A Blog for bloggers about ideas and writing

When I started with “From Guestwriters” the essence was to bring forward interesting articles I had found on the net, which I considered to be worthwhile receiving more reading views. There is so much that we can find on the Internet it is impossible for me alone to make a complete selection. Though I would already be happy if I can show here and there some grains of salt and pepper.

Daily writing prompt

What do you enjoy most about writing?

View all responses

There are many reasons why people come to write on the internet. We can find all sorts of bloggers, some more enthusiastic than others. Surprisingly, we can find lots of bloggers who do not mind putting their soul open to others. Some have explored new parts of themselves that they didn’t even know existed. They like to have some reactions to their own self-evaluations. Moreover, they can get acquainted with a beautiful community of writers who share common interests. That way, for many, blogging has been an enlightening and enriching experience.

For me it is also important to get to know what others think about certain matters. In addition to publishing my own blog posts, on my different sites, I do hope to attract with each individual site to attract people interested in the tackled subject. I, like most bloggers, do write for others to read the articles. For me, it is not simply a scribbling of words in a personal journal, even though I must admit that lately, Jetpack has been able to get me to reveal a bit more of myself on my personal Space. On that site as well as on my other sites I hope to be able to raise some more awareness about problems concerning civil liberty, poverty, environmental issues and our way of living.

When looking at the many writings that pass your eye, you’ll probably notice how some people view the world much differently than you do. This can be very enlightening as well as an eye-opener. For that reason, I also dare to place very different opinions here.

Many may love to write just stories or only about their private life. But I am more interested in the way people cope with our society, the world around them. Writing as an embodiment of all their experiences or as a yearning for imagination really can be interesting too, but it is not my cup of tea.

Our world is so paced we often can not keep tread with it. It clearly puts a lot of pressure on everyone’s life about many matters that require our attention. In that light, this site wants to shed some light on matters of life. Offering thoughts and writings from different authors, I do hope people can find some various ideas to look at the world in a different way. I hope different perspectives can be shown in the variety of writings.

JetPack bringing forward questions in their “daily prompt” has allowed several bloggers, like me, to express their thoughts, ideas, and emotions. But it also got them to look behind their own writing, visiting the blogs of fellow bloggers, coming to know other writers on their site and even coming to interact with them.

I also love the opening to ‘Civic journalism’ or citizen journalism by the many bloggers. Thanks to those writers and/or bloggers who assiduously voice their opinions and dare to denounce things, we can negate the negative impact of social media: by no longer focusing on wanting to satisfy the largest possible audience, but instead seeking to engage the audience with content that sometimes does not even make it into the newspapers, without the need to make the content more sensational and superficial.

All too often, surely, very important issues are not cited in the media these days because they fall outside the popular. We bloggers can take a stab at that and still try to bring certain topics to the fore.

I also believe that writing in itself is also a form of art, to which we should have an eye. It is interesting to see how differently people play with words and how they are able to express their thoughts and feelings, getting from scratch to something readable and interesting. It is interesting to watch them morph into meaning and substance.

Those of us who enjoy interacting with others might always be on the lookout for new blog posts from our favourite bloggers. The good thing about WordPress is that it allows, in a sort of way, the blogger to be part of a community. It is easy to follow other bloggers and to give likes, which may stimulate the blogger to continue writing and publishing that way.

Regarding the people on WordPress.com, bloggers have that special bond with each other (One needs to be a part of the WordPress community to truly understand it). {Do You Ever Get Bored Of Blogging?}

I have come to enjoy writing about many aspects, in the hope to reach some people and have them think about the matters I think are important not to forget.

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Preceding

When you think you have nothing to say or to show

Readers, likes and comments

To Blog or Not to Blog?

Asking for a Re-Blog

“Our World” Moving from Blogspot to WordPress

Our Sense of Belonging

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Additional reading

1. Newspapers: Dying or Changing
2. Blogging in the world for Jesus and his Father
3. Presenting views from different sources
4. WordPress or Jetpack

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Related

1. Do You Ever Get Bored Of Blogging?
2. Renard’s World – Do You Ever Get Bored Of Blogging?
3. Daily Prompt: What do you enjoy most about writing?
4. What I enjoy most about writing
5. The Art Itself
6. Writing is flowing the thoughts
7. Expressing myself
8. Who Am I? (Being In Your 20’s, In The 20’s)
9. Change and Repetition
10. 08.11.2023
11. A Little Glimpse Into My Inner-World
12. It just depends on how you see the world…
13. Memories Larger than Life……
14. On our way, we found you. Part 1.
15. What to write about in a personal journal (5 journal writing
16. Touring
17. Feelings
18. safety
19. Writing is a spirit that opens up my own spirit and bring out stuffs that have been packed up consciously and unconsciously.
20. The Joy of Expressing Faith: Writing as a Muslim

Before I knew the Internet

We have no idea what”bluewaffle ” might be, so one might enlighten us.

Her you might find a writing by someone who feels strongly about the internets impact on peoples individual growth. For sure the modern technology has brought forwards a total new way of living for young and old. If that would be a positive progression is an other matter. There are many very good issues, but there are also lots of people who do not use the internet for the good things it can provide.

To remember:

• before the internet = whole different world of unpredictable and imagination.

It was a time we could see a lot more children playing outdoors, but also more adults enjoying the countryside.

The blog writer

• grew up outdoors playing with toys in the dirt, making forts in nature, riding my bike everywhere in my town + adventuring from the time
• internet = illusion =  as beneficial as dangerous for people.
• I became addicted

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Preceding

Before The Net

Internet has made our job harder everybody watching

To maintain a healthy relationship with technology

A Journey of a 21st Century Native

My ancient times

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Find also to read

1. Remembering life before the internet
2. Do you remember life before the internet? Ofcuz i can remember a few.
3. A Journey Back in Time: Remembering Life Before the Internet
4. Subcutaneous power for humanity 5 Loneliness, Virtual and real friends
5. I was not there when internet did not excist yet
6. Internet absurdities
7. Changing screens
8. Be Honest
9. 15 years that changed the world
10. Mean voices on the Internet and free speech

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Related

1. My life before internet
2. Question #16
3. Life before internet…
4. Do you remember life before the internet?
5. Definitely,forever young at heart
6. The Evolution of Internet: A Journey from Pac-Man to Instant Information
7. “Life before the internet”
8. Life before internet
9. Inquisitive and Innocence
10. I admit it, I’m a social media junkie

My ancient times

As with radio and television, people have yet to get used to the internet. After a while, people stopped hanging on to wireless and went back to walking in the fresh air. In a few years, people will also get tired of all those apps and will go back to earlier pastures and seek that lost human contact again….

 

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Preceding

Before The Net

Internet has made our job harder everybody watching

To maintain a healthy relationship with technology

A Journey of a 21st Century Native

++

Find also to read

1. Remembering life before the internet
2. Do you remember life before the internet? Ofcuz i can remember a few.
3. A Journey Back in Time: Remembering Life Before the Internet
4. Subcutaneous power for humanity 5 Loneliness, Virtual and real friends
5. I was not there when internet did not excist yet
6. Internet absurdities
7. Changing screens
8. Be Honest
9. 15 years that changed the world
10. Mean voices on the Internet and free speech

+++

Related

1. My life before internet
2. Question #16
3. Life before internet…
4. Do you remember life before the internet?
5. Definitely,forever young at heart
6. The Evolution of Internet: A Journey from Pac-Man to Instant Information
7. “Life before the internet”
8. Life before internet
9. Inquisitive and Innocence
10. I admit it, I’m a social media junkie

a black woman's tales

Do you remember life before the internet?

I can’t remember life before the internet but I can remember the internet without me.

Growing up in a community where it was regarded abominable for a child to hold a phone certainly left the internet no choice but to make due without my presence. I still remember it like it was yesterday.

“Go out and play,” my dad would say after a long morning of chores and heavy lunch when the sun was at it’s highest. We would run out to play “kwepena” and skipping rope as my brothers could be seen at a distance playing ‘dool.’

I remember days that didn’t start with notifications from different socials fighting for my attention but rather a full day planned out with friends and family that never required airtime or data just to say hi.

I miss the days before one’s self esteem had…

View original post 97 more words

A Journey of a 21st Century Native

To remember

• pre-internet quality of silence >> moments of solitude + deep reflection > world felt less noisy
• Exploration and Discovery > fueling a hunger for learning => encyclopedias for research => spending hours at the library +  embracing the tactile experience of flipping through pages.
• face-to-face interactions and handwritten letters
• shared experiences + genuine connections
• early 2000s = the internet = still a novelty, a mystical entity > slowly crept into our lives.
• internet opened doors to vast knowledge, global connectivity, & boundless possibilities.

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Preceding

Before The Net

Internet has made our job harder everybody watching

To maintain a healthy relationship with technology

++

Find also to read

1. Remembering life before the internet
2. Do you remember life before the internet? Ofcuz i can remember a few.
3. A Journey Back in Time: Remembering Life Before the Internet
4. Subcutaneous power for humanity 5 Loneliness, Virtual and real friends
5. I was not there when internet did not excist yet
6. Internet absurdities
7. Changing screens

+++

Related

1. My life before internet
2. Question #16
3. Life before internet…
4. Do you remember life before the internet?
5. Definitely,forever young at heart
6. The Evolution of Internet: A Journey from Pac-Man to Instant Information
7. “Life before the internet”
8. Life before internet
9. Inquisitive and Innocence
10. I admit it, I’m a social media junkie

Salvin Sawyerr

Do you remember life before the internet?

Introduction:

As I sit here, pondering the question, “Do you remember life before the internet?” I find myself feeling torn between two worlds. Born in the early 21st century, I straddle the divide between a generation that witnessed the dawn of the internet and a time when it was merely a vague concept, a distant promise of interconnectedness. Join me on a journey as I explore what it means to be someone who witnessed the transformative power of the internet, and yet can recall a time when it didn’t dominate every aspect of our lives.

The Early Days:

Growing up in the early 2000s, the internet was still a novelty, a mystical entity that slowly crept into our lives. My childhood memories are filled with dial-up tones, patiently waiting for the modem to connect, and the excitement of finally hearing, “You’ve got mail!”…

View original post 418 more words

Before The Net

Before the internet, people might not have so much opportunity to find information about matters, they took an effort to get more information. Now it can enter each house, not many are looking for real serious information.

Before the internet, people also took enough time to have serious conversations. Now many are more interested in what appears on their small screen instead of socialising or making contact with living human beings present around them.

 

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Preceding

Internet has made our job harder everybody watching

To maintain a healthy relationship with technology

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Find also to read

1. Remembering life before the internet
2. Do you remember life before the internet? Ofcuz i can remember a few.
3. A Journey Back in Time: Remembering Life Before the Internet
4. Subcutaneous power for humanity 5 Loneliness, Virtual and real friends
5. I was not there when internet did not excist yet
6. Internet absurdities
7. Changing screens

Maria Michaela Poetry

Do you remember life before the internet?

It seemed time was slower before the internet

People took time to look up, look around and be present

Face to face conversations were common

Photos where taken and developed

While also developing real connections

It wasn’t all peachy and sunny

But it seemed life was simpler then

© Maria Michaela

View original post

To maintain a healthy relationship with technology

Today, lots of youngsters are glued with their faces onto the little screen of their smartphones.

