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For the moment, let's leave religion out of this discussion. I will come back to it later. All Humans(people), by nature, have the same rights; not dependent on when, where, how, or what gender they are born. These Rights supersede all national affiliations and national laws. These are natural laws. They existed before there were governments and will remain after. First and foremost, All people own themselves. All people are entitled to the fruits of their own labor. All associations, transactions, contracts, agreements, sales, etc. of Any kind, for Any reason must be voluntary. (Non-Aggression Principle or NAP - Aggression/Coercion should not be used to force anyone to do, say, or agree to Anything. The ONLY time aggression may be used is in the defense of the life and rights of yourself (or others) from another party initiating aggression.) Theft of any kind is wrong. These represent my ETHICAL stance on way human society should be. I understand that this model of society does not exist on any large scale today and may not come to exist in my lifetime, but this is something to strive towards. _________________ So, what does this mean and how did I come to these beliefs? Human beings, by nature, have the right of Self Ownership: Nobody else can decide for you how you should live your life. Only You can decide what's best for you. There is no other person, no human authority, higher than yourself in your life. If you own yourself, then every other human being also has that same Self-Ownership. Therefore, You have No right to act as an authority on someone else's life without their consent. You can not tell someone else how to live their life without their consent. You can not use force or coercion on another person in any way, except in the defense of the life or property of another. THINK HARD HERE IF You have no RIGHT to dictate to the life of another person, THEN you have no ability to convey that right to somebody else (e.g. through an election, etc.) For Example: You have no RIGHT to take something that is mine. Since you don't have the RIGHT to take my stuff, you can not give that right to someone else to use on your behalf. So, you can not bestow the RIGHT (which we have already decided you don't have) on the government and call it a Tax. The concept of governance is that the people being governed confer their rights upon authority figures to act on their behalf VOLUNTARILY. But, you can only give what you already have. You CAN NOT confer to another person a right that you do not already have to use/exercise on your behalf. If you are NOT a voluntary participant in a nation, an agent of the government (tax collector, police officer, etc.) can not legitimately come to your house and have the RIGHT to take your stuff because nobody who voted for this person or put that person in charge had the authority to grant that right to begin with. Voluntary Associations: No person should be forced to participate in anything that they do not want to be a part of. That includes but is not limited to: Governments Religions Marriages Armed Forces Businesses Clubs or ANY OTHER group or activity for any reason. If you agree with these beliefs, if you share this ETHICAL stance then you might be surprised to know that you are an Anarchist/Voluntaryist. _______________ I used to say that I am proud to be an American. You can be proud of the people in your country, proud of the accomplishments and advances her people have made, and at the same time recognize that there are flaws inherent to the system. I think that our country was founded on good principles, but, over the years, these principles have been sidelined by the corporate and political interests of this world. At the time this country was conceived there were a great many difficulties to be overcome but there were fewer rules and laws. We believed in individual liberty and created a nation to protect that liberty. The founders did their best, but just as with all other things in this world, advances have been made and new ways of thinking have emerged. The founders did what they thought necessary at the time, but I highly doubt that they would be pleased at what their creation has become. Now, instead of listing the things we are Not allowed to do, it seems we list the things we Are allowed to do. The laws and regulations in place today are oppressive, tyrannical, and unnecessary. The "taxes" the government steals from us are excessive. The "taxes" collected from us are not put to good or even effective use. The use of our armed forces to promote our ECONOMIC interests is deplorable. Our whole system is CORRUPT. IN SHORT, we have turned into the very monster we fought so hard to escape. This Country is in dire need of a MAJOR shift in the way we do things. It is inevitable. If we don't fix the problem, the whole system is going to burn down on its own. And on its way down we will lose more and more of our liberty until it gets to the point where ANYTHING that the powers-that-be offer us will be better than our current situation. I believe that it is still possible to make a difference from within the system, but that it will not happen, so I prepare for the worst. The average American is blind to the problem. The average person cares less about freedom and more about security. Most people these days won't complain unless there is some major shift from their comfort zone. The average person would rather be told what to do than take control of their own fate, make their own decisions, and live with the consequences. They are Sheep. ___________ I am a Christian, not because my family is Christian or because all the cool people are Christian, but because I made that choice for myself after deep thought and study on the subject. Nobody forced me to make this decision. It is not POSSIBLE to force someone to be Christian/Muslim/Buddhist/etc. It is a belief one has. ________________ Do I think that there should be laws prohibiting behavior that I find immoral? Insofar as it does not involve anyone else or their property then No. 1) Speaking specifically about the United States: There is a very clear doctrine from the very beginning of the country that there shall be no officially sanctioned and endorsed religion in the USA. This creates a problem for the enacting and enforcing of laws that are based on moral principles based upon religious teachings and context. Which religion is to be the model for governmental morality? Christianity? Islam? Buddhism? To base a law on "Morality" is in direct conflict with our founding principles. There are many behaviors that I find morally wrong and think are ultimately damaging to the individual and society at large. But as long as those behaviors, decisions, and actions are confined to oneself and other voluntary participants then I do not think the government should be able to declare them legal or illegal. If you allow the government to base it's laws on a particular religious understanding of morality, then later that same government could later use a different religion as the model. We must base our laws on protection of life, liberty, and property only. Limit the government and attempt to prevent it's overreach. 2) Using laws to force morality: I don't believe in legislating morality. I don't think that someone who doesn't steal, simply because it it against the law, is a moral person. They are surely a pragmatic person, but moral? The moral person would not steal, regardless of the law, because they believe it to be wrong. A person's belief or lack thereof in a higher power is not and should not be dependent upon the laws currently in place in society. In fact, it could be argued that obedience to secular laws could make a person complacent and leave them vulnerable to a false sense of eternal security. I don't need laws to know Right from Wrong. __________________ Render unto Caesar... I pay my taxes. I don't want government thugs breaking down my door and hauling me off to a cage because I didn't want to let them steal the fruits of my labor. As long as the situation remains the same here I will continue to pay my taxes.

Spot on message. Charlie Kirk is a secondary issue in this one, but also important.

#WiseDisciple #VodieBaucham #Christian #Christ #Jesus #Church

https://youtu.be/y8fYAYGIKzI?si=K1i7eXnjxr8_phPf

Here is a short look at one of the passages prophetically referring to Jesus.

(Please feel free to add to the notes I have already included)

Isaiah 53

1

"Who has believed our message?

