Quotes from Nuttal's Dictionary of Nautical Quotations

""Perhaps" hinders folk from lying."
-Proverb

"Perseverance and audacity generally win"
-Mme. Deluzy

"Pue et bein" (little and good)
-Fr.

"Philosophy is a bully that talks very loud when the danger is at a distance; but the moment she is hard pressed by the enemy, she is not to be found at her post, but leaves the brunt of the battle to be borne by her humbler but steadier comrade, Religion."
-Colton.

"Pick out of mirth, like stones out of thy ground,
Profaneness, filthiness, abusiveness."
-George Herbet

"Plain dealing's a jewel, but they that use it die beggars."
-proverb

"The genuine use of gunpowder I hold to be that it makes all men alike tall"
-Carlyle

"The great soul that sits on the throne of the universe is not, never was, and never will be, in a hurry."
-J.G. Holland

"Alea jacta est"(The die is cast)
-Not that pirate dude off Asterix

"Albae gallinae filius"(The son of a white hen).
-Latin

"Al corral con allo" (Out of the window with it)
-Spanish.

A true story

I am posting an extract from something I wrote when I was about 11. The story is a letter from a pioneer girl travelling to NZ, named Emma, to her friend back in England. The incident I wrote about actually happened, but I think I changed the names.

"I will now tell you Betsy, about the kiss. The kiss is about the juiciest bit of gossip that the shipboard gossips have got their teeth into for a long time. Some of the passengers thought the cabins were too stuffy for words, and so, taking advantage of some good weather, slept outside their cabins. One of these particular passengers was Miss Mary Brown. The passengers had a watch of young men, who made sure nothing was stolen. One night Mrs Brown had a row with Mr Brown and she turned Miss Mary out of her bed so she could sleep in the corridor instead. It would have been all right if Jamie McConney hadn’t been on watch, but that was not to be. It was known the ship over that Jamie intended to marry Mary when they got to land, and when he came past Mary’s cabin on watch, he thought, seeing as Miss Mary was sleeping outside he might steal a kiss. So he went up to the bed and - Mrs Brown screamed. In two seconds he was gone!"

Bethlehem Nazereth Photos

This is a mosaic from the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth.
There are mosaics of Mary there from at least 50 countries
Minerets in Bethlehem(Beyt Lechem)
Dad next to a walled up archway in Bethlehem
The Wall

Sports ministry in Nazareth.

The pickings were a bit thin this time! I have never been to Bethlehem, because it is in the west bank. Dad has been once, however.
I couldn't find much on Nazeret (Hebrew), except for more mosaics and a friends' sport ministry. I was hoping to get some of Nazareth village, a tourist place like what Nazareth would have been in the time of Jesus. It's a really cool place, and they give you a free oil lamp.

The Garden Tomb

Thanks, Julian, for picking these two places. The Garden tomb is my favourite place anywhere! It has such a peaceful atmosphere, in contrast to the Holy Sepulchre and most of the other sites, which just feel overdone.

Of course, there is no proving that this really is Jesus' tomb. The message that staff there give is that they don't know for sure if he rose there, but the point is that he rose.
However there is reasonable evidence it could be. In the immediate area is a large cistern, which would have provided water for the garden, which is close to the Place of the Skull. Also, the tomb is empty, and the second burial "bed" is unfinished. With all the dying going on, why would you leave such a respectable grave unfilled?

There are three photos of the empty tomb; one of me and my Oma and Opa outside, one through the door looking out, and one of the burial "bed" itself. The photo of Gethsemane was taken from the back of the garden tomb area, and across a bus terminal. There is an old photo on site which suggests that the skull formation hasn't changed since the 1800s, so could be much older. If you look about 45 degrees right from where we took the photo, you see the nearby Jaffa gate, into the Old City.

The Wailing Wall--Photos

These three photo's were taken while my dad led a short term mission, Israel challenge, in 2006.
In the big photo, you can see the partition between the men's and women's sections. All the men wearing back are religious Jews.

If you are interested in seeing pictures of anywhere else in Israel, like the Garden Tomb, or Nazareth, tell me, and maybe I will have pics of them too.

Heart of a Nation; The Wailing Wall

The security guard flicked us with a metal detector, and waved us on. As we waited for our water bottles to come through the X-ray machine, I thought about the Western wall, which we were visiting. It is a symbol of so much, past and future, despair and hope, to the Jewish people.

When we left the security booth, a large, rectangular court came into view. It was enclosed on three sides by massive and venerable retaining walls, with the fourth side open for people to leave through. We were standing at the top of a stone staircase, on the wall opposite that most famous retaining wall Herod ever built.

