I believe in a world where all people can live in happiness,
and that I too have a duty to create such a world.
I believe that for every human being there may be love, justice, pardon and peace.
I believe that joy will overcome sadness,
that love is stronger than hatred,
that not death has the final word, but life;
all this I belief by Jesus of Nazareth.
He has shown that such a world, such a life is possible
and that it is worth while dedicating ourselves to such a world.
I want to orientate myself towards Him. I want to live in his spirit,
because I believe that I can work for the salvation of others
and that this way happiness for others and myself is most successful.
Jerusalem 2012
Ik geloof in een wereld waarin het voor alle mensen goed is om te leven,
en dat het mede mijn taak is zo'n wereld te scheppen.
Ik geloof dat er voor iedere mens liefde, gerechtigheid,vergeving en vrede kan zijn.
Ik geloof dat de vreugde het zal winnen van het leed,
dat liefde sterker is dan haat,
dat niet de dood het laatste woord heeft, maar het leven;
dit alles geloof ik door Jezus van Nazareth.
Hij heeft laten zien dat zo'n wereld, zo'n leven mogelijk is
en dat het de moeite waard is zich voor zo'n wereld in te zetten.
Ik wil mijn leven op Hem oriënteren.
Ik wil leven in zijn geest, omdat ik geloof
dat ik zo anderen tot heil ben
en dat daarmee het geluk van anderen en van mijzelf
het meest gebaat is.
20But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.
21So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man.
22Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.
23But
there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first
of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he
comes back.
Er hat uns allen wohlgetan, He has done good to all of us come
Den Blinden gab er das Gesicht, To the blind he gave sight
Die Lahmen macht er gehend, The lame he made able to walk
Er sagt uns seines Vaters Wort, He told to us his father's word
Er trieb die Teufel fort, He drove out the devils,
Betrübte hat er aufgericht', He raised up those who are distressed,
Er nahm die Sünder auf und an. He received and accepted sinners
Sonst hat mein Jesus nichts getan. Nothing else has my Jesus done.
In this holy week we commemorate the Passion of Christ.
Today's Halloween customs are thought to have been influenced by folk customs and beliefs from the Celtic-speaking countries, some of which are believed to have pagan roots. Jack Santino, a folklorist, writes that "there was throughout Ireland
an uneasy truce existing between customs and beliefs associated with
Christianity and those associated with religions that were Irish before
Christianity arrived"
It is celebrated on October 31st to commemorate those who died recently or longer ago.
Each dog has its own pumpkin with its image cut out
With
thanks to Denise Nesbitt, who created ABC, and Roger, who took over
from her. For more interesting ABC posts click on the logo in the
sidebar. This week we are looking for words beginning with P.
This is supposed to be the place where Lydia was baptized
Paul in Philippi Philippi
apparently had only a small number of Jewish inhabitants and no
synagogue. Consequently Shabbat worship was held outside the city on the
Gangitis River. Here Paul met a group of women to whom he preached
the gospel. Lydia, a merchant trading purple cloth, believed
Paul's message and was baptized with members of her household.
Subsequently Paul went and lived at her home.
Philippi is a mixure of many cultures : The Greek and the Roman culturesare the most important
Founded
in the 4th c. B.C. and renamed after King Philip of Macedon, Philippi
was an important outpost on the Egnation Way.
Excavations
Archaeological
work has revealed a large and well-preserved forum, a theater, the
alleged jail of Paul and several Byzantine churches, including one of
the earliest churches known in Greece. The number of churches in
the city in the Byzantine period indicate Philippi's importance to Christians at this time. A series of earthquakes apparently
destroyed many of the buildings and probably contributed to the city's
decline.
Egnatian Way
The
Via Egnatia was built beginning in 145 BC and at its greatest extent
connected Byzantium with the Adriatic ports. This route was Rome's
primary artery to the east and Philippi was an important outpost along
the road. The Egnatian Way made it easier for Rome to move troops
throughout the empire and it was the route that Paul traveled on from
Neapolis to Philippi, Amphipolis, Apollonia and Thessalonica.
Philippian Jail
This
traditional place of Paul and Silas's imprisonment is of dubious
authenticity, but it remembers the attack on these men and their
subsequent flogging and imprisonment. In the course of the night, a violent earthquake shook the prison and the jailer feared that all
might have escaped. After learning that none had fled, the
Philippian jailer put his faith in Christ and was baptized with his family.
