Truth & Knowledge: Episode 86 – “Building a Life”

While the world is preoccupied with many distractions, we as believers should remain focused on living out our faith in Christ. Living out my faith in Christ is my everyday focus.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-10 says.

Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you,  for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.  While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.  You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.  So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.  For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.  But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.  For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Focus on Hope and Salvation of the Lord

Truth & Knowledge: Episode 85 – “Manifestation of Believing”

Gematria: An ancient system where letters of an alphabet are assigned a numerical value.

Nero Caesar: Roman Emperor from 54 to 68 AD who persecuted early Christians.

Calculation: The Greek version of his name, Neron Kaisar, is transliterated into Hebrew characters. The sum of the numerical values of these Hebrew letters equals 666.

Alternative number: A variation of this calculation, using the Latin spelling and a different Hebrew transliteration, results in the number 616, which appears in some ancient manuscripts of Revelation.

Historical context: This interpretation suggests John used a coded message to refer to Nero without directly naming him, which would have been dangerous for his followers.

The Gospel of Luke is the third book in the New Testament and one of the four canonical Gospels. It is traditionally attributed to Luke, a physician and companion of the Apostle Paul. This Gospel is known for its detailed, orderly account of the life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

1. The Birth and Early Life of Jesus

The Gospel begins with the announcement of the births of John the Baptist and Jesus, framed within the context of historical events. It emphasizes God's plan being fulfilled through ordinary people like Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, and Joseph. The story of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem is recounted with special focus on the angels announcing His birth to the shepherds, and the visit of the wise men is not included. Luke also includes the temple presentation of Jesus and the boy Jesus in the temple, showcasing His early wisdom and divine calling.

2. The Ministry of John the Baptist

John the Baptist's role as the forerunner of Christ is highlighted, calling for repentance and baptizing people in preparation for the coming Messiah. He also baptizes Jesus, marking the start of Jesus' public ministry.

3. The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus

After His baptism, Jesus is led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness, where He is tempted by the devil. He resists temptation and returns to Galilee to begin His ministry, filled with the power of the Spirit.

4. The Ministry of Jesus

Luke focuses on Jesus’ teachings, His miracles, and His interactions with various people, particularly those on the margins of society, including the poor, women, and sinners. Some key events in this section include:

The calling of the twelve disciples, also called apostles.

The Sermon on the Plain, which mirrors the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew, where Jesus teaches about love, forgiveness, and humility.

Healing miracles, such as curing the sick, casting out demons, and raising the dead (including the widow's son at Nain).

Parables, such as the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, and the Lost Sheep, which illustrate God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness.

Jesus consistently challenges the religious leaders (Pharisees, scribes) and highlights the need for true righteousness rather than outward appearances. He emphasizes compassion, mercy, and repentance.

5. The Journey to Jerusalem

As Jesus approaches the end of His ministry, Luke depicts a long journey toward Jerusalem, during which He continues teaching about the Kingdom of God and the cost of discipleship. He predicts His death multiple times, warning His followers about the trials to come. His teachings become more focused on His mission to suffer and die for humanity’s salvation.

6. The Passion Narrative

In the final chapters, Luke narrates the events leading to the crucifixion:

The Last Supper, where Jesus institutes the Eucharist and prepares His disciples for His departure.

Jesus’ arrest, trial, and betrayal by Judas.

Peter’s denial of Jesus, fulfilling Jesus’ earlier prophecy.

Jesus is brought before Pontius Pilate and sentenced to death, despite Pilate’s conclusion that He is innocent.

Jesus’ crucifixion at Golgotha, His death, and His burial.

During His crucifixion, Jesus prays for forgiveness for those who are executing Him, showing His mercy even in the face of suffering.

7. The Resurrection and Ascension

Luke ends with the triumphant resurrection of Jesus, appearing to the women who come to His tomb, and then to His disciples. He shows them that He is alive, explains that His death and resurrection fulfill prophecy, and commissions them to spread His message.

The Gospel concludes with Jesus’ ascension into heaven, where He blesses His disciples, promising the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Movie Watch Below after skipping Ad: The Gospel of Luke

Trey Knowles’ “Grab My Hand”—born out of his Hate Chicago 60606 Comedy—is a heartfelt song of apology and healing. It carries an empowering message that uplifts every Black American brother and sister with love, compassion, and understanding. In the lyrics, Knowles reflects on the lasting effects of mistreatment and how generations of struggle have left many disconnected from their true identity, “eating off the belly of the beast.” Yet, the song offers hope and reassurance—reminding listeners that it’s okay, that God is with us, and that He is awakening us to rise and walk in His kingdom.

