HILARIOUS JOKES AND HUMOR ARCHIVES
John went on a vacation to the Middle East with most of his
family, including his mother-in-law. During their vacation
and while they were visiting Jerusalem, John's mother-in-law
With death certificate in hand, John went to the American
Consulate to make arrangements to send the body back to the
States for proper burial.
The Consul, after hearing of the death of the mother-in-law,
told John that sending a body back to the States for burial
is very, very expensive. It could cost as much as $5,000 he
told John, and in most cases the persons responsible for the
remains of their loved ones decide to bury the body in
Israel, which would only cost $150.
John thought for some time and answered, "I don't care how
much it will cost to send the body back; that's what I want
The Consul, after hearing John's reply, said, "You must have
loved your mother-in-law very much, considering the
difference in price."
"No, it's not that," says John. "You see, I know of a case
many years ago of a person buried here in Jerusalem. On the
third day he arose from the dead. I just can't take that
Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how
say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ
not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching
vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found
false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that
he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the
dead rise not.
For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: and if
Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your
sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all
men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead,
and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by
man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the
dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be
But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits;
afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh
the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God,
even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and
all authority and power.
For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his
feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For
he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all
things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted,
which did put all things under him.
And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall
the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things
under him, that God may be all in all. -1 Corinthians 15:12Previous Joke | Back to the Archives | Next Joke
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“Christian Gift + Candy = JesusWeen” ~ Jesus Ween on Facebook
Attention all ye sinners who choose to celebrate Halloween by dressing up in heinously anti-biblical fashion and cavort with equally disgusting individuals while eating dubious amounts of KitKats and drinking ungodly beverages. That goes for you too, children that dress in satanic garb like that Thomas the Train character and who go door-to-door expecting candy with no good word of Jesus to go along with it. JesusWeen is here to help you!
What is JesusWeen you ask? “Every year, the world and its system (our emphasis) have a day set aside (October 31st) to celebrate ungodly images and evil characters while Christians all over the world participate, hide or just stay quiet on Halloween day. Being a day that is widely acceptable to solicit and knock on doors, God inspired us to encourage Christians to use this day as an opportunity to spread the gospel. The days of hiding are over and we choose to take a stand for Jesus. “Evil prevails when good people do nothing”. JesusWeen is expected to become the most effective Christian outreach day ever and that is why we also call it” World Evangelism Day”.”
Who doesn’t want that? The benefits of JesusWeen reach far and wide. According to their website, it is preparing kids for greatness. “Jesus is a loving friend of children. In the Bible he allowed them come to him and taught them in love and received them. No one in the Bible who was attached to God from childhood ever became a failure. Moses, Samuel, David, Solomon, Jeremiah, John and Jesus were men who dedicated themselves to demonstrating the love of God from childhood. All these men became great men who are still spoken of today in our generation. They became great men because they were raised in the path of greatness. They were busy for God from an early age and therefore did not miss their way. Train up a child in the way he should go, when he grows old, he shall not depart from it – (Proverbs 22:6)”
Yes! And there is more! “The children coming out to give the bibles will do it with excitement. They will not feel deprived as they will be coming out like other kids to give the Word to people. They will definitely be received by families as it is just natural not to turn a child down. The children will understand from an early age that it is fun to give the Word.”
Let’s face it, JesusWeen (seriously only Hallo should end in ween – enough said) is another attempt by the far right to rid children of a tradition that has absolutely no malicious intent By guilting parents and children alike into ‘spreading the word of God’ rather than just , I don’t know, letting kids be kids is cruel and uncalled for.
Whether you are Christian or not, Halloween is a time for celebration. In Mexico, they celebrate the dead, and really what is wrong with the dead anyways? We are all going to die eventually except for maybe Dick Clarke and Queen Elizabeth. Halloween is fun, and never let anyone tell you that it isn’t.
In the Headlines:
Daniel Villarreal. Queerty. 15-Year-Old Jamie Huubley Commits Suicide. But was it Bullying or Depression? October 17, 2011.
Dan Avery. Queerty. 6 Fundamentalist Parents Who Horribly Abused Their Gay Kids. October 15, 2011.
Michelle Garcia. The Advocate. Serbian Woman Stabed for LGBT Shirt. October 17, 2011.


The Catholic Church has an unfortunate record on supporting active government intervention into the economy as a means of attempting to bring about a more equitable society. While denouncing socialism and communism by name, the Church has nevertheless lent its support to progressive economic policies and an expansive state to carry them out as a solution to poverty in both third world and developed countries. Within the United States in particular and across the world in general, the alliance between the left and the Church on economic issues has helped to destroy the concept of subsidiarity by transferring the care of the poor and vulnerable from an obligatory act of personal charity to the mere entitlement of a large social welfare state. In its attempt to bring about aid for the poor, these types of policies not only fail to produce a more just society, they have also led to the strengthening of a state apparatus with a social agenda that is counter to the Church’s moral beliefs.
The problem with the Church’s support for economic welfare policies such as (but not limited to) the ‘living wage’, ‘fair trade’, special collective bargaining rights is that it obfuscates the normative and positive elements of economics, and in doing so attempts to use desired moral outcomes to justify programs whose intentions are to bring that outcome about. As Tom Woods outlines in his book The Church and the Market, however, the Church’s authority to dictate desired social outcomes does not extend to declaring that certain coercive government programs are an effective way to bring them about.
With Pope Francis assuming the role as head of the Chruch, there are obvious questions about the type of leader he will be. As a Jesuit from South America there is reason to be suspicious about the role the new Pope will see for state actors to play in providing charity for the poor. However Rev. Robert Sirico, author of the highly recommended book Defending the Free Market: The Moral Case for a Free Economy, had this to say about the new head of the Church
Pope Francis is a man of great spirituality who is known for his commitment to doctrinal orthodoxy as well as for his simplicity of life. Like Benedict XVI, he combines concern for the poor with an insistence that it’s not the Church’s responsibility to be a political actor or to prescribe precise solutions to economic problems. In that regard, he’s a model for all Catholic bishops and clergy throughout the world.
While it is unlikely that Francis will mark a dramatic shift towards restoring the obligation of charity to the individual and accepting the positive deductions (as opposed to the normative desires) of economics, there is hope at least that the Church will not continue further down the road it has long traveled.


Catholic Cemeteries, Chicago IL
The Catholic Church Archdiocese of Chicago has 44 cemeteries in the greater Chicagoland area. ILM has been responsible for managing the lakes at 2 locations since 2008. The goal is to maintain a beautiful focal point for the cemetery within an appropriate budget.
Services and Results
Implementing an integrated management program, manual harvesting and chemical treatments of nuisance aquatic growth have been successful in maintaining the sanctity of these areas.


The Christian Church began on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ (~AD 30) as recorded in Acts 2.
We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and the Savior of the world.
We believe the Bible is the only book binding upon Christians.
We assert therefore , that there is only one way to accomplish God's work and will, and that is according to His way as revealed to us in the Bible.
This leads us to the terms of admission into the church as stated in the Bible:
Faith in Christ (Hebrews 11:6, Mark 16:15-16)
Repentence from sin (Acts 2:38)
Confession of Christ ( Romans 10:10)
Baptism into Christ for the remission of sins ( Acts 2:38, I Peter 3:21, Romans 6:1-5)
We meet in public worship on the first day of the week and our worship consists of singing praises to God, praying, teaching, and preaching from the Bible , and administering the Lord's Supper to all Christians.
Our only headquarters are in heaven, our numbers are known only to God but we can be found all of the world.
Some of our slogans , which state our position are as follows:
"Where the Bible speaks, we speak. Where the Bible is silent, we are silent."
"We are not the only Christians, but Christians only."
"No Creed but the Christ, no book but the Bible, no name but the divine."
"In essentials, unity, in opinions, liberty, and in all things charity."
"Our aim is to enter Heaven by the grace of God, and to take as many as we can with us."


I have been married to Richard, the love of my life for 8 years. Between the 2 of us, we have 4 daughters, and one teeny, tiny granddaughter named Kadence Raine. I love scrapbooking, and am an Independent Consultant for Close to my Heart. I am a member of Short Creek Baptist Church where I am a Sunday School teacher for the preschool and a member of the Choir. I love the Lord and the wonderful life he has given me. I have 2 white persian kittys-Jacqueline and Bianca.
All images are copyright protected. Please do not alter images and claim them as your own. I do not mind if you use the product you made with the file for resale, but selling or sharing the files is against copyright. Thank you so much for your understanding!


