"My First Priest"

I just learned that my first priest, "Father Smith," died last year. And it reminded me of when I first met him, in Fall of 1971.

My world was falling apart, it seemed. My beloved Uncle died at an early age quite suddenly. One of my best friends in high school was killed in a car crash.  And the girl I thought I loved was moving to another state. I was a pretty unhappy, sensitive 16 year old in a VERY bad, unstable home situation.  At times, yes, I felt suicidal. Around that time, some of my Christian friends in school (an "Art" school) told me about the Lord and I felt like I had come face-to-face with Jesus for the first time, through them. So, in Art Class, I did a painting of "me"....sort of "coming face-to-face"....with "Jesus."

In the painting, I was standing, nude (back to the viewer) on a beach looking up to the face of "Jesus" (in the colorful clouds), taken aback in obvious AWE. My long hair in the oil painting made it uncertain if I was a man or a skinny woman, frankly, because, again, only my butt was showing. And, in the sand by the waves in my painting was scrawled the word......AND.

Weird, eh??

Now, around this time I started going to a Catholic Charismatic prayer group with mostly priests and nuns who greeted me WARMLY despite my long hair. (I went THERE because it was walking distance from my house...the church that my Christian friends went to was on the other side of the city and I had no car.) Father Smith was the leader of this Catholic group, and he made me feel welcome from day one. But after a few weeks, I nervously decided to show him the painting.

He previewed it in PRIVATE, at the church, and insisted I show it to the entire Sunday night group which, again, was filled with priests and nuns.  He even unveiled it to the group FOR me. From that point on, people in that group became like my real "family" because I saw they TRULY accepted me DESPITE my......unusual ways (acceptance which was more than I felt I got from my REAL family).

Three and a half years later, I had a TRUE encounter with Jesus, got saved and left the Catholic church. I'm sure "Father Smith" and the others were disappointed in me, and I regret THAT but I don't regret LEAVING. Still, I've never forgotten my first priest. Had he laughed at my painting, or REFUSED to show it to the group because he thought it was "porn," not art, they might never been in my life with the "family support" I lacked and craved at home. As a Catholic friend once said, "They saved your life, Chet."  More accurately, God PRESERVED my life....using THEM.

Yes, at that key point in my life when I was lonely and needed acceptance, God used Father Smith, my first priest, to keep me from total despair.

And I'll always, always remember him for that.

"Melania Needs MELANIN, (Before the Media Will Fawn Over Her)"

FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP will turn 50 tomorrow. She is probably the most attractive, and intelligent, First Lady this nation has ever had, but the Mainstream Media practically IGNORES her.

This wouldn't be so bad IF they hadn't fawned over the PREVIOUS First Lady, Michelle Obama, so much....praising her beauty and intelligence (which, if we're honest, comes nowhere CLOSE to Melania's.) Mrs. Trump LOVES THIS COUNTRY, also and that is something Michelle did NOT have as a virtue, to be sure.

Michelle turned 50 while her hubby was still in office in 2014, and you'd have thought it was the greatest event in modern history!!  Granted, the Coronavirus Crisis we're in NOW tends to inhibit large celebrations and dominates the news cycle with BAD news, but this is just an excuse for the Liberal MSM to do what they've ALWAYS done with Melania.......MINIMIZE and OVERLOOK her on her 50th tomorrow.

Al Sharpton once said "Everything in America is about Race" and I believe he was right because "even a broken clock is right twice a day."

So how is the fact that MICHELLE was so beloved and MELANIA is so HATED, even though Melania has SO much more going for her, to be accounted for?? Yes, SOME of it is because they hate her orange skinned hubby, but I'm taking The Sharpton Doctrine here: It's about Race. Michele got treated so well NOT primarily because she was worthy to be, but because the mostly white, self-hating Liberal Mainstream Media worked off a lot of their White Guilt via the Obamas.  I'm not saying Michelle wasn't outwardly attractive and nominally intelligent, mind you....I'm just saying if the Media loved HER so much they should be TEN times as excited about MELANIA.

They aren't.

Melania (and that orange-skinned hubby of hers) need MELANIN, before the Mainstream Media will fawn over HER, in my opinion. But sobeit!!

HAPPY 50th, Melania Trump!!!!

"Black FEmale-ing Biden"

I saw Stacey Abrams (Democrat---she ran for Governor of Georgia last year and lost) on TV last night. Basically, she was saying that Joe Biden HAS to choose her as his running mate....simply because she's a black female. Apparently that is the only "qualification" she feels she needs to be second in line to the Presidency....being a black woman....because she didn't mention any OTHER reason she should be awarded that honor.

