ESPERANTO THE INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE
AT THE SERVICE OF CHRISTIANS AND THE CHURCH
The results of language difference can range from lack of understanding to downright hatred, especially if it is mis-used in order to whip up nationalistic fervour. The rule of the powerful over the weak was often accompanied by the tendency to impose the language of the rulers on their subjects. From earliest times the dictum, "One must accept the tongue of whosoever rules the empire" has been valid. This resul-ted in a certain discrimination against and suppression of the rights and identities of small nations, particularly and sometimes led to their complete assimilation. In todaýs world, linguistic domination has a more subtle form because it is driven,above all, by economic interests and supported by modern technology. Present day globalisation is clearly accompanied, linguistically, by gradual Anglicisation on a worldwide scale.
The acceptance of any national lan-guage as a lingua franca inevitably involves discrimination against some. History has shown that human society needs an international auxiliary lan-guage. It ought to be, of course, truly neutral and easy to learn so that communication can take place on the basis of equality. Over the last two hundred years an awareness of this constant need gave rise to an array of planned languages. Of them all, only one has stood the test of time; it is called Esperanto. The author of Esperanto was a Polish eye doctor, Ludwig L. Zamenhof (1859-1917). This international language came into being thanks to his profound conviction that the world needed a simple, comprehensible and completely neutral means of mutual understanding which would break down barriers, do away with discrimination and which, at the same time, would be easily accessible to all peoples. Soon after its creation many Christians recognised the signi-ficance of this magnanimous project and accepted it.
IKUE's President, Fr Duilio Magnani, thanks Cardinal Miloslav Vlk for accepting his appointment as Patron of IKUE during the Union's 48th Congress in Olomouc (1995)
It is indisputable that Esperanto is a linguistic work of genius. It is based on logical principles, has phonetic spelling, uses internationally known word roots, cleverly creates and derives vocabu-lary yet, all the while, its grammar is quite simple. Furthermore, it remains open to the acceptance of new terms and to continuous development. At present, this planned language is used successfully on every continent, it has a rich literature, both original and trans-lated (more than 40,000 titles) and magazines, compact disks and videos are published in it. This is definite proof of its vitality and usefulness. However, because it is not directly linked to any nation, state or interest group it is at a disadvantage compared with other languages, the promotion and teaching of which receive enormous financial support. Esperanto, then, is in an une-qual position for it is not supported or accepted by any political or economic
Representatives of IKUE give Pope John II a Missal in Esperanto during an audience on 3 September 1997 in Rome
Esperanto succesfully does away with language barriers between human beings, builds bridges of understanding and leads to friendship between races and nations. Here, then, is the basic difference compared to the use of national languages. Moreover, it obviates the need for long and difficult language study and expensive systems of interpretation and translation. It is possible to demonstrate that Esperanto can be learned about six times more quickly than any other foreign language. In practice this means that after a yeaŕs study the average student can acquire the same linguistic competence which would require six years of study in other languages. Unfortunately, the general public has not been made sufficiently aware of this and so the great advantages of Esperanto are not too widely known.
Zamenhof´s creation however, is not just a unique
means of communication. His ideas have a more pro-found significance;
through the language, Esperantists strive for the brotherhood of Man
based on shared ideals. Everyone who uses it is part of one huge family
all over the world.
The Church, which is universal and therefore not
directly linked to any nation or language, used Latin as its official
common language up to the time of the Second Vatican Council. Its
advantage was that, as a dead language, it was essentially neutral. In
theory, this is still the situation but in practice Latin no longer
truly functions in this capacity. The reasons are clear. The greatest
obstacle to the widespread use of Latin is its complexity and lack of
potential for development. The gap left by the loss of Latin has been
filled in various ways. Vatican institutions generally use Italian along
with many translations but during synods and other inter-national
meetings participants are usually divided into language groups in which
preference is given to the so called world languages. It is well known
that such a procedure causes difficulties especially for participants
from smaller nations. This system is not only impractical but
disadvantageous for some of our brothers and sisters in faith. Let us
openly admit that not only priests but also bishops are incapable of
understanding one another. Regarding such complications nothing is said.
The community of God́s people, therefore,
urgently needs a common language for international commu-nication which
would be easily accessible to all its members. If the Church is indeed
universal (and none of her members doubts that) then in Esperanto she
has at her disposal a unique language resource for both internal and
Within the Esperanto-speaking community Christians make up a special group because apart from the ideas outlined above they work for the spread of the Gospel message throughout the world by means of this international language. The International Union of Catholic Esperantists (Internacia Katolika Unuiĝo Esperantista - IKUE) has a headquarters in Rome and cooperates with the Universal Esperanto Association (UEA). The chief patron of IKUE is cardinal Miloslav Vlk, former president of the European Bishopś Conferences. Heavenly patrons are: The Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Pius X, St. Maximilian Kolbe and Blessed Titus Brandsma. IKUE has been officially recognised by the Papal Council for the Laity as an international association of Catholic Faithful by decree no. 196/92JS-61 /B-25 on 11/02/1992.
IKUE a worldwide organisation, was founded in 1910 but the magazine Espero Katolika (Catholic Hope) had been in existence from 1903. Similarly non-Catholic Christians come together through The International League of Christian Esperantists (Kristana Esperantista Ligo Internacia - KELI). They publish the magazine Dia Regno (Divine Kingdom) and IKUE has close ecumenical links with them.
Esperanto has been officially included among the
liturgical languages of the Catholic Church. Approval for this was given
by the Vatican Congregation for Liturgy and the Sacraments on 08/11/1990
by protocol no.CD 81/89. Delegates of I.K.U.E. presented an official
Missal to the Holy Father in 1997 (see photograph). Similarly, during
ecumenical encounters a com-mon service book for all Christians is used
which includes sevices, prayers and hymns in Esperanto. Its title is
The Bible has also been translated into the International Language. The Old Testament was the first literary work published in Esperanto in a translation by Zamenhof himself. Pope Pius X gave his Apostolic Blessing to the first congress of Catholic Esperantists in 1910 which ended with the words, "Esperanto has a great future". His Holiness Pope John Paul II was in favour of that language too. In his 1994 multilingual festive address “Urbi et Orbi” included also Esperanto and had done so every year since. The present Pope Benedict XVI keeps on with this tradition.
For more than twenty five years Vatican Radio has been broadcasting in the International Language. At present there are three broadcasts weekly at 21.20 MET (20.20 UTC): on Sundays on medium wave frequencies 527 and 1530 kHz, and on shortwave 4005 and 5885 kHz.; on Wednesdays and Thursdays on medium wave 1260 an 1611 kHz and on shortwave 7250 and 9645 kHz; and via the Website http://www.vaticanradio.org
Archbishop Karel Otčenášek is a frequent guest at
the camp for Catholic Esperantists in Sebranice, Czech Rep.


Thank you for taking the opportunity to view our website. I read a quote just recently that encompasses so much of what our school is about: “The question to be asked at the end of an educational step is not ‘What has a student learned?’ but ‘What has the student become?’”
At Grace Christian Academy we strive for academic excellence, but we are also passionate about ministering to the students that God has chosen to bring to our school. The mission of GCA is “To provide academic excellence within a caring, Christian environment, developing tomorrow’s leaders with a distinctly biblical worldview”.
Our greatest desire is to graduate students who become faithful disciples of Jesus Christ who know and value truth. Our basis for truth is the Word of God which is taught at Grace every day and woven into every area of our school’s curriculum and culture.
You have an open invitation to visit Grace Christian Academy and see firsthand what we are attempting to do in the lives of our students for the glory of God.
In His service,


Everything Fossil is your wholesale supplier for fossil resources with a Biblical message. We offer real fossils and fossil replicas for gifts, teaching visual-aids, and museum displays.
Genuine, high-quality fossils from all over the world. Our fossils come in unique, convenient packaging. Unlike most fossils in gift shop packaging, we offer the young earth history of each specimen, without evolutionary ideas.
Exquisite hand-crafted fossil replicas. Our replicas are perfect for display, teaching visual-aids, and gift shop items. Like our real fossils, replicas arrive in suitable packaging, offering the young-earth view of each fossil represented by the replica.
Do you have a favorite fossil that you like to use for teaching, but worry about it breaking? Want to sell replicas of a favorite specimen in your gift shop? Do you need a travel-friendly version of your fossil for speaking engagements that is not as fragile or expensive? Our replication services can help! If you would like replicas to be made of your specimen, we provide this service uniquely for you.
Do you want to take your family on the adventure of a lifetime? Join us on a real-life dinosaur dig for your next summer vacation! Create once-in-a-lifetime memories digging up real dinosaur bones as you connect with your family in God’s beautiful creation!
Everything Fossil is here to help equip you with the tools you need for teaching and reaching your local community. Please get in touch with us if you have any questions about our products or services. Let us know what we can do to better assist you with your mission.


