tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52081566907249675972024-03-13T14:30:29.364-07:00Putting life into wordsJacy Breanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356348634443502708noreply@blogger.comBlogger115125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5208156690724967597.post-39446363126977856302021-11-24T05:07:00.020-08:002023-01-16T14:17:05.939-08:00Going veggie - Were humans meant to eat meat?<p><i><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Recent concerns about carbon emissions include the massive amount of methane produced by
animals, of which there are several billion more than originally intended, due
to many humans’ insatiable desire for meat. This article looks at the original
diet intended for both humans and animals and will no doubt be good news for
vegetarians and animal lovers alike.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p style="margin: 0cm;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> I must confess, I do like bacon. Not as
enthusiastically, as some, I might add, and I’m rapidly fancying that rack of
spare ribs a lot less than I used to, but I've certainly eaten my pound of
flesh. So the following statement is not a pious, self-righteous attack on
carnivores but an honest presentation of the facts:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> Humans were not designed to eat meat.
<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> If, like me, you believe in creation you
also have to believe God's words to Adam in Genesis chapter 1:29*. "Here I
have given to you every seed-bearing plant that is on the earth and every tree
with seed-bearing fruit."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> It doesn't end there. According to
Genesis 1:30, even animals were vegetarian: "Let them serve as food to
you. And to every wild animal of the earth and t every flying creature of the
heavens and to everything moving on the earth in which there is life, I have
given all green vegetation for food."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> Of course, we all know this idyll didn't
last. Adam and Eve turned away from God and were turfed out of Eden to eat
bread in the sweat of their faces until they returned to the ground (Genesis
3:19). The treacherous twosome lost their wonderful privilege of filling the
earth with their perfect children, caring for the animals and turning the rest
of the earth into a paradise.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> Even so, meat was not on the menu until
after the flood+ when God gave Noah and his descendants permission to eat flesh.
(Genesis 9:3,4) No doubt in consideration of the animals, he instilled in them
a fear of humans instead of the trust they had enjoyed originally. (Genesis
9:2)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> The good news for animal lovers is that
meat eating may one day be abolished. Certainly, animals in the new earth will be well cared for. When the catastrophic results of Adam's
rebellion are reversed, all living things will perhaps return to their original diet of
seed-bearing fruit and vegetables, in line with Isaiah chapter 11:6-9: "The cow
and the bear will feed together, and their young will lie down together. The
lion will eat straw like the bull." <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0cm;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">*
New World Translation<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm;"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm;">+ <a href="https://jacybrean.blogspot.com/2017/11/was-there-really-global-flood.html">Putting life into words: Was there really a global flood? (jacybrean.blogspot.com)</a></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Verdana",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Jacy Breanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356348634443502708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5208156690724967597.post-55491911220840997452021-09-28T00:13:00.006-07:002021-09-28T00:52:24.021-07:00The Trees Have Ears <p>So what do we do now?" Alice wondered. Miles frowned and they both fell silent again, their spirits sinking. Neither had a clue what course to take next. "The fire's going out," Alice remarked gloomily.</p><p>Then Miles had an idea. "I know!" he cried and leapt to his feet. Alice glanced up at him hopefully. "We can strip the bark from the trees! That'll save us having to go off looking for logs again."</p><p>"Is that the best you can think of?" snapped Alice. But Miles was too busy to listen. He opened his Swiss army knife Uncle Jeff had given him and began hacking into a nearby tree when......</p><p>There was a spine-chilling, piercing, blood-curdling scream!</p><p>The children shook with renewed terror. "What's that?" cried Alice.</p><p>"It's ME!" came a booming disembodied voice "I'm bleeding!"</p><p>"Who are you?" yelled Miles.</p><p>"I'm Larch," was the answer, and a man's head suddenly appeared from the high branches of the tree which Miles had started to strip. "When you cut me with a knife, I scream!" </p><p>"I'm Beech," another head popped down from the tree," and if you steal my bark, I'll die!"</p><p>"And I'm Horse" said yet another head, "and if you hurt me, I will whinny and kick and bite you - hard!"</p><p>All at once, dozens of people started jumping out from all over the place; down from the trees and out from the enormous ferns that fringed the forest. At first, it was almost impossible to distinguish men from the women, as they all sported beads and smocks and dreadlocks, and their faces were smeared with greeny-brown gunge, and their makeshift clothes, dyed to blend into their surroundings, were decorated with assorted leaves and feathers.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgllOwTGU9dgyncPT7MGuYQJdrXTj3J1CfWa4fj63GPeT42udaaOxOLmmRruNBrkMDo7Q6PLynZB8bNhehbuvuZjczOAoBOy_B_tCzKKdaX5EA3FAyjJMM8NSrQ9OeutMO59W9OYRPF4xA/s4000/20210925_164753.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgllOwTGU9dgyncPT7MGuYQJdrXTj3J1CfWa4fj63GPeT42udaaOxOLmmRruNBrkMDo7Q6PLynZB8bNhehbuvuZjczOAoBOy_B_tCzKKdaX5EA3FAyjJMM8NSrQ9OeutMO59W9OYRPF4xA/s320/20210925_164753.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Extract from "Flight from Fernilee"</p><p>https://www.amazon.co.uk/Flight-Fernilee-Jacy-Brean/dp/1086551907</p><p>https://www.amazon.com/Flight-Fernilee-Jacy-Brean/dp/1086551907/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=flight+from+fernilee&qid=1632812832&sr=8-1</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jacy Breanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356348634443502708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5208156690724967597.post-17613654214288522662021-05-20T01:55:00.004-07:002021-05-20T03:16:42.635-07:00A perilous journey to Brindisi<p>A few years ago, my daughter went to Brindisi, a beautiful coastal town on the heel of Italy and a destination for thousands of migrants from north Africa and the middle east. Some of the migrants she met had left their homes for economic reasons, often sponsored by entire villages to travel to Europe where they imagined the streets would be paved with gold. Others were escaping from wars, famine and oppression, desperate people who felt they had no future in the country of their birth. </p><p>Because of the heat, many migrants would escape the refuge centres, spending their days by cooling fountains in Brindisi's town square. This is where my daughter talked to many of the travellers, some of whom had suffered greatly in their quest for the west.</p><p>No matter where they came from, they were forced to travel through Libya, a perilous journey. Not only were they prey to traffickers, but also to kidnappers, rapists, and crooked militia. Some unfortunate travellers were badly beaten and even killed if a ransom couldn't be paid.</p><p>One man told a heartbreaking story. He began his journey with his wife and child who were both kidnapped and held to ransom. Having managed to secure their release, the family reached the coast where a rubber boat was waiting to ferry them to Italy, but there was only room for two of them, so the man stayed behind, waiting for another vessel. This second boat reached Brindisi safely. The first boat didn't. The man's family drowned.</p><p>Other migrants also suffered harrowing experiences, so much so, that on reaching their destination, and despite finding work as planned, they pleaded with the family and friends they'd left behind not to follow their example. No amount of prosperity was worth the dangers and unimaginable cruelty they had faced.</p><p>During her stay, my daughter heard many such stories, shattering her faith in humanity and her belief that most people in the world are basically good. Yet, one thing impressed her, something every migrant she met held in common.</p><p>Not one of them blamed God.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33c7OAwMOLaFIn4Wl5DFDysmBejsc2Kpl87E-POrxz53_gocG3m4_JFkhBp1hi0YNKhJIxqn4FEJVS28KTt6QeNLN4xpdcMS0PuiyCnoF1xdJVgAx8KuRlICa7Q5tFb7a_ubODYj2uhQ/s1600/Brindisi+beach.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg33c7OAwMOLaFIn4Wl5DFDysmBejsc2Kpl87E-POrxz53_gocG3m4_JFkhBp1hi0YNKhJIxqn4FEJVS28KTt6QeNLN4xpdcMS0PuiyCnoF1xdJVgAx8KuRlICa7Q5tFb7a_ubODYj2uhQ/s320/Brindisi+beach.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A perfect beach for holidaymakers<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGzJogRbyJftkgXzqr90kSgAlfW6s-kMBHF3LuXYTI16pWgXnolZ6rXTQN4MxKDkAL6epJyvLOFLRG4l-4jQKs_8tL4U-L0Yyh4XdL3Fy3Z36ubX49FKDPuE84ZY4sP-M_S62_aNB4nI/s1599/Brindisi+migrant+camp.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1599" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGzJogRbyJftkgXzqr90kSgAlfW6s-kMBHF3LuXYTI16pWgXnolZ6rXTQN4MxKDkAL6epJyvLOFLRG4l-4jQKs_8tL4U-L0Yyh4XdL3Fy3Z36ubX49FKDPuE84ZY4sP-M_S62_aNB4nI/s320/Brindisi+migrant+camp.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the camps for migrants<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3Ncj8JWUNtUEMCsHjphBIrv8vNTZ1VZ-A3SkvhsMrfue9eQG6KbpWUXDfsEVdADlXsMtZTWgmIdBIr-WjQtK04PXImdnEKxMBKDyg3la0ImjGpgTPnj367cSu048gJ1xYSAhsVrHA0Q/s1599/Brindisis+at+night%252C+light+on+building.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1599" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3Ncj8JWUNtUEMCsHjphBIrv8vNTZ1VZ-A3SkvhsMrfue9eQG6KbpWUXDfsEVdADlXsMtZTWgmIdBIr-WjQtK04PXImdnEKxMBKDyg3la0ImjGpgTPnj367cSu048gJ1xYSAhsVrHA0Q/s320/Brindisis+at+night%252C+light+on+building.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brindisi at night<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jacy Breanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356348634443502708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5208156690724967597.post-71363332744967339382021-05-14T02:45:00.000-07:002021-05-14T02:45:15.288-07:00Flight from Fernilee - The First Escape<p><i>Extract: </i><i>Miles and his sister Alice are being hunted by sinister agents. But why? What could MI6 or the CIA possibly want with ordinary kids like them?</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXfRmM7MCYLVHSiKMimYAKLORBDmAqleTxeM_9oAqUmI7wHXPCKsEu4bwuqtvtaG8JinFS3kyDyTKRd32tVogMdVRYHu4Cmr5Osv9R7Nvv-aiMqvxssZCrpBEksQ5z4cYWqeAuE1S-EE/s1280/fernilee+river+-+ACE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXfRmM7MCYLVHSiKMimYAKLORBDmAqleTxeM_9oAqUmI7wHXPCKsEu4bwuqtvtaG8JinFS3kyDyTKRd32tVogMdVRYHu4Cmr5Osv9R7Nvv-aiMqvxssZCrpBEksQ5z4cYWqeAuE1S-EE/s320/fernilee+river+-+ACE.