Daily writing prompt

Do you remember life before the internet?

View all responses

 

Since the introduction of the personal computer ways are opened to all sorts of knowledge. One could say that is a very good thing. And it would be if people would properly make use of it. But instead of going to dig in all the available material, a majority used the internet to share ridiculous messages and little film with absurd content.

Instead of making full use of the numerous advantages of Internet, the majority of people, mostly youngsters, decided to give it another role than the education role. Now many uses it for entertainment and just good fun. For them, it is not important to find a healthy balance between the virtual and real worlds.

… the internet has facilitated the sharing and dissemination of information on an unprecedented scale, providing access to a vast array of resources that have contributed significantly to education, commerce, and entertainment. The internet has transformed how we learn, collaborate, and develop, making it an indispensable tool for personal growth and development. {The Internet Age: Reflecting on Life Before and Its Impact on Society}

Looking around us, on the street, we see several internet addicts hanging on their phones. It is clear to see that they cannot live without that little connection device where they subscribe to multiple social media.

Some decades ago you could find children playing outdoors, but now they are gone out the parks, or in case you find them there, they are sitting on the grass, they pluck at that little screen all the time without paying attention to what is happening outside them. Nobody climbs trees anymore.

Previously people left their houses to socialise, but now they make contact with the PC, iPad, tablet or smartphone and have forgotten the quality time of real-life gatherings. Meeting new people or making advantages was an adventure. Paper for letters or cards where the connection tools.

Tinder in real life was a piece of paper

When there was someone you were interested in, in order to ask them out, you needed to either pluck up the courage to ask them out in person, or else pass them a piece of paper with three boxes: check yes, no, or maybe. {How was life before internet}

But the internet not only facilitated searching and making contacts, it also became a sort of weapon for many.

Internet is both a boon and bane depending on its usage. It is similar to a weapon which if used properly could save lives but if dealt with carelessness then could lead to destruction of masses.

Geniuswords {Internet: A weapon of modern world}

In today’s warfare, we also see how internet technology has found its way to do great damage and a lot of killing without using many people, with unmanned flying bombs (with drones).

The internet seems to have become a tinderbox where the biggest lies take the crown and where a lot of people seek pleasure in slandering others or in all kinds of cartoons or lewd videos.

The internet may be cracking our world wide open, but in its relatively nascent state, most people haven’t yet found their ways to effectively police what goes on in the cyber community. New ways to distract and distort teenage minds are invented online every day.

Many get carried away by influencers or popular figures, without seriously considering for themselves what these guys actually preach.

People’s thinking these days stays on the surface of things, more than it did a few centuries ago. The present young generation does not bother much about far away places and does not bother to penetrate very deeply into things.  They do not see how thinner the concepts are – and on the surface of things all concepts are thin and abstract – the better these concepts seem to provide arguments for what people want to believe and accept from completely different substrates, from very unconscious substrates, from feelings, from wills and the like.

Instead of making it an indispensable tool for personal growth and development, many use the internet more for their pleasure and entertainment.

Not many do take steps to maintain a healthy relationship with technology and prevent it from dominating their lives. For most of the younger population, everything turns around their little internet tool. Lots of people have still to become aware that by consciously incorporating offline experiences, nurturing real-life relationships, and embracing digital literacy, they can ensure that the internet remains a tool for empowerment rather than a detriment to our social fabric.

As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of the internet, it is essential to reflect on the lessons learned from life before its omnipresence. Encouraging young individuals to engage in offline activities, emphasising the importance of genuine human connections, and teaching digital literacy and responsible internet usage can shape a better future. By harnessing the benefits of the internet while preserving the essence of authentic human experiences, we can foster a socially connected society, emotionally intelligent and capable of responsibly navigating the digital realm. {The Internet Age: Reflecting on Life Before and Its Impact on Society}

Let us not forget:

Through a harmonious integration of the virtual and the physical, we can build a better future that combines the benefits of technology with the inherent value of genuine human interactions. {The Internet Age: Reflecting on Life Before and Its Impact on Society}

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Preceding

Internet has made our job harder everybody watching

Americans their stars, pretension, God, Allah and end of times signs #3 Cyberwars and prophesy

Fake News Goes Back to the Garden of Eden says Pope Francis I

Confrontation by people telling lies to force others to avoid the targetted groups

We should all be writing

“Our World” Moving from Blogspot to WordPress

Messages from a distance not belonging to the past

From the old box: Free Speech, but Not for All?

Available information for the youngsters and readers of my websites

Blogging into the New Year

To Blog or Not to Blog?

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Additional reading

1. Remembering life before the internet
2. Internet absurdities
3. Changing screens
4. Subcutaneous power for humanity 5 Loneliness, Virtual and real friends
5. 2015 Technology and development
6. A trillion words
7. Do you remember life before the internet? Ofcuz i can remember a few.
8. I was not there when internet did not excist yet
9. A Journey Back in Time: Remembering Life Before the Internet
10. Did the internet fueled a heightened sense of unrest among people?
11. 2014 Social contacts
12. Looking for Free Blogs and blogging
13. Be Honest
14. 15 years that changed the world
15. Manipulated content on social media
16. Mean voices on the Internet and free speech (Our World) = Mean voices on the Internet and free speech (Some View on the World)
17. Undermining security and democracy via the Internet
18. News that’s fit to print
19. The First Great Information War 
20. Politics in our Digital Age
21. Living in this world and viewing it
22. The hourglass of this world
23. Internet and practice of religion
24. Church at home – Sunday Sofa Service
25. Division, diversity, unity and connection
26. Being in isolation #4 Man’s greediness, slackness, internet, friends and social contacts
27. Words to push and pull
28. Voor- en nadelen van internetspiritualiteit

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Related

1. Life Before Internet
2. I remember my life without internet.
3. Precious and Innocent Times
4. Life Before The Wifi…
5. before web surfing times.
6. Do you remember life before the internet?
7. Internet: A weapon of modern world
8. Simple Life
9. How was life before internet
10. Inquisitive and Innocence….
11. WDP — One Simple Joy
12. Question #16
13. I admit it, I’m a social media junkie
14. Definitely,forever young at heart
15. Reader Is Dead, But What About Writers?
16. Cyberbullying on Social Media
17. When Bloggers Get Angry
18. Will Twitter Ever Crash And Burn?
19. Geeks for Privacy: Play Color Cipher and Visual Cryptography
20. Hack for Change #hackforchange
21. We Don’t Need No Thought Control

To Blog or Not to Blog?

Many people have lots of desires to belong to a community and to share ideas, whilst they are feeling part of a group where they are accepted, and their thoughts are appreciated.

On the net we can find a girl with the name Lola, who looks at what a blog is and questions to blog or not to blog.

She considers the word “blog” to be the short form for the word weblog, referring to an informal website or an informal discussion on discrete topics and written in a conversational way. But the latter is certainly not true of most blogs, which over the years have evolved to present a wider range of topics with extensive descriptions or detailed discussions.

She requests:

Let’s compare a blog to a diary. The blog site is the book and the entries in the diary are the posts. In the diary we write our personal encounters – family, social activities and travel experiences. We also write our thoughts and opinions on certain situations and events in this book. {What is a Blog?}

One may love to write, but that does not one want to write on the net. The old-fashioned diary was always for private writing and reading, but now the internet has offered a place for many to write their own thoughts, readable by millions of people.

Some like the writer of the reblogged article look at a blog being it like a diary.

But while a diary is kept private, a blog is shared either with a small group of readers or published in the World Wide Web. {What is a Blog?}

She also thinks Blogs are displayed in reverse chronological order, but that should not always be so. The owner of the blog may decide to place the oldest blog on top or have them ordered by category.  But we agree that the majority chooses for the most practical and easiest way for being updated with the writings, meaning the most recent entry showing on the top of the blog page in one or more columns vertically downwards or with pictures horizontally per three or more. Furthermore

Aside from pictures, a blog’s content may also contains videos and scanned copies of offline documents. {What is a Blog?}

Some may find immense gratification in writing down something, which they know shall be read by several people. They do not mind if they do not know all those readers, though they do hope several of their friends will be some of their readers. It is for those friends, and acquaintances that many go behind the keyboard to let words roll over the screen.

For some, at first, there is that obstacle that wants to limit them and keep them on the “unknown” side of town. Some keep their blog private, while others (the majority) publish them on the World Wide Web, where we are overloaded with millions of texts luring for our attention.

Zillions of reiterations of topics could make people not want to blog at all. At first, there were the many message and fora platforms that caught the pen of many, but where not so many ‘full articles’ could be found. With the greater accessibility and dissemination of internet possibilities, more people could also find their way to that internet and felt stimulated to interpret their say there too.

In the last few years, we also can find more journalistic webblogs where journalists, historians and several blog writers have joined hands to bring truthful journalism or bringing the news of events of the day from a particular angle. Our blog Some View on the World wants to bring such an up-date of what happened in our world, providing the newsfacts as well as extra commentaries.

With the vast abundance of material to borrow on the internet, it is so what that one can no longer see the forest for the trees, and that one drowns in the swirling water mass of copious text material seeking our attention on all sides.

There are loads of articles out there, which may bring up that question:

 Why should I blog about it? Why would readers want to read mine?

Because is it not that when we write something on the net, we also want someone to read what we have written?

In any case, to start blogging, it is best to plan in advance which direction you want to go. Will it be a personal blog, or will it rather be a blog where you want to sell something or put forward a clear opinion?

It is nice that everyone can find a type of blog to his or her liking. There are political, religious, travel, historical, archaeological, cultural and so many other blogs, allowing us to tap from an infinitely full wine barrel.

To remember further

• blogging industry = millions of bloggers
• wanting to share ideas, opinions + experiences with other people
• wanting to maintain communication with others => we blog.
• writing blogs requires a lot of communication skills = to be good in grammar & punctuations, word usage & spelling, formats + a lot of creativity.
• Receiving comments from readers = rewarding experience.
• to blog or not to blog > depends on your desire + determination to learn + excel in this endeavour

 

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Preceding

Blogging into the New Year

“Our World” Moving from Blogspot to WordPress

Asking for a Re-Blog

When you think you have nothing to say or to show

Readers, likes and comments

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Additional reading

1. Wagner the NAR and new wineskins
2. Traditional News Turns into The Journalism We Know Now
3. Presenting views from different sources
4. What do we know about the future of journalism?
5. Hello world!
6. A convinced voice to debunk false allegations
7. A busy 2017 #3 Fake, gossip and real news
8. WordPress appears to have fallen off its best horse
9. A Classic Editor versus Block Editor
10. From old times and sites to new linkings
11. Five years on WordPress
12. From MSN Groups and MSN Spaces via Multiply to Blogspot now transferring to WordPress
13. In case Blogger goes further with her new interface
14. Blogger seems too slow to be practical
15. Our World on Blogger coming to its end
16. “Our World” Moving from Blogspot to WordPress
17. Notification and news feed for Facebook users
18. Walking alone? (Our World) = Walking alone? (Some View on the World)
19. What loneliness is more lonely than distrust?
20. Companionship
21. Presenting views from different sources
22. Newspapers: Dying or Changing
23. Pleased to find Christadelphian World on the net
24. 2010 – 2014 in review
25. First blog post
26. My World…
27. Blogging in the world for Jesus and his Father
28. Immanuel’s first two years of blogging on WordPress
29. If no one died because of War – how different would worlds appear to be
30. 💬 Misquotation Pandemic and Disinformation Polemic: 🧠 Mind Pollution by Viral Falsity 🦠

