Manny forget that there has been a time when there was no time. There was nothing to measure the passage of moments. Everything was in a space without time notation. Everything was empty and void in the darkness.
Only after the Voice of the Unseen spoke there came order in the chaos and everything came into being. The Divine Maker of all things created light and darkness so that time could be measured.
Today one can say
The experience of the passage of time is one of the most foundational experiences of being human. {Is Time Real?}
If we want it or not. The days pass in front of our eyes. We can not stop to become older. All that rest us is to remember past days.
We remember the past, we experience the immediacy of the present, and we imagine the possibilities of the future. {Is Time Real?}
Lots of people shall come together with friends and/or family and shall take moments to remember the previous months. And when the clock ticks 12 all shall bring their best wishes for a new year to those around them and to those further away. The distance may bring other hours, but also there the time comes and goes.
The notion of reality being beyond time has been challenged by different thinkers in different ages. At the end of the year we would like to stand still for a moment and think about that element: T I M E.
At the beginning of our lifetime may seem endless long, but by becoming older it seems to go faster and faster. So many times we wonder what we have accomplished in life and have the impression we are still nowhere, though we have already passed half a century. And when we are retired we still want to do so much, but do not seem to have time enough.
The clock ticks further and for some louder, whilst for others (like me) it becomes more quiet, but having the sun giving us enough energy to pass the time and having us to enjoy the time as long as it can.
Take the time in your hand; give time your energy and let your thoughts inspire others, with the knowledge we all walk the path of life, sun, moon and stars allowing days to come, even in the time we do not let the clocks arrange our life.
When we start our life we do not have any specific dreams or aspirations; When we start seeing all those attracting things around us we want to get up from our four pats to stand up on two limbs and to come to conquer the world around us. We start having lots of dreams and lots of aspirations, but when we get older we encounter also lots of defeats and disillusions.
Somehow deep in our heart we may feel a certain call, a cry that there could be an Al Khaleeq (The Creator), but most people do not want to know about some One Who is Greater than they and has their life in His Hands. But without this Divine Creator man shall have to find that life is empty and time is restricted, coming to see that in this life we shall never get to that high point of total fulfilment.
When finding Allahthe Exalted, or the God above all gods, we shall be able to grow and find peace in our heart, how much other people may try to destroy the good name of Allah and want to bring fear over the world, blaspheming Allah and besmearing the Muslim community.
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To remember
dreams sketched in your duas (= your very essence of worship) > visuals you created in your mind > voice out to Allah = like statues made of clay.
The dreams that you have sketched in your duas, the visuals that you have created in your mind about how that “moment” would look like, the imaginary rehearsal sessions in your washroom where you prepare for the “feeling” lest you dont feel silly- we all have these dreams. Getting that degree or that job, that dream marriage, that dream family, driving your dream car or unpacking at your dream home; all of us have so many things we want, wish for, ask for. The wishes and duas we voice out to Allah are like the statues made of clay. In our limited capacities, thats the closest we can be to the reality we want to have. So we need Al Muhyi to give life to those statue like dreams, by making them real in flesh and blood. So ask Al Muhyi to give life to your duas by manifesting them…
There comes a holy and transparent time
when every touch of beauty opens the heart to tears.
This is the time the beloved of heaven is brought tenderly on earth.
This is the time of the opening of the rose.
Time for some or many may be their side, but for many it also may be against them. For many time can also slip through the shadows and get them frustrated and not knowing where and when to go.
Perhaps an old poet, but that does not mean one has become out of time. Today many companies wanting to get rid of the older persons, forgetting that they have the experience and knowledge. Though it looks like today their time is not any more accounted for. Therefore pleased to find some people not leaving themselves put aside but crawling into the pen and daring to let their voice be heard on the internet.
Today’s guestwriter remarks
We all grow up believing things we are told, to be correct, mostly. If we are told by our parents, teachers or Pastors that this or that is the truth most kids, if they have respect for these people tend to believe them. But you know, sometimes these people are simply incorrect. {Truth}
With the years , passing time, we come to see and experience different things and then time may give that we get more knowledge and insights, if we are willing to grow.
Today’s guest writer got to see that so many things told to him were not Biblical, so he dared to take the time to learn more about it by taking up the Book of books itself. He also writes on his blog
I did a somewhat quick read through the Bible just so I could say I had done it once. But, after I had finished reading through it I realized that these things my Mom had told me “the Bible says”, I didn’t remember seeing anywhere. So, I started rereading the scriptures more slowly and with pen and pad so that I could make notes. {Truth}
This is a good attitude which can bring man to think better about what he reads and about what he hears what should or could be written there – but is not. We always should remember that the others are not always telling lies but do not know the exact truth and have also been part of their time and their generation’s thougths.
After completing time two, I realized that these things Mom had told me weren’t correct, they just weren’t there. I know that Mom wasn’t lying to me, she was just wrong. We can grow old and comfortable with the stories of our youth’s no matter who they were told by, or we can use our own brains to think a little. Parents, teachers, priests, they all have stories they had been told in there youth’s, is it possible that on some items they were told wrong? {Truth}
The Final Testament of the Holy Bible (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
So they and we do have to take the time to come to know more and to correct those things we learned wrongly. By time we have to keep willing to learn and to adapt otherwise we shall become stain or a rock where the fast streaming water runs over and past, making us in a little grain of sand after some time.
We always should remember that time depends how we want to perceive it. When we are young all seems to take such a long time. When we are old all seems to go too fast. And when we look at the time of God
There are several places in scripture where we are told things like “My days are not your days”, and how a human life is like the twinkling (blink) of the eye to Gods time. Even in the New Testament the Apostle Peter told the people that one of Gods days are like unto a thousand of our years. In other words, our days and Gods days don’t match up. Think about it, even in our own orbits of the sun, the planets that are in this orbit with us have different amounts of time that make up their days. {Truth}
And in this world we so often are confronted by people who want to own our time. Often we look at time and wonder what we can do with it or what to do next, or how we missed doing things we wanted or should have done.
