Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 30, 2011
Fun with Dan and Pam!
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
"For there has been a child born to us,
there has been a son given to us; and the princely rule will come to be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. To the abundance of the princely rule and to peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom in order to establish it firmly and to sustain it by means of justice and by means of righteousness, from now on and to time indefinite. The very zeal of Jehovah of armies will do this."
-Isaiah 9:6, 7
Yes, Isaiah the prophet, inspired by God, foretold details about the "promised seed" that would free mankind from sin and death and rule over the earth. (Genesis 3:15) Isaiah explains this promised son would become a capable ruler.
"And there must go forth a twig out of the stump of Jesse; and out of his roots a sprout will be fruitful. And upon him the spirit of Jehovah must settle down, the spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the spirit of counsel and of mightiness, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah; and there will be enjoyment by him in the fear of Jehovah." -Isaiah 11:1-3a
The foretold Messiah would become a righteous and merciful Judge.
"And he will not judge by any mere appearance to his eyes, nor reprove simply according to the thing heard by his ears. And with righteousness he must judge the lowly ones, and with uprightness he must give reproof in behalf of the meek ones of the earth. And he must strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the spirit of his lips he will put the wicked one to death. And righteousness must prove to be the belt of his hips, and faithfulness the belt of his loins." -Isaiah 11:3b -5
Under the Messiah's rule there would be changed conditions on the earth.
"And the wolf will actually reside for a while with the male lamb, and with the kid the leopard itself will lie down, and the calf and the maned young lion and the well-fed animal all together; and a mere little boy will be leader over them. And the cow and the bear themselves will feed; together their young ones will lie down. And even the lion will eat straw just like the bull. And the sucking child will certainly play upon the hole of the cobra; and upon the light aperture of a poisonous snake will a weaned child actually put his own hand. They will not do any harm or cause any ruin in all my holy mountain; because the earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah as the waters are covering the very sea."
-Isaiah 11:6-9
Jesus Christ has been raised up a clear signal, a rallying point, for spiritual Israel and for people out of all nations who long for righteous government.
"And it must occur in that day that there will be the root of Jesse that will be standing up as a signal for the peoples. To him even the nations will turn inquiringly, and his resting place must become glorious." -Isaiah 11:10
Under the Messiah's direction the good news of the kingdom has been carried to all the nations, as Jesus foretold. (Compare: Matthew 24:14 and Mark 13:10) May we continue to learn about our Heavenly Father and of his son, Christ Jesus so as to imitate their ways, walking in accord with God's will.
"He has told you, O earthling man, what is good. And what is Jehovah asking back from you but to exercise justice and to love kindness and to be modest in walking with your God?" -Micah 6:8
"In fact, to this course you were called, because even Christ suffered for you, leaving a model for you to follow his steps closely." -1 Peter 2:21
May we never forget the purpose of this "child born to us " how he has grown up, left us an example, laid down his perfect human life, was resurrected to heaven, where He has now in these "last days" been given the throne of David and reigns as the anointed King of God's kingdom. Soon, the King will destroy all wickedness on earth, then those left over will enjoy the promised changes, including peace, real peace on earth, among men of good will.
-Isaiah 9:6, 7
Yes, Isaiah the prophet, inspired by God, foretold details about the "promised seed" that would free mankind from sin and death and rule over the earth. (Genesis 3:15) Isaiah explains this promised son would become a capable ruler.
"And there must go forth a twig out of the stump of Jesse; and out of his roots a sprout will be fruitful. And upon him the spirit of Jehovah must settle down, the spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the spirit of counsel and of mightiness, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah; and there will be enjoyment by him in the fear of Jehovah." -Isaiah 11:1-3a
The foretold Messiah would become a righteous and merciful Judge.
"And he will not judge by any mere appearance to his eyes, nor reprove simply according to the thing heard by his ears. And with righteousness he must judge the lowly ones, and with uprightness he must give reproof in behalf of the meek ones of the earth. And he must strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the spirit of his lips he will put the wicked one to death. And righteousness must prove to be the belt of his hips, and faithfulness the belt of his loins." -Isaiah 11:3b -5
Under the Messiah's rule there would be changed conditions on the earth.
"And the wolf will actually reside for a while with the male lamb, and with the kid the leopard itself will lie down, and the calf and the maned young lion and the well-fed animal all together; and a mere little boy will be leader over them. And the cow and the bear themselves will feed; together their young ones will lie down. And even the lion will eat straw just like the bull. And the sucking child will certainly play upon the hole of the cobra; and upon the light aperture of a poisonous snake will a weaned child actually put his own hand. They will not do any harm or cause any ruin in all my holy mountain; because the earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah as the waters are covering the very sea."
-Isaiah 11:6-9
Jesus Christ has been raised up a clear signal, a rallying point, for spiritual Israel and for people out of all nations who long for righteous government.
"And it must occur in that day that there will be the root of Jesse that will be standing up as a signal for the peoples. To him even the nations will turn inquiringly, and his resting place must become glorious." -Isaiah 11:10
Under the Messiah's direction the good news of the kingdom has been carried to all the nations, as Jesus foretold. (Compare: Matthew 24:14 and Mark 13:10) May we continue to learn about our Heavenly Father and of his son, Christ Jesus so as to imitate their ways, walking in accord with God's will.
"He has told you, O earthling man, what is good. And what is Jehovah asking back from you but to exercise justice and to love kindness and to be modest in walking with your God?" -Micah 6:8
"In fact, to this course you were called, because even Christ suffered for you, leaving a model for you to follow his steps closely." -1 Peter 2:21
May we never forget the purpose of this "child born to us " how he has grown up, left us an example, laid down his perfect human life, was resurrected to heaven, where He has now in these "last days" been given the throne of David and reigns as the anointed King of God's kingdom. Soon, the King will destroy all wickedness on earth, then those left over will enjoy the promised changes, including peace, real peace on earth, among men of good will.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
MMMMMM mmmmm Good!
Soup Tasting Gathering!
Chicken Tortilla Soup!
Shrimp Gumbo with cat fish!
Pumpkin Soup and Leek Potatoe soup with carrots
Happy Tasters
Chicken Tortilla Soup!
Shrimp Gumbo with cat fish!
Pumpkin Soup and Leek Potatoe soup with carrots
Happy Tasters
Molasses Cookies for Dessert.
Great afternoon.
Great afternoon.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Honey Ants?
Honey ants are one of the most unusual of the known ant species. Honey ants store nectar inside the living bodies of worker ants called repletes. The ant colony draws on these living "honey pots" during lean times.An ant will use its antennas to tap the right code on the antennas of a replete. The replete then opens its mouth to unlock the "honey pot". A special stomach valve, composed of four flaps, controls the flow in or out.
Repletes live a sedentary but safe life underground. They are protected from drought, heat, and insect predators. They guard against bacteria and fungi by smearing their bodies with antibiotic fluid from a special gland.
Where does the "honey" come from? It begins with sap and nectar of acacia trees. Then, tiny insects called aphids feed on these natural juices. Worker ants then milk the aphids of some of their excess sugar, called honeydew, or they collect it directly from the trees. The worker ant then feeds this collected liquid to the repletes. Since the inactive repletes have a small nutritional need, most of the honeydew ends up in the "honey bank".
What about the aphids? The ants leave them adequate nectar and protect them from parasites and predators. Both the ants and the aphids are winners in this symbiotic partnership called mutualism.
These type of ants can be found in the desert regions of Australia, Africa and Southeast Arizona. The aborigines find and eat these honey ants, considering them a Desert Delicacy. Would you try one, if the
opportunity arises?"Go to the ant see its ways and become wise. Although it has no commander, officer or ruler, it prepares its food even in the summer, it has gathered its food supplies even in the harvest." -Proverbs 6:6-8.
Yes these ants are cooperative, highly organized, and industrious! It is amazing that these hardy desert dwellers produce such a sweet delicacy in such a harsh, inhospitable terrain.
For more info go here:
http://www.sasionline.org/antsfiles/pages/honeyants/honey.html
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Dennis and his Pals
had a CHILI Cook Off!
There must have been about 7 different types of Chili
I'm glad I wasn't a Judge 'cause they were all Good!
It was relaxing, with plenty of games.
We even had some visitors from Finland!
What fun.
Wish I had taken more pictures.
(Dennis came in second)
There must have been about 7 different types of Chili
I'm glad I wasn't a Judge 'cause they were all Good!
It was relaxing, with plenty of games.
We even had some visitors from Finland!
What fun.
Wish I had taken more pictures.
(Dennis came in second)
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Why
Do Jehovah's Witnesses say that God's Kingdom was established in 1914?
Two lines of evidence point to that year:
1. Bible chronology
2. Bible prophecy.
This post will discuss Bible chronology.
As recorded at Luke 21:24, Jesus said: "Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations, until the appointed times of the nations ("the times of the Gentiles," King James Version) are fulfilled." Jerusalem had been the capital city of the Jewish nation -the seat of rulership of the line of kings from the house of King David. (Psalm 48:1, 2) However, these kings were unique among national leaders. They sat on "Jehovah's throne" as representatives of God himself. (1 Chronicles 29:23) Jerusalem was thus a symbol of Jehovah's rulership.
How and when, though, did God's rulership begin to be "trampled on by the nations"?
This happened in 607 B.C.E when Jerusalem was conquered by the Babylonians. "Jehovah's throne" became vacant, and the line of kings who descended from David was interrupted. (2 Kings 25:1-26) Would this 'trampling' go on forever? No, for the prophecy of Ezekiel said regarding Jerusalem's last king, Zedekiah:
"Remove the turban, and lift off the crown... It will certainly become no one's until he comes who has the legal right, and I must give it to him."
(Ezekiel 21:26, 27)
The one who has "the legal right" to the Davidic crown is Christ Jesus. (Luke 1:32, 33) So the "trampling" would end when Jesus became King.
When would that grand event occur? Jesus showed that the Gentiles would rule for a fixed period of time. The account in Daniel chapter 4 holds the key to knowing how long that period would last. It relates a prophetic dream experienced by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. He saw an immense tree that was chopped down. Its stump could not grow because it was banded with iron and copper. An angel declared: "Let seven times pass over it." -Daniel 4:10-16
Revelation 12:6, 14 indicates that three and a half times equal "a thousand two hundred and sixty days." "Seven times" would therefore last twice as long, or 2, 520 days. But the Gentile nations did not stop "trampling" on God's rulership a mere 2,520 days after Jerusalem's fall. Evidently, then, this prophecy covers a much longer period of time. On the basis of Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6, which speak of "a day for a year," the "seven times" would cover 2,520 years.
The 2,520 years began in October 607 B.C.E., when Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians and the Davidic king was taken off his throne. The period ended in October 1914. At that time, "the appointed times of the nations" ended, and Jesus Christ was installed as God's heavenly King. -Psalm 2:1-6; Daniel 7:13, 14.
From October 607 B.C.E. to October 1 B.C.E is 606 years. Since there is no zero year, from October 1 B.C.E, to October 1914 C.E. is 1,914 years. By adding 606 years to 1,914 years, we get 2,520 years.
*As early as 1823, John A. Brown, whose work was published in London, England, calculated the "seven times" of Daniel chapter 4 to be 2,520 years in length. But he was not clear on the date the prophetic time period began or when it would end. He did, however, connect these "seven times" with the Gentile Times of Luke 21:24.
In 1844, E.B. Elliott, a British clergyman, drew attention to 1914 as a possible date for the end of the "seven times" of Daniel, but he also set out an alternate view that pointed to the time of the French Revolution.
In 1875 in the August, September, and October issues of Herald of the Morning, N.H. Barbour helped to harmonize details that had been pointed out by others. Using chronology compiled by Christopher Bowen, a clergyman in England, published by E.B. Elliott, Barbour identified the start of the Gentile Times with King Zedekiah's removal from kingship as foretold at Ezekiel 21:25, 26, and he pointed to 1914 as marking the end of the Gentile Times.
Interestingly, Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727) had written that Christ would return and reign "invisible to mortals."
Two lines of evidence point to that year:
1. Bible chronology
2. Bible prophecy.
This post will discuss Bible chronology.
Decades in advance, Bible students proclaimed that there would be significant developments in 1914*. What were these developments? What evidence points to 1914 as such an important year?
As recorded at Luke 21:24, Jesus said: "Jerusalem will be trampled on by the nations, until the appointed times of the nations ("the times of the Gentiles," King James Version) are fulfilled." Jerusalem had been the capital city of the Jewish nation -the seat of rulership of the line of kings from the house of King David. (Psalm 48:1, 2) However, these kings were unique among national leaders. They sat on "Jehovah's throne" as representatives of God himself. (1 Chronicles 29:23) Jerusalem was thus a symbol of Jehovah's rulership.
How and when, though, did God's rulership begin to be "trampled on by the nations"?
This happened in 607 B.C.E when Jerusalem was conquered by the Babylonians. "Jehovah's throne" became vacant, and the line of kings who descended from David was interrupted. (2 Kings 25:1-26) Would this 'trampling' go on forever? No, for the prophecy of Ezekiel said regarding Jerusalem's last king, Zedekiah:
"Remove the turban, and lift off the crown... It will certainly become no one's until he comes who has the legal right, and I must give it to him."
(Ezekiel 21:26, 27)
The one who has "the legal right" to the Davidic crown is Christ Jesus. (Luke 1:32, 33) So the "trampling" would end when Jesus became King.
When would that grand event occur? Jesus showed that the Gentiles would rule for a fixed period of time. The account in Daniel chapter 4 holds the key to knowing how long that period would last. It relates a prophetic dream experienced by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. He saw an immense tree that was chopped down. Its stump could not grow because it was banded with iron and copper. An angel declared: "Let seven times pass over it." -Daniel 4:10-16
In the Bible, trees are sometimes used to represent rulership. (Ezekiel 17:22-24; 31:2-5) So the chopping down of the symbolic tree represents how God's rulership, as expressed through the kings at Jerusalem, would be interrupted. However, the vision served notice that this "trampling of Jerusalem" would be temporary -a period of "seven times." How long a period is that?
Revelation 12:6, 14 indicates that three and a half times equal "a thousand two hundred and sixty days." "Seven times" would therefore last twice as long, or 2, 520 days. But the Gentile nations did not stop "trampling" on God's rulership a mere 2,520 days after Jerusalem's fall. Evidently, then, this prophecy covers a much longer period of time. On the basis of Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6, which speak of "a day for a year," the "seven times" would cover 2,520 years.
The 2,520 years began in October 607 B.C.E., when Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians and the Davidic king was taken off his throne. The period ended in October 1914. At that time, "the appointed times of the nations" ended, and Jesus Christ was installed as God's heavenly King. -Psalm 2:1-6; Daniel 7:13, 14.
From October 607 B.C.E. to October 1 B.C.E is 606 years. Since there is no zero year, from October 1 B.C.E, to October 1914 C.E. is 1,914 years. By adding 606 years to 1,914 years, we get 2,520 years.
*As early as 1823, John A. Brown, whose work was published in London, England, calculated the "seven times" of Daniel chapter 4 to be 2,520 years in length. But he was not clear on the date the prophetic time period began or when it would end. He did, however, connect these "seven times" with the Gentile Times of Luke 21:24.
In 1844, E.B. Elliott, a British clergyman, drew attention to 1914 as a possible date for the end of the "seven times" of Daniel, but he also set out an alternate view that pointed to the time of the French Revolution.
In 1875 in the August, September, and October issues of Herald of the Morning, N.H. Barbour helped to harmonize details that had been pointed out by others. Using chronology compiled by Christopher Bowen, a clergyman in England, published by E.B. Elliott, Barbour identified the start of the Gentile Times with King Zedekiah's removal from kingship as foretold at Ezekiel 21:25, 26, and he pointed to 1914 as marking the end of the Gentile Times.
Interestingly, Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727) had written that Christ would return and reign "invisible to mortals."
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