It's beginning to be a bit too much!
That's my first ambiguous statement of the day. Won't even tell you what I'm talking about. I'll let you figure it out if you want. Or if you'd rather, tell me what that statement means to you. You might want to use it as a writing prompt. But enough of this and on with today's topic.
Bloggy things that bug me:
1. When people don't date their posts -- I have rarely seen this and I'm not sure how they do it, but every once in a while I'll find a blog with posts that are undated. I guess I can usually find the date in the comments, but if it turns out the post is old its often pointless to comment because there is a possibility that no one will see my comment. This is a minor nuisance, but it wastes my time.
2. Maybe there is an easy solution to this one that somebody can help me with, but is there a way to filter out or flag blogs I am not interested in. I don't have a super memory and sometimes I find myself going back to look at blogs that I've already decided are a waste of my time and I don't want to keep looking at them. If I could just find a way to mark them or something like that I wouldn't have to waste my time. Most of my blog gripes could be fixed for me if I could do this.
I don't want to knock anybody's interests. There are blogs that some people love that I don't care to visit repeatedly just because something has drawn me back to it and I forget that I've already decided I don't like this blog. To show that I think I'm being fair, I will use the example of Craft Blogs. Now there are some that I visit because of the writing. Sig's Beadedbears Nonsense and Complete Waste of Time (with a title like that how could I resist) is often a blog about bead craft, which is something I don't do. But Sig doesn't always write about beading and sometimes writes what are to me some very interesting stories. I like to check all her posts to see what she's talking about. Even the bead topics she can make pretty entertaining and if she gets too beady then I just move on. I do think Sig is an excellent writer.
On the other hand I do not care to learn to crochet, or build dollhouses, or a myriad of other things that don't interest me. I am not criticizing any of those who have things for which they are passionate and they do deserve to have the blogs they love. However, I would like to save some of my time for the things that I am really interested in and not return to the blogs that don't interest me.
3. Super shmancy stuff that takes too long to download. Some of these sites are beautiful, but sometimes they also lack substance. I am sure that some in the blogosphere want to see all sorts of technology and gimmickry and I too am amazed. But it's not what I'm looking for. Maybe if I had faster DSL, or whatever, or a faster computer then it wouldn't bug me as much. However, when I have to wait a few extra seconds and then there is nothing of real substance to read then I feel like I've wasted my time.
4. People with too many blogs. I know I may be stepping on some toes here. Some of the bloggers I regularly follow may have more than one blog. In some of these cases, I understand the multiple blogs and it's reasonable. I too have thought about having more than one--perhaps putting my Bible study material on a totally separate site and I may still do this eventually.
What really bugs me is when I find a blogger who is new to me and I go to their profile and there's maybe 5 or 10 or more blogs that they have. Usually I just turn around and leave, unless one of the titles looks especially interesting. Here's what I've often been finding: Many of the blogs have no posts yet and the blogger is just taking up a title for who knows what reason. Sometimes the blogs are just duplicated under different titles--maybe this is an AdSense issue, or I don't know why they would do this. Sometimes they are just multiple picture blogs, or the life of my dog blog, or some private issue or something that should have remained private. Maybe some of you can help me with this--why multiple blogs (and I'm talking more than 2 or 3)?
So there you have it--a few of my rants. If anyone can give me some advice it would be appreciated. How do you hadle some of these issues? Have any of these bugged you too?
And not to be all sour grapes, I want to acknowledge some fine posts about blogging that I've found recently. They have given me interesting ideas and advice and actually addressed some blogging buggy things that I've been thinking about addressing but they did it instead. So check them out:
Elena Johnson How to Build Your Blog --- She gives some outstanding advice about building up a following and making your blog better. This is only one of her posts on the topic so for blogging info check out her other posts as well. Of course, judging from all the comments she's gotten most of you have already been there and left a comment. If you haven't then go-- you must!
How to make a blogger happy by Amanda is also worth a look.
Elena Johnson About Leaving Comments -- did I already mention Elena? Well I'll say it again.
Pam reported Blogs of Substance at Pam's Perspectives New blog by Pam called Words of Wisdom This looks like something that might have substance to bloggers like me and you. I need to check this out a bit more, but I guess they are try to catalogue blogs that have something worth reading. This might be right up my alley. Go over there and see if they are doing something that interests you. Maybe you can promote your own blog of substance there as well.
Hope I didn't upset anyone. I'm just here tossing it out to you--feel free to toss it back my way if you like. And by the way if you were wondering about the Amish connection in the title, that's just me capitalizing on the popularity of the genre of Amish stories out there. I'll do anything to get a reader. I just hope I don't waste anybody's time.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Make God's Word Work For You
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
James 1:22 (NIV)
Most readers of today's post are probably familiar with the Bible to some extent. Some may have heard parts of the Bible and dismissed it as unnecessary. There are other books, there are other philosophies, there is my own common sense and life experience--why do I need the Bible? My response is this: Have you really studied it and applied what it teaches to your life? Many of us like to make excuses based on what we personally believe and not the wisdom that has already been available before we were even born. If you claim that you have heard the word but it's really not for you, then you may also be wrong in your thinking. The Bible is giving some solid advice and if you don't actually apply it to your life then you cannot say that it is wrong or it is not for you because you don't really know for sure.