Facing the universe we can see that planets that surround us possess their own concept of time on a clock. And while they continue to circle around in the universe our own personal life’s hour-glass as the sand falling down.
Liberty, Equality and Fraternity three core values of the democratic country France where remembered on the Day of the Bastille, the 14th of July, the national holiday of France.
Though the French values of liberty, equality and fraternity may be swiftly being trumped by a larger emphasis on laïcité, or the separation of church and state. In the last decade, the government has passed laws banning religious symbols — namely the hijab — in public schools and buildings and as such got some members of the Muslim community against them. It also got France looking at a series of riots in 2005 in the suburbs of Paris where many youngsters of North African origin feel disadvantaged and discriminated. The measure of the government giving in to the employers, making done with lots of received rights for work arrangements, created lots of protests which at times became very violently. Unemployment coupled with growing religious tensions across the country is an ideal seed-bed for anti government actions but also for trying to rib the nation apart and bring fear over it by a growing religious tension in the country.
The South of France has cities, like Marseille, which have different cultures. This can be well seen in Marseille which is more defined by the cultures of its Arab and Italian immigrants than by its French nationality. In the streets of Marseille, you’ll hear French, Arabic and Italian. In many of the city’s most popular restaurants, you’ll find Italian and Arab dishes rather than the French classics like escargot and frog’s legs. In Nice or NiçardOccitan you may the Niçois speaking Occitan or Niçard like the Nizzardo or Italian inhabitants of Nice and those who do are bilingual in French. Nicknamed Nice la Belle (Nissa La Bella in Niçard), which means Nice the Beautiful, in the town you may also find people from North African origin and several Muslims.
French, Belgians, English and lots of people from other countries where having leisure time enjoying the day of work or on holiday. On the morning of 14 July 2016 the French President François Hollande reaffirmed that the state of emergency put in place after the November 2015 Paris attacks would end after the Tour de France finishes on 26 July 2016. he could be pleased nothing had happened at the target European football championship. Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, this year strong measurements of security were taken in France as well as in Belgium, this with the knowledge the ISISJihadists were aiming this event as an easy target. This year France was beaten by 1–0 at the final in Saint-Denis after extra time. The French got a blow by this, but were already hurt much harder by several terrorist acts the last few months. Several communities had their share of it, but the coastal reasort of posh and glamour with Cannes and Nice, the capital of the Alpes Maritimesdépartement, as attractive poles were blessed with sunshine and good news. Soon the Jazz music would sound in the third busiest airport in France, bringing occasional extra swing.
The driver reportedly zig-zagged his way through the crowds along the promenade Credit: matrixpictures.co.uk
To watch the Bastille Dayfireworks large crowds of people had gathered along the foreshore of Nice.
At approximately 22:40 local time (20:40 UTC), a Renault Midlum19 ton cargo truck was driven at at high speed along the famed Promenade des Anglais towards the crowd of people, who had been watching a Bastille Day firework display; the truck travelled at least 100 m (330 ft) before it hit the crowd and then continued to drive two kilometres (1.25 miles) into the crowd. After being stopped by armed police, who fired bullets into the lorry’s windscreen, the so far unnamed man exchanged fire with officers using a 7.65 pistol, before being shot dead.
Though it was a French-Tunisian criminal well known to the police for armed attacks this man seemed not to be followed up and nobody of the intelligence force was able to foresee he could be doing this horrid killing.
Once again France was hit this year by a “cowardly and barbaric” atrocity making victims along the streets where people would think they could walk freely and peacefully. 31-year-old Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel on his track of evil killed at least 10 children and got 50 children treated in hospital with sever wounds, among the 84 or 86 dead and several fighting between life and death, in the Riviera city. Officials fear the death toll will rise.
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As hundreds remained in hospital – including 18 fighting for their lives in intensive care – anti-terrorist judges opened an investigation into “mass murder” and investigators searched the home of the driver in the Abattoirs area of Nice.
The killer his identity card was found in the truck. He had French and Tunisian nationality. The fact that the killer was known to the authorities will be of grave concern to those trying to prevent terrorist attacks in France.
French President Francois Hollande said in an address to the nation in the early hours of Friday.
“France as a whole is under the threat of Islamist terrorism, and so under these circumstances we have to demonstrate absolute vigilance and show determination that is unfailing.”
“There’s no denying the terrorist nature of this attack of yet again the most extreme form of violence.”
For many heads of state it is clear Europe shall not bow down to those acts of terror, contrary all those attack will ad more oil on the fir and give them reason to continue their attacks on Syria and Iraq.
“Nothing will make us yield in our will to fight terrorism. We will further strengthen our actions in Iraq and in Syria. We will continue striking those who attack us on our own soil,”
Francois Hollande said, in reference to France’s involvement in a coalition of nations carrying out air strikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group.
It seems clear that the driver wanted to mow down the maximum number of people. Nice Matin journalist Damien Allemand said
“I saw bodies flying like bowling pins along its route. Heard noises, cries that I will never forget.”
Photo Gaillard/Reuters
At the extra news screening last night, at 23.45 h, we already coverage of witness, declaring how they fled from the ‘unknown’ and how the crowd got in panic. Many bodies, blood and body parts could be seen all along the road. After ramming into the crowd with his lorry, the driver started shooting and created what looked like a battlefield. Several messages on social media by people present at the scene, described a sense of helplessness faced with the carnage.
Al Jazeera reporter David Coady was also at the scene.
“I was enjoying the Bastille Day fireworks just like thousands of other people at the promenade in Nice,” he said.
“I was just walking back after the fireworks had finished. I looked towards the truck and I thought it was a bit odd, because the roads were shut down and there were hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people walking along. But then, from the direction of the truck, I started hearing screaming and then people started running. And so I joined all those people in running away from there.”
European Council President Donald Tusk said it was a “tragic paradox” that the victims of the attack in Nice were celebrating “liberty, equality and fraternity” – France’s motto – on the country’s national day.
