Religion, Good Friday,

RECITATIVE. (Accompanied - Tenor) Comfort ye, comfort ye My people, saith your God; speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem; and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness:-Prepare ye the way of the Lord: make straight in the desert a
highway for our God.

AIR (Tenor)
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill made low, the crooked straight and the rough places plain.




Good Friday is for me the day that I feel the deepest sorrow and the greatest expectation  of a new life after the death of an innocent man, who wanted peace, love of our fellow humans and God's creation. We cannot blame the people of his time to be responsible for this terrible execution. Had he lived now, he would not have been understood either. Humanity has not changed at all. In many countries people are killed because of their religion or convictions. I am fortunate that I live in a country where there is freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

Psalms Challenge, Psalm 36

Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.


















Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
your judgments are like the great deep;
man and beast you save, O LORD
















The verses from Psalm 36 are contributed to Robert's Psalms Challenge meme at Daily Athens. To read more psalms click on Robert

Psalms Challenge, Psalm 35

This time a little girl explains the meaning of the psalm.


The verses from Psalm 35 are contributed to Robert's Psalms Challenge meme at Daily Athens. To read more psalms click on Robert

that's' My World, ABC Wednesday, A for Noah's Ark

This video shows the Dutch carpenter Johan Huibers is building a seaworthy replica of Noah's Ark and why he is doing this.This replica of Noah's Ark is being built to approximately one-half of the size specifications given in the Old Testament. Inside there are life-size statues of elephants and a giraffe to welcome the visitors. A small theater showing a film on the life of Noah is tucked under the keel, and the nearly finished top deck will soon house a petting zoo with lambs, chickens, goats, and a camel. Passengers can sail up and down Holland's canals while exploring the giant bark.

Noah's Ark (Hebrew: תֵּבַת נֹחַ‎, Tebhath Noaḥ in Classical Hebrew; Tevat Noakh in Modern Hebrew) is the vessel which, according to the Book of Genesis (chapters 6-9) and the Quran (surah Hud), was built by Noah at God's command to save himself, his family, and the world's animals from a worldwide deluge.

God, seeing the wickedness of man, is grieved by his creation and resolves to send a great flood. He sees that Noah is a man "righteous in his generation," and gives him detailed instructions for the Ark. When the animals are safe on board God sends the Flood, which rises until all the mountains are covered and all life is destroyed. At the height of the flood the Ark rests on the mountains, the waters abate, and dry land reappears. Noah, his family, and the animals leave the Ark, and God vows to never again send a flood to destroy the Earth.


That's my World is hosted by Klaus, Sandy, Wren, Fishing Guy and Sylvia - a Team of experienced bloggers, whom we thank for this wonderful meme. You can see more of the world of other bloggers by clicking on the logo in the side bar or on that's My World


With thanks to Denise Nesbitt, who created ABC.For more interesting ABC posts click on the logo in the sidebar or

Here. This week we are looking for words beginning with A.

Psalms Challenge, Psalm 24

Psalms Chapter 24
1 A Psalm of David.
The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

 

2 For He hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.

 

3 Who shall ascend into the mountain of the LORD? and who shall stand in His holy place?

 

4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart;
who hath not taken My name in vain, and hath not sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive a blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

6 Such is the generation of them that seek after Him, that seek Thy face, even Jacob.
 

7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors;
that the King of glory may come in.

 

8 'Who is the King of glory?'
'The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.'

The verses from Psalm 24 are contributed to Robert's Psalms Challenge meme at Daily Athens. To read more psalms click on Robert

Photo 1: Greece, Mystras
Photo 2: Netherlands, the sea between the Isle of Texel and Noord-Holland.
Photo 3: New Zealand, South Island
Photo 4: Norway,Dale Kyrkje, Luster
Photo 5: England, Peterborough Cathedral

Whitsuntide

 

On Sunday, 12th June and Monday, 13th we celebrate Whitsuntide.
Whitsun (also Whitsunday, Whit Sunday or Whit) is the name used in the UK for the Christian festival of Pentecost, the seventh Sunday after Easter, which commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Christ's disciples (Acts of the Apostles chapter 2).
Wikipedia says:
"The name derives from the white garments worn by catechumens, those expecting to be baptised on that Sunday, when infant baptism was still uncommon. Thus it is centuries older than the tradition of the young women of the parish all coming to church or chapel in new white dresses on that day. However, Augustinian canon, John Mirk (c1382 - 1414), of Lilleshall Abbey, Shropshire, had a different interpretation:

Good men and wimmen, this day (Dies Penthecostes) is called Wytsonday by cause the holy ghost bought wytte and wisdom into Crists dyscyples, and so by prechying after in all Cristendom and fylled him full of holy Wytte

Thus, he thought the root of the word was "wit" (formerly spelt "wyt" or "wytte") and Pentecost was so-called to signify the outpouring of the wisdom of the Holy Ghost on Christ's disciples."

Psalms Challenge, Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

 

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures

 

he leadeth me beside the still waters.

 

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

 

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

 

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

 

The verses from Psalm 23 are contributed to Robert's Psalms Challenge meme at Daily Athens. To read more psalms click on Robert


Photos 1, 2, 3, 4 in the surroundings of my hometown.
Photo 5 taken in Egypt
Photo 6 taken in Norway

Psalms Challenge, Psalm 22

A psalm by David, Suffering


1 My God, my God, why have you

deserted me?

Why are you so far away?

Won't you listen to my groans

and come to my rescue?

2 I cry out day and night,

but you don't answer,

and I can never rest.


This psalm ends in praising God. Many people don't come further than the first two verses. I hope that somebody post the praising verses at the end of the psalm.
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.



The verses from Psalm 22 are contributed to Robert's Psalms Challenge meme at Daily Athens. To read more psalms click on Robert

Psalms Challenge, Psalm 21

1 O LORD, in your strength the king rejoices,
and in your salvation how greatly he exults!
2 You have given him his heart’s desire
and have not withheld the request of his lips.
Selah

3 For you meet him with rich blessings;
you set a crown of fine gold upon his head.
4 He asked life of you; you gave it to him,
length of days forever and ever.
5 His glory is great through your salvation;
splendor and majesty you bestow on him.
6 For you make him most blessed forever;
you make him glad with the joy of your presence.
7 For the king trusts in the LORD,
and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.

8 Your hand will find out all your enemies;
your right hand will find out those who hate you.
9 You will make them as a blazing oven
when you appear.
The LORD will swallow them up in his wrath,
and fire will consume them.
10 You will destroy their descendants from the earth,
and their offspring from among the children of man.
11 Though they plan evil against you,
though they devise mischief, they will not succeed.
12 For you will put them to flight;
you will aim at their faces with your bows.

13 Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength!
We will sing and praise your power.

Today my eldest daughter is having her birthday. She is 44 years old!


The verses from Psalm 21 are contributed to Robert's Psalms Challenge meme at Daily Athens. To read more psalms click on Robert

Psalms Challenge, Psalm 20

Trust in the Name of the Lord Our God
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

20:1 May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble!
May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary
and give you support from Zion!
3 May he remember all your offerings
and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah

4 May he grant you your heart's desire
and fulfill all your plans!
5 May we shout for joy over your salvation,
and in the name of our God set up our banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!

6 Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;
he will answer him from his holy heaven
with the saving might of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
8 They collapse and fall,
but we rise and stand upright.

9 O Lord, save the king!
May he answer us when we call.


The verses from Psalm 20 are contributed to Robert's Psalms Challenge meme at Daily Athens. To read more psalms click on Robert

Psalms Challenge, Psalm 19

1 The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.






















2 Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.


***********************************************************
3 There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.


14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

The verses from Psalm 19 are contributed to Robert's Psalms Challenge meme at Daily Athens. To read more psalms click on Robert

ABC Wednesday, Q for Quakers

Sorry for the poor quality of these old photos.

When I was still a student I had no money to go on expensive holidays. So each summer I went to an international ecumenical workcamp, where I met students and other young adults from all over the world. In the summer of 1956 I went to England with my sister. We cycled from the Netherlands to Belgium and took the ferry to Dover. From Dover we cycled to Longwellgreen ( between Bristol and Bath)in 5 days.The workcamp was a Quaker camp. Every day before we went to work, we had a short reading from one of the many holy books. This is what I learned about the Quakers:

The foundation of the community is the Silent Meeting. They observe together silence in which they can get nearer to God and each other. This was mainly meditating, which we as regular church goers were not used to do. The idea was great, however.