How is Epiphany traditionally celebrated? When does the holy Christian holiday begin?
Epiphany begins on Thursday, January 6, but people will begin their celebrations from tonight.
January 6 is a special date in Christmas history as it is the time when people celebrate how a star led the Magi – also known as the Three Kings or the Three Kings – to visit the baby Jesus after birth.
The term “Epiphany” derives from the Greek word meaning “to reveal”, as is the case when the baby Jesus was “revealed” to the world.
Therefore, that’s why you might hear people say they had an epiphany after realizing something.
READ MORE: Horoscopes: the luckiest zodiac sign in 2022
The celebrations commemorate the journey the three Magi are said to have taken to present gifts to the infant Jesus.
Spain and many Latin American countries traditionally exchange Christmas gifts on Epiphany.
Group swims are also used in some countries to celebrate the holy festival.
People from the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Greece and Russia all swim en masse at Epiphany.
Other traditions include buying cakes known as Roscón in Spain or Galette des Rois in France.
In Mexico, a cake known as Rosca de Reyes is eaten with a figure of the infant Jesus hidden inside. Whoever finds the figure is then known as Jesus’ godfather for the year.
In Austria, some people write in chalk on their front door to remember the wise men who visited the baby Jesus, while in Belgium children often dress up as the three wise men and do something similar to a trick or treat – singing songs to receive money or candy.


The Centre was born out of a desire to see the Community impacted and transformed by God’s love. Our new vision statement highlights this original aim. All that we seek to do is shaped by the vision. To see God’s love, healing and hope bring change and transformation to our local Communities, for the families and individuals who make up these Communities. Our Staff and volunteers provide a welcoming environment for people of all ages, backgrounds, faiths and abilities. We offer a listening ear, provide support and encouragement when needed and seek to connect people together for further help and support. We enjoy sharing our life journey together in the daily joys and struggles that we all experience, often over a cup of freshly brewed coffee and some homemade cake.
History of the Centre
In 1997 Reverend David Lawrence, the Vicar at St Michael’s Church, took a group of people from St Michael’s, Whaddon Methodist Church and Whaddon community to visit a mining town in Wales. David had read about how a local Church was serving the community after the closure of the mine. What they saw was a laundrette, community shop, youth groups and a credit union all under one roof. It was here that the vision of The Cornerstone Centre was borne. Whaddon Methodist Church received a substantial sum of money after a fire destroyed their Church building in 1996. They chose to invest that money into building The Cornerstone Centre which was open in September 2003. The Methodist Church had a community charity shop called the Care Shop and relocated to be part of the weekly Cornerstone Timetable alongside soup lunch and the laundrette. Today the Centre has over 300 people use the Centre each week enjoying the various activities and making use of the facilities on offer. We look forward to welcoming you here soon!
The Oakley Neighbourhood Project.
Oakley Neighbourhood Project, Cheltenham, formed in 1997, is a registered charity providing a diverse range of services aimed at addressing social exclusion, poverty and health issues through education, advice and community projects. We seek to support the work of the project and work together when possible to support our local community. www.oakleyneighbourhoodproject.org.uk
Golden-Oldies, or ‘Goldies’ as it is known has been running sing-a-long sessions around the Country since 2008. It has over 100 sessions around the Country and partners with The Cornerstone Centre to deliver a monthly session for an hour. http://www.golden-oldies.org.uk/
The Brandon Trust
Brandon Trust is a charity supporting adults and children with learning disabilities and autism. http://www.brandontrust.org/
Oakley Adult Opportunity Centre and the Drop-In based in the Library
The Council run support services for adults with varying disabilities which is situated around the corner from the Centre. Most days support workers will bring their clients to Cornerstone because they will receive support and a warm welcome in the Coffee Shop and The Zone.


Elena Kilner, one of eight children, grew up in Falls Church, Virginia. She graduated from the University of Dallas with a B.A. in theology. Elena currently lives in Potomac, Maryland with her husband Patrick. They have eight children. Their fifth child, John Paul, was born with a terminal genetic disease called Spinal Muscular Atrophy. John Paul died when he was 14 months old. Elena’s experience with John Paul is the subject of her book, Letters to John Paul. She is passionate about sharing her experience with John Paul.


Power of Prayer
Power of Prayer
As we begin to prepare for our new outdoor music festival, called HOPEstock, I am overwhelmed with fear. Why would we move to an outdoor venue in Minnesota of all places? How in the world will we find financial supporters to help bring this event to fruition? Did I mention we know nothing about music festivals? As I struggle with my fear of the unknown, I thought of a little girl who lives next door...
We were standing at the top of a waterslide at Paige’s birthday party years ago, and one of the girls in our group was afraid to go down. The girl watched the other kids jump into the tube filled with gushing water for minutes on end. Each time she heard their screams of delight, her eyes filled with a yearning that was quickly clouded by fear.
As I stood by and witnessed her struggle, I would periodically lean over and say, “You can do this, believe in yourself.” After 20 minutes of painful indecision, she said, “I need to have a quick talk with God.” She walked over to an empty corner, squeezed her eyes shut, and started to silently pray.
When she was done, she gave me a curt nod, walked over to the opening of the slide, and hesitantly proceeded down into the dark, watery abyss. Minutes later, she came back with a huge smile splitting her face, and talked a mile a minute about how awesome the slide was. I was so touched by this moment that I had to ask the girl’s mom how she had developed a faith so strong at such a young age. Her mother told me that she kept a prayer journal—each night the girl would write down her prayers, then periodically go through the journal and cross out those that had been answered.
Since I had been teaching Brooke’s Sunday School class about prayer, I thought this would be a perfect thing for Brooke and I to do together each night before bed. Brooke happily complied. She pulled out her favorite journal and several different colored pens to write with. On the first night she wrote, “I want to wish that Pat gets better, Mommy passes her FDA audit perfectly, Paige makes new friends, I pass my test, and Daddy has a great time at work” in her neatest handwriting. Brooke then read her words out loud, said “in Jesus’ name I pray,” and we both closed with an “Amen.” We repeated this format each night, and every Saturday we would go through the list of prayers and cross out those that had been answered.
In amazement, we watched “wish” after “wish” get crossed off the list. From the silly to the serious, we were shocked that an act so simple appeared to be working. As time went on, Brooke’s prayers got bolder. She would pray for others’ healing, blessings to be bestowed upon the people she loved, aid in dealing with the anger she sometimes felt, and God’s help in drawing certain people closer to Him. God responded by answering prayer after prayer. We couldn’t help but marvel at His love and power.
The Bible says that those that respect God enough to fear Him and follow His commandments may ask anything in Jesus’ name and have it fulfilled so the glory of God can be revealed in this world. Given her amazing track record, Brooke apparently does a better job following God’s rules than mine! To my special, loving, smart, beautiful, firecracker named Brooke Marlee Christensen: thank you for teaching me the power of prayer. I will turn to it now and ask that HOPEstock turns out to be a day that changes many, many lives...including ours.


