stronghold

Important information enclosed

You don’t need to worry if my writing upsets you in any way.  And I don’t need to worry either.  You know why?  The reason why is that 95% of the stuff you read you forget in 3 days!  I read it in the paper sooooo it must be right. Sooooo there, loosen up folks.  And really, I think some of you folks will forget it before you click off my blog.  Sooooo there!!!!

OneSmartPersonFromSchenectady says--Some folks have their own way of thinking and living, and they have no intention of changing their ways. I realize you might not all see this stuff  that I write from my perspective.  That is very possible. It appears that we all have different perspectives (e.g. about 50% of IA Democrats like Clinton and about 50% like Sanders and some don't know who they like soooo they flip a coin). Steve Jobs once said—You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards.  Some of you might say I fabricate, exaggerate and, yes, tergiversate.  Joesixpack says--Butyagotta remember folks, it seems like no one agrees about anything at any particular time; everyone thinks they know the answers; everyone is smart and thinks for themselves.  Soooo it is impossible to have everyone agree with any of us.  Sooooo there you go!!!!

Ya, you all have received an envelope that has that printed on the outside “Important Information Enclosed”.  You open it and it’s an advertisement.  That is called a form of “Johnson Box.”  It’s something to get your attention soooo you will open the envelope or read a letter.  AdvertisingAgentBigBucksRandy says—It might sound archaic but it works.  It is used in many digital messages to get attention (i.e. soooo you will read the advertising or solution letter).  Using hard copy mailings, P.S. is the equivalent of it.  Folks don’t have time to read the whole letter asking for money etc. but will just read the post crypt. Relax folks, this is not a “lead in” to try to sell you something. I have nutten to sell ya. But that’s an idea!  I read in the paper soooo must be right—67% of consumers who buy online and pick up in stores are likely to buy additional items there. Businesses know what they are doing; don’t kid yourself.  It's all about the money folks. Soooo there you go!!!!

ItchieBitchie says--Some folks are always looking for more snap, crackle and pop in their lives.  One way folks try to do that is by using the “hedonic treadmill.” They buy one thing they want, and when it’s not satisfying enough, they buy another. And then another. The cycle never stops. LuckieEddie says—Be grateful…and learn that you don’t need “stuff” to make yourself happy.  Saturday question—What is your stronghold?

Joesixpack says--One day I went through a time of testing that led to a discovery of generational influences that impacted the way I viewed people and circumstances on a subconscious basis. I discovered this was a stronghold that had been implanted many generations earlier. Because the stronghold operated on a subconscious level, it was not easily recognizable. Strongholds keep us from being free to reflect stuff in and through our lives because they require allegiance until they are dealt with. Strongholds can often be so hidden that we would not even identify them as evil. A stronghold of fear, control, rebellion, insecurity, idolatry, pride, or bitterness may be hidden until it is revealed through circumstances. Does this make any sense to ya? CadillacJack says—erv, that’s pretty deep.

This might be easier to understand folks.  AZ folks like guns!  Oh ya, they do.  I stopped at a shooting range near my favorite mt trail.  I have never been at a shooting range before.  It was large and folks were shooting all kind of guns. Some that seemed really big and made a lot of noise.  I watched for a while and then went to the “sign in office” and talked to the deputy.  It cost $10 to shoot or $5 if you are a police officer.  They shoot bb guns to huge massive guns of all kinds.  I asked if I could shoot a AK-47 that I hear about (i.e. I like experiences)—no no—you have to own a gun to shoot here; you can go to some ranges in the valley and rent a gun—but you have to have a buddy—why is that—to prevent suicides—every year there are about 15 folks that kill themselves at shooting ranges—ouchy ouchy!  Soooo how much does ammo cost for those bigbangs—generally from a dollar to $6 a round—Soooo when I hear pop pop pop about 10 times it might cost some one $50—yep, they like it.  AZ folks like to shoot and like guns.  When I was leaving I talked to a 78-year-old gal who was shooting her mussel loader—got a tag by lottery to hunt for an elk.  I think some AZ folks will be hard to accept gun regulations.  They like to hear pop pop pop (i.e. it’s a stronghold to AZ folks)!  I’m not going to tell them--It's time to strap in and cowboy up buckaroos and get rid of your guns. Oh no!

In the old west a .45 cartridge for a six-gun cost 12 cents, so did a glass of whiskey. If a cowhand was low on cash he would often give the bartender a cartridge in exchange for a drink. This became known as a "shot" of whiskey.

