To my readers, thank you for spending time with me. This week is a bit different, as you will read, it is personal, but felt the need to share. There are some of us who go through the spiritual chaotic madness, remember you are not alone. We are in this together, and the learning we take from each experience can make or break us. The enemy (the hate in our hearts) wants to destroy our spirit, and the controllers of the chaos seek to destroy unity. There is only one way to fight the enemy, and this is love. I choose to mimic the love taught by Jesus and write from this lens. If you struggle to love, there is help. Reaching out is as easy as asking, but the requirement to change comes from within.

To the anchor of life,

I groan and I spit, I can’t take any more of this shit.

Ok… there I said it.

Shock value! Sure… But what is the purpose, day after day, following invisible thoughts, which make me insane? I’m fine… no I’m not… the back-and-forth cycle, the chaotic drain of pain. Building pleasures that get stripped away, from the expectations of the desires we play in our brain. Living life, chaotic drain… sometimes… then something happens? A reminder that the words of the Bible are true, following ungodly desires of lust makes us blue. So, we get up, dust our feet, and try to forget about the lusts of the flesh, the pleasure of sex, and the things that we desire to live our best. It is hard I know but it needs to happen, or so we’ve been told.

But wait, confusion…there is more…

The Bible, and those scriptures of old, say that God will give us the desires of our heart if we pray and are bold. Bold for what? a question remaining from the fragmented life that I am obtaining. Life is a trip, such a crazy and chaotic blip… in time.
 
I lost a dear friend this week, she was 52-years-young. Cancer beat her up pretty badly, till she took her last breath this week, it settles in my mind sadly. She battled, she fought, the treatments exhausted her, and she lost. She loved God with all her heart and prayed for healing. She trusted and believed the treatments would work. She listened to doctors who said they could help, exterminate those cells in her body that made her feel worse. She was too young, she raised a family, with children, grandchildren, and a husband so grandly. What is the purpose, for me it’s said sadly, because love hurts, a song we’ve heard many times before, after tragedy. She is so loved; the feeling is mutual from all who will be at her funeral.

I lost another friend only a few weeks before the 52-year-young who succumbed to death's door. This time was much different, she is still alive, but we stay apart because of our pride. When we were friends, we groaned and we spit, we decided we couldn’t take any more shit. Expectations ruled our heartfelt desires because we learned from the scriptures God would never leave or forsake us, and wouldn't retire. God loves us, or so it is written, he gives us desires through the prayers which are lifted, to follow love instead of hate. But we hated, how we acted, from the chaotic fighting, word-slinging, and unfulfilled expectations. Another… I’m sorry… but nothing is changing…so we decided to part…

Who am I fooling…loving hurts… honesty pooling… 

I can keep writing about the things that don’t matter, fluff and stuff, and things that aren’t tough. But the pain of losing someone is real, whether we know them a lifetime or only a moment in time. A heart connection is not easily severed, memories keep us thinking about them forever. I long for the day to see loved ones in heaven, is this a mindless thought, as we are never sure where our loved ones go, it could be pretend you know. As the scriptures in the Bible say, the kingdom of heaven is inside, so… more confusion, what does it mean, the rhetoric of heaven, and the pain of losing the dream, We want to believe we go to a better place, but the scriptures say, heaven on earth, so we stay in the race.

In conclusion, I’ll say this…

To my extended family, my 52-year-young friend, she was so beautiful, loving, and kind, her love for God did not go blind. She will sit in our memories for this lifetime, it's certain, and beyond this, we only have hope that she’s behind the curtain, because we loved, cherished, honored, and missed her. So sad we lost her so young, but there is joy in the hope of being together again, having fun. If we don’t ever see her in a heavenly place in the future, know this, our heart is where heaven on earth dwells, and we marvel and give thanks for Gods heavenly gifts.

To my friends who I lost who are still alive, I’m sorry I was stubborn and stayed in my pride. I believe those old scriptures the ones that say we’ve been told. You know, how to live with the promise of life filled with gold. How to love each other sincerely, without judgment, accusations, intentions of harming, or blasting each other into submission from misguided expectations? Life is short, can’t you see, fighting is stupid, don’t you agree? God is love, and it lives within, forget and forgive the pain of the sin that drives us insane. “But I tried”, you keep mocking. Let it go, it's not worth all the talking. Help is on the way, maybe it’s time that eases the pain. Sincerely I pray, I’m sorry, I don’t live up to the things I say. I'm human, a man who falls short every day.

​If I never see the friends still alive, know this, I continue to marvel at Gods heavenly gifts, the moments of time given to us. We loved and hated and unfortunately debated. I’ll choose to love, even when apart, no matter how heavy the blow to the heart.  