Amazing.

A couple of thoughts....

       1.) I don't ever remember anyone publicly, blatantly CAMPAIGNING to be Veep before!! I may be wrong, but if my memory serves me correctly we've hit a new low, in Presidential politics. Campaign BEHIND the scenes so you don't disgust us!! It defiles our minds to see the dirty dealing that goes on.

Apparently Stacey feels like she is competing with GOVERNOR WHITMER (see last post) of Michigan, for the Veep slot. And Whitmer is COMPETING but not CAMPAIGNING for the spot....big difference.

       2.)  Abrams claims she'll HELP Biden with black voters (I thought he had the black vote IN THE BAG?? Lol.)  Yet if Stacey's blackmail (blackFEmale?) scheme doesn't work, it will HURT Biden if he doesn't choose her!! Blacks may see him as a RACIST then, and stay home in November.

(This is ANOTHER reason her Veep campaign should have been done PRIVATELY, but Stacey obviously isn't guided by the concept of thinking things through.)

       3.) I hope Biden DOES give in to her demand!! It will illustrate again how WEAK he is and it will guarantee a 50 state win for Trump!! This lady has a LOT of personal baggage which cannot be hidden in a national campaign, though I won't get into it NOW. In conclusion....

This unqualified lady got a long way in GEORGIA because there's a lot of White Guilt there and a lot of white Georgians want to prove they're not racists.  She will NEVER resonate across AMERICA by playing the Race Card, though. Eight years of OBAMA has bled away the country's White Guilt issues.

"AUTHORITARIANISM: Whitmer"

Governor Whitmer (D) of Michigan is making quite a name for herself in this Coronavirus Crisis.

Unfortunately for her, it's not a GOOD name. "Authoritarian."

And, unfortunately for the RESIDENTS OF MICHIGAN, Whitmer has EARNED that name.

This crisis-exploiting Liberal has forbidden people to even purchase PAINT or CARPETING to spruce up their own houses while under Lockdown...denying Michigan residents the opportunity for CONSTRUCTIVE DIVERSIONS at this time.  As if buying PAINT or CARPETING helps fight the Coronavirus.

If those residents have SECOND HOUSES, they're not allowed to TRAVEL there....even though it might be helpful for the sanity (and UNITY) of some to SPLIT FAMILIES UP rather than keep them COOPED up, during the Lockdown.  Whitmer doesn't care what's good for families, what might make things EASIER for them.

Surprisingly, she won't allow LANDSCAPERS to cut people's grass...totally unconcerned about SENIORS who can't cut their OWN and will get depressed when they look at a JUNGLE on their lawn, during the Lockdown.  (If I were a betting man, I'd wager that SHE has HER lawn cut nicely, however.) Whitmer also has a blatant disregard for Landscapers who CAN'T work now, because of HER, after sitting around all winter. She doesn't understand that it's good for the financial AND mental health of those coming out of their slow seasons to be able to......WORK again.

So, NATURALLY residents of Michigan are protesting against this overreaching AUTHORITARIANISM, and what is the Governor's response??

She tells protesters (who are protesting because THEY WANT TO GO BACK TO WORK) that they should be like people in WW2 who.....get this......"rolled up their sleeves and went to WORK." Talk about insensitively adding insult to injury!! This authoritarian kook has gone TOO FAR with her restrictions, she is ENTICING rebellion and she's getting it!! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

By the way, in the photo above, notice how the BLACK people are on ONE side and the WHITE people are all on the OTHER side?? If she was a REPUBLICAN she'd be seen as a racist and segregationist.  But, I digress.

Hey, I lived in Michigan for six months back in 1978, before I moved back home to New Jersey. I've revisited Michigan at least 10 times since then...most recently only two years ago. I feel a special BOND to the state and a special PAIN, seeing what's happening. To all of my friends and family in Michigan, I pray for you and FEEL for you because you have the affliction of this Pelosi-like witch in charge over there. 

She makes MY Governor look GOOD....and that's not easy to do.

"Earth Day: Our MAIN Problems"

 50 years ago today was the very first EARTH DAY. 

Meant to call attention to our ECOLOGICAL problems, Earth Day has been with us ever since.

