What's on your mind?

@DragonFox91 I subscribe to this through the library via the Libby app and thought of you. It has a nostalgic vibe and wholesome content. You might enjoy it. ;-)

bèlla said:

@DragonFox91 I subscribe to this through the library via the Libby app and thought of you. It has a nostalgic vibe and wholesome content. You might enjoy it. ;-)

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Thank you for thinking of me, that makes me feel happy.
I'm sure some of it I would like. But I also see that & feel like I got saved from that lifestyle.

DragonFox91 said:

Thank you for thinking of me, that makes me feel happy.
I'm sure some of it I would like. But I also see that & feel like I got saved from that lifestyle.

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I concur but sometimes I find ideas that are useful. Most notably the ones for gatherings and family time. I read a book along those lines years ago that focused on the victorian period and we’re rekindling those practices at home.

I had such a good time yesterday. I've been doing so well & thinking so well.

Now I am sad. It's just not the reality I got. It comes w/ being sad. The reality I got is like you lost (I do not get married)

DragonFox91 said:

I had such a good time yesterday. I've been doing so well & thinking so well.

Now I am sad. It's just not the reality I got. It comes w/ being sad. The reality I got is like you lost (I do not get married)

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You haven’t lost but you’ve built your future around a want and tied it to your happiness which isn’t sustainable. Because life is full of uncertainties that can alter our plans or delay them. Right now you’re feeling the pinch on relationships but that isn’t the only hurdle and bigger ones are on the way that may impact you as well. We have to be willing to adapt and make peace with the probability our timeline may change.

I’ve been posting policy initiatives from the Heritage Foundation that weren’t included in Project 2025 that are meant to be implemented between 2023-2032. That period may not mean a lot to you personally but the social security reserves will be gone by 2033 as of today. But the date isn’t fixed and it’s dropping fast. They’re not planning to replace it. All benefits will be reduced by 24% across the board. Which is a 48% reduction for a couple. We’re moving to a flat benefit system for social security and disability and everyone will be paid the same. Which means a lot of people may be sharing a home with their parents or needing to support them financially.

Job losses are underway because of Ai and will be the theme next year. It’s not the little guy anymore. Executives are being replaced and they’re reducing positions in every industry. I posted a video the other day about Harvard graduates struggling to find a job and that applies to grad school too. Amazon is reducing their workforce by 600k and they’re the second largest employer in America. I saw a video about Deloitte using Ai for a report they prepared for the government. The information was wrong and they received $400k for the project and have 50 others in the pipeline and none were cancelled. Which means accountants and consultants are next.

I share that to demonstrate the unexpected. Many of you want families and would probably send your children to college. But did you expect to pay it all out of pocket or anticipate the removal of loans for parents? Did you expect the government to reverse their policy on interest rates for student loans and let them mirror the market? Did you think you’d have to supplement the costs with private lenders? That’s the plan. If you’re familiar with our history you’ll know higher education wasn’t always funded by the government. You only went if you could pay.

When you’re looking at the future you have to consider the whole and don’t get fixated on one detail at expense of the others. Your plans can’t be rigid because tomorrow is uncertain and we make adjustments as we go along. You intended to marry and have a stay at home wife who didn’t work. But that may not be possible because of the uncertainty and you may decide a second income would be best just in case.

This is the era of upsets that’s why everything is topsy turvy. A new structure is being erected and the old is being destroyed. You have to keep an eye on your plan and the other on the elements impacting it. There’s too much change in the air. While you’re lamenting your condition you should be glad you’re single and have time to put in place what others haven’t. So you won’t have their stress and wish you’d done otherwise.

Sometimes setbacks are blessings. It doesn’t seem that way in the beginning but hindsight is golden. When you purchased your home you didn’t expect private equity firms and hedge funds to buy up the supply and utilize technology that would inflate the prices and make them out of reach for most but here we are. When you bought your car you didn’t expect the manufacturer to monetize standard features and put them on a subscription plan to generate income. But BMW tried it and rest assured its coming.

