Every time I sell a print. Every time an article of mine is published. Every time a photograph is published and/or makes a cover of a magazine. It is all God. Always has been.
I was blessed to sell another print of mine on Fine Art America. A buyer from Grand Coteau, LA liked it enough to either purchase a print for their own walls or give it as a gift to another. Either way, I was blessed by it.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” ~ James 1:17
Back in November, 2022, my LLC’s business email was sent an email (from my own email address) stating my website and email systems have been hacked and if I don’t pay thousands in Bitcoins to a provided link they would “systematically go through a series of steps to totally damage your reputation.“
Retro-grained image of using a computer mouse – Image by Lincoln Rogers, 2023
Well, I am old school, so I figured there was at least a decent chance they were bluffing my I-don’t-use-the-latest-tech-for-anything freelance business. When I did not comply and instead reported the email to the federal Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), I didn’t hear anything further from the so-called “hackers.” Side question – does CISA even do anything for the average American citizen or is it just another bloated bureaucracy only in existence to advance a bloated bureaucracy?But I digress…
Fast forward a couple of months and now there is a NEW “hack” attempt sending my I-don’t-use-the-latest-tech-for-anything business LLC an email and demanding payment in Bitcoins or they will expose all this salacious behavior (that I have not done) that took place on all my internet devices (of which I only have 1), and that they recorded through my internet devices’ cameras (which I shut down and block when I purchase any new devices), to all my social media accounts (of which I have virtually none). Remember me typing a couple of times that I-don’t-use-the-latest-tech-for-anything? Yeah, well… their extortion attempt depends upon someone using the latest tech online for e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g.
In other words, these “hackers” send boilerplate hack threats out like mass mailings in the hopes their generic email threats might apply to someone and then that someone will send Bitcoins to prevent themselves from being exposed by “hackers” who don’t actually have anything to expose. I waded through the source code of the email they sent — which they spoofed into looking like my own email so that it would appear they actually did hack into my business accounts — and discovered the IP address led back to some person named Maxwell Mendes Oliveira who lives in Brazil. Is it that even a real person? Unsure, but I dug up and found an email for this alleged “Maxwell” in Brazil and replied with a firm no, along with encouraging him (her/they/it) with these words…
“Do better. Live your life with purpose and not just to take advantage of others. There is a God and He cares about your life. Search for Him and you will find Him. John 3:16 – ‘For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.'”
Will those words make any difference? I don’t know, but God does know and He promised in Isaiah 55:11 “So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
Hope you all are doing well and have avoided the headaches of any so-called hackers.
Less than two weeks ago, the young fiancé of a neighbor’s son was found unresponsive in the morning and had to be rushed to the hospital to recover. They had just become engaged the night before.
Yesterday, an extremely close friend that is older nearly passed away from a serious kidney infection before responding well to treatment in the hospital. She was doing great just a few days earlier.
And now tonight, my wife and I watched a 24-year-old NFL football player collapse and become lifeless on the field on live tv. He is in peak physical condition in the prime of his life.
Lincoln Rogers’ stock image of an antique pocket watch on LightStock.com
My wife and I talked while the medical efforts were being performed on football player Damar Hamlin, who we are praying for, along with his family and friends. We hope he will be all right. These reminders of the frailty of life in such close succession brought to our minds a passage in the bible that is as relevant now as it was when it was written thousands of years ago.
“Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.” ~ Isaiah 55:6
Life is short — None of us are guaranteed any extra days on this world — We are all born for a purpose — There is a God who loves us and cares about us.
My prayer for 2023 is that people realize those truths.
There are all sorts of things to make you go “Hmmmm…” these days. While it is appropriate to look at those, explore them, and be vigilant against the harm occurring in our world, life is also meant to be enjoyed. God created us to have peace and joy in a faith-filled relationship with Him. Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” ~ John 10:10
In the spirit of enjoying life, I thought I would share this extremely fun music video from a South African musician who calls himself The Kiffness. Time to sit back and smile for a few minutes…
Hope you enjoyed this amusing song as much as I did!
There is no sitting on the fence for this one. It is too important.
