Sharon Sala Shares Information Related to Author Rights by Bartz Anthropic - Writers Beware of AI - Along with Responsive Thoughts from Moi!

 Sharon Sala

If you haven't learned about her latest book, check it out while you are here! 

Over the weekend, I was notified once more, by Bartz-Anthropic settlement, that they have identified additional titles of my books to add to the Bartz-Anthropic claims, bringing the total to 53.

Those are books of mine that were used without my knowledge or consent to inform AI.

There are hundreds and hundreds of writers like me, who's works have been impacted by this egregious action and now that the entities who pirated them lost the lawsuit, they are required to pay back X

amount of money per title to each writer who's works were stolen.

It doesn't make up for what I consider a slaughter of our intellectual properties, but it damn sure will make them sorry.

It boggles the mind how insidious the use of AI has become.

I hope I'm long gone before it takes over the world, because it will unless somebody steps on the brakes.

Those Terminator movies are no longer Sci-Fi.

They're just warnings of what's to come if we continue to ignore.

I'm so fed up with lying politicians, traitors to our country, hackers, and the robo calls from scammers.

May you all rot where you stand.

Previously Shared on Facebook...

~~~~

At the same time, I'll take the time to share what has been happening with me... related to that machine that controls our lives to a lesser or greater extent...

But first, a response to Sharon and others who are facing this major, very profitable for criminals problem... And computer people seem to be among that group... I'm willing to give them a slight break because I've personally been working with computers before most programmers have even been born...

And there are others in the United States like me that know little if anything about the technical side of technology and its...benefits...

KEY TO THIS IS THAT THEY MUST KNOW ACTUAL BUSINESS PRACTICES, SUCH AS ACCOUNTING, WRITING, CREATING ARTISTIC RESULTS DIRECTLY FROM ONE BRAIN AND PLACEd ON SOME FORM OF SHARING SUCH AS A BOOK, A GRAPHIC PICTURE, AND MORE... In my opinion, the creative energy of a human brain cannot be replaced by any level of computer...

I was responsible for all information related to West Virginia University facilities, including how they were used, which department was approved to use them, etc. When I first started, much of this was being done manually, and then, at that time, spreadsheets of data codes were submitted for keypunching staff. Yes, so long ago, some of you may not even know the word keypunch. My point is that a certain, prescribed set of data codes was created to develop and maintain a database of all facilities used by WVU across the State. At that time, we were required to provide all such data to the federal government.

But let's move ahead to today, right now, in the United State. Most of the data gathering has been removed. Indeed, the very first act of this president was to delete the federal government data center... and brought in DOGE... That group set about destroying departments, removing the money, moving it to some place nobody knows, not even Congress. Indeed, recently we learned that a DOGE employee provided the entire social security data file to a group outside of the government... We know purchases have been made such as planes for the former head of homeland security and even when she was fired, it was retained for whatever anybody wanted to do with it... Yes, we all know that billions of our tax dollars are being used for anything and everything that the republican party can think of, including a illegal demolition of the Historically Preserved White House and an ongoing attempt to build a ballroom... Which, by the way, the latest on that is that they are working to actually use tax dollars for that, even though the president claimed no tax dollars would be used... He lies about everything...

So why no complementary videos?

Here's a documentation of one of the worst times in my life (dealing only with the computer crap part, LOL) of it all, for right now...

Here's what happened:

With medical issues taking a lot of my personal time, I had not been able to deal with the routine daily happenings on my computer. Reading and sharing about books is my passion and has been for over 20 years... but it had also become an escape from the reality of what is happening technologically... Specifically, the end result that computers play in my own life--and possibly in many other lives who use a computer for their daily careers, such as our wonderful writers...

I knew Windows was updating. Had already determined that my old computer didn't have the capacity to accept the upgrade! My computer seemed to be working fine so I decided, from a purely financial standpoint not to worry about getting support from Windows... I was wrong...

Or, worse, whoever or whatever had invaded my old computer had been there for some unknown period... Who knows?...

Which leads to a blanket statement for ALL sites on the Internet!

Your staff creates a software program without regard to USERS... A definite no-no from one who managed development of systems from the bottom up... And I'm talking from somebody who knows the extremely detailed activities involved in each individual procedure or process...

Let me give you the most recent example... I will be getting back to my old computer, but today's example is perfect for the issue. I wanted to add a video to this post. I opened up YouTube and instantly I was told I had a "Block Ads" on my computer... I didn't put on a Block Ads at this point on a new computer... The popup showed me a set of possible extensions, none of which I had... I marked other and went to my extensions... There was a malware, Norton, Pinterest and AddtoAny...As far as I, the user, am aware, blocking ads is not part of these activities. I followed the instructions as best I could even though I have not had problems with Pinterest or Add-To before and the Malware is now crossed off... Norton remains... I am left with an extension that does not take you to the Norton site and I cannot follow the procedures... NOW WHAT?! I the user have seen some ads on YouTube that I don't support but I have no idea whether they are a threat... So...in order to create this blog post, I would have to stop, do lots of research to find out how to allow YouTube to be used on my computer...Or

I'd have to pay to use YouTube... Because Norton might discover there is unsafe material on YouTube ads???

Which leads me back to the scary mess I got into last week...

Picture this, because I can't reproduce it...

The sequence of these events might be important...

I had just had a popup from Yahoo which related to using their site. I do have a Yahoo email account, but I had not used it for years, so eliminating that was no big deal, so since I was in the midst of loading Norton, I just closed the popup without any action to continue with the installation I had already paid for...

