General Chat

Hello all

After reading Cynthia's posting for today, I just wanted to wish everyone who pops in to the Christian thread...... A HAPPY MONDAY.

M aybe this day is not
O ne of your favouites, but
N ever forget that every
D ay you wake up is an
A mazing gift, and it's up to
Y ou to make it count.

I hope whatever you all have planned that it's an enjoyable day for everybody.

Good morning :-)

David, I did a quick Google and its interesting to find that, despite all the illiteracy, there were a great many ancient writers of all nationalities - Greek, Roman, Chinese - the list goes on. We are often told in the bible of those who wrote down some of the great stories and, of course, we have the history of the Dead Sea Scrolls. One of the most famous ancient writers, apart from Greek philosophers, was a man named Josephus. I found this :

Flavius Josephus (AD 37-c. 100) Jewish Historian (translated by Paul L. Maier, Professor of Ancient History at Western Michigan University)

Jesus (Longer Version)
“About this time lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man. For he was the achiever of extraordinary deeds and was a teacher of those who accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks. He was the Messiah. When he was indicted by the principal men among us and Pilate condemned him to be crucified, those who had come to love him originally did not cease to do so; for he appeared to them on the third day restored to life, as the prophets of the Deity had foretold these and countless other marvellous things about him. And the tribe of Christians, so named after him, has not disappeared to this day.”
(Antiquities of the Jews, XVIII, 63, from Josephus: The Essential Writings, pg. 265, translated by Paul L. Maier, Kregel Publications, © 1988)


For today:

Sometimes, Monday can be a hard day. Dreaded on Sunday and fled from on a Friday. Yet why Lord, as Monday could be the beginning of a work adventure, the new challenge of a week filled with potential? So, I pray you would help me to embrace this day.
Let it be a new day and a wonder day. Help me to see not the clouds but the sunrise, not the rain but the ripples of falling drops. Show me the joy of the embrace with loved ones, not the tensions and troubles. Monday need not be the grudge day to be endured but the fun day to be embraced.
This day, help me to turn my eyes towards your Kingdom, of love, hope and new beginnings.
Amen.


Cx :-)

You know it sometimes occurs to me that during the 6000 plus

years the OT and NT cover the vast majority of people of

whatever nationality couldn't read or write. Things were handed

down by oral tradition. For the most part it was only politicians

and the Priesthood who could read and write. In the last 200 years

people have become literate and numerate. And those with the

time to read, read fiction.

Good morning :-)

I do hope there is good news for Emma and her family soon. Newborns are so precious. <3

The Collect (special prayer) for today :

O God the King of glory,
you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ
with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
we beseech you, leave us not comfortless,
but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us
and exalt us to the place where our Saviour Christ is gone before,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.


In the gospel we hear Jesus speaking to His heavenly father praying for all believers.


Cx :-)

Good to see you Kandj. Thank you for the comforting verse from Isaiah.

As always, thank you Cynthia for the daily posts. I know you lead a busy life and I appreciate you finding time to keep the thread going. The prayers and general information you post often make me think and question.

Keeping Emma, her family and especially the little one in my thoughts and prayers.

Hello all

Amen to you prayer for today Cynthia.

I'm posting now to remind Emma that her and all her family and especially the new baby are in my thoughts and prayers.

Our Grandson also was delivered with Strep B but that was several years ago and Jack is a big strapping young man now, thanks to the excellent care he received in Special Care Baby Unit in Durham hospital all those years ago. I can clearly remember the tests and anxious wait for all results, so I understand it very stressful.

Sharing my favourite scripture verse that has helped me many times over the years.

I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says,
Fear not I will help you. (Isaiah 41 v 13) NIV.

Thank you kandj and Cynthia for your thoughts and prayers <3

Good morning :-)

I am so slow in catching up on here sometimes. Lovely news from Emma but also an anxious time for the family. We pray that this little one will make a speedy recovery. Lord, we lift this little one to you for your healing touch. Bless her and bless her family as they anxiously watch and wait. May they be aware of your presence and peace at this time and give them courage and strength during their wait. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

The Difference Today
I got up early one morning
And rushed right into the day;
I had so much to accomplish
That I didn't have time to pray.
Problems just tumbled about me,
And heavier came each task;
'Why doesn't God help me?' I wondered.
He answered, 'You didn't ask.'
I wanted to see joy and beauty
But the day toiled on grey and bleak
I wondered why God didn't show me
He said, 'But you didn't seek',
I tried to come into God's presence;
I used all my keys in the lock.
God gently and lovingly chided,
'My child, you didn't knock.'
I woke up early this morning,
And paused before entering the day;
I had so much to accomplish
That I had to take time to pray.
- Author Unknown

Cx :-)

Hello all

I have just read a posting from Emma who is announcing the arrival of Great Grandchild number 4. Baby girl has Strep B so an anxious time for everyone.

Thoughts and prayers for the baby and I hope she recovers very soon.
Hugs for Emma xx

Children's children are a crown to the aged; and parents are the pride of their children.(Proverbs 17:6. NIV)

Good morning :-)


Yes David, plenty of witnesses....we looked at some of them just after Easter. :-D


Be with us all, Lord:
in all our daily struggles as we seek to follow you.
Be with us all, Lord:
in our periods of doubt and despair;
and in our times of happiness, health and loving.
Be with us all, Lord:
until that time
when in your in your Kingdom of Love
our joy will know no end: AMEN.


