13 Ways to Monitor Your Brand on Social Media: Do You Know What Is Being Said About Your Company Online? | Jeffbullas's Blog

13 Ways to Monitor Your Brand on Social Media: Do You Know What Is Being Said About Your Company Online?


Written by Jeff Bullas - View Comments
Categories: Social Media


I recently wrote a post about 28 Reasons Why The CEO Is Afraid Of Social Media and I received a lot of comments from people about how they often heard some of these reasons, either as internal advocates of Social Media or as external consultants.


They said they came up against CEO’s and management that were afraid of the conversations they might hear on social media and the many reasons why they as a company and brand shouldn’t be and won’t be participating. A few of these excuses were.

• It could damage the company’s reputation 
• We will lose control of our brand and image 
• They are terrified of feedback and truth 

How to Find, Rather Than Make, Writing Time | WritersDigest.com

I love articles about being more productive. I always come to them with a hopeful expectation that some gem inside will hold the power to transform my writing time. And usually I’m left feeling disappointed—more than disappointed, actually. Guilty. Because while these articles are great at pointing out things that can be seen as a waste of time, they forget to take into account one important thing: People (yes, even writers!) need downtime. We don’t need to fill every moment with something that’s quantifiably productive. Plus, for writers, the happy truth is that downtime can be productive in all sorts of ways.

Don’t feel pressured to give up things you enjoy—however mundane—to make time to write.

Take TV, for instance. Productivity experts jump straight to this topic almost without fail. Turn it off, they say. Think of all the other things you could be doing instead. Productive things.

They’re right, of course—in theory. Let’s talk about reality. What does yours look like? I, for example, am a working mom. I get up extra early to spend time with my son before we head off to day care and work. My lunch break, if I take one, is a visit to see how he’s doing. After work, we rush home to squeeze in as much time together as possible before, too soon, it’s time to put him to bed. And when he’s asleep and I sink onto the couch next to my husband for the first time all day, I’ve already been going nonstop (quite productively, mind you) for a full 15 hours.

There are lots of things I should do with the hour that follows—things I’ve been meaning and wanting to do, including making time to write. But you know what usually happens? We watch a little TV together. We laugh at a sitcom. We end up starting a conversation about something that happened that day and then realize we have no idea what happened on the show and have to start the DVR all over. We eat ice cream.

And you know what? I like it. We need downtime. Sure, we could be doing other productive things (or spending more “quality” time together), but the truth is (good or bad) that what we both want to do in that moment is something mindless. For some of us, at certain times of the day, that’s what it takes to unwind, and anything else would be forced. I don’t know about you, but that’s not the place my best writing comes from.

If you want to write more often, find the “write time” for you.

I’m a supporter of doing what you want to do. I have been ever since I was a kid. (Think back to what it was like to clench your fists and think, I can’t wait until I’m a grownup so I can do whatever I want to do! Conjure that feeling up—and then go have chocolate chip pancakes for dinner. You know you want to.)

My point is this: You don’t always have to give up things you enjoy—even mundane things, even things that you’re reluctant to admit you take enjoyment in—to make time to write. You don’t have to feel guilty about everything you do that isn’t writing. (And there might be other reasons you enjoy those things that you haven’t considered. You know what there’s lots of on TV? Good writing—dialogue, characters, plots, settings, themes, ideas …)

Does this mean I don’t get any writing done in the evenings? Actually, there’s a period later in the nights that I’m less fond of—when my husband falls asleep the instant his head hits the pillow and I lie there marveling at how he can do that. I often redirect that time to my laptop, even if only 20 or 30 minutes—and a great unintended side effect is that my work-in-progress stays in my mind as I drift off to sleep, so the “boys in the basement,” as Stephen King dubbed his creative subconscious, can work while I rest. And the work I’ve done in these periods is not at all negligible when working toward my weekly word quotas (see my previous post: Do You ReallyNeed to Write Every Day?).

How can you go about finding time to write?

I’m not saying this will also work for you. What I am saying is this: Try to notice time in your day, even if it’s only 15 minutes, when you are not doing something you enjoy or something you have to do. What time do you already have that you can reuse as writing time?

