Dr. Dobson's Parenting Advice is Proven

Dr. James Dobson is a well-known psychologist who specializes in advice on parenting (especially for new parents).

Focus on the Family, his non-profit ministry provide counseling and resources on marriage, parenting and other family matters; and he has also authored several books on these topics.

Dr. James Dobson is a well-known psychologist and the founder of Focus on the Family, a non-profit ministry that supplies advice and resources on marriage, parenting and other family matters. He describes two types of children: the compliant child – an obedient child that heeds good advice and follows a path to peace; versus the defiant child – who is the exact opposite. He says most children are “in between” those two extremes.

Having given birth to eleven children – all living – all raised except for one – I can state unequivocally that Dr. Dobson is correct. Most children are between the two extremes. However, if you happen to get one that is wholly defiant – my advice is … PRAY!! Pray you survive them until they reach the age of eighteen and then … send them on their way!

You see children must realize that one day if they live, they will be the same age as mommie and daddy. If they have children of their own, mommy and daddy will no longer have to explain why the “rules” were so flipping ludicrous!! There are many who claim to have programs that work if you happen to be raising a difficult and trying child. Some of them will even offer you their programs free of charge. Quite frankly, everybody has to wade through those muddy murky waters on their own. What may work for your family could cause chaos and mayhem in another person’s home. So tread very cautiously.

I can tell you that as a young parent, reading the Dobson books was extremely helpful. Many who might not be of the Christian persuasion probably steer clear of his writings. But the advice he offers is very generic and can be applied regardless of one’s religious beliefs or nationality or ethnicity.

As I stated earlier, my babies are all full grown now, with only one remaining. In five more years, she’ll be stepping out on her own. Five years? That’s half a blink of an eye. Really it is. My oldest child has already passed the over the hill mark. Back in my day, “over the hill” used to be age 30. It seems like it was just yesterday when we were teaching him how to walk. Though the memories are sweet, of a truth, my husband and I look forward to the “empty nest years” with great anticipation.

But getting to my point: If you are a new parent, and mommy and daddy are no available for you to ask them about the “rules”, pick up a book by Dr. Dobson. No doubt you can find one or more at your local library or even a church library. If not, his books are available for purchase online.

English: James Dobson. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Dr. James Dobson Parenting Collection

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Who Should Be the Next James Bond? (After Daniel Craig)

This article was published by a fellow writer on Read.Cash. He combined 2 topics, but I am only interested in his picks for James Bond, so that could contrast and compare it to My Picks.  

Who Should Be the Next James Bond? (After Daniel Craig) 

Reblogging from my entertainment blog. Have you visited?

Artists I Fancy : Lavarne Ross

♣ Who is Lavarne Ross?
An internationally known African-American artist.  Lavarne Ross says that he was “born an artist”. His work certainly reflects that of an individual with an extraordinary talent. He makes masterful use of his paintbrush to appeal to the eye and to tell a story. 

Tribute
Allposters.com

Best known for the “Tribute” art poster which features black African ballerina dancers in pastel. It's a lovely painting and although I am certain that it was neither his inspiration nor his intention, it makes me think of George Gershwin's 1959 film, "Porgy & Bess", the famous musical. (O.o) Go figure. The Ross paintings, however, that really captured my attention were “Black Orchids” and "Angel Wings".


Were I to describe this man's art in one word? ENCHANTING!

• To know more about this incredibly talented artist, visit his YouTube channel (see below), his Facebook page or go directly to his official website lross.com.

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Laura K. Lawless Says You Can Learn How to Speak French the Fun Way!

Learning to speak French? That's easy!   

• Typing accents? That's impossible!!

If I can speak it, that's good enough!

No it's not!   Don't be silly.

Laura Lawless says: “It's just as important to include accents when writing in French as it is to spell words correctly.” 

Quote source: 

How to Type Accents in Any OS | lawlessfrench.com

Took 3 years of French in high school (many moons ago) and a French class as an elective at the University of Miami (which doesn't count at all!).  This site, Lawless French, created by online educator, Laura K. Lawless, makes learning the language of love so much more fun and interesting.  She actually wrote the book "Intermediate French For Dummies".  Link below is to a bilingual article, written in French.  But if you click on any word, phrase or sentence, it will be translated into English.  Try it out!

 

Interesting Facts About French

Related articles

• Google says French really is language of love(thelocal.fr)

WORLD CUISINE: Great Recipes from Around the World (and Texas)

Hello!  How are you?  Thanks for visiting!  The content you're searching for has been republished at my foodie blog.  Click here. 

