ThinMint

Caleb and Joshua’s report was one of hope. They saw the possibilities, they saw the victory. God says in Numbers 14:24 that Caleb, “… has a different attitude than the others have. He has remained loyal to Me…” Do we not see the same traits of the ten spies in others today? Doubt, resignation, cowardice, carping, ingratitude, disbelief even sabotage. Are we in danger of doing this as well? When we see the frightening happenings around us, we shouldn’t long for the days when things will return “back to normal.” We should have the expectation that God will do the miraculous, both on a grand scale and for our own individual needs. The events we are witnessing aren’t about Trump; he is not the cause nor the solution to what is happening. We trust that God knows what He’s doing, that He looks out for us and we make Him our leader. Jesus tells us that our gate, “is narrow and the road leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). While His words refer to eternal life, I think it can also refer to those who put their trust in God in the here and now. Too many see their dire circumstances and wonder where God is instead of believing God is bigger than their scary situations. Fear, anger and negativity will always be a millstone for us. Holding these outlooks put us in danger of having a rebellious, mutinous heart against God. We need to keep the traits of faith, courage, confidence and appreciation. He’s going to show up no matter what. Which state will your heart be in when He does?

All of these examples are not musings from those who are merely concerned about their future. Can’t we all relate to feeling doubt and fear then we become critical at times? The Israelites weren’t just frustrated; they were in mutiny against God. Having a contemptuous spirit, they blamed Moses and God for their own traitorous hearts. And they revolted against God. Paul tells us the above historic account is for our benefit (1 Corinthians 10:11; Romans 15:4). The outlook from the 10 spies is what we would call a Black Pill perspective. They could only see the problems, not the possibilities. Their report was of gloom, not of hope. They saw defeat, not victory. They sowed doubt among the people. Can you feel the ache reading God’s response? “How long will these people treat Me with contempt? Will they never believe Me, even after all the miraculous signs I have done among them?” The Israelites refused to acknowledge what God had already done for them and had promised to do from them.

In Numbers 13-17 we read of the Israelites complaining and rebellion. It starts with Moses sending 12 spies into the land flowing with milk and honey. For 40 days these spies observe Canaan, the Promised Land. Upon their return to report their findings, 10 of these spies were distraught and fearful, and they told Moses they couldn’t conquer the land. This negativity quickly spread throughout the camp causing the Israelites to doubt God’s chosen leaders and worse, God Himself. The 10 spies were struck dead with a plague for inciting a rebellion against God. Because He is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love He spared the lives of the Israelites after Moses interceded on their behalf. For their rebellion and disbelief that generation would not set foot in the Promised Land. For whatever reason the consequence for the spies’ rebellion did not move many among the camp to put their trust in God. Another group of prominent leaders rose up, challenging Moses and Aaron’s headship –God’s handpicked leaders. Once again the Lord moved to destroy the rebellious but Moses interceded on their behalf. God targeted the foolish leaders for inciting rebellion against Him as a sign that He had indeed picked Moses to lead the people out of enslavement. They, their followers and all their belongings were swallowed up by the earth. And the Lord burned up the other 250 leaders who incited rebellion against God. Still, for whatever reason the people had the audacity to complain again the very next morning, blaming Moses and Aaron for the deaths of the wicked. The Lord was set to put down this rebellion yet Moses interceded on their behalf. Some were struck down with a deadly plague and some survived because of Aaron purifying them with incense from the Tabernacle. The Lord did the miraculous with 12 staffs, one from each tribe, showing the people He had chosen Aaron. And yet, for whatever reason, the people of Israel still grumbled.

I’m sure you heard the term, “black pilled,” which refers to those who narrow in on the negative, or what they perceive to be the negative then they ever so thoughtfully (!) spread their negativity around. Taking the Red Pill describes being exposed to the uncomfortable truths. Being a black pill describes those who believe we can do nothing about these truths so we should stop trying to change the outcome. These folks vary from the cynic to the nihilist –as some would watch all of it burn to the ground. We have two choices: 1) We can argue and point out how we’re all doomed 2) We can do the best we can to improve the situation How do we note what’s happening without becoming a self-pitying disparager? Let’s look at the story of the 12 spies.