07.27.2013 - 07.27.2013
After suffering through another room service breakfast, we set out for the hop on/off station and took the bus to the first stop, Notre Dame Basilica. The bus tour had not done justice to the city on our ride yesterday, since we could not even see this remarkable edifice from the bus stop.
Notre-Dame Basilica is in the historic district of Old Montreal. It is located next to the Saint-Sulpice Seminary and faces the Place d'Armes square. The church's Gothic Revival architecture is among the most dramatic in the world; its interior is grand and colorful, its ceiling is colored deep blue and decorated with golden stars, and the rest of the sanctuary is a polychrome of blues, azures, reds, purples, silver, and gold. It is filled with hundreds of intricate wooden carvings and several religious statues. Unusual for a church, the stained glass windows along the walls of the sanctuary do not depict biblical scenes, but rather scenes from the religious history of Montreal. It also has a Casavant Frères pipe organ, dated 1891, which comprises four keyboards, 92 stops using electropneumatic action and an adjustable combination system, 7000 individual pipes and a pedal board.
In 1657, the Roman Catholic Sulpician Order arrived in Ville-Marie, now known as Montreal; six years later the seigneury of the island was vested in them. They ruled until 1840. The parish they founded was dedicated to the Holy Name of Mary, and the parish church of Notre-Dame was built on the site in 1672. The church served as the first cathedral of the Diocese of Montreal from 1821 to 1822.
By 1824 the congregation had completely outgrown the church, and James O'Donnell, an Irish-American Protestant from New York, was commissioned to design the new building. O'Donnell was a proponent of the Gothic Revival architectural movement, and designed the church as such. He is the only person buried in the church's crypt. O'Donnell converted to Catholicism on his deathbed perhaps due to the realization that he might not be allowed to be buried in his church. The main construction work took place between 1824 and 1829. The cornerstone was laid at Place d"Armes on September 1, 1824. The sanctuary was finished in 1830, and the first tower in 1841, the second in 1843. On its completion, the church was the largest in North America. It remained the largest in North America for over fifty years.
Because of the splendor and grand scale of the church, a more intimate chapel, Chapelle du Sacré-Cœur (Chapel of the Sacred Heart), was built behind it, along with some offices and a sacristy. It was completed in 1888. Although another fine example of the excess of the Catholic Church, it is a beautiful structure. More importantly, we were introduced to Old Montreal which we really had not seen on the bus tour yesterday. After leaving the Church, we were entertained by a jazz/blues guitarist who was playing in the square in front of the church. He was so good, I bought his CD.
Next we were off to the Pointe-a-Calliere Museum of Archaeology and History. The Museum is set on top of the birthplace of Montreal and an authentic archaeological site, Pointe-a-Calliere, Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History leads visitors through six centuries of history, from Indian days to the present. The attraction begins with a multimedia show, Yours Truly, Montreal and the two permanent exhibitions, Where Montreal Was Born and Montreal Love Stories. The Museum also presents two national or international temporary exhibitions every year on historical or archaeological themes, as well as many cultural activities. In 2013, the temporary exhibitions are The Beatles in Montreal and The Tea Roads. After the multi-media show, which was excellent, we were led down to the basement of the museum where portions of the cemetery and other city walls have been preserved. We were also somewhat forced into a tour which was led by a rather smug young man who led us through an archaeological version of Jeopardy...not what either of us wanted. In fact, had we not left and had to listen to one more of his smug questions, I might have smacked him!! We proceeded to the Beatles exhibit and, man, did that make me feel old...when the most important band of your generation has become a Museum exhibit and there are things on display such as a princess telephone, transistor radio, 45rpm record and the thing we used to play it on...to think what today's generation must think of such archaic toys. One of the allures of this exhibit was the promise that there was a karaoke room where you could sing along with John, Paul, George and Ringo...much to my chagrin...and Margaret's delight...it was not there!
We then walked along the waterfront, stopping at one of the many outdoor cafes and had a beer and our first crepe of the trip...good...but not as good as my world famous Swedish pancakes. Then we walked along Rue St. Paul which is quintessential Old Montreal with its cobblestone streets, Victorian street lamps, pedestrian only walkway, outdoor cafes and artists. The street leads to Place Jacques Cartier...an entertainment center with street artists, roving entertainers, face painters and caricaturists. One young man had a crowd of hundreds of people captivated by his sword juggling, fire eating, humor and other feats of stupid.
We returned to the hotel for a little R&R and decided to find a fondue restaurant for dinner and we ended up at the Creperie Chez Suzette. Wanting only a light meal after last night, we ended up ordering the four course menu which began with salad, then onion soup for me, escargot for Margaret, followed by a very nice Gruyere cheese fondue with bread, apples and grapes to dip...topped off by crepes Suzette which was wonderful. Across the street from the restaurant we noted Le Piano Rouge which I had researched earlier and learned it was a piano bar which featured different types of music. We paid the $10 cover and a young African American woman was singing with a pretty loud band...she was even louder and, quite frankly, I couldn't tell if she was singing in French or English, or what she was singing. Margaret claimed to have enjoyed it...I was not unhappy to see the set and the evening end.


This is an excerpt from my journal on August 31. I know I’ve been rambling about love a lot lately. It’s been on my mind a lot, courtesy of upcoming weddings. Don’t count on these thoughts fading just yet – I’m reading Wild at Heart now, too.
Sweet Jesus – Your relentless pursuit of me is beyond incredible. It bewilders me.
I love that You’ve given us marriage as a picture of Your love for us. I want to experience that – but I want to experience it as the analogy of our relationship with you that it is meant to be.
So often I reduce my view of marriage to a self-serving institution. I want someone to keep me company and to baby me when I’m sick. I want affectionate expressions, and I want to be told that I’m beautiful.
What’s amazing is that – someday – I may have a physical manifestation of all of that. But I’ll only be blessed with such a gift to help me better understand how You love me.
I have all of those things already. You shower me with Your affection daily. Sometimes I choose to look away in disbelief – just as I may when a man echoes Your sentiments.
Your love is greater than my doubt.
Your pursuit of me is why I must allow myself to be pursued in relationships. To take the reigns of romance into my own hands is to destroy the gorgeous analogy You long to draw out for me. The man is the leader because You have chosen him to be equated to You in this depiction. I am to be pursued as the church. You’ve gifted us accordingly.
Someday, Jesus. I pray he’ll make my heart more fully Yours.


Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.
Here at Fairview Church of the Brethren we strive to do exactly what God's word teaches us as we learn from His word by studying, as we enjoy the fellowship of the saints through Christ centered activities, as we develop our own personal relationship with God! We welcome and invite you to come and join us walk victoriously together as brothers and sisters in the family of God.


In A People's History of Christianity: The Other Side of the Story, Diane Butler Bass, author of Christianity for the Rest of Us, showcases the grassroots evolution of Christianity by bringing to light the stories of the faithful who have impacted the church and the world. These stories rarely surface in traditional Christian history, and they reveal the movements, personalities, and spiritual practices that continue to inform and ignite contemporary Christian activism and social justice reforms.
Praise for A People's History of Christianity:
"A persuasive argument that the real traditions of the church are ‘faith, hope, and love entwined.’”—Washington Post
“It would be difficult to imagine anyone reading this book without finding some new insight or inspiration, some new and unexpected testimony to the astonishing breadth of Christianity through the centuries.”—Philip Jenkins, author of The Lost History of Christianity


