Monday, January 25, 2016

The Smell of Prayer. Why You Need Wheat Germ. Update.


 For "Scripture Sunday":

The Smell of Prayer

An Amazing Fact: "One of the three gifts offered to Jesus shortly after His birth was frankincense. It is a fragrant resin that grows in some of the world’s harshest places—Oman, Yemen, and Somalia. The spindly trees themselves are actually disappointing to behold. They are lowly, twisted, thorny things with fat prickly branches spreading out into small crinkly leaves.

Yet as soon as an incision is made into the silvery bark, brilliant drops of white resin ooze from the wound. These drops, known as luban, are left on the tree for two weeks to dry. Then the little pearls are gathered in the early morning. From Rome to India, frankincense was deemed one of the most prized substances in the civilized world. It was essential for a host of uses, ranging from religious to cosmetic to medicinal. Besides its lovely fragrance, frankincense is attributed with healing powers, which range from treatment of depression and irritability to ailments such as eczema.

The frankincense trade peaked in the Roman Empire in the first century. (Nero burned it by the ton at religious ceremonies.) To supply the copious need, this rare resin had to be carried overland via long and grueling journeys. Eventually, incense caravans grew in size to 3,000 camels in a single procession. Even today, satellite images reveal faint traces of these ancient caravan trails carved in the wilderness. The trade was so lucrative that Alexander the Great planned to invade Arabia in an effort to control and tax the roads, a plan thwarted only by his death.

For religious purposes, many great civilizations in the ancient world believed that prayers could only be carried to heaven in the smoke of sacred incense. It was also used in the sanctuary service to depict prayers rising before the God of Israel.
 
One of the most beautiful prayers in Scripture is found in Daniel 9:3–19. Read through this passage and make it your own prayer to the Lord. Let it rise like incense up to heaven, a sweet savor before God. "
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. Revelation 8:4
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Why You Need Wheat Germ



"Wheat germ is the most vitamin- and mineral-rich part of the wheat kernel. In fact, the germ is actually the embryo of the wheat plant. This embryo will eventually nourish the new wheat plan. This is the reason why it has so many wonderful nutrients.
Unfortunately, this kernel, which includes the wheat germ, is tragically removed during the refining of whole wheat grains to white flour. In the manufacturing process, it is removed because its healthy oils can go rancid quickly, so removing it makes it easier for food production companies to keep wheat in storage much longer. The germ itself only makes up about 3% of the kernel, and you need over 50 pounds of wheat to get one pound of wheat germ.
Why Is Wheat Germ So Good for You?
Because it is meant to feed the new plant, wheat germ is packed with good nutrients. Two tablespoons of raw wheat germ have about 1.5 grams of unsaturated fat, 9 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of protein, 2 grams dietary fiber, 2 grams of sugars, no cholesterol and about 60 calories. This is plenty of protein and fiber.
Plus, it has a number of other healthy nutrients for your body:

B vitamins
Wheat germ is packed with important B vitamins, such as folate, vitamin B1 (thiamin) and vitamin B6. B vitamins are important for the heart, to make proper mood chemicals for our brain, and are critical for cardiovascular health.

Fiber
Wheat germ contains lots of fiber, which is necessary for good blood sugar balance, cholesterol control, intestinal health and detoxification."
More at: http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/why-you-need-wheat-germ    By Pina LoGiudice ND, LAc and Peter Bongiorno ND, LAc  Directors of Inner Source Health
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Update:-

Open Live Writer and I aren't as happy as we should be.  I wish the old Live Writer was still available.

My new foster cat is a sweetie, but he and Nala don't play.  They tolerate each other, and sometimes go ring around the roses around the kitchen island.  Twice they had a fisticuff fight, but I hope that they will play together soon.  It was why I got him because Nala was lonely and needed a playmate instead of asking me to play with her any time I sat at my desk.  At least my time at the desk has been rewarding, as I have sold some stuff.

As he was finished with that re-siding job, Jay and I have been doing a bit of work to the guest house. 
One morning we cleaned up the whole area and put all the used 2 x 4's, cleaned of their nails, in a nice stack at the side of the guest house and covered them with a tarp.

Another morning, as the main idea is to keep the rain water from going under the building, we have been sinking cement boards (Hardie Soffit boards) on edge into the ground around the corner where the rain runs off the road and cementing the boards in.  We haven't had a hard rain since that part was done, so we don't know how effective it is.

Jay didn't go to church again, so I left early so that I could help the pastor's wife with the potluck.  I took a scalloped new potato, sliced turkey, onion, and mozzarella pearls casserole and a banana pudding made with lady fingers.

