Unleavened Bread. How Much Sin? DNA Born Again! Update.

For “Scripture Sunday”:

Unleavened Bread

“Should a Christian observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread? Is that something that we should be doing today?

https://youtu.be/yFERqhonAmc

Transcript

[Steve Myers] “There is an interesting feast that falls right after the Christian Passover that’s called Unleavened Bread. You can read about that particular feast time in Leviticus 23. There is an outline of God’s festivals in Leviticus 23.

Now the question comes up. All right, we’re in the book of Leviticus, that’s Old Testament. And didn’t the sacrifice of Christ do away with all of those festivals that are mentioned in Leviticus 23? Well there is evidence in the New Testament that says without a doubt, no. Not at all. Should a Christian observe the Festival of Unleavened Bread? Is that something that we should be doing today?

Well, the Apostle Paul spoke to that very question in the book of 1 Corinthians. So at 1 Corinthians 5. He gives very direct instructions to the church in Corinth and he says this. He says, “You’re glorying is not good.” This is in verse 6. “Your glorying is not good. Don’t you know a little leaven leavens the whole lump?” So he begins to talk about leavening, and leavening goes in the dough and makes it rise. Then he says, “Purge out the old leaven since you are truly unleavened.” Then in verse 8, he goes on and says, “ Therefore, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (1 Corinthians 5:6-8)

So Paul says a couple of interesting things here. First of all, there is an object lesson. By removing physical breads and leavening out of our home, getting rid of yeast, the things that make bread rise, there is a lesson to be learned from that. And so he uses that object lesson to say there is a spiritual thing that’s involved here. The spiritual lesson is get rid of wickedness, get rid of sin, get rid of malice and now put on the new man in Christ. Be sincere. The man of sincerity and truth.

So through this physical observance of the Days of Unleavened Bread and getting rid of that leavening out of our homes, we are recognizing that we should be a new creation in Christ. And so what does he say? He says, “Let us keep the feast.” Because of these things, because we understand the spiritual significance, we keep the feast. Some translations say, “Observe the feast.” Some say, “Celebrate the feast.” Some even say, “Continue the feast.” Not in a Jewish sense but in a Christian sense.

So should a Christian observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread? The answer the Apostle Paul gives for the New Testament church for us today, yes. Absolutely. And 1 Corinthians 5 bears that out.  From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-daily/unleavened-bread 

________

How much sin do you accept in your life?

YouTube: https://youtu.be/7RN298JMQ7k

Transcript

[Steve Myers] “How much sin do you accept in your life? The Apostle Paul, in a sense, posed that same question to the church in Corinth. In 1 Corinthians 5 and in verse 6 he says this to them. He says, “Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?” So the Apostle Paul is comparing leavening to sin, because when you put that leavening in the dough it causes that dough to rise and it, in a sense, infects that whole loaf.

So Paul says even the littlest amount spreads and grows. And in fact the church of Corinth had become so tolerant and so merciful that they accepted sin both in the congregation and in their own personal lives, and so God says no, we can’t do that.

The Apostle Paul was inspired to write, “Therefore, purge out the old leaven that you may be a new lump.” And then he connects that to Jesus Christ. He says, “You’re truly unleavened, for indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.” (1 Corinthians 5:6-7)

So Paul’s saying look at yourself. How much sin is acceptable in your life? Paul says do everything you can to rely on Jesus Christ. Have him live his life in you and through you so that we choose to be truly unleavened.”  From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-daily/how-much-sin

________

Born Again! 

An Amazing Fact: “Tucked inside the microscopic nucleus of every cell in our bodies is a six-foot long strand of protein molecules, called DNA. The information contained within makes it possible for each parent to contribute one-and-a-half billion bits of genetic information to each of their offspring!

The DNA itself resembles a long, narrow, spiral ladder of pliable material. Before a cell is able to divide, the DNA must be “duplicated” so that each cell will have an original copy of the genetic code. As replication begins, an enzyme unwinds the spiral DNA ladder. Next, a protein molecule holds the two strands apart while another enzyme rapidly “transcribes” genetic code to RNA molecules. The code is then “proofread” and instantly corrected if an error is found. All of this happens in a matter of seconds! Finally, the RNA molecules exit the nucleus to begin communicating the genetic code to new cells.  

As the RNA molecule takes critical information from the DNA and communicates it to the body, so Christ took the message of His Father’s love from the “nucleus” of heaven and communicated it to our planet. “For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me” (John 17:8).
And now it is Christ’s desire that we do the work of the RNA! “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world” (John 17:18).  

While we cannot help what genetic heritage we have been given from our parents, we can accept God’s offer to be our Father and choose to be “born again.” Let us bring joy to the Father’s heart today, replicating the peace of heaven, by letting Christ transcribe the genetic code of heaven into our hearts!
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. John 17:25 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. John 17:26”

________

Update,

So why am I writing about the Passover when most people have already celebrated it?  Well, the church that I attend, and quite a few other churches around the world, believe that it has to be celebrated after a certain new moon, and that it won’t be Passover until Sunday, April 29th this year.  Then there will be the Feast of Unleavened Bread for 7 days after that.

Zack and I have already pulled out my fridge and cleaned any crumbs out that might have been under it, getting ready to have all the leavening out of the house.

On Monday, it was Jay’s mom, Claudia’s funeral.  There were a few of her family there, even though they live in Houston.  All three of her grandsons said a few words and both her daughters.  Jay was there, her only surviving son, but he isn’t very good at public speaking, so he stayed seated.  Leon, her neighbor, and I, were her only friends there. They placed her urn in a box and put it in the ground under a great big oak tree. It was a graveside service, the wind was really blowing, then sometimes it would rain on the big canopy over us.  Most of us were cold because we didn’t know it was going to be an outside service, and hadn’t dressed accordingly. 

The two lots with the ramshackle cabin on it that I worked on cleaning up last year have been sold to a man who has torn it all down, so that undesirables can’t stay there any more.   He had to go past there several times a day to get to his lovely waterfront home and wanted to get it cleared off and leveled. That is a big eyesore eliminated.  I had asked for any of the wooden T1-11 siding, as I have a use for it, and they brought it here on a truck.  Zack and I cleaned up that lumber, pulled all the nails and screws, and stacked it in the greenhouse until we are ready to use it.

It took two mornings just to get all the dust from the road work cleaned up on my front screen porch, my “catio”, which is at the other side of the house from the road resurfacing. Another morning we spent cleaning the front door porch.   The dust and dirt travelled that far.

My new foster-cat is a little gray honey called “Gracie”.  She is one of the survivors when her home caught fire and was saved with just smoke inhalation. She played hide-and-seek with me for the first three days. After a couple of hours she would utter a little meow and I would go find her.  When she found out that I knew all the hiding places, she gave up and now sleeps on my bed.  She is so gentle, and the wounds on my hands and legs from the other cat have all healed.  I am now bandaid free for the first time since January.

For the church potluck I cooked some course ground bison, added chili beans, onions, green peppers. seasonings and called it Bison Chili.  They loved it. I just took the one dish this time and it seemed so much easier to load and unload the van. We also had lasagne, a beef and veggie dish, and lots of veggies and salads.  There was a very sticky, gooey, chocolate pie thing with copious amounts of white coolwhip stuff on the top, and they ate two of them.  How can anyone eat such sweet stuff ?

