Coruscating

I would give up on the library and second hand books too, if that had happened to me!

I'm with you: No smartphone. 😀 But then I get so used to tapping on Kindle that, when I'm reading a physical book, it takes me a while to lose the instinct to tap the page. hahaha When this happens in public I blush a little...

I have one. It has more than ten years and keeps going. I keep it in my purse, in case I'm stuck waiting somewhere. If I travel, Kindle is going, for sure. We can read without turning the lights on, which other passengers appreciate. And we have a ton of choices, without adding weight. But nothing surpasses a physical book, in my opinion.

I'm so sorry. I was thinking... What if you find a book of short essays, or tales, or poetry and started from the last essay/tale/poem, then read the one in the middle, then the first one, then the penultimate, until there is nothing more to read? Is this suggestion too absurd? 🥴

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Memory will improve once you start and keep memorizing verses. I'm proof of that. Your memory is not bad, it's just untrained. Your brain will work with you. I never searched for the better way to memorize, so I will wait for other members to answer your question. I turned memorizing verses into a daily ritual, I have a notebook just for that. What I can say is: To me, it has been important to memorize three ways: Writing, thinking and reciting (all by heart). When I think I got a text memorized because I wrote it several times by heart, saying it inside my head doesn't come easily. And when I can write and say it inside my head, I still have trouble to say it aloud. And if I just memorize it by saying out loud, I will lose it from my memory much faster. Another important thing: A good night of sleep is half of the work.

@Neighbor I like the way you think. How should we see her? With eyes that care about a lost soul, or with eyes that want to protect this world? I also feel a reaction towards inconsequential, selfish people, but then I remember: I have no idea of who I would be without my Lord.

At first glance, I see more problems with that than anything else. I get to a "no" and a "yes", depending on the circumstances. In the hypothesis that we can think long term, then I don't believe this is a good idea, because it would promote the entitlement of those who already are too comfortable teaching their ideologies. In this case, I would prefer an investment in our own communities, and to see christian teachers having a strong foundation in their own church, to strengthen them and to find ways to work individually with their students. One christian teacher, inside a classroom, is working for all of us, so we must pray for teachers and encourage them, give them tools to keep going. This would be more productive. If I think that this earth is approaching its end in five to ten years, then I say: Make Jesus known everywhere, with the courage of a warrior, tact and meekness that Jesus gives us. Make the Bible known everywhere, and pray that the Holy Spirit will take care of the rest, by working individually with everyone who hears. Let others know about Who Is responsible for the good example that you are. Now, this implies: A teacher who is a good example because of Jesus Christ. Where are we now? Only God knows. So, this is my useless contribution to the debate. Thank you. Thank you.

Never said or even thought they were. Is there a particular reason why these topics are so important to you?

@Gracejj I would look for an industrial designer on fiverr, with experience in what you need (not just a CAD designer), and ask for a consultation online. They know the steps you have to give, to get to a final product. Or maybe there are product development engineers there too, I don't know. You have www.uspto.gov to learn about intellectual property.

@Figure of eighty The Prayer Bible comes up to my mind every time I read a post of yours. This video shows what I tried to explain some time ago. The useful part is between 1:00 and 6:23. It's just 5 minutes. This youtuber has a playlist explaining her method. I found her while searching for something shorter, but I liked the topics she chose for her tags. Setting up a tool like this has advantages: praying for guidance, searching for verses, reading them and keeping them easy to find. It is a practical way to start. God shows the way as we walk. ---- (I don't want to risk to seem dishonest: I have no experience with this method. My main Bible interaction is closer to the "miscellaneous" system, explained by Matthew Everhard in a video called "Ultimate Bible Note-Taking System".)

I agree with you. As christians, to be against abortion is not a political view, it is the start of an action that comes from a compassionate heart.

Part of Trump's brand is being an enfant terrible. If he now started to "change the way he speaks", it would be like changing Coca-Cola's logo to beige. In 2016 he was confronting the issue of political correctness, and in 2024 he must show that he is consistent. This approach makes him look genuine, something that highly contrasts with the performative posture of Democrats like Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris. His "oh, isn't she indian?..." may be a performance, but it aligns with his genuine intention to expose how she floats according to what is more convenient. A tooth for a tooth, hypocrisy for hypocrisy.