When most people graduated from school they believed that a good job + good income + family = a happy life. That might be the case in a righteous society but when wickedness rules its otherwise. In the space from your departure from the university until today. It’s no school + no jobs + no relationships = ?

You didn’t see that coming but He did. Trust His timing and make use of this season while you can. Most of you need to go back to the drawing board. Your ideal is based on a reality that’s departing. Now what? How do you get there? That’s your challenge.

I stumbled upon this YouTube channel today. If you know anyone who receives social security, disability benefits or ssi for their children please pass it along. The cuts I’ve posted elsewhere are underway. He’s a former social manager and well informed. This is an image from one of his videos and he’s counting down the checks.

bèlla said:

You haven’t lost but you’ve built your future around a want and tied it to your happiness which isn’t sustainable. Because life is full of uncertainties that can alter our plans or delay them. Right now you’re feeling the pinch on relationships but that isn’t the only hurdle and bigger ones are on the way that may impact you as well. We have to be willing to adapt and make peace with the probability our timeline may change.

I’ve been posting policy initiatives from the Heritage Foundation that weren’t included in Project 2025 that are meant to be implemented between 2023-2032. That period may not mean a lot to you personally but the social security reserves will be gone by 2033 as of today. But the date isn’t fixed and it’s dropping fast. They’re not planning to replace it. All benefits will be reduced by 24% across the board. Which is a 48% reduction for a couple. We’re moving to a flat benefit system for social security and disability and everyone will be paid the same. Which means a lot of people may be sharing a home with their parents or needing to support them financially.

Job losses are underway because of Ai and will be the theme next year. It’s not the little guy anymore. Executives are being replaced and they’re reducing positions in every industry. I posted a video the other day about Harvard graduates struggling to find a job and that applies to grad school too. Amazon is reducing their workforce by 600k and they’re the second largest employer in America. I saw a video about Deloitte using Ai for a report they prepared for the government. The information was wrong and they received $400k for the project and have 50 others in the pipeline and none were cancelled. Which means accountants and consultants are next.

I share that to demonstrate the unexpected. Many of you want families and would probably send your children to college. But did you expect to pay it all out of pocket or anticipate the removal of loans for parents? Did you expect the government to reverse their policy on interest rates for student loans and let them mirror the market? Did you think you’d have to supplement the costs with private lenders? That’s the plan. If you’re familiar with our history you’ll know higher education wasn’t always funded by the government. You only went if you could pay.

When you’re looking at the future you have to consider the whole and don’t get fixated on one detail at expense of the others. Your plans can’t be rigid because tomorrow is uncertain and we make adjustments as we go along. You intended to marry and have a stay at home wife who didn’t work. But that may not be possible because of the uncertainty and you may decide a second income would be best just in case.

This is the era of upsets that’s why everything is topsy turvy. A new structure is being erected and the old is being destroyed. You have to keep an eye on your plan and the other on the elements impacting it. There’s too much change in the air. While you’re lamenting your condition you should be glad you’re single and have time to put in place what others haven’t. So you won’t have their stress and wish you’d done otherwise.

Sometimes setbacks are blessings. It doesn’t seem that way in the beginning but hindsight is golden. When you purchased your home you didn’t expect private equity firms and hedge funds to buy up the supply and utilize technology that would inflate the prices and make them out of reach for most but here we are. When you bought your car you didn’t expect the manufacturer to monetize standard features and put them on a subscription plan to generate income. But BMW tried it and rest assured its coming.

When most people graduated from school they believed that a good job + good income + family = a happy life. That might be the case in a righteous society but when wickedness rules its otherwise. In the space from your departure from the university until today. It’s no school + no jobs + no relationships = ?

You didn’t see that coming but He did. Trust His timing and make use of this season while you can. Most of you need to go back to the drawing board. Your ideal is based on a reality that’s departing. Now what? How do you get there? That’s your challenge.

