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Last update: 2026-JUNE-18 Thursday.
21st-century thinking, people often don't care to actually READ. The most important read (in all things) is the word of GOD! For your convienence, here provided is a BIBLE for your laptop - the NIV 1973. It is here as a gift for anyone to read, share, and benefit. God bless!
Holy Bible - NIV 1973| Titles | Thoughts |
| Predicate Truths | An important place to start ... |
| Almighty Lord GOD. | Who is He? |
| AI ... | A controversial topic. |
| Courtesy, Manners, and Respect. | Expected and Proper behavior. |
| The Sabbath. | Remembering and Keeping ... |
| Homily 006 | Bullet for Homily 006. |
| Homily 007 | Bullet for Homily 007. |
| Homily 008 | Bullet for Homily 008. |
| Homily 009 | Bullet for Homily 009. |
| Homily 010 | Bullet for Homily 010. |
| Homily 011 | Bullet for Homily 011. |
| Homily 012 | Bullet for Homily 012. |
| Homily 013 | Bullet for Homily 013. |
| Homily 014 | Bullet for Homily 014. |
| Homily 015 | Bullet for Homily 015. |
| Homily 011 | Bullet for Homily 016. |
| Homily 012 | Bullet for Homily 017. |
| Homily 013 | Bullet for Homily 018. |
| Homily 014 | Bullet for Homily 019. |
| Homily 020 | Bullet for Homily 020. |
| Homily 021 | Bullet for Homily 021. |
| Homily 022 | Bullet for Homily 022. |
| Homily 023 | Bullet for Homily 023. |
| Homily 024 | Bullet for Homily 024. |
| Homily 025 | Bullet for Homily 025. |
...
God is always right
God makes no mistakes
God never changes His mind
God never explains
God knows You
God trusts You
God loves You
God is Truth.
Quite surprisingly, we find ourselves living in a global society, who collectively, and quite mistakenly, believe that; Truth is relative. This is known as 'relativism', and it is a dead-end, futile, and wrong way to be, live, and practice. In short: Relativeism promotes failure. So, let's turn toward right thinking - turn to absolute TRUTH.
TRUTH is absolute. Something is either TRUE, or, it is NOT TRUE. For everyone. Always. Any discussions which profess otherwise, are misleading and absolutely incorrect. In our distracted technology driven world, where our attention is pulled in dozens of directions, moment to moment, it is easy to default to 'tuning out'. Ignoring (essentially) everything that is not 'in this moment' what we care about.
TRUTH be told, what we all need to strive to do, is GET OFF THE PHONE! GET OFF THE WEB. No, not forever or anything. Rather, LIFE is not VIRTUAL! Focus on the REAL WORLD. GET OUT there - be face-to-face with other's. Do things. Real things. Not screen things. Pay attention here folks.
It only takes a single Large Solar Event, directed right at the Earth, and ALL of this technology is GONE. That is an absolute TRUTH that should make EVERYONE take pause. Invest in PEOPLE. Focus on REAL THINGS. Keep in mind this simple truth: Phones and the WEB are TOOLS. Use them. Appreciate them. Focus less on this tech stuff, more on the real world, on the PEOPLE.
Start with GOD, Prayer, carry-on from there. Of course, many of you have no clue how, nor what, any of that means. So many are fearful of GOD. So many don't (today) even believe that The LORD exists. Truth: He does. He IS. As stated above, GOD is Truth. It is actually peculiar, that; as Science evolves forward, more and more, the wiggle room for 'what started' the Universe - inevitably leads us to GOD.
Science speaks of the spark, the "Big Bang", and strives to reveal 'what' caused it. Failing to do that, they focus on the event, how it happened, how it evolved - the evidence of how the Universe unfolds throughout time. But the absolute truth... That Science cannot answer: What caused the BANG? The Bible tells us: GOD SPOKE THE UNIVERSE INTO EXISTENCE (Genesis 1:3). The result of His doing so?
Try this... Make it a point, to get out in the world, and LOOK. LOOK for what you can do - just one thing. Meet someone you don't know. Strike up an introduction, and see where it may lead. Along the way, do just one thing, to make the world a better place...
