SHAVUOT-ARMED FORCES DAY-WORLD WHISKEY DAY
Matthew,
Chapter 21, verse 46:
46
And although
they were attempting to arrest him, they feared the crowds, for they
regarded him as a prophet.
This verse is referring to John the Baptist, but they,
the priests and powerful, also feared the crowds because of Jesus. Fear is a
natural reaction and when we fear something we naturally do one of five things.
We either: fight, run away, do nothing, compromise or grow. The whole of the
bible are stories of people both good and bad making choices. Some of people’s
choices were good and some were evil; but it was always the spirit of God that
urged men to make choices that caused growth in humankind; to create a Kingdom
of God on earth. Both John the Baptist and Jesus were marked by the priests and
elders for death because they threatened their power over the people which they
feared. Like savage beasts they killed anything that got in their way.
According to John Maxwell[1]
leaders lose their right to selfishness and must take the lives of others into
account before their own. They must testify to the truth and tell people what
they need to hear rather than what they want to hear. They must tell people
where they have to go to grow the Kingdom and not where they desire to go.
Christ came not only to restore the Israelites but
all of mankind into His Kingdom: The Kingdom of God. Leaders in the Kingdom
must fear not and lead from principle rather than from reaction.
Shavuot
is one of the three major Jewish festivals and comes exactly fifty days after
Passover. After being redeemed from Egyptian slavery, the Jews arrived on Mount
Sinai and received the Torah from God. This wonderful event took place 3,318
years ago. The word Shavuot means “weeks.” It marks the completion of the seven
weeks, 49 days, between Passover and Shavuot during which the Jewish people
prepared themselves for the giving of the Torah. During this time period they
prepared themselves spiritually and entered into an eternal covenant with God
with the giving of the Torah. Shavuot also means “oaths.” With the giving of
the Torah, the Jewish people and God exchanged oaths, forming an everlasting
covenant, not to forsake one another. Every year on this day we celebrate and
renew our acceptance of God’s gift and our eternal bond with Him. There are
several interesting customs associated with this holiday. We stay up all night
learning Torah, read the Ten Commandments and the book of Ruth, and eat milk
products, especially cheesecake. The custom of learning is especially fitting
for the holiday that commemorates the giving of the Torah. The custom of dairy
products seems surprising. Among the different explanations given for this
custom, one points out that the Hebrew word for milk is chalav. When the
numerical value of the letters in this word are added together – 8; 30; 2 – the
total is forty. Forty hints to the number of days Moses was on Mount Sinai
receiving the Torah. I would like to present another, perhaps more personal and
spiritual reason for this custom. Unlike meat that nourishes the flesh, milk is
full of calcium which nourishes the bones. The Hebrew for bones is “Atzmot תמוצע
” which is also the word that means “essence.” This custom hints to the fact
that on this holiday we absorb the Torah which nourishes our essence.
Additionally, milk is the most basic of foods that a nursing mother shares with
her infant. The mother literally gives of her essence and nurtures the essence
of the baby. This relationship parallels the personal bond and love that a
mother shares with her child. On Shavuot we celebrate the personal relationship
that we have with God, when He gives over His essence, the Torah, and we absorb
it into the essence of our soul.
Shavuot
Facts[3]
·
On
Shavuot, it is customary to adorn the Synagogue and home with flowers and green
plants. This is in memory of the foliage around Mount Sinai
·
On
Shavuot, it is customary to eat milk products. Many Jewish houses,
replace the normal meat/chicken dinners with a festivity of milk products,
including cheese cake, blintzes, cheeses and ice cream. This custom
commemorates the acts of the children of Israel at Sinai. Having received
the Law, they understood that their dishes were no longer Kosher, having been
used for milk and meat together. They also were in need of teaching on
the intricate details of ritual slaughter (Shechitah). Lacking these,
they opted to eat only milk products.
·
It
is customary in Orthodox and some traditional communities to partake in
Bible/Jewish Law lessons throughout the eve and night of Shavuot. This is
in order to accept the Torah for their generation. In Jerusalem, many
people learn the whole night through until dawn and then walk to the Western Wall
at sunrise and pray the morning and festival prayer from around 5-8 am.
Thereafter, they go home for a hearty festive breakfast and then sleep
the rest of the morning.
·
The
Book of Ruth is read in the Synagogue in the Morning of Shavuot. Ruth
converted to Judaism and it is her descendant, David, who became King in
Israel. The book of Ruth demonstrates that achieving a high level in
Judaism, is neither ethnic nor genetic.