Focus also on what’s already working for you, and see how you can expand on your own best practices and employ them elsewhere.

What are the most effective ways you make time to write? Share your tips below!

Hint: This topic is on my mind because of a future issue we’re working on. I’d love to hear your ideas! Leave a comment below to keep the conversation going, and you might just see your response printed in WD. 

Jessica Strawser

Editor, Writer’s Digest

How to Find, Rather Than Make, Writing Time | WritersDigest.com

Blogging, RSS & Feeds | Free Online Home Business Directory

It is interesting the kind of information you can get on the Internet. and more so, free information that could eventually help you get a successful business

Blogging, RSS & Feeds | Free Online Home Business Directory

How to ping your Blog

You can ping your blog in order for it to be submitted to various search engines, blog and rss directories that your blog is updated or created.

The benefit of this is that you will get faster search engine indexing, increased visibility and of course, more traffic!

article hostgator coupon

The Cross in History

Have you ever noticed that world history is divided by one event? That event was not the rise or fall of some major empire, as one would expect. Nor was it the discovery of a new continent. Instead, world history has been divided by the birth of a single itinerant rabbi living in a relatively obscure part of the vast Roman Empire. Considering the vast number of Jews born at this time, it’s even more revealing that this one birth, among so many, should be the marker that has divided world history into its two largest epochs.

That birth, of course, is of Jesus.

In the context of God and history, we can better appreciate the significance of salvation. For here, at the Cross—with the obvious failure of all humans, and thus, human history—is where the background and also the deepest meaning of world history unfold. The Cross tells us that, by forgiving us and making us His children, God has opened up a new future for us, a future in which we no longer need to drag along with us the enormous guilt of our past or of our personal history. This guilt has been taken away by One who “has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows” (Isa. 53:4, NKJV).

Esther Arunga Wants To Go Back To TV

 

After a year running around making all the wrong headlines, good-girl-gone-bad Esther Arunga now says she wants to get back to what made her famous, television.
Mrs Timberlake, who has a three-week old baby, Sinclair Timberlake, says she is planning on making a comeback in the media not as a news anchor but a talkshow host.
"I am coming back to media as soon as my baby starts weaning. My husband and I are initiating a TV programme dubbed 'Upclose and Vivid,'" she says.
She doesn't have a station yet but says she is open to any that will show interest. We have a feeling this show's ratings would be sky high as people find out if she's still got it. Esther Arunga Wants To Go Back To TV

Amazing Grace

This song is simply touching. Amazing Grace though a common song, brings a new meaning to life when you listen to this version of the song.

Emotional Intelligence (EQ): Five Key Skills for Raising Your EQ

Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

FIVE KEY SKILLS FOR RAISING YOUR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

 Emotional intelligence (EQ) is a different type of intelligence. It’s about being “heart smart,” not just “book smart.” The evidence shows that emotional intelligence matters just as much as intellectual ability, if not more so, when it comes to happiness and success in life. Emotional intelligence helps you build strong relationships, succeed at work, and achieve your goals.

The skills of emotional intelligence can be developed throughout life. You can boost your own “EQ” by learning how to rapidly reduce stress, connect to your emotions, communicate nonverbally, use humor and play to deal with challenges, and defuse conflicts with confidence and self-assurance.

Felopio™ Blocked Fallopian Tubes Treatment | Herbs to Unblock Fallopian Tubes

I was going about my business as usual when I decided to do some research on progesterone. It has become a topic of interest to me lately. Just as I was about to wind up, I stumbled upon information that could be of great help to all those women out there who are trying to get pregnant and cannot due to blocked Fallopian tubes. Well, the good news is that there is a remedy for that and better still, it is a proven and natural way of unblocking the tubes. Just for a few dollars, price is inclusive of shipping, they deliver the treatment to you. Check out their website below for more information.

The Infertility Cure: The Ancient Chinese Wellness Program for Getting Pregnant and Having Healthy Babies

Felopio™ Blocked Fallopian Tubes Treatment | Herbs to Unblock Fallopian Tubes

ImgDaddy | Probably the funniest site on the net...

ImgDaddy | Probably the funniest site on the net...