Somewhere around a year and a half in I wanted desperately to forgive my husband. Part of it was, I wanted the pain gone. Another part of it was the lessons in church on how we “should” forgive. So, I would pray often for God to help me.
One time, triggered and in pain, I cried out “God just please let me forgive. Please heal my heart.”
I got an answer back clear as day, “No.” God simply said “No, its not time yet.”
I was so taken back. Why in the world if God believed so much in forgiveness, would he tell me not to forgive? My mind raced. Was my husband still acting out? Did this mean he would soon? My mind spun with a million scenarios.
After much prayer, I choose to trust God and let go of worrying about forgiveness. Instead, I turned my focus to trusting God and continuing to heal ME.
Over the following 6-8 months, I still had the desire to forgive, but I let go of trying to force it. I just told God, “You know my heart. If it comes, I will take the gift. If not, that’s okay too. And if I die tomorrow, you know my heart. And that’s good enough.”
Somewhere in those next eight months forgiveness came. For me, it wasn’t some grand momentous moment. It was fleeting feelings here and there. Bits came and went. Sometimes the feeling stuck around for longer. It was so gradual; I can’t pinpoint when it “happened.”
I do remember over two years in, realizing one day that I thought I might actually have forgiven. I sat on it for a few weeks just seeing if I trusted the feelings. After a month or so, I told my husband, “I just want you to know, I forgive you. I still have a lot of stuff to work through, but I don’t have malice towards you anymore.” I wondered as it came out of my mouth if I would instantly want to take them back. But it felt good. I knew it was true.
You know what is response was? NOTHING. He said nothing!
He sat there for like 15 minutes silent, mumbled something or another and left for work. I was fully expecting him to be like kissing my feet and crying.
I was like, “Um, excuse me, did you not just see this gift I gave YOU???”
It was later when we both had done our processing did he share how stunned he was. He had no idea what to do with this information and also struggled with his own shame on if he deserved forgiveness.
It took me a few days to realize it, but the forgiveness I gave Luke really had nothing to do with him. I mean it did because I was forgiving him of the offense, but it really was for me. This quote was instrumental in my understanding forgiveness
“How will we get back what we lost if we simply forgive? How can this be fair? In most cases, and certainly in the case of serious wrongdoing, those who have injured or robbed us are not in a position to restore what they have taken. They cannot make full restitution for our lost peace of mind, self-esteem, or sense of well-being. They cannot give us back lost trust, hope, or safety. They cannot restore our lost options or heal our worldview. So if the people who hurt us cannot restore these things to us, how can we ever get back what we lost?
As we grant mercy, we gain the right to reclaim our lost blessings from Jesus Christ himself. When we forgive others, Christ assumes their debt to us, and we can then look to him for the healing, peace, security, hope, trust, well-being, and self-image he alone can restore. He is willing to take this debt if we are willing to release the original debtor to him to deal with on his terms and with his infinite wisdom and perspective on all the factors involved in their choices. “We allow Jesus to deal as he sees fit with those who owed us, for now the debt is between him and them alone. We get out of the middle.”
Seen in this light, forgiving others their debts is not simply pretending nobody owes us, which would not be just. It is rather a process of turning to Christ for the things we have lost, rather than turning to those who cannot restore our losses anyway.”Dr. Wendy Ulrich “The Temple Experience”
When I could stop looking to Luke to fix something he truly wasn’t capable of fixing, I could find healing. Yes, he could certainly help my healing or hinder it, but ultimately he could never heal me.
I thought a lot about that day that God told me no when I wanted to forgive my husband. I believe the reason He said no was that there were still important lessons I needed. Had I forgiven when I wanted it, I would have missed out on lessons that have shaped me today.
My advice? Allow yourself to be where you are. Be gentle with yourself. When bits of forgiveness come, enjoy them. And when they go, let that be okay. In time, God will continue to heal you.
Article written by Alana Gordon, MFT -I. Alana is the co-owner of Choose Coaching, LLC specializing in betrayal trauma and addiction coaching. She is a MFT-I, CSAT candidate and a betrayal trauma coach. To learn more about Alana or to book an individual coaching session, visit ChooseRecoveryServices.com


While the exhortations were written to Jewish believers in their context, there is a lot of encouragement and comfort for us. There are also warnings that we need to take to heart. One statement I read really resonates with the reason I wanted us to go through Hebrews. “This book leads one from superficial thinking to profound depths concerning the person and work of Christ.” The deeper we can think about and understand our Lord, the more like Him we can be.
Today we are going to start going through the book of Hebrews like we did Romans last year. The difference is that I will try to post my research for the sermons online each week. To get to the exegetical work, click on the “Bible Study” tab in the menu and select the book of the bible to see an overview of the book and a link to the information on each sermon. Each sermon will also have a link to the exegesis for the week.
While I will be the first to admit that I can geek out on translation and background and all that stuff, there’s not enough time in a sermon to cover all of it. I’m hoping that this will help those who are interested in going deeper into the text get a little geeky with me. And, folks that don’t get all geeky over it won’t hear as much of it in the sermon, so it’ll prevent their eyes from glazing over.
While I will try to have the info available early in the week of the sermon, where if you care to, you can read it over before Sunday, I cannot guarantee that I will always get it done as early as I would like. I ask that you bear with me and extend grace when necessary. This is something that I genuinely feel that God is placing on my heart to do, and I’m doing it, but I admit, until I get a few weeks into doing it, I am flying blind. I am also very open to suggestions and comments, so feel free to email me with either.


1 , 35 personne
Once an important medieval town, Saint-Emilion is now a beautiful medieval village surrounded by a worldwide known vineyard.
It was founded in the 8th century by an ermit called Emilian. The little village soon became a huge pilgrimage site around his tomb, and a stop on the way to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Four abbeys were founded in a few centuries, among which the largest underground church of all Europe and an underground copy of the Anastasis chapel in Jerusalem, both carved in limestone alongside even older catacombs.
It is now possible to get an oveview of the village from the top of the bell tower or the top of the 13th century keep. The vineyard around Saint-Emilion was planted by the Romans in the 1st century and supplied the English court for three centuries during the Middle Ages.
In 1999, it was the first vineyard in the world to be listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. And don’t forget to taste the local speciality (which you can only find there) : the macaroon of Saint-Emilion !


Friday night I took Tortellini out with me and a few of my friends. We were walking on the Strip when a mini-van did a u-turn right next to us. The guy in the passenger seat had long brown hair and a beard.
Me: Did you see that? I think that was Jesus riding shotgun.
Friend 1: Jesus doesn't ride shotgun. Jesus is in the driver's seat.
Friend 2: Uh, I don't think so. I think God is in the driver's seat and Jesus is riding shotgun.
Me: Actually, I'd be willing to bet that both Jesus and God have mastered the whole teleportation thing.
Friend 1: I don't know about that. It didn't really help Him escape the whole crucifixion thing.
So when my friends and I die and spend the rest of eternity in Hell, at least you'll all know why.


Psalm 91 King James Version KJV 91 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare. King James Bible Online: Authorized King James Version KJV of the Bible- the preserved and living Word of God. Includes 1611 KJV and 1769 Cambridge KJV. A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.green: Heb. pastures of tender grassstill&823. Psalm 5 King James Version KJV. 5 Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. 2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. 3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. 4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.
Psalms chapter 51 KJV King James Version Now, do Satan and his angels indwell many earthen vessels. Did not GOD save many spirits of his children which are all holy Angels? Psalms 23. A Psalm of David. 1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. A Psalm of David. Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. Draw out also the spe. 07.02.2020 · The Holy Bible: King James Version. Psalms 91. and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
10.02.2020 · Check out our other writing samples, like our resources on Compare a Rose for Emily and the Yellow Wall Paper Essay, Communication Problems Essay, Common Law Essay. The LORD Is My Shepherd. 23 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Several versions of the King James Bible KJV were produced in 1611,1629, 1638, 1762, and 1769. The 1769 edition is most commonly cited as the King James Version KJV. You can browse the KJV Bible verses by using the chapters listed below, or use our Bible search feature at the top of this page. Skip navigation.
20.03.2019 · This video is unavailable. Watch Queue Queue. Watch Queue Queue. John 6 King James Version 1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. 5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a. Psalm These are all of the chapters of the book of Psalm. Clicking on a chapter will show you the text of that chapter of Psalm in the Bible King James Version. King James Version Electronic Audio Bible Player by Alexander Scourby. King James Bible on CD by Alexander Scourby Voice Only on 62 CDs. J Vernon McGee thru the Bible on the EASIEST audio Bible player in the world to use. Contact Us. Audio Bible PO Box 3303 Summerville, SC 29484.
Matthew 6 King James Version 1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Psalm 16 - NIV: Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”. Psalm 6 KJV. 3 months ago admin. Psalm 6 King James Version KJV 6 O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me. 10.02.2020 · King James Version KJV, also called Authorized Version or King James Bible, English translation of the Bible published in 1611 under the auspices of King James I of England. The translation had a marked influence on English literary style and was generally accepted as the standard English Bible from the mid-17th to the early 20th century.
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 And God called the light Day, and the.
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It is so easy to look to our reflection and and compare what we see by what society tells us is beauty. When we focus on our physical beauty, we are helping only ourselves. But when we spend our time and focus on our inner beauty (our heart) through our attitude, behavior and actions, we have the ability to help anyone and everyone. What an impact we can make in the world with a beauty that will last longer than a pretty face. And our inner beauty will cost us nothing financially. It will never need makeup, botox or anti-aging creams.
Invest your time today working on your heart and see how it affects the way you see yourself next time you look at your reflection.
Have a blessed day!
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.”
2 Corinthians 4:16 ESV


