About the Blog
This BLOG is called “Soul Device” because it sounds wicked cool, but it’s really just me, Doug Beaumont, and my thoughts on theology, philosophy, apologetics, and other fun things like guns and computers.
About the Blogger
I am an existing material/immaterial hylomorphic substance with growth, reproductive, mobility, sensory, and rational intellectual capacities. I work as a low-level IT guy and an adjunct professor (here is my CV) and am pursuing a Ph.D. in Theology at North-West University. I am a writer, speaker, ordained minister, armchair philosopher, back seat theologian, and all around righteous dude. I have a wonderful family, great friends, and some quality enemies.
. . . And Even More About the Blogger
Since you are still reading I feel I can safely assume that you find me fascinating and want to know even more (and, really, who can blame you?). So I will continue with a few thousand word essay on my beliefs. What follows is no grand theological treatise – it’s just about me and my thoughts, so feel free to stop reading if that’s not interesting to you (I won’t be offended).
With all due respect to C. S. Lewis, and although it is an attractive position, I do not claim to be a “mere Christian” or “just someone who loves Jesus.” While true in many ways, the connotations of such statements are problematic. No one “just loves Jesus” without having some idea of who Jesus is and what it means to love him; further (pace Lewis), even those on the “mere Christian” fence have at least made their best guess as to where to balance. Perhaps “mere orthodoxy” is more appropriate (“Quod ubique, quod semper, quod ab omnibus creditum est.”) – for what I am is a Christian who is committed to the historic Christian faith as communicated in the biblical canon and defined by the united Church in the ecumenical creeds.
This does not, of course, solve all theological difficulties. I have heard the proposal of Lancelot Andrewes that Christian unity is found in “One Bible, Two Testaments, Three Creeds, Four Councils, and Five Centuries.” The problem with this formulation is that the Church had seven ecumenical councils and remained united for nearly ten centuries. This “consensual ecumenism” or “paleo-orthodoxy” (as Thomas Oden calls it) is perhaps best (and most idealistically) expressed by Vincent of Lerins: ”that which has been believed in every place, in every time, by everyone” (the quote in Latin above). The issue then becomes one of discovering who counts as “everyone.”
For most of my Christian life I have called myself “an evangelical” in order to indicate my fidelity to conservative, non-denominational Christianity. I owe a lot to previous churches, para-church ministries, and I am extremely grateful for what I have learned at my Evangelical seminary. At the same time, for well over a decade I have also been fairly critical of the Evangelical movement as a whole. I won’t rehearse the various issues that prompted these criticisms – you can find them scatted around this BLOG if you are interested.
Concerning viewpoints, whenever suffixes like “ist” or “ism” are appended to a term, it often reflects an alteration of the root word’s meaning. For example, “rationalism” is not simply the state of being rational; rather, it is a philosophical stance that elevates human intellectual activity to the point of being the sole authority in matters of truth. A rationalist is one who affirms rationalism. So one can be rational without being a rationalist or a follower of rationalism. I think the term “Evangelicalism” represents another case where the root term is not necessarily reflected very well in the movement. While “evangelical” could simply mean “pertaining to the gospel,” the word “Evangelicalism” usually refers (in the West, at least) to a popular, quasi-Protestant movement that usually mimics Baptist theology but wants to avoid any icky Fundamentalist overtones. I argue that one can be evangelical without being “an Evangelical” (i.e., a member of Evangelicalism).
The problem, then, is how to speak of those within the popular movement as distinct from those who simply hold to whatever set of Evangelicalism’s definitive marks one adopts. I have suggested that since we use the word “Evangelicalism” we should also use the term “Evangelicalist.” For, just as a rational person is not necessarily a rationalist (i.e., a follower of rationalism), an evangelical Christian is not necessarily an Evangelicalist. (Interestingly, Baptists have the exact opposite problem as Evangelicals – being “a Baptist” does not make one part of a movement known as “Baptism”!)
But even if we adopt the term “Evangelicalist,” the issue is not easily solved. The “Evangelical Movement” is, in reality, very difficult to pin down. Bebbington famously lists four marks of Evangelicalism: conversionism, activism, biblicism, and crucicentrism; but this seems too broad – for many mainline Protestants, Catholics, or Orthodox could be said to fall into those categories, although most Evangelicals would not agree to their inclusion. Further, Evangelicalism is rarely referenced (outside of the more precision-oriented literature) according to these criteria. Often it is Evangelicalism’s political, social, and cultural features that set it apart from not only the unbelieving world, but also from other Christians.
The same considerations that make Evangelicalism difficult to define also makes “evangelicals” difficult to define. I, for example, do not partake of much that cultural Evangelicalism has to offer. The Christian entertainment industry (e.g., “Christian music,” “Christian movies,” or much of anything sold in “Christian Bookstores”) has little effect on my life. I do not attend a “non-denominational” church. I do not think that witnessing is limited to confrontational gospel preaching. These sorts of things remove me from membership in popular Evangelicalism, but not from being evangelical (which I am, per Bebbington’s criteria). The same considerations would apply, mutatis mutandis, to other groups to the degree that they imitate or descend from Evangelicalism – such as those within the Charismatic Movement such as Pentecostalism, Four Square, Assemblies of God, etc.
Thus, depending on the terminology adopted, I am / am not an evangelical / Evangelicalist. (Sorry for the confusion – but it’s not my fault that the term hasn’t caught on yet!).
Closely related to (and often indistinguishable from) Evangelicalism is the Baptist movement. My Christian upbringing has been primarily Baptist (depending on the acceptable usage range of that term between “Fundamentalist” and “Evangelical”). I was saved in a non-denominational Evangelical ministry, and spent most of the first two decades of my Christian life at either non-denominational Evangelical churches like Calvary Chapel (which is, ironically, far more “denominational” than most denominational churches!), or with various Baptist churches and para-church ministries. In fact, I am an ordained Baptist minister.
Baptists in general, primarily because they are pretty simplistic when it comes to dogma, allow for a wide latitude for personal beliefs. The Baptist emphasis on individual ability and responsibility with regard to doctrine (“soul sufficiency”), distrust of universally binding creeds, and their firm commitment to avoiding ecclesiastical hierarchy above the local church level, there is quite a bit of variety among Baptists. The wide theological path that Baptists may walk is generally limited, however, to Baptists–in –General. Once one enters a particular Baptist Church (pun intended), it is a different story. This is why there can be a Baptist Church on every block of a given city – the real distinctions between them are many.
One reason I cannot be a good Baptist is that I do not hold to adult-believer-only baptism (“credo-baptism”). I explain why elsewhere, but suffice it to say that I see baptism as the act by which one enters the New Covenant Church (much like how circumcision functioned in Old Covenant Israel). Thus, baptism need not be restricted to the professing Christian faithful (much like how circumcision was not limited to professing and faithful Israelites). Now, along with Baptists, I do not believe that baptism guarantees salvation any more than circumcision did apart from faith. I think that baptism ought to be denied to those who refuse to believe; however, I do not think that the corollary is that baptism should be denied to those who cannot believe (e.g., babies or the mentally disabled). So, while I may agree with the Baptist affirmation of adult-believer baptism, I do not agree with its limit.
Other disagreements I have over church hierarchy and worship styles could fall into the “willing to agreeably disagree” category (and Baptists do not necessarily agree on the details of these issues either), but, since the Baptist view of baptism is practically the only unique doctrinal requirement to be a good Baptist, this alone would keep me from being able to minister or work as a member of most Baptist churches.
I have never actually been a Protestant. A Protestant is, technically, one of the continental groups that protested the corruptions of the medieval Catholic Church in the 16th Century. So Lutherans, Presbyterians, and some Reformed groups are most properly classified as Protestants, while groups coming from the “Radical Reformation” (i.e., Anabaptist) are not really Protestant, because they did not have their origin in the Reformation proper (in fact, many Protestants actually persecuted the Anabaptists). This also applies to the “English Reformation” which birthed Anglicanism (which, in turn, gave rise to Methodism). It began in England due to more personal and political reasons than doctrinal.
Protestantism arose, as many Catholics admit, for legitimate reasons and produced some fine theologians, preachers, and teachers. But, as many Protestants admit, the Reformation principles that was started to heal the Church’s wounds, ended up causing even more of them. The Protestant principle produced the tens of thousands of denominations that we see today. Thus, the first problem with “becoming Protestant” is that there is no Protestant Church – only churches grouped into denominations within the Protestant category. So, to be Protestant one must not only grapple with all the issues that distinguish the major denominations, but the ones that sub-divide every major Protestant denomination into various groups split across the conservative-liberal spectrum. These sub-denominations often share little more between them than their title or governing principles. So being Protestant is not as easy as one might think!
A related issue is that these Protestant denominations usually require agreement with detailed theological statements for membership. My issue here is that if I am going to be held to some dogmatic statement of faith or creed, I would need it to be trustworthy to a very high degree. This seems more easily argued in the case of the early ecumenical creeds than post-15th Century confessions, because if the Reformation was about getting the Church back to its truest expression (i.e., its state prior to the errors of the medieval period), why not just fall back on the creeds of the early, united Church? The answer seems to be that these individual Protestant denominations not only wish to correct medieval Catholicism, but also to add to / change the dogmas of the ecumenical Church. To do so seems to me to introduce some difficulties (that I have written on elsewhere) which are made all the more difficult by the fact that these individual denominations do not agree among themselves on which changes are “truest.”
The solutions to the above issues that are offered by many Protestant groups often only seem to reintroduce the issues inherent in a Catholic or Orthodox system – but without an ecclesiology that can support them a (hence the denominational splits). The problems with Protestantism are basically the same problems within Evangelicalism simply backed up a step – which does not seem worth the energy to attempt to embrace or fix. But even if these objective obstacles were removed, both my philosophical and theological backgrounds would keep me from being able to affirm the details of most Protestant theological systems. Theologically I do not fit neatly into typical presentations of Calvinism, Arminianism, or Covenant Theology, for example. And the philosophy that undergirds my theology is Aristotelian and Thomistic. This would not work well with most Protestant denominations which tend toward Nominalism and Kantianism.
The word “Episcopalian” used to simply indicate the “American Anglican” denomination. Today, however, many communities have sought to dissociate themselves from Episcopalianism due to moral and doctrinal disagreements. Many churches have thus adopted the more generic label of “Anglican” to indicate both their separation from the liberal Episcopal churches and their communion with world-wide Anglicanism. That is how I am using the word here.
While often Reformed in its doctrine, Anglicanism gives a lot of latitude with regard to the Protestant-Catholic-Orthodox spectrum. Yes, it has the 39 Articles and the Prayer Book – but these are usually seen more as helpful guides than established dogma. It’s a nice idea, but there are serious problems caused by this openness. In seeking their admirable goal of unity, Anglicanism has basically institutionalized the very problems that divide most other Christian groups. While such a system can work out for the good, doctrinal and moral orthodoxy has, unfortunately, become accidental to being Anglican in many circles. The alleged essential (holding to the orthodox creeds and councils) cannot guarantee a position on many other issues, whether theological or moral.
Despite Anglicanism’s goal of unity, Anglicanism has no way – even theoretically – to guarantee that these issues can ever be firmly resolved. Further, while the Anglicanism family tree is nearly as complex as Protestantism in general, Anglican churches can divide along virtually any line and still remain “in communion” with one another. The result is that to say, “I am Anglican,” is not to say much. One may be Anglican and be either extremely conservative (doctrinally and/or morally) or extremely liberal (doctrinally and/or morally).
The word “orthodox” refers to a belief or person who is in line with the standard of some group. In Christianity, this standard has generally been understood to be the Nicene Creed. When the great schism occurred near the beginning of the second millennium, the Church (which, at the time, was both catholic and orthodox) split into the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. Thus, one can be orthodox without being Orthodox. [I am just going to use capital-O “Orthodox” instead of typing “Eastern” (or “Oriental,” or “Armenian,” or “Coptic,” etc.) every time.]
For one who embraces the teachings of the orthodox historic Christian faith, but is concerned over developments in later traditions, Eastern Orthodoxy would seem to be a good fit. Not only are the doctrinal requirements to become Orthodox less detailed, the Orthodox do not have to answer for the Crusades, the Inquisition, problematic Popes, or the divisions resulting from the Reformation. Plus, Orthodoxy has not succumbed to the modernistic trends plaguing the western church, and the liturgical worship is undeniably beautiful. But this beautiful conservativism masks some troublesome aspects of Orthodoxy.
First, Orthodoxy has only the seven ecumenical councils as their source for defined dogma. The good news is that there is a wider array of belief options available to the Orthodox believer, but it also means that new issues are more difficult to deal with definitively. Thus, while Orthodoxy does not suffer from many problematic developments, it can also seem to suffer from being under-developed.
Second, lack of agreement among the Orthodox hierarchy cannot be resolved by a higher principle of unity. Although the Orthodox respond that this also makes it more difficult to fall into error, the fact is that the Church has to be able to make these kinds of definitive statements of the faith and Orthodoxy, by its own admission, cannot do so.
Third, there is a serious (and generally acknowledged) lack of western cultural involvement within Orthodoxy. Being a recent transplant to the USA, most Orthodox communities remain bound up in the culture from which they came (e.g., while the worship in a Russian Orthodox Church and a Greek Orthodox Church may not differ formally, it will differ materially – at least in language). Since there is not much of an “American Orthodoxy” yet, it is often simply seen as “odd” that an American would even want to become Orthodox, because each Greek/Russian/fill-in-the-geographic-blank Orthodox Church is so culturally locked. All of this makes Orthodoxy a tough sell.
The word “catholic” means something like “universal.” This is why traditional Protestants can recite the Nicene Creed which affirms “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church” without feeling dishonest. So, to be a member of the “catholic church” could simply refer to one who is a member of the body of Christ, regardless of where the individual has church membership. Often today, however, when someone hears “catholic” they consider it shorthand for “Roman Catholic.” A similar issue results from the difference between being “orthodox” and being [Eastern] “Orthodox.” So keep in mind that a claim to be [small-c] catholic or [small-o] orthodox is not to claim membership in Catholicism or Orthodoxy. [NOTE: from now on I am just going to use capital-C “Catholic” instead of typing “Roman” every time.]
In my experience, this distinction can be a problem for both Evangelicals and Catholics. Most Evangelicals are quite clear that they are non-Catholic, but often seem to forget that they are also non-Orthodox, non-Anglican, and in some senses non-Protestant (see above). Thus, when an issue like infant baptism arises, they cannot see past the fact that Catholics baptize infants, and end up considering the two as equivalent. Many Catholics, too, do not see past these commonly accepted positions either, and so see any support for them as support for their own views. But again, while affirmation of infant baptism does indirectly affirm Catholicism (just as affirmation of the Trinity does), it also indirectly supports the majority view of Christianity throughout history and today.
Now, I have made no secret of the fact that I have embraced some of the positions held by the early Church which are not often held within Evangelicalism. Some of them are, of course, held by Catholics as well. But one does not become a good Catholic by picking and choosing from among Rome’s dogmas like food in a cafeteria. Although one can affirm all the dogmas of the traditional church which Roman Catholicism (and Eastern Orthodoxy, and the majority of Protestantism) also affirms, until one also affirms those dogmas that only Roman Catholicism teaches, one can be “catholic” only in the creedal sense of “universal.”


