RV Cords. Skid Rollers. RV Furniture. Phone Photos. TV Swap. RV Tips. Stephen F. Austin. Why Sukkot Is Yeshua's Real Birthday. Avoiding Christmas.

 

For "tRaVersing Thursday", or RV day:

Simple cleaning of RV electrical cord plug can prevent future problems

"Gary Bunzer, the RV Doctor, shows you an easy way to keep the electrical power cord plug on your RV clean, so it works properly. It only takes a minute to do this, but, as Gary notes, it can eliminate the vast majority of cord problems later on."

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Keep those electrical adapters in easy reach

"No doubt most of us carry more "stuff" than we need. When we need one item from our storage areas it can turn into a varied search and the occasional suspicion that your spouse has moved it.

One item that is in constant demand is an electrical adapter to hook into shore power. Depending on where you are, a different adapter may be needed from night to night. To easily locate the adapter needed, I found that mounting readily available broom handle holders to the inside surface of a basement door works great.

If you’re concerned about putting too many holes in the door, you can mount the holders to a separate piece of wood or a piece of thick plastic like a large cutting board and attach it to the door at the four corners. Either way, make sure the screws you use are not longer than the thickness of the door — you don’t want them coming out the other side. As well, a screw with a coarse thread should hold better. When mounting the holders (see photo) they should be just far enough apart to accommodate the shortest adapter." by George Bliss

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RV skid rollers bring up the rear

"Sometimes RVing can be a drag, especially when you have a long trailer. Skid wheels were designed to prevent trailer drag when traversing steep driveways. When I purchased my second 5th wheel I struggled over whether or not to install skid rollers. I decided to drive around for a few months and see if I really needed them. It turns out I didn't need them. If you need them, you'll find there are three skid wheel applications: frame mounted, hitch mounted and receiver hitch protectors.

Skid wheels are made using heavy duty metal casters. Paktron Industries makes extra heavy duty casters with a urethane outer coating. The idea of a skid wheel is to prevent the RV from dragging when pulling into or out of a driveway with a steep incline. Instead of scraping the asphalt and ripping off your bumper, skid wheels take the impact and lift up the rear of the trailer, rolling it forward instead of dragging. I discovered that my 5th wheel would clear most steep inclines with about two inches to spare. Had I installed skid wheels (which extend about six inches below the bumper) I would have unnecessarily lifted my RV on many occasions when pulling over driveway inclines.

Here is an example of a frame-mounted skid wheel that has been bent. This skid wheel is mounted incorrectly because it is not welded directly under the frame. It is mounted to the side of the frame and crumpled under the pressure. If skid wheels are installed correctly they can be useful in preventing damage caused by dragging.

Another type of skid wheel is mounted to the receiver hitch (another notorious low spot). These can be especially useful with travel trailers when tongue weight causes the hitch to "dive" when traversing a driveway with a steep incline.

One of the best ways to avoid damage to both the tow vehicle and the travel trailer is to avoid driveways with steep inclines altogether. If you must traverse a steep driveway, do it at an angle and go very slowly so as not to cause the RV to bounce down on the pavement." by Jim Twamley

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Thinking about replacing your RV furniture

"When looking to replace RV furniture, the first step is to go to the manufacturer to find out what other options they have for the RV. Discover why some furniture can't be replaced without replacing major structures of an RV with help from an experienced RV specialist in this two-minute video hosted by RV technician Vince Preston."

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Before you share photos online, watch this video

"After you watch this, you may never again
post a personal cell phone photo to Facebook!
When you post a photo taken with your cell phone or smart phone to Facebook or other websites you are telling the world exactly where you are. That includes bad guys who can then find you, your home, your cute baby girl, or in the case noted in this video, the new gold coins you just purchased — even providing a map that will lead them right to them. This is frightening! Watch this."

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RV Television Swap

"My husband and I are total "newbies" and my question will probably sound stupid to veteran RVers. The two TVs in our fifth wheel (probably original equipment) are dual voltage, (12/120). I know that means they can work when hooked up at a campground or on battery power from the "house" batteries if not connected to "shore" power. We'd like to replace them. Can we just use an ordinary TV or is there something different about the electric outlets/wiring/breakers in the RV that could ruin a new TV? Or does it just mean that the new TVs won't work unless we're connected to a campground power source?"  Sue L. (Ludlow, VT)

"Never a stupid question Sue! But you nailed it; a 120-volt AC (only) television will only operate whenever the shore cord is plugged in. Unless, of course, you have a generator or an inverter on your 5th wheel. Both of which can be installed at any reputable RV service facility, by the way. All the receptacles and circuit breakers in the coach are 120-volt AC, similar to what you are accustomed to in a residential home. By swapping out the TVs, you lose the ability to watch while dry camping without hookups. But you can always add an inverter if that's too much of a burden." Posted by RV Doctor

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RV Tips:

Help for emptying tanks on a slope
"Pull into a dump station with a slope away from the dump? Getting the tanks empty can be difficult — until you crank up your leveling jacks on the far side of the rig to give your sewage a little lift."

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Are you forgetful?
"Fearful of things forgotten?  Tie a string from one end of the driver's sun visor to the other end. Now use clothes pins on the string to attach notes like, "Turn off propane," "Raise jacks," etc. When ready to move simply remove the notes as the task is performed, and slip the pins to the dash mat or elsewhere, keeping the notes for "next time." Thanks, JJ!

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RV Road Laws. Learn the laws relating to RVs in every state of the USA.

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Don’t use non-skid pads on refrigerator shelves
Non-skid pads have their place — but not on refrigerator shelves. These can block air circulation and make it hard to cool food. Reserve their use in the fridge for door shelves only.

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RV living space
"Like most RVers, reader Ben Pace has his struggles with living space. Here's his tip you may find useful. "We recently bought a small RV and have been struggling with extreme lack of space to put things. We have had no success with finding a suitable paper towel holder that I could mount under the cabinet over the sink. I was in Harbor Freight looking for something else when I stumbled upon the perfect solution. It is made for magnetically sticking to the side of a metal tool box, therefore adjustable to any size roll. The magnets attach directly to the side of the metal hood over the stove. Look for the U.S. General brand magnetic paper towel holder." Kudos to Ben!" 

From me:  Make sure that you squeeze the roll a bit flat before installing it, you don't want paper towels unraveling near your stove.

