Dzisiaj 12/12, nie wiem czy to coś oznacza, ale taka jest data. Odwiedził mnie dzisiaj znajomyz przed46 lat. Nauczyciel matematyki i późnie dyrector szkoły. Ken Christensen ze swoim synem też na imię ma Ken. Wspominaliśmy wspólne przeżycie ostatnich 40 pare lat. On ma 9o lat i trzyma się dobrze. Kupiłem sobie nowy keyboard do komputera na eBay i przyjdzie w następny Poniedziałek. Napisałem dzisiaj karteczkę urodzinową do Bogdana na 18-go i...nawet posłałem ją dzisiaj. I tak życie przemija w radościach i wydarzeniach. Byli u mnie Michalscy ale dzis rano odjechali na Florydę. Zosia z Jonaszem spotkają się z nimi na lotnisku w Miami.Jeszcze przed snem muszę skończyć czytanie 59 rozdziału Izaiasza, po Hebrajsku. Przeczytałem dzisiaj całą książkę o komputerach była interesującą ale powyżej mojego poziomu zrozumienia. czytałem dzisiaj też książkę Hazela na temat "biblical Interpretation" gdzie on zrobił krótki przegląd różnych sposobów interpretacji Biblii. Używałem drugą jego (Hasel) książkę jako podręcznik w mojej klasie gdy wykładałem na "Południowym". Dalej czytam opisy wydarzeń kościelnej organizacji w pierwszych wiekach kościoła. Rozwój konceptów takich jak : kapłaństwo, poziomy administracji kościelnej (starszy, biskup, diakon) i wreszcie powolny rozwój papiestwa. Podśpiewuję sobie w ciągu dnia słowa piosenki splagiatowanej z Rosyjskiego: "To były piękne dni," a po angielsku : "Those were the days my friend." Tęsknota za przeszłymi czasami. Tyle na dzisiaj. więc dobranoc.

Nowy temat, nowa sytuacja i nowe myśli. Więc piszę. Dla kogo? Dla przyjaciół, znajomych i błądzących sputników. Przypadkowo wpadajacych na ślady moich blogów. Dzisiaj mamy 4 dzień Hanukki, Święta świateł. Ile znaczy dla nas swiatło przekonałem się dzisiaj wieczorem gdy podczas gry w tenisa naraz wszystkie światła pogasły. Niczago nie było widać. Powolutku podszedłem do siati a potem do krzesła na którym mogłem sobie odpocząc.Za dziesięć minut światła ponownie się zapaliły i mogliśmy kontunuować naszą grę. Wszystko to dało mi możliwość opowiedzenia moim kolegom jak to Święto światła się zaczęło.Podczas tego święta Jezus z Nazaretu stanął w jednym miejscu dla zgromadzenia ludzi w świątyni i powiedział donosłe słowa: Ja jestem światłem świata. Co za dziwne powiedzenie. Do czego służy nam światło? Do możliwości zrozumienia gdzie jesteśmy, gdzie zdążamy i w jaki sposób. Inaczej mówiąc światło jest źródłem informacji potrzebnej do życia w inteligentny sposób. Nasz Bóg jest źródłem tej informacji. To On daje nam możliwość zrozumienia naszej życiowej misji. Cała Biblia jest literacką pracą ludzi z narodu Izraela, z małymi wyjątkami. Powinniśmy pamiętać, że tak zwany Nowy Testament został napisany przez Judejczyków których z czasem nazwano Chrześcijanami, do nich dołączyli się "prozelici", nowo-nawróceni. Biblijne "chrześciaństwo" jest niczym innym jak przedłużeniem pism proroków znajdujących się w tak zwanym Starym Testamencie. To że Judaism przez ostatnie 19 stuleci patrzy się na Chrześcijaństwo jako na coś zupełnie obcego dla tych co wierzą w Boga (YHWH)nie zmienia historycznej kontynuacji pism prorockich w pismach apostolskich. Oczywiście nie mówimy tutaj o "spoganizowanej" formie Chrześcijaństwa. Więc przed nami w tym sezonie mamy dwie cząstki historii ludu Bożego. Pierwsza to święto Hanukka obchodzona przeż religijnych Judeiczyków i...święto "Bożego Narodzenia" mającym być "pamiątką" urodzin Jezusa z Nazaretu, który ogłosił Judejczykom, że jest Mesjaszem (Chrystusem). Jeżeli Jezus z Nazaretu zaczął swoją misję mając 30 lat i jego praca trwała 3 1/2 lat i skończyła się wiosną...licząc wstecz narodził się on gdzieś Jesienią a nie w Grudniu. Co do daty "Bożego narodzenia" 25-go Grudnia, to pochodzi ona od święta narodzin słońca i weszła w szereg świąt chrześcijańskich dopiero pod koniec 4 wieku. Jest to przykład "spoganizowania" pamiątek Judejskich, lub inaczej mówiąc, jest to przechrzczenie świąt pogańskich na chrześcijańskie.

