#face value

[detective-jane-rizzoli]

[momentsbeforemass]

Subtext

Have you ever wanted to ruin a relationship or a friendship?

Of course not. No one does that intentionally. And yet, at one time or another, all of us do.

Usually by throwing in something we’re barely even aware of right where it doesn’t belong.

I’m thinking about subtext.

If you’ve been in a toxic, manipulative relationship. If you grew up with manipulative parents. Then you know how hard it is to not see a subtext, a hidden ulterior meaning, in what people say and do.

After all, you spent so much time dealing with the fallout from subtext. Digging yourself out of that emotional, psychological, and spiritual hole.

One of the tools you used to dig out? Being aware of subtext, so that you respond in way that protected you.

The downside? Once you’ve invested that kind of time and effort being vigilant for subtext, it’s kind of hard to turn it off. And you can end up overcompensating, seeing subtext where there isn’t any.

Which can ruin your relationships with people who aren’t manipulating you (don’t ask me why I know all this).

Here’s why I bring this up. I took a course last year on the Gospel of Mark. When we discussed today’s Gospel, one of the people my class was hearing a subtext.

I today’s Gospel Jesus is trying to explain something to the Apostles. They don’t get it. He tries again. They still don’t get it.

Each time they don’t get it, Jesus asks, “do you still not understand?”

The subtext my classmate was hearing? Demeaning. How-dumb-are-you? Disappointment. Not-good-enough. 

It’s a subtext that makes Jesus into someone He isn’t. Into a sort of divine manipulative parent. An implacable perfectionist. Where anyone trying to make Him happy is stuck on a treadmill of expectations that you can never meet.

I followed up with the instructor after class. I asked if that subtext was really there.

He said no. That the original Greek reflected the neutral questions of a teacher making sure that a student understood.

The point of all this? God doesn’t have a subtext. If God is upset with you, you’ll know about it.

The unhappy and unhealthy ideas that many people have about God aren’t really about God at all. It’s just baggage that they have (intentionally or unintentionally) dragged into the conversation.

It’s not that they’re bad people. It just means they’ve been hurt, and they’re not done healing.

Be gentle with them. Help them heal if you can.

But don’t let their baggage poison your relationships. Especially your relationship with God.

You can take God at face value. God doesn’t have a subtext.

Today’s Readings

[archivist-crow]

Phil Collins - “In the Air Tonight” (1981)

Forty-four years ago today, on January 9th, 1981, “In the Air Tonight,” the lead single from Face Value, the debut solo album by Phil Collins, was released. Reaching no. 2 in the UK and Canada, no. 19 in the US, and no. 1 in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Sweden, Phil Collins’ debut single was an immediate hit and helped take the album to no. 1 in the UK and no. 7 in the US. With its distinctive and captivating drum intro and break, the song remains Collins’ signature and among the best songs of the 80s.

[claremont-psychiatric-hospital]

So… did you figure it out?

[balashutaman]

I see Carter and Briggs, maybe I'm tripping idk

[renegadesstuff]

They're so in love 🤎

[thehappyspaceman]

What's with dudes these days getting divorced and immediately turning far right because of it? This happens so frequently and I genuinely don't get it. In the '70s-80s, guys who went through a divorce would make an epic concept album about it. Now, it results in them going MAGA. I feel like this is a massive downgrade.

[deprivedofembrace]

This is a message to every scalper in the music industry that buys every concert ticket from the venue and raises the prices ten-fold before fans of the artists get a chance to buy them themselves. You are the cause of death for the performing arts and parasites to us all.

To the fans of these artists whose shows are sold out because of these parasites, do not give them your money. Do not purchase these tickets from VividSeats, StubHub, or any other third-party ticket sites. They are not doing you a service by “reserving” tickets, they are leeching off of your dedication to seeing a music artist live and preying on you for your money. It will take collective action from us as fan bases to hold out against them for them to give in and return their tickets for us to buy instead. Face Value Exchange is the only ethical way for tickets to be resold in this age of scalping parasites

And yes, the context to this is the Sleep Token tour being sold out by these people before fans can purchase these otherwise affordable tickets.

[evilhorse]

It would be a mistake to take Stan at face value.

