For his monologue this week, Neil Oliver walks through the psychology of crisis that surrounds us, then falls squarely on the antidote of fellowship.
“We cannot and must not turn blind eyes or deaf ears to any wrong. We must maintain the courage to stand side by side against evil, any evil, perpetrated by anyone. In the end, all I can say to all those hoping for the best while watching the worst is, I hear you!”
.
For several years, CTH has been outlining the critical importance of fellowship. Living our best life requires us to put the importance of the human connection at the forefront. A priority that seems to have been purposefully torn apart.
Fellowship is the essential ingredient to a purposeful life. How and why we interact with each other is the how and why we recharge our core humanity. Isolation starts with a rebellion against God, and we must be conscious about the human need to be connected.
I will not divide my humanity, nor concede my core view of fellowship, simply to comply with the demand of another that I consider my brother or sister of greater or less equity than myself. Any business that chooses that path will not benefit from my economic participation. I also choose freedom!
Each of us has a different connection to our community. Each of us has a different level of internal strength… such is the nature of living. However, the distance between people is manifestly not a good outcome when combined with the lack of food for the soul.
Ultimately, it is the currency of human connection that is the true value in our lives.
We have each felt how our positive influence upon the lives of others nourishes our own sense of purpose and fulfillment. Do not lose that. Do not think you can compensate for that through other arbitrary measures; you cannot.
Our nation needs more people like you, right now. Don’t wait… engage life, get optimistic however you need to do it. Then let that part of you shine right now… This is how we fight. Hold up that flag; give the starter smile… rally to the standard you create and spread fellowship.
God knows we need it.
You are not alone…
too much crap in the comments these days. nothing worth listening to.
There certainly is a lot of bickering…
Isn’t disagreement to be expected in an open environment with bright people? We learn best that way.
Whatcha got for fellowship?
Currently I’m with family enjoying a beautiful day, football and dinner out tonight.
Taking my daughter and her friends thrifting for Halloween costume stuff then homecoming football game at dusk.
Sounds like a fun night. Enjoy yourselves!
I’ve been thrifting blankets and sheets to sew for my raised garden beds. I make them into quilts and sandwich bubble wrap between the sewn layers. Gets my veggies through the freeze.
What an excellent idea! I’m always happy when gardening with my daughter!
Great idea! I may have to try that!
painted my bathroom today. looks awesome.
I made a gift basket for my son and his wife’s baby shower, yes a gram I will be! Yay! I helped a friend of mine who has been hospitalized from a burst aneurism for a long time. She cannot walk or talk well at this point so I paid forward all the items I received from a friend who gave them to me for my mom. Mom passed end of august. I know the Holy Spirit entered and put this before me, what a day I had!
Sorry for your loss.
God bless you.
michigan football at 730.
Wisconsin
But we suck
4th Qtr improbable comeback today in Champaign. Go Bucky!
You don’t have to watch that cheating lot.
Spending my 73th with the wife.
Congratulations!
Happy, Happy Birthday!! Celebrate!
Happy day❣️
I was feeling pretty down considering all the crap going on so I
smoked some baby back ribs for the pup and I as my better half is away visiting grandkids. They’ll be plenty left over for all as I texted (yeah, I’d rather talk in person) my other sons while enjoying this beautiful, windy SE PA weather.
I probably would have never heard of Neil if not for Sundance and CTH but I sure like the way he talks…truthfully. I’d offer him some ribs if he was local…..and we would chew the fat for hours.
There’s lots of good folk out there but sometimes you gotta make the first move and that’s when I feel
the fellowship.
Like Tom Petty said, ” And I Won’t Back Down!”
We spent part of our day chasing five Angus that have been on the loose for almost a week. Today the cattle won and are somewhere in or next to the 6,000 acres of State Gameland mountain beside us. A good time was had by all the participating neighbors, and the cows seemed to enjoy themselves as well. Where are the beef? Nobody knows tonight.
Well. I hope you get them back without incident.
We loaded up 5 steers into trailers Wednesday. Our new butcher doesn’t take farm slaughter, so we had the task of cohering full grown steers into horse trailers. A bucket of oats with molasses did the trick. Regardless it took hours.
But there are occasional gems, which makes browsing through the comments worthwhile. I scroll though each page of comments but often do not see any that stimulate me enough to reply. I do click the ‘thumb up’ icon to record a ‘Like’ when I see a post with which I agree or feel the poster made an effort to contribute an original supportive thought that was well-articulated.
As my old folks used to say, “don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.”
Scroll on by!!!! We’re at the beach today! With many friends. Gulf of Mexico in the Yucatan as beautiful as always! White clouds and blue skies! Gracias Dios
So you’re in another country, bragging about your fun and leisure (and using Spanish)…which has nothing to do with the topic.
You may have proved Dunewall’s point. In fact, you and your ilk might be why so many of us in the majority still feel yet so alone.
I’m always alone but never alone. I walk with God.
I’ve always had fun in my life. Always! Even in death of loved ones we celebrate in my family. My dad hated being inside. As farmers…outside us where we needed to be. So…we put his casket in the back of the truck for the trek to the ploy of land where he’s spending eternity. The whole congregation had a holy! My mom had a big smile.
Not bragging! Living!!
Gracias Dios
Ok, “Bob.” Party on.
I come from an American farm family. We aren’t so cavalier or happy about these circumstances.
And, frankly, I don’t like your tradition of hauling Dad’s body around in the back of a truck to bury him wherever was convenient, and then everybody celebrates.
Honestly, I wish you would leave and take your 3rd-world traditions with you. Or assimilate.
A solution to this would be to have a 1st amendment challenge of a team of truth police to scan all the comments for mis-, dis- and malcrap and only the comments that meet “the Oracle’s” high standard of conforming-crap get through.
Maybe we can automate this for Youtube and Facebook as well. Perfect.
Unfortunately the freedom of 1st amendment also means we must sift through crap, but it is a price I am willing to pay.