Religious Nativity Star Sky Fuchsia
Get back to the true meaning of Christmas and re-create the Religious Nativity with this wonderfully ceramic star. This Fuchsia ceramic star features the holy family and the scene of Baby Jesus in the manger. You can place this on your end table, or a mantel. It is sure to be the finishing accent of your Christmas decor. Nativity figurines are unique detailed and hand painted by artisans in Mexico. The star has a flat base with Baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the Angel, a cow, a donkey and a rooster.
• 7″ Height
• 8″ Width
• 4″ Depth
Figurines: 2″ Tall


Spirit and Life Ministries is a fast-growing church located in the San Fernando Valley, just minutes north of Los Angeles. We are a friendly ministry composed of Christians of all ages and cultures. Our pastor, Elder Stephen Hamilton, preaches the Word of God with power and truth.
It all began as a prayer meeting in Mother Ann Higgins' home over 50 years ago. Over time, the Apostolic Faith Home Assembly was born under Assistant Pastor Elder Clelland. In 1958, the name changed to El Bethel Apostolic Church with originating members Mother Ann Higgins, Sister Arlene Crenshaw, Deacon Crenshaw, Mother Ruby Hamilton, and Deacon Hamilton leading souls to Christ.
In June 1999, El Bethel Apostolic Church moved to San Fernando as Spirit and Life Ministries under the leadership of Elder Stephen Hamilton. Spirit and Life has grown to touch thousands of lives each year by spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. A sister church to City of Refuge in Los Angeles (Bishop Noel Jones) and Mountain Top Faith Ministry in Las Vegas (Bishop Clinton House), Spirit and Life is associated with some of the most powerful churches on the west coast.
About the Pastor
Born in 1963, baptized in 1969, and filled with the Holy Ghost at the ripe young age of 11, Pastor Hamilton not only comes from a family dedicated to worshiping the Lord, he has dedicated his life to it. Pastor Hamilton began attending Aenon bible college in 1987, was ordained in 1990, began preaching in 1991, and became a Pastor in 1994.
Calling the San Fernando Valley his home, Pastor Hamilton is a frequent guest preacher/teacher/speaker at churches across the country, as well as in the media with appearances on BET (Black Entertainment Television) among others.
In 2010, Pastor Hamilton celebrated his 25th wedding anniversary with his beautiful wife First Lady Carla Hamilton. They are also the proud parents of two children.


Leading Knoxville-based architecture firm, Studio Four Design, partners with Faith Promise Church to support rapid growth.
Studio Four Design has enjoyed numerous opportunities in its history to work with many churches to complete expansion projects, renovations, and new builds. One of those churches, Faith Promise Church, has partnered with Studio Four Design in multiple projects to accommodate its remarkable growth and to accomplish the opening of new campuses in East Tennessee. Aaron Goin, Executive Pastor at Faith Promise, described their decision to choose Studio Four Design. “The thing that stood out to us was the designs by Studio Four displayed an in-depth understanding of ministry and what would work best for us. We wouldn’t have to spend a lot of time providing context and obstacles for ministry.”
The leadership of Faith Promise Church, centrally based in Knoxville, TN, is no stranger to church expansion. After their humble beginning in 1995 in a rented hotel venue in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, the growing numbers of attendees and young families quickly spurred on the need for a larger, permanent space. After acquiring property located in Hardin Valley in 2000 and constructing its first permanent building, the Faith Promise church family continued to see rapid development and increasing crowds in attendance each week.
With a vision to “win the world by equipping Christ followers to win their world starting with 1% of the state of Tennessee”, the pastoral staff and leadership team didn’t stop there. They moved ahead with their long-term strategy to reach more people in the greater Knoxville and East Tennessee area with a precise focus. Since the construction of the original building, Faith Promise Church has expanded to eleven locations across East Tennessee, including three in Knox County, with additional church homes in Blount County, Anderson County, and Bristol.
As with many church plants, the new campus locations were found in a variety of settings when they were first acquired, including rented and purchased space, previous retail environments, and more. With a desire to utilize each location to its fullest potential to house the growing church, each project required a purposeful layout and design. Faith Promise Church sought the help of the Studio Four Design team to help implement a functional plan yet maintain cohesive branding throughout so that visitors and attendees would easily recognize the Faith Promise presence regardless of the campus. Mr. Goin reflected, “…we have a lot of ideas about potential campuses or spaces, but it is always so hard to know the right direction to go. Studio Four always provides us with multiple options to consider with cost impacts that help us make the best possible decision.” To date, Studio Four Design has partnered together on the Faith Promise campuses in Anderson County, Farragut, and Bristol, in addition to master planning and renovation work at the original Pellissippi Parkway location.
Modern church design requires careful thought and elements that are crucial to the success, safety, and effectiveness of the ministry activities that happen during on-site gatherings. Elements like children’s ministry space, security, traffic flow, parking, quality audiovisual equipment, and acoustics all contribute to the visitor experience. At the newest Faith Promise location in Bristol, Tennessee, Studio Four Design helped transform a former retail space into a welcoming, functional, secure, and quality space consistent with the visual look that the church has established. “We had always done traditional signage, but they sent us a design that was fresh and beautiful but still aligned with our brand. It is honestly our favorite feature on any exterior of all of our campuses,” described Mr. Goin.
As any church leader would agree, the balance of church growth and expansion, while responsibly managing budgetary needs, is a delicate balance. The exciting growth experienced by churches can quickly create a lack of space to accommodate current members and regular attendees while still comfortably offering room for visitors. With many church plants beginning in rented, temporary spaces, the decision of building or redesign a space for permanent use can be a daunting prospect.
Studio Four Design has extensive project experience working with churches and is privileged to work with staff from the initial phases of master planning to the finished space where the ministry can continue to grow and flourish.
About Faith Promise Church
Faith Promise Church first met in 1995 in a rented hotel venue in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The growing numbers of attendees and young families quickly necessitated a larger, permanent space to accommodate the church family. After acquiring property located in Hardin Valley in 2000 and constructing its first permanent building, the Faith Promise church family continued to see rapid development and increasing crowds in attendance each week.
With a vision to “win the world by equipping Christ followers to win their world starting with 1% of the state of Tennessee”, the pastoral staff and leadership team has continued to move ahead with their long-term strategy to reach more people in the greater Knoxville and East Tennessee area with a precise focus. Since the construction of the original building, Faith Promise Church has expanded to eleven locations across East Tennessee, including three in Knox County, with additional church homes in Blount County, Anderson County, and Bristol.
About Studio Four Design Inc.
Since 2002, Studio Four Design based in Knoxville, Tennessee has served as a premiere architectural and interior design firm in their region and beyond. Their guiding principle is Design Matters, and their goal is to exceed expectations to provide design solutions that positively impact their clients, community, and the organizations they serve. Their team has gained expertise on a select variety of project types over the last twenty years including churches, higher education, restaurants, retail, corporate, manufacturing, athletic, and recreational venues. Studio Four Design takes pride in its high-energy, performance-driven culture and its collaborative approach to working with its clients, consultants, and contractors. To learn more, call 865-523-5001 or visit http://studiofourdesign.com.


