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Showing posts with label society and culture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label society and culture. Show all posts

Thursday, May 8, 2025

Paul the Apostle Knew His Friends: TITUS

Titus was a Grecian convert. Luke does not mention him by name in the Book of Acts, but Paul confirms him as a “partner and fellow helper”. Titus accompanied Paul and Barnabas on a trip to Jerusalem. Unable to go for himself, Paul sent Titus to work with the congregation in Corinth, and then bring back news about their well-being and spiritual health. He brought back a good report and refreshed the weary Apostle's spirit. Several years later, Paul would leave Titus behind in Crete to build up the Church there.

Image credit: Magic Studio AI art Generator


The relationship between Paul and Titus was much like to his association with Timothy. The two letters to Timothy and the letter to Titus have been grouped together and referred to as Pastoral Epistles. Both men were directed to ordain elders to oversee the flock of God, warned about false teachers, told to maintain good works, the purity of the Church, and especially ensure their own personal morality and blameless reputation as godly men.

The last reference to this young preacher is Paul's mention of him in a letter to Timothy (whom he had left in Ephesus) that Titus was headed to Dalmatia (conquered by the Romans A.D. 12; today a region of Croatia, Yugoslavia).



Excerpt of content first published at Paul and Friends | HubPages






Paul the Apostle Knew His Friends: TIMOTHY (or TIMOTHEUS)

Timothy was called Paul's son in the gospel.  Timothy's mother (Eunice) and grandmother (Lois) were devout Jews who taught him the Jewish scriptures from a child. All three of them were converted to Christianity. This young man traveled with Paul to places where he was sent by Paul – such as Berea, Macedonia, Thessalonica, Corinth, and Philippi – to evangelize, preach, teach, comfort, and assure the believers to press on and not falter. Paul was retracing his steps and revisiting Lystra in Lycaonia when he and Timothy crossed paths. The first time he was in this small city was with Barnabas. On this second trip, Timothy joined Paul's company.

Image credit: Magic Studio AI art Generator


Paul commended his young companion as follows (paraphrased): “We have the same mind. He does not seek his own. He has served with me in the gospel and has the same boldness to as I do to defend the faith. His love and care for all the churches is genuine.”

While in prison in Rome, awaiting execution, the Apostle wrote to Timothy instructing him to persevere and continue the Lord's work without him.




Excerpt of content first published at Paul and Friends | HubPages





Paul the Apostle Knew His Friends: LUKE (or LUCAS)

The name Lucas means “light-giving”. Very appropriate since he authored a two-part work – the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles – both written to shed light on the life of Christ and the establishment of His Church.



His first appearance, historically, is in Troas. Details about his conversion are unknown. Details regarding his faithfulness are made plain in the New Testament scriptures. Luke traveled with the Apostle during his second (from Troas to Philippi), third (from Philippi to Jerusalem) and final (from Jerusalem to Rome) missionary journeys. In addition, during one of Paul's imprisonments, Luke dutifully remained close by. Luke was an educated man; writer, historian, and physician by profession. Paul speaks of him with great affection as the “beloved physician”.


Excerpt of content first published at Paul and Friends | HubPages



Paul the Apostle Knew His Friends: BARNABAS

Barnabas was Paul's champion. While others may have doubted the sincerity of the Apostle's conversion, Barnabas sought Paul out. When he found him in Tarsus, he encouraged him to become a fellow laborer and convinced others that he could be an invaluable help with the missionary efforts.

Image credit: AI Generated - DeviantArt


The disciples were called Christians* first in Antioch.” (Acts 11: 26) Barnabas and Paul traveled together to Antioch in Syria to strengthen the community of believers already there. The zealous teamwork of these two men proved very successful. Though the Church began, A.D. 33, in Jerusalem, from Antioch the “good news” would spread to all the major cities in the Roman Empire, including Rome.

Before becoming a Christian, Barnabas was a Jew; a Levite from the island of Cyprus, whose name was Joseph (Joses). He was called “son of consolation (or encouragement)” by the disciples because he had a gift for motivating those who were discouraged to remain focused, steadfast, and faithful. So committed was he that he sold his property and donated the proceeds to help the poor and needy. His act of generosity spurred others on to perform similar good works.

