Jonathots Daily Blog
(4389)
That Can Be Learned by Reading the Story of Joseph from Genesis, Chapters 37 – 50
1. The ever-present danger of pride impersonating confidence
2. The necessity of perseverance instead of drowning in self-pity
The B. S. M. G. Report
Jonathots Daily Blog
(4273)
As we depart this year
Let us leave behind some fear
2019 certainly weathered us with its conditions.
For we begin to believe that we are so susceptible to the climate of our times that it is beyond our control.
BAD
Too dry.
Yes, that was the problem this year.
In the pursuit of goals, or maybe even high ideals, we lost our humanity and became schoolmasters, instructing one another, incapable of maintaining a sense of humor about our own frailty.
Everything got really serious.
Even interactions we once took for granted—such as the give and take that happens between men and women in the attempt to discover romance and propagate our species—was isolated into tiny danger zones, so that eventually it just became safer not to talk to one another.
Our politicians are as dry as dust. One group hates poor people and the other despises the rich. Unfortunately, both parties believe themselves to be the messengers of truth.
We need to listen to the Earth.
We need to understand our place.
And once we find our place, rather than falling into a sand dune and suffocating, we need to uncover good cheer.
Good cheer is the by-product of a simple principle:
Since I am not the first person this has ever happened to, there apparently is a solution, or at least a reprieve, so while pursuing this, I will keep myself free from all despair.
We are presently too dry. It’s a bad thing.
SAD
Then again, there are times when we seem too wet.
Soppy, sappy and silly.
We’ve begun to believe that things that don’t matter at all have great significance and consecration. And of course, we continue to contend that human sexuality is tied into the divine workings of angels instead of the pleasurable grunting and groaning of humans who are doing their best impersonations of Brother Gorilla and Sister Chimpanzee.
We listen to elaborate stories that people share to draw tears to our eyes, so that we will favor them in a singing contest.
The liberals are worried about the children and poverty and the mistreatment of the persecuted masses while the conservatives shed many tears over the loss of values, family and morality.
I find myself constantly soaked with the false emotion of those who are either bitching their way through life or have fallen apart and don’t seem to be able to be put back together again.
MAD
A case can be made that our whole society has become too hot. With the ability to go from zero to sixty degrees of viral intensity over the smallest matters, it now seems that our worst enemy is our own tongue, which lashes out without ever considering that those we attack might just pull out an automatic weapon and blow our heads off.
I find that temper is fed by two evils:
1. Pride in oneself
2. Pride in one’s God.
When these two are put together, intolerance is the result, which can easily lead to terrorism.
We need to turn down the heat.
Neither you nor I are as good as we think we are, and neither you nor I can guarantee God’s will.
So relax.
Sometimes things need to play out—and when they do, if you have kept your mind from flaming, you might be glad you when you don’t burn up.
GLAD
I guess the old-time phrase was “chill out.” Is it still around?
The reason church people are able to tolerate Christianity is that it’s been a long time since they’ve read the Gospels.
Merely standing in front of a congregation of believers, reading the Sermon on the Mount and offering a cursory explanation would empty the sanctuary within a month.
We are way too concerned about having our opinions taken into consideration. The idea that our conjectures don’t matter would tear at the fabric of an egomaniacal need to be valuable.
So we should chill out—if we can remember what that means.
It was best stated by an itinerant preacher thousands of years ago, who gave a three-word philosophical insight for life on Earth:
Take no thought.
He then produced a list of things we don’t need to think about, which included most of our ego-driven demands.
He closed it out by saying, “Take no thought for tomorrow, for today has enough.”
The greatest thing that you and I can do to make 2020 a perfect vision is to stop thinking about so much.
The really important shit lights up, letting you know when it needs consideration.
Everything else is dim, dull and has been around since Methuselah—whoever in the hell he is.
Sit Down Comedy …March 8th, 2019
Jonathots Daily Blog
(3978)
I recently moved, abandoning my old fortress of solitude for new digs, which I now comfortably call home.
In my whole life I have done this process twelve times. I was a little surprised to discover that this is statistically average.
Whenever I move, the first thing I do is go out and buy a box of garbage bags. Why? Because I’m going to give away a whole lot of stuff. These are the materials that crept into my life, were used temporarily, and ended up being stored in my closet or corners, where I intentionally forgot them.
It’s a very easy evaluation process. As I begin to pack things, I look at each item and ask myself the following three questions:
- Have I used this in the past three months?
- Will I use it a lot in the next three months?
- Is there someone who would really like to use it right now?
It makes things so easy. I not only end up moving but am able to bless a whole bunch of people who get the rejects I’ve been keeping around out of sentimentality mingled with laziness.
But you see, likewise, every once in a while, when something in my life needs to be moved, shifted or rearranged, I will dare to enter my closet of emotions and see what might be in there that is unnecessary.
