Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Play Polo, Not War!
In 336 B.C. Alexander the Great was busy making the world his empire. Knowing that time to defend his homeland was drawing near, Persian Emperor Darius III sent Alexander a polo mallet and ball along with a note saying, "Play polo, not war!" It is not known if the match was ever played, but Alexander did indeed take over Persia.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Why Bad Things Happen?
Why does God let bad things happen?"
This is a topic that has left most of us confused or at least questioning our Christian beliefs in some way. I know my human brain can not fully comprehend it entirely, but here is a Christian answer.
In the beginning the system that God had put in place did not include pain and suffering. It was only when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit did sin (evil, pain, suffering) enter the world. It is not God but humans who are to blame for this.
You may ask, "if God is so powerful then why can't he step in?" "Why did this child have to die?" "It's not fair!" Well...the answer is yes he could intervene in times of tragedy, but in order to do so he would have to take away our free will and we would become like robots. This is not what he wants.
More than anything else, God wants to know us in our fullest capacity. If he takes away our freedom to choose and we become like robots he can not truly know us and we can not truly know him. So He endures our pain along with us...and probably even more so.
The next best thing was to send his son to die for us on the cross. Blood is Life. When Jesus sacrificed himself for us His blood symbolically washed over all of us...giving us a clean slate with which to start over.
There is still pain on the earth, but at least we have another chance to develop an intimate relationship with God and eventually be with Him in heaven. For this I am grateful.
This is a topic that has left most of us confused or at least questioning our Christian beliefs in some way. I know my human brain can not fully comprehend it entirely, but here is a Christian answer.
In the beginning the system that God had put in place did not include pain and suffering. It was only when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit did sin (evil, pain, suffering) enter the world. It is not God but humans who are to blame for this.
You may ask, "if God is so powerful then why can't he step in?" "Why did this child have to die?" "It's not fair!" Well...the answer is yes he could intervene in times of tragedy, but in order to do so he would have to take away our free will and we would become like robots. This is not what he wants.
More than anything else, God wants to know us in our fullest capacity. If he takes away our freedom to choose and we become like robots he can not truly know us and we can not truly know him. So He endures our pain along with us...and probably even more so.
The next best thing was to send his son to die for us on the cross. Blood is Life. When Jesus sacrificed himself for us His blood symbolically washed over all of us...giving us a clean slate with which to start over.
There is still pain on the earth, but at least we have another chance to develop an intimate relationship with God and eventually be with Him in heaven. For this I am grateful.
Florida's Coral Castle
In Florida there exists a true love story come to life. Although the story doesn't end as ideally as we often would like, it is possible to experience part of the grandeur for ourselves.
In 1921 Latvian immigrant Edward Leedskelnin decided to build a castle on the coast of southern Florida designed to impress and win the heart of his beloved Agnes. Constructed entirely out of coral harvested and transported from the ocean floor about ten miles away, it took him twenty-eight years or nearly three decades to complete.
Working only under cover of darkness, Leedskelnin claimed to have unlocked the mystery behind the building of the pyramids and used that technique to maneuver the massive blocks into place. He told no one how he did it. Once he died, the secret died along with him. Architects and engineers have been unable to duplicate his technique even today.
Unfortunately Agnes was resolute in her decision not to marry Edward, but his structural masterpiece still stands as a monument of his love and devotion to her.
Thousands of tourists flock to take in this enchanting coastal atmosphere every year. The castle's coral majesty and timeless fairytale-like origin lends a romantic yet tragic effect to every imagination.
Understandably Leedskelnin was extremely proud of his work and loved to show it off. While he was still alive he led private tours and charged no more than twenty-five cents per person.
Unfortunately, the one person for which the castle was built never laid eyes on his creation.
In 1921 Latvian immigrant Edward Leedskelnin decided to build a castle on the coast of southern Florida designed to impress and win the heart of his beloved Agnes. Constructed entirely out of coral harvested and transported from the ocean floor about ten miles away, it took him twenty-eight years or nearly three decades to complete.
