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 🙂
Filed under Uncategorized
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
Filed under current events, Theology, World View
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!
Filed under Alcohol, baptist, Bible Study, writing
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…”
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.
Filed under Life/Death, Uncategorized
Have you ever seen pictures or video of old, rusty, hollowed out WW2 airplanes found years after the war was over? It’s not too common, but it’s not an unheard of thing to find one these days, 80 years later, alone and forgotten under a canopy of jungle greenery.
What’s rarer still, but again, not unheard of, is the airplane that is found having crashed many decades ago being restored and flown again. Some, like the Lockheed P-38 Lightning that was found in Greenland under 350 feet of snow. It was part of the “Lost Squadron” of 6 fighter planes and a bomber or two that had to make an emergency landing during a blizzard.
This particular fighter airplane was recovered and restored to flight worthiness with the new name “Glacier Girl.”
Another fantastic example was a German Focke-Wulf fw190A that had crashed in a forest near Leningrad, Russia. It was dug out of the forest in 1991 and later sold to some Americans who restored it and flew it!
So what’s the point of all this history stuff? Why am I writing about it?
Today, as I was praying before doing some study, it came to me that I feel a lot like one of those crashed fighter planes. And if history proves true, I’m not the only one who feels it.
I don’t know if it was my pride or objective truth speaking, but there used to be a day when I was a little less intimidated of other Christians, particularly those mighty preachers I gravitated towards as a younger pastor. I knew I wasn’t on their level, but I sure did feel a lot more confident of my spirituality back then. I knew I wasn’t the best I could be, but I felt like I was in the best shape I was capable of being at that time.
Maybe I was. Maybe I wasn’t. Maybe I had a big head. Maybe it was the hair I used to have.
Regardless, I was a fighter, more so than I am now. Then again, maybe I was fighting different battles and don’t need to fly around in aerial mortal combat anymore. All I know is that I feel I am capable of more than I am doing. And these days I’m not intimidated by my would-be peers; I’m just disgusted with myself.
But there is an encouraging part to this story! You see, when those antique planes from the 1940s were recovered and flown again, their need was long gone. Even if there had been a conflict to which they could have been committed, their capabilities and armament would have been woefully obsolete.
However, much to the contrary can be said of folk like me! Even if I had been lost amidst the jungle branches and rusted nearly beyond recognition, the conflict still rages, the enemy is still the same, and the weapons of war have never changed! It’s not even necessary for me to be “repurposed,” for God’s plan for my life has not changed!
Even my “crash-landing” in the Forgotten Forest was part of His overall strategy. What the Enemy thought was an eliminated weapon; God will restore and refurbish for future victory in enemy territory.
So, let’s start knocking of this rust, shall we?
Filed under Uncategorized
Do you have a hard job? Like, is it physically demanding? Are you usually worn out and too tired to pet the dog when you get home?
Well, I have a job like that. Granted, it’s not as difficult as loading garbage trucks. It’s also easier than performing a Christian funeral for Ozzy Osborn. However, it still takes a lot of effort and energy.
However, since the 18th of June, I have been doing nothing more than coming to work. I sit in the break room for 8 hours. Sitting here is where I am at this moment. It is harder, more draining, and certainly more boring than any physical work I could be doing.
Back on June 18, I was at work at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga. I pivoted wrong and twisted my left knee. According to the medical professionals, I have two meniscus tears and a sprained MCL. There may be even more damage to a tendon or ligament, or something. This happened on the job. Workers comp is taking care of everything. The onsite medical and physical therapy staff are also helping.
But here’s the thing: I still have to come to work, even if I don’t work! They are literally paying me my regular hourly wage to sit on my butt and drink coffee. I’ve even been able to do a lot of video editing.
And that’s the hard part of this employer-mandated rest. Sitting here for eight hours every day is making me tired and making me fat. I’m not getting the exercise that comes with working on the line in the body shop. My vision has gotten worse from constantly being on my iPhone in low-light conditions. But worst of all, there’s the paranoia. I just KNOW people are talking about me!
Then again, why am I complaining? As King David asked, “Why art thou cast down, o my soul?” As James prescribed, I should be counting it all “joy.” Well, I don’t know about joy, but I am thankful for a place to work that allows me this opportunity. Even though it may seem silly to those outside my body, the pain in my knee is still bad enough to make me lose sleep. I avoid going up stairs altogether.
So, unlike some bloggers who stop writing and fade away, I’m still here. I may be focusing all my free time on making video content. However, I still find that I have to write out what’s on my mind to stay sane. Just last night I renewed my annual fees for WordPress, so I guess I’ve even more reason to stick around.
Have a great weekend, my friends. Enjoy your health – if you have it. Spend time with your family if at all possible, and then go to church somewhere this Sunday (unless you’re Adventist). If you have some extra time, please check out my YouTube channels. They are called The Humble Horologist and The Humble Word. I’m even posting to TikTok pretty regularly.
God bless, and I’ll write again, soon.
Anthony
Filed under Uncategorized
From Tarvin, England, my great-great-great-grandfather eventually settled in Georgia. In the 1830s, with the help of a dozen men, he dug a “big hole” in search of gold.
Long before the California gold rush, gold was discovered in Cherokee country—specifically, middle Georgia. After arriving in the U.S., John Hockenhull made his way south and acquired the Battle Branch Mine. Hoping to strike it rich, he and his team dug a massive, fruitless hole.
Nearly broke, Hockenhull released his men, promising to pay their back wages someday. All but one, John Pasco, left.
