Merry Christmas, All!

The Name of Jesus

When reading the Bible we must remember that our current KJV Bible is 16th century English. Often there are words used that we don't quite understand, or that we don't really know the meaning of. Let's take "Our Lord Jesus Christ" for example.

Lord is the 16th century English word for "Boss, owner"

Jesus is the Greek version of the name "Yeshua" (Joshua) which means "to rescue", "to deliver." (Jesus' disciples would not have called Him [Gee-suss] as we pronounce it. They would have used the word "Yeshua" (Hebrew has nor J sound. Our equivalent is "Joshua.") 


Christ Is the Greek version of the word "Messiah" which means "Anointed One."

So, "Our Lord Jesus Christ" in 21st Century English is:

Our Boss and Deliverer the Anointed One.

So next time you are reading your Bible, replace "Our Lord Jesus Christ" with "Our Boss and Deliverer, the Anointed One" and see if it changes your understanding of Scripture.

 

Six Ways Parents Destroy Their Children Without Trying - No Greater Joy Ministries

Six Ways Parents Destroy Their Children Without Trying - No Greater Joy Ministries



Pearls of wisdom.  ;-)

The 25 Best Two-Line Jokes Ever. #14 Is Priceless.

The 25 Best Two-Line Jokes Ever. #14 Is Priceless.



Too bad to not share:-D

Merry Christmas vs Happy Holidays

You know, when I was a kid "Happy Holidays" WAS a traditional Christmas greeting, fully accepted by everyone without a second thought. It has been around at least as long as "Merry Christmas." It means "Happy Holy Days."

"Merry Christmas" means "Merry Christ Mass [Service]" (an invention of the Catholic Church, by the way. Jesus was likely born in September or October. Shepherds don't generally have their sheep in fields in the height of winter, but in barns).

The only reason this has become an issue is a few stores told their employees to only say the one and not the other.

It does not mean that if I say "Happy Holidays" I am denying Christ. It likely just means I can't remember which holiday we are closest to (Thanksgiving? Christmas? New Years? Do I have all the kids I brought with me here? Have I lost anyone? Did I get everything I meant to? Did I turn the space heater off before leaving the house? Did I remember to put clothes on before leaving the house?:-P)

So come on, people. Lets quit being distracted by these silly side issues and start focusing on what is important:

Jesus Christ, God incarnate, robed Himself in flesh, lived a sinless life, and voluntarily died the most torturous death humans have ever invented...

All to wipe out my sins so I could go to heaven instead of hell.

If you REALLY  believe the message of Christmas is important, be sure to tell ALL of your loved ones (and hated ones too!) about Jesus and His wonderful gift of salvation this season!

Jesus- It's Hell without Him!

today's distraction

Ok, today's distraction: a major e-school company has announced that they are taking video samples from experienced homeschool moms to expand their school to cover k-12 instead of just 6-12. This has been stewing in the back of my head for days now, since their announcement.

Yesterday I decided I needed some sort of video to teach beginning phonics to Josh during his "computer school turn" (currently occupied by Sesame Street's 123 count with me video). Couldn't find anything I really liked. So started to make my own but had a computer glitch and lost it.

In the course of discussing it with my kiddos, Jim suggested I could draw my own pictures (freeing me from copy-write constraints) or assign them to draw the pictures, take photos of them and use them in PowerPoint (program I am already familiar with).

The more I stew the more I can see videos for a multitude of subjects; an entire school!

So, because re writing several of my books due to new date information I've run across, trying to finish reading the Bible for the year, teaching, keeping house, cooking everything from scratch (BIG difference in our allergies!), making my own cleaners (ditto the allergies!), isn't enough. Now I need to add making videos to the mix.

A life of no regrets

Two principles to make decisions by:

1) What does the Bible say?
2) Which course am I most likely to regret not taking when I look back on my life at age 103?

This is how you live a life of no regrets.

Sneak Peak

Introduction to the second edition of "First Things First: The Book of Genesis."

