The First "Iron Lady": Golda Meir

 

 

In November 1947, a woman boarded a car in Jerusalem and disappeared into the night.

She was wearing an Arab woman's robes as a disguise. Her destination was Transjordan — enemy territory. Her mission was to meet secretly with King Abdullah I and negotiate a private understanding that might prevent war.

 

Golda Meir was not yet the leader of a nation. Israel did not yet exist. But she was already one of the most consequential figures in the movement to create it — and she was willing to risk her life to give it a chance.

 

She had come a long way from Kyiv.

 

Born in 1898 in the city then known as Kiev, in the Russian Empire, Golda Mabovitch had grown up in poverty amid the brutal antisemitism of Tsarist Russia. Her family fled — first to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she grew up, attended school, and developed the fierce political consciousness that would define everything that followed. As a young woman, she made a decision that would seem impractical to almost everyone around her: she moved to British Palestine, joining the Zionist project of building a Jewish homeland in the Middle East.

 

She spent the next decades doing exactly that — through diplomatic work, political organizing, and an extraordinary capacity for the work that actually builds nations: raising money, making alliances, and speaking the truth clearly in rooms where the truth was uncomfortable.

 

In 1948, with Israeli independence imminent and the new state desperately short of funds, Meir traveled to the United States on an emergency fundraising mission. In a matter of weeks, she raised approximately $50 million — a sum so crucial that David Ben-Gurion, Israel's founding father, later said she was "the Jewish woman who got the money which made the state possible."

She returned to sign Israel's Declaration of Independence on May 14, 1948 — one of only two women among the 37 signatories. The other was Rachel Cohen-Kagan. In the photograph taken that day, Meir is reported to have wept.

 

The decades that followed built a political career of extraordinary breadth. She served as Israel's Ambassador to the Soviet Union, as Minister of Labor, and as Foreign Minister — accumulating experience and authority that made her, by the time she became Prime Minister in 1969, one of the most prepared leaders in the world.

She was also, by then, privately fighting lymphoma — diagnosed in 1965 and kept completely secret. She governed Israel — through diplomatic crises, through the daily existential pressures of leading a small nation surrounded by hostile neighbors — while battling cancer alone, telling no one, because she had decided the country's needs were larger than her own.

 

The war she had spent years trying to prevent came anyway.

 

On October 6, 1973 — Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar — Egypt and Syria launched a coordinated surprise attack on Israel. The intelligence failure was devastating. The early military situation was dire. Meir made decisions in those first desperate hours that her military commanders later credited with preventing catastrophe — authorizing the mobilization of reserves against advice, holding firm through the initial chaos.

 

Israel survived.

 

But the political aftermath was brutal. An inquiry commission examined the intelligence failures. Public anger demanded accountability. In April 1974, Golda Meir resigned — not because she was found personally responsible, but because she understood that a democracy sometimes requires its leaders to absorb the weight of institutional failure, regardless of individual culpability.

She died in December 1978 at the age of 80 — the lymphoma she had carried in secret for 13 years finally taking what war and politics had not.

She had been called the "Iron Lady" of Israeli politics long before anyone applied that description to any other woman. She had governed a nation at war, in secret physical suffering, with a clarity of purpose that left almost everyone who encountered her slightly stunned.

When asked once what she thought of being called a great woman, she reportedly said she had worked hard to be a great leader — the adjective, she suggested, was beside the point.

She was right. And she was both.

 

( A True Heroine) 

By Anonymous Contributor.

(Thanks!)

Be Content:

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have.” Hebrews 13:5 NIV

 

People who were happy when they bought their clothes at thrift stores typically remain happy once they can afford designer clothes. Those who weren’t are still the same unhappy people they were when they were poor; they just dress better.

Learning how to be satisfied with what you have, and to feel grateful for it, starts with understanding what money can and cannot do.

There are things in life you cannot put a price on: good health, a family that loves you, the support of a friendship that has lasted many years, the feeling of accomplishment that comes from working hard and seeing your effort pay off. 

 

You cannot value these “possessions” in terms of cash.

 

 If you think you don’t have anything to be grateful for, consider the sound of your child’s laughter, the crash of the ocean as waves hit the shore, the unconditional greeting you receive each day from your pet, and the hug of a friend you’ve been separated from. Without these assets, you’re in spiritual default. These items are priceless and have nothing to do with shares or profits. When you add up everything in life, the best things are free.

 

 If you’re not happy with your financial situation, then you need to take steps to change it. That’s wisdom and good stewardship. But before you do, conduct an audit of your personal assets. Yes, enjoying the spoils of success can be exhilarating. But remember to appreciate the beauty of life as well; it’s free. And it will fill you up in a way that money and things never will.

Soul Food: Matt 21:1–16 Ps 118:19–29

 

My earnest Thanks to Vision.org.au for this wisdom! 

Independence: Virtue or ?

In Western culture,independence is a virtue, but in the Christian faith its a hindrance. Being dependent on God is the very basis of following the Lord.

By Digital Anvil.

A Capsule of Wisdom 2:

Tell Him! 

Being honest with Him shall result in greater honesty with yourself and with others!

then with that intention, greater effectiveness is the reward. 

 

 If you gave money to a charity and you expected something in return. God may provide but in His timing, way and method.

 Of course,giving of its own accord is something that we should indulge in. Expecting nothing in return is the best way.

 

Jesus said," don't let your right hand know what your left hand is doing."

The world expects something in return for each transaction, we should not.

But when,"you cast your bread on the waters, it shall return to you in many days."

Many advertise their " goodness" but only God is good. We should imitate. But not the world. Even our greatest,purest goodness is stained with sin. However, God is good,He uses our worst sinful attempts to further His cause and for our good.

That's why we should thank Him-- for everything He does because He uses His power to weave His goodness into our  poor deeds.

Eventually,our thoughts,words and deeds reflect His bright Love.

But its all a life- journey of surrender to His ways. His principles matter, no matter the occasion or event. If things are going too slowly,tell Him,how you feel and think. Be honest.

Love is His greatest 'tool.'

If we be honest, then we are no fool.

His power is available,every hour.

All we need to do is show we are not yeast without flour.

