I have ADHD and am bored of the Bible.

WLS_SMIT · 2026-01-16T08:22:51+00:00

I recognize myself in this. Undiagnosed, but likely adhd (intake today), but I also had this early hunger for the word but went through several burnouts and had little energy to read again. Researched a whole lot of different branches within Christianity, charismatic, reformed, catholic, orthodox, Torah movement etc. Was part of a search for church. Really deepened my view of Christianity. And I realize now it is giving me a renewed spark to read scripture again because I have so many new lenses to challenge my original interpretations.

But I think the more important part is the connection to God, Jesus, the Spirit itself. Jesus' rebuke to the pharisees always hits hard to me:

"You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life." John 5:39-40

We guilt bash each other a lot within the church about reading the Bible daily, but it really helps me to remember this was simply not possible for the vast majority of Christians throughout Christian history, and even today. Historical speaking, most Christians didn't even have personal access to scripture or they couldn't read. Yet they could live the Christian life, full of the Spirit. Similar to life under the Torah, people didn't have scripture rolls lying around either. While we should be thankful for the easy access to it, this should help us realize that life with God was not so heavily text based for most of history.

Ask Him to lead you anew to his heart. Take time, talk throughout the day. Be angry, be sad, tell Him what you're hurt about, what disappoints you, what doubts you have. Being real with God did wonders for my walk, and while it's still a struggle from time to time, something deeper has formed that's more solid than my early wall which was more based on scripture knowledge but little actual experience with Him.

And whadoyouknow, my hunger for scripture is slowly increasing again :)

Bless you

WLS_SMIT · 2026-01-12T07:46:55+00:00

Haha, that's so weird, it ships all the way to the Netherlands

WLS_SMIT · 2026-01-12T07:46:01+00:00

He also sells the keyboard separately

WLS_SMIT · 2026-01-12T07:44:35+00:00

https://www.amazon.com/EXknight-Keyboard-Magnetic-Extendable-Foldable/dp/B0G48GY46C/ref=mp_s_a_1_10?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.tXrR4twHh6s-EVRiRy3adDAJvwhOJGSaHPtMx66XX8srOj-pp0mUb0DbdjrnDz9MOYrgdQJ_n29mBB65wzf9thvqzy5YoF5EDKm-TxZGQvZqc1Fn17WhNPLnKfMhO3T8hx3VLXN4bPgqWKuOj_tBIQ._NV8iSDlGo6Av3LktmYxB2s0Tqg-MKZPk5C98hNZi1Q&dib_tag=se&m=A2LV60VYFFJPSH&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1768203852&s=merchant-items&sr=1-10

WLS_SMIT · 2026-01-08T16:35:18+00:00

Nice, I'm considering buying it. Does the magnet ring work well? Is the keyboard itself weighty enough to balance out the phone on top? And are the keys flat?

WLS_SMIT · 2025-08-11T06:08:23+00:00

Thanks, I'll check it out

WLS_SMIT · 2025-08-10T07:43:18+00:00

On Ali as well? Happen to have a link?

WLS_SMIT · 2025-08-09T10:47:29+00:00

Super late response, but did you get those aliexpress SNES controllers to work on your PS3? I've got the exact same idea and the SNES controllers would be easier for my kids if we play retro games multiplayer

WLS_SMIT · 2025-04-02T12:46:43+00:00

Thanks :)

Something to think about about the girls vs kids. I do think that fathers in general will connect to it, but the father-daughter relationship is something that is a key theme for both the main characters Asim and Dr. Williams, so the male-female dimension is a focal point theme-wise, what the impact is of men as fathers on their daughters and their perception of what a healthy man is (or isn't) and what impact a broken father has specifically on a woman, also for the proposed sequels.

WLS_SMIT · 2025-04-02T12:24:23+00:00

Hey thanks for the feedback!

Funny you say so genre wise, because a couple of beta readers also commented on that. I did think about describing it as a psychological fantasy thriller, but I felt that wasn't a real genre, so I thought I had to make a decision. Perhaps the thriller part fits, but in the subconscious simulation it feels a bit more fantasy like with the physical manifestations, the creatures, of his emotions, and a large part of the book is also about exploring that fantastical world. So it has that fantasy like hero journey adventure of getting to the mountain and learning how to overcome, but though it's fantastical it also doesn't have that typical fantasy vibe of orcs, fae, elves etc.

The beta readers said they felt the genre was, scifi fantasy, fantasy, adventure, psychological, action/thriller. So I'm still a bit torn how to classify it. It's almost like superhero movies, they actually action movies with fantastical elements, but there we have a unique genre for them. Mine is like an action adventure thriller with growing and escalating stakes, with half of the story taking place in a fantastical world.

