The Record Breaking Queen. Cause and Effect in Prophecy. Soy Worth a Hill of Beans?

 

The Record-breaking Queen

The “Princess Auto Mechanic”

The “Princess Auto Mechanic.” At the age of 19, Elizabeth joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service, where she learned to repair automobiles and served as a skilled auto mechanic. 

During the war, the young Princess Elizabeth desired to serve her nation in a more active way. She begged her parents to let her join the military to defend the island.

Though her parents refused to allow her to join at first (since princesses did not historically serve in the military), they eventually relented and allowed her to enlist.

At the age of 19, she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) as Elizabeth Windsor. During her service in the ATS, she learned to repair automobiles and served as a skilled auto mechanic. The press dubbed her the “Princess Auto Mechanic.” She served in this role until the end of the war.

To this day, she is the only female member of the royal family to have ever served in the military.

She carried her knowledge and love for automobiles throughout her life. She was known to drive herself on various occasions; she taught her children to drive and even worked on automobile engines into her old age.

  “Queen Elizabeth II has broken many records during her long reign.

• Her coronation was the first to be broadcast live on television. Three out of every four people in the United Kingdom (over 27 million) watched the ceremony, with 11 million more listening on the radio.

• (The coronation. Queen Elizabeth II, wearing the Imperial State Crown, with Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, after her coronation on June 2, 1953 (Press Association via AP Images)).

  She was the longest-reigning queen in British history, exceeding the 63-year reign of Queen Victoria (her great-great-grandmother) by seven years.

• At the age of 96, she was the oldest British monarch, having surpassed Queen Victoria and King George III, who both died at the age of 81.
• Her image or profile appears on the currency of at least 35 different countries—the most of any monarch.   
• In her 1970 visit to Australia and New Zealand, she became the first monarch to do a casual stroll to meet the people in person, instead of just waving from a distance. It is now the norm for British royals to mingle directly with the people.

But her most outstanding attribute was her deep sense of duty to serve and faithfully carry out her responsibilities with honor. During her silver jubilee celebrations in 1977, she recommitted herself to her pledge to devote her life to serving her people.

The queen kept her personal life as private as possible, though sadly, the actions of her sister, children and extended family made that challenging. Yet despite many controversies surrounding her family, she remained personally grounded and fulfilled her duty to her people and the institution she represented.

The throne of David 

As we reflect on the long life of Queen Elizabeth II, it is important that we also consider the prophetic significance of the throne she sat on for just over 70 years.

In the Bible, God made a promise to King David that his throne would exist forever, never lacking a ruler to occupy it (2 Samuel 7:12-17). God was so emphatic about this promise that He told the prophet Jeremiah that the fulfillment of this promise and prophecy was as sure as the rising and the setting of the sun (Jeremiah 33:17-21).

We believe that the late Queen Elizabeth sat on that throne—making her a link in the chain of this promise’s fulfillment. (To learn more, download our free booklet The United States, Britain & the Commonwealth in Prophecy.)

As the British people, and the world, mourn her death—we pay tribute to her by honoring her part in that long historical chain. She served her people with honor and set an example that will continue to benefit people for years to come.

Please join us in praying for the comfort of this great woman’s family and, in particular, for her son, the new King Charles III.

Long live the king and . . . Long remember the queen.”       More at: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/blog/long-remember-the-queen-a-tribute-to-queen-elizabeth-ii/?

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Cause and Effect in Prophecy

Deuteronomy 28:1, 15

“Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. …

“But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you. …”

“Bible prophecy, and the Bible as a whole, teaches us the principle of cause and effect. Obeying God’s good and beneficial laws ultimately leads to wonderful blessings. Disobeying—sinning—ultimately leads to the horrible curses described in Deuteronomy 28.

This is a sure and certain principle—there are predictable consequences to our actions, physically and spiritually.

So why does humanity so easily forget this inevitable truth? Because under the sway of Satan, we have learned to postpone some of the bad consequences, and Satan has used his enormous powers of deception to make the bad look good and the good, bad. He tricks us into thinking there are shortcuts—that we can escape the consequences.

But God wants us to take the long view—to see through the deception to the ultimate reality. He gives us His laws and Bible prophecy so we can see what will cause suffering and what will cause real joy and happiness. Choose life!”

Read more about cause and effect in our article “Why Is Our Modern World Under Ancient Curses?”      For more about the purposes of Bible prophecy, see “Purpose of Prophecy.”  From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/blog/cause-and-effect-in-prophecy/?

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Soy Worth A Hill Of Beans?

“Are soybeans better than other types of beans for heart disease prevention—or does the soy industry just have more money and clout to tout?

For over a decade, soy foods have enjoyed the rare privilege of an FDA-approved food label health claim about soy’s ability to protect against heart disease. Now a billion-dollar industry, they have a lot of money to fund research touting the benefits of their bean. And although there is also a U.S. Dry Bean Council, representing all the other beans, I think you can get a sense, just by comparing their websites, who may have more money to spread around.

So though you may not soon see ads on TV with anyone exclaiming they are “gonzo for garbanzos,” there was a study out of Tulane recently that looked at the cholesterol-lowering power of non-soy legumes. There are all sorts of beans out there. Which did better to lower the #1 risk factor (LDL cholesterol) of our #1 killer (heart disease): soybeans or non-soybeans?

Soy consumption drops bad cholesterol, on average, about four points. Other beans—lentil, lima, navy, pinto, etc.—dropped bad cholesterol eight. Though it’s illegal for, say, a baked bean manufacturer to make health claims on their label, soy isn’t special in that regard. All beans are beautiful—and in this case, beat out soy, two to one!” 

(To see any graphs, charts, graphics, images, and quotes to which Dr. Greger may be referring, watch the video. This is transcript contributed by Bruce A. Hamilton.)

Video at: https://nutritionfacts.org/video/soy-worth-a-hill-of-beans/

Michael Greger M.D. FACLM · February 10, 2012 · Volume 7

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Celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s 70-Year Reign. British Monarchy and the Bible? NYC Just Made This VEGAN Its Mayor.

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Celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s 70-Year Reign

“Queen Elizabeth II acceded to the throne Feb. 6, 1952. Her devotion to her people and duties are legendary. What can we learn from this remarkable monarch?

Though she came to the throne in February, the official celebrations marking Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee—70 years of service to the 54 nations making up the Commonwealth today—will be June 2 to 5, 2022.

To many of the 2.4 billion citizens of the Commonwealth, she represents an example of grace, faithfulness, modesty and Christian values. But her life has not been easy.

70 years of service

The length of her reign is indeed special, but even more than how long she has ruled, Queen Elizabeth II stands out as beloved and respected for her behavior and dedication to her people.

In recent years, there have been many critics of royal heritage and privilege, yet in the United Kingdom few would take issue with the devotion with which Queen Elizabeth II has approached her many roles.

Unexpected accession to the throne

Britannica.com provides her full name and title: “Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, officially Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of her other realms and territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.”

Elizabeth was born April 21, 1926, in London, England. As a young girl, she was never expected to rule. Elizabeth was the elder daughter of a younger son of King George V. It seemed the young Elizabeth had little chance of becoming queen until her uncle, Edward VIII, suddenly abdicated on Dec. 11, 1936. Overnight her father became King George VI, and Elizabeth became next in line to the throne.

Elizabeth acceded to the throne after her father’s untimely death on Feb. 6, 1952.

If you would like to read more about Queen Elizabeth’s accession and events in the early part of her reign, please refer to our blog posts “The Queen’s Sapphire Jubilee” and “The Dedicated Queen Turns 90.”

Promise from a princess

On her 21st birthday, in April 1947, Princess Elizabeth broadcast a promise from Cape Town, South Africa, to the Commonwealth. The young princess said, “I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.”

She has carried out this promise, becoming perhaps the most traveled ruler in history. Five years ago, the Daily Telegraph estimated her travels had taken her more than 1,032,500 miles (42 times around the earth) as she became familiar with her Commonwealth subjects and rulers.

In 2015 she surpassed Queen Victoria as the longest-reigning monarch in British history.

Whether by choice or accident, the queen took steps that brought the royal family into new territory. Allowing the televising of selected aspects of their domestic life in 1970 and permitting the dissolution of her sister Margaret’s marriage in 1978 brought more attention to what was often portrayed as an obsolete and costly institution.

