Discerning the Times with Pastor Rusty
  • Home
  • Christian Education
  • Winning Your Children
  • Free Resources
  • Store
  • Comments or Questions

The Biggest Cybersecurity Story of the Year . . . Did the FDA & CDC Withhold Evidence-based Treatments from Americans?  . . . Can the U.S. Government Inflate Its Way Out of Debt?

8/15/2021

0 Comments

 


Well, here we go again!

The times in which we live are exploding with technology and change (most of it for the worse).  Daniel's prophecy concerning the increase of knowledge as the end approaches (Dan. 12:4) is coming to past right before our eyes.

An increase in knowledge abounds in every area of endeavor ramped up by the ever increasing power of computer technology.  Consider the following story from Jeff Brown, Editor of the Bleeding Edge publication, on the biggest cybersecurity story of the year as just one example:


"We have profiled several major cybersecurity breaches in The Bleeding Edge recently. The level and sophistication of cybercrime are unlike anything I’ve seen before.
We had the SolarWinds attack, the Microsoft Exchange server breach, the Colonial Pipeline hack, the attack on the meatpacking industry, and the LinkedIn data breach. These were all major events that impacted countless companies, institutions, and people.

But the latest cybersecurity discovery just trumped them all.

Thanks to a fearless security researcher at Amnesty International, we now know that a technology firm based in Israel called NSO Group has just unleashed the most devious spyware the world has ever seen. It’s called “Pegasus.” And it is by far the most powerful spyware ever developed.

Pegasus spyware can be installed via a “zero-click” mechanism. Any organization that controls the spyware can secretly “send” it to any Android or iOS-based smartphone. Unlike most schemes to date, we don’t have to click on a bad link or open an infected file for our phone to be breached.

From there, the spyware becomes a 24-7 surveillance device on smartphones. It can copy text messages, record phone calls, and steal any pictures or documents on the phone. Even worse, it can secretly take videos using the phone’s camera or “listen in” using the microphone.

In other words, Pegasus spyware can access every piece of communication or information on any smartphone in the world.

What’s more, it can track location data. That means it knows where the person has been when they were there, and who they were with. There’s never been a more pervasive tool for human surveillance.

This begs the question – what is NSO Group’s motivation here?
Well, it’s a software company. NSO Group didn’t create Pegasus software for its own nefarious purposes. It sells the software to governments and other organizations around the world.

The problem is, this software is far too powerful to put in the hands of any government or private organization. Once the genie is out of the bottle, there’s no way to get it back in.

So what can we do to protect ourselves?

Unfortunately, the only way to be completely safe is to ditch our smartphones and go back to an old flip phone or potentially a “burner” phone. Of course, that’s easier said than done. Most of us depend on our smartphones for productivity and essential tasks.

There is a little bit of good news for those of us who aren’t willing to part with our smartphones. Security researchers believe the most recent versions of Pegasus spyware are stored in the phone’s volatile memory. This memory is cleared every time the phone is powered off.

So we should all get in the habit of powering our phones off at least once per day. Maybe more if we have especially sensitive information on our devices. A full off/on restart of our phone will clear out the spyware by deleting it from memory.

Looking at the big picture, we don’t yet know what the fallout from this frightening spyware will be. But I suspect we’ll hear about some major cybersecurity breaches very soon. That said, it is very difficult to detect the presence of Pegasus, which means that most security breaches will go undiscovered.

This is very scary spyware. Now that we know of its presence, hopefully Google, Apple, and perhaps others will find a way to stop its zero-click attacks."


Wow!  If you use a smart phone, then make sure you are turning it off a couple of times each day until this spyware can be stopped.  I found this story interesting as knowledge built upon knowledge just keeps exploding.  One things if for sure, a surveillance state is not hard to imagine in our day and time.


My next story is of great importance as it sheds light on the ongoing pandemic. 

Did the FDA and the CDC withhold evidence-based treatments from Americans? 

This story comes from Dr. Henry Ealy. You can access his long resume in the link below, along with the entire text of his detailed article.  Here are a few excerpts from this important article:

"Ivermectin, Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Zinc, Quercetin, HCQ, Doxycycline…all have literally HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS of doses administered over DECADES and their COMBINED injury history is FAR less than 1% of what the experimental COVID inoculations have accrued in just 7 months.