From the first formal proclamation of this holiday given by George Washington in 1789 as requested by Congress for “a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many favors of Almighty God”, we learn of the true meaning to gather with those we love. May this holiday remind us of all the reasons we have to be filled with gratitude.
Participate in ThanksGIVING
If you are like most people, Thanksgiving is a time of savory foods, the company of family and friends, and, well, football. However as easy as it may be for us to verbally share around the dinner table that which makes us grateful; it is an even bigger joy for us to actively give so that the spirit of thankfulness might increase. Here are a few practical websites where generosity and empowerment abounds: www.feedingamerica.org, www.ifhomeless.org, www.cafoodbanks.org, or www.rescuemission.org. Here in Southern California our food banks that feed the poor and hungry find themselves strapped for food donations. The California wildfires have also left thousands homeless. As a result many may leave empty-handed this year. Please consider donating to your local food bank.
Have a blessed day!


"In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. Jeremiah 29:12-14 NLT
When I read this verse on my bible I can’t help but read it over and over. Yes there will be a lot of tests, there will be moments in our lives where it would be a lot easier to just give up but God loves us so much and He doesn’t want His children to go astray so Jesus left us with a guide. A book that contains His promises, a book that is filled with His unfailing love for us. Yun para sa akin ang bible.
I once read in Matthew 23:37…
"How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me."
Baka nagtataka kayo… Why do I read my bible? Bakit hindi Hunger Games ang binabasa ko? Madami naman libro dyan diba?
Ang sagot mahina kasi ako. Meron akong mga ugali na gusto ko baguhin at hindi ko mababago ang mga yun gamit ang sarili kong kakayahan. Nagsisimula pa lang ako sa walk ko with God. I am easily tempted to go back to my old ways.
Honestly when I started reading my bible my first reaction was “Wow! Keri ko ba ito? Ang kapal ha! At ang sulat ang liit! Ang sakit sa mata nito!” Then goes my next reaction: “Kaloka ang dami ng characters.”
Yung mga nagawa kong kasalanan nuon, yun ang pumipigil sakin para i-worship si God at lumapit sa kanya hanggang sa nalaman ko na hindi Jennica, mag sorry ka lang. Repent. Ask God for forgiveness. Ang Panginoon naman, ang pagmamahal niya sa atin unconditional. Hindi Niya binibilang ang mga kasalanan natin para isumbat sa pagmumukha natin.
Kaya ako nagbabasa ng Bible… Nag decide ako to have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Gusto ko Siya makilala pa ng mas mabuti at ngayon tuwing tempted ako to do something I know would hurt my God, I pray. I ask God to give me the courage to say NO.
"God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?’" Hebrews 13:5-6
Sad as it may seem, our friends and family could forsake us or even reject us but be rest assured that no matter how isolated we may be at times, we will always have a Father that would never leave our side, Jesus Himself.
"You are my Son; today I have become your Father." Hebrews 5:5
Whatever sin it is that is stopping you from having a relationship with God is already forgiven when Jesus Christ died on the cross so don’t be afraid to talk to Him… Put in mind that you are His child and there is absolutely nothing to be afraid of. 0:)
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With an estimated population of 87.4 million, and 16 cities with a population of over a million people, the 10 states that comprise the Southeast Region are changing rapidly. Our mission is to ensure that Every Man, Woman, and Child in the Southeast will have repeated opportunities to see, hear and respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the mobilized "Church" in our region. We do this by multiplying the work of the gospel through making disciples as we gather in regional communities. The strategies may look different across the region, but we are seeing God move as we focus on training and equipping leaders, re-missioning existing churches, and planting new churches across the Southeast.
CT Southeast Website


Prince of Peace hosts retirement celebration
The congregation of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church hosted a retirement celebration in honor of Brenda Frederick and Cindy Rogers on Sunday, July 26.
Brenda and Cindy served as director and assistant director of Precious Playmates Daycare Ministry for more than 25 years. They established the daycare at Prince of Peace’s original location on Pike Street in Martinsville in 1995 and relocated when the church moved to its current location on Morgan Street in 1997.
Brenda and Cindy were honored with cards, gifts, and a video tribute from the many families they served in the Martinsville area.
Precious Playmates Daycare continues under the leadership of Mrs. Bethany Asher, and may be contacted at 765-342-2220, email@example.com, or its Facebook page.


Mission, Vision, Central Tenant, Core Belief statement
We are all on a path in our lives, some are following a path of faith in God and His Son Jesus, some are just beginning that journey. Still others who may have fallen away for one reason or another, while others may have not been given the way to that path or have not accepted the path to the kingdom. Though we are all on a path, we are all not at the same place in that path. Our vision is to aid in each of our journeys in life and in faith, in the hope that we will all find our way closer to the kingdom that exists at the end of this journey.
We have been called to help others in their journeys in life, sharing in the joys of marriage, the birth of a child, or the baptism of those who are coming into faith in God and his Son. We are called to give comfort and hope to those who struggle with illness, their families, and loved ones. We are called to those who grieve the loss of a loved one, with compassion and understanding. We are called to be a part of the communities in which we live, helping to the best of our abilities.
Jesus as the Son of God and the Messiah (The Christ) anointed by God as Savior of all humanity, that through Jesus, the Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament are fulfilled.
Our Core Beliefs
God is the father, the creator who had made all that we have and all whom we meet
Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” We are not a ministry encumbered by walls; we go to where we are called to gather in Christ’s name.
We are all members of a community, bound by our humanity, and bound by Jesus’s words in Matthew 23:39 “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” We are called to love one another; we are called to not judge but to accept others in our communities. We are called to love just as we are loved by Christ.


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Local church unveils veterans memorial
The Herald - 9/8/2022
Sep. 8—WEST MIDDLESEX — When Mass concludes this Sunday at Church of the Good Shepherd Parish in West Middlesex, parishioners will not just commemorate 9/11 — they'll unveil a monument dedicated to military veterans from the parish.
The ceremony will include a blessing prayer, a flag ceremony performed by the local VFW members, and a flag raising by the parish's vets. "Taps" will be played by members of the West Middlesex Jr. Sr. High School band.
There will also be a memorial plaque featuring parishioners who contributed to the monument, along with their family members and branch of service.
"There's been a couple years where first responders and their equipment were the centerpiece of the picnic," Rev. Glenn Whitman said. "But this year, we're also recognizing the monument and the anniversary of 9/11."
In 2018, the church held a "Blue Mass" to recognize first responders from throughout the area.
The memorial's development took several years, starting with a marble slab the Church of the Good Shepherd had left over from a major renovation in the early 2000s.
Not wanting to waste the slab, the parish's previous pastor eventually transferred the slab to St. Joseph Catholic Church in Sharon, where Whitman once served.
Officials at St. Joseph considered using the slab at either St. Mary's Cemetery or St. Rose Cemetery, but financial issues preventing anything from moving forward, Whitman said.
All the while, Good Shepherd parishioner and Navy veteran Theodore Hennessy had discussed wanting to do some kind of veterans memorial or monument over the years.
When Whitman arrived at Church of the Good Shepherd in 2017, he heard Hennessy's ideas and knew of the slab sitting at St. Joseph without a purpose.
"It took a few years because of COVID intervening, but we decided to marry the two ideas during the pandemic," Whitman said.
Hennessy had done some research and Gealy's Memorials helped with engraving the slab, which features the phrase "All gave some, some gave all," the emblems of the different branches, and two names: the late Msgr. Salvatore Mitchell and recently retired Msgr. Robert Male.
Both men served as Navy chaplains and were former pastors at Church of the Good Shepherd. Anonymous parishioners also donated toward two flag poles, one for the American flag and the other for the Papal flag of the church.
Organizers also had footers dug and gardens planted to accompany the monument, the release states.
"They (Gealy's) did a great job with it, and we're grateful for Ted's idea and the support of our parishioners and veterans and first responders," Whitman said.
When the monument is dedicated, however, the man who came up with the idea to honor veterans from the parish will be missing. Hennessy, who also was president of West Middlesex Area School Board, died unexpectedly in August.
First responders from Mercer, Trumbull and Lawrence counties are invited to the Mass, and then later get first-dibs at the picnic's food. The first responders' equipment will also be on display during the picnic, as well as games for children.
Church officials are taking concerns regarding COVID-19 into account, which is why the picnic will feature finger foods including hotdogs and Rita's Italian Ice. This will allow parishioners to eat while staying mobile, instead of groups of people congregating around picnic tables.
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(c)2022 The Herald (Sharon,Pa)
Visit The Herald (Sharon,Pa) at www.sharonherald.com
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He’s not as perfect as you think. Sure, He created everything and understands just about everything, but don’t you think a God that emphasizes mercy, forgiveness and grace doesn’t also desire it himself? It’s a little hard for me to explain, but He isn’t as perfect as you think, He’s imperfect, and also allowed to make mistakes. Does that mean that you could be a mistake? Well that doesn’t mean anything. You’re probably surprised by me telling you this. I’ve go to tell you, I completely understand.
Now, can you imagine trying to meet the requirement of perfect? It’s simply just not fair to that person. I’d also rather be imperfect, allowed to make mistakes. Now that’s perfection.
I’ll be getting into another post later, called “He never meant to hurt anybody,” which relates to this topic, and it is true, He never meant to. He’s imperfect too. So then you might think, what hope do we have then? Common, He’s the creator of the universe, knows everything about you and loves everything about you. He’s a good, good father. Imperfectly asks us also for some lenience and patience to be that good, good father. He can’t do everything. Anything, yes. You see He’s sensitive, yet understanding and needs us to understand that He’s doing his best and would have made everything perfect if He could, but that just doesn’t exist. I don’t even know what that would look like, scary almost. So let’s be content being made perfectly in his imperfect image, and do our part to behave and all get along. He’ll be right beside us, the whole way 🙂


