A Prayerful Spirit

Tuesday, 11 March, 2014 Quotations

A Prayerful Spirit
Mark 4:24; Luke 11:9; Philippians 4:7

A prayerful spirit is the spirit to which God will speak. A prayerful spirit will be a listening spirit waiting to hear what God says. In the intercourse with God His presence and the part He takes must be as real as my own.

Andrew Murray (1828 – 1917)

Blue Straggler Stars in Globular Cluster M53. If our Sun were part of M53, the night sky would glow like a jewel box of bright stars. M53, also known as NGC 5024, is one of about 250 globular clusters that survive in our Galaxy. Most of the stars in M53 are older and redder than our Sun, but some enigmatic stars appear to be bluer and younger. These young stars might contradict the hypothesis that all the stars in M53 formed at nearly the same time. These unusual stars are known as blue stragglers and are unusually common in M53. After much debate, blue stragglers are now thought to be stars rejuvenated by fresh matter falling in from a binary star companion. By analysing pictures of globular clusters like the above image taken by the Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers use the abundance of stars like blue stragglers to help determine the age of the globular cluster and hence a limit on the age of the universe. M53, visible with a binoculars towards the constellation of Bernice's Hair (Coma Berenices), contains over 250,000 stars and is one of the furthest globulars from the center of our Galaxy. Image Credit: ESA/Hubble, NASA.

Cuba Travel Warning Tuesday, 19 September, 2017
The Department of State advises U.S. citizens to carefully consider the risks of travel to Cuba while Hurricane Irma recovery efforts are underway. Major roads are now open in Havana and power and water service has been restored in most of the city, but some parts of the country may be without power and running […]
Haiti Travel Warning Wednesday, 13 September, 2017
The Department of State warns U.S. citizens to carefully consider the risks of traveling to Haiti due to its current security environment and lack of adequate medical facilities and response. U.S. citizens are informed that the U.S. Embassy has resumed normal operations following Hurricane Irma. The authorized departure of non-emergency employees was lifted September 12, […]
Kenya Travel Warning Friday, 8 September, 2017
The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens to avoid travel to the border area between Somalia and Kenya because of threats by the terrorist group al-Shabaab.U.S. citizens should also be aware of potential terrorist threats and the high risk of crime throughout the country. This replaces the Travel Warning dated January 13, 2017. For your […]
Ethiopia Travel Warning Saturday, 26 August, 2017
The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to Ethiopia due to the potential for civil unrest and arbitrary detention.There continue to be reports of unrest, particularly in the Gondar region and Bahir Dar in Amhara State, and parts of Oromia State. This replaces the Travel Warning of June 13, 2017.The […]
Bangladesh Travel Warning Thursday, 24 August, 2017
The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of continuing threats from terrorist groups in Bangladesh and to consider the risks of travel to and throughout the country. The Department is updating this travel warning to reflect the change in the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka’s status to “partially accompanied,” effective August 24, 2017, allowing all spouses/partners […]

Turks and Caicos Islands Thursday, 21 September, 2017
Latest Update: Summary – The Turks and Caicos Islands were severely impacted by the passage of Hurricane Irma on Thursday 7 September 2017 and are expected to be impacted by Hurricane Maria on Friday 22 September. The hotline for British people affected or concerned about others is +44 (0)20 7008 0000. If you are planning […]
GOV.UK
Anguilla Thursday, 21 September, 2017
Latest Update: Summary: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) no longer advise against all but essential travel to Anguilla; Hurricane Maria passed Anguilla on Wednesday 20 September 2017.
GOV.UK
Montserrat Thursday, 21 September, 2017
Latest Update: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) no longer advise against all but essential travel to Montserrat.
GOV.UK
St Vincent and the Grenadines Thursday, 21 September, 2017
LatestUpdate: Summary: Removal of warning for Hurricane Maria.
GOV.UK
St Lucia Thursday, 21 September, 2017
Latest Update - Summary: Removal of warning for Hurricane Maria.
GOV.UK

Alert - Yellow Fever in Brazil Thursday, 21 September, 2017
The Brazilian Ministry of Health has reported an ongoing outbreak of yellow fever. In response to this outbreak, health authorities have recently expanded the list of areas in which yellow fever vaccination is recommended for travelers.
Alert - Earthquakes and Hurricane in Mexico Wednesday, 20 September, 2017
Three recent natural disasters have caused severe damage, injuries, and deaths in Mexico. On September 7, 2017, an 8.1-magnitude earthquake struck the southwestern states of Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Tabasco, causing nearly 100 deaths. The next day, September 8, 2017, Category 1 Hurricane Katia made landfall on the eastern coast in Veracruz, causing a mudslide that […]
Alert - Flooding in South Asia Friday, 15 September, 2017
Since the monsoon season began in August 2017, widespread flooding in Bangladesh, India, and Nepal has affected more than 40 million people.

This exceptional painting on wood comes from the monastery of Bawit in Middle Egypt. Dated to the 8th century, it represents Christ (easily recognisable by his halo with a cross) and Abbot Mena, the superior of the monastery at the time. The two figures are depicted in a frontal pose against a landscape. A few traces of vegetation can still be seen at their feet. The background consists of hills with a sunset sky, from which the halos of the figures seem to be rising. Christ, to the right, is slightly taller than the figure on the left. His halo has a crucifer, and the inscription "Savior" is written near him. Christ has a short beard and wide, lined eyes. He wears a tunic and a scarf, and in his left hand holds a Book of the Gospels, richly adorned with pearls and gems and fitted with metal clasps on the side. In a sign of introduction and as a protective gesture, his right hand is placed on the left shoulder of the father superior of the monastery. He can be identified by the inscription placed to the left of his halo, "Apa Mena superior," repeated directly below, and by the scroll in his left hand. This scroll may contain the rule of the monastic institution. Mena has a gray beard and is wearing a tunic and a scarf. He makes a sign of the blessing with his right hand. The French archaeologist Jean Clédat discovered this monastery in 1900 while he was exploring and excavating in the region. The overall work is extremely elegant and serene, and is the oldest-known Coptic icon. It is one of the masterpieces of the Coptic section in the Department of Egyptian Antiquities. The wood painting is presently at the Musee de Louvre, Paris.

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