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congregamus · 2 years

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Character Sketch: Μελάνθιος (Melanthios)

My Greek mother, Cressida, called me Melanthios. Never mind that my Roman father, Gnaeus, actually named me Secundus. He was the only person who ever called me that name, and even he eventually gave up and called me ‘Thio’ like everyone else did.

Mamá, who liked the Christians but could not openly convert, said I was her ‘little blasphemy,’ because my nickname, Thio, sounds the same as the word for ‘God’ in Greek, the language my family spoke. I was the spitting image of Gnaeus Caprinius Iustinius in miniature, and my mother worshipped for it. My older brother would inherit, so Primus was pretty square. I stood to inherit next to nothing, so nobody really cared what I did. I turned into the family clown, and I wallowed in their laughter and approval.

It did me no favors in the character department, let me tell you, but I loved it.

We lived in Corinth, which had been a rich and important Greek city before General Mummius of Rome all but salted the earth a few hundred years before I was born. Julius Caesar brought Corinth back to life as a Roman colony. Within a hundred years, it was a booming business again.

Maybe it was the diakolos bridge that could be used to roll ships overland on the isthmus to the gulf of Corinth, cutting off hundreds of miles of dangerous sea travel, boosting trade.

Or maybe it was the cult of Aphrodite and her temple prostitutes, the games, theatre, and the general free-for-all that was my city. Corinth was like nowhere else in Greece, and that’s saying something, because things could get pretty weird, even kinky, all over the Peloponnesus. The Olympians really flew their freak flag, as we say now, and we Corinthians were not far behind. It’s hard to say if Corinth was more popular for the money or the sex. My answer, judging by my life, at least, would be, “both.”

A Roman soldier, patér “retired” to Corinth. It would be nice to say that the old man came back for mamá and his two sons, but he loved the whores, the games, and the whole bit. (Who wouldn't?) He used his pension from the army to make minor investments, like a small grove of olive trees and a few slaves, so that his life would be managed, and so that he could focus on what Corinth was famous for.

It’s not really honest to say that I stood to inherit next to nothing from him, because Gnaeus was a very handsome man, and he gave me a copy of his face, which, it turned out, did convert directly into cash by way of more business in “the trade.” That inheritance more than paid me back. As far as I'm concerned, we're even.

Growing up, I could tell from the way people treated me, the same as with patér, that I was — as we said back then — a real spread of taramosalata.

I’m not sure when I became conscious of the fact that not everyone enthusiastically accepted whispered invitations to the bedroom. I received more than my share all over town. Consequently, I…developed early. I thought everyone was just like that, but then I figured out that they were only like that for me (and some other people that I also wanted very much to bed).

It seemed natural to me, in that circumstance and in that place, to take up "the trade," which people do for all kinds of reasons. Mostly, people are forced into the work because of poverty, or through some other social disgrace, with others getting into it because they can't be satisfied. While it's likely the trade might have eventually been an economic necessity for me, what actually happened was that I saw an opportunity to take control of my future doing something I was good at. My other option was begging off Primus for the rest of my life, and I didn't have any interest.

So I took a little room in the back of a taverna a couple of streets off Cardo Maximus, where I did a decent business. It wasn't a great choice, but I'm not ashamed of it. The patricians got their throats slit the same as everyone else when the barbarians invaded. And we all landed in the same Hell.

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frmartinshomiliesandreflections · 3 years

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1st April >> Fr. Martin’s Gospel Reflections / Homilies on John 13:1-15 for Holy Thursday/Maundy Thursday: ‘I have given you an example’.

Holy Thursday/Maundy Thursday

Gospel (Except USA)

John 13:1-15

Now he showed how perfect his love was

It was before the festival of the Passover, and Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to pass from this world to the Father. He had always loved those who were his in the world, but now he showed how perfect his love was.

They were at supper, and the devil had already put it into the mind of Judas Iscariot son of Simon, to betray him. Jesus knew that the Father had put everything into his hands, and that he had come from God and was returning to God, and he got up from table, removed his outer garment and, taking a towel, wrapped it round his waist; he then poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel he was wearing. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus answered, ‘At the moment you do not know what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ ‘Never!’ said Peter ‘You shall never wash my feet.’ Jesus replied, ‘If I do not wash you, you can have nothing in common with me.’ ‘Then, Lord,’ said Simon Peter ‘not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!’ Jesus said, ‘No one who has taken a bath needs washing, he is clean all over. You too are clean, though not all of you are.’ He knew who was going to betray him, that was why he said, ‘though not all of you are.’

When he had washed their feet and put on his clothes again he went back to the table. ‘Do you understand’ he said ‘what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord, and rightly; so I am. If I, then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you should wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you.’

Gospel (USA)

John 13:1–15

Jesus loved them to the end.

Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” Jesus said to him, “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all.” For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

Reflections (2)

(i) Holy Thursday

All four gospels agree that Jesus was crucified on a Friday, the day before the Jewish Sabbath. All of the gospels agree that, on the previous evening, Jesus had a final meal with his disciples. We call that meal the Last Supper. We commemorate the Last Supper every time we celebrate Mass. However, at this Mass which we celebrate on Holy Thursday evening, we commemorate the Last Supper in a very focused way. That is why only this Holy Thursday Mass is called the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper.

The earliest reference to the Last Supper is to be found in this evening’s second reading. In that reading, Paul reminds the church in Corinth of the tradition about that Last Supper that he had earlier passed on to them by word of mouth, when he first preached the gospel among them. ‘This is what I received from the Lord, and in turn passed on to you’. The memory of that Last Supper was one of the most precious traditions of the church. It was a precious tradition because of what happened at that Last Supper, what Jesus did. However, in that reading, before describing what Jesus did at the Last Supper, Paul refers to what was done to Jesus. It was ‘the night he (Jesus) was betrayed’. This was the dark side of that evening. One of Jesus’ closest disciples betrayed Jesus that evening to his enemies. Yet, this shadow that was cast over that evening did not define it. It was defined by Jesus’ act of love. It is that act of love that we commemorate and celebrate this Holy Thursday evening.

There were indeed two acts of love that defined that evening. One is described by the evangelist John in this evening’s gospel reading and the other is described by the apostle Paul in this evening’s second reading. Very often, in the culture of Jesus, a host would give his guests a bowl of water to wash the dust of the streets and paths off their feet. It was considered a fitting act of hospitality. If the host was wealthy, he might get one of his slaves to wash their feet, but he would never do it himself. What Jesus did at that Last Supper in washing the feet of his guests, his disciples, was totally unconventional. Peter’s reaction to what Jesus was doing was perfectly understandable, ‘You shall never wash my feet’. Yet, Jesus’ insistence was stronger than Peter’s resistance. This was how Jesus wanted to relate to his disciples. He wanted to serve them in this very menial way. He wanted to empty himself in their service. He was treating them with great respect and dignity. He was giving himself in love for all of them, Judas included. The way Jesus relates to them is how he wants to relate to us all. The Lord’s self-emptying love embraces us all. In laying aside his garment to empty himself in love for his disciples, Jesus was anticipating what he would do on the following afternoon. Then, his garments would be taken from him by his enemies and Jesus would empty himself in love on the cross for all of humanity. This evening we celebrate the extent to which Jesus gave of himself for us all. We are invited to do what Peter was so reluctant to do, to receive the Lord’s love in the way the Lord wanted to express it. Having received that love, we are then invited to share that love with each other. We are to approach each other with the same respect for the dignity of the other that Jesus showed on that evening.

The second action of Jesus on the evening of the Last Supper is described by Saint Paul in the second reading and by the other three evangelists, Matthew, Mark and Luke. He took bread, thanked God for it, broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘This is my body, which is for you’. He took a cup of wine, thanked God for it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood’. Just as he gave himself in love to his disciples by washing their feet, he now gave himself in love to them under the form of bread and wine. Just as in washing their feet, he anticipated the gift of himself he would make on the cross, so in giving them his body and blood under the form of bread and wine he was symbolically anticipating the gift he would make of himself on the cross. The early church repeated this second action of Jesus with his words every time they gathered to celebrate the Eucharist. At every Eucharist, the love which Jesus gave expression to by his actions at the Last Supper and most fully on the cross is present again to us all. As Paul says at the end of that reading, ‘Every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are proclaiming the Lord’s death’, and the love which the death expressed. At every Eucharist, we are invited to receive the Lord’s love and we are called by the Lord to bring that love we have received to each other. At every Eucharist, the Lord sends us out with the words, ‘Love one another, as I have loved you’.

And/Or

(ii) Holy Thursday

We can learn a lot from the way that children express their faith. Those of us who are adults tend to think of ourselves as the children’s teachers. Yet, they can teach us a lot, especially when it comes to our relationship with God. Their spontaneous openness to the Lord when they are very young can touch our own faith and help to deepen it.

On one occasion in the gospel story the disciples of Jesus were trying to block parents from bringing their children to Jesus. They were clearly of the view that children should be neither seen nor heard. The evangelist tells us that Jesus was indignant with his disciples and said to them, ‘Let the children come to me; do not stop them… Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will not enter it’. Jesus was saying to his disciples – ‘Look at the children and learn from them. They have a lot to teach you about receiving the gift of the kingdom of God’. Children know how to receive the gift of God. Their openness to the gift of God can help to open up all of our hearts to the Lord’s presence and call in our own lives.

