Hosea הוֹשֵׁעַ

Author: Hosea

  • Who Is the Prophet Hosea?

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    Where does the name Hosea come from?
    Hosea is a name that is of Hebrew origin. Its meaning is one that provides hope for those who have lost it; it gives a chance to people who have gone astray to come back to their true home. Hosea simply means “salvation,” that elusive word that many people in this world want to find. Perhaps you have heard of the prophet Hosea, one of the most famous people bearing the name.

    Who is Hosea?
    Hosea was a prophet from the Bible’s Old Testament. Bible Hosea was a son of Beeri, and he lived and prophesied about Israel and its destruction around 722 BC. At the time, Israel was divided into two kingdoms; Hosea was focused on preaching to the Northern Kingdom.

    The Book of Hosea contains Hosea’s prophecies and the story of his marriage to Gomer, a marriage commanded by God to show the relationship between His covenant and the people of Ephraim, the largest tribe in Israel and also referred to as Israel itself.

    Hosea is believed to be the very first prophet who used marriage in his book to show the relationship between God and His people. You see, the marriage of Hosea and Gomer was not a smooth one; it was, in fact, quite the opposite. This reflected the kind of relationship that God and the Israelites had at the time.

    What happened between Hosea and Gomer?
    As a prophet, bible Hosea preached – until the destruction of Israel – during the Reign of the Seven Kings. This was a chaotic period for the Kingdom of Israel, especially in terms of religious beliefs.

    During this period, different kings ruled with varying religious positions – that is, they implemented whatever was most profitable for them. Earthly pleasures were shamelessly pursued, and the kings’ – as well as their people’s – spirituality suffered greatly. God was forgotten as the Kingdom turned to idolatry.

    Hosea was instructed by God to marry, but the marriage, God warned, would not be perfect for the woman would turn into a prostitute to show the current state of Israel. Hosea married Gomer. There are different opinions as to the nature of Gomer; some say that Gomer was a prostitute even before, while others maintain that it was only during the course of her marriage to Hosea that she became one. At any rate, Gomer was a quarrelsome and adulterous wife.

    What does Hosea mean to me?
    I have gone through many hardships in life. Like the Israelites, I too have lost my way and my faith. The story of Hosea is perhaps one that best describes my marriage. What comforts me is that the Book of Hosea ends not in hopelessness, but in forgiveness and love. Bible Hosea sought out Gomer and forgave her sins, just as God forgave His people.

    I never thought I could find myself whole again and especially not with the help of the Church. But there really is a God, and I feel His love as He gives me the opportunity to live life with faith and trust in His will. When I joined the Church, the pastor gave me the name “Hosea,” and I felt I have truly come home.

  • 再次相遇－我和慧一起吃午饭

    慧已经来到我们家两天了，我只是除了偶尔跟她讲几句话外就没有多聊过。越想接近她时就越害怕。

    中午醒来后看到慧在客厅看电视，出于礼貌就和她打了招呼。慧说到：“我们一起去吃午饭吧？好久没一起吃过东西了！” 这次我没再多考虑就答应了她。

    我们来到一家好吃的日本餐厅，点了许多好吃的料理，一边聊一边吃起来。慧还是和以前一样很喜欢拍照，她在餐厅的各个角落不停的摆姿势拍照。看着她开心的样子，我心里也美滋滋的。遗憾的是，她没邀请我一起拍。

    买单后，我们要回去了。在路上我们一起买了很多小吃回家。虽然一直都是我跟在她们后面，但我还是觉得很幸福。没想到我和慧的再次相遇也可以这么开心。

  • Finding the Right Pair of Tight Jeans

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    Tight jeans look sexy and make a statement if worn properly. They look good on both skinny body types and the more voluptuous. Tight jeans that fit you well make a good addition to your wardrobe. You can wear them with a loose or flowing blouse and different kinds of footwear like platform shoes, wedges, or flats. As can be seen in many celebrities today, wearing a thong with tight jeans easily make up for a sexy, foxy look.

    The tricky part is finding the right pair that fits you well in all the right places – one that you can wear in almost any occasion and with almost anything. Looking for the right fir, cut, and color can be tiring so it is best to do your tight jeans-hunting when you are feeling refreshed.

    Some women stick to a particular brand of jeans for the sole reason that it manufactures pairs that fit them perfectly. If you already have a pair of tight jeans that fits you snugly, buy the same one by all means. Call up stores to see if they are still selling the same pair. You can also check online stores like eBay for pairs with the same style number as the pair you own.

    Online shoppers are now offered the option to use size calculators when purchasing jeans online. This new technology saves up time and effort otherwise consumed in browsing rack after rack, shop after shop and trying on one pair of jeans after another only to go home empty-handed.

