home.social

#potpourri — Public Fediverse posts

Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #potpourri, aggregated by home.social.

fetched live
  1. Prata Potpourri: How to speak the truth in love, Did tongues cease or not?, Pocket Discernment Guide; Hazel, more

    By Elizabeth Prata

    As summer wanes, the beachgoers drift away, routines gear back up…and now we have a Prata Potpourri of links for you!

    EPrata photo

    Do you like to imagine the reunions occurring in heaven? I do. Of course we are excited to meet Jesus in person. We also like to think of our joy when meeting departed loved ones. Mothers who have lost babies. Parents with grown children once again. MacArthur and Sproul. I love to think of John MacArthur’s meeting with his hero Apostle Paul. Imagine, we will meet and be with all the Bible people! I want to meet Dorcas, Lydia, the Woman at the Well…

    Meanwhile here I am on earth repeating this verse from Galatians 6:9 more and more as I get older,

    “Let us not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary.”

    Friends, trust that if you are serving Jesus, you ARE doing good. Refresh yourself with His word when you do become weary, and think on the goodness and greatness of our blessed future in heaven!

    On to some encouraging and helpful links-

    Image source: ACBC website Susan Heck’s article

    ACBC counselor Susan Heck with a good article about “How to Speak the Truth in Love”. I know I have a hard time finding both the courage to do it and the balance between being firm on truth and gentle on love. Here’s Susan: How to Speak the Truth in Love

    Phil Johnson is a strong defender of the faith, an excellent writer, a pastor of his GraceLife class where he regularly preaches, and has buckets of discernment. Here is Phil on the doctrine of cessationism in an article titled Did Tongues Cease or Not?
    by Phil Johnson, “Time to face honestly the reality that contemporary charismata aren’t anything like the original Pentecostal miracles. Let’s not be too quick to write off cessationism.”

    False teachings and false teachers are as common as sand on the beach nowadays. How can you be safe from falling into error or drawn into thinking wrongly? Here is Sharon Lareau at CHapter 3 Ministries with a Discernment Pocket Guide. She writes:

    Going to church, a Bible study, or a Christian conference? About to start a Christian book, listen to a Christian podcast, or read a Christian blog post? Whatever Christian content you are about to take in, don’t forget your Bible, discernment, and this guide. They can help you to avoid or escape the snare of false teachings.

    Technology, eh? It’s everywhere. It existed in the Israelite days of the Exodus too. Here is Tony Reinke with an essay about that and how we can learn from the warnings given to the wandering Hebrews back then. He wrote in Tech in the Promised Land,

    In this we behold the generosity of the Creator’s covenantal love and the spring of human innovation, his created order, a globe stuffed with elements he invented, created, and distributed throughout the earth at his pre-determined scale, depth, and location — a sort of bait to lure discovery and invention from us, to behold God’s ancient generosity to us in the new, shiny things we make today.

    The Gospel Coalition produced its own AI statement, and takes use of AI to task. They also outlined their expectations for contributors. It’s their “Line in the Sand“, saying-

    “But it’s not writing. Even when it’s created at the behest of a human’s creative prompt and detailed parameters, and even when it’s just assisting a human who has real writing chops, AI-fashioned content doesn’t deserve to be called writing.”

    If you prefer to listen rather than read, here are a few worthy podcasts for you.

    The Women’s Hope podcast just finished a 2 part series on Esther’s Steadfast Courage Amid Fear. Dr. Shelbi Cullen and Kimberly Cummings have produced a series of episodes inspired by Shelbi’s new book, “Steadfast in Every Season: Seeing God’s Faithfulness in the Lives of Women of the Bible.”

    In this episode, Kim and Shelbi look at the story of Esther and her example of courageous trust in the Lord’s providence.

    You can listen at their website, Spotify, Apple, or the other usual locations.

    Amy Spreeman and Michelle Lesley at A Word Fitly Spoken offer some insights about Aging with Grace for Godly Women. It’s a 3-part series. We are all getting up there, aren’t we. One day I was 24, had limitless energy, and was starting a teaching career. Now I’m worn out, looking a retirement, and living at the pointy end of the spear with the verse ‘life is a vapor’ ringing in my ears. If you are young and reading this, someday you will be where I am and you will be acknowledging life’s rapid progression. The ladies wrote:

    Tonight, in part 1, we’re going to take a look at what Scripture says about aging. What does Scripture tell us to think about aging and to do as we age? Grab your Bible and let’s study these passages together.