·
It
is customary to wear new clothes on Shavuot. In the seven weeks (the
Omer) preceding Shavuot, people refrain from purchasing major clothing items.
Shavuot
Top Events and Things to Do
·
Visit
Mount Sinai (Egypt) or Israel.
·
Read
the Book of Exodus, Joshua or Ruth in the Bible.
·
Watch
the epic film Moses with Burt Lancaster, available for viewing on Youtube
·
Eat
Milk products
Milk or Whiskey?[4]
If you’re friends with Jack and Jim and
spend your weekends with Jameson and Johnnie, then World Whisky Day is going to
hold a special significance for you. Whisky is one of the iconic drinks of true
lovers of alcohol and is the foundation of some of the most wonderful drinks
known to man. But honestly, who needs an excuse to imbibe in these wonderful
libations? If you need one, World Whisky Day is it!
History of World Whisky Day
One of the most common forms of whisky that is sought after is Irish Whisky, and perhaps appropriately so. The origins of the word Whisky can be found in the Gaelic Language. Uisce Beatha was the original name of whiskey in classical Gaelic, which ultimately became Uisce Beatha in Ireland and Uisge Beatha in Scotland. Both of these names mean “Water of Life” and tells us just how important and vital this particular distillation was to the Gaels. It was later shortened to just Uisce/Uisge, and then anglicized to Whisky. So now you know, when someone is concerned about your whisky consumption, you can just tell them you’re drinking the water of life!
So what, exactly, is whisky? Whisky is
what happens when you create take rich flavorful grains and ferment them into a
mash, and then take that mash and distil it down into a pure delicious spirit.
Distillation takes place in a still, a device whose whole purpose is the
purification of the alcohol from the fermented mash. One of the most important
secrets of distillation is that it must take place in a copper (Or copper
lined) still, as the copper removes the sulfur from the drink that would make
this otherwise diving beverage decidedly unpleasant to drink.
How To Celebrate World Whisky Day
World Whisky Day reminds us that there
is an incredibly broad range of whisky out there to try, and its unlikely that
we’ve managed to try all of it. Whisky can be made from barley, corn, rye, and
wheat, just to name a few, and those grains are often mixed in different
proportions before fermenting and distilling. The results are then aged in
casks, with both the cask and the time inside changing the flavor. Needless to
say, you may need more than one day to sample every kind available to you!
World Whisky Day is a great opportunity for you to expand your palette, and
share your experiences with your friends.
Armed Forces Day Facts &
Quotes
·
According
to the US Dept. of Defense, as of 2013, there are 1,387,493 personnel serving
in active duty in the United States; 1,259,000 are serving in the different
reserve branches.
·
As
of September 2011, there were just over 214,000 women serving in active duty.
That is 14.6% of all active duty personnel.
·
One
of the best ways to keep peace
is to be prepared for war. - General George Washington
Armed Forces Day Top Events and
Things to Do
·
Attend
a parade or a military air show.
·
Send
a care package to military personnel stationed overseas. Free flat-rate boxes
are available at USPS. Use these to mail to military bases for a low cost.
·
Fly
the American Flag.
·
Visit
a local Veteran's Hospital or Nursing Home to show your gratitude.
·
Honor
Military Working Dogs by donating to the ASPCA or other charitable
organizations that protect and serve these heroic animals.
HOLY
SPIRIT NOVENA-NINTH DAY
(Saturday,
Vigil of Pentecost)
The Fruits of the Holy Spirit
The gifts of the Holy Spirit perfect the supernatural virtues by enabling us to practice them with greater docility to divine inspiration. As we grow in the knowledge and love of God under the direction of the Holy Spirit, our service becomes more sincere and generous, the practice of virtue more perfect. Such acts of virtue leave the heart filled with joy and consolation and are known as Fruits of the Holy Spirit. These Fruits in turn render the practice of virtue more attractive and become a powerful incentive for still greater efforts in the service of God, to serve Whom is to reign.
Prayer
Come, O Divine Spirit, fill my heart with Thy heavenly fruits, Thy charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, faith, mildness, and temperance, that I may never weary in the service of God, but by continued faithful submission to Thy inspiration may merit to be united eternally with Thee in the love of the Father and the Son. Amen.
Our
Father and Hail Mary ONCE.
Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES.
Daily Devotions
·
Please
pray for me and this ministry
·
Please
Pray for Senator
McCain and our country; asking Our Lady of Beauraing to
intercede.
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