Mark 15:16-20
The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

The Passion of Christ was a movie that depicted what Jesus went through in those torturous hours and it was very hard for me to watch not only because of all the blood and gore but because it seemed so real and put reality in place of a ‘tale’ we have often read or heard. I don’t know about you but for me, when I grew up, the Bible was a bunch of stories that were meant to be heard and remembered but I often doubted it. What was so special about God and more so about his son who came to die for us?? Life was good, school was fun, there were good times and so on and where did God have to fit in? Then and even for a long time after, Church and faith were requirements to be fulfilled but dint make any relevant sense.

In today’s movies, the hero most definitely comes up with a genius plan and rescues himself while giving the bad guys a real beating but here, things seem to go south for Jesus and he has no rescue plan, no heavenly hosts appear and scare the daylights of these bad people, nothing. Jesus is falsely accused and offers no response, humiliated and beaten but does not utter a word and finally broken and put to death and his short but eventful life seems to come to an end but it is not the end, only the perfect beginning for us. If Jesus had not gone through all of this and overcome death, we would have no sacrifice to atone with God and how much more perfect can our sacrifice be than this? If there is 1 thing God cannot hold against us regardless of how horrible we are and were, it is the image of his son whose blood was shed for us. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, God the father sees us as Jesus’s own and this shed blood for our brokenness is vital to our new relationship. I pray this morning that you are able to stand with me at the cross and thank Jesus for putting himself through all of this for us. I pray that we will recommit our lives to him and hand over the reins to him.

In His Loving Service,
Vineet

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A Loving Embrace

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Twas the night before Rama-Kwanzaa-Christmakkah-Bodhi-Yule (hope I didn’t leave anyone out) and all through the house many a creature stirred but nary a mouse.  The stockings were hung above the turtle tank with care in hopes that some one with wee gifts would fill them while dangling there.  Yane in those way attractive p.j.s and Jim in his flannel camo pajama pants have just collapsed for a well deserved nap.  When out on the lawn between the trailers arose such a clatter…Yane dashed about (phone dialed 911 but not sent yet) too see what was the matter…when on the rubberized roof could be seen a rabid raccoon chasing a feral cat…but no tiny reindeer…hmmmm…guess this is why there are no holiday shows based in a trailer court…go figure!

Hej kära bloggläsare!

If your name is Anders or Andreas, then today is your day! Grattis!

Weather was warmer today and quite nice. Few clouds. I saw a huge fire at the bombing range to the west of us. They were burning grass, no doubt. Tonite when I took off for Lindsborg, the moon was high in the sky. Got a nice photo.

Met my friend Connie for lunch in Salina at Chili’s. Good food. And we had a good talk. Talked at length about my life. It helped. Did not nor could it solve my dilemma or even make things better. There is no making things better or easier for me. I just try to survive.

I had some things to buy at Target. And bought myself a few things. Shopping therapy always helps for a momentary good feeling. Had some photos to pick up. A couple of rolls of photos that were Mom’s. Many were of Dad and Mom refused to get them processed. She could not bear to look at them. Many were ones similar to some I took. I skimmed through them. Had to look at her and Dad again. Will be easier in january.

Then through the car wash. Car was filthy. I photographed the moment for prosperity.

Met Eric for supper at Jalisco’s. And I have now arrived!! My fave waitier Agustin met me at my booth with my diet Coke (dieta). He asked if I wanted flautas without sallad but with beans. THAT is service!!!

Class was fun tonite. We talked about which movie star do we think is beautiful and why. And we saw some clips. Next week is our last class. Gotta sign up for next semester. Before class another professor I am friends came in to chat with me. I get to pick him up when he flies home from his semester break. He always flies home for Christmas. I have missed picking him up for a year or so. last year he saw his family and then lived in Sweden for 6 months.

‘On and on the rain will fall

Like tears from a star like tears from a star

On and on the rain will say

How fragile we are how fragile we are’

Go Sounders!!! Countdown to March 25, 2010

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Julie-Ann den 30/11/09                      Hemlängtan för Sverige!