Two weeks before its debut, however, the singing group The Temptations recorded one of THE greatest songs of all time, ABOUT THE EARTH, and ironically it was released two weeks AFTER that first Earth Day.  

You see, the lyrics to "Ball of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today)" focused on our SOCIAL problems.  Drug abuse. Racism. Higher taxes. Unemployment. Suicide, and "too many bills," to name a few.  (The only part of the song that WASN'T "up-to-the-minute" was the line about "The Beatles' new record's a gas" because the Fab Four broke up a few days before the song was recorded.)

So, whereas 1969's "Ball of Fire" (by Tommy James and the Shondells) was about THE SUN, 1970's "Ball of Confusion" shone bright light on the EARTH....and let's just say every problem but our ECOLOGICAL problems seemed to be mentioned in that powerful, POWERFUL song.

Some would say the song missed the IMPORTANT emphasis...the earth's ECOLOGICAL problems. Not me.

But the writers of that song DID miss something even MORE important, in my opinion.

You see, 50 years later, Earth is STILL a "Ball of Confusion"....worse than ever, in fact. And Earth Day has not helped it one bit.

This earth is messed up because of SIN.....and it won't be STRAIGHTENED up until Jesus returns, plain and simple.  (That was a note MISSING from "Ball of Confusion").

So as we celebrate Earth Day, 50 years later, yes....BE A GOOD STEWARD of the world God gave us to inhabit.  Don't abuse it, APPRECIATE it  and USE ITS RESOURCES WISELY.

But just remember, our MAIN problems are SOCIAL and SPIRITUAL, not ecological.

"Blog # 400: Recreational Reading Recommendations"

When a man from the Sunday School Class that you teach puts his new book on Amazon...when you haven't been able to meet with your Class for WEEKS due to the Coronavirus Crisis, so you MISS those guys...and when you're looking for RECREATIONAL READING to balance out your WORK-related WRITING and DEVOTIONAL reading material, what do you do?? YOU BUY THAT GUY'S NEW BOOK, OFF OF AMAZON, OF COURSE, Lol!!  Those factors are what led me to purchase the tome shown above..."Big Jim Pitman" is the man who attends my Men's Sunday School class, and HE is the one who, at age 80, has decided to put his rather fascinating life story into book form.

Jim is not a member of our church (unfortunately.)

He is not a member of ANY church (unbiblically.)

But I'm happy that he at least attends my class and that he even gives me his offering to put into the collection plate during the subsequent morning service, as he leaves.  It's a START, yes, but I urge him CONSTANTLY to become more involved in our ENTIRE church.

Jim's book is 350 pages long and no, I haven't read it all yet, it'll probably take me months to finish it as I'm reading several books concurrently.

But I have a pretty good idea what it's about.  You see, Jim always shows up 45 minutes early for my class and, as we'd talk one-on-one, in private, he would tell me what's in his story. He even sent me previews, several months ago!! I saw that front cover design (above) before anyone else did because he wanted ME to SKETCH it (I didn't have time, so I declined, but it turned out GREAT the way it is.) And the blurb on the BACK cover ALSO sheds light about his story, hinting that Jim was a gang-leader, thief and vigilante who was jailed in a "Cool Hand Luke" type of facility down south. This was BEFORE Jim "surrendered it all to a life in Jesus Christ," according to that back cover promo AND Jim's personal account, which I've heard first-hand. I don't regret praying for the success of Jim's book because God uses ALL types of individuals, even the "unconventional" (think John the Baptist) to bear witness to His Name!!

So what makes this book RECREATIONAL and not DEVOTIONAL, then?? Maybe it's the DESCRIPTION of Jim, on page 350 and the back cover.   Whoever authored that description INCREDIBLY  sums up Jim as "A man with the tenacity of Clint Eastwood, the adrenaline rush of Indiana Jones, the physical feats of a James Bond movie, the genius of Einstein, the psychoanalyzing skills of Dr. Phil and the power of Al Capone." Lol, we joke around a LOT in my class before the class formally commences (and we then get serious about the Scriptures)...but what makes me think that, WHEN we're able to meet again, Jim is going to be TEASED about that description of him?? Lol!!

No, I haven't READ the whole book yet, but I've SKIMMED it and was pleased to note, on page 345, that Jim says I run an "excellent Sunday morning men's Bible class." I can't wait till we RESUME the class again, but, in the meantime, with all the "Social-Distancing" going on around here, reading this book is the closest "fellowship" that I can have with Big Jim.

And again...I can't wait.