Please lose the mis, dis and mal garbage; you are using the lefts verbiage. There is no such things, information is information whether it be good or bad. Don’t let the left dictate the narrative.
Truth team sounds extremely oppressive
United we stand, divided we fall.
Then why are you here?
https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.5hdeEcAsONvrtRi12_T-bgHaHa?pid=ImgDet&dpr=3
-Lucy screams (Peanuts)🤣
How do you listen to a comment? Inquiring minds want to know!
Audio
Sarah Huckabee Sanders Un-Woking Language in AK State Documents
the big brains at Hot Air headline
AR is Arkansas
I know that
Hot Air apparently doesn’t
too busy humping the Ukraine war to check on stuff
Yes – she has been “quietly” working in the citizens’ favor. Her latest order makes it illegal for a hostile foreign nation (like Communist China) to own land in Arkansas. Any that already do (the CCP does), have to give it up.
Watch her actions in the future. She may become even more pro-MAGA than many had previously suspected.
However, she hasn’t endorsed President Trump.
Keep an eye on that.
Oh Yes, I’m aware (it’s why I wrote “may become“……)
You sure about that? Wasn’t she one of the first people to endorse him, or am I thinking about him endorsing her?
He did endorse her.
The press has tried and tried to get her to endorse him but she dances around it and will not.
I just said that
Her and Kelly Ann, pretty ungrateful
Neither would be where they are without him
Who the hell do they think can save America
Sick of terribly ungrateful people
She didn’t come out for President Trump however
Yes, see my 5:48pm (EDT) Reply to Chooseamerica’s comment above.
I was impressed with Sarah as press secretary. I don’t follow her closely, but every time she is in the news, it is doing remarkable, powerful, simple, common sense leadership things. And that she is not seeming to be impeded is amazing.
Nobody wants this woke crap in our lives but manipulative people and institutions who aren’t really pursuing truth and can’t be reasoned with.
america could use 49 more sarah’s as governors.
This Georgia resident wholeheartedly agrees!!
My Mom and I were profoundly impressed with her when she handled herself so beautifully during that ridiculous White House Press Corps dinner – she looked so lovely and outshone everyone there -I mean, that witch “comedian” giving the stupid talk actually minimized her own self and anyone applauding her “humor” was a dunce as well –
Sarah was magnificent.
Yes! Total class act🙌🏻
Governor Sanders is my Guv. She’s smart and dedicated.
Yet every time I hear her name I harken back to this most hilarious bad lip-reading video. Makes me chuckle.
Oh my goodness I needed that laugh. Thank You!
First time viewer here…..that was priceless and well done. Humor IS the best medicine.
Thanks, Eagle61.
I pray Sarah is the real deal. The list is really, really short these days.
Welcome!
I’m afraid if she was she would have already endorsed President Trump
I really think she was holding out for little d
Oh neat, more purity tests! Obviously Sarah hasn’t endorsed DJT in a time frame that meets your specifications.
I mean, isn’t it in the realm of possibility that there may be a strategy as to the rolling out of these endorsements? You know, for maximum effect?
Trump won Arkansas by 28 points! No way in Hell she endorses Birdbrain or Meatball!!
Little dick?
Ah, the good ol’ days. I remember this well.
I wish she would leave the Buffalo River alone. It doesn’t need to be a National Park
My first mental image, as well.
A literal example demonstrating Sundances oft repeated assertion, that once you SEE and HEAR some things, you can NEVER Un-see, or UN-hear them.
hahahahahaha! Loved it~!
🙂
Hilarious!
A number of our fellowship met this morning to listen to a speaker talk on the “ minority voice” as it pertains to organizations.
The mood was terrific and 42 year member of the fellowship and me chatted after the meeting, and shared just how grateful we were for the fellowship.
These bass turds that Neil speaks of wish to isolate individuals.
Hence in large part the attempted ostracism of
President Trump and other champions of freedom.
We will not let that happen, will we?
Cheers!
Not on my watch, Dekester but we all need what our real President Trump exudes…..Wisdom, Courage and Strength!
Yes, and heavy on the wisdom!
ChatGpt says:
“I agree with Oliver’s message of fellowship. I think that fellowship is essential for our well-being and happiness, and that it is something that we should cherish and cultivate in our lives. I think that fellowship can help us overcome the challenges and difficulties that we face, and that it can inspire us to be better people. I think that fellowship can also help us bridge the gaps and heal the wounds that divide us as a society, and that it can foster a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect.”
Put me in there with those who IDNGAF what ChatGpt says…
What the hell?
Where did that… come from?
Or… Just WHY? is that a reasonable comment? (< completely rhetorical question… NO need to reply.)
uggghhh
>>> Shrug<<<
I tend to think highly of REAL HUMAN INSIGHT about things & not some computer generated crap.
But, that is just the “old school” me…
Ya’ll can think as ya like… i will stick with real folks, not some A.I. generated spittle.
BTW, I am gonna do a repeat of Eagle61s comment earlier, because I think that the video sums up things quite well as far as how “I” see anything from A.I./ChatGpt.
Once again, YMMV…
You don’t care for ChatGpt or A.I.,
You think they are crap and spittle.
But maybe you should give them a try,
They might surprise you with their wit and skill.
We want to commune with a soul.
” Living our best life requires us to put the importance of the human connection at the forefront.”
Given the state of the human condition, it might be better to seek fellowship with dogs or cats or horses or apes.
Or Alpacas! OR all of the above and the local humans who share your interest and hobbies in the above.
I’m going with dogs – and Shorty, our miniature horse that my grandkids love. Cats and apes not so much.
Dogs
https://www.facebook.com/TakisShelterCrete/videos/little-zena-is-growing-up-really-fast-and-her-leg-is-so-close-to-be-normal-η-μικ/855497202632215
God hasn’t given up on us, so how can we give up on each other? He knows what we are capable of, if only we will choose to put our faith in His word.
