All Sorts Of Evil?

Salerno, Italy-Travel+Leisure, Facebook

Business Week: August 28, 2014

Cited

'Firearms Sure, Give a 9-Year-Old an Uzi: Four Blunt Points'

Cited

'A 9-year-old girl in Arizona being taught to fire an Uzi machine gun lost control of the weapon and killed her shooting instructor. This is the kind of horrible incident that invites overheated debate.'

Cited

'1. Wait, a 9-year-old can get her hands on an Uzi? Yes. In most places, it’s legal for children under adult supervision to fire guns. The operator of the Arizona range permitted kids as young as 8 to shoot. The little girl in this case was brought to the range by her parents. Instructor Charles Vacca can be seen on the video released by police eagerly explaining to the youngster how to hold and point the Uzi, a potent weapon originally made for the Israeli military. After the girl fired a single round in semiautomatic mode, Vacca switched the gun to fully automatic and urged her to let loose. A fully automatic weapon, referred to as a machine gun, spews rounds continuously as long as the trigger is depressed. The Uzi’s recoil apparently proved too much for the girl in Arizona, causing the barrel to drift up and to her left, where Vacca was standing close by.'

This raises the question that if someone nine years old is going to be allowed on a firing range; should it not be a gun that is easier to control and not automatic?

Cited

 '3. So should a little kid be firing an Uzi or any other machine gun? No. Not even with adult supervision.' 

This seems reasonable and correct.

Cited

 '4. Does the Arizona episode mean we live in a whacko gun culture?'

Cited

'Those saying no, guns are as American as apple pie, will point out, accurately, that for years, the number of accidental shootings has been declining, along with overall gun deaths. By those measures, we’re becoming a safer country, even as some parents defy common sense and put machine guns in the hands of little kids.'

I am for allowing, reasonably, weapons for self-defence. But I am in favour of keeping automatic weapons out of the hands of non-adults. As well those with significant criminal records and medically documented significant mental issues when applicable should also be disqualified from being able to legally own certain weapons.

Bloomberg.com: August 26, 2014

Cited

'Burger King to Buy Tim Hortons for About $11 Billion' 'Burger King Worldwide Inc. (BKW) agreed to acquire Tim Hortons Inc. (THI) for about C$12.5 billion ($11.4 billion) in a deal that creates the third-largest fast-food company and moves its headquarters to Canada.'

From Facebook

Senior security officer brings in Tim H box because it was his Grandson's 1st birthday. 

A female Russian trainer, probably in her fifties, signing out asks me who brought the box in sternly and states that the contents are poison...

Tim King's?

Cited

'The purchase brings Burger King the biggest seller of coffee and doughnuts in Canada, which it can use to grow internationally. The deal also lets the burger chain push into the grocery business by selling packaged coffees at supermarkets in North America. The combined business would create a fast-food network with $23 billion in sales, including franchisees, and more than 18,000 restaurants in 100 countries.'

Cited

'The acquisition also moves the merged entity’s global headquarters to Canada, potentially taking advantage of lower corporate taxes. When the companies disclosed the talks on Aug. 24, it heightened debate over American businesses shifting to other countries in search of lower tax bills. President Barack Obama criticized the practice in July, and his aides said that the administration would take action to stop the trend.'

If Canada has lower corporate tax rates than the United States with Canada's reputation for high income taxes, that is quite interesting. 

Perhaps disturbing from a Canadian citizen's perspective?

From the video the idea was given that basically a corporation and its leadership has a obligation to its shareholders in regard to maximizing financial gain. 

I do not deny there is an obligation to shareholders.

But in the context of business in general, not just this deal, I do have very great ethical and moral difficulties with making maximizing gain for shareholders primary over all other ethical and moral obligations. To make this primary risks living for money and financial gain.

1 Timothy 6:10 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

10 For the love of money is a root of all [a]sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

The context is those in the Christian faith, not those outside of Christ, but the theological concept would apply in the world system as well, that being that the love of money and financial gain is the root of all sorts of evil. 

This could be so in a corporate context as well when corporations as a bottom line have their shareholders financial gain as primary instead of other considerations, for example, even from a secular perspective; the welfare and safety of employees.

Perhaps child labour in developing countries when abuses are taking place by employers?

This means the Tim King's is becoming a Canadian company. Burger King is going to become a Canadian? Satirically, Burger King is associated (as is McDonalds) with 'fat American culture' and now perhaps it will be associated with 'fat Canadian culture?'