Those meditations eventually became the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola, first published in 1548.
The Spiritual Exercises is a compilation of meditations, prayers, and other contemplative practices. It is not like other classics in Western spirituality that are typically read from beginning to end. It is more like a handbook, especially for use by spiritual directors who accompany and guide people through this dynamic process of reflection.
And while the Spiritual Exercises is a book, it is also a series of exercises developed by a man who believed that stretching oneself spiritually is as important as an athlete's conditioning routine.
The object is to help people develop their attentiveness, their openness, and their responsiveness to God. In other words, the exercises embody the characteristic themes of Ignatian spirituality. They are organized into four sections or "weeks." These are steps along the path of spiritual freedom and collaboration with God's activity in the world.
Here is one helpful summary of those stages, offered by Ignatian Spirituality.com, a service of Loyola Press in Chicago.
First week: The first week of the Exercises is a time of reflection on our lives in light of God's boundless love for us. We see that our response to God's love has been hindered by patterns of sin. We face these sins knowing that God wants to free us of everything that gets in the way of our loving response to him. The first week ends with a meditation on Christ's call to follow him.
Second week: The meditations and prayers of the second week teach us how to follow Christ as his disciples. We reflect on Scripture passages: Christ's birth and baptism, his sermon on the mount, his ministry of healing and teaching, his raising Lazarus from the dead. We are brought to decisions to change our lives to do Christ's work in the world and to love him more intimately.
Third week: We meditate on Christ's Last Supper, passion, and death. We see his suffering and the gift of the Eucharist as the ultimate expression of God's love.
Fourth week: We meditate on Jesus' resurrection and his apparitions to his disciples. We walk with the risen Christ and set out to love and serve him in concrete ways in our lives in the world.
Jesuits do the exercises in literally four weeks, during what is known as the 30-day retreat or simply "The Long Retreat." And they do so typically at a retreat house with a spiritual director. But with the growing interest in Ignatian spirituality, many people are practicing the Exercises in other ways. One popular version is known as the "Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life," which someone can do while continuing his or her daily responsibilities. This approach (which Ignatius spelled out in his manual) often involves an hour a day of prayer and reflection for several months, with regular guidance from a spiritual director.
Part of his Spiritual Exercises is the five-step reflection, the Examen, designed to help people discern God's activity during specific moments of their lives. Ignatius believed the Examen was so important that even if Jesuits neglected all other forms of prayer, they should never miss a day without spending a few minutes praying the Examen.
Among other forms of prayer, the Spiritual Exercises presents an imaginative way of placing yourself within the biblical stories.
"We see the fishermen hauling in their nets on the Sea of Galilee, hear the smack of waves against the boat's hull, feel the sunshine on our skins, smell seaweed and brine, taste the water we scoop up in our palm," Santa Clara University literature professor Ron Hansen has explained. "With all five senses wholly engaged, we become part of the scene and can be as shocked and happy as Peter was when he recognized that it was the risen Christ who was roasting a fish on a charcoal fire on the shore and plunged into the sea to wade to him."
All of these techniques are geared to nurturing the habits of spiritual discernment — among those who are ready to see God at work "in all things."
God has a dream for each one of us. We are uniquely loved and called by God. God only wishes good for us as a human race and as individuals. God's dream is that we in our own unique way will join Christ in building a better world and so experience ourselves fully. "'I know the plan I have in mind for you… plans for peace, not disaster, reserving a future full of hope for you… When you seek me you shall find me; when you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me,' it is the Lord who speaks." (Jer. 29:11-13) Some persons experience being called by God as an invitation into the desires (dreams) of God for the human race, for the church, and for ourselves as we live out our lives. Vocation comes from the Latin word for call or calling. It implies that there is an action God who is beyond ourselves that is beckoning and calling to us. In a sense, we cannot deny this activity. We respond to it by answering yes or no. To ignore it is to answer no. Our belief is that God calls each one of us to do some good in this world. We are called to be concerned for other human beings, to be instruments of his love, peace and justice.
Prayer for Vocations
Lord Jesus, I come before you to reflect on life, on others, on myself, and on the many things that I cannot grasp about you, the world around me, and myself. I would like to do great things for you and for others, so that my part in history will not be in vain. I know that Life and Truth abide in you, so I come to drink from the only Wellspring capable of quenching my thirst for truth, goodness and beauty.
Today I pray in a special way for those who are young like me and hear in their hearts your call to the priesthood or consecrated life. It mustn't be easy for them to leave everything to follow you. They must find it hard to leave family, close friends, others.
Yet I understand perfectly those who are capable of leaving everything to follow you; you are the treasure for which it is well worthwhile to sell everything so as not to lose you. They will walk the world preaching your Gospel, soothing the bitterness of many human lives with your Word, and giving some hope to many people, to the thousands upon thousands of young people who have nothing to live for, no sense of transcendence and do not know true love. They will spread the perfume of your message of joy, peace and hope throughout a world that seems condemned to bitterness and hatred. They will console those who endure sorrow, strengthen the weak, spread your grace and forgiveness. I even envy them. I do not know what answer I would give if I felt your call. The only thing I would pray for then is what I now ask of you for the young people who can hear you now: generosity, courage, boldness, and faith.
You are truly capable of filling a life, giving it meaning, and making it bear fruit. Grant us priests after your own heart. Move the hearts of young people so that they will not hesitate to leave their nets when you stop at the shore of their lives, look on them, pronounce their names which you have held in your heart from all eternity, and say gently but firmly—with your powerful WORD that created heaven—"Follow me." AMEN.
(Prayer taken from Pray to the Lord of the Harvest)


