Fast Painting, Jesus Christ (by Orthodox)

Kyrie Eleison

Kyrie Eleison

Kyrie...




The wind blows hard against this mountainside

Across the sea into my soul

It reaches into where I cannot hide

Setting my feet upon the road




My heart is old it holds my memories

My bοdy burns a gemlike flame

Somewhere between the soul and soft machine

Is where I find myself again




Kyrie Eleison

Down the road that I must travel

Kyrie Eleison

Through the darkness of the night

Kyrie Eleison

Where I'm going will you follow

Kyrie Eleison

On a highway in the light




When I was young I thought of growing old

Of what my life would mean to me

Would I have followed down my chosen road

Or only wished what I could be




Kyrie Eleison

Down the road that I must travel

Kyrie Eleison

Through the darkness of the night

Kyrie Eleison

Where I'm going will you follow

Kyrie Eleison

On a highway in the light





Kyrie Eleison

Down the road that I must travel

Kyrie Eleison

Through the darkness of the night

Kyrie Eleison

Where I'm going will you follow

Kyrie Eleison

On a highway in the light

Encyclical for the Feasts of the Nativity of Christ And the New Year

No. Prot. 103/10
Amfilochios by the mercy of God, Metropolitan Archbishop of New Zealand and Exarch of Oceana
To our reverend Clergy and our pious Orthodox Christians.

Beloved “off spring” in the Lord,
The Birth of our Lord Jesus Christ is a great feast that shows the love of God toward man.
God so loved the world, we read in the Holy Gospel, that He sent to it His Only-begotten Son to become man and to save man - all men in general, regardless of colour, race and language.
Our Christ humbled Himself to an unimaginable degree by leaving the great glory which He had near His Father in order to become a simple man – without, however, ceasing to be God. He was born in a meagre and insignificant cave in Bethlehem from the pure Virgin Mary who received the Divine Child in one of the mangers where the dumb animals ate their food so that on that cold winter night they could warm the Baby with their breath.
Our Christ did all of these things out of love and desiring only to raise man up to the original beauty he had in Paradise before the disobedience of the “First-created,” Adam and Eve.
It is worth the effort for us too, to show the Saviour of the world our love by striving to apply all that His Holy Gospel tells us and the things our holy Church teaches us.
The new year 2011 is a good opportunity for us tο sort out our spiritual strengths; to repent for all the evil deeds we did and for all the good deeds we did not do, that we kneel down under the “epitrachileion” (stole) of the Spiritual Father and confess with sincerity and a change of heart whatever weighs us down and in this way preparedly, with repentance and confession, the fasting and the prayers, draw near to the Chalice of Life to receive the Body and the Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ unto the remission of sins and to life everlasting. Amen.

« Χρόνια πολλά » (many years) to all of you.
With paternal love
Christmas 2010


your Metropolitan,




+Archbishop Amfilochios of
New Zealand

I have returned back to my home

An exiting revelation and a heartfelt expression of thought by two blessed souls, that of Maria from New Plymouth (North Island) and that of Rozalina from Nelson city (South Island) of New Zealand.

Maria, daughter of an Anglican New Zealander and of Greek Orthodox mother from the Greek island Kythera, was baptized as an Orthodox Christian in the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Wellington, which is the capital city of New Zealand. She lived, whoever, at New Plymouth, where had neither an Orthodox Church nor a priest. She felt the need to attend Church somewhere. Thus she was going to Anglican Church. She was married there with her husband, who was also Anglican, and baptized her children.

When she was informed, two years earlier, by the local newspaper that in New Plymouth an Orthodox Church will function by the name of St Nicholaos, she came to see, to ask and to learn. With honesty and overcome with emotions she said to Bishop: “A voice says to me that I belong here”!

She did not need long time to prepare, to cover the gap of these years which she lived far away from the Church to which she belonged and to which she now is returning, satisfying her mother’s soul who never ceased to pray for her in Heaven. As soon as she received Holy Chrismation, which is necessary for her incorporation into the Orthodox Church, she was joyful and said: “I thank God! I feel that I have returned back home”!

