[HisNibbs]

I find pubs that rely on passing-trade the worst.

Especially on bank holiday weekends where they can always blame staff or ingredient shortage . . . and of course those horrible coke-dispensers water it down.

Last time I bought a pint of orange-juice and lemonade from a pub (18 months ago) it was £2.70.
I questioned this, they said they had to use 2 small bottles of j2o, the liquid was nearly room temperature so the only way of cooling it was to drink some and add ice, furyther watering it down.

It was such a hot day and I was miles from anywhere so they had me over a barrel.

[HisNibbs]

Crime is keeping Mugabe & his thugs in power.
Our freedom of speech isn’t helping the victims.

We just wag our finger and say naughty naughty naughty.

[HisNibbs]

Interesting that everyone thought the guy was nice, polite etc.

Just shows how you never really know a person!!
People cover their secrets well.

Others are trapped in life in other ways, sure they are not locked in rooms, but spiritually they cannot escape their thoughts and weaknesses that chain them to an unfulfilled existance . . . or can they?

[HisNibbs]

Jack and the beanstalk

I suggest you read the story first and have a think what the symbolism is.
Some internet accounts leave out detail, you can find audio cartoon renderings, such as here

Jack is a shortened form of the name Jacob, so he is a type of the whole house of Jacob, the children of Israel (Jacob’s name was changed to Israel).
Jack is an Englishman with a particular smell / blood.
“Fe fi fo fum, I smell the blood of an Englishman”.
A distinct, separated people who maintain their identity.

England probably derives from Engl-land as it was settles originally the the Angles who were 2 brother peoples, the Angae and the AEglae, the latterv being derived from the hebrew word Eglah meaning heifer of the wild ox, antelope or unicorn, the tribal symbol of Ephraim, the main tribe of the house of Israel, indeed Israel generally were often referred to as “Ephraim”. “John Bull” is still a symbol of the English and the lion and unicordn speak of their Israelitish origins.

God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.
He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee. (Num:24:8-9)

(the word Saxon can be traced using the Behistun Rock to be Isaac’s sons)

Once upon a time there was a poor widow who lived with her son Jack in a little house.
Their wealth consisted solely of a milking cow. When the cow had grown too old, the mother
sent Jack to sell it. On his way to the market, the boy met a stranger.

The sons of Israel had been driven to Egypt by famine and later became poor slaves in Egypt,
symbolised by the (sacred) cow.
The stranger is Moses who had fled from his people but returned.
He commands them to exchange the worship of Egypt (the old cow) for the magic beans – the wonder working God.

Now we don’t have anything and we are even poorer.” Jack felt guilty and sad.
“Only a fool would exchange a cow for five beans,” his mother fumed.
Then, at the height of her exasperation, she threw the five beans out of the window and sent Jack to bed with no dinner.

Initially Pharoah punishes them for wanting to worship their God and makes them work harder “bricks without straw”.
The Israelites accuse Moses of bringing them trouble not blessing (Exodus 5)

Jack is a bow, showing how we must have childlike faith to believe in God not just what our eyes see.
Just as Jacob slept and saw a ladder leading to heaven, so while Jack slept the beanstalk grew.

And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. (Gen. 28:12)

Israel left Egypt and headed toward the promised land, God “magically” providing for them with small round manna, quail and water, and protecting them. They climb materially and spiritually, into the land of milk and honey.

I am lost. May I have something to eat? I am very hungry.” The woman, who did not have children, looked at him a little more kindly: “Come in, quick. I will give you a bowl of milk. But be careful because my husband, the ogre, eats children. If you hear him coming, hide at once.”

Jack meets a maiden who knows about him:-

“Good morning, Jack,” said she; and Jack was more surprised than ever; for he could not imagine how she had learned his name. But he soon found that she knew a great deal more about him than his name; for she told him how, when he was quite a little baby, his father, a gallant knight, had been slain by the giant who lived in yonder castle, and how his mother, in order to save Jack, had been obliged to promise never to tell the secret.
“All that the giant has is yours,” she said, and then disappeared quite as suddenly as she came.