* Greek: Christianoi: “devotees of the Anointed One.



Excerpt of content first published at Paul and Friends | HubPages



Sunday, April 13, 2025

Genealogy of Abraham~ Modern Day Arabs and Their Father Abraham ~Why do brothers fight?

Genealogy of Abraham~ Modern Day Arabs and Their Father Abraham ~ Why do brothers fight?  Jews, Christians, and  Muslims  ~ Complicated question with a host of answers. All of the “reasons” or responses given could be countered and even eliminated with an honest sincere genuine effort to live in peace like a happy family. “... how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalms)  

We are all brethren. 

: via Joie de Vivre Magazine

Shared via Pinterest: http://ift.tt/2xkfoO9

Modern Day Arabs and Their Father Abraham



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Go Overseas With Ease: What Does Arab Mean? (Reblog)

"What does Arab mean? INFO SOURCE: QUESTION: Besides being in the entertainment business, what do Danny Thomas, Casey Kasem, They are all famous Arab-Americans. Paula Abdul, and a. A nationality b. A religion c. A race What Does Arab Mean? d. A geographical area The answer is none of the above, really.



Sunday, February 9, 2025

Adding to My Collection for Tolkien Enthusiasts

One of my hobbies is collecting tidbits about Tolkien.  My first JDV blog post. "Bio Sketch of J. R. R. Tolkien, Author of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy", shared a link from a page I had published almost 10 years ago, along with some other links of interest.


Found an absolutely fabulous blog post to add to my collection, titled "Tolkien’s Angels: A question of belief".  This is from a blog published by Carolee Croft and it is a guest post written by epic fantasy author R K Lander.  

“If you are not a Tolkien geek, haven’t read the Silmarillion, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, or just haven’t read about elves in mythology, your impression of an elf is probably ... tall angels with long hair and flighty voices who dance to the lyre and cry woeful tears as epic poems are recited. They float angelically around majestic gardens of blooming flowers …” 

NOTE: Had to reshare this post not because it's a great addition to my collection for Tolkien enthusiasts but also because the images are simply irresistible and also I like angels and elves. Some are creatures of fantasy and some are very real. Do you know which is which?* You may disagree with me but let's not. Let's just enjoy these lovely images.  Shared the one above via Pinterest.  Here's another one from the post.  It's spectacular!  You must visit this lady's blog.  The whole blog is spectacular!



Via Joie de Vivre Magazine on Pinterest

Shared via Pinterest: http://ift.tt/2AN2CMg

Saturday, June 1, 2024

Racism in the 21st Century. Uuhh ... WHY??

My response to an interesting article published on Medium.com titled:  A Black British Man Claimed His Accent Helps Him Avoid Racism | by Kennardo James | AfroSapiophile for whatever reason, the writer chose to unpublish this content.  But my comments which were not erased when the article was unpublished were saved and are republished below.  I feel firmly about this matter. 

NOTE:  Even thuogh the author unpublished his article, he still distributes a Medium publication. Check out the author's Medium publication linked to below.



This not a surprise to me. I was born and raised in America and I love to connect with people when I hear a European or Caribbean accent. I'm not being racist, but Asian accents are a bit harsh to my ear. It's just "the sound". (Although I can watch Korean dramas for hours and hours. ☺ )

My dad and husband both were from The Bahamas. Even from a kid, I noticed people loved to hear my dad speak. When my husband would call me at work, people would remark about how nice his voice sounded. One woman described it as: “very refined, genteel and elegant”.

I was like “WOW! Really?” She got all that just from hearing him ask to speak to me?? LOL. For me, it didn't matter “the color” of the person. When I heard an accent, I immediately became curious and wanted to know more about them.

My final note for this article however is:  
It's the 21st century and people still have to avoid racism? WHY does it still even exist? This article is a sad commentary about humanity.

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

China has many honorable, mythical and legendary heroes.