Rozalina, a Russian Orthodox, lives in Nelson; she is married to a New Zealand Anglican. In the above city there was neither an Orthodox Church nor an Orthodox Priest. Thus, the 15 Greeks, 80 Russians and I do not know how many Serbs, Romanians and other Orthodox lived deprived from their Church; and how many felt the need to attend church service and were attending at the Roman-Catholic, or more commonly at the Anglican Church. Rozalina, who is strong in her religious beliefs, practiced in the same manner.

The time came, when on Sunday the 13th April, the first Orthodox Divine Liturgy was celebrated. Many attended and the joy of 30 Greeks, Russians and Serbs was widely expressed.

Because Rozalina showed special interest in organizing this Liturgy, I asked to her to light the first candle before the holy icon of the Holy Trinity which was placed on an icon-stand. She agreed. She closed her eyes and wiped her tears which were outpouring and then she lighten the candle and honoured heartfelt the holy icon. When asked after the Divine Liturgy: “How did she feel?” She answered: “I felt that I returned back home”!

If we to have ask each and everyone who participated in the first Divine Liturgy, after so many years, we will have received the same answer. It was not necessary to ask them. They showed with their eyes full with tears as they approached to receive Holy Communion.

“I returned back to my home”.

Maria’s and Rozalina’s testimony is common. In Plymouth, Nelson and Hastings and wherever, after so many years, the opportunity is given to the Orthodox Christians to participate in the Divine Liturgy celebrated by a canonical ordained priest. Like thirsty deer they come to drink and to be satisfied from their Church’s cool and crystal spiritual water, which they know that is the One and True Holy Church and which they will never exchange with anything.

I have known the Orthodox Missionary work from very close and I know from first hand how important it is to give the opportunity to people who thirst to know Christ and His true Church; to be enlightened. To become civilized in the true meaning of the word.

As much of importance is the Missionary work, when one addresses the people who do not know the Saviour Christ and His Gospel, it is much more and priceless when its objective is not to loose those who are already Orthodox Christians, who in the multi-nation and multi-culture society face the danger to loose the valuable treasure of the Orthodox Faith, which they received with the Holy Sacrament of Baptism and Confirmation at their infancy.
Archbishop of New Zealand Amfilochios
http://www.ecp-metnz.org.nz/archarticles.htm

What is that? 2007

Father and son are sitting on a bench. Suddenly a sparrow lands across them.

Turkish war crimes in Cyprus

In this clip from Michalis Cacoyiannis film, Attila '74: rape of Cyprus, victims describe some of the atrocities committed during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

In fact, Turkey committed every possible war crime in Cyprus in 1974, including mass murder, mass rape, looting, ethnic cleansing and so on.

Regarding rape, a 1976 European Commission on Human Rights report found that: 'Turkish troops were responsible for wholesale and repeated rapes of women of all ages from 12 to 71, sometimes to such an extent that the victims suffered haemorrhages or became mental wrecks. In some areas, enforced prostitution was practiced, all women and girls of a village were collected and put into separate rooms in empty houses where they were raped repeatedly. In certain cases, members of the same family were repeatedly raped, some of them in front of their own children. In other cases women were brutally raped in public. Rapes were on many occasions accompanied by brutalities such as violent biting of the victims causing severe wounding, banging their heads on the floor and wringing their throats almost to the point of suffocation. In some cases, rape was followed by the stabbing or killing of the victims. Victims included pregnant and mentally retarded women.'

To watch all of Attila 74: the rape of Cyprus, go here: http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?d...

Also see: http://hellenicantidote.blogspot.com/...

History of Orthodox Christianity

Our journey begins with the founding of the Church, the spread of Christianity to "nations" by the Apostles, the Gospel and the institution of Sacraments.

WISDOM OF THE ELDERLY - WITH ORTHODOX CORRECTIONS!

I have added my Orthodox Teachings to some of the following words of wisdom

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio "To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written."