Autism Friendly Churches
Connecting exceptional individuals to the exceptional God. Heartland connect will seek to minister to families and individuals with special needs through our Buddy program. For students who need to be in a classroom of peers, the buddy will be there to lend a helping hand and ensure that individual needs are met. For those would thrive better in a different atmosphere, we will have a class specifically for special needs children and another for special needs youth and adults.
Mission Statement: Heartland Connect purposes to break down barriers that keep individuals with disabilities and their families from being able to participate in the community of the church.
For more information, visit https://www.heartlandpaducah.com
rest Church Paducah
rest Church has seen people come to know Christ, marriages healed, strongholds broken, and local/global missions established since its beginning. God knew what he was doing calling this place, “restoration”, especially since the track record has been growth on the tail-end of renovation. rest Church is blessed by God and truly believes that this is just the beginning. God’s best rest is still yet to come for these people and this Church. #therestisyettocome
rest church Welcomes EVERYONE with open arms meeting them exactly where they are and working to provide love and outreach while serving those with or without disabilities of any kind.
For more information, visit https://restchurch.net
Journey Church Calloway
Connecting with God shouldn’t be complicated. Our goal is to make it simple. We want to create a church that people not in church love to experience just as much as church people. That has been our goal since day one because everyone deserves to know how much God loves them. If you’ve ever felt like you weren’t one of “those church people,” you’re going to love Journey. If you’ve ever wanted to be part of a church that makes it easy for people to connect with God, you’ll fit right in. If you’re a Christian who’s willing to do whatever it takes to help your friends experience God’s grace, this is your place.
For more information, visit: https://journeycalloway.com


Tarcento, 1555 - 1600
Christ Bearing the Cross, 1574
Dated and signed on back: ''1574. NICOLA US. FRANGI PANS. EMI. Al Ticiano''.
Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection on loan to the Museo Carmen Thyssen Málaga
Oil on canvas
40,5 x 40,5 x 0 cm
Auction House Caylus, Madrid, 1998.
Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection.
Fe y fervor en la Colección Carmen Thyssen. Simone Martini, Van Dyck, Gauguin, Málaga, Museo Carmen Thyssen Málaga, pp. 37-39, lám. p. 36, det. p. 38
–Salort Pons, S.: ”Niccoló Frangipane (1540-1600)’‘. In Pinturas de Cuatro Siglos. Madrid, 1997, pp. 50-55.
–Colección Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza. Arnaldo, Javier (ed.). 2 vols. Madrid, Fundación Colección Thyssen-Bornemisza, 2004, vol. 1, p. 40, illus. p. 41 [Sheet by Trinidad de Antonio].
-Fe y fervor en la Colección Carmen Thyssen. Simone Martini, Van Dyck, Gauguin. Museo Carmen Thyssen Málaga, [Exhib. Cat. Museo Carmen Thyssen Málaga], 2013. pp. 37-39, lám. p. 36, det. p. 38 [Sheet by Trinidad de Antonio].
This painting, unpublished until recently, is one of the few signed and dated paintings by Niccoló Frangipane. Apparently, the artist did not always use the same signature, since the David Meditating before the Head of Goliath, from the Museo Civico in Padua, has the inscription Ni.F.P.F.
The subject of Christ carrying the Cross to Golgotha is the most frequent in Frangipane’s known works. There are nine versions of this matter, with some variations in the composition, since there are two examples in which the figures are represented full length -one in the Cappelletta di Santo Gesú in Gandino and the other in the Sacristy of Santa Margherita in Brusoporto, Bergamo- while in the remaining paintings, Christ appears half-length accompanied by some figures, like executioners, Mary Magdalen or St. Veronica. This is the case of the works belonging to the Doria-Pamphilj Gallery in Rome, although the example closest in time to the one we are dealing with is the Christ Carrying the Cross at the Museo Civico in Udine, dated in 1572. Frangipane’s treatment of this type of scene is related to theChrist Bearing the Cross of the Scuola de San Rocco in Venice, a painting once belonging to the church of San Rocco which Vasari attributed in 1550 to Giorgione, although in the second edition of the Lives (1568) he mentioned it as a work by Titian. This painting was very well known in that period, being the object of great devotion, since it was attributed with miraculous powers; that is why so many artists found inspiration in it throughout the 16th century. In this occasion we can consider that Frangipane drew from this composition, although he moved away from the narrative aspect of the subject by concentrating his representation on the isolated image of Christ, thus emphasising the pathos of the moment. Christ, who faces the beholder, was conceived as a half-length figure, with his head crowned with thorns and slightly bent to the left, dressed with a red tunic revealing the edge of white underclothing, and with a rope knotted on the chest. Drops of sweat and blood run down Jesus’s sorrowful face. With his right hand he grips the cross, of which only a fragment of the upright is visible. The Nazarene -or Christ bearing the Cross, orPortacroce– is a traditional image of devotion, whose iconography goes back to Paleochristian art. Although in its remotest origins the subject was given a fundamentally symbolic meaning, and the cross, more than an instrument of martyrdom, was the symbol of the triumph of the Redeemer over death, from the 13th century onwards the narrative and dramatic aspects of the scene began to be emphasised. This latter interpretation rapidly increased in the second half of the 16th century, when the Counter-Reformation saw in the use of images a means of influencing the minds of the faithful. Sebastiano del Piombo and Titian, in Italy, and Luis de Morales and El Greco in Spain, were some of the painters who produced works of this kind, and reflected the success of subjects regarding the Passion in that period. In this occasion Frangipane sets off the effigy of the Nazarene against a dark background, which enables him to emphasise the figure’s dramatic quality and feeling of loneliness, while at the same time he abandons the idea of defining a specific physical space, since his aim is not that of narrating the Biblical event, but of representing a devotional image. The artist places special emphasis on expressing both the physical and psychological suffering of Christ. That is the reason why he shows such an interest in the detailed description of the heavy crown and its sharp thorns, and in the representation of the blood dripping down the face and body of Christ, giving special importance to his tearful red eyes which express intense pain and a silent surrender and resignation before the sacrifice. The construction of Frangipane’s painting recalls, rather than the Nazarenes of Giorgione and Titian, the examples of Sebastiano del Piombo, in particular those of the Prado and of the Hermitage; nevertheless he deals with the subject with greater realism than the previously mentioned Italian painters or El Greco, probably because in its execution we can appreciate the influence of northern models, as happens in the paintings by Morales. The precise brushstroke and the detailed rendering qualities, from the rigidity of the crown to the soft shine of the locks of hair, draw from the aesthetic principles of Flemish art. In spite of this, the chromatic intensity of the red cloak and the importance of light, particularly in the treatment of the face of Christ, link this painting closely to the Venetian world in which the artist was trained.
Trinidad de Antonio


