HOW DO YOU ENGAGE WITH SOCIAL NETWORKS?

Indonesia, my home country, will have a presidential election in April 2019. Since last year, weapons of fake news, extreme news and hate speech have been used in politics in Indonesia. It’s damaging, deliberate and disinformation.

The radicalization, and the creation of a market for outrage through propaganda on social media like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube is on the rise, manipulating Indonesian people.

::: RECOVERING VS. DESTROYING 

‘What we really focus on is giving everyone the power to share all of the things that they care about.’- Mark Zuckerberg (2016)

Well, this message seems to be taken to heart by the terrorist group, politicians, arms dealers, and etc. not-so-savory Facebook users.

For a time, it seemed as if the social networks had build a common global community with a shared understanding of the problems confronting humanity. Sadly, soon it has gradually become apparent that internet has posed a bigger threat to humanity. It is a global crisis!

When I was a little kid,
I saw world as incredible,
full of wonders and mystery,
full of new experiences that are pushing my idea of what’s possible in the world.

But as I grew up,
I get enculturated.
I got into a world full of hierarchy and chaos,
irreverent babble.
I started to constantly worry about my self-image, and 
I stopped caring about how wonderful the world is.
I lost that sense of fascination.
I became accommodated to our world,
with envy, evil assumptions, dissension, friction.

I see many then became lovers of self,
lovers of money,
proud and arrogant,
abusive and disobedient to their parents,
ungrateful and heartless,
unappeasable and slanderous,
with no self-control and with brutality,
treacherous and reckless,
swollen with conceit,
wandering off into myths,
not loving good.

Now, as a follower of Jesus,
I believe our work and life stories 
also have similar aims as Christ,
to influence good to others,
to be peaceable, impartial and sincere,
excellent and profitable for people.

Whatever medium we use,
we’re making something or moments,
through shock we write or inform,
encourage or provoke,
recovering the view of the world, 
that almost certainly was lost.

Out of the experience of human disaster,
we have the hope of the world,
that confer glory, hope and liberty.
We are treasured.

We have the light of the world,
that reinforces our belief in justice and righteousness,
that strengthens our confidence in the nobility of the soul,
that sustains our hopes for the glorious life.

This is the mystery of God,
that already is made known in Jesus Christ,
eternal life for humanity.

The time for the recovery has come,
the time to build is upon us.
Awaken the sense of renewal,
ramp up our influence,
by connecting our work and life stories,
to the heart of God.
We are the salt and the light on earth.

::: CONSOLATION VS. BAIT & SWITCH 

Today, perhaps, all politics is becoming social, in that social media have emerged as the crucial battleground of modern elections. The sad reality is that we’re not being able to trust what we see or hear. Misleading fake news is an inescapable threat.

When I watched superhero movies,
Superman, Thor, Iron Man, etc.
I learned that mostly the good win over the evil.
There’s something deep in my soul,
that I know evil can’t win.
I leap for joy for justice.
Although in the beginning,
the superhero gets screwed,
but at the end,
it’s a happy catastrophe.

In reality,
it’s like in the bait and switch game,
social media blind to their biases.
Many people were tossed to and fro
by the waves of disturbing conspiracy,
carried by the wind of false doctrines,
by human cunning in deceitful schemes.
They steal joy with foolish words.

Don’t conform with this,
rather keep a sober mind.
Speak the truth in love.
Let our speech always be gracious,
our labor of love build others up,
in all that is good, right, and true.

Our happy ending,
is not in fake news,
it’s in good news,
It’s a gift of grace.
Therefore,
let’s train and strive ourselves
in ways that holding God’s promise
for both the present life and eternal life.

::: SOLITUDE VS. ADDICTION

We are nearly all addicts. As of 2017, Statista published that the daily social media use of global internet users amounted to 135 minutes per day, up from 126 daily minutes in the previous year.

Social media on our smartphones,
is like a slot machine in a casino,
windowless with no clocks,
we check if there’s something exciting waiting for us,
sometimes there’s not. 
It’s the unpredictability that keeps us coming back.
We’re trapped in a spiral of infinite scrolling.
And we don’t just passively read. 
We engage. We like. We comment. We reply. We retweet. We selfie.

Me and Tobias are committed 
not to spend our precious evening
on smartphones and social media.
We withdrew.

In the past 2 years of my life,
is probably one of the biggest personal transformations
in my journey following Jesus.
It’s been a game-changer in my life.
Through withdrawal or solitude,
I gained focus and freedom.

I cut myself off from any in put and relationship 
that’s the form of self-denial.
I immerse myself in His word,
not to learn something,
but to focus on the theme,
to turn it into prayer, and
to experience it in my life.
I came back with discernment,
to make right decisions.

I don’t have to impress or manage people’s perception,
nor constantly give in to social pressure.
Solitude frees me from this.

It’s my desire, my habit.
I can’t live adequately,
if I don’t have this practice in my life.
I need it,
I want it,
to have solitude moments with my savior.

::: WALK THE TALK VS. NO ACTION TALK ONLY (NATO)

Once we declare our love for God and for our neighbor, what then?
Is feeling compassion and love for others enough? 

Walk the talk.
Be visible and be authentic,
outside the social networks and our smartphone.
Build new norms of social bonds,
coping with the community needs.

Show selfless acts of compassion and service.
To homeless and impoverished,
offer charity and hope.
To strangers and newcomers,
offer an immediate basis for social attachment.
To orphans and widows,
offer a sense of family.
To communities that are torn by ethnic divisions,
offer a new basis for social solidarity.
Etc.

It is a dedication and a commitment.
Show love by actions,
show faith by good deeds.

Love,
Titien

“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Matthew5:13-16NLT

“What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.” James2:14-17NLT

“We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” 1 John3:16-18NLT

“Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.” Psalms1:1-3NLT

*****************************************************************

::: UPDATE ABOUT ME 

1 Year 9 Months Post Biopsy
Midline Pontine Glioblastoma/DIPG Grade IV

I will get the 2nd round of Avastin chemo next Wednesday. 

So far, I feel ok, no major side effects from it.

No major changes with the symptoms. Not getting worse, not getting better either.

I’m still taking dexamethasone 2mg/day.

I appreciate your continued prayer support 🙏 

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