The Beginning

The first part of the Bible is called the Old Testament. This is the story of the beginnings of everything through the formation and fall of Israel and the prediction of the coming Christ. The Old Testament is actually thirty-nine separate books divided into five parts.

The first division is called the Pentateuch which means “five books.” Most believe Moses wrote these books and since Jesus says as much, we will accept this. The only possible exception is the book of Genesis itself. It is possible Moses compiled several more ancient writings into this one document, as I will explain later.

Some say the Pentateuch was written much later, between 800 and 600 BC. This theory would be a direct contradiction of the words of Jesus Himself and must be disregarded. Original authorship earlier than Moses does not present this problem and it is assumed Moses compiled them all into one document and possibly did some editing, making them essentially his work.

Many scholars have taken the dates of history we are sure of (Persia’s conquest of Babylon for example) and counted the ages and dates in the Bible backwards. This gives us and approximate age of the earth and dates for the events in the Bible; the only reliable dates available to us before Cyrus the Great.

This simple counting puts Creation at bout 4046_BC.

The Pentateuch consists of the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. In the Canonical Bible (the “normal” order) they are in roughly chronological order.

“Genesis” means “Beginnings” in Greek and this is a good title for the first book. It tells us the beginnings of the Universe, planet, mankind, sin, and the nation Israel. A good key verse for this whole book is the very first one: “In the beginning, God…” That says it all.

Outline:

The beginning of the world (Chapter 1).

The beginning of mankind (Chapter 2).

The beginning of sin and death (Chapter 3).

From the murder of Able to Noah (Chapter 4-5).

The flood account (Chapter 6-9).

The dividing of the earth (Chapter 10-11).

The story of Abraham (Chapter 12-25).

The story of Isaac (Chapter 25-26).

The story of Jacob (Chapter 27-36).

The story of Joseph (Chapter 37-50.)

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/bettysbooks?searchTerms=genesis

In Response to “The Anti-Vaccination Epidemic” by Paul A. Offit -

In Response to “The Anti-Vaccination Epidemic” by Paul A. Offit -



"First of all, there are many studies which validate
parents' concerns. These studies are peer-reviewed, published and happen
to not by funded by or written by authors that have affiliations with
pharmaceutical companies.



Second of all, many of the
studies which are referenced by vaccine promoters are mired by serious
accusations of ethics violations. From conflicts of interest between
study authors and funding sources, to a lead scientist being indicted on
federal charges and placed on the FBI Most Wanted list after becoming
an international fugitive (the fraud in question related directly to the
work he did as a vaccine safety researcher), to a current CDC epidemiologist's recorded allegations of scientific misconduct
orchestrated by his colleagues and supervisors at the federal agency
... the foundation upon which supposed vaccine safety and efficacy stand
is significantly cracked."



Again, Answer these two questions:

1. How do we know vaccines actually work? These diseases declined significantly BEFORE the vaccines were introduced. Likely the same thing that caused that first decline caused the later one. There have been no studies done by people who did not stand to gain a bazillion dollars that have shown vaccines to be safe and affective. Just prove they actually work.
2. Are the diseases worse than the side affects? We now know that the 2004 "Vaccines don't cause autism" study actually did prove the shots cause autism, beyond a shadow of a doubt. The researchers LIED! And the rise of immuno dysfunction diseases (allergies, asthma, diabetes, MS, FM, CF, Lupus, RA and cancer) is just too high to not know SOMETHING is wrong with our society. Vaccines are the biggest suspect (screw with the immune system, you screw up the immune system). I would rather my child have mumps than diabetes, measles than asthma, chicken pox than MS. And polio (usually just a bad cough) than cancer (yes, there is a link!)

And always remember, its the EDUCATED parents who are not vaccinating. So unless you mean "brainwash, manipulate, and force" when you say "educate" you are at cross purposes to want parents more informed.

Johns Hopkins Scientist Reveals Shocking Report on Flu Vaccines |REALfarmacy.com | Healthy News and Information

Johns Hopkins Scientist Reveals Shocking Report on Flu Vaccines |REALfarmacy.com | Healthy News and Information

Charitable Giving - Red States, Middle-, Lower-Class Do More

Charitable Giving - Red States, Middle-, Lower-Class Do More

Sample of Daniel

Chapter 1

Daniel and His Friends Stand Firm.

