72 Years After D-Day. Why should Christians celebrate the Feast of Pentecost? Update.

 

72 Years After D-Day, 6th. June 1944.

From Power to Impotence

“Seventy-two years ago, an American-led Allied invasion on the beaches of Normandy marked the beginning of the end of the grip of tyranny over Europe. In little more than a year, the United States would emerge as a superpower and world policeman. Contrast that to today, when that superpower is in retreat—its influence and power rapidly declining.

In the early morning grayness of June 6, 1944, lookouts manning scores of German artillery emplacements above the Normandy beaches of northern France saw the unbelievable sight of nearly 6,000 Allied ships of all types and sizes steaming toward them. Shocked as they were, they knew what those thousands of ships meant: The long-expected Allied invasion of Adolf Hitler's fortress Europe had begun.

Did God play a hand in those events?

Virtually all of the men who stormed ashore that awful day 72 years ago are dead, but a small handful, men in their late 80s and 90s, will visit those Normandy beaches for perhaps the final time to commemorate that important victory.

Despite the enormous cost of more than 9,000 Allied soldiers killed and wounded on that day, D-Day was a success. But many do not realize that it could easily have been a disaster. As supreme commander of Allied forces that day, U.S. Gen. Dwight Eisenhower knew as well as Rommel that if the invasion could be stopped at the beaches, it might be fatal to the Allied cause.

Over the decades, many have wondered if God had a hand in that historic day.”

Complete article at: http://www.ucg.org/the-good-news/70-years-after-d-day-from-power-to-impotence

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Normandy American Cemetery France

 

 

 

 

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Christ’s Body.

Matthew 26:26

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”

“The breaking of the unleavened bread at the New Testament Passover service is symbolic of Christ’s suffering in our place for our sins. It reminds us of our deserved punishment that fell on Jesus as His body was beaten and broken.

Eating the bread is also symbolic of our allowing Jesus Christ to live His life in us, and our need to live by every word of God (John 6:35; Galatians 2:20; Matthew 4:4). Just as physical food is essential to maintain physical life, living by the spiritual “bread” is essential for a healthy spiritual life.”

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Upcoming Holy Day

Pentecost   June 12, 2016
Pentecost serves as a reminder that God grants His Holy Spirit to the firstfruits of His spiritual harvest.

Why should Christians celebrate the Feast of Pentecost?

Jesus Christ chose the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot in Hebrew) or Pentecost to begin His Church. What is the meaning of Pentecost for Christians today?

Nitin Bhosale/Unsplash

Why should Christians celebrate the Feast of Pentecost?

The third of God’s annual festivals (after the Feast of Unleavened Bread) is the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost (Leviticus 23:16-21; Acts 2:1). This festival, also called the Feast of Harvest or Firstfruits (Exodus 23:16; Exodus 34:22), was also the day God first granted His Spirit to the New Testament Church of God (Acts 2).

Pentecost portrays God as the Lord of His harvest, choosing and preparing the firstfruits of His coming Kingdom by giving them His Holy Spirit (Matthew 9:38; Luke 10:2; Romans 8:23; James 1:18). The preceding festival of Unleavened Bread pictures our commitment to come out of a sinful life and live our lives by God’s perfect laws. But we can’t do this on our own. Pentecost pictures God’s willingness to give His Holy Spirit to provide the power those He has called need.

God’s Holy Spirit empowers us with the love of God, the motivation to obey Him and a sound mind to discern His truth (2 Timothy 1:7; John 15:26; John 16:13). Only those who are led by God’s Spirit are called the sons of God (Romans 8:9, Romans 8:14). These Christians have a pledge or down payment on eternal life (2 Corinthians 5:5) and can look forward to the first resurrection, which is to eternal life in God’s family.

The Church of God, which began on Pentecost (Acts 2), is given the mission of preaching the good news of the Kingdom of God in preparation for the next step in God’s plan, the return of Jesus Christ. This is pictured by the next festival, the Feast of Trumpets.”

From: http://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/bible-questions-and-answers/why-should-christians-celebrate-the-feast-of-pentecost

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A longer article about Pentecost: http://www.ucg.org/bible-study-tools/booklets/gods-holy-day-plan-the-promise-of-hope-for-all-mankind/the-feast-of-1

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Update:

Yes, it has been pouring.  Sometimes there were real gulley-whompers, the kind that create mud holes where there never have been any before.  A friend from church brought a 2008 29’ Artic Fox fifth-wheel trailer here for me to sell for them, and the following day when he came to pick up some things his big dually truck got stuck in the driveway.  That’s how wet it was.  

Roy and I have worked most mornings, but it all depends on the weather what we do each day.  One non-rainy day, Roy’s friend dug a French drain on the side of the guest house, trying to make the water drain away from that area better.  We had another gushing rainfall, and water collected in front of the drain.  Today he came back to lower the perforated pipe in that French drain another 4”.  So hopefully it will drain all the way to the ditch now.

Roy and I finally got all the plywood cut and laid for the floor in the new bedroom (which used to be the bathroom and kitchen), in the guest house.  It is only temporarily screwed down, and we have to keep one place as an access to see if we have stopped all the rain water from running under the house.  When we are ready to screw it down permanently we intend to pick up all 4+ sheets of plywood, and put some Tyvek down as a moisture barrier before we screw it down again.

A light in the walk-in closet was moved to the ceiling now that the closet door is in a different place.  The light would have been in the way of a clothes pole.  We have to get this wiring down while the walls don’t have any sheet-rock on them.  Also another light was installed in a little alcove in the laundry room, which is going to be a half bath.  Just a toilet and sink.  That way if there is a workman around, they don’t have to use the bathroom inside the guest house.

Some days it was very humid so we installed the big 220v air conditioner/heater through the custom hole we framed up in the wall with the case very securely screwed on all sides.  Thieves like to push window air conditioners in to gain access, that is what happened to me. So now all my AC units are installed higher up and through the wall.  As there are a lot of trees on that side of the guest house we had to clean a lot of leaves out of the air conditioner, so we put screen wire over the vents with Gorilla tape.

In the new kitchen and bathroom the new sheet vinyl is installed (I call it lino), so we have started building the wall at the end of the tub.  This will be the faucet end, so we built an access panel in the wall behind it.

On Saturday, 28 May, many people in our congregation had to make big detours to avoid the flooded areas, so we started the service two hours late.  Those that had made it on time had a jolly time in the dining hall waiting for them.   Then the sun came out and we were glad that we were all safely there.  The Bible readings were Psa. 100 and 95, Numbers 1:1-4:20, Hos. 2:1-2:20 and Luke 2:1-7.  The Teaching was about Weaknesses and “Loving God Under Trials.” James 1:12.   ¹² Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

By Saturday, June 4th, there had still been more rain, but no one was inconvenienced by flooded roads, and arrived on time.  The Bible readings were Num. 4:21-7:89, Jud. 13:2-25 (about Samson), Acts 21:17-26. and the Teaching was about Prophecies again.  How it was foretold that Ninevah, Tyre, Sidon and Egypt would fall and that there would be no more pharoahs.  Pathros, a name for Upper Egypt. Ezekiel 30:14 I will make Pathros desolate, and will set a fire in Zoan, and will execute judgments on Thebes. All those prophecies which came true.

This clearing out the house so that I can sell it, seems endless.  On Monday, I took more items to the consignment shop, and donated several boxes of ‘stuff’, but the place doesn’t look any less cluttered, and probably will be like that for many a day.

Fulfilled Prophecy: Jesus Born in Bethlehem. When Was Jesus Born? Part 1. Jesus’ Jewish Heritage. Update.

 

Belated, but for "Scripture Sunday." 

Fulfilled Prophecy: Jesus Born in Bethlehem.

Matthew 2:4-6

"And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.’”

The New Testament records dozens of Old Testament passages that were fulfilled in Jesus Christ. (The Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Volume 1, lists more than 100 such Old Testament passages on pages 1037-1040.) Matthew includes four quotes about Christ’s birth and young life, including this one.

Jealous and paranoid, King Herod was greatly disturbed when the wise men asked, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him” (Matthew 2:2).

Herod realized that they were talking about the coming of the Messiah (Christ in Greek), and he asked the religious leaders what the Bible prophesied about the coming of the Messiah. They accurately pinpointed the prophecy about Bethlehem in Micah 5:2  "But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past."

(Ephrathah, or Ephrath, is the ancient name for the town of Bethlehem, in Judah, in the southern part of the land of Israel.)

Though Herod was willing to turn to Scripture to try to find the One he felt threatened by, he was not willing to recognize God’s power and authority. In fact he tried to thwart God’s plan, first through deceit, then through a terrible act of mass murder, killing all the male children from age 2 and under in the area of Bethlehem (Matthew 2:16). This was prophesied in Jeremiah 31:15 and depicted in Revelation 12:4 where Satan, the dragon, was ready “to devour her Child as soon as it was born.” But Christ was protected from this onslaught, as we will see.

You can find more background about these events in the article “The Birth of Jesus.”"

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When Was Jesus Born? Part 1

Luke 1:5

"There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

The Bible does not tell us exactly when Jesus Christ was born. The closest hint, found in this verse, seems to point to Christ’s birth in the fall of the year.

What’s the connection? Verse 36 shows that Jesus Christ was born about six months after John the Baptist was born. And John the Baptist would have been conceived nine months earlier (15 months before Christ’s birth), shortly after his father Zacharias had received a message from an angel while serving at the temple.

When did Zacharias serve at the temple? One source says he probably served one-week stints around mid-May and mid-November. (E.W. Bullinger uses the dates June 13-19.) King David had divided the priests into 24 courses, of which the division of Abijah was the eighth (1 Chronicles 24:10). These divisions each served a week at a time, so that each division served two weeks at the temple each year according to the sacred calendar, in addition to the festivals.

A number of commentators lean toward a May or June date for Zacharias’ meeting with Gabriel. Adding 15 months to that would put Jesus Christ’s birth in perhaps August or September. (If Zacharias met Gabriel around November or December, Christ’s birth would have been in perhaps February or March.)

Either way would not support a Dec. 25 birth date.

For more about why Jesus Christ’s birth could not have been Dec. 25 and how it came to be celebrated that day, see our article “Christmas: Should Christians Celebrate It?”"

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Jesus’ Jewish Heritage

Matthew 1:17

"So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.

The genealogies of Matthew 1 and Luke 3 give context to the life of Jesus Christ, the Son of God who also was the descendant of Abraham and David. Both David and Jesus were of the tribe of Judah (verse 3), the tribe promised the scepter—the symbol of rulership (Genesis 49:10). As Jesus said, He was born to be a King, and He will rule all nations in the Kingdom of God (John 18:37; Revelation 11:15).

Jesus was ethnically a Jew and grew up with a Jewish heritage. The genealogies help to link the Old and New Testaments into the unified whole that God intended. Though Jesus argued against many human traditions that had grown up around the religion of the Bible, He always showed respect for the inspired writings of what we now call the Old Testament and the laws revealed in it. This only makes sense when you consider that Christ was the “spiritual Rock” that followed and worked with ancient Israel (1 Corinthians 10:4).

For more about the inspiration and unity of the Bible, see “Who Wrote the Bible?” and “What Is the Bible?”

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Update:

After a lot of looking and phone calls, the linoleum for the new kitchen and bathroom in the guest house is finally bought.  As there would be sheetrock chunks, loose screws and stuff on the floor while we are changing out the windows, we decided to do that before we installed it.  It is a white lino with a faint grey marble look to it.  OK, so it might get dirty, but I didn't want brown.  I am used to having a light colored lino here, and it always looks clean, even if it is dirty.  Anyway, I would rather see the dirt so I can clean it, than worry about looking at a brown floor and wondering if it is dirty.  I don't clean house on any set schedule, so dirt gets cleaned when it shows !

Worker David came back and worked a couple of mornings, so he got the old tall window out of what will be the new kitchen, and the new wide window in it's place.  He even fixed the sheetrock inside, but I got a'thinkin', and realized he hadn't put any insulation in the top and bottom where the old window had been, so I unscrewed the new sheetrock and put it in myself.  The new kitchen and bathroom will both have a few modifications and additions to the wiring, so there is no sense in taping, floating or painting yet.

Jay has been hung over, but still came to work.  We got the new wide bathroom window installed where there hadn't been one before.  It goes across the outside wall fairly high up. We have also taken out the side window in the new kitchen because it is just in the way of the plans. A smaller window will be put in on that side, only closer to the front.  Then there will be room for a stove, kind of an important asset !  It should be a good view from the kitchen with these two new windows.

Jay didn't go to church with me, so I had to load the crock-pots full of chicken gumbo and brown rice by myself.  The Bible readings were Gen. 23:1-25:18, 1 Kings 1:1-31, Luke 9:57-62.  The Teaching was about Looking Further and Deeper, about studying and getting deep into the Word.

The potluck was great and everyone enjoyed the beef roast, other dishes, and pies. It seems to fall upon me to make the garlic bread when I get there.  All my chicken gumbo was eaten.  Just a little brown rice and veggies were left in my second crock pot, so I had that with some ground buffalo the next day.

What Does God Say About Witches and the Occult? Pet Owners Should Read This List Of Halloween Safety Tips!

 

On this Halloween:

 

What Does God Say About Witches and the Occult?

Deuteronomy 18:10-12

“There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you.”

"God outlawed witchcraft and other pagan practices that appealed to the evil spirit realm for their power. To God, it was an abomination for His people to seek help from Satan and his demons. Still, the Israelites were enticed by these practices again and again.

This was not just an Old Testament concern. The new converts to Christianity also took the subject of magic seriously ( Acts 19:19 ). The apostle John also warns that those who practice witchcraft must repent or they will end up in the lake of fire—the second death ( Revelation 9:21 ; 21:8 ).

How did Western, so-called Christian nations get caught up in a holiday like Halloween that dabbles in the darkness of evil spirits, witchcraft and the occult? See our article “Halloween: Should Christians Celebrate It?”

From: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/blog/what-does-god-say-about-witches-and-the-occult/

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Considering Halloween: The Unfruitful Works of Darkness

Ephesians 5:11

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

"God’s way is symbolized in the Bible as light, and darkness symbolizes sin and evil. Many times the apostle Paul encouraged faithful Christians to avoid the darkness of Satan’s lawless thinking and evil influences. For example, he wrote, “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

He also wrote to the Corinthians: “For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial?” (2 Corinthians 6:14-15).

The custom of Halloween, derived from popular pagan festivities to appease evil spirits, is definitely a time of darkness.

Paul continues by quoting from Isaiah 52:11 , “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you” (2 Corinthians 6:17).

God’s people are to live no longer as the ungodly do in lewdness and greed ( Ephesians 4:17-19 ). How better to describe the risqué adult costume parties and the demands for treats of the younger crowd but as lewdness and greed?

God calls on us to draw near to Him and to resist the devil ( James 4:7-8 ). Should we not resist a holiday of darkness that celebrates evil?" From: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/blog/considering-halloween-the-unfruitful-works-of-darkness/

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Every Pet Owner Should Read This List Of Halloween Safety Tips!

Wouldn't it be awful if he was scared, got out, and ran away!

"It’s almost the spookiest night of the year! While Halloween is a fun and festive time for families, it can be a stressful and dangerous night for many pets. We have put together a list of 9 Halloween safety tips that you can follow to ensure that both you and your pets can stay safe and happy this holiday!"

Read more at: http://blog.theanimalrescuesite.com/halloweensafetytips/

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Friday is "Preparation Day" (getting ready for the Sabbath), and as I have my food prepared for the potluck and my clothes ready, we are going to more flooring companies to look at linoleum for the guest house today.

Thoughts On A Historic Day. Windsor Castle. Update.

 

For "Scripture Sunday":

Thoughts on a historic day

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

Ana Gabriel/Unsplash

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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The Windsor Castle

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Update:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Whose Decision Is This To Make? Do You Pray the Way Jesus Taught? What Can I Do for You? Germs On Your Smartphone? Update

 

For "Scripture Sunday":

The Supreme Court and Same-Sex Marriage: Who Really Decides?

"The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether all states will be required to allow same-sex marriages. But is this really their decision to make?

So who should really be making this decision? The people? The states? Congress? The Supreme Court?

When we understand the purpose of marriage from God’s perspective, we see that we should respect the sanctity of the divinely created marriage union and make it our only definition of marriage. Life, Hope & Truth advocates using the Bible to provide the definition of marriage—because, within its pages, is the amazing origin of the institution itself!

Regardless of how voters, state legislators or the Supreme Court decide to define marriage, if you accept the Bible as God’s Word, then the biblical definition is the only definition that matters."  More at: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/blog/the-supreme-court-and-same-sex-marriage-who-really-decides/

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DO YOU PRAY THE WAY JESUS TAUGHT?

People pray many different ways across the various denominations of Christianity. How do you pray? Let’s examine what Jesus Christ actually taught about prayer.

God tells us to pray for our daily bread. For more about how God wants us to pray, see “Do You Pray the Way Jesus Taught?”

Excerpt: PRAY FROM THE HEART

"Jesus made another clear statement that is widely ignored: “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words” (Matthew 6:7). Christ was referring to the pagan form of recitation and chanting prayers based on the idea that repeating a prayer will bring favor from God (or the gods). This form of repeating or chanting prewritten prayers is practiced extensively in the Catholic and Orthodox churches.

God doesn’t want prewritten prayers to be repeated over and over. This does nothing to fulfill the basic purpose of prayer, which is to develop a close, personal relationship with God."  Complete article:  http://lifehopeandtruth.com/god/prayer-fasting-and-meditation/pray-the-way-jesus-taught/

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What Can I Do for You?

"You can't save or change the world, but each day you can find something to help another person.

Video: http://youtu.be/_kExzRy7bik

Transcript: [Gary Petty] "Have you ever felt frustrated because you see all the needs people have, you see people suffering and you want to do something, and you don't know what to do? You don't know how to help the homeless or the poor or even elderly people you might know. And you get frustrated and sometimes you think, Well, I can't help everybody, so I can't help anybody.

There's an interesting story about Jesus coming from Jericho – He was leaving Jericho, and the crowds were around him and they were cheering Him, and here He was, being praised as a great rabbi, and there's two blind men on the side of the road. And they start yelling for Him. They want His attention. Well, people were sort of embarrassed. They tell them – the blind men – be quiet, you know, you're going to bother Him, you're going to create an issue here. But they keep yelling and yelling. What's really interesting about this story is what Jesus does. Jesus stops, turns to the two men that are yelling, that everybody else is trying to shut up, and asks them a question. He says, "What can I do for you?" What can I do for you? (Matthew:20:29-32; Mark:10:46-52; Luke:18:35-43)

You know, we keep thinking that serving people and helping people and – we all know we need to do it, we desire to do it, but you can't save the world. You can't help everybody. But you know what you can do, every day of your life? Every day of your life you can look for those moments where someone comes in contact with you that needs a helping hand, a word of encouragement, a little food, a little help moving something, help opening the door. A simple way to serve and help another human being, and it happens every day, and it happens many times every day. Look for those moments. Look for those moments, when you can look around, look at another person and say, "What can I do for you?"

That's BT Daily . Join us next time."  From: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-daily/christian-living/what-can-i-do-you

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Vertical News: What's Really Growing On Your Smartphone?

" Does your phone carry more than just a mobile signal? A new study discovers the dirty truth about smartphones and bacteria hitching a ride.

http://www.ucg.org/youth/vertical-news-whats-really-growing-your-smartphone/

 

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Update:

I know it isn't Sunday.  This is late as we had some technical difficulties around here.

We have been working around the place a bit.  Ray and I moved his fridge, then vacuumed the back and under it, ready for moving it for the next day's job which was fixing a bad place in Ray's floor. Jay, Ray and I got that done a lot quicker and easier than I thought it would be.  Next thing to do in Ray's place is to lay new linoleum.  But he won't get on the stick and go through his stuff to get rid of what he says he doesn't need.

I had bought some coconut oil in a hurry and didn't look at the label thoroughly, so now I have to return it.  It was refined and that is not the best as it is usually made from old copra, instead of fresh coconuts.  It makes a difference for the taste and consistency when cooking, and it doesn't have all the health benefits and antioxidants that it should have.  I use it for cooking, and if it is a good brand it is good on toast instead of butter, and in coffee.  It helps keep my skin from drying out in the winter, and it's also good for my thyroid.  It makes a good hand and face cream, and hair conditioner.  I also put some in the dog's dinner, as it is healthy for her, too.

We moved the third van bench seat from my van, which was taking up valuable space in the storeroom, up to the new attic.  Two ladders and a board making a scaffold and a strong rope got it up there.  I wanted to put it on Craigslist, but my son told me that people buy vans so that they can have all those seats. Wouldn't you know…..As soon as we got it up there, a neighbor offered me his red Grand Caravan minivan at a really good price.  I had been wanting it for quite a while, and had already checked it out.  He had a stroke and doesn't need it anymore, but he has lost the key to it.  Because it is front-wheel-drive it is lower down than mine, and easier for me to get in to.  So now I will have to put the third seat back in my Ford van to sell it.

Ray and I went to church, and the Bible readings were Psalm 104 (The Glories of Creation), then Exodus 18-20 and Isaiah 6.  The pastor also added Mat. 5:17-48 so that we would have a reading out of the New Testament, too.   The Teaching was "He May Change Your Plans", about how Jonah, David, Nathan and Elijah and others all got their plans changed by God.

The potluck was great as usual.  I took cauliflower au gratin, and some little salmon hors d'oeuvres on Breton crackers, with different dressings on them.  They didn't last long.

We have had a very mild winter compared to last year.  It has been cold at night, but it has been beautiful during the day.

Rufous-headed Chachalaca. Sesame Street Explores Nat. Parks. Get The Lead Out. “City Birds”. BirdNote: Migrating Birds On Radar? Do You Know What This Is? Two Famous Marches.

For "Winged Wednesday:

Rufous-headed Chachalaca

"A flock of Rufous-headed Chachalacas—chicken-like, tree-dwelling birds—begin to call together, their loud, raucous voices echoing through the dry forest. It’s this characteristic “chachalac” sound that gives the birds their name. As one flock begins to call, it triggers a nearby flock, and then that group’s neighbors sound off too in a chain reaction. Soon an entire valley or hillside can be heard “chachalaca-ing” as groups of these birds advertise their whereabouts to one another.

This species, like other chachalacas, lives in flocks of four to 10 individuals. It has a small and contracting range, affected by rapid habitat loss and severe fragmentation. The greatest threat Rufous-headed Chachalacas face is hunting pressure; they are considered a good food source by many rural people and are highly sought-after. The birds are also threatened by loss of forests to agriculture.

One of the healthiest populations of Rufous-headed Chachalaca occurs at Fundación Jocotoco’s Buenaventura Reserve in southern Ecuador, which was created with support from ABC. The reserve not only protects this beautiful and vulnerable bird, but also the highly threatened El Oro Parakeet and El Oro Tapaculo."

Help ABC conserve this and other birds and their habitats!  Range Map by ABC

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Do You Know What This Is?

*  Answer below

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National Park Foundation 

"How are you sharing the national parks with young kids? We're excited to tell you that we've been working together with our friends at Sesame Street and the National Park Service on awesome multimedia park experiences called "Sesame Street Explores National Parks" and the videos and activities are available online starting TODAY! Check them out at http://www.sesamestreet.org/parks!"

http://www.sesamestreet.org/parents/topicsandactivities/topics/nature

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California is first state to ban lead in hunting ammo

"Less-toxic bullets and shot will be required by July 2019 in bid to protect wildlife, the environment and hunters' health.

In a move to protect wildlife and the environment, California on Friday became the first state to ban lead in hunting ammunition.

The measure, signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown, phases out lead bullets and shot by July 2019, with regulations due by July 2015.

"Lead poses a danger to wildlife. This danger has been known for a long time," Brown wrote in a signing message, noting that a leading conservation wrote about lead poisoning in 1984. The federal government banned lead ammunition from waterfowl hunting in 1991."  More at: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/11/california-bans-lead-from-hunting-ammunition/2969497/

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Photo Gallery: Seven “City Birds”

"Hear the words “city birds” and you’re likely to picture a handful of common nonnative species such as the European starling, house sparrow and pigeon. But a long-term survey of breeding birds in Baltimore, Maryland, has revealed that a surprising number and diversity of native birds call that city home—from backyard feeder visitors such as blue jays, chickadees and cardinals to elusive warblers and wood thrushes to shore-loving herons, gulls and cormorants."  More at: http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/photo-gallery-seven-city-birds-2/

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BirdNote: Migrating Birds On Radar?

 

Upcoming Shows

Pinyon Jay  SUNDAY Pinyon Jay by Dennis Paulson  LISTEN NOW ►

Cayenne Tern  MONDAY Columbus's Birds by Ellen Blackstone  LISTEN NOW ►

Mountain Chickadee TUESDAY Yosemite in Fall Featuring the Words Of John Muir  LISTEN NOW ►

Doppler radar image of migrating birds  WEDNESDAY Radar Ornithology Featuring Dr. Cliff Mass, atmospheric sciences professor, University of Washington   LISTEN NOW ►

Redheads THURSDAY Counting North America's Waterfowl by Todd Peterson  LISTEN NOW ►

Red-tailed Hawk  FRIDAY Bird's Eye View I by Bob Sundstrom  LISTEN NOW ►

White-browed Coucal SATURDAY White-browed Coucal by Dennis Paulson LISTEN NOW ►

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* Do You Know What This Is?

 

 

It is a Blue Morpho Butterfly Egg

 

 

 

Blue Morpho Butterfly:

"Under the thick canopy of the rain forests, the morpho butterflies are about the size of a saucer. Its wings are about five to six inches in wingspan. The wings of these butterflies sparkle almost like large blue gems. The wings look this way because there is a microstructure on the upper surface of the wing tat refracts light. This causes them to shimmer as the butterfly flies under the sun."

Interesting notes about the Morpho Butterfly

"The Morpho butterfly has intrigued man for generations with its optical engineering. Today, its dazzling iridescent wings are giving rise to a market to try to mimic its wonder and create a counterfeit proof currency and charge cards. This butterfly may become world famous as its power with light changes the face of money."

More about these beautiful butterflies: http://www.amersol.edu.pe/ms/7th/7block/jungle_research/new_cards/28/report28ms.html

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On This Day:

The Long March, Oct 16, 1934:

"The embattled Chinese Communists break through Nationalist enemy lines and begin an epic flight from their encircled headquarters in southwest China. Known as Ch'ang Cheng—the "Long March"—the retreat lasted 368 days and covered 6,000 miles, nearly twice the distance from New York to San Francisco.

With defeat imminent, the Communists decided to break out of the encirclement at its weakest points. The Long March began at 5:00 p.m. on October 16, 1934. Secrecy and rear-guard actions confused the Nationalists, and it was several weeks before they realized that the main body of the Red Army had fled. The retreating force initially consisted of 86,000 troops, 15,000 personnel, and 35 women. Weapons and supplies were borne on men's backs or in horse-drawn carts, and the line of marchers stretched for 50 miles. The Communists generally marched at night, and when the enemy was not near, a long column of torches could be seen snaking over valleys and hills into the distance.

The Communist marchers crossed 24 rivers and 18 mountain ranges, mostly snow-capped. Only 4,000 troops completed the journey. The majority of those who did not, perished. It was the longest continuous march in the history of warfare and marked the emergence of Mao Zedong as the undisputed leader of the Chinese Communists."

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Million Man March, Oct.16, 1995

The Historic Million Man March, 1995

"On October 16, 1995, an estimated 850,000 African American men from across the United States gathered together at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to rally in one of largest demonstrations in Washington history.  This march surpassed the 250,000 who gathered in 1963 for the March on Washington where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his historic "I Have a Dream" speech.  Estimates of the number of participants in the Million Man March ranged from 400,000 to more than 1 million, and its success spurred the organization of a Million Woman March, which took place in 1997 in Philadelphia."

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Yesterday

Ray and I had been putting this off for a long time hoping to do it while Shay wasn't there, as she hates to be around construction. And when Shay ain't happy…..  We had to replace part of the floor in their bathroom, as it had developed a soft spot.  The cause had been fixed a while back. 

Knowing that it doesn't matter how many tools you think you will use, you always need more, so we took what we thought we would need in the little red black wagon.  I made many a trip back to the workshop to get something else, but at least everything could be wheeled back to the workshop in the wagon.  We cut out the bad part to the closest floor joists, and screwed in blocking before we cut the new plywood to fit.  Amazingly it did!

It still needs some floor float to fill in the cracks, then sanded, new linoleum laid, and it will be like new.

It wasn't easy working down on that floor, and Ray and I were both tired and sore by the time we had screwed down the plywood yesterday.

Hall of Fame? Old Testament. Downton Abbey. ‘Celebrate’. Potomac Crash. Michael Jordan.

 

For “Scripture Sunday”:

Hall of Fame or Hall of Shame?

“Should accusations of steroid use keep a retired player from Baseball's Hall of Fame?”

Transcript at: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-daily/christian-living/hall-fame-or-hall-shame

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Tear Out the Old Testament?

“Here's two ways to see how the Old Testament is integrated with the New Testament.”

Transcript at: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-daily/bible-study/tear-out-old-testament

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Downton Abbey in Prophecy

“Is there a larger lesson to notice within the PBS Masterpiece hit drama?”

Transcript at: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-daily/news-and-prophecy/downton-abbey-prophecy

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This morning’s program on WGN TV:   The Rapture: Hope or Hoax?

“Many feel they will be taken to heaven secretly before a time of tribulation. Is this idea biblical? You need to know.”

Transcript at: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-program/doctrinal-beliefs/rapture-hoax-or-hope

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Groaner:

“A young monk arrives at the monastery. He is assigned to helping the
other monks in copying the old canons and laws of the church by hand.
He notices, however, that all of the monks are copying from copies, not
from the original manuscript.

So, the new monk goes to the head abbot to question this, pointing out that if someone made even a small error in the first copy, it would never be picked up! In fact, that error would be continued in all of the subsequent copies.

The head monk, says, "We have been copying from the copies for centuries, but you make a good point, my son."  He goes down into the dark caves underneath the monastery where the original manuscripts are held as archives in a locked vault that hasn't been opened for hundreds of years.

Hours go by and nobody sees the old abbot.  So, the young monk gets worried and goes down to look for him. He sees him banging his head against the wall and wailing, "We missed the "R" ! , we missed the "R" !"  His forehead is all bloody and bruised and he is crying uncontrollably. The young monk asks the old abbot, "What's wrong, father?"
With a choking voice, the old abbot replies, "The word was...
CELEBRATE!!!"”

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On This Day:

Plane crashes into Potomac, Jan 13, 1982:

“On this day in 1982, an Air Florida Boeing 727 plunges into the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., killing 78 people. The crash, caused by bad weather, took place only two miles from the White House.

Thirty seconds later, the plane crashed into the 14th Street Bridge over the Potomac River, less than a mile away from the runway. Seven vehicles traveling on the bridge were struck by the 727 and the plane fell into the freezing water. It was later determined that 73 of the people on board the plane died from the impact, leaving only six survivors in the river. In addition, four motorists died in the crash.”

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Michael Jordan retires for a second time, Jan 13, 1999:

“On January 13, 1999, the National Basketball Association (NBA) superstar Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls announces his retirement from professional basketball, for the second time, in front of a crowd at Chicago’s United Center.

Jordan had an outstanding college career, but left the University of North Carolina after his junior year when he was selected by the Chicago Bulls as the third-overall pick in the first round of the 1984 NBA draft. Jordan helped the Bulls make the playoffs in each of his first six seasons on the team. In 1991, he got to his first NBA finals, where he led his team to the first of three consecutive championships.

Shaken and disillusioned by the murder of his father and an NBA investigation into allegations of illegal betting (of which he was eventually cleared), Jordan announced his retirement from basketball in 1993. He signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox baseball team and was assigned to a White Sox affiliate team, the Birmingham Barons. Though his very presence on the field drew crowds, Jordan batted only .202 in his first summer, striking out 114 times in 127 games. By March 1995, he had decided to put down his bat and return to the basketball court.

After a disappointing finish in the 1994-95 season, Jordan (aided by his old allies Scottie Pippen and Coach Phil Jackson, as well as the new star Dennis Rodman), turned things around for the Bulls. Jordan led the league in scoring that year with 30.4 points per game and helped his team to a 72-10 record, the best regular season finish in the history of the NBA. The Bulls won three more consecutive NBA championships in 1996, 1997 and 1998, becoming the first team in league history to win three straight championships twice. In his 12 full seasons with the Bulls, Jordan was voted the NBA’s Most Valuable Player five times and won six NBA Finals MVP awards, one for each final his Bulls played.

Jordan’s second retirement announcement, in January 1999, came after bitter tension between General Manager Jerry Krause and Coach Jackson resulted in Jackson’s leaving Chicago. Though he had earlier stated publicly that he would not play for any coach besides Jackson, Jordan explained his decision to retire by saying he had lost the drive and desire that was necessary to continue playing at such a high level, and that he wanted to spend more time with his family. When asked if there was a chance he would come back, Jordan said he was "99.9 percent" sure he would not.

In January 2000, Jordan became part-owner and president of basketball operations of the Washington Wizards, a struggling NBA franchise. After the Wizards won only 19 games in Jordan’s first full season in this position, he decided to rebuild the team, hiring the former Bulls coach Doug Collins. Most surprisingly, the 38-year-old Jordan got himself into playing shape and came out of retirement yet again in September 2001 as a free agent with the Wizards. Though he scored his 30,000th career point on January 4, 2002, against his former team, the Bulls, Jordan was never able to lead the Wizards into playoff competition.

He retired for the third and final time on April 16, 2003, and is widely considered to have been the greatest player in the history of the sport.”

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Yesterday:

Jay called about 8.30am and wanted me to go down there to help him clean his house.  He and some ‘friends’ had got it in a mess the evening before.  I told him that I wasn’t going to clean his house, especially not on the Sabbath, but I would bring some things down there, so that he could do it.  He just needs to be motivated, and can’t do anything on his own.  I loaded a couple of small buckets, cleaner, sponges, rags, shop-vac and Misty in the Puddle Jumper, and we went down there.  I told him how you start at the top, so he cleaned the crumbs, litter and stickiness off his counter-tops, and tables.  Then he took all the rugs outside, vacuumed and mopped the floor.  He has floor tiles, and he was mortified how much crud gets in the cracks.  Misty and I left to let him get on with it.

No-one seems to like linoleum anymore, but I wouldn’t want anything with seams or cracks in it, like floor tile or strips of flooring.  My lino is the type that has an attached under-pad, so it is very comfy to walk on.  I know when I mop my lino that it is clean, and there is nothing lurking in cracks.  As for my carpet and area rugs, they get deep-vacuumed and shampooed regularly.  Jay uses my shampooer on my carpet about every 60 days, whether it needs it or not.

I got ready for church, and arrived in time to play “Bible Trivia”, that’s a game where you have to answer in the form of a question, like Jeopardy. My team, the Over 30’s, are all pretty knowledgeable, but we lost to the Under 30’s this time.  We all had a lot of fun, and it really tested our knowledge of the Bible.

The talk was interesting, and given by one of the elders, not the pastor this week, but the air conditioning was really cold, so I didn’t stay for the pot luck.  I had the feeling that if I stayed in that cold, that I would have come down with one.

Jay had told me that he was going to go to church with me, but someone came by and told him that a man was seen stealing some of the lumber off a job that Jay is doing.  So he had to wait for the police yesterday.

SpaceX. 7 Benefits. Winter Storms. Colds and Flu. Rats and Peet’s Coffee. Black Friday. PE for Kid’s Grades. Shop at AdoptAShelter. Sick Floors. Lino or Vinyl? Twinkies. The Heidi Bowl, Raiders v. NY Jets.

 

For “Summary Saturday”, News, Some New, Some Old.

NASA to SpaceX: Bring Our Astronauts' Urine Home

On Oct. 10, the SpaceX Dragon berthed with the space station, the first of 12 contracted cargo missions for NASA. NASA/SpaceX

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — “An unmanned space capsule carrying medical samples from the International Space Station splashed down in the Pacific Ocean Sunday, completing the first official private interstellar shipment under a billion-dollar contract with NASA.

The California-based SpaceX company gently guided the Dragon into the water via parachutes at 12:22 p.m., a couple hundred miles off the Baja California coast.  Astronauts aboard the International Space Station used a giant robot arm to release the commercial cargo ship 255 miles up. SpaceX provided updates of the journey home via Twitter, including a video of the Dragon separating from the ISS.

The supply ship brought back nearly 2,000 pounds of science experiments and old station equipment. Perhaps the most eagerly awaited cargo is nearly 500 frozen samples of blood and urine collected by station astronauts over the past year.  Unlike other freighters that service the station, Dragon is designed for round-trip flights, enabling scientists and engineers to bring back experiments and equipment no longer needed aboard the outpost.

It's a service that hasn't been available since the space shuttles stopped flying more than a year ago.  SpaceX is preparing for the return of its first cargo ship to the International Space Station. Is an astronaut taxi far behind?”  More at: http://news.discovery.com/space/spacex-cargo-return-dragon-station-121026.html

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7 Valuable Benefits You May Not Even Know You Have

“Most of us know about Social Security, Medicare, our employer’s retirement plan and IRAs, but if you’re like many Americans, you could be eligible for other benefits worth tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars that you might not even be aware of. These are benefits that you’ve paid for either by working for a particular employer or through your tax dollars. Here are some of the most common:

1) Lost Pension Benefits

Just like bank accounts are insured by the FDIC, pension plans are partly insured by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or PBGC.

2) Retirement Accounts from Previous Jobs

3) Spousal Social Security Benefit Windfall

 The Social Security Survivor

If you apply for Social Security before your normal retirement age, you’ll either get your benefits or a spousal benefit equal to 1/2 of your spouse’s benefits. Social Security benefit of $1,230 per month, that’s a windfall of over $22k.

4) Social Security Survivor Benefits

You may think of Social Security as a retirement and maybe a disability program, but Social Security is a life insurance program as well. While the lump sum benefit is only $255, your family may be able to collect thousands of dollars in monthly survivor benefits when you pass away.

5) Discounted Employee Stock Purchase Plan

While it’s generally not a good idea to have more than 5-10% of your portfolio in your employer’s stock

6) Free or Discounted Estate Planning Documents

Do you have a will, power of attorney, and health care directive?

7) Free or Low Cost Investment Help With Your Retirement Account

Finally, an increasing number of employers are providing employees low cost access to investment management, advice, or guidance.   

Complete article at:  http://www.forbes.com/sites/financialfinesse/2012/10/10/7-valuable-benefits-you-may-not-even-know-you-have/

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Winter Storms & Extreme Cold

Inspire others to act by being an example yourself, Pledge to Prepare & tell others about it!

“While the danger from winter weather varies across the country, nearly all Americans, regardless of where they live, are likely to face some type of severe winter weather at some point in their lives. Winter storms can range from a moderate snow over a few hours to a blizzard with blinding, wind-driven snow that lasts for several days. Many winter storms are accompanied by dangerously low temperatures and sometimes by strong winds, icing, sleet and freezing rain.

One of the primary concerns is the winter weather's ability to knock out heat, power and communications services to your home or office, sometimes for days at a time. Heavy snowfall and extreme cold can immobilize an entire region.

The National Weather Service refers to winter storms as the “Deceptive Killers” because most deaths are indirectly related to the storm. Instead, people die in traffic accidents on icy roads and of hypothermia from prolonged exposure to cold. It is important to be prepared for winter weather before it strikes.”  From: http://www.ready.gov/winter-weather

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Immune-boosting foods for cold & flu season

“The weather is beginning to cool down, and soon cold and flu season will be upon us. Cold and flu are a larger burden than we may think. Between treatments, illness-compromised productivity, and lost workdays, it is estimated that the common cold alone costs the U.S. $40 billion each year.

We all know the basics for reducing exposure – wash your hands, avoid touching your face, and avoid being exposed to people who are already ill. However, exposure to these viruses is not the only factor here – excellent nutrition can reduce our vulnerability to infection and reduce the length and severity of illness if we do become infected.

Many micronutrients are required to support proper function of the immune system, and phytochemicals from colorful produce have additional anti-microbial and immune-boosting effects.  A well-nourished body houses a high-functioning immune system.

Mushrooms have a unique ability to activate the body’s natural immune defenses……more…

Cruciferous family of vegetables includes kale, collards, mustard greens, arugula, watercress, broccoli, broccoli rabe, cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi, and more……more…

Berries are powerful anti-cancer foods that also offer protection against viruses. Antioxidants called flavonoids, which are abundant in berries, have antiviral activity…..more…

Garlic and Onions daily has clear benefits when it comes to cancer prevention. Garlic phytochemicals have virus-killing activity against common respiratory viruses….more…

By eating nutrient-dense plant foods (vegetables, fruits, beans, seeds and nuts) every day, you will provide your body with a spectrum of immunity-boosting phytochemicals, and you’ll get an additional perk too – these same foods protect against heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other devastating chronic illnesses.”         Complete article at: http://elixirliving.com/immune-boosting-foods-for-cold-flu-season/

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Red-Tails in Coffins

“….the original Peet’s Coffee. I am from New York but I had never dreamed of such a taste. That coffee epitomized the Bay Area: organic in the sense of rising naturally from the cultured and good intentions of the singular inhabitants here. REALLY GOOD. Now it looks like I’ll be switching my brand.

Peet’s is on-line to be acquired by Joh A. Benkiser (JAB), which among many other holdings has a 10% stake in Reckitt-Benkiser, the maker of D-Con. D-Con is an anticoagulant rodenticide the EPA has been trying to get off the market. Among other ill effects, EPA asserts that between 1999 and 2003, more than 25,000 children under six had poisoning symptoms after exposure to D-Con.

Larger animals higher up the food chain, including dogs and cats, eat the rats and are felled by the concentrated poison. Hawks and other raptors, which can help keep rodent populations in check naturally, also die from D-Con. Casualties thus far include the mate and several offspring of Pale Male, the Central Park Red-tailed Hawk immortalized by Marie Winn in her wonderful book, Red-Tails in Love.”        More at: http://www.maryellenhannibal.com/2012/10/23/red-tails-in-coffins/

 

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  “What's more scary than spending a holiday with your great aunt pinching your cheeks every five minutes? You guessed it, Black Friday. While Black Friday is great for scoring some amazing deals, it is also a dangerous place if you are not careful. In 2008, a Walmart employee was trampled to death when the doors opened and the shoppers came in to the store. Click here read more.

http://www.ranker.com/list/13-most-brutal-black-friday-injuries-and-deaths/john-barryman

If you plan on scoring some amazing deals, make a gameplan. Some things you might want to consider:
Be careful driving in the wee-hours of the morning. ALWAYS wear a seatbelt.
•  Do not buy more than you can carry. Plan ahead by taking a friend with you or ask a store employee to help you carry your packages to the car.
•  Shop online with companies you know and trust.
•  Save all receipts. Print and save all confirmations from your online purchases.
•  Consider alternate options to pay for your merchandise, such as onetime or multiuse disposable credit cards.
•  Deter pickpockets. Carry your purse close to your body or your wallet inside a coat or front trouser pocket.
•  Have your keys in hand when approaching your vehicle. Check the back seat and around the car before getting in.
•  Do not leave packages visible in your car windows. Lock them in the trunk or, if possible, take them directly home.
•  If you are shopping with children, make a plan in case you get separated. Select a central meeting place and make sure they know they can ask mall personnel or store security employees if they need help.
Also, check out this site for some helpful shopping tips for Black Friday: Click here:

http://couponing.about.com/od/seasonalsavingszone/p/blackfriday.htm

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Physical Fitness in Childhood Linked to Higher Reading and Math Scores

“Recent research indicates having a healthy heart and lungs may be one of the most important factors for middle school students to make good grades in math and reading. To improve academic performance, the authors urge schools to re-examine policies that limit students’ involvement in physical education classes

Previous studies have shown that children who exercised regularly nearly doubled their reading scores. Thirty minutes on a treadmill allowed students to solve problems up to 10 percent more effectively

Aerobic and resistance training have been found to be equally important for maintaining brain and cognitive health. Aerobic fitness can improve your ability to coordinate multiple tasks, and your ability to stay on task for extended periods, while resistance training appears to improve your ability to focus amid distractions. Overall, exercise tends to improve the ability of different parts of your brain to work together

Intermittent bouts of exercise, i.e. high-intensity interval training, is an ideal form of exercise for children, as well as adults. Video demonstration and safety guidelines are included.”   Complete article at: http://fitness.mercola.com/sites/fitness/archive/2012/09/28/physical-activity-improves-academic-performance.aspx?e_cid=20121004_WNL_art_5

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Now You Can Help Homeless Pets While You’re Shopping Online

“Just about a year ago, a website called AdoptAShelter.com was launched to tap into the existing Internet economy and redirect some of the revenue generated to help animals.

When online shoppers visit the site, in a matter of seconds they can select the shelter of their choice and start shopping at any one of nearly 500 retailers, including Amazon.com, Petsmart, eBay, and others.

Over 700 animal charities in 48 states have registered with the site. So if you shop online, consider making your first stop AdoptAShelter.com so a small percentage of your purchase price can go to help homeless pets.”

Complete article and shopping categories at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/08/22/help-homeless-pets.aspx?e_cid=20120822_oldPetsNL_art_3

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Floors that Can Make You and Your Children Sick

“Soft, flexible plastic flooring, such as vinyl or those padded play-mat floors for kids (often used in day cares and kindergartens, too), are typically made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which contain dangerous phthalates

A new study conducted by Swedish researchers found levels of certain phthalates were higher in the urine of babies that had PVC flooring on their bedroom floor

PVC flooring has been linked to chronic diseases, including allergies, asthma and autism

The phthalates emitted from PVC floors are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that have been linked to a wide range of developmental and reproductive “gender-bending” effects that are particularly dangerous to infants and children

When choosing flooring materials for your home, and especially for your child’s bedroom, avoid PVC whenever possible.”  Complete article at: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/09/26/phthalates-in-floors-affect-childrens-health.aspx?e_cid=20121004_WNL_art_2

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Linoleum and Vinyl: Deciphering the Difference

“These days, one of the most important aspects for many people who are choosing materials for their new or renovated home is that of environmental friendliness. This is one area where vinyl and linoleum are extremely different.

Vinyl, being a PVC product, is made from non-renewable petrochemicals, and while it does last a long time due to its inert properties, it is also not easy to get rid of for the same reasons. Vinyl is purported to be inert and as such does not take special considerations when you put it into a landfill, however, when you put an inert material into a landfill it stays there forever.

Linoleum, on the other hand, is made from quickly renewable resources and does break down in a landfill.   Another deciding factor for many people when choosing a flooring type is that of health concerns.

You may have read recently about VOCs or volatile organic compounds; these are gasses given off by a variety of things both inside and outside your home. VOCs can be natural, for example those given off by trees, or synthetic like those given off by plastics. VOCs can make you sick or exacerbate allergies and asthma.

Vinyl gives off VOCs while linoleum does not. Linoleum often smells when it is freshly installed and some people may find that the smell of freshly installed linoleum is rather disagreeable, but with some good ventilation it will subside. Otherwise, linoleum is classified as asthma and allergy friendly by the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America.

However, I think that if you're looking at the issue from the angle of renewability of materials and health of the consumer, linoleum wins this battle hands down.”     More at: http://www.realestateproarticles.com/Art/7520/275/Linoleum-and-Vinyl-Deciphering-the-Difference.html

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Zombieland - The Last box of Twinkies

 

The Twinkie factory is closing it’s doors.  Too many people found out how unhealthy they are!

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Oldie but a Goodie

Found on the internet

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On This Day:

The Heidi Bowl, Raiders v. NY Jets. Nov 17, 1968:

“On November 17, 1968, the Oakland Raiders score two touchdowns in nine seconds to beat the New York Jets--and no one sees it, because they’re watching the movie Heidi instead. With just 65 seconds left to play, NBC switched off the game in favor of its previously scheduled programming, a made-for-TV version of the children’s story about a young girl and her grandfather in the Alps. Viewers were outraged, and they complained so vociferously that network execs learned a lesson they’ll never forget: "Whatever you do," one said, "you better not leave an NFL football game."

The game between the Jets and the Raiders was already shaping up to be a classic: It featured two of the league’s best teams and 10 future Hall of Fame players. By the game’s last minute the two teams had traded the lead eight times. The game’s intensity translated into an unusual number of penalties and timeouts, which meant that it was running a bit long.

With a little more than a minute left to play, the Jets kicked a 26-yard field goal that gave them a 32-29 lead. After the New York kickoff, the Raiders returned the ball to their own 23-yard line. What happened after that will go down in football history: Raiders quarterback Daryle Lamonica threw a 20-yard pass to halfback Charlie Smith; a facemask penalty moved the ball to the Jets’ 43; and on the next play, Lamonica passed again to Smith, who ran it all the way for a touchdown. The Raiders took the lead, 32-36. Then the Jets fumbled the kickoff, and Oakland’s Preston Ridlehuber managed to grab the ball and run it two yards for another touchdown. Oakland had scored twice in nine seconds, and the game was over: They’d won 43-32.

But nobody outside the Oakland Coliseum actually saw any of this, because NBC went to commercial right after the Jets’ kickoff and never came back. Instead, they did what they’d been planning to do for weeks: At 7 PM, they began to broadcast a brand-new version of Heidi, a film they were sure would win them high ratings during November sweeps. Before the game began, network execs had talked about what they’d do if the game ran over its scheduled time, and they decided to go ahead with the movie no matter what. So, that’s what NBC programmer Dick Cline did. "I waited and waited," he said later, "and I heard nothing. We came up to that magic hour and I thought, ‘Well, I haven’t been given any counter-order so I’ve got to do what we agreed to do.’"

NBC execs had actually changed their minds, and were trying to get in touch with Cline to tell him to leave the game on until it was over. But all the telephone lines were busy: Thousands of people were calling the network to urge programmers to air Heidi as scheduled, and thousands more were calling to demand that the football game stay on the air. Football fans grew even more livid when NBC printed the results of the game at the bottom of the screen 20 minutes after the game ended. So many irate fans called NBC that the network’s switchboard blew. Undeterred, people started calling the telephone company, the New York Times and the NYPD, whose emergency lines they clogged for hours.

Shortly after the Heidi debacle, the NFL inserted a clause into its TV contracts that guaranteed that all games would be broadcast completely in their home markets. For its part, NBC installed a new phone--the "Heidi Phone"--in the control room that had its own exchange and switchboard. Such a disaster, the network assured its viewers, would never be allowed to happen again.”

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Yesterday:

We have had a couple of nights when it was pretty close to freezing, so it is time to start winterizing the house.  Also, it’s been a little too chilly for Prime to want to go out on the screen porch first thing in the morning. 

Ray and I put the clear vinyl shower curtains back up in the screen porch.  They are numbered so they each have their own place, and we staple them in place with wooden strips.  That stuff lasts forever, and we are still using the same ones.  We have been taking them down each Spring, folding them up and storing them for the next Winter for about 10 years now. I have a lot of aloe plants on the porch, so they will be fine during any freezes now.  It is very rare that I have to turn on the heater out there.

Then we put up the insulated covers for each soffit vent on the north side of the house.  My water lines, and water heater are up there in northern part of the attic so we need to keep it protected from the cold Canadian winds up on this hill.  There are plenty of vents on the south side of the house to keep the rest of the attic ventilated.

Here is Prime back out on her porch early this morning.  The wrinkles in the vinyl will go away soon.

 

Even though it has been cold during the nights, it turns into beautiful sunny days.