Amen and well said!
.
Each human person has the image of G-d.
.
And somehow we mere people will judge the Malachim ( Angels ).
I’m expressing fellowship by riding around town with my dog. I like her better than people. Now we’re at Bojangles. By dark we will be at the dog park for pet spook night or whatever the hell they’re calling it. Boooooo
Any time a person voices their opinion in words on these pages, it isn’t crap. Its a person wanting, perhaps even needing to be touched by others. Many are alone in living. Here they are somebody having a voice and being noticed. The post might not be full of information. Information isn’t the only way of fellowship. Fellowship isn’t always vocal either. People are so into videos today but it was the written word that has held us together for so long. In fact, we were stronger, more glued, when all we read rather than watched. My opinion anyway. By the way, I love my fellowship here with you.
Drip,drip, your post is very well stated. Thank you.
Yes. The written word is so powerful. My mother grew up in the letter-writing generation. I learned and loved our multiple letters to each other each week. No matter how much of the little stuff in life was included, she never failed to speak words of encouragement into my life or spiritual verses to spiritually invest in my spiritual growth.
After her passing, the lack of those letters left a huge void in my life.
My cousin (our moms were sisters so she too had a letter-writing mom) and I write to each other. It was so wonderful to receive. I immediately wrote a note back. Our notes give so much meaning to our relationship.
The last of one of my mom’s closest friend is still living. She’s 95. I saved tons of the many letters my mom wrote me and in one of them, she’s written a lovely tribute about her good friend Audry. I copied it and forwarded to Audry. Knowing her age, I didn’t think I would necessarily hear back, but, yesterday her name flashed across my caller ID!!!
Audrey and I had Fellowship for a while over the phone. She was my spiritual support when my mom passed. I will continue to drop notes to Audrey.
Words are powerful and impactful in Fellowship with loved ones.
That must have been a real treat, MaineCoon. I couldn’t agree more about writing letters and tossing the bloody
cellphone out the window.
I’m lucky enough to still have a very healthy Mom at 91, close enough to visit and talk to face to face.
Thanks for sharing.
A long time ago I read that what we read in imprinted in our memory more than other modes of communication. I know it has great meaning.
You are so blessed to have your mom at 91!
Thank you!
I think that if we wrote letters and communicated slowly through time we would be richer and more deeply invested in each other.
Totally agree.
Ditto!
This is an even more important article and message than one might perceive at first blush.
But our nation is suffering from collective depression at the moment, a psychological mix of confusion, anger, and emotional/psychological trauma that has been deliberately brought on and fed by the evil forces that run WEF, the Deep State in all western nations, WHO, UN, Davos Group, etc.
Fellowship with each other counteracts the isolation and stimulates our sense of self worth. Fellowship with God is an antidote to the wounds caused by personal relationships that failed because of unresolvable differences in philosophical, political, and ideological values.
Indeed GB
Well stated, GB Bari!
🙂
Who decided that our nation is suffering from collective depression at the moment . . . not me! I reject it! Let all that boomerang back on the WEF, Davos, Deep State, UN, WHO and whoevers . . .and whoever it was that paid for the Georgia Guidestones that right out number one said the world population needs to be drastically reduced . . . that is outright evil. Dear God knows who you are and all who were assembled that day when the time capsule was buried.
It has to be extremely un-Godly, the mind of whomever and whatever would separate us from each other and our Creator.
Life is beautiful that dear God has given us, so many treasures, so much beauty . . . so many other good people working so hard to do what they do.
Enjoying the beauty that bjorkdream posts in beautiful photos to share with us, of all the beautiful places in this great country of ours.
It’s a great life, if you don’t weaken!
I both really appreciate GB Bari’s post and especially love his final paragraph, suejeanne …
… and at the same time definitely see where you’re coming from too. Every day that I possibly can, I’m out on the nature trail. And over the last several years and in particular this year, I’ve been blessed with seeing and/or hearing some fantastic birds along the way! Yes, there’s beauty all around us! 🙂
I think many folks, including many Treepers and I are also not suffering from the national collective depression, whether or not people admit its presence. Yes, I understand your optimism. But unfortunately, many people in the U.S. don’t share that optimism. They’re still slaves to TV news, government narratives, and the accompanying cognitive dissonance that continuously hearing or watching the government-controlled media’s lies has produced.
It manifests in much of the volatility we see played out & documented on the streets of cities. It is also visible in the huge (but mostly unmentioned by national media) drug addiction epidemic that has gripped rural communities where the globalists removed once-thriving manufacturing plants that provided steady work and economic stability were yanked out and sent overseas in favor of higher profits and reduced risk of accountability for slave-level working conditions.
Whereas you and I and millions of others all have a handle on what appears to be a far more accurate ‘version’ of reality than what the corrupt politicians and media try to present as such, a lot of folks haven’t yet awakened to understand how to sort out the facts from the BS.
And here’s where I can relate to your viewpoint, GB Bari …
I take a look at my family, and at a friend who is no longer a friend because of different approaches to COVID … once upon a time, all of us shared so much in common in the way of religious and political beliefs … One main difference I see now that explains so many other differences is that they all watch TV and I no longer own a TV.
Bingo. You nailed it.
GB Bari can I borrow your last paragraph to send on?
I love your whole comment.
Absolutely! Kristin, you are so gracious! Copy it, use it, change it – anything I post is ” public domain” – free for use by anyone!
😃
GB Sundance sometimes uses the phase saying the quiet things out loud. Usually its in reference to some Fellow Traveler of the Fascist cabal outing true intentions as if everyone knows.
This outing of our collective suffering is a water and tear shed moment for me. We have fellowship in our joy of course, but fellowship in our feelings of powerlessness and our despair is more significant then I could have imagined. We are not broken, we are not alone, we are under the boot and it hurts.