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Today's sermon: finding belly laughs in holy places. 50+ Christian Jokes. Q: At what time of day was Adam created? A: A little before Eve. Q: Why didn't they play cards on the Ark? A: Because Noah was standing. Get the Christian Jokes at Microsoft Store and compare products with the latest customer reviews and ratings. Download or ship for free. Free returns.
28 Jul Joke #1. A man dies and is met by Peter at the pearly gates. Peter says, 'You need points to make it into Heaven. Tell me all of the good. 5 May - 43 sec - Uploaded by Reader's Digest Hear that? It's God laughing at these jokes. Religious Jokes. Reader's Digest. Loading. 42 Clean Christian Jokes That Will Make You Laugh In A Positively Spiritual Way. By January Nelson, March 30th Comment; FlagFlagged; tomsmallsculpture.com
Buy Hilarious Christian Jokes: Topic wise jokes to break the ice on any Occasion: Read 1 Kindle Store Reviews - tomsmallsculpture.com Philip's Christian Jokes, Volume 2 - Kindle edition by Dr. Saneesh Cherian, Dr. Johnson C. Philip. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC. 29 Sep Emo Philips: This morning I received thrilling news: a joke I wrote more than 20 years ago has been voted the funniest religious joke of all time!. I recall Jesse Jackson telling this joke. Then three church ladies from the nearby local Christian congregation (insert name of church of your choice) arrive and. Need a laugh but don't want the raunch? Here's 10 short funny jokes to enjoy and share. Graded A+ as the best Christian jokes around!.


I love my little family. We had a lovely day together minus a few hiccups where love came in the form of discipline. It's so much more fun when love is displayed through heart pancakes or sprinkled covered sweets. Aunt Sarah watched the boys last night so David and I could enjoy an evening out together. It's been nine years since he asked me to be his wife in good times and bad. We've had both, but mostly good. I am so blessed to be loved by such a great man and by two affectionate little boys.
MeMaw sent a package of goodies for the boys to open on Valentine's Day and I promised to get pictures. They loved all their surprises ;)Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." And then in John 3:16, that act is carried out. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Kind of makes my love look weak. I am so grateful to experience that kind of love.
While thinking about all of the love I experience in my life from the perfect love of my Savior to the imperfect, yet humbling love of my family, a song has been playing in my head all week. This is a ramped up, more modern version of what goes on in this semi-traditional girl's head, but I love the lyrics added to such a beautiful hymn. "Oh praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead."
Now That is Love.


In 2008, Marie Miriame Darbouze Michel and her family embarked on a journey to restore the legacy of their father, the late Reverend Jean-Joseph Darbouze. Reverend Darbouze was a missionary in his hometown of Arniquet (Ar-nik-ay) and was a strong philanthropist of those in need of support in Haiti as his work of faith and a servant of Jesus Christ who said: “love your neighbor as yourself”. In the mid-1980’s, Reverend Darbouze started the very first after-school program in his living room in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He named the school “Jesus ‘children”. This after-school program was tuition free for the needy children of the neighborhood. In addition, he hosted weekly community prayer in his house, which started bringing an environment of togetherness to those who were struggling with life challenges in his community. Supported by his grown children, Reverend Darbouze provided food, clothing, school supplies to his neighbors and their children; while supporting youth development, basic literacy, and writing skills to those in need.
The passion for education and service to others of the late Reverend Darbouze inspired his grown children to launch the Jean-Joseph Darbouze Foundation by using their late father’s home to start the Jean-Joseph Darbouze Academy in 2008, creating a safe space for 75 children to have access to primary school education. This primary school in Arniquet was led under the leadership of the late Mr. Rene Clervil.


This March (2004) is the third anniversary of Ed’s near fatal car accident. Each morning he thanks God for the new day, and each night he goes to sleep to the words of You are my sunshine. That’s the song I sang to him over and over in the hospital when I had run out of words. You’ll never know Dear, how much I love you, and then the prayer, Please don’t take my sunshine away. I knew I was not the only one praying that prayer. Thousands of people all over the world were praying for Ed, but the one he heard every day was the one sung by my voice, the one accompanied by my hand on his forehead.
Download full article below as a PDF.


The HOPE Coalition is made up of businesses, churches, government entities, and other nonprofit organizations who have come together, committed to doing their part to bring an end to modern day slavery.
Whether you are an individual, business, or church we would love for you to partner with us and become a HOPE Giver! Your financial support goes directly to our C.A.R.E.S. Initiative to bring HOPE to the precious victims of Sex Trafficking
Help us spread the word that IT’S NOT OKAY! From giving presentations throughout the community, hosting awareness booths, to providing administrative support, there is something for everyone.
The Hope House is a place of refuge for victims of sex trafficking. With transitional, short, or long-term comprehensive services, this home offers women a chance to renew their hope and learn to dream again.


Can two walk or work together, except they agree? This question serves as a reminder that when choosing a partner for marriage, both parties must agree to become one, to form a family, and to compromise when faced with differences.
Now that you remember this, it’s important to not just go along with the trend because it will lead to bending you out of shape. When your marriage is in order, many things in life fall into place. Always remember that your marriage or relationship can still work, regardless of what is happening around you. Don’t let the trend be the measuring cup of your reality, as it will cause unnecessary pressure.
Do what works for you, but make sure that you are doing the right things. A great relationship is still possible, as long as you follow God’s original design for marriage.
I am grateful for my darling husband who is always amazing, and thank God for His grace upon us. We will continue to fulfill God’s mandate for our marriage.
If you don’t know this already, every marriage has its own mandate. Don’t use another couple’s marriage as a yardstick for your own, as it won’t last. Follow God’s original design for your marriage, and it will be well with you.
Would you like to read more edifying and I informative articles, click here and you shall be blessed.
Don’t forget to drop a comment too; we would like to read your feedback on every article here.
I’m Shindara Olatunji SOL, a representative of blessed marriages.


Christu Jyothi Province, Satna
Christu Jyothi Province Satna
The 2nd Vat. Council has conscientized all individual churches, their obligation to proclaim the faith and salvation, which comes from Christ, by reason of His commanded. As a result we the SABS stepped out from Kerala to the other parts of our country.S.H province, Ernakulam carried the ‘Jyothi’, towards the Northern part of West Bengal among the Tribals in Jalpaiguri Diocese and established its first missionary convent at Demdima in 1968.In the following year (1969) missionaries were sent to central India in Raipur Diocese at Nandini.
By 1986 the ‘Jyothi’ of Eucharistic Lord had extended its radiant light to U.P and Rajasthan having 13 convents and 69 missionaries. Christu Jyothi Region and appointed Rev. Mother Virgin as the regional superior. Eventually Christu Jyothi Region has grown in to the maturity of a Vice Province having 17 convents and 112 sisters. At present Christu Jyothi Province has 24 convents in the Diocese of Ajmer, Baruipur,Bijnor,Ernakulam,Jaipur,Jalpaiguri,Meerut,Raipur,Satna,and Varanasi with 130 sisters involved in various apostolic activities.
Provincial Superior : Mother Ann Maria Cheruvil SABS
Vicar Provincial : Sr Alphy Kallingal SABS
2nd Councillor : Sr AlphonsaThekkanath SABS
3rd Councillor : Sr Leema Rose Thycattu SABS
4th Councillor : Sr. Seena Maria Pereppadan SABS
Finance Officer : Sr Rincy Kachapilly SABS
Secretary : Sr. Maria Jose Ollattu SABS
Address : Provincial Superior, Aradhana Bhavan, Provincial House, Patheri, Mahadve.P.O, Satna M.P.
Tel. 485002, 07672 - 230099 Email : <firstname.lastname@example.org>


