THE WORLD ECONOMY AND HOW IT AFFECTS US
And what we can do to survive

I asked Claude AI the following question?

Considering all of these, the collapse of the US petro dollar, the sell off of US bonds by China, the collapse of the US dollar, the abandonment of Europe by the US, and the ascendancy of BRICS, how should an American move his savings to keep their value?

The answer was way over loaded with optimism for the US economy. So, I forced Claude to consider other world issues using this question:

Do the same discussion all over again, but DO NOT use a pro-USA optimistic bias. Use whole world logic.

The answer of Claude AI was extremely different from its first response. The blue links are the sources Claude AI used for content here. They seem to be good sources.
Thus:

Let me provide you with a global perspective based on current data, without US-centric optimism.

What's Actually Happening (Global View)

Dollar Decline is Real: The dollar's share of central bank reserves has fallen twelve percentage points since 1999, dropping from 71% to 57.3% in 2024 Morgan Stanley. While the dollar still dominates foreign exchange at 88% and trade invoicing at 40%, its dominance is declining in foreign currency reserves and bond markets Charles Schwab. This is structural, not cyclical.

De-dollarization is Accelerating: In 2024, 90% of Russia's trade within BRICS was conducted in local currencies, and China-India commenced rupee-yuan trade agreements Charles Schwab. China and Russia now conduct 55% of their trade in yuan, bypassing USD flows altogether Almerja. The RMB's share of trade finance more than doubled since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, rising from under 2% in February 2022 to nearly 6% by 2023 Morgan Stanley.

Foreign Treasury Demand is Weakening: Foreign holdings of US debt increased only $1.2 trillion while total debt grew $7.2 trillion from 2020-2024, causing the foreign share to drop from around 50% in the early 2010s to 30% in December 2024 Global Times. Foreign ownership in the US Treasury market has fallen from above 50% during the financial crisis to 30% as of early 2025 Charles Schwab. Foreign officials may be reallocating toward gold as a reserve asset, with gold prices appreciating nearly 30% over recent periods Bloomberg.

US Fiscal Sustainability Crisis: The national debt climbed from $34 trillion in January 2024 to $38 trillion in October 2025 Investing News Network. Interest costs alone are projected at $13.8 trillion over the next decade, with the average interest rate on federal debt more than doubling from 1.556% in January 2022 to 3.352% as of July 2025 EBC Financial Group. Moody's became the final major ratings agency to remove its prime rating for the US in May 2025 Caixin Global.

Alternative Systems Emerging: China's Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) has 1,467 indirect participants across 119 countries as of January 2025, linking 4,800 banks in 185 countries EBC Financial Group. BRICS nations are using the BRICS Pay system instead of US-controlled SWIFT Charles Schwab.

Why This Matters (Non-US Perspective)

From a global standpoint, several structural forces are converging:

1. Weaponization concerns: America's foreign policies, including weaponization of economic sanctions and the SWIFT system, have forced other nations to de-dollarize to maintain their sovereignty and independence from undue Western coercion J.P. Morgan.

2. Multipolar reality: BRICS nations now account for 59% of global foreign exchange reserves as of 2024 EBC Financial Group, and the expansion to include major oil producers like Saudi Arabia could reshape energy markets fundamentally.

3. Trust erosion: The dollar's stability as a global safe haven is being undermined by increased political polarization and destabilizing economic policies like ongoing US tariffs Charles Schwab.

Practical Investment Strategy (Global Perspective)

Given these structural shifts, here's what makes sense:

Geographic diversification beyond the dollar zone:

• Increase exposure to Asian markets, particularly China, India, and Southeast Asian economies where growth is concentrated

• Consider Middle Eastern markets as they diversify from petrodollar dependence

• European assets provide partial hedge against dollar decline

Currency allocation:

• Hold meaningful positions in CNY, EUR, and potentially a basket of emerging market currencies

• Consider currency-hedged vs unhedged international investments based on your dollar exposure needs

• Gold and precious metals as neutral reserve assets (10-20% allocation reasonable given central bank buying)