Here is ANOTHER very interesting, "Recreational Reading" book on Amazon. This is one that I have recently read and even REVIEWED...and here is that Review.

I came across this great book because the author and I share the same editor. I was intrigued by the concept of short stories AND poetry done by an "old cowboy," being a city slicker, myself. Don's last name is "CANT" but let me tell you, Don's book CAN make you laugh, it CAN transport you to the West no matter where you live, and it contains poetry which CAN charm you and touch your soul. In these troubling times of the Coronavirus Crisis, I found it like a $10 "vacation" for the mind and it was well worth it.

By the way, I am NOT the "Chet" mentioned in several of Don's short stories...but I almost wish I was so I could meet the man in person, not just through this fascinating little book.

Chet Jelinski, Whiting, NJ

*****Both of these books may be previewed, and purchased, on Amazon!!  And don't forget to check out MY three (though they are more DEVOTIONAL reading than RECREATIONAL reading!!)*****

"Malapropisms!!"

Malapropisms are, to me, the FUNNIEST kind of humor!!  Ironically, as our society dumbs down more and more, there seem to be LESS Malapropisms out there.  See, you can't think it's funny when people use the WRONG word, unless you know the RIGHT word.  I, personally, have deliberately done Malapropisms for younger people and, as I wait for a response I get a blank look because they don't realize I intentionally used the wrong word!!



In any event, the BEST Malapropisms, in my opinion, were done by Archie Bunker of TV's "All In The Family" in the 1970s.

SOME people (like myself) "do" Malapropisms DELIBERATELY, to try to be funny, but ARCHIE did them UNINTENTIONALLY.   And that helped viewers see that EVERYTHING (including his racist remarks) were done in ignorance.  This helped to make his racist humor more palatable and gave it CONTEXT.

Anyway, here are a few of Archie's classic Malapropisms that I've retrieved from the internet (I've weeded out RISQUE samples, so that's why some numbers are missing)....

1) Archie asks “what’s that smell” Gloria tells him that her friend Robin is burning incense. “It smells like a house of ill–refute.”

2)“They want people like your mother on the jury because they know she doesn’t have any pre-conscrewed ideas”

3) “It’s a well known fact that capital punishment is a detergent to crime!”

4) Mike says, “It’s just pelvic construction women are built differently” Archie answers, “Oh please don’t draw me no diaphragms“

6) Talking about rioting in California. “Just look at that, bricks and bottles. It’s a regular insuruption.”

7) “Back in my day we learned to keep things in their proper suspective.”

8) “You and that bleeding heart Reverend Fletcher sittin’ up there in that ivory shower.”

9) “Dear Mr. President, your Honor, Sir. As one of your faithful constituionals.”

10) Mike and Archie argue, “It’s not irreverent to the conversation.” Mike corrects him ‘irrelevant” Archie says “What ever, it’s not German to the conversation.”

11) “Come on straighten this place up. Do you want people to think you live in a pig’s eye.”

14) “You think I was Lazarus rising up from the bed.”

15) “… And I don’t need no change from the humdrum morning fare you just immunerated”

"Pelosi Helps HERSELF, as Trump Helps OTHERS"

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D) actually thought it wise to show off her 24k freezer loaded with designer ice cream recently!! Lol, I guess this was her way of displaying how SHE is "toughing it out" at home during the Coronavirus Crisis...


https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2020/04/16/nancy_pelosis_quarantine_stash_of_very_expensive_ice_cream_in_a_very_expensive_freezer.html


Now, what can you say about someone who isn't even smart enough to understand how this comes across to millions of  Americans who are struggling?? The BEST you can say is that "Nancy Antoinette" (as some have dubbed her) is simply....NOT-TOO-SMART.

And so are those who've put her in the position she's in, by the way.  What can you say about those VOTERS?? How about "Let 'Em Eat CROW," for starters.  Oh, that Democrats WOULD admit what Nancy Pelosi really is...but, after all, if they were capable of such perception, they wouldn't BE Democrats, would they.

Can you believe this person is THIRD IN LINE TO BEING PRESIDENT?? Lol!! What a contrast, Pelosi shows off how WEALTHY she is right around the time President Trump sends $1,200 CHECKS to needy Americans.  You want to know the REAL reason Pelosi hates Trump so much?? In terms of CARING ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE, Trump is everything she is not....even though he is WEALTHIER.  Trump has a SOUL where NANCY has a HOLE...she is heartless, her wealth has destroyed any compassion she MIGHT have had at one time in her life.  Seriously, she needs prayer, she needs to get SAVED.