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i><p></p><p> "Okay, Griswold," said his companion. Once his superior was out of sight, Skinner sat down on the trunk. He was easily the biggest of the men with an unbelievably wide bottom, and, as soon as he made contact with the fallen tree, it creaked ominously. All Miles and Alice could do was pray their hiding place would hold up under the strain. Moments later and to their great relief, they heard another shout.</p><p>"Oi! Skinner! Get off your fat behind and start searching! The boss ain't moving 'til we catch those brats!"</p><p>Skinner leapt up, but in doing so, the weight of his bottom dislodged the tree which jolted into motion and began to roll downhill - slowly at first, then gathering speed, flattening everything in its path as the hill dropped perilously towards the river that gushed through the gully below. Miles and Alice held their breath, unable to scream, helpless and stiff with terror. Being so tightly packed into the trunk helped brace their bodies against much of the impact, but it was still the most terrifying white-knuckle ride they‘d ever experienced! </p><p>"This isn't doing my stomach any good at all" Miles thought to himself, as the hollow log continued to roll faster and faster downhill, stopping only when eventually, it hit the river with a tremendous splash. Instead of being spun head over heels, the children now felt themselves being thrust from side to side as the current swept them along. Miles could hear Alice hyperventilating and instinctively reached out a hand. "It's alright now," he said. At least they were safe from the men who, convinced their prey were still hiding in the wood, found sticks to probe the foliage inch by inch. Sometime later, Griswold had another bright idea. "Set fire to the place!" he yelled. "We'll smoke the beggars out!" But by this time, Miles and Alice were speeding down the river.</p><p><br /></p><p>UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Flight-Fernilee-Jacy-Brean/dp/1086551907</p><p>US: https://www.amazon.com/Flight-Fernilee-Jacy-Brean-ebook/dp/B07K24G3GJ</p><p> </p><div><br /></div>Jacy Breanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356348634443502708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5208156690724967597.post-43381296843251268072021-04-08T05:23:00.003-07:002021-04-08T05:50:17.508-07:00The Felling of Fernilee<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Destruction of one of High Peak's most glorious forests is a sad reminder that sometimes life can mirror art.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">'Flight from Fernilee' features a sinister plot to take over the earth by infecting all plant life not controlled by the evil Elymas and his Global Order Brotherhood. It's a matter of 'Rule or Ruin' - but pure fantasy, or so I thought. When drafting my story 20 years ago, never would I have guessed that the REAL Fernilee, which fringed our local reservoir so beautifully, would be struck by a devastating disease called <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Phytophthora Ramorum</span>, resulting in most of its trees being chopped down.* </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Visiting the area for the first time since Fernilee's footpaths were closed for the felling, my daughter and I were shocked and deeply upset to see our favourite woodland walk virtually desolate!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Here's hoping the rest of the forests on this planet avoid the same fate!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">* https://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/visiting/frequently-asked-questions/tree-felling-in-the-goyt-valleyphytophera</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Before and after shots of Fernilee</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDuA4Sq3DIXXxxdoKzM-nFK7c1ngSEJ6bgOEt7-6Evqn06qkr173jYFftNFkzDppBivdHLf10MugymSMQGleYzUPWDQf6jqwtZlsmLGFBY8tqu4j74egnPjijks8fnQ1ZQj6ip9jP9BU/s680/thumbnail_16178222325051186889216.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="680" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDuA4Sq3DIXXxxdoKzM-nFK7c1ngSEJ6bgOEt7-6Evqn06qkr173jYFftNFkzDppBivdHLf10MugymSMQGleYzUPWDQf6jqwtZlsmLGFBY8tqu4j74egnPjijks8fnQ1ZQj6ip9jP9BU/s320/thumbnail_16178222325051186889216.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOQlCB3a_6pyENPb-7U12uiPoHXuNRA1vfc0uy4Qis8ZANPgCe-yMJh5106GKjIXa3hFd4Geo1vfRhWnR35NODZngniS1jwjHj-kx_4TNZGviMvON3dKAA1ZXZP7RMVMQbvA3YoQzU5k/s1280/Fernilee+signpost+AFTER+felling.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOQlCB3a_6pyENPb-7U12uiPoHXuNRA1vfc0uy4Qis8ZANPgCe-yMJh5106GKjIXa3hFd4Geo1vfRhWnR35NODZngniS1jwjHj-kx_4TNZGviMvON3dKAA1ZXZP7RMVMQbvA3YoQzU5k/s320/Fernilee+signpost+AFTER+felling.jpg" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_z-IG9srPIbowEaD44VLoqjC7SUFSQ7LouMcP0Dqsq7JcUtbCnoML28jgWRf-xqTCEFzB1QL2dJxZS2up2Jsc4CS0kqLE2cXWY5qMO1VTnwO9yMMJAf2dRW4o9ShlGzXYxlkdzmFx3I/s537/Fernilee+woodland+with+wall.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="301" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_z-IG9srPIbowEaD44VLoqjC7SUFSQ7LouMcP0Dqsq7JcUtbCnoML28jgWRf-xqTCEFzB1QL2dJxZS2up2Jsc4CS0kqLE2cXWY5qMO1VTnwO9yMMJAf2dRW4o9ShlGzXYxlkdzmFx3I/s320/Fernilee+woodland+with+wall.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EzuHUl5GcfSb3zCaHxRQmcZ8lNWGVgzjybmxpdKt8ieF1HQ_z2WGJPUNaXqnUryUPRu61kA-qqEcjCwZZj306HIZZcmJGq2sW5kdaFru8xooea09thIsieuNhQ_S2rRX3hJ3zGupUbo/s1040/fernilee+felled.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="1040" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EzuHUl5GcfSb3zCaHxRQmcZ8lNWGVgzjybmxpdKt8ieF1HQ_z2WGJPUNaXqnUryUPRu61kA-qqEcjCwZZj306HIZZcmJGq2sW5kdaFru8xooea09thIsieuNhQ_S2rRX3hJ3zGupUbo/s320/fernilee+felled.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /> </div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqnJe7_gphADzSJi9BlrhSOe7bnKHrpJqw1kYeFnFnNhh6jtiWjkUHHNgf6Zn7jENGyLq7zfpsKtCSygyJX06aV0RMD-l-KdG2OZxCTKGdsrdR9KBwKOAve7gx-wIpr-ssK7Zs79P2lo/s1280/Fernilee+footpath+thru+wood.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="719" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqnJe7_gphADzSJi9BlrhSOe7bnKHrpJqw1kYeFnFnNhh6jtiWjkUHHNgf6Zn7jENGyLq7zfpsKtCSygyJX06aV0RMD-l-KdG2OZxCTKGdsrdR9KBwKOAve7gx-wIpr-ssK7Zs79P2lo/s320/Fernilee+footpath+thru+wood.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhpm7vw5OqxCyk01RWPgIF9boF7SoIPKCFW8ShOq-_GE5MtdCPthF0IrKb9e0uqNMlB6_TdCdb7n4RNjLAot4MNjWsly_1H-8inNVkoZbrny5tILCnrmMEpa38nPIrUwEY8mBnvC79iQ/s537/fernilee+felled+2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="302" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhpm7vw5OqxCyk01RWPgIF9boF7SoIPKCFW8ShOq-_GE5MtdCPthF0IrKb9e0uqNMlB6_TdCdb7n4RNjLAot4MNjWsly_1H-8inNVkoZbrny5tILCnrmMEpa38nPIrUwEY8mBnvC79iQ/s320/fernilee+felled+2.JPG" /></a></div><br />Jacy Breanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356348634443502708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5208156690724967597.post-30301349558470539042021-03-23T05:50:00.008-07:002023-04-18T04:05:51.792-07:00Pontius Pilate, Priests and Politics<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Every year
it gets to me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">At Nisan 14,
when Christians worldwide gather to commemorate Jesus' death, they will revisit
his last supper, the agony in the garden of Gethsemane, the betrayal, his arrest,
an illegal trial held secretly by religious leaders in the middle of the night and
his appearance before Pontius Pilate. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And this is
when the question arises yet again: <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Why did
Pilate wash his hands? </b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Roman governor knew the prisoner was innocent
and he had already been warned by his wife to “have nothing to do with that
righteous man” after her disturbing dream. Furthermore, he clearly recognised the
hypocrisy and lies of Jesus' accusers who, despite the lack of evidence,
hauled him before the unfortunate official in the middle of the night. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Instead of pitting
Jesus against Barabbas for the crowd to choose which of them should die, or
trying to appease the troublesome priests by having Jesus whipped, beaten and humiliated,
why didn’t Pilate set Jesus free? <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Now at last,
I think I know the answer. It relates to a situation that began in Rome before
Jesus was born; one that likely weighed against him in 33 C.E.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>The knives came out</b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It was the
Ides of March, 44 B.C.E. Julius Caesar was attending a meeting of the Senate at
the Theatre of Pompey in Rome, when suddenly the knives came out. Concerned that Caesar’s unprecedented power
was undermining the Republic, over 60 senators had conspired to assassinate
him, presenting the murder as tyrannicide. Chief amongst them were Marcus
Brutus, Decimus Brutus and Gaius Cassius whose treachery led to Caesar being stabbed
23 times and the ultimate end of the Republic. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“Better a
dead god than a live tyrant.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">No doubt to
appease the people, in 42 B.C.E, Caesar was deified to Divus Iulius – so creating
a godship for all future Emperors of Rome, beginning with his great-nephew and
adopted son, Gaius Octavius Augustus. Octavius now became Divi Filius – “Son of
the Divine” or “Son of God”, a title passed onto to his successor - Tiberius Claudius
Nero. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>"You are not a friend of Caesar!"</b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And herein
lay the problem for Pontius Pilate. Tiberius was a brutal ruler; he did not
tolerate rivals and thought nothing of throwing traitors (real or imagined) down
the incredibly steep steps of the Temple of Jupiter where, according to historian
Suetonius, “not a day passed without an execution.” High ranking officials,
such as Roman Governors, got the 5-star treatment: A summons to the emperor’s cliffside retreat in
Capri where they'd be toppled over the edge for any trace of treason! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">No wonder
Pilate was fearful; a factor cleverly exploited by the Jewish leaders, and one which
doubtless contributed to his famous handwashing scene when Jesus – the true “Son
of God” - appeared before him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">“If you
release this man, you are not a friend of Caesar!” was the cry. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And Jesus’ fate
was sealed.<span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">See also: <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://jacybrean.blogspot.com/2021/03/seditious-lords-prayer.html"><span style="color: blue;">Putting life into words: Seditious? The Lord's Prayer?