The Bible readings were Lev. 9:1-11:47, that is about the clean and unclean foods, then Sam. 6:1-7:17, and Heb. 7:1-19 and 8:1-6.  The Teaching was about the Resurrection.  We have been having some colder weather, and the church was cold as they never have enough heat in there for me, and it was a very cold day.

What Killed The Dinosaurs? Go Around. Wisdom Versus Knowledge. Drop the Load. Update.

For “Scripture Sunday”:

What killed the dinosaurs?

“What killed all the dinosaurs? What are dinosaurs? Why don’t we find any today?

Huge Sauropod dinosaur leg bone. Compare to the author’s 6’4″ handsome husband!

“Over the years there have been several theories for what killed the dinosaurs and why we don’t really find them today.  Was it an asteroid impact? Was it climate change?  “What killed the dinosaurs?” is a history question, so let’s go back to the reliable source of history that we’ve talked about – the Bible. The global flood, i.e., “Noah’s Flood”, in Genesis covered the whole earth and all the land-dwelling creatures not on the ark died. Since dinosaurs lived on land, they must have died in the flood. As mentioned in the previous article about rocks, fossils, and the age of the earth (read here), many of the rock layers were created during the global flood, including fossils of some of the creatures that died during the flood.

So, the global flood is what killed most of the dinosaurs. Noah did take some on the ark (see full article), so a few dinosaurs did survive the flood. However, the climate after the flood was very different and probably made it difficult for these creatures to survive. Additionally, looking at dragon legends, the ones that remained were probably pests that humans fought and killed in the following years.  What killed the dinosaurs? Several factors – the global flood, changing climate, and humans.

Didn’t dinosaurs evolve into birds?

Archaeopteryx fossil. Photo from pixabay

The idea that dinosaurs evolved into birds is very popular right now. First off, there are a bunch of problems with the idea of evolution as a whole. One type of creature turning into a different type of creatures simply has not on record. You can read more in last week’s article about evolution. Next, looking at the anatomy of a theropod dinosaur (those like T. rex and velociraptor that are thought to have evolved into birds) presents a lot of problems for the way birds breathe and walk.

Then, or course, is the issue of feathers. Feathers are very, very, very different from the scales we find on reptiles – they are very complex and function more like a hair than like scales. There is fossil evidence of skin impressions from many dinosaurs showing scales (even recently discovered on T. rex). The famous “missing link” fossil between dinosaurs and birds, archaeopteryx, is an extinct bird – very clearly not dinosaur. The true identity of “fossil proto-feathers” is still hotly debated among paleontologists. Even many scientists who accept evolution don’t agree with dinosaur-to-bird evolution. To top it all off, fossil parrots, loons, and other birds have been found buried in the same rock layers that we find dinosaurs in. Even the lowest (relatively oldest) dinosaur-containing rock layers have bird footprint fossils.

In conclusion, dinosaurs are marvelous creatures created by God just a few thousand years ago. We don’t see dinosaurs around anymore because of the global flood, changing climate after the flood, and humans fighting these dragons. No, those birds you see in your back yard are not descendants of a dinosaur. Be sure to come back next week as we conclude this series of articles on Creation basics!”        Excerpts from: http://creationclues.org/2018/03/03/what-happened-to-the-dinosaurs-creation-basics-5/   By Sara J. Mikkelson (Bruegel) is a young woman dedicated to bringing glory to the one and only God (the LORD, Yahweh, of the Bible) in all that she does.

For Further Study, Creation Clues: Bone Mix  Behemoth Burial Grounds Tackling Pterosaurs  Making Mosasaurs  Dinosaurs that Defy Millions of Years  Living Fossils Series  Tip-Toe Tracks

_________

Go Around 

   

“There are times in life when stubbornness, ego or vanity will push us into forcing an issue or putting great effort into something that only amounts to little.

Krists Luhaers/Unsplash

Sometimes the best thing to do is to take the other path.

Farmers who had a tough time plowing their fields had an old saying: “Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.” There are stumps and then there are stumps. Some may be worth the effort, some may not. Knowing the difference can save a lot of grief, and having good tools can make a difference.

Jesus gave some good advice when He said that we need to count the cost of projects or things we are facing (Luke 14:28). Sometimes the best thing to do is to take the other path. That is how Abraham solved his trouble with Lot. He told Lot to make a choice and rather than have strife, Abraham would simply go the opposite way (Genesis 13:9). Abraham knew God would bless him wherever he went. When you go around the “stump” for God, hold His hand.”

From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/blogs/this-is-the-way/go-around

__________

Wisdom Versus Knowledge    

“Wisdom can be found anywhere God chooses, whether we hear it or not.

Rod Long/Unsplash

God’s Word offers direction for the times we lose our way on the road of wisdom. Ask for wisdom and observe the fruit borne from that request.

Is it possible that as worldly knowledge increases, wisdom decreases? Humanity has accomplished much and has many clever sayings, such as “knowledge is power.” But it’s a spiritual paradox of sorts.

Let’s consider Scripture. Standing amidst an assortment of pagan altars, Paul stood up at Mars Hill and said: “Men of Athens, I see how very religious you are in every way” (Acts 17:22). Paul spoke to them at their spiritual level. He didn’t look down his nose and walk away. He didn’t say, “Your idols are outrageous and need to be destroyed.”

He may have screened his thoughts and practiced diplomacy. Paul found a way to tell them some good news about his merciful, all-powerful God, using a sliver of wisdom he found among these knowledgeable Athenians: “I found an altar where you worship with the words written on it, TO THE GOD WHO IS NOT KNOWN. You are worshiping Him without knowing Him. He is the One I will tell you about” (Acts 17:22-23).

Wisdom can be found anywhere God chooses, whether we hear it or not: “Wisdom cries out in the street; she utters her voice in the markets” (Proverbs 1:20). We may cry out in prayer for understanding and seek it as treasure, but Scripture cautions about misplacing our focus on knowledge: “And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2).

God’s Word offers direction for the times we lose our way on the road of wisdom: “What does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8). Communication and signs are navigation tools. Ask for wisdom and observe the fruit borne from that request. “Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly” (Proverbs3:18).

Connecting the dots on this spiritual treasure-seeking quest will help us stay on target for the heavenly wisdom of James 3:17 and our true, living God.”

From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/blogs/wisdom-versus-knowledge

________

Drop the Load

“Many people carry loads that are heavy, but invisible.

If we carry our concerns and worries from the previous day into today, we will have an ever-heavier load to carry.

These invisible heavy loads are thoughts that burden us with anxiety, fear and concern. There could be thoughts of revenge and records of hurts we may have suffered. These inner loads are heavy only to you. “It does not take a very big person to carry a grudge,” someone noted. But the one carrying it may find their life changed and the joy they could have had curtailed. “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; it only causes harm” (Psalms 37:8). Most of that harm impacts the one carrying the load, but all those associated with him are affected.

Jesus advised His followers to stop worrying about tomorrow or things they could not change—there are plenty of things a person needs to be concerned with without adding some extra (Matthew 6:34). If we carry our concerns and worries from the previous day into today, we will have an ever-heavier load to carry. There are some parts of the load that we must bear, but things like grudges, anger or attempts to retaliate are ones that we do not need. Drop them, and your load will be lighter.”      From: https://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/blogs/this-is-the-way/drop-the-load

_______

Update:

Zack got one coat of paint on one side of the 15-light door in the mini-house, and we did a few other odd jobs. 

