tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62836382024-03-07T02:44:23.705-05:00Church of the AcronymChurch news, book reviews, thoughts on spirituality, nudges, and direction, poetry and testimonies. This blog is not updated as frequently as <a href="http://collectingmythoughts.blogspot.com">Collecting my Thoughts</a>, where I regularly write.Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11502895616873273470noreply@blogger.comBlogger784125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283638.post-75445528542474813212018-12-13T17:58:00.001-05:002018-12-13T17:58:40.612-05:00On praying for our leadersEncouragement and counsel from Darlene, a member of my church, on praying for our leaders. She maintains a prayer group by e-mail.<br />
<br />
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,<br />
<blockquote>
I Timothy 2:1-2 - I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.</blockquote>
What happens when you pray? We do not really know but above all, it changes me. The other day a friend asked,”Would you pray for my cousin, Donna? She is going through a total mastectomy.”<br />
While most of my life, I would say, “Yes.” Obedience to my promise has drastically changed over the years. There was a time when I would say, “Yes.”, but then forget to pray. As I grew in my faith, I was convicted of my disobedience and I would dash off a thirty second prayer over the woman. Deeper in my faith, that thirty second prayer catapulted in love for the person requesting the prayer and my prayers became sincerer. Now the Lord has made me love others as soon as I think of them. I have some understanding of the process this woman is going through and the feelings I would feel enduring the same process and I pray for her and her family, although I would not know her if I saw her on the street. Even moreso…..<br />
<br />
The more in love we grow with Jesus, the more in love we grow with each other and our prayers increase. PRAISE GOD! The more in love we grow with others, when we love each other as ourselves, we pray as if we are in the place of the person we are praying for. God allows us to be in their situation in the Spirit. THANKS BE TO GOD! We pray with fervor just as Jesus does for us. How beautiful is that? He draws His body together in prayer for each other.<br />
<br />
As you sit to pray for leaders or a leader, ask Holy Spirit to guide you or listen as He does to not only who you should pray for today but how to pray for them and watch the beautiful tapestry that He weaves for you as your pray and your unity with this person and the body of Christ…HALLELUJAH You grow in understanding His love, the love He wants you to have for the rest of the body but also how much you have grown in prayer and through prayer. . . I am constantly amazed at how He has put together every detail for our growth in Him. . . if we just follow Him.<br />
<br />
Brings new meaning to the song...SHOW ME YOUR WAYS...THAT I MAY WALK WITH YOU..<br />
Please pray for me and my Psalms Bible study. I am constantly amazed where the Lord takes me in these Psalms. Deeper in love with Him. . . I want to be ignited, set on fire and be able to take others on that journey.... Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11502895616873273470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283638.post-57231980067799991922016-11-05T14:30:00.000-04:002016-11-05T14:30:38.691-04:00Transgenda; abuse and regret in the sex-change industryThe sex-change industry is a fraud, according to Alex P. Serritella.
They are hustlers in lab coats, peddling a product that doesn't exist.
There is no such thing as a sex change, but it is a billion-dollar
industry. You're being duped if you believe this.<br />
<br />
<b>Q. What is the most shocking thing you discovered in researching the book? </b><br />
<br />
A:
The fact that child abuse is rampant in the sex-change industry. This
is not a matter of “consenting adults only”, as people are led to
believe. These are drastic, life-altering treatments done on children as
young as nine. It sterilizes them for life and causes permanent damage
to their bodies during crucial years of growth. Are children really
capable of making such a huge decision? Obviously not. They will
inevitably regret it, as most of them do.<br />
<br />
<b>Q: It seems like the transgender population has exploded in recent years. Why is that?</b><br />
<br />
A:
It all goes back to the reclassification of gender identity disorder in
the DSM-5. The American Psychiatric Association had originally declared
transgenderism to be a mental illness in 1980. Then they did an
inexplicable reversal in 2012, and stated that it is no longer a mental
illness. There is no medical or scientific justification for the change.
There was no new evidence or discovery on which the change was based.
It was purely a decision made to serve a hidden agenda. Since gender
identity disorder, now called gender dysphoria, is officially not a
mental illness, it is now considered a medical condition, meaning that
it is covered by most insurance plans, and is now included in most
anti-discrimination policies. This is basically an invitation for people
to try a sex change.<br />
<br />
<b>Q: How prevalent is sex-change regret?</b><br />
<br />
A:
A lot more than people realize. From what I’ve seen and read, the rate
of regret is virtually 100%. Transitioning will only bring a short-term,
superficial satisfaction that will inevitably fade away when reality
sets in. These people are delusional and they are being exploited. The
doctors make a fortune on sex-change treatment, then they make another
fortune on reversal treatment. That’s why it’s so unconscionable to
perform this treatment on children. Eventually, trans people will accept
themselves for who they are. It’s unfortunate that they will have
mutilated bodies by the time they do.<br />
<br />
These and other trans-related issues are probed in the book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Transgenda-Abuse-Regret-Sex-Change-Industry-ebook/dp/B01KKYKIWU">Transgenda; abuse and regret in the sex-change industry, by Alex P. Serritella. </a>It paints a far different picture of transgenderism than the one you hear in the news.<br />
<br />
Bookstand Publishing, 2016<br />
ISBN 978-1-63498-355-6, $17.95Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11502895616873273470noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283638.post-48252891525095432102016-09-28T06:50:00.001-04:002016-09-28T06:50:32.103-04:00What's at stake in the coming election<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Father Michael Orsi, now on the pastoral
team of St. Agnes Church in Naples, Fl said, “For too long, pastors and churches
have been bullied into believing that they can say nothing political from the
pulpit,” said Orsi. The regulation that is used to silence them “was a piece of
spite work” against non-profits that had opposed President Lyndon Johnson, he
said.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">“Let me remind you: the Bible is a
political document,” the priest said. “The prophets, including John the Baptist,
and Jesus, lost their lives because they spoke the truth to power."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">“The Constitution is quickly being
destroyed,” warned Orsi, and “unless the right choice is made in November, we
may not have a court that is fair and balanced in its interpretation of the
Constitution.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">“Too many of the pastors—too many,
practically all—in Germany refused to speak against national socialism,”
continued Orsi. “And look [at] the result: millions of Jews, pastors, priests,
homosexuals, gypsies all lost their lives because everyone was afraid. What are
you afraid of, a couple of bucks? Your tax-exempt status? What’s that going to
do to you? Your churches may be closed anyway, because if a certain party gets
elected, this certain party said, if the churches do not agree with our
interpretation of women’s reproductive rights, they’ll just have to change their
doctrine.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">“If a certain party gets elected, I can
assure you what kind of judges are going to be on those appeals courts,” he
said. And those judges will be charged with deciding whether the government may
force churches and religious institutions to pay for abortion, contraception,
and abortifacient drugs, he noted.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Furthermore, “I’m not going to vote for a
candidate who decides that we can redefine the meaning of marriage,” proclaimed
Orsi. “Our opponents believe once they destroy the family, once they destroy the
churches, they can re-create society in their own image and their own likeness.