Popups immediately started flying at me...They were about 3 by 6 in size, one right after the other so fast that you could not even read what was being said... I can't even remember whether I saw one that read do not turn off your computer, or whether it was a voice, I was so rattled... Because I had one response to that warning coming out of nowhere... I turned off my computer as fast as I could!

When I later came back and turned on the computer, I was able to proceed with the installation... but I wanted to do a full scan immediately after what had occurred... So I proceeded but got a list of type of scans that were available and chose one called Startup... (I have this running now on a daily basis and watched this morning to see what actually happened--I'll come back to that soon...

So when I had just proceeded to attempt to do a Startup Scan, it started and I immediately got an error statement that said that the computer could not be started... After several times of manually turning off the computer because it was stuck and would not allow a shutdown... - Now realize that this computer had been fully working up until the time I started to work with Norton...OR had refused to agree with Yahoo... (more on that later as well)

Days went by and I tried as many things as I could think of, except one, which worked... I returned the computer to factory status. I "thought" this meant that it would be back to originally set for use... Instead I got screens so technical that I could not even begin to deal with what I saw...

About that time, I decided that purchasing a new computer with Windows 11 might be the only way to go...Actually, I have no alternative. As far as I am aware, the one computer repair company I had used was out of business and I didn't know who else to call...

In any event I now have a new, Windows 11, hp computer which I'm struggling to use... I was able to find my blog, thankfully, and at least most of my sites I use routinely... Main thing after letting readers know it would be irregular times for right now, I've been trying to find out status of Norton... Some things had carried over, although I have no idea how...but the main program was not showing on my program list. So yesterday was spent working to get that up and running... I was told later, that access to my computer was lost at one point, somebody else came on and expected me to start over... I refused...but then went to a search engine site, opened it and got a download and installed...

Only to find that when the Startup run was made this morning, I started getting a list of corrupted files! Identified as a ZIP file, archived, some of which had the word game...

So, If my understanding is right, there is a archived group of corrupted files on my NEW computer...which is sitting somewhere hidden...BECAUSE THE SCAN WAS COMPLETED AND THE COMPUTER PROCEEDED TO OPEN!!!!!

If I were to hypothesize, I might think that when windows moved to the next generation, they left a lot of crap files that had been identified as corrupted and didn't bother to delete them, but just hid them into a corner and built a wall around them...so new owners are paying for space occupied by corrupted unusable files that are taking up space for absolutely no reason... Just another reason not to trust big corporations...

So this morning when I got stuck trying to enter YouTube or pay, I attempted to find a part of the conversation with Norton technical staff I had yesterday, which referred me to several other sites...The following is what I got when I opened what I assumed would be a copy of the dialogue... Yes, I have kept copies of chat rooms many times...but apparently not with Norton...

In any event, Norton had suggested several things, two of which I actually understood and recognized... I was supposed to go to Google and do this or that...or go to Microsoft and do this or that...

So not it seems that security is to be so controlled that each of the users (you and me) must untangle the messes created by each company who, because of "security" purposes, no longer is willing to coordinate with other companies to ensure that conflicts do not arise...

Duh...

What we have now is a security system on top of a security system, on top of a security system, which is controlled by AI advisors who immediately repeat your entire chat message before they even attempt to try to solve your problem, and after that, they may or may not decided that they can solve, or think they can solve, what I need--which did happen once--before technical staff was pulled in...

On Amazon yesterday, I attempted to get access to my total library, the individual there give me a list of instructions, while I was also typing another question, but she left the chat I was told by the program... I left the window open for about an hour and she never came back...

So, now, we have a series of AI robots who are not trained, but we also have untrained customer service or technical staff who often show they don't care about their customers...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_customer_is_always_right

In 1909, our country was built on the philosophy of placing the customer first--that they are always right...in effect saying that if the customer wasn't satisfied, then the company would make appropriate changes to adjust to that individual's needs...

In 2026, the only people who actually follow this is the "individual" who because of training and basic moral standards, works hard to ensure the individual who is asking for service from their corporation/agency is satisfied... Norton was at least trying...

Now in 2026, everybody either sends a review process form which is never seen again or, worse, could care less about meeting the needs of those who need assistance...

Indeed in my experience, the worst group of corporate agencies is those who use computers as a basis for extortion!

I'm going to give just one example, but could continue through many businesses with whom I've had to interact during the last decade...

In the 1960s, AOL was the first, new social site that even had movies made about them... Remember "You Got Mail!"

I joined at that time and have been using AOL since then. Frankly, I have found their email system to be the best and most useful for handling a small business such as book reviewing (both when I was getting paid and after) I've been reviewing books for about 25 years now and aol has most of that information...

Or did, I haven't checked to see what I lost, if anything, as of now...

The big problem is that, I remembered after Yahoo sent me a popup the day my computer died...

That Yahoo purchased AOL

And since that time, my email has increased approximately 300%

On day 1, they put up a notice that if you wanted to eliminate ads, pay us...