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and
parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
(NEVER GET ANGRY WITH GOD... ALWAYS THANK HIM FOR EVERYTHING - EVEN THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS THAT BRING US CLOSER TO HIM AND GIVE US THE WISDOM OF LIFE'S EXPERIENCE... GOD NEVER EVER CAUSES SUFFERING, DEATH, DESTRUCTION OR ANYTHING EVIL OR HARMFUL TO US... THAT IS ALWAYS THE RESULT OF HUMAN ACTIONS OR THE EVIL ONE WHO SEEKS OUR SPIRITUAL DESTRUCTION!)

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
(ENJOY THE PLEASURES AND BLESSING OF LIFE BUT DO NOT OVER INDULGE OR OBSESS!! SELF-DENIAL OF THE FLESH MAKES US STRONGER & MORE SPIRITUAL.)
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
(CELEBRATE EACH DAY AS THOUGH IT WAS YOUR LAST DAY ON EARTH... DON'T HAVE UNFINISHED BUSINESS WITH ANYONE!)

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
(THE ABILITY TO WEEP IS A BLESSING - SOMETIMES WE BECOME TOO STUBBORN AND SPIRITUAL HARDENED TO EXPRESS OUR SORROW... IT IS A JOYFUL RELEASE TO SHED TEARS OF PAIN, REPENTANCE, JOY, SADNESS, SORROW, ETC... THANK GOD FOR TEARS! THEY WASH OUR SOULS CLEAN... NEVER BE ASHAMED OF YOUR TEARS...)

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
(ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE - THERE IS SO MUCH - BUT DON'T HANKER AFTER WHAT YOU WISH YOU HAD - SOMETIMES WE DO NOT REALISE THAT THE THINGS WE WANT ARE NOT ALWAYS THE THINGS THAT WILL BRING US HAPPINESS, PEACE OR JOY!)

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
(ANYTHING THAT CANNOT STAND THE EXPOSURE OF GOD'S DIVINE LIGHT AND TRUTH IS NOT WORTHWHILE. AVOID IT LIKE THE PLAGUE!)

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks. (LIVE IN THE MOMENT AND APPRECIATE THE TIME WE HAVE NOW... YESTERDAY IS GONE... & TOMORROW MAY NEVER COME!! AND ONLY GOD KNOWS...)

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
(THAT IS WHY GOD ALLOWS US TO HAVE ADVERSITY IN LIFE - IT'S CONSEQUENCES ARE MORE OFTEN THAN NOT GREAT BLESSINGS AND CAUSE PERSONAL CHANGE FOR THE BETTER...)

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer. (DEPENDING ON WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WANT AND WHETHER IT IS TO THE DETRIMENT OF ANYONE ELSE!!)

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
(THIS LIFE IS NOT A REHEARSAL ... IT IS THE REAL DEAL... WE ONLY HAVE A SET NUMBER OF YEARS, MONTHS, WEEKS AND DAYS TO PREPARE OURSELVES FOR ETERNITY - DON'T WASTE A MOMENT ON UNPRODUCTIVE - UNFRUITFUL - NONSENSE!)

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
(DO WHATEVER YOU CAN AND TRUST GOD - LEAVE THE REST UP TO HIS DIVINE WILL!)

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
(ENJOY, HAVE FUN AND CELEBRATE EVERY MOMENT!)

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years,will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.
(FORGIVENESS IS THE MOST POWERFUL VIRTUE IN THE WORLD. IT IS ONLY POSSIBLE BY DIVINE GRACE - SO WITH PRAYER, GOD MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO FORGIVE AND TO BE FORGIVEN. FORGIVENESS IS THE MOST LIBERATING VIRTUE FOR IT SETS THE SOULS FREE OF THOSE WHO FORGIVE AND THOSE WHO ARE FORGIVEN!!)

