Too Much World…

You know, it’s too easy to become caught-up in the world’s things. Oh that I would not be as the one who looks back at the plow. It is not that I do in regards faith, for without trusting Christ I’d have no hope, and I believe: I know now how not to believe God’s promises, but I will admit too that I am often forgetful.

There is so much of interest in the world, problems to solve, issues to discourse, but they are also easy distractions, and it is often these days that they are even unaccessible to most, who are upon the periphery of conversations and things in which they are not included, rather only watching, hearing, examining, judging, but in which they really have no part.

And furthermore, why are we so interested? With hyperparticipation through millions of critics, there is little room for true discourse, for thinking. It is for good reason the congress has limits to size, or is intended to have, for the purpose that real debate might occur, though in reality no real critical engagement seems to ever grace that floor anymore: especially with the ruling party, notorious for its hatred of criticism and examination.

Yet it’s no help that one party or the other rules at a time, nor that when they are equally empowered there is more dogmatism and ideals than reason. The same situation is pervasive, however, throughout, it appears, in all reaches of our society. In every discipline, in every sect of modern civil life, throughout America, and perhaps also throughout Europe where the ability of speech is now feared lost.

So why, oh why, are we even piqued to want to discourse in an uncritical society? Why care with so many uninteracting opinions unconsidered and speaking as if mere blurbing is desired so as to somehow matter, though it is likely insignificant?

The real point, though, is that it is too easy to be distracted with the things of this world, and I must admit I need mortify my own, incessant, wand’ring interest, and keep it foremost on heavenly things.

A Rendition of Psalm 1

1 Happy the mana who walketh not in the counsel of the wicked, and standeth not in the way of sinners, and sitteth not in the seat of scorners. 2But in the law of YWHW is his delight, and in His law he meditateth night and day.b 3And he [isc] as a tree planted by rivuletsd of water, that beareth his fruit in its season, and its leaf efadeth not, and all he doth flourishethf. 4 Not so the wicked, but as chaff the wind driveth away. 5Therefore the wicked standeth not in the judgment, nor sinners in the gcongregation of the righteous 6For YHWH knoweth the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked is lost.

^a alt., “Oh the happiness of the man”
^b need to check if “day and night” would be better or not.
^c see nt. (Darby) here: same reason for “Happy the man” rather than “Happy is…”.
^d de, YLT.
^e alt., doth not fade
^f alt., prospereth
^g alt., assemblly

Always disappointed…

Always disappointing…the History Channel. The person that takes that as “history” is going to be malinformed indeed. It’s not even just uncareful information, misinformation, but sensationalization.

The channel is obsessed with things like aliens. It does constantly present misinformation: like they’ve done no real research and checking. It could be worse, they could be as the wider mass media and pretense to present information legit, rather than spin: those avenues like to cite their procedure, professional guidelines, etc., while they simultaneously source terrorists’ propaganda.

But as for quoting “experts” and “scholars” (which often are not, and often which are little more than selling snakes), it is more heinous: it goes for the purveyors of nonsense, whatever is fringe, and gives them pulpit to sell their goods to the unsuspecting who love such.

I have never seen a program by the channel I didn’t like, that didn’t make by blood boil at the dung it presents as historical to its audiences: the dubiousness and irresponsibility leaves me in disgust.

And of course it chooses topics that will pique interest: aliens, the Bible, theories about unsubstantiated ancient myths, atlantis, conspiracy theories, etc..

I wouldn’t wish to disparage people of practically any source, in general, if they are warned and learned to use sources critically, but I must say, the History channel, in my experience, has never been anything but hack programming.

Blog Colors

In case someone happens to come-along on my blog sometime, and wonders why it is black with white text…

Originally, (that is, on the blogspot version), it was due to wanting something somewhat relaxing to the eyes: dark text on white paper can be wearying: I think the opposite can actually be alleviating of that.

I was thinking, however, of changing the color schemes, as currently I’m thinking on changing-up the links, was thinking of the colors, and some other things. I decided to keep the colors darker like this, though. That is due to wanting to impart a serious sense: gravity. I know the black may seem somber, but these truly are very dark times indeed for the Christian: good thing Christ is light, and that we’re to shine, be lights, as well.

Thus I hope that my words be as salt, and as light: things we normally associate with “white”, as well as purity, and etc.. So it is fitting, in a symbolic sense, to keep the colors a little graver, even if it might make someone wonder. With all the light-hearted approach to so much so important these days, I think it’s fitting to demonstrate both mourning for the sake of brethren, as well as joy (again, dark, and light).

There are several purposes for my blog. One is it’s something of a central repository-lite for materials I may need to access from various locations. Not only has it material visible to the public, but it has materials also hidden (i.e. unpublished) that I only can access so long as the service providers keep-up the passworded account schemes used widely across the WWW, including for blog services. : )

The other, however, is to take and try to form those resources into a hub of sorts, if a simple and plain one, some of those thoughts, etc., into something edifying for my brethren out there. Not that I think I have this important or might voice or anything, but rather I hope that on the odd chance some small thought I have might be of help to others, that they’ll be led across this site: even if only transiently.

That said, I’m something of an essayist more than a journaler: I write and re-write things over and over. I have things stashed all over on paper, on google docs, on this blog, etc.: hundreds of blog posts unpublished. I think I really should journal more often, but I have over time learned I often have hated my own writing. A few years back a friend said, when we’d discuss the Bible, that he didn’t want to say much, or really write on it, until he read it. I’ve somewhat taken a similar stance on writing thoughts: before really committing much to paper–though I have stuff committed to writing electronically all over–I want to really get some experience, redact my own thoughts as well as writing, search the Scriptures, take-up and read them, etc.. I do actually write quite a bit on paper, at least sometimes: in the margins of books.

Anyway, this should be interesting: I’m trying to keep synced blogs both on Blogger by Goodle and WordPress by WordPress.com, the latter something I wanted to try-out, but decided not to migrate to completely, but really like for its Dashboard features.

Anyway, wherever you see this from, my Blogger blog is here,
aguyblog.blogspot.com

and my WordPress blog is here,
aguyblog.wordpress.com

Though now I just wonder if there’s any way I can sync the comments between the two locations. I love Blogger’s simplicity and easy flexibility, so personally prefer any comments to be left there, if I might so ask for that. : )