Month: September 2025

My wife and I have always been the type that are last in catching up with advancements made through technology as well as keeping up with movies, etc.  I once saw an ad for a movie sequel #9 and we had only seen #1!  By the time we acquire an item, it’s already been obsolete, and people have moved on to more advanced ones.

In 1994, my wife won a raffle to Miami.  Got on a ferry ride through the waterways to see how the rich and famous lived.  While tourists around me had their fancy cameras with top-notch lenses, ours was a small rectangular one with a latchet that you had to swipe left to right and back again.  Remember those?? You have one too?! One guy had what seemed like a 7’ extended lens! He didn’t even leave his seat to take pics.  He was able to lay the lens on the other end of the ferry and photograph bits and pieces of a fish as it was being eaten and gulped down by a bear in the next state!  Meanwhile, when a whale came up three feet away to show off its talents, I ran to the side of the boat climbed down a few inches with my “modern” camera, and with my wife clutching the seat of my pants screaming, “Don’t fall overboard Hunzy, you can’t afford another pleather belt” I managed to get my camera in position.  By the time I swiped the small, delicate lever to the left and then to right to snap a picture, I got a nice clean shot of clear waters.  The whale was gone! But at least I kept my belt!

My nephew just sent me some pics enhanced by an AI program. It’s new to us but probably half the world uses it daily. Really makes pics come to life, which got me thinking. Hypothetically, it’s something the Anti-Christ might use when he appears on the earth.  This isn’t scriptural but it can happen.  Picture it. Revelation 13:3 paints it like this:
“One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast.  And they worshipped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshipped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” And check this out: “And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed” (Revelation 13:15).

My take: Since the heads represent leaders from countries to be used by Satan, someone mortally wounded will suddenly reappear healed and receive the attention of a world seeking power and unique leadership. After all, it’ll be amazing to see this person (beast wounded by a sword verse 14) restored!  It’s possible that the healing may not be actual.  It does say he had power to give life to the image… What if it’s AI impersonating the leader, bringing him back to life? What if it’s a hologram?

Moving on to a warning, listen to what Jesus said: “Therefore, if they shall say unto you, ‘Behold, He is in the desert!’ go not forth; or ‘Behold, He is in the secret chambers!’ believe it not. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man” (Matthew 24:26,27).

What it’s saying here and further on, is don’t be tricked believing Jesus will only be seen in isolated places caused by trickery. Read: “And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and glory” (Matthew 24:30).

Don’t fall for any imitations, whether AI, holograms, or impersonators; demonic or otherwise, because every eye will see Him worldwide at the same time!  How?! Internet will feature Him from all angles!  Warning: don’t be fooled by man’s scams!  Know Jesus today!   “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation” (Matt.26:41).

Inventions, inventions!  Seems we’re finally catching up with society.  I just bought a “New” reel- to-r eel deck; don’t be fooled by those saying 8-tracks will replace them!  What’s next, Cassettes, CDs?

God Bless!

Sam

Every now and then people will find a missed call on their phones. I rarely get them since I don’t like making calls, I don’t get many.  The few I’ve gotten are usually SPAM-initiated.  When we see a missed call, if we don’t recognize the number, we either call back or wait for the caller to call again, 

Recently I thought of the so many great artists out there singing, painting, performing, acting, or entertaining for a living.  Some might be famous while others barely known.  But each received a call. Some, answered it, while others missed it.  The calls were not SPAM, but legit. Phones would not have shown where they originated from, hence the number unrecognizable.

But for certain, the calls came from God. He has gifted people for His glory and honor with some type of talent to spread to others. Millions of such talented people choose to ignore his call focusing instead on themselves. The talents are received and viewed as personal and self-achieved. God gets no glory.

Thousands die as either famous, or almost famous artists, musicians, etc. maybe reaching millions, but never fulfilling His purposes.  His call will not be on the screen of your phone, but on your heart. His tug is there and it’s up to us to take it or reject it.  Didn’t recognize it?  Waiting for Him to call again? Be ready and alert! Don’t miss His call. It’s on your life!  As Steely Dan sang in 1974, “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number,” don’t lose the number to God’s heart!  Jeremiah 33:3 reads, “Call to me and I will answer you, and show you great and hidden things that you have not known.”