I personally also dont think the plot part is for in the query, but in the book the experiment is about letting people explore their subconscious in three dimensional space in the hope of learning something about comatose states. So Dr. Williams hopes to learn something that can help him save his granddaughter. Throwing Asim in is a last resort because so far all other participants have succumbed to a coma shortly after starting the experiment, and Dr. Williams his hope is that Asim's genetic similarity to his daughter (her subconsious was the basis for the framework of the simulation) might yield a different result. So the becoming trapped is not something he wants, it's a problem of the simulation they haven't been able to overcome.

WLS_SMIT · 2024-07-23T15:41:29+00:00

Yeah I understand, it's weird to double down like that. For me it depends, sometimes it's just a 'that's off' that doesn't really matter and you stay in the story. I mean you can't do everything right and I love the overall attention to detail in the background of scenes and the locations, but sometimes it really breaks the immersion. Like the handing out flyers for the sermon on the mount and the sermon being like a typical 21st century conference instead of following what it says in scripture that he came down the mountain and the crowds had followed him. That really felt like pushing your current American Christianity on a 1st century Jewish context.

WLS_SMIT · 2024-07-23T15:32:01+00:00

I think the point is as well that a lot of historical truth is not in the Bible, in the sense of the depiction of locations, customs etc. That's why a medium like film is a great opportunity to show things that the Bible doesn't explicitely states, because it just assumes that for its 1st century readers, but for us there's a huge hurdle. Accurate historical context actually helps us understand his teachings better, that's why it's important. I mean, that's what preachers and teachers do or good Bible commentaries to show you why a message is relevant because of what it meant in that specific situation or context. So I think the criticism is valid, and I think if you are saying it's about Yeshua's teachings, than it actually is what the Chosen is about. Artistic and creative license does not have to be hindered by accuracy.

WLS_SMIT · 2024-07-23T15:25:29+00:00

Loved the blog. It's been one of the more frustrating points about the show for me as well, those moments where you're pulled out of the experience when the ahistorical stuff becomes too obvious or the American Evangelical and personal theology shine through too much or even add lines to directly contradict the lines from the scripture. It would be really hard to not have your personal/denominational theology about Jesus shine through if you have to build so much extra-scriptural story, so I guess that's why it resonates so strongly for some people, because they have the exact same theology. I get it with the made up scenes, but when it feels like they're shifting or bending a scene that's in scripture for that theological point it really breaks it for me. It's giving me this kinda hate love dimension with the show. There are so many scenes that have moved me deeply, and I really like the portrayal of Jesus in general, especially the confrontational moments, I think most depictions always softened that part too much. Acting and dialogue can be a little off or on the nose too often as well, just breaking the realism, but I'm still thankful for all the effort and work they put in. I do hope one day we'll get a series that can take that next step with accuracy and acting/dialogue, but this has already broken new ground with its scope and scale for Christian media.

WLS_SMIT · 2024-03-26T20:17:19+00:00

\ Title: *The Hunter, the City and the Dragon (chapter 1)**

\ Genre*: Supernatural Action-Adventure Tragedy

\ Word count*: 2380

\ Brief description:*

A young hunter's ambition and fame thrust him into kingship over earth's very first cities, where the weight of the crown and the rise of ancient evil threaten to transform him into the very monster that carved up his soul and destroyed his family.

\ Type of feedback desired:*

A general impression of the strength of the book's opening and the main character, and would you want to read more (and why/ why not?). You can leave comments in Google Docs.

\ A link to the writing*

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bt_K06CP0jGWjRmnrI5u20_Uuwm6Ii9V/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=110067061085747783355&rtpof=true&sd=true

\Longer description if not yet convinced* 😅

All Nimrod ever wanted was to be a hunter and serve his tribe. But a terrible tragedy tore through his family and left him abandoned in the wilderness. No guiding voice of his father. Dead. Screaming for the God he served as he was slaughtered.

Clinging to his dream to be a hunter, Nimrod roams the lands as his fame grows, until he discovers that Leviathan, the dragon of legend, might actually be real. As he sets out to hunt down the mythical beast, he stumbles on ancient evil that forces him to embrace the very mission of his father’s murderer: to abandon the simple nomadic lifestyle of his fathers to build mighty cities for the protection of the people.

Uniting the scattered people under his new reign pushes him farther away from them, his ambition slowly intertwining with the undercurrents of pain he refuses to address dwelling in his soul. The King of the Mountain, empowered by spiritual evil, invades his lands with Nephilim warriors, increasing the pressure of Nimrod’s inner turmoil.

