Summertime has come again
And holidays are around the bend
Car journeys and day trips will increase
And with them one question will not cease
For from the backseat you will hear
“Are we there yet; is it near?”
You might respond and say “soon,”
But it is a reply to which they’re immune
So give it but five minutes more
And the same question will be in store
Padre
Filed under Lifestyle, Poetry - Poems, Re-Blogs and Great Blogs
Cooler air, the changing of the leaves, the crispness in the mornings when you walk out the door on your way to school or work.
… the leaves start to change color, and there is that crispness outside that when you step out the door, you just know it’s Fall. {My favorite months of the year . . . #Autumn #Fall #Harvest}
A blogger from Oxfordshire wonders what people mostly do when Autumn presents itself.
Autumn time brings so many colours and textures that it can be hard not to fall for those beautiful colour palettes nature presents to us. The vegetable garden also presents us with many colourful surprises worth using as decoration. It is the time when we get enthusiastic to go overboard and cover our whole house in all sorts of pumpkins, nuts and leaf garland.
The Oxfordshire Country Living Blog has been
absolutely loving the change in the season. {5 Things to do this Autumn}
She (or he) normally hates the cold and the dark, but she has been trying to embrace each season for it’s own beauty and welcomes Autumn, drinking hot Apple and Cinnamon Tea.
No drink smells as Autumnal as apple and cinnamon. {5 Things to do this Autumn}
Many communities celebrate the harvest. Christadelhpians also thank the Divine Creator for all the good things we have received throughout the year and how He now also has provided to store enough food to go through Winter. The fullness of summer and abundance of harvest may also be found in the satisfying plenitude of life in Christ. Here in West Europe we may find lots of place which, at times, could be a safe haven for those who wanted to worship God without taking part in heathen festivals and pagan traditions.
The colourful season we are now facing comes for many after they went abroad to enjoy better weather than we are used to in Belgium. Most people consider Summertime the time to pick up vitamin D and to store enough energy for our darker days in Wintertime. After the renewal time for energy our eyes get another renewal time, namely to have lots of fantasies going through our head. Nature offers us such a wide range of smashing colours and special lights, our fantasy can be stimulated, and as such we also feel a positiveness to tackle this windy and rainy season.
When walking through the fields and forests we can breathe an air reminding us of life and death. After a lovely walk nothing is lovelier than having the smells coming from the kitchen, bringing us all sorts of wildlife dishes, warm drinks and herb teas. Pumpkins are the seasonal ingredient for all sorts of dishes and soups. Some herbs from the garden are welcome to be used in a potluck dish to share. [Ingredients including: basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, lavender, lemon verbena, Tulsi (Holy Basil), anise hyssop and garlic.]
For many people in this commercial materialist world the harvest is not so important any more as in previous centuries. Most of the people in the West do not have any problem to buy food. For them there is no shortage. Most of them have also no inner connection any more with the different seasons. Shops are helping to get people over that feeling of seasons, by already presenting Christmas articles from September to October. (Every year Halloween, Sint Nicholas, Christmas and Easter are presented earlier to the public.) Though supermarkets may bring in lots of goods from abroad, in a certain way the vegetables of the season dominate the plate.
There’s always sowing, growing or harvesting going on. Though nothing can beat our harvest in October when squash and pumpkins are ready! {Autumn 🧡 Harvest}
Whether it’s walking along an English hedgerow and harvesting the blackberries, or digging up veg from the garden or allotment, nothing is more heartening than cooking with something fresh out of the earth. Somehow it tastes so much better. {5 Things to do this Autumn}
It’s a time to cozy up in your house, eat delicious stews and soups that are too hot for the Summer, wear fuzzy socks and thick warm robes in the morning while you sip your coffee and watch the sunrise. {My favorite months of the year . . . #Autumn #Fall #Harvest}
When we come back from a walk, often it is already to dark in the house, and as such we want to have some extra atmosphere lights.
Welcoming in the darker evenings by stringing up fairy lights, and lighting candles. Make a little Autumnal display and change up some of the cushions for a cosier Autumnal feel. Try adding warmer tones, and cosier textures, it’s amazing how a change as small as cushions and throws can change the feel of a room. {5 Things to do this Autumn}
At home in a cosy chair we can pick up the Bible and be with our thoughts by the Giver of this all. It is the ideal time to think about Him Who makes everything possible. He Who Creates and Gives. With all that abundance that we receive, let us not forget those who are in need.
19 “When you are reaping in the field, and you overlook a sheaf, don’t return to get it. Let it remain for the foreigner, the orphan, or the widow, in order that the Lord your God may bless everything you undertake.{Deuteronomy 24:19 International Standard Version (ISV)}
Whatever we do let us showing to others how we as children of God are thankful for what we receive from Him and how we can share with others.
Let us also be very careful, having now months coming where certain traditions are not in accordance with God’s Will. We face moments when people go to deep in thinking about death and share ideas about the dead which are not according to what Scripture teaches about them. for some
The veil is thinning between our world and the spirit world. It is time to celebrate the cycle between life and death. Samhain is known as the witch’s new year. {Samhain Blessing and Ritual Ideas}
Many may come attracted by such pagan festivals like Halloween.
There are many ways to celebrate this turning of the wheel. Some celebrate the final harvest, while others focus on honoring the Gods and Goddesses. Still some spend the time honoring their ancestors. {Samhain Blessing and Ritual Ideas}
What may going on in your head now the days are shortening and darkness with strange sounds may be lurking outdoors?
Do you keep to certain traditions?
How do you look at this time of year?
What traditions/rituals/routines do you have for welcoming Autumn?
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Filed under Being and Feeling, Food, Lifestyle, Nature, Religious affairs, Social affairs, Welfare matters, World affairs
We are coming closer to the end of August. Though we may enjoy the third heatwave this Summer, for many it comes in the preparation period for the new academic year.
Summer coming to an end, most people having to go back at work on Monday, or perhaps already tackling a new season of daily work?!
Everyone makes plans and most often make new plans and promises when there is a new cycle starting. Maybe you too have mapped out your plan with steps toward the coming season. Many put a goal in front of their eyes. You, like many others, have had a lifelong dream to achieve something that you think could be the right direction for you, then as you go along you don’t see progress towards that dream. You wait, you try, you pray, but to no avail that dream, that vision- just isn’t going the way you thought it would and now you are left with- “ what do I do and where do I go from here?
Would it be not the right time, this year, to count on some help and guidance from above?
Would it be not nice if you could feel a Higher Power close to you?
Give your ear to hear God calling you to it and get working on it. Now it is time to get back the Bible in your hand, for studying, praying, hoping a door shall be able to open. Comt to rely on the Most High God and look forward with a positive attitude.
Make your plans and see what God is going to do with them, pray for them, don’t give up, something is coming and it could take a while but you will see how much He loves you just by preventing you from things that are wrong for your life and others around you.
Proverbs 16:9
In their hearts humans plan their course but the lord establishes their steps
Filed under Lifestyle, Religious affairs
The first week of the Summer holiday is already nearly gone. It goes so fast, perhaps before we know the three weeks shall be over and the roads in Flanders shall again pile up with pepole going to do their daily business, their worldly duties.
You would think they could have now some more time to take rest but also to spend more time reading in the Set Apart Scriptures.
These weeks people love it to find their work-life coming to a stand still. I wonder if they would remember how perhaps a whole world was like coming to a complete silent standstill. In the words of the Midrash about the Matan Torah:
When God revealed Torah at Mount Sinai, no bird sang, no cow mooed, no bad of grass rustled in the wind. (Shemot Rabbah29:9)
God giving the Torah on Mount Sinai
What God had to say was so important everything was like coming to a standstill. (Figuratively.)
There at Mount Sinai the Torah was given to the Am kadosh God’s People. though in fact it was not only for the Hebrews, but to all the nations of the world that God provided His Word. All should have to come to hear His Voice. God’s People should know the importance of it for them but also for the others around them. Though for those who call themselves People of God it can be a Hard Word.
God lifts Mount Sinai and holds it over the heads of the assembled Children of Israel. Then God says,
either you accept and pledge to observe my Torah or I shall drop the mountain on top of you. (B. Shabbat 88A and B. Avodah Zarah 2B)
Would we like the world falling on our head? Are we getting God’s messages He gives throughout the many ages? Not many do!
It is all about bringing the Message of God further into the world. We may not forget the purpose of our people, to be teachers and examples of the ideals of Torah to the world. Indeed by adherence to these ideals we become in the words of the Prophet Isaiah;
“A light to the nations’ (Isaiah 49:6)
a worthy example for all. If we are not willing to accept the responsibility of adhering to the Torah’s ideals, there is no good reason for us to continue to exist.
Israel’s willingness to accept Torah was so important to God that the Almighty threatened to break the promise made after the flood never to destroy the world again unless Israel agrees to embrace the Torah and its ideals (B. Shabbat 88A).