WORLD CUISINE: Great Recipes from Around the World (and Texas)

A handy reference list. Descriptive list of the different and popular dishes from the Philippines that every Filipino family have enjoyed cooking and serving on their dinner table. A Taste of the Caribbean: Make Jamaican Patties for Supper! This is a great recipe for authentic tasting Jamaican Patties; delicious golden pastry filled with curried beef and spices.

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The Olive Tree has been highly regarded since ancient times ...

The olive branch holds a special place in Jewish and Christian beliefs and traditions.

There were olive trees in the garden of Gethsemane where Jesus and his disciples often withdrew to for spiritual solace. There are still olive trees growing in Gethsemane today.

Olive trees are considered as "Immortal" because they can live for up to two hundred years, and just before a tree dies, new branches sprout from its roots.

Throughout history, the olive tree has been regarded as a symbol of peace and goodwill.

There are artists living and working in the Holy City of Bethlehem who specialize in sculpting unique treasures and creating inspirational art from olive wood.  

• The craft of olive wood carving has been practiced since the 4th century.

Lion and Lamb Olive Wood Carving

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Related articles

• Trees Talking History
• Trees Deserve Respect
• Fun olive facts

Glackens - Hillside with Olive Trees Poster by Virginia5050
Shop for a Poster template or design online at Zazzle.com

Have you visited my partner site ~ Joie de Vivre Magazine Blog?

The Most Delicious Types of Sushi Rolls - VOTE!

Having lots of fun at my foodie adventures sharing All Things Sushi. There are a lot of sushi lovers all around the world. Figured visitors at this blog who may not have yet visited my foodie blog might appreciate the link below.  You can VOTE on your favorite sushi roll.  They have rainbow sushi rolls on the list!  :)

The Most Delicious Types of Sushi Rolls | Vote for your favorite at Ranker

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Related articles 

• Mosaic sushi will satisfy your obsession with neatness and food(mashable.com)

• ---

Renaissance Man or Mad Man?

Jose Sanchez is the marketing manager at Uberflip, who wrote this article and published it with an infographic.  It was tagged "General Management" and "Marketing" and since in my "organization" I wear both of those hats - i.e. general manager and the person in charge of marketing :-) - hoped to extract a few pointers.  This article was recommended by the Editors of CMO.com.  When editors give you a thumbs up that's usually a good indicator.  It's an informative article.  But the introduction given by the Editors as a lead-in is RE-quoteworthy.

From the Editors : Back in his day--and we're talking 500 years ago--Leonardi da Vinci was a master of both art and science, described as a man of "unquenchable curiosity." Seems as if he had the right stuff for the modern-day chief marketing role, don't you think? Our lead article and infographic, "Today's CMO: More Renaissance Man Than 'Mad Man,'" paints a clear picture of the many new skills marketers must possess to help shape their companies' success. ...

Who wouldn't want to read the article after a lead-in like that??

• Today's CMO: More Renaissance Man Than 'Mad Man'

(NOTE: Archived copy of article)

NOTE:  I was also intrigued because the mention of a Renaissance Man reminded me of one of my own articles - which is in no way related to the topic other than the fact that it also discusses others who like Mr. Da Vinci were thought to be Renaissance Men.  I also wear a freelance writer hat.  What can I say?  I wear a lot of hats and do my best to try to make it look easy and "flawless".  Wake up each day determined to succeed on my mission to STOP "The Nothing". :) 

Jacques-Yves Cousteau Renaissance Man - Guardian Liberty Voice https://t.co/HukAwvBtz8 pic.twitter.com/aFVmURehhx

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) June 19, 2021

Walking In Da Vinci's Foot Steps https://t.co/gh79vwOW5V via @wordpressdotcom pic.twitter.com/j6SZHmCDVe

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) June 19, 2021

“A Renaissance man or woman is described as an individual who has wide knowledge in many fields.” —  Are You a Renaissance Man or Woman? https://t.co/d7NZeU8o3o pic.twitter.com/MAHnzG9qsG

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) June 19, 2021

NFTs Help You Guard Your Ownership of Digital Assets

I chose an excerpt from this article because I thought these words were the perfect lead-in for describing the intent of the inventors of NFTs (non-fungible tokens).