 A Capsule of Wisdom 2: Digital Anvil.

A Capsule of Wisdom:

One of the great counterfeits to living like Jesus is living in Christian autonomy-- trying to be like Him without Him.

Here in this context of autonomy, I mean: self- reliant. To many that suceed in other areas of life,  the tendency is to rely on self while the Bible teaches a life of dependence-- on Him.

Jesus said," apart from Me you can do nothing."

My fingers cannot move unless God sustains,guides and moves them.

The illusion of self is just that--an illusion. But generally a necessary illusion that we perpetuate. But God in His mercy, helps to sustain. To become more like Jesus,we need to pray without much ceasing, an authentic conversation carried out between you and Christ.

Open your heart and mind and 'speak' with a kind of reverence yet speak to Him. Anytime and anywhere. No rules but reverence. Are you anxious,are you angry,speak to Him. Are you unsure,tell Him. Are you happy,tell Him how much you appreaciate Him.

Tell Him!

A Capsule of Wisdom: Digital Anvil.

We, the Elderly:

 

 

We are often called “the elderly,” but that quiet label hides a truth most people rarely pause to consider: we are the last living witnesses of a world that no longer exists.

If you look closely, you might notice gray hair, slower steps, or the quiet patience that time alone can teach. But if you truly listen to our stories, you will discover something far more extraordinary. We are not simply older people moving through the final chapters of life. We are the survivors of one of the most breathtaking transformations in human history — a generation that walked from the slow, deliberate rhythm of an analog world into the dazzling speed of a digital one without ever losing our sense of humanity along the way.

Our journey began in a very different place.

Many of us were born in the 1940s, 1950s, and early 1960s, when the scars of World War II were still fresh across Europe and Asia and the world was slowly learning how to hope again. Cities rose from rubble. Families rebuilt lives after years of uncertainty. Childhood unfolded in ways that would feel almost unrecognizable to younger generations today. Our toys were simple: marbles played in dusty yards, hopscotch drawn on cracked sidewalks, checkers and cards gathered around kitchen tables while the smell of dinner filled the house. When the streetlights flickered on in the evening, it was the universal signal that childhood adventures were over for the day and it was time to go home.

There were no smartphones, no streaming videos, no endless scroll of digital distractions. Instead, we built our memories in the real world — with scraped knees, laughter echoing down neighborhood streets, and friendships that formed face to face, without the mediation of screens.

Music became one of the defining soundtracks of our youth. The 1960s and 1970s arrived like a wave of color and rebellion. We watched culture shift around us, carried by electric guitars and voices that dared to question the world. For many of us, gatherings like the legendary Woodstock Festival of 1969 symbolized something powerful: the belief that peace, music, and community could reshape the future. Hundreds of thousands of young people stood together in muddy fields, listening to artists who poured raw emotion into towering speakers known as the Wall of Sound. Those concerts were not merely entertainment; they were moments when strangers felt like a single generation singing the same hope under an open sky.

Education looked different then, too. Our notebooks were filled with handwritten notes carefully copied from chalkboards. Research required patience, long hours in libraries, and stacks of heavy books rather than a quick internet search. We learned to slow down and think through ideas because information did not arrive instantly. Mistakes were corrected with erasers and ink, not with the click of a delete button.

Love carried a different rhythm as well. We fell in love while vinyl records spun on turntables and cassette tapes clicked softly inside plastic players. Music became the background to first dances, long conversations, and dreams about the future. Those relationships grew into marriages, families, and lives built step by step through the 1980s and 1990s — decades that saw technology begin to reshape the world around us.

Yet nothing compares to the bridge our generation has crossed. We are the only generation to have experienced an entirely analog childhood and a fully digital adulthood. We remember waiting days — or sometimes weeks — for handwritten letters to arrive in the mail. We remember rotary telephones and party lines where neighbors could accidentally overhear conversations. Communication required patience and anticipation. Today, we can see the face of a loved one across the ocean instantly on a screen small enough to fit in a pocket.

The world changed in ways few could have imagined. We watched humanity land on the Moon in 1969, a moment when millions of people sat in living rooms staring at black-and-white televisions as Neil Armstrong took humanity’s first steps on another world. We saw the rise of personal computers, the birth of the internet, and eventually the arrival of smartphones that placed entire libraries of knowledge in our hands. Machines that once filled entire rooms now exist on devices lighter than a paperback book. We moved from punch cards and mechanical tools to artificial intelligence and global networks connecting billions of people instantly. And through every shift, we adapted.

Our bodies carry the marks of the times we lived through as well. We grew up during fears of polio and tuberculosis, illnesses that once terrified entire communities before vaccines helped bring them under control. We witnessed the global challenges of pandemics and health crises across decades, including the recent silence and uncertainty of COVID-19, which reminded the world that resilience is still required in every generation.

Science itself transformed before our eyes. We saw the discovery of the structure of DNA in 1953, the decoding of the human genome at the turn of the century, and the early steps into gene therapy and advanced medicine. Transportation evolved from simple bicycles and steam engines to hybrid vehicles and electric cars gliding almost silently through city streets.

Few generations have witnessed such sweeping change. And yet, despite everything that evolved around us, certain things remain unchanged. We still understand the joy of a cold glass bottle of lemonade on a hot afternoon. We still remember the taste of vegetables picked straight from a garden. We still know the value of a long conversation that unfolds slowly without a keyboard or screen interrupting it.

Our memories stretch across decades. We have celebrated births, mourned losses, watched friends depart, and carried their stories forward. Those of us who remain share something rare: the experience of standing at the crossroads of history, holding memories from a world that younger generations know only through photographs and stories.

But we are not relics. We are living bridges. Our perspective reminds the modern world that progress does not have to erase wisdom. The speed of technology does not have to replace patience, kindness, or reflection. We remember what life felt like before everything moved so fast — and that memory carries quiet lessons worth sharing.

So when someone calls us “elderly,” we can smile. Because behind that word lies something extraordinary. We are the generation that crossed two centuries, witnessed eight decades of transformation, and walked from the age of handwritten letters to the era of artificial intelligence.