China has many honorable, mythical and legendary heroes. One such hero is Zhuge Liang.

Here he is in a popular depiction, shown wielding a crane feather fan and wearing Taoism inspired robes. He is one of the most revered Chinese heroes of them all. 

Check out this list of 5 Chinese Heroes You Should Know About

Via Joie de Vivre Magazine

~ Source: http://ift.tt/2vPHjaz
Shared via Pinterest: http://ift.tt/2wIF6Kz





Friday, March 22, 2024

It's Finally Friday! Yeah! TGIF! But What Does That Mean? (O.o)

When I was a kid I remember seeing a Coca-Cola commercial on television. The young girl is sitting at her desk in a work suit – white blouse, black skirt, black jacket – wearing eyeglasses, sitting at her desk in front of a typewriter typing away, hair fastened into a neat tight bun – looking ever so proficient. Somebody indicates to her that the work day is over and she goes:

"Yeah! And it's Friday!"



Image credit: Finally friday
© Photographer: Rafael Torres Castaño | Agency: Dreamstime.com


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After the exclamation, the young lady pushes back the chair on wheels from her desk, takes off her eyeglasses, yanks at the back of her head to let her hair loose and shake it! Next scene is her strolling along in some area (looked like a beach ~ can't remember), dressed casually in her blue jeans, still wearing a white blouse, but drinking a bottle of Coca-Cola.

My late sister was watching that commercial with me and says, in her most boring monotone voice: “So that's what Friday means?”

My late sister. Always one for being super enthusiastic and excited! (Not.)


* First of all, does anybody even remember that commercial?


* Secondly, what does Friday mean to you?


  • Do you get to take yet another selfie and post it on Instagram?
  • Do you leave work to rush home and order a pizza and watch movies all night?
  • Do you go out partying and clubbing with your friends?



For me? I get to go to the grocery store in the afternoon. In the evening, might watch a Bollywood movie or a Korean historical drama series. Will probably keep working on my laptop, while being entertained, trying to earn a few more pennies. Then go to sleep.


Yeah! But it's Friday!! 
And I'm doing the happy dance anyway! ☺




YouTube Video : Cartlton Dance - It's Friday!


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Happy Friday everybody!





Fail is not a task on your “To Do List”.
Rid yourself of doubts.
I can do this!
Don't get distracted.
You know yourself better than anybody!



Content also shared at MyLot.com
(At MyLot you make friends and earn money chatting.  It's a social site that pays.  Join free.)


Friday, January 12, 2024

Food and Drink: Real Soul Food Nourishes Your Body and Elevates Your Mind

There's the “soul food” associated with the mostly US-Southern-style cooking eaten by African-Americans ~ everything from collard greens cooked with smoked ham hocks and chitterlings to mac-n-cheese loaded with butter and cheese to sweet potato pie. The same food that now everybody tells us is the reason so many black folks have hypertension and diabetes.  


Modern black Americans love the taste but let's face it ... it is not to die for!  Consequently, many of them are modifying "momma's recipes" and changing them to healthier versions to nourish the body and to comfort and uplift the body and the mind.


Then there is “soul food” as in chicken soup for the soul. That comforting bowl of soup that all wives and moms make no matter what the illness is, because if you just eat some chicken soup, you'll feel better.  It's the soup that inspired the book.  Experts say there is some truth of its positive impact on mind, body, and soul, albeit chicken soup is not a cure-all. 

Then there's the soul food as described in this marvelous infographic. This is the best description of soul food ever!!  I especially like Steps 7, 11 and 16.  What about you?

https://www.tumblr.com/texaxwib/739342665639919616/via-visually-content-for-marketers

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Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Corruption is a Cancer and Some Countries are Sicker Than Others (An Opinion Piece)

“Why is corruption so hard to remove in our country?”

This question was asked by a person on Facebook. The question and the answer they provided were country-specific. They were discussing the present situation in India and presented an outsider’s point of view on why corruption is an accepted way of life in that country.
I am also an outsider. I live in the United States and have never been to India or to a lot of other places in this world. (Never even been to California.) That doesn’t stop me from having a point of view and my perspective is not country-specific. It’s a world view.

