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As melhores de Novembro!!

nouniversoparalelo — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:57:07 +0000

AEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Mais um mês se passou, chegamos a 3 meses de Universo Paralelo disseminando o mal, o horror, o nojinho, a ojeriza etc… kkkk que nada… só disseminamos besteiras e ainda referimos as fontes. Valeu galera pelos 14,000 acessos em Novembro. Vamos às métricas :p

Posts mais acessados:

	Onde os homens são inteligentes desde cedo…
	Enquanto isso os alienigenas espiam você…
	Traição no universo paralelo II
	Na ceia de ação de graças
	Rinha de humanos
	Aquecimento global

Os maaaaais bem votados:

Menções honrosas:

Linklog por garantir MUITAS visitas, já que o Ocioso nunca publica nada nosso….
Rafael Kid e o Oloxa, mais novo partner da parada…
Daniel pelos comentários super cheios de conteúdo que geralmente contém uma palavra: “uhauhauhauhauhauhauha”

NOSSO GG EM HAVANA, Pedro Juan Gutiérrez

Daniel — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:58:03 +0000

“Não seria muito melhor se nunca tentássemos compreender, se aceitássemos o fato de que nenhum ser humano jamais compreenderá um outro, nenhuma mulher o seu marido, nenhum amante o seu amante, nenhum pai o seu filho? Talvez por isso os homens tenham inventado Deus, um ser capaz de compreender. Quem sabe, se eu quisesse ser compreendido ou compreender, iria me atordoar a ponto de ter uma religião; mas sou um repórter, e Deus só existe para os que escrevem editoriais.”

Ce am primit eu azi

cms — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:27:00 +0000

Ce-am primit eu azi de la niste tineri imbracati in rosu.

Vasilica

I ♥ Faces---I mean, Butts :O)

thevfamily — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:59:20 +0000

It has been a while since I’ve participated in this fun little photo blog, and I thought this

A few experiments

showersongs — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:38:02 +0000

Lately I’ve been experimenting with a few different ways of constructing poems and prose.

I’ve also been listening to a lot of Lou Reed.

First of all, I’ve been employing the not-so-original cut-up technique (Burroughs, Bowie, Cobain, etc.)

This one (called Cut-Up because I couldn’t think of anything better) involved me choosing eight books, opening them at random pages and selecting a few words, a sentence or a paragraph that I like and writing it down. Then each of these sections were put together to create some sort of coherent narrative.

Cut-Up

Up stepped the tenor man on the bandstand and asked for a slow beat and looked sadly out the open door over peoples’ heads and began singing ‘Close Your Eyes’. The sudden exclusion of the night and the substitution of blank darkness in its place warned me that the man had closed a shutter. I slumped in my chair. His performance had given me a bad jolt. For a moment I thought his mind had snapped.

Where was Theodore Roosevelt when he sent out ultimatums from his castle in Camden? Where was the House of representatives when Crane read aloud from his prophetic books? Were they listening to my ravings in the locker rooms of Brickyards Employment Offices? Not long after William Pitt addressed the English Parliament, the US Congress passed the Bill of Rights, which amended the constitution and promised that ‘the right of the people to be secure in their homes against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated.’

The day after the Fowlers’ appeals were dismissed, the murdered man’s widow received an anonymous threatening letter at her home in Princess Street. It asked was she ‘ready to meet her doom’ as she was to be ‘done in’. The letter, which arrived in the post, was immediately handed in to the police.

Then one day, in the dissecting room, he took a scalpel with which he had been cutting up a corpse, and he stuck it on purpose into the palm of his hand. He died, as he knew he would, of blood poisoning soon afterwards.

Morphine addiction is a metabolic illness brought about by the use of morphine. In my opinion psychological treatment is not only useless, it is contraindicated. Statistically, those who become addicted to morphine are those who have access to it: doctors, nurses, anyone in contact with black market sources.

*********************

Secondly, I had the slightly more original idea of using the themes in a deck of tarot cards randomly selected to create the skeleton of a story, poem, character or plot.

I chose sixteen of the more interesting ones and (I think there are about forty-ish altogether), shuffled them and then chose the top five. The order in which they were chosen was the running order of the writing.

Lady Don’t You Cry is about a woman I met on a train journey a few days ago, with the narrative manipulated by the tarot cards.

Lady Don’t You Cry

She’s caught between two different lives fear confusion overwhelming she needs to navigate her way out of the storm.

She lost her love in a garbage truck, he waved her as he sped away, not looking back just singing his free song.

I’m looking at her now she’s knowing just where she’s going, a train heading to the other side of the hills.

Maybe the fear is chasing her, maybe it left her well alone and is dying in some flat that she wasn’t sad to leave at all.

And now she’s packed and heading north, isolation in the mountains could be good for just a short while.

Then suddenly a flicker dances right across her face, she weakens and she cries for the end of her life.

With tears comes hope of a better time, the sun and stars all smiling now, no clouds or rain to hold her down.

And with that thought she passes through, speeding on to brighter days where I hope she’ll be safe from all her troubles.

Lady don’t you cry now you’re going to be ok, and with that thought she vanished and was gone.

And finally, a video of a brilliant slam poet Daniel Beatty from an episode of Def Poetry Jam back in 2003

Daniel Beatty – Duality Duel

terrifying purposefulness: Daniel 7

David Baer — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:02:03 +0000

Committed fans of sweetness and light need not consult seventh chapter of the biblical book of Daniel.

Placed in the time of the weak-kneed Babylonian king Belshazzar—it is notable how much the brute power of empire compensates for frailty at the top—the story shows us the Judahite exile Daniel terrified by his bizarre night-time visions.

They are not, to put it mildly, a pretty sight. Waves of animalesque imagery flood the man’s brain. These are interpreted as the comings of goings of great empires, a theme that ought to have made Belshazzar’s knees knock still more. Empires, after all, presume and when necessary insist upon their own permanence.

The exile’s dreams say otherwise.

Seen from the angle of those visions, empires are not only bloody and boot-clad but temporary as well. They rage, it seems, against their own temporality.

In the midst of his uninvited dreams, Daniel receives an odd assurance. There is a just king who will reign beyond all the fitful storming to and fro of human empires. As in their case, the God of the heavens—here, apparently, appearing as ‘the Ancient of Days’—gives his kingdom to him. Unlike them, the ’son of man’s proximity’ to the Giver of kingdoms hints at a certain reciprocal relationship, a conscious agreement that things are to be this way and that for them to be this way is good.