Pick up some trash. Smile at a stranger. Greet them with a friendly "Hi!". Get to know your neighbors. Be a LIGHT. To do any and all of this, all you need to do: Lean into GOD, listen with your heart, you'll be surprised at what comes to mind ...
In other words, what happens, Always, starts and ends with: Absolute TRUTH from GOD. This discussion started with TRUTHs which may be unknown to many of you. They are revelations which are so obvious that they are far too often either taken for granted, or worse, not known. THESE predicate TRUTHs are a true HINT at, WHO GOD IS, and merely a HINT at what He wants for you.
Read, Reflect, and Remember the predicate truths here given, and then understand that ...
Whether you receive what GOD wants to give you - is entirely up to YOU.
GOD bless you.
In a word, Almighty Lord GOD is: LOVE. That's the quick and short, does the listener really care, kind of answer. But, what does that really mean? It leads to the question: What is LOVE? It is astonishing that many of us do not know what Love is.
That is in no small part, because we confuse many other things with Love. Moreover, we throw the word out there a bit too often. "I love that!". "I love _." Also, far too common, we confuse desire and lust with Love. Yet, the Bible tells us, in no uncertain terms, precisely what LOVE is.
Let's here review that.
For clarity in this discussion, it is not incorrect, to be specific, and replace the pronoun with the noun in each statement:
Truth, for me ( Obed ), when I read this and prayed over it, and truly let it in, it was a revelation with life altering impact. It was clear that I had no idea, up to that moment, what Love is.
So many mis-conceptions and mis-undersandings, and mis-guided beliefs.
I was raised Christian: Church going, Sunday school, Summer camps, the whole she-bang. Nevertheless, I went the first 30-years of my life, not ACTUALLY realizing the definition of LOVE.
Thus, here, it is brief and beautiful. Love is...all of that, all of above this. But, you say, wait! This is supposed to be 'Who is GOD?'
Those who know me ( Obed ), come to realize that I'm rather long winded ( *LOLOLOL* ), so; I often feel the need to explain things 'to death'. That said, this entire discussion is in TRUTH, about GOD, and; Who He is. Of course, we are NOT ignoring that GOD is the Creator of all things. Rather, this discussion is about God's nature. Because, all Blessings and Grace come from GOD. Moreover ...:
1 John 4:8, states:"
"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."
Which is such a glorious and beautiful REVEAL ... Substitute GOD for LOVE in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 tells us: Who Lord GOD is - His nature:
This statement suite, is; the foundational TRUTH of: Who is GOD?
Certainly NOT the Fire and Brimstone that so many believe. Oh, don't mis-understand here. GOD's ANGER is ... TERRIBLE and TRAGIC for those He is Angry with. But ANGER is not who GOD is. He is what here we just read.
GOD bless you.
For those who know me, they all presume that I would be waiving my arms up-n-down telling everyone to jump onto the so-called "AI" band-wagon. Nope. Not I. There are so very many reasons why NOT. Before touching on some of them, I will say... Those who work in that part of the Systems Engineering world, have every right to be proud of the evolution they are a part of.
Indeed, it is stunning and spectacular how very far AI constructs have evolved. The 'AI people' which are being thrown around these days, appear almost human, almost real. Further, AI solutions on the back-ends of web shopping and other avenues of human interaction, though rather primative, actually work. All around: BRAVO - BRAVO indeed - to all of the hard working men-and-women who made the so-called AI revolution a reality.
So... Why therefore, would I ( a life-long tech ) not be singing praise and supporting feverishly, this AI revolution that is taking the world by storm so completely? A few of the reasons - not ALL by far - but some of the most important reasons why NOT:
The implications of AI are broad and deep. They reach far and even those of us who ponder the potential, cannot yet foresee what the true long-term impacts may be. Nevertheless, Locale, State, National, and International laws, updating and changing, takes YEARS. Often DECADES. That alone is a serious concern.
For the AI evolution is going to continue to evolve - and quite the opposite - will do so QUICKLY. Nobody is talking about the implications of this tool we call AI. Consider, the first time that a TRAGEDY occurs, because someone DIES because of an AI. Or somehow, someway, an AI construct inadvertantly causes someone's life to be destroyed, just because of what it's coded to do, or how it is perceived.