"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
Matthew 5:33-37 (NIV)
Everywhere you look throughout the Bible you will find practical advice that is just as true now as it was two thousand years ago. The knowledge found in the pages of this book is sound advice. In some cases it seems like good old common sense. You might say, "I knew that". But did you really know everything and how did you know it. And if the teachings are such common sense then why do we hear people making insincere vows like Jesus talks about in the above passage? If everyone in the world took the above advice then we could always believe everything we were told. It's not like that at all and that's because a lot of people are not doing what the Bible says to do.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:25-33 (NIV)
In 1988 Bobby McFerrin had a huge hit with the song "Don't Worry Be Happy" based on a saying by Indian mystic Meher Baba. The title was a mantra from the mystic for many truth seekers of the mid-twentieth century. But he was really saying nothing new. It was already right there in the Bible. And how beautifully Jesus put it as we see in Matthew 6:25-33. This is practical advice that might be at home between the covers of any psychology self-help book. The person who has wisely studied the Bible will realize that Jesus isn't telling us not to work for our sustenance or plan for the future. He is simply telling us not to worry.
Medical research has proven that worry, anxiety, and stress can lead to unhappiness, illness, and even death. The medical field provides us with pills to combat our worry, but it is only a stopgap measure. The psychological field wants to treat us in other therapeutic ways that can have benefit, but there is some disagreement as to what really works in the long term. The Bible gives a simple solution that is worth a try if you can muster up the faith to believe. Give up your worry about earthly things to God and see the bigger picture of what the future holds.
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Romans 12:9-13 (NIV)
Here is some straightforward advice from the book of Romans that would be difficult to dispute. And why would anyone want to dispute this advice. There is not much here that one can logically argue against. With some minor alterations this passage would fit right into any modern help book.
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 3:14-15 (NIV)
With a book filled with so much advice; a thorough reading, study, meditation, and application of the contents is going to instill you with much wisdom. The knowledge you gain will change your life, improve your life, and bless your life. Most importantly you will have the knowledge of how to gain eternal life through Jesus Christ. It's up to you to receive this knowledge through hearing, learning, and accepting it as truth.
Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)
There is something like this to be found in nearly every religion. Even most secularists would probably agree with the second part of this commandment as it makes total sense in regard to good relationships with other people. However, if one truly focuses on the logic of the first commandment it makes complete sense. People can fail us and annoy us and instill anger within us. It can be easy to feel hatred toward another person. When you are loving God with all your heart and soul and mind, then loving your neighbor becomes channeled through the Holy Spirit and a forgiving sense of love becomes easy--just remember the importance of the word all. The "all" part is the real challenge. We may never achieve it absolutely, but it is definitely a goal to which we should aspire.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV)
To me this is one of the most beautiful passages in the English language. When it is translated into another language then it is one of the most beautiful passages in that language. This is poetry. It doesn't stop here either. If you are not familiar with ths passage, I would suggest that you read the entire chapter 13 in 1 Corinthians. You might even want to commit this chapter to memory. Every marriage, friendship--every human relationship should be grounded in the words expressed here.
We could go on and on citing examples of good Biblical advice that, if put into application, would make your life better. But why continue just citing the passages. Go to the book itself. There are many things that might be difficult to understand, but there is so much reward in digging deep into God's Word and finding the treasures buried in it's pages.
James 1:22 (NIV)
Most readers of today's post are probably familiar with the Bible to some extent. Some may have heard parts of the Bible and dismissed it as unnecessary. There are other books, there are other philosophies, there is my own common sense and life experience--why do I need the Bible? My response is this: Have you really studied it and applied what it teaches to your life? Many of us like to make excuses based on what we personally believe and not the wisdom that has already been available before we were even born. If you claim that you have heard the word but it's really not for you, then you may also be wrong in your thinking. The Bible is giving some solid advice and if you don't actually apply it to your life then you cannot say that it is wrong or it is not for you because you don't really know for sure.
"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
Matthew 5:33-37 (NIV)
Everywhere you look throughout the Bible you will find practical advice that is just as true now as it was two thousand years ago. The knowledge found in the pages of this book is sound advice. In some cases it seems like good old common sense. You might say, "I knew that". But did you really know everything and how did you know it. And if the teachings are such common sense then why do we hear people making insincere vows like Jesus talks about in the above passage? If everyone in the world took the above advice then we could always believe everything we were told. It's not like that at all and that's because a lot of people are not doing what the Bible says to do.