Working only under cover of darkness, Leedskelnin claimed to have unlocked the mystery behind the building of the pyramids and used that technique to maneuver the massive blocks into place. He told no one how he did it. Once he died, the secret died along with him. Architects and engineers have been unable to duplicate his technique even today.
Unfortunately Agnes was resolute in her decision not to marry Edward, but his structural masterpiece still stands as a monument of his love and devotion to her.
Thousands of tourists flock to take in this enchanting coastal atmosphere every year. The castle's coral majesty and timeless fairytale-like origin lends a romantic yet tragic effect to every imagination.
Understandably Leedskelnin was extremely proud of his work and loved to show it off. While he was still alive he led private tours and charged no more than twenty-five cents per person.
Unfortunately, the one person for which the castle was built never laid eyes on his creation.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Exhuming Leonardo's Muse
She has been heralded as the most famous painting in history. Her enigmatic smile casts a spell on all who view her. But ...who is she?
The identity of the lady who posed for Leonardo's famous Mona Lisa painting has been a subject of debate for centuries. New evidence brought forward in 2005 suggests that she is Lisa Gherardini del Giocondo, a one-time neighbor of Ser Piero da Vinci, Leonardo's father.
Lisa Gherardini was born in 1479 and after marrying Francesco di Bartolomeo di Zanobi del Giocondo at age 16 she moved with him to various places around Italy...including Santa Croce where da Vinci lived. They were a middle class family who aspired to up their rank in society.
It is speculated that Francesco had commissioned the painting of his wife when she was 24 and pregnant with their 2nd child. In the painting Lisa is portrayed as a faithful and virtuous wife as was the custom in that time period. Her clothes are that of a noble woman, perhaps suggesting a higher station than the life they truly led.
Lisa was descended from a line aristocrats, however, the family had lost most of their power and influence over the years. Although not considered wealthy, she and her family lived a good life off the profit gained from their farm's bountiful harvest.
Francesco, who was a silk merchant by trade, later became a local official and member of the Priori. For this the fearful Italian government accused him of siding with the banished Medici clan who had previously ruled over the region. He was sent to prison. The Medici's did return to power, however, and subsequently set him free. Their exact relationship remains open to debate, but scholars suggest it could have been for political reason's and commercial gain.
After his release, Franceso fashioned a will for his beloved wife intending to take care of her after his death (exact details of his death unknown). He wrote that throughout their long marriage Lisa had been a good and faithful wife of noble spirit and simply wanted to provide for her future. He is thought to be in his early 80's at the time of his death.
One of their daughters, Marietta, who became a nun and adopted the name Suor Ludovica while serving the Lord at Sant'Orsola convent, cared for Lisa after Francesco's death. According to a note on her death certificate Lisa was buried in a crypt below the convent.
In May 2011 scientists began the search for underground chambers using ground penetrating radar; in the 1980's the floor had been completely cemented-in during a renovation attempt. So far ancient bricks have been discovered in a location consistent with a stairway shown on the old church's floor plan. The plan shows a staircase leading down to burial chambers.
Once accessible DNA samples will be taken from bones and compared to DNA belonging to Lisa Gherardini's children. Further analysis will include reassembling facial bones using a combination of sculpture and forensics to re-create the likeness of the person lying in the crypt. With luck it will resemble that of the remarkable woman in the painting.
*********************************************************
Did you know that the Mona Lisa painting was a prized object enjoyed for 200 years by the Kings of France from the reign of Francis I through Louis the XIV; it hung in the royal bath house. The painting was also on intimate terms with Emperor Napoleon Boneparte having hung for several years in his bed chamber.
The identity of the lady who posed for Leonardo's famous Mona Lisa painting has been a subject of debate for centuries. New evidence brought forward in 2005 suggests that she is Lisa Gherardini del Giocondo, a one-time neighbor of Ser Piero da Vinci, Leonardo's father.
