Painting by Mars Black

 

Mt. Carmel, Haifa, Israel

"We desire but the good of the world and happiness of the nations; yet they deem us a stirrer up of strife and sedition worthy of bondage and banishment.... That all nations should become one in faith and all men as brothers; that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men should be strengthened; that diversity of religion should cease, and differences of race be annulled—what harm is there in this?... Yet so it shall be; these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the “Most Great Peace” shall come...." Bahá'u'lláh

"Find Me" by Sahar & Hoda

"Pass by whatever exists in this world and find Me. I am the Sun of Perception and the Ocean of Science. I revive the withered ones and quicken the dead. I am that Light which illumines the path of Insight. I am the Falcon of the Hand of the Almighty; I bear healing in My wings and teach the knowledge of soaring to the Heaven of Truth." ~~Baha’u’llah

 

 

"In the vastness and diversity of its Holy Writ; in the number of its martyrs; in the valor of its champions; in the example set by its followers; in the condign punishment suffered by its adversaries; in the pervasiveness of its influence; in the incomparable heroism of its Herald; in the dazzling greatness of its Author; in the mysterious operation of its irresistible spirit; the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh, now standing at the threshold of the sixth decade of its existence, had amply demonstrated its capacity to forge ahead, indivisible and incorruptible, along the course traced for it by its Founder, and to display, before the gaze of successive generations, the signs and tokens of that celestial potency with which He Himself had so richly endowed it."   --Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By

 

     

 

 

Comfortable digs

 

"Let all the poisons that lurk in the mud hatch out" -Emperor Claudius 

From the novel I, Claudius, by Robert Graves

Image from the TV Mini Series (1976)

 

 

1947 Cadillac Series 62 Sedanette Fastback

 

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗚𝗣𝗧 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆:

How is the Bahá'í concept of a New World Order different from commonly understood interpretations of the term?

𝗔𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿:

The Bahá'í concept of a New World Order differs significantly from the commonly understood interpretations of the term, particularly those found in political, conspiracy, and dystopian contexts. Here’s a comparison:

_________________________________

𝟭. 𝗕𝗮𝗵á'í 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿

_________________________________

The Bahá'í Faith envisions a New World Order as a divinely inspired system centered on unity, justice, and peace for all humanity. It is not a political takeover or a secretive global government but rather a transformation in human consciousness and social structures that align with spiritual principles. Key aspects include:

𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱

The Bahá'í teachings emphasize that humanity is one family, and the New World Order is meant to foster global cooperation rather than division.

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 

It is based on divine teachings, advocating for ethical governance, economic justice, and the elimination of prejudice.

𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 

Bahá'ís advocate for a system of global governance built on consultation, justice, and participation, without authoritarian rule.

𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 

A key goal is the establishment of lasting peace through collective security, international cooperation, and disarmament.

𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗘𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘆

The Bahá'í vision promotes economic justice, eliminating extreme wealth and poverty while ensuring the dignity of all people.

_________________________________________

𝟮. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 "𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿"

_________________________________________

In contrast, the phrase "New World Order" in popular discourse often carries negative or conspiratorial connotations:

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀

Many associate it with secret elite groups allegedly plotting global domination through oppressive means.

𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹

Some fear a centralized world government that suppresses national sovereignty and individual freedoms.

𝗗𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 

The term is often linked to fears of authoritarianism, surveillance, and loss of personal rights.

_________________________

In short, the Bahá'í New World Order is an optimistic vision of a just and peaceful global civilization, whereas the popular interpretation is often rooted in fear of authoritarianism and control.

Bahá'i Feast of Alá at my house

"We hear that thou hast in mind to embellish thy house from time to time with a meeting of Bahá'ís, where some among them will engage in glorifying the All-Glorious Lord... Know that shouldst thou bring this about, that house of earth will become a house of heaven, and that fabric of stone a congress of the spirit."               -Abdu'l-Bahá

 

CARMEL SUNSET

Lori D'Ambrosio

 

1956 Mercury Monterey

 

Inspired by a story of Abdu'l-Baha's service to others and selflessness, Jeffrey Cobb serves the dinner he prepared for us on his 15th birthday.

 Nature's Dance

Madelena Santos, Portugal

Satanella variation

 

I just ran across a few names scam-busters posing as elderly victims used in calls to scammers in India. LOL

Gene Poole

Anita Knapp

Anne Teak

Anita Nubody

 

Many people are objecting to the elimination of fact-checkers on Meta platforms.  I've found that community notes on X are effective and are generally free from political bias.

 

Pen and Ink

Alma Sheppard-Matsuo

The story of Jonah is clearly about God's limitless mercy. Nevertheless, believers embrace the literal interpretation of the swallowing by the fish. An expository device appropriate for belief thousands of years ago is superstition today.

 

RENEÉ

Amedeo Modigliani  1917

 

 

The state of present society is analogous to an egg.

"As soon as the new life begins in that egg, the condition inside the egg changes radically.  The alteration of the contents of the egg, which was food for people, is not pleasing anymore.  But the new life thrives on the altered contents until the shell breaks and a new creature is born.  All that is left of the egg is a broken shell. This is very much the state of the world today.

