Leo Tolstoy knew plenty about the rank injustice, evil, and sheer brutishness that have dominated the world throughout history. He’d witnessed a public execution in Paris and had lived through the European revolutions of 1848, as well as the assassination of Tsar Alexander II, followed by the ultra-repressive regime of Alexander III.
By the end of the century, Tolstoy was reading daily newspaper reports about workers’ riots, bloody bombings by revolutionary terrorists, religious persecution, and pogroms.
And what counts is this:
Having lived through all of that, he never lost his faith in the possibility of goodness, of human promise.
In his seventies, Tolstoy asked to be buried on the spot where, as a boy, he and his brother Nikolai had discovered a little green stick — a stick on which they believed was inscribed the secret to universal happiness.
“And just as I believed then, that there is a little green stick, on which is written the secret that will destroy all evil in people, and give them great blessings,”
Tolstoy wrote in his Recollections (1902),
“so now I believe that such a truth exists and that it will be revealed to people and will give them what it promises.”
In War and Peace, one of Tolstoy’s finest literary achievements, no character embodies the spirit of idealism more than Pierre Bezukhov, the big-hearted, bespectacled Russian count who at the beginning of the novel inherits the largest fortune in Russia. After that, he enters into a disastrous marriage, becomes a leading Freemason before growing disillusioned with its politics, botches his attempts to free the peasants on his estate, and eventually winds up as a French prisoner of war during Napoleon’s 1812 invasion of Russia.
Then, just when he thinks things can’t possibly get worse, Pierre is brought before a firing squad. Prepared to die, he discovers, miraculously, that he has been escorted there only as a witness. Still, the sight of the blindfolded factory worker being shot in the head (which Pierre well realizes might just as easily have been him) is enough to shatter his every illusion he’s ever had about his own power, every ounce of his faith in
“the world’s good order, in humanity’s and his own soul, and in God.”
Yet he survives, both physically and spiritually, and emerges from captivity neither cynical nor bitter, but with a redoubled commitment to the ideals he has always believed in.
“I don’t say we should oppose this or that. We may be mistaken,”
He tells his wife after the war, upon returning from St. Petersburg, where Pierre has been trying to unite conservatives and liberals, who are at each other’s throats over the future direction of the country.
“What I say is: let’s join hands with those who love the good, and let there be one banner — active virtue.”
We all have to choose between life and work, words between people or words on paper, white screens or social and other media.
Everything around us may inspire us and bring us further “on route”, so let the words, be it vocally or on paper or in books, always bring life into us and spread life to others.
Equipping The Saints on the 24th of December 2014 found himself enjoying that Christmas Eve evening by watching one of his favourite of all time films and he had to talk to you about the movie, and the times.
Original poster for the 1947 Christmas comedy-drama film written and directed by George Seaton and based on a story by Valentine Davies
Seaton, George American screenwriter and director original name George Stenius April 17, 1911 South Bend, Indiana, U.S. July 28, 1979 Beverly Hills, California American screenwriter and film director who was perhaps best known for his work on Miracle on 34th Street (1947) and The Country Girl (1954), both of which earned him Academy Awards for best screenplay. The son of Swedish immigrants, raised in Detroit, got his breakthrough with the holiday classic about a young girl (Natalie Wood) who begins to believe that the elderly man (Edmund Gwenn in an Oscar-winning performance) hired to play Santa Claus at Macy’s department store might actually be St. Nick. After a jealous fellow employee frames him for an assault, Kringle is placed in a mental hospital. At the ensuing sanity hearing, Kringle and his attorney attempt to prove that he is indeed Santa Claus.
The actor John Johnson who played the official Santa Claus for St. Albans finds that Gwenn who starred in the 1947 holiday film classic, helped set the standard for what a movie Santa Claus is supposed to be. When we were children looking forward for the many presents we could find under the Christmas tree we nearly every year got to see a performance of a homespun Christmas Street with a group of neighbours smitten by sugar-plum dreams and equipped with lots of extension cords, Santas, Snoopys, and inflatable snowmen, nativity scenes and teddy bears, model trains and flashing rooftop sleighs. In several stage versions we got to see as a child the scoundrels were mad more obvious and there were more of them. Also according to the times and popularity of names, the names of some of the characters were adapted to be more contemporary and to find more recognisable characters.
Some of our friends had lost their dad in the war and others had their parents working so hard that they had not so much time for their kids. also the writer of 121714 – Christmas In The 50s his step-father was usually away from home working as a merchant seaman, so his mother would take his younger brother, sister, and him “downtown” on shopping excursions.