    Online size calculators like zafu.com considers all the measurements you enter and your body type in displaying results of suitable pairs of jeans for you. Within a few minutes, your choices are narrowed down to jeans that will fit you perfectly.

    Shopping online for the right pair of tight jeans is no longer as inconvenient as it used to be. Look for online stores that have favourable return policies and if possible, free return shipping with a provision of at least 30 days to return a purchased item. Once you find a store you feel confident about, look for a style you like then compare your measurements to the retailer’s size chart. Various brands have different sizing systems.

    Last but not least, stay in shape so that your perfect-fit jeans stay that way as long as you like them to. Exercise regularly and eat healthy so you feel beautiful inside out.

  • The Status of the HIV Virus in 2009

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    The problem with HIV is that through the years, it is consistently increasing in every regions of the world. This is despite of all the efforts of the governments and various world organizations to curtail the spread of this virus and to properly educate people on how to prevent themselves from getting it or if they already have it, from spreading it.

    There are currently about 34 million people living with HIV all around the world. This is the statistics on HIV as reported by the United Nations. Around 32 million of these are adults, with an equal distribution between male and female victims of this virus.

    However, the saddening part of these statistics is that over 2 million children aged 15 and below are affected. These cases are mostly from poor countries, particularly in Africa, where babies were born with the virus after contracting it from their mothers.

    It is a growing concern because no definite cure has been found. About 2 million people have died from this disease starting from 2008 to the present statistics on HIV. An alarming figure considering the number of people who have the virus.

    The majority of the people who have the virus remain to be homosexuals, mostly gay men who have active sexual relations with other men. On those who are bisexuals, most of them acquired the virus through having promiscuous sex or having many different sexual partners.

    This is an alarming trend as the morals of people from all nations, particularly in more developed countries, is said to be breaking down, mostly being blamed on mass media. Some moralists have claimed that the television and the movies have the lasting and strong influence on how the young people are thinking and what they believe in.

    Another thing to get us worried about is that each year, thousands of cases of new diagnoses have been recorded. Since 2008 up to 2009, there are around 8,000 new positive diagnoses. What is disturbing is that this is a very small percentage as compared to the greater number of HIV infected people who are not diagnosed. The reason behind this is because most of those undiagnosed individuals are living in far flung places, mostly in poor countries, where there are limited access to medical centres.

    The numbers clearly show the current status of the HIV. And it is a horrible figure. Further studies have to be made to help legislators come up with laws to help combat this virus and how it is being spread in the society. Furthermore, education regarding this matter should begin in schools so children will learn as early as possible about the dangers of HIV and how they can prevent from being infected with it.

    Are you a victim too? Visit http://www.genitalwartswomen.com/.

  • 再次相遇－不知如何去面对

    再次相遇－不知如何去面对

    我和慧已经有两年没见面了，回想过去，她留给我的只有一次又一次的伤痛。今天，她忽然来到了我家。

    当时我在楼上房间内，听到敲门声时就知是慧到了。那一刻，我的心止不住的加快了跳动。两年没见了，不知现在的她会是什么样子，真的好想立刻飞下去看她。可是经过一番挣扎后，我还是选择不去见她，因为不知如何面对。于是，我就装作很忙的样子躲在楼上不敢下去。

  • Eat Vegetables and Lose So Much Fat

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    If there is one thing that people should be doing more each day, but they are actually doing less of it, is to eat more vegetables. There are so many benefits of adding vegetables to one’s diet and one of which is that you can lose so much fat by just doing it.

    Vegetables are among the foods that we have learned to hate as a child. Why? Simply because they seldom taste good. Sadly, we tend to carry that dislike for vegetables as we grow up, which is a very poor habit. That is because we deprive ourselves of the many vitamins and minerals that can be naturally found in vegetables.

    We all know that vegetables are good for our health, but how can it help us lose so much fat? Well, for one thing vegetables are rich in fiber. Fiber plays an important role in making us feel full quickly and for a longer period of time. When we are full, we eat less often. So for example, if we have vegetables for lunch, since we will naturally already feel full, there is less chances that we will have an afternoon snack. We crave less because of this.

    Another way that vegetables help us lose so much fat is because vegetables have zero to very little fat to begin with. That means when we eat these health foods, we put less to none additional fat into our bodies. When there is less fat going in, it will be easier for us to burn off the existing fat within us.

    Aside from that, vegetables add variety to merely eating meat and other processed foods. Eating nothing but meat is dangerous because of the fat and the cholesterol that is abundant in most meats. And you know exactly what that translates into: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and possibilities of strokes and heart attacks.

    Vegetables also contribute to better mental health. These can help boost our memory, help us think more clearly, and retain more information. The vitamin C that is found in most vegetables alone is already great for keeping our mental faculties healthy. It is perhaps due to is immunity boosting properties.