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No, I am not concerned about that. The problem at this point it's to the point where it's almost like you'd say no b/c you've convinced yourself you can't.

But yeah, people struggling w/ money #1 issue I've seen, & they'll just pass it on. I've thought in the past 'those couples just making ends meet', that will lead to those people I encountered in college for example, upset at the world & everything in it b/c they don't have any money. It's like I was saying, everything produces fruit. In the same way I've wanted to get married, I've seen people think like that talk about money.

Everything produces fruit.......I wonder about those couples who didn't have the Foundation (maybe as well as they thought they), what will their children's foundation be?

Here is the reality: it's very hard to change once you're married.

Going back to the picture of that magazine you shared, that's a ritzy life style. The people I encountered didn't have the ritz. I was welcomed to reality.

I saw a clip 'Jesus says it's easier for a camel to go thru an eye of a needle then a rich man to enter heaven. People, it's impossible for a camel to go thru the eye of a needle.' It was usually taught to me Jesus still doesn't exclude them & the rich people in the Bible who were still saved, but does someone who has the world care for the world to come? That's what I saw when I went into the world. & I don't want to knock on the rich, I've seen a lot of that too, almost too much, & that's wrong too, "the world's problems are due to the rich & it's time for them to pay", but I also saw the well-off are almost too comfortable too

That's what I see in the magazine picture.

Sorry I don't post more often here. My introvertness extends to my online activities as well. The begining of this year was a huge fall for me, due to struggles in mental health, with home life and my church life. I shared before I ended up leaving my home church. I had guilt in doing so, thinking I had betrayed my brethren there. God had then reminded me about my prayers late last year, how I asked Him to remove me, if I was not suitable for the roles I had taken on, some of which was in a form of pastoral roles. My main issue came with how the elders where limiting God from working within the church. I had become aware they lacked much faith in God, especially when I would be given a chance to show how God was willing to use the church to reach out to thousands of people who went by the church each day.

I haven't rescinded my membership yet, so I get the weekly newsletter still. On Friday, I decided to take a look if they had found a new senior pastor finally, as it has been several years they've had one. I saw they had not. Then as I looked at the board of elders, I noticed there was a change. One of the new elders is a recent member in the recent years, who helped me with the live stream service once a month. There are things I had noticed about him, which I brought up to my friend, who is the music director. I recall clearly, my friend saying this person wasn't suited to be in a spiritual role for the church. I had originally thought about becoming an elder myself last year. I saw this as a clear sign, as my old church rejecting God's direction, especially His wisdom. I feel I'm at peace now, for leaving this church behind. I'm still seeking God for healing, and seeing where He wants me to serve with the gifts He has revealed to me last year.

DragonFox91 said:

No, I am not concerned about that. The problem at this point it's to the point where it's almost like you'd say no b/c you've convinced yourself you can't.

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What are you afraid of?

DragonFox91 said:

But yeah, people struggling w/ money #1 issue I've seen, & they'll just pass it on. I've thought in the past 'those couples just making ends meet', that will lead to those people I encountered in college for example, upset at the world & everything in it b/c they don't have any money. It's like I was saying, everything produces fruit. In the same way I've wanted to get married, I've seen people think like that talk about money.

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If that’s your starting point you have to begin with Horace Mann and public education. Although the example for its establishment hailed from a different place. The intention for its institution was never designed for the reasons we were told. It’s like the ad for the ginzu knife and the numerous benefits they promise. But when you get it home you can’t do the same. That’s not to suggest that knowledge isn’t acquired in school. But a system designed to produce workers will yield different fruit from one another created for tomorrow’s leaders. There‘s no comparison.

This is a school in Switzerland. They’re known for their boarding schools and international student body. We have similar places in America too but the Swiss do it on a different level. Although we‘re sold the merits of college and people compete to gain access to the Ivy League. It will never yield the fruit you’ll acquire by placing your emphasis on boarding school instead. But no one tells you that and they’re not supposed to.