Mark 1: 1-3: The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Mark did not start the story of Jesus with birth, but began with the dreams of the prophets long ago. the word “gospel” is an English word. It is a translation of the Latin bona adnuntiato, which was a translation of the Greek word used in one text. Its original form was godspel, god being the Anglo-Saxon subjective “good,” and spel meaning “news.” The Greek word, of which the English word “gospel” is a translation, was used in classical Greek for the reward given to a man who brought good news; but in later Greek it was used of the good news itself. Throughout the whole New Testament, the whole Gospel is “the oral proclamation of God’s plan of salvation as made known and realized by Jesus.” As verb or substantive the word occurs in the New Testament more than 70 times. The underlying idea is always “good news” or “joyful annunication.”
The biographer of Michael Angelo tells that he was once seen standing, chisel in hand, gazing intently on a rough block of marble. Upon being asked what he saw there, he said “I see a beautiful angel imprisoned, and I mean to set it free.” So God gazing on the rough undeveloped mass of humanity saw there the vision of the Ideal Man. The Incarnation of the Divine Son was, the deliberate beginning of God on the plane of time to develop the thought of man that was His in all enternity.

Because Jesus Himself is the good news, becasue He is what He is, Jesus belongs to His gospel not as a part of it, but as its embodiment. He is the personal realization and its power. And such will always be felt to be. In placing the person of Christ as the work of the Gospel histories, we speak in accortdance with the spirt of those books and of the whole ensuing systme of doctrine/. Jesus Christ created the Gosple by His work; He presches the Gospel by His words; but He is the Gosple Himself.

Mark 1:15
Mark 1:12-13
And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness. And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

Mark 9:24: Lord, I believe! Help my unbelief!” * Better rendering: “Lord, I believe! Help my unfaithfulness.” * The Greek: o “pisteuo” – meaning belief o “apistia” – meaning unfaithfulness
Mark 12:13-17: And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words. And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it. And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar’s. And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him. One traditional Christian interpretation has it that Jesus’ message is for people to be as diligent in fulfilling their obligations to God as they are in fulfilling their secular obligations to the state. People work hard to pay their taxes in full and on time because they know what will happen to them if they don’t. Fewer think as hard about the even worse consequences they derive from not doing what God wants, so they need to be reminded that God is every bit as demanding as Caesar and should not be ignored. This is not a flattering depiction of God.
Mark 13:22: because false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce signs and omens to deceive, if possible, the elect. It is interesting to note that the word translated “messiahs” or “prophets” was not just “teacher.” Apparently, if there is not someone proclaiming some kind of “divinity,” they will at least claim that which is false is true and that these claims will also affect the future. I see this kind of dogma in some of the sciences already, particulary with the issue of evolution. The evolution idea is being bought hook line and sinker my many churches.

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” – Mark Twain

Ok. so I guess one of the biggest things that I’m thankful for is the fact that I got to live in Taiwan and experience what I have. I really am grateful for having had the opportunity to learn Mandarin, meet new people and make wonderful friendships, see magical things and eat delicious things that Taiwan has to offer and just in general able to experience such a unique experience.

Hum… So i’m back in Australia. It has it’s pros and cons. a pro is definitely having a shower that has hot water that comes out on demand and has pressure.  hmm but it does feel kinda weird.

To think that a year ago, going to Taiwan was but a pipe dream. and now here i am. in that year i have conceptualised, planned, executed, and completed that pipe dream. and it’s a weird feeling. but oh well.

Ok.

Mark 14:12-16a
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them.

In Chapter 14, the incident recorded above is possibly the least significant because this is where we read about Jesus’s anointing, the last supper, Jesus’s prayer at the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus’s arrest and betrayal by Judas, the false charges and the trial before the Sanhedrin. In all of this why this passage you might wonder and I better explain my thought. It is probably my present situation of starting up all over again in a new land and our desperate need for God to supply our every need that I found hope in this passage. Read the passage again and note the words Jesus speaks to the disciples who want to know where to prepare the passover meal.