In such instances - WHO DO YOU BLAME? Who is RESPONSIBLE? Our LAWS are NOT equipped to tackle these possible issues and their solutions. That is a great concern.
These genius AI authors - seem to revel in 'Ha!' we fooled ya! It's an AI. That approach is a massive mistake. Because it breeds distrust. It causes fear and discontent. It will, in the long haul, backfire - and - backfire terribly for them.
A more RIGHT approach, is to be ABSOLUTELY UP FRONT, be proud of the fact that "This is an AI". A TOOL. That we proudly share with the world, and hope that it will be beneficial, helpful, and positive to our audience.
THAT is how they should approach it. Make it absolutely clear - right up front - THIS IS AN AI. Don't hide it, flaunt it. Throw it out ( be TRUTHFUL ), and show the world that it is NOT TO BE FEARED. Not to be DIS-TRUSTED. That is is simply - A TOOL. A great tool that we can all embrace, because; it is nothing more than a BETTER PROGRAM INTERFACE.
There are a lot of folks, who will not have the ability, experience, knowledge, and other factors - due to age, life choice, background, and so-forth, who will never be comfortable with AI. Trickery, only fosters them to forever see it with hatred and contempt. When, for instance, your team creates an Actor, Musician, Expert, or whatever - and try and TRICK and FOOL people with your presentation - when the TRUTH is revealed - that will backfire. Again, this is the worst approach possible.
There are some fantastic music and songs being created and presented in AI. I myself LIKE many of them. That the "tool" presenting is AI doesn't change that I LIKE THE MUSIC, and the SONGS. But, I for one, will ALWAYS be far more impressed with the ACCOMPLISHMENT of REAL HUMANS, who are amazing musicians and singers - than any AI construct that are effective enough to be liked.
Here for instance - are a FEW actual real accomplished, brilliant, bold, exceptional, genius, wonderous humans - who give their lives - to entertain:
Are we supposed to admire and praise the cameras, costumes, and cinemas, for their brilliant works? Of course NOT!
Appreciate the marvelous tools - absolutely! But, the PEOPLE are what matter, not the TOOLs.
These so-called AI 'people' are TOOLS. Nothing more. To admire and praise the TOOL is insanity. Give credit and praise to the men and women behind these AI things. Not the resulting tools themselves. Common folks - use your heads.
GOD bless you.
Courtesy is behavior marked by polished manners and proper respect for EVERYONE.
No matter their age; No matter their position; No matter their station; This habit and practice begins and ends with: "Yes, Please, AND; Thank you! ( Sir -AND- Ma'am )". There is a Japanese phrase which reflects such expected behavior: Aisatsu.
This is refleted in ALL Japanese culture - reflected with what one says and does - for instance Bowing and Courteous Polite greetings and salutations. Altough asian societies apply these habits to the level of art, they definately are not the authors of these behaviors and practices. Lord GOD clearly expects us to demonstrate and lead the way.
Take it to heart, and; through your behavior, bring those around you into good old fashioned propriety. In so doing, you'll bring GLORY TO THE ALMIGHTY. Be courteous, with good manners, and give respect in all things. Such a small ask, to show our gratitude, for the many blessings and gifts we, the faithful, receive daily!
Ultimately, it's really quite easy, too... Simply ask yourself: What would Jesus Do?
| Reference | Context | |
| Proverbs 15:1 | A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." | |
| Proverbs 16:24 | Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. | |
| 1 Corinthians 10:31 | Whether you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of GOD. | |
| 1 Peter 3:8 | Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another, | |
| love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous. | ||
| Ephesians 4:2 | Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. | |
| 1 Peter 2:17 | Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, | |
| fear God, honor the emperor.” | ||
| Luke 6:31 | Do to others as you would have them do to you. |
Give it a try, see how it affects those all around! In closing this brief and important discussion, do remember: Courtesy is contageous! Be well, spread light whenever you can! God bless!
I am quite certain that many of our Jewish brothers and sisters will strongly object with me over this. It's fine. They do not have to ever agree.