Chris and I took the van to Pete’s auto repair shop in Conroe as he has got it inspected for me in other years.  But he said that his scanner would not give him a good code for why the engine light is on.  So we picked it up and I took it to a larger shop. They scanned it, free, and said it is one of the 3 oxygen sensors and that they didn’t have time to fix it until the following Wednesday, (for $220). 

As I was driving it back to Willis, the engine light was off, so I thought that I would get it inspected.  It passed everything, except they said that the computer had been reset and that I had to drive it for 100 miles within 2 weeks, and then they would inspect it again.  I set the trip to zero, and wondered how I was going to rack up 100 miles in two weeks.  I didn’t have to worry about that, the engine light came back on in only 18 miles. 

On Monday, Luna, my Siamese foster was picked up by my SPCA boss, Kenya, and taken to her house overnight so that she could be taken to the vet Tuesday morning.  They had to verify that she is indeed already spayed, and get her next shots. Then Kenya put her in the Habitat at Petco.  The next day, Wednesday, Chris and I were going to get my van from Pete’s when Chris got a call from the Habitat that Luna was having a seizure again.  We rushed there and picked her up.  Chris dropped me off at Pete’s and took Luna to my house while I took the van to the larger shop.  When I got home, Luna was fine and as loving as always.  So it is either the shots or being confined in a small spaces that sets off the seizures.  Kenya is going to pick her up again next week and keep her under observation with a camera. She is going to trade with me,  I will be getting a gray boy cat who was saved from a foster mother’s home that caught on fire on Tuesday.  Three of the critters, 1 dog, 2 cats died in the fire, but this cat, and two others were saved and treated for smoke inhalation. 

Puddin’, my other foster cat, is so happy to be home from the Habitat that she hardly leaves my side, and is tolerating Luna being in the house. At first she swore terribly (a sailer would blush) anytime she saw Luna, but now she has calmed down to a growl.  By the 17th., I have to get her used to being around other cats as she has a potential adopter who already has a cat.  Luna and Puddin’ sleep on my bed with me, but not near each other. Maybe Puddin’ will like the new cat better? 

I have trained Puddin’ some “catiquette”, or cat etiquette. She doesn’t get on counters or the dining table, she comes when called, that gets two treats, and if she comes on her own, that’s one treat.  Of course, she has me trained, too, she lets me know when she wants her canned food, and comes to get me when she thinks it is bedtime. The changing of the clocks will probably confuse her tonight.

When I took Zack to the local food pantry, he was given two batches of beets,  and a package of ground bison, which he promptly gave me.  Some people don’t know what’s good, or what’s good for them.  I put the beets in a big pot, boiled them, skinned them and I will have a great time eating them in different dishes.  I have some brown rice soaking, ready to cook it in a crockpot, and cooking it in the beet water will give the brown rice an interesting hue.  Who says you have to stick to the conventional recipes?  I find cooking in a crockpot gives my kitchen smoke alarm some rest.  If I cook food on the stove, I often forget about it, until it reminds me.

The ground bison was cooked with some chopped onion, and as I had an abundance of potatoes, I cooked and mashed them, too.  What did that make?  A Shepherd’s Pie, of course, though I had to add a pound of grass-fed ground beef to make it enough for the church potluck.  I took some beef gravy for the pie, and a cut up cantelope, too. We also had chicken alfredo, tamale pie, beef pie, etc., lima beans, broccoli and other veggies.

The Bible readings were Exo. 30:11-34:35, about the Altar of Incense, the golden calf, the second pair of tablets of stone inscribed with the 10 Commandments, the seventh day the Sabbath, and the Feast Days being days of rest, 1 Kin. 18:1-39  and 2  Cor. 3:1-18.  The Teaching was more about what Martin Luther’s Reformation has done for us.  The people now had translations of the Bible in their own languages. The pilgrims had came over here with the Geneva Bible, as the King James version was so new.

After I had helped clean up the dining hall kitchen, I went to the nursing home to see Claudia, who is still hanging in there.  The weather this week has been variable with air conditioning needed one day, and heat the next day.

Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. Was Jesus Really Resurrected? Update.

 

For “Scripture Sunday”; 

A bit late as I didn’t realize that Easter is already upon us, as Passover isn’t for another couple of weeks. 

Upcoming Holy Days

Passover
April 22, 2016 - Observed evening before
Feast of Unleavened Bread
April 23-29, 2016

 

3 Things You May Not Know About Maundy Thursday and Good Friday

“Reflecting on the death of Jesus Christ is a sobering occasion for Christians. Unfortunately the timing of Christ’s death is rarely understood.

Devout Catholics participate in a Good Friday procession.

Churches will soon be packed with some of their largest attendances of the year. The “CEOs” (Christmas and Easter Only attendees) will make one of their semiannual appearances for Easter, the most holy observance of the year for mainstream Christianity. Good Friday, which occurs two days before Easter Sunday, is also significant as the most solemn occasion because it recalls the crucifixion of Christ.

1.  Of all the man-made holidays, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are the only ones that claim to commemorate something Jesus said to commemorate.

On the evening before His crucifixion, Jesus told His disciples to keep the Passover as an annual festival “in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24-25).

In teaching the Corinthians to observe this solemn service, Paul told them that through this memorial they would “proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (verse 26, emphasis added throughout).

Jesus never commanded Christians to celebrate His birth or resurrection. Rather, His instruction was for us to memorialize His death—something that Maundy Thursday and Good Friday actually do attempt to do.

But does that mean you should observe Maundy Thursday and Good Friday?

2. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday aren’t the biblical names of the observance that commemorates Christ’s death.

The terms Maundy Thursday and Good Friday appear nowhere in the Bible. But the Bible does talk about another festival to honor Christ’s death: Passover.

The New Testament Passover established by Christ Himself includes taking bread and wine. The bread represents His broken body and the wine represents His shed blood (Matthew 26:26-28).

Churches vary in how often they partake of the symbols of bread and wine. Some take these symbols daily, some monthly and some on Maundy Thursday. But the Bible instructs us to observe it only once a year on a specific day (Leviticus 23:5). When we take the Passover symbols of unleavened bread and wine, we annually “proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26).

Observing the Passover is a memorial of Christ’s death. Jesus did not die on many different days throughout the year. He died on only one day, and He observed the Passover on the prescribed evening before the day of His death.

Passover is the annual festival that reminds us of Christ’s death. To learn more about this observance, see “Passover: What Did Jesus Do for You?” and “Questions and Answers About the Passover.”

3. Jesus didn’t die on a Friday.

Today documentation is commonly recorded for births and deaths. While we don’t have these same types of records from the first century giving us the exact day of Christ’s death, the Bible does give us enough details to show that Jesus definitely didn’t die on a Friday.

The fact that there were two Sabbaths during the timeline of Jesus’ burial and resurrection is confirmed by several Bible translations, including the International Standard Version, which translates Matthew 28:1: “After the Sabbaths, around dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to take a look at the burial site.”

The annual Sabbath occurred on Thursday that year; the weekly Sabbath, on Saturday.

Download "The Chronology of Christ’s Crucifixion and Resurrection" infographic.

This chart includes the key events during this momentous week, demonstrating how Jesus’ promise to rise after three days and three nights was fulfilled, proving He is the Messiah.”

More at: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/blog/3-things-you-may-not-know-about-maundy-thursday-and-good-friday/

________

Was Jesus Really Resurrected?

“Without the resurrection of Jesus Christ, our faith is futile. Do we have historical evidence that it actually happened?

