is the very last day that I will be taking orders for Christmas cards, prints & products to guarantee delivery to you before the BIG day! (Christmas) Anything after this date may or may not be here on time. If you have had a holiday mini session and your picture album is not ready yet… it will be posted for you no later than Saturday December 5th. Thank you all for a very busy & productive holiday season!!

(photo found online)

That rhymed.

I have the absolute worst writer’s block right now. I’m in the middle of writing this really happy chapter, but it’s mainly filler. I don’t know why, but it’s much more difficult than usual.

Four more hours. *Deep breath* This can be done.

I am sitting here on a Saturday morning drinking a cup of green tea and sorting out my diary for next week.

Next week will be my last week at Virgin Trains, where I have spent ten years of my working life. When I joined the company I had little experience, few skills and in the words of our HR Director ‘rather cheeky’.

Since then I have made an estimated 2746 train journeys over approximately 414,000 miles. I have worked with over 5,000 people and managed 400.

I have managed budgets of over £10M and saved over £1M.

Over 165,000,000 customers have travelled on the network in that time.

When I leave Virgin Trains I will have had 5 years senior management experience, 100‘s of hours of development, 12 exams, 15 assignments and many more rewarding and challenging experiences. Thanks for that, by the way.

So, onto next week. 7 meetings, 9 train journeys over 900 miles and 1 last day.

What are your numbers?

26 NOVEMBER 2009.
It was a bittersweet experience traveling to school this week, knowing it’s the final week before we enter the real world. It’s not like I’m graduating tomorrow or something but it was the very last time I’m going to SP to attend normal lessons.

I kinda felt the pinch on Tuesday (24Nov), when I reached campus at 730am to prepare myself for PP CA2 interview. I doubt I ever gone to school that early alone before. The feeling was great. No crowds, no rush, no distractions, just me walking all by myself thinking, reflecting. I seldom take slow walks to School of Business.

While walking, I was thinking through the 3 years, people I’ve met, known, forgotten, don’t wanna remember. There were so many places in school where memories were created. That thought made me smile for a while.

Then as I looked up at the big red “I want I can @ SP” banner, I can’t help but to think of the friendships that were made and how it progressed. However, there were some memories, I really don’t wish to relive.

I guess, my experience in school was awesome. I didn’t regret taking the polytechnic route at all. It did open my eyes to the real world and how’s everything is in shades of grey.

I’ll miss you guys, lecturers, course mates and classmates.
I had fun.

Year 2Year 3 – DMC 3B05

Entire cohort!

Today was the last day of school which meant massive raves and crazy fun. Nothing compares to the total hyper activeness you feel on the last day. I figure Summer just has a way of making you feel great, otherwise it was the huge amount of coke bottle lollies that I ate.

Science was the first lesson of the day and our teacher brought in heaps of food and someone plugged their i-pod into the speakers so we had funky tunes all through first period. It was also our science teachers last day so we had an awesome group photo as well also farewelled an extremely cool guy from the school.

In English we had the pleasure of watching Scrubs. Albiet, only ten minutes as our teacher talked about grades for almost the whole lesson. What we did learn from that lesson was that olive oil on your lips seems to work well on the ladies.

Our end of year assembly was actually pretty decent and didn’t stretch on for too long but unfortunately awesome music wasn’t played.

After a very short lunch break, everyone had to head down to the oval for a teachers vs staff touch football game and to do whatever else you wanted. Me and a friend just listened to music and sung so many songs we could’ve held a concert. A wonderful mashup of rap, rock and techno was performed. It sounded excellent if I do say so myself.

The best part of the day was still to come though as two girls held a “Water Bash” straight after school which involved water pistols, a water slide, buckets of water, a hose, a blow up pool of water and some drinking water. Before the party I learnt how to vault a fence and was feeling super active. I practically took everyone on the trampoline to the moon.

Everyone else was playing basketball on a hoop short enough to dunk which was awesome, throwing sponges and becoming completely soaked. Not to mention swimming in the river which was pretty disgusting as there’s probably 100 different types of crap in it.

There was plenty of junk food, some ghosting (we were all pros), craziness and tons of water on a sunny afternoon.

Last days don’t get much better than that.

Quran/Islam/Muhammad- open minded, nonracial and unbiased
http://forum09.faithfreedom.org/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=4920&p=82054#p82054

Manfred wrote:

The Quran is quite clear that Islamic paradise is a Muslim only “place” (for lack of a better description).

Paarsurrey wrote:

Hi friend Manfred

I don’t agree with you.

You have certainly misunderstood Quran/Islam/Muhammad.

[2:63] Surely, the Believers, and the Jews, and the Christians and the Sabians — whichever party from among these truly believes in Allah and the Last Day and does good deeds — shall have their reward with their Lord, and no fear shall come upon them, nor shall they grieve.
[2:64] And remember the time when We took a covenant from you and raised high above you the Mount, saying: ‘Hold fast that which We have given you and bear in mind what is therein, that you may be saved.’
[2:65] Then you turned back thereafter; and had it not been for Allah’s grace towards you and His mercy, you would surely have been of the losers.

http://www.alislam.org/quran/search2/sh … 2&verse=56

The above verse very clearly mentions that those persons who have the truthful beliefs and those who do good deeds suited to the situation and time would go to heaven. One who is a Muslim in name only and does not have good beliefs and or good deeds has no claim to heaven, it is purely the grace and the mercy of the Creator-God Allah YHWH, nobody else has any monopoly on the heaven; no intercession, nothing of this sort.

Please amend your concept accordingly. Yours is a very narrow and stringent concept; nothing to do with Quran/Islam/Muhammad, who are very open minded, nonracial and unbiased.

I love Jesus and Mary as mentioned in Quran.

Thanks

I am an Ahmadi peaceful Muslim

Pastor M. Beecroft, 11/22/2009

In 1970 my Dad was drafted into the Army. After finishing basic training at Ft. Lewis in Washington, he was assigned to serve as an MP at Ft. Gordon. Young and poor, he moved our family into a dilapidated trailer in the red dirt of Hepzibah, Georgia. I was only an infant then so the time there precedes my memory, although my dad tells me I saw Hank Aaron hit a home run at the old Fulton County stadium in Atlanta. I trust I did. Now something my dad learned there in Georgia has remained stuck in my memory to this very day. It was an obnoxious radio song that aired every morning on the local station. Apparently, my dad woke up to this song during his two years there. I will never know why he didn’t just change the channel, or use the alarm. Growing up, he loved to sing that song to my brother and me to irritate and annoy us out of bed. While still deep in sleep, we would hear my dad’s voice echo down the hallway, “Get up, get up, get out of your bed. Get up, get up, you sleepy head. Get up and face the rising sun. Get up, get up, you son of a gun.” He would repeat the song over and over, louder and louder, until you finally roused yourself out of bed. The pain of waking up was much less than the pain of hearing my dad sing that grating song. The whole process was rather disturbing and unsettling.
…