Freelance Writing

10 Reasons to Become a Writer

1. You are welcome to join the friendly family of freelance writers at Academia-Research.com if:
2. You want to become more productive in the pecuniary sense - to earn extra (and significant at that) sums of money — or in the sense of creating more text pieces that are in high demand;
3. You want to receive new learning opportunities in order to enhance the professional knowledge level;
4. You are equipped with the appropriate writing skills and want to test them at the actual battleground. In that case we can serve your tool for self-discovery;
5. You want to become independent both economically and morally and to take total control of your life;
6. You possess vast knowledge and numerous insights on some subjects and want to share them with someone except your diaries and notes;
7. You are self-disciplined, work well independently and do not like direct and obtrusive supervision right behind your back in the office;
8. You like written word and have a lot to tell people about: your personal emotions, deep thoughts and wise considerations;
9. You have gained some important eye-opening experience that is a must for everyone to find out about;
10. You are a teacher or a scientist who got tired of the narrow and boring limitations of the former occupations and want to start new life in the familiar academic surroundings;
11. You are a romantic idealist and still think it is possible to change people and the world for better by the power of merely a written word.

Well, they are eleven!

Freelance Writing

PROGESTERONE DEFICIENCY & INFERTILITY

Apr 30, 2011 | By Suzanne Robin

Photo Credit pregnancy test - positive image by Grzegorz Szlowieniec from Fotolia.com


Female fertility depends on the interaction of several hormones, each of which must be produced in precise quantities at precise times in the menstrual cycle. Progesterone, one of the female hormones essential for pregnancy, is produced mainly in the second half of the menstrual cycle. Progesterone deficiency can make it hard for you to get pregnant by preventing implantation or by not producing enough progesterone to sustain a pregnancy. Progesterone deficiency can also be a sign of an underlying fertility problem within the ovary.

Dancing baby!

Progesterone Levels in Pregnancy

Role of Progesterone during Pregnancy

Progesterone is secreted in the body of men as well as in women. In men the level remains the same but in women, from the time of puberty, progesterone levels starts fluctuating. At the time of menstruation cycle the progesterone levels increase to support and regulate the cycle. This is the role of progesterone before pregnancy. Following are the roles of progesterone during pregnancy.

• It prepares the lining of the uterus at the time of implantation. 
• It makes the uterus lining thick so as to support the pregnancy. It also prevents the uterus from the contractions. 
• It creates a mucous plug at the cervix of uterus which behaves as a wall to stop the entry of bacteria. 
• It helps in creating a favorable environment for the baby and maintains a proper flow of nutrients, glycogen and blood flow. 

Progesterone Levels in Pregnancy

What is Omnipop?

Many clients have asked us about the use of autosomal STRs with a 3rd party developed program called Omnipop.  However, Brian Burritt, the creator of OmniPop, has indicated that he had created OmniPop with no specific use in mind.  Furthermore, he has indicated that he does not use OmniPop to do biogeograhical origin searches himself and would not be able to speak on the issues in detail.  We have reviewed Omnipop and feel that Omnipop is not an ideal program for ancestral analysis and can provide misleading information.  As such, we have not placed Omnipop as an interactive program on our site.  If you are interested in using Autosomal DNA for family comparisons and family searches, we have built an independent database called DNA Reunion for comparison purposes.  Read more about the most popular applications for Autosomal DNA at 

Joy

There is so much Joy when you decide to follow Jesus, so much joy into your soul!

Young people in the dark!

Dancing your stress away

Found at Beemp3.com

 Put on your dancing shoes and exercise tracksuit and dance the stress away! Dance is the perfect stress reliever! try it!

Koffi Olomide Danger Song

Found at Beemp3.com

I love Koffi's Music and this one is just the one! Especially the part Where Koffi is playing with the Baby! Lingala for life. Sit back and enjoy!

Mchongowano reloaded

Wewe mshamba hadi simu yako iko na game ya kulima.

Una mkono rough hadi ukishika mouse, computer inadai 'Found New Hardware'.

Umezoea kula mogoka hadi unaogopa kumeza mboga.

Ati wewe ni mchafu mpaka ukiingia kwa lake kuswim, fish zinatoka kutema mate.

Ati sister yako ni mnono mpaka chali yake humshow 'U r 2 in a million'.