Trey Knowles’ “Eyesight” is a sharp and funny comedy that tackles the idea of “only seeing the good.” When people tell Trey to focus on the positive, he challenges them by asking, “Where are the prophets of old?” — those who boldly judged wickedness according to God’s Word. Trey exposes the danger of a world without correction, where Christians compromise their faith to satisfy worldly desires, especially when it comes to money. Through humor and conviction, “Eyesight” reveals how spiritual blindness often hides behind cultural acceptance and comfort.

Trey Knowles' "Christians Versus Counterfeit Christians": Trey Knowles presents an allegorical comedy that contrasts true followers of Christ with those who only appear to be Christian. The central message is that Jesus is genuine, and anything opposed to Him is counterfeit. Jesus came to do the will of the Father, and to obey Christ is to obey the Father, for they are one. There is only one true Teacher—Christ—and one true Father in heaven. The work highlights that those who claim to be Christian yet act against God’s Spirit are not of Christ but of the devil. Knowles challenges false teachings, such as the idea of blindly obeying earthly masters as though they were Christ. He emphasizes that one cannot serve both Jesus and the devil: you will love one and hate the other. Through satire and comedy, this allegory opens the reader’s eyes to the ways the devil deceives people and exposes the danger of counterfeit Christianity. Trey Knowles’ “Christians Versus Counterfeit Christians” is one of his sharpest allegorical comedy routines, where he uses satire to expose the tension between authentic discipleship and hollow religious posturing. The piece works on multiple levels—biblical allegory, cultural critique, and comedic inversion—so let’s break it down step by step: True Christians: Defined by obedience to God’s will, echoing Jesus’ words: “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Counterfeit Christians: Those who wear the label but act in ways that contradict Christ’s spirit—often aligning with worldly power, wealth, or control. Satirical Device: Knowles contrasts Jesus’ call to lose your life to gain it with counterfeit voices that twist scripture into commands like “Obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling.” The inversion highlights how false teachers mimic scripture but drain it of Christ’s essence.

 Trey Knowles – “Shaytan Appears in America: A Warning to the World”

In this comedic yet sobering speech, Trey Knowles declares that America has fallen under the influence of Shaytan. He warns the world that America’s commander-in-chief has placed himself in the role of God—bringing death, chaos, and control to keep people under his false sovereignty.

Shaytan disguises himself as an “angel of light,” but Trey exposes his cunning tricks before the audience. With sharp humor, he contrasts the true character of God with the deceitful character of the devil, revealing the difference between light and darkness.

Trey also unmasks the sly rhetoric of Shaytan’s generals and defenders, showing how their very own words contain the seeds of their downfall.

This performance is not only comedy—it is a must-watch warning for the entire world.

Bill Cooper, former United States Naval Intelligence Briefing Team member, reveals information that remains hidden from the public eye. This information has been kept in Top Secret government files since the 1940s. His audiences hear the truth unfold as he writes about the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the war on drugs, the Secret Government and UFOs. Bill is a lucid, rational and powerful speaker who intent is to inform and to empower his audience. Standing room only is normal. His presentation and information transcend partisan affiliations as he clearly addresses issues in a way that has a striking impact on listeners of all backgrounds and interests. He has spoken to many groups throughout the United States and has appeared regularly on many radio talk shows and on television. In 1988 Bill decided to "talk" due to events then taking place worldwide, events which he had seen plans for back in the early '70s. Since Bill has been "talking," he has correctly predicted the lowering of the Iron Curtain, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the invasion of Panama. All Bill's predictions were on record well before the events occurred. Bill is not a psychic. His information comes from Top Secret documents that he read while with the Intelligence Briefing Team and from over 17 years of thorough research.

Behold a Pale Horse Chapter Summaries by rwtrimiew

The association arises from a 1991 video titled The Lazar Tape... and Excerpts from the Government Bible. In this video, Lazar claims to have read classified documents while working at the secret S-4 facility near Area 51. He alleges that these documents contained startling information about human history and religious origins that would challenge and potentially destabilize established religious beliefs.

                                      Image liked in the Movie Avatar:

Lazar's claims about the secret "government bible" include the following:

Humans are "containers": He alleged that the documents referred to humans as "containers" for something more, like souls or consciousness, from the alien perspective.