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Heute ist Endspurt angesagt, mit gemischten Gefühlen sind wir heute aufgestanden. Letzter Tag im Studio, geil! aber auch traurig. Die Platte wird heute fertig gemischt sein aber wir müssen raus aus dem Studio. Es hat so verdammt viel Spaß gemacht! 2 Wochen nur Musik machen, abhägen, schwitzen, Bier trinken, furzen, rülpsen, vors Haus pissen, baden, schlafen, essen, Musik hören und mischen. Ein Traum!
Naja aber der schönen Zeit hinterher heulen bringt ja auch nichts!:) Deswegen schauen wir nach vorne und freuen uns auf den Schliff den unser Diamant noch beim Mastering bekommt und dann auf die mega, über, abgeh, durchdreh Party im KellerKlub am 8. Januar! Das wird ein FEST! Wer das verpasst, dem kann nicht mehr geholfen werden!
Jetzt aber erstmal noch den letzten Song fertig machen, Thimo hockt schon an den Reglern und gleich gehts los!

Bis später ihr Lieben!

Yeah.  I’m pretty effing hungry.

Tomorrow is my last day with SAIC.  Yeah, thats my company.  Not ABCD.  Whatever.  I figure I dont work for them anymore, and what are they gonna do, fire me?  But yeah.  Its kinda bittersweet, because I never really hated that job.  I mean, there were those moments when I wanted to strangle my boss, Kat.  But since she’s gone, things have been a little better.  I have friends and folks that I will miss.  Thankfully, I’ll only be down the hall, but it’ll still be a little sad.

Like I said the other day, we’re all going to Coastal Flats tomorrow for lunch.  That was my friend T’s stipulation.  Haha.  Our boss C doesnt really do seafood, but she’s ok.  After lunch its off to check out at SAIC in Chantilly.  Its the end of an era.

They were really good to me when I hated working for BAE, helped me out, got me out of the library, waited for me to get the qualifications that I needed, and then paid me pretty decently.  I have no qualms or issues.  (By the way, I know I just linked the hell out of that, and if you want to read more about the hell that was work w/BAE, click here)  I mean, hell, you can see by the sheer number of times that I updated back then that I was a) bored all the time and b) really unhappy.

But this isnt a post about the craptastic time that was working for BAE (think I’ve dropped their name enough times???).  This is about how hungry I am how much I am looking forward to tomorrow.  I’ll post then and let ya’lls know how it went.  Yaay for new beginnings!!

Look at the sprouties! Thats a metaphor for meeeeee!!!

Been busy all morning, it is 7.40 am and I have been getting ready for school. Cooked lunch for me and my brother (how nice am I?) and now i’m just waiting to go catch the bus. This is also the last day of school for the week, YES And I got plans for everyday almost, stay tuned

IT ONLY TAKES ONE…

1. One sacrifice of Jesus to do away with sin
2. One appearance of Jesus to deliver us salvation

Text: Hebrews 9:24-28

Introduction

My father-in-law has a saying about home improvement projects: “Every home improvement project requires at least three trips to Home Depot.”  If you’ve ever tackled one of those projects around your home, you know what I mean.  About a year or so ago, one of the church council members installed a new closet in one of the parsonage bedrooms, and I’m pretty sure we made three trips to Home Depot to get that project done!  Rare is the major household improvement project that only requires one trip to the home improvement store!

The Second Lesson for today’s service talks about a “repair project” that makes any of our own personal household projects seem insignificant and unimportant.  Our reading from the New Testament book of Hebrews describes the project Jesus undertook to permanently repair the damage that sin brought into our world and into our lives.  With an eternally important divine project like that—rescuing the world from its own sin!—you would think that this would be a project that would span centuries.  But if we assume that, we would be wrong.  In just one visit to our sinful world, Jesus undid the eternal consequences of sin.  And in one return visit in the future, Jesus will bring us to the eternal blessings of heaven.  That’s what our reading from Hebrews teaches us today.  It only takes one!  It only takes one sacrifice of Jesus to do away with sin.  It only takes one appearance of Jesus to deliver us salvation.

I.

Hebrews can be a hard book for modern Christians to understand.  The biggest reason for the difficulty is because Hebrews was written to first-century Jewish Christians who were well acquainted with Old Testament Jewish customs.  The writer of this book regularly points back to Old Testament customs his readers would have known, and then shows how these customs were previews of the saving work that Jesus Christ would accomplish.  And that’s exactly what the writer is doing in today’s reading.  Listen to the first several verses again.  “For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.  Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own.  Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world.  But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.” 

The ancient Jerusalem temple was meant to be a symbol of God’s presence in various ways.  One feature of the temple was the center room called the Most Holy Place.  This room was separated from the rest of the temple by walls on three sides and a thick curtain at its entrance.  Once a year (and only once a year) on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), the high priest (and only the high priest) entered the Most Holy Place.  He entered just after he had sacrificed a goat and had collected some of the goat’s blood.  He came into the Most Holy Place, and sprinkled the goat’s blood on a gold-covered wooden chest in the center of the Most Holy Place.  That chest was called the Ark of the Covenant.  Inside the ark were the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments.

There was an unspoken sermon in this annual ceremony.  The blood of that sacrificial animal was shed in place of the people, whose sins deserved death.  The animal died instead, and the animal’s blood covered the ark that housed the Ten Commandments.  So when God the Father peered down from heaven and looked at the ark, he didn’t see the Ten Commandments and their accusations of sin.  God saw the blood of the sacrificial animal covering up the law and its accusations.  The blood of the sacrifice covered up the guilt of the people’s sin.  Does that sound familiar?  Does that maybe, just maybe, sound like the sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God, whose blood takes away the sin of the world?

But there was one major difference between the Old Testament Day of Atonement and the sacrifice of Jesus.  The Day of Atonement’s sacrifice was repeated year after year.  It wasn’t the ultimate remedy for sin, but a picture and preview of the once-for-all sacrifice that would come in the future.  But now that sacrifice had come!  And it only took one sacrifice of Jesus to do away with sin – because Jesus was no ordinary sacrifice!  Only one sacrifice of Jesus was needed to do away with sin because of the incalculable value of the sacrifice.  This was no ancient animal sacrifice.  This was no pagan human sacrifice.  This was a gracious divine sacrifice.  This sacrifice revealed the depths of God’s love for his wayward creatures!  God would actually send his Son to take up the sin of a world full of rebels!  The Son of God would actually take responsibility for that sin, even though it was not his own, and then pay for it all by his own sacrifice.  God himself, in the person of Jesus, would shed his own blood to cover up the world’s sin and cleanse it from its shame.  And in that one sacrifice, Jesus did away with the world’s sin: “[Christ] has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.”

