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Up until yesterday I have been at the forefront of talking about the Church being a hospital for sinners. Yesterday, my wife caused me to have an epiphany. The Church should not be a hospital for sinners. In the world of today, people spend 3-days in the hospital treating a single problem. Then they return to their prior existence, minus that problem. But, they may nto be healthy. The Church should be an Assisted Living Facility. People come there because they need assistance on an on-going basis. Rather than addressing one problem, they are helped in all areas of their life in which they may need help. They likely remain there for an extended period of time. There is typically no expectation that they will reach the place where they no longer need help.

I'm sure most of us have heard the saying that, "A church is a hospital for sinners -- not a rest home for saints." Following along that idea, has anyone ever wondered why no one ever gets "well"?? It seems to me that a church is more like a palliative care center, rather than a "hospital." So, rather than "curing," the focus should be on alleviation of the *effects* of sin... not only offering the "Blessed Hope" in the form of sermons and evangelistic efforts, but on actively helping and providing for others in big or small ways... just being friends, visiting -- just making people feel like they *matter*....

IT is 36 degrees ( which is 4 degrees above freezing) and snowing!

Yiddish arose from Old High German about 1000 years ago. The medieval Jews were being persecuted by Christians and wandered from east Europe to west/central Europe. The development of Yiddish happened by taking up the spoken languages of their surroundings but not in a pure grammatical way, then supplying the foreign words of the language (in this case Germany) with Hebraic elements. ‘Jewish’ is in German Jüdish with was corrupted into Yiddish. The transliterated spellings of Yiddish words and conventional German spellings are different, but the pronunciations are frequently the same (e.g., shvarts in Yiddish is pronounced the same way as schwarz in German, which means ‘black’). German and Yiddish used to be pretty much dialects of each other - though in many cases only the literal meaning is known in German, while the transferred meaning is peculiar to Yiddish. Active vocabulary is the vocabulary we use when speaking and writing, passive vocabulary is the vocabulary we hear and understand. Ashkenaz is a Hebrew name for “Germany”. Naches is a Yiddish word that means "pride" or "joy." Typically naches refers to the pride or joy that a child brings a parent. For instance, when a child is born people will often say to the new parents "May [your son or daughter] bring you naches." The "ch" is pronounced gutturally - so it's not "ch" as in "cheese" but rather "ch" as in "Bach" (the composer). Examples: You bring me such naches! Kvetch is a Yiddish word that means "to complain." It can also be used to refer to someone who does a lot of complaining, as in: "Phil is such a kvetcher!" Kvetch is one of many Yiddish words that has become popularly used in the English language. Examples: Stop your kvetching, things are not as bad as you make them sound. "Mazel Tov" (מזל טוב) is a Hebrew phrase that literally means "good destiny" but is more commonly understood to mean "good luck" or "congratulations." "Tov" is the Hebrew word for "good" and "mazel" is the Hebrew word for destiny or constellation (as in the stars in the sky). When is the appropriate time to say "mazel tov" to someone? Whenever something good has happened. Whether someone recently got married, had a child, became a Bar Mitzvah, or did well on an exam, "mazel tov" would be an appropriate (and very nice) thing to say. Pronunciation: mah-zehl tahv Examples: I heard you just got a promotion at work - mazel tov! a bisl a bit, a little bit, some Chutzpah (pronounced huuts-pah) is a Yiddish word that is used by Jews and non-Jews alike to describe someone who is particularly audacious or has a lot of "guts." Chutzpah can be used in a variety of ways. You can say someone "had chutzpah" to do something, or you could describe them as a "chutzpanik" and achieve the same meaning. Chutzpah can be used to describe both males and females. Examples: Rachel invited her boss out to dinner last week and convinced him to give her a huge raise. That took chutzpah! Dreidel is a Yiddish word that comes from the German word "drehen," which means “to turn.” In Hebrew the dreidel is called a "sevivon," which comes from the root "savov" and also means "to turn." A dreidel is a four-sided spinning top with a Hebrew letter on each side. It is used during Hanukkah to play a popular children's game that involves spinning the dreidel and betting on which Hebrew letter will be showing when the dreidel stops spinning. Children usually play for a pot of gelt, which are chocolate coins covered in gold colored tin foil, but they can also play for candy, nuts, raisins – anything really! A game similar to the dreidel game was popular during the rule of Antiochus. During this period Jews were not free to openly practice their religion, so when they gathered to study Torah they would bring a top with them. If soldiers appeared, they would quickly hide what they were studying and pretend to be playing a gambling game with the top. Meaning of the Hebrew Letters on a Dreidel A dreidel has one Hebrew letter on each side. Outside of Israel, those letters are: נ (Nun), ג (Gimmel), ה (Hay) and ש (Shin), which stand for the Hebrew phrase "Nes Gadol Haya Sham." This phrase means "A great miracle happened there [in Israel]." When played outside Israel. After the State of Israel was founded in 1948 the Hebrew letters were changed for dreidels used in Israel. They became: נ (Nun), ג (Gimmel), ה (Hay) and פ (Pey), which stand for the Hebrew phrase "Nes Gadol Haya Po." This means "A great miracle happened here." The miracle referred to in both versions of the Hebrew phrase is the miracle of the Hanukkah oil, which lasted for eight days instead of one. How to Play the Dreidel Game Any number of people can play the dreidel game. At the beginning of the game each player is given an equal number of gelt pieces or candy, usually 10-15. At the beginning of each round, every player puts one piece into the center "pot." They then take turns spinning the dreidel, with the following meanings assigned to each of the Hebrew letters: Nun means "nichts," which means "nothing" in Yiddish. If the dreidel lands with a nun facing up the spinner does nothing. Gimmel means "ganz," which is Yiddish for "everything." If the dreidel lands with the gimmel facing up the spinner gets everything in the pot. Hey means "halb," which means "half" in Yiddish. If the dreidel lands with a hey facing up the spinner gets half of the pot. Shin means "shtel," which is Yiddish for "put in." Pey means "pay." If the dreidel lands with either a shin or a pey facing up the player adds a game piece to the pot. If a player runs out of game pieces they are "out."