Hi Patient Patriots! Looks like there have been some wonky things happening today, including Telegram. It decoupled the comments so I am working to get that back as I love reading your comments! Bear with me as I try a few things, including deleting what I posted earlier then re-posting it. I'll be working on this in between getting dinner ready 🙂

Caleb and Joshua’s report was one of hope. They saw the possibilities, they saw the victory. God says in Numbers 14:24 that Caleb, “… has a different attitude than the others have. He has remained loyal to Me…” Do we not see the same traits of the ten spies in others today? Doubt, resignation, cowardice, carping, ingratitude, disbelief even sabotage. Are we in danger of doing this as well? When we see the frightening happenings around us, we shouldn’t long for the days when things will return “back to normal.” We should have the expectation that God will do the miraculous, both on a grand scale and for our own individual needs. The events we are witnessing aren’t about Trump; he is not the cause nor the solution to what is happening. We trust that God knows what He’s doing, that He looks out for us and we make Him our leader. Jesus tells us that our gate, “is narrow and the road leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). While His words refer to eternal life, I think it can also refer to those who put their trust in God in the here and now. Too many see their dire circumstances and wonder where God is instead of believing God is bigger than their scary situations. Fear, anger and negativity will always be a millstone for us. Holding these outlooks put us in danger of having a rebellious, mutinous heart against God. We need to keep the traits of faith, courage, confidence and appreciation. He’s going to show up no matter what. Which state will your heart be in when He does?

All of these examples are not musings from those who are merely concerned about their future. Can’t we all relate to feeling doubt and fear then we become critical at times? The Israelites weren’t just frustrated; they were in mutiny against God. Having a contemptuous spirit, they blamed Moses and God for their own traitorous hearts. And they revolted against God. Paul tells us the above historic account is for our benefit (1 Corinthians 10:11; Romans 15:4). The outlook from the 10 spies is what we would call a Black Pill perspective. They could only see the problems, not the possibilities. Their report was of gloom, not of hope. They saw defeat, not victory. They sowed doubt among the people. Can you feel the ache reading God’s response? “How long will these people treat Me with contempt? Will they never believe Me, even after all the miraculous signs I have done among them?” The Israelites refused to acknowledge what God had already done for them and had promised to do from them.

In Numbers 13-17 we read of the Israelites complaining and rebellion. It starts with Moses sending 12 spies into the land flowing with milk and honey. For 40 days these spies observe Canaan, the Promised Land. Upon their return to report their findings, 10 of these spies were distraught and fearful, and they told Moses they couldn’t conquer the land. This negativity quickly spread throughout the camp causing the Israelites to doubt God’s chosen leaders and worse, God Himself. The 10 spies were struck dead with a plague for inciting a rebellion against God. Because He is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love He spared the lives of the Israelites after Moses interceded on their behalf. For their rebellion and disbelief that generation would not set foot in the Promised Land. For whatever reason the consequence for the spies’ rebellion did not move many among the camp to put their trust in God. Another group of prominent leaders rose up, challenging Moses and Aaron’s headship –God’s handpicked leaders. Once again the Lord moved to destroy the rebellious but Moses interceded on their behalf. God targeted the foolish leaders for inciting rebellion against Him as a sign that He had indeed picked Moses to lead the people out of enslavement. They, their followers and all their belongings were swallowed up by the earth. And the Lord burned up the other 250 leaders who incited rebellion against God. Still, for whatever reason the people had the audacity to complain again the very next morning, blaming Moses and Aaron for the deaths of the wicked. The Lord was set to put down this rebellion yet Moses interceded on their behalf. Some were struck down with a deadly plague and some survived because of Aaron purifying them with incense from the Tabernacle. The Lord did the miraculous with 12 staffs, one from each tribe, showing the people He had chosen Aaron. And yet, for whatever reason, the people of Israel still grumbled.