If only we would believe that wholeheartedly!  If only our sinful nature would not cause us doubts and uncertainty!  If only our wandering minds would not keep us awake at night by thoughts of the foolish words of yesterday and the shameful acts of yesteryear.  If only our Old Adam would stop denying the cleansing power of Jesus’ once-for-all sacrifice which is more than sufficient to wash away my sin.  If only our human frailties would not get in the way of our hearts grasping and clinging to this message.  If only our inner desire to try to “make up” for our sin could be turned off so that the Word of God could do its work on our stubborn hearts.  If only we clung more to our Baptisms as if it was the greatest gift we had ever received.  If only we longed for the body and blood of Jesus in the Sacrament as the greatest heavenly food our souls could receive and our lips could taste.

Satan would love to take your worries and fears and turn them into despair and then unbelief.  If he can’t lead you away from Jesus in sin, he will try to lead you away in despair.  And that is why this age-old truth needs to be said again and again.  That is why the Holy Spirit reveals this truth to us again week after week—today in an illustration that our minds can picture.  It only takes one sacrifice of Jesus to do away with sin!  Your personal feelings do not erase the once-for all sacrifice Jesus offered on the cross.  Your inner worries and fears do not change the fact that God’s own Son gave his life for you.  Nothing you do or say or imagine can change the historical fact that Jesus Christ suffered and died to take away your sin, and nothing you do or say or imagine can change the theological truth that Jesus’ one sacrifice was all that it took to do away with your sin.

II.

Today is the Sunday of the church year that we call, “Last Judgment.”  We are three Sundays away from starting a new church year, and when we arrive near the end of the old church year, we usually spend about three Sundays talking about things that have to do with the end of time: the final judgment, heaven and hell, and Christ’s eternal rule over all things.  Today is the day we think about the final judgment, and the end of our Second Lesson gets our thoughts headed in that direction.  “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”

The first section in our reading used an illustration, and then drew a comparison between that illustration and Jesus’ once-for-all sacrifice on the cross.  There is a similar pattern in the last two verses we just heard, but this time the illustration isn’t one that is unique to the Jewish culture.  This time his illustration is the cold reality of death.  There isn’t a single person who hasn’t had to deal with death and issues of mortality in some form or another.  We receive reminders about the reality of death in the declining health of our loved ones or maybe ourselves, in the shocking news reports of shootings at a military base last week, and in the inevitable change and decay that is a part of everyday life.  But after our death comes the day that we stand before God to hear his just judgment and his righteous verdict.

Our reading draws a parallel to that sequence of events and the sequence of events related to Jesus’ death.  Jesus also died – not because of his sin, but because of ours.  And what eventually follows his death is the final judgment – not a judgment of Jesus, but the last judgment by Jesus.  One more appearance of Jesus is coming in the future, and at that appearance he will deliver his people their eternal salvation.  “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”

Most people don’t like the thought of being the defendant who stands before the judge in the courtroom.  Far fewer like the thought of being the sinner who stands before Almighty God at the final judgment.  Do you really want your life story to be the basis for a cross-examination?  Do you really want the prosecution to dig up and drag out the immaturity of your youth and the pride of your present?  Do you really want to stand face to face with the One who knows every incident from your past that you hoped no one would ever find out about?

But listen to our reading again, because if the final judgment frightens you, then these words are the antidote.   “Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”  At the final judgment, you will not stand before an unjust judge who is out to get you.  At the final judgment, you will stand before your loving Lord who is out to save you!  Jesus’ first entrance into this world did away with your sin, and his one remaining appearance will deliver us our eternal salvation.  His first entrance won your eternal redemption, and his remaining appearance will deliver that redemption to you personally.  His first entrance won your eternal life by his resurrection from the dead, and his remaining appearance will deliver you from this world into the eternal gates of heaven where death, hell, and sin can harm you no more.  Those who ridiculed and sold him, pierced and nailed him to the tree will be deeply wailing at his return, but with what wonder will we will gaze on his glorious scars and praise him for his glorious grace on the Last Day!  (cf. “Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending, CW #29 & CWS #704)

Conclusion

During the recent off-year elections, we again heard the encouragement to get out and vote because every individual vote counts.  Public service announcements on the radio encourage people to get involved in the community, because every individual person can make a difference.  All around us are signs and reminders that one person can make a difference for the better.

But every example we come up with will pale to the accomplishments of Jesus Christ.  One sacrifice of Jesus has done away with sin.  One remaining appearance of Jesus will deliver us our salvation.  That’s the one and only reason you need to live life with a clear conscience now as you wait for the one day when your one and only Savior delivers you the one gift that you’ve been waiting for—heaven!  Amen.

Nothing to rant about today, just a few updates:

I may be getting a new job, details are still unclear so I have decided to share horrendous and hilarious stories about my experiences working in a retail clothing store to give an idea of 1 of the places where my no-shopping experiment is coming from.
Also, because of my potential leave, I am now more tempted than ever to stock up on my employee discount and leave with a bang. Leaving with a bang also means enacting a ‘last-day-of-work’ fantasy. Some fantasies include:
-dancing around the store like a musical number complete with sliding down the banister on the end high note.
-hiding in the clothes and grabbing people or whispering either threats or socially conscious messages to them (“pssst: I’m non-recyclable”).
-telling the absolute truth of what I’m really thinking to all the customers.
-Breaking every company rule: (wearing a mini-skirt with a nike sweatshirt and flip flops while standing on the last step of a ladder and shouting in English: it’s my laaaast daaaaay!…while chewing gum.)

Story time: this isn’t so much a story as it is an account of what happens in the changing rooms. One woman came in holding her little boy’s hand asking for a bathroom, we don’t have any for customers. So she looks like she’s shopping around then goes into the changing rooms. Eventually we find out that she told her son to just pee in the changing room and was asked to pay for the cleaning bill. One colleague has found a dirty diaper and I myself have personally found a used sanitary napkin with a tip: 75 cents in change neatly stacked next to it. Even though we don’t allow 2 in a cabin there are couples who try and we can hear every gross compliment and flirtation that they share (I just threw up in my mouth) and there are the people who insist on being buck naked in there and come out to ask for something and let it all hang out.

Haven’t bought a thing yet. Not even tempted to.
It began October 13, 2009. 25 days and counting.

Today was the last day of the fall soccer season. The kids each got a trophy (check out my Mister wearing his goalie gloves – he rocked the goal!!!)

I’m kind of bummed the season is over – I love being out on the field! Guess I shouldn’t feel too bad though, the indoor season starts on Friday … that should hold me over till spring

Question yourself!

By Shaykh Husayn al-Awaaishah
Translated by Imraan Husayn

Do you pray fajr (morning prayer) in the mosque in Jamaa`ah (gathering) every day?

Do you keep all prayers in the masjid in Jamaa`ah?

Did you read any portion of Allaah’s Book today?

