Drinking the blood of living livestock, as a routine part of their diet is as close to this as I've found in our contemporary world.

This is still done in some African tribes today.

https://africafreak.com/maasai-people

"Africa is home to an abundance of magnificent tribes that are rich in culture, ethnicity, and brimming with history. African tribes have individual senses of traditions and customs, which make every tribe unlike another.

Africa has seen a great deal of progression in the former two millennia, however, the influence African tribes possess is insurmountable.

The Maasai are a well-known Nilotic ethnic group native to East Africa. Traditionally, they are semi-nomadic cattle and goat herders, with a current population of between one and two million individuals.

Based on the Maasai’s Nilotic language and unwritten history, the consensus is that they originated in South Sudan. Specifically, their roots are in the lower Nile Valley, somewhere near the border with northwestern Kenya.

The traditional Maasai diet consists primarily of blood, milk, fat, and meat from their cattle, as well as honey and tree bark. They would drink both fresh and curdled milk regularly and use it to make butter.

Meat is a less common affair, as the Maasai measure a man’s wealth in terms of how many cattle he owns, not how many he eats.

Blood, which they obtain through a non-lethal cut in the cow’s jugular, is for special occasions. They drink it raw and mixed with milk, boil it, and use it in cooking."

https://guardian.ng/life/the-bodi-tribe-where-men-drink-blood-and-milk/

"Ethiopia is a land of many cultures that have been preserved despite western civilization. Along the Lower Omo valley river in Southern Ethiopia resides one of these kinds: the Bodi Tribe. The Bodi people are neighbours to the Mursi Tribe. The Bodi people are agriculturalists who still engage in trade by barter system.

These pastoral people revere their cows. Their cows are so special to them that its fresh blood together with fresh milk is a source of food for this people. Rather than kill the cows, they make a hole in one of its veins to get the blood out and close it back with clay.

These animals are also used in certain ceremonies. Among the ceremonies is the peculiar new year celebration.

At the start of each year [the month of June in the Gregorian calendar], they hold a “Ka’el ceremony” (ceremony of fat men) to mark the new year celebrations. The Ka’el ceremony is a competition for men who are not married which involves drinking the blood mixture. The 14 clans present a man who is single and they deem fit for the competition. Those who are contesting prepare for six months.

There is a procedure for drinking the first bowl of 2 litres at sunrise while the rest is taken all day."

https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/CGG/ID/1290/The-144000.htm

What the Bible says about The 144,000

The 144,000 have very special qualities; Revelation 7 and 14 mention them as highly favored of God. They:

Are sealed by an angel of God
Are specially selected from the tribes of Israel
Stand on Mount Zion with "a Lamb"
Have the Father's name written on their foreheads
Sing a new song no one else can sing
Are redeemed from the earth
Are called "virgins"
Are not defiled with women (false churches)
Are considered the firstfruits of God's harvest
Are guileless and without fault

The bride of Christ is also exactly 144,000. Revelation 21:2 describes the bride as "the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God." At this point, she has risen to meet Jesus Christ, married Him and is coming back to rule on the earth with Him (Revelation 5:10). She will always be with Him from this time on (I Thessalonians 4:17). This occurs at the last trumpet (I Corinthians 15:50-52), the time of the resurrection of the "dead in Christ" along with those who are "alive and remain." (I Thessalonians 4:16-17)

Revelation 21 goes on to describe the bride further, beginning in verse 9: "Then one of the seven angels . . . talked with me, saying, 'Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb's wife.'" The angel refers to her as "the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God" (verse 10).

He then describes her dimensions: Her wall is pierced by twelve gates—each a great pearl—having the names of the twelve tribes of Israel inscribed on them and twelve angels at them (verses 12, 21). Her twelve foundations, adorned with precious stones, are each named after the twelve apostles (verses 14, 19-20). New Jerusalem is 12,000 furlongs in length, breadth and height (verse 16). Her wall measures 144 cubits (verse 17).

Twelve tribes times 12,000 each is 144,000, just as John describes the sealed servants of God in Revelation 7! Twelve and the square of twelve is New Jerusalem's description! The bride is exactly 144,000, and the firstfruits are exactly 144,000 (Revelation 14:4).