Yet the payoff for ‘the saints of the most High’ is not so immediate as one might have wished.

Empire wars against them, tramples them underfoot, even prevails against them. They are partisans of an eternal empire yet victims of the ephemeral ones that storm across a landscape that it is their lot to inhabit.

It is difficult to parse the terror that Daniel experiences upon seeing history from this apocalyptic angle.

Is it the blood-drenched rise and fall of empires that unsettles him? Or the momentary but lamentable experience of ‘the saints’? Or the casting of the entire drama into the shadow of its suggested resolution?

It is perhaps impossible to know.

Yet the chapter ends up placing its emphasis upon the eventual vindication of the people who come to be associated with the ‘Most High’. Dominion is ‘taken away’ from their tormentor and handed over to them. Indeed, ‘all dominions shall serve and obey them.’.

It is the finest of conclusions.

But it takes so long. And before they rule, they are crushed and worn out. They sigh, they mourn, they die unlamented, forgotten, looking for all the world like fools.

Here the account ends. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly terrified me, and my face turned pale; but I kept the matter in my mind.

Daniel trembles.

Passarella: "El Oficialismo es D'Onofrio"

Strummer — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:16:46 +0000

Daniel Passarella en 90 Minutos de Futbol

Juanjo — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:05:27 +0000

What I Wore

everydayluxuries — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 19:45:49 +0000

Another outfit post! Two in one day. Here’s what I wore to church this morning:

Posing in the backyard.

Nice big picture, huh? I mentioned in my last post that my husband and I went shopping last night. Here’s some of the stuff I scored! I’d been eyeing this dress at American Eagle for months, but last night I discovered that it was on clearance, plus take an extra 30% off the clearance price, plus an extra 10% off at the register. I bought it, determined to make it work for fall/winter. I threw on the same sweater from yesterday (get used to seeing it; I wear it all the time), some brown tights, and the fabulous vintage boots I got at Goodwill last night for $4. They are cognac leather and they are amazing, but they are also very narrow and they barely fit me. I was in some pain when this picture was taken. I can definitely put up with them for just a few hours at a time, though.

You also saw the bag and the bracelets yesterday. I decided to roll with a vintagey theme today, and so I wore the locket my grandparents (Nan-Nan and Pap-Paw, of course) got for me when I was a baby:

My lovely locket. I will have to remember to use the macro setting next time.

And I wore the signet ring also given to me by my Nan-Nan. It belonged to my great-grandmother, whose name was Letha, so it has a lovely L (though you can’t see it here):

My ring!

I also picked up a vintage trench at Goodwill for $3:

My new trench.

I’m pretty pleased with it! It’s in really good condition. At some point, I might replace the buttons and buckles to give it a bit more oomph, but I’m not sure yet. I’d been wanting a trench for a long time, and I found one at Goodwill, so I’m pretty pumped.

I might be back later to post about something possibly non-outfit related, but we’ll see. Until next time, have a great Sunday!

Daniel and I wish you a happy Sunday!

Dress, American Eagle clearance
Brown sweater, Gabriel Brothers
Tights, Wal*Mart
Boots, vintage, Goodwill
Trench, vintage, Goodwill
Antique signet ring, Nan-Nan
Diamond earrings, gift from Daniel
All other accessories are the same as yesterday! (Too lazy to add links I added in the previous post, haha.)

Lives of the Prophets

findislam — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:56:37 +0000

The Prophet Adam

The Prophet Siith

The Prophet Idris (Enoch)

The Prophet Nuh (Noah)

The Prophet Hud

The Prophet Salih

The Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham)

The Prophet Isma’il (Ishmael)

The Prophet Ishaq (Isaac)

The Prophet Yaqub (Jacob)

The Prophet Lot (Lot)

The Prophet Shuaib

The Prophet Yusuf (Joseph)

The Prophet Ayoub (Job)

The Prophet Dhul-Kifl

The Prophet Yunus (Jonah)

The Prophet Musa (Moses) & Harun (Aaron)

The Prophet Hizqeel (Ezekiel)

The Prophet Elyas (Elisha)

The Prophet Shammil (Samuel)

The Prophet Dawud (David)

The Prophet Sulaiman (Soloman)

The Prophet Shia (Isaiah)

The Prophet Aramaya (Jeremiah)

The Prophet Daniel

The Prophet Uzair (Ezra)

The Prophet Zakariyah (Zechariah)

The Prophet Yahya (John)

The Prophet Isa (Jesus)

The Prophet Muhammad

Overture - Ser radical.

ibpmar — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 17:28:29 +0000

Postado por Bruno Colisse

Assim como muitas obras progressivas conceituais começam com uma grande abertura, ou “overture”, desse modo quero iniciar o NOSSO blog abordando um tema que esta totalmente presente em nossa vida de ministério.Esse tema está em nosso nome: “Ministério de adolescentes radicais”.

Afinal, o que é SER radical?
“O termo radical deriva da palavra latina radix, que significa “raiz”. Há, no entanto, vários sentidos para o termo, dependendo da área na qual ele é aplicado.” (wikipedia)

Entao o que é ser um adolescente em um ministério radical?

Ser um crente radical não é, como muitos pensam, sair julgando ou agredindo fisicamente/moralmente pessoas por causa de uma cega ilusão de “religião”, mas sim nao ter VERGONHA ou MEDO ou qualquer tipo de RESTRIÇÃO para voce virar para um nao crente e dizer: “EU SOU DE DEUS.Não farei determinada coisa porque sigo um Deus que não aprova isso.”Portanto, ser um cristão radical é ser fiel a o que voce acredita.Ser cristão “até a raiz”.”Enraizado” nos principios e convicções biblicos.

Temos um ÓTIMO exemplo de alguns jovens que foram radicais.Todos ja sabem quem são. Estou falando de Daniel e seus amigos: Sadraque, Mesaque e Abedenego.

Diz a biblia no livro de Daniel capítulo 3 que o rei Nabucodonosor havia feito uma estátua,e quem não a adorasse iria ser jogado em uma fornalha.

Pois esses jovens judeus foram contra.Mantiveram-se firmes no unico Senhor e todos ja sabemos o que aconteceu com eles. Os 3 rapazes sobreviveram á fornalha de fogo e Daniel sobreviveu á cova dos leões.