Are you consistent in saying your thikr (words of remembrance) and praise of Allaah (T) and wird (regular daily dhikr) after every prayer?

Do you pray all the regular sunnah prayers (supererogatory prayers) before and after the fard prayers?

Were you humble and sincere in your prayers today, conscious of what you were reciting?

Did you reflect upon death and the grave?

Did you reflect upon the Last Day, its horrors and its perils?

Did you ask Allaah (three times) to let you into the Jennah? For, Anas, radhiallahu `anhu, reported that the Messenger sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said:

When someone asks Allaah (three times) to let him into the Jannah, the Jannah says: ‘O Allaah, let him into his Jannah?’ And when someone asks Allaah (three times) to shelter him from the Fire, the Fire says: ‘O Allaah, protect him from the Fire’.” [At-Tirmidhee, an-Nasaa’ee, and al-Haakim; Saheeh al-Jaami` by al-Albaanee no. 6275]

Did you ask Allaah (three times) to protect you from the Hellfire?

Did you read any of the hadeeth of the Prophet, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam?

Did you consider keeping away from evil companions?

Did you try to avoid excessive laughing and joking?

Did you cry today for fear of Allaah?

Did you say the morning and evening thikr?

Did you seek forgiveness for your sins from Allaah for today?

Did you sincerely ask Allaah (ta`ala) for the Shahaadah (martyrdom) today? For, the Messenger of Allaah, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, said: “Whoever asks Allaah (ta`ala) for the Shahaadah with sincerity, Allaah will grant him the rank of martyrs, even if he dies in bed.” [Muslim and others]

Did you supplicate to Allaah to keep your heart firm upon His Deen?

Source: Brother in facebook Jazak Allah Kheir

Source: Signs of the Last day by Harun Yahya

The following article is a short summary.

Fourteen hundred years ago, the Prophet Muhammad (saas) related a number of secrets concerning the Doomsday, and of his thoughts about it, to his Muslim companions. These valuable words have been passed down from generation to generation to the present day in the form of books of hadiths and works of Islamic scholars. The hadiths used in the coming sections of this book contain such information given by the Prophet (saas) in this regard.

At this point, there may arise some doubt in the reader in regards to the truth and authenticity of these hadiths about the end. It is a recognized fact that, in the past, there had been a number of fabricated hadiths falsely attributed to the Prophet (saas), but the hadiths that form the subject of our inquiry will be easily recognized as issuing from the Prophet (saas). There is a method to distinguish those that are true from those that are false. As we know, hadiths about the Doomsday relate to events that are to take place in the future. For this reason, when a hadith comes true in the course of time, all doubt as to the source of the words is removed.

Several Islamic scholars who conducted research on the subject of the End Times and of the signs of the Last Day have used this criterion. An expert on the subject, Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, said that the fact that the hadiths concerning the End Times correspond to events observed in our day shows the truth of the hadiths.4

Some of the signs related in the hadiths were observable in some part of the world in any period during the 1400 year history of Islam, but that would not have proven that that period was the the End Times. For a certain period to be called the End Times, all the signs of the Last Day must be observed to be occurrence in that same period. This is expressed in a hadith:

	Signs following one another like the pieces of a necklace falling one after the other when its string is cut. Tirmidhi)

When we examine the End Times in the light of the information related above, we come up with a surprising conclusion. The signs that the Prophet (saas) described in detail are occurring one after the other in every corner of the world, just in the way they were described in the age in which we live. It is so that the hadiths paint a perfect portrait of our time. This is indeed a miracle, and demands careful consideration. Every sign that occurs is to remind people once again that the Doomsday is very near, a day when they will give account of themselves in the presence of Allah, and therefore, that they should immediately apply the moral values of the Qur’an to their lives.

1) War and Anarchy

In a hadith, the Prophet (saas) described the End Times in this way:

	Allah’s Messenger (saas) said: “The Harj (will increase).” They asked, “What is the Harj?” He replied, “(It is) killing (murdering), (it is) murdering (killing).” (Bukhari)

The meaning of harj mentioned in the above hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (saas) is “utter confusion” and “disorder,” which is not to be limited to one particular area, but will be widespread throughout the world.

Again, on this topic, the following words of the Prophet (saas) have come down to us:

	The Hour will come when violence, bloodshed, and anarchy become common. (Al-Muttaqi Al-Hindi, Muntakhab Kanzul Ummaal) The world will not come to an end until a day would come to the people on which there will be general massacre and bloodshed. (Muslim)

When we examine the above hadiths, we are led to an important conclusion. The Prophet (saas) described conflicts, chaos, murder, war to involve the whole earth, and outbreaks of terror, and revealed that these events are signs of the Last Day.

If we look at the last fourteen centuries, we see that wars were regional before the twentieth century. However, wars that affected everyone in the world, political systems, entire economies and social structures, have happened only comparatively recently, in the two world wars. In World War I, more than 20 million died; in World War II, the toll was more than 50 million. At the same time, World War II is acknowledged to have been the bloodiest, the greatest and the most destructive war in history.

Modern military technology, including nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, have increased the effects of war to an extent never before seen in history

2) The destruction of great cities: wars and disasters

One of the pronouncements given to us by the Prophet (saas) about the End Times is the following:

	Great cities will be ruined and it will be as if they had not existed the day before. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir al-Zaman)

The ruin of great cities spoken of in this hadith brings to mind the destruction that now arises from war and various natural disasters.Recently developed nuclear weapons, aircraft, bombs, missiles, and other modern weapons, have caused untold destruction. These terrible weapons have brought about a degree of destruction never before seen. Indeed, the great cities targeted are most affected by this destruction. The incomparable destruction of the Second World War is an example of this. With the use of the atom bomb in world’s greatest war, Hiroshima and Nagasaki were completely destroyed. As a result of heavy bombing, European capitals and other important cities suffered a great amount of damage. The Encyclopedia Britannica describes the damage caused to European cities by World War II:

The resulting devastation had turned much of Europe into a moonscape: cities laid waste or consumed by fire storms, the countryside charred and blackened, roads pitted with shell holes or bomb craters, railways out of action, bridges destroyed or truncated, harbors filled with sunken, listing ships. “Berlin,” said General Lucius D. Clay, the deputy military governor in the U.S. zone of postwar Germany, “was like a city of the dead.”6

In short, the unprecedented destruction caused by the Second World War conforms entirely to that described in the hadith of the Prophet (saas).