My mother was very good at shopping and not letting us know that all of the wrapped boxes “were not really ours.” As with many downtown shopping areas in America “in the 50s,” we had streets in my home town that were lined with tall buildings, such as Sears, Penny’s, Woolworth’s, McCrory’s, Kress’s, and you know the rest of them. The streets were nicely decorated with “Christmas” markings (not Happy Holidays yet!). The store personnel would always say, “Merry Christmas,” without the fear of being fired! {121714 – Christmas In The 50s}
Here in Belgium in front of nearly every big store there were Christmas singers for a good cause and the Salvation Army was unmistakably part of the Christmas Season picture. In town you could not pass one shopping street without finding a Salvation Army band singing carols, around their little ‘fire’.
At that time the shops were still so incredibly decorated we just went to gaze in front of the shopwindows for all the magic bringing us into many special Christmas dreams. Everywhere you could feel the special spirit and people seemed much more friendly than the rest of the year.
My family didn’t have a car, so we would always ride a city busy or take a cab. The drivers were very friendly and would also give “Christmas greetings” to us. {121714 – Christmas In The 50s}
Global warming had not reached us and we still could find real Winters with freezing cold days, having people to warm themselves very warm.
Equipping The Saints can remember the long kelly green coat that his mother wore;
she always had a wide black belt around the coat; and, she would have on black high heels – she had given up on wearing a hat and white gloves (sort of what Aunt Bea would wear!). And, we didn’t have a television at home. {121714 – Christmas In The 50s}
We at home having one of the first television had that extra dimension in the holiday period able to see the Christmas specials in the salon, after we had spend hours of reading in the library of the house and having had nice Christmas sweets in the lounge and some interesting chats in the parlour.
The writer of 121714 – Christmas In The 50s was very envious of the people of his age who were able to do their “downtown shopping” in the cities of Boston, Philadelphia, New York, St. Louis and the other large cities.
The stores that are mentioned in “Miracle On 34th Street,” such as Macy’s, Gimbel’s, Stern’s, Bloomingdale’s, McCreery’s and Hearns must have been wonderful places to shop. In the movie, a Macy’s store employee referred a shopper over to Gimble’s for an item that cost $2.98; can you imagine that? the price or the courtesy! {121714 – Christmas In The 50s}
The Christmas window displays seen in the film were originally made by Steiff for Macy’s. Macy’s later sold the window displays to FAO Schwarz in New York. FAO Schwarz then sold the windows to the Marshall & Ilsley Bank of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where they are on display every December in the bank’s lobby on North Water Street. {Miracle on 34th Street (in the United Kingdom first released as The Big Heart}
On the stage as well on the screen many versions saw the light and tried to bring some nice atmosphere in the Winter Holiday season. today there doe snot seem such a search for family warmth and ‘togetherness’ any more and the shops do not make so much work for decorating their shop-windows. In the shops and at the Christmas markets everything focusses on material gadgets and on alcoholic drinks, whilst non-peaceful music is yelling out of the loudspeakers. Though I must agree it sometimes was too much of having for weeks all those Christmas songs and jingle bells coming out our ears. 😉
Equipping The Saints thinks rightly that many of our age have those “Miracle on 34th” times of Thanksgiving and Christmas memories neatly and protectively stored in the wonderful areas of our minds. He writes
I can vividly remember how J.C. Penny looked on Broughton Street; Sears & Roebuck was actually located about a mile away. Lerner’s was a dress store, kind of high-end, that made me really think that I was in New York… I trust that you will always cherish those memories, just as I do.
America in her generous bid to be tolerant and welcoming, has completely lost the essence of benevolence. She has allowed tolerance not only consume and blind her, but now, the many she welcomed with open arms are threatening to usurp her original self and traits. I know this country has seen many ugly sides such as slavery and denigration of fellow man, I do not speak of these times or traits, but rather of true fellowship of his ways and words, and the freedom to practice so, without being labeled one ridiculous thing or the other.
What about these generosities be reverted and extended to the people of America who still have traditional values and beliefs, regardless of how politically incorrect some may view their take?
I have a different sort of memory myself growing up in Christmas times back in Nigeria. It was a period of joy and celebration for us. A time when parents travelled back with families from cities to small hometown and villages, so the extended kin can all gather to celebrate our Lord and gift.
Many kids got their very own new cloths or shoes for the first time that period because parents saw it as a good time to reach deep into very thin pockets to give as Christ gave to their kids.
Total strangers would give kids money or sweets, and families would invite strangers off the streets to sup or dine with them. It depicted true brotherhood and such were glory days.
Today, it’s completely different. There are rapes, murders, crime of all imaginable sorts, and small hometowns and villages now overrun with thuggery, kidnapping ,rage and you name it.