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An inverter can provide shore power to boondockers without a generator
"Veteran boondocker Russ De Maris explains all the hows, wheres and whys of sizing and selecting the right inverter, how and where to install it, and a bunch of other tips you need to know to do it right."

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Don't let your fifth wheel's landing gear strand you when it won't retract:

"If you're parked anywhere and it's time to "pull up stakes," if you can't get your landing gear to retract you aren't going anywhere. Here's a tip that can save you a lot of grief and get you back on the road."

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If you enjoy cleaning up baked-on oven spills, don't read this!
"If you are the official RV oven cleaner, here is a way to make cleaning up hard-baked spills from casseroles and fruit pies if not fun, at least requiring a lot less elbow grease. See how."

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Carry extra sewer hose
“Carry an extra 10- or 20-foot length of sewer hose, with appropriate fittings installed, just in case the sewer is located too far from your waste outlet for your regular drain hose to reach.” Bill's Hints

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Lock your RV
"Always lock the RV when you’re not physically at the campsite. Do not store valuable equipment in outside storage compartments. Believe it or not, a vast majority of RVs use the same exact key as yours for outside storage compartments. If you store valuables like golf clubs, fishing gear or tools in the outside compartments, you may want to have the storage compartment locks changed." Tech Tips from Mark Polk

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On This Day:

Moses Austin asks Spanish for Texas colony, Dec 26, 1820:

"Hoping to recover from bankruptcy with a bold scheme of colonization, Moses Austin meets with Spanish authorities in San Antonio to ask permission for 300 Anglo-American families to settle in Texas.

A native of Durham, Connecticut, Austin had been a successful merchant in Philadelphia and Virginia. After hearing reports of rich lead mines in the Spanish-controlled regions to the west, Austin obtained permission in 1798 from the Spanish to mine land in an area that lies in what is now the state of Missouri. Austin quickly built a lead mine, smelter, and town on his property, and his mine turned a steady profit for more than a decade. Unfortunately, the economic collapse following the War of 1812 destroyed the lead market and left him bankrupt.

Determined to rebuild his fortune, Austin decided to draw on his experience with the Spanish and try to establish an American colony in Texas. In 1820, he traveled to San Antonio to request a land grant from the Spanish governor, who initially turned him down. Austin persisted and was finally granted permission to settle 300 Anglo families on 200,000 acres of Texas land.

Overjoyed, Austin immediately set out for the United States to begin recruiting colonists, but he became ill and died on the long journey back. The task of completing the arrangements for Austin's Texas colony fell to his son, Stephen Fuller Austin. The younger Austin selected the lower reaches of Colorado River and Brazos River as the site for the colony, and the first colonists began arriving in December 1821. Over the next decade, Stephen Austin and other colonizers brought nearly 25,000 people into Texas, most of them Anglo-Americans. Always more loyal to the United States than to Mexico, the settlers eventually broke from Mexico to form the independent Republic of Texas in 1836. Nine years later, they led the successful movement to make Texas an American state."

From me: The state capitol was named after Stephen F. Austin, "The Father of Texas": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_F._Austin

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Yesterday:

All day I managed to avoid anyone who would wish me "Merry Christmas".  People who know me, know that I don't celebrate Christmas and that I don't want anything to do with it, but some still emailed those holiday wishes to me.  Another accomplishment was to avoid all the Christmas movies on TV, except for the documentaries about Christmas or the Bible, on History Channel, that is. 

It was explained to me thus: "If you were handed a glass of clear water, knowing that there was a drop of sewage in it, would you want it? Our Lord God does not want a drop of paganism in our worship to him."

Anything pagan makes me feel sick, so I have never seen The Exorcist, Omen, Rosemary's Baby or any of the other shows with demonism in them.

During Bible History pagans were viewed with utter contempt, not because of who they were but because of what they did: "living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry" (1 Peter 4:3 NIV)

King James Bible Jeremiah 10:2-5 "Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them."

"A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move. Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.”

From me:  There was no "J" in the Greek, Latin, or Hebrew language. In fact, there was no letter 'J' in any language prior to the 14th century in England.

Maybe this video will help you understand why I don't celebrate Christmas:

Why Sukkot Is Yeshua's Real Birthday

"Sandie Zimmerman, shares fascinating revelations about the true time period of Yeshua's (Jesus') birth. You will be surprised to learn it wasn't December 25!  

By looking at the biblical account and the timing of the Jewish festivals, you will be astounded at the fulfillment of both prophecy and the historical elements that clearly point to Yeshua being born on Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles or Feast of Booths), not in December on Christmas."

More from Sandie Zimmerman about the customs  and culture in those days.

Christmas Story Myths and Facts

"Many Christians have heard the heartwarming Christmas story about the Messiah's birth retold year after year - It was a cold wintery night, and pregnant Mary traveled to Bethlehem to birth Jesus (Yeshua) in a stable because there was no room in the inn. Sandie Zimmerman, wife of Jewish Voice's staff evangelist and rabbi Jack Zimmerman, looks directly to Jewish customs and culture to find out the truth of what really happened at Christ's birth. She reveals important details about a mistranslated Greek word, the true understanding of the census in Jesus' day, the sukkah and the stable, the prophetic nature of the swaddling clothes and the Shema, and much more:

   http://youtu.be/HjCKJo02t0c

I am so glad that the folks who live across the street from me didn't put out their usual mass of Christmas lights and garish air-filled santas and reindeer, this year. This is a first in all the years that I have lived here.  Unlike other Christmas seasons, I could actually look out of my front windows without feeling nauseous for the last few days.

Calliope Hummingbird. Christmas Is Not Christian. Pet's Toxic Holiday Foods. Wood Thrush. BirdNote: Toucans and Christmas. Christ is born?

 

For "Winged Wednesday" and "Christmas Day":

Calliope Hummingbird, Jewel of the Rockies:

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"ABC’s Dan Lebbin recalls one of his first encounters with a Calliope Hummingbird: “I was sitting in a grassy meadow surrounded by tall conifers, and daylight was dwindling after a long day of hiking in Yosemite National Park. A tiny bee-like hummingbird zipped over my head, flew low over the grass, and disappeared before I could get an identifying look. Was it a Calliope Hummingbird? The size and gestalt were correct… ”

At 3.25 inches long, the Calliope Hummingbird is the smallest breeding bird found in Canada and the United States—and the smallest long-distance migrant bird in the world. This tiny hummingbird travels over 5,500 miles round-trip during its migration!