The present-day social calamities are increasing at an alarming rate...we clearly hear the death-pangs of the old order and see a new world community in the embryonic form growing within the womb of the old."  ~Dr. Darius Shahrokh, 'Windows to the Past'

 

 

 

From Stella Assange:

Merry Christmas to everyone from Julian, Stella, and our kids, Gabriel and Max. May the new year bring a steadfast push for peace and dignity for all!

 

Haifa, Israel, at Christmas time. This picture is taken from Ben Gurion Avenue at the base of the Baháʼí Terraces on Mount Carmel with the Shrine of the Báb at the top with a Jewish Menorah, a Muslim Crescent and a Christmas tree at the bottom. Four Abrahamic religions represented at one time.

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'When Christ appeared, the Jews pronounced Him an enemy of Moses. Pharisaical rabbis of that age declared Him to be the destroyer of the Mosaic law and the institutes of the Torah. They proclaimed that He would bring great misfortune to the people of Israel, considering Him the violator of the holy Sabbath and destroyer of the Temple of Solomon. Therefore, they turned away from Him. Let us investigate this and discover whether such accusations were true or false. We will find that in reality Christ caused the name and prestige of Moses to become widespread. Through His efforts and teaching the Book of Moses, the Bible, became known everywhere. In fifteen hundred years there had been but one translation of the Old Testament, the Torah, which translation was made from Hebrew into Greek. But through the instrumentality of Christ’s message and teachings it was translated into six hundred tongues and spread to every part of the world. All the kings and prophets of Israel were unable to promulgate the teachings of Judaism and the name of Moses beyond the borders of Palestine, whereas through Christ Judaism became an established religion in Asia, Africa, Europe and the world generally. Through the message of Christ, Moses was everywhere proclaimed a Prophet of God and His Book the Book of God. Shall we consider this Personage an enemy or a friend of Moses?'

'Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace

 

Custom 1953 Plymouth Suburban

Credit: Gagik Hovhannisyan

 

Women in Bar, Pablo Picasso 1902

 

"The unity of the human race, as envisaged by Bahá’u’lláh, implies the establishment of a world commonwealth in which all nations, races, creeds and classes are closely and permanently united, and in which the autonomy of its state members and the personal freedom and initiative of the individuals that compose them are definitely and completely safeguarded."

Facilitating this inevitable recognition of the unity of mankind, "A mechanism of world inter-communication will be devised, embracing the whole planet, freed from national hindrances and restrictions, and functioning with marvelous swiftness and perfect regularity."— Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha’u’llah, 1936

THE FEARLESS FLYERS /// Ace of Aces

 

 

From a recent CNN article making the case for war:

"It doesn’t matter that strategically Ukraine’s war has so far provided the Pentagon with a comparatively cheap means of degrading its second greatest adversary at no cost to American life."

Can you imagine being Ukrainian--of whatever political persuasion or ethnicity-- reading this as your country is being destroyed and the population dies on the battlefield or is driven into exile?

 

 

 

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,

Is laid for your faith in his excellent Word!

What more can ye say than to you he has said

To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

Fear not, I am with thee. Oh, be not dismayed,

For I am thy God I will still give thee aid;

I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,

Upheld by my gracious, omnipotent hand.

When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie

My grace all sufficient shall be thy supply

The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design

Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine

The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose

I will not, I will not desert to His foes

That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake

I’ll never, no never, no never forsake

 

ROAD RAGE RHYTHM

 

Fall Morning

 

Art Deco Barber Chair

Fox on the run

Fox On The Run

She walks through the corn leading down to the river

Her hair shone like gold in the hot morning sun

She took all the love that a poor boy could give her

And left me to die like a fox on the run

Like a fox, like a fox, like a fox, like a fox, on the run

Everybody knows, the reason for the fall

When woman tempted man down in paradise’s hall

This woman tempted me, and took me for a ride

Like the lonely fox, I need a place to hide

chorus

We’ll pour a glass of wine, to fortify our soul

We’ll talk about the world and friends we used to know

I see a string of girls, who’ll put me on the floor

The game is nearly over and the hounds are at my door

chorus

 

"We ought to show something greater than forgiveness in meeting the cruelties and strictures in our lives. To be hurt and forgive is saintly but far beyond this is the power to comprehend and not be hurt. This power we may have...acceptance without complaint and it should be associated with our name. We ought never to be known to complain or lament. It is not that we would "make the best of things," but that we may find in everything, even in calamity, the gems of enduring wisdom. We ought never be impatient. We ought to be as incapable of impatience as one would be of revolt. This not being so much long-suffering as quiet awareness of the forces that operate in the hours of dark or years of waiting and inactivity. Always we ought to move with the larger rhythm, the wider sweep, towards our ultimate goal, in that complete acquiescence, that perfect chord which underlies the spirit of the faith itself."

  ~ Bahiyyih Khanum