise especially in some narrow or boring subject matter.

Puerile ?

Silly or trivial, esp. in a childish 

way or as a result of immaturity

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The willingness for dialogue 

Civil discourse & Rules of 'engagement'

Has the general purpose of normal social intercourse changed from friendly, encouraging and informational to hostile, competitive and belittling?

In the present polarized climate one must need tread very carefully in conversation. 

It does seem to be the 'reality' if social media content is used as a measure of 'conversation quality'

GROUND RULES

1. Willingness to examine beliefs 
2. Recognize needs for affirmation 
3. Accept differing preferences 
4. Separate the idea from the person
5. Be open to 'new' possibilities 

Converse

https://www.realtalkphilosophy.org/guidelines

Tested

Being Silly Sinful Stubborn or Stupid? 

a) often 

b) always

c) sometimes

d) never

e) seldom 

rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.

Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Discussion Debate Discourse

Have we become incapable 

of 'healthy' conversation?

PASSIONATE?

opinionated 

intolerant 

Quarrelsome 

accusatory 

Argumentative

bigoted 

belligerent 

Pedantic?

is an insulting word used to describe someone who annoys others by correcting small errors, caring too much about minor details, or emphasizing their own expertise especially in some narrow or boring subject matter.

Puerile ?

Silly or trivial, esp. in a childish 

way or as a result of immaturity

+++++++++++++

The willingness for dialogue 

Civil discourse & Rules of 'engagement'

Has the general purpose of normal social intercourse changed from friendly, encouraging and informational to hostile, competitive and belittling?

In the present polarized climate one must need tread very carefully in conversation. 

It does seem to be the 'reality' if social media content is used as a measure of 'conversation quality'

GROUND RULES

1. Willingness to examine beliefs 
2. Recognize needs for affirmation 
3. Accept differing preferences 
4. Separate the idea from the person
5. Be open to 'new' possibilities 

Converse

https://www.realtalkphilosophy.org/guidelines

Futures

Toffler's tomorrow, Today

https://youtu.be/-TYwPprCvyE

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,

Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,

To the last syllable of recorded time;

And all our yesterdays have lighted fools

The way to dusty death. 

Out, out, brief candle!

Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,

That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,

Signifying nothing. - SHAKESPEARE 

Home telecommuting became more viable as the personal computer market exploded in the late 1970s. Apple's breakthrough Apple II, for example, was released in 1977.

In 1980 futurist Alvin Toffler, author of the 1970 book Future Shock, predicted in his sequel, The Third Wave, that the home would "assume a startling new importance" in the information age, becoming "a central unit in the society of tomorrow – a unit with enhanced rather than diminished economic, medical, educational and social functions."

But with the growth in the internet, management guru Peter Drucker felt confident enough by 1993 to declare commuting to the office obsolete:

It is now infinitely easier, cheaper and faster to do what the 19th century could not do: move information, and with it office work, to where the people are. The tools to do so are already here: the telephone, two-way video, electronic mail, the fax machine, the personal computer, the modem, and so on.

Vision versus reality

Despite the technology, the growth in working from home has been slow. A large survey of Anglo countries by IBM in 2014 found just 9% of employees teleworked at least some of the time, with about half of those doing it full-time or most of the time. Data from Australia and U.S. suggest the proportion was still less than 20% at the end of 2019.

https://tinyurl.com/5xuh5r7a

in 1980 Alvin Toffler wrote in this book The Third Wave about 'electronic cottages' from which prosumers will shape local and global markets: 'one change is so potentially revolutionary, and so alien to our experience [is] the shift of work out of the office and factory and back into the home ... many people may soon be working at home anyway in the electronic cottages of tomorrow ... many of the same electronic devices we will use in the home to do work for pay will also make it possible to produce goods or services for our own use. 

In this system the prosumer, who dominated in First Wave societies, is brought back into the center of economic action— but on a Third Wave, high- technology basis.

https://tinyurl.com/2vyccn2z

impress

"Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

THE PECKING ORDER,

THE QUEEN-BEE SYNDROME &

The Bandwagon Effect

Why exactly does the bandwagon effect occur? Individuals are highly influenced by the pressure and norms exerted by groups. 

When it seems like the majority of the group is doing a certain thing, not doing that thing becomes increasingly difficult.

Some of the factors that can influence the bandwagon effect include:

Groupthink 

A Desire to Be Right 

A Need to Be Included 

With indirect peer pressure, no one is singling you out, but the environment you're in may influence you to do something.

"We know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Watch Keeping Up With the Joneses - S3:E1 The Exchange (Christmas Special) (2013) Online for Free | The Roku Channel | Roku

TheyThem

PEOPLE

THE GENESIS OF GENDER BINARY

So . . . God created man in His own 

image, in the image of God created 

HE him; male and female created 

HE them • and blessed them

Knowing your place and your placement will reveal your purpose.

Purpose 

passion plan practice provision preparation process path product 

performance

persecution 

perseverance 

preservation 

presentation 

promotion 

PEACE

Understanding my place in the natural created order will be the foundation of my purpose. 

The knowledge of who I am will be a scientific exercise, it will happen by sensory observation of my bio physiological 'reality'. 

This scientific knowledge will REVEAL my primary IDENTITY. Any breakdown in this fundamental process will inevitably result in confusion and LOSS OF PLACE in the natural created order and subsequent PLACEMENT loss in the primary kinship grouping of the sociocultural order, namely THE FAMILY. 

It is this demonic scheme, that lies behind any movement that seeks to redefine gender roles, giving rise to Transgenderism and all types of homosexuality. The Bible describes the thought process as follows:

"the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made • when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed"  . . .  GENDERS?

Others

"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. "This is the first and great commandment. "And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" (Matthew 22:37–39).

Imagine a world where everyone looks out for each other, we would all probably feel delighted, successful, accepted and safe.

"A teacher gave a balloon to every student, who had to inflate it, write their name on it and throw it in the hallway. The teacher then mixed all the balloons. The students were then given 5 minutes to find their own balloon. 

Despite a hectic search, no one found their balloon. At that point, the teacher told the students to take the first balloon that they found and hand it to the person whose name was written on it. Within 5 minutes, everyone had their own balloon.

The teacher said to the students: "These balloons are like happiness. We will never find it if everyone is looking for their own. 

If we care about other people's happiness, we'll find ours too." - Anonymous

Free

HEBREWS 12:1

This passage about cloud of witnesses was making me think of a courtroom. 

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 

2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Although not in open courts of law, are we being accused constantly in our own minds or in the minds of others?

Witnesses are of two kinds

1. Friendly 

2. Hostile

How many of each will come forward?

Should I just plead guilty and ask for the mercy of the court? 

Or should I get an advocate 

and prepare a defense?

 

1Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 

2But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 

3And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 

4Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 

5But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 

6Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 

7To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 

8But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 

9Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 

10But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 

11For there is no respect of persons with God.

12For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 

13(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 

14For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 

15Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) 

16In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

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walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,  with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.