History of the building and parish
Chester History & Heritage is fortunate to be sited in the former St Michael’s Church on Bridge Street Row- a lovely building which was the only church in the country to have a public walkway through it! With its 18thC memorials, medieval ceiling and stained glass, the church atmosphere and character is still prevalent today.
There has been a church at the bottom of Bridge Street since the 10thC but exactly when St Michael’s was built is not known, although there are references to the church towards the end of the 12thC. Parish records survive from 1560 and from the Churchwarden’s Accounts it is apparent that the church was rebuilt in 1582. Thirty-one “tymber treese” were obtained from Wrexham and the work required 3,000 double and 2,000 single slates. It took two labourers four days to take down the roof.
During the siege of Chester in the 1640s the church was used as a gaol. The Royalist prisoners were not to have “meat, drink, candles, light or Tobacco by especial order from the Commissioners, such were their Cruelty”. Perhaps because of the damage caused by this period the chancel had become ruined by 1679 and was rebuilt.
In 1708 the old wooden steeple and clock house was replaced with a stone tower but the interior had become inconvenient, unsightly and dilapidated. The south and east walls were unsafe so between 1849-1851 the church was again rebuilt, under the supervision of Chester architect James Harrison. Apart from the north aisle and the chancel roof which date from the 15thC, most of what can be seen today is Harrison’s work. In 1877 John Miles Moss, the curate in charge, presented the east window, which depicts scenes from the life of Christ.
To the East of the church, in Pepper Street, stood William Jones’ almshouses, established in 1658 for 6 women and 4 men, all of whom had to be “a poor and old inhabitant.unmarried, decayed and impotent” and swear that they did not indulge in “any Sins or Vices such as Adultery, Drunkenness and Swearing”
The parish was small but important. Some of the larger properties were owned by leading families – the Falcon was the town house of the Grosvenors and Lady Mary Calvely of Bridge House left £10 to St Michael’s in her Will. However, by the late 19thC parts of the parish had become areas of dense and insanitary housing. Demolished in the early 20thC many residents moved out to the newly built housing estates and shops and businesses gradually took over most of the other properties. St Michael’s closed as a place of worship in 1972 but re-opened as Britain’s first Heritage Centre in 1975 and in December 2000 was taken over by Chester History & Heritage.


A FRIENDLY WELCOMING CHURCH AT THE HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY
ST. MATTHEW'S IS OPEN FOR PRIVATE PRAYER AND VISITS EVERY DAY.
9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
Details of Prayer Group meetings, House Groups, and the Weekly Update can be found by contacting Revd Ben on
Reredos of The Last Supper
Our fantastic reredos, which depicts in great detail Jesus and the Disciples at The Last Supper, has been cleaned and protected with the help of a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Conservationists took the opportunity to carry out the work while the church was closed and now our restored and preserved reredos is ready for everyone to see and enjoy. Please come and see it.
At this time, we look to God, whose love is more than we can ever ask for or imagine. May you be sustained and renewed by Him daily.
We are the fortunate custodians of a sacred place in which ordinary people have come together for generations. Our church is open every day of the year. Please visit us to give thanks, rejoice, grieve, wonder and pray.
Be still and find peace.


Yesterday, was Baby K's baptism! It was such a joyous event and she did such a fabulous job. As soon as daddy passed her to Dr. Oliphint, she gave him a huge grin. The entire congregation giggled when he showed her the water because it looked like she was ready to jump right in to the baptismal font. (I just learned that is what they call the bowl that holds the water.) Bug did a fabulous job too....except for the part where she tried to pull my skirt up in front of the entire church. (thank God for fast mommy hands) I am so grateful that Dr. Oliphint performed both of our daughters baptisms and our wedding ceremony. Seeing him hold our baby, moved me so much...he is such an inspiring man of God. I am thankful that God blessed us with such an fabulous preacher and am VERY thankful for my beautiful family!


In a sense, everything we do as a church encourages Christ-Centred Community.
Our weekly Sunday Worship Services are foundational to our practice and experience of church community! We come together as a church family to pray, sing, and hear from God’s Word.
Our monthly All-Church Meal and Communion Service builds on our weekly Worship Service, as we come together to remember Jesus and the salvation He has provided us (and provided all of us, together, and which makes us family). The meal together at these services provides an opportunity for our whole church family to spend extended time together on a regular basis.
Our Gospel Community Groups are key in cultivating community in our church. These groups get their name from the truth that the gospel creates our community (it makes us family in Christ), and our community will only be as deep and vibrant as it can be if it is centred on the gospel… We have 7 Gospel Community Groups, meeting in various communities. These groups of 5-15 people get to know each other very well. Members of each group help one another apply God’s Word to their lives, care for each other in prayer, counsel, and practical ways, and seek to live life together as family in Christ. Please click here for more information about these groups.
We have several All-Church Events each year. These include Easter and Christmas Celebration Meals, as well as a couple “fun” events: an All-Church Fun Day, and a Variety Show. For more information, please click here.
Church Family Meetings: These meetings provide an opportunity for everyone in our church family to stay informed about how the various ministries of our church are developing, what needs exist in the church, what is planned in the near future, and how specifically we can all be praying for our church. These meetings include times of praying together for our church and for sister churches.
Ladies Bible Studies are a great way for ladies to spend time with other ladies in the church and get to know them on a deeper level. These Bible Studies meet on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, from 10am-12noon. Transport and childcare are provided. For more information, please click here.
Teen Discipleship: For more information, please click here.
Young Adults Ministry: Our Young Adults Ministry is for people aged 18-30ish, whether single or married. This ministry meets one Friday evening per month, and once a year, we encourage our young adults to attend the Cross-Current Camp for young adults together, along with young adults from several other Bible-teaching churches. For more information, please click here.


The Old Church of Petäjävesi (UNESCO World Heritage)www.petajavesi.fi
The Old Church of Petäjävesi was marked as a UNESCO World Heritage landmark in 1994 as an excellent example of a Lutheran church built of logs. It is a typical example of an architectural tradition unique to eastern Scandinavia.
The old church at Petäjävesi was built in 1763-1764 under the instruction of master builder Jaakko Klemetinpoika Leppänen to act as a village church in the parish of Jämsä; the dedication did not, however, take place until 1778.
The church was no longer used after 1879 when a new church was constructed. Nowadays the Old Church at Petäjävesi is used for worship on summer Sundays and is one of the Finland’s most well loved churches for weddings.


Meet those who have been most involved in the International ReThinking Church fellowship
It is such a great joy and indeed an honor to me to participate in this noble, timely and God given ReThinking Church in the 21st Century project. My participation in this important mission springs from the growing need for the global church to respond to Christs’ clarion call for Christian believers to surrender our wills and follow him as he ushers us into his holy wide-open spaces, where we, human beings, can flourish. As an evangelist, public theologian and academic, with over three decades of pastoring, teaching, researching, and participating in community engagement through mission outreach, I see this project as a crucial platform where I can share my lived experience and at the same time learn from my fellow servants; perspectives and voices, those called and keen to engage contextually with our modern society and practice public theology. These themes which speak of the nature, role and modes of engagement of the church in the public domain are important for they have the potential to provide alternative perspectives on public witnessing to Christ’s work. Among other project approaches, I am optimistic that a public theological approach shall help us adopt, and adapt Christ’s gospel within and across cultures as well as in the public and private spheres. It is my prayer and hope that as we seek to involve our faith, involve our churches, involve our public domain, there shall be nothing our project can’t achieve. Let us arise and shine for our light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon us.
Rev. Dr. Canon Dr. Alfred Sebahene, Tanzania
Head, Department of Theology and Religious Studies
St John’s University of Tanzania
Tanzania, East Africa
I'm participating in ReThinking the Church project because it is a community of brothers and sisters from around the world committed to the faithful witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the world. As the church seeks to carry out God's mission in the world it faces enormous challenges that cannot be postponed. This is a project where we desire to discern God's voice and leading, so that we are able to understand how tradition helps or hinders that mission, when we need to repent from the times when we succumb to the spirit of the times, and where and in what way the Spirit of God wants to leads the church for years to come.
Dr. Milton Acosta, Colombia
Seminario Bíblico de Colombia
I am participating in this project in order to find ways of enriching the African church which is growing everyday in the midst of great challenges such as ethnopolitical conflict, health issues like Ebola and COVID, corruption, poverty, and ethnoreligious tensions.
Dr. David Tarus
Executive Director of the Association for Christian Theological Education in Africa (ACTEA)
This project is important to me because I believe that together with Christ’s followers participating from around the globe, we can get a better lens into what the church should look like in our fast-changing world of the 21st century.
Dr. Sergiy Tymchenko, Ukraine
REALIS Christian Center
My reason to participate in this timely project is to help and be helped by the community of believers around the world to think about the future of the church. I do believe that it is our task to move in this direction. The world is in rapid transition, society is becoming more and more secular and religion is meaningless for thousands of people. Will the church survive in the ages to come? What kind of church? How will the message be preached and received? Time has come for us to put our minds together and with the help of the Holy Spirit find ways to become the church which Christ envisioned when he died on the cross.
Dr. Antonio Carlos Barro, Brazil
South American Theological Seminary
I often hear Christians saying that the church is God’s so he will take care of it and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. However, when we look into history we see churches have disappeared in many parts of the world and even in our own days we see chaos and decline in many churches. God is asking us to be faithful co-workers with him to care for His bride. My modest involvement in this project is to see a brighter future for the church.
Revd. Dr. Riad Kassis
International Director, Langham Scholars Ministry, Langham Partnership


