Zoom Bullets: March 4th

• Photo is from our latest Zoom meeting, which is most Saturday evenings @ 21:30 PST/9:30 pm Vancouver time.

• It is mainly friends from British Columbia, but regularly includes people from Alberta, Florida, Norway and Australia. 

 • Thankfully, the political talk has mellowed with the departure of  President Trump. Both sides chilling a bit, to be clear.

• Recent talks have included Mennonite history. I also asked the question if based on Romans 13 and 1 Peter 2, Christians should still submit to governing authorities if they are an illegal, invading force?

• The government (s) in place are providing law and order (in most cases, for arguments sake, historically), so these domestic authorities are supposed to be submitted to by biblical Christians, as the military battles the illegal, invading force. 

• Nazi Germany was mentioned as historically not providing law and order, due to its racist approach and policies of mass extermination/murder and genocide. (Worse than Roman Empire in New Testament era? I think so)

• But, what if the illegal, invading force prevails?

• There was no definitive conclusion from anyone. A consensus seemed to be: 1) The response would vary from case to case. 2) Obeying the Lord, in a New Testament, gospel, perspective, should remain the Christian priority.

• So, I know what some people might be thinking... But no, this is not a 'theology nerd' group. Not much theology so far, really.

• So far, everyone involved is a friend of mine as is a biblical Christian of sorts. The name of the group is 'World of Domes' and we could use more people with hair.

• Travel has been a significant theme and so far over the pandemic we have had a tour of a Burnaby, high rise, condominium with a stunning view of Vancouver, and as well an equally interesting tour of a townhouse in Australia.

• Many have managed to upgrade their Zoom versions and have interesting backgrounds, whereas my updates have deleted my formerly bizarre, distorted backgrounds (see example, below) and left me with none that work well, still.

• It seems that for the first time in my lifetime, the Toronto Maple Leafs, may have finally figured out how to play defensively well enough to be a serious Stanley Cup contender. Tampa Bay Lighting are still the favourites until proven otherwise in the playoffs.

• Russ Murray is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. 

Topic: Russ Murray's Personal Meeting Room Join Zoom Meeting

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/6209164709?pwd=S1FsWWVMSHFTTVh3OWlRalgxT2g1Zz09 

Meeting ID: 620 916 4709 Passcode: 0jTaJp

Be cautious making predictions...

 

Example: I have learned that I am not usually right in regards to Stanley Cup winner predictions, unless I have been significantly watching the playoffs to at least the semi-finals. 

(Knowledge has to be significant and continually increased)

Saturday Bullets: Better late than never?

via GIPHY

• Image one: Facebook-Richard Pierce, February 9, 2021. Better late than never?

• Image two: Facebook-Arne's brain during Zoom meetings. (Thank you for posting, Arne)

•  I was an invited guest on a Zoom meeting, this week, and one of the rules was  that after someone makes a two minute presentation, others can comment only by asking 'I would be curious to know', then the question.

• I disliked not being able to make a respectful statement. However, I can acknowledge this format will often work well with groups made up largely of strangers and/or non-friends.

• In my own Zoom meeting, World of Domes, most Saturday evenings, 21:30 PST, as each person is generally a friend of mine, I do referee, but I also do allow for a more libertarian approach to discussion.

• Usually, not always, as this is really is not a stranger group, but there definitely are non-friends within, things are respectful. Overall, a good ministry for me, and intellectual exercise for everyone involved, I hope.

• Russ Murray is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Russ Murray's Personal Meeting Room Join Zoom Meeting https://us04web.zoom.us/j/6209164709?pwd=S1FsWWVMSHFTTVh3OWlRalgxT2g1Zz09 Meeting ID: 620 916 4709 Passcode: 0jTaJp

• Image three: Facebook-(Thank you, once again, Arne) Psychics get the beat down with this type of joke often.

• Regardless of how legitimate psychic ability is or is not; IMHO, it is better to primarily seek and trust in the Lord, that is infinite, eternal and omniscient, and the first and primary cause of all things, as opposed to primarily relying on any kind of human reason and mental/spiritual abilities.

•  I have noted that human beings are finite, permanently and sinful in this realm.

•  Based on documented, religious history, mainly the New Testament texts, regenerated believers in Christ will in the future be purged of sin post mortem, in body via a future resurrection (1 Corinthians 15), after being in the post-mortem presence of the Lord in paradise in spirit (Luke 23, 2 Corinthians 12, Philippians 1). I assume the human spirit here shall be purged of sin before the resurrection.