CBC

Belgium, Seriously?

Maps of .net

Is Belgium seriously among the European football elite?

CIA Belgium

Population: 10,449,361 (July 2014 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.05% (2014 est.)

Birth rate: 9.99 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Death rate: 10.76 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Net migration rate: 1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)

Present FIFA World Rankings

1. Germany 2. Argentina 3. Netherlands 4. Columbia 5. Belgium

Oddschecker.com

I do not bet but find the analysis gained intellectually interesting.

Favourites to win UEFA EURO 2016

1. Germany 2. Spain 3. France 4. Netherlands 5. Belgium 6. Italy

William Hill

1. Germany 2. France 3. Spain 4. Belgium 5.Netherlands 6. Italy

Metro.Co.UK

July 6, 2014

Cited

'Out but not down! Why Belgium could be real contenders for Euro 2016'

'The team labelled as the ‘dark horse’ for the World Cup finally met their match after an eighth minute goal from Arsenal transfer target Gonzola Higuain was enough for Argentina to secure a place in the semi-finals.'

'Despite looking the more likely to score, Belgium lacked the clinical edge to equalise in the 82 minutes that remained. More conspicuous was the lack of contribution from young stars such as Divock Origi, Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne. For some its hard to imagine a young team like Belgium progressing so far in the tournament without having made an appearance in a major competition since 2002. Subsequently Belgium were treated with the harsh reality that their team and players needs more experience.'

'So Belgium is clearly a team in transition and by getting to the quarter-finals and pushing one of the tournament favourites to the edge, they leave the tournament after a successful campaign and its something that they can build on for the future. Having progressed further than Spain, Italy and England suggests that this team will soon be considered amongst one of the toughest in Europe – thereby showing real promise for Belgium to win Euro 2016.'

Give Me Sport

Eleven month ago

Cited

'Brazil 2014, however, could act as a dress rehearsal for Euro 2016 – don’t be surprised if Belgium are being touted as serious contenders in three years’ time.'

'For a nation populated by just 11 million to produce such a high amount of top players in such a short period of time, the national coaching must be doing something right. Definitely one to watch at Brazil 2014, and if you fancy a cheeky flutter on an outsider for the European Championships in 2016, look no further than Belgium.'

Belgium scores versus USA, World Cup 2014-CNN

I will admit right from the start as a sometimes skeptical philosopher, I am wondering if this historically will end up as another example of over-hype. 

Portugal was hyped in a similar way for several years a few years ago. 

Considering Belgium's relatively moderate population compared to most world football powers, as even the Netherlands has over 16 million as population according to the CIA website; population and population growth are not seemingly major positives for Belgium.

Belgium has never won either major tournament, the FIFA World Cup or the UEFA European Championships for which it can qualify. It did finish fourth in the 1986 FIFA World Cup.

On the other hand, not being a football expert, I must acknowledge the commentators when they opine on the positives of Belgium in the present and future as a club. 

It should also be pointed out that Belgium's neighbours Germany (3), France (2) and Netherlands (1) have all won the UEFA European Championship and Germany (4) and France (1) the FIFA World Cup with the Netherlands losing the final three times. Even with only moderate size population, Belgium is in basically in broad terms, in the world centre of football in their part of Western Europe. It would be reasonable to develop into a football elite from that perspective.

Looking at this information as a non-football expert, but educated observer, I reason Belgium will probably begin to challenge the elite national sides of Europe.

But will not win a European Championship or FIFA World Cup.

However it would be rather interesting to see if they did because it is extremely difficult for any nation to break into the winners category, consistently, especially.

Colombia is ranked fourth in the FIFA rankings and although they could not defeat Brasil, ranked seventh, in the recent World Cup, they might be the best hope for a rising national team from South America.

The Peoples Cube

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Belgium-trekearth

Note: Uncle Chuck lived in Belgium... 

Pope Chuckles plays goalkeeper here in East Maple Ridge football with ball hockey nets. His alternate goalkeeper is a garbage can with a lid...

I think we play tonight again. 

For someone that never played organized football/soccer my shot is getting pretty hard and more accurate.  I am beginning to scare people. I was pretty mediocre when we started a few years ago.

Pace is still not my best quality.

Perhaps martial arts and ball hockey muscle is finally transferring to football muscle in regard to the shot?

I could however, play well at goalkeeper from the start. Of course it helps that I am pretty large and muscular and that we play in ball hockey nets.

