Total reliance on technology
Disclaimer: To understand the Lord's spiritual truth, you must be born from above by his Holy Spirit. Be sure you've submitted yourself to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and receive this gift from the Lord, lest you add knowledge with no power and are held eternally accountable.
Introduction
I hope you're all doing well today in the Lord and are striving for his kingdom! My day went kind of unexpectedly today, and I'll go into more of that below. But, I unpacked all my fall/winter gear for my van, got out my sweatshirts, and did a big trip to the laundromat, washing everything. Boy it smells clean in here! People are saying it will be a snowy winter, so I'm preparing myself, but also double-checking to make sure I have some things to help my neighbors if they get stuck in the snow (which happened last year) or if they can't start their car. Here's a picture of some fleece I put up on the inside of my van to keep heat in. Works great!
Tomorrow I plan on going through my food supply and shifting things around there. I bought a bunch of Kind bars at a discount grocery store for cheap, but they don't sit well with me (my stomach is sensitive with some things), so I can't really eat them. I'll be getting rid of most of those unfortunately but, I'll be saving some to make some beggar bags to give out to the homeless and what not. I'll share a picture tomorrow!
Technology Reliance Thoughts
So today, something interesting happened at my part-time job. I was originally scheduled for an 8-hour shift, but only worked 3. Why is that? Well, the internet provider for a lot of the city was having real issues, not just at my workplace, but at other places across the street and city. Our systems were down, and my manager struggled to get customer orders by hand for a while before we had to stop receiving orders.
It got me thinking how reliant the world is on technology, and tech is so fragile! Kids are literally being raised in the online world (I was one of them), getting polluted with all sorts of anti-God, anti-Christ false mindsets about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. People have their money online, their investments, their friends, their businesses, their social circles, everything is in the cloud. Now, I used to think that there would be a catastrophe, something that takes the internet down that would throw society into chaos, which could be true. However, since people are all over the globe, and those seeking for centralized control and power want total control of the people around the globe, I've changed my view slightly on this. In order for a centralized global system of power to emerge from some sort of destructive event, there has to be a way to disperse specific information globally to unite the world. Instead of destroying people's reliance on technology and the web, the event could reinforce the reliance on this global platform, to unite everyone together online. Perhaps the event destroys the last bit of non-online freedom that man has (cash, mobility, etc.) and moves the world toward a totally online mode of operation creating an unhealthy reliance on technology as a sort of god-like entity and a savior, if you will. No doubt, trust is being formed with the public in this regard by advancements in AI, and I have no doubt they'll continue to win trust by having technology solve man's biggest problems. But, has it not been a proclivity of sinful man to worship that which is made by his own hands? There's nothing new under the sun.
“He heweth him down cedars, and taketh the cypress and the oak, which he strengtheneth for himself among the trees of the forest: he planteth an ash, and the rain doth nourish it. Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto. He burneth part thereof in the fire; with part thereof he eateth flesh; he roasteth roast, and is satisfied: yea, he warmeth himself, and saith, Aha, I am warm, I have seen the fire: And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god. They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand. And none considereth in his heart, neither is there knowledge nor understanding to say, I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals thereof; I have roasted flesh, and eaten it: and shall I make the residue thereof an abomination? shall I fall down to the stock of a tree? He feedeth on ashes: a deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?” (Isaiah 44:14-20, KJV)
Japanese Language Update
The Lord opened up a door to move to a different platform for language learning I think will be a big benefit to me, and save me money! Before I was using programs called WaniKani, and Bunpro to learn Japanese Kanji and Grammar. Well, these are great, but most of the content is locked behind a pay wall that could add up over time. Instead of these two programs, I'm opting for something called Renshuu. It's an all-in-one app made by one developer that's free (some features you need to pay for, but nothing vital), and it has Vocab, Grammar, Kanji, custom lists, custom everything basically, and a pretty large community behind it. I think this app, coupled with some textbook learning (Genki, Tobira, etc.) will serve me for the long haul and get me up to speed reading and writing Japanese. Speaking is a different story, but I'll talk about that another time.
Closing Reflections
For my closing today I wanted to share some thoughts on giving place to the devil, and why it's important to fill your life with good things else he get an advantage. I made a post on setting a course that will help you get the ball rolling.
“Neither give place to the devil.” (Ephesians 4:27, KJV)
"place"
topos
top'-os
Apparently a primary word; a spot (generally in space, but limited by occupancy; whereas G5561 is a larger but particular locality), that is, location (as a position, home, tract, etc.); figuratively condition, opportunity; specifically a scabbard: - coast, licence, place, X plain, quarter, + rock, room, where.
I didn't have this in my notes but this thought just came to mind. Look at that word "spot," now look at this.
“Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” (2 Peter 3:14, KJV)
We give a spot for the devil by allowing willful sin in our lives. The devil, as powerful as he is, can't have a place in your life unless you allow him to be there.
“We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” (1 John 5:18, KJV)
"toucheth"
haptomai
hap'-tom-ahee
Reflexive of G681; properly to attach oneself to, that is, to touch (in many implied relations): - touch.
If we resist the devil and his attempts to enter our lives, he'll flee, and we'll be at peace in the Lord.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7, KJV)
Let's always test ourselves to see if there be any spot given to Satan in our own lives. If there is, you should be seeing symptoms of something that's not of God, and the Lord's command is this.
“Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.” (Matthew 18:8-9, KJV)
To all those striving for the Lord 力いっぱい(with all your might)!