The utopia Christmas no longer exits, and kids are no longer happy with sweets, new clothes and shoes or a simple supper. Everyone wants a mac, kindle, I Phone 6 or tablet, …
People of faith and followers of Christ are made to feel inferior for having an opinion and the very government that should protect everyone’s right to free worship, is now the same stifling some who want to celebrate our Lord.
We don’t all have to believe in the same thing, but the founding fathers of these united states as many mistakes as they made, in my humble opinion got one thing right… That is stating firmly that In God We trust. America is not and will never be anything other than In God We trust. If only present people will allow us follow our oath.
***
A fragment of the 1947 film with the little Dutch Girl and Mary Field as her Mother, where the child shows the true spirit of Christmas, to be with some one loved. After she tells the Santa she does not need anything else than to say with the nice lady she sings the Dutch Saint Nicholas song in Dutch “Sinterklaas kapoentje”
Many times we look for solutions in the wrong directions. Often we have an idea of difficult solutions when they could be so simple, and there lying in front of us, without us noticing them. At moments we also can loose trust in the Higher Being because it looks as if we do not get the answer to our question right away. When we look at it, after we needed some patience, we shall see that the Most High always provides the best answer in our, but mainly also in His interest, and at His time.
We should trust Him more and give our live in His hands instead of directing it so much ourselves.
+
To remember
Scrambling for cover > crawled inside one of the caves.
After praying … he thought, “Well, I guess the Lord isn’t going to help me out of this one.”
“what I need is a brick wall and what the Lord has sent me is a spider web. God does have a sense of humor.”
“I had forgotten that in you a spider’s web is stronger than a brick wall.”
Facing times of great trouble it is so easy to forget the victories that God would work in our lives, sometimes in the most surprising ways.
With God, a mere spider’s web can become a brick wall of protection. Trust and believe that He is with you always. Just ask for his help and you will see His great power and love for you.
Encouragement! (whatshotn.wordpress.com)
…”In the time of the Old Testament, wild animals were much more prevalent in the Middle East than they are today. The Bible mentions lions…Judges 14:5…wolves Jeremiah 5:6…bears…1 Samuel 17:34…leopards…Hosea 13:7…and hyenas…Isaiah 13:22…Although stone walls could keep predators away from living areas and livestock, the walls would have to be very tall and would take a long time to make…
Ear Maggots- Woman Has 57 Maggots Removed (blogpestcontrol.com) Imagine an excruciating burning and itching inside your ear. After three days of constant pain and ear tugging, you are shocked to discover a maggot crawling out of your ear; and the worst part… Not being able to tell anybody about it! That’s exactly what happened to 92 year old Catherine McCann of Arlington Heights, Illinois.
The Example of Nehemiah (Part 2) – The Enemy (flaniganjames.wordpress.com)
Non-believers explain away the existence of God and convince themselves that His divine attributes are accredited to some impersonal “force” of nature. Like the saying made popular by the Star Wars movies, “the force be with you”, they believe in some mysterious, unknown force that can possibly be harnessed by a select few “masters” who can train their senses to connect with this force to control it for their purposes, thus placing human beings as the highest form of life in the universe. This lie goes back to the garden where Eve was told that if she ate the apple she would be “like God”. Popular today is the phrase “thank the universe” as if to honor this unknown force that somehow controls our fate.
Giant Spider In The Pants (blogpestcontrol.com)
While at work today, I got a frantic phone call from my four year old daughter.
“Daddy,” she cried. “I went to put on my pants and out jumped a big spider!”
“It’s scary Daddy!” “We caught in a jar.”
After a examining the spider, and talking to some spider control professionals, I was able to determine that the spider in question was a Giant Arizona Crab Spider; a common spider in Arizona.
During World War II, a US Marine was separated from his unit on a Pacific island. The fighting had been intense, and in the smoke and the crossfire, he had lost touch with his comrades.
Alone in the jungle, he could hear enemy soldiers coming in his direction. Scrambling for cover, he found his way up a high ridge to several small caves in the rock. Quickly he crawled inside one of the caves. Although safe for the moment, he realized that once the enemy soldiers looking for him swept up the ridge, they would quickly search all the caves and he would be killed. As he waited, he prayed, “Lord, if it be your will, please protect me. Whatever your will though, I love you and trust you. Amen.”
After praying, he lay quietly listening to the enemy begin to draw close. He…
Lifestyle and Readers Digest Magazine founded by Marcus Ampe on the 26th of March 2014
Welcome
New to this site. You may like to read this first
If this is your first time you visit us, you might like to know about our aims and intentions.
This site does not want to be a specific religious site, though now and then religious articles may be presented. The main interest on this site is about worldly matters, social affairs and the behaviour of human beings in this universe.