Revelation 5:9-10

The issue in the vision of Revelation 5 is finding One who is qualified to open a certain scroll that contains a listing of events that will occur beyond the present time, both before and after Christ's return. The issue is resolved because Christ, the Lamb, is qualified to open it because of what He has already accomplished. He is our Redeemer and thus qualified. His qualification sets an example for us to follow in our Christian lives.

Verse 10 concerns us most. It helps to know that the term “kings and priests” is better translated as “kingdom of priests,” as numerous modern translations render it. Christ has appointed the redeemed (verse 9) as a kingdom of priests to serve our God and to bear a measure of rulership (“we shall reign on the earth”). They are appointed to a responsibility by Christ because they, like Him, have been prepared to render these services in God's behalf.

Beyond the priestly functions, rulership is clearly in view for the redeemed. Christ will appoint only those already prepared for these positions. Both rulership and priestly functions contain shepherding responsibilities. A priest is an individual especially consecrated to the service of a deity as a mediator between the deity and his worshippers.

Note two passages of Scripture that confirm what we are being prepared for:

» You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. . . . But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (I Peter 2:5, 9)

» They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. These are the ones who were not defiled with women (false religion), for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. (Revelation 14:3-4)

Both of these future positions help us focus on what we are to do within our calling now before the events of Revelation 5 and 14 occur. We must prepare to lead in the Kingdom of God. The world's approach to salvation focuses almost exclusively on being saved by confessing Jesus Christ as Savior. As important as that is, it pays little attention to any other purpose and responsibility attached to it.

However, this period prior to our ultimate admission into the Kingdom of God has a major purpose: to be prepared to continue serving God at a remarkably higher level of responsibility after Christ returns. We are being created into Jesus Christ's image, and leadership is what God is looking for in us. He does not need to see us leading vast numbers of people, but He wants to see leadership in spiritual growth as we overcome our carnal natures.

How? We are to be living sacrifices, deliberately choosing to allow ourselves to be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ through obediently following His way of life. If we lead others in this life, it is primarily by example, as we are not forcing God's way on others.

True words...

Kids are so glued to their phones these days they don't even seem to know how to interact with adults anymore. My daughter and her family when they were here would be glued to their games, we had to put the kybosh on it so we could do things.

They are coming in July and the kids (17 and 15) asked of they could shoot grandads guns, we told them of course. We also told them Kien could drive the boat, so the idea is to keep them a bit more engaged...oh, the grandson wants to try shooting some pool as well

As a teenager I experimented with marijuana (sucks), magic mushrooms (fun but not my thing), ecstasy (horrifying), and acid (idiotic)...

Coming to China I once again experimented with ecstasy (it was ridiculously cheap) and then hashish (not a fan)...

I was young and stupid... Had I ODed it would have served me right to die...

My sister was (and still is) an addict... She has ODed numerous times on cocaine and heroin... As a student in university I was called to the hospital to sign papers because she was ODing... When I suggested letting nature take its course the doctors were horrified.. As were my parents....

Needless to say, she survived and is now destroying the lives of her children.. Although her drug addict husband shares equal blame...

Once again, I was an idiot as a younger man and my death would not have been a loss... I am fortunate that I have risen above it...

I drink quite frequently... But rarely get drunk...I won't say never...It happens.. I once proved to my wife that I wasn't an addict by going sober (and quitting cigarettes) for a year.... It was not that difficult... For an individual with will power...

Am I the right person to judge a drug addict???? It doesn't matter...

We all judge...

I salute all who overcome their weakness... But I'll never shed a tear for an addict...

As for China intentionally flooding America, that's ridiculous... China executes drug dealers and smugglers.. Regardless of their nationality....

Fentanyl is a vital product for many pharmaceuticals... Don't like Mexico's shitty laws dealing with its purchase and usage??? Take it up with Mexico....

Or better yet - guard your damn border....

Oh..And educate your children in the dangers of drugs... It's not easy, I know... My mother went to prison for dealing speed as a seventeen year old... Never allowed drugs in the house or around her children... But also refused to speak to us about her experiences or the dangers... Thought keeping silent would stop us from using...


Finally..Of course there isn't anything wrong with adults drinking alcohol... As long as they can control it... I come from a family of alcoholics...Some held the bottle, others let the bottle hold them...