That, my friends, is not just political. That is diabolical. Get it straight,
for crying out loud! The devil is in this!”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">“We are in a battle for the soul of
America,” he said.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">“Somehow, [Christians] have come to buy
the story that you cannot be political in church,” said Orsi. “Let me tell you
right now, oh yes, you can, and oh, yes, you better be. Because you might not
have a church to go to if you don’t vote the right way in November.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;">Agreed. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/priest-you-might-not-have-a-church-to-go-to-if-you-dont-vote-the-right-way" title="https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/priest-you-might-not-have-a-church-to-go-to-if-you-dont-vote-the-right-way">https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/priest-you-might-not-have-a-church-to-go-to-if-you-dont-vote-the-right-way</a></span>Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11502895616873273470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283638.post-15846784346926209272016-06-25T07:19:00.000-04:002016-06-25T07:19:16.450-04:00Pope's in ArmeniaA little history about the Pope's visit to Armenia:<br />
<br />
"In 301 AD, twelve years before Constantine legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire, King Tiridates III made Christianity the official religion of Armenia, the first national ruler to do so. The Armenians were subsequently conquered by the Romans, Arabs, Persians, Ottomans, and Soviets. In 1915, the Young Turks government attempted to exterminate them, massacring 1.5 million. In 1988, an earthquake killed up to 50,000 Armenians. That same year, a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan claimed tens of thousands of lives. . .According to a 2012 survey, 92 percent of Armenians consider themselves religious, the third-highest percentage anywhere (in the United States it’s 60 percent)." <a href="https://www.thecatholicthing.org/2016/06/25/pope-francis-and-the-armenian-church/">https://www.thecatholicthing.org/2016/06/25/pope-francis-and-the-armenian-church/</a><br />
<br />
If you read the whole article, you'll notice the author isn't a fan of Pope Francis. He has dual citizenship, U.S. and Poland. Big fan of John Paul II.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Item/4850/how_saint_john_paul_ii_conquered_communism.aspx">http://www.catholicworldreport.com/Item/4850/how_saint_john_paul_ii_conquered_communism.aspx</a><br />
<span lang="EN"><br />
<br />
</span>Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11502895616873273470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283638.post-77700579196219603612016-06-12T16:34:00.000-04:002016-06-12T16:34:41.121-04:00Christianity is revolutionary, then and now<div data-contents="true">
<div data-block="true" data-editor="777mp" data-offset-key="1sn2r-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1sn2r-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="1sn2r-0-0"><span data-text="true"> The first century vision is breathtaking, given our divisions today.</span></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1sn2r-0-0">
</div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="777mp" data-offset-key="cjdf3-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cjdf3-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="cjdf3-0-0"><span data-text="true">
</span></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="777mp" data-offset-key="70fo3-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="70fo3-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="70fo3-0-0"><span data-text="true">"After
his death and resurrection a fellowship of followers of Jesus came into
being which was called The Church. Beliefs about it arose almost
immediately and it took a variety of visible forms.</span></span></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="70fo3-0-0">
</div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="777mp" data-offset-key="49e9k-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="49e9k-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="49e9k-0-0"><span data-text="true">
</span></span></div>
</div>
<div data-block="true" data-editor="777mp" data-offset-key="1p79h-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1p79h-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="1p79h-0-0"><span data-text="true">The
ideal of the Church appears again and again in the early Christian
documents which compose the New Testament and which reflect the
convictions of leaders in the primitive Christian fellowship. To these
leaders the church was to be inclusive and one. They shared the purpose
of Jesus which was transmitted through <i>The Gospel according to John</i>
that all believers in him should be as united as were he and the
Father. More than once, carrying out this same conception, Paul spoke
of the Church as the body of Christ. Obviously, as he saw it, it was to
be one, knit together, each member contributing to the whole. <i>The Epistle to the Ephesians </i>declares
that Christ is the head of the Church and dreams of the Church as
ultimately being without spot, wrinkle, or blemish. The Christian
fellowship, so the New Testament held, was to be a new Israel, a chosen
people, but it was to be drawn from all mankind. In Christ both Jews
and Gentiles were to be members of "the household of God," growing into
"an holy temple." Not only was the Church to embrace both Jews and
Gentiles, but in it there was also to be no distinction on the basis of
race, national, cultural status, servitude, freedom or sex. It was to
be gathered from every nation, and from all tribes, peoples, and
tongues." (<i>A history of Christianity, vol. 1, beginnings to A.D. 1500</i>, rev. ed., 1975 by <a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/issues/issue-72/modern-pioneers-kenneth-scott-latourette.html">Kenneth Scott LaTourette</a></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11502895616873273470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283638.post-88412497974671182622016-05-23T06:55:00.001-04:002016-05-23T07:13:58.674-04:00Benedictions in the Bible<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">Today I was looking up Blessings and Benedictions in the New Testament, and came across this nice list. We often hear these words in the liturgy, but don't know exactly the source. This site also didn't list the translation. Sounds KJV. This is copied in full with the links; it is not my work.<b> </b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"><b>A Listing of Familiar Benedictions Given in the Bible</b></span></span> <br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Psalms 121:7,8</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now
the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye
may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Romans 15:13</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">3.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Romans 15:5,6</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">4.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Psalms 29:11</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another,
and toward all men, even as we do toward you; to the end he may stablish
your heart unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I Thessalonians 3:11-13</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Philippians 4:7</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">7.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God shall supply all you need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Philippians 4:19,20</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Philippians 4.23</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">9.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grace
and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of
Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all
things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of
him that hath called us to glory and virtue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>II Peter 1:2,3</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">10.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blessed be the Lord for evermore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen and Amen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Psalms 89:52</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">11.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now
unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you
faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the
only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both
now and ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Jude 1:24,25</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">12.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now
the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that
great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting
covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in
you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to
whom be glory for ever and ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hebrews 13:20,21</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">13.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole
spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I Thessalonians 5:23</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">14.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now
our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath
loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope
through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word
and work. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">II Thessalonians 2:16,17</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">15.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ephesians 6:24</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">16.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">II Corinthians 13:14</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">17.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God
is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all
sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>II Corinthians 9:8</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">18.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Numbers 6:24-26</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">19. </span></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">Be not conformed to this world:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but
be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what
is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Romans 12:2</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">20.
