#threatened

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (2026)

Donald Trump Jr’s 1789 Capital investment firm made a major investment in a rare earth mineral company called Vulcan Elements months before it received $620 million in the largest loan in Pentagon history from DOD and  $50 million from Commerce.

This was at the same time Trump Sr. was threatening to blow up our NATO alliance and invade Greenland, where Vulcan has significant rare earth interests.  

Whumpril 2025 - Day 2 - Lies

I got the most backhanded “compliment” from someone the other day.

She told me that she grew up in a non-denominational church. One that’s on its way to becoming a mega-church.

She told me that she doesn’t go much anymore. If ever. She told me why.

After the death of her father, she started struggling with her faith. So she started asking questions. And was basically told to sit down and shut up.

The “compliment?” After finding out that I was a practicing Catholic and an ordained deacon, she said, “I wish I had your blind faith.”

The subtext being (from her experience of church), “you must be an unquestioning idiot to still buy into to all that stuff.”

It’s a toxic view to have about the Faith. One that far too many Christians (of all stripes, including Catholics) are guilty of fostering. One that’s simply not Christian.

But you can’t blame her for seeing things that way. That perspective was taught to her by the people who blew it when they responded to her.

Because asking questions should never get you shut down. Or worse.

Responses like that don’t serve God. Because they don’t come from God. Responses like that come from the Enemy.

God isn’t threatened by our questions. Or our doubts.

How do I know this? Try today’s Gospel, the Annunciation.

Where the angel tells Mary that she will conceive and give birth to a son. And Mary (like any sane person) asks “How’s that gonna work?”

The angel doesn’t shoot back with “How dare you!” Or “Shut up!” Or “Never mind, we’ll find someone who doesn’t ask questions.”

Instead, the messenger of God answers Mary’s question.

It’s okay to ask questions. It’s okay to struggle with the Faith.

Some of the greatest moments of personal and spiritual growth only come through that struggle.

Remember, it’s Baptism. Not brainwashing.

God isn’t threatened by our questions. Or our doubts.

The Recruit s02e01: “Are you gonna try to kill me again?”

+bonus:

Lost 1x08

Jack and Sayid interrogate Sawyer, falsely accusing him of hording someone's medicine.