Let the good deeds shine

 Matthew 5:16 says in part "Let your good deeds shineout for all to see, so that everyone will praise your Heavenly Father." New Living Translation. (NLT).  Many media outlets that proports to provide us news could learn from that scripture.  Note that many news outlets first share news about murders; shootings; and other crimes of violence.  Especially on urban TV news.  Under the banner "Breaking News" comes stories of murders, and shootings.  You can predict what the leading story will be. Murders and shootings are definitely not good deeds!

Is it that difficult for news outlets to find "good deeds" stories?  Yes, news about health dangers, and corrupt practices should be shared with the public to alert us of dangers out here in the real world.  I wonder how do reporters having to read the news feel about having to read stories about shootings and murders, day after day after day?  Don't they get tired of the same stories?  How are they mentally impacted by having to read and share such stories?

We as consumers need to demand more from news publishers.  Don't you want to also hear inspirational stories of the good deeds that are being done?

Going With God's Plan - Politics 2024

 I recall writing a blog after the 2016 Presidential election.  I thanked the people of the United States of America for showing us who they were by electing Trump for President.  It was an era of people semi coming from behind their veil that had been hiding their racisim, hate, and selfishness.  All I could say now was that this was all part of God's plan to show us humans where we are at now in our walk with God.  Of course then Covid came and highlighted Trump's lack of ability to respond to a human crisis.  God called Joe Biden back to service to clean up the selfish mess that Trump had created.  Granddaddy Joe, as I called him, did a decent job of showing that the government cares for the people and that selfishness in government would not be condoned.

But, despite the deadly ravages of Covid and the hateful climate created in this country, Godly reason still has not prevailed.  It's just our history as humans.  Selfish, hateful acts sometimes control us with no real valid reason.  So, in 2024, we are facing another election with ironically the same scenario.  A narcissistic candidate for President versus a woman candidate.  In 2016 it was a woman who was a former Senator and U.S. Secretary of State.  Now it is a former Senator and the sitting Vice President of the United States.

God intervened to have Joe Biden step aside as a candidate for re election to the office of President.  Giving some credit to Biden, he put aside his personal selfish motives for trying to stay in office. Now in place is what I think is part 2 of God's plan.  As a nation we didn't adhere to godly principles in electing Trump as our national leader.  Covid came to put us all in time out to rethink our personal committment to God.  Now we are being given another chance to apply that committment by openly rejecting a former President whom is being used by God to show us the worst of us.

All we can do is vote and express devotion to God first, not any political candidate.  This year I am not worrying about the results of the 2024 election.  I will still vote for Harris as the more sane and competent candidate.  My faith in God tells me that God has a plan and that plan will show in the results of the 2024 election.  My human thoughts are I am personally tired of the rhetoric, selfishness, and evil of Trump.  I want him to go away.  But, if it's God's plan to allow him back into the top political position in this self proclaimed United States of America, so be it.  Unlike owners of homes in my neighborhood who raise up their garage doors every morning to display a flag hanging from the garage roof that supports Trump, I will not let a hateful, selfish person dominate my thoughts and will not make that person my human God.

God has shown humanity much patience over the years.  There have been times in the world's history where conditions have likely been worse.  But as it says in Ecclesiastes, we forget what has happened before.  Sometimes we just need to let our Godly actions respond to the world's chaos.  Get out and vote and let's see what God has in store for us.

TV Parental Guidelines Rating Board - Media Power at its Worst

 I was curious how the self proclaimed TV Parental Guidelines Rating Board was doing in assigning ratings to TV shows.  The TV show  I chose was "How to Die Alone".  The rating TV MA, L.  In the Guidelines Rating Board language that stands for Mature Audiences Only.  The program is designed to be viewed by adults and therefore may be unsuitable for children under 17.  The "L" descriptor was assigned due to crude indecent language.  But from past experiences with Parental Guidelines approved ratings, I wanted to see if the show had addressed any presence of same sex material in the show.  True to Parental Guidelines Rating Board practices, the show had not properly addressed the sexual content of the show.  After some 15-20 minutes, a brief scene appeared of a scenes showing two males laying in a bed under covers engaged in sexual activity.  I think the program should have been assigned an S descriptor also.

There are several descriptors which could have been applied for an S - sexual situations descriptor assignment.  The scene definitely fit somewhere between some sexual situations, intense sexual situations, or explicit sexual activity.  On the Parental Guidelines Rating Board website, there are no definitions explaining  what is "some sexual" versus intense sexual" or "explicit sexual".  Is it up to the viewer to decide what fits each category?  Why are there no definitions shared with the public?  Probably because the Board wants you to stay out of their business of assigning ratings any damn way they want to.  Who asked you for your input?