A living Savior is vital to Christianity. Yet there is a very strong movement in our society today to mitigate and destroy our Christian heritage—especially belief in the resurrection. Many contend that Jesus was just a man, just a human teacher, and that He never was actually resurrected after His crucifixion.

So how can we know that it really happened? There’s a lot of evidence that verifies the accuracy of the New Testament and the validity of Jesus’ resurrection—enough to convince anyone willing to believe…….

5. Historically confirmed people

Not only does the New Testament contain historically accurate information and geographical markers, it also refers to some famous people.

Geisler and Turek put it well: “There is no way the New Testament writers could have gotten away with writing outright lies about Pilate, Caiaphas, Festus, Felix, and the entire Herodian bloodline. Somebody would have exposed them for falsely implicating these people in events that never occurred. The New Testament writers knew this, and would not have included so many prominent real people in a fictional story that was intended to deceive. Again, the best explanation is that the New Testament writers accurately recorded what they saw” (p. 225).

Here are some of the historical figures that are mentioned in the New Testamentthat are also found in non-Christian writings that verify the accuracy: Jesus, Agrippa I, Agrippa II, Ananias, Annas, Aretas, Bernice (wife of Agrippa II), Caesar Augustus, Caiaphas, Claudius, Drusilla, Erastus, Felix, Gallio, Gamaliel, Herod Antipas, Herod Archelaus, Herod the Great, Herod Philip I, Herod Philip II, Herodias, James the brother of Jesus, John the Baptist, Judas the Galilean, Lysanias, Pilate, Quirinius, Porcius Festus, Salome (daughter of Herodias), Sergius Paulus, and Tiberius Caesar.

These names of dozens of key biblical characters are found in other, non-Christian writings of the day—one more way of verifying the accuracy of what we have in our Bible today.

6. Ten non-Christian corroborating sources

There are 10 known non-Christian writers who mention Jesus within 150 years of His life, helping corroborate the biblical record.

These are: Josephus, the Jewish historian for the Roman government; Tacitus, the Roman historian; Pliny the Younger, a Roman politician; Phlegon, a freed slave who wrote histories; Thallus, a first-century historian; Seutonius, a Roman historian; Lucian of Samosata, a Greek satirist; Celsus, a Roman philosopher; Mara Bar-Serapion, a private citizen who wrote to his son; and the Jewish Talmud.

By contrast, over the same 150 years, there are nine non-Christian sources who mention Tiberius Caesar, the Roman emperor at the time of Jesus’ ministry. So discounting all the Christian sources, Jesus is mentioned by one more source than the Roman emperor. If you include Christian sources, authors mentioning Jesus outnumber those mentioning Tiberius by more than four times.

Geisler and Turek’s book outlines what can be pieced together from the 10 writers, some of whom are decidedly anti- Christian. They attest that Jesus lived during the time of Tiberius Caesar, lived a virtuous life, was a wonder-worker, had a brother named James, was acclaimed to be the Messiah, and was crucified under Pontius Pilate on the eve of the Jewish Passover, accompanied by darkness and earthquake.

They further affirm that His disciples believed He rose from the dead, were willing to die for their belief, spread Christianity rapidly as far as Rome, and denied the Roman gods, instead worshipping Jesus as God (p. 223).

More on this can be found in The Case for the Real Jesus by Lee Strobel (2007, p. 113). Strobel further relates this:

“‘We have better historical documentation for Jesus than for the founder of any other ancient religion,’ said Edwin Yamauchi of Miami University, a leading expert on ancient history. Sources from outside the Bible corroborate that many people believed Jesus performed healings and was the Messiah, that he was crucified, and that despite this shameful death, his followers, who believed he was still alive, worshiped him as God. One expert documented thirty-nine ancient sources that corroborate more than one hundred facts concerning Jesus’ life, teachings, crucifixion, and resurrection” (p. 272).”

Complete article at: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today/beyond-today-magazine/was-jesus-really-resurrected

________

Update:

One morning, I woke up to sharp pain in both hips, probably from doing a lot of standing the day before.  We have also had a cold spell, maybe that had something to do with it. That’s a new thing for me, I don’t have aches and pains, but I suppose it is due to my age, going on 81.   I took an extra Flaxseed Oil capsule and an Aleve and I was good to go.

In the couple of mornings that we worked, Jay and I installed some of the wiring in the new wall between the new kitchen and bathroom.  While it is just bare studs, now is the time to do it.  This circuit is going straight to the breaker box on it’s own breaker.  On the kitchen side there will be a counter top with upper and lower cabinets with several outlets for coffee maker, toaster, toaster oven, microwave, and anything else.  We also ran the wire, also on it’s own circuit, to the new location of the water heater.  It will be in a “blind” corner of the same kitchen cabinets right next to the new bathroom.   On the other side, the front side of the kitchen, in the sink/stove area we have installed a counter height outlet next to the stove area for an electric pressure cooker or frypan or crockpot.  It is over 3’ to the sink, so it didn’t have to be a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter).   There are already GFCI outlets for the disposal and dishwasher under the counter.

Jay went to church with me, and he took some roast beef with veggies that he had made.  He had hoped to warm it up in the church oven, but the oven was full and so it was warmed up in a crockpot.  He said that made it even better.  I took Cauliflower Au Gratin with buttered crumbs on top and Yucca Root fries.  The fries tasted good, but holding them in the oven while the service was on, dried some of them out. 

The Bible readings were Lev. 6:8-8:36, Jere. 7:21-8:3, 9:22,23, and Mark 12.28. and the Teaching was again about Prophecy and Jerusalem.

All week I have been getting things ready to go on consignment at the resale store, or donated to Outreach Ministries.  I cleaned out a lot of places, washed the clothes, cleaned the shoes and purses, tried out the computer monitors and TVs, so today Jay and I loaded it all in the van ready to go to Conroe in the morning for my doctor appointment.  It is another 6 month check-up from my heart surgery.

Nala, my foster cat, got out, and that is a no no.  She could catch one of the deadly diseases that outside cats get.  She wouldn’t come when called, so I left the back door of the attached garage closed but with tape over the latch so it wouldn’t catch.  Then I got a heavy tow chain out of the shed, screwed a really big hook in the hinge-side door jam, hooked the chain to it and looped it through the top of a propane bottle and over  the door handle and over a metal table next to the door.  The door would open enough to let her in, but not a person without causing a lot of commotion.  There is a motion security light over that back door, and I would be able to see it come on from my bedroom, so I went to bed and prayed.   Something woke me up in the night, and there she was in the garage waiting to be let in the house.  So I took the tape off the latch and closed the door and went back to bed.  I was so grateful that she came back after less than half a day.

How to Be a Good Husband. Godly Sorrow Produces Repentance. Update & Baptism

For “Scripture Sunday”:

How to Be a Good Husband

Husbands and future husbands have a wonderful blessing—and a great responsibility. How can we do a better job in this essential biblical role?

“Disclaimer time: By writing this article, I’m not claiming to be a great husband. As my wife and I near our 30th anniversary, I marvel at her patience and support and endurance through my mistakes and quirks and sins. I also know that I need to continue to improve. Hence this Bible study.
As far as the hokey acrostic spelling out HUSBAND, well, the Bible used acrostics as memory aids, and maybe this one will help me remember these seven points.
So, what does the Bible say about husbands and becoming a good one?

