Eddie Jones's Blog, page 24
July 2, 2021
Look for China to Be the Leader in the Future of Money
2033 Jesus and Your Money
China comes at digital currency without the promise of anonymity but from the over-reaching surveillance of state-run accounts. Global chief investment officer at Deutsche Bank, Christian Nolting, wrote in a report on crypto-currencies published in April: China “could complement, or displace, increasingly widely used private-sector crypto-currencies.”
In other words, Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, and Binance Coin, would remain fringe players while China’s Yuan dominates global currencies.
Former CIA analyst Yaya Fanusie, now a digital currency expert and an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, points to the recent example of Swedish fashion retailer as an example of how China might deal with those who step out of line. When H&M expressed concern over China’s use of forced labour in cotton production in the Xinjiang region, China pulled H&M products from their sites and mobile apps. NPR reported, “Two Chinese celebrities have already severed deals with the Swedish brand. Chinese state media outlets are now calling out other Western clothing brands — including Nike, New Balance and Burberry — for not using Xinjiang cotton. ‘Pure and flawless Xinjiang cotton cannot allow any forces to smear or blacken it,’ a Chinese commerce ministry spokesperson said.”
But former director of the digital currency institute at the People’s Bank of China, Yao Qian, claims surveillance is not the intent a digital Yuan. At the International Finance Forum in Beijing on May 30, Bloomberg news reported that Yao told a panel, “Helping the government see all transactions in real time was not the intention of the Chinese central bank.”
Still, data and information would be accessible in real time. Each transaction would reveal the location of the account holder and their purchase. We do not need a Jerry Jenkins / Tim Lahaye novel series to envision how this might play out on a world stage.
Books I support—authors I trust.
July 1, 2021
Honor the Lord With Your Bounty
The Prosperity Gospel & Prosperity Theology from God's Perspective -Proverbs 3:9-10
Honor the Lord with your wealth. Honor the Lord with the first fruits of all your crops. Do this and your barns will be filled to overflowing. Your vats will brim over with new wine. Proverbs 3:9-10
Seems simple enough: Invest a tithe (10%) of the first income / produce you receive and you’ll never go hungry or run out of wine. Who wouldn’t jump on a plan that guaranteed such a blessed harvest?
Only my reading of the life and words of Jesus, plus my own experience, leads me to wonder if this verse, so often sited by prosperity preachers, has a deeper, more spiritual meaning. To give away 10% of your wealth may not seem like much, but in 2017, eight years after the Great Recession ended, 49 percent of all Americans still lived paycheck-to-paycheck. To give to God 10% before buying groceries or paying bills might seem like scooping buckets of water onto a sinking boat.
But could it not be that the principle of giving the “first fruits of all your crops” is key to walking with our Father.
“Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering.” – Genesis 4:4
If you are Abel, give first, give large, give your best.
Give God your very life and trust that he will know best how to fill vats and barns. Remember: filled barns and vats suggests that someone must work hard to care and sort the produce. What might seem like a blessing for some is a burden for others.
We may never know how many times God directed disaster away from hour home, spared us from sickness, kept us from making a bad purchase, or turning towards a catastrophic career move. On the other side of the grave we may see how his hand guided us, but on this side, we must simply trust and obey.
Lord, I do not ask for riches. I only ask that you richly bless me with your presence, your protection, your provision, your hope, your joy, your love, your arms wrapped around me tight, pulling me close. It is enough that you keep me in your lap and close to your heart. Enough and more than I deserve. Thanks and THANKS!
Books I support—authors I trust.
June 30, 2021
A Womanless Wedding
UMC Split
This is NOT NRUMC in the early 70’s, but it would be great if our racial mix was closer to this.
