text:
ERM - If My People Pt. 3
IF MY PEOPLE PART 3
FOR MY PEOPLE - Here at the end of the age
By Ella Rose Mast
Again we go to Matthew 13 and we find here the warning as to what will happen if MY PEOPLE do not chose to turn as did the people of Nineva and look for their heritage, their lineage, as did the Queen of Sheba. Thus remember, that you will do it. So why not the easy way?
We find this warning in verse 42. for we see here the Queen of the South (The Queen of Sheba) rising up in judgment to condemn this generation.---Why?---Because they do not know their lineage, thus their heritage.
She, knowing who she was, came to hear this wisdom of Solomon which would contain this Gospel of the Kingdom. Then she would understand more fully her part in it and would fulfill it. She could thus see that someone greater than Solomon had laid out this program for earth.
Here in Matthew 13, you also find the parables. And the Disciples, as they wondered why He spoke in Parables, received this answer:---"It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom (Given to you the Children of the Kingdom). To them (the others of the World Order under the control of Lucifer) ---IT WAS NOT GIVEN."
(Verse 22-23)-- "He that receiveth seed among the thrones, is he that heareth the word, and the cares of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, which choke the Word and he then becometh unfruitful."
Read that again. You do not learn the word all laid out for you, but you find it only as seeds among the thrones. We are told today that people do not care as to what the President does as long as they are making money off of the stock market and the economy is good. But just wait until the economy goes sour and see what they do.
Verse 23-- But he that receiveth seed unto good round is he that heareth the word and UNDERSTANDETH IT, which then beareth fruit and brings forth sometimes an hundred fold, some times only sixty and sometimes only thirtieth fold. But there is still some seed of the Word even in the thirtieth understanding.
As you study the parables of Chapter 13, you find that they are all about the kingdom. In fact all of the parables are about the kingdom. And you find today that not too many people do not understand about the kingdom, but think that it is something connected with heaven. Yet you
are told (Matt. 4:23) that Jesus went everywhere in Galilee teaching in their synagogues (actually according to the old books--the houses of the scribes)---but teaching this Gospel of the Kingdom.
As Jesus went to the mountains for a bit of rest to get away from the crowds, the first things He then taught His disciples was that these parables would be teaching them something that had been kept secret from before the foundation of this world, which now the Adamites inhabited.
As the Disciples came to have HIM tell them of the parable of 'The tares of the field,' HE revealed to them that (verse 37:) --"He who sowed good seed is the 'Son of man' (the Christ). The field is the world and the good seed is the children of His Kingdom. The tares are the children of the wicked one--or Lucifer the devil."
As hard as this is to believe for our people, it is that they do not understand the two seed lines, for Universal Brotherhood has been preached instead of scripture.
But today we find some good seed (word) among the thorns put out by the world order. But always the message is that HE gathers the good seed and throws the bad away. In fact it says His Angels gather the tares and burn them.
Yes, it is hard to live here among the people of the World Order and keep your feet on the straight and narrow track. But remember the time the disciples were with Jesus in the ship. And as they awoke from a nap, the wind had come up and the waves were rough. But here came Jesus walking on the water. At first they were afraid. This must be a spirit. But Jesus identifies himself and they were then not afraid. But Peter, the most adventurous of the disciples said, 'YAHSHUA, if that is you then bid me come to you---walking on the waters.'
Immediately then Jesus said, 'come.'---And Peter stepped out of the boat and he began to walk on the water. Then he realized what he was doing and how the wind was blowing, and right away he began to sink. So immediately he cries out for help. And Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter. Then he said unto Peter:---"Oh thou of little faith, why did you doubt?"
For a contrast to this then we turn to Matthew 15, and we read of how the woman of Canaan land followed Jesus and the disciples, crying out because her daughter was ill. The disciples thought that Jesus should send her away, for she was bothering them, was she not? Finally Jesus answered the woman saying:--"I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Thus, the woman was presumably not of the house of the lost sheep. But she sure believed that Jesus could cure her daughter, and she kept asking. The disciples then stopped. And Jesus stopped, and we are told that the woman came and fell at His feet and worshiped Him saying, "YAHSHUA, please help me." And Jesus then said, "It is not meet (right) to take the Children's bread (the children of the kingdom) and toss it to the dogs." The woman replied: "Truth, LORD. Yet the dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from their masters table." And the woman remained at the feet of Jesus, still asking for HIM to help her. This we learn from the old books, that this woman was a servant from a home of an Israelite and she had undoubtedly heard the Gospel of the Kingdom and she accepted it as truth. She also believed that it was from God himself.
Now you have heard many explanations over the years as to who this woman was that had accepted the Gospel of the Kingdom. But you are also referred back to the time of Noah when incest in the family produced this child Canaan from when came the name for a part of the land of Palestine. This child ---a son---was white or an Adamite just like his brothers. But because he was the result of this breaking of the law, he was to live among his brothers, but never could be a leader in Israel, rather a servant in the households of his brothers. Thus this woman, knew of the plan and purpose for the House of Israel. And she also knew who Jesus was, and she came and worshiped HIM. Jesus then said unto her:--"Oh, woman, great is thy faith, be it unto thee, even as thou wilt." And her daughter was healed that very day.
Now in the 15th chapter of Matthew, we find as the multitudes followed after him that they were fed, not only spiritual food, but regular food also. For if a person is hungry then that is the subject their mind is focusing on and HE wanted to reach them spiritually as well.
Now back to chapter 13, and the parables. ---"The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed. When a man took it and sowed in his field. (And you are to understand that even the smallest seed is important) here found in the field, which is the world."