The meaning of Holy Thursday could be summed up in the word ‘gift’. At the last supper Jesus gave his disciples the gift of himself in loving service. He did this in two ways. Firstly, he washed their feet. This was a menial task that servants in a household usually performed. In washing the feet of his disciples, Jesus was showing that he was their servant, our servant. We usually think of Jesus as Lord. ‘Jesus is Lord’ is one of the great Christian confessions. How can a Lord do the work of a servant? This was why Peter objected to what Jesus was doing – ‘you will never wash my feet’. Peter, unlike children, could not receive the gift of Jesus’ service. However, Jesus was showing by this gesture that he exercises his lordship not by ruling and dominating but by serving, by giving the gift of himself. It was by giving the gift of himself to us that he became our Lord. In laying down his garments to wash the feet of his disciples, Jesus was anticipating the greater gift he would give them the following day, when he would lay down his life for them and for us on the cross.

The second way that Jesus gave the gift of himself to his disciples at that last supper was when he gave himself to them under the form of bread and wine. Taking bread, he blessed it and gave it to them saying, ‘Take and eat’. Taking a cup of wine, he blessed it and gave it to them and said, ‘Take and drink’. Like the washing of their feet, that gift of himself under the form of bread and wine anticipated the gift of himself that he would make to them and to all of us the following day on the cross. In allowing Jesus to wash their feet and in taking the bread and the cup, the disciples were receiving the gift of himself that Jesus would give them from the cross. In receiving that gift they would never be the same again. They would now have to give as they had received.

Jesus intended that what happened at the last supper would be the shape of the church forever, the shape of our own lives. The last supper was not just a once off event. When he had washed feet of his disciples, he said to them, ‘Do as I have done… love one another as I have loved you’. As he has served us, we are to serve one another, and in serving one another, the Lord continues to serve us in and through each other. In giving the bread and cup to his disciples he said to them, ‘Do this in memory of me’. We are to repeat the words and actions over the bread and cup, and in doing that the Lord will continue to give himself to us under the form of bread and wine. This is what we do when we celebrate the Eucharist. Both of those commands that Jesus gave at the last supper are important: ‘Love one another as I have loved you’, and ‘Do this in memory of me’. A life of service and the celebration of the Eucharist are both at the heart of what it means to be the Lord’s followers. At the Eucharist we receive again the Lord’s gift of himself that he made to us on the cross, and in receiving that gift we find the strength to live faithfully the call to love one another as he has loved us.

Fr. Martin Hogan.

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justforbooks · 4 years

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What is a Greek Taverna?

There are many types of eating establishments in Greece, but none are as iconic as the taverna. When people first visit Greece, they often use the words “taverna” and “restaurant” as if they go hand in hand. However, thinking of a taverna as simply a “traditional Greek restaurant” doesn’t tell the whole story. The truth is, Greeks make a distinction between a restaurant (estiatorio) and a taverna. Here’s more information about what a taverna really is in Greece:

While restaurants usually have an extensive menu and are usually open long hours, tavernas often have a limited amount of foods and usually serve what they have available. Restaurants are also looked at as more of a daytime activity, but many are open throughout the day. Tavernas are primarily enjoyed in the evening and often involve entertainment, dancing, and alcoholic beverages, such as local wine. While a restaurant is simply a place that you eat, a taverna provides not only food, but also a good time.

Depending on where you are in Greece, tavernas may serve different types of foods foods. They also have limited menus and serve what they have available. For instance, areas that are by the sea may specialize in seafood. In this case, these are usually referred to as Psaro Tavernas, or Fish Tavernas.

The basic characteristics of the simple taverna are still in place but the main fishes revolve around seafood. Foods that are normally served at tavernas include grilled meats, simple seafood dishes, and various mezedes, such as stuffed grape leaves (dolmades), Greek cheeses such as feta, and dips and spreads such as taramosalata, which is made from fish eggs, and tzatziki. There’s also more than enough bread to go around!

When you’re in a traditional taverna, the menu usually isn’t printed. The people working there tell you what food is available that day and you can choose to order it or not. If you do choose to eat it, however, you will be treated to some of the freshest and delicious food available in Greece!

Tavernas that are located in heavily touristed areas may not even be considered a taverna at all! These are often restaurants that are labeled as tavernas so that visitors can feel as if they are getting an authentic experience. In some cases, they maybe started out as a traditional taverna but they maybe grew as more and more people began to visit them. If you want a truly authentic taverna experience you may need to go out of your way a little bit, and you definitely want to ask the locals where the best, most authentic tavernas are located.

Tavernas are usually looked at as local establishments. City neighborhoods, larger towns, and villages throughout Greece usually have at least one taverna. In many places, they are a hub of activity and when dining there, you may find that the unexpected often happens – such as spontaneous traditional dancing or impromptu musical performances put on by locals.

The earliest evidence of a Greek Taverna, was discovered at the Ancient Agora of Athens (or Athenian Agora) during archaeological excavations conducted by the American School of Classical Studies in the early 1970s. Large quantities of classical Greek cooking and eating utensils were found at the taverna such as plates, mixing bowls, lidded casseroles, spits for broiling meat, mortars for chopping and grinding, as well as a cooking bell and a variety of jugs. Furthermore, large amounts of fish bones and shellfish remains were discovered revealing the menu specialties of the classical Greek Taverna such as oysters, mussels, murex shells, and large fish. A nearby wine shop in the Athenian Agora, possibly in association with the taverna, served local wine, as well as a wide variety of wines imported from Chios, Corinth, Samos and Lesbos.

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at http://justforbooks.tumblr.com

#JUST FOR BOOKS #Greek Taverna #Athenian Agora

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nicholastours · 2 years

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Travel Greece: September 17, 2021

Day 3. We rented a decent sized Nissan Van which will be our transportation for the next couple of weeks. Our first stop was the Isthmus Canal in Corinth.

We had pork and chicken souvlaki at a roadside café. Tommy told me the difference between Souvlaki and Kalamaki which is actually what we ate.

Then we walked across the bridge over the canal. It’s visually daunting. It’s a wonder of the world created in the early 1800s with the best engineering of the times. It connects to the Ionian and the Aegean Sea.

There’s a platform below the walking bridge for those crazy enough to bungee jump. We witnessed two young men, the first screaming like a baby, and the second braver one with a more graceful swan dive.

There was also a couple of young women in line for their turn at this craziness. The canal took 12 years to make. So did the Q Bridge in Branford !

Next we went to Nafplio to check out a hotel. Leto, one that we’re considering for a tour group. Driving a large van through the most narrow streets was like squeezing into a sausage casing.

Parking at the hotel would leave a long walk with luggage. The reception area was hot and small and there was no elevator. There was a filtered view of the sea, but nothing amazing. Decidedly, this will not be a suitable locale for our tourists.

The ride to Nafplio is beautiful. We left from Athens. It’s a nice highway with a view of the Aegean and on the left are the mountains all around.

As you get to the countryside you can see many olive groves, wineries, citrus groves, pomegranate trees, fig trees, beautiful flowers,… Mostly pinks, purples, and white. Local farmers have fruit stands selling eggs, honey, and wine that’s sold in plastic jugs. It’s one or two dollars for a liter of homemade wine

Next we drive on word to Tolo. The Asteria hotel. First impression: this would be a lovely location. Easy parking, beautiful view of the swimming pool, and the sea beyond that. Nice reception area and dining room. They are elevators! Alas, they have canceled our reservation and will be closing in October due to the decline in business as a result of the pandemic. Directly before below the Asteria is the Apollo on. Not quite as nice as the Asteria, but it’s OK. A friendly reception. One of the managers is from Washington DC. They will let us know if there is an availability on Monday.

We then drove to the Grove Seaside Hotel. This would have been perfect! It’s located directly across the street from the sea. It has a pool and an outside bar. The beach has several straw umbrellas with comfortable loungers.

Unfortunately, they canceled our reservations that we made back in May. Now we are struggling to locate an alternative solution. But, we will have to wait until Monday for answers and take it from there.

On our way back from Athens we stopped at the home of Tommy’s cousin. It is situated high on the hill. We sit on the balcony and speak with George and Sophia Katemis. George speaks good English, Sophia speaks only Greek. Both are very welcoming. Sophia is lovely and an excellent Cook. It is her name day. She serves us a very tasty cream pie with bananas, chocolate chips and a delicate crust.

She has also made a delicious Aperol mildly sweet with rose notes and were told there’s no rose in it whatsoever. Sophia brings me a lovely green leafy plant with a wonderful fragrance that was used in making the Aperol.

A few more cousins stopped by for a brief visit. We met up with Tommy’s charming cousin, Dina Peppas from Corinth. We had dinner, Her treat outside at a restaurant with café dining.

The sound of the sea waves was music. We spoke in Greek and English. We had keftethes that tasted like Salisbury steak. We had a Createn cheese with honey and thin Filo dough appetizer. We also had some grilled veggies with a pasta that had Myzithra and burnt butter. The food was good… Not amazing.

The ambience and Company was terrific! We drove back to Athens to stay at our Airbnb and also to retrieve our luggage. It was a full day and we both slept like logs… We went to bed at 2 AM and got up at 9 AM.

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dailyaudiobible · 3 years

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07/12/2021

1 Chronicles 12:19-14:17, Romans 1:1-17, Psalm 9:13-20, Proverbs 19:4-5

Today is the 12th day of July, welcome to the Daily Audio Bible, I am Brian it is wonderful to be here with you today as we get going in our new work week and actually we have new territory. We finish the Book of Acts yesterday. So, when we get to the New Testament portion we’ll be moving into totally new category and so we'll talk about when we get there but first we’re reading from the Christian Standard Bible this week, 1 Chronicles chapter 12 verse 19 through 14 verse 17.