Celebrate Easter with Tutta Bella
Celebrate Easter at Tutta Bella with our Gioia pizza! A brunch dream come true, the Gioia features extra virgin olive oil, fresh mozzarella, fresh eggs, Prosciutto di Parma, arugula and shaved parmigiano. Paired with a mimosa or glass of wine, and you have a perfect brunch. We'll also be donating $1 from every Gioia sold Easter weekend to Amara. You can learn more about Amara here.
Make your reservation here and we'll see you for Easter!


Did you know that you can pray “The Perfect Prayer” that God will answer every time?
In 1 Corinthians 14:2, God reveals to us a secret of prayer: “For he who speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not to men, but to God; for no one understands him, though in the spirit he speaks mysteries.” (KJV) God has given us the opportunity to pray in the spirit directly to God in which we cannot go wrong.
A couple of verses later, he shows us the first benefit of praying in the spirit. “He who speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself.” (KJV) Every time you pray this way, you are building yourself up in a way that only this kind of prayer can do. You can also do this anytime, anywhere because you can switch from praying in your native language to another language.
The next two benefits we find are found in Jude 20, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” ( NKJV) You are building your most holy faith when you pray in the Holy Spirit, also known as praying in the spirit or praying in tongues. Also, you continue to stay in God’s love and stay focused on what God is showing you through your spirit.
Another benefit of praying in the Holy Spirit is that God will give you answers to your problems. He knows exactly every detail of your life and his desire to share it with you. The more you pray in tongues, the more revelation knowledge you will gain from God.
The Apostle John tells us in 1 John 2:20 how much we really know by the Holy Spirit, “But you have the anointing of the Holy One, and you know everything.” (NKJV). Everything that He knows, you have access to because God has put it all into your spirit the moment you were born again. So no matter what you’re going through, the answers already exist within you and God can show you the direction of your life as you pray in the Spirit.
Ultimately, you will be so in tune with God that you will be able to exercise the gifts of the Spirit that you can find in 1 Corinthians 12. There are only two requirements for you to pray this way, and both are freely given to you by grace. . First you must be born again and second simply ask God for the Holy Spirit. (John 3:3, Romans 10:9-10, Luke 11:13) I encourage you to research and study all of these verses and then start praying in the Holy Spirit and see what God can do through you by the Holy Spirit. of the.