Our aim is to bring first articles about our responsibility in the progress of human relations and peace involvement.
Please find to read about our aims and aspirations:
Messengers of Peace and Positivism – Boodschappers van Vrede en Positivisme
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Club members their own blog-writings – Clubleden hun eigen persoonlijke blogs
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Most club members "From guestwriters" do not have their own blog, but shall write under their own name as "Guestspeaker" on the Lifestyle magazine Stepping Toes.
Those who do have their own website can be looked at underneath:
Please do find those independent authors their recent postings on their own website:
Van de schrijvers die een eigen blog hebben kan u op hun site als laatste artikels vinden:
Recent Posts on the other Lifestyle Magazine: Stepping Toes
Every generation has to undergo some turnovers on one or the other factor. What is to considered to be normal at one time in another generation can be “not done”. The last few years it seems like we are living in a society which wants to overcorrect itself. It wants to break with previous passages […]
Jeff Carreira notes that the world reveals itself to us in a stream of sensation. Man has to face a lot of things in his life; Growing up we always go from one (unexpected) situation onto another, always bringing new and other facts and facets. All the time we are confronted with lots of imprints, made […]
Gelooft u het getuigenis van God, zijn Zoon en zijn dienaren? God beloofde de Verlosser te zijn van wie geloven. In Genesis maakte Hij al duidelijk dat de mens betrokken is bij de tot standkoming van zijn verlossing: “En Ik zal vijandschap zetten tussen u en de vrouw, en tussen uw zaad en haar zaad; […]
Heeft de wetenschap al ooit kunnnen bewijzen dat God niet bestaat? In welke mate wil men alle moderne wetenschappelijke inzichten in de strijd gooien en/of zijn gezond verstand gebruiken en getuigenissen in de omgeving opnemen en deze met de Woorden uit de Heilige Schrift vergelijken?
In certain religious groups there are people who say one may not read philosophers their work. Many philosophers their thought have influenced lots of people. We always should remember that their thoughts are best read in context. In the context of the lives that they lived, the times that they lived in, and the history […]
All human beings are created in the image of God. This makes that we are or should be, all accepting the other as being allowed to be here by God and to be co-images of God and ourselves. The Divine Creator, Jehovah, the God above all gods, did not create more than one race. Of […]
De Verlosser uit de dood God heeft in Adam alle mensen onderworpen aan de dood. Want allen hebben zich door hun zonde met Adam verbonden, en delen in het vonnis dat God over hem uitsprak. Sindsdien worden wij allen door de dood gevangen gehouden. Niemand kan aan de dood ontkomen, en niemand kan zichzelf, een […]
Vele dingen kunnen niet zo dadelijk makkelijk bewezen worden, zoals het al of niet zijn van zwarte gaten of God, maar dat betekent niet dat deze niet zouden bestaan.
For ages, man has been confronted with loads of questions. Millions of people tried to find answers but never got to the point where they could say they were satisfied. There are things that we think we do know. But often when we grow up we come to see we did not know it really. […]
Originally posted on memory's sacred domain: There’s been some interesting discussion recently on ThinkNet on the age-old debate on the relationship between theology and philosophy. For the uninitiated, ThinkNet is a mailing list of people from various disciplines interested in the reformational school of Christian philosophy (often identified by the shorthand — for good…
Thoughts by and a Look at the world by Marcus Ampe on: Marcus Ampe's Space
All are looking for what shall happen when this corona infection period shall come to an end. At the moment we do have no idea yet when we’ll find the end of the CoVid-19 intrusion on our life. The many countries who had a lockdown are finding ways to ease those limitations on their citizens. […]
For decades, globalisation has been narrowing the scope of national sovereignty. CoViD-19 threatens to become one of the most difficult tests faced by humanity in modern history. Perhaps there shall be not so many deaths as at the time of the Spanish flu, but this time the economic impact is going to be much greater […]
The past weekend it became too busy in many places where people came to look for cooler temperatures and for some water to swim in. With lockdown many people were restricted to their small flat or little house, feeling like imprisoned in their own house. We can imagine for some this made their frustration grow. […]
To be honest, I never thought Donald Trump would ever reach the possibility to become president of the United Nation of America, the “greatest nation of the world”. Though, he promised the voters to make it “Great Again”! I wonder what American themselves think about their 45th president and if they sincerely think he made […]