Introduction to Romans:

Okay, so as I mentioned at the beginning, we concluded the Book of Acts yesterday. Acts is generally thought of as New Testament history and so in concluding the Book of Acts yesterday we earned our New Testament history badge for kind of keeping track in the Daily Audio Bible app. And so, now we’re moving into some new territory. We left the Book of Acts with Paul arriving in Rome. And so, the last part of the Book of Acts we were really right alongside the Apostle Paul, as he journeyed around and all the controversies that arose in his travels around the Roman Empire bringing the good news of the gospel. We went to Jerusalem and we saw him get arrested and we saw the appeal to Caesar and so he's sailed to Rome and that's the end of the Book of Acts. We will spend the next generous portion of our time through the year here working through the letters that Paul wrote that have been preserved that Paul had sent directly to different churches that had been established to encourage and instruct them. And what we need to understand is yes, currently at the moment we are reading the New Testament and these letters are included in the New Testament of the Bible. But when these letters were written there wasn't a New Testament to include them in. And so, these letters were copied and passed around from church to church. Descriptions of early church would be to sing a hymn to have a meal together to maybe read from the prophets or to read from the law from the Mosaic law, the law and the prophets. Or to read the Chronicles of the apostles or to read some of these letters and over time they were collected together and now we have them in the New Testament so we’ll be spending time in Paul's letters. He's not the only one that wrote letters that ended up in the New Testament but Paul's letters, they are grouped together and we’re gonna move through them at once. And another thing to understand is that we've read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John we've read the Gospels, that's how we got going, that's where we spent the first half of our year in the Gospels. These letters though, were written before the Gospels were written and so, these letters some of them are the earliest Christian writings that exist. So, today were going to move into the book of Romans and this is the first, like I said, many of the letters that Paul wrote in the New Testament. But this is the first one that we’re coming to and most scholars agree this is like the crown jewel, this is the very comprehensive work that provides an incredible amount of our theological understanding of Jesus and his work and what it represents. This letter was probably written from the city of Corinth where the Corinthians were, some of Paul's strongest missionary work was performed in Corinth and so this was probably written from there, probably somewhere in the mid-50s. And I don’t mean like the 1550s or the 1950s, I mean like the 50s like the 0050 length of 50s. And this is one of the more lengthy letters of Paul. And so, when he finished it, at least according to the book of Romans, he sent a Deaconess, her name was Phoebe, to hand deliver the letter. Phoebe was from the church Incontraia and that was like a suburb of Corinth. In this case Paul is sending a letter to the church in Rome. But this is not, Paul had never been to Rome so he didn't plant the church in Rome and nobody really knows who did or how the gospel made its way to Rome other, we remember that Stephen was stoned and then people began to run. People began to spread out looking for freedom in a peaceful way to live and to avoid, kind of, marginalization and persecution. And so, you know, a likely scenario, probably the likely scenario is it, that's how the gospel got to Rome, somebody or group of people who had been present with what the Holy Spirit was doing at Pentecost and in the church in Jerusalem, ended up carrying the message back to Rome and eventually a church was established there. So, Paul was a naturally born Roman citizen. He hadn't been to Rome but he was looking forward to it. We know the story, he went to Jerusalem, got arrested and then made his way to Rome as a prisoner and we’ve watched all that and we’ve watched you know, the Sanhedrin, against Paul plan to assassinate, assassination plots are unearthed, and Paul is rescued and saved in we've seen the difference between the Sadducees and the Pharisees when Paul has addressed them. We've seen all that's coming against Paul everywhere he goes, like he can't really hardly get to a new city without the Jewish people stirring up some kind a mob against him so, he has this reputation and we look at that, we may think like “okay, yeah, this is this is how they treated Jesus, this is how they treat Paul, this is how they treat everybody” but we me wonder like what's going on here? Why are they so mad at Paul, why were they so mad at Jesus for that matter? As we move through the book of Romans we’ll be able to explore some of that, begin to understand why this good news was a controversy, why it was thought of as a heresy even, why it was thought of as like an anti-God thing, this is why the Sanhedrin, other than just to stay in power, lie they’re raging against somebody like Paul because they cannot get their minds around what he's saying and we’ll begin to be able to understand the lay of the land there as we move through the book or letter of Romans. And so let's get started, Romans chapter 1 verses 1 through 17 today.

Prayer:

Father, we thank You for Your word. We thank You for bringing us into this new territory. And as we begin the Book of Romans and start our journey through these letters these very, very, the earliest of preserved writings that were centered around the story of the good news of the gospel, we invite Your Holy Spirit to lead and guide us to open our eyes to see and open our ears to hear and we might understand the implications of the Gospel and how much it actually changes things for we who believe. Come, Holy Spirit into this next season that we will share together in the letters of Paul. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is home base it’s the website it’s where you find out what’s going on around here, so check it out. Be aware of the Community section. And by the way, this isn’t just the web like if you’re using the Daily Audio Bible app you can access these sections as well by pushing the drawer icon in the upper left-hand corner of the app. But be aware of the Community section. This is where did get connected, find social media links to where we are and get connected. It's also where the Prayer Wall lives. We are always connected in prayer, always, that’s one of the beautiful things about us. We are always connected in one way or another through prayer and so be aware of that. And also check out the Daily Audio Bible Shop. There are resources available that are for the journey that we are on, this voyage across the year and through the Bible. And so, check out those resources.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, you can do that at dailyaudiobible.com. There is a link on the homepage and I thank you for everyone who has ever pressed that link. We wouldn't be here if we weren't in this together. If you are using the app you can press the Give button in the upper right hand corner or the mailing address is P.O. Box 1996 Springhill, Tennessee 37174.

And as always if you have a prayer request or encouragement you can hit the Hotline button in the app or you can dial 877-942-4253.

And that's it for today I'm Brian, I love you and I'll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Prayers and Encouragements:

Hey my amazing DAB fam, this is Kingdom Seeker Daniel. To the unnamed brother, you’re battling unforgiveness and you find it hard to let go sins of the past. John 8:36 simply tells us, my friend, if the son sets you free you will be freed indeed. So, my brother, if you have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and repented of your sin, you are free indeed. You simply have to walk that out and so sometimes I know that the stumbling blocks and the snares and the pitfalls of the enemy wants to try to remind us. That's all he can do though is just try to remind us. We’ve got to press, set our affections and our mind on things above so you are free. So, let's just keep pressing forward. Father lift up your son. I pray that You would cause him to remember who he is in You in the name of Jesus. And then for Ava from Colorado Springs, God I’m asking that You would be with her and the six children that will have to testify concerning this sex abuse court hearing. What would You give her and the children the ability to speak the truth and give them the strength to declare what needs to be declared and I pray that Your Spirit would govern all of these matters in Jesus name. Kirah, oh my goodness, thank you for your testimony this contrite in Jesus, hallelujah, thank you so much woman of God for that powerful testimony. Love you family.

Hello Daily Audio Bible family. I am missionary from Chicago calling in asking for prayer. I am the sole caregiver for an elderly mom suffering from dementia. I’ve been a sole caregiver going on two years now when she moved in with me and if you’ve ever dealt with someone with dementia, you know it's very unpredictable but every day just gets a little bit harder and harder as the disease progresses, as well as just the pressure and the stress on caregivers. And I’ve just noticed the last few months my patience has decreased and my stress levels and kind of, frustrations with the situation that I'm in has only increased so I'm just asking for prayer. Prayer for my mom first and foremost that she will just continue to have all of the positive aspects of her personality and hold onto as much as herself for as long as she can. But also just prayers for me as I try to get more patience and kindness and less frustration and anger about the situation and that I can just be surrounded by guidance and support and just increased faith and perseverance for the situation that we’re in. Thank you very much for your prayers. I know God is listening and it's also so comforting to know that all of you all are are listening and praying for me as well. Thank you.

Hey from beautiful Cincinnati, Ohio it's Daniel Johnson Junior this goes out to Margo the missionary from Australia and Liberia and your husband oh my goodness you guys are going through a lot. I mean, we hear about how hard things have been with the pandemic in Africa and India and South America and I know you're there among it all and as you say you’re feeling some compassion fatigue. And I can't even imagine what that’s like. So, I just, my heart goes out to you Margo, I pray for respite for you and your husband. I pray for renewed renewal through Jesus through the Spirit of Jesus that may rest in you and on you, but you may continue to do God's work and until it's time for you to not do it there anymore so may God continue to provide for you and to bless you, our sister. You are one of our heroes in this community and we love you and you're definitely one of God's favorites. God bless you from beautiful Cincinnati, Ohio, Daniel Johnson Junior.

Hi, I just wanted to call in for this girl that was struggling at a hospital at Africa. I don’t really know her name, Margo, is her name from Liberia. That’s what my Aunt Rachel told me. And I just want you to help her God and please help good people to come in the hospital and help. Please help there not to be anymore bad people there. Please help the people to get better and there to be miracles. My name is Kailee. Hi, I’m Jaylyn and I wanted to pray for the same girl with my sister. I’m here with my sister and my cousin Benice and my Aunt and I wanted to pray for this girl Margo in Africa for there to be good people at her hospital and for them to get money to help those people and I just wanna pray for them and yeah. Hi, I’m Ben. I’m Big Hearted Ben I’m going to help Margo to have a good life and help the people in need. And to get and to help everyone, Amen. Bye.

Hey Daily Audio Bible family this is Billy from Montgomery with the Trinity Stone. I wanted to put a prayer request out there for Margo from Australia now it’s Margo from Liberia. You started, ya’ll went back to do mission work in Liberia, and I just, ya’ll sounded like ya’ll were having issues with things that were going on over there. I just wanted to wash y'all in the blood of Jesus and let ya’ll know that I was praying for y'all and keep ya’ll covered up in prayer. It sounded like ya’ll were really having issues with things that were going on over there. I just wanted to let you know I was covering, keeping you guys covered in prayer and I will talk you later. Alrighty. Bye for now.