Calliopes winter in dry thorn forest and humid pine-oak forests in southwestern and south-central Mexico. Vagrant Calliopes are increasingly found wintering in the eastern U.S., however, much like other species of western hummingbirds like the Rufous Hummingbird."   Read more, including the Calliope’s dramatic aerial display >>

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Ban Christmas?

"Christmas was not always celebrated in America. Why?"

Transcript at: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-daily/holidays-and-holy-days/ban-christmas

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Four Reasons Christmas Is Not Christian 

Millions around the world will observe Christmas once again this year. But, perhaps surprisingly, the facts show Christmas isn’t even Christian!

"As millions of people around the world decorate trees, wrap and give gifts, and tell their children the story of Santa Claus—a fundamental question must be answered. Is Christmas really “Christian”?

Because of the attention paid to the story of Christ’s birth and the carols celebrating the baby Jesus, many may be shocked at this time of year to hear someone say, “I don’t celebrate Christmas because it is not Christian to do so.”

Much has been made recently of the liberal “war against Christmas,” but it is not just those with a bias against anything associated with religion who reject Christmas and its trappings. Why would a Christian—who strongly believes in God the Father and Jesus Christ—make a conscious decision to reject Christmas?

Four reasons Christmas is not Christian

1. Dec. 25 is the wrong day, and it’s celebrated for the wrong god. Dec. 25 is associated with many pagan birth myths—not Christ’s birth.

Though Dec. 25 is considered the birthday of Jesus by a large segment of Christendom, there is no evidence that this was actually the date He was born. The Bible does not give us Christ’s date of birth, but it gives some clues that it was at a warmer time of the year. Read our article “The Birth of Jesus” to learn more about what the Bible indicates regarding Jesus’ birth.

Dec. 25 was assigned to be the date of Christ’s birth about 300 years after He was born basically to encourage followers of a variety of pagan religions that celebrated that day to convert to Christianity. One popular pagan god whose birthday was celebrated at the end of December was Mithra.

2. Most Christmas traditions come from pagan religions, not the Bible.

The time of year chosen, starting a week before Christmas, correlates with the pagan festival of Saturnalia. This was celebrated in honor of Saturn, the Roman god of agriculture. Two of the traditions of Saturnalia that live on today in Christmas include gift giving and fabulous light displays. God instructs us to never worship Him with pagan practices: “You shall not worship the LORD your God with such things” (Deuteronomy 12:4).

Since the term “pagan” is not used as much today, it is important we understand its meaning. Paganism refers to religious worship of gods other than the true God of the Bible. Pagan worship often involves polytheism (worship of multiple gods) and often centers on worshipping elements of nature.

3. There is no Santa Claus. Parents shouldn’t lie to their children.

One of the most popular Christmas customs involves telling children that there is a jolly, potbellied man named Santa Claus who delivers Christmas gifts to all good children around the world. The custom practically makes Santa Claus into a godlike being—with the ability to hear children’s wishes (prayers) and visit all the good children of the world in one night (supernatural powers). And he’s portrayed as always staying the same age (immortal).

Of course, this myth is found nowhere in the Bible. Is it Christian for parents to teach this myth to their children? The Bible is very clear that lying is a sin: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16). How can we exclude children from this commandment? It is not Christian to perpetuate myths like Santa Claus—especially to innocent children.

4. Christians should keep the holy days that Jesus kept, not holidays that originated in paganism.

Leviticus 23 lists seven festivals that God calls His feasts. God’s holy days were created by God for His people. The Bible records that Jesus Christ kept these festivals (Luke 22:15-16; John 7:10).

Why not keep the holy days found in the Bible—instead of holidays that human beings invented and assigned Christian meaning to hundreds of years after the Bible was written?

To learn more about the deep Christian meaning of the biblical festivals, read “Festival Meaning: What Are the Meanings of Each of God’s Festivals?”

Questions that need answers

So, getting back to our original question: Is Christmas Christian? Let’s answer this by asking four similar questions based on the points above:

1. Is it Christian to worship Christ’s birth on the birthday of the ancient sun god?
2. Is it Christian to keep ancient pagan worship practices alive by calling them Christian?
3. Is it Christian to lie to children about a mythical figure’s existence?
4. Is it Christian to ignore the festivals sanctioned in the Bible to keep holidays found nowhere in the Bible?

The answers to these questions point to the answer to the original question: No, Christmas is not Christian.

Consider the words of the Man that Christmas is supposed to celebrate: “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition” (Mark 7:9).

This year, instead of celebrating Christmas, why not study the true festivals that God reveals in the Bible and learn about their deep meanings. God’s festival calendar begins in mid-April of 2014.

To learn more about God’s true holy days, download our free booklet." From Holidays to Holy Days: God’s Plan for You.     From: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/god/blog/four-reasons-christmas-is-not-christian/ by Eddie Foster

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Common  Foods Toxic to Dogs and Cats 

"During this season of celebration and gatherings, your dog or cat may accidentally get to foods that they shouldn't be eating. Here are common foods that are toxic to cats and dogs.
Other non-food Christmas hazards are: decorations (please make sure your pets will not be able to reach them!), batteries, and antifreeze (for areas that experience winter).
Since holidays can be pretty hectic at times, don't forget to pay extra attention to the safety of your pets."  By Doctor Karen Becker

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Wood Thrush

"We’re kicking off this effort in the Atlantic flyway, where the Wood Thrush sings in forests of the Eastern U.S. during spring and summer.

Wood Thrush © Jerry Oldenettel

Some believe the song of the Wood Thrush to be the most beautiful bird song in North America! Listen to this BirdNote show to hear it - and to learn how thrushes create such exquisite music.

Male Wood Thrushes duel by singing different songs, unlike most songbirds, which challenge each other with renditions of the same song. The oldest known individual Wood Thrush was over ten years old—quite a bit of time to build up an impressive repertoire!

Wood Thrush numbers have declined as forests have been cut on their breeding grounds in the Eastern U.S. and their wintering grounds in southern Mexico and Central America. Yet nearly half of Wood Thrush pairs have two broods per nesting season, so given a chance, their numbers could rebound. Protected areas like the Adirondack Park in New York give them that chance!" please support BirdNote!