Later in their history, Nebuchnezzar took the temple artifacts (along with the Israelites remaining in Judah) to Babylon and set up a giant image of himself which was to be worshipped. He got the idea of the image from the dream that Daniel interpreted.

And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon. (2Chron. 36:18 )

Meanwhile in the story, the tall old woman says to the Ogre:-
Sit down and I’ll make your dinner.” The ogre, still grumbling,
filled a jug of wine and drank it all with his dinner.
After having counted again and again all the gold pleces of his treasure, the ogre fell asleep

Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. (Dan. 5:2)

Jack escapes more than once. The 10-tribed house of Israel were already deported by the Assyrians before the Babylonians came, then God decreed that the Jews (the house of Judah) should be let go ion the time of Cyrus

The Enchanted/singing harp is of course the Harp of David (also on our Heraldry), symbolising the Throneof David which escaped to the British Isles.
Britain would have to deal with the giant kingdoms. “Babylon” is not just the old Babylon of ancient time.

Who is the old woman who warns and shelters Jack but who seems to be in bondage to the ogre?
This fits the Old Testament, The Law, the carnal commandments which have a wisdom and prophetic edge, but are not salvation.
Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
For this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. (Gal. 4:24-5)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

For Jack (poor natural man) to become Israel (rule with God), he must believe in the magic beans (God’s word) and climb the beanstalk (walk with God), then kill the ogre (overcome), or be killed (be overcome with darkness).
No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house. (Mark 3:27)

But if we really believe in Jesus, the enemy is already slain:-
I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. (Luke 10:18 )

Who are you like, Jack, or the Ogre?

And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire” (Matt. 3:10)

And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. (Rev.18:21)

[HisNibbs]

@minim wrote:

42

Err, 21+21=

[HisNibbs]

So 20s for women is a lot about the size of your bum?

[HisNibbs]

@sharongooner wrote:

. . . I like this thread 8) Nice one Nibbs. :wink:

I’m glad I raised it too. One of the best things of my 20s was to meet some strong older characters who were like role models, they had confidence, focus and contentment and gave me something to aim for . . . and exceed.

Here are some comments from”yahoo answers” where I also posted this question:-

“its just different. I saw a kid around 20 who looked like I used to at that age , sort of anyway, same bushy long hair, probly idealism, just thinking of having morning coffee, etc.
hmmmmmmmmmm
now its like, what to do next, who am I really, thinking of like the next decade , intead of just the next half hour”

“loving Life singing going to Church was very exciting”
Comment: youth inspire the older generation to enjoy life and to help the youth – it’s symbiotic.

“Looking back on my 20’s (I am in my 40’s) I’ll just say this: experience is something you don’t get until just after you need it- like when you’re in your 20’s.”

” Would I go back? Sure, as long as I could retain the knowledge I have now. Otherwise, forgetaboutit!”

“I am 42, you really make me laugh.
Yes I remember that, crazy me.
Exactly, I laugh at myself.
That’s true, life is much richer, I never knew it will be something like this. I hope everyone in this age have a sunny attitude. Even in the midst of hardships of life, you are cool. I just love this question! breath of fresh air.”

“I seem to be in the same place I was in my 20’s – a not so great job, new boyfriend, not a lot of money – just have more fun now as I learned life isn’t all about money, high end jobs and the boyfriend is a considerable upgrade from the one I had 20 years ago. I just go with the flow instead of stressing over things not going right. Also I don’t give a whack about what other people think anymore.”

[HisNibbs]

You guys seem to be agreeing with me but from the perspective of outsiders looking in.

If the modern church was like the one that began in Acts, it would be more respected, but it seems more concerned with providing entertainment, charity works programmes and intellectual discussion for the comfortable middle class than promoting a God who does what no man can do.

[HisNibbs]

Cadbury have responded to demand, claiming to save 2000 trees, see here.

It’s come full circle .. . Jesus died on a tree to save man, now man goes without packaging to save trees!

[HisNibbs]

Of course selling these eggs really brings home the bacon for the retailers.
The daft customers end up paying three times as much for the chocolate . . . I’ve also seen Simpsons and other TV-show themed eggs.

“Happy Eater”.

[Author]

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