The Bible readings were Exo.13:1-17:16, Judges 4:4-5:31 and John 6:22-40 and the Message was about Truth and the Spiritual Body.  I went to the kitchen during the Message to put my buttered crumbs on the casserole before it went in the oven to warm up, but I heard the Message in there.


We have had some warm weather, and some freezing weather, but it is now a nice sunny day.

Sunday, January 17, 2016

The Real State of the Union. WHO ARE YOU CALLING “FATHER”? Update.


For “Scripture Sunday”:
    

The Real State of the Union: A Warning for America

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“President Obama’s last State of the Union address described a healthy and vibrant nation with a bright future. But a closer look reveals we face major problems. 

Why is today’s America experiencing so much turmoil from within and outside its borders?
This is not a popular message, but the real roots of America’s problems are the result of our rapid moral decline and national rejection of the values and laws of God found in the Bible. Let’s take a closer look and see what the Bible says about some of the problems facing America today.

A nation living in fear
Many of the problems America is facing were not addressed during the State of the Union address.
The fear of terrorist attacks and violence within our own borders is now leading many Americans to buy guns for protection. Yet fear is also leading the government to tighten up gun control laws. For further insight into this issue, read “Gun Violence in America: God Isn’t Fixing This?

Fear of violence affects our lives in many ways. For instance, when we fly on an airplane or enter a government building, extra security measures have been added—based on fear of an attack.
When I last went to my child’s elementary school, I had to press a button and identify myself to be permitted entry. Then I was in an isolated room and had to walk up to a security window and get approved to enter the school’s hallway. It felt like I was entering a prison!

This is what fear has done to us. We have become prisoners of our own fear. God declares that when we reject Him, terror and fear will consume us (Leviticus 26:16-17, 37).”
More at: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/blog/the-real-state-of-the-union/
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WHO ARE YOU CALLING “FATHER”?

“One of Christianity’s largest denominations uses “father” as a religious title for its leaders. But did you know this contradicts the words of Christ?

There are over 1.2 billion Catholics throughout the world. The Roman Catholic Church is the largest denomination of Christianity, and it continues to grow, mostly in the developing world (Africa and Latin America). Its current leader, Francis I, has continually made headlines with his unorthodox actions and words.
Francis comes from Argentina, where he was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio. He became a priest in 1969 and began ascending the ranks of the Catholic Church in Argentina. He was appointed provincial of the Jesuits in 1973, a bishop by John Paul II in 1992, coadjutor archbishop in 1997, archbishop of Argentina in 1998 and a member of the College of Cardinals in 2001.
He ascended to the papacy when he was elected by the cardinals on March 13, 2013 (succeeding the retired Benedict XVI).
Do you know what the word pope means? It is actually a very simple term, derived from the Latin word papa, meaning “father.”
Roman Catholic leaders (starting with priests and going all the way up to the pope) are given the title father. In monastic communities, the leader of monks is called an “abbot,” which is derived from the Aramaic word abba, meaning “father.” But within Roman Catholicism, only the bishop of Rome can be called the pope—or the father. It is a form of the title that is reserved only for his office. And, in order to further distinguish the pope’s authority, he is also given the title holy father.
When Francis visited the United States last September, it was common to hear him addressed as “holy father” by Catholics and non-Catholics alike.
SHOULD WE CALL RELIGIOUS LEADERS “FATHER”?
Roman Catholics are not the only denomination to use the title father to refer to their leaders. It is also used to describe leaders in the Orthodox, Anglican and Lutheran churches.
You may be surprised to learn that Jesus specifically addressed this title during His ministry. Notice what He said, recorded in Matthew 23:9: “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.”
Just taking that scripture out of context and at face value, we could assume Jesus is saying that we can’t call anyone father—including our own biological father. But that is not the point He was making. Throughout His recorded words in the Gospels, Jesus referred to paternal parents as fathers without hesitation.” 

More at: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/change/the-church/who-are-you-calling-father/
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Update:

Nothing going on except a few items sold on eBay and Craigslist.  As long as I take the time to take lots of pictures and write explicit ads, then things sell.
Took my neighbor into Conroe twice for Dr. appointments, and to the Pantry for food. He got some cabbage and didn’t know what to do with it, so I made him Southern Fried Cabbage.  Said it was the first time that he enjoyed cabbage.

