Arab Spring Disaster

I am sure everyone has seen the news of the potential and ongoing fall of Libya and the end to dictator Muammar Gaddafi's rule.  I, for one, do not see this as a safe environment for any of the surrounding countries nor the world considering what has happened in Egypt, Afghanistan, and Iraq after their supposed "liberation".  Whose next, Syria? Iran?  Do we really want these countries left open for extremest groups to assume power and do as they intend?

The problem with removing these dictators is that there is no democratic process like America in place in those countries to fill the void so the person or group with the most guns assumes control of the country whether qualified or not to run it.  Dictators are never good, but when they are in power, their country's problems are just that: their problem, not the international communities'.  Once a dictator is removed, then fears arise in the international community about what may become of the country and more specifically the precious resources that we Americans use from their region.
As much as Americans don't like to admit it, our government created our reliance on the Middle East for our oil and they have been doing this since the 70s.  All the while we have plenty of undeveloped oil reserves within our borders that could serve us for years to come.  Why would we not develop these you might ask?
Answer:  It's the American way or at least has become the American way.  Use up another country's resources while saving ours.  Oh, the other country is heavily compensated monetarily and we come in and develop their oil fields and maintain them for them creating infrastructure and economy in an otherwise barren and impoverished land. Pretty smart to maintain a presence with our oil industry workers so that we can protect our investment and have immanent domain to invade their country with troops anytime we feel like it to protect our American interests.
It's all about world control.  If you were to do enough research, you would probably find that we propped up the majority of those dictators in the Middle East putting them in power and now we want to help them get rid of them.  This seems silly because it puts America in a position of having to get involved in their problems and spending more tax payer money that we don't have.  But like I said, it's a power game and instability allows us the option to be heavily involved in the rise to power of the next leaders; to make sure they play by our American rules.
I did title this blog, "Those who know, understand".  So now you know, but do you understand?  It's okay if you just stick you head back in the sand or climb back under your rock.  That's what the majority of Americans do because the fact of the matter is these things are thousands of miles away from our subdivision and don't affect us directly....yet.

Keeping the Christ in Christmas; Fundamentally Flawed???

I saw a sticker on a minivan in Katy, Texas that I have seen before; "Keep Christ in Christmas" set above a picturesque manger scene.  As I sat at the light, my mind wandered and settled on the flawed nature of this sticker.  Undoubtedly the owner had the best of intentions as do most of those with one of these stickers, but like the title of this blog totes, "Those who know understand".   So what we have is a misunderstanding rather than an intentional use of a sticker to mislead.  We really are only as informed as those whom we have been taught by or the information we have obtained and deciphered on our own. 

I was struck by the irony of the sticker considering that Christmas falls exactly on the pagan celebration of the longest day in winter or the winter solstice.  Do we really want to keep Christ in the winter solstice?  Was that what He commanded us to celebrate?  Christmas was just the weak choice of the Roman Catholic Church to assimilate pagan rituals and peoples rather than confront them and teach the correct teachings of Scripture.  They believed that the people could be brought into the church and then they would just create a new celebration to cover over the pagan one.  Ridiculous, right?

Not if you look around close to December 25th.  People all over the world celebrate Christmas  It should be a clue when unbelievers celebrate the same holidays as the church that someone is off course.  Funny how unbelievers have covered over the church celebration of Christmas with celebrating "The Holidays".  I am not sure Christ wants to stay in Christmas or if He were here, would be pleased with its celebration.  I am pretty sure He has defined what to celebrate and practice such while on Earth (Leviticus 23).

There will be those that disagree and that is fine.  Do the research and then you can answer for yourself without just repeating what others have told you.  See if what I am saying is truth and then you will know.

Shalom,

Jason G Brown

The Importance of Truth

As I sit here thinking about Truth and its importance in our lives, I was struck by the far-reaching consequences of what we believe (what is true to us) and how it shapes our lives.  What we believe will inevitably shape our future and consequently the future of others around us.  If we fail, we are a rarity if it only affects ourselves.  But the more likely scenario is that our failure will alter the reality of someone around us.

