It was touch and go—FOR ME!

What a month. I can't WAIT for June. It's just time to put this all behind us. The illness, the mental breakdown, the worry.

For my little Wolfinia... she just wasn't hydrating. I saw her drink, I bought the diet gatorade and sugar-free Liquid IV... but just not enough volume. This is an expensive and difficult lesson.

And it scared me almost to death. I don't think I've ever had the feeling I did watching her struggle to walk to the car. I think we were only a few hours from having to call an ambulance. Uhg.

Lesson learned. She's serious now about her liquid intake and desperate to get her blood sugar under control. We just need a week to get through the 3 round of antibiotics and we'll take this all by the horns.

We finally knuckled down and found a primary care physician—she's had them on and off over the years, but I haven't had one since 2010. We're getting too old to hope for the best.

#hospital #journal

My experience with urban education is pretty much limited to Boston, but a lot of what I’m going to say will apply to many urban districts.

So let’s start with Boston (or, you know, insert city here’s) “failing schools.” There seems to be a general idea that if you only want it bad enough, you can turn urban schools into suburban schools where everybody graduates, everybody attends four-year colleges, and everybody scores really well on standardized tests.

Let’s start with the standardized tests because this is going to explain a lot. First of all, did you know that standardized testing was invented by the same American eugenicists who inspired the Nazis? It’s true! You could look it up! (well, it’s hard to find, actually, because one of said eugenicists was Carl Brigham, who went on to invent the SAT, so people have been a little stingy making that connection. ETS had a building named after this dude until 2012. Check out his book A Study of American Intelligence, in which he states that his completely objective test he gave to everyone in the army demonstrates pretty conclusively that white people will get dumber if they interbreed with other races, which by the way included Poles and Italians at the time he was writing.)

Okay, okay, but standardized testing is good now, right? No. Of course it’s not. It’s impossible to measure creativity and critical thinking with a multiple choice test, and it might be possible to reduce some of the racial and class bias in the questions, but it’s certainly not possible to eliminate it. So these tests are rigged against many of the students at urban schools, but wait! There’s more!

Because let’s talk economies of scale, shall we? Let’s take Needham, Massachusetts, an affluent suburb with roughly 5000 students, as opposed to the roughly 50000 students in Boston. If Needham has a kid with a particular set of profound challenges, they’ll likely ship that kid out to a private placement because it’s cheaper for them to pay 1 kid’s tuition than to pay salary and benefits for ateacher to teach one kid.

BUT—statistically, it’s likely Boston will have 10 such children. And now it makes more economic sense to hire a teacher, a paraprofessional, and as many one-to-one aides as the children need than it does to send 10 kids to a private placement. So Boston has to figure these children in to its aggregate test scores, whereas Needham does not.

Add to this the fact that Boston has large immigrant communities and so will always be welcoming students from other countries who do not speak English and are therefore at a disadvantage and will naturally face some challenges, especially on standardized tests, until they acquire fluency. They’re counted on the standardized tests as well.

But of course that’s not the only thing going on. Because Needham is an affluent suburb, most of its students have a quiet place to study after school and no responsibilities other than to extracurriculars or part-time jobs they do for fun rather than out of necessity.

Whereas in Boston you’ve got some kids with quiet places to study and no responsibilities, and other kids who are literally pulling 4 to midnight shifts after school so their parents can afford to keep a roof over their head. Really? Yes, really! There are also kids being full time caregivers for younger siblings so their parents can work second shift jobs because child care is too expensive.

If you’ve never been broke or poor, you probably don’t have any idea of all the complexities it involves. But some people need to work 2 jobs, which means they can’t be around to supervise kids after school. When rich people get addicted to drugs, they go to fancy rehab facilities. When poor people get addicted to drugs, they go to jail. Losing a parent to the carceral system is pretty disruptive to a kid.

Basically everything is harder when you’re broke. A car repair can take on the dimensions of an existential crisis. You’re scrambling all the time, and so sometimes kids are late to school, or you have to keep one home to watch another one who’s sick because you can’t miss a shift or you’ll get fired. This is all actual stuff that happens to actual people.

And so I think it’s particularly cynical to call Boston’s schools “failing.” Because everyone knows you can’t wave a magic wand and turn Boston into Needham. If you are going to have public schools that serve everyone, they’re going to have to serve the kids that are harder to educate. And unless you’re going to provide free health care, dental care, child care, and public transportation, you know that those costs are going to have a disproportionate impact on the family lives of people who don’t have a lot of money and therefore also on the schools their kids attend.

Oh yeah, and one more thing. In Boston, anyway, the school buildings are in dire need of an upgrade. Most especially in the area of ventilation. As of right now, according to BPS’s own website, only 38 out of 125 school buildings have central HVAC systems. The rest have steam heat, some with “limited ventilation,” some with no mechanical ventilation.

Proper ventilation leads to fewer sick days for both teachers and students and is a quick way to improve outcomes in schools. But it’s expensive and it doesn’t allow anybody to frame themselves as an educational innovator, so nobody has done it.

Pay attention to this. If anyone’s proposals to improve an urban school system with an aging physical plant don’t start with ventilation, they’re fundamentally unserious.

To Those Wrestling with Identity

Disponible en español al final

I don’t know your story, but I know you have one.

I know the journey to find out who you are isn’t easy. I know how loud the world can be when you’re searching for something quiet and sacred. And I know the pressure to define yourself quickly, publicly, and perfectly can feel crushing.