Listen to BirdNote shows about the Wood Thrush!

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BirdNote: Toucans and Christmas

Upcoming Shows

Gray Partridge SUNDAY Twelve Days of Christmas by Bob Sundstrom  LISTEN NOW ►

Cuvier's Toucan MONDAY Toucan - Tropical Icon by Adam Sedgley  LISTEN NOW ►

TUESDAY Dona Nobis Pacem - Peace on Earth, From the Birds Featuring Nancy Rumbel  LISTEN NOW ►

WEDNESDAY Julenek - Birds at Christmas In Norway by Ellen Blackstone LISTEN NOW ►

Wilson's Warbler THURSDAY Wilson's Warblers Benefit From Shade-Grown Coffee by Bob Sundstrom LISTEN NOW ►

Willet  FRIDAY Montana Grassland Birds – Where They Go in Winter by Bob Sundstrom LISTEN NOW ►

Snow Bunting SATURDAY Winter Brings Snow Buntings by Bob Sundstrom LISTEN NOW ►

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Christmas: Is It “What You Make It”?

"What do Santa and the Bible have in common? Nothing, actually. Christ said that those who worship Him must worship Him “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). The source of truth is the Bible—not the traditions of ancient pagan religions or humanly devised myths about Christ’s birth. Some say that Christmas is what you make it. Yet, since it’s supposedly the birthday of Jesus Christ, shouldn’t we ask what His opinion of Christmas is?

“Christmas is what you make it.”  To me, the words coming from the radio were shocking. By themselves, they might have just been an attempt to create the “holiday spirit.” Yet, in the context of the commercial that was playing, those words took on a whole new meaning.

The commercial had discussed the origins of Christmas. It mentioned the fact that Christmas has its roots in paganism (that is, cultures that worshipped gods—often elements of nature—other than the true God), mostly in the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia (named after the chief Roman god Saturn). The commercial brought up the fact that the Puritans in New England had banned the celebration of the holiday.

With a background like this, how can Christmas just be “what you make it”?

Origins of Christmas

When you look at the origins of Christmas, you quickly realize that the commercial was correct. Christ had nothing to do with the origins of this holiday—the Catholic Church simply attached His name to the holiday in the third century.

Exchange of gifts: Ever wonder why Christ is the only One who doesn’t receive gifts on what’s supposed to be His birthday? The answer lies in a study of the Roman festival of Saturnalia. During this weeklong festival, the often drunk and unruly festivalgoers would exchange gifts. We encourage you to learn more about the customs of Saturnalia."    More at:   Click here: Christmas: Is It “What You Make It”? - Life, Hope & Truth by Joshua Travers

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On This Day:

Christ is born? Dec 25, 6 B.C.

"Although most Christians celebrate December 25 as the birthday of Jesus Christ, few in the first two Christian centuries claimed any knowledge of the exact day or year in which he was born. The oldest existing record of a Christmas celebration is found in a Roman almanac that tells of a Christ's Nativity festival led by the church of Rome in 336 A.D. The precise reason why Christmas came to be celebrated on December 25 remains obscure, but most researchers believe that Christmas originated as a Christian substitute for pagan celebrations of the winter solstice.

To early Christians (and to many Christians today), the most important holiday on the Christian calendar was Easter, which commemorates the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, as Christianity began to take hold in the Roman world, in the early fourth century, church leaders had to contend with a popular Roman pagan holiday commemorating the "birthday of the unconquered sun" (natalis solis invicti)--the Roman name for the winter solstice.

Every winter, Romans honored the pagan god Saturn, the god of agriculture, with a festival that began on December 17 and usually ended on or around December 25 with a winter-solstice celebration in honor of the beginning of the new solar cycle. This festival was a time of merrymaking, and families and friends would exchange gifts. At the same time, Mithraism--worship of the ancient Persian god of light--was popular in the Roman army, and the cult held some of its most important rituals on the winter solstice.

After the Roman Emperor Constantine I converted to Christianity in 312 and sanctioned Christianity, church leaders made efforts to appropriate the winter-solstice holidays and thereby achieve a more seamless conversion to Christianity for the emperor's subjects.

From Rome, the Christ's Nativity celebration spread to other Christian churches to the west and east, and soon most Christians were celebrating Christ's birth on December 25. To the Roman celebration was later added other winter-solstice rituals observed by various pagan groups, such as the lighting of the Yule log and decorations with evergreens by Germanic tribes. The word Christmas entered the English language originally as Christes maesse, meaning "Christ's mass" or "festival of Christ" in Old English. A popular medieval feast was that of St. Nicholas of Myra, a saint said to visit children with gifts and admonitions just before Christmas. This story evolved into the modern practice of leaving gifts for children said to be brought by "Santa Claus," a derivative of the Dutch name for St. Nicholas--Sinterklaas."

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Which scriptures explain when Jesus Christ was born?

Jesus was born 6 months after John The Baptist, so he could not have been born in December:

http://www.ucg.org/bible-faq/which-scriptures-explain-when-jesus-christ-was-born

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Yesterday:

When Misty got me up to go out at 2.45am again, there was a very illegible (drunk) message on my machine from Jay.  Later, I found out that he had been set upon, had a broken arm and lacerations on his face.  I'm sorry, but I didn't have much sympathy for him, and asked him if it was his 'drinking arm'.  Also, I reminded him that you can't do the same thing over and over and expect different results.  If Jay would just stay home to drink, as he seems to have to drink, he wouldn't get into so much trouble.

Ray came over to visit the cats, and it is now confirmed that the man who was driving the truck when Ray was hurt, has died.  When he was released by the Conroe hospital, he was picked by a friend, taken to his home in Austin, and died that night. RIP. Naturally, the family is asking for an autopsy.

It is still cold, but I took Misty for a fairly long walk around here, in her coat, of course.  She hasn't been feeling well the last couple of days and keeping her tail down.  But the walk bucked her up a bit, and she carried her tail high again.  Around the warmest part of the day, 55 deg, I let the foster cats out on the screen porch again for a little while, but they were glad to get back in the house.

Other than the usual chores around the house, I did catch up on reading emails, and got some of them filed, answered or deleted. That took up most of my day.