(jacybrean.blogspot.com)</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span> </p>Jacy Breanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356348634443502708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5208156690724967597.post-86367321893562536092021-03-16T13:08:00.008-07:002021-03-16T13:41:54.607-07:00Seditious? The Lord's Prayer?<p>Since Jesus instituted the Lord’s Prayer (Our Father) almost 2,000 years ago, it has been recited by billions of people – sadly, often parrot-fashion with few supplicants really having grasped what this prayer means or how courageous early Christians were to adopt it. The Roman Empire which ruled when Christ walked the earth would surely have viewed it as seditious, right from its opening address: </p><p><b>"Our Father in the heavens, let your name be sanctified.” </b></p><p>Caesar Augustus, who was in power when Jesus was born, was known as Augusto Patri Patrae, marking his role as Father of the Fatherland and, by extension, the entire Roman Empire including Judea and Jerusalem. Augustus was not his given name but a religious title that set him apart as someone exalted and sacred....’Sanctified’.</p><p>Jesus was certainly brave in his choice of language and never held back from speaking the truth. The next thing he asked his followers to pray for was even more contentious: </p><p><b>“Let your Kingdom come.” </b></p><p>Rome owned the entire ocean basin of the Mediterranean, known as Mare Nostrum - ‘Our Sea’ - and no one could forget it, largely thanks to the Empire’s incredible road network and an extremely clever propaganda campaign. Travellers couldn’t fail to realise who was responsible for this amazing step forward in human history. </p><p>In the northern part of Rome is a heap of bricks, all that now remains of a golden milestone, erected to mark Point Zero where all roads would lead. Throughout the Empire, every mile of road had a similar marker providing 4 pieces of information: The name of the ruling Caesar; the distance from the last town; the distance to the next town; and the distance from the golden milestone in Rome. These inscriptions reinforced a clear message to allcomers - “We own you now!” </p><p><b>“Give us our bread for this day.”</b> </p><p>All Christians are familiar with the miraculous feeding of the 5,000, reinforcing God and Jesus' roles as the ultimate providers. Feeding a great crowd from just 5 loaves and 2 fish eclipsed Rome’s initiative for its 55,000 citizens - free bread. Although Ceres was the official goddess of grain, it was the goddess Annona who got the credit, personifying the Emperor’s ability to supply food to the people. The bread was not particularly good - so gritty and sandy that it filed down the teeth of consumers - and there was no fish with it, but a free loaf every day was not to be sneezed at. Every April during seeding, the people showed their gratitude with a feast to the ‘Dole Annona’. </p><p>Not everything ran smoothly, however. Mark Antony and Augustus tried to block the Dole Annona when merchants withheld grain from the emperor to create a shortage and inflate the price. Nothing has changed!</p><p><b>“Forgive us our debts.”</b></p><p>Now this was a real red light for anyone in Rome, especially at the temple of Mars Ultor. Ancient Rome had a pantheon of gods, adopting new foreign deities of captured tribes, yet there were 12 main gods – 6 male, 6 female. In Jesus’ day, Mars was a big wheel, outranked only by Jupiter, the big Daddy of them all. Mars was the father of Romulus, the Father of Rome and he had a planet named after him, because it was red – a colour that suited this angry god of war. From Mars we also get the month of March, martial law, martial arts, Field Marshalls, and the name Mark. In ancient times, Mars was depicted with a helmet/mask that strapped under the chin and sported wings of an eagle, the symbol of Rome – headgear remarkably like that worn by Marvel’s Captain America. Priests from the temple of Mars blessed all the weapons of war – a rite still practiced today.</p><p>Ultor means Avenger, an appropriate title, as Romans, far from being forgivers, were vengeful and fierce. In fact, they had a day dedicated to vengeance – the Ides of March (15th). Not only was this an international day to Mars, but also the first day of debt collection. It was around this time of year, after the Passover, that Jesus introduced his model prayer, which put him in Jerusalem during or just after the Day of Vengeance. </p><p><b>“Do not bring us into temptation.”</b></p><p>With 150 holy days each year, Romans had many temptations - overeating, over drinking and whatever other indulgences appealed at the time. This made life difficult for early Christians who were viewed as ‘man haters’ for not joining in these idolatrous revelries! </p><p>Whatever resonance the Lord’s Prayer has today, it certainly addressed some of the big issues of the day and highlights Jesus' courage and that of his disciples in making it known.</p><p><br /></p><p>Many thanks to researcher Jemison Jepson for his help with this article.</p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jacy Breanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356348634443502708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5208156690724967597.post-24874683471371544892021-03-12T01:41:00.007-08:002021-03-12T01:44:33.707-08:00Sister Prism takes on Leviathan - Extract <p> W<span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 11pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 56.65pt;">isteria screamed as the crocodile scrambled over the edge of the pit
and began chasing her round the hall. The rest of the nunjas, including Prism,
fled towards the doors, slipping and sliding as they tried to elbow each other
out of the way. First to the main door was Prism, of course, but when she
twisted the handle, nothing happened. It was locked! She shrieked and
immediately threw herself towards the back door at the other end of the hall,
skidding as she went.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 56.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"That's right, Wisteria!" she cried, "Distract him!"
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 56.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">“I’m doing my best, Sister Prism!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Wisteria certainly was! Running, leaping, dodging, weaving – anything to
keep away from the crocodile’s jaws.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 56.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At the back door, Prism pulled the others out of her path and tried the
handle. Locked!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 56.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">She growled, more from rage than terror, then raced to where the
so-called 'Divinity' stood in isolated splendour. She pulled it from its base
and used it as a battering ram, charging again and again at the door, howling
with frustration. But it was no use, the door wouldn't budge. Not an inch. All
Prism and her fellow nunjas achieved were strained biceps and a few scratches
on the woodwork. By now, the withdrawal symptoms were extremely unpleasant;
Prism was so desperate for a brew, she was prepared to go to any lengths to get
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 56.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"Help! Help!" Wisteria cried, frantically zigzagging round the
floor at 90 miles an hour to escape the crocodile.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 56.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"Aaaaaaarrrrrrrggggggghhhhhhh!" The bone piercing war cry came
from Prism who, armed with her precious divinity, charged at the beast, her
skirts flying. Whether disturbed by the noise or petrified at the sheer sight
of this hellish being, Leviathan stopped chasing Wisteria and was knocked
senseless by a zinging blow to the head. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 56.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"Is that any way to treat a poor dumb animal!?" Unnoticed by
the nunjas, Gordon had climbed out of the pit and was standing with his rope in
his hand. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 56.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">"Well, well!" exclaimed Prism. "Just look what's crawled
from the sewers! Get him, Sisters!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 56.65pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 56.65pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 56.65pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">'Flight from Fernilee' is available from Amazon and Smashword</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 56.65pt;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 56.65pt;"><br /></p>Jacy Breanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356348634443502708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5208156690724967597.post-45111646811775650232021-01-22T01:24:00.006-08:002021-04-23T03:28:23.809-07:00Saints - should we pray to them?<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The 'veneration' and proposed canonisation of Elizabeth Prout (aka Mother Mary Joseph), one of the the latest in a long line of people granted this privilege by Pope Francis - seems an appropriate time to explore ‘sainthood'.
</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">According to the Tridentine profession of faith, saints are now (it is believed) living with Jesus in heaven and can be invoked as an intercessor between communicants and God, while their relics and images are venerated.
</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">One case in point is the big toe of St Peter’s statue in Rome’s Basilica. Next to the papal ring, it is arguably Christendom’s most ‘kissable’ item, with millions bowing down to press their lips against it as they make their petitions! This toe-curling practice has not only added a shine to Peter’s foot but has doubtless spread many a tummy-bug to hapless worshipers!
</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Saints proliferate. There’s a saint for every occasion and activity you can think of. One of my favourites used to be St Genesius, patron saint of actors, lawyers, clowns, comedians, converts, dancers, musicians, printers, stenographers and victims of torture! A former thespian, he used the stage in ancient Rome to mock Christianity - until experiencing a sudden conversion mid-performance! I dare say many luvvies (who, with the possible exception of Ricky Gervais, are notoriously superstitious!) have ‘invoked’ Genesius’ help before that nerve-racking first night. Victims of torture indeed!
</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">So why do we have saints? The answer lies with the Emperor Constantine, who supposedly converted to Christianity in the 4th century. With previous Roman Emperors having tried and failed to contain this vibrant new religion, Constantine used a subtler approach: He simply fused Jesus’ pure teachings with Rome’s polluting pagan beliefs and practices.
</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Believing Jesus to be the only mediator between God and humans (1 Tim 2:5, Matt. 6:9; John 14:6, 14), genuine Christians never prayed through other intercessors, nor does scripture allow prayer to be addressed to anyone except God Almighty to whom Jesus directed his own prayers, telling his followers to do the same.
</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Which left Constantine with a dilemma. If Christians worshiped and prayed to only one God - whom nobody could see - what would happen to the thousands of pagan gods? Were they to be made redundant? Would silversmiths and image makers lose their livelihoods?
</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The solution was to re-invent Rome’s existing deities with Christians and market them as ‘Saints’. Foremost to undergo this marketing ploy was Apollo who, with his handsome features, gold halo and sun-god attributes, made a very acceptable Christ! Jesus’ earthly mother Mary became a substitute for Juno, mother of the gods and wife of Jupiter. And there have been countless other deities now posing as saints under different names.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">This tweak in understanding paved the way for the Vatican to fill its coffers, as members of the flock were encouraged to buy statues, icons and various relics of their favourite saint, totally ignoring the commandment: "You must not have any other gods besides me....You must not make for yourself a carved image...you must not bow down to them nor be enticed to serve them, for I, Jehovah your God, am a God who requires exclusive devotion." (Exodus 20:3-5)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
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</span></p><p><br /></p>Jacy Breanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356348634443502708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5208156690724967597.post-2480448575160372702020-12-28T02:45:00.002-08:002022-09-25T05:37:24.467-07:00Ninja Nuns and Nunjas<p><i>Extract from Flight from Fernilee</i></p><p>“One by one, they approached the golden dragon, raised their hands above their head and, with clenched fists, clicked both wrists together by way of a salute. The last to do so was Sister Prism who then clapped her hands as a signal for the chanting to stop, opened her arms wide and began to address the image. </p><p>"Oh, mighty Babel! We come to offer our praise. Grant us power for the task you set before us."</p><p>"Power be upon us," murmured the rest of the women. Sister Prism turned to the congregation and announced, "Let our devotions begin!"</p><p>Suddenly, the whole atmosphere changed from one of hushed reverence to charged energy. Most of the Nunjas formed a circle which two of them entered. This couple bowed to each other, held up their staffs in a ritualistic salute and then, accompanied by ear-splitting shrieks, threw themselves into a frenzied bout of gravity-defying leaps, kicks and parries, using their staffs, their agility, and even their feet to gain an advantage over their partner. It was a truly mesmerising display, both women swirling and somersaulting with grace. Even their frumpy frocks seemed elegant, transformed to the exotic robes of Samurai warriors. </p><p>"Wow!" exclaimed Joe. "They're like Ninjas!" </p><p>"That's right!" Odi replied. "Ninja nuns! Nunjas! Just look at them go!" And he chuckled to himself, enjoying the display. Joe, however, felt more fear than at any time since his capture. It wasn't so much the Kung Fu that disturbed him, although the sight of shrieking women hurling themselves around was bad enough. No, it was the image of the dragon. His skin crawled whenever he looked at it. How he wished he could go home.</p><p>Worse was to come, however. Sister Prism had taken to the floor and her fellow nunjas stopped their own activities to watch in awed silence. After a series of amazing feats, she was halfway through a stunning mid-air pirouette when Odi, bloated from his recent gorging in the larder, burped. </p><p>Loudly."</p><p><br /></p><p>US: </p><p>https://www.amazon.com/Flight-Fernilee-Jacy-Brean-ebook/dp/B07K24G3GJ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Flight+from+fernilee&qid=1609152010&sr=8-1</p><p><br /></p><p>UK:</p><p>https://www.amazon.co.uk/Flight-Fernilee-Jacy-Brean/dp/1086551907/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Flight+from+fernilee&qid=1609152215&sr=8-1</p>Jacy Breanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356348634443502708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5208156690724967597.post-2666954471880035222020-12-02T12:47:00.001-08:002020-12-02T12:50:23.477-08:00Nature or Neutering<p>Ok, in the overall scheme of things, a cat's castration is not very high on the scale of earth-shattering events. Unless you're a cat, of course. Or its owner.</p><p>My family have always had cats. Dogs too, but they generally escape the enforced neutering ritual imposed on the feline species. So this blog is about my cat who, having played innocently enough with the cats next-door for most of his young life, had begun to show amorous inclinations. It was obviously time to get him "done". </p><p>This assumption that "getting done" was the done thing was quite a dilemma for me. My previous cat had been female and the thought of her having kittens was a definite no-no. I never stopped to consider whether she had the right to bear young. In fact, she-cats who have more than one unplanned litter are viewed as being abused. The male, however, is somehow expected to spread his seed and emasculation seems a drastic way to control him. Cruel and unnatural.</p><p>But is that because we tend to humanise animals? To credit them with reasoning way beyond their prospects. After all, a male cat is unlikely to find a mate for life; to get married and raise a family. Toms are led by instinct, by the scent of a female on heat that is becoming rarer and increasingly difficult to track. </p><p>A man I knew who was irresistibly drawn to women once compared his libido to a raging animal to which he was chained. A passing glance from a member of the fairer sex was enough to trigger the beast. Fortunately, this very intelligent man was (usually) able to control his urges, to reason things out. "The wife wouldn't like it" or "I haven't the time/money/energy to pursue her, and anyway I might catch Covid." Nicely under control, as expected from a sentient being who doesn't want to get arrested. </p><p>Humans have a choice.</p><p>It's not the same with cats. All it takes is a whiff of a fertile female and that's it. Common sense out of the window, on the trail no matter how far. She doesn't even have to be good-looking! A tom cat will brave almost anything for a one-night stand; traffic, razor wire, rival males and irate gardeners. He may get lost, run over or run out of town. But so strong is his urge to mate, he really doesn't care. </p><p>So, it's off to the vets. </p><p>https://www.cats.org.uk/tenterden/feature-pages/why-neuter-your-cp</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jacy Breanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356348634443502708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5208156690724967597.post-16084864200412253922020-10-24T06:28:00.006-07:002020-10-24T06:48:16.970-07:00Time off Purgatory for following Pope Francis<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Reading