One of our fundamental commands from the Lord: Remember the Sabbath day and keep it Holy. The 4th-Commandment. Honestly, I believe that our Jewish brothers and sisters got this wrong. They teach that this is a day of REST and WORSHIP. I completely agree it is for WORSHIP. But for REST, per se, the Jewish faith takes this 'rest' thing to a level that astonishes me. They do NOTHING on Saturday. Except go to Synagogue and SIT AROUND at home. The most devout do not even "cook", or "clean", or do much of anything.
Let's think about this for a moment. The LORD GOD RESTED on SATURDAY. So, it is easy to see why they would assume that remembering and keeping it Holy means - REST LIKE GOD DID - and - WORSHIP. But, let us consider for a moment, a slightly different way of thinking. GOD created all things, and; that He RESTED after performing Countless MIRACLES of CREATION, would desire, perhaps also need - REST.
But, we humans? What does it mean to KEEP IT HOLY? To be HOLY is to be RIGHTEOUS. Which means ( in simple English ) to THINK, SAY, and DO What is RIGHT. That is what it means to be RIGHTEOUS. Therefore, that is what it means for a HUMAN to be HOLY. It seems to this humble servant, that sitting around doing NOTHING is NOT being either RIGHTEOUS nor HOLY. It's being LAZY. And the LORD GOD is anything but LAZY.
So, consider a different interpretation. Many of us TEACH our CHILDREN - LEAD BY EXAMPLE. Well, if we take that LITERALLY, then the Lord, in Leading by Example, CREATED, and DID GOOD, REPEATEDLY. In my humble opinion, to BEST HONOR THE LORD, do REMEMBER the SABBATH and KEEP it HOLY, we should FOLLOW the Lord's Lead. Moreover, as CHRISTIANS, we should follow the LEAD of LORD JESUS. Jesus made it clear, that He did not agree that doing NOTHING on the Sabbath was a particuliarly Righteous thing. He stressed that DOING GOOD was far more RIGHT and HOLY, and; we should therefore, follow that example.
This means - Get OUT on SATURDAY - and DO FOR OTHERS. Volunteer. Look for someone who may need a helping hand, then GO BE THAT HELPING HAND. See something that needs repair, or cleanup, or improvement - and BE THE CAUSE that it HAPPENS. Mend a Fence; Mow a neighbor's lawn; Go grocery shopping for someone home bound -- AND -- pay for them too out of your means -- as A GIFT; I am 'spit-balling' it here. But I hope that my point is clear:
Remembering the SABBATH and KEEPING IT HOLY, should be an ACTIVE (not PASSIVE) time, where we Get out into the world and BE A LIGHT, BE AN EXAMPLE of what it means to be GRATEFUL and GIVING and GENEROUS because -- it is the RIGHT ( Righteous ) thing to do. Expect nothing in return, and do not allow anyone to make a big deal of it. Simply say, "this is a GIFT from GOD, and I am BLESSED to be His instrument in this case!"
Remember the SABBATH by being a LIGHT, being a GRATEFUL and GIVING person, in Honor of GOD's great works, in Humility and Gratitude of His GRACE.
I emphasize again -- this is my opinion -- I may be completely incorrect in this thinking and this belief. Yet, as long as what you do comes from a place of LOVE and GIVING and HUMILITY and HOPE -- I am quite certain the Lord GOD will NOT be unhappy about it, and; if He is, He will let YOU and ME BOTH KNOW!
