Coronavirus Prayer. CDC. Where Is Lent in the Bible? What Are Ash Wednesday and Lent? Update.

Coronavirus Prayer

“A controversial photo provides us an important reminder.

VP Pence ridiculed for praying with coronavirus task force

Transcript of YouTube: https://youtu.be/eiphnCKLhbk

[Darris McNeely] We’re all still watching news about the coronavirus as it continues to spread among the nations. More than 80,000 people have been infected by it, more than 3,000 people have died as of the last news report that I had on this subject. And we are still very much fearful of where it will go and what will happen even as nations such as the United States take the necessary precautions to shield its citizens and to work toward a vaccine to ward this off. We’re not out of the woods yet, but there is hope and there is reason to expect that we will see better days on this.

An interesting picture came up on the internet recently. In the United States, President Trump has appointed Vice President Pence to head up the team, the task force that is dealing with the coronavirus. In a meeting in the offices of the vice president, before they began, they did something that you see on that picture there. They all bound their heads and they asked a prayer. Pretty good thing, to ask prayer for something like the coronavirus or any other type of a pandemic or serious national crisis and emergency. It’s unbelievable, the criticism that came as a result of this picture when it got posted on the internet and what people thought. Critics, people of different ideas about God, Bible, religion, criticizing leaders praying for wisdom and for God’s hand and his intervention in this world crisis that is developing this pandemic of coronavirus. It brought to mind a scripture.

In 2 Chronicles 7:14, it says from God to the people of Israel what to do at a time of crisis. It says, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Those were God’s words to His people. Those were God’s words to any people, and they are words that we should listen to today.

I have no problem with the vice president leading a group prayer as they try to tackle this problem, and seek a solution, and come to a point for it. We should applaud that, and we all should go to God and ask God to give us wisdom and to heal our land. There may be a bigger crisis that will hit this land that will teach us this very same lesson, to call out to God, and to ask for his mercy, and ask for his help.”  From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-daily/coronavirus-prayer

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Don’t be alarmed by the media’s reports on Coronavirus, just check with the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

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Where Is Lent in the Bible?

“The Bible shows the truth behind popular customs like Lent.

Transcript of YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZsLnzmTEegY

[Steve Myers] Christianity has now entered the Lenten season. Mardi Gras is passed, Fat Tuesday into Ash Wednesday, and now the Lenten season is recognized by much of the Christian world. But when you check out what your Bible has to say about Lent, you’re not gonna find anything. It’s a man-made tradition, and when you recognize what God thinks about counterfeiting his way, it’s a very serious thing.

There is a powerful passage in the book of Colossians, Colossians 3:23. This is what God inspired Paul to write. “These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.”  You see the problem with false Christianity, made up Christianity, false traditions, they do a disservice to God and dishonor him. And when you really check out the basis for these practices, you’ll find them rooted in false beliefs, paganism.

I hope you’ll take some time to check it out. If you’ll search on our website, just type in the words “Lent,” and you’ll find a number of articles where you can get into the details of how Lent is an imposter, how it is fake, how is it a counterfeit to what the true God wants us to observe. So check it out, I think you’ll be surprised by what you find.” From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-daily/where-is-lent-in-the-bible

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What Are Ash Wednesday and Lent? Does the Bible Tell Us to Celebrate

These Days?

“After Mardi Gras comes Ash Wednesday and 40 days of Lent. Did the early New Testament Church observe these days?

Enterline Design Services LLC/iStock/Thinkstock

The Bible does teach the importance of fasting and self-examination, but it does not teach a 40-day period called Lent or an Ash Wednesday of putting ashes on the forehead.

The Bible does not mention Ash Wednesday or Lent, and the early New Testament Church did not observe these days. Here is how the BBC Religion page describes Ash Wednesday and Lent:

“Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent for Western Christian churches. It’s a day of penitence to clean the soul before the Lent fast.

“Roman Catholic, Anglican, and some other churches hold special services at which worshippers are marked with ashes as a symbol of death and sorrow for sin…

“The Christian churches that observe Lent in the 21st century (and not all do significantly) use it as a time for prayer and penance. Only a small number of people today fast for the whole of Lent, although some maintain the practice on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. It is more common these days for believers to surrender a particular vice such as favourite foods or smoking” (BBC).

Lent is counted differently by those of the Western Catholic tradition and those of the Eastern Orthodox tradition. “The western church excludes Sundays (which is celebrated as the day of Christ’s resurrection) whereas the eastern church includes them. The churches also start Lent on different days. Western churches start Lent on the 7th Wednesday before Easter Day (called Ash Wednesday). Eastern churches start Lent on the Monday of the 7th week before Easter and end it on the Friday 9 days before Easter. Eastern churches call this period the ‘Great Lent’” (BBC).

Various biblical events and customs are referred to by those who celebrate these days. The Bible mentions people mourning in sackcloth and ashes. The Bible also talks about repentance and fasting, and the number 40 is prominent in various biblical events.

“The justification for the Lenten 40-day preparation for Easter is traditionally based on Jesus’ 40-day wilderness fast before His temptation by Satan (Harper’s Bible Dictionary, ‘Lent’; Matthew 4:1-2; Mark 1:13). The problem with this explanation is that this incident is not connected in any way with Jesus’ supposed observance of Easter. The 40-day pre-Easter practice of fasting and penance did not originate in the Bible” (The Good Friday—Easter Sunday Question).

Some have suggested that Lent may be connected to earlier, pagan holidays. In Ezekiel 8:14, the prophet in vision saw women weeping for the pagan god Tammuz. “It has been suggested by some scholars that the practice of ‘weeping for Tammuz’ was the actual origin of Lent, the Roman Catholic 40-day period of abstinence prior to Easter (starting after Mardi Gras, ‘Fat Tuesday,’ on Ash Wednesday). Consider that the name Easter itself is derived from Ishtar, the ancient Babylonian fertility goddess and Tammuz’s mother”. (See the Bible commentary on Ezekiel 8 for details.)

The Bible does teach the importance of fasting and self-examination, but it does not teach a 40-day period called Lent or an Ash Wednesday of putting ashes on the forehead. These customs appear to have pagan origins.  We seek to follow the customs and practices of the early New Testament Church as described in the Bible. For more on the biblical religious festivals, such as the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the spring, see God’s Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for All Mankind.”  From: https://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/bible-questions-and-answers/what-are-ash-wednesday-and-lent-does-the-bible-tell-us-to-celebrate-these-days

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Update.

Apart from the bible studies here and going grocery shopping in College Station, there hasn’t been much to report.  My medical situation changed so I had to confer with the agent to get a different policy with United Care.  She was very thorough and helpful so now I will have a DO instead of an MD for my doctor.  Most MDs, all they know is how to write prescriptions.  DOs have a different kind of training, I hope this one is like that!

The most notable thing this last week was that my little abused, rescued dog, Foxie, finally got the message that it was OK to pee, and no one was going to punish her for peeing again.  She used to be so afraid when she wet her blankie and would tremble and try to hide it she was so afraid of being punished.  With lots of praise every time she peed outside, she got the message that it was OK and then she would smile, like an American Eskimo can.  Now she will wait until she is taken outside and doesn’t pee on her blankie any more.  But she is still terrified of strangers and will tremble when she sees them.  Now she has gone to an SPCA friend of mine who has a fenced yard, who will train her some more, and get her spayed.  I miss Foxie, but she needed a place to run, play with other dogs, and not be on a leash all the time. 

For the church potluck I made a pot full of organic veggies.  They don’t serve meat there at that church. The sermon was “Why Keep The Sabbath” and why it is a Sabbath made for man to rest on the seventh day.

US Paying More for Illegal Immigrant Births Than Trump’s Wall. Time Spent Wisely. Update.

For “Scripture Sunday”:

The Illegal Immigration Crisis—No End in Sight

“As debate between those who want secure borders preventing illegal immigration and those who want open borders rages on, the crisis continues to grow.

Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters/Newscom

The immigration issue has stoked the growing fires of division.

Nothing paints the divide of the culture war more starkly than the debate over illegal immigration. People in the United States and many other nations debate this issue continually, ideologically split into one of two camps—those who feel that unrestricted immigration is good for their nation and those concerned that it’s being inundated by waves of people skirting the rules in coming into the country illegally, saddling the nation with enormous and unsustainable costs.

As polarization over the issue increases, so does the rhetoric. U.S. President Donald Trump, whose 2016 election resulted in part from his strong stand on immigration, shocked many with his recent announcement that he is considering an executive order that would end automatic unrestricted “birthright citizenship” for babies born to illegal immigrants on U.S. soil (a practice allowed in fewer than one in five countries around the world).

On the other side, the radical left in America has reacted to strong enforcement actions by the U.S.Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) division of the Department of Homeland Security with calls to abolish it.

The changing face of immigration

There’s no denying that the United States was built on immigration. The ancestors of the vast majority of people in America came to its shores from many other nations, seeking economic and religious freedom and a better life. Regardless of whether they stepped off 17th- or 18th-century sailing ships onto the Virginia or Massachusetts shore, or passed through Ellis Island in the 19th or early 20th century, they arrived legally. In time, many came through a process that required they learn English, understand America’s form of government and pledge allegiance to the U.S. flag.

For legal immigrants, that process continues. But the past 40 or so years have witnessed millions coming to the United States illegally, bypassing a legal immigration process developed over a long time.

Drawn to a land of peace instead of turmoil, one governed by the rule of law rather than the whims of despotic dictators, with a rich economy offering opportunities not available in their native countries, illegals unwilling to “go to the end of the line” cross into the United States relatively easily through thousands of miles of virtually unprotected borders. After arriving, they soon avail themselves of many social services on offer and find menial jobs in America’s vast underground economy.

Making matters worse is the prospect that some could be terrorists or potential terrorists driven by a fanatical hatred of the nation extending to them the hand of security and opportunity. (Keep in mind that Islamic terrorists have killed more than 3,000 Americans in nearly 20 attacks on U.S. soil.)

The immigration issue has stoked the growing fires of division. Many feel compassion for the pitiful plight of millions oppressed in nations around the world and want to open the gates wide to any and all comers. Others see this as a tidal wave threatening to undermine and sweep away the very freedoms and opportunities that have always drawn in immigrants from abroad.

Of course it’s right to want to help, but the concerning threat here is very real—not only to America but to other countries around the world, such as Britain, Canada, Australia, Sweden, Germany, Italy, Greece, Russia, India, Brazil—and the list goes on.

Former U.S. president Ronald Reagan warned more than 30 years ago, “A nation that cannot control its borders is not a nation.” Governors of several southwestern U.S. states recognize the threat, with former Arizona governor Jan Brewer echoing Reagan: “A nation without borders is like a house without walls—it collapses. And that is going to happen to our wonderful America.”

A costly problem

No one really knows how many illegal immigrants are in the United States. Estimates run between 11 and 13 million, making the illegal segment about 4 percent of the population. However, a Yale University study released in September 2018 puts the number much higher—between 16 and 30 million. Either way, Census Bureau and Department of Homeland Security figures show the number has increased rapidly from about 8 million in 2007, peaking around 2016. Stepped-up border enforcement and deportation efforts by Immigration and Customs Enforcement have tamped down increases since then.

Many illegally entering the United States view the country as “the Promised Land,” so to speak, where they can get government-provided food stamps, free health care and free or subsidized housing. These services, of course, are not free. The most recent figures from the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) put total federal and state costs of providing for illegal immigrants at more than $134 billion per year.

The estimated $19 billion per year illegals pay in federal and state income taxes does little to offset this cost. Put in simpler terms, each illegal immigrant costs U.S. taxpayers almost $8,000 per year, year after year.

….. Of course, border enforcement—or lack thereof—is also inextricably linked to drug trafficking. The same Mexican crime lords who smuggle drugs across the southern border also smuggle human beings. Most illegal drugs sold in the United States come from Mexico, and heroin is making a huge comeback. In 2017, the last year for which figures are available, more than 72,000 Americans died of drug overdoses—that’s nearly 200 a day and more than all U.S. deaths from the Vietnam and Iraq wars combined.”      Continued at: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-magazine/the-illegal-immigration-crisis-no-end-in-sight

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Time Spent Wisely

“Our lives fly along at a fast pace.

Gus Moretta/Unsplash

It’s far better to use our time wisely and be productive so that we will not be looking back with regret.

Five, 10 and then 20 years are gone in a flash. Knowing that helps us appreciate the value of each day. Time is not to be wasted in idle inaction or just drifting along with whatever comes to us. We must all make the most of our own time—it has to be a conscious decision. Lost years are never regained.

Let’s review two important passages of advice from the Bible. One tells us that poverty and need is a result of not using time wisely (Proverbs 6:10). The second passage tells us we need to remember our Creator when we are young and full of energy before the difficult days come and the years in which you have no pleasure (Ecclesiastes 12:1).

Many people say “if only” or “I should have” or “I wish I could do that over again.” Life does not let us turn back the clock. It’s far better to use our time wisely and be productive so that we will not be looking back with regret.”  From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/blogs/this-is-the-way/time-spent-wisely

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Update.

Well, selling the sofa that was in the house and the matching loveseat that was in the mini-house, made big spaces in each place.  Zack and I moved a daybed that I have had stored for years, into my living room so at least we have something to sit upon. 

Then, as there was room in the mini-house, we put the dining nook set together, and I listed it for sale.  There is no way I could have used it as pictured, I need just a small table and a couple of chairs. We haven’t quite finished working on the table, but we will have to hurry as there have already been inquiries about it.

My foster cat, Gracie, went back to her ‘Mom’ and their home which has been repaired since the fire.  It took about 10 months to repair it, maybe I was better off when mine burned to the ground in 1989, because it didn’t take us that long to build a whole new house!  Though a small one, granted.  I think it was stress from the fire that made Gracie chew on cardboard boxes because she quit that. It seems strange not to have a cat in the house.

On Thursday I had my other eye done. A neighbor of Jay’s took me.  This cataract surgery seemed a lot easier than the first one.  No “cement-being-scraped-off-glass” sounds this time. Friday was the post-op follow-up, and my SPCA friend took me. I was trying to spread my ‘nuisanceness’ around so as not to bother one person too much! 

On Saturday I drove 10 miles to the church myself, but I did have another driver with me, Jay, even though he doesn’t have a license.  After the first eye surgery, I asked the nurse when I could drive and she said as soon as I felt that I wouldn’t be mowing down pedestrians.  There are no sidewalks on the freeway or country roads to the church, so there were no pedestrians for me to scare!

Because I didn’t know if I would even be able to get to church, I didn’t cook anything for the Sabbath potluck, so I grabbed some organic lentils and quinoa that were already cooked, added some seasonings and veggies, and took it in a little crockpot.  Then I grabbed a red velvet cake that was in my freezer, and so that at least contributed to the desserts. Neither weighed that much as I am not supposed to carry more than 5lb for now.

Jay and I arrived safely and I was able to drive OK.  The Bible readings were Gen. 37:1-36, Jer. 38:1-13, Mat. 3:13-17 and all of Mat. 1.  Our pastor has decided that we need to read more of the New Testament in church.  We cannot separate the Jews (Old Testament) and the Christians (New Testament) because Jesus was, and is, a Jew.  The Teaching was about Divine Requirements and we should be doers of The Word, not just hearers, and have inward righteousness.

It was great to see the family with a new baby that hadn’t been there for a while, as they were back in town for a couple of days.

Mark of the Beast. Resisting Satan’s Influence Now. Satan Will Be Bound. Satan’s Future. God’s Body Armor. Update.

For “Scripture Sunday”:

Mark of the Beast

“Will you accept the mark of the beast? Without it, you won’t be able to buy or sell. With it, you’ll suffer the plagues of Revelation. What should you do? 

There has been much speculation about the mark of the beast mentioned in Revelation. What do you need to know about this mysterious mark?

It seems that no subject has intrigued and baffled people more than this mysterious mark spoken of in the book of Revelation. Many books have been written and many sermons have been preached about this subject. Scholars and theologians have offered many different ideas about it. Some suggest it is a microchip implanted in one’s forehead or an invisible mark or a visible mark. Some even think it could be one’s credit card or debit card.

But what does the Bible reveal about this puzzling mark?

The key passage reads: “He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” (Revelation 13:16-17).

If one does not have this identifying sign, he or she will not be able to legally transact business. This person will find it difficult to earn a living, to hold a job or to run a business.

What is the beast of Revelation?

John, the one God chose to write down the book of Revelation, saw a vision of the future. Here is what he wrote concerning this beast: “Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority” (Revelation 13:1).

To understand what this beast in the book of Revelation is, we need to begin in Daniel 7:1-8, where we find the imagery of four animals, representing the four great historical empires. These were a lion (Babylon), a bear (Persia), a leopard (Greece) and a fourth beast (Rome).

It is this fourth beast described by Daniel and recorded by John that would have “ten horns” and receive a “deadly wound” before rising again before the end of this age (Daniel 7:7-8; Revelation 13:3). This empire is the “beast” of the book of Revelation. We should note that the human leader of this revived empire is also referred to as “the beast” (Revelation 19:20). The mark of the beast is the mark or identifying sign of this empire.

The book of Revelation explains that the dragon gives the beast its power and authority. This dragon is Satan the devil (Revelation 12:9; Revelation 20:2). Satan uses this beast to rule and deceive the world.

A second beast

Let’s now turn our attention to the word “he” in Revelation 13:16. The passage says, “He causes all … to receive a mark.” Who is “he”? Verse 11 says, “Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.”

These characteristics indicate a false religious leader who “causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast” (verse 12). This second beast is called the “false prophet” (Revelation 19:20). This mark or sign represents a final revival of the Roman Empire at the time of the end. The religious leader that supports the beast “causes” people to accept it.”

Continued at: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/revelation/mark-of-the-beast/

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Resisting Satan’s Influence Now

1 Peter 5:8-9

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

Satan the devil is the enemy of God and of humanity. He is powerful, hateful and deadly. But God does not leave us defenseless. He tells us to resist Satan with faith that the all-powerful Creator God will back us up.

James adds: “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:7-8). By submitting to God and drawing close to Him, we will have His protection, and Satan won’t be able to destroy us.

But if we wander off from God, like a lone animal straying from the herd, we will be easy prey for Satan, the roaring lion.

Until the time when Satan is locked away, pictured by the Day of Atonement, we must be constantly alert and aware of Satan’s deceptive and alluring tactics. We must use the armor of God to defend against Satan’s attacks.

To learn more about how to fight against sin in your life, read “How to Resist Satan, the Roaring Lion,” “Seven Steps for Overcoming Sin” and “Habitual Sin: How to Overcome.”

From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/blog/resisting-satans-influence-now/

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Satan Will Be Bound

Revelation 20:1-3

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.

In Revelation 12:9-12 John described Satan being cast down to the earth “having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” In Revelation 20:1-3 we see the end of that “short time.” Satan’s wrath will have brought a deceived humanity to the brink of destruction, to the point of even fighting against Jesus Christ, our Savior, at His return.

But Christ will easily defeat the combined firepower of humanity, and Satan will be no match for Him either. In order to bring a time of peace and utopia to the earth, the deceiver must be locked up. Satan’s deceptive influences will be blocked for a thousand years, making it much easier for humanity to make the right choices without interference and diabolical temptations.

For more about God’s plan to bind Satan, read about the Day of Atonement or watch the video “Atonement: The Root of the Problem.”

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Satan’s Future

Revelation 20:7-8, 10

Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. …

The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

In Revelation 20:1-3 we see that Satan will be bound and kept from deceiving people for 1,000 years. (This is also pictured in the symbolism of the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16:21-22). But he will be released and will again show his deceptive power, even on people who have lived under God’s beautiful Kingdom.

But finally Satan and his demons, as immortal spirit beings, will be locked away forever. The lake of fire will burn up those who are physical and mortal, but it is described as torment for those angelic beings who have permanently chosen the way of evil. Since physical fire cannot hurt spiritual beings, this torment must be mental torment.

For more about Satan’s fate, see “Satan Destroyed? How?”

From: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/blog/satans-future/

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God’s Body Armor

An Amazing Fact: “Kevlar is a synthetic fiber developed in 1965 and was first used commercially in the early 1970s as a substitute for steel racing tires. It has a high tensile strength-to-weight ratio, making it five times stronger than steel. It is used for making a variety of items such as canoes, racing sails, and bicycle tires. It’s most well-known application is in body armor.  

When Stephanie Kwolek first invented poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide, the solution was a cloudy substance that was usually thrown away. But she decided to persuade the technician she was working with, Charles Smullen, to test the solution. They were amazed to find the solution did not break like nylon. Her supervisor and lab director realized her discovery was significant because it opened the door to a new field called polymer chemistry.

In body armor, Kevlar fibers actually “catch” a bullet in a multilayer web of woven fabrics. Different layers in the weave perform different tasks. The “engaged fibers” absorb and disperse the energy of the impact, transferring it to other fibers at “crossover points” in the weave of the body armor. Of course, if you don’t wear the vest, it won’t protect you. The Department of Justice estimates that 25 percent of state and local police are not issued body armor. Of the 1,200 officers killed in the line of duty since 1980, more than 30 percent could have been saved by body armor.

The risk of dying from gunfire is 14 times greater for an officer not wearing body armor.
Paul writes, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). The bullets we face are not ballistic missiles from guns. We need body armor that cannot be pierced by Satan because “we wrestle not against flesh and blood” (v. 12). God offers you something stronger than poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide. Take time today to put on the protective gear that will withstand the most powerful fire of the enemy.    

KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:13”

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Update:

Another week when not much was done to the mini-house as Roy was working elsewhere.  I don’t know when he will be back. I get so discouraged trying to find competant workers.   Sometimes I think I would like to sell the whole place and go somehwre else that doesn’t need so much work.  Like the sign that I have on my porch:  “So When Do I Get To Retire?” ! 

Zack, my neighbor helped me for a couple of days.  We put up a temporary wire fence between the mini-house and the road.  That is a pie-shaped lot, so the house had to be built at the back of the lot, only 10’ from the busy road.  The back door is so close to people walking by, that it felt vunerable.  A permanent fence cannot be installed until someone, the county maybe, puts the back the poles that hold up the flashing yellow traffic light at the entrance to the subdivision.  Each pole holding up the wires for the traffic light on either side of the road, fell over due to all the rain during Harvey.  They just toppled over like an uprooted tree.  One of the pole’s guy wires is anchored in the minihouse back yard, so my permanent fence can’t be built yet.

Zack also put some urethene on some of the window sills and trim in the mini-house, and then he just disappeared.    I hoped that I was helping him by hiring him as he has no income.  Folks want to get paid, but just don’t want to work for it anymore.   Early on Wednesday I was ready to take him to Conroe for his blood tests, and he didn’t even show up.

On Monday afternoon, my dear daughter Wendy brought me the residue of her yard sale.  One item was a 32” TV.  Right now my largest is 27”, so it will be a nice change,  My TV’s sit in corners on triangular corner cabinets, so it doesn’t matter if they are not the new flat screens.  I like to watch certain shows on TV, but I am not that into it, so spending money on flat screen TV’s is not a priority with  me.  It is a very heavy and awkward TV, so we called Hans to come help us unload it.  We managed to get it on a four-wheel hand-truck and into my living room, and that’s where it has stayed because there hasn’t been anyone here to help put it up on the corner cabinet.

The items in the boxes that Wendy brought were bedspreads, shelves, knick-knacks etc. and other things in a ‘cottage’ theme that she thought I could sell.  Now that Wendy and Richard have a new home at Lake Somerville, she is going with a different decor.  They sold their lakeview place at Lake Palestine, so she wants water themed items now.  She took her pick of my collection of large and small shells from around the world, a bookshelf with oars for legs, beach pictures and sheets with boat and nautical themes. 

Then Wendy and I went thrift-shopping.  I needed a digital bathroom scale for weighing parcels and found one.  She needed a bathroom cabinet and found one.  We also found a really lovely door for the bathroom in the mini-house. 

Once home here, I quickly defrosted and cooked some ground bison,  made a good British ‘Bisto’ gravy, sweet potatoes, Italian beans and yellow squash.  Wendy had never had bison before and loved it.  We had a great afternoon and evening, then it was time for her to go home to her husband and grown-up son in College Station.

One morning was spent defrosting my deep freeze.  This is the worst it has ever been.  The door had somehow become blocked slightly ajar, the freezer defrosted a bit and then everything became frozen in place.  It took two hairdryers on stands, and stack of towels to get it done, then the ensuing laundry!

One day, just out of boredom, even though I have plenty to do, I went to the store to buy some watercress.  It is supposed to be the new kale!  They didn’t have any. 

Then I finally got my foster-cat’s worm medicine down her!  It has taken me three weeks! (not this way  http://www.pawsperouspets.com/humor/catpill.shtml  ha-ha)  I found a canned food that she really liked and emptied the capsule in it.  I had tried that a couple of times before, but she took one lick and then wouldn’t touch it.  (that food was given to stray cats outside, so they should feel better now).  I had tried wrapping her up in a thick bath mat and using my pill-popper, but she spat out the capsule twice.  She is such a timid, formerly abused cat that I didn’t want her to be scared of me, so this worked out best.

Thursday and Friday afternoons I spent in the kitchen making different dishes for the church potluck.  One recipe was for cooking any veggies that are laying around doing nothing.  It was very easy-peasy! Just cut them into chunks and dump them in a crock pot with one tablespoon of liquid for 3 hours on high.  They came out very juicy and tender, but one recommended liquid was sodium-free soy sauce, which is what I used, but they came out looking an awful color brown, so they stayed home.   So for the next batch I used a tablespoon of chicken broth, and they were terrific.  I have some chicken broth powder which cames in handy for making something small like a tablespoon of broth.

For a dessert, the rest of the starfruit was cooked, in apple juice this time, and put in a jello mold with some vegan 100% natural BAKOL Jel gelatin-free dessert.  This is one brand that you can be sure that there is absolutely no pork in it, which I will not eat.  (Lev.11:7)  Most gelatins, including Jello, contain pork.

I tried a recipe for “Crispy Turnips Fries”, but like many reviewers said, it is difficult to get them crispy.  So I put a mixture of cooked Beef, Ground Bison and mushrooms in a Pyrex baking dish, covered that with some of the above cooked veggies, sliced small, and put the turnips fries on top, like a Shepherd’s Pie.  I took a tiny crockpot of gravy to go with it.  I like to keep them separate or the Shepherd’s Pie gets all soupy.  It was the rave of the potluck.  Another favorite dish was made by one of the husbands with layers of long grain rice, beans, ground beef and cheese.   We had several other tasty dishes, so we all had a great meal and an enjoyable time discussing different topics around the table.

The Bible readings were Gen. 1:1-6:8, Isa.42:5-43:10. and John 1:1-14. That scripture includes the debatable translation of John 1:1 where it says in some translations that ‘the Word was God’ and in others it says ‘the Word was a god’, or others say ‘the Word was Divine’.  But I don’t think that anyone disputes that Jesus (Yeshua) was there at the beginning and is God’s (Yahweh’s) Son.  The Teaching was ‘About Trust in Yahweh, and Put On The New Man.’

Can you believe that we are still having to use air conditioning at the end of October.  Hardly any cool days these days.

5 Keys for Handling Stress. Coping With Anxiety. Update.

For “Scripture Sunday”:

5 Keys for Handling Stress

“How can we cope with the increasing stresses of our modern world? God’s Word provides answers.

Everyone experiences it. No person of sound mind gets through life without facing it. Like it or not, stress is part of everyone’s life. As comedy writer Jane Wagner quipped, “Reality is the leading cause of stress for those in touch with it.”

Whether we’re young people trying to learn about life and find a way to be successful or adults trying to survive and navigate our complex world, we all have our lists of concerns and things to worry about.

And if we don’t have enough on our own lists, we live in a world filled with life-threatening chaos. Will or won’t North Korea attempt to use a nuclear weapon? Will the civil war in Syria ever come to an end? Will the U.S. and Russia ever see eye to eye? How long before the unrelenting tension in the Middle East ignites another full-scale war? Will we be innocent victims of crime?

The website of the American Institute of Stress (AIS) says, “There are numerous emotional and physical disorders that have been linked to stress including depression, anxiety, heart attacks, stroke, hypertension, immune system disturbances that increase susceptibility to infections, a host of viral linked disorders ranging from the common cold and herpes to AIDS and certain cancers, as well as autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

“In addition stress can have direct effects on the skin (rashes, hives, atopic dermatitis), the gastrointestinal system (GERD, peptic ulcer, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis) and can contribute to insomnia and degenerative neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease. In fact, it’s hard to think of any disease in which stress cannot play an aggravating role or any part of the body that is not affected. … This list will undoubtedly grow as the extensive ramifications of stress are increasingly being appreciated” (“Stress Effects”).

Research confirms that stress affects us both physically and mentally.

Stress prophesied to increase

Some 2,000 years ago the Bible predicted that stress would increase as humanity entered the end times—the time that begins just before the return of Jesus Christ to establish the Kingdom of God here on earth. Writing to Timothy, his beloved protégé in the ministry, Paul said, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come” (2 Timothy 3:1, emphasis added throughout).

This phrase, “perilous times,” is translated variously as “terrible times,” “grievous times,” “times of trouble” and “difficult times.” Reflecting the effects this time will have upon people, the marginal note in the New King James Version describes it as “times of stress.”

What Paul was explaining to Timothy was a concept that had previously been addressed by Daniel, Jeremiah and Jesus. Centuries before Paul, God had revealed through Daniel that there would come “a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation” (Daniel 12:1). Subsequent verses in this passage show that this would be the state of affairs preceding the resurrections, which occur at and after Christ’s return (compare verses 2-3 with 1 Thessalonians 4:16 and Revelation 20:4-5).

The prophet Jeremiah wrote of a “time of Jacob’s trouble” when the descendants of Abraham would face difficulties so severe that men would have pale faces and act like women in labor (Jeremiah 30:7). Though this prophecy is directed toward the descendants of the ancient Israelites, this time of difficulty will not be limited to these peoples.

As Christ explained, before He returns, the entire world will experience “great tribulation” and be threatened with total extinction (Matthew 24:21-22). The escalating effects of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, representing false prophets, war, famine and disease (compare Matthew 24:5-8 and Revelation 6:2-8), along with this “great tribulation” will bring unprecedented times of stress.

Five keys for dealing with stress

While humans have always faced stress (see “Stressful Experiences for God’s People), stress in the end time is clearly going to increase. So how are we to navigate these difficult times ahead? Thankfully, the Bible gives us five strategies for dealing with stress in our lives today as well as for when even more difficult times come.” 

Continued at: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/relationships/health/5-keys-for-handling-stress/

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Coping With Anxiety.

“The anxiety and worry we may feel in this stressed society seem to only make our other problems worse. Is there anything positive we can do?

There are plenty of things to worry about these days: Where can I find a job? How am I going to be able to pay my bills? Will we lose our home? Will I ever be able to retire? In what kind of world will my children grow up?

Generation stressed

How is your life going? Are you trying to cope with more stress and anxiety than ever? Do you feel overwhelmed, like you are unable to even catch your breath? Perhaps you feel that you’re trying to fight off discouragement.

Of course, we hope your life is going well; but considering the global economic fallout that began in 2008, more people than ever are suffering from high stress levels—and it seems to be coming from even more directions.

Thousands of people are faced with very serious illnesses, in some cases terminal. The number of older couples who now have grown-up children moving back home because of a job loss or broken marriage is on the rise. Still others are coping with the health issues and needed care of aging parents.

According to an article in Forbes magazine in March of 2012, 60 percent of current college graduates are unable to find work in their chosen field. In fact, after spending the time and money for a college education, many recent graduates have had to settle for jobs that don’t even require a college degree. Many studies show this trend is not likely to turn around quickly, adding even more pressure and anxiety to what so many are already laboring under.

Positive vs. negative stress

A certain amount of stress is normal, healthy, even stimulating. It can make us work harder, think more deeply and be more creative and alert to new possibilities and solutions. When confronted by a demanding situation, we may feel excited and energized to meet the challenge and persevere. Studies show that facing positive stress and working our way through it leads to a greater degree of satisfaction with life and an enhanced sense of well-being.

But too much stress—where problems are coming at us faster and with more intensity than we can handle them or where they are bigger than any solutions we have for them—is not healthy. At that point, stress can turn into anxiety, discouragement, despair or even hopelessness.

King Solomon understood the impact of too much stress when he wrote, “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad” (Proverbs 12:25). Also, “A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken” (Proverbs 15:13).

Under normal circumstances, most of us are able to cope with the trials and struggles of life. It is a part of everyone’s life and just something we must all work our way through. The first part of Proverbs 18:14 says, “The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness,” and that is so. A normal level of optimism and clear thinking will helps us navigate regular troubles.

But that changes when the problems are huge and seeming to come in droves. Trials that linger for long periods of time also tax our emotional reserves until we feel that we have nothing left. The last part of Proverbs 18:14 says, “…but who can bear a broken spirit?” The broken spirit—out of options, out of time and out of the emotional energy to continue the fight—is what leads us to spiral down into discouragement.

Paralyzed by discouragement

When problems get really severe and our emotional reserves are depleted, we may lose all desire to do anything to improve our situation. We become mentally, emotionally and spiritually paralyzed.

Solomon also wrote, “A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones” (Proverbs 17:22, emphasis added throughout). The broken spirit feels there is no help available, has no energy and no ideas for how to improve. And, as a result, someone facing this level of anxiety and depression may end up just doing nothing to improve or cope with things.”

Jesus Christ knew the severe anxiety, pressure and stress His disciples were going to face. He told them they would have persecution in the world, and that mankind in general would not listen to or readily accept the message they were to teach. But, in order to prevent them from becoming paralyzed by fear and discouragement, He told them, “These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Take no anxious thought

Jesus Christ told His disciples not to allow worry and anxiety to take over their lives and thoughts.”

Continued at: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/relationships/health/coping-with-anxiety/

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Update:

Well, I haven’t heard from the man who made the offer on my house except for an online agreement, which I signed with my mouse, now that’s a first!  They are supposed to do an inspection, and that might give them an excuse to back out, but anyway, I have to be ready to close on the 7th. August 2017, in case it goes through.

So we haven’t put the new canvas canopy on the RV carport, as that can be done later as we will have to move that carport anyway. Roy was off for Father’s Day, and on Monday, it was back to work on the mini-house.  We gave up on fixing the chrome ceiling fan/light by taking the whole thing down and installing the white one out of the big house living room.  Then we installed another one that I don’t like very much in the big house living room. 

Tuesday, we had to do something to the yard.  The ratty old mower started at first pull again, and so Roy quickly ran it around.  The electric hedge clippers started at first pull of the finger, too, so the hedge looks better now.  Then we stapled up the welded wire fencing on the cross boards of the patched repaired fence, so critters can’t get in or out.  There was a space and I said to Roy that a Chihuahua could get out. He said “You don’t have a chihuahua”, so I said “ I didn’t when I rescued Marla or Paco or Peanut, but you never know when I might have one”.   Such is the life of an SPCA Foster Mom!  

I am happy to say that my shy little foster cat that belonged to the late Roni, “Puddin”, is now out of our SPCA cat habitat at Petco.  She is just too shy and stayed in the little cave area, so no one adopted her because they couldn’t see her.   She is so happy to be back home, and I am happy to have her back here.  As you can see, lots of ‘happiness’ here.  

Back in the mini-house, we have been concentrating on getting the walls ready for paint. For two mornings Hans came with his belt sander and got the top trim ready for installation.  So on Friday Roy nailed it up as it will be painted the same color as the walls, a very pale yellow like the rest of the place.  Then today, Sunday, Roy did some more floating and I was going ahead of him giving any protuding staple or nailheads an extra whollop.  Then I was measuring in the kitchen to see where to build in the microwave and toaster oven.  Then I measured the walls for furniture placement.  I still don’t know how much of my furniture will go in the mini-house.

On the Sabbath, I went back to my morning church on FM 1097.  The Bible readings were Num. 4:21-7:89, Judges 13:2-25, John 7:53-8:12.   One of the ladies, Travel, (yes, that is her name) has been in Georgia for a while and she and her brother, a pastor, are visitng, so he gave the Message.  Three quarter way through the service, at the time for the Message, I needed to help the pastor’s wife in the kitchen, and even though the Message was piped in there, he was very difficult to understand as he had a thick accent, so I missed most of it.

I had made Chicken, Brown Rice and Veggies, and Roasted Yellow Squash for the potluck.  But the Pièce de Résistance was the home made challah bread that Travel brought, and very tasty and tender was the brisket that the pastor and his wife brought.  

We all had a great time talking and chatting away in the dining hall with Travel and her brother Willie.  We haven’t seen them for a while so it was a great, but rainy day.

Why I Won’t Be Voting in the Presidential Election. God’s Instructions for Rulers. Cowboy Ten Commandments. Update.

 

For “Scripture Sunday”:

Why I Won’t Be Voting in the Presidential Election

“The candidates are in full campaign mode as the presidential race comes to its climax. Who will it be? Will we have our first woman president? The American businessman? Though unlikely, it may go to a third party nominee? In November, millions will cast their ballots for their favored presidential candidate.

While we may want to vote for the person that most reflects our godly beliefs, there is no earthly person that can fulfill the true need.

There is a lot of pressure to “do your civic duty” and vote. People will tell you if you don’t vote it’s like throwing away your freedoms. Others say that a non-vote is a vote for the other side—typically whichever side they are not voting for. It is an individual choice on whether or not to vote in the upcoming elections, but for me, the reasons not to get involved outweigh the reasons in favor of it.

Don’t misunderstand me, I do have opinions on the candidates who are running, and I often have to restrain myself so that I don’t get caught up in the racket of it all. Although, that is one of the problems. If I allow myself to get caught up in it, then my attentions are drawn away from where they need to be. We are told to look to Jesus (Hebrews 12:2). It is important to remember that the leadership and Kingdom I seek is not of this world and is unshakable (Hebrews 12:27-28). We are told, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be given to you” (Matthew 6:33 Modern English Version throughout).

For every single talking-point I might like, there are always others that are completely against my beliefs. How could I choose someone that would inevitably choose to do things that are in opposition to what God would choose?

Relationships and God’s way

While Christians are often criticized for their beliefs, we can also create more strife by being involved with the political system. People become very emotionally involved, so much so that they have come to blows over differing opinions. Over the years I have found if I side with any candidate’s political stance overall I inevitably upset someone. This can lead to, at the very least, a heated conversation, and at the most, a long-lasting animosity between myself and the other person. Do I want to damage my relationships with others over politics? This can happen with friends, family, and fellow church members. We all have varying views on aspects of life, but we should never strive to create division.

As a Christian, I am taught to love my neighbor as myself (Leviticus19:18, Matthew 23:39, Mark 12:31). Although Christians are sometimes attacked for their beliefs, because I am to love my neighbor, I do not want to create any other circumstances that make my relationships more tenuous. Jesus stated the greatest commandments: “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’” It is difficult to show love to one who is offended (Proverbs 18:17-19).

While we may want to vote for the person that most reflects our godly beliefs, there is no earthly person that can fulfill the true need. If we are told to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God to all people (Matthew 10:7, Acts28:31), I cannot in good conscience promote or support a leader of any political party. For every single talking-point I might like, there are always others that are completely against my beliefs. How could I choose someone that would inevitably choose to do things that are in opposition to what God would choose?

We are told that we are ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). I cannot be an ambassador for Christ and also represent another leader. I must trust that God knows what is best and pray that His will be done (Matthew 6:10). I also have to look at the Bible to guide me. One scripture states, “It is He who changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who know understanding” (Daniel 2:21, see also Romans 13:1).

If God sets up leaders according to His will, what makes me think I am any wiser? God’s plan may indeed allow evil leaders to be in higher positions. Scripture shows that it happened in Israel. Bad kings rose and fell according to how little or how much the people were staying on course with God. He allowed evil kings to rise to power or kingdoms to fail. When the people remembered their God He often restored a loving king to lead them.

For me, throwing support behind a government leader is saying that I don’t trust God’s leadership. God says we should be different (Romans 12:2). We are to be preaching the gospel and being citizens of heaven. “But our citizenship is in heaven, from where also we await for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).”    From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/blogs/why-i-wont-be-voting-in-the-presidential-election

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God’s Instructions for Rulers

What kind of standards does God expect in leaders?

“The Ten Commandments are listed in Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:4-21.  You will also find the commandments mentioned throughout the Old and New Testaments .

God’s instruction in Deuteronomy 17:18-20 states that kings were to write out a copy of God’s law and to read and rule by it continuously.

(Deuteronomy 17:18-20, New King James Version (NKJV) ¹⁸ “Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. ¹⁹ And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, ²⁰ that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom)”

The current U.S. presidential race is an embarrassment to the nation. The two leading contenders fall short of biblical character standards in critical areas. One has a history of multiple bankruptcies, questionable business dealings, marriages and affairs. The other supported her philandering husband for years, lied repeatedly about her e-mail communications while U.S. Secretary of State, and advocates for homosexual marriage and killing the unborn.

The sad fact is that the nation gets the kind of leadership it deserves, and regrettably that will be true in this election.

What kind of standards does God expect in leaders? And once in office, what should they focus on in fulfilling their duties? What would help them be the kind of leaders God would want them to be?

Some 3,500 years ago God set down a “constitution” of sorts for a new nation. The nation was Israel, newly freed from enslavement by the Egyptians. God laid out rules that would bring blessings and empower Israel to be an example that other nations would want to emulate (Deuteronomy 4:5-8). The key to those blessings was following their new “constitution,” God’s laws as revealed in the first five books of the Bible.

No one would be above the law or exempt from it. In fact, leaders were instructed to intimately familiarize themselves with it so they could rule humbly, wisely and righteously, leading to blessing for both themselves and the nation. Notice God’s instruction in Deuteronomy 17:18-20 that kings were to write out a copy of God’s law and to read and rule by it continuously:

“When [the new king] sits on the throne as king, he must copy for himself this body of instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. He must always keep that copy with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the Lord his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees.

“This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way. And it will ensure that he and his descendants will reign for many generations in Israel” (New Living Translation,2015).

Consider these words of wisdom. Think on this deeply. How different would any nation be if its leadership took to heart this simple and plain instruction? What an astounding difference it would make!”

From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-magazine/gods-instructions-for-rulers

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Update:

Just for your information, I cannot vote as I am a British subject.

We are still working on the plumbing in the guest house, plus a couple more trips to the hardware store for parts.  We were delayed by having to turn our attention to doing other things.  Such as the fence needed a new board, a door wouldn’t latch, the metal work stool needed new bolts and screws, the pressure washer needed attention, then one of the clocks had to have new hands put on it when the time was changed.  Just everyday stuff that has to be done.

Tomorrow, I will be picking up a medium size dog, so I had to get a carrier larger than the ones that I use for cats, out of storage. The carrier needed a good scrub, then we strapped in down in my van.  This poor little dog’s people took her to their vet for 2 years for allergy shots.  She eventually lost most of her hair and some of her skin turned like that of an elephant.  Our SPCA boss offered to take care of the dog temporarily, and our vet treated her for mites, and she is getting so much better with non-cornmeal dog food and special baths.  Our SPCA is getting ready for one of their best donation events, their “Doggies and Divas” fashion show, so I am going to take care of the dog for our boss until that is over.  My Sheltie is still as timid as can be, and cannot even look at a vacuum cleaner without trembing.  She must have gone through some terrible trauma.

We all had a good time at church, Jeff the elder who is our guitarist was back, so the hymns were sung with more gusto than last week.  It is difficult to sing if you don’t know the melody, so it was great to have him singing and playing again. I took a big Shepherd’s Pie for the potluck, and there were several other dishes, like chili and salmon casserole. As usual, lots of veggies and beans.

The Bible readings were Gen. 6:9-11:32, mostly about Noah’s lineage and the flood, Isa. 54:1-55:5, Matt. 24:36-44, and the Teaching was about Judgement, such as in the time of Sodom, and how it will happen again.

The weather has changed and even though it is still warm sometimes, we have cooler days.

Real Salt? Soy? King Tut's Gold Coffin. 1999 Record Blizzard. Drains.

 

For "Foodie Friday":

Real Salt, Celtic Salt and Himalayan Salt

"This is what real salt looks like—we all know what regular white salt looks like—and we mistakenly think it is real salt when it is not. The fact is that refined white salt, such as commercial table salt is bad, very bad stuff. Unrefined natural salt on the other hand is good, very good stuff providing many health benefits.

Unrefined sea salt is healthy. The blood-pressure-raising effect of table salt can be due to its high content of sodium with not enough magnesium to balance it. This has a magnesium-lowering effect that can constrict the arteries and raise blood pressure. Real salt (of various kinds) contains plenty of magnesium and other important minerals, which is why it usually does not affect blood pressure in a negative way.

"Dr. David Brownstein weighs in heavily on this matter saying, "Nobody makes a distinction between unrefined and refined salt. They 'lump' all salt together as a bad substance. This is a terrible mistake. There are two forms of salt available in the market place: refined and unrefined.

Refined salt has had its minerals removed and has been bleached to give it the white appearance that we are accustomed to seeing with salt. It is the fine, white salt that is available at almost any restaurant or grocery store. Refined salt has been bleached and exposed to many toxic chemicals in order to get it to its final product. Table salt is a refined salt containing about 97 to 99 percent sodium chloride. It has aluminum, ferrocyanide, and bleach in it. I believe this refining process has made it a toxic, devitalized substance that needs to be avoided.

Unrefined salt, on the other hand," Brownstein continues, "has not been put through a harsh chemical process. It contains the natural minerals that were originally part of the product. Its mineral content gives it a distinct color. The colors of unrefined salt can vary depending on where it is taken from. This is due to the changing mineral content of the various brands of salt. It is the minerals in unrefined salt that provide all the benefits of this product. The minerals supply the body with over 80 trace elements needed to maintain and sustain health.

Furthermore, the minerals elevate the pH (correct acidity) and lower blood pressure. Our Maker gave us salt to use in our diet—unrefined salt—with its full complement of minerals. It should be the salt of choice. It is a vital ingredient that needs to be part of everyone's diet."  More at: http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/real-salt-celtic-salt-and-himalayan-salt

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Table Salt vs. Himalayan Salt

"Dr. Barbara Hendel explains why we need salt in our diets, but only healthy natural Himalayan crystal salt, not common table salt."

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This 'Beloved' Food Can Cause Allergic Reactions for Years - and Infertility for Generations!

"Soy can be found in almost every product on your grocery store shelves -- corn chips, ice cream, canned tuna and every packaged food you can think of. It goes under names like yeast extract, soy protein, soybean oil, soy lecithin and soy flour.

But soy is one of the top eight allergens that cause immediate reactions such as coughing, sneezing, runny nose, hives, diarrhea, difficulty swallowing and anaphylactic shock.

Delayed allergic responses can also occur several hours to several days after the food is eaten.

According to Mannie Barling and Ashley F. Brooks-Simon on the Blogger News Network:

"To make soy more appetizing, the manufacturers added sugar, synthetic sweeteners, genetically modified high fructose corn sugar, refined salt, artificial flavorings, colors and MSG. So the soy isn't really soy. It is a Frankenfood created for the sole purpose of making a profit from health conscious people trying to live a healthier life."

The fact that unfermented soy is widely regarded as a health food in the United States is a perfect example of how a brilliant marketing strategy can fool millions.

It all started when the food industry, presented with a quandary over what to do with the byproducts of their ever-growing soybean oil industry, had an idea.

With some processing, and some added flavorings, preservatives, sweeteners, emulsifiers and synthetic nutrients, they turned soy protein isolate (the key ingredient in most soy foods that imitate meat and dairy products), "the food processors' ugly duckling," as Sally Fallon put it, "into a New Age Cinderella."

The propaganda that has created the soy sales miracle is all the more remarkable because, only a few decades ago, the soybean was considered unfit to eat - even in Asia. During the Chou Dynasty (1134-246 BC) the soybean was designated one of the five sacred grains, along with barley, wheat, millet and rice.

However, the pictograph for the soybean, which dates from earlier times, indicates that it was not first used as a food; for whereas the pictographs for the other four grains show the seed and stem structure of the plant, the pictograph for the soybean emphasizes the root structure. However, the soy plant was initially used as animal feed and for crop rotation.

Roots and nodules: Here is a healthy soybean root system with good mass, coupled with scores of nodules attached to the roots. Nodules contain bacteria that pull nitrogen from the air.

Agricultural literature of the period speaks frequently of the soybean and its use in crop rotation. Apparently the soy plant was initially used as a method of fixing nitrogen."

In 1997, about 8% of all soybeans cultivated for the commercial market in the United States were genetically modified. In 2010, the figure was 93%.    More at: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/03/14/is-the-hidden-soy-in-your-foods-contributing-to-illness.aspx 

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Henry Ford thought soybeans were the future; He had his engineers develop a plastic that used soybeans for the frames of his cars in 1935.

One acre of soybeans can produce 82,368 crayons.

One-half of all daily U.S. newspapers are printed with soybean oil-based ink. USA Today is one example.

Soybean oil is the most widely used vegetable oil. It is found in margarines, salad dressings, canned foods, sauces, bakery goods and processed fried foods.

Soy products actually increase requirements for vitamins B12 and D.

Soy also contains goitrogens - substances that depress thyroid function.

The Chinese, did not eat the soybean as they did other pulses (legumes) such as the lentil, because the soybean contains large quantities of a number of harmful a substances. First among them are potent enzyme inhibitors which block the action of trypsin and other enzymes needed for protein digestion.

Soybeans cannot be considered a starch staple because they are too high in fat to be allowed on any diet regularly.

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Confused About Soy?--Soy Dangers Summarized

"High levels of phytic acid in soy reduce assimilation of calcium, magnesium, copper, iron and zinc. Phytic acid in soy is not neutralized by ordinary preparation methods such as soaking, sprouting and long, slow cooking. High phytate diets have caused growth problems in children."

More at: http://www.westonaprice.org/soy-alert

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170 Scientific Reasons To Lose The Soy in Your Diet

"For those of you who just sat down because you are so taken aback by the notion that soy is not actually the healthfood you thought it was, here are 170 scientific reasons to back up this assertion.":

http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/170-scientific-reasons-to-lose-the-soy-in-your-diet/

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On This Day:

King Tut's sarcophagus uncovered, Jan 3, 1924:

"Two years after British archaeologist Howard Carter and his workmen discovered the tomb of the Pharaoh Tutankhamen near Luxor, Egypt, they uncover the greatest treasure of the tomb--a stone sarcophagus containing a solid gold coffin that holds the mummy of Tutankhamen.

When Carter first arrived in Egypt in 1891, most of the ancient Egyptian tombs had been discovered, although the little-known Pharaoh Tutankhamen, who had died when he was a teen, was still unaccounted for. After World War I, Carter began an intensive search for "King Tut's Tomb," finally finding steps to the burial room hidden in the debris near the entrance of the nearby tomb of King Ramses VI in the Valley of the Kings. On November 26, 1922, Carter and fellow archaeologist Lord Carnarvon entered the tomb, finding it miraculously intact.

Thus began a monumental excavation process in which Carter carefully explored the four-room tomb over four years, uncovering an incredible collection of several thousand objects. The most splendid architectural find was a stone sarcophagus containing three coffins nested within each other. Inside the final coffin, made out of solid gold, was the mummy of the boy-king Tutankhamen, preserved for more than 3,000 years."

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Great Lakes region digs out from record blizzard, Jan 3, 1999:

"After three days of high winds and heavy snow, people in the Great Lakes region begin digging out from one of the worst blizzards on record on this day in 1999. More than 100 people died in storm-related accidents.

The storm began on January 1, when snow began falling across Illinois, Indiana,Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio. Most areas saw at least 15 inches of snow before the storm moved on. The hardest hit area was Chicago, where wind gusts of up to 60 miles per hour combined with heavy snow to reduce visibility to near zero at times and create huge impassable drifts. O'Hare Airport, one the nation's busiest, had to shut down, stranding 200,000 people for as much as four days. The weather also made train travel through the area impossible, and mail across the country was delayed because of the blizzard.

The storm caused treacherous road conditions throughout the region. A 60-car pile-up on January 2 in Wisconsin resulted in scores of injuries and one death. In Indiana, a 100-mile stretch of Interstate 65 was closed for a full two days. When the snow finally stopped on January 3, record cold temperatures arrived. In Congerville, Illinois, a state record low of -36 degrees was reached. In the aftermath, President Bill Clinton declared Illinois and Indiana disaster areas and sent federal relief.

As the storm moved east, serious accidents followed in its wake. A 15-car pile-up on I-81 in Virginia killed four people and a 50-car accident in New Jersey injured dozens. There were 200 separate accidents on the New York Thruway alone during the blizzard. When the storm reached Buffalo, it began a two-week period during which the city received a remarkable 60 inches of snow. Still, Buffalo was prepared and able to plow the snow to make streets passable. In Detroit, a shortage of snow plows combined with the subsequent cold weather left some streets blocked for more than a week.

In all, more than 100 deaths--as many as 36 from heart attacks--were attributed to the terrible blizzard of January 1999."

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Yesterday:

Misty and I went to Jay's, but we didn't have much of a walk down there. It was windy and cold. 

Jay had asked me to bring a sink plunger, as their kitchen sink was bunged up.  The sink plunger didn't do it, so we came back here to drop off Misty, get my snake and a toilet plunger.  I have two snakes, and couldn't find either one. I know where everything is, and they just weren't there.  I must have loaned them out, or someone "borrowed" them, as in without my permission.  Jay tried with the toilet plunger, but said he couldn't do it, so I got behind that handle with all my little might and main, and the sink unplugged.  What a mess!

I found out that he had stuffed the garbage disposal with potato peelings and cabbage leaves, instead of feeding the disposal a little at a time. The main problem with that kitchen sink is that someone plumbed it with 1-1/4" pipe instead of 1-1/2",  1-1/4" is just for vanity sink drains.

We tied the long plank that we had retrieved from the lake the day before, and dragged it behind the van from Jay's all the way to my house, and left it on my side lot.  It was too heavy for us to put away, so that will have to wait.

When I went out with Misty the night before, I discovered that the temporary barrier that we had put up in the space where we were working on the fence, had blown down.  So Jay and I were going to continue with our fence building. But it was way too cold to work out there, so we screwed it in place this time.  Hopefully, it won't be too cold to work on it today.

Top 12 Nat. Pk CG. Used RVs. Redneck Airlines. Hand Crank RV Slide. Totaled RV. Propane. Invertors and Generators. 55 mph.

 

For "tRaVersing Thursday" or RV Day:

Top 12 National Park campgrounds

"This list might surprise you, especially when Channel Islands NP, with no road access, is on the list. But it will give you something to ponder — and motorhome and trailer access is possible at most of the parks. See the list here."

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RV tech shows "watch outs" for used RV buyers (video)

"If you're shopping for a "good deal" on a used RV, don't let your heart get ahead of your head. Here's an interesting video from an RV technician who walks you through someone's "great deal" that really turned out to be a lemon.

This is a guy you might like to take with you when you're considering buying a used RV — even one that's touted as that "great deal that you just can't pass up." Watch the video, and you might save yourself a major headache."

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Redneck Airlines offers RV discount

"Some airlines are desperately trying to lure back RVers who've discovered that RVing beats the pants off airline travel. If you are unsure whether you are on Redneck Air, peek into the flight deck and observe the pilot's flight check."

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How to hand crank an RV slide out

"What to do when the slideout jams while you are on location. Here's how to hand crank it back into place."

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How a paper cup can save the day at an RV sewer hookup

"Every once in awhile, typically in older RV parks, you can run into a problem with a sewer hookup. Here's an easy way to handle this uncommon situation. This is so simple you'll say "Why didn't I think of that?""

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An RV horror story. Don't let this happen to you!

"What happened to one RVer couple should never happen to anyone. Nobody was hurt — it was not that kind of an incident. But the RV was totaled. And imagine the horror the couple felt when they returned to their fifth wheel trailer to find it ruined by . . . well, watch the video."

From me: Remember to turn off the water at the spigot anytime you go anywhere.  You never know what leaks can spring up.

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Fifth wheel travel trailers — invertors and generators

"Dear Gary, 
Do fifth-wheel travel trailers have inverters? If they do not, then I need one with a generator, right?" Robert P. (Avon, IN)

"Robert, many 5th wheel travel trailers are indeed equipped with an inverter. In some cases, however, they may not power all 120-volt AC loads in the same manner as an on-board generator. Some trailers are equipped with both an inverter AND a generator. It just depends on that manufacturer. No hard and fast rule here..."  More at: http://www.rvdoctor.com/2011/05/5th-wheel-travel-trailers-inverters-and.html

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A hot idea for gauging LP in your cylinders

"Take your kettle, fill with water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, pour the hot water in one place over the tank — where the tank collar meets the tank. After the kettle is empty, place your hand at the bottom of the tank where the hot water ran down the tank. If there’s any propane in the tank it will absorb the heat from the water and the tank will be cold. From that start point, run your hand upwards along the hot water path. When you reach the point where the steel of the tank gets hot, you’ve reached the level of the propane in the tank. You now know if you’re good to go or if you need to top-off or completely refill your propane tank."   by George Bliss

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Propane Co's Under-Fill Tanks

"Propane companies are saving money by under-filling the tanks they sell."

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Leveling an RV

"How level must an RV be for everything to work properly?

Many RVers wonder what the magic solution may be for a perfectly level RV. The technical experts from betterRVing.com weigh in and help make the magic a reality.  The answer to the importance of leveling an RV may surprise you."

CLICK THE VIDEO TO SEE THE TIP: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=fG2Jrb7av5I

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RV Tips:

Leveling an RV

"How level must an RV be for everything to work properly?

Many RVers wonder what the magic solution may be for a perfectly level RV. The technical experts from betterRVing.com weigh in and help make the magic a reality.  The answer to the importance of leveling an RV may surprise you."

CLICK THE VIDEO TO SEE THE TIP: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=fG2Jrb7av5I

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Coach-Net adds RV tire protection program
"This new option for RVers, in addition to the usual towing, battery jumping, fuel delivery services, etc., will include a tire protection plan that offers tire and wheel hazard protection from nails, potholes, debris and more."   More at: http://www.coach-net.com/News/071513_HazardProtect.aspx

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Show your support for nationwide farmers markets

"The best organic food is what's grown closest to you. Use our website to find farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area, where you can buy produce, grass-fed meats, and many other goodies.

Support the concept of farmer direct to the consumer markets across the country. What could be better for an RVer to find these markets wherever we travel."  http://www.localharvest.org/

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RV refrigerators are different

"RV refrigerators are much different than the one in your house. They don’t have compressors and they work off the principle of absorption. You should turn the RV refrigerator on several hours before putting food in it. It is best to leave it on overnight and put your food in it just prior to leaving. Always keep a small thermometer in your RV refrigerator so you can monitor the temperature. Food can begin to go bad at about 40 degrees." Tech Tips from Mark Polk

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Lock your freezer and fridge doors
“There are usually mechanical locks for the freezer and main refrigerator doors.  Use them always, and make sure they are on your check-off list before leaving camp.  Without the locks both doors will fly open on bumpy roads and in hard turns.” Bill's Hints

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Off-roading in an RV? Really?
"There are some amazing, beautiful places that an RV can get to ... some are slightly off the road. Off-roading in an RV? What if you get stuck? Find out all about it this week from Rich Miller, "The Wanderman.""

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On This Day:

Nixon signs national speed limit into law, Jan 2, 1974:

"On this day in 1974, President Richard M. Nixon signs the Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act, setting a new national maximum speed limit.

Prior to 1974, individual states set speed limits within their boundaries and highway speed limits across the country ranged from 40 mph to 80 mph. The U.S. and other industrialized nations enjoyed easy access to cheap Middle Eastern oil from 1950 to 1972, but the Arab-Israeli conflict changed that dramatically in 1973. Arab members of the Organization for Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) protested the West's support of Israel in the Yom Kippur War by stopping oil shipments to the United States, Japan and Western Europe. OPEC also flexed its new-found economic muscle by quadrupling oil prices, placing a choke-hold on America's oil-hungry consumers and industries.

The embargo had a global impact, sending the U.S. and European economies into recession. As part of his response to the embargo, President Nixon signed a federal law lowering all national highway speed limits to 55 mph. The act was intended to force Americans to drive at speeds deemed more fuel-efficient, thereby curbing the U.S. appetite for foreign oil. With it, Nixon ushered in a policy of fuel conservation and rationing not seen since World War II.

The act also prohibited the Department of Transportation from approving or funding any projects within states that did not comply with the new speed limit. Most states quietly adjusted their speed limits, though Western states, home to the country's longest, straightest and most monotonous rural highways, only grudgingly complied. Even after OPEC lifted the embargo in March 1974, drivers continued to face high gas prices and attempted to conserve fuel by buying revolutionary Japanese economy cars. For many, a desire for fuel-efficient automobiles became the standard until the trend toward gas-guzzling sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) emerged in the 1990s. In 1987, Congress authorized states to reset speed limits within their borders, but proponents of the national maximum speed limit law claimed it lowered automobile-related fatalities, prompting Congress to keep it on the books until finally repealing it on November 28, 1995.

Today speed limits across the country vary between 35 and 40 mph in congested urban areas and 75 mph on long stretches of rural highway. U.S. drivers now drive almost as fast as their European counterparts, who average between 75 and 80 mph on the highway. On some roads in Italy, it is legal to drive as fast as 95 mph."

From me:  I suppose some folks here think they are in Italy!

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Yesterday:

I didn't take Misty when I went to get Jay, as he wanted to get a plank out of the lake.  Jim, the mechanic still hasn't been well enough to finish working on my little Puddle Jumper.  If I leave blind Misty alone in the van, she might fall off the seat, which is a lot higher up. If I take her out of the subdivision in the van, she has her seat belt harness on, or in a carrier.  We looked at the plank, and realized that we would have to have a longer rope than the one I carry in the van.

When we got back here, we knew that for the cross fence to be in line with the existing fence that we would have to move three posts, or it would look awful.  We ran a string line from end to end, and we got two posts out and reset one.  So that Misty couldn't get out of the back yard, we put temporary barriers up until we could finish it. 

We drove down to the lake before I took Jay home.  Armed with a longer rope with a rock tied to the end, Jay threw it over the 2x12x16, and steered to to the shore.  I put the ball mount in my receiver hitch, tied the rope to the ball mount, and pulled it out of the lake.  They have just finished rebuilding the fishing dock, and this board must have got away from them.

As it was wet and too long to put in the van, I carefully towed it to Jay's house.  I had that hitch put on 4 years ago, but it's the first time it's been used until yesterday.