So we should not fear to find the world coming to an end that way, but we may not forget that the Elohim warned us also for a terrible war going to come. Our eyes should be directed to those incredible difficult times, when there would be more natural disasters, children getting cross with their parents, people having no respect any more for each other nor keeping to ethic values, religion fighting against religion, nations against nations. It all shall end by a disastrous World War.
But before that time shall be so near that it would be to late to warn others, the people of God should spread the Good News and warn people to be ready.
We should show others how we as People of God want to be an example and demonstrate to God that we are worthy to receive His Torah.
When God asks us to offer guarantors of our worthiness, we offer the deeds of our patriarchs and our prophets but God finds neither of these acceptable. Only when we pledge the loyalty of our children to God’s teachings does God reveal the Torah to our people. (Shir Ha ShirimRabbah, Chapter 1, Section 4, Midrash 1)
When we are free from daily work, having our Summer-holiday we should take time to tell others about that Word of God which might bring light and life for so many. Living in the hope (tikvah) that one day more people shall come to see and understand the Voice of God and be willing to go with us to the corners of the world.
“Thus says ADONAI-Tzva’ot, “In those days it will come to pass that ten men from every language of the nations will grasp the corner of the garment of a Jew saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’ ””
(Zechariah 8:23 TLV)
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Preceding articles
Allow yourself a chill-out day
Shabbat Mevarchim opening to the Summer-holiday period
Summer holiday time to knock and ask, and time to share
Christians remaining hidden not sharing the gospel
Witnesses of Christ and of his gospel
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One of the remembrance days about gifts and giving is Thanksgiving which, in the United States, is always celebrated as a national holiday on the fourth Thursday of November. In many countries all over the world in several churches the believers in God look at the Summer and what it brought to them. They want to remember all the good things the earth gave them and want to give thanks for the bountiful blessings they received from God in the past season and previous years.
Having the days shortening we can not ignore the darkness around us. We not only have the sun which goes under earlier, but are also confronted with the darkness of this world, people having gone far away from their Divine Creator and having lost the sense to love each other. We do know that in the end more darkness shall come over the world, lots of people setting each other up against each other. But we do know that we must strengthen each other as brethren and sisters, giving each other hope for a better world to come.
These darker days of the year we want to show others that there is some great person to look for who is the way to God and the way to freedom and peace. People may feel the black matter coming closer to them seeing turbulent global events begin to make their mark on Jews and their allies around the world and seeing how certain so called religious group wants to press others into their beliefs and/or want to govern the world.
Several people became frightened by the things which happened that just did not make sense.
Overnight, our cherished institutions, our icons, have collapsed. We don’t understand it. People blame this one and that one. It’s not just in the United States, it’s all over the world, and we have so many natural disasters, and so much illness. What is happening?” {Esther Jungreis – Messiah Coming}
Rabbi Rebbetzin Jungreis says God is bringing the world closer to redemption in a process called “chevlei Mashiach” – the labour pains of the arrival of the Messiah.
From the Scriptures we know that there shall come a time of Great Trouble. We also know that when such time shall come, when religion shall fight against other religions, and when we shall have more natural disasters, the time shall be ready for the Messiah to come to bring order in all things and opening or closing the doors of the Kingdom for the people who have to come in front of his seat.
Based on the writings of ancient Jewish sages, Jungreis concludes that this generation is replete with the signs that are prophesied to hail the coming of the Messiah, including endemic impudence, follower-ship, idol worship, disasters, and war.
It’s going to be a generation that will abound in chutzpah
“All our [sages] agree…they do not want to be present for the chevlei Mashiach, the birth pangs, because the birth pangs are going to be very painful… It’s going to be a generation that will abound in chutzpah [audacity]. Chutzpah will be colossal. Families will be fragmented. Children will turn against parents, parents against children. The elderly will not be respected. Youth will be worshipped.
“… The generation will be like the generation of the dog. What does that mean? The dog runs ahead but always looks back to see if the master is behind him. Similarly, people don’t have their own opinions today. What is the media saying? The media is controlling the world…” {Esther Jungreis – Messiah Coming}
Lots of people are glued to the screen of their smartphone and may have a lot of virtual friends or Facebook or other social media friends but not so many real friends. Most of all the majority of people around us do love the material goods of this world. According to Rebbetzin Jungreis, the greatest avodah zarah or idol worship of this generation is money, an obsession which causes the Western world to ignore the lurking danger posed by Islamist terror against Israel and the United States.
“We have been very blessed, perhaps there was never in history such a wealthy Jewish generation as ours was. But there was no Hakaras HaTov, no credit to Hashem. “My strength did all this”. We became arrogant, we became chutzpahdik, we forgot Hashem… Imach shemam [their names be obliterated], the sons of Ishmael, every minute it’s “Allah”. The sons of Esav, “the Lord,” every minute. Their leadership is always speaking the name of G-d. Am Yisrael … they heard the word of Hashem panim el panim, face to face – has forgotten its G-d.” {Esther Jungreis – Messiah Coming}
We not only find a very low spiritual state of the Jewish People that has caused God to hide His face from them. By Christians we also find a majority clinging onto human doctrines and worshipping several gods and saints. Lots of them even do not know the Name of the Most High God or are against people who use God’s set-apart or Holy Name. Many even go over to celebrate a so called “birth of God” (though God never was born nor shall he ever die, but they talk about the birth of God His only begotten son), on the festival of the goddess of light (December 25) instead of celebrating Jeshua’s birth on his real date of birth.
The majority of mankind choose to reject God and will not honour His majesty and shall not respect His rule over the earth. But real lovers of God take these darker days to praise Him and to be thankful that He is our light in the darkness.
The two holiday-weekends to remember the death (November 1 and 11) brought the darker side of life in the picture, remembering that it was 100 years ago that there really did not yet come an end to useless killing. We may cling to life despite the painful burden of dark memories. That is the message we should carry. It should also be days that we where thankful for those who survived and/or made it possible that others could come to live in peace for some time.
Many forget also to think about the smaller matters, like having a good night rest, waking up in the morning to the sound of birds chirping, being able to walk or drive along beautiful sites, feeling the sun caressing the skin and the wind pushing us forwards.
These coming weeks we shall have some time to think about our attitude to all those small things which make our life more beautiful. We are going to face days that we can sit in a nice warm living room, whilst many others shall stay out in the cold with not much food and not many clothes. For lovers of God it should be a time to think about all those matters and to be thankful for what we can enjoy and have around us. It is also a time we can find more time to read the Bible. It is a way of gratitude for the things we get, that we can make a home for the Elohim His Word in our hearts.
For those who shall be free on Thanksgiving day and shall come together to have a nice meal, do not forget what is behind the idea of the holiday. thank God for all the things you may have and for the blessings which may come over your family.
Let the day after Thanksgiving day not be a mad Black Friday where shopping is the greatest priority. Be not taken by the greed of this world, but stay sensible about what you really need.
More Americans seem to travel between the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after the holiday than at any other time of year. AAA estimates nearly 51 million Americans travelled 50 miles or more from home for the holiday in 2017. When going places remember how it is possible you can travel to all such places and do not forget to see around you how the nature is a witness of its Designer.
When looking at the coming festive days let us always be careful not to be carried away by heathen activities or pagan rites. Let us always be careful when we want some more lights in the house, not to bring in heathen elements.
Take all those moments of togetherness as a time to share the love of God and to show your thankfulness to Him and to those around you.
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Preceding
Many opportunities given by God
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At the beginning of this Summer we made a call to all our readers to open their ‘heart and soul’ to those they are going to meet on their holiday trips. Now having not to go to work lots of people have much more time to talk to their neighbours and to meet other people. When on holiday we can show others we are of the world or we can show them we are not from this capitalist materialist world but partakers of a world of loving people striving for a better world and spreading the hope for a peaceful world.
It can well be that several people – now having more time to relax – love to enjoy more the extravaganzas and want to look for receiving kicks by doing dangerous things or just by exaggerating the ‘moments of fun’ in entertainment parks. Several people also shall love to talk in a bad way about others, finding more time to gossip and to give negative critic on others. Lots shall not mind to show their ungodly attitudes . Perhaps not much has changed with previous times. Jeremiah also complained already that people “love to have it so” (Jeremiah 5:31). Many do not want to think that their world shall pass. Though we can be sure and must take it serious and can wonder “what will we and them do when the end comes?”
When we do have a personal knowledge of Christ, and continually love to feel that we are sincere partakers of the Body of Christ we do know we are coming closer to the end-times and that we should not find any excuse to withdraw from the task Jesus has given to not only his close disciples, but to all his followers.
Though many people around us may already know about Jesus, having heard about him, having different impressions about him, but not really knowing him and not believing in what he might mean for the world.
Therefore we should take up our task to let them know its getting time to really coming to know Christ. For us that also means
knowing Christ and not just knowing about Christ.
A passionate pastor, teacher, author and academic who believes in ‘Preaching‘ as the means of translating God’s timeless truth in scriptures across the globe, writes
You must know Christ in order to be his witness.
You must believe in Christ, that he is the Son of God, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, that he is the way, the truth and the life.
Not forgetting that
Knowing Christ, having a personal relationship with him to be his witness is very important because to witness for him is not by human knowledge or power.