Honor her

“Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered” (1 Peter 3:7, emphasis added throughout).
Showing honor is important in all relationships (1 Peter 2:17) and should be learned in the home as we honor our father and mother (Exodus 20:12). Honor is especially important—and difficult—in the marriage relationship. It’s easier to show honor to someone you rarely see. But when we see our mates at their worst state and when our little quirks and differences begin to grate on each other over time, it is more difficult to always show honor and respect.
God made us men crave and need honor. So by the principle of the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12), we should also give honor.
The same goes for help. God made women to help men (Genesis 2:18), and He would expect us to help our wives as well. Helping our wives is another way of showing them honor.

Understand her

Men often joke that this can seem like an impossible task. Physics genius Stephen Hawking has pondered the secrets of the universe, but says that women “are a complete mystery.”
But the apostle Peter instructs husbands to “dwell with them with understanding” (1 Peter 3:7).
The NKJV Study Bible explains it this way: “A Christian husband should be intimately aware of his wife’s needs, her strengths and weaknesses, and her goals and desires. He should know as much about her as possible in order to respond in the best way to her.”

Sex

God created sex to strengthen the marriage bond. It is part of making two people into “one flesh,” and it is intended to be a pure, honorable relationship with no shame (Genesis 2:24-25; Hebrews 13:4). But Satan and his society have done their worst to pervert and tarnish sex and marriage.
We must build a strong, unbreakable bond with our wives. This doesn’t mean we should be inflexible. In fact, this strong bond requires the utmost flexibility and gentleness.Our wives must know that we will do nothing to hurt them or cause them shame. Sex is not about self-fulfillment, but about tenderly and patiently caring for your mate.

Bond

I’m not talking about 007, but about a gluelike bond. When the Pharisees asked Jesus about divorce, He asked if they hadn’t read, “‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matthew 19:5-6).
“Leave means ‘to abandon’; joined to means ‘to be glued to’” (NKJV Study Bible). We must build a strong, unbreakable bond with our wives. This doesn’t mean we should be inflexible. In fact, this strong bond requires the utmost flexibility and gentleness.

Always be faithful

Marriage is a commitment and a covenant with our wife and with God. We must always be faithful in every way, even in our minds (Matthew 5:28).

Never fail to love

We must not give in to the marriage killers that suck love out of marriage: envy, pride, rudeness, self-seeking, being easily angered, thinking evil or being entertained by sin (including pornography).
It’s interesting that in his description of what love is, Paul listed all these things it is not (1 Corinthians 13:4-6). This passage is worthy of deep study and meditation by every Christian husband.

Delight in her always

Express your devotion, admiration and desire; rekindle the romance (Song of Solomon 7:6; Proverbs 5:19). Life isn’t all about fun and entertainment, of course, but God encourages rejoicing and giving joy to others. A husband should bring happiness to his wife (Deuteronomy 24:5).
We must endure the trials of life, but we should also enjoy! Celebrate the blessing of marriage often!”
From: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/relationships/marriage/how-to-be-a-good-husband/
For more about marriage and being a husband, see:

How Great Marriages Work

What Is Marriage?

Marriage Problems

How to Save Your Marriage

Three Beliefs That Will Kill Your Marriage

Role of Men

Marriage

What Is Marriage?

Living Together Before Marriage

Four Lethal Marriage Problems

How to Save Your Marriage

The Gift of Sex

Is Birth Control Wrong?

Divorce and Remarriage in the Bible

The Curse of Divorce: Counting the Devastating _______

Godly Sorrow Produces Repentance

2 Corinthians 7:10
For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

In this passage the apostle Paul explains the difference between the normal human sorrow that people feel when they get caught doing something wrong, and the godly sorrow that truly makes a change in our lives that pleases God. Worldly sorrow might be fleeting regret or a desperate wish that we hadn’t been caught. But it doesn’t lead to real repentance or change, so the person continues on without being forgiven and still being guilty of sin and worthy of the death penalty.

Godly sorrow is real and commits to change. Paul illustrates this powerful, godly sorrow in the example of the Corinthian brethren in verse 11: “For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”
This is no fleeting regret, but a full-fledged, all-out commitment to change—to stop doing those things that God hates—and to seek God’s forgiveness. We must replace the thinking that leads to sin with the thinking that leads to righteousness.
Read more about repentance in “What Is Repentance?” and “Godly Sorrow.””

______

Update:

I am still busy trying to sell the stuff out of here, so that I can put this house up for sale. I spend as much time as I can taking pictures to list items on eBay, Craigslist and Bookoo.
A folding Nylabone carrier sold on Bookoo.com   I took it to UPS where they packed it and guaranteed it’s safe delivery to a rescue in Memphis who wanted that particular type of carrier for transporting cats from TN to Maine.  Maine has a shortage of cats because of their very strict neutering laws, so that gives homeless TN cats a chance at ‘furever’ homes.  It is a wonderful thing that these transporters do.  When I called the rescue lady when I left UPS to tell her the carrier was on it’s way, she was taking some cats to Virginia.  This is just a tip of it at: http://thelexusproject.org/content/pilots-and-paws  These pilots take critters to a new area where they will be loved and not destroyed.

Maybe I will sell the guest house next door, or maybe I will move into it when it gets closer to being livable.  But the more I think about it, at over 80 years old I don’t need all this stuff, and it all needs to be gone so that I can to live in a really small dwelling that doesn’t have a lot of yard maintenance and upkeep.

A little bit more work has been done to the guest house.  Jay did work a bit and we screwed down some of the floor in there, but not totally.  There still needs to be inspection places.  We have used a lot of cement mix making a block wall, but when we had a deluge, some rain still ran under the house.  Then Jay was busy or sick, but another helper showed up unexpectedly one morning.  We took out another of the single pane 3’x5’ windows, and filled the hole with plywood.  We aren’t going to put the vinyl siding back until all the windows are out and the new ones installed.  That leaves two more 3’x5’ windows to remove which needs to be done this week as a man is supposed to buy them on Friday.  I have two smaller double paned ones to go in there.  That wall was all windows when it was a plant room, and not very energy efficient.

Jay didn’t go with me to church, and the Bible readings were Exo. 30:11-34:35, 1 Kings 18:1-39 and 1 Cor. 10:1-13.  The Teaching was more about Prophecy.  There are so many places in the Old Testament that foretold His coming that one has to realize that the Bible is one book and it all ties together.  There is no leaving out the Old Testament.

The pastor’s wife was back, and we were all happy to see her.  The service was shortened as we all traveled south to the YMCA as there was going to be a baptism in their heated pool.   Laura and I were baptized. That's our sweet Pastor Bobbie in the cap.





As I nearly drowned when I was 12, I am terrified, absolutely petrified, of water going over my head, so that took away some of the good feelings I should have had about the baptism.

The big surprise was that my wonderful daughter Wendy showed up for the baptism.  Here we are together singing hymns before the immersing, I am already in a swimsuit, robe and swim cap.  Then the church members all came back for our potluck lunch.  I had taken a squash and zucchini cheese casserole.

It was a memorable day.

Graduation: Where Will It Take You? Whoever Forgives. Pentecost: God Gives the Holy Spirit. D-Day: Taking On the Impossible. Update.

 

For Scripture Sunday:

Graduation: Where Will It Take You?