Lisa Gherardini was born in 1479 and after marrying Francesco di Bartolomeo di Zanobi del Giocondo at age 16 she moved with him to various places around Italy...including Santa Croce where da Vinci lived. They were a middle class family who aspired to up their rank in society.
It is speculated that Francesco had commissioned the painting of his wife when she was 24 and pregnant with their 2nd child. In the painting Lisa is portrayed as a faithful and virtuous wife as was the custom in that time period. Her clothes are that of a noble woman, perhaps suggesting a higher station than the life they truly led.
Lisa was descended from a line aristocrats, however, the family had lost most of their power and influence over the years. Although not considered wealthy, she and her family lived a good life off the profit gained from their farm's bountiful harvest.
Francesco, who was a silk merchant by trade, later became a local official and member of the Priori. For this the fearful Italian government accused him of siding with the banished Medici clan who had previously ruled over the region. He was sent to prison. The Medici's did return to power, however, and subsequently set him free. Their exact relationship remains open to debate, but scholars suggest it could have been for political reason's and commercial gain.
After his release, Franceso fashioned a will for his beloved wife intending to take care of her after his death (exact details of his death unknown). He wrote that throughout their long marriage Lisa had been a good and faithful wife of noble spirit and simply wanted to provide for her future. He is thought to be in his early 80's at the time of his death.
One of their daughters, Marietta, who became a nun and adopted the name Suor Ludovica while serving the Lord at Sant'Orsola convent, cared for Lisa after Francesco's death. According to a note on her death certificate Lisa was buried in a crypt below the convent.
In May 2011 scientists began the search for underground chambers using ground penetrating radar; in the 1980's the floor had been completely cemented-in during a renovation attempt. So far ancient bricks have been discovered in a location consistent with a stairway shown on the old church's floor plan. The plan shows a staircase leading down to burial chambers.
Once accessible DNA samples will be taken from bones and compared to DNA belonging to Lisa Gherardini's children. Further analysis will include reassembling facial bones using a combination of sculpture and forensics to re-create the likeness of the person lying in the crypt. With luck it will resemble that of the remarkable woman in the painting.
*********************************************************
Did you know that the Mona Lisa painting was a prized object enjoyed for 200 years by the Kings of France from the reign of Francis I through Louis the XIV; it hung in the royal bath house. The painting was also on intimate terms with Emperor Napoleon Boneparte having hung for several years in his bed chamber.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Joke: What do you charge a pirate?
What do you charge a pirate who wants his ears pierced?
Buccaneer!
Buccaneer!
The Promised Land and Politics?
I was sent this observation in an email. I thought there were some pretty intriguing similarities. Read on.
Over five thousand years ago, Moses said to the children of Israel , "Pick up your shovels, mount your asses and camels, and I will lead you to the Promised Land."
Nearly 75 years ago, (when Welfare was introduced) Roosevelt said, "Lay down your shovels, sit on your asses, and light up a Camel, this is the Promised Land."
Today, Congress has stolen your shovel, taxed your asses, raised the price of Camels and mortgaged the Promised Land!
Regardless of your political affiliation you have to admit that it's pretty much true!**********************************************************
Friday, March 25, 2011
Check out my online greeting card store!
Hi, I just joined a site called Greeting Card Universe that helps me sell my greeting cards online.
Click here to check it out: my storefront address is at http://artist.greetingcarduniverse.com/WCSphotos.
Note: WCS stands for Wildflower Country Studio, which is where I create my masterpieces.
Enjoy your visit; tell your friends!
Regards,
Susan
Click here to check it out: my storefront address is at http://artist.greetingcarduniverse.com/WCSphotos.
Note: WCS stands for Wildflower Country Studio, which is where I create my masterpieces.
Enjoy your visit; tell your friends!
Regards,
Susan
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