Hypocrisy Over Duck Dynasty. Jeremiah 10. Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays? Regifting Jesus. John Chisum And Billy The Kid.

 

For "Scripture Sunday":

Hypocrisy Over Duck Dynasty

"The controversy over Phil Robertson’s comments about homosexuality remind us of the consequences of a public figure speaking their true thoughts about modern morality. It also shows us the selective nature of censorship. Here’s how.

Robertson is the CEO of Duck Commander company and one of the family stars of the popular television series Duck Dynasty. He is a Christian and like many of his Southern neighbors is not ashamed or afraid to state his beliefs in clear language. While giving an interview to GQ magazine he quoted from 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
where the apostle Paul clearly showed the consequences of not only homosexual behavior but other sins.

Here is what the passage says. “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

Paul runs the table on sinful actions in this passage. There’s enough there to offend just about everyone. All immorality including adultery and fornication (sex before marriage) is sin. Greed, theft, alcoholism and even loose lips can get us in trouble with God. But the media uproar and Robertson’s suspension from his television show is because he made remarks about gay morality and in today’s sexual oriented culture that’s taboo. Robertson could have rightfully shown how this scripture applies to tax fraud and no one would have blinked an eye. But today, if you take on the gay agenda in a prominent public manner you are open to immediate retribution.

This is shameless hypocrisy!"  More at: http://www.ucg.org/blog/hypocrisy-over-duck-dynasty/   by Darris McNeely

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Duck Dynasty Dilemma

"Even Christians are debating the acceptability of the gay lifestyle. What does the Bible say?"

Transcript at: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-daily/christian-living/duck-dynasty-dilemma

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Deconstructing Pluralism: A Lesson from the 'Duck Dynasty' Situation

"Pluralism. It’s a product of a multicultural, diversified society. In theory it means that multiple cultures, beliefs, and special interests can live side-by-side and flourish in one common civilization. (Merriam-Webster.com).

It really sounds like a good idea. If you leave me alone, I will leave you alone and we can live in peace. Sadly, in action, it doesn’t work out that way.

Throughout the Bible, God inspired the definition of how life should be lived successfully, resulting in resurrection and eternal life in the family of God. That definition does not fit in with the way of life that swirls around our media and “pluralistic” societies, militant secularism.

As evidenced by the media kerfuffle around the “Duck Dynasty”/Phil Robertson situation, a pluralistic acceptance of multiple viewpoints defining morality will soon be silenced. One way will be accepted and other voices will be cut off. In our case, the truth of God will become more difficult to speak freely.

“But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men,” (Acts 5:29, NKJV).

The challenge to us is this: Do we change our beliefs to fit the legal and peer pressure of man-made society, or do we stay true to the Truth ?"  Complete article at: http://www.ucg.org/blog/deconstructing-pluralism-lesson-duck-dynasty-situation/

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Phil Robertson Will Return To 'Duck Dynasty' Episodes In January

"It looks like Phil Robertson's suspension from "Duck Dynasty" may be just for show. Entertainment Weekly learned that on Jan. 15, A&E will begin airing new episodes of the show that include scenes featuring the "Dynasty" patriarch.

The Robertson family hasn’t sounded as optimistic, with a source close to the Louisiana duck call clan telling E!:“They’re an extremely tight-knit family and they’re not going to let this get in the way. [Phil] is the reason for their success—they’re not going to abandon him. They’re also not about to let anyone threaten their religious beliefs.”

Meanwhile, the Robertson family has plenty of financial stability (for, arguably, future generations), thanks to their estimated whopping $400 million fortune." More at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/21/phil-robertson-duck-dynasty-return_n_4485646.html

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Jeremiah 10: A Christmas Tree or Not?

"Is Jeremiah 10 really talking about a Christmas tree, or something else?"

Transcript at: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-daily/holidays-and-holy-days/jeremiah-10-christmas-tree-or-not

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Christmas Controversy

Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays? What would Jesus say?

Transcript at: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-daily/holidays-and-holy-days/christmas-controversy

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War on Christmas? Not Really

"It seems many people today are up in arms over what they call “The War on Christmas.”

They charge that many in the media and government are stifling the public image of Christmas by not using the word at all—or, as some would see it, watering down the reference by merely using generic terms, such as “Happy Holidays!” rather than “Merry Christmas!”

But is there really a war on Christmas?

I even remember neighbors down the street that had “Happy Birthday, Jesus” painted on their front window each year!

So what could be wrong with that? On the surface and at the time, it all seemed to make sense.

However, when one begins to delve into the origins of Christmas, the observing of Dec. 25, the image of mother and child, and even the tradition of Christmas being a biblically based Christian holiday—you realize that there is no such teaching or tradition taught in the Bible at all!

Yet today, it seems that many Christians are far more concerned about what secular and other media sources are doing to remove virtually all references to Christmas as a Christian holiday. 

It’s what many call “The War on Christmas.”

But is that the real war? Well, it’s not. Bill O’Reilly is totally wrong on this one!

In fact, the real war is all but lost! And it is not the war on Christmas, but the war on truth!

The truth is, Christmas is not a Christian holiday at all and is nowhere promoted or taught in the Bible!"    More and video at: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/speaking-of/war-on-christmas-not-really/

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Bet You Didn't Know: Christmas (2:45) TV-14

History Channel Video:  "Did you know Christmas wasn't always celebrated on December 25th? Get the whole story behind the holiday."

ttp://www.history.com/videos/bet-you-didnt-know-christmas

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The message on WGN TV this morning:

Regifting Jesus

"If you feel you love Jesus, please ask yourself, "Does Christmas really honor Him?" Prepare to discover the astounding answer."

Transcript at: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-program/jesus-christ/regifting-jesus

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On This Day:

John Chisum dies in Arkansas, Dec 22, 1884:

"A central player in the violent Lincoln County War of 1878-81, the cattleman John Chisum dies at Eureka Springs, Arkansas.

Born in Tennessee in 1824, Chisum moved with his family to Paris, Texas, when he was eleven years old. For several years he worked as construction contractor, but in 1854, he decided to go into the cattle ranching business. By 1875, Chisum was running over 80,000 head of cattle near the Pecos River in Lincoln County, New Mexico. Inevitably, such a large herd ranging over a vast and isolated area attracted the interests of rustlers, and Chisum claimed to have lost nearly 10,000 head to thieves.