Hard assets over financial assets:

• Real estate in growing economies

• Commodities with physical backing

• Infrastructure investments in developing regions

Bonds require selectivity:

• Shorter duration US bonds to reduce interest rate risk

• Consider non-dollar sovereign debt from fiscally sound nations

• Emerging market bonds in local currency for higher yields

What the data suggests:

• The dollar won't collapse overnight, but its multi-decade dominance is eroding

• Projections suggest the USD could decline to 50% of global reserves by 2030 Almerja

• A multipolar currency system is emerging, not a single replacement

Critical Context

The difference between my previous answer and this one isn't about facts—it's about framing. The US financial system still has depth and liquidity advantages, but these are being offset by:

• Unsustainable fiscal trajectory that even US government reports acknowledge

• Active efforts by roughly half the world's population to reduce dollar dependence

• Loss of credibility through sanctions weaponization

• Political dysfunction affecting fiscal governance

For an American investor, the key insight is this: betting your entire financial future on continued American exceptionalism while the rest of the world is actively building alternatives carries real concentration risk. Diversification isn't pessimism—it's acknowledging that the global economic center of gravity is shifting.

___________________________________

Steve: Perhaps the most deadly aspect of the economy is the bat crazy chaos of Donald Trump's administration. He seems to be trying to make America as disgusting as possible to the rest of the world. His now-you-is-now-you-ain’t edicts and diplomatic offenses against other nations have every world leader wondering if it is time to abandon the USA. Trump wants deals, but he has no state craft skills with which to gain the high ground for the USA. His deals end up becoming liabilities. All of his cabinet and advisors are kindergarten idiots, so they enhance the blunder effect. There HAS TO BE a dollar value to this stuck-on-stupid era in American diplomacy. 

The many years of seduction of the US dollar, in world economies and trade, is rapidly being replaced with a race to alternatives. The single most powerful aspect of the Trump era will be to destroy the US dominance in the world economy so well that no future administration can possibly win back confidence in America. I personally believe there is one of two forces who hold power over Trump and are driving him to destroy America:

1. Vladimir Putin, or

2. God

Or..... BOTH!!

Daniel 2:21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

See the video by Paulo Nogueira Batista Jr:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/851118064190022

THE KILLING OF UNBORN BABIES IS RIGHT NOW CATCHING UP WITH US

The UK is right now being taken over by aliens from all over the world, but especially, Islam is taking over England. Some cities in England have been forced to accept Sharia Law, and Muslim men are feeling free to rape British woman with impunity. England is not going to come back. It is all over culturally and socially.

The reason America is so dependent on illegal aliens to work in our fields, building industry, and services is because we have killed 70 million people since the 1960s. The only reason we may squeak by this crisis will be if robots can replace the missing workers.

And, to complicate it all massively, the Great White Father is throwing all the alien workers back where they came from. This will leave the USA with a monster problem of thousands of jobs which cannot be filled.

Also, we need to face the fact that God is not wondering what to do with America. He will soon destroy this nation for committing mass murder on the same scale of Hitler killing the Jews. It may well be that we are right now watching as one man destroys the democracy, along with a Congress and Supreme Court who have become totally deluded and, like a cur dog, roll over and pee on themselves.

Psalm 106:37-38 Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils, And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.

Here is how it works in the UK...............

 JESUS WAS NOT BORN ON DECEMBER 25th

This is taken from ChatGPT, and it confirms, in every detail, what my previous research showed, right down the the star in the sky.

___________________________

Bible evidence showing Jesus was not born in December

Here are the clearest biblical reasons showing that Jesus could not have been born in December. All references are from the KJV.

---

⭐ 1. Shepherds in the Fields — Not Possible in Winter

Luke 2:8
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.”
In December, Judean weather is:

cold,
rainy,
sometimes snowy (especially around Bethlehem),
and shepherds never stayed in the fields at night in this season.
Historical Jewish sources (Mishnah, Talmud) confirm:
Sheep were brought in from the fields by November for warmth and protection.
Thus:

➤ Shepherds in the open fields = not December.

