If You’re NOT a Bot, PROVE You’re Not

This might seem a little strange, but since I have been receiving sooooooo many more views over the last several months, I would REALLY appreciate if you could either like a post (like this one), leave a comment, or both.

Oh, and subscribing to one of my YouTube channels would be WONDERFUL, TOO!!

If you want to know a little bit more about being a follower of Jesus Christ, check out The Humble Word.

If you would like to follow my watch collecting journey and learn more about watches, then go to my channel called The Humble Horologist.

Thanks!

Merry Christmas, too!!

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Understanding LUCA, Our 138-millionth Grandparent

Several days ago, an article was published by Popular Mechanics and posted online by MSN.com. The title was: “All life on Earth comes from one single ancestor. And it’s so much older than we thought.

This story is about a lengthy research paper published back in July of 2024 by an international group of scientists. Here’s the citation, should you need some reading material before you go to sleep.

Moody, E.R.R., Álvarez-Carretero, S., Mahendrarajah, T.A. et al. The nature of the last universal common ancestor and its impact on the early Earth system. Nat Ecol Evol 8, 1654–1666 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-024-02461-1

Look, I’m gonna be completely honest… I could barely understand anything these people (in the actual study) were saying. I sucked in biology (and math). When it came to scientific experiments, the only ones I enjoyed were the ones that involved rapid exothermic reaction and fragmentation, but those were not conducted in controlled environments and it’s just possible a few laws were broken (but that’s the nature of the redneck life).

So, upon reading some of the research material and upon viewing several of the very complicated charts, it became clear that I am in no position to argue the science. These guys could think circles around me and correctly pronounce words I can’t even spell. In comparison, I’m a dummy.

However…..

How is it that my 138-millionth grandparent (based on generational averages and 4.2 billion years), LUCA, came to be? I am not really sure that’s explained, but like I said earlier, I’m a dummy.

Probabilistic estimates of metabolic networks from modern life that were present in LUCA.

But how is it that LUCA (Last Universal Common Ancestor), although the first of a long line of my ancestors, didn’t just pop into existence, but popped into a system already in place to not only to support LUCA’s life, but for LUCA to have purpose?

Consider the following excerpt from the scientific paper’s abstract (italics added):

Our results suggest LUCA was a prokaryote-grade anaerobic acetogen that possessed an early immune system. Although LUCA is sometimes perceived as living in isolation, we infer LUCA to have been part of an established ecological system. The metabolism of LUCA would have provided a niche for other microbial community members and hydrogen recycling by atmospheric photochemistry could have supported a modestly productive early ecosystem.

I don’t know about you, but something sounds a little strange. Maybe it’s the dummy in me thinking out loud. Didn’t the Popular Mechanics tell us that “All life on earth comes from one common ancestor…“? Then what am I to make of “an established ecological system“? I mean, honestly, how did this system come to be? How long did it take to get “established” and how did the “community members” get by without LUCA?

I’m beginning to wonder if Susan Vega is somewhere behind this. Reference too vague?

Well, one thing’s for sure, and it’s not that LUCA got a black eye by being clumsy (see earlier vague reference). Somebody needs to do in investigation to find out where LUCA’s community went! If all life on earth came from our 138-millionth ancestor, I first grandparent might have been the very first serial killer!

But don’t listen to me, I don’t know anything. It’s just, I mean, you know…

Systems are not random. Non-life can’t produce life. Something can’t come from nothing, for if it did, that nothing would be something. And as best I can tell, the Genesis account of human life (my real ancestors) does describe a first ancestor entering an already established ecosystem. Interesting, eh?

Just thought I’d share. Have a blessed day!

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Is Kim Davis Being Hypocritical?

Good morning, good afternoon, or good evening, dear reader! What a beautiful day to tackle a current story in the news!

Oh, and speaking of tackle, did you see the video of the USC (college football) punter who instead of punting threw a first down? Talk about faking out the competition! Instead of the player who WAS the punter, a third-string quarterback subbed in with the punter’s jersey and fooled everyone – until he rifled the football. Beautiful.

But speaking of beautiful, there’s the four-time bride Kim Davis, former county clerk in Kentucky. If you don’t remember who she is, back in 2015 she refused to sign the marriage certificates for same sex couples, even though the law had made it legal. After an emotionally-damaged gay couple from Rowan County sued Kim Davis for denying them a blissful union, the courts demanded that Ms. Davis pay the smartly dressed couple $360,000 in damages and attorney fees.

The current story is that Kim Davis is seeking to have the Supreme Court overturn her fine, and by extension, overturn Obergefell v. Hodges. What are her arguments for doing this? WHO CARES? She has no moral ground from which to appeal her case because . . . wait for it . . . she has been divorced.

That’s right, folks. Just because the ravishing Kim Davis found a way to seduce for different men into marrying her (and three to leave), she therefore must have no respect for the legitimacy of marriage and shouldn’t be lecturing others about it.

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.

So, let’s see if I am understanding this correctly. Let’s start with Kim Davis.

Kim Davis is a confessing Christian. She believes that God made men and women and only men and women should get married. She believes this so strongly that she chose to go to jail rather than go against her religious beliefs and put her signature on a same-sex county-issued marriage certificate.

But Kim Davis has been divorced three times! She’s now married to her fourth husband!” you protest. Yes, that’s the truth. But does that mean she has no moral ground from which to launch an attack on gay marriage? Does her poor choice in men (or the poor vision and shortsightedness of these men) nullify her religious beliefs? Does her participation in the destruction of three marriages mean that, in actuality, she doesn’t believe what she preaches?

Some say, “Yes!” To those people, particularly those attacking Kim Davis in the media, let me ask YOU some questions.

  • Do you believe there should be speed limits in our neighborhoods? Then why to you speed in your car?
  • Do you believe it is wrong to lie? Did you say you never go over the speed limit?
  • Do you believe we should not objectify women? Then why do you change your appearance to that of a stereotypical caricature of 1950’s feminism?
  • Do you believe that marriage is just a construct of society, morals and values are relative to context, and sexual deviancy is nothing more than a than a term created by religious zealots? Then why do you judge another person’s moral standards and why is changing the definition of marriage such a big deal?

It’s only me thinking out loud, I suppose. I just don’t understand how one’s substandard living nullifies the standard by which one judges.

Ironically, one of the first evangelists, if I’m not mistaken, was a woman who was married five times and the man she was living with at the time was not her husband (so said Jesus).

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The UAW Says I Should Get What I Deserve.

Ask me about VW (Chattanooga plant) and the UAW potential strike, if you want my opinion. However, without you asking I will respond to 3 words of concern: “what we deserve.”

If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it…well, you know, a lot. And every time I hear it I cringe. That’s all the Union messaging pushes—you deserve more. Deserve, they say.

But what do we actually “deserve”? Well, how about we ask Jesus? And no, I’m not talking about hell. Jesus told a parable in Matthew 20 of workers being hired by a vineyard owner. He hired several groups at different times, each time making a wage offer they voluntarily accepted.

However, when it came time to receive their wages at the end of the day, the ones hired first complained. They were upset that the last ones hired late in the day were paid the same amount as those who worked all day. But how did the vineyard owner reply? “Did you not agree to the wage I offered when I hired you?”

Now, some might say, “But Jesus also said in Luke 10:7 that ‘the laborer is WORTHY of his hire.’” True, but in the same verse Jesus tells his disciples to take whatever they are given.

All I’m saying is that I felt privileged and blessed to be hired by Volkswagen. I had no experience with that industry. I had never even worked in a factory. So, even though the work was difficult at the beginning, I was very happy to receive the wage and benefits provided me (especially the lease car)! They didn’t hire me by force, nor did they deceive me regarding my pay scale. They offered me a job at a particular wage (just like in the parable Jesus told) and I accepted it.

So did every other employee I work with.

The only thing ANYONE deserved was for the other party to do what they agreed to. Jesus would probably ask, “Why does what other companies pay their workers make you deserve more than what you agreed to here?”

