D.J. Gorena

This is a question that I’ve been asking for quite sometime. It says on the box of masks that I have (and any other packages of masks that I’ve seen) that they don’t stop any bacteria or virus from entering into the mouth or nose. So are they really necessary?

I guess they’re necessary for a couple of reasons. First, if you’re not wearing a mask nowadays you may be shamed by others that are known as “Karens.” While this is a derogatory term, the reality is that there are people who are so afraid of others not wearing masks that they’ll attack them verbally and sometimes even physically. I’ve seen a number of videos on social media where people who live by fear try to force those who don’t to live the same way they live: masked up.

The second reason to wear a mask is so that you don’t have your own identity. I saw on Twitter a few days ago how someone had posted that we no longer see each other’s smiles. With everyone wearing masks, we begin to lose the community that we once had by being able to see the facial expressions of those with whom we are speaking or seeing. Frankly, people look despondent nowadays wearing their masks; not everyone, of course as this is a generality. There seems to be a darkness, a depression all over the place. Maybe it’s because people are no longer getting the amount of oxygen they need to be able to think clearly because we’re all wearing masks. Of course there are those who do wear masks that are stylish which may be construed as individualistic, but, again, they look like everyone else: saddened eyes, and you can’t tell if they’re smiling or not.

Although I wear masks, I don’t like them. I already have difficulty breathing from prior pneumonia and annual bronchitis. I wear masks, however, because I’m required to if I eat out or go into a store.

But the inconsistencies of COVID-19 restrictions are absolutely ridiculous! For instance, I received notification at my office from a department of health that someone who has COVID-19 had been in our building as it was reported to them by a doctor. When I called and inquired who that person was, the health official said that due to HIPPA laws they couldn’t tell me. So I asked, “Why then did you send an Excel spreadsheet for us to fill out with others in our organization that contract COVID-19?” Her reply, “Because we have a right to do that.” To my chagrin, I reiterated what she said about HIPPA laws and she proceeded to tell me that her spreadsheet was not in violation. However, I told her that I was supposed to list the name of the infected person, which doctor they visited and were diagnosed by, their symptoms, their comorbidities, and some other personal information. I told the health representative that I wouldn’t share any information with them because if HIPPA laws that I would be breaking and also told her that they were asking people to break the law. She proceeded to tell me that they needed help in investigating hotspots for COVID-19. My response? “I’m not responsible to do the job of the health department and investigate anything for them!”

So you may be wondering why I would be so adamant about not helping the health department; I get it. I wouldn’t because when pointing out that we walk into restaurants wearing masks and immediately take them off at our tables, we can be infected because COVID-19 is supposedly airborne. It’s inconsistent because we see sporting events being played without masks. It’s inconsistent because hand sanitizer is inefficient because for it to really sterilize your hands you shouldn’t touch anything for at least five minutes. It’s inconsistent that our children who are under the age of ten are required to wear masks but are allowed to touch everything in the schools they attend where other snot-nosed kids have wiped their noses and haven’t allowed the hand sanitizer to take effect. It’s inconsistent when so many other diseases are now being recorded due to constant mask wearing. It’s inconsistent because so many people are now facing mental disorders due to the constant barrage of news media and others claiming that it will help stop the spread when the packaging of the masks say that it doesn’t stop viruses from entering into the nose or mouth of the person wearing said masks.

As I write this I’m sitting in a restaurant watching what’s happening around me. The hostess is telling people to put their masks on as they’re walking out of the restaurant as if that will stop the spread while at the same time standing less than six feet away speaking to en elderly couple that’s not wearing their masks because they’re seated waiting to eat. Yes, the hostess is wearing a mask, but that doesn’t stop the virus from entering or exiting the mask and she may well be infecting the older couple or they her.

So are masks necessary? Are they really necessary when you see the likes of Dr. Fauci not wearing a mask at a ballgame? Are they really necessary when you see the likes of Speaker Pelosi getting her hair done while not wearing a mask? Are they really necessary when you see broadcasters not wearing a mask? Are they really necessary when you see sports players not wearing masks? Are they really necessary when you see the White House press Corp not wearing masks inside the press briefing room until they’re on camera?

UPDATE: Please understand that I’m merely asking whether or not masks are necessary. After a discussion with a friend, they pointed out that masks along with the other protocols are actually effective; it’s not the masks alone, but also washing of hands and social distancing. I AGREE WITH THIS observation. My main point was merely to point out what appears to be inconsistencies with what we currently know about COVID-19.

