I'm giving this iBlogger thing that Jonathan mentioned in his latest post about his perilous persuit of obtaining a Xanga app for the iPhone. Thanks John, I hope this works.

I'd like to take a moment to HIGHLY recommend the book listed in my "Xangazon." I'm only 25 pages into it, and already my way of thinking has been drastically changed for the better. The writing is a tad old school (the book was written in like 1973), and reads like and encyclopedia, but if you really want to know how to pray correctly, this book is a must.

As you already know, Xanga is transferring production from B4 to B3 and other facilities, and closing B4. Avenuetothereal will be the plant manager for the enlarged B3 operations. She and her new plant management team have spent a significant amount of time since GreekPhysique's announcement reviewing our manufacturing needs, both from an equipment and staffing perspective, and with regard to our product forecasts for 2009.

The decisions made were difficult; however the task was to staff our projected needs with the right mix of people. Skill sets and performance were two critical criteria for the choices made. Skill sets are not just technical skills, but also people/team skills. Performance includes input from formal performance reviews, corrective actions, attendance record, and informal feedback from supervisors and teams.

We do not currently anticipate retaining you as an employee once your current position wraps up with the transfer of the product line you work on or support. In the coming weeks, we will be working to put together a product transfer schedule which we expect will help us identify an approximate date for your termination of employment. Please understand that there are many variables in this process which could change your future status (e.g. other people leaving the company) and your anticipated termination date. We are committed to communicating to you any changes that affect you as soon as possible as we work through this process of closing B4.

Xanga is committed to providing a severance package to all impacted employees which includes two weeks of pay for every full year of service, continued health, dental and life insurance coverage through your severance period, and outplacement assistance, in return for a written release. If you voluntarily leave before Xanga is ready to release you, you forfeit the severance package. Likewise, the severance package is contingent on you continuing to perform the duties of your job and your support of the transfer process.

We recognize this is a difficult process for everybody, but particularly those who will be losing their employment. Thank you for your past service to Xanga and thank you for your cooperation as we move forward.

If you have any questions, please direct them to your supervisor or to your human resources representative. We will do our best to answer them as quickly as possible.

Matthew 6:5-18 (NLT)

When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Here Jesus clearly states that bringing your faith into public view in a manner that draws attention to you rather than to Him is a hypocritical behavior. Take a look at some of the Christian blogs on Revelife (and on Xanga), yours or otherwise, and really think about why they were posted. Is the writer just a Christian who happens to be proud of his or her writing skills, or putting their problems out into public view as a cry for help or attention from other people, or are they really attempting to turn readers' eyes toward God?

I've used Revelife and Xanga as a means to gain publicity for my writing, an ability which I do pride myself on. This passage has sincerely challenged my thinking, and will greatly benefit my relationship with God now and in the future.

What are your thoughts?