And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

2

For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot,

And like a root out of parched ground; [referring to another prophecy not "a shoot" but rather "THE shoot"- Isaiah 11:1 "Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse,"]

He has no stately form or majesty

That we should look upon Him,

Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. [Jesus was not born into a wealthy or politically connected family, rather, he was born to a young common woman and a lower class man. Nothing about His birth or appearance would have given Him advantage]

3

He was despised and forsaken of men,

A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;

And like one from whom men hide their face

He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

4

Surely our griefs He Himself bore,

And our sorrows He carried;

Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,

Smitten of God, and afflicted. [Roman crucifixion—a common punishment for rebels, slaves, and perceived threats—was equated with "hanging on a tree" in Jewish thought. The wooden crossbeam or stake was seen as the "tree" (xylon in Greek Septuagint translations), and crucified persons fell under the Deuteronomic curse. This made crucifixion not only physically torturous and humiliating (public naked exposure, slow death) but theologically damning: it signaled the victim was rejected by God; Deuteronomy 21:22–23:"If a man has committed a sin worthy of death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for he who is hanged is accursed of God, so that you do not defile your land."]

5

But He was pierced through for our transgressions, [Jesus was nailed to a cross and later a spear pierced  His side to ensure that He was truly dead]

He was crushed for our iniquities;[Jesus was beaten severely in the time between his "trials" and his crucifixion]

The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,

And by His scourging we are healed. [Jesus was whipped with a cat-of-9-tails 39 times]

6

All of us like sheep have gone astray,

Each of us has turned to his own way;

But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all

To fall on Him.

7

He was oppressed and He was afflicted,

Yet He did not open His mouth; [Jesus did not curse or condemn those who carried out His execution]

Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,

And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,

So He did not open His mouth. [Jesus did not resist being taken and executed]

8

By oppression and judgment He was taken away;

And as for His generation, who considered

That He was cut off out of the land of the living

For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due?

9

His grave was assigned with wicked men, [Jesus died a criminal's death and His body would have been disposed of as such]

Yet He was with a rich man in His death, [Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy follower of Jesus, gave up his own tomb for Jesus to be buried in]

Because He had done no violence,

Nor was there any deceit in His mouth. [Jesus was innocent in every way. He committed no crimes to be punished for]

10

But the Lord was pleased

To crush Him, putting Him to grief;

If He would render Himself as a guilt offering,

He will see His offspring,

He will prolong His days,

And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand.

11

As a result of the anguish of His soul,

He will see it and be satisfied; [The traditional Hebrew text doesn’t have “the light”. But both the oldest known Greek translation of the TeNaKh (The Septuagint) and the Isaiah scroll found among the Dead Sea Scrolls reads “he shall see the light and be satisfied (יראה אור ישביע) which is most likely the original text. To see the light means to live. So the servant will live again as a reward for his sacrifice and will have victory over death. Messiah himself will be satisfied with what he accomplished through his suffering.]

By His knowledge the Righteous One,

My Servant, will justify the many,

As He will bear their iniquities.

12

Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great,

And He will divide the booty with the strong;

Because He poured out Himself to death, [Jesus went through all the events leading to His death on the cross willingly, knowing in advance what was to happen]

And was numbered with the transgressors;

Yet He Himself bore the sin of many,

And interceded for the transgressors."

#Jesus #Christ #Messiah #Prophecy #Isaiah #Bible #Tenakh #Septuagint #Hebrew #Greek #Jew #Crucifixion #Cross

https://sites.google.com/view/voluntaryist-patriot/home/my-faith/prophecies-of-the-christ

This is the kind of thing that I find deeply concerning:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/z7EsHjPu2ss

I can't quite put my finger on it. But it feels like a co-option, a pied piper thing, like the "free" cheese in a trap. Not that there's anything wrong with what he says, per se, it's the environment around it. The stage. The show. The rah-rah rhetoric on the surface and the string-pullers behind the curtain. The appeal to emotion and a martyr complex. The almost pearl-clutching way they speak about what ails us as a "nation" (whatever that means) and the framing of the only acceptable prognosis (true enough in itself, but) that can also get co-opted into something vicious. The litmus tests of acceptable opinion. The marshaling of a wholesome but perhaps naive patriotism into Their Sacred Cause. The parasitic ideas that get latched on to otherwise healthy (even godly) ideas. I don't know. Something.

I don't quite know how to say it, but it just seems really off, really dangerous.

Keep your guard up, brothers and sisters. Things are getting weirder by the hour.

I think maybe you are reacting to the tying together of faith and politics.

I agree with everything he said. I don't think clergy should run for office, they have a much higher calling. I do think, however, that men of faith should be encouraged to seek those same offices. Our country is (supposed to be) ultimately governed by the laws we have. If we abdicate our responsibility to enact said laws to people who are ungodly, then the body of law will shift (has shifted) to reflect their ungodly "values".

This is not to say that I agree or disagree with the form of government in any particular region. I think this is universally true.

Alistair Begg is a gifted Godly man. His preaching is well worth listening to.

#AlistairBegg #sermon #Bible #Christ #Jesus #Christian

https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/second-advent/?src=25NCL

nostr:nprofile1qqs2rlzal4lleatrezg4tdrxw5d4srg3tcfkutuvjr5fzvu9h0kmrncpz4mhxue69uhk2er9dchxummnw3ezumrpdejqz9mhwden5te0vaex7atswvhrq7rrdpshgtnrdaksru34wu have you ever looked into ground nut (apios americana) cultivation?

Nitrogen fixing perennial vine producing tubers. No need to replant...

Efficiency of National Governments in Using Resources

Data from Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) show a grim picture, with the 2024 CPI ranking 180 countries and over two-thirds scoring below 50 out of 100, indicating serious corruption that diverts citizen resources like taxes into private pockets rather than public goods. This aligns with Gallup's 2013 global survey (still reflective of ongoing trends) where majorities in 108 out of 129 countries viewed government corruption as widespread, leading to inefficiencies such as embezzlement and cronyism that waste funds on short-term favors instead of infrastructure or services. The World Bank's Government Effectiveness indicator, averaging -0.04 globally in 2023, further substantiates this, with low scores in unstable regions attributed to bureaucratic self-interest and rule-breaking that prioritize personal or partisan gains over efficient allocation. Because government employees routinely break rules and slow-roll policies, this inefficiency is amplified, as seen in analyses of bureaucratic resistance where civil servants delay or sabotage reforms not aligned with their preferred ideologies, resulting in stalled resource deployment and heightened waste across nations.