FEAST OF ST FRANCIS XAVIER-OLD GOA
The Feast of St.Francis Xavier, the patron saint of Goa is celebrated on 03rd December.
Francis Xavier left Lisbon with a brief from the Pope appointing him as the nuncio to the East. He arrived in Goa, the former Portuguese colony on 6 May 1542, thirteen months after leaving Lisbon.
Goa then had churches, clergy and a bishop. But there were few preachers and no priests. Xavier started his mission by teaching the Portuguese themselves and devoted a lot of time teaching children and ministering to the sick in the hospitals.
He was invited to head the St Paul’s College, a pioneering seminary of education of secular priests that became the first Jesuit headquarters in Asia.
The relics of Saint Francis Xavier are kept at the Basilica of Bom Jesus in a silver casket and the exposition is held every 10 years. They were placed here on 2 December 1637 and have remained here since. The feast celebrated on 3 December, attracts thousands of devotees who make the pilgrimage to Old Goa. The nine-day novena is attended in large numbers. The adjoining fair is also popular.


Love-n-Care Ministries is an international organization based in Visakhapatnam,
Andhra Pradesh, India, which
is dedicated to reaching the unreached with the good news of Jesus Christ, making disciples, and extending
care to the needy.
Founded in 1990 as a Christian charitable, non-profit organization by Yesupadam Paidipamula, Love-n-Care Ministries has planted over 300 churches in southeastern India mainly in previously unreached tribal areas, trained over 1,800 pastors and lay workers, and touched the lives of countless impoverished children, disabled young adults, elderly, AIDS victims, and more. Love-n-Care Ministries has locations in the US, Canada, Germany, and Korea, and future plans for South Africa and Sweden.


Hello everyone! I'd like to thank you for coming to my blog. I am married to Larry and we have one daughter. Summer is married to Josh, they have given us our two grandsons. They are so much fun and the love of our lives. We also had a little Chihuahua named Chico, he was our baby, he passed away and although he was our dog he really was such an important part of our lives. We will miss him always. I am also a Christian. God is so good to me and my family and he blesses us daily. My blog is about my thoughts, feelings, opinions, family and happenings of my life. I hope you enjoy it and will return.