Existe mais uma pessoa na biblia que foi o grande exemplo de radicalismo. Aliás, como foi escrito há um tempo atrás no pulpito cristao (www.pulpitocristao.com), Jesus é o cara mais underground q eu conheço.

Enquanto todos os “radicais” por ai acabaram se vendendo, ele permaneceu nos seus fundamentos.Nem mesmo quando foi crucificado, ele negou o que disse.ESSE SIM ERA RADICAL!

“Nele não há variação de valores! Que sejamos imitadores dEle que não negociou a missão e não dos caras que se diziam os tais e se venderam por umas merrecas.”

Muitos missionarios na história do cristianismo foram radicais. Os cristãos nos primórdios da igreja, apesar de serem perseguidos, permaneceram na fé e por causa deles, hoje temos acesso á todo o evangelho.Muitos morreram com essa radicalidade, morreram por suas convicções e por causa do que acreditavam. Alguem nao abre mao da propria vida por uma causa sem estar totalmente convicto de que ela é real.

Enfim, ser radical, em nossos dias, é quando vierem te falar “E ai, vc nao fica com ninguem?”, você dizer “não”.Ser radical é quando te zoarem por voce ser virgem, voce mostrar pra pessoa o POR QUE de voce ter escolhido isso.Ser radical é voce nao se conformar com a injustiça. Ser radical é você repreender seu amigo que nao está obedecendo á vontade de Deus baseado na biblia.Ser radical é voce saber que nao é perfeito, mas se esforçar ao maximo para conseguir ser parecido com Jesus.Ser radical é quando debocharem de suas escolhas, voce permanecer nelas, porque voce nao se amolda á esse mundo, porque VOCÊ é a luz e o sal da Terra.VOCÊ É O RADICAL.

Nós podemos mudar o mundo. Mas o mundo só vai mudar quando vir que NÓS somos diferentes.

Eu quero mudar. E vocês?

Desolation

israeliteindeed — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 14:12:15 +0000

Nations are made “desolate” because of

Evil doings (Jer 44:22),
Not listening to God’s word (Jer 22:5),
Refusing to be instructed by God (Jer 6:8),
Shedding innocent blood (Joel 3:19),
Despising God’s judgments and statutes (Lev 26:43),
Dwelling carelessly (Zeph 2:15),
Violence (Eze 12:19),
Trespass (Eze 15:8),
Killing their babies (Eze 20:26),
Rebellion against God (Hos 13:16),
Evil doings reap a harvest of evil (Mic 7:13).

The church is made desolate because of

Evil pastors (Jer 12:10),
No man layeth it to heart (Jer 12:11).
The fierceness of the oppressor and God’s fierce anger. (Jer 25:38) (Oppressors are promised to the disobedient)
God due to their wickedness & idolatry (Jer 44:3),
Refusing to listen to God’s prophets (Jer 44:4-5),
Refusing to humble themselves and repent of their sins even to this day (Jer 44:10),
Committing abominations and evil which the Lord can no longer stand (Jer 44:22),
Refusing to obey the voice of the Lord (Jer 44:23),
Killing or persecuting God’s prophets and refusing to be gathered to Jesus (Matt 23:34-38).

From Daniel 9, the church is made desolate because of:

Sin, iniquity, doing wickedly, rebellion, departing from God’s precepts and judgments (vs 5),
Not listening to God’s prophets (vs 6),
Trespassing against God (vs 7),
Not obeying the voice of God or walking in His laws (vs 10),
Departing from God (vs 11),
God is faithful to confirm His words by bringing evil on those who disobey (vs 12),
Not praying a prayer of repentance, turning from iniquity to understand God’s truth (vs 13),
God is righteous, therefore brings evil upon the unrepentant and disobedient (vs 14).

“Therefore is the sanctuary desolate.” (17)

Individual’s “houses” can be made “desolate” also, according to Acts 1:20, concerning the apostle Judas who by transgression fell away. In Matt 7:22-29, Jesus taught that it was the man who not only hears the Word but puts it into practice, whose “house” shall not be destroyed. The “house” is the individual’s life, which shall only be preserved by the one who is careful to do the Word of God.

Compilation of DESOLATION Scriptures for Further Study (KJV)

Lev 26:31 “I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation…”

Lev 26:32 “I will bring the land into desolation and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it.”

Josh 8:28 “Joshua burnt Ai, and made it…even a desolation…”

2 Kin 22:19 “Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, when thou heardeest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and has rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the Lord.”

2 Ch 30:7 “And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation…”

Psa 73:19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

Pro 1:27 “When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirl wind; and when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

Pro. 3:25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither o fthe desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.

Isa 10:3 And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?

Isa 17:9 In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel; and there shall be desolation.

Isa 24:12 In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction.

Isa 47:11 Therefore shall evil com upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know.

Isa 51:19 These two things are come unto thee; who shall be sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword: by whom shall I comfort thee?

Isa 64:10 They holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.

Jer 22:5 But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.

Jer 25:11 And this whol land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

Jer 25:18 To wit, Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and the kings thereof, and the princes thereof, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, an hissing, and a curse; asit is this day;

Jer 34:22 “…and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation without an inhabitant.”

Jer 44:2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Ye have seen all the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, and upon all the cities of Judah; and, behold, this day they are a desolation, and no man dwelleth therein,

Jer 44:22 So that the LORD could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which ye have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without inhabitant as at this day.

Jer 49:13 “…Bozrah shall become a desolation…”

Jer 49:17 “…Edom shall be a desolation…”

Jer 49:33 “…Hazor shall be…a desolation…”

Jer 50:23 “How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!”

Jer 51:29 And the land shall tremble and sorrow: for every purpose of the LORD shall be performed against Babylon, to make thaland of Babylon a desoation without an inhabitant.

Jer 51:43 Her cities are a desolation, a dry land, and a wilderness, a land wherein no man dwelleth, neither doth any son of man pass thereby.

Lam 3:47 Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction.

Eze 7:27 “…and the prince shall be clothed with desolation, and the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled: I will do unto them after their way, and according to their deserts will I judge them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.”

Eze 23:33 Thou shalt be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, with the cup of astonishment and desolation…

Dan 8:13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?