Then, like something out of a movie, Hockenhull and Pasco struck gold. On that first day, they found nuggets the size of peas and acorns. The Battle Branch Mine became the richest in the state. In a moment, my grandfather went from nearly bankrupt to wealthy.
With his fortune, Hockenhull entered the brick-making business. As was common at the time, he used enslaved labor—up to two dozen individuals by some estimates.
He used his bricks to build the first brick home in Dawson County, Georgia. More significantly, the bricks made by his slaves were used to construct the Dawson County courthouse in 1858. That courthouse still stands today.
Years ago, my sister and I visited it—along with our grandfather’s grave. We couldn’t visit his home; the land is now owned by the Department of Defense.
When the Civil War broke out, Hockenhull joined the Confederacy, earning the rank of Major due to his status and business experience. He survived the war and died in 1880 at age 68.
So why share this story? Am I ashamed? Trying to erase guilt? Not at all. I haven’t benefited from my ancestor’s sins, nor do I carry his guilt.
But slavery hasn’t disappeared. It just moved.
Today, in the brick kilns of Pakistan, entire families—men, women, and children—are trapped in generational debt slavery, making bricks in inhumane conditions.
Here’s the painful irony: in 1858, my grandfather sold bricks for $8 per 1,000. That’s around $300–$500 today. In 2025, in Pakistan, 1,000 bricks sell for just $6.
Six. Dollars.
Some try to justify American slavery by claiming slaves were “treated well.” That’s a lie. Yet, having seen it firsthand, I can say that modern-day brick kiln workers often endure even worse conditions.
That’s where we come in.
Through the incredible work of Grace Charity School in Toba Tek Singh, and Redeeming Love Missions—our nonprofit ministry at [Redeem.Love](https://redeem.love)—we’re rescuing entire families from modern-day slavery and giving their children a chance at education and dignity.
Instead of arguing over reparations, why not make a real difference for real slaves—right now?
Go to [Redeem.Love](https://redeem.love) and give whatever you can. We can’t change the past—but we can help change the future.
Filed under fundraising, History, ministry, Pakistan
I’ve already started to get pushback over my support of Israel. I’m glad they have struck the Iranian nuclear facilities in Iran.
But just a few minutes ago, the condemnation of Israel got me to thinking. The images and sounds of James Foley being beheaded on video by ISIS in 2014 came to mind. Yes, I watched it – and it scarred me.
However, it wasn’t the last video I unwisely witnessed. There were many more beheadings, burnings, men being tossed off rooftops, stoning, even a poor man crushed by a tank from his feet to his head (I saw his brain ejected from his skull).
Yes, I’ve seen them with my own eyes. One may argue I shouldn’t have. But at least no one can tell me it didn’t happen (and this was long before AI).
Yet, do you want to know what I have NEVER seen? I’ve never seen a single video posted of an Israeli sawing the head off of a Muslim while shouting “YHWH IS GREAT!”
Anyone besides me find that ironic?
Filed under Uncategorized
I really enjoy creating content for YouTube. However, it may only be something I enjoy, not what is needed or wanted. It may even be doing more harm than good if God’s hand is not in it.
Therefore, I’m going to draw the line at 100 videos. After that I will only do the video shorts. 100 episodes should be a fair gauge of the impact these videos are making, wouldn’t you think?
If after 100 videos this channel has only 50 subscribers and an average of less than 10 views per episode, it’s probably not having an impact and my time should be directed elsewhere. It may be that I should stick with writing (which doesn’t require locations, lighting, microphones, audio, and hours of editing).
Maybe I should just do the job I have and leave this kind of “work” to those much more gifted and capable. There’s already many other Christian channels providing high-quality content, and their numbers are a tangible reflection of that.
I just don’t want to be like that 5-member church unwilling to say enough’s enough because the pastor is unwilling to step down.
The Date
Good evening, everyone. Do you want to know what I did tonight? I went to dinner and a movie with my wife! We saw “The Last Rodeo” (an Angel Studios film) and then went to Provino’s, Valerie’s favorite Italian restaurant.
If you are young, enjoy it. Once you pass the 30-year mark of marriage, dating your wife is difficult. Right now, you are up on all the latest trends and hot spots. But when you get older, you get tired and stuck in your ways. New things are uncomfortable; old things are boring. It’s a constant struggle.
However, when it comes to dating your wife, regardless of the age, go where she wants to eat. This is a rule of life. Just do it. Don’t argue.
The Poster
But it was as we were leaving the theater that I saw a poster for a movie now playing: “Final Destination: Bloodlines.”
I laughed, started coughing, told my wife to keep walking without me, and then took a photo of the poster. There was an older man (like 80’s old) standing in front of the poster and I was going to ask him what he thought about it, but he was too busy looking at his iPhone. No irony there, I know.
So what was so funny about the poster? It was the statement printed inside the gaping mouth of a skull. It read, “DEATH RUNS IN THE FAMILY.”
To be honest, I have no idea what this movie is about, other than people who supposedly cheated death dying in gruesome ways. You know, all the ways people die, other than the most common ways like heart attack, alien abduction, etc..
But I have no idea where the tagline fits in. And just for the record, death runs in every family! Ever since the first chapter or two of Genesis, it’s been a thing! Every one of us is going to die, just like our ancestors did.
You could say we all have an appointment with death. Only some of us have a relationship with the One who overcame it.
When you are born again, your bloodline changes.
Filed under General Observations, salvation
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The Recovering Legalist 