Happy Easter! Wildflowers & resurrection

As the snow of winter melts into the promise of spring, the world is filled with hope, renewal and new life.  Two events highlight the season: the blossoming of countless acres of wildflowers and the celebration of Easter.  As poppies, lupine, and daffodils push their way through barren soil, we are vividly reminded of the greatest moment in history - the resurrection of Jesus.

Joyous Easter Blessings to you & all who you hold dear. 

Alleluia, He Is Risen! He is Risen Indeed, Alleluia!

www.thejohn1010project.com

World Backup Day: if you don't already backup your data - now is the time to start!

 

WHAT IS BACKUP? 

A backup is a second copy of all your important files — for example, your family photos, home videos, documents and emails. Instead of storing it all in one place (like your computer), you keep another copy of everything somewhere safe.

ALRIGHT, I GET IT, BUT WHY SHOULD I BACKUP?

Losing your files is way more common than you’d think. Ever lost your phone, camera or tablet? That counts. Your stuff could have been saved with a backup. One small accident or failure could destroy all the important stuff you care about.

30% of people have never backed up

113 phones lost or stolen every minute

29% of disasters are caused by accident

1 in 10 computers infected with viruses each month

SO HOW DO I BACKUP?

Most people backup their files in one of two ways: to an external drive, or somewhere on the Internet (Backblaze).

Do you need a hand with getting backup sorted for your important data? Contact Donline. Do not wait till it's too late to backup!

www.worldbackupday.com

Good Friday Meditation

The Gospel of St John. Chapter 19:

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. They kept coming up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and striking him on the face. Pilate went out again and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God.”

Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. He entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore said to him, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor.”

When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judge’s bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, “Here is your King!” They cried out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate asked them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but the emperor.” Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.

The Crucifixion of Jesus

So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill what the scripture says,

“They divided my clothes among themselves,

    and for my clothing they cast lots.”

And that is what the soldiers did.

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.” A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Jesus’ Side Is Pierced

Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, “None of his bones shall be broken.” And again another passage of scripture says, “They will look on the one whom they have pierced.”

The Burial of Jesus

After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

The Passion of Jesus Christ, According to St John

Shroud of Turin: is this the face of Jesus?

 

Interest in the Shroud of Turin continues to be insatiable. As the Church remembers Christ’s death and resurrection this Easter, a world leading scholar in the study of the Shroud explains why he’s so confident this really is the burial cloth of Jesus

The Shroud of Turin is the most studied object in the world – and for good reason. If authentic, this linen cloth would constitute physical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus. 

Not so fast comes the gut reaction from many Christians, concerned that such a theory skirts dangerously close to venerating a spurious relic. Besides, hasn’t the science concluded this is simply a medieval forgery?

But the truth is, there is little consensus on the Shroud’s authenticity. After thousands of hours of research, study and tests, opinion is still divided among both scholars and enthusiasts. 

And so the intriguing possibility remains open that as God raised Jesus from the dead, some form of energy – whether atomic, radioactive or other – was released from his body, leaving a miraculous imprint on this, his burial cloth. READ MORE...

UPDATE (21st August 2024) from Relevant Magazine: A new study has found “proof” that suggests that the Shroud of Turin - long believed by many to be the burial cloth of Jesus Christ - could indeed date back to the time of Christ.

www.premierchristianity.com

Scareware scam: Restoro and Reimage fined $26 million by FTC

Two firms have been fined $26 million by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for scaring consumers into believing their computers were infected by malware.

The FTC claimed that Restoro Cyprus Limited and Reimage Cyprus Limited, both based in Cyprus, operated a tech support scam since at least 2018 that "bilked tens of millions of dollars from consumers... using false and unsubstantiated claims about the performance and security of consumers' computers."

The companies, which have a common ownership, are thought to have been particularly successful at scamming older consumers with fake Microsoft Windows pop-ups. The pop-ups claimed computers were infected with viruses and urged users to "scan" their PCs "to avoid more damage."

www.bitdefender.com

Need to dispose of old computer kit securely?