Last night very soon French people offered a place to stay for those who could not return to their apartment or hotel, and a hashtag soon went viral. Leaders around the world responded to the attack, and Twitter users were using the hashtag #PrayForNice. President Barack Obama, standing in solidarity and partnership with France, also issued a statement offering
“any assistance that they may need to investigate this attack and bring those responsible to justice.”
He also said
“On this Bastille Day, we are reminded of the extraordinary resilience and democratic values that have made France an inspiration to the entire world, and we know that the character of the French Republic will endure long after this devastating and tragic loss of life.”
Tusk tweeted a photograph of himself and other European and Asian leaders standing in tribute to the Nice victims at an Asia-Europe summit in Mongolia.
France has had its share last year with the January 2015 attack on the Paris offices of the magazine Charlie Hebdo, linked to al-Qaeda’s Yemen branch, and the multiple attacks in the same city in November claimed by ISIS. People wonder when it is going to stop.
We are afraid we can not offer good news on that part. Followers of the Creator Redeemer God have received His Words of warning where we are told of what is going to happen after the Great War. Most people then thought it would not ever happen again, but only a few years later a second World War brought sorrow over the whole world. Today we can see many things happening which are foretold in the Holy Scriptures. As Brothers in Christ we are not surprised what happened after the start of the war between Iraq,Afghanistan and Iran. The internal conflict (1978–92) between anticommunist Muslim guerrillas and the Afghan communist government (aided in 1979–89 by Soviet troops) was a start for many battles between Muslim extremists and different states. The September 11 attacks triggered a harsher reaction from Western countries, bringing it into a international conflict in Afghanistan. In 2001 that war got in a first phase toppling the Taliban (the ultraconservative political and religious faction that ruled Afghanistan and provided sanctuary for al-Qaeda, perpetrators of the September 11 attacks). [The joint U.S. and British invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001 was preceded by over two decades of war in Afghanistan.]
From then onwards it only seemed to escalate and certain groups America first helped and provided with ammunition, turned their back on to them and the West. More and more nations got involved and religious groups started getting creating amok between different groups. Religion stood up against religion like it is foretold in the Bible. Many many signs foretold in the Holy Scriptures have become a reality.
So, for those who ask
“When would it end?”
We can only say that it all shall come to an end when World War III shall come to an end. No matter what people may try to keep or to bring peace we shall have to go to face a terrible war, which shall be even greater or more horrible than the previous two world wars. We do not want to be doom preachers, but lets face it, of all the prophesies in the Bible there are only a few which did not come true. all other prophesies, even told more than 2500 years before have come into being. They happened and the world continued like it was foretold.
Much too often people do forget that the ancient writers provided the world with the torch of civilization and liberty, a guide for life, for the believers but also for non-believers. All sorts of people can make use of the wise words which are provided in the 66 books which make up the Bible. Throughout the ages it influenced people for good. In society it has been recognized by the greatest statesmen to be a book of books that made a big change in their life and often helped them to come to decisions. We also do have to admit that certain holy scriptures have been looked at it through the various glasses of conflicting creeds and sometimes might unintentionally but woefully be misrepresented. Though now we have come in a time where intentionally people want to give false interpretation as the core of their business. different groups made it a sport to falsely interpret the Bible and the Quran. Today we have certain groups which claim to fight for the cause of justice and to bring a war in the name of Allah/God. Others cannot put them on their place, because they themselves also do not know the true content of those holy books. they too live by many long-revered misconceptions of the truth of those books, received through the traditions of their fathers. Instead of putting the enemies to confusion by disarming them of their weapons, both groups become more agitated and call to the battle.
Man may look at himself and see or speak about an evil world. H should know that this “present evil world” in which man is permitted to try governing himself soon shall come to an end.
After a Jewish Age, or the period following the death of Jacob, during which all of his posterity were treated by God as his special charge — “his people” we can see that often that chosen people forgot Who was with them and Who had liberated them. For centuries the Most High Maker showed special favours, and declared,
“You only have I known (recognized with favour) of all the families of the earth.” (Amos 3:2)
But the stubborn people had to come to see that God was willing to provide an opening for those who are willing to come to Him. Also goyim or non-Jews found a wayto God by the send one from God, the Messiahrabbi Jeshua (Jesus Christ). The promises made to the original People of God were typical of the “better promises” made to us. Having come in the Gospel Age, those who believe in God should know that they have the “better sacrifices,” which do make atonement for the sins of the whole world. They know that the promised one shall return and not only take up his role or seat in the “royal priesthood,” composed of all those who offer themselves to God “living sacrifices,” holy and acceptable, through Jesus Christ, but to be the King of the coming Kingdom here on earth.
But before it comes so far that Jesus shall become the Chief or “High Priest of our profession.” (Hebrews 3:1) this world shall have to withstand the terrible times which were prophesied long before. Too all who are willing to take Jesus as their master is demanded to go out in the world and to warn it. Not only should they notify the peoples of what shall be coming, so that they can prepared themselves for those horrible times, they should look for the signs God has given mankind, to be alert and prepared. In that time of people warning and bringing Good News of the coming Kingdom, therefore called the Gospel age, we find the realities of which the Jewish age and its services and ordinances were shadows. (Hebrews 10:1)
The Gospel age, is the period during which the body of Christ is called out of the world, and shown by faith the crown of life, and the exceeding great and precious promises whereby (by obedience to the call and its requirements) they may become partakers of the divine nature. (Pet. 1:4) Evil is still permitted to reign over or rule the world, in order that by contact with it these may be tried to see whether they are willing to give up the human nature with its privileges and blessings, a living sacrifice, being made conformable to Jesus’ death, that they may be accounted worthy to be in his likeness in the resurrection. (Psalms 17:15)
Coming closer to the times of more disasters Jews, Christians, Muslims, other believers and non-believers shall have to think how they want to cope with the turbulence and shall have to find solutions to live themselves in a more protected environment. Their choices may not always bring the hoped for reactions, because those against God (the adversary or satan) are going to play more for devil.