Alien involvement in human history: He claimed the documents discussed alien involvement in human affairs over the past 10,000 years.

Challenging religious views: Lazar suggested the information in the documents was sensitive because it could completely upend humanity's understanding of its own origins and religion.

Reliability of Lazar's claims

It is important to note that Lazar's testimony is considered a conspiracy theory and has been widely discredited by scientists and skeptics. The following points raise serious questions about his credibility:

Unverifiable credentials: Lazar claims to have master's degrees from MIT and Caltech, but there is no record of him attending either university.

No evidence of employment: Official records do not support his claims of employment at Los Alamos National Laboratory or the secret facilities near Area 51.

Element 115 discrepancy: While he famously mentioned Element 115 in 1989 before it was artificially created, the stable version he claimed aliens used does not match the highly unstable element later synthesized by scientists.

Robert Scott Lazar (/ləˈzɑːr/) is an American conspiracy theorist. In 1989, Lazar claimed to have been part of a classified US government project concerned with the reverse engineering of extraterrestrial technology; he also purported to have read government briefing documents that described alien involvement in human affairs over the past 10,000 years. A self-proclaimed physicist, Lazar supposedly worked at a secret site near the United States Air Force facility popularly known as Area 51. His story brought additional public attention to the facility and spawned conspiracy theories regarding government knowledge of extraterrestrial life.

Lazar has provided no evidence of alien life or technology, and his claims about his education and employment history are replete with fabrications. Lazar also has several criminal convictions: he was convicted in 1990 for his involvement in a prostitution ring, and again in 2006 for selling illegal chemicals. As well as being dismissed by skeptics, Lazar has been denounced by some ufologists.

Since 1989, Lazar has achieved public notoriety as an Area 51 conspiracy theorist. In May of that year, he appeared in an interview with investigative reporter George Knapp on Las Vegas TV station KLAS, under the pseudonym "Dennis" and with his face hidden, to discuss his purported employment at "S-4", a subsidiary facility he claimed exists near the Nellis Air Force Base installation known as Area 51. 

Lazar said that his job was to help with the reverse engineering of one of nine flying saucers, which he alleged were extraterrestrial in origin. He claims one of the flying saucers, the one he coined the "Sport Model", was manufactured out of a metallic substance similar in appearance and touch to liquid titanium.

In a subsequent interview that November, Lazar appeared unmasked and under his own name, where he claimed that his job interview for work at the facility was with contractor EG&G and that his employer was the United States Navy. EG&G stated it had no records on him. His supposed employment at a Nellis Air Force Base subsidiary has also been discredited by skeptics, as well as by the United States Air Force.

Lazar has claimed that the studied vehicle was fueled by the chemical element with atomic number 115 (E115), which had not yet been artificially created. E115 was first synthesized in 2003 and later named moscovium. Lazar said that the propulsion system relied on a stable isotope of E115. No stable isotopes of moscovium have yet been synthesized. All have proven extremely radioactive, decaying in a few hundred milliseconds.

An Area 51 gate

Lazar alleges that his employment and education records have been erased, an allegation that Friedman, Prothero and author Timothy D. Callahan consider implausible. His story has drawn significant media attention, controversy, supporters, and detractors. Lazar has presented no actual evidence of alien life or technology.

Lazar owns and operates United Nuclear Scientific Equipment and Supplies, a company that sells a variety of materials and chemicals. In 2017, Lazar's workplace was raided by the FBI and local police. The raid was reported as part of a murder investigation (in which Lazar is not listed as a suspect) to determine if United Nuclear sold thallium to a murder suspect in Michigan.

Criminal convictions

In 1990, Lazar was arrested for aiding and abetting a prostitution ring. This was reduced to felony pandering, to which he pleaded guilty. He was ordered to do 150 hours of community service, stay away from brothels, and undergo psychotherapy.

In 2006, Lazar and his wife were charged with violating the Federal Hazardous Substances Act for shipping restricted chemicals across state lines. The charges stemmed from a 2003 raid on United Nuclear's business offices, where chemical sales records were examined. United Nuclear pleaded guilty to three criminal counts of introducing into interstate commerce, and aiding and abetting the introduction into interstate commerce, of banned hazardous substances. In 2007, United Nuclear was fined $7,500 for violating a law prohibiting the sale of chemicals and components used to make illegal fireworks.

Journalist Stephen Rodrick and author Neil Nixon write that further doubts have been cast on Lazar's credibility due to his criminal activity.

