Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †
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✝️ Tomorrow: The Conclusion – God willing.
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Leap of faith day.
NATIONAL CHILDREN’S DAY
The second Sunday in June rewinds time for a moment for a celebration known as National Children’s Day in the United States.
The day honors the children in our lives by slowing down our fast-paced lives, turning off the tech, and refocusing on the important things. Taking one day may not be enough, but using it as an opportunity to redirect our family’s lives may be an important step in a child’s life.
NATIONAL KITCHEN KLUTZES OF AMERICA DAY
June 13th honors those who would like to cook and be in the kitchen, but it just doesn’t seem to work well for them. After all, it is National Kitchen Klutzes of America Day.
She must have failed Homemaking 101 class.
That’s for whom God invented Healthy Choice, Swanson (etc.) and microwave ovens.
??
Have a wonderful Sunday, Treepers. I have an intense personal relationship with Our Lord. I don’t really understand it, but He has been with me from the first time I dedicated my life to Him so many years ago. I felt him then, just as I feel him now.
I’ve always been a believer and He’s always been with me for all this time. I’m admittedly a sinner, I know I’ve let Him down—but, in all honesty–He’s always been with me, always forgiving —for my entire life.
Our Lord is real. I know He’s real. I can say this from profound personal experience. This week I encountered a serious medical crisis. I felt his kind presence the whole time. Fortunately, the crisis passed and I’m again OK. I felt His love the whole time. You can too. All you have to do is ask. Prayer is not at all formal—it has never been formal for me, not at all. I talk to Our Lord as I talk to a friend. And He’s there for me. He can be there for you if you just ask . . .
I bug Him all day long!
Maintaining a prayer in one’s heart does wonders for one’s peace.
Truth 🙂
Amen!! I am so grateful He doesn’t ever (ever!!) say, “What, you again?”
Sorry to hear you had a medical crisis, but glad to know you are ok. Nothing is more comforting than knowing God is there.
I saw my doctor on Friday. Turned out what happened was more scary than serious. I felt enormous relief. That’s what good doctorin’ is all about. We changed some meds. All is well.
That which does not kill you, makes you stronger. Happy your OK!
Me, too!
Garrison, I’m sorry to hear of your medical crisis.. yet equally as pleased to hear that you are through it and doing well now. And I (among many others I am certain) appreciate your musical selections on the Open Thread. Thank you
🙂
Glad you are well and came through the medical crisis Garrison.
My former barbershop quartet and chorus sang a 4 part acapella version of this general arrangement of The Lords Prayer that, no matter how many times we sang it, never failed to greatly move my deep personal emotions.
Of the many gospel numbers in our repertoire, this was a favorite. We don’t need any special occasion to recite or sing this. It’s always available to express our humility before and praise of our Heavenly Father.
🙂
Always a Joy to hear from someone aligned with Reality and Living Their Best Life! Peace be with You Garrison
🙂
In my life it’s
all glory to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ ,And I feel as if he has been with me every day , I just pray that my prayers are enough and aren’t kind of empty at times ………But I feel Him around me all the time in this place that I am in ………I’m so grateful to God almighty ……..Pray for your health G man….
Amen.
MAGA.
Truth. 🙂
I get your message. Thanks. ✝️
🙂
What a strangely configured choir….
Humm. I thought the choir sounded pretty good.
They sounded GREAT!!! I was referring to how the sections were arranged…
Thank you Garrison.
🙂
Puzzle Or Picture
By Pastor Cornelius R. Stam
Where “rightly dividing the Word of truth” (IITim.2:15) is concerned, our spiritual leaders are like a group of people, each one of whom holds a part or several parts of a jig-saw puzzle, but who fail to put them together and so never get to see the picture.
One sees clearly that the so-called “Great Commission” was a Kingdom commission and not ours. Another sees that the “one baptism” of Ephesians 4:5 MUST be the DIVINE baptism which makes believers one in Christ. Another sees that Paul’s apostleship was wholly distinct from that of the Twelve. Another sees that Romans 6:3,4 does not contain one drop of water. Another sees that the Christian’s position is spiritual and heavenly in character. Another sees that the Body of Christ, the Church of today, was never prophesied — even, that it did not begin at Pentecost with Peter and the eleven, but later, with Paul.
But while each sees some component part of “the Mystery”, Satan has used tradition to blind him to the rest. The result is that confusion continues to prevail and they still have a puzzle instead of a picture.
