ISRAEL

Isaih 54:
17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their due reward from Me, saith the LORD.

The Norwegian Labour Party was an active co-player when the State of Israel,
Eretz Israel, finally was declared independent May 14th 1948.
Trygve Lie, the first secretary general in the UN was an active helper in getting the state Israel approved by the UN.

We used to be proud about that. After all, Norway as a Protestant state had no good record in dealing with the "People of Royal Blood,"which is Terry's term for Jews. It was actually until the law of 1848 that Jews and Jesuits were allowed in the Kingdom of Norway. That's probably why there were so few for the Nazis to send to the concentration camps, for the final solution, as Holocaust was called.

He who doesn't remember history, is bound to re-live it.
These days England's Tony Blair is conspiring with our own foreign minister, the very charming Gard Store, how to take Israeli land away from the Jews.
History hasn't changed, but the world needs oil and money. Israel has neither, but her enemies have.

Isaiah 28:16 New American Standard Bible (© 1995)
Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.

Let's make no mistake neither be misled in the days to come.
To quote Steve E; God is still in charge.
The Arch of Titus in Capitol, Rome, with the Menorah to the right. Erected to celebrate the destruction of the State of Israel.
The beginning to the end of the Roman Empire.

Palm Sunday

Today is Palm Sunday in Norway, and the first day of the Silent Week.
In most towns the stores are closed, only gas stations and some restaurants are open. The churches have services today, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and First and Second Easter Day.
Do all Norwegians go to church? No, they don't. They use this Silent Week to travel up in the mountains, skiing or they shine up their boats for the summer season.
Ever since I was a girl there have been Easter camps, with skiing and services combined. The churches divide different ski resorts beween them, and take the gospel out where the people are.

This is a part of our bedrock culture, it's who and what we are.
Or it used to be. The times they are a-changing in old Norway too.
The changes in educating systems are slowly turning us into a secularized nation. It hasn't happened over the night. If so, I guess some of us would have stood up and protested.
Little by little, year by year our country is being uprooted with no new fertile soil left.
We are defined as consumers, soldiers, - or "burdens to society" the day we spend less than we receive.

Still the Silent Week exists. The law says no noisy outdoor work is allowed. The machines are parked along the road shoulders or in barns.
Lawn mowers and nail guns rest, we can hear the birds singing all day without lorries scaring them to silence.
Welcome, silence.

Jesus was a Jew. He celebrated Passover with the disciples. The scripture says he died for Jews first and then for Greeks. He wasn't killed by Jews. He was tortured and killed by Romans, Italians.
Neither did Jesus die for the white Europe. He carried the sins of all the world with him on the cross, that we all may have eternal life.



P. S. In wikipedia I see it is called the the holy week . Silent is because they didn't even chime with the church bells.
I like that silence. We have so many words, and so little time for contemplation.

RUBY EPIPHANY

January 6th is the feast of The holy Three Kings or The Three Wise Men, Twelfth Night. I love the story about the faith and incredible stubbornness of these mighty men; who, led by a star, were wandering from the ends of the earth, to search and worship a poor Jewish baby boy,our Jesus, born in a stable.

The figurines in my Nativity Scene are from left a German wooden Weihnachts Mann, an oriental souvenir, bought on a flee market, made of fabric and leather, and the newest addition, a china figurine from Villeroy & Boch with a place for incense in the middle.Like the Weihnachts Mann, he is a gift from my German friend Christa. We met in 1970 and have been exchanging Christmas gifts since then.
May faith and friends be our leading stars in this new year.

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today

WALKING ON PROMISES # 25

ISAIAH 45:
2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the doors of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron; 3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I am the LORD, who call thee by thy name, even the God of Israel. 4 For the sake of Jacob My servant, and Israel Mine elect, I have called thee by thy name, I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known Me. 5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, beside Me there is no God; I have girded thee, though thou hast not known Me;

Sometimes I wonder; have I used these wonderful verses before.
If so, they were once more new to me today.
They were given me as food for my soul and a light or my path, just this very day. I hope that I by sharing also can pass on food to somebody else. " That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside Me; I am the LORD; and there is none else."

Walking on promises # 5

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Walking on promises # 4

Job 37:
14 Hearken unto this, O Job; stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

Walking on promises # 2

1 Peter 5:⁷
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Walking on promises #1

^{2 Chor. 9:
8}And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Ruby dripping Laestrogians # 10

The Laestrygonians (or Laestrygones, Laistrygones, Laistrygonians, Lestrygonians; Greek: Λαιστρυγόνες) are a tribe of giant cannibals from ancient Greek mythology. Odysseus, the main character of Homer's Odyssey, visited them during his journey back home to Ithaca. The giants ate many of Odysseus' men and destroyed eleven of his twelve ships by launching rocks from high cliffs. Odysseus' ship was not destroyed as it was hidden in a cove near shore. Everyone on Odysseus' ship survived.