In the hadiths, it is revealed that, in the End Times, big cities will be destroyed as if they had never existed. In the past century, many cities were destroyed in such a manner. Only two examples here suffice, Hiroshima after the atom bomb (above), and several cities in Chechnya. (right)

Another cause of the destruction of major cities is natural disasters. It is a statistical fact that the age in which we live has seen an increase in both the number and the seriousness of natural disasters. In the last ten years, disasters caused by climactic changes are a novel phenomenon. A dangerous and unwanted by-product of industry is global warming. Industry is gradually disturbing the balance in the world’s atmosphere, giving rise to climactic changes. The year of 1998 was the hottest on earth since records have been kept.7According to the information of the American National Climate Data Center, the greatest number of weather-related disasters occurred in 1998.8 For example, Hurricane Mitch has been referred to by a number of observers as the world’s worst natural disaster ever to strike Central America.9

In the last few years, hurricanes, storms, typhoons and other such disasters have had a destructive effect on the American continent as well as in several other places in the world. In addition, floods have caused mudslides, which have engulfed certain centers of population. Furthermore, earthquakes, volcanoes and tidal waves have also caused great devastation. Therefore, all this destruction brought on upon the great cities by these calamities is an important sign in each case.

3)Earthquakes

There is no doubt that there have been no other natural events in history that have affected people to the extent that earthquakes have. They can happen anywhere and at any moment. Throughout the centuries, they have caused many deaths and great material loss. For this reason, they have been greatly feared. Even the technology of the twentieth and twentyfirst centuries has been able to prevent earthquake damage only to a certain extent.

It all brings to mind what the Prophet said 1400 years ago:

The Hour (Last Day) will not be established until … earthquakes will be very frequent.(Bukhari)

There are two great hadiths before the day of Judgment … and then years of earthquakes.(Narrated by Umm Salama (r.a.)

4) Poverty

It is well known that poverty is the lack of food, shelter, clothing, health services, and the other basic needs, due to a low level of income. Despite the possibilities afforded by advanced technology, poverty is today one of the most serious problems the world faces. In Africa, Asia, South America and Eastern Europe, many people live with hunger every day. Imperialism and unrestrained capitalism has prevented the distribution of income throughout the world and the advancement of under-developed and developing countries. While there is a happy minority that has more than it needs, there are a considerable number of people struggling with the problems of poverty and destitution.

In the world today, poverty has reached grave proportions. The last report by UNICEF stated that one in four people of the world’s population lives in “unimaginable suffering and want.”12 1.3 billion of the world’s people survive on less than $1 a day. 3 billion people in the world today struggle to survive on $2 a day.13 Approximately 1.3 billion people lack safe water. 2.6 billion people are without access to adequate sanitation.

The prophet said:

The poor will grow in number.
(Amal Al-Din Al-Qazwini, Mufid Al-’ulum
Wa-mubid Al-humum)

Gains will be shared out only among the rich,
with no benefit to the poor. (Tirmidhi)

5) The collapse in moral values

In our day, there is a great danger that threatens the world’s social fabric. In the same way as a virus kills the human body, this danger brings aboutsubtle social collapse. This danger is the degradation of those moral values that help to maintain a healthy society. Homosexuality, prostitution, pre-marital and extra-marital sex, sexual misdemeanors, pornography, sexual harassment and the increase of sex-related illnesses, are a number of important indications of the collapse of moral values.

These remain continual matters of public concern. A great number of people are not aware of the danger that is increasing around them, and mistakenly consider it as normal. But, statistics show that, with every passing day, the extent of the danger is growing unperceived.

“There will be prevalence of open illegal sexual intercourse”.(Bukhari)

“The Hour will come when adultery becomes widespread.”(Al-Haythami, Kitab al-Fitan)

“The Last Hour will not be established until they (wicked people) commit adultery on theroads (public ways).”(Ibn Hibban and Bazzar)

Men will imitate women; and Women will imitate men.(Allama Jalaluddin Suyuti, Durre-Mansoor)People will indulge in homosexuality and lesbianism.(Al-Muttaqi Al-Hindi, Muntakhab Kanzul Ummaal)

6) The Rejection of the true religion and the moral values of the Qur’an

The hadiths that deal with the signs of the Last Day provide us with a detailed description of the period in which these signs will appear.We can understand from the hadiths of the Prophet (saas) that the first stage of the End Times is a period that seems to be religious, but one that almost completely rejects Allah’s religion and the moral values of the Qur’an. It is a period in which that which has been clearly indicated in the verses of the Qur’an are overlooked, non-Islamic judgments are given by using the name of Allah, religion falls into discord, worship is performed for show, and religion is used as a means for profit and gain. It is a characteristic of this time that faith does not depend on knowledge and study but on imitation. In this time, so-called Muslims are in the majority, while real scholars and sincere Muslims are in the minority.

The following are the signs reveled by the Prophet (saas) 14 centuries ago, and which are coming true in the age in which we live:

According to the Qur’an, on the Last Day the Prophet (saas) will say that his own people will have abandoned the Qur’an: “My Lord, my people treat this Qur’an as something to be ignored…” (Surat al-Furqan: 30) It is also revealed in the hadiths that, during the End Times, the Qur’an’s guidance will be disregarded and people will stray from it.

“Near the establishment of the Hour there will be days during which (religious) knowledge will be taken away (vanish) and general ignorance will spread…”(Bukhari)

There will come a time for my people when there will remain nothing of the Qur’an except its outward form and nothing of Islam except its name and they will call themselves by this name even though they are the people furthest from it.(Agreed upon)

There will come a time upon the Ummat when people will recite the Qur’an, but it will not go further than their throats, (into their hearts).(Bukhari)

Allah’s Messenger (saas) spoke of something and said: “It will happen when knowledge will be no more. “ (Ziyad) said: “Allah’s Messenger, how will knowledge vanish despite the fact that we will be reciting the Qur’an and teaching its recitation to our children and our children will teach its recitation to their children up to the Day of Resurrection?” Thereupon he (the Prophet (saas)) said: “Ziyad, do these Jews and Christians not recite the Torah and the Bible but not act according to what is contained in them?”(Ahmad, Ibn Majah, Tirmidhi)

When the Qur’an is read as if singing a song, and when a person is esteemed for reading in that way, even though he is not knowledged …Al-Tabarani, Al-Kabir)

Undoubtedly, a period will come upon people wherein not a single person will be saved from indulging in interest. If anyone avoids direct indulgence in interest, yet he will not escape from the smoke (effects) thereof.. Its effects will somehow reach him.(Narrated by Abu Hurairah)

7) Social deterioration

A serious problem that people face today is the disintegration of the social fabric of societies. This collapse is discernable in various ways. Broken families, the increase in divorce and illegitimate births naturally lead to the destruction of the institution of the family. Stress, anxiety, unhappiness, worry and chaos turn the lives of many people into a real nightmare. People living in a spiritual void, looking for a way out of their depression, fall into a bleak mire of alcohol or drugs. Some, who think that there is no solution to be found, consider suicide as a way out.

The time will be years of confusion. People will believe a liar, and disbelieve one who tells the truth. People will distrust one who is trustworthy, and trust one who is treacherous.

(Ahmad)

There will be years of deceit, in which a truthful person will be disbelieved and a liar will be believed

(Ibn Kathir

In the End Times, people will be carrying out their trade but hardly will there be a trustworthy person.

