\u00a0The “Endless Knot<\/a>,\u201d a great\u00a0metaphor for\u00a0spam<\/a><\/strong><\/em>…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Things like links<\/a>, along with\u00a0full-color pictures and “flashy graphics.”<\/p>\n But now it’s time to write about some of the\u00a0disadvantages<\/em>. \u00a0One of the biggest disadvantages of blogging is\u00a0spam<\/a>, masquerading as “comments.” (Along with the possibility of being\u00a0hacked<\/a><\/em>.)<\/p>\n * \u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 *<\/p>\n It’s a rainy, blustery Friday afternoon here “in the\u00a0ATL<\/a><\/b><\/em> \u2013 also known as ‘God\u2019s Country.'”<\/p>\n For one thing, the Metro Area is all in a hubbub about “icy Arctic blasts,” courtesy of the\u00a0winter storms<\/a>\u00a0threatening most of the Eastern seaboard. \u00a0On a more personal note, I just tried to log in to my other blog. \u00a0But I couldn’t, because it was “temporarily disabled.”<\/p>\n It was temporarily disabled<\/em>, because someone tried to hack into it.<\/p>\n That led me to this blog’s “comments” link. \u00a0(In the “Dashboard<\/a>.”<\/em>)<\/p>\n I found 427 comments<\/em>. \u00a0Unfortunately, most of them were spam.<\/p>\n * \u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 *<\/p>\n When I first started my other<\/em> blog, the first thing I did each day was go to the \u201cComments\u201d section there. \u00a0And there I’d mass-delete the latest batch of spam, most of it having to do with \u201cBabyliss.\u201d<\/p>\n Just as an aside, “Babyliss” is apparently a division of the\u00a0Conair Corporation<\/a>. \u00a0(See\u00a0Wikipedia<\/a>.)<\/p>\n That led me to web articles including We Can\u2019t Get Rid Of Spam \u2013 Forbes<\/a>. \u00a0That in turn led me to remember\u00a0the Apostle Paul\u2019s experience with his own particular \u201cthorn in the side.\u201d<\/p>\n (In\u00a0the alternative, his \u201cthorn in the flesh.\u201d)<\/em><\/p>\n The article thorn in the flesh<\/a>\u00a0explained that today the phrase \u201cis a colloquialism used to describe a chronic infirmity, annoyance, or trouble in one\u2019s life.”<\/p>\n The article also noted the phrase is “commonly used by Christians<\/a>,\u201d and refers to\u00a02 Corinthians 12:7<\/a>. \u00a0This was right after Paul wrote about some his\u00a0visions and revelations<\/em>, which led him in turn to talk about his “boasting.” \u00a0(“I have plenty to boast about … but I don\u2019t want anyone to think more highly of me than he should<\/em>.”) \u00a0Which led to this passage:<\/p>\n To keep me from becoming conceited because of the exceptional nature of these revelations, a thorn was given to me and placed in my body. \u00a0It was Satan’s messenger to keep on tormenting me so that I would not become<\/strong> conceited. (E.A.)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n On the other hand, if Paul had lived in modern times and tried to advance his message through a blog like this, he may very well have been referring to that *&%*@% spam that keeps coming back like a bad case of [fill in the blank with the expletive of your choice]!!!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n See also Paul\u2019s Thorn In The Flesh \u2013 Article \u2013 Andrew Wommack Ministries<\/a>, which began:<\/p>\n This thorn in the flesh that Paul mentioned has been used and misused by Christians to justify submitting to nearly any problem that comes along.\u00a0 Satan has twisted this passage of Scripture to deceive many, many people into believing that God would not heal Paul, so how can they expect to be healed?\u00a0 Let us examine this closely and find out exactly what Paul\u2019s thorn in the flesh was.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n That phrase – “Satan has twisted this passage of Scripture” – brought up the subject of how \u201cthe Devil can cite Scripture for his use.