Here is a photo of our fellow campers, consisting of English, Welsh, German, Swedish, Spanish, Libanese, Arabic Israelis, American and Turkish campers and me as only Dutch girl.

 

The way of the Quakers has its roots in Christianity , but it is inspired by various religions and ways of life.They are aimed at the personal religious experiences and not at confessions of faith. They called that the Inner Light.

Sincerity, equality, simplicity and peace are the most important values.(I agree with that.)

In the Quaker community there are no leaders, pastors, ministers, because they believe that everyone is capable to experience God. (I am not sure about that.)

The Quakers take their identity mainly from a number of statements. The most important one is the Statement of Peace.

They reject emphatically all wars and wartime activities, regardless of the aim or pretence that caused them.( that is a difficult one.)

The spirit of Christ is persistent and cannot inspire us to love our enemy at one moment, and lateron urge us to kill the enemy.(Yes that is contradictory, but Ghandi
said the same, and I think nonviolent resistance is allowed)

This was our project: the building of a Memorial Hall.

With thanks to Denise Nesbitt, who created ABC.For more interesting ABC posts click on the logo in the sidebar or Here. This week we are looking for words beginning with Q.

The Religious Society of Friends began in England in the late 1640s, in a context of social upheaval which included increasing dissatisfaction with the established church, the execution of the king, and the rise of Nonconformist movements.
The founder of Quakerism is generally accepted to have been George Fox.

Psalms Challenge, Psalm 18

18:

1 I love you, O Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
and I am saved from my enemies.

The verses from Psalm 18 are contributed to Robert's Psalms Challenge meme at Daily Athens. To read more psalms click on Robert

Psalms Challenge, Psalm 17

 

In the Shadow of Your Wings
A Prayer of David.

17:
1 Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry!
Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!
2 From your presence let my vindication come!
Let your eyes behold the right!

3 You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night,
you have tested me, and you will find nothing;
I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
4 With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips
I have avoided the ways of the violent.


5 My steps have held fast to your paths;
my feet have not slipped.

 

6 I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my words.
7 Wondrously show your steadfast love,
O Savior of those who seek refuge
from their adversaries at your right hand.

8 Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings,
9 from the wicked who do me violence,
my deadly enemies who surround me.

10 They close their hearts to pity;
with their mouths they speak arrogantly.
11 They have now surrounded our steps;
they set their eyes to cast us to the ground.
12 He is like a lion eager to tear,
as a young lion lurking in ambush.

13 Arise, O Lord! Confront him, subdue him!
Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,
14 from men by your hand, O Lord,
from men of the world whose portion is in this life.
You fill their womb with treasure;
they are satisfied with children,
and they leave their abundance to their infants.

15 As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;
when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.

The verses from Psalm 17 are contributed to Robert's Psalms Challenge meme at Daily Athens. To read more psalms click on Robert

Happy Easter! Hallelujah

Today we commemorate the resurrection of Jesus. Good Friday was a sad day but today is the celebration of the victory over death. Hallelujah by Handel demonstrates my feelings today!

I wish you all a happy Easter and a newbeginning after a long and dark winter.

To read more Easter celebrations click on Robert



Handel's Messiah


Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah
Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah

For the lord God omnipotent reigneth
Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah
For the lord God omnipotent reigneth
Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah
For the lord God omnipotent reigneth
Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah

Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah
Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah
(For the lord God omnipotent reigneth)
Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah

For the lord God omnipotent reigneth
(Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah)
Hallelujah

The kingdom of this world;
is become
the kingdom of our Lord,
and of His Christ
and of His Christ

And He shall reign for ever and ever
And he shall reign forever and ever
And he shall reign forever and ever
And he shall reign forever and ever

King of kings forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah
and lord of lords forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah
King of kings forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah
and lord of lords forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah
King of kings forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah
and lord of lords
King of kings and lord of lords

And he shall reign
And he shall reign
And he shall reign
He shall reign
And he shall reign forever and ever

King of kings forever and ever
and lord of lords hallelujah hallelujah
And he shall reign forever and ever

King of kings and lord of lords
King of kings and lord of lords
And he shall reign forever and ever

Forever and ever and ever and ever
(King of kings and lord of lords)

Hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah
Hallelujah

Ich folge dir gleichfalls, St. John Passion by Bach

Good Friday, the day Jesus died is observed by listening to, or taking part in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. He wrote St John Passion and the wellknown St Matthew Passion. You will hear now an aria from St John Passion.

