Circles

That is a temperate and righteous love which practices self-denial in order to minister to a brother’s necessity. So our selfish love grows truly social, when it includes our neighbors in its circle.
Bernard of Clairvaux, On Loving God, Chapter VIII

One day as they were worshiping God—they were also fasting as they waited for guidance—the Holy Spirit spoke: "Take Barnabas and Saul and commission them for the work I have called them to do." So they commissioned them. In that circle of intensity and obedience, of fasting and praying, they laid hands on their heads and sent them off.

Sent off on their new assignment by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas and Saul went down to Seleucia and caught a ship for Cyprus. The first thing they did when they put in at Salamis was preach God's Word in the Jewish meeting places. They had John along to help out as needed.
Acts 13, The Message

How blessed the man you train, God, the woman you instruct in your Word, Providing a circle of quiet within the clamor of evil, while a jail is being built for the wicked. God will never walk away from his people, never desert his precious people. Rest assured that justice is on its way and every good heart put right.
Psalm 94:12, The Message

I run to you, God; I run for dear life. Don't let me down! Take me seriously this time! Get down on my level and listen, and please—no procrastination! Your granite cave a hiding place, your high cliff aerie a place of safety. You're my cave to hide in, my cliff to climb. Be my safe leader, be my true mountain guide.
Psalm 31, The Message

I just read this on Brian Heasley's blog:

On further viewing, we discovered that this [farm] is powered by solar energy, has 3 wells that collect rainwater to supply the living and irrigation needs of the farm, contains a bread oven, open fireplace and could have a wood burner fuelled by the plentiful woodland around it.

As we got out of our car for the first viewing, I said to Tracy, Bruce and Helen, 'all we need now is for the agent to say there's a little chapel on the premises...' As we were about to leave, the agent said 'oh, and there is a little chapel - la capellita - just over on the hill there....'!

Two years ago, we visited Honduras twice, regarding such things. Last year. we visited Malta twice, regarding such things. Last year, we also visited here in France, regarding such things. In the future, we will also visit here in France, regarding such things.

Presently, I am writing a book regarding such things....

3000 years ago, under the rule of David and Solomon, Israel was at it's Zenith. 2000 years ago, under the rule of Caesar and the birth of Jesus, Rome was at it's Zenith. 1000 years ago, after Charlemagne and the Kingdom of Aragon, Muslim Spain was at it's Zenith.

We can learn a lot from history...