Musings

Knocking on the door   Fasoula village, which has 400 inhabitants, is 7 km north of Limassol and has existed since Medieval times. The name may be derived from the Frankish word 'fasoula', which means 'sickle'.  The village is a peaceful, rural retreat with several museums displaying traditional Cypriot life. Visits to the Agricultural Museum, Olive Press, Carob Museum and Folklore Museum require a prior appointment and are accessible all year round.  Several sculptures are displayed by the famous Cypriot sculptor, Philippos Yiapanis, who relocated from Famagusta to the village. Typical stonework can be seen in the centre of the village on Aristotle Street. A number of traditional taverns and coffee shops are located in this area. As spring approaches, the villages begin to display the vibrant colours we have missed during the winter months. The surrounding area is lush at this time of year with its blossoming almond, olive and carob trees. The ornate doo...

What we learn from almond trees  The sight of flowering almond trees currently in the Troödos Mountain range in Cyprus is nothing short of delightful. Not only do they add bursts of light to the drab winter landscape, but they also shed a delicate fragrance in the wind. When we see the almond blossoms, we know spring is on its way. History   Originating in the Middle East, almond trees are now found throughout the Mediterranean, Southern Europe, Africa and America. It is not known when the tree was domesticated, but evidence of domesticated almonds from as early as the 4th century B.C. has been found at the archaeological site Numeira in Jordan.¹  The almond tree is also mentioned several times in the Old Testament. Almonds were among the produce sent by Jacob as a gift for Joseph in Genesis 43. The miraculous budding of Aaron’s rod in Numbers 17 was that of an almond rod. The design of the lampstand in the Tabernacle was based on the motif of almond buds and blossoms (...

Thoughts on God's Love St. Valentine's Day gives the opportunity to celebrate love and most importantly, God's love. Without His redeeming love, we would never have known His salvation or forgiveness. Because God is love, He mercifully drew up a plan of eternal reconciliation. While God's redeeming love is the central theme of the Bible, there are three other aspects that should encourage us as we consider God's agape love. Everlasting Love We read a declaration of God's everlasting love in Jeremiah 31:3: The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying : "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you." While this was originally directed towards His people, Israel, in the Old Testament, it is the same God who paid for the Church with the blood of His Son and draws us to Himself. His love is unconditional and constant. Often we do not feel worthy of His love, particularly if we believe in a performance-based...

  The importance of light The literal meaning of the word 'photography' is 'drawing with light' from its Greek roots. Any photographer is keenly aware of the quality of light in the surroundings, which ultimately sets the tone and ambience of the final picture. The light also influences the colours and emotional impact of the photograph. It goes without saying that in the absence of light, there can be no photography! When capturing sunsets, the light changes quickly and creates a spectacle most evenings in Cyprus, provided the cloud cover is not too dense. The set of photos below was taken on the same evening in Limassol, illustrating the spectrum of colours created within minutes. The astounding beauty of nature around us inspires joy as we remember the Creator of this infinite wonder. Not only did He create the light of the universe by the word of His power, but the Bible tells us that He is Light! God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5 When the ...