Continuing the story from Part 4 about Serving...
Hitting a Wall After Joining
Two of the biggest ways to get involved in a church are serving, and small groups. But this is where some special needs families might join your church, and hit a "wall."
The special needs of the child affect every person in the family, and every aspect of everyday living. This is why I write this blog, so others can see a little into our lives and understand that it is very different. So even something like the parents serving at church or joining a small group is directly impacted by their child's special needs. I will do my best to explain why.
In the previous post, I told how we found a way to serve in our church, even when I didn't think I had much to offer. We were guided by another person in the church, who helped us find a specific place where we were able to serve.
Things were going well with serving on the Prayer Team for many months. We had discovered a way to serve others in a way that worked with the life of having a child with special needs. One day, we were picking Lilli up from her special needs class after the service. Marianne, a volunteer in Lilli's room, asked us a simple question: "Do you guys go to a small group?"
This one question led us in a completely new direction of serving. I am so thankful she asked us.
We explained to Marianne that we wished we could, but we had tried and it did not work out. See, we had signed up for small groups - we filled out a card during a service with information expressing our interest in joining a small group. We actually contacted several group leaders near us, but we always hit the same wall: what about Lilli? As in, what do we do about childcare for her while we go to a small group meeting? We even called the church to offer hosting a small group in our home, thinking that we would take turns watching our own children in another room. (which would not have been ideal at all.) After a few weeks of phone calls and emails, we gave up. We could not take her. We could not get a babysitter for her (I will explain why in a minute). We almost decided to split up and take turns - one of us going to a small group every other week. But we take turns a LOT, and we just didn't want to do that. We wanted to go to small group as a couple.
Overcoming the Obstacles
This is a list of possible issues for parents who have a child with special needs:
1. No childcare or childcare that is not appropriate. The child cannot be left with just any neighborhood teenage babysitter, it has to be a responsible adult who is comfortable and can care for their special needs. Can I leave my other two children with a babysitter? Absolutely. Just not Lilli. An added challenge is that we have no extended family nearby to help us.
2. Money for childcare. This goes for any young family in the church. I don't think I need to explain that one. Well, maybe I do. Many families with a child with special needs are trying to make it on one income so one parent can stay home and care for the child. There are extra expenses that come with special needs on top of the regular expenses of raising a child. If there IS "extra" money, there are always long lists of things - needs, like "necessary wish lists" for children with special needs - it is usually hard for these parents to put themselves first. For example: Hey, honey, my aunt sent us thirty bucks! Should we spend these thirty dollars on a set of adapted utensils from this special needs catalog because our child can't hold regular utensils when she eats and insurance does not pay for something like this? Or... should we hire a babysitter so we can go to Bible study tomorrow night? Even little decisions are tough.
Maybe that's a bad example. I am struggling with trying to sum up why I think families with special needs children would probably not hire a babysitter to go to a Bible study. Maybe some would. I just don't know any.
3. Childcare too far away. Ok so let's say we had a great, trustworthy, adult babysitter that was free, or we had the money to pay for one. We would still need to be close by. Why? Because Lilli has life-threatening seizures, and if that babysitter calls us and calls 911, we need to fly out of there fast and be by her side in seconds. This same scenario goes for children who have any range of medical needs, or even behavior issues that hinder a parent from ever being too far away from the child. For this reason, we needed to have Lilli in the same building as us when attending a small group.
So, taking a look at our list of challenges, Marianne went to people in the church, and helped to get our small group going:
The small group for parents of children with special needs.
Marianne asked us if we'd lead it, and she would coordinate the childcare for right there on site, in a nearby room. We were happy to lead it! Marianne went to the pastor about our group. Our church does not have a building - we are a load in - load out church at a temporary location, so meeting at our own church building was not an option. She found a safe, handicap accessible, free place for us to meet and recruited volunteers to watch our children. We stepped down from the Prayer Team, and moved into our new serving positions of leading this small group. There was immediate interest from other parents who have children with special needs. Who wouldn't want to come to a Bible study to meet with other parents who understand what you are going through? And, bonus, responsible adults are watching your child for free in the next room!
In our small group, we all have something huge in common: we each have one or two children with special needs. Our very first group meeting was unforgettable. What was your first small group meeting like? Maybe lots of getting to know you chit-chat, an icebreaker, a little teeny discomfort in figuring out how it all works, with the sharing and reading and prayer requests.
Not this small group.
There was instant connection and bonding with everyone. We went from surface chit chat to serious heartbreaking stories and emotion in minutes. We told each other our stories, about our children and their medical needs, diagnoses, how hard it was to do simple things in life like grocery shop, eat a meal together, find time alone with our spouse, get more than four hours sleep straight. How heartbroken we were about certain things, how hard it was to work on our marriages when we spent all of our time and energy dealing with special needs. And there was no pity. No awkwardness. No, I don't have any clue what your life is like and I feel so sorry for you.
We all felt like we were in the same boat. It was like a support group, except... it wasn't. We were supporting each other, but we were supported in God's word together and could support each other in prayer. There are a lot of support groups in the community for various things like Downs Syndrome, Autism, and other special needs. But special needs support groups in the community don't have the part about Jesus, prayer, God's promises, and leaning on Him for strength and hope.
That first meeting, honestly, I think we all cried. Well I'll say that some of the guys got "choked up." (Gotta save face for the men.) It was moving, and I was amazed at how quickly we all connected. It's wonderful when you have someone that "gets" your crazy life without you having to explain it to them.
How the Group ChangedThat was a few years ago. Since then, some things have changed. We still have a group, but it is a little different now.
Sometimes things happen, and you don't understand why until much later. All you really need to know is that we lost our meeting place. It was no longer made available to our group. So we stopped meeting, because there was no place for us. (Is this ironic?) I was not OK with the fact that since we had no place to meet, our group might just stop meeting. But our small group, well we can't just meet in someone's home. It has to be handicap accessible - which our home is not, because Lilli is not in a wheelchair. Plus would need a large space, with extra rooms where volunteers would watch our children. None of us have large houses with this kind of space. We would need something very specific to meet our needs. It felt overwhelming, and maybe impossible.
So I asked God for it.
I prayed pasionately, I prayed constantly. For months.
I asked God to do something BIG, to meet our needs and take it further than we could ever imagine. My heart was burdened for families like ours in our community. If we could just find a place to meet, we would ask families from all over the community to come. We would welcome them and they would be able to come and be a part of a small group. If they wanted to come to our church, great! If they went to another church, great! But... chances are, we guessed they could not participate in a small group in their church for the reasons I listed above. So we wanted to have a small group Bible study for any family with a child with special needs - not just in our church, but in the whole community.
Then, after praying, I had to do my part. So I took a few days (well, a few weeks) and made hours of phone calls and kept a notebook. I asked around, I Googled, I made some random phone calls to people at different agencies, including the local NICU and special needs services in our area. It was sometimes awkward and required explanation, but most of the time people were interested to hear about our group. One even told me that when we did find a place, to please call back and let her know so that she could come (and she did!) Everyone I spoke to said the same thing: there is nothing like that in our community. Families need something like this. What a great idea.
I was encouraged. I kept praying, and I kept calling. During that time, I started to get to the point where I felt like giving up. But that is where faith comes in. Faith is not easy. You don't really need faith when you have instant gratification. Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. I could not see what God had prepared for us, but I was sure that this was a need that only God could fill.
And what do you know, one day, through a series of calls and a short visit, God gave us a fabulous, free place to meet. Five rooms offered to us for the parents and for childcare, and a kitchen, in a local church downtown. It was perfect.
The very first meeting a few weeks ago, we had 16 parents come, and 22 children. If I counted right, 13 of those children have special needs, the others were their siblings. We had volunteers from my church come to watch our children. Two of the volunteers took charge and asked the other volunteers to come, so I did not have to coordinate that part. Some of the parents that had been coming to our group for awhile helped and brought food and drinks. We put together a nice dinner for everyone. It's always great to meet with food. (The food helps to lure the guys there.) Jasen and I put together a short Bible study. What was it about?
When we all got settled and I looked around at this circle of overwhelmed, soul-weary, selfless parents, I felt emotional. It felt like home to me. I cannot wait until the next meeting.
People are hearing about this group through facebook, word of mouth, and good old fashioned flyers. The interest is growing. I've received emails and messages from people I have never met, asking questions and expressing their desire for something like this. Some go to church, but don't feel like they are connected. Some don't go to church at all, because they have not found one that has a place for their child. Some go to our church, but were not able go to another small group because of their children's needs. Several people wrote that they wished they had something like that in their community, because we are too far away to come to ours.
We know that there are hundreds of families right here in our area that have either no church family, or no way to go to small group. So we believe it will grow.
Something like this can only come together because God does it. But I know why He is doing it. Because we matter to Him. And if families in our area that have children with special needs want to do something as seemingly "simple" as go to church, and go to a Bible study, I'm going to ask Him for His help. He answered. He sent help, in the form of a few volunteers from our church that realized we needed something a little different, and those people did something about it.
Look at Your ChurchIf pastors and churches are taking a good look at this issue of special needs families in their churches, this is a part of all of it. If you make a place for the children, the families will come to visit. The logical next step is for those families to get involved and connected somehow. But how? After a church creates a place for these families, how will they get involved? Will they be able to serve, or join a small group? If you help them, they will be able to. Many times this is not an "I don't want to" issue, it is an "I'm so overwhelmed and I don't see how it is possible" issue.
I share these experiences, because I know there are families like us who have felt the same way about getting involved in a church. If you want to know if it is an issue in your church, I guess all you would have to do is look at the parents of the children with special needs in your church (if there are any). Are they serving? Are they in a small group? Maybe you could ask them. Of course, they may have other reasons. They might not be interested. They might be like many families who just come on Sunday morning, and that's it for them. Maybe they are very overwhelmed, and they cannot imagine how they could add one more thing in their life. You can show then that small group could be a break for them, if volunteers help. What if they do want to get involved, and they don't know how because of their child's special needs? They might need just need some caring volunteers to see a need and do something about it.
I hope all of these posts about church have helped encourage those who are interested in this issue of special needs ministry. I love hearing from everyone who comments, and I pray that these posts will be passed to churches who have never given thought to any of this. I want to tell those churches: it's ok. I never thought about any of this stuff either, until we had Lilli. So I hope it is helpful to read about our experiences. I pray that it will be passed on, to those on whose hearts God wants these words to land.


Published June 1983
by Presbyterian & Reformed Pub Co .
Written in English
|The Physical Object|
|Number of Pages||118|
The book declares him the “ ruler over the kings of the earth ” in the present tense, and it connects his sovereignty to his past death and resurrection. Christ bore “ faithful witness ” in his death and, therefore, he became the “ firstborn of the dead ” when God raised him from the dead. In John , we learn that the Holy Spirit is the source of truth. Joe Lewels reaches for this truth is his new book Rulers of the Earth. Join Lewels on an amazing and uplifting journey toward truth about Jesus, Christianity, Essenes, UFOs, history, religion, and spirituality. It's a fascinating and important trip/5(12). “Jesus Christ, who is the ruler of the kings of the earth» (Revelation ). The word for “ruler” means he is the ultimate authority over all the kings of the earth. They are great, but he is greater. They are mighty, but he is mightier. Millions answer to them, but they answer to . Ruler of the Kings on the Earth: A Clear Look at Amillennialism for the Lay Person [Currell, R. C., Hurlbut, E. P.] on *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Ruler of the Kings on the Earth: A Clear Look at Amillennialism for the Lay Person5/5(1).
In Revelation , the writer, John, gives Jesus Christ three unusual titles. It is the last of these I want to pick up on: the Ruler of the Kings of the Earth. A grand sounding title, and on the face of it an elevated position, but the resonance of this mighty name to the early. (5) From Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten (or, firstborn) of the dead, and the prince (or, ruler) of the kings of the earth. —The triple title applied to Christ corresponds to the three ideas of this book. Christ the Revealing Prophet, the Life-giving High Priest, and the real Ruler of mankind. Despite appearances, from the beginning of the book of Revelation, Jesus is declared the ruler over the “kings of the earth.” His exaltation is based on his sacrificial death and resurrection. The “kings of the earth” may be allied with the Beast, yet the Lamb uses them to achieve his purposes. The same group is found later in the New. Revelation This phrase arrested my attention recently as I was reading through the opening verses of John’s Revelation. Jesus is “the ruler of the kings of the earth.” I assume this would also include, in our day, presidents, prime ministers or dictators. No one escapes His dominion! This reminded me of Daniel’s interpretation of [ ].
kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, New Living Translation kings of the earth and all people, rulers and judges of the earth, English Standard Version Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Berean Study Bible kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the. The Ruler of The Kings of The Earth.” Perhaps alluding to the divine name first revealed in. Exodus when I AM spoke to Moses through the burning bush, John tell us that God is without. beginning or end. He is the Lord of the past, the present, and the future The Trinitarian (TRIUNE GODHEAD) Theology of Revelation. also becomes. Dear Father, As I meditate on this mighty name of Jesus Christ, the Ruler of the Kings of the Earth, I humble myself and worship Him in all His glory and majesty.I magnify Jesus, the supreme Ruler, Leader and Prince, as He exercises dominion over all the rulers of the people of the earth! Synopsis: The book of Revelation declares Jesus the present “ruler of the kings of the earth,” a fulfillment of the promise of a Davidic king Despite appearances, from the beginning of the book of Revelation, Jesus is declared the ruler over the “kings of the earth.” His exaltation is based on his sacrificial death and resurrection.