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.

The third year of Jehoiakim was the first or second year of Nebuchadnezzar, around 526_BC (about 3520 after Creation).

2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

God is in control of all that happens. He allowed this foreign king to conquer Judah to punish them for their disobedience.

The land of Shinar is the area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. This area is also known as Mesopotamia, Sumer, and the Fertile Crescent.

3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes;

4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well-favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

The king wanted to take the best young men of the land to work for him. At this point in history it was common for conquerors to both take male captives and castrate them so they would be less aggressive slaves or to take children of the royalty of the defeated land and treat them well, educate them and prepare them to rule in the assumption that they would return to their homeland and rule favorably for their conquerors (meanwhile they would also act as hostages keeping the conquered land from attacking in order to keep their children safe). We don’t really know which was the motivation for Daniel’s captivity.

We do know he was highly intelligent and received a high level education from his captors.

5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.

The Bible doesn’t tell us how old these young men were, but they were most likely in their teens. In America in the 1800’s it was common for boys as young as fourteen to enter college. That is essentially the education Daniel now receives; a college degree.

6 Now among these were of the children of Judah; Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

7 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.

Men by the names of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah are listed in the book of Ezra as returnees from Babylon around seventy years later. It is possible they are the same men.

8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

The king’s food mentioned here was food commonly offered to idols before being eaten by the people. Since there is no prohibition in the Bible for eating either meat or drinking wine (though alcoholism is forbidden), we can assume that Daniel’s objection to the king’s food was the connection to the idols. Vegetables were not offered as often, being considered vulgar peasant food.

9 Now God had brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.

10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? Then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king?”

The common belief was that meat and wine was necessary for optimum health. Today we know that those who become vegetarians have a significant increase in over all health in the short-term, though in the long term they often suffer more cancers and anemia.

Tea-totalers have lower cancer rates than drinkers do. Most health benefits from drinking wine are easily obtainable from grape juice and other sources without the negative side effects of alcohol. If someone chooses to drink, it should be with moderation.

11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

12 “Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

13 “Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.”

14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.

15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.

There are a couple of explanations for this; the known short term effects of a vegetarian diet, less digestive trouble from a possibly radical change in

diet, and Divine intervention. It was probably a combination of all three.

16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

Here it tells us outright that God gave special gifts to Daniel and his friends. He had plans for them and equipped them to carry them out.

God will always give us whatever we need to accomplish His will in our lives. That may be money, but probably isn’t. It is the talents and oppurtunities we need to follow Him.

18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.

They were selected to work closely with the king- closer than anyone else.

20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

21 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.

Daniel served the kings of Babylon until there were no more kings of Babylon.

The Betty's Books: Thy Word Have I Hidden

The Betty's Books: Thy Word Have I Hidden

Behold: Here Are the Two Worst Arguments Against Homeschooling | TheBlaze.com

Behold: Here Are the Two Worst Arguments Against Homeschooling | TheBlaze.com



Yeah, socilization.



Traditional school socialization does not teach children to be individuals or to accept people that are different than they are. It forces everyone into the same mold, punishing individuality. If you don't think so, you didn't go to traditional school (and putting a Bible study in the curriculum doesn't change this, by the way. It's human nature when thrown into a large crowd like a classroom).



The reason we seem to think you have to be locked in a classroom with people of identical age and socioeconomic status (same income, same neighborhood, same school) is "good socialization" is because we all remember our hours in school and can't figure out what a child who doesn't do that does for social contact. "Obviously, if they aren't locked in a classroom they are locked in a closet, or cease to exist for those hours or something." The fact is homeschooled kids go to stores, sports, Sunday School, grandparent's houses, etc. They have far MORE social exposure to a far BIGGER group of people than kids locked in a brick-and-mortar room.