Catherine Laboure was born in May of 1806, the ninth of eleven children, in the little village of Fain-les-Moutiers, France. This tiny instrument would one day be the confidante of the Queen of Heaven to usher in the Age of Mary. She was baptized on the Feast of the Finding of the True Cross. Catherine’s mother died when she was 9 years old and, at that young age, she took Our Lady to be her own mother!
Catherine cared for the dove-cot which contained over 700 doves. Each one seemed to know her and they flew about her in the form of a crown. She did things both quickly and well, and spoke very little. In January of 1830, Catherine joined the hospice of the Daughters of Charity. Three months later, she entered the convent Mother House on Rue de Bac. On the Feast of St. Vincent, while in her sleep, Catherine heard a voice urging her to wake up. A child about 5 years old told her that the Blessed Virgin was waiting for her in the chapel. All the tapers and candles were lit, and He led her to the Sanctuary and said, "Here is the Blessed Virgin, here She is! Catherine saw nothing but heard the rustle of a silken gown. The Virgin Mary entrusted her with a difficult mission. She told Catherine about the evils which would befall France and the whole world. "Come to the foot of this Altar, there graces will be poured out on all those, rich and poor, who ask for them with confidence and fervor. I will be with you myself."
Then, a second time on November 30, 1830, while making a meditation in the chapel, Catherine heard the rustling of silk and saw the Blessed Virgin standing by St. Joseph’s picture. Her feet were standing on a globe and on Her fingers wore rings with the most precious stones. Dazzling light gleamed from them and Her whole figure was enveloped in such radiance that Her feet and robe were no longer visible. The Virgin explained, "This globe which you see represents the world, and each person in France in particular." She made Catherine to understand that to all who implore Her intercession, She will grant great favors. Then, an oval frame formed around the Virgin and, in letters of gold there appeared these words, "O MARY, CONCEIVED WITHOUT SIN, PRAY FOR US WHO HAVE RECOURSE TO THEE." Mary instructed Catherine to have a medal struck upon this model telling her that all who wear the blessed medal will receive great graces. Those who repeat the prayer on the medal will, in a special manner, be under the protection of the Mother of God.
In December, Catherine saw Our Lady for the third time. Now, She moved from the picture of St. Joseph over to the Altar and stood behind the Tabernacle. Again, she saw the outstretched hands and the words etched in gold. The Virgin held the world in Her hands and atop it was a little golden Cross. A dazzling light shown from the rings on Her fingers, representing graces that would be given to all who asked for them. Again, she was asked to have a medal struck according to the model. This was the last time Our Lady would appear to her. Catherine is known as the saint of silence. During the remaining years of her life, she served the sick, always pondering within the depths of her heart the secret of her visions of Our Lady. To her death, she did not reveal this secret to anyone but to those to whom Our Lady told her she could.
Her spiritual advisor took her request to the bishop, that the medal might be struck. The good bishop replied that the medal was in complete conformity to the Church’s doctrine on the role of Our Lady. He had no objection. The original order of 20,000 medals proved to be much too small. By the time of Saint Catherine’s death in 1876, over a billion medals had been distributed in many lands. The medal originally was called the medal of the Immaculate Conception. But, due to the unprecedented number of miracles, conversions, cures and acts of protection attributed to it, later it was simply called the Miraculous Medal.
Ven. Pauline-Marie Jaricot was deeply devoted to the Miraculous Medal.
Even before the apparition of Rue de Bac, and the formal dogma of the Immaculate Conception, Pauline spread the devotion to obtain protection from the enemies of Holy Mother the Church.
Pauline’s priest brother, Phileas, while working to reform his Order which had fallen away from the rule, was poisoned and died. Phileas was her mentor and inspiration. She saw clearly what could happen if one was faithful to God before man. After his death, the Revolution of July 1830 broke out. At the sound of bullets flying, Pauline headed to the Sanctuary of Our Lady at Fourviere, where she spent three days and nights absorbed in fervent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. The blows and the outrages of the impious revolutionary bands were all around. Her heart of flesh was terrified, while her inmost heart remained immovable in its acceptance of martyrdom. The Hill of Fourviere rocked with the noise of firing guns and the horrible cries of the people. The Revolution not only wanted to overthrow a throne, but to do away with God Himself. After the initial attack and a period of peace returned, Pauline was overcome by many severe health ailments.
A fresh storm burst into Lyons in November 1831. Discontent workers, who were not paid properly, demanded higher wages which were denied. Encouraged by the revolutionary agents, an immense mass of working men organized themselves to defend their rights. The national guards took flight and the large band of men, uttering savage cries struck terror into the whole population. Pauline offered herself anew to endure torments which her nature dreaded in order to appease the justice of God. One brave priest carried the Holy Viaticum to the sick. Everything seemed at an end. The General of the Army withdrew but swore he would quickly return and put the town in flames and blood. A multitude of horror stricken people fled the city. Pauline then appealed to the associates of the Living Rosary at Lyon and all over France to pray that peace might be obtained. No doubt, these fervent supplications touched the Heart of God. At the dreaded moment, when the troops were ready to enter Lyon, they scattered a quantity of Miraculous Medals along the road by which the soldiers were expected. Printed on paper and likewise strewn in their path, as well as placed on the doors of the houses, was written, "Mary was conceived without sin".
The formidable multitude of armed forces pushed through the gates of the city. Then came the unexpected. The soldiers and officers alike began to pick up the medals and notes. Their first reaction was one of astonishment, which quickly gave place to softer impressions and very soon a feeling of confidence and kindness replaced their vengeance, so much so that in a short time, people of both sides came to an understanding. Pauline explains, 'It would take a hand more skilled than mine to retrace the miracles of grace worked at these words, MARY WAS CONCEIVED WITHOUT SIN." The fame of these miracles spread from one end of the city to the other. After these days of November, there were conversions, pacifications and mutual charity. As soon as one regiment was supplied, the others demanded the same treasure and more than 12,000 medals were distributed to the garrison. In a few months, there was a marked change amongst the soldiers, of whom a large number, not satisfied with wearing the medal, wanted a Rosary and Scapular. Several sections of the Living Rosary were organized among them. They went with faith and simplicity from the Mother of Grace to Grace Itself, by receiving the Holy Eucharist.
(taken from the book, PAULINE MARIE JARICOT by M.J. Maurin written in 1906)
Tobie Ratisbonne was born in 1814 in Strasbourg, France. He was the ninth child of a family of bankers who knew the Rothschild and other wealthy Jewish families. He was of a noble spirit, generous heart, artistic talents, good looks, charm and had great love for his family. Toward the end of 1841, Alphonse set out on an excursion which was to last ten months and would include the following cities – Marseilles, Naples, Malta and Constantinople, and to return to Strasbourgh in time for his wedding celebration in August of 1842.
Before leaving Naples, the ship put in at the port of the Papal States. The cannon of the fort boomed loudly. He inquired the meaning of these warlike sounds in the peaceful papal land, and was told that it was festivity for the Feast of the Conception of Our Lady. He remained on ship and did not disembark. The ship on which he was to sail to Malta broke down and they remained in Naples. His friends wanted him to come to Rome with them, but he said he had no desire whatever to visit Rome. His fiancÉe had his physician give him positive instructions not to go to Rome as there was fever in that city. Without being able to explain it, even to himself, he left Naples on the 5th of January and reached Rome on January 6 – Feast of the Three Kings.
Baron Theodore de Bussieres, a convert and most ardent in his devotion to the Church tried to impress upon Alphonse the necessity of becoming Catholic. To this, he retorted, "A Jew was I born, and a Jew shall I die!" So, the Baron followed through, saying if this was his conviction, then it would be an indifferent matter in his eyes for him to wear the Miraculous Medal, while it would give Theodore a great deal of pleasure. Ratisbonne laughed out loud and exclaimed, ‘Ha, ha, I am now become Catholic, Apostolic and Roman!’ M. le Bussieres rejoiced inwardly over his victory and sought now to take advantage of it. He made Ratisbonne promise to recite daily the MEMORARE written by St. Bernard. Alphonse found the prayer rolled like ceaseless waves in the darkness of his mind.
Ratisbonne’s visit to Rome was drawing to a close. Only while he remained in Rome, did he feel obligated to wear the medal and say the MEMORARE. At the behest of M. de Bussieres, he accompanied him to the Church of St. Andrea to make arrangements for the funeral of a friend of Theodore, who prayed 20 MEMORARE’s for the conversion of Ratisbonne. He entered the Church and walked aimlessly about. He explains, "The Church seemed to disappear, or rather I should say, O my God, I saw one thing alone! No human words can even try to convey what is beyond expression. When M. de Bussieres returned, I was in tears and unable to answer questions. I seized the medal which was on my breast and kissed the image of the Virgin. Oh! I have seen Her! I have seen Her! I was not able to say more. I felt within me something so solemn and sacred as to require me to ask for a priest."
Ratisbonne gave thanks to God and insisted the priest must baptize him at once, that he might rid himself of the horror of Original Sin. It is true that having been confronted by the Immaculate Conception, he felt keenly this blight upon his soul. He was baptized on January 30, following a one-week retreat at the Jesuit Church of the Gesu in Rome. Without uttering a single word, Our Lady had enlightened his mind, changed his heart and given him infused knowledge of all the mysteries of religion.
Alphonse Ratisbonne went on to become a priest, taking the name of Father Alphonse Marie. He worked for thirty years in the Holy Land, where he established several institutions. Out of reverence and gratitude to Our Savior, he built the Expiatory Sanctuary of the Ecce Homo on the spot where Pilot displayed Jesus to the Jews.
On the 25th of May, the anniversary of the discovery of the body of the Thaumaturga in the catacombs, the Church of the Ecce Homo at Jerusalem was filled to overflowing with pilgrims who had come to assist at the solemn erection of St. Philomena’s statue on the spot designated for it by Our Lady’s convert, the Venerable Pere Alphonse Ratisbonne, then still living. St. Philomena was acclaimed many times over as the Apostle of the New Crusades. Sister Trudy is the Superior of the Ecco Homo Convent today. She and our beloved Father Angelo Bede Ison are searching for the statue of St. Philomena that Pere Ratisbonne put in place so many years ago.
E-Mail: January 19, 2009
Cher Mama Patti,
I write to you today on behalf of the entire population which you supported during the war since our friend, Joseph, died when he was shot by the rebels!
You gave all of us thousands of Miraculous Medals to keep us near to God! We appreciate all that you have done for us, because we now see some fruit and light at the end of the tunnel. For the first time, we have some peace.
I don’t known whether you have heard the news from Africa; it is miraculous and propelled by you, Madam Patti and benefactors. We know that you are interested in us so much and share in our suffering.
Last week, everyone in the bush was amazed and we attribute this to Mother Mary through the Miraculous Medal which we have been wearing! There is some peace, as the rebels of Laurent Nkunda have split up into two and they appear weak now.
A new Government group has announced that they are starting to observe unconditional ceasefire! All the rebel forces are to be subject to the Congo government orders! Thanks, mama, this is a miracle affected by you and the benefactors, and there is no doubt about it because you encouraged all of us, prayed for us and reached out to us with sacramentals.
Mama, we have nothing to give you but we will pray for you and the benefactors! We cannot express ourselves best because we do not know English so well, but I tell you that we continue to pray for peace, pray for you and the Association. Many malnourished children and women want you to visit us when peace is restored, so that we get to see you. Emma told us to pray and wear the Miraculous Medal. Yesterday, a mother of four, all with medals told me that she wanted to give the benefactors and the director of ULRA a gift, because she is happy that war might end. She now has all her children; though she did not get medication, food or sleep in the jungle, none of her children fell sick or died!
Thank you very much for the miracle we see coming slowly. Please convey our thanks to all the benefactors, as we move on. Pray things get better. Remember what you told us after I informed you about the death of Joseph; you said, "May the blood of Joseph be water to nourish the seed of peace!"
May you be well! We ask you to accept our thanks and share the news that your efforts to reach us are gaining good things to restore peace again.
< Francis – CONGO >
E-Mail: February 18, 2009
Greetings to you, dear director of Rosaire Vivant!
Thank you very much for the work you do for humanity. We are sure you will be rewarded by God for helping the people that are far from the reality of God and those suffering. I am writing from the N.E. part of Congo where we suffer at the hands of rebel Kony who strips us of life! You heard the news from those in Dungu diocese where, on Christmas, we survived when rebels attacked us in the Church during Mass. Many of us escaped with God’s help.
Uganda, South Sudan and Congo forces move to clear our area of rebels but they miscalculate and that is why many of us are killed. Rebels from Uganda split into small but dangerous groups and go on slashing us. On Christmas day, 400 were hacked to death and their brains fell on the ground in the church; entire families were wiped out and, on that day, we all went off into the dense forests while others were caught and raped or killed! We tell you, some of people escaped towards the Sudan-Congo border where they met Emma who gave them Rosaries and Miraculous Medals and some literature which had your e-mail address.
We hear from Goma that they did not suffer that much because they all had received the Miraculous Medals for protection; the situation there is better now but we are in the worst danger zone. A staff worker of the UN told that he saw so many people in Goma, about 1700 km. South of here, had the MM, and sure we saw a miracle of some who got the medals in one camp near 700 km. S.E. on the Sudan border.
Anita and Tereza were near the forest with two other friends. The rebels, who were in hiding, jumped on them by force! Their two friends were taken and raped, and then killed, while they managed to get away without being harmed. It’s a miracle! Not guns but Mother Mary will protect us! On Sunday, 35 were killed.
Amid this crisis, we are overwhelmed by your message which encourages us that we are to live, God willing. Last night, 16 people were all hacked to death with machetes, many of them were boys and girls who were raped and then killed.
We thank Francis in Goma, who is far away from here. He has provided Emma’s e-mail address so we can write and tell him that we also need help as he did in Goma. We are on the point of death, as the rebels claim to commit genocide in future if the combined forces do not stop fighting with them. Please let us know if Emma is still in Sudan, because we want him to send us medals even if they are only 30,000. The need is great for protection from this evil!
We are helpless! One of the aid groups said that they cannot bring us the cargo, as the route is too dangerous; however, another aid group told us that the plane crashed near the Congo/Sudan border, which was headed to Dungu here in the forest. Anyone who boards a plane pays $200 when going and $200 when coming without luggage. We do kindly ask you and your helpers to bear with us because we are facing death. Just as you saved the people of Goma who have peace now, help us. We have asked Emma to assist us before going out of Sudan and to go to the border at a place called Ezo and bring us medals. We cry to you and ask for help. Oh! I hear another heavy gun shot. Let me run and hide. I will come back later when things are better.
< Dungu Village >
E-mail: February 27, 2009
Dear Madam Patti,
We have the privilege to write to you from here in Darfur, where we return after the Janjaweed attacked our camps and killed many. Now, it is more dangerous to stay in the camps than to hide from the Islamists who are fighting for their ‘God’ by killing us. They say, "We are their enemies, we are the pagans," and they will go to heaven if they kill us. In recent times, we see the burning of villages is on the increase as the world looks for some resolutions to take effect.
Now, the Islamists supported by President Bashir’s government in Khartoum are attacking us every day since it is rumored that on 4th March the International Court of Justice in Hague is likely to supply arrest warrant for him because of the genocide in Darfur. We do not see any people around, most of them are killed. It is good that we, persecuted Christians, are coming together to console each other, as we await the day when we are killed at the hands of the Islam Janjaweed.
Our hopes were dashed when we were told that Emma will leave without reaching us with MMs. Oh, how can he abandon us? We thought he would help with an airlift of the treasured MMs which give us great protection. We cannot reach Emma who is very far from Wau but a U.N. soldier, a Catholic from Rwanda, told us that if Emma pays the cost and supplies him with the medals, he will help to camouflage them, so the Islamists will not burn them and deliver them to us. We kneel here on the sand in the heat; the whole world has forgotten us. We do not know what will happen. Dear Mother, we plead with you, help Emma find a way to send us the MMs. Please do not leave us, help us to protect ourselves.
< Angela – DARFUR >
Email: February 27, 2009
I am disturbed by an e-mail from Angela in Darfur. I have been hearing of the situation brewing about the genocide at work now. This is in reaction to the possible indictment of Sudanese President by the International Court for crimes against humanity. I am told that in Khartoum the security is so high and Islamists are chorusing "ALLAH W’AKBAR" claiming that they will feast on anyone who will try to take their President. The youth military is causing havoc in Darfur, raping and killing. Surprisingly, I told you how I managed to send MMs inside the Islamist controlled region the size of France, through a priest who was passing here! I received encouraging news that even non-Catholics scrambled for the MMs. The suffering Darfur population is predominantly Moslem, who now realize that the Catholics are people of God. They have questions for the fellow Moslems of the Bashir government persecuting them, and the Koran prohibits a sword against a fellow Moslem. Here, we are at crossroads; everyone is seeking peace through the ULRA.
< EMMA – ULRA Liaison, UGANDA - AFRICA >
Dear Apostles of the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
We can have the 30,000 Miraculous Medals flown to Darfur and provide the Catholic solider with some bartering money. It would cost $700 to reach these suffering souls in Darfur, who await a brutal death. Will you help us? TOMORROW WILL BE TOO LATE!
Dear Mrs. Melvin,
Here are some Miracles of Miraculous Medal, as been told to me by other members:
1. Measles spread in Gillwala, Sargodha. Muskan’s mother put a Miraculous Medal around her neck and the disease did not touch her and she was safe. < Parvaiz Feroze – Sargodha >
2. Last year, St. Philomena's Feast was celeberated at Khanewal. On the same day, Mr. Rafique Paul got a baby girl and he named her, ‘Philomena Ferry’. She had a high fever and could not get relief. Her uncle Siddique Rehmat got St. Philomena’s cord and Miraculous Medal to put around her neck. Her fever was cured within few hours. < Shahzad Francis – Khanewal >
3. Touqeer Masih, s/o Hameed Khokhar (R/O of New Sattelite Town Sargodha) was working as a laborer. On 5th of May 2007, he fell from the third floor during work. He was taken to hospital. Doctor advised him to be taken to Lahore. On third day, when he opened eyes, he asked to be taken home and to call someone to pray over him. He insisted so hard that he was brought back to Sargodha. I was called by his family for prayer. I put a Scapular and Miraculous Medal around his neck. He is now okay and can walk, and do his work. < Parvaiz Feroze – Sargodha >
4. Imran and Rehana’s family of Railway Colony, Quetta was in possession of bad spirits. One day, they came to my house in great anxiety. I gave them Miraculous Medals and Scapulars. At night, the evil spirits came to frighten them but that family started reciting the HAIL MARY and the evil spirits left them forever. That family is very happy now and is thankful to Our Lord Jesus and Our Holy Mother. < Asif – Quetta >
AFZAAL ANWAR KHOKHAR
ULRA Representative – PAKISTAN
One day, a mother brought her child who was always sick and requested a priest to bless her. After the priest prayed, he blessed the Miraculous Medal with Holy Water and gave it to the mother who made her child to wear it everyday. She also prayed the novena to St. Philomena! After a few weeks, the child got well and up to this day, for 5 years, the child is doing well in the school and never again admitted in the hospital like before!
Many mothers tell me that, when I blessed the Miraculous Medal with Holy Water and gave it to the children, many of them get better, behave well and perform well in schools! The Miraculous Medal is very powerful!
Fr. Patrick Mary Philomena
ULRA Representative, KENYA - AFRICA


