I Lack Patience. (Plus an Update)

Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  

For the past month, I have undertaken a new project.  I have decided to build a PC for the second time.

For the past several months, I have been live-streaming on Twitch, playing video games, doing commentary, etc.

Both are related.

(Bear with me, this will get a little technical here.)

Yesterday, I was going to live-stream my PC build progress.  Yet, I was called away to family matters, so I had to abandon the stream, and even the recording of the build.  "Just build it", I said.  Yet, I still had that anxious, impatient excitement about the project, that I wasn't aware of a few things:

1. The CPU I bought did not come with integrated graphics, and neither does the motherboard.  So, without any kind of video, it won't work.

2. Thermal paste fuses the CPU and cooler together.

3. The CPU is not always the problem.

I thought, all I needed to bring the PC to POST (that is, to display the "power-on self-test" screen), was the motherboard, the CPU, the power supply, and the RAM.  I was wrong.

I watched a YouTube video on how to troubleshoot the situation.  The man mentioned that it could be the CPU, but he also mentioned that you needed video, and that most AMD CPUs don't come with integrated graphics.

All I heard was "CPU", because I thought I already broke it.  You see, I had a rough time getting the CPU cooler to work, that I thought the CPU was the problem, so to save time, I wanted to check that first.

I began to unscrew the mounting brackets of the CPU cooler, and then realized that the entire CPU was ripped from the AMD socket!  Oh great.  It took great difficulty to get the cooler off, but once I finally did, I found out that some of the CPU pins were bent!  I tried to bend them back into place, but then a couple of them broke.  So, the CPU is a brick.  $150 down the drain.

That's not the only problem:  I also heard that the AMD socket could also be damaged.  I looked carefully at the socket, rotating the latch back and forth, and sure enough, it looks like it took some damage.  Another $150 down the drain...maybe.  I'll have to take off the plastic casing on the socket to assess the damage.  I don't mind that, seeing as I'm declaring the motherboard dead anyway.

(Update: Done.  Check out the innards of the CPU socket during my "autopsy".  Look at the darkened pins.  This is where the damage occured.  It is likely the pins can't touch the affected areas, so yeah, the motherboard's a goner.)

Needless to say, I was in a hurry, and I wasn't patient.  If only I diagnosed the PC problem like I diagnose my sin problems time and time again:

And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

(Mat 5:29-30)

The sin was lack of patience, and the cause was my involvement in Twitch streaming, especially since I was working with a salesman of a lady selling me her overlay services, of which she was quite persuasive.

So, in the spirit of Matthew 5:29-30 and 2 Timothy 2:4, I deleted my Twitch and Discord accounts, and quit streaming.  Besides, to continue to pursue this would also be a dishonor to my family (Exodus 20:12, etc.), seeing as I had to pause my streams constantly to take care of family business (not an issue, by the way).  Streaming was just in the way, and a distraction from better things.

So, what about the PC building project?  It's still going on, albeit more slowly.  I have an SSD on the way, and I plan on buying a copy of Windows 11 next paycheck.  However, the replacement motherboard and CPU will have to wait until I get my tax refund, and with the CPU, I intend on getting one with integrated graphics, which was the case in my first PC build (that one went much more smoothly, and with an easier CPU cooler to install that I set up and left alone).

Once I get the parts, I intend to wait until there is ample time to put everything together.  No rush.  Even if I have to go to another location to do it.  It must be done with the utmost of patience.  Not trying to be an Internet personality helps.  I might talk more about this later, or maybe not.  Depends.

May God cultivate patience in me.  This humbling experience sure helped.

 

UPDATE (2/7/2025): The tax refund came, I bought the motherboard and CPU (cheaper ones), and decided to go with Linux instead of Windows.  

 

Here's what happened with this build:

 

1. Won't post.  (Oh, forgot to plug in a cable.)

2. Screen asks me to make a decision on resetting the CPU (or something.).  Internet says Yes.  PC turns off.  I turn it on.  PC turns off after a few seconds.

3. I plug in the USB stick with Linux on it.  After about 30 seconds, posts!  I install Linux Mint.

4. Great so far, but one problem:  Sluggish.  I think, "Temperature problem?"  I install a temperature applet.  90+ DEGREES (Celsius) !  I look up more things.  Enable Internal Graphics in BIOS.  Still, 90+ DEGREES.  Turns out that is the actual temperature.  Great.