What a wood smell...

Brief On A Professional Wage

Venice, Travel+Leisure-Facebook

I am not interested in entering into a minimum wage discussion. I have not done enough research into the pros and cons and there are complex issues in each separate economy of how much exactly a minimum wage should be.

I am clearly, based on educational background not an economist. I am a theologian/philosopher of religion.

Minimum wage  is not a specific issue for me, thankfully, as I work in corporate security, and also have expenses covered from homecaring.

Basically I have two sources of income. I am now presently covering my student loans and monthly banking some savings.

Working at a large corporate site and thinking about some of the employment on site that is in a low paying job environment, I reason this will tend to promote in many cases a lack of professionalism by employees in particular.

An attitude will exist in some employees that he/she will not be with the employer in the long term and therefore he/she is not very committed with time and effort to the employer.

I do not agree with a these views, as in any lack of good work ethic, but acknowledge it as reality in some cases.

Let us consider that fast food restaurants are a classic example.

It can often be observed how dirty fast food restaurants are in comparison to fine dining or even family restaurants.

Perhaps a difference in cleanliness is largely based on the professionalism of the employees?

Yes, management is responsible as well. Not instilling professional standards.

I think employers, more specifically major corporations and companies, that simply use 'market value' or 'market demand' arguments for paying wages are often making a mistake.

Lower wages tend to bring in less skilled workers as well.

There are those employees such as myself with a Christian work ethic that will always do their best, and I am always looking to upgrade my CV and Resume, whether I work in the security/justice field or in theology/philosophy.

But, not all workers are self-motivated in reality.

Therefore

I am philosophically deducing that a working person's wage, a wage that is viewed in a culture as one within a profession, rather than as a low paying job, will often, along with proper training and a professional environment produce better work standards than will simply a wage supposedly based on the market.

It is often better to pay significantly higher wages and instill professionalism into a job, instilling a career mentality than to rely on market value.

This will tend to bring in higher skilled workers.

I realize small businesses in many cases may not be able to pay professional wages to employees.

End

'Interesting' logos In light of the Washington Redskins logo and name controversy

Killahbeez.com-Washington Rednecks-But they are not really a southern team...

Korkedbats.com-Washington Fredskins- With the name 'Fred' and how outdated the Flintstones are, would this logo not be as outdated as the Redskins?

Further web developments in regard to logos

Shirtshovel.com-Baseball does have its moments of action. A sport can be interesting during slower strategic moments, but that does take more devotion and attention from the spectator.

Shirtshovel.com

Shirtshovel.com-This is very much like when Bobby Buff and Cousin Buff meet anywhere in the Lower Mainland, but almost always Maple Ridge or Mission to fit into B. Buff's celebrity schedule. He has his concert appearances you know...

More Non-Reality Television...

Victoria Fall, Travel+Leisure, Facebook

Taking a rare Sunday night with some television and I viewed this ridiculous promo for a new 'reality' television show on A&E while watching Storage Wars.

I watched the return of Dave Hester on Storage Wars, a program I basically stopped watching months ago.

The show continues to decline. They need Barry Weiss back as at least he was funny and made it interesting as he searched through the lockers.

Entertainment Weekly, August 11, 2014

Cited

'New reality show leaves online couples on deserted island'

Cited

'Here’s the latest reality TV experiment: Take couples who have only “dated” over the Internet and have them shack up together for one week on a deserted island.'

I realize that dated here is in quotation marks as in "dated".

But even as one that is not primarily a dater, largely due to lack of Christians in British Columbia and Canada and the massive lack of at all theologically oriented Christians, whatsoever, but does socialize with persons of the opposite sex; any notion of dating over the internet is in my mind philosophically flawed. 

The idea of dating requires socially actually meeting which by definition requires in-person, offline interaction. 

Meeting online is not truly meeting in a full physical sense,

So called  'dating' over the internet, is in reality chatting at best. 

Online interaction can lead to meaningful offline interaction, but I certainly would not call it 'dating' in any context.

I will admit that Skype or video chatting does add much more socially to an online discussion than merely writing as at least there is a physical dimension as in viewing another person.

I have used video chatting in a work context and one can begin to know another person somewhat, admittedly.

Cited

The show is A&E’s upcoming Love Prison, where cyber-couples get an extreme dose of offline romance, stripped of their electronic devices and living alone together in an island house. “The couples are forced to get to know each other the hard way,”

Reading this I once again think 'a sign of the times' in the 21st century. 