(Nexus #68)

[falseandrealultravival]

Two deaths of natural farmer Masanobu Fukuoka (Essay)

Masanobu Fukuoka

Masanobu Fukuoka passed away. I knew him when I was in college. My specialty is "water," but when talking about environmental issues, I cannot avoid mentioning "soil." That's why I became interested in agriculture and went to help farmers in Ibaraki Prefecture. With that in mind, our goal was Masanobu Fukuoka and the natural farming method he created. He is well-known to naturalists all over the world.

He has a four-point vision of ``no-tillage, no fertilizers, no weeding, and no pesticides,'' I was well-received by his bold approach to developing his philosophy of nature.

＠＠＠＠＠＠＠＠

Is Masanobu Fukuoka's "natural farming method" really real? 　

In the preface of Mr. Fukuoka's ``One Straw Revolution,'' he describes it as a ``natural farming method'' of growing rice and wheat without fertilizers, pesticides, weeding, or tillage. Still, as you read through the book, you will realize that although it is supposed to be fertilizer-free, I have come across descriptions of spraying 200 to 400 kg of dried chicken manure per 10 acres. Isn't dried chicken manure a fertilizer?

*Chapter “Fun farming methods that anyone can do” (p.45~)* Written by Masanobu Fukuoka. “One Straw Revolution” Shunjusha. 　1983.*

In any case, 200 to 400 kg of dried chicken manure is enormous.

I think if you spread that much, the outbreak of caterpillar disease and pests will be inevitable.

Also, before the harvest season, wouldn't the overgrowth cause the rice to fall over and become infected with insects? ・・・・・・

@@@@@@@@@@

The quote above is from a certain blogger.

Hmm. When I looked into ``Natural Farming: One Straw Revolution'' (Hakujyuusha) published by another publisher, I found that in this book as well, if you use ``dried chicken manure'' on page 53, it will come out properly. Now it would be a fraud to call it ``no fertilizer''.

Therefore, it can be said from his writings that Masanobu Fukuoka's farming method is "not fertilizer-free." (Pesticides are also used.) It has become clear that his natural farming methods cannot be taken at face value. For me, he died doubly.

Rei Morishita

自然農法家・福岡正信さんの２つの死

福岡正信さんが死ん��。私が彼を知ったのが大学時代でした。私の専門は「水」であるけれども、環境の問題を語るとき、避けてとおれないのが「土」でした。だから私は、農業にも関心を持ち、茨城県の農家に手伝いにいったりしていました。その上で、目標となったのが、福岡正信さんと彼の生み出した自然農法でした。彼は、世界的にも、ナチュラリストには知られた存在です。

「不耕起、無肥料、無除草、無農薬」の４つの眼目を備え、堂々と彼の自然哲学を展開することについては好感を持って受容したものです。

＠＠＠＠＠＠＠＠

福岡正信氏の「自然農法」は、はたして本物でしょうか？！　 福岡氏の『 わら一本の革命 』の前書きでは、無肥料・無農薬・無除草・不耕起で、稲と麦を育てる「自然農法」とされていますが、この本を読み進むと、無肥料のはずが、乾燥鶏糞を10アール当たり２００kgから４００kg散布するという記述に遭遇します。乾燥鶏糞って、肥料じゃないんでしょうか？ 　　*「誰でもやれる楽しい農法」の章（p.45～）*　福岡正信著．　『 わら一本の革命 』　春秋社．　1983年.* 　ともかく、乾燥鶏糞２００～４００kgというと、かなりすごい量です。。。。 そんなに撒いたら、イモチ病や害虫の発生は避けられないと思います。 それに収穫期前には、過繁茂で稲が倒れ、虫がたかるのではないでしょうか？・・・・

＠＠＠＠＠＠＠＠＠

引用は、あるブロガーの意見。

うーん。他の出版社から出ている「自然農法・わら一本の革命」（柏樹社）を調べてみたところ、この本の場合も、５３ページに、「乾燥鶏糞」を使うと、ちゃんと出てきます。これで「無肥料」と名乗るのはサギでしょう。

　だから、福岡正信さんの農法は、「無肥料ではない」ことが彼の著作上、言えます。（農薬も使っています。）彼の自然農法は、額面通りには受け取れないことだけははっきりしたと思います。私にとっては、彼は二重に死んだのです。

[ilovetranslating]

Phil Collins - I'm Not Moving (Не варушуся)

If you feel it, do it You don't need a reason For all you know it could be good (Could be good for you) For you to show your feelings (Ahh) Ooh, don't just leave them Do the things you believe in, 'cause it's alright Don't worry, turn around (Don't worry, turn around) I will still be here