5. I think to myself, "Just wait until tomorrow."  I sit in bed, looking up temperature issues.  I suspect it's because I didn't screw in the CPU cooler all the way.  I look up how to do it properly.  Some guy encourages me to be firm on the cooler.

6. I try that.  All four corners screw in tight.  Turn on the PC.  TEMPS NORMAL!  PC is faster!

As I'm typing this, the PC is running at a cool 29 degrees.  Apparently, I went the other direction in temperament.  Before, I lacked patience.  Now, I lacked resolve.  I was too CAREFUL.  I remember the coach from the movie "D3: The Mighty Ducks" say, "Don't be do careless, but don't be too careful either!  You cannot be afraid to lose!"

There are many Scriptures encouraging courage (Deuteronomy 31:7), as well as patience.

Will Allen Is Misdefining Words, and is a KJV-Onlyite, Stay Away From Him!

This really ticks me off.  (But I personally forgive him.  (Matthew 6:14-15) ) For the past 48 hours, I have been so distressed thinking that I wasn't saved because of Will Allen's use of the word "sin".  And then I come to find out that what Mr. Allen calls "sin" is confirmed to be "willful rebellion against God".  Firstly, if that's what you mean when Christians are "sin-free", then by that weird definition, that is correct.  When I think of that definition, I think of Hebrews 10:26:

“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,” (Hebrews 10:26, KJV)

And "sin-free" perfectly fits the other translations of I John:

“No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.” (1 John 3:9, ESV)

Yet, "keep on sinning" is NOT the biblical definition of "sin".  This is (from Strong's Dictionary):

ἁμαρτάνω

hamartanō

ham-ar-tan'-o

Perhaps from G1 (as a negative particle) and the base of G3313; properly to miss the mark (and so not share in the prize), that is, (figuratively) to err, especially (morally) to sin: - for your faults, offend, sin, trespass.

To Biblically sin is to be imperfect.  This verse, also from I John, sums it up well:

“All unrighteousness is sin...” (1 John 5:17a, KJV)

It is also confirmed on Reddit that Will Allen, username Dappereddit, is KJV-Only, citing that there are "many reasons" that one should "stick with the KJV" (another user).  

Look at Isaiah 61:1-2 in the KJV.  It reads:

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

(Isa 61:1-2)

Now look at Luke 4:18-19 in the KJV.  It reads:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

(Luk 4:18-19)

The version Jesus was reading from adds: "and recovering of sight to the blind", among other things.  Yet, no sin was committed. 

If other versions were good enough for Jesus, they're good enough for us.

Stay away from the teachings of Will Allen. He twists the English and Greek language and will confuse and disturb many.

Ongoing Exposure of Will Allen (@willforthelord)

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

(1Jn 1:8-10)

The YouTube algorithm has shown me another man who claims Christ, and gives the bold claim that it is impossible for a born-again believer to sin.  Ever.  In that, if someone who claims to be a born-again believer is still sinning, then it is evidence that that person has never truly converted to Christ.  Will goes even further by saying that the way to become sin-free through Christ is to truly surrender yourself to Christ.

Now, on the surface, it all seems well and good.

However, I worry that this will make believers worry about their own salvation, in that if Will's doctrine was heeded faithfully, even the smallest sins amongst "believers" (for example, evil thoughts, see Proverbs 6:18) are evidence enough that such a person has not truly converted, for if they have truly converted, they would have committed NO sins at all post-conversion.

Naturally, I was about to expose this gentleman left and right.  The thing is, I don't need to.  Just read the comments in the following page https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D3aQvISIYU (I refuse to link it for obvious reasons) and you'll see why.  I even made a comment (which was later deleted because I hid him from my feed), which reads:

Oh wow, the Ephesians 5:11 is deep in the comments section. Here's some more help folks: Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1Co 11:27-32) In this Scripture, Paul is warning the Corinthian believers that those who commit sacrilege against the bread and the cup of the Lord's Supper are guilty of sinning against the body and the blood of the Lord. In fact, Paul is saying that many of such believers have already sinned in this manner, and thus have suffered the consequences of sickness and bodily death. Yet, in the Lord's judgment and chastisement, there is a chance for them to return to righteousness. Next: 2Co 12:21  And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed. This was in reference to I Corinthians 5, when Paul rebuked the Corinthian church for tolerating a sin among the believers that not even the pagans would tolerate! Yet, repentance is possible. Next: Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. (Jas 5:13-15) James is suggesting in this Scripture that it is possible for a believer to have committed sins, James is speaking to BELEIVERS (James 1:2, "brethren"). Yet, forgiveness is possible. Next, as an example: Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. (Rev 2:20-22) Jesus is addressing the church in Thyatyria, rebuking the church for tolerating the false prophetess Jezebel. She led Christ's SERVANTS to sin. Yet, repentance is possible ("except THEY repent of THEIR deeds"). Now, as for one of Will's proof texts: 1Jn 3:9  Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.  Many other translations of that verse and others render "commit sin" as "keep on sinning". And this appears to be a sound translation given I John 1. Will, what I find troublesome with your doctrine is that those who adhere to it are liable to be anxious about their own salvation, as if, if they commit even one sin after conversion, it's proof that they've never converted at all. I agree that we are to avoid sin at all costs (Hebrews 12:4), and that sinning should NEVER be encouraged (Romans 6). However, PLEASE consider ALL of the Word of God (Matthew 4:4, Luke 4:4, Acts 20:27). How is it even possible for a true born-again believer to be sinless and yet, among true born-again believers, acts of sin has been recorded in Scripture? The impossibility of believers to sin and the examples I've shown above appear to be contradictory. I welcome correction (Proverbs 6:23).

Now, as I've said, this is an ongoing exposure of @willforthelord, because I have a feeling I will be hearing from him soon.  All I can say is, stay tuned.

Update: Honestly, I am very disheartened at this doctrine of @willforthelord, and while in a practical sense, I do acknowledge that to live sin-free on this earth would be a wonderful thing (and yes, I do agree that it is not of our own righteousness or effort that we stay away from sin), I find so many pieces of Scripture that contradict this, as seen above!  Even more evidence:

1Jn 5:13  These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 

1Jn 5:16  If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. 

You know what?  Because Will's doctrine is so foreign to me, I must heed the following from Jesus:

Joh 10:5  And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 

I have blocked Will's YouTube channel as much as I can.  

As I've said before, there is one thing I agree with Will about, is that it's not of us to keep from sin, but of God:

1Jn 3:9  Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 

At the very least, it means that God keeps us from apostasy.  It is impossible for true Christians to fall away from the faith.

Those who trust in God will be righteous because God will carry us to such:

Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 

11/25/2024 Update:  I've got another piece of Scripture that contradicts Will Allen:

Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

(Jas 5:19-20)

James is calling the erring brother a sinner.  Why would James call them brethren if they're outside the faith?  If I take nothing else away from this, I must take away this:  Repentance ALWAYS leads to life (For example, Acts 8:27b).

7:16PM Update:  I remembered something.  I remembered that Will Allen defines "sin" as an intentional act, which, based on that definition, makes his doctrine sound more plausible, as, if I understand it right, no true believer commits an intentional sin, it just has too many Hebrews 10:26 vibes, correct me if I'm wrong (Proverbs 6:23)

However, Will's definition is sorely incomplete, as unintentional sin also exists (I'm using the ESV here for clarity):

““Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If anyone sins unintentionally in any of the LORD's commandments about things not to be done, and does any one of them,” (Leviticus 4:2, ESV)

There's more where that came from in that chapter, by the way.

 

Why I Changed A Few Things On Facebook

 In a word...humility.

This may have been a part of it:  I attended a Sunday School today, and one of the Scriptures mentioned was the following:

Deu 8:18  But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. 

In other words, the ability to make money does not come from you.  All your skills, all your talents, comes from the Lord.  Correct me if I'm wrong (Proverbs 6:23)

As many of you know, I am a school custodian.  Many months ago, I was left short-handed, becoming the only official custodian of the building.  With the exception of some help here and there, I am still the only custodian of the building.  At first, I worked plenty of overtime.  Now, I work less, because I have learned to be more efficient.  This made me somewhat prideful in my heart (Proverbs 16:18).

Sunday School reminded me of that.  