    In the entertainment arenas we have World Magazine with a list of coming attractions this fall in TV and movies. This past summer I started a loyalty program at the movie theater. I’d wanted to see The Sheep Detectives. I joined so I could get points and a reduced matinee ticket. Since I wasn’t working during the summer I thought a matinee would be a fun thing to do on some hot summer days. Well, that was the only movie I went to! I thought I’d be going every Tuesday. But there simply aren’t movies I am interested in. So many entertainments are too gruesome for me. Maybe some of these upcoming productions will tickle your fancy- World: Coming Soon. One of the listings caught my eye- an updated version of Agatha Christie’s Tommy & Tuppence.

    I saw on Amazon Prime video that they offer the 1961 TV show Hazel. Shirley Booth was so terrific in this show, where she works as a maid/housekeeper for the Baxters. Hazel is optimistic, irrepressible, spunky, and ever watchable. Black and white in the early seasons, and totally family friendly. Sad to say that often the term ‘family friendly’ also means boring or childish, but this show is not either of those. If you’re looking for a good show to watch, I’d try Hazel.

    At Apartment Therapy we learn “They removed the brick fireplace- and they don’t regret it” Dun dun dun! LOL, I love design and decor. I also love ‘before and afters’- take a gander at how this couple re-designed their space before and after.

    #aging #ai #esther #podcasts #potpourri #technology
  2. Prata Potpourri: Algorithms and the Christian, Speaking truth in love, Female Piety, more

    By Elizabeth Prata

    The dog days of summer are upon us here in the south. High humidity, high temperatures even through the night, the air thick with wetness and bugs.

    According to Farmer’s Almanac, the dog days officially begin July 3 to August 11, but the publisher is a Mainer so…I hereby testify that the dog days are upon us in June! Dog days actually doesn’t originate from anything about a dog. Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky and is named Sirius. It’s the eye in the constellation Canis Major, Greater Dog so Sirius is known as the Dog Star. The ancients used to believe when Sirius was in a certain summer position that it caused heat and drought.

    Since it’s summer and summer to me means BEACH, here are some beach pics from north to south along the eastern seaboard.

    Lubec Beach, easternmost in the US. EPrata photo

    I’ve rounded up sme articles for you. I hope you enjoy them, or at least one!

    I’ve been writing about digital life, AI, and algorithms lately. A friend sent me this essay about digital life and the Christian. it’s at a prophecy news type site but it’s a good article absent any woo-woo or fringe stuff.

    The author proposes the following question: Unlike a pastor who prayerfully prepares a message or a teacher who intentionally builds a lesson, algorithms are designed around a different objective. Their purpose is not spiritual maturity. Their purpose is attention. They are designed to learn what captures us, what keeps us watching, and what prevents us from moving on to something else. That reality raises an important question for Christians: If something is constantly shaping our thoughts, then who (or what) is teaching our minds?

    Read the thought provoking article here: Christianity In The Age Of Algorithms

    Sometimes as Christians we must confront a brother or a sister if they are sinning, or raise a difficult subject with a non-Christian. We are reminded always to ‘speak the truth in love’, a phrase from the verse at Ephesians 4:15. Here is ACBC counselor Susan Heck on the topic, and drills down to specifics, like ‘What is Speaking the Truth in Love?’, explains how to do it, why we must, and why we often don’t.

    https://biblicalcounseling.com/resource-library/articles/how-to-speak-the-truth-in-love/

    Myrtle beach, SC. EPrata photo

    And on that note, sometimes we must admit that when we engage in difficult conversations with folks, we drift toward the judgmental but hide behind an excuse of discernment. And we know that discernment often comes with it those difficult conversations. Treading that balance of speaking truth but in love without judgment is hard to do. Here is Eric Bancroft at TableTalk Magazine with a discussion about the difference. He said, “Judgmentalism is concerned about truth regardless of people. Discernment is concerned about truth because of people.”

    https://tabletalkmagazine.com/article/2024/04/discernment-without-judgmentalism/

    I plopped this Reformation Heritage Books link in my draft here a month ago and the book is already out of stock! 15 copies are available at Amazon. It’s a republishing of the 1853 book. The blurb says, “John Angell James, through biblical exposition and character sketches of women from the Bible, shows the benefits of growing in piety as a goal for women from youth through motherhood. Young women are offered biblical and practical advice in order to fulfill the high calling of being a Proverbs 31 woman.”

    Here is the outline-

    1. The Influence of Christianity on the Condition of Woman
    2. The Conspicuous Place which Woman Occupies in Holy Scripture
    3. Woman’s Mission
    4. Early Piety
    5. Religious Zeal
    6. The Parental Home
    7. Life Away from Home
    8. Character of Rebekah
    9. The Ornaments of a Profession of Religion
    10. The Characters of Mary and Martha of Bethany
    11. To Young Mothers
    12. The Beautiful Picture of a Good Wife in the Book of Proverbs

    The reviews on Amazon are good.

    https://heritagebooks.org/products/female-piety-james.html

    Pompano Beach, east coast of FL. EPrata photo

    Here, Pastor Gabe Hughes, the voice of WWUTT.com (When We Understand the Text) posted a 1 minute reel explaining the Karmelo Anthony verdict from a biblical perspective. His wise words should be heard. His reel is here (on Facebook).