Finally, brethren, Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live
in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>II Corinthians 13:11</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">21.
Beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the
Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy
of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jude 1:20,21</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">22. Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Psalms 4:6</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>----------------------------------------------</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">If you know of a benediction given in the Bible that is not on this list e-mail the reference to </span><a href="mailto:wadetisdale@msn.com"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">wadetisdale@msn.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> so that it may be added.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new";">
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> ------- </span></span></div>
</span> <br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><i><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';">What exactly is a benediction?</span></i><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is pronouncement of divine blessing given in the Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
represents a joyful, unifying call to faith, patience, and practice for
the faithful, based on the Certainty, divine Principle, God.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">A benediction is a short, concise statement given in the Bible in the form of a petition, an assurance, a promise or principle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It voices images of protection, or comfort, or abundance, or some other word of assurance.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">The word benediction means to say good, to voice good thoughts, to pronounce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What makes good thoughts good is that they are based on Truth, based on Principle, God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever is true fulfills itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good is the inevitable result of the certainty and righteousness of Truth, God, who is all good.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">The
reading aloud of a benediction at the conclusion of a church service is
joy expressed, and cherished, and shared with the all in its hearing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a feast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the essence of genuine, heartfelt joy and commitment, seen in the exalted light of spiritual interpretation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is impersonal; it is positive; it is healing; it is eternal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is part of "the morning meal" that blesses all.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">This
brief narrative on a subject that is truly infinite in theme is
intended to be a step toward awareness of the importance of benedictions
in our life, and an appreciation of the glory they portend and the good
they can do. Readers are invited to share their insight into this
fun-to-consider topic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";">"The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." (Numbers 6:24-26.)</span></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: 'MS Mincho';"><span style="font-family: "courier new";"> </span></span></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" name="" style="width: 100%px;">
<tbody>
<tr align="" valign="">
<td align="" colspan="1" rowspan="1" valign="top" width="100%"><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wordwitness.com/" target="_blank">THE FOUNDATION STONES OF CHRISTIANITY</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11502895616873273470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283638.post-76346585895409414082016-05-22T06:56:00.000-04:002016-05-23T07:00:21.390-04:00Mass from Sydney, AustraliaSt Mary's Church, North Sydney (Our Lady of the Way)<br />
<br />
Mass on Demand comes to you every day from the Jesuit church of St Mary's via the CathNews YouTube channel.<br />
<br />
People who are frail, aged, ill, or isolated, can access Mass of the day through modern technology via the Internet.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/cathnews">https://www.youtube.com/user/cathnews</a><br />
<br />
I've watched this a number of times (before 6 a.m. our time) and the priests have been quite elderly with a variety of accents. The lectors and servers also seem to be senior citizens. If there is a cantor, usually she has a lovely voice. However, it is a faithful way to hear linked Bible passages of the day from the Old Testament, the Psalms, the Gospel and the Epistles. Catholic services have a lot more scripture than Protestant. Maybe the shortest homilies I've ever heard--about 2 sentences. Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11502895616873273470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283638.post-18182008137227241732016-02-26T15:46:00.000-05:002016-02-26T15:46:09.023-05:00Reasons to Believe<b>Reasons to Believe</b> is a ministry devoted to integrating
science and faith and to demonstrating how the latest science affirms
our faith in the God of the Bible.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Does_%27God_moves_in_mysterious_ways%27_come_from_the_Bible">Sometimes God works in mysterious ways</a> and sometimes His providence can be found in unusual places. <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/sci;326/5954/818">A recent study</a>
suggests that maybe even viruses are part of God's provision for
humanity. This notion may seem counterintuitive, because these nasty
"bugs" are responsible for so much sickness and disease. Many people
view viruses as an "evil" component of nature. But viruses are turning
out to be quite practical for biomedical applications.</blockquote>
<a href="http://www.reasons.org/articles/viruses-and-god-s-providence-revisited">Read More Here.</a><br />
<br />
Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11502895616873273470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283638.post-78225915480940703742016-02-26T15:33:00.000-05:002016-02-27T17:14:57.429-05:00YouTube and video lists I enjoy<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL764XgS3DQZ9nX5NaUbM5If9C_QdZ_a_d">Deep in Scripture</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.chnetwork.org/deep-in-history/">Deep in History</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-F-L46Yqrs">Fathers of the Church </a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=journey+home+ewtn">Journey Home </a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9kDM4Mc00s&ebc=ANyPxKoz6DOxpdofPwUW7jE3IPg77IhSlWx7dYsmaC8qno4sI-z9oRYOrwDr5TjGFuM16HmGUIkNQDA89EYgEVf5xAPHUmr3Gg">Called to Communion (radio show)</a><br />