“ … most digital art hasn’t entered the traditional art market world because there hasn’t been a way to track provenance and therefore ownership. For an art object to retain value, it has to be tracked back to the creator in some fashion and it needs to be unique, or at least in limited supply. ...”

This article is very complicated and hard (for me) to digest. But if you own digital assets, like art or music, you should read this. When I saw the name Jay-Z and Beyoncé in the article I know this is serious business. I got the gist of the article. 

• NFTs are a sort of “protection” for your digital asset, just like copyrights and patents.

That's how I understand NFTs. 

If anybody wants to enlighten me further or correct me, I'm open to discussion.

NFT Technology versus Subscriptions – The Battle for Ownership of Digital Content - The Scholarly Kitchen

Introducing Featured by #Binance!

Incubated by @BinanceX, @featuredbinance is a non-custodial, on-chain platform designed to facilitate the full lifecycle of NFTs for creators, brands and their fans.

Learn more ➡️ https://t.co/cCtBNftGlJ pic.twitter.com/OZAULGWO4p

— Binance (@binance) June 10, 2021

Maybe the Square-Tidal deal is all about creating Jay-Z NFTs https://t.co/Z8f2lQDPEG by @abebrown716 pic.twitter.com/kq471jXJdP

— Forbes (@Forbes) March 5, 2021

How NFTs are redrawing Asia’s art scene from artists to galleries https://t.co/E2uSf4YnZA via @forkast_news @hicetnunc2000 is also mentioned in the article!

— Frederik De Fruyt (@FrederikDeFruyt) June 13, 2021

Residual Income : Social Sites That Pay (A 2nd Look) - Update #2

UPDATE June 8, 2021 : It is as they say:  "Only the strong survive!"  As of today, I am somewhat active on MyLot; very active on Forum Coin; and I have found 2 new partner sites to try out: Read.Cash and Noise.Cash. (If you click through to Read.cash, there is a banner at the top of the page that directs you to Noise.Cash.)  These two platforms let you earn Bitcoin Cash (BCH). After that you have to figure out on your own where and how to spend the cryptocurrency OR how to exchange for cash you can use to purchase goods and services or pay your bills. The misadventures continue! ☺

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UPDATE May 29, 2016 : This post was first published 02 November 2016. A lot can happen in a short period of time. Two of sites mentioned below ~ BlogBourne and Literacy Base ~ are either closing for business or "in limbo". Those two sites were blogging communities. The 3rd site is actually a discussion forum and seems to be keeping its members happy. Meanwhile, signed up for another discussion forum - ForumCoin.com. It has a points system. 500 points = $5 USD. A nice community and I see lots of familiar faces. You're welcome to join. 

ForumCoin Sign Up is free. 

 
* *INFO below shared 11/2/2016: 

The link shared below leads to a post that was published at my other blog. It was my first evaluation of social communities that have a revenue-share plan and you can get paid for all of your activity, not just for publishing blog posts.


This post supplies a contrast and comparison for three (3) different sites:  two of them are (in my mind) blogging communities and the other one is more like a discussion forum or a micro-blogging platform/social network.  

All of them have income potential.  

My member name at all of the sites is "cmoneyspinner".  

These are my profile links:

• BlogBourne (member since August 2016; signed up because a friend asked me to);

• LiteracyBase (member since July 2016); and

• myLot (member since August 2015).

Earn Residual Income :
Join Social Sites That Pay

When I say that I'm taking a second look, I mean that a reevaluation or a second evaluation is in order.


BlogBourne is a site where many of my fellow friends and bloggers are actively publishing and commenting.  It must be a worthwhile effort.  Otherwise, why would they continue to stay there?  However, for me, navigating the site to find topics of interest to me feels a tad bit awkward.  Also, to get a post approved,  400+ words are required. For these reasons, my activity at this site is not very frequent.


By contrast, my efforts at Literacy Base and myLot are much more rewarding, and as such, I login to my account almost every day.  There is always something to be done, in addition to blogging, at either of these sites that can generate some extra income.  


In fact, myLot doesn't even require blogging.  But if you wanted, you could describe your activity as micro-blogging.  Starting a discussion there is very similar to composing a short Tweet.  (A short Tweet?  That's a redundant expression, isn't it?  I apologize.  :) )


To get a post approved at Literacy Base, 300+ words are required. For some reason, it seems easier to write 300 words than 400.  (It's psychological.  I'm a fruitcake!  )  But you can easily earn from contributing to forums and groups, updating you wall (or timeline) with a quote or some random comment, leaving comments at blog posts published by others, etc.