The statement to know someone 'the hard way' is a sign of the times.

In reality, if meaningful potential dating relationships are left in the online context it may seem easier than dealing with reality, but it is avoiding the reality of the need for human interaction and the trial and error attached.

Hebrews 11: 1 New American Standard Bible

11 Now faith is the [a]assurance of things [b]hoped for, the [c]conviction of things not seen.

From a Christian perspective, sometimes the difficult things in life are what are required to be done in many areas of life. 

A step of faith needs to be taken.

Reasonable faith, not blind faith, but a step of faith.

As Hughes discusses in his Hebrews commentary, the faith is not a blind faith, although things not seen, yet one can be convinced of their reality. It is 'enlightened and substantial' faith. Hughes (1990: 440-442

Faith and revelation work together. Hughes (1990: 442). 

Therefore what is unseen can be taken in faith to eventually occur because of what has already been revealed by God through Scripture and in life,

A&E said in a press release. “This social experiment will test the validity of online compatibility versus real-life chemistry.

Philosophically, I question the concept of 'online compatibility' as weak.

Online at best should simply be a way to meet persons, in all types of social contexts that one would meet offline for a potential meaningful social compatibility. 

This is not just the case with dating, it is also the case in business, employment and other.

When I was hired in corporate security the initial contacts were online followed up by offline in person, face to face meetings.

But, I certainly was not hired simply online.

Cited

They have zero access to technology and must spend 23 hours a day indoors. Surprise interruptions keep them on their toes, and just when things may be going well, video interviews about their past reveal secrets both good and bad.”

HUGHES, PHILIP. (1990) A Commentary On The Epistle To The Hebrews, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

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Kuriositas.com-Michael Jackson would fit right in...

Is The Canadian Tax Man Too Fat?

British Columbia-trekearth

British Columbia-trekearth

CBC August 12, 2014

Cited

'Canadians spend more on taxes than food, shelter: Fraser Institute'

'The average Canadian family spends more on taxes than on food, shelter and clothing combined,a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, a Canadian public policy think-tank that focuses on free markets and government policies targeting consumers.

"If you asked people to name their household's biggest expense, many would likely say housing, but in reality, the average Canadian family spends more on taxes than all basic necessities including housing," the report's author Charles Lammam said of the paper, which tracks the total tax bill of the average Canadian family from 1961 to 2013.'

'In 2013, the study says the average Canadian family earned $77,381 and paid $32,369 in total taxes (or 41.8 per cent of income) compared to 36.1 per cent for food, shelter and clothing combined, the paper found. By comparison, in 1961, the average family earned approximately $5,000 and spent much more of its income on food, shelter and clothing (56.5 per cent), while $1,675 went to taxes (33.5 per cent).'

'But not everyone agrees with the Fraser Institute’s analysis.

"Those numbers are not directly comparable," said Peter Dungan, an economist at the Rotman School of Management. "First, in 1961 we did not have medicare," he said. The report's starting year baseline begins in 1961, the first year that the federal government started paying for a national health-care plan, first known as medicare and later brought under the umbrella of the Canada Health Act. Moving the onus of health-care spending from individuals onto the state has put a major cost on the backs of taxpayers along the way, which may be showing up in the Fraser Institute's report. According to recent numbers by consultancy Mercer, health-care spending was less than $100 per person in the early 1960s, 57 per cent of which was covered by government. But by 2010, per capita health spending had jumped to $5,614, of which 70 per cent was paid for by Ottawa. Other big ticket items such as the Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security didn't even exist in 1961. Dungan points to higher education as another factor that needs to be taken into consideration. "At that point, many Canadians did not even finish high school, let alone go to university or college.… Part of what’s included in the increase in taxes, is an increase in educational taxes."'

Cited

"The report is very misleading," said Iglika Ivanova, economist at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. "It grossly overestimates the tax bill of the average Canadian family because of their methodology. They include things such as business taxes and import duties in the bill of the average family. "There is lots of research, mainly from the US, that business tax is largely paid by shareholders, little is paid by workers … the average Canadian family is not a large shareholder," said Ivanova. Lammam says it is fair to include business taxes because those taxes trickle down to Canadian families in the form of reduced wages, higher prices and lower investment returns. "Corporations are pieces of paper, but it's regular people that pay these taxes," he said in an interview with the CBC on Tuesday. 