Hos 12:1 ” Ephraim….daily increaseth lies and desolation…”

Joel 3:19 Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.

Micah 6:16 For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation…

Zeph 1:13 Therefore their goods shall become a booty, and their houses a desolation…

Zeph 1:15 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,

Zeph 2:4 For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashhelon a desolation…

Zeph 2:9 Therefore…surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah…a perpetual desolation…

Zeph 2:13 And he will…make Ninevah a desolation and dry like a wilderness

Zeph 2:14 …desolation shall be in the thresholds…

Zeph 2:15 This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how she is become a desolation…

Matt 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand [also Luke 11:17]

Matt 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

Mark 13:14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation spoken by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:

Luke 21:20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

Compilation of DESOLATE Scriptures (not exhaustive)

Lev 26:22 I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and you high ways shall be desolate.

Lev 26:33 And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land whall be desolate, and your cities waste.

Lev 26:43 The land…shall be left…desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity: because, even because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statutes.

Job 15:34 For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery.

Psa 34:21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

Isa 1:7 Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.

Isa 6:11 Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land utterly desolate

Isa 13:9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.

Isa 24:6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.

Isa 27:10 Yet the defenced city shall be desolate….

Isa 59:10 We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men.

Jer 2:12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.

Jer 4:7 …he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate…

Jer 4:27 For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.

Jer 6:8 Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited.

Jer 9:11 And I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, wihout an inhabitant.

Jer 10:25 Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.

Jer 12:10 Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.

Jer 12:11 They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate because no man layeth it to heart.

Jer 19:8 And I will make this city desolate…

Jer 25:38 He hath forsaken his covert (tabernacle), as the lion: for their land is desolate because of the fierceness of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger.

Jer 44:6 Wherefore my fury and mine anger was poured forth, and was kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they are wasted and desolate, as at this day.

Lam 1:4 The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to her solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.

Lam 1:16 for these things weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed.

Lam 4:5 They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.

Lam 5:18 Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it.

Eze 6:4 And your altars shall be desolate, and your images shall be broken: and I will cast down your slain men before your idols. (as a sacrifice?)

Ez 6:6 In all your dwellingplaces the cities shall be laid waste and the high places shall be desolate; that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols may be broken and cease, and your images may be cut down, and your works may be abolished.

Eze 6:14 So I will stretch out my hand upon them, and make the land desolate…

Eze 12:19 …that her land may be desolate from all that is therein, because of the violence of all of them that dwell therein.

Eze 14:16 Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate.

Eze 15:8 And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord GOD.

Ez 20:26 And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD.

Ez 33:28 For I will lay the land most desolate, and the pomp of her strength shall cease; and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, that none shall pass through.

Ez 33:29 then shall they know that I am the LORD, when I have laid the land most desolate because of all their abominations which they have committed.

Ez 35:14 Thus saith the Lord GOD; When the whole earth rejoiceth, I will make thee desolate.

Ez 36:3 (enemies made Israel desolate…rest of chapter gives hope for future of repentant)

Dan 9:17 Now therefore O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake.

Dan 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Dan 11:31 And arms shall stand (be employed, serve) on his part and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.

Dan 12:11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

Hos 13:16 Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God:….

Joel 1:18 …the flocks of sheep are made desolate.

Joel 2:3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.

Joel 3:19 …Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.

Amos 7:9 And the high places of Isaac shall be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste…

Micah 1:7 …and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate…

Micah 6:13 Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of thy sins.

Micah 7:13 Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings.

Matt. 23:38 Behold your house is left unto you desolate. (also Luke 13:35)

Acts 1:20 (speaking of Judas, quoting Psalms) …Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein…

Rev 17:16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. ( nations will hate the hypocritical religion, expose and destroy her.)

Rev 18:19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

momentosantesdelfin — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:50:31 +0000