The fire in my hearth is burning brightly, devouring the office records of Ann's private practice, and making the inside of our house warm and friendly. The requirements of the federal regulations finally are proving to be useful. Preliminary notes: But to return to our previous post, I have been guilty, but have not sinned nor have I broken any known law. So, why am I guilty and what does it mean to me or to others? To be guilty, means in common parlance, to take the responsibility for some action or the lack of it.It means I am willing to answer for my actions, whatever nature of these actions may be. Guilt does not have a substance, yet it can be shifted, shared, removed, transferred, assumed, and it can be forgiven. Sin, on the other hand, becomes a history and it cannot be "undone." Sin, or for that matter any action, once it is committed becomes a historical fact and any one else if he claims to have done it, is guilty of telling a lie. In other words, he is adding to the problem and not solving it. In the Scriptures (TNK for Jews and Old Testament for Christians) the concept of sin is treated extensively and illustrated many times. A few propositional statements will be helpful. Where there is no law there cannot be a breaking of the law (sin). If the law is not somehow connected to a person, then he is not obligated to be obedient to that law. The connecting context between a law and a person, is an agreement, a pact, a covenant. Who and how can create, or enter into an agreement? SALVATION: An outline of components Justification: removal of separating obstacles, reconciliation, inseparable part of an agreement about salvation. Rebirth: return to the original condition, relationship, to the originator of life (God, parents) Sanctification: educational process to ensure one’s ability to function in life according to the rules of life. Glorification: Complete restoration, the return of man to his pristine condition. Immortalization: A removal of the necessity for man to die. As long as there is a free will, immortality (outside of God) is always conditional. A man has a free will, but never a free standing existence. Salvation is not MAN's accomplishment. Man’s status is always as a hired worker and never as an owner. Salvation is God’s gift to man. Gospel is not merely teaching, but primarily, the power of God needed for salvation. Teaching is part of the application of God’s power. The written record of the religion of Israel begins with the writings of Moses. Moses gave us the account of the creation of this world and of mankind. Though the information given us by Moses is schematic and very brief, he gave us enough information about the events at the beginning of this world, so that we can today, understand the original and subsequent relationship between the Creator and the creation. TREATIES Since Moses, in his short biography, tells us that he was brought up and educated in the royal household of Egypt, it is almost certain that he was acquainted with the diplomatic activities carried out by Pharaoh. There are two types of treaties according to the literary documents found in the Ancient Near-East, namely the Suzerain treaty, between a king and a vassal, and also the Parity treaties between kings (or people) of equal power, and position. The most complete literary form of a treaty would include the following components: 1) the preamble, 2) the historical prologue, 3) the stipulations, 4) the method of preservation of the document, 5) the list of "witnesses," 6) the curses and blessings, depending on whether the treaty was broken by one of the parties or whether the parties remained faithful to the treaty (c0venant). Not every covenant document has all six parts of the treaty since some of the treaties are mentioned in discussing only some of the stipulations formulated in the covenants. COVENANTS IN THE BIBLE The Suzerain treaty in the Bible is basically a covenant between God and various individuals, or groups of people. We thus speak of the Adamic covenant, before and after the Fall, the Noachian covenant between God and Noah after the Flood, the Abrahamic covenant (renewed several times), the Sinai Covenants, the covenant with Israel just before the death of Moses and their entrance into Canaan, and centuries later, the Davidic covenant etc… The Parity treaties mentioned in the Bible, include the agreement between Pharaoh and Abraham; Abimelech with Abraham and again with Isaac; Laban and Jacob. From the Mosaic record we learn that God created: this world, all the living creatures of this world and, having planted the garden of Eden, placed the man (Adam and Eve) in that garden. FIRST COVENANT After the creation, God made an agreement with Adam which outlined mutual relationship. This agreement spelled out: what God did, what God required of man, Adam's responsibilities and his limitations. This covenant also included a clause that specified the penalties for breaking it. We may sum up this