Before Christ, with royal title and power, will be present as Jehovah’s representative, taking charge of all the affairs during this day of trouble, taking up his seat in the city of Jerusalem, many shall fight to get the power in Jerusalem and to be able to conquer the people all over the world. This battle for the power has already started. All those terrorist acts are not as such a matter of bringing people to Allah/God but to show the power of which everybody should be afraid and has to submit to.
The world shall have to endure that strive for power of false people. Meantime, as false and imperfect views and systems fall, the standard of the new King will rise, and eventually he shall be recognized and owned by all as King of kings. Thus it is presented by the prophets as Jehovah’s work to set up Christ’s dominion:
“I will give thee the Gentiles for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” (Psalms 2:8)
“In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom.” (Daniel 2:44)
The present evil times shall frighten us, but when we do not mind to take up the bible and use it as our indispensable guide we may have the hope in getting stronger, though more than once we shall also have to suffer and be taken by sorrow. But by looking at these times we can see that the “Ancient of days” shall come to sit on his throne. We can look at the bad things which are past, we may see lots of things happening around us and in front of us. All that may have en influence on our life is simply there for preparing us all for that grand family reunion hosted by “our Father,” the “Father of all” (Ephesians 4:6), “of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named” (Ephesians 3:15).
Ephesians 3:14-19 (ESV)
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith-that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
In the mean time we do have to build up patience, and should try to bring others also to see what time we are heading to and get them to unite under Christ.
The Divine Maker of all things is giving the world time. He requests from man that they come to see what man made of this world and how He is a better “Gardener” for this world. Having received all this time from God we should come to realise that mankind is incapable of solving the world’s problems. This permission of evil has the very purpose of educating and preparing mankind for the promised times of restitution. At that time, they will begin to seek for God’s righteous kingdom under the rule of the great Messiah, who shall come at God’s time. They will be blessed with a full knowledge of God and a full opportunity for attaining everlasting life through their redeemer — the great restorer and life-giver.
Every sincere student of the Bible can see what is coming and should warn others.
In these times when honest-hearted people are losing faith in humanity, and humanity is losing faith in God, faithful lovers of God should reach out their hand to the community.
How many minutes a day do we not spend on useless things? How many minutes a day are we willing to spend to ourselves and how many minutes are we willing to spend to our Creator?
Hand-colored photograph of Carl Jung in USA, published in 1910. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
“Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.” {Carl Jung}
Today many people are afraid to look into their own heart. Though we should do that more often. Looking at ourselves we also should reflect how we behave in this universe and how we want to relate to others.
“Within you there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat any time.” {Hermann Hesse}
Not enough people do take time to retreat and to take some time to look at things, wondering how everything is going good or bad and why certain things evolve a certain way.
The master teacher rabbi Jeshua reminded people how they had to look at life and how also king Solomon was aware that we always had to live as if it is the last day of our life. Every act of our life should be done as though it were our last.
We should
Early picture of Ernest Hemingway with his family. Included in the photograph are Marcelline, Sunny, C. E. Hemingway, Grace Hemingway, Ursula, and Ernest standing at the far right. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
“Try to learn to breathe deeply, really taste your food when you eat, and when you sleep, really sleep. Try as much as possible to be wholly alive with all your might, and when you laugh, laugh like hell. And when you get angry, get good and angry. Try to be alive. You will dead soon enough.” {Ernest Hemingway}
and
“Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We only have this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand and melting like a snowflake.” {Sir Francis Bacon}
Therefore let us take every moment of the day to make the best out of it.
“You have a treasure within you that is infinitely greater than anything the world can offer.” {Eckhart Tolle}
“The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they bloom like flowers.” {Thich Nhat Hanh}
Helping each other is also made possible by sharing ideas, thoughts of ourselves and others. On “Our World” you may find regularly some thoughts to carry you away or to let your reason or meditate.
From 2016 June 14 some “thoughts“, “meditations” and/or “reflections” shall be published under the tag “reflection text“. With pleasure we recommend you to have regularly a look at those texts.
The wisdom teacher of Ecclesiastes says, there is a time for all things under the sun, no to agree with the excess man loves so much, but as a warning how to behave and how and to what to focus.
For those who want to celebrate Christmas for whatever reason they want to give, Christians should remember that it is originally a pagan festival and should better abstain from it. But we do agree in Wintertime it is ideal to socialise at the dark hours and it may be lovely to exchange presents around the turn of the year.
When we provide presents for others they should be given with joy and when it brings such a stress like we hear many tell on television, than there is certainly something wrong.
In so called Christian countries, we also see lots of Christmas markets, but at those ‘great events’ there is not much to see about what they call would be the “reason of the season”. At most Christmas markets there are not many stall about the nativity of the NazareneJew nor about that man’s ransom offering. Jesus Christ his birth they often call the reason for the season, but we can not see him much in that season or in people’s homes. Also the attitude of those people gathering at those markets does not speak of such an attitude that master teacher asked from his followers. Most people strolling around at those markets are more concerned about the food and drink opportunities and in buying (ridiculous) gadgets and not to expensive presents.
So many feel obliged just to find an other gadget or an other extra surprise and do hope they themselves also will receive many presents.
In this society where excess has become a way of life, for many it might well be also a way of understanding the world, a way of being and interacting in the world, but for sure many chapters in the bible warn for such an attitude and ask us to focus on the more important immaterial things.
Those who call themselves Christian should wonder where they fall in the consumer trap of the capitalistsociety and why they do not keep to the festivals ordained by the Most High? the festival for the goddess of light and a celebration for a Santa Claus for sure are no part of those.
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To remember
Thanksgiving here + gone > too much to eat + drink = Excess = regular part of natural order
Excess > consequences = plays important role in survival process
ancestral winter seasons > forebears rejoiced in gathered harvest, savored freshly slaughtered meat, + delighted in new beer + wine.