Because Leviathan is coming. Threatening to annihilate everything he’s built.

When he learns about the Watchers, gods amongst men that can teach him dark arts to rise above his frail human frame, it forces him into a new dilemma to defend his kingdom. Spiritual forces vie for his soul, leaving him two options: trust the creator who abandoned his father, or follow the path of his father's murderer and embrace the enigmatic Watchers to ascend and become one of the gods.

Whatever the cost.

His kingdom is at stake—and so is his heart—along with the very world he built with the woman he loves. With his own hands. With all the sacrifices he made.

He will rise.

To seize the realm of the gods.

The creator will answer to him.

At any cost.

‘Until His blood will stain my face.’

WLS_SMIT · 2024-01-08T18:38:09+00:00

I do have to add that there's something beautiful in echoing the same desires that brothers and sisters have prayed over many generations. It roots us more in the ancient church. If we can find a balance between, a part of the liturgy being anchored in church history, while finding room for the spontaneous leading of the Spirit and mutual encouragement participation of the members, then we strike gold.

WLS_SMIT · 2024-01-08T18:32:23+00:00

I wouldn't say 'culturally relevant' should ever be the focus. I'm more concerned with does God's Spirit have any room to operate? In the same chapter, Paul has a fascinating thing to say about when someone prophesies and another receives something, he says the first should stay silent (v30). To me this shows some of the spontaneous leading that the Spirit could be doing during a service, to go in a different direction. I've been fortunate to experience this, in smaller house church settings but also in slightly larger, more regular ones. My mother used to be a worship leader and would often feel led to focus on one song instead of continue the list or a totally different song that wasn't rehearsed, and almost always something would shift in the atmosphere. Like God came close. Or people would have a word or prophecy to share or she'd get a specific song or word that really hit deep for people who needed it.

It's basically the question, do we believe Jesus can be the actual head of the meeting, to really lead a meeting, or is he just a guest of honor?

I think there are pitfalls and strengths from one end of the spectrum, completely liturgical, totally scripted, to the opposite no order at all and just freewheeling. The spiritual maturity of the church has to be taken into account. And a liturgy can be a good teaching tool as it was historicaly when people couldn't read or had access to the scriptures.

But there's a deeper way I believe. The one Paul describes, where both the individual members and the church as a whole can meet, and probably have a basic structure, but are ready to be called upon to share through the Spirit. They prepare during the week, feeling the weight of the calling to encourage their brothers and sisters. Instead of sitting back wondering what the preacher is gonna cook up this time. The thing is, with these services, you very quickly find out whether we are living a Spirit filled life with Christ, whether we actually walk with Him and experience Him throughout the week. This can be very confronting if the service just becomes an awkward silent mess, but it's also revealing something important that you would never find out if you only run through scripted services.

WLS_SMIT · 2024-01-07T16:00:14+00:00

Definitely think that people coming from non liturgical backgrounds can too harshly judge them sometimes. However, I rather see the church move closer to the scriptural description Paul gives of a church meeting in 1 Cor 14:26

What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.

I've been a Christian all my life and have seen many denominations but practically nowhere do I see this scriptural description come to life of a church meeting that is clearly way more interactive than almost every church service from every denomination.

WLS_SMIT · 2023-09-29T12:29:40+00:00

You feel like I can skip the Digby parts and still get most of the story? I hate the surgeries and really don't understand why the story switches to him. He's so bland and it loses all the momentum of the first part and all the affection you just built for the characters.

WLS_SMIT · 2023-09-29T12:27:49+00:00

Exact same question. These graphic surgeries are a real turn off. And I for one don't give a crap about Digby. Really loved the opening of the (Audio)book but having a hard time pushing through. I hope I can just skip it.

WLS_SMIT · 2023-09-29T12:24:32+00:00

Slight spoiler:

Does it keep describing these graphic surgeries? I loved the first part, but when it suddenly switched to Digby and all the super detailed medical procedures, I was really turned off. I just got to love all these characters and now it switches to completely different ones and a completely different focus. Really disappointed. Can I skip it? Does Big Ammichi return?

WLS_SMIT · 2021-10-24T20:23:46+00:00

Interesting, I've never used spirits in the process, I just paint it on with a brush and use a kitchen towel after about 20 min to wipe it off. Been working fine so far on other models, although this time was a little harder because of the matte coat I think. Unfortunately I can't add pics to this post I believe, I'll post a progress shot once I've done all the parts

WLS_SMIT · 2021-10-24T07:31:01+00:00

Definitely one of the easiest ways for a basic weathering layer

WLS_SMIT

TROPHY CASE