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Related

1. WordPress on Linux Servers
2. Why I will be writing a blog, and why you should too.
3. To blog or not to blog? (Asha Seth)
4. To blog or not to blog (Miss A.J. My thoughts exactly)
5. 5 fun facts to celebrate 100 years of broadcasting
6. Glasgow community newsroom shows how local news can return to the UK high street
7. Journalism and Mass Communication Syllabus
8. Journalism On The Front Lines In Ukraine
9. Causality Journalism: Can Academics Help?
10. Beyond The Labels
11. For Whom Do You Write?
12. Overwrought Reflection about Blogging “Anonymously” & a PSA
13. If You Don’t Post a Bloated Reflection on Writing, Are You Even a Blogger?
14. A Goal on the Horizon
15. My 2022 Year in Books
16. What kind of blog reader are you?
17. This Little Light o’ Mine
18. Devising a social media strategy – a step by step guide
19. The Potpourri of Blogging Comments
20. Draft Queen
21. No Way Home
22. 4 things that helped me make affirmations work for me
23. Carol Anne asks
24. An Ode to Courage
25. 2022 Wrap Up | 2022 Favourites and 2023 Goals
26. A Fresh Start
27. The Mystery of January
28. The Column: Read all about it!
29. A Brave New Year
30. Happy New Years
31. My New Year’s Resolutions 2023
32. How strong are your resolutions as we face a Brave New Year?
33. Daily Blog #412: It’s been weeks (Part Two) Weird Dreams, Manifestations/Goals, New Years Blog
34. As Horrific As Lord Of The Flies
35. guest posting is super OK
36. December wrap-up!
37. The Morning After
38. 3 Reminders for the New Year
39. About Those New Year’s Resolutions …
40. A random memory
41. Happy New Year!
42. Share Your World 2nd January: my response
43. Share Your Blog 2023
44. Author Journey (January 2, 2023)
45. Confusion Rant- Not my best Post, a break from PVX
46. My first collaborative project !

The Lola Talks

Photo by LinkedIn Sales Solutions on Unsplash

To blog or not to blog? That is the question.

Every now and then we find ourselves wanting to share ideas, opinions and experiences with other people. Furthermore, we also want to maintain communication with our clients and customers online. For this reason, we blog.

Receiving comments from readers on our blogs is a rewarding experience. More so when the number of readers and loyal site visitors increase. It’s like being compensated for the hard work we have put into writing our posts.

But writing blogs requires a lot of communication skills. We need to be good in grammar and punctuations, word usage and spelling, formats and a lot of creativity.

We have to remember that in the blogging industry, there are not only a few but millions of bloggers. Thus, we really need to write our materials exceptionally well to stand…

View original post 65 more words

Blogging into the New Year

Blogging into the New Year, in a certain way as bloggers we might feel connected with other bloggers from all over the world. Its the magic of the internet that catches us.

How many bloggers are not on the internet willing to shine a light, not wanting to hide, hoping to bring some nice reading and some positive vibes to others, somewhere in the world. Some target a specific public, others do not mind sharing their diary with the world. Whatever reason they blog, is that what they write would be read by ‘some one’.

Janie Leeds writes

I happen to think that there’s a teensy bit of fear in all of us from time to time that squelches our ability to shine our heartlights and I’m choosing to figure out how to allow my heartlight to shine without fear! {This Little Light o’ Mine}

Many therefore just let the words roll over the screen, without fear. Perhaps they too think like J. Leeds that

we have to build our confidence and find someone trustworthy to shine with when we feel that desire to shine and to brilliantly explode our special brand of light into the universe. {This Little Light o’ Mine}

Though many might feel

It’s scary when we choose to be our authentic selves without fear. It’s being vulnerable which sometimes makes people feel uncomfortable. {This Little Light o’ Mine}

We always can wonder why or for whom those bloggers write. For themself? For their community/friends? For the world at large?

Judgy Young Pessimist or Jewish Young(-ish) Professional has the same question as us on her lips:

Maybe we write for different people at different times or maybe we write for all of them. {For Whom Do You Write?}

New Year’s Day finds one reflecting on some of their past resolutions and their outcomes. Bloggers might then perhaps think about what they wrote in the past year or how many blogposts they managed to create.

Lots of bloggers shall express and live by the hope that this fresh year will bring us something better than we had for the last years. So many want to forget Covid (though it is still not finished) and want to see an end to ‘that war‘ going on in Ukraine. Many bloggers leave that war in the fridge, only writing about other and hopefully also better things. Good tidings.

Let’s hope for the best and do our level best to make this year a memorable one for the people around us. Let’s resolve to spread happiness, empathy and goodness in the world. Let’s be humane and humble. {Happy New Year 2023}

writes a freelance writer who finds he is doing fine and has a lot to be thankful for, because “Allah, the Almighty” has been so kind to him. He is also aware we do not know much about the future. He thinks we can not predict the days ahead.

Can we not rid ourselves of unfounded fears? Can we not enjoy this precious MOMENT (present), instead of living in the past or worrying about the future? {Why Do We Worry About The Future? Why Don’t We Enjoy The Present Moment?}

Those who believe in God can find enough advice in the Book of books, the Bible, where the ‘bloggers’ of ancient times wrote down what we should know. In those books is enough said about times still to come, and as such do we know what to expect. Concerning those end times there are several bloggers on the net talking about how we can prepare for those times.

Many other subjects gain much more attention. Many blogging platforms are being used, but also many disappeared and bloggers had to change platforms again last year. The greatest change last year was the leaving Blogger and Blogspot by many bloggers, because those blog systems had become too slow and unworkable. This could be an asset to WordPress, but it was also discussed last year, due to its introduction of the less practical Gutenberg Block editor system.

Several bloggers let themselves be guided by prompts or requested tasks by other bloggers.

sometimes, prompts provide that inspiration for a piece that may have been ruminating,

writes JYP. We also admit some blogposts find their origin in something we notice on the net or some event that reached the news. In any case, the main reason to write such a post is for many to share something they find interesting or has something to do with their community or faith. As such, JYP for example wanted to share about Jewish community prompted by one of Fandango‘s Provocative Questions

– and it’s since become the basis for the whole pond/community/housing search tortured analogy saga. Prompts can provide both the inspiration for something I never expected to write and the necessary nudge to write something that were already ruminating. {For Whom Do You Write?}

Some bloggers like to tell the world about their very private things, whilst others prefer to stay in the anonymity or would not dare to talk about something personal. For some personal self-expression is the primary motivator for writing their blog and wanting to get an audience.

These are the posts that arguably could have been written in a private diary. These are the posts that might have less “polish” because sharing a message with an external audience isn’t the primary goal. These are the blog posts that feel less like public speaking, and more like casual conversation, or even just venting. {Blogging About Judaism: Promotional vs. Personal}

These posts are the casual conversation, maybe even the therapy sessions, of blogging – intimacy, sweats, and all. Photo by Ekaterina Bolovtsova: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-women-talking-to-each-other-4051134/

The problem with some of those blogs is that we feel more like in a café, catching up on some conversations. Others have a message they want to promote like we too have some good new to tell.

According to JYP promotional blog posts are those that:

• Have a message that the author wants to share externally. (eg. This is not a post that the author could have written in their private diary)
• Because the author wants to share this message, the post tends to have some “polish”. {Blogging About Judaism: Promotional vs. Personal}

she rightly compares this to public speaking

– the most heartfelt, sincere, genuine speaker is going to make a point of revising and editing, practicing, and putting on more professional attire/ hygiene/ grooming/ makeup etc. (vs. brain dump whilst looking disheveled) to look more presentable to an external audience so the message comes across better. {Blogging About Judaism: Promotional vs. Personal}

For her

the promotional vs. personal classification applies to all kinds of blogging {Blogging About Judaism: Promotional vs. Personal}

What we notice, looking at the Blogosphere and social media, is that lots of people want to be part of a community.

JYP thinks

the sense of community is probably the greatest strength of a well-run prompt. {For Whom Do You Write?}

In our globalising industrialist capitalist world, where there are so many people walking around, most people are just lost in the mass. Several people hope to escape their loneliness, but on the internet, they also find such an empty space. By blogging they do hope to have some reactions by which they would not feel so on their own. By writing a blog they want to break the silence and their loneliness.

Look, the internet is a big, lonely place. Blogging helps build community. Prompts can create a sense of community rituals and norms. It’s been fascinating to see the way bloggers will show up for each other, even within the simple forum of a prompt response. And it’s incredible to see how a prompt “ritual” goes beyond that, like when fellow bloggers share sad news with other prompt participants who respond with tributes and memories. {For Whom Do You Write?}

It is by such reactions the blogger may feel his or her work is appreciated and worthwhile doing. Responses on blogs also may trigger curiosity to go and look at that blogger his pages. If answers are given to a blog post, those comments may prompt the blogger to check his or her blog with that responding person. In this way, an exchange of ideas can arise among certain people who eventually become part of a small or larger group of regularly exchanging people.

To be clear, I think blogging without prompts can build community as well. But if you imagine the blog world as a religious community (bear with me), while you absolutely can and should socialize with fellow congregants outside of regularly scheduled services, some members will really appreciate the regular weekly meeting times to connect with their fellow congregants. {For Whom Do You Write?}

writes JYP. As such we can find bloggers who make it a custom to publish every week on a certain day an article. They even go to apologize when they did not. Or certain bloggers want to see for every day another sort of blog, be it a poetry day, haiku day, tanka day, garden day, short story day, thriller day, relaxation or meditation day  …. Some even want to have days for an amount of words.

We may not forget

Not all of our followers will care about everything we say. And even in blogging where we create more community through prompts, not all of our fellow prompt participants are going to be interested in our other writings. {For Whom Do You Write?}

Another aspect we may not forget or overlook

The reality is that almost none of us will become famous or make any real money from blogging, so you might as well write for yourself in addition to whomever else you’re writing for.

If, in the course of blogging and responding to prompts, you don’t feel like you’re writing for yourself, it might be a sign to take a step back and figure out how to incorporate prompts in a way that feels more authentic to you. {For Whom Do You Write?}

In our busy world, we have limited time to do certain things for ourselves, like reading. On the net there is so much to read, it is impossible to read everything or to follow every blog full-time. Even when we are following a blog or others are following our blog, we can not expect that they read every blog, and certainly not that they notice or look at every blog on the day it is written.

we’re not necessarily interested in every post that another blogger writes. {For Whom Do You Write?}

It is logical that everyone has their own preferences for certain subjects and will look for interesting literature in this area. In that respect, it is not bad that the internet offers such a variety of subjects so that everyone can find something to their own liking.

We from our site are happy you came to read this post, and honestly do hope you’ll have also got a taste for reading here a bit more than just this article.

Welcome to From Guestwriters in 2023, and hope to see you more.

