As I explained in my last update, in 2020 we experienced a number of technical roadblocks to completing the editing of our last event, the “Understanding Sin & It’s Causes” Assistance Group. We still have a long way to go to finish the project. So, because our life was effectively being chewed up on this one big task and the complications to completing it, this year we decided to be firmer about having more of a balanced and enjoyable life. We also want to be able to continue to share new material to hopefully encourage people who are attempting to put the principles of Divine Truth into action. This means that we will be splitting our time and focus to include not only editing and technical tasks but some new projects (see below) and much more time for our personal growth.
Purchase of new hardware
In December I mentioned that our old iMac computers, which we use for video and audio editing, were beginning to have problems. After Jesus replaced the hard drives in both machines we found that we were still encountering failures and unreliability. (Including that after completing repairs on my Mac one afternoon – which involved removing and then firmly reattaching and re-gluing the screen – Jesus returned the next morning to find the screen which had been left tilting backwards in the closed, empty studio had somehow defied the laws of gravity and lay smashed forward on my desk). Repairs and maintenance on these computers was now dominating most of Jesus’ time, meaning that not only were we not editing but we also weren’t working on other important projects. So, we decided it was time to simply purchase new computers with the intent of completing this enormous editing project as quickly and easily as possible (no matter what we do, it still won’t be quick or easy but delaying the purchase was only making the process slower and more difficult).
Our long term goal is to move away from Apple products altogether and so we had been hoping to be able to use our existing iMacs to finish the “Understanding Sin & Its Causes” edit and then make the shift to new computers and new editing software. We changed this plan when we decided the headaches and loss of work we were encountering trying to make do on the old machines weren’t worth it.
Unfortunately we are still having connectivity issues between our servers (where the raw data is stored) and the Mac computers. So, Jesus spent a lot of time over the past few months trying to repair the old iMacs, then setting up the new iMacs with the necessary software and attempting to solve the networking issue between the iMacs and servers.
The situation brought editing tasks to a complete halt once again in January and February. However this gave us some time to work on another project which we have wanted to get started for a while.
Livestreaming
Over the past month we have been working on establishing our capacity to host regular livestream events in which we can interact with listeners in real time.
This is a multi-step process which has included:
- Finding a suitable streaming platform
- Setting up a new YouTube account specifically to stream and store video of live events
- Configuration of a new technical set up which allows us to:
– stream good quality video (that is, video is captured by our stuido cameras and sent in place of usual webcam video)
– stream good quality audio (use of personal microphones rather than relying on the audio captured by a PC)
– capture and record a local copy of video and audio recordings during the events which can later be edited and used on our other main and clip channels - Finding a physical location with low latency internet connection, high upload speeds and sufficient bandwidth to allow for seamless transmission and interactions during regular livestreams
In January we took a trip to the Sunshine Coast for Jesus to complete a podcast interview via livestream. This gave us the impetus to start to work through the four steps I listed above. Designing and setting up a new recording system for both video and audio and gaining adequate internet connection speeds took about a week. And while we had various problems to solve in this process, the interview went ahead and we now have a skeleton plan and set up to start to host our own livestream events.
This issue of an adequate internet connection from the Divine Truth studio remains an issue.
Our current home and studio set up relies on a satellite internet connection. Satellite transmissions always introduce problematic delays (due to higher latency times). This is because any feed must be transmitted from the creation point, to the satellite in space, and then back to the viewer in another location on Earth.
Those of you who made international phone calls in years gone by may remember the lag between you speaking and your speech being heard by the other person. This is the kind of delay experienced on our satellite internet connection when attempting to make video calls and which would be present if we were to use our current internet service for livestreams from home. Delays are off putting and definitely disruptive to spontaneous and free flowing dialogue.
Using mobile phone networks to access the internet provides much quicker speeds. However, as we live in a rural area with poor mobile phone coverage, we have never been able to utilize this option. However, at the moment, we are investigating improving our mobile phone coverage by installing antenna on our or a neighbouring property. If we are able to achieve this we could livestream from our home studio – which would be perfect.
In the meantime, as we work on the home internet issue, we have decided to introduce some travel so that we can start livestreaming using better internet connections in other locations.
Once there is a date for the first livestream, an announcement will be made via YouTube to subscribers on our Divine Truth Main YouTube channel.
The first event will likely be a casual update on Divine Truth with Jesus. You will be able to participate in real time by typing questions to him.
In future we would like to have themed discussions and feedback sessions in which listeners can participate and ask questions.