 America Side Effects is an allegorical comedy by Trey Knowles that uses sharp, unsettling humor to reveal the costs of America’s entrenched harms. Through vivid, often shocking scenes — from gun violence touching children to citizens trapped by debt and false freedoms — the play shows how liberty can become a license for wrongdoing. Knowles suggests that a nation that refuses to walk away from its evils risks destruction, and he challenges viewers to critically judge both America and their own complicity rather than accept comforting myths about freedom and virtue.

The Bacteria That “Poops” Gold: Cupriavidus metallidurans

In the hidden world of microbes, some bacteria have evolved astonishing survival strategies. One of the most remarkable examples is Cupriavidus metallidurans, a soil-dwelling microbe that can turn toxic metals into tiny nuggets of gold. This unusual ability not only protects the bacterium from poisoning but also holds exciting potential for mining and environmental cleanup.

How It Works

Cupriavidus metallidurans thrives in harsh, metal-rich environments where many organisms would perish. Its secret lies in specialized enzymes and a sophisticated defense system that process toxic metals:

• Metal consumption: The bacterium absorbs toxic compounds of copper and gold from its surroundings.

• Specialized enzymes: Proteins such as CupA (for copper) and CopA (for gold) manage these metals by either pumping them out of the cell or transforming them into less harmful forms.

• Gold precipitation: In dealing with gold compounds, the bacterium converts them into solid, inert metallic gold particles. Over time, this results in the formation of microscopic gold nuggets—essentially, the bacteria “excretes” gold.

This transformation allows the organism to neutralize potentially lethal metals while generating something valuable.

Why It Matters

The discovery of C. metallidurans’ unique ability has several important implications:

1. Natural Gold Formation
   The bacterium is believed to play a role in creating “secondary gold”—deposits of younger, surface-level gold that form after weathering. This helps explain how gold can accumulate in soils and riverbeds over geological timescales.

2. Biomining Potential
   Scientists are exploring how this microbe could be harnessed for biomining. Instead of using toxic chemicals like cyanide to extract gold from low-grade ores or electronic waste, C. metallidurans might offer a cleaner, more sustainable alternative.

3. Environmental Cleanup
   Beyond gold, the bacterium can also detoxify other metals, making it a candidate for bioremediation projects, such as cleaning mercury-contaminated soils or industrial sites.

A Golden Future?

The idea of bacteria that “poop” gold may sound like science fiction, but Cupriavidus metallidurans is very real—and it’s teaching scientists new ways to think about natural resource formation and environmental sustainability. While commercial applications are still in development, this tiny microbe could one day help revolutionize how we mine precious metals and clean up our planet.

The Wow! Signal was a strong narrowband radio signal detected on August 15, 1977, by Ohio State University's Big Ear radio telescope in the United States, then used to support the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. The signal appeared to come from the direction of the constellation Sagittarius and bore expected hallmarks of extraterrestrial origin.

Astronomer Jerry R. Ehman discovered the anomaly a few days later while reviewing the recorded data. On the computer printout, he circled the reading of the signal's intensity, "6EQUJ5", and wrote the comment "Wow!" beside it, leading to the event's widely used name.

The entire signal sequence lasted for the full 72-second window during which Big Ear was able to observe it, but has not been detected since, despite many subsequent attempts by Ehman and others. Several hypotheses have been advanced on the origin of the emission, including natural and human-made sources.

In a 1959 paper, Cornell University physicists Philip Morrison and Giuseppe Cocconi had speculated that any extraterrestrial civilization attempting to communicate via radio signals might do so using a frequency of 1420 megahertz (21-centimeter spectral line), which is naturally emitted by hydrogen, the most common element in the universe and therefore likely familiar to all technologically advanced civilizations.

In 1973, after completing an extensive survey of extragalactic radio sources, Ohio State University assigned the now-defunct Ohio State University Radio Observatory (nicknamed "Big Ear") to the scientific search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI), in the longest-running program of this kind in history. The radio telescope was located near the Perkins Observatory on the campus of Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio.

By 1977, Ehman was working at the SETI project as a volunteer; his job involved analyzing by hand large amounts of data processed by an IBM 1130 computer and recorded on line printer paper. While perusing data collected on August 15 at 22:16 EST (23:16 EDT local time, 03:16 UTC), he spotted a series of values of signal intensity and frequency that left him and his colleagues astonished. The event was later documented in technical detail by the observatory's director