Jesus’s instructions were very clear and precise. No room for ambiguity and no cause for the listener to wonder. These were instructions from God himself and sounded like he had prepared each of these people, the situations and the responses just right. Take for instance the timing of the disciples meeting the man carrying the jar of water without saying where, what time and what he looks like. Then take the home owner being asked about a guest room. Would you be able to follow these precise instructions? Not unless you believe the person giving them is in total control and you had total faith in that person. What is God speaking to you today? What are his instructions to you that sound absurd to the non-believing ear but words of wisdom to the believing ones? Are you willing to obey and meet God at the place he wants you to go to? I am and I can’t wait to rejoice with God at the end of my journey.

In His Loving Service,
Vineet

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Police plan to arrest more people who helped Clemmons

SEATTLE (AP) – The man suspected of gunning down four police officers in a suburban coffee shop was shot and killed by a lone Seattle patrol officer investigating a stolen car early Tuesday, a sheriff’s spokesman said. Four other people were arrested for allegedly helping the suspect elude authorities during a massive two-day manhunt. A Seattle police officer came across the stolen car in a working-class south Seattle neighborhood about 2:45 a.m., Assistant Police Chief Jim Pugel said. The officer approached the car, then detected movement behind him, recognized the suspect Maurice Clemmons and ordered him to show his hands and stop.
“He wouldn’t stop,” Pugel said. “The officer fired several rounds, took the person into custody.”

Police planned to arrest more people who helped Clemmons. “We expect to have maybe six or seven people in custody by the day’s end,” said Ed Troyer, a spokesman for the Pierce County sheriff. “Some are friends, some are acquaintances, some are partners in crime, some are relatives. Now they’re all partners in crime.”
source:

The magic fountains of Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

It should be a battle of the ages in college football’s marquee match-up next week.

Of course I’m talking about the epic SEC championship game. The game will have the top 2 teams in the country, Florida and Alabama. This, in my opinion, is the biggest game of the year by far. These are the “men among boys” teams of college football right now, and it should be a battle to the finish.

Alabama

Mark Ingram and the Crimson Tide stifling, dominant defense have kept Alabama undefeated. They have had a few scares, most recently against a scrappy Tennessee team. But, Alabama has remained unbeaten in the toughest conference in the country. Ingram, who I mentioned early, is the leading Heisman candidate. He is an amazing running back that can give any team major problems. Greg McElroy is an efficient quarterback who, in my opinion, is very underrated.

However, the Crimson Tide hasn’t played a team with the talent that Florida has. Alabama’s defense is great, but Tim Tebow and the rest of the Gator offense will look to find the weaknesses and take advantage. I think Alabama doesn’t have the star power that Florida has.

Florida

You know how I’m going to start this. Tim Tebow is fantastic. He has led Florida to and undefeated season, and a 21 game winning streak dating back to last year. Couple that with Brandon Spikes and the quick Gator defense, and you have a potent one-two punch. Tebow is down to one of his last games in college, and he will undoubtedly be hungry for the win.

The Crimson Tide will be ready to play though. And in no way will this be an easy game for Florida, as all their other games have been. This match up is sure to be a great one.

In the end, I think Florida will win this, and move on to the national title game against, most likely, Texas. My final score: 31-24, the Gators score in the 4^th quarter to break the tie for the big win.

Posted by Ben

Mark: “There are all kinds of cockblocks; events, humans… If a clown would burst through your window that for example would be a giant cockblock. Nobody wants to have sex if a clown fell through the window.“
Suvi: “That is very true.”

