Those Excluded from COEXIST

The very idea of this cleverly designed logo is preposterous.  Sadly, it will come to fruition as the one world religion, but it will be oh so very wrong.

Here's the rundown of the letters.  Every letter has a symbol that represents a system of thought: The crescent and star for Islam; the pentagram for Wicca; the relativity formula for science; the star of David for Judaism; the Karma Wheel dotting the i for Buddhism; the Tao symbol for Taoism; the cross for Chrisitianity. 

Here is a slightly more detailed explanation:  

C - The C is Coexist is represented by the crescent moon and star symbol represents Diana a Greek Moon Goddess of ancient times and the worship of sun, moon and sky gods. The crescent moon and star on the sticker is often used to represent Islam. However, the same symbols were used thousands of years before ever being associated with Islam. 

O - The O in Coexist is represented by the internationally recognized peace sign. The peace sign was originally designed for the British nuclear disarmament by Gerald Holtom.
E - The E in Coexist is represented by combining the male and female symbols showing equality and peace between the male and female sexes. The male symbol also known as the Mars symbol is a circle with an arrow coming from it pointing in the upper right direction. The female symbol also known as the Venus symbol is a circle with a cross below it. 
X - The X in Coexist is represented by the Jewish Star of David which is also known as the Shield of David. The Star of David is in a shape of a hexagram, which is made up of two equilateral triangles.
I - The I in Coexist is represented by a Pagan or Wiccan Pentacle atop the letter I. A Pentacle is a five-pointed star within a circle. This symbol is used to represent one as a Pagan or Wiccan. The upward top point of the star represents the spirit. The other four points all represent an element. The four elements are earth, air, fire and water. 
S - The S in Coexist is represented by a Taoist Yin Yang also known as a Taijitu. Yin and Yang represents two opposite but complementary forces found in nature. Yin is often recognized with shade, darkness and femininity. Yang is often recognized with light and masculinity.
T - The T in Coexist is represented by a Christian Cross. The Christian Cross is associated with Christianity and the crucifixion of Jesus. 

There is no symbol or definition for those who believe the entire Word of YHWH.  The enemy will delight in this one world religion while Revelation 12:17 identifies those who will not be counted in the unified number of COEXIST.  

And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of YHWH, and have the testimony of Y'hshuwah Messiah.

The Written Word

As this blog approaches it's 10th anniversary, I'd like to think I've become more aware and astute, while hopefully having become more articulate.  With digital history and revision, as well as the continuing effort to discount various versions of Scripture, the "information" highway and the highway to hell, may be one in the same.  Now, let me put this into context, please.  Through my years on the internet, I've watched much of history be retold, and along with that, I've watched much of the printed news go by the wayside.  Printed newspapers are becoming almost scarce.  The printed edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica hit the dustbins of history in 2012.  Many news magazines are only available in digital form.

Sadly, the rag mags continue to be printed, and it seems at the grocery store check out, the number of celebrity magazines may have actually increased.  With cable and reality TV, not to mention computers, iphones, etc. much of our time is now spent staring at screens.  My reading posture has changed dramatically since I began using the internet in 2001.  There is something about the digital interactivity that has changed my brain.  I was still an avid bed and sofa reader, when I had my word processor.  Now, I have to be sitting at a table or set myself up a reading station to ingest my paper reading material, properly.  Others have made similar comments regarding their reading comprehension between digital and paper sources.

I still like my books, but I've developed what I consider to be a real need to have books.  I feel it is almost a duty to maintain information in printed form.  As the world is changing and a new order is coming into place, we already know the reality for each generation changes.  My grandparents grew up in homes that had a Bible, books and a radio.  My parents grew up in homes that had their own Bibles, books, a radio, a telephone, and they remember when the television was added.  I grew up with all of that, plus a home stereo, my own Bible, but our home had more than one translation of the Bible.  Bible understanding wasn't big, but Bible ownership was paramount!

The main advancement of technology that I recall, in my youth, was the addition of more than one telephone in the house.  I still remember the various sets of book collections and encyclopedias throughout the house.  There were two or three sets that had come from the grocery store, one book at a time.  One set in my room, one in my sister's, and I think the old set of "all about the states" had found it's way to the basement bookshelves.   The bookcase in the formal living room held the valuable books.  That bookcase held the set of Childcraft books and The World Book Encyclopedia, with annuals.

My kids grew up with everything I had, but the emphasis on the Bible was sadly, less.  We had encyclopedias and my girls were avid readers, but the technology was increasing.  There were push button phones in every room, their own stereos in their rooms, more than one television in the house, and a microwave.  It seems as technology has increased, true lasting knowledge is decreasing.  

My parents are still young, relatively speaking, but they are "getting their affairs in order."  When my mom called to discuss this fact, she asked me what I wanted.  As I thought of the rooms filled with furniture and stuff, and I do mean filled, all I mentioned was the set of encyclopedias.  As history is recorded and information exchanged digitally, it is my privilege and my duty to maintain the written word for the next generation.  As we revise history and fail to learn from it, we are doomed to repeat it.

 So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies; and, behold, they were written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, who were carried away to Babylon for their transgression.  Chronicles of Holy Scripture  

Technological Purgatory

There is a "spirit" over this country that seems to be covering nearly every aspect of our interaction.  In using the term "spirit" I am in no way giving an excuse to the behavior we choose to demonstrate, nor the words that fly out of our mouths.  What I am saying is, America had the world wide reputation of being rude, years ago.  Now we've gone beyond rude, to aggressive and argumentative!  There have been a number of situations in the past week, I find myself "not fit for polite society," then discover our society is far from polite.  Anger management has been an issue for several years now!  I don't want to interact on a level that feels like it's dropped the standard.  Technology is adding to this aggression, I believe, as well as to difficulties in our ability to focus and possibly a host of other emotional imbalance.

