Blogger, Facebook and Twitter (Is Blogger losing out?)

Yorkshire, Dales, England (photo from trekearth.com)

I am not a member of Twitter and do not know much about it. I am not in any way trying to reflect on it negatively with this article. I have no intention of joining because I am already busy enough online.

Twitter

From the website it states:

Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?

I am a member of Facebook.

Facebook

Facebook helps you connect and share with the people in your life.

After already having two Blogger theology blogs, I joined Facebook to stay in touch with friends that mainly live outside of the Lower Mainland area and to meet new people online.

I also viewed it as an opportunity to promote my blogs, and there is a helpful blog application to promote them on Facebook.

I very much appreciate Facebook...but not as much as I appreciate my blogs.

I post links to my Blogger posts on Facebook but have never intended to place entire Blogger posts on Facebook. This would serve in a sense as another blog that I absolutely do not want as I am busy enough with PhD work and my Blogger blogs.

Even still, please do not misunderstand, I do appreciate very much comments related to Blogger posts left on Facebook.

It would be nice if these comments were duplicated on the blogs, but I realize people are often busy and I do not want to be viewed as a pushy so and so.;)

But, it is enough work writing two Blogger blogs and I do not want to basically write a third blog with pasted posts from satire and theology and thekingpin68 on Facebook.

I also do not want to write an original Facebook theology blog.

But it seems at times over the last few months that Blogger commenting has become less while many of my blog links spend time on Facebook. Some of my Facebook friends seem to perhaps post more theological and Biblical material on Facebook than on a Blogger, WordPress or other blogs.

I realize from experience that social networking is generally easier and often more fun than Blogging.:)

I have started some theological discussions on Facebook which did not translate to more Blogger blog article comments, but predictably more Facebook comments, which once again, I do appreciate very much.

But, if I keep that up I am basically going to be using Facebook as a third theological blog.

I could simply write blog articles in sent Facebook emails and also post a copy in my Facebook profile and then receive related emails from Facebook friends and also comments under the postings in my Facebook profile.

I wonder if it is going to become a trend in the near future for more theological blogging, and more blogging in general, to be done on Facebook then on actual blogs.

I have no ethical/moral problem with blogging on Facebook, but prefer to have professional blogs dedicated to theological, Biblical and philosophical articles with added filler for entertainment and educational purposes as opposed to a blog connected to emails and social networking.

But, that is my take. What is your opinion?

Is Facebook, Twitter, or another social networking service perhaps going to have more on site bloggers in the future than Blogger, WordPress, or other blogs?

Or are dedicated blogs going to remain the primary forum for blogging?

In overall terms, will social networking sites take large amounts of time from bloggers and their blogs?

I think the answer is likely 'no' for the first question and 'yes' with the latter two questions. I am making no ethical/moral judgment here and I am not suggesting people should spend more time on blog sites and less on social network sites.

My Blogger audience is made up of primarily online searches, blog links and friends. These online searches do sometimes include persons from Facebook.

My Facebook audience is primarily Facebook friends.

I reason there is more potential for readership and comments at this point with Blogger. This combined with the nature of dedicated blogs has me wanting to focus primarily on my existing blogs over Facebook in regard to blogging.

The End


Tom Vu says, 'You a looza'.





Mom sent me this picture with description.

'Redneck word of the day : "OBAMA"

I BOUGHT ME A CASE OF BEER AND DRANK IT OBAMA SELF!'

A story on the web that I DID NOT write:

'A BOTTLE OF WINE

A woman and a man are involved in a car accident on a snowy, cold Monday morning; it's a bad one. Both of their cars are totally demolished, but amazingly neither of them are hurt. God works in mysterious ways.

After they crawl out of their cars, the man is yelling about women drivers.

The woman says, 'So, you're a man. That's interesting. I'm a woman. Wow, just look at our cars! There's nothing left, but we're unhurt. This must be a sign from God that we should be friends and live in peace for the rest of our days'.

Flattered, the man replies, 'Oh yes, I agree completely, this must be a sign from God! But you're still at fault...women shouldn't be allowed to drive.'

The woman continues, 'And look at this, here's another miracle. My car is completely demolished but this bottle of wine didn't break. Surely God wants us to drink this wine and celebrate our good fortune.' She hands the bottle to the man. The man nods his head in agreement, opens it and drinks half the bottle and then hands it back to the woman. The woman takes the bottle, puts the cap back on and hands it back to the man.

The man asks, 'Aren't you having any?'

The woman replies, 'No. I think I'll just wait for the police....'