I've kept track of some of these each time I get these fake mail notices...

You see, you can hover the "from" address and see who is sending the email. Most are so clearly fake! The length of that location could run up to 100 letters

I considered this extortion immediately and still do...

I am perhaps the only person who still uses aol from the 60s...

Perhaps they wish to penalize the fact that I've never paid for mail...

But then, I've never paid for GMail, or Windows email or just about any social site that exists these days...

Yet, I'm guessing that some of the popups came from my choosing Norton

You see, I've been getting emails from aol from the time I lost Windows 10 support trying to get me to purchase their software--a software I've never heard of...

And seriously, would YOU buy security software from a company that forces fake mail coming to you daily that has to be routinely deleted, which then returns the next day and the next... No company does that type of mailing! It's fake or scam emails of one sort or another...

Some even show no "from" but have my name Glenda in that column...

They are the ones telling me that My account is running out and will be closed to a company I have no interaction with or some variation of a need for emergency action... How cruel can a company be to allow that type of "mail" to be used for purposes of getting paid for NOT sending it?

In any event... When I ordered Norton, downloaded it, I immediately got the Yahoo request to sign something...I didn't...and immediately popups arrived!

I could be blaming somebody wronging...if so, I will apologize if proven my assumption is wrong...

But in the meantime, this is just one example of how big corporations are looking to our government gathering millions/billions of our dollars and spending them on private plates, drunken Secretaries, a use of violence like never before done against our own citizens, our neighboring countries and even faking wars against other authoritarian countries...

While relatives or friends of a man in charge with complete immunity

is robbing the government blind...

And large corporations are following his lead... Nothing is provided as in the past, or a former law--they are being deleted or changed or people are being fired while planes are having more accidents than ever before with no willingness to recognize that the lost staff HAS to be the reason for many of those events...

When Norton, for their own security, forces me, in order to use their product, to be so locked that I have no easy way to say that I'm willing to use YouTube and risk that "their" security is sufficient for me, then we have, as customers or users, to actually use these SOCIAL SITES they claim is for OUR benefit...

IT IS JUST NOT TRUE...

AND WE KNOW IT...

AND IT IS GETTING WORSE...

AS LONG AS THE RICH WANT TO GET RICHER

AND ALSO WANT TO DENY SOMETHING THAT THEY ONCE GAVE TO CITIZENS...OR EVEN ACROSS THE WORLD ACCESS... 

WHILE FORCING THOSE HACKED BECAUSE OF HAVE TO DEAL WITH CONSEQUENCES BEYOND OUR CONTROL...because there is no legal activity now dealing with cyber crime...

WHAT A MESS

WHAT A TIME TO BE LIVING IN A WORLD FULL OF RICH LIARS

WHO CAN'T EVEN TELL A LIE AND HAVE US BELIEVE IT

BECAUSE REALITY OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS SO VISIBLE...

EXTORTION

the practice of obtaining something, especially money, through force or threats.

ONE FINAL THOUGHT

WHEN THE COST OF SECURITY FOR USERS IS MORE that needed  BECAUSE NOBODY DOES THE JOB OF LEGAL PREVENTION OF HACKING AND MORE, OUR GOVERNMENT IS FAILING US AT EVERY LEVEL

DURING ALL THIS CRAP I LEARNED THAT MY NAME IS ONE THE "DARK WEB"

PROBABLY THAT SOCIAL SECURITY INFO THAT WAS GIVEN BY A DOGE EMPLOYEE TO AN OUTSIDE AGEN CY...

OR BECAUSE I'M OPPOSE TO WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR DEMOCRACY AND ITS LOSS

JUST LIKE ALL THE CRIMINAL ACTIONS NOW BEING ALLOWED BY ONE POLITICAL PARTY, WHILE CALLING THE REST OF US "DEMONS" IS JUST PLAIN WRONG AND EMBARRASSING TO OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY OF FREEDOM...

IF SOMETHING DOESN'T HAPPEN TO STOP THE CORRUPTION BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, WE MIGHT AS WELL PLAN  ON LOSING EVERY SINGLE PART OF LIFE AS WE KNOW IT...

COMPANIES ACT AS IF THEY ARE DOING US A FAVOR BY PROVIDING GOODS AND SERVICES. TO A SMALL EXTENT THAT IS TRUE, BUT, LET ME ASK YOU, DO YOU EVER GO INTO A GROCERY STORY AND SEE THE ROWS AND ROWS OF JUST CEREALS AND WONDER WHY THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT OPTIONS, WHICH THEN ARE DESTROYED WHEN NOT SOLD?

IT'S BECAUSE, PERHAPS, YOU HAVE BECOME SPOILED TO WHATEVER LEVEL OF RICHNESS YOU HAVE ACHIEVED.

I REMEMBER BUYING ON SALE IN A PAST, PARTS OF A CHICKEN THAT WERE NOT USUALLY SOLD, AND WE ATE THEM AND MADE HOMEMADE NOODLES AND SOUPS WITH THEM...DELICIOUS!

HAVE YOU BECOME SPOILED AND WILLING TO PUT UP WITH THIS CRAP? WHILE CHILDREN ARE STARVING?

WHO IN HELL WANTS TO SEE A GOLD BALLROOM THAT WILL BE BIGGER THAN THE WHITE HOUSE OF THE PRESIDENT WHICH HAS EXISTED FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS?

Of course I could go on, but the majority of you know what I am talking about...

Please look to what you can see happening and decide to work against those who care nothing about the majority of we who live in the United States...

Because I guarantee that this president is not going to change from what he has been all his life...a man whose father taught him how to grab federal funds and then building a facility in which he would not rent to certain non-white people... If you don't believe me, you haven't done your research... Start with the 3 books by his niece and nephew after their inheritance money for their father was denied...

Don't be a fool.

If you are scared and concerned and frustrated like I am

Start thinking for yourself and REACT TO REALITY!

A legal system was required because we didn't follow a request to Love out Neighbors

Now Those people who love only riches is stealing from Citizens and getting away with it...

None of us are safe when all corporations are bowing to a president OR are just greedy because they care only for themselves...

No matter what reason, it's OUR MONEY

And something better happen very soon...

Please plan to vote and fight for freedom

Gabby

Ted Dekkr's Heaven's Wager - A Mockery? - Personal Opinion Discussion

 “And all along, the drama unfolding in the spirit world is hardly noticed but no less real. In fact, it is the real story. We just tend to forget that because we cannot see it.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Anthony_van_Dyck_-_Mocking_of_Christ.jpg