So, never mind that safe and effective treatments exist, as detailed in this second peer-reviewed paper my team published earlier this year.

Never mind that these treatments have been known for the large part since at least April 2020 and have been wrongfully suppressed, discredited, politicized, censored, and vilified by the corporate media, the people we elected, the people they appointed, and social media information barons…despite doctors from around the world seeing them work medical miracles right before our very own eyes.

Never mind that safe and effective treatments have been withheld from people in need before and that it was widely denounced…see Tuskegee Experiment and Belmont Report.

Never mind that we know the spike protein alone, as generated by the experimental COVID inoculations, to be injurious to the cardiovascular system & cellular mitochondria at the very least.

Never mind that we know the spike protein from the experimental COVID inoculations to be injurious to the respiratory system and immune system at the very least.

Never mind that we now know about additional safe and effective treatments in Glutathione (NAC), L-Arginine, Lecithin Powder, Iodine, Dandelion Leaf…

Never mind that Glutathione Deficiency (along with Vitamin D, C, A, E, Zinc deficiencies) all have been positively linked to hospitalizations and deaths related to the SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Never mind that just like the CDC has reported for deaths, 94+% of the people hospitalized for COVID in this study of 540,667 enrolled participants were people with severe underlying conditions (comorbidities)…meaning all of these people have been severely nutrient deficient for a very long time.

Rather than look at the empirical evidence…think logically…address the root cause…NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES that the CDC has known about for almost 20 years…and get every American the nutrients they need, so they don’t have to live in fear…

EVERYONE MUST GET THE SHOT!!!!

Rather than allowing good people…who actually want to do the right thing…to use something proven beyond a shadow of a doubt to be safer and more effective than social distancing, masking, and even the experimental COVID inoculations…

EVERYONE MUST GET THE SHOT!!!!
 
Well, let’s see how that turned out for 19-year-old Simone Scott, a promising college student with her whole life ahead of her, who died on Friday, June 11, 2021, at 11:19 am after a truly horrific series of medically incompetent acts following the experimental COVID inoculation."


Here is the link to the full article by Dr. Ealy.

I share this information NOT because I am against the vaccination.  However, I am against any kind of vaccination mandate.  Also, I share this information because everyone should understand the risks involved should they choose to take the vaccination. 

Clearly, there is more risk with this vaccination than the average American is aware of.  Just give us all the information and then we can make up our own mind as to whether or not it is wise for us on an individual basis to take it.

Thankfully, with 90% of those 65 years of age or older already vaccinated in our country not many adverse effects are manifesting among them.  I'm thankful if the vaccination has helped them, but in the interest of total transparency all relevant information and treatment options should be made available to those making a decision about the vaccine.


Can the U.S. Government Inflate its Way Out of Debt?

I am wrapping up this blog with a quick look at the problem of our national debt.  I know, its boring to discuss and many of you may think it doesn't matter much in your own personal life.

Think again.

Inflation touches us all and the steady destruction of the dollar touches us all.  Here are some interesting thoughts on the subject from Trish Regan.  She writes:


"I've been sounding the alarm for months and months... pounding the table since last year... warning that, despite what the news and the Federal Reserve is saying, inflation is happening.

I truly wish I was wrong on this... It's not an issue one should ever want to be right on.
The personal consumption expenditures price index, better known as the PCE index, is a measure of the prices that people living in the U.S., or those buying on their behalf, pay for goods and services.

It's also an important gauge for inflation in this country...

Well, the PCE index just logged its largest increase in 30 years – crystalizing what I've been telling you since last summer: Inflation is real, and it's here.

Yes, I know, our government officials insist it's just a "temporary" thing... Everyone from President Joe Biden to Socialist Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Fed Chairman Jerome Powell claims these higher prices are just fleeting... Even the bond market seems to think it's temporary, given the record-low 10-year Treasury yield, but let me ask you something...


How often do local restaurants slash their prices?


How often does the cost of a movie ticket move lower?


Market forces are always at work, and if there's not enough demand, producers will eventually respond with lower prices... But price decreases are far fewer and more inconsistent than increases, and they also tend to be indirect.


