"And the judgement is this, that God’s light has come into the world, but people love the darkness more than the light because their actions serve evil. For those who do evil hate the light and refuse to come into it for fear that their lawlessness will be revealed. But those who live in the truth come into the light, so that it can be seen that they are doing God's will."
John 3:19-21
"There was the persecution of men who dared think differently, who heard strange voices or read strange manuscripts. There was enslavement of men whose tribes came not from Rome, disdain for those who did not have the familiar visage. And most of all, there was everywhere a contempt for human life. What, to the strong, was one man more or less in a crowded world?
Then, of a sudden, there was a light in the world, and a man from Galilee saying, 'Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's.' And the voice from Galilee, which would defy Caesar, offered a new Kingdom in which each man could walk upright and bow to none but his God. 'Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.' And he sent this gospel of the Kingdom of Man into the uttermost ends of the earth. So the light came into the world and the men who lived in darkness were afraid, and they tried to lower a curtain so that man would still believe salvation lay with the leaders."
Vermont C. Royster, In Hoc Anno Domini, December 24, 1949
“These people honor me with their lips, and offer worship with their words, but their hearts are far from me. Their religion is nothing but the rituals and traditions of men, which they memorize. I will awaken them with one shocking blow after another. Their wisdom will be shown as foolish, and all their cleverness will be made worthless. Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the Lord, who do their work in darkness and think, 'No one can see us, so who will know?’"
Isaiah 29:13-15
"In a society that worships the self, power is the coin of the realm, where power is to be found in asserting one's own will over others. And beyond all doubt, kindness and tolerance are to be despised as undermining, weakening the will to power. In power is to be found the definition of all truth, for it dictates all, and does not bend a knee to any other reality but its own interpretation. In rationalizing ourselves by dehumanizing others, we can therein comfortably become monsters. And some do."
Jesse, 9 January 2015
“I bear with my loneliness now, in order to avoid greater loneliness in the years ahead. You see, loneliness is the price we have to pay for being born in this modern age, so full of freedom, independence, and our own egotistical selves.”
Natsume Sōseki, Kokoro, 1914
"What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
John 1:4-5
The markets had a little thrill ride today, as word of Trump's desire to fire and replace Fed Chair Jerome Powell roiled markets, sending stocks and the Dollar plunging, and gold and silver soaring.
But, as usual, Donnie quickly distanced himself from what he has been clearly engaged with, and things settled back down again.
The whole purpose of this exercise is to replace the mildly independent Powell with a chairman willing to be a one percent interest sycophant.
And, Trump added, he no longer desires to have the support from 'weaklings' who wish to have him fulfill the promise of revealing the material being withheld about l'affaire Epstein.
This is the kind of silliness, in addition to three card monte scams and pyramid schemees that occupy our best and brightest.
And why we, unlike the rising titans of Asia, are not allowed to have nice things. Like infrastructure.
Option expiration on Friday.
People are starting to wake up. But those who believe will cling even more tightly to what they cherish and have pledged their souls to serve in this world.
This is Bonhoeffer's principle of foolishness. And a biblical story, older than Babylon and marinated in madness.
A faithful light shines in the darkness. And the darkness has not overcome it.
Have a pleasant evening.