A Letter to Moms of Vaccine-Injured Children - Modern Alternative Mama

A Letter to Moms of Vaccine-Injured Children - Modern Alternative Mama



For those who say "vaccines have been proven safe"



1) Several researchers have now admitted they lied in the studies.

2) You  just can't ignore millions of parents whose children absolutely normal in the morning, had their shots in the afternoon , and were autistic that evening. It's so obviously the shots causing it, it's evil for those who make bazillions off the shots to say otherwise.



And it's not just autism. It's also the allergies, asthma, eczema, RA, MS, Lupus, type 1 diabetes, FM, CF, and cancer; childhood cancer is escalating a alarming rates! All of these are immune system dysfunction diseases. Why have our immune systems gone whacky in the last 60 years?! Vaccines are the number one suspect.



So don't patronize us "non-vaxers." And certainly don't threaten to take our parental rights away. Studies show we are the smart ones in our culture (the more educated, the richer, the LESS likely to vaccinate). Sit down and talk to us. Listen to our stories. Try to understand where we are coming from and why we are doing what we are doing.

Vaccination Questions

If it is the vaccines that caused the decline in these diseases, why did the rate of each of these diseases fall 50-90% in the 40 years BEFORE the vaccines were introduced? (and immediately AFTER flush toilets were introduced?)



And would you really rather your child had type 1 diabetes (side affect of the MMR, CDC says so) than Measles?



Or autism than mumps? (recent whistle blowers say the studies actually showed that vaxs caused autism. The CDC and equivalent in other countries lied according to the whistle blowers.)



If vaxs are so great, why do we have to force people to use them? Especially since its the parents with the most resources (education and money- presumably these are the smartest parents) that are refusing them?



Do you know of any studies that actually show that vaccines work? or that compare the over all health of un-vaxed kids with vaxed?



And why are half the kids who get these diseases today fully vaccinated? Shouldn't it be ONLY un-vaxed kids getting them?



Why have we seen a skyrocketing of immune dysfunction diseases since the introduction of vaxs (allergies, asthma, MS, FM, CF, Lupus, diabetes, cancer...)



And if the vaxs work so all-fire well, why are those who vaccinate their kids so afraid of the non-vaxers? Wouldn't their kids be protected no matter what?



Remember that Big Pharm gets $200 for each vaccine that is administered (complements of the tax payer or insurance companies), and they are TOTALLY protected from law suits (congress passed a law that it is illegal to sue them for vax injuries under all situations. Big Pharm is the second biggest donator to congressional campaigns).



And everyone that works for the CDC and FDA goes to work for a Big Pharm company when they retire.



Would you drink a bottle of mercury, aluminum, and formaldehyde? Those are the preservatives shot into each child with each shot, and they don't even go through the child's protective digestive system, but directly into the bloodstream.



If I get satisfactory answers to these questions, I will take my unvaxed kids down and get them vaxed today.

Rosalee de la Foret | The puzzle of health - The MOON maga

Rosalee de la Foret | The puzzle of health - The MOON maga



That visit didn’t go so well, however. She was happy I was better, but
she told me that it must have been a fluke. Maybe I’d been misdiagnosed.
Maybe I was just one of the lucky ones. But, and she really said this,
there was no conclusive evidence that diet and alternative health
treatments could solve autoimmunity problems and my one personal story
was definitely not compelling evidence.

You've Awoken the Mommies - The Thinking Moms' Revolution

You've Awoken the Mommies - The Thinking Moms' Revolution



It is a fact that the MORE educated and the RICHER a parent is, the LESS likely they will vaccinate.

I don't have any children with Autism, though my cousin does. I don't have any children with cancer, though my friend lost her son to it, my uncle died of it last year, and my mom is fighting it now. I don't have to deal with other major immune function diseases, though my nephew as well as a couple of cousins do.

I do have to deal daily with a husband and children who randomly break out in hives for no apparent reason, though we are assembling a list of triggers (dish soap among them:-( I have also dealt with asthma reactions myself as well as with one child due to allergies.