• NOTE:  To be fair, you also don't need to blog at BlogBourne.  You can be active in the same way as on Literacy Base.

With Literacy Base (cash out at $10) and myLot (cash out at $5) - look up at the right hand corner of your screen and you can immediately see your earnings.  With BlogBourne (cash out at $10) you have to calculate what you've earned by multiplying your accumulated coins by the exchange rate.  (Not sure what the exchange rate is.  It's probably best if you ask the BB site owner directly or click here to read a post by a blogger who is a member at both sites.)

Two final remarks:  

(1)  The communities have really nice members.

(2)  If you are a newbie blogger, these sites are a great place to get started.  If I could go backwards, I would have started my blogging attempts at sites like these.  Eh!  Live and learn!  My pain is your gain.

(Image credit: WEP Pink Poop Emoji Pillow Queen Princess Lady Nerd Smiley Unicorn Emoticon Pig Cushion Dog Stuffed Bunny Rabbit Soft Plush Toy (CUTE GIRL)

Bob Marley - Rastaman Trivia 2

February 6th was the singer’s birthday. But there was this interesting article at Bubblews about his memorial services with some trivia to be shared. You never know when you may need to know it! Rather than wait for May 11th, the anniversary of Mr. Marley’s death, my reasoning was that since it was still February, it could be considered a sort belated birthday remembrance.

May 11th has come and gone, but it’s still May. When it comes to perfect timing … Eh! What can I say? My timing is off!! Found two more links which are being added to my collection of Marley trivia and tidbits.


#1) Bob Marley - The Life and Death Of a Reggae Legend

A condensed, concise and precise, well-written biography in a nutshell penned by BethanRose, a writer based in South Wales.

#2) How Bob Marley was Assassinated By the CIA 

Always suspected the attempt on Mr. Marley’s life had political motive, but must admit that this is the first time reading so much detail about CIA involvement. Written by Marvin (no last name given) using a pen name “rasta1”. It is an undeniable observation that many reggae entertainers have been shot and killed, but the writer states that the life of Bob Marley was “spared due to the mystical intervention of JAH Rastafari”. Can’t say whether this report is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, but can say – by way of my opinion – that the article certainly does have elements that sound convincing enough to be true!

Image credit:  Pixabay.com
Content previously share at TreasurePen.com.


See also

Bob Marley - Rastaman Trivia

Book Review: 'The Man with the Golden Gun' by Ian Fleming

Many people know a lot about Bond movies. 

What about the Bond books?

• "Casino Royale" was the first Bond book published in 1953. 

• After that, Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, wrote a book a year. This brilliant writer died of a heart attack in 1964. That's a little over ten years!! 

• Bond novels were published between the years 1953 – 1966. 

It is not often that I come across a review of one of the Fleming books. Lots of movie reviews but not book reviews.  Sharing a link to a book review of "The Man with the Golden Gun" from The Friendly Shelf.  It might tempt to want to READ ALL of Fleming's original books. :)




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Bond Novels by Publication Date:

• Casino Royale (1953)
  
• Live and Let Die (1954)
  
• Moonraker (1955)
  
• Diamonds are Forever (1956)
  
• The Diamond Smugglers (1957)
  
• From Russia With Love (1957)
  
• Dr. No (1958)
  
• Goldfinger (1959)
  
• For Your Eyes Only (1960)
  
• Thunderball (1961)
  
• The Spy Who Loved Me (1962)
  
• On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1963)
  
• Thrilling Cities (1963)
  
• You Only Live Twice (1964)
  
• The Man With the Golden Gun (1965)
  
• Octopussy & The Living Daylights (1966)
  

- - Info Reference: literary007.com Includes book summary and related blog posts.

- Aug 12, 1964: James Bond creator Ian Fleming dies. Read full article at history.com

- The Best James Bond Novels: Ranking the Fleming Originals by “Jeff” at bookriot.com

- Obviously, great info can be relished at the official website: James Bond | Ian Fleming Publications

 

Original Source: Read.Cash

Related articles

• Every First-Edition Ian Fleming James Bond Book Cover (1953-1966)
• "Before he wrote it, he lived it"?
• Casino Royale (1953) by Ian Fleming

AUDIOBOOK

The Man with the Golden Gun

The Benefits of Space Exploration

A satellite is a celestial body that revolves around a planet. Moon is the earth’s satellite. Saturn has 82 satellites. Humans also have made artificial satellites. The purpose of these artificial satellites is to the orbit around the planet, gather information, and send the information in visual form back to the earth. Scientists then analyze and study the information to understand the planet better.