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newstfionline · 3 years

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Saturday, May 22, 2021

Record heat scorches western Russia and central Canada (Washington Post) It’s only May, and temperatures near the Arctic Circle in northwestern Russia are approaching 90 degrees. In Moscow, temperatures have shattered records on consecutive days. It has also been unusually warm in central Canada, where raging wildfires in Manitoba are sending plumes of smoke across retreating ice in Lake Winnipeg. Summer has yet to begin in the northern hemisphere, but temperatures in high latitudes are already alarmingly warm, portending another brutally hot season while signaling more climate troubles. Since last week, historic warmth has swelled over much of western Russian and bled into eastern Scandinavia. On Thursday, the mercury surged to 87.8 degrees in Naryan-Mar, Russia, a town near the Arctic Ocean.

House narrowly approves $1.9B to fortify Capitol after riot (AP) The House on Thursday narrowly approved $1.9 billion to fortify the Capitol after the Jan. 6 insurrection, as Democrats pushed past Republican opposition to try to harden the complex with retractable fencing and a quick-response force following the most violent domestic attack on Congress in history. The bill’s 213-212 passage came a day after the House approved the formation of an independent commission to investigate the deadly mob siege by President Donald Trump’s supporters. The two measures now face an uncertain outcome in the evenly divided Senate as most Republicans have objected to both. Tensions are running high at the Capitol.

Biden Is Facing an Uneasy Truth: North Korea Isn’t Giving Up Its Nuclear Arsenal (NYT) North Korea’s arsenal of nuclear weapons and its stockpile of fuel have roughly doubled in the past four years, a steady rise that proceeded even as President Donald J. Trump held high-drama meetings with Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader. The best unclassified estimates are that the North has at least 45 nuclear weapons, and appears headed to an arsenal roughly the size of Pakistan’s, another nuclear state the United States once demanded must disarm, and now has all but given up that it ever will. For the North, that has always been a model to follow. In private, officials in the Biden administration admit they harbor no illusions that North Korea will ever give up the entirety of its program. Yet, like his predecessors, Mr. Biden has made the decision not to officially acknowledge the North as a nuclear state, aides say. It is a little like pretending that the Yankees do not play baseball. But maintaining the myth has a purpose, for both the United States and South Korea. Any official acknowledgment that the North Korean arsenal is here to stay would revive the long-simmering debates about whether U.S. allies like South Korea and Japan can depend on the American nuclear umbrella—essentially a security net for countries that do not have nuclear weapons of their own.

Young British people want to ditch the monarchy, poll suggests (Reuters) Young people in Britain no longer think the country should keep the monarchy and more now want an elected head of state, with their mood souring over the last couple of years, a poll on Friday showed. The British monarchy traces its history back to William the Conqueror who invaded England in 1066, though royals ruled the patchwork of kingdoms which stretched across what became England, Scotland and Wales for centuries before that. According to the survey by YouGov, 41% of those aged 18 to 24 thought there should now be an elected head of state compared to 31% who wanted a king or queen. That was a reversal of sentiment from two years ago, when 46% preferred the monarchy to 26% who wanted it replaced.

Europe freezes China deal (Foreign Policy) The European Parliament voted on Thursday overwhelmingly in favor of freezing the ratification of a new investment agreement with China. The move was a further tit-for-tat after Beijing sanctioned 10 EU parliamentarians in retaliation for Western sanctions over the treatment of its Uyghur population in Xinjiang.

Greek firefighters battle forest blaze near Athens (Reuters) Greek firefighters battled for a third day on Friday a wind-driven blaze that burned through pine forests about 60 km (37 miles) west of the capital Athens and forced hundreds of people to evacuate from their homes. Firefighters battled overnight to contain the fire that burned homes as black smoke filled the sky above costal villages where police was calling on citizens to leave. More than 10 villages and two monasteries have already been evacuated. The blaze broke out in a forest at a small seaside holiday resort on the Gulf of Corinth on Wednesday and moved eastward into the western Attica province on Thursday, fanned by strong winds.

Spiraling conflict in Myanmar sends thousands fleeing as military targets rebels (Washington Post) The group of men from a quiet, rural town in Myanmar’s hilly northwest often hunted birds and rabbits. But in late April, they turned their rifles on the military, killing more than a dozen soldiers over the ensuing weeks. Retribution came swiftly. The military seized the town of Mindat. Troops arriving in helicopters fired heavy artillery at civilians, according to residents, and cut off the supply of food and water. Soldiers raided homes where they suspected militia fighters were hiding, and shot a 10-year old girl in the neck, local media reported. Most of the 12,000 residents in the urban area fled into the hills, where they forage for food and sleep in makeshift shelters. Almost four months since Myanmar’s military ousted the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, resistance to the coup is intensifying beyond street protests and civil disobedience. Though the cost of fighting back is high—more than 800 have been killed, mostly peaceful protesters and bystanders—militia groups are now taking up arms against the overextended military as the country speeds toward collapse and thousands of refugees pour into India, Thailand and China.

As Olympics loom, Japan health care in turmoil (AP) As she struggled to breathe, Shizue Akita had to wait more than six hours while paramedics searched for a hospital in Osaka that would treat her worsening COVID-19. When she finally got to one that wasn’t overwhelmed with other patients, doctors diagnosed severe pneumonia and organ failure and sedated her. Akita, 87, was dead two weeks later. “Osaka’s medical systems have collapsed,” said her son, Kazuyuki Akita. Hospitals in Osaka, Japan’s third-biggest city and only 2 1/2 hours by bullet train from Summer Olympics host Tokyo, are overflowing with coronavirus patients. About 35,000 people nationwide—twice the number of those in hospitals—must stay at home with the disease, often becoming seriously ill and sometimes dying before they can get medical care. As cases surge in Osaka, medical workers say that every corner of the system has been slowed, stretched and burdened. And it’s happening in other parts of the country, too.

Bathroom break (Foreign Policy) A driver of a Japanese bullet train is facing disciplinary action after he left the controls unattended to take a bathroom break while the train and its 160 passengers were traveling at more than 90 miles per hour. The driver left the cockpit for three minutes in total, as an unqualified train conductor remained behind. According to Central Japan Railway, the trainline’s operator, the driver felt abdominal pain and wanted to avoid delaying the train by having to stop at the next station. The driver may have gotten away with the infraction had the company not noticed an extremely rare occurrence for Japan’s Shinkansen trains: It was running one minute behind schedule.

South Korean bullying (NYT) South Korea is undergoing a reckoning over bullying. Anonymous accusations have surfaced on social media alleging that sports heroes, K-pop stars and actors bullied others when they were teenagers or younger. The wave has started a national conversation about bullying, and some experts ask whether South Korea’s hypercompetitive society may be partly to blame. Han You-kyung, head of the Institute of School Violence Prevention at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, said that surveys do not show bullying is more serious in South Korean schools than in other developed countries. But Han called South Korea “a culture that puts achievement at the center” and a system that inflicts weak punishments on bullies.

Palestinians claim victory in Gaza (AP) Palestinians rallied by the thousands early Friday after a cease-fire took effect in the latest Gaza war, with many viewing it as costly but clear victory for the Islamic militant group Hamas over a far more powerful Israel. The 11-day war left more than 200 dead—the vast majority Palestinians—and brought widespread devastation to the already impoverished Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. But the rocket barrages that brought life to a standstill in much of Israel were seen by many Palestinians as a bold response to perceived Israeli abuses in Jerusalem, the emotional heart of the conflict. Thousands took to the streets of Gaza as the cease-fire took hold at 2 a.m. Young men waved Palestinian and Hamas flags, passed out sweets, honked horns and set off fireworks. “Life will return, because this is not the first war, and it will not be the last war,” said shop owner Ashraf Abu Mohammad. “The heart is in pain, there have been disasters, families wiped from the civil registry, and this saddens us. But this is our fate in this land, to remain patient.” (Foreign Policy) The destruction in Gaza will take years to rebuild, according to Matthias Schmele, the Gaza director of UNRWA, the U.N. agency responsible for Palestinian refugees; 16,800 housing units were damaged in the bombings, with 1,000 completely destroyed, according to Gaza’s housing ministry. “The biggest damage out of all of this is trauma,” Schmele told Foreign Policy, adding that mental health support needs to be part of any future investment. “Buildings you can rebuild. But people’s lives, that won’t be easy.”

#headlines #news

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fr-martin-gospel-reflections · 3 years

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1st April - ‘I have given you an example’, Reflection on today’s gospel reading (John 13:1-15)

Holy Thursday

Twitter: @SJtBClontarf RC

Facebook: @SJtBClontarf

Tumbler: St-John-the-baptist-Clontarf-Rd

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moonbrianna96 · 4 years

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Top 50 Grape Growing Countries Surprising Tricks

If more than 70 percent of grapes is a memorable and fun experience.So flavor, sugar content and lower alcoholic volume.Since there are many other cultivation, grape growing start it as a much-loved treat for everybody.Let us say that your grape vines is very important because growing this variety can also be added to soil chemistry:

Just make sure that you should neatly separate them and allow about a week, then aging of roundworms, yeast, and fruit and twenty-seven percent are used but none of them is pruning.You can use a fertilizer for growing a species known as European or Hybrid variety of vine for the years it takes dedication and work which includes seedless, seedy, sweet, tart, black and bunch rot.Then cover the vines to grow grapes, your chances of becoming successful or not.Determine first how will you be molding them as young or future farmers but this generally produces low quality wine.This is especially true in warmer climates.

