Showing posts with label belief. Show all posts
Showing posts with label belief. Show all posts

Monday 1 June 2015

Parents forbidden to pray in front of their children or to take them to church

Is it really worrying when a child can react in a conversation with verses from Scripture. In the United Kingdom some see in it a form of indoctrination of that child. that is what we might conclude when we hear lawyers and child psychologists talking against the right of an 8 year old boy choosing for the words and care of his mother.

In May a devout mother made a legally binding promise, backed up with the threat of criminal sanctions, never to talk to her son about her religion, take him to church or even say grace at meals in a doomed attempt to stop him being taken into care, amid claims that she was “indoctrinating” him, a judge has disclosed.

How is it possible that judges can prohibit parents to pray or talk about their belief in front of their children or even not allow them to take them to church?

The court-case in England may create a precedent and make it very difficult for parents to give their children a religious background. Quite easy it is to say they are indoctrinating their children. I naturally do not know, but can not imagine the JW mother through the use of torture, drugs, or psychological-stress techniques to implement her beliefs as to take it or the child having her to leave. Naturally I also find it wrong she would not want to have her child to go to her father. She should know it is also the rightful parent of the child, having the same rights as her to educate his child and to tell about his believes, like she does.


Having teachers saying the boy also rejected other children and that he had only a small friendship circle, describing him as “one of the most worrying children in our school”, does not have to indicate the mother is in such a way dominant to her child she manages it not to make friends with children of an other belief.

Details of the case were disclosed in a written judgement handed down by Judge Clifford Bellamy, after a hearing at the Family Court, sitting in Leicester, in which he set out his reasons for making an interim care order. {Indoctrinated son 'troubled’ by mother’s religion is put into care}
He found that the boy had suffered emotional harm as a result both of the conflict between the parents and, specifically, “immersion by his mother in her religious beliefs and practices”.
He concluded that she was doing this “with the intention of alienating him from his father”.
But the judgement disclosed that a social worker at the centre of the case rejected this assessment and believed that, while the boy was damaged by the conflict between his warring parents, the mother’s religion was not the cause. {Indoctrinated son 'troubled’ by mother’s religion is put into care}

I also would not think there lies the problem with the mother talking about God, taking her child to the Kingdom hall of the JW and reading Watch Tower publications. Far what I do know of those publications they should give enough balance to the kid to stand stronger in a society of different thoughts,  though this seems more to do with an introvert child that has worries brought on it by the damaging divorce, and not with damaging faith.

It disclosed that at one point in the proceedings the mother went to the Court of Appeal to challenge an initial care order and made a number of strict undertakings in an attempt to stop the process.
These included not to take him to her local Kingdom Hall — the Jehovah’s Witness meeting house — or any other such gatherings; not to talk to him about religion at all; not to allow him to go on to the church’s website or watch religious DVDs; and, if he raised the issue, to attempt to change the subject.{Indoctrinated son 'troubled’ by mother’s religion is put into care}

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Find also:

A British judge rules that mother can’t indoctrinate son with religion


Friday 21 February 2014

Blinkered minds

What causes real conviction? It depends what you want or what you need to believe!

If someone cries ‘Fire’, you lose no time in verifying the cry is genuine but see how you can put it out.
Mark 15 says that “the chief priests and scribes mocked [Jesus] … saying, ‘He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe’” (verses 31,32).
These men had witnessed his remarkable miracles! When he raised Lazarus they had “made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were … believing in Jesus” (John 12:10,11). Their minds were blinkered. It the same today.
 More and more wonders of nature are discovered – but they still say that all exists by pure chance – given enough ‘endless’ time!

Verse 39 tells us that “the centurion who stood facing him” witnessing the incredible events at his death, said, ‘Truly this man was the Son of God’”. Several Centurions had contact with Jesus and his miracles. History shows that there were so many Christians in Rome by AD 64 that Nero put hundreds to death. Perhaps Centurions and soldiers returning with a new belief in Jesus were a factor in this.