The Beginnings of Space Exploration

• In October 1957, the Russians (their country known then as the U.S.S.R. or the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) launched the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, into space.
• Determined not to be outdone or left behind, the USA or the United States of America launched its first satellite, Explorer 1, in January 1958.

It was the Americans who discovered the Van Allen radiation belts, two concentric rings of energetic particles surrounding Earth. The inner belt is composed of protons, and the outer belt is composed of electrons. James Van Allen was the scientist who supervised not only the design of the instruments which collected the data, but the study of the radiation data which was gathered. In 2018, NASA celebrated the 60th Anniversary of the launching of Explorer 1.

January 1958 was a historic month and year in the history of space exploration but it was in July 1969 when American astronaut Neil A. Armstong became the first human to set foot on the moon.

The Progress of Space Exploration

Star Trek is Fiction

Since the 1950s, those who have engaged in space exploration set out to accomplish many goals. The popular television series, Star Trek, which made its debut September 1966, may have led many to believe that the goal was “To boldly go where no one has gone before!” and “to explore strange new worlds.” But the reality is that from the late 1950s to the present day 2020, human life or humanoid life or any life form on other planets have never been found and likely never will be. None of the other planets – Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, or Pluto ~ are suitable for sustaining human life. These are the conclusions reached by scientists who have thoroughly investigated information and data collected by means of satellites, and also acquired as a result of numerous lunar and planetary missions, using both manned and unmanned spacecraft.

Space Research Yields Facts

In fact, the myriad goals of space exploration, right from the very start, were primarily for the purpose of improving our life ON planet Earth. Although there are some scientists who are committed to researching whether or not certain planets can be colonized, or at minimum, whether the soil on other planets can be used to grow food for we earthlings.

Their commitment, while it may be futile (my opinion), is understandable. After all, the cries and warnings of the environmentalists and the preservationists are not being heeded. The resources of the Earth are not unlimited. They paint a bleak picture of the future of life on Earth. That’s why there are so many books and movies depicting what life would be like for humans living in a post-apocalyptic world. Those committed scientists have reasoned and rightly so, that it doesn’t really take much to keep us alive. All we need is nonpoisonous food, breathable air, and drinkable water. How hard can it be to truly create a Class-M planet? To quote George Bernard Shaw: “Imagination is the beginning of creation.” So? I guess. If you can imagine it; it can become a reality. Right?

But so far, none of the other places in the universe that have been explored have the air and water that we need. So some scientists reason that perhaps these planets have dirt! There are edible plants that do not require a lot of oxygen or sunlight to grow. It could be worth further examination.

The Benefits of Space Exploration

• Even though there are those who are still waiting in anticipation and hoping that one day we will make “first contact” with “new worlds”, many of the scientific endeavors related to space exploration have yielded numerous benefits for the world we live in.
• Communication satellites were used to enable remotely located or isolated communities to listen to the radio and watch television, and learn about the world, albeit on the same planet, beyond their borders.
• Space-based sensors help predict the weather and forecast hurricanes and the movement of other storms, warning people ahead of time so that they can gather a few survival essentials and seek shelter.
• High-intensity flashlights which were originally developed for use on spacecraft to imitate sunlight are also used for search-and-rescue missions and even by campers to spend the night in the woods.

Space exploration has provided valuable information and helped us develop a knowledge and understanding of the natural processes that regularly occur on Earth. The application of space technology has improved our daily everyday life in so many ways.

But at what price?

Original source

Having Fun At Read.Cash and Noise.Cash ~ Learning and Earning!

Have you heard of Noise.Cash?  It's a fun social site where you can socialize, learn, and earn Bitcoin Cash.  It is the partner site for Read.Cash.  Both sites are fairly new.  Read.Cash was launched in 2019 and the following year, 2020, Noise.Cash was launched.  If you like publishing short posts (just like you do on Twitter) then you'll probably like Noise.Cash.  If you're an artist or photographer, blogger, article writer, both sites are terrific for sharing your work.  In other words, you can publish short posts, share images, or write detailed articles.  The platform is very easy to use and you can start immediately!