In many countries where there was a lockdown sadly enough, we could notate an increase in domestic violence. Once more South-Africa may dare to crown the crown here. It looks like those men over there want to blame women for all the difficulties and to be the source of infections. For many, this corona pandemic […]
Originally posted on Eddie Playfair: In the midst of a global coronavirus pandemic which threatens many lives, we need to remember that this is just one of several global crises we face which will change our world in profound ways. All these challenges require us to alter the way we think and the way we…
Originally posted on Erstwhile: A History Blog: Contributing editor Graeme Pente highlights the prescience of nineteenth-century utopian thinker J.A. Etzler and what that might offer us in the face of climate catastrophe. Flooding in New Orleans from Hurricane Katrina. Credit AP. The future is grim. David Wallace-Wells’s recent New York Times bestseller The Uninhabitable Earth:…
Of the three new books which have been produced this year you may find a review in The Christadelphian and find it at the office: Signs of the Times Study Guide (Michael Lewis). The Bible’s great hope is the return of the Lord Jesus to establish the kingdom of God on earth. Now more than […]
On Tuesday August 4 a cataclysmic explosion rocked the Lebanese capital Beirut. Large parts of the city have been damaged, over 200 people have been killed, with thousands injured, and nearly 300,000 left homeless. The cause of the explosion was the detonation of 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had been left at the port […]
The last few months have presented many challenges and our prayers are with those around the world who are ill or lonely or suffering, the bereaved, those facing unemployment or hardship and many others affected by coronavirus. Considerable efforts to contain the outbreak continue, from governments and front line care workers to scientists searching for […]
Today’s thought “Out of the heart of man come …” (August 12) The first verse of Jeremiah 33 tells of how “The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah … while he was still shut up in the court of the guard” and told him of the judgments he was about to bring. They would […]
Today’s thought The little word “if” (August 11) Today’s reading in 1 Kings 6 describes how Solomon in the fourth year of his reign began to build a most remarkable temple on the mount in Jerusalem. It took him seven years (verse 38) to build. We read, “When the house was built; it was with […]
Recent Posts by the Brethren in Christ: Broeders in Christus
Tijd van bezinning Wij zijn vandaag in een tijd gekomen waar wij meer tijd voor ons zelf kunnen nemen. Niet alleen is er voor velen de ‘vakantie‘ maar ook het ‘verlof’ of de ‘Economische Werkloosheid‘ die maakt dat zij thuis zitten. De oproep van de minister van gezondheid, Maggie De Block om ‘in uw kot’ […]
Dat zijn toch geen goden Heeft ooit een volk goden verruild – en dat zijn toch geen goden! -maar mijn volk heeft zijn Eer verruild voor wat geen baat brengt. (Jer. 2:11, NBG’51) Afgoden in onze tijd Ook in onze tijd kunnen we twee soorten ‘afgoderij’ identificeren. Weliswaar zullen in onze westerse maatschappij weinigen nog […]
Dat zijn toch geen goden Heeft ooit een volk goden verruild – en dat zijn toch geen goden! -maar mijn volk heeft zijn Eer verruild voor wat geen baat brengt. (Jer. 2:11, NBG’51) Afgoden in het Nieuwe Testament In het NT vinden wij een gewijzigde situatie. Hoewel beelden ook in de Griekse wereld een belangrijke […]
Fijn dat u op deze site rond geloof, God en Christus terecht bent gekomen. Wij wensen u hier veel leesplezier. * Thank you for visiting this site about faith, God and Christ. We wish you a lot of reading pleasure here.
Bible prophecies do not deal only with the ancient past. They also accurately foretell events that are taking place in our day. But at the moment we focus at numerous prophecies preserved in the Hebrew Scriptures (commonly called the Old Testament) which long before the man was born told about events which would happen in his time and around him, his betrayal, humiliation, torture, execution, death, and burial. From those writings of the Old and New Testament nobody should have doubts who that man is who is called Immanuel, the son of man and Messiah, born out of the root of Jess in the tribe of king David.
In Scripture, all things are directed towards a man who was a servant of servants, in whom people should come to have faith. First we saw the connection with Eve and her seed, and in this article you may see the connection with Abraham.
Already in the Old Testament we find the focus on a son of man who is called the son of God, who shall be the most pure set apart (holy) servant of God who was been told about in the Garden of Eden, to be the one bruised.
Many Old Testament writers wrote about the prophet to come, about whom is spoke in the book of Moses and who shall be the special “Seed of a woman” given by God and who will bruise Satan’s head whilst his heel would be bruised with nails on the wooden stake.