The Fraser Institute's measure of an "average Canadian" is also flawed, says Ivanova. "We need to look at the distributional issues as to who is paying for what. Averages are becoming less and less meaningful. What does it mean when you have such large disparity? … We’ve eroded tax fairness. This is a much bigger concern for me versus the size of the tax bill."

'Rising tax burden

All in all, the report's total tax bill represents both visible and hidden taxes paid to the federal, provincial and local governments. This includes income taxes, payroll taxes, health taxes, sales taxes, property taxes, fuel taxes, vehicle taxes, import taxes, alcohol and tobacco taxes, and more. Since 1961, the average Canadian family's total tax bill has increased by 1,832 per cent, dwarfing increases in shelter costs (1,375 per cent), clothing (620 per cent) and food (546 per cent).'

End citations

I am not a taxation expert. Theologically and philosophically I accept what the New Testament states in regard to paying the required tax (Matthew 22, Mark 12, Luke 20).

Romans 13:7 states to pay the State taxes and 1 Peter 2 notes to honor the State in verse 17.

The three Gospels command to give to God what is God's.

Theologically and philosophically, I reason that Western society and Canadian society has numerous spiritual and social problems that governments have demonstrated post-World War II they cannot adequately handle or solve. Even with the excessive amount of growth in taxation the last fifty plus years certain spiritual and social issues in society continue to exist.

There has been for example a breakdown of the family unit in Western and Canadian society.

I would therefore like to see less of my money go to city, provincial and federal taxation and more of it stay with me personally in order, that I as a private citizen that happens to be a moderate conservative Christian, and a theologian and philosopher, could decide where that money should be spent.

In other words, I have more faith in reasonable spending in not only myself, but also the average taxpayer than I do the Canadian bureaucracy, and although I am not stating that city, provincial and federal taxes should be ended altogether because obviously there are some services which in the current system need to be financed by governments by taxation such as for example medical, education, police, military and highways; I think the Canadian Tax Man is Too Fat...

End

August 13, 2014: Princess Pug of Bulgaria in her summer villa in Surrey, British Columbia. Here she demonstrates dominion over the property by controlling the remote control over the television. Thank you to Sister Anjela for the photos and I hope you enjoyed the Lassie and Littlest Hobo reruns on Netflix.  But of course Scooby-Doo was the most popular.

Here Princess Pug has just attacked the stuffed animal which is her usual MO, as in attacking anything that seems like it might be alive. No one is safe at the residence as Deeaan has noted the Princess has no concept of social boundaries and if one enters her villa, you exist to be licked, jumped on, sat on, to become a pillow, and most importantly your food is 'borrowed' at the first opportunity.

The Princess Persian looks on in usual disgust attempting to hide out from Princess Pug that will violently intercept any human attempt to show affection to Princess Persian. Why is this reading like Game of Thrones?

Scare Crows?

Sri Lanka-trekearth: Name that tune?

Previous employer @ site: 'Let's be honest, you are a bright lad...'

But, I still play a little dumb on here sometimes...

A Facebook friend states: 'The best way to avoid being attacked by a magpie is to travel around via tank...By all means - those who have not experienced magpies need to be warned. Smart, but *evil*.'

There are hundreds, perhaps thousands of black crows at work. There are messy results, feathers and feces.

Two of my fellow security officers this week attempted to chase some crows away.

This is was good comedy, by the way...

At the corporate site where I am employed they have wisely, in my view, taken an environmental approach to existence and maintenance.

Biblically, as God prioritizes his environmental and animals in creation in Genesis 1: 9-12, 20-25 and then again prior to the flood in Genesis 6-7; clearly the dominion, Genesis 1: 26-30, humanity was given over the environment and animal creation included concepts such as care, preservation and maintenance.

Not abuse. That would arise from sinful human nature and the fall.

There is a tension, however, in the case of the corporate crows because they are leaving feathers everywhere and leaving white deposits, that are not ice cream, this summer, everywhere including on the concrete floors and glass railings.

A recent CBC article provides some more advice...

CBC July 3, 2014

Cited

'5 ways to avoid being attacked by crows'

Cited

1. Leave them alone

2. Don't approach young birds

3. Change your route

4. Keep it clean

5. Wait it out

End citations

My suggestions

The use of a loud air horn (plus I would be willing to use it).

Call in the exterminator?

Effective. But, I suppose that would be working against corporate environmental policy and would look very bad if the media ever found out...

Provide the security officers with firearms and a near perfect opportunity for target training at after office hours. I actually like this idea, but I suppose again against corporate environmental policy and this would look very bad if the media ever found out.