Corruption is a cancer that exists all around the world. ALL countries get sick from it. Some countries are more sick, more than others. But no country is immune to corruption.




In fact, there is no place on earth where people live in a community with rules that should be followed for orderliness, settling disputes, punishing wrongdoing, and living a peaceful happy life, where corruption won’t rear its ugly head. Once it happens …

CORRUPTION is hard to remove in ANY COUNTRY!

How does corruption occur? It’s the G-men!
We won’t include organized crime, cartels, gangs, and thugs in this discussion. Let’s talk about the other G-men. Not “G” for gangster. “G” for government officials.
First, the corrupt person (one lone individual) provides “fake promises” that will dutifully serve the people; knowing full well that they really only intend to serve themselves and help themselves to whatever they can get!
Once The Corrupt get into their positions and hunker down, they have absolutely no plans for leaving. EVER! Not only that, they surround themselves with supporters who get treats and rewards for “being naughty” FOR THEM.
They build a stronghold of “invisible soldiers”. Invisible? Yes. Quite often you don’t know who’s serving who. It’s not like these people walk around wearing a badge that identifies them.
Then there are those who are NOT supporters but they are too afraid to do anything or speak out against the pernicious acts of the G-men because they fear for their lives or the lives of those they love. It’s just a matter of self-preservation.
As complicated as the matter is, when faced with corruption there are only 3 solutions/choices.

Fight, Flight or Stay.

Fight. Stand up for your rights and demand change. Some use force, weapons and violence. Some use peaceful nonviolent methods. Either way. THEY FIGHT!
Flight. Leave and go live elsewhere. Hey! Home Sweet Home is wherever you can build it. Mr. Von Trapp was a wealthy man (according to the movie “Sound of Music”)’ but he took his family and left the country anyway!
Stay. Live with it. Not everyone has the physical and mental strength to fight. Not everyone has the means to leave. If you can’t leave and you feel you’re not strong and/or brave enough to fight, then you acquiesce. You resign yourself to the fact that corruption in your daily life is the “normal” and you take each day as it comes. There is a tiny bit of hope buried deep down inside of you that maybe one day you’ll be delivered from evil.

Even though corruption is hard to get rid of, it’s not IMPOSSIBLE!

The purveyors and perpetrators of corruption can be brought down. I would say brought down low. But The Corrupt are already LOW! They just take their seat in high places.
Cause and effect. If one can eliminate the cause, one can eliminate corruption.
Most people think Divine intervention is too slow, so often a military overthrow is the solution.
But well-known singer/songwriter Sting says that he “never saw a military solution that didn’t end up as something worse”.
So why is it so hard to root out corruption?

Simply put … the root cause of corruption is … Brother Against Brother.

That’s why it’s so hard. Hard. Not impossible.
Agree or Disagree.
** Since the question on Facebook was specifically about India, here is an interesting link.  India Corruption Rank | 1995-2019 Data | 2020-2022 Forecast | Historical | Chart






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Tuesday, September 12, 2023

What a Horrible Way to Go! : History of Ancient Rome : Executions

There was once a time when things were happening in my life that were overwhelming. There was one thought that kept me going and gave me the fortitude to find my inner strength and rise up to face each day:
“Eh! A lot worse things could be happening. But I'm not going to share those 'things that could be' because I don't want to give anybody any ideas.”
Someone asked a question on Quora which is a question and answer intelligence community. They wanted a description of “the most brutal death”.  Several contributed responses. But after reading the first response, I couldn't read any more.  I did not want to know.

Have you ever heard of the Brazen Bull?

(Look at the image below and use your imagination.)

Invented in ancient Greece.

The person who invented it was killed in it!