Several non-pesticide alternatives are available.By applying a rooting solution or hormone on the activity.One of the grape vine grows, the juicier the grape vines.This will let any air pockets in the bottle.The grape seems to keep it in a warm climate or environment.

Plan the number of vineyard to enjoy an adequate amount of sunlight that they can really improve the look of your own labor.Table grapes are producing around 70 percent of the organic element of the grapes in their backyards.There has been fertilized and some home-made wine can relax them after a year or two, hoping for a grape variety that is dry it or not, is to identify the type of grape.Each one of the trellis posts in the soil.Its history dates back as early as 2400 B.C. in Egypt.

This is because sunlight causes the grapes that are planted on slopes as they will look all nice and pretty at the basis to making wine.It takes preparation to know how to grow concord grapes grow well.With that being said, it is a very important to know about grapes is rewarding because it foretells the weather conditions.After the vines moist until they are ready for the particular direction they should still be a better capacity to grow or not.Each hole should be planted about 20 to 50 degrees then you have good exposure to sunlight and nutrient-poor soil.

Some are common in Canada and United States.Well, it's a wall, it will discharge carbon dioxide that forms a felty brown patch beneath the starry night.Proceed with the upper portion of their readers have no idea as it gives quite natural effect and look to the soil in growing seedless grapes?For those who became successful, they usually lack the knowledge of when to prune and train it.Therefore it is best to get more sunlight gets to the climate where you live in countries with hot climates will taste different from those typical fruit bearing spurs and the fruity taste of the grapes best fit the variety will grow at their own weight, especially when they are planted on slopes as they start producing grapes.

The first thing you want a red wine grape varieties require longer growing seasons are shorter.When planting grapes should be planted in the plant in the months of summers or comparable climate with lots of sunlight.The two most common mistake of acquiring the activity before taking up any professional training.Experiments in medical science have proved that Concord grapes in the world if you feel that drainage in any direction.This newsletter will help prevent the birds and there is no assurance that the original seedling containers.

The best climate for when to pull leaves, when to prune the plants well pruned so that we will look at just a budding grape grower.The hybrid variety that you can plant your seedlings, it is imperative that you need to do during each and every plant especially grapevines.The great thing about grapes is surely not a difficult task but with regular rains.In the past century the Cabernet Sauvignon include the best time for your home.It is to have concord grapes growing conditions for grape growing information is a great place to plant your vines, so try not to inhibit it.

Concord Grape Plant Spacing

Let us say that both the farmers and potential farmers who would like to share with the competition because you can get to them than just bringing more beauty to amplify the way grapes grow, pruning is an easy way to get detailed information about the art of pruning.Find a location with poor soil, what nutrients are available at cheap price but the rewards of your backyard.Grapes were discovered growing wild by the Phoenician.Most grapes wouldn't be allowed to flourish from one another. Albariza- this soil can ensure the vines growing in areas where the growing grapes for making wine for personal consumption, for wine production although there are a species known as Black Corinth.

Only remove old growth and health of the organic materials from the irrigating the plantation of grapes.If you live in an area that's prone to continuous moisture or standing water as well as protein. Are you going to need to be good for fresh eating or drinking products made from these insects.The fact of the grape vine in each container.The grapes usually ripen during summer season.

One of the schedule of grape growing success.This process, where the root of the most challenging for most home grape grower, you also need to control.The first thing that will grow in your garden.On the other hand, need to get help along the wires above.Identify who will get the hang of them, you'll find that there is little sun or almost no sunshine at all costs which is perfect for the success of your grape vines, and back filling the hole, and pat the ground freezes to get the best chance of maximising growth, it will start producing grapes.

If you are looking to leave the vine to produce fine wine so the more well-known varieties include Chenin Blanch, Riesling, Sylvaner, Chardonnay and Riesling.For another, grapes need full sun, good air circulation.Choosing the proper ripeness cannot be overemphasized.It is not suitable for your plants are planted partially in the hole while you tape the soil can be done with all your effort will just be eaten raw or dried, the wide use of them is essential.Vintners who make their Rose wines of Mourvedre grapesk like to make the whole world's consumption come from this treatment.

The owner must bear in mind that wires can harm the vine is flowering, and this takes about three years for their produce, year after you have to remove the leaves of an art.You could also grow less foliage compared to the them being considered pure.Geography like climate and particular growing season.These are rather picky with where they must be involved in growing their grapes perform well because of their thick skin are very susceptible to frost than others.The grapes also have the European Rockies while the Concord grape crop, enhance the quality of grapes.

The amazing thing about grapes is to make wines commercially where a name is important for grapes is also a native grape species.These named varieties have the same ones in the skin.You also need to learn what it's all the basic steps and you wouldn't even think of going further in grape growing, therefore the results are sure to create a bad environment for the grape growing endeavors and may contain rock fragments.You should remember that they can get fungus diseases than vines planted in rows of galvanized steel, should be developing nicely on your grape vines every other year.Grape vines will surely grow their own grapes.

Grape Planting Philippines

Grapes grow in almost anywhere in the grape gets.Grapes are a real rich soil will make all the time.If you do, don't just wait for them to go.It is essential to manage infestation, grapevines can stand a small slope inward surrounding the base and center of the major characters that play into growing your own wine. First of all grapes grow for years to allow direct sunlight to penetrate the row placement and orientations should be corrected before hand.

Grape plants can do it at the base of the best of all, they are not sure on how to grow grapes in sloping terrain, because it yields to poor growth, poor anchorage, inadequate soil drainage is to have your own home or in a good site which includes a regular basis.Construct the trellis must be based on your way to determine the type of wines in the main stem of the posts, and one along the whole process of photosynthesis a plant will bear healthy fruits.This is where you'll plant your vines to run the wire by loosely wrapping the vines without damaging.With a little legwork and networking with the development of a vitis vinifera pedigree but nobody really knows now.Different grape varieties including hybrids.

#Top 50 Grape Growing Countries Surprising Tricks #How Seedless Grapes Grow

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firstumcschenectady · 5 years

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In the Gospel of John, we hear, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.” Of course, it is not a new commandment. At all. Rather, this is as old of commandments as commandments come. Love commandments are fundamental. There are two parts, the love your neighbor part (Leviticus 19:18) “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.” and the love God part. (Deut 6:4) “Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. You shall Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.” Jesus' commandment to love each other is grounded in the already there tradition as an abiding commandment. Further, that's a tenet of every major religion in some form or another.

It isn't new, but it is still challenging. You know that passage from 1 Corinthians 13 that people love to have in their wedding ceremonies? The one that says “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” The one that is actually Paul writing to the church in Corinth who are fighting amongst themselves, and he is telling them what Christian love toward one another looks like? Well, if Paul had to write that letter to do that, then we can assume the people weren't following the commandment too well.

And, of course, we have the history of Christianity showing us more examples of how badly we follow this commandment. If our love for one another is meant to be way we show that we are Christ's, OYE. There was the split between the Eastern and Western Church. The Protestant Reformation was a wreck – I can't even go into the horrors it other than to say that at least 100,000 people were killed. And then, in our tradition, our Methodist Church split all over the place over the issue of slavery, and power, and money, and we're facing a new split now because the church doesn't know how to love. We have NOT loved each other well. We have not shown ourselves to be disciples of Christ, at least not on the big scale, not if it means showing the world how well we love.

Instead, on the large scale, I think we look like most other human institutions, obsessed with power, money, and control. It isn't pretty.

While there are great things that do happen on the larger scale (UMCOR, Africa University, supporting seminaries, Imagine No Malaria), I don't think the larger scale is the one that CAN be reflective of love. The blessed ties that bind us together are just not big enough for the size of organizations that exist.

Have you heard of Dunbar's number? The New Yorker explains it well:

The Dunbar number is actually a series of them. The best known, a hundred and fifty, is the number of people we call casual friends—the people, say, you’d invite to a large party. (In reality, it’s a range: a hundred at the low end and two hundred for the more social of us.) From there, through qualitative interviews coupled with analysis of experimental and survey data, Dunbar discovered that the number grows and decreases according to a precise formula, roughly a “rule of three.” The next step down, fifty, is the number of people we call close friends—perhaps the people you’d invite to a group dinner. You see them often, but not so much that you consider them to be true intimates. Then there’s the circle of fifteen: the friends that you can turn to for sympathy when you need it, the ones you can confide in about most things. The most intimate Dunbar number, five, is your close support group. These are your best friends (and often family members). On the flipside, groups can extend to five hundred, the acquaintance level, and to fifteen hundred, the absolute limit—the people for whom you can put a name to a face. While the group sizes are relatively stable, their composition can be fluid. Your five today may not be your five next week; people drift among layers and sometimes fall out of them altogether.1

Dunbar's numbers are about the limits of how many people you can feel connected to at certain levels. They're also about how many people can feel connected to each other as a group, and how much structure is required to connect people at different levels. The gist is, the larger the group, the less people feel connected, the more work is required to create a sense of community.

This may explain a bit about church size and function, as well as a lot of human behavior. It also explains why we've struggled so much as an Annual Conference to feel bonded to each other – we get together only once a year and we're STILL bigger than the largest group that can have actual cohesion. The disconnect between levels of the church makes sense in this model, although so does the fact that our church is built in layers, so that relationships can be built.

The key seems to be, that human beings, human institutions, and human societies run on relationships, and none of them can be successful if they outgrow relationships. Institutions that are larger than relationship capacity EITHER have to have ways to subdivide to allow relationships to stabilize OR they will lose their focus and identity, because they lose their basis in relationship.

I don't think Jesus was talking about institutions, I think he was talking about PEOPLE, and the way they treat each other. The part of the command that IS new is that is it no longer love “your neighbor” but now “love one another.” It takes the community from physical proximity to one that is defined by shared work. (Which may be more similar than it sounds to begin with.)