Mark 16 tells of three women who came to the tomb to anoint  the body of Jesus “very early on the first day of the week”. Those who sought to do something for Jesus were the first to believe.
 Do we really believe? Jesus told his disciples to “proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved” (verses 15,16). May we have an unshakeable belief in the Gospel  and demonstrate it by being baptised.
 http://www.thechristadelphian.com/thought_for_the_day.htm
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Wednesday 16 October 2013

Faith antithesis of rationality

03.365 (02.08.2009) Faith
03.365 (02.08.2009) Faith (Photo credit: hannahclark)
People may find it not important how 'the belief' is first acquired.

Many Christians may be persuaded by arguments of some theological writers or some popular figures like C. S. Lewis, or in certain circles much spoken off people like William Lane Craig, or Alvin Plantinga.

The problem for someone first persuaded by these conjurers of religious apologetics arises when they become so convinced that they stop using reason and turn to faith as the final arbiter of what they believe.

Some people may go one way, than an other way and never become sure what to believe or having always doubts. Others may be strongly convinced of certain believes and would like to see others to take over their believes, but this more because than they can be confirmed in their believes.

In the world of so called religious people e can find many sorts adhering many denominations. Sceptics would say that once a person does resort to faith the reasoning capacity becomes limited, because faith is always supposed to override, surmount, be better than reason. Many religions rely on the fact that they have something to offer to the people living in this world. Some religions offer their followers a better life in an other stadium, be it returning again on this earth under an other form or be it going to live in a place called heaven.

You could call 'Faith' the antithesis of rationality, because it demands a believe in things we rationally can't declare. Faith is what you use when you want to believe something, or are otherwise driven to hold a belief. For some faith is the position to be in or the action to undertake when there is no reason or evidence to support the belief. And faith can result in belief in spite of counter evidence and reason. This makes it very difficult to get people to see certain things which could be otherwise than they assume.

Many would argue that there is no logical reason for supposing anything exists that we cannot experience directly or test for in some way. As human beings we can look around us and question the existence of all those things we can see, hear and feel. We can not escape being an element in space which has to undergo certain actions in this world. Some happenings we may steer, but others are totally out of our control. By all those things which happen around us we ask many questions. Several people may form good ideas and bring plausible solutions. By those who offer others their ideas, there are some who really want to impose their thinking to others without objection. Many Christian religious people do not want to allow arguments to come their way. Others evoke protest.

By the 41,000 denominations of Christianity in the world, only a few are known by the general public, and most people do assume that the bigger denominations are the only ones which are right. some like the Roman Catholic Church say that because they are the biggest denomination in Christendom this is also a proof that they are the only right Universal Church  of God. In the West it is Catholic tradition which formed the tradition of the people, which is often a mixture of heathen traditions with church teachings. Many people are proud of their Western roots of Judeo Christian values.

But by those who call themselves Christians, what should mean "Followers of Christ Jesus" the respect for other Christians does not show real brotherhood and often makes you even wonder if they are following the same Master Teacher. When we look at forums or look at the reactions on blogs we do find that there’s no shortage of mudslinging across the ideological divides of religion.

When you hear such persons who call them self saved by the Saviour you would think they will be pleased to live according to the teachings of that person and follow him in his ways. When that person in the early years of this common era  spoke about the way how to behave, you would think his followers would follow that advice this wise man gave. Jesus of Nazareth presented  a way of life. He gave us the study of action with respect to the good for humans, which is happiness. So you would think that once people got to study those teachings and came to understand them, they would follow those directions of ethics. You would think those people their eyes would be opened and that they would accept that all people were made in the image of God, so should all have elements of that God in them. You would also think they would become respectful for all those, who are allowed by the creator God to be here on this earth.

Why is it then that so many who call themselves Christian fight against other Christians, and call each other names, children's ears would better not hear?

Would they not prefer to live in a peaceful world? Would they not do everything to get all different people to live together in the best circumstances? Would they not want to become a more excellent, happier human being?

