BlogExplosion’s recently added feature, Rent My Blog, allows member blogs to put up ads on their own sites that can be rented to other members in exchange for credits.

I have observed this new feature from afar and today decided to give it a try. My first victimrenter is ONEMANBANDWIDTH is the blog of a self-professed “Writer, Professor, Editor, Entrepreneur, China SEO, Business and Trade Specialist and a Sourcing Consultant for emerging and established businesses seeking to improve their visibility in overseas markets.”

I’ve visited his blog numerous times and have read some of his postings. Often humorous sometimes you will find either satirical pieces (or perhaps serious ones), but almost always accompanied by a funny cartoon or illustration.

The Rent A Blog program acts like any other advertising program. Renters have the opportunity to advertise their blogs on those who rent out the space. As you can see, ONEMANBANDWIDTH’s blog is advertised on the space on the left, so I invite you all to click on the ad and go pay the good professor a visit. And when you do, please leave him a nice comment and tell him that The Bloke sent you!

I received an email from a friend today. She is slowly losing her father to cancer and she is feeling exhausted from the pain and anguish of the suffering and impending loss. Her email reminded me of my own experiences with the loss of my own mom. My mom’s death devastated me, and left a mark in my psyche for a long time. In fact, as I re-read my earlier post, “Why did God let Mom die?” I bawled my eyes out again. I was surprised that the emotional onslaught was just as unrelenting and the pain of the memories was just as acute. I thought I had been healed from the trauma of the experience, but I guess one never really gets healed from such painful loss.

As my friend, a social scientist herself, walks through this dark and lonely valley of loss and losing, she finds herself questioning not just the incomprehensibility of the entire experience, but also the very fabric of the world we live in. She writes:

Going through such painful experiences made me question even more about the world we are living in. With all the social problems around us getting worse by the day, someone wrote to our local newspapers and said that social scientists, especially sociologists, have to do more work to make the world a better place. We, social scientists, have already voiced out what is wrong with the world, but is society willing to take up the challenge and follow our suggestions. For a start, materialism, selfishness and self-centeredness are the major factors contributing to most crimes and deviant behaviour. Are corrupted politicians willing to turn a new leaf? Are some professionals and businesses willing to charge with their conscience instead of thinking of making large profits all the time?

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Remember that phrase in Joshua: “choose for yourselves today whom you will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD”?

Now, if you attended Abundant Life Christian Center in La Marque, near Houston, Texas, that phrase might take on a whole new meaning for you!! (HT: Phil’s blog)