this, I could hardly believe my eyes! Is the Roman Catholic Church STILL
holding onto this medieval superstition?</span></p><div style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><b><span face="Abadi, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">"In the final analysis, the Catholic doctrine
on purgatory is based on tradition, not Sacred Scripture” – New Catholic
Encylopedia</span></b></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face="Abadi, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> Not quite as
bad as hell, an everlasting place of excruciating torment for the wicked and
anyone guilty of mortal sin during their lifetime, purgatory is a halfway house
for people who commit venial sins; people who, with sufficient prayers, masses,
indulgences and, most important, the funds to pay the priests for all these
vital little extras, may at some unspecified time in the future be paroled. Now
it seems pressing the ‘Follow’ button on @Pontifex entitles you to extra time
out from the fiery furnace. Heaven knows how many days you earn for a retweet
or favourite, but I imagine the Pope will be sending out vouchers for every
Extreme-unction - bringing centuries of extortion and fear-mongering bang up to
date!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face="Abadi, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> But is there
any basis for believing in Hell, Purgatory, or indeed the ‘after life’? In
order to make the answers, we first need to trace the source of such beliefs,
to find out whether there is any foundation for them. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span face="Abadi, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">“The
…..common view holds that ……..there is some positive <br />
punishment…..In the Latin Church it has been generally maintained that
this pain is imposed through real fire.” – New Catholic Enyclopedia</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face="Abadi, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span face=""Abadi",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> Cue Ancient Babylon,
home of Nimrod and many uncanny practices still in use today. Fortune-telling,
omen-spotting, entrail-reading, runes, star-gazing and communing with the dead
all have their roots in this magic-obsessed city. Incidentally, Babylon also
invented the fiscal system, which, considering recent history, some may regard
as the ultimate nightmare!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face="Abadi, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span face=""Abadi",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">
Ironically, atheists’ refusal to believe in a separate,
invisible soul is backed up by scripture. Here, death is clearly
shown to be a state of total unconsciousness, a dreamless sleep from which,
according to several Bible verses (particularly the Lazarus account) people
will ‘awake’ to a <i>physical</i> resurrection when paradise is
restored on earth.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span face=""Abadi",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“There is no dichotomy [division] of body and soul
in the O[ld] T[estament]….The term <i>nepeš [ne’phesh], </i>though
translated by our word soul, never means soul as distinct from the body or the
individual person….The term [<i>psy-khe’</i>] is the N[ew] T[estament]
word corresponding with <i>nepeš. </i>It can mean the principle of
life, life itself, or the living being.” – <i>New Catholic Enyclopedia</i></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face="Abadi, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span face=""Abadi",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> The Mosaic Law did not
allow for any form of spiritism whatsoever - in fact it was forbidden on pain
of death for the nation of Israel - and it wasn’t until Greece began to stride
the world stage that afterlife philosophies began to take root.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face="Abadi, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span face=""Abadi",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">
In the fourth century CE, the Roman Emperor Constantine,
unable to quell the rise of Christianity by other means and determined to unite
his empire, cunningly infused original gospel teachings with pagan
beliefs such as the immortality of the soul, the trinity
doctrine, and – that most terrifying concept of all – eternal
hellfire! The Biblical word rendered as ‘hell’ in many versions simply means
‘grave’ or ‘death’. (Hebrew - sheol; Greek - Hades)</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;"><b><span face=""Abadi",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“The belief that the soul continues its existence
after the dissolution of the body is a matter of philosophical or theological
speculation rather than of simple faith, and is accordingly nowhere expressly
taught in Holy Scripture.” – <i>The Jewish Enyclopedia</i></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span face="Abadi, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span face=""Abadi",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> Constantine’s
‘miraculous conversion’ marked the beginning of the Holy Roman Empire from
which the rest of Christendom developed, combining Bible accounts with
Babylonish rites and practices while keeping generations of adherents in
ignorance. The Dark Ages had truly begun and the Bible was unavailable to the
majority of people until the 16</span><sup><span face=""Abadi",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">th</span></sup><span face=""Abadi",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> century when William Tyndale translated the
Bible from the Latin Vulgate into English. His aim - for ‘even a plowboy’ to
understand scripture - was not appreciated by the church; hardly surprising as,
from the Vatican to house churches, Christendom has done more than any other
organisation to promote spiritistic practices. According to one spiritualist I
met some years ago, “the church already preaches life after death – all mediums
do is prove it!”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face=""Abadi",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">
What harm does it do? Well, for one thing, the whole concept of life after
death is a cruel deception, especially for people who have lost a loved one.
Believing they can communicate through a spiritualist medium can lead to all
kinds of fraud and extortion; even if the medium is basically well-meaning, it
can still open the floodgates to a very dangerous world. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face=""Abadi",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> As for the
churches, keeping the flocks in fear of everlasting torture has proved very
lucrative, with masses for the dead, plenary indulgences, prayers and various
fetishes swelling their coffers over centuries. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face="Abadi, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><b><span face=""Abadi",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">“….The
nether world…..is pictured as a place full of horrors, and is presided over by
gods and demons of great strength and fierceness.” – <i>The Religion of
Babylonia and Assyria, </i>Boston, 1998, Morris Jastrow, Jr)</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face=""Abadi",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">
But the worst sin to my mind is the reproach beliefs such
as hellfire and purgatory create towards the Creator. Would a loving Father,
even a sinful human one, hold a child against a fire until he screamed in agony?
Is being damned to everlasting torture even just for the amount of sinning
humans can fit into their three-score years and ten?</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face="Abadi, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span face=""Abadi",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">
I doubt it. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Abadi",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Jacy Breanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356348634443502708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5208156690724967597.post-68615817336731477222020-10-15T00:16:00.000-07:002020-10-15T00:16:01.848-07:00Ghosts, zombies, vampires....Is there life after death?<p><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"> <span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> With an unprecedented fascination for the occult over the last few years, </span><span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">spiritistic themes are providing juicy pickings for the film industry. Well, box office takings speak for themselves. </span><span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></p><div class="MsoNormal"><span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"> But is there any basis for believing in the ‘undead’ or the ‘after life’? Are films that feature spiritism in its myriad forms suitable for the young and impressionable? In order to find the answers, we first need to trace the source of such beliefs, to find out whether there is any foundation for them.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"> Cue Ancient Babylon, home of Nimrod and many uncanny practices still in use today. Fortune-telling, omen-spotting, entrail-reading, runes, star-gazing and communing with the dead all have their roots in this magic-obsessed city. (Incidentally, Babylon also invented the fiscal system, which, considering recent history, some may regard as the ultimate nightmare!)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"> Ironically, atheists’ refusal to believe in a separate, invisible soul is backed up by scripture. Here, death is clearly shown to be a state of total unconsciousness, a dreamless sleep from which, according to several Bible verses (particularly the Lazarus account) people will ‘awake’ to a <i>physical</i> resurrection when paradise is restored on earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"> The Mosaic Law did not allow for any form of spiritism whatsoever - in fact it was forbidden on pain of death for the nation of Israel - and it wasn’t until Greece began to stride the world stage that afterlife philosophies began to take root. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"> Unbelievably, considering their supposed Christan roots and reliance on the Bible, churches of every denomination have espoused and continue to promote the false teaching of a separate, immortal soul. This is in fact one of the greatest conspiracy against true teaching that has ever existed - Satan's original lie to Eve in the garden of Eden. (Gen 3:1-5) </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"> In the fourth century CE, the Roman Emperor Constantine, unable to quell the rise of Christianity by other means and determined to unite his empire, cunningly infused original gospel teachings with pagan beliefs such as the immortality of the soul, the trinity doctrine, and – that most terrifying concept of all – eternal hellfire!+ </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"> </span><span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">Constantine’s ‘miraculous conversion’ marked the beginning of the Holy Roman Empire from which the rest of Christendom developed, combining Bible accounts with Babylonish rites and practices while keeping generations of adherents in ignorance. </span><span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">The Dark Ages had truly begun; and the Bible was unavailable to the majority of people until the 16</span><sup>th</sup><span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;"> century when William Tyndale translated the Bible from the Latin Vulgate into English. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 14pt;"> Tyndale's aim - for ‘even a plowboy’ to understand scripture - was not appreciated by the church; hardly surprising as, from the Vatican to house churches, Christendom has done more than any other organisation to promote spiritistic practices. According to one spiritualist I met some years ago, “the church already preaches life after death – all mediums do is prove it!”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"> What harm does it do? Well, for one thing, the whole concept of life after death is a cruel deception, especially for people who have lost a loved one. Believing they can communicate through a spiritualist medium can lead to all kinds of fraud and extortion; even if the medium is basically well-meaning, it can still open the floodgates to a very dangerous world.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"> One particular form of spiritism – now available as a game! – is the Ouija board, regarded by many as a bit of harmless fun. Others, however, no longer share that view. While at university, John*, a relative of mine, was persuaded to attend several Ouija board séances by a neighbouring couple. At first, the spirit seemed friendly and jovial but over several weeks, it became more sinister, prompting John to avoid these sessions. He was reminded of them sometime later when watching a movie about demon possession: “The first scene showed people playing with a Ouija board,” he explains, “What really scared me was how closely the spirit portrayed in the film mirrored the one conjured up by the couple at my student digs! Afterwards, I couldn’t sleep for weeks thinking how close I’d come to having the same horrific experiences. There’s no doubt the movie played on my mind and had a very negative, frightening effect.