@Hopefully I love Ecclesiastes 12:12-14 This morning I was compiling some passages to put in my planner, for the next couple of months. I want to keep in mind who my real Boss is: «And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men» Colossians 3:23 The same Lord that says: «These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.» John 16:33 I will add "your" verses to my planner.

@Marathoner Often when I read your posts, someone starts peeling onions next to me. It is a phenomenon! You are truly a Marathoner.

I have flashbacks so often, the past comes with such intensity that I can see it, smell it. It is painful to see how much can change forever without a warning. It is this feeling of: I lived that everyday, until one day it ended forever and, in the last time that I was living it, I didn't even know it would never happen again. I am referring to things like: the last time my parents, my siblings and I shared a meal together when we were young, or church friends that I thought I would see again in our summer camping but who never returned. Stuff like that. My heart shrinks as I have those flashbacks, but God inflates it again. I do have a comforting flashback. It is when it rains. Flashbacks of when I was little and walked everywhere with my mother, who didn't drive. I remember how even with all the discomforts of rain, tiredness, boredom, how I felt safe and comforted by her, without words, or promises (from her), or complaints (from me). I still feel that comfort with those flashbacks: the dark clouds, the uncomfortable atmosphere, cars throwing us water with their tires, me under a pink umbrella, dressed with a pink trench coat, just holding her hand, with a steady step, in complete trust that at some point we would get to a good place. This is the picture of comfort to me.

I don't like tattoos either. However: The relation you see between tattooed christians and lukewarmness, others see in christians who like rock and bodybuilding, which are a couple of your interests. There are many, but one reliable sign of lukewarmness is: Shallow analyses with useless conclusions. May we all allow God to temper us by His own standards, using His Word to teach with wisdom, compassion, firmness and encouragement.

I had to listen to it while cooking, so I must watch it again to see if you have verses and quotes like in the first one. I really like your content and I'm glad to be on the same side of this battle. Praying for everyone who watches your videos, for you and your family.

@NConly, @D. Adrien, @Michael37 and (all who read this): I keep having a weighted conscious, due to the responsibility I have towards others, as Jesus' witness. However, as soon as I posted this topic, that weight shifted to: Why did you post this? Shameful, posting this here. Etc. What I concluded: There is an enemy who likes to bother us, so that our life without God may look easier. This enemy is not just someone who shows us seemingly pleasurable stuff. He can be extremely annoying too. If I did everything I could to do something right, I will shake these annoyances out of my head from now on. The Holy Spirit will show me my mistakes, I don't need to over analyze events. Maybe one clue to know the source of my struggling thoughts is this one: When it is the Holy Spirit, it is I the annoying one. I remembered David's brother. When David offered to take care of the giant, his brother angrily said: "Why have you come down? (...) I know your presumption and the evil of your heart". I like how David remained steady in his will, for he knew who he was and what were his intentions. His whole life, regardless of his mistakes, he was always available to learn from God and make a change. Thank you all, for your attention, help and care. This online community is a blessing! May we all have eternity to know each other.

I am getting even more confused! haha Brother, how could I be offended by something I don't understand. I honestly want to know your reasoning. I am honestly just asking for your help to understand. :) Editing to add: What is the worse thing that can happened here? We can disagree. That is fine! See: My friend told me I was right and that I should speak to administration. I called my mother, told her what had happened and asked her "Mom, I am asking for your opinion, because our friend thinks I did too little, but he is mad at this situation." And she answered "So am I!". That said, I decided to ask for different opinions here. Why would your post be a mistake? Disagree with me. If I disagree with you and we can discuss it with sincerity and good intentions, then in the end we both made a friend.

The one that was a reply to my topic, the television one.

@NConly May you explain how that text relates to my post? I still don't get it as a reply to the situation I was in.

Thank you so much for your answer. I would say the same to a friend in the same situation, but I really needed to "hear" it from someone else. Thank you.

@NConly Cool text, thanks. I think I am too sleepy to connect the dots. I will think about it tomorrow.

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