She looked at her mother again. Helen had clenched shut her eyes and lifted her chin so that the skin on her neck stretched taut. Her face rose ashen to the ceiling and Gloria saw then that her mother was crying. Not crying and smiling like Spencer. But crying with a face painted in horror. “Mom?” she asked, suddenly worried. “Oh, God! Oh, God, please. Please, no!” Helen’s fingers dug deep into the chair arms. Her face grimaced as though she were enduring the extracting of a bullet without an anesthetic. “Mother! What’s wrong?” Gloria sat straight, memories of the incredible laughter dimmed by this sight before her. “Stop it, Mother!” Helen’s muscles seemed to tense at the command. She did not stop it. “Oh, please God, no! Not now. Please, please, please . . .” From her vantage, Gloria could see the roof of her mother’s mouth, surrounded by white dentures, like a pink canyon bordered by towering pearl cliffs. A groan broke from Helen’s throat like moaning wind from a deep, black cavern. A chill descended Gloria’s neck. She could not mistake the expression worn by Helen now—it was the face of agony. “Nooooo!” The sound reminded Gloria of a woman in childbirth. “Noooo . . .” “Mother! Stop it right now! You’re frightening me!” She jumped up from the chair and rushed over to Helen. Up close she saw that her mother’s whole face held a slight tremor. She dropped to her knee and grabbed her mother’s arm. “Mother!” Helen’s eyes snapped open, staring at the ceiling. The moan ran out of air. Her eyes skipped over the white plaster above. She mumbled softly. “What have you shown me? What have you shown me?” She must have found herself then, because she suddenly clamped her mouth shut and dropped her head. For a moment they stared at each other with wide eyes.

I stopped reading this book at about 60% last night... I just couldn't take any more of this writer's "Wager." 

Over 20 years ago, I'd learned of this author--about his books which covered the supernatural aspect of God. I don't remember whether I read at least one to see what it was all about. If I don't remember, that probably means that I wasn't impressed... I do know that I've not read any of his books since that time. However, as you know, I'm a member of BookBub and this book was offered to me based upon my expression of interest in Christian books. So I decided to give the book a try. Not really considering the exact name of the book until I mentioned it Tuesday here on my blog.

You see, right from the very beginning I was having problems with the author's...writing... Quite a surprise given his number of books... This book, though, appears to be an attempt to write a contemporary story, which I found more like horror rather than Christian... In any event, I had the weirdest dream just before I woke up this morning.

A meal with ham had been served and I was apparently cleaning up afterward. Somebody had gotten to the remaining ham first and hacked it badly... There were chunks which included internal fat lines for one. It obviously had not been prepared for future use... As I was in the midst of picking it up with my hands, trying to figure out what to do with it--and eating a few bits as we all do--I began to notice that something was "attacking" me. I realized that something within the ham was doing it. Should I throw out all that was left? I didn't know how the preparer of that ham would feel so I kept on getting "bitten" by something... Until I woke up... 

This is the word that came to my mind upon waking: 

Mockery...

I knew immediately that referred to this book

And that I should write about it after all...

When this happens, I don't just start writing. First I checked when this book was copyrighted (2000) but this book I'd been reading was published as a "debut" in 2010. I then went to Amazon and read a couple of the low ranking reviews. They also questioned the concept for various reasons. Then, for some reason, I remembered the Biblical reference of demons being moved into swines (pig - ham dream) and they running off a cliff... Now I know there are probably connections to all that I had not worked out. So this discussion relates just to the book itself, if I may...

Dekker begins the book without any leadin; that is, the setting, the background or the characters. Lots of authors do this, but as I moved on, I realized two points:

The main "villain" had been working much overtime to create a banking program that could be used across the whole banking area. He had succeeded and rushed home to tell his wife and child that they were going to be able to enjoy life more, starting with a trip to celebrate. I recall that I was happy for him/them...

Then the next major thing that struck me was that his wife, his son, and his wife's mother routinely met for prayer. They had been praying for the "villain" for 5 years... There was no explanation for this supposed need for prayer for that many years, other than that he worked too hard and didn't participate in their religious lives, even though he at one point told his son he believed in God...

Now this prayer activity got into supernatural interaction with God... And the book points out that those in Heaven didn't know what to do about all these prayers... ??? that had been coming for years.

In the meantime, the programmer had completed his system development and it had been submitted for recognition at a large event...

The subtitle of this series is Martyr Song 1 - But, from my understanding of the term Martyr, I really wasn't sure who the martyr was... But, death does strike for two (at the point where I stopped)

Because the assumed "martyr" of the book was called back home. He was to be the main speaker, but it had now been done by his boss who had contributed very little to the project. His wife had died by the time he got there...

Within weeks, his son had been killed in an accident... Somewhere along the lines, Job was thrown in as a possible tie in...I didn't think it was relevant given the book's content...

So let's stop and take a look at the title: Heaven's Wager... You will see that I pulled in a hit song from years ago about the Devil going down to Georgia. In fact, there have been literally hundreds if not millions of books that revolve about Christianity and the relation to demons, the devil and violence from other humans! I can immediately think of some that I've reviewed here... Declan Finn, in my opinion, has done the best writing on this topic...

I've probably said this before but I picked out a video that speaks to what I'm trying to say:

Have you ever heard of The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy?

When I was a child, I learned the song above, as a children's choir song... As a literal reader, I learned that I was to hate the devil... In fact, I believed this so much that I would not even allow myself to say that name... or sing it in the song. Years later, I went to see a movie with a friend when it first came out: The Exorcist scared me so much that I almost fell and would have as I was leaving if my friend had not helped me by grabbing my arm... I believed that demons did exist...