"For many young people, the end of May and into the month of June is graduation time. As they leave high school and university many horizons are open to graduates; more schooling, maybe a time to gain skills and experience, possibly a job or internship.
Graduation is a gateway; a door is opened just as the experience of school is finished. A change occurs and a new stage of life begins.
Another critical event also takes place about this time of the year, actually just over a week away. The Feast of Pentecost, a biblical Holy Day listed in Leviticus 23, falls on June 8th this year.

During the time just after the death of Jesus Christ, this particular festival took on added meaning for early Christians. The followers of Christ, who had repented of their sins, been baptized and had hands laid on them in prayer, received the gift of God’s Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is the power of God, which works with and in the human mind to develop and change it to become the mind of Christ. Jesus Christ is the first of the spiritual firstfruits that the Day of Pentecost represents.

Baptism and the receiving of the Holy Spirit is kind of like graduation. It begins a new stage of our life and it signifies a commitment to a new way of living. It has a deeper meaning, too, because it also represents our first steps into the ultimate, eternal family of God. This family is brought to fulfillment when the faithful of God are resurrected at the return of Jesus Christ to the earth. For more information about this incredible potential for humans beings to become on the same plane of existence as God, please read The Gospel of the Kingdom."

______

Proverbs: Whoever Forgives

Wisdom that sticks with you - straight from God's Word.

Source: freeimages.com/Valsilvae

“Whoever forgives an offense seeks love, but whoever keeps bringing up the issue separates the closest of friends,” (Proverbs:17:9, GW).

This is a good lesson to remember about relationships—knowing how to forgive and forget.

George Washington Carver, the famous African-American inventor, was refused admission to a college because he was black. Years later, when someone asked him for the name of the college, he answered, "It doesn't matter!" He had completely overcome the offense.

Can we do the same in our lives?"  From: http://www.ucg.org/youth/proverbs-whoever-forgives/

______

Pentecost: God Gives the Holy Spirit

"Pentecost marked the giving of the Holy Spirit and the founding of the Church. What does this harvest festival show about God’s plan of salvation?

"Pentecost, or the Feast of Weeks, is one of the harvest festivals that represent the plan of salvation.

Jesus’ crucifixion on Passover was a pivotal event in history. And just over seven weeks later, another watershed event occurred on the Feast of Pentecost.

Pentecost of promise

“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4; for more about the miracle of speaking in tongues, see the article “What Is Speaking in Tongues?”).

During His ministry, Jesus Christ had told His disciples about the power of His Holy Spirit that they would need and would receive. By faithfully obeying God’s command to gather on His feasts, they were ready to receive this miracle.

God used the accompanying miracles to draw a large crowd to hear Peter preach a powerful sermon:

“‘Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.’ Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’

“Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. …’

“Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them” (Acts 2:36-38, 41).

More at: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/plan-of-salvation/pentecost/    by Mike Bennett 

And more at: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/plan-of-salvation/pentecost/the-sermon-that-launched-the-church/

_______

The Importance of Pentecost

Acts 2:1 - When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

"What would have happened if the disciples hadn’t all gathered together to celebrate God’s Feast of Pentecost? The fact that God used this annual festival as the date to start His New Testament Church is no accident. Neither was the fact that Christ was crucified on Passover.

Each of the “festivals of the LORD” has great meaning to Christians today. Learn more about these festivals and their meanings in our free booklet From Holidays to Holy Days: God’s Plan for You.

_______

D-Day and Eternal Life: Taking On the Impossible

Source: freeimages.com/babykrul

"Can you achieve the impossible?

Next week, on June 6 ^th is D-Day, the commemoration of Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of France on the Normandy coast in 1944. It was the largest coordinated invasion in history. It made the Spanish Armada look like toy-boats.

It’s been made into so many movies and included in so many storylines since the Second World War that those of us born in the interim think of it in those terms; Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers, The War by Ken Burns, or The Longest Day (for old movie buffs), among so many others. Countless books, interviews, and accounts of the experience have been recorded, but if we can step back to the months leading up to that day we’d realize that it was probably the most audacious military plan in modern history."  More at: http://www.ucg.org/blog/d-day-and-eternal-life-taking-impossible/

_______

Update:

We have gradually been sorting out and packing up the yard sale items.  Several boxes of stuff have been donated.  Then we had a lot of rain, and even though under cover, the cloth items got damp, so they can't be packed up until completely dry.  I have had to wash some of them, too.

Thursday, I saw the lung doctor to get the results of my lung ct-scan.  He said I was in great shape.  I no longer have the shortness of breath that I did when I came out of the hospital, as the infection in my lungs has cleared up.  Also, no lung cancer even after 60+ years of a pack a day, which I stopped when I had this heart attack!  Now I don't have to spray Fabreze on my clothes before I go into church. I feel great about that, as I always knew it was biblically wrong to smoke, but never could get around to quitting.

Yesterday, Ray, Jay and I went to church.  The readings from the Bible were Lev.16-19 and Eze.22:1-19.  The message was about how God is our provider, and how he provided clothes and shoes that didn't wear out, for all those thousands in the big exodus for 40 years. He also provided poultry for them to eat and manna.  He also provides for us, but often we don't realize or acknowledge it.  The service and potluck was enjoyed by all.

Jay found a young Siamese male cat crying under his Mom's house.  We brought it up here, and I have it in my grooming room.  It seems very friendly, and there was a notice at the mail boxes about a lost Siamese.  But when I left messages at the number, I have still have not had a reply after two days.

Kennel Cough. Elephants. Help Whales. Wolves Keep Balance. Free Clicks Feed Animals. Greyhounds. Adopt A Senior Pet. Lonely Cats. Ernie Kovacs And Corvair.

 

For "Mammal Monday":

Why This Vaccine is WORTHLESS and Won't Stop Your Dog Getting Kennel Cough…

"If your dog seems to be coughing a lot or making choking sounds, he may have a case of canine infectious tracheobronchitis, more commonly known as kennel cough.

Believe it or not, as awful as the choking, hacking noises sound, most episodes of kennel cough are not serious and resolve without treatment.

About Vaccines for Kennel Cough

Many veterinarians recommend bordetella vaccines – either by injection or nasal mist delivery.  I’m not one of them, however.

Many boarding kennels, doggie daycare facilities, groomers and other similar businesses require dogs be vaccinated for kennel cough. Please understand the reason behind this requirement – it is to remove liability from those establishments.

The truth is, these vaccines are ineffective and will not prevent your dog from getting kennel cough. The infection is caused by a wide variety of bacterial and viral agents, and no single vaccine can provide protection from them all. Nor will the vaccines treat an active infection."  More at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2010/09/09/9-natural-remedies-for-kennel-cough.aspx

-------

From me:  The same applies to flu vaccines for people.

_______

Elephants in Mourning

"A herd of elephants stumble on some elephant bones and mourn the loss of fallen relatives."

______

Tell Japan It's Time To Stop Slaughtering Whales

"Stop Japan from ignoring the International Whaling Commission's moratorium on commercial whaling.

The International Court of Justice in The Hague has finished hearing a case brought by Australia that may end Japan's annual slaughter of hundreds of whales. Show your support for conservation and Australia's effort to end Japanese whaling while we wait for the ruling. Please, Sign today!"

http://therainforestsite.greatergood.com/clickToGive/trs/petition/JapanWhaling?&utm_source=ctg&utm_medium=home-feature&utm_term=20130102&utm_campaign=trs-petition

______

A Wolf's Role in the Ecosystem - The Trophic Cascade

"A young forest service employee named Aldo Leopold, charged with killing wolves in New Mexico in the early 1900's started to notice that as the wolves died off, the deer population boomed and ate all the plants to nothing. In his groundbreaking work, "Thinking Like a Mountain", (Please read that article) Leopold put forth an idea 50 years ahead of his time: predators control ecosystems.