(Bukhari and Muslim

Verily in the presence of the Last Hour, there would be … false testimony and concealing evidence.

(Ahmad and Hakim)

There will be false accusation of unchastity and slander.

(Tirmidhi)

Before the Hour comes, there will be special greeting for the people of distinction.

(Ahmad)

There will be no Judgment until greetings are given not to the people but to particular individuals.

(Mukhtasar Tazkirah Qurtubi

Only people one knows will be greeted with the salaam…
(Ahmad Diya’al-Din al-Kamushkhanawi, Ramuz al-Ahadith)

Science and Technology

Medical Technology
Education
Construction Technology
Transportation Technology
Communications Technology

The Prophet Muhammad (saas), as we all know, lived fourteen centuries ago. Historical records show that, when the Qur’an was revealed, Arab society did not have the technology to enable it to conduct investigations of the world or the universe. Therefore, there is a significant difference between the level of science and technology at the time, when the Prophet (saas) lived, and our own. Actually, the difference has persisted into the beginnings of the twentieth and the twentyfirst centuries. A clear proof of this is that a few technological innovations whose names were unpronounceable just a few decades ago have become indispensable elements of our lives today.

Despite these enormous differences, in the seventh century, the Prophet (saas) revealed a number of truths about the future. In the following pages, we will examine the hadiths describing the degree of scientific and technological knowledge of the End Times. We will see that what the Prophet (saas) predicted fourteen centuries ago is coming true in our time.

Medical Technology:

For ages, living a long life has been one of humanity’s chief goals, one which it has spent much effort to achieve. In this regard, Muhammad (saas) revealed to us a development in the End Times:

At that time … life spans will grow longer.
(Ibn Hajar Haythami, Al Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi ‘alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntazar

Education

Literacy will increase—as Judgment draws nigh.
(Ahmad Diya’al-Din al-Kamushkhanawi, Ramuz al-Ahadith)

Construction technology:

There will be no Judgment—until very tall buildings are constructed.

(Reported by Abu Hurairah)

The Hour will not be established—till the people compete with one another in constructing high buildings.

(Bukhari)

Transportation Technology

The Last Day will not be established until …time will pass quickly.

(Bukhari)

Great distances will be traversed in short spans of time.

The message at the above hadith is quite clear. During the End Times, great distances will be traveled in a short time by means of new vehicles. In our time, supersonic aircraft, trains and other advanced vehicles can, in a few hours, travel the distance it used to take months to, and do it more easily, comfortably and safely. In this sense, the sign related in the hadith has come true.Ahmad, Musnad)

The Qur’an mentions vehicles that are the product of modern advanced technology:

And horses, mules and donkeys both to ride and for adornment. And He creates other things you do not know. (Surat an-Nahl:

Here we may consider the meaning of the expression “time will pass quickly” in the first hadith, in the light of what we have related. Clearly, as the Prophet (saas) said, during the End Times, tasks would be completed in a much shorter time compared to other periods. Indeed, the advancements in science have allowed the possibility for most things to be finished in a much shorter time and with much better results. A similar hadith confirms this view:

The Last Hour will not come before time contracts, a year being like a month, a month like a week, a week like a day, a day like an hour, and an hour like the kindling of a fire.

(Tirmidhi)

9) The Return of ‘Isa (As) After the Emergence of false prophets

It is known that, throughout history, there have been many false prophets. For the purpose of their own gain, this kind of impostors have resorted to deceit, exploiting people’s naiveté. Also in the hadiths, it is revealed that false prophets will appear before Judgement Day.

The Last Hour will not come before there come forth thirty Dajjals (imposters), each presenting himself as an apostle of Allah.

(Abu Dawood)

The above hadith reminds us of developments in our own day. By taking advantage of the hopes of Muslims and Christians about the second coming of ‘Isa (as), a number of deceivers have claimed prophethood and at times caused great suffering.

The Qur’an also points to the advent of false prophets. One verse pertaining to this topic is the following:

Who could do greater wrong than someone who invents lies against Allah or denies His Signs, or who says, “It has been revealed to me,” when nothing has been revealed to him, or someone who says, “I will send down the same as Allah has sent down”? If you could only see the wrongdoers in the throes of death when the angels are stretching out their hands, saying, “Disgorge your own selves! Today you will be repaid with the punishment of humiliation for saying something other than the truth about Allah, and being arrogant about His Signs.” (Surat al-Anam: 93)

As it is stated in that which follows this verse, these people will surely receive their recompense for the lies they have fabricated.

The Last Hour will not come until you see the descent of ‘Isa (as) son of Maryam (as).

(Muslim)

“By Him in Whose Hands my soul is, son of Maryam (as), ‘Isa (as), will shortly descend amongst you people (Muslims) as a just ruler.

(Bukhari)

The Hour will not be established until the son of Maryam (as) (i.e. ‘Isa (as)) descends amongst you as a just ruler.

(Bukhari)

At the time of his death, ‘Isa (as) will have reappeared on this earth for forty years.

(Abu Dawood)

‘Isa (as), son of Maryam (as), will descend, rule for 40 years with the book of Allah and my sunnah, and die.
(Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan
fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir al-Zaman)

The Hour will not be established until the son of Maryam (as) (i.e. ‘Isa (as)) descends amongst you as a just ruler.

(Bukhari

‘isa (as), son of Maryam (as), will be a just judge and just ruler (in my community), break and crush the cross and kill the pig … The earth will be so filled of peace as a vessel is filled with water. The entire world shall recite and follow one and the same Word and none shall be worshipped except Allah.

(Ibn Majah)

The Hour will not be established until the son of Maryam (as) (i.e. ‘Isa) (as) descends amongst you as a just ruler, he will break the cross, kill the pigs…

(Bukhari

Therefore, when ‘Isa (as) returns, errant doctrines such as those of the Trinity, the cross and the priesthood, and illicit acts such as eating pork, will be swept away, the Christian world will be saved from its heretical state, and all people will be called to live according to the true religion and moral values contained in the Qur’an.

At this point an important question comes to our attention. How will ‘Isa (as) be recognized? Surely, the clearest indication that it is him who will be in possession of all the features common to a prophet as mentioned in the Qur’an. In addition, he will bring an important sign to indicate that he is ‘Isa (as). When he comes, there will be no one that would have seen ‘Isa (as) before in person and therefore there will be no one to recognize him. None will be able to recognize him by his physical appearance or by the sound of his voice. No one will be able to say that he knew ‘Isa (as) personally, or saw him at such and such a time; no one will have known his family or his relatives. All those who would have known him would have died 2000 years ago. Maryam (as), Zakariyya (as), his disciples, who spent years with him, as well as all those to whom ‘Isa (as) communicated the message of Allah, will have already died. Therefore, there will be none who would have experienced his birth, childhood, youth or adulthood when he comes for the second time. No one will know anything about him.