Northern Hemisphere ancestors celebrated = winter solstice = December 21 = marking the rebirth of the sun = traditionally been associated with feasts + festivals replete with excesses => secular Christmastime holiday = direct descendant of these revelries.
Roman Saturnalia + misrule, centered on feasting + gift-giving > societal role reversals where servants + peasants became lords + ladies for a day or short season => usually steady tables of fortune turned for a moment
misrule (common in European societies and colonial America) individuals of low socioeconomic status demanded wealthier neighbors + patrons treat them – the servants + peons of society – as if they were the wealthy + deserving
Puritans of Massachusetts infamously outlawing Christmas in late 1600s =/= legendary anniversary of the Savior’s birth > simultaneous misrule celebrations that exalted excesses, some acceptable + others decidedly distasteful.
1800s, misrule evolved > new type of social inversion > persisted to our own day => Christmas made for children
children = miniature adults = occupied bottom rung of social hierarchy along with peasants + servants
Modern secular Christmas – family celebration – created at this time with children becoming focus of charity + goodwill
starting with Black Friday Eve (used to be called Thanksgiving) + continuing through New Year’s Day celebrations = unmatched devotion to consumerism, materialism, consumption, waste, and over-indulgence.
Thanksgiving, once again, is here and gone. I know I had too much to eat and drink. How about you?
Excess is a regular part of the natural order. Our bodies turn excess calories into fat cells – technically, stored energy for later use. Most excess weight, however, is simply lugged around serving unwittingly as a contributing factor to health problems. Alcohol, on the other hand, is eliminated by the body. But a morning-after dehydration headache, caused by excessive drinking, lets you know you overdid it. Long-term excessive drinking, of course, will kill you.
Excess has its consequences.
Excess, nevertheless, plays an important role in the survival process. You and I are here thanks to an excessive amount of spermatozoa, from which emerged one little victor to join forces with an ovum. Survival of the fittest and the fertilized! And not only that, some of the plants which provide food, oxygen, and beauty upon the earth produce seeds for their own reproduction numbering in excess of hundreds…
Lifestyle and Readers Digest Magazine founded by Marcus Ampe on the 26th of March 2014
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New to this site. You may like to read this first
If this is your first time you visit us, you might like to know about our aims and intentions.
This site does not want to be a specific religious site, though now and then religious articles may be presented. The main interest on this site is about worldly matters, social affairs and the behaviour of human beings in this universe.
Our aim is to bring first articles about our responsibility in the progress of human relations and peace involvement.
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Van de schrijvers die een eigen blog hebben kan u op hun site als laatste artikels vinden:
Recent Posts on the other Lifestyle Magazine: Stepping Toes
De NRC-journalist en schrijver Bas Heijne gelooft niet dat God bestaat, maar sympathie voor het geloof heeft hij wel. Hoewel hij zelf niet gelovig is opgevoed, kreeg Heijne er in zijn gereformeerde dorp wel veel van mee. Hij begrijpt dat mensen houvast vinden in hun geloof. Zelf houdt hij liever open hoe iets zit. Een […]
Originally posted on Dear Kitty. Some blog: https://youtu.be/gQOBDCSQKbw This 10 April 2019 video says about itself: First-Ever Black Hole Image Released The Event Horizon Telescope captured an image of the black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy. From USA Today today: It’s our first glimpse of one of the weirdest spectacles in…
Originally posted on Purplerays: ‘Tis hard for man to rouse his spirit up–It is the human creative agony,Though but to hold the heart an empty cup,Or tighten on the team the rigid rein.Many will rather lie among the slainThan creep through narrow ways the light to gain–Than wake the will, and be born bitterly. But…
Als men in de België en Nederland kijkt hoe bepaalde christenen omgaat met andere mensen kan men zich veel vragen stellen over hun christen zijn. sommigen zouden eens moeten kijken naar Wim Wijnholds directeur van Perspectief Groep, hoe die 24 uur per dag christen probeert te zijn. “In een bedrijf is dat iets gemakkelijker, omdat […]
Originally posted on Victors' Corner: WHAT TOLERANCE REALLY MEANS By Victor Uyanwanne 13/03/2015 I have always been interested in learning new words and I have usually made conscious effort towards achieving that aim. I remember way back in school when we were much younger when we used to keep “New Words and Meaning” notebooks as…
Het is algemeen geweten dat vele niet-gelovigen of atheïsten er over spreken dat als er een god zou bestaan deze zeker niet een van liefde kan zijn, want er gebeuren zo veel afgrijselijke dingen in deze wereld. Velen vergeten hierbij wie eigenlijk de schuldige is voor die vele wreedheden en wie de eigenlijke veroorzaker is […]
As I sit at the computer I can look out of the door at a dull, cloudy day with a light drizzle of rain falling. It reminds me of a number of analogies to our Christian life. They are all obvious and well known but they remain true and may be helpful for all that. […]
Staying True I was recently reading Warren Wiersbe’s commentary on Psalms when I came across this thought on Psalm 19:9, ‘The mark of a true bible student is a burning heart not a big head.’ The truth of this struck me instantly as did a sense of sadness at the many times I have got […]
I am probably exaggerating things a little, but only a little, when I say that there is a love-hate relationship developing between society at large and the church. Whereas once the church helped society establish and find meaning in a Christian approach to morality we are now in a situation where increasingly society at large […]
Gelooft u het getuigenis van God, zijn Zoon en zijn dienaren? Engelen. Gods volmaakte dienaren Wie het antwoord zoekt op de vraag ‘wie of wat zijn engelen?’ merkt al snel dat de Bijbel weinig tot niets vertelt over hun natuur en bestaanswijze. De reden is dat het in de Bijbel gaat om de verhouding tussen […]
Thoughts by and a Look at the world by Marcus Ampe on: Marcus Ampe's Space
EU negotiator for Brexit, Michel Barnier, considers Brexit to be a very negative thing, which can be considered as a lost game. For him Brexit has no added value. He says So far no one, including Mr. Farage, has been able to give any proof of the value of Brexit.” European Commissioner for Competition, Margrethe […]
In the wee small hours of the morning, Donald Trump lashed out, once more, at the EU over Brexit, responding to the news the UK would be given a “flextension” to 31 October to sort out its nightmarishly chaotic divorce from continental Europe. According to Trump the Union does not want to give some breath […]
The soap that breaks many acid It is incredible, after all this time debating about how to make arrangements for leaving the European Union, never coming forward with positive ideas, the Union approved to be once more patient with the British. Who would ever thought that Brexit could roll on until October 2019? Theresa May […]