Image credit

First question you might ask:

• But if you are already on Twitter, why bother with Noise.Cash?  Because you can earn Bitcoin Cash for your content; even if it's just your opinion.  What do you earn for your tweets?

Second question you might ask:

• What's Bitcoin Cash?  The answer is ... it's complicated.  But the bottom line is that it's a form of cryptocurrency that you can earn, save or trade, or use to buy goods and services.  If you sign up and create an account at both sites ... Read.Cash and Noise.Cash, you will learn a lot more about it.  That's what I did!

My recommendation?

Create an account at Read.Cash first.  Take a look at my RC profile.

When you create your account you'll see a banner at the top of the page suggesting that you also join Noise.Cash.  I suggest you click on it.  Take a look at my NC profile.

If you are curious to know more, check out the FAQ at Read.Cash.  They explain it much better than I do.  All I can say is that I've been there for less than a year and I have plans to stay!

Top Tech Blogs in India (AllTechBuzz Infographic 2019)

Very happy to update this blog post with an infographic for 2019.  The first infographic dated back to 2014.  Both display the Top 50 Tech Blogs in India to be followed.

No surprise that the infographic prepared by AllTechBuzz still has my all-time favorite tech blog at the top of its list.  In my humble opinion, ShoutMeLoud.com was and still is Numero Uno!  It's a fantastic award-winning blog loaded with invaluable advice, tips and tricks.  It was great in 2014 and it's still great!  

Visit the site and sign up to receive their free newsletter via eMail or check out the ShoutMeLoud blogging app (free download).

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Courtesy: All Tech Buzz

More Lists of Top Tech Blogs

Public Protests: Is Tree Sitting Really Necessary?

In the midst ... was there the tree of life ... and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. - Revelation 22: 2

John the Apostle had been banished to the island of Patmos for preaching the Christian gospel message, and there he had a vision wherein he saw what heaven looked like. The full text of Revelation 22: 2 reads:

“In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all tree leaves could be used for the healing of nations? What would the earth’s landscape be like were it not for trees? Can you imagine?

No need to imagine. It would be like Saturn, Jupiter, Mars or any of the other planets. But this glorious blue and green planet earth is adorned by these tall (some small) woody plants; from magnificent forests that grow naturally to individual trees planted by proud parents to honor the arrival of a new family member.

Some tree leaves have proven to have medicinal applications. But even if they don’t heal all the nations.  Trees supply creature comforts in so many ways. Trees bear delicious edible fruits. Trees have branches with foliage that provide shade from a scorching sun. When they sway in a gentle breeze it can create a feeling of calm and inner peace. Some trees have gorgeous flowers. Their blossoms are a treat to the senses of sight and smell, as they are an incredibly amazing range of petal shapes and colors, and give off a variety of pleasant fragrances.

Like most American children, from a Judaeo-Christian background, I was taught the biblical account of creation as recorded in Genesis. I have always thought, based on the account, that in the beginning, mankind was supposed to be vegetarian.

Because the scripture says:

“And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.” (Gen 1: 29).

To take my thought process a step further, the animals were also supposed to be vegetarian (next verse) and to my mind that would certainly make the world a better place. Watching programs on channels like Animal Planet about predatory animals that kill other animals for food, and occasionally enjoy a meal of human flesh, create a very unnerving feeling for me.

But, the purpose of this article is not to try to persuade meat-eaters to convert to a vegan diet. This article is about trees. Because I believe the biblical account of creation and the vivid imagery of John’s vision, the scriptural references are used simply to point out that trees have been an integral part of our existence since the creation; and will continue to be a part of our lives in the afterlife. That being said, the Bible mentions close to one hundred plants (bushes, shrubs and trees).

Below are short descriptions of just a few trees of Biblical importance. This article reflects composite research, i.e. information gathered from both secular and religious sources.

Acacia:

There are the acacias of Egypt and Arabia; and then there is the acacia tree, native of North America, which was introduced into Europe. Research indicates that there are 500 species of the acacia tree. In the United States, it is valued as a timber tree and used in shipbuilding. The Europeans found similar uses. Most students of the Bible know that acacia wood was used to build the Ark of the Covenant.

The acacia trees were large thorny trees. Their orange-brown hard-grained wood repelled insects. In some biblical translations, acacia trees are called shittim. Acacia wood was also used in the building of the first tabernacle (a portable "tent of meeting" where the Jews worshiped during the Exodus).