In the early years of North Raleigh United Methodist Church, the congregation held a womanless wedding. We performed the ceremony in “the old metal building” which at the time was the only structure on the property. Rabbit trail: a whooshing sigh from the chairs in that early sanctuary served as entertainment—for boys like me, anyway. Each time the congregation stood to sing or hear the reading of the word, I knew a united Methodist “fart” would follow. The construction of the cushions in the chairs held air, and when pressed, the air escaped. The more we stood, the more I snickered.
I may be wrong about this, but I think Red Hewitt served as bride. Ed Smith might have been the groom, but I wouldn’t swear to this. Red was a large, gregarious, man who by his very nature caused people to laugh. At the time his role as bride seemed perfect.
Now nearly 5o years later NRUMC may soon have real womanless weddings.
During a June 25 online meeting, the UMC’s General Council on Finance and Administration voted to amend local churches’ forms to include the option of non-binary as a gender category. “Non-binary” will now be included next to“male” and “female.”
According to UM News, “The change will take effect with forms for the 2021 collection year and will only affect the denomination’s data collection in the U.S. The Book of Discipline, the denomination’s policy book, says all people are of sacred worth but states that ‘the practice of homosexuality’ is ‘incompatible with Christian teaching.’ However, GCFA staff confirmed that adding non-binary to the forms does not conflict with any paragraph in the Discipline. Board members also concluded the change is not in conflict with any legislation related to sexuality heading to the pandemic-delayed General Conference.”
I read the UM News report and thought back to that first womanless wedding and wondered if we had erred in our attempt to have a little fun. Deuteronomy 22:5 says, “A woman shall not wear a man’s clothing, nor shall a man put on a woman’s clothing; for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God.”
I cannot imagine today that NRUMC would even consider such an event. A womanless wedding for the sake of humor would be offensive to those attracted to members of the same gender. Like those farting chairs I found so funny, had we mocked a sacred event for a few laughs and offended those who were gay? Had we offended God?
We can’t change the past, but with the help of God’s Holy Spirit we can change how we live in the present and future.
Lord, forgive me for mocking what you call sacred. Forgive me for making fun of all who are created in your image, loved by you, and worthy of your Son’s saving death on the cross. May you give me your eyes to see, ears to hear, hands with which to reach out, and a heart that breaks every time I choose my sin over your love.
Books I support—authors I trust.
June 28, 2021
Young Adults Drop Support for Israel
2033 Jesus
Perhaps you can quote the passage: I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated (Malachi 1:2-3) and so you stand with Israel no matter what. “God said it; that settles it.” The “it” in this case are prophesies regarding Israel. (And oh how we Christians love prophesies—why it’s our very own virtual future reality game.)
For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as his own possession. (Psalm 135:4)
The Lord said to Abram, “I will make of you a great nation [Israel], and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-4)
Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. (Luke 21:24)
All the nations of the earth will gather against Jerusalem. On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. (Zechariah 12:3)
I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured. Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle. On that day his feet [Jesus] will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. (Zechariah 14:1-4)
After World War 2 and the horror of The Holocaust, sticking by Israel seemed to be the patriotic thing to do, but now across the world, and now even in the U.S., support for Israel is declining. “It seems that the Israeli government’s decision to abandon large segments of the liberal, progressive Democratic public and gamble only on the Evangelicals might end up costing us dearly,” said Dr. Yoav Fromer, head of the Center for the Study of the United States at Tel Aviv University.
In the first survey in 2018,75% of American Evangelicals supported Israel. Even then, 18-29-year-olds expressed less support for Israel than their parents. Dr. Motti Inbari of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, points out that those in the survey who support Palestinians had more political reasons. “They were less supportive of Israel but not because they are less religious, but because young Evangelicals don’t look at political issues the same way. It’s a generational divide.”
In fiscal year 2019, the United States provided Israel with $3.8 billion in military aid. Israel also benefits from around $8 billion in American loan guarantees. Israel’s annual budget is 387.717 billion. America’s financial support is around 3%—should we pull funds, hardly enough to impact Israel’s finances. The bigger issue is military support and shared military information. Were the U.S. become a foe rather than an ally, Israel would in deed stand alone.
