Beware Of False Peace Agreements

If you are impressed by this week's peace agreements in the Middle East I have some news for you - it won't last.  

It is possible that this so-called peace agreement is just playing into the gameplan of Biblical end times prophecy.

A couple of verses that have caught my attention regarding this week's events:

1 Thessalonians 5:3

"While people are saying peace and safety destruction will come upon them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape."

This belief often ties into end-time prophecy, suggesting that a false or temporary peace agreement will be broken, leading to a period of judgment for those who do not believe in Christ.

Daniel 9:27

"He will confirm a covenant with many for one seven. In the middle of the seven he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him."

Bible prophecies regarding Middle East peace often focus on a seven-year covenant described in this passage, which some Bible scholars believe will be a temporary, false peace leading to conflict rather than a permanent peace.  Other prophecies refer to a future time when the Messiah will bring ultimate peace to the region.

So is this where we are right now?  How long will this peace last?  Will it lead us in the end times?

Most world leaders will accept a false peace treaty, described in which the activities of a false messiah will bring about. This false messiah will be so politically influential and powerful, so militarily strong that he will guarantee this peace agreement. Then, after a few years, he will break that treaty himself, and Israel’s temporarily peaceful neighbors will turn and make war against the Jewish people.

That's Just How They Are

Difficult people.

You've been around them, worked with them or probably even related to them.

They get a free pass for being snappy, grumpy or just mean.  You complain about them and you are told "that's just how they are."

Why do these people get a free pass?

Growing up I used to have issues with my dad and my mom would always say "well, son, that's just the way he is."

I never liked that excuse.  If someone is an ass then they need to be corrected but most of the time people don't because they "don't want to poke the bear".  (I don't like that term either)

So we just let the bear do what the bear wants to do.

The thing that always infuriates me is that if I have a bad day or a rare moment and act the wrong way I am the one called out about it.  I don't get that "well that's how he is" pass.   It is definitely a double-standard.

I can't tell you the many people I worked with that got a free pass because of their personality.  I would often work for one attorney who everyone avoided if possible because he was difficult to deal with yet when anyone would fuss about him the supervisor would say - "well, that's (attorney's name) and you know how he is." Then once I am difficult and I get reprimanded by my supervisor.  

One thing I have learned in my experience with these people is that it is a waste of time to try to win them over.  You can't force them to change.  They have been allowed to be their annoying personality for so long that it would take a Holy Ghost experience to change them.  The only way we can be around these people who get a free pass is just to be who we are.  Don't let their crappy personality poison ours.

No doubt we will always have difficult people to deal with.  We aren't perfect either and I really hope that I'm not that difficult person to someone else.  It would crush me to know that my actions are being excused away because that's how I am.  

Liking NYC Better

I have moved around many times during my life.

When we moved to New York in April I hated it. It was a tough adjustment for me.

Now I like it much better and I think that it was the best move we have ever made.

It still surprises me that I like it here. Until moving here, I had lived my whole life in the South.

Living here is still not without its challenges but I have adjusted.

Following the election last November we decided it was best for us to move and when other situations came together, we decided to make the move. Even though I have moved around a lot, I do not like the moving process at all. However, we got to work and made it happen.

Sadly, there are some that didn’t understand why we moved and not happy with our decision. I am sorry about this reaction to our move. This was something we had to do. It is unfair to expect someone to stay in a place where they aren’t happy. We are happy here.

Although we are happy here, we are still not sure if we will stay here either. There are several factors which might determine another move. The main factor is finances and whether or not we can afford to stay where we are. It is very expensive to live here. So we could end up pissing off more people should we decide to move again. I don't know. We will see how this plays out.

For now, we will live in the present. We love the adventures we have here. We have easy access to the New York Subway and Long Island Railroad. We never had these adventures before. We felt stuck while watching others travel the world and living through their social media posts. Now we get to do it after not being able to do it for many years with our moves being dictated by my job.

Right now as I type this blog I could look to my right and see the LIRR train roll by with the skyline of Manhattan in the background. How cool is that? Yep, I'm liking it better now.