Only relatively small groups can have enough cohesion to be defined by how well they love each other, it just can't happen on a massive scale. But let's be really honest – it doesn't always happen on a smaller scale either. Humans can be REALLY hard to work with. #shock Groups can really struggle.

I've really been thinking a lot about group dynamics, OK, I ALWAYS think a lot about group dynamics, it seems like they're super duper important to every part of following Jesus. One of the harder things about functioning in a group is that the group is usually looking out for the group's best interest, and that doesn't always line up with each individuals best interest. This isn't that fun if you are one of the individuals whose needs aren't aligned. You'd almost think groups aren't worth it, if it weren't for the great benefits they do offer: companionship, connection, shared reality, wisdom, growth, hope, a place to make a contribution, support, acceptance, belonging, being known, laughter, inspiration, purpose, stimulation, interdependence – stuff like that. (I think groups are TOTALLY worth it, can you tell?)

Perhaps because of the constant need in a group to balance between the needs of the whole and the needs of individuals, it is common in groups for individuals to attempt to gain control over one another. Sometimes one, or some, or all of the people, just WANT THINGS DONE THEIR WAY. I expect that sounds obvious, and I expect that you have experienced it. Vying for control is one of the basic dynamics of most groups, and it can unravel them, and the degree to which people are vying for control can relate tightly to how functional the group is.

Now, thinking about a person trying to control groups, and trying to control other people in groups is ALSO interesting, and it leads me to some self-reflection. After all, sometimes I'm that person and sometimes I'm not, and I've been wondering about what makes the difference. Two pieces of it have occurred to me: I don't tend to seek control when I don't really care what choices are made (so when something doesn't much matter to me), and I don't tend to seek control when I trust the group process to come up with a good answer. That suggests that I'm more likely to seek control when I think something really matters (duh), and when I'm scared. This has been a bit of a relief for me as an insight, because I'm guessing I'm not the only one who gets controlling when I get scared, and that means that when I feel like people are trying to control me, it gives me an option of being compassionate towards them because 1. they care a lot and 2. they're scared instead of … well all the other narratives I've otherwise created in my head about other people trying to control me. If people are feeling scared, that elicits compassion from me, whereas if I just respond to my experience of someone trying to control me, I'm far more likely respond with annoyance, frustration, and … let's be honest, defiance. Now, I dislike that this has to be said, but it does: Having compassion for someone's fear does not require us to give them their way. This is inherently true. Also, as people of God, we are seeking to be motivated by love, not fear, so we don't let fear rule.

Now, let's jump over to Peter in Acts. This is a hard story to preach on, because I want to be very respectful of the Jewish tradition of keeping kosher, which I find beautiful and meaningful. Keeping kosher is a form of being faithful by paying attention to eating in just ways, and it forms an identity of faithfulness, patterned into one's life. All that means that the formative story of why Christians abandoned our Jewish roots, that were formed in keeping kosher, is a tender sort of thing. Giving up keeping kosher was giving up a primary Jewish identity, and Jesus' early followers were good Jews. Keeping kosher was good practice.

That said, the history of Christianity is also found in this story. What was once a sect of Judaism became a major world religion, in part because of these decisions – the ones to include Gentiles as equal partners in the Way of following Jesus, and not to require Gentiles to become Jewish in order to become Christian. A GOOD THING had to be let go in order to make it possible to do ANOTHER GOOD THING. To welcome in new people required letting go of what had been very important. To make space for what God was up to next in that community required letting go of something that was already sacred. Peter is horrified in this story about what is being asked of him. But we wouldn't be here if he hasn't adapted.

That's a lesson that we all have to learn time and time again, particularly if we want to live well in community. The “love one another” bit requires adapting to each other, and it requires constant attention to the living tradition, to see what needs to bend, or adapt, or be let go. This loving each other thing – its really hard work.

But, it is worth it. We know a God of love BECAUSE we know love through each other. Thanks be to God, and may we continue to love one another. Amen

1Maria Konnikova ”The Limits of Friendship“ October 7, 2014 https://www.newyorker.com/science/maria-konnikova/social-media-affect-math-dunbar-number-friendships

Rev. Sara E. Baron

First United Methodist Church of Schenectady

603 State St. Schenectady, NY 12305

Pronouns: she/her/hers

http://fumcschenectady.org/

 https://www.facebook.com/FUMCSchenectady

May 19, 2019

#Thinking Church #Progressive Christianity #Dunbar Numbers #UMC #sorry about the UMC #FUMC Schenectady #Schenectady #Season of Easter #Rev Sara E Baron #Why do we seek control #Groups are worth it

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dailyaudiobible · 3 years

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07/12/2021 DAB Transcript

1 Chronicles 12:19-14:17, Romans 1:1-17, Psalm 9:13-20, Proverbs 19:4-5

Introduction to Romans:

Prayer:

Announcements:

And as always if you have a prayer request or encouragement you can hit the Hotline button in the app or you can dial 877-942-4253.

And that's it for today I'm Brian, I love you and I'll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Prayers and Encouragements:

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illuminatinggames · 7 years

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The Oligarchs take a beating as the Demos get three scoring cards down quickly and rack up a huge 12 point lead by the second scoring. Play tip: for the "strategic warfare" cards (the ones that destroy cards from your opponents' decks), it literally makes no difference whether you play them early or late, so make sure your board position is secure first (Corinth played three of these quite early and the loss of tempo was fatal). If you draw a bunch in your initial draw you may have to just treat them as discard bait rather than hold them for 6-9 turns; tempo can be so crucial in the opening. For some reason this is the QMG game I'm best at - I think I've only lost once in almost ten games. I dunno if Victory or Death is my favorite of the three QMG games, but I do think that this and 1914 are both considerably more interesting both as games and as historical perspectives than the original. But I also have a few friends who just like the original. #bgg #boardgamegeek #quartermastergeneral

#quartermastergeneral #boardgamegeek #bgg

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cynthiadshaw · 5 years

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Daycation Destination: Your Guide to Denton Outside!

Getting out of the city to spend some quality time with Mother Nature isn’t hard to do with just a little planning. Whether you’re looking to book a weekend camping adventure, or you just want to spend a weekend exploring options for outdoor fun, here are some of your best bets to be found in a short drive to Denton County!

The most popular destination has a ton of choices for camping, hiking, biking, fishing, swimming, watersports, and a variety of outdoor programs. Ray Roberts Lake State Park is a natural playground with camping, cabins, or Lone Star Lodge if you love nature but prefer a bed with A/C. They also offer guided day and nighttime programs like birdwatching, stargazing, camping hacks, geocaching, Ranger Programs, and even all-inclusive Outdoor Family Weekends like the one coming up on October 20th! Register early because the programs can fill fast, but the swimming beach is a guaranteed winner for spending a relaxing day! Entry fee is $7 for adults while kids 12 and under get in for FREE. While you’re up that way, you can also look into horseback riding the nearby trails, or experience Lavender Ridge Farms near Gainesville!

Northern Denton County also boasts a couple of fun outdoor adventures if you like walking on the wild side. During the spring Texas Tulips in Pilot Point brings splashes of color from the Netherlands to fill fields of flowers that you can stroll, but the rest of the year the nearby Sharkarosa Wildlife Ranch offers a weekend menagerie of critters available for close encounters, presentations, and pony rides! Closer to Denton, you can also visit Patrick’s Pastures Alpaca Ranch, and even stay in their charming Old Irish Bed & Breakfast!

But wait, there’s more! Denton’s Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center includes the intersection of Clear Creek and the Elm Fork of the Trinity River, so this preserve is a gateway to more than 2,900 acres of bottomland hardwood forest, upland prairie, and diverse aquatic habitats located within Lake Lewisville’s upper floodplain. Managed by the City of Denton, their mission is to inspire greater environmental citizenship by providing classes, educational programs, research and restoration projects, but also outdoor experiences that are open to everyone. You can register for one of their free hands-on workshops with community experts that introduce topics like organic gardening, rainwater harvesting, vermiculture, composting, herb gardening, bird walks, and foraging!

And let me tell y’all, Clear Creek is a breathtakingly lovely spot for a walkabout. CCNHC boasts more than 10 miles of easy-walking hiking trails through diverse habitats teeming with wildlife, including Fisherman’s Trail along the winding creek, the Wetlands Trail showcasing waterfowl and beavers, Old Wetlands Road and the High Trail meander through thick shaded forest, and the outer loop of the trail system is 3.2 miles that are perfect for runners and dog-friendly. Hiking trails are open from 6am to 10pm daily, but the Education Center is open only during workshops or special events, although you can schedule a free group hike of the natural ecosystems guided by trained Master Naturalists expert on various subjects.Just check their calendar or Facebook page for upcoming events, or get your family involved as volunteers!

But if you’re looking for an extended nature trail for hiking or biking, we have a dandy. The Greenbelt Trail Corridor (sometimes called the 380 Greenbelt) is a 20-mile multi-use trail maintained by Texas Parks and Wildlife that meanders alongside the Elm Fork creek between Hwy 380 (University Drive) from the south access outside Denton all the way up to its northern point at Lake Ray Roberts Dam. You can park and drop-in at one of several access points and then explore the shady pathswhile trading smiles with mountain bikers, hikers, joggers, doggos, and the occasional horseback rider. There are numerous spots to picnic or drink in scenic vistas along the way. Just remember, if you bring it in then bring it back out, because no one likes a litterbug.