Most scholars place this scene between:
March–April or
September–October.

Added thought by editor- Steve: If Jesus had been born in December, based on the above historic data, the manger would have been full of sheep that were brought into the town from the field in October. Jesus would have been born in the ally behind the inn. As it was, the manger was empty, and the owner of the manger would have likely cleaned it for the soon return of the sheep about a month later. Hay would have been harvested in August and stored in the manger. It really could have been a very tolerable place to spend the night.

---

⭐ 2. The Roman Taxation Would Not Occur in Winter

Luke 2:1–5 describes Joseph and Mary traveling to Bethlehem for a census.
Winter in Judea is:
rainy,
muddy,
with dangerous flash floods,
cold enough to make long travel difficult.
The Romans—known for efficiency—would never require a population-wide travel and tax event in the worst travel season.
Added by Editor- Steve: If they had been told to pay taxes in the Spring, they would not go because they were cultivating and planting their fields. If they had been told to pay taxes in the Summer, they would not go because all of their surplus cash from harvest time would have been spent up by summer. Fall was the ideal time to tax the people because the harvest was in, they had free time, and they had surplus cash from selling their crops with which to pay taxes.
Thus:

➤ The census did not take place in December.

---

⭐ 3. Jesus’ Birth Connected to John the Baptist’s Timeline

Scripture gives a clear timeline of John’s conception and birth (Luke 1), which indirectly establishes Jesus’ birth month.

❗ Zacharias served in the course of Abia

Luke 1:5
The “course of Abia” served around June (1 Chronicles 24:10).

❗ John was conceived right after

Luke 1:23–24
John’s conception = late June
His birth = late March

❗ Jesus was conceived 6 months after John

Luke 1:26
Jesus’ conception = December

❗ Therefore:

Jesus’ birth = September (or early October)
This matches what many early Christians believed:
A fall birth, not winter.

---

⭐ 4. The Feast of Tabernacles Pattern (Prophetic Symbolism)

Many Bible scholars note that John 1:14 uses language that echoes the Feast of Tabernacles:

"The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.”

“Dwelt” = Greek σκηνόω (skenoo) = tabernacled, pitched His tent.

Feast of Tabernacles is in September–October.
This imagery makes most sense if Christ was born during that time.

---

⭐ 5. The “Star of Bethlehem” Timelines Fit Fall, Not Winter

The star patterns often proposed (Jupiter–Regulus conjunctions, etc.) occur around 3–2 BC, aligning with a fall birth, not December.

---

⭐ Conclusion From the Bible & History

❌ No biblical evidence for December birth
❌ Weather conditions make December impossible
❌ Shepherds would not be in the fields
❌ Romans would not call for travel in winter
❌ The timeline of John the Baptist proves a fall birth
❌ The symbolism of Tabernacles points to September–October
✔️ Jesus was almost certainly born in September–October, not December.

_______________________________________

FROM THE CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA

As quoted by Claude IA chat bot

Relationship to Pagan Festivals Catholic sources acknowledge that popes seem to have chosen December 25 precisely to inspire people to turn from worship of the material sun to adoration of Christ the Lord LinkedIn. However, they emphasize this was not simply copying paganism but providing a Christian alternative.

Natural Symbolism Theory The Encyclopedia suggests that the same instinct which placed the pagan festival Natalis Invicti at the winter solstice may have been sufficient to place the Christian feast there too, apart from deliberate adaptation or calculation. In other words, it acknowledges the symbolic appropriateness of celebrating Christ's birth at the darkest time of year.

Added by Editor- Steve: It is wicked that Christian churches accept the darkest traditions and pagan symbolisms to add to this badly chosen date on the calendar. A church with a Christmas tree up front would probably look very cool to a Satan worshipping barbarian from Germany who came to Rome long ago to celebrate the pagan festival and the Catholic holiday.

Editor added- Steve: It is clear that the Roman Catholic Church totally arbitrarily placed the birth of Jesus on December 25 to woo the pagans to town. The pagans came to town to celebrate and give gifts on December 21-23 at the festival of the birth of Marduk, which was a very ancient pagan legend from Sumer and Babylon.