As we go through our weeks, let us remind ourselves, that life is short, so enjoy the heavenly gifts carried by the fruits of love in us. Can I encourage us to manifest the fruits of love? The blessings of being loved and cherished when we depart, leaving heavenly gifts for the next generation should dwell in our hearts.

Life, to be continued…

With Love, by the Vessel,
William John  

"Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34

Over two weeks ago the internet was a buzz, with the seemingly innocent for some and the outrageously disrespectful to others, during the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. I didn’t have the pleasure or pain of seeing the ceremonies but was aware of the depiction of the Last Supper by the flamboyant charade of actors and actresses. I don’t get bent out of shape over such things anymore, because in my mind, “What is the point?”. I can argue and fight my point of view and opinions all day long, but who am I reaching, at this point in life my energy is better spent trying to inform the people of the great deception we are being hypnotized by.

All this to say, I did find the ceremony over the top, but it didn’t change my life one iota.

The morning after the ceremony debacle, I went to my favorite small-town coffee shop. I love the staff there, they are always friendly and greet me with a smile, not to mention the coffee is wonderful. One of the ladies asked me if I had seen the Olympic ceremony, to which I replied, “I didn’t, but I saw the Last Supper fiasco on my social media feed this morning”. She was curious about what I thought, and without pondering a proper response, I blurted out, “It was bad taste (or something like that)”. She was confused and could not understand what the controversy was in the first place, she was genuinely bewildered. I was triggered and suggested that she investigate the symbolism of many LGBTQIA+ expressions. I may have come off a bit harsh, and then it dawned on me, “Lord, forgive them for they know not what they do”.

​Society has undergone an incredible amount of programming. The controllers of the propaganda machine continue to play on the heartstrings of us commoners with images and media feeds depicting mistreated and bullied segments of the population. Indeed, some specialty groups have been poorly treated. This can be attributed to the lack of respect and understanding. Schemes of evil intentions are to divide one another, blame one another, manipulate one another, and disrespect one another. Using Christian and Religious symbolism within certain specialty groups is designed to anger the various groups the symbolism represents. Mocking and shaming are the psychological tools used to comply with a system the evildoers are creating. As I wrote in the Indigenous Humility blog, the rainbow means a promise to many religious groups, but now it means pride.

The Last Supper represents the spiritual existence and the Holy Communion with Christ. Christians are symbolically united with Christ and receive His grace and forgiveness. The Last Supper is the ritual preamble to Christ's sacrifice on the cross and is a symbol of God's love for humanity, this provides an opportunity for believers to join God in spiritual eternity. It is not the Last Supper, the rainbow, the cross, or the numerous other ritualistic symbols that Christians and various religious groups are being mocked with, it is exposing the true nature of someone's heart. 

Before Jesus was finally placed on a cross for public display, by stepping out of line with the local authorities, he was mocked and spit on. Some of his closest friends turned their backs on him, leaving him in the hands of evil. Sure, some of Jesus’ followers were willing to fight for their right to autonomy and sovereignty, but when push came to shove, they backed down and denied even being an associate of the person they shared a Holy Communion with days earlier. It is a story of beautiful love for humanity and the ugly truth of hate, anger, and fear found inside the heart of every living being.

There is something else that the participants of the Olympic mocking charade failed to understand, “God will not be mocked”. For those who understand the symbolism and condone the actions, this is a dangerous arena to be in. I do my best to understand where the mocking heart comes from, and I have concluded this, “Hurt people hurt people”.  It is called the pain cycle, and it is easier to blame others for their crappy life than take responsible for living a life of forgiveness, understanding, and love. I mention this because so many people, not just in the LGBTIA+ community, are in the pain cycle. 

“Where was God?!", when someone’s youthful innocence was taken away at the hands of an entrusted family member, or friendly neighbor. “Where was God?!”, when someone’s mother was being beaten at the hands of a man’s drunken rage. “Where was God?!”, is the question asked within all trauma-induced, and mentally anguished members of hate, anger, and fear. The victims of the cycle of pain repeat and the mocking of anyone believing in a God of supposed love is intensified.    

For Christians who claim God as their own, where are you when the pain-cycled individual comes looking for help? “Just trust in Jesus”, the regurgitated rhetoric spews from our lips. Many Christians wonder why the individual isn’t getting the message, it is because we fail to realize that their spirit, the God inside, has been damaged by the God outside. The outward God has many people waiting for the superhero to save humanity, focusing on outward salvation instead of being the vessels for the change required to heal broken hearts.
 