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"> Such negative feelings are common in those who dabble with spiritism, sometimes even resulting in serious mental illness as the unwary are drawn into darker and darker practices. (Apparently, John’s former friends eventually joined a coven).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"> Fascinated with fortune-telling, Mary* began visiting a psychic to gain insight into the future. Dissatisfied with her safe but dull husband, she believed the psychic’s prediction that a special man would into her life – prompting her into a divorce, a disastrous love affair and a life of poverty for herself and two children. It was only after a particularly harrowing session to which she’d been invited that she finally came to her senses, realising how deep her obsession with the occult had become.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"> Others are not so fortunate, developing paranoia or psychotic symptoms, hearing voices, and suffering night terrors with horrific dreams. In many countries, the occult is particularly rife with of voodoo priests and witches threatening curses or spells in order to bend others to their will. Fear of vengeful spirits has caused many to be forced into drugs, slavery and prostitution.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"> So much suffering could be so easily avoided if only people knew the truth. That’s why care should be taken with the kind of entertainment we choose. If it promotes spiritism, it could create a chink for unwelcome and unwholesome forces.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">*Not their real names<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">+</span><span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 18.6667px;">The Biblical word rendered as ‘hell’ in many versions simply means ‘grave’ or </span><span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 18.6667px;"> </span><span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-size: 18.6667px;">‘death’. (Hebrew - sheol; Greek - Hades)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span face=""tahoma" , sans-serif" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span face=""eurostile" , sans-serif" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">http://books.google.co.uk/books/about/The_Two_Babylons.html?id=OD_ATrB-g2gC&redir_esc=y<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span face=""eurostile" , sans-serif" style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><br /></span></div>Jacy Breanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356348634443502708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5208156690724967597.post-86262374682863846242020-09-28T04:30:00.006-07:002023-03-23T23:32:04.336-07:00Hang-gliding - Hitting the Heights in the Peak<p>“Joe and the others held their breath, awaiting their awful fate but, suddenly, from out of the sky, four great shadows appeared, each with ten-foot wings. One by one, they whooshed down from above, snatched a child from the enemy's claws and ascended sharply back into the air. The women, now a hundred feet below, yelped with frustration, like hyenas cheated of their prey.” - Extract from Flight from Fernilee.*</p><p> Are they planes? Are they prehistoric birds? No, they’re hang-gliders, soaring into the skies like brightly-coloured and highly adventurous eagles. Considered by enthusiasts to be the most demanding, yet exhilarating, of all free flight experiences, hang-gliding provides a wider scope than para-gliding, as pilots can climb faster and more freely in varying winds and weather conditions. Which no doubt explains why this thrilling activity is so popular in the Derbyshire Peak, where Pennines to the east and Welsh hills to the west create a climate as hard to predict as the next Derby winner.</p><p> Take a hike up Mam Tor near Castleton on a bright, breezy day and you’re likely to see hang-gliders preparing for flight - that’s if they’re not too out-of-breath from hauling their gear up to the summit! Quite often, these intrepid birdmen and women seem to spend ages not really doing very much, but they’re actually waiting for the ideal conditions in which to take off, no doubt gauging the weather by means of a wind sock. Pilots also need to assess any hazards in the area and ensure maximum safety for themselves and others. </p><p> Accidents do happen, although these usually involve unqualified pilots who, having acquired the equipment, believe all they have to do is take a running jump from the nearest hilltop. Fortunately, most hang gliders have been thoroughly trained by a British Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association (BHPA) registered school, a course that normally takes about 10 days. Pupils learn how inspect their kit and assemble it safely, to assess the dangers, to read the weather, to take off and to land properly – ideally on their feet. However, in case landings go wrong, trainees also learn how to roll to minimise injuries. </p><p> When learning to fly, some gliders are ‘aero towed’, or hitched by winches to microlights, which pull them into the air. According to Airways Airsports, this is the easiest way to get airborne as it cuts out all the hassle of hill-climbing over and over again just to gain a few seconds of flight. Airways Airsports’ professional team - including three-times World Champion Judy Leden MBE and World record holder Chris Dawes - provides tandem hang-gliding aerotow tuition for beginners, helping them spread their wings with 20-30 minutes in the air from their very first lesson. </p><p> Whether they could swoop down and rescue four adolescents and one hairy shot-putting Scotsman from the ground is open to debate but, for those who know what they’re doing, it’s an exhilarating experience like no other.</p><p>*Flight from Fernilee is available from Amazon and Smashwords</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Jacy Breanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356348634443502708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5208156690724967597.post-17314489772506805472020-07-31T04:18:00.004-07:002021-07-12T11:32:56.445-07:00Christians in Ancient Rome - Why were they hated?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Child sacrifice, ritual drinking of human blood, sedition, brainwashing, breaking up families, hatred of men, intolerance...the list continues.<br />
<br />
A satanic cult? The next horror movie? No, the above accusations were levelled against early Christians whom Jesus warned would be hated. Why? "Because you are no part of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, for this reason the world hates you." (John 15:9)<br />
<br />
This hatred soon became manifest: Due to false allegations by religious leaders, Jesus was condemned to a tortuous, humiliating death; his followers were hounded and lies and persecution have persisted against them ever since.
Here are a few examples of the difficulties Christians faced in the 1st and 2nd centuries CE.<br />
<br />
<b>Child sacrifice</b><br />
<br />
In Ancient Rome, detractors of this new religion - originally known as The Way - accused its followers of murdering children, despite the Christians' firm stand against abortion, a common practice at the time. And, ignoring the scriptural command to 'abstain from blood', enemies tried to force Christians to eat blood sausage while still alleging children's blood was consumed at Christian meetings - blissfully unaware of the obvious contradictions!<br />
<br />
<b>Hostile to the State</b><br />
<br />
Far from conducting such monstrous practices, early Christians tried to live peaceably with their neighbours as far as their Godly principles would allow. Not an easy task, as the world at the time was grossly immoral and steeped in Greco-Roman idolatry, which included Emperor worship and presented severe problems for Christ's followers. Actually, Rome had no problem with new beliefs, even adopting foreign gods they took a shine to. However, the State's pagan religion was always expected to come first and people who rejected such worship - either Caesar or other deities - were declared as atheists, hostile to the State.<br />
<br />
Oxford professor E.G. Hardy referred to Tertullian, who he claimed, "enumerates many things which were impossible for a conscientious Christian, as involving idolatry: e.g. oath usual at contracts; the illumination of doors at festivals, etc.; all Pagan religious ceremonies; the games and the circus; the profession of teaching secular [heathen classical] literature; military service; public offices." - <i>Christianity and the Roman Government.</i><br />
<br />
French Catholic author A. Hamman writes: "It was impossible to take a step without encountering a divinity. The Christian's position brought him daily problems; he lived on the edge of society...He faced recurring problems in the home, in the streets, at the market...in the street, whether a Roman citizen or not, a Christian should bare his head when passing a temple or statue. How could he refrain from doing so without arousing suspicion, yet how could he comply without committing an act of allegiance? If he was in business and needed to borrow money, he had to swear to the moneylender in the name of the gods...If he accepted public office, he was expected to offer a sacrifice. If enlisted, how could he avoid taking the oath and participating in the rites of military service?" - <i>La vie quotidienne des premiers chretiens (Daily Life Among the Early Christians, 95-197 C.E.)</i><br />
<br />
<b>Spoken against everywhere</b><br />
<br />
While the apostle Paul was awaiting trial in Rome - then under Emperor Nero - prominent Jews said of Christians: "Truly as regards this sect it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against." (Acts 28:22) Historians and religious scholars can certainly bear this out.<br />
<br />
E.W. Barnes writes: "In its early authoritative documents, the Christian movement is represented as essentially moral and law-abiding. Its members desired to be good citizens and loyal subjects. They shunned the failings and vices of paganism. In private life, they sought to be peaceful neighbours and trustworthy friends. They were taught to be sober, industrious and clean-living. Amid prevailing corruption and licentiousness, they were, if loyal to their principles, honest and truthful. Their sexual standards were high: the marriage tie was respected, and family life was pure. With such virtues they could not, one would have thought, have been troublesome citizens. Yet they were for long despised, maligned and hated." - <i>The Rise of Christianity</i><br />
<br />
<b>Haters of the human race - breaking up families</b><br />
<br />
By refusing to bow down to the emperor and pagan divinities, Christians were blamed for any catastrophe, having supposedly angered the gods. By not watching immoral plays or bloody gladiatorial displays, they were considered antisocial - 'haters of the human race'. Amongst other accusations, this 'sect' was said to break up families, destabilising the social order - and Tertullian spoke of pagan husbands who would rather their wives were unfaithful than Christian.<br />
<br />
Says Historian Kenneth Scott Latourette, "Still another set of charges held Christianity up to ridicule for its recent origin and contrasted it with the antiquity of its rivals [Judaism and the Greco-Roman pagan religions]." -<i> A History of the Expansion of Christianity, Volume 1, page 131)</i><br />
<br />
Robert M. Grant refers to 2nd century C.E. Roman historian Suetonius who called Christianity "a new and mischievous superstition." Officials of the Roman Empire certainly viewed Christians in a negative light. "The basic view was that Christianity was simplh an unnecessary, possibly a harmful, religion." <i>Early Christianity and Society.</i><br />
<br />
<b>Aggressive proselytising</b> </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Sorbonne Professor Jean Bernardi explains that "[Christians] were to go out and speak everywhere and to everyone. On the highways and in the cities, on the public squares and in the homes. Welcome or unwelcome. To the poor, and to the rich encumbered by their possessions. To the small and to the governors of the Roman provinces...They had to take to the road, board ships, and go to the ends of the earth." - <i>Les premiers siecles de l'Eglise (The Early Centuries of the Church).</i><br />
<br />
According to Professor Leon Homo, early Christians were generally disliked for their "ardent proselytism." Professor Latourette states that, while the Jews lost their zeal for proselytising, "Christians, on the other hand, were aggressively missionary and so aroused resentment."<br />
<br />
<b>Targeting the gullible</b><br />
<br />
Roman philosopher Celsus also criticised the Christians' preaching methods, stating that Christianity was for the uneducated and that it could convince "only the stupid, slaves, women, and little children." Christians, he felt, were indoctrinating "gullible people," having them "believe without rational thought." He claimed new disciples were not to "ask questions; just believe." Yet, as Origen pointed out, Celsus had to admit that "it was not the simple alone who were led by the doctrine of Jesus to adopt His religion."<br />
<br />
<b>Intolerant</b><br />
<br />
Early Christians claimed to possess the truth of the one true God. They were not open to ecumenism, or interfaith. "Unlike most of the faiths of the time," claims Latourette, "[the Christians] were hostile to other religions...in contrast with the fairly broad tolerance which characterised other cults, they declared that they had final truth."<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>
Law-breaking</b><br />
<br />
In 202 C.E., Emperor Septimus Severus issued an edict forbidding the Christians to make converts. This however, did not stop them from witnessing about their faith. Says Latourette, "In its refusal to compromise with many of the social customs and moral practices of the times [early Christianity developed a coherence and an organisation which set it over against society. The very break required to join it gave to its adherents a conviction which constituted a source of strength against persecution and of zeal in winning converts."<br />
<br />
<b>No part of the world</b><br />
<br />
The historical record speaks for itself. While trying to be good citizens and live peaceably with all men, early Christians refused to become "part of the world" as Jesus commanded. They respected the authorities but, in obedience "to God rather than men," kept on preaching even when forbidden. They refused to compromise on moral standards and rejected pagan idolatry. For this they were despised, maligned, hated, and persecuted - just as Christ foretold. (John 15:9)</div>
Jacy Breanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356348634443502708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5208156690724967597.post-51323057657959581842020-07-03T08:24:00.007-07:002021-09-20T01:05:42.606-07:00“In the Blink of an Eye Reborn” - The Story of Locked-in Syndrome Sufferer Peter Coghlan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-rX9NYMlZ417Y2SZU3Lj8tCqwVQJdIWHDiYWY7z-af4Oyk8ZuCQetmNfV8S1IsFT6H6l_n1Wlr5hfwdQNTvu_PoiF0R15yuUG7t6yJF3JmxBzv88e809HOdLbHSi8Vo1wMcwe4FFZUH8/s1600/peter+with+bird+and+cuppa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-rX9NYMlZ417Y2SZU3Lj8tCqwVQJdIWHDiYWY7z-af4Oyk8ZuCQetmNfV8S1IsFT6H6l_n1Wlr5hfwdQNTvu_PoiF0R15yuUG7t6yJF3JmxBzv88e809HOdLbHSi8Vo1wMcwe4FFZUH8/s320/peter+with+bird+and+cuppa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /></div>
On 21st March 2011, Peter Coghlan suffered a massive brain stem stroke, leaving him totally paralysed except for vertical movement of his eyes. A classic case of Locked-in Syndrome (LIS), a rare condition from which sufferers were not expected to recover.<br />
<br />Peter was by no means a typical patient. At just 33 years old and having moved from the UK to Perth, Western Australia, he had wonderful prospects before him – a life in the sun, enjoyable work and marriage to his fiancée, Jade. Not even his devastating illness was going to prevent his dreams coming true.