Fed-up, Chisum joined forces with two other New Mexico cattle kings to do battle with the small cattlemen and merchants they believed were behind the thefts. In particular, the big ranchers targeted two Irishmen who owned a large general store, called the House, in the town of Lincoln. Besides giving aid to the rustlers and small ranchers that Chisum despised, the House also managed to gain control over most of the government contracts for supplying beef to Army posts and Indian Reservations, undercutting the ability of the big ranchers to sell their cattle directly to these buyers at high profits.

When a deputy sheriff under the control of the House murdered one of Chisum's allies in 1878, the Lincoln County War erupted. The battle was about more than that murder, though—it was a struggle for economic and political control of the region. Chisum and the big ranchers turned their cowboys into gunslingers—including a friendly young man named William Bonney, better know as Billy the Kid.

Billy the Kid became one of the ranchers' most loyal and fierce allies, playing a role in the murder of many of the supporters of the House. When the House eventually emerged from the war victorious, Bonney turned to Chisum for help, demanding $500 in wages for his murderous work. When Chisum refused, Billy turned against the rancher and took payment by stealing Chisum's cattle and horses. Suddenly abandoned by Chisum and the other powerful interests that protected him from the reach of the law, Billy the Kid's days were numbered. His one-time friend, Pat Garrett, murdered him in 1881.

Devastated by the Lincoln County War and the continuing losses of his cattle to rustlers and Indians, Chisum lost much of his wealth and power. Nonetheless, when he died at Eureka Springs, Arkansas, three years after the Lincoln County War ended in 1881, he left an estate that was still worth half a million dollars, a striking indication of the massive wealth he had accumulated."

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Yesterday:

After Wendy and I had our usual Saturday phone call, I got ready for church.  Jay called and he couldn't go with me, as there was a water leak behind his mother's fridge, so he had to shut off all the water.  I asked him to put a shut-off on the offending plumbing, so that he could go with me, and I would help him repair it today. But he said that the fridge had been moved right in the way of everything, and he had to stay there to fix it.

We had some visitors from other congregations, and they helped with the Bible readings which were a continuation of Genesis 32:3-36:40, Hosea 11:7–12:12, and Obadiah 1:1-21.  Mostly about Jacob and Esau.

The song service was great, and the message was about Jesus' Birth.  John the Baptist preparing the way, Simeon's prophesy, and how He would be a light for revelation to the gentiles.  Then about His death in Mark 14. 

The potluck was very tasty, and we all enjoyed the fellowship yesterday.

History Of Halloween. Dangerous Pretender? Should Christians Celebrate It? Is The Devil Real? Quakers Killed. Avalanche.

 

For "Scripture Sunday:"

History Channel The Real Story of Halloween Part 1 of 3

"This gives a good description of the history as well as explain how the leaders have changed what and when people worship and celebrate."

History Channel The Real Story of Halloween Part 2 of 3

History Channel The Real Story of Halloween Part 3 of 3

All in the name of commercialism!

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Does Halloween Reveal a Dangerous Pretender?

"Today, you can become rich and famous if you write books that glamorize or promote witchcraft and demonism, like the Harry Potter books. They are runaway bestsellers for children that focus their minds on wizardry, magic, witchcraft, demonism and Satanism.

Through these books, millions of our youth are taught to entertain the occult world, as if it were simply fun and educational. In Old Testament times, a person would be stoned to death for promoting divination or any other kind of demonism. We live in a day when good is evil and evil is good.

Did you know that the ancient professing Christian church allowed non-Christians to keep their heathen festivals in order to fill their pews (The Two Babylons , Hislop, p. 93)? They found it impossible to turn them away from their festivals (ibid). Hence we have Halloween.

Druidic superstitions honored the festival of Samhain (i.e., summer's end), which included wandering souls, ugly demons, headless "Jacks" or Jokers (a symbol of Satan), ghouls, ghosts, goblins, witches, mummies and other symbols of death, now naively transferred to the modern observation of Halloween.

The ironic thing about Halloween is that it reveals a great pretender—Satan the devil—who promotes his deceptive counterfeits on humankind, incognito and with impunity. Yet God says that his days are numbered; his judgment nears. Could Halloween help symbolize Satan's view of his future judgment, by proxy, perversely applying his fate to us?

What's God's view of Halloween? "Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; do not be dismayed [terrified] at the signs of heaven, for the Gentiles are dismayed at them" (Jeremiah 10:2). God opposes Halloween because it blinds humankind from His truth (Matthew 13:15). Why do two billion Christians observe it?

Halloween doesn't even pretend to be Christian; it unapologetically promotes Satan's evil design against humans: He wants us dead. Ironically, Halloween unmasks Satan as a misanthropic liar (John 8:44). Satan tries to appear as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), another Jesus with another spirit and another gospel (ibid, v. 4). Halloween is Satan's quintessential holiday that openly mocks gullible humanity before God. (Revelation 12:10)."      From: http://www.ucg.org/blog/does-halloween-reveal-dangerous-pretender/

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Halloween and Christianity

"Halloween a day celebrated around the world when people dress up in costumes, collect candy from neighbors and have parties, but do you ever take time to think about the origins of Halloween? Most people don't think twice about participating in it saying "It's all in fun" or "Its not evil to me", but is this so called hallow evening really so innocent?"

Uploaded by KJTheTruth

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Halloween: Should Christians Celebrate It?

"Where did Halloween and its dark and demonic themes come from? What is its relationship to All Saints’ Day, and should Christians celebrate Halloween?

Origin of Halloween

The Celtic festival of Samhain is probably the source of the present-day Halloween celebration. The Celts lived more than 2,000 years ago in what is now Great Britain, Ireland, and northern France. Their new year began on November 1. A festival that began the previous evening honored Samhain, the Celtic lord of death. The celebration marked the beginning of the season of cold, darkness, and decay. It naturally became associated with human death. The Celts believed that Samhain allowed the souls of the dead to return to their earthly homes for this evening. (The World Book Encyclopedia, 1990, article “Halloween”).

It seems costumes of animal heads and skins played a part in their celebration, as well as fortune telling using the remains of the animals that were sacrificed. So how did this gory pagan holiday become associated with Christianity?