Latrines
Public
bathrooms were not uncommon in ancient Roman cities, but this one is a
good illustration for Paul's reference to scubalon, or human
waste.
Roman latrines
Related Websites
Philippi (Hellenic Ministry of Culture) Highlights the site's
history, excavations,
and important monuments. Hosted by the government
of Greece.
Mission in Philippi (The Unbound Bible) Briefly recounts the history
of Philippi
and the biblical events that happened there in Acts 16.
Philippi (Christian Travel Study Programs) Summarizes the city's
history,
biblical significance, and excavations.
I 've just listened to the St.Matthew Passion by Bach. A ritual I observe every year. This year the Passion was sung in Dutch, which is strange for I always heard it in German, but the translation was reasonably good.
Jesus Christ Is Risen Today
By: Latin carol, 14th cent.
Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!
Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
Unto Christ, our heavenly king, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!
But the pains which he endured, Alleluia!
Our salvation have procured; Alleluia!
Now above the sky he’s king, Alleluia!
Where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!
Sing we to our God above, Alleluia!
Praise eternal as his love; Alleluia!
Praise him, all you heavenly host, Alleluia!
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia!
Notes;
Hymn # 127 from Lutheran Worship
Author: Lyra Davidica
Tune: Easter Hymn
1st Published in: 1708
Jesus on the cross spoke the first verse and when he died he praised God. Amazing! The song on the video deals with the first two verses and the melody sounds very sad and appeals to me now when I think of Jesus on the cross. It's sung in Dutch.
In our Dutch churches we observe Maundy Thursday by having Holy Communion together and a short church service.
Maundy Thursday - also called Holy Thursday, is the beginning of the three day celebration of Easter - the most important time in the year for Christians. This period ('The Triduum')
is one big celebration, remembering the last supper, the crucifixion
and the death of Jesus, and the Resurrection to new life.
Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles. The Last Supper
The Last Supper was probably a Passover meal – the meal
which Jewish people share together to celebrate the time when God
delivered Moses and the people from slavery in Egypt.
The night of Maundy Thursday is the night on which Jesus was betrayed by Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane. When is Maundy Thursday?
Maundy Thursday is the day before Good Friday. It is one of the lesser known days of the Christian calendar.
Saint Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin. Nicodemus, according to the Gospel of John, showed favour to Jesus. He appears three times in John. Nicodemus visits Jesus one night to discuss his teachings with him.(John 3:1–21); The second time Nicodemus is mentioned, is when he states the law concerning the arrest of Jesus during the Feast of Unleavened Bread (John 7:45–51). The last time Nicodemus appears in the Bible is Crucifixion, when he assists Joseph of Arimathea in preparing the corpse of Jesus for burial.(John 19:39–42)
And
there came also Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, and
brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds in weight.
40 Then took they the body of Jesus and wound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the manner of the Jews for burial.
Jesus and Nicodemus (John 3:1-21)
1
Now there came a man of the Pharisees whose name was Nicodemus, a
member of the council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said to him,
“Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one
could do the miraculous signs that you do unless God were with him.”
3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when
he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb and be born a second time,
can he?”
5 Jesus answered, “I tell you the solemn truth,
unless a person is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom
of God. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the
Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be
born from above.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it wishes, and you hear the
sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going.
So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
With
thanks to Denise Nesbitt, who created ABC, and Roger, who took over
from her. For more interesting ABC posts click on the logo in the
sidebar. This week we are looking for words beginning with N
This Sunday and Monday we celebrate Whit Sunday and Whit Monday( or Whitsuntide)
It's the birth of the Christian Church for anybody who believes in Jesus Christ.
THE ORIGINS OF THE FESTIVAL
Pentecost or Whitsun is observed on the seventh Sunday after Easter.
The word Pentecost has its roots in the Greek "pentekoste" meaning the
fiftieth day after Easter. Whit Sunday commemorates the coming of the
Holy Spirit in the form of flames to the Apostles, as recorded in the
New Testament. The recent adoption of a Late Spring Bank Holiday on the
last Monday in May is an attempt to deal with the fact that Whitsuntide
is a moveable feast dependent on the date of Easter. Although it is no
longer necessarily at the church's Whitsuntide, the general public still
refers to this holiday as "Whit Monday."
With thanks to Denise Nesbitt, who created ABC, and thanks to Roger. For more interesting ABC posts click on the logo in the sidebar. This week we are looking for words beginning with M.