But I want you to hear this:

You are not a mistake.

You are not alone.

And your worth is not in question.

The world may have given you labels, and religion may have given you rules, but God gives you something deeper: identity rooted not in what you feel or fight, but in who made you.

Identity is layered. Sometimes it's shaped by culture, family, trauma, or silence. And sometimes, it takes years to even name what you've been carrying. God knows the layers. He holds them all.

You are not the sum of your confusion. You are not the sum of your desires. You are not the sum of your wounds.

You are someone deeply known, completely loved, and patiently pursued.

Some of you have been told you don’t belong. Some of you have been hurt by those who should have protected you. Some of you have walked away from church because the doors were closed to your questions.

I want to say what should have been said long ago: I’m sorry.

That wasn’t Jesus.

Jesus welcomed the searching. He walked with the rejected. He didn’t shame the woman at the well; He revealed her value. He didn’t silence the man in the tombs; He restored his voice. He didn’t ignore the questions of Nicodemus; He answered with truth and compassion.

So to the one who feels torn between faith and identity, between who they’re told they are and who they long to be:

You are not invisible. You are not irredeemable. And you are not too far gone.

God is not afraid of your questions. He isn’t put off by your doubt. He doesn’t flinch at your story.

He just wants your heart.

Not to control it. Not to erase it. But to heal it. To fill it. To show you that beyond every wound, every whisper, and every label—there is a name He has for you that no one can steal: Beloved.

Come as you are. You don’t have to clean yourself up to be loved. You don’t have to know all the answers to be welcomed. You don’t have to perform to be seen.

Just come as you are.

There is more mercy than shame. There is more healing than fear. There is more purpose than you’ve been led to believe.

You are not your past. You are not your pain. You are not your politics. You are a soul with eternal value.

And the One who made you? He hasn’t turned His face from you. He’s been waiting to walk with you.

And when you're ready to take that first step again—know this: mercy walks at your pace.

Still here, A Fellow Wanderer Who Found Grace

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A Quienes Luchan con su Identidad

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No conozco toda tu historia, pero sé que tienes una.

Sé que el camino para descubrir quién eres no es fácil. Sé cuán ruidoso puede ser el mundo cuando estás buscando algo silencioso y sagrado. Y sé que la presión de definirse rápido, en público y a la perfección puede sentirse aplastante.

Pero quiero que escuches esto:

No eres un error. No estás solo. Y tu valor no está en duda.

El mundo puede haberte puesto etiquetas. La religión puede haberte impuesto reglas. Pero Dios te ofrece algo más profundo: una identidad arraigada, no en lo que sientes o enfrentas, sino en Quien te creó.

La identidad es compleja. A veces está formada por la cultura, la familia, el trauma o el silencio. Y a veces, se necesita tiempo para nombrar lo que uno ha estado cargando. Dios conoce esas capas. Y las sostiene todas.

No eres la suma de tu confusión. No eres la suma de tus deseos. No eres la suma de tus heridas.

Eres alguien profundamente conocido, completamente amado y pacientemente buscado.

Algunos de ustedes han sido rechazados. Algunos han sido heridos por quienes debieron protegerlos. Algunos se alejaron de la iglesia porque las puertas estaban cerradas a sus preguntas.

Quiero decir lo que debió haberse dicho hace mucho tiempo: lo siento.

Eso no fue Jesús.

Jesús acogía a quienes buscaban. Caminaba con los rechazados. No avergonzó a la mujer en el pozo; reveló su valor. No silenció al hombre entre las tumbas; restauró su voz. No ignoró las preguntas de Nicodemo; respondió con verdad y compasión.

Así que a ti, que te sientes dividido entre la fe y la identidad, entre lo que te dicen que eres y lo que anhelas ser:

No eres invisible. No eres irredimible. Y no estás demasiado lejos.

Dios no le teme a tus preguntas. No le asusta tu duda. No retrocede ante tu historia.

Él solo quiere tu corazón.

No para controlarlo. No para borrarlo. Sino para sanarlo. Para llenarlo. Para mostrarte que más allá de cada herida, cada susurro, y cada etiqueta—hay un nombre que Él tiene para ti que nadie puede robar: Amado.

Ven tal como eres. No necesitas “arreglarte” para ser amado. No necesitas todas las respuestas para ser bienvenido. No tienes que actuar para ser visto.

Solo ven tal como eres.

Hay más misericordia que vergüenza. Hay más sanidad que temor. Hay más propósito del que te han hecho creer.

No eres tu pasado. No eres tu dolor. No eres tu política.

Eres un alma con valor eterno.

Y Aquel que te creó no ha apartado Su rostro de ti. Ha estado esperando caminar contigo.

Y cuando estés listo para dar ese primer paso otra vez—recuerda esto: La misericordia camina a tu ritmo.

Todavía aquí, Un Compañero de Camino que Encontró Gracia

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Lydia's Weekly Lifestyle blog is for today's African girl, so no subject is taboo. My purpose is to share things that may interest today's African girl.