The prudent sailor watches the wind and swells and keeps a weather eye out for squalls. If you squint through the binocs you can see clouds gathering on the horizon.
Books I support—authors I trust.
June 23, 2021
A Poem from a Prisoner of Christ
Captured By Christ
I did not realize Jesus was all I needed,
Until Jesus was all I had!
Jesus wept the day,
when I went Astray.
I confused my Need,
with Satan’s cunning Greed.
When Jesus was a stranger,
I could not control my Anger.
Now my cure for defeating Pride,
is with the Holy Spirit by my side.
To defeat my Envy, Hate and Lust,
Reading God’s word daily is a must.
The Bible’s encouragement and motivation,
gives me courage over Temptation.
My Bible is frayed from daily use,
I have won the battle of Abuse.
Jesus, Baptized with the symbol of a dove,
came to teach me about God’s Love.
Do not simply believe my words,
Ask Jesus to make his voice Heard.
June 22, 2021
Claiming God’s Protection on Your Calling
Psalm 1:6
The Lord watches over the way of the righteous. (Psalm 1:6) Except there is no one righteous, not even one (Romans 3:10). All have failed to keep his commandments. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). All have gone astray. Each of us has turned to our own way (Isaiah 53:6).
But God made him who had no sin, to be sin for us, so that in Christ we might have the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Lord, please watch over my steps. I admit that on my own I have no righteousness, no right to call on you for help, protection, or guidance. Through the righteousness of Christ, though, you draw me into your arms. As I stray from your path, gently lead me back in step with you. Watch over me today and keep me close. In the nature and name of Christ, this I ask. Amen
June 21, 2021
Claiming God’s Blessings on Your Calling
Joshua 1:7-9
Lord, you have commanded me to be strong, to be courageous. You have commanded me to be careful to obey ALL your Law. “Do not turn from it to the right or to the left. Do this,” you say, “that you may be successful where ever you go!”
Lord, reveal to me the commands I have turned from. Reveal to me my fears, discouraging thoughts. Reveal to me where I have been lazy, sloppy, and careless in obeying your words, the nudge of your Holy Spirit, the example of Christ. Show me where I have veered to the left and left you. Show me where I have gone too far to the right in order to “be right” rather than be loving. Lord, I claim your promise that if I obey you in all things, love you above all others, and allow Jesus to have his will lived out in my life that I will be successful where ever you send me. Amen.
June 4, 2021
Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference Yvonne Lehman Award 2021
2021 Award
In 2017 The Florida Christian Writers Conference awarded me the Billy Wilson award. “Let your light shine before men, that. they may see your good works, and. glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
On June 2 the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference awarded Cindy Sproles and me the first Yvonne Lehman Award for, “Recognizing Those Who Help Others Follow God’s Call To Write.”
Of all the awards received during the past fifteen years of writing and attending Christian writers conferences, the awards in honor of Yvonne and Billy best represent my heart: to help authors and writers. If you want to chat about your book or book marketing, email me: WritersCoach.us@gmail.com
May 27, 2021
What Is Your Expiration Date?
Cancel THIS Culture
I know very little—nothing really—about buying fruit, but my wife tells me if fruit bruises easily it’s overripe and probably close to its expiration date. Not sure if this is true or not. I checked and one website said, “Bruising does not indicate the produce is past its prime and has gone bad. The bruise is simply displeasing aesthetically but not a health hazard.”
It’s not my place to argue with a fruit expert and no way am I dumb enough to contradict with my wife. But it does seem to me that if fruit bruises easily and is “displeasing aesthetically,” it may very well be headed for the trash heap.
Do your feelings bruise easily? (me, check) Are your words and actions aesthetically displeasing? (me, check) If so, you may wish to check your expiration date. Could be you are past your prime and on the way out the door.