I’m sure you heard the term, “black pilled,” which refers to those who narrow in on the negative, or what they perceive to be the negative then they ever so thoughtfully (!) spread their negativity around. Taking the Red Pill describes being exposed to the uncomfortable truths. Being a black pill describes those who believe we can do nothing about these truths so we should stop trying to change the outcome. These folks vary from the cynic to the nihilist –as some would watch all of it burn to the ground. We have two choices: 1) We can argue and point out how we’re all doomed 2) We can do the best we can to improve the situation How do we note what’s happening without becoming a self-pitying disparager? Let’s look at the story of the 12 spies.

"... Go back to your books, and your armchair. Plant your trees, watch them grow. If more people valued home above gold, this world would be a merrier place." - Thorin Oakenshield

My oldest son and I watched two of the three movies from the Lord of The Rings trilogy yesterday. I’ve lost count how many times I’ve seen the movie, but yesterday was the first time I was struck with the thought that there are a lot of characters who got red pilled, and there are some characters who swallow the black pill. If there was ever a movie for our time that encompasses all the variations of our emotions and all the nuisances of fighting evil, I think Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit represent it quite well.

We had a delightful day yesterday! One alpaca in particular took a liking to my youngest daughter, following her around as my daughter flitted about. It was a great day for our family. Please do something this weekend that makes your heart smile and creates sweet memories. Life is too precious to not take time to enjoy the fruits of your labor and the gifts God has bestowed. Blessings to each and every one of you!

• Biden receives his 3rd booster shot under strange circumstances. It was staged in a mock studio of the White House, the needle was peculiarly long, and his arm does not appear the same as it has in previous pictures • Biden says it doesn't matter when the infrastructure bill goes through, "It could be "six minutes, six days, or six weeks, we're going to get it done." Build Back Better (666) • Biden said he was never advised to keep troops in Afghanistan. Generals Milley and McKenzie say they recommended keeping 2,500 troops in country We are seeing all kinds of signs that indicate we have entered RED OCTOBER

• Sen Josh Hawley introduced a bill Thursday removing liability protections from tech platforms that harm children. The bill aims to empower parents of children harmed by social media. It would amend Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to strip liability protections from social media services that are found to have caused “bodily injury or harm to mental health” to users under the age of 16. This allows for users who suffer harm at the hands of social media companies to sue for damages • Trump promotes the efforts of The Immigration Reform Law Institute, stating that they will, "defend my immigration policies that Make America Great. Now they are pushing back against Biden’s destructive immigration agenda that weakens our great Country and puts all of us at risk. I strongly encourage people to support the Immigration Reform Law Institute in their mission to protect our Borders, our Nation, and our people" • Smith & Wesson, one of the oldest gun manufacturers in the country, announced it is moving operations from Springfield MA to TN due to proposed gun laws in Massachusetts. The company plans to move to Maryville, TN in 2023 after being based in Springfield since it was founded in 1852 • U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth has cleared the way for claims for damages by as many as 4,500 people who were arrested under the now-defunct law against carrying handguns in public. He noted how D.C. City Council, effectively had "banned non-residents from possessing a firearm," and prevented anyone "from carrying a weapon in public... At the time of these arrests, the District of Columbia refused to even entertain gun registration applications by individuals who are not residents of the District of Columbia. There is no genuine dispute of material fact regarding plaintiffs' Second Amendment claims, and no reasonable jury could find for the district... the District violated the plaintiffs' Second Amendment rights by arresting them, detaining them, prosecuting them, and seizing their guns based on an unconstitutional set of D.C. laws..." • The premier of Australia's most populous state New South Wales (NSW), Gladys Berejiklian, resigned Friday after a corruption watchdog said it was investigating whether she was involved in conduct that "constituted or involved a breach of public trust" [IMHO, both a White Hat force stepdown and she sent a coded message to the Deep State] • Obama said in an interview with ABC News that open border policies on the Southern border were “unsustainable” for the United States [turning on each other already?] • Press Sec Jenn Psaki said during one of this week’s briefings that Biden’s handling of the infrastructure bill, "It’s like an episode of a TV show... maybe The West Wing" [are we watching a movie?!] • Ezra Cohen, chair of the Public Interest Declassification Board, wrote a letter to Biden earlier this week, encouraging the maximum public release of records under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act (JFK Act) at the request of the PID • According to a poll by Axios/Ipsos, 53% of respondents said they have little or no trust in Biden to provide accurate coronavirus information • According to a new CD Media/ Georgia Record/Big Data Poll 55% of the voters in Georgia disapprove of the job Biden is doing as president • Florida sues Biden administration over catch-and-release policy, alleging violation of federal law • Biden is letting thousands of immigrants into the country with no testing or vaccines while his vaccine mandate is telling American citizens to get vaccinated or get fired [big red pill] • Pelosi says, “Obama agenda” as opposed to a Biden agenda [thanks, White Hats!] • Announcer calls Biden, “President Obama” at congressional baseball game • Nebraska State Treasurer John Murante said that they will not comply with Biden's plan to allow the IRS to view any transactions a person makes over $600, and if the administration sues he will take it all the way to the Supreme Court