c0ntinuacion,Muerte del Mesias
Muerte del Mesías.-De los 490 años, 483 han sido ya cumplidos. Si partimos del año 457 a.C., los 483 años llegarían al año 27 d.C. Para llegar al cumplimiento de los 490 años, nos quedan siete años. Este período de tiempo fue dado a los judíos para que mostraran su rebelión final directamente contra el Hijo de Dios. Ver Daniel 9:26:“Y después de las sesenta y dos semanas se quitará la vida al Mesías, mas no por sí”.En algun tiempo después del año 27 d.C., sería quitada la vida al Mesías. El profeta Isaías dice: fue cortada no por sí misma, sino por las transgresiones de su pueblo. ¿Cuándo sería quitada la vida del Mesías? Ver Daniel 9:27:“Y por otra semana confirmará su pacto con muchos”. ¿De qué pacto se está hablando? ¿Con quién hizo Dios un pacto? Después de la cautividad de los setenta años, Dios dijo: “Voy a darte 490 años más”. Este es el pacto que se menciona aquí. Pero, si ustedes continúan rebelándose contra Dios, dijo el Señor: “Yo voy a terminar ese pacto con ustedes y el mensaje de salvación será llevado a otros pueblos”. De la profecía de los 490 años o 70 semanas, 69 de ellas se han cumplido ya. Esto quiere decir que nos falta sólo el cumplimiento de una semana. El versículo que ha sido leído dice: “Y por otra semana confirmará el pacto con muchos”. Es decir, en esta semana El va a confirmar su pacto con su pueblo, el pueblo escogido, el pueblo judío. Si su pueblo no se arrepiente, entonces el evangelio será llevado a los gentiles. Pero, ¿qué sucederá al fin de esa semana? Ver Daniel 9:27:“Y por otra semana confirmará el pacto con muchos; a la mitad de la semana hará cesar el sacrificio y la ofrenda. Después con la muchedumbre de las abominaciones vendrá el desolador, hasta que venga la consumación, y lo que está determinado se derrame sobre el desolador”.Sabiendo ya que las 69 semanas han tenido su cumplimiento en el año 27 d.C., nos resta ver solo el cumplimiento de esa semana. Si ésta la colocamos en días, encontraremos que estos siete días tendrían su cumplimiento en una fecha posterior, pero Daniel dice: “a la mitad de la semana hará cesar el sacrificio y la ofrenda”.¿Cuánto es la mitad de la semana? Tres días y medio o años de acuerdo a la interpretación profética que hemos venido siguiendo. De acuerdo a la profecía, algo tiene que suceder al fin de este período. Ya se ha estudiado que los 483 años llegan al año 27 d.C. Si se añade a esta fecha los tres días y medio, nos llevaría al año 31 d.C. ¿Qué sucede en esta fecha? La Biblia dice, que cesará el sacrificio y las oblaciones. Es bien sabido que en esta fecha el Mesías fue crucificado. El suceso es, la crucifixión de Jesús.
Una cosa sorprendente, el decreto para restaurar y edificar Jerusalén fue dado en el otoño del año 457 a.C. El cumplimiento de los 483 años que llegaron al año 27 d.C., se cumplieron en el otoño de ese año. Pero la mitad de la semana o los tres días y medio nos llevan a la primavera del año 31 d.C. Esta es la fecha cuando la Pascua se celebraba. Es exactamente en el día de la Pascua cuando Jesús es crucificado.
El sacerdote de Israel estaba listo para sacrificar el cordero pascual, pero en el momento que iba a efectuar el sacrificio, el cuchillo cae de su mano, el velo del templo se rompe en el centro de arriba hacia abajo, el cordero escapa de su mano. Este era el momento cuando el Hijo de Dios, el Cordero de Dios, estaba expirando en la cruz. Cristo fue crucificado en el año 31 d.C., conforme lo había predicho la profecía. El apóstol Pablo en 1 Corintios 5:7 dice:“Porque nuestra Pascua, que es Cristo, ya fue sacrificada por nosotros”.
Publicado por jose domingo fuentes en sábado, agosto 22, 2009 0 comentarios
Continuacion de las 70 semanas
A los judíos les fueron dados 490 años de cautividad, y estos corresponden a la primera parte de la profecía de los 2.300 años. ¿Cuándo comienza el período de los 2.300 años? ¿Cuándo comienza el período de los 490 años? El período de los 490 años es la porción más pequeña del período total de la profecía. Ver Daniel 9:25 y el diagrama que está a continuación.2.300 años 490 añosCortadas o Determinadas Sobre el Pueblo Judío.-“Sabe, pues, y entiende, que desde la salida de la orden para restaurar y edificar a Jerusalén hasta el Mesías Príncipe, habrá siete semanas, y setenta y dos semanas, se volverá a edificar la plaza y el muro en tiempos angustiosos”.Esto dice, “Sabe, pues, y entiende, que desde la salida de la orden para restaurar a Jerusalén”. Dios predijo que al fin de los setenta años de la profecía de Jeremías, el pueblo de Daniel sería libertado de su cautividad. Es pues, desde el tiempo que pasó el decreto para restaurar y edificar los muros de Jerusalén y de la liberación de su cautividad, cuando Dios extiende su misericordia 490 años más. Siendo que ambos períodos proféticos, el de los 2.300 años y el de los 490 años comienzan en el momento cuando se da el decreto para restaurar a Jerusalén, ¿hay alguna evidencia en la Escritura que diga cuándo fue dado este decreto? Este es uno de los puntos más cruciales de la profecía. Porque esta fecha es el ancla y fundamento de toda la profecía. Veamos lo que dice Esdras 7:11-15:“Esta es la copia de la carta que dio el rey Artajerjes al sacerdote Esdras, escribe versado en los mandamientos de Jehová y en sus estatutos a Israel: Artajerjes rey de reyes, a Esdras sacerdote y escriba erudito en la ley del Dios del cielo: Paz. Por mí es dada orden que todo aquel en mi reino, del pueblo de Israel y de sus sacerdotes y levitas, que quiera ir contigo a Jerusalén, vaya. Porque de parte del rey y de sus siete consejeros eres enviado a visitar a Judea y a Jerusalén, conforme a la ley de tu Dios que está en tu mano; y a llevar la plata y el oro que el rey y sus consejeros voluntariamente ofrecen al Dios de Israel, cuya morada está en Jerusalén”.El Artajerjes de Esdras 7, dio el decreto. El dijo: “El tiempo que Israel ha estado en cautividad ya es suficiente”. Ciro había dado un decreto. Darío ordena que ese decreto sea cumplido. Pero muy pocos de los judíos salieron para cumplir el decreto. Pero cuando llegamos a los días del rey Artajerjes, él no sólo refuerza el decreto, sino que provee protección y medios para el regreso de los judíos. Cuando Darío y Ciro dieron su decreto, muchos de los judíos estaban tan cómodos en su esclavitud y en su cautividad que no quisieron volver a Jerusalén. Pero en los días de Artajerjes fue cuando Israel volvió a Jerusalén. No perdamos de vista este punto. Hoy, hay muchos que están bien cómodos en su cautividad. Ellos saben que son esclavos, esclavos del alcohol o del tabaco. Algunos son esclavos del apetito o de un temperamento incontrolable, pero ellos están cómodos en su cautiverio. La manera de ser libertados de esa esclavitud ya ha sido preparada, pero ellos siguen siendo esclavos de un mal temperamento o de una maldición. Ellos saben que son esclavos, pero se sienten muy cómodos en esa esclavitud. Dios quiere darles la libertad que sólo se encuentra en Cristo Jesús.La Venida del Mesías.-Finalmente los judíos salieron. La fecha del decreto del rey Artajerjes es 457 a.C. Desde que se ha encontrado la fecha del decreto y que es también la fecha de partida de la profecía, toda la profecía de los 2.300 años se ajusta a ella, como las partes de un rompe-cabezas se ajustan al molde.
Daniel 9:25 muestra que 500 años antes que Cristo naciera, ya se había predicho la fecha de su bautismo:“Sabe, pues, y entiende, que desde la salida de la orden para restaurar y edificar Jer (547 a.C.) hasta el Mesías Príncipe, habrá siete semanas, y setenta y dos semanas; se volverá a edificar la plaza y el muro en tiempos angustiosos”.Mesías significa “Ungido”. De acuerdo a la profecía, desde 457 a.C. hasta el ungimiento del Mesías habría sesenta y dos semanas proféticas. La Escritura dice, que hasta el Mesías habría siete semanas y sesenta y dos semanas. Siete semanas y sesenta y dos semanas dan un total de sesenta y nueve semanas, estas multiplicadas por siete (69 x 7 = 483) dan un total de 483 días proféticos o años literales. De acuerdo a la Escritura, desde 457 a.C. hasta el fin de los 483 años literales, nos lleva al año 27 d.C.
¿En qué año fue ungido el Mesías? ¿Qué sucedió en el año 27 d.C.? Ver Lucas 3:1:“En el año decimoquinto del imperio de Tiberio César, siendo gobernador de Judea Poncio Pilato, y Herodes tetrarca de Galilea, y su hermano Felipe tetrarca de Iturea y de la provincia de Traconite, y Lisanias tetrarca de Abilinia”.Aquí dice, “en el decimoquinto año del reinado de Tiberio César”. De acuerdo a los registros romanos, el decimoquinto año del reinado de Tiberio César, fue el año 27 d.C. ¡Qué sucedió en este año? Lucas hace una mención especial, ¿por qué? Ver Lucas 3:21-22:“Aconteció que cuando todo el pueblo se bautizaba, también Jesús fue bautizado; y orando, el cielo se abrió, y descendió el Santo Espírito sobre El en forma corporal, como paloma, y vino una voz del cielo que decía: Tú eres mi Hijo amado; en ti tengo complacencia”.En el año 27 d.C. justamente como la profecía lo había predicho 500 años antes, Cristo fue ungido con el Espíritu Santo a la hora de su bautismo. Daniel 9 dice, “desde la salida del decreto para restaurar y edificar Jerusalén”, (es decir desde 457 a.C.) “hasta el Mesías Príncipe” habrán sesenta y nueve semanas proféticas o sea 483 años. Cuando figuramos esto en forma numérica, nos lleva al año 27 d.C., y Cristo fue bautizado exactamente en ese año, de acuerdo como la profecía lo había establecido. Cuando Jesús fue bautizado El reconoció que este acto era un cumplimiento de la profecía de Daniel. Ver Marcos 1:9-11, 15.