Het was de afgelopen 25 jaar nodig alle Rwandezen te doen begrijpen dat we hetzelfde land delen, dezelfde rechten. De opbouw van een rechtstaat is dus een essentiële en voorname uitdaging geweest. mag Jean-Damascène Bizimana, secretaris-generaal van de Rwandese commissie van de strijd tegen genocide zeggen. Vandaag wil Rwanda “doen alsof” zij werkelijk in vrede […]
Rwandan President Paul Kagame will open a period of one hundred days of national mourning today Sunday April the 7th, by lighting a flame at the Kigali Genocide Memorial. This is followed by a ceremony at the Amahoro stadium. I do not understand that the ceremony will be attended by the Belgian Prime Minister Charles […]
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was already in peril after a federal judge in Texas invalidated the entire law late last year. But the stakes ramped up again last week, when President Trump’s Justice Department announced it had changed its position and agreed with the judge that the entire law, not just three pieces of […]
Europe has to face the inevitable effect of the extra-large baby boom generation hitting retirement age and stepping away from the work force. For many years, economists from Europe and America have spoken of Japan and Western Europe as places where the slow grind of demographic change — masses of workers reaching retirement age, and […]
This month’s issue of The Christadelphian has its usual range of exposition, practical and community articles, with perhaps something of a concentration on the death and resurrection of Jesus. Brother David Simpson has written a sensitive summary of the Trials of Jesus and the concluding part of Brother Jack Aitkenhead’s two-part series “Pilate Marvelled” considers […]
Washington’s support for Israel – both in word and deed – was again on display last month when President Trump announced that he was officially recognising the Golan Heights as part of the State of Israel. The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, was present when the proclamation was signed on March 25 and described […]
Today’s thought “The eyes of man are never satisfied” (April 17) Proverbs 27 How many people do not brag about what will happen tomorrow? we should know that we don’t really know what will happen then. Though about the future, we have the Book of books which tells us about signs for the latter days. […]
Being a Jeshuaist means one is a Follower of Jeshua or a person agreeing with and following the teachings of the real Nazarene master teacher Jesus Christ, Jeshua the Messiah.
Today’s thought “The eyes of the Lord …” (April 5) Modern technology is making it possible for the authorities to have “eyes” in many places. This enables them to sometimes identify and track down offenders – or issue publicity to achieve this. In the Proverbs we see the same point is made. Long before human […]
Recent Posts by the Brethren in Christ: Broeders in Christus
Over twee dagen mogen wij de aanzet geven tot het belangrijkste weekend van het jaar 2019. Op vrijdag 19 april komen wij samen voor het avondmaal van 14 Nisan. Op die zeer speciale avond kijken wij naar de wereld, hoe dat deze weg van God is gegaan en door de geestelijke en werkelijke vervuiling een […]
Wat niemand voor mogelijk had gehouden, kon in 722 vóór onze huidige tijdrekening toch gebeuren. Het land Israël lag in puin. Het allerergste was dat de tempel werd verwoest. Het verbond tussen God en Zijn volk leek voorgoed te zijn verbroken. De Assyriërs namen de bevolking mee naar hun eigen land en de ballingschap van […]
Ook al zijn de Broeders in Christus niet erg gekend, noch onder deze Nederlandse naam, noch onder de internationale naam Christadelphians, zijn ze actief in zeer veel landen over de gehele wereld. Al die mensen die zich vrijwillig inzetten voor het goed van de mensheid en samen ijveren voor een betere wereld, worden dikwijls over […]
In the world people have to make the choice if they want to follow the world with its many traditions or want to go for living according to God’s laws and provisions and following His son. Jehovah is the God of gods Who wants to be praised and worshipped as the Only One True God. […]
Er zijn doeners en passievelingen alsook afwachters of uitkijkers naar wat zal gaan gebeuren. er zijn mensen die zich liefst in de schaduwzijde begeven terwijl anderen juist in het voetlicht willen treden. In de ecclesia komt het er op aan dat iedereen samen werkt om één werkend geheel te maken. Ieder van ons heeft de […]
Jewish and Christian literature since the time of Yeshua or Jeshua have pointed to Genesis 3:15 as the first reference to the Messiah in the Torah. Genesis 3:15 NHEBJE I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his […]
The first human beings had chosen to go their own path. As any good father would do when his children had done something wrong, God punished them. But as a loving Father He in His great mercy promised for a solution and preserved David’s bloodline and the Messianic promise. Mankind had chosen Yet, we each […]
Do you know where in the Bible we find God‘s first promise to send the Messiah? The answer is foundational to our faith because within this first Messianic Prophecy mentioned in the Bible lies our fate of eternal separation from God. Too many christians limit the Bible to the second main part, the Messianic Writings, […]
The Divine Creator of heaven and earth wished not to leave the ones sent out of the Garden of Eden on their own. Though Adam and Eve rebelled against God, Him having expelled them, the Elohim was willing to stay close to them and to help there where He could or where it was appropriate […]
Those people coming from the first man and woman in a certain way got infected by the wrong choice these people made. God gave a free will to the human beings He created. He did not want them to go wrong or to have it bad, but because they objected to His ruling or His […]
Recent Posts: Belgian Biblestudents - Belgische Bijbelstudenten
After God made a covenant with the People of Israel at Mount Sinai, Moses and the 70 leaders of Israel “saw God, and they ate and drank.” (Exodus 24:11) the did not literally saw God but felt His nearness. Every year Gods People also came together for a special meal, remembering how the Most High […]
Op 27 maart laatst leden spraken spraken in het programma van de Vlaamse televisie zender Eén ‘Pano’ verschillende voormalige Getuigen van Jehovah openlijk over seksueel kindermisbruik binnen de organisatie. De dagen daraop konden dan meerdere programma’s op Eén en Canvas de aandacht trekken rond dit schandelijk gebeuren van verzwijgen van kinder- en seksueel misbruik. Volgens […]
Originally posted on Dear Kitty. Some blog: https://youtu.be/OPcYn4AiwQE This 2015 video from the USA says about itself: Candace Conti: Former Jehovah’s Witness Takes on Church over Sex Abuse Allegations Candace Conti says the church failed to protect her from a predatory pedophile, which Jehovah’s Witnesses has denied. Translated from Belgian daily De Standaard, 3 April…
The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, has instructed elders in all 14,000 U.S. congregations but also in many other countries to avoid costly lawsuits by keeping cases of child abuse secret, even from law enforcement. And it has effectively silenced members, also in Belgium, who speak up about abuse through the tortuous practice of disfellowshipping and shunning.