Please do find out more about it in:
  1. Caricaturing and disapproving sceptics, religious critics and figured out ethics
  2.  Catholicism, Anabaptism and Crisis of Christianity
  3. Morality, values and Developing right choices
  4. Are religious and secular ethicists climbing the same mountain
  5. Being religious has benefits even in this life
  6. History of Christianity  
  7. Christianity is a love affair
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Wednesday 28 November 2012

Teach children the Bible

When we start a family we do have to take in mind how we are going to lay out the path of the children.

From the moment we realize God has given our next generation life, we should be thankful to God and pray for them.

As the blogwriter Sheena Steve remarks: A" positive pregnancy test or seeing the child’s heart beating on the monitor for the first time is a reminder of the responsibility God is entrusting in our hands."

We can train our kids to behave well, and we can try to get them to know God. But whatever happens always shall be there the influences from outside, school, comrades, friends, media, etc.. But God has to call them and pull them towards Him. We only can express our hopes that they shall get to learn the importance of religion and the belief in One God, Creator of heaven and earth.

We can read parts of the Bible regularly and discuss what is going on in the world in relation to the Master Worker. It is important that as soon as possible we let the children feel that God is in our midst.

As parents, we hold the bottom-line responsibility to teach our children about God. It is not something we can pass on to the church or the Sunday school teachers. But what do we teach them and when do we start?

Ex-software engineer, Sheena Steve, whose life turned right side up when she gave birth to triplets (all boys too!) started  “An Imperfect Life” as an attempt to document her day to day experiences as she enjoys the ride of her life as a stay-at-home wife and mom.

She brings a blog worthwhile to read or to follow how she allows God to enter her life and that of her family. It can be uplifting to see that not only your life can be troublesome and far from perfect but that you are not the only one who tries with falling and getting up to learn everyday that no matter how hard you try… only Jesus Christ and God can perfect it.

Sheena Steve believes that “God will perfect that which concerns me” (Psalm 138:8) and “In my weakness, God’s strength will be made perfect”  (II Corinthians 12:9).

An Imperfect Life” wants to be a mosaic of life stories compiled to encourage and inspire you. 

It wouldn’t do any good if we taught our kids how awesome God is, and failed to mention how personal He is to each of them. It will be of no use either when we do not show the kids how God interferes in our lives and helps us to grow. We also have to show the changes God makes in us. We do have to live a Christian life, breathing the spirit of Christ, before we can get our kids to see and feel Christ in our and their life.

We can pray all day for our children and diligently teach them the Bible, but all that won’t make a difference, if our kids don’t see us practising what we teach them. We can teach them that God’s given us everything we need, but if they see us being discontent and grumbling about what little we have, what are they taking away from it?
Even as babies, our kids imitate us – they smile, wave their hands and learn to clap, after seeing us do the same. Toddlers learn new words and mannerisms by observing us. If they see us reading the Bible and praying on a regular basis, won’t they want to do the same?
 
Your children will become who you are; so be who you want them to be. ~ Anonymous


We always should be patient and show how Christ works in us. For all that we teach our kids about God, none of it matters until they seek Him for themselves. While that may take a few years, we should remain obedient to God and teach our kids about Him and about His son, God's Salvation and the Kingdom of God.



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Please do find:

  1. Let The Children Come ~ Teach Them About God

  2. Let The Children Come ~ Pray for Them

  3. Let The Children Come ~ Be An Example

 

 

Wednesday 10 November 2010

To mean, to think, outing your opinion, conviction, belief - Menen, mening, overtuiging, opinie, geloof

Menen (to mean, to think); mening, opinie (opinion, view), overtuiging [vaststaande mening (conviction), geloofsovertuiging (belief), godsdienstige overtuiging (religious persuasion, beliefs, faith, creed)]
bef. 900;  ME menen,  OE mǣnan;  c. G meinen,  D meenen
O.E. mænan  "to mean, tell, say, complain," from W.Gmc. *mainijanan  (cf. O.Fris. mena , Du. menen,  Ger. meinen  to think, suppose, be of the opinion"), from PIE *meino-  "opinion, intent" (cf. O.C.S. meniti  "to think, have an opinion," O.Ir. mian  "wish, desire," Welsh mwyn  "enjoyment"), probably from base *men-  "think." (Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper)