Återhämtning efter PMS

floweriinaa — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:46:30 +0000

Hallå!
Idag är det Söndag. Det är nästan lite skönt även om man fick en sömnbrist under natten. Jag har fått vara avvikande under denna veckan eftersom jag led ut av brutal PMS. Och just under veckan så råkade det infalla att Daniel ville komma tillbaka hit. Så hormonerna har varit så fruktansvärda att man inte visste om man skulle skratta eller gråta.
Nu är läget i alla fall stabilt igen, men jag känner mig lite ensam just nu. Men det kan bero på för att Danne åkte hem för en och en halv timme sedan. Planerna för ikväll är ljusa. Och jag och Angelica ska på tomteparaden inne i Alingsås.
Känslan som jag har just nu är lite konstig. Känner mig lite frustrerad över Måndagen samtidigt som jag är ledsen för att Daniel åkte. Jag tror att natten var väldigt lärolik. Men jag vill prata mer. Samtidigt måste jag bestämma mig för om jag ska sluta med mina cellgifter nu i December, jag vill ju trots allt ha barn när jag är 23 år…

Chapter 19: Beelzebub, Lord of the Flies

wisejargon — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 03:09:25 +0000

The red star in Orion’s belt twinkled as a ruby in the clear night sky. As Hamon looked out his window at the stars above, he savored the sense of elation which coursed through his veins. Nebuchadnezzar had heard and agreed to his plan – one which would acknowledge the events of the other evening, but which would position the Hebrew god as being wholly subservient to Marduk. And they owed it all to Daniel’s teacher, this so-called prophet named Jeremiah.

Neither Hamon nor Nebuchadnezzar could allow the escape of the three Hebrews from the fiery furnace to go without explanation. So, Hamon had devised a scheme which allowed Nebuchadnezzar to not only take credit for their survival, but claim that the king had himself been the agent of their escape from the furnace. Hamon had written a decree, which Nebuchadnezzar had signed and was now being distributed throughout the kingdom. For perhaps the twentieth time, Hamon again read the parchment containing the decree as he drained his wine goblet.

The prophet Jeremiah has written the exiles in Babylon, saying: “Build houses and settle down. Marry, have sons and daughters. Increase in numbers, do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city of Babylon, praying to the Lord for it, because if Babylon prospers, you too will prosper. The God of Israel has appointed Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, as his servant – to bring salvation to your people. He is the Messiah of the Hebrews.”

Yet, some of the Hebrews have doubted the will of their god, so Nebuchadnezzar put you to the test. Of all the Hebrews, only Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego passed that test – to trust in the God of Israel, who has sent you to Babylon to serve Nebuchadnezzar. Praise be to the God of Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in Him, and did not worship the gods of the Babylonians. With the blessing of Marduk, their god saved them from the fiery furnace, so that the Hebrews would honor his command to dwell in Babylon and serve her king. For, how else could the god of Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego save them if it were not the will of Marduk? Therefore, because of their faithfulness, these three will be given positions of power in the Kingdom of Babylon

Furthermore, the God of Israel will be given a place of honor with the Gods of Babylon, and sit at Markduk’s right hand. From this day forward, to commemorate his inclusion into the House of the Gods, his name shall be called Beelzebub.

Hamon laughed as he read that last line, for in the language of the Hebrews, the name Beelzebub meant “Lord of the flies.” The effect would not be lost on his people – which both he and the king agreed was needed to restore their faith in the gods of Babylon after what had happened. Hamon looked up again at the red star in Orion’s belt. He knew there was no explanation for what had happened the other night. But, rather than deny that it had happened, they would embrace it – claiming that it had been the will of Marduk all along – and that the god of the Hebrews would join the Pantheon of Babylonian gods pledged to serve Marduk. As the people on earth were assimilated by their Chaldean masters, so too their god would be assimilated by the gods of this land. It was a simple solution to a complex problem.

Hamon heard the woman approach behind him, felt her wrap her arms around his chest and slide them down to his waist before proceeding further.

“I grew tired of waiting for you to come back. Still thinking about your triumph from earlier today, eh my Lord?” Timnah asked.

“Yes,” Hamon answered, still looking up at the stars. “And what was best was Daniel’s reaction to the good news.” Hamon savored the memory as he prepared to tell his mistress. “We summoned the Hebrew after Naaman gave his report. Nebuchadnezzar announced that the god of the Hebrews would henceforth be called Beelzebub, and added to the Pantheon of idols to be celebrated in the future New Year’s celebrations. Even now, the goldsmiths have been commissioned to form idols for purchase by the people – especially the Hebrews living in Babylon.