You can use these Merry Christmas Messages to cheer up your contacts through Facebook, Twitter or any other social media:
Christmas is not a season, it’s a feeling, Merry Christmas!
I wish we could get the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar each month of the year.
Christmas, my child, is love in action. Happy Holidays.
The best of all gifts in a Christmas tree is the presence of a happy family.
One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas Day. Do not clean too quickly.
There are few special people, but enough to improve the world. Merry Christmas to everyone!
Enjoy a happy and peaceful Christmas in the company of the people you love most. Best wishes for Christmas!
Christmas creates a special smell in the air, the smell of peace and
serenity. This scent travels into the hearts of all people of the world
so that life can be better.
Love is what’s left in a room at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen carefully. Merry Christmas.
There is no ideal Christmas, only the Christmas as you decide to make as a reflection of your values, desires and traditions.
Ingredients for a good holiday season: friends in abundance, a bit of cold. The result? The joy of Christmas!
Christmas Eve is the night of desires, I wish that all your dreams come true. Cheers!
I wish this Christmas awakens in us peace and brotherhood. Merry Christmas!
The purity of Christmas is painted white.
The serenity of Christmas is painted blue.
Christmas passion is painted red.
Christmas happiness lets you take the brush and paint your life!
Merry Christmas! I hope your routine becomes filled with joy, and for the anger and sadness to turn into smiles and hope.
What is it that unites hearts and minds? The magic of Christmas! I wish you a wonderful Christmas.
Every day is good to discover the deeper meaning of a smile, to look
for love, with an affectionate greeting. Christmas is the perfect time
to rediscover the true values. It requires only five minutes to reflect
and understand that everything we need is within and around us! Merry Christmas!
I wish you a wonderful Christmas with a better new year, full of dreams to realize, love and good health. Merry Christmas!
The best things in life are not seen with the eyes, but felt in our heart. Best wishes and a Merry Christmas.
We want to take the opportunity of Christmas and the end of the year
to express our gratitude for all you have done for us. Please accept
this Christmas as a symbolic reminder of the esteem we have for you.
I send you a world of good wishes! I hope this becomes a special and magical Christmas.
May Baby Jesus in his infinite love and goodness, light your home and
fill you with joy and blessings! Love, peace and happiness are our best
wishes for Christmas and New Year.
Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas… it causes us to remember our
childhood illusions, reminds grandfathers the joys of their youth, and
it transports the traveler to their fireplace and to their sweet home.
I will honor Christmas in my heart, and I will try to keep with me it all year. Happy Holidays!
Christmas is a day of meaning and traditions, a special day dedicated to the warm circle of family and friends.
Sometimes someone comes into your life and you know immediately that it
was meant to be there. That’s why I miss you so much this Christmas