When we go out in this world and feel the necessity to make Christ to be known, we too may count on the helper Jesus has asked his heavenly Father to send to this world. Also today the Power of God is available for those who want to receive that Power. The Holy Spirit is ready to enter each heart that is willing to open for It.
It was not only for the time of the prophets and of the apostles that
Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days (Joel 2:28-29).
In our days too we may find people being blessed with the power of God, having the Holy Spirit providing them with the necessary words to tell others about the Work of God and the Work of Christ.
As Christians, we need the enabling power of the Holy Spirit to live our Christian life, we need the Holy Spirit to empower us to be witnesses for Jesus Christ our Lord, we need the holy Spirit to empower us in making decisions; we need the Holy Spirit in all of our lives. We are like plants that needs to bear fruit, as plants can but only bear fruits if well supplied with water and minerals; we can also but only bear fruit when full of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps us produce this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! (Galatians 5:22-23 NLT). {Following Jesus’ example through Prayer – I}
The Holy Spirit empowers feeble men to bold men, he strengthens the tongue of the stammer to proclaim his good news. You don’t have to worry of what you will say or how you will witness, only avail yourself to be a witness and the Holy Spirit will empower you to witness in ways known to him. And you will be a
Witness for Christ everywhere and every time
There is no particular place and time to witness, witnessing for Christ should be everywhere and every time. Witnessing for Christ is by both word and deed. We must not reduce witnessing for Christ to either of the two, they are sides of the same coin. We must live like Christ, in this way, the world will know that we are his disciples and we shall make him known to the world. {Witnesses for Christ: everywhere and every time}
Read:
Earnest prayers yields miraculous results
Witnesses for Christ: everywhere and every time
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Preceding articles
Go and make disciples of people of all the nations
Daring to speak in multicultural environment
Crisis man needed in this world
To proclaim the day of vengeance
Proclaiming: a task given to Christians
Scriptures and Thoughts about: Proclaim
Summer holiday time to knock and ask, and time to share
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In the daily Bible readings our chapter in Matthew today unfolds to reveal powerful personal lessons – principles we must live by, though in the chapters of the first book of Samuel we also see that it was not always easy for the preferred one of God, David! He also was victim of human jealousy [v.8-12].
In these summer-months we do have time to examine ourselves and the situation we are living in at the moment. We can check if we kept to Jesus his sayings or if when we had certain needs or wanted to receive knowledge if we did ask like Jesus advices us. Often when we are at work we do not have time enough for God’s Word. It might not always be easy to have us every day to pick up the Bible and to read in it and to take time enough to let our thoughts wonder over the Biblical text. Now when the Summer holiday comes to us we have no excuse. Now we should have enough opportunity to read in the Bible but also to talk to others bout different things, including the Word of God.
Summer time often gives us opportunities to come at other places, where nobody might know us, where we do not have to fear talking about our faith and to show others how we love God.
We can ask God to help us to get insight ourself but also to give us strength and opportunities to give others insight in His infallible Word. We might be assured when we dare to ask Jehovah God will provide, when our heart is in the right place with Him.
7 “·Ask [Keep asking], and ·God will give [L it will be given; C the passive verb implies God as subject] to you. ·Search [Seek; Keep seeking], and you will find. ·Knock [Keep knocking], and the door will open for you. 8 ·Yes, [L For; Because] everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who ·searches [seeks] will find. And everyone who knocks will have the door opened.
9 “If your children ask for bread, which of you would give them a stone? 10 Or [L which of you] if your ·children ask [or son asks] for a fish, would you give them a snake? {Matthew 7:7-10 Expanded Bible (EXB)}
When we long to have knowledge in the Holy Scriptures God is not going to withhold it. He is not going to detain us and leave us without Biblical knowledge if we really want to have such knowledge. Though in such circumstance God wants us to open our mind and when we encounter matters which we have learned at school or in the past in our religious environment, but which are based on human doctrines, God wants us to choose for the Biblical doctrines and to put those human and false teachings aside. We have to show to God that we are willing to learn what He wants to say to us and what the Bible puts openly in front of us, words black on white and no misty myths of the world.
For many it may not be easy to put away all such false human teachings, but that is what God requires, not to be of the world but to belong to the world of God.
Knowledge will be given to you when you are prepared to seek honestly and with the will to learn Godly Truth. When you open your mind, ask God to help you, He will provide and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened to you.
Keep Pursuing What You Need From God. He Will Give You Good Things
7 “Be asking, and it will be given to you; be seeking, and you will find; be knocking, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone asking receives; and the one seeking finds; and to the one knocking, it will be opened. 9 Or what person is there from-among you whom his son will ask-for bread— he will not give him a stone[a], will he? 10 Or indeed he will ask-for a fish— he will not give him a snake[b], will he?
- Matthew 7:9That is, something useless.
- Matthew 7:10That is, something harmful. {Matthew 7:7-10Disciples’ Literal New Testament (DLNT)}
For everyone, also you, who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds. So you only have to be prepared to be willing to find and to ask God to help you find it. But you too should help others to find it. So what you have uncovered may not only be your secret. Even when we will realize our failure to see the Biblical truth because we wanted to hold fast so much to denominational teachings, noticing it so late in our life, we better accept it that it is better late in life than never, to come to the Biblical truth.
Out of compassion and love for the other, we should try to let others know the Word of God and show them what is really written in it. One of the tasks given by Jesus was to go out and preach. When we do understand what the Nazarene man Jesus has really done, we should tell others of this incredible act of self-renunciation. We should tell others about his self-sacrifice and how he is not the God we should worship but the Way to God, the Only One True God of gods Whom is the Only One to be worshipped and praised above all.
Jesus expects everyone who hears these words of him to do them!
24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and is doing them will be-like a wise[a] man who built his house upon the bed-rock.
- Matthew 7:24Or, prudent, sensible. {Matthew 7:24Disciples’ Literal New Testament (DLNT)}
Let us be wise in the Lord and show the world how we want to be partakers of the Body of Christ and follow the same God as Jesus had. In the knowledge that the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, we should be aware that though salvation is given to all the world also shall have to see that those who find that entrance to the Kingdom of God shall be just a few. We should know and let others know that wide is the gate and broad and easy to travel is the path that leads the way to destruction and eternal loss.
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. [L Because] The gate is wide and the road is ·wide [broad; spacious; or easy] that leads to ·hell [L destruction; ruin], and many people enter through that gate. 14 But the gate is small and the road is ·narrow [or difficult; hard] that leads to true life. ·Only a few people [And there are few who] find that road. {Matthew 7:13-14Expanded Bible (EXB)}
For those few we have to invest our free time and do what Jesus expects from us, making sure that we are not a foolish person in his eyes, because he shall watch us and in the end days shall judge over us. Let us listen to Jesus his words:
Matthew 7:25-29Disciples’ Literal New Testament (DLNT)
25 And the rain came down, and the rivers[a] came, and the winds blew— and they fell against that house. And it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the bed-rock. 26 And everyone hearing these words of Mine and not doing them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand. 27 And the rain came down, and the rivers came, and the winds blew— and they struck-against that house. And it fell, and the falling[b] of it was great”.
The Works of The King: Divine Power In Action28 And it came about that when Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astounded[c] at His teaching. 29 For He was teaching them as One having authority, and not as their scribes.
- Matthew 7:25 That is, rivers of flood waters.
- Matthew 7:27 Or, collapse, downfall.
- Matthew 7:28 Or, overwhelmed, amazed, astonished.
{Matthew 7:25-29Disciples’ Literal New Testament (DLNT)}
When having found Jesus his words and having gone deeper into them, finding the Words of his heavenly Father, we should build our own life on them and create the foundation for ways for others also to come closer to God.
There are many ways – travel in our world has never been more readily possible, but whether nearby or further afield, we must, as we read two days ago in Matthew 5,
16 In the same way let your light shine ·before others [for people to see], so that they will see ·the good things you do [L your good deeds/works] and will ·praise [glorify; give honor to] your Father in heaven. {Matthew 5:16 Expanded Bible (EXB)}
Take some time this holiday to have some work done for Jesus and his God that they and the world may see your good works and glorify your Father in the heavens.
Let us also make sure that we tell others what is in the Word of God and have us honestly trying to have our faith in God shine as a strong light before others, so that on that day when Jesus returns we do not have to be ashamed and do not have to say like many who will say to him
… Lord, did we not prophesy (preach) in your name…?”
Having Jesus to look at them and responding that they have to depart from him because he does not want to know of them.
22 On ·the last day [judgment day; L that day] many people will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, ·we spoke for you [L Did we not prophesy in your name…?], and ·through you we forced out demons [L cast out demons in your name…?] and did many ·miracles [L mighty works in your name…?].’ {Matthew 7:22 Expanded Bible (EXB)}
We do not have to show extra-ordinary things to others, not doing miracles. We only have to honestly tell them what we believe and show them what the Bible says.
