Are You Seeking Your Ultimate Joy?

61 years.  Not really a long time.  But that is  the current length of time of my life.  I have already accepted that at the most, I have 30-35 more years left in this earthly existence.  I 'm okay with that notion.  From being involved with religion and the belief in a God, Creator, or whatever label you want to assign it, I believe there is something else after we depart from this human life.

While I am "living" I do want to make the most of the years I have.  I'd like to have as much positive impact and effect as many positive changes as possible.  I have come to learn that it is not up to me to determine what are those positive acts.  Our Creator did lay out some guidelines and rules for us to follow.  Unfortunately those rules have been ignored, forgotten, or just outright knowingly violated.  So what I now try to accomplish is to perform as many positive acts as I can that fall under those Godly guidelines.

I don't know the percentage, but many of us did not begin our lives under the tutelage of parents who taught us these Godly rules.  So during our formative years I know I violated many of the rules and guidelines and continued to do so into my adult years.   That is also the nature of our world and culture.  We are focused on our human activities and governing ourselves with our selfish laws that benefit us and our un Godly activities.  I think it would take a major cataclysmic event to bring most of us into thinking and attempting to follow the rules God created for us.

One thing I have come to understand is that a perfect world will never be achieved.  As the book of Revelations explains, the world is doomed to a violent destruction.  We do not even want to think of such an event.  We engage instead in pleasurable humanistic activities that bring enjoyment to our lives.  We cover up the reality of what is eventually our fate by establishing a lifestyle that we think brings us the enjoyment we were meant to have.

What we do not realize is that there is something so much better awaiting us. Something greater than any joy we can create on this earth.  It all involves following the guidelines, rules, and laws given us by our Creator.  If you have not already started on your journey to learn and abide by those rules, there is time to do so.

News Boycott - Give me News On Demand (NOD)

I finally had enough of being held captive by television news shows.  These "news" shows typically include "stories" where a collective of people  have decided for us what we need to hear and see during the news hours.  Then the same stories are repeated every hour on the hour.  The topics are the usual.  Someone shot; a body found; traffic problems; etc.  All you need to do is change the names in the stories and the specific location and you pretty much have a template that can be used every day.

I am tired of being downloaded on every day with stories of life events that are predictable and of course always negative.  Is that what news is about?  Sharing negative information?  So if there are 40 "news worthy" events happening, why do stories about death and violence always have first priority?  Is it so we're thankful that violence hasn't come into our household or impacted us?  On occasion you hear a "positive" story.  ABC network news typically has a story on the evening news that is inspirational and somewhat positive.  But, why save that item for the end?  Why not put the inspirational item first and save the depressing violence for last?

My response to the negativity of the news has been to stop watching the news.  If I want to know what is going on, I will peek into an online news website, or quickly turn to a news show of my choice for a few fleeting seconds.  I no longer see how people can sit stationary in front of a television and be bombarded with stories you did not ask to see or hear about.  It's time for News On Demand (NOD).  We need something where if you want information or news on a topic, you type in the category and then will be presented with those stories.

I have a problem with some producer or staff determining what 15 items I should hear about in the course of a 30 minute news show.  Especially as a black male.  Most of my concerns are not even addressed in a news show.  Showing me how another police officer stopped and shot a fellow unarmed black male is not something I want to keep hearing about and seeing.  I would rather see information on what solutions are being put forth to avoid such incidents.  Show me the positive stories of black people overcoming the odds and performing positive acts.

It is time the delivery of news was modified.  Talking heads are no longer the best option.  News on Demand.  Somebody deliver it please!