Jewish and Christian literature since the time of Yeshua or Jeshua have pointed to Genesis 3:15 as the first reference to the Messiah in the Torah. Genesis 3:15 NHEBJE I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his […]
Recent Posts: Belgian Biblestudents - Belgische Bijbelstudenten
INTRODUCTION TO MATTHEW CHAPTER 25 This chapter continues and concludes our Saviour’s discourse, which began in the foregoing chapter, concerning his second coming and the end of the world. This was his farewell sermon of caution, as that, #Joh 14:15,16, was of comfort to his disciples; and they had need of both in a world […]
Ook al kunnen wij er niet buiten op te merken dat er eigenlijk weinig animo voor God en gebod is, mogen we toch voor 2019 een niet eerder geziene distributie van Bijbels zien. De meeste exemplaren vonden hun weg naar Brazilië, China, de VS, India en Nigeria. Dat meldde het Nederlands Bijbelgenootschap vorige donderdag. In […]
“ “Further, when the glorious Son of Humankind returns with all his angels, at that time he will sit down upon his glorious throne of judgment.” (Mt 25:31 mhm) See Calvin_Bible 05094 Matthew 25:31. Now when the Son of man shall come in his glory. Christ follows out the same doctrine, and what he formerly […]
“ “Finally, the slave given the one talent approached and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a difficult person. You reaped where you did not sow and you gathered grain you have never scattered.” (Mt 25:24 mhm) See Calvin_Bible 05068 24. I knew thee, that thou art a harsh man. This harshness has nothing to […]
“ First the slave with five talents approached and said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents; see here, I have gained five more.’” (Mt 25:20 mhm) See Calvin_Bible 05068 20. And he who had received five talents. Those who employ usefully whatever God has committed to them are said to be engaged in trading. The […]
Recent Posts by bible Scholars: Bijbelvorser = Bible Researcher
Dr. Shafer-Elliott wrote for Bible History Daily and shows her fascination with food, which goes beyond watching the food network, surfing Pinterest for new recipes, or serving a meal to her family or guests. Food as a subject boiled-over (pun intended) into her academic research interests, too. she looks at the making of bread and different types of traditional ovens that are still used today in the Middle East.
In light of the global pandemic, museums throughout the world have closed their physical doors. Yet rather than pausing their educational mission, many have opened up their collections to be explored and enjoyed digitally. Even if you are confined within your home, you can virtually tour some of the world’s top museums. Visit artsandculture.google.com/partner to […]
Founded by internationally renowned archaeology scholars Dr. Thomas Davis and Dr. Steven Ortiz, the Lanier Center for Archaeology brings globally recognized archaeological research to Lipscomb University, a nationally ranked research institution in Nashville, Tennessee. The Lanier Center for Archaeology plans to offer a Doctor of Philosophy in Archaeology of the Ancient Near East and a […]
Wij moeten ons er bewust van zijn dat met de coronapandemie het veiliger is om niet met te veel mensen samen te komen. In de V.S.A. en Nederland zijn er nog te veel dominees die de ernst van de situatie nog niet beseffen, alsook republikeinen die vinden dat de godsdienstvrijheid beroofd wordt door geen openbaar toegankelijke gebedsdiensten te houden.
First of all to come to a good relationship with some one, one has to talk with that person and has to listen to what that person has to tell. God talks to the people by the way of His Word, presented to mankind by the many Bible translations, so that most people can read […]
The One Who created everything and Who gave His Word, did all He did with a purpose and out of love. The Bible teaches us that “God is love.” (1 John 4:8) Everything God does is motivated by love. Out of love created man in His image also with the intention to have a good relationship […]
In the previous writings we saw that the Divine Creator gave His Word to the world so that people could come to know Him. The Bible is a gift from God. It gives us information that we can’t find anywhere else. For example, it tells us that God created the heavens, the earth, and the […]
People would be surprised when they would come to be assured that it is possible to come to live in a truly healthy universe. That is possible when all human beings will realise that we all need one another.
Originally posted on Cantor Matt Axelrod: Over the last few months, we’ve all experienced a number of sweeping changes to our lives–some financial, some logisitical, some medical–but the one overarching difference in our now normal routines is the blurring of any boundaries that we once took for granted. We used to make a separation between…
The day a number of disasters in Jewish history occurred, primarily the destruction of both Solomon’s Temple by the Neo-Babylonian Empire and the Second Temple by the Roman Empire in Jerusalem, received an other black spot in this year of the CoViD-19 pandemic.
Een kijk op de woordkeuze voor datgene wat van lange adem kan zijn of war men voor een langer tijdje kan tegen aan kan gaan of zien. Het lankmoedige of geduldige kan spreken over een genadige gemoedszin of barmhartigheid.
Wij kijken verder naar de manier waarop God Zijn volk een doortocht door de Rietzee verschafte en hen met ‘muren van water’ voor altijd van hun Egyptische overheersers redde.
De dag dat een aantal rampen in de Joodse geschiedenis plaatsvonden, voornamelijk de vernietiging van zowel de Salomotempel door het Neobabylonische rijk als de Tweede Tempel door het Romeinse rijk in Jeruzalem, kreeg in dit jaar een andere zwarte vlek van de CoViD-19 pandemie.