L. sensus:  "perception, feeling, undertaking, meaning,"
Under the Tags "mening" and "overtuiging" you shall be able to find articles about the way of strong thinking of a person and his fixed or firm belief. It is about the state or appearance of being convinced of a certain faith or belief.  But it shall also consider the attitude of people and their actions by a fixed or firmly held belief, opinion, etc.. To mean = to have in mind as one's purpose or intention


The "mening" is the meaning or the general word denoting that which is intended to be or actually is expressed or indicated. Here we take the thought of a person in consideration, how he or she wants to keep to a certain idea. But also the recognition of something as incumbent or fitting, right, or accepting as a true value. sometimes also the sense or the meaning or gist of something, but mainly an opinion or judgement formed or held. To have an opinion there has to be a sense or an awareness or recognition of something; the stimulus may be subjective and the entire process may be mental or intellectual.
+ denotation, connotation, interpretation, foreordain, feeling, sentiment, discern, appreciate, recognize.


Convinced:  Latin convincere to refute, convict, prove, from com- + vincere to conquer
To have been overcome by argumen;  to bring (as by argument) to belief, consent, or a course of action. (Merriam Webster Dict.) per·suade Latin persuadēre, from per- thoroughly + suadēre to advise, urge: to move by argument, entreaty, or expostulation to a belief, position, or course of actio.
To bring by the use of argument or evidence to firm belief or a course of action. According to a traditional rule, one persuades someone to act but convinces someone of the truth of a statement or proposition. (The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.)
To move by argument or evidence to belief, agreement, consent, or a course of action L convincere  to prove (something) false or true, (somebody) right or wrong, equiv. to con- + vincere  to overcome (Dictionary.com Unabridged)

God wants that we
come till a fixed decision.  He wishes that we become strong in the faith and that we become convinced in which way to take.  Therefore we must cultivate us a good view and become convinced by Gods Word to take on the True Faith with a clean conscience.Onder de Etiketten, verwijzers of tags "mening" en "overtuiging" zal u artikelen kunnen vinden  over de wijze waarop een persoon sterk aan een idee kan houden of stevig aan een bepaald geloof vast houdt en hier zich ook durft over uitspreken. Hier nemen wij die gedachte in overweging waaraan iemand wil vasthouden.
Het gaat over de inhoud, de bedoeling bij hetgeen men zegt of schrijft. Het zijn zijn opvattingen die een belangrijk onderdeel vormen van zijn aangenomen houding. Deze gedachten kunnen gebasseerd zijn op het gevoelen maar ook heel rationeel of ook wetenschappelijk gefundeerd zijn. Het gaat over de staat of verschijning van overtuiging van een zeker geloof of gedachte. Maar het zal ook de houding van mensen en hun acties door een standvastig vastgehouden aan bepaalde gedachten,geloof, mening, enz. beschouwen. Menen = om in gedachte te hebben als een doel of intentie of het zeker weten, in ernst bedoelen.

De "mening" is de betekenis of het algemene woord dat aanduidt wat wordt gepland te zijn of wat er eigenlijk uitgedrukt of aangeduid wordt. Hier nemen wij de gedachte van een persoon in overweging, hoe hij of zij aan een zeker idee wil vasthouden. Maar ook de erkenning van iets dat zodanig in overweging genomen wordt als het juiste of dat als juiste of ware waarde wordt aangenomen. Soms ook in de zin of de betekenis van of kern van iets, maar hoofdzakelijk een mening of
gevormd oordeel waar men aan vasthoudt. Om een mening te hebben moet daar een zin of een bewustzijn of erkenning van iets zijn; de stimulus kan subjectief zijn en het volledige proces kan geestelijk of intellectueel zijn.