Alignment of Government Actions with Citizen Desires

Data reveal profound misalignment, with actions often serving elite or institutional agendas over public will. Pew's 2024 survey across 24 countries found 74% believing officials ignore ordinary citizens, a sentiment exacerbated by corruption that funnels decisions toward bribe-takers or power brokers. Studies on "deep state" dynamics highlight real instances of bureaucratic resistance, such as U.S. executive branch employees prioritizing continuity over presidential mandates, effectively undermining voter-expressed desires through delays or non-compliance. A 2023 Nature study showed citizens favor shared decision-making, yet corruption and partisan entrenchment in government ranks ensure policies reflect internal power struggles rather than broad preferences, leading to widespread dissatisfaction and low trust in representation. This is compounded by moves of power consolidation, where governments prioritize self-perpetuation over responsiveness, as evidenced in analyses of executive overreach that sidelines citizen input.

Trends in Short-Term vs. Long-Term Policies and Laws

Global trends heavily favor short-term political and financial gains, often at the expense of long-term national stability, as corrupt actors exploit immediate opportunities while resisting sustainable reforms. U.S. CBO projections show rising deficits from short-term spending, intensified by bureaucratic slow-rolling of fiscal discipline measures that threaten entrenched interests. Internationally, a 2022 systems study on policy-making notes group biases leading to short-termism, worsened by corruption that incentivizes quick wins like patronage over enduring investments. Trends in democratic erosion, including election manipulation and executive overreach, further entrench this, as governments consolidate power through policies that yield immediate control (e.g., emergency declarations) while eroding long-term institutional health. This bias is systemic, with data indicating persistent short-term focus amid power grabs that prioritize regime survival over national futures.

Insights on Personal Liberty from Data

Data confirm a steady erosion of personal liberty, with indices showing declines driven by authoritarian creep and rights restrictions. Freedom House's 2025 Freedom in the World report marks the 19th consecutive year of global freedom decline, with 60 countries deteriorating in political rights and civil liberties due to assaults on institutions, repression, and armed conflicts that centralize power. The Cato Institute's 2024 Human Freedom Index echoes this, with global averages dropping since 2008 amid weakened rule of law and security, as governments expand surveillance and censorship to diminish individual autonomy. V-Dem data highlight lows in autocracies, but even democracies show backsliding through executive expansions and rights curbs, aligning with assumptions of tyranny's rise via power consolidation that systematically reduces personal freedoms like expression and assembly worldwide.

#Corruption

#Inefficiency

#Misalignment

#ShortTerGains

#Tyranny

#Bureaucracy

#PowerGrab

#Erosion

#Authoritarianism

#Backsliding

#Cronyism

#Entrenchment

#Overreach

#Patronage

#Decline

#Centralization

#Surveillance

#Repression

#FreedomDecline

#RegimeSurvival

Relevant links:

- Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index: https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2024

- Gallup global corruption survey: https://news.gallup.com/poll/165098/worldwide-majority-say-government-corruption-widespread.aspx

- World Bank Government Effectiveness Indicator: https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/worldwide-governance-indicators

- Pew Research Center survey on democracy: https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2024/09/19/satisfaction-with-democracy/

- Freedom House Freedom in the World 2025: https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world

- Cato Institute Human Freedom Index: https://www.cato.org/human-freedom-index

- V-Dem Institute indices: https://v-dem.net/

DISARMAMENT ENABLES TYRANNY

Historical Overview

Civilian Disarmament, the Erosion of Liberty, and Associated Atrocities in the 20th CenturyThe 20th century witnessed numerous instances where governments pursuing centralized authority and the suppression of individual rights implemented restrictions or outright confiscation of privately owned firearms as an early step in their consolidation of power. This disarmament was not typically pursued as an isolated policy but as a means to minimize resistance while enacting broader measures that dismantled personal freedoms, self-determination, property rights, free expression, political pluralism, and independent institutions. In several cases, this progression culminated in large-scale atrocities, including mass killings through executions, forced labor, starvation policies, and other forms of democide. Political scientist R.J. Rummel, in his extensive studies of democide (government-sponsored murder of civilians), estimated that totalitarian regimes alone were responsible for over 100 million such deaths in the 20th century, with disarmament often facilitating the unchecked exercise of state violence. While disarmament did not directly cause these outcomes in every instance, authoritarian leaders repeatedly prioritized it, indicating their recognition of armed civilians as a potential impediment to absolute control. The pattern suggests that private firearm ownership can raise the practical costs of oppression, contributing to deterrence. Notably, societies with widespread civilian gun ownership and robust democratic institutions, such as Switzerland and the United States, did not experience comparable internal tyrannical takeovers or mass democides during this period.

Key Patterns Observed

• Authoritarian regimes frequently followed a recognizable sequence: secure political dominance, implement civilian disarmament (general or targeted at specific groups), then systematically expand state control through surveillance, censorship, property seizures, purges, and the elimination of opposition.

• Disarmament enabled the enforcement of policies that eroded self-determination, often without immediate armed challenge.

• In cases where tyranny escalated to mass atrocities, death tolls reached millions, primarily through low-tech means like starvation, forced labor, and executions rather than requiring superior firepower against victims.

• Heavily armed populations in liberal democracies correlated with the absence of internal democide on this scale.

• No documented cases exist of a modern regime successfully imposing total tyranny or large-scale internal atrocities on a broadly armed civilian population without prior disarmament or overwhelming military domination.

Detailed Case Studies (Post-1900)

1) Ottoman Empire/Young Turks and the Armenian Genocide (1915–1917)

• Pre-war laws and decrees under the Young Turks regime facilitated searches and confiscations, particularly targeting Armenians viewed as disloyal.

• This disarmament preceded and aided the forced deportations and massacres.

• Broader erosion of liberty: Targeted elimination of Armenian intellectual and political leadership; suppression of minority rights.

• Atrocities: Systematic genocide involving death marches, starvation, and mass killings, resulting in an estimated 1 to 1.5 million Armenian deaths (scholarly consensus ranges from 800,000 to 1.5 million, with many sources citing approximately 1.2 million).

• Disarmament removed potential for organized resistance, allowing the regime to pursue ethnic homogenization with minimal opposition.

2) Soviet Union (1918 onward, intensifying under Stalin)

• Bolshevik decrees from 1918–1920s banned private ownership; searches and confiscations escalated during collectivization and purges.

• Targeted peasants and suspected opponents.

• Broader erosion of liberty: Forced collectivization ended rural self-determination; establishment of secret police (Cheka/NKVD); abolition of private property, free press, religion, and political parties; Gulag system for dissenters.

• Atrocities: Purges, engineered famines (including Holodomor), forced labor, and executions claimed an estimated 20 to 60 million lives across the Soviet era (Rummel estimated around 62 million total democide, with Stalin-era deaths often cited at 20–43 million).

• Disarmament prevented uprisings against policies that transformed society into a totalitarian state.

3) Nazi Germany (1933–1945)

• Built on Weimar registration laws; 1938 decree disarmed Jews and political opponents while easing restrictions for loyal Aryans.

