It is really interesting to read what people do in order to start a new year on a clean slate.

They know that they are sinners.

As a symbol of tossing away their sin, they throw breadcrumbs into the water (river).

That is the ancient Jewish custom of Tashlich.

A Clean Slate

In the magazine Israel and Christians today, New Zealand October 2015, is a picture of UN chief Ban Ki-moon and Israeli envoy Ron Prosor casting their sins into Turtle Bay. The article is called “ECI Co – Hosts First Ever Tashlich Ceremony at the UN.”

In his book UNTO THE HILLS Billy Graham writes also about “a clean slate,” and he says that God is wiping our slate clean  when we are coming to Him and when we are confessing our sins.

In First John 1:9 the Bible says:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

To win our review copy of In Order to Live, tell us a goal you’re proud to have achieved.

“THE BOOK OF BOOKS”

I read books from cover to cover, but reading the Bible from cover to cover was difficult for me somehow at one stage of my life.

That’s why my goal was long ago to read the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation, from cover to cover.

The year came when I read the Bible twice from cover to cover, every word.

I am not proud to have achieved the goal, all praise belongs to God, who enabled me to do so.

THE CROSS

“When I

Psalm 18:19

Intr.:

was fenced in,

a.  you freed me and

b.  rescued me

End:

because you loved me.”

A beautiful Flower

“E kore hoki tetahi tangata e ahei te whakatakoto i tetahi tunga ke atu i tera kua oti nei te whakatakoto, ara i a Ihu Karaiti.” – 1 Koriniti 3,11

KORU

“Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.” – Daniel 12:3

I am reading that a blessed General in Germany liked to tell the following story.

His name was General von Viebahn.

Sewingmachine

The uniform of an officer came to grief in a maneuver, it was badly torn. “Is here a tailor?” asked the officer, when he met soldiers in a village. “Yes,” said one soldier. But when the officer asked him to mend his coat, he received this reply, “That I cannot do, my name is Tailor.”

General von Viebahn concluded, “Many are calling themselves “a Christian,” but they are not Christians at all.

Let us ask ourselves, “Am I also only a nominal Christian?”