Wikipedia says: "The menorah (Hebrew: מְנוֹרָה [mənoːˈɾaː]) is described in the Bible as the seven-branched ancient lampstand made of gold and used in the portable sanctuary set up by Moses in the wilderness and later in the Temple in Jerusalem. Fresh olive oil of the purest quality was burned daily to light its lamps. The menorah has been a symbol of Judaism since ancient times and is the emblem on the coat of arms of the modern state of Israel".
Photo 1 is from Wikipedia,and the last photo shows the Chanukah Menorah with eight arms + one..
This photo is taken by an unknown photographer
Photo taken in the Jewish Museum in Jerusalem When I was in the Jewish Museum in Jerusalem with Dina, we saw this beautiful menorah. It was good to be in the company of such a great guide like Dina. She told me a lot of Jewish traditions and holy days.This menorah is used for Chanukah.
It's almost Easter, so in our church we are preparing ourselves for this great Holy Feast by meditating about the time before Jesus' suffering and death on the cross. He himself tried to tell his disciples about his imminent death before Pascha. They didn't understand. His suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane was so lonely and utterly desolate. He repeatedly asked God why he had to die.In the gospels we see that God answers him. In this song, however, we only see his despair. On Good Friday we commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus and his death. On Easter Sunday we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.
GETHSEMANE (I ONLY WANT TO SAY) by
JESUS
I only want to say,
If there is a way,
Take this cup away from me
For I don't want to taste its poison.
Feel it burn me,
I have changed.
I'm not as sure, as when we started.
Then, I was inspired.
Now, I'm sad and tired.
Listen, surely I've exceeded expectations,
Tried for three years, seems like thirty.
Could you ask as much from any other man?
But if I die,
See the saga through and do the things you ask of me,
Let them hate me, hit me, hurt me, nail me to their tree.
I'd want to know, I'd want to know, My God,
I'd want to know, I'd want to know, My God,
Want to see, I'd want to see, My God,
Want to see, I'd want to see, My God,
Why I should die.
Would I be more noticed than I ever was before?
Would the things I've said and done matter any more?
I'd have to know, I'd have to know, my Lord,
Have to know, I'd have to know, my Lord,
Have to see, I'd have to see, my Lord,
Have to see, I'd have to see, my Lord,
If I die what will be my reward?
If I die what will be my reward?
Have to know, I'd have to know, my Lord,
I'd have to know, I'd have to know, my Lord,
Why should I die? Oh why should I die?
Can you show me now that I would not be killed in vain?
Show me just a little of your omnipresent brain.
Show me there's a reason for your wanting me to die.
You're far to keen and where and how, but not so hot on why.
Alright, I'll die!
Just watch me die!
See how I die!
Then I was inspired.
Now, I'm sad and tired.
After all, I've tried for three years, seems like ninety.
Why then am I scared to finish what I started,
What you started - I didn't start it.
God, thy will is hard,
But you hold every card.
I will drink your cup of poison.
Nail me to your cross and break me,
Bleed me, beat me,
Kill me.
Take me, now!
Before I change my mind.
Welcome to Our World Tuesday! This meme
continues in memory of the work of Klaus Peter, whose "that's My World"
brought people together from around the world every Monday to share the
wonders therein--big and small.Please click on our new logo for "Our
World Tuesday" in the sidebar.
We thank Denise Nesbitt, who created ABC, and we must thank
Roger too for the weekly job to find ten bloggers for each of the ABC
Team members to visit
and to read their posts. For more interesting ABC posts click on the
logo
in the sidebar . This week we are looking for words beginning with J.
Elijah is a prophet to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, during the reign of Ahab and his Sidonian wife Jezebel (1 Kings 16 :29-34).At that time Israel was divided in two kingdoms, which happened after king Solomon died.
Wikipedia says:
ELIJAH'S CHAIR:
"At every circumcision Elijah, "the angel of the covenant," as he is called in Malachi (iii. 1), is supposed to be seated at the right hand of the sandek, upon a chair richly carved and ornamented with embroideries . Even in the salutation to the child to be circumcised is read the invitation to Elijah .
When, under the influence of Jezebel, circumcision in the northern kingdom was about to be abolished, Elijah is said to have retired to a cave. There he prayed to God (I Kings xix. 10), and complained that Israel had forsaken the covenant of the Lord; whereupon God ordained that no circumcision should take place except in the presence of Elijah."
Therefore there is a chair for Elijah in every synagogue. The one you see here is found in the Jerusalem Great Synagogue.
A lot of thanks to Denise Nesbitt, who created ABC, and Roger, the new captain of the team.Click on the logo in the sidebar if you want to see the other posts. This week we are looking for words beginning with E.