Originally posted on malakhahavah: Buideldieren1 In de traditionele theologie worden de eerste elf hoofdstukken onderverdeeld in vier verhalen: – Het verhaal van de schepping – Het verhaal van de broedermoord – Het verhaal van de zondvloed – Het verhaal van de spraakverwarring Verder kunnen deze verhalen twee aan twee bekeken worden… De verhalen over schepping…
Één van de woorden die veel verwarring brengt is het Nederlandse “ziel” dat wordt gebruikt voor de nefesj en de psuchè, en door meerdere mensen aanschouwd wordt als een afscheidbaar onderdeel van de mens dat buiten de mens zou kunnen blijven voortleven.
Internet gebruik en vergiffenis op de Sabbath Groot probleem in de Joodse gemeenschap over internet verbindingen voor virtuele diensten is dat een groot deel van hen geen computer gebruikt net als dat zij die dit wel hebben, deze zeker niet gebruiken op de Sabbath of sjabbos. De sjabbes is voor velen ‘heilig’, zodat zij zich […]
Het coronavirus heeft ook haar weerslag voor vele geloofsgemeenschappen. Zij die zich aan de Ene Ware God willen opdragen hebben nu soms het gevoelen dat zij hun God te kort doen doordat zij niet meer het gebod van samenkomst en gezamenlijk gebed kunnen volbrengen. Zij voelen zich ver van hun thuishaven dat onbereikbaar lijkt geworden.
De angst voor het coronavirus houdt de Westerse landen in de greep terwijl Noord en Zuid Amerika het afwimpelen als iets onschuldigs en hun economie er zeker niet willen voor opzij schuiven. De corona pandemie slaagt er in om de gehele wereld in een ongekende levenswijze te brengen waarbij meerdere beperkingen de mensen slaven van een onbeheersbare ziekte worden.
In België en Nederland zitten heel wat mensen met een vast beeld in hun hoofd voor gebedshuizen, of het nu kerken, synagoges of moskeeën zijn. Wij hoeven ons echter niet vast te klampen aan zulke stereotype beelden en moeten beseffen dat God op iedere plek aanroepen en aanbeden kan worden. – In dit eerste deel kijken wij naar veroorzakers van vermindering vaan aanwezige aanbidders van God in samenkomst plaatsen.
Volgens de Bijbel is de mens geschapen naar het beeld van God. Allah schiep de aarde en alles erop en eromheen. In plaats van dankbaar te zijn voor wat de mens van hun Schepper ontving, twijfelden ze aan Zijn autoriteit en wilden ze net zoveel kennis en macht hebben als Hij. Daarom aten ze van […]
According to Scriptures man was created in the image of God. Allah created earth and everything on it and around it. Instead of being thankful for what man received from their Creator, they doubted His authority and wanted to have as much knowledge and power like He has. Therefore they ate from the Tree of […]
The intention of this site was to be able to find answers to some serious questions and to know what others thought about it. But there were no answers from others and silence continued to form the fog.
Bedoeling van deze site was op enkele ernstige vragen antwoorden te kunnen vinden en te weten hoe anderen er over dachten. Maar antwoorden van anderen bleven uit en stilte bleef de mist vormen.
In this world we shall become even more confronted by people, be them politicians or church-leaders who would love to tell us than matters or different than we see it. Many of them will give the lie to make sure they would be more popular and receive more power. We must know that we shall […]
Recent Posts: Unmasking anti Jehovah sites and people
At the beginning of our contemporary age a son of man was hailed, by some triumphantly praised as a king entering Jerusalem, by others regarded as a dangerous person undermining their power. About 2 000 years later it are still religious leaders who do not want people to come to know that Nazarene man or to accept him as the son of God and future King of this world.
Jesus told his disciples that he will return only once and that when he does, after a time of great tribulation, it will be visible to everyone and be followed by immediate and dire consequences for those unprepared and for those who were adversaries of God.
The disciples expected that Christ would “come” as King, with a royal presence, and to remove the Romans and thrown down the corrupt temple, all at the same time and soon! It was a disappointment for them it turned not out that way, but they came to understand we could have an even much better future because of what Jesus had done. Though they also became convinced of the necessity to be prepared for the time that Jesus would return and that each believer could add by his effort of preaching, to bring the time closer.
