Where do you stand?

While the world seems to be in shock it forgets how Hamas uses the funds it gets from outside.
The anti Israel block decries the support Israel receives in aid from the west but forgets to mention that the same amount of financial support goes to the Palestinians as well.
The crux of the matter is the application of this money...
Israel builds better facilities for it's citizens... the palistinians build tunnels to smuggle in weapons.
The Israelis buy seed and fertilizer for farms, the Palestinians buy fertilizer... for bombs and rockets.
Israel devotes it's energy to the upliftment of it's society, the Palestinians break down their society by perpetrating violence against Israel.
Israel leaves the settlements in Gaza complete with working infrastructure... the Palestinians blow it up anyway.
If you still think the Palestinians are being oppressed by Israel then you need to do more research on the matter.
By the way... the people called Palestinians are really part of the same people that live in the countries bordering Israel and have even less claim to the land they occupy... very conveniently forgotten by their countries of origin so that they can be used in the war against the Jews by the islamic nations.
“We will have peace with the Arabs when they love their children more than they hate us” Golda Meir

The answer is plain to see

Many years ago a group of well meaning Christians layed hands on me and asked God that my right leg be "healed" in the sense that it would grow back to the length it was before the accident that had shortened it... nothing happened and they were quite surprised that nothing had happened... but I was not dissapointed as far as I was concerned it was a miracle that I still had my leg... seeing more than 27 bits of bone on an x ray makes one gratefull when 18 months later you put down the crutches...
Then last year I had another accident and the same leg was involved... titanium screws and plate helped get all the parts together again. I had proper therapy this time as well and with the help of the physiotherapist I now have more movement than ever in my ankle... Because she was able to explain why and we both wanted the leg to be better than before... so in a way there was laying on of hands...
If you are wondering where this is leading to bear with me.
You see I believe in the microcosmic miracle as well as the blown away type. The healing in both my accidents were on the microcosmic scale. Insignificant to many people but real to me, God worked a miracle, he made me walk again, not once but twice!
That is why I am always puzzled when people say they do not believe in miracles because X's leg that was amputated never grew back when people prayed and layed hand on X... that is just an example of how people want to be convinced by "blown away" miracles.
Then today in church we again read a passage from Luke 1, but that is not what caught my eye... the last verses of the previous book was what I had never really seen before!
St Mark 16 verse 18
They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
There was my answer and the answer for the ones that get dissapointed when the miracle that they hoped for never happened... Jesus said "sick" not maimed! However I do believe that if God wants to and it would glorify his name that he would restore a maimed person as well. We shoul also remember that God promised perfect bodies when we join him in Heaven, so as a person with "battle scars" so to speak I have no use to be perfect in body while on this mortal coil. The porpose of a "blown away" miracle is never for the person involved as such but for the glorification of God and to serve as example of his Power and Majesty. The person recieving the miracle is a vessel for this purpose. Not for us but for You!

The quote for the day is also very true... each breath I take is a "blown away" miracle to me!
"We must not allow the clock and the calendar to blind us to the fact that each moment of life is a miracle and mystery." H. G. Wells (1866 - 1946)

Agnus Dei

This is the time of the year when Christians commemorate of the birth of Jesus... Son of God but more important! Lamb of God who died for my sin and through his Spirit I attempt to live the Love he is and has shown us by his sacrifice on the Cross...

- - Alleluia, alleluia
For the lord God almighty reigns
Alleluia, alleluia
For the lord God almighty reigns
Alleluia

Holy, holy are you lord God almighty
Worthy is the lamb
Worthy is the lamb
You are holy, holy are you lord God almighty
Worthy is the lamb
Worthy is the lamb
Amen
so while doing the dishes I decided to listen to some Christian music and got FoxyTunes to look for more on YouTube. It found some in Spanish... Por español...

Another Spanish version, the song has a special sort of meaning when I heard it today in Spanish, the language we sort of picked up in Argentina...
Forgive me for not having done the Argentina trip yet, since getting back it has been rather hectic at work and blogging has not been a prime objective... will get around to that as soon as I can... In the meantime all I can do is praise God for the things he has done.
You are the Lord
The famous one
Famous one
Great is your name
In all the earth
The heavens declare
You're glorious, glorious
Great is your fame
Beyond the earth
Chris Tomlin - The Famous One

Livin la vida Mushroom

Once again I have to change plans I had for the weekend because no one informed me that we have to close the system a week earlier!
I normally do not mention work on my blog but I need to rant somewhere!
So this weekend's trip to St Francis is fading fast, so sorry Moondancer!
I hate it when that happens...
However... this will give me a chance to update some of my draft postings from Argentina.
Unless... just maybe I can figure out how to get away...
“You must grow like a tree, not like a mushroom”
Janet Erskine Stuart

Tears in heaven

As a member of Wild Dogs adventure riding forum we were saddened to hear of the passing of one of our members.
Songololo, you will be missed but will be remembered by family, friends and all you touched during your brief stay here on earth.
As a father of a wonderful son and daughter myself I still cannot imagine what his parents and family are going through, I believe nothing ever crosses one's path that God cannot hold you through but losing a child is one of the toughest ones.
To all I offer my condolences and you will be in my prayers. When something like this happens I am always reminded of this song from Eric Clapton... written after he lost his 4 year old son.

Tears in heaven.
Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven
Will it be the same
If I saw you in heaven
I must be strong, and carry on
Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven

Would you hold my hand
If I saw you in heaven
Would you help me stand
If I saw you in heaven
I'll find my way, through night and day
Cause I know I just can't stay
Here in heaven

Time can bring you down
Time can bend your knee
Time can break your heart
Have you begging please
Begging please

(instrumental)

Beyond the door
There's peace I'm sure.
And I know there'll be no more...
Tears in heaven

Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven
Will it be the same
If I saw you in heaven
I must be strong, and carry on
Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven

Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven
Hopefully this will be of some comfort to his loved ones.
"Death is not extinguishing the light; it is putting out the lamp because dawn has come."
Rabindranath Tagore

The longest day...

Photos:
Buenos Aires at night from 15000 feet...
Departure... Oliver Tambo
Sao Paulo Brazil... duty free shopping in Guarulhos airport!

28 Hours... is how long it took to get to BA and our hotel...
Will fill in details as we get time, this is just to say we are safe and enjoying every minute of this adventure!
"If I have to apply five turns to the screw each day for the happiness of Argentina, I will do it."
Evita Peron

Seven years ago...

Jack Buck's poem:

Since this nation was founded under
God, more than 200 years ago,

We've been the bastion of
Freedom...

The light which keeps the free world
Aglow.

We do not covet the possesions of
Others, we are blessed with the
Bounty we share.

We have rushed to help other
Nations...anything...anytime...
Anywhere.

War is just not our nature... we
Won't start, but we will end the fight.

If we are involved we shall be
Resolved to protect what we know is
Right.

We've been challenged by a
Cowardly foe who strikes and then
Hides from our view.

With one voice we say there's no
Choice today, there is only one
Thing to do.

Everyone is saying the same thing
And praying that we end these
Senseless moments we are living.

As our fathers did before, we shall
Win this unwanted war.

And our children will enjoy the
Future, we'll be giving.

Chicken guns and bubble circles

This weekend was amazing for a few reasons, take a look at this! How can we say they are not intelligent!

Then I was reminded how Great our God is when we watched this video as evening service;

If you get the chance get hold of both the DVD's;
Colossians 1: 13-17
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Chris Tomlin - How Great is Our God

VERSE(1):
The splendor of a King,
Clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice,
All the earth rejoice
He wraps himself in light,
And darkness tries to hide
And trembles at his voice,
And trembles at his voice

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God

VERSE(2):
Age to age he stands
And time is in His Hands
Beginning and the End,
Beginning and the End
The Godhead, Three in one
Father, Spirit, Son
The Lion and the Lamb,
The Lion and the Lamb

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God

CHORUS(2)
Name above all names
You are Worthy of all praise
and My heart will sing how great
Is our God
(x2)

CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
Sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God


CHORUS(1):
How great is our God,
Sing with me
How great is our God,
and all will see
How great, How great
Is our God
More about the Laminin molecule... and a feeble attempt to debunk God's word and work... sorry dude... Snopes is not Gospel truth!
Then later we saw a doccie on the design behind the Airbus A380, the biggest passenger plane in the world and how a chicken gun was used to show how composite laminates strengthen the aluminium used in the making of this marvel of human technology... which pales in comparison to what God has already done in nature...

I mean, look at that and tell me that is not Divine Engineering!
Psalm 139:14 declares, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." So before you go and design the next amazing technological wonder consider what God has already done and...
"Make sure the chicken is thawed before firing it from the chicken gun" Unknown

If you say so...

Your Personality is Somewhat Rare (ISTP)

Your personality type is reserved, methodical, spirited, and intense. Only about 6% of all people have your personality, including 3% of all women and 8% of all men You are Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, and Perceiving.

How Rare Is Your Personality?

Had to smile at this as this is how I feel at the moment... the weekend's National has smitten the party animal part of me... but it was a good weekend nevertheless. No one got seriously hurt... a few will be needing Voltaren for a while... especially in the Vets and Masters... pictures will be posted on another posting when I get around to getting the camera back from MoonDancer... without her there would have been none! Don't know what I would do without her!
"The art of being yourself at your best is the art of unfolding your personality into the person you want to be. . . . Be gentle with yourself, learn to love yourself, to forgive yourself, for only as we have the right attitude toward ourselves can we have the right attitude toward others." Wilfred Peterson, This Week (Oct. 1, 1961)

Where does reality stop?

Amazing technology! This makes me realize we live in an amazing age. One where reality and virtual reality seem to be merging into one. No wonder many people do not know what the truth is any more.
Yet one thing is becoming even clearer to me day by day, that is that God loves us and wants us to be his children and not to be blinded by what we hear and see in the media...
So even when we lose sense of reality and seem to get immersed in a world that is whirling by, seemingly out of control know that He is Lord and loves you.
"No suffering or tragedy will ever separate you from God’s love." (Romans 8:35-39)