DragonFox91 said:

Everything produces fruit.......I wonder about those couples who didn't have the Foundation (maybe as well as they thought they), what will their children's foundation be?

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It isn’t enough to know the Lord. We must be ever seeking the truth in light of His presence. We should be cognizant of the devil’s devices and aware of its impact on society. We shouldn’t be following a script he designed and get upset when it doesn’t work. You can’t build tomorrow on a lie because the structure will collapse eventually.

DragonFox91 said:

Here is the reality: it's very hard to change once you're married.

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It’s different for a person who didn’t live with the principle beforehand. If you enter a union with two people committed to growth and maturity change is welcomed and celebrated.

DragonFox91 said:

Going back to the picture of that magazine you shared, that's a ritzy life style. The people I encountered didn't have the ritz. I was welcomed to reality.

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That isn’t a depiction of wealth. It may appear so in light of our economy. But things were different then and less expensive. I wasn’t born in that period but our home looked the same as did my grandparents. People lived within their means and it wasn’t uncommon for gifts to be acquired throughout the year.

I lived near a Toys R Us store and discovered their markdown policy through an impromptu visit. It was the end of summer and there were a few aisles devoted to clearance items for popular brands and I was shocked. I asked someone about it and they told me when it starts. I picked up a few things that day and came back every week. The bulk of my shopping was done before November.

I used to build relationships wherever I shopped and continue to do so. I buy exclusively from that person and if they’re not in I’ll put it on hold. They benefit from my loyalty and I get better deals and management is pleased. That’s an outgrowth of shopping in department stores where client books were the norm. It taught me the value of relationships, recognition and appreciation. Oftentimes employees go unseen and I endeavored to do otherwise.

DragonFox91 said:

I saw a clip 'Jesus says it's easier for a camel to go thru an eye of a needle then a rich man to enter heaven. People, it's impossible for a camel to go thru the eye of a needle.' It was usually taught to me Jesus still doesn't exclude them & the rich people in the Bible who were still saved, but does someone who has the world care for the world to come? That's what I saw when I went into the world. & I don't want to knock on the rich, I've seen a lot of that too, almost too much, & that's wrong too, "the world's problems are due to the rich & it's time for them to pay", but I also saw the well-off are almost too comfortable too

That's what I see in the magazine picture.

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If you fail to instruct the populace on the rudiments of wealth and what they should develop within themselves and their offspring they won’t be equipped. They’ll be forced to rely on what’s bestowed and their earnings will be repressed. No matter what the number says on your paycheck you’re underpaid. The system isn’t designed to reward our labor honestly.

But a righteous man wants everyone to thrive and use the gifts and talents God bestowed as He intended. In most instances that isn’t your employer. You’re a means to an end in his eyes. I remember a conversation my grandfather shared about the home they purchased. He met with his boss and asked for a raise because he needed the money to buy a home. He acknowledged his work and commitment to the company and told him the truth and he got it. That probably wouldn’t happen today because numbers are more important than the lives it impacts.

When love is lacking problems ensue. Whether you have means or not. Everything under the heavens belongs to God including wealth. But many of the people who possess it don’t belong to Him. Their perspective on plenty serves the other and society suffers.

The lamp must shine wherever it’s placed. If the Lord has enriched you financially you’re meant to show Christ in that position as a sign for the world. And the same holds true for our talents, gifts and intelligence. There should be no place within our culture that’s dim if we’re present.

Wealth devoid of love is dangerous. As is knowledge, giftedness, talents and intelligence. The impacts may differ to the naked eye but the results can be costly as we’ve seen with education. In all things and all ways we must look above for guidance.

The general principle of alleviating poverty by facilitating self-sufficiency has a long history. The 12th-century philosopher Maimonides wrote about eight degrees in the duty of charity. In 1826 an explication of the eighth degree was published in a journal called “The Religious Intelligencer”.