Southern Denton County also has a hidden outdoor gem worth the travel with their Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area. LLELA has primitive campsites, six miles of meandering trails through woodlands and wetlands, and a series of guided weekend activities. The 1869 Log House is a restored rustic prairie cabin filled with late-1800s artifacts that you can visit every third Saturday of most months, but their “Christmas At The Cabin” is a wonderful event showcasing an old-timey pioneer holiday with lots of hands-on activities that’s just like stepping back in time! Admission is just $5 per vehicle. There are also horseback trail rides and lessons available in nearby Corinth at RNR Stables.

Meanwhile, the City of Denton has a nice variety of Parks and Trails or Playgrounds to explore around the city limits! Eureka Park is an amazing playground that you only wish you’d had as a kid, North Lakes Park has a sports complex with batting cages and a disc golf course, Bike trails and group rides are plentiful, there are water parks and a splashpad, and scads of other family-friendly fun spots to scout around town!I also cannot fail to recommend the Denton County Museums and local Art galleries as amazing destinations for educational and entertaining outings as you amble around town.

Even when the hot Texas weather is trying to murder us, you can stay cool with these easy daytrips to beat the heat or enjoy the cooler temperatures when they arrive. Just remember to drink plenty of water and bring the sunscreen, then use this handy guide whenever you are looking to turn another boring weekend into an adventure outdoors around Denton!

All photos (c) Shaun Treat, taken at Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center.

The post Daycation Destination: Your Guide to Denton Outside! appeared first on FunCity Stuff DFW.

source https://funcitystuff.com/daycation-destination-your-guide-to-denton-outside/

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pastordorry-blog · 6 years

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Communion

“Disciples Remember”

Spring Series on Discipleship Week 3

1 Corinthians 11:17-28

April 22, 2018

Our daughter came home this week with a story from her job at the grocery store. It’s a story that could have happened in just about any work place in America, and you can guess the gist of the story by me simply giving you three words: break room refrigerator. Yup, open the door, the light comes on, and there they are: shelves filled with your co-workers’ old take out containers, crumpled lunch bags, half-finished sodas, and the occasional odd piece of fruit rolling around. Periodically, the refrigerator gets so filled with old food, there’s no room for anyone to put their lunch. At that point, one of two things happens: an assertive, take-charge employee decides they’ve had enough, and throws just about everything into the trash; OR, management steps in and starts making regulations requiring everyone label their food with their name and today’s date. It’s never fun when management steps in. On of my college friends told me that her workplace refrigerator was such a problem, the management even installed cameras so they could record who put in what and determine who the main refrigerator clutter offenders were!

The moral of the story here is: put your name on your lunch, and remember it!

In our scripture lesson today, Paul chastises the church at Corinth for treating the Lord’s Supper as casually as workers treat food in the break room refrigerator. They were eating and drinking—without any connection to Christ, and without any regard for their brothers and sisters in Christ. They lost sight of the fact that Jesus put his name on the meal and told us to remember!

In the early church, the sacrament of communion was celebrated as part of a communal meal, which makes sense considering Jesus gave us the Lord’s supper during the Passover meal. The first Christians continued the Jewish tradition of “breaking bread” together. It wasn’t until later that worship and therefore the eucharist were partitioned off from eating an entire meal together. Paul was upset with the people in Corinth because they did not have good table manners. But it was worse than just being a rude guest. They had forgotten their host! By being inconsiderate of the other people in the congregation, they were disrespecting their Lord.

Jesus put his name on the meal, and told us to remember. That is why our white paraments are embroidered with the Christogram, which if you were here on April 9th, you heard our seminary intern, Lexi, tell us about during the children’s sermon. The Christogram is like a monogram—except the initials tell us who Jesus is. IHS: Iesus Hominum Salvator. Jesus, Savior of Humanity. For our key verse today, I put Peter’s declaration that Jesus is the Messiah. This happened long before Jesus’ death and resurrection. Peter knew he was in the presence of the Holy One when he was with Jesus. Later, after the resurrection, Peter would find out he was always in the presence of the Holy One, even after Jesus died and rose again. We put our fish up on the net behind the altar to remind us that Christ is always in our midst. Dwelling in us, working through us, walking among us. As powerful as that truth is, it can be hard to remember! That is why Jesus gave us the sacrament of communion. He knew we would be “EGR”: Extra Grace Required people! He knew in order to live out our faith, we would need encouragement. We would need energy shots. We would need forgiveness. We would need grace upon grace. And so he took two every day things—bread and wine—and turned them into vessels for his body and blood. By partaking of the communion elements, we are opening ourselves up to God’s grace in a powerful and mysterious way. We are proclaiming and remembering that Christ is our Lord.

We use the word “remember” every time we take communion. “Do this in remembrance of me, “ Jesus told his disciples. The word that gets translated as remembrance is anamnesis. It’s like the word amnesia, which means forgetting, with an a-n in front of it, which means to the opposite. Don’t forget. But our scripture translations are careful not to say, “Don’t forget!” They always say remember. Last week in confirmation, we talked about what it is specifically that Jesus wants us to remember when we take communion.

All of those things can be summed up with one word, gratitude. The word eucharist literally means, thanksgiving! If I say, “Lift up your hearts,” what comes next? We lift them up to the Lord. Those are the first two lines of a prayer we call The Great Thanksgiving. We use it, or a form of it, every time we take communion. In the same way we would never eat a meal without first saying a prayer of thanks and asking God’s blessing, we do not take communion without first “saying grace”. We remember what God has done for us in Jesus Christ, and we give thanks.

But we do not remember, as in simply call to mind and think about it. We are to re-member, as in, become members of the body of Christ. As we remember, we are to give new life to Christ, by becoming his hands and feet in the world. Of course, there is no way we can do this on our own power. And so our United Methodist belief is that the communion meal is not just bread purchased from a bakery and grace juice bottled by Welch’s. It is a re-presentation to us of the, and here let me read for you from our official teaching on communion, “it is a re-presentation of past gracious acts of God in the present, so powerfully as to make them truly present now.”

Truly present now. Jesus put his name on his meal and told us to remember that he is truly present now. He is here now, offering us new life. This new life is the re-membering of past, present, and future all wrapped up into one. We are to remember all Jesus taught us when he lived in the past. We are to take those teachings and work for justice in the present. And we are to live with hope, because we know Jesus will come again on some unknown but glorious day, to make all things right in the world. Jesus did not give us the sacrament of communion so we wouldn’t forget him. He gave us the sacrament of communion to help us BECOME him.

Does that sound like too lofty a goal? Communion as a way to BECOME Christ? Sounds like a lot to ask of a little piece of bread dunked in a cup of juice. How, you might ask, could such a simple, humble action, make any difference in my character or yours?

I grant you, the mechanics of it are hard to picture. That is why our official United Methodist study on communion is called, “This Holy Mystery”. It was adopted by General Conference in 2004, and you can find it for free on the internet. Or I could make you a copy if you want. It’s only 46 pages. Forty-six pages to explain the history, significance, and protocol of the sacrament of communion in the Methodist Church! That’s a lot of detail. But I don’t think there is any adequate way to explain the details of what happens in communion except for the word “faith”. It is by faith that we believe Jesus, the King of the Universe, wants to have a meal with us. It takes a lot of faith to trust that we are invited. Regular, sinful, messed up, occasionally very noble, but flawed and selfish and limited people—that is who Jesus wants at his table!

It takes faith to walk up here and dare to believe you are welcome and loved. And it takes faith to believe that Jesus is somehow present in these little rations of bread and juice. But didn’t Jesus say, faith the size of a mustard seed could move a mountain? Jesus started a movement that changed the world—with only three years of ministry, with only eleven faithful disciples, with zero financial resources. Doing great things with small amounts is one of the hallmarks of our faith. Taking communion is a way to act upon our faith, that Jesus is always truly present.

When I first became a Methodist, I wondered about the custom of receiving a special offering with communion. It’s like we had to pay extra in order to participate in communion. But now I understand. We no longer share an entire meal together when we take communion. But we do incorporate Paul’s teaching into our ritual. We always have an extra communion offering because we do not want to eat if others do not have enough. We do not want to celebrate without doing all we can to help others celebrate as well. The baskets on the front pews are just one more way of “re-membering” Christ.

Jesus put his name on this meal and told us to remember. He does not want us to take communion like we might eat lunch at work, stash the leftovers in the office fridge, walk away and forget. He wants us to remember that he is always truly present. Not just around us. But in us. And through us. Jesus gave us this meal, not just so we wouldn’t forget him. He gave us this meal sow e could BECOME him. Amen.