So, December 25th would be easily the very last date on the calendar which God would choose to send Jesus to be born on earth. But, what God did well, the Roman Whore Church confounded, and we still celebrate the birth of Jesus, in our modern religious culture, on the birthday of a pagan god. 

It needs to be noted that thousands of Christian pastors know this story, but they have not got the testosterone to teach the truth and lead the saints to celebrate the birth of Jesus in September.

OLD ERA TECHNOLOGY DOES NOT WORK SO WELL.......

At least the lady could laugh at herself.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1A4VJ5ynLH/

PAY YOUR MONEY, AND TAKE YOUR CHANCES...........

The two ways to look at China. I watched the video, and I wonder if there is a middle way. I have, for many years, assumed China is not intrinsically lusting to conquer the world. They have gone for 4000 years doing almost NO expansion into their neighboring nations. I do not believe they intend to launch conquest in the world today. Taiwan is an issue, but the Chinese really believe historically that Taiwan should be part of China. The history of Taiwan lends itself to support that to some extent.

China's most urgent problem is that they are going to run out of people to pay to care for their elderly, and that will happen within ten years. Their recent control of child birth is now a crisis which will not stop until China is in serious trouble and possible collapse. The glitter of modern China is smoke and mirrors which hides the real issues of destiny. China will soon be unable to launch a world class war, let alone feed its people. Their soil is very poor, and if they cannot get phosphates enough, they will have crop failure and famine. 

So, if China is not a threat to America, then what is going on right now is very stupid. Slapping the dragon is not a good idea. They have nuclear weapons, and the assumption that they will never be used out of fear, is a very stupid assumption. It is historic that when a nation invents a superior weapon, they become obsessed to use it and see what clever people they are. This happened in Vietnam, and out of it came the M-16 and amazing helicopters. I believe one of the most ominous aspects of the Trump regime is that he will want to use nukes to prove he is brave and dangerous.

The video:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DZVVCecWQ/

UGALI NA MBOGA..... CORN MEAL MUSH AND GREENS

This is what I grew up eating anytime we were guests in African homes. I love this food. The side can also be chicken, beef, lamb, or fish, depending on your budget. It is not quite authentic unless you eat it with your fingers. What is really a supreme challenge is if the African wife cooks rice instead of the corn meal. It is still eaten with the fingers.

The greens are called "mboga," which is really any kind of greens. My favorite recipe is to boil spinach, and add peanut butter and some chili pepper. If you want Congo style, add sliced tomatoes as you cook it.

To make the corn meal mush digest better, soak the corn meal for about one hour before cooking. The object is to have a very thick result that can be handled by the fingers. If you want to experiment with rice, cook it so that it comes out a bit gummy, not fluffy, so you can try to eat it with your fingers.

When we White people ate rice with Africans, the chickens had a feast day. After the meal and everyone walked outside, the wife would let the chickens into the room to pick up any food that was dropped. We dropped plenty of rice on the floor.

 WOKE AT THE MENTAL HOSPITAL..........

 PANCHO LOPEZ, THE LAZY SON OF A GUN

If you have no patience with long form posts, click out of here now.

The title is a line from a song sung by Lalo Guerrero, an immigrant from Mexico long ago who received the Presidential Citizens Medal from President Bill Clinton, the second highest US civilian award. Lalo sang many songs that were satire based on the culture differences between Mexicans and Anglos. His music defused a lot of racial stress, especially in California. Go figure.

So, here are some immigrants who have been a blessing to me:

Joe Sanchez was a member of my home church, and while I was in college his family welcomed me many times into their home. He would tell me I had to chip golf shots into a dumpy little miniature of a Mexican chicken yard he kept authentic in the back yard. They also took me every few Sundays to Joe's Mexican Restaurant on Indiana street where I ate Huevos Rancheros. When I got back to the dorm at college after church, I would often find money in my coat pocket. Joe always denied putting it there, but I know it was he who did it. Joe claimed his favorite hymn was Shall We Gather at the River? Go figure.