    On Youtube, another good video lesson from Gabe Hughes, this time, on why the Holy Spirit will never ‘call’ a women into the pastorate. 26 minutes.

    It’s summer, and many families go camping. In the US we say camper, in the UK it’s caravan, but either way, many families have fond memories of camping in one during the warmer months. Here is an article from Apartment Therapy on a family’s re-do of a 1970s camper. Cool before and after photos.

    Here is an article from UK’s magazine Country Life about the egalitarian-ness (is that a word?) of coffee houses. Anyone with a penny could enter, and discuss issues of the day, philosophy, ideas, or converse with anyone else at communal tables, regardless of class. Benjamin Franklin transported this idea into the US as well, forming the Junto Club where men could exchange ideas and discuss concepts. Here was also born Franklin’s notion of educating the men by creating a lending library, the first in the new world. The Philadelphia Library Company is still going.

    Naples Beach, west coast of FL. EPrata photo

    Enjoy your days!

    #ai #algorithm #bible #faith #jesus #love #potpourri #truth
  3. Wenn’s streng riecht, könnte ein #Potpourri helfen. Doch sein Name lässt eher Übelriechendes vermuten. Wie das zusammenpasst, ergründen wir im Artikel des Tages dwds.de/wb/Potpourri

  4. 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: "𝗔 𝗠𝗮𝗻 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆" 𝗯𝘆 𝗞𝘂𝗿𝘁 𝗩𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗴𝘂𝘁 -

    Vonnegut's sardonic charm and open-handed critical wit are turned all the way up in this brief collection of short essays and observations, personal curiosities and writing advice. Worth the stay!

    #books #bookreviews #bookworm #readreadread #kurtvonnegut #amanwithoutacountry #essays #observations #culturecriticism #memoir #writingadvice #potpourri

    buff.ly/3TSmmFo

  5. The #weather in the #Midwest right now can best be described as the meteorological version of the #Potpourri category on #Jeopardy. #HoosierMast

  6. PunkNotWar goes #Schweiz

    2mal "Make Punk Not War"-#Punkrock-#Lyrik-#Lesung noch im #april :

    #Sonntag, 23.4., ab 17h in #biel
    #Dienstag, 25.4., 19.30h in #bern

    #Krieg ist #Moppelkotze.
    Schon immer gewesen.
    Für alle Beteiligten.

    Eine #Veranstaltung mit einem wilden #Potpourri aus Punk-Rock-Lyrics-Lesung und #Geschichten und #Erfahrungen aus der #antimilitaristischen #Praxis - #Ideen aus der #Vergangenheit die vielleicht #heute nutzbar sind.

    Mehr Infos: punknotwar.blackblogs.org/

  7. He pressed roses into her hands. "You are the sweet #potpourri that scents my life."

    "Um, what?"

    "You said you were aromatic."

    "No. Aromantic. Did you want the roses back?"
    #vss365

  8. We threw out the doilies, tore down the floral wallpaper, tried to forget that woman and the crimes she committed against us, but once in a while the air fills with the intermingling aromas of #potpourri, cat litter, and cigarette smoke, and we know—she is still here.
    #vss365 #microfiction

  9. "Ugh! What is that horrible stench?" Veronica snarled, upon returning home to her tiny apartment.
    "It's #potpourri," Sophie said, in a panic. "I picked it up at the market. I thought it smelled nice."
    Veronica ran around throwing open the windows. Bitter, cold air swirled in. Sophie began to shiver.
    "I can't believe you poisoned me like this," Veronica shouted. "What were you thinking?"
    "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Sophie wailed.
    "You will be," Veronica promised, as she advanced on Sophie.

    #vss365

  10. Life—
    A potpourri of ways
    To fail

    Love—
    A potpourri of ways
    To fall

    #vss365 #potpourri #haiku #senryu

  11. 🎙️ In der 19. Folge vom #Netzpodcast sprechen @adfichter, @joergmaeder, @rahel_estermann und @kire in einem netzpolitischen #Potpourri über die Themen, die uns 2022 beschäftigt haben:

    • Datenunsicherheit
    • Plattformregulierung
    • E-Voting
    • Swiss Cloud
    • Überwachung
    • NFT und Web3

    digitale-gesellschaft.ch/2023/