General Chat

:-D :-D :-D :-DEmma <3

Jokes and history lessons :-D

He was much older than 29 when he died. He died in the reign of Nero so between 54 - 68 AD and I believe he was born around 1 AD.

He may have been related to King Herod, was a small, crooked legged man with a bald head. There are several descriptions of him as a very small man about 3 cubits (4 ft 6 ins roughly) with crooked legs and a shiny head.

Thank you Cynthia and others :-D <3 <3
I was pleasantly surprised to find there are many referances to Paul.
He was only 29 when he was beheaded at Rome.

It's a wonder the Catholic Church doesn't rank him with Peter.

Good morning :-)

Ok. St. Paul - the tentmaker. I would suggest you look at the following site for information on this important man...…..

www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/history/paul_1.shtml

It gives a fair overall view of his life. Other sites are available ;-)



Keep smiling - a touch of tongue in cheek...

GREENFIELD, MA—Citing the ornate icons adorning the walls and the strange chanting in an unfamiliar language, sources in attendance on Friday at the wedding of Dan and Briana Wilcox confirmed the ceremony had some sort of bizarre religious theme. “Knowing the couple, I’m not surprised they wanted to do something a little bit different, but having their officiant dress up in those elaborate robes and drink from a golden chalice seemed a bit over the top,” said guest Mary Henderson, who described the venue’s stained-glass windows and chandeliers as “too gaudy” for her taste and, upon observing the high-vaulted ceilings, speculated that perhaps the building was a renovation of an old barn. “They even made members of their family participate in the theme, having them go up front and read a bunch of weird God stuff. They roped their guests into it, too, asking us to sing for them from these big books full of religious songs. Can you imagine?” Numerous attendees stated that while they respected the bride and groom’s choices, they nonetheless wished the couple had opted for a more traditional ceremony and just had a Star Wars wedding the way normal people do."


Cx :-)

Martydom of Stephen witnessed by Paul

Accused of blasphemy at his trial, he made a long speech denouncing the Jewish authorities who were sitting in judgment on him and was then stoned to death. His martyrdom was witnessed by Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee who would later become a follower of Jesus and known as Paul the Apostle.

St Paul, also known as Saul, ethnically was Jewish, coming from a devout Jewish family. He was also born a Roman Citizen in Tarsus, Cilicia, South Turkey. He grew up in Jerusalem and was brought up by Gamaliel, a leading authority in the Jewish religious establishment (Sanhedrin).

I read, often, that the early population of Rome were captives
ie slaves who were educated. So he was a Jew with an education and
Roman friends. He persuded the new "Christians" with the intention of punishing
them, but was himself converted.

Afternoon all :-)

Cynthia thank you once again for your postings.

Vera I am pleased to hear that your OH and brother are improving.

I also have nothing but praise for our NHS staff.

Hallo David.
Another interesting question. Where did you hear that St Paul could be a freed slave? That had never occurred to me so I googled and didn’t find it mentioned anywhere. There is a fair bit online about his early life and education, as far as it can be ascertained. I googled “St Paul formerly Saul” but anything along those lines will at least bring up the Wikipedia entry and probably other sites too.

Hello all

Cynthia having a smile is a good tonic for us all. Thanks for your postings.

David, your question is interesting, but much too deep for me to think of...... over to Cynthia for her thoughts then.

Vera, so pleased that all is progressing well with your OH and brother. We have so much to thank the NHS for. I dread to think how we would all manage without it.

A bright dry sunny day here.Sending Happy Wednesday Blessings to all who pop in.

The Roman Jew named Paul, formerly Saul, who wrote so much of the

New Testement. He was beheaded in Rome because they couldn't

crucify a Roman. Is anything known of his back ground ?

Was he an educated freed slave ?

Good morning :-)


A smile helps :-D Good to hear that all is going well with your family Vera... <3


Keep smiling.....