Now, on to what I was going to talk about:

On my Facebook page, I used to have a picture of plastic canvas pieces that read "28 28", referring to Job 28:28:

Job 28:28  And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’” 

I also mentioned in my bio that I am a God Fearer and Lucky.  The "Lucky" comes from the following:

Ecc 9:11  I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. 

I'm still willing to acknowledge that I'm lucky, for we all are.  And I still believe in the concept of fearing God.  We should fear God, mainly because:

Luk 12:5  But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. 

Yet, I also believe in not being a hypocrite, as is written here:

Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

(Mat 7:1-5)

Now, I still believe that "Judge not" doesn't mean "Judge never" as shown in this post here.  Even in this Scripture, Jesus permits one to "cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye".  Why does one do this, unless it's a problem?

So what's the deal?  Do I no longer fear God?  I surely hope not.  I surely hope my fear of God (which is a LITERAL DREAD (Isaiah 8:13)) remains.  Yet, I would be so heartbroken to be found a hypocrite if I do anything that suggests I don't fear God.  

I'm not perfect.  My struggle is just like what Paul is saying here:

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

(Rom 7:18-25)

So, yeah.  That's what's going on.  I haven't abandoned the faith.  I'm just being honest with myself.  Only God knows if I'm being faithful.  I hope and pray that I still am so.

On Lust, Fornication, and Marriage

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

(Mat 5:27-30)

While I was browsing YouTube, I came across a channel called Ear To Hear with a video about overcoming lust.  I have to admit, I thought, "Oh boy, here we go again."  I have to admit, part of why I wanted to find something to expose this channel on (Ephesians 5:11) was because I was annoyed that he's yet another person talking about overcoming lust, and that this topic comes up AGAIN and AGAIN and AGAIN.  Now, there were a few things worth exposing, such as calling Billy Graham a Christian (he is not, he denied Christ by saying on Hour of Power that there were many paths to God, violating John 14:6), and (at first), it appeared that he was peddling the Word of God for profit, violating 2 Corinthians 2:17 (turns out his sister made the merch for him, and the "peddling" was probably something else).  So, at the time, I deleted that exposure of him, because it wasn't quite clear that he was a false teacher.  He may still be a false teacher, but I haven't found much to prove it.

But on lust:  Honestly, it's not just people who profess Christ who hammer down the lesson on avoiding lust and other forms of sexual immorality, which the KJV calls "fornication".  The Bible Himself hammers it down AGAIN and AGAIN and AGAIN:

Act 15:29  That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. 

All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power. Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

(1Co 6:12-20)

Eph 5:3  But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

(1Th 4:3-5)

So, yeah, I must admit, the Bible makes it clear that such activity is a clear and obvious NO-NO.

But why am I so annoyed at this?  

Simple.  I'm single, and I know about this thing called....porn.

Fun fact:  The word for "pornography" comes from the very Greek word for fornication which is "porneia".  So, the "writing of the prostitutes" is quite an accurate term for this.

Now, before we continue:  Yes, I have sinned in this manner before (I John 1:9).  I am working on fleeing (I Corinthians 6:18) from even the "light" stuff, however that's defined.  I've stumbled recently (March 29, 2025), but I am seriously repenting and fleeing.

So if sexual sin is such a problem, what's a solution?  Yes, Jesus gives a solution to sexual immorality, and it is an extreme one:

And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

(Mat 5:29-30)

Jesus is serious about this.  If there's anything that's causing you to sin, cut it off.  Let's just hope it's not your literal body parts, because if it is, Jesus is COMMANDING you to LITERALLY cut off your body parts.  LITERALLY.  SERIOUSLY.  

Some of you may be wondering, "Oh, Jesus didn't mean that!"  In fact, while I was participating in a Reddit NoFap challenge (of which I probably shouldn't have done), I rebuked a veteran user by the name of fredtheuser on this very thing, and he essentially told me, "Are you saying that billions of Christians are mistaken and you're the only one who got it right?"  He then went on to say that if it were literally true, then our literal hearts must be taken out, because the sin is in the heart.  I have doubts about this.  Recently, I've stopped considering the literal organ we call the heart to be the "heart" Jesus was speaking about.  Jesus said:

Mat 15:19  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

Can the blood-pumping muscle in your brain think?  See this article where I explain more about that.