There are three main culprits:
A. Worry
It gets shuffled to the rear and pretends it’s not there until you glance at it and then, the apprehension surfaces.
B. Pride
It always likes to be hung up high where it can be seen but does nothing to enhance my being except puff up my ego and is quickly deflated by reality.
C. And finally, self-pity
This one really likes to hide, like a cockroach surprised by turning on the light in the middle of the night. It likes to pretend it doesn’t exist, but self-pity literally “bugs me.”
When I look at these emotions—worry, pride and self-pity—I know deep in my heart that they’re worthless, but I keep them around for those times when others are not concerned, praising me—or they might even be ignoring me.
They suck. Yes, these fretting emotions literally suck the life out of me.
Because when I pose the three questions to them, which need to be asked of any emotion, they always fail. The three questions are:
- Is this emotion making me money?
- Is this emotion making me friends?
- Is this emotion making me smarter?
Honestly, I do not feel old, but I am too ancient to waste time worrying pridefully in a puddle of self-pity. I need things in my life that make me money, friends and turn me into a smarter being.
So will you join me in grabbing a sack, finding your worry, your pride and your self-pity, bagging it up and giving it away for Goodwill?
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly subscription donation of $10 for this inspirational opportunity
Subscribe to Jonathan’s Weekly Podcast
1 Thing You Can Do This Week To Be a Better Person
PROMISES ARE NOT PROMISING
Though for a brief moment, our pride swells, our hopefulness inflates and our prowess among our fellow-humans may appear to soar, promises leave us with a single difficulty:
WE MUST DELIVER OR WE WILL START LYING
Once we start lying we can’t be trusted. When we are not trusted, we are eventually relegated to a position where people are willing to dine with us but not work with us.
The difficulty with promises is that they become two desolate deserts if we fail to deliver the goods: arrogance and foolishness.
Arrogance because we said we would be able to accomplish something and not only shared our intent but sealed it with the covenant of a promise.
Foolish because everyone wonders why we didn’t account for the thing that brought our plans down.
Yet we continue to promise that we’re going to give the money, win the game, be there on time and even be faithful until death do us part.
There’s nothing that makes us look more ridiculous than an unfulfilled promise, but people continue to feel the need to look powerful while ending up with a powerless claim. Society promotes arrogance–but we are all drawn to humility.
We expect people to overlook our foolishness although wisdom is regarded as a higher virtue.
If you want to do better, stop saying “I promise.” Instead, reply, “I think I understand what needs to be done. Here’s where my ability lies, and it’s available if you’d like me to take a shot at it.”
Nobody ever won a game, won a love, won the lottery or won salvation by making a promise.
So if you want to gain strength or be perceived as intelligent, offer what you have with humility, and apply it with wisdom.
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly donation for this inspirational opportunity
Click the elephant to see what he’s reading!
1 Thing You Can Do This Week (To Become A True Leader)
1 Thing You Can Do This Week (To Become A True Leader)
PRACTICE SAYING “THANK YOU” ALL THE TIME
You may think you do, but you certainly could be surprised.
After awhile, we assume that a “thank you” floats into the air because we are accustomed to the atmosphere or the people we work and live with. But the actual verbiage–the statement itself–is often abandoned in favor of a look, a nod of the head and a whispered portion of the phrase quietly falling off our lips.
It’s not the same thing.
And even though speaking “thank you” may feel a little strange at first–generating an embarrassment that you’re overdoing it–in the long run it is impossible to say the words since they are necessary.
You will become a great leader when you speak “thank you.”
THE POSITIVE EFFECTS OF SAYING “THANK YOU”
It does the following three things:
1. It establishes the gift of appreciation.
2. It’s an extraordinarily positive habit.
3. It is a powerful example to encourage people to get along without using daily pep talks.
It is our pride that stops us from being thankful, so it is our humility that will free us from the evil spirit of ingratitude.
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly donation for this inspirational opportunity
Click the elephant to see what he’s reading!
Salient … April 16th, 2018
Jonathots Daily Blog
(3644)
Let’s say you want to destroy human beings.
You could kill them. That’s called murder. Of course, there’s always the danger of prosecution, being convicted and jailed, losing your own freedom and being trapped forever, recognized only as a criminal.
Nah.
But let’s say you’re bound and determined. Why? Because so many nasty things have happened in your life that you want to make sure no one sprouts a smirk. You need to assure yourself that given unwelcome circumstances, all human beings will turn into creatures of vengeance and darkness.
Where should you start?
Homo Sapiens have three parts to them: what was, what is, what could be. So your attack would have to be levied against this trio of components.
Therefore you assault the “what was” by making people guilty about their past while simultaneously yearning and wishing that “the good ole days” were still here.They end up feeling guilty, but with foolish pride. Nice start.