Another thing my friend asked me was this: “Have you had bronchitis or the flu like you’ve had in past years?” The answer is “no.” He more than anyone has helped me understand that the protocols have helped keep us from getting sick. Now I still have allergies, but they’re not as bad as they have been.

Thanks, Danny, for helping me to see this from a different view!!

Do masks really help? The box on the masks that I have bought say that they don’t keep any viruses from entering into my system just because I’m wearing a mask. And rest assured, I’m wearing it properly: over the nose and mouth.

What about the CV19 vaccine? Am I supposed to really have hope in a vaccine about which the Centers for Disease Control and Protection says: “It typically takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity after vaccination. That means it’s possible a person could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after vaccination and get sick. This is because the vaccine has not had enough time to provide protection?” Granted, it always takes any where from 1-3 weeks for a vaccine to take root in one’s body, but this doesn’t offer any hope since according to the media we ought to be deathly afraid of this disease–even though we’ve sheltered in place, worn masks, kept our distance from others, stayed away from crowds (except when we going shopping, or going to work daily, or meeting in homes with friends and family, or doing other things except church!).

And what about our politicians? Wow! I guess they expect us to be thankful when they take a vaccine shot on national television or they claim they’re waiting to get the vaccination for COVID-19 until all the grandmas and grandpas in the country have their shot first. Well, quite frankly, we can’t even trust the repbulicans any more than we can the democrats! At this point we are witnessing a one-party system with two names voting on what they think is right for the American people instead of actually representing us and letting us make our own decisions! And by the way, when a politician says in the news media that “Americans are saying” this or that, don’t buy into their lies! I’ve never said the majority of what politicans have said “Americans are saying” or “Americans are wanting” this or that. In fact, I generally disagree with what they are claiming because, again, we no longer have a representative government in the United States.

And what about socialism? Is it really worth having it? There is not a socialist nation in this world that has ever faired well for the people of those nations (no need to argue with me on this point; I still won’t buy what you’re selling!).

Well, let’s think about how far this nation has come over the years of its existence. The first President borrowed money from the Rothschilds in order to wage war against England to become an independant nation. Just about every President since our founding has garnered more and more debt for our country. Now we have governmental leaders claiming socialism is the answer to all of our problems–or so it would seem. Do you remember our history (oh yeah! we aren’t taught these things any longer!)? Are you aware that this type of progressive ideology infiltrated America when Teddy Roosevelt was President? Do you remember that it was Franklin D. Roosevelt that brought in social security (a socialist program) into the fabric of our country? Do you remember that it was Prescott Bush, George H.W. Bush’s dad, who helped to fund the Nazi war machine in World War 2? Do you remember that it was Lyndon B. Johnson who brought in medicare into the fabric of our nation? Are you aware that it has been since George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald J. Trump that we have increased the number of surveillance mechanisms and covert operations against Americans since their Presidencies? And what about good old Donald J. Trump? He’s spent as much money if not more than other Presidents by not paying down the debt (to whom are we indebted, who really knows at this point?)? Socialism is killing this nation just like it has every other nation.

So who are we really supposed to believe nowadays? Fauci? Trump? Biden? Pelosi? What about the preachers that are spewing out their social/racial/climate justice mantra nowadays? Or seminarians who are spewing out their critical race theory and intersectionality views? To whom shall we go? Our neighbors whom we don’t even know because of the fences and imaginary walls we’ve built around our homes?

The only clear answer to whom we should go–and whom I am going–is not anyone but God Himself–to Jesus Christ! Read what Jesus Christ says in Matthew 24-25 (and take your time reading these two chapters; if you can watch a four hour football game, certainly you can read what He says!!):

^24:1 Now as Jesus was going out of the temple courts and walking away, his disciples came to show him the temple buildings. ^24:2 And he said to them, “Do you see all these things? I tell you the truth, not one stone will be left on another. All will be torn down!”

^24:3 As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” ^24:4 Jesus answered them, “Watch out that no one misleads you. ^24:5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many. ^24:6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Make sure that you are not alarmed, for this must happen, but the end is still to come. ^24:7 For nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ^24:8 All these things are the beginning of birth pains. 

^24:9 “Then they will hand you over to be persecuted and will kill you. You will be hated by all the nations because of my name. ^24:10 Then many will be led into sin, and they will betray one another and hate one another. ^24:11 And many false prophets will appear and deceive many, ^24:12 and because lawlessness will increase so much, the love of many will grow cold. ^24:13 But the person who endures to the end will be saved. ^24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole inhabited earth as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. 

