D.T.W.; Influencer VS. Encourager

D.T.W.; Influencer VS. Encourager

*D.T.W. – Is my abbreviation for “Deep Thought Wednesdays”. 🙂

Influencer[in-floo-uh n-ser]

noun

a person or thing that influences:

a person who has the power to influence many people, as through social media or traditional media:

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/influencer

Undue Influence (Though not the same as influencer in definition) I used this for my example. My definition of undue influence in the video is a loose paraphrase based on the resource “Combatting Cult Mind Control” by Steven Hassan https://www.amazon.ca/Combating-Cult-Mind-Control-Best-selling/dp/0967068827/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1555466170&refinements=p_27%3ASteven+Hassan&s=books&sr=1-1

Here is another great definition from The Freedom of Mind Website:

“Undue influence is any act of persuasion that overcomes the free will and judgment of another person.”  https://freedomofmind.com/cult-mind-control/  Follow the link for more great information.

Encourager[en-kur-ij, –kuhr-]

noun a person or thing that encourages! 

verb (used with object), en·cour·aged, en·cour·ag·ing.

to inspire with courage, spirit, or confidence:

uraged him throughout the marathon race to keep on running.

to stimulate by assistance, approval, etc.:

One of the chief duties of a teacher is to encourage students. to promote, advance, or foster

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/encourager?s=t

Two rules I am currently living by:

  • Don’t think too highly of yourself  (Pride, Arrogance)

I am not saying act like a worm and put yourself down.

Have self-respect and treat yourself like you are valuable.

  • Don’t think too highly of other people.  (Idolize or worship)

I am not saying be disrespectful to others or refuse to listen to what they have to say.  Be respectful and listen.

It’s a balance.

References:

Combatting Cult Mind Control by Steven Hassan 

Undue Influence

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/influencer?s=t

Encourager (Encourage)

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/encourager?s=t

* Disclaimer:  It is my opinion that any belief or ideology can be taken to the extreme and I don’t think that is a good thing.  I aim for balance.  You should always have the right to your own opinions, thoughts, feelings, and emotions and be able to ask questions and disagree with others.  

Star Struck

Star Struck


ORIGIN OF STAR-STRUCK

First recorded in 1938 or 1960–65.

*fascinated or greatly impressed by famous people, especially those connected with the entertainment industry.  

*captivated by famous people or by fame itself.

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/starstruck

*If you describe someone as starstruck, you mean that they are very interested in and impressed by famous performers, or that they want to be a performer themselves. https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/starstruck

*in british: completely overawed by someone’s celebrity status

Have you ever been Star-Struck?  Many people today are.  Perhaps they just don’t recognize it.  Celebrities are everywhere!  People “follow” them like gurus or cult leaders hanging on their every word.  Instagram models or influencers can be a cult of personality.  

I can honestly say that I use to be very much “star-struck”, but with age and maturity I have learned that they are regular people just like everyone else.  Being famous does not make them immune to problems or illness.  And worshiping them is not a good idea because that is to elevate them higher than God. Some celebrities use this power over people to get them to do what they want them to do.  They have enormous power that they wield over the masses.

The more extreme case is what is called: CWS or Celebrity Worship Syndromewhere one is obsessed with celebrity and even stalks them. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebrity_worship_syndrome#Erotomanic)

What about you?  Are you star-struck?

References:

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/starstruck

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/starstruck

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebrity_worship_syndrome#classifications

You Are My Lucky Star (Singing In The Rain)

Deep Thought Wednesdays – Moonstruck

Deep Thought Wednesdays – Moonstruck

by Esther Bautista

Lady Esther Youtube Channel

I was reading my Bible the other day and checked the footnote reference regarding the word epileptics and found something I thought was interesting, the word Moonstruck.  I like the sound of that word. It makes me think of the movie with Cher and Nicholas Cage.  So I googled it!

“The news about Him spread athroughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, bdemoniacs, 1cepileptics, dparalytics; and He healed them.” Matt 4:24 NASB

Moonstruck regarding epileptic seizures:  

“The Romans described epilepsy victims as lunaticus (moonstruck). They believed that the gods intervened during certain phases of the moon.” (DiBacco, 1995)

I briefly reviewed one study on the effects of lunar cycle on seizures.  It stated reports have mixed results but concluded based on their study: “it is the brightness of the night and the contribution the moon phase makes to nocturnal luminance, rather than the moon phase per se, that may influence the occurrence of epileptic seizures.”(Baxendale, 2008)

I thought that maybe there was some truth to what the Romans believed, but that perhaps scientists just haven’t found the right correlation.  You can read more about it on your own, if you find this topic interesting.  Could it be a magnetic pull of the moon or is this just a myth?  What do you think? Leave your questions or comments in the box below.

References:

Matthew 4:24  NASB Side-Column Reference Bible

https://biblia.com/books/nasb95/Mt4.24

DiBacco, T. V. (1995, November 28). THE MYSTERY OF EPILEPSY. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/wellness/1995/11/28/the-mystery-of-epilepsy/da56eb08-8dcc-4e32-8494-21382f6e52fb/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.cd01daa15449

Baxendale, S., & Fisher, J. (2008, October). Moonstruck? The effect of the lunar cycle on seizures. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18602495

Cher & Nicolas Cage in Moonstruck

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093565/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1