Here then at the end of the World Order then the 'son of man' (Christ) sends forth his angels, and they gather out of his kingdom, all things that offend, and them that do iniquity, and casts them into a furnace of fire (Shekinah Glory). And there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. (Forced to learn the truth this will be punishment will it not)?
Verse 43:---Then shall the righteous (right thinking) shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear let him hear. (Would this be the manifestation of the sons and daughters?) And here we are also referred to I Corinthians 42:22--which reminds us of the Resurrection of the dead. For that body is sown in corruption, but it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in corruption, then raised in a spiritual body. Here we find the resurrection which is to occur before the light comes to the sons and daughters, who are still alive, for the dead come first. But thus the resurrection is still a mystery, is it not?
But we are told that we who remain here at this time shall also be changed as those raised from the dead. For I Corinthians 15:51 declares, that as HIS children shine forth, they have their light, their aura back. And we found from the Gospel of the Stars that from now on the Children of the Kingdom, called in scripture "sheep" are with the Great shepherd from now on. With HIM to guide them, then it will not be hard to do your work here in earth.
Now as Jesus came into his own country, as we are told, then those people did not acknowledge him. Well, HIS earthly mother owned a parcel of land here in Judea, and she held it in trust for her first born. Besides this, of course, Judea was a part of his creation. But when HE came now into Judea preaching this Gospel of the Kingdom, the people were astonished, for they ask, 'Is not this the Carpenter's son? His mother is Mary and his brothers, James, John, and Simon and Juda? Where does he think he is coming from to speak this way? How dare he say he came down from heaven?'
These people were those who had taken control of that land in Judea and the government and temple here in Jerusalem. Jesus of course, knew their speech and their thoughts, and he said unto them:---"A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country and in his own home." But then Jesus did not do many works there in that place because He knew of their unbelief.
Now following this story thru chapters 13, we move to the book of Mark. Here in the book of Mark, we are told of the great unrest when many would come claiming they were speaking in the name of Christ, and they would deceive many. This has to a great extent been going on for a long, long time. You were thus warned not to be misled. And in this area of time, there would be wars and rumors of wars, but that did not signal the end. Nations would rise up against nations, and kingdoms against kingdoms. And there would be earthquakes in divers places. And these would be the beginning of Sorrows. (But according to the old Hopi predictions this was known as (birthing.)
After all that, as you the children of the kingdom are beginning to understand what the Gospel of the kingdom teaches, as you are beginning to awaken, you find (verse 24) that there is still much trouble to go thru for the Children of the kingdom. Thus stop and look around you. Hasn't this become a land of great unrest? For until HE gathers out the tares, you would expect this to happen. But as we have explained before, we have to go thus this 'coming of the Holy spirit' to his people, verse 26 before Verse 27, where He sends His Angels to gather from the four corners of the earth HIS ELECT, and also from the uttermost points of the heavens, for at the time of the resurrection He brings with Him all of his children who left physical bodies in earth. And at the time of the Resurrection then their spirit gathers to them all the elements of earth that were left behind. And those in the resurrection would have bodies like Jesus had after his resurrection. This is why we also must be changed so that we are in the same type of bodies and dimension. Then the children of the Kingdom left here in earth will also be able to 'dwell on two planes'.
We are told here by the parable of the fig tree, the last parable in this 13 chapter of Mark that we are to watch these events as they take place and be ready for what is to come to pass. For we do not want to be sleeping as was the foolish virgins with no oil in their lamps. Meaning no spiritual knowledge with which to move forward.
Today we are hearing of false Christ's arising. Now you should go to Africa, for God is there, the leader of a black tribe, who are from the Lost sheep of Israel. Then we are told that ONE shall come out of the Mideast. And he is said to be already in earth. Thus, when you hear these thing saying:--'lo here is Christ, or there is Christ', you are not to run here and there searching for the Christ, for you will know, that as HE gathers His elect, this refers to the Israel of the Bible. This falling asleep, according to the Companion Bible, does not mean as in death. It means that His people who are of this generation in which all of these final things happen. They are asleep as to the program of the Gospel of the Kingdom.
Thus, you are to watch. And you will see, if alert, the unfolding of this great program of our Father as He brings His earth back into its proper place of orbit in His Universe. Until the Kingdom on earth is as white as the top pyramid in the double symbol of the Kingdom of YAHWEH-YAHSHUA.
Now let's see what the 13th chapter of Luke tells us.
Verse 5:---Unless you repent (turn in your thinking) Ye shall all perish. It is not just enough to run around saying 'believe in Jesus and you are all saved.' You must also turn around in your thinking---repent and understand what the Gospel of the Kingdom really is.
Jesus thus spoke here in parables. But those in the kingdom were Isaac, and Jacob, and Abraham, thus identifying the kingdom people, who shall come from the east and from the west, and the north and the south, and set down in the Kingdom of God. As for all of earth to be in this number cannot be correct. For this number shall be small. After all the people of the Kingdom today are said to be only 1/6th of the world's population.
Then we are told that the first shall be last and the last first. As you will remember at the time of Christ, after the Crucifixion some were called out of their graves, and they walked the streets of Jerusalem. Those they tried to talk to were those who had been the last to die at that time, and people remembered them. This was only a partial resurrection, as they could not speak. But two of them were put in different rooms and given pen and paper and told to write as to what had happened to them after they had died from the date of the crucifixion up to their resurrection. Since they were known, then this would make more of an impression. Jesus made known that the Temple in Jerusalem was not to be desolate. He said they should not see Him until the time came when they would say, "Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the LORD." Today those who still hold Old Jerusalem are not about to proclaim that message either. Jesus had been chastising his people for keeping a fig tree on which was no fruit. Suggesting that you cut it down so as to use the ground for something good. One man suggested that they leave it alone one more year and they would put fertilizer on it and then if no fruit they cut it down. Today we have nurtured this symbolic fig tree for years and still it has not born good fruit. Thus, the lesson still has not been learned.