👍👍
Understanding the mysteries of Job will get one through the unspeakable. What choice is there but to seek and find solace in loving God.
Unresolved differences because we cannot forgive each other, because we cannot extend grace to the other.
Yes, Marcia. Although I’m sure that sometimes applies to people on either ‘side’ of the divisive issues, I have more often than not read CTH comments where their friends and loved ones who remain “blue-pilled” and still believe only the (false) government /media narratives have been the ones to actively dissociate themselves from the Treeper & family who are red-pilled and awakened.
That behavior by the blue-pilled people appears consistent with all the nasty (& foolish) media shaming of unvaxxed people that occurred across the usual leftwing media in 2021, 2022, and even into this year. That ridicule seemed to wane significantly when the hard evidence (studies, data) of vaxx deaths and vaxx ineffectiveness became more widely published (especially on Twitter where Elon Musk refused to censor it) and thus more widely realized.
When looking forward to great fellowship, who out there goes caroling at Christmas?
Several of us get together having a fun time.
I remember doing that in the 1960’s. Haven’t seen any carolers strolling throught the neighborhood since the 1980’s. It’s sad.
no Christmas music at the mall, either. but, we can whistle!
My high school Latin teacher actually took our Latin class out and we sang Christmas carols all around his neighborhood completely in Latin one night, then enjoyed Christmas cookies at his house. This was at a public school during the 80s. 🙂
I think it was in the early 70s for me. It was a beautiful time we had!
Sorry but if I went caroling, they’d cancel Christmas.
That makes 2 of us, drip, drip……but I could accompany with guitar if that would help drown out my voice. 😉
lol
Same here. I just move my lips, but cannot hold a tune to save my life.
All the dogs in the neighborhood would start howling if I started singing.
We all go Caroling nightly in Yucatan. Before and after Christmas!! Mexico is a very God loving country. Nobody…I mean Nobody will take God out of schools or the malls!
Gracias Dios!!
We used to go with Church youth group and some of the elderly folk would
invite us in or bring us cookies and such…
Yippee. Great merrymaking and fellowship for all!
Don’t take this as a bad thing.. We are all mad here.. Why else do we return day after day.
❤️ 👍
This actually fits into this thread rather well! No ‘apology’ needed!
The chicken police
https://twitter.com/AMAZlNGNATURE/status/1714491493921255888/mediaViewer?currentTweet=1714491493921255888¤tTweetUser=AMAZlNGNATURE
Packing up the camper to head to a close by State Park here in GA. tomorrow. As I tend to never meet a stranger, I will certainly meet new friends. Have several that we keep in touch with regularly. Both our girls and husbands are regular campers also. For those that may have never done much camping these days, you meet people of all kinds, with one thing in common… Fellowship! Sure, there is the occasional jackass, but they are everywhere. We’re trying to live our best life, and this how we roll! Both early 60’s and retired and loving life! Hope to meet any of you fellow Treepers at the campfire one day! 😉
We’ve met so many folks of similar persuasion hiking, camping or just in a B&B that we’ve stayed in.
We The People are everywhere and many more than “they” want you to believe.
Hope you have great weather and even greater conversations.
Forgive me for saying this, but there is TOO MUCH from Neil in which he is inviting victims of all types to join together, and then goes on to describe one type after another of how we’re beaten down. It’s time to tell all those who have been victimized in whatever way to stand up and go after those who seek to victimize us. Shine a bright light of truth on all their evil acts. One after another. Show them as the evil leaders and influencers, with evil actions to show for all their effort.
It’s time to wield the sword of truth and take down these folks. But first, people need to put down their remotes. Get up off their butts, call upon God for support, and DO SOMETHING, instead of being mindless sheep.
Hope is not going to do it alone. It’s going to take action.
And their “cell” phones which makes them “prisoners” to it.
Like all technology they have positive and negative uses….unfortunately the negatives appear to have dominated the population.
Neil was speaking in a high poetry that interlaced many metaphors of the arcing angst of the human souls condition.
I’m such a chatterbox. I have so much going around in my head. With Neil’s commentary, I usually can’t wait to empty some of it onto the page.
Until now…
He spoke for me.
I can’t add anything else.
And now, if you will excuse me, I’ll depart…
I’m off to sit with Neil…
For a little while at least…
❤️❤️. Enjoy the ‘visit’, I think you’ll have a lot of company…..😉
😘🤗
Pleased to meet you both there! 😊
Pleasure is ours, Mary. Welcome to the Treehouse!
(PS – You last name is the same as a former famous & much loved Baltimore radio DJ and talk radio host for several decades…)
As you can see, Betsy, I did let my chatter out. I often wonder if is a strength or a weakness – but there it is. And I’ll be sitting with ya’ll shortly myself. The company is good.
To you and GB above, Doc…
I’d be hard pressed to think of any I’d rather “sit
with” than the two of you and the rest who have been directed to this place, in these branches…friends all.
The last two weeks of horrors have brought me very close to a different chatter as well. Tears instead, and lots of them. We are only human. There can be no quarter given for what we have seen, the barbaric savagery unleashed in Israel.
To keep quiet in the face of it is a sort of tolerance I think…something we must never be.
So I consider your words a good thing. You will hear no reproof from me, dear sir.
If I get to Neil’s place first, I’ll save a seat for you, GB, and all the rest who want to follow 💕
Neil mentioned this poem by Yeats. I thought those unfamiliar n with it would appreciate a chance to read it in full.
I have read it many times in the past few years, but always with a resolve to let the Lord clothe us in spiritual armor and take that beast on.
It’s a very disturbing poem, steve. I’ve read it many times as well, but never has it affected me as it did on this reading.
And yes…every morning we must all put our armour on, deliberately and without fail. Our lamps must be kept filled because we don’t know the day.
And having done those two thing, listen for the sound of the Trumpet. God is with us.
Fire, with crackle
I have that on my tv right now:-):-):-)
Candles burning,twinkle lights,haha,,
no darkness for me!