Do you have an old PC, laptop or data storage media and want to get rid of it?
What to do? Take it to the dump?
Not a great idea: data thieves are out there!
You need to destroy the Hard Disk Drive.

If want the the security of hard drive destruction, but don't want the hassle: Donline offers a secure destruction service for all types of computer media c/w recycling of materials (where possible).

www.nbcnews.com

Chris & Denise Arthey are speaking at my club: IAM RSS

 

IAM RSS Club Night Special Event

Highway 35 - Meeting Disaster Head-on with Hope

Guest Speakers: Chris and Denise Arthey

Tuesday 9 April 2024 19:15 - 21:00 hr

Members and their guests are invited to join us for our regular club night at

Otterbourne Village Hall

Entry to the event is £2 on the door. Tea and coffee will be available for a small charge (cash only).

A Story of Triumph over Adversity

An inspirational story of courage, perseverance and hope.

We are pleased  to welcome Chris and Denise to tell their remarkable story.

In 2008 Chris and Denise were exploring Texas on a motorcycle when a crash instantly changed their lives. It resulted in them both losing their left leg above the knee, and they found themselves embarking on a long and painful road to recovery and a return to the vocations they love, endurance sports, marathons and biking. Chris rides a Can-Am Spyder 1000cc roadster and is currently doing his IAM RoadSmart Advanced Training.

Chris and Denise will be signing copies of their book Highway 35 which will be available to purchase on the night

www.iamroadsmartsolent.org.uk

A very short reading for today: a Blessing for you

 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Read all of Romans 15 at Bible Gateway

Fr Calvin Robinson: The Church and the West are in decline, are we in need of another Reformation?

Fr Calvin Robinson writes: In previous articles, I have argued that the Reformation was a failure. I have heard others argue that it never really ended, in that the Church of England never truly settled on a doctrine and has been wayward ever since for that very reason.

On the one hand, Roman Catholics would generally argue that the Reformation was a mistake, whilst on the other hand, Protestants would argue that it had a net positive result.

Wherever you fall on the outcome of the 16th century Reformation - failure/success, detrimental/positive - it is probably safe to say the Church is always in need of reform. The Church Militant is made up of broken parts - you and I - and, therefore, is always in need of adjustment to ensure we remain on track. That is not to say the truth should be changed, but the Church should be reformed in order to guard and preserve the Truths of Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture.

Professor Robert Tombs published an interesting article yesterday that suggested Western Society itself is in need of reform. Tombs is a fantastic historian - Professor Emeritus of French History at the University of Cambridge - and I tend to agree with his assessment. However, he has not outlined the reason why the West is on the brink of collapse and in need of reformation, and that is because the West - formerly called Christendom - abandoned its core values. A house without a foundation cannot stand, and Christ is/was the cornerstone of civilisation. Without him, we are lost, and society itself ceases to function in an orderly fashion. We grasp at abstract values and ideas to replace what has always been known to be true. The objective becomes subjective, and everything begins to fall apart as the structure of our way of life crumbles around fallen individuals instead of being held up by a divine person. This is not a political problem but a spiritual one.

When Christendom became ‘the West,’ it became secularised. The West has lost faith in Christ. If we, as Christians, believe Christianity to be true and Jesus Christ to be the only way to Salvation, surely, we have a duty to return Christ to Christendom. Read more...

www.calvinrobinson.substack.com

Riding season is approaching! Top tips for getting back to riding

 

Winter may have come and gone, the sun is shining and the roads are dry so it's about time for the less-hardy 'all-weather' riders to bring their motorcycles out of hibernation. Plenty have been washed but not ridden. Some have been bought or sold while others haven't had their insurance renewed, but before the keys are grabbed please do cast your eye over the below to ensure you and your machine are prepped for the road…

Pre-ride motorbike checklist: The best way to check your bike over is to thoroughly clean it as you’ll get up-close and be more likely to spot any problems. It’s also worth using a variation of the police pre-ride check-list – P.O.W.D.E.R.S. – ideally every time you go out…

Petrol - It’s a bonus if there’s some in the tank.