Cx :-)

Trump's son-in-law buys Watchtower HQ, has big, beautiful plans for it ...
https://www.brooklynpaper.com/.../dtg-kushner-watchtower-deal-2016-08-12-bk.htm...
8 Aug 2016 - Donald Trump's son-in-law and campaign advisor, developer Jared Kushner, bought the Jehovah's Witnesses' iconic Watchtower .

Good morning all. It is said Jesus taught as many as 120 nefore his Ascension

so there were no shortage of witnesses, and Thomas put hid hand on Jesus'

lance wound

The first one to talk to him thought he was the gardener.

He asked her "Why seek ye the living among the dead ?"

Good morning :-)

Don't worry David......people make their own choices, but the mainstream churches do not acknowledge the teachings and beliefs of JWs.


Today is Ascension Day.


Almighty God,
as we prepare for today,
we ask that you will stretch our imaginations
to sense the majesty and mystery of your ascension.
Help us perceive how Jesus' presence in heaven
can give us confidence in our praying
and hope for the future.
Through Jesus, our Lord.
Amen.

Cx :-)

Hello all

Thanks for reminding me of the happy times hubby and I have shared many years ago at the Well Dressings in Tideswell, Bakewell, Matlock, Hathersage and Eyam.

Today take a few quiet moments and be thankful for all that you have had and all that you have around you now.

Sending gentle hugs to those in need today xxx

Good morning Cynthia. I'm not "attacking" them, merely saying some things about their brief back ground that most are unaware of, even current members.

Good morning :-)


Hmmm....interesting, I didn't know that David. Thank you.


A British tradition associated with Ascension Day is Well Dressing in Derbyshire and other areas.

Well Dressing is an ancient Christian custom with its origins lost in the mists of time; what is certain is that it is a thanksgiving for a supply of clean water and that it is most prevalent in the Peak District and surrounding area.

The dressings themselves are beautifully crafted pictures made from flower petals and other natural materials pressed into clay on frames; they take many hours to make and in some places visitors can watch them being crafted. When the Dressings are finished they are set up at wells and springs to decorate them and in some cases there will be events through the short display season.


Blessing of well
Lord God of all creation, we thank you for the gift of water, bless now this well
Continue to provide us with the water we need
Help us to use it well and wisely
We honour the gift
and give thanks to the great Giver. Amen.

Cx :-)

Since Charles Taze Russel to "Judge" J F Rutherford to Nathan Knorr and two

other leaders since the JW's.Org have repeatedly changed their Church's title

Each change becoming more and more business like.

Their repeated change of prophecy fulfillment dates hasn't stopped them from

publishing a succession of books including their own Bible.

Three years ago Donald Trump's son in law Jarad Kush purchased all of

the Jehovah's Witnesses buildings in Brooklyn.

Good morning :-)


Got it in a nutshell David. The mainstream churches follow teaching which was handed down from earliest times - ancient manuscripts, scholars, councils etc. For a group to take this teaching and tamper with it to your own ends is just not on.


Traditions of Ascension Day…….

This ancient English tradition has more or less died out and our parish boundaries are rapidly disappearing, but it’s interesting nevertheless…..

Beating of the Bounds - a form of pilgrimage.

Ascension Day is also the day for Beating the Bounds, or Boundaries, of your church's parish. The custom was once found in almost every English parish, but now is only carried out in a few places, but it still happens!

The ceremony of Beating the Bounds custom has existed in Britain for well over 2000 years. In simple terms it involves people in the locality walking around their farm, manorial, church or civil boundaries pausing as they pass certain trees, walls and hedges that denote the extent of the boundary to exclaim, pray and ritually 'beat' particular landmarks with sticks. In some places it was quite normal to bump on the boundary marker a child so that locations would be 'sorely remembered'.


Almighty God, we pray for your blessing on all who
share in the life and work of our Church and Parish:
In the ministry of word and sacrament,
in teaching and pastoral care,
in service to the Diocese and Deanery.
The community and those in need,
in ecumenical fellowship and co-operation.
We pray for all members of the congregation,
that in their life and work they may advance
your kingdom and bear witness to your love,
shown in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.


Cx :-)

The organisation in question has only been in existence for just over a hundred years.

It has a "governing body" who decide what to print, preach how to act who to bar.

In that 100 years they have made one prediction after another, even wrote their own

version of the Bible, New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.

If previous translators couldn't get it right how could they ?

Good morning :-)


Miserable weather here. David, I really don't know a lot about the JW's apart from the fact that mainstream Christians steer clear of them. I understand that they have tampered with scripture as it was passed to us down the ages, and that their theological thinking is flawed.

On Thursday of this week, we celebrate Ascension Day, the day when Jesus departed from Earth into the presence of God 40 days after Easter Day. It is celebrated by the Christian Church around the world and is always on a Thursday.

The Ascension is meaningful to Christians as it signifies the end of his work on Earth and allowed him to prepare a place for followers in heaven.

During the week we will look at various aspects of this important event.

From today until Wednesday is known as Rogationtide. The word "rogation" come from the Latin rogare, which means "to ask," It's traditionally a time when prayers are made for God's blessing on the land, livestock and crops in the hope of a good harvest.


Lord, we thank you for your mercy and loving-kindness towards us.
Bless this good earth and make it fruitful.
Bless our labour and give us all things needed for our daily lives.
Bless the homes of our parish and all who live within them.
Bless our common life and our care for our neighbour.
Hear us, good Lord. Amen.

Cx :-)