For weeks, he lay in hospital, afraid, helpless and unable to communicate. Initially, his prognosis was poor. Considering him to be brain-dead, doctors even discussed switching off his life support.<br />
<br />
Fortunately, his fiancée Jade, who had been scouring through the internet for any information she could find on LIS, encouraged him to blink if he understood her. Then, with the help of an alphabet board he was able to communicate. One blink for ‘Yes’, two blinks for ‘No’. He also began to progress physically, becoming the world’s fastest recovering locked-in survivor.<br />
<br />
Just 6 months and 1 day after his stroke, Peter walked out of hospital – weak and unsteady, yet nevertheless a free man.
Written in the first person, the book begins with the onset of Peter’s illness, charting events as they occur to emphasise the sheer terror and confusion Pete experienced at the time, along with horrific hallucinations.<br />
<br />
While locked-in, Peter reflects on his life, written in a series of flashbacks – his happy childhood, his adolescent pranks and brushes with the law, his meeting with Jade, and life in the army with all its dangers and abuses. During his tour of Northern Ireland, Pete was not only surrounded by mobs but also suffered bullying from older soldiers.
His army career came to end when he was diagnosed with cancer - Hodgkins Lymphoma – which he overcame.<br />
<br />
Refusing to accept that he would never walk or talk again, Pete used visualisation – imagining his hand was a lobster’s claw which he repeatedly tried to close. This technique eventually triggered the memory of his synapses, sending messages to his fingers, willing them to move. These efforts paid off, and it was with tears in his eyes he blinked out a message to Jade from his Alphabet Board: “LOOK AT MY HAND”.
The movement was small but enough for his neurologist Professor David Blacker to refer Peter for physiotherapy. This decision was crucial to Pete’s astonishing recovery.<br />
<br />
The second part of the book tells of Peter’s fight to regain his life – his wedding to Jade, their move to Thailand where his father set them up in their own business – a small restaurant which failed dismally – and desperate but fruitless efforts to repair their relationship.
Despite the heartache, after returning to Perth Peter continued to improve, eventually re-discovering his voice and qualifying to be a health care worker. And, throughout his trials, Peter kept, charting his experiences from the onset of his stroke to his current state of health.<br />
<br />
Due to Pete’s colourful past, sheer determination and astonishing recovery, this story – though harrowing at times - is inspirational and life-affirming.
Lying in his hospital bed, seemingly alone, Peter promised God that if he could only get well again, he’d do everything possible to help others in similar situations. This book is just one of the ways he intends to do that.
Available on Amazon<br />
<br />
<br />
https://www.amazon.com/Blink-Eye-Reborn-PeterCoghlan/dp/1727145593/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1593787390&sr=8-1
UK:<br />
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blink-Eye-Reborn-Peter-Coghlan/dp/1727145593/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2CAIJA8FWLOBT&dchild=1&keywords=in+the+blink+of+an+eye+reborn&qid=1593787494&sprefix=in+the+blink+of+an+eye%2Caps%2C277&sr=8-1</div>
Jacy Breanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356348634443502708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5208156690724967597.post-41089689600820482122020-06-26T06:31:00.007-07:002020-07-03T08:18:04.083-07:00The Purple Cave - Extract 'Flight from Fernilee'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.85pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 56.65pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal; text-indent: 56.65pt;"><span lang="" style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Slowly and
steadily, they continued along an underground river, the tunnel now so dark and
narrow Odi began to hyperventilate again.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.85pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 56.65pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="" style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">"Just
what I need," he whined, "another bout of close-to-phobia!"</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.85pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 56.65pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="" style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">"Claustrophobia,"
Alice corrected him. "Seems pretty close to me!" replied Odi, for
once unable to think of anything clever to say. To his great relief, they soon
reached another, bigger cavern. So big, in fact, it resembled a magnificent
palace, adorned with shafts of sunlight from above. As the Judith Mary
approached its</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal; text-indent: 56.65pt;"><span lang="" style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> mooring, coming to rest on the banks of a crystal lagoon, all
aboard gaped in astonishment. Not only was the cavern wonderfully
bright and airy, it was like no other they had ever seen before.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.85pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 56.65pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="" style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">"It's
purple!" Joe cried. "All purple and shiny!"</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.85pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 56.65pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="" style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">"We must
be in the Blue John mines." Laurel suggested.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.85pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 56.65pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="" style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">"But
it's <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">purple</span>!"
insisted Joe.</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.85pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-indent: 56.65pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="" style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">"Blue
John IS purple, Silly," Alice tutted despairingly. "Don't you boys
know anything?"</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.85pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-indent: 56.65pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="" style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">"Oh, so that's why it's called <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">blue</span>!" said Odi with a good
dollop of sarcasm. "The stuff's purple, so naturally, you call it <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Blue</span>. That's cool, and not at <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">all</span> confusing!" – Flight
from Fernilee* <o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.85pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-indent: 56.65pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="" style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></i></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyP1WF97_rVvMiiRIm82dz2R9i34odk3SC-8GmlaegQsdpwtDZU0BkL8XY-URnXEEQWFoxY8IIVbeZo3ST7w-licRSnTrNJikjvD_BNhSGIhBZQmxS59GUGTeKVsuwNPhTTBJb2QN1Knw/s1600/blue+john+in+castleton+heritage+centre.jpg" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 75.5333px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="1280" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyP1WF97_rVvMiiRIm82dz2R9i34odk3SC-8GmlaegQsdpwtDZU0BkL8XY-URnXEEQWFoxY8IIVbeZo3ST7w-licRSnTrNJikjvD_BNhSGIhBZQmxS59GUGTeKVsuwNPhTTBJb2QN1Knw/s320/blue+john+in+castleton+heritage+centre.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Samples of Blue John at Castleton Heritage Centre</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: 56.65pt;">No
wonder Odi was confused. Despite its name, Blue John – a semi-precious stone
from Castleton in Derbyshire – is generously threaded by bands of purple which
tend to predominate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.85pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-indent: 56.65pt;">
<span lang="" style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">However,
there is also a yellow banded variety of this rare fluorite and one theory is
that, during the reign of Louis XVI, it was exported for use by French ormolu
workers who dubbed it ‘bleu-jeune’ (or ‘blue- yellow’ to Derbyshire folk like
me!) Another source for the Blue John name may be miners drafted in from
Cornwall. They referred to the stone as ‘bleujenn’, a Cornish term for a flower
or blossom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.85pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-indent: 56.65pt;">
<span lang="" style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">According
to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Gem of the Peak” </i>by 19<sup>th</sup>
century writer William Adam, Blue John was discovered by the Romans but, as no
evidence has ever been found for such a claim, we might put it down to
historical embroidery! What we DO know is that Blue John was a popular material
for fireplace panels during the mid-18<sup>th</sup> century. A Blue John plaque
dated around 1760 can be seen in the Friary Hotel in Derby, while Robert Adam,
the famous architect and interior designer used it to decorate nearby
Kedlestone Hall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.85pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-indent: 56.65pt;">
<span lang="" style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">At
their 18<sup>th</sup> century peak, the Blue John Cavern and Treak Cliff Cavern
in Castleton (the only sites in the UK where Blue John is mined*) produced 20
tons per annum. By the late 19<sup>th</sup> century, 3 tons per annum was mined,
a figure further reduced to a mere half a ton today. Castleton is highly
protective over its unique resource which is why all items made from Blue John,
such as boxes, pots, vases and distinctive jewellery, are created by local
craftsmen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="" style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">*The
only other place where Blue John can be found is the Deqing Fluorite mine in
the Zhejiang Province of China. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.85pt; margin-bottom: 12pt; text-indent: 56.65pt;">
<span lang="" style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">*Flight
from Fernilee is available from Amazon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">UK: </span><u><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Flight-Fernilee-Jacy-Brean/dp/1086551907/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1593177572&sr=8-1">https://www.amazon.co.uk/Flight-Fernilee-Jacy-Brean/dp/1086551907/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1593177572&sr=8-1</a><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 13.85pt; margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">US: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Flight-Fernilee-Jacy-Brean-ebook/dp/B07K24G3GJ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Flight+from+fernilee&qid=1593177877&sr=8-1"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.amazon.com/Flight-Fernilee-Jacy-Brean-ebook/dp/B07K24G3GJ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Flight+from+fernilee&qid=1593177877&sr=8-1</span></a></span><span lang="" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Jacy Breanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356348634443502708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5208156690724967597.post-67972595772643642992020-05-21T03:35:00.011-07:002020-06-25T02:43:07.196-07:00Truth or Tradition?<div>War is raging between Pope Francis and members of his flock. Abortion, LBGTQ rights, political affiliations, women priests, globalism and various social issues have divided Catholics as never before between conservatives and liberal progressives.</div><div>But, as a convent-educated ex-Catholic, this is not my fight. The Church has moved so far away from Jesus Christ's teachings, the only real battle for minds and hearts - of all faiths - is Truth versus Tradition. </div><div>A few years ago, a young Christian I know was involved in a discussion with a Catholic bishop and his companion, a Hebrew scholar. Both men were charming, well-spoken and extremely well-educated. Rosemary, * on the other hand, was the product of a good but basic state education and had rejected university in favour of a steady job in banking. She did, however, have one huge advantage...a lifelong love and keen understanding of the Bible.</div><div>The discussion began with the trinity, a doctrine so cherished by Christendom that every denomination must hold the trinity as its core belief to join the World Council of Churches. Yet, sacred as it may be to Catholics in particular, the concept of a triune god – i.e. three gods in one - was adopted in the 3rd century, ** no doubt to draw pagans into the new religion. Other pagan ideas, such as hellfire, purgatory, immortality and idol worship were also included, sullying the pure teachings of the Gospels. </div><div>Unable to defend the trinity in the face of Bible truth, the bishop became exasperated. “Young woman!” he exclaimed. “Don’t you realise, the Catholic Church is based on centuries of Tradition?”</div><div>Rosemary remembered Jesus’ words to the Pharisees when he accused them of making God’s word invalid by their traditions. (Mark 7:7-9,13)</div><div>“If it came to a choice, which would you obey,” she asked, “Your traditions or the Bible?”</div><div>The bishop's answer was unequivocal. “Tradition! Tradition, tradition, tradition!”</div><div>Which should we obey?</div><div><br /></div><div>*Not her real name.</div><div><br /></div><div>**"Many think the Trinity doctrine was formulated at the Council of Nicaea in 325 C.E. That is not totally correct, however. The Council of Nicaea did assert that Christ was of the same substance as God, which laid the groundwork for later Trinitarian theology. But it did not establish the Trinity, for at that council there was no mention of the holy spirit as the third person of a triune Godhead.” https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1101989303#h=1 </div><div> </div><div><br /></div>Jacy Breanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356348634443502708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5208156690724967597.post-35311469891030442422020-03-29T08:16:00.000-07:002020-03-29T08:40:17.622-07:00When coronovirus is over...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Seeing as I'll be using at least some of my lockdown time to regenerate my blog, it's only fitting to devote a short post to this strange, unsettling confinement.<br />