Mark: “You went to China and clicked your chopsticks. That’s what they do there, right?“

Mark, the master chef
Mark: “I don’t think it’s rotting, that might just be the turkey smell.“

Mark: “I get on women’s bad sides quite often.“

Mark: “You’re technically five months younger than I am. I still could have given birth to you.“

Mark 13:32-37
“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”

The reality of Jesus’ betrayal and his death has become a reality to the disciples who now sit Jesus down to enquire when it will take place. This is so human and curiosity kills. Israel was and is still waiting for the coming messiah who would save them and take them to heaven and like the rest of Israel, the disciples wanted to know when. They realized that Jesus was the long-awaited messiah but wanted to know what next. Reminds me of me because as I wait upon the Lord for the right job opportunity, my curiosity kills me to a point of asking God for signs or evidence that he has something in store and I’m reminded again that I am to wait on God for his timing and not mine.

Jesus’s response to this question is not what the disciples probably hoped to hear, specially when he said that neither the angels or even he knew when the time was but he certainly gave clues. 2 days ago, a new friend and I were talking and he indicated to me signs that the end times were here and I have to say, it was compelling. Therefore the caution that Jesus gives us to be on guard and not asleep is key for us today. Our eyes are to be focused on sharing the gospel to the world and living worthy lives through God’s help and not to be caught off-guard. It’s a wake up call that we cannot be asleep in our walk with Christ but awake. If we are not walking with Christ yet, it’s a loud shout to us that the end is near and before we loose the opportunity to share eternity with God, we need to submit our lives to his Lordship. Rise and shine Children of the living God!

In His Loving Service,
Vineet

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Mission Panorama

Historic buses take passengers on trips across Liverpool to mark the 40th anniversary of Merseyside’s transport body…. From BBC News. Full story

This site may contain information about: bangalore airport. For a different topic see here. The blog is also related to: china travel.

Kings Arsenal have pulled out of this evening’s game against Team Choc Ice after losing nine players to injury or suspension.

The Kings had salvaged a five man team, but were down to just three on Sunday morning prompting captain Mark Tinklin to throw in the towel.

Powerful defender James Britton dislocated his knee in a bike accident on Friday night and all-action striker Luke Tinklin also has a knee injury.

Of the nine absentees that had decimated the Kings Arsenal line-up five were due to problematic knees.

The highly rated five a-sider Ben Wall was all set to make his Kings Arsenal bow, having starred for Mark’s uni team, but the side were down to just two recognised squad members.

The no-show will result in a 3-0 loss and a £35 fine.

Next up is Non Sensible Soccer in a 6.20 kick-off.

Its as if it never happened

As if it was only a dream

As if you never existed

There’s nothing left

Nothing left

I can’t remember how you felt in my arms

I can’t remember how your eyes burned into mine

I can’t even remember how your voice sounded

I’m going crazy because there no remnants of you

There’s no trace that you were even here

Nothing that says it ever happened

All I’m asking is for a sign

One sign saying that you crossed my path

That I meant more than just a gust of wind that ran into you

There’s nothing left

And yet I’m still searching

Still looking

Help me find sanity

Help me find a plain of serenity

I need to find something

Just a sign

Just a mark

Something please…

Send me a sign

I had a dream about 3 wks that I have shared with very little folk….I had a dream I was on my way to my usual duties shopping, paying bills etc and I took a public train as I usually do but I felt that God wanted me to continue on in the train and miss my usual stop so I did this and I noticed that the train was not going through the city as it usually does in fact the further the train went the less populated the area became and then suddenly I was like a jungle and it reminded me of the Mayan jungles.

Suddenly I saw the area was under much distress and flooding and I heard a voice it was ETs contacting me and say that I had to help the survivors so of course I wanted to help others so as the train neared the stop I noticed a small cottage like house practically under water and some old people a man and a woman standing on the roof barely clinging to the roof which was almost under water.

I noticed my train was then derailing but I was not scared the ET voice came back and said: fearless child you are safe and I remember smiling and extending my hand to pull the survivors to safety somehow to a patch of dry land they looked very Mayan and I could not understand them nor they me but somehow we understood each other via the language of love so we kept on going and suddenly we came to a bridge and the bridge had a gap in it so we decided to stop and rest for a moment and I rested for a bit when suddenly I felt like we were not alone.