It's the time of the year when folks give up on their new exercise programs.  AverageJoe says—It appears it wasn’t really their stronghold. What’s your stronghold philosophy.  Marcus Aurelius, emperor of Rome in the second century wrote notes to himself about self-awareness and understanding the essence of being human which he thought about during some of his meditations.  He did this while overseeing military campaigns, fighting off the hordes, and protecting an empire.  A central theme was recognizing what is in our control and what isn’t—and acting on the one and ignoring the other. It’s a philosophy that has resonated over the centuries. He realized you can never be happy if you waste time frustrated by circumstances you can’t change.

Two years ago I played pickleball with Bomber. Bomber wasn’t in AZ last year. This year Bomber is again here and I’m playing again with him. He seems way different. After a few times playing—I told him that he seems way different than he did two years ago—how, like I’m easier going?—ya, you seem soooo much happier and calm and yes like easier going—two years ago I was going through some tough stuff; an ugly divorce and my brother just took his life; I’m doing better now. Bomber thanked me for noticing. CadillacJack says—We need to cut folks some slack; we have no idea what they are going through.

Not every man can carry a full cup. Sudden elevation frequently leads to pride and a fall (i.e. success becomes their stronghold). "The most exacting test of all to survive is prosperity." -- Oswald Chambers   ~  Very few folks can handle success.  I heard some NFL announcer say--Many teams, when they have success, get cocky and sometimes it's their downfall.  I also heard him say--It isn't what a team did 10 games ago but what they did the last three games (i.e. that is a better measuring stick).  WorldClassLarry says--Oh ya, success affects many folks many different ways; some times it can go to their heads.  Just look around.  Really few can handle success.  But there are some who can; they are the great ones.  Those are the ones I enjoy being around.  And I’m talking about many of you folks (i.e. there are some great folks in this world--oh ya--they seem to have humility as their stronghold).

GeorgeTheCrock asks--Is the stronghold of America entertainment? The AZ Diamondbacks signed free agent Zack Greinke to a $206.5 million, six-year contract, for which the 32-year-old right-hander will earn an average of $34.4 million a year.  That is $10 thousand a pitch folks. 46.7 million Americans earn less per year than the Diamondbacks will pay Greinke for tossing two pitches.  SusieQ says—Ya, there is a large disparity in the world and the incomprehensible value we place on entertainment.  Crazy.  AverageJoe says—Those comparisons are capricious, they’re also real. Everything seems to cost soooo much to me (e.g. the new multi-mission stealth Zumult destroyer costs $3.96 billion).  At his rally in AZ, Donald Trump (i.e. has a lot of hubris) said he spend $211,000 (i.e. of his own funds and which he said—I don’t know why I spent it) campaigning and Jeb Bush has spent $40 million (i.e. of donated funds) and has only 2% of followers.   He said—Wouldn’t it be nice if we could do that for our country? I spend the least and I had the best result. It said in the paper sooo it must be right—AZ prison cost is less when run privately compared to when the government runs them).  CrazyMarvin asks—Why is that do you think?

It's Super Bowl folks (i.e. an American stronghold).  I read this one morning--The Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin and Caiaphas, the high priest, said--It is better that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish (i.e. all about the money).  It sounds a lot like the NFL to me. LuckieEddie says--We can't get along without the NFL and the Super Bowl.  We just can't! There is toooo much at stake.  We are only sacrificing a few folks soooo all of us can sit on the couch and eat chips and watch the game.  Such is life.  

When George Washington was inaugurated as America’s first president, his inaugural address included these words: “. . . the [favorable] smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained.” C.S. Lewis once wrote, "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world." Sooooo there you go!!!! MissPerfect says--I guess we all get to choose what our stronghold is!  Such is life.

I told you sooooo!  I read in the AZ Republic that "The Suns need to hit reset from top to bottom. The Suns are a dumpster fire.  You can smell the garbage burning." Saturday question--How can a person, family, team, church, business etc get that way anyway?

I read this while eating my oatmeal with half a banana on it--David and his fighting men had been hiding in the cave of Adullam. He was fleeing Saul. Many of life's down-and-out had come and joined David's army. David was content to stay in the stronghold of safety. Then, God's prophet came to David and told him that he must leave the stronghold and go into the land of Judah.

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyFriendJean says--Learning to live in the present moment is part of the path of joy.

P.S. Suck it up cupcake and lets get going.