These days when we might have more free time, let us make sure that we take some free time for God and to show our love for God to others.In the knowledge that “many are called, but few are chosen” let us belong to those “few” that will hear the words we read today in Isaiah 62,
Isaiah 62:11-12 Expanded Bible (EXB)
11 The Lord ·is speaking [announces]
to ·all the faraway lands [L the end of the earth]:
“·Tell the people of Jerusalem [L Say to the daughter of Zion; Zech. 9:9],
‘Look, your Savior is coming.
He is bringing ·your reward to you [L his reward with him];
·he is bringing his payment [his recompense/reward is] with him.’”
12 ·His people [L They] will be called the Holy People,
the ·Saved People [Redeemed] of the Lord,
and Jerusalem will be called ·the City God Wants [L Sought After],
the City ·God Has Not Rejected [or Not Abandoned; Deserted]. {Isaiah 62:11-12 Expanded Bible (EXB)}
If you knew how much God loves you, you would be happy to receive and share His love with others and would be pleased to have others also coming to know Him and His great Love.
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Preceding articles
Facing our existence every day
High time to go out telling the world about Jesus
7 Ways To Become A Better Christian
Daring to speak in multicultural environment
Crisis man needed in this world
To proclaim the day of vengeance
Proclaiming: a task given to Christians
Scriptures and Thoughts about: Proclaim
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Additional reading
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Members of Israeli summer youth programs eCamp celebrating Shabbat. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
It is nice that we do have longer days, Sun going under much later than in most part of they ear.
Tonight we are going into the Shabbat Mevarchim (“the Shabbat that blesses” the new month) when many all over the world shall recite a special prayer blessing the Rosh Chodesh (“Head of the Month”) of upcoming month of Tammuz, which falls on Shabbat and Sunday of next week.
We are thankful that the Most High Elohim beseeches to renew this period of time
“for life and for peace, for gladness and for joy, for deliverance and for consolation.”
Him giving us now the warmth of the sun, enabling us to enjoy the beauty of the flowers, shrubs and trees in their full glory.
After the students their examinations many shall be able to find a month of renewal of energy. From this week onwards one week after the other many people shall go on holiday, either staying at home to take some rest away from work or to go at some place to enjoy themselves, seeing other cultures or just to enjoy themselves on a beach or in the mountains.
Though we may mourn over the destruction of the Holy Temple and the breakdown in our relationship with God that this represents, we may find now some more time to take our bible to study in it. Having not to go to work for some days or weeks we not only have some more leisure time, but should find extra time to study God‘s Word.
This Sabbath we may find the opening to a period of meditation, contemplation and letting our mind and body recover from the stress at work and from the daily worries. It is the start to a period of being grateful for the blessings we receive from our Divine Maker, Him making it possible to earn our money for making daily living not to difficult. At the same time, it is also the Sabbath that “blesses” and calls forth the qualities of the coming weeks characterized by extra quality time to get in intimacy with God.
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Going on holiday is… silence in your head
Home-stayers and their to do list
Allow yourself a chill-out day
Family happiness and little things we do
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The Japanese video game maker, once fiercely popular, may have been forgotten by many, but this month they were back on many lips. Though they were not the originators of the game which has so many, young and old, in the ban. It can be nice that even autistic now dare to come out in the open and talk to others. But we may not ignore certain dangers the game brings to the community.
Previous week the price of the shares went up but this Monday, Nintendo said that Pokémon Go’s runaway success is not likely to have a huge impact on its earnings. The company is slated to announce its results on Wednesday. It said, the income generated from Pokémon Go will be limited as it only holds a 32% stake in the affiliate Pokémon Company (Kabushiki gaisha Pokemon) which owns the licensing rights to the game, a Reuters report said.
Parents should not fall in the commercial trap buying this popular game to have their children enjoy a lovely Summer. They’ll better try to have more activities which bring more social activity between different players. In the previous article we looked already to the possibility for home stayers to socialise with the neighbours.
A happy neighbourhood can also be created by involving several neighbours in different and varied activities.
Youngsters may look forward to another summer of fun filled activities, and though they enjoy ebook devices like a E-reader, Nook, an iPad, tablet, laptop, or even a computer, and may want to use the libraries digital eBooks this summer, there are plenty of them who could be stimulated to have contact with youngsters of the same age or like-minded people.
In certain towns libraries make an effort to get the youngsters back behind the pages of a book. Parents play an important role for stimulating their kids to read some other stuf than their schoolbooks.
In case your kid is stuck to the Pokémon game it is not bad to try to get it away form that little screen. On television we have seen already stupid accidents having taken place because of gamers not being attentive when walking, but also driving on the streets.
The television companies with newspapers and magazines are warning players and parents to beware of financial, privacy and malware dangers that might catch players off guard when they are caught up in the game.
“While the game can be a blast and people are exercising because they have to get up and walk to look for a Pokémon, many concerns have arisen,”
nonprofit organization Better Business Bureau said in news release.
“Players are walking without the proper caution for being distracted with their mobiles. Authorities have indicated that people are congregating on public locations (such) as fire stations or even government offices when these places are closed to the public.”
The latest of the Nintendo franchise, launched at the beginning of this month, is a already a phenomenon worldwide. Unlike other installments in the Pokémon series, players in Pokémon Go do not battle wild Pokémon to capture them. In certain countries several users first got an illegal copy, when it was not available in their own country and later stood hours in the cue to get the new game.
In Belgium shops are paying the developers to have the Pokémon coming in their shop so that players would be lured into that shop. I wonder how they would react when there could be too many players rushing over the floor but not looking at the merchandise and not buying anything, but bringing damage to the shop. PokeStops are supposed to all be on public property (or cooperative private sites) and the private enterprises which look forward to find the Pokémon users in their neighbourhood hope that the players shall be respectful of others’ private property.
A mother of three children the author behind Positive parenting blog writes
Maybe your conspiracy radar is going off like a beacon because if Pokémon Go has really been downloaded that many million times and created such an interest … there must be something funny going on and you don’t want your children to be a part of that.
Maybe you just want to do better with the whole parenting thing this summer and seeing your kids with their faces buried in smart phones or tablets doesn’t give you the warm fuzzies.
She therefore gives eleven activities you can do with your children to escape summer blues … and avoid chasing Pikachus. > Eleven Alternatives to “Pokemon Go” … Stimulate Your Child’s Summer
Spoken word artist, poet, emcee, beatboxer and live loop creator from Northampton, now based in Leeds, finds
It’s time for flip-flops shorts and no sleeves,
Holiday booked, high pollen you might sneeze.
Long sunsets and caramel evenings,
Catch ups, old friends, new plans, big dreaming. {Summer July 25, 2016}
Find a roof terrace for cocktail sipping,
The sun working overtime before dipping,
In the ocean cool, playing the fool,
Knowing you never have to go back to school.
Some like the seaside, sandy beach cricket.
Some like the shade to ease back and kick it. {Summer July 25, 2016}
It would be nice if more parents would take the time to be active with their kids and even would not mind to be involved in activities with their neighbours.
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Five Tips for a Happy Neighborhood
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Filed under Fashion - Trends, Lifestyle
In the Benelux people do live very close ‘next’ and ‘above’ each other. In the area’s where space is eaten up by housing the persons living in it often do not know their neighbours.
It would be much better for community and social control if those citizens would make some more work of getting to know each other.
Perhaps this Summer something to think about and to work on.
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Kim Troyer, Veteran Keller Williams Realty real estate agent in Geist, having his expertise extending to Meridian-Kessler, Carmel, Zionsville and other parts of Hamilton County, not only has an eye for the home sales which accelerated for the third consecutive month in May, reaching a pace not seen since 2007. {July Market Update.}
Whilst interest rates slightly decreased, remaining at historically low levels, he also dares to look at other facets of this world. As such he advertised for The Pint Cycle’s Tuesday night concert tour which took place on July 19th around the Nickel Plate District. {Tuesday Night Concert Tour with The Pint Cycle!}
He also looks forward to celebrating Indiana’s 200 years of statehood, the Bicentennial Birthday Bashand the Indiana State Museum is hosting the birthday parties of all birthday parties on Saturday, October 1st from 7 to 11:30 p.m. {Bicentennial Birthday Bash at the ISM!}
To remember the tips will to build connections with your neighbours and encourage a friendly rapport: Not waiting for others to take initiative
When have introduce each other it is not bad to talk about possible activities to do together.
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As a a twenty-something living in Metro-Detroit the Communication major/Broadcasting minor from Oakland University and a pretty big PR nerd, Briana Carlesimo from Bri Car, who enjoys travelling, taking/making lots of videos, listening to any and all types of music, and all social media, let us dream away on the sun-rays of Summer and on the sweet smell of cut grass.
When summertime and warm weather approach she wants to look at a few ways to spice up summer outfits and on Pinterest shows that she loves fashion. {Fashion Friday — The Classic Button Up}
She also seems to be in love with Instagram‘s Rocksbox willing to spend $19 a month to receive a little box filled with 3 pieces of so called ‘designer jewelry’ for what we would call fantasy jewels. Fact is some handy guys may have the customer to they could be worth somewhere around $200.