This week's contributors: Lydia, Pépé Pépinière, Titi, this week's subjects: The Next Big Trend: Elevated Comfort in Fashion, Who really makes the fashion? and Soft boiled eggs

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The Next Big Trend: Elevated Comfort in Fashion. As we transition into the new season, fashion is set to embrace a refreshing trend that strikes the perfect balance between style and comfort: Elevated Comfort. This movement is all about blending chic aesthetics with the practicality of loungewear, allowing fashion enthusiasts to navigate their daily lives effortlessly while still looking fabulous. The Essence of Elevated Comfort Elevated Comfort takes inspiration from the growing demand for versatile pieces that can transition between home and outings. These garments are designed to feel as good as they look, with soft fabrics, relaxed silhouettes, and thoughtful details that elevate the everyday wardrobe. The Essence of Elevated Comfort Key Elements of the Trend Soft and Sustainable Fabrics: Expect to see luxurious materials such as organic cotton, bamboo, and cashmere blends dominating the collections. These fabrics not only provide comfort but also align with the eco-conscious mindset that is becoming increasingly important to consumers. Relaxed Silhouettes: Oversized sweaters, wide-leg trousers, and flowy maxi dresses are at the forefront of this trend. The idea is to offer a looser fit that allows for ease of movement without sacrificing style. Fashion-Forward Loungewear: Think chic joggers paired with tailored blazers or stylish cardigans layered over simple tees. Brands are blurring the lines between home wear and street style, making loungewear acceptable for any occasion. Monochromatic Palettes with Pops of Colour: While neutral tones will reign supreme for a sophisticated look, don’t be surprised to see bursts of bright colors or unexpected prints making an appearance. Accessories can also play a pivotal role in adding personality to an outfit. Functional Details: Expect to see smart features like adjustable waistbands, pockets, and breathable panels in designs. These elements enhance both the functionality and style of everyday outfits. Who really makes the fashion? England, France and Italy come to mind, few will think of Japan. In Tokyo you could see a man with a pink mohawk in a camouflage bomber jacket, a woman dressed like a bag of candy and a woman in a floral kimono stand by the same bus stop. Paris Fashion Week these days has Japan Day or Rei Day, when “Comme des Garçons' designer Rei Kawakubo and her acolytes Junya Watanabe and Kei Ninomiya present their new collections. Many creators now wear Japanese origin outfits, a geometric or asymmetrical shirt; generously cut pants; and maybe some Maison Margiela Tabi shoes (which, despite having been created by the Belgian designer Martin Margiela in 1988, are based on a Japanese split-toe sock dating to the 15th century). Japanese avant-garde is linked to the country’s postwar (second world war, 1939-1945) era, a period of suffering and humiliation. Japanese people don’t want to be elevated versions of themselves, they want to be someone else altogether, which is why kawaii culture, or the embrace of cuteness and childlike innocence, and other forms of cosplay have proved so enduring there. But what the world sees as avant-garde is often an extension of Japanese traditions and customs, link Issey Miyake’s famous pleats to the art of origami, and some is a copy of the costumes worn by performers of Noh, a 14th-century theatrical genre. The Japanese avant-garde has become an incubator for other incubators, particularly in Belgium where in the mid-1980s, the Antwerp Six—a group of Belgian designers that included Ann Demeulemeester, Dries Van Noten, Walter Van Beirendonck and Dirk Bikkembergs, (who once said there’s “nothing so boring as a ‘nice and neat’ look”) built their own fashion community around Japan’s deconstructed aesthetic. The admiration was mutual: Subsequent generations of Japanese designers would look to the Antwerp Six, especially Demeulemeester, for inspiration and taste. This blog is too short to go into too much depth, let me just show you some more pictures and you will realize how important Japanese designs are towards today's fashion. ANREALAGE Fall 2018

COMME DES GARÇONS Spring 1997

ISSEY MIYAKE Spring 1995

JUNYA WATANABE Fall 2006 Men’s

KANSAI YAMAMOTO 1973 with David Bowie

KENZO Spring 1986

MICHIKO KOSHINO Spring 1996

NOIR KEI NINOMIYA Fall 2019

SACAI Fall 2012

TOMO KOIZUMI Fall 2019

UNDERCOVER Spring 2019 Men’s

YOHJI YAMAMOTO Spring 1999

Soft boiled eggs. Like most of us I like my egg well boiled, 8 to 12 minutes. But a friend of mine insists on her egg yolk still being soft, horror. Finally I allowed myself to be convinced to at least taste that soft egg yolk. Guess what. Rarely have I had such a punch of flavours, and I was quick to swallow the second egg as well. I've cooked my eggs wrongly all my life. I asked for the secret. She explained that she weighs the egg and cooks it 1 minute for every 10 grams of egg, so a 45 grams egg cooks 4.5 minutes. She does not keep her eggs in the fridge and only uses eggs from free range chicken, organic and they should be fresh, not more that 5 days old. She brings a large amount of water to the boil (so that it continues boiling continuously after she put the eggs in), and uses a stopwatch. She adds a bit of vinegar to make the peeling easier (fresh eggs are more difficult to peel), and after the required minutes puts the eggs in cold water so to immediately stop the cooking process and cool the egg down so that you can handle it. Then peel, try not to break it, bite off the top, swallow the still warm top and egg yolk, then swallow the remaining part as well. Try, like I did. and will do forever from now on.

Lydia...

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In today's world, the art of listening seems to be under threat. Social media has trained us to believe that what matters most is what we have to say. We're talking more than ever, broadcasting our thoughts to the world with every post, tweet, and status update. But in this cacophony of voices, it often seems like nobody is truly hearing each other.

