O-Dark-Thirty

Almost exactly three years ago I posted about cancelling my subscription to the Bauman Letter . That post receives more comments than the rest of my blog combined. Yesterday an Anonymous reader posted the following: Wow Ted Baumann just released a video " Financial Collapse 2019: Insiders Dire Warning About An Unstoppable Economic Collapse " In fact, the YouTube video is posted by Peter Gunther who then goes on to suggest his Forex system is the answer to the coming crash. Most of the people who post comments on the video are not fooled by the sensationalist rhetoric of the post. Still, as most of you know, I do agree that a financial crisis is coming. What shape it takes, none of us really know. Since Nixon disconnected the US dollar from the national gold stores in 1971, our government has been free to print fiat currency at will. Lately, they've done so, to the tune of about $27 million per day. Every day. * The consequences of such reckless behavior wil...

We wrote our book, Preparing for the Fiscal Cliff,  at the end of 2012. At the time the term "Fiscal Cliff" kept popping up in the news, but nobody defined it, so we wrote a short book about what it was and what you could do about it. Since 2012, nothing much has changed in our governmental financial status. Well, not for the better, anyway. Congress - you know, those wonderful guys and gals supposedly working FOR us, the People? - keep kicking the financial can down the road. In July of this year, the government lifted the nation’s debt ceiling and raised the limits on what the the federal government can spend over the next two years. In other words, while most US citizens struggle in their day to day lives, our government decided they could spend more money. I guess they figure it doesn't need to come from anywhere. After all, the Treasury Department can just print more dollars. Here's an aside: Now Mr. Trump just wiped out a few hundred million do...

I write a lot of Bible stuff. You probably know that, since you're here. I have a few reasons for that. First of all, I'm getting old and eternity looms ahead of me. Face it, how futile is this life if there is nothing else? Also, the Bible has a lot of wisdom in it. It even says something about my first point: I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind. (Ecclesiastes 1:14 NIV) Most people ascribe this to Solomon, who was sad and weary at the time he wrote it. He was getting old, too, and though he had an enviable relationship with God, Solomon veered from the path. He never forgot God was God; I think he forgot God was Lord. You can love God and you can serve Him faithfully - but break the rules and there are consequences. Of course, if you don't believe in God, the same principle applies: Actions have consequences. You see, the principles in the Bible apply whether you believe in God or...

A few weeks ago I wrote a little bit about the  Seven Churches in Revelation . I guess the Seven Churches captured my attention much longer than I thought. Here's a bit I wrote in 2006, just for my own edification. Enjoy! Commendation Criticism Instruction Promise Ephesus Rejects evil, perseveres, has patience Love for Christ no longer fervent Do the works you did at first The tree of life Smyrna Gracefully bears suffering None Be faithful until death The crown of life Pergamos Keeps the faith of Christ Tolerates immorality, idolatry, and heresies Repent Hidden manna and a stone with a new name Thyatira Love, service, faith, patience is greater than at first Tolerates cult of idolatry and immorality Judgment coming; keep the faith Rule over nations and receive morning star Sardis Some have kept the faith A dead church Repent; strengthen what remains Faithful honored and clothed in white Philadelphia Perseveres in the faith None Keep the faith A place in God’s presen...

There are questions no one can answer, and I shy away from the person that assures me they do know. I draw upon ancient sources, including the Bible, for the names of sagacious men, men of great knowledge. Abraham was a man of great knowledge in the ancient times.  Josephus says this of Abram: Berosus mentions our father Abram without naming him, when he says thus: "In the tenth generation after the Flood, there was among the Chaldeans a man righteous and great, and skillful in the celestial science." But Hecatseus does more than barely mention him; for he composed, and left behind him, a book concerning him. And Nicolaus of Damascus, in the fourth book of his History, says thus: "Abram reigned at Damascus, being a foreigner, who came with an army out of the land above Babylon, called the land of the Chaldeans: but, after a long time, he got him up, and removed from that country also, with his people, and went into the land then called the land of Canaan, but...

God is. That is actually His name: I AM. YHWH. Did you know that God is a PERSONAL God? You might think "Oh, He can't have time for me and my problems, then. There are too many people..." We're not talking about the same God. YHWH is infinite in power, which means He can devote 100% of His attention to each person - and never feel overwhelmed. (Yes, I know the math doesn't add up. That's the point. Though we ascribe human elements and limitations to God, YHWH is God - not human.) This all leads up to a story. It is one story of many in my life, but this one just happened, so here goes. Our number one prayer - always - is for us to be in the center of God's will. It is often difficult to determine where that is, but we always pray for direction. So we did some car shopping. We chose a 2018 Toyota Highlander - a very nice vehicle. Darling does all the hard lifting. I just needed to test drive it. We went last Friday for me to test drive t...

On the surface, Revelation reads like the fevered dream of someone at the doors of death. In a way, it is. God sent His angel to John the Revelator ( also known as "the disciple whom Jesus loved" in John 13:23 ) with the details of this final prophecy, and John shares it as He is told. Though shrouded in mysterious comments, some of the book is simple. Here are my notes for the simple bits for the  The Seven Churches for whom Jesus has direct words. Ephesus 2:2-5 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people , that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first . Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. Though Jesus commends the church for their perseverance, He does point ou...