The voice seemed closer now and suddenly I felt safe and incredibly loved and full of cosmic energy that radiated everywhere but I wondered about the couple so I looked back and they were not alarmed or alerted so I walked towards the water and up out of the water rose a giant white glowing orb UFO and it was like an organic life form that was a carrier of messages from ETs because ETs did not want to come down themselves for fear of violence from the US Government.

Of course I was still a bit hesitant to approach the vehicle and I approached cautiously but to my surprise as I did the vehicle would move back a bit as if showing signs of being cautious as well! lol that surprised me and after a while of our little caution games we both approached each other and then touched the vehicle with my right hand and my hand went like inside the white glowing orb and I could feel this warmth on my hand and I felt a love like no other and I felt safe so much that in my dream I cried fro joy (I actually woke up with tears) and when I removed my hand from the vehicle I had a mark on it just a glowing blob of light that covered my hand and then it became invisible with in my hand.

I asked the ship what was going on and the ship said that I had been chosen as Gods chosen but not as gods chosen children or anything like that because we are all his chosen children but as one of Gods chosen guardians of earth to guide humanity to peace in to the golden age, at least that is how the dream went, after that I could understand the couple who were with me and I led them to safety, I was also told that unlike the mark trying to be given by the USG  that this mark is purely astral and then I awakened from my dream.

Mark squirmed, trying vainly to escape the snare. It was hopeless. All he did was end up more tangled in the webbing. A low chuckle alerted him to the fact that he wasn’t alone. A tremor shook him and he glanced over one shoulder.

His heart began to pound wildly as the mairs stepped into view. They’d killed everyone else in the party already. Dagny probably thought he’d already joined them. He bit his lip to keep from whimpering.

“Hello,” one of them said, “you’re one that our friend wants us to take.”

“T-take?” Mark didn’t like the sound of that. As horrible as it was to be killed by mairs, to be not killed was a hundred times worse! Then they were crowding around him, pulling him free of the webbing and bearing him to the ground. “No! Fates, please, no!”

“REVERSE SIDE DOWN” Mixed media – courtesy of the FANTOM FACTION

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When I see a translucent-red 7-inch in a cool-looking jacket, I take interest.          

When the band is from Minnesota and on Twin Tone Records, I also do a double-take. When the date on the back of the jacket is “1978″? I have one rule: Buy, buy, buy.

Fingerprints‘ self-titled 7″ is one of those random finds that I just knew would pan out. How disappointing, then, to find some relatively half-baked rock inhabiting this slab, more indebted to the bandstanding, head-band sector of the late ’70s rock market than the punk one.

There are some nifty lil’ moments here and there, including a delay’d, perhaps-syncopated riff in the middle of (Now I Wanna Be a) Space Girl.” Then “Burn Those Bridges” completely drops whatever momentum they had with Grateful Dead vocals, white-guy honky-tonk sensibility and a slap-happy attitude. 

No punk sneer to be had over the first two tracks. Then “Track 9″ brings a nice uptempo feel; I’m convinced that even the worst bands in the world can manage a decent instrumental or two.

Side B … same ol’ shizzzzzz. I wanna ROCK, I wanna ROCK with my … um, with my out cock? Anyway, I can’t to any of the preceding with this record playing; it’s square, cookie-cutter/cardboard-cutout quality rock that manages to take stabs at several persuasions — Chicago-style trumpet/’bone-ing, proto-synth-punk, Jerry-Berry Garcia hoopa-doopa dippiness — and fail convincingly at every turn.

There are a lot of bar bands with better chops and better songs now, and in 1978, as we’re finding out, it wasn’t any different. Despite the “Twin Tone” printed at the top of the label, this is anything but a prime slice of punk. Search for a Replacement …