Reflections on the Blogging from A to Z in April Challenge 2020

The A to Z Challenge is over for another year. It demonstrates that blogging is a form of social media. I’d like to start by thanking my readers and followers old and new. Without you there would be little point blogging! In particular thanks to these loyal followers for A to Z:

Katy Trail Creations

Dave, who shared links to some of my posts on his other blog

Fun with philosophy

Sue Viseth at An Artist’s Path

New Lune

Gyslaine LE GAL Romancière et Poète Français/Anglais

penned in moondust

Thanks also to Arlee Bird and John Holton for several comments and Jeremy Hawkins for the badges (including the illustration in this post, the letters, 2020 banners and mission accomplished badge)

As I had not been well enough to go out much for a while before lockdown began I had all my posts written and scheduled before the end of March. I did edit some of them later and kicked a few out into the world a few minutes ahead of their scheduled time as it suited me to publicise* them earlier.

(*I shared links daily on Twitter, my Facebook page, in the comments on the link to the A to Z Challenge page on Facebook, and sometimes in comments on the Blogging from A to Z post and its simulcast on WordPress, as well as in visits to other A to Zers.)

I learned some new things about the Easter story both while I was preparing the posts and as the challenge proceeded. It is amazing how a familiar story could have details which I had missed over the years (or perhaps forgotten!)

There are a number of bloggers I have been following since encountering their work in earlier challenges. Some of these had themes which interested me, or their blogs are so good that I read them although the subject matter was of little interest. Others I skipped his time. I missed some people, who did not take part this time.

There are so many interesting blogs I wish there were more hours in the day and the energy to live through them! Some blogs about folk-tales caught my eye.

My list (in no particular order) is perhaps not complete. If I have missed you from the blogs I have found, I apologise. I haven’t been as organised as I’d have liked to be! I wish I had been managed my response to comments better as well.

In my own words: Finding the humor and humanity in everyday life Diane Weidenbenner

The Quiet Writer, blogging about theatres, has an excellent menu featuring her earlier A to Z themes.

The Great Raven  Sue Bursztynski

Life of an Indian Immigrant in the USA | Landscapes

Frédérique

On my Way Home

A bird a day

Carrie Ann Tripp

Janet’s Smiles

Stephney Forgue Houghtlin

Sarah Zama’s Author Blog – Historical Fantasy Set in the 1920s (jazzfeathers)

Celia Reaves

Other diligent bloggers I encountered

Industrial Engineering Knowledge Center

ECLIPSED WORDS BY AISHWARYA SHAH

The Joyous Living

This post is long enough already, but I am planning another post inspired by the official A to Z blog about changes I have noticed in the blogging world. That will be in two weeks after my next post about books.

Z is for Zebedee’s family

Image in sidebar or below post links to Theme reveal

Three members of Zebedee’s family are mentioned in the Easter story. One of them wrote a Gospel, telling the story as an eye-witness. (Letter G)

When Jesus chose his first twelve disciples four of them were fishermen. Matthew 4:18-22 There were two brothers, Andrew and Simon. Simon was later named Peter by Jesus (Letter P). The other two fishermen were brothers named James and John, the sons of Zebedee. John wrote the gospel with his name and two letters, which appear in the New Testament. There is some argument among scholars about whether he also wrote the final book in the Bible, the Revelation of St John the Divine. John was Jesus’ closest friend among his disciples. While Jesus was dying on the cross (Letter C and Letter D) he commended his mother to John’s care and John to his mother’s. John 19:25-27

The third person from Zebedee’s family, who played a part in the Easter story was Salome, the mother of James and John. She was one of the women, who went to the tomb on Resurrection Sunday to finish preparing the body for burial. (Letter A , Letter M and Letter R)

My Theme Reveal contains links to the Easter story in the New Testament.

Y is for Yeshua and You

Image in sidebar or below post links to Theme reveal

In these posts about the Easter story the main character is Jesus of Nazareth (Letter J). Jesus is the way that his name has been handed down in English. In the language spoken in the time and place where he lived on earth, he was probably called Yeshua. This is the same name as Joshua, meaning redeemer (Letter R).

In the post for Letter S (Salvation) I explained that although Jesus’ death and resurrection made it possible for people to be saved from their wrong-doing, salvation is not automatic. It is a gift, which is offered, but has to be received and lived out to provide any benefit.

If you have been following all these posts how do you react to the Easter story?

Have you asked Jesus (Yeshua) to be your Saviour?

If you have just found this blog for the Letter Y, please click the image in the sidebar and read my Theme reveal post with its links to the scriptures. If you are unfamiliar with the Easter story, the scripture linked in my post for the Letter X may also be helpful.