The decade of the 1990s brought acute criticism on the “royals.” The queen’s eldest son, Prince Charles, separated from the popular icon, Princess Diana. Prince Andrew separated from Sarah, duchess of York. Princess Anne, the queen’s only daughter, divorced. And parts of the royal residence at Windsor Castle were destroyed by fire. Later that decade, Diana died in a car crash in 1997.

In the queen’s golden jubilee year in 2002, she lost her sister Margaret and her mother, the highly respected and loved “Queen Mum,” who died at 104 years of age.

After the marriage of Prince William (Charles’ eldest son from his marriage to Diana) to Kate Middleton, the royal family regained some standing with the public. Both William and his younger brother Harry served in the armed forces. They offered a fresh outlook to those of their generation.

Yet strangely, it was a television series, The Windsors in 2016, that brought back an increasingly positive note to the British royal family.

As constitutional monarch, Queen Elizabeth has interacted with 14 different prime ministers through the years. The first was Winston Churchill, and the list includes Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May, the only two female British prime ministers in history. One of her regular duties has been to open new sessions of Parliament explaining what “my government” plans to accomplish that year.

Queen Elizabeth married her childhood sweetheart, Philip Mountbatten, on Nov. 20, 1947. After 73 years of marriage, Prince Philip, the duke of Edinburgh, died in 2021 just two months before his 100th birthday. He had constantly been by her side during her reign until, at the age of 95, he retired from active engagements in August 2017.

Public engagements now increasingly fall to younger members of the royal family, such as Prince Charles, heir to the throne, and Prince William, his firstborn son. They are increasingly lessening the load on the queen.

Why do her subjects love her?

There are many reasons to honor and love Queen Elizabeth. Most of us only dream of reaching her age of 95 and still being relatively active and healthy. Many look at her example and love for her people and feel love and respect for her as they would for their own mother or grandmother.

As we consider her approach to life and her interaction with others, we note how positive results come from following biblical principles.

Long life, definitely a milestone Elizabeth II has reached, was promised by God to those who honor their parents (Exodus 20:12). I have no doubt she respects the memory of her late father and mother. Perhaps, as governor of the Church of England, she has also followed the scriptural injunction for royalty to be very familiar with the content and practice of God’s Word (Deuteronomy 17:18-20).

Qualities we can emulate

Here are some nuggets we can appreciate from the unprecedented reign of a graceful and patient monarch:

Accept the mantle of responsibility: Initially the young Elizabeth was not expecting to become queen, nor did she understand the many responsibilities that would be laid on her shoulders. Once her father, King George VI, had been crowned in 1936, how aware was 10-year-old Elizabeth that she was in line for royal duties over as many years as God would give her?

Yet by age 21 she was willing to promise, “My whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.”

This should remind us of the Christian’s calling to serve humanity as a whole as a ruler with Jesus Christ at His return (Revelation 5:10; Luke 19:11-19). For Christians, the training to be able to take on such responsibility is happening right now through overcoming the lusts of the flesh and the influence of Satan and his society (Revelation 2:26).

Serve and care: In her many overseas visits and when fulfilling charitable duties in Britain, the queen meets and spends time with people she cares for. They do not live in palaces or own vast estates. Video recordings of her walkabouts show her greeting people and accepting bouquets of wild flowers from children. The queen always shows a genuine, heartfelt interest in those she meets.

We must similarly follow the pure example of Jesus Christ who ate and conversed in the same manner with those who were often treated with disdain (Matthew 9:9-13). Jesus also had a special love for the humble teachability of children and encouraged them to come to Him (Matthew 18:2-5; 19:13-15).

Handle the ups and downs of life with dignity: Queen Elizabeth II has no doubt experienced and learned many lessons from family and regal life during her 70 years of rulership.

With the death of her husband, the queen no longer has the support of perhaps her greatest admirer, Prince Philip. But like her mother, she will “keep calm and carry on.”

Whether royalty or commoner, we all deal with times of sorrow and suffering. But the Bible has good news. Everyone going through these ups and downs of life can know God’s Purpose for You and that a wise and kind Ruler is coming soon who will rule for, not 70, but a thousand years (Revelation 20:4). In fact, we are told there will be no end to His Kingdom and the peace and joy it will bring (Daniel 2:44; Isaiah 9:7).”  From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/12-tribes-of-israel/12-tribes-of-israel-today/queen-elizabeth-ii-70-year-reign/?

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Sidebar: Is There a Connection Between the British Monarchy and the Bible?

When the patriarch Jacob bestowed blessings on his 12 sons, he gave a unique blessing to his son Judah: “The scepter shall not depart from Judah” (Genesis 49:10). A scepter is a symbol of royal authority.

That promise began to be fulfilled when God inspired Samuel to anoint a descendant of Judah, David the son of Jesse, as king of Israel (1 Samuel 16). Though not a perfect man, David faithfully reigned over Israel for 40 years and was “a man after [God’s] own heart” (Acts 13:22).

As a result of David’s faithfulness, God entered into a unique covenant with him—often called the Davidic covenant. As a part of this covenant, God promised that He would “establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (2 Samuel 7:13). This covenant was reiterated hundreds of years later by the prophet Jeremiah: “For thus says the LORD: ‘David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel’” (Jeremiah 33:17). Ultimately, Jesus Christ is prophesied to sit on that throne (Luke 1:31-32).

But students of history understand that the Davidic throne was thought to be destroyed in 586 B.C. when the Babylonians conquered Judah and imprisoned the last Davidic king, Zedekiah, until his death (2 Kings 25:4-7; Jeremiah 52:11). We also read that in an attempt to end the Davidic line, the Babylonian king brutally executed Zedekiah’s sons (2 Kings 25:7).

This was an attempt, no doubt inspired by Satan, to wipe out the Davidic royal line in order to cause God’s covenant with David to fail. But God’s promises and covenants never fail.

The book of Jeremiah provides some fascinating clues as to how this royal line would continue. In two passages in his book, Jeremiah makes a specific note that King Zedekiah’s daughters survived the Babylonian captivity and were taken, along with Jeremiah himself, to Egypt (Jeremiah 41:10; 43:5-6).

There is no more mention of the fate of the king’s daughters in the Bible. Could Jeremiah have included this detail about Zedekiah’s daughters to be a clue as to how David’s royal line would continue? Though historical details from this period are sketchy, some have pointed to the possibility that one of Zedekiah’s daughters could have been transported to Ireland by Jeremiah to be married into another royal line, thus extending the throne of David forward through history.

Could the occupants of the British throne be descended from David through one of King Zedekiah’s daughters? It is interesting that many symbols associated with Ireland and the British throne are similar to symbols associated with the Davidic dynasty.

Though it’s difficult to prove definitively through secular history, this could explain why the British throne has endured through the centuries to this very day.”

To read more about this fascinating subject, see pages 46-53 of our booklet The United States, Britain and the Commonwealth in Prophecy.”

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NYC Just Made This VEGAN Its Mayor

“Watch this POWERFUL speech where Eric Adams discusses his plant-based journey, and removing processed meat from school menus!”

YouTube: https://youtu.be/w6FRhmF40Ec

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Queen’s Sapphire Jubilee. Alternatives to Valentine’s Day. Islamic Terrorists...Update and Glycemic Index.

 

For “Scripture Sunday”:

The Queen’s Sapphire Jubilee

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, coronation portrait, June 1953.

“This year people around the world will recognize Queen Elizabeth’s sapphire jubilee. Her reign is the latest episode in the long history of a special throne.

Feb. 6 marks the 65th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s ascension to the throne of Great Britain.

Celebrations of the queen’s sapphire jubilee were held throughout the Commonwealth, including a 62-gun salute at the Tower of London. She is considered the monarch reigning over 16 nations and the titular head of the Commonwealth of Nations (which includes 52 sovereign states). She is deeply respected by many around the world.

Never before in British history

Since the Battle of Hastings in 1066, when William the Conqueror defeated King Harold II and took the throne, a jubilee in celebration of 60 years on the throne has only occurred twice: for Queen Victoria, who reigned over Britain and the Empire for 63 years, and for Queen Elizabeth II in 2012. Elizabeth is now the first British monarch to reach her sapphire jubilee!

The start of the queen’s reign

King George VI died in February 1952; and as is the custom, his firstborn child succeeded to the throne. Princess Elizabeth was just 26 years old and married to Prince Philip. They had been blessed with two children by then, Prince Charles and Princess Anne.

So her long reign began. The date of her coronation was June 2, 1953 (it took that long to prepare).

A huge turnout

If you watched the celebrations five years ago in June 2012, you saw hundreds of thousands of people (who braved somewhat miserable weather) line the banks of the River Thames and watch a flotilla of a thousand boats of every possible kind pass under Tower Bridge and salute the queen. By any standard, this event broke many records.

Elizabeth’s great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, would have been impressed with her legacy of family. Four generations of royals enjoyed these four days.

An ancient throne

In biblical history there is something very special about the throne that Queen Elizabeth is custodian of. The line of occupants goes back for many centuries past William the Conqueror. In fact, it goes all the way back to King David of the nation of Israel.

In Genesis 12 a promise was given by God to Abram (later Abraham) that through him all families of the earth would be blessed. This promise was expanded on and passed down to the following generations.

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (later named Israel) would produce the descendants that would inherit the promises. Jacob had 12 sons who became the patriarchs of the 12 tribes of Israel. Then two of his grandsons were given very specific and special blessings.

Promised birthright blessings

The birthright blessings were passed onto Ephraim and Manasseh—two of Israel’s grandsons (Genesis 48:17-22). Manasseh would be a great single nation and Ephraim’s descendants would become a company of nations. When was this fulfilled in man’s history?

We believe that the United States represents Manasseh today, and the company of nations is represented by the United Kingdom and the British Empire (now Commonwealth) that together make up the part of the world that the queen is head of.

King David

King David was appointed by God to rule Israel, and he received a promise from God that there would always be a ruler on the throne (2 Samuel 7:12-16).

A careful study of the Bible and history shows that this throne is actually the one that Queen Elizabeth occupies today. It is the throne of David.

A prophecy in Jeremiah 30:9 tells us that God will resurrect David to be king over all 12 tribes of Israel. This time he will rule under Jesus Christ, who has promised to return to become King of Kings and Lord of Lords in the Kingdom of God on earth (Revelation 11:15-18).

A lesson for us all

At a coronation the sovereign is anointed (following the command given by God in 1 Kings 1:38-40). This practice has been followed by the English for over 1,000 years.

A thread throughout the queen’s reign has been her deep sense of duty. She has carried out her responsibilities with sincere dedication, supported by her husband, Prince Philip. Many have commented on her self-discipline and devotion to her position. One commentator said that this came from the sense of vocation she felt having been anointed at her coronation—in other words, realizing this was from God.

Lord Horatio Nelson said at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 that “England expects that every man will do his duty.” It seems Queen Elizabeth was raised to think that way, and perhaps all of us should pay careful attention to our personal responsibilities as well.

God keeps His promises

Now Queen Elizabeth has passed Queen Victoria as the longest reigning monarch. How much longer will she serve Great Britain and the Commonwealth as queen? The lives of our leaders are in God’s hands. But we can rejoice, knowing that God keeps His promises, and the greatest one is that He will send the King of Kings, Jesus Christ, back to this earth to establish His Kingdom forever and ever.”

For more about Britain in prophecy and the royal family, read:

• The United States, Britain and the Commonwealth in Prophecy
• The Dedicated Queen Turns 90

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3 Romantic Alternatives to Valentine’s Day

“As Valentine’s Day draws near, many will celebrate romantic love. But what about true love? Here are three ways to escape the superficiality of Valentine’s Day.

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, millions of people have already made plans for romantic getaways, ordered flowers or chocolates and started writing valentines. For the holiday that is supposed to epitomize romantic love, it is very materially based and commercialized.

Can a married couple express true love in better ways than heart-shaped chocolates and bland, poorly worded cards? You bet!

Origins of Valentine’s Day

Where does real romance that is related to true love come from? A solid, healthy relationship. The old adage of “we could talk for hours” should still be one of the most romantic things to us. Before we discuss the meaningful alternatives to Valentine’s Day, consider why we should seek alternatives in the first place.  Valentine’s Day is based on a very bizarre, ancient fertility festival called the Lupercalia. This festival was celebrated in mid-February in ancient Rome. The ancient Romans would sacrifice an animal on the Lupercalia and then use the hides to whip females in order to supposedly increase their fertility.

Another component of the festival was matchmaking. Males and females would be paired up at Lupercalia by a lottery and then would remain partners for either the duration of the festival or for a year.

The Roman church later replaced the Lupercalia with St. Valentine’s Day in honor of a martyr named Valentine. But the popular celebration maintained the romantic and sensual elements of the pagan festival.

The fact that Cupid, a Roman god of love, is associated with this day is even more proof of its deep roots in ancient Roman paganism.

Alternatives

Marriage is a beautiful institution created by God, and there are much better ways to build and celebrate it than a celebration like Valentine’s Day!

Here are a few ideas to celebrate your love for your spouse—without doing it on Valentine’s Day!

1. Get romantic at unexpected times.

Though anniversaries are great times to celebrate your love for each other, romance does not have to be tied to a calendar date. Giving gifts, writing meaningful notes and going on romantic getaways are all great for a marriage—and they can be done at any time of the year! In fact, these things are much more meaningful when they are spontaneous and done out of sincere appreciation and love.

It is somewhat shocking that so many people wait until a holiday inspired by fertility rites and a Roman god to actually show how much they love their mates. We are told not to worship God through pagan practices (Deuteronomy 12:31), and we also should be careful to not degrade love by mixing it with perverse paganism.

Gifts and romantic gestures done at unexpected times and for no other calendar reason will always be greatly remembered and treasured by those receiving them.

Ideas: Be consistent with little gifts, candies or gestures throughout the entire year. Plan something with lots of “us” time involved that is not tied to any specific date. Just do it because it’s good for the marriage!

2. Talk to each other every day.

Yes, it may sound simplistic—but it is actually a huge thing! It’s important to speak to one another.

Where does real romance that is related to true love come from? A solid, healthy relationship. The old adage of “we could talk for hours” should still be one of the most romantic things to us. The wonderful thing about the giving of gifts and the dinners, trips and adventures together is the closeness that should result from them. This closeness is mainly shared through conversation.

No, not from a three-line French poem that someone memorized to impress a date. No, not the seemingly wonderful wisdom of “be my valentine” (meaningless, if you think about it!) scratched on cheap candy. It comes from real words and the development of a connection between two people who truly love each other.

Ideas: Have a set time every single night where the television, computer, phones and everything else are turned off—so you can talk with the person you love. Walk and talk. Eat and talk (not at the same time!). Sit and talk. Exercise and talk. Whatever you are doing, make sure talking is involved.

3. Put 1 Corinthians 13 into practice every day.

It’s nicknamed the Love Chapter for good reason. This chapter comprehensively lists what love is and what it isn’t. We can use this chapter as a daily, monthly or yearly project to improve our marriages. God wrote the book on love, so His Bible should be the primary place we go for guidance in expressing proper love within marriage.

Here are some ways 1 Corinthians 13 can be put into practice to improve our marriages:

• Love suffers long: When our mates do something that really bothers us, we should let it go or work on improving the problem together.
• Love is kind: We should do something kind for our mates without being asked—often.
• Love does not parade itself: We should be sure to tell our mates how much we love them privately—we don’t need to use Facebook to demonstrate our love for our mate!
• Love is not puffed up: We should always be ready to admit when we’ve done something wrong.
• Love does not behave rudely: We should make sure our marriage is characterized by considerate behavior toward each other.
• Love does not seek its own: We should willingly and joyfully do something we have no interest in, but our mate enjoys.

The Love Chapter, though about a much deeper love than just romantic love, is filled with guidance on how to treat the love of your life. Read it often.

One 24-hour period involving candies and ancient fertility symbolism does not come close to the fulfilling and meaningful love God wants us to enjoy.

Isn’t it time for you to ditch Valentine’s Day and demonstrate true love God’s way?”

To learn more about how to build a happy marriage, read our study guide “5 Keys to Improving Your Marriage.”

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Religion of Peace
Atrocity of the Week

 
Uganda: Muslim Mob Beats,
Rapes Christians in Church

Put the Numbers in Perspective -  Islamic Terrorists...

...killed twice as many people in one month (5000) in November, 2014) than were killed in in 350 years of Inquisition (2000-3000).

...murder more people everyday than the KKK has in the last 70 years (26 since 1945).

...killed more civilians in two hours on September 11th (2977) than in the 26 years of sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland (2236).

...massacred more Iraqis on a single day in June, 2014 (1566) than the number of criminals executed by America in the last 40 years (1423).

...killed more Americans on American soil than the combined militaries of Japan and Nazi Germany in WWII.

...slaughter more people everyday than were killed during the entire Salem Witch Trials (12).

From: http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/

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Update:

Nothing has been done to the guest house this week.  Never saw my helper again, even though he called and said he would come by on Friday to pick up some of his stuff, he never arrived. 

As I didn’t have a helper, I was busy doing different reseach on the computer, taking care of animals, and helping Roni, the neighbor with pancreatic cancer.  I cooked her some homemade organic food, and took some food for the cat that is still there.  One day Roni had the cat she calls ‘Squeakers’, in her arms, knowing that the cat needed to be vaccinated and spayed.  So we popped her in a carrier and she is now here in a third cage that my neighbor SPCA foster mom had loaned me.  I needed one more with a side door as mine had Stripes and Speckles, Roni’s other cats, in them.  Squeakers is not used to being in a cage, but she has the shy temperament where she would find the most inaccessible place to hide if I let her loose in the room.  As she is pregnant, she might not show herself again until she had multiplied!  She is scared of people, but she lets me pet her and has let me hold her.  So, for now, she has to be caged so that I know where she is and can give her the deworming meds for 3 days.  Still trying to think of a better name for her.

Stripes and Speckles had their neutering surgery and are recovering nicely.  They had to be caged for several days so that they wouldn’t jump up or down on things and hurt their stitches, but then they were allowed to be loose and play in my house.  Later in the week they were taken to stay in the SPCA Habitat inside Petco, Conroe for a month.  SPCA volunteers go daily to tend to the cats in the Habitat. They are on display there for adoption, and cats usually get adopted during that time.  Both are really sweet kitties and will be a great joy in their adoptive homes.  My favorite, Speckles just loves it there.  All the attention from the shoppers is right up her ally.  If they don’t get adopted while they are in the Habitat, then they go back to live with their foster parents.  Each animal has it’s own webpage, too, so sometimes they get adopted that way.

So I still have the great big cat, Napoleon, Squeakers and the ‘come-along’ bobcat-looking cat that lives on my front porch, he is called “Rumpy for “Rumpelstiltskin”!   Napoleon is more work as he is messy, scattering litter and food all over my bathroom.  That’s where my little electric ‘broomstick’ comes in handy.

Some of the research I have been doing is about the glycemic levels of sugar and sweeteners. This was because I saw one of the younger ladies at the church putting FOUR spoons of sugar, THREE spoons of Coffeemate (ladled with HFCS) in her coffee, and then eating donuts.   No wonder she is pudgy!  She surely will be riddled with health issues if she carries on like that.

“Sugar-containing foods in their natural form, whole fruit, for example, tend to be highly nutritious—nutrient-dense, high in fiber, and low in glycemic load. On the other hand, refined, concentrated sugar consumed in large amounts rapidly increases blood glucose and insulin levels, increases triglycerides, inflammatory mediators and oxygen radicals, and with them, the risk for diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other chronic illnesses,” Dr. Ludwig explains. 

“The glycemic index for sweeteners is a function of three things:
1. The amount of carbohydrate present. 
2. The type of carbohydrate present. 
3. The presence of other substances (soluble fiber for example) that slow metabolism of carbohydrates. 

Glucose has a glycemic index (GI) of 100 and fructose is 25. Sucrose (Ordinary sugar) which is made up of a combination of these two has a GI of 65. 

“Sugar alcohols tend to have very low GIs. In particular Erythritol has a GI of only 1, and it is a safe low calorie sweetener that occurs naturally in some fruits and mushrooms.

Both the natural zero calorie sweeteners such as Stevia, and the artificial ones such as Saccharin have no glycemic index. They do not raise blood sugar at all. This brings up another issue: The human body is programmed to react to the taste of sweet things.

Studies have shown that insulin is secreted by the pancreas soon after the sweet taste is experienced on the tongue, whether the substance contains calories or not. The body is fooled by the zero calorie sweetener. It expects glucose to hit the bloodstream and it gets none. This may result in increased appetite soon after.

Some studies have indicated that zero calorie sweeteners do not help reduce weight, and this may explain the reason. However this does not take into account several useful aspects of zero calorie sweeteners:

1. They do not cause a blood sugar spike and this alone is beneficial to health.
2. They are suitable for diabetics who would otherwise have a limited choice of sweet things.
3. They are harmless to teeth.
4. All things being equal they contain no calories and should be of assistance in a diet plan.”

From: http://www.sugar-and-sweetener-guide.com/glycemic-index-for-sweeteners.html”

Over the years I have found out that artificial sweetners like Aspartame, in the Blue packets, are like toxins and are so very bad for you. CSPI has also issued aspartame a rating of "avoid."  Since methanol in aspartame has no natural binder, nearly all of it turns into formaldehyde in your body. Formaldehyde (which is used in, among other things, paint remover and embalming fluid is a poison several thousand times more potent than ethyl alcohol.) From:  http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/10/13/artificial-sweeteners-more-dangerous-than-y )  And Splenda (Yellow Packets)  (Yes. Sucralose (Splenda) bears more chemical similarity to DDT than it does to sugar. From:  http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/02/10/new-study-of-splenda-reveals-shocking-information-about-potential-harmful-effects.aspx )  Some people find out that their headaches or fibromyalgia were caused by them. 

Saccharin (Pink Packets) isn’t so bad, (“No chemical additive for food has been tested in as many laboratories, for as long a period, in as many species of animals (including man) and in successive generations, and yet has been found to be as innocuous as saccharin.”   From: http://saccharin.org/saccharin-safety/   and it is readily available when you are out and about, but Non-GMO Erythritol seems to be a better choice to have at home: https://www.verywell.com/erythritol-what-should-you-know-about-it-89560 .

I knew that I would have to ramrod the potluck again as the pastor’s wife still has a bad knee which has put her in a wheelchair.  She cannot be on crutches because of her breast cancer surgery.   Some of the healthy food that I cooked for Roni got me on a healthy grains kick.  So I made several ‘grainy’ dishes for the church potluck.  Wheatberry Waldorf Salad, Buckwheat with Apple and Blackberrues, Freekeh with Ground Beef and Veggies, and Chia Pudding made with flaxmilk and sweetened with ground up dates.  I have previously taken dishes made with Farro and Quinoa for the potluck many times.  Our vegan lady brought a delicious vegan rice dish with cashews in it.   I am nuts about nuts.  But as I have had a busted jaw, some nuts are hard for me to chew, so I grind the nuts up in my auger juicer with the nut butter blank in it, and mix the ground nuts with different things to make them into a spread, like cream cheese, or just put it in my yogurt. 

The Bible readings were John 6:25-36, Exo. 13:17-17-16. Judges 4:4-5:31 and Heb. 13:10-21. The Teaching was about Joshua 24, but I couldn’t hear it very well with folks trying to help me in the kitchen.  Maybe Winter is over as I had to run the air conditioning on the way home, as it was a much warmer day.

Teach Little Kids About Money. Thou Shalt Not Covet. Volcanos. Plastic. Update.

 

For “Scripture Sunday”:

Teach Little Kids About Money

Your child may be too young for an allowance, but he or she’s not too young to be introduced to the all-important right approach to money.

If you’re frugal and restrained in how you use money, your child will be more likely to learn those traits too!

“Ever read the poem “Smart” in Shel Silverstein’s Where the Sidewalk Ends? It begins:

 

“My dad gave me one dollar bill
’Cause I’m his smartest son,
And I swapped it for two shiny quarters
’Cause two is more than one!”

This “smart” son continued his “upward” trading—exchanging the two quarters for three dimes, and the three dimes for four nickels, and finally the four nickels for five pennies! The poem concludes:

“And then I went and showed my dad,
And he got red in the cheeks
And closed his eyes and shook his head—
Too proud of me to speak!”

One might wonder if perhaps Dad gave his “smartest son” an allowance before he was really ready for it! But even if your child doesn’t yet know the value of different coins or bills, you can still set the stage for him or her to learn how to handle money responsibly.

It all begins with you!

Whether you realize it or not, you’ve probably already begun your child’s lessons on finances. Your example as a parent in handling money is the foundation for every other finance lesson you can teach. The attitude and approach that you have toward money will rub off on your child.

From an early age, your child should see you being a careful shopper. Let him or her help you make your grocery list and talk about how these are the things that your family needs to buy. Let your child see that you plan what things you’re going to buy rather than buying impulsively. Talk about the difference between needs and wants.

As your child grows, you can ask him or her to help you compare items. You can talk about which box of cereal contains more (the size of the box doesn’t always give the answer!), which is healthier for your family and which has the better price. You can also talk about television commercials and how advertisers try to get you to buy their products.

If you’re frugal and restrained in how you use money, your child will be more likely to learn those traits too! And you can model patience in your purchases. Tell your child, “No, I think we’ll wait to get this until it’s on sale.” Remember, if you’re frugal and restrained in how you use money, your child will be more likely to learn those traits too!

Money doesn’t grow on trees: 

Another introductory concept to teach is where money comes from. (It’s not really as obvious as we think!) Explain to your child that people work and that’s how they earn money. And they earn money so that they can buy the things that they need. It’s important to explain that God is the One who gives us good health and makes us able to work and produce. The money we earn is related to our effort and diligence (Proverbs 10:4), but ultimately God is the One who gives wealth (verse 22).

As well, you’ll no doubt need to clear up misunderstandings about credit or debit cards, since it’s easy for children to think of it as free, limitless money. We’re becoming an increasingly cashless society, but make an effort to use cash whenever possible when your child is with you.

When you must use your credit or debit card, give a simple explanation of how it works. A credit card represents money that you’re promising to pay later. A debit card represents money that is going directly from what you’ve put in the bank to the store or restaurant. It may be a while before your child really understands, but keep the explanations coming at regular intervals.

Your child should learn that money is a limited resource. It’s good for your child to hear you say, “We don’t have enough money to buy that.” “We can’t afford that.” Likewise, there should be times when you can say, “We’re saving to buy a (whatever)!” Your child should learn that it’s okay to spend some money now, but it’s also important to save some for later."

More at: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/relationships/parenting/teach-little-kids-about-money/

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Thou Shalt Not Covet

Coveting—desiring something we shouldn’t have—is a dangerous trap for people both poor and rich. That’s why God says, “Thou shalt not covet.”

God gave us the 10 Commandments for our benefit, including the 10th Commandment: “Thou shalt not covet” (Exodus 20:17, King James Version).

To understand God’s law against coveting, it can be helpful to consider an example of the damaging effects of coveting.

Consider Ahab  (1 Kings 16:29-22:40)

It was plain and simple. He wanted it, and he wanted it now! Day after day, he wandered up and down the halls with his mind centered on a prize he simply could not rightfully win. It became such a fixation that he almost became sick over it.

Sadder still, this man did not really need anything—after all, he was a king! With all the treasures in the king’s house, what more could this man want?

When your name is Ahab, king of Israel, there is always something more. In this case it happened to be a vineyard that was next door to his palace. What started out as the pursuit of additional property, quickly turned into an ugly and sinful attitude.

When the negotiation didn’t go his way, King Ahab unleashed his ruthless wife on the hapless neighbor. Queen Jezebel thought nothing of taking what didn’t belong to them, at the cost of their neighbor’s life. And all because King Ahab gave in to the sinful attitude of covetousness.

“I want what you have!” Defining “covet”

Although listed as the last of the 10 Commandments given by God, the act of coveting carries with it the potential for a lifetime of tragedy and heartache. It is easy to reason in one’s mind that coveting is not as bad as murder, stealing or adultery, but make no mistake—coveting, which is a sin in itself, can lead to all of these sins and more!

To covet means to desire wrongfully or inordinately without regard for the rights and property of others. God knows the heart of man and also the intent of the heart (1 Chronicles 28:9). So when He presented the 10 Commandments to the children of Israel, God elaborated on some of the items that should not be coveted.

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s” (Exodus 20:17).

God knew that a heart that begins to covet is a heart that no longer focuses on Him, but looks inwardly. Coveting begins when the mind harbors an insidious desire to wrongfully obtain something that is forbidden, without due regard for the rights or property of others. Coveting places your thoughts and desires above those of everyone else.

Unfortunately, there have been many horrific examples of this in the world today. The act of coveting has even been made to appear stylish by the motion picture industry, where coveting is at times even glamorized. If a so-called hero or heroine pursues an already married person, “frees” her or him from the bonds of a less-than-affectionate spouse, it is portrayed as acceptable, even the desirable thing to do!

Granting ourselves an excuse to covet

The seeds of coveting sometimes begin with an innocent observation.

In the story of King Arthur and the knights of the round table, for example, the knight Lancelot, who just happened to be King Arthur’s closest friend, made a simple, but inappropriate comment to the king’s fiancée, Guinevere. He said that as long as she lived, he would love no other. Lancelot was intrigued by the future queen’s beauty and found himself attracted to her. But rather than honor the sanctity of marriage, Lancelot and Guinevere began to covet things that weren’t theirs—each other! In the story, their covetous behavior led to adultery and the weakening of a kingdom.

Sadly, incidents just like this are played out all too often today. By using selfish reasoning and motives, people decide to obtain possessions (or someone else’s mate) for their own personal gain. The desire to have what is not theirs grows so powerful that even people who are normally respectful and law-abiding will circumvent laws and rules in order achieve their goal.

Such is the backstory for countless incidents of theft, embezzlement, kidnapping, adultery and even murder. The results of coveting are powerful and destructive.

Coveting is a trap

Covetousness is the trap in which King Ahab found himself snared, as the account recorded in 1 Kings 21 reveals. The vineyard Ahab coveted was owned by a man named Naboth. It was his inheritance, and Naboth told the king of its priceless value to him and his family.

But rather than approach this as a goal he could not achieve, or perhaps as a failed business venture, Ahab chose to sulk and focus on his covetous desires. He was angry with Naboth, and he still wanted his vineyard. In his self-absorbed and immature mind, he demonstrated a behavior we see often in children and sometimes even adults—he began to pout and wallow in self-pity.

Sulking, pouting and self-pity over something we can’t obtain can turn into bitterness. Bitterness can then lead to twisted reasoning that may lead to a sinful action in an attempt to acquire what is coveted. Scripture reveals that Ahab’s covetous behavior led to the death of Naboth. It initially appeared that Ahab got away with his sin, but God ultimately intervened and brought about the demise of Ahab.

Casting down idols

In the Bible, covetousness is described as a type of idolatry. God’s perspective on coveting can be clearly seen in Paul’s instructions to the church in Colossae: “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5, emphasis added throughout).

Why does God say covetousness is idolatry? Because covetousness can become all-consuming. The person or object that is coveted becomes uppermost in the mind and, in the process, becomes an idol. All rules, commandments and laws become trivial in comparison, making it easier and easier to justify irreverent and/or illegal behavior.

Whatever becomes an idol in the mind takes precedence over everything and everyone—including the true God. Covetousness is one of the reasons God will punish the inhabitants of the earth. As Paul wrote in the same passage: “Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them” (verses 6-7).

How can we overcome covetousness?

What can be done to escape this sinful trap? In order to break free from this form of idolatry, one must be willing to take the necessary steps to cast down covetous behavior. The first step is controlling and reordering the thoughts of the heart.

King David (who also knew what it was like to struggle with coveting) asked God for His protection when it came to his thoughts. He wrote, “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works” (Psalm 141:3-4).

In another place David wrote that he would set nothing wicked before his sight (Psalm 101:3).

It is deceptive, because the sin of covetousness rarely looks evil. But in truth it is, and the quicker we understand that, the quicker we will be moved to repent of this sin.

In the process of reordering our thinking, we must move to the other end of the spectrum. The opposite of coveting is looking outwardly—not comparing ourselves with others, but looking for opportunities to give of ourselves in service to others who truly may be less fortunate.

Thankfulness to God

Then, when we do come upon something or someone we admire, we can keep it in the realm of proper admiration by actively giving thanks to God for the blessings He has bestowed on us.

We can take a personal inventory of all that God has given us and dwell on those things. If there is something else we like or would like to have, there is nothing wrong with making our request with a pure and contented heart. Whether it is a new car or a meaningful relationship, God knows what we need. So when our petition is made, we can ask in trust and faith, knowing that God has our best interest at heart.

As the writer of Hebrews so eloquently wrote, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5).

God is the giver of good things and promises to be there. He is always ready to hear the fervent prayers of those who diligently seek after Him. Covetousness has no place in the heart of the man or woman who truly desires to seek God. That’s why God said: “Thou shalt not covet.”

From: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/relationships/finances/thou-shalt-not-covet/

For more information, see “Tenth Commandment: You Shall Not Covet.”

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Structure of a Volcano

“Why do we call it a "volcano"? Off the coast of Sicily, in the Mediterranean Sea, there is little island called Vulcano.

A long time ago, the people who lived there believed that Vulcano actually was the chimney on the forge of Vulcan. And Vulcan was the blacksmith of the Roman gods.

A volcano is a mountain. However, they are not formed as other mountains are, by folding and crumpling or by uplift and erosion. Volcanoes, in a sense, build themselves with their own eruptions, including lava, bombs (crusted-over lava blobs), ashflows, and tephra (airborne ash and dust).

Usually, a volcano is a conical hill or mountain built around a vent that connects with reservoirs of molten rock below the surface of the Earth. "Volcano" also might be used to refer to the opening through which molten rock and gases are expelled.”

<<< Click on the numbers to learn more about volcanoes.   Source:USGS    From: http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/natural_disasters/volcano/framesource_volcano.html

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Update:

Another week has flown by.  More trips to Conroe to get some banking business done with a man who had been in a flood with his Arctic Fox Fifth Wheel, and it had been totalled by the insurance company.  He had added a lot of special features to his, so he was desperately looking for another Arctic Fox so that he could swap them out.  So I sold it to him, but the money came in dribs and drabs, so that meant 4 trips to Conroe in all. 

I went to the Social Security Office to see why they haven’t called me, but there were so many people already there that they were parked on the grass across the street, even though they have a large parking lot.  Phoning them means just about the same wait time as going there, and it seems that one can get more help with a face-to-face talk with a person.

One day, a friend of Roy’s came and dug up a little of the front yard to find the best place to connect the sewer to the guest house.  We found a good place to tie in to it, so I bought a ‘saddle tee’ from the plumbing supply house, but we haven’t had time to do anything more to the guest house.  A water leak on the other side of my meter was fixed by the water company but they had to dig up another part of my front yard. Then the rains came, and it was a muddy mess for a few days.

Another day, Roy had to go to the VA in Houston for his ‘Pre-Op’ instructions ready for his esophagus surgery on Tuesday.  They were pleased that for the first time he has gained a little weight.  I have been making sure that he has some Greek yogurt each morning before he starts work and that he has a good organic lunch before he leaves.   Now he is doing some work on the Fifth Wheel swapping out the items from the flooded one, as it is parked not too far away.  We will be glad when that’s over and we can get back to working on the guest house.

For the Church potluck I made another Dirty Rice, beef, onion, bell pepper dish.  The Bible readings were Deut. 1:1-3:22, Isa. 1:1-27, John 15:1-11.  The Teaching was about “He went to the Temple” and how He prepared the way.  I couldn’t hear it very well over the loud speaker in the kitchen.  Some people had arrived late and brought dishes that needed to be warmed up, and pizzas that needed to be cooked, so I went to the kitchen to help the Pastor’s wife,  she has enough to do without that.   So as not to cause more work on the Sabbath, some of us always bring something in a crockpot that just has to be plugged in.  As the Sabbath is supposed to be a day of rest, it has been made the day before, on Preparation Day.

Empire Day. Protect Your Children From Technology. “Exceedingly Wise" Ants. Update.

 

Victoria Day, the 24th of May

ARCHIVAL MOMENT

Queen Victoria: Born May 24, 1819

“Victoria Day as we know it today has been known under a number of different names. Our parents and grandparents perhaps best remember it as Empire Day.

With the death of Queen Victoria, who died on 22 January 1901, the nations of the British Commonwealth  including Newfoundland began to search for a way to best celebrate her contributions.

The first ‘Empire Day’ took place on 24th May 1902, Queen Victoria’s birthday. Newfoundland was among the first of the commonwealth nations to officially declare Empire Day an official holiday in 1903.

The holiday has given rise to the

“The 24^th May is the Queen’s Birthday. If we don’t get a holiday we will all run away.”

Empire Day remained on the calendar for more than 50 years. In 1958 Empire Day was renamed as British Commonwealth Day, and still later in 1966 it became known asCommonwealth Day. The date of Commonwealth Day was also changed to 10th June, the official birthday of the present Queen Elizabeth II.

In 1957, Victoria Day was permanently appointed as the Queen’s birthday in Canada. In the United Kingdom, the Queen’s birthday is celebrated in June.

Archival Collection at The Rooms: What have we in the archives about Queen Victoria:  In the search bar  type Victoria: http://gencat1.eloquent-systems.com/webcat/request/DoMenuRequest?SystemName=The+Rooms+Public&UserName=wa+public&Password=&TemplateProcessID=6000_3355&bCachable=1&MenuName=The+Rooms+Archives

Victoria Day in Newfoundland and Labrador marks the beginning of the summer, it is time to open the cabins  and get the camping gear out!!”

From: http://archivalmoments.ca/2016/05/remember-remember-empire-day-the-24th-of-may/

Now known as Victoria Day in Canada.  Happy Victoria Day, to our friends across the border.

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Technology isn’t necessarily bad, but excessive screen time can produce a host of digital dangers. How can you guide your children toward safe and wise choices?

10 Ways to Protect Your Children From Technology Traps

“Like it or not, today’s children are growing up in a digital and increasingly wireless world. Smartphones, laptops, tablet computers, e-book readers, MP3 players, video game consoles and other electronic devices have become an integral part of their lives—and ours. That’s in addition to “old technology,” such as television, which young and old alike still gravitate to.

And that’s not necessarily bad. The Internet, computer apps, interactive video games and TV programs can all be excellent sources of education and entertainment for children. Communications technology like Skype, webcams, email, Instagram and Facebook can actually augment relationships and help children stay connected to people who care about them—for instance, when grandparents or other relatives live far away.

In balance, technology is certainly useful. The problem is, many children today have strayed beyond a moderate use of electronic devices.

Digital dangers

A Kaiser Family Foundation study found that, on average, kids aged 8 to 18 spend practically every waking moment when they’re not in school engaged in entertainment media of some kind—a staggering 7½ hours a day. Somehow in the midst of all this, teens find time for texting. According to Nielsen statistics, teenagers send and receive around 3,700 texts a month, or around 125 each day.

To be fair, parents are often just as absorbed in technology as their children, which only makes matters worse.

“There’s not a lot of time for family members to talk with each other anymore because it’s consumed by all our entertainment devices,” observes Arizona psychologist Lisa Strohman, J.D., Ph.D., director of the Technology Wellness Center and author ofUnplug: Raising Kids in a Technology Addicted World (2015). “Even when family members are in the same room together, they’re often all on their own screens, so they’re not really ‘present’ for each other.””

Complete article at: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/relationships/parenting/technology-traps/

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Exceedingly Wise" Ants

“An Amazing Fact: Some ants live in super colonies that contain more than 300 million individuals.

Wisdom Verse:
“The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their food in the summer.” —Proverbs 30:25.

Perhaps you have heard of the famous “parasol” or “leaf-cutter” ants that make gardens and raise their own crops! These amazing creatures are often seen walking in processions, each one holding a piece of green leaf above its head! These bits of green leaf are not for food, but are taken to their nests and made into a compost soil—for these ants are actually farmers. They deliberately sow, prune, fertilize, weed, harvest, and store a fungus crop as carefully as any gardener tends his vegetables.

 
Some ants living in Texas clear a “field” of one or two square yards and then plant rice. They lay out the rice in beds with pathways running among the plants, and they keep their rice fields carefully weeded. When the rice seeds ripen, the ants harvest them, remove the husks, and store the kernels for food. Later, the ants with very large jaws crack the seeds and crush the kernels into meal for the rest of the ants. If the rice gets damp and is in danger of spoiling, other ants have the sole responsibility of carrying the damp grain out into the sunshine for drying.

There are thousands of amazing scenarios to be found among the roughly 10,000 species of ants on earth, and probably many thousands of lessons to be learned from this tiny creature. In fact, the Bible calls the lowly ant, which typically prepares in advance for the colder months, “exceedingly wise.”

 
It’s important for us to store the bread of life in our minds and be prepared in advance when it comes to our relationship with God. As a Christian, you always need to “be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15 NIV). And we should be “sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:21).

 
Most important, we need to be prepared to meet the Lord when He returns. In Jesus’ story of the wise and foolish virgins, only five of them carried extra oil along with them and were ready to meet the bridegroom when He arrived at an unexpected hour. Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2, 3). The Lord has prepared to receive us into His awesome presence. Are we prepared to go home with Him?
Father in heaven, give me the oil of your Holy Spirit and make me wise. Help me be prepared to meet my Savior at His soon return.”

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Update:

The new worker, Roy, and I have been working on the guest house floor again.  We found out that the far north wall also needed repair as the bottom plate was damaged.   Jay has been too messed up to work, and didn’t go to church with me either.  His mother is getting very exasperated.

We had the Property Owner’s meeting on Saturday, and I had intended to go to the afternoon service at another church, but made it to the morning church by the second hymn.  That was a good thing as the pastor’s wife was at a hospital with a sick relative, so my help was needed with the potluck in the dining hall kitchen.  I had made a very large pot of food for the potluck (fresh tomatoes in an Italian sauce, ground turkey and whole-wheat pasta), thinking that I was going to the larger church, but it was well received by our little congregation, and I had left-overs for a hungry neighbor.

The Bible readings were Lev. 26:3-27:34, Jer. 16:19-17:13 and John 14:15-21.  Pastor Bobbie gave the Teaching on “The Bible, Our Instruction Book.”  It is our “how-to” book and tells how to raise your kids, treat your spouse and anything else that you need to know.

A dog that looked like the Lost Dog that we have been searching for was on the Petharbor.com website so Roni and I drove the 45 mile round trip to the County Pound, but it wasn’t him.  A disappointing but still a beautiful day.

Thoughts On A Historic Day. Windsor Castle. Update.

 

For "Scripture Sunday":

Thoughts on a historic day

"No matter what our people decide about morality, it does not change what God says in the Bible is right and wrong, sinful or righteous.

Ana Gabriel/Unsplash

Will you be overwhelmed by social change and sin and give in what the majority feel is acceptable? Or will you continue to stand firm in your convictions and continue to live by a righteous faith defined by God?

There once was father who looked on his sick child and didn’t know what to do. He knew if the child didn’t get better soon, he would die. The child hadn’t always been sick. He was born healthy. He was loved and nurtured, put into a home that was safe and filled with everything the child would need to grow and develop into a mature adult.

But one day he developed a fever. Further symptoms developed. A cough along with pain. Doctors were consulted. Medication was prescribed. For a time it went away. Strength was regained and life went on.

But in time the sickness came again. This time specialists were consulted. Further diagnosis was made. The sickness, some said, was throughout the body, from the head to the feet. The child was very sick, and unless there was something dramatic he would not get better. He could die.

In desperation the father took the child in his arms as only a father can, and he slowly lifted the child up toward God. In earnest pleas the father described to God what was wrong and asked God “why” and “what” would be done. “My child is desperately sick,” he cried. “Please, dear God, look upon our family and heal our beloved child.”

Today, I feel like this father. Not because my child is sick, but because I see my nation wracked with sickness from its head to its feet and in need of healing. I won’t put the headlines in front of you at this time. You read the news and already know the great moral and spiritual issues facing the United States of America.

I’m like this father who looks around and sees a people suffering the impact of spiritual sin; of a broken moral law. America is suffering the result of breaking the Ten Commandments of the Eternal God.

Today instead of pointing out the specific sins, I feel like turning to a little-known biblical prophet named Habakkuk. Habakkuk broke the mold of Old Testament prophets by taking the condition of his fellow countrymen and lifting them up to God in a sincere plea to notice the problem and help him see a way through to better days. The first four verses of the book named for him describe the violence, the injustice and spiritual condition of a nation called by God’s name, supposedly “one nation under God.” They had lost their way and did not know why. Habakkuk pleaded for them, for their life.

God’s answer to Habakkuk is this: “Look among the nations and watch—be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you” (Habakkuk 1:5).

God was doing something larger than the prophet could understand at that moment. He was working among that nation, and there were even bigger changes coming. God’s firm and loving judgment was on the horizon and would sweep over the nation of Judah. “Habakkuk,” God was saying, “hold on to your hat—it’s going to be a bumpy ride!”

Habakkuk had to resign himself to this new reality. He had to live by the righteous faith he personally knew and let God do what He was going to do.

No matter what our people decide about morality, it does not change what God says in the Bible is right and wrong, sinful or righteous. Nothing has changed as far as God’s spiritual teaching is concerned. The question to Habakkuk and to us is: “How will we continue to live?” Will you be overwhelmed by social change and sin and give in what the majority feel is acceptable? Or will you continue to stand firm in your convictions and continue to live by a righteous faith defined by God?

The world is changing. America is not the same nation it once was. I can only present the case to God, much like a father might present his sick child, and ask God’s direction and light to guide us into the future. May God yet bless America in spite of current moral and spiritual condition." 

Article and comments at: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/blogs/a-cry-for-my-nation-thoughts-on-a-historic-day

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The Windsor Castle

An Amazing Fact: "The Windsor Castle is the longest-occupied palace in all of Europe.

Windsor Castle is also the largest inhabited castle in England. It’s one of the residences of Queen Elizabeth II. She spends many weekends of the year there, using it for entertaining private and state groups. Located in the English county of Berkshire, it has a long history with the British royal family.

The castle was originally built in the 11th century after the Norman invasion of William the Conqueror. It was designed after the motte and-bailey structure, with a raised mound surrounded by a ditch. A strong wall of timber and rock was created around a keep, often with a drawbridge, which led to a courtyard inside.

Towers were erected along the wall for defense purposes. In smaller castles, there might only be one tower that could house a few soldiers. Windsor began with a very simple plan, but over the last 950 years, new monarchs remodeled and created new additions. It now has three wards with the massive Round Tower occupying a central position. Many new towers were added over the years, including the Curfew, Edward III, Salisbury, Henry III, and the Garter Tower.

Windsor has survived many sieges since it was first built. In 1649 the English parliament almost voted to demolish the castle. A bill to destroy it lost by only one vote. It has been neglected and declared uninhabitable, but it now has been transformed into a luxurious palace. It has survived two World Wars. In fact, the royal family used the palace as a place of refuge during the bombings of World War II. In 1992 a large fire nearly destroyed a major portion of the castle.

In biblical times towers were built as places of refuge and safety, not just to make a fortress look nice. These strongholds could be more easily protected from approaching enemies since it placed defenders above attackers in a fortified structure. If a city wall was breached, people could run into a tower for safety.

That’s apparently the picture presented to us in this proverb. God’s name is an impenetrable tower! When Moses requested to see God, it was the Lord’s name that was presented to him. God’s name presents His character—gracious, loving, and compassionate (Exodus 34:6, 7). In other words, when we yield ourselves into God’s hands, the Lord, who is merciful, will be our refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1).
Additional reading: Proverbs 18:1–12
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. - Proverbs 18:10

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Update:

I haven't written anything lately because nothing has really happened yet.  I gave Ray an eviction notice because he was so far behind with the rent in my guest house.  He took off again the next morning, without a word, and took the sweet outside black cat with him.  I hope that she will be happy. 

But, as he didn't pay the light bill at his disabled son's house, the son has been staying in the guest house, using the electricity which is in my name!  It took a month for an agency to finally help the son by paying his light bill so he could move back to his own home.   I am still cooking his father's food for him, as he doesn't know how.

We moved all my furniture and appliances out of the guest house, and Ray's living room stuff is all piled up in one end.  The bedroom is still full of his things.  The appliances had to be hosed down before they could be stored, and we have to do quite a lot of repairs.  Now maybe we can take up the kitchen linoleum and replace that.  So we are still just waiting to have the place emptied out with nothing in the way.  No one knows when Ray will show up again, and he doesn't answer his phone, not even to his son.

The 17 year old cat was moved to a different foster home because I couldn't bear to hear her crying.  She had to be locked up in a large cage as she peed on my floors and carpet.  They are going to try a different diet and see if that helps her kidney troubles caused by being fed dry cat food all her life.

So now I just have one foster cat, Nala.  She is a white cat with black splotches, which are commonly called "moo-cats".  She is a spoiled brat-cat, and we are very close.  But because of my age, she needs to be adopted or she will be an old cat looking for a forever home.

I 'bought' the Dodge van out of the repair shop, it was getting too hot to drive the Puddle Jumper into town. On it's first trip, Jay and I loaded it down with items to go to the consignment shop and to be donated.  Getting more and more stuff out of here.  For it's second trip, Jay went to church with me and everyone welcomed him back. 

This week the Bible readings were Num. 19:1-21:35, Judges 11:1-33 and John 3:14-21.  The Teaching was 'Turn Away from Idolatry'.  Mostly about Baal and all the things that can be idolatry, including money!  Anything that one considers of more importance, before God, can be called an idol.

The potluck was great. I took an Asian cucumber and carrot salad with sesame oil and sesame seeds.  The pastor's wife had brought a very tasty, tender, big crockpot of lamb.   Then we always have lots of salads, different veggies, legumes and garlic bread.

We have had some storms, but now the weather is getting hotter each day!

How Christian Is Easter? LEAVE LIVE ANIMALS OUT OF EASTER. When Life Doesn’t Make Sense. The Windsor Castle. Update.

 

For "Scripture Sunday":

How Christian Is Easter?

"Soon up to 2 billion people will celebrate one of the world’s most popular religious holidays—Easter. But curiously, the Bible nowhere promotes such an observance. Where did this day come from? How did it become so popular? And is it even Christian?

Source: 123RF

Where do you get your religious beliefs? Easter is the most important holiday for hundreds of millions of people. Anyone who claims to be Christian should want God to guide and lead them. But could you be misled?

I’m reminded of counterfeit money. Did you know that you could be carrying a worthless bill and not even know it? Counterfeiters are often successful because they make their fakes look like the real thing. Forgery is one of the oldest crimes in history, but it doesn’t just affect money.

Today a much greater counterfeit is so successful that most people don’t even realize they’re deceived. What counterfeit? The religion known as Christianity, as surprising as that may be! Jesus Himself warned about religious counterfeits, saying, “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect” (Matthew:24:24).

More at:  http://www.ucg.org/holidays-and-holy-days/how-christian-easter/ article by Steve Myers

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LEAVE LIVE ANIMALS OUT OF EASTER

By Cheryl Conley, TWRC Wildlife Center

"Easter will be here soon. For those of us who work with animals, it’s also a time of dread. Thousands of baby chicks, ducks and bunnies are purchased every year as Easter gifts only to be abandoned or taken to shelters once the novelty has worn off. Sadly many are euthanized because homes cannot be found for them.

Some think it’s okay to release these animals into the wild. This means certain death. They cannot fend for themselves and will die of starvation, exposure to the elements or will be preyed upon by other animals. Don’t think that you can simply take the animal to a shelter either. Most animal welfare organizations are not equipped to handle animals given as Easter gifts. The only option for these groups is to try to rehome the animal and more often than not this is not possible and the animal must be euthanized."  More at: http://www.twrcwildlifecenter.org/leave-live-animals-out-of-easter/

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When Life Doesn’t Make Sense

"Sometimes we struggle to understand the events of our lives. When life is difficult, how can we make sense of what doesn’t seem to make sense?

There are things in life that we have just accepted—difficult things, unfair things, tragic things for which we have no explanation. But the time may come when we’re forced to confront these questions. When troubles strike close to home, we may either accept the fact that we have no answers or perhaps come up with answers that may later be proved wrong. That takes us back to square one. Is it possible to find the answers we need?

What is the purpose of life anyway?

An elaborate experiment.  Solomon, one of the wisest men who ever lived (1 Kings 4:29-30), sought to understand many of these questions. He tried to find answers to life’s enigmas by experimenting with every form of pleasure (Ecclesiastes 2:1). He tried alcohol (verse 3). He tried beautiful gardens with plenty of fruit (verse 5). He acquired vast wealth (verse 7). No CDs or DVDs were available then, but he had the real thing—live music whenever he wanted (verse 8)!

In the end, this wise man came to a conclusion well worth our consideration: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter [all the things he tried]: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

Solomon’s conclusion? Even though there will inevitably be difficulties, life can make sense when we live according to God’s instruction—when we live by every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). More at: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/christian-living/when-life-doesnt-make-sense/  by Harris Hlazo

______

The Windsor Castle

An Amazing Fact: "The Windsor Castle is the longest-occupied palace in all of Europe.

Windsor Castle is also the largest inhabited castle in England. It’s one of the residences of Queen Elizabeth II. She spends many weekends of the year there, using it for entertaining private and state groups. Located in the English county of Berkshire, it has a long history with the British royal family.

The castle was originally built in the 11th century after the Norman invasion of William the Conqueror. It was designed after the motte and-bailey structure, with a raised mound surrounded by a ditch. A strong wall of timber and rock was created around a keep, often with a drawbridge, which led to a courtyard inside.

Towers were erected along the wall for defense purposes. In smaller castles, there might only be one tower that could house a few soldiers. Windsor began with a very simple plan, but over the last 950 years, new monarchs remodeled and created new additions. It now has three wards with the massive Round Tower occupying a central position. Many new towers were added over the years, including the Curfew, Edward III, Salisbury, Henry III, and the Garter Tower.

Windsor has survived many sieges since it was first built. In 1649 the English parliament almost voted to demolish the castle. A bill to destroy it lost by only one vote. It has been neglected and declared uninhabitable, but it now has been transformed into a luxurious palace. It has survived two World Wars. In fact, the royal family used the palace as a place of refuge during the bombings of World War II. In 1992 a large fire nearly destroyed a major portion of the castle.

In biblical times towers were built as places of refuge and safety, not just to make a fortress look nice. These strongholds could be more easily protected from approaching enemies since it placed defenders above attackers in a fortified structure. If a city wall was breached, people could run into a tower for safety. That’s apparently the picture presented to us in this proverb. God’s name is an impenetrable tower!

When Moses requested to see God, it was the Lord’s name that was presented to him. God’s name presents His character—gracious, loving, and compassionate (Exodus 34:6, 7). In other words, when we yield ourselves into God’s hands, the Lord, who is merciful, will be our refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1).
Additional reading: Proverbs 18:1–12
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. - Proverbs 18:10

______

Update:

It has been another week of rainy days, smattered with a good day here and there.  Sweaters, coats and jeans one day, then tank top and shorts the next.  Heat one day, and AC the next.

Ray and I managed to sort out one of the lumber racks. Hopefully, if the rain stays away, we can sort out another one.  I like to keep the lumber, and short pieces, 'filed' in size order.

The Famotidine that the dermatologist prescribed has been making my life a bit better, as I haven't had such horrible flare-ups of the hives.  But, I have also been avoiding all nightshade veggies. http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/link-between-nightshades-chronic-pain-and-inflammation  and:  https://artistamyshealthjourney.wordpress.com/2013/02/09/list-of-nightshade-veggies-and-fruits/

I do not have any chronic pain or inflammation, but the nightshade veggies just seem to make me break out in hives. I really found that out after I had some eggplant, and also some bell peppers.  I have been avoiding anything with tomatoes or white potatoes in it, too, and that helps.  I have been eating sweet potatoes, quinoa, bulgur, http://www.bobsredmill.com/golden-bulgur.html and other kinds of veggies.

The red Dodge minivan is at the mechanics having a new blower motor, new door lock actuators and a few other things done to it.  So I am still driving old faithful, the blue Ford minivan.  After getting in and out of the Dodge, I realize how much easier it is than the Ford, as it is closer to the ground.  I have shrunk 2" in my old age.

Passover will be here soon, so Jay helped me move the fridge and vacuum every little place where leaven might be hiding.  "You shall remove leaven from your houses"
Exodus 12:15.  "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 5:7    This must be where the idea of spring cleaning came from.

Yesterday, while I was at church, Nala, my foster cat, and BabyGirl, my foster dog, both were taken to our SPCA's Adoption Day, for the afternoon.  They seemed to enjoy themselves.  BabyGirl loves any sort of outing, and just adores it when the kids come in and play with her.  Shy Nala even came out of her bed in the display cage to let a little boy pet her.

Some people found a baby possum when it's mother got killed by a car.  They are bottle feeding it.  I found out that it is illegal to possess an opossum in TX, but they don't want to turn it over to the Wildlife rehabilitators. I hope the poor little thing will be alright, I know I wouldn't want it!  I have bottle-fed many kittens and puppies, (and people babies), but a possum…..!

The Bible readings were Psa. 91,92,93, Exo. 38:21-40:38, 1 Kings 7:51-8:10 and Rev. 15:5-8. The teaching was about Jesus being our Passover. Jesus was the wave sheath offering. The Passover is for all of us, not just the Jews.

For the church potluck I took Wheat Berry and Bulgur Turkey-Apple Stuffing, a Weight Watchers Recipe, but minus the Wheat berries. http://www.thedailymeal.com/pointsplus-wheat-berry-and-bulgur-turkey-apple-stuffing-recipe  I also took a blackberry/yogurt pie made with rice milk, which I had made in a graham cracker shell.  No left-overs to bring home.

The potluck was great, as usual, and we had a lot of good food, talk and fellowship in the dining hall, while it teemed down rain.  After a while, I looked outside at the grass parking area and my van was sitting in 2" of water.  I knew that I had better get out of there before it got any higher.   Fortunately, I was able to back out around some other cars and head towards home.

No more rain in the 10-day forecast except for Thursday.