Ramblings of a RoamingChile

Hey, Peeps! Over here!

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:18:07 GMT

Shalom and greetings!

Hey, do you know there's a BIG Xanga birthday today. Yeah. BIG, I tell you!!!

Go wish Neeka1 a
VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

For those of you still reading...

As you see above (and know from her lovely posts), Necia's fond of taking photos. I have a camera I want to bless her with. I'd planned months ago to give it to her... then it refused to turn on one day. I'm fairly sure Canon can get the camera in tip-top shape. Please send me a private message if you'd like to help.

Guy Fawkes Night in Cardiff

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:48:07 GMT

Welcome, those of you coming from Neeka's site. I do have proof that she was my assistant (that's Nee holding up a light in the top left corner). She sneaked into one of my photos. OK, really, I wasn't paying attention to the background... but the happy accident shows my assistant at work.

Remember, remember the fifth of November,; The gunpowder treason and plot,; I know of no reason; Why the gunpowder treason; Should ever be forgot.

November 5, 1605, was the date a group of Roman Catholic restorationists chose to blow up British parliament and King James I. Guido Fawkes was caught on his way to light the powder. "The day the plot was discovered, Londoners were encouraged to celebrate the King's escape from assassination by lighting bonfires in the city, 'always provided that "this testemonye of joy be careful done without any danger or disorder." '" (Wikipedia)

Despite implication of burning of effigies on some bonfires, Guy Fawkes was to be hung, drawn and quartered. He was so weak from the torture, he of the conspirators went up to the gallows last then jumped off to his death. (Wikipedia).

Anyway, "bonfire night," as most call it now, is big deal here because it means bonfires and fireworks. Technically, it's a day to celebrate the monarchy, but nobody mentioned the Queen that night.

A version of the celebration is/was held in most of the nations that used to be part of the British Empire. It was celebrated in the American colonies pre-Revolution and was a day to mock Catholicism. "George Washington forbade the celebration of the day among his troops due to its anti-Catholic and pro-British purpose" (Wikipedia).

So, here are a few shots from the night.

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Arrest made in Ami Ortiz bombing

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:37:21 GMT

End of August I posted on Ami Ortiz, the young Messianic Jew injured by a package bomb.

Today it was revealed that an arrest has been made in the case. This is huge. The family has been goading police for a year and half to investigate more deeply. Turns out a Jewish extremist was arrested early in October, but the courts just lifted a gag order today.

"'My blood ran cold' Leah Ortiz said when she heard of the arrest of Yaakov Teitel, a right-wing Jewish extremist who was arrested for a series of hate crimes." (Jerusalem Post). David Ortiz, Ami's father, told the paper that the state of Israel must make an example of Teitel.

Police say Teitel has confessed to several other crimes, including the slaying of two Palestinians and the bombing of a monastery.

Praise God for His justice. Continue to keep the Ortiz family in prayer as physical and mental healing continues.

Leah asks supporters to pray for wisdom:

"Please pray for us as the media interviews begin, both domestic and international, for wisdom and for the name of Yeshua to be lifted up. Please pray for Ami, as he goes back to the moment and shares it publically. He took the news very coolly. I don't think he wants to let his heart get involved in any way, which I understand." (AmiOrtiz.com)

You can read more about the arrest from

Chillin' in the park

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:38:23 GMT

Yeah, I'm confusing you with titles, at least those of you who are readers of Neeka1.

Today we went to Sirhowy Valley Country Park. Necia and Richard discovered the place last week. Happily, the fall colors were better today than they were last week, said Necia. It was a nice walk. In addition to hunting leaves, I was hunting photographers. I got several shots of one in the wild.

Check out those boots!!!

This photog had company.

Now, to nature.

Shabbat shalom.

Abba, hold me tight

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:04:55 GMT

Shalom, peeps.

I promised to share this song weeks ago, but the recording I had was subpar. This one's just a bit a better. I'm happy enough with it to share it with you.

Lots happening internally here in all of us -- Necia, Richard and me. The Lord is moving, subtly it seems, but He is moving. I heard a peep from Tel Aviv last week, but just a peep -- enough to know I haven't been forgotten. The Lord is encouraging me as He has me on other tasks in the mean time.

I pray the song ministers to you.