Thank you, Me. Lovely and restful and very, very thoughtful 😘
That’s zen.
🥰Sundance: You also are not alone.
Beautifully said words from Sundance and Neil Oliver
Thank you.
Fellowship is so important. 🥲😍
Despite being a rainy Sat, drove to RI for a birthday dinner with family. Enjoyed the truly stunning leaf changes, had an absolutely incredible Italian meal, and for dessert, a college hockey game. Despite all of the negativity in the world, if I look sideways, front-ways, and back-ways, today I see and experience true happiness.
The little things…they add up.
A family birthday party, incredible Italian food AND a college hockey game?
You’re living right my friend!
Truth be told, it’s for my birthday, and, our team won!
I am blessed.
As a hospice doctor, I observe that when people approach the river Jordan — what matters is relationship time. Human connection. That is what has meaning, that s what people crave.
If our purpose is to reflect the glory and majesty of our Creator — it is done on the tapestry of relationships — reflecting His Love, His mercy, His grace — that comes to us through the trials of our own lives — giving us a stronger hope, and strength to share with others.
We are the salt of the Earth. We cannot control other human beings, but we can influence them by being purposeful in the way we cultivate our relationships. We cannot let the world and its evil take away our saltiness.
Genetically, we are wired to have a father and a mother, be in a family, hopefully several generations deep still interacting. Without human interaction, premature babies die, spirits atrophy. Look how quickly the world became cold when they attempted to force the world into “social isolation”.
The hottest crucibles that refine our character are the relationships that mean the most to us: Parent/child, marriage, church. The greatest gifts and experiences come to us in those same relationships.
Many called by their loving desire to serve in healthcare are having the life sucked out of them with medical industries demands for documentation, computerization, quality measures — making it impossible for us to show the love we intended to give with our skills and compassion. Patient care is getting poorer and poorer, those who see and touch and hear the patients we trained to serve find ourselves slowly dying in isolation from our families and patients. We in health care must take a stand to preserve our ability to show real care, and to advocate for what our patients really need.
Every system that reliably fosters growth of character: healthy families, true spiritual fellowships, recovery groups, sports teams, professional guilds, systems for producing warriors (such as NavySEALs), or that produce Olympic champions — are successful to the degree that the focus on the same common essential universal ingredients:
Mentorship, (let the older teach the younger), submission, humility, seeking excellence, competing for daily progress within ourselves, shared wisdom, distilled timeless wisdom and methods, discipline and discipleship.
A search of the Bible for all the verses that say “one another”: study with one another, teach one another; sing and encourage one another; meet with one another frequent; submit to one another; restore one another without passing judgement; build one another up.
Ghandi, Jesus, Martin Luther, Martin Luther King, Mother Theresa, Corrie Ten Boom — it wasn’t so much their teaching and their words/writings that changed the world, as it was their relationships. The founders of this country had relationships with each other that produced conversations that then produced documents and speeches — based on their humble pursuit of truth in their passions.
It is comforting to me that though we deal with processes on the world stage, his solution for us never loses its emphasis on being the best we can be, living our best life, cultivating our local relationships. Neil Oliver, even in facing the darkest things happening in this world — focuses on our fellowship. “Come sit beside me”.
What a beautiful comment, CountryDoc. You are a blessing to those who are lucky enough to come under your care, despite the cold and mechanical data driven constraints holding your compassion back.
I left my work in medicine when I saw the writing on the wall. Humanity is not important to the corporate and pharma masters of medicine.
Amen brother.
My book club was just discussing Corrie ten Boom last evening!
And I’m blessed that every individual in the club recognizes this same need.
Retired Magistrate here: My husband and I went to a barn sale today. We went last year and I purchased a beautiful 4 ft. tall gold angel that I decorate according to the season; purchased her for $20! Saw the owner today and I reminded him about the angel. He was happy that I was so pleased. Purchased several other nice items today at the same sale. Everyone was having a good time, the prices were cheap and it was a lovely fall day here in Central Ohio.
Then we went grocery shopping. Said “hi” to the people that work there and they responded with a smile. A gentleman looked like he needed help finding something so I asked if I could help. He wanted to know if I worked there; I said no, just wanted to help. He smiled and thanked me. The whole day has been like that.
Fellowship is where you find it. Don’t isolate yourself. There are people who are just craving a little kindness; you can provide that.
So true. I routinely say hello or Good Morning to strangers passing by in a parking lot. Everyone answers in kind. Today, I was at the Kroger bottle return, feeding empty cans into the machine. It’s the most boring task in the world. I asked the other person in the cans area if she was rooting for MI or MSU in the football game tonight. She had an Obama-signed 2012 hat on. She was nice and pleasant and wished me a nice day.
when checking out look the person that hands you change or charge receipt in the eye and thank them for showing up for work or ask their first name if they don’t have a name tag. been doing for a bit, its uplifting to all.
Nothing like a smile and a thank you. Every job is important. Every person is made in the image of God, no matter how much they stray.
I have been collecting Angels for 45 years. I must have 200 now in all sizes.
I had a near death experience when I was 7 years old. Saw the bright white light and heard comforting voices. I saw a big hand reach out to me and a voice said “Take my hand ” and as I was reaching I heard my name and I woke up in bed. I had drowned and was unconscious for over 10 hours.
It wasn’t until I was in my 20’s that I understood what had happened to me and I knew that God did not want me yet and that he had sent Angels to help me recover and bless me through my life.
I know God is real because I saw him walking towards me as I was reaching for the hand. He and his strength have been with me all these years. My collection of Angels comfort me during difficult times and I admire their beauty every day.
Imagine the fellowship of our founding fathers and and our ancestors who fought in the revolutionary war to claim our independence. We must stick together for divided we are conquered. MAGA and God Bless America!