MORAL OF THE STORY: Women are clever and evil'

Evangelicalism in the future: The Socialist Paradise of Canada and the Excited States of Americana

My Facebook friend and blog link Leroy of

Professor Howdy

and

My Thoughts on Life

posted a link from Michael Spencer:

Monitor: Evangelical Collapse

I left the following reply on Facebook to the Spencer article...oh yea once again Facebook is not the new Blogger!;) The Spencer article portions are in quote marks

In regard to evangelicalism and politics:

'1. ... This will prove to be a very costly mistake. Evangelicals will increasingly be seen as a threat to cultural progress. Public leaders will consider us bad for America, bad for education, bad for children, and bad for society. '

This sounds reasonable.

In regard to the development of young evangelicals:

'2. ...Our young people have deep beliefs about the culture war, but do not know why they should obey scripture, the essentials of theology, or the experience of spiritual discipline and community. Coming generations of Christians are going to be monumentally ignorant and unprepared for culture-wide pressures.'

This is true in many cases...people are not interested in theology and Christian philosophy, in other words what is behind a Christian worldview.

A possible evangelical collapse:

'3...coming evangelical collapse will not result in a second reformation, though it may result in benefits for many churches and the beginnings of new churches.'

Reasonable, but hopefully there will be another Reformation.

For this blog I will add the following:

In regard to evangelicalism and politics:

'1. ... This will prove to be a very costly mistake. Evangelicals will increasingly be seen as a threat to cultural progress. Public leaders will consider us bad for America, bad for education, bad for children, and bad for society. '

First, I should note that although I consider myself theologically evangelical, I would see myself as primarily Christian and Reformed.

It seems from the American media and reading blogs that it is becoming more difficult over time to be socially conservative in the United States. This attitude of the mainstream media and the many of the masses against social conservatism is even more prevalent in Canada and Western Europe. Social conservatism and its values are often tied to Biblical Christianity and therefore Biblical Christianity may face increased opposition over time.

Satirically, in The Socialist Paradise of Canada we have a land area slightly larger than that of the Excited States of Americana, and so if enough Americans from the 'red states' moved here perhaps we could create a conservative nation up north somewhere and then separate from Canada like some of the Quebecois desire with Quebec.

In regard to the development of young evangelicals:

'2. ...Our young people have deep beliefs about the culture war, but do not know why they should obey scripture, the essentials of theology, or the experience of spiritual discipline and community. Coming generations of Christians are going to be monumentally ignorant and unprepared for culture-wide pressures.'

I have reasoned this for years based on another problem I have faced. That being that I can find so few women to relate enough to ask out on a date. Many evangelical women (not all) simply are not theological enough to relate to a theologian. I can attempt to stop being so theological all the time but inevitably I look at things philosophically and theologically and I need a women to relate to that aspect of me at least somewhat. I am not stating she should have a theology or related degree.

Now, I realize that I do not live in Christianized America and that since I have been a student for so long I have not had the social life needed to date often. And yes, I have made mistakes, but not with a right one.

The End.

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A real life Fred Flinstone?

The following you do not want to state to fellow bloggers when you are in a dispute!

Thanks Mom, for sending.













This photo from a previous post has been bringing in some traffic and so I present once again...Vinyl Man

Double Feature: The Lochness Monster vs. Tarzan/Shared control of my computer?

Sutton Bank, England (photos from trekearth.com)

Shared control of my computer?

I had to call Microsoft on two different occasions in regard to an issue on my Mom's computer and it took me several hours to work out the problem. I found something out which is quite interesting which I am certain some of you are already aware of.

The Microsoft technician with the owner's permission and with the use of downloaded software can take over shared control of a computer that has a Microsoft operating system. The technicians in India did so on my Mom's computer and fixed the problem twice.

I reason a government technician could take shared control of a personal computer too...likely without permission. The shared control was done through the operating system by the Microsoft technician but I reason this could be done by government technicians to spy on terror and criminal suspects, but could also be done to any citizen I suppose that has a Microsoft operating system on a computer. Business computers could also be examined without permission.

I have mixed views on the idea of shared control. For technical support, I admit that it is a very helpful concept for a customer. I am pretty knowledgeable with computers, but I am not a technician and the shared control allowed me to have this problem dealt with quicker than it would be if I was to do my own research and to ask my various software engineer friends for assistance.

On the negative side, it would be quite easy I reason for Microsoft to work with various Western government agencies to spy on persons through entering the operating system. I suppose this would not be too difficult to do as all official copies of Microsoft operating system are to be registered to a name.