In the Gospel of John, the 13th chapter, there is a message for the end time. The time of the last supper then came, and before the feast of the Passover. This being the reason why so many Israelites from all over were now in old Jerusalem. And Jesus now knowing that His hour was coming very soon, called His disciples to the last supper. And as it ended, then the devil, now being in the heart of Judas of Iscariot, would get ready to betray the Master. Then Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. And Peter couldn't understand this. But Jesus told him that he would not understand now. But later he would know the reason for this. Peter being Peter, still protested further until Jesus said that if he didn't wash Peter's feet then Peter would have no part of HIM. Then Peter asks for his head and hands to also be washed. But Jesus said that not all those with Him were clean. For He knew who would betray Him.
Then He explained to the disciples why He had washed their feet. For since in the Kingdom then the servant is not greater than the Master, but neither is the LORD, YAHSHUA greater than He--the Holy Spirit who sent HIM. Thus if you understand these things then you will be happy as you do them. YAHSHUA knew who He had chosen, so that the scriptures would be fulfilled. He was telling His disciples these things so that when they came to pass, they would believe that HE was who HE said HE was. Then He told His disciples that now was the time when one of them was to betray HIM. The Disciples looked at one another in disbelief, for surely one of them would not do this terrible thing. And again the adventurous Peter asks who this can be
Jesus then told them to watch who He would give the sop to. And as He dipped the sop, He then handed it to Judas of Iscariot. Still the disciples did not know why Judas of Iscariot would be the betrayer. They thought maybe this was because Judas carried the money bag, and was always complaining as to how the money was to be spent.
After the giving of the Sop, then Judas was told to go and do quickly what he was to do. And Judas of Iscariot, this son of Satan, then left this group and went to those who would take Jesus later that evening. Then Jesus said to His Disciples:--- "Little children, (for at that time their understanding of the events to follow--they were as little children) yet for only a little while will I be with you, but where I go you cannot come (at this time)." But they were to remember that HE loved them, and they were to remember to love one another. If they did this then men would know that they were HIS disciples. (But love one another among themselves).
Peter again spoke up asking YAHSHUA JUST WHERE WAS HE GOING? YAHSHUA replied, "Where I go you cannot follow ME. But later you Will Follow ME." Peter still not understanding what was soon to happen insisted he would lay down his life for His Savior. But YAHSHUA reminded Peter that the cock would not crow announcing the dawn before even Peter, himself, would deny his LORD. Peter, here with YAHSHUA, felt so secure, he had not realized that without the Savior to protect him, he would then again fear the Jews, and they would do strange things because of this fear. Thus later that night after they had taken Jesus then Peter hung around the court to see what they were going to do with Jesus and he was asked if he was not a disciple. And now Peter was afraid, and in that strange crowd he would deny the Christ three times. Immediately he would remember that YAHSHUA had told him that he would deny Him and he would leave this place broken hearted. For Peter, in the company of the JEWS (his enemy), would not be nearly as brave as he had thought he was. But of course, YAHSHUA, KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN. And it would not be until the coming of the Holy Spirit to the Disciples, that they would find the power to stand against the enemy. Thus it is today as we wait for that 'coming'.
After this coming of the 'latter rain,' men and women who you may think will never stand up will surprise you after they receive the power of this Holy Spirit. They will be like the Apostle Paul who altho he did not quite comprehend all of the message, still he woke up and believed, as he heard his LORD. Thus we must not be too quick to judge who will stand up for you may be surprised how people will act under the influence of this Holy Spirit which will come to HIS Children.
Now as a finish to the outlines of this New Age for My People, we would like to call your attention to the message from the Elijah ministry. Some people thought that Dr. Swift brought the Elijah message for MY people. Thus as YAHWEH called on men to testify to His People, it was not the man as such, that they were to concentrate on but the message he carried.
"Behold! I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the Great (day for MY People) and the dreadful day of the LORD (for his enemies)."
Now, John the Baptist said he was not Elijah (John 1 and 2). He said he was but a voice crying in the wilderness--this Elijah message. The reason for this was to prepare a people for the LORD. (Luke 1:17) Thus John the Baptist preached repentance and baptized them. He was thus preparing ---MY PEOPLE for the entrance of Jesus upon the scene. This made it easier for Jesus to complete HIS ministry upon earth in a much shorter time for as Jesus came on the scene then HIS people followed HIM almost immediately. Thus, John the Baptist came preaching in the spirit and power of Elijah.
Here in our generation we who have followed the work of Pastor Wesley A. Swift believe that he did the work here at his time of the Elijah ministry. For many have understood the message that he proclaimed in his interpretation of the Bible. We today are now to go forward with what we have learned doing this work. For the message to be proclaimed in the Elijah call was for reformation, a full restoration of the laws of God---the commandments, the statutes and judgments of the law.
Today our Israel people are scattered over the earth, but they by communication can also scatter the message, over all of the House of Israel. Thus before this Great and dreadful day of the LORD the message of Identity was proclaimed by none other than pastor Wesley A. Swift --in a manner-- we think -- that impressed "MY PEOPLE," to carry this message forward.
"Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet and show MY PEOPLE their transgressions and the House of Jacob their sins." (Isa. 58:11)
Thus, this failure to keep the covenant God made with our forefathers at Mount Sinai is the most grievous of transgressions. Then comes the necessity to bring back the great truths and responsibility of Modern Israel to restore Divine administration so that the Kingdom reign in earth can take place.
Thus with the establishment of the identity of "MY PEOPLE" that covered not only America, but Europe as well, here in the 1900's, for "ye are my witnesses." And after the establishment and responsibility assumed of the Israel of God, it will be known that this was the awakening of spiritual values that has accomplished this.
"I will once more cause them to know mine hand, and my might, and they shall know that my name is the LORD (YAHWEH-YAHSHUA). (Jeremiah 16:21) And it will be this great spiritual rebirth that will save "MY People" in the day of Divine wrath."
Ezekiel saw this as the time when HE opens the graves and places them in their own land with a heart of flesh, and His spirit in them, and they walk in His statutes and they keep his judgments and Do them. And this turns the hearts of the fathers (ancient Israel) to the children of (Modern Israel) their hearts will thus turn to their fathers, and grandfathers, or to their lineage. Until God's people hear this call to restore the administration of His laws, then our modern civilization is still on a ride to destruction. But this restoration is the hope of our civilization and it brings Divine intervention.
When the great awakening comes then the rest of His people will join those who have been trying to carry forward the message. World Peace thus rests upon this fact --that modern Israel--these Anglo-Saxon-Celtic, Germanic, and kindred people accept their destiny. There must be universal acknowledgment that what the Psalmist in Psalms 19:8-12 proclaims is a great reward, you thus are to respond to the call of Isaiah, to 'Arise and shine for thy light has come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.'
Seeing this reward to MY PEOPLE, then the whole world will be glad to have you govern all the nations of the earth. (Ps. 67:4) Thus we say that the word of Salvation has been carried to the world, but the Elijah Evangelism was not to come until the end of the Age be come. It was to be only a forerunner to the coming of the New order of the Ages, as a witness only (Matthew 24:14) then the end of the Age comes.
It is thus extremely important then for you to exercise greater wisdom in our generation than even in our Savior's day when they did not comprehend that it was by the spirit and power of Elijah, that the message of restoration should be spread abroad. If we are among the wise who understand then we may once more have to understand the meaning of YAHSHUA's words as HE said in Matthew 11:14--"If ye will receive it this is Elias (Elijah) which was to come."
‹ ERM - If My People Pt. 2 up ERM - In Quest Of The White God ›


NORTH JUDSON - Leon Zygutis, 81, died Saturday, March 24, in Countryside Place Nursing Home. Survivors include his wife, Mildred (Vitek); sons, James (Kathryn) Zygutis of San Antonio and Robert Zygutis of Bema, MN; a grandchild; a sister, Faith Brockman of Sun City, AZ; and a sister-in-law, Lillian Zygutis of Riverside, CA. Services will be at 1 p.m. today in Braman & Son Memorial Chapel, Knox.


Fortunately, the actual negotiating process can be fun – and it's cool to see the look on the other party's face when you have the audacity to offer less than the asking price.
I have some recent experience in the car buying process which led a friend to suggest I string my experiences together into a couple of columns that could (not "will") help empower you the next time you sally forth into the car market.
You have to be willing to make the first offer, though, because no seller in his/her/its right mind – private or dealer – is going to unilaterally lower the price just because he/she/it likes the cut of your jib. Unless, of course, they're hungry for the sale, which you can use to your advantage.
Some background: my wife thought it was time to get an SUV, mostly because our other vehicle (a 2005 Audi A4 Avant sport wagon) has a manual transmission and its V6 engine burns expensive premium fuel. She also wanted something that would sit higher than our very low wagon, giving her a better view in traffic.
Once my life had stopped flashing before my eyes (which happened when she said I didn't actually have to get rid of the Audi), I started researching vehicles online and put together a list of potential purchases to show her.
Researching online should be a no brainer, especially since there are so many automotive-related websites you can use to help in the process. My favourite (because I've used it successfully for my last two vehicle purchases) is AutoTrader (and, no, they don't pay me for this endorsement – dammit!), but there are also sites like Kijiji and eBay to find vehicles offered for purchase, and there are even more sites with which you can research your purchase.
And that's step number one: research your purchase.
Due diligence is important! And do it before you buy!
Why? Back in about 2003, I bought a 1991 Infiniti Q45 that was dirt cheap – both because it had been neglected and because the Q45's value was in free fall. So, I wrote the cheque and took home the car, then started poking around owners' groups online to find out how those who lived with the car liked it. Dumb move!
Oh, the owners loved their mighty Q's, but they also warned that there was a disaster just waiting to happen with the original years of the car because the plastic guides for the timing chain would deteriorate, causing the chain to come loose and chew up the engine, rendering the car moot as far as providing transportation was concerned: it would cost more to repair than it was worth.
So, because I hadn't found this out before writing the cheque, I had to spend about $3500 CAD getting the guides replaced, nearly doubling my initial investment. Duh!
I learned from my earlier oafishness when it came time to replace the Q, and so I put on my thinking cap first and had my mouse do the necessary legwork in advance this time.
I knew I wanted an A4 because I'd loved the car when I'd reviewed it a few years earlier, and I hoped that my research wouldn't end up pouring cold water on that choice. Fortunately, most of the owners at the Audi owners' sites I visited loved their A4's despite a variety of issues that seemed, mostly, to be fairly typical and straightforward used car issues (stuff wears out, after all!).