Since wild wolves have returned to Yellowstone, the elk and deer are stronger, the aspens and willows are healthier and the grasses taller.  For example, when wolves chase elk during the hunt, the elk are forced to run faster and farther.  As the elk run, their hooves aerate the soil, allowing more grasses to grow.  Since the elk cannot remain stationary for too long, aspens and willows in one area are not heavily grazed, and therefore can fully recover between migrations. 

As with the rest of the country, coyote populations were nearly out of control in Yellowstone before the wolves returned.  Now, the coyotes have been out-competed and essentially reduced by 80 percent in areas occupied by wolves.  The coyotes that do remain are more skittish and wary.  With fewer coyotes hunting small rodents, raptors like the eagle and osprey have more prey and are making a comeback. 

The endangered grizzly bears successfully steal wolf kills more often than not, thus having more food to feed their cubs.   In essence, we have learned that by starting recovery at the top with predators like wolves, the whole system benefits.  A wild wolf population actually makes for a stronger, healthier and more balanced ecosystem.  From plant, to insect, to people... we all stand to benefit from wolves."  More at: http://www.missionwolf.org/page/trophic-cascade/

______

The Animal Rescue Site.

Free clicks feed animals in shelters and rescues while they wait for their forever homes. The food is funded by the advertisers.

http://theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/clickToGive/ars/home

_______

Adopt a Greyhound:

"The story of how my ex-racer found her true calling..."

 http://www.adopt-a-greyhound.org/

_______

7 Great Reasons to Adopt a Senior Cat

"Why might you want to consider adopting a senior cat? There are lots of good reasons. Here are seven of the best.

1.   When you adopt a kitten, its personality is still developing. As a result, you won't know whether your new friend is going to be a lap cat or an independent spirit. With a senior, that's not true. Its personality is already fully developed, so what you see is what you get. You'll know right away whether your new feline companion is going to be a cuddlebug or an independent thinker. But keep in mind that in a shelter environment, your new cat's personality might not shine through quite as strongly because of the stress and fear associated with being in a strange place.

7.   Senior cats are often among the hardest pets for shelters and rescues to place in a new home. Especially black ones.  By adopting a senior cat, in most cases, you'll literally be saving the cat's life. Your senior citizen will repay you for your kindness with friendship and appreciation. You'll also be allowing your new cat to live out her senior years in the comfort and dignity that an older cat deserves."     Rest of the reasons at: http://www.petmd.com/blogs/thedailyvet/lhuston/2013/nov/seven-great-reasons-to-adopt-senior-cats-31020#.UtNHqyu2VSg

This applies to dogs, too.

-------

From me:  My 'new' 12-year old cat, Ava, is a very sweet, loving, black cat.  She was surrendered to a pound by her previous people as she had lost most of her hair and she was as skinny as a rail.  They didn't want to address her medical issues, and she didn't fare much better at her foster home.

Now that I have got her health and terrible dandruff straightened out, and she no longer makes me wheeze, I wouldn't part with her for anything.  She just needed to be on a better diet and some vitamins.  She appreciates that, and tells me every day.  It is so rewarding that I can give her a better life in her old age.

_______

Should You Leave Your Cat Home Alone While You’re Away?

"Over half of U.S. cat owners feel it’s fine to leave their feline companions alone at home while they’re away. And while it’s true most kitties don’t require the same level of attention dogs do, leaving a cat home for days with no one to check on her can backfire.

What if your cat, home alone, gets sick? Who will tend to him? And what if the problem is very serious, like a urinary blockage? Will you get home in time to save him?

Another consideration is your cat’s diet. The only food that can be safely left in kitty’s bowl during your absence is kibble. However, kibble is far from ideal nutrition for cats. The species-appropriate nutrition that is healthiest for your cat can’t be left in a bowl on the floor for days, as it will spoil.

And what about that litter box? Cats don’t like dirty litter, and if her box isn’t being scooped at least once daily, your kitty may acquire a habit of eliminating in inappropriate locations.

Our recommendation is to have someone visit at least once a day while you’re away to feed your cat, scoop the litter box, and insure your pet is eating and appears healthy." Complete article at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2014/01/06/home-alone-pet-cat.aspx

______

On This Day:

Ernie Kovacs killed in Corvair crash, Jan 13, 1962:

"On this day in 1962, Ernie Kovacs, a comedian who hosted his own television shows during the 1950s and is said to have influenced such TV hosts as Johnny Carson and David Letterman, dies at the age of 42 after crashing his Chevrolet Corvair into a telephone pole in Los Angeles, California, while driving in a rainstorm. Kovacs, who often appeared on camera with his trademark cigar, was found by police with an unlit cigar, leading to speculation that he had been reaching for the cigar and lost control of his vehicle.

The Corvair was later made infamous by Ralph Nader's groundbreaking 1965 book "Unsafe at Any Speed: The Designed-In Dangers of the American Automobile," about unsafe practices in the auto industry.

It was the only American designed, mass-produced passenger car to feature a rear-mounted air-cooled engine.

The Corvair, which suffered from slumping sales due in part to the negative publicity from Nader's book as well as to consumer lawsuits (the car's suspension system was blamed for rollovers), was discontinued by GM in 1969.

In a bitter coincidence, one of Kovac's three children was later killed in an auto accident."

______

Yesterday:

Another mild day, so the cats could go out on the screen porch for a while.  They still ignore each other and give each other a wide berth, so I did the 'sock trick'. 

I got a pair of socks and rubbed each one on each cat, especially on the scent glands around their mouths, and then put the sock in the other's bed.  This is supposed to familiarize them with each other's scent, without actually being up close and personal.  This has stopped a lot of the hissing at each other.  I know that Nala wants Ava to play with her.  It is always more difficult to get cats of the same sex to be friends.

My time was eaten up by catching up on emails, blogs, paying bills, making Kale Chips, steaming veggies, trying to find the right Heat/Air, and the usual chores.  While I had the steamer out, I steamed some soft-boiled eggs.  If you put several eggs in boiling water, it lowers the temperature and they can't be timed right.  If you steam them they are all the same.

I had already juiced the stems of the kale, so the leaves were all ready for: http://pickyeaterblog.com/garlic-parmesan-kale-chips/ 

Another quiet day.

Leopard Seal. Dusti Saved. Dogs Killed For Jaw Bone. 2 Legged Dogs. Pets in Wheelchairs. “Dementia Dogs.” Pacific "War Warning". Elimination of Violence Against Women.

 

For "Mammal Monday":

Face-Off with a Deadly Predator

"Paul Nicklen describes his most amazing experience as a National Geographic photographer - coming face-to-face with one of Antarctica's most vicious predators.

He comes face-to-face with a deadly female leopard seal. You won’t believe how this story ends …"

________

Kitten Rescue, Little Dusti.

"So, a kitten is found injured on the side of a country road. Her jaw is broken, she has a large bite wound on her leg that is full of maggots. She has an upper respiratory infection and is coughing and sneezing. The dedicated folks at the local humane society rush her to a vet, who is unsure anything can be done for her, but he's willing to try. Even with all she has been through, she purrs contentedly whenever she is held - so much so, that the staff automatically refer to her as Sweetie.

