There is now a visitor feedback page. So you can tell me what you think of this site. |
Home >
What's Up at In-Couraging Word?
Rosh Hashanah or Yom Teruah
It is now the beginning of Rosh Hashanah, which continues until sundown Sunday. Originally, this was the Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah). The Church under Constantine dropped this and all "Jewish" Holy Days. Modern Jews combined the New Year and Feast of Trumpets. This holy day begins the Days of Awe, which is a ten-day period of contemplation ending with Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. The Feast of Trumpets is a time to hear the blowing of the shofar. It signifies the blowing of the Shofar, or trumpet of God when Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ) returns. So, I bid you all "Shanah Tovah,” which means “good year” in Hebrew. The word “u’metuka” – meaning “and sweet” – is sometimes added to the end of that phrase as in “good and sweet year." Praise God for His never ending grace, mercy, and faithfulness. |
Politics or no politics: A Change of perspective
I did not do much with this website for quite a long time. Every so often, somebody would email me and recommend a link that I could include on the Links and Resources page of this website. Aside from adding those links, I did not post much. I remember when I created this website, I intended it to be a place of inspiration and encouragement. I wanted to have a Christian presence on the web. I wanted this site to glorify God. Church traditions tend to reject politics from their organizations; I followed that tradition on this website. Now, with all that has happened since I created In-couragingword, and even moreso this year with the Pandemic and the riots in a large number of our cities, I think that political posts should no longer be avoided. I can still encourage while I offer my analysis of what I see happening in this world. So, that is what I will do. |
Happy All Saints Day
Today is ALL SAINTS DAY! Let me be the first to express this greeting: HAPPY ALL SAINTS DAY TO ALL! This is Psalm 117 Followed by Psalm 150, which I place here to honor all of the Saints who are now with the Lord: Praise the LORD all you nations. Extol Him all you people. His merciful kindness is great toward us, And the truth of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary: Praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance: Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord! |
UPDATED Links and Resources
I have recently updated my Links and Resources page to add links to resources and fix thoses that were not working. I have updated the page and all links are functional. God bless you all. |
Be blessed and bless those around you.
I have had a practice for many years now, which is that I try to make life better for those in my little space in the world. Imagine how nice things would be if everyone tried such a thing. May God richly bless you all, and when He does, pass it on. |
Flash Fiction Story: A Blinding Flash Followed by utter Chaos.
There was a blinding flash. Then my car died, and the steering wheel locked up. Many cars were skidding out of control. I applied my brakes and thanked God they worked, so I stopped without colliding with anything. All the traffic signals all quit working. My cell phone was dead too, yet I am alive. |
Memorial Day Reminders
In 2013, I published this article on Yahoo voices about what I want to remember on Memorial Day. Yahoo discontinued the Yahoo Voices site. So, the link stopped working. Here is the article: Memorial Day is the holiday that was
established to remember and honor those who died while serving in the military.
It seems ironic to remember those who died during the time of the year that is
associated with new life. Consider this idea: We plant seeds to grow plants. So
when a seed that died is planted a new plant grows, which is new life. So, in
remembering those who died, we celebrate the new life that their deaths
perpetuated. I think that the irony was that World War One was called, "The War that will End War", or The War to end all wars", yet World War Two began twenty-one years later and several other wars have been fought after that one was finished. Men and women as well continue to die serving in this country's military. I think that it is equally important to remember the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for all mankind. He was not a soldier but was a servant. He died in the ultimate war that being the war to redeem all people from the wrath that we all bring upon ourselves because of our self-indulgence. Some who will read this essay will disagree that Memorial Day should be a day to remember Jesus and his crucifixion, but I consider that to be the greatest sacrifice of all times and in a war that is still being waged against humanity. He died to give us the ultimate freedom. His death was the sacrifice to ultimately end all war. So, I shall remember that always. |
Have a blessed Resurrection Sunday
I pray that all of you have a blessed day tomorrow. The day we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord, the Son of God Almighty. Hallujah HE IS RISEN! Be blessed! |
Elias Scott Alexander Fritz is my Grandson's Name
My son has named his son: Elias Scott Alexander Fritz. See the story here: Praise God! https://www.facebook.com/phritz20/timeline/story?ut=32&wstart=1357027200&wend=1359705599&hash=10151356561527250&pagefilter=3&ustart=1¬if_t=like Three Generations of Fritzes.  |
1-10 of 20