David J. Farley of Plympton, Plymouth, United Kingdom

David J. Farley of Plympton, Plymouth, United Kingdom

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

What SHOULD be in the News Headlines


It's a tough, but heart-warming story...with this picture of John Gebhardt in Iraq.

John Gebhardt's wife, Mindy, said that this little girl's entire family was executed. The insurgents intended to execute the little girl also, and shot her in the head...but they failed to kill her. She was cared for in John's hospital and is healing up, but continues to cry and moan. The nurses said John is the only one who seems to calm her down, so John has spent the last four nights holding her while they both slept in that chair. The girl is coming along with her healing.
He is a real Star of the war, and represents what the Western world is trying to do.

You'll rarely see things like this in the news. The public needs to see such pictures and understand that we're making a difference. Even if it is just one little girl at a time.

We cannot direct the wind but we can adjust our sails...

Monday, December 29, 2008

The Twelve Days of Christmas


As a token of gratitude for Britain's aid during World War II, the Christmas tree in London's Trafalgar Square has been the annual gift of the people of Norway since 1947.

There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me. What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas? This week, I found out; as a direct consequence of the Reformation from 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

The partridge in a pear tree was our Lord Jesus Christ.

Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

Three French hens stood for faith, hope and charity.

The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol !

Merry (Twelve Days of) Christmas Everyone

Lest we forget

Arlington National Cemetery, Washington DC, USA

Rest easy, sleep well my brothers. Know the line has held, your job is done.
Rest easy, sleep well. Others have taken up where you fell, the line has held.
Peace, peace, and farewell... Readers may be interested to know that these wreaths -- some 5,000 -- are donated by the Worcester Wreath Co. of Harrington, Maine, USA. The owner, Merrill Worcester, not only provides the wreaths, but covers the trucking expense as well. He's done this since 1992. A wonderful guy. Also, most years, groups of Maine school kids combine an educational trip to Washington DC with this event to help out. Making this even more remarkable is the fact that Harrington is in one the poorest parts of the state.


Tomb of the Unknown Soldier


You hear too much about the bad things people do. Everyone should know about this annual act of gratitude and kindness.

Friday, December 19, 2008

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

May the peace and happiness of Christmas remain with you throughout the New Year


The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a Son and they will call Him Immanuel which means 'God with us'

MATTHEW 1 : 23



'When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:'

MATTHEW 2 : 14



Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.

LUKE 2 : 14



Christmas is a special time to celebrate our Saviour's birth for he was sent from heaven above to bring us peace on earth