I've spent the last few days using some of my spare time to create word clouds to reflect various aspects of my life. Word clouds can be described as visual representations for text data, typically used to depict keywords in a document as free form text. Words
are normally displayed as singles and are often listed alphabetically, with the importance, relevance or frequency of the word shown via font size or color. This format is useful for quickly perceiving the most prominent terms in the text and for locating a specific word to determine its relative prominence.
I began using word clouds as a means to identify keywords in job descriptions so I could match my personally published key words accordingly. I soon discovered that the tools I found had many other uses as well. Word clouds can give one a visual picture of themselves by cutting and pasting a block of copy one has used to describe themself, like a resume for example. I used the copy in my LinkedIn Profile to create this word cloud as a visual descriptor for my employment history.
Next, I began to think of other uses, like the word cloud I built to describe a Cursillo or Pilgrimage weekend. Using the comments left on the http://www.days3.com website by Presbyterian Cursillo participants after their participant weekend, I cut and pasted the comments into a word cloud generator to produce a visual picture of Cursillo.
In her blog this morning, my friend Lil Smith built a word cloud created from a daily prayer routine, naming all of the names for Christ she could identify. Check out her prayer word cloud blog today at http://bit.ly/nxQH2V.
I believe the possibilities are not only endless, but fun for a visual learner like me.
I recommend using the free on-line program called Wordle at http://www.wordle.com. Word clouds can be printed to a .pdf format and used in a multitude of ways. They can be created in a variety of colors and shapes by your design. Be cautious about saving Word clouds you create to Wordle as public files, unless you are ready for them to be seen by the whole world. But then again... you may have found a good way to evangelize in the 21st Century!
Blessings for now...
Kent
sdg
Becky and I took a trip to Brownwood this weekend and just had a delightful time visiting daughter Erin and celebrating friend Linda Cochran's 50th Birthday. With more time than ever during this period of underemployment, it seems like Becky and I have less time together than ever. So, the ride down was nice.
As we were driving home, taking it leisurely and talking for the first time in ages, I got sick of the Cowboy game (Imagine that in the 4th Quarter) and Becky offered to play some of my favorite music. Those who know me well, know I love most music, but I am especially moved by gospel and Motown R&B from my youth. ...perhaps a bit strange for a WASP in his 50's, but it runs in my blood and genes somewhere!
As we began to listen to the "Gladys Night" channel on Pandora, I listened carefully to the lyrics and realized once again as I have at times in the past, that much of what I was hearing could have easily been gospel music had it been released in a gospel environment. For example, see if you think that Gladys' hit "You're The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me" could have the gospel at its roots (https://youtu.be/rdkBpBfBvLk). Why not?
A bit later, we switched over to the James Taylor channel and soon heard "You've Got a Friend" by Carol King. Once again I thought the same thing. (http://bit.ly/oTjhjz) Is this more hidden gospel?
Becky thinks I'm always bordering on heresy, but perhaps I'm just being thoughtful!
Regardless, I am now on a search for the hidden gospel in our secular world!
Can you share songs you thing fit into the same category? Perhaps someday my Presbyterian brethren might thaw out enough to let us use some of these hidden gospels in a special worship service. At least I can dream!
Kent Couch
aka Mr. Sofa!
October 3, 2011
sdg
Remembering college speech class, I was trying to find the opening line for a speech. My father, who passed away earlier this year in March 2011, made the suggestion to begin my speech with this old Chinese proverb. I made an "A" on the speech and learned that 'ole Dad wasn't always as dumb as I thought he was. Not bad! It was the beginning of an awakening ...Dad might be pretty handy!
My objective in this first blog is to explain what a select few of you have asked about the moniker "sdg" you see on my tweets and email signatures. Many of you may not have ever noticed. "sdg" is an acronym for "Soli Deo Gloria." The term is Latin for one of the five solas said to summarise the Reformers' basic beliefs during the Protestant Reformation; it is a Latin term for "Glory to God alone," or in my words, "To God be the Glory!"
The doctrine states essentially that everything that is done is for God's glory to the exclusion of humankind's self-glorification and pride. Christians are to be motivated and inspired by God's glory and not their own. (Thank you, Wikipedia!)
Indeed it is my hope that like Handel, all I say and do will be to the glory of God. Like everyone else I know except for the One who lived two millennia ago, we are all sinners and I am no different. Use of the "sdg" helps me to stay focused and true to my faith as much as humanly possible.
I give credit for the idea to my Pastor, Rev. Craig Sanders at Grace Presbyterian in Arlington, for delivering information on the topic in a sermon several months ago. Thanks, Craig, for helping me find something meaningful I could do to express my faith and help me stay on track while living in the Kingdom!
Gee... now that wasn't so bad! ...but hopefully I can do it a bit faster next time!
sdg
I've spent the last few days using some of my spare time to create word clouds to reflect various aspects of my life. Word clouds can be described as visual representations for text data, typically used to depict keywords in a document as free form text. Words
I began using word clouds as a means to identify keywords in job descriptions so I could match my personally published key words accordingly. I soon discovered that the tools I found had many other uses as well. Word clouds can give one a visual picture of themselves by cutting and pasting a block of copy one has used to describe themself, like a resume for example. I used the copy in my LinkedIn Profile to create this word cloud as a visual descriptor for my employment history.