In actual fact, I was rather looking forward to it. I had such plans. As well as blogging, I was going to give my dusty old house a thorough spring clean and maybe (if really desperate) a lick of paint. I also have a mountain of books to read, and a whole raft of chat groups to visit, populated by wise and witty friends, and, of course, Twitter. I could refresh my foreign languages, learn a new skill, and even write a novel - oh yes, time would fly!<br />
So what have I been doing since my self-isolation began?<br />
Slumping on my sofa with endless cups of tea watching daytime TV.<br />
The last time I slobbed out like this, I was out of work, my daughter had decamped to London and for the first time in my life I could do exactly what I wanted....as long as it didn't cost anything.<br />
I was quite industrious at first. Realising my Jobseekers Allowance wasn't going to pay many bills, I spent hours advertising my freelance services with flyers, emails and straightforward begging letters only to meet with a blank wall....and then I found myself being inexplicably lured in an entirely new direction...<br />
It was only meant to keep me company; a reassuring presence, a hum of friendly voices and familiar faces....besides, I told myself, I needed to keep up with the news, to be informed, alert to world conditions.<br />
But gradually, remorselessly, inevitably, I was totally sucked into a vortex of soaps, quiz shows, cookery programmes and the endless machinations of reality TV. Coach Trip was a particular favourite...Come Dine with Me, Four in a Bed, Location Location, Doctors, Father Brown and scores of detective series repeated over and over again. I should have known better, should have been stronger, but, before I knew what was happening, it was too late.<br />
I was hooked.<br />
If the phone rang, or I needed to nip to the shop, I'd feel irritable and anxious, cutting all social contact short to get back to my beloved friend in the corner. Even so, I thought I could handle it, refusing to recognise my problem until an advertising agency contracted me for 3 months in Manchester.<br />
This came as quite a shock....not only had someone actually bothered to read my profile, they were now dragging me away from my comfort zone, a way of life I yearned for on that chilly Monday morning, waiting for a train to the first day's assignment. That's when it struck me: I was a TV junky, wrapped up in a cosy, unthreatening world I had now been forced to leave.<br />
Goodbye sofa, goodbye Kirsty and Phillip and Holly and Brendan....I had to break free! I DID break free.<br />
But now? With weeks of home confinement on the cards, can I really resist the "On" switch? Will I emerge from the coronovirus clampdown with my senses still intact, or as a helpless telly addict?<br />
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Jacy Breanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356348634443502708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5208156690724967597.post-41899529342070161332020-03-04T13:10:00.009-08:002020-06-25T02:53:05.598-07:00Life after Locked-in Syndrome<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>3 Soldiers Finish the Job Together</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM51J0sE3LEnqRgu6f1eB-EkXFlIe-tbADT1z-oeI53flmJo8_Riu_KITm7NebOa_8Gy25DtrfnOEEKLupvU2QxQcqvwYzH3PzyEJm7jsIkLOyh5419kpeOnk1huAszxe8EME3JUDHkWc/s1600/received_1018422931863156.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="763" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM51J0sE3LEnqRgu6f1eB-EkXFlIe-tbADT1z-oeI53flmJo8_Riu_KITm7NebOa_8Gy25DtrfnOEEKLupvU2QxQcqvwYzH3PzyEJm7jsIkLOyh5419kpeOnk1huAszxe8EME3JUDHkWc/s400/received_1018422931863156.jpeg" width="343" /></a></div>
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<i>As members of the 22nd Cheshire Regiment, Andrew Harding (left), Peter Coghlan (centre) and Shaun Schofield (right) served together on a peace-keeping mission in Northern Ireland. This is Peter’s story:</i><br />
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“We all had each others’ backs during that time; keeping the peace was a very scary task for a 19-year old, I'm not ashamed to say. Fire bombs, bricks and a few hundred angry people wasn’t our idea of a night out on the town! We would spend a lot of days on patrol across the Northern Ireland borders too, feet bleeding sometimes from all the kilometres we covered in full combats. Carting the heavy I.E.D. detectors (Improvised Explosive Device) with helmets, webbing, magazines and rifles was not easy! Crossing wet barbed wire fences for days occasionally catching your privates while ripping your tackle area open...Oh yeah, we were living the dream!<br />
I loved to see that Chinook helicopter arrving to take us home when near to dropping with bleeding feet. The sound of it coming before we even saw it was incredible. ThudThud thud thud thud thud thud thud....The sound came from everywhere - and you had no idea for a while where she was! I sometimes got the seat right above the RAF Gunner, literally hanging over him or her as the chopper banked left and right WITH THE DOOR OPEN!!! Gunner covering the arks. Yeah, we became close in the army us Stockport lads, for sure...one mate is training me at the moment, boxing the pads. Rob McCormick or Macca as we know him.<br />
Now, I’d better explain where this is all going!<br />
In 2011, after a severe blow on my head brought on the stroke that left me locked-in, I was nothing but a quadriplegic fart in a bed ..watching my drip-drip-drip..all day in ICU. No speech, no movement just these memories of a young, fit soldier and the dreams for a future I once thought I had!!<br />
Being rolled about the bed in my own faeces, being pumped full of drugs and craned in and out of bed like a sand delivery, I certainly didn't visualize that 9 years after my brain stem stroke I'd be on national television with Holly & Philip on the ITV This Morning show watched by millions of viewers. I did okay, I think, but you can judge for yourself here:<br />
<a class="css-4rbku5 css-18t94o4 css-901oao css-16my406 r-xfsgu1 r-1loqt21 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" data-focusable="true" dir="ltr" href="https://t.co/SwRekPXV85?amp=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" role="link" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #794bc4; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.3125; list-style: none; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank" title="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6QXSLf7sf8"><span aria-hidden="true" class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-hiw28u r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.3125; list-style: none; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: inherit;">https://</span><span style="color: #794bc4;"><span style="background-color: white; border-color: black; border-image: initial; border-style: solid; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.3125; list-style: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">youtube.com/watch?v=I6QXSL</span></span><span aria-hidden="true" class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-hiw28u r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-size: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.3125; list-style: none; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: inherit;">f7sf8</span></a><br /><br />
Having learned to walk and to speak again through 9 years’ obsessive behaviour, I'm living proof that the brain is more powerful than we know. All it needs, I believe, is the will, stubbornness, and persistence.<br />I absolutely refused to believe my life was over. As a soldier I wasn't going to stop until the job was done!<br />Andrew and Shaun were going to join me in a new assault.. up Mount Snowdon, which has sadly had to be postponed, due to Covid-19 and my having to return to Oz. But it was great seeing my old army pals again. Andrew, who got me busted for raiding a RUC cigarette machine (see my book)* and Shaun, who is now a CERT-ED Mountain Leader, have always been great guys to have in my corner. These Cheshire Regiment pals have still got my back in civi street all these years later (cheers lads)!<br />
I'm hoping we can inspire many head injuries & stroke survivors out there with my story. Cancer patients too!! as I was discharged from the army in 1998 with Hodgkins Lymphoma - my first battle.<br />
If you want to follow my incredible 9-year rehabilitation, visit my website petercoghlan.com, or YouTube - In the Blink of an Eye - Reborn<br />
Today I’m being used to help occupational therapy and physiotherapy students in university education to better understand LIS and stroke from the survivor's point of view. To show the strength and the power in the human brain and to provide insight into how determination can help the human spirit overcome adversity.<br />
I'm very proud indeed to share my story with you and I hope I can make a difference to this, sometimes, unforgiving world.”<br /><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Peter's book 'In the Blink of an Eye Reborn', is available from Amazon and Smashwords<br />
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mybook.to/ITBOAEP<br />
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Jacy Breanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356348634443502708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5208156690724967597.post-11371789452325395792020-02-29T01:22:00.001-08:002020-06-10T06:14:29.693-07:00A literary look at locked-in syndrome by Alexandre Dumas <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Did you know that the first description of locked-in syndrome was written by Alexander Dumas in 'The Count of Monte Cristo'? </div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">‘Sight and hearing were the only senses remaining.... It was only, however, by means of one of these senses that he could reveal the thoughts and feelings that still occupied his mind, and the look by which he gave expression to his inner life was like the distant gleam of a candle which a traveler sees by night across some desert place, and knows that a living being dwells beyond the silence and obscurity. In his eyes, shaded by thick black lashes, was concentrated, as it often happens with an organ which is used to the exclusion of the others, all the activity, address, force, and intelligence which were formerly diffused over his whole body; and so although the movement of the arm, the sound of the voice, and the agility of the body, were wanting, the speaking eye sufficed for all’.</em><br />
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https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/locked-in-syndrome/<br />
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Now you can read this 21st century experience by Peter Coghlan whose remarkable recovery from LIS is inspiring thousands of stroke and brain injury survivors worldwide.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1LFYSJLTXGbR57pmCsoFmA_Ru1tgcRPxp_RGyj6KPl45MET97_1L4FAPIqH9I0e5_9lodoqSIxD-VWgvC4x2QdnkWjKgNbW8j8PhdjCUWnN8ZaG-xLsz_Hzorai7lfYVp_1-gFdHsBw/s1600/Pete+thumbs+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1283" data-original-width="963" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1LFYSJLTXGbR57pmCsoFmA_Ru1tgcRPxp_RGyj6KPl45MET97_1L4FAPIqH9I0e5_9lodoqSIxD-VWgvC4x2QdnkWjKgNbW8j8PhdjCUWnN8ZaG-xLsz_Hzorai7lfYVp_1-gFdHsBw/s320/Pete+thumbs+up.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blink-Eye-Reborn-Peter-Coghlan/dp/1727145593/ref=asc_df_1727145593/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310817435886&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13854897127753846491&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046433&hvtargid=aud-858307789606:pla-581237497900&psc=1&th=1&psc=1<br />
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US: https://www.amazon.com/Blink-Eye-Reborn-Peter-Coghlan-ebook/dp/B07H74XL4F/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=In+the+blink+of+an+eye+reborn&qid=1582968638&sr=8-1</div>