\u201d\u00a0 (See\u00a0The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose | EnglishClub<\/a>, quoting Shakespeare\u2019s Merchant of Venice<\/strong>, Act 1, scene 3<\/em>.)<\/p>\n But that’s a whole ‘nother subject entirely.<\/p>\n More to the point is\u00a0the concept of Karma<\/a>. \u00a0See\u00a0Wikipedia<\/a>, which defined it as the action, work or deed of an individual, or \u201cthe principle of causality<\/a> where intent and actions of an individual influence the future of that individual.\u201d\u00a0 (In the alternative, \u201cthe sum of a person\u2019s actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences.\u201d<\/em>)<\/p>\n All that led me to think maybe all that spam was some strange punishment for my past sins. \u00a0In the alternative I had the good Christian thought that \u00a0maybe some of this spam presented an opportunity to “entertain angels unaware<\/a>.” \u00a0But these days \u2013 having been victimized by thousands upon thousands of unsolicited “spams” – my attitude has hardened.<\/p>\n I now I fully agree with the words of Mister Kurtz, in the novel\u00a0Heart of Darkness<\/a>:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The upper image is courtesy of\u00a0Endless knot – Wikipedia<\/a><\/em>. \u00a0The caption: \u00a0“One common form of the Endless Knot.” \u00a0On the matter of spam, see also\u00a0Unsolicited\u00a0Bulk\u00a0Email: Definitions and Problems<\/a>. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Re: “God’s Country.” \u00a0See\u00a0Introduction to \u201cAshley Wilkes<\/a>.”<\/em><\/p>\n The “muse” image is courtesy of\u00a0Muse – Wikipedia<\/a>. \u00a0The caption: \u00a0“Polyhymnia<\/a>, the Muse of sacred poetry<\/a>, sacred hymn<\/a>\u00a0and eloquence<\/a> as well as agriculture and pantomime<\/a>.”<\/em><\/p>\n Re: “Angels unaware.” \u00a0That’s from the King James translation of\u00a0Hebrews 13:2<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n The “Paul” image is courtesy of the\u00a0Paul the Apostle<\/a>\u00a0link in the “thorn” article. \u00a0<\/em>The caption: \u00a0“Paul the Apostle<\/strong>, by Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn<\/a> c. 1657.”<\/em><\/p>\n The lower image is courtesy of “www.studentpulse.com\/article-images\/uploaded\/348_1.jpg.” \u00a0See also Kurtz (Heart of Darkness) \u2013 Wikipedia<\/a>, and In Heart of Darkness, what does Kurtz mean by his final words \u2026\u00a0<\/a><\/em>\u00a0\u00a0 (Mister Kurtz was a central character in Joseph Conrad\u2019s novel.)<\/em><\/p>\n * \u00a0 * \u00a0 * \u00a0 *<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/aerbook.s3.amazonaws.com\/books\/11036\/assets\/9781469621036.jpg\")
I’ve written before about the advantages<\/em> of blogging. \u00a0Advantages over the kind of “delightfully retro” format that\u00a0Harry Golden<\/a>\u00a0had to use in his\u00a0Carolina Israelite<\/a><\/em>. \u00a0(See\u00a0ABOUT THE BLOG<\/a>.<\/em>)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/8\/8a\/Francesco_del_Cossa_001.jpg\/800px-Francesco_del_Cossa_001.jpg\")
That led me to work on this blog. \u00a0Unfortunately, my personal\u00a0Muse<\/a>\u00a0– exemplified by the one at right – was no help whatsoever.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/a\/a9\/Saint_Paul%2C_Rembrandt_van_Rijn_%28and_Workshop%3F%29%2C_c._1657.jpg\/800px-Saint_Paul%2C_Rembrandt_van_Rijn_%28and_Workshop%3F%29%2C_c._1657.jpg\")
Wikipedia<\/a>\u00a0noted that Paul – at left – didn\u2019t specify the nature<\/em> of his physical \u201cthorn in the flesh.\u201d \u00a0It also noted that through the centuries, \u201cChristians have speculated about what Paul referred to.\u201d<\/p>\n\u201cThe horror, the horror\u2026\u00a0\u00a0 Exterminate all the brutes!!\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n
![\"http:\/\/www.studentpulse.com\/article-images\/uploaded\/348_1.jpg\"](\"http:\/\/www.studentpulse.com\/article-images\/uploaded\/348_1.jpg\")
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