Just Received My DNA Report!!

I knew I was Italian Southern in my mom genealogy and  I was hoping to have some Jewish blood and, I do!! 5% not much but that makes me a favored of the Father God.

Halleluia! 

 

European Jewish

Primarily located in Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, Hungary, Israel

Also found in Germany, France, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Romania, Bosnia, Serbia, Estonia

The European Jewish region is not geographically defined in the same way as most other ethnic regions. The historic dispersal of the Jewish population from its origin in the Levant on the east coast of the Mediterranean resulted in insular communities scattered throughout Europe, North Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East. Although some Jewish communities enjoyed positions of relative peace and prosperity, many more were segregated from mainstream society by law, custom and prejudice, experiencing sustained persecution and discrimination. Jewish populations from northern and eastern Europe are often known as “Ashkenazi.” “Sephardic” refers to Jews who were expelled from Spain during the Inquisition and mostly settled in North Africa and southeastern Europe.

Origin of the Jews

Much of what is known about the early history of the Jews is taken from the Hebrew Bible. While there is some archaeological evidence to support certain details of the Biblical account, often it remains the only source and is given varying amounts of credence by different scholars. According to this source, the Jews are descended from Abraham, a Sumerian who traveled west from Mesopotamia to the land of Canaan, which lay along the eastern coast of the Mediterranean. Around 1020 B.C., the separate Hebrew tribes were united under King Saul, creating the first Kingdom of Israel.

Ethnicity Estimate

Up to dateUp to date

 

 Europe South

55%

 Sicily

 Southern Italy (my mom side)

 

 Iberian Peninsula (the rest I assume my dad’s side)

15%

 

 Caucasus

9%

 

 

 Middle East (Mom, Maybe?)

5%

 

 

 European Jewish

5%

 

 Europe West

4%

 

 Great Britain

3%

 

 Ireland/Scotland/Wales

3%

 

 Africa North

<1%

 

 

 

Justice in the Book of Titus, Day 3

Bible Gateway Today’s reading is drawn from Titus 1-3. The text of Titus is short; it is only forty-six verses. Nonetheless, the brevity of the text contrasts with the content’s depth, in particular from the perspective of what it teaches about God’s justice. In this epistle, justice is not a theoretical discourse to fire up heated philosophical and theological debates. On the contrary, justice is a value to be expressed practically in the life of the Christian community (1:5–16), in the personal behavior of family members (2:1–10) and in their behavior as citizens (3:1–8). In his letter to Titus, Paul begins with instructions about the way the Christian community in Crete should be governed, establishing ministerial ranks and making sure that every position is filled with people of Christian character. He also indicates how to deal with people who, teaching erroneous ideas, cause divisions and disrupt harmony in the Christian community and even whole families. Such persons not only lead people astray with their doctrines but also commercialize the gospel for their own benefit (1:10–11). Then comes the apostle’s central teaching: the opposite of false doctrines are not the correct theological declarations but rather unity and concrete social practices that promote (and are in themselves) God’s justice (2:11–13). At the time Titus was written, Crete was apparently a prosperous island. Nonetheless, the Christian community included people who were left on the sidelines of that prosperity. Slaves, for example, who (amazingly enough), are now worshiping alongside their masters. This unprecedented breakdown of class distinctions could be the reason why the author insists on the need to do good works and to give testimony of God’s justice in concrete ways. The major concern expressed in the letter is not combating the false doctrines that abounded in Crete. Nor is it the lack of orderly and respectable church leaders. The deepest concern Paul and Titus have is to challenge the Cretan church to give, through service, true testimony of its faith. For them, doing what is good is the crucial expression of the salvation found in Christ (3:7–8). When believers act with solidarity together, they are expressing their faith in a just God who has acted with love and mercy for everyone. — Harold Segura Columbia, Costa Rica (Excerpted from the book introduction to Titus)

Nurturing Great Kids, Day 20

Bible Gateway Today’s reading is drawn from John 2:10. Sibling Rivalry First John 2:10 is referring to our brothers and sisters in the Christian family, but it certainly can apply to our biological family as well. Every parent has the dream that their children will grow up to love each other. Those dreams get crushed when one sibling or another makes decisions that hurt the family. Children become protective of their parents, siblings lose patience with each other and all sorts of chaos can ensue. As a parent, you will have to mediate at times among your children, which can be very tiring. The best response a parent can offer is to encourage your children to repent of any sinful behavior and value one another. Your children may not be best friends but they can still show respect. Make it your mission to live a life pleasing to God. Do all you can to be peaceful, and pray your children also understand their role in bringing peace to the family. Parenting Principle You are not responsible to make your children get along—they are! Points to Ponder How well do you get along with your siblings? How do you see your children growing in relationships with each other? Where do you see your children struggling in their sibling relationships? A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.

 

The Surprise of Forgiveness, Day 4

Today’s reading is drawn from Numbers 12:13-15. Moses was an advocate for mercy for Miriam. He asked God to heal her, even though she had turned against him. Moses could have supported Miriam’s punishment and rightfully have insisted on “eye for eye” (Exodus 21:24). However, having been a murderer and fugitive himself (see Exodus 2:11–15), he had personally experienced the power of God’s grace and forgiveness. Our natural tendency is to treat others the way they treat us. We are kind to the kind and often unloving to the unloving. However, Jesus’ words, thousands of years after this event, still provide the higher ground for us: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:43–44). When we are not treated well, we need to ask God to give us the attitude of Moses, who had compassion on the hurts of one who had not treated him well. This type of attitude releases us from a life of keeping emotional score cards and insisting that everything be fair and leads to a life of love, grace, freedom and forgiveness.

Bible Gateway