We wonder what really happens when a person has used or kept them for several weeks/months if they really would send you a new box for not more money! {Fashion-Friday Rocksbox} (Perhaps she tells us about her experiences)
She does not know if it is because it’s summer or what, her feeling like some really great music has been coming out lately. {Music Monday Summer-vibes}
For sure she shall have to go into a ‘hot Summer” having to see all the troubles going on in both camps of the Republicans and Democrats or Left vs. Right or “I’m right, you’re wrong”. Though she loves when people are passionate about what they believe – that’s great – but if their passion takes them to the point of blindness to anybody else’s opinion other than theirr own, that’s where she has a problem. {Freedom}
She thinks
The point of having political parties in the United States was to give different people the opportunity to speak out and join others with the same beliefs. It’s quite an amazing opportunity to give to citizens – the right and freedom to choose what to say without any penalty for it. We were given a chance to join like-minded people, but it is not a death sentence to be all-or-nothing within a certain party.
So why, then, are we arguing with other people who have different opinions than us? Why are we getting into physical fights just because somebody else wants to speak or hold a rally or give their thoughts to a larger audience? Why does nobody know the meaning of “peaceful protest” anymore? We have some of the bravest men and women fighting every day to help us keep our freedom, and meanwhile, we’re back home fighting each other and taking that freedom away. {Freedom}
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This summertime also find some moments to put all that political debate away and enjoy the way your skin feels in the morning when that first ray of sunshine lands across your arm and the warmth of the world engulfs your entire being.
The idea that the summer time is a time for happiness and adventures and explorations all because the bright sky and the colorful land blend together into a painting unlike any other season.
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There’s something so incredible about these hot, summer days.
Being able to feel the heat and the sun radiating off of the objects around you.
Or the way your skin feels in the morning when that first ray of sunshine lands across your arm and the warmth of the world engulfs your entire being.
How sweetly the smell of freshly cut grass and the sound of birds chirping come together to create a feeling that every day presents a new opportunity to shine as brightly as the sun does.
The idea that the summer time is a time for happiness and adventures and explorations all because the bright sky and the colorful land blend together into a painting unlike any other season.
Or the appreciation of knowing these days may be rough but that they’re the worst of the best, and even then, we still know we’d rather be breathing in these moments…
View original post 55 more words
Filed under Fashion - Trends, Lifestyle, Political affairs, Re-Blogs and Great Blogs
The Summer holiday having started many people try to escape from the daily ‘rompslomp’ or ‘hassle’.
One way to let the thoughts wander about is reading. Though when we look at the shops we have seen many bookshops disappearing and on the public transport, streets and in parks we do not see many people reading a book. We see many looking at their mobile phone and fingering a lot, being playing games on their electronic device. In life, cultural activity does not receive much place today.
Last years survey findings from Pew Research Center showed that what we fear is a general problem. For 2014-15 seven-in-ten American adults (72%) have read a book within that past year, whether in whole or in part and in any format, according to a survey conducted in March and April. That figure has fallen from 79% who said in 2011 they had read a book in the previous year, but is statistically in line with survey findings starting in 2012.
I would have thought reading could come in the lift again by the e-reader becoming more popular and being it a very handy tool, making it possible to carry a whole library with you in a suitcase. The handiness of the tool, being able to enlarge the print or to adapt the light according to the circumstances, is in the advantage to bring many stories close at home and/or readable wherever a person is.
Americans remain hybrid consumers. Digital sales, which comprise about 20% of the market, have slowed sharply, while print sales have stayed relatively strong, according to the Association of American Publishers.
For those who have limited sight the audio book is a marvellous solution. It can be said that audio book consumption has remained stable. In the U.S. 12% of Americans are saying they listened to a book that way.
Good news may be that, though we do have the impression youngsters are not reading any more, in America youngsters between 18 to 29 are more likely than their elders to have read a book in the past 12 months. Fully 80% of young adults read a book, compared with 71% of those ages 30 to 49, 68% of those 50 to 64 and 69% of those 65 and older.
Also in the States it looks like women willing to spend more time to be on their own reading a book.
The average woman read 14 books in the past 12 months, compared with the nine books read by the average man, a statistically significant difference. The median number of books read by women was five, compared with a median of three for men, which was not statistically significant.
Those with higher levels of education were more likely to have read multiple books than those with high school diplomas or less. The typical college graduate or someone with an advanced degree read an average of 17 books in the previous year, compared with nine for high school grads and three for those who did not graduate from high school.
Shame is that we not only see not so many taking up a book, serious newspapers and magazines may have difficulties to attract readers with serious articles. In the racks we may find lots of paparazzi and gossip magazines fighting for popularity, whilst not many eyes are directed to the better magazines. Also electronic magazines do not have it easy to stay alive or to attract enough readers.
The independent charity, The Reading Agency, encourages children aged between four and eleven to read six books over the summer holiday. Such challenges may create again a reading attitude which is carried on in later life. Having the new Steven Spielberg film about The Big Friendly Giant or BFG [or GVR (Grote Vriendelijke Reus)] Roald Dahl is in the picture (From July the 20th in the cinema), honouring the centenary of the celebrated author.
Children’s librarians, industry professionals and children, collected books representing the popular themes from Dahl’s stories: friendship, mischief, adventure, incension, word play and champions. To stimulate the reading children are motivated by special rewards for each book they finish and there’s a certificate for everyone who completes the Challenge. As such it will be a great boost to their confidence in addition to enhancing reading skills. Open to all primary aged children of all reading abilities, the challenge launched on Saturday 16 July at libraries up and down the country with a whole programme of events and activities for families over the summer. It’s very easy to join, just head over to your local library to sign up and take part.
For those over the age of eleven, who need some push or incentive to take time to read, why not create your own reading challenge with family and friends?
We may not give in. Though easy commercial blogs may receive lots of attention, bloggers who do not aim to gain money by hidden ads or promoting gadgets and commercial material, should continue to write more serious articles and perhaps keep aiming to a small but interested public.
We can only hope that readers will find some time through the year to read longer articles and to stand still by what is uttered in those more serious blogs.
In any case, holiday time may also be a time to take advantage of the free time, to sit in the sun and to enjoy some different articles, bringing your mind to think about other things than work.
Enjoy reading.
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Filed under Cultural affairs, Fashion - Trends, Knowledge & Wisdom, Lifestyle
The prep-, elementary- and high schools finished at the end of last month, whilst the Summer-classes and universities had their last days this month. Many institutions, factories and the government started the Summer holiday last week.
The kids can go outdoors and play with the kids from the neighbours or when going to other places get to know other children somewhere else. Parents may be pleased if other children are around or when abroad there is some childcare taking care of their children, presenting animation for all interested.
From Summer Lovin’ In The Sand ⛱
We do hope as many as possible shall be able to enjoy nice weather and find some time to have some lovely picnics or walks at places a little-bit further away of far away. In Belgium and Holland there may be not so much space to spread out, but for sure also there can be found lovely places at the countryside.
Summertime should be the time to relax and to spend more time in the family. It is also a great time to visit friends. When they also have kids it might be a nice occasion for your own children to enjoy their company. Nice or bad weather for many it might also be the time to go to adventure or amusement parks.
But who thinks about this being also a marvellous occasion to take the kids to the museum and to learn more about places of interest?
When the children are at play it might also be a good occasion to take some more time to let the mind wandering and to take up a book to read. (See next article) Also the kids could be stimulated to read something else than study material.
Today several people when they talk about vacation, they only think of travelling abroad. They forget that vacation is just taking time off, which also can be done at home or nearby. It does not have to cost much. You can give your children easy things with which they can enjoy themselves. Several villages create ‘play streets’ in Summer so that kids can play undisturbed by cars or any other dangerous traffic. Over there a piece of chalk can do wonders.
Do know that pleasure can be at your own doorstep.
Family vacations spent at home can also be loads of fun and often let the house be seen from an other angel, rediscovering as it where.
In any case, starting your holiday let it be a period of family time, giving you and your kids your quality time to bond, laugh, create family memories.
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Home-stayers and their to do list
Following article: Holiday time reading time
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Last weekend there was a huge storm in a glass of water. Whilst in Paris several people found an end to their life by terrorist actions in Europe others found an end to their life by the season which reminds many of death.
Storm came over Europe and let us feel again why this season is called Autumn. Still today it is warmer than usual but we have the rain and wind to accompany us and even break our umbrellas. But it does not break our souls, for the warm glue of the changing colours overpowers us.
Autumn fields, Leefdaal, Flemish Brabant, Belgium, European Union
Considered the last month of autumn it looks like only now the season got from the ground swept up by the first heavy winds.
Some may never been a fan of this November or Autumn month. For lots of people November is the month of the dead, and used allusively with reference to the short, damp, cold, or foggy days regarded as characteristic of the northern hemisphere. For those fearing the cold winds of Canada and the warm breezes of the South fighting with each other, around the Great Lakes, may find themselves left in such misery. For those who are having migraines regularly they very well know when it is going to storm or when snow is going to come. That is not a very pleasant feeling and if one has to work it is a very (damn) nuisance.
