Dear friends, I just wanted to remind you again to please be very careful about propagating fake news and misinformation, on Facebook, and elsewhere on the Internet.
Pranksters and manipulators just love to use social networks as tools to spread fake news, false information and Internet rumors, because such networks are populated with millions of people, many of whom tend to be rather naive and gullible.
Rather than taking the time to verify whether or not a piece of information is true, upon receiving such alarming fake news or false information, such people immediately post it on their timeline or their Facebook page, or they tweet it, or they post it on their personal blog, or else they forward it to a lot of their friends via a private text message. Thus, the false information continues to spread, sometimes for many years. Once it is out there, my friends, it is out there, like a virus in the wild, and it is next to impossible to stop. What if the information turns out to be false and you were responsible for passing it along? How would you feel?
As Bible-believing Christians, it is particularly important that we guard and protect our online reputations. Let’s face it; there are already enough people opposed to us and our faith. We don’t want to inadvertently give them free ammunition and another reason to attack us, by becoming conduits for fake news or false information. So again, please check the information before you begin spreading it around on Facebook, or elsewhere on the Internet.
One thing about such false information, is that often it seems very believable, and perhaps even probable. That is precisely how these pranksters and manipulators catch you in their ever-growing web of deception. However, there are a few telltale signs you can look for, which will alert you to the fact that the information is false.
For example, one odd thing is that oft times, the false information will not include any specific names, places or dates. I suspect that the pranksters do this in order to protect themselves from accusations of libel. The misinformation may also not include any contact information for the individual or entity who is providing the information. Finally, the fake news or false information will be far from perfect English. There may be errors in grammar, spelling or punctuation, suggesting that the prankster is a non-English-speaking foreigner.
One website which may be reliable for exposing fake news and false information is www.snopes.com. Please note, however, that some people don’t even trust snopes.com. If you receive a piece of questionable information from a friend in any form, simply copy and paste the title or opening line of the information in your web browser’s search field. More than likely, if it is fake news or false information, one of the first entries on the SERP — Search Engine Results Page — will be from snopes.com. Simply follow that link, in order to learn the truth regarding the information you have received. Whether or not you believe what snopes.com says is entirely up to you.
But again, the main point I wish to convey here is that we should not be too quick to post something on the social networks that we participate in, just because it sounds juicy, and may possibly increase our likes, comments, shares, page views, or whatever. Act in a responsible manner, and thoroughly check out the information first. You may save yourself some embarrassment later, should the information turn out to be false.
I hope the above information is useful to you. Following are a few things you may enjoy reading:
Article: “Gaslighting: We Are Being Manipulated and Surveilled”:
Be advised that the purpose of this group of images is NOT to instigate a gun debate. In fact, the gun debate is OFF TOPIC. Period. Online debate is not what I am about. If you disagree with my Bible-based position, then according to your faith. This series of graphics is simply about trusting in the Lord above everything and everyone else. The questions theses graphics ask are rhetorical, and do NOT require a response.
“Foolishness of Trusting in the Arm of Flesh” KJV Bible Verse List:
“O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:” 1 Timothy 6:20, KJV
“This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.” James 3:15, KJV
Article: “Science and Technology: The Forbidden Knowledge?”:
“And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven.” 1 Kings 8:54, KJV
“Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:” Isaiah 59:1, KJV
“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalm 37:4, KJV
“And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:5-6, KJV
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened . . . If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” Matthew 7:7-8, 11, KJV
“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Matthew 21:22, KJV
“He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32, KJV
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21, KJV
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19, KJV
“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James 1:6-8, KJV
“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” 1 John 5:14-15, KJV
I have been young and now I am old,
I oft failed and was out in the cold.
I tasted the bitter and of the sweet,
I knew of success as well as defeat.
Love touched my heart but so did hate,
I took my chance and played with fate.
Through it all I’ve learned one thing,
Earthly pleasures will not joy bring.
God alone can fill one’s empty heart,
To think otherwise is not very smart.
So listen well and take heed dear one,
Trust in God’s Mercy thru His own Son.