While the President tries to help others, all NANCY can do is help herself .........to more taxpayer-funded designer ice cream.

"Let's TRULY Honor Jackie's Legacy"

Yesterday was Jackie Robinson Day, celebrating the day he broke baseball's color barrier over 70 years ago.  And even though no baseball games are being played at the moment due to the Coronavirus, some have suggested that we honor the day ANYway....which is a first  (In fact, ONE sports writer asserted that MORE has to be done to honor Jackie's achievement than we ALREADY do!!) Now, hey, I understand that, without any new GAMES to write about this man needs to write about SOMEthing to fill his column, but it's getting ridiculous, people.

This is NOT to minimize Jackie's achievement or Jackie HIMSELF (though any "knee-jerkers" who read this will interpret it that way, and probably call me "racist.")  I only wish to point out that the ESCALATING attention given to his achievement is not doing us good anymore...it's HARMING us as a nation. In the early 1960s, I was a fan of the most integrated team in baseball...the San Francisco Giants. And MOST of the players on my first team couldn't have even PLAYED in the majors if not for Jackie's bravery.  I'm writing a book about that team which mentions how the players of color, though ALLOWED to play, were still minimized by white writers and announcers using NICKNAMES.  For example, the St. Louis Cardinals' white star was dubbed "Stan THE MAN Musial" while Willie Mays was "The Say Hey KID" and Orlando Cepeda was "The BABY Bull" (Mays and Cepeda are men of color and were mature MEN at that time.) There were subtle ways that players of color were made to feel inferior by those whites now "forced" to accept their presence, you see.

But after all of these years, the tide has turned and I see WHITE players being minimized. Topps, the baseball card company, has put out a new series of cards where contemporary artists have "re-imagined" classic cards and I can't help noticing that WHITE players are made to look absolutely GOOFY .Here are three examples...

If you look up the "Topps 2020" series online, you'll see that players of color are rendered much more respectfully by these "artists" than the WHITE guys are!! At least they all have FACES, Lol!! And, my opinion of THESE "contemporary artists" is as follows....let's cut it down to "CON artists" and hope that their art careers ARE only "temporary."

But, back to my point.

The perpetual, never-ending and growing idolatry of Jackie Robinson is creating a REVERSE racism...the pendulum IS swinging the other way, there IS a backlash.  And, though it satisfies the cravings of white people who have White Guilt and of those who like to MILK it, this does NOT honor Jackie's legacy.  Jackie BROKE DOWN barriers....I don't think he wanted to just SWITCH them.

Jackie's goal is being DEFEATED...in my opinion, when the images of great white players are DEFACED. It's a case of those who DO know history that ARE repeating it....either through anger, shame or a desire for revenge of some sort.  But two wrongs don't make a right, as they say.  Let's play ball again, so that I can root for my PRESENT team...the New York Yankees...THE most integrated team there is and let's only see the UNIFORMS of our teams, not the colors of the guys INSIDE of them.

Let's TRULY honor Jackie's legacy.

"A Sad Day"

Hank Steinbrenner, oldest son of the late George Steinbrenner and co-owner of the New York Yankees, has died at age 63.  This is a sad day for Yankee fans like me.

And of course, HANK'S death brings back the pain of his DAD'S death, ten years ago.

I wrote a TRACT about George Steinbrenner's passing in 2010, and that will be my "Cheitorial" for today as it applies to Hank, ALSO.  (And by the way, Hank died from a long-standing illness that had NOTHING to do with the Coronavirus.)




This is the cover and page 4  of my Tract (click to enlarge)...

THIS (below) is pages 2 and 3...

"If Apollo 13 Had Happened TODAY...."

It was exactly 50 years ago today, Monday, April 13th, 1970, that the Apollo 13 mission to the moon was derailed.  An oxygen tank in the cockpit exploded, and instead of LANDING on the moon, three brave men had to loop AROUND the moon before heading home safely. They received the "Presidential Medal of Freedom" from then-President Nixon (pictured above) shortly after they landed back on earth. And, 25 years ago, on the 25th anniversary of this event, a TERRIFIC movie was released to document their "inspiring failure" as some have called it.


It's interesting to think what would have happened if this historic event occurred TODAY, in the age of Social Media.