We've become so focused on crafting our next response, our next witty comment, that we've forgotten how to listen. We skim, we scan, we scroll, but we rarely stop to absorb and consider what others are saying. We're more connected than ever, yet in many ways, we're more isolated, trapped in echo chambers of our own making.

This is why the skill of listening—real, active, engaged listening—is more crucial than ever. It's a skill that can set you apart in a world where everyone is clamoring to be heard. It's a skill that can open doors, build relationships, and lead to insights and opportunities that you might otherwise miss.

-George Raveling, What You're Made For: Powerful Life Lessons from My Career in Sports (H/T: A Layman's Blog)

#quotes #culture

#gyushuafortunate

”...Keluar dari grup?”

“Mm,” Seungcheol mengangguk. Kedua lengan melipat di dada. Alisnya mengerut dan bibirnya mengerucut, jelas nggak suka sama kabar yang dia dengar dari manajemen. “Mereka berdua bilang kalo udah nggak mau lanjut lagi. Katanya juga sampe nangis...” Gamitan jari-jemarinya mengerat pada kaus putih yang dikenakannya. “Tapi untungnya nggak jadi. Abis ditenangin dan diminta pikirin baik-baik, akhirnya manajemen bantu cari jalan keluar dan mereka nggak jadi pergi.”

Mingyu terduduk. Kepala tertunduk. Rasanya isi kepalanya campur aduk. Perputaran member seperti ini tuh sudah biasa, bukan sesuatu yang perlu mereka besar-besarkan, meski dengan kepergian tiap member, mereka mundur satu langkah karena debut mereka alamat diundur lagi.

Semakin banyak yang keluar, semakin jauh mereka dari impian debut. Sebuah pertaruhan yang terlalu besar bagi para member, khususnya yang sudah lama berada di agensi. Seungcheol, Jihoon, Soonyoung, dan dirinya...

“Jangan sebut-sebut soal ini di depan mereka berdua. Paham, Soonyoung-ah?”

Ucapan Seungcheol membuat Mingyu kembali tersadar. Dia lalu memutar kepala perlahan, menatap Soonyoung yang sepertinya bakal meledak sebentar lagi. Dia selalu begitu. Emosional. Omongan nggak pakai filter. Semua yang keluar grup dianggapnya pengkhianat, tapi di sisi lain dia juga nggak mau ada orang-orang yang nggak sesuai standar berada di grup: yang malas, yang niat menjadi idolnya kurang, yang menyepelekan kesalahan-kesalahan kecil, yang melanggar peraturan dengan pacaran sama fans. Orang-orang yang berpotensi akan menyeret grup mereka ke liang kubur.

Soonyoung mempertaruhkan banyak hal untuk debut. Begitu pun Seungcheol dan Jihoon. Mingyu? Mingyu nggak merasa begitu. Ibunya sendiri bilang kalau sampai dia berhasil jadi penyanyi, maka anjing pun bisa nyanyi, alias Mingyu nggak diharapkan debut oleh orangtuanya. Mereka hanya membiarkan putranya menekuni apa yang menarik minatnya, selama pendidikannya tetap jalan. Kalau dia gagal jadi idol, dia bakal balik main sepak bola lagi atau meneruskan latihan merajutnya. Kim Mingyu tipe yang bisa sukses apapun bidang yang dia putuskan untuk tekuni.

“Orang yang udah pernah nyerah sekali kayak gitu,” Soonyoung menendang meja rendah tempat mereka biasa makan. Mingyu terlonjak kaget. “Nggak ada jaminan mereka nggak bakal nyerah buat kedua kali!”

“Kwon Soonyoung!” Seungcheol juga menaikkan nadanya.

Mingyu gelisah. Dia nggak suka ketika mereka bertengkar kayak gini. Di satu sisi, dia paham kalau Soonyoung cuma mau yang terbaik buat mereka semua. Di sisi lain, dia juga kesal karena Soonyoung menuduh Jeonghan dan Joshua akan berusaha meninggalkan mereka lagi.

...

Hela napas. “Capek, Wonu-hyung...,” Mingyu senderan ke bahu Wonwoo yang duduk di sebelahnya sedari tadi dalam diam. Wonwoo pun tertawa pelan.

“Kayak gini kan udah biasa,” selorohnya. Dia kembali memandang Soonyoung dan Seungcheol yang kini bersilat lidah. “Dia selalu mikirin nasib kita semua, Mingyu-yah. Biarpun emang lidahnya tajem, perfeksionis pula... Nggak keitung Seokmin-ah ngadu ke gue berapa kali gegara Soonie.”

“Stop ketawa, anjir,” Mingyu mengernyitkan alis. “Udah mau bunuh-bunuhan itu berdua.”

“Gak lah,” Wonwoo meringis. “Kalo nggak ada Soonie, Cheol juga nggak bakal bisa lanjut.”

“Kalo denger lo manggil namanya nggak pake embel-embel, bisa dipiting lo, Hyung.”

“Hah. Nggak takut~“

Mingyu mendengus, lalu terdiam. Abai akan huru-hara yang makin memanas di hadapannya, pikiran anak itu melayang ke kalimat yang diucapkan Seungcheol sebelumnya: Joshua. Nangis.

....

Sigh.

