Opinions, Opinions, Opinions

Everybody’s got opinions.

When I write new posts for this blog, I am sharing my opinions. They are sincere and I accept that some of you will agree with me, and many will not. Possible most will not.

While everyone wants some sort of approval, the reason for many of the political or religious articles I write, is to challenge the way we, or at least I, think. Every once in a great while I disagree with myself on this point or that one after I publish. I do not go easy on myself when that happens.

Live and learn. Hopefully!

Sometimes, I even become critical of my own photographic images. I think most , readers/viewers will recognize that as honesty. I think there is enough puffery and outright lying in the world today without adding more.

Just watch politics. Is there anybody left who tells the truth?

Yes, I do wish to convince everybody who visits this blog of what I say and believe. Why else would I say it?

I stopped arguing and fighting on social media a long time ago. Even when I am positively angry, I try to remember that opinions from all sides are a dime a dozen, so to speak.

Mine of course are a dollar a dozen. Just kidding.

That does not mean, that we do not each have the right to share their opinions. Many have died just to prove that point.

Religiously, I read other opinions on the subject, but will defend my own with all I have. Some people view it as a personal subject and there is no room for opinions. I believe everybody has a right to their opinions, but there is very little room for error in this one. Many Christians believe, if you try hard, God will be happy and it will all work out in the end. You know, an A for effort. Unfortunately or maybe fortunately, His book says otherwise. If you don’t believe that Book, I assume you are searching for another god.

We only have His book and what we think it means, and prayer to go by.

Still, that is a lot.

I actually think it is the most important subject on earth, and we get one brief opportunity (our lives) to get it right. I am pragmatic in the sense that indeed we all sin, but willful sinning without honest, vigorous and sincere requests for forgiveness and acceptance of Christ’s Sacrifice, will most likely bring an eternity in Hell. At least the book called the Bible seems to want us to understand that. It is up to each of us, whether to meerly give lip service to the Bible, or to actually beleive. Salvation, comes through faith, but we have the responsibility to do everything possible to follow God’s Word.

Some people see the Bible as all puppy dog tails and candy canes. I see the book as a loving attempt to bring all those who will truly believe, an eternity in Heaven next to Jesus. An attempt.

It is up to us.

My goal for the remainder of my time here, is to stay on the path to the Lord, and lead as many people to the same path as possible.

I realize that there are others who are better at that than I. I sometimes fail, but I don’t quit.

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I’m not an expert, but it seems to me, the search for a church or ministry to worship in and learn from, could be a difficult challenge. It seems that the secret would be to look for one that teaches/preaches the truth rather than what we want to hear

Often it seems to take more than one teacher/preacher on staff. One to teach us how much God loves us and about His Grace, and another to teach God’s wrath and judgment. Often the same person cannot do both, which is understandable.

Both are Biblical truths.

The entire Bible was given to us so we could know what God wants and demands in all things, not just what we would choose to hear.

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“You cannot solve a problem with the same mindset that created it.”
Albert Einstein

“It isn’t good people who go to Heaven, its’ forgiven people.”

Pastor Phil, Pacific Garden Mission

Today’s images are even older than what I normally share. There are quite a few as you can see, and they were made all over the country.

Male Cinnamon Teal in reflective waters. Colorado. It’s almost like the reflective waters are being color filled by the duck. The bushes at the sides of the pond produced the water color, and God gave the Teal his color.