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Preceding

Asking for a Re-Blog

When you think you have nothing to say or to show

Readers, likes and comments

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Additional reading

1. WordPress appears to have fallen off its best horse
2. A Classic Editor versus Block Editor
3. From old times and sites to new linkings
4. Five years on WordPress
5. From MSN Groups and MSN Spaces via Multiply to Blogspot now transferring to WordPress
6. In case Blogger goes further with her new interface
7. Blogger seems too slow to be practical
8. Our World on Blogger coming to its end
9. “Our World” Moving from Blogspot to WordPress
10. Walking alone? (Our World) = Walking alone? (Some View on the World)
11. What loneliness is more lonely than distrust?
12. Companionship
13. Presenting views from different sources
14. Newspapers: Dying or Changing
15. Pleased to find Christadelphian World on the net
16. 2010 – 2014 in review
17. First blog post
18. My World…
19. Blogging in the world for Jesus and his Father
20. Immanuel’s first two years of blogging on WordPress
21. If no one died because of War – how different would worlds appear to be

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Related

1. WordPress on Linux Servers
2. Why I will be writing a blog, and why you should too.
3. To blog or not to blog? (Asha Seth)
4. To Blog or Not to Blog? (The Lolatalks)
5. To blog or not to blog (Miss A.J. My thoughts exactly)
6. My 2022 Year in Books
7. What kind of blog reader are you?
8. This Little Light o’ Mine
9. The Potpourri of Blogging Comments
10. Draft Queen
11. No Way Home
12. 4 things that helped me make affirmations work for me
13. Carol Anne asks
14. An Ode to Courage
15. 2022 Wrap Up | 2022 Favourites and 2023 Goals
16. A Fresh Start
17. A Brave New Year
18. Happy New Years
19. My New Year’s Resolutions 2023
20. Daily Blog #412: It’s been weeks (Part Two) Weird Dreams, Manifestations/Goals, New Years Blog
21. As Horrific As Lord Of The Flies
22. guest posting is super OK
23. December wrap-up!
24. The Morning After
25. 3 Reminders for the New Year
26. About Those New Year’s Resolutions …
27. A random memory
28. Happy New Year!
29. Share Your World 2nd January: my response
30. Share Your Blog 2023
31. Author Journey (January 2, 2023)
32. Confusion Rant- Not my best Post, a break from PVX
33. My first collaborative project !

Available information for the youngsters and readers of my websites

John Humphrys does feel a sense of guilt that his parents scrimped to pay a weekly shilling to the Encyclopaedia Britannica door-to-door salesman so that they as kids would always have the world’s knowledge at our fingertips. He says:

What a noble intent. What a waste of money it seems today.

Though I also twice got the full encyclopedia version and for a long tim bought the additional yearbooks. Now I still do pay my yearly subscription, so did and still do support the Encyclopeadia Britannica, so that I can search for truthful information. Once the kids were on their own legs they did not seem interested to search in the books, or on the internet version, because they found other sources on the internet in which most of the youngsters put their faith. For some of them, they do forget that it is people, like me, who are offering our knowledge for free on that internet, but are also not all masters in different subjects.

The volumes of the Encyclopædia Britannica. The Macropædia is the set of volumes 13 to 29, with single colour spines.

What bothers me most about those searches on the internet is that not all search machines bring the ‘searchers’ to the right answers. The Britannica is there also at fault, Not bringing people to their full articles on a certain subject. I must say, often my searches in the Micropaedia and Macropaedia deliver much better answers than the ones on the net.

The 17-volume Macropædia is the third part of the Encyclopædia Britannica; the other two parts are the 12-volume Micropædia and the 1-volume Propædia, intended as a compendium and topical organisation which is an interesting guide to self-study.

The last edition of the print Britannica was published in 2010, and today it provides only the electronic version. I am happy that I have still the printed versions next to the two main electronic versions I can do my research with. I find it important that people should be able to find out more about certain subjects, and for that reason, I still try to include further links in the articles presented on my various websites. I do hope people would use them to find out more about certain subjects. I am happy to see that until now certain links are clicked.

From the old box: Free Speech, but Not for All?

Free Speech, but Not for All?

By Ted Gup

Just over a century ago, the president of a distinguished college barred the suffragette and human-rights activist Jane Addams from speaking on campus, and suspended a student named Inez Milholland for organizing others in support of women’s rights. Milholland would go on to become influential in the women’s movement, and the college president, James Monroe Taylor, would become yet another example of an overly protective and historically myopic educator. He believed that women should be “not leaders, but good wives and mothers” — the prevailing view of the day.

Ulrich Baer cites the philosopher Jean-François Lyotard, who “shifted attention away from the content of free speech to the way certain topics restrict speech as a public good.

Some topics, such as claims that some human beings are by definition inferior to others, or illegal or unworthy of legal standing, are not open to debate because such people cannot debate them on the same terms.”

…

Baer suggests that denying controversial speakers a forum still leaves them with the internet, disregarding that the internet also provides a powerful forum for groups whose voices were long suppressed. The internet and social media have removed many of the barriers to entry and provided accessibility to even the most splintered and historically marginalized of groups. To ignore this or to suggest otherwise is to infantilize such groups or imply that their messages are not competitive or compelling in the marketplace of ideas. To shield minorities from such speech is to disrespect them and assign them a fragility that many would not welcome.

“To protest free speech in the name of protecting women is dangerous and wrong,”

said Betty Friedan.

..
Abolitionists, gay and lesbian people, civil-rights activists, feminists, and others on the cutting edge of social change were all, in their day, barred from one university podium or another. Educators argued that their remarks might cause a disturbance, might undermine moral teachings, discomfort students, and offend the wider community.

…

Baer suggests that the free-speech argument is overly simplistic and static

“The parameters of public speech must be continually redrawn to accommodate those who previously had no standing,”

he says. Yet the idea of an organic and flexible standard of free speech, appealing as it may be, would strip it of the consistency that is the bulwark that stands between all controversial speakers and the despots who would silence them. It is not difficult in some far-left and far-right schemes to imagine the likes of Professor Baer himself being silenced. And his advocacy of a dynamic line between protected and unprotected speech grants a license to those in power to smother dissent of all sorts, particularly that of minorities and outliers.

The absolutist approach to free speech, to be sure, has its flaws. But for all its offenses, for all the broken china, for all the divisiveness and trauma it has caused, it remains the best and only instrument for insuring a free intellect and a more just society. It is not a matter of equality versus liberty, but as Owen Fiss, the Yale scholar of the First Amendment and outspoken champion of free speech, has argued, equality through liberty. Fiss observes that when speech has been curtailed, it has historically been the unheard, the underrepresented, and the deprived who have paid the steepest price. The lesson then is not to turn the quest for equality into a cudgel to be wielded against those whose values or positions one does not share.

…

Free speech is the greatest single ally of social justice and, even at its most noxious and repulsive, is often a catalyst for reflection and remediation. It is easy to mistake it for a tool of repression when, in fact, it is the antidote. Racism, homophobia, xenophobia, sexism do not respond to verbal anodynes. They must be addressed at their roots. Argument, reason, confrontation, and direct exposure to the psyche of bigotry remain the best hope.

Messages from a distance not belonging to the past

Slowly we can see that the world is returning back to “normal”, though some Corona restrictions are still going, but gradually we can come together again with more people. Last Memorial Service it was still limited to baptised members only, but in the coming weeks our ecclesiae shall open their doors again to non-baptised and people from other denominations as well.

Having people again meeting us in our prayer and Biblestudy places, does not have to mean we shall reduce our writings on the net. We are convinced the internet is a very important medium to reach people.

It is important to us that we attract and retain exceptional teaching, support and operational staff and are keen to employ team members who hold the same faith and values we hold.

We always welcome writers for several of our website, in particular “From Guestwriters” and “Some View on the World“, but also for the Ecclesia site and the Brethren site “Broeders in Christus – Brethren in Christ“.

We always welcome applications from enthusiastic, innovative, expert Christadelphians who are committed to the values and ethos of our community and who understand the importance of making the Name of God to be known as well as the importance of telling the people about the Good News of the Coming Kingdom of God.

Passover 7 days of meditation opening a way to conversion

Immanuel Verbondskind looks back at the lockdown period and the impact on the small Jeshuaist community and some Jewish communities. For Jews it has even been more difficult to undergo the lockdown, because many do have no television or internet and have been in a real-time strict isolation, not being able to have worship moments with brethren and sisters.

Those times of seclusion and restriction could be called a ‘reflection time‘ or retreat, where one had enough time to think about faith and religion. On the 15th of April this year (2022) it was 14 Nisan, the evening to remember the liberation of God’s People from the enslavement in Egypt, but also to remember the gathering of Jeshua and his disciples, where at the last supper Jesus talked about the blood being shed for the liberation of all people.

In Wintertime, many Christians celebrate Christmas and have some holiday, where they also can think about the light that came in the darkness. For true Christians and for Jews, 14-22 Nisan is the most sacred period of the religious year, where is remembered how the Elohim brought to light in the dark night by passing over the houses where there was the blood of the lamb, giving the opportunity for the Jews to flee their world of slavery in Egypt.

True Christians with Jeshuaists remember also the Passover lamb Jeshua (Jesus Christ) and show their gratitude for the salvation by the Grace of God, Him accepting that ransom Jesus was willing to pay for all people.

 

Since Friday night Jeshuaists and Christadelphians, like other true Christians, since some long time of isolation because of lockdown, could at some places get together (in restricted form) and make connections with other brothers and sisters, either in place or via the internet streaming. Many, the previous time in isolation got lots of opportunities to think about the value of such a connection or ‘fraternity‘. They had enough time in the lockdown period to think about their religious affiliation, and some also about their need to go over into a conversion. Because the last few months, more signs could be seen that we are entering a new period in the Time of Ages or in God’s Plan.

Because of those “Signs of the Times” there has come a certain pressure to know what to do and which direction to go. Now many more ask themselves who shall be part of the things going to be there after the big battle or great tribullation.

Several people have wondered in those Covid times if it would not be better to become part of a community. There also have been Jews by race or non-believing and non-practising Jews, who started to change ideas about the world and its Creator. The Jews from Middle European origin also started wondering by which denomination of Jews they would best join. Those people living here in Belgium, France, Holland and Germany wonder if they would convert to Judaism, if they then would be accepted as a Jew.

Anti-Zionists often claim that Ashkenazi Jews are white imposters, fake Jews who are entirely descended from European converts to Judaism. This is completely rebutted by genetic studies which have proven a Middle Eastern patrilineal origin for Ashkenazi Jewry. However, when the Anti-Zionists make the Apartheid accusation are Jews suddenly a single racial group. The notion that Jews generally constitute a racial group is Nazi in origin and is at the core of the Anti-Jewish Apartheid libel. {Why Many Ashkenazi Jews “Look” European}

There is a long history of the racialization of Jews. There have also been religious and non-religious Jews in several countries.

Racialization of Jews have a long pedigree in the history of Anti-Semitism. Racialization of Jews was practiced in Spain against the Anusim (“Marranos”), Jews who were involuntarily converted to Christianity during the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492. Racialization of Jews in Germany became prominent already in the second half of the 19th century when religious Anti-Semitism (Anti-Judaism) was increasingly supplanted by racializing Anti-Semitism. The third phase is the current racialization of Jews by the extreme left.