Bread and Milk For Sale in Newbald
Thanks to Rev. Bushby, you are now able to buy bread and milk in St. Nicholas’ Church, Newbald.
The items that are currently available are as follows:
Green top milk – 75p
Gold top milk – £1
Jackson’s brown bloomers – £1.45
Morrison’s brown loaf – 55p
You will find these items either in the fridge or on top of the fridge near the main door at the back of the Church. Please put the money in the restoration box and if possible, let Rev. Bushby know so that he can purchase more.
You can contact him on 07483 860074 or firstname.lastname@example.org.
The Church is open from 7am to 7pm in the autumn/winter (GMT) and from 7am to 8pm in the spring/summer (BST). If anyone is unable to get to the church and needs bread or milk delivering, please contact Rev. Bushby.
If the main door is closed for any reason, it is most likely still unlocked. However, if you can’t open it, please use the side door into the south transept that is open from early morning until late at night.


Well friends – I believe we have come to the end of one very long journey and about to start the “Ultimate Journey” that we have long awaited for. I wish I could express to you all that the Father has taught me, His Holy Spirit truly has been my Teacher. Soon, all will be revealed and the words expressed by so many will come to light, or darkness. Not a permanent darkness but a bit of a time-out in a very dim-lit place.
Below I have linked 3 new videos I uploaded on December 5 but only today released them so please scroll down if you would like to see the video messages first.
GLORY TO GOD THE FATHER ONLY
The events foretold by those who taught us, via man’s interpretation have brought much fear to the hearts of the people but these are not what the Father in Heaven is showing His Children…quite the opposite actually. His Message is of Love, Promise, Rescue and to finally be ONE with Him. He will bring us beaten up and abused by the enemy because the enemy’s time is done. Yes, there is one judgment owed to those that have not repented, but that is all, no more. The Father, our Creator Himself will shake the Heavens and Earth but it’s all for His Glorious End Plan and He WILL NOT ALLOW ANYTHING TO MANIFEST UNLESS IT GLORIFIES HIM, PERIOD!
See, we hear 2 voices – one from the ears and one from the heart. Those that are hearing of the wars and rumors of wars, they are listening through the Advil and Hammer of their fleshly ear; while those who are speaking words of comfort, they are hearing from their Heart where the Holy Comforter resides and speaks from. This is the difference. One is from the Son of Man and the other from the Son of God.
A RIDE ON A VERY BIG BOAT
Everything we have been taught is not for us…it is flipped. The people of the Bible we thought were “us”, are not, they are “them”. Everything that was hidden from us was to keep us a prisoner, a slave to the god of this world. We are the ones under the Sea of Glass…Noah’s Mountain where the Ark landed was not here, it was up there. It is that “resting place” of the boat that saved those God gave His Mercy to. It is the one who is sitting up there that is the god of this world…Noah or the form in which this Heavenly Spirit or Angel came in. That is Babylon that sets on the 7 Hills – God’s 7 Mountains. It’s a story of a “man” who had 3 sons…cursing the 2nd son for seeing “his nakedness” while the 1st son lost his inheritance to his younger brother who then became the holder of the most blessed land, the Promise Land as that is what is was called when it was originally given to Shem. So it’s the 3rd son, the 3rd brother that became the inheritor of the “good land” and the land promised by their father. Who were these brothers? This pattern is repeated throughout the Bible and in each story, the brothers are continuing the saga.
Ham was cursed and left the “Mountain” after he saw his father’s nakedness – Ham saw who Noah truly was without his garments. We are told it was through Ham that the “evil” or “bad” or opposite side of the family/lineage was started and it was through that line we can blame where humanity went wrong after the Flood. Ham I guess you could say, was in a way, a Scapegoat – one who carried the blame, the “sins” of the family like a yoke around his neck.
This is just one piece of doctrine we were misled on and it was in the beginning so can you guess how much more follows?
Below is 3 links to the latest videos uploaded to my You Tube channel – please click on them to watch.
The waters of the earth is what made Adam thirst – that is why it was a very long time before he finally took his first sip. The water is Wormword. The waters need to be cleansed, turned into wine and Jesus told us how many vessels were changed and made into the Grappa, the best wine from the grapes that were kept on the vine the longest; 6 large clay pots. Also, the Grappa is the remnant of all the grapes, their juices, their skins, their seeds, even those that have been trodden over and upon. This is why at the Wedding in Cana, the best wine was served last as they are the last to arrive.
The Old Testament is the story – their story, our story – the WHOLE story! The time between the OT and the NT is the waters and us crossing those waters similar to Paul’s story of his shipwreck and the 276 crew aboard on their course set for Rome. It was during that time that half of the crew thought they were going to a place filled with treasures, riches, beauty and wonder…the other half believed they were headed straight for misery, punishment and death. This is INTERMISSION as every good long movie/story has one. This is the time that 2 groups of men who are sailing on the same ship, same boat are obviously seeing 2 very different destinations. This is us, this is “them” all riding upon the same vessel, ship or boat toward our new home in Heaven. But wait, how can half see or expect one thing and the other half another while riding together…shouldn’t they be expecting the same thing?
See, both groups go up together at the same time. One group will see the treasures and the Promised Land while the others will only stand in fear of what awaits them. For one thing, the “Heaven” or “waiting area” they are taken to is just a replica or “shadow” of our real Home, our real Heaven and since so many will not be able to discern the difference as they are blind and unable to see the mold on the walls, they will think the food is good, Heavenly and for this reason, they will be thrown into the fire to remove the dross, the scales and the dirt on their garments that keep them crippled. This is the group who is delayed as they must be shown the Truth. They take a detour while those of us who have awaken from our sleep, have removed the dirty garments, have clear vision to see the counterfeit as our scales were removed prior to us boarding the ship! Our path, our route is straight, no detours, no delays. We can also see the mold infested walls and the ability to see that the food being served there is NOT for us – it’s not OUR BANQUET nor is it our BANQUET HALL!
See, we have been sitting under the Ark…I guess you could say we live under the valley and the mountain we see from our view is not really the mountain we want to climb. Or, let me put it this way – the top of this mountain is NOT the top of OUR MOUNTAIN! We are in the waters of the seas as the flood waters were from springs and shot up from the earth, not the other way around. We can never get our heads above the water and this is why. It is the Sea of Glass that is the Wall. When this wall or glass is shattered, the rains will come and it is then those that are under the “chandelier” will be crushed by the weight of it. What does this mean? The glass above us, the Sea of Glass that is the floor of the Ark will break into, just as God parted the Red Seas so the Israelites could flee to safety from Pharaoh, this Sea will also part but this time, all those standing there will fall into the waters. Can we say “swimming with the sharks”? This is the group above that feared a tragic voyage spoken by Paul, but – remember how that story ended? Yes, they were thrown from the battered ship, tossed into the raging sea but not one hair on their heads was harmed – they all LIVED!
What does this really mean? It was Paul’s boat/ship right? God chose him because he was a rebellious one. Those that follow and are aboard this ship are in store for some rough sailing but in the end, they will not die nor be harmed. These are those that will be lifted out of the water and thrown into the fire by the angels. This is the fiery water of the abyss. This is too the sky rolling back like a scroll…
Both those that are “good” and those that are “bad” are going to be aboard the same ship but it’s the discernment they arrive with that will allow them to see the Original from the Replica – the Counterfeit – there are those that are asleep and then there are those that are “dead in Christ”; dead meaning dead to the world for they are in Christ their Lord and no longer alive in the world. Those that asleep, they are spiritually dead – they sleep in the dust which is their flesh. They have believed with their flesh (their earthly eyes and ears) over their spiritual teaching or Word that dwells in their hearts which can only be seen and heard when the Father, our Creator removes the veil and that is done when we die to the flesh and are born again in Him, the Spirit. Meaning, you must be deaf, blind and crippled to this world, to Man and in the eyes of man.
Both of these groups go together prior to the Remnant – the late Grappa grape which is those that have been here from the Beginning, the original first 10 fathers in Genesis 5. These are all components of the Lord – these father the Scribes, the Prophets, the Kings, the Priests as they all represent roles of the Lord, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in some form or another. Each are on the Right or the Left side representing the Armies of the North or the Armies of the South but there is a 3rd Army, the one that we are told to look to the Mountains for, and it is the Army that will unite bringing all 3 of Noah’s son’s back together and a great reconciliation will occur. One Army represents the brass nail that confined both feet of Jesus on the Cross with another Army holding down the left hand and another Army holding down the right…3, with the Cross itself acting as the 4th. It’s 4 Angels – Jesus being the 4th.
Jesus plays both roles my friends. There was a switch somewhere and most likely, it was at the time He was baptized by John the Baptist in the River Jordan and it’s why He had to be tested in the wilderness. It’s Brothers, one taking the cup from the other just as Judah did in Egypt for his brother Benjamin when he was accused of stealing the silver cup from Joseph’s table. But as we all know, it was Joseph who planted it there because he wanted his brother, his full brother who he allowed to eat from his own plate. He was never going to hurt Benjamin – he loved him and all he wanted was to be with him, even if he had to use a bit of trickery to keep him there. Since Judah had already betrayed one brother, he was not about to lose another and to make amends for what he did (selling Joseph into slavery), he held the cup taken from the seed bag, willing to take whatever punishment would come his way. This story again played out somewhere during this time with Jesus and his brother, the prodigal son.
Who is the enemy really? It’s the one whose face shown upon the waters as the Lion when the Light from Heaven went to and fro over it. It’s was God’s own Light that birthed the enemy who was settled and born upon the dark waters. This Mystery will soon be shown to all and like the Bible has shown us over and over, in the end, the Brothers will “hug it out” and they will be reconciled back to the Father.
It will be just as Jesus stated by His actions in the Garden the night he was arrested. When Peter, who is the head of the Church on earth, “the rock”, took the sword in his right hand and sliced the RIGHT ear off of the Roman guard (who later became a follower of Jesus or the Word), it was telling us that Believers would become deaf/crippled due to the teachings of the earthly Church but it would be healed by the left (apostate) as this is the hand Jesus healed the guard’s ear with. The Church of Christ is deaf, blind and asleep due to the righteous side and it’s their earthly teaching of the Word of God that will literally lead their sheep to slaughter because they slumber, blind leading the blind cannot even recognize who this applies to and regretfully, they stand in pride at what they have been taught, never questioning it’s Author of Truth. They refuse to stand and see the Author of Lies and Confusion’s footprints in the sand. They will not lower or humble themselves by kneeling before the Lord as a small child with no knowledge. They will not go back to drinking milk as they’ve had too much meat, even if it was bad meat, and now, a glass of milk in their eyes, could never satisfy their hunger…they see it is for infants only, never seeing themselves in that toddler stage, thereby refusing to drink which would in turn, fill their bellies with the Truth. They will not see that the food they eat is bad, already rotten when purchased at the store, making them very ill once it is digested.
This time now is the end of the Church Age and if you have studied all the patterns of the past, you would see the perfection in just how He is doing it. Every timeline, date, month and year from 2012 to 2015 is now upon us. Please know that things will come fast, unexpected to the unprepared world. We now are entering the last days of December 2012 which held many events that were spoken of but had not as of yet, manifested into play…this is that time so please be ready and on your toes each day, all day. Please don’t worry as the Lord totally has this – He has us too! All the events happening around the world are copies of what is transpiring in the Heavenly realm right now as that is where the true battle is being carried out. We are about to leave the waters situated between the Old Testament and the New Testament and once we are received in Heaven, we will then step into the patterns regarding the Acts of the Apostles as that will be what we shall do up there, and once we are in the house of the god of this world, we will heal all the those who came crippled, blind and deaf just like all those Jesus healed sitting around the Temple under Solomon’s canopy or the “Outer Court”. This is the 40 days of harvest and those who are healed, made well again, will then be placed into the Bridal Chambers awaiting the arrival of Her Groom.
Please don’t be one who refuses to wake up…now is not the time to oversleep! Please have eyes to see and ears to hear…seek the Lord and He will give you this wonderful Gift but you must have a pliable heart.
To be continued; I reserve the right to edit this page at a future date in order to expand anything I may have forgotten or see that I need to add.
Below are the newest pictures of Trey-Olivia…Her mommy had these taken a few weeks ago for her “Matilda Jane” photo shoot. The first one is my favorite – so angelic. The others are just a few the photographer sent to us as a preview so I thought I would share this beauty with all my friends…
Thank you for hanging with me on this journey friends. Who knew. Who really knew what He was teaching and showing us, I certainly did not. I had no idea that at the end of this incredible Path, I would be sharing with you all what I have been sharing but I know it’s the Truth…Well, not much longer now and we will all know now won’t we? Don’t be afraid when things seem unexpected and out-of-order – just listen for His Voice and His Open DOOR!
See you soon!
Love your sister and friend of Heaven,