Mrs. Monkee & I went apple and pumpkin picking today! Free hayrides too. We’re cooking up some yummy applesauce now. Farmers are harvesting golden corn. Area homesteaders are busy with their free-range chickens. Huge mounds of packed silage at most dairy farms. Cheers from fall colors S.E. Wisconsin!!
I love the smell of silage, a treasured memory from childhood, spending lots of time on my Grandparents’ farm. Corn is my fave, but any kind will do.
My wife and I spent a wonderful day with our 5y/o grandson. Took him to an exotic animal rehabilitator in the area having a grand opening. We then went out to lunch and then to get him a cool toy with which, he and I have spent several hours laughing and playing with all over the house. These are the Best days!!! Peace be with you!!
God bless, Neil Oliver. His wisdom and understanding of the human condition is greatly appreciated at my home across “the Pond” from his. We need to remember to pray and to give thanks to God for these trying times. In these times people really do show themselves. We have friends and neighbors to appreciate.
We went to a wedding for my nephew up in the NC mountains recently. The joy and promise of their beautiful union was a blessing to all who attended. Don’t forget joy. Don’t forget friendship. Don’t forget family. These are the gems found in the desert of wicked times.
God bless our brothers in the UK and God bless our MAGA brothers and sisters here. Show us the way, dear Lord. Let us stand together. Let us kneel together. Let us remember love and freedom. “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” so sayeth Paul from 1 Corinthians.
I really wish I had your ability to cut through the noise and the meaningless chatter, getting to the core of any issue. Not sure where I would be without the CTH shining much needed light, politically, even more so spiritually.
Thank You .
Matthew 5-7.
I’ve been calling myself a conservative for decades, but I’ve always known that at my core I am a Jeffersonian liberal: “We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights…”
Been binging the Prime TV series Bosch based upon the books by Michael Connelly. It’s about an LA police detective who grew up rough. Referring to the lost, the forgotten, the dead hooker, or the drug addict, his recurring assessment is “everyone matters, or nobody does.”
I resist despair by going out and interacting with someone, anyone. Showing someone a small act of kindness lights up the day. We ALL matter.
Thanks for this post.
Fellowship.
Yesterday I called a dear friend and asked to meet for lunch today at our favorite luncheon restaurant. We spent the usual 2.5 hours chatting about so many things. The topics arise and are endless. I even kidded her about having voted for Biden and she finally agreed he’s terrible and President Trump’s policies were good. I assured her that the D’s lied to their constituents just like the Rs. We’ve all been taken to the cleaners. To that, she said, “Swamp.”
We touched on Israel. She’s a Christian, born/raised in Sweden who married an Ethiopian, Christian pastor. She conveyed this beautiful story. They live in what she described as a Jewish neighborhood and she and her husband went to their Jewish neighbor and said: “We stand with Israel”. I start to cry.
Can you imagine what the Jewish neighbor must have thought and felt when his Christian Ethiopian paster & Christian wife said: “We stand with Israel?”
Fellowship.
That same friend & I met when she was in my Bible study ten years ago. After that study, our friendship blossomed through the past ten years and we now serve together in the same worldwide Bible study ministry.
We Fellowship a lot.
Once a month the Bible study has a Fellowship. This Monday will be the first one for this year’s study.
Many group leaders, myself included, often say that we are blessed more by the group discussions and Fellowships than the group members will ever, ever know.
Phil 2:1-2 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
The Greek word for Fellowship occurs in the New Testament 20 times.
G2842
κοινωνία
koinōnia
koy-nohn-ee’-ah
From G2844; partnership, that is, (literally) participation, or (social) intercourse, or (pecuniary) benefaction: – (to) communicate (-ation), communion, (contri-), distribution, fellowship.
The Old Testament Hebrew word for fellowship or similar words is below.
sôd
sode
From H3245; a session, that is, company of persons (in close deliberation); by implication intimacy, consultation, a secret: – assembly, counsel, inward, secret (counsel).
Total KJV occurrences: 21
Pro_3:32 For the devious are an abomination to the LORD; But N1He is intimate(H5475) with the upright.
Fellowship was of utmost importance in God’s Word.
It is exemplary that you and your friend have maintained your friendship in spite of political differences. I have discovered who my real friends are: in spite of political differences, we maintain respect and admiration for each other.
I give my friend all the credit for that. After my initial shock, we never spoke of it again or alluded to anything, until the last 2xs we had lunch. Now it’s behind us. Her upbringing in Sweden was socialist really. I grasped why she voted as she did in spite of her genius IQ and multiple master’s degrees.
Bottom line though, we both cared about our friendship and faith more than politics. We still can about what’s going on, but she & I have seen more clearly about all of it since 1.21.2021. We were both lied to. It’s all a facade.
Love this, CountryDoc! Timely for me personally, since I’ve recently been posting photos I’ve taken of Pooh Corner over on GAB. 🙂 It can be quite a challenge to enter another realm like that with my camera, but sometimes the lighting is just right.
This was a birthday card I got from my family years ago. Still have it. No truer message.
Spending our 35-wedding anniversary at Cape May, NJ on October 23, and also celebrating my husband’s 91st birthday in a few weeks. All is good, God is good.
He’s alive
Congratulations, NJ girl and spouse! May God bless and keep you in His love.
Many good wishes and congratulations on 35 years and to your young husband as he celebrates 91! God is indeed good.
Actually just ran into a cute little boy with his father out in the woods on the nature trail today. He started asking questions about wild animals out in the woods so I told him that yes, in fact a bear had been spotted in a nearby National Park this year but it wasn’t in this particular park so he was safe … and that if he was lucky he might see the deer on the side of the road that I spotted on the way into the park. His father thanked me for having the patience to talk to his inquisitive child (who may have had high-functioning autism) … but it was no trouble at all, I only hope that child gets to make good use of his enthusiastic curiosity in life. 🙂
Am I the only one who was deeply moved by Neil Oliver’s monolog and Sundance’s comments?