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:25-33 (NIV)
In 1988 Bobby McFerrin had a huge hit with the song "Don't Worry Be Happy" based on a saying by Indian mystic Meher Baba. The title was a mantra from the mystic for many truth seekers of the mid-twentieth century. But he was really saying nothing new. It was already right there in the Bible. And how beautifully Jesus put it as we see in Matthew 6:25-33. This is practical advice that might be at home between the covers of any psychology self-help book. The person who has wisely studied the Bible will realize that Jesus isn't telling us not to work for our sustenance or plan for the future. He is simply telling us not to worry.
Medical research has proven that worry, anxiety, and stress can lead to unhappiness, illness, and even death. The medical field provides us with pills to combat our worry, but it is only a stopgap measure. The psychological field wants to treat us in other therapeutic ways that can have benefit, but there is some disagreement as to what really works in the long term. The Bible gives a simple solution that is worth a try if you can muster up the faith to believe. Give up your worry about earthly things to God and see the bigger picture of what the future holds.
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Romans 12:9-13 (NIV)
Here is some straightforward advice from the book of Romans that would be difficult to dispute. And why would anyone want to dispute this advice. There is not much here that one can logically argue against. With some minor alterations this passage would fit right into any modern help book.
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 3:14-15 (NIV)
With a book filled with so much advice; a thorough reading, study, meditation, and application of the contents is going to instill you with much wisdom. The knowledge you gain will change your life, improve your life, and bless your life. Most importantly you will have the knowledge of how to gain eternal life through Jesus Christ. It's up to you to receive this knowledge through hearing, learning, and accepting it as truth.
Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)
There is something like this to be found in nearly every religion. Even most secularists would probably agree with the second part of this commandment as it makes total sense in regard to good relationships with other people. However, if one truly focuses on the logic of the first commandment it makes complete sense. People can fail us and annoy us and instill anger within us. It can be easy to feel hatred toward another person. When you are loving God with all your heart and soul and mind, then loving your neighbor becomes channeled through the Holy Spirit and a forgiving sense of love becomes easy--just remember the importance of the word all. The "all" part is the real challenge. We may never achieve it absolutely, but it is definitely a goal to which we should aspire.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV)
To me this is one of the most beautiful passages in the English language. When it is translated into another language then it is one of the most beautiful passages in that language. This is poetry. It doesn't stop here either. If you are not familiar with ths passage, I would suggest that you read the entire chapter 13 in 1 Corinthians. You might even want to commit this chapter to memory. Every marriage, friendship--every human relationship should be grounded in the words expressed here.
We could go on and on citing examples of good Biblical advice that, if put into application, would make your life better. But why continue just citing the passages. Go to the book itself. There are many things that might be difficult to understand, but there is so much reward in digging deep into God's Word and finding the treasures buried in it's pages.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Blogging to Remember
I did fix up some fine corned beef Irish stew and ate it for three days in a row. With just two of us in the house now dinners don't go as fast as they used to--there's almost always some leftovers. Now until I get inspired to cook up another meal of real food I guess it's cereal for supper again--or cookies if we have them.
This past week you readers have been very patient with me as I totally got off my schedule when my story on Wednesday got continued on Thursday and finished yesterday. Two days of scheduled blog topics got postponed, but I guess we have the right to do that if we feel like it. I started telling my story on my Wednesday post and the memories kept coming. That's a cool thing about blogging I guess.
Last Monday I had a Blog Boggled post that turned into a love-fest for some of our fellow bloggers. That's another nice thing about this blog community--the spirit of support and sharing. This coming Monday's Blog Boggled post will recognize some other blog posts that deserve recognition and I will address a few things that bug me. That is, if I don't get all lovey-dovey again and even if I do get bugged sometimes I still love you all.
Michael Jackson's THIS IS IT was the topic last Tuesday. The planned topic for this coming Tuesday will be Films of Ominous Premonitions of Cataclysm and Apocalypse.
On Wednesday I'm going to be graced with a very special guest appearance by the Spunky one, L. Diane Wolfe. You have probably seen her lately on other blogs as she's been making the rounds promoting a new book. I'll have a few questions for Diane and I hope you'll join us.
This coming Thursday and Friday I plan to go back to the topics intended for this past week: A debate question about summer vacations and an article about mythical creatures--or are they real?
For your weekly dose of the Bible join me tomorrow as I continue last week's topic about how the Bible can benefit us. I hope that Ginny stops by again--Ginny, I really enjoyed your challenging comments last week.
Have you written your memoir, another person's memoir, or do you plan to? When you are writing, are ingrained memories ever brought to the surface that causes your writing to become sidetracked? Do you like to plan blog posts ahead of time or do you prefer spontaneity? Do you have any questions that you would like me to ask Diane?
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