Neddy's Palaver

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

What is “The Golden Rule” ? The phrase “do under others as you would have them do unto you“, is the most common expression of “The Golden Rule” .

“The Golden Rule” is the clearest expression of God’s moral law for his children to follow. It is the underlying rule for knowing what is good to do, and what is bad. “The Golden Rule” can be applied even by those who profess no belief in a supreme being, as it guarantees more happiness in one’s life. In bygone days of yore, every pupil in American public schools would be taught the Golden Rule. In these more modern times, it is probably against Supreme Court rulings for it to be taught. It has to do with something known as “separation of church and state“, recently discovered in the U.S. Constitution. Of course, the country has been governed by the same Constitution since its founding, but in these more erudite eras, the ACLU has brought to the attention of the justices of the Supreme Court, various penumbras, visible only to those anointed at exclusive schools of higher learning.

“The Golden Rule” establishes no particular religion. It leads to harmony amongst people. It is the foundation of Democracy.

Where did “The Golden Rule” come from? Who taught it first? It is from the spoken words of Jesus as recorded by Matthew and Luke in the Holy Bible.

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. ” (Matthew 7:12 KJV)

“And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” (Luke 6:31 KJV)

(Updated from 12 September 2005)

"Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me" by Augustus Montague Toplady, 1740-1778
(The MP3)

1. Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood
From Thy riven side which flowed
Be of sin the double cure,
Cleanse me from its guilt and power.

2. Not the labors of my hands
Can fulfil Thy Law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.

3. Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helplees, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly,–
Wash me, Savior, or I die!

4. While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyelids close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment-throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee!

From My Picasa Albums - "Alexandria, Virginia Cemeteries"
The image, To Thy Cross I Cling, was originally uploaded by barneykin. It is posted here from

He died on a Friday, but He danced on the following Sabbath.
He was “The Lord of the Dance.” ~ VOCAL mp3 sample

I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame,
The holy people said it was a shame,
So they whipped, and they stripped, and they hung Me high,
And they left Me there on the cross to die

I danced on a Friday, when the sky turned black,
It’s hard to dance with the Devil on your back,
Oh they buried My body, and they thought I’d gone,
But I am the dance and the dance goes on.

They cut Me down, but I lept on high,
I am the light that will never, never die,
But I’ll live in you if you’ll live in Me,
I am the Lord of the Dance, said He.

~~from “Lord of the Dance” by Sydney Carter

Bring down the holly, the mistletoe and the sparkling lights - Christmas is officially over, proclaims Neddy.

Today, the Day of Epiphany, marks the official end of the Christian tradition of “Twelve Days of Christmas”. The celebration of Christ’s life begins with Christmas day, December 25th, and ends on Epiphany, January 6th. The word “Epiphany” means “manifestation in Greek and refers to God manifesting or revealing himself to mankind by coming to earth as a physical being in the person of Jesus. The tradition has come down from the centuries that Christmas, marks the birth of the baby Jesus, and Epiphany, the twelfth day, recognizes the coming of the “wise men” from the East to witness that miraculous birth.

The twelve days between the two special Christian holidays are days of joyous celebration. January 6th, the twelfth day, marks the end of Christmas, and in our modern times it is when we remove all Christmas decorations to their storage boxes and the new year begins in earnest.

Although Christmas and Epiphany are festivals of Christiandom, all the world can celebrate their significance - that the God of the universe loves each and every one of his children.

There Are Twelve Days of Christmas

Today is Eve of Epiphany. In our modern time’s hustle and bustle, Old Christmas Eve, as it is also known, is a forgotten day, a lost celebration of old Europe and the middle ages. On this night, God’s Holy Spirit reveals Himself upon the earth to those of faith. Late at night, across the world, cattle and sheep in dark barns and fields, can be heard praying in their animal languages. One must listen very quietly to hear them as they celebrate the witnessing of the animals of so very long ago to the visitation of the Magi.

"When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh." ~~Matthew 2: 9-11

Old Christmas Eve

Pepys’ Diary ~ 6 January 1659/60

Rodanthe Celebration

Grandpa’s Birthday

We shall all be changed, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump.

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where thy sting? O grave, where thy victory? The sting of death sin; and the strength of sin the law. But thanks to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
(1 Corinthians 15:51-58 KJV)

When I say, “I am a Christian,” I’m not shouting, “I’ve been saved!”
I’m whispering, “I get lost! That’s why I chose this way”

When I say, “I am a Christian,” I don’t speak with human pride
I’m confessing that I stumble — needing God to be my guide

When I say, “I am a Christian,” I’m not trying to be strong
I’m professing that I’m weak and pray for strength to carry on

When I say, “I am a Christian,” I’m not bragging of success
I’m admitting that I’ve failed and cannot ever pay the debt

When I say, “I am a Christian,” I don’t think I know it all
I submit to my confusion asking humbly to be taught

When I say, “I am a Christian,” I’m not claiming to be perfect
My flaws are far too visible but God believes I’m worth it

When I say, “I am a Christian,” I still feel the sting of pain
I have my share of heartache which is why I seek His name

When I say, “I am a Christian,” I do not wish to judge
I have no authority — I only know I’m loved.

This poem was NOT written by Maya Angelou, Praise the Lord! So when you get the e-mails telling you that "Maya Angelou wrote an inspirational religious poem entitled ‘I Am a Christian’, write back and them them FALSE!  "When I Say, ‘I Am a Christian’" (the correct, full title) was penned in 1988, by Carol Wimmer .

Gifts from Keith Green, 1953-1993
A message from Keith Green.

A new way to listen to the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats.

Part 1 - Audio of Keith Greens Life by Melody Green

Part 2 - Audio of Keith Greens Life by Melody Green

Concerning our Saviour’s prayer before his Passion, Saint John Chrysostom says: By saying, ‘If it be possible, let it pass from me,’ He showed His humanity; but by saying, ‘Nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt,’ He showed His virtue and self-command, teaching us even when nature pulls us back to follow God. (Homily 83 on the Gospel of Matthew)

Together with Christ’s grieving Mother and John, the disciple He loved best, and with the other women, we shall stand watch by His Cross. We shall follow as His body is carried to the grave in the garden, and there leave his Body to rest till the Resurrection’s glorious morning. (Lenten Resources)

The image, Mural of Jesus, was originally uploaded by barneykin. It is posted here from

“On Holy and Great Tuesday we listen to our Saviour’s replies to the wily questions of the Pharisees and scribes, who tried to trap Him; we hear His stern rebukes of their envy and deceit. The parables of the Ten Virgins and of the Talents remind us how we should always keep watch over our conscience and use in God’s service any gift or talent we have received from Him. The Gospel then tells Christ’s prophecy of His second coming and the Last Judgment. It ends with the awful warning: ‘Ye know that after two days is the feast of the Passover, and the Son of Man is betrayed to be crucified.’” –Lenten Resources

“Through Colors” is from The Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows, at Navy Pier, Chicago. The image was originally uploaded by bluman. It is posted here from . Linked at basil’s blog Picnic.