Upon reaching the bottom, we crossed the sandy colored flagstones toward the women’s segregated area. Thousands of feet have smoothed the worn stones, and centuries of shoe soles have polished them to a dull sheen. We felt as though time forgot us as we joined the age old tradition of coming here to pray for Jerusalem’s peace and search for God.

Entering the throng in the women section, reverent whispers and prayers mumbled around us in all the languages of the Diaspora. As we pressed forward, an intense, longing emotion thickened the air. The ghosts of remembering whispered to our hearts, telling us that that once, near here, stood the wonder of the temple, but this is all that’s left. They said that this place has been forlorn for two thousand years, waiting for God to return to his people, to send Messiah, to regather them in Israel, and forever rule them there. A few women found it so overwhelming that quiet tears fell on the ancient rocks.

At last we moved close to the wall itself. In every crack and crevice is a tattered note. Each one is a tiny prayer, folded over, and tucked in between the joints of the man-high blocks. I found a cranny and slipped in my own petition,

“Father,

Please show your people how much you still love them.

Please help them swallow their pride, and realise that Messiah already came, and confess the sin of their ancestors in rejecting him.

Show them that you are waiting to hide them under your wings, as soon as they put their faith in you, their God of all ages, through your son Yeshua.

Amen.

How Scientific is my Calculator?

The following are extracts from my scientific calculator manual;

"To fully utilize its features no specl al training is repuired, bur we suggest you study this operation manual to become familiar. with many abilities"

"to help ensure it's longety....avoid hard knocks and unduly strong key pressing... Never use volatile fluid such as lacpure thinner, benzine.ect. when cleaning the unit. FOR servicing. contact your retailer or nearby dealer."

"Before starting calculation. be suer to press the on/c key and to confirm that "0" is shown in the dispiay
Special care should be taken not to damage the nuit by bending or dropping.For exampledo not cerry it in your hip packet."

"When this key is depressed, the calculator is turned off"
(what happens when the key is suicidal?)

""DEG" mode - Entries and answers are in decimal dogrees"
(So can I pat them?)

" This is used when real parts of comples numbers are to be Inputted and when calling the real parts of calculation results.
This is used during coordinate conver sions when the x coordinate of the rectangular coordinates (x . y) is input of when ther polar coordinates."

At least the actual machine seems to work...

Christa Cooper 2

As I bitterly left the class, a younger girl slipped passed me fearfully, head hanging. She made me think of myself in my first year at Koanui. Same dejected posture, and harried but unbroken eyes. Maybe she could have been a friend, if this wasn’t my last week. The last time I’d had friends was when I was still with my brothers and sisters, before we were separated. We’d had friends at the depot they left us at while they did the paperwork to send us to homes. Other kidnapped homeschoolers had been there. Two had been sent to Koanui with me, but neither wanted to associate with “the little terrorist” Noah, the boy, lived in fear. He had changed his name to Zen, and became a model student, saying what he was told, doing what he was told, and joined one of the extreme branches of Benevolence Youth Club. All to cover his past. The other, Ruth, tried to walk a middle path. She was known as Rainbow, but sometimes signed her real name. She had joined Benevolence, but missed meetings. She, like me, had a tiny electronic bible hidden in her bed, but never got it out, in case she was caught reading it. In the same way, she liked me, but couldn’t face me because she was ashamed of herself for halfway giving in.

The rest of the week past in the same way. In science I was supposed to give one proof evolution. Instead I tried to disprove it. It wasn’t very good, but I didn’t really know much about the issue. Books on the subject are forbidden, of course. That evening, Mr. Krimp gave me a pamphlet telling me about what happened to those who weren’t culturally accepting, and didn’t respect other’s opinions in our land of freedom. Scribbled in the margin were four words; Silence or be silenced.

I failed in every exam. My math teacher risked his job by commenting “you would have passed fifteen years ago…” The question had been “Would one plus one equal three if our Exulted leader said so?” My answer had been “No, one plus one would equal 1984”

With the other dropouts, I was sent to the principle’s office. Ruth and Noah had both failed as well. Ruth was almost pleased she had. She would rather have the honesty than further guilt. Zen sat apart, crying. He had invested all he had into a personality change, but the system knew his past. He had lost himself and gained nothing. The principle droned on about how we had failed our responsibility to society, how with hard work we could perhaps climb the ladder, how important university is, how we had disappointed him, and let down the school and our Exulted Leader. What a façade. He knew full well that our failing had nothing to do with our work or intelligence, and so did we.

I sidled over to Zen. “Would you like anonymous revenge” I hissed “for your parents and crushed life?” He looked up. “Then find an excuse to turn the intercom on.” I sauntered away.