covenant by the phrase: Obey and live, disobey and die! This type of a covenant may be called the "old (oldest) covenant" since it is the agreement between God and all of God's creation even from before the Fall (the entrance of sin). Adam had broken that covenant (sinned) and, properly, expected to die. SECOND (NEW) COVENANT We see in the story of the Fall, that it was God 'seeking' Adam, who was hiding (!). Subsequently, God entered into a new covenant with Adam and Eve, a covenant which provided for restoration. This was the good news for Adam and Eve, and many commentators, when dealing with the passage of Genesis 3:15, call this the Proto-Evangelium. In this new plan, God provides salvation and requires from man (Adam) acceptance and cooperation. God promised to provide the "Seed" who would destroy the one who tempted Adam to rebel against God and to break the old covenant. God would also put enmity between mankind and the Opponent (Satan) signifying that to Adam and Eve was restored the freedom to decide to which "party" they would show loyalty, to God, or to the Opponent (Satan). God also announced that He would destroy the Opponent. In making the first covenant with Adam, God told him that "the day you eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, you will surely die." If Adam were to live, a remedy for man's situation had to be provided that very day. How was it provided, and by whom? What is that “remedy” called? In one phrase we can call it, The Plan of Salvation. The next important question is: salvation from what? The information explaining the Plan of Salvation, God revealed to Adam and Eve at the time of the making of the “new” covenant. The information about this new covenant was presented in a very brief form (Gen 3:15). Centuries later it was more fully explained in the dealings of God with Abraham. How much can we learn from the Abrahamic covenants? Since God’s will (law) is unchangeable, therefore, it is and forever will remain: that any person who rebels against the Ruler, Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, by willful disobedience, must die. The guilty person, the person that is deemed responsible for breaking the relationship with God, will die. From the record of Adam’s life we know that he did not die the day he “sinned.” Someone died the day Adam sinned, but who was it? All the information about the Plan of Salvation reached us in bits and pieces, scattered throughout the Bible. Not all at once, and not arranged systematically, but little by little. The form in which that information was given, includes all sorts of metaphors, similes, anecdotes, symbols, allegories and other literary devices. The main topic of the Plan of Salvation is the person of the Savior, for it is he who will do all things necessary for the salvation of man.We are talking here mainly of salvation from the guilt (responsibility) for Adam's rebellion against God's revealed will. ATONEMENT DEFINITION Atonement is an attempt to reconcile, to provide an agreement, to explain differences and finally, to bring some solution to the problem of existing differences. Atonement, in different areas of life, takes on different meaning and involves different procedures. ILLUSTRATIONS On the childhood level, we may illustrate these remedies/ procedures by recalling actions and such statements as: kiss and make up, spanking (disciplinary "punishment,"), go to your room, sit on the bottom stair and contemplate, no car for a week, etc… In the area of business matters, we use terms like: balance the books, reconcile the statement, and if there is a shortage, then the appropriate measure (action) takes place. Those persons who deal with the problem are called by different names (titles): Chief accountant, internal or external auditor, boss, supervisor, owner etc… Since the context of life varies from case to case we encounter either small or greater differences of opinions or behavior, therefore the actions (procedures) of those who have to deal with these problems, may affect a small area of life, or have global or even universal ramifications. Illustrations may make it easier to grasp the progressively more complex procedures used to accomplish the desired reconciliation (atonement).Further illustration will be helpful. Two or several children want to play with the same toy and one of them takes the toy and runs away with it, and then "protects" his possession with his fists. It is the parental duty to enter the arena. Parents look over the playground, investigate and make an reconciliation between the children. First, the "toy" is taken away from the "bully" and the children are given a careful instruction/education/explanation, and then are asked to continue to play peacefully and happily. Only if the "bully" is unwilling to cooperate, is he removed from the playground and/ or is subjected to further disciplinary actions. The subsequent disciplinary actions should include first of all explanation/education