But I digress.

Now, as for your literal body parts, indeed, let's hope it doesn't come to that.  (One thing Ear To Hear does get right about overcoming lust is a form of this, saying that you should delete your social media accounts [presuming that social media is causing you to sin].)

Yet, there is another way to prevent lust and sexual immorality, something that Jesus also approves of (seeing that He is the Word of God, see John 1:1, I John 1:1, etc.)  It's a sort-of "lightning rod".  It's called "marriage":

Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee. Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.

(Pro 5:15-19)

Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

(1Co 7:1-5)

Yet what do I hear from the modern church?  crickets...crickets...crickets.  I hear next to NOTHING about using marriage as a means to stop sexual immorality.  If you knew me back in the mid-2010s, you knew that this was my gospel that I myself preached to people.  I even had a name for what I was doing: "The Epic Quest For The Blessed Fountain", the name based on Proverbs 5:18.  Many people, especially the women I was going after, thought I was crazy.  Only one church (which I believe is defunct) actually defended my actions.  This church however rebuked me for me wanting to "date", saying that dating is unbiblical.  It's funny, they compare that to partaking of what Protestants call "communion" using Pop-Tarts and Kool-Aid.  Now, as for dating being unbiblical, I can see that (an example being I Thessalonians 4:5), but I'm not entirely sure.  Of course, this church also said that marrying unbelievers is OK, which is obviously a lie:

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

(2Co 6:14-18)

But back to the apparent silence of marriage as the solution for singles.  I've checked, and it's true:  Only a handful of churches and groups that profess Christ even attempt to rectify the singles situation with marriage.  Unfortunately, I have serious doubts that any of them are in the Truth.  Higher Bond, a 'Christian' singles website that also allows 'separated people' to seek marriage, could be a violation of Matthew 5:32 and the like, and a matchmaking program from the New Independent Fundamentalist Baptist Churches (which advocate for KJV-Only (compare Isaiah 61:1 and Jesus' version in Luke 4:18, this shows that KJV-Only is heretical) and Free Grace OSAS (see Hebrews 6:1-6 and 10:26-31)).  Still, on specifically this subject, their heart is in the right place.

Now, I'm not saying finding a spouse is easy.  In this wicked world, even amongst those who call themselves Christians, finding a spouse is quite difficult.  However, it's even rarer to find ANYONE to perform matchmaking ministries that specifically address sexual immorality.

Now, yes, being single is preferable to being married.  Ask Paul in I Corinthians 7.  Yet, Paul's not stupid.  He knows that sex exists, and that it can get out of hand (I Corinthians 7:2), which is WHY, despite it being "trouble in the flesh" (I Corinthians 7:28), he also promotes marriage (he also does so in a different case in I Timothy 5:14).

Not that I seek one at this time, if I ever find a wife, this Scripture verse will certainly be proven true:

Pro 18:22  Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. 

Well, That Was Stupid.

 “Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.” (Proverbs 23:4, KJV)

In my last post, I decided to separate my Christian content from my non-Christian content in order to monetize the non-Christian content so as to not peddle the Word of God for profit (violating 2 Corinthians 2:17).

I then (seeing as I was on an extended vacation), proceeded to try to work more on my content, both religious and secular, and based on my personality, when I set out to do something, I am super bent on getting it done.

One problem:  I'm exhausted.  Thus, unintentionally, I have sinned.  Of grinding so hard at my web content (even though I just wanted to grind to see if I could even make money), I repent.  

I should have seen this coming:  I was at a game night with some friends yesterday, and that was the best experience I've had in weeks.  Everything just seemed right for once.  Beside the point yes, but even the dice rolls were satisfyingly odds-defying.

I tried to justify my hustle.  Yes, I should be content with what I have (Hebrews 13:5), and I thought I was, I just wanted the satisfaction of doing something.  The problem is, the metric was money, which was the sinful part.  That is, the combination of hustling to exhaustion, and money.

Besides, practically, my main bread and butter is about to make me even more bread.  By the way, if you're looking for night time part time work, USD 290 is definitely hiring.  Go to usd290.org and look for custodial positions available.  The aforementioned position?  Yeah, definitely available.

So what caused all this economic activity?