But then I learned that when you are older, you put away childish things--that is, you learn that many of your fears are based upon stories--either heard over and over or read to you as if it was God's Truth...

As you all know, I've been struggling since evangelical christians chose to support a criminal, a conman, for president. The logic is just not there for this to have happened. I know that, but then...WHY? Could it be that this particular president has a habit of talking over and over and over things that he wants us to believe? And, even when we can produce videos of his changing his words/his opinion only what he has said over and over and over is remembered?

If we allow ourselves to believe based upon repeated rhetoric without any Truth behind what is being said, then we are prone to accept them and they become a self-fulfilling prophesy... Remember when Trump said he thought he could kill somebody on the street and get away with it? Well, consider that hundreds of people have already been killed within the last 6 months by bombing of boats in South America... Or consider that millions have died based upon the first closure of USAID to people around the world, simply by two men pulling the money and deleting the program... AND, choosing to burn the inventory that was available rather than give it out...

Obviously we could go on about hundreds of firings or deletions of programs... We can see that the pardons now being given, possibly bought, are all for profit of the president... Yes, including a major drug czar from South America who was just pardoned...

Now, with those thoughts, let's go back to the villain of Heaven's Wager, which implies that the fight is between Heaven and Hell... Or, specifically in this book, the family who loves the villain versus the rich men (2) who decided to take the bonus of millions for those who created the new bank computer system...

You see, the premise apparently is that taking his wife and son was the "wager" provided on one side. While the loss of millions and the villains subsequent actions--planning to steal the millions he felt he was due--on the other side... But, wait a minute. Dekker shows visions of his wife and son being happy with God--which of course makes the God side a good thing? 

To me, The Word Mockery Denied that part of the equation... And, Indeed Jesus had been Mocked by many during His life...

And, while one side is supposedly heavenly; the other side is primarily rich men who are stealing the portion of the millions that was due to the actual creator of the program... Purely human actions in my opinion and cannot be considered as the Devil's part of the wager. After all, the men had the choice of how that money was to be distributed...

And then it begins...

This is when I stopped reading, because we then go into pages and pages of how the programmer plans to get his millions... and, even, takes the time, to meet with his old girlfriend who makes it clear she doesn't support what he plans... Then begins the stealing, including of a body...and so much more. It became, frankly, boring if you want to be real about it--it just did not fit with the beginning of the story. Now, if you were really a genius of using computers, do you really think that the guy needed to steal a truck to pick up a dead body... Why NOT use the computer that he supposedly knows... It tells you what he's going to do...but then he gets hung up with what he's going to do to not get caught... Duh... A flaw in author's writing--his lack of computer expertise of its capabilities?

From a reader's standpoint, I'd give the book a 2, maybe even 1 if I had been forced to continue reading... And it takes a lot for me to stop in the middle of a book... 

From a conceptual point of view, the attempt to place miracles into contemporary settings has been far better done--I've reviewed them! From a personal viewpoint, whether my dream and the word Mockery was from my own brain or a true God Incident, I'm not going to try to persuade you...my dream was my dream... 

I'm going to close with a personal note. Some time in my early life, my mother said about her husband/my father that "God always takes the Good Ones First." Even at that early age, I didn't accept that God had taken my father. I still don't. Just the thought is, to me, illogical. Why did Lazarus get to come back? You might ask... Why doesn't God heal everybody because we know He can? These are all illogical to me. Especially in the year 2025. My father was kicked by a horse which was being led out of the mines in 1944. I don't profess to understand why millions are being killed through war caused by power-seeking men. What I do know is that God gave us Free Will. And allowed us to use it as we wanted... There is NO WAY that God should be blamed, in my mind...

What do you think?

GABixlerReviews

Took a lunch break! OMG! What happened to "Do No Harm?"? Is there anything that can be done by this administration, without an automatic awareness that MONEY IS IN THE DECISION-MAKING...

As opposed to Promised Affordability for all citizens...

Gabby

Part 2, Discussing Letters to a Young Muslim by Omar Saif Ghobash - Who On Earth Told You That? Learning Love for Neighbors...

I did not yet realize that Allah, or God as he is known in other religions, was not embodied in human form. 

--Omar Saif Ghobach

Sometimes it's kinda wonderfully scary when you open up an online site and see the exact words that you wanted to begin with...

There's no time for us

There's no place for us

What is this thing that builds our dreams

Yet tips 'em 'way from us

Who wants to live forever?

Who wants to live forever?

There's no chance for us

It's all decided for us

This world has only one sweet moment

Set aside for us

Who wants to live forever?

Who wants to live forever?

Who?

Who dares to love forever? (Oh, whoa!)

When love must die

But touch my tears with your lips

Touch my world with your fingertips

And we can have forever

And we can love forever

Forever is our today

Who wants to live forever?

Who wants to live forever?

Forever is our today

Who waits forever anyway?

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Brian May

Who Wants to Live Forever lyrics © Queen Music Limited

I remember at some young age when I started thinking for myself, I said to myself...

cause I knew nobody wanted to hear me...

Who cares about Heaven?

I wanted Joy here on earth right now...

Now, as I look back

I know and have learned through books

 such as this one

That, indeed, God has given us Heaven on earth

Not

Worrying about getting to Heaven...

Suicide Bombing with promises of virgins in Heaven...

Using guns to ensure one "religion" in a Nation...

I know that I know that I know

All we have to do is open our Hearts and Minds

And allow the Great I AM to be Here with Us as Well!

Are you like the one who was given one Talent (coin)

Who buried it in fear?

Fear stamps out the Joy of Learning

Of What We Should Do to Speak His Truth and Love!