I understand that the agitation is real and that we are being manipulated into fight, flight, or freeze responses. Everyone I know is feeling the effects of the ongoing smearing campaigns of misinformation, and it needs to be met with a real solution, to love. What do the Last Supper, rainbows, and love thy neighbor mean to an individual? I think we should start asking the questions, we might be surprised by the answers. I used to beat people with the bible and felt that it was my duty to correct people to the truth, as making sure that people do not end up in hell is the great commission of every Christian (or so we have been taught). Here is the uncomfortable truth; some people wake up in hell every day.

I am learning to be more patient and kind and not give in to hate, anger, lies, deception, manipulation, etc. I know it is hard, but to be vessels we need to carry the fruits of the spirit. It starts with the person in the mirror being a vessel for the change required to be saved from evil schemes. It isn’t all doom and gloom, and to show the way, the life, and the truth we need to be examples of love.

​Love thy neighbor, that is everyone, as you would want to be loved. It doesn’t get simpler than that.
Love Always, 
William John.

Life is beautiful. Life is full of emotions, such as heartache and sorrow, or, heartwarming and joyful. We live in a juxtaposition of good and evil, love and hate, happiness and anger. We choose this day which one we desire to follow, and it resonates in the heart. The symbolism of juxtaposition in life can be found in all cultures and civilizations throughout every lifespan, since the beginning of time. The yin yang, the karma, the consequences, the religious rhetoric, and never forget the Christian symbolism of Jesus and Satan.

Throughout my life, I have prayed for the desires of my heart. I love life, I relish in the beauty of creation and all that life has to offer. I have loved and been loved. I have hated and been hated. The truth is we all have. I write this with my desire to help you and I find the true meaning of life, to LOVE…

I am reminded of what I learned throughout my life, and it starts in the heart. Relationships have been especially hard for most people, and not just romantic relationships. There is an ongoing campaign, or so it seems, to divide people and have us focusing and criticizing our differences. The campaign has targeted the heart, making us focus on specks in people's eyes, instead of removing the planks in our own eyes. Our selfish nature, our ego, and our wanting to be better than others are easy targets for people with too much pride, too much arrogance, and too much trauma. Trauma? The "get out of jail" free card, gives those in possession the propensity for bad behavior. Taking instead of giving, hating instead of loving, men against women, and specialty groups challenging the status quo. For many, it is too much to handle, and checking out instead of stepping up is become the norm. We surrender.

Within the romantic partnership category, too many couples are focusing on what they can change in their significant other, rather than accepting and caring for someone the way that they are. Couples are being encouraged to look elsewhere when the going gets tough. Complaining instead of campaigning about our significant other. No wonder that relationships are failing at an alarming rate. Again, the pressure to maintain healthy living within the crisis of life has taken its toll on our souls. Relationships are difficult because we choose selfish ambition over selfless ambition. We are choosing to surrender.

Lately, my healthy boundaries have been compromised with the unreasonable expectations that come from someone’s selfishness. I have failed and the goalposts of expectations have broadened. I have heard the concerns, but I can’t change anyone’s past or my own. Everyone makes mistakes, but it is how we deal with missing the mark that will have us either learn or repeat the pattern. It feels like a losing battle, and the surrender flags have been raised.

What are the answers then?

In the Bible, where I take much of my teaching, we are taught how to love one another, but also states that in the end days, people "will be lovers of self rather than lovers of God". What does it mean to love God then? So many people who get married turn to 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 for their vows to one another, even Atheists have heard these rules for loving;

“Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails, But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.”  

Also, the Bible states that we are the encourage and edify one another. We are also not to be partakers in evil, and to watch for the wolves in sheep’s clothing. We are to help people where we can, not to cast pearls before swine. In other words, be kind, grateful, loving, and if you can afford to give to someone in need, give and don’t be selfish. Give without ceasing, and with a grateful heart expecting nothing in return. If you are feeling used, or that someone is being ungrateful, then learn to be wise with your time and resources and dust your feet. Encouraging words and affirmation will help better than a handout. Edifying people with their gifts and abilities helps to build communities and strengthen relationships.  

The same is true in our romantic relationships. Always take a moment to breathe, meditate, or pray when complications arise. Be calm and treat others how you want to be treated in the same situation. So many couples are struggling, they do the opposite of treating others with patience and kindness, choosing instead to demand that their partner treat them using the techniques learned from their favorite online podcast gurus. 

In case you missed it; many couples rely on their partner to make them happy, instead of learning to love first with no expectations. True love never demands anything. Unfortunately, most people look toward others for their happiness and insist that if their partner loved them, they would do things the way they wanted. The slippery slope of taking instead of giving, and losing focus leads to divorce, separation, and next.