Film explores divine plan for reagan, john paul to end. Pope john paul i is remembered for his infectious smile, his warm personality and his humble pastoral style. Pope john paul ii, from his birth in poland to his pontificate in rome. Thus karol leaves his beloved poland to become pope john paul ii.
An outstanding feature film on the beloved john paul i, baptismal name albino luciani whose brief papacy lasted only 33 days but beautifully bridged the epic papacies of paul vi and pope john paul ii. Hbos the new pope isnt exactly based on a real pope. A man who became pope 2005 produced during john paul iis lifetime and seen and praised by both the films subject and by his successor, pope emeritus benedict xvi the european tv miniseries stars polish actor piotr adamczyk as the young karol wojtyla, as he survives world war ii to become a priest, a bishop, a cardinal and eventually pontiff. Shot on location in rome and poland in close connection with the vatican, this is the definitive film biography of pope john paul ii.
The life of the pope johnpaul ii, from his youth as a writer, actor, and athlete in wartorn occupied poland to his election as pope at the age of 58. Clouds gathered after pope john pauls 1979 visit to ireland. May 09, 2018 the official report claimed that pope john paul i was found lying in his bed, with a book opened beside him, and the reading light on. John paul ii and ronald reagan to take on the soviet union is someone im interested in talking to. The new popes john paul iii is quite a character but. The official cause of death, according to a vatican doctor, was a heart attack, occurring around 11 p. Benjamin gates must follow a clue left in john wilkes booths diary to prove his ancestors innocence in the assassination of abraham lincoln. Pope john paul ii was the first nonitalian pope in more than 400 years. Malkovichs john paul iii is the successor to pope john paul ii, who was the head of the church from 1978 to his death in 2005. Bob hoskins, carlo cecchi, roberto citran italy, 2003 st peters, rome 3rd june 1963. This is also a good place to look for birds and wildlife, which have also benefited from the. Jon voights powerful, emmynominated performance as john paul ii was widely praised, as was cary elwes as the young karol. Pope john paul ii was born on may 18, 1920 in wadowice, malopolskie, poland as. Did you know president ronald reagan and pope john paul ii shared a surprising number of commonalities, values and life experiences and went on to develop an unlikely kinship that lead to the toppling of soviet communism.
Pope john paul iis devotion to his followers is a remarkable example to all of us. Pope john paul ii is a 2005 television miniseries dramatizing the life of pope john paul ii karol jozef wojtyla from his early adult years in poland to his death at age 84. One of several dramatized tributes to the late pontiff to be telecast in 2005, the twopart cbs biopic pope john paul ii is a remake of a popular italian miniseries, and was filmed on location in. Jan 06, 2006 the documentary follows the dramatic last days of pope john paul ii until the election of pope benedict xvi to the throne of peter. Written by christopher knopf and directed by herbert wise, the film stars albert finney, caroline bliss, brian cox, and john forgeham. Filmmaker robert orlando and historian paul kengor on one of the sets for the movie the divine plan, about president ronald reagan and pope john paul ii. Pope john paul ii is a 1984 american biopic drama television film based on the life of karol wojtyla, from his early days as an activist in poland to his installation as pope john paul ii. Pope john paul ii tv miniseries 2005 plot summary imdb. Oct 31, 2019 the communist collapse in eastern europe and the unique roles played by reagan and john paul ii is the focus of a fascinating new documentary by filmmaker robert orlando, called the divine plan. Papa luciani il sorriso di dio is a 2006 italian television movie written and directed by giorgio capitani. The graphics are distracting to the point of being an annoyance. Saint pope john paul ii at the movies plus the princess. The film begins with the attempted assassination of the pope on may, 1981, whereupon the story. Both experienced the death of their father to heart failure at a young age three months apart 1941.
His free, unconventional attitude alarms several prelates, but immediately wins the hearts of the people. Pope john paul ii, ronald reagan and the divine plan. On the death of pope john paul i in 1978, the cardinals of the conclave decide that woytjla is the right man to replace him. Pope john paul ii 1984 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. Peters square, and elwes and voight are largely responsible.
President reagans and pope john paul ii remarks at their arrival in alaska on may 2. Yet to find his path in life, he never expected to be inspired by a friendship with one of the most influential spiritual leaders in the world, pope john paul ii. Bush presented the presidential medal of freedom, the united states highest civilian honour, to john paul ii during a ceremony at the apostolic palace. The bravados classic western, full movie, gregory peck. Nov 24, 2017 john xxiii was pope for only 4 years, seven months and six days, from the 28th october to the 3rd june 1963, in a period of profound change, and during a time which produced the most significant. You dont have to be a catholic to apreciate this, nor to watch the movie. Anyone who directs a movie about the converging efforts of pope st.
This movie is not rated, but was created with an adult audience in mind. In 2005, after the death of pope john paul ii, both men were amongst. His sudden death has led to a number of conspiracy theories. Quick facts name john paul ii birth date may 18, 1920 death date april 2, 2005 did you know. Karol is a biography of karol wojtyla, later known as pope john paul ii, beginning in 1939 when karol was only 19 years old and ending at the papal conclave, october 1978 that made him pope. The visit by pope john paul ii to ireland in september of 1979 marked the high point of 1,500 years of catholicism in the country since the time of patrick, writes niall odowd in his book new. However, before the report was released conspiracy theories started swirling. Rent pope john paul ii 2004 on dvd and bluray netflix. Once a landfill, pope john paul ii park now offers picnicking, trails, athletic fields, and more. The netflix movie shows them sharing pizza and soda, but in real life theyre locked in an ideological stalemate. He was made a cardinal by pope paul vi in 1967, and in 1978 became the first.
When autoplay is enabled, a suggested video will automatically play next. While pope john paul ii and president reagan had admired one another from afar, the assassination attempts drew them together. Pope john paul i 1912 1978 reigned 26 august 1978 to his sudden death 33 days later. Jon voight, cary elwes, ben gazzara, james cromwell, and christopher lee. The two popes netflix movie true story are pope benedict. Pope john paul ii saw mel gibsons the passion of christ and endorsed the film saying.
Rome, italy cnn pope john paul ii has seen the controversial mel gibson movie, the passion of christ, and he liked it, vatican sources said wednesday. Shot on location in rome and poland in close connection with the vatican, this is the definitive epic film on the life of pope john paul ii. When the pope treats himself to a short skiing vacation, his choice of accommodation is linos family lodge. The miniseries was written and directed by john kent harrison and aired in the united states on the cbs network on 4 and 7 december 2005. Whereas a pope and a president was a chronological narrative of the story of reagan and john paul ii and their actions, interaction, and partnership, the book version of the divine plan is an. The special edition dvd includes spanish subtitles and a sixteenpage collectible booklet. One of several dramatized tributes to the late pontiff to be telecast in 2005, the twopart cbs biopic pope john paul ii is a remake of a popular italian miniseries, and was filmed on location in italy and poland. Stars jon voight, cary elwes, ben gazzara, james cromwell, and christopher lee. I dont know if finney ever recieved any award for this perfomance, but i do know john paul ii will go down in history not only as a great pope, but as an example of what being human means. He was a writer, known for the jewellers shop 1988, teatr telewizji 1953 and our gods brother 1997. The movie is honestly and actually about something. When meeting for the first time at the vatican the following year.
Dec 17, 2003 rome, italy cnn pope john paul ii has seen the controversial mel gibson movie, the passion of christ, and he liked it, vatican sources said wednesday. Dec 23, 2018 president reagans and pope john paul ii remarks at their arrival in alaska on may 2. This madefortv biopic stars albert finney as the polishborn pontiff. The film is based on real life events of roman catholic pope john paul i. President reagans and pope john paul ii remarks at their arrival in alaska. Pope benedict xvi although shot on a lavish scale in italy, poland and elsewhere, pope john paul ii succeeds on intimate terms even when troops are marching or huge crowds are filling st. Pope john paul ii was ordained in 1946, became the bishop of ombi in 1958, and became the archbishop of krakow in 1964. Pope john paul ii was born on may 18, 1920 in wadowice, malopolskie, poland as karol jozef wojtyla. This documentary, while informative is a much abbreviated account of the interactions between reagan and his staff and pope john paul ii leading to the fall of the soviet union. Pope john paul ii 2005 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. The divine plan for ronald reagan and john paul ii the. In 1978, wojtyla succeeds pope john paul i, thereby becoming the first nonitalian pope in four centuries. Pope john paul endorses the passion of christ with five.538 553 53 1119 474 1170 949 1061 538 1242 122 1303 572 1533 904 520 660 1244 165 289 583 690 571 953 132 925 1054 474 1187 783 545 55 1419 1539 1373 406 619 880 1089 877 126 93 45 119 780