There was nothing that set off red flags other than an oil sludge problem with the turbo four-cylinder engine that had been solved, apparently, via a class action suit – and that didn't bother me because I was interested only in the V6 version anyway.
Alas, the V6 option narrowed my choices substantially, but thanks to AutoTrader we managed to find one we liked – a 2008 B7 variant at a local used car dealer we didn't trust but who had all the car's documentation to prove its mettle. Alas, the salescritter wouldn't dicker, so we left and let them stew while we visited our son in the United States. My wife was of the opinion that if it were still for sale when we got home we'd bite the bullet and buy it anyway – and maybe they'd be more interested in negotiating after a few more weeks of the car staying on the lot, unsold.
Of course, it was gone, and there was nothing in the range we wanted – a 2006 or newer Avant. So, I expanded my search to include the previous generation of A4 and the rest is history: not only did I find one that fit our bill, it actually fit the bill so well you'd think the first owner had ordered it originally with me in mind!
It didn't have Bluetooth (one of my "deal breaker" items, ironically), but it did have the factory-lowered sport suspension, the V6 engine and every other option available for the 2005 model year including rear seat heaters and window blinds. It also featured low mileage and a six-speed manual transmission – a rarity these days!
Hell, it was even the colour I'd have ordered were I buying it new! And the original owner had 3M'd it up the hilt to fight off rock chips.
Was I willing to give up the Bluetooth to get an older but in every other way a better car? Of course: aftermarket Bluetooth can be had cheaply. The question then became whether or not the seller would negotiate on the price, because I thought it was a tad high.
As it turned out, the owner was hungry: the car had apparently been for sale long enough that he'd virtually given up on unloading it. We made an offer and, after he stopped laughing at it, he made a counter offer. By the time we were finished, I had the car of my dreams (well, other than a Porsche…) for a couple of thousand dollars less than the seller's already-fair asking price – which was also about eight grand less than that other, newer but not as nice, A4 we'd let slip away when the guy wouldn't dicker.
So, if we hadn't been willing to walk away from a deal – and to dicker – we'd never have been able to purchase what has turned out to be the best car I've ever owned.
When it came time to add the SUV to our garage, I trotted back to my iPad and the AutoTrader app and started doing due diligence all over again.
It being my dear wife's turn to choose, the parameters were for a compact SUV that burned regular fuel and had a damn automatic transmission (at least she didn't want a CVT!). That's a pretty mainstream vehicle these days so there was plenty from which to choose.
My wife didn't want anything older than 2013 and our budget was about 20 grand, which also gave us plenty of choices. My plan was to lobby for a Mazda CX-5, because it's my favourite regular fuel-burning vehicle in that niche.
There were quite a few, though only one fit our budget, and so I dragged my wife to the dealership to test drive it – but instead of "Zoom-Zoom" that particular CX-5 said "Do I really have to go?" It didn't drive like a Mazda should and the interior hadn't been kept up – in short, it was a real disappointment and I very nearly cried myself to sleep that night.
My wife had been leaning toward the Toyota RAV4 anyway, because we'd had great success with Toyota products in the past (two Corollas, a Celica and a Supra…) and there was an abundance of them available as well, both privately and at dealers.
So, I put together a shopping list. We were willing to trade newer model years for slightly older versions with higher trim levels (I get spoiled by the toys!) and, fortunately, there was a good choice there, too.
Our search took us to a local Toyota dealer but when we showed up there, the ones I'd seen on AutoTrader left us cold and we were ready to walk away until we saw a 2013 RAV4 Limited that was so new to the dealership that it hadn't shown up online yet. We took it out for a drive, liked it, and went back to make an offer.
And that started a round of negotiations that ended with us purchasing that same vehicle for about $3500 off the asking price – despite the dealer's initial reluctance to move on the price.
I'll tell you how we did it in the next column.
Next Next post: How Many Times Can You Justify the Murder of Jews before CNN Fires You?


Do check 3 out of the 21 Missions in California…all in Santa Barbara County.
If you do plan to go to Solvang, take Chumash Highway instead of the main road. It's a shorter route and the views are better with some vista points along the way.
Hiking? Try Gaviota Peak and Nojoqui Falls.
Have you heard of Santa Barbara Funk Zone? Across the beach stretch, you can explore Santa Barbara funky side. Just places to find artists, artisans, wine makers and chefs.
See also: Santa Barbara of Natural History Museum (a life-size Blue Whale skeleton at the entrance), Santa Barbra Historical Museum, and Stearns Wharf.
Taken somewhere in Chumash Highway where you can have an overlook of the city and the ocean.
Elisa Ruland's clear and crispy professional-istic photography. Here's one of her shorts … Shorts? … Just click … The Sunset Goodbye Rituals.
Book: Varsity Blues by Jon Baker. Bias it is. But this movie turned into a book is one of the few first favorites I've read growing up as a teen.
Music: O by Damien Rice – This will never leave my top ten albums of all time.
Movies: Amelie – Two hours of quirky, odd, cutesy, funny, dewey-eyed, eccentric scenes. Two hours that are not enough to get enough of Amelie.
See more of my Instagram pictures: Filthered. My Instagram handle is rommeldb.
I know you do love the entire Santa Barbara. Glad you found this post.
Very California but Santa Barbara has its very own charm.
Great shot -and my husband loves Santa Brabara- he went to school int at area for one year in the late 80's and he sometimes will note how nice it is there… expensive too – and as you note – lots of old-style arch.