Lastly, the eighth and the most meritorious of all, is to anticipate charity by preventing poverty, namely, to assist the reduced brother, either by a considerable gift or loan of money, or by teaching him a trade, or by putting him in the way of business, so that he may earn an honest livelihood and not be forced to the dreadful alternative of holding up his hand for charity.

The Devil doesn't come w/ a pitchfork, horns, & a tail. He comes w/ a smile. He comes w/ promises.

It's really hard, but don't listen to him.

God's way is always the best way.

In the summer I go to the park. There's a pond there. There were a ton of lilliy pad type plants standing up proudly covering the water all over. I thought 'they look really proud right now, but in the winter they won't be there.'

Yesterday I went to the pond, there were no lily pad plants.

"Consider the lilies of the field."

Okay, everyone, I have to share this. I promise it isn't trying to get all seriously political and start any crap; I just thought it was a hilariously appropriate exaggeration of Donald Trump. So, one of my friends on FB made a post recently displaying a shirt that said "Trump is God", commenting on how weirdly fanatical a few people can get when it comes to politics, whether conservative or liberal.

And one of the replies to his post was amazing. I am honestly a little surprised I didn't end up rolling off the couch from laughter XD ->
Ladies and gentlemen, let me tell you — in the beginning, there was nothing. Total disaster. Darkness everywhere. Low energy. Nobody was doing anything. And then I said, “You know what? We’re gonna fix this. We’re gonna make creation great again.”
So I said, “Let there be light.” And folks, boom! Light. Tremendous light. The best light. Everyone’s saying they’ve never seen light like this before. And I looked at it and said, “That’s good. Really good.” Way better than what the fake news darkness had going on.
Then I said, “We need some separation here. We’re gonna build a firmament — a fantastic firmament — and it’s gonna be beautiful.” We put the water down here, some up there — perfect balance. Nobody’s ever managed water like this before, believe me.
Day Three — I said, “Let’s have land.” And the land just appeared. Dry land, classy land, premium land — probably the best real estate in the universe. I called it “Earth.” Great branding. Then I said, “We need vegetation. We need plants.” Boom — grass, trees, fruit — all of it. Delicious, organic, tremendous quality. People loved it. Even the palm trees are winning now.
Day Four — I said, “Let’s do something special.” So I made the sun — absolutely massive, by the way — and the moon, and a ton of stars. Billions and billions. Tremendous celestial ratings, folks. Everyone’s looking up, saying, “Wow, Trump really did that?” And yes — I did.
Day Five — I said, “We need movement. We need life. Let’s get some fish in those waters — beautiful fish, classy fish, the best fish.” Then I said, “Let’s get birds up there — eagles, doves, you name it.” They started flying — no regulations, totally free. Tremendous day for creation.
Day Six — huge day. I said, “We need animals.” Boom — lions, cows, elephants, the whole thing. And then I said, “You know what? Let’s do something really special. Let’s make people — in my image. The best image. Perfect hair, very stable genius, tremendous stamina.” And I gave them control of everything. Total authority. Unbelievable deal for them.
And when I looked at it all, I said, “This is not just good — this is very good. Probably the best creation in history. Everyone’s saying it.”
Then, after six incredible days — record-breaking productivity, by the way — I took a day off. Not because I was tired. No, no, no. I just wanted to show people how to rest like a winner.

I posted a couple of videos today on Ai with workforce projections and I think you should have a listen. We’re moving in a similar direction in the digital space and it isn’t a coincidence you’re seeing the same. My associates are creating Ai models of themselves or in the process of doing so to secure their likeness. We have “Ai personalities” that are influencers or have accounts on Twitch and OnlyFans that are generating profits. That may be an avenue for some of you who weren’t comfortable revealing yourself online.