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
(GOD HAS GIVEN US ALL FREE WILL... WE MUST CONCERN OURSELVES WITH OUR OWN SPIRITUAL CONDITION - NOT THAT OF OTHERS WHO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEMSELVES. IF WE SPEND MORE TIME LOOKING AT AND CORRECTING OUR INNER BEING, WE WILL NOT HAVE TIME TO JUDGE ANYONE ELSE!!)
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
(TIME AND PRAYER FOR GOD ENABLES US ALL TO HEAL ... SOME OF US HEAL FASTER THAN OTHERS... EACH IN OUR OWN TIME AND ACCORDING TO OUR OWN SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES.)
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
(IN THIS LIFE, THERE IS ALWAYS OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHANGE AND EVERYTHING IN LIFE ENDS SOONER OR LATER... BUT IN ETERNITY THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY OF CHANGE AND NO OPPORTUNITY TO CORRECT ANY ERRORS... DEPENDING ON THE SPIRITUAL CONDITION IN WHICH WE DIE, SO SHALL WE SPEND ALL ETERNITY - FOREVER. SO CORRECT WHATEVER IS POSSIBLE NOW FOR WE NEVER KNOW HOW LONG WE HAVE TO DO SO...)
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
(DIVINE MIRACLES ARE HAPPENING ALL THE TIME... SIMPLY STUDY YOURSELF... YOUR HEART BEATS... YOUR LUNGS BREATH.... YOUR BRAIN IS FUNCTIONING FASTER THAN LIGHT... IT IS A MIRACLE THAT WE EXIST ... EVERYTHING IS INDEED MIRACULOUS... FROM CONCEPTION -WOW! - TO DEATH - THE SEPARATION OF BODY AND IMMORTAL SOUL! )
34. God loves you because of Who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
(LOVE IS THE GREATEST VIRTUE WE RECEIVE FROM GOD AND IT IS THE ONE VIRTUE THAT IS NECESSARY FOR ETERNAL LIFE. IF WE DO NOT HAVE LOVE - WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AT ALL!!)
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
(NO MATTER HOW BADLY OFF WE THINK WE MAY BE, THERE ARE ALWAYS SO MANY OTHERS WHO ARE FAR WORSE OFF! BE GRATEFUL AND THANK GOD FOR HIS GREAT MERCY TO YOU!!)
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
(GOD ALWAYS GIVES US MORE THAN WE NEED SO THAT WE MAY SHARE WITH OTHERS ... IT IS OUR CONSTANT TEST AND SACRED DUTY TO HELP ONE ANOTHER BOTH SPIRITUALLY AND PHYSICALLY... ON THIS VIRTUE ALONE, WE WILL BE JUDGED SEVERELY!! WE MUST BE AS GENEROUS TO OUR FELLOW SINNERS AS GOD IS TO US - SAINT OR SINNER!)
42. The best is yet to come.
(THAT IS SO TRUE! AND THE TASTE I HAD WAS SO GLORIOUS, I PRAY THAT I AM WORTHY OF ETERNAL LIFE!! WOW!!)
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
(OUR EGOS AND STUBBORNNESS CAUSE MORE DAMAGE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN LIFE!)
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."
(THIS LIFE IS INDEED A MOST PRECIOUS GIFT FOR GOD HAS PROVIDED US WITH A TIME TO PREPARE OURSELVES SPIRITUALLY SO THAT WE MAY BECOME WORTHY CITIZENS OF HIS HEAVENLY KINGDOM AND SO THAT WE CAN CORRECT OUR ERRORS AND WEAKNESSES - AND SO THAT WE MAY EXPERIENCE AND GAIN AGAPE... HIS TRUE, PURE AND DIVINE LOVE THAT MAKES EVERYTHING POSSIBLE - EVEN THE SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE THINGS OF THIS LIFE...
GOD HAS GIVEN US THIS TIME IN ORDER TO REGAIN OUR LIKENESS TO HIM AND TO ENJOY A CLOSE AND PERSONAL FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM - EVERYTHING THAT HE INTENDED FOR US SINCE THE BEGINNING OF CREATION - AND EVERYTHING HE MADE US TO BE...
GOD WANTS EVERY SOUL HE HAS EVER CREATED TO BE WITH HIM IN HIS DIVINE AND ETERNAL KINGDOM! TRULY THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL IS GOD'S LOVE FOR US!)