A big, burly man visited the pastor's home and asked to see the minister's wife, a woman well known for her charitable impulses.
"Madam," he said in a broken voice, "I wish to draw your attention to the terrible plight of a poor family in this district. The father is dead, the mother is too ill to work, and the nine children are starving. They are about to be turned into the cold, empty streets unless someone pays their rent, which amounts to £400."
"How terrible!" exclaimed the preacher's wife. "May I ask who you are?"
The sympathetic visitor applied his handkerchief to his eyes. "I'm the landlord," he sobbed.


Cx :-)

@ Cynthia :-D :-D :-D. A smile to start the day - great.

Thank you Kandj for your concern. OH and my brother are both making good progress, even though it seems slow to them. I am ever thankful for the medical professionals who have looked after them

Good morning :-)

Keep smiling Emma :-D


Some people are kind, polite and sweet-spirited --- until you try to get into their pew.

The good Lord didn't create anything without a purpose, but the fly comes close.

Most of us spend the first six days of the week sowing wild oats, then we go to church on Sunday and pray for a crop failure.

Do you know the three times that most people are in church? When they are hatched, matched and dispatched.

Quit griping about your church; if it were perfect, you couldn't belong.



Cx :-)

:-D :-D :-D :-D Cynthia you are a tonic.

Amen to that prayer x

Good morning :-)


This time of year is often known as 'The silly season'...…. so a few days of smiles. :-D



Lord, my soul is ripped with riot
Incited by my wicked diet.

"We are what we eat," said a wise old man,
Lord, if that's true, I'm a garbage can.
To rise on Judgment Day, it's plain,
With my present weight, I'll need a crane.

So grant me strength that I may not fall,
Into the clutches of cholesterol.
May my flesh with carrot-curls be dated,
That my soul may be polyunsaturated

And show me the light that I may bear witness,
To the President's Council on Physical Fitness.
And at oleomargarine I'll never mutter,
For the road to Hell is paved with butter.

And cream is cursed; and cake is awful;
And Satan is hiding in every waffle.
Mephistopheles lurks in pepperoni,
The Devil himself in each slice of bologna.

Beelzebub is a chocolate drop,
And Lucifer is a lollipop.
Give me this day my daily slice,
Cut it thin and toast it twice.

I beg upon my dimpled knees,
Deliver me from jujube's.
And when my days of trial are done,
And my war with malted milk balls won,

Let me stand with Heavenly throng,
In a shining robe -- size 30 long.
I can do it Lord, if you'll show to me,
The virtues of lettuce and celery.

Teach me the evil of mayonnaise,
And of pasta a la Milanese.
And crisp-fried chicken from the South,
Lord, if you love me, shut my mouth!

Amen



Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


~waves~ to Kandj


Almighty God,
who sent your Holy Spirit
to be the life and light of your Church:
open our hearts to the riches of your grace,
that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit
in love and joy and peace;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

The gospel from Luke is challenging and tells us how Jesus came to bring fire to the earth.

Cx :-)

Hello all

Such a tragic and heartbreaking end to this young policeman's life. RIP Andrew.

A bit gory David.

Vera, I hope that your husband and brother are making good progress and Emma, I am liking the beautiful photo of baby Connie.

Rambling, I hope you are feeling a little better today.

Cynthia, Amen to this mornings posting. I much prefer the traditional Lords Prayer.

Good morning :-)

I can't say that I am acquainted with said gentleman David and I am glad that I have already had my breakfast :-0 ;-)


I have been a little late in catching up with the news and was horrified to read reports of the young policeman who was murdered on Thursday - just 4 weeks after his marriage. The grief caused to his young wife and family is unimaginable. We pray for them and for his friends and colleagues at this sad time.

It is often asked 'Why do bad things happen to good people?' This is one of the most difficult questions to answer but, as Christians, we believe that this life is not the end - there is so much more to come. The worst things happened to the best person - Jesus is no stranger to our pain.

Lord, we come to you with thoughts of care and concern for this young widow and all who loved Andrew. We ask that they may know that you love and care for them and that they will be strengthened by your grace. Give them courage as they face the days which lie ahead. May Andrew rest in peace and rise in glory. Amen.


To end our week of famous prayers - the most famous of them all - the prayer Jesus taught His disciples....

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen


Cx :-)