Greetings in Jesus’ name!!!
We here at Victory Temple Missionary Baptist church extend a joyous welcome to our visitors. We pray
you enjoy your visit and learning about us and our mission. If you, your family or friends are in or plan to
visit the Alexandria area, we invite you to come and worship with us. Our Pastor, Rev. Dr. Tom A. Bailey,
would love to meet and fellowship with you in Jesus name. We are located at 2762 Duke St. Alexandria,
VA 22314. The doors are open, come on in!!!
Family, this website was also created for you to stay abreast of the activities and growth happening at
VTMBC. From worship services to foreign mission trips, it’s all here!! We hope that you can easily find
the information on upcoming, events and spiritual ventures, and we welcome suggestions and ideas to
enhance the worship at The VT. Be blessed, and we look forward to seeing you in service.[LEARN MORE]
For inclement weather updates please tune into TV channels 5, 7, 8 and 9 (96.3 is for Sundays Only).
We state our mission to be the maintenance of true and sincere worship of God; the study and practice of Christian discipleship as revealed and taught in the New Testament; and the promotion and advancement of the Kingdom of Christ at home and around the world through missionary activities. We also strive for a continuously growing congregation that will worship, teach, witness and serve. [LEARN MORE]
AUDIO/VISUAL: Photo Gallery :: Messages


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You are welcome here...
WELCOMING YOU TO OUR CHURCH
Shiloh United Methodist Church is a place where everyone is welcome. We strive to create an atmosphere of inclusion and belonging, where all are celebrated and embraced. Our church is a beacon of light in the community, where faith and fellowship come together.
We understand the importance of intergenerational faith and embrace the sound of children in our pews each Sunday. We believe that children are a blessing and an integral part of our church family. The sound of children in our pews each Sunday brings joy to all of us. We also offer programs to help children grow in their faith and build meaningful relationships with God and peers.
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and Self Defense
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Shine in the love of God's grace, every day.
At Calvary Chapel South San Antonio, it's our mission to help you explore your relationship with God and improve those meaningful relationships in your family life. Join us each Sunday & Wednesday to experience the warmth of faith and the strength of our community.
President John F. Kennedy’s vision for the space program, “We choose to go to the moon . . . not because it is easy, but because it is hard.” As Calvary Chapel South San Antonio, our vision is to develop leaders, not because it is easy, but because we are commanded. "...go and make disciples... baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." The most important thing any leader can learn is how to abide in Christ. This abiding relationship includes a daily routine of spending time with God, saturating one's mind with the Word of God; remaining properly connected to the fellowship of our church; and sharing a vibrant witness for Jesus. By Christ leading the way, we will grow in & with Him.
We use both the Old and New Testament as the foundation for our faith and the inspiration for our daily lives. We put those teachings into practice at home and at work. Calvary Chapel has been formed as a fellowship of believers in the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Our supreme desire is to know Christ and be conformed to His image by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are a non-denominational church, we are not opposed to denominations as such, only to their over-emphasis of the doctrinal differences that have led to the division of the Body of Christ.
When I first heard the word Pastor associated with church, it made no sense to me, 'shouldn't they be caring for the sheep?' That is what I thought and that is exactly what it is. I 1st received the call to ministry in 2009, but did not understand what it meant when I read Hebrews 5:12. To me it was as though a loud voice had spoken directly. When I 1st came to Texas in Nov. 2006 from California, I was running away from the marriage I had destroyed and had blamed it on my wife. The Lord got a hold of me and said "you need to grow up." My wife and I have a heart for the marriages, knowing 1st hand that Christ can truly transform anyone; take ashes and make them into beauty.
"Where there is no vision, the people perish..." ~Proverbs 29:18~


The junior choir:
In 2011 the choir consisting of about 100 singers, ranging from age 7 to 10 years, captivated audiences with the hit song “If it’s meant to be its up to me” composed by our conductor Ms. Margie Anderson, songs by Elvis Presley and the very well known gospel show stoppers. In March of this 2011 the choir was invited by the Royal Schools of church music South Africa to attend a choir workshop and the presenters of this workshop included Annemarie vd Waldt, the Bloemfontein International Choral Centre and the very reverent Simon Aiken from the Kimberly Anglican Cathedral.
The senior choir:
Our senior choir boasts an energetic and homogenous choral sound and proves to be a very versatile dynamic group of young singers with the head boy and sports captains joining in to give this choir their unique sound. The choir is under the direction of Ms Margie Anderson.


For the last 15 years, God has not only allowed us to boast of Him through song, but He has given us the awesome privilege of pouring in to other musicians, songwriters and worship leaders around the world. These opportunities have ignited a fire of discipleship in our hearts.
Our mission is to launch an online resource to empower musicians to LEAD. A place that will be a JOY for you dive deep into what you are gifted and called to be. And, we need God’s grace and your help to make it happen. We have been working diligently for months; recording songs, making videos, and writing content that we hope will deeply encourage the Church.
We have begun this journey in faith, but we’re not there yet. And, we need a community to help make this happen.
That’s why we launched a Kickstarter project and we’ve been OVERWHELMED by the support and encouragement!
As part of this project, we recorded 100 worship songs (it was CRAZY!) and we’re offering these new recordings to supporters, too.
So, even if you are not a musician, you can support this project and receive new Worship Initiative (WI) worship albums that we (Shanes) recorded and produced.


This is a course blog authored by the students in the seminar on Law and Theology at the University of Akron School of Law in the Fall of 2010.
With respect to any LDS perspective on homosexuality, one has to keep in mind that the issue goes much deeper than any superficial question of gay rights. In LDS theology, a man and/or a woman must be sealed (or married "for time and all eternity" according to LDS doctrine) in an LDS Temple in order to achieve the highest level of heaven in the afterlife. For LDS leadership, to affirm the existence of homosexuality as part of an individual's nature [and not solely based on free will (or "free agency")] would be to basically say that Heavenly Father royally screwed up in his plan and that Heavenly Father's plan is somehow faulty in terms of creation, free will, death, redemption, & eventual "exaltation". In LDS theology, Heavenly Father's plan is to have all humans return unto Him in His realm and to become like Him as He is. To discuss the superficial claim of LDS authorities commenting on homosexuality without taking a deeper theological look does not give due justice to the issue.
I guess I am confused. It seems to me that the Boyd K. Packer meant to say that God makes no mistakes, therefore Homosexuals cannot claim to be born gay or that would mean God does make mistakes. See how circular that logic is? I am just wondering whether Packer really thought about what he said? God does not create sickly children? I am curious, if Packer is asserting that God would not create someone who is atypical? Or, that being homosexual is so unnatural that there is no way God could have created homosexuals. Packer, in case you were wondering, has God's blueprints and gays were not included in Gods prototype. Being a human is not without suffering, religion has taught that struggles we find ourselves in are attestations to God's love for us, and our ability to show love back.People suffer, some people are born atypical, but to say that God did not create them that way is to assume we know God's grand design. It is also to disregard the many types of people born with various atypical qualities that we accept are not of the individuals choosing.Whether we accept or not that being gay is genetic, we must accept that God still created that person and his love for all mankind supersedes any inclinations humans have to judge.


Ohrid and the lake of the same name are situated in the south west of Macedonia and the ‘pearl’ of all Macedonian towns has a long and colourful history. It became the centre of Orthodox Christianity in the Balkans and a large number of churches and monasteries were built. The Sveta Bogorodica Perivlepta Church is situated on a hill in the old town and missionaries Kliment and Naum came to Ohrid in 885 A.D. Kliment became bishop of Ohrid and founded the first Slav academy. Next to the church is Ohrid’s famous icon gallery that contains exhibits from the 11th to the 19th century including valuable images of Saint Kliment and Saint Naum. The splendour of the frescos makes it easy to understand why this area has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This treasure trove of Byzantine art and architecture is the birthplace of Slav Christianity. The churches and monasteries of Ohrid look like something straight out of a fairy tale kingdom yet they are the original witnesses of Orthodox Christianity in the Balkans.