Racialization of Jews is intended to paint Jews as “genetic aliens” in a certain country (e.g. Spain, Germany or Israel). Of course painting any other people as “genetic aliens” is not socially acceptable beyond Nazi circles. But Anti-Semitic opponents of Israel systematically engage in discourse to stigmatize the Jews in the land of Israel as genetic aliens despite Ashkenazim, Sephardim and Mizrahim patrilineally being very very genetically similar to Palestinians due to common historical origin, with the genetic divergence accounted for by historical conversions to Judaism and by immigration to the land of Israel from other parts of the Middle East during the Islamic era.

Ashkenazim, Sephardim and Mizrahim are more similar to each other than to any other populations and are predominantly of Middle Eastern origin in genetically confirming the historical narrative of ancient Israelite origin. The Anti-Semitic accusation according to which Ashkenazi Jews are exclusively descended from European converts to Judaism despite that part of Ashkenazi ancestry accounting only for only 30% of the Ashkenazi gene pool with the remaining 70% being Middle Eastern in origin is used by Anti-Semites such as Palestinian-American professor of Columbia University Joseph Massad to libelously paint Israeli Jews as “European colonizers” and against the scientific consensus denying that most modern Israeli Jews are Levantine returnees to Israel. The false claim that Ashkenazi Jews are “European colonizers” is in fact one of the main claims involved in the Anti-Semitic racialization of Ashkenazi Jewry. {Jews are a Nation of Color}

After the covid pandemic several feel a greater need to come to connect with one or another Jewish or Jeshuaist denomination. Having been on their own, in their own living room, with nobody else to share the faith, was too lonely. Some, who were previously connected with a shul, lost contact but also interest to go to a prayer and study house. Though others have now, even more than ever before, felt the need to be connected to other fellow believers.

This Passover is for several an essential time to consider the way how God handled His People and how, also today, He is still willing to guide them through the desert of this (non-religious) world.

Some people take time to think about separation and isolation, and look at the lessons we get from the Scrolls that teach that the priests were deliberately separated from everyone else. They even couldn’t go to family funerals, like many could not in the Corona crisis. Their job was to remain separate from the people they served, which may sound strange. But their goal was to maintain their close connection with the Most High in purity or holiness.

To remain separate at all times isn’t healthy for anyone. All over the world many learned that all too well the last two years. this year many felt a great joy they were able again to come together with some friends to do like the apostles did, following up the permanent ordinance… a celebration for all of God’s people throughout all time, remembering Passover.

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Find to read:

Times of seclusion, restriction, liberation, connection, religious affiliation and conversion

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Preceding

Measure of loneliness whilst time drags

Adar 6, Matan Torah remembering the giving of Torah

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Additional reading

1. Jewish diaspora
2. December a joyful time for many
3. Lenten Season and our minds and hearts the spiritual temple in which God seeks to live
4. Remember the day
5. Ransom for all
6. A perfect life, obedient death, and glorious resurrection
7. Redemption #4 The Passover Lamb
8. Redemption #7 Christ alive in the faithful
9. Atonement And Fellowship 8/8
10. A strange thing might happen when you come under Christ
11. Seeing or not seeing and willingness to find God
12. Falling figures for identifying Christians
13. What is happening in America to religion and to the language of faith
14. Who is a Jew?
15. Counting sands and stars
16. We Count. We Just Weren’t Counted.
17. Judaism and Jeshuaism a religion of the future
18. Great tribulation and Armageddon
19. Armageddon or the Great Tribulation
20. Ashkenazi Jews are extremely inbred

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Related

1. Passover Blessings – April 15th through 22nd, 2014
2. Proselytism
3. Jesus Became Our Passover Lamb
4. How Jews look to non-Jews – Part 1
5. Going back to shul
6. Fighting ignorance

The biggest ground offensive in Europe since World War II

Russia started its invasion of Ukraine on Thursday February 24, 2022, with airstrikes on cities and military bases. Russian troops and tanks then entered the country on three sides and reached the outskirts of the capital, Kyiv, on Friday, in the biggest ground offensive in Europe since World War II. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned other countries not to come to Ukraine’s aid, reminding the world of Russia’s nuclear weapons stockpile and threatening “consequences you have never seen.” Ukrainian leaders said their military was fighting back, and that dozens of their soldiers and hundreds of Russian troops had been killed. They said Russian forces had seized control of the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear power plant in an attack that could “cause another ecological disaster” at the site of the world’s worst nuclear meltdown. [The Associated Press, The Washington Post]

Thousands of people across Russia took to the streets but were silenced. Opposition activist Tatyana Usmanova called the invasion “a disgrace” and she asked for “forgiveness” from Ukrainians.

“We didn’t vote for those who unleashed the war,”

she said.

Despite hundreds of arrests daily, and nearly 3,000 total since the invasion began, demonstrators held signs and marched through the centres of cities from Moscow to Siberia, chanting “No to war!” in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Russia’s smaller neighbour.

It is good to hear how International businesses operating in Russia and Ukraine one after the other started closing offices and factories after Russia invaded Ukraine, all facing dark days for all of us.

Siemens Energy CEO Christian Bruchtold shareholders at their annual meeting.

“The attack on Ukraine represents a turning point in Europe; a war was simply unthinkable for many people, especially the younger generations.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had agreed to send a Ukrainian delegation to negotiate with Russia near Ukraine’s border with Belarus. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who allowed Russian President Vladimir Putin to use Belarus as a staging ground for his invasion, arranged the meeting. But we could see yesterday that Russia did not keep to the agreement to have a corridor for the civilians to flee the terrorised cities. As soon they drove out of those cities they were shot at by the Russians, and as such were driven back to where they came from.

The European Union has shut down its airspace to commercial and private Russian airplanes and committed, along with several member countries (including non-NATO Sweden and Finland), to arming Ukraine. And perhaps most astonishing of all, Europe and the United States (joined even by perennially neutral Switzerland) have put together a package of economic sanctions far more severe than anything anticipated prior to the outbreak of hostilities. There’s now a very real possibility Russia could be plunged into a catastrophic economic tailspin.

Last Sunday Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was putting Russian nuclear deterrence forces on high alert due to what he called “aggressive statements” Western nations were making against Russia.  Yesterday he went a step further, calling all those who wanted to interfere with his peace mission, dangerous attackers of his state, to which he will not shrink from counterattacking. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen her call for promptly opening EU membership talks, Putin considers as a war declaration.

Elon Musk came to help Ukraine maintain internet access as it fights a Russian invasion. Musk’s private rocket company SpaceX has deployed thousands of Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit, establishing a network over the last three years to beam high-speed internet service to users from more than 100 miles up. The service can work in parts of the world with limited conventional internet infrastructure. Since Russia invaded, Ukraine has experienced internet disruptions, so Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, asked Musk to send Starlink terminals.

Russia’s central bank on Monday hiked a key interest rate from 9.5 percent to 20 percent to fight inflation and depreciation of the ruble, after the Russian currency fell by 30 percent to a record low against the dollar as Europe and the U.S. imposed harsh sanctions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The move came after the United States, European Union, Canada, and the United Kingdom over the weekend announced plans to cut off some Russian banks from the SWIFT financial support network, a global payment system connecting international banks. The allies also said they would take steps to thwart the Russian central bank’s attempt to boost Russia’s economy with its more than $600 billion in reserves, part of an escalating push by the West for Moscow to negotiate peace.

Ukrainians are fleeing en masse to clogged borders of European neighbours, with the biggest share heading to Poland while smaller numbers try to reach Hungary, Moldova, Slovakia, and Romania. More than 500,000 Ukrainians have left for Europe since Russian forces invaded on Thursday and Europe expects this going to grow to 1,5 million. Over previous weekend, one crossing into Poland had a line nearly nine miles long. The exodus has been the biggest Europe has seen in years, with some authorities bracing for a humanitarian crisis like the one that occurred in 2015 when more than a million refugees arrived from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and other countries. Many European nations were hostile to the refugees who arrived in 2015, but so far they have said they would welcome Ukrainians.

Big question for Europe is now how long it can stand at the sideline.

Switzerland has edged away from its long-standing tradition of neutrality. Finland is not comfortable with Putin’s aggressive expansionism, which may also have its eyes on several of Russia’s neighbouring countries. It is on the cusp of asking for admission into the NATO alliance after decades of standing to the side. Germany, after a nearly 80-year break from militarism, is suddenly beefing up its defence budget and sending arms to Ukraine.  Previously, neutrality for countries like Finland and Switzerland had benefits to those countries — and to the world at large, but in which way is a neutrality tenable?

 

“Our World” Moving from Blogspot to WordPress

On April the 2nd 2005, Marcus Ampe, after having commented on several MSN Groups created his own chat group on MSN which would grow into the website “Christadelphian world” on Multiply. Like so many Microsoft users at that time, he too, had his Space on MSN. When Microsoft discontinued the MSN Groups, Mr. Ampe followed their suggestion to switch to Multiply, presenting its Multiply Groups and Multiply Spaces. Several groups did not do this, quit or switched to other systems such as Yuku, of Ezboard, Inc.‘s internet forums (Yuku Message Boards), or the content management system (CMS) WordPress. Both were also considered by us, but unfortunately not chosen at that time. But a few years later Multiply stopped with providing room for bloggers. This made that all the material had to be exported when one wanted to keep the material.

The hierarchy of labels in a fully qualified domain name

For that reason, Marcus Ampe wanted to save his writings and placed them temporarily on the other American online content management system (CMS) Blogspot, enabling multi-user blogs with time-stamped entries. Though that, what seemed just for a “waiting time” to find a new place, came to run its own life on Blogger. From that time onwards online journals or Blogs could also be accessed from a user-owned custom domain, an identification string that defines a realm of administrative autonomy, authority or control within the Internet, (such as http://www.example.com) by using DNS facilities to direct a domain to Google’s servers.

Christadelphian World

The Blogspot “Christadelphian World” received some further new messages and having received a new birth in 2014, having its name changed in “Our World“ it grew out, becoming an ‘adult’ presenting more than 4 000 messages in 2020. Google, that year, made several changes in its sites as well as in Blogger. From then onwards connections with the older blogs on Blogspot did not seem to work so well. The system became very slow to load down. In earlier computer days that would not have been such an abnormality, nor problem, but in present times the consumer does not like some time-consuming websites and leave them alone.

The World Wide Web had become a place where lots of lots home pages, functioning as a table of contents or index, with links to other sections of the site, called for the attention of the reader. Many companies also wanted to play host to present websites to the worldwide public. The public became also more interested in blogs that operate mainly as news filters, collecting various online sources and adding short comments and Internet links. “Our World” its intention was also to do that and to show the public the connection of this world with the Highest Divine Source of this all.

Other blogs concentrate on presenting original material and wanted to go deeper into certain topics. Marcus Ampe for that reason brought his MSN Space over to a Multiply Space, and when Multiply stopped its service, transferred it to WordPress, with as title Marcus Ampe’s Space to present his own personal views and offer a look in his personal diary.

In addition, many blogs provided a forum to allow visitors to leave comments and interact with the publisher. Such interaction became the most important target and this provide a new ground for several platforms bringing social media as a new driver of the convergent media sector, into their core business.