As we explained in the earlier section of this book, by the command of Allah, “Be,” ‘Isa (as) came into the world without a father. Clearly, after so many centuries, he would have not any surviving relatives. In this regard, Allah compares ‘Isa (as)’s situation with the creation of Adam:

The likeness of ‘Isa in Allah’s sight is the same as Adam. He created him from earth and then He said to him, “Be!” and he was. (Surah Al ‘Imran: 59)

This verse reveals that Allah said “Be!” and Adam was created. ‘Isa (as) too was created by this same command. Adam did not have a mother or a father while ‘Isa (as) had only a mother when he came into the world. But, when he comes to the world again for the second time, his mother will not be alive.

Therefore, the confusion caused by the false messiahs who will appear from time to time is rendered ineffective. When ‘Isa (as) comes back to the world again, there will be no opportunity to cast any doubt on the fact that it is him. No one will be able to find any viable reason to say that he cannot be ‘Isa (as). ‘Isa (as) will be recognized by that one characteristic that will separate him from every other person: not a single person in the world will know him.

In conclusion, the information presented here should lead us to recognize that the time of the promises with regard to the coming of ‘Isa (as), and the things he will do, is near. Surely, it is our duty to be best prepared as possible to meet that blessed person who we have been so long waiting for.

10) The Golden Age

The characteristics of The Golden Age, described in detail by Allah’s Messenger (saas), are important signs of the Judgment Day. This period is called the “Golden Age,” because of the Paradise-like description of it by Islamic scholars. It can be understood from the hadiths that the Golden Age will come in the second period of the End Times.

One major feature of this happy period will be its great wealth. The hadiths stress that this wealth will be a unique phenomenon in history:

My community will find such well-being at that time that the like will never have been seen before.

(Ibn Majah)

My community, both the good and the bad, will be blessed with blessings they have never seen before

(Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan
fi Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir al-Zaman)

During the period, the earth will throw out its treasure…

(Ibn Hajar Haythami, Al Qawl al-Mukhtasar
fi ‘alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntazar)

Give in charity because there will come a time on the people when a person will go out with his alms from place to place but will not find anybody to accept it.

(Bukhari)

Goods will certainly multiply and flow like water at that time, but nobody will stoop to pick them up.

(Al-Halimi

A notable characteristic of the Golden Age will be the establishment of justice and truth. It will be a time when law and justice reign in the place of anxiety, conflict and injustice. As we read in the hadiths, “The earth will be filled with justice, instead of cruelty and torture.” (Ahmad Diya’al-Din al-Kamushkhanawi, Ramuz al-Ahadith) Among the most important features of this period will be the silence of weapons, the end of enmity, conflicts and social disintegration, and the establishment of friendship and love among people. The extraordinary amount of money spent in the war industry will be invested instead in food, health, development, culture, and on the things that bring about the happiness of human beings.

Another feature of this blessed period will be the return to the fundamentals of religion as it was lived in the time of the Prophet (saas). Those laws, myths and traditions that were invented after Islam and not basic to it will be removed. The differences among Muslims in the practice of their religion will cease.

In short, The Golden Age will be a time of plenty, well being, peace, happiness, wealth and ease. It will be an age when developments in art, medicine, communications, production, transportation and other such areas of life will occur as never before in the history of the world. And, people will live according to the moral values of the Qur’an.

11) After the Golden Age

When we read the accounts of the prophets in the Qur’an, we see that an important divine law governs all ages. Those societies that reject the messenger Allah sent to them and fight against him are destroyed, while those who subject themselves to the messenger experience the material plenty and spiritual well being that true religion brings. In the period following these messengers, some societies then reject the true religion that was clearly communicated to them, and begin to associate partners with Allah. Discord and conflict ensue. In fact, they have contributed to their own disastrous end with their hands.

This law will surely be operative in the End Times. The Prophet (saas) reveals that the Hour will come after the death of ‘Isa (as) and at the end of the Golden Age:

After him (the Prophet ‘Isa (as)) the day of Judgment will be but a matter of moments away.

(Ahmad Diya’al-Din
al-Kamushkhanawi, Ramuz al-Ahadith)

The day of Judgment will come after him (the Prophet ‘Isa (as).

(Ahmad Diya’al-Din al-Kamushkhanawi,
Ramuz al-Ahadith

Surely, the End Times and the Golden Age will be the periods in which a last warning will be given to humanity. A number of hadiths highlight that there will be no good left in the world after this period. So, we see that, shortly after ‘Isa (as)’s death, all the peoples of the world, spoiled by the material abundance of the Golden Age, will become wicked and reject true religion. We may state that it may be under such conditions that the Hour will come, but, of course, only Allah knows.

Surely, Allah is beyond time and space, whereas human beings are bound by them both. This evident reality means that the past, present and future are only one moment in Allah’s sight. In His sight, everything begins and ends in a moment. From the creation of the world to the Judgment, everything has been ordained by Allah, down to the smallest details. Every event, from the smallest to the greatest, has been recorded in the book called “Lawh Mahfuz” (Mother of the Book).

Every occurrence, in its every detail, along with its time and place, is contained within the destiny ordained by Allah. In the Qur’an, this fact is stated in these words: “Every communication has its time, and you will certainly come to know.” (Surat al-An’am: 67) This time is precisely predetermined such that “it cannot be delayed or advanced a single hour.”

Of course, the time when the signs of the Last Day and the End Times will come to pass is determined in Allah’s sight down to the last second. For centuries, believers who sincerely believe in Allah have observed the occurrence of the signs of the Last Day with great interest and anticipation, knowing that what they are observing is the operation of fate. They have carefully considered the signs in the Qur’an and in the hadiths, and have endeavored to prepare themselves for the disorder and anguish of the first period of the End Times. As well, they have earnestly desired to live in the blessed Golden Age.

The verses of the Qur’an and the hadiths examined throughout this book have clearly presented a number of facts regarding the promises of Allah. The period in which we live is one in which a large part of these signs of the Hour have come to pass. Today’s world is witnessing, for the first time in history, the evident fulfillment of these divine promises, one after the other. Surely, these are the most important developments since the time of the Prophet (saas). To view these divine signs dismissively, to neglect them or reject them is a great loss.

So, we can understand that the twentyfirst century marks the beginning of a totally new era in world history.

Allah’s promises are certainly true. No one can change His promises or prevent their fulfillment. As in every matter, the best and most beautiful words in this matter are stated in the Qur’an:

Say: “Praise be to Allah. He will show you His Signs and you will recognize them…” (Surat an-Naml: 93)

Augustine, Ambrose, and Jerome held nothing at all of purgatory. Gregory, being in the nighttime deceived by a vision, taught something of purgatory, whereas God openly commanded that we should search out and inquire nothing of spirits, but of Moses and the prophets.

