Holding Hands

A New Year

2010-12-31T13:22:00.000-08:00

The end of one year and the dawning of a new one provides an excellent opportunity to wipe the slate clean and make a fresh start.

The following are excerpts were taken from a column written by Norman Vincent Peale many years ago.

William Ewart Gladstone , once a minister of Great Britain said: " It is a dangerous thing for any person to start out a new year without the thought of God."

None of us can see very far ahead of life's pathway. We are surrounded on every hand by insecurity. The only certain and for sure factor in this world is the Eternal, 'the same yesterday, today and forever.' God is our security. So it is well to keep God in mind as Gladstone suggests.

As a young boy Norman Vincent Peale said his father would bring a Bible to the dinner table on every New Year's Eve and solemnly, he would open it, turning to its very beginning to read the first four words of the first chapter of Genesis. "In the beginning God." That was all-just those four words. He never explained , but that they are still remembered shows that they registered. It is very true that anyone who will make those four words basic philosophy will have what it takes to meet whatever problems come during the year.

This is so because such reliance on God and His power activates a new start and with it the belief that you can forget yesterday and go forward confidently into the future. The Bible is filled with emphasis on new starts and fresh beginnings. . Such words as: "Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before," " I press toward the mark..." And again : "Old things are passed away; all things become new." and still again, "Behold, I make all things new."

Don't lug the past into the future. You have made mistakes, done dumb things. Who hasn't ? Extract from them what experience they contain and then turn and face the future to those wonderful new starts and great new beginnings.

Yes, we can leave the sins and failures of this past year behind us, accept His forgiveness, and press on to higher ground. Remembering God's faithfulness and forgetting past mistakes will make entering the new year a time of joyous anticipation. And don't forget "In the beginning God."

A Prayer for the New Year

2010-12-31T06:17:00.000-08:00

God grant us this year a wider view

So we see others faults through the eyes of You-

Teach us to judge not with hasty tongue,

Neither the Adult...nor the Young

Give us patience and grace to endure.

And a stronger faith so we fell secure

And instead of remembering, help us forget

The irritations that caused us to fret

Freely forgiving for some offer

And finding each day a rich recompense

In offering a friendly helping hand

And trying in all ways to understand

That all of us whoever we are

Are trying to reach "an unreachable star"-

For the Great and Small...the Good and Bad,

The Young and Old...the Sad and Glad

Are asking today "Is Life Worth Living"

And the answer is only in Loving and Giving

For only Love can make men kind

And kindness of Heart brings Peace of Mind

And by giving Love, we can start this year

To Lift the clouds of Hate and Fear.

Helen Steiner Rice

A Christmas Prayer For You

2010-12-06T07:28:00.000-08:00

LORD

We welcome You
into our hearts
and homes.
Bless us with
Your peace, fill us
with Your joy,
surround us with
Your love.
We celebrate You
and thank You
for coming.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!

Amen.

President Bushs' Thanksgiving proclamation

2010-11-23T07:40:00.000-08:00

Americans are a grateful people, ever mindful of the many ways we have been blessed. On Thanksgiving Day, we lift our hearts in gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy, the people we love and the gifts of our prosperous land.

Our country was founded by men and women who realized their dependence on God, and were humbled by His providence and grace. The early explorers and settlers who arrived in this land gave thanks for God's protection and for the extraordinary natural abundance they found. Since the first national Day of Thanksgiving was proclaimed, Americans have come together to offer thanks for our many blessings. We recall the great privilege it is to live in a land where freedom is the right of every person and where all can pursue their dreams. We express our deep appreciation for the sacrifices of the honorable men and women in uniform who defend liberty. As they work to advance the cause of freedom, our Nation keeps these brave individuals and their families in our thoughts and we pray for their safe return.

While Thanksgiving is a time to gather in a spirit of Gratitude with family, friends, and neighbors, it is also an opportunity to serve others and to share our blessings with those in need. By answering the universal call to love a neighbor as we want to be loved ourselves, we make our Nation a more hopeful and caring place.

This Thanksgiving, may we reflect upon the past year with gratefulness and look toward the future with hope. Let us give thanks for all we have been given and ask God to continue to bless our families and our Nation.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of American, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 22, 2007, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage all Americans to gather together in their homes and places of worship with family, friends, and loved one to reinforce the ties that bind us and give thanks for the freedoms and many blessings we enjoy.

IN WITNESS THEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second.

Thanksgiving Proclamation 1863

2010-11-22T07:18:00.000-08:00

It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations are blessed whose God is the Lord.

We know that by his divine law, nations, like individuals, are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world. May we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the land may be a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptious sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people?

We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity, we have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation has ever grown.

But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.

Abraham Lincoln 1863

Thanksgiving History and Traditions

2010-11-20T06:58:00.002-08:00

America's first Thanksgiving, in 1621, was a three-day celebration of feasting and recreation. The prior year was the Pilgrims' first winter at Plymouth, and it was so harsh almost half of the colonists perished.

By the second harvest, there was reason to rejoice. A peace treaty was signed with the Wampanoag, the Pilgrims' Native American neighbors. And Massasoit, their leader, shared his agricultural expertise, which resulted in a bumper crop. As was common in England, where the Pilgrims originated, they chose to commemorate their bounty with a harvest festival.

Most accounts of the actual event mention neither turkey nor pumpkin, our modern Thanksgiving staples. Indian corn was plentiful, however. Four valiant Pilgrim housewives supervised the feast that Massasoit and 90 of his people attended, bringing five deer as their contribution to the communal table.

Presumable, the Pilgrims followed the English custom of the day and served their neighbors buffet-style; dishes were placed on the table and guests helped themselves. There were no forks, only knives, spoons, and large napkins that were used to pick up hot foods and to tidy the face and fingers. Food could be eaten directly from the serving dish or you could share a trencher (wooden plate). No meal could begin without saying grace, since the Pilgrims believed that their good fortune was due to their relationship to God.

Similar New England harvest festivals evolved into an annual tradition, officially acknowledged in 1777, when the Continental Congress declared the first national Thanksgiving. President Lincoln established Thanksgiving as a national holiday in 1863, after 23 years of lobbying by Sarah Josepha Hale, an acclaimed author and editor.

The regional foods of New England, including turkey, cranberries, and pumpkin, came to be identified with the holiday, as did the inspirational story of the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe feasting and coexisting in peace.

Criticism

2010-10-30T07:11:00.000-07:00

I consider myself a good cook. My taste buds are sharp. I detect when a strong or wrong spice is used in food. I complain when the meat is tough, the potatoes are not done, the gravy lumpy, the salad limp. You get the picture . Often, I complain about other things as well.

Examining the reason for complaining usually points a finger back at me. Am I finding fault with the issue to make my self feel superior, or am I genuinely wanting to make an improvement?

Are you a fence straddler or do you speak out when an important issue comes before you. Do you make a positive comment, an opposing comment or do you just stay mum. I'm usually vocal with my opinions and sometimes it gets me into trouble.

Recently I read an enlightening article (author unknown) that pointed out how you can actually learn to like criticism. This was a unique idea that people only appreciate 'constructive criticism.'

The key issue is how to take criticism...whether you can take it in stride, or if it shakes you up, or if, hopefully you can use it to your advantage. Sometimes criticism is really a test of how strong you are... and how you can profit from it by trying to improve yourself, and recognize what you know and what you don't know. Few people can take harsh criticism without appearing to be upset by it, but if we take criticism gracefully we can use it to our advantage.

A poet once wrote: "The stones that critics hurl with harsh intent, man may use to build a monument."

God's Blessings Declared Unto You!

2010-09-29T07:01:00.000-07:00

"Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee and the light shall shine upon they ways." Job 22:28

That the peace of God will enter into your mind and destroy all confusion sent by the enemy. Phil.4:7

That the joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10

That you will gain understanding of your God-ordained assignment. Psalm 119:104

That the plots of the enemy against you are cancelled in the name of Jesus Christ. John 10"10

That the blessings of God will overtake you. Deut. 18:1,2

That you are a blessing to the nation. Malachi 3:12

That you children are purpose-filled by the Lord. Matt.21:16

That no weapon that is formed against you will prosper. Isaiah 54:17

That the healing hand of God will cancel every sickness & disease & replace it with wholeness. Isaiah 53:5

That you are no longer a victim but a victor n Jesus' name. I John 4:4

That He who has begun a good work in you will complete it in you. Phil.1:5

That you can do all things through Christ which strengthens you. Phil.1:6

That your God shall supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory. Phil.4:19

That the lies of man have no power over your life. Psalm. 110:1

The the generational curses in your life are broken from your life. Matt.11:29

That your finances are pressed down, shaken together and running over with abundance. Luke 6:38

That you are blessed to be a blessing. Hebrews 6:14

That you are fearfully and wonderfully made by the hand of God. Psalm 13:14

That you are free to praise the Lord. Psalm 150:6

That you have the authority to bind every demon and ungodly spirit. Matt. 16:19

Will People Return to God?

2010-08-20T12:33:00.000-07:00

Possible because of so much frustration in our nation and the world today, I have heard a number of people suggest we should pray for our nation and ask God to again to bless our nation. I sincerely agree. As Billy Graham once said: "I want to lobby for God."

Bill listens to Glen Beck on Fox News each evening and I'm not sure whether Beck is a political lobbyist or whether he is lobbying for God when he said we need Faith, Hope and Charity.

The political environment is so disturbing that we recognize the need for a new criteria in selecting Presidents, Vice Presidents and Members of Congress. We must be wiser in our choices and more selective.

The conditions in the world today are less stable than at any time I can remember. What are we doing about them? Are we really seeing beyond the horizon, giving help where it is needed. Are we listening for the voice of God to call us to service. We need a deeper faith and firmer stand for the principles of right.

It has been said that religion tends to spread the language of the heart. Someone wrote: "Religion is life, philosophy is thought; religion looks up, friendship looks in. We need both thought and life, and the two shall be in harmony."

In ancient proverb states: "If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character. If there be beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the family home; if there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation. When there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.

God will bless what He initiates, what depends on Him for its success, what is done according to His Word, and what is done for His Glory.

"For freedom Christ has set us free, stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of
slavery." Gal. 5:1

Let us return to God and have Faith, Hope and Charity.

The ME Generation

2010-08-15T06:46:00.000-07:00

I read the following in 'Our Daily Bread' recently: IT'S ALL ABOUT ME! This message is declared by so many men and women today that it could be the motto of our modern world - a challenging world that is destructively self-centered. The question we must ask is: Is it really all about me?

Obviously understanding that no one is perfect and probably would not make 100 per cent if tested on the following attributes: To be helpful, courteous, kind, constructive, sincere; or to serve, give, have faith and listen to advise. We could test ourselves and see what kind of mark we would score if we took a personal inventory, or we could listen to our friends for they will tell us what they really think, and this way we would learn to know ourselfs better.

We should be open-minded enough to talk difference over with our family and friends. This will shift the conversation from all about me as an individual to all about us. This will enable the important decisions to be made jointly and not solely by me. A selfish person will have a hard time finding happiness.

However, there are other enemies of character as bad as or worse than being self-centered. Equally as costly is doubting our faith , which is deficiency of faith; superstition, which is misdirection of faith; hypocrisy, which is insincerity of faith, irreverence, which is contempt of faith, and perhaps worst of all, indifference, which is neglect of faith.

For the followers of Christ however, the answer is clear - it is not all about ME - it's all about Jesus Christ and others. The power is not in us but through us. That power comes from the "one God and Father of all, who above all, and through all, and in all." Eph. 4:6

Fear

2010-08-07T06:51:00.000-07:00

Bill has a condition call 'Gastroparasis.' It seems to be unique with people with diabetes. When it occurs, the person is in extreme pain. The first time this happened to Bill, he was very fearful, afraid that something really bad was happening to his body, and emergency precautions were taken. He was taken to the emergency department at Baylor Hospital and was diagnosed with Gall Stones. A surgeon was consulted and the surgery was performed. Before long however, Bill was having the same pain and having the pain frequently. Finally a new diabetic doctor recognized the symptoms for what they were. Now Bill has learned to relax instead of being afraid and after a few minutes the pain goes away, but today he had an attack and it lasting longer than usuall. Fear can be a devastating experience.

Ralph Beebe. Having seen these words over the fireplace of the Hind's Head Hotel in Bray-on-Thames, not far from London: "FEAR KNOCKED AT THE DOOR. FAITH ANSWERED. NO ONE WAS THERE," wrote the following.

Too often Fear rules over our lives, intruding into every situation. Fear sits by our side and whispers advice while we make decisions. Fear embraces us when we meet grief. Fear frays our bodies and our minds, and robs us of the very sleep we need to mend them.

Fear masquerades in countless forms and under many names: Doubt, Indecision, Procrastination, Alarm, Timidity and Anxiety. Sometimes Fear becomes Terror, Horror, Shock and Consternation.

Fear constantly knocks at our door, asking to enter our lives. Fear poses as a friend. Fear claims to be Prudence, Caution, Care, Diligence and Discretion. But if we open our lives to Fear, we admit a guest who will not soon or gracefully depart.

Faith is the comrade who will serve us best against Fear. For Fear is shadow, but Faith is real. Faith too assumes other shapes and names. There is the Faith that is met as Prayer, the alliance with the Almighty that enables one to meet the contrary ways of the world. Faith is the courage that has battled for man's highest ideals. Faith supports us as Confidence, in ourselves and to those we serve and those who serve.

Keep Faith as a constant companion. When Fear knocks at your door, send Faith to answer. Faith will dissolve the shadow of Fear that would blot every thought and action.

"...Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you..." Isaiah 41:10

Ten Unique Commandments

2010-08-06T06:33:00.000-07:00

For six weeks the pastor at my church is preaching on the ten commandments. I have heard many interpretation of the ten commandments, but it is always refreshing to be reminded of those rules.
ver since the Ten Commandments, with their guidelines for Christian living, were given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, they have been considered as probably the most important document in the history of mankind.

If these guidelines had been meticulously followed, and it's never too late to start, there would be less turmoil and more peace and happiness in our world today.

Whenever a great masterpiece of literature is written someone usually comes up with a practical, but much less religious version of the great and historic document. I found this one in my file - author unknown.

The Ten Commandments of How to Get Along With People:

1. Keep skid chains on your tongue; always say less than you think. Cultivate a low, persuasive voice . How you say it often counts more than what you say

2. Make promises sparingly and keep them faithfully, no matter what it costs.

3. Never let an apportunity pass to say a kind and encouraging word to or about somebody. Praise good work regardless of who did it. If criticism is needed, criticize helpfully, never spitefully.

4. Be interested in others, their work, their homes and families. Make merry with those who rejoice, mourn with those who weep, regard others as a person of importance.

5. Be cheerful, don't burden or depress those around you by dwelling on your minor aches and pains and small disappointments. Remember everyone is carrying some kind of a load.

6. Keep an open mind. Discuss but don't argue. It is a mark of a superior mind to be able to disagree without being disagreeable.

7. Let your virtues, if you have any, speak for themselves. Refuse to talk of another's vices. Discourage gossip. It is a waste of time and can be extremely destructive

8. Be careful of another's feelings. Wit and humor at the other person's expense may hurt when least expected.

9. Pay no attention to ill-natured remarks about yourself. Remember, the person who carried the message may not be the most accurate reporter in the world. Simply live so that nobody will believe them.

10. Don't be too anxious about the credit due you. Do your best and be patient. Forget about yourself and let others 'remember.' Success is much sweeter that way.

Remember, the important thing in life is not so much where you stand, but in what direction you
are moving. To reach the port of Heaven, you must sometimes sail with the wind, sometimes against it, but never dirift or lie at anchor.

Pride

2010-07-30T08:03:00.000-07:00

Recently TV news caught my attention, "a mother and daughter dead." Article after article in the Dallas Morning News about this mother and daughter piqued my interest. This was an affluent family, but after the father died, the mother and daughter found they were seriously in debt. Apparently the mother or daughter did not share their problems with anyone, and as their problems worsened they became desperate. So desperate that murder and suicide seemed the only way to end their problems.

"Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall." Proberbs 16:18

Looks are deceiving. Many people don't know how to present themselves to others, or share with another their real concerns. Each of us as unique individuals can live with other people , not apart from them. Pride can be a real detriment to a person. Pride is one of the Seven Deadly Sins listed in the Bible (Gal. 5:19-21). Those sins warn us of that not to do. But we need more than that. We need to learn how to reach out to others. We are not alone in the world. What can each one of us do ,as individuals, to make our world a better place? With our deeds and our exampled we can look to the opposite of the 'Seven Deadly Sins' to the 'Fruit of the Spirit', where love and kindness reaches out to others (Gal. 5:22-23).

Love is defined as 'an intense affectionate concern for another person, or in Biblical terms 'God's benevolence and mercy toward man.' Love embraces understanding of human weakness and the ability also to see the good in others. It has been said that to really love is not to live for one's self alone, but to help one another.

Kindness is an act of feeling of benevolence, good will or affection. Someone has said kindness is never lost; it may meet with ingratitude, or be of no service to those on whom it was bestowed, yet it ever does a work of beauty and grace upon the heart of the giver.

It is sad that the mother & daughter did not seek help or confide in a neighbor or friend, but let us not forget Love and Kindness for they are the keys to happiness and peace.

Boasting or Modesty

2010-07-23T07:31:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the commercials are more interesting than the programs. One such commercial is about two men obviously boasting about their surgeries.

Sometimes boasting or bragging can backfire as in this story: A very wealthy lady was showing her new maid all the rooms in their fabulous house and their wall-to-wall furniture, and boasting about everything. Finally she said to her maid: "This dining room suite goes all the way back to Louis, the fourteenth. The maid replies: "Well lady, you don't have nothing on me. My whole living room suite goes back to Sears & Roebuck on the 13th."

We all know people who boast about their home, car, boat, vacations and jewelry. You get the point. Here are some old sayins:

The empty vessel makes the greatest sound. (Shakespeare)
Never cackle until the egg is laid.
The bigger a man's head gets, the esier it is to fill his shoes.
"We sure shook that bridge," the mouse said to the elephant after they had crossed the bridge.
If you wish people to speak well of you, then do not speak of yourself.
Confusius wrote: "Humility is the foundation of all virtues."

You might say Modesty and Humility are first cousins. Modesty is not a weak and timid quality; it must however be carefylly distinguished from a groveling spirit. Although Pride is one of the 'seven deadly sins,' there is such a thing as a honest pride and self-respect.

We should avoid some four letter words, but utilize these: work, pray and love.

"The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom and humility goes before honor." Proverbs 15:33

The more humble a person is before God, the more he will be exalted.

Worry

2010-07-12T08:16:00.000-07:00

Bill is a walking time bomb. Both of his carotid veins are 98% blocked. Do we have surgery or not? If he doesn't have the surgery, the chances are high that he will have a stroke one day, but there is also danger in the surgery. So we are trying to take it one day at a time.

I have to remind myself it is futile and actually wasteful to lose time and even jeopardize my health by constant worrying. By worrying about problems , you can feel like you're just going around in circles and getting nowhere. Moreover, you are courting hypertension, ulcers,
despondency and even bring on a stroke or a heart attack. Worry & anxiety are synonymous.

Here is what one wise man wrote: "It is not the care of today, but the cares of tomorrow that
weight a person down. For the needs of today we have corresponding strength given. For tomorrow, we are told to trust. It is not ours yet."

Ben Franklin once said: "Do not anticipate trouble or worry about what may happen. Keep in the sunlight."

We borrow trouble when we torment ourselves with imaginary dangers or trials. On the other hand the individual who does not allow the thousand little worries of life to embitter them has full faith in God to put those worries to rest.

"Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?" Matt. 6:27

"Therefor do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the days own trouble be sufficient for the day. " Matt. 6:34

We should all remember that the misfortunes hardest to bear are those which never happen.
t

Patience

2010-06-30T07:37:00.000-07:00

Have you ever put new license plates on your car? The screws are too tight to loosen - the hole doesn't line up for the screw. How about the vehicle registration sticker? If you get a corner just right it will peel right off, but then what to do with the gooey mess left on the windshield. What I need is a little patience.

Sometimes my computer just don't work fast enough and when this happens I tend to give it another instruction, one after another, and then it slows down even more. What I need is a little patience.

We have created for ourselves instant lifestyles like 'one hour photo processing' and 'same-day dry cleaning.' If things don't happen right now, we get impatience.

We get impatience even with God - especially when we are undergoing a trial. When God wants to make a giant oak he takes many years. Yet, we wander, if He can create somethng out of nothing in an instant, why doesn't He act? Maybe, when our patience is being stretched, we are being given an opportunity to expand. There is a 'right time' to bring us to maturity and a strong faith. We read in the scriptures:

"We can rejoice too, when we run into problems and trials for we know that they are good for us - they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady." Romans 5:3-5 The Living Bible

NARA

2010-05-19T06:52:00.001-07:00

Farewell to Japan -Kimono I purchased and brought home.

Wilhelmine modeling kimono in hotel in Nara.
Nara is about 25 miles south of Kyoto and is older than the sister city. Beginning in 710, for 74 years Nara (then called Heijo) was capital of Japan.

The Big Buddha measuring 16.2m in height and weighs 452 tons.

Gold Spiral in Nara Park

Kasugataisha Temple has 3000 lanterns

Wilhelmine standing in front of more lanterns at Kasugataisha Temple

Kofukuji Temple is famous for its five storied Pagoda (165 ft. high) built in 1426. In the 8th century Kifukuji Temple had almost 2300 buildings. Fire after fire leveled them and now the Pagoda and four haus are left.

Todai-ji is the largest wooden building and its idol one of the largest bronze images of Buddha in the world.

Nara park is a woodsy expanse of hugh Japanese cedars, oaks and cypress trees. More than 1000 tame deer (called divine essengers) wander about the park during the day. At dusk, the call of a trumpet summons them to return to their pens.

Oyster Beds

2010-05-16T06:52:00.000-07:00

At the age of 32, Kokichi Mikimoto decided to research into the possibility of creating cultured 'pearls,' an accomplishment, considered beyond any man's ingenuity and capabilities in his time. During the years that followed, he met many difficulties which had to be solved before his dream finally materialized in the production of the world's first cultured pearl on July 11, 1893. We visited Pearl Island, the spot where Mikimoto first succeeded in creating a cultured pearl.

Mikimoto developed the cultured pearl by artificially stimulating oysters by inserting an irritant (a grain of sand) inside oyster, causing it to secrete the nacre of which cultured pearls are formed. The irritant sand comes from the Missouri River near St. Louis Mo.

Pearl beds

The seeded oysters are placed in cages and suspended from bamboo rafts. The pearls are harvested six months to seven years later.

The 'Ama' women divers collect 60% ot the total marine products including the 'pearl' oysters, abalone, lobster and seaweed.

Wilhelmne as a 'Ama' Diver

The 'Ama' Women diving for oysters.

Food

2010-05-14T06:43:00.000-07:00

I ate with chopsticks all the time spent in Japan- I got pretty good and even enjoyed most of the food.

Traveling in Japan

2010-05-12T10:04:00.000-07:00

Tea Bushes

I learned to like the 'green' tea that the Japanese drink even before it became popular here in the U.S.

Everywhere we went while traveling in Japan, we saw Cherry Trees and Plum Trees in bloom.

Wilhelmine standing in front of Cherry Tree at Temple.

More Cherry Trees

Rice Field

More rice fields

Rice is a stable food in Japan. Every meal is served with rice.

Cedar Trees

Plum Festival

2010-05-07T13:05:00.000-07:00

This is 'Saki,' Rice Wine, a very poplular drink at Festivals and gatherings.

Plum orchard contains many varieties and a wide range of colors.I think the plum blossoms are just as pretty as the cherry blossoms. I brought home a silk screen of plum blossoms painted by a local artist which hangs on the wall in our apartment.

The Zuishin-in Temple is an Imperial Temple in southwestern Yamashina. The Temple holds its 'Hanezu Odori Festival' on March 30th when the Plum Blossoms are in full bloom.

Japanese Muscians playing at the Plum Blossom Festival.

Haezu O Dori is a sacred dance which has been passed on in the Yamashina district. It depicts comically the love life of Onono-Komachi, a poetress, who was extremely popular among the court nobles for her beauty & intelligence.

I thought this young Japanese woman was so pretty, I asked to take her picture. She was at the Festival.

The dress in Japan was about 50/50 % when I was there - as you can see here with the Japanese girl in cultural dress and the boy in western wear.

Temples

2010-05-05T13:44:00.000-07:00

Japanese women resting inside the Zuishin-in Temple

Many of the older Japanese still dress in traditional kimonas. In Tyoko and the bigger cities the people dress more Western.

Zuishin-in Temple -This temple is a Shingon Buddhist Sect headquarter.

Purification rites is required before entering the temples.

Keyomizu - Dera Temple - Built on stilts

Japanese write prayers on wood and hang here. The Temple Priest collect and pray.

Golden Pavillon -Kinkaky-Ji Temple

The Japanese get special merit for visiting all the temples . When school is out, the children visit the temples the same as our children visit our museums

Ryokan or Motel

2010-05-04T12:51:00.000-07:00

Wall covering at Ryokan (Motel)

Entrance to Ryokan

Wilhelmine in Kimono and robe provided by Ryokan. After checking into our room at the Ryokan, the innkeeper came to our room and brought tea and conducted business. The Kimono and robe, towel and toothbrush were provided and laid out when our futon was put out for sleeping. Tea was always outside out door in the morning.

Himeji Castle

2010-05-03T13:41:00.000-07:00

Picnic area on the grounds in front of Himeji Castle
I3bought tea and the best Persimmon I ever ate and joined the crowd here for a bit of relaxation.

Wilhelmine in front of Himeji Castle
Himejo known as the 'White Heron' is twin to the Neuschwantein Castle known as the 'White Swan,' located in Bavaria, southern Germany.

When building a castle, one must consider the importance of using the natural resources of the vicinity and the proper placement of the buildings. According to geography, castles may be classified into three types: mountain castles, hill castles, and plains castle. Himeji Castle is a hill castle. The five-storied main donjon together with the three smaller donjons - one on the east, on on the west, and one on the northwest forms a magnificent shape which gives the effect , from any viewpoint of a lovely white heron ready to fly into the blue sky.

Sumari, Movieland, Tyoto

2010-05-03T13:09:00.000-07:00

Ninja, a Stunt man in the movie Sumari

Ninja, a stunt man in the movie, Sumari

Wilhelmine sitting in rickshaw at movieland, Kyoto

Wilhelmine with Sumari actor

Kyoto is the birthplace of the Japanese movie industry. Movieland itself is a 30,000 sq. meter open set located inside Toei's studios in Uzumasa on the west side of Kyoto.

This was the same as touring the screen sets in Hollywood, California- very interesting.

Sightseeing, Japan

2010-05-02T12:05:00.000-07:00

Pachinko gambling, a popular passtime

A store window showing traditonal & modern wedding gown

A mailbox
Japan is so different from the U.S.A. in so many ways. These pictures show a few of the ways.

Another way that caught my attention was the truck playing music - for us, it indicates the ice cream man - for them , it is the hot sweet potato .The Japanese people love them and I must admit I enjoyed them also. Yet another difference, was those things the Japanese wanted to get rid of they take to the corner of the street and put in a pile (called a Gomer pile) and they are picked up by what we would call a Second hand store, for resale. I found three beautiful bowls in the 'Gomer Pile.' They had been dicarded because they were an uneven set and were thought to be unlucky.

Apartment

2010-05-01T12:06:00.001-07:00

Geta-Wooden Clog Screened walls and Tatami mats on floor

Futon Toilet

I stayed in a Japanese apartment - the furnishings were very different. Instead of a bed, I slept on a 'Futon' on the floor. The toilet facility was a squatter. All the furnishings were low on the floor and the floors were covered with 'Tatami' Mats. I soon learned that 'Surippa' was a house slipper which you wore indoors. You take your shoes off when entering your apartment or house and put on the soft-heeled slippers. When walking outdoors, you change to the 'Geta' or wooden clogs as you see on the old Japanese man.

Cherry Trees in Blossom

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I went to Japan during the blooming of the Cherry trees- Aren't they beautiful?

Japan

2010-04-29T08:37:00.000-07:00

Japan, a halfmoon of islands is a little smaller than California. For every square mile of land, there are 9 miles of coastline - 80% is mountainous. Most Japanese embrace the Shinto and Buddhist religions. They marry Shinto and are buried Buddhist.

The five basic precepts for Buddhist:

I undertake the precept to abstain from taking life.

I undertake the precept not to take what ha snot been given to me.

I undertake the precept to abstain from sexual misconduct.

I undertake the precept to abstain from intoxicating beverages.

Lisa - Sarcoma

2010-04-20T10:58:00.000-07:00

This team of doctors at MDA that specialize in Sarcoma meet regulalrly and discuss with each patient individually and personally what is best for that patient. After the oncologist decided against any chemo, the radiologist after meeting with the team of doctors decided radiation would be beneficial for Lisa. When the tumor was removed , there were clear margins all around, but they decided the tumor had been too close to the chest cavity and radiation would be helpful. Lisa will start radiation on May 5th for 30 days. She will have a comlete body scan every 3 months to watch for any change of the lesions on liver and lung and for any new tumors. It is still a 20% the Sarcoma will reoccurr. So keep Lisa in your prayers.

Cancer

2010-04-14T17:47:00.000-07:00

My granddaughter Lisa, Smith who was diagnosed with Sarcoma Cancer, and had surgery to remove the tumor , has now heard the results. Dr. Rabi, head of the cancer dept. at MDA met with Lisa and talked with her at length about Sarcoma. There is no treatment for Sarcoma and there is a 20% chance of reaccuring. So Lisa will see Dr. Rabi every 3 months and have a complete body scan. This is not the news we were hoping for - so continue to keep Lisa in your prayers.

cancer

2010-02-10T17:55:00.000-08:00

Dear Blog friends : If you have been praying for my granddaughter, Lisa Smith, I thank you. Tomorrow she will see Dr. Kelly Hunt, a Sarcoma Cancer Specialist at M.D. Anderson. Please pray that she will receive the right kind of treatment. If you are interested in her progress, click on Glad Chatter in this blog or go to: http://lifeoflisasmith.blogspot.com. She also has a prayer wall where you can leave a prayer: smithprayerwall@yahoo.com

PLEASE PRAY for Lisa and family!

2010-02-01T17:47:00.000-08:00

This blog is about my granddaughter, Lisa Smith. She needs your prayers. She has Sarcoma Cancer which is a very rare cancer.

Lisa is the wife of Andy and mother of four children: Julia - age 11, Elise - age 9, Hunter - age 7, Palmer - age 4. The family lives in College Station. Lisa is a God loving Cristian who teaches her children the scriptures and Christian precepts.

The doctors ,at M.D. Anderson, who specialize in Sarcoma Cancer have accepted Lisa as a patient. The next several days are filled with uncertainy - what treatment , etc.

One of lisa's friends has started a Prayer Wall for her . Please join the people who are praying around the clock 24/7. smithprayerwall@yahoo.com

Please PRAY! PRAY!

The Smallest Prayer

God hears the very smallest prayer

Nor sends a cross too great to bear

And though we stumble now & then

He always picks us up again.

There is no moment day or night,

When we are hidden from His sight,

No wall too high nor door too stout

Will keep His loving care without.

His ways are wiser than our own

His strength remains when our is gone

We must not doubt nor question why

He sends the answers by & by

And this I know withing my heart

All darkness fades and shadows part

And sometime, somehow, somewhere

God hears & answers prayer.

Grace W. Easley

Patmos

2010-01-02T07:43:00.000-08:00

Patmos is the northernmost island, a place of pilgrimage because it was here that John the Divine wrote the book of Revelations and because of the famous monastery. The whole island was declared sacred by the Greek Partiam in 1980. From the port, Skala, toward the top of the hill is the church of the Apocalypse, which enshrines the cave where St. John received the Revelations. The voice of God spoke through a three-fold crack in the rock and it was audible only to St. John, and dictated to his disciple Prochorus. Tradition says that St. John was sent here in 95 A.D.for preaching Christ in Ephesoss.

Sadly, I don't have any pictures.

Rhodes

2009-12-31T12:10:00.000-08:00

A bronze monument built 304/284 B.C. Collapsed during earthquate in 225 B.C. Weighed 250 tons and was 90-129ft. high.This Colosus was one of the seven wonders of the world. Grand Palace

Gate of Wall to City

The walled town of Rhodes

Rhodes with its walled town is Greece's biggest & most cosmopolitan resort. The town of Lindos can be reached on foot or by donkey and from here there is a breathtaking view of the Pelagos and of St. Paul's Bay, where the apostle dropped anchor on his way to Ephessos, Turkey(then Asia Minor). The Grand Master's Palace and fortifications are still in good repair and are some of the most interesting sights to be seen on the island.

Rhodes tradition held in Lindos on the southeast coast of the island, has the Apostle Paul's ship arrive at the island in the small harbor and stay in their city and preached, bringing many people into the new faith. (Acts 6:5)

Santorine/Thira

2009-12-30T07:52:00.000-08:00

Santorine is the most extraordinary island in the Aegean. A volcano rose here from the sea in prehistoric times, deposited its lava on the flanks of a high rock already there and an island was born. Many archaeologists believe that Santorini is in fact the site of the lost city of Atlantis. Sailing into the gulf, one sees gaunt & sheer cliffs rising all around. The ascent from the port to the town of Santorine/Thira is made either in the comfort of the cable car, or up a zig-zag stairway on mules. Many of our group rode the mules , but I rode the cable car. You can see homes dug out in the cliffs as you ascend to the top. From the summit, the panoramic view over the flooded crater to the small, still active volcanic islands in the bay is breathtaking .

Kusadasi/Ephessos

2009-12-30T06:50:00.000-08:00

Top - Sitting on the latrines...Next - Ephessos...Next - Camel, mode of travel.

Next- Road with columns(Street of Curetes)...Next -The library of Celsus...Last - The Grand Theatre.

Here we have pictures of the famous archaeological site of Ephessos. What was once Asia Minor - today is Turkey. This town is a shoppers' delight, crowded with little shops of exotic merchandise. Bargaining is a must and be sure to accept a cup of the local mint tea or Turkish coffee. Among the Turkish cuisine you can have fresh kalamari (squid) or an octopus salad. The most interesting history of this area is the ancient city of Ephessos founded in the 8th century B.C. The Ephesians worshipped Artemis, sister of Apollo, and Goddess of Fertility. From the remains of the port road which led to the old harbour is a magnificent view of the impressive amphitheatre, world renowned for its excellent acoustics. It was here that St. Paul preached to the Ephesians, imploring them to cease their worship of Artemis, and to turn to Christianity. Nearby you can see the prison where he was incarcerated as a result of scheming by silversmiths and politicians, who considered his teachings to be dangerous to their financial interest. During the 6th century A.D. Christianity flourished on the spot where St. John was buried.

Crete

2009-12-29T07:27:00.000-08:00

Crete is the Mediterraneans 4th and Greece's largest island. It is mountainous and fertile with many attractive beaches and picturesque scenery which attracts literaly thusands of visitors each year, and unquestionable, the most famous attraction of all is the site of King Minor Palace at Knossos.The palace Knossos is an introduction to the brilliant culture originally built 2000 B.C. Destroyed 300 years later & replaced by a magnificent group of buildings now partly reconstructed. For Paul's journey see Acts 27:7-15.

Mykonos

2009-12-29T07:13:00.000-08:00

Known as the 'St Tropez of Greece,' Mykonos is the dreamland of sun lovers and fashion lovers; a walk through the town showed us many famous fashion names and popular jewellery designers. Its picturesque landscapes, dotted with white-washed houses and quaint windmills, and its excellent beaches draw tourist from all over the world. Even the roads are whitewashed, and colours are not permitted except on the doors and shutters of the quaint houses, and to decorate the domes of the 365 churches on this little island.

Hydra

2009-12-28T07:18:00.000-08:00

After touring Greece , we boarded ship and started our tour of the Greek islands. Our first stop was the Island of Hydra and we were astonished at the spectacle of snow-white houses rising in succession above one another from the water's edge towards the crest of the rock. Hydra is a rocky island with a treeless ridge about two to four miles wide. - only a few acres of arable land. Hydra still reserves the appearance of a tiny old-world port untouched by time. There are no cars on the island and the only form of transport is the age-old friend of man, the donkey.

The Corinth Canal

2009-12-26T12:08:00.000-08:00

The Corinth Canal, begun 1882 and completed in 1893. The idea of cutting a canal through the narrow neck of the isthmus which joins the Peloponnese to the rest of Greece was conceived in classical times and seriously investigated by several Roman emperors. The present canal is 6,939 yards long, its bed width is 75.6 as at Suez, the depth of water is 26.3. It shortens the voyage between the Adriatic and the Piraeus by some 200 miles.

Corinth

2009-12-26T11:56:00.000-08:00

Corinth is one of the oldest towns of Greece. At one time the largest city. Its vast luxury, loving wealth brought about total destruction by the Romans in 146 BC and remained uninhabited until by order of Julius Caesar in 44 BC. This explains why there is only one Greek ruin, the seven Doric column of the 6th century, Temple of Apollo.(at top)

After lying waste for a hundred years, Corinth was rebuilt in 46BC. Corinth was a Greek port of great importance, situated on the narrow neck of land separating the central part of Greece from the Peloponnesus.

It was to this community, greedy for power, dedicated to pleasure, fascinated by rhetoic and knowledge, that Paul came and It was here that Paul lashed out against immorality causing a riot, but was acqquitted by Roman proconsul, Gallio. (Acts 18)

Corinth was destroyed by an earthquake.

Mars Hill

2009-12-23T11:27:00.000-08:00

Areopagus had authority over religious life of Athens. Hearing of the new doctrines advanced by St. Paul, the council felt obliged to gain first hand information. What they heard was one of the most famous speeches recorded in the New Testament.(Acts 17:19-32)

Acropolis

2009-12-21T11:37:00.000-08:00

The Acropolis with a capital A always means the Acropolis in Athens. Acropolis means the highest point, an easy defensible upper town. In Athens are Antiquity's most splendid group of buildings. They served both as a fortress and as the sacred sanctuary of Athens, its tutelary goddess. Today it is crowned by the ruins of three temples and an entrance way. The architectural perfection of which has not been surpassed in 2500 years. The first ancient monument on the southern slope of the Acropolis is peisistratus' 6th century BC, the theater of Dionysus. Performances here were attended by the entire population of the capital and lasted from daybreak to sunset. They were known as the festival of the Dionysis and combined plays and Bacchananian feasts. The front row of 67 seats was intended for Vips and the one in the center was occupied by the officiating priest at the festival. Another theater: that of Herodes Atticus, built by 2nd century AD as a memorial o his decesed wife. Seating capacity 5000. It remains in a good state of preservaton and the Athens Festival of Music & Drama is held here every summer.

Parthenon

2009-12-21T11:19:00.000-08:00

The Parthenon, on the hill of the Acropolis, is, of course, what every visitor to this city wants to see. Built as a temple in honour of the Greek goddess Athena, protectess of the city and Goddess of Wisdom, the Parthenon is one of Europe's most famous landmarks, and the symbol of this city where western thought and culture were born.

The temple had eight fluted columns at either end and 17 on each side. The sculptural decorations - 92 metopes, 44 statues ornamenting the gables and frieze 523 ft. long. The Parthenon was a place of worship and a national treasury, containing buillion as well as priceless ornaments.

Changing of the Guard

2009-12-20T11:14:00.000-08:00

This is the Presidential Guard of the unknown soldier.The guard's uniform consists of a multi-pleated white muslin kilt and white blouse under a black, gold embroidered wool jacket.

Athens

2009-12-19T11:09:00.000-08:00

Approximately nine miles from the port of Piraeus, lies the city of Athens, capital of modern Greece. It was during the 2nd century BC that Athens was made part of the Roman Empire, and was recognized as a major seat of learning and culture throughout the known world. In 49 AD, the arrival of St. Paul in Athens on one of his many journeys through the Mediterranean lands introduced the people to Christianity.

Delphi

2009-12-16T12:23:00.000-08:00

The Treasury of the Athenians at Delphi

More of the ruins of Delphi

Delphi was the holiest place in Greece. The most celebrated oracle of Antiquity rose terrace upon terrace above what the ancients call the 'navel of the earth.' It was said it was located when two eagles flying from opposite ends of the earth met here midway. The Parnassos is a term frequently applied to the area on either side of the spine of mountains extending northwest from the border of Atticica. This region is rich in mythological & historical allusions.

Meteora

2009-12-12T12:07:00.000-08:00

Monastery of Tranfiguration Walking to the Monastery

The Monk Athannasius founded the Monastery of the Transfiguration, in the 14th century, on the great Meteora and imposed the austere rules of the Holy mountain, rigorously excluded women.

Beroea

2009-12-12T11:54:00.000-08:00

Where Paul was imprisoned. (Acts 17:10-14)

Market

2009-12-10T14:30:00.000-08:00

Top -Liver, Calf Fries, Heart- Center -Part of Market - Bottome- Different types of Olives

Greece makes more pasta than Italy. They import very little - eating what is in season. They grow tobacco, figs, grapes, almonds & olives. One-third of Greece is agriculture - the rest is rocky and mountains. It rains in the Spring and Fall and the rest of the time they irrigate.

Thessaloniki

2009-12-07T14:15:00.000-08:00

Acts 17:1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Synagogue of Jews.

Thessaloniki was a bustling seaport city at the head of the Thermaic Gulf. It was an important communication and trade center, located at the junction of the great Egnatian Way and the road leading north to the Danube.

The background of the Thessalonia church is found in Acts 17:1-9. Since Paul began his ministry there in the Jewish synagogue, it is reasonable to assume that the new church included some Jews. However, I Thess. 1:9-10 and Acts 17:4 seem to indicate that the church was largely Gentile in membership.

Kavala (Neopolis)

2009-12-06T13:32:00.000-08:00

Kavala is the 5th largest town in Greece. It was here Paul first set foot on European soil- here is the busy waterfront.

Batistry at Philippi

2009-12-06T13:22:00.000-08:00

Baptistry at Philippi -Stained glass windows of Paul & Lydia

Lydia

2009-12-06T13:08:00.000-08:00

It was in Philippi that Paul preached his first sermon to the women washing their clothes in the Gaggitas river . Recorded in Acts 16:12-18 is the account of the first European convert, Lydia, a native of Thyatira (Asia Minor) and a seller of purple dyed cloth. After her profession of faith she was baptized in the Gaggitas River, today a stream flowing through the fertile valley of the region.

We had an interesting experience here where a Baptistry had been erected to memoralize the baptise of Lydia. We all went inside and sang "Blest Be The Tie That Binds," with another Christian tour group that was there.

Philippi, Greece

2009-12-06T12:35:00.000-08:00

Egnatia Way connected the East with Rome. Philippi was situated on this main highway.

After the tour of the Holy Land, I went to Greece and followed the footsteps of Paul. We flew into Athens and immediately boarded another plane to Thessaloniki and stayed at the Olympus Hotel for the time we were in Macedonia. We then boarded a bus for a full day excursion to Amphipolis, Philippi and Kavala (Neapolis). This was where Paul first set foot on European soil.

Philipppi is eastern Macedonia's outstanding archaeological site. Here it was that Brutus had his fatal meeting with Caesar's ghost when he and Cassius were defeated by Mark Anthony & Octavian in 42 B.C.

Philippi during the time of St. Paul was a Roman garrison town and the chief city in the province of Macedonia. It is located 10 miles inland from the port city of Kavala (the biblical city, Neapolis).The biblical account of Paul's initial visit to Philippi is found in Acts 16:11.

Paul and Silas ran into trouble when they exorcised an evil spirit from a slave girt who made her owners a great deal of money through her fortune-telling. They were arrested, severely beaten, and thrown in prison. Acts 16: 16-39

End of Tour

2009-12-05T14:09:00.001-08:00

This was a fascinating journey and I hope you have enjoyed seeing the pictures and reading a little about the places I visited. To see the entire tour, go back to October 2009.

The Sphinx

2009-12-05T13:46:00.000-08:00

The Sphinx, a lion couchant with king's head is cut out of solid rock. The damage you can see on it dates from the Mamhukes, who used it as a target for their shooting practie. Between the paws there is a small alter.

The Sphinx and Pyranids of Giza remain through the ages to lure and mystify virtually all visitors to Egypt.

Go back to the start of this tour of Israel, Jordan and Egypt which started in October 2009.

Pyramids

2009-12-05T13:35:00.001-08:00

The pyramids were not built by slaves, but farmers who during the rainy season could not cultivate their land because the Nile had flooded, so they built the pyramids for their masters.

The pyramids, as history relates, were built as tombs for Egyptian kings, the belief being a man's body had to be preserved and protected so his soul could live forever.

At Giza the great pyramid of the Cheops, was built by Pharaoh Cheops for himself as a tomb about the year 2600 B.C. The material used was mainly Mokattam limestone. 100,000 men took twenty years to set 2.3 million stone blocks, each weighing 2 1/2 tons, one upon the other. Originally the height of the pyramid was 481 1/2 ft.. Stooping, we climbed up through a narrow corridor into the King's Chamber, in which an empty, broken granite sarcophagus stands.

The Chephren Pyramid, built by King Chephren about 2650 B.C. is only some four feet lower than the Great Pyramid. The pyramid of Mycerinus is the smallest of the three pyramids, being barely 200 ft. high. It was built by King Mycerinus about 2600 B.C.

Avenue of the Sphinxes (Rams)

2009-12-05T13:28:00.000-08:00

Tomb of Sadat, Cairo

2009-12-05T13:19:00.000-08:00

The Tomb of the much revered President Sadat, who was assassinated in 1981. It is especially splendid to see at night when, like many of Cairo's antiquities, it is impressively lighted.

Valley of the Kings

2009-12-05T13:01:00.000-08:00

Rameses II, The Great, reigned for 67 years. He lived for 110 years and had 70 wifes.

Across the Nile by ferry from Luxor is the Valley of the Kings where rulers of the 18th, 19th and 20th Dynasties prepared rock-hewn tombs for themselves. As a rule a steep stairway descents into the tomb to a corridor, which leads to an anteroom; here there are usually several other rooms. The granite sarcophagus containing the royal mummy was placed in the very last of these rooms. All wall surfaces and pillars are covered with coloured reliefs and hieroglyphs.

Tomb of Tutankhamon

2009-12-05T08:33:00.000-08:00

All entrances to tombs face north, believing the king will unit with the North Star. Tomb of 'Tut' though the smallest is one of the most famous. The precious finds made here have not been surpassed for vaiety and priceless magnificence.

Tombs do not depict life of King, but depict the 'Book of life.'

Egypt is the last stop on the Holy Land trip. Go back to October for beginning.

Miscellenous pictures

2009-12-05T08:18:00.000-08:00

Loading sugarcane

Making vases out of Alabaster

Men restoring temples

Colossi of Memmon

2009-12-05T08:02:00.000-08:00

Colossi of Memmon are two 52 1/2 ft. high seated statues of Amenophis III. They flanked the entry, in ancient times to a Temple of Amenophis, of which barely the foundations have survived. Each figure has been, sculpted from one great sandstone block, which was brought down from the mountains near Cairo. The face of these Colossi, even in ancient times, stemmed from the peculiar wails which one of the colossi made at sunrise. We now know that these sounds were caused by a change of temperature and atmospheric humidity, in a crack in the figure. Emperor Severus had the figures restored and the 'Song of Memmon' was heard no more.

Queen Hatshepsut

2009-12-05T07:52:00.000-08:00

The mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut (pronounced hat-sheap-suit) is a terrace temple; its layout is unique in Egypt. Partly cut from the solid rock, the temple rises in three terraces, which are connected by central ramps. It was dedicated to the God Amun, but names of Hatchepsut have been chiseled away by her jealous nephew and stepson. Tuthmosis III who seized power after her death and sought to efface any reminders of her. 1500 B.C.

Luxor

2009-12-05T07:38:00.000-08:00

We flew from Cairo to Luxor where we stayed in the Etap Hotel right on the Nile River. Luxor is part of ancient Thebes, the capital city of the ancient Egyptian empire and the most important of all Egyptian cities. Its golden age was during the 18th, 19th and 20th Dynasties and then it was a world city, even by our standards. Here the Pharoahs created buildings truly worthy of kings and on such a gigantic scale that even we, creatures of the 'Age of Technology,' are deeply impressed and marvel at the massive proportions of everything.

Aswan Dam

2009-12-05T07:31:00.000-08:00

Our first stop was to view the Aswan Dam, built over half a century ago (1902), now demoted to the rank of a mere reservoir dam by the new great High Dam, the Sad el Ali some 4 1/2 miles south of the earlier dam, The crown of the dam is over three miles long, 164 ft. thick and towers more than 360 ft. above the river bed. The inland lake crated by the dam is more than 375 miles long penetrating some 155 miles into the territory of the Sudan. Lake Nasser is the largest manmade Lake in the world. The Nile River is damned.

Egypt

2009-12-05T07:11:00.000-08:00

We ended our Holy Land trip in Egypt. The above map was current when we were there- not so today. We walked across Sinai desert into Egypt showing our passports at four check points. Entering Egypt was almost as bad as entering Israel, where we were physically examined. WE were detained 2 hours at the El Arish Border before starting across the desert to Cairo. We crossed the Suez Canal on a Ferry We saw many date palms and miles & miles of sand dunes. Only Bedouins and camels live the the sand dune area. They get water from wells that are 2 meters deep. We had a military escort all the way with a police escort to our hotel.

It was here the Egyptian solders came across Abraham and brought him before Pharoah, who loaded him with gifts and sent him back to his people with an escort. In Sinai too, Moses received the Ten Commandments. The Holy Family had to cross this peninsula in their 'Flight into Egypt' and in these mountains persecuted Christians sought and found refuge in the time of the Romans.

Bedouins Home

2009-12-02T08:26:00.000-08:00

The coloring of Petra's veined sandstone is a marvelous natural wonder. The city is miraculous, a genuine wonder in its combination of a strange natural beauty with remarkable architectural achievements of man. Petra is by no means a dead city. Bedouins still live in the caves carved by the ancients. Their living derived from the traditional herding of sheep and goats and by selling souvenirs and acting as guides to sightseers.

Even tho touring Jordan was most interesting, this trip was mostly to see and focus on the Holy Land. Go back to october 6th to see the beginning.

Petra, Jordan

2009-12-02T08:17:00.000-08:00

We rode donkeys or camels down an incline and through the narrow opening - the only way to enter Petra.

Petra means rock. It is 4050 ft. high and surrounded by sandstone mountains ranging from 180 ft. to 300 ft. high. There is only one entrance 150-160 ft. wide (very narrow). An opening made naturally by the Red Sea (Petra was under the Red Sea 500,000 years ago). An opening squeezed between sheer, soaring rock walls. Found again in 1812, excavations were started in 1902, and opened for visitors in 1925.

Jerash Jordan

2009-12-02T07:50:00.000-08:00

You can see the ruts caused by Chariots

This theatre was in Jerash. The acoustics were so good, you could stand in the middle and speak and hear the vibrations. We all took turns.

We saw many ruins here in Jerash and Amman. I have only shown a few.

Jordan

2009-12-01T10:39:00.000-08:00

Babbock River dividing Gilead Mountains

This herd of camel was the first picture I took on this amazing journey.
Taken in Jerash, Jordan

We actually started our trip in Jordan. We flew into Amman, Jordan via Beirut, Lebanon where we loaded and unloaded passengers. When we arrived in Amman our suitcases were searched thoroughly at customs. There were military everywhere and even our cameras were checked. Certainly no pictures were allowed.

Our next stop was Jerash, Jordan where we saw the Oak Forest where Absolom was hung. The above picture is the Babbock River dividing Gilead Mountains where Jacob wrestled with an Angel and name was changed to Israel (meaning man who stood against God).

Amman ,Jordan

2009-11-30T07:22:00.000-08:00

We toured Amman, capital of Jordan, once a Roman city, known as Philadelphia . We passed thru volcanic area and actually saw a mirage. There is no oil in Jordan. Right in the center of Amman is a huge Roman theatre, forum, and street columns. Looking down on them are the ruins of a once proud Acropolis built over a temple to Hercules -6000 seats, 3 floor high.

Map of Holy Land

2009-11-29T14:15:00.000-08:00

This map is the route of the Holy Land trip that we toured. Pictures and information in this blog are not in that order. Some places we visited are not indicated on the map. For best view of this trip, go back to October 6th.

Masada

2009-11-28T08:19:00.000-08:00

Ramp Romans built to reach Massda

Cliff of Massada

We were able to visit the ruins of Masada, truly a remarkable piece of history. We took a cable car to visit the ruins of this mighty fortress, where from 70-73 A.D. the Jewish defenders made the last stand of the Judean revolt against Rome. It was here that rather than surrender their belief in one God, they chose Suicide.

Megiddo

2009-11-28T08:14:00.000-08:00

To the south of Mount Camel is the Pass of Megiddo which offers evidence of the splendors of the reign of Solomon and his successors. We saw the excavations (tells) of the chariot city of Solomon and Ahab. In the valley below is Armegeddon, the battle field where the powers of evil will challenge the powers of good as the end of time ( Rev. 16: 14-16)

Dome of the Rock

2009-11-27T07:32:00.000-08:00

The Dome of the Rock is one of the most beautiful mosques of the Islamic world. It ranks in sanctity after that of the Kaibab in Mecca and the tomb of the Prophet in Medina. This is the place where Mohammed ascended to Ali. The dome i s made of plates of aluminum impregnated with gold which gleams in the brilliant sunshine. Beautiful inside and out. This site might also be where Abraham took Isaac to offer him there for a burnt offering. There is fighting over this site today. (Genesis 22:2)

Go to October for first of series on Holy Land.

Jacob's Well

2009-11-26T07:21:00.000-08:00

Jacob's Well

North of Jerusalem, past Nob, Gibeah and Ramah; we arrived at Sychar where Joseph is buried and where Jacob dug a well. We had the opportunity of having a drink from this well. A pebble was thrown into the well to show how deep it was. It seemed minutes before it hit bottom.

To view the first of this series on the Holy Land, go back to October 6th.

Abraham's Well

2009-11-25T17:10:00.000-08:00

Water from the Sea of Galilee has created a truly beautiful oasis around Beersheba. There are miles of wilderness and then the cultivated land of wheat and grapes. Abraham planted the first tamarisk tree here and it was here we visited Abraham's Well. Animals moved the wheel to draw the water.

Haifa-Caesarea

2009-11-23T14:34:00.000-08:00

Sunset over Mediteranean

Port of Joppa-Jaffa

At Haifa, we had an outstanding view of the city and harbor, the river Kishon and the Mediterranean. We traveled along the coastal road to Cesarea, the ancient port founded in 22 B.C. by Herod the Great. The ancient ruins recall the preaching of Peter and the suffering of Paul. Peter baptized the centurion, Cornelius and his family here, the first Gentile converts (Acts 10). Paul was imprisoned here for two years before being sent to Rome for trial (Acts 23-26).

Sunset over the Mediterranean Sea was beautiful to behold and I was moved to write this poem:

Mighty Waves

Roar on Sea, send your waves,

Pound the shore in clouds of spray.

Fierce and mighty, never ceasing,

Always rolling, night and day,

Roar on Sea, I hear message,

Roar On.

Roll in Sea, come closer,

Now release mighty breakers,

Lap the shore, then fade away,

Spread and leave your treasures,

Roll in Sea for us to enjoy,

Roll on.

Having spent the night at Hezeliah a suburb of Tel Aviv, we were also able to watch the sunset over the Mediterranean, and view the many summer resorts here.

The Port of Jaffa at Tel Aviv was where Jonah embarked on his ill-fated voyage to Tarhish (Jonah 1:3).

The Apostles recorded that while in the house of Simon the Tanner, Peter had the strange vision touching on the baptism of the centurion, Cornelius. In Yafo, Biblical Joppa (Jaffa) Peter raised Tabitha from the dead (Acts 9:40)

.Having spent the night at Hezeliah, a suburb of Tel Aviv, we were also able to watch the sunrise over the Mediaterranean, and view the many summer resorts there.

It was from Yafo, Biblical Joppa (Jaffa), 70 miles down the coast, that Jonah embarked on his ill-fated voyage to Tarshiah (Johah 1- 3)

This series on the Holy Lnad started October 6th.

Jordan River

2009-11-22T07:30:00.000-08:00

Where the Jordan river flows out of the Sea of Galilee

Our group viewing the Jordan river

The Jordan River is where John baptised many people including Jesus. ( John 1:26-32).

Jericho

2009-11-19T13:20:00.000-08:00

Mount of Temptation

Elisha's Spring

Wall of Jericho -6000 B.C.

Jericho is over 800 feet below sea-level, it is the oldest city in the word and the first town the Israelites took after crossing the Jordan (Joshus 3-6). The town is an oasis in the Judean Desert, drawing water from the spring which the prophet Elisha purified (II Kings 2:21 ). Jesus was very familiar with Jericho and its environs. It was in the River Jordan near Jericho, that he was baptised by John the Baptist (Mark 1:9). On top of a desert mountain overlooking the city, Qarantal, the Mount of Temptation was where he fought for forty days against temptations offered by Satan.

Lazarus Tomb

2009-11-17T06:40:00.000-08:00

This is Lazarus' Tomb

Bethany lies 2 miles east of Jerusalem on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives and on the road to Jericho. The home of Lazarus and his two sisters, Mary and Martha, whom Jesus loved. It seems that the tomb of Lazarus was hewn in the rock within a cave. No wonder Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus come forth' (John 11a;5).

There are 22 steps that lead down to a dark cave which is the traditional home of Lazarus. The original entrance which must have been at ground level, was sealed by the Moslems who built a mosque between the church and the tomb. In the 17th century, the Franciscans obtained permission to make this new entrance which still leads down to the tomb.

Shrine of the Book

2009-11-10T07:08:00.000-08:00

Later after we visited where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, we visited the 'Shrine of the Book', where we saw the Dead Sea Scoll Collection. Shown in the picture also are the symbols of 'Night' or 'Death' and 'Day' or 'Light.'

Dead Sea Scrolls

2009-11-08T08:51:00.000-08:00

At Qumran near the Dead Sea is where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found (the complete book of Isaiah) in the remains of the Essence Monastery and Caves. A goat belonging to a shepherd fell into a crevice in the rock and upon rescuing the goat, the shepherd found a scroll which he sold for $35,000 to a man from Bethlehem who later sold them for $250,000.

Hezekiah's Tunnel/Pool of Siloam

2009-11-05T09:05:00.000-08:00

We were fortunate at the time we were Israel to be able to walk the entire length of the Hezekiah tunnel. In the year 700 B.C. Hezekiah, king of Jerusalem in order to protect the water supply of his city from the invading Asyrians, cut a tunnel in the solid rock. This was to channel the water, of the Gihon Spring, located outside the walled city, into the pool of Siloam which was within the walls of the city. The outlet was closed and hidden from the eyes of the invaders. Jerusalem was saved since the Assyrian army's thirst without water, failed to conquer the city and withdrew.

Hezekiah's Tunnel is 600 yards and roughly in a "S" shape. The workmen began tunneling at each end and accomplished the remarkable engineering feat of meeting in the middle within 4 feet of each other. The workmen recorded their joyous meeting by an inscription which was found in 1880. This inscription written in old Hebrew, tells how working from opposite ends, the two groups managed to meet.

The Pool of Siloam was probably constructed by King Hezekiah as a reservoir at the southern end of the tunnel to receive the water of the Gihon Spring. This is the pool that Jesus sent the blind man to wash the clay from his eyes (John 9).

Dead Sea

2009-11-02T08:37:00.000-08:00

The Dead Sea is 35 Mile long, 10 mile wide, 1400 ft. below sea level. Nothing can live in the Dead Sea, but through irrigation, the surrounding area has been cultivated.

Sea of Galilee/Capernaum

2009-10-28T08:10:00.000-07:00

Fishing Boat at Tiberius

Sea of Galilee

We went on a cruise on the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, where we had lunch at a Kibbutz. Enjoyed the tasty fish, "Peter's fish," from the Sea of Galilee. It was easy to visualize Jesus walking around the waters edge teaching and healing. Here is where Simon, Andrew, James and John received their calling. The very center of Christ's Ministry ( Matt. 4: 18-25).

It was at Capernaum that Jesus healed the servant of the Centurion (Luke 7:2-10). We saw the ruins of St. Peter's house and the Mount of the Beatitudes in the distance.

Go back to October 6th for start of the Israel series.

Nazareth

2009-10-26T14:29:00.000-07:00

Waterway

St, Joseph's Church

Nestling in a circle of cypress-studded hills, Nazareth was Jesus' home throughout his youth. It was there that he lived, with Mary and Joseph, until he began his ministry. We visited the traditional sites of Joseph's workshop in the Church of St. Joseph; Mary's well, whence she drew water and the Basilica of the Annunciation where the Angel Gabriel is said to have pronounced the wondrous words: " And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus" (Luke 1:31).

Go back to October 6th when the series on Israel started.

Mount Tabor

2009-10-24T08:43:00.000-07:00

From early Christian times, Mount Tabor has been deemed the site of the Transfiguration. On this Mount, disciples were allowed to see their master in His Splendor (Matthew 17: 1-3)

This is a series on Israel - to view the start go back to Oct. 6th

Garden Tomb

2009-10-24T08:30:00.000-07:00

Near the Damascus Gate of the walled Old City is the Garden Tomb, which some say is the site of Golgotha. Also is a picture of the tract where the stone was rolled away.

This series of the 'Holy Land' started with Israel on October 6th.

Bethlehem

2009-10-21T07:08:00.000-07:00

Brick Walk

Bethlehem (House of Bread) in Hebrew and (House of Meat) in Arabic lies five miles south of Jerusalem on a hill about 2600 feet above sea level. A market town of the tribe of Judah, home of Boaz and Ruth, birthplace of King David and Jesus. There are a number of old houses built over caves in the limestone. These caves are old and similar to the cave of the Nativity. Probably Jesus was born in one of these old caves rather than a stable of western tradition. Over the traditional grotto of Jesus' birth stands the Church of the Nativity. It is here that the Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve assumes unique significance for all Christians. Outside the hilllside town is the Shepherds' Field (Luke 2:8-12).

Grotto of the Lord's Prayer

2009-10-19T06:38:00.000-07:00

The Church of the Pater Noster is built on the traditional site where Jesus taught his disciples the Lord's Prayer. Constantine built a church to commemorate the words of Jesus concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and His last coming. Constantine's church was destroyed in 614 by the Persians and rebuilt in the 12th century by the Crusaders. After the defeat of the Crusaders, the church was destroyed and the site was occupied by Muslims. In 1868, Princess Arelia de Bossi de la Tour d' Auvergne bought the site and donated it to France. I 1875 she built a convent for the order of Carmelite Nuns. Inside the church and on the walls of the cloister, the Lord's Prayer is written in 62 languages.

See the first of the Israel series starting with Oct. 6,2009

Mt. of Olives - Garden of Gethsemane

2009-10-18T11:54:00.000-07:00

Olive Leaf

The Mount of Olives offers the best view of the city. It is closely connected with the last years of Jesus' life. On the slope of the mountain is the Garden of Gethsemane. It appears today as it did centuries ago. It was a spot favored by Jesus (Luke 22:39).

This is the garden where Jesus on His last night underwent the most sorrowful hour of His passion, taking upon Himself the sins of all mankind. It was here that Jesus prayed those heart rending words: "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." (Matt. 28:39)

Sixteen nations contributed to the construction of the "Church of all Nations," built on this site. Part of the traditional rock of agony lies in front of the main altar. You are encouraged to knell, touch the rock and say a prayer. It was here where I knelt and felt His presence and His agony over my sins and your sins and I knew for certain that He truly lives and bears our burdens, and I wept and that night I wrote this poem.

In the Garden

Come kneel in the garden,

Where Jesus knelt to pray,

"Our Father, Not my will, but Thine,"

Yet He knew the price to be paid.

Come kneel in the Garden,

Where Jesus wept for you and for me,

How deeply our Lord suffered,

And still the cross at Calvary.

Come kneel in the garden,

Jesus still hears and cares,

Where you can leave your worries,

Our Lord our burdens bears.

See October 6th forthe start of this series on the Holy Land.

Via Dolorosa

2009-10-18T11:33:00.000-07:00

The Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrows) is considered by Christians to be the holiest road in the world, for along its uneven path Jesus was led from the place of His condemnation to that of His crucifixion and death.

"So they took Jesus, and He went out, bearing His own cross." (John 19:17)

The Via Dolosora is the traditional pathway Jesus followed, carrying the cross, from Pontius

Pilat's judgment hall where He was condemned to death, to Calvary where He was crucified.

The fourteen stations are related in the Gospel and five are in tradition. The first two are located in the streets and the last five are located within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

1. Jesus is condemned to death.

2. Jesus received the cross

3 Jesus falls under the cross for the first time.

4. Jesus meets His mother Mary.

5. The cross is taken over by Simon of Cyrene.

6. Veronica wipes the sweat from Jesus' face.

7. Jesus falls for the second time.

8. Jesus consoles the women of Jerusale

9. Jesus falls for the third time.

10. Jesus is stripped of His garments.

11. Jesus is nailed to the cross.

12. Jesus dies on the cross.

13. Jesus' body is taken off the cross.

14. Jesus' body is laid into the Sepulchre.

Walls of the Old City

2009-10-17T13:39:00.000-07:00

Home inside city wall.

The Golden Gate

It has been several years since I was in Israel and there has been a lot of fighting between the Jews and the Palestinians, I've not sure the following is still true. But when I was there, the walls were very impressive, 2 1/2 miles in circumference and average 40 feet in height, with 34 towers and 8 gates.The New Gate, Damascus Gate and the Hero's Gate was in the northern wall; St Stephen's Gate and the Golden Gate (closed by the Turks in 1530) in the eastern wall; the Dung Gate and the Zion Gate in the southern wall and the Jaffa Gate in the western wall.

The site of the Damascus Gate is believed by many to be the place of the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It was through the Golden Gate that Jesus entered the city after His triumphal journey from Bethany.

The Western Wall or Wailing Wall is the sole remnant of the outer court of the magnificent Second Temple built by Herod. It is the holiest Shrine of the Byzantine period, where they were allowed to come once a year on the anniversary of the destruction of the Temple so they could lament the dispersion of their people and weep over the ruins of the Temple. This is why this section of the wall became known as the Wailing Wall. After the Six-Day War, the Wailing Wall became a place of rejoicing as well as a place of worship, and the custom of praying at the wall continued for centuries.

When I was there, the guards were protecting the Wailing Wall and we were not allowed to go up to it, but we could watch the people saying their prayers and putting written prayers in the crevices of the wall.

JERUSALEM

2009-10-17T13:14:00.000-07:00

Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and the capital of King David, the psalmist. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is the holiest sanctuary in Christendom, erected upon the traditional site of the Crucifixion, Buriel and Resurrection of Jesus. It cntains the last five Stations of the Cross on the Via Dolorosa, the way taken by Jesus from the place where he was condemned to Golgotha, Calvary.

Holy Land - Israel

2009-10-06T09:15:00.000-07:00

Most everyone desires to go to the Holy Land sometime during their Christian Pilgrimage. I would like to share with you my visit to Israel, Jordan and Egypt.

Visiting Israel, retracing the footsteps of Jesus, is more then just a journey, it is a pilgrimage to the very source of faith. "Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth..." Psalms 48:2

Wherever you set foot, you are stepping on ground with Biblical associations, on the side of some great event that helped to shape history - a land held sacred to Jew, Christian, and Muslim.

It is the land of the Patriarchs, buried in Hebron; of Moses, who on Mt. Sinai received the Ten Commandments - the basis of a universal moral code; of Elijah who confounded the idolators on Mt. Carmel, and of Isaiah and Jeremiah, and the other Prophets who spoke the word of God after him. It is the land of the Kings of Israel - David, who made Jerusalem his capital, Solomon his son, who built the first Temple there.

Itis the land of Jesus...Bethlehem, where he was born, Nazareth, Cana , Mount Tabor, the River Jordan, the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, the Mount of the Beatitudes, and finally the culmination of it all, the core of the Holy Land - the eternal city of Jerusalem encompassing the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Garden Tomb, the Via Dolorosa, the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives and the room of the Last Supper on Mount Zion.

And on Mount Moriah, the Temple Mount, stand two of Islam's most holy shrines - the Dome of the Rock and the Mosque of El Aqsa...and Judaism's holiest shrine of all - the Western Wall, all that remains of the Temple.

And the Dead Sea Scrolls, a Hebrew manuscript record discovered after 2000 years in the caves of Qumeran.

Holding Hands

2009-08-22T06:44:00.000-07:00

One day in 1932, pianist, singer, and songwriter Thomas A. Dorsey discovered his need for God’s comfort. He left his pregnant wife, Nettie at home while he drove to sing at a revival meeting. At the end of Dorsey’s performance, he received a telegram with the tragic news that Nettie had died in childbirth. Within hours, the baby boy also died. Filled with grief, Dorsey sought answers. A few nights after his wife’s death, Dorsey sat down at the piano and began to play. Finally sensing God’s peace and closeness, he began to sing some new words and play a new song:

Precious Lord, take my hand

Lead me on, let me stand;

I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;

Through the storm, through the night,

Lead me on to the light;

Take my hand, precious Lord,

Lead me hone.

When we put our hand in the hand of the Master, you’ll feel his arms around you. It is God who works in us, giving us the desire to obey Him and the power to do His will. Phil.2:13

Most roller coasters, no matter how high or how fast you go, you are kept snugly in place by a safety bar and a harness. So, also, we can be secure when God wraps His arms around us.

When we put ourselves in God’s hands we relinquish the burden of being responsible for those things beyond our control. God accepts the responsibility for our lives. So, by faith, we have the assurance that God has plans for us better than anything we can either desire or deserve.

Written by Dag Hammersjkold in his book ‘Markings.’ "He who places his hand in God’s Hand walks free.”

Put your hand in God’s and walk free,

For many this is hard to see.

Pray often to our God, and let us talk,

And know He does beside us walk.

Better still, a time of quiet,

To listen and be guided by it.

Wilhelmine