Children in the pews
Adults sometimes wonder why people bring little children to church.
Actually, bringing children into the sanctuary is something like letting them eat at the dinner table. Even though their manners are far from elegant, it is done in the hope that they will feel part of a family and, given time, they will begin to learn appropriate manners.
Children giggle, wiggle and swing their legs simply because they are children. But they also sing, pray and worship with us. We as adults should accept—even welcome, value and smile at the children’s restlessness during worship, trusting that they are also learning:
- That it is important to come to this place each Sunday and/or each Wednesday
- That they belong to this special company of people
- That this is a safe place to be and that they are valued and loved
- That the sights and sounds of the sanctuary are good, though not always understandable
- That something is expected of them in this place and that they may respond in song, prayer and offering
Bringing a child to church can be challenging. But, then again, so are many other facets of parenting and the rewards are well worth the effort.
We must remember that children belong to the church too and that many of us learned to love church by being there as children. Children belong to God and, while they may not participate in worship in the same ways adults do, they are growing in understanding and learning to take their places in the church family.
If you would like more information about Christian Worship with a Lutheran emphasis, please follow this link http://www.elca.org/Growing-in-Faith/Worship.aspx
"But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, 'Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.'" - Mark 10:14; Matthew


A Biblical Perspective on Gambling - AG.org The principle of love will prevent Christians from gambling because of the ... Though sin resulted in a change of the nature of work (Genesis 3:17, 19), the ... What does the Bible say about gambling? | Truth Or Tradition? It seems clear from the nature of life that gambling is sometimes a sin and ... For Christians, the reality is that the resources we have are from God, and we are to ... Gambling Is A Sin! - Jesus-is-savior.com Gambling is a sin—specifically casino gambling and gambling which requires ..... As Christians, we are commanded NOT to be covetous of this world, "Let your ...
What does the Bible say about gambling? | Truth Or Tradition?
Christians(of all varieties) is gambling a sin? | Yahoo ... I have a pentecostal Christian friend who recently told me that he was having unresolved guilt feelings because he engaged in a game of five dollar poker ... Is gambling a sin? | Verse By Verse Ministry International Is gambling a sin? Share. ... And what of our Christian witness to others in the faith who know of our gambling as Christians? Since gambling brings many potential ... Is gambling a sin? | Verse By Verse Ministry International Is gambling a sin? Share. ... And what of our Christian witness to others in the faith who know of our gambling as Christians? Since gambling brings many potential ... Is Gambling a Sin? | Bible Questions - Jehovah’s ...
Gambling - Is it a sin? - Christian Truth
Is It a Sin for a Christian to Gamble? - What Christians ... Is gambling a grey-area matter for believers? Is the Bible silent about gambling? Is it a sin for Christians to gamble? Is Gambling a Sin? Is It the Same as Casting Lots in the ... By its very nature, gambling is risking a person’s current position or wealth against the odds in the hope of gaining a greater position or wealth. The ... Is Gambling a Sin? - How Different Religions View Gambling In this article, we examine what various world religions such as Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism, have to say about gambling. Is Gambling a Sin? What Does the Bible Say About it?
May 17, 2005 · Gambling is not listed as one of the 613 laws which were given for the knowledge of sin . However , something can be a sin if the person believes it to be so for them . Eating is not a sin , but gluttony is , drinking is not a sin , but drunkeness is .
Question: "What does the Bible say about playing the lottery?" Answer: The word gamble means “to risk something of value on an outcome that depends on chance.” Because the outcome of a lottery “depends on chance” and playing it involves “risk,” then, by definition, playing the lottery is gambling. Gambling: Moral or Immoral? Lotteries, Casinos and the Bible Gambling or "gaming" for stakes is becoming increasingly popular. A person can bet by lottery, casino, poker, slot machines, raffles, office pools, sports wagers, or online betting. But is gambling moral or immoral according to the Bible? Should a Christian gamble? What does the Bible say? What about gambling addiction?
What does the Bible say about gambling? | Bibleinfo.com
A sin is anything that harms or hinders our relationship with Christ. Las Vegas, Atlantic City and American Indian reservations throughout the country make billions of dollars in revenue each year because of legalized gambling. However, the question remains: “Is participating in gambling a sin for Christians?” Gambling - Is it a sin? - Christian Truth Gambling - Is it a sin? The subject of gambling is multi-faceted and something that can divide Christians. On one side of the fence, there are those who argue that it is only a game and, like anything else (eating, drinking, etc.), it is acceptable as long as it does not become controlling or addicting.
Is It a Sin for a Christian to Gamble? - What Christians Want To Know I feel strongly that a Christian should not gamble. To try and win money at the expense of others (who pay for lottery tickets for example) seems wrong. Gambling ... What does the Bible say about gambling? | Bibleinfo.com


A Unique Organization – Working Where God Leads
Trips with a Mission has a philosophy which makes it unique compared to many other organizations.
- Our goal is to engage in work only as God leads. We realize that with God as our partner can we truly hope to succeed.
- We help the ‘whole child’. Our organization doesn’t just give access to the necessities in life, such as food, education and medical care. We actually give each and every child a brand new life!
- We work where there are no social services therefore we help those who are overlooked, children who would not have been helped had we not been there.
- In our child sponsorship program, 100% of the money goes for the care of the sponsored child.
- We have an active on-going relationship with the nationals who administrate our overseas projects. We do not build a facility then move on. Our continuing contact has developed lifetime friendships building bridges in a world tainted by prejudice. We lend moral, financial and spiritual support, which ultimately leads to successful projects.
- Trips with a Mission is totally funded by donations. When a new project is undertaken we have to raise the necessary money. It takes hard work and commitment. We believe that we are accountable to God for every cent that is raised, therefore we are judicious and thrifty with how it is spent.
- Though many of our staff profess Christianity, we do not ‘push’ religion on our students. Both eastern and western denominations are represented in our student body. Bible stories are taught in our homes but children are never pressured or discriminated against if they do not accept the Christian faith.
Why We Do What We Do
Anne Frank once said, “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” That is exactly what Trips with a Mission is doing. Isn’t improving the life of even one child not only changing their immediate world but the world in general? Think about the influence of every individual and the lives one touches, then think about the tremendous positive impact all of ‘our’ children will have as they are launched into the world as honest, kind, responsible adults!!
The bible says that God is not a respecter of persons. In the little corners of the world where TWAM is operating children’s homes, we see everyone as equal. Our homes are filled with the homeless, the untouchables, the low caste and destitute, and they are all precious! We do not discriminate against religion, nationality, race, caste, gender, financial status or for any other reason.
We, at Trips with a Mission, cannot take credit for awards or accolades given to any of our homes. We cannot take credit for the wonderful progress of the children in these homes.
All praise goes to the benevolent, selfless leaders at each home who are on the job 24/7. And to kind hearted, generous people who sponsor ‘our’ children and support our work. Thanks be to God who has brought all of us together!


Church of Sant Serni de Besora
Around 1651, the old Church of Sant Serni de Besora, existing in records from at least the tenth century, was in a very bad state and it was decided to build a new one with a central nave covered by a barrel vault and a choir covered by a rib vault. It maintained the basic sixteenth-century combination of stone—for the ribs, mouldings and pilasters—and whitewashed pargeted masonry for the other faces. On either side of the nave, two side chapels house four of the six altarpieces conserved in the church, all made between the sixteenth and late seventeenth centuries. There is also a fine processional cross, which is probably fifteenth century.
The high altar (dedicated to Saint Saturninus)
The high altar, made in the seventeen eighties, was sculpted by Joan Balius of Solsona and polychromed and gold-leafed by Joan Andreu, from Sant Llorenç de Morunys, who showed much skill in his working of the vestments. In the central niche, at the top of the shrine, built like a miniature edifice with Solomonic columns, is the church’s patron saint, Saturninus (Sadurní, in Catalan). He is flanked by SS John the Baptist and Paul, in the lower section, and the patron saints of farmers Abdon and Sennen, in the upper section, on the right and left of the Immaculate Conception, respectively.
Along with the high altar, noteworthy for the impeccable craftsmanship with which they were made, are the altarpieces dedicated to Christ the Lord (1732), in the arcosolium in the north wall, by an unknown artist, and another in classic style dedicated to Saint Teresa, made by Segimon Pujol i Santaló in 1795.


Sunday Services: 10 Bible Study, 11 Worship/ pm Services:6, 5:30 Children's Choir, 6 Bible Study, Children's SBS & Teen Church08/27/2017 11:00 AM
Sunday Services: 10 Bible Study, 11 Worship/ pm Services:6, 5:30 Children's Choir, 6 Bible Study, Children's SBS & Teen Church09/03/2017 11:00 AM
Shady Grove Church
3805 Carpenter Pond Road
Durham, North Carolina 27703
Registration Begins October 17th
Basketball Season Begins January 10th
Evaluations are December 15th and 17th
Upward is a unique sports program that is specifically designed for use in ministries to reach out to young people with the gospel of Jesus Christ while helping them learn and develop athletic skills. Each child is given play time during the games and worked with equally during the practices, ensuring that no one is left out and everyone enjoys the opportunity to be a true part of the team.
Our experienced caring coaches make the difference as well. Your child will be challenged to grow in their sports knowledge and ability with an emphasis placed on doing one's best rather than winning every game. Upward at Shady Grove Church will prove to be a great experience for your child.
If you have questions or would like more information about our UPWARD league please contact us at email@example.com.
Some Dates To Know For 2017 Season
Evaluations- Dec. 15 6-7:30pm or Dec. 17 9-10:00am
First Practice- Jan. 10 6-7pm, or 7-8pm
Scrimmage- Jan. 14 9-10am, or 10-11am
First Game- Jan. 21 9-10am or 10-11am
Practices will be weekly on either Tuesday or Thursday evening, Games weekly on Saturday morning