and then whatever is deemed necessary to make sure the problem is taken care of. Disciplinary actions are designed always to educate the person that created a discord, and restore the original conditions of peace and cooperation. Only, when all the disciplinary actions are rejected, is the "guilty" child (person) subjected to "punishment." In practical terms of life's situations it is often difficult to distinguish between education/discipline and punishment. We may be tempted to state that punishment is never redemptive, while disciplinary actions are always. Often we must ask, who has the right, or the duty, to interfere between two or more estranged parties/people? The answer is: the one who is in charge! We may begin with parents/teachers/officers of the law/judges/governors (kings, presidents, dictators, prime ministers, chiefs etc) and finally God. For a parent/playground supervisor, who was all the time present among the children at play, there is no need to "investigate." He knows what happened, however, since he has to discipline the children he has to go over their behavior and explain to them what is best for them and what will assure a pleasant and safe playtime. In that sense he investigates the situation, then he issues directives and makes sure the problem is not created again. This is illustrated in the story of the fall of Adam in the garden of Eden. Adam was induced to rebel against God's will and to side with God's opponent (Satan). God had instructed Adam on the consequences of disobedience: The day you shall eat from the tree of knowledge of good and bad, you will certainly die. The next action of God was to (take away the toy from the playground bully) that is announce enmity between Adam and the Serpent (Satan). Then God instructed Adam by opening to him the necessary process of effecting reconciliation between God and man. Disciplinary action included the removal from the garden of Eden and a lifelong education. This lifelong education process had as its main goal to acquaint Man with the characteristics and the character of God. The right to interfere in the affairs of mankind and the needed education is encapsulated in the Bible in the institution of Sanctuary, a place where God could “live” among His people. Sanctuary was built in the days of Moses the prophet, to make the nation of Israel aware that: God was their God and they were His people; God was among them and was involved in the day to day running of their lives. God established the fact that He had the authority over them by the right of creation and then redemption from the Egyptian slavery. After God's authority was acknowledged by Israel, He instructed Moses to erect the Sanctuary. God explained to Moses how to do it and why. Having proven to Israel that He had the right to them as their creator and redeemer, God proceeded to "educate" the people in all things pertaining to their spiritual welfare. PREFACE TO THE SANCTUARY (Book of Genesis) The explanation given by God to Moses, began with the story of creation. Adam, called in the Bible, the son of God, was in perfect harmony with his Creator. God spelled out to Adam the basis of their co-existence. Obey and live, disobey and die. God was in daily contact with Adam (Adam and Eve). God instructed Adam in the rules of life and the dangers of failure, consequences. We all know the story quite well. Adam mistrusted God and sided, by his action, with the "bully of the playground" the opponent of God, called by various names: Lucifer (Light bearer), Morning star, Covering Cherub, and finally Satan (the opponent). Adam was alienated (separated) from God, and since no one can live without God, Adam was to die. The question Why did Adam side with Satan against his Parent-God?, had been explained in the past, by many students of the Bible and is not the main part of our study here. We are told that God had a "conversation" with Adam and Eve concerning the new situation in which they found themselves, due to their rebellion against God's rules of the "playground of life." God investigated the situation in which Adam found himself by asking questions. God wanted Adam to review in his own mind what had happened. By this process God made sure Adam knew the nature of his action and reminded himself of the consequences. Then God spelled out to Adam the plan of salvation/reconciliation, in other words, what He will do for them (Adam and Eve) and also what He expected from them. Adam and Eve were to "wait" for the Messiah, who would reconcile them with God and the result would be eternal life in harmony with their God and with the whole Universe. This became known to the students of the Bible as the plan of salvation, the first "good news" for mankind. God continued to communicate with Adam and Eve, but for safety reasons, mainly through various methods and manners: angels, dreams, visions, prophets. These are but preliminary notes and they will be edited and enlarged as needed.