Usually, I'm pretty calm in person, until I've had more than enough.  My kids and grandkids say I'm, "patient, patient, patient, patient . . . DONE!"  I've gotten better about not always telling someone what I think and simply finding true peace in letting them have the last word.  I'm sure it could be labeled as some sort of convoluted control game of a free spirit, but so be it.  I'm at peace with it, and I feel if I didn't initiate the interaction, I am free to discontinue my participation.  Somehow the Scriptural passage in Proverbs warning about answering a fool according to their folly . . .really resonates in my spirit, to just be quiet.  Not every person who disagrees with me is a fool, but I would really like to avoid making a fool of myself when the disagreement will obviously remain unresolved at the time.  I realize this is beginning to sound more like a sermon than a state of our nation observation.  The title of this article does give warning of religious overtones.

As technology increases, the "human experience," of course, is decreasing, and with that decrease is the decline of etiquette.  Social media is filled with memes and images depicting groups of people in the same room, obliviously looking at their phones.  Although I don't have a smart phone or even a cell phone for that matter, I do spend a great deal of my day in front of this screen writing, posting, and answering questions.  I have realized, although; I have made some genuine friendships and relationships, I enjoy the fact that I don't carry the internet with me.  I remember when I noticed one of my daughters and grandkids focus on their phones and texts.  It seemed their apps were more important than personal interaction.  As it turns out, they do have personal interactive social lives; it was just their way of letting me know where I stood.  Technology is still neither good nor bad in and of itself, but rather only reflects the user.

I had a wake up call the other day, or I should say I made a wake up call.  When I came online in August of 2001, my first ministry website was through yahoo.  As I gained my footing online and expanded the size of the website, I stayed with yahoo.  The first website was very simple, just a few pages with which I had help so it didn't require much tech support.  In preparing to move and change my information, wires were crossed and the website was eliminated.  I remember that moment the technician told me he could wipe out my site as soon as the call ended.  That was back in 2004 or 5, with day shift personnel.  Upon relocating, I continued with yahoo, as I understood their sitebuilder and a couple of the people on the night shift were awesome tech support.  I still remember Charles and Angela, fondly with much gratitude.  They could walk me through any technical question I had or dig me out of any disaster I'd made.  Sadly, I haven't spoken with Charles or Angela in many moons.

In my continuing patronage of yahoo, I apparently missed a memo . . .  I'm working on moving my domains to GoDaddy while maintaining my webhosting at yahoo.  Thinking I had deactivated my card that yahoo could "automatically hit," I had planned to move the domains when they neared expiration.  On my screen, my yahoo wallet showed my method of payment had expired.  However, much to my surprise; I soon discovered that was not the case on yahoo's side of the screen.  I called, had my incident number, etc. and the voice on the other end in billing sounded strangely similar to the last voice I'd heard in tech support when my page wouldn't publish.  It took awhile to put the pieces together, and sadly, my reaction to yahoo purgatory was less than exemplary.  I thought I was prayed up enough, but as it turns out, I can be pretty obnoxious without coarse language or yelling.

The prompts seem to be just a technological stall.  I've decided it's probably been researched and found to be similar to the techniques of "mental breaking down" used in other areas of our society.  The method of "hurry up and wait" is a phrase credited to the military, but also very clearly seen now in health care as well.  Who is ever seen by the doctor at scheduled time of the appointment?  Unlike the military where there is a pecking order, and unlike health care where one can simply get up and leave the over crowded waiting room, there is no resolution in tech support and auto pay.  All we can do is pray before making the call; stay on the line, follow the prompts, breathe deeply, and practice anger management.  

He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.  a Proverb of Holy Scripture

Quite the Quandry . . .

US Representative, Michael Grimm has reportedly made a plea deal to charges of tax evasion and hiring illegal workers.  

Although the sentencing has not yet taken place, according to SI Live  "Michael Grimm faces up to three years in prison."  

SI Live also states, while his future is in question:  "But a few things are clear: He will be disbarred due to the felony, as a guilty plea is equal to a conviction, and he is not eligible for a pension from Congress."

What I find strange is the fact that although he is resigning his seat in Congress, there is no law stating he must do so.   Each state makes laws as to who can run for elected office, but there is no federal law prohibiting felons from serving in Congress.  Interestingly there are federal laws determining which citizens can enjoy their Bill of Rights before and after a felony conviction.  

In many cities, a permit is now required to legally assemble, and there is a "protest box" for those who choose to exercise their right of free speech, if they so choose to publicly and peacefully stand in disagreement.   One does not even have to be a felon to have lost their 4th amendment right regarding illegal search and seizure . . .  

According to my research, gun ownership is off the table for anyone convicted of a felony punishable by at least one year in prison.  States can choose to restore civil rights, but according to federal law, a person who has committed a felony cannot own a gun without full restoration of rights and the conviction expunged. 

In many states felons can't vote, and federal law prohibits gun ownership, but they can serve in Congress.  One can also admit the commission of a felony, and be elected to the Highest Office in the land, according to "Dreams From My Father."   

It would seem as long as an individual isn't caught and charges are not pressed, the lack of integrity to respect the law is irrelevant.  

While there's nothing in the Constitution or House Rules barring felons from serving in Congress, the situation created an unwanted headache and negative attention for Boehner as he seeks to head into the new Congress starting with a clean slate.  
Included in the link below is a map.
http://blogs.kqed.org/lowdown/2014/02/26/felon-voting

When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.  a Proverb of Holy Scripture