I'm not moving (I'm not going anywhere) No, really, ah, you just try and push me out (Just try it) No, I'm not moving (I'm not going anywhere) No, I'm not going anywhere tonight

If you think it, say it (Ahh) No one can stop you Don't keep quiet, just 'cause you think you ought to Feel free to shout it loud, speak your mind (Feel free to speak) Spit it out

'Cause I'm not moving (I'm not going anywhere) No, really, ah, you just try and push me out (Just try it) No, I'm not moving (I'm not going anywhere) No, really, ah, there's no hurry, I can sit it out So don't worry, turn around (Don't worry, turn around) I will still be here

If it hurts, don't do it (Ahh) 'Cause no one can take you, make you drink And no one can tell you what you think Remember if your spirit starts to sink Don't you worry, turn around I will still be here

Калі адчуваеш - рабі. І прычыны не патрэбна. І для ўсіх, каго ты ведаеш, так было б добра (і было б добра для цябе) І для цябе, каб паказаць пачуцці. Проста не кідай іх. Рабі тое, у што верыш, бо так правільна. Не хвалюйся, азірніся (не хвалюйся, азірніся) Я яшчэ буду тут.

Я не варушуся (я нікуды не сыходжу) Не, сур'ёзна, паспрабуй, выштурхні мяне (проста паспрабуй) Не, я не варушуся (я нікуды не сыходжу) Не, я нікуды не пайду ўвечары.

Калі пра гэта думаеш - скажы. Ніхто не можа цябе спыніць. Не будзь ціхай, бо ты думаеш, што мусиш. Адчувай сябе вольнай пракрычаць пра тое, і быць адкравеннай. Выкладай.

Бо я не варушуся (я нікуды не іду) Не, сур'ёзна, проста паспрабуй і выштурхні мяне (проста паспрабуй) Не, бо я не варушуся (я нікуды не іду) Не, сапраўды, ніякага паспеху, я магу і прасядзець. Таму не перажывай, азірніся (не перажывай, азірніся) Я яшчэ буду тут.

Калі баліць, не рабі таго. Таму што ніхто не можа забраць цябе, прымусіць цябе піць. І ніхто не можа расказаць табе, што думаеш ты. Помні - калі твой дух пачне тануць, Не хвалюйся, азірніся. Я яшчэ буду тут.

[detective-jane-rizzoli]

[momentsbeforemass]

Face value

To be childlike is to take things at face value.

It’s something most of us don’t do. Not anymore.

We’ve learned to protect ourselves. By looking for the catch, the hook, the real reason why someone is doing something.

Because we’ve had to.

But if that’s all we do, then we miss out on a lot of the good stuff. And even the stuff we don’t miss out on, we don’t really enjoy it. Because we’re looking for the catch, the hook.

It’s especially true for relationships. Both our relationships with people and our relationship with God.

There’s nothing wrong with protecting yourself.

Go ahead and look. If you find the catch, if you find the hook? You know what to do.

But at some point, if you haven’t found the catch, the hook? Then maybe. Just maybe. There’s a reason for that.

There isn’t one. Which means?

Which means that this is someone you can take at face value. This is someone you can trust. This is someone you can enter into a relationship with.

This is what Jesus is talking about in today’s Gospel. This is what it means to be childlike.

Go ahead and look at God. Not someone’s idea of God. Look at God.

Look all you want. You won’t find a catch, you won’t find a hook. There’s a reason for that.

There isn’t one.

Which means that God is someone you can take at face value. God is someone you can trust. God is someone you can enter into a relationship with.

For some of us, figuring this out can take a long time.

I know this, because I’m one of those people.

Because I am one of those people, I can tell you this – when you do figure it out, you’ll find God waiting for you with open arms.

Today’s Readings

[3liza]

incredible to me that in the age of spending minimum $100 for groceries for one person every three weeks where i live, people are still online like "dairy is bad for you because it has a lot of calories". at this point im calculating calories per dollar at the grocery store and youre still stuck in "fat bad" mindset from 1980. you are an absurd person to me. laughable

[balashutaman]

As I wait-

[mojartoart]

Original Figurative Painting- "Face Value" is a contemporary mixed media painting depicting a vibrant, youthful figure smoking. The artwork captures the essence of the current generation with colourful hair and bold eyeliner, representing modern youth culture. This hand-painted piece reflects the dynamic and expressive spirit of today's youth. Buy original paintings online and add a new dimension to your space.