Ati umezoea kuokoa jahazi hadi safcom hukuuliza "Utahama lini"?

Ati una kipara ukivaa polo neck unakaa roll-on.

Join Amazon Prime - Watch Thousands of Movies & TV Shows Anytime - Start Free Trial Now



Ati wewe ni mzee hadi ukizaliwa, "OLD TESTAMENT" ilikuwa inaitwa "TESTAMENT".

Umezoea kutumia wasee 'Please Call Me' mpaka ukipress *130* simu ukutolea
phone book ujichagulie.

Wewe ni dentist mpro hadi unang'oa bluetooth ya phone yako.

Ati wewe mweusi tu sana mpaka hauna bright ideas.

Ati mtoi wenu alizaliwa akiwa mblack mpaka doki akasema, "Ngai kameungua".

Wewe ni mkonda hadi uki dance helicopter una take off...

Uko na macho kubwa hadi wewe huitwa eye witness.

Ati kwenyu ni kuchafu hadi mende za jirani zinaita zenyu chokora.

15 Web Design Trends to Watch Out For in 2012

15 Web Design Trends To Watch Out For In 2012


By Jake Rocheleau Filed in Web Design


So far the year 2011 has brought upon some amazing changes in design and Internet technology. Web development has become a much smoother subject to jump into learning, not to mention the countless open source libraries useful in streamlining the process. And yet it seems the global design community is far from throwing in the towel.





I want to introduce 15 ideas which have grown very rapidly over the past year. These trends encompass web and graphics design techniques which will likely play a big role moving into 2012. You have probably seen a few of these represented throughout many of your favorite sites online.


Thankfully the methods to implement these features are becoming easier to understand and much slimmer in code.



1. Responsive Interface Design

The average user’s experience is possibly the most important aspect to consider when designing a website. You want page elements to respond quickly to keyboard/mouse input and behave as expected. Some examples may include side fly-out menus, drop-down boxes, and popup windows.


Including famous JavaScript libraries such as MooTools and jQuery, it has become much easier to animate these features and even more. Most modern-day browsers support this code and even gracefully degrade when the scripts aren’t available. Ultimately you want to make the user feel comfortable when interacting with anywhere in the design.





Similarly you should take form input and data checking into consideration. On many registration pages you’ll receive small responses as you work through each input area. You can automate checking for valid e-mail addresses, duplicate usernames, and even double-check password inputs. This will save time on the user’s end and provides a handy guide throughout the signup process.

2. Touchscreen Mobile Devices

In the past couple of years it has become evident that smartphones are gaining support among even non-tech enthusiasts. But only since 2011 have we seen an explosion of mobile sites and mobile-specific templates.





The popularity of iPhone and iPad devices along with Android-powered phones means you will have visitors fully interacting with your pages through touch commands. This has to become a realistic consideration with every design mockup. Trends in mobile web design have shown that building an entirely separate mobile theme often provides the best results. In this way you can keep all the dynamic content in place on your main layout while serving up a slimmed version of the site to mobile users.

3. Tons Of Freebies!

Who can say they honestly don’t enjoy free downloads? Web designers have been sharing their content online for years, but only recently has this become a very popular trend among digital artists. There have been a few communities built specifically around offering free downloads for web and graphic designers.


Two of my personal favorites are Download PSD and Designmoo, both of which get updated frequently by top-quality members. Additionally the Hongkiat Freebies archive has plenty of sweet goodies to check out. In any era before it has literally never been this easy to download free web interfaces, layouts, logos, banners, and practically any other type of PSD/AI file!
Some Neat Downloads


Below are just a few cool freebies to check out from earlier in 2011. And if you think this list has some great files, just wait until 2012 rolls around!


Mini Web UI Set





Dark Mini Music Player





Sliding Tags





Dark Photo Slider





Search Boxes





Login in/Signin Form





Login Modal Box





Clean Login Form





Pricing Tables





Minimal Loading Bars





Attachment Pop-up

4. HTML5 & CSS3 Standards

Both of these new design archetypes have accumulated an ever-growing following throughout 2011. Semantic web designers have been waiting years to churn out CSS-only designs rendering rounded corners and drop shadows. Additionally the W3C has made a lot of headway in garnering support from the most popular browsers.