The growth of the blogosphere has been nothing short of remarkable. By October 2005 there were 19.6 million blogs, a number that has been doubling roughly every five months, according to Technorati, Inc., a Web site and organisation dedicated to mapping and searching the blogosphere.  You can imagine how by this growth of approximately 70,000 new blogs being created each day — or, more vividly, nearly one every second, how difficult it has become to find the most interesting or complete one. Due to the abundance of material on the internet and the fact that people often cannot see the wood for the trees anymore, Marcus Ampe created in 2014 (03/26) “From Guestwriters” on WordPress as a platform where a selection of interesting websites could be presented. He also wanted to offer a platform for writers themselves to present their own website articles and to introduce people to more in-depth articles. But until now he does not seem to succeed getting enough writers willing to offer their services to talk about such subjects as history, nature, a.o..

From blogging is (in a way) expected that it might also be a conversational activity seeking to create a community or reflect an existing community. With “From Guestwriters” Marcus Ampe hoped to do so, but also with “Our World“, he wanted to open a view on the world, tough from a Christian viewpoint. He is still convinced such a viewpoint should have a place in our world, though he does not expect a lot of followers or interested people, because he is fully aware that there is not such an interest in Jehovah God.

As a Christian Marcus Ampe is convinced that it is part of the tasks given by God and by His son Jesus Christ, to go out into the world to preach the coming Kingdom of God. In many of his websites Mr. Ampe wants to bring some positive notes and want to show people that when things don’t work well, or are not working at all, although there’s plenty of sun, and when it’s starting to get annoying, there are ways to get out of that black or dark mood and to find sunshine in heaven. “From Guestwriters” want to contribute in such a way, and now you also may find “Some view on the world” bringing such a positive view on the world.

Please come to find this renewed website by Marcus Ampe:

Some view on the world (WordPress site by Marcus Ampe)

Where you shall be able to find some news updates, thoughts and reflections by different people (inclusive reblogs) and articles about man, history, faith, religions (in particular Christian religion), God, His world and His Word, the Bible and quotations from it.

Blog of Some view on the world

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Find also to read:

1. Do you have a writer or presenter in you?
2. Change of the Microsoft Network Spaces
3. Messages leading to an earthly utopia
4. From MSN Groups and MSN Spaces via Multiply to Blogspot now transferring to WordPress
5. Invitation to renew connection
6. Going to the end of our 5th year of presenting interesting views from different authors
7. A Classic Editor versus Block Editor
8. Notification and news feed for Facebook users

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Additional

1. Necessary to be known all over the earth
2. Need to inspire others
3. How To Get Started In Sharing Your Faith As a Christian
4. To find ways of Godly understanding
5. From house to house #2: Continuing to bring the good news right to the world
6. The untiring response of some Christadelphians
7. Taking as many opportunities as possible to proclaim the Good News
8. Reason to preach #5 Trained to do it God’s way
9. Beautiful feet of those who announce the good news
10. Witnesses of Christ and of his gospel
11. Preaching to an unbelieving world
12. A magazine with Each month a true story

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Zijn Liefde kent geen grenzen

Velen geven blijk van opgesloten te zitten, maar grijpen deze kans niet om zich even ernstig te bezinnen. Al maanden hebben wij nu allemaal tijd gekregen om na te denken over zin en onzin van dit aardse bestaan en over de waarde van onze relatie met de medemens, maar ook met de natuur. Vraag is hoe veel mensen tijd genomen hebben om na te denken over onze relatie met de Goddelijke Schepper en Toelater van al die dingen die wij mogen hebben en waarmee wij ons mogen omringen?

Vandaag kijken wij even naar een reactie van een familie op zending in Costa Rica, waar bijna het hele schooljaar de kinderen online les volgden.

Ze hebben het alle drie gehaald en goed hun best gedaan ook al was het niet wat ze zelf zouden kiezen. Graag willen ze weer terug naar het ‘oude’, naar het gewone klaslokaal. Maar goed, dat gaat hopelijk volgend jaar veranderen.

*

Te onthouden:

Het Evangelie kent geen grenzen. De liefde van God, de waarheid van God zit niet aan gebouw vast, maar ook niet vast aan een plaats, maar woont in Zijn volk.

• Velen vergeten dat dit juist een tijd is waarbij het zo belangrijk is om elkaar via het internet verder te bemoedigen en de Blijde Boodschap verder uit te dragen zodat meerderen het licht aan het einde van de tunnel zullen kunnen zien.

De Coghis in Costa Rica

De regels worden steeds strikter. De vijand lijkt steeds dichtbij te komen. Dit virus ken geen grenzen en gaat waar het heen wil. We worden er sterk op gewezen om afstand te houden en als we dat niet zelf doen dan wordt het ons opgelegd. Maar…

De liefde van God kent geen grenzen

Niemand kan met geld de grens nog oversteken, ze zitten dicht. Vandaag is hier in Costa Rica aangekondigd dat als je een verblijfsvergunning hebt als buitenlander en je nu het land verlaat dan kan het zomaar ineens zijn dat je die verblijfsvergunning verliest. Ik weet niet precies waarom dit is aangekondigd en waarom deze strikte regel, maar we leven in rare tijden.

De meeste beslissingen, moeten we geloven, zijn om de mensen te beschermen, maar er zullen ook beslissingen tussen zitten waar we niks van snappen. En toch temidden van al deze beslissingen, temidden van een realiteit…

View original post 496 more words

Opgelet voor uw online aankopen

Nu iedereen in zijn ‘kot’ moest blijven en men best onnodige verplaatsingen meed, is internet verkoop enorm toegenomen. Zulk een zoeken op het net om aankopen te verrichten heeft echter ook ‘slechte zielen’ uit hun hol doen kruipen.

In de eerste weken van de lockdown kwamen er ruim 117.000 nieuwe online kopers bij, waardoor het totale aantal online aankopen steeg tot 28 miljoen. Die stijging trok ook cybercriminelen aan. Het Centrum voor Cybersecurity België (CCB) meldde dat ze alleen al in het eerste kwartaal meer dan 4.500 verdachte URL’s naar valse webshops moesten blokkeren. Fraudeurs probeerden massaal hun slag te slaan met mooie aanbiedingen en stevige kortingen.

Wat kunt u als consument doen om niet in dergelijke valkuilen te vallen?

Tips om veilig online te kopen

Online shoppen houdt bepaalde risico’s in. Zo bestaat de kans dat de webshop waar u koopt frauduleus blijkt. U bent uw geld kwijt, maar krijgt er helemaal niets voor terug. Het is vaak niet eenvoudig om te achterhalen of een webshop te goeder trouw is. Neem daarom deze 8 tips zeker ter harte als u online aankopen wilt doen:

1. Reviews of recensies van klanten van de webshop wekken vertrouwen, maar zijn ook eenvoudig te vervalsen. Laat u dus niet blind leiden door de online getuigenissen van andere klanten.
2. Google de naam van de webshop in combinatie met trefwoorden als ‘oplichting’, ‘bedrog’, ‘vals’ … Doe dit ook in het Engels als het om een buitenlandse webshop gaat. Zo kunt u informatie terugvinden over frauduleuze aanbieders en klanten waar het verkeerd liep.
3. Als een aanbod te mooi is om waar te zijn, dan is het doorgaans ook niet waar. Lees steeds de voorwaarden van een aanbieding in detail (de kleine lettertjes).
4. Installeer virus- en malwarebescherming op uw computers.
5. Shop nooit via een site waarvan het internetadres met http:// begint. Dit dient steeds https:// te zijn. Alleen dan bent u er immers zeker van dat uw gegevens op een veilige manier verstuurd worden.
6. Print altijd uw betalingsbevestiging af of neem een screenshot en bewaar dit.
7. Binnen de EU hebt u het recht om online aangekochte spullen binnen 14 dagen terug te zenden en uw geld terug te krijgen. Vergeet dit niet! Ga daarom steeds na of u uw verkregen goederen ook makkelijk kan terugsturen.
8. Als u lid bent van Test-Aankoop, dan kunt u via dit platform nagaan welke webshops veilig zijn.

Rustmoment inbouwen bij online shoppen

Eén van de troeven van online shoppen is dat het erg snel en gemakkelijk verloopt. U kiest het product, vult uw contact- en betalingsgegevens in, klikt op bevestigen en klaar is kees. De verleiding kan dan ook erg groot zijn.

Maar daar ligt natuurlijk net één van de grootste gevaren van online kopen: u hebt veel minder het gevoel dat u echt geld uitgeeft dan wanneer u fysiek dingen koopt. De zogenaamde betaalpijn (pain of paying) is quasi volledig weg. Dit brengt mee dat u niet alleen vaker online koopt, maar dikwijls ook gewoon meer geld uitgeeft dan u van plan was.

Webshops spelen hier handig op in door u de kans te geven om uw betalingsgegevens op te slaan in het systeem van de webshop. Zo moet u die niet elke keer opnieuw invullen … We raden u dan ook aan om dit nooit te doen. Bewaar uw betalingsgegevens niet in een webshop. Dit maakt weliswaar dat u, telkens u online wilt shoppen bij dezelfde webshop, de gegevens van uw bankkaart opnieuw zult dienen in te voeren. Maar dat is net goed. Want zo bouwt u voor uzelf een rustmoment in, waardoor u nog eens goed kunt nadenken of uw aankoop wel de moeite waard is.

Oplossingen gezocht voor Joodse dienstvoorziening

Niet Joodse gelovigen hebben niet bepaald een probleem met het volgen van diensten op het internet. Voor vele Joodse gelovigen vormen diensten op het internet volgen wel een probleem. Daarom deze oproep

Hebt u een oplossing voor onze Joodse leden?

Hebt u misschien een antwoord op deze vraag?

Hoe kunnen Joodse gelovigen toch samen dienst beleven?

Zodra de duisternis valt op vrijdagavond lijkt in vele huishoudens van de Jeshuaistische en Joodse gelovigen ook een zekere vorm van duisternis te vallen. Zich aan de voorschriften houden zoals voorgebracht in de Sjemot/Exodus 35:3 en algemene traditionele regels, wordt er afgezien van enig werk en worden er ook geen lichtknoppen of elektrische toestellen bediend.
Dat maakt dat de Sabbatsviering volgen op het internet onmogelijk is daar het enkele taken verreist die door sommigen als “werk” worden aanzien. Meer nog opvallend is het ook dat er toch nog vele gezinnen zijn waar er geen televisietoestellen of computers in gebruik zijn. Voor anderen mag dat helemaal buiten de wereld zijn, maar dit is wel een realiteit waar wij rekening mee moeten houden.

Vraag is of wij nu ook niet weer in een tijd zijn waar wij uitzonderlijke maatregelen moeten inroepen, zoals onze voorouders deze gekend hebben in bepaalde tijden, toen zij ook niet naar hun tempel of synagoge konden gaan.

In enkele artikelen proberen wij daar aandacht aan te schenken nu wij naar 9 Av gaan en het verlies van 2 tempels gaan herdenken.

Wij zijn er van bewust dat elkeen van ons wel op zijn of haar eigen plekje kan bidden en een ingetogen gesprek kan aangaan met de Allerhoogste. Maar het samen komen of samen gemeenschap vormen is er met de coronacrisis niet bij en eist speciale voorwaarden of veiligheidsmaatregelen.

Wie weet kan er van uit een andere hoek een kijk worden gegeven die voor onze gemeenschap oplossingen kan aanbieden, zodat wij toch dat eenheidsgevoelen kunnen bewaren en ons niet schuldig moeten voelen van geen sjabbes te vieren in gemeenschap.