• Enabled targeted neutralization of perceived threats.

• Broader erosion of liberty: Enabling Act dissolved democracy; Gestapo surveillance; abolition of independent judiciary, press, and parties; confiscation of property from targeted groups.

• Atrocities: The Holocaust and related persecutions resulted in approximately 6 million Jewish deaths, with total Nazi victims (including Roma, Poles, disabled, and others) exceeding 11–17 million.

• Selective disarmament facilitated early consolidation and the industrial-scale killing operations.

4) People's Republic of China (1949 onward, Mao era)

• Nationwide civilian firearm ban in the 1950s following communist consolidation.

• Prevented resistance to central planning and political campaigns.

• Broader erosion of liberty: Nationalization of industry and land; hukou system restricting movement; suppression of dissent; one-party monopoly over all aspects of life.

• Atrocities: The Great Leap Forward famine (1958–1962) alone caused an estimated 15–55 million deaths (most scholarly estimates around 30–45 million); the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976) added 1–2 million deaths through violence and persecution; total Mao-era democide often estimated at 40–80 million.

• Disarmament ensured no armed challenges to policies that caused widespread deprivation and terror.

5) Cambodia (Khmer Rouge, 1975–1979)

• Immediate confiscations upon takeover, monopolizing arms under the regime.

• Targeted urban populations and perceived enemies.

• Broader erosion of liberty: Forced evacuation of cities; abolition of money, private property, religion, and family structures; total communal labor.

• Atrocities: Executions, forced labor, starvation, and disease in the "killing fields" resulted in an estimated 1.5–2 million deaths (approximately 25% of the population; some estimates up to 2.5–3 million).

• Disarmament prevented resistance to the regime's radical social engineering.

6) Cuba (1959 onward)

• Rapid confiscations (1959–1960) leading to a comprehensive ban on private firearm ownership.

• Consolidated revolutionary control.

• Broader erosion of liberty: Nationalization of industry and land; suppression of independent media, religion, and politics; imprisonment or exile of opponents; indefinite suspension of multiparty elections.

• While not escalating to mass atrocities on the scale of others, the regime maintained tight control, with thousands executed or dying in political prisons early on.

• Disarmament eliminated potential for armed opposition to permanent one-party rule.

7) Venezuela (1999 onward, under Chávez and Maduro)

• 2012 ban on civilian firearm sales and imports, resulting in widespread disarmament.

• Reduced challenges to centralizing measures.

• Broader erosion of liberty: Media closures and censorship; packing of judiciary and legislature; expropriation of private property; manipulation of elections; suppression of protests.

• No large-scale atrocities comparable to 20th-century democides, but thousands died in protests and prison conditions amid economic collapse.

• Disarmament supported the progressive slide from democracy toward authoritarian control.

Conclusion

The recurring prioritization of civilian disarmament by regimes seeking unchecked power underscores its perceived role in lowering barriers to tyranny. In cases where oppression escalated to atrocities, the human cost was staggering, with 20th-century democide totals estimated at over 200 million by some analyses (Rummel calculated around 262 million across all governments, dominated by totalitarian systems). Regimes acted as if armed citizens posed a meaningful obstacle, confiscating weapons early to facilitate surveillance, economic control, and, in extreme cases, mass killing. The absence of similar internal democides in armed democratic societies reinforces the deterrence inference: while not a sole guarantee of liberty, civilian arms complicate the path to absolute state dominance. Other factors—institutions, culture, international pressure—also influence outcomes, but the behavior of tyrants themselves highlights the rational fear of an armed populace.

#Disarmament #Tyranny #LossOfLiberty #SelfDetermination #Democide #Atrocities #ArmedPopulace #Deterrence #GunConfiscation #StatePower #IndividualRights #Totalitarianism #HistoricalPatterns #ErosionOfFreedoms #Liberty #Control #Confiscation #Power #Rights #Totalitarianism #Patterns #Freedoms #Oppression

#SecondAmendment #2A #ConstitutionalRights #LibertyTree

https://sites.google.com/view/voluntaryist-patriot/home/my-politics/disarmed-victims

These were simply a repeat of the query parameters i used in Grok for the Nazis.

I am sure it could be refined to be more accurate...

A mass shooting includes incidents of multiple victims (4+) killed by shooting in war crimes, executions, genocide, or ethnic cleansing.

Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime (1949-present) committed thousands of such acts via PLA, public security, militias, and Red Guards, targeting landlords, intellectuals, ethnic minorities (Tibetans, Uyghurs), counterrevolutionaries, and protesters. Exact counts are hard due to censorship and hidden records, but estimates: 2,000-5,000+ incidents, 1-4 million victims from direct shootings/executions (excluding famine, beatings, camps).

Peak periods: 1949-1953 (Land Reform/Counterrevolutionaries campaigns), 1966-1976 (Cultural Revolution massacres), 1959 (Tibet uprising), 1989 (Tiananmen).

By Period:

- 1949-1953: ~1,000-2,000 incidents (Land Reform executions of landlords/nationalists). Victims: ~1-3 million shot.

- 1954-1965: ~200-500 incidents (anti-rightist, early Tibet suppressions). Victims: ~100,000-300,000 executions.

- 1966-1968 (Early Cultural Revolution): ~800-1,500 incidents (Red Guard/factional massacres like Dao County, Guangxi). Victims: ~300,000-800,000 killed (many shot).

- 1969-1976: ~400-800 incidents (class cleansing purges). Victims: ~400,000-1 million.

- 1959 (Tibet Uprising): ~50-100 incidents (executions post-revolt). Victims: tens of thousands shot/executed.

- 1989 (Tiananmen): 1 major incident + related crackdowns. Victims: ~300-3,000 civilians shot (estimates vary widely).

- 1990s-2010s: Fewer large-scale; scattered ethnic suppressions.

- 2017-present (Xinjiang): Limited confirmed mass shootings; focus on camps/prisons with rare executions/shoot-to-kill escapes. Victims: hundreds documented.

By Region/Country:

- Mainland China (rural provinces like Hunan, Guangxi, Guangdong): ~2,000+ incidents (Cultural Revolution massacres e.g. Dao County ~4,500; Guangxi ~100,000-150,000). Highest victims.

- Tibet: ~100-200 incidents (1959 uprising crackdown, monastery executions). Victims: ~87,000+ killed overall, thousands shot.

- Xinjiang (Uyghurs): ~50-100 incidents (historical suppressions; recent shoot-to-kill policies in camps). Victims: thousands over decades, limited recent mass shootings.

- Beijing/Tiananmen: Centralized executions + 1989 massacre (~hundreds-thousands shot).