I can only see good things for the future of HTML5/CSS3 web development. Front-end designers are often overlooked in today’s field, yet they serve such a great importance to the entire composition process. Try not to squeeze yourself into any set ‘label’ based on the techniques you know and practice daily. We offer a beginner’s how-to guide for HTML5/CSS3 coding if you feel the need to catch up.





Sticking with these new standards will also make developing in JavaScript and jQuery just that much easier. Developers have already been publishing and sharing their HTML5/CSS3 project code online, and if things continue we’ll surely notice a whole lot more of this going into next year.

5. Ribbons And Banners

Although this design technique isn’t exactly “new” it never truly broke through mainstream until just recently. You have probably seen examples of corner ribbons, banner navigation bars, and small ribbon badges. These trends have likely exploded because of the massive accumulation of detailed tutorials which can be found all through Google.





Web designers are more competent these days in launching their own blogs to share information. Now simple techniques can easily be passed around between designers to duplicate the most popular effects. There are even free PSDs you can download to save yourself the effort.
6. Premium WordPress Themes


The final release of WordPress 3.0 included a host of long-awaited features such as custom post types and unique article images. Yet the most profound changes I have seen are coming from WordPress development shops which specialize in premium WP themes.





After you purchase such a theme the installation process is similar to any other. Yet it’s now possible to include custom plug-in functionality, child themes, new admin menus, and a whole bunch of other features right from within the theme! WooThemes, ElegantThemes and Rocket Themes are few brands which stand out to me above all the rest. Their quality is impeccable and I feel their developers go above-and-beyond to create the best templates and most intuitive admin menus.


Going into 2012 I can only imagine WordPress will become even easier to use. This means more high-quality themes to be released, and more amazing blogs to be launched.

7. Online Magazines

Speaking about WordPress themes we should also bring up the quickly-adopted success of online magazines. These websites are not so different from any generic WordPress blog aside from the general structure and page layout. You can spot these larger mags by the sheer presentation of their home page, and collection of authors writing for the site.





As magazines begin moving online they will become a source of income for many writers. Granted a topic such as ‘web design’ targets a smaller niche than, say, gaming or economics. But the fact that we’re seeing more design magazines online than print goes to show where the world may be heading in the years to come.

8. Easy Drop Shadows

As a facet of CSS3 it’s now easier than ever for designers to implement a drop shadow anywhere on the page. Box text and box-style elements have been given respective properties to render clear-cut shadow effects.


The text-shadow syntax is very easy to memorize and follows along as box-shadow. With images now unnecessary in rendering these effects, web developers can focus on expanding these basic ideas further. I personally love Matt Hamm’s page curls which were developed entirely with CSS3. You can find all the code on his website to duplicate the effect and implement a similar style onto your own pages.

9. Dynamic Typography

Fonts are a big part of the sphere encompassing web design tradition. The most notable fonts including Arial, Helvetica, Georgia, and Trebuchet MS have been around for years now. Although they continue to serve a deep purpose in web standards, there are plenty of alternate options for advanced webpage typography.


Typekit for example only requires a couple lines of code to be included in your document head. After this you can specify which font names to include and append them into your CSS. The best part about this technique is that it relies mostly on JavaScript, so the end user isn’t required to have the fonts installed.





Another alternative is Google Web Fonts which behaves in a similar manner to Typekit. I recommend interested designers to check out CSS3′s @font-face media query, as you are given much more creativity. This code can be used to import a .ttf or .otf font file from your web server and include it as a usable stylesheet font! With so many alternate systems used for building dynamic fonts I’m expecting 2012 to hold a surge of innovation and design talent in this area.

10. Image Gallery Slideshows

With the subsequent popularity of jQuery I have spotted more and more image slideshows being dropped into web layouts. Galleries are perfect for demonstrating a quick glimpse of inner-page content. This could be a set of portfolio entries, photographs, blog posts with featured images, demo screenshots, etc.





When you consider the many unique sliding and fading animations it has never been easier to construct a quick slideshow for your home page. I’m confident that 2012 will see an uptick in these trends, and not just between designers. Online web applications and software companies have been using slideshows as guided tutorials to display screenshots and unique features.