“But why wouldn’t Daniel see that as a good thing?,” asked Timnah, slowly caressing the Chief Priest.

“Because they refuse to make idols of their God – in fact, their religion forbids it. Daniel recognized that by making his God one of the Babylonian Pantheon, the religion of his people will be compromised. Not only that, but as the greater has the power to change the name of the lesser, Marduk is elevated over the god of the Hebrews whose name is now Beelzebub, the Lord of the Flies. In a generation, they will lose their distinctiveness, and be of no trouble to anyone.”

“And now that Daniel has been discredited before the eyes of the king, what do you intend to do?” she asked, turning the man around to look into her eyes.

“Nebuchadnezzar fears the power of Daniel. He has appointed the Hebrew to a position of power, and cannot undo that. But, at a time of my choosing, he will take an action which will force Daniel to defy a royal command, and thus forfeit his life. For now, that is all I can say.” Hamon crushed her to himself and kissed her passionately. But as he did so, he resolved to be much less free with the information he shared with the Queen of Ashkelon, for one question still ate at him – had Daniel been forewarned of the plan to force the Hebrews to bow down to Nebuchadnezzar? Daniel’s sudden appearance with an excuse to be out of the city during the New Year’s celebration had been far too convenient. If Daniel had been alerted by someone, Timnah’s name would lead a short list of suspects.

He would have to satisfy his suspicions, and if it proved that she had betrayed him, take the steps necessary to insure her future silence.

Have you jumped into the middle of The Brotherhood of the Scroll and want to catch up? Access the achieves at http://wisejargon.wordpress.com/2008/10/and go back to October, 2008 to find the Prologue.

Would you like to read The Brotherhood of the Scroll whenever you want? Order the ebook at http://www.wisejargon.com/orderpages/orderlantz2.html

Do you have a Bible Study that’s looking for new material? Consider The Study Guide to the Brotherhood of the Scroll. You can find it at http://www.wisejargon.com/orderpages/orderlantz3.html

overheard under the Big Top #1127

Laura — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 22:25:26 +0000

Daniel: Mom, what’s for dinner tonight?

Mom: Old school Mac N Cheese

Dad: Mmmmm…

Daniel: What’s “old school”?

Mom: I don’t use the blue box to make this mac n cheese.

Daniel: But I love the blue box. It’s Mac N Cheese made with love.

Mom: Trust me, Daniel, the old school version have even more love than the Blue Box.

Daniel: More?

Mom: More.

Can it be possible? Of course it can.

I decided on the day after Thanksgiving to try and depart from the usual turkey sandwiches or warmed up Thanksgiving dinner type leftovers and get a little creative. Why not make mac n cheese and use some of the leftover ham and stuffing? Why not.

The recipe is pretty simple:

Cook favorite pasta. I use a multi-grain type pasta.
Add chopped ham slices to boiling pasta pot at last 5 minutes of cook time.
In large skillet melt 2 tablespoons of butter and whisk in 2 tablespoons of flour.
Slowly stir in 2 cups of milk and bring to a bubble.
Stir in 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, ½ cup shredded asagio cheese and ½ cup shredded parmesan cheese and fresh ground pepper to taste until cheese is melted.
Pour over cooked pasta in baking dish and mix up.
Cover with crumbled leftover cornbread stuffing/dressing and a handful of sliced almonds.
Bake in 350º oven for about 15-20 minutes until topping is crispy and browned.

Mmmmm….

I served it up with some cranberry relish and fresh veggies, all leftover from Thanksgiving dinner.

And yes, Daniel enjoyed the old school love that mom brought to the table.

Ed & Tera

dtflaherty31 — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 18:03:03 +0000

It was a pleasure to shoot this wedding for a couple of great friends from college. I have known Tera & Eddie for 4 years now, and it is easy to see why they get along with each other so well, they are both caring and genuinely fun-loving people to be around. Congratulations you guys!

~Dan

commands and the commanded: Daniel 5

David Baer — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 17:47:20 +0000

Badly as Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar comes off, he is the moral equivalent of a rock star when placed alongside his pitiable son Belshazzar. For all his overweening pride, the pater familias of this dubious tribe at least learned the lesson that ‘the God of the heavens is sovereign over the affairs of men and gives rule and power to whomever he wills’. Thought it took becoming an animal to figure this out, the biblical book of Daniel at least credits the now defunct Nebuchadnezzar for his tuition.

Not so Belshazzar the son, a man who earns that lamentable historical badge of being the last leader of an empire. Belshazzar will learn nothing and will die in the very night his chickens come home to roost.

Now the book’s chronicling of Nebuchadnezzar’s mixed record is full of commands. One might gather the impression that giving commands is all this foolish king knew how to do. Chapters three and four register four times the fact that Nebuchadnezzar gave a te’em, a commandment or decree. It is virtually the royal thing to do, at least in Babylon where—over against the Israelite ideal of monarchy—the king does not listen, read Torah, or consult the politically independent and YHWH-sourced prophet.

Telling people to do things and throwing drunken parties are about the only two activities the text allows to remain in the playbook on the Babylonian king’s bedroom shelf. He also seems to collect hordes of available women, let us not wrest from his hands a third activity.

At any rate, Nebuchadnezzar’s core competence seems to be ‘placing a te’em‘: decreeing things. Not to be too harsh on the man, he is credited with a worldwide following of people who do what he has said they will do. His decrees may be foolish, but they are not impotent.

Enter Belshazzar, Nebuchadnezzar’s son.

The text that describes this party animal is rich with ironies pertaining to gold and the other raw products of his royal pretense. That much is obvious.

What may be less so is that, a mere two sentences into the man’s appearance, we find him setting the table for his own demise. Significantly, this rump end of imperial dynasty—Cyrus the Mede will soon replace him—does not appear in full imperative stride. Unlike his father, he does not decree. He acts rather under the decree of wine.

King Belshazzar made a great festival for a thousand of his lords, and he was drinking wine in the presence of the thousand. Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar commanded that they bring in the vessels of gold and silver that his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. So they brought in the vessels of gold and silver that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. They drank the wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

A more literal flourish on the part of the translator might have said it like this:

Belshazzar, under the decree of the wine, spoke (ordered) that they bring the vessels of gold and silver …

So is the decline of this feckless imperial dynasty writ small in the party-room of its pathetic scion on the night of his unlamented death.