Mashchak's View

SIN ?

Good evening Friends, it has been 4 years since my last blog, but here I am again. It took some searching to recover my blog name and my password, but I made it. It is late at night and I am ready to do some daily reading of one chapter in the newest Russian translation of the New Testament and one chapter in the TNK (Hebrew text) in the Book of the prophet Isaiah. I am already in chapter 55. In my reading I have discovered that the various words used in Hebrew to describe man's relation to God, in the negative section of the relationship, many of the translators rendered them by the word "sin." Sin as such is often "personified" or at least viewed as if it were a substance. The translators speak of moving, removing, transferring, carrying out and placing on someone of sin! Therefore many translators present the picture of a priest moving the sin of a penitent Israelite, to the temple! They create the impression that sins are "stored" in the temple and that once a year on the day of Atonement, those sins are "removed" placed on the special "scape goat" and finally sent to the desert, etc...As you can see from my introductory words, the picture is difficult to grasp and even more difficult to explain to someone who does no know the theological jargon of the believers. I will post additional questions and answers to these questions in my next blog. For now, good night.

Life and Death

Till death do us part! We often vow our eternal love for our loved ones. Then we are parted by death. Due to the death of my "oldest" friend and 'relative' in Poland, the world known prof.zw. Zachariasz Łyko, I made my way to Poland. A friend paid for my ticket and encouraged me to go. Dazed and shocked I arrived in Warsaw on Friday. A short visit to the Messianic-Evangelicals, and a short sermon on the topic of Plan of Salvation " to the Jew first and then to the Greek also" and I was ready to fall asleep on the way to Joe's. Poland was cold, drizzly, windy, lonely. Thanks to Joe's hospitality I at least had a roof over my head. Connected with Jonas and Adam Łykos at Janusz's apartment and determined to be of some help and support to drs. Margot, Janusz, Martha and Alex. After the 'state' funeral and inspiring speeches of many dignitaries from the Academia, and various Christian Churches, at the Military Cemetery, attended by a military honor guard, the ~500 friends went to their homes. The immediate family met for a little snack and then....the much needed rest. The next week I spent visiting friends at Podkowa school [WSTH] including mostly my 'young' friends, the students. KJ, again provided the needed funds for some students' tuition and I enjoyed listening to the latest HG [holy gossip] about the school. Visits with dr. Margot, my family in Jedrzejow, and also the lunches with Kozirogs and Tarasiuks, Barons, and my cousins Poloks, filled my few remaining days. Joe cooked and I prepared the drinks, and somehow we survived. There was always the culinary feast at Lazars.I visited the Greeway couple of times, the Pierogarnia on Aleje near Nowy Swiat. I sang with the "Chmielna Orchestra"...they let me when I gave them some change. On Tuesday was the feast with the Professor zw. Maciuszko and his wife Barbara. Superb food and a wonderful company. Prof.zw. Janusz Maciuszko is, among other things, an expert on Church History and Comparative Religions studies. A man after mine own heart. He has books everywhere! He is gentle and genteel, with a healthy dose of quaint humor. On the way there we visited the tomb and the monument of the Hero of the Ghetto Uprising Mordechi Anielewicz, the last defender of the Jewish Ghetto. Cześć jego pamięci! The best social interaction in Poland is always at the home of Andrzej Sankowski. The guests-club members are all highly intelligent, accomplished in their own fields and young. The women are pretty and the food is exquisite. My last sermon at the Warsaw Central church was an occasion to invite the many friends to meet their God, like ap. Paul on the road to Damascus. There were some interesting discussions with students at the Seminary, and delightful Judy, Tatiana, Oleńka, Nadia and some others...in the Convent. this is to be continued ...when I wake up. The Jetlag is getting to me.