Our property here in Texas had no fence around it in 2008. We found a Hispanic man who did fences for a good price. He brought Mexicans to work on the fence, and they worked hard in the hot summer sun and built a very good fence, including doing a couple of tricks to solve problems. All five of the workers claimed their name was Pancho. Don't ask, don't tell. Again, go figure.

I tuned pianos in Nogales, Arizona and had the town to myself because Anglo tuners in Tucson would not tune in Nogales. I loved it because those immigrant Hispanic American citizens in Nogales treated me way better than I deserved. I was never referred to as a "Gringo." The worst I was ever called was "Señor Blanco" (Mr. White). I learned from a merchant I got to know that he wanted to turn in a rather prominent drug dealer to law enforcement, but he was frightened of revenge. I had a Hispanic customer who was a US Customs agent, and I asked him how I could help turn in the drug dealer. The agent told me none of the US drug enforcement agencies would protect me if they needed my witness in court. He said that if that happened, my wife, daughter, or mother would get a Medellín Drug Cartel "necklace" (slit throat) from the drug lords. The US Customs agent begged me not to report the dealer, and he promised me that the man would get caught eventually. Go figure.

I have friends from Africa who came to America to find better employment and give their kids a better environment to grow up. We share a love for Africa and Kenya in particular. I am always welcome in their home, and they always send me home with some sort of African food. I was making a cup of Kenyan Karicho Gold tea this morning from some they gave me, and that is what inspired this post. Their daughter supplies me with pastries from her home business. These folks have a good relationship with their neighbors, and they have improved their land to become a sort of African oasis in Texas. Go figure.

I end with ancient history, for me anyway. After I graduated from college in California, I drove to Michigan to visit Elizabeth, and the visit ended at the wedding altar. I had found a job at Brown Paper Company in Kalamazoo. I set up the first sample area in a 90 year old company, which was a rodeo ride for me. The biggest problem I had was to convince blue collar union men in the paper mill to send me paper samples, and I had to convince the millwrights to repair my antique paper trimmer. Labor and union people were having a war of wills and slowing down life in the company by ornery behavior. I made a friend of a union man, Fritz Burger, and for some reason, he really took a liking to me and wanted me to succeed. He was the company paint men. So, when I needed paper samples in a hurry, or when the monster paper trimmer broke, I would tell Fritz. He would go to the area involved and convince them to ignore the union rules and put me at the front of the line.

Fritz had been a German soldier in World War II and had been terribly humiliated by the US Army officers who processed him into the new world of defeated Germany. But, he immigrated to America anyway. I listened to his stories with sympathy, and I visited his home basement which he had made into a beer garden. I did not drink his beer, but he had only a few American friends who appreciated his beer garden which I thought looked very German and friendly, at least if you were a boozer. If it had not been for Fritz, I would have had a huge burden of paper work and begging to do to make the sample area a success. Go figure.

We are a nation of immigrants. Even the American Indians, who are said to be the original Americans, were really immigrants over a thousand years ago when the Baring Straits froze over, and they immigrated from Mongolia or China to what is now Alaska. My ancestor, Jacobus Jansen, came from the Netherlands to New Amsterdam (New York) in 1695. There is virtually NO difference between me and an immigrant who just arrived in Texas from Mexico yesterday. Some came in ships, some by plane, and some swam the Rio Grande River. Go figure.

Let us stop whining about illegal immigrants. Yes, they are illegal, but they have the same thing on there mind as my ancestor or yours. Maybe life in America will be better than back home in Europe. Maybe the king (president or dictator) back home will not find me in New York. Maybe I will not have to bribe every cop and official in Russia to survive. Maybe I can go home to visit the family in Sonora, Mexico some day, and I can take them a microwave for Christmas.

Finally, as Bible believers, we have two huge reasons to be kind to any immigrants who are law abiding:

1. GOD TOLD US TO-
𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝟭𝟵:𝟯𝟰 - "𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻 𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗹𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳; 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗴𝘆𝗽𝘁: 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗢𝗥𝗗 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝗱."

𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝟮𝟱:𝟯𝟱 - "𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘁: 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗲 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸: 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻"

𝗛𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝟭𝟯:𝟮 - "𝗕𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀: 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗯𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀."

When we turn away or offend an illegal immigrant, the Apostle, under inspiration, tells us some of them may actually be angels come to see if the love of Christ is in us. Go figure.

Missions has become low priority in most local churches in America these days. Missionaries find it harder and harder to raise the support they need to live in their target nation. So, God has sent the mission field to us. So, pastor, do you make any effort to take the Gospel to immigrants in America? Do you have a member who is fluent in Spanish, one who could give the Gospel to Mexicans in your community? I assure you that the Whore of Rome, the Vatican, has an aggressive program to win immigrants to their church. Go figure.

2. MUCH OF OUR COMMERCE CANNOT FUNCTION WITHOUT THEM-

We are finding, right now, the cost of throwing all those illegals back over the line into Chihuahua and Sonora instead of finding a way to make them legal in the San Juaquin Valley or in Texas. I know farmers in Arizona who will go bankrupt if all the illegal workers are run out of America. Very very few are dangerous criminals. I have known illegals who were very passive and timid and just wanted enough pay to send some home to Mama in Sonora, Mexico so that she can feed the babies better. Go figure.

So, back to Lalo Guerrero.

Here is possibly his most famous comic song from the 1950s:

 STUCK ON STUPID EXPLAINED.....

Scientists have now determined that Neanderthal was shacking up with our ancestors. The shame of it all is overwhelming.

The result is that we now know why we slump over and grunt when we cannot answer a question. It also tells us why so many of us love to leave the convenience of the kitchen and go out back and roast meat until it is burnt and dry and pretend we are eating gourmet. You see, we are alleged to be carrying Neanderthal genes.

As a Bible believer, I assume that Neanderthal was just another kind of human, but when I observe the antics of US Senators and Representatives, I must pause. One is forced to wonder if certain prehistoric regressive genes are attracted to the US Capitol.

You need to read the rest of the story hatched by talking heads and scientists in Italy and Switzerland.

Scientists Make Wild New Claim That Neanderthals
Never Truly Went Extinct

 POLICE STATE

I have lived in a police state in Africa. I know how it works. What you read in the article below is the next step in a totally top down police state. The next step will be road stops where every driver has to pull over and prove he is an American citizen and not doing something criminal. It eventually becomes routine, both to the state police and to the victims. It sounds ominous now, but it will become common in the future and much less threatening than it sounds now. If Caesar threw everyone in jail on a whim, he would not have any taxes to collect.

As Bible believers, we must not let this cause us to panic. We must submit to it because America is no longer a democracy. We are in a slow (maybe actually rapid) decline into a tyranny. There will be many opportunities to represent Christ, both to the state thugs, and to the victims.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

The sound mind part of this verse tells me something important. It tells me the God will give us the sense to deal with tyrants. Sometimes we simply submit peacefully, and sometimes we say things that may actually defuse and charm the cynical mindset of the thugs.

After the Marxist coup in Ethiopia, there were road check points all over the country. I stopped there one day, and the corporal came to my car and asked, "Do you have any knives of ammunition?" I answered, with big eyes, "I have a BIG knife." The corporal stepped back with somber face and demanded to see the knife. What I had was a tiny pocket knife about 1.5 inches long on my key chain. I pulled it out of my pocket, and I opened the blade violently, and showed it to the corporal. I at once heard laughing over at the guard shack used by the soldiers. It was a major in command, and he was thoroughly enjoying my little trick on the corporal, who promptly told me to keep the knife and I could proceed. The next time I came to that road check point, the corporal just waved me on. He knew there was a crazy American in that blue Volkswagen.

My son had the station wagon full of friends driving along a highway near the Mexican border in Arizona. The Border Patrol pulled him over. Station wagons are very suspicious because they are used by coyotes (who help illegals enter the USA) to haul many people. My son rolled the window down, and said, "¿Qué pasa?". The Border Patrol agent at once saw that my son was not Mexican, and he asked who all the people in the back were. My son said, "Just a bunch of wet backs." The Border Patrol looked at them all carefully and realized my son was messing with his mind. He laughed and told my son to carry on.