it is now that life is mine i’ve been given a moment here on earth and my longing has brought me here what i missed and what i got it is still the road i’ve chosen my trust far beyond words that have showed me a little bit of the Heaven i’ve never reached i […]
ek skryf hierdie blog vir jou… hierdie was my boodskap aan jou… As ek my oë toemaak dan voel dit vir my of ek alleen iewers in die veld loop met honderde gedagtes in my kop maar daar is nog steeds ‘n kortsluiting tussen my ‘weet’ en die woorde wat by my mond moet uitkom. […]
I need your help O Lord;I need your help;O Lord, I need your help;I very much need your help;I don’t know how I can doWithout your help;I really cannot do withoutYour help;At this very moment,I am in needOf your help;You know the help I need;Do, please, Lord,Help me.I badly need it;If you don’t help meI … Continue reading I need your help O Lord
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Getuigen voor Christus
Tegenover de Getuigen van Jehovah zijn er ook de Getuigen voor Christus die Getuigenis afleggen voor Christus en zijn God Jehovah.
Relating to God wordPress Blog
Proving there is Only One True God which should be honoured and followed and how we can come in a better relationship with Him by following His only begotten son Jesus Christ as the Way to God.
Unmasking anti-Jehovah people
Debunking all the false sayings of those who fight against non-trinitarian groups and people
Blogroll
Hoop tot leven
Platform van Marcus Ampe voor hulpverlening en hoop geving
C4All
Christ For All – Presenting ways to find Christ in your life
C4U – Christ for you & Christadelphians for you
Site of Brothers and Sisters in Christ, who love the Creator and His creations and want people to show who is the way to Him and to His Kingdom where there shall be peace for ever.
Our World
News and thoughts about what is happening in the world, brought by the Free Christian Marcus Ampe. – Een kijk op het wereldgebeuren vanuit het standpunt van de Vrije Christen Marcus Ampe
Relating to God wordPress Blog
Proving there is Only One True God which should be honoured and followed and how we can come in a better relationship with Him by following His only begotten son Jesus Christ as the Way to God.
Immanuel Verbondskind
A site where issues of Judaism, Christianity, Islamism, their search for continued authenticity and relevance for today are discussed and looked at the position of the Jeshuaist community wrestling with the non- or anti-religious world
Jeshuaisme
Het Jeshuaisme brengt volgers van de Nazareense rebbe Jeshua (door velen beter gekend als Jezus Christus) te samen en verenigd Jehudiem (Jehoediem) of Joden zowel als goyim of niet-Joden en doet een oproep naar alle soort gelovigen en niet-gelovigen om Je
Jeshuaist
Personal pages of a Flemish Jeshua-ist – Persoonlijke paginas van een Vlaamse Jeshuaist
Jeshuaist communities
A community of real followers of Christ, assembling for sharing the Good News of the works of the Moshiach Jeshua and his heavenly Father the Elohim Hashem Jehovah.
Jeshuaist Focus
Uiteenzetting hoe eenieder tot het Volk kan behoren dat het Koninkrijk van god zal mogen binnentreden
Jeshuaisten – Jeshuaists
Een plaats van en voor liefhebbers van de Joodse Nazarener rabbi Jeshua om het bijbelkennis te versterken. – A site of and for lovers of the Nazarene Jewish rabbi Jeshua to strengthen their knowledge of the Scriptures.
Jeshuaists (or Yeshuaists)
Jeshuaists (or Yeshuaists) are followers of the Nazarene rebbe Jeshua who presented himself as a sent one from the Adonai Most High Elohim, Hashem Jehovah.
Jeshuaists for Jehovah
Followers of the Nazarene rebbe Jeshua witnessing for him and his God, the Only True God of Isrrael, the Elohim Hashem Jehovah.
Our World
News and thoughts about what is happening in the world, brought by the Free Christian Marcus Ampe. – Een kijk op het wereldgebeuren vanuit het standpunt van de Vrije Christen Marcus Ampe
Stepping Toes
A Lifestyle magazine which can be for some a provocative site created by Marcus Ampe
Leo Tolstoy knew plenty about the rank injustice, evil, and sheer brutishness that have dominated the world throughout history. He’d witnessed a public execution in Paris and had lived through the European revolutions of 1848, as well as the assassination of Tsar Alexander II, followed by the ultra-repressive regime of Alexander III.
In War and Peace, one of Tolstoy’s finest literary achievements, no character embodies the spirit of idealism more than Pierre Bezukhov, the big-hearted, bespectacled Russian count who at the beginning of the novel inherits the largest fortune in Russia. After that, he enters into a disastrous marriage, becomes a leading Freemason before growing disillusioned with its politics, botches his attempts to free the peasants on his estate, and eventually winds up as a French prisoner of war during Napoleon’s 1812 invasion of Russia.
He tells his wife after the war, upon returning from St. Petersburg, where Pierre has been trying to unite conservatives and liberals, who are at each other’s throats over the future direction of the country.
Photo Credit: Petra via CC Flickr 