Therefore we must not admit Gregory’s opinion on this point; the day of the Lord will show and declare the same, when it will be revealed by fire.

This sentence, “And their works do follow them,” must not be understood of purgatory, but of the doctrine of good works, or of godly and true Christians, and of heretics. Arius, the heretic, has had his judgment; the fire of faith has declared it. For the last day will discover and declare all things.

God has, in his Word, laid before us two ways; one which by faith leads to salvation,—the other, by unbelief, to damnation.

As for purgatory, no place in Scripture makes mention thereof, neither must we any way allow it; for it darkens and undervalues the grace, benefits, and merits of our blessed, sweet Saviour Christ Jesus.

The bounds of purgatory extend not beyond this world; for here in this life the upright, good, and godly Christians are well and soundly scoured and purged.

— Martin Luther 1483 – 1546

So far as past errors are concerned,

forget them

and start afresh,

as if it were your first day in this body;

but so far as your present contacts are concerned,

be kind to them,

as if it were your last day in this body.

~Paul Brunton

While I’m going on about taking chances and cutting your own path through life wherever it may take you I figured I should post this.

It’s a great video and a pretty reminder of a few obvious facts that you’ve heard a billion times before: life is short, enjoy it, live it to its fullest, love might be the only thing that matters in the end, etc. etc.

What I like about it is that, instead of trying to build a life up into something important or thrust some artificial meaning on it,  this video functions as a simple, logical distillation of life into a few moments.

That’s life.

I guess, whoever you are, your life can only result in a few truly essential memories at the end of it all.  Kinda makes me wonder what my video’s going to look like before I kick off:

Hadith No 17:

Mercy of Allah predominates His wrath

Abu Huraira (raa) reported Allah’s Messenger peace be upon him as saying :
“There are 100 parts of mercy for Allah and He has sent down out of these one part
of mercy upon the jinn and the human beings and the insects and it is because of this one part
that they love one another, show kindness to one another and even the beast treats its young one with affection,
and Allaah has reserved ninetynine parts of mercy with which He would treat His servants on the Day of Resurrection.

Sahih Muslim Hadith Number 6631 Book 37, Kitaab At Tauba, Chapter 4

Yep, today was my last day at work… I haven’t really realized it yet and can’t imagine being back in Vienna by Saturday…

Anyway, I finally got to take a picture with my colleagues:

from left to right: my boss, Fernando, Adriana, Belén, Jon (is going to replace Silvia), ich, Silvia, Anita (is going to replace me), Jesús, Ana, Silvio

With Adriana

… And now I should start packing, do some last shopping and at the same time enjoy my last two days here…

Playa y sol (*transl: beach & sun) are now out of season

Excuses to eat ice cream just dwindled in reason

As the heat’s no longer an acceptable justification

Can’t claim it’s necessary for the purpose of hydration

Each week from now on, will grow a bit more cool

Oh, we’ll long for the days spent lounging at the pool

Understand, though, that we shan’t cry for summer

The season among us is far from a bummer

Sweaters, pumpkins and apple-picking come with the fall

U might even be excited for Sunday football

Me? I cannot wait for Halloween’s tricks and treats

Moreover, I’m anticipating Thanksgiving day eats

Eager for all this season will bring

Ready for fall; I hear it’s the new spring

If an acrostic rhyming poem dedicated to the change of seasons isn’t proof that unemployment has left me with too much time on my hands, I don’t know what is. But gracias for putting up with my recent poetic musings.

So, if you didn’t get the gist of that terribly cheesy poem, yesterday marked the last day of summer. It was a beautiful 70 degree day in NYC, so, feeling some seasonal nostalgia, I tried to keep my eats summery and fresh.

Onto breakfast, I digress.

I know, I know. I’m a breakfast-repeater. But ever since concocting my Sarah’s Own Fig Newton yogurt, the looming desire to re-create it has been taunting me. Suppressing food fantasies has never been my strength, so I gave in. Here you have my greek yogurt, cinnamon, honey, graham and fresh fig blend in all its secondhand glory.

In an attempt to be artsy (you will learn, I’m not), I captured the red of the apple and the figs. Summery, right?

Or, eerily reminiscent of Pleasantville?

Here’s the full color shot because—while figs certainly are beautiful—it’s the golden-y grahams that make the bowl.

For lunch, I made one of my favorite summery chicken salads.

In the mix: 3 oz. cooked chicken, cubed; 2 big dollops of greek yogurt; celery; handful of grapes; slivered almonds; honey (enough to write your first initial); generous sprinkling of lemon pepper seasoning; salt.

The grapes and almonds do wonders for this chicken salad, and the contrast of the salty lemon-pepper seasoning and sweet honey make magic happen.

Piled high between a rye sandwich thin. A little too high for neat eating. To the rescue, FSTG chips!

Oooh my god. I thought I’d experienced a climactic level of chip-induced ecstasy when I discovered FSTG multigrains. But those geniuses over in FSTG land have outdone their original with The Works. These are perfectly salty and generously seeded—basically an intensified, polished version of the multigrains. If you seek happiness and life fulfillment, buy these chips.

Last night’s dinner was as summery a salad as can be. I benched my current obsession with grilled and roasted veggies in salads—figuring roasted veggies will be plentiful throughout fall—and let the goods flourish in their freshest state.

In the mix: romaine, hard-boiled egg white, celery, shrooms, cherry tomatoes, sweet onion, green pepper, corn, oil-cured olives and sun-dried tomatoes; dressed in my balsamic-honey mix and celery salt.

I played favorites with this corner of the plate, which was hosting a generous offering of my favorite players: sun-dried tomatoes, oil-cured olives and corn. The award-winning bites included all of the above.

Alongside was some whole-wheat pita with pine-nut hummus. The tub of hummus came along for the dinner ride just in case some raw veggies were feeling underdressed.

…which obviously didn’t happen.

I did my best to do dessert in a summery fashion.

But the sodium-fiend in me could not be silenced.

Hot sauce on my thumb… Classy.

When you go through more than a box of popcorn a week, can it be classified as addiction? And by more than a box, I mean, sometimes, two boxes. Por favor, give me some horrifying fact about popcorn that will make me never want to eat it again. Or, help me justify my current over-consumption

Happy first day of fall!

-Sarah

THE BEST LAST DAY

it was the last day of school in Alta Loma High School. Last day of school and last day and my last day of attending Alta Loma High. I was sad i was going to leave my friends from all my life to go to a scholl where i didnt know anyone or anything… so after school we decided to go to legends. my favorite fast-food restaurant we all met up infront of the school in the gate most of my friends were there it was great to see all of them were there. i felt really special so my day was going good. When we got there we ordered and we were having fun eating and laughing at the old stuff we would do. I didn’t want this day to end but when it got to that point i got up and told my friends i would miss them and it was the best hanging out with them and a some tears came out and they got up and told me that they well always remember me. My sophomore year was the best year.