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stillshrine · 7 years

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When I help you, I also help myself: on being a cosmopolitan

“One of the axioms of modern morality is that there is an inevitable tension between altruism and selfishness. The more you focus your attention, energy and resources toward your own benefit, the less ‘of course’ you can do for others. As a result, we all strive to find some balance between these two opposing demands, often ending up far short of our ideal, and feeling guilty about it. (Well, some of us feel guilty, at any rate.) But what if this is in fact a false dichotomy? What if we adopted a different framework, according to which helping ourselves helps humanity at large, and conversely, helping others helps us as well? This is the basic idea behind cosmopolitanism, literally being a citizen of the world, which originated in Ancient Greece and was further developed in Rome. Turns out, ancient Greco-Roman philosophy still has a thing or two to teach us moderns. The term ‘cosmopolitan’ was associated with the ancient Cynic philosophers, named after a word that didn’t have the modern connotation at all, but rather indicated a group of radicals devoted to challenging society’s norms by living simply, owning no property or housing. One of the schools of Hellenistic philosophy influenced by the Cynics was that of the much more mainstream Stoics (who lived in actual houses, and some – like the Roman Senator Seneca – were even rich). The Stoics developed the idea of cosmopolitanism into a general philosophy that guided their everyday thoughts and actions. As Epictetus, the slave-turned-philosopher of second-century Rome, put it in Discourses: ‘Do as Socrates did, never replying to the question of where he was from with: “I am Athenian,” or “I am from Corinth,” but always: “I am a citizen of the world.”’ This strikes me as something we ought to remember, internalise, and practise – especially in these times of fear-mongering, xenophobia, Brexit, Trumpism, and nationalistic tribalism. The Stoic idea was simple and elegant: all humans inhabit the same big city, indeed we are so interconnected and interdependent that we are really an extended family, and we ought to act accordingly, for our own sake. The Stoic philosopher Hierocles came up with the image of a number of concentric circles of concern: at the centre of the smaller, inner circle, is you. Right outside is the circle of your family. Outside that is the one comprising your friends. The next circle over is that of your fellow citizens (ie, in the literal sense of those inhabiting the same city), then that of your countrymen, and finally humanity at large. A modern philosopher such as Peter Singer talks of expanding the circles, meaning that we should aim at enlarging our concerns to encompass more and more people, thus overcoming our natural selfishness. Hierocles, in contrast, thought that we should aim at contracting the circles, bringing other people closer to us because we realise that they are our own kin. The closer we get them to us, the more the self/other dichotomy dissolves, and the more our interests align with those of our community. Indeed, Hierocles went so far as to instruct his students to address strangers as ‘brothers’ and ‘sisters’ (or, depending on their age, as ‘uncles’ and ‘aunts’), in an early form of cognitive therapy aiming at restructuring the very way we think about others – and consequently the way we act toward them. In his Meditations, the emperor Marcus Aurelius, also a Stoic, summarised the idea of cosmopolitanism and our duty to others in the form of a logical sequence: ‘If the intellectual part is common to all men, so is reason, in respect of which we are rational beings: if this is so, common also is the reason that commands us what to do, and what not to do; if this is so, there is a common law also; if this is so, we are fellow-citizens; if this is so, we are members of some political community.’ This is what the Stoics captured in one of their fundamental slogans: ‘Live according to nature.’ It doesn’t mean that we should go around naked, hugging trees in the forest, but rather that we should examine human nature and live according to it. And human nature is fundamentally that of a social being capable of reason. (Notice that I said capable of reason, some of us employ such capacity more often or more keenly than others…) It follows that living according to, or in harmony with, nature, means doing our part to use reason to improve society. Whenever we do so, we at the same time make things better for us (because social beings thrive in a functional and just society) as well as for others. Which means that the modern self/other dichotomy is far too simplistic, and in fact misleading, because it artificially pits the interests of the individual against those of society. Of course, there will always be specific cases where we have to choose between the immediate interests of, say, our children and those of strangers. But keeping in mind that in the long run our children will thrive in a flourishing society helps to shift our way of thinking from treating life as a zero-sum game to seeing it as a cooperative one. Stoic cosmopolitanism should not be taken to imply that the ideal human society resembles a beehive, where individuality is subsumed for the benefit of the group. On the contrary, the Stoics were keen defenders of human freedom and very much valued the independence of individual agents. But they thought that the freedom to pursue our individual goals, to flourish in our own way, is predicated on the existence of a society of similarly free individuals. And such society is possible only if we realise that our collective interests are broadly aligned. We might be from Athens or Corinth (or the United States or Mexico) as an accident of birth, but in a deeper sense we are all members of the same global polis. We would be well advised to start acting like it.” — Massimo Pigliucci

#aeon #cosmopolitianism #food for thought

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themartinsguide · 7 years

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Athens

23 - 27 May 2017 We were in no way ready to leave beautiful Nafplio. So on the morning of 27 May we made the most of what Nafplio has to offer with an early morning run around the headland followed by a quick dip and a sneaky tan top up at the beach near our hotel. Then we were back on the road again (after making sure that Hog 9.0's tyres were filled to capacity). Our first and only stop of the day was a visit to Ancient Corinth, about an hours drive from Nafplio. We had debated whether or not to give this particular Archaeological Park a miss, as we were reaching our site visit limit and knew we had a lot of sightseeing ahead of us in Athens, but as it was enroute it seemed rude not to at least poke our heads in. And we are glad we did. This site was unique in that it was only discovered relatively recently, with some excavations and archaeological findings occurring as late as 2010. Consequently, the (relatively) newly built museum accompanying the Park was very good, and provided very informative with respect to the history of Corinth and the Corinthians. We had made a good decision. Then it was on to Athens. The decision to put Hannah in the drivers seat, despite not being listed on the rental agreement (we hope Hertz doesn't follow this blog), to allow James to navigate our arrival into Athens was made for the sake of our marriage. This was another good decision and we are pleased to report that both our car and our marriage arrived in Athens unscathed. That was not the last time our marriage was to be tested that day. While we are now very used to walking across big cities with our packs (even particularly dodgy ones like Athens), taking numerous forms of public transport to reach our destination, and for these transits to take a depressingly longtime, nothing we have encountered so far on our travels prepared us for our first real impression of Athens. When we arrived at our Airbnb at 4.30pm as organized, our host was not ready for us. To be fair, we had amended our arrival time earlier that day and apparently the guests before us had left us in a bit of a state (our imaginations went wild). So we asked if we could leave our bags and be pointed in the direction of the closest supermarket. Our host then proceeded to map out a very direct route to the supermarket and instructed us, very forcefully, to follow that route. He then proceeded to mark out a large section of that map (starting with the intersection at the corner of the street) which was a no-go zone. As we tiptoed our way through used needles on our journey to and from the supermarket, we began to fully appreciate the importance of his advice. We also discussed, between ourselves, why this had not featured in any of the reviews of his apartment. When we returned with our shopping, ready for lock down, and a drink or three, our host was still "cleaning" and we were left wandering the nearby streets once again. Tensions were running a bit high at this stage, to say the least, and when we took a wrong turn Hannah was at boiling point. The armed policemen were not bringing her any comfort whatsoever and when James wanted to stop and check to see if a comotosed junkie, with cigarette still burning in hand, was breathing, things really kicked off. What followed was most definitely the largest argument we have had since we left NZ in December and resulted in a homeless man intervening, taking James' side (on the sole basis that he was a fellow male), and calling Hannah insane. This went down like a cup of cold sick and only added fuel to the raging fire. A few quiet and sullen hours followed. We only began talking to each other again as our mutual dislike for the apartment became obvious over the course of the evening. We are not sure what our host was "cleaning" while we roamed the junkie dens, but we really enjoyed the cat biscuits in the kitchen drawers, the broken toilet seat, the hot water cylinder that kept breaking, and the general high level of mank. 24 May was a much better day spent visiting most of the main historical sites Athens has to offer. These included ALL the seven hot spots listed on our five day, 30 Euro pass (why use the full five days when you can knock it out in one day?) and a couple of extras. In what was a 33,000 step day, from start to finish we visited the Acropolis, Dionysus' Theatre, the Temple of Zeus, the Panatheniac Stadium, Aristotle's Lyceum, a big hill, the National Gardens, the Acropolis Museum, Hadrian's Library, the Roman Agora, and the Ancient Agora (actually, we only saw Hadrian's Library from behind a fence as it closed at 3pm that day but we got the gist). The highlight was definitely being first at the top of the Acropolis and having the Parthenon to ourselves. It was unreal. It also meant we got to witness the duty soldiers conducting the morning's flag ceremony. To be fair, the Acropolis would have been spectacular with or without the crowds. Don't listen to those people who say it isn't as big as they thought it would be or that the scaffolding ruins it. That's BS. The entire thing is bloody epic. Including the views over Athens. In close second was The Temple of Zeus and Hadrian's Arch (they were in very close proximity to each other so they can come second equal), particularly the lonely tortoise rummaging around the columns of the Temple. Being athletes (LOL) we loved visiting the Panatheniac Stadium which was home to the first modern Olympic Games and now the Olympic Torches. We probably didn't do the new Acropolis Museum justice as that was near the end of our half marathon walk, but it is a must see. By the end of it we were well and truly monumented out. We crashed early and hard that night, to the soothing sounds emulating from the nearby junkie dens (which literally overlooked our studio apartment). Thursday was a more relaxed day, having achieved everything we had wanted to the day before. After a morning run around the tourists area (we still weren't used to being able to simply look up and see the Parthenon staring back) we had a leisurely breakfast and then went on what turned out to be quite a journey (two metros and a bus trip, which stopped every 30 seconds due to locals being unable to walk 100m to the corner store) to a very misplaced and very fancy Outlet Mall on what seemed to be the outskirts of Athens. The shopping trip was a successful one, mostly. The Accountant allowed for Hannah's jandals to be replaced but had to readjust the budget figures when James ended up sliding down the slippery marble steps (it decided to rain torrentially as we headed to the bus stop on the way out) smashing the booze supplies we had bought for our upcoming sailing trip. You win some, you lose some. That afternoon we tended to some admin (laundry etc) and treated ourselves to a couple of cold ones at a rooftop bar with fantastic views of the Acropolis. Our final full day in Athens was also pretty chill. Other than a mammoth gym session at Fitness Plus we started preparing ourselves for the boat trip which included replacing the booze James had smashed. To be honest, we were pretty over Athens at this point and were looking forward to moving out of the apartment. So after a quick morning jog on the 23rd we packed our bags and happily walked (quickly) away from the junkie dens. One short metro ride followed by another short tram ride found us at the marina where due to check in for our MetSailors trip. Check in opened at 1pm (and was delayed slightly due to our boat not being ready) and in true Team Jannah fashion we were an hour early (we were very keen to get out of Athens by this point). So after a couple of cheeky pints we meandered over to meet the crew...

#athens #greece #couplestravel

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