Reproduction of lively 4,000-yr-old Egyptian wall painting depicting identifiable Birds in Acacia Tree, from Tomb of Khnumhotep III, Beni Hasan c 1950 BC. Clockwise from bottom L, hoopoe bird. 2 immature masked shrikes, red backed shrike, common redstarthttps://t.co/Nv3GaX45DC pic.twitter.com/WT14BlttgS

— Journal of Art in Society (@artinsociety) March 18, 2020

Almond:

The almond tree is a stunning pinkish-white-flowered tree and it is prized for the high protein nut that it yields. (Some say fruit; some say nut.) Not only are the nuts delicious to eat, but the oil extracted from the nut can be used medicinally or as a lubricant, in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and as food flavoring. Because the almond contains very little starch, it is recommended as a flour substitute for diabetics.

Almond trees grow in various parts of the world but it thrives in Syria. Ayurveda is a form of alternative medicine in Western society, but a system of traditional medicine native to India. According to ayurvedic prescription, almonds serve as an aphrodisiac and aids in the production of semen and reproductive fluids. Men are encouraged to consume almonds after ejaculation. There are sweet almonds and bitter almonds. Both are good for you! Aaron was the brother of Moses, who helped his brother lead the children of Israel at the time of the Exodus from Egypt and he served as high priest to the Jews.

Among the contents of the Ark of the Covenant was Aaron’s rod. According to the Old Testament scriptures, though this rod had miraculous power, it was nothing more than an almond branch or twig. Per Numbers 17: 8, the rod “brought forth buds, bloomed blossoms and yielded almonds”.

Happy #FirstDayOfSpring! 🌸☀️#DidYouKnow that almond trees, or "almendros," grow these beautiful flowers? They are very common on the island of #Mallorca. pic.twitter.com/PkPYBemKq2

— Embassy of Spain USA (@SpainInTheUSA) March 19, 2020

Balsam:

“There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole” are words from a Christian hymn. [Note 1] The balsam tree was indeed very valuable in biblical times.

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia states: “It was an ingredient in the anointing oil of the priests (Ex 25:6; 35:28).

The Queen of Sheba brought it as a present to Solomon (1 Ki 10:2) in large quantity (1 Ki 10:10) and of a finer quality (2 Ch 9:9) than that brought as a regular tribute by other visitors (1 Ki 10:25).” [Note 2]

From the balsam tree, one can produce balm, an aromatic resinous gum used for medical purposes. Balm of Gilead, balsam of Gilead, and balsam tree are common names. It has even been called balsam of Mecca. In Genesis, the well-known story is told of Joseph who was sold into slavery by his jealous and envious brothers to a passing caravan of Ishmaelites. The Ishmaelites were traders on their way to Egypt to trade slaves, spices, myrrh and balm from Gilead.

Balsam is very difficult to cultivate, so it is only rarely grown. Usually it is cultivated in the regions bordering the Red Sea. Ancient Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, Arabs and Turks all treasured the balm of Gilead. The Greek term balsamon means ‘fragrant oil’.

Edible Wild Food Blog » The Genuine Balm of Gilead https://t.co/majsHLieKx ~ Img: The Arabian Balsam Tree. The Balm of Gilead has a very rich history during ancient times and in modern times. Balsam is likely derived from the Hebrew word "bosem" which means "to be fragrant". pic.twitter.com/VMY6SqOX1k

— My Fox Nooze (aka Joie de Vivre Magazine) (@FoxMarks_ATX) March 23, 2020

Sycamore:

People often make a distinction between the sycamore of scripture and the sycamore tree of Eurasia and North America. The “true sycamore” (as some refer to it) is the tree that Zacchaeus, the tax collector, climbed up into in order to see Jesus. He was a man of small stature and could not see Jesus because of the crowd, so he climbed up into a tree to get a better view. Luke 19: 1 – 10 presents the detailed account.

The biblical sycamore tree grew in Palestine and in Egypt. It bore small yellow edible fruit which was clustered and resembled a fig. The prophet Amos gathered the fruit of this tree for a living. Egyptian mummy-coffins are made out of this durable wood. The thick-branched wide-spreading tree has heart-shaped leaves with a downy underside which are very fragrant.

But, just because the sycamore trees of Eurasia and North America have no biblical significance, it doesn’t mean they aren’t just as delightful. The sycamore of Eurasia is a deciduous maple tree which has greenish flowers, winged fruits, and palmately lobed leaves (i.e. the leaves have five or more lobes arising from a single point and spread like fingers from a hand). The sycamore of North America is valued for its timber; but is also widely planted as a shade tree.