May 20, 2021
An “After I Kick the Bucket” List
End Times / New Times / Your Time
Bucket List: From the term “kick the bucket” (“to die”) + list, hence a “list of things to do before you die”. The term was coined by American and British screenwriter Justin Zackham in his screenplay for the 2007 film The Bucket List. The first item on his list was to have a screenplay produced at a major Hollywood studio.Been thinking of all the things I plan to do after I “kick the bucket.” To some the idea of doing anything after we die seems odd. The trend among the young today (anyone younger than me) is to think less and less about heaven. Almost no one wants to think about hell. But before I get to heaven (I’m not going to think about hell), there are some things here on earth I want to do.
Not in my earthly body. My earthly body is not built for the places I wish to go and things I wish to do. For that I’ll need glorified body similar to the one Jesus had during the forty days he walked the earth after he rose from the grave.
I’m hoping I’ll get more than forty days. Here’s the start of my list.
Kenai Peninsula: 60.0858° N, 151.3823° W
Surf river mouths along the Kenai Peninsula. In this body the water is too cold, the bears too close, and getting there can take a while. In Body 2.0 I could zip there instantly (yes, teleporting is a thing in the Bible both in Body 1.0 and Body 2.0) If polar bears begin crowding the lineup, I’ll simply move down the beach. I doubt there will be a crowd of human surfers out. But if there are, if it turns out more than I expect take God up on his generous offer, I’ll move on to . . .
Pipeline: 21.5617° N, 158.0716° W
Surfing Pipe has been a life-long dream of mine. For a time I thought I might make it out to the North Shore of Oahu but then life and a severe lack of funds (but not fun) got in the way. These days the crowds are such that I would never have the time to get the place wired. The break is close to the beach but with my new Body 2.0 punching through the shore break and up the face without getting pitched is definitely possible.
Tavarua, Fiji. Latitude: -17.8577° N, 177.2018° W
Cloudbreak is a heavy wave that breaks in Tavarua, a 29-acre heart-shaped island located five miles off the western shore of Viti Levu, Fiji’s main island. When it’s big the only way to get into the wave is with a jet ski. I’m hoping with my new Body 2.0 I’ll get Super Jesus strength and be able to paddle in. Won’t know until I try. Good thing is, when I go over the falls I won’t die. Might take several hundred years to get Cloudbreak wired.
Cape St. Francis 34.2062° S, 24.8300° E
Cape St. Francis birthed a generation of men and women who went in search of the perfect wave. For years we (YES! I BELIEVE!) thought that if only we could get to Cape St. Francis we would find the perfect right-hand break. As Matt Warshaw in History of Surfing tells it, “Brown, Hynson and August checked into a beachfront hostel. The following morning, Hynson noticed a likely-looking break a mile or so to the south, walked up by himself, started riding, and was soon joined by the others. Ninety minutes later, the wave shut down. And that was it for their visit. With nothing to surf the next day, they all spent two or three hours marching up and down the dunes for the camera; Brown had determined overnight that he needed an ex post facto opening sequence to set up their wave score. The remark about Cape St. Francis surf being good 300 days a year—Brown pulled that out of thin air a few months later, while writing the voice-over.” No matter. There are perfect waves out there just waiting to be surfed. In my Endless Summer of eternity, I plan to find that day when Hynson and August surfed those “funny looking waves.”
Nazaré, Portugal 39.6012° N, 9.0701° W
Born in a canyon under the sea more than three miles deep that extends from near shore, west for about 140 miles and you have the potential for a monster wave. The canyon beneath “Nazare” is half the length of the Grand Canyon but almost three times deeper. As swells roll in from far offshore, over this submarine canyon, the shelves and cliffs funnel the wave squeezing it and increasing the speed of the swell, until a shallow ledge near shore lifts this beast, creating a monster ride.
There you have it, my “after I kick the bucket” list. Hope to see you out there on a day beyond the grave!