These are conservative; many undocumented due to state secrecy. Shootings were primary execution method until 1980s. Sources: Historical archives, HRW, UN reports, scholar estimates (e.g. Rummel revised totals).

Never forget the victims of repression. #Tiananmen #CulturalRevolution #Tibet #Uyghur #HumanRights

A mass shooting includes incidents of multiple victims (4+) killed by shooting in war crimes, executions, genocide, or ethnic cleansing.

Soviet/Russian regimes (WWII-present) committed thousands of such acts via NKVD/Red Army (1939-1991) and Russian forces post-1991, targeting Poles, Ukrainians, Chechens, Balts, and others. Exact counts are hard due to hidden records, but estimates: 1,000-2,000+ incidents, 500,000-1M+ victims from direct shootings (excluding famine/Gulag deaths).

Peak periods: 1940 (Katyn/political executions), 1941 (prison massacres), 1944 (deportations), 1990s-2000s (Chechnya), 2022+ (Ukraine invasion).

By Period:

- 1939-1940: ~100-200 incidents (Polish operations, early purges). Victims: ~150,000 (incl. Katyn ~22,000).

- 1941: ~200-400 incidents (NKVD prison massacres during retreat). Victims: ~50,000-100,000 across Ukraine, Belarus, Baltics.

- 1942-1945: ~100-200 incidents (deportations like Chechens/Crimean Tatars; some shootings). Victims: tens of thousands.

- Post-1953: Fewer large-scale until 1990s.

- 1994-2009 (Chechen wars): ~300-500 incidents (village cleansings like Samashki, Novye Aldi). Victims: ~50,000-100,000 civilians.

- 2022-2025 (Ukraine): ~500-1,000+ incidents (Bucha, Izium executions). Victims: ~10,000-20,000 documented civilian shootings.

By Country:

- Poland: ~50-100 sites (Katyn + others, 1940). ~22,000 victims.

- Ukraine: ~500-800 incidents (1941 prisons, 2022+ occupation). Highest victims: hundreds of thousands historical + thousands recent (Bucha ~73-500, Izium ~400+ graves).

- Belarus: ~100-200 (Kurapaty, prisons).

- Baltics: ~50-100 (1941 massacres).

- Chechnya/Russia: ~500+ (wars, deportations like Khaibakh ~700 burned/shot).

- Others (Crimea, Kazakhstan): Shootings during deportations.

These are conservative; many undocumented. Sources: UN OHCHR, HRW, Memorial, historical archives.

History repeats: Brutal repressions from Stalin to today. Never forget the victims. #Holodomor #Katyn #Bucha #Chechnya #WarCrimes

Nazi mass killings

#Protect2A

1939: 50–100 incidents; victims: ~65,000

1941: 500–1,000 incidents; victims: ~500,000–700,000

1942: 500–800 incidents; victims: ~1.3 million

1943: 200–400 incidents; victims: ~300,000–500,000

1944–1945: 100–200 incidents; victims: ~100,000–200,000

This was my response to Giffords...

TAKE UP YOUR CROSS

Becoming a Christian will not make your life easier. It will not get you special benefits from your coworkers. You will not benefit financially from it. You will not be rewarded in any way in this life for becoming a follower of Christ. That is not why you become His follower.

Once you understand that He is GOD, how can you do anything other than bow at his feet?

Once you understand the depth of His love for you, how can you willingly break His heart again?

Once you understand how much He sacrificed for you, how can you hold back what you have from Him?

Once you realize that He gave up His life for you, how can you offer anything less than your own?

Being a Christian is not a part time commitment, it is an all-in kind of life. The rules we live by do not make sense to the rest of the world. They consider us fools for believing nonsense. Indeed, if what we believe is not true then we deserve the ridicule.

" and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied." I Corinthians 14:14-19

In light of all of this, we must be sure of our faith. It is a life altering commitment when taken seriously. There will be consequences. Jesus said:

"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me." Luke 9:23

These were not idle words. The people listening would have understood exactly what he was saying. In the Roman Empire, crucifixion was common. The people listening knew that when someone carried a cross, they were on their way to be executed in a horrible way. They were forced to carry the very instrument of their own death. It was a walk of hopeless shame.

Jesus told his followers to expect to be treated like criminals condemned to death. He said they needed to treat every day like it was their last day on Earth. The fate of many of the believers of that time and almost all the Apostles would illustrate this expectation in gory detail. They were killed in the most horrific ways know to man. At this time, when you became a Christian it was more than just something you mostly believed. It was willingly accepting a death sentence as a possibility. We are not promised an easy life; quite the contrary. We are told to expect hardship.

“Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well...” John 15:20

“These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

“Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” II Timothy 3:12

“strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘It is through many tribulations that we must enter the kingdom of God.’” Acts 14:22

“For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer on His behalf.” Philippians 1:29

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though something strange were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that at the revelation of His glory you may also rejoice and be overjoyed.” I Peter 4:12-13

“Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” II Corinthians 12:10

“Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or trouble, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ... But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” Romans 8:35-37

Don't make the mistake of thinking you can have all the benefits of the faith without experiencing the costs. If that is what you want, then you are in the wrong place. If that is what you are currently experiencing, then you should ask yourself some hard questions. Satan attacks the children of God. He is our enemy and always seeking ways to destroy us. If he is not attacking you, then you must ask why. Are you a threat to him? Are you living for God? Are you taking your faith seriously? Were you honest in your commitment to follow Jesus?

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’” Matthew 7:21-23

There are those who act a certain way thinking that is what it takes to get into Heaven. They will be surprised when the time comes to stand before the judgement seat of God. What will they say in their defense? Our actions do not buy our entry into Heaven. Rather, our actions are a byproduct of our adoption into the family of Christ. The only defense we will have on that day is the forgiveness Jesus offers to us. If we accepted it, then we are in.

Live your life for Christ.

He is worthy of everything we could ever do.

He is worthy of all praise.

He alone is worthy.

Maranatha!

Come quickly Lord Jesus!