Andrew Tate.

Yes, I know, he's a terrible influence on kids because of his stances toward women and getting rich, but all I cared about was the hustle.  He teaches, "Speed!  Speed!  Speed!" in order to make tons of money.   Again, I just extracted the work ethic part of his philosophy. 

Yet, there is also a time for respite (Ecclesiastes 3:1).  Like I said, my main bread and butter, combined with my low living expenses, make for comfortable living.

So yeah, for now, as far as The Sweeping Developer content, I'm done.  Call back when I'm actually motivated to work on my secular stuff.  The discipline to hustle at USD 290 is already there (It's no sin to hustle if your pay is based on time, the hustle is for my good name).

Correct me if I'm wrong in any of this. (Proverbs 6:23)

"It Is An Evil Time", or Why I Didn't Post During Pride Month (and Digressions About July)

They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly. Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them. For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right. Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.

(Amo 5:10-13)

Before I get into why I didn't post during Pride Month, let me tell you about a YouTube video I watched from a guy named GradeAUnderA.  I'm not going to post it here, because he's a potty mouth.  Still, he made a video about what he calls a really wild Bible story, the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19 (he didn't mention the Scripture chapter).  He points out the "wild" facts of:

• The people of Sodom wanting to have sex with the angels (v. 5)
• Lot offering his two virgin daughters for the people of Sodom to have sex with (v. 8)
• The angels blinding the Sodomites (v. 11)
• Lot's wife turning into a pillar of salt (v. 26)
• Lot's family living in a cave (v. 30)
• Lot's daughters getting Lot drink and having sex with him in order to be pregnant (v. 33-35)

I mention this because it is ironic:  Many people during Pride Month indeed commit lots of sodomy, the sin named after the city that was destroyed.

I also wanted to point out that the fact that the world (of whom GradeAUnderA is) would obviously think of such things happening as wild:

1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 

But I digress.  Why didn't I post during Pride Month?

It's because mainly of Amos 5:13, mentioned in the beginning of this post:

Amo 5:13  Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.

Pride Month is definitely an evil time, a time in which homosexuality and other sexual deviations are celebrated.  Now, I may or may not be correct in my interpretation of that Scripture, but just in case Amos 5:13 means that I should keep my mouth shut on spiritual matters during evil times, I keep my mouth shut on spiritual matters during evil times.  Correct me if I'm wrong!  (Proverbs 6:23)

Which gets me to thinking:  What act of pride goes on in JULY?

Now of this I'm not sure whether I should keep my mouth shut on spiritual matters during the 4th of July.  Yes, there are some who are "proud to be an American", yet, and this is my opinion, I may be totally off base by calling those who celebrate American Independence Day "proud".  Honestly, I really don't think most Americans display "pride" when celebrating their independence from Great Britain.  If you ask the average American, it's just a day off to eat grilled food and shoot off fireworks.  Again, correct me if I'm wrong. (Proverbs 6:23)

Now, one day in particular at this time of year warms my heart greatly: July 2.  Why?  On July 2, 2021, I made my final car payment and became debt-free for the first time in my adult life. (Romans 13:8) It also just so happens to coincide with what John Adams considers the REAL Independence Day (since the actual vote to become independent from Great Britain happened on that day):

“The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not.”

Now, replace "Independence from Great Britain" with "Independence from Debt" and Mr. Adams has captured my sentiment towards that day quite well (other than the "You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not", I am quite enthused, sir).  It's not pride I display.  It's glee.  It's jubilation.  I'm not proud to be debt-free.  I'm happy to be debt-free.  It's a freakin' miracle, as if I was cured of cancer.  Praise be to God.

“A Quote by John Adams.” Goodreads, Goodreads, www.goodreads.com/quotes/7168127-the-second-day-of-july-1776-will-be-the-most. Accessed 30 June 2024. (Yes, I looked this up during Pride Month, but the actual posting of it wasn't until the next day)

An Important Message Ahead of Pride Month

Pride Month is coming. The Bible warns against pride, homosexuality, and other sexual deviations. To all who fit this group, please read the following from Scripture itself. It can save your soul: Lev 18:22  Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.  Pro 16:18  Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (Rom 1:18-32) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Gal 5:19-21) Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (1Co 6:9-10) There is hope: Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.