Many of the customs of the Celts survived even after the people became Christians. During the 800’s, the church established All Saints’ Day on November 1. … The people made the old pagan customs part of this Christian holy day” (ibid.).

Halloween: A celebration of evil

In spite of its marketing as innocent entertainment for children, Halloween remains a celebration of evil, not a fitting holiday for Christians to celebrate."  From: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/plan-of-salvation/holy-days-vs-holidays/halloween/

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Samhain: The Original Halloween

"Some time ago, a friend of mine told me that he did not feel comfortable celebrating Halloween, even though he enjoyed attending a “harvest festival” his church held year on the evening of October 31. 

So, what should Christians think about Halloween? What is the origin of the holiday? Is it merely a harvest festival? Should Christians celebrate this holiday, as a harvest festival or as something else entirely? Or should we be wary.

Human sacrifice, often by fire, was a common practice of the Druids during Samhain. During this festival the Celts would dress in various costumes and dance around large bonfires which were thought to ward off wandering spirits. Jumping through the fire could thus be seen as a way to enhance communication with the spirit realm, as well as to “strengthen and purify” those who jumped through it (J. A. Macculloch, The Religion of the Ancient Celts¸ 261).

How does an ancient Celtic costume party around a bonfire relate to us today as Christians? Does dressing up in Halloween costumes in our modern era have any connection to this ancient pagan festival?

Yes, we can see Halloween’s close ties to Samhain, a pagan harvest festival involving idolatry and human sacrifice. As such, it is something that God makes clear His people should never celebrate (Deuteronomy 18:10–12). Jesus Christ cast out demons who possessed and tormented human beings (Matthew 8:28–33). By contrast, Satan has deceived most of mankind into thinking Halloween is harmless or even Christian (Revelation 12:9) and in doing so has influenced people to call “evil good and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20)."  More at: http://www.tomorrowsworld.org/commentary/samhain-the-original-halloween

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Is the Devil Real?

"People are increasingly ignorant or dismissive of the notion that there is a being called Satan. When Jennifer Senior recently interviewed U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia for New York magazine, she was taken aback when Justice Scalia said, “I even believe in the devil.” She reacted as if Justice Scalia’s belief in evil were strange and arcane.

So, what is the truth? Is there evil? Is there a devil? If so, who is responsible?

The Devil depicted in The Temptation of Christ, by Ary Scheffer, 1854.

The Bible discusses the subject of evil and lays the blame at the feet of a supernatural being God calls the devil and Satan. It may shock or mystify you that an all-powerful God would tolerate an adversary that is evil. But if you look deeper into this enigma, some startling facts are uncovered.

The Scriptures tell us in the book of Ezekiel that Satan was not created to be wicked and evil. Rather, God first created an angelic being named Lucifer in perfect splendor and goodness, who eventually turned into a perverse and evil enemy of everything God stands for."     More at: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/speaking-of/is-the-devil-real/

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The program on WGN TV this morning:

Dabbling With Demons

"Fallen angels and evil spirits have been a source of fear and fascination. Do demons really exist? Isn't it time you knew?"

Transcript at: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-program/satan/dabbling-demons

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On This Day:

Quakers executed for religious beliefs, Oct 27, 1659:

"William Robinson and Marmaduke Stevenson, two Quakers who came from England in 1656 to escape religious persecution, are executed in the Massachusetts Bay Colony for their religious beliefs. The two had violated a law passed by the Massachusetts General Court the year before, banning Quakers from the colony under penalty of death.

The Religious Society of Friends, whose members are commonly known as Quakers, was a Christian movement founded by George Fox in England during the early 1650s. Quakers opposed central church authority, preferring to seek spiritual insight and consensus through egalitarian Quaker meetings. They advocated sexual equality and became some of the most outspoken opponents of slavery in early America. Robinson and Stevenson, who were hanged from an elm tree on Boston Common in Boston, were the first Quakers to be executed in America. Quakers found solace in Rhode Island and other colonies, and Massachusetts' anti-Quaker laws were later repealed.

In the mid 18th century, John Woolman, an abolitionist Quaker, traveled the American colonies, preaching and advancing the anti-slavery cause. He organized boycotts of products made by slave labor and was responsible for convincing many Quaker communities to publicly denounce slavery. Another of many important abolitionist Quakers was Lucretia Mott, who worked on the Underground Railroad in the 19th century, helping lead fugitive slaves to freedom in the Northern states and Canada. In later years, Mott was a leader in the movement for women's rights."

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Avalanche buries homes in Iceland, Oct 27, 1995:

"An unusually large avalanche buries homes and kills 20 people in Flateyri, Iceland, on this day in 1995. This disaster was the second deadly avalanche in the region that year.

Ten months earlier, on January 17, the small fishing village of Sudavik had suffered a devastating avalanche in which 16 residents lost their lives. The incident illuminated the dangers of living in historically avalanche-prone areas. As winter began the following October, high winds in the West Fjords prompted evacuations across the region. Hundreds of electric poles were snapped by the winds and on October 26, an avalanche of snow, ice and rocks crushed and killed a herd of 18 horses in Langidalur. Later, another slide destroyed a storage building in Sugandafjor.

Residents remained on high alert on the evening of October 27. At 4 a.m., a deafening roar was heard above Flateyri as a huge avalanche crashed down the mountain above the town. Snow and rocks buried 17 homes, only one of which had been thought to lie in an avalanche danger zone. Local residents immediately attempted a rescue effort, which proved extremely difficult in the darkness with all landmarks erased. The would-be rescuers had trouble remembering where each buried home was actually located.

In the meantime, several victims were able to dig themselves out from under the snow.  United States military helicopters and the Icelandic Coast Guard arrived with 600 rescuers and dogs specially trained to locate buried people. Eventually, 20 people were pulled out alive. One woman was saved after being stuck completely motionless for eight hours. The last survivor to be found, an 11-year-old girl, was rescued 11 hours after the avalanche. It took two days to locate all the bodies."

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Yesterday:

Wendy wasn't going to call for her usual Saturday phone call as she would be at The Texas Renaissance Festival.

This would give me more time to get ready for church and take Misty for a longer walk, until an un-computerized neighbor came over to visit.  A relative of hers had taken some pictures of them when they were here, emailed them to me, and she wanted to see them.  She loved the pictures, but my printer's ink is coming out all funny greeny colors, so I won't be able to print them out for her until I get new ink.  I should have asked her to postpone her visit to another time.

