Someone close to me is amused by the Q-anon stuff and related "alternative" news sources. They sent me a recap of various wild stories and for once they all seem to be saying the same thing: Within the next 10 days there should be any number of efforts to "regain control" of the US government from the globalists, or whatever you want to call them.

Now, the only thing my convictions have to say about all this is that Q and friends are just a PsyOp (psychological warfare operation) designed to keep the patriot types from organizing in armed revolt. If there's enough hope for seizing control of the federal government back from their enemies, they won't need to independently organize the militias for anything. Of course, nothing they've been promised has come true; not once.

But I've watched all these underground patriot news sources in the past, trying to make some sense of possible patterns and there weren't any. Still, when these crazies start saying the same thing about a particular time frame, it tends to indicate that some kind of effort is coming, even if it's a joke. So it's just my human mental calculus that suggests some of these nuts are going to try something. They would naturally be cagey about it, so we are left guessing. But it may be something entertaining, if it makes the news in any way. Then again, they may all be sharing a wildly misunderstood promise made by someone in Trump's camp about something he might try to do. If not that, then it's most likely just a bunch of noise to provide cover, to keep folks from being ready, to prevent them having an organized reaction to the something nasty the government is actually planning to do.

In other words, it's hard to tell, aside from the unanimity about the time frame. Keep your eyes open.

At the back of my house earlier today.

Relatedly, we also have a serious tornado warning right now.

I have a lot of questions I’ve stored up for the right people if I ever came upon them. I think this family is right people.
So is heaven and paradise ( Luke 23:43) the same place?
Also I think being a Christian is about what happens after you die ( does that sound alright?). So what do you guys think we do in heaven? Anyone feel free to answer.

Morning everyone, I am glad you are all here! I just wanted to say that.

I now have a Signal account on my cellphone; I had to have it for another project. That's encrypted messaging that appears to be quite secure against snooping, and includes texting, making calls and so forth. It's not likely to matter too much right now for us on the forum, but there's no telling when that will change.

There's private messaging on the forum here. My preferred email address (for now) is ehurst909@gmail.com -- if you feel the need to chat via phone or texting, you can ask me using either of those for my number. I have a phone headset here at home so I don't have to worry about my arthritic elbows cutting the calls short.

Sorry, but my Skype account is tied to my soon-to-expire Outlook address. I think the Signal account will replace that.

If you prefer to use snail mail, I use Christmas Cards every year to test that system. Send me your address any way you like; mine is already in the public:

Ed Hurst
2600 N. Glenhaven Dr, APT D
Midwest City, OK 73110

There is likely to come a day when that may be the only way we can communicate.

On a related note, someone asked me the other day, so I'll share this: I run Mint Linux on my primary desktop system. I've come to hate Windows more than ever, but I still have to help a few folks who feel they have no choice but to use it. I have an Android tablet with a SIM card, so it works as long as there is cell service or a wifi signal somewhere. The weather here often takes the power down, so that tablet keeps me online in emergencies or if I ever travel. It used to be just a toy, but now I use it a lot as my primary email machine, and it has a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse just so I can do actual work if needed. The Chromebook I mentioned in my blog is now dedicated to another project. Along with that stuff I have a standard Android phone. Some folks love their Macs and iStuff; more power to ya. I've had an iPhone and came to hate it. I'm not going through that again.

We are participating in our weekly prayer time at 5pm EST. Check out the prayer request forum for some prayer topics, but feel free to lift up your own.

You may also fast. There's no obligation or guidelines to how you should do it, or if you should do it at all. Just fast as the Lord leads and speaks to your convictions.

Ed, as you know I really like and appreciate, and yes I'd go as far as to say treasure your weekly Bible expositions. I ain't finding this past weeks highly anticipated next exciting installment. Whyfer?

One of the burdens on my heart over the past few years was seeing my online friends get to know each other. As long as I had a blog, it kept me in the focus, and everyone was communicating with me. That has its place, but the interaction with each other was confined to just a few active folks. That's why I asked Jay to fire up this forum.

The Father will often move in ways we don't expect. Some of what He provokes has a very long lead time. This forum is an example of that. Now that He has signaled the shutdown of my public blogging, the focus has moved here. It's a very good move, in that it fulfills an urging I felt long ago to bring the family together. It's still easy for folks to come and lurk, but it's also a whole lot easier to stay and chatter. I need that; I need very much to see you chattering with each other. Maybe I'm the one who got you here, but that should mean I'm only the door attendant, at most.

Come on in! Stay awhile.

Lately my prayer protocols have moved more to broader horizons. I'm sensing the leading of the Spirit to some things I couldn't see at first. In other words, I had to move to another place before I could see the vision. On the one hand, I know that we will see local fellowships spring up. On the other hand, there's some distance to go before that happens. This is a matter of prophetic vision. Some of you may be starting to see some activity in that direction where you are, but most of us don't yet. At the same time, there's a lot to do. We aren't standing in the right place yet, as a group, I believe. It takes a little nudging from the Spirit to get us where He wants us. So in my prayer times morning and night, I've opened it up to praying that His Presence fall on all of the USA.

And I certainly understand better than ever why Jesus used to crawl around the hills so much in the wee hours of the morning. There's never enough time to stop and pray. Just a few minutes here and there. It's not new that I find myself talking to the Lord privately all day long, every moment when I'm not busy with something else that consumes my attention. However, it's never been this intense. As I sit here typing this, it's another one of those moments when I really need the spiritual engagement, but I know the time is limited; I have to go do my laundry.

But all in all, I'm deeply grateful to see the hand of God moving wherever and however it shows. The real praise here is that it most certainly is moving, and it's plain as day to me.

Was reading this post from the blog (https://radixfidem.blog/2021/10/06/he-is-the-law/) and the image that came to my mind was the difference between Barney Fife and Andy Taylor when it came to keeping the peace.

Barney was all about citations and making people obey the law and sometimes throwing them in jail. Andy was about keeping the peace, and working with people to accomplish their own peace, using appeals and common sense, and occasionally some psychology to get people to finally realize some "truth" that they were ignorantly or willfully blind to.

Just a thought. ^_^

Hi All,

I don't remember how I came across Ed. It was probably over a decade ago, I'd guess. Maybe more. Probably I saw him comment on another blog and followed him "back to his place", where ever that was back then.

I've lived most of my life in Ohio and Indiana.

In any case, I'm glad to be here, and glad the rest of you are here as well.

Benjamin