Hold me tight
© 2009 Cariño Casas

Abba, I am amazed
Your love warms me like the sun's rays
Abba, I am amazed
Your Spirit cools me like a sea breeze
Your Son washes my soiled feet

Oh my Lord, Your love is
In the faithful sun and a gentle rain
Oh my God, Your love is
In a simple meal and a friend's embrace
I just want to see You face to face.

Hold me tight
Never let me go
Say again Your love is real
Hold me tight
Love me so
Say again You love me still

Yeshua, brother and king
Humble lamb slain for me
Yeshua, brother and king
Judah's lion soon ruling
Today same as yesterday
Tomorrow's on the way

Hold me tight
Never let me go
Say again Your love is real
Hold me tight
Love me so
Say again You love me still

Glorious ruins at Tintern

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:04:47 GMT

This place was a complete surprise to me. These photos are OK to me, but I could have spent a whole day -- sunrise to sunset -- there exploring every nook and cranny, waiting for the sun the rotate around and change the atmosphere hour by hour. The way the light plays in this place is amazing.

Tintern Abbey was built by monks in the 12th century. It was a working monastery until Henry VIII decided divorce was a good reason to become Protestant. He quickly shut down all the monasteries in 1536 so he could take their wealth.

Before we let the photos do all the talking, I want to make you consider the size of this place. In the following photo, you'll see Neeka walking in the bottom right of the frame.

This is just a selection. You can see a few more shots on Flickr.

Shalom.

Obama, Dalai Lama and Israel

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:14:57 GMT

No full-fledged news post today. Just an opinion piece to chew on.

Following is an excerpt of columnist Dennis Prager's thoughts on how Obama's dealings concerning Tibet may be a harbinger of his coming dealings with Israel.

According to the Jerusalem Post, as recently as six weeks ago, just 4 percent of the Jews of Israel regarded President Obama as pro-Israel. Even if exaggerated, it is likely the most negative Israeli view of an American president since Israel's creation.

If you think Israelis are irrational in this matter, perhaps Tibet will help persuade you otherwise.

Yes, Tibet.

Whereas every Democratic and Republican president since 1991 has met with exiled Tibetan leader, the Dalai Lama, when he visited the United States, President Obama has decided that he will not do so during the Tibetan leader's visit to the U.S. The president does not wish to annoy China's dictators prior to his upcoming visit to Beijing. As U.S. News & World Report reported, "The U.S. decision to postpone the meeting appears to be part of a strategy to improve ties with China that also includes soft-pedaling criticism of China's human rights. ..."

This is particularly troubling to Israelis because it means that an American president is placing appeasement of strong dictators above America's traditional defense of embattled small countries.

If America starts shaping its foreign policy based upon getting along well with everybody, it will become less tenable to support Israel. Additionally, the president, given his yearning for a nuclear weapons-free world, may support an Iranian offer to disband its nuclear weapons program if Israel is forced to abandon its nuclear arsenal.

Read the rest of the column at World Net Daily.

Poll: 'News with a Side of Satire'

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:15:14 GMT

Shalom.

So, I'm trying to start posting regularly again, hopefully, three times a week at least. One of my regular features will be my newsround up, "News with a Side of Satire." I try to post news that is relavent to the Bible-believing Christian within the context of prophecy and the state of the world, stuff that I hope would inform your prayer time. Unless there's really urgent breaking news, I see myself posting this feature once a week. So, my questions to you:

When would you prefer to catch up on news?

Early in the week, Monday or Tuesday.
Topics would probably be a round up of the previous week's events
End of the week, Friday or Saturday.

I'm going to also try to have a regular teaching post. I'll try to keep them concise and break up larger topics into series. And, I'm over due for a Prayer Profile post, a quick story and prayer topics on a person or organization serving the Lord.

I've got a camera again, so I'll be sure to share images from time to time.

Shavua tov! (Have a good week!)

How'd this post get so long?

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:36:27 GMT

Shalom. 'Tis the wee hours of Friday morning here in Wales, and I'm just now doing my second post of the week. I'd promised to write more, but...

When I'm up, I'm much too busy to be online. When I'm down, my brain's much too consumed to be blogging. Still, I need to get in the groove again.

Today was GREAT! My birthday approaches, but because that date is already full with obligations, today was to be my day. We were going to head downtown for meandering, photos (now that my DSLR has traveled back from Jerusalem -- my point-and-shoot died a month ago) and food. Well, I've been a bit under the weather, so we decided to postpone until I'm 100 percent.