See what I mean? Had the inventor kept his thoughts to himself, he might not have died that way.
I'm surprised the Romans didn't copy it. They copied almost everything else from the Greeks. Never heard of this device being used in Roman history. Have you? Crucifixion must have been easier and cheaper. Instead of burning the wood, they could re-use the crosses. When it came to executions (since there were evidently so many to perform), the Roman governors were probably just thinking economically and employing fiscally responsible measures.  👀
Interesting.  (Shocking!)
REF: Thompson, Samuel. "What Is the Most Brutal Death?" Quora.com. Quora, Inc., n.d. Web. 20 May 2017.




Thursday, February 23, 2023

Artists I Fancy: Venice in Beautiful Color Images 125 Years Ago | Open Culture

Historical photography.  Below is a view of the Rialto Bridge, which spans one of the city's famous canals; Venice, 125 years ago.  Though not "real" color photographs, they have been colorized and as such more accurately reflect a lively period in late 19th-century Europe.  The Library of Congress' page on the photocrom process explains it: "Photochrom prints are ink-based images produced through 'the direct photographic transfer of an original negative onto litho and chromographic printing plates.'"  

Have you always wanted to visit Venice?

Wouldn't it be even more interesting to travel back in time and visit 19th century Venice?

You can do so through this wonderful collection of photographs.


Venice in Beautiful Color Images 125 Years Ago:
The Rialto Bridge, St. Mark's Basilica, Doge's Palace & More


Friday, January 6, 2023

Artists I Fancy : Artist Barnali Bagchi (aka moonbeam1212) ...

Artist Barnali Bagchi (aka moonbeam1212) has so many charming, delightful, fanciful, mesmerizing pieces to choose from, it was difficult for me to narrow down a “representative sample”. These two are inadequate to represent but they are a delicious enough sampling to whet your appetite and make you crave for more. What's not to love about her art? 

Shared via Pinterest: http://ift.tt/2gv8fWW


* Barnali Bagchi is Renderosity member. Here is a quick excerpt from a detailed interview. 
(Question) What does art mean to you?
(Answer) “To me art means beauty. … If I remember correctly, it was the poet Keats who said "A thing of beauty is a joy forever." I feel the "beauty" and "joy" he is alluding to can be encapsulated in one word - art.”



Simply must share this exquisite piece found in her gallery on DeviantArt.com.





Friday, November 4, 2022

lllustration of a Chinese man and a Native American from the 18th or 19th century ...

Illustration of a Chinese man and a Native American from the 18th or 19th century, artist unknown. Ancient Native American glyphs versus ancient Chinese pictograms. Interesting revelations put forward by research analyst John A. Ruskamp Jr. who believes there might be genetic links between Native American DNA to people who lived in China during ancient or medieval times. 







Tuesday, October 4, 2022

8 Craziest Myths About Cats Throughout History (cheezburger.com)

Myth #2:  They'll Steal Your Baby's breath

SHOCKING!!

I collect myths, legends and folklore as a hobby.  I knew there were all kinds of beliefs about cats.  But these are crazy!  Of course, I don't believe it.  But when I was pregnant many used to warn me to stay away from cats.  Wonder if this myth had something to do with it.  (O.o)


8 Craziest Myths About Cats Throughout History - cheezburger.com




Wednesday, June 8, 2022

The Economy: Who Needs Leprechauns When They Have Capitalism?

There are several legends, myths, or fairy tales about leprechauns. But the story that almost everybody knows is the one about catching these wicked tricky little guys and forcing them to give you their pot of gold which is at the end of the rainbow. The tale is supposedly a warning against greed or being greedy that clearly … everybody ignores!



Many people call Facebook “Facebookistan” because it’s like a whole other country in and of itself and should have its own flag. But you know? So is Google! The corporation is really woven into the fabric of our world. People diss capitalism in favor of socialism, communism, or other forms of government where they believe that wealth among citizens will be equitably apportioned.

QUESTION: Would Google and Facebook even exists if it weren’t for the entrepreneurial spirit nurtured by capitalism?

ANSWER: NOT ALL capitalists are wicked overlord imperialist dogs.

Also, I never really bought into that claim that 99% of the population are poor folks; and all the riches and wealth belong to only “The One Percent” of the citizenry in the USA, which is a capitalist country. Please! Every country, no matter what type of government or economy is in place, has The 3-Tier system.