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/SDAladies/info?v=1&t=directory&ch=web&pub=groups& SDA Ladies only group https://www.youtube.com/embed/4T4vc1QqiPM?feature=player_embedded Norway highway with sea waves ...V-clip The road is built on several small islands and reefs, and is crossed by eight bridges, several roads and overpasses. This road has a view of the open sea, which is rare on the roads along the Norwegian coast. You can see fjords and mountains near the road. The spectacular road quickly became a tourist attraction, precautions should be displayed while driving, because of the attendance of the road by the local population and visitors. http://www.vatican.va/various/cappelle/sistina_vr/index.html This is a virtual tour of the Vatican Sistine Chapel Hold down left mouse button and scan slowly all over. Normally as a tourist on site you are never alone in this room. It is always very crowded. Michelangelo's artwork is closer to approach in this media. In the lower left, click on the plus (+) to move closer, on the minus (-) to move away. Keep finger pressing left button to tilt the view. http://www.hgtv.com/shows/white-house-christmas-2014/christmas-at-the-white-house--2014-pictures A Christmas Open House of the President’s Place http://www.biblestudygames.com/biblegames/trivia/ Challenging selection of bible knowledge quizzes http://www.biblequizzes.com/quest001.php Nice list of bible quizzes http://www.anomalies-unlimited.com/Bases.html List of underground Military Facilities http://spacewander.com/USA/english.html Take a trip into space for free! http://newyears.earthcam.com/ 2015 New Years cam view (lots more links coming here over time)

Beauties of the New Earth. "For behold, I create a new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind... And the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying... And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them... And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. The glorious City of God has twelve gates, set with pearls most glorious. It also has twelve foundations of various colors. The streets of the City are of pure gold. In this city is the throne of God, and a pure, beautiful river proceeding out of it, as clear as crystal. Its sparkling purity and beauty makes glad the City of God. The saints will drink freely of the healing waters of the river of life. (YI, October 1, 1852) On either side of this beautiful river is the tree of life. And the redeemed saints, who have loved God and kept his commandments here, will enter in through the gates of the City, and have right to the tree of life. They will eat freely of it, as our first parents did before their fall. The leaves of that immortal wide-spread tree will be for the healing of the nations. All their woes will then be gone. Sickness, sorrow and death they will never again feel, for the leaves of the tree of life have healed them. Jesus will then see of the travail of his soul [isa. liii, 11] and be satisfied, when the redeemed, who have been subject to sorrow, toil and afflictions, who have groaned beneath the curse, are gathered up around that tree of life to eat of its immortal fruit, that our first parents forfeited all right to, by breaking God's commands. There will be no danger of their ever losing right to the tree of life again, for he that tempted our first parents to sin, will be destroyed by the second death. (YI, October 1, 1852) All faces will reflect the image of their Redeemer. There will then be no anxious, troubled countenances, but all will be bright, and smiling in spotless purity. The angels will be there, also the resurrected saints with the martyrs, and the best of all, and what will cause us the most joy, our lovely Saviour who suffered and died that we might enjoy that happiness and freedom, will be there.--His glorious face will shine brighter than the sun, and light up the beautiful City, and reflect glory all around. (YI, October 1, 1852) Children will be there. They will never be engaged in strife or discord. Their love will be fervent and holy. They will also have a crown of gold upon their heads, and a harp in their hands. And their little countenances, that we here see so often troubled and perplexed, will beam with holy joy, expressive of their perfect freedom and happiness. They will express in child-like purity their wonder and delight, as they behold every thing around them so new and lovely. They will look to the blessed Saviour who has given himself for them, and, with admiration and love for him who is smiling upon them, raise their voices and sing to his praise and glory, while they feel and realized the matchless depths of a Saviour's love. (YI, October 1, 1852) This earth, dear children, is to be purified with fire; then it will be much more beautiful. The grass will be living green, and will never wither. There will be roses and lilies, and all kinds of flowers there. They will never blight or fade, or lose their beauty and fragrance. (YI, October 1, 1852) The lion, we should much dread and fear here, will then lie down with the lamb, and everything in the New Earth will be peace and harmony.--The trees of the New Earth will be straight and lofty, without deformity. (YI, October 1, 1852) The saints will have crowns of glory upon their heads, and harps of gold in their hands. They will play upon the golden harp, and sing redeeming love, and make melody unto God. Their former trials and suffering in this world will be forgotten and lost amid the glories of the New Earth. And they will ever have the approving smiles of Jesus upon them, and their happiness will be complete. There will be glory, glory all around. (YI, October 1, 1852)

Sabbath Web Links : http://www.bible-sabbath.com/ http://www.biblesabbath.org/ http://sabbathtrail.org/ http://www.sabbath.org/ http://www.thesabbathday.co.uk/ http://www.sabbathtruth.com/ http://www.whatdayisthesabbath.net/ http://www.remnantofgod.org/sabatak-articles.htm http://www.theseventhday.tv/index.shtml http://personal.southern.edu/~jslake/sabbathapologetics.htm http://endrtimes.blogspot.com/2009/03/how-to-keep-true-sabbath-what-jesus.html http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/shabbat1.html http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/Shabbat2.html