The Sycamore Gap Tree or Robin Hood Tree is a sycamore tree standing next to Hadrian's Wall near Crag Lough in #Northumberland pic.twitter.com/9mSCMNx1pJ

— Paul Stevenson TS , ADHD, OCD, SPD (@goldylookfleece) January 19, 2020

Fascinating Fact:

“The Tree of Life in Bahrain is one of the mysteries of world which is bound to be in the list of most unusual trees around the globe! This four-century-old mesquite tree survives in the midst of desert without the availability of water. The mystery of the survival of the tree has made it a legend and the name 'tree of life' is absolutely appropriate for the tree, truly representing the magic of life. A legend is also attached to the site where the tree is located. The local inhabitants believe with heart and soul that this was the actual location of the Garden of Eden.” [Note 3]

The miraculous & mysterious Tree of Life in #Bahrain 🇧🇭, surrounded by a desert, on the Island that is in the Arabian Gulf; By Faisal Ansari pic.twitter.com/yHsIVacnzs

— Salman R. Al-Abbasi | Bahrain (@SalmanRAlAbbasi) November 9, 2016

Tree Sitting

Tree sitting is when a protester sits in a tree, to protect it from being cut down. It is an act of civil disobedience that sometimes results in forcible removal of the protestor from the tree. Zacchaeus was not a tree-sitter. This article only briefly touches upon an arbitrary selection of a few trees mentioned in the Bible, and one legend created around a Bible story.

The famed cedars of Lebanon were not included because by the sixth century A.D., most of the beautiful groves had been destroyed and these days only a precious few remain. But hopefully this subjective medley, in a roundabout way, made it apparent that trees don’t just provide creature comforts and they’re not just the stuff of bible stories and legends.

Trees are of critical importance to our environment. 

The urgency of preserving, maintaining and cultivating trees can not be overstated or simplified. So heed the words of environmental activists and don’t be so quick to have them hauled off by hired tree-sit extractors. All the trees on our planet are “trees of life” and they can all contribute to healing the world.

******

Notes:

[1] "Oremus Hymnal: There Is a Balm in Gilead." Oremus. Web. 25 Sept. 2011.

[2] "Bible History Online - International Standard Bible Encyclopedia." Bible History Online Images and Resources for Biblical History. Web. 24 Sept. 2011.

[3] "10 Strangest Trees on Earth" ZuZuTop. 19 Jan. 2010. Web. 24 Sept. 2011.

Primary References:

Scriptural references can be easily researched online at Bible Gateway.

Youngblood, Ronald F., F. F. Bruce, and R. K. Harrison. Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville: T. Nelson, 1995.

"Trees - All about Palm Trees, Oak Tree, Pine Tree, Fruit Tree, Maple Tree and More!" 20-20 Site | Trees - All about Palm Trees, Oak Tree, Pine Tree, Fruit Tree, Maple Tree and More! LoveToKnow Corp. Web. 24 Sept. 2011.

Recommended Read:

Chapot, Hank. "Tree-Sitting, Since 1930." The Berkeley Daily Planet. 26 June 2008. Web. 25 Sept. 2011.

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Blog Publisher's Note:  This is my original content which first appeared at Suite101 (later Suite.io), Jan 2013.  The site is no longer online and my articles becames unpublished.  Various excerpts of this article can be found elsewhere around the web.It was a long and diligent search but I finally located a backup copy of my complete articles.  I have republished it here at this blog because the content is still relevant TODAY.  Trees are important to sustain life on planet earth!! That fact will never change.

Exotic Fruit: Pomegranates

Grew up in Miami, South Florida, which is just a 30-minute plane ride to The Bahamas. Both places have a wonderful array of all kinds of fruit – some people say tropical fruit, some say exotic fruit – no matter! It's fruit like sugar apples, star fruit, etc. and they are exquisitely delicious.  But one of the fruits that I find the most enjoyable doesn't grow in either places. POMEGRANATES! I really love pomegranates. Did you know this fruit has a very interesting history?   Read all about it.    

(P.S. When you arrive at the page, scroll all the way down to find out where to get a recipe for Pomegranate Christmas Cake and I hope you will support the inclusion of pomegranates in the traditional Thanksgiving cornucopia by voting PRO in the Poll.☺☺)
 

Pomegranate Fruits.  (Image credit)