11. Modal Popup Boxes

I feel that modal boxes are still fairly new to the Internet considering they’ve been appearing in desktop software and mobile apps for years. The purpose of a modal window is to offer box content(such as user registration or login) on top of the current page without loading onto a new one.





Many of the open-source image gallery scripts use a type of lightbox effect where the background fades darker than the popup box. I really enjoy this feature whenever I see it, although it has yet to be adopted by many. And although modal boxes are sexy and sleek, they can also be very difficult to code and get working properly.





To get ideas for your own websites check out some of the more popular social news sharing communities.Reddit and Digg are the first two which come to mind as they both feature register/login modal boxes with a typical layout. Additionally the UI effects for Google+ boast a considerable amount of modal functionality.

12. Inspirational Lists

Collections of list items have appeared since the very early days of web design. As we moved into the new century designers began using HTML ordered and unordered lists to house navigation menus. But nowadays lists can and are being used for much more.





In most of the blog themes I find the entire sidebar is loaded with lists! Not to mention designers who have crafted awesome CSS styles for lists in their article entries. We covered inspiring list styles in another post earlier this year which may give you some more insight to the matter. Looking forward into 2012 I’m expecting some really creative examples, possibly on par with Flowapp’s custom layout for tasks & to-dos.

13. Generated Image Thumbnails

In the web universe we can agree that content is king. But most designers will also agree that a page of blank text becomes boring real quickly. Images can add that extra spice if you know how to sprinkle them in gently. One such method is using dynamic thumbnails to provide previews for each page or article.


Blogs today are continuing to adopt the featured image trend, so why not apply generated thumbnails into your theme as well? These often draw my attention towards the article headline and help to break up a page full of text links.





As another example Dribbble provides a whole gallery listing of thumbnails for each design shot. In such a table row-style layout it’s super easy to catch a glimpse of each thumbnail and scroll through to find what you’re looking for. This tactic has proven to grab the attention of the whole design community! Er, at least the members of Dribbble at best. I can only expect that 2012 will see further exertion of these ideas building upon such examples from the past.

14. Oversized Icons

This unique trend semi-originates from the popularity of Mac OS X icon designs. As programmers began to launch websites for their Mac applications we all too frequently have seen the enormous sizes represented in branding. Accordingly this trend has also been picked up through iOS developers and now comfortably rests within modern design culture.





It’s difficult to predict how these trends will fair as we move into 2012. On the one hand these icons can be clunky and take up more space than necessary. Yet we’re not even close to hitting a shortage of iOS/OSX apps and designers are still churning out pixel-perfect icon specs. Not to mention that web designers are now including oversized icons within just about any page branding! It’s a good way to nab your visitor’s direct attention and build a name for your company.

15. Exaggerated Hyperlinks

Anchor links are certainly within the top five most important elements of any website. These have obviously come a long way since the 1990s and popular design trends have only been growing exponentially. It appears we are moving into an era where exaggerated design takes precedence.





Check out a few of the link examples from Patterntap to see if any jump out and catch your eye. There are so many incredible ideas for hyperlink design, both in standard and hover effects. CSS3 rounded corners, text shadows, and custom font families add even more great ideas into the mix! One of my favorite examples is from SimpleBits which uses a short dynamic animation on each of their blog entry permalinks.

Conclusion

These ideas are only some of the more popular trends I have noticed gaining precedence throughout 2011. Great web design is always about focus and keeping user intentions as top priority. It’s unlikely these philosophies will differ moving into 2012, but how we build layouts and present data is always in change. Let us know your thoughts or questions in the comments discussion area.


15 Web Design Trends to Watch Out For in 2012

Awareness Test | Selective Attention Test | Invisible Gorilla Style Test

HAPPY

Isn't he happy! feeding a child is important! I love the way he laughs!

Feeding Zeph

He eats so well, you could think he is an expert on it yet, he just started feeding the other day! simply lovely!