~~~

It is strange, but very gratifying to be reading this book. Learning that the thoughts, opinions, and guidance from a man of a different faith, are, for the most part, very close to mine (thus far). Yes, there is a major difference for me. I believe Jesus, was the son of God, who left behind, if you open your heart to Him, that part of God which is now residing in all creatures can be unlocked to each of us. For me, what that has allowed is to routinely know how and, sometimes, why God is leading me this way or that... And I accept it as His living spirit in Me. 

Ghobash speaks of Muhammad who was guided by the Angel Gabriele to learn of God through revelations and teachings... Moses was a leader of the Jewish people, The Pope, Martin Luther... there are many many others who have been religious leaders... and also including Confucius, Socrates, and other philosophers... To some extent, some political leaders have acquired power which some saw as equivalent...

But does that mean that these were to be all separate groups of people, claiming that their god was the only god? Surely not, for if I, who only once opened my heart to hear Him, then surely thousands and millions have done so through thousands of years both before and after the birth of Jesus Christ. At what point, and why, did God decide to give us a son, a human who would be someone we could see and hear His words, is not a question that can be taken lightly, nor is it appropriate in this discussion. I have read somewhere that our religion is most likely based upon the part of the world in which we were born. That, to me, is logical. As we know, some accepted Christ. Others chose based upon a leader who presented something to document their relationship to God.

Still there is a major issue that must be known coming out of this book... If a Christian Woman and a Muslim Man can think through what we see on Earth, and they are so very similar--that any other part of any religion becomes minor, than I have to believe that God has been a part of both of our lives... For God seeks us to love our neighbors as the top priority... And it is my Mind that correlates all points and guides me, just as it guided Ghobash, in sharing what his mind has come to realize--that all that somebody else says, even if leaders, may not be relevant in the year 2025... and beyond... 

Consider this, if God is a Living, Loving God, should we not all grow in what knowledge and changes which occur on an ongoing basis... Rather than attempting to go back and live historically? Which has no real reference for the complexity of the world at this time, based upon the work of All God's Children? Wheels go round and round, but also moves us forward...

WHO ON EARTH TOLD YOU THAT? 

Habeebie Saif, 

Where does religious knowledge come from? Who has the right to talk about Islam? You will discover lots of people telling you what to do and when to do it. I want you to be polite, but demand respect for your mind and independence of will. 

If what someone tells you sounds convincing, ask more questions. In today’s world, take more than a step back. There are many things to consider. Stay strong and do not hand your fate to others. I remember watching TV with my father when I was about six years old. Someone was reciting the Quran on the small screen. It was late afternoon. He was dressed in the traditional clothing of a graduate from the ancient center of Sunni scholarship—Al-Azhar University. He had a gray coat with small buttons done up all the way to his chin. You could hardly see his neck. On his head, he wore the famous Al-Azhar turban with a thick white band and a ruby red flat top. His eyes were closed in deep concentration and he held his right hand up to cup his right ear. He rocked gently back and forth. As he chanted the verses of the Quran, I turned to my father and I asked him if the man on the screen was Allah. My father smiled at me and told me that Allah was not visible to us, and that the man on the screen was not Allah. 

I did not yet realize that Allah, or God as he is known in other religions, was not embodied in human form. I assumed that Allah was visible to all and that I would see him one day. This little memory makes me think of the occasions when people around us take on the authority of Allah, and demand thoughts and actions of us as though they were either Allah or his representatives on earth. 

I want you to be on the lookout for people who talk with unerring conviction and authority about what others should do. Especially about what others should do. These are the people who always seem to lead us into some kind of trouble. You will no doubt know the kind of person I am talking about. In school, on the playground, it is the boy or girl who sets the rules of the game with the loudest voice and a bit of bullying. And who then proceeds to modify the rules whenever they concern their own behavior. This is the kind of behavior that you will also notice when it comes to religion. The funny thing about those who claim authority in matters of religion is that they often make excuses for their own behavior because they have “devoted” themselves to the work of the Divine, and therefore, there is some kind of implicit leeway or permission for them to be “weak” on occasion. 

This has been seen in news about jihadists drinking alcohol and visiting bars for adult entertainment, as well as in the sexual scandals of the Catholic Church or the photos that we have seen of Buddhist monks traveling by private jet to oversee their fortunes. Of course, I do not mean to condemn all men and women of religious devotion. On the contrary. What I am saying to you is that you need to make sure that you understand that those with plausible authority are also human beings like you and me. They are human beings, who can and will be distracted by the traditional human temptations of power, money, and sex. When I was a child, I was always willing to inflate the authority of such people, based simply on the fact that they carried themselves with authority. They had special uniforms. They had specialized knowledge. They spoke with a weariness that must have come from deep thought and great suffering. They spoke to us in a mystical manner. We would not understand everything they said, because we were simply not wise enough or good enough to understand. 

The aura of authority can serve as a cloak for earthier matters. I want you to be aware of this possibility. This is a very human weakness of those who are looking for certainties in an ever changing world. We have a desire to know and believe that there are truly good people somewhere nearby. When we think we have found such a person, we are tempted to grant them our respect and even love. We slip into adding qualities to them that other observers can see they do not possess. Beware about endowing others with a goodness they do not have. Recognize that the goodness you see in them may actually be your own goodness. Turn your eyes inward to your own goodness and recognize that for what it is worth. 

The question of authority is common to all religions. It spreads wider to encompass the workplace, school, and university, and anyplace where humans interact. There is always someone who claims to know better than the others. Over the course of my life, I have gone from gullibly believing those who claim this authority in front of the group to having a more realistic view. 