It was a mad scramble for me to get ready, and I had to leave with wet hair to pick up Jay.  Jay was ready, so we went to church. 

Brother Jeff blowing the ram's horn.  There were several more families there that I hadn't met before.  One family was visiting from California for The Feast of Tabernacles which is being held in Trinity, TX, and came to our little church for the Sabbath.  The songs of praise were great, as usual.  Then the prayers for different people in need.

The Bible readings were Exodus 34:10-17 and Numbers 29:12-40, which are about keeping The Feast of Tabernacles, and then Exodus 38:18 – 39:20.  

The sermon was about the Second Resurrection.  Luke 14:13-14 ^"But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”   More at: John 5: 25, John 6:39-40, 1 Corith. 15:16-27, 40-53, Rev. 20:4-6 and Isaiah 26:19.

The potluck was tasty, all organic meats, meatloaf, lasagna, BBQ brisket done in a huge crockpot, lots of salads and veggies.  Jay didn't eat any salad or veggies, no wonder he is sick so many days.

April 19-25: Feast of Unleavened Bread.

"A description of the story of Pesach and a brief overview of how the holiday is celebrated.
Pesach (Passover) is a Biblical festival that begins on 15 Nisan (in March or April). Pesach is an eight-day holiday that celebrates the Exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt and freedom from oppression in modern days. "

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Now starts the Feast of Unleavened Bread, April 19-25, 2011 
Did the New Testament Church continue celebrating the Feast of Unleavened Bread?

1 Corinthians 5:8
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth [emphasis added throughout].

The apostle Paul commanded the Christians in Corinth to continue celebrating the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The New Testament also mentions the Feast of Unleavened Bread several other times, often in conjunction with Passover (Luke 2:41-43; 22:1; Matthew 26:17; Mark 14:12; Acts 20:6). Since Unleavened Bread was celebrated immediately after the Passover, the entire period was loosely known by either name.

What is physical leaven?
Essentially, leaven is a substance that can make food (like bread) rise. Leaven includes yeast, a biological leavening agent that produces fermentation, and chemical leavening agents such as baking powder, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and potassium bicarbonate. Leavened items typically include such things as bread, cake, crackers, cookies, prepared cereals and some pies that contain leavening.
More at: http://www.freebiblestudyguides.org/bible-plan/feast-unleavened-bread-our-part-gods-master-plan.htm
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What instruction did Paul give Christians in regard to this festival?

"Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" (1 Corinthians 5:8).
Paul did not treat these festivals as outdated Jewish traditions. He considered them essential observances for God's called and chosen people in all ages and cultures. He understood their relationship to Christ's role in God's master plan.
Paul commanded the Corinthian Christians—mostly gentiles (non-Israelites)—to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. His instructions show that Christians from non-Jewish communities and cultures kept the Days of Unleavened Bread. Setting an example for all Christians today, these Jews and non-Jews observed these days in accordance with God's laws.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread, the second of God's annual festivals, represents the second step in God's plan for our redemption. Its main focus is on Christ as our Deliverer, our Savior. Therefore it is a thoroughly Christian festival.

Did Paul explain the spiritual lesson behind our observance of the Feast of Unleavened Bread?

"Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us" (1 Corinthians 5:6-7).
One purpose for the Feast of Unleavened Bread is to remind us that, after we accept Christ's sacrifice at the time of baptism, we must allow God's Spirit to help us grow up into Christ spiritually (Ephesians 4:15; compare Galatians 2:20). Leavened bread represents the wrong motives (malice) and sin (wickedness) that may still reside in our thinking. Unleavened bread represents having our hearts filled with sincere motives—an eagerness to apply the pure truth revealed in God's Word.
Jesus earlier made the same point to His disciples. He told them, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy" (Luke 12:1). He also compared leaven to the false doctrines taught by many of the religious leaders of the day (Matthew 16:6-12). They, like many false teachers today, substituted their own ideas and traditions for God's commandments (Matthew 15:3-9).
More at: http://www.beyondtoday.tv/bsc/12/unleavenedbread.htm
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Symbolic uses of leavening


This leavening agent permeates every part of the dough until the entire batch is leavened.

"Jesus uses leavening as a symbol of false teachings. Notice what He said to His disciples: "Then Jesus said to them, 'Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees...How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?--but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees'" (Matthew 16:6, 11). In the New Testament leavening is used as a symbol of human pride and false religious teachings that are a result of human pride."
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More than 20 years after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ as described in the New Testament we find described in the texts of the New Testament that the church still kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Act 20:6 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days.
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"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise. – Galatians 3:26-29 (NAS)
For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same LORD is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him. – Romans 10:12 (NAS)"
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Nothing going on today.

The History of Valentine's Day. How To Burn Off Chocolate.

From The History Channel:

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If you are going to indulge in chocolate, this is how long it takes to burn off ONE Snickers bar:
"Here's how to decide whether to pass up a temptation or enjoy it with no regrets: Put a fitness price tag on your favorite indulgence that shows how much extra workout time it will take to burn off its calories.

For example:
Enjoying an occasional cheesy slice of pizza may be well worth the price -- adding an extra 36 minutes to your regular brisk walk, 20 to a bike ride, or only 15 on a stair-step machine. Boom!
Just like that, those calories are gone. But do you also have 60 more minutes to spare to walk off that chocolate cake?
Here's a sampling of treats -- the kind that even the healthiest eaters often find too good to totally give up -- and how much time it takes for a 135-pound person to burn them off. Now those extra calories won't show up on your scales. Or your waist." 
More at: http://www.realage.com/blogs/food-bites/craving-chocolate-cake-cheesy-pizza-do-this-afterward
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My thought:
"how much time it takes for a 135-pound person to burn them off"…. Why would a 135 lb person be worried about it??
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He who does anything because it is the custom, makes no choice. ~ John Stuart Mill

 

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Today:

The critters and I just mostly stayed inside trying to keep warm.  The sun is out, but it is still cold out there.

These are my foster animals:



After a while, Paco thought twice about sitting in the sun, his favorite pastime. 






 Prime wanted to stay out on the porch in the sun,







but Patches couldn't make up her mind, and wanted in, then out, then in again.



But we are all glad that this will be the last of this cold spell today