Therefore, no, I do not believe I “deserve” anything more than what I agreed to when I was hired. That is why I believe that the UAW’s primary argument (what we deserve) is unethical, unbiblical, and immoral when attached to threats (like to strike).

Feel free to Google it if you’re interested. I’m sick of this Marxist nonsense.

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The Real Problem with the Problem of Pain (Video Version)

Greetings, everyone. And that means all you people in China who keep visiting my website (or the bots that still need Jesus).

Today (actually tonight) I FINALLY finished the video version of a post I wrote several years ago.

Please, if you can spare a few moments, please watch it – I could really use the views 🙂

But also, please watch it and let me know what you think of the video as a whole. I am trying to improve the content I put out, so your feedback would really help me.

God bless you all,
Anthony

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Welfare or Warfare: When Hate Overwhelms Common Decency

They Took an Oath

Please understand, this is not intended to be a political rant, only a thinking-out-loud kind of thing. That being said, I did some quick research and found texts of the oaths of office taken by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzger.

The oath taken by Mayor Brandon Johnson on May 15, 2023 reads:

“I, Brandon Johnson, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of Mayor of the City of Chicago according to the best of my ability.”

The Illinois Constitution (Article XIII, Section 3) prescribes the oath for all state officers, including the Governor:

“I do solemnly swear (affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of [Governor] to the best of my ability.”

What I find interesting is that in neither oath is there anything that specifically states that the one swearing will look after the safety and best interests of their constituents. Granted, that should be assumed if they are taking oaths to uphold state and national constitutions. However, constitutional law can be debated, even the intentions of those who wrote them.

So, what’s my point?

It would seem that the President of the United States sending in National Guard troops to GUARD the safety of other citizens trying to carry out their sworn duties would be a good thing. Those troops are not being sent to patrol the streets and enforce Martial Law; they are being sent to protect law enforcement from other citizens who are intent on disrupting or even harming them.

Therefore, it would seem that the best interest of the people the elected officials are sworn to serve would include the enforcement of civility and safety, not further resistance to law and order.

In other words, it seems to me that JD Pritzger and Brandon Johnson resent President Trump, even hate him, more than they care about civility and the rule of law. I would dare say that their personal disdain for the leadership of the President “trumps” the welfare of those they swore to serve.

Maybe oaths of office should include language that’s a little less debatable and a lot more enforceable. Specifically, the oaths should include language like: “I solemnly swear to make sure the safety and welfare of the people I serve, regardless of political affiliation, carries infinitely more weight than my petty political pet peeves I have with others.”

Just my opinion, of course.

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Dear China

Dear China, I don’t know why all of a sudden you have taken an interest in my blog, but thank you— I think?

Last month you started running my stats through the stratosphere…which is cool, of course…but I don’t understand why the sudden spike.

Well, anyway, if you wouldn’t mind, I could really use some more views on my YouTube channel. Would you click the link below and watch this video?

That would really be awesome 🙂

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A Response to Social Media Comments Addressing the Michigan Mormon Church Shooting

Good grief, people. Mormons and the rest of orthodox (technical, not denominational term) are at complete odds on core Theology, Christology, and Soteriology. If you don’t know what those words mean, please don’t act like an authority on the subject. You only expose your lack of knowledge and affirm your ecumenical liberality.

That being said, Mormons are unquestionably conservative and hold to a religion that holds one accountable for their immoral actions. And whether or not they ARE Christian, they CLAIM to be, so that places a target on them. Because of this, all of us are in the same peanut gallery, and more and more shooters are coming to the carnival to play.

The recent shooting at the Mormon church is a tragedy because every human being has a soul, and each one is created in the image of God and is intrinsically infinitely valuable. You just don’t kill people because you hate them. Period.

But there is a growing worldwide spiritual conflict between those who believe hate justifies violence and those of any faith that preaches meekness in any form. The Christian world is NOT WEAK! We are meek. There is a difference. Should we rise up as militants do from other groups and defend ourselves, the cowardly jihadists of the world would either run in terror or die for their demonic causes as the untapped might of our assets were poured out upon their heads.