       How many would have IMMEDIATELY, without any evidence, voiced Conspiracy Theories as to why and how the mission got derailed?? Too many CONSPIRACY THEORISTS on Social Media.

       How many false preachers and teachers would have seen this as a SIGN that the END is near...that Jesus was going to return by the end of 1970?? Too many FALSE PROPHETS on Social Media.

       How many SUPERSTITIOUS people would have jumped on Facebook or Twitter and said "13 is an unlucky number, that's why this happened" even noting that THAT VERY DAY was the 13th?? (Gasp!!) Too many SUPERSTITIOUS, SILLY SECOND-GUESSERS on Social Media.

       This list doesn't take into account those who'd hear the word "explosion" and would immediately report that the astronauts were DEAD.  Too many FAKE-NEWSWERS on Social Media.


Such people have ALWAYS been around, it's just that we now have the Internet which provides a 24 / 7 / 365 platform for them.



I was only 15 when Apollo 13 actually took place....like most 15 year olds, I could care less about it at the time.

But when I saw the movie "Apollo 13" in 1995, I seem to recall there was a scary period of radio silence, and no one knew if the three brave astronauts were alive or dead.

I wish we could have some "radio silence"from the ones I've mentioned (and others), those who clog up GOOD communication on Social Media.  For if Apollo 13 had happened TODAY, they'd all be out in full, farcical force.  These folks haven't just LANDED on the moon, they seem STRANDED on the moon and want to take those of us who are at least a little bit "down to earth" WITH them.

"50 Years Ago Today...The Beatles Broke Up"

50 years ago today, PAUL McCARTNEY (second from left), left The Beatles and announced that his first SOLO album would be coming out the following week. This may not have been the final LEGAL dissolution of the group, but it was the PRACTICAL death of The Beatles.  We must remember that JOHN LENNON (third from left) was already recording with his new wife and others two years PRIOR to April 10th, 1970.  And McCartney, despite rumors that he was DEAD (Lol), held the group together through their final, triumphant recording, "Abbey Road," in 1969.

In short, when McCARTNEY left, what was left of these Englishmen as a group....broke up.

I, personally was NOT "broken up" because the group broke up.  You see, I didn't become a Beatles' FAN until AFTER April of 1970.

Oh yeah, when they first came to the States in 1964, I certainly knew who they WERE....that's me (age 9) and my sister MaryAnn with "Beatles' wigs" on, imitating them (May '64.) 

I heard most Beatles songs on the radio the next five years ('64-'69) yet I never recall buying one of their RECORDS.  But when they broke up?? That was different....I bought their "Let it Be" and "Hey Jude" compilation albums, as well as ALL of their SOLO albums which came out after the breakup. The first one I really, REALLY liked was George Harrison's "All Things must Pass," in late 1970. It was a TRIPLE  album as George had a backlog of material he'd written when in The Beatles that never made it to their recordings (because Lennon-McCartney songs dominated.)

50 years later, Beatles music is STILL incredibly popular....Harrison and Lennon are dead but RINGO STARR and McCartney are still alive and recording.  Yet one day, when Jesus returns, there will be NO MORE Beatles' music and there certainly won't be any in HEAVEN.  So remember...."All Things Must Pass."

50 years ago was the PRACTICAL end of The Beatles.  One day, there will be an ETERNAL end.

And if these men don't make it to Heaven, what they've done HERE means very, very little.

"Crapaganda!"

So China, the ones who've inflicted the Coronavirus on the world, is now claiming to be our "savior"!! Read this link...

https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2020/april/china-is-the-hero-saving-the-world-from-covid-19-us-media-pushes-chinas-false-narrative?fbclid=IwAR2JXnt3ZhFJ4ulInrpT1SOpYmDjmbZS7-KVOUFAr41GAKzjGtNPj0gDoKw

China is NOT the Savior of the world....THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS. And may my Savior, Jesus, FORGIVE me because I'm about to be a total hypocrite and use coarse language I have never used before in my blog and on Facebook...language I would not want my COMMENTERS to use.

But regarding China's deliberate campaign of lies, "Propaganda" is just NOT sufficient to describe it.

I have to invent a NEW word.

"CRAPaganda."

In my last blog, I asserted that we shouldn't trust China's intentions as they gave us all of those MASKS. I likened that planeload of 1.2 million masks to a "Trojan Horse," possibly containing MORE of the Virus as it came from the people who CREATED the problem in the FIRST place (read the blog).