It sure is a place for the rich and the famous.
all pictures is great! especially, a bird one. you need not to startle her.
Never thought instagraming effect could be this awesome ! As always the photographs are absolutely gorgeous especially the landscapes. I'm a sucker for them !
California mountains are bald. But they still make an awesome view. Everybody loves beautiful landscapes, eh.
Beautifully done, Rommel! It gives a different feel of the place. I especially like the B&W and the Gaviota Peak.
My hike to Gaviota Peak was my most recent trip, hence making this thread. It's so awesome, but I only get few decent shots. I'm glad those few pictures are good enough for showing.
I like the occasional instagram, but not all the time. Yours are obvioiusly excellent.
Love your Instagram pics, Rommel. I've only been to Santa Barbara once, but would love to go again one day. The Steam Wharf pic is my favourite.
Beautiful and atmospheric shots Rommel. Love the feel of the last one especially.
These what the pictures are … memories. Taken at different times and year.
I wish to be featured blogger here. How do you select featured ones ?
😀 Just whenever I find a great blog and then I select the best blogpost that I remember.
Hey, I was just there 2 weeks ago! 😀 I love Santa Barbara!!! I think it's so beautiful there!
Cool! Where you reside exactly?
Love the Falls and Birdie!
Thanks for the feedback, Holistic Wayfarer.
The pictures are amazing! I was never in Santa Barbara until now but will visit it may next year! What I love abou it as well is how they protect the architecture. Its this special old charme!
Ditto, the old architecture really stand out in Santa Barbara.
Thanks for the comment and visit, Martin.
Santa Barbara funk zone sounds awesome!
Great Pictures. Thanks for stopping by.
Thank you for liking my post on the photographer Carleton Watkins. You have great stuff here–wonderful shots of 2 exciting places, Greece and California. Particularly like the views of Santa Barbara.


Dove® Nutritive Solutions Volume Boost Shampoo Recommended? You Betcha!
Volumnous by Loreal Recommended? You Betcha!
Maybeline 24 hour colourstay Recommended? You Betcha!
Degree Women® Ultraclear Black + White® Pure Rain® Dry Spray Antiperspirant Recommended? You Betcha!
Degree Men® Ultraclear Black + White® Fresh Dry Spray Antiperspirant Recommended? You Betcha!
This chick has not uploaded any pictures yet.


Continued ostomy care is essential for preventing infections and maintaining your quality of life following an ostomy surgery. Whether you have a permanent or temporary ostomy, we can assist by providing proper maintenance and education to help you live a full and productive life without complications.
Many patients choose home health following an ostomy surgery so they can recover in the comfort of their home. For new patients, just getting accustomed to the having a stoma and an ostomy is one of the biggest challenges. Our staff will be there to educate and train you on new ostomy care, ordering medical supplies, and the continued maintenance of your ostomy.


Please Note:The filing of instruments is closed out at 3pm of the business day. Any instruments received after 3pm will be put on the following business day. Any questions regarding this policy, please call (856) 853-3237.
Election Services are located at 550 Grove Road, West Deptford, (856) 384-4531.


New clients, new team members, new products, and new growth – 2018 has been a fantastic year for CREATIVA.
We have upheld our core beliefs of working with women for women, and of creating results for our clients that are as effective as they are beautiful. We've been incredibly busy with an array of engaging and inspiring client projects, and we've also been working on our own business development.
Here's a quick overview of the highlights that made 2018 a wonderful and unforgettable year for us all here at CREATIVA.
When we first founded CREATIVA, our 'X Factor' was that we wanted to create our own path. We had found it challenging to find jobs in the field in New Zealand, so we started the company with a mission to make our own opportunities.
Now that we are truly flourishing and expanding, we are excited to be able to offer those same opportunities to others who also needed this chance. We have therefore built a supportive and nurturing team culture from the ground up – and we couldn't be more proud.
This concept is interwoven throughout our mission to empower women, both within our team and in our clientele.
Giving back has always been an important part of our beliefs and values. While we have always supported groups and organisations even before founding CREATIVA, this year we officially established our 'Giving Back' programme.
Through Giving Back, we have pledged to sponsor one project each year. In 2018, we chose 'More Than Rubies', which is an movement that supports women and girls to develop their professional and personal skills. We have created a beautiful website for More Than Rubies, helped with an array of marketing materials, and offered continued website and hosting support throughout the year.
Aside from More Than Rubies, we have also supported conferences and organised networking opportunities, like our very first Women in Business Evening, held at The Settlement Petone on the 18th of October. This event brought together more than twenty local ladies in business for an evening of social networking and a panel discussion. Our goal for 2019 is to organised three more of this events.
This year we have continued to build and focus on our four powerful brand pillars. These pillars reflect who we are, and who we want to be – and we will never stop striving for these ideals!
People and expertise: We aim to showcase the work of CREATIVA and our talented team members.
Educate and inspire: We wish to stay on top of market trends and always be ready to offer our clients the best solution. We inspire clients with our website, social media platform, and newsletters content.
Commit and empower: At CREATIVA, we believe in women, and in empowering women to thrive in business. We want to give other women the leg up they need to find confidence and success in their careers.
Celebrate and community: Every win should be celebrated, no matter how small. Regardless of whether it's a win for our clients, our local Wellington community, or us, we will always be ready to cheer on those successes.
We started 2018 with just three staff, and we are finishing the year with twice that number.
This year we have brought in marketing strategist Elissa, web developer and support Maria, and copy editor Hayley to continue offering our clients the best possible outcomes.
