David Archuleta and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir – A Wondrous Christmas

Chào các bạn,

Mormon là một nhánh Kitô giáo đặc biệt ở Mỹ do Joseph Smith sáng lập khoảng 1820, theo lời ông ta, sau khi được một thiên sứ cho ông biết một tôn giáo cổ do Chúa Giêsu thành lập ở Mỹ Châu đã chết, nhưng có cuốn Kinh thánh khắc trên một bảng vàng còn sót lại. Và lời kinh đó được dịch thành cuốn Book of Mormon ngày nay.

Đọc tiếp David Archuleta and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir – A Wondrous Christmas

Noel – Tình Yêu

Chào các bạn,

Còn một ngày nữa là Noel, được xem là ngày Tình yêu. Mình gửi đến các bạn đoạn văn nổi tiếng nhất trên thế giới, ít ra là trong thế giới Âu Mỹ, về tình yêu, của Saint Paul, mà mình đã dịch sang tiếng Việt:

Nếu tôi nói được mọi ngôn ngữ của loài người và của các thiên thần, nhưng không có tình yêu, tôi chỉ là cái cồng vang dội hay cái chiêng ồn ào.

Nếu tôi có tài tiên tri và có thể quán thông mọi huyền nhiệm và mọi tri thức, và nếu tôi có đức tin có thể chuyển dời núi non, nhưng không có tình yêu, tôi chẳng là gì cả.

Nếu tôi tặng hết tài sản cho người nghèo và xả thân trên dàn hỏa, nhưng không có tình yêu, tôi chẳng được gì cả.

Tình yêu là kiên nhẫn, tình yêu là dịu dàng.

Tình yêu không ghen tị, không khoe khoang, không kiêu hãnh.

Tình yêu không khiếm nhã, không vị kỷ, không nhạy giận, không chấp trước.

Tình yêu không vui sướng trong tội lỗi, nhưng hân hoan với sự thật.

Tình yêu luôn luôn bảo vệ, luôn luôn tin tưởng, luôn luôn hy vọng, luôn luôn kiên trì.

Tình yêu không bao giờ thất bại.

(1 Corinthians 13: 1-8)

1 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails.

(1 Corinthians 13: 1-8)

Chúc các bạn tràn đầy tình yêu.

Mến,

Hoành

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Trần Đình Hoành
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5 takeaways from Volodymyr Zelensky’s historic visit to Washington

Kevin Liptak

By Kevin Liptak, CNN

Updated 9:01 PM

volodymyr zelensky

Watch Zelensky unveil flag during historic speech to Congress

CNN —  Three-hundred days after his country was invaded by Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky jetted to Washington, DC, for talks on what the next 300 days might bring.

Shrouded in secrecy until the last minute, the historic visit was heavy with symbolism, from Zelensky’s drab green sweatshirt to President Joe Biden’s blue-and-yellow striped tie to the Ukrainian battle flag unfurled on the House floor.

But the trip was about far more than symbols. Biden wouldn’t invite Zelensky to Washington – and endure a risky trip outside Ukraine for the first time since the war began – if he did not believe something real could be accomplished meeting face-to-face instead of over the phone.

Emerging from their talks, both men made clear they see the war entering a new phase. As Russia sends more troops to the frontlines and wages a brutal air campaign against civilian targets, fears of a stalemate are growing.

Yet as Zelensky departed Washington for a lengthy and similarly risky return trip to Ukraine, it wasn’t clear that a pathway to ending the conflict was any clearer.

Biden shakes hands with Zelensky as he arrives at the White House.
Zelensky, left, is greeted by Rufus Gifford, chief of protocol for the state department, after landing in the United States on Wednesday.
President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses Congress as Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris hold up a Ukrainian national flag signed by Ukrainian soldiers at the Capitol in Washington on Wednesday, December 21.

President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses Congress as Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris hold up a Ukrainian national flag signed by Ukrainian soldiers at the Capitol in Washington on Wednesday, December 21.Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

Zelensky addresses the joint meeting of Congress.
Zelensky holds an American flag that was gifted to him by Pelosi. The flag was flown over the Capitol earlier in the day.
Zelensky addresses Congress.
Zelensky addresses the joint meeting.
Guests of the the Ukrainian delegation wave as Zelensky acknowledges them during his address.
Zelensky is greeted as he arrives to address Congress.
Zelensky speaks during a news conference with Biden in the East Room of the White House.
Biden speaks during the news conference.
Members of the media listen during the news conference in the East Room of the White House.
Biden speaks during the news conference.
Zelensky meets with Biden in the Oval Office of the White House.
<img src="https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/221221145629-09-zelensky-us-visit-1221.jpg?c=original&q=w_1280,c_fill&quot; alt="Zelensky speaks after giving Biden a gift. He <a href="https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-12-21-22/h_5daaaace8ac5173e9d501b3b86978113&quot; target="_blank">presented Biden

Biden holds the Cross of Combat Merit. "He's very brave," Zelensky said of the soldier. "And he said give it to very brave President, and I want to give you, that is a cross for military merit."
Zelensky sits with Biden and first lady Jill Biden inside the White House.
Biden and Zelensky walk down the Colonnade of the White House as they make their way to the Oval Office.
Biden and Zelensky walk into the White House after Zelensky's arrival.
Biden and first lady Jill Biden welcome Zelensky at the White House on Wednesday.
Biden shakes hands with Zelensky as he arrives at the White House.
Zelensky, left, is greeted by Rufus Gifford, chief of protocol for the state department, after landing in the United States on Wednesday.
President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses Congress as Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris hold up a Ukrainian national flag signed by Ukrainian soldiers at the Capitol in Washington on Wednesday, December 21.
Zelensky addresses the joint meeting of Congress.
In pictures: Zelensky’s wartime visit to US
Đọc tiếp 5 takeaways from Volodymyr Zelensky’s historic visit to Washington

Council on Foreign relations – Daily news brief Dec. 19, 2022

Top of the Agenda

Countries Reach Landmark Deal on Protecting Biodiversity

At a UN biodiversity summit in Canada, nearly two hundred countries agreed to extend protected status (AP) to more than 30 percent of the world’s land and water by 2030, a goal known as 30×30. Currently, about 17 percent of all land and 10 percent of marine areas are protected. 
China held the presidency of the conference and pushed for the final deal (The Guardian) despite objections from African countries that sought a new fund for biodiversity. The deal calls on rich countries to provide $20 billion per year by 2025 and $30 billion per year by the end of the decade to prevent biodiversity loss in poor countries. It also mandates reform of $500 billion in environmentally damaging subsidies in areas such as food and fuel and emphasizes that Indigenous communities should lead conservation efforts.

Đọc tiếp Council on Foreign relations – Daily news brief Dec. 19, 2022