Gracia Mendes Nasi ( 1510–1569) was one of the wealthiest Jewish women of Renaissance Europe.
Dona Gracia was born in Lisbon, Portugal. The family was from Aragon Spain and was forcibly converted Jews . While still Jewish, they had fled to Portugal when the Catholic Monarchs, Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon, expelled the Jews in 1492. Five years later, in 1497, they were forcibly converted to Catholicism along with all the other Jews in Portugal at that time.
In 1528, Dona Gracia married the very rich black pepper trader Francisco Mendes who belonged to a very prominant Jewish family . Francisco Mendes directed, along with his brother Diogo, a powerful trading company and bank of world repute with agents across Europe and around the Mediterranean. The House of Mendes/Benveniste became particularly important spice traders. They also traded in silver - the silver was needed to pay the Asians for those spices.
When her husband died Dona Gracia took over the trading company and bank. She developed a net work to help Jews who were forcibly converted to Christianity , escape the inquisition. She lived in various countries in Europe, but finally came to Tiberias, where she bought a piece of land. She wanted to attract Jewish families to populate this area, and so found the state of Israel. But this was not to be. The male dominated world didn't trust a woman to be clever and skillful enough to do this.
In this hotel in Tiberias we could see how rich Dona Gracia was and how people at the time were dressed.
With
thanks to Denise Nesbitt, who created ABC and to Roger the new Captain of our team.For more interesting ABC
posts click on the logo in the sidebar . This week we are looking for
words beginning with D.
The letter X is not easy at all, but lo and behold there is a name in the bible beginning with X! Xerxes! Because of him Israel celebrates Purim every year. King Xerxes held a 180-day feast in Susa (Shoushan). While in "high spirits" from the wine, he ordered his queen, Vashti, to appear before him and his guests to display her beauty. But she refused to come. Furious at her refusal to obey, the king asked his wise men what should be done. One of them said that all the women in the empire would hear that "The King Xerxes commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not." Then the women of the empire would despise their husbands. And this would cause many problems in the kingdom. Therefore it would be good to depose her.
To find a new queen suitable to King Xerxes, it was decreed that beautiful young virgins be gathered to the palace from every province of his kingdom. For his wife and queen, KingXerxes chose the Jewish girl Esther, an orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai, to replace the recalcitrant Queen Vashti. Esther was originally named Hadassah, meaning myrtle.
Haman and King Xerxes at Esther's party.
When I went to Israel in March the Purim festivities were going on. Purim is based on the story of Esther king Xerxes or Ahasueros, Haman and Mordecai. It is the happiest festivity of the year. Esther saved her people from the slaughter Haman had planned. King Xerxes was furious and punished Haman and his sons. You can read the whole story in the bible in the book of Esther. Purim was also celebrated in my country in Jewish communities. There were photos of children in my newspaper ,who were disguised in all kind of fancydresses.
Chagai is ten years old. The mask is part of a wizzard outfit.
Esther is 4 years old. Isn't she a lovely bride?
Sweet Binjomin is a lovely fireman of six.
I thank Denise Nesbitt, who created ABC.We started round 10 of the fascinating meme of ABC. For more interesting ABC posts click on the logo in the sidebar . This week we are looking for words beginning with X.
Next week I will be in Australia. I don't know if I can answer your comments, but I do have
scheduled all my ABC posts. I hope to be back on the 24th July. Have a nice month!
This Sunday and Monday we celebrate Whit Sunday and Whit Monday( or Whitsuntide)
It's the birth of the Christian Church for anybody who believes in Jesus Christ.
Whit weekend is usually the first holiday weekend of the year with any hope of decent weather, and a fine Whit Monday, which is now called " Late Spring Bank Holiday!" in England,will see families flocking to the coast or countryside.
THE ORIGINS OF THE FESTIVAL
Pentecost or Whitsun is observed on the seventh Sunday after Easter. The word Pentecost has its roots in the Greek "pentekoste" meaning the fiftieth day after Easter. Whit Sunday commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit in the form of flames to the Apostles, as recorded in the New Testament. The recent adoption of a Late Spring Bank Holiday on the last Monday in May is an attempt to deal with the fact that Whitsuntide is a moveable feast dependent on the date of Easter. Although it is no longer necessarily at the church's Whitsuntide, the general public still refers to this holiday as "Whit Monday."
This is an old post, but I thought I could use it again. Happy Whitsunday!