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Jacy Breanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356348634443502708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5208156690724967597.post-83191774521213824702020-02-18T23:30:00.001-08:002020-02-18T23:36:35.054-08:00Is your future already written?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">Omens, superstitions and predictions all have one thing in common - Fate, a philosophy which began with the original three Fates from Greek mythology, goddesses who spun the thread of life, decided how long it should be for each individual, and cut it at the predetermined time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 21.4667px;">Despite its mythical roots, this belief is very widespread, pointing to inevitable (often adverse) outcomes for every event - outcomes that are totally inescapable because they’re determined either by God or by other supernatural forces. As a result, fatalists may have a laissez-faire view of life, displaying a lack of purpose and an unwillingness to make decisions. After all, what’s the point if the future’s already written?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">If there IS no point and if the future is truly controlled by unseen forces, then why do we visit doctors? Why do we try to live healthily? And why are there fewer fatalities for people who wear seat belts when setting off in cars? If you’re fated to be an X-Factor winner, why bother with singing lessons? If you’re meant to pass that exam, why bother swotting? And if the job’s destined to be yours, does it matter how you dress for the interview? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">According to astrologers, a person’s character can be determined by their horoscope, the precise positioning of the planets and signs of the zodiac at the time of birth. Despite many challenges to astrology over the years, belief for many in its abilities - not only to predict the future but also to influence human behaviour - is very deep-rooted. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">Yet is such faith backed up by evidence? As part of an A-level course in Psychology, students were given a horoscope that had supposedly been drawn up according to each individual’s date and time of birth. Most students agreed it was extremely accurate, only to find they’d all been given exactly the same character description! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">So what’s the harm? Well, convincing someone they have a certain nature, set of talents or even destiny can exert undue influence over his or her decisions for the future......almost as though a screenplay of their life has been written in advance by somebody else. Social workers and psychologists have highlighted how being typecast as, say, the black sheep of the family, the clever one, or the ditz can colour </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">youths’ development,</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">virtually obliging them to live up (or down) to their given role. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">Even worse, whether it comes via zodiac chart or family members, such prejudgement interferes with our most basic human right – free will. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">We may be born with certain traits, we can certainly be influenced by nurture, and circumstances we encounter throughout life will obviously affect us. But with free will, we have the right and the means to change ourselves. So be the person you want to be, choose the path you want to follow and never, ever let fate or superstition dictate yours – or your children’s - </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">life!</span></div>
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Jacy Breanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356348634443502708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5208156690724967597.post-14013720068207561272020-02-11T01:51:00.000-08:002020-02-11T01:51:44.496-08:00Social Media: Avoid the Pitfalls<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<strong><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Avoid the pitfalls</span></strong><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> Before signing up for a social network, it’s good to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>set a few boundaries. Look at the potential dangers, decide how best to avoid them and create rules that will protect you from any fallout. Here are a few suggestions which I try to apply myself: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Be careful what you post</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and only do so when sober! If you wouldn’t like your parents to see those photographs or comments, why make them available to total strangers? Or worse – prospective employers! When texting, remember your manners. Try to ensure that every remark is gracious, ‘seasoned with salt’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Check your privacy settings</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, as the default settings on the network site may let more people view your page than you imagine. It’s a good idea to customise your settings so only close friends can access your posts. Even then, you need to watch that you don’t give out more information than intended. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">3)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Should you receive a critical or negative response,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>don’t retaliate. If the criticism is well-meant, thank the sender for his/her interest. Ignore abusive comments and block them from your page along with any that make you feel uncomfortable. The same goes for dubious would-be followers or ‘friends’. Be selective and never open links from anyone you feel unsure of. Some may be pornographic or violent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">4)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Social websites are constantly buzzing with gossip, rumours and opinions about people in the public eye.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Be determined never to write derogatory personal remarks about anyone, famous or not, even if they seem to deserve it – after all, who are we to judge? Failing to observe this rule may, at best make you seem spiteful, and at worst get you sued for libel! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">5)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Remember your details are accessible to millions of people</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, including some who know you, so guard your privacy. Don’t give out too much personal information such as home address, email address, where you attend school, work or college, when you’re at home, when and where you’re going, when you’re at home, when nobody is at home, your photos, opinions, likes, dislikes and hobbies and innermost thoughts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">6)<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Set limits for the time you spend on social networks</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">and stick to them. Doing this will help you control your online activities instead of letting them control you. And if social networks start to take you over, and you find yourself thinking constantly about your tweets, blogs and profiles, then switch them off. Or simply take a break from them, like these teenagers: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> “I deactivated my account, and I had heaps of time. I felt free! Recently, I reactivated my account, but I have complete control. I don’t check it for days at a time. Occasionally I even forget about it. If my social networking account becomes a problem again, I’ll just deactivate my account.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> “I have taken ‘networking breaks,’ where I deactivate my account for a couple of months and then reactivate it later. I do that whenever I realize that I’ve been spending too much time with it. Now I don’t feel as attached to it as I used to. I’ll use it for a purpose, but then I’m done.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> By taking sensible precautions and rationing the time we spend on social network, we can use it with confidence -without filching too much attention from more important activities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Jacy Breanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356348634443502708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5208156690724967597.post-91928318553218179182020-02-11T01:41:00.001-08:002020-02-11T01:41:34.533-08:00Advice for Teens Online - Protect Yourself!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Keep online devices in the living room or other well-used areas and only go online when others are at home. Maybe you feel your parents are too strict, but any boundaries they set are for YOUR protection - because they love you - so cooperate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Beware dodgy links, blogs, sites or ‘friends’ who want to manipulate or corrupt you. If you DO stumble onto anything unwholesome or disturbing, close the site down immediately – or even get offline! Don’t allow nasty, sick images to linger in your head and NEVER let curiosity get the better of you! Pornography is highly addictive and can actually change your brain!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">If you’ve already been hooked by porn, violence or other disturbing websites, speak to someone who cares about you, a mature friend or family member who will help and advise you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">DO NOT allow anyone to manipulate you, groom you, intimidate you, make you uncomfortable or mess with your head. Remember, not everyone you meet online may be the person you think they are. That cool, good-looking 18-year old may be a lot older (and uglier) than you think! Never EVER give out your address or other contact details no matter how 'nice' your chatty new friend may seem!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Browsing aimlessly can be one of life’s biggest time-wasters, so schedule the time you spend online - and stick to it—no matter how absorbed you become. This applies not only to social media and chat rooms, but also emails! Countless messages can eat into other important activities, such as homework and studies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Never let virtual communication take the place of face to face contact with the people who matter most – family and friends.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">+BBC News has reported that paedophiles are using Facebook to swap images. NEVER agree to 'meet' anyone in a secret 'room' while visiting this site. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35521068</span></div>
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Jacy Breanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356348634443502708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5208156690724967597.post-45612346322223548842019-11-29T03:00:00.000-08:002019-12-09T17:11:56.922-08:00Who were the Magi?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Every December, schools and churches throughout Christendom attract adoring parents, grandparents and assorted relatives to the dramatic highlight of the year: The Nativity play.<br />
Amongst the cast of characters, played with effortless charm by cute, bright-eyed 5-11 year olds, are the Magi - also known as the Three Wise Men or Three Kings from the Orient - drawn by the famous Star to Bethlehem and the infant Jesus.<br />
For many, this is a delightful story but, as many propaganda specialists will appreciate, one subject to religious spin. This is my attempt to cut through traditional perceptions and find the truth from the original account in Matthew Chapter 2.<br />
So, who were the Magi?<br />
The Greek ma'goi (plural of ma'gos) likely refers to sorcerers or conjurers; experts in occult practices such as astrology and other forms of divination condemned in the Bible. According to the 5th century Greek historian Herodotus, they belonged to a priestly class and were probably Zoroastrian, following the predominant religion of the time. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia states: "A ma'gos in the Hellenistic world had supernatural knowledge and ability and was sometimes a practitioner of magic." Early Christian commentators Justin Martyr, Origen and Tertullian also agree that the Magi were astrologers.<br />
Their names are unknown and the Matthew account doesn't specify how many of these astrologers visited Jesus. In fact, little is known about them, other than they discerned a star 'rising' in the East from whence they came. As only the astrologers could 'see' it, this was obviously not a real star or conjunction of planets.+ Nor did it lead the astrologers to Bethlehem. Instead, the travellers were guided to Jerusalem where they asked, "Where is the one born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when we were in the East, and we have come to do obeisance to him." On hearing the news, King Herod became agitated and gathered all the chief priests and scribes in secrecy to discover where the Christ (anointed one) was to be born, which is clearly stated in the prophecy at Micah 5:2: "But you (Bethlehem) Ephrathah, the least of the clans of Judah, from you will come for me a future ruler of Israel whose origins go back to the distant past..." (Jerusalem Bible).<br />
Disguising his true purpose, Herod then commanded the astrologers to go to Bethlehem, find the child and report back to him with the exact location, "so that I too may go and do obeisance."<br />
Again, the star appeared to the astrologers and this time led them, not to a stable as tradition would have it, but to the house where Mary, Joseph and Jesus were now living. Rejoicing at finding the Messiah, the astrologers paid homage to Jesus, presenting him with gold, frankincense and myrrh.*<br />
Despite their good intentions, the visitors had unwittingly put Jesus in danger, having alerted Herod to his existence, and they were given divine warning in a dream not to return to the king but to return home by another route. Joseph also had a dream in which an angel told him to flee with his family to Egypt where the precious gifts no doubt helped them survive until Herod died the following year. But not before committing one of the worst atrocities on record.<br />
Furious at being outwitted, and determined to kill his rival, Herod ordered the death of all boys aged two and under in Bethlehem and it's surrounding districts. A tragic end indeed to the journey of the Magi.<br />
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+Tradition portrays the star as a good sign from heaven, "a divine pre-arrangement whereby....the child Jesus was honoured and acknowledged by the Father as his beloved son." However, the fact that it guided the astrologers first to Jerusalem and Christ's mortal enemy Herod, shows it was actually an evil phenomenon, one of the "lying signs and portents" of Satan.<br />
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*On presenting Jesus at the temple for purification 40 days after his birth, Joseph and Mary were so poor they could only afford a sacrifice of "a pair of turtledoves or two pigeons as a sacrifice. This wouldn't have been the case had they already received such generous gifts from the astrologers.<br />
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Jacy Breanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356348634443502708noreply@blogger.com2