Hilina Pali & The Myrtle

We decided to head to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park along the Chain of Craters Road last weekend.  I hadn't visited this area of the island for some time. It's a little over 8 miles, along the East Rift Zone- elevation is 4,000 ft. to sea level.

Hilina Pali comprises the network of faults which downdrop the flank of Kilauea seaward. Offshore, the submarine Hilina Slump accommodates movement of Kilauea's south flank as it moves seaward at rates of about 10 cm/year (4 inches/year) under magmatic pressure and gravitational forces. Literally, "struck (as by wind)."

The terrain is peppered with Ohia trees (as is the forest surrounding our home) which happens to be in the Myrtle family ..also in the same family as the guava, rose apple and passion fruit- incidentally was the reason bio control, (intended to destroy the strawberry guava) was prevented-

Interestingly how history repeats itself "An Iranian minister admits his country is under cyber attack as new clues suggest reference to biblical Queen Esther in malware coding"

There's only one person named Hadassah in the Bible. It's the Hebrew name of Esther (incredible read). This name occurs only once, in Esther 2:7: "...and he [Mordecai] was bringing up Haddasah, that is Esther, his uncle's daughter..." 
Furthermore, "Two file directory names, “myrtus” and “guava,” could be an allusion to the biblical Queen Esther, who intervened to save the Jewish people from destruction at the hands of a Persian king. Persia is now known as Iran." (more here)

Scholars agree that the name Hadassah is a feminized form of the word Hadas (Hebrew: הדס, pl. hadassim - הדסים) is a bough of the myrtle tree – Hadassim prefer the colder mountainous regions - Symbol of Immortality and Success. The Hadas reminds the forest thickets that the Israelites found covering the hill country when they entered the land in the days of Joshua. 

The Hadas, myrtle is characterized by its leafy branches that also cover the trunk of the tree. Its branches remain upright and fresh long after cutting.

The Myrtle withstands drought, even after fire; pushes out new leaves. To the renaissance, since it was forever green, it symbolized everlasting love ~

(enlarge)

Rosh HaShanah & The Finished Work

Today I'm posting a poem in celebration of Rosh Hashanah -
The significance of this holiday encapsulates four major and interconnected themes~  
The Jewish New Year
The Day of Judgement
The Day of Remembrance
The Day of Shofar Blowing

My poem is based on Hebrews 3 & 4
Inspiration came while out watching my son surf one morning at
(Secrets), a favorite surf spot down at Pohiki beach on the Big Isle ~


Walking along a trail
My feet sink into a carpet of spongy pine needles below
Over my head a canopy of beach trees darkens my path
Large florescent yellow leaves surface
Bright lights strewn everywhere in this shady grove
They lay there, draped over a million round black rocks
As if waiting to dry
Later that evening I thought of the body..what is it?

The body..

Is like a big tree

Lovely flying creatures hover

With wings they gather

If in Christ-

Your anchored..

Within the flower

Lies the fragrance

Moment by moment

Not fixed, stationary

Simplicity..

Try not to think so hard

Worship, town

Somewhere else..

Everything we have

&

Call our own...

Of what you've done

Or what you'll bring-

Poured out

Into the soft earth

While denying-

Steady, you walk the line

Every time-

By seeking to build one another up

Is
The apprehension Faith..

There lies the offering

In the heavenlies

Its finished-

So, like those bright yellow leaves

That have surfaced-

An aroma

Where ever you go..
Moment by moment~

Heb 3: 4 "Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything"
4: 1-3 "Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands..
yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world."
"for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works,
just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest"

Fall With Fern Fever

I'm sure many of you remember black an white TV-- an earlier post I did- (Batman Never road A Camel) just before color..but also how National Geographic was so exclusive in that it took us into hidden realms as far as images captured beyond our own lingering stare. Of course it still is unless your able to visit or even photograph remote places on earth- though you'd probably agree they don't necessarily own the corner on the block anymore.

Anyway, we're planning on a drive today but figured I'd post my ever so humble backyard scenes- including a few of those I'd posted before (sorry you must gaze once more) or hadn't uploaded- 

A peek inside a Bromeliad..at a layer of moss..
~Stylish interior for all the mosquitoes and tree frogs who enjoy the wet hangout~

A friend of mines work..she won a quilting contest here and lives in a subdivision called Fern Forest (smile)- I'm sure a few of you would recognize them in your neck of the woods..Rainfields, Bananz or Sandra-  (who thinks she's the Maddsnapper but is really the Madd poster!) (lol) Anywho-link back if you do as well-

But as it is written, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love him." 1 Co 2:9

***

Hope your all enjoying or have enjoyed your weekend~

Heaven A Fairy Story?