Such as... Maybe you'll get a free appetizer to go with your entree at your local restaurant or the movie theater is offering free popcorn with that movie ticket... or perhaps (as a friend who's looking for an apartment in NYC recently told me) a landlord may offer a few months of free rent. (So the landlord would rather give away rent than actually lower the monthly rent rate.)


But bottom line? Prices overall rarely go down and usually go up...

Over time, these price increases have a disastrous effect on savers, consumers, wage earners, and even lenders to the U.S. government. Indeed, even China loses out in this scenario.

Now perhaps that's the intention. Because judging by the current trajectory, the U.S. government seems rather intent on inflating our way out of debt.


Consider this...


Some of us are quite concerned about the current $28 trillion in debt... After all, as history has proven, great societies typically fall because of too much debt.


But what if it wasn't quite that much debt because the Fed, with President Biden's administration and Congress's help, printed so many dollars that $28 trillion was no longer worth $28 trillion?


If you look at our current debt load and consider the destruction of the dollar over the last several decades, you'll discover some truth to this.


After all, $100 isn't what it used to be. In order to buy today as much as you could just 10 years ago with $100, you'd need an estimated $120.79.


The U.S. dollar has had an average inflation rate of 1.91% per year between 2011 and today – producing a cumulative price increase of 20.79%.


As a result, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the prices on store shelves are 1.21 times higher than average prices since 2011... And one single U.S. dollar buys just 82.79% of what it bought a decade ago.


It's clear this means consumers need to either make more money or risk falling behind if they hope to maintain their standard of living.


But what does it actually mean for debt?


Today's $28 trillion in debt may not be as massive as you think. (And to be clear, that's not a good thing... which I'll explain shortly.)


So with this thinking, the nearly $15 trillion in debt a decade ago is actually more like $18 trillion in today's dollars. While the increase to the current $28 trillion is not OK by any means, it shows how inflation has the power to erode the outstanding debt.


Which means if the recent consumer price increase of 5.4%, per the latest CPI report, continues climbing... that $28 trillion is not exactly $28 trillion.


Now, don't get me wrong – it's an insane number that's growing more by the day. But my point is that as money becomes worth literally less, that overall U.S. debt number isn't as meaningful.


Now, while inflation may help the U.S. government as it tries to get out from under the massive debt it created for itself... What does it mean for everyone else?
A reduced standard of living. 

It's important to take a step back and think about how inflation really affects us. You might think, who cares? All prices are marching upward in lockstep, so what's it really matter?


It does matter... Because incomes are not moving up at the same rate as prices.


Inflation is happening at a faster rate than wage growth. "Real wages" – a measure of income after accounting for the cost of goods and services people buy – fell by almost 2%, on average, last month compared with 2020. And that sure takes a bite out of the average American's spending power.


Meanwhile, what about savers? This is the part that really irks me...

Americans are effectively being punished for doing the right thing... If you save your money, those dollars over time become worth less and less. 

Plus, the current investing landscape is a scary one since it's forced too many people further and further out on the risk curve in search of returns. After all, folks need to find a heck of a return in order to just keep up with the ever-increasing rate of inflation – which based on the CPI right now is over 5%.

Simply said: investors need to make more than 5% after taxes just to have their money hold its value.

And I'm afraid, that with more and more financial engineering from the Federal Reserve, average Americans will continue to feel the pain."


The "times" they are a rockin!  I trust you are building your life on the only firm foundation that can weather the storm.  Of course, I'm speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ and his word.

During the past 40 years my wife and I have laid up our treasure in heaven and continue to do so.  Inflation can't touch it and the thieves in Washington cannot break through and steal it!  

In the meantime, the Lord will continue to prove himself faithful in this life as he provides for our needs and grants seed to the sower (2 Cor. 9:8-10).

Keep your eyes on Jesus and rest in him.  Our world is not destined to get better, but wicked men will wax worse and worse (2 Timothy 3:1-13).  However, we are called to stand for Christ even when persecution arises.  May the Lord give us grace to continue in the things we have learned and have been assured of (2 Timothy 3:14).

​God bless.


0 Comments

Grappling with Issues of National Concern

8/1/2021

0 Comments

 
Inflation. A border crisis. Election integrity. Vaccine passports. Big Tech censorship. Transgender confusion. Disney+ debut of a homosexual love song. Latest attack on Hobby Lobby.