This chapter is about the wandering Leopold Bloom trying to get himself some descent lunch at the hour from 12 to 1.
All the time he is philosophizing about Irish politics, various Christian Churches and Judaism.
Bloom is painfully obsering how lust for power is corrupting the good intentions both in politics and religion..
"In aid of funds for Mercer's hospital. The Messiah was first given for that. Yes Handel. "(James Joyce) Here: Gunnar ans Serina in the St. Mary
Church.


Bloom is analyzing the life in various social layers from the outcast whores and beggars, and their contradiction; the noble upper-class.
He chuckles at the memory about the time he sneaked in to a royal dinner at Dublin Castle and mingled with vice king and his court.
My mom is also a bit bewildered about her seven course Chinese dinner...


He's jealous of a man, Boyle, who he suspects his wife might have had a one night affair with.
This does not prevent him from keeping fantasizing about the woman Marta, who he just might like to have a more intimate relationship with ...
A man of contradictions and knife sharp observations.

He's using money to feed the seagulls, but cannot seem to find an appropriate place to have his own lunch.
Lamb at sundown, in two months; lamb chops."No fear. No brains. "(James Joyce)
He is disgusted by the over eaters as well as the poor, literally eating from the street.
Bloom would have hated this. Potato cake, shrimp salad, sausage, bacon and smoked ham.From hiker ladies last day out.
Finally he ends up in a vegetarian restaurant, very pleased and relieved.
A posh place and very up to 2010 standards. I don't think we even have a restaurant like this neither in our town nor on the island.
Fish eaters after sundown July thrid.
All the time his reflects on various sides of the theme advertising.
Some of his ideas are simply brilliant. The Leopold Bloom of 2010 would own his own firm and probably run a multi million pound business.
"Wouldn't have it of course because he didn't think of it himself first. " (James Joyce)
It has never been profitable to be ahead of ones time (read:equals).


"Heart to heart talks.

Bloo... Me? No.

Blood of the Lamb.

His slow feet walked him riverward, reading. Are you saved? All are washed in the blood of the lamb. God wants blood victim. Birth, hymen, martyr, war, foundation of a building, sacrifice, kidney burntoffering, druid's altars. Elijah is coming. Dr John Alexander Dowie, restorer of the church in Zion, is coming.

Is coming! Is coming!! Is coming!!!
All heartily welcome. "(James Joyce)
A druid grave from with triangles of standing stones. The old St. Olavs Church and a third standing stone across the strait.Midnight shot July forth.

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today

RUBY EASTER YARD

Our kitchen table is laid for Easter.
Serina will be home early next week, and I like to keep the house ready for homecoming queen.
I have gathered hens, cocks and chickens for decades. Many are antique, other are home made.
Darling daughter has carved out the tiny wood cock, and signed her name on its tale.
There are different explanations as to why poultry seems to have such great influence in Scandinavian Easter celebration. Again the link between spring and new life. The hen and the eggs are ancient fertility symbols. Where as the rooster points at Peter's fall in Gethsemane. Mathew 26: " ³⁴Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice."

Once more pagan and Christian culture live side by side. Yet we celebrate Easter or paske as we say, at the same time of the year when the Jews are celebrating their Pésach.
First Sunday after first full moon after the veronal equinox. And we like to eat our Easter lamb.

Originated by MaryT, check hers for today

EVERY GRAIN OF SAND

This song written by Bob Dylan keeps coming back in my life "like the motion of the sea".
It brings comfort, understanding and peace.

Every Grain Of Sand

In the time of my confession, in the hour of my deepest need
When the pool of tears beneath my feet flood every newborn seed
There's a dyin' voice within me reaching out somewhere,
Toiling in the danger and in the morals of despair.

Don't have the inclination to look back on any mistake,
Like Cain, I now behold this chain of events that I must break.
In the fury of the moment I can see the Master's hand
In every leaf that trembles, in every grain of sand.

Oh, the flowers of indulgence and the weeds of yesteryear,
Like criminals, they have choked the breath of conscience and good cheer.
The sun beat down upon the steps of time to light the way
To ease the pain of idleness and the memory of decay.

I gaze into the doorway of temptation's angry flame
And every time I pass that way I always hear my name.
Then onward in my journey I come to understand
That every hair is numbered like every grain of sand.

I have gone from rags to riches in the sorrow of the night
In the violence of a summer's dream, in the chill of a wintry light,
In the bitter dance of loneliness fading into space,
In the broken mirror of innocence on each forgotten face.

I hear the ancient footsteps like the motion of the sea
Sometimes I turn, there's someone there, other times it's only me.
I am hanging in the balance of the reality of man
Like every sparrow falling, like every grain of sand.

Copyright ©1981 Special Rider Music