I want you to make this move quicker than I did. We are often advised to give someone the benefit of the doubt. Or we are told that someone has a good heart deep down and thus we should not judge this person on the basis of their outward behavior. Or that the person in question is so learned that only those who have come close to learning as much will ever truly understand the wisdom attained. 

The other side of this relationship is that you are told that you do not have the authority to speak on certain matters. Again, you will find this in all spheres of life, including the sphere of religion. 

The acquisition of authority by one person usually correlates with a removal of authority from the other person. Here you will be told that you should simply fall in line, follow orders, be a team player, do your job, focus on what you can do, and leave more serious matters to others.

I just stopped to eat a bowl of cereal and turned on the TV...Law and Order special Victims was on, so I left it on to watch... It turned out to be quite different than a normal case of right or wrong. A child died and was buried by the mother, for she thought she had killed her baby... As the case proceeded and they found the child, it was determined that she had died from measles... Soon confusion began and more people got involved. It was discovered that another mother took her child, who had measles, to a local park. She had decided not to have her son vaccinated based mostly on her religious belief and people saying that vaccines were dangerous. She was then arrested; the jury said she was not guilty...even though she had purposely chosen not to vaccinate her son for measles...

I bring this up because of the fact that, recently, measles has been spreading in the United States. Many who are now acting against vaccinations, especially after the president spoke out against it during the Covid world-wide pandemic. Key, I think, is that while Trump initiated the vaccine to be created--remember warp speed--but then did not get elected again, he chose to change his message... If you don't know where I am going, I ask that you reread the excerpt from Ghobash immediately above... 

Simply because it was an argument that was frequently argued during the Covid Shutdown... 

Me, I had no reason to debate the issue of vaccines. I believe that by the year 2025, religious issues related to science should have been significantly changed. To me, this would negate all that God has given as gifts to doctors and scientists, who have studied and learned and worked to improve the lives of His people through the hands of His children... Thus, it is only logical that, taking the Covid vaccine was not only the right choice for me, but also because it would be helping to save the lives of others by not chancing that I would spread Covid to babies, in particular, who do not have the ability to make decisions for themselves. Frankly, a choice to not give a child vaccine based on religious beliefs, is actually denying that God's love for children is far greater than that of many parents. It is, indeed, our responsibility to spend time to do your own reasoning, to do research, but to also consider that what your choice is, will obviously affect the possible transmission to others, who are just as important as God's children all are... That is, Use the Golden Rule - Do Unto Others as you would have them Do Unto You...

Continuing Discussion soon... Comments and thoughts welcomed...

Gabby

Michael A. Smith Presents From Christian Fundamentalism to Christian Nationalism: A Primer Detailing the Danger to America With Discussion...

 Christian Nationalism began (early 2000s) to take a more definite shape during this time. While not all Fundamentalists embraced this ideology, there was a growing tendency within the movement to conflate American national identity with Christianity. This often manifested in efforts to emphasize America's supposed Christian foundations, challenges to the separation of church and state, and attempts to glorify conservative Christian values in law and public policy.