We have entered a season which may be even more unique than Spring Season. We also may see more different shades of colours than in Spring.
It should not make us sad but should get us up onto our feet, going out to show the winds that we are stronger than they. Though I do agree I am not an hero to go out in the bad weather, and was it not for the dog, I perhaps waited sometimes a bit longer before having a stroll.
I am not a good photographer, so for looking at nice photos I would recommend to go and look at Cindy Knoke and Chae H. Bae their site and some other photographic WordPress sites. But this is the time I use my eyes to linger and to bring a fantasy world to life. No wonder so many writers found enough inspiration in this season and for crime or who-dun-it authors this season is a gold mine.
Aurora borealis by permus by Chae H. Bae
After the Summer holiday most people are back at work and the retired folks who took their Summer vacation at a sunny place somewhere further from home, it is time now to sit at home cosy warm and enjoying some music, film or documentary or entertaining program on television. Hopefully they also will take some time to enjoy the biggest life show on earth. The ever changing colours the big kaleidoscope of nature world.
Behind the glorious red, yellow and orange of the seasons’ leaves many may find a message of death, but often they forget it is all a message of an abundant life where water was taken from deep under the ground and the warmth of the sun was enjoyed and had caressing the tree-trunk, making it grow and glow.
Trees are telling us after all that sun and pleasure it is time to meditate on what went on and on where to go. They are calling to come to a stand still in our rushing world which does not seem to have much space for the wonders of nature. This time the red and yellow are the screaming colours which ask for attention whilst the wind shouts it out load. We can’t ignore the call of our surrounding nature.
At certain places where there are still enough trees in Europe, the elk makes sure that we can hear it is time to find a renewal of intimacy. It is time to come closer to each other again. Be it by the fireplace or by some extra light in the darkness of this season.
Winter is coming. More and more older people are running away from it and going to spend their Wintertime in the South of Europe. But the coldest season of the year does not frighten many youngsters who love to go skying or snowboarding. For many the “old man wrapped in cloak” may bring an invitation to go outdoors again after all the storms and heavy rain of the Autumn months. After that season that looks forward to barrenness and bleakness, the white eiderdown will attract many to go out again to brave the cold.
At moments this season may also be a moment to be in tears for seeing how certain North Americans boast so much they killed a huge bull elk.
A new video with a recent elk hunt in Utah shows how hard work this work may be and how it pays off for some.
From the video maker:
“After years and years of trying, plenty of opportunities and hundreds of miles hiked, I was finally able to fill my over the counter, general season, archery elk tag. This has proven to be one of the most challenging hunts I have ever been on. He is my biggest bull to date by a country mile and I couldn’t be happier with him. Not a lot of action in this video, it has mostly my reaction to the incredible situation I found myself in. All Kuiu, all the time.” {Video: Bowhunting for Bull Elk in Utah}
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Dan Agnew killed a bull in Columbia Co., Wash., after making an impressive 250-yard shot
I agree to be able to have enough winter-meals prepared, for man living in this world, we need hunters and we have to agree some may be hunted. And meat from animals living in the wild always taste better than from farm-animals. As long as those people who want elk antlers to hang on a wall, hunt respectfully for those forest kings it is acceptable and will keep some balance in the forest as well.
We are so closed in, that those animals able to run in the wild, may remind us what man has sacrificed for more comfort and material gadgets they do not always need. So many people have become a slave of their materialism they even do not notice it any more. Now the gusty winds are calling them to remind them that there is life there outside they are missing.
The swaying trees whistle and tell the stories of the past Summer but also of the things to come, calling animals to shelter for the coming Winter.
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Family happiness and little things we do
Your position about materialistic desires having conquered the world
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Filed under Being and Feeling, Ecological affairs, Nature, Video
In Belgium the last few days, in day time, have shown higher temperatures (17°C) than normal for the time of year, but the leaves colouring and falling off tell us that it is really autumn.
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looking at
poetry exists in the disorder of life,Mortality, and the confrontation we have with it, does force us to pay attention to those details.{}
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This is a senryu (similar to a haiku, but a haiku doesn’t mention any people while a senryu does) about the Summertime that I wrote.
Haiku of Basho (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
– – – – – – – – –
I open the blinds
And the sun shines in my face
While I smile with joy
I wander outside
While basking in the glory
of the summer-time
Birds fly above me
Chirping a glorious song
Looking for some food
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Where I live, it is the summertime and it is very nice so I decided to write this senryu to give you an idea of how nice it is.
Filed under Food, Nature, Poetry - Poems
Look outside your window
The sun is calling you to come out and play
The pool tempting you to jump in
The air warning you that if you don’t go out you’ll regret it
Summer oh summer oh summer
Look outside your window
The sun in the sky, filling you with glee
Joyfulness of breathing in open air
The warmth making you feel like you want to run and be wild
Summer oh summer oh summer
Look outside your window
Doesn’t the hotness make you want to do something?
Doesn’t the heat make you want to jump in that pool?
Doesn’t summer make you want to have a blast, be wild, be happy?
Summer oh summer oh summer
This Summer (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Filed under Nature, Poetry - Poems
After “Day after day having reprogrammed the mind to see good, think good, feel good and be good” people would like to have some time off, not feeling to have to worry about anything.
Many people have the impression that they always have to conquer a battle. So many are bothered by thoughts of fear, thoughts of having to gain places and to proof oneself. Thoughts of striving should outweigh thoughts of struggling.
You’re not made to crawl, you’re made to walk, run and fly. {Simple nugget of truth!!!!……..}
Summer Holiday (album) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
and at holiday-time people feel like liberated from the daily struggles.
Sometimes people feel like that others want to pull them down.
If you were not a threat to anyone then they wouldn’t bother putting you down. If you were not on the right track then they wouldn’t work so hard to throw you off. {You believe you???….}
When leaving the own environment people do feel safer and do not worry so much encountering people who would try the same as those they see nearly every day. They would be surprised when they would get to know them better and longer.
Much too often people allow the opinions of others to become their reality of self.
Much to often people let others crawl over them and let others empower them. Often they do not have enough energy or background to react in the right way.
A girl lost in her thoughts! (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Holiday time may be a good period to recharge and take in new energy. It is also the time which can be used to read wise words which can help to be standing strong in this world were evil is all around.
When everybody seems to be relaxing there are the many people who take care that others can enjoy their holiday and then there are the fathers and mothers who try to do their best to keep the kids happy.
A working mom in a small town writes:
I see all the pinterest posts of fun things to do in the summer. I see all my friends (and acquaintances) posting their time at the lake, at the pool, doing all the fun things summer is meant for.
But being a working mom makes things a little different. Living on an acreage comes with more responsibilities. Living within our means (well trying at least) puts a dollar sign on every activity. Being a mom that respects (demands) sleeping and eating schedules for my kids, makes things harder. {Summer Time & Being a Working Mom is Hard}
Though those who do not have the means to go far away on a trip for several days, can also enjoy the little things, and even more than those who could have everything at their hands.
Having breakfast, lunch, and supper outside can already be a thrill. Setting up the sprinkler near the swingset and slide may be a great way to spend the afternoon with everybody enjoying each-others company. Having the feeling that every body is there to be with each other, ready to spend several great moments outdoors, with or without adventurous happenings makes the days great and to remember. Also here snapshots can be a memory of those family days.
Today too many people do not know to appreciate the small things in life. Many even say ‘holiday’ and think ‘travelling’. Several people do find that they did not have a holiday when they stayed at home or in the family. Lots of people do not see the nice part of all those small or little things which are free or inexpensive and can fit into busy schedules of homework.
Summertime is hard especially when you try to live up to other people’s pictures and lives. Make it simple and do your own thing. Take away the guilt and be happy that the little things make your child smile. You don’t have to spend a lot, take an extravagant trip, or go too far to make your little one smile. {Summer Time & Being a Working Mom is Hard}
Roman Holiday (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Having lazy mornings, in-between the home work just taking some time off to go for a walk or to play. Not so much worrying for a moment that the house is (already) clean, the supplies are already stocked and you just looking around from your easy chair. That also is enjoying Summer.
Summer is the high-time to love for the songs the birds sing, the brightly coloured flowers we can see and smell, and the warm sunshine that touches our skin.
Sometimes, you might just have to let the ant, singular or plural, crawl along your hand, foot, leg, arm, maybe even up your back or across your neck. Let the fiendishly seeming and feeling little insect decide. {Rejected experiences}
In lots of places there are different events to please the people who did not go away. Art galleries, people selling other crafts at local fairs, street performances, community games, a.o.. In several places there are so many outdoor activities and attractive events, with so many interesting restaurants or eating outdoors pop-up restaurants and cafés that people have to make an “our to-do list“.
There is so much to do and so much to undergo. And
Experience is what makes life worthwhile after all, so why not try and take as much of it in as possible? {Rejected experiences}
Now the sun gives us longer enough light to sit outside and enjoy the sound of the birds or river, we should also find some time to take the Book of books, finding interesting stories or beautiful poetry and great wisdom with a lot of proverbs.