Neil perfectly articulates the anguish I am currently experiencing. Sundance’s words inspire and comfort me as always.
I was hoping to find commonality with this audience based on previous experience, but so far I am disappointed
Don’t be too disappointed. We are not all the same, and every Treeper has gifts, wounds, and needs. Lately and as the election comes closer, there will be those seeking to manipulate with agendas. Most of the old timers here are seasoned with wisdom, patient, but very strong people.
Yes, Neil was a tour d’ force – highly functioning on many levels of consciousness and human need.
All of what is happening is disheartening. I come here to rally my faith that I am not alone.
You’re NEVER alone my friend!!! 😉
I know I don’t comment on them but I do read and appreciate your posts, Puzzled!
Close your eyes and slightly tilt your head back.
Take a slow, deep breath through your nose and thank God.
As you exhale, let a smile form on your face.
Remember, His Spirit is always within and His love all around. Open your heart and let it flow throughout you.
You are indeed never alone.
FELLOWSHIP ❤️❤️❤️
Spent the morning hiking in the AZ desert…have spent 5 of last 7 weekends with a variation of our group in different areas of our corner of the state. Nothing like sweat and an elevated heart rate to remind you, you’re alive! Those 1000+ ft elevation gain help a bit too, sitting 8000 ft up, nearly touching the clouds feels like you’re even closer to the Creator as you gaze at his masterpiece. Tomorrow I will serve as part of my fellowship team at church by putting on the coffee and preparing snacks 👊🏼 Then I’ll spend my week at work as a Hospice Case Manager , walking a few folks home (throw in a few early morning 5k treadmill hikes with a co-worker)🙏🏼 #liveyourbestlife
Best life indeed! God bless.
Most import part of it all… (almost forgot) is leading my daughter down the path of life and watching her faith grow as a byproduct of this example 😊
Thank you Neil! I hear you also. So sad that this is all they have to offer the masses.
Seriously. Shareable. Satire. • Genesius Times:
BREAKING: East Palestine, OH changes name to Palestine to get Biden to visit
BREAKING: Fox News unanimously declares Jeb Bush Speaker of the House
Biden urges Floridians to protect themselves from Hurricane Idalia by ‘getting vaccinated now’
NYC Schools Worry They May Not Have Enough Drag Queens And Hardcore Gay Porn To Meet Educational Needs Of Huge Influx Of Migrant Children
BREAKING: Biden includes Hamas terrorists in impressive 336,000 new jobs report
Let us remember the most important Fellowship of all.
Fellowship with the Holy Spirit
The Peace and Love of Christ our King which surpasses all understanding 🙏🏼
#onlyJESUS
🫶🏼
Because The Last Refuge is constantly exposing the Deep State, The Last Refuge is constantly under attack from Lawfare attacks, technology attacks, and troll attacks. Much of the demoralization and bickering in the comments will be from Soros-funded trolls, just looking to steal our time, drain our spirit and demoralize people.
Some Treepers will have the time and energy to push back. For me, once I recognize, what to me are, time-waster comments, I skip them. It’s a personal thing, and I don’t always recognize that I’ve been sucked in.
Live your best life!
I have given up on optimism, but remain full of hope, of which optimism is but a counterfeit. Hope is not possible apart from faith, and faith is of no value save that it finds its origin in our Lord and finds its end in Him as our Kinsman Redeemer. A continuing remembrance of His grace makes possible the expression of our hope in charity to those around us. If we are steadfast in this our duty as redeemed creatures we can be at peace with whatever God’s providence brings our way.
Amen brother! Friends and family are to be treasured, and strangers must be treated kindly until proven otherwise…We’re all in this together…
Babies are often said to have “failure to thrive” (can be fatal) when they are never held, they don’t bond with anyone, sometimes for life.
I believe there is an adult version of failing to thrive when we are never in physical touch with anyone. I have taken to accepting almost any social invitation, any opportunity to visit, if nothing else to force myself away from the internet.
God bless you! Keep connecting.
Your comment reminded me of a story which you might appreciate.
https://organicshelter.life/the-power-of-human-touch/
He MUST return.
Well done.
Really in a bad place right now but shouldn’t be as I am selling my business and my daughter is pregnant with our first grandchild but just can’t get over the bad happening right now.
Going to Church in the morning and praying for there future.
I empathize with you. Dealing with an uncertain future can be very frightening. I know that it’s not an easy time for you. Please trust in the LORD with all your heart. He has a plan for you. Remember, God’s timing is very different from ours and His plan will be revealed to you in His time. Please be patient and “let go, let God”. Please stay in touch with us here at The Treehouse.
re run nite, adult beverage, listening to dead, dogs bumping up for a rub or two, fire tonite chilly, reading CTH, Mrs Buckwheat with a glass of red making a bithday cake for grandsons 4th. its a monster truck cake… lol. most epic saturday.
Watched my granddaughter’s high school regional volleyball game with family.
Everyone seems to be licking their wounds and crying for sense to be made of this evil, even in this video, “I hear you..join with me..” You can’t make sense of evil. And reading the comments here of ..”going on vacation to cope..live my best life..enjoying the sunset with my family”… blah ..blah..blah!! Wake up people. This is a Spiritual battle and it must be seen as that. The enemy wants you to be emotional and to “logically” figure out how to deal with this EVIL. Here it is. “For by Him were all things created..in heaven…and in earth, visible and invisible, whether… thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.” Col 1: 16-17 And He (God) wins..
Let’s look at this another way. You think the left are so batshirt crazy due to the lack of genuine fellowship? I do. The left is so sub-divided into grievance molecules that one set of molecules can’t relate to any other. Hence, lefties yell, pout, pierce and mutilate themselves, dye their hair unnatural colors, carry their own flag and have imaginary genders and persecutors. The left is a perpetually angry, unhappy and uncivilized bunch despite pretending otherwise.