Our Lady of Manaoag is one of the main reasons why I have always wanted to visit the beautiful province of Pangasinan. Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Manaoag is believed to be miraculous by the majority of Catholics. According to Wikipedia, some of the earliest miracles attributed to Our Lady of Manaoag, including the original apparition, are depicted in the murals of the church. One instance that proved that it is miraculous, is during the 2nd World War. The Japanese forces dropped several bombs within the church’s vicinity and miraculously, the structure was only moderately damaged. The last bomb fell into the sanctuary, but it did not explode.
My humble experience
To tell you frankly, I am not a devout Catholic, but I do believe in miracles. So, upon arriving at Our Lady of Manaoag, I instantly felt a miracle happened to me. It is like all the anger and physical pain just went away — That I am totally healed and renewed person.
Words cannot describe how grateful I am to be in this sacred place. I have been feeling spiritually empty because of the problems I have been having lately, but right after talking to Him, I felt that my faith has been restored. It was a life-changing experience, indeed.
Things to do in Our Lady of Manaoag
- Hear the mass
- Pray the rosary
- Visit the Our Lady of Manaoag Museum and Rosary/Shrine garden
- Get a bottle of holy water
- Light candles and offer some prayers in the candle gallery
- Have your vehicles and religious articles blessed
- Visit the stalls outside the church selling different kinds of fruits, religious articles, and delicious delicacies. Tupig is a must-try delicacy when in Pangasinan.
Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag Telephone Number
(075) 529 0132
How to get to Manaoag from Dagupan
Ride a van going to Manaoag. Travel time is 1 hour. The fare is around Php 60
How to get to Manaoag from Manila
Go to Cubao station and take a bus bound for Manaoag. I believe the Dagupan Bus Line has a direct trip to Manaoag.