• Crazy people protested at the home of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and harass his wife. The activists unfurled a 30-foot banner, made from emergency blankets, accusing him of continuing Trump’s immigration policies [they really do eat their own. These activists are stupid and violate private property rights] • Another female executive producer, Melanie Buck, has come forward, claiming she felt “threatened” by Chris Cuomo and begged to leave his show in 2020. This latest development follows on the heels of a sexual harassment claim by Shelley Ross, a former longtime ABC News executive who was Cuomo’s boss when he worked there • The attorney for Dustin Hice, who has accused CNN host Don Lemon of a sexually charged assault, says this week he expects the case to finally end up in court early next year after a prolonged legal process • R. Kelly was found guilty Monday of sexually abusing women, boys and girls for decades. He was convicted on all nine counts against him, including racketeering and violations of the Mann Act, which prohibits the transport of “any woman or girl” across state lines for any “immoral purpose” • Fashion mogul Peter Nygard has agreed to be extradited to New York to face sex-trafficking charges as Canadian police issued a new arrest warrant accusing him of six more attacks. The accused pedophile has been sued by 57 women who say he sexually abused them; and by his own sons, who claim he hired a female escort to rape them when they were children • Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin has fostered a “toxic” and sexist work environment that’s even pushed some employees into having suicidal thoughts, a group of 21 former and current employees alleged in an open letter. Several senior leaders have been “consistently inappropriate with women,” the letter alleges • Prince Andrew is reportedly now prepping to “come out fighting” in the legal battle after trying to avoid getting served the papers in a sex assault lawsuit against him • Alexandra Souverneva, former forestry student-turned-shaman was charged with felony arson to wildland with an enhancement because of a declared state of emergency in California. The 8,500 acre blaze the 30 year-old is accused of starting has wrecked 41 homes, and 90 other structures • GA Douglasville Police Department identified Terresha Lucas, a 30-year-old African-American female as the person who has allegedly been sending her neighbors racially-charges notes since December, describing herself as a 6 ft tall white male with a long, red beard. The notes threatened to burn their houses down and kill them and said that they didn't belong in the neighborhood [exposed] • Texas is suing the Biden administration to invalidate a federal civil rights directive on pronoun usage and bathroom access in the workplace. The challenge is to an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission advisory that says employers must let LGBT-ELEMENOPOOP workers access the bathrooms of their choice. The EEOC warned in the same advisory that failure to use a worker's preferred pronouns could amount to unlawful harassment • Canadian Pastor Artur Pawlowski was arrested upon his return to Canada for preaching and not wearing a mask. He has been released and his plight is being recognized • Dallas Federal Reserve President Robert Kaplan said he is stepping down from his position following a controversy over his stock holdings • Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren, who had come under similar scrutiny, announced earlier in the day that he was retiring • TX Gov Abbott vows to hire horseback border agents if Biden fires them, says president 'in dereliction of duty' • Former VA Gov Terry McAuliffe commented during his debate with Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin: “I don’t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach. I’m not going to let parents come into schools and actually take books out and make their own decisions,” he said [showing his true color]