There are may who seriously think they have no God or gods, whilst others are convinced that we do not live in a godless society.
We do not live in atheism, we do not live in agnosticism. Our world has many gods, one mightier than the other – if you wagered that we count more gods today than even the Greek or Roman did in their polytheism, you would not be wrong, and your money well placed. {A different perspective}
The housewives and housemen who have no facilities to go away on holiday and look at those who can go away may not forget that their money does not necessary makes them happy.
The select few to escape the grasp of money to some measure are shunned, exiled, pitied under the names of madmen, anarchists, punks, third-world countries, simply poor.
Money however is a very punitive god, one that leads to one’s own destruction. Possessing this god, or rather having this god and being possessed by it, leads one to want to amass more of it. Money buys things, therefore money has value. {A different perspective}
But that value is temporarily.We better go for better value which stays for ever. That eternal value and true treasure can be found in the Bible. It is a book which can give colour and light at the darkest moments of the day and at the darkest moments of your life. Everywhere it can bring the rainbow and the live giving light.
Why not taking some time to read the Bible now you do not have to go at work?
Perhaps you might start by reading the poetry and wisdom books: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Psalms, Song of Songs and compare the events of your life with the events in Job his life.
Though compiled centuries before the modern scientific endeavour, we can find serious and good easy to understand explanations. The Bible offers us a collection of sayings and truisms which should not be boring to read, because they are presented in a variation of styles, poetic and memorable.
That holy book does not have to be so perplexing or difficult to understand as many want you to believe. It is by holding fast to human doctrines that it might be difficult to understand. When you throw overboard all those false teachings and let the words of the Bible say what they say black on white, than there is not such a problem at all. Therefore just try to read what is written in it and when it says for example ‘son of man‘ do think a son of a human being and do not think ‘the God’ or something else. The same when there is written ‘son of God‘ do not think ‘god the son‘ or ‘god son‘ but understand that it is all about a or the ‘son of God‘ or ‘God’s son‘. When you read the Bible that way you shall find out that everything from the Old Testament fits clearly well in with the New Testament, like a jigsaw puzzle.
Try it!
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Preceding articles:
Summerholiday season time to read the Bible
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We have entered a time when people go away from their own private environment and go into the wide world to enjoy their free time, hoping to have a marvellous Summertime. There is vacation time which can bring a “staycation” or bringing some time to go here and there or even further away, crossing boarders. For some it may be the maximising time for others the minimizing time.
When away from home many are not afraid to show their other ‘me’ and present themselves to others like they would not do in their daily working life. It is at their holiday time we often can see them more becoming like they really are. We can see then the man or the animal coming out of the person. Holiday time is the time that men can be seen as lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. Seeing such people we should know better and from such turn away (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
So rude and crass has our society become that there is little acceptance of personal responsibility for what anyone says to another, or even the sense or feeling that, “Wow, I wouldn’t want someone to insult what is sacred to me, so maybe I ought not approach another (especially someone I don’t even know!) in that manner just because I have a case of ‘screen rage’.” (If anything is thought of as sacred anymore, that is…) That’s like road rage – the perception that it’s OK to curse, or yell at, or insult someone just because you are encased in something the size of a Sherman Tank, so you feel safe. The other person cannot reach through your computer screen or the windshield of your big SUV to strangle you, so it must be OK. Not! {Proverbially Speaking / Chapter 21}
Already in the normal working hours, time at home, many people do not show interest in God, but when away we do hear some making jokes about believers, be it Christians, Jews or Muslims, and mocking at holy scriptures.
It is a time when we can see and hear more people scorn and shun the Bible and openly renounce it, although they have never actually read it.
Within The Holy Spirit looks at those people who do not want to have a connection with the Maker of this universe, and writes:
It would seem to me that they might be at least curious about it – enough to open up a copy and find out for themselves – even if simply from the perspective of a good whodunit, or as something controversial that you might want to check out. {Proverbially Speaking / Chapter 21}
Lots of holidaymakers do like to complain to others about their country, their government and want to let others know how better it is somewhere else.
In case belief comes on the tip of the tongue guests leave or do find a possibility to attack those who have faith in that what is not seen. Many deny the little piece of heaven within themselves which has a sparkle with Divine Radiance itself! Then we can find many who have forgotten that little attic in their own personal life, where many treasures are.
The holiday season may be for many the escape gate to heavenly dreams.
Making intuitive art, as far as I’m concerned, is a means of “dreaming while you’re awake.” The whole process acts like meditation or contemplation – it bypasses all the mental clutter [drifting thoughts,worries, obsessing, anxiety, negative emotions, and so forth] and takes you right into the Heart and Center of your Soul. It’s here that you may meet with your Higher Self, your Inner Creator and all the spiritual and life changing awarenesses you may be looking for. {The ART of Conscious Dreaming, or the ART of Dreaming Awake}
Holiday time is also the time of getting lots of impressions and experiencing lovely explorations. On holiday one is left with distinct impressions and with many different meetings, with perhaps making new friends. Having time to reflect and looking from a distance on the own life and at the house environment, the traveller “sees” his or her own meaning in the art of travelling and in the art of being.
Often these meanings can provide confirmation of such things as where you are in life, or where you need to move forward, or what on Earth is happening to you for “Heaven’s” sake, and other useful answers you may be seeking! {The ART of Conscious Dreaming, or the ART of Dreaming Awake}
Surprisingly these meanings can be multi-layered, as the person becomes increasingly aware of him or herself as a far more expansive Being than he or she may have ever realized before.
It is possible to practice the art of dreaming awake wherever you may be – on a bus or plane, waiting in the doctor’s office, or just grabbing a quiet moment to retreat to the kitchen table with pen and sketch pad in hand, while the kids are doing their homework or watching their favorite television program.
However, I would recommend that if you desire to commit to taking this inner treasure hunt seriously, that you carve out some “sacred space” for yourself, and at least a half hour per day when you can distance yourself from routine concerns and commitments, and insist upon committing to this on your own behalf! {The ART of Conscious Dreaming, or the ART of Dreaming Awake}
With all the dreaming going on it is not bad to have your mind also going into higher spheres trying to reach higher goals. For this the Book of books, the Bible, the infallible Word of God can help.
Most people are sort-sighted, looking for the treasures on earth and not interested in treasures for much later in future.
There is no understanding or acceptance of the need to be saved, about the redemption through Jesus Christ, or its implications for mankind.
This is simply not a part of the program for so many people who are into “metaphysics” or what they like to call “spirituality”. The preference in these circles seems to be personal power and/or the attainment of what feels good. A birthright has been exchanged for a bowl of porridge! {The ART of Conscious Dreaming, or the ART of Dreaming Awake}
At our usual times, at home, at work, most people do not feel like it to take up the holy scriptures. Lots of people do not know that the Bible is a treasury. In that book they shall be able to find many answers to their many questions. Though often man prefers to ask their questions to other people.
One thing about human beings is that many of us have little natural inclination toward reading the instructions or asking directions. I’ve found this to be true of myself from time to time, I’ll be the first to admit. Although at the end of the day, after enduring a lot of frustration, I may succumb and surrender, humbling myself to opening a set of instructions on some “smart” device which has me baffled. A good example of this is the cellphone or other 21st century inventions which have become the mother of “need”. I may or may not open the book, read, and heed – depending on the degree of frustration I’ve experienced going about things by the seat of my pants. {Insurrectionists And Instructions}
Most people do know and want to do it the Frank Sinatra way, going for ‘my way’.
Humanity seems notoriously hands on when it comes to doing things “my way or the highway”, as we grapple with life and its challenges.
It’s been said that some think they have evolved beyond the “consciousness” where they need any guidance at all from any external Wisdom, especially that silly old Bible or God. No, we’re far too advanced for that. It’s irrelevant for our time, except maybe for the backward. Besides, all we have to do is “go within” where the font of all wisdom is to be found. One has to ask, what is the source of that sort of arrogance? {Insurrectionists And Instructions}
On holiday you may hear several people finding religion a dangerous business. Many think it is the cause of all wars. Others might find that religion is entertainment.
You know – the parlor games crowd. Dabbling with no commitments. Spiritual one night stands. Tarot readings, newspaper astrology, palm readings… reading everything but the Bible. Seances, visiting haunted buildings, dancing in circle under a full moon, spoon bending, retreats and workshops on how to discover or enhance your psychic abilities or see auras. This is the group that objects most vehemently to the word religion for some reason. No, we are spiritual. {Cross Purposes 30 / Reasons For Religion}
Summertime meeting time on the beach (2012 Art Belgian Beach exhibition)
On the other hand it also a time where we can get others interested in the unseen. Several people do have a curiosity about the “unseen”. Away from home and work some might be more at ease to talk to strangers about those matters we so often do not understand. They might find it not such a bad time to involve themselves in metaphysical research.