Friday musings on "religious comforts" And our connection with God~

A belief that heaven or an afterlife awaits us is a "fairy story" for people afraid of death says Stephen Hawking, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease at the age of 21. In a dismissal that underlines his firm rejection of religious comforts. Britain's most eminent scientist said there was nothing beyond the moment when the brain flickers for the final time.
(Lol) I'm sure he does view eternity like some fairy story.. but what do you think of 
the line about- "his firm rejection of religious comforts?"
I consider myself more spiritually oriented than religious..but used to regard the reality of pain for instance, or discomfort something to be avoided (like you couldn't glean anything from it). Ironically limitation (surely Hawking must feel that way), and set backs seem to now challenge me to move on to another level in my walk with God. I can't say I relish it or find it all that easy, but I don't fear death anymore.
You certainly don't have to answer all my questions..but I'd enjoy hearing your thoughts- if you feel like it-

Walt Disney said the following in (Deeds Rather than Words)-

"Every person has his own ideas of the act of praying for God’s guidance, tolerance, and mercy to fulfill his duties and responsibilities. My own concept of prayer is not as a plea for special favors nor as a quick palliation for wrongs knowingly committed. A prayer, it seems to me, implies a promise as well as a request; at the highest level, prayer not only is a supplication for strength and guidance, but also becomes an affirmation of life and thus a reverent praise of God."

***

"But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Co 15:54-57

This Dance In Time

Looking over my shoulder

Another decade spins past

Locked in a dance

Gravity

&

Time

And I cannot tell

Just where it went

But like a wind swept ship

In perilous seas..

I've been tossing baggage

Overboard~

Have you lightened your load little more as the years go by? Maybe like the energy you once spent on certain things, only your more aware now and frugal with your time?

***

Luke 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

Ps. 107: 29, 30

He maketh the storm a calm, So that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they are quiet; So he bringeth them unto their desired haven~

911, For The Defense of Freedom

Unbowed defiance

Ten years after the worst attack ever on the United States of America, the white house has forbidden the mention of who attacked the U.S. that day! Just as appalling, they have not invited any of the 911 family members, first responders or clergy to the official (devoid of any meaning) Anniversary taking place today.

Though this whitewash desecrates the memory of our war dead, free citizens are coming from all over the U.S. to attend the true 911 Ceremony of Remembrance to "Honor our war dead and stand for freedom and against the deception and lies being used to subdue us," said AFDI Executive Director Pamela Geller. "We must show the jihadists we are unbowed in the defense of freedom." Voices of freedom, patriots and freedom lovers from across the country and across the world will be able to pay their respects in a loving and fitting tribute- uncensored and true.  (Video above blog explains everything)
We are invited to~

 Stand for truth~ Stand for freedom~ Stand with us~Never forget

 We are invited to join (watch) the victims and rededicate ourselves to fighting for freedom on September 11 at West Broadway and Park Place at our 911 Freedom Rally-


My husband and I saw the documentary below last night, filmed by three filmmakers-
(Jules naudet, Gedeon naudet, & James Hanlon
Two French brothers set out to make a film about a rookie N.Y. fireman..no idea they'd become eyewitnesses to the defining event of our time.
The cameras rolled from the inside~

If for some reason you are unable to view this you can (do so here) thanks to Pamela Geller of Atlas Shrugs

                                                      ~Peace to all~

Sugar Cane, Prawns & Streams

I can still remember those cane trucks (after the trains-lol) with the mud flaps and the heavy roar.

When they passed, they shook the floor.

Crossing bridges and plantation houses stacked with a distinct aroma of grass-

like burnt molasses 

 

 under a contrast of blue sky and red dirt that clung

along with cane spiders..(very common in houses)

 

 Then suddenly disappeared like the industry..buried down some narrow path.

***

Then we came along with machetes and cut through that grass. This area was pretty secluded, with Bamboo leaning over streams, where palms towered, dense with strawberry guava

&

heady ginger framed pools like Queen's bath (below)-
which was taken over with lava.

We stepped on rocks and dove and I complained of bruises

while fallen debris graced my face.

 

The boys just chased the prawns who safely swam along

In near-by waterfalls~

***

(These photos were taken with a disposable camera at the time then scanned)

Can you make out one at the top and the other less visible at the bottom?

(swamp river queen) I was going to do this in mono but it ended up looking like I was half naked (ha ha)