With each hire, we always outline our strong core values of offering flexible work arrangements for our team members, while demanding a high standard in our services for our clients. This is how we began four years ago, and how we will continue to operate long into the future.
So from everyone at CREATIVA, thank you to our clients, supporters, and loved ones for another wonderful year. Safe to say, it's been the best one yet, and we can't wait to see what 2019 brings!


Although the thought that children may not be safe in their own home is a frightening one, it could also be true in settings where lead is prevalent. In older homes especially, this deadly metal could be in the paint used to color walls or in the tap water that comes out of a faucet. As if all this was not scary enough, more than half a million children in the U.S. are believed to have lead poisoning, The Associated Press recently reported.
What is so troubling about this figure is that it is almost double the previous high estimate for the number of children with lead poisoning. Part of the reason for this is that the government lowered the threshold for this condition last year.
When children are exposed to too much lead, they are at risk of damaging their brains to a point where their IQ will suffer. According to the Mayo Clinic, harm to kids' brains may be irreversible. The brain is not the only part of the body that can suffer following exposure to high amounts of lead, as the nervous system and kidneys are also at risk.
With all this in mind, parents who fear their children have been exposed to lead may want to have them take an IQ test for kids to see if the metal has affected them in any way.


← Where does one begin?
Please note: This is a LONG post, sorry!
I love this girl so much! She is my jam. She's growing up so fast and I can't believe that she's going to be 4 in a couple months. Seems like just yesterday I was a sleep deprived, nervous, new mom trying to figure out how to take care of this fragile little baby. She is my first born, an amazing experiment in parenting of sorts. And so far I think we're doing ok. No major screw-ups yet. We're saving up for her teenage years, ha!
I've been writing this post in my head for a while now, trying to figure out what to say, how to say it since we're in the midst of understanding and navigating our way through an uncharted chapter in Violet's life right now. Some of you may or may not know that she has recently been diagnosed with something called Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). If you've never heard of this before, you're in good company. This is completely new territory to Collin and me and we're still learning more about it everyday. There is alot of information out there but I'm going to try to whittle it down into the basics.
SPD is a condition that exists when sensory signals don't get organized into appropriate responses. A person with SPD finds it difficult to process and act upon information received through the senses, which creates challenges in performing countless everyday tasks. Motor clumsiness, both fine and gross, behavioral problems, anxiety, depression, school failure, and other issues. SPD is most commonly diagnosed in children but there are adults that suffer as well. Some kids are overly sensitive and over-respond to sensations like, smells, loud noises, light, wind, clothing(i.e. tags, fabrics, types of clothing), food(i.e. textures and smells). Violet fits into this category. Some kids under-respond to sensations and instead of being hyper-sensitive, are on a kind of overdrive and seek out sensory experiences inappropriately. Similar to ADHD or Autism, SPD is a neurodevelopmental disorder and is relatively new and there is unfortunately not enough research being done so the exact cause is not known. However the causes of SPD are suspected to be both genetic and environmental.
I think that we have always known that Violet was a little "different" from kids her age. She has always been a nervous/anxious child, slow to adapt to changes in her surroundings or routine, overly cautious, very picky eater, and slow to make friends. Our pediatrician had been asking us to consider having her evaluated by a developmental pediatrician for a delay in her fine motor skills. We put it off for months thinking that she would catch up in preschool and that there wasn't much cause for concern. But as the weeks and months passed we began to feel like she was getting worse instead of better. She was refusing to play at the playground or even go outside at all. She could barely even hold a crayon, let alone color or draw with it. She was restricting herself nutritionally so much that I was concerned she wasn't getting enough to eat. Pants, socks, tags, strong smells, wind, rain, cold, snow, and dogs were almost unbearable. She spent almost every waking minute living in her own imaginary world, uninterested in interacting with us or friends who had come over to play.
So we decided to take her to a developmental pediatrician to see what he said. The conclusion was that she is behind in her fine motor skills and struggles with sensory perception. He recommended that she be seen by an Occupational Therapist(OT) to work with her on her sensory issues as well as improve her fine motor skills. So we have been taking her to an OT in our neighborhood once a week for the past 6 weeks or so and although it is a slow moving process, we have definitely seen some improvements.
What's most interesting to me about her improvement with her hands is that the OT has not been working with her at all on handwriting or drawing. She has been strictly focused on working through her sensory processing problems. She says that her over-sensitivity is causing her to be behind in her fine motor skills and that once we have fully addresses the SPD that her hands will improve on her own. I have been very skeptical of this theory but as you can see from the photo, there is definitely something it.
She is a little more willing to try new things like riding a trike, even if it's hard. However she is still convinced that she can't do things most of the time, but we're working on changing that perception daily.
We have lots of exercises and deep-pressure protocol therapies that I work on at home daily to help with her SPD. It's a lot. And somedays when she doesn't want me to work with her it seems like too much. But we have seen a difference and that give me the motivation to keep going.
3. Our Occupational Therapist, Loren Shlaes also recently published an article on PediaStaff.com about addressing SPD from and OT's point of view.
Now that we have a name for what is going on with Violet it seems like things are finally making sense and now we can move forward with a plan to help her succeed in life. I spent a lot of time doubting and comparing her to other kids and wondering whether or not there was a "problem" with her. And she is different then other kids and that's ok because she's also Violet, our sweet, happy girl and we are so proud of her and feel privileged to be her parents. She is constantly teaching me how to be more patient and understanding as we work together everyday. I hope that by sharing a little bit about our experience with a child with SPD that it might help someone else out there who is maybe searching for answers themselves about their own child or someone they love. I'm going to try to make a bigger effort to write more posts about her progress as we continue to attend OT sessions. Please feel free to comment to post questions if you have any. And give yourself a pat on the back for reading through this hugely long post, yikes!
