In my recent blog titled: “Watching from my wall (2024/25) – an introduction” (see here) I set the scene for a project I hope to undertake from the beginning of the new year when I plan to consider a number of significant happenings in the world at this time and share my own understanding and how one might respond.

In a discussion with a friend on checking out trustworthy sources, I wrote: “”who do we trust?” is a good question. I sometimes dream of a time 30 or 40 years ago maybe when I could have my time again. I would have liked to have facilitated something whereby good, honest, enquiring people could have explored the issues of the day with the prime aim to find out and declare the truth (albeit mindful of what happens to people when they do). Sadly, MSM have let us down by lying and being led by dishonest people with their agendas and while many alternative outlets try and address this omission, they all too often fall short. Often, they look for answers in the wrong areas. I believe we live in an age of deception and one even when the very elect can be, and as we have seen have been, deceived. Meanwhile I dream on and blog for the sake of the few who may be interested and thank God when truth is set out, often from unlikely quarters”.

We are helped, and sometimes hindered, in this age of the Internet when information on a huge range of subjects, along with different people’s opinions and perspectives, can be found by a press of a button from our smart device. While I still resort to the written on paper word, most of the time when researching a subject, I check out what appears on my screen having searched the appropriate source to provide me with the information I am looking for. In order to prepare for my series on what I see watching from my proverbial wall and what it is I want to say to the few who care to listen to what I have to say, I feel it helpful to share my approach to research, mindful of my own axioms, prejudice and lack of knowledge despite “doing my own research”.  Just prior to writing this, I updated the Links page of my website (see here) in which I provide the links to the main Internet sources I draw upon when doing my research.  

Let me continue firstly by addressing the “why” question from the title with reference to the two prayers implicit in the image below. Throughout history the people of God have usually had to come to terms with the world as it was and not as it should have been. Part of that reason was to challenge the status quo would have exacted too high a price, e.g. death, given the countries of the world were more or less run by autocrats rather than democrats. Some would argue that in modern times when democracy has overtaken autocracy it is but a façade and the powers that hold sway will do what they will irrespective of one’s commitment to righteousness and truth. My lot (the Plymouth Brethren recently and the Strict Baptists latterly) were not much into community and political activism and would have gone along with the Romans 13 exhortation to submit to the powers that be (noting btw also the need to love our neighbour) with the two following prayers not at the top of the prayer lists of many.

But these are at the top of my prayer list and one of the reasons why in my twilight years one of my main priorities (if not me then who) is to be a faithful and effective watchman on the wall, taking the Children of Issachar as my role model, and why shouldn’t I given that Israel knowing how to respond to the times they were living was something God must have deemed important, just as it is regarding the Church and the times we are living in, but recognising as per the Serenity Prayer that getting the right serenity, courage and wisdom balance is important as is praying this, apt for our times, prayer.

I have come a long way since my sixth form days when I took up an inducement to subscribe to “the Times” newspaper and from my college days until relatively recently subscribed to TIME magazine as well as watching current affairs and news program on the TV. These days I do none of these things, as much because of my antipathy toward the lying Unholy Trinity that among other things control the media, and this brings me to the “how” question from the title. This is not an easy one to answer and is why in preparing my answer I revisited the “Links” page of my website – which while far from being an exhaustive list of the sources I check out in response to “why” gives several that I regularly check out in order to find out what is going on in the world. In short, I check out these on a regular basis, while studying the Bible and seeking the Lord.

We read “Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom” 2 Kings 6:12. I am not the modern day Elisha equivalent and neither do I claim to be a prophet. As for those who do, some/many are bogus and those who are the real deal only reveal a fraction of what it is I might want to know about what is going on in the world, but then again that may be as the good Lord intends it anyway. It is well to remind ourselves that our good Lord is wanting us primarily to be faithful to Him and be His representatives He can call on in a desperately needy world that often seeks solutions and adopts strategies in the wrong areas. Notwithstanding, in today’s current craziness when deception is rife, right across the board, we, and especially the people of God, do need understanding and to know how best to respond (and then do so).

Just prior to writing this article, I listened to all 1 hour 43 minutes of the video titled “The Great Awakening” (see here) which reinforced my resolve to keep watching on my wall. More than that, I realise my need to become that man of God He wants me to be, faithful in my every day dealings, and to humbly recognise there is much I won’t know for sure despite my best endeavours. But to wrap up, I end on a lightish note (above meme sent to me by a detractor friend) and on a serious but also an encouraging one (read below, which is a Psalm that puts today’s alarming happenings in a right context) for we still don’t know which of a Prince of Darkness orchestrated Great Reset or whether an Angel of Light (who is the same person – Satan) Great Awakening one will soon prevail, while in the meantime believers must wait and prepare for the coming of the Christ, who will set up His righteous, everlasting Kingdom.