“Sir” He said, “Please may I use the intercom to apologise to the whole school for failing them?” I could have cheered. Noah actually found the courage to pull through! The Principle looked a little surprised, but was obviously pleased. “Of course you can Zen, but don’t take long.” Noah flicked the switch, and quietly made his apologies in a cowed fashion. Then, he forgot to turn the intercom off again.

I stood up, and looking at the principle I shouted for joy. I told him that I was free, that I had failed because the government didn’t control me, Christa Cooper. They had taken my family, my home, and my privacy but they couldn’t take my heart. I told the others to thank God they failed. They looked at me like I was nuts. How many taboos had I just broken? Then I sang our anthem, the old anthem, God save New Zealand. Tentatively, Ruth joined me. She was free too. Zen cowered, petrified by what he had done, still bound by fear. The glory faded as the principle rose up, white-faced. “You crazy idiots! I could lose my job. Get out Get out Get Out!”

When we left, a committee was waiting for us. The biggest Benevolence Youths surrounded and led me and Ruth to a downstairs classroom. We sang the whole way. When we reached it, I was surprised to see another committee coming towards us. In its center was the girl who had passed me in the hall. She was yelling scripture like a mad person. Then the three of us were locked in the room. As soon as the door was shut, the girl whispered “Christa, don’t you remember me. When I heard you say your name on the speaker, I was so happy I lost control.” It was my little sister, Hadassah Mary.

They left us girls in the room for 3 hours. It was wonderful. We sang and read our bibles, basking in our victory. Then the Benevolence Police sent a van, and put us in a mental hospital. They said they would give us liberty if we give up our creed. But what can they do? We are already free.

Christa Cooper 1

When I overheard the pastor talking to mum at the door, I knew what to do. We picked up our long prepacked bags, and I and my five siblings slipped out the window. Carrying the baby, we carefully slipped into the whitewashed concrete tank that had been empty ever since water was put under state control in 2017. In its safe shell, I whispered to the small ones what was happening. Rev. George had found out that the Benevolence Police were coming for us. We had been living on borrowed time anyway.

Our parents were old fashioned. They believed in the second coming of Christ, they homeschooled us, and worst of all, they defied the social norm by speaking their thoughts on ethics aloud. Old fashioned means Terrorist. Everyone knew what happened to terrorists; they quietly disappeared, either nabbed and disposed of, or forced into hiding. And their children were taken by the Benevolence Police to “homes” like Koanui, Whanua Nanakia, or Whare Aroha.

That wouldn’t happen to us. We had a plan, and surely that would protect us? We were supposed to meet our parents at the back of the reserve early the next morning, amongst the trees, but the Benevolence Police met us instead. I don’t know what happened to our parents, but my brother told me he saw them sitting in the bushes, hidden from the secret police, but helpless to soothe their whimpering children. Perhaps they got away.

That is how, ten years later, I, Christa Cooper, have come to live in the ill named Koanui (Much Happiness) Home. I learned the ropes pretty quickly:

Be culturally accepting (Liquidly believe in anything except conservative Christianity).

Nurture trust (don’t ask questions).

Respect other’s opinions (don’t state your own, unless it agrees with the government’s).

Work together to build community (do what your told), and

Be Happy (Don’t complain AT ALL TO ANYONE).

If you look in the Koanui School register, you will find an entry for the girl Crystal Koanui. The girl I was supposed to become. But now in my exam week, in my final year of school, my true identity holds me stronger then ever. The little terrorist. Knowing my parents may be alive, knowing that the worst the system can do is fast track me to heaven, has given me hope. Hope gives you courage, courage to have integrity. Integrity gives you dignity, which sets you above certain animals. Animals like many of my teachers and peers. So my hope gives me strength, and my strength lets me struggle.

The teachers pretend I don’t exist. If someone is cruel to me, the teacher doesn’t see, if I ask for help in class, the teacher looks at Mona who sits behind me, and asks if she said anything. And exam week is the worst time of all. You see,high school isn’t really about learning. It’s about sifting through the teenagers and choosing who will have jobs, money, and social standing, and it’s those who toe the party line who are chosen to pass exams. You learn literacy at university, as another blank indoctrinated young person fresh from high school.

Monday, Mr. Trimp announced that anyone belonging to the Benevolence youth club could receive extra exam tutorage. Like anyone actually needed it. When I went into my first exam, English, the teacher handed everyone a paper. It read “Write that the greatest book is Mien Kampf II, updated by Our Exulted Leader, and you will pass.” The exam question read: What is the most influential book ever written? I wrote in the true answer “The Holy Bible”. Mien Kampf II was Hitler’s book, all Our Exulted Leader had done was add a II. It certainly didn’t inspire the hospitals, Aid organizations, martyrs, and beautiful art and music that the bible has inspired. All Mein Kampf II inspired was hate and genocide, and those who killed martyrs.