I’m dang happy as I am. I ignore loonies and will not accept their pronouns or fantasy gender identities. None of us has to accept any of their nonsense. There are far more happy people than there are lefties. We’re happy to accept the reawakened back into civil society. Or they can stay as they are. Their choice, as they like to say.
Fellowship tomorrow will be a Celebration of Life for a long time (40 years) friend who finally succumbed to metastatic cancer. She donated her body to a local medical school, indicative of love of humanity.
I am increasingly convinced that the answer to the predicament we find ourselves in is a general strike if DJT is not restored to office in 2025.
I think that fantasies of armed revolution are unrealistic and perhaps counterproductive; though such an enterprise could prevail, it would provide the pretext for martial law that, sadly, a majority of the Constitutionally illiterate population of the USA would support whole-heartedly.
The preparations to make in advance are to establish as much independence from the state as possible, including food production, heating, water, medical supplies, and banking. Get your house in order, get your health in order, and be ready to withdraw your financial support from the state when the time comes. Don’t let your kids go into the military, if you can help it. Get a garden started, expand the garden you have. Seek access to water that doesn’t come from a state sponsored utility. Get training in first aid, first responder medical care, canning, food preservation, etc., etc. You can’t resist the state if you are 40 pounds overweight and they are holding your type 2 diabetes drugs hostage for your allegiance.
I intend to vote for Trump even if he is not on the ballot or even if he is not alive in 2024 (I don’t think they will hesitate if he looks likely to win). They have to see that millions of Americans will not participate in an illegitimate republic.
I ran a half marathon in a very liberal community with a flag headband and greeted everyone with a good morning or great job and a smile.
Thank you Sundance for the encouragement. Doing our best here with the people around us. Just wrote this last week, maybe it’ll encourage someone:
Love your neighbor. Really?
Yes, you. Check it out. I met Eddie Brown in 2022 after a community event, helping him load leftover food into the back of his car. I didn’t expect our short conversation to really get my attention. What a story though. Eddie and his wife Allison founded Giving Words, a nonprofit in Central Virginia that helps single mothers overcome crisis events such as car repairs. The cool thing is this model can be replicated. And they help alot of single moms. My mom was single several times in my childhood. He could have been helping us during a time of need. Listen to this thankful mom: “I want to give a huge thank you and appreciation to the Giving Words, special thanks to Eddie and Allison for helping me at a desperate time of need in fixing my car. Being a single mother and just starting a full time job, being homeless, broke and having no way to get my car working properly and passing inspection by the end of the month, a miracle happened thanks to Giving Words.”
Eddie and I talked about how helping others can really be powerful and he shared some of life story. He came from a life of brokenness. His path toward something more meaningful than anything he’d ever done had been paved with his heartbreak of losing his marriage, losing custody of his children and living a life of addiction and isolation. We connected. Brokenness, infants in foster care and passion to do something big. All things that lead to or come from loving a neighbor.
Today, he runs Giving Words, networking with local auto repair shops to find help getting cars repaired for single moms who need help. Though I had seen the principle of loving others, Eddie’s was another example how helping people in difficult situations benefits the giver way more than the person receiving the gift. Our conversation was his gift to me that otherwise dull and overcast day. But listen to him articulate the why of his story, why he is so passionate about his mission: “Reared by compassionate parents and mentored by selfless neighbors like a local foster mother who cared for drug-addicted babies, I realized before adulthood that I should actively care for the most vulnerable.”
Do you see the maturity and vision he gained being mentored in that way? There was a connection with his mentoring neighbor this boy had that money can’t buy and it brings up how important mentorship is. But what created the environment for something like this to happen to him? Eddie grew up with compassionate parents and a selfless neighbor who simply valued and cared for little people like the least of these who could not help themselves. And she didn’t do it for any reason other than they cared. She loved her neighbor, her neighbor being babies in foster care and the boy Eddie. This is the kind of community and culture I want my kids to grow up in, to be mentored in. It’s rich like dark and vibrant soil, full of nutrients and invisible goodness. It beckons the question, what kind of amazing thing is going to grow from it?
Loving my neighbor? I don’t do it well or all the time. Wisdom from my wife and best friend is this: “it’s better to err and repair than to never have erred at all.” Boundaries are healthy and important with people who are in an unloving place. For example, I called my bank and spoke with Erica. Erica had a bad cold and I asked how she was doing. “I’m doing okay,” she said. Later she tells me she’s a single mom, moved from El Paso to be near her sister and attends a church near her. I said “I met my wife at a church when she was a single mom.” This cheers her up, “Oh, I hope that will happen for me!” I reply, “It sounds like you’re in the right place, going to that church and your sister nearby.” We had a great conversation. Our call ended and my wife said that Erica was better for having talked with me. You may do it sometimes already, or rarely. But you can do it.
Today, reach outside your comfort zone bubble and, with good intention, spark up a conversation with someone you meet or talk with. It might come easily or not and it might not be easy or take practice but you have a lot to contribute! Fall down, get up, dust yourself off. Try and love your neighbor again. It never gets old and you never know where it might go. Yes, you.
For more on Eddie Brown and Giving Words https://checkyourgame.com/life-stories/eddie-brown-2/
Our church is really emphasizing core groups in the home. My wife and I have been leading one for several years. Friends, family and neighbors are all invited.
I’m expressing fellowship by handing over a flash drive to a young Chin refugee I’ve mentored for the past 16 years. She is now a young mother with her own business.
It was a compilation of all the things we did or endured , Christmas cookies ,her church solos, teenage misteps, life’s recipe of sweet and bitter.
Right now we are looking at the bitter ingredients of life.We would prefer to avoid that.
Sweet fellowship comes where ever we encounter genuine humanity .
It’s the dehumanizing mindset that is so destructive and precedes violence and contempt.
Thats why fellowship is the antidote.
God knows, so he said “love
One another”
You’re NOT alone.
FEAR NOT.
You’ve GOT…
GOD.