I personally have nothing to hide from Western governments, and I do not store sensitive information of my hard drive. As well, as I am a theological blogger I am making my views public and I risk one day possibly being at odds with the powers that be. But, this is a stance I take for the gospel and the theological, philosophical and Biblical research I have done for almost twenty years is what I reason the Lord wishes me to share with others in love and respect.

But even if such tactics as the government without authorization taking shared control of my computer did take place, I am to obey the state as long as I obey the Bible and God at the same time.

The state however, should obey its own laws.

Concerning Romans 13, F.F. Bruce writes that human government is a divine ordinance and has the powers of coercion and commendation which it has been given by God. By Christians obeying the state, they are serving God. Bruce (1987: 221).

Bruce reasons that Paul does not deal with the issue of unrighteous government here, but as with Acts 5: 29, Christians must obey God and Christ and not the state when the state claims divine honours. Bruce (1987: 221).

Cranfield explains that in Romans 13, Paul is not asking for an uncritical obedience to the state, but rather that God has placed the state in authority over persons. Cranfield (1992: 321).

Mounce states that in Romans 13, that there is a divinely sanctioned role of government and that Christians are responsible to that government. It did not make any difference that the governing authorities were secular. God is the sole source of authority and established the authority for the state.

If the government oversteps its rightful domain, then according to Mounce the Christian should not obey the ruler and he notes this was done in Acts 4: 9 and 5: 29.

Concerning 1 Peter 2 13-15, Barclay explains that the concept of anarchy by the Christian is far from New Testament thought. Barclay reasons what belongs to Caesar (the state) should be given to it, and what belongs to God should be given to God (Matthew 22: 21). Barclay (1976: 205).

Both Cranfield and Barclay mention that Paul is discussing the concept of submitting to an authoritarian state, as in the Roman Empire of the New Testament era. Barclay (1976: 206) Cranfield (1992: 321). Barclay correctly point out in my view that in our modern West the need for Christians to participate in democratic government as it is for and by the people, at least idealistically. Barclay (1976: 206).

Voting, letter writing, public meetings and even blogging would be ways for a Christian to voice a view.

I reason this concept of submission to the state could becomes tricky for the typical Western Christian mind. My natural reaction and that of many Christians in Western society in the Church I reason, if we were to face heavy serious persecution perhaps leading to death, would be to physically fight back. However, in a democratic Western setting we are allowed to forcibly remove the government through the vote and in some cases referendum or an act of a legislature. If the government broke the law by spying on me through unauthorized sharing of my computer, I would have the right to challenge the government based on the existing laws.

It certainly was immoral and unjust for the Roman state to execute Christians because they were Christians and would not obey the state and worship other gods, and yet the Christians were often martyrs and not soldiers.

I am not stating that because Christian did not revolt against Rome that this means we as Christians should not oppose tyranny. Germany from my understanding had a type of democracy prior to Nazis Germany and Christians should have opposed within legal means the rise of this totalitarian state. Also in the West today, Christians should oppose abortion on demand by legal means.

In conclusion, in seems to me that the Romans and Peter passages seem to rule out revolution by force against an authoritarian state. Christ died for sin, the apostles and the disciples for the most part became martyrs if need be and did not attempt to revolt against the state in the context of revolution.

Romans 13 (New American Standard Bible)

Romans 13
Be Subject to Government

1Every (A)person is to be in (B)subjection to the governing authorities For (C)there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

2Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

3For (D)rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;

4for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an (E)avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.

5Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also (F)for conscience' sake.

6For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.

7(G)Render to all what is due them: (H)tax to whom tax is due; (I)custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

8Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for (J)he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

1 Peter 2:12-15 (New American Standard Bible)

12(A)Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they (B)slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, (C)glorify God (D)in the day of [a]visitation.

13(E)Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,

14or to governors as sent by him (F)for the punishment of evildoers and the (G)praise of those who do right.

15For (H)such is the will of God that by doing right you may (I)silence the ignorance of foolish men.

BARCLAY, WILLIAM (1976) The Letters of James and Peter, Philadelphia, The Westminster Press.

BRUCE, F.F. (1987) Romans, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

CRANFIELD, C.E.B. (1992) Romans: A Shorter Commentary, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1995) The New American Commentary: Romans, Nashville, Broadman & Holman Publishers.




The Lochness Monster versus Tarzan



My Lochness Monster article in archives has been bringing in the most traffic so far to this blog. I need to relax from PhD revisions and so here is the ending of a 'match' between Giant Haystacks (The Lochness Monster) and a wrestler calling himself Tarzan.