Oil - It should be at the correct level. For everything you need to know about oil, click below.

Water - Check the level, hoses and fasteners. Find out more about coolant below.

Drivetrain - If your bike has a chain, check its tension and also that it’s well lubricated. You don’t want to spray it then ride straight off, so do this the night before. Find out more about adjusting your chain below.

Electrics - Make sure all the lights and horn work, and that the instrument cluster operates correctly with all warning lights going off when the engine’s running.

Rubber - Make sure the tyres are in good condition with plenty of tread; the minimum is 1mm but you’ll want more than that really. Check the pressures too. For everything you need to know about tyres, click below.

Stopping - Check your brakes; that doesn’t just mean a quick squeeze of the lever – examine the discs and pads to make sure there’s plenty of wear left in them and also make certain there are no leaks in the brake pipes. Check the fork seals too, which could be dribbling oil onto the discs. If the bike was damp when it was laid up, it’s possible the pads could have bound onto the discs a little – they should free straight off but make sure the pistons in the calipers are returning and be extra-careful for the first few miles as the corrosion is scrubbed off the discs; the brakes could be a bit grabby for a while. For more about servicing brakes, click below. 

www.bennetts.co.uk

Amazon lobbyists banned from European Parliament

The European Parliament has revoked the access badges of Amazon lobbyists, preventing easy access to its buildings, after the firm failed to attend multiple meetings about the labour conditions of warehouse workers.

The Parliament’s secretary general withdrew Amazon’s 14 entry badges following a formal request by members of the employment and social affairs (EPML) committee, who say the company has repeatedly refused to engage with them to address concerns about labour rights and working conditions.

As a result, no Amazon lobbyists will be issued with any new access badges until further notice. Amazon has confirmed that while its lobbyists will still be able to access European Parliament buildings, they will now have to be signed in like any other visitor.

www.computerweekly.com

It's the law! Actually it isn't: just AI hallucinating!

The cases would have provided compelling precedent for a divorced dad to take his children to China — had they been real. But instead of savouring courtroom victory, the Vancouver lawyer for a millionaire embroiled in an acrimonious split has been told to personally compensate her client's ex-wife's lawyers for the time it took them to learn the cases she hoped to cite were conjured up by ChatGPT.

In a decision released Monday, a B.C. Supreme Court judge reprimanded lawyer Chong Ke for including two AI "hallucinations" in an application filed last December.

The cases never made it into Ke's arguments; they were withdrawn once she learned they were non-existent.

Justice David Masuhara said he didn't think the lawyer intended to deceive the court - but he was troubled all the same.

"As this case has unfortunately made clear, generative AI is still no substitute for the professional expertise that the justice system requires of lawyers," Masuhara wrote in a "final comment" appended to his ruling.

"Competence in the selection and use of any technology tools, including those powered by AI, is critical."

www.cbc.ca

Worshippers to tell Easter story on streets of Havant

A 30-strong cast will dramatise the story of Jesus’s final days on Earth, including his trial, death and resurrection, on a stage set up in the town centre. They’ve been drawn from churches of all denominations from around Havant and Leigh Park.

They’ll attract shoppers and passers-by to stop and watch their 30-minute performance, which will be staged three times on March 30 and once on Easter Sunday 2024. It’s designed to help them understand more about why Jesus died and rose again and what difference it can make to their lives.

It’s the fourth such play that the Havant Passion Play group has staged, after previous performances in Havant Park in 2015, 2017 and 2019. It’s also the fourth play directed by James Burke-Dunsmore, who portrayed Jesus for years in The Life of Christ in Wintershall, near Guildford, and in Trafalgar Square each Good Friday. He has led rehearsals in which cast members are encouraged to think about the emotions felt by their characters as they react to Jesus's words and actions.

UPDATE: Here are the photos that I took of the live production on Saturday 30th March 2024. It was a lovely day, the weather was fine, and the actors delivered a wonderful performance - Kim & I were very moved. I've added some captions, sort of in the style of Stations of the Cross. 

www.portsmouth.anglican.org