Building Lego as a blind person. So, a few days ago someone asked me this question, and although sighted people always wonder these things, somehow I was surprised since she has known me for many years. She had seen my lego buildings, and wondered how I had made them. She was especially surprised how I got the colours right. Me, and colours? Uh. the answer is simple, colours to me are just words. I have never seen anything other than the difference between light and darkness, and some say darkness is black to them. I suppose if you have seen before, colours at least, then you actually know what black is. But to me, black is a word, as much as blue, green, yellow and all the others. Of course, I have been taught at an early age that these represent colours, that grass is green, and so on, but actually having a sense as to what those colours are? No clue. A classmate actually once could not believe that I did not really know the differences between colours, and went as far as trying to explain it to me. He insisted that he could make me understand what colours looked like... He was not successful, to his very frustration, because he had been sure he could do it. However, all his explanations were references to other things sighted people just know, and I don't. So, now you know that funny story. So how do I design my lego creations? I just use my imagination, it's as simple as that. I have some idea of how i generally want something to look like, or feel like, in my mind, and I try to build that thing, hoping I can actually get it right. Sometimes my idea of how i would like to build it is clearer than other times, and sometimes I find halfway through I am missing parts, and I need to rethink it. I can tell you names of many of the bricks, 2 x 4 brick, 1 x 4 plate, 2 x 6 tile (Those are one of my newer favourites because they are still a little rare in my collection). But of course, I have no idea about what colour they are. I organize my lego in several ways. I have a chest with 8 drawers where things are organized, but also a few portable containers holding the tiny parts, and I work with plastic bags that can be zipped or resealed. For most parts, I can generally find what I need pretty quickly. And then I start building the part, sometimes a vehicle, sometimes a building, or sometimes also a vehicle I have built before but that I didn't like or, that I could not build the way I really wanted because I missed some parts, so I give it a try later. So the question about the colours was related to a building of a school. She had seen the classrooms and the buildings where the students live, back in April, and last Monday she asked me how I built it. When I told her I used my imagination, that seemed hard for her to understand. She wondered how I had gotten the colours right, and I explained to her that I had not looked at the colours. Well, to her, the colours were perfect, and really good. I certainly think that was interesting, and as I was thinking about it today, I decided to write a blog post about my lego building and about colours. I guess the right colours must have been totally random. Also it is possible she did not look so closely, who knows. But well, I am glad she liked my lego building, and generally every sighted person who comes in here, find it amazing what I have been building over the years. So, #Lego certainly is my hobby, and a great way to relax for me, especially when I am feeling stressed. I hope you will find something to help relax and express yourself too.

Bee Good to yourselves, and each other. Monique, the Crazy Dutchy

Some Things Only Break Through Prayer and Fasting

Disponible en español al final del artículo.

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I. Introduction

There are moments in the journey where faith alone feels stretched—when authority is challenged and obstacles refuse to move. The disciples faced this when they tried to cast out a demon and failed. Jesus’ response was firm, but layered with revelation:

“This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” – Matthew 17:21 (KJV)

This kind. Not every battle is the same. Not every resistance breaks with the same force. Some spiritual strongholds—whether in the world, in others, or deep within ourselves—require something deeper than belief. They require consecration. Alignment. Full submission.

Prayer connects us to God. Fasting disconnects us from the flesh. Together, they create the kind of vessel God can pour power into without leakage.

For years, I’ve felt opposition—not just from without, but within. Fear. Doubt. Delay. Regret. Shame. And I realize now, some of it wasn’t just circumstantial. Some of it was “this kind.”

And this kind doesn’t move by willpower. It doesn’t respond to surface prayers. It breaks when the spirit is sharpened in silence and the soul is stripped of its noise.

Fasting isn’t punishment. It’s preparation. It’s saying, “I want God more than comfort.”

And prayer isn’t begging. It’s agreement with heaven. It’s authority refined by intimacy.

I’m ready to walk in that kind of power. I’m ready to rise in that kind of clarity. I’m ready to see breakthrough—not just around me, but through me.

Because the time has come. And this kind? It’s about to break.

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II. Companion Scriptures

Matthew 17:20–21 – Faith, prayer, and fasting as the key to authority.

Isaiah 58:6 – God’s vision of a true fast that looses chains of injustice.

Joel 2:12–13 – Returning to God with fasting, weeping, and mourning.

Mark 9:29 – Reinforces the power of prayer and fasting.

James 5:16 – The effective prayer of the righteous brings powerful results.

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III. A 3-Day Consecration Guide

Day 1: The Why

Focus: Revelation

Scripture: Psalm 139:23–24

Prayer Prompt: Ask God to search your heart. Write down what needs to be surrendered. Identify your “this kind.”

Fast Option: Begin by fasting from media, noise, or negativity.

Day 2: The Withholding

Focus: Separation

Scripture: Matthew 6:16–18

Prayer Prompt: Ask for strength to pull away from the things that dull your spirit. Stay in the Word. Journal any resistance or clarity.

Fast Option: Partial food fast or digital/social silence.

Day 3: The Asking

Focus: Breakthrough

Scripture: James 5:16

Prayer Prompt: Name what needs to break. Declare your authority. Agree with God’s promises. End with gratitude.

Fast Option: Continue your chosen fast. End the day in stillness and worship.

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IV. Closing Prayer

Lord, I don’t want to walk in half-strength. Train my appetite to hunger for You. Silence the distractions. Refine my discernment. Let this fast be holy, and let this breakthrough be lasting. Amen.