Remember, Jesus COULD have summoned 10,000 angels to deliver him from the Roman cross to which he was nailed. But he didn’t. When they came to Jesus in the garden to seize him, he didn’t have to allow it. For that matter, in just one humorous nod to the omnipotent power meekly restrained before them, all the soldiers fell backwards when Jesus answered, “I am.” I sometimes wonder if our Lord fought a slight grin when that happened. Those who were wise would have realized He wasn’t being arrested, but going willingly.

At the root of all evil stands the liar himself—Lucifer, Satan, the Devil. And whatever bears even a glimmer of Christ—be it His chosen nation Israel, whose unfaithfulness only magnifies God’s faithfulness, or His blood-bought church—Satan rages against it with a hatred as old as time and as fierce as hell itself. If Mormons want to be included as objects of Satan’s hate, that’s up to them.

Those who shoot children or praying adults in schools or churches, whether Christian, Mormon, or Muslim, are tools of Satan. They can clothe themselves in whatever cloak they prefer—Marine uniform, anarchist black, or Muslim hijab—the impetus for their actions is the Enemy of God. They are all the same. Our enemy is the same.

However, the fatal flaw of our enemies’ strategy is that fear and bloodshed will secure victory. They are convinced violence will void valor, deceit will destroy decency, and terror will trounce the timid. But they, just like those who supposed their chains could bind Omnipotence, are truly impotent. Their end will come. Their progeny will cease.

“Blessed are the meek, for THEY shall inherit the earth,” said Jesus. He also cried from the cross, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” The simple truth is that the proof of who is winning the war can be seen every time the victim says, “I forgive.”

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. —Ephesians 6:12

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Video Is NOT the Same as Writing

Good morning, friends!

By way of update, I am still sitting in the team room/break room here in my section of the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, TN. For those of you who don’t know, I twisted my knee pretty badly back in June and haven’t worked a regular day since the 19th of June. All I have been allowed to do is show up and sit in the break room for 8 hours a day.

But as of next week (the 26th of August), Lord willing, all this sitting around will come to an end, and I will be back out on the body shop floor building sub floors for the VW Atlas and Crossport SUVs. My knee still hurts a little, but there’s not much more that can be done short of surgery (and that could prove more harm than good). It all depends on what the orthopedic doctor advises.

Now, on with the show!

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No Time to Celebrate

As I write this, I am sitting in a familiar place. It’s a place I’ve been to many, many times.

It’s a funeral home.

To be honest, it’s not always been a place of sadness, at least not the kind I’m feeling today. No, many times it’s been quite the opposite, for “precious in the sight of the Lord are the death of His saints” (Ps. 116:15

But today is different.

Today I’m attending a “celebration of life” for a man I worked with. It’s a service of remembrance to celebrate the life and legacy of a well-loved individual. But nothing has ever been said about faith, not ever and not up until now.

So what about the next life?

The first song playing is “When I Get Where I’m Going.” It’s quite a sentimental piece that assures the listener that where the lost loved one is going will be wonderful. It’s got theological problems, but that a different issue.

But now there is a preacher speaking, and so far he’s speaking truth! That’s encouraging! What’s the outline? “Stand on the Truth That…”

  1. God is Good
  2. God Loves Us
  3. God Will Help You

Amen, brother! That was certainly unexpected! A solid gospel message was delivered! I’m gonna find out who that preacher is and thank him for being so bold! (I did)

The last song now playing is “Go Rest High On the Mountain.” (Please, if you respect my wishes, threaten to hang anyone who suggests that song for my funeral.)

But where’s the real assurance that will happen? God only knows the heart of a man. The only guaranteed prescription for hope after this life is faith in the Person of Jesus Christ.

Was there faith? There could have been. Possibly. Nothing definite. No testimony to draw from and no mention of anything remotely religious in his life. Only God knows.

And that’s why there’s nothing for me to celebrate, only mourn. Not only is a decent man gone, but that’s it. Nothing else. No hope of eternity, only wishful thinking wrapped up in pseudo-religious country music.

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