Friends are the family that we choose for ourselves.
(MY BELOVED LORD, IN HIS INFINITE WISDOM, HAS GRANTED ME THE MOST LOVING AND WONDERFULLY SPECIAL FAMILY ANYONE COULD EVER DESIRE. THANK YOU LORD FOR THE GREAT ABUNDANCE OF BLESSINGS THOU HAS BESTOWED UPON ME AND ALL MY SPIRITUAL CHILDREN WHOM I LOVE SO DEARLY.)

Drinking water at the correct time.

Another little tidbit that's news to me. Always knew to drink a lot of water, but who knew the timing effected things.

Drinking water at the correct time maximizes its effectiveness on the Human body:

2 glasses of water after waking up helps activate internal organs

1 glass of water 30 minutes before a meal - helps digestion

1 glass of water before taking a bath - helps lower blood pressure

1 glass of water before going to bed - avoids stroke or heart attack

The island OSTROV

Twas the month before Christmas

A Christian’s thoughts about Christmas
DEARLY BELOVED FRIENDS AND FAMILY:

THE POEM BELOW EXPRESSES MY GREATEST SORROW AND CONCERN AT THIS SPECIAL TIME OF THE YEAR, WHEN WE SHOULD BE CELEBRATING THE NATIVITY OF OUR INCARNATED LORD AND SAVIOUR – JESUS CHRIST – THE TRUE AND ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD HIMSELF WHO CAME TO TEACH US HIS DIVINE TRUTH DIRECTLY AND TO SHOW US BY HIS PERFECT EXAMPLE HOW TO LIVE THIS PREPARATORY PERIOD BEFORE ENTERING ETERNITY AND – HOPEFULLY – RESIDING PEACEFULLY AND WITH ALL OUR LOVE IN HIS HEAVENLY KINGDOM.

FOR MANY YEARS NOW, DIMIT & I HAVE IGNORED THE COMMERCIAL ASPECT AND FRENETIC SHOPPING AND SPLURGING AND SELF INDULGENCE THAT SO MANY HAVE BEEN LURED INTO AT THE COST OF THEIR SPIRITUAL WELFARE – AND AT THE THREAT OF SEVERE DEBT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW YEAR!!

ALL THE TEMPTING GOODIES ON SALE AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR ONLY ENCOURAGE OUR GREED AND INSATIABLE DESIRES FOR MORE AND MORE THINGS THAT WE CERTAINLY DO NOT NEED AT ALL BUT WHICH WE ARE PERSUADED THAT WE REALLY CRAVE!!

INSTEAD, WE QUIETLY FOCUS ON THE WONDERS AND BLESSINGS THAT GOD BESTOWS UPON US BUT WHICH ALL TOO OFTEN WE TAKE FOR GRANTED - AND IN THIS COUNTRY - CERTAINLY - WE ALL LEAD SUCH LUXURIOUS, PEACEFUL AND RELATIVELY CAREFREE LIVES!

WE NO LONGER BUY NUMEROUS UNWANTED, EXPENSIVE GIFTS FOR ALL AND SUNDRY – AND RATHER TRY TO SUPPORT CHARITABLE CAUSES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. AND WE PARTICIPATE IN ALL THE HOLY SERVICES, WHICH MAKE THIS PART OF THE YEAR SO DIFFERENT TO THE REST OF THE YEAR.

WE SHOULD ALL BE OBSERVING THE NATIVITY FAST (WHICH PERMITS THE CONSUMPTION OF FISH, EXCEPT ON WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS) AND CONTEMPLATING THE ENORMOUS IMPACT OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HAS HAD IN OUR PERSONAL LIVES – ACKNOWLEDGING OUR INUMERABLE BLESSINGS AND SHARING AND CONVEYING OUR LOVE AND APPRECIATION FOR GOD AND FOR ONE ANOTHER.

I HAVE FORWARDED THE FOLLOWING POEM TO YOU, BECAUSE I THINK YOU WILL APPRECIATE IT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT! SO TRUE! SO TRAGIC!