| God comes First, Foremost, and Finally. |
| Lead with Love. |
| Actions speak louder than words. |
| Always - Yes/No Sir/Mam Please and Thank you. |
| Always and Never are very long times. (Avoid sweeping generalizations) |
| Arrogance brings Failure and Pride Destruction. -Prov 16:18- |
| Avoid ignorance and apathy. (What's that?) I don't know and I don't care. |
| Bad things happen when good people do nothing. |
| Be Generous and Kind - Just 'Cuz. |
| Be Thankful For What You Have. |
| Better to be thought foolish than open your mouth and prove it. -Prov 17:28- |
| Breaking bad habits is as hard as making good habits. |
| Can't Never Could, Won't Never Will. |
| Diligent hands bring wealth. -Prov 10:4- |
| Do not Cheat, Lie, nor Steal. |
| Don't ASSUME... It makes an ASS out of U and ME. |
| Don't Sweat The Small Stuff. |
| Don't follow the fools over the cliff. |
| Don't let what you want, make you forget what you have. |
| Fear of the Lord adds length to life. -Prov 10:27- |
| Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. -Prov 8:10- |
| Feed your faith. |
| Great acts are made of Small deeds. |
| Hard work is it's own reward. |
| Help strangers whenever you can. |
| Hope For The Best - Prepare For The Worst. |
| If at first you don't succeed - try - try again. |
| If not you - who? If not now - when? |
| Judge not that you be not judged. |
| Laugh at yourself everyday. |
| Lazy hands make a man poor. -Prov 10:4- |
| Lead women and children down stairs, Follow them up stairs, by their side else where. |
| Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way. |
| Leaders TAKE BLAME for the Wrongs and GIVE PRAISE for the Rights. |
| Liars must remember everything. |
| Live blameless (w/o vice / wickedness) and righteous. (w/o sin) -Prov 20- |
| Live in the Present, Plan for the Future, Learn from the Past. |
| Look For Wonder In Small Things. |
| Man Plans, God Laughs. |
| NERDs are the GEEKs of the Analog Universe. |
| Never Quit, Never Surrender. |
| No harm befalls the righteous. -Prov 12:21- |
| Nobody can take your Honor - only You can give it away. |
| Pray Your Way Through The Day! |
| Red sky in morning Sailor take warning. Red sky at night Sailor delight! -Matthew 16:1- |
| Remember those who came before you. |
| Share insights with anyone who will listen. |
| Start with prayer and carry-on from there. |
| Sticks and Stones ... |
| Strive to Please only GOD (Nothing else matters.) |
| Teach those who come after you. |
| The customer is ALWAYS right (Even when they're wrong). |
| Today is a gift - that's why it's called the Present. |
| True friends are few -and- far between. |
| Truth is more important than fact. |
| Truths become your past, Lies become your future. |
| Two wrongs never made a right. |
| Waste Not, Want Not. |
| When in doubt - ASK! |
| When in doubt - Leave it out! |
| When you do NOT know - say: I don't know. |
| When you point a finger at others, there are three pointing back to you. |
| When your sure - DOUBLE CHECK! |
| Whether you think you can, or think you can't - You're right. |
| Work to Live. NOT ... Live to Work. |
| You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. |
| You don't have to attend every argument you're invited to. |
| Never leave a dirty Kitchen (or Sink) - overnight. |
| Mouthwash, Floss, and Brush - When you wake, After eating, Before bed. |
| Bathe daily, with hot water and soap, head to toe (More often when needed). |
| Wash your hands frequently (especially when you've touched unclean things...) |
| When you can SEE the DUST - It's TIME to DUST (LOLOLOL...) |
| Daily - Supplements (Multi-Vits, B-Complex, Fish Oil, Garlic, E, Cranberry). |
| Daily - Stretching and Strength Training (Yoga/Tai-Chi/Weights/etc). |
| Daily - Walk at-least 2-miles (Jog -or- Run them if you are able). |
| Daily - Change your pet's water (twice daily is BEST - Morning / Night). |
| Daily - Clean Your Cat's Box. |
| Weekly - Vacuum & Mop the FLOORS. |
| Weekly - Change and Launder your TOWELS. |
| Weekly - Clean the TOILETS and TUBS. |
| Weekly - Bathe your Dog(S). |
| Weekly - Grind your Dog(S) nails. |
| Weekly - Wash pet(S) water and food bowls - with HOT soap & water. |
| Weekly - Clean, Trim, and File your nails (Hands -AND- Feet). |
| Weekly - Change and Launder your BEDDING. |
| Monthly - DUST the BLINDs ... |
| Monthly - DUST the Ceiling FANs |
| ( in all these - more frequently when needed! ) |
| Date when something is OPENED on it's package. ( Reveals how long it lasts. ) |
| Write DAYs remaining on things you FREEZE. ( You'll have near the same when defrosted. ) |
| For FINAL cleanings use Surface disinfectants - not water ( Neither plain or with soap.) |
| Wrap meats in wet paper towels in the freezer bags ( Reduces freezer burn. ) |
| When you cook, Start and Finish with a CLEAN Kitchen ( Clean as you go - TOO. ) |
| If your HVAC filter can't be replaced "right now" - VACUUM it off. |
| Keep the COLD RETURN vent clean - better health ( Smaller electric bills. ) |
| Replace Incandescent Light Bulbs with LED ( Smaller electric bills. ) |
| DUST in the bathrooms weekly w/the towels you're about to put into the laundry. |
| Leave the clothes washer OPEN a while between washings ( In humid climates ) |
| First thing every morning run the cold -and- hot TAP water for 1-minute each. |
| Clean the DRYER filter before EVERY run of the dryer. |
| Clear the DRYER exhaust DUCT HOSE twice annually. |
WITH ...
5-years STAFF at MIT Physics Department and a member of the US Atomic Energy Commission. He is an actual "rocket scientist" and also, a renound Theologian, with 15-years of study with Rabbi Herman Pollack, Rabbi Chaim Brovender and Rabbi Noah Weinberg. His religious works frequently cite Talmudic, Midrashic and medieval commentaries on Biblical creation accounts, including commentaries written by the Jewish philosopher Nachmanides.
Among other things, Dr. Schroeder reconciles the six-day creation as described in Genesis with the scientific evidence that the world is billions of years old using the idea that the perceived flow of time for a given event in an expanding universe varies with the observer's perspective of that event. He does so, agreeing with Einstein, that the effect of the stretching of space-time (aka. Inflation), based on Einstein's general theory of relativity, unconditionally impacts the perception of the passage of space-time.
In this, from the perspective of the point of origin of the Big Bang, according to Einstein's equations of the 'stretching factor', time dilates by a factor of roughly 1,000,000,000,000, meaning one trillion days on earth, would appear to pass as one day from that point of origin, due to the inflation's stretching of space-time.
When applied to the (often cited as) accepted estimated age of the universe at 13.8 billion years, from the perspective of the point of origin, the universe today would appear to have just begun its sixth day of existence. Yet, accounting that the Universe beyond the visible, is very likely 15-billion years old, looking backward from the perspective of earth, it would place the age from the point of origin, as just having completed the sixth day. Therefore, as told in the Bible, we are living in "day 7" when Lord GOD entered His rest.
Not surprisingly, SCIENCE; as it approaches and unravels truth, agrees (yet again) with Almighty Lord GOD.
TAGS is a voluntary group led by GOD.
TAGS was born from how things used to be ( once upon a time were ) common in the United States of America. In short, what TAGS encourages is - THE AMERICAN WAY.
Something that seems to be ( quite disturbingly ) on it's way to vanishing from the Earth. The why and the how of that unwanted trend is something that we may address, time allowing, and GOD permitting.
Suffice to say: 50-years ago and earlier, the things that TAGS endorses, encourages, and embraces - were - the WAY OF LIFE in this Great nation. It is up to all of us, WE THE PEOPLE, to ensure that it remains! TAGS is a handful of Texans who believe that FAITH, GOD, COUNTRY and COMMUNITY, are priorities. We strive to lead by example - and encourage you to join us in this effort. Live the AMERICAN WAY and along the way keep our amazing state BEAUTIFUL!
In an effort to keep the American Way as an attitude, and an important priority, we here give of ourselves with old fashioned dedicated COMUNITY SERVICE. It starts with CARE. We care about our home. We hope others do as well. If you've not considered caring about your community (of late) and your state, please take time to do so! It starts, and ends, with WE THE PEOPLE. Everything else is a bonus!
This web is intentionally simple. Why? The WORDS matter, GOD matters, fancy WEB does not. The maintainer, Obed, is out in the world, trying to follow GOD's will, be there for others, and bring GOD glory through service. Start with prayer, WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?), then carry on from there. Those in Obed's part of the world, we'll all contribute to this site monthly.
On this last "about" page, we'll bullet point major updates. We hope and pray that you find this site a useful place, and; that it inspires and encourages you to better yourself - in Jesus name, in GOD's service. God bless you, yours, and your path.