^24:15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation—spoken about by Daniel the prophet—standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), ^24:16 then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. ^24:17 The one on the roof must not come down to take anything out of his house, ^24:18 and the one in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. ^24:19 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! ^24:20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. ^24:21 For then there will be great suffering unlike anything that has happened from the beginning of the world until now, or ever will happen. ^24:22 And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. ^24:23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe him. ^24:24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. ^24:25 Remember, I have told you ahead of time. ^24:26 So then, if someone says to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe him. ^24:27 For just like the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. ^24:28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

^24:29 “Immediately after the suffering of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven will be shaken. ^24:30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man arriving on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. ^24:31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet blast, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 

^24:32 “Learn this parable from the fig tree: Whenever its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. ^24:33 So also you, when you see all these things, know that he is near, right at the door. ^24:34 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. ^24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 

^24:36 “But as for that day and hour no one knows it—not even the angels in heaven—except the Father alone. ^24:37 For just like the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. ^24:38 For in those days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark. ^24:39 And they knew nothing until the flood came and took them all away. It will be the same at the coming of the Son of Man. ^24:40 Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one left. ^24:41 There will be two women grinding grain with a mill; one will be taken and one left. 

^24:42 “Therefore stay alert, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. ^24:43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have been alert and would not have let his house be broken into. ^24:44 Therefore you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. 

^24:45 “Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their food at the proper time? ^24:46 Blessed is that slave whom the master finds at work when he comes. ^24:47 I tell you the truth, the master will put him in charge of all his possessions. ^24:48 But if that evil slave should say to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ ^24:49 and he begins to beat his fellow slaves and to eat and drink with drunkards, ^24:50 then the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not foresee, ^24:51 and will cut him in two, and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 

^25:1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ^25:2 Five of the virgins were foolish, and five were wise. ^25:3 When the foolish ones took their lamps, they did not take extra olive oil with them. ^25:4 But the wise ones took flasks of olive oil with their lamps. ^25:5 When the bridegroom was delayed a long time, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. ^25:6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is here! Come out to meet him.’ ^25:7 Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. ^25:8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ ^25:9 ‘No,’ they replied. ‘There won’t be enough for you and for us. Go instead to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ ^25:10 But while they had gone to buy it, the bridegroom arrived, and those who were ready went inside with him to the wedding banquet. Then the door was shut. ^25:11 Later, the other virgins came too, saying, ‘Lord, lord! Let us in!’ ^25:12 But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I do not know you!’ ^25:13 Therefore stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour. 

^25:14 “For it is like a man going on a journey, who summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them. ^25:15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. ^25:16 The one who had received five talents went off right away and put his money to work and gained five more. ^25:17 In the same way, the one who had two gained two more. ^25:18 But the one who had received one talent went out and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money in it. ^25:19 After a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled his accounts with them. ^25:20 The one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, saying, ‘Sir, you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ ^25:21 His master answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful in a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’ ^25:22 The one with the two talents also came and said, ‘Sir, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more.’ ^25:23 His master answered, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master.’ ^25:24 Then the one who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Sir, I knew that you were a hard man, harvesting where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed, ^25:25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’ ^25:26 But his master answered, ‘Evil and lazy slave! So you knew that I harvest where I didn’t sow and gather where I didn’t scatter? ^25:27 Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received my money back with interest! ^25:28 Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten. ^25:29 For the one who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. ^25:30 And throw that worthless slave into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 

^25:31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. ^25:32 All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ^25:33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. ^25:34 Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ^25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ^25:36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ ^25:37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ^25:38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you? ^25:39 When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ ^25:40 And the king will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.’ 

^25:41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels! ^25:42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. ^25:43 I was a stranger and you did not receive me as a guest, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ ^25:44 Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not give you whatever you needed?’ ^25:45 Then he will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.’ ^25:46 And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” 

(Biblical Studies Press, The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (Biblical Studies Press, 2005), Mt 24:1–25:46.)

I would rather believe what Jesus Christ says knowing that He’s the same all of the time (Hebrews 13:8) and especially because I know without doubt that what He says is true. Now whether you agree with this post or not, it doesn’t affect me either way. I know what I believe and why I believe it. I would encourage you to turn to Jesus Christ with whatever you believe and see if it matches with who He is and what He says. If it doesn’t, then you might want to rethink what you believe because one of these days, again, whether you believe it or not, there will be reckoning for our lives after we pass away from this life.

So how can you know Jesus Christ? You can watch this and it will show you how you can have a free gift for life in Jesus Christ!