Overtuiging of volgens de persoon het niet te weerleggen, en het bewijs.
Het is de gedachte om (zo door argument) naar geloof, toestemming of een handelwijze te brengen. (Merriam Webster Dict). Het houdt ook de neiging in van mensen om anderen hun gedachten aan te raden. Er is dan de drang om door argument, smeekbede, of vermaning anderen naar een geloof, positie of cursus van actio
te bewegen. Om door het gebruik van argument of bewijs tot geloof te brengen  of een handelwijze te versterken.
De mening zal tot uiting komen de sterke houding in de aangehouden gedachte waarbij door argument men anderen tot dat geloof tracht te bewegen of te doen veranderen van gedachten,  of om tot te komene tot een overeenkomst, toestemming of een handelwijze.

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van mening zijn, van oordeel zijn, gevoelen, bevinden, denken, vinden, van gedachten zijn, geloven, met eigen ogen zien, zijn eigen licht volgen, zijn eigen kijk op iets hebben, goede kijk op iets hebben,
mijns achtens, mijn oordeel, naar mijn oordeel, naar mijn rekening, volgens mijn dunken, mijns dunkens, naar mijn wijze van zien, mijns erachtens, bij mijn weten, naar mijn schik, in iemands oog

in gemoede nemen, interpreteren,
interpretatie

bij zijn gedachten blijven,pré-opineren, ergens niet af willen,

Aanduiding, connotatie, raisonneren, raisonnatie, redeneren, opvatten, inzien,

oordelen, zijn stem over (voor, tegen) iets uitbrengen, bepalen, beslissen, decideren, determineren, zich decideren, resolveren, prononceren,besluiten, maatstaf aanleggen, een besluit opmaken,

opvatting, zienswijze, denkbeeld, inzicht, inzien, gezindheid, overtuiging, dunk, convictie, intuïtie,sententie, opinie, roep, stem, signatuur

besluit, beslissing, uitspraak, oordeelvelling, oordeel, decisie, verdict, besluitvaardigheid,



God wil dat wij tot een vast besluit komen. Hij wenst dat wij ervan overtuigd geraken welke weg in te slaan. Hiervoor moeten wij ons een goede zienswijze aankweken en door Gods Woord overtuigd geraken om met een zuiver geweten het Ware Geloof aan te nemen.

Friday 22 May 2009

Faith is a pipeline


"Faith is a pipeline.
It can flow in health, in terms of water or oxygen,
or it can be filled with poison.
What values do you pour through there?"
- Robert Schuller

"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world;
and this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith.
Who is the one who overcomes the world,
but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"
1 John 5:4-5

I ask you God that my faith may be blessed
and flow over of joy in the resurrection of Christ.
Let me always go for the right belief in the mercy of Jesus.


Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Geloof is een pijpleiding

Thursday 23 April 2009

A Living Faith #1 Substance of things hoped for


“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Heb 11:1

This is a well known quote from Paul spelling out the principles of faith. We have never met Abraham, Isaac, or any of the Patriarchs.  We have never met any of the prophets and not even one of the faithful men and women whose lives are recorded in scripture as examples for us. We have never walked the streets of the Jerusalem of David’s day nor witnessed the building of Solomon’s temple.  Unlike the disciples we have never seen the Lord Jesus Christ nor been privileged to hear his words first hand. We have not seen the Kingdom or even a glimpse of the glory and wonder of that time to come. But faith provides substance to the words of scripture and provides evidence of that which is not yet seen.

But faith is not blind; it is not a blind unknowing belief in the insubstantial. Faith is based upon a solid foundation and not on an elusive, flimsy account of a mans dreams. Faith looks up at the heavens and the myriads of stars each in their place and all governed by unchanging physical laws. Faith views nature and sees the myriad forms of life on the earth. Then faith sees in all things, the wonder of life wrought by the hand of an Almighty Creator.

Faith is born out of a knowledge about lives and events that are as real and tangible as any historical account. Faith sees the reality of promises and prophecy already fulfilled, and then concludes that what has not yet come, will equally be fulfilled.