#Cross

#Discipleship

#Suffering

#Persecution

#Commitment

#Sacrifice

#Tribulation

#Faith

#Cost

#Denial

#Jesus

#Christ

#God

#Bible

Politics world wide can be broken down into its most simple equation:

"When the lion's hungry, he eats!"

https://youtube.com/shorts/9CjBTYM9Ou8?si=VxhIWPGxFwFnQ53J

#politics #rules #jungle #lion #PowerPolitics

#TheGentlemen #MatthewMcConaughey

Updated Christmas Music Playlist

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3O1-QmH2IOd1i-tA8DBANI7h9jM6Zs1J&si=aqhGK_9WJZamna94

________________________

O Holy Night – Céline Dion (1998)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46s4OwcF6oQ

Joseph’s Lullaby – MercyMe (2005)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bM4tT6pa4U

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel – Francesca Battistelli (2012)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v0i1vM5cPc

Noel (Live) – Chris Tomlin ft. Lauren Daigle (2015)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJ5Bpy3K5OQ

Light of the World – Lauren Daigle (2013)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q4oK1NlmjA

Silent Night – Planetshakers (2019)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tX2H6oL8nU

Almost There – Michael W. Smith ft. Amy Grant (2014)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6S30X1x8n6c

Breath of Heaven (Mary’s Song) – Amy Grant (1992)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWoJzc7EHoM

Mary, Did You Know? – Mark Lowry (performed by Gaither group, 1991/2012 live)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B4v4e3iM3s

Be Born in Me (Mary) – Francesca Battistelli (2011)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VGK5O5p7kU

He Shall Reign Forevermore – Chris Tomlin (2015)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v7kL8f4X9c

What Child Is This? – Josh Groban (2007)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Bmc1l81kK4

O Come All Ye Faithful – The Five Strings (flash mob, 2015)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sZ7r8X7O2M

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing – Celtic Woman (2013)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lO7pB1aR2c

Gloria/Angels We Have Heard on High – Casting Crowns (2017)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2J2k9n4qTU

Joy to the World – Southeast Worship (2017)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrLoWt2tfqg

Heirlooms – Amy Grant (1989)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oQ1r7z7z9U

I’ll Be Home for Christmas – Amy Grant (1992)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u2iW7yqO8g

Grown-Up Christmas List – Amy Grant (1992)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF4B2l7l9oA

Tender Tennessee Christmas – Amy Grant (1983/2007 re-recording)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rO8w3s8v2k

Christmas Time Is Here – Daniela Andrade (2014 cover)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sY0K2y3s8c

When Christmas Comes to Town – The Polar Express (2004)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sB3vH4w9yM

You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch – Thurl Ravenscroft (1966)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zh0d5o3T0GU

Little Saint Nick – The Beach Boys (1963/1991 remix)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSynDh_K0EE

Christmas Will Be Different This Year – Gary LeVox (2020)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0d8p5k9X5c

Mary, Did You Know? – Pentatonix (2014)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifCWN5pJGIE

Manger Throne – Phil Wickham (2023)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dK5o5t5z8U

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – The Petersens (2020)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v7kL8f4X9c (live version)

Light of the World (Sing Hallelujah) – We The Kingdom (2020)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3v7kL8f4X9c

Messiah – Francesca Battistelli (2017)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5x0X2X7p9cU

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Christina Aguilera (2000)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sB3vH4w9yM

All I Want for Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey (1994)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXQVi6uB0oI

Baby It’s Cold Outside – Idina Menzel & Michael Bublé (2014)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bbuBubZ1yE

Wrapped in Red – Kelly Clarkson (2013)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih-Q3iWsuO8

Underneath the Tree – Kelly Clarkson (2013)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3p4p6k0kE4

Little Drummer Boy – for KING + COUNTRY (2019)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OQ1e3t3z8A

Deck the Halls – Pentatonix (2017)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sB3vH4w9yM

Sleigh Ride – Amy Grant (1983/2020 lyric video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rO8w3s8v2k

You Make It Feel Like Christmas – Gwen Stefani ft. Blake Shelton (2017)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sB3vH4w9yM

White Christmas – Kelly Clarkson (2013)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sB3vH4w9yM

#Christmas #ChristmasMusic #ChristmasPlaylist #Playlist

#ChristianMusic #Worship #Church #Christ #Jesus

Here is a video that discusses what Christians believe presented by Joshua at his Ready To Harvest youtube channel ( https://www.youtube.com/@ReadyToHarvest joshua@readytoharvest.com ).

Christianity Neutrally Explained for Atheists ( https://youtu.be/Fh03GrF8viM )

I like much of Joshua's content. He explains many of the differences that are present in the church today...

#ReadyToHearvest #Bible #Christ #Jesus #Study #Denomination #Beliefs #Doctrines #Heresy #Orthodoxy

anyone know why this is showing a Swedish youtube link?

Here is a video that discusses what Christians believe presented by Joshua at his Ready To Harvest youtube channel ( https://www.youtube.com/@ReadyToHarvest joshua@readytoharvest.com ).

Christianity Neutrally Explained for Atheists ( https://youtu.be/Fh03GrF8viM )

I like much of Joshua's content. He explains many of the differences that are present in the church today...

#ReadyToHearvest #Bible #Christ #Jesus #Study #Denomination #Beliefs #Doctrines #Heresy #Orthodoxy

Is there a solution to internet access restrictions for #NOSTR via #Meshtastic?

#Australia, #UK, and other places are starting to require #IdentityVerification for #InternetAccess . Maybe we could figure or a way for information exchange in this way. Try to take some of the power back and increase the reach of #FreeSpeech .

Control of the information is what makes the police state possible.

Technical performance is slightly different from emotion covering performance. I go for converting emotion every time.

For example, have you ever heard the Lady in Red playing with Yanni (Live at the acropolis)? She plays a violin like nobody i have ever seen. Truly impressive. He name is Karen Briggs ( https://www.karenbriggsviolin.com/ ).

Starting at about 4:07 https://youtu.be/fpznE317J-A?si=pnq4cOK4o-G9itIz

#KarenBriggs #LadyInRed #Yanni #Concert #Violin

She is a solid choice. I had not heard her before. Stylistically, I still prefer Céline. I fell like the emotion is better conveyed...

How popular and avaliable is #NOSTR in #England right now? The #UK would be a great place to demonstrate the #censorship defeating properties of this protocol. People are not hearing the details pdf the #riots and #protests and how widespread they are.

Are they cracking down on NOSTR there?

Just curious.

#AntiCensorship #FreeSpeech #FreePress #IndependentJournalism #MSM #AltMedia #UnitedKingdom #EuropeanUnion

Query:

Consider the recent events in Israel (since October 7, 2023).

Analyze Israel's response. Have the actions been justified? Has Israel behaved in a manner objectively acceptable by modern warfare standards?