In the previous articles we could see how people are invited to become labourers for the Lord. We are told in the parable given in Matthew 20 that the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a house, who went out early in the morning to get workers into his vine-garden, and proposed rewards […]
Recent Posts by bible Scholars: Bijbelvorser = Bible Researcher
Bijbelse landstreken, steden en dorpen, toen en nu Nazareth (Hebreeuws: נצרת – Natsrat of Naẕerat, Arabisch: الناصرة – Elnasrat, an-Nāṣira) stad in Israël en het centrum van de enige hoofdzakelijk Arabische agglomeratie in het land. De plaats ligt in het noorden van Israël, in Centraal Laag-Galilea. In het Nieuwe Testament wordt Nazareth geassocieerd met Jezus als […]
Binnen minder dan twee weken is het weer zover, dan zullen we ons in herinnering nemen hoe God zijn eigen volk redde van de slavernij (uit Egypte) en hoe Jezus zichzelf aan zijn hemelse Vader aanbood als een offerlam. De Nazarener-meesterleraar, Jezus Christus, wilde laten zien dat hij niet onwillig naar de dood werd gesleept, […]
The Nazarene master teacher Jeshua (Jesus Christ) was not dragged to death but gave himself willingly to go to his death and to offer himself as a sacrificial lamb and a ransom offering for all sinners.
In 1909 the brotherhood throughout the world was affectionately remembered in prayer, and special grace for special trials was desired for each and all. On April 4 they found themselves united at the memorial table, like we too shall be united on April 19 remembering the Nazarene master teacher his Last Supper before he died at the stake.
Op 19 april krijgen wij dit jaar onze belangrijkste herinneringsdag aan het vergoten bloed van Jezus en zijn samenkomst voor het Laatste Avondmaal op 14 Nisan. Hier nodigen wij u van harte uit om samen met ons deze bijzondere avond te delen.
In this world we see lots of religious groups and can find lots of people they believe in god/God. But we can wonder in which god or God they believe. The majority seems to believe in an other god than the God of the Bible. That god of the Holy Books is a Singular Spirit […]
When we are looking for some one for having a good or close relationship with, we can assure you the best one to have a good relationship with is the Most High Divine Creator God Who made it possible for you to be here in the first place. Having a relationship with Him is a […]
When wondered about a godhead and having come to the conclusion that there must be a Divine Creator or Supreme Being that surpasses all human and animal beings, we may question if it is possible for us to have a relationship with that Higher Being. What does it take to begin a relationship with God? […]
In March 2016 we created on Weebly a website to talk about man’s relationship with God. After we had done all the placing of pages and came to the contact form and placing of a Gravatar for the replies, we were brought to WordPress where we not only could choose a Gravatar but also got […]
Throughout history of mankind there have many groups of people who worshipped a triple deity (sometimes referred to as threefold, tripled, triplicate, tripartite, triune or triadic, or as a trinity). Those people who worshipped such tri-une god all claim they only worship one deity. Such deities that are worshipped as one are common throughout world mythology; the number three has a long history of mythical associations. Carl Jung considered the arrangement of deities into triplets an archetype in the history of religion. But the God of the Bible is clear about Which God has to be worshipped, not a more headed, be it an eightfold, three-une or bi-one god, but only the God of Abraham, Which is only One God of gods.
Find out in this article and its links how Jews, Christians and Muslims may have been influenced by the pagan gods and false teachings and how they have to separate them from such pagan teachings.
Recent Posts by: Immanuel Verbondskind - עמנואל קאָווענאַנט קינד
זֹאת תּוֹרַת אֲשֶׁר בּוֹ נֶגַע צָרָעַת . . . בְּטָהֳרָתוֹ: (ויקרא יד:לב) This is the law regarding someone suffering from a lesion of tzara’at . . . when he is to be purified. Leviticus 14:32 * If the person formerly afflicted with tzara’at could not afford the lambs required for his sacrifices, he could […]
On this special Shabbat before Pesach we check if we ourselves and our brothers are clean enough to leave the door-posts with the blood of the lams for going through the wall of water, leaving slavery of the world behind.
Let the coming chag not be polluted by old yeast, but that you observe the Festival of Unleavened Bread like the Most High wants us to remember the exodus of the Bnei Yisroel.
Along the Nile River the river’s annual flooding ensured reliable, rich soil for growing crops. Having people cultivating the lands around this rich water made that in ancient North-eastern Africa the Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BCE (according to conventional Egyptian chronology) with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh […]
The prominent ultra-Orthodox rabbi, the late Harav Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg a few years ago said: “The pressure of pre-Pesach cleaning has reached unnecessary and overwhelming levels. The housewife often becomes totally nervous, unable to enjoy the simchaof yomtov and unable to perform the mitzvot of the Seder night.” Going up to the most important event […]
Jeshua asks his followers to repent and offered himself as a ransom to liberate us from the curse of death. 14 Nisan may than be the opening of Hag ha-Herut or The Holiday of Freedom.