Likewise, our success can alter and possibly enhance the future of those around us.  The importance of what we believe is paramount in the formulation of what we call life.  Everyone believes in something.  Even if you choose to believe in nothing, you still believe something.  That something is just labeled "nothing".  I think that what we believe forms the foundation for what we build in our lives.  It permeates every aspect of our life.

If we believe in God, then we build a life around that belief and shape our reality to focus on that belief.  If we believe there is no God, then that life will look very different and could, but may not necessarily, look wholly opposite of the person who does believe in God.  All based on what the individual has established as truth.

All that being said, I fall into the category of believing that there is absolute truth and it happens to be God and more specifically, His Son Yeshua.  Absolute truth does not depend on anyone believing in it to exist.  It is before belief and will remain after belief.  I have staked my life's work on my belief in God and have made decisions based on that foundation which cannot be changed nor do I desire them to.  If it all turns out to be a lie, then as the Apostle Paul said, "We (believers) are to be pitied above all men."  It is a powerful thing to know what you believe and walk in it. 

It seem foolish to some to wage everything on nothing that you can see.  We have never seen God or His Son Yeshua.  But don't be fooled because they have done the same thing.  Faith is something that is exercised by all, not just the religious.  I don't ever recall meeting George Washington in person, but I believe he existed. Why?  Faith.

Truth matters.  Truth whether wrong or right is a foundation for life.  Truth forces us into action.  What we believe, what we hold true will shape our lives and the lives of others around us.  There is no escaping it.

Is Cancer Really Incurable?

Please watch while you can.  Long but worth every minute:

http://vimeo.com/24821365

This is a story about Dr. Burzynski who discovered a cure for aggressive forms of cancer in the 1970s and has been battling our government for decades because Cancer is Big Business for the Pharmaceutical companies.  The video was free till yesterday but they said they might extend it.  I am sure if you search hard enough, you can find information on Dr. B.

Shalom,

Jason G Brown

The Death of Truth???

In this day and age, to seek to talk about "Truth" will be met with much resistance because it tears at the very fabric of our realities that we live in.  Human beings hate being wrong and especially if it means that they have built an entire life on that wrong.  I equate it to completing a building, no a skyscraper and then realizing that you have forgotten to tighten every bolt in the structure.  One wrong tremor and your structure (life) could come tumbling down causing you to have to rebuild or remain in ruin for the rest of your life.

So is Truth Dead?  Is truth something subjective to myself or others?  Will that hold my building together?  Can my skyscraper survive a lifetime and not crumble or will it all crumble when I am gone leaving my family or friends out in the cold with no shelter?

I must warn everyone ahead of time that my journey in this blog will know no bounds; political, religious, or philosophical.  I am a Messianic Believer so I will leave you to guess where my truth foundation comes from, but I will do my best to remain objective and let the facts play out as they will.

I want to know such things as: 

1. Are the blueberries in my morning bowl of cereal real or fake?
2. Has our president really anything to do with our current economic downfall?
3. Are we the new Rome crumbling from the inside due to our decadence?
4. Can our government really do anything to help us with our own tax dollars that we could not do on our own cheaper?
5. Are eggs really good for me and do cell phone really cause cancer?
6. Are we close to the end of the world?  Were the Mayans right?
7. Why has our society glamorized and become enamored with violence?

These are just to name a few and the list seems daunting, but I have time and YHVH willing, the breath to explore these things and hopefully answer some of them.  I invite anyone interested in joining me in this quest.  If it doesn't stretch you then you are probably not doing it right.

The title of this blog is Hebrew for "Those who Know Understand".  If you never know truth and only have understanding (personal experiences of others and yourself), you may miss finding wisdom.

Shalom,

Jason G Brown