In my opinion, the open promotion of, and the attempt to normalize, child trafficking and pedophilia have no place in a civilized society. Exploiting the most vulnerable among us for sexual gratification is a hideous evil that has no defense. That is a chained and locked no-go zone for anyone who desires to live in a world that hasn’t gone crazy.
I worked for years as a therapist for physically and sexually abused children. It is why the near-total silence from media, celebrities and politicians on the horrific child trafficking/pedophilia in the spheres of societal power and influence is utterly heartbreaking. The Balenciaga photoshoot scandal is just the tip of the iceberg. The fact that the child sexualization of the ad campaign was so open is a sad commentary on our culture. Sadder still is that most of those involved (including the “celebrities” that are paid to model and promote the brand) have not denounced the brand. Some have even openly promoted the brand after the scandal broke.
Let me be blunt. Sexualizing children only leads to one thing. Sex with children. It is the end goal, and Balenciaga seems to be promoting that very thing. That brand is not alone on this, either. Adidas was also involved with Balenciaga’s ad campaign. It does not appear to be rare or isolated, which makes this all even worse.
In my experience, keeping children safe is not only a normal human response, but it is also a deeply rooted Christian principle. Jesus Christ is quoted in the bible in THREE separate passages issuing a warning to those who involve children in sin (Matthew 18:6, Mark 9:42, Luke 17:2). Matthew’s verse states, “but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depths of the sea.” The other passages are very similar in their phrasing.
Protecting the vulnerable among us is the right and moral thing to do. It always has been. There is nothing “progressive” or “enlightened” or “loving” about sexualizing children.
Please… be a light in this dark world. Protect the vulnerable.
I had the blessing of a company approaching me this week about using one of my images for promotional and marketing purposes. It won’t be earth-shaking usage, but it is a nice-sized company and having them approach me out of the blue is pretty cool. One of the best parts about it is that I know it doesn’t happen without God sending them my way.
Why do I say that?
There is a passage in the book of Matthew, chapter 6, where Jesus is talking to people about their worries in life. You know, the universal items that can consume our thoughts. Will we have enough to eat? Will we have enough to drink? Will we have clothes to wear? Jesus told the crowd listening to Him that “… your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” (Matt. 6:32) But then He gave them the reason He was telling them not to worry.
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.” (Matthew 6:33)
Married man and woman studying the Holy Bible together at a table. Christian and faith-based stock image by Lincoln Rogers – All rights reserved.
That is why I know beyond a doubt that the people, companies, organizations, etc. that approach me out of the blue to do business have been sent my way by God. And it is one more reason I can keep working on applying another passage in the bible that says, “… for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” (Philippians 4:11)
Not easy to do these days, but it is not something I have to worry about!
I am an unashamed Christian – a follower of Jesus Christ. Despite my disappointment in how the most recent election results turned out, I will always have that “peace that passes understanding” (Philippians 4:7) of knowing the God I serve has things under control and works things out “for the good of those who love Him.” (Romans 8:28)
Does that mean I am to just give up and become a doormat against what I know the bible says is wrong? Nope. But I will continue to take encouragement from the bible to be that “light (that shines) before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
If followers of The Way don’t stand up in these days, who will? If we don’t speak out now, who will hear?
Psalm 47:2 — “For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.” Image and concept by Lincoln Rogers – All rights reserved.“You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” ~ John 8:32
You can also find Lincoln Rogers on www.lincolnrogers.com and the conservative, Pro-America social mediaplatform USA.Life I like it there!
God bless you on this remembrance and observance of Good Friday, the day Christians humbly honor the day our savior Jesus Christ sacrificed himself on a cross to be crucified and pay the penalty for the sins of the world. Now all those who have accepted Christ as their savior can say with an honest heart, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” ~ Galatians 2:20 (ESV)
The new quarterback of the NFL’s Denver Broncos echoed that sentiment today:
God bless you and I pray you have a great Resurrection Day celebration on Sunday.“You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” ~ John 8:32
You can also find Lincoln Rogers on www.lincolnrogers.com and the conservative, Pro-America social mediaplatform USA.Life I like it there!
Lincoln's Thinkin's 