Ich folge dir gleichfalls
mit freudigen Schritten
Und lasse dich nicht,
Mein Leben, mein Licht.
Befördre den Lauf
Und höre nicht auf,
Selbst an mir zu ziehen,
Zu schieben, zu bitten.

I will follow you likewise
with joyful steps
and will not let you go,
my Life, my Light.
Pave the way,
and do not stop
drawing me on,
shoving and imploring me yourself.

Psalms Challenge, Psalm 16

From 9 April till 19 April I will take a break and I 'll answer comments lateron. My entries will appear on my blog for they are all scheduled.




1Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. 2I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you."
3As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight.

4The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names on my lips.

5The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

7I bless the LORD who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the LORD always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

9Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
10For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.

11You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

(The video was sung in French.The text written on it is Dutch)
******************************************************************
Les Psaumes Merveilleux de David : Psaume 16
16.1
Hymne de David.
Garde-moi, ô Dieu! car je cherche en toi mon refuge.

16.2
Je dis à l'Éternel : Tu es mon Seigneur,
Tu es mon souverain bien !

16.3
Les saints qui sont dans le pays,
Les hommes pieux sont l'objet de toute mon affection.

16.4
On multiplie les idoles, on court après les dieux étrangers :
Je ne répands pas leurs libations de sang,
Je ne mets pas leurs noms sur mes lèvres.

16.5
L'Éternel est mon partage et mon calice;
C'est toi qui m'assures mon lot;

16.6
Un héritage délicieux m'est échu,
Une belle possession m'est accordée.

16.7
Je bénis l'Éternel, mon conseiller;
La nuit même mon coeur m'exhorte.

16.8
J'ai constamment l'Éternel sous mes yeux;
Quand il est à ma droite, je ne chancelle pas.

16.9
Aussi mon coeur est dans la joie, mon esprit dans l'allégresse,
Et mon corps repose en sécurité.

16.10
Car tu ne livreras pas mon âme au séjour des morts,
Tu ne permettras pas que ton bien-aimé voie la corruption.

16.11
Tu me feras connaître le sentier de la vie;
Il y a d'abondantes joies devant ta face,
Des délices éternelles à ta droite.

The verses from Psalm 16 are contributed to Robert's new Psalms Challenge meme at Daily Athens. To read more psalms click on Robert

Psalms Challenge, Psalm 15

From 9 April till 19 April I will take a break and I 'll answer comments lateron. My entries will appear on my blog for they are all scheduled.

1Who may stay in God's temple
or live on the holy mountain

of the LORD?

 

Only those who obey God

and do as they should.

They speak the truth

and don't spread gossip;

they treat others fairly

and don't say cruel things.

They hate worthless people,

but show respect for all

who worship the LORD.

And they keep their promises,

no matter what the cost.

They lend their money

without charging interest,

and they don't take bribes

to hurt the innocent.

Those who do these things

will always stand firm.

The verses from Psalm 15 are contributed to Robert's new Psalms Challenge meme at Daily Athens. To read more psalms click on Robert

Psalms Challenge, Psalm 14

1 The fool says in his heart, "There is no God."
They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds,
there is none who does good.
2The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man,
to see if there are any who understand,
who seek after God.

3They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt;
there is none who does good,
not even one.

4Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers
who eat up my people as they eat bread
and do not call upon the LORD?

5There they are in great terror,
for God is with the generation of the righteous.
6You would shame the plans of the poor,
but the LORD is his refuge.

7Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people,
let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

The verses from Psalm 14 are contributed to Robert's new Psalms Challenge meme at Daily Athens. To read more psalms click on Robert

Psalms Challenge, Psalm 13

How Long, O Lord?
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
13:1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I take counsel in my soul
and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

 

3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,
4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”
lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.

 

This psalm looks a lot like psalm 10. The last verse shows David's trust and love. He praises the Lord.
And the other verses don't show hatred, but despair and sadness.

The verses from Psalm 13 are contributed to Robert's new Psalms Challenge meme at Daily Athens. To read more psalms click on Robert