Still, my heart is full. We walked to the church to sort out a computer problem and print notes for the evening Bible study. Then we headed home and studied in Ephesians. Had lunch. Necia visited a friend while I played computer tech on friend's computer. I played Christmas songs on the guitar while Necia made dinner ('tis time to practice so in December it doesn't sound like it's been a year since we've played this stuff... and Christmas songs are some of my favorite worship tunes). After dinner, we had Bible study -- second installment of a Christology course I've done.

Today's simplicity mixed with the profound contemplations of the preexistence of Jesus were a joy because yesterday I got bogged down in the cares of this world and my own mental torture chamber. I'm still ruminating on what resting in Jesus really means... so more on that later.

Following are the beginnings of a song lyric I scratched out two weeks ago. No melody yet. It all needs work, but the rough poem still conveys the day. (I owe you a song, but the recording I have is poor. Soon, I hope).

Dang, this was supposed to be a quick, short post!

Lord, all I need is You.
Your grace is sufficient for me
But You are the God of more than enough
And so You overflow my cup.

Your joy strengthens me
And, to my surprise,
My joy is full
When I obey
"Love one another."

"They shall know you
By your love."
I know I am Yours
By this love from another.

Czech prez in the way of EU prez

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:03:41 GMT

News with a side of silliness

Two months ago, I introduced you to Vaclav Klaus, the president of the Czech Republic. Well, after Ireland and Poland OK'd the Lisbon Treaty in the past few weeks, Klaus is the last thing standing in the way of a European Union president.

Prayer warriors, pray for Mr. Klaus. Things are moving fast. When it's time, all barriers to the one-world system will fall. If it is not time, may they stand strong.

Czech president last obstacle for EU reform

The Irish finally said yes, and the Poles did Saturday, but the EU reform treaty still has a huge hurdle to clear. A "no" from the lone holdout — Czech President Vaclav Klaus — could cripple plans to transform Europe into a global player. At stake for Europe are lofty plans for new posts of EU president and foreign minister, a streamlined decision-making process, and more powers to the European Parliament. Treaty negotiators say the reforms are needed to make the EU function more effectively in line with its rapid growth eastward since 2004. Klaus argues that the treaty gives too much power to Brussels and strips individual countries of their sovereignty by removing their veto power and replacing it with majority voting. - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

[tags: europe, news]

'Israel hands Kremlin list of Russians helping Iran build nukes'

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave Moscow a list of Russian scientists Israel believes are helping Iran in its quest to build nuclear weapons, the Times reported. The Times report quotes a source as saying that Netanyahu presented "concrete evidence" Russians are helping Iran build the bomb, and that Israel kept the list private in order to spare Moscow political embarrassment. The article quotes David Albright a former weapons inspector and the president of the Institute for Science and International Security as saying that "there has been Russian help. It is not the government, it is individuals, at least one helping Iran on weaponization activities and it is worrisome." The article adds that western leaders have treated the latest claims with caution, with American and British officials saying that the age of freelance Russian scientists is over. The Times adds that officials in Jerusalem insist that any Russian scientists working in Iran could only do so with the approval of the Kremlin. - HAARETZ.com

[tags: israel, russia, iran, nuclear]

Free Speech Or Criminal 'Tweeting'? Two G-20 Protesters Arrested

Twitter played a star role in the protests after Iran's disputed presidential election in June. Now, tweeting has lead to the arrest of two men who authorities say were aiding law-breakers during the protests around Pittsburgh during last month's G-20 summit of world leaders. Essentially, New Yorkers Elliot Madison and Michael Wallschlaeger are accused of monitoring police scanners and then using text messages and Twitter to tell protesters about where police were going. The men say they can't be prosecuted for relaying information that was being broadcast over public airwaves. Prosecutors say they were providing the information to assist in the commission of crimes. - NPR.org

[tags: free speech]

Israeli Nobel chemist: Jailing terrorists breeds terrorism

Prof. Ada Yonath, who was informed last week that she would become the ninth Israeli winner of a Nobel prize for her work in chemistry, went on the record on Saturday regarding an entirely different subject, stating that Israel should release all Palestinian prisoners, regardless of whether it would be part of a deal to secure the release of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Schalit.

[tags: israel, palestinians]

Newspaper job! Hear all about it! NPR news quiz show "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me" had a GREAT show this week. He's a segment called "Bluff the Listener," where a contestant has to pick the real news story out three wacky possiblities. This week's topic: a strange new position at a newspaper. - NPR.org