The Hebrew Bible’s refined sense for irony appears to smirk with an exiled captive’s self-satisfaction at the death spiral of his bombastic, self-absorbed, drunken emperor.

There is more than one way to refuse to bend the knee.

Mass Reading & Meditation for November 28, 2009

svdp — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:27:35 +0000

Catholic Meditations
Meditation: Luke 21:34-36

Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy. (Luke 21:34)

Have you ever felt drowsy? Maybe you had some time on your hands without much to do, or you felt worn down by the demands of life and didn’t want to deal with anything. Drowsiness feels very passive, like a waking sleep. It certainly doesn’t conjure images of a bright-eyed, eager participant in life!

But there’s another side to the drowsiness that Jesus is warning us against. In today’s Gospel reading, it is a state of dullness to spiritual things—a dullness that can come not just from indulging our senses but from the very real demands and anxieties of life. We can get so weighed down by everything we have to do that we become dull to the life of God in and around us. Our eyes get focused on this world, leaving our spiritual vision blurry and tired. And that sets us up for missing out on the ways God makes himself present to us every day.

How can we avoid this drowsiness? One answer lies in the verses used for today’s responsorial psalm: Praising God raises our hearts and minds up to heaven. It wakes us up to spiritual realities as we recall and praise God for who he is and all he has done in our lives and throughout history.

There are many ways we can praise God every day—many ways we can focus our minds and guard against spiritual drowsiness. Some days, you may want to recall God’s wonderful works of creation, the salvation he brought us in Jesus, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the promise of the second coming. Other days, you may want to praise each person of the Trinity for their attributes: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Or another day, you may turn to the psalms to help you focus your attention.

However you decide to begin, just start thanking God for who he is. The more you praise God, the easier it gets. As you remember more things to thank him for, your praise can become like an avalanche! And the very act of raising your mind above your own concerns and gazing heavenward will wake up your heart and mind to spiritual realities!

“Father, you are exalted above all things! You have made everything and are enthroned in power! You are worthy of all praise!”

Daniel 7:15-27; (Psalm) Daniel 3:82-87

Just add water

teresamcnamara — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 11:53:27 +0000

It has been a hot few days in Brisbane. It even takes a while to cool down at night. So the “Learn To Swim” Christmas party at our neighbourhood pool was just what we needed this afternoon. A wasn’t playing Bowls so I got to go an do a knitting lesson at lunch time – Eric may have a new jumper for winter but I’m not sure of which winter. And then we basically soaked ourselves in the pool for as long as possible. Admission was free today and included a sausage sizzle, ice blocks, balloon animals (and swords in our case) as well as a visit from Santa. Eric took on the very large inflatable and came off second best but I’m so proud of him for going back to try it again. I think I would have chickened out at his age. I’ve knitted more tonight (in the air conditioning) as I’m hoping to get a good start on this project before we go away.

Is Jesus the archangel Michael?

herqlez253 — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 04:55:28 +0000

Irrefutable Proof that Jesus Christ is NOT Michael the archangel.

First turn to the book of Revelation. 1:9. John is exiled on the island of Patmos and was then caught up by the Spirit and heard a voice commanding him to write down events he is about to witness on a scroll. As soon as John turns around he describes this man

-          One like the son of man
- Wearing a robe to his feet
-          Golden belt on his waist
-          Hair white as snow-white wool
-          Eyes like fire
-          Shined like furnished brass
-          Voice was like the sound of a trumpet and rushing waters

He then calls himself

-The first and last
- the living one who was dead and no alive forever
- who holds the keys of death
- Amen, the faithful and true witness
- the holy one, the true one, who holds the key of David
- Son of God
- The Spirit

Upon this John fell on his feet as if he was dead and this man told him not to be afraid. It’s very obvious to see that this man is actually Jesus. We can all agree on that.

Now turn to Daniel (8:15). We see Daniel having a vision and suddenly encountered Gabriel who is telling him what his visions means.

Later on, Gabriel returns back to Daniel in Daniel 9:21 to further his understanding. However, by this time, Daniel is already familiar with his name and knows who Gabriel is by saying

“While I was praying, the man Gabriel, who I had already seen in the vision, came close to me at the hour of the evening sacrifice, flying swiftly”

Later on in Daniel 9:5, Daniel encounters another being in his vision. Daniel describes this being as:

-clothed in linen
-wore a belt of gold
-face shining like lightning
-eyes like torches
-arms and feet like bronze
- voice like a multitude.

Looks familiar? It’s clear that Daniel is seeing Jesus, the same form that John in Revelation was seeing.

Moving on, Daniel, upon his encounter, falls to the ground without strength, and then a hand brings him up. So, who’s hand was it? Some people will say that the vision was of Jesus, BUT the hand that brought him up was Gabriel’s or another angel’s hand. However that is incorrect in any contextual level. If it was Gabriel’s hand, Daniel would say so since he is already familiar with Gabriel by this time. If it was someone else, Daniel would at least say there were more beings present there but he didn’t.

Daniel also calls this man “lord” with Daniel being his “servant” (Daniel 10:17). We know that angels are NEVER called Lords and we are NEVER their servants. That is blasphemy. If Daniel was saying that because he was overwhelmed, the angel would at least have corrected him as seen in Revelation 22:8-9, Revelation 19:10. Angels know better to be worshiped and would never accept worship and take God’s glory.

Once again, it is easy to see that this man that Daniel is seeing is Jesus, and it was his hand that pulled him up, and it was him alone talking to Daniel without anyone else present.

This is important because that man (Jesus) says the following:

“I have come to answer your prayers. But the angel prince of the kingdom of Persia resisted me for twenty-one says, and then, seeing that I had held out there, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me against the prince of Persia…”(Daniel 12:13)

“..I am going back to fight with the prince of Persia, and, as soon as I have left the prince of Greece will appear: I have no ally on my side to help and support me, except Michael, your prince. However I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth…”

“..Michael shall appear, Michael the great captain, who stands guard over your fellow country-men; and there will be a time of distress such as has never been since they became a nation till that moment..”

So from here we know that Jesus was being helped by Michael, the great captain and one of many chief princes. How can Jesus be Michael at the same time while being helped by Michael?

Also if Jesus was Michael, then Jesus would be one of many chief princes saying there are other co-equals with him. We know that Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Jesus cannot be those things if he is “one of many”. Jesus and Michael are not the same.