The Birth of Jesus Was Not Dec. 25. How Can You Kick the Christmas Habit?

 “The Birth of Jesus,” 

Christ and the early Church didn’t celebrate Christmas. Why? If you strip it of its commercialism, pre-Christian customs and inaccuracies, what do you learn?

"A member of the God family was willing to be born as a human, live a sinless life, and suffer and die for us! What an awesome truth, beyond full human understanding. We should and must remember it and use this truth to change our lives.

But how do we remember this truth? By mixing it with lies, commercialism and ancient pagan customs? Surely Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, doesn’t want us to celebrate the rebirth of the sun God or the Roman Saturnalia or the pagan Yule customs of pre-Christian Europe?

This week’s featured article, “The Birth of Jesus,” explores what the Bible really says about Jesus’ birth, and it shows why the truth bears little resemblance to the human-devised holiday most people think honors Christ. God does care how we worship Him, and so must we.

The Birth of Jesus Was Not Dec. 25

Was the birth of Jesus really on Dec. 25?  What else is questionable about Christmas?

Today, Christmas has become a nostalgic icon of a past that never was.  Santa Claus, the Christmas tree and lots of gifts take center stage in Christian and non-Christian homes.  But these and other customs have little connection to the Bible and the true story of the birth of Jesus, or the message and meaning of His first coming.

 While the Bible teaches a great deal about Jesus and His message through the story of the birth of Jesus Christ (“Christ” means “messiah” or “anointed”), the traditions of Christmas often mislead, misinform and even contradict the Scriptures!

Would you be surprised to learn that the Bible doesn’t say when Jesus Christ was born? That the early New Testament Church didn’t celebrate Christmas? That Christmas was banned by the Puritans of New England? Or that some Christians today do not celebrate Christmas for biblical and doctrinal reasons?          Why? 

 More at: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/god/who-is-jesus/the-birth-of-jesus/

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How Can You Kick the Christmas Habit?

 MP3 Audio(12.43 MB)

Andrew Neel/Unsplash

How can you and your family and friends make this work, especially if you share a home with people who want to celebrate Christmas?

Maybe you’ve heard that Christmas isn’t all that Christian. Maybe you’re wondering if you should celebrate it at all this year. If you’re not sure, read “Would Jesus Celebrate Christmas?” https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-magazine/would-jesus-celebrate-christmas  . And then prove to yourself whether or not you should keep Christmas.

Go on—kick the tires, tug on the seams, look behind the curtain, pull out the microscope. The truth can withstand scrutiny. You won’t hurt its feelings.

There is so much more to family than any one holiday, and you have many opportunities to show your family that you love them.

If you’ve considered the evidence and have decided to kick the Christmas habit, your next question is likely to be, “Well, now what?” That’s what mine was. How do you not celebrate Christmas when everyone around you has put on a Santa hat and put up a tree? How do you keep your relationships with family and friends when you don’t celebrate Christmas anymore? Will they understand?

It can feel like a lonely road with only the strength of your convictions for company, but you are not alone. I too walk this path, as do many others. And most importantly, God the Father and Jesus Christ will be with you. If God is leading you to step out on faith and leave Christmas behind, I’d like to share with you three principles to practice as you take this step: Prepare yourself, honor God and love your family. More at: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-magazine/how-can-you-kick-the-christmas-habit 

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Christ vs. Christianity: The Birth of Jesus: Myths and Misperceptions

Jesus Christ’s birth is often depicted in artwork, movies, storybooks and nativity scenes. But do these traditional images get the story right?         
https://lifehopeandtruth.com/god/who-is-jesus/the-birth-of-jesus/myths-and-misperceptions/

The typical nativity scene depicts a manger surrounded by Mary and Joseph and animals, with three wise men arriving just after Jesus' birth. But what's wrong with this picture?

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Update.

We had some really cold nights when it got below freezing, so that inspired us, my helper and me, to start insulating the guest house so that it would be warmer to work in there.  We did that for four mornings, as it was too cold to work on the plumbing.  On top of the usual fiberglass batt insulation we nailed 1/2 " foam board insulation everywhere.  It is really drafty and cold up here on this hill in the wintertime, so we are being very diligent about stopping up any little cracks  even caulking the joints in the window headers.  

One afternoon we went back over to National Supply and bought one more double- paned window for $15.  There was a place on the side wall that could use another window and we needed to install it before the insulation, foam board and paneling were completed.  This is a fixed window, so burglars can't open it and gain access.

I took in a little Chihuahua dog who was abandoned when her "Mom" was taken to the hospital.  The Mom didn't even ask about her dog when released later.  I know the dog, she is very young and has already had puppies.  She is still at the puppy stage herself, and likes to chew on things.  When she is in the house, I have to keep one eye on her.  Just a few days after I got the new-to-me computer, the dog chewed up the Ethernet cable, so I couldn't do much until that was fixed.   Now if I have to leave her alone I put her in a great big cage with a big blankie, food and water.   I have to be very careful where I park my slippers at night!  She has had a previous hard life and has terrible separation anxiety, so I let her sleep on my bed. 

The Bible readings were Psalms 133, 127, Gen.28:10-32:3, Hosea 10:12-14:9, John 1:43-51. Most of those are about Jacob, Leah, Rachel and Esau.

 We have a couple of vegans at the church, so I try to accommodate them once in a while, so I took a vegetarian Israeli dish to the church potluck,  Lentil Stew with Potatoes and Spinach. http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/lentil-stew-with-spinach-and-potatoes-349   

I took a big potful, but it was all gone before anything else, even the 'beefeaters' liked it,  so I couldn't bring any home for another day.

Speak The Truth In Love. When Your Spouse Complains. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Majestic Monarch Butterfly. Update.

 

For "Scripture Sunday":

Speak The Truth In Love.

"What we say and why we say it has a huge impact on our relationships. Can telling the truth ever have bad results? Is it okay to lie for a good reason?

“Is it OK to lie for a good cause?” was the question asked in a recent TED conversation. The answers that came in were interesting.

One replied, “In my opinion the basis for moral action is loosely speaking to ‘maximize others’ well-being/minimize the harm you do to others.’ A rule such as ‘never lie’ is thus in my opinion not in itself the basis for moral action, but rather almost always a direct consequence of trying to be moral in the first sense. Lying can in my view therefore sometimes be moral.”

But can it really?

Another person quoted a religious figure who provided a more traditionalist conclusion: “It is a sin for someone to lie. When he lies for a good cause, i.e. to save someone else, this is half a sin, because the lie is for the benefit of his fellow man and not for himself. However it is also considered a sin; therefore, we should keep it in mind, and not fall into the habit of telling lies for insignificant things.”

So, is it okay to lie for a good cause? What does God say about lying and truth and our motives?"

Read More at: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/relationships/communication/speak-the-truth-in-love/ By Ralph Levy

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Marriage Builder - When Your Spouse Complains

"When one spouse complains, typically the other becomes defensive. Learning to deal with complaints before they become destructive is critical to the success of every marriage."

From Jimmy Evans: "Early in our marriage, Karen and I had an enormous amount of anger between us. We fought all the time. We couldn't talk about anything because it almost always led to a fight.

That's a dangerous way to live in a marriage. Chronic anger causes severe health problems. Did you know people in bad marriages actually have shorter life spans? Anger consumes our energy and wears us out.

How do you deal with anger in your marriage?

First, don't deny it. In Ephesians 4: 26-27, the Apostle Paul says that we will be angry. When this happens, admit it. Don't bottle it up. Suppressing anger may feel helpful in the short term, but unexpressed anger can be devastating. The pressure will build and build until you explode.

Cultivate an atmosphere of honesty within your relationship, so you and your spouse both feel free to complain and express anger. You have to be able to share anything with each other. I've counseled individuals before and one person will tell me something important about their thoughts or feelings.

I'll ask, "Have you told your spouse that?" They'll answer, "Oh, no. They'll go ballistic." What that means is the atmosphere in their home is not safe. They aren't free to complain because that kind of honesty can be dangerous to their marriage.

Allow your spouse to be angry. But when your spouse does offer a specific complaint, you must respond in a healthy way.

Don't get defensive. The best customer relations counters are the ones that take back a defective product and replace it with no questions asked. It's easy.

That's the kind of attitude we need in marriage. Defensive behavior makes it difficult. It makes a spouse feel they don't have a right to complain. In fact, defensiveness is a major predictor of divorce.

Early in our marriage, Karen would tell me something that was bothering her. She would explain that there was a problem and I would respond, "No, you're the problem. If you would just get your act together, everything would be fine."   That is not helpful.

Don't let your anger "age." Paul told the Ephesians not to let the sun go down on their anger. He meant that anger should be dealt with immediately. If you let it age—if you let it simmer and stew—it gets worse. It begins to fester.

Long-term anger turns into contempt. It turns into bitterness. It becomes poisonous and hardens your heart to whatever made you angry in the first place. Don't hide your anger in hopes that it will just go away. It turns toxic.

Don't stonewall. This is when communication totally shuts down. It's a response that means you're not willing to talk at all. "Do not talk to me about the children. Do not talk to me about money. Don't talk to me about my behavior."

A marriage with no communication is a marriage that's in trouble. We need to be able to complain to each other. We have to talk things out—but we have to do it without getting defensive, throwing a fit, or insulting each other.

Dysfunctional families don't talk. Functional families are honest and work things out when one spouse has a complaint. What kind of family is yours?" 

More and video at: http://www.marriagetoday.com/when-your-spouse-complains/  and  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWVP_9CNGwU#t=13

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The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

An Amazing Fact: "Not all garbage ends up at the dump. In fact, Earth’s largest landfill isn’t on land at all. Every year millions of tons of plastic and other floating garbage is washed, blown, or dumped into the Pacific Ocean. It comes from rivers, boats, and populated beaches around the coasts of the great sea. Gradually, a constantly revolving whirlpool of ocean currents and wind gather and push these items into a virtual vortex of trash. This forms a floating rubbish convergence zone bigger than the state of Texas.

This galaxy of garbage, known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, stretches more than a thousand miles across the central North Pacific Ocean. It is found in ocean space between Japan and California, while hovering a few hundred miles north of Hawaii. There are places where this tangled mass of nets, bottles, and bags is so thick you can walk on it, but most of the garbage patch is a minestrone soup of rubbish. Despite its continental size, the patch is not visible through satellite photography because most of its contents are a snow of plastic confetti suspended beneath the surface of the ocean.

This swirling synthetic sea presents a deadly minefield of debris. Each year thousands of ocean-going birds, fish, and mammals are killed trying to survive near this growing gauntlet of garbage. Turtles eat the plastic bags, thinking they are jellyfish. Birds eat the plastic particles, thinking they’re fish or shrimp, then starve because the indigestible polymers give them the false sensation they are full.

It is estimated this nebulous, floating junk yard, also called the Pacific Trash Vortex, may contain over 100 million tons of debris, and it’s growing every year. While it is the largest, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is not unique. It is only one of five gigantic gatherings of garbage found among the seven seas of the world.

 
Did you know the Bible says that God will cast our sins in the depths of the sea? But the good news is that they don’t float! “He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19).
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts. - Psalms 104:25

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In the Animal Kingdom:

Help Save The Majestic Monarch Butterfly

"Don't let this North American crown jewel slip away. Urge the EPA to come up with a monarch butterfly rescue plan.

The monarch butterfly is one of the most recognizable and revered butterflies in all the world.

Each year, the monarchs begin a remarkable journey when they fly north to lay their eggs—some as far as 3,000 miles. For three brief generations, each lasting only one or two months, the monarchs mate and breed. The fourth generation of butterflies then returns to Mexico where they hibernate in a remote forest for six to eight months, until it is time to repeat the process.

It is a process that has continued uninterrupted for 250,000 years, but the last 15 years have seen dwindling numbers.

In the US, modern pesticides are killing milkweed, a primary source of nutrition. In Mexico, illegal loggers destroy their habitat.

Monarchs are the only known species of butterfly to migrate each year, seeking abundant food in the summer and warmer climates during the winter. Unfortunately, modern pesticides are killing milkweed in the U.S., a primary source of nutrition, while illegal loggers destroy their habitat in Mexico.

Take Action: Urge the EPA to intervene. http://therainforestsite.greatergood.com/clickToGive/trs/petition/MonarchButterflies

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Update:

It has been another cold week.  Not much outside work going on.   Three stray feral cats that have taken up residence here have been going into the enclosed canopy carport and using it as their personal litter box.  They thought that it was much better than doing it out in the cold I suppose.  We sprinkled the ground with paprika one day, pepper the next, which seemed to work, and next we will try mothballs.   I furnished them with a real litter box and litter, and one did use it.  We can't trap them, they are too clever. The situation might get out of hand if they breed, so we will have to do something with these two females and one male.

One big thing happened this week.  The person who used my credit card that was stolen in the robbery, was finally arrested.  They were found with some 'controlled substance', too!  So now we, you and me, will be supporting them for a while.  I wish there were some way of retrieving the things that were stolen.  I had lost almost all the pictures of my kids when they were little in the house fire and then the flood.  The only ones that I did have were stolen in the robbery as they were in my checkbook case, which I left at the house while I was in hospital.

Jay and I went shopping on Wednesday and picked up some 2x6's for the ceiling in the greenhouse extension to the storeroom.  We also got some bargains at the thrift shops.  I got some lovely sweaters, and Jay got some winter shirts.

Something went wrong with Ray's car, so I took him to the doctor on Friday.  The doctor sent his prescription to CVS.  We went grocery shopping and got a few parts at Lowes waiting for the prescription to be filled. When Ray called them, they said it would be another hour, and then it was another half-hour.  So we just dawdled around Conroe most of the day.

On Sunday, Ray and I took this computer out into the workshop, opened up the big workshop door, then opened up the computer and gently blew the dust out with the compressor.  Then we moved the computer desk and everything back to it's old place in front of the patio door that leads to the screened–in porch.  We moved my sewing machine back to where the computer was, and oiled it.  I might get some sewing done now.

Jim, the mechanic down the street, finally made the diagnosis that Ray's car needed a coil pack, so I took Ray to get it, Jim installed it and all is well now.

Ray and I went to church bundled up in several layers, as it was cold and rainy.  They can't keep the chapel very warm as it is an old building with not much insulation. The Bible readings were Deut. 6:5, Psa.139, 145, Exo. 1-6:1, Isa 27:6-28 and Jer.1:1-2:3.  The Teaching was about the 'Destructiveness of Sin'.

The potluck was good as usual.  We never know what the members will bring to the dining hall.  We had salmon hors d'oeuvres, salads, turkey chili with turkey sausages, turkey meatloaf, beef enchiladas, beef tacos and fixin's, and lots of different veggies.  Pumpkin pie, cake and cookies for dessert.

I had wanted to watch one of my favorite shows 'As Time Goes By' on PBS at 7.00pm, but fell fast asleep.  It had been a happy though tiring, rainy day.

Thanksgiving Day.

 

Happy Thanksgiving.  Please be safe, thankful and joyful.

Thanksgiving Day

An Amazing Fact: "Thanksgiving Day might not be celebrated in the United States today were it not for a remarkable woman named Sarah Josepha Hale (1788 -1879). It is well known that the first Thanksgiving Day was celebrated by the Pilgrim fathers in 1621 to give thanks for their bountiful harvest in the New World. In 1789, President George Washington issued a Thanksgiving Day proclamation to commemorate the first Pilgrim celebration. But Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, discontinued it. After this, Thanksgiving was observed by some individual states on whatever date suited their fancy.

Then in 1828, Mrs. Hale, a patient, persistent 34-year-old widow and mother of four, began campaigning for the restoration of Thanksgiving as a national holiday. For years she wrote letters and sought appointments with national leaders, from five different presidents on down. Time after time she was politely rebuffed, sometimes being told it was “impractical” and “impossible,” and sometimes being chased off and scolded and told, “This is none of your business!”

But Sarah was relentless. Finally in 1863, President Lincoln listened seriously to her plea that North and South “lay aside enmities and strife on (Thanksgiving) Day.” He proclaimed the fourth Thursday of November to be the official “national Thanksgiving Day.” This day was finally ratified by the U.S. Congress in 1941.

What many people do not know is that Mrs. Sarah Hale was the first woman magazine editor in the U.S., and the first person to use the word “lingerie” to describe undergarments. Sarah also helped start the first college for girls in the U.S., was the first to suggest public playgrounds, and also started the first day nursery for working mothers. But Sarah
Hale is probably best remembered as author of the poem “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”

The Bible encourages us to have a spirit of thanks in our hearts. Daniel thanked God for insight to understand Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. “I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of You, for You have made known to us the king’s demand” (Daniel 2:23). Whether it is for God’s protection, the bountiful harvest of our fields, the blessings of family, or the guidance of the Spirit, giving thanks is a habit we should express all year long."
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. - Psalms 100:4

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Unthankful to Our Creator

Romans 1:21  "Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened."

"In the early chapters of Romans, Paul shows the sinfulness of all men, gentiles and Jews. This verse follows the powerful statement that “His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse” (verse 20). God’s creation itself is proof that God exists, so even those without any biblical background are without excuse.

But the gentiles of Paul’s day put God out of their minds and didn’t give Him glory or show Him thanks. Many people today follow this same poor example. Ingratitude is a hallmark of human nature and especially of this end-time perilous age (as Paul mentions in 2 Timothy 3:2).

Psalm 100, “a Psalm of Thanksgiving,” provides the cure for this common ailment. “Know that the LORD, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves. … Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name” (Psalm 100:3-4).

For more about gratitude, see “In Everything Give Thanks.”

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2 Reasons Thanksgiving Is Being Forgotten

"It seems Thanksgiving Day is becoming less important in America today. Why is this 151-year-old national holiday becoming overlooked? Does thankfulness matter?

Black Friday sales dominate the thoughts of many during the Thanksgiving season. It seems that many would rather focus on getting things for themselves than giving thanks to God.

President Lincoln’s proclamation said: “The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added … [by] the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.”

Lincoln continued: “No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God. … It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people.”

So why don’t American leaders, or even average Americans, talk like this anymore? Consider two reasons:

More at: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/blog/2-reasons-thanksgiving-is-being-forgotten/

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Update:

The Crime Stoppers "Featured Felon" has been seen in this neighborhood again, but hasn't been arrested yet.  We don't know where she is hiding, but I hope the police pick her up soon.  It is scary having a known robber on the loose.

Today, I stayed home and my son came to see me. It was a quiet day.

Catholic Church Admits Changing The Sabbath. Sabbath Commandment in the New Testament. Saturday in Many Languages. Update.

 

For"Scripture Sunday":

Catholic Church Admits They Changed The Sabbath.

"I have repeatedly offered 1000 dollars to anyone who can proved to me from the bible alone that I am bound to keep Sunday Holy, there is NO SUCH LAW in the Bible."

Published on Jun 20, 2013

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Why is the Sabbath Commandment Not Repeated in the New Testament?

"Jesus Christ and the apostles lived and taught in a Sabbath-keeping society.

Some people believe that, since the Sabbath commandment isn't explicitly repeated in the New Testament, it is no longer binding. But is this true?

The Sabbath commandment did not have to be repeated in the New Testament, simply because the people to whom Jesus Christ and the apostles preached would never have imagined that it needed to be repeated!

The Scriptures that would later be called the Old Testament were their Bible, their guide for living (Romans:15:4). Paul described them as being "given by inspiration of God, and . . . profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy:3:16-17).

The Holy Scriptures clearly commanded them to keep the Sabbath, and the common people accepted that as God's inspired instruction.

Jesus Christ and the apostles lived and taught in a Sabbath-keeping society. Jesus' confrontations with the Pharisees were over how to observe the Sabbath, never over whether to observe it.

When the apostles took their message beyond the confines of Judea, Sabbath observance was well known in other parts of the Roman Empire. Notice, for example, what the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, writing during the New Testament period, said: "The multitude of mankind itself have had a great inclination for a long time to follow our religious observances; for there is not any city of the Grecians, nor any of the barbarians, nor any nation whatsoever, whither our custom of resting on the seventh day hath not come . . . As God himself pervades all the world, so hath our law passed through all the world also" (Against Apion, Book 2, chap. 40).

The examples of Jesus and the apostles confirm that they believed in and obeyed all of the Ten Commandments. Throughout the book of Acts—written by Luke, a gentile —the Sabbath and the annual Sabbaths described in Leviticus 23 are mentioned quite routinely (Acts:13:14, 42, 44; 16:13; 17:2; 18:4, 21; 20:6, 16; 27:9). Whether to observe them simply wasn't a question."  From: http://www.ucg.org/booklet/sunset-sunset-gods-sabbath-rest/was-sabbath-changed-new-testament/why-sabbath-commandment-no/

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Names for Saturday in Many Languages Prove Which Day Is the True Sabbath

"Which day of the week is the biblical Sabbath? It is clear from the names for the seventh day of the week, Saturday, in many languages.

Many are confused over the issue, but such confusion is unnecessary. Not only is the answer plain from history and the Bible, it is also clear from the names for the seventh day of the week, Saturday, in many languages.

For example, the Spanish word for the seventh day of the week, Saturday, is sabado—the same word for "Sabbath." In fact, in more than 100 ancient and modern languages the seventh day of the week was named "Sabbath" or its equivalent. Following is a list of names for the seventh day of the week, Saturday, in 24 languages in which the root word Sabbath is still easily recognizable.

Such widespread use of forms of the word Sabbath for the seventh day of the week, Saturday, is clear evidence that speakers of these languages understood which day is the Sabbath.

Likewise, the fact that in no language do we see "Sabbath" similarly linked with Sunday, the first day of the week, is an obvious confirmation that this day never was considered the biblical Sabbath until later religious leaders tried to substitute Sunday for the true Sabbath day.

Arabic: Sabet

Armenian: Shabat

Bosnian: Subota

Bulgarian: Sabota

Corsican: Sàbatu

Croatian: Subota

Czech: Sobota

Georgian: Sabati

Greek: Savvato

Indonesian: Sabtu

Italian: Sabato

Latin: Sabbatum

Maltese: is-Sibt

Polish: Sobota

Portuguese: S ábado

Romanian: Sambata

Russian: Subbota

Serbian: Subota

Slovak: Sobota

Slovene: Sobota

Somali: Sabti

Spanish: Sabado

Sudanese: Saptu

Ukranian: Subota"

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Update:

Some occurrences around here have rather knocked the stuffing out of me, and I am still not up to par.  Sometimes, I have to force myself to look at this computer.  One was the death of my ex-daughter-in-law, Becky from cancer.  Also, it is really getting me down that they still have not arrested the burglars who robbed my house while I was in the hospital.  They were picked up on another charge, and bonded out!  How slowly moves the long arm of the law. 

Jay has started on a wall in the old carport which is in front of the storeroom, where the Puddle Jumper used to be parked.  This will keep the driving rain out and give more storage or even a greenhouse, on that lot.

After I got wet and cold when shopping for building materials, I came down with a fever and my chest hurt.  It takes 2 weeks to get an appointment at the clinic, so I could have gone there and sat around for hours waiting to be seen, but I just didn't feel well enough.  I thought I had cracked a rib, but it was much better after some Aleve and bed rest.  So I have switched doctors.  This one says that if you call by 8.15 am, that you will be seen that day.  I hope so!

The dog that I rescued had her second trip to the vet to look at her infected ears, and Nala my foster cat went to have her rabies shot and microchip.  SPCA asked if I would pick up one of the cats from the Cat Habitat at Petco and take it to the vet too, as it wasn't feeling well.  The vet told me not to take it back to the habitat as it had something that could be contagious. I couldn't get hold of anyone to ask them where to take it, so I had to isolate it in my grooming room.  Kenya picked it up that night, and another foster mom helped me sanitize the grooming room the next day.   My other foster cat, Siamese Purrcy, went to the sanitized habitat to take it's place.  Now I have Giovanni, a beautiful, gentle, gray male older kitten to keep Nala company.  He is so sweet, and likes to hug your neck, ever so gently.  He is the litter brother of our favorite kitten, Silver Belle, who was here when I was in the hospital.

One Sabbath Jay went with me, and last Sabbath Ray went with me.  The Bible readings were: Psalms 104 and 111, Numbers 13-15, and the sermon was about The Word, and how it has been given to us as a message from God.  We had a good potluck and an enjoyable day. 

Can You List the 10 Commandments? Protect America’s Waters. Joseph Lister. Update.

 

For "Scripture Sunday":

Can You List the 10 Commandments?

"Imagine you are walking in the park on a spring day with your partner—who happens to be married to another person. You stop for an ice cream treat; and while the vendor is distracted, you reach in his money box and grab a handful of cash. You think nothing of it and walk on. When you return to your parking space, your car is gone. And it’s not just gone, it has been stolen! So you look around and find another car with the keys in it, and you take it. Now imagine that this kind of conduct is not only condoned, it is legal. There are no laws to prevent you from doing anything you please.

This would not be a happy scenario—at least not if you were one of the victims! Would it be possible for anyone to find true joy or happiness, let alone peace of mind, in such a world?

Thankfully, every nation has laws on the books to prohibit and punish behavior like lying, stealing and murder. Most people recognize that these laws of the land are essential to keeping peace and order in any society. The truth is, society is always better off when laws are obeyed than when laws are consistently broken, or where there is no law at all. Most people easily recognize that, generally speaking, law-keeping leads to peace and tranquility; law-breaking leads to heartbreak, misery and suffering.

So why is it, then, that while we humans embrace the fundamental notion of the great value of law, we don’t equally embrace the value of God’s laws? Actually, many of the fundamental laws of society are based on the Ten Commandments. But not all of them! Ever since God gave the Ten Commandments, we humans have chosen to pick and choose which ones we want to keep and which ones we don’t.

In essence that sends God a message: “If Your laws conform with our ideas, fine. But don’t YOU tell us what we ought to do! We’ll decide that for ourselves.”

The Bible, in fact, makes it clear that humans have always bristled with resentment when God tells us what to do or not do.

The Ten Commandments are some pretty simple rules of life. In fact, Jesus taught that these are laws of love—loving God with all your heart and loving your neighbor as yourself. They were designed by our Creator to be very basic and easy-to-remember rules that would help us live the right way and enjoy the resulting blessings. But where are we today with regard to the most fundamental of God’s laws?

Here’s a test for you. Can you, right now, list the 10 Commandments? If you can, you’re a rare person!

In a 2007 survey of 1,000 Americans—including churchgoers—80 percent could name “two all-beef patties” as the main ingredients of a Big Mac, but only 60 percent knew “Thou shalt not kill” was one of the 10 Commandments!

Less than half, 45 percent, knew that “honor thy father and mother” was a commandment, but 62 percent knew that a Big Mac has a pickle!

Forty-three percent of those surveyed could recall that Peter and Bobby were characters on the old Brady Bunch TV show, but only 34 percent recalled that “remember the Sabbath” and “do not make false idols” were among the 10 Commandments.

This level of ignorance is amazing and, I must say, immensely disrespectful to God!

No, we’re not the extreme society I described at the beginning of this commentary. But do you ever worry about the direction we’re going? Jesus warned that one of the signs of the end of the age is that the world would become more and more lawless!

Isn’t it time to seriously examine our attitude toward law, especially the law of God?

For Life, Hope & Truth, I am Britton Taylor."  From: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/speaking-of/can-you-list-the-10-commandments/

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7 Reasons to Protect America’s Waters

Headwater streams

"Even big rivers start small. Headwater streams are important for fish, amphibians and invertebrates and affect water quality downstream. They supply most of the water in rivers and were protected by the Clean Water Act for decades. Unfortunately two convoluted Supreme Court decisions, actions of the previous administration and inaction by Congress have left these critically important

waterways in a legal limbo and at increased risk for over a decade.

A stream in Mount Rainier National Park. Photo by Crow Vecchio/U.S. NPS. 

More at: http://blog.nwf.org/2014/05/7-reasons-to-protect-americas-waters/

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Joseph Lister

An Amazing Fact: "One hundred and forty years ago, almost 50 percent of the patients undergoing major surgery died from infection due largely to the filthy conditions. Doctors were bewildered why 80 percent more women died giving birth in hospitals compared to those who had their babies at home. Back then, doctors wore bloody aprons and went from patient to patient without washing their hands or instruments. Patients with minor wounds often died from infection or blood poisoning transmitted by the doctor.

In the 1860s, a deeply religious English surgeon, Joseph Lister, was disturbed about the staggering number of patients dying from infection. He read in the Bible where God told the Israelites to wash after contact with the sick or a dead body.  Based on this and Louis Pasteur’s discoveries, Lister recognized germs as the likely source of infection. He suggested surgeons dress cleanly, wash their hands, and sterilize instruments before operating. He insisted that the operating room be kept clean. He also developed a method for preventing infection during an operation by treating wounds with an antiseptic.

At first Lister was regarded as eccentric, and nurses resented the extra work caused by his obsession with cleanliness. Then there was a period of significant mocking and resistance from his peers. Lister, a shy but determined man, was firm in his purpose. He humbly believed he was directed and inspired by God in this endeavor. In spite of all the opposition that he faced, he never gave up.

As the mocking went on, everyone began to notice a change. The deaths from blood poisoning, infection, and gangrene were greatly reduced in Joseph Lister’s hospital ward in Glasgow. Eventually, British and American hospitals saw the benefits and gradually adopted the sterile procedures promoted by Dr. Lister. Before he died, Lister’s services to medicine were recognized and he was awarded a knighthood. Louis Pasteur described Lister as one of the greatest men of the 19th century.

It’s amazing how the world has been transformed by applying the simple rules of sanitation found in the Bible. But did you know there are many other biblical secrets of health the world is neglecting? The God who formed us knows the principles of caring for the bodies He has given us. He lovingly shares that wisdom with us in His Word."
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days. - Numbers 19:11
He shall purify himself with it on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he purify not himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean. - Numbers 19:12

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Update:

The person who broke into my house, stole stuff and used my credit card while I was in the hospital, has finally been arrested.  But not for those offences.  They were arrested for using another person's credit card, so they will have a surprise when the other charges catch up with them.

The sweet dog that I rescued is like Velcro.   50 lb Baby Girl will not leave my side.  Gradually, she is getting some of her fur back now that she is on corn-meal free food and flea-free.  I took her to the vet and she wouldn't go with the vet tech to be weighed unless I went with her.  The vet said that she should be bathed often with antibiotic shampoo to help her poor irritated skin.  She had an ear infection, so her ears were packed.  She will also have to have the safe, slow, 6-months treatment for getting rid of heartworms. The skin scraping showed nothing contagious, so she can come in my house with the foster cats.  But she loves her big comfy bed in my air-conditioned grooming room.  I hate to think what would have happened if she had stayed where she was.

Ray and I went to church yesterday for the Sabbath.  Jay had wanted to go to the big church in Conroe, but as he was sick, Ray and I went to our favorite usual one on FM1097 in Willis.  The Bible reading was Numbers 1 to 4:17, and Hosea 1:10-2:28.  The talk was about Mysteries of the Bible and Pastor Bobbie quoted a lot of scriptures, so that kept us busy looking them up.  The service, potluck, and fellowship made it a great day.

Worldwide Decrease In Crop Diversity. 3 Myths in the Noah Movie. Simon Bolivar. Update.

 

For Scripture Sunday:

Vertical News: Worldwide Decrease In Crop Diversity

"What do global agricultural trends really mean to us on a daily basis?

Source: sxc.hu/pitrih

"United Nations data finds that diversity in varieties of global mainstay crops has and is decreasing, by 75% during the 20 ^th century, and will decrease by another third by 2050. This “globalized diet” consists mostly of wheat, rice, potatoes and sugar, as well as soybean, which was not a staple crop just fifty years ago. Crops in decline include millet, rye, yam, sweet potato, and cassava.

Experts feel that this opens up the world to two dangers; the danger of increased non-communicable diseases like diabetes and heart disease (the result of increased reliance on starchy crops and processed foods as dietary mainstays) and the very real crisis of major, worldwide crop failures. The concern is that plant breeding is controlled by a small number of multinational companies, which focus on a limited number of plant varieties, this further limiting genetic resilience to disease (Mark Kinver, “Crop Diversity Decline ‘Threatens Food Security,’” BBC News at BBC.com, March 3, 2014).

Most of us don’t actively participate in agriculture as a career choice and from the perspective of going to the grocery store, the scale of global food production can seem so immense as to be impossible to comprehend. However, it all comes down to basic facts: humans have to eat and our food has to come from somewhere. If that chain breaks down, many people will suffer.

The book of Revelation outlines events that will occur before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, and among those events are worldwide famines. It’s important as a young person to keep an eye on agricultural as well as moral trends in the world because that knowledge will help us to be watchful and alert and actively obedient to God when Jesus Christ does return.

“Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man,” (Luke:21:36, NKJV).

In the mean time, our prayers are very valuable when we pray for God’s mercy on our individual nations and all the nations of the world that food will be accessible to those who need it, which is all of us, every day!" article by Amanda Stiver. From:  http://www.ucg.org/youth/vertical-news-worldwide-decrease-crop-diversity/  See comments, too.

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3 Myths in the Noah Movie

"The controversial Noah movie has been called biblically inaccurate, but visually stunning. Read this review to learn about the major problems with this movie.

Noah, starring Russell Crowe, has hit theaters.

Life, Hope & Truth published a blog post analyzing the film based on early reviews by individuals who had prescreened it: “Read This Before Seeing the Noah Movie.” The author of that blog, Arnold C. Mendez Sr., is one of our experts on scientific issues and has studied and taught the Noah story for many years. On March 30 I was able to view Noah on behalf of Life, Hope & Truth. After viewing the film, I would like to offer our readers further analysis of this controversial movie.

The bottom line

Darren Aronofsky’s Noah can be summarized very simply: manipulation and mockery. The film very blatantly manipulates the story of Noah by adding many fictional elements that go far beyond reasonable dramatic license.

Don’t let Russell Crowe’s portrayal of Noah form your mental image of this important man. Read about the real Noah in Genesis 6-9.  Rob Moore, the vice chairman of Paramount Pictures, was very candid about the film: “The single most important piece of information was that this was not attempting to be a 100% retelling of the story from Genesis. … A 100% literal retelling would not make a great film” (“Films Are His Flock,” Time, March 31, 2014, p. 55). In other words, this was an attempt to make money and entertain people—not to educate them about the Bible.

Unlike the movie, our mission is to help our audience accurately understand the Bible and its message. So, when something like this comes along that could lead to a distorted view of the Bible, we feel responsible to speak out."  Complete article at: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/blog/3-myths-in-the-noah-movie/

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Simon Bolivar

An Amazing Fact: "Simon Bolivar was South America’s greatest general. He is known as “the great liberator” because his victories against Spain won independence for Venezuela, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and a country that bears his name, Bolivia.

In 1824, after Bolivar helped Peru win its freedom from Spain, the great general called for a convention to draft a constitution for the new country. After the convention, a delegation approached Simon Bolivar and asked him to become their first president. He gracefully declined, saying that he felt someone else deserved the honor more than he. But the people still wanted to do something special for Bolivar to show their appreciation for all he had done to free them from the oppression of Spain. So they offered him a gift of a million pesos, a fabulous fortune in those days.

Bolivar thoughtfully accepted the gift and then asked how many slaves there were in Peru. He was told that there were about 3,000. “And how much does a slave sell for?” he wanted to know. “About 350 pesos for an able-bodied man,” was the answer. “Then,” said Bolivar, “I will add whatever is necessary to this million pesos you have given me, and I will buy all the slaves in Peru and set them free.” He added, “It makes no sense to free a nation unless all its citizens enjoy freedom as well.”

The Bible teaches that Jesus came into the world to set captives free. Near the beginning of His earthly ministry, Jesus attended the synagogue in Nazareth on the Sabbath day and read from Isaiah’s prophecy about Himself: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:18, 19).

On another occasion, when the Jewish leaders claimed that they were in bondage to no one, Jesus explained that “whoever commits sin is a slave of sin” (John 8:34). But He assured the people, “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (verse 36). There is true freedom in Christ alone.   Are you truly free?

KEY BIBLE TEXTS: Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. -Romans 6:18

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Update:

The second batch of antibiotics have made me feel a bit more like my old self, so we have been getting a few jobs done around here.

Nala's new playmate, Chelsea the tortoiseshell cat, is now out of hiding, and has the run of the house.  But she and Nala don't have anything to do with each other. Although, Nala has settled down immensely now, and isn't bugging me for attention all the time.  So that's a good thing.

We are still gradually rebuilding the fence that goes between the properties, but then we had to fix a water leak in a water line that goes to the guest house.  Unfortunately it was on this side of the meter, so we have an enormous water bill!!  That leak caused another problem which we haven't fixed yet.  It washed away a drain support that hadn't been installed properly.

It is very depressing that the known burglars who broke into my house when I was in the hospital, still have not been arrested.   Golly, what takes so long?

Ray's back was hurting, so Jay and I went to church without him.  It was a pleasant service even though many were absent, and a great potluck afterwards.  Jay took an angel food cake and strawberry pudding that he had made. (In England we call that a "trifle".)  My contribution was an organic beef Shepherd's Pie for the day.

Influenza! (No, Not Me!)

 

For "Scripture Sunday":

Influenza

An Amazing Fact: "Most people think the deadliest plague in history was the bubonic plague that killed two million victims a year. Actually, the deadliest plague occurred in the 20th century! And it started right here in the USA. It was the influenza of 1918 that hit right after World War I.

The war killed nine million men in four years, but this killer flu took at least 25 million lives in one year. In the first year, nearly 20 million cases were reported in the United States alone, accounting for almost one million deaths. That’s more than were killed during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War combined.

It all started on March 11, 1918, at Camp Funston, Kansas, when a company cook reported to the infirmary with typical flu symptoms. By noon, 107 soldiers were sick. Within two days, 522 people were sick, many gravely ill with severe pneumonia, the deadliest part of the sickness. Reports started coming in from other military bases. Within a week, every state in the Union had been infected by this airborne killer. In two months it spread to South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

The United States had the lowest death toll. But a large percentage of the Eskimo population was wiped out in Nome, Alaska. Eighty to 90 percent of the Samoan population was infected, many survivors dying from starvation, too weak to feed themselves. The disease seemed to peak within three weeks of entering a given city, then subsided. In the end, it’s estimated 25 to 35 million people died worldwide.

Eighteen months after the disease appeared, the flu bug vanished, leaving a mystery as to its source, until March 1997, when Armed Forces Institute of Pathology researchers found specimens that 1918 Army doctors had preserved. It appears the virus started from birds, passed to pigs, and then to humans. These are the deadliest of all viruses because when the hearty pig immune system kicks into action the virus is forced to mutate. Both the deadly Asian flu (1957) and the Hong Kong flu (1968) came from mutated pig viruses.

The scary part is that hog farms continue to breed pigs for food near populated areas. It could happen again! Perhaps this is one of the reasons God said people should not eat pigs. His laws are always intended to bless us."
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. - Leviticus 11:7

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Update:

This week I have had a lung CT-scan, seen a lung doctor, and an ENT.  For some reason I keep on getting short of breath, which I never did before.  Still no diagnosis.  Tomorrow, I go for a sinus CT-scan.

I have been going through stuff in the house and storage areas, and have donated or recycled quite a few things.  The AC that the burglars kicked through the bedroom window was replaced with a new unit, as sometimes the fan wouldn't come on, and I didn't want to take a chance on it catching on fire.

Just been taking it day by day.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread: Pursuing a Life of Righteousness

 

For Scripture Sunday.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread: Pursuing a Life of Righteousness

"How does God want us to respond to Christ’s awesome, merciful sacrifice for us? The Feast of Unleavened Bread shows us how to respond.

The troubles and suffering in this world are caused by sin—the breaking of God’s holy, good and beneficial laws. Jesus Christ was willing to give His life to save us from sin’s death penalty. His sacrifice was the first step in God’s plan to save us from sin and death, and it makes all the other steps possible.

But how does God want us to respond to that awesome, merciful sacrifice? Would He be pleased, having broken us free from enslavement to sin (as the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt), to have us willingly go back to sin again? Or would He much rather have us learn to look at sin as He does and to strive with His help to avoid it at all costs?

The Feast of Unleavened Bread comes immediately after the Passover and teaches us lessons about how we should respond to Jesus Christ’s gracious sacrifice.

Deliverance from slavery to sin

After years of harsh slavery in Egypt, the people of Israel were overjoyed to leave Egypt during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Egypt and its leader, Pharaoh, serve as a symbol of sin and Satan.

But soon Pharaoh pursued the Israelites, trapping them at the Red Sea. He didn’t want them to be free, just as Satan doesn’t want us to escape from his clutches. Israel was helpless, as are we. Our strength is not sufficient.

But God provided the Israelites a way to escape—directly through the Red Sea! And He offers us a way out through His miraculous help. The apostle Paul explained that the Red Sea served as a type of baptism, the beginning of the conversion process made possible by God’s help (1 Corinthians 10:1-4).

What leaven pictures

The Feast of Unleavened Bread gets its name from the requirement to get rid of and avoid leavened bread and eat unleavened bread for these seven days (Exodus 12:15). During this time leaven is used as another symbol of sin.

Leaven is an ingredient that produces fermentation or a chemical process to make dough rise. Leavening includes yeast and chemical leavening agents, such as baking powder, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and potassium bicarbonate. Leavening can be found in such things as bread, cookies, cake, crackers, cereals and pies.

Since leaven typically puffs things up, it is associated with that root of many sins, pride. Some of the other spiritually damaging sins that leaven pictures in the Bible are malice, wickedness, hypocrisy and wrong teachings (1 Corinthians 5:8; Luke 12:1; Matthew 16:11-12).

Yeast also spreads and permeates the dough unseen. Paul used this characteristic to point out the danger of sin to the church in Corinth, probably during the Feast of Unleavened Bread: “Your glorying is not good. 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).

Removing leaven from our homes gives us an object lesson in the work and challenge involved in removing sin from our lives. Hard-to-find leaven reminds us that we need to carefully examine our lives for sin, repent and seek God’s help to remove it.

Out with the bad and in with the good

In addition to putting out sin, we are to replace it with good thoughts and actions—symbolized by the eating of unleavened bread.

Paul continued his letter to the Corinthians this way: “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’s clear statement to the Corinthian Christians, “Let us keep the feast,” should answer the critics who consider these wonderful and meaningful festivals to be out-of-date or only for the Jews. He also clearly shows the need to remove the bad (malice and wickedness) and replace it with good (sincerity and truth).

We are to prepare for the Feast of Unleavened Bread by removing physical leaven and spiritual leaven—sin. During the festival, the focus shifts from ridding ourselves of something to taking in or “eating” something. The clear instruction for those seven days is to learn the spiritual lessons of eating unleavened bread (Exodus 12:14-20; 13:6-7; Leviticus 23:6), which is symbolic of living sin-free just like Jesus Christ. We are to eat of “the bread of life,” as Jesus explained in John 6:27-63.

So, the Feast of Unleavened Bread is a time to concentrate on putting the righteousness of Jesus Christ (the true “bread of life”) into our lives (Galatians 2:20). Naturally, the more we do that, the more sin will be kept out. To overcome sin, we must “not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). In other words, the more Christ is living in us and the more we are living righteously, the less opportunity there will be for the leaven of sin to find a place in our lives. Living by—eating fully of—the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth is the key to purging out the “old leaven” of sin.

But though our response to sin should be vehement repentance, a desire to “sin no more” and to put on righteousness, we discover quickly that we can’t do it on our own (2 Corinthians 7:10-11; John 8:11; Romans 7:23-25). We must have God’s help.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread reminds us that submitting to our Deliverer is the only right response to Jesus’ gracious sacrifice. We are not saved by good works, yet we’re “created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10). A thankful, forgiven Christian will seek His help to not return to the slavery of sin.

The next step in God’s plan of salvation is pictured by the Feast of Pentecost."   From: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/plan-of-salvation/feast-of-unleavened-bread/  By Mike Bennett

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Update:

The arrest warrants for the burglars is still held up at the DA's office, so they are still at large. 

No wonder I haven't been feeling well!  More doctor visits and more meds.  They found out that I had infected sinuses, upper respiratory infection, and bladder infection.  Golly!  How the meds had messed up my immune system, I have had more go wrong with me since I had the surgery than I have in the last 78+ years!!

Tonight,  Ray and I will be going over to the church for the start of the Passover, The Feast of Unleavened Bread.  So I am trying to get everything ready for the "High Days".