I never, ever dreamed that the Chinese Government would proclaim themselves our "saviors" for doing so, but that's what they're doing and SOME in our own media are SPREADING this manure.

We should not take out our anger on the ordinary citizens of China but on the GOVERNMENT of China.  The CITIZENS of China, more often than not, are totally BRAINWASHED by their Government.  And, we CERTAINLY should not be hostile to Chinese-Americans  who, for the most part, are ashamed and even angry at what the Chinese Government is doing.

That being said, what the Chinese Government is doing is ADDING INSULT TO INJURY by trying to make themselves look GOOD in an attempt to make the world forget that THEY caused this problem.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *



MORE LINKS RELATED TO CHINA, AND THEIR RECENT ACTIVITIES (thanks to the reader who sent these to me)....

New York Governor Cuomo thanks China.....
https://www.westernjournal.com/cuomo-thanks-chinese-government-billionaires-donate-ventilators/?fbclid=IwAR3dor6Q85pZgNTzGmQWdJf_3tPwemY7NDszt7uX_CUe0dgA0KXcem6pU5o

China using gift of masks to promote their own business interests...
https://www.westernjournal.com/china-tying-coronavirus-help-business-ties-congressman-says/?fbclid=IwAR32cOFCaX_laMtBS0H6eJ9wnBsdShZ-kRH6atv4lgAlmsXQuyZ7I7gAYyk

Witness claims that China burning Coronavirus victims alive...
https://www.wnd.com/2020/04/new-wuhan-horror-witness-claims-coronavirus-victims-burned-alive/?fbclid=IwAR3sQWq-tSvNVdxDnqmOlB8zl0p2SpAeVtO-Cd-ExPalAUzyrAZqtz_qx9I

"It's Okay to 'Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth,'...If You Suspect It's a TROJAN Horse"

I cannot believe that, to all appearances, our Government is accepting China's "gift" of 1.2 million masks at face value....or, pardon the pun, at faceMASK value.

I refer to the PLANELOAD of masks brought back here on the New England Patriots' plane recently.  Here's what I don't understand.



   1.) President Trump blames the Coronavirus Crisis TOTALLY on China's government, and I agree.  Perhaps HE doesn't think they unleashed it on purpose, but I do (though I can't prove it.)  Nonetheless, the President has consistently, and accurately, called it the "CHINESE Virus," assigning blame where it belongs. At the very least, China lied and many have DIED because of China, and the President SAYS that. (And if we can have "Spanish Flu," "German Measles," and "Black Plague" we can have "Chinese Virus.")

   2.) To his credit, President Trump has consistently said we are at WAR (with the Chinese Virus).  I agree that we are at WAR, but because I, and many others, think that China infected the world DELIBERATELY, even willing to kill many of their OWN in the process, I say it's not enough to admit we're at war with the Chinese VIRUS.  Personally, I think we are at war with the CHINESE...the Chinese GOVERNMENT.  If the Virus HAS been weaponized, it did not weaponize ITSELF.  The Chinese GOVERNMENT weaponized it, so we're at war with THEM.

   3.)  Here's what I don't understand....shouldn't our Government be at least a BIT skeptical of this "gift" of these MASKS??  If you're at WAR with someone, you should NOT trust their sudden good will, without skepticism. Even if President Trump believes the Virus spread ACCIDENTALLY, not MALICIOUSLY....isn't it possible that these masks were ACCIDENTALLY infected??  Trump correctly banned TRAVEL from China, but he lets 1.2 million MASKS in?? If they have been tested, and disinfected, shouldn't the American people be ASSURED of that fact...even IF a public announcement to Americans might offend the Chinese?? I am aware of no such announcement.



And I, with many others, look at that plane and I see at least the POTENTIAL for a "Trojan Horse."

I see the potential for INFECTED MASKS to be sent here as "gifts" by a Government I believe DELIBERATELY unleashed the Virus and a Government we are at WAR with. I, personally, will use one of the MANY alternatives available to us, rather than a mask that came on that plane, from that PLACE.  Apparently OUR government WELCOMES these masks but the CHINESE Government has only earned our DIStrust, in my opinion. 

Hopefully, I'm WRONG.  Hopefully, I've just seen the movie "TROY" too many times (GREAT movie, by the way, Brad Pitt was perfect as Achilles.)  Hopefully OUR Government is RIGHT to trust THEIR Government as the Chinese SEEM to be trying to HELP us after they've HURT us. Hopefully, those masks will help SAVE American lives, and not ENDANGER them.