As I bitterly left the class, a younger girl slipped past me fearfully, head hanging. She made me think of myself in my first year at Koanui. Same dejected posture, and harried but unbroken eyes. Maybe she could have been a friend, if this wasn’t my last week.

to be continued

smelly

This is a squat loo.

and that's all.

Pictures

Welcome to Akko!
An old crusader town, the old city is now falling into neglected disrepair. This makes it one of the most fun areas to see, as you can climb on all the walls, and poke into corners, since nothing is cordoned off.

These are some pics we took when we were there; a street scene, an old market, a fish stall, and Jack dreaming about cannoning me.

18th Century Alphabet rhyme

In Adam's fall
We sinned all.

Thy life to mend
This Book attend.

The Cat doth play
And after slay.

A Dog will bite
A theif at night.

An Eagle's flight
Is out of sight.

The idle Fool
Is whipped at school.

As runs the Glass
Man's life doth pass.

My book and
Heart
Shall never part.

Job feels the rod
Yet blesses God.

Our King the good
No man of blood.

The Lion bold
The Lamb doth
hold.

The Moon gives
light
In time of night.

Nightingales sing
In time of spring.

The royal Oak was
the tree
That saved his
Royal Majesty.

Peter denies
His Lord and cries.

Queen Esther
comes in Royal
State
To save the Jews
from dismal fate.

Rachel does mourn
For her firstborn.

Samuel annoints
Whom God
appionts.

Time cuts down all
Both great and
small.

Uriah's beauteous
wife
Made David seek
his life.

Whales in the sea
God's voice obey.

Xerxes the great
did die
And so must you
and I.

Youth foward
slips.
Death soonest nips.

Zaccheus he
Did climg a tree
His Lord to see.

- The New England Primer, 1727.

How to be freindly

Have you ever been on the outside looking in? Or know someone who is/was?
Did you know that being friendly is more then just not being unfriendly?

Having moved 10 times, and relocated completely 6 times, I think I have some experience in how to be inclusive, and how it feels when people, not always on purpose, don't include you. So here are some tips;

Don't expect the new person to always approach you. Just because they are sitting somewhere else, or looking after the little kids, doesn't mean they don't wish they were talking with you. So introduce yourself.

Don't walk off when you are talking with them. Tell them where you are going, and invite them to come too, if possible. Otherwise you leave them with two distasteful options; to stay behind and be lonely, or follow you and feel like they are just tagging along where they are no really wanted.

If the come up to join your "huddle" when you are talking, step sideways and let them in. Otherwise they stand at the back of the circle until they give up and move off.

If they try and join your conversation, don't talk about something they don't know about! How can you expect them to enjoy a conversation about last year's camping trip, when they weren't on it? or you and your friend's violin lessons, when they can't play?

Cherry

pro life Video

Hey

I posted a pro life clip on my bebo page. If you would like to check it out,
http://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=1125384540

also see;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Vh1frrx_-w&mode=related&search=

Cherrypie

Book report; Princess, by Jean P. Sasson

Hi all

I just read a really interesting book, Princess, about a Saudi princess' life story. Sultana* had an expat in the middle east read through her diaries,to create her biography, with the purpose of showing up Saudi society for it's true self. The thing that I remember the most is the attitude of the men towards females. The are hypocrites to extreme; many of them beings sickly immoral, but will stone or otherwise kill there own daughters and sisters at the slightest hint of impurity. Any testimony off a woman is automaticaly deleted if a man's differs. Even if evidence runs with the woman. there were several shocking, true to life stories such as her friend being locked in a silent, windowless and lightless room, with food put through a panel in the door, and no company, indefinitely. That is the punishment her father dictated, and that's what happened, for living with an American lover in the states. her family tricked her in to coming home. Another girl was stoned to death after being raped. The boys involved said it was the 13 year old's fault- she had tempted them. Really, she had been upstairs while her brother had been holding a drunken party, and went down to ask him to turn the music down, and . But what she said didn't matter...
I was glad of the fact that it was all non graphic, and true to life, if it had of been fiction i would of stopped reading it. However, the subject matter, which is of a volatile sort that can often be sickly related, was presented in a matter of fact, non-glorified way that made the book "suitable".
I found this book an interesting and stimulating read. I enjoyed it because it makes me think.

Cherry

*Sultana is an Alias used in the Book

Hi

Hi

I'm Cherry

I will hardly ever post, and it might not be here if I do;

check out
www.xanga.com/onetwothreegoose
www.freewebs.com/cherrylee1992
www.bebo.com/sola_scriptura

Cya