<br />
Three of the above are produced by the Coming Home Network of Zanesville, Ohio. Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11502895616873273470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283638.post-55480784763373624362015-12-31T06:33:00.002-05:002015-12-31T06:33:48.657-05:00Hilaire Belloc, a forgotten writerIf you should ask how this book came to be written, it was in this way. One
day as I was wandering over the world I came upon the valley where I was born,
and stopping there a moment to speak with them all--when I had argued politics
with the grocer, and played the great lord with the notary-public, and had all
but made the carpenter a Christian by force of rhetoric--what should I note
(after so many years) but the old tumble-down and gaping church, that I love
more than mother-church herself, all scraped, white, rebuilt, noble, and new, as
though it had been finished yesterday. Knowing very well that such a change had
not come from the skinflint populace, but was the work of some just artist who
knew how grand an ornament was this shrine (built there before our people
stormed Jerusalem), I entered, and there saw that all within was as new,
accurate, and excellent as the outer part; and this pleased me as much as though
a fortune had been left to us all; for one's native place is the shell of one's
soul, and one's church is the kernel of that nut.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://archive.org/details/pathtorome01bellgoog">Hilaire Belloc,
The path to Rome</a> (Google book, pdf)Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11502895616873273470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283638.post-35196365234366359962015-12-26T05:29:00.000-05:002015-12-26T05:33:07.131-05:00Humility is the Queen of Virtues“. . . no one seems to know what just happened [decision of Supreme Court on same sex marriage in June 2015]. This wasn’t the legalization of a behavior—for the legal barriers to homosexual conduct were torn down decades ago. The rights to cohabitate, to share insurance benefits, tax status, and even call each other spouse—without discrimination—are hard fought gains that were achieved before last Friday. A new right has not been created, rather the Constitutional right for the rest of us to think and speak our minds, and to hold our own counsel has been severely curtailed. The right to do something impossible can’t be achieved, not by any court, only the right to demand everyone else be supportive of this masked ball, with legal penalties for refusing to join the dance. We’ve only lost the right to object.”<br />
<br />
“. . . Christians shouting the word “sin” at something out there have failed to use this most powerful weapon we have by the Holy Spirit to counter forces beyond our human skill or strength. When an obstacle is too high, too strong, too wide for you to go over it, it is best to adopt humility and go under it. If language against a sin that’s been called a blessing can only draw fire and fill you full of verbal bullet holes, then use the stance that saints have long used in more trying circumstances and under worse governments: the language of humility. When saying, “You are sinners!” just won’t do—and I think this is one of those times—then freely speak the truth and say, “We are sinners and have failed God, but we’ve been found by Him and are happy to be new creatures in Christ.” <br />
<a href="http://www.staugustinechico.com/humility-queen-of-virtues/">Humility: Queen of Virtues</a>Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11502895616873273470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283638.post-80114922887072583262015-12-21T14:47:00.001-05:002015-12-21T14:47:36.039-05:00Wait, Hope, TrustAdvent Meditations for December 21<br /><br />Wait when the seed is planted, Wait for the rain to fall;<br /><br />Wait for the restless green sprout, Wait while the plant grows tall.<br /><br />Wait for the coming Savior, Wait through the heart’s slow race;<br /><br />Wait for the kingdom’s dawning, Wait till we see his face! <br /><br />Hope when the sun is setting, Hope through the dark of night;<br /><br />Hope though the moon is waning, Hope as we long for light.<br /><br />Hope for the coming Savior, Hope through the heart’s slow race;<br /><br />Hope for the kingdom’s dawning, Hope till we see his face!<br /><br />Trust in the new spring’s promise, Trust through the summer’s heat;<br /><br />Trust in the dying autumn, Trust through the winter sleet.<br /><br />Trust in the coming Savior, Trust in the heart’s slow race:<br /><br />Trust in the kingdom’s dawning, Trust till we see His face!<br />
<br /><a href="http://airmaria.com/category/subjects/spiritual-life/faith/#sthash.JdFUm8IN.dpuf">http://airmaria.com/category/subjects/spiritual-life/faith/#sthash.JdFUm8IN.dpuf</a>Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11502895616873273470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283638.post-32201845680643240952015-12-13T05:58:00.003-05:002015-12-21T14:49:03.018-05:00Pastors or pew--who is right?A Barna poll finds <i><br /></i><br />
<br />
<i>"Less than 1 percent of senior pastors and discipleship pastors told Barna
that “today’s churches are doing very well at discipling new and young
believers.” Six in 10 said that churches are discipling “not too well.”</i><br />
<br />
<i>But those in the pews disagree. More than 9 in 10 said that their church
“definitely” (52%) or “probably” (40%) does “a good job of helping people grow
spiritually.”"</i><br />
<br />
And how about this one? Ah, the problem with polls. . . I'm doing OK, but that guy is really bad off.<br />
<br />
<i>“Pastors
give their own church higher marks than churches overall, but few
believe churches—their own or in general—are excelling in discipleship,”