In case this one refuses to load you can go to http://youtu.be/0sq_jHDORXM to view it!

looks like there is a problem with this file. I am working on it and once I have corrected the error, It will be up for viewing and will be sure to give you a notice. Otherwise keep checking after every one day and thank you for visiting my BLOG! :-)

In the meantime, Can you give me ideas as to how to shrink it so that it can be smaller? It is too long. Or rather, how can I shorten it?

Daily Devotional

But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
- Psalm 13:5

Angels are listening to hear what kind of report you are bearing to the world about your heavenly Master. Let your conversation be of Him who liveth to make intercession for you before the Father. When you take the hand of a friend, let praise to God be on your lips and in your heart. This will attract his thoughts to Jesus.

All have trials; griefs hard to bear, temptations hard to resist. Do not tell your troubles to your fellow mortals, but carry everything to God in prayer. Make it a rule never to utter one word of doubt or discouragement. You can do much to brighten the life of others and strengthen their efforts, by words of hope and holy cheer.

There is many a brave soul sorely pressed by temptation, almost ready to faint in the conflict with self and with the powers of evil. Do not discourage such a one in his hard struggle. Cheer him with brave, hopeful words that shall urge him on his way. Thus the light of Christ may shine from you. "None of us liveth to himself." Romans 14:7. By our unconscious influence others may be encouraged and strengthened, or they may be discouraged, and repelled from Christ and the truth.

There are many who have an erroneous idea of the life and character of Christ. They think that He was devoid of warmth and sunniness, that He was stern, severe, and joyless. In many cases the whole religious experience is colored by these gloomy views.

It is often said that Jesus wept, but that He was never known to smile. Our Saviour was indeed a Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with grief, for He opened His heart to all the woes of men. But though His life was self-denying and shadowed with pain and care, His spirit was not crushed. His countenance did not wear an expression of grief and repining, but ever one of peaceful serenity. His heart was a wellspring of life, and wherever He went He carried rest and peace, joy and gladness.

Source: Bible Universe > Study Tools > Daily Devotional

Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus Bible Universe Hymn of the day

Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus Bible Universe Hymn of the day

The Lobster Liberation Movement!

Years ago an environmentalist entered a seafood restaurant. There before him, sitting in a large tank, were half a dozen Maine lobsters that probably wouldn’t last the night. A customer would pick out the one that he or she wanted to eat, and before long the lobster would be sitting on someone’s plate next to, perhaps, a potato smothered in cheese.

Moving stealthily, the environmentalist reached into the tank, grabbed the first lobster he could get his hands on, threw it into a bag, and ran. He then put the lobster in a tank in his car and drove to the shore. There, a helicopter took him over the ocean, and he then returned the lobster to the water. A lobster liberator strikes again!

The man was not alone in his concern. You can visit a Web site titled “Lobster Liberation” that talks about saving lobsters from getting eaten by humans. It even has a section called “Tips for Releasing Lobsters,” telling you what to do once you rescue lobsters from a restaurant.

Another time, an American actress dedicated an entire episode of her sitcom to smuggling lobsters out of restaurants and releasing them in the ocean.

Caring about the environment is one thing, but stealing a lobster out of a restaurant and taking it, by helicopter, back to the ocean does seem a bit extreme, does it not?

All of which leads to the question, what about Christians—indeed, Seventh-day Adventist Christians—and the environment? Putting aside the

strangeness of the lobster liberators, how should we relate to environmental concerns? After all, isn’t Jesus coming soon? Isn’t our whole message predicated on the notion that this world is coming to an end, that this earth is corrupted and not going to last? Given our understanding of the Second Coming, how concerned need we really be about the earth itself?

Read 2 Peter 3:10–14, Isaiah 51:6, 65:17, and Revelation 21:1. What does the Bible clearly teach about the ultimate fate of the earth? How should this teaching impact the way we look at the environment? Or should it at all?

The Bible is more than unequivocal: this world, this earth, will not last. It is destined to be destroyed by God, who promises to make it over, to re-create it, to make a “new heaven and a new earth.” Although that’s hardly an excuse to abuse or exploit the environment, it should at the same time help to protect us from making a god, as many have done, out of the earth and of the environment. While we can laugh at the extremists, we need to be careful not to get caught up in those extremes ourselves.

Read Romans 1:25. What important message should we take in regard to how we show our concern and care for the creation?