I haven’t felt like working on the guest house for three reasons.  1:- Just didn’t feel like working on it as I think I hurt something when I held up that fascia board when I was working for Jay.   2:- The weather has been freezing in the mornings.  3:- Just didn’t feel like spending money on help when most of them are hung over, can’t think straight and just wanting the money for alcohol or drugs.  Though, I have met a very capable sober man who will do the work, but of course, he is expensive.

Nala, my foster cat, has a new roommate and playmate.  A big black boy cat called Midnight Lee.  He is very gentle, sweet, and loving towards me, and often sleeps at the end of my bed.  I got him for Nala as she gets bored, or jealous, when I am sitting at the computer and pesters me to play with her, but Nala won’t play with him yet.  He is another of our SPCA cats, so he has already been checked for FIV and Feline Leukemia,  He was with another foster mom who has a lot of foster cats, so he likes the individual attention.  He isn’t fussy and will eat most things, and likes to sleep in Misty’s (my old foster dog) bed under my bed during the day.  He has ventured out on the front screen porch with Nala to watch the birds at the feeder, but that just isn’t his thing
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imageChurch got a big batch of rice and veggies for the potluck, and also a trifle which I made the day before.  But I made mine with Lady Fingers, cherries, cherry pudding, and Cherry Jello, and no topping.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trifle
The readings were Exo.10:1-13:16 about Moses and the plagues of Egypt, Jer.46:13-28, and Rev. 16:1-21  The Message was about all the different places in the Bible where it ways that this time it will be fire that renews this earth.  But the believers will all be taken up before that happens, and there will be a new earth made for us.

After the morning service and potluck at our church, I cut across south on the country roads and went to see a guest preacher from Shoreshim Ministries at an afternoon church.  It was an interesting Teaching, but one that we have all heard before.

Another great day.

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Another New Thing! Just an Update.

  

One new thing:-    Another computer became necessary because this new Open Live Writer won’t work with XP.  This is my test post with Open Live Writer!!  Doing it offline, as the internet TV and phone are all out.

A wonderful computer-savvy gentleman at our church took my computer and tried to put Windows 7 on it.   Then it seemed that it was just a lot easier for him to exchange my computer for an old one of his sisters which already had Windows 7 Home Edition on it.  That meant that I have had to try to get everything back to normal in this new computer.  That is no easy task for someone who only knew how to type when they were given their first computer, and never had any computer lessons.

Then another new thing:-      the Open Live Writer, that will take some getting used to, too.  But now I can’t find the old Live Writer drafts that were in my old computer.

And yet another new thing:-     Windows 7. Floudering around, though it isn’t too different from Windows XP.   I still don’t know where the “Move to Another Folder” option is in My Pictures, I guess I’ll find it someday.

Nothing much has been done to the repairs on the guest house as Jay is still working at his other job replacing the siding on that double-wide. He is also replacing the soffit and facia boards.  I even helped him for several mornings to earn a little extra money.  I am a good toter and go-fer!  One morning we brought back some of the siding and cut strips on my table saw for the corner trim.   Another morning I took my chop-saw and measured and cut boards for him so he wouldn’t have to climb up and down the 8’ ladder.  That really helps when one is doing high up work.

Still using any spare moments to list stuff for sale on eBay, Craigslist and www.bookoo.com .  So I haven’t been idle.

But I did get Jay to come up here on one of his days off to rehang the guest house front door.  When he hung it the first time he was messed up, or hung over, or still drunk.  I tried to take him home, but you can’t argue with a drunk.  The door, the jamb and threshold where bought separately.  He had hung it piece by piece instead of putting the jamb and threshold together first, then dropping the door in it and getting the hinges right.  And he didn’t attach the threshold.  Another helper and I tried to stop him but he wanted to do it his way.  Another helper and I did move the hinges, but we didn’t have time to take out the door and jamb.

This time Jay was OK, so I showed him what he had done and he agreed that we had to take out the door and jamb to redo it.  That meant that we had to cut some height out of the header to accomdate the complete door with the threshold.  The patio door that was in there wasn’t quite so tall.

It’s hung correctly now, but it still isn’t finished, because we had to remove the vinyl trim and some of the vinyl siding to do it.  I wonder when I’ll ever get the guest house done?  Don’t even have the plumbing run yet.

With no internet, I have been busy cooking for the church today, Thursday. Usually I do the cooking on Fridays, Preparation Day for the Sabbath on Saturday.  I am making Irish Corned Beef and Cabbage with carrots, new red potatoes, cabbage, onion, corned beef and all the spices.  One of the elders supplied the corned beef!

The TV, phone and internet are still out and have been most of the today.