If you go to the Board's website at http://www.tvguidelines.org/ratings.html you will notice that since 2021, the Board has not provided an update on how it carries out its mission.  The absence of definitions, shared with the public, is a major problem.  There are no definitions defining the differences between each level for language, sexual situations or violence.  For example, what is moderate violence versus intense violence?  What is strong coarse language versus crude indecent language?

There is a need to keep the ratings assigned in view for at least 30 seconds rather than the 15 currently required.  As a consumer you need to demand accuracy of the product that is being thrust out at you with inaccurate ratings.  Or do you normally accept people giving you anything and you just take it regardless of the quality of the product?

 

Covid Comes to Visit

 After ignoring me for over 4 years, Covid 19 finally paid me a visit.  It was an unexpected visit.  I had not extended Covid a personal invitation to stop by and stay awhile.  Covid brought with it a suitcase packed with high fever, congestion, runny nose, cough (that still persist) and aches and pains.  Covid did  not care that I had made plans to take a trip via a plane the next day for ironically a medical exam back home.  No, Covid just barged into my life and told me that it was staying at least a week, so adjust my life accordingly.

When Covid speaks, unfortunately, it has the power to back up what it wants done.  So the next week was spent reacting to the needs and demands of Covid.  Rest, taking fever fighting over the counter medications, cough syrup, and keeping facial tissue handy became my Covid support routine.  I had no one to go run errands to the store for food and medications.  I simply put on a mask and applied hand sanitizer to my hands before and after going into stores. 

I thought about when Covid had first visited people in 2020.  Many of those hosts did not survive the visit.  They became severely ill and many died.  Thousands and thousands of people of all ages.  I don't know if past vaccines I took, the last one was 2 years ago, prevented me from having a deadly reaction to my guest, Covid 19.  The worst part of the visit was the high fever Covid brought and feeling tired. I forced myself to eat to keep my strength up.  I had money to purchase food and the necessary medications I needed to feed Covid and keep its behavior semi constructive.  So, I thank God for having come out of it with just the lingering cough as a side effect.  I will find out what lingering impacts Covid's visit will have on my health.

Ironically, I got my yearly Flu shot 2 weeks after Covid visited me.  I added a Covid vaccine to my vaccination routine.  One visit by Covid is enough for me.  I have put out the No Vacancy sign for future Covid visits.  Lesson learned, to support maintaining good health, get your Covid vaccination.

A National Disgrace 45th President acts a fool.

 The performance by former President Trump was simply disgraceful.  He attempted to raise and appeal to fear by making claims that there are murderers crossing the border by the milliions killing Americans.  He is attempting to appeal to the fears of white people as politicians historically tried to do in raising fears about black people.

He simply made claims about how bad things are, would not answer questions, not address policy ideas. Who in the world would vote for him?

It's like asking the Jewish people in 1935, "Would you vote for Adolph Hitler if he promises to improve your ability to pay bills and live a decent life?"

Copy Cat Culture

 I am watching via streaming the World Under 20 track championships being held in Lima, Peru.  As the athletes are being introduced several are displaying the same self promoting behaviors they have learned over the years from so called professional athletes and our culture.  Some are pulling at their jersey promoting the name of their country.  Some are making gestures taught from watching videos of entertainers.  A few are just being stone faced and not making the worldly gestures.  They haven't sold out and have not gone into a copy cat mode.

What I am seeing is that many of the youth, who talk about originality, are not displaying any originality.  They are only displaying the antics of others whom initiated the selfish "it's all about me" behavior.  It would be even more impressive if they gave honor and thanks to God for their being able to do what they are doing.  Instead people make an image of a heart with their two hands.  At times I see athletes acknowledging God via a prayer or by pointing to the sky.  They get it.  It's not about our human selfishness and what we can do as humans.  It's about humbling ourselves, acknowledging and following God, and then taking actions that glorify God and carry out what God wants us to do in terms of our human inactive behavior.  The opening ceremonies of the Olympics wasn't complete because the ceremony did not make time to acknowledge God.  That came later in the comments of individual athletes who gave God the glory and credit for their performance.  Human stupidity and self centered actions continue.  Let's turn it around.  Think God first.

"The Forge" - an alternative to the madness of the world

 I found "The Forge" to be a realistic story with an ending that is achievable.  In an error when bloody, violent, horror films are appearing more and more at theaters, I enjoyed "The Forge".  I urge families to see the movie together, especially if you have middle school boys or teenagers.   The lesson of a religious/spiritual alternative to your lifestyle is realistic.  Life is not easy.  "The Forge" presents a way boys, and men can bind together to combat the issues we encounter in life.  Please go see it.  If you are short on cash, try Regal theaters on Tuesdays as that is the discount viewing day.