Na het vorige week doornemen van de Parasha Tazria mogen wij vanavond opkijken naar deze speciale Sjabbat vóór Pesach waarbij we nagaan of wij onszelf en onze broeders als voldoende zuiver mogen aanschouwen om, volgende week, door de deurposten met het bloed van de lammeren te gaan, om verder door de muur van water te trekken om de slavernij van de wereld achter te laten.
Wij kijken hoe het verder verloopt met Kajin die weg ging van de Eeuwige en zich vestigde in het land ten Oosten van Eden waar hij gemeenschap had met zijn vrouw, en Chanoch als zoon kreeg, welke op zijn beurt Irad kreeg.
People should know there is a big difference between trinitarian “Jews for Jesus” and those Jews who believe in Jeshua as their Messiah but who worship the Only One True God of Israel.
Originally posted on Hamesjek: Het is bijna Pesach. Het feest met de vijand in de vorm van onze dagelijkse brood. Geen brood, geen broodkruimels. Het is de revolutie van het platte ongerezen brood. De matse. Overal in het verzorging en verpleeghuis wordt schoongemaakt, etenswaren en vaat, die niet geschikt zijn voor Pesach worden opgeslagen. Het…
These days of Spring-cleaning are very special and are the preparation for these coming very special days were we learn and remember two special liberations, one for a particular people and an other one for all who want to accept the liberation of the curse of death.
Originally posted on Hamesjek: Op Pesach ontdoen de Joden zich van gerezen brood. De reden hiervan is dat de Joden na afloop van de periode van de slavernij uit Egypte, op weg naar de vrijheid, snel moesten vertrekken en het brooddeeg niet kon rijzen. Het gerezen brood staat symbool voor luxe, voor de opgeblazen mens. De matze, daarentegen is plat,…
Wij gaan een periode in waar wij moeten kijken naar vergoten bloed, offergave, onvolkomen en volkomen offers en zuivering van de mens en waarbij ons gevraagd wordt om te denken over onze zuiverheid of smet.
Opgaand naar 14 Nisan moeten wij onze innerlijke staat onderzoeken, het bittere als het zoete in de wereld zien, en er voor zorgen dat wij weer naar de puurheid gaan welke een ware gelovige moet hebben om zich gezuiverd aan God aan te bieden.
When having many questions an interesting blog to look at: their old and more recent Posts: Questiontime - Vragenuurtje
In this world we shall become even more confronted by people, be them politicians or church-leaders who would love to tell us than matters or different than we see it. Many of them will give the lie to make sure they would be more popular and receive more power. We must know that we shall […]
For most people life is just a big question-mark. Living this small life, earn and die is just not satisfying for them and it does not seems like the purpose of life.
In the capitalist countries money often receives the first place of importance and many forget that love for each other is so much more a valuable asset for having a better life.
Several churches want to be popular and promise their followers excellent health with a lot of wealth, as long as they contribute richly to the church.
Abundance is on the inside. It’s a feeling first, an amount second.
We face a world were secularism is growing and more people think their politicians would and should have all the right answers to create for them the ideal world.
In 2016 I started with writing articles on this website. In a certain way I had hoped I also would come to hear from other people what they would think about Some One or a divine Supreme Power behind the creation of the universe. The first year of this blog got to see 17 articles […]
Recent Posts: Unmasking anti Jehovah sites and people
Lots of atheists do not think there is a god or God because there is so much violence and injustice in this world. In case there would be a god, they say this shows how cruel that God must be. They ask Where is God when a child cries from hunger, fear, loneliness? Where is […]
Every one of us should know that it is impossible to please God without a sound personal faith. God knows the heart and as such sees clearly what you think and what you believe. You may fake those around you but you can not fool God. The world may see in you a weak one […]
We should not be afraid to do research outside of the Bible. There are still many other things to be found, by doing so, that Jehovah’s people have yet to learn. To stop researching our Faith would be a big mistake. If we have “The Truth” than there is nothing to fear from such investigations. The trinitarians who say there is only one Bible the right one are giving several reasons for atheists and people against God to have enough proof to show them they are wrong also in their belief of God, because their sayings or words even do not match the bible words or ancient manuscript words and as such those people give a proof there would not exist a God.
In mankind’s history there can be found natural theology which is generally characterized as the attempt to establish religious truths by rational argument and without reliance upon alleged revelations. Newt to it we may find lots of name-Christians trying to proof God exist but for them Jesus being God, others can see that their idea of God being Eternal, Immaterial, Transcending space, The Creator and Designer of the universe, Omnipotent, Omniscient,
The unique greatest possible Being, does not fit at all their Jesus-god. Many people putting 2 and 2 together decide then wrongly because those qualities not fitting Jesus, he is not being able to be God but then there than also not being a Supreme God.
There are people who want us to believe god had to purify Himself but that we ourself do not have to do any works any more or can do whatever we want because God brought salvation to us by His death, though God can not die. By such misleading teaching those ‘preachers’ are fooling not only themselves but are taking the opportunity away for others to find the Real God of gods and the entrance to the Kingdom of God.
Ek het lankal bevestig dat ek sal kom. Dis goed so, want ek staan op en ek is nie regtig lus nie. Maar dis ‘n commitment en ek besluit om te gaan. Net voordat ek by die huis uitloop gryp ek my Afrikaanse Bybel. Dit voel stowwerig, ek lees deesdae meesal Engelse Bybels. Sy ontvang […]
14 Maart 2019 the sacrament of waiting slowly she celebrated the sacrament of letting go first she surrendered her green then the orange, yellow and red finally she let go of her brown shedding her last leaf she stood empty and silent, stripped bare, leaning against the winter sky she began her vigil of trust. […]
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