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#SomeThingsOnlyBreak #PrayerAndFasting #SpiritualBreakthrough #ThisKindBreaks #ConsecrationMatters

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Algunas Cosas Solo Se Rompen con Oración y Ayuno

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I. Introducción

Hay momentos en el camino en los que la fe sola se siente estirada—cuando la autoridad es desafiada y los obstáculos se niegan a moverse. Los discípulos enfrentaron esto cuando intentaron expulsar un demonio y fallaron. La respuesta de Jesús fue firme, pero llena de revelación:

“Pero este género no sale sino con oración y ayuno.” – Mateo 17:21 (RVR1960)

Este género. No todas las batallas son iguales. Algunas fortalezas espirituales requieren algo más profundo que la creencia. Requieren consagración. Alineación. Sumisión total.

La oración nos conecta con Dios. El ayuno nos desconecta de la carne. Juntos, forman el tipo de vasija que Dios puede llenar con poder sin fugas.

Durante años, he sentido oposición—no solo desde fuera, sino desde dentro. Miedo. Duda. Retraso. Arrepentimiento. Vergüenza. Y ahora me doy cuenta, que parte de ello no era solo circunstancial. Era “este género.”

Y este género no se mueve con fuerza de voluntad. No responde a oraciones superficiales. Se rompe cuando el espíritu se afila en el silencio y el alma se desprende del ruido.

El ayuno no es castigo. Es preparación. Es decir: “Quiero más a Dios que a la comodidad.”

Y la oración no es suplicar. Es alinearse con el cielo. Es autoridad refinada por la intimidad.

Estoy listo para caminar con ese tipo de poder. Listo para levantarme con esa claridad. Listo para ver la ruptura—no solo a mi alrededor, sino a través de mí.

Porque ha llegado el momento. Y este género... está por romperse.

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II. Escrituras Complementarias

Mateo 17:20–21

Isaías 58:6

Joel 2:12–13

Marcos 9:29

Santiago 5:16

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III. Guía de Consagración de 3 Días

Día 1: El Porqué

Enfoque: Revelación

Escritura: Salmo 139:23–24

Ayuno: Medios, distracciones, críticas

Día 2: El Retiro

Enfoque: Separación

Escritura: Mateo 6:16–18

Ayuno: Comida parcial o silencio digital

Día 3: La Petición

Enfoque: Ruptura

Escritura: Santiago 5:16

Ayuno: Continúa el ayuno. Termina en adoración.

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IV. Oración Final

Señor, no quiero caminar en media fuerza. Entrena mi apetito para desearte más a Ti. Silencia las distracciones. Afina mi discernimiento. Que este ayuno sea santo, y que esta ruptura sea duradera. Amén.

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#EsteGeneroRompe #OracionYAyuno #ConsagracionTotal #AutoridadEnDios #AyunoEspiritual

This Is the Generation: A call back to God

Disponible en español al final.

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“Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place?”

That question is as relevant now as it was when David first asked it.

But somewhere along the way, the Church stopped asking—and started answering it for everyone else.

“Not you.” “Not dressed like that.” “Not if you love who you love.” “Not if your struggle shows.”

They shut the door in the name of righteousness—but forgot that righteousness begins with mercy. They forgot that Jesus said, “I am the door.” And He never slammed it in the face of the wounded.

Psalm 24 tells us clearly what God is after:

Clean hands. A pure heart. A soul not lifted to what is false. A life not built on deceit.

That’s it. Not perfection. Not performance. Not appearances. Just a heart that seeks Him.

Somewhere along the way, we confused gatekeeping with godliness. We made the hill higher, not holier. They traded the open door of grace for the velvet rope of exclusion.

So let’s be clear: God is not impressed by those who weaponize holiness while shutting the hurting out. He is near to the seekers. The stumblers. The ones still wrestling. He blesses those who come honest. He saves those who reach for Him instead of reaching for control.

“This is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face, O God of Jacob. Selah.”

This is who we’re becoming. Not a generation of gatekeepers—but of God-seekers. Not ones who hide behind doctrine—but who walk with clean hands and open hearts.

To anyone who’s been told you don’t belong in the house of God— Let this be your invitation back up the hill. God is still near. The door is still open. And He’s been waiting for you.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” —Matthew 5:8

#ThisIsTheGeneration #Psalm24 #ComeBackToGod #MercyNotMasks #OpenTheDoor

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Esta Es la Generación: Un llamado a Dios

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¿Quién subirá al monte del Señor? ¿Quién estará en su lugar santo? Esa pregunta es tan relevante hoy como cuando David la hizo por primera vez. Pero en algún momento, la Iglesia dejó de preguntar—y comenzó a responderla por los demás.

“Tú no.” “No vestida así.” “No si amas a quien amas.” “No si se te nota la lucha.”

Cerraron la puerta en nombre de la rectitud—pero olvidaron que la rectitud comienza con la misericordia. Olvidaron que Jesús dijo: “Yo soy la puerta.” Y nunca la cerró en la cara de los heridos.

El Salmo 24 nos dice claramente lo que Dios busca:

Manos limpias. Corazón puro. Alma que no se eleva a lo falso. Vida no construida sobre el engaño.

Eso es todo. No perfección. No espectáculo. No apariencias. Solo un corazón que lo busque.

En algún momento, confundimos el control con la santidad. Hicimos el monte más alto, no más santo. Cambiaron la puerta abierta de la gracia por la cuerda de terciopelo de la exclusión.