WITH LOVE

MP

Twas the month before Christmas*
*When all through our land,*
*Not a Christian was praying*
*Nor taking a stand.*
*See the PC Police had taken away,*
*The reason for Christmas - no one could say.*
*The children were told by their schools not to sing,*
*About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.*
*It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say*
* December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.*
*Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit*
*Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!*
*CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod*
*Something was changing, something quite odd! *
*Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa*
*In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.*
*As Targets were hanging their trees upside down*
* At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.*
*At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears*
*You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.*
*Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty*
*Are words that were used to intimidate me.*
*Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen*
*On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !*
*At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter*
*To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.*
*And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith*
* Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace*
*The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded*
*The reason for the season, stopped before it started.*
*So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'*
*Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.*
*Choose your words carefully, choose what you say*
*Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS ,
not Happy Holiday !*
Please, all Christians join together and
wish everyone you meet during the
holidays a
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Christ is The Reason for the Christ-mas Season!

NATIVITY OF CHRIST - MATINS SERVICE

NATIVITY OF CHRIST - MATINS SERVICE

"Beautiful Noise" by Neil Diamond

What a beautiful noise
Comin' up from the street
Got a beautiful sound
It's got a beautiful beat


It's a beautiful noise
Goin' on everywhere
Like the clickety-clack
Of a train on a track
It's got a rhytm to spare


It's a beautiful noise
And it's a sound that I love
And it fits me as well
As a hand in a glove
Yes it does, yes it does


What a beautiful noise
Comin' up from the park
It's the song of this kids
And it plays until dark


It's the song of the cars
On their furious flights
But there's even romance
In the way that they dance
To the beat of the lights


It's a beautiful noise
And it's a sound that I love
And ist makes me feel good
Like a hand in a glove
Yes it does, yes it does
What a beautiful noise


It's a beautiful noise
Made of joy and of strife
Like a symphony played
By the passing parade
It's the music of life


What a beautiful noise
Comin' into my room
And it's beggin' for me
Just to give it a tune

Hit the Bottle (or The Bottles' Greatest Hit)

Peacherine Rag

THE BIRTHDAY GIFT

A married lady was expecting a birthday gift from her husband. For many months she had admired a beautiful diamond ring in a showroom, and knowing her husband could afford it, she told him that was all she wanted. As her birthday approached, this lady awaited signs that her husband had purchased the diamond ring.
Finally, on the morning of her birthday, her husband called her into his study. Her husband told her how proud he was to have such a good wife, and told her how much he loved her. He handed her a beautiful wrapped gift box. Curious, the wife opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the wife's name embossed in gold. Angrily, she raised her voice to her husband and said, 'With all your money you give me a Bible?' And stormed out of the house, leaving her husband.
Many years passed and the lady was very successful in business. She managed to settle for a more beautiful house and a wonderful family, but realized her ex-husband was very old, and thought perhaps she should go to visit him. She had not seen him for many years.
But before she could make arrangements, she received a telegram telling her that her ex-husband had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to her. She needed to come back immediately and take care of things. When she arrived at her ex-husband's house, sudden sadness and regret filled her heart.
She began to search through her ex-husband's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as she had left it years before.
With tears, she opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. Her ex-husband had carefully underlined a verse, Matt 7:11, 'And if you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father, who is in heaven, give what is good to those who ask Him?' As she read those words, a tiny package dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a diamond ring, with her name engraved on it
-- the same diamond ring which she saw at the showroom. On the tag was the date of her birth, and the words.

'LOVE YOU ALWAYS'.

How many times do we miss God's blessings, because they are not packaged as we expected? I trust you enjoyed this. Do not spoil what you have, by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.

IF YOUR GIFT IS NOT PACKAGED THE WAY YOU WANT IT,
IT'S BECAUSE IT IS BETTER PACKAGED THE WAY IT IS.
ALWAYS APPRECIATE LITTLE THINGS;
THEY USUALLY LEAD YOU TO BIGGER & BETTER THINGS.

'The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.'

Orthodox Christian Festal Calendar - December 2010

Orthodox Christian Festal Calendar - December 2010 Sacred Lessons - December 2010

Psalm 23

The Lord is my Shepherd = That's Relationship!

I shall not want = That's Supply!

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures = That's Rest!

He leadeth me beside the still waters = That's Refreshment!