    So in case you are one of the many number of people who are not into eating vegetables, you can start incorporating these in your daily meals in very little portions as a start. For example, instead of just eating steak, you can include a small bowl of green salad. You can also include mixed vegetables to any grilled or fried meal. Through such small portions, you can slowly train your palate to learn to love these healthy vegetables.

    There are many ways to lose weight, but as always, it is through a proper diet that you can benefit from the most. And you can do that by having more vegetables each day. Not only can you lose fat, but through the vitamins and minerals present in vegetables, your mind and body will become healthier. Just remember to include as many types of vegetables as you can on your daily meals.

  • Genital Warts and Its Stages

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    Genital warts are caused by the human papilloma virus, which is somewhat similar but quite different from the virus that causes common warts on the skin. Warts are contagious and can be transmitted to and by both men and women during sexual contact. If sexual partners engage in oral sex, warts can grow in the mouth and the throat.

    Knowing the various stages of the disease, especially the beginning stages, is important in getting the necessary treatments for the condition. Sometimes, people who have grown warts in the genital area do not know that they already need medication simply because they were not aware of the signs and that they already are infected. Genital warts at their earlier stage are treated faster and more easily.

    Between two and nine months after being infected, genital warts only show signs of redness. The infected area may feel sore and itchy. It is best to consult your doctor immediately once you feel irritation in your genitals as this may be a sign that you already have warts.

    The next stage of the growth is the formation of red, gray, or flesh-colored bumps that appear flat or slightly raised. They usually emerge around the vaginal or anal areas. During this stage, it is not uncommon for bumps to grow in the throat and the mouth as well.

    Eventually, the warts will continue to grow bigger and in groups within or around a given area. They will be identified as full-grown warts if they take the form and roughness as that of a cauliflower. If untreated, it can affect normal cells surrounding them, which may lead to various cancers. This does not happen all the time but some cases of anal, cervical, vaginal, and even penal cancers were caused by warts.

    Most of the time, however, the warts die and fall off by themselves after a period of time. There are many exceptions to this, however, and anyone who has detected possible signs of warts in the genital area in the earlier stages should seek treatment immediately. Doctors can easily remove warts during the first or second stages. There is a wide array of treatments designed for various genital warts stagesbut the problem is better addressed early on.

    More info at http://www.genitalwartswomen.com

  • 再次相遇－慧又要走了

    今天是惠来到我们家的最后一天，下午她就要坐火车回去了，这也是我偶尔听到的。

    这一天我们都很沉默，没有象之前那样聊的火热。慧与干妹如梦在楼下一起玩电脑，我一直在楼上忙自己的事情。从楼下不时的传来她们的谈话声。慧说：“迟一点我就要走了。” 回问：“你才来几天而已，再多玩两天吗？” 但慧一直坚持说家人在催她要回去了，也只能同意她走。

    慧收拾好了包包要走了，我也没有多说什么，也没有去送她。就这样，慧与出门了。

    我没有去送她，是不想再次体验亲眼看着她走时撕裂般的心痛。想到以前我们在一起，她每次说要走时，我就有一种莫名的恐惧。每次都很怕她走了就再也不回来了。

    匆匆的相遇又走过了，不知何时还能再见到她。

  • 再次相遇－好想和她一起去

    再次相遇－好想和她一起去

    虽然和慧偶然的相遇会不时的勾起我痛处，但能再次见到她我也很开心，那怕是默默的在背后看着她。

    慧突然问我：“香蕉，我们一起去好不好？”这时，我的心情复杂，吱吱啊啊的说不出话来。我紧张的回道：“不用了，我还有点事情要去外面处理，你们玩的开心点。”说完后，我就像一个被人发现的贼一样逃出了家里。其实我很想去的，可是很怕遇到尴尬的事情，不知怎么办才好？

    真不知道自己是怎么回事，干嘛要像贼一样跑到外面，太阳这么大，又不知要去哪里？躲在家里就好了，唉！

  • 再次相遇：终于还是见到了她

    再次相遇：终于还是见到了她

    不敢再次去面对慧，是怕看到她后我们所有的过去又重新涌上心头，怕控制不住激动的自己。后来想了又想，好不容易相遇，还是下去吧！下去之后，看到她的第一眼就感觉她成熟了好多，脸上少了之前的那份稚气。慧看到我就先开口了：“香蕉，这么久没见了，你最近过得还好吗？”我故作镇定的说道：“好，很好啊！”就这样，我们开始聊了起来。

    从慧和我的谈话中，我可以感觉到她对我没有一丝留恋，只是一副漫不经心的样子，好像我们从来都没发生过什么！也许，她根本就不在乎这份感情吧！可是，在我心中，她依然占据着那个位置？