Dejemos esto claro: Dios no se impresiona con quienes usan la santidad como arma para excluir. Él está cerca de los que buscan. De los que tropiezan. De los que aún luchan. Bendice a quienes se acercan con honestidad. Salva a quienes lo buscan a él, no al control.

“Esta es la generación de los que te buscan, de los que buscan tu rostro, oh Dios de Jacob. Selah.”

Esto es lo que estamos llegando a ser. No una generación de guardianes de la puerta—sino de buscadores de Dios. No los que se esconden tras la doctrina—sino los que caminan con manos limpias y corazones abiertos.

A cualquiera que le hayan dicho que no pertenece a la casa de Dios— Que esta sea tu invitación a subir de nuevo al monte. Dios aún está cerca. La puerta sigue abierta. Y Él ha estado esperándote.

“Bienaventurados los de limpio corazón, porque ellos verán a Dios.” —Mateo 5:8

#EstaEsLaGeneración #Salmo24 #VuelveADios #MisericordiaNoMáscaras #AbreLaPuerta

I stayed up playing stadium with T and two other friends we made, and we just did not lose with me on tank. I fucking LOVE reinhart, I’ve been doing two different builds and with that I’ve been able to handle basically all matchups. Holy shit it’s so much fun, I’d love to get a full group of people to play with.

Man hat mich von der Uni unterwegs nach Hause ausgelacht. Ich wurde in Deutschland auf dem Zebrastreifen angefahren. Man hat mir meine Zähne ausgeschlagen. Ich wurde auf Malta sexuell belästigt. Meine Cousine wurde in Deutschland vergewaltigt. Mein Vater wurde in der Türkei ganz schlimm angeraucht und hat ein paar Tage später einen Herzinfarkt erlitten. Meine Tante ist in der Dusche ausgerutscht und hat sich den Kopf ganz schlimm gestoßen. Meine Großtante hat sich in Deutschland in der Wohnung erhangen. Mein Großonkel ist auf einem Auge blind. Mein Onkel ist in Deutschland bei einem Autounfall ums Leben gekommen. Meine Mutter raucht immernoch. Mein eigener Bruder hat mir Gewalt angetan. Was wird mit mir noch geschehen?

Good morning. Welcome to my first proper attempt at a blog post with write.as. As always, when trying to learn something new, it is not so very easy. But, I do like the challenge, and I also do like to try things related to the Fediverse. I found this blogging system earlier, but then I guess I thought to myself... you have a blog already on Wordpress, why need another? Well, to put it simply? Wordpress has advantages, but it is also a challenge. The way to write posts there is not quite as simple as I would like. And so, this Friday, when I was looking about information for #AudioMo, I came across it again. Originally I did not remember I had seen this before, but of course then I started reading and checking, and well, here i am.

I am not someone who writes blogs very frequently, but you never know when I have something interesting to share, so I guess we wil find out how this goes. Since I am not sure what else to write about now, I think I will put the finishing touches on this one, and then send it off where someone may or may not read it, I guess time wil tell.

Take care, and until next time!

Be Good to yourselves, and each other.

Monique, the Crazy Dutchy

This is a test. Hi, I am testing this blog. End of the test.

Ich habe gerade die Ex-Frau von meinem verstorbenen Onkel gesehen, der in Deutschland sehr gelitten hat und sich womöglich selbst umgebracht hat. Aber leider war er auch ein Raucher. Ich mag keine Raucher. Aber womöglich hat er in unserer Gegenwart niemals geraucht.

Ne me demandez pas pourquoi, mais je n'arrive pas à m'exprimer sur la mort de Paul Laurendeau, mon ami, mon camarade, depuis une cinquantaine d'années. Pourtant, je suis assez doué pour écrire sur les morts, sur la mort en général. Mais là je n'y arrive pas sans que j'en comprenne bien la raison. Je vais néanmoins essayer de lui rendre hommage, mais je vous préviens d'avance : ça ne sera pas le meilleur billet de blogue que j'aurais écrit dans ma vie. Avec la mort soudaine de Paul Laurendeau le 2 mai dernier, j'ai perdu un ami, certes. Un de plus. Mais j'ai surtout perdu un collaborateur essentiel des vingt dernières années. En effet, en 2005, Paul a rejoint l'équipe du premier site d'ÉLP, appelée à l'époque Écouter Lire Penser, puis en 2009, celle de ÉLP éditeur dont il est un membre fondateur avec Pierre Rivet et Allan E. Berger. L'équipe d'ÉLP s'est enrichie par la suite de Carolle Gagné, d'Aline Jeannet (Suisse) et de Perrine Andrieux (Belgique). Ensemble, nous nous enorgueillissions d'être un des premiers éditeurs numériques de la Francophonie, aux côtés de Publie.net et de NumérikLivres. Une maison transatlantique 100% numérique comme nous nous plaisions à le dire. Avec les années, les choses ont changé, plusieurs ont quitté le navire, mais Paul, Allan E. et moi avons tenu jusqu'au bout, publiant près de cent cinquante titres en quinze ans.