the report stated</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2015/december/pastors-pews-vastly-disagree-discipleship-barna-navigators.html"> http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2015/december/pastors-pews-vastly-disagree-discipleship-barna-navigators.html</a>Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11502895616873273470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283638.post-87196717972578350042015-11-01T17:24:00.002-05:002015-11-01T17:24:23.020-05:00All Saints Sunday, November 1, 2015<p>                 <img alt="Image result for UALC Columbus" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRsOlr0wKuzv0HFTx0wKZSNLFvcxlH6twRDRzE4-tkQa9g3fk21" /></p><p>Narthex window, Church on Lytham</p><p>Today we Christians celebrate and remember all the Saints who have gone before us. In our church members submit names on cards to be read during the service they attend. We'll be serving communion during that time, so it is always wonderful to hear the names of my parents and sister while I'm offering the body of Christ to fellow believers. </p><p>Pastor Brody preached an unusual sermon.  He went over the funeral service as printed in the Lutheran Book of Worship (Augsburg, 1978), “Burial of the Dead” pp. 206-214.  It was very moving.</p><p>"Most Lutheran churches use the first Sunday in November to remember all the saints in the Church of Christ Jesus, especially those members and friends of the local congregation who have been called to Heaven in the previous year.</p><p>The custom of commemorating all the martyrs of the Church on a single day goes back at least to the third century. All Saints' Day celebrates not only the martyrs and saints, but all the people of God, living and dead, who together form the mystical body of Christ.</p><p>In Europe, All Saints' Day is also called All Hallow's Day ('hallowed' means 'sanctified' or 'holy'). October 31st, the evening before All Saint's Day is named All Hallow's Eve, which was contracted to Halloween." (Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Ypsilanti, MI)</p><p><img alt="Image result for UALC Columbus" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTtURNMdz88_FEHMVfjzixwYBPwYBKo5wFT-dIXFdA7ahZpvC7Fyw" /></p><p>Sanctuary window, Church at Mill Run</p>Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11502895616873273470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283638.post-33949040949594427272015-10-25T06:12:00.001-04:002015-10-25T06:12:12.346-04:00Adult Sunday School, October 2015, UALCOur Sunday school class is studying Romans, and for two weeks had an outstanding, articulate retired Lutheran pastor, Douglas McBride formerly of San Antonio, as our teacher. Class members are taking us through Romans after his excellent overview and first three chapters. I hope he can come back. <br />
<br />
Paul wrote a letter to the Roman church, a mixed group of Jews and Gentiles, from Corinth, while he was on his third missionary journey between 56 and 58 A.D. He was on his way to Spain.** At the time he was gathering an offering from the Gentile Christians for the church in Jerusalem (15:25; Acts 24:17). Over half of the people he specifically mentions in the letter have Greek or Roman names, and he calls the Jews, “my brothers.” The church may have been started by his converts, but no one knows for certain. Since he first mentions Phoebe it appears that she brought the letter to Rome, so she must have been a trusted convert and helper. He greets a number of households indicating the church was made up of numerous groups, and he addresses in the letter a number of situations, many of which sound similar to our churches today. Struggles among themselves; how to deal with the government, etc. <br />
<br />
He encourages unity and accepting one another, just as Christ accepted them. Yet it seems the church has never been more divided and scattered than today.<br />
<br />
In the free box at church I found the New International Version of the Bible (Zondervan) on cassette. I may be one of the few people who still have a hand held cassette player, so I’ve been listening to Romans while using my exercycle. Usually, I don’t enjoy audio of the Bible--speakers/voice actors go too fast or it’s too monotonous, but this one is really excellent. There are music and sound effects, and when the writers reflect on OT passages of Jesus’ messages, there is a slight echo or reverberation.<br />
<br />
* * <em>“We know little about the early years of Christianity in the Iberian Peninsula. According to legend the apostle James --at Christ’s urging--carried the gospel to the country in 40 AD, but the early church writers have nothing to say about it. We know that St Paul intended to visit in Spain (Epistle to the Romans, XV, 24 and 28), which would suggest that there were organised groups for him to preach to. But there is no evidence that he made the trip, nor does any church in Spain popularly claim to have been founded by Paul. <br />
<br />
By the second century, however, some Christian communities were probably established in the peninsula. We know that St Irenaeus, bishop of Lyons (France), writing around 180 AD, alludes to Christian churches amongst the Celts and Iberians. We also know from a letter by St Cyprian of Carthage (?-258?) that by 254 AD there were Christian communities in Astorga, Mérida, León and Zaragoza.” <a href="http://www.spainthenandnow.com/spanish-history/rome-hispania-christianity/default_110.aspx">Source.</a></em></p>Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11502895616873273470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283638.post-91995593382042412622015-04-13T20:18:00.001-04:002015-04-13T20:18:28.398-04:00The new catechumens in the third century church<p><em>Apostolic Traditions</em> was written by Hippolytus who feared the church was straying from tradition and falling into heresy and false doctrine, so he wanted to record the right way to ordain leaders like bishops and deacons and how to bring in new members. Nothing of the original Greek remains, but there are translations.  This simplified version by <a href="http://www.bombaxo.com/index.html">Kevin P. Edgecomb</a>  is based on the work of Bernard Botte (<i>La Tradition Apostolique.</i> Sources Chretiennes, 11 bis. Paris, Editions du Cerf, 1984) and of Gregory Dix (<i>The Treatise on the Apostolic Tradition of St. Hippolytus of Rome, Bishop and Martyr</i>. London: Alban Press, 1992)</p><p><strong><font size="2">15</font></strong> Those who are newly brought forward to hear the Word shall first be brought before the teachers at the house, before all the people enter. <sup><b>2</b></sup>Then they will be questioned concerning the reason that they have come forward to the faith. Those who bring them will bear witness concerning them as to whether they are able to hear. <sup><b>3</b></sup>They shall be questioned concerning their life and occupation, marriage status, and whether they are slave or free. <sup><b>4</b></sup>If they are the slaves of any of the faithful, and if their masters permit them, they may hear the Word. If their masters do not bear witness that they are good, let them be rejected. <sup><b>5</b></sup>If their masters are pagans, teach them to please their masters, so that there will be no blasphemy.</p><p><sup><b>6</b></sup>If a man has a wife, or a woman has a husband, let them be taught to be content, the husband with his wife, and the wife with her husband. <sup><b>7</b></sup>If there is a man who does not live with a woman, let him be taught not to fornicate, but to either take a wife according to the law, or to remain as is.</p><p><sup><b>8</b></sup>If there is someone who has a demon, such a one shall not hear the Word of the teacher until purified.</p><p><strong><font size="2">16</font></strong> They will inquire concerning the works and occupations of those are who are brought forward for instruction. <sup><b>2</b></sup>If someone is a pimp who supports prostitutes, he shall cease or shall be rejected. <sup><b>3</b></sup>If someone is a sculptor or a painter, let them be taught not to make idols. Either let them cease or let them be rejected. <sup><b>4</b></sup>If someone is an actor or does shows in the theater, either he shall cease or he shall be rejected. <sup><b>5</b></sup>If someone teaches children (worldly knowledge), it is good that he cease. But if he has no (other) trade, let him be permitted. <sup><b>6</b></sup>A charioteer, likewise, or one who takes part in the games, or one who goes to the games, he shall cease or he shall be rejected. <sup><b>7</b></sup>If someone is a gladiator, or one who teaches those among the gladiators how to fight, or a hunter who is in the wild beast shows in the arena, or a public official who is concerned with gladiator shows, either he shall cease, or he shall be rejected. <sup><b>8</b></sup>If someone is a priest of idols, or an attendant of idols, he shall cease or he shall be rejected. <sup><b>9</b></sup>A military man in authority must not execute men. If he is ordered, he must not carry it out. Nor must he take military oath. If he refuses, he shall be rejected. <sup><b>10</b></sup>If someone is a military governor,<sup>a</sup> or the ruler of a city who wears the purple, he shall cease or he shall be rejected. <sup><b>11</b></sup>The catechumen or faithful who wants to become a soldier is to be rejected, for he has despised God. <sup><b>12</b></sup>The prostitute, the wanton man, the one who castrates himself, or one who does that which may not be mentioned, are to be rejected, for they are impure. <sup><b>13</b></sup>A magus shall not even be brought forward for consideration. <sup><b>14</b></sup>An enchanter, or astrologer, or diviner, or interpreter of dreams<sup>b</sup>, or a charlatan<sup>c</sup>, or one who makes amulets, either they shall cease or they shall be rejected. <sup><b>15</b></sup>If someone's concubine is a slave, as long as she has raised her children and has clung only to him, let her hear. Otherwise, she shall be rejected. <sup><b>16</b></sup>The man who has a concubine must cease and take a wife according to the law. If he will not, he shall be rejected.</p><p><strong>17</strong> Catechumens will hear the word for three years. <sup><b>2</b></sup>Yet if someone is earnest<sup>a</sup> and perseveres well in the matter, it is not the time that is judged, but the conduct.</p><p><sup>a</sup> Lit. <em>has the authority of swords</em> <br />
<sup>b</sup> Other ancient authorities add <i>or one who clips the fringes of garments,</i> <br />
<sup>c</sup> Lit., <i>one who stirs up the people</i></p><p><em>---------------------</em></p><p>Given the lax standards of today it is amazing that the persecuted and outlawed church of the third century would not accept people who would not change their lifestyle or profession in preference for sinning. And they needed witnesses—which many churches still recommend . . such as a god parent or sponsor. Military leaders were to defy orders. Political leaders were not welcome to take instruction. Gladiators had to give up their jobs. Slaves, however, could become Christians and by their witness might convert their masters, but not magicians or those in the occult who wouldn’t give it up. Sexual immorality (prostitute, wanton man, the castrated, and one “who does that which may not be mentioned”) was enough to cause rejection—and I don’t see an exception for giving up the practice. A faithful concubine, however, could be accepted in the fellowship, but the man had to give up his concubine or make her a wife.</p>Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11502895616873273470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283638.post-5505049370789227962015-03-03T19:17:00.000-05:002015-03-03T19:17:33.374-05:00Meeting Jesus feeding the hungry, Matthew 25<p>At UALC this past month we’ve been meeting Jesus as he promised us in the Gospel of Matthew by feeding the hungry .</p><ul><li>Souper Bowl Sunday 2015; thank God for a successful event at Upper Arlington Lutheran Church that resulted in $5,716 in cash and 2,796 donated cans of food being collected for Lutheran Social Services food pantries. That translates to 242,868 cans of food for hungry people! </li>
<li>Community Meal Packing Project;  thank God for anointing those who gathered last week to pack 763,320 meals for hungry people both locally and in Haiti, and for the opportunity we had to share Jesus with those who came to Mill Run to help pack food. </li>
</ul><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIPF8O8oesDFhU7-YTl6ZdQLEP7iTdZ-r4bKQ7mCerGV07xjGkpRo6xRAtvlyf5iU1VgfNbmNgwEMfzOAMUJdvMThiKwhDlHff7HEtXN4MZF5Yt5I5oC31eM4VF1nj5gQndhBR/s1600-h/Meal%252520packing%252520Feb.%25252026%2525202015%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Meal packing Feb. 26 2015" border="0" alt="Meal packing Feb. 26 2015" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrn2x2d5m7iHePSxIKckZN3C_Jv7SyDy2ubOprAvbyxPvgymNpfntKEYqhlf84UwVzGQ6ar_SiQVIWzJxqiWb7RoZwKa8Mvc0ZEq3ZKIp8V2t4NYAuHTtqGkNs1lw3RfbsmY60JQ/?imgmax=800" width="350" height="204" /></a></p><p><img alt="" src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/00c93e_5b1bbafaaa104598a883ef060c48d343.png_srz_192_258_75_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_png_srz" /></p><p>We worked in groups of 10-12, in 30 shifts, packaging, weighing and sealing 3 different types of meals that will be distributed by <a href="http://www.manoamiga.net/#!meal-pack/c1ot3">Meals from the Heart.</a>   Close to half the meals will go overseas to programs like the Andrew Grene School near Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The remaining meals will stay in this country to be distributed through the Mid-Ohio Food Bank, Lutheran Social Services and the Salvation Army. Each bag contains enough dried food for 6 meals.</p><p>“Meals from the Heart is a division of Mano Amiga, a 20-year-old 501c3 non-profit company organizing and facilitating mission trips for youth organizations from churches and schools is based in Minnesota. Mano Amiga works to help people in need. Homes get roofs, schools get built, lives get changed. Workers return from the trips with a new outlook on life.”</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJ6DnxJSYLBX7bnF_cBc87_-mvDsJy0AxzwiBumbWnKVN9rYSgHuY4z_BOgmIVjfM_UoK-Y4fzstng-iW63jRiZss-WKWIADaWX8-TA7PyqHrc3nh_WWHyILgTCtCY89IzWbW/s1600-h/TJ%252520meal%252520packing%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="TJ meal packing" border="0" alt="TJ meal packing" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKbKxehSvzPJFh8VFFGKztoFpp6Nn2Dnz8XV9KxzrqICcNFq02wdXdAB0JXgoKWOiznwkZZUZsP8cP5HTDGYOoZLFsSaCTp-u891VNPE96GjRTkZP4e2SJu5uLib03uZ6ePNy/?imgmax=800" width="313" height="187" /></a></p>Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11502895616873273470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283638.post-87573919599311072222015-02-21T18:30:00.000-05:002015-02-21T18:30:25.428-05:00The Fourth Lateran Council (1215 AD)<strong>Note to readers:</strong>  Everything I write on my blog is indexed in some form or manner by the U.S. government (and by Google), so I wanted to elevate the content just in case it is useful for evangelizing!</p><p>There’s a lot of interesting background about the history of this council which was both religious and political.  Check it at <a href="http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Councils/ecum12-2.htm#Confession of Faith">Fourth Lateran Council, Papal Encyclicals Online.</a></p><p>When the council began in the Lateran basilica in November 1215 there were present 404 bishops from throughout the western church, and from the Latin eastern church a large number of abbots, canons and representatives of the secular power. No Greeks were present, even those invited, except the patriarch of the Maronites and a legate of the patriarch of Alexandria. The bond with the Greek church was indeed neglected, and matters became more serious through the actions of Latin bishops living in the east or through the decrees of the council. </p>Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11502895616873273470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283638.post-22898801603663697862015-02-15T18:34:00.000-05:002015-02-21T18:35:04.881-05:00Old Fashioned--a great movie<p>Despite the snow and some white outs on the way to the theater, our St. Valentine's date worked well. We saw "Old Fashioned" at Lennox 24 near the OSU campus then had dinner out. The movie truly is old fashioned, with gorgeous cinematography filmed in Tuscawarus County, Ohio, in Oct. and Nov. 2011. In fact, I'd say NE Ohio had a supporting role. The opening in theaters was held back to coincide with the opening of “50 shades of Grey.”  It truly is the antidote to the 50 shades movie.</p><p>Rik Swartzwelder wrote, directed and acted in the film. (He's from New Philadelphia, Ohio, now lives in California). He plays Clay, a guy who not only owns an antique store in the college town where he has a not so lovely past, but old fashioned ideas about who he will marry and what their courtship should be. He meets Amber, the free spirit type, who reminds me of some of the loopy 1970s film characters--on the run when a problem comes up, 3 credit hours from her degree, a cat lady, odd fashion taste and a horrible marriage in her past. These two people, one who can't forgive himself for his past, and one who flees her past, fall in love. There are interesting supporting sub-plots, like Clay's buddies, and Amber's co-workers at the flower shop. This is not an overtly Christian film, but has Christian values, and you can leave the theater without having heard a single swear word even though the story line includes some crude characters in its backstory. </p><p>As we left the theater my husband said it had a "168" feel (short films with a Biblical theme organized by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jdware2">John David Ware</a>) so I looked that up and see that <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rik.swartzwelder">Rik Swartzwelder</a> has worked with Ware (who grew up in our church) in workshops for writers and directors that is also a part of the 168 project. </p><p>We suggested the film to our waitress--that she take her boyfriend. She said she didn't have a boyfriend and would see if she could get a group of her friends to go. And that's just the crowd that should see this movie. Searching singles tired of the hook-up culture of meaningless sex and moving on.</p><p><a title="http://www.timesreporter.com/article/20111001/NEWS/310019937" href="http://www.timesreporter.com/article/20111001/NEWS/310019937">http://www.timesreporter.com/article/20111001/NEWS/310019937</a></p><p><a title="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Fashioned_(film)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Fashioned_(film)">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Fashioned_(film)</a></p><p><a title="http://www.fandango.com/oldfashioned_176952/moviereviews" href="http://www.fandango.com/oldfashioned_176952/moviereviews">http://www.fandango.com/oldfashioned_176952/moviereviews</a></p><p><a title="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptxW2lhzbVQ" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptxW2lhzbVQ">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptxW2lhzbVQ</a></p>Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11502895616873273470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283638.post-32073907109600024482015-02-09T19:09:00.003-05:002015-02-09T19:09:08.773-05:00Five shades of Grey<p>“Rick McDaniel, senior pastor of Richmond Community Church, 11801 Nuckols Road, Glen Allen, Virginia 23059, says that while human sexuality is certainly a normal phenomenon, we need to understand it through the lens of God’s morality. McDaniel says Fifty Shades of Grey, with its explicitly erotic scenes that feature bondage, dominance and sadism, is dangerous, destructive and against the teachings of God’s promise of marriage. So he is planning a sermon series titled 5 Shades of Grey, in which he will tackle the five topics of adultery, divorce, cohabitation, pornography and gay marriage.” </p><p><img alt="Rick McDaniel, senior pastor of Richmond Community Church, 11801 Nuckols Road, Glen Allen, Virginia 23059, says that while human sexuality is certainly a normal phenomenon, we need to understand it through the lens of God’s morality. McDaniel says Fifty Shades of Grey, with its explicitly erotic scenes that feature bondage, dominance and sadism, is dangerous, destructive and against the teachings of God’s promise of marriage. So he is planning a sermon series titled 5 Shades of Grey, in which he will tackle the five topics of adultery, divorce, cohabitation, pornography and gay marriage." src="https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10636161_922985897732129_9049621540066282525_n.jpg?oh=1a6cc96fa394d4bab07242bf41aa1649&oe=5592B2C4" width="281" height="153" /></p>Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11502895616873273470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283638.post-62425392904028609932014-12-21T06:51:00.000-05:002014-12-21T06:51:47.153-05:00God is not dead in Gotham<p>Cheer up, you’re worse than you think,” Rev. Timothy Keller says with a smile. He’s explaining that humans are more weak, more fallen, more warped than they “ever dare admit or even believe.” Then comes the good news: At the same time people are “more loved in Christ and more accepted than they could ever imagine or hope.” Many Millennial Christians in NYC attend his Presbyterian church--and respond to his message. “Every other religion has a founder that says: ‘I’ll show you the way to God. Only Christianity of all the major world religions has a founder that says: ‘I’m God, come to find you.’</p><p><a title="http://www.wsj.com/articles/kate-bachelder-god-isnt-dead-in-gotham-1419032446" href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/kate-bachelder-god-isnt-dead-in-gotham-1419032446">http://www.wsj.com/articles/kate-bachelder-god-isnt-dead-in-gotham-1419032446</a></p><p>My little book group that met at Panera’s a few years ago used his book, </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_KrZZlihsqseRhAGAuGVD4BfoBwS5-qyEP7t91XcAa7BwFnvuN8WfdLFvR5tgIghqm0jkZ4eGs3l-ST1zE7g1Ryi6h8MsZ61CVTx5SuRellh_iatQOQB7V6K3hmABqSE-2ez/s1600/ualc+book+group+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_KrZZlihsqseRhAGAuGVD4BfoBwS5-qyEP7t91XcAa7BwFnvuN8WfdLFvR5tgIghqm0jkZ4eGs3l-ST1zE7g1Ryi6h8MsZ61CVTx5SuRellh_iatQOQB7V6K3hmABqSE-2ez/s320/ualc+book+group+2.JPG" /></a></div><p><a href="http://www.christianbook.com/"><img title="The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism - By: Timothy Keller " alt="The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism - By: Timothy Keller " src="http://g.christianbook.com/dg/product/cbd/f400/483493.jpg" width="176" height="260" /></a></p><p>And it is outstanding.  Maybe I’ll reread it.</p><em>Part 1: The Leap of Doubt</em> <br />
There Can't Be Just One True Religion <br />
How Could a Good God Allow Suffering? <br />
Christianity is a Straitjacket <br />
The Church is Responsible for So Much Injustice <br />
How Can a Loving God Send People to Hell? <br />
Science Has Disproved Christianity <br />
You Can't Take the Bible Literally <br />
<em>Part 2: The Reasons for Faith <br />
</em>The Clues of God <br />
The Knowledge of God <br />
The Problem of Sin <br />
Religion and the Gospel <br />
The (True) Story of the Cross <br />
The Reality of the Resurrection <br />
The Dance of God Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11502895616873273470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283638.post-3978582370694585352014-12-16T06:02:00.000-05:002014-12-16T06:02:54.818-05:00168 Project has KidvidsKidvids are Christian theme videos suitable for your child's phone--we watched this one in Sunday school today. It's about zombies, and what kid wouldn't love that? But we are all the walking dead without Christ. <a href="http://www.168film.com/Media/Gift-of-Grace">http://www.168film.com/Media/Gift-of-Grace</a><br />
Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11502895616873273470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283638.post-6842132523090360722014-12-08T07:41:00.000-05:002014-12-08T07:41:22.460-05:00Unbroken, the movie<p>Millions of people loved and read the book "Unbroken," and will wonder why his faith in Jesus Christ has been left out of Angelina Jolie's film. Stop wondering--I think we know why. But it does change his story. You can catch his real story of liberation on video. <a title="http://www.christianpost.com/news/evangelist-greg-laurie-disappointed-director-angelina-jolie-chose-to-leave-out-world-war-ii-heros-christian-faith-in-unbroken-movie-125839/" href="http://www.christianpost.com/news/evangelist-greg-laurie-disappointed-director-angelina-jolie-chose-to-leave-out-world-war-ii-heros-christian-faith-in-unbroken-movie-125839/">http://www.christianpost.com/news/evangelist-greg-laurie-disappointed-director-angelina-jolie-chose-to-leave-out-world-war-ii-heros-christian-faith-in-unbroken-movie-125839/</a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7AHdOXmpegGqN66hrFxaQqwnhr98TKQbA0zy5V05-qkWG1KeaSNoyGe1IocECAhqhVann4WKfb2ObzBZlKnxv3553g4UPney_DIO4Fc7tnzE6xVxTRcXG9XFkZvsG8DMFzlwJ/s1600-h/louis-zamperini%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="louis-zamperini" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="louis-zamperini" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDMeKE6LU960p_mq0rowlYO8gYKb19k-N_JHdQkhms9w_GKKTF0Dw3AhyoI8XZeA5_u97U1_SEpkqCpKn0fNvVnCN9HUFqB1wYl6RyNF4VCzh0UFqRlxp9zwu0-ojdgwdpux_F/?imgmax=800" width="244" height="124" /></a></p><p>"But his life was changed, and he was, as he told me personally, 'instantly healed of PTSD' as well as his dependence on alcohol. When I interviewed Louis in front of over 45,000 people at Dodger Stadium, he was far more interested in talking about his conversion at the Billy Graham Crusade than his other amazing exploits. Louis Zamperini used his story as a bridge to tell the 'greatest story ever told,' the story of Jesus Christ."</p>Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11502895616873273470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283638.post-69794793100946822962014-12-07T15:44:00.000-05:002014-12-07T15:44:39.428-05:00They still need prayerOur church library had a give-away this week. I picked up one I'd reviewed for the newsletter years ago, "Praying for the world's 365 most influential people." Some were Christians, but most were celebrities, athletes, politicians, movers and shakers caught up in their own power and influence, and since the copyright is 1999, many are dead or forgotten or now powerless. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtFMO6AQXpMVuqirs1qD6waI8swsjX37wDSxjpN64GJdlpGlx3iA3LSUVI1OViWB97UMuLLftdcXEjO-QwlpR2TaV0o8nGnrgHMFGpBVUf9nyGnzl7lH0HDcAcMSBTnqhWDeXY/s1600/praying.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtFMO6AQXpMVuqirs1qD6waI8swsjX37wDSxjpN64GJdlpGlx3iA3LSUVI1OViWB97UMuLLftdcXEjO-QwlpR2TaV0o8nGnrgHMFGpBVUf9nyGnzl7lH0HDcAcMSBTnqhWDeXY/s320/praying.png" /></a></div>Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11502895616873273470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6283638.post-80745745371923038212014-12-02T06:27:00.001-05:002014-12-02T06:27:24.849-05:00Enjoying and being thankful “The created world is to be prized for its usefulness, loved for its beauty and esteemed as the gift of God to His children. Love of natural beauty which has been the source of so much pure music, poetry and art is a good and desirable thing. Though the unregenerate soul is likely to enjoy nature for its own sake and ignore the God whose gift it is, there is nothing to prevent an enlightened Christian who loves God supremely from loving all things for God’s dear sake.” ~ A.W. Tozer, The Set of The Sail<br />
<br />
This morning I can hear the ice-rain hitting the windows. It's all part of God's creation--but best to be safe and not go out for coffee with my friend, Adrienne.<br />
Normahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11502895616873273470noreply@blogger.com0