The word itself simply means “beyond the physical”. There are many branches of metaphysical science. It’s essentially the study of how the unseen – “energy” – effects the realm of matter, what we can see. It is the study of the interplay of cause and effect of the unseen on the seen – prayer, positive thinking, science of mind, affirmations, and the like. Personally I do not actually regard this as a religion, except to add that paradoxically all religions have metaphysical practices and tools. Metaphysical science observes and theorizes how religious practices work, for example, how does prayer or ritual effect physical situations? Yet it would also include the effects of light or color (art and symbolism), sound or vibration (music), within integrative healing settings. {Cross Purposes 30 / Reasons For Religion}
Leaving behind the mess at home, people on holiday love to have the luxury of waiters and chambermaids taking care of them.
For the spiritual supply they have to take care themselves. They can go see places but next to it they need filling their mind with words from books.
One of the best books to supply necessary food is the Bible and now we can take much more time than at work-time.
… many things are written, spoken, and ruminated on today concerning what we think we don’t have, or what we’re afraid we’re going to lose… or all the awful things someone else is doing which violate our rights and the like. {Upbeat 1}
Lots of ideas are interchanged on holiday. Thoughts from many cultures. Lots of jokes may be made but lots of fears may be shared as well.
Listening to or reading many of these heavy gloom and doom reports, and political agendas, although they may be very informative, can have a real down and outer effect on us – especially if we’re sensitive and caring about what happens to our loved ones, other people in our life, and ourselves as well. I do in fact have to wonder if the propaganda mill has allowed some of the commentators to spill the beans as they do, because of the fearful effect it has on people. Being bombarded with fear tears down good moods, self confidence, creates apathy, anxiety, compromise, and the like. It can make your plate seem more full than it really is.
It really is a mind over matter issue in many ways.
Thus we find that we must really be very cautious about how much of this kind of thinking we partake of every day, or even how much we dwell on our own personal issues and problems. {Upbeat 1}
Summertime is the good time to fill in the absence of God and to take time to operate out of fear or turn to the source of love, the choice is and always has been yours.
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Preceding articles:
Summerholiday season time to read the Bible
Next: Home-stayers and their to do list
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At last the sun has shown her face and people can really get a feeling of Summertime.
Summertime also includes the time to have pleasures to do whatever one chooses, and finding the pleasure one enjoys from his or her actions.
It is a time when lots who have have faith in themselves take time to be on their own at the swimming pool or some relaxing place. Under Christians we also can find those who have been told by well-meaning but errant advisers, “God helps those who help themselves.”
They spend their lives dependent upon their own abilities, or wisdom, or knowledge expecting that God will stand by as a faithful servant to bless all of their endeavours whether it be His will or not. Others may look at others, thinking they can be the way to success. They prefer to put their faith in others. We may wonder why they do not trust themselves not more. Did they get blinded by the fact that certain individuals possesses great knowledge, or apparent wisdom, power, or even anointing? In our society we can find many who look up at others, like they are gods and lift them up more highly than they ought and bestow their faith in a human being.{1}
Too many people put all their faith in the world, instead in the Creator of the world. Summertime is often a time to reflect. It is the time to take a rest and to forget all the worries of daily stress and work.
In the Summertime (Thirsty Merc song) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
People can put their daily worries about work and getting some income aside. It is time for relaxation and meditation. Not bad to take time to reflect on different matters. It is also some time to consider what is worthwhile in life and which direction to take further.
Summertime is also an ideal time where people have time to do some reading and to take time to go and see things. Many go abroad and look far a way from home for better pastures.
Like Caroline Kepnes there may be people thinking
“There is no better boost in the present than an invitation into the future.”
In this present time lots of people totally lost connection with the Maker of the universe. But why not making use of the free time now to go and read His own Words, which are recorded for mankind so that they can progress and learn the way to go. In the book of books is the way shown to come closer to the Maker of everything and to find eternal happiness.
When taking time to read the Bible you will be surprised how it can open your eyes and give a clear picture of this present world and how you can have a better life than this world is trying to present you.
There is also the calling sound
And the “invitation into the future” goes out right now. “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Revelation 3:20) {2}
Jesus saves net writes:
Let us not question God our creator, but let us embrace His salvation plan given to us through His Son Jesus, many say, you have a mind of your own and you should decide for yourself. {3}
Lots of people have decided to go for the world’s temptations and to enjoy whatever they can get today. They are not so much interested in the future and prefer to live the day like it comes. They do not see the folly of man which is greater than man’s wisdom.
Now we can find time to meditate on the way the world is evolving and the way we want to go in this world. We should consider taking time to investigate the matters of life and the way we want to go. Do we want to cling to the materialistic world or rather cling to Him Who gives life and surrender to His will than rely on our limited perception of life. {3}
Summertime is an ideal time to reflect if we in our lives, our works or even our conversation, could shine and bring blissful rays over unto others. It is a good period to question ourselves and to check if we managed to bring honour to God throughout the previous year. It is time to reflect if we have not failed to do the Will of God. {4}
When we do what God desires, we will naturally Glorify Our Lord and Our Friend, which will bring honor to The Father. {4}
To be able to do what God desires from us, we should get to know what He really wants. We should take time to find that out. Now in Summer, when we do not have to go to work, we can use the free time to take some moments to read in the Bible. The extra free time should not only give us opportunity to see other places, travelling to widen our horizon, but also to educate ourselves.
Going other places, meeting different people, we should make use of the free time to enlarge our knowledge about others and about God. It is also time to show others the right attitude of a Christian and to let them feel and see that we are Children of God.
Let everything we do brings honor to His Name. {4}
Looking at all the marvellous things we can encounter on our voyage or on our Summer-holiday we can see the Hand of God in all of this. then we also should take some time to thank Him for all this, we can enjoy.
The walk of faith is not a journey of those who have it all together. (One might suggest that too often, we have acted otherwise.) {5}
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Notes + elements discussed in other writings:
{1} The Faith Life (Part 4: Faith’s Direction and Location)
{2} An Invitation into the Future
{4} Reflective Moment “Glory To Our King’
{5} Column: Giving words to our prayers
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Preceding:
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Filed under Lifestyle, Religious affairs
Lifestyle and Readers Digest Magazine founded by Marcus Ampe on the 26th of March 2014
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At 12h, today, 2023 April 19th, Warsaw remembered the heroes of the Ghetto who fought against the horrors of the Nazis 79 years ago.
Er zijn gelukkig heel wat jonge kinderen uit de getto’s kunnen gesmokkeld worden en naar veiliger oorden gebracht. Verborgen bij anders sprekende leerden vele van deze ondergedoken Joden een andere taal en gebruiken, waarbij zij en later hun kinderen geen Hebreeuws meer konden spreken. Vandaag kan men wel de vraag stellen of zij de Elohim in hun eigen landstaal kunnen blijven eren of Hebreeuws moeten gaan leren? Vast staat wel dat de hele wereld aan die afschuwelijke Jodenvervolging moet herinnerd blijven.
Looking at the Biblical terminology used to denote the term “righteousness”, the Hebrew tsadiq translated by the Greek dikaiosune and its various forms in both the LXX and the NT.
God heeft alles Zelf in de hand en daarom spreekt de Schrift soms zelfs over dingen die nog moeten gebeuren, alsof ze al zijn gebeurd, en in termen die aangeven dat ook de consequenties daarvan al blijvende werkelijkheid zijn.
Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad emphasised the solidity of the relationship between Damascus and Tehran during his final meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Ebrahim Raisi, who visited Syria in recent days.
Wall Street Journal, April 28, 2023. Event The US Air Force has sent a chilling message to Iran after sending warplanes armed with ‘bunker busting’ bombs. The US military confirmed it has dispatched powerful 250-pound bombs on A-10 Warthogs in a bid to give pilots a better chance of deterring Iran by destroying ammunition bunkers. Forces have been repeatedly […]
We present the article “We Are Custodians of This Memory. 80th Anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising” by Piotr Gliński, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland. We Are Custodians of This Memory. 80th Anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising In April 1943, on the eve […]
Bij de Parasja Nitsawiem 5782 kijken wij uit naar een sjana tova oemetoeka voor ons allen.
Dit jaar zijn er nog 2 sjabbatot tot Soekot en is er voor elke sjabbat een parasja en de sjabbat voorafgaande aan Rosj Hasjana lezen wij nu de de parasja Nitsawiem.
Verwonderlijk kreeg ik vandaag het bericht van WordPress dat ik tegen een jubileum mag aankijken. Gefeliciteerd met je jubileum bij WordPress.com! Je hebt je 5 jaar geleden geregistreerd op WordPress.com.Bedankt voor het gebruiken van onze service! Ga zo door met bloggen. Wat zijn die vijf jaren voorbij gevlogen. Voordat mijn pen al mijn gedachten kon […]
Kijkend naar de geschiedenis van het Joodse Volk in Oekraïne staan zij nu weer op het punt dat er vele doden onder hen kunnen vallen.
Met Rosj Hasjana denken wij aan de wondere scheppingsdaad van de Allerhoogste. Spijtig genoeg moeten wij toegeven dat de mensheid van die schepping een janboel heeft gemaakt.
From guestwriters 