And hopefully, the New England Patriots are HEROES and not well-meaning TOOLS  of our ENEMY.

But in MY opinion, it's okay to be skeptical here...it's OKAY to look the proverbial "gift horse in the mouth"............IF you suspect it's a Trojan Horse.

"Memes about Meetings"

Yesterday I created, and posted, two "Memes" on Facebook. Both are in response to Christian Friends who feel the Government has NO right to tell us not to meet publicly for Worship services in light of the Coronavirus. I strongly disagree...though I have NO trust of my state Government (led by Democrats), and though I acknowledge they WOULD like to restrict our Liberties, I posted THIS....

With all of their faults, my Government IS right to prohibit gatherings at this point. Note that they are NOT forbidding us to Live Stream our services, they are simply saying DON'T GATHER PUBLICLY FOR NOW.  I agree, and this OTHER "Meme" gives another reason....

If they ever try to make us stop gathering even AFTER this crisis is over, that is ONE thing...but for now, they ARE correct. "Even a broken clock is right twice a day"!!

"Time To Start Practicing Some SPIRITUAL Distancing (From Blind "Leaders")"

We hear a lot about the need for "Social Distancing" these days, to impede the spread of the Virus, and I am in total agreement with this!! But I would suggest that many religious people need to start practicing some SPIRITUAL Distancing from certain spiritual "LEADERS." Please, allow me to elaborate.

I'm talking about the Christian pastor in Florida who held a live service recently, defying the Government's stay-at-home order and enabling his CONGREGATION to do so. I mean, has he ever preached from the Scripture passages where God tells us to SUBMIT TO HUMAN AUTHORITIES?? Does he even READ them?? True, if they tell us we cannot worship God AT ALL, well, that's a different story...in THAT case "we must obey God rather than men." But no one told this pastor he couldn't LIVE-STREAM his message like my church, and countless others, do. It's merely a temporary change of HOW we meet....no one is saying we CAN'T worship Him. CHRISTIANS HAVE NO EXCUSE TO DEFY THE GOVERNMENT AT THIS POINT!! If your pastor tells you to....run.

I'm also talking about the Orthodox Jews in Lakewood, NJ (not far from me) who have CONSISTENTLY violated the Governor's "Shelter in Place" edict by having large gatherings. Well, sadly, SIX RABBIS IN THAT TOWN HAVE NOW PERISHED FROM THE CORONAVIRUS. This proves two things....1.) The Government was NOT lying when they told us this Virus is spread through gatherings and 2.) You can break MAN'S laws and seemingly get away with it (they have gathered despite MANY attempts by the Governor to shut them down) but you can't break GOD'S laws with impunity. God has promised that "we will reap what we sow" and God is NO respecter of persons.  Cop out and call me "anti-Semitic" if you want, but I'm anti-LAWLESSNESS and anti-ARROGANCE. And if your Rabbi tells you it's okay to congregate at this point, practice "Spiritual Distancing." Run!! Run to a true Christian church that preaches the Gospel.

In fact, many, like Roman Catholics, should have been practicing "Spiritual Distancing" long BEFORE this crisis hit.  My Catholic friend, please, I beg you, ask yourself, WHY IS FRANKLIN GRAHAM, A TRUE CHRISTIAN LEADER, DOING MORE TO HELP MEET THE TANGIBLE NEEDS OF THE SUFFERING IN ITALY THAN THE ***POPE*** APPARENTLY IS??!! The Pope "lives" in Italy, Lol!!  Where is HIS love for the suffering right in his backyard?? 

We should NOT practice "Spiritual Distancing" from our GODLY pastors, brothers-and-sisters in Christ who we can't see "in person" at this time OR from TITHING and GIVING to our church (by mail, if needs be)!! Again, I am only talking about "Spiritual Distancing" from those we SHOULD distance ourselves from, NOT from people or obligations we need to keep going as best we can, using technology and even SNAIL MAIL, when necessary.

In closing, the painting above was done by Pieter Brugel the Elder in 1568 (Public Domain). It depicts something JESUS warned against..."the blind leading the blind."  Jesus warned that BOTH will "fall into the ditch" that way. Beware of those who are spiritually blind, who are "blind" to what GOD says we should do, and how we should live, and RUN from their influence. This crisis is helping to bring out who those "blind" leaders ARE. 

If YOUR religious "leader" is going against God's Word, it's time to start practicing some SPIRITUAL Distancing....from them.