Door de corona-maatregelen van de overheid zijn we gedwongen geworden om niet enkel na te denken over onze omgang in het openbaar, maar ook om na te denken over wat wezenlijk is voor verwezenlijken van onze geloofsplicht.

Nu dat wij niet meer mogen samen komen in de tempel of synagoge, moeten wij andere mogelijkheden zoeken om toch als gemeenschap onze verbondenheid te voelen en iedereen de kans te geven om dat gevoel van verbondenheid te ondergaan in en met waardig gebed.

Vandaag lijkt het wel dat wij ons ernstig moeten gaan bezinnen over iets wat voor decennia oh zo gewoon leek, maar uiteindelijk toch niet zo evident lijkt te zijn. Wij zien namelijk dat bepaalde gemeenschappen zodanig zijn vastgeroest in bepaalde tradities dat de lockdown hen bij wijze helemaal omver heeft geblazen. Alles wat zo normaal leek, drie maal per dag naar de synagoge gaan o.m. is nu helemaal uit den boze, enz.

Het lijkt wel of onze gemeenschap plotseling wordt wakker geschud.  De meesten van ons leven in een gesloten gemeenschap ver weg van de buiten wereld. Wij zijn gewoon in onze eigen cocon te verblijven. Geen wonder, bij het regelmatig gevaar dat ons lijkt te omringen. De meesten van ons zijn trouwens heel bang om zich in het openbaar kenbaar te maken. Terwijl anderen zich juist nu nog meer naar buiten durfden profileren en niet bang waren om op hun terras of balkon hun liederen over de stad durfden laten klinken. (Wat dan weer de politie er deed op afkomen.)

Velen in onze gemeenschap hebben zulk een vaste gewoonten dat zij nu met het breken er van wat in de war zijn gestuurd. Ontheemd voelen zij zich wat verloren en zoeken oplossingen om toch het gevoel te hebben dat zij God toch nog waardig kunnen dienen. Ook heerst er een angst dat het coronavirus heel wat mensen weg zal brengen van de godsdienstbeleving, daar ze nu lekker alleen thuis kunnen blijven zonder verder veel taken te moeten opnemen. Anderen vinden dan weer dat er nu weer een middel is om de mens slaaf te maken van de wereldse gebondenheid.

Voor ons is het samenkomen van de gemeente onderdeel van ons leven waarbij wij onze verbondenheid met onze broeders en zusters bezegelen en onze dankbaarheid betuigen voor de Elohim  die Zijn heil schenkt en ons wil ontvangen in geloof en eerbaarheid. Dat samenzijn verrijkt ons telkens opnieuw en inspireert ons telkens weer de uitdagingen van deze wereld aan te gaan. Nu dat wij al voor meer dan vier maanden niet meer samen kunnen komen drukt dat wel op velen hun gemoed, omdat ze het gevoelen hebben dat ze de Adonai tekort schieten.

Misschien kunnen gelovigen van andere geloofsgroepen hierbij raad geven en oplossingen aanvoeren.

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Aanverwante lectuur

1. Zuiverheid en verantwoordelijkheid van leden en leiders in een gemeenschap
2. Voor het eerst in jaren weer een Pesach in isolatie
3. Geestelijke affaires in CoViD-19 afzonderingstijden
4. 9 Av 2020 en Dagen van droefheid
5. Een huis bouwen voor God
6. Ontnomen van een gebedshuis #1 Doodveroorzakers
7. Verzamelen, bijeenkomen, samenkomen, vergaderen
8. Verzamelen of Bijeenkomen
9. Een samenkomst of meeting
10. Vergadering – Meeting
11. Laat ons samen komen
12. De voordelen van een kleine gemeenschap of een huiskerk
13. De ecclesia als lichaam van Christus

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6. Levende stenen; Hnd 6,1-7; 1 Pt 2,4-9; Joh 24,1-12
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12. Christenen moeten joodse feesten niet houden.
13. Kerk-zijn in context
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Spirituality

For many of the older generation, it looks so weird. We regretting not having had such social media as there is today. We, thinking we still would have had contacts with so many whom we liked very much in the past.

At the same time we notice how so many of the new generation are glued to their smartphone and boast about their many friends on Facebook, but in a way are even more lonely than we, who saw already so many of our peers being carried to the grave.

Also, so many of those youngsters seem to have the spirit of life, because the spiritual does not exist in them.

The 50 year old poet

I was born in the Sixties

grew up in the Seventies

fell in love in the Eighties

got married in the Nineties

had a family in the Noughties,

then things got strange,

made friends I never met

over a thing called the Internet,

lost touch with reality

and became another fatality

in a world void of spirituality.

Photo by Francesco Ungaro on Pexels.com

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So many being afraid – reason enough to step in the boat with Christ

For weeks already in Italy, Spain, France and Belgium the inhabitants are feeling limited with their country in lockdown. All over the world people are confronted with an unseen enemy, and that frightens many of them.

Normally the lovers of God who are worshipping Him alone and not other gods, are accustomed to living in a certain way somewhat isolated. The majority of Christendom worshipping a Trinity does not like those Unitarians and avoid contact with them as if they are affected with a terrible disease. Worship services for those isolated Christians are often followed by the internet, because of the distance between many too far. Those able to share the Breaking of Bread in real life, under normal circumstances only find themselves with a few. The 14th of Nisan is for many the big exception for the year. That day is often the ‘high-mass’ bringing many lovers of God together to commemorate the liberation of mankind. That special commemoration day in several prayer halls or kingdom halls often brings more than a hundred people together, showing how even when they are not with many, they also are not with such a few that they should feel alone. This year it was a totally different experience for many, not having the Memorial Gathering in public. It was nice to have several groups providing for internet sharing, but it is not the same and can not be a surrogate or placebo for the real thing.

Remarkable to notice is how so many expressed their calmness and accepted totally those restrictions the governments gave them. Opposite to many unbelievers most members were convinced the time of quarantine should take as long as necessary to keep everybody safe, no matter of the economic impact. We also can notice the members of those Unitarian denominations respect the social distancing and trust God that everything shall turn out back to normal in a certain time.

On the other hand all over the world, we find certain Christian groups calling to gather for Easter and to ignore such social distancing. They forget they perhaps do not only bring their own life in danger, but worse bring other people, they could encounter also on other days, in great danger. We can only say they have a very selfish attitude.

Around us, we can find unbelievers and believers who express their fear. Normal when one does not know the unseen enemy thoroughly and does not know how it all shall evolve in the near future. People also love to have everything under control and when they feel they loose control they start panicking.

For those with fear, we would like to remind them of a little event which took place some two thousand years ago.

Like on many great lakes and seas the wind can come up forcibly and bring dangerously high waves.

The disciples and Jesus were on passage on a boat and when the master teacher went to sleep, and a violent storm came.  The wind was howling, the boat was taking on water, these men felt that their lives were in danger from forces they could not control.  Take note, these were not inexperienced Saturday afternoon boaters.  Most of these men were professional fishermen.  These men were of strong hand and backs, they had been in a storm or two in their years of fishing.

If you have ever met a sailor, they often pride themselves on the storms they have endured on the seas.  However; this was not the same kind of storm that these men had endured before.  This storm frightened them to the point of fearing death.  It was pretty easy for them to see that the boat would likely be crushed in the waves, the wind and water was overtaking the boat.  They had no control over their circumstances.  All of their lives were passing before their eyes.  Wives lips that would never be kissed again, children that would never be played with again.  The sunrises they would miss.  Songs that they would never sing again.  As they looked over their possessions, their homes, their clothes, money, land, and more they began to realize how little value those things actually had.  They could see that they had focused their whole lives on things that really didn’t matter.  Their children, their spouses, their families, and their God are the things that mattered. As devout Jews they knew they could trust their God, the God of Abraham. Though it looked like as if they feared That God would not be with them.

On land they would know who to turn to when they had doubts of certain matters or fear for certain things. But far from any temple, no synagogue at hand, to whom had they to turn? Where could they find a rabbi or rebbe who could help them?

In want of having a Rabbi there now they turned their eyes toward their friend Jeshua (Jesus) who was lying quietly sleeping.  In all of this storming wind, spraying of water, beating of the waves, screaming of the men, he seemed steadfast asleep.  It looked like he was in a place of safety and comfort.  Peacefully like a baby he was there sleeping, probably laying in a puddle of water, soaked from head to toe, but asleep none the less.

A few decades ago Lenny LeBlanc released a song with the name “Asleep in the Boat”.  It talks about a promise God made, and that He is always there, just as Jesus was here with his disciples.  Just like when we are in the storm, He is here for us.

In these times of trouble we better look at how Jesus cope with difficulties and uncertainties. We do know many Christians take him as their god. God does know everything, but Jesus, not being God, did not know everything and like us just had to trust his heavenly Father.
Jesus has encountered several very difficult moments, and we should know that also he, even doubted God and asked Him why He had abandoned him. From the stake, Jesus cried out loud to His heavenly Father, the Only One True God.

46 And about the ninth hour Yahushua cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My Elohim, my Elohim, why hast thou forsaken me? (Matt 27:46, NRKJV)

But God never had abandoned or had forsaken His only beloved son. Nobody can do anything to God and God is the only Being that can not die. But Jesus could be hurt by men and he knew very well that those people could kill him. His death was a certainty, but what would happen after his death was not so sure. For that he had to trust his heavenly Father to Whom he cried that he would not be forsaken. Only by having enough faith in his heavenly Father Jesus could face those difficult moments. The Nazarene Jew had enough faith in his heavenly Father, the God of Israel, Who had already for centuries guided His People.

Jesus so much trusted his God, that he was willing to put his own will aside to do the Will of his heavenly Father, Whom Jesus considered to be the Only One True God, the God above all gods and above all kings. Like his ancestor King David, Jesus trusted his God.

We too, should have the same trust in God like the son of God had in his heavenly Father, Who is also our heavenly Father. In the Elohim Hashem Jehovah, we should find security and peace at heart, not having to have fear for what might come.

When we are children of God let us behave like it, and show others what a good Father we have. Let us take this period of more free time, to let Jehovah’s Name resound in many more places. That we who believe in Him show others how the Elohim has given the world the opportunity to be free of all worldly matters and that this time on this earth is only a temporary period. Let us take the opportunity to witness over the beauties of the Highest and how He has given the world a solution to be free of all worries.

We should step in the boat of Christ and be aware that even when he would be asleep, we still shall be safe, because he is with us and his God is with us.
When we feel abandoned by the world, them not liking we do not adhere to their god or gods, do not worry. One is better to worship the True God of the Bible instead of the many gods human beings love to worship. The God of Jesus, Hosea, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Solomon, David, Nehemiah, Abraham, Moses and Adam is the Best God we can have and Who can make sure we shall be able to receive the best life, “is it not today than tomorrow” ….

When we feel the pains of this world, and lost dear friends or family members, let us always remember that once they died their pain would be gone, and all worries would be over for them. Let us also put everything in the right perspective, comparing our luxury life with the millions of people in worse circumstances. And let us not forget how there was once a man who had not done any fault in his life, but was tortured and nailed at a wooden stake, giving his life for so many people he did not even know, so that they could live unto righteousness.

30 The Elohim of our fathers raised up Yahushua, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. (Acts 5:30, NRKJV)

24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1Pet 2:24, NRKJV)

Let us remember that event when the apostles were afraid and think about the storm in which we landed today.