This entry was posted in Family, SPD/Special Needs. Bookmark the permalink.
I am so glad to be able to learn more about Violet's world. You know how much we love that girl – Ellie still talks about her now and again. I hope the OT continues to be beneficial and I look forward to learning more. The look on her face riding that tricycle is priceless. Hope to see you guys soon!
P.S. The photos in the header freak me out by how much Simon has grown. He's huge!
You're doing a great job. Violet is lucky to have devoted patient parents like you. I feel lucky to have excellent parental friends to lean on!
It is so good to share things like this– for others to understand and for Violet to be better understood. I have 2 affected nephews– one with SPD and another with SPD as a symptom of Aspberger's– so I am a little familiar with how it can affect kids and how much therapy can help. I'm happy that Violet is making progress. I always think of her and all the little girls that we left in the city as the BFFs Bethany should have had!
I'm so happy you shared this. I've heard you talk about it here and there but I loved hearing about all the intricacies and about the success you've found so far. Violet is the sweetest and I have no doubt she has an amazing life ahead of her! I also know that in situations like this, when you feel alone and overwhelmed with a diagnosis, it helps tremendously to be vocal and share your story. You're doing a great job, Jen! Know that we support and love you and your family!
Violet is my sweet girl, and I am so proud of the progress she has made. She is so special to me, and the complete love of my life. Ever since she was born, I have had a special bond with her! She is an amazing little girl, and lucky to have amazing parents.
Interesting to read more about the disorder. I am so glad the occupational therapy is working.
That pic of her dancing just made my morning! Oh she is still the precious little girl she has always been!
Just happened to check in to your blog. Nobody writes much any more so I haven't been very good about looking. I was real surprised to hear about your concerns and Violet's diagnosis. I know how concerning it can be when you find out your child is anything but perfect. But so glad she's progressing with the help. I'm sure she'll learn to deal with it and she will flourish as she grows up. Such cute pictures! Thanks for sharing.
Have you thought about sharing your story on Amy Webbs blog as well? I think others may really gain from what you've learned, especially since its all so new and there isn't a ton of research available yet. You are writing your family's story as we speak, and it's a beautiful one. Violet is in great hands!


It is easy to work out at a gym stuffed with machines. But if you want to turn your home into a fitness center without buying any equipment, you have to be a little more creative. For the following four exercises, all you need is a wall.
This is going to be lots of fun! I bet that after doing the exercises I showed you, you will come up with your own ideas.
Lie face-up on a yoga mat and bend your knees to a 90-degree angle, heels placed on the wall. Your shins should be parallel to the floor. Lift your hips off the floor by pushing your heels against the wall. Hold the stretch vor 2-3 seconds and then slowly return to the starting position without resting at the bottom. Exhale while pushing up, inhale when lowering your body to the floor.
Lie down on your back, leaving some space between your hips and the wall, the arms are stretched by your side. Then walk your feet up the wall two steps, pushing your hips up so your body is flat from knees to shoulders. Slowly march your legs in toward your chest while engaging your glute muscles to keep those hips high. If you get tired, you may support your hips with your hands for a bit when switching legs.
Lie face-up on the mat and try to move your hips as close as possible to the wall. It's okay if there is a gap. But make sure your back is flat on the floor. Then lift your right shoulder off the ground and reach towards your left knee. Your neck should be relaxed. Exhale while doing this movement and inhale when lowering your upper body back to the floor.
Lie on your mat again with the buttocks against the wall. Place your feet up against the wall and then try to push the knee straight. If you sit at a desk all day, chances are that your hamstrings got shortened. Stretching your legs and in doing so improving the flexibility of your hamstrings will be beneficial to the health of your back, hips and knees. Do this stretch at the end of a workout, when the muscles are warm and don't force it too much. If you repeat this exercise, you will get more flexible for sure.


You can visit the ACTS website by clicking HERE. NOTE: most of the ACTS seminaries are on semesters, so registrations must be sent prior to their registration as well. Students who are in cross-registered courses are governed by the educational policies of the offering school. Please note that Bexley-Seabury Seminary Federation is not participating in exchange cross-registrations. Please contact your Registrar directly to register for one of their courses.
Students enrolled in Master's degree programs at Northern may cross-register at any of these seminaries during the Fall, Winter or Spring terms after completion of 12 hours of study at Northern. M.Div. students are limited to 30 hours through cross-registration. Students in two-year degree programs are limited to 21 hours.
Students must download and complete the electronic form below and submit it electronically to Northern's Registrar before the end of Northern's term registration. Click HERE to open and download the electronic ACTS Cross-Registration Form, then e-mail the completed form to registrar@seminary.edu.
Northern students may take courses at Wheaton College Graduate School by being admitted at WCGS as a visiting student. Contact WCGS Admissions Office for further information. Tuition is charged at the WCGS rate. Undergraduate classes (such as Wheaton's normal offerings for Greek and Hebrew) are not available for cross-registration.


Art is long, life is short, goes the aphorism. That leaves out a third player: the planet lasts longest of all, and treats human life and human art with equal disregard.
After the extreme outrage (and murder threats) that animal lovers directed at the Guggenheim last year, museums have had to rethink the ethics of art with living creatures. But are we sure that only humans have a capacity for art? Perhaps it's time to think of the horses, monkeys, spiders, and pigs in our galleries as creators in their own right.