Happy New Year

This year is coming to a close and memories flood the corridors of my mind. So many events, so many exciting experiences. So many blessings, all of them undeserved. One is humbled by the watch care of the Providence. As long as the health is holding one should never complain. The visit to Loma Linda,the Family and friends. Heather's graduation, a gala performance, enjoyable reunion. Exciting news that Jessica is studying to become an archaeologist at La Sierra University. Then in August the delightful trip with Joe and Co. to the ASI meetings. Visit to the Mammoth Caves, then St. Louis, then home. Two weeks later I was on my way to Poland, for 5 weeks. The visit to Poland was a mixed bag of blessings and disappointments. I went looking for a hot weather and found cold and rain. Thanks to Joe and his hospitality I survived. Often he would take me to his club for supper, and meetings with some very interesting friends of his. Joe has a lovely 'flat' according to the Britts, and it is super nice and comfy. Friday nights were the weekly highlights since Joe took me to the Synagogue for supper, singing, prayers and socializing. I miss those Friday evenings. Every Sabbath I managed to preach in some church, and my only message was Evangelize now and do not wait till the time when you will only have regrets. This is still a sore point with me. Almost 20 years of 'freedom' and the evangelistic work continuing to be almost non existing. At least in Stalinist era situation, the 'workers' worked !!! By 'work' is meant evangelism' The brethren from the Division will have to answer soon, before God, for holding back the evangelistic opportunities in Poland. Almost every other country in Europe availed herself of massive evangelistic efforts [free !!]except Poland. I managed some delightful tennis with Tado in Cieszyn, visited my cousins in Jedrzejow, ate dinner with my oldest [in terms of friendship] friend Olek Sosin and his family...the beautiful Olenka and her 3 'boys.' Olek saved my skin by loaning me a winter coat and I survive the cold days. The interesting times included our Friday night suppers at Andrew's, notably on my birthday [70th] anniversary. Mrs. Maciuszko, the wife of Prof. Maciuszko from CHAT, baked or made a super super tasty cake....and we celebrated in style. I managed to get an official visit with prof.zw. Z, and Doctor M Łykos. That spells 'family' and the food and time spent was delightful and delicious. The Family that I enjoyed most were the Lazars, Friends for the last 12 years. The food? the Poles have a saying : 'niebo w gębie' thanks to Mamuska's cooking. Peter, a friend closer to my 'age' in interests and superb English speaker and scholar, and the Prymas of Polish Adventist Church Paweł. In Podkowa, the place of our seminary, pleasant times included dinners with the Rector Koziróg and his lovely daughter, pro-Rector dr.dr.Tarasiuk and Family, and the pro-Rector dr. W. Polok, and a visit with dr. Igor Baron. We celebrated 60 anniversary of dr. and mrs. Dabrowski's wedding at their new home. Then home sweet home, to my Wife and Family. Now my days are filled with delightful memories, tennis games, visits from friends from Poland and a reunion of our young friends from the days when Andrew was a student at Southern. This much for a brief outline of the year. I will share also other interests and details of my life a bit later. Happy New Year to all my Friends.