I failed many times at being loving. I try but it seems harder in 2024, as coveting is at record levels. Keeping up with the Jones, body reconstruction, a pill to make you feel better, and can all be displayed on your favorite social media feed. It is much easier to love when we are alone, the expectations of a partner often pollute love. It is our selfish nature. Do we surrender, or do we choose instead what path paved in love? Choose what you want to follow. In my opinion, there is no source greater than Jesus, the guru of love.

As we go through our days and weeks, let us be mindful of how to love.

​By the vessel,
William John​

What a week! There is so much to blog about this week, but I find myself struggling with the importance of anything. Blah, blah, blah settles my mind. The show must go on, and the commitment to my readers, myself, and the little voices in my head persist. 

This week with the plethora of topics to choose from personal, local, and international issues that have ensued, I am left trying to make all three relevant to you. In my personal life, I am once again dealing with my navigation of healthy boundaries. I also received my editorial review of the new book, which is mixed on how to proceed. With the ongoing fires close to our town’s borders, many people have been forced out of their small communities to look for refuge due to fires. Overseas we witnessed an opening ceremony that buzzed the internet with opinions, anger, rage, excitement, joy, and everything in between depending on what side of the lens a person chose to witness the charade. I was also interviewed on a podcast with Briggs on Books, with technical difficulties, Geesh!
 
Upon further review, and the few days since I wrote the previous paragraphs, I have decided to stretch the material this week into three blogs over three weeks. This week I will focus on the local issue of displaced residents due to fires.
 
Regular readers of my blogs might know I examine many predicaments with the moto, Cui Bono (who benefits). Many quotes over the centuries deal with confusing people with so much information and propaganda that it becomes difficult to find the truth. The truth is this, many people benefit from the fires that displace residences to larger centers, like the village where I reside. Tragedy supports the agenda. I am angered to learn that many fires could be extinguished within minutes of being discovered. I have friends who worked for BC Wildfire Services, who all agree that fires being fought today are much different than in the 1990’s. 

There have been a few arguments explaining the changes and challenges to the tactical forces from the 1990s until now. Fires help replenish new growth, and they assist the natural cycle, which I agree with. The opposite reasoning for the change is Climate Change in which I am in disagreement. I have heard both arguments from leading experts from the institutions who work for the world governing authorities. Which is it, let-em burn for new growth or Climate Change? It can’t be both, or could it? I asked the question, and the response was this; Governments are fighting Climate Change in the name of Geo-engineering, let-em-burn initiatives, and sustainable development resourcefulness in the name of reducing climate change. 

Cui Bono? 
Why do I care?

This year the fire season affects our small community, as the displacement of people happened only 2 weeks before our annual Jazz Festival. The festival has been going since 1992 and has brought many amazing artists and musicians from all over the world. Unfortunately, the festival has mixed reviews from the local community, and this year it has been intensified. Many locals love the quaint and secluded life without interruption in this isolated mecca of British Columbia. For the festival organizers, it is a lot of work, time, and money to make the weekend event the success it has become.  For one weekend out of the year, it puts our community on the map. Like it or not it is happening again, but with an increase in population of evacuees, which puts a heavy burden on an already strained community.

I am proud of the organizers who put this event together. I am equally proud of the community businesses that work hard to ensure they are properly staffed and have enough goods and services to fulfill the weekend's demands. I also see that this year is especially challenging, and the decisions have not been made lightly. The show must go on, and it is not for reasons of money lost or gained, it is the right thing to do.

I am not an authority on festivals, forest fires, or the local community politics, however, I feel that we all need a change of heart, and I write about this extensively. There is something that people might not be giving thought to, letting the bullies win. If there is a global agenda to displace rural communities to live in the 15-minute cities found within the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 initiatives, then by stopping the festival, the agenda cronies win. Sadly, the fires ripped through the small communities, but the unity that happens is the result we should strive for. The displaced people have free tickets to the event, and our community has overwhelmed the disaster relief center with giving.

At this time of incredible loss of property and livestock, can we be supportive and put differences aside? Can we extend a hug and shoulder to cry on, with words of compassion, like, "Everything is going to be OK"? Can we stop thinking of ourselves for a moment, and think instead; "How can I help?". 

I pray there is a speedy return to the displaced communities. I pray there is joy, happiness, love, and hugs found at the Jazz Festival weekend. I pray those who are fighting fires are kept safe. I pray people behind the curtain of decision-making put themselves in the shoes of the less fortunate and do the right thing. Remember the golden rule, "Treat others how you want to be treated". Life is full of division, confusion, pain, and suffering, but there is a golden lining when people stop for a moment to think of others. Compassion is the key to a healthy and prosperous life, which everyone deserves.

Love one another, and enjoy the show. Be the shoulder to cry on while listening to your favorite artists, or the listening ear at the counter you serve at. As tragic as the fires are, we are all in this together. 
 
With love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

By the Vessel, 
William John​