THIS IS NOT NORMAL! The human race could not have survived if people had always been this way! Something about the last 70 years has caused us to change. SOMETHING has made the rates of autism go from 1:40,000 to 1:88! And made the rest of us very sick! The number one suspect is vaccinations. Honestly I would rather my children have Measles, mumps, rubella, AND chicken pox than diabetes, autism and cancer! But there are other suspects. Chemicals in food? Factory farming methods? plastic everything?

It is time we all quit being sheeples and stand up for our children and our future! It is time we demand answers!

How the pro-family movement helped spread “gay marriage” across America

How the pro-family movement helped spread “gay marriage” across America: A great deal of this also emanates from a deeply flawed interpretation of Scripture, which puts being “nice” and “loving” on a higher level than stopping evil, protecting children, or even telling the truth. This is the first religious-based movement we know of — certainly in America — that has done that."

Renowned Chemist Says Evolutionists Do Not Understand the Origin of Life | Christian News Network

Renowned Chemist Says Evolutionists Do Not Understand the Origin of Life | Christian News Network

The Betty's Books: Rubies, Silk, and Chocolate Covered Peanuts

The Betty's Books: Rubies, Silk, and Chocolate Covered Peanuts

The Betty's Books: Auntie's Voice

The Betty's Books: Auntie's Voice:

This is our page for my great-aunt's book of poetry. Check it out!

Clocks in Rocks? Radioactive Dating, Part 1

Clocks in Rocks? Radioactive Dating, Part 1



"Unfortunately for the secularist, there are serious problems with the
uniformitarian view as it is applied to radioactive dating. Recent
experimental evidences verify that the decay rates of radioisotopes can
vary significantly from the currently accepted values—by as much as 10⁹ times faster (that’s 1 billion times faster) when exposed to certain environmental factors.^9,10,11 It is particularly interesting that the alpha-decay rates of ²²⁸Th are increased by as much as 10⁴ (10,000 times) under conditions which give rise to high pressure waves.¹⁰
These conditions could have easily existed during the Flood. One cannot
help but wonder what this might say about nuclear decay processes
inside stars or large exoplanets."

Raising Children is a Terrible Waste of Time |

Raising Children is a Terrible Waste of Time |

Being a Stay-at-Home Parent is a Luxury — For Your Spouse

Being a Stay-at-Home Parent is a Luxury — For Your Spouse

The Well-Rounded Mama: PCOS Series Resumes

The Well-Rounded Mama: PCOS Series Resumes

A ruby is hard. This means it is a tough job to break one. You can't just toss it on the floor and break it apart. It takes work.

How hard are you? Can the devil just toss you around and make you shatter? Or do you know what the Bible says and stand fast by it no matter what?

A woman should be like a chocolate covered peanut; soft on the outside but hard on the inside. We should be feminine on the outside but hard as a ruby (that is, harder than steel) in our faith in God.

A ruby is brilliant. This doesn't mean it can pass the SAT test with a perfect score, though I do believe we should strive to build our intelligence.

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom:" [1]

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction." [2]

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of The Holy is understanding." [3]

God wants us to use and build on everything He has given us, including our brains.

"...thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." [4]

We should be trying to increase our intelligence by starting with God's Word.

But brilliant in terms of a ruby means it shines out.

We should have the love of God shining out in our every action.

"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."  [5]

Jesus should be a light that glows from you out to the world, including the world in your own home.

The rareness of a top quality ruby makes it more valuable than a diamond. It is known as the “King of Gemstones” to many. An 8x6mm (that is much smaller than the tip of your pinky), 1.8 ct stone just sold for $137.07; and God said a virtuous woman is worth MORE than a ruby.

A ruby is made of a combination of aluminum oxide and chrome. This is interesting. These are relatively common minerals, yet when combined under the right conditions, they create this valuable stone.

God made us out of dirt, born to common humans. There is nothing special in our chemical make-up. Yet, like the ruby, we are valuable beyond comparison, if we are virtuous.

---

[1] Psalms 111:10

[2] Proverbs 1:7

[3] Proverbs 9:10

[4] Matthew 25:21

[5] Colossians 3:17