The Season of Emotions

Happy Season to you all.

What makes me different from animals is the image of God given to man by God at the time of creation. That 'image' in my view of life and life's setting, consists in the 'intellect' and in the emotions. I am a "true Jew", that is I subscribe to the faith of Abraham our Father on the human side. My Messiah was, is, and always will be a Jew in the same sense. Like Saul of Tarsus wrote, Jesus of Nazareth was the son of David according to the 'flesh' and a son of God 'by the resurrection from the dead'. I have accepted Moses and his writings and all the prophets, I have accepted Jesus, the Jew, as the Messiah, and consequently also the so called New Testament. I accept any thing and anyone that agrees with Moses. This is the intellectual part of my life and an intellectual decision. Now the question comes concerning the 'emotions' of life. Broadly speaking the emotions bring out the 'inner soul'. When the emotions are engaged in any relationship, we speak of 'being in love'. Certain people evoke in us a response of emotions and then we 'love them'. Some people engage our intellect and they appear interesting, charming, mysterious, challenging....but what is needed to complete the relationship is the emotion of 'love'. The awakening of love emotions can be accomplished by words, actions, appearance etc... and then we 'love' the scenes of nature, the sounds of nature, the appearance of nature. To 'love' means to decide on a relationship with another person, in which relationship we live for that other person. The Bible tells us that we should do all things 'for God's sake' out of love for Him. Then comes the question how do we maintain the emotional charge of love day by day, year by year? First of all by 'hearing'. We hear stories about God from our parents and then teachers and then preachers and then...others. Then, by seeing! We read for ourselves the messages from God in the book called the Bible. This is the place where God speaks directly to us, reveals Himself to us and enters into a 'relationship'. The statement: 'we love Him, because He first loved us' is a true picture of God's relationship to us. Then comes the 'need' to respond. Love is a two way street. It is a reciprocal relationship. Binding two people for ever. How do I reveal my emotions to God? We 'recount' back to God all the things we learned (the characteristics of God), by our words and actions. When king David wanted to express his love for God he sang 'psalms'. The ancient way to memorize events and ideas was to put them in a form of a poem and then sing it. I too express my emotions by singing...all sorts of songs...but to remember their tunes they must be melodious and not like the modern excuse for songs. That is why I can take the SDA church hymnal and go through it page by page and 'sing my heart out'. Those that have a melodious tune...I memorized, those that are 'the work of art', I skip. This brings me to the so called X-mas Season. Sure it is pagan in origin, no question there. Sure Jesus was not born in...December...but that is not the point . The point and value of Xmas Season is that it is the occasion to sing 'love songs' about Jesus, God and their work for our salvation. We are so busy all through the year that we have little time to 'really sing' about God and Jesus. Now we have 'an excuse' to do so, and I love to do it. The cheap, third rate 'entertainment' that is practiced in some of our churches, in the form of modern so called songs and dramatic presentations, and dancing, clapping and other things, miss my soul and make me feel that I have wasted at least an hour of my life in there. But songs, by the whole congregation, like the "We have this Hope", The Old rugged Cross, Lift up the Trumpet, etc...make me feel that I have been worshiping my God in the congregation of the saints. I was blessed with a mother that used to sing everyday all day long. The evening before her death, she played piano in a nursing home till 10 pm, she was 94 years of age! When I need to revive my emotional ties to God...I sing. I sing my heart out to God. It does not matter that my voice is not what it used to be and my hearing needs...a hearing aid. So what, I sing to my God, and He understand the intentions of my mind ( heart). So my friends, readers, sing, sing, sing...even if it is during the paganized Xmas Season.

To quote the Preacher: Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days come of which you will say 'I have no pleasure in them'.

I still enjoy my days...when I sing.