It could also be very bad if a security officer missed a crow and accidentally shot one of the security officers on site stationed in the nearby construction area.

But of course, 'those guy' according to our senior security officer, and rightly so, are so out of it they would not know what hit them anyway. They do not even seem to notice that there are other security officers on site.

Have the on-site canine unit attack the crows instead of taking out his boredom by occasionally losing it with security officers or going berserk while in lock-up.

Via NATO, the use of nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons in a very small quantity.

But please just make sure I am no longer employed on site...

I know, very selfish. I repent. (Matthew 22, Mark 12, John 15).

Facebook Car Dog

The End



He looked scared shirtless. Not worth it...

Fakes On Facebook/Crazy Matrix

Winningateverything.com

Crazy Matrix

Below is a satirical video I received today from Saint Chucklins of Ridge. It does not represent my academic, philosophical views, although it does hit on some rather interesting points to ponder on in a humourous way. I suppose it is sort of a negative, satirical representation of some true realities within the Western world today, but certainly not from a Biblical worldview, theologically or philosophically.

I should point out that while preparing this post on Google Chrome that my page was under some kind of virus or spyware attack that added words to my text, including in French.  As well capital letters were added. 

I restarted to fix, but I apologize if there are any problems. It was quite annoying when this large white block would appear and my text corrupted, and I am working in Vancouver this afternoon and therefore time is rather limited with my travel required.

Quote:

'Chucky said ... This guy has it all figured other ...'



Fakes On Facebook

My current Facebook status

@ work .... So many fake profiles now. Yes I know some friends may be fake ...

CNN August 2 2012

Cited 

In an updated regulatory filing released Wednesday, the social media company said 8.7 percent of its 955 million monthly active users worldwide are actually duplicate or false accounts.

"On Facebook we have a really large commitment in general to finding and disabling false accounts," Facebook's chief security officer Joe Sullivan told CNN in a recent interview. "Our entire platform is based on people using their real identities."

Cited

'So what are Those 83 million undesired accounts doing? They're a mixture of innocent and malicious, and Facebook has divvied up into three categories Them: duplicate accounts, misclassified accounts and "undesirable" accounts'.

Cited

'Duplicate accounts make up 4.8% (45.8 million) of Facebook's overall active member tally.'

Cited

'misclassified accounts are personal profiles have been made for companies, groups or pets.'

Cited

'The third group is the smallest - just 1.5% of all active accounts - but most troublesome. There are 14.3 million undesirable Facebook accounts have been created Facebook believes specifically for purposes that violate the companies terms, like spamming. '

End of citations

My only significant concern with potential fake Facebook profiles is the third group.

If it is someone male, it is usually from a supposed Christian ministry that is looking for a donation.

Do I delete their account? Not usually. I reason I usually do not have enough information to judge them or their ministry sufficiently so I am willing to remain their Facebook friend, and remain completely unwilling to donate any money.

I also donate my internet time elsewhere.

If it is someone female, if it is an overly sexualized profile, which appears in existence for the purposes of questionable, immoral, non-Biblical activities, I do not accept a friend request. I received one of these yesterday.

Another clue with these type of profiles is that the profile often only has a few friends and all or most of them are male. The profiles are often new.

A few days ago I discovered that a supposedly female Facebook friend with a South American profile and two photos of someone that looks like it could be the same female pastor, is probably from Benin, Africa instead. Clues are that when this person chatted with me by their initiative they wrote in French, not Spanish and they invited me to a conference in Benin.

Did I delete the profile? Not yet. But I do not take the profile seriously.

Travel to Benin?

Slightly more chance than me taking a Mars mission...

I will not donate my internet time to this person.

The other week I had another female Facebook friend supposedly from South America change names and the profile photos changed and I was de-friended.

But at least this person followed my Facebook page first and this person had never written a word to me. I had simply written hello, basically.

Perhaps he or she read my material and thought there is no way this person will ever send me a cent, no matter whose photos I use...

Very, very, true.

There is also within my view the hope of ministering to some Facebook friends, which is one reason I do not always de-friend persons that I reason might be reading blog updates and other postings.

There is so much untruth and dishonesty on and offline, even among those claiming to represent Christ and the Church, but this does not take away from the Biblical claim of Christ being the way, truth and life and the way to the Father, and therefore the way to God, in John 14: 6.

British Columbia from the Knowledge Network