23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. 24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, My master, save us: we perish. 26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. 27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! (Matt 8:23-27, NRKJV)

It would be wrong to think Jesus had no fear. He, like his brothers and sisters, also had many fears. Though Jesus feared more God than people and therefore was not afraid to speak out. Jesus very well knew his humble position and that he could do nothing without his heavenly Father, His God. Only by listening to his God, and doing what God wanted from him, Jesus could do exceptional things.

19 Then answered Yahushua and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. (John 5:19, NRKJV)

From those around him, Jesus asked them to come to him and to his God, so that what God had given to His son also could come unto us. Jesus knew that his God was the Only One to trust and knew that those who have complete trust in God will be kept in perfect peace by keeping their minds focused on Gods promises.

3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (Isa 26:3, NRKJV)

Like so many before Christ let us also the same as Jesus did, trust the Divine Creator and give ourselves in His Hands. Even if we fear others or such disease as CoViD-19, we should have more fear for the God of Christ, the God of Abraham and should pray to Him and trust HIm, in the same way as Jesus and Isaiah trusted their heavenly Father.

9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. 10 Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of יהוה. 11 יהוה, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them. 12 יהוה, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us. 13 O יהוה our Elohim, masters instead of thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name. (Isa 26:9-13, NRKJV)

While we may not know what tomorrow holds for us, we have chosen to follow Jesus and to have the same trust in his heavenly Father and as such should not have to worry about the future. In Christ Jesus lies our hope for the future, because he gave his life for us and God accepted his sacrificial offering as a ransom for once and for all.
When we believe who Jesus is and what he really has done and how God has now taken him out of the dead as an example for what might happen to us, we should not be afraid because in such resurrection is our hope and future.
It is in our belief in the promises of God and in the certainty of salvation that we have a present peace.

We just have to be patient and trust the Most High God. By following This God His only begotten beloved son, we have the assurance that one day there shall come a Kingdom which surpasses all other kingdoms and where there shall be peace for all without any pain or sorrow. Let us look forward to such days in the coming Kingdom of God.

 

**

Let us thank God for everything that we got for good things in our life
and let us trust Him as our Guide and Helper in difficult days
as well for Him being a Stormstiller

From Sticky Note to God ~03.31.20~

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Preceding

Why are you afraid?

Fear in your own heart or outside of it

Our life depending on faith

The Struggle Ends When Gratitude Begins

Many opportunities given by God

If you keep your faith and trust in God

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Additional reading

1. Matthew 8:23-27 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Jesus Calms a Stormy Sea
2. Matthew 9:32-34 – How others look at the blind, speechless and demoniac being healed
3. The unseen enemy
4. Fear of failure, and fear of the unknown
5. 8 fears caused by the fear of Man
6. Fearmongering succeeded and got the bugaboo a victory
7. A Living Faith #9 Our Manner of Life
8. Thanksgiving wisdom: Why gratitude is good for your health
9. Problems on a dark road and A look at our ego-centric world
10. Not fear or dread or blind compulsion
11. The chosen ones to fear or not to fear
12. What is life?
13. Greatest single cause of atheism
14. Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies) by Chris Tomlin
15. Control and change
16. We find by losing. We hold fast by letting go.
17. A treasure which can give me everything I need
18. I Am Not Alone – By: Kari Jobe
19. Necessity of a revelation of creation 3 Getting understanding by Word of God 1
20. Entrance of a king to question our position #2 Who do we want to see and to be
21. Today’s thought “Faith in Troubled Times” (January 14)
22. Today’s thought “Crying to God” (August 04)
23. The Wrath of God
24. Today’s thought “Plea for Vindication or for Protection against Oppressors” (January 07)
25. Today’s thought “My times are in your hand” (January 14)
26. Today’s Thought “You will keep … in perfect peace” (May 03)
27. Kingdom of God what will it be like

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Related

1. Housebound
2. Right Attitude in Trouble… Joshua of Ghana
3. Isaiah 26: Content in God alone.
4. The Sea of Galilee
5. Sonnets For My Savior 24
6. “In The Midst Of The Storm”
7. Jesus Feared God, Not Circumstances
8. Pandemic: Be Calm During the Storm
9. Why Not to Be Afraid – Br. Curtis Almquist
10. Covid-19 and Isaiah 26
11. Pandemic, Quarantine, and Isaiah 26
12. Praying the Bible with Gratitude
13. The Wind and Sea Obey Him
14. Today’s Theme Song: Above All
15. Hide Yourself
16. Isaiah Chapter 26
17. Daily Devotion: Isaiah 26:3-4
18. 100 Blessings for Pandemic
19. Podcast #299: “Thank You, Lord” by Dennis Jernigan
20. The rock on which we stand

Hosting a Virtual Seder During a Pandemic

Dear readers,

Hopefully, you are all in good health.

On April 02 there are 5,552 people registered in Belgium that are infected with the novel coronavirus who are receiving treatment in Belgian hospitals.
That there are only 1,143 deaths of the CoViD-19 virus at the moment is thanks to the exceptional precautions that the government has taken and which a large part of the population adheres to.

The coming week brings us, what in normal circumstances would be the busiest time for gatherings, in our effort to remember how God has liberated us, and to make sure that the younger generation would come aware how we always should remember how God Helps and Guides His People.

14 Nisan is normally the Day of The Memorial Meal.
This year that shall be different from all other years.

In Lockdown times, best not to meet too many people and to keep social distance, nowhere in Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal shall there be an open public Memorial Meal or Pesach Seder.

While you might not be able to physically gather around the seder table this Passover, do not forget that you can come together online.

Check out our 10 tips for creating a meaningful and fun seder experience for your family and friends, near and far.

1. Use the same Haggadah. 

   You could make and can use a Haggadah you could send out by e-mail beforehand and/or screen-share it with your guests, or encourage everyone to print their own copy.

2. Designate an e-Moses.

   It can be very helpful to pick someone to lead the virtual seder. Make sure this person has experience successfully using Zoom, FaceTime, Google Hangouts, Skype, etc..

   He can play Moshe and let us remember how Moshe ditched his desert aesthetic and returned to the Egyptian palace to deliver God’s message, with the help of his brother and hype man, Aaron.

   Telling the exodus story he may not forget to bring forth how Moshe spoke about God commands and how God clapped back at the Egyptians. Children perhaps can have drawings made of the pathway formed between the walls of water and the Israelites who made it to the other side without harm.

3. Make a “seating and speaking chart.”

   This year there can best not swapped places. Best is to have everybody all night using the same place at the table, and if possible having enough distance between each household member.

   But this year we should also account for the virtual seated next speaker. Figure out ahead of time who is going to read what. Throughout the seder, text the person you’d be sitting next to.  Be careful when all speakers are on there shall be too much echo and everything could become too chaotic. Therefore, let everybody stay muted and follow an order of speaking plus having put up an arm or (funny) sign requesting to speak.

4. Maintain that there are no excuses for why people can’t attend.A danger of such critical times as these, is that people come a bit lazy or like to avoid their religious obligations.
   Unless, you know, they don’t have internet and/or a device to connect to it. Anyone can be part of your Passover experience.
5. Have a practice run.The organiser best has several contacts beforehand with those who would take care of the surprises.Also, send instructions for accessing your virtual platform of choice ahead of time so nobody holds up the seder by not knowing their Wi-Fi or other password.For those who do not have their computer enough secured and therefore had best their camera taped, they have to be encouraged to take the stickers or tape off their cameras.
   
6. Eat and drink with measure spread over the long time of gatheringAs usual at a seder have the different courses interrupted by animated talks, readings from Scripture and prayers.
7. Work with what you have.
   
   With all the panic shopping, it can be intimidating to venture out to get everything you need. That’s OK. Get what you can and improvise the rest.
   Our people have survived greater quandaries with a little ingenuity and determination.If you can’t get matzah, cut some cardboard into squares or large circles (you can even put dots on them with a marker for texture, but do not consume—this is purely decorative). Swap out sriracha for horseradish. Use literally anything green. Squish trail mix into a charoset-like paste.Use a regular plate as a stand-in for a seder plate. It’s the thought that counts.
8. Bring a little Purim to Passover.
   
   Never forget to make the long evening pleasant enough or entertaining enough to the children. Remember this night should be a night of remembering and giving it further to the next generation.Nobody would be against making some good fun and nobody would object to have people being dressed up as Moses, Aaron, Miriam, etc.Got kids? Great, they can be the frogs. Or the lice. It depends how stressed they’re making you.
   Got teens? Do the whole seder using Snapchat filters, then do a TikTok dance break in the middle of the seder for added social media cred. But only if, like, you know the choreo.
9. A night different from all other nightsAlso do not forget that 14 Nisan is ‘super special’.Laugh a little hysterically and cry only a tad when you get to the Four Questions and someone has to ask, “Why is this night different from all other nights?”
10. A Liberation to celebrate
    
    Do your best, have fun and remember that though we are in isolation to protect ourselves, friends, families and fellow human beings everywhere, we are still free to be Jewish or Jeshuaist and celebrate our heritage and salvation by the Highest and Strongest!

Let us not forget to show our love to God by remembering what He has done and still does, and let us show our love to others by taking enough precautions to keep everybody safe and in good health. Even when we might be very isolated in our own cosy home, let us feel the union with brothers and sisters all over the world, and let our prayers be with them all.

Please pray:

I will seek to make this world a better place, for all people, today and tomorrow. To this, in their memory, I pledge myself. Ani ma’amin. Am Yisrael chai.

A Jewish community eating the symbolic Passover food during the Seder evening, the evening before the Passover festival (picture-alliance / dpa / Robert Fishman)

As you come to the end of the seder, remember that this uncertainty, while it already feels like 40 years of wandering in the desert, is temporary. The Israelites made it eventually. So will we.

Next year, in person!

For 2020:

Keep safe and well, having a lovely Passover seder.

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Preceding

CoViD-19 warnings

Anxiety Management During Pandemic Days~

Hope on the Horizon: Pandemic Anxiety Management II~

Pandemic Anxiety Busters~

Mel Brooks saying “go home” to Max Brooks

Christian Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic

7 Ways To Boost Your Immune System in Lockdown

Love in the Time of Corona

Recrafting our World

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Reminders

1. The unseen enemy
2. Under-reporting the total number of coronavirus cases
3. Coronavirus on March 11 declared a global pandemic on March 31 affecting more than 177 countries
4. No idea yet for 14 Nisan or April the 8th in 2020 Corona crisis time
5. Only a few days left before 14 Nisan
6. First time since Nazi time no public gathering
7. Voor het eerst in jaren weer een Pesach in isolatie
8. Even in Corona time You are called on to have the seder
9. A meal as a mitzvah so that every generation would remember
10. A night different from all other nights and days to remember
11. Let’s Think About Redemption Differently
12. At the Shabbat HaChodesh: readings about blood, liberation and purification
13. Zeman Chereisenu – the time of our freedom
14. Ki Tisa – Torah Portion
15. Egypt, Moshe and Those who never felt they belonged there
16. In Every Generation: The Return of Anti-Semitism – Pesah Day 1, 5779
17. The Most special weekend of the year 2018
18. Call to help others
19. How should we worship God? #7 The Breaking of Bread
20. How should we worship God? #8 Love one another