@peaceful-forest Check out the video on psychosis. It mentions the emergence of christian transhumanism and I posted a piece a few years ago on Ai pastors. But they argued against it and here we are. This could be an excellent area for apologetics. @linux.poet Your prowess in debate and theology would be formidable.

The humanoid robots are getting cheaper and China released one that’s under $1,400. Don’t be surprised when you see christians referring to them as companions. @DragonFox91 that has your name all over it and they need help. ;-)

As you watch the video ask yourself what you’d do if you weren’t working where you are presently? There’s not a lot of christians in the subject and striking while its early is best.

linux.poet said:

I’ll watch the videos before I assume anything, but at a glance, A.I. doesn’t strike me as something that can be beat with debate and theology. A.I. is an economic threat that must be countered with economic means.

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I didn’t mean Ai in itself. I was referring to christian transhumanism. I doubt that’s the only heresy we’ll see and people like you are well equipped to address it.

linux.poet said:

The economic counter seems really obvious to me: buy up land zoned appropriately for the task and use the land to build free housing and gardens to feed people. Don’t buy the land personally: instead have a Christian non-profit buy the land so you evade property tax on it. Non-profits don’t pay property tax. Priority will have to go to faithful Christians for housing, but food is given to everyone.

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Non-profit organizations are beholden to the government. That’s their guarantor for tax relief. You’ll have difficulty opposing them if you rely on that support. It’s better to avoid it from the start. No one can predict what’s on the horizon and land is expensive. Corporations are buying it too for data centers including rural areas. Where’s the money coming from?

linux.poet said:

There’s a reason why the A.I. people are driving real estate prices sky high and cutting off SNAP. They are trying to control their enemies. A.I. opposition will be landowners, environmentalists, nonprofits, and the underground barter economy. It’s starting to move into place. Online forums will likely become tools for collective land buying and resistance.

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I’ve posted about real estate on the thread and the players behind the price increases. In respect to SNAP and the like I‘ve shared policy proposals from The Heritage Foundation. Including Project 2025 and many that weren’t in the mandate.

We have 200 million adults in America when you remove seniors from the total. There’s an estimated 20 million preppers in the country which includes homesteaders. Less than 10% of christians homestead.

linux.poet said:

From this perspective, it’s actually a movement which I stand to benefit from, so I’m not really panicking over it. Prayers for wisdom and direction would be appreciated, but it’s those who can’t take advantage of the new opportunities and the shifting wind will be the victims.

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I think it’s best to apply your gifts and talents in the manner that will increase your security. I don’t encourage anyone to rely on charity wholeheartedly and I’d focus on building connections. Need has been politicized and a lot of people don’t care. Christian and otherwise. That isn’t directed to you personally but reflects what I’ve witnessed and heard over the years.

Hearts are colder now and continuing to worsen. Don’t be surprised if people behave otherwise. While they disagree with the shutdown they’re not offering to help and I noticed. But the Lord is at work and we’ve discussed some things along those lines you’ve stated.

linux.poet said:

People who are paying for A.I. usage due to get-ahead style grifts.

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Not them. I know what they’re up to. I should have specified I was referring to the land purchases you proposed for non profits.

linux.poet said:

Our collective wealth has been siphoned off via internet subscriptions and buy-now-pay-later schemes, advertising, and Big Tech, and is now being used to fund whatever they want. We’ve created a monster.

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I posted this on another thread.

linux.poet said:

I don’t pay for A.I. as a result of this, but as one of my favorite Christian movies once said “never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.” Which is exactly what these people are using to their advantage. It’s just enough not to become one of said stupid people and tell others how to avoid being manipulated.

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I’m not opposed to using it for personal survival or as a source of income. Everyone can’t retrain or may not have family or friends to support them. If you can create something useful and sell it do so.

linux.poet said:

Hmm. Anything with “transhumanism” in its name hits the “automatically wrong” button in my head, so you’ve got a recipe for a few articles to defeat such bunk.

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I’ll let you watch the video. I don’t want to spoil it for you. ;-)