He restoreth my soul = That's Healing!

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness = That's Guidance!

For His name sake = That's Purpose!

Yea, though I walk through the valley of t he shadow of death = That's
Testing!

I will fear no evil = That's Protection!

For Thou art with me = That's Faithfulness!

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me = That's Discipline!

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies =
That's Hope!

Thou annointest my head with oil = That's Consecration!

My cup runneth over = That's Abundance!

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life =
That's Blessing !

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord = That's Security! !

Forever = That's Eternity!

Face it, the Lord is crazy about you.

Woman and a Fork

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things 'in order,' she contacted her Pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.

She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in.

Everything was in order and the Pastor was preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.

'There's one more thing,' she said excitedly.

'What's that?' came the Pastor's reply.

'This is very important,' the young woman continued. 'I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand.'

The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, no knowing quite what to say.

'That surprises you, doesn't it?' the young woman asked.

'Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request,' said the Pastor.

The young woman explained. 'My grandmother once told me this story, and from that time on I have always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement. In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!'

So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder 'What's with the fork?' Then I want you to tell them: 'Keep your fork, the best is yet to come.'

The Pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as h hugged the young woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. She KNEW that something better was coming.

At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's casket and they saw the cloak she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the Pastor heard the question, 'What's with the fork?' And over and over he smiled.

During his message, the Pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized t her. He told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either.

He was right. So the next time you reach down for your fork let it remind you, ever so gently, that the best is yet to come. Friends are a very rare jewel , indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed . They lend an ear, they share a word of praise , and they always want to open their hearts to us.

Show your friends how much you care. Remember to always be there for them, even when you need them more. For you never know when it may be their time to 'Keep your fork.'

Cherish the time you have , and the memories you share ... Being friends with someone is not an opportunity but a sweet responsibility.


And keep your fork.

AMAZING!

This is the moment a group of tiny caterpillars formed an incredible 17-ft long convoy to cross a road.

Some 136 caterpillars made the single line and wriggled tip-to-toe across the road, linked by a thin silk thread which set their path.

And their safety-in-numbers approach had the desired effect as the slow-moving convoy was easily seen by motorists, who were held up for 20 minutes as it made its way across.
Bumper to bumper: this slow-moving convoy of migrating caterpillars was spotted in the Kruger National Park by Jamie Rooney, from High Wycombe, Bucks, who was visiting the famous Kruger National Park in South Africa.

Jamiewas in a jeep full of tourists when their driver slammed on the brakes just inches from the crawling caterpillars.

Jamie, 38, who works in website sales, said: "It was an incredible sight.

"We were out driving in Kruger National Park on a safari, when all of a sudden the driver shouted out and slammed on his brakes.

"He managed to stop just in time in front of this amazing trail of caterpillars, which was stretching across the road.

"Conservation is a massive deal in South Africa and the idea is that if there is any living creature in the road you have to wait patiently until it is safely across.

"We got out to get a closer look and counted 136 caterpillars in convoy, all moving together across the track.

"They were following a very, very thin silk thread on the ground and it took them about 20 minutes to get across the road safely.

"'Our guide had never seen it before, but he'd heard about it and explained they were migrating into the bush where they would disperse.

"'It's like the mass migration of bigger animals such as wildebeest, but on a different scale and pace.

'When they arrive in the bush, they turn into chrysalis and then butterflies.'

"It's a rare sight. It was an absolute joy to watch and a great experience to get down close and see it first handThis incredible convoy is the ultimate commuter train – a trail of tiny caterpillars heading off into the bush. An amazing 136 caterpillars wriggled top-to-toe across a road on their migratory route in Kruger National Park, South Africa.
."Hold up: Traffic stopped while the slow-moving caterpillar convoy crossed the road.

ALBINO PEACOCK

THINK THIS IS JUST TOO BEAUTIFUL NOT TO SHARE.
THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN VERY OFTEN....
HE LOOKS LIKE A GIANT SNOWFLAKE!!!
What absolute beauty only God could create!!

May your troubles be less,
Your blessings be more
And nothing but happiness
Come through your door