Wow!  It seems every passing month is filled with more stress for the nation.  

I'm sure everyone is noticing the rise in prices for various commodities, houses, and automobiles.  While there are a number of contributing factors no one should overlook the obvious.  

One leading investment advisor points 
we are living through the greatest economic and social experiment since FDR’s New Deal.  Today 26% of the money in the U.S. economy was printed by the government since February of last year.  As a result, inflation has hit almost 5%... that’s the highest we’ve seen in 30 years.

Another report I read indicates if the annual rate of inflation remains at 5% the money we have saved will lose 50% of its purchasing power over the next 14 years.  However, what if the rate of inflation goes higher?

The point is, printing trillions of dollars is destroying the value of every dollar in the nation and around the world.  We cannot continue the madness of printing dollars until our currency is completely destroyed.

Remember, faithful stewardship positions us for God's best, but we will still feel the fall out from foolish monetary policy driven by our politicians and the Federal Reserve.  In my opinion you would be wise to avoid debt of just about any kind if possible.  Of course, this is wise under any circumstance. However, it is especially true at this time.  

As things potentially worsen economically in the country, we would do well to remember the virtue of contentment.  Take the time to read 1 Timothy 6:6-8 and let this instruction sink in.  I think we are about to learn some new lessons in contentment.

On another front, I trust you are aware of the crisis on our southern border.  It is troubling to say the least.  The current administration owns this crisis as they created it with the very unwise policies implemented since President Biden took office.

Sadly, one of the major fallouts from the border mess is the reality COVID is without question being spread by illegal immigrants who are not tested, not vaccinated, and may even be sick as they are turned loose in the country.  What hypocrisy on the part of our current administration.  They compel citizens to go the extra mile to fight the pandemic and then welcome illegals with open arms with no masks, no testing, etc.

Another issue coming to the surface in the nation, whether some want to face it or not, is the problem of fraud in the 2020 election.  If you are unaware of things coming to light in Arizona and elsewhere, I encourage you to catch up on the latest.  A good source of news is now available on WGGN 52.5 which features the Real America's Voice network.  It is available free via an outside antenna.

Next, I'm sure you are aware of the call by some to force every American to take the COVID vaccine.  This raises a grave issue relating to personal freedom.  Should the government have the power to make you participate in a medical procedure?  Check out this link for an important perspective from the American Association of Physicians and Surgeons on this issue.

I encourage you to join me and the rest of our team weekdays M-Th at 9am or 8pm on WGGN for CBM Today.  In our first segment each day we pass along information to help us discern the times we are living in.

Recently we have discussed issues related to transgender confusion, Big Tech censorship, and the sad promotion of the LGBTQ agenda on Disney.  And if you can believe it, Hobby Lobby was attacked for their annual July 4th ad in papers in which they had the audacity to title the ad "One Nation Under God."

Well, we are not going to be afraid to talk about such issues on television.  Furthermore, we are going to encourage Christians to take a stand for Biblical truth whenever and wherever it is called for!  Be sure to tune-in tomorrow as we discuss the biggest cybersecurity story of the year.

Obviously, we need to pray for our nation and that is exactly what our congregation is doing on Sunday evenings.  Since the beginning of the pandemic we are not conducting our Sunday evening service.  In its place I challenge our members to carve out time on Sunday evening somewhere around 6pm to pray as a family for the nation.

We are sticking with it!  I challenge you to do the same.  As we pray, petition the Lord to push back the wickedness of our day and pray He exposes the corruption in high places.  Pray also for the authentic church in America that we might stand for truth no matter how unpopular it is.  Our stand for Christ and righteousness is the only way the Lord will hear our prayers!

Pray also for our churches and for our children.  Remember, the fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much!  May the Lord show mercy upon us and grant us the gift of freedom is our prayer.

One more quick announcement.  Please download one of the apps shown below and join me for CBM Worship.  You can access the sermons via video on demand (VOD).  Just search WGGN TV 52 on the streaming service you use below.  Once our app appears proceed to download it to your TV or phone. 

​I believe the sermons offered will challenge, equip, and encourage you to serve the Lord more diligently in these difficult days.

God bless.

​Pastor Rusty
Picture
0 Comments

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    July 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly