This may not be a friendly post or a sweet one to swallow, and none of the examples have been intended to hurt or harm or disrespect members of any faith.
Last night (Saturday) I got an urge to text many of my friends asking if they’d like to come with me to church this Sunday. And when they asked why I wasn’t quite sure what to say. I actually preferred having them come on a Sunday when I wasn’t the one leading worship (just so I don’t get distracted minding if they were comfortable..) but my heart was so expectant that the service would be eye-opening and fulfilling, and I didn’t even know what the sermon topic would be. So a bunch agreed to come, some were shy and we planned to do it some other Sunday soon, and others came by their own will without us having talked.
Going to church doesn’t make me holier or better than the next guy. Staying home without fellowship does not makes me grow spiritually however much I watch other people attend church on TV and convince myself that I am as good us whoever OBEYED the instruction to make it a habit to meet and fellowship.
Christianity falls prey to a lot of abuse and misunderstanding. When I was younger, my friends and I thought it was safer to live in this society as a Christian because it is “free from all the binding rules and laws”. In fact, some of my friends decided to call themselves Christian even without understanding what it entails, simply because calling themselves Muslim would require a hijab and a buibui to go along…and they’d be under watch…so they thought. SO it was safer to hide under the Christian umbrella.
You know, the best place to hide something is in the open. I even tried this recently. I put money in a book in our home shelf which is in the living room, where everyone passes it every day, and I traveled for three months and came back home to find it. (My siblings reading this must be feeling it!! Hehe)
There’s another situation to consider.
In a classroom of many students in high school it is almost impossible to know for sure where each of those students will end up. One becomes more senior than another in social ranks, another dies, others get married to each other despite their intense hatred for each other initially, others move to start their lives elsewhere, others grow poor… It is impossible to know the exact nature of our future. So while the students dress uniformly, their destinies are hidden from each other and somehow from them.
Back to the service.
So as it turns out the sermon was about finances. And I knew I’d get caught. First, I started regretting the impulsive buying I just did recently. And when I was reminded that how we handle our money is a spiritual affair, and that money is spoken of more times than prayer or even faith in the Bible, I knew I was totally in for a change.
And of course tithing was mentioned. As it turns out, the amount I overspent recently is EXACTLY the amount I am meant to tithe. Not to mention the other notes I spent on items I donated or gave out the same week.. things I don’t really need. And it is weird how fulfilling I feel whenever I give…like I have obeyed God’s command (yes, generosity is yet another command in Christianity). Not knowing that I may be going all wrong about it. Do we give for the fulfillment afterwards? To post a cool photo of us giving stuff to others on social media? To get rid of our extras?
Do we give from what is ours or from what we have acquired in unholy means?
Is our giving really coming out as worship? True worship, as commanded?
I wrote this just to challenge myself to think if really, I am living a true Christian life. Not wearing a hijab does not automatically mean I am a Christian. Neither does church attendance, neither does reading the Bible (imagine … I shall explain), neither does listening to sermons endlessly. When I opened my fat Bible (yes, even a fat Bible does not qualify me) I saw how I’ve nicely highlighted Malachi 3: 10-12. Very nicely yaani. Yet however millions of times I have read these verses I have never understood it like I did today. I have heard it severally that this is the only time God allows us to test him…to give our FULL tithes AND he shall open the windows of heaven and pour down for me a blessing until there is no more need. That he shall also rebuke the devourer for me, and it will not destroy the fruits of my soil and my vine in the field shall not fail to bear. Then all nations will call me blessed…. (imagine how many free promises we get.)
And the opposite is true.
And the opposite is true.
And the opposite is true.
(pause, we’ll break this down.)
Earlier I promised to explain how reading the Bible does not constitute true Christianity. Studying the word, meditating upon it and being a doer makes the difference. My partner once told me “you haven’t been studying the Bible, what kind of a Christian are you?” And I got mad and defensive. Perhaps it was the harshness he had when saying it, but later I knew it was his duty to be responsible for the Christians around him, and I actually knew he was right because I could feel I had changed. So as later we agreed that he work on how he passes his messages.. approach, I worked on studying. And just the other day I found myself asking aloud half-thinking, “I haven’t studied the Bible in a week, what kind of Christian am I?” And I am sure whoever heard me thought of something to themselves.
Being a Christian is a cost. Yeah, it is. And amazingly, we are all allowed a helper in all this. Hi-five for the presence of the Holy Spirit!
Christianity costs you time (fellowships, meetings, time to go out and help, time to do as commanded to be unselfish and speak openly about this God, time to pray and study God’s word. I mean, how else would you know God and his commands?), money (I don’t even need to explain), sacrifice and above all faith.
More, we are required to be keen to listen to God. And this is hard for many to understand. He directs his message through His spirit within us…that ‘’small voice’’ that told you to stop when you planned to steal that item which wasn’t yours, remember? That song you heard? That annoying person who gave you uncalled-for advice or opinion? The Bible verse you read earlier this week?
Let me now break down the Malachi story.
Have you ever tried to think, “by the way where did all my money go to?” Why did I buy this? Is a common question. The devourer is skillful. And we know the devil comes to do 3: Kill, steal, destroy… That which you have worked hard for, that which you think about a lot, that which you plan. To destroy your relations, your businesses, your plans. And majorly by blinding you from the truth.
Christianity is not just a 1+1 =2 affair. That is where faith comes in to believe that 1+1 actually =1 which =4 which may also =0. (Think of the story of the man leaving his home to unite with the wife to be one; and that of he who has much even more shall be added to him and he who has none even that which he has shall be taken from him; and false prophets doing lots equaling zero). It’s a mystery!
Also 2-4= 20. Think of the widow who gave coins as offering, the widow who spent his last flour helping a man of God and received more. Get it home and think of tithing. Giving away that amount expecting a return from absolutely unknown areas. I have surely seen very fast rewards of tithing and today I think of it and I wonder why at some point I got eye-blocked on this wisdom. It is a command, and a requirement for EVERY Christian. Now I ask me and you, “you haven’t tithed in ages/ever, what kind of a Christian are you?”
Where your treasure is there your heart is also. Let’s take a thousand shillings. Spending it on a garment vs spending it on charity (perhaps to feel like we’re good people) vs spending it on a lover vs giving it as our tithe or offering; which is easier? Where are we laying up our treasures? (Mat 6) Whichever of those that is easier, that is your treasure. Let’s not even begin on idolatry.
May the Holy Spirit guide each of us to know truth and to stand by it, to see the do-ableness (is that a word) of these and to remember that when we all lay to rest, we shall be alone.
But more so, may the knowledge that doing all these is not easy with our own efforts and that being in Christ and he in us is the true mark of Christianity. His grace is sufficient, and his forgiveness is sure, even if we still endure the consequences of our sin.


Director of Resources
Luke Millikan was born in Kyiv, Ukraine as an orphan. Just before 4 years of age, he was adopted into a loving family living in Tipton, Indiana, where he grew up learning the meaning of a good work ethic, stewardship, and serving others. From a young age, Luke had a passion for people and a desire to help others. Through much of his young years, Luke and his family traveled back to Ukraine to serve in many ministries and capacities.
In high school, Millikan continued in his passion by serving with music. Starting the violin at the age of 6 and guitar at the age of 15, he used his talents of playing and singing to help lead his youth band. Attending Word of Life Bible Institute in upstate New York, Luke deepened his love for people and his ability in communication, leadership, management, counseling, and organization. After graduating he worked on staff helping lead camp ministries and youth counseling. Luke has traveled to many different states and countries working with teens and organizing events. He has a background in security, customer relations, insurance, management, and his NREMT.
He and his wife have been blessed with two children and live in Carmel, Indiana.


The Thursday of Holy Week in the Catholic calendar is Maundy or Holy Thursday or Covenant Thursday or Great and Holy Thursday or Sheer Thursday or my favorite Thursday of Mysteries. That seems to go best with the name for yesterday which is Spy Wednesday. Thursday of Mysteries was when Jesus, per the new testament of the Bible, washed the feet of the poor and also the day of the last supper. Confess it. Didn't you think the Last Supper was on Friday? Why else would it be good Friday? He was crucified on Friday.
Now here is the mystery as I see it -- Maundy Thursday was not necessarily the Thursday that proceeded Good Friday. Because there was Judas and the priests (ever wonder why priests and not rabbis) and the Romans involved, trial and torture and mobs calling for the prophet to be put to death. So we need to add at least a week or two. Knowing the Bible 40 days probably came in there somewhere. They were way fond of 40 days in those days. The days when they wrote the Bible. But that was really years. Like the gospels were not written for a hundred years. So the Matthew, Luke, Mark and John were not four of the 12 Disciples. But you knew that, right?
So here is my really big question: If Good Friday is the day Jesus died on the cross why is Easter the following Sunday. If he rose on the third Day that would be Monday.
Never good to give me time to think about religion. We do not even want to get into the travels of Buddha. Or where Mohammad found the mountain or if the mountain found him. Or how many pairs of arms the Goddess Vishnu has. But I digress (and could digress for hours on just questions on beliefs).
I took the above picture of Phoebe, who I am considering worshiping, with a statue of Vishnu (only one pair of arms in this depiction) and the blood red Geraniums on Spy Wednesday. And that has what to do with holy week you ask. I am thinking of having it done in stained glass for my first temple of Phoebe? Lent has addled my mind? More likely but no.
It is all about intent and focus. Set your mind, consciously or unconsciously, on a task for 40 days and nights (46 in this instance) and reality is shaped by that intent or focus. So be it the mountain top of the Delhi Lama or the Last Supper in the Upper Room or the wilderness of a lot of prophets the magic is the intent. Our inner alignment with the universe. That is the great mystery.
Okay, so would you believe I was originally going to write this blog about at last having a tenant for my apartment?


Joseph was baptized this past Sunday at Eastridge Community Church. We have some really great pictures from that day. It was a day that we will never, ever forget. Joseph had been waiting for this day since November.
Our family and dear friends were there to witness this precious site. It just made it all the more surreal to be surrounded by our nearest and dearest. Joseph was awe struck at the people that came to support him on this day. He kept saying, "Mommy, is everyone here just to see me?" I said, "YES! This is a huge deal and they love you so much that they wanted to see you and celebrate this glorious day with you. "
I was pleasantly surprised that Joseph was not one iota nervous. I kept asking him if he was okay, if he had any questions about being dunked in the water, any questions about what the preacher would say, if he was nervous about the water being cold, if he understood he had to hold his nose?I asked all of those over-protective, motherly questions, and he just kept reassuring me that he was A-OK.
Before everyone lefe, were able to get a big group picture of all that were able to attend. I am so glad that he will have a snapshot of that day and all who could share it with him.
We are beaming with pride, love, and joy because of our son and his decision to follow Jesus Christ.
Joseph, we encourage you to follow His path for you and you will never be led astray. "Be joyful always pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. " 1Thessalonians 5:16-18
Our pictures are posted on our Shutterfly website. You can click on the link above in the top post to take you there. I am not sure if this one below will take you straight to the album without signing in first. I am still working out all the kinks with this new website. If you are not a member of my Shutterfly site and want to become one, you can once you go to the site. They will send me an email confirming you as a member.
It has become too tedious for me to post pictures on my blog and on our Shutterfly account. So, I have included a link to our Shutterfly website. It just makes it easier for ordering, enhancing, cropping, etc., to have them all in one place.
Blogging has become something of an afterthought lately. I have been so overwhelmed with daily life...housework, school work, carpooling, soccer games (for 2 kids)...it is just getting harder and harder to find the time. It helps to have this new Shutterfly website, because I can just "write" on here, and then send you to the link to our pictures pertaining to a certain post.
I am very tired, my eyes feel like they are crossing, on that note, good night...
hitting the sack,


Terry Sacka and Investing in Silver
If you are a Christian, you may be concerned with your finances and what happens to them. It seems like every time you turn around, you see another financial management firm that isn’t Christian and doesn’t believe what you do. It’s almost impossible to find a Christian conservative leader who you can trust with you precious assets.
Recently I met someone who does just this. He is a person of faith and believes in the one true savior Jesus Christ. But also is an asset manager that specializes in silver. God designed silver to be his money and to be sacred. The most recent developments in our conservative financial system have brought about disaster because of fiat currency. Terry Sacka, the person I met, explains that silver is God’s constitutional money and should remain that way. If you put your money in silver, it will produce returns on investment that are unparalleled in any other asset class. The company that he operates is called Cornerstone Asset Metals based out of the state of Florida.
Who Do You Trust?
There is a lot of reason to believe that your finances are in trouble. With the crash of 2008 and the constant ups and downs of the fiduciary markets, it’s hard to put your faith in those things. The only thing we can do when dealing with the ups and downs in life is turn to God and that is exactly what Terry Sacka advocates. You can contact him on his LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terrysacka


Masterpiece Fitness was officially started in January 2010 by Jenn Burton and Dawn Rodgers. Their vision is to help women be healthy and treat their bodies the way God intended. When women get together, work hard and begin changing physically that change also happens on the inside. The ministry was put together to allow just that to happen. Finally, Jenn and Dawn have a desire to help those in need which the ministry does through some of its programs.
Masterpiece Fitness Mission statement:
Masterpiece Fitness is a ministry designed to empower women physically, spiritually, and emotionally so that they can become more than they ever imagined.
Board of Directors
Vice President-Dawn Rodgers
Board Member-Kristie Kiser
Exercise Specialist-Abby Fleetwood


What Think Ye of Christ?
Throughout the account of the Savior’s three-year ministry as recorded in the New Testament, we read of the many attempts by the Pharisees and Sadducees to discredit him and his teachings. These groups of learned religious men would pit their lawyers and spokesmen against Jesus in public forums where they would seek to trap him in rhetorical play by twisting his words around. However, their efforts were in vain as Christ would speak in parables and pose questions in return that they could not possibly answer with their limited knowledge.
The book of Matthew contains the account of the last time the Savior was accosted by these groups in chapter 22. They alternately asked him questions in order to “entangle him in his talk”, (KJV Matthew 22:15) but Christ answered them in such a way that they “marvelled” and “were astonished at his doctrine.” (KJV Matthew 22: 22,33) Finally, when he had had enough, the Savior queried them back. “What think ye of Christ? Whose son is he?” When they answered that he was the Son of David, he responded, “How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies they footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?” (KJV Matthew 22: 42-45) This reply was so profound that no one was! able to answer him back “neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.” (KJV Matthew 22:45)
Even though the question was never asked again in Christ’s time, the issue and subsequent debates have occupied over two millennia of religious controversy since then. Every major religion answers this question within the framework of their beliefs and many people judge the truth of each other’s faith as a whole by their stance on this one point. Just among the denominations today that claim to be Christian, there are widely differing doctrines on exactly who Christ was, how he was born, his mission, his death, and his current status.
Additionally, written records have been altered, truths lost and doctrines changed over the millennia since Christ was born. Consequently, religious groups have held councils through the years to decide what is and isn’t true doctrine or scripture. Perhaps the most famous is the council of Nicea in 325 CE where the books of the Bible and the nature of the Christ were in dispute. Subsequent doctrines came out of that meeting which have led to the variance of Christian beliefs today.
For Latter-day Saints, there is no dispute or question regarding this issue since Joseph Smith restored many of these plain and precious truths to us through direct revelation from God. We are able to answer what we think of Christ with conviction and testimony. We know of his birth, death, role, and that he still lives. We have no doubts that he will come again to this earth and that every knee shall bow and tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of humankind.
This knowledge, as revealed through modern day prophets, puts us at odds sometimes with our fellow Christians. We find ourselves often in the position of fighting misconceptions that we worship Joseph Smith or that we are not even Christian despite the fact that our church is named after Jesus Christ. Our belief in the distinctness of personage between God the Father and Christ separates us from the majority of Christian groups today who hold to the Nicean doctrine of the t Trinity. We declare that God, Christ and the Holy Ghost are three separate beings who work together in a Godhead that is one in purpose, not one joined together in a single corporeal body or essence. We do not believe that Christ was God the Father incarnate while living his earthly life. We do not glorify, worship or pray to him instead of God the Father nor do we pray to the Virgin Mary or other saintly people.
The fact that we do not use the normal Christian icons of the cross or crucified Christ figure in our churches is another point that promotes our individuality. We also believe that the Bible is the word of God only as far as it is translated correctly. We know it contains faults, is missing text and in many instances uses mistranslations. This confession on our part widens the gap between us and other main-stream Christian faiths. With the addition of our other three books of scripture, it is no wonder that the majority of Christendom today views us as something entirely outside their concept of a Christian faith. Conversely, from our side, Elder Parley P. Pratt’s comments from 1855 as quoted earlier are still relevant now in that we would most likely view modern Christianity’s Trinitarian doctrines to be a form of heathenism as compared with those of Islam that closely parallel our own.
So what exactly do Muslims think of Christ? One of the foremost misconceptions about Islam is that they do not believe in Christ at all. This is to them like saying to Mormons that we are not Christians. It is utterly false and really very upsetting to a faithful Muslim. Just because they do not have knowledge of his role as the Savior does not mean that they do not revere and accept his teachings as a prophet nor his mission in restoring the truth to his dispensation. The Islamic beliefs about Christ “do not intend in any way to belittle his role or underestimate his character or diminish his great person. On the contrary, these Islamic beliefs depict Jesus in a most respectable manner and place him as high in status as God himself has placed him. In fact, the Muslim is more respectful of Jesus than many Christians… Acceptance of Jesus by Muslims is a fundamental article of faith in Islam.”
The Quran refers to Christ as a holy or pure son born to the Virgin Mary and a mercy from God. It is interesting to note that he is called Jesus the Messiah in several places in the Quran including the instance of the annunciation of the angel to Mary regarding his birth. “Allah bids you rejoice in a Word from Him. His name is the Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary.” (Surah 3:45) The Arabic root of the word Messiah includes among other definitions to erase, wipe or rub away. In his role as the Savior though the atonement, Christ fulfills all the meanings of this title but nothing more is mentioned in the Quran alluding to his role as redeemer.
The important point to remember here is that Muhammad’s mission was to rid the Arabian peoples of their idolatrous beliefs, their plurality of Gods and their misconceptions concerning the true character of Allah. The Christian churches during his time were already teaching the Trinitarian doctrine in full force, and with the addition of pagan idolatry among non-Christians, there was little if any pure religion left on earth in 600 CE. This was indeed an age of ignorance in regards to religious truths as well as other aspects of civilization. When Muhammad revealed the Quran, the main theme was the Unity of God- not partnered or shared by any idols, sons, daughters, or additions of any kind.
There are numerous passages in the Quran that refute idolatry and an equal number that address the erroneous Christian view of the Trinity essence. The deification of Jesus, declaring that he was God the Father in the flesh and should be worshipped, was as heinous a sin as to believe that God had created daughters who were idols, also worthy of worship. In one poignant passage, God declares that they would assign daughters to Him, yet they would bury their own when they were born. “They give daughters to Allah (Glory be to Him!), but they themselves would have what they desire. When the birth of a girl is announced to one of them, his face grows dark and he is filled with inward gloom. Because of the bad news he hides himself from men: should he keep her with disgrace or bury her under the dust? How ill they judge!” (Surah 16: 57-59)
The single important truth of tawheed (the Unity of God) that Muhammad revealed did not leave room for God to have any deified sons or daughters that would draw worship and belief away from Him. Additionally, the Christian denominations were promoting the birth of Christ to be something other than the miraculous creation by God. They were using the words “only begotten” to imply the strict definition of an earthly physical union as the means by which conception took place. That coupled with their view of Christ as God the Father incarnate resulted in many Quranic revelations given in the strongest language possible to set the record straight. Regarding the act of Christ’s conception, God declares, “Allah forbid that He Himself should beget a son! When he decrees a thing He need only say: ‘Be,’ and it is.” (Surah 19:35)
And further: “Those who say: ‘The Lord of Mercy has begotten a son preach a monstrous falsehood, at which the very heavens might crack, the earth break asunder, and the mountains crumble to dust. That they should ascribe a son to the Merciful, when it does not become Him to beget one!” (Surah 19:88-92) Of the actual process of the creation of Christ, another surah states, “And in Mary, Imran’s daughter, who preserved her chastity and into whose womb We breathed of Our spirit; who put her trust in the words of her Lord and His scriptures and was truly devout.” (Surah 66:12)
Jesus Christ came to this earth to live a completely mortal life experience as an example for us to follow. He did not perform his miracles by using some special divine power in the role of a god himself, but accomplished them through his faith and to give the glory and honor to the Father only. The Quran has an interesting passage where God will question Christ about what he taught and did in this life. “Then Allah will say: ‘Jesus, son of Mary, did you ever say to mankind: “Worship me and my mother as gods beside Allah?”’ ‘Glory to You,’ he will answer, ‘how could I say that to which I have no right? If I had ever said so, You would have surely known it…I spoke to them nothing except what You bade me. I said: “Serve Allah, my Lord and your Lord.”” (Surah 5: 116, 117)
In regards to the issue of Christ as a deity that is part of a Trinity essence, the Quran repeats time and time again that Jesus is not the Son of God (meaning his creation through earthly physically begotten means and then partnered on the same level as God the Father or sharing an essence with Him.) If God so chose, He could have destroyed Christ, Mary and all the inhabitants of earth. God is totally self-sufficient without the need of a Son or partner with whom to share His power or glory. All that the heavens and earth contain are His alone. If there were more than one God in heaven, each God would govern his own creation and vie each other for position. Christ was only mortal, an apostle (prophet), and a servant of God, which position he did not distain. The disbelievers are those who say Allah is one of three. But He is only one God. The Jews say that Ezra is the Son of God and the Christians say the Messiah is the Son of God. They worship them along with their rabbis and monks as gods besides Allah although they were ordered to serve one God only. There is no God but Him. He is exalted beyond those whom they would deify beside him.
Islam leaves no room for doubt about the supreme Oneness of God to whom all glory belongs. To the People of the Book (Christians), the Quran gives a challenge: “Say: ‘People of the Book, let us come to an agreement: that we will worship none but Allah, that we will associate none with him, and that none of us shall set up mortals as gods besides him.” (Surah 3:64) Christ as a deified God the Father incarnate and part of a Trinity godhead’s singular essence were the very doctrines that Joseph Smith also refuted in his time. Through his first vision of the Father and the Son, the first thing Joseph learned about the character of God was that He was a separate and distinct being from that of the Savior. While God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost constitute a working Godhead, they are one only in purpose, not in essence.
LDS doctrine teaches that Jesus Christ is our elder brother (the firstborn spirit of our Heavenly Father) who came to this earth in the bodily nature and form of a mortal man. “…I was in the world and made flesh my tabernacle, and dwelt with the sons of men.” (D&C 93:4) While we affirm His divine roles as a member of the Godhead in the pre-existence and the Savior of this earth, all things that were delegated to him both in heaven and on earth were done at the command of and for the glory of the Father, not for himself. Christ fulfills the commands of the Father and carries out His will. He is not to be worshipped as a God equal in position of hierarchy to the Father. He is subordinate to God the Father in power, supremacy and authority. All glory belongs to the Father only. While we also strongly affirm that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Only Begotten of the Father, the concept of “begotten son” to us is not strictly that of a physical act of conception. Rather, it refers to the literal relationship that Christ has with the Father that was necessary to his mission to act as the Savior for the world.
We are in agreement with those of most faiths regarding the fact that Mary was a virgin and that Christ had no mortal physical father. In this sense, we say that God “begot” him through His direct involvement in His creation and because of this, he is the Son of God (differing from all of us who were conceived by solely mortal physical means). But we do not know how the actual act was performed. In the book of Moses in the Pearl of Great Price, God refers to Christ as His Only Begotten and the Savior, but within the same verse states very emphatically that there is no God beside Him. He speaks to Moses telling him that he is in similitude to Christ, “and mine Only Begotten is and shall be the Savior, for he is full of grace and truth; but there is no God beside me, and all things are present with me, for I know them all.” (PGP Moses 1:6)
The title of “son of God” or “God the son” also refers to Christ’s participating role as a member of the Godhead in the pre-existence. As we learn through the scriptures, Christ took an active role in the creation of the earth by carrying out the instructions of the Father. In the book of Moses, God states: “Behold I reveal unto you concerning this heaven, and this earth; write the words which I speak. I am the Beginning and the End, the Almightly God: by mine only begotten I created these things; yea, in the beginning I created the heaven, and the earth upon which thou standest.” (PGP Moses 2:1) All glory and credit for the creation are still with the Father, but He clearly states that He used the Savior to accomplish the act.
The divine role that Christ performed as the Savior is the major differing factor in our beliefs with those of Islam. For us, Jesus was more than just a prophet and teacher of truth. He was also the Redeemer of humankind wherein he used his divinely inherited powers to take upon himself the sins of the world to bring about the laws of mercy and fulfill the laws of justice according to the commands of the Father. This was another of his pre-existent assignments as part of the Godhead. He was foreordained to fulfill the role of Savior in the Father’s great plan of salvation for His children.
When he appeared to the Nephites in 34 CE shortly after his crucifixion and resurrection in Jerusalem, Christ told them, “Behold, I have come into the world to bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin. Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him I will receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me all ye ends of the earth, and be saved.” (BM 3 Nephi 9:21,22) We do not know exactly how Christ performed the atonement, but we believe his divine parentage from God allowed him to have the power of His Godhood at the proper time to accomplish this act. This is why he could not have been born from a normal physical union as were the rest of us.
Although he lived his life as a mortal, he had the divine ability to fulfill this task when the necessary time came. “The fact of Jesus’ being the literal Son of God in the flesh is crucial to the Atonement, which could not have been accomplished by an ordinary man… To complete the Atonement by physical death and resurrection, it was necessary that Jesus be able to lay down his physical body and also be able to take it up again. He could do this only because he had life in himself, which he inherited from God his Father. Christ inherited the ability to die from his mortal mother and the power to resurrect himself from his immortal Father. Dying was for him a voluntary, deliberate act for mankind, made possible only because he was the Only Begotten of the Father (D&C 20:18-26).”
We do know that the act of the Atonement began in the Garden of Gethsemane and that the process was extremely painful. In a very beautiful passage of scripture, Christ tells us of the event himself. “I, having accomplished and finished the will of him whose I am, even the Father, concerning me…For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent, they must suffer even as I, Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit- and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink- nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.” (D&C 19: 2, 16-19)
Even in fulfilling this role as the Savior, Christ did not glorify anyone but the Father and in fact, spoke of his submission to God in all things. “And behold, I am the light and life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon myself the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.” (BM 3 Nephi 11:11) God had chosen Christ to be the Redeemer in the beginning before the world was created and gave him “power to make intercession for the children of men.” (BM Mosiah 15:8) Additionally, Jesus’ role of intercessor was intimated or foretold by most of the prophets who preceded him.
The Quran actually contains several references to intercession (though none in direct reference to Christ), stating that none will have this power unless God grants it. On the Day of Judgment, when the trumpet shall sound, “none shall have power to intercede for them except him that has received the sanction of the Merciful and whose word is acceptable to Him.” (Surah 20: 100, 102, 109) Then it will not matter which idols were worshipped, for none will be able to answer. “The gods to whom they pray besides Him have not the power to intercede for them. None can intercede for them save him who knows the truth and testifies to it.” (Surah 43:86) A very interesting note in the King Fahed commentary on this verse states, “While idols and false gods have no power of intercession, persons like Jesus, who is falsely worshipped by his misguided followers, but who himself preached the Gospel of Unity with full understanding will have the power of intercession.”
Muslims believe that forgiveness of sins is obtained through repentance and the will of God. One of God’s 99 names is the “Forgiving One” and He is able to apply mercy to the repentant: “Say: Servants of Allah, you that have sinned against your souls, do not despair of Allah’s mercy, for He forgives all sins. He is the Forgiving One, the Merciful. Turn in repentance to your Lord and surrender yourselves to Him before His scourge overtakes you; for then there will be none to help you.” (Surah 39: 53,54) The Quran also mentions that there are those who surround the throne of God to plead for forgiveness for the faithful. They implore God to let those who repent enter into paradise with their families and descendants. But ultimately it is only God who forgives and accepts repentance. Additionally, there are passages that mention the performance of righteous deeds as a way to help gain forgiveness: “As for those that have faith and do good works, We shall cleanse them of their sins and reward them according to their noblest deeds… Good deeds make amends for sins.” (Surah 29:7, 11:114)
For the Muslim, repentance and forgiveness are straightforward. If you will truly acknowledge your sins before God, change your ways and ask for forgiveness, He will be Merciful and grant it to you. There is no need for an intermediary or Savior to perform an atonement since God is very capable of forgiving man if He so chooses. How God actually accomplishes this is neither relevant nor in need of explanation. It is enough to say that He has the power to do so. Since Christ’s role as Savior was not revealed to Muhammad, there would be no need to provide any other revelations regarding the process of repentance and forgiveness. This is totally consistent with other Old Testament peoples who did not receive this knowledge nor the higher laws and responsibilities that would ensue.
Additionally, the Quran has very little to say about the last days of Christ’s life or his death. There is one passage that refers to the crucifixion as not happening the way the Jews believed: “They declared: ‘We have put to death the Messiah, Jesus the Son of Mary, the apostle of Allah.’ They did not kill him, nor crucify him, but thought they did. Those that disagreed about him were in doubt concerning his death, for what they knew about it was sheer conjecture; they were not sure that they had slain him. Allah lifted him up to His presence.” (Surah 4:157,158) Most Quranic commentary states that Christ was never crucified at all and some even purport that another person was crucified in his stead. However, when reading the verse in context from the standpoint of the Jews’ belief that they killed him, the main point here is that Christ did not die the permanent death the Jews thought they had inflicted upon him. He was indeed raised to God. Again, the resurrection or any reference to it is not in the Quran for it would have to allude directly to Christ’s overcoming death as a part of his role as Savior.
The King Fahed Commentary states: The end of the life of Jesus on earth is as much involved in mystery as his birth… It is not profitable to discuss the many doubts and conjectures among the early Christian sects and among Muslim theologians…The Quranic teaching is that Christ was not crucified nor killed by the Jews, not withstanding certain apparent circumstances which produced that illusion in the minds of some of his enemies; that disputations, doubts, and conjectures on such matters are vain; and that he was taken up to Allah.”
There is one verse in the Quran that is of interest, though, that states that Christ did indeed die as part of God’s plan: “Allah is the supreme Plotter. He said: ‘Jesus, I am about to cause you to die and lift you up to Me. I shall take you away from the unbelievers and exalt your followers above them till the Day of Resurrection.” (Surah 3:55) However, the commentary for this verse only refers back to the quoted verse above in reference to the Jews not really killing him as they thought. Also, other translations of the Quran do not use the word “die” in this passage, but “take or gather” and in the Ibn Katheer commentary, he points out an alternate meaning of “put to sleep”. Christ, himself, also is quoted as making reference to his own death when he miraculously spoke from the cradle as an infant (see end for full text): “I was blessed on the day I was born, and blessed I shall be on the day of my death; and may peace be upon me on the day when I shall be raised to life.’” (Surah 19:33) Muslims believe that this reference to death has yet to take place in the future.
Regardless of the differing views on his death, the fact that God took Christ up to Himself is undisputed. Muslims also firmly believe that Jesus will yet appear again on the earth prior to the Day of Judgement. In the Hadith it states that he will destroy the anti-Christ, establish Islam and remain on earth for forty years before he dies. Any disputations concerning his life and role will then be settled and made clear for all to understand. If we are truly pure in heart and seek only to follow God, it will be easy to accept whatever Christ will teach us when he is among us once again in the future.
This belief of Jesus’ imminent return is something to which both Mormons and Muslims can look forward. At that time Christ will reign upon the earth as the head of one religion and one people who will finally live together in peace: “…and the earth shall be like as it was in the days before it was divided. And the Lord, even the Savior, shall stand in the midst of his people, and shall reign over all flesh…and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called …The Prince of Peace.” (D&C 133: 24,25; BM 3 Nephi 19:6)
 Ati, p.152
 Surah 19:19, 21
 Allah’s daughters were the Arabian idols Al-Lat and Al-Uzzah specifically- see Surah 53:19
 For complete texts of miracles mentioned in the Quran but not found in our scriptures, see end of chapter.
 For references regarding the Islamic definition/ connotation of Son of God see end of chapter.
 Surah 5:17
 Surah 10:68
 Surah 23:91
 Surah 4:171,172
 Surah 5:73
 Surah 9:30,31
 When Joseph Smith was a young man, he received a vision in which the Father and the Son appeared to him. For his account of this vision, see PGP Joseph Smith-History https://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/js-h?lang=eng
 KJV John 5:26; 10:17-18
 Ludlow, Daniel H. Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Mac Millan Company, 1992, Vol 2, p.729
 Surah 10:3
 Quran, King Fahed Translation, p.1516, note 4683
 Surah 40:3, 7-9
 Other Quran translations state “as it seemed to them or appeared to them or a likeness of that was shown to them”.
 Quran, King Fahed Translation, pp.267,268, note 663
 Surah 43:61
 Hadith as reported in Sunan Abu Dawud, vol 3, p. 1203, no. 4310
Miracles of Christ not found in the Bible:
1- Speaking from the cradle:
“Carrying the child, she came to her people, who said to her: ‘your father was never a whore-monger, nor was your mother a harlot.’ She made a sign to them, pointing to the child. But they replied: ‘How can we speak with a babe in the cradle?’ Whereupon he spoke and said: ‘I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the gospel and ordained me a prophet. His blessing is upon me wherever I go, and He has commanded me to be steadfast in prayer and to give alms to the poor as long as I shall live. He has exhorted me to honour my mother and has purged me of vanity and wickedness. I was blessed on the day I was born, and blessed I shall be on the day of my death; and may peace be upon me on the day when I shall be raised to life.’ Such was Jesus, the son of Mary. (Surah 19: 27-34)
2- Miracle of the clay bird:
“Allah will say: ‘Jesus, son of Mary, remember the favour I have bestowed on you and on your mother: how I strengthened you with the Holy Spirit, so you preached to men in your cradle and in the prime of manhood; how I instructed you in the Scriptures and in wisdom, in the Torah and the Gospel; how by My leave you fashioned from clay the likeness of a bird and breathed into it so that, by My leave, it became a living bird; how, by My leave, you healed the blind man and the leper, and by My leave restored the dead to life; how I protected you from the Israelites when you brought them veritable signs: when the unbelievers among them said: “This is nothing but plain magic”… (Surah 5: 110)
For Islamic definition of Son of God, see:
Abdal Ati, Hammudah. Islam in Focus, International Islamic Publishing House, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 1999, pp.151-162
Al-Johanim, Maneh Hammad. The Truth About Jesus, World Assembly of Muslim Youth, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Aziz-Us-Samad, Ulfat. Islam and Christianity, International Islamic Federation of Student Organizations, Al-Faisal Printing Co, Kuwait, 1988, pp. 35-42
Baagil, H.M. Christian Muslim Dialogue, Foreigners Guidance Center, Gassim Zone, Saudi Arabia, 1991, pp. 20-27
Deedat, Ahmad. Christ in Islam, Dar El Fadila, Cairo, Egypt, 1988, pp. 28-30
Haneef, Suzanne. What Everyone Should Know About Islam and Muslims, Kazi Publications, Lahore, Pakistan, 1979, pp. 175-184
Philips, Bilal. The True Message of Jesus Christ, Dar Al Fatah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, 1996, pp. 40-70
Ur-Rahim, Muhammad Ata. Jesus A Prophet of Islam, MWH London Publishers, International Islamic Publishing House, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 1979


I will be speaking Oct. 7 on the Prince Frederick (2:30 p.m.) and La Plata (6 p.m.) campuses of the College of Southern Maryland on the “Intersection of Faith and Sexuality” related to Coming Out Day. The events are free.
Pay no attention to the man or woman behind the curtain, behind the pulpit, or behind this blog!
Our first love, our first allegiance, our first lover, our first faithful relationship, is with God. No one will care for us as God does. No one loved us before we were born as God has. Few will love us forever as God will. “Till death do us part” we say in marriage, but even death does not separate us from God’s love. I believe the scriptures witness over and over again that God is our Shepherd in life and in death and always.
Our faith in this God is not and should not be dependent on any leader, writer, or congregation. We have to work our own programs, as they say in 12-step groups. And, as Jesus said about the Sabbath, the day of rest and reflection on spiritual matters, the Sabbath is made for us, not us for the Sabbath.
All Christians are ministers. I believe we are all called to extend the right hand of fellowship to one another in a myriad of ways. Nothing will tightly bind us together like sharing our selves. It’s risky, it’s vulnerable, we might disagree, but God is everyone’s Shepherd.
There are over five hundred references to sheep in the Bible. The references in Jewish scriptures are usually literal, while the references in Christian scriptures are usually metaphorical.
Lest we think the metaphorical reference to us as the sheep of God’s pasture in Psalm 23 is a pejorative image, one of docility, it’s important to know that sheep, like us, are highly gregarious. Because they look for adventure, much as we do, they are easily lost. Just as we know truth when we hear it, sheep know the voice of the one to whom they belong, and the shepherd of biblical times typically knew each sheep by name.
But sheep are unaggressive and defenseless, and thus dependent on good shepherds whose staffs guide them to quenching waters and nourishing pastures, those whose rods ward off predators: wolves and poachers—thus, in Psalm 23, the Shepherd God’s rod and staff comfort the psalmist, offering protection and guidance. Note that the rod was not there to be used on the sheep—only on predators.
The ideal religious leader has been patterned after God as Shepherd. Not just in Jewish and Christian cultures, but others as well. God through the prophet Jeremiah despairs at the bad religious leaders of Judah, “the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture.” Jeremiah also speaks of religious leaders whose ungodliness has allowed the people to enter “pastures of the wilderness [that] are dried up.” He decries those who comfort rather than challenge those unwilling to make the personal transformations needed to be right with God and with one another.
I believe all ministers—which again, means all Christians—are called to confront our addictions, our rage, our bitterness, our self-absorption, our passive-aggressive behaviors, our manipulativeness, our materialism, our control issues, our violence (in whatever shape it takes), and our inattention and even apathy toward all things spiritual.
Each of us knows what we need to change within ourselves to make our spiritual communities work. When a congregation finds itself in a dry patch, Jeremiah’s “pastures of the wilderness [that] are dried up,” it is not necessarily the fault of pastors, past, present, or future. It is because we have not taken our own ministries seriously.
Thus we may all, with Jesus, see the great crowds of those with needs, and have “compassion for them, because they [are] like sheep without a shepherd.” Having described Jesus’ compassion in this way, the Gospel of Mark says, “Jesus began to teach them many things.”
Some ministers have a vocation, a “still, small voice” calling them into pastoral leadership. Pastors are different from other ministers in job description but not in kind. They are given the leadership role of a flock, a congregation. “Pastor” comes from the Latin word for “shepherd.” When we hire them, we covenant to respect their training, their experience, their guidance, and their leadership.
Toward the end of the film version of L. Frank Baum’s wonderful children’s story, The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy and her friends, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Lion, with Toto’s help, all discover the man behind the curtain manipulating images in an attempt to pretend he is a Great Wizard. This is a huge disappointment for Dorothy trying to get home, the Scarecrow wanting wisdom, the Tin Man wishing for compassion, and the Lion hoping for courage. When Dorothy’s dog, Toto, pulls the curtain back, they see the Wizard for who he is.
“Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain,” the would-be Wizard says in his artificially amplified voice. When they realize they have been duped, Dorothy says to the so-called Wizard of Oz, “You are a very bad man!” The would-be Wizard corrects her, saying, “No, I am a very good man. It’s just that I’m a very bad wizard.” Then he shows each of them that what they are looking for already resides within them, even the ability to find home.
Spiritual leaders are usually good people. But they are not wizards who can necessarily give us wisdom, compassion, and courage, or get us home.* At best they can help us find our own wisdom, compassion, and courage, and help us find our own way home. And all interim** and imperfect shepherds can only point to the One who is our permanent and perfect Shepherd.
God is our Shepherd.
This post serves as prelude to next week’s post, “What to Expect of a Pastor,” which is as much about what not to expect!
*I first used this metaphor in a sermon for my seminary community in the 70's.
**Having served as interim pastor of three congregations in transition, I have come to realize that all spiritual leadership is “interim,” that is, temporary.
Progressive Christian Reflections is entirely supported by readers’ donations. It is an authorized Emerging Ministry of Metropolitan Community Churches, a denomination welcoming seekers as well as believers.
Copyright © 2014 by Chris R. Glaser. Permission granted for non-profit use with attribution of author and blogsite. Other rights reserved.


Juniper school was founded in 1960 by the Passionist Priests who saw the need that existed at that time to educate the children of American families who resided temporarily in Mexico and had no command of the Spanish language.
The Benedictine Sisters directed the school from the time of its foundation until the year 1968 when the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose, California, assumed its administration.
The first Dominican Sister sent to Mexico to administer the school was Sister Ellen Kelly, Sister Dolores Marie Diaz accompanied her as a teacher in the English program. She was followed by Sister Imelda Marie Dibble, then by Sister Rose Martin and by Sister Carol Prutsos.
In its beginnings, the school population was comprised of mostly Americans. Due to the changes that have taken place in Mexico, the school community has been shifting gradually so that at the present time the schoolÂ´s population is mostly made up of Mexican families having as a priority to give their children a high quality education, in a Catholic environment of peace and Christian love.
- In 1980, the Seventh and Eighth grade were phased out because of low enrollments. In the same year a Kindergarten building was constructed to offer a Pre-school education.
- In 1995 the Kindergarten added a Pre-Kinder level for 3 year olds.
- In October 1996 the Margaret E. Kelly Auditorium was inaugurated. This building has on the lower level a Music classroom, a chapel, 2 extra classrooms and bathrooms. On the upper floor, at school patio level are the kitchen, stage and multifunctional auditorium.
- In 2005 JuniperÂ´s Library is renovated.


R. Donald Sharp, 90, Lac du Flambeau, passed away at the Avanti Health and Rehabilitation Center in Minocqua July 27, 2013.
He was born in Higbee, Mo., Nov. 17, 1922 to E Carl and Bertha (Ware) Sharp.
Don attended Moberly Junior College after high school and shortly after joined the Navy in 1942. Don served in the Pacific Theater as a Chief Pharmacy Mate until 1946. Don was employed with Merck Pharmaceutical as a sales representative for 35 years in the Sheboygan area until retiring to the Northwoods in 1981.
Don was a lifetime member of the Elks Club. He was also involved in other organizations including the American Legion, Lions Club, Kiwanis Club, and the Men’s Club of St Anthony’s in Lac du Flambeau. In addition, Don was a volunteer at Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale Ariz.
Don is survived by his wife, Jean; three children, Sherry (David) Hitztaler of highlands Ranch, Colo., Michael S. Sharp of Mableton, Ga., and David (Julie) Sharp of Madison; four grandchildren, Stephanie (Jani) Hitztaler-Onninen, Elizabeth (Josh) Stone, and Alex and Will Sharp; and three great-grandchildren, Reese, Carter and Oliver.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday July 31, 11:30 a.m., at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Lac du Flambeau.
Interment will be at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Grafton.
Memorials are suggested to St. Anthony Catholic Church in Lac du Flambeau or Avanti Health and Rehabilitation Center
Bolger Cremation and Funeral Services of Minocqua and Woodruff is serving the family.
Please feel free to share memories, condolences and pictures at www.bolgerfuneral.com.


Author: American/English Traditional
Date/Studio: 2013 Synergy, Port Townsend, WA
Engineer: Neville Pearsall
Producer: Robert Force
Original Release: Did You (BSR151)
Current Release: Did You (BSR151)
I recorded this well-known English hymn when I was 64 years old. Although I had been playing, singing and performing it for my entire musical life I wanted to take a song people already knew and play so folks could hear the tune as they hear it in their head and also hear how I hear it. Each time I play it is somewhat different. For me, this is a living tune that constantly changes with our times and circumstances. The recording on the Did You CD was done “one-take” with no overdubs.
In the early 1970s, during the five years I spent hitchhiking nearly 300,000 miles across the country, my rule was never to listen to music that wasn't being played live. No radio. No records or cassettes or (remember!) 8-tracks. That was the way I learned tunes. Teach it to me! For years I knew there was a verse that said something about “ten-thousand years” but did not know what it was.
One day outside of Portland, Oregon I was picked up by a group of young Christians on their way home from a retreat. I asked them if they knew that verse. None did. They took me to their church a hundred miles or so up the road toward Chehalis, WA and we looked it up in a hymnal. I figured that was close enough.
You will hear in my version that I open up the (for me, epiphanous) “ten thousand years” verse with pauses interspersed with quick runs and an overall slowing of the tune. That's what I call letting it breathe. That's appropriate for a living song.
For those of you looking for tablature for this tune, I am sure you will find it somewhere out there on the net for whatever instrument you are playing. In my recorded interpretation I only played through four verses. When I sing it I always come in late after the chords changes have been introduced. The recorded version is more of an accompaniment than it is a melody to follow. The modified, mixed up personal lyrics that run through my heart are:
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now I'm found, was blind, but now I see.
That precious day when Grace appeared, the hour I first believed
t'was Grace that taught my heart to fear and Grace my fears relieved.
Through many dangers, toils and snares we have already come.
It was Grace that brought me safe this far and Grace will lead me home.
When we've been here ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise then when we first begun.


DiscipleNow is February 26-28. The theme is Fearless. We will be talking about living out our faith fearlessly in a world that is becoming more hostile to Christianity. The cost is $40 and that includes: t-shirt, all meals on Saturday, housing, transportation, mission opportunity, speaker and band! When you pay for DiscipleNow, you can have your deposit paid for Student Life! So, DiscipleNow and your Student Life deposit for only $40!!!


Would you like to serve God by working here? We can set up special work retreats for men, youth groups, churches, or even individuals. There is always something or project to work on. From building, carpentry, electrical work, landscaping, mowing, weed eating, repairing, digging, hauling, cleaning, organizing and shoveling, we think we can find a job or project that you could help us to accomplish.
Contact us to set up a time for you and/or your group.
Flexible dates. We will house and feed you.


One of the strangest passages in the New Testament is about Lazarus, one of Jesus’s good friends John 11: 1-44. Christ waits until after Lazarus dies to visit his family and, then, bring him back to life. I see the miracle aspect as I see many of Christ’s miracles – he was empathetic and if He had the ability to heal, by God, he was going to do so.
He healed the blind man. The sick child. But, the key point of this story I want to focus on is piece is the authenticity of the situation. When Jesus arrives at Lazarus’s home, he was greeted by many, but, according to most interpretations, he had to summon Mary. One can imagine Mary feeling angry, or forlorn. After all, where was this miracle worker, this savior, this one she had honored when her brother was sick? Why didn’t He come when they sent messengers for him?
And what did Mary say when she saw him?
Did she praise him with hollow phrases or memorized salutations?
Did she say, “Great one, I have faith in you! From my brother’s death, your will is done!”
Did she say, “Our God is an awesome God! You are the best!”
No, she said, and one can imagine quite flatly or accusingly: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
How did Jesus react? Did he strike her down? Did he admonish her? Did he tell her to be quiet or not to question him, his motives, his timing?
No, he cried.
There is something in that when it comes to truth-telling. Christ can handle our honesty. Our sadness. Even our accusations. That is stated throughout the Bible in different ways, but I find here it resounds with me on a matter-of-fact level. This is not David weaving poetry in anguish or Job questioning the very nature of the cosmos. This is a simple, almost stoic, accusation as Mary, in essence, says, “Where were you?”
And then the reaction. What did Jesus do? He cried. He did not preach a sermon at that moment. He did not tell her to rejoice. He cried. The truth is He cries with us. He is empathetic. He loves us. Even though there are mysteries that the finite mind cannot grasp, even though His Ways are not always Our Ways, He cares. And He is willing to listen. He does not strike us down for our honesty. We can tell the truth.


It’s the feast of St Thomas of Canterbury, midway between Christmas and New Year, and the clergy of the Church of England have finally started to relax. You can tell, because there’s an almighty argument going on sparked by an article in the Church Times. This time, it’s about the language we use in liturgy, and whether our language is ‘accessible’ enough.
Like all good rows, it started with a simple mistake. A box in the article suggested that words like ‘almighty,’ ‘family,’ ‘grace,’ and ‘worship’ are ‘complex’ and ‘might be avoided.’
Reading the article carefully, however, it’s clear that these are the core words ‘that will be difficult to avoid,’ not those that should or might be avoided. We seem to have the familiar sub-editing problem.
This mistake has not prevented some people from defending the list as printed, rather than as intended. This shows that there is some sympathy for the idea that liturgy as a whole should consist of texts far simpler than those we currently have. Indeed, Geoff Bayliss, who wrote the piece, is right to point out the problem that only 44% of Collects designed to be accessible achieve this aim.
However, I feel that Bayliss has not taken his opening comment,’liturgy is about more than just the text,’ seriously enough. While he discusses reading ages and readability scores, he does not discuss the more appropriate ‘Speaking and Listening’ descriptors. These suggest that students should ‘listen to […] a wide range of poems, stories and non-fiction at a level beyond that at which they can read independently’ (English KS1 & 2 2013, 11).
Doug Chaplin has already made the point that ‘readability’ might not be the correct measure for intelligibility in liturgy, so I’d like to add some brief thoughts from my own background in theatre studies.
Shakespeare is perhaps the archetypical ‘hard writer’ students will encounter at school. Even those of us with English degrees would admit to having to pause over a phrase like ‘I had as leif…’ (Hamlet 3.iii). However, teachers still persevere in making him, to some extent, understood. Not every word, perhaps, but the broad sweep of the narrative.
One way in which teachers try to help students understand Shakespeare is by showing them videos or taking them to live performances. This is because texts for performance come alive when spoken and acted – spoken language is an embodied, communal medium. I once watched a wonderful production of A Streetcar Named Desire, or, more properly, Endstation Sehnsucht, performed entirely in German. I don’t speak any German, and was not very familiar with the play, yet I could follow the plot. Of course I missed some nuances, and of course German speakers ‘got more out of it,’ but there was still plenty to ‘get’ without the language.
This phenomenon is why live performance is used to teach Shakespeare – because language is only a small aspect of communication. As a result, if I was concerned that a congregation was failing to follow the liturgy, my first instinct would not be to simplify the language, as though somehow I could offer God more comprehensively in easier words. Rather, I’d look at whether and how the liturgy worked as a whole dramatic action. Is it clear why there is a confession at the start of the service? Is there a clear difference between the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Sacrament? Are the priest and other ‘speaking roles’ speaking clearly? Would manual actions during the Eucharistic Prayer clarify what is happening?
I have certainly attended churches where these things are not clear, where the only logic organising the service seems to be ‘this comes next because it’s next on the pew sheet.’ I’m sure I’m not alone in having wandered into a lunchtime Communion service, where an elderly priest is mumbling through the liturgy as though no-one were present. In these situations it isn’t primarily the language which is impeding understanding, but the performance.
Some of this, as I’ve suggested before, is a result of an ‘anti-theatrical prejudice,’ an over-valuation of text resulting, at least in the Church of England, from the Protestant rejection of Medieval Catholic ceremonial. Indeed, when there is little ceremony in a service, and when the majority of what happens is simply a priest reading aloud, more simple language may be required. This is because a liturgy with this shape understands itself to be more about the priest teaching the congregation than about the priest and congregation together offering worship to God.
However, this is not to say that ceremony, manual action, and an awareness of the performance of liturgy will always make everything comprehensible. Lively sermons which take the time to explain more difficult words and ideas are always vital. Sometimes, as we once did in my sending parish, a ‘commentated Mass’ can help to make things easier to understand. Annotated pew sheets can also provide information for newcomers and visitors, like the programme notes at the theatre. A comprehensive desire to teach the Christian faith is essential.
If we do all of this, if we offer worship which engages all the senses, rather than simply relying on words, we’ll find that complex words become more comprehensible. If we really commit to teaching the faith, we’ll find that congregations come with more and deeper questions. And, if we might worry that we or our congregations are still missing something, we needn’t worry. Most audience members don’t understand everything in an RSC Shakespeare production. Indeed, Thomas Aquinas would remind us that, while understanding of God is possible, it is only ever partial. We only understand God ‘after the manner of composite things’ (ST 1.13.9) even though God Himself is not composite.


Greetings to All! 04/01/2011
I certainly hope that your New Year is getting off to a great start! My life has been so full of surprises and joy this year and my prayer is that yours will be as well. Please enjoy this quote:
"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."
— Albert Einstein
Have a great year,Garland Guion
Hello There! 12/21/2010
Hello, thank you for checking out my new web site. I will be posting some of my new poems soon. Please continue to visit. Each poem is inspirational with a gospel message that exhorts our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, be encouraged God is still on the throne. God bless you.
In His Service


For whatever reason, it seems like Christians are always about 10 years behind everyone else.
It wasn't always like this. Throughout history, followers of Jesus have been on the front lines of cultural advancement. Churches during the Renaissance commissioned some of the greatest works of art the world has ever seen. Luther's ideas rapidly spread throughout Europe with the help of the printing press. Christians were among the early adopters and innovators of radio in the 1920's. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ended centuries of legalized oppression through innovative non-violent protests, paired with print, radio and television media.
As a former history teacher, I love those stories. As a professional communicator, I'm inspired by them.
Whether serious or silly, I'm passionate about helping people see today's issues in a new way through the lens of faith. I'm also a strong advocate for creating a personal platform so everyday people can harness the power of social media to share compelling ideas, and develop deeper connections.
Now more than ever, followers of Jesus need to enter the digital space with creativity, innovation and strategy. Pastors and churches have the opportunity to make a larger impact than ever before. That's why I'm excited to join a team of talented speakers for the 2015 "Going Digital For His Kingdom" conference series!
I'll be speaking at four separate events around the country in 2015. If you're in Cleveland, Dallas, Tampa or Boston, please encourage leaders in your church to attend.
I also ask that you'd pray for me as I seek God's direction for my participation in these events. May God receive all the glory.
For more information about the conference, click here.


I believe in Santa Claus. Maybe I just choose to believe. But I think there’s more to it. In part it’s the Christmas spirit generated in this season, sharing good cheer and love, friendship. Maybe it’s the atmosphere of giving and not just taking. Maybe it’s the strength of all those children who also believe in Santa Claus.… Read the rest
Christmas, by that name, is a Christian holiday, Christ’s Mass is how it started as far as I remember. Also, if you want to get technical, holiday is also a Christian word, coming from holy day, the long, extended version before the remix.
I was thinking tonight, do you call it Christmas or always religiously, in a semi-fanatical way, call it Yule?… Read the rest


Straight and gay pastors weigh in on the polarizing issue of homosexuality in the church. In 1976, the general convention of the episcopal church declared that “homosexual persons are children of god who have a full and equal claim with all other persons. At the intersection of church and gay: a review of the psychological research on gay and lesbian christians journal of homosexuality 57 (1): 5–38. Over the last two years, the catholic church has become more open to welcoming the lgbt community. The church seeks to enable every person to live out the universal call to holiness persons with a homosexual inclination ought to receive every aid and. The homosexual christian by protopresbyter thomas hopko many gay men and lesbians claim that the christian faith is the guiding rule of their lives. The church and the homosexual originally published in 1976 with the roman catholic church's official imprimi potest (permission to print) after more than three.
This article looks at the issue of how believers in the church ought to relate to homosexuality. Efca, 901 east 78th street, minneapolis, mn, (952)854-1300, [email protected] 1 a church statement on human sexuality: 1 homosexuality and same-sex “marriage. The following is excerpted from what is the emerging church this is an examination of the emerging church, a name describing a new approach to missions and church. The gay hermeneutic, the bible, the church, and homosexuality demonstrates how homosexuality is unambiguously found wanting by scripture and tradition.
This article contains a concise explanation of the united methodist church's position on homosexuality read more video resource: christian conversations about homosexuality. Just at the point of exhaustion and irritability, when we think the debate on homosexuality in the church has reached its end—with every position articulated, every line drawn in the sand.
The leaked document reveals what many young mormons have been taught about homosexuality and sex. Christianity and homosexuality but when the homosexual community attempts to use political power to try and control the church and get its agenda taught in.
We also have an online bookstore offering books that address the topic of homosexuality and the bible in why do many in the church believe homosexuality a. Home resources publications and periodicals the church and homosexuality in its prospectus for study prepared by the advisory council on church and society and.
The acceptance of homosexuality as an equally valid lifestyle is rapidly growing in western culture yet god tells us that sex was designed for only one relationship. Policies of 47 christian faith like the united church of christ the latter had conducted a study of homosexuality. You in the church concerning this means it is an oversimplification to say that christians — or conservative evangelicals — are simply against homosexuality. Inclusiveness of the church the united methodist church is a part of the church universal the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with christian teaching.
The book two views on homosexuality, the bible, and the church is a welcome addition to the conversation on same-sex relationships significantly, it is printed by an evangelical publishing. It's been a busy week at the intersection of religion and our bedrooms - a very busy week the culture wars are back it seems washington state lawmakers. The bible and homosexuality article id: and the greek orthodox church the bible and homosexuality christian research institute. Homosexuality a nd the church 157 5do nald eastman, “homosexuali ty: not a sin, not a sickne ss what the bible does a nd does not say,” gay theologic al journal 1/1 (september -december. He is also the coauthor of modern psychotherapies (with richard e butman) and homosexuality: the use of scientific research in the church's moral debate (with mark a yarhouse) and editor. But the culture war often obscures how, within actual christian communities, discussion on homosexuality is often personal, nuanced, and difficult what does it mean to be “gay” how should. In the ancient world, eunuchs were widely associated with homosexuality here a self-avowed eunuch is welcomed in to the early church without any concerns about his.


I have always been taught that Lent is not about giving up something for the sake of giving up something. Lent shows a disciplined practice in suffering and keeps us grounded. Humbled. Grateful for what we do have. It takes away something in our lives that we enjoy and in a small way connects us to what Jesus went through. Christians believe that this is to represent Jesus Christ’s sacrifice when he went into the desert to pray and fast for the 40 days before later dying on the cross.
In the Bible’s New Testament, while Jesus was there, Satan tempted him to turn away from God and worship him instead, but Jesus refused to, which is why people might give something up, in order to test their own self-discipline too.
This year i am giving up pop and chocolate treats! These are really my only 2 “guilty pleasures” so a sacrifice it will be! My nanny girl told me i should give up coffee but her brother said that was not a good idea. Obviously he was nervous about dealing with me all day with no coffee in my system. He’s a smart boy!


The Religious Education Programme - Come and See.
To fulfil the aims and objectives, Holy Trinity Catholic Primary School will follow the Come and See programme of Religious Education, recommended by the Archdiocese of Liverpool.
The Come and See programme allows children to explore Catholic life through well put together resources and innovative lessons. Children complete tasks using a range of skills including music, art, writing and drama.
From an early age, children are given access to scripture. They hear the words of Jesus and learn ways in which his teachings effect their daily lives.
Throughout the entirety of their religious journey, children learn the following skills:
- To recognise
- To talk about
- To describe
- To ask
- To give reasons
- To make links
- To show understanding
- To engage and respond
- To identify and explain
As well as learning about Catholic traditions, the children will learn about the traditions of other faiths. This helps give them a diverse understanding of the world.
Throughout the R.E. curriculum, children will be given a sense of belonging and will be shown just how much they are loved by the Holy Trinity community.


Missionaries today carry out Christ's command in many ways, not only by preaching the Gospel but by demonstrating Christ's love and compassion to those in need (something the Internet can never replace). Jesus said we serve Him even when we... give "a cup of cold water to one of these little ones" (Matthew 10:42). Our Ministry works in over 7 Provinces in Haití and The Dominican Republic to bring relief and assistance to people whose lives have been torn apart by Extremely Need. Pray for the missionaries, and support them generously (especially during these difficult economic times). More than that, pray that God will raise up a new generation of young people who will respond to His call to bring Christ to the nations.


When pregnant with our first child we soon realized that our culture was ill-equipped and pessimistic when it came to raising children. With little resources, and not enough help many parents are struggling to enjoy the beautiful process of raising kids. For this very reason we have given our hearts to creating resources for families to grow, learn, and get empowered to raise their kids with God’s heart. We want families to have practical tools and easy applications that will transform and reset their lives. It’s all about receiving God’s love, removing old mindsets, and releasing your children into their destinies.


Hope for Education Ghana Foundation (HopE Ghana for short) began in February 2015 when Fr. Dominic Obour, a native of Ghana, Africa, saw the dire need to educate young women. After his ordination as a Catholic priest on December 2004, he was assigned to the Christ the King Cathedral in Sunyani. After a short tenure at the Christ the King Cathedral in Sunyani, he was reassigned to Notre Dame Girls High School where he served as the first chaplain and tutor for almost seven years. In December 2011, he was offered the opportunity to minister to the parish members of the Church of St. Mary of the Assumption, in Katonah, New York, This assignment allowed him to fulfill his dream.
Throughout his education, Fr. Obour received the support of many generous donors. As a result, the young priest developed a strong need to give back to the society that had given him the greatest tool of all—an education. He’d seen many of his colleagues drop out of the academic ladder due to poverty and lack of guidance. His service at Notre Dame Girls High School brought him face-to-face with the challenges and struggles that gifted children of limited backgrounds face, and that strengthened his resolve to do even more.
Fr. Obour met Dr. Martin Evers in early 2012 during a personal encounter session. This was the watershed moment in the formation of the HopE Ghana. Later that year, Dr. Martin pledged a donation each year to a charity of Fr. Dominic’s choice.
Discover Our Mustard Seed Moments of Success – As of March 2015
Through Dr. Evers’ support, the boarding fees of four students in Notre Dame Girls High School were paid from the beginning of their third semester of their third year through their graduation from the fourth year in May 2013. Also during 2013, The Evers and Fr. Dominic realized that with the sudden death of Mr. Felix Dasmani, a dedicated and selfless teacher at Notre Dame Girls, they must sponsor the education of his five children and provide a home to them and their unemployed, uneducated mother who were destined to become homeless without this support. This culminated in the construction of a three-bedroom house with a hall, kitchen, toilet and a bath, and a fresh water well for their use. They also made this a fully-wired house that is connected to the national electricity grid. This was before the idea of forming an official organization kicked in. With the formation of HopE Ghana in 2015, its primary mission is to strictly concern itself and focus on the education of disadvantaged children by funding their tuition, educational materials and room and board.
In 2013, HopE Ghana supplied new laptops for four alumni of Notre Dame Girls High School pursuing various courses of study in colleges. In 2014, the Foundation gave a full-tuition sponsorship package to another Notre Dame Girls alumna to pursue study in Actuarial Science at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST, Kumasi). They have also provided a full-tuition sponsorship to a student in her final year at the University of Ghana, Legon-Accra; a partial-tuition to two more students, one in her first year of nursing training college and the other in her second year at Catholic University College of Ghana, Sunyani.


News & Updates
NEW! - Stephanie Credle Ministries is launching a new study on the impact of African American philanthropy. The intent is to dispel the myth that philanthropy is not embraced in the African American community. Our emphasis as a ministry is to explore and institute ways to partner and leverage philanthropic efforts.
- 1st Saturday at 1:00 p.m. - A TLRH
Outreach Event. Mrs. Florence Hampton will travel to Newport News to participate in our annual ''Love and Warmth" event. God gave Florence the idea to crochet hats and scarfs for homeless citizens. Her handmade line is called "Heart-Warming Creations". Florence crochets throughout the spring and summer in order to bring warmth to those who are in need. Come out to show your love and support as we move into the winter months. We'll provide coffee, hot chocolate, donuts, and muffins. Contact TLRH for exact location.
MINISTRY OPPORTUNITY!!! Has God given you a word of encouragement to give to the Body of Christ? If so, our website may be a great means to reach the masses! If you are interested in publishing your article, or your thought for the day, please contact us! You can submit articles to firstname.lastname@example.org.
Stephanie Credle Ministries was officially born on September 9, 2011. That date was deliberately chosen because it was the birthdate of a very special woman. Florence Williams Hampton labored to give me life and, together with my father Rev. Dennis Mitchel Hampton, taught me to honor God. I'm grateful that God placed me in a wonderful family and counted me faithful to join with him in Kingdom Building. Stephanie Credle Ministries pledges to provide support to the community and to church congregations throughout the Hampton Roads, Central Virginia, and Northeastern North Carolina area. Through the biblical concept of "gleaning", we will provide support to those who are struggling under the weight of disappointment, discouragement, and devastation.
We believe God will provide supporters, partners, and volunteers who feel the call of God to do the work of ministry
. "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (John 13:35). Until Jesus returns, we labor that they might KNOW! read more
Rev. Stephanie Hampton Credle is the CEO and founder of Stephanie Credle Ministries. She is a caring leader who has been called into Kingdom work in order to build disciples, share the love of Christ in a tangible and meaningful way to the global community.


On the morning of 4th April a group gathered in the grounds of St Saviours church. The task in hand - to start work on a community vegetable patch.
By midday after plenty of good team work (and tea and hot cross buns) the turf had been stripped from two beds and the soil beneath broken up. The next task is to dig in some manure - the ground being fairly poor. The next session will take place on 18th April at the same place starting at 10.00 am.
Anyone interested in joining the Brockenhurst group can e-mail Mary on firstname.lastname@example.org or Patrick email@example.com. We meet once a month in the church hall - usually Friday lunchtime.