Foreword In the tapestry of American history, few threads have been as persistent and influential as the interweaving of religion and politics. From the Puritan vision of a "city upon a hill" to the current debates over the role of faith in public life, the relationship between religious belief and civic identity has been a defining feature of the American experience. In recent decades, this relationship has taken on new dimensions with the rise of Christian Nationalism, which seeks to align American identity and governance with a particular interpretation of Christian principles. This book comprehensively examines Christian Nationalism, tracing its roots in Christian Fundamentalism and exploring its far-reaching implications for American democracy. It is a work of historical scholarship and contemporary analysis, offering readers a deep dive into the ideological, cultural, and political currents that have shaped this influential movement. The following pages provide a nuanced understanding of how Christian Fundamentalism, born in the early 20th century as a reaction to modernism, evolved into the potent political force of Christian Nationalism we see today. From the Scopes "Monkey" Trial to the current debates over abortion rights and LGBTQ+ equality, this book charts the course of a movement that has profoundly shaped American public life. One of the striking aspects of Christian Nationalism, which this work explores in depth, is its particular interpretation of America's role in biblical prophecy. Interestingly, perhaps paradoxically, the United States is not explicitly mentioned in biblical end-times scenarios. This absence has not deterred Christian Nationalists from ascribing a divine purpose to America, often viewing it as a modern-day incarnation of ancient Israel. As the book demonstrates, this belief has had significant implications for U.S. foreign policy, particularly regarding the Middle East. The comprehensive nature of this work allows readers to grasp the full scope of Christian Nationalism's influence. The book illustrates how this ideology has permeated various aspects of American life and governance, from education and the justice system to environmental policy and gun rights. It also explores the movement's global impact, examining how American Christian Nationalist ideas have influenced international relations and religious movements in other countries. Crucially, this book does not shy away from addressing the potential dangers that Christian Nationalism poses to American democracy. By advocating for a fusion of religious identity with national governance, Christian Nationalism challenges fundamental principles of religious pluralism and the separation of church and state. This work provides a clear-eyed assessment of these challenges, offering readers the tools to understand and engage with one of contemporary America's most significant political and cultural forces. At the same time, the book also explores the resistance and opposition to Christian Nationalism, highlighting the diverse array of voices - from secular activists to dissenting Christians - who have challenged the movement's claims and agenda. This balanced approach allows readers to appreciate the full complexity of the debates surrounding Christian Nationalism. As America continues to grapple with questions of national identity, religious liberty, and the proper relationship between faith and governance, the insights provided in this book are more relevant than ever. Whether you are a scholar, a policy maker, or a concerned citizen, this comprehensive primer on Christian Nationalism offers invaluable insights into a movement that continues to shape the American experience in profound ways. In an era of increasing polarization and cultural conflict, understanding the historical roots and contemporary manifestations of Christian Nationalism is crucial for anyone seeking to comprehend the forces shaping American society and politics. This book provides that understanding, offering a roadmap through the complex landscape of religion and politics in America. As you embark on this journey through the following pages, you will gain knowledge and the critical perspective needed to thoughtfully engage with one of the most significant and controversial movements in American public life. In doing so, you will be better equipped to participate in the ongoing dialogue about the future of American democracy and the role of religion in public life. (italics my emphasis)

~~~

(One of the earliest pastors I read about today's world.)

It was just yesterday when I started to read Smith's new book and had finished, looking for more... This historian is also an excellent writer that has the ability to present his knowledge and expertise in a way that quickly pulls in readers at any level of awareness. It was especially interesting at my age, to not find much I was not already aware of as happening... BUT, had not in any way, put the pieces together to form an understanding of exactly how all this has evolved...

For me, living in a country environment where we always attended smaller churches, we were used to hearing a "routine" sermon about the Bible or Jesus and participate with accompanying music, programs and social relationships with our neighbors. Sure there were minor disagreements, but, I guarantee, it was never what has happened to take over America's religion-political connection...

One of my first thoughts was that what was being presented must have been happening at the highest levels of the church's hierarchical structure, which rarely, if ever, was shared with church members. Thus, frankly, I was shocked to realize exactly what had been happening and when efforts were made to actively work to change things...

I was so naïve that, even when there were minor announcements to start to connect within the political environment, via news or television, we quickly forgot about it because nothing more was ever shared...

And that, readers, was what shocked me as this historian began to present his thesis on the how, what, when and where of, exactly, where we are today... For instance, I had never heard of Christian Nationalism until I heard it from Margorie Taylor Green, a woman I find offensive in her manner. While the Pope has also begun what is needed in the Catholic Church... good and bad seems to be happening as more and more people understand what was "expected" from the government... as opposed to where we now are...

Readers, if you, too, have found yourself in the midst of total confusion about what is happening around the world, believe me you are not alone... and here at Book Readers Heaven, I'm trying to share to bring some semblance of effort toward all that we are hearing--and worrying about... One of the reasons I work to share videos of the reality and diversity of the divide we are in, is to allow us all to learn as we move forward...

I believe this book will be of great help in this regard... Think of it as if you were taking a college-level class on the history of Religion. Me, I've never been an individual who paid much attention to denomination. In my opinion, most of us are "born" into the religion of our parents/family, so it became a natural choice for those who were being introduced into a church. 

However, we have learned much through the political side of religion? Never thought I would be saying that... that it was a "known" fact that the republic party was made up of many Christians... 

One of the major points that Smith brings out is one that I had been spotlighting on an ongoing basis... political activities had begun with slaves being owned, and continued on into the civil rights movement... All efforts to improve the lives of minorities, were to be opposed by the republican party--at least as decided by the hierarchical members??? Indeed, that is where the two parties began to divide. The democratic party, we find now, is actually the group that supports what is morally imperative for the good of all Americans...

Jerry Falwell, who founded the Moral Majority in 1979, was a key figure in this period. This organization aimed to mobilize conservative Christians as a political force, marking a significant departure from the political quietism of earlier fundamentalism. The Moral Majority focused on issues such as opposition to abortion, support for traditional family values, and resistance to gay rights, framing these as part of a broader struggle to "restore" America's supposed Christian heritage. The 1980 election of Ronald Reagan, who actively courted the support of religious conservatives, marked a turning point. It demonstrated the movement's potential political power and encouraged further engagement with electoral politics. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, organizations like the Christian Coalition, founded by Pat Robertson, worked to increase the influence of conservative Christians within the Republican Party. The political engagement of Fundamentalists during this period was more complex than simply aligning with the Republican Party. While the majority did gravitate toward conservative politics, there were notable exceptions. For instance, Jimmy Carter, a self-professed born-again Christian, attracted some Fundamentalist support in his 1976 presidential campaign. However, disappointment with Carter's presidency among many conservative Christians contributed to the rightward shift of the movement in subsequent years. The formation of the Religious Right wasn't without internal disagreement. Some Fundamentalist leaders, like Bob Jones III, were initially skeptical of political engagement, viewing it as a distraction from spiritual concerns.

And there we have it...

Smith presents a complete review of what has occurred to get us to the point of Christian Nationalism... For me and perhaps many of us, we worked through the emergence of daily activities that were affected by our religious life and the life of an American citizen. I still remember when I was asked to sign a petition to have stores opened on Sunday and I wouldn't sign it... Only to later realize that I was being very prejudicial, especially when I realized that many Christians, for instance, were required to work on Sundays at hospitals and other service agencies and that was the beginning of my acceptance of the need for separation of church and state... This book pulled all of my life's memories into a logical chronology and showed me exactly how and when the evolution occurred... and how it was guided by the republican party members... and, need I say, by those who use politics for power and greed...

By the way, an extensive reading reference list is included as an appendix... I consider this a must-read.

GABixlerReviews

I just had to do it...if you are OK with what this man says...or other similar hate-filled lies... well, then...

you know why the majority of us are working against this administration!

!BTW, I oppose the language of this speaker, but it's the least of problems these days!!!

Isn't it? Work to measure your own concerns and fight for what's right for our country! 

Today's News!!!

Will the Supreme Court Step In?

If so? The Supreme Court should be

Questioned Immediately?