Bennie Lou Hedrick
Submitted by News Staff on
September 8, 1927 January 18, 2017
Bennie Holland Hedrick has fought the good fight, she has finished the race, and she has kept the faith.
Now there is in store for her the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to her on that day – and not only to her, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.
Bennie died January 18, 2017 at the age of 89.
Private graveside services were held at George West Cemetery with Gary W. James, minister of Spiro, Oklahoma Church of Christ, officiating. Bennie is a member of the Church of Christ.
She was born to Bud (DL) Holland and Mae (Burkett) Holland, September 8, 1927, at Clegg, Texas in Live Oak County.
Bennie married Kennith Hedrick on June 10, 1952 in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Survivors include a son Ken (Joann) Hedrick of Gonzales, Texas; 4 daughters, Karen Hedrick Hanys of Victoria, Texas; Glenda Hernandez of George West, Texas; Nancy (Gary) James of Spiro, Oklahoma, and Terrie (Bill) McConnico of Pflugerville, Texas; one brother James Edward Holland of Beeville, Texas; two granddaughters, Amanda (Will) Williams of Sweeney, Texas and Brandy Shipman of George West, Texas; two grandsons Daniel (Lizzet) Dobie of Three Rivers, Texas and Ryan McConnico and fiancé Khayla Soto of Houston, Texas; 15 great-grandchildren; April Aviles, Madison Taylor, Tyler Taylor, Mason Taylor all of Sweeney, Zachariah Shipman, Olivia Shipman, Logan Shipman, Giana Shipman all of George West, Madison Dobie of Carlton, Texas, Cora, Alexis and James Lopez, Bronson Dobie and Riley Dobie of Three Rivers, Texas and one great-great-granddaughter Zoe Rae Baker of Brazoria, Texas.
She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and two special care givers Gail Thorne and Flo Blundell both of Gonzales, Texas, and a host of friends.
She is now reunited with her