The bishops are inviting Catholics to pray for the
protection of life, marriage and religious liberty in our country. A simple way to do this is by praying for the prayer intention which you can receive each week via email, text message or
Prayer does not need to be
complicated. It is “a simple look
turned towards heaven…a cry of recognition and love; embracing both trial and joy” (Saint Therese of Lisieux).
Here are some suggestions to consider as you pray for the weekly
intention. Choose the form/s of prayer that work for you.
Daily Rosary: The Rosary is a way of being united with Mary in approaching Christ. Is a daily Rosary too much? Start small with a daily Hail Mary or one decade and consider gradually increasing it
over time. Learn to pray the Rosary with these simple steps.
Monthly Eucharistic Holy Hour: Spending time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is always time well spent. This can be done on your own at a time that is best for you or with your parish if one is
scheduled. Consider spending an hour monthly with Jesus, praying for the protection of life, marriage and religious liberty. If an hour is too much, start with ten minutes and gradually increase the
The Divine Mercy Chaplet
Prayers for Life
Prayer for the Defense of Marriage
Prayer for Religious Liberty
Often, we show our love by sacrificing, by giving something up.
Sacrifice, in its various forms, out of love for the Lord Jesus is a powerful action that can yield great graces. For these reasons, the bishops of the United States have encouraged Catholics to make
every Friday a day of self-denial and penitential witness in memory of the Lord’s ultimate sacrifice for us.
Among the works of self-denial that the bishops have especially
commended is abstinence from meat by free choice. Self-denial can also take the form of giving something up that we most enjoy, or committing ourselves to works of charity. More recently, the bishops
have invited Catholics to consider fasting and abstaining from meat on Fridays out of a special concern for issues pertaining to life, marriage, and religious liberty. This is something we can all do
together. Make a personal pledge to join in this very important effort.
Here are some suggestions to consider each Friday as you pray for the weekly
Abstain from any particular food or beverage
Fast (one full meal and two smaller meals which do not equal one full meal)*
Offer up the day’s inconveniences
Give up some form of entertainment for the day
Give up anything else of your choice
*Abstain from meat and/or fast
Fasting and abstinence unites us to the redemptive suffering and death of our Lord. "The seasons and days of penance in the course of the liturgical year (Lent, and each Friday in memory of the death
of the Lord) are intense moments of the Church's penitential practice." - Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1438
The practice of fasting: In the Latin Catholic Church, the penitential practice of fasting allows a person to eat one full meal each day. Two smaller meals may be taken, not to equal one full meal.
Take a look at the USCCB Fast & Abstinence
resources. In particular see the USCCB's Pastoral Statement on Penance and Abstinence and the complementary norm to canon 1253.


TL/DR: The theology concerning the existence of a “carnal Christian” holds that a person can realistically come to true saving faith in Christ and continue to live free of repentance and sanctification for the full remainder of his or her life. This paper examines Romans 7:14 and 8:1–14 to demonstrate that Romans knows no such concept. In Romans 7:14, Paul identifies even himself as one who struggles with the flesh. In Romans 8:1–14, there are only two kinds of people in view: the natural and the spiritual. It makes no mention of a middle category.
For a more broad-based overview of “carnal Christian” theology, see GotQuestions.org, which explains that “The key thing to understand is that while a Christian can be, for a time, carnal, a true Christian will not remain carnal for a lifetime.”
This is adapted from a paper I submitted in a Romans exegesis class. I have gone through here to make sure anything appearing in Greek script gets transliterated or translated appropriately, but it is still very technical. Feel free to leave a comment!


Jim Canada became our Senior Pastor in September of 2012. He and his wife, Katie, and their three daughters, Madalyn, Olivia, and Celeste moved from Kentucky where Jim had been the Pastor for six years. Message from Jim:
"I love this church. I love that everyone who comes here feels loved and welcome. My vision, actually my goal, is for every person in our community to be touched in some way by our church. That's our testimony, that Christ has loved us so scandalously and dramatically that our love is flowing over on each other and the whole world!"


Mathew 19 ends with the story of the rich young ruler. He asks what needs to be done to inherit eternal life. You see eternal life is not something you can buy. It is something you enter.
Jesus says: Follow these commandments “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’[c] and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’ The rich man says I have done these things.
Jesus than says go sell everything you have and follow me. The Bible says he goes away sad. Then the chapter ends with these words: “But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.
3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’
5 So they went. “He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’
7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.
“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’
8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’
9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius.
10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius.
11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner.
12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’
13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius?
14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you.
15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’
16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
- Any priority put before Jesus is what you are really serving,
- The owner reserves the right to pay his workers what ever he chooses.
- Last is the roadmap to first
- Less is the roadmap to more
- Living out correct priorities is the best way to live.
- Work it, work it, work it.
- You have to work the miracle for the miracle to work
- If you joined the kingdom late in life, work with what you still have left.
- Status in the Kingdom doesn’t come from how you impress others, but from how you surrender and serve God.
Rev. Dr. Nick Garza
B<(D) John 3:30


If you’ve been a part of a church for any length of time, you know that churches are made up of imperfect people. Just like in any organization, problems arise in churches and difficult decisions sometimes need to be made regarding church leadership, specifically senior pastors.
When a church experiences a lack of leadership for any reason—a senior pastor quits or is asked to leave, or passes away unexpectedly—there may not be an obvious person to step in immediately as a replacement. That’s why many churches turn to organizations offering interim pastor ministries.
One such organization is VitalChurch Ministry. VitalChurch has made it their mission to help churches experiencing a season of transition or crisis. Not only do they provide interim pastors to churches in need of leadership and regular teaching, but they also take churches through an in-depth process that helps identify the church’s underlying issues and then walks with them while they address those issues in a biblical manner.
The interim pastors at VitalChurch are seasoned pastors who have a strong desire to see churches transformed into places that operate in unity and effectiveness. They aren’t just there to “fill the pulpit” or maintain the status quo. They work with existing leadership, staff members, and congregations to bring about needed change.
Here’s what a couple of people who have worked with the interim pastors at VitalChurch had to say about the experience:
“[VitalChurch]’s diagnostic process and intentional interim staff were invaluable to our church when we lost our pastor of 26 years. They brought much-needed perspective and addressed issues with both professionalism and pastors’ hearts. We’re a healthier church poised to serve God in new ways with the arrival of our next full-time pastor.”
“Our church was stagnant and would have died if not for [VitalChurch] assisting us in flushing out the root causes of our decay and working with us through leadership training, change in governance structure, congregational communication, and staying right on track throughout the entire process. We are looking forward to seeing how God will use all of this to grow His church.”
Church Health Assessments that Reveal Blind Spots
Even if a church isn’t currently going through any sort of transition or crisis, VitalChurch can be of assistance. They offer an in-depth church health assessment, which they call their Diagnostic Analysis, that can help churches understand their strengths and weaknesses. Many churches find this outside perspective very valuable and undergo an assessment every few years as a sort of “check up.”
According to the organization’s website, VitalChurch’s Diagnostic Analysis “provide[s] churches with an accurate understanding of the current realties within the church, confirming what is working well and what needs attention.” The information that comes out of their analysis can help church leadership make more informed decisions and reveal a church’s “blind spots.” Based on the issues that are revealed in the analysis, VitalChurch’s final report also provides “prayerfully considered recommendations for the church as they move forward.”
A Complete Process for Church Revitalization
There are a lot of organizations out there offering church consulting services, church health assessments, church coaching, or interim pastor services, but VitalChurch Ministry is one of the few organizations out there that has developed a comprehensive process of church revitalization. Their process starts with identifying a church’s core issues, then moves to working with the church to address them, and ends with a period of follow-up coaching.
To learn more about VitalChurch Ministry and the services they offer to churches and denominations, check out their website: https://vitalchurchministry.org/


Religious life has been an integral part of culture in the United States. It has served as a door through which many immigrant communities have integrated into American society. Latino communities are no exception and their influence can be seen in their dedication and affluence among many faiths. In particular, today Latinos constitute the single largest ethnic group of the Catholic Church in the United States.
Aside from spiritual satisfaction, religious life can be modified to accommodate any type of civic engagement one wants to commit to. The beautiful thing about religious life is that within each faith, all who adhere to its doctrine are considered citizens of equal status, surpassing the norms found within other political and social hierarchies. It is something that brings people together from all facets of society and has a particularly vibrant presence in the Hartford community.
Provided in this section of the site is information that will hopefully aid you in choosing a most rewarding religious experience in Hartford.


Wow!! What a time it will be! You don’t want to miss this folks. Make your plans today
It is a great honor to bring the Word at the Bean Blossom Festival! A few years ago they named me the pastor of Bean Blossom! The Lord always shows up. Come be with us bright and early at 10 am on the MainStage.
Wonderful to be back with Pastor Adam Reynolds at Volusia Baptist. Come out and be with us for the church’s homecoming. Great food and ministry!
Celebrate fall with us in Cartersville, GA at Creekside Fellowship! The Isaacs, Spiritual Vision, Shady Grove, Debra Perry and Jadyn’s Call. A wonderful day of food, music, and ministry!
I’ll be preaching at Creekside Fellowship. Come be with us. This is welcoming church that worships the Lord! We’ll see you there!
Excited to preach at Hasty. September dates were rescheduled for October due to the virus! Come be with us!
It is always a privilege to preach for Pastors Donnie and Leota Chisum at Marshall Community Church. We are sure to have a wonderful time of worship! Make your plans to be with us!
This has become a yearly event that I look forward to! This year, The Isaacs will be there to perform their Christmas songs. I will get to do 4 christmas songs as well. Many other local artists to raise money to give needy children a nice Christmas. Come be with us!