Faith sees substance in the scriptures that paint a wonderful picture about a time to come of peace and safety such as has never been. The world as it is today maybe appears permanent, its roads, vast cities, transport systems and institutions unassailable. Yet the eye of faith sees a vastly changed vista, for faith views amongst many things:

Ø  A time when a vast temple over a mile square will be built as a ‘house of prayer for all nations’.
Ø  A time when ‘the desert will blossom as the rose’
Ø  A time when all shall know the Lord ‘from the least of them to the greatest of them’.

Faith is an essential component of salvation, for Paul writes that “without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Heb 11:6

Now, there are three key words in that quote from Hebrews, namely faith, substance and evidence.

The word ‘faith’ comes from the Greek word ‘pistis’, meaning assurance, belief, fidelity and faithfulness (the character of one who can be relied on). Faith therefore is a confidence engendered by knowledge, for as we read “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Rom 10:17

Now the word ‘substance’  comes from the Greek ‘hupostasis’, meaning confidence, substructure or foundation, steadfastness of mind, firmness, courage, resolution, firm trust, assurance. Faith can thus be viewed as an attitude of mind that is convinced of the Truth and which has a firm foundation for hope.

Finally we come to the word ‘evidence’ which comes from the Greek ‘elegchos’ meaning that by which a thing is proved or tested. Faith in that which is to come, has its evidence in the Word, which as Paul writes is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof (‘elegchos’ translated ‘for proof’ Diaglott, conviction YLT )… ..for instruction in righteousness” 2Tim 3:16

You may recall that Jesus once upbraided the disciples for having ‘little faith’.  There they were in a storm on the Sea of Galilee, the waves threatening to sink the boat. Jesus though had calmly fallen asleep in the stern of the boat. His disciples went to him saying:

"Lord, save us! We are perishing!”  His reply: "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?"

With Jesus in that boat it was unsinkable, for his time had not yet come. The disciples had witnessed the expressions of belief and faith of others, particularly the profound faith of the Centurion of whom Jesus had said “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” Matt 8:10. They had witnessed acts of healing and listened to the parables Jesus had told concerning the Kingdom, yet they themselves were chided for having ‘little faith’. I wonder how Jesus would view our level of faith when faced with the storms and the tossing waves of life. Are they viewed as simply time and chance, or do we see the hand of Yahweh at work moulding and shaping our lives? Most certainly the minutiae of life are very often time and chance, but the overall tenor of life is overruled, all things working to our good. Thus do we see trial and tribulation as an opportunity for our characters to develop and faith to be tested?

The term ‘little faith’ comes from the Greek ‘oligopistos’ meaning to be incredulous or lacking confidence.  One of the root words in Greek means puny, small, brief (in extent/duration). The other root word means persuasion, reliance and belief. Therefore having ‘little faith’ implies being little persuaded and lacking in reliance.

Thus a lesson is driven home which in effect says that it is easy to express faith when life is easy, harder when life events get tough.  It is the testing by the trial and tribulations of life that proves the value and depth of faith, plus of course our level of understanding. There are times when the storms and waves in life threaten to swamp our boat, yet Paul writes “no temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man”. Therefore, the evidence of faith will recall the promise, “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” 1Cor 10:13

The disciples once asked Jesus "Lord increase our faith". The reply came:

"If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree - be uprooted and planted in the sea, and it will obey you" Luke 17:5

Such a small amount of faith could accomplish so much! I wonder what an honest self examination would say about our personal level of faith. Is it as great as a small mustard seed or would Jesus upbraid us for having ‘little faith?


To be continued….A Living Faith #2

Andy Peel.


In this series:

A Living Faith #1 Substance of things hoped for
A living faith #2 State of your faith
A Living Faith #3 Faith put into action
A Living Faith #4 Effort
A Living Faith #5 Perseverance
A Living Faith #6 Sacrifice
A Living faith #7 Prayer
A Living Faith #8 Change
A Living Faith #9 Our Manner of Life
A Living Faith #10: Our manner of Life #2
A Living Faith #11 My place in the body of Christ and my ecclesia
A Living Faith #12 The Love for Jesus

Of interest: >
Faith Requires a Basis

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2016 January update