May 29, 2015
Sep 27, 2014
May 25, 2014
Brixham Pirate Weekend
Last weekend in Brixham there was a 'Pirate Weekend' when many people dressed up as Pirates. One of the reasons was to attempt the world record for the number of Pirates in one place. I took a number of photos some of which I will be publishing here.
Nov 9, 2013
Jul 14, 2013
Jun 8, 2013
Apr 4, 2013
Jul 22, 2011
Jul 21, 2011
Jul 20, 2011
St Ahmed the calligrapher
More information at this link St Ahmed
An amazing story about this martyr, whom I had never heard of before
An amazing story about this martyr, whom I had never heard of before
Jul 18, 2011
Beauty
"This world is the world of wild storm kept tame with the music of beauty." Tagore
"Flowers, shade, a fine view, a sunset sky, joy, Grace, feeling, abundance, and serenity, tenderness, and song, here you have the element of beauty." Amiel
Jul 17, 2011
Aspiration
"But I do hold to something more, far higher than the actual human, something to which it is human to aspire to seek to translate into life individual and communal: this something translates itself to me best as the Holy Spirit."
Jul 16, 2011
Art and the Artist
Henry Ward Beecher.
Acceptance
Jul 15, 2011
Passing Judgement or not
I've joined an Orthodox group on the Internet. One of the things that has surprised me is the amount of disagreement amongst so-called Orthodox. Some of them get very angry and call each other names. This seems to be very much at odds with much of the teachings of the Father's. Here below is a quote from St Macarius, the Great.
"Christians, therefore, should strive in all things and ought not to pass judgement of any kind on anyone not on the prostitute nor on sinners nor on disorderly persons. But should look on all persons with a single mind and a pure eye so that it may be for such a person almost a natural fixed attitude never to despise or judge or abhor anyone or divide people and place them into boxes.
If you see a man with one eye, do not make any judgement in your heart but regard him as though he were whole. If someone has a maimed hand, see him not as maimed. See the crippled a straight, the paralytic as healthy. For this is purity of heart, that when you see the sinners and weak, you have compassion and shown mercy toward them"
"Christians, therefore, should strive in all things and ought not to pass judgement of any kind on anyone not on the prostitute nor on sinners nor on disorderly persons. But should look on all persons with a single mind and a pure eye so that it may be for such a person almost a natural fixed attitude never to despise or judge or abhor anyone or divide people and place them into boxes.
If you see a man with one eye, do not make any judgement in your heart but regard him as though he were whole. If someone has a maimed hand, see him not as maimed. See the crippled a straight, the paralytic as healthy. For this is purity of heart, that when you see the sinners and weak, you have compassion and shown mercy toward them"
Jul 13, 2011
Interesting news for Jews
I came across this in "Israel Alliance"
Below is a quote from part of the article....
"POPULATION IMPLOSION IN MUSLIM SOCIETIES
In sharp contrast to conventional wisdom, the UN Population Division reports a sharp decline of fertility rate (number of births per woman) in Muslim and Arab countries, except in Afghanistan and Yemen. The myth of “doubling Muslim population every 20 years” has been shattered against the rocks of modernity and reality. UNESCO’s Director-General, Koichiro Matsuura, stated, during a May 22, 2007 UNESCO conference on Population – From Explosion to Implosion:
“There is an abrupt slowdown in the rate of population growth… also in many countries where women have only limited access to education and employment… In the last fifty years, median fertility has fallen from 5.4 to 2.1 [births per woman]… There is not the slightest reason to assume that the decline in fertility will miraculously stop just at replacement level (2.1 births)….”
The collapse of Muslim fertility rates is a derivative of modernization, rapid urbanization and internal security concerns by dictators. They fear the consequences of rapid population growth, while economic growth lags far behind. As a result, the UN Population Division has reduced its 2050 population projections by 25 percent, from 12 billion to 9 billion, possibly shrinking to 7.4 billion.
For instance, the fertility rate in Iran has declined as directed by its religious leaders – from 9 births per woman, 30 years ago, to 1.8 births in 2007. The Muslim religious establishment has also promoted decreasing fertility rates in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, from 8 and 7 births per woman 30 years ago, to less than 4 and 2.5 births respectively in 2007. Jordan, which is demographically similar to Judea and Samaria, and Syria have diminished from 8 births per woman, 30 years ago, to less than 3.5 in 2007. A substantial dive of fertility rates in Muslim countries – trending toward 2-3 births per woman – is documented by the Population Resource Center in Washington, DC.
According to demographic precedents, there is only a slim probability that high fertility rates can be resurrected following a sustained period of significant reduction."
Below is a quote from part of the article....
"POPULATION IMPLOSION IN MUSLIM SOCIETIES
In sharp contrast to conventional wisdom, the UN Population Division reports a sharp decline of fertility rate (number of births per woman) in Muslim and Arab countries, except in Afghanistan and Yemen. The myth of “doubling Muslim population every 20 years” has been shattered against the rocks of modernity and reality. UNESCO’s Director-General, Koichiro Matsuura, stated, during a May 22, 2007 UNESCO conference on Population – From Explosion to Implosion:
“There is an abrupt slowdown in the rate of population growth… also in many countries where women have only limited access to education and employment… In the last fifty years, median fertility has fallen from 5.4 to 2.1 [births per woman]… There is not the slightest reason to assume that the decline in fertility will miraculously stop just at replacement level (2.1 births)….”
The collapse of Muslim fertility rates is a derivative of modernization, rapid urbanization and internal security concerns by dictators. They fear the consequences of rapid population growth, while economic growth lags far behind. As a result, the UN Population Division has reduced its 2050 population projections by 25 percent, from 12 billion to 9 billion, possibly shrinking to 7.4 billion.
For instance, the fertility rate in Iran has declined as directed by its religious leaders – from 9 births per woman, 30 years ago, to 1.8 births in 2007. The Muslim religious establishment has also promoted decreasing fertility rates in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, from 8 and 7 births per woman 30 years ago, to less than 4 and 2.5 births respectively in 2007. Jordan, which is demographically similar to Judea and Samaria, and Syria have diminished from 8 births per woman, 30 years ago, to less than 3.5 in 2007. A substantial dive of fertility rates in Muslim countries – trending toward 2-3 births per woman – is documented by the Population Resource Center in Washington, DC.
According to demographic precedents, there is only a slim probability that high fertility rates can be resurrected following a sustained period of significant reduction."
Jul 12, 2011
Christ the Light of the World and The Awakening
The painting of Christ the Light of the world by Holman Hunt is one of his most famous paintings. The picture on the left is also by Hunt who painted this secular version of his religious work, In this picture a young woman starts up from the lap of her lover, struck by the sudden knowledge of her sin. The entire painting can be read for symbolism: the cat tormenting a bird, the scattered music sheets on the floor, the tangled embroidery threads,the discarded glove, and so on. Seeing these side by side one realises that what she hears is Christ knocking.
St Constantine Cyril Patron of Europe
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