Need help? As Jim Croce sang, “Operator, “won’t you help me make that call?” Call on God and the Holy Spirit will draw you near to God. He’s got a great message for you.

“For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29).  Translation: God doesn’t change His mind once He’s gifted you with a calling; He doesn’t take it back even if we fail Him. So, go ahead, lift up your voice and sing these lyrics to Him:

“I called, You answered And You came to my rescue And I wanna be where You are” Came To My Rescue (Be Lifted Up) Hillsong 2006

God Bless!
Sam

Closets have undergone transformations in recent years.  From tiny to medium, to mega-sized, to walk-ins, they’ve really expanded as per people’s tastes and needs. Closets have been the talk of the town in recent decades. No longer just for clothing, they store and hold a variety of things such as bikes, gear, foods (pantries), mini offices, and more.  

In New York, teachers were sometimes placed in rooms the size of closets; particularly, those heading specialty programs like ESL and Bilingual Ed.  As we know, closets can quickly become overcrowded.  Which reminds me of the scene of The Marx Brothers in A Night At The Opera aboard the ship where while they’re waiting for all the food to arrive (with a ton of “And two-hardboiled eggs”), the plumber, the maid, the maintenance man, etc. all show up one after the other. Once food arrives, however, pandemonium sets in! When the door is opened, everyone rolls out! 

Our son’s closet was like that!  When checking out his room, everything seemed neatly organized as he’d stand in front of his closet hoping we didn’t open it!  He’d just toss everything in and quickly shut the door!  But once you’d open it…yikes!  Our oldest daughter once made her young sister disappear right in her room!  When asked where she was, she said her sister could practically sleep anywhere.  She proceeded to open the closet door, pull out the bottom drawer of a dresser in there, and therein, lying very still, was her sister!              

 Yep, closets can be special.  In recent years, skeletons in closets have been exposed, and while people can go into closets, some have actually “come out of closets.”

 Well, with all this talk on closets, might as well see what God has to say about them!  Check it out: “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly” (Matthew 6:6).

In our prayer closets, away from distractions, alone in His presence, we commune with Him.  We pour out our hearts to Him. As He indwells us, He wants our skeletons out in the open. He wants everything that we’ve hidden; everything that may bring us shame, confusion, hurt, loneliness, etc. brought out to Him.  He calls us to walk out of our closets, not to a lifestyle that dishonors Him, but to one that brings Him glory. All we need do is step out in faith in Him and He’ll do the rest.

As you shut the door behind you in prayer and with confidence in God, He’ll answer you publicly.  Meaning, your life will be a testimony to others of the transformation He’s wrought in you.  “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8).  How does that look? God’s transforming power in your life will be like that movie scene: As others open the door to your life, all God’s blessings within you will pour out and your ship will continue to sail; with, or without two hard-boiled eggs!

God Bless!
Sam

Recommended Movie: WAR ROOM

It’s been over a month of computer and WINDOWS issues!

What a pain!  But I’m back for now.

                                 ON THE LOOKOUT!

Early one morning two days ago, as my wife and I were getting ready to walk, I noticed as she put on her sneakers, a small hole in one of her socks and pointed it out.  She knew it and responded with a “Yeah, yeah.”  The day went on and half a million things transpired.  Some ten hours later, as I was getting ready to shower, I removed one sneaker, and Lo, and behold, my big right toe was poking through my sock!! We looked at each other, high-fived, and laughed!

I said, “WOW, this morning I noticed the small hole on your socks, and now there’s an even larger one on my sock!”  Reminded us of God’s word: (Matthew 7:3,5) “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?”

God’s telling us to first check our own standings, our own issues and sins before pointing out others’ problems.  As scripture goes on, “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

We’re living in a world where people tend to attack others for any reason and then justify it.  One important point we were taught in our high school writing/debate class was, “To be a good speaker, one must first be a good listener.”  In other words, before debating a person, first listen to their viewpoints, to better defend your own and to know exactly where they stand.

Obviously, not today’s standards where people disrespect others and even attack others for having differing viewpoints.  Now, I wasn’t criticizing my wife’s socks, but it became a teachable moment for us both!  Lesson? Check your socks before speaking? Nah! Self-examine ourselves before pointing fingers. Thereby avoiding hypocrisy.  By the way, that’s one of the purposes of the Lord’s Supper; examining ourselves keeps God from disciplining us.

God Bless!
Sam