Lost in the maze of life
Jerusalem’s Walls and Gates
I never knew the significance of the gates on the walls of Jerusalem. Starting from gate number 1 ( the sheep gate ) and working our way around to gate number 10 ( the inspection gate ) we can chart our personal and historical progress and the significance of each gate to events in our own lives and also to events from history. What event in your life has been your ‘valley gate’? Mine was week 13 of 2015.
For a more detailed and comprehensive study, please refer to this excellent analysis at https://jesusplusnothing.com/series/post/nehem3
“The only news I know”.
“The only news I know
Is bulletins all day
From immortality;
The only shows I see
Tomorrow and today,
Perchance eternity.
The only one I meet
Is God, the only street
Existence, this traversed,
If other news there be
Or admirabler show,
I’ll tell it you.”
Emily Dickinson
Bereavement
The following are some illustrations I created for a friend.
Abiogenesis/The Origin of life
If life evolved from clay particles 6 million years ago, then maybe evolutionists and creationists can finally agree on something i.e. that God literally formed man from clay ( but it took 6 million years )?
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B978008098258800016X
Flu Remedy
Ingredients
Cider Vinegar, Honey, 1 lemon, ground ginger, ground cinnamon.
Method
Squeeze out 1 lemon, add 2 teaspoons of honey, and 2 teaspoons of cider vinegar. Add 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon and mix together all ingredients in a mug. Then fill mug with boiling water. Allow to cool till it is ready for drinking.
Life as a carer
Life as a carer is incredibly isolating. Don’t expect former work colleagues or friends to remain in touch. They won’t. You will feel like someone who is surplus to requirement. The mail you will receive will be junk. The phone calls will be scammers. You will need to learn new skills and hobbies. In a society where people are judged according to their salary and status, you will feel worthless. You will need to re-evaluate your aspirations and goals. You will need to ignore the mass media’s obsession with fame and fortune. You will need to focus on what really matters i.e. making the person you care for, happy, content and healthy. Then you learn that money and status never really lead to happiness. Happiness comes from helping others.
Walnuts & Coffee Ice Cream
Ingredients:
Coffee ice cream ( or Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream )
Handful of crushed walnuts
instant coffee ( crema )
Recipe:
Simply crush some walnut halves, or sprinkle some crushed walnuts over coffee ice cream. Then make a very small cup of coffee ( 1/4 tea cup ). Wait for this to cool a little, then pour over the walnuts and ice cream.
Benefits:
Walnuts are high in manganese and meant to be very good for the brain.
Berry Surprise
Ingredients:
Blackberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants, raspberries, Madagascan vanilla ice cream.
Recipe:
Defrost a frozen berry mix overnight, then add a dessert spoon of brown sugar to bring out the juices. Then serve with a not too generous sized scoop of Madagascan vanilla ice cream. I recommend Tesco’s finest Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream.
Lentil and Butterbean Curry soup
Ingredients:
1/2 teacup cup red split lentils (boil for 10 minutes)
3 large carrots, peeled and chopped
1 potato peeled and chopped
1 teacup of cooked butterbeans (frozen are good, although canned can be used)
1 large teaspoon of mango chutney
1 large teaspoon of lime pickle
1 handful of brown rice
a little salt and pepper.
1 vegetable stock cube
1/2 teaspoon tumeric
1/4 teaspoon of garlic granules
1 onion
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 teaspoon of curry powder.
Instructions:
First thoroughly wash then boil the dried split lentils for 10 minutes in a medium sized saucepan together with 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric.
While the lentils are boiling, finely chop an onion then fry in 1 large tablespoon of olive oil in a large saucepan. Then when the onion is lightly browned add a peeled and chopped potato and a peeled and sliced carrot. Then simmer for 5 minutes, adding a teaspoon of curry powder, a little salt and a generous sprinkling of pepper. Add a handful of rice, and the butter beans and simmer for a couple of minutes.
Then add the boiled lentils together with the water that you used to boil the lentils in. Add a stock cube, and a pint of boiling water together with a teaspoon of mango chutney and a teaspoon of lime pickle to give the soup some flavour.
Simmer for 18 minutes with the lid on the large saucepan.