• Even when the Church is purged of sin in the new heaven and new earth (2 Peter 3, Revelation 20-22), infinite knowledge will still only belong to God.

• (Pandemic protocols) I call 💪 Bobby Buff last night, and he says we will go out. But he explains that someone is going to be outside his house..(a client it sounded like). So, several minutes later, I go outside and I see 😡 Chuck the Red Dome is his 🚗, outside of my residence still a decent walk from Buff's house. Chuck says he is waiting for Bobby Buff..the King of Rock and Roll etcetera. Hubba bubba, baby. So, .I realize 💪 Bobby Buff is $elling 😡 Chuck the Red Dome 🚗🚒🚑🚕🚖🚙🚘 some of his family collection of toy cars, for Chuck's younger brother. I informed 😡 Chuck the Red Dome that he was 💪 Bobby Buff s client which of course he knew, but made him chuckle.

• To quote Chucky: 'It was like a drug deal (except it was toy cars, my add). I gave him $20 and he gave me a bag of stuff...'

Friday Bullets: The willingness to revise

• Facebook image I: Photo- 1935 Auburn Supercharged Boattail Speedster Classic Cars & Trucks.

• I suppose I am not a 'car guy', but this automobile strikes me as unique. 

• The design and the way the black and red paint is displayed is unique.

• Facebook image II: I am definitely not an 'anti-masker', but this theme made me laugh inside.

• If the effects of COVID-19 are so bad people need to double mask, the pandemic has been mishandled in your region, IMHO.

• Too many ignoring social distancing, IMHO.

• I do not enjoy wearing a mask, nor do I want to receive any injection. But, I can accept I need a VGH/UBC eye injection for my eye at times, based on medical science.

• I can also accept that I will require a COVID-19  vaccination based on medical science.

• Apart for the medical reasons, even just to be able to reasonably participate in western economies, travel, etcetera, I will require a vaccination (s).

• One should admit he/she lacks certain expertise. I am not a scientist or medical scientist. I am reliant on medical science in regards to the existence of a pandemic and any required treatment.

• Yes, using the education and common sense I do have,  I should consider evidence from sources within medical science, and in prayer seek (John 14) reasoned truth.

• I should admit I need to revise thinking at times. For example, years ago, I thought that Las Vegas may flop as an National Hockey Language franchise, because it had a small fan base according to Google searches: first link. Similar views were documented:

• MAY 31, 2013, AT 12:46 PM Why Can’t Canada Win The Stanley Cup?

• AUG. 28, 2014, AT 1:08 PM Half Of The NHL’s Rumored Expansion Cities Don’t Make Sense

Cited from FiveThirtyEight.com, second link.

• Teams in markets with fewer than 300,000 hockey fans, however, have tended to lose money, and that’s where the wisdom of adding franchises in Seattle and (especially) Las Vegas gets iffy. We estimated that Seattle contains about 240,000 NHL fans — fewer than that of Phoenix and Florida’s Tampa Bay, home to two franchises that have struggled to turn a profit for many years. And if Seattle is an enigmatic choice by this metric, Las Vegas would be a disaster. According to our estimates, there are only 91,000 hockey fans in the Vegas media market, which is nearly 40 percent fewer than even Nashville, Tennessee, the least-avid current NHL city, has.'

• Even with a lack of a traditional, large, hockey, fan base, the Vegas Golden Knights have done, decently well attendance and profitability wise, so far.

• Granted they have had a Stanley Cup contender from the beginning, due to newer, favourable, expansion draft rules, and the exclusion of Seattle and/or Quebec City as an expansion partner, and therefore more better players available.

• Vegas Golden Knights: Forbes

• There is something to be said for Las Vegas being a wealthy city where significantly, non-hockey fans can financially support their local team and some may become hockey fans.

• A statement (proposition/conclusion) and premises and conclusion (argument) accepted as leading to truth, at times should be reconsidered in light of other information.

• Theologically, a biblical Christian seeking truth (John 14) should consider that God will at times sanctify (move towards holiness) him/her, as an aspect of New Testament salvation, through a changing of the mind and accepted statements and arguments.

• The willingness to revise. In regards to overall worldview (yes there are biblical essentials) and views held to within, ranging in degrees of importance.

• Example of sanctification: 1 Thessalonians 5:23 English Standard Version (ESV): Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.