The new YouTube channel for livestreaming is: Divine Truth Live
Technical Upgrades and Installations
Despite no longer editing, Jesus has achieved a great deal these past two months. He researched and experimented with the equipment required for the new livestreaming project and worked on organising and packing cases that enabled us to transport the equipment safely. As I mentioned he set up the new iMac computers, installing necessary software etc.
He also built and is now able to run Virtual Machines on our smaller servers which weren’t being used. This enables us to use the servers for storage of recorded data while we are traveling (e.g. video and audio captured during livestream events). They can also be used as personal computers in place of the laptops we usually travel with.
Two of the servers on which he had installed virtual machines were given away. One to Eloisa and the other to Cornelius, so that they now have the ability to start creating video and audio content to share on their personal channels. (I’m excited to see how their creations go, I have an inside scoop on some of the projects in the works and I think that they will be interesting and inspiring to others).
Clearing the Studio
At the moment, as with a lot of things in our life, we have the opportunity to overhaul, review and redesign. This goes for the equipment, systems and practices that we have been using for years in relation to data storage, computer software, AV equipment, and recording procedures.
At the moment the floor of our main studio room looks like this:
The renovation to create a server room and Jesus’ storinator server building projects in 2020 meant that everything in the studio has been moved around and mixed up. Some of the equipment we were using has been repurposed and some is now redundant.
As we have decided to no longer switch video live during events equipment from that old set up that can now be gifted or sold. Along with that, in the studio, a lot of newly configured gear must be rehoused and various cables, screws and parts labelled and organised. In January, under Jesus’ direction, I spend time on this project but as you can see there is a lot more to do and, as we make new decisions and set up the livestreaming project, more things are added to the pile in this room.
I’ll continue to work on this project over the coming months but I do rely on Jesus precision knowledge of each piece of cable, every part, all of the equipment and the systems they fall into to guide my work. The benefit of all of the upheaval in our operations since 2019 is that I am learning a lot more about the nuts and bolts of what we use and how to use it all.
Obviously for us to start to record any content from home (livestream or otherwise) this floor needs to be cleared and our recording set up reinstated.
Before then we have so many screws to sort (see below)…
God’s Way Ltd
We continue to meet regularly with God’s Way members and various projects including terrace seeding and Caretakers’ Residence renovation construction are ongoing. If Jesus and I can find a way to have livestream events from home, we are excited that God’s Way Ltd may also be able to host seminars and Q&As via livestream as well.
Eco Tent Renovation
As I mentioned in December, we are building small cabins (designed by Jesus) to replace our worn out eco tents. We are paying Cornelius and Jadda to work on the job.
Things are taking shape!
Tristan Farewell
Tristan has set off to start his teaching degree and we held a lunch in February to wish him well on this next adventure.
It was great to hang out and play some music together.
Other stuff
Jesus made time to clean out and restore one of our worm farms.
He also visited the terrace project which is looking great after some (limited) rain in January.
And he checked in on the plumbing project for the God’s Way Ltd Caretakers’ Residence renovation which he is directing (for more information about God’s Way projects check the God’s Way Ltd blog).
As for me, when not helping out in the studio, I have been spending a lot of time on my own working on some emotions which I will update about soon.
Thank you
Thank you for your donations in January and February.
I’ve been struck lately by the modern world and how there are so many intrusions and distractions competing for people’s attention. Media, social media and mobile phones seem to dominate most people’s attention a lot of the time. Divine Truth is so different from the things being ‘served up’ via these other sources. You could say that Divine Truth is ‘anti-addiction’, while those other things, for the main part, feed on and encourage people’s addictions.
Divine Truth is for truth, which most people have become completely alienated from in themselves, in their relationships, and in the world around them. Divine Truth is all about a very definite, immovable Love that most people don’t recognize as love at all. And to top that off, it is led by a couple of seemingly ordinary people (or odd, depending on who you consult), who claim to be Jesus and Mary Magdalene (identities shrouded in preconceptions, misconceptions, and myth) and who often stir up emotion and anger in others.
So, at times, I am surprised that anyone listens to Divine Truth at all, let alone donates money to have it continue to be shared on Earth. Of course, I also know that truth is ultimately appealing to every human heart and that love is attractive. But still, I thank those of you who choose to give in any way to have us continue what we do. It is a privilege and we try to spend and use what we receive wisely and well.
With love,
Jesus & Mary
Notes Along The Way 