If only they would put the pieces together! What a clear picture they would see of “the Dispensation of the Grace of God”, and how eagerly they would join us in “THE PREACHING OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO THE REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY” (Rom. 16:25)!
https://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/puzzle-or-picture/
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Ephesians 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Galatians 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
14 And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,
16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Romans 16:25 ¶ Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
Ephesians 3:1 ¶ For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
“Where “rightly dividing the Word of truth” (IITim.2:15) is concerned, our spiritual leaders are like a group of people, each one of whom holds a part or several parts of a jig-saw puzzle, but who fail to put them together and so never get to see the picture.”
Using generalization is a common way to start an assertion or argument, but attributing the above to “our spiritual leaders“ seems especially vague, as it is unclear whether this refers to this person’s “spiritual leaders“ or everyone else’s – – such as those in the rest of ‘Christendom’ as I recall this writer using before.
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“If only they would put the pieces together! What a clear picture they would see of “the Dispensation of the Grace of God”, and how eagerly they would join us in “THE PREACHING OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO THE REVELATION OF THE MYSTERY” (Rom. 16:25)!”
Many who per the article the writer evidently cast as in confusion do indeed preach according to the mystery “that the Gentiles are joint-heirs, and a joint-body, and joint-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus, through the gospel” (cf. Eph. 3:6)”.
Paul certainly rebuked and fought against false teaching consistently. It is interesting to note that even when he adjudged that some who were “proclaiming Christ“ (cf. Phil. 1:15) were not doing it with pure motives, it is indicated that were it being done accurately, he would rejoice that ”whether in pretext or in truth, Christ is proclaimed” (cf. Phil 1:18).
In view of that, I’m confident that others along with myself would contend that not everyone outside of the writer and his group has foregone the sharing of the true message of salvation despite their possible divergence with the writer etc. on the purported puzzle pieces. Thus, it appears disappointing that what gets brought to the space so consistently seems to be this organization’s strong doctrinal assertions presented in an us-versus-them format.
“But while each sees some component part of “the Mystery”, Satan has used tradition to blind him to the rest. The result is that confusion continues to prevail and they still have a puzzle instead of a picture.”
Again, there is vagueness as far as to whom this applies, which appears concerning given the serious and direct level of evident charges of spiritual blindness, blanket confusion, etc. That includes what constitutes “tradition“, which could cover a wide range of things including core professed Christian doctrinal essentials.
No matter what one thinks of the purported puzzle pieces as it were — which have been covered here aplenty, believers need to pray for protection, wisdom, and discernment as they seek to grow in their faith. To be sure, it stands to reason that a group with certain doctrinal perspectives would want to affirm them. However, it is wise to be aware of telltale signs from groups which may tend to aggressively signal their distinctiveness of teachings and doctrine in an ‘enlightened us’ versus ‘confused or deceived them’ manner, especially when the distinctiveness appears to come with a certain tool or code that may seem to be superimposed on Scripture.
One of those signs can be the tendency of a select group of “spiritual leaders“ – – often self-anointed as such – – pointing to elimination of confusion and a deeper walk and more meaningful faith that what everyone else brings to the table via a certain formula and reading of Scripture that everyone else has supposedly missed. Us-versus-them can be very appealing to those who have limited knowledge about the subject or certain aspects of it and want to grow in knowledge, faith, and so forth while having difficult words and hard sayings (cf. John 6:60) make sense as quickly as possible.
That applies to what can amount to plug-and-play formulas through which to view Scripture. A few things came seem to make sense with a few verses or key words here and there, and before long, doctrines can form — however problematic or estranged from proper contextualization they may be. People may look at the number of such systems that seem part-and-parcel with prominent movements that evidently insist that they rely greatly on Scripture and have answers for days and days accordingly, even as those systems may widely diverge from each other.
Variations of plug-and-play prisms appear to be used by different purportedly Christ-professing movements to affirm many different things: some promote the continuing practice for believers of the Mosaic Law, others deny the deity of Christ or the existence of the Trinity, and still others evidently carry the concepts of eternal marriage and men being “gods” merely at a different stage of progression than God — all with some principles and proof-texts (often several, with extensive studies) at the ready to supposedly prove their claims.
People may judge for themselves how prevalent the us-versus-them theme is in these movements. They may also judge for themselves if there seems to be an overemphasized focus on certain things compared to focusing on what is essential, such as the redemptive message of salvation offered to man from God through His Son Jesus Christ: ”For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). People may consider how many seem to focus on days of the week, certain historical people, genealogies, manners of physical baptism, and so forth in manners seemingly disproportionate to the essential message — and also consider which focus would be the most fruitful.
The wonderful thing is that at this time in history, Scripture is widely available to read and consider, which has been done since the times of its writings down to the various church councils where the early church creeds and essentials were discussed. When presented with a “here’s how to view Scripture” special formula — especially one which the presenters freely and pointedly use to assert that just about everyone else is confused and/or in error and thus should have their perspectives cast aside, it is good to be extremely careful and prayerful on the matter while keeping proper focus on the essentials of the faith.
Undoubtedly sir/madam you are learned person, however whether it be my dull wit or your superior knowledge, I find myself at a loss as to what exactly your final point is. It appears you seem to be saying that everybody should be aware and weary of charlatans, and those serving to divide.
And you are 100% correct, however I take away the notion that instead of providing clarity, you actually ARE promoting a position (yours and others) as THE correct position. – Everybody else is wrong (more division??) For example ” compared to focusing on what is essential, such as the redemptive message of salvation offered to man from God through His Son Jesus Christ” – Now I do not argue that in essence the “point” is correct, I would however suggest that one think a little deeper on the meaning of what is being explained. Let me quote from Isaiah 40:26 “Raise your eyes on high And see who has created these , The One who brings out their multitude by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, Not one of them is missing.” Some translations have it as “accounted for” – Now read it again, and wonder – here is the “writer” (the prophet) t an ancient man with the “knowledge” of a 3 year old in today’s terms (math science tv etc). From what mind of man could such revelation be made?? how does an old guy in a goat skin conceptualise that those little bright dots up there are EXACTLY where they are supposed to be, our earth, our atmosphere, etc etc, right down to our moons distance and orbit – any one of them out of place, or nearer or further, and we aren’t here talking about it. Far as we know, the man didn’t graduate from prophet school, maybe he had a bit of exposure to ancient astrology, but that would have been it – atoms, hydrogen, photons and quarks hadn’t quite been “discovered yet”. Did Jesus rebuke the prophet? did he not speak of, and live by, the same God, the Creator?? Did he not acknowledge the law of Moses? Did he not pronounce the name of God in the same fashion as his fellow Jews? Of course He did, the one same, true, and ONLY creator of the universe.
I have no idea of which “select group” of spiritual leaders you refer, but I myself am perfectly satisfied (and blown away) to learn from one of these so called (your words) “self appointed” spiritual leaders. I myself prefer the term teacher/s (You would agree that Jesus was also such – yet undoubtedly extremely holy). That their knowledge and wisdom of ancient texts of the original Hebrew, handed down,preserved, and studied by generations of the chosen people, is probably worth listening to. Would it surprise you to know that the explanation of everything from nothing (big bang), the explanation of the separation of energy, of time and “space”, all of it is explained in the ancient writings? It’s just that until man had reached his own level of scientific knowledge, none before could quite understand the concepts – science does not disprove a creator, it PROVES a creator. Now I have no doubt of your superior knowledge as far as written scripture is concerned, I admit before everybody here, I probably could not tell you what verse is from where, but I will testify, that that requirement is not necessary in order to “connect” with the creator – naturally greater knowledge is always sought, but I feel too many good and honest men are being “bogged” down and are actually hindering their own spiritual progress – don’t over do the “academic” stuff – the spirit , the awakening, the light bulb, the CLICK, is far more important and is actually ridiculously “DUH”, once in hindsight. As such, even a Kalahari Bushman could actually be “closer” to Hashem than a 3 degreed “Man of God” simply because the Bushman does not have layers and layers, good intentioned or not, plastered and obscuring the simple truth from his mind. It’s actually so simple, yet mind blowingly complex – just as the Creator made it. Everything from nothing. The beginning and the end. The Alpha and the Omega.
I studied the above scriptures for 8 years in a false religion. They are not just starting to make sense.
All I can say is, thank heavens that someone finally invented the harpsichord (piano). If they tried to add any more strings to the lute it would require a ten fingered Sasquatch to play it.
But these artists have it pretty well mastered.
Since a harp-sichord is basically a harp placed in a resonant chamber that is plucked via a keyboard, has anyone ever added a resonant chamber to the side of a harp, making that Sasquatch Lute?
I think the base of the traditional full sized harp IS the resonant sounding chamber.
If you covered one side of the harp, the player could not access the strings with both hands.
Wow! Learned something today GB, I didn’t know Harps had pedals
I hadn’t realized that a resonance chamber was included in a modern harp, but your picture makes it look obvious. turns out, most harps had soundboards, so my question was foolish.
I actually thought about the access thing. Would the chamber resonate if the strings were so far away. But then I remembered the point wasn’t to play it like a harp, but like a lute. A Sasquatch Lute. And they modified how the harp in a box was played. Can’t stroke or pluck harpsichord strings by hand very easily.
And, I dug up a whole can of worms. Different Kinds of Harps (celticharper.com) and 18 Different Types of Harps Explained – VerbNow with some overlap show a wider variety than my imagination could come up with.
Well the Baroque lute was a little difficult . . . Did you notice that some of the treble strings are doubled? SL Weiss was a contemporary of Bach and both played and composed for Baroque lute. He often commented on how difficult just tuning a lute was. I can surely understand that. Still, in the right hands they sure do sound good.
Yes I did notice the doubled strings on the fretted side. What intrigues me is the relatively small sound hole area in the surface of the main body. That would seem to limit the resonance and volume for the additional bass strings attached to the neck extension. But…. they are staying true to 16th-17th century lute design.
Okay, gotta clean up coffee sprayed everywhere over Sasquatch comment!!
Maybe the goverment can offer a free, purple “V” tattoo on your forehead once vaccination is proven. Or those vaccinatged can emulate Sir Winston Churchill and flash a “V” sign with their fingers. I’m sure somewhere within the machine that is the Marxist government, someone is working on a tag which can be scanned at the door to determind one’s “status” prior to being seated. With just a modicum of effort they can create a caste system.. the “clean” and the “unclean”
Take in your own signs. Mine would read:
I Survived COVID-19
In 2019
My antibodies are better than any experimental drug antibodies.
You’re Welcome
Strange, the jabberwonks may be losing some of their glamour with the states shutting down their enforcement mechanisms ……. in Texas, masks are being left at home and “vaccinated status” is strictly a personal issue (except for the hold outs like the hospital in Houston).
Not back to complete “normal” yet, but getting there.
Florida and some of the other states are also putting the “flu hoax” where it belongs….. appearing smaller in the rearview mirror.
I just got home from the grocery store in Porterville, CA. Still 2 days to mask freedom but only 3 people in the moderately full store had masks on. Needless to say I was not one of the 3. Yay!!!
By the way, it seems the Hispanic folks are the ones most adverse to mask wearing locally.
Yesterday, as I was entering my local Walgreen’s I noticed the cashier was mask-less. After briefly traveling the store aisles, I noticed the other employees and most of the other customers were also mask-free! YES!!! I removed mine. Spoke to the cashier when checking out about the change and she said they NO longer had to wear them!
Afterwards, I traveled to my local Jewel grocery store and AGAIN saw mask-free customers/employees. So I kept my mask in my purse and did some shopping. Now that we’re in our hotter summer months, this is liberating. I’m a senior with COPD/asthma and hated having to wear one.
Incidentally, I was vaccinated at my Vet. Admin. hospital (Hines) back in Feb.
Any place does vac apartheid, I don’t want to go to.
On this day ~
June 13,1795
✝️ The birth of Thomas Arnold into a household of eleven people forced his parents to buy property and build a bigger house. The new home overlooked an English harbor. Thomas became fascinated with the harbor’s military movements and ships. His pious mother and father used this interest as a starting point for the boy’s education, and by the time Thomas was six, he was already well-read (his father had rewarded him with Smollett’s 24-volume History of England at the age of three!) and deeply interested in geography and history.
In boarding school he survived intense bullying and mastered the Latin and Greek classics before he was ten. Concluding that war was sent as punishment for the sins of nations, he believed the antidote was a deepening of Christian faith among its peoples. Before he was eleven, he announced his intention to become a clergyman.
At sixteen he entered Oxford studying next to some of the most spiritually inclined men of the day. Appointed headmaster of Rugby in 1828, the sins of its boys appalled him. Bullying, cheating, theft and sexual impropriety ran rampant. Lessons were too often repeated by memory without real understanding. Thomas set out to transform the boys into Christian men. He took over the school’s chaplaincy so that he could preach Christ to the boys himself. His sermons were powerful and moving: he wept openly when he spoke of Christ’s Passion. A repeated theme in his sermons was that every action is done not only in the secular realm–on earth–but in the spiritual realm–in the sight of God. A historian, he insisted that no historical event has stronger historical support than the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Despite his stern manner, he inspired loyalty and love. Two of his graduates wrote books about him, books which show that his method changed the face of English education. He also modernized the curriculum, introducing European languages, mathematics and modern history.
Thomas Arnold’s private diary shows that he applied spiritual discipline to himself. “Another day and another month succeed. May God keep my mind and heart fixed on Him, and cleanse me from all sin,” he wrote shortly before his sudden death of heart trouble at the young age of 47 ✝️
Until recently, if a modern parent got 24 volumes of anything for a three year old it would be a Dr. Seuss collection. And if the three year old could actually read it all, you would never hear the end of those parent’s bragging.
But seriously, isn’t giving a three year old a twenty four volume history a sick punishment game, shear torture, and flat out child abuse?
That would be like handing the same kid a college physics textbook when the kid asks why.
Young children, even infants have little-known abilities that I don’t see developed today. They are usually lost if not developed early.
That having been said, if you have a literate three-year old, I would recommend Green’s Brief History of the English People. The 1902 version is a wonderfully readable and informative narrative of the cataclysmic history of England, and has illustrations. He will learn about the submission of Malcolm to William on the fens of Ely, earning him the title of “Conqueror” and his transformational claim “It’s All Mine! You all have to pay me Rent now!” that we still suffer from today, and the rivalry between the original Irish Catholicism of Columba and Pope-centered Roman Catholicism of the Archbishop of Canterbury, for example.
Smollett’s 24-volume History of England is a gossipy unformatted dense hearsay rambling collection of stories about English aristocrats.
Thanks much!
The best puppy rescues are the one’s where the lost puppy reunites with his people . . .
Je chant l’espoir, pour rendre ma vie magique!
Lyrics and Translation Mini World
(Translation is a bit stiff in parts but it mostly works)
Haunting and beautiful Maquis. Brings to mind the lyrical piece by Connie Dover, La Fontaine
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https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/06/breaking-reporter-broke-clinton-lynch-tarmac-story-found-dead-apartment/
I presume there’s no Clinton Vaccine for those unfortunate souls who have angered the family.
Amazing how it never seems to happen to the Clintons. Why is that?
This one really bothers me, more so than all the others. Prayers for his family.
I have to agree. He said several times that his and his family’s lives had been threatened. All for speaking the truth. Will definitely be praying for his family.
Oh no! Not another arkanside!
It’s a Clinton flex….to show they are in the game. RIP
Lizzy Borden’s challenger has raised over 500K.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/cheney-challenger-says-apos-surpassed-124450728.html
Aww, I was hoping there was actually a politician named Lizzie Borden. But that is a good nickname for a female Cheney. I wonder what monster we could use as a nickname for her dad? It is really sad how people that we used to support and respect end up using their evil side against us.
Anyways, instead of ‘Jamie got a gun’, maybe Aerosmith could have sung ‘Lizzie got an axe’.
Quick! Come inside and latch it! Here comes Hilly with a brand new hatchet!
Careful.
Dear Heavenly Father we beseech You! Dear Creator God hear our pitiable prayer! Please wake the true believers in Your Son and spur them to action. Your enemies have entered our gates and they insult your Holy Name. And dear God please please forgive us for our inaction while this monstrous evil has grown and is consuming our country and the world. Bless this land again dear Lord. In Yahshua’s holy name we pray! And everybody said…
From the folks who brought Mahayana Buddhism from China via Tibet in the 7th Century
Buddhism is divided into two large groups. Mahayana professes elimination of faults and respect for the “Buddha Nature” of others, similar to the Christian concept that we are all “Children of God.” Theraveda Buddhism stresses strict adherence and imitation of the behaviors of the Buddha.
That division seems similar to that found in Abrahamic faiths.
Oh my. It’s like the composer was listening to a playlist heavy on In This Moment and sugary J-pop while working their way to the bottom of a large bottle of sake, and this was on the hard drive when they woke up. ? Musical equivalent of cognitive dissonance.
It’s often interesting to see how other cultures filter and interpret outside influences, even or perhaps especially when the result is unintentionally hilarious.
Guy-Blanc, back in the late 50’s my mother (Japanese native) had Japanese rock-n-roll 78 RPM records she’d play on her phonograph. They’ve been imitating our music for decades.
I am sorry to see that.
Mornin’ infidels!
Morning WeeWeed!
Good one!
Mornin’ WeeWeed
Excellent!
Good evening, WeeWeed!
Great pairing, Words & Garden.
Classic urns on plinths. More, urns are so fabulous they can remain empty, and still do their job.
From a distance, front pair of urns/plinths, tell the eye/foot/heart, “Come this way, you do want to walk here.”
When the foliage has died back, off season, the urns/plinths hold the bones of the garden together.
Looking thru the urns/plinths into the ground floor window. Perhaps the starting point of this Garden Design, from inside the home, looking out. Where all great gardens begin.
I can hear the birds & wind thru foliage, catch scent on a warm breeze.
Curious, what are the conifers at the house, and the deciduous tree?
Gardens speak.
“Walk along my path, let me embrace you in beauty, in love, in this moment…….”
Precious gift, God giving us poyeema in His garden. Sacred.
Benedict XVI was perhaps the most educated and intellectually competent Pope. He was teaching professor at the Universities of Bonn and Regensberg. The level of his intellect can be easily appreciated from perusing this 8-page text of a speech he gave at University of Regensberg at the age of 79, in 2006
*https://familyofsites.bishopsconference.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2019/07/BXVI-2006-Regensburg-address.pdf
I’ve missed B16.
GETTING THERE
Where the selective affinity dies and the sanctified abandon lives. “Come ye after Me.” Mark i. 17
One of the greatest hindrances in coming to Jesus is the excuse of temperament. We make our temperament and our natural affinities barriers to coming to Jesus. The first thing we realize when we come to Jesus is that He pays no attention whatever to our natural affinities. We have the notion that we can consecrate our gifts to God. You cannot consecrate what is not yours; there is only one thing you can consecrate to God, and that is your right to yourself (Romans xii. 1). If you will give God your right to yourself, He will make a holy experiment out of you. God’s experiments always succeed. The one mark of a saint is the moral originality which springs from abandonment to Jesus Christ. In the life of a saint there is this amazing wellspring of original life all the time; the Spirit of God is a well of water springing up, perennially fresh. The saint realizes that it is God Who engineers circumstances, consequently there is no whine, but a reckless abandon to Jesus. Never make a principle out of your experience; let God be as original with other people as He is with you.
If you abandon to Jesus, and come when He says “Come,” He will continue to say “Come” through you; you will go out into life reproducing the echo of Christ’s “Come.” That is the result in every soul who has abandoned and come to Jesus.
Have I come to Jesus? Will I come NOW?
Oswald Chambers
June 13th Devotional
Verse of the Day for Sunday, June 13, 2021
✟
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Philippians 4:13 (KJV)
Thank You, Jesus, for blessings received and prayers answered!!!
BE MY VOICE
Amen.
New Record set. For the first time since records began in 1950 the US recorded no tornadoes of EF-3 strength or higher during the month of May. May is typically the most active month for tornadoes and when the largest number of fatalities from those storms occur.
May Snaps Long-standing Streak for Strong Tornadoes in US – Watts Up With That?
Why did this happen? Quite simply is was just too darn cold in the parts of the US where tornadic activity is most prevalent and the warm tropical waves stayed south.
That’s the good news. The bad news is that everybody and their brother are predicting a very active hurricane season. Relative to averages the east coast of the US from the Carolinas right up to New England are in the cross hairs though the gulf coast and Texas are also expected to see a greater than than the average number of hits. That tropical wave I mentioned last week coming into the Caribbean is most likely going to become a TS and move up into the Gulf later this week. The latest runs of the European model shows it coming ashore around the central Texas coast as a TS.
If your going to screw with the US just remember:
Oh My!
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Not an easy task.
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Ha! One day at Ft. Devens we decided to break up our morning physical training routine with a soccer match. On the way to the soccer field Woody and I saw a skunk by a dumpster with it’s head in one of those Yoplait yogurt cups that are narrower at the neck than at the bottom. In the vehicle behind us was a Captain new to the Group named Flaivan. He stopped and managed to get the cup off that skunks head but got a good spray doing so.
When we got to the soccer field and picked up teams we made him a Goalie.
PRAYING ON THE ARMOR OF GOD
Father God, I now follow your command to put on the full armor of God, because my battle is not against flesh and blood but against rulers, authorities, the powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the unseen world.
I first pray on the Belt of Truth that it may be buckled around my waist, may I be centered and encircled by your truth dear Lord. Hem me inside all that is true and right, and may I be protected and held up by the truth of your living word, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray on the Breastplate of righteousness, please protect my vital organs and my inner man, cover my integrity, my spirit, and my soul. Guard my heart for it is the wellspring of life, please strengthen and guard the most vulnerable places in my life with that which is right, good, and noble that I might not receive a fatal blow from the enemy, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray on the Gospel Shoes of Peace. I choose to stand in the shoes of your good news, and on the firm foundation of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the solid eternal rock. All other ground is sinking sand, I pray that I will not slip or fall, but that my feet would be firmly fitted on your lordship, my Lord Jesus. I choose to stand on you, so that the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus, the eternal Rock of Ages. I receive your holy peace now my Lord, from the sole of my feet to the crown of my head, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray the Shield of Faith into my hand now. As I take up the shield of faith, I ask that you might extinguish every dart and arrow, that is launched from the enemy to take me down spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, and every attempt of the enemy to destroy my joy. I ask that my faith in you would make it flame out. Extinguish every flaming arrow that would come against me, my life, my family, my home, or my ministry. May my faith always be out in front of me like a shield. Give me the courage to “faith my fears” by choosing to walk by faith and not by sight, in my Lord Jesus name.
I pray on the Helmet of Salvation, that you might protect my mind from the thoughts that can lead me astray. I choose to take every thought captive, and arrest all intentioned ideas and motives that would harm others, or distract me from your holy will for me. I submit every captured thought to the Lordship of my Lord Jesus Christ, and ask that you would imprison those thoughts that are not of you my Lord. Transform my mind and renew my thinking that I may think God thoughts, and have a sober mind that is focused on your glory. Please protect me from being double minded that I may allow my mind, I reject to live an earthly life, because I choose to live a holy one, governed by you My Lord Jesus, the prince of peace, please have my mind to be saturated with the holy mind of Christ, in my Lord Jesus name.
Finally, I take up the Sword of the Spirit which is the holy word of God, I pray this powerful offensive weapon into my hand, and ask that your holy word would be fitting for every encounter I face. As the enemy gets close to me, please give me the insight, wisdom, and skill to wield the word of God to drive away the enemy, in my Lord Jesus name.
May the enemy and his team flee from me, upon hearing the word of God spoken by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit. Give me the sword of the spirit to cut through the wiles of the devil, so that I may discern the schemes of the enemy when he is near.
With all kinds of prayers, supplication, and intercession I pray to you my Lord God as the one who fights my battles. Now that I’m in your holy powerful armor, I walk away covered and ready to face my day as you go before me, and please protect me in the midst of the spiritual warfare in this unseen world, in my Lord Jesus name.
Thank you my Lord, for the spiritual weapons of armor and prayer that you have given me. It is written no weapon formed against me shall prosper, and you will refute every tongue that accuses me.
Thank you Father God, my Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit, that I am more than a conqueror in my Lord Jesus. I pray all of this in the mighty name of my Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, amen.
All the colors of a mimeograph machine but with none of the odors. 🙂
We kids in the late 50s/ early 60s used to love the smell of freshly printed “dittos” (a bit different than a mimeograph copy) at school. When the teacher handed them out, everyone – I mean EVERYONE – held the paper up to their face and took a long, deep inhale to smell the residual traces of the mixture of isopropanol and methanol which was used to transfer the ink from the master to each copy…
Kids sometimes do wacky things.
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name
Blessed Assurance
I don’t think most folks realize how much God’s heart breaks over what He see taking place on this Planet. Earth has to be the saddest place in all of creation. Please everyone do just one thing to lighten the heart of God today. Praise Him for his loving kindness. Sometimes I think the river that flows from the throne of God are his tears shed for all of mankind. For surly we are making Him very sad.
Sunday Funnies
Hilarious Parody of CNN Producer Directing the Jeffrey Toobin Interview
By Dinesh D’Souza
Published June 12, 2021
https://rumble.com/vifzcp-hilarious-parody-of-cnn-producer-directing-the-jeffrey-toobin-interview.html
CAUTION: Graphic language ahead.
everybody should always ask Toobin if he washed his hands before greeting him.
that thought popped up in my mind when he said he worked in a foodbank at the end of that clip.
they should also make sure that there were no preopened packages in which he could ‘donate’.
I don’t know how that guy can show his face on TV ever again. No apology is going to cut it.
Hallelujah!
Watching Sunday Mass at Notre Dame Basilica in South Bend Indiana on the Catholic Channel on Roku.
For the first time in over a year:
NO ONE IS WEARING A MASK! Not the Congregants, the Readers, the Cantor, the Celebrants, the Organist, NO ONE!
THE BASILICA IS PACKED WITH NO SOCIAL DISTANCING!
THERE ARE NO ANNOYING FIRE-MARSHALL TYPE ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT COVID CROWD CONTROL!
It heralds the return of SANITY to the World. Good on them for setting the example!
(My own congregations has just started having services in the parking lot, with over 65y/o encouraged to stay home)
. . . but deliver us from the Evil One.
The Jesus Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner.
The 50th Psalm- Septuagint (Psalm 51 KJV).
Prayer of Saint Ioannikios the Great of Bithynia (+ 846)
My hope is the Father, my refuge the Son, my protection the Holy Spirit. O Holy Trinity, glory to Thee.
You know your back porch needs a good Pressure Washing when…
… you just watched a little bird take a dirt bath on the railing.
God Bless America,
Seventh Sunday of Pascha
Afterfeast of the Ascension
Sunday of the 318 Holy ad God-bearing Fathers of the First Œcumenical Synod
May 31st on the Patristic Calendar of the Orthodox Christian Church.
(June 13th on the civil or commercial calendar.)
Acts of the Holy Apostles 20: 16 – 18, 28 – 36
Holy Gospel according to Saint John 17: 1 – 13
Holy Martyr Hermias, at Comana in Cappadocia (+ 160)
Martyr Marus the magician, who converted on witnessing the Martyrdom of Saint Hermias
Saint Petronilla, daughter of the Holy Apostle Peter
and many other Saints and Holy Martyrs who are commemorated today.
Seventh Sunday of Pascha
Sunday of the Holy Fathers
“On this day, the seventh Sunday of Pascha, we celebrate the First Œcumenical Synod, of the three hundred and eighteen God-bearing Fathers, which took place in Nicæa.”
This Synod was held during the week before Pentecost in 325.
The Church condemned the Arian teaching and anathematized Arios.
The Church confirmed the majority of the Symbol of Faith (Creed) at this Synod.
Also, the Church confirmed the time of the celebration of Pascha, the Lord’s Resurrection, and prescribed 20 Canons.
The Explanation by Saint Theophylact for the Holy Gospel according to Saint John for this day is here.
http://www.cpress.orthodoxws.com/fathers_first_ecumenical_council
A most excellent book about the Church’s Œcumenical Synods is by Father James Thornton and sections of it are here.
http://www.orthodoxinfo.com
Something a little scary-
I was watching a live Youtube stream of a local church service. There was something this time that I haven’t seen before.
During the pastoral prayer, the paused the streaming.
They aid they needed to protect privacy and missions.
This is something I’ve said all along- how easy is it, to command that all churches comply with even more stringent “restrictions” than any other gathering, and then when they switch to Zoom and Youtube. for government (not only ours) to tune in, and see who is likely to give the totalitarians trouble?
The lockdowns, the masks, the social distance, and the restrictions are all pure evil. They sprang from evil, from communism.
Anybody who pushed any of this evil upon America needs to recant and repent, and to do everything in their power to make up for it.
As Governor DeSantis is doing.
Somebody obviously clued this particular church in.
It isn’t just a piece of cloth.
How dare anyone even suggest how far apart Americans must keep from one another?
Wow.
Christopher Sign, author of “Secret on the Tarmac” that exposed Bill Clinton’s meeting with Loretta Lynch was FOSTERED yesterday morning.
Police responded to a residence at 8:13 am Saturday and found the award winning newsman dead from an apparent Fostering. The exact method with which he was dispatched has not been revealed.
Likely already cremated
There’s no silencing the truth. Mike Lindell is doing another rally in New Richmond Wisconsin today.
https://home.frankspeech.com/
Good day everyone. Always good to see you from day to day. I learn so much from each of you. So, grateful you are here.
Beautiful little girl….with the voice of an angel.
“FDA cautions against use of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine for COVID-19 outside of the hospital setting or a clinical trial due to risk of heart rhythm problems”
Can any Treeper, or Sundance… tell me if there were ANY Medical-Scientific Studies shown to support this statement by the FDA?
Thanks.
I have seen several videos of doctors who said they have been using it for 20 or 30 years, and never had a problem of any kind with it. In some/many states it was available over the counter without a problem.
lilbirdee12’s prayer:
Our Heavenly Father, Your children come to you tonight to ask for healing and peace throughout our country so that we may return to being One Nation Under God. Guide us to be leaders in Your Kingdom, spreading Your Love and Salvation to all. Forgive us our sins and deliver us from evil.
Lord, we ask for a blanket of protection over all our troops and law enforcement who serve to defend and protect us. Bless our representatives with the strength and wisdom they need to achieve the path You have chosen for us.
Please place Your Guardian Angels of Protection around Donald Trump and his family as they seek to lead America back to You. Also, we pray for Angels to protect and support our Sundance as he works for justice and peace.
Grant us patience, Lord, as the evil ones try to anger us and cause us to fall.
Spread blessings over Israel and Netanyahu.
We humbly ask that You please comfort those who are grieving and in pain.
Thank you Father, for Your Love and the gift of Life.
In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.
Amen…
Amen
Amen.
Amen. And Lord please comfort the family of Mr. Chris Sign after what has happened, and help us all to have his courage, honesty and integrity.
King him https://vancouversun.com/news/with-merkel-leaving-trudeau-positions-himself-as-new-dean-of-g-7/wcm/8115366c-3d49-4240-8e13-8e5d2594fcb9
✝️ Lord, thank You for the day. Amen.