La mort de Paul Laurendeau laissera un grand vide dans mon existence. Comment pourrait-il en être autrement ? Paul et moi nous nous écrivions chaque jour, voire plusieurs fois par jour, depuis vingt ans. Nous échangions sur les affaires courantes d'ÉLP éditeur, bien entendu, mais aussi sur un grand nombre de sujets : écriture, édition, diffusion, blogging, politique, philosophie, etc. Parmi tous les ouvrages qu'il a publiés chez ÉLP, Je suis un intellectuel demeure mon préféré, car c'est le plus authentique, le plus mûr, le plus abouti. Il s'agit d'un essai que tous ceux qui se sentent interpellés par la notion d'intellectualité sociale devraient lire.

Nous nous écrivions tous les jours, donc. Ma boîte de messagerie est bien vide depuis ce vendredi de mai, jour où – contre sa volonté – il a sauté à pieds joints dans le Grand Néant. Le corps a décidé de s'arrêter là où l'esprit continuait à bouillonner, multipliant les projets d'écriture, d'édition, de formation, et j'en passe. Ainsi, Paul Laurendeau, l'homme qui écrivait plus vite que son ombre, comme nous nous amusions à le qualifier, n'est plus.

Et on aura bien du mal à vivre sans lui.

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Daniel Ducharme : 2025-05-30 Mots-clés : #amitié #édition #existence #littérature #nécrologie

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Quelques liens concernant Paul Laurendeau :

• Fiche d'auteur de Paul Laurendeau sur ÉLP éditeur.
• Le Carnet d'Ysemgrimus, son blogue personnel qu'il tenait depuis plus de quinze ans sur WordPress.
• Ce que traduire veut dire, un billet que je lui ai consacré sur mon blogue principal pour rendre hommage à ses talents de traducteur littéraire.

Llevo años trabajando con software open source, desde que Mandrake Linux se lanzó por primera vez, y participando en sus comunidades. Existe un principio fundamental que todos entendemos ahí: nadie construye nada desde cero. Cada línea de código que alguien escribe se apoya en millones de líneas escritas por otros. Cada biblioteca que alguien usa, cada framework, cada herramienta, existe porque otras personas dedicaron tiempo y esfuerzo a crearla y compartirla.

En el mundo del open source esto se traduce en una cultura de reciprocidad. Usas Linux para tu servidor, te beneficias de Apache para tu web, desarrollas con Python o JavaScript... y cuando creas algo útil, lo natural es devolverlo a la comunidad. No es obligatorio, pero es lo correcto. Es el ciclo virtuoso que ha permitido que tengamos toda esta infraestructura tecnológica gratuita y de calidad. Y cuando alguna empresa no lo hace y se aprovecha del trabajo de otros sin reciprocidad, es adecuadamente rechazada.

Curiosamente, muchos de los mismos desarrolladores y empresarios tech que entienden perfectamente este concepto en el software, se vuelven ciegos cuando hablamos de impuestos. De repente aparece el discurso del “self-made man”, del emprendedor que lo logró todo solo con su esfuerzo y talento. Como si su empresa hubiera surgido en el vacío, sin necesitar nada de nadie.

Pero pensémoslo un momento. Ese empresario exitoso que se queja de los impuestos:

• Transporta sus productos por carreteras que no construyó
• Contrata empleados educados en escuelas que no fundó
• Opera en un mercado regulado por leyes que garantizan contratos y propiedad
• Usa una moneda estable respaldada por instituciones que no creó
• Se beneficia de tratados comerciales negociados por diplomáticos que no contrató
• Duerme tranquilo porque existe un sistema de seguridad

La lista podría seguir indefinidamente, pero en resumen, un empresario se beneficiq de que existe un sistema funcional sobre el cual se puede construir cosas. Cada startup que triunfa, cada empresa que escala, cada fortuna que se amasa, se construye sobre una infraestructura social masiva que ya estaba ahí. Exactamente igual que en el open source.

Y aquí viene lo interesante: en el software libre, devolver código a la comunidad no es visto como un castigo o un robo. Es visto como lo que es: contribuir al ecosistema que te permitió existir en primer lugar. Los mejores desarrolladores y empresas del mundo tech lo entienden y practican. Incluso Google contribuye a Chromium, hasta Microsoft a VS Code, un Facebook a React. No porque sean altruistas, sino porque entienden que fortalecer el ecosistema los beneficia a todos.

Los impuestos deberían verse de la misma manera. No son un robo, son tu pull request a la sociedad. Es devolver parte de lo que ganaste para mantener y mejorar el sistema que te permitió ganarlo. Es asegurarte de que la próxima generación de emprendedores tenga las mismas oportunidades que tuviste tú. Y el que no quiere hacerlo, debería ser también rechazado por abusar el sistema.

El problema, creo, es que mientras en el open source vemos claramente cómo nuestras contribuciones mejoran el código base común, con los impuestos la conexión es menos directa. No vemos el commit, no recibimos los agradecimientos en GitHub. Pero el principio es el mismo.

Tal vez si empezáramos a ver los impuestos como contribuciones al repositorio común de la sociedad, como patches que mejoran el sistema operativo social, tendríamos menos quejas y más orgullo en contribuir. Porque al final, igual que nadie puede proclamarse un desarrollador “self-made” (todos aprendimos de otros, usamos herramientas de otros, nos apoyamos en código de otros), ningún empresario puede proclamarse verdaderamente “self-made”.

Todos somos, en el fondo, colaboradores en un proyecto masivo llamado sociedad. Y como en todo buen proyecto, los que más se benefician del sistema son los que más deberían contribuir a mantenerlo.