Remember, the key is to introduce darkness without alarming the victim about the loss of light. So now you have them thinking about their past–partially in terror, but somewhat nostalgically.
Next comes “what is.” Quite simple. Inundate them with so much unnecessary information that they begin to stress over what they perceive to be a mess. If they take all of their waking hours to nervously contemplate how badly things are going, there’s no time left to improve them.
Stress over the mess.
Get your victims to complain until it drives them insane.
This leaves you with “what could be.” If you want to quickly dispose of your humans, just persuade them to embrace the notion that it really is “what will be.” In other words, their lives are out of their hands, mystically steered by destiny. They are merely pawns in a cosmic game between good and evil.
Yes, people really love that one. They do not like the idea of being personally responsible for their own success and failure.
Once they begin to think about what could or will be, they sprout the worry that brings fear and robs them of good cheer.
Let’s review:
If you are a disturbed personality who wants to prove that darkness resides perpetually in the soul of every Earthly human, you should focus on what was and make them feel guilty and prideful. This also makes them appear to be out of step with what’s going on with the present generation. (Just a bonus.)
Then take what is and establish it as a mess that demands their stress. Don’t tell them that they’ve already overcome similar problems in the past. Don’t suggest that they could achieve emotional health by speaking their feelings and misgivings aloud. Trap them in their brains.
And finally, turn them into creatures of destiny, with what will be. But if that doesn’t work, present a dismal view of the future–make movies, write books and have scientists explain how fearful things are coming our way, and therefore, any sense of good cheer is downright irresponsible.
That’s how you destroy a human being without ending up on death row yourself. Bring just enough darkness that they stop desiring the light.
Salient–what is truly significant and important. Today’s salient moment is this:
Human despair is always accomplished by dimming the light without any warning.
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly subscription donation for this wonderful, inspirational opportunity
Jesonian … February 10th, 2018
Jonathots Daily Blog
(3579)
There are two distinct types of abuse.
There is physical abuse, punctuated by an attack against body, heart or mind. It leaves cuts, bruises and scars. It is nasty, evil and inexcusable.
The other form of abuse is neglect. Being commissioned to perform a responsibility, someone decides to set it aside in favor of other pursuits, leaving that which was meant to be cared for destitute.
Although a case could be made that the religious system continues to physically abuse Jesus of Nazareth by crucifying him weekly in sermons, attempting to stimulate some sort of passion from the congregation, I shall step aside from such discussion in favor of presenting the true abuse.
We preach a Gospel of salvation which includes emphasis on “one time only, better do it today, this could be your last chance, hell is hot, Jesus loved you so much that he bled, and don’t you want to go to heaven” rhetoric in an attempt to frighten hearers who have already heard this many times before.
Meanwhile the real message of Jesus–the one that makes him our intimate, elder brother, and also affords the planet an opportunity for peaceful cohabitation–is often read aloud with the energy of reciting last week’s grocery list.
If you’re going to be Jesonian, you need to love Jesus. If you’re going to love Jesus, you’re going to get to know what’s close to his heart. And when you get to know what’s close to his heart, you will no longer be satisfied with a crucified Savior, but instead will become a disciple, pursuing a dynamic lifestyle.
You don’t have to go any further than the first three beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount to see what Jesus was all about. Matter of fact, I could spend the rest of my life elaborating on that trio and never run out of material.
It begins with the reality, follows with a challenge and culminates with wisdom.
The reality: we are happy because we are poor in spirit.
The reason that makes us happy is because we can stop trying to be spiritual instead of human. Once you find your classification, it’s so much easier to compete. Not an angel, not a saint, not a theologian, but rather, a human who is impoverished in the realm of spirit.
First realization: I am human and it is good.
God said so when He got done creating us. I don’t think He lied. Sure, we’re unpredictable, but since He’s not afraid of that, why should I apologize?
This is followed with a challenge. “Blessed are those who mourn.”
I have emotions and this is good.
Although we try to suppress them, these feelings continue to pop to the forefront, churn up our throats and waggle our tongues. Rather than deny them, we should use them to feel, to laugh, and most certainly, to mourn–to escape being uncaring bastards and instead, weep over the loss and pain in the world around us.
This climaxes with a bit of eternal, precious wisdom. “Blessed are the meek.”
Although there is a campaign to promote the notion that the more we brag, the stronger we are, the human race actually has a tendency to cut the stilts out from under those who try to walk too tall.
We honor humility. We are geared to destroy pride, even when it dwells within us.
Humble: “I am weak and it is good.”
In these three statements Jesus establishes a Gospel which is not only able to be mastered by humans, but can also be passed along as the living bread of truth that we all desperately need before we starve to death emotionally and spiritually.
I am human and it is good.
I have emotion, and it is good.
I am weak, and damn straight–it is good.
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly subscription donation of $10 for this inspirational opportunity
Jonathots Daily Blog 