Fast forward a few weeks and a volunteer is walking past the kitten cages after returning from a fund raising event - and she hears the story of this brave, little kitten - remarkably recovered and just looking for her forever home. Just hold her a moment, give her a brief respite from the cage. She purrs, she settles into the lap - and then she looks ups, stands, and presses her nose to the nose of person holding her, giving a small thankful kiss. Oh yes, she has found her home. Welcome Home, my little Dusti."  From: Animal Rescue Site.

_______

USDA: Please Stop Random Source Dog Dealers

WASHINGTON (Nov. 20, 2013) — "Undercover footage from a three-month-long investigation at Georgia Regents University reveals the suffering and death of dogs used in dental implant experiments. The Humane Society of the United States investigation confirms the university obtains dogs from a random-source Class B animal dealer who has been formally charged by the U.S. Department of Agriculture with violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

Random-source Class B Dealers—only six of whom are active in the U.S.—are permitted to gather dogs and cats from various sources, including auctions, "free to good home" ads, online sources, flea markets, and even animal control and some shelter facilities. They then resell the dogs to research facilities. There have been cases of stolen pets ending up in research laboratories due to these B dealers."    More at: http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2013/11/georgia-regents-university-dogs-112

------

University Animal Lab Investigation; Narrated by Kim Basinger

Shy Guy, who formed a special bond with the investigator, was one of six dogs subjected to painful dental experiments during the investigation. He was later euthanized for a small sample of his jaw bone.

"The HSUS investigator witnessed dogs undergoing painful experiments where their teeth were pulled out and replaced with dental implants. Once the experiments were over, the dogs were euthanized for a small sample of their jaw bone. GRU has been conducting dental implant research on random-source Class B dogs for years.

"Watch our undercover investigation video here featuring actress and advocate Kim Basinger, then fill in and submit the form below to send a message to the USDA."

TAKE ACTION: https://secure.humanesociety.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=6289&s_src=web_85543593_#.UpKRAyu2VSh

"Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS, said, "Dogs don't need to die for frivolous dental experiments. It's painful to watch these forlorn dogs sacrificed for these questionable purposes. And the situation is compounded by the university's relationship with an unscrupulous animal dealer." (Read his blog on this investigation.)

________

Next time you feel sorry for yourself, please take a lesson from Faith The Wonder Dog, and others:

Faith the 2 legged dog

"Faith the walking dog was born with the all the odds against her, she was rejected by her mother, couldn't walk and her owner was informed by numerous vets to have her put down. But Jude Stringfellow had Faith in the little pup and with love and devotion Jude taught the little dog to walk on her two hind legs."

 

Faith the Miracle Two-Legged Dog Did Something You Won't Believe

"God created Faith the dog so special. She was born without two front legs and she has a heart of gold, an inspiration to everyone she met. Now, Faith is inspiring members of the military and helping them with their burdens. Good dog!"

_______

Two-legged Chihuahua shows off in an Eddie's Wheels front wheel dog cart!

_______

Popeye the 2-Legged Dog Runs Like the Wind in his Doggon Wheels

_______

Bunnies and cats, too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

_______

Here is one with four legs who walks on two legs on purpose:

______

First Two “Dementia Dogs” a Huge Success in Scotland

"Thanks to a group of students at the Glasgow School of Art, two families in Scotland now have the help of dogs trained to assist Alzheimer’s and dementia patients and their caregivers.

The students conceived the idea of “dementia dogs,” then partnered with Alzheimer’s and service dog organizations to train two dogs, Oscar the Golden Retriever and Kaspa the Lab, to help people in the early stages of dementia.

The dogs received 18 months of training and learned to do things like respond to alarms, retrieve medicine containers, nudge their owners for various reasons, and even encourage them to get out of bed in the morning.

Both families who received the dogs can’t say enough about the positive difference Oscar and Kaspa have made in their daily lives.

The first two dementia dogs were such a success that two more are now in training, and the organizations involved believe the dogs could be a significant new way of helping people with early-stage dementia."  More at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/10/09/dementia-dogs.aspx 

and: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-23277537

______

"When I say I need to go out, I NEED TO GO OUT!

Don't give me any of this is "in a minute" stuff, OK?"

 

 

______

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

______

On This Day:

A "war warning" is sent to commanders in the Pacific, Nov 25, 1941:

"On this day in 1941, Adm. Harold R. Stark, U.S. chief of naval operations, tells Adm. Husband E. Kimmel, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, that both President Roosevelt and Secretary of State Cordell Hull think a Japanese surprise attack is a distinct possibility.

"We are likely to be attacked next Monday, for the Japs are notorious for attacking without warning," Roosevelt had informed his Cabinet. "We must all prepare for trouble, possibly soon," he telegraphed British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

Kimmel's command was specifically at the mid-Pacific base at Oahu, which comprised, in part, Pearl Harbor. At the time he received the "warning" from Stark, he was negotiating with Army Lt. Gen. Walter C. Short, commander of all U.S. forces at Pearl Harbor, about sending U.S. warships out from Pearl Harbor in order to reinforce Wake and Midway Islands, which, along with the Philippines, were possible Japanese targets. But the Army had no antiaircraft artillery to spare.

War worries had struck because of an intercepted Japanese diplomatic message, which gave November 25 as a deadline of sorts. If Japanese diplomacy had failed to convince the Americans to revoke the economic sanctions against Japan, "things will automatically begin to happen," the message related. Those "things" were becoming obvious, in the form of Japanese troop movements off Formosa (Taiwan) apparently toward Malaya. In fact, they were headed for Pearl Harbor, as was the Japanese First Air Fleet.

Despite the fact that so many in positions of command anticipated a Japanese attack, especially given the failure of diplomacy (Japan refused U.S. demands to withdraw from both the Axis pact and occupied territories in China and Indochina), no one expected Hawaii as the target."

______

International day to eliminate violence against women, Nov 25, 1999:

"The United Nations General Assembly passes a resolution designating November 25 the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

While women in Latin America and the Caribbean had honored the day since 1981, all UN countries did not formally recognize it until 1999.

Women's organizations worldwide have successfully pulled together for increased awareness and support of their cause. Although this is a sign of positive change in the struggle to end violence against women, statistics show that there is still much work left to do.

A report released in 1994 by the World Bank, entitled Violence Against Women: The Hidden Health Burden, estimated that one out of every four women worldwide has been, or will be, raped. The report also said that violence against women is as serious a cause of death and incapacity among women of reproductive age as cancer, and a greater cause of ill health than traffic accidents and malaria combined."

_______

Yesterday:

Doing any shopping when I was in Conroe the day before, had been out of the question for two reasons.  One, it was too cold to leave Peekers in the van, and secondly because I just wanted to get inebriated Jay home and out of my presence as quickly as possible.  So it was time to go back to town and get a few things.

For the first time in ages, a heavy lined coat was needed.  I took a light jacket with me, as the weather can warm up quickly during the day, but it stayed cold and windy enough for the heavy coat.

The Wellness pet food company had told me which of their canned flavors has the least phosphorus, which is what Misty needs for her failing kidneys.  I stopped at Petco and spoke to the manager to make sure that Jay hadn't said, or done anything too embarrassing there, and he assured me that everything was OK.  They didn't have the flavors of Wellness there, but they did at Petsmart. 

A quick stop at Krogers to get a few things, then back to my warm home and the chores that were waiting for me, for the rest of the chilly day.