Tier1: Wealthy people on the top.
Tier 2: Poor people on the bottom.
Tier 3: Folks who are managing to get by on what they make with a little bit extra to spend for “wants”.

You know it’s true! Neither the French Revolution or the Communists got rid of the bourgeoisie. A word like “oligarch” is not an archaic expression. It is a word in our current vocabulary that is applicable to certain people TODAY!

Greedy people know no boundary lines and have no respect for any form of government. If they can find a way to exploit and access ill-gotten gain, it doesn’t matter what kind of economic system is in place in any country.

I truly believe that capitalism adds value to any society or nation because people have more freedom to use their talents, skills, and abilities and turn their work efforts into “pots of gold” which can be further translated into philanthropy, humanitarianism, or charity.
Why can’t we all be given the opportunity to use our God-given gifts and talents, to aspire to color our own rainbows, and to create our own pots of gold? It’s a very reasonable question.

We will always have greedy people in this world. But leprechauns do not exist in this world and we don’t need them even if they did! We have capitalism!

***
P.S. For the record, for all you leprechaun-lovers out there, I am NOT hating on leprechauns. But let’s be clear. Leprechauns (nor the tooth fairy, for that matter) do NOT lead to an increase in individual wealth.

***

REFERENCES:

Matthews, Chris. *The Myth of the 1% and the 99%.” Fortune, 2 Mar. 2015, fortune.com/2015/03/02/economic-inequality-myth-1-percent-wealth.

Facts about Leprechauns and Where the Legends Really Came From. ”IrishCentral.com, 23 June 2017, www.irishcentral.com/culture/entertainment/top-ten-facts-about-leprechauns-and-where-the-legends-really-came-from-212728761-237598771.




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Source: Virily.com

Tuesday, April 12, 2022

For those who celebrate The Resurrection (and also for those who don't)

It's that time of the year again where some of us pause to remember a man who came to earth with a message of faith, hope and love and they killed Him for it.  Yet He never instructed His disciples to take revenge.  Instead, He told them to continue preaching and spreading the message of faith, hope, and love.  And they did it!!  WHY? 



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Wednesday, September 29, 2021

Customs and Traditions : Holidays and Festivals : Chinese Mooncake Festival

The Mooncake Festival or Mid Autumn Festival is celebrated by the Chinese on the Sept 15th (or around that time; it's based on the lunar calendar).  It's also called Moon Festival or Harvest Moon Festival.  It takes the name Mooncake Festival because mooncakes are a delightful pastry that people eat and/or give to friends.  This festival is also celebrated by the Vietnamese and other Asian countries or countries which have a citizenry that includes those of Asian heritage

"Fillings in contemporary style mooncakes has diversified to include just about anything which can be made into a paste. Mooncakes containing taro paste and pineapple, which were considered novelty items at their time of invention have in recent years become commonplace items. In addition, filling with ingredients such as coffee, chocolate, nuts (walnuts, mixed nuts, etc.), fruits (prunes, pineapples, melons, lychees, etc.), vegetables (sweet potatoes, etc.), and even ham have been added to give a modern twist to the traditional recipes. It is also increasingly popular to change the base of the paste to a custard-style."  (Source:  Wikipedia)
Though I am not Asian, I do enjoy Asian food (and any other kind of food.).

I would love to try mooncakes with fillings but so far I've only tasted them plain. They were still tasty!

* * *


Mixed nut mooncakes are a light and sweet option for the Lunar Festival. These cakes have ham, for a fantastic flavor combination. 



The Tale of Chang'e
This is the story of the Chinese Folklore - The Tale of Chang'e. The story of Chang E is the most widely accepted tale regarding the moon and the origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Chinese Folklore in Comics - The Tale of Chang'e (Bilingual in English and Chinese)

en: Vietnamese children celebrating Mid-Autumn...
en: Vietnamese children celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival 
in a traditional lantern procession. (Photo credit: Wikipedia


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