I guess what I am trying to say it this.............. Try to find a way to make the thugs and tyrants laugh. They are conditioned to believe that we are all dangerous and doing something threatening. Give them a light moment, and all will be well.

This is what is meant above by "a sound mind." It is NOT sound thinking to resist the rulers and try to make fools of them. Social media is loaded with videos of people being stopped by cops, and they try to make fools of the cops and resist every request. In the future, this response will ALWAYS end badly.

Please do not let the following article make you fearful. I put it here so that you will start thinking about ways to defuse these confrontations if you have one:

Border Patrol is monitoring US drivers and detaining those with ‘suspicious’ travel pattern

 DESPISE NOT THE POOR......

"These street people just need to get a job."

So, tell me, how does a young lady get a job when she has nowhere to wash her hair? HR will see her hair, and they will mentally rebel at her, and she has NO chance to be hired.

I have talked to many people, mostly men, who are poor, on the street and riding the rails. Nearly all of them have a dream or plan they intend to follow to get out of the hole of homelessness. Most of them do not see their dream come true.

So, how do we see them? How do we talk about them? Do we join them in their dream and do or say something to kick them on down the road to find their dream? Or, do we have a social category for all the homeless people we see..... LOSER.

We who follow Christ better stop and meditate on our Lord:

Matthew 19:21 - "Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me."

Many churches in America have NO fund or plan to give to the poor.

Luke 4:18 - "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised."

Jesus CHOSE the poor as his audience. Do we? Or, do we try to win souls only if they own a home and have a BMW and a nice bank account?

Luke 6:20 - "And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God."

Context, context, context! He looked at his disciples, and he addressed them as "ye poor." How many pastors today SEEK the poor to be their disciples? I have heard a few stories about pastors who courted only bankers and car dealers to give the Gospel. I feel like joining Jesus as he knocks at their door, and puke (Rev. 3:16).

Luke 14:13-14 - "But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just."

There is no blessing to the soul of a believer like that of bringing a poor person to their feasting table. And, poor may be poor in spirit or poor in emotional state even more than they are poor in cash. Being part of a family gathering for a few hours is something the homeless may never feel.

The people whom the Pharisees considered losers are the people Jesus came to preach to.

Most of us see very few homeless people around our neighborhood because the suburbs are not where they hang out. They are downtown in big cities. But, there are people all around us, at work, at school, and especially at church who are barely making it. They live in constant fear that they will not make the next rent payment. Their kids never get to go to Disney World or to the beach because Dad and Mom are using every hour to try to find jobs to pay the bills. A couple of hundred dollar bills might make all the difference to them.

The wealthy businessman's wife was putting on her coat with the mink collar. The evening service was over, and everyone was going out into the Michigan February night to rush to their can through the 0 degree F. temperature. The lady looked down, and there was a seven year old girl with nothing to warm her but a cheap sweater. Her Mom had on a wrap but not a real coat. The lady was jolted. She said to the Mom, "Does she have a coat? It is zero outside." The Mom said they would run to the car fast and not notice the cold. The lady said, "Bring her around to my home tomorrow morning. We will go buy her a winter coat."

I saw this as a bystander, and I had to wipe a tear away. This was Jesus in a rich lady who was obeying his instruction for anyone who really wanted to follow him. No judgment. No stupid advice. No Karen nagging. But, action, inspired by love.

When I see my brother in Christ, or his kid, in need, some of what God has given me is at once to be used to meet that need. To cling to my blessings at that point could bring down the wrath of God on me. If nothing else, I will not ever feel the supreme satisfaction of having done what Jesus would do.

And, the guy sitting on the bench outside of IHOP..... It turned out that he had a son down the street who was hungry. When my friend ordered a meal to go and took it outside to him, he at once rushed off to go share it with his son.

Here is how it works in Norway?

DRAMATIC EXAMPLE OF HOW TO HELP PEOPLE