Depending on where your moral compass points to, you may consider today’s protagonist as a legend of colossal proportions, or as the ultimate scumbag. Ordained Pope barely out of his teenage years, he went down in history as the most outrageous of Rome’s Bishops.
He favored sword and armor to the mitre and the cross.
He’d rather go hunting, than celebrate mass.
He led invasions, plotted against his friends, and signed alliances with his enemies. He gambled, he drank, he toasted the Devil and performed gruesome acts of violence with oblivious abandon. And all the while, he gallivanted around Rome with the obstinate copulating stamina of a Duracell bunny in heat.
Fittingly, this young pope went out with a bang – in more than one sense.
Well, at least that’s one version of the events. Join me today for the chronicle of what may have been the most disastrous papacy in history. This is the story of Octavianus, son of Alberic of the Counts of Tuscolo, better known as Pope John XII.
You Slapped the Wrong Guy
Let’s start with some context. In the 10th Century AD, the Italian peninsula was kind of a mess. And I know perfectly well that I am oversimplifying here, so be merciful in the comments.
Most of the peninsula’s northern half was governed by the Kingdom of Italy. The style of King of Italy, however, was little more than a nominal title, as the real military power lay in the hands of powerful feudal lords.
Still, the Italian crown carried some prestige and privileges. Kings of Italy could aspire to offer their protection to the pope, and in exchange expect to be crowned Holy Roman Emperors.
Let us now meet the father of our protagonist.
He was one of those feudal lords I mentioned. His name was Alberic, and his family hailed from Spoleto, a town 130 km north of Rome.
In 932, Alberic’s mother, Marozia, married her third husband, the Marquess Hugh of Provence. This nobleman happened to be also the then King of Italy. As such, he was expecting to be crowned Holy Roman Emperor, too.
The wedding took place in Rome, a city which Hugh sought to claim as his personal dominion.
But his overambitious plans were soon to be thwarted.
The local aristocracy was not happy with the idea of a foreign Marquess lording it over Rome. They started to conspire, rallying behind Alberic as their leader.
Alberic was looking for the right occasion to rebel against his step-dad.
The occasion presented itself shortly after the wedding.
Marozia asked Alberic to pour some water for Hugh to wash his hands. Alberic complied reluctantly, which Hugh interpreted as a sign of disrespect. He slapped his stepson, and the two got into a fight. Days later, Alberic got word that Hugh was planning to get back at him by gouging his eyes. This was the moment to rebel! The Italian nobleman moved quickly to the offensive.
He rallied the Roman aristocracy and the populace into an uprising, defeating Hugh and driving him away from the Eternal City.
Alberic became the de facto ruler of Rome until his death, in August of 954. Before shuffling off the mortal coil, he forced the Roman nobles to take a pledge: they would elect his son Octavianus as next pope and Lord of Rome.
Now, we know very little about the boy’s early life, or even the circumstances around his birth.
According to some sources, Octavianus was born in 937, to Alberic and his wife Alda – who happened to be his stepsister, too.
What a confusing, confusing age.
According to others, the future pope had been born in 930 to an unnamed concubine of Alberic’s. Octavianus became the 130th Pope in December of 955. Depending on the origin story, he may have been 25, or barely 18.
In any case, it probably was a tad too early to take on such responsibilities!
But the young pope accepted his destiny, choosing the name John XII.
As elected pontiff, and son of Alberic, he could claim both spiritual authority over the Catholic Church, and temporal authority over Rome and the surrounding Ecclesiastical States.
Poor General, Master Schemer
From the very start of his reign, contemporary chroniclers observed that his character was unsuited to the task. John was impulsive, coarse, immoral, and more interested in earthly desires than the Christian faith.
As the energetic son of a feudal lord, he loved to hunt with bow and arrow, he held several mistresses, and had a thirst for combat. John, however, was not just some medieval Chad looking for a random fight. He did have a clear agenda, one already set in motion by his dad Alberic.
Since the times of Charlemagne, popes had been entitled to the ‘Patrimonium Petri’ – the Patrimony of Peter. The term indicated prized territories north and south of the Ecclesiastical States.
In the decades after the death of the Frankish emperor, though, these lands had been seized by other lords.
It was time to reconquer those fiefdoms: the young pope unsheathed his sword and led his armies in what should have been a glorious campaign.
But no, it was a disaster.
John wanted too much, too soon.
To the north, he attacked the Exarchate of Ravenna, initiating a conflict with the new King of Italy, Berengarius II, and his son Adalbert.
At the same time, he took on the Duchy of Capua, south of Rome.
He was quickly defeated in both campaigns and suffered a further humiliation when Berengarius marched on to pillage the Ecclesiastical States, in 960.
John needed allies, and quickly!
He knew that he would find no love amongst Italian lords. Even Roman aristocrats were turning against him, wary of his inexperience and lack of morals. In a shrewd diplomatic move, the young pope sent two emissaries to the court of Otto I, the powerful Duke of Saxony and King of East Francia.
The ambassadors proposed a military alliance to Otto, probably with the promise of raising him to the rank of Holy Roman Emperor. An offer he could not refuse, indeed.
Moreover, Otto already had a beef with Berengarius.
Do you remember Hugh of Provence, the step-dad of Alberic? The King of Italy who had lost Rome after slapping his stepson? Yes, that guy!
Well, he had died back in 947. The Crown of Italy had been handed down to his son Lothar.
Who also died, shortly thereafter.
His widowed wife, Adelaide, was still crying over his body, when another feudal lord swept in and seized the Italian throne.
That other lord was Berengarius, until now a mere Marquess.
Adelaide needed some help against the usurper and so she appealed to Otto, offering her hand in marriage. So, back in 951, Otto had already organized an expedition to Italy, to fulfill the wishes of his new wife. But he had to cut short the invasion to deal with a revolt in Swabia, and then to repel a Hungarian attack.
Now, Otto had a fresh casus belli: time to settle scores with those who had wronged his lovely lady wife!
The Ottonian Privilege
The German nobleman descended into Italy with a mighty army, whose ranks were swelled by the local lords who opposed Berengarius. Attacked from all sides, the King had to retreat to his fortress.
Otto continued his descent towards Rome, sending an envoy to John XII in December 961.
In his message, Otto pledged to protect the person, the life, and the honor of the pope with all his might. He also committed to restoring the Patrimony of Peter and to consult the Pope on any decision concerning the papacy and the city of Rome.
In his reply, John solemnly pledged friendship to Otto. He also promised that he would never ally himself with Berengarius or his son Adalbert.
But, apparently, John did not entirely trust the promises of the German king. Having powerful protectors is very useful, provided they fornicate off back to their country once the war is over. But what if they decide to stick around? What if they decide to turn that pledge of protection to thirst for control?
That was John’s fear: could the emperor be planning to undermine Papal authority?
Nonetheless, John fulfilled his part of the deal.
Otto and Adelaide reached Rome in January of 962. And on the 2nd of February they were crowned Holy Roman Emperor and Empress.
Immediately afterwards, John convened a council of bishops, in which he sanctioned one of Otto’s pet projects: the foundation of an archbishopric in Magdeburg, with the aim of evangelizing the Slavic peoples.
Surely pleased by this concession, the newly crowned Emperor issued the so-called ‘Privilegium Ottonianum’, or Ottonian Privilege.
With this document, Otto confirmed his previous pledge of restoring the Patrimony. Then, he collected his army and marched back to the north, to resume his siege against Berengarius.
So, everything appeared fine and dandy for the pope, right?
His new BFF had his back covered, and had decided not to make himself cozy in Rome. But the Privilege contained a clause which John didn’t like one bit: future popes were required to pledge their obedience to the emperor.
John may have been a serial libertine, but he was still the representative of Christ on Earth. Surely it should have been the other way around: emperors had to bow to popes!
In autumn of 962 he organized a second council in Pavia, northern Italy, in which he yielded for the last time to Otto’s requests: namely reinstating some bishops which had been expelled from their seats.
But at the same time, he was scheming behind Otto’s back.
He negotiated a secret alliance with his old enemies Berengarius and Adalbert, with the purpose of booting the emperor out of the Italian boot. News of the alliance leaked to Otto. The dumbfounded emperor could not believe his ears and sent envoys to Rome to investigate.
One of them, bishop Liutprand of Cremona, confirmed the rumors upon his return.
Moreover, the bishop reported how the dissolute lifestyle and poor administration of John XII had left Rome an absolute shamble.
Poor Schemer, Worse General
While Otto processed the treason, John doubled up.
He sent a team of bishops and cardinals to the Byzantine Empire and to the Kingdom of Hungary, seeking to create a vast anti-imperial alliance.
Unfortunately for him, two of them were captured by his old enemy, the Duke of Capua. The letters they carried were solid proof of the pope’s schemes. If John had had his way, Otto would face defeat in Italy, and an invasion in his homeland!
The cat was now out of the bag, and John tried to put a plaster over the whole mess.
He hastily sent a message to Otto, claiming that the letters seized in Capua were just a forgery, concocted to undermine their friendship.
He took the occasion to accuse the emperor of not fulfilling his promise of restoring the Patrimony. You see, Otto had reconquered some of the lost ‘lands of Peter’, but he had not returned them to papal authority yet.
If anything, he was the traitor!
Otto reacted immediately by sending Liutprand to Rome, to refute these allegations.
Liutprand even challenged John to solve their quarrel with a good old trial by combat!
As much as we would have loved a duel between a Papal Mountain and an Imperial Viper – or vice versa – John rejected the idea and sent Liutprand packing.
Shortly afterwards, Adalbert entered Rome to formalize his alliance with John.
Well, this was outrageous! Otto now had no choice but to take matters into his own hands! He regrouped his armies and marched towards the Eternal City in November of 963. John donned his armor and rallied his troops, ready to face the emperor in a bloody siege. But he had not accounted for enemies within the city walls.
More and more Roman aristocrats were sick and tired of the dissolute pope, and had no sympathy for Adalbert. They organized a revolt and defeated the papal faction, welcoming Otto with open arms.
John and Adalbert had no choice but to flee to nearby Tivoli – carrying a good chunk of the Church’s treasure with them!
The Romans were not done with John, though.
On the 6th of November they organized another council of bishops, with the purpose of trying the pope in absentia.
A Judas and a Devil
Our old friend Liutprand of Cremona penned an account of the trial, which gave us the full extent of the pope’s alleged crimes. The pontiff came out with a rap sheet as long as my arm.
He was accused:
Of celebrating mass without receiving the communion first,
Of not respecting the canonical times for prayer,
Of ordaining a deacon at a strange time of the day – whilst standing inside a barn(!),
Of appointing a 10-year old bishop, and selling other bishoprics for money.
Moreover, John had committed sacrilege and perjury, he openly carried weapons and hunted with bow and arrow.
If that wasn’t enough, he was indicted for:
The concoction of diabolical love potions!
But there is more!
The pope was charged with grievous bodily harm and murder! Apparently, he had ordered his godfather to be blinded. Another high ranking cleric – a cardinal, no less! – had been castrated and then killed by the papal goons!
Liutprand also specified that John XII loved to drink and to gamble, toasting to Satan or invoking pagan deities before each roll of the dice.
Finally, under his administration, churches had been left in a state of abandon and disrepair. The papal residence, the Lateran Palace, had been turned into a brothel.
Oh, and I almost forgot: he didn’t do the sign of the cross!
In his account, Liutprand of Cremona explicitly compared the pope to Judas and to the Devil himself.
Now, such a tsunami of allegations would have left the whole Borgia family seething with envy – had they been born some centuries earlier. But I should specify that contemporary historians are a bit skeptical about the extent of such charges.
Sure, other sources confirm John’s licentiousness and disregard for good admin practices,
but Liutprand’s writings should not be taken as Gospel.
After all, he was a loyal servant to Otto, and his record of the trial was probably more of an exaggerated propagandistic pamphlet than an honest transcript.
Unsurprisingly, John refused all the allegations from his hiding place, and issued an excommunication for all involved in the council. Nonetheless, on the 4th of December 963, the convened bishops issued their verdict, pressured by Otto: John was to be deposed, and a new pope to be elected.
The choice fell upon the ‘protoscriniarius’ Leo. Leo, however pious and devout, was not even a priest, let alone a bishop or cardinal. His job description was:
Superintendent of the Roman public school for scribes.
A headteacher, in other words, was suddenly elevated to one of the most powerful positions in Europe. He was crowned as Leo VIII on the 6th of December.
Revenge of the Pope
The Octavianus Formerly Known as Pope John XII still had some metaphorical arrows to his imaginary quiver. From Tivoli, he schemed to launch an anti-imperial uprising in Rome.
He still had a few nobles loyal to him, and he gambled that the populace could be on his side.
But how to set off the first spark of the revolt?
According to the ever informed Liutprand of Cremona, the former pope used a network of reliable agents: his countless former lovers. Finally, some payback for all that amorous effort! On the 3rd of January 964 the supporters of Octavianus took to the streets, actively looking to assassinate Otto and ‘his’ pope, Leo.
But the emperor and his faction was just too strong, and the revolt was quickly quashed. But being distracted by the riots, Otto had failed to notice that Adalbert was on the offensive once more: he had rallied a new army and set camp in Spoleto, north of Rome.
As Otto marched north, the insurrection erupted again. The imperial garrison was repelled, and Leo VIII fled the city.
In February, Octavianus returned to Rome, claiming back the papal throne. One of his first acts was to claim vengeance on the bishops who had sided with the emperor.
Sources disagree on which bishop received which punishment, but we can gather that
A German bishop was scourged;
A Roman bishop had his nose and ears cut off;
Another bishop lost his nose, tongue, and two fingers;
And a fourth bishop had his right hand amputated.
Then, on the 26th of February, a further Council annulled all the decisions taken by the Bishops the past November. That is: Leo’s election was to be considered null and void. And obviously John was now cleared of all charges.
The reinstated pope now sat and waited for what was next: Otto’s inevitable reprisal.
He tried to appease the emperor by releasing the bishop he had flailed, but if Otto appeared to postpone an attack it was due to pragmatic, logistical problems. After defeating Berengarius and Adalbert, the emperor needed reinforcements from Germany to replenish his losses.
When Otto finally planned to march on Rome, a piece of news stopped him in his tracks.
John XII died on the 14th of May, 964 in Naples.
According to his harshest critic, Bishop Liutprand, the licentious young Pope had been hit by a stroke while having sex with a married lady. Stricken by paralysis, John lay in bed for eight days, until the Devil himself dealt him a blow on the temple.
According to another version, the Pope was fit as a fiddle while he frantically fornicated with his friend.
Problem is, her husband was fitter.
He burst into the room, lifted John by the neck, and tossed him from a window.
As I said: out with a bang in one way or the other.
Thus, ends the short and scandalous life of one who may have been the youngest, and worst, pope ever to be elected. The story of John XII and his legacy are frequently resurrected by contemporary commentators, as an example of how the spiritual mission of the Catholic Church can be corrupted by temporal power and hypocrisy.
As mentioned earlier, there is a strong suspicion that most of the worst crimes committed by John may have been fabricated for propaganda purposes.
He may have realistically indulged in the sins of the flesh, which was not uncommon amongst popes and high-ranking prelates in the middle ages. But allegations of murder, Devil-worship and pimping should be taken with many pinches of salt.
What I would like to draw your attention to is his political legacy.
John’s scheming and military ambitions resulted in the issuing of the Ottonian Privilege, a legal document which bound the election and the autonomy of future popes to the Holy Roman Emperors.
Moreover, as he tried to find a way out, he only succeeded in angering his once ally, thus setting a precedent for recurring Imperial interference in Italian affairs.
It took 14 popes and almost one century before the Ottonian Privilege was abolished by the Church – which only resulted in further conflict: the so-called Investiture Controversy, a political, religious, and ideological contest which degenerated in decades of revolt and civil war in Germany.
But I will stop there, before someone is tempted to blame every European war on John XII.
I will leave the final verdict to you: was he actually the worst pope in history?
John XII in the so-called Historia Ottonis by Liutprand of Cremona, by Paolo Chiesa, University of Udine
The Reconstruction of the Civilization of the West, from Charlemagne (Transitio Imperii) to the Era of the Crusades