Please watch from 3:25 on...LOL.

Tarzan probably feels like a lot British PhD students after the verbal defence/viva.;)

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Non-exhaustive thoughts on Facebook: featuring web cammers and scammers

Non-exhaustive thoughts on Facebook

Sunday is a day off from PhD revisions and it is late Sunday night, early Monday morning.

Facebook positives:

Keeping up with old friends:

Facebook has made it much easier for me to stay in touch with old friends and to let them know I would be visiting Wales and England last January, for example. Not that my friends are that old mind you, but they are not as young as they were when I had previously lived in Manchester, of course.

I am older too, but...

hair club (just joking this is a satire site and I have no person in mind)

Reacquainting with my old school friends/acquaintances:

For me this includes, former churches, elementary school, high school, Bible school, seminary and the British Universities I have attended. It is interesting to try and remember as many persons as possible and to look them up and them see if they will be my Facebook friend, that is if I can stomach a certain person and vice versa.;)

That is not always the case with me being as controversial as I am. ;)

I am not stating that I dislike someone if I do not ask him or her to be a Facebook friend, or that I think he or she dislikes me.

Promoting my blogs:

Since I am working on a PhD in Theology, it is good to promote my teaching and academic abilities through this blog, satire and theology, and my more academic blog, thekingpin68 as well. It has been good to meet online both Christians and non-Christians willing to give my material a read.

Strangers:

Sometimes some pleasant people can be met. I look forward to continuing to meet new people.

Facebook negatives:

Strangers:

Group 1: The 'web cammers’.

Through the 'Are You Interested?' application I click on certain women and they some click on me. This is not a dating service in my mind and is simply a way for me to perhaps weed through thousands of women to perhaps meet a Christian one to chat with as a Facebook friend.

I do not expect to ever date anyone through this or anything further than that, but I try.

The web cammers after we are Facebook friends sometimes appear on Facebook chat. Tonight via chat one asked me if I was ready to see her naked. I did not reply and simply deleted her as a friend. This is as my Facebook status headline reads:

Russ does not have a webcam...and is not getting one.

As well I have been asked a few times if I have a webcam and I know that a related invitation to Yahoo Messenger or Windows Messenger is leading to a ‘party’ with her and perhaps a friend, and I just see this as a total waste of time, and of course opposed to Christian morals.

Matthew 5:27-28 (New American Standard Bible)

27"(A)You have heard that it was said, '(B)YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY';

28but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman (C)with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Now I have never claimed to be completely sexually pure in spirit, not at all, but I would like to avoid sexual sin. I delete the women that ask me if I have a webcam as well.

The fact I am a full-time student living in a quite secular part of the Western World and have not met suitable Christian women does not in any way mean that looking at someone on a webcam is going to assist me with issues of loneliness and related.

Group 2: The ‘web scammers’.

I have had quite a few of these from Christian websites and now recently a few on Facebook claim to show interest in me, but the scripts and tactics are all too familiar.

No, I am not going to pay for a young woman to come and see me and have her take the money and share it with her organized crime employers.

One time a Russian young woman after approximately three emails, in which we did not have any deep meaningful conversation, stated she ‘loved me’.

scammers

I posted this yesterday on Facebook and the other blog, but this relates to this point as well.

This is a message from someone, that according to her, is now in Benin, Africa, and was formerly in London and North Carolina. She is on the Facebook 'Are You Interested?' application. She acted ticked when I messaged with her briefly here last week and had not visited her when I was in the UK last month, as she was in London. As if I was going to visit her after two to three short email messages, as she is a stranger and I was nowhere near London. I have no clue what the hell she is writing about.

''sweetie, if i tell you i love you, it doesnt mean facial loving, you talking about facial loving, i havnt met you ,so i believe i just like you but i love the way you talk to me, message me, i can read the feelings you have for me and i believe definetely we are going to me then that means we will one day. i so much chrish your humbleness and the way you talk to me through mails and also your profile is an evidence of you mylove.' '

My reply to this message was...LOL.

Fishy applications:

My final negative with Facebook for this post is when I receive messages stating that so and so, usually a female Facebook friend, wrote such and such about me. I checked with a certain person and she basically stated she had no clue and had done no such thing. This has happened more than once with Facebook applications, and I therefore question the integrity and honesty of some of these programs.

Please check out my other new short article below and leave a short comment if you feel so inclined with both of my posts:

short

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Crazy drivers: both sexes


Caution: This clip is funny, but there is some black humour I would have edited out.