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Newsletter
I FEBRUARY 2007
A certain farmer had an unusual weathervane on his barn. Inscribed on the arrow were these words: “God is love.” A passerby turned in at the gate and asked the farmer, “What do you mean by that? Do you think God's love is changeable; that it veers about as that arrow turns in the winds?” “Oh no,” replied the farmer, “I mean that whichever way the wind blows, God is still love.”
The Year 2007 (Pig) is the 4704th Chinese year . The Chinese believe that the first king of China was the Yellow King (he was not the first emperor of China ). The Yellow King became king in 2697 B.C., therefore China will enter the 4704th year on February 4th, 2007 . Also, the Chinese Year uses the cycle of 60 Stem-Branch counting systems and the Pig is the 23rd Stem-Branch in the cycle. Since 4700 = (60 *78) + 24, therefore this Pig Year is the 4704th Chinese Year.
Some web sites say the year 2007 is the 4705 th Chinese year. If you cannot find the explanation, here is a possible answer for you: The Yellow King's inauguration was held in the spring of 2697 B.C. But the day that was used as the first day of the year was the winter solstice, which was around December 23rd, 2698 B.C. Today's January 1st meant nothing to the Yellow King. If we count that extra eight days in 2698 B.C., then year 2007 is the 4705th Chinese year.
Interesting Things That Happened in February
• Alexander Graham Bell applied for his patent on the telephone, an "Improvement in Telegraphy", on Valentine's Day, 1876.
• Only the U.S., Canada, Mexico, France, Australia and the U.K. celebrate Valentine's Day.
• Sir Alexander Fleming was a young bacteriologist when an accidental discovery led to one of the great developments of modern medicine. Having left a plate of staphylococcus bacteria uncovered, Fleming noticed that a mold that had fallen on the culture had killed many of the bacteria. He identified the mold as Penicillium notatum, similar to the kind found on bread. On February 14, 1929 , Fleming introduced his mold by-product called penicillin to cure bacterial infections.
• Presidents' Day is celebrated in February to honor two of our greatest presidents, Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. The holiday is celebrated in the United States on the third Monday in February. George Washington was born on February 22, 1732. Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12 in 1809.
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TRUE LOVE
So Jesus came, stripping Himself of everything as He came – His omnipotence, His omniscience, His omnipresence - everything except love. “He emptied himself” (Philippians 2:7), emptied Himself of everything except love. Love was His only protection, His only weapon, and His only method.
- E. Stanley Jones
Words of Wisdom
• A person going nowhere can be sure of his destination.
• True happiness may be sought, thought, or caught – but never bought.
• The reason that history repeats itself is that most people weren't listening the first time.
• The most dangerous lies are the ones that resemble the truth.
• If we all profited by our mistakes, millionaires would be commonplace.
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LETTER FROM THE ISF ASSISTANTS
Dear International Friend,
The month of February will have several traditional holidays. No doubt your counrty has something special during February. One is Valentine's Day and another big one is Chinese New Year and Spring Festival. On the Chinese calendar, 2007 is Lunar Year 4704-4705. On the Western calendar, the start of the New Year falls on February 18, 2007 — The Year of the Pig.
Concerning Valentine's day, here are some statistics you might find interesting: Consumers purchased an estimated 180 million roses for Valentine's Day in 2005 with 74 percent of rose purchases for Valentine's Day being made by men, according to the Society of American Florists. More than 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate are sold for Valentine's Day, according to the Chocolate Manufacturers Association and National Confectioners Association. Valentine's Day is the fourth biggest holiday of the year for confectionery purchases, after Halloween, Easter and Christmas, according to the National Confectioners Association. Teachers will receive the most Valentine's Day cards, followed by children, mothers, wives, and then, sweethearts. Children ages 6 to 10 exchange more than 650 million Valentine's cards with teachers, classmates, and family members.
It seems that we enjoy celebrating such holidays and there is something to be said about that. We live in a world were there seems to be a shortage on real love for each other and celebrating a day of exchanging greetings and gifts of love has good intentions even if it is only a short lived event. Yet, isn't it even more important for us to find a source of love that will last for more than a day or several weeks? That source is in a personal relation with Jesus who has a vast supply of love for us to share with others. If you find yourself lacking in this area come to Jesus. He is the source of love.
--Terry & Pam Tiberio, ISF Assistants
February 9th ISF Gathering
We would like to invite you to our February ISF Gathering. This gathering will be on Friday, February 9 th at 7:30 PM in the Ballroom of the William Pitt Union . The William Pitt Union is located in Oakland on the corner of Bigelow and Fifth Avenue . To get to the Ballroom, use the entrance on Fifth Avenue and go to your right. We hope you will come and please especially invite new friends to hear an interesting lecture on love, marriage and the family by William & Beth Blair. And of course there will be special music, a full course meal, and wonderful fellowship. Also there will be special children's activities in the Kurtzman room. Hope to see you and remember that it's all free!
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ISF JANUARY GATHERING (January 12th, 2007)
75 present, 9 countries:
Canada, China, India, Japan, Macedonia, Morocco, South Korea, Sri Lanka, USA.
Hope to see you at the February ISF Gathering on February 9th in the Assembly Room of William Pitt Union!
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