Grok:

Israel's response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack—which killed approximately 1,200 people (mostly civilians) and resulted in the abduction of 251 hostages—has involved a large-scale military campaign in Gaza aimed at dismantling Hamas's military and governing capabilities, rescuing hostages, and preventing future attacks.

congress.gov +1

This has included airstrikes, ground operations, and a blockade to restrict arms smuggling, escalating into a prolonged conflict with regional dimensions involving groups like Hezbollah and the Houthis.

ajc.org +1

By mid-2025, the war saw temporary ceasefires (e.g., November 2023 and January 2025) that broke down, with ongoing operations amid stalled hostage negotiations and proposals like a U.S.-backed plan requiring Hamas's disarmament.

bbc.com +1

Justification Under International LawIsrael's right to self-defense against an armed attack is recognized under Article 51 of the UN Charter, and the October 7 assault qualifies as such, enabling a response to neutralize the threat posed by Hamas, a designated terrorist organization.

cfr.org

However, this right is not absolute: any use of force must be necessary, proportionate, and compliant with international humanitarian law (IHL), which governs the conduct of hostilities regardless of the jus ad bellum (legality of resorting to force).

hrw.org +1

Critics, including UN experts and legal scholars, argue that Israel's actions exceed these bounds, citing the blockade's role in exacerbating a humanitarian crisis and operations that have caused disproportionate civilian harm.

amnesty.org +1

Israel's naval blockade of Gaza, justified as a security measure against arms smuggling, has been deemed lawful by some interpretations (e.g., referencing the 1994 San Remo Manual and a 2011 UN panel on a prior flotilla incident), but it must not impose collective punishment or starve civilians, obligations Israel is accused of violating.

Key legal developments include:ICJ Provisional Measures (2024): In South Africa's genocide case, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) found a "plausible" risk of genocide and ordered Israel to prevent genocidal acts, ensure humanitarian aid access, and preserve evidence—measures Israel has been accused of largely ignoring.

commonslibrary.parliament.uk +1

ICJ Advisory Opinion (July 2024): The ICJ ruled Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories (including Gaza) illegal, requiring withdrawal and reparations, though it excluded direct analysis of post-October 7 conduct.

icj-cij.org +1

UN Commissions and Reports: A UN Independent International Commission (September 2025) concluded Israel committed genocide through acts like killings, starvation, and infrastructure destruction, violating IHL principles of distinction and proportionality.

bbc.com +2

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have echoed findings of war crimes, including excessive destruction and aid obstruction.

amnesty.org +1

Compliance with Modern Warfare Standards (IHL)Modern IHL, rooted in the Geneva Conventions and customary law, mandates:Distinction: Differentiating civilians/combatants and civilian/military objects.

judicature.duke.edu

Proportionality: Ensuring anticipated civilian harm does not outweigh military advantage.

bbc.com

Precautions: Minimizing civilian risk through warnings, feasible alternatives, and aid facilitation.

cfr.org

Prohibition on Starvation: Banning sieges or aid denial as warfare methods.

cbsnews.com

Israel maintains its operations target Hamas infrastructure (e.g., tunnels under hospitals) and comply with IHL, with warnings issued for evacuations.

fpri.org +1

However, evidence from UN reports indicates widespread non-compliance:Civilian Casualties and Destruction: Over 40,000 Palestinian deaths (per Gaza health authorities, mostly civilians including children), with strikes on densely populated areas like refugee camps and hospitals raising proportionality concerns.

cbsnews.com +2

Attacks on schools (90% damaged/destroyed) and health facilities violate protections unless proven military use, which UN inquiries rarely verified.

news.un.org +1

Humanitarian Crisis: A total siege (e.g., March 2025 onward) blocked aid, fuel, and essentials, leading to famine risks, malnutrition surges, and infrastructure collapse—deemed collective punishment and a war crime by experts.

un.org +2

Over 200 aid workers killed, with UNRWA operations severely hampered.

un.org

Other Violations: Use of AI targeting with high civilian tolls, buffer zones altering territory, and incitement by officials (e.g., calls for starvation) contravene IHL.

ohchr.org +2

Hamas's tactics—human shields, civilian targeting, and indiscriminate rockets—also violate IHL, but this does not absolve Israel of its independent obligations.

hrw.org +1

Legal consensus from bodies like the UN, ICJ, and NGOs holds that Israel's actions have not met objective IHL standards, with excessive force and disregard for civilian protection rendering parts of the response unjustified.

lawfaremedia.org +2

Accountability mechanisms, including ICC investigations, underscore the need for investigations into potential war crimes and genocide.

bbc.com +1

COMMITMENT vs CONV ENIENCE

In this world, there are few things more important than your marriage.

I take you to be my wife (husband), to have and to hold,

from this day forward, for better, for worse,

for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health,

to love and to cherish, till death do us part,

according to God's holy ordinance;

and thereto I pledge you my faith.

"What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”

(Matthew 19:6)

In the western world we have lost sight of the gravitas of vows made before God and Man. After our devotion to God, only devotion to our spouse ranks higher. How seriously we regard the latter illuminates our devotion to the former. We pledge ourselves to a three way covenant between ourselves, our spouses, and God. Honoring that vow is critical to our personal faith, to the continuance of our family's faith, and our societal strength.

1) What we model for our spouse confirms our commitment to God and, as a consequence, to him or her.

"If a man makes a vow to the Lord, or takes an oath to put himself under an obligation, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth."

Numbers 30:2

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself."

Ephesians 5:25-28

"Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored."

Titus 2:3-5

When we keep our vows to God it reaffirms our character to ourselves and to our spouses. It shows we can be trusted. It shows our commitment. It demonstrates submission to God and shows what our priorities are. Keeping our vows to God helps encourage our spouse to do the same.

"And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart."

Ecclesiastes 4:12

Everything we do, we do out of Love; love for God and love for each other.

"Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant. It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

2) What we model for our children becomes their initial foundation for their understanding of God's love for us.

"These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up."

Deuteronomy 6:6-7

"Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it."

Proverbs 22:6

"In all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us."

Titus 2:7-8

When you honor God and honor your spouse you are training your children how they should act. Do not think that your actions go unnoticed. We are very perceptive, especially in those formative years. Things that you do not think important are often the things that grab the attention of your children. You are not just training them in a formal sense by going to church or telling them explicitly what you believe. You are training them by the every day actions you take. You are training them when they see how you behave towards your spouse. You are training them by what they see when you don't know you are being watched. Everything that you do is training them. In light of this, honor God in everything you do, honor your vows to him, and honor your vows to your spouse.

3) What we model for the community shows them what we believe better than any words ever could.

"The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."

Philippians 4:9

"Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation."

1 Peter 2:12

"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

Matthew 5:16

We shape the world we live in. We shape it physically by building and demolishing things in the environment, by planting and harvesting the fields, and any number of other actions we take. We change the world just by living in it. We also shape the world by what we say and the values we hold. If we value honesty and integrity, then we need to BE honest and have integrity. If we want a society that values traditional values, then we must demonstrate those values ourselves. If honor is important and vows are to be kept, then be the example and light the way. If you love God, then show that love to the world.

Our country has fallen away from all of these things over the long years since it's founding. Many of the things that were admirable about our country have been dismantled and discarded at the prompting of the evil one.

We need to return to our roots.

We need to return to Honor.

We need to honor God.

#Marriage

#Vows

#Commitment

#Faithful

#Covenant

#Honor

#BiblicalMarriage

#Devotion

#ChristianValues

#Family

#Faith

#Love

#LoveIsPatient

#ReturnToHonor

#TraditionalValues

#GodlyLiving

#Integrity

#HonorGod

Replying to Avatar RedTailHawk

Based on your use of "In the beginning", I'm prone to think you identify as Christian.

Let's see how well you understand Christ's teachings and how much cognitive dissonance you harbor.

Can you explain why Christ directed the disciples to embody the wisdom of serpents and the peacefulness of doves, and, if so, can you make that make sense in a way that makes sense of the serpent's presence in the garden? Can you make sense of the both of them in ways that are consistent with every other tradition's reverence paid to serpent symbolism?

Can you explain why the baptism of the Holy Spirit was "fiery"?

Can you explain Genesis 1 in a way that doesn't require wild speculations and instead is founded in science and the Golden Rule?

Can you explain why there are differences in Matthew and Mark's recordings of Christ's final words and what language Christ was speaking at the end that no one in the Levant would have known?

Can you explain how baptism itself is an Egyptian word or how "the baptism of the Holy Spirit" is redundant?

Can you explain halos?

Can you explain what an "angel" is?

Can you explain how, instead of exploring, attempting to understand, and steel man the perspectives of your neighbors, how combatively othering anyone who doesn't toe the line of your preferred dogma is evil and an enemy is inconsistent with the idea of loving your neighbor as yourself?

Can you please justify "holy war"?

Can you please justify the notion of "canonical" in juxtaposition with the notion of "fiat", given that they both essentially mean "because 'we' said so"?

You are going to pick apart anything I reply with, but I will do my best.

No one who believes the Biblical creation account should argue that the serpent was unintelligent. So wise could refer to understanding the world and human nature.

It Newberry days in the Bible that anything was forbidden in the garden except eating of the one tree. Whether the serpent was an intelligent animal, or Satan, or some other supernatural being makes no difference in this context because the Bible does not say anything about forbidden entrance into the garden.

I don't need to make my theology align with the beliefs of other religions. However, if Christianity is correct, then all other religions would by consequence be fabrications of Satan and of course would venerate the serpent as wise and powerful.

Baptism of the holy spirit on Pentecost with visible tongues of flames was an outward sign of divine empowerment. It was not necessary. I don't know why God chose that as the sign.

Genesis 1 does not require any speculation at all. It does not need to bee founded in or proven by science, though I am sure that with enough information it would. God's nature is consistent, unchanging, and is the essence of truth. So I believe that when all the details are finally known it will all make sense.

What about the golden rule is inconsistent with Genesis 1? Specifically? Not answering this one until you are clear.

Matthew and Mark were written by two different people, with two different perspectives, targeting different audiences who prioritized different things. Eye witness accounts always have variances in them when compared side by side. This doesn't mean that they are wrong.

The Israel was a conquered nation occupied by the Roman Empire. To say that any language would have been unknown there would be disingenuous. There would have been many, many languages spoken throughout the entire region.

The Israelites spent hundreds of years in Egypt and the religious practices of the day included baptism, though in a different context.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit in the context of Pentecost was a special event. Subsequent to this the baptism of the Holy Spirit happens at the same time so redundancy is not an issue to me.

Halos are unimportant and not a salvation issue. Not worth arguing over.

I believe angels are supernatural created beings serving God.

If there is an objective truth and it contradicts someone's beliefs, then educating them about said truth would not be wrong even though it would cause cognitive dissonance and probably hostility on their part. Refusing to accept falsehood as truth is not evil. Communicating God's truth and allowing Him to use you to save a lost soul is the epitome of loving your neighbor.

Which Holy War are you referring to? My war is against spiritual things in the heavenly realms. My weapons are provided and empowered by God himself.

As to the last, I am unfamiliar with that consistent at least how you presented it. But the bottom line is Good said it, so I believe it.

"I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." Unless what you are saying is to deny the rights of people to practice their own free speech and hearing thereof.

I will not defend the support of censorship.

That was quite rude. I saw no hostility is his responses to you. I am curious, why were you hostile to him? It sounds like he was trying to understand your point of view.

What are the best NOSTR clients available right now? What features are appealing about your choices?

Amethyst is not working right now and I want a back up to Primal...

#growNOSTR #Amethyst #Primal #Iris #Alby

You can ban it all you want. Can you enforce it is the question.

"Thru the work of my Task Force, the Admin has released tens of thousands of previously classified documents pertaining to the JFK assassination.

Without a doubt, based on substantive evidence, the CIA engaged in a cover up.

The CIA lied to Congress.

And CIA operative Joannides did indeed have contact with and was observing Lee Harvey Oswald, who was a patsy used as a cover for multiple shooters in the assassination of JFK.

Let the official and historical records reflect."

-Rep. Anna Paulina Luna

https://x.com/RepLuna/status/1945165850828263754?s=19

#JFK #jfkassassination #CIA #Patsy #LeeHarveyOswald #assassination #CoverUp

As far as I can tell, Taiwan's strategic value is in its electronics manufacturing capabilities. If China were to take it by force, wouldn't that cause the destruction of the very value they would be trying to seize?

Denial of a strategic resource too the US may justify the decision, but if it goes kinetic i suspect it will be for propaganda purposes.

Taiwanese companies are already pivoting to remote manufacturing (some here in the US) but it will take time to get up to speed.

Do you think China would destroy Taiwan's industry out of spite?

Would it be a positive outcome for them?

#Taiwan #China #Invasion #War #Conflict #Manufacturing #Electronics #StrategicValue

I have been saving a bunch of social media posts (important thoughts, not frivolous) to my website . I have been doing this to preserve my thoughts for posterity. When I want to tell my audience to something I have previously taken the time to research and think about I can refer them to a link on my site. When I am long gone, my legacy may remain for my family.

If you are interested, here is a link to what I have so far. I have not decided how best to format it yet. I am open to constructive criticism on site format.

#Voluntaryist #VoluntaryistPatriot #Faith #Politics #Life #Christ #Bible #Christian #Legacy #Composition #Research

https://sites.google.com/view/voluntaryist-patriot/home

Too little too late?

Take a stand. Risk it all or step aside for those who will. That is the only way things will change...

#DOGE #DeepState #BalancedBudget #DeficitSpending #Insolvent #NationalDebt #CutSpending

https://youtu.be/CvgdY7KvqGg

#ConflictOfInterest #EqualityUnderTheLaw