What a life we have lived. What a remarkable story we continue to carry. And if you belong to this generation, take a moment today to look in the mirror and recognize something powerful. You are not simply growing older. You are living history. You are part of a generation that will always remain one of a kind. And perhaps, in the quietest and most meaningful way, you are becoming legendary.

Anonymous Contributor.

(Thanks!)

We Reproduce What We Are:

We Reproduce What We Are

If you lead in any area of life - in your work, in your friendships, in your family, or even your local sports team, you are seeking to build and grow those you lead. One mistake we can all make is that we think that what we say matters the most. We construct careful speeches, sharing our wisdom, knowledge, and experience. This is helpful but it may not be making much difference!

New Zealand church leader Don Barry considered his years of experience of leading a church and he wrote: "we teach what we know, but ultimately we always reproduce what we are".

That is a helpful insight. If the words we say don't match up to the lives that we live, people will follow our behaviour not our speeches.

Pray for growth in character, not just your knowledge.

Share this daily-reading.

Karl,thanks for this.

( ? Digital Anvil )

 Does It Matter ?

 

I propose that it should and does! 

 Some of you may have heard of the expression: " God-shaped void " So though I am not a philosopher nor a theologian  nor a physicist in the professional sense....

Here are  my thoughts. 

What is a God shaped void?  Since we all experience lack, how do we satisfy that scarcity? Since basic politics is about providing everyone with happiness (in part ) how do we achieve that? So, since we all live on this world, how can we satisfy the wants of us all? Is that even possible? How does someone fill it up without God?

Filling it up with God, how does that work ?  Which begs the question, does God even exist? 

These are Big Questions that many ask.

 

 Eventually everyone asks these questions while they live and move and have their being.

 

Of course,many of you,ask is there even a God ? When many are taught that the Universe " helps." What was  once a fringe belief,now it is in many persons' belief systems in Western cultures. Even existing in traditional Eastern cultures! 

 If an impersonal ( consisting of 'suns' or stars unlike ours ) but apparently infinite universe " helps?"  How do we realistically know or measure that help ? Was it just plain chance " dressed "  like that lucky break movies portray  or the universal " help " one rarely but we may encounter ?

Where did the universe come from anyway ? What makes a person believe that the " universe " can help ? How does a cosmos filled with galaxies ( trillions of them ) "help " a tiny backwater rock and water planet like our earth?  

Are we alone? Are we being watched ?Are there any alien civilisations, when the SETI project had not detected even a real or intelligent signal amid the  vast noise of the cosmos?

Does it matter? 

In a world where individuals are monumentally, more important, aren't we over-prioritising the  outer space we are surrounded by, to a futile degree? 

 

These are legitimate questions for us all.

Getting from a dismal,bleak existence to a vibrant, whole and purposeful life-journey isn't necessarily easy.

Life on our watery planet can be hard and its hopelessness is evident in  a myriad of ways.

 But if you are wise and determined to break through the harsh reality of dire circumstances oft encountered. You can. But as you move through  your journey, the more you invest in others, the more likely you find your life lifted from your own challenges. 

 

So how are we lifted ? 

 

This comes from a sense of purpose, by reaching out to the strangers and others in need who are our ( divine, as some say )  opportunity to find meaning and hope. Don't delay in investing, seeking and supporting others in the domain you travel daily.

Something like a smile shared to a random act of kindness to a  charitable and mindful event for some in need.

Getting back to my original theme, a

a void is a synonymous expression for the emptiness in the middle of our psyche, mind/ body or soul. If many reckon that most live a desperate life on our tiny planet, how do we transform that into a environment that evolves most or better,lifts, most from a poverty of satisfaction into a meaningful surfeit of a life shared by  billions  enhanced by love, untroubled spaces and prosperity!

 

But 

Isn't this a socialist Utopia or a communist/ capitalist dream? Like isn't this just the Chinese utopia that Xi JingPing appears to be developing? We have heard about or read about other places and times, utopias have been tried.

 

What do you think? 

Here is where You can comment,provide your alt view or say you agree. Please do? 

 

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Can we fill a void or emptiness with things?

Yes! We can and do. 

 

It's believed that is-- according to the Bible-- when we were created, that God created a God-shaped emptiness in us!

 

 A void that only He can truly occupy. 

Of course as humans, we fill our internal void with things, like material goods, money, fame, power, position, sex- worship and a host of other like things 

 

But only God will truly satisfy. I believe that. And when God is present in a  knowingly yet realised way, in your life-journey, all fragments of your life catalyses into wholeness.

 

Here is when you can present your alternative view or complete my thoughts with your own? So go on...

 

 

By Digital Anvil. 

 

                                             

The Rich Find it Difficult to Enter Heaven?

Bible passage: Luke 18:18-29

Key verse: "Jesus looked at him and said, ‘How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!’” v24

 This teaching is an interaction at the other end of the social scale. Here is a wealthy ruler seeking to know what it takes to be acceptable to God.

 

 This guy would be a great recruit; he would be on the top of the list for any organisation looking for new members. The conversation Jesus has with a wealthy and influential man is opposed to His interaction with poorer others from a previous post.

 

The inquirer asks how he can be certain he will inherit eternal life. Jesus gives the answer any rabbi of the time would have given, that is to follow the two great commandments. But that wasn’t enough, the wealthy ruler wants more information and greater certainty.

Jesus then makes one of the better known statements of the Bible - “sell everything you have and give it to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven”.

This is a challenging statement, the questioner leaves unhappily because he was very wealthy.

 

Jesus then says “how hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven…easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle”.

 

These words need to be taken in the context of all the Bible says about money and how we are saved. But the key point is that our wealth is very likely the greatest impediment to our trusting and serving God.

Prompt: Hold your possessions lightly; follow Jesus wholeheartedly.

Share this daily- reading.

Grateful for your wisdom,Karl !

( Agreed: Digital Anvil )

Sinners vs Self- Righteous:

Luke: 18:9-14

Bible passage: Luke 18:9-14

Key verse: "But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’" v13

Jesus wants to respond to the spiritual arrogance and self-confidence He sees around Him. To make this point He chooses two different people who go to the temple to pray.

The first is a pharisee. The pharisees were very focused on living holy lives and going the extra mile to be people God would be pleased with. They even tithed (gave one tenth to the temple) the herbs in their garden - which seems extreme by modern standards. The upside is they were very aware of how they tried to honour God in every part of their lives. The downside for them and, if we are honest for us as well, is that they were arrogant and self-righteous. That attitude is expressed in the pharisee's prayer.

The second to go to the temple was a tax collector. These were businesspeople who did a deal with the Romans to collect taxes on behalf of Rome. They were known to be both collaborators with a foreign power and unscrupulous in their collection of taxes. This man in the temple was in no doubt where he stood before God. “God, have mercy on me, a sinner”.

This is our challenge today, that we seek to reflect the values of God in every part of our lives, yet when we come before God our prayer should be - “God, have mercy on me, a sinner”.

Please share this daily- reading.

Many warm thanks to Karl Faase.

( Agreed: Digital Anvil.)

Bright Shining: (The Book)

This book is my discovery of the left-wing treatment of biblical Grace! The Author is a left-leaning Writer and Journalist.

This particular book I first  noted at a local library,which I subsequently 'lost' and forgot completely about in the exigencies  of normal life.

Meaning I --as you can see--re-discovering it after a 2 year 'loss'.

Today I''ll commence reading this  remarkable and intriguing longer 'essay'.

 

by Digital Anvil. 

Broken Wings: (My Wife's Favourite Song )

 

Broken Wings 

My Heaven- Living Wife Favourite Song was Broken Wings by Mr Mister!

When she used to sing along with this song, she sang it to me. She was the broken wings...

 

 

Broken Wings 

 

Tap or click the above link for song. 

God is Good Forever Good 

Hands Too Full:

Hands Too Full

Fifteen hundred years ago the great church leader Augustine made this wonderful statement:

"God wants to give us something, but cannot because our hands are full - there's nowhere to put it."

There is a great deal of truth in this simple statement. God has promised to fill our lives. It's not just that God wants to give us eternal life, He wants to give us a fulfilling life now... but our lives are so full: full of activity, full of selfishness, full of pride, full of desire for more and even full of pain and resentment.

Perhaps we need to reassess our lives and lay some stuff down so God can deal with us. We need to put down our need for control and self-centred living; put down our need to acquire, to prove our worth, put down some of the grudges we hold and learn to forgive.

Most importantly, we need to put down the actions in our lives that we know are wrong. Who knows what God may do in our lives if we give Him the space and the time to act?

Share this daily-reading.

Thanks for my friend,Karl Faase.

(Agreed: Digital Anvil)

 Sex? ( Is that What it Boils down To)

 

Is there sex- selective abortions happening in AU ?

There appears to be some concern.

I could be wrong,lets hope...

By Digital Anvil.

The (Messy ) Story of Bilhah ?

 God builds the world person by person, even when to post-modern eyes they seem significantly misguided, unimportant or outright anti-feminist or anti-female.

 

Whatever you or I think of ancient societies, God calmly weaves, engineers and utilizes human frailties, problems and marginalized people and overlooked persons to great affect.

 

 What constitutes success in human eyes is negated by the upside down world of the Christian domain or God's Kingdom. What is great in God's eyes is poor,crude and uninspiring in human's very limited vision. Less is more is a portion of that belief in the kingdom. He started with one and created mankind.

 

 When that seemingly failed with the fall of Adam, He chose a pagan or idol- worshiper male to spearhead a nation of God- believers and later birthed an institution titled the " body of Christ, " from it. He used very limited and messy humanness  to favour and rescue Humanity. Try making nations from a 'dirty' solo male with a God created female and attempt to  manufacture a world that's capable of landing on a moon. God did, can you?

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In Book of Genesis, Rachel gives Bilhah to Jacob in order to have children through her. Bilhah then becomes the mother of Dan and Naphtali—two tribes that later form part of the nation of Israel.

Her role in the biblical narrative is significant, even though she is not given much voice.

Bilhah’s story reminds readers that Scripture often records the realities of ancient societies rather than sugarcoat or hide the truth.

Her sons remain part of Israel’s history, demonstrating that people who lived on the margins of power were still woven into the larger narrative of God’s work."

 

 

by Digital Anvil. 

Greatest Challege for Marriage:

Greatest Challenge For Marriage

We interviewed US author Warren Farrell, for our series for men called True North. Farrell was reflecting on what helps or harms marriages. He made the point that the toughest part of a marriage relationship is the ability of either the husband or the wife to receive and accept negative feedback about their relationship.

Farrell said that we all get defensive when we hear things that we perceive to be negative. Yet the only way to build a relationship is the capacity to hear and receive information that seems critical of us.

God created human beings to live in relationships, one of the most precious is our marriage and our families. Pray for the ability to hear negative feedback, for the strength not to be defensive, and the courage to change.

 

Share this daily-reading.

My ever-vocal thanks to Karl Faase.

(Agreed: Digital Anvil)

Truth ? Hate ?

 The truth is now being labeled as “hate.”

That is where we are.

If you say something people do not agree with…

If you speak with conviction…

If you refuse to celebrate what God calls sin…

they do not call it discernment anymore.

They call it hate.

And then come the same lines:

“You’re not being loving.”

“Christians aren’t supposed to judge.”

“That doesn’t sound like Jesus.”

“You’re being hateful.”

But here’s the truth:

Truth is not hate.

Truth is still truth… even when it is uncomfortable.

And if someone thinks “love” means never correcting anything, never confronting anything, and never drawing a line…

that is not biblical love.

That is cultural approval wearing a cross necklace.

Jesus was compassionate.

Absolutely.

But He was not weak.

He was not timid.

And He did not bend truth to protect feelings.

He confronted hypocrisy.

He exposed corruption.

He called people to repentance.

He flipped tables when worship was being corrupted.

And yes …He offended people.

Not because He was cruel.

But because truth confronts lies.

That is what people still do not want to hear.

Calling out something harmful is not hate.

Having discernment is not hate.

Refusing to affirm what God does not bless is not hate.

What is actually dangerous is teaching people that love means silence.

That kindness means compromise.

That Christians are only “loving” when they never challenge anything.

That is not Christianity.

That is cowardice wrapped in soft language.

Progressive Christianity keeps trying to give people:

Jesus without repentance

grace without truth

love without accountability

and faith without obedience

But if your version of Christianity keeps changing every time culture shifts…

that is not faith.

That is surrender.

The world will always call conviction “hate.”

Because if the truth is real, then people have to answer to it.

And many would rather call you hateful than deal with the possibility that what you said was right.

You can speak truth without being cruel.

You can be loving without affirming everything.

You can have conviction without apologizing for it.

Jesus did not die so we could blend in.

He died so we could be free.

All of us.

✝️ Faith. Family. Freedom.

The above post is by Janet Elaine Parks.

( Ageed: Digital Anvil )

The Path,Big Questions:  (Re-Work A)

Eventually everyone asks the Big Questions about their life- journey.

But God asks a more pointed question.

" Where are You?"

How you reply frames your destiny.

 

Many don't answer,many hide and many decline but then collapse and turn to God with reluctance,yet in some desperation. Who do you turn to? Your parents,a close friend,life- coach,guru,therapist or a wise stranger.

So many stories of stubbornness, vacillation and reticence line the highway to Heaven. Yet each who made the decision relate --- years on-- the absolute beauty,love and peace that eventually came with that decision.

Of course some detail the whole course with God is like true love-- runs with trouble,tears and uncertainty.

 

But GOD.

 

All list the return of life's favour. But now attribute to God the Father.

Some even become exponents of faith,in righteousness become more than followers  in diverse ways and in making Him known.

Others wallow in despair unable to commit, yet after some time,another arrives with good news for them.

 

Each and everyone is given opportunity. 

 

Their lives then take on new meaning.new purpose and a new destination.

Most are helped by others who have stayed the course,endured persecution,ignored ridicule  and despite some critical harm even death but held onto their beliefs -- no matter what!

 

Alarmingly a few become dissidents after having tasted the better, whose lives equate to what they were before they encountered God. 

 

But GOD

Never gives up on them until they conclude their transition or reject outright the offer of rescue.

Even the most evil of individuals may be saved from themselves otherwise their destination is assured.

In returning to my opening remarks,many never ever accept even when their lives are stolen from them. Not by God, but by the enemy and the darkness of their lives.

Rarely does God not succeed,rarely does He lose. 

 

But i ask, what shall you be and what shall you do ?

By Digital Anvil.

Anonymous Contributor

Most people in the Western world have now worked out that the old media priesthood can no longer be trusted - but there's one media organisation, in particular, that constitutes a greater threat to free speech than, arguably, all of the others combined.

It isn't the New York Times, the Washington Post, or even the BBC. Nor is it CBC, in Canada; the ABC, in Australia, or even TVNZ or RNZ here in New Zealand. 

Yes, all of these organisations are now blatantly and openly biased in their 'news' coverage and all have them have long since given up any pretense of balance in favour of an extreme-leftwing ideological framing of issues. But we all know this. We're now acutely aware that these platforms can no longer be trusted and we either ignore them or treat anything that they say with extreme caution.

That makes them far less dangerous than they once were.

But there is another media organisation that has escaped serious scrutiny and is still regarded as ‘authoritative’, ‘accurate’ and ‘neutral’. That makes it far more dangerous than any of these others.

That organisation is Wikipedia.

Most of us regard Wikipedia as a trusted source of unbiased information – but, in practice, it is a kind of aggregator of consensus opinion. It compiles information on a subject by inviting input from anyone with an interest in that topic - then relies on the editing process to produce something that, in theory at least, approximates the truth.

But that model breaks down completely when the editing class itself becomes ideological. Once that happens, Wikipedia stops being an aggregator and starts becoming an instrument for narrative management – and that’s exactly what has happened on a wide range of politically, culturally and religiously sensitive topics.

Wikipedia co-founder Larry Sanger (who has been estranged from Wikipedia since 2002) argues that, on controversial topics, a properly written encyclopedia article should be written in such a way that the reader cannot tell what side the writer is on.

It should map the terrain fairly, summarise the major views honestly, and let readers draw their own conclusions. Wikipedia’s own Neutral Point of View policy says that entries should represent significant viewpoints “fairly, proportionately, and, as far as possible, without editorial bias.”

But on some of the most contentious issues of our time, Wikipedia completely fails that test. On these issues Wikipedia does not present contested issues as contested issues. Instead, it presents one side of a debate as settled fact, and then frames anyone who disputes that view as fringe, immoral, ignorant or dishonest.

That is not neutrality, or balance – it’s activism dressed up as reference material.

Example 1: the “Gaza genocide” page

Take Wikipedia’s page on Gaza genocide. Even the title tells you that the editors have already made up their minds. Not “allegations of genocide in Gaza.” Not “debate over whether Israel’s conduct constitutes genocide.” Just Gaza genocide - as though the question has already been answered. The opening description goes further, describing the subject as the “ongoing, intentional and systematic destruction” of the Palestinian people by Israel.

Obviously I have a view on this. I can comprehensively demonstrate that there is no ‘genocide’ and that the use of that term is entirely political - but that’s not the point I am making here. The point is that there is huge, unresolved, debate on this matter and that a responsible encyclopedia would present the matter as ‘contested’ and acknowledge that there are strong arguments on both sides, that there are legal, political and military complexities, and that different governments, scholars and analysts interpret the issue very differently.

Wikipedia doesn't do that. It has simply adopted a position and closed down all counterviews.

Example 2: Donald Trump vs Kamala Harris

Then there is the striking difference in the way that Wikipedia treats Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.

I’m no blind defender of Trump. I think he has been a extremely effective president in some respects and a poor and ineffective one in others. But again, that’s not the point. The issue is balance.

Trump’s Wikipedia page is structured in a way that makes the ideological posture of the editors unmistakable. Controversy, scandal, legal disputes, accusations, inflammatory rhetoric and investigations are not merely included - which would be entirely fair - they dominate the moral architecture of the article.

A reader doesn’t come away thinking, “Here is a balanced survey of a controversial political figure.” A reader comes away thinking, “I have just read a prosecution brief.”

Some of that criticism clearly belongs there – but the article gives no weight to any other view or to the reasons that tens of millions of Americans supported him. Nor does it acknowledge the policies that his supporters regard as achievements, the outcomes they consider successful, and the aspects of his presidency that even critics might concede were part of his record.

Now compare that with the Wikipedia page for Kamala Harris. The contrast is almost comical.

Her article foregrounds historical milestones, barriers broken, and the symbolism of her rise to office. Criticism, poor public reception, internal dysfunction, failed campaigning and broader dissatisfaction are present, but they are not given remotely the same narrative prominence.

The difference in tone is obvious. Trump’s page reads like a charge sheet. Harris’s page reads like a résumé.

Example 3: Israeli apartheid

For a third example, take Wikipedia’s page on Israeli apartheid.

Again, look at the title. Not “apartheid accusations against Israel.” Not “debate over whether Israeli policies amount to apartheid.” But Israeli apartheid - as though the label itself is already settled and universally accepted.

This is now par-for-the-course in Wikipedia’s treatment of issues relating to Israel. It doesn’t merely report the accusation. It absorbs it into the structure, language and assumptions of the article itself.

This means that the reader isn’t being informed about a debate – they’re being positioned on one ideological side without being told that this is happening.

This is not accidental drift

None of this is an accident. A detailed report by the American media company Pirate Wires argued that a relatively small coalition of around forty Wikipedia editors acted in concert to reshape thousands of Israel-related articles. According to that report, the group was involved in roughly 850,000 edits across nearly 10,000 articles dealing with Israel, Gaza, the Palestinians and broader Middle Eastern geopolitics.

If that reporting is substantially correct, then we are not looking at ordinary crowd-sourced editing. We are looking at the industrial-scale manipulation of one of the world’s most trusted information platforms.

And the alleged changes were not trivial. According to the report, they ranged from downplaying Jewish historical ties to the land of Israel, to sanitising references to atrocities committed during the October 7 Hamas attack, including rape and other acts of sexual violence, to softening coverage of figures such as Haj Amin al-Husseini, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem who had ties to Nazi Germany, and diluting references to abuses by the Iranian regime.

Whether one accepts every conclusion of that report or not, the broader point is hard to escape: when a small number of highly active, ideologically aligned editors dominate large parts of the system, the so-called “consensus” that Wikipedia produces is no longer a neutral consensus at all. It is information manipulation.

This matters much more than bias in the mainstream media

When the BBC pushes an extreme angle, people notice.

When the New York Times virtue signals, people notice.

When television news turns into tribal performance art, people definitely notice.

But Wikipedia is different. Wikipedia hides its bias behind a veneer of respectability and the myth of balanced community editing. Behind the reassuring tone of an encyclopedia.

It looks neutral when it isn’t.

And that’s why it is more dangerous than openly partisan media. Students use it. Teachers use it. Journalists start there. Casual readers trust it. Search engines elevate it. AI systems absorb and recycle its content.

Wikipedia is not just another site on the internet. It is part of the information infrastructure of modern life. So when bias takes root there, it sneaks into the public psyche in ways that other media could never hope to.

Alternatives are coming

Fortunately, there have already been attempts to challenge Wikipedia’s dominance. One is Justipedia, which aims to offer more reasoned and balanced entries. Elon Musk has also backed Grokipedia, which attempts to use AI to build a rival knowledge platform.

No doubt there will be many more – and AI will also increasingly challenge Wikipedia simply because AI systems can generate, summarise and update information almost instantly, without relying on armies of partisan volunteer editors.

That doesn’t mean AI is automatically better. It isn’t - it has its own distortions, blind spots and hallucinations and yes, even bias. But AI bias is at least somewhat different in character. It is often the product of training data, weighting problems or system constraints rather than the conscious ideological activism of a relatively small editorial class.

Neither problem is ideal. But only one of them currently presents itself to the world as a neutral encyclopedia while smuggling in political conclusions as fact.

So how should we respond?

Three responses seem obvious.

First, we should remind ourselves of what many of us already suspected: Wikipedia is not an encyclopedia in the authoritative sense, and it should never be treated as one.

Second, we should start treating Wikipedia as just another arm of the tainted ideological media ecosystem - particularly on politically charged issues, and especially in relation to Israel.

And third, if you’ve ever responded to one of Wikipedia’s pleading little pop-up messages asking you to support the noble cause of free knowledge, perhaps it’s time to stop - because these people are not neutral custodians of truth.

And because, when an organisation with that much reach, that much public trust, and that much hidden bias presents itself as an impartial guide to reality, it may well be the most dangerous media organisation on earth.

( Agreed: Digital Anvil)

I thank anonymous contributer.

Luke 18.

Luke 18:

Bible passage: Luke 18:15-17

 

Key verse: “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” v17

 

The commentator William Barclay tells us it was a common practice for mothers to bring their infant children to distinguished rabbis so they might bless them. If you conducted a time and outcome analysis of Jesus blessing children this would not seem a good use of Jesus’ time. That was the attitude of the disciples. Jesus, as the Messiah, had more important and pressing priorities than to bless unknown babies from equally unknown families.

 

Yet Jesus rebukes His friends. This was significant as the “kingdom belongs to such as these”. It’s a wonderful and encouraging statement from Jesus. The economy of His kingdom is not marked out with high profile influencers, wealthy benefactors or powerful religious and political leaders. The Kingdom is marked by those who come to Jesus as a child.

 

Anyone who is a parent knows children aren’t small walking saints, they can be difficult and demanding. But children are often trusting and have an inquisitive nature. Here are the attitudes of the Kingdom. If you feel you come to God with little to offer and more questions than answers, you are coming with the right posture.

 

Share this daily- reading.

Karl Faase, my thanks.

( Agreed. Digital Anvil )

Adam Smith and Greed.

Adam Smith and Greed

Adam Smith is known as the father of modern economics. He also wrote on other areas of human attitudes and behaviour. On one occasion Smith wrote about the desire for more.

He said, "The great source of both the misery and disorders of human life seems to arise from over-rating the difference between one permanent situation and another. Avarice over-rates the difference between poverty and riches. The person under the influence of any of those extravagant passions is not only miserable in his actual situation, but is often disposed to disturb the peace of society, in order to arrive at that which he so foolishly admires."

While the desire to get ahead seems to be the engine room of the free market economy, Smith suggests that it can also bring misery to all. It's perhaps one place where Adam Smith and the Bible have a lot in common.

Share this Daily - Reading.

Thanks  Karl Faase.

( Agreed: Digital Anvil )

 Impossible Absurdities (Re-Work )

  

Just as many deem the parting of the Red sea as impossible,the Old Testament introduces even more absurd " impossibilities."

Camus has nothing on the true absurdity of God who keeps His promises by coming Himself to take the ultimate punishment of death and save a disobedient, but loved people.

When God promised Abraham,the progenitor of the nation of Israel,a son, He waited until His chosen parents were utterly old,incapable of reproduction,before the son appeared.

This span of faith teaches that the time between the giving of the promise and the fulfillment of the promise only occurs when that promise looks utterly impossible.

This is the plan of Salvation: the structure of the whole of human history as typified by Israel and the Church working together for the rescue of humanity.

God takes a narrow path to bless the entire human race with a covenant of grace written in blood.

What does the above paragraph mean?

God,Eternal Ancient of Days in His purposeful plan for humanity used a few persons to achieve His goals in the ancient world,some 1000s of years ago. God is not stopped, hindered or, even paused by time,matter or space,chooses to play the long game. 

According to the manual for life,the Bible,He appeared and chose Abraham as his beginning point to create a small nation to favour the world via them. Ultimately to offer the people of this world eternal life via the death and the bringing back to life of His Son, Jesus, who the Jewish Religiously Correct in the ancient past murdered.

                                                                xxxxx

To relate a story of salvation which I personally know of.

A new friend of mine visited  us at the Inn and related this story>>>

He sat down and said while visiting another cafe,the other day he was approached by an elderly couple who asked him if he recognised them. After looking at the two of them for a minute or two,it dawned on him that this person and his wife were his old Church's Pastor ,John and his wife!

Whom he had Not seen for 35 years after untoward circumstances my friend,Peter,  experienced and left the church thinking forever. In the intervening years he never went to any  church.

While the above really happened that is not the remarkable thing. What was even more absurd was that John the pastor and his wife lived in another state and Peter wasnt meant to be in that particular cafe and the elderly couple just happened to go to that certain cafe simultaneously. The couple were only visiting and Peter was only there for a moment.

But the moment of intersection occurred.Call it a co-incidence or just a chance. But prayer moves God and God moves people.

 That very early morning investing some time reading and praying at home as i had then resumed praying for others ( Not just for myself and my selfish needs ),on that same day,i had prayed a simple prayer of asking God to bring back Peter into the fold ( to enable his return to God as a restored believer ) and then thanking God for His response.

Peter joined our table and related this brilliant event to us today. ( Which i just told you,my reader )

GOD is good,forever good.

He is absurdly, impossibly good.

(If a principle in an event  is found in the Old Testament,it tells us something of the history of salvation and if it tell us of salvation,it points and shows us Christ.)

By Digital Anvil.

It should be noted that this post is inspired by the original work of one of my heros ( a pastor) of faith: Timothy Keller. The personal re- working is mine and suceeds  or fails by my re-interpretation of his article.

Dr N.Verma- the Debate:

Doctor Verma: the Debate:

As a strict follow-up to the prior post (Its Tricky ) I have included a link to  the dialogue between the US Senator Hawley and Dr Nisha Verma in a hearing.

I include it to show the obvious credentials of the good Doctor who encountered difficulty answering the politically charged question.

It is to the credit that at no time did the good Doctor give in to the obviously divisive debate.

Check out previous post:

Its Tricky link

Check out link below to the debate between the good Doctor and questioning of Senator Hawley..

link to Debate

Tap or click the above links for more.

By Digital Anvil.

 

Feel free to comment or provide an alt scenario. 

What is Tolerance ?

What is Tolerance?

The multicultural nature of cities and nations across Western countries means that tolerance is important. Our communities rely on people being tolerant of each other's views; otherwise, anarchy and tension would break out daily.

Even so, we must recognise that tolerance is not a lazy acceptance of all. It is respecting, engaging with, and treating with compassion those with whom you deeply disagree.

Tolerance is not agreeing with everyone or all behaviour. It is treating people with respect but it is also challenging their views. A Christian can be tolerant as well as being committed to graciously engaging with the world and religious views we disagree with.

Share this daily- reading.

Gratitude for this brief essay to Karl Faase.

Agreed: Digital Anvil.

Its Tricky:

Here's the thing, a Doctor Verma was asked by an United States Senator a very non- political question.

That question was as simple  as one can make a question.

What was that question ?

Can men get pregnant.

Dr Verma could NOT answer that question with a simple but telling reply.

I ask You the same question.

Can MEN get PREGNANT ?

Careful,its tricky.

By Digital Anvil.

 Radical Islam Knocking: (Re-Work)

 

Did You know or are You aware that Radical Islam is knocking at your front door? They been peering through the windows to see our free way of life and they like it.

 

While some sleep, watch TV, raise families and marry their sweethearts, they are sufficiently cognoscenti  of semi-hidden risks

But 

How do We make the rest of the free world know the existential risks that Radical Islam presents to the ordinary citizen? 

If...

Gen Z and Millennials and Boomers are supposed to be" toxic " what about Men who never received the teachings of Western mainstream education, politics,culture and feminism? What do they believe? 

 

What do they do with what they learn about our laws, politics, state education, civil functions, educational opportunities, career opportunities...et cetera. Of course they are like our other immigrants, who blend in, learn cricket, football and eat at BBQs...et- cetera. They are ordinary citizens who promote our ways of life while observing theirs and are welcoming outsiders into their homes, places of worship.. and so on.

 

But --please remember-- i am speaking out about Radical Islam ( Islamist ideologue ) not the peace-loving, socialising, Koran-following adherents of the Non-Extremist Muslim Faith. 

What can You do?

Watch the  short video by tapping or clicking link below.

Radical Islam vs Infidels

Brought to you by  the alertness of some.

( Agreed: Digital Anvil ).

The World and the Female Status: (Re-Work)

  

People who love outstandingly are occasionally titled " People persons" They are a cut of social fabric outside the norm. But outstanding or not, love and sex are sooner rather than later pushed outside the marriage contract. 

The definition of " people person" lies outside the new normal but I'll put forward a working template...

What makes them stand out is their recognition of and determination of the 'innateness' of the person's ( inherent) value and identity of each and every individual and their immeasurable worth.

(Digital Anvil)

These particular norms or core values were  not originally conferred upon  women and children; but far  greater value was  placed upon robust, warrior- man in pre-modern and ancient eras.

Until Jesus was  moving about in 1st century Ancient Israel in teaching and by example, such  core values were not present in the cultures of ancient empires like Egypt, Persia, China, Rome or Greece. Emphasis  and honour was only accorded to the  male military and elite circles in those empires. 

Even High-class married women had little status. Though some attained power.

Female slaves had no status or recognition and were subject to rape and brutally cruel subjugation. Might was right in their playbook. The elitist male was in charge  -totally -of his entire household. Life and death were solely in his hands.

 

Over the course of centuries, women's status was lifted, this can be directly and indirectly traced to the Judeo-Christian ethic and morality. Sex between men and women became linked in and to marriage. Not something to be taken like  plucked fruit from a wild tree.

But as the customary and traditional mores have fallen or pushed into the margins in these  post -modern times. Western Culture has  been altered  and the  course of love and its companion, sex, can be found outside the marriage covenant again.  Exclusivity has been given a poor PR treatment. Exclusivity is almost considered "toxic " and outdated by many  Western girls and women. ( Hence the unfortunate story of ' Bonnie Blue')

 

However there is a movement in the context of Generation Z males where they are espousing more conservative values in marriage  and politics and culture. Alarmingly Gen Z females are voting for socialistic politics, non-exclusivity and other left leaning 3rd wave feminist  beliefs. Many sociologists and historians and futurists are predicting more apparent division in  Gen Z and perhaps Gen Alpha in the future.

The male/ female framework has existed for millennia. But unscrupulous persons whose goals and aims are inimical to moderately held social,political and cultural norms are de- constructing these norms into mere echoes or  savagely weakened replicas after the centuries of trial and error of overall adoption. Even with the unfortunate demise of such norms, many traditional beliefs have undergone outright replacement, denial and spawned new, but narrower theories instead.

Although newer generations trust their own beliefs more than that of their forebears ( older generations.) Wholesale de-construction is never warranted. The belief systems of younger adults are always at odds with the old. ( Out with the old,in with the new.)

But when established value systems are overturned,then rapid decline occurs in that civilisation or nation states

Troubles come and transformation happens in time if the overall value of the norm is valid by reasoned choice coupled with tests that demonstrate longevity. Passing these tests ensure the adoption of the new norm.

While the above is true, the debate of these old and new norms is stifled and shut down by methods of personal attacks for or against without showing respect or common courtesy. This tactic works only to divide and conquer (the accuser) while attempting the demise of the argument.

 

                                                            xxxxx 

Perhaps a little personal story shall indicate what a people person is.

My Zina was a warm and powerfully loving woman. She raised two boys into robust and endearing men. Men who manage other men. Not only was she intelligent,she was forward thinking in all pursuits and sectors of life. Passionate about people and less about things ,she paved life for herself and many others, leading the way,fruitfully.

Though pressures abound, My Zina continued to break ground as an aspirational young woman managing others from an early age. In  professions where men dominated nearly every sector of the hierarchy, she excelled to the point of meeting the founder of a global enterprise. Gracing the world as the face of stunning beauty,intelligent eyes and warm heart, thousands were "captured "by her earnest gaze in print and air.

Time and time again, she lifted others,especially younger women with the earnestness of an alertly-seeking mind and thorough ongoing love.

Few had these attributes in the abundance,she had acquired.

With wisdom,her love abounded naturally for the marginalised and ignored.

A darkened time and space in her early childhood caused her to seek out the lost and dying. Her care for others enabled doors to move ajar which turned into blest opportunities for truth and the way of love.

My role in her journey was only as amplification and reasoning support of her most treasured  beliefs. A worldview that strengthened with nurturing and love.

Although raised in a traditional Italian family, her father had an outlook of a shop-owning entrepreneur. Nonna, hardworking and a resolute mother, taught My Zina the pleasures and rewards of the life- fantastic as a God-Fearing Woman.

Well,suffice to say,life turned to gold-dust after a nominal bout of negativity about God and His people.

If you are wondering why I am 'glorifying' My Zina, it is because she has reached her zenith  in Heaven.

Of course ,you may be tempted to muse that my memories are only golden because she is gone from this earth. However,though blest with a fruitful mind,I am aware of my failings which gave many opportunities to My Wife for devotion, wisdom and forgiveness. With each of these events,she grew amazingly.--and so did I.

Doubt and jealousy can set in but if tackled honestly, they are locked out.

Tremendously life has been a delicate but bold riffing on a lead guitar since. 

While living in abject wallowing without her,the love of others has warmed my heart most.

Thank You to All the many who traveled the rugged steps with me,encouraging and enabling me to grieve yet lifting the burden for greater ease.

So many shared the load,smiled and kindly spoke to my heart.

By Digital Anvil.

 

Special Thanks to Grant, Fiona, Shakira, Rob, Sheri, Alli, Rob Fitz, Justin, Mia, Icy,  Lila, English John, Peter, Wolfgang,Vicki,Alex, Susan and Ruby. There are others but too many to name here. Their support is much too keenly felt to be missed.

Go Fishing Together:

Go fishing together

Many men have few friends, they are busy in their work, have long commutes and kids at home demanding their attention. Basically, there is little time for friendships.

But even when men find time for their mates they are not great at talking, it all feels a little intense.

Ed Davies, a guest on our series for men, True North, said that in the UK they wanted to help men find friends. They knew men were not great at talking, so they started a new program: fishing.

Men would sit, shoulder to shoulder fishing, they would start chatting about fishing, but eventually they would talk about deeper, more significant issues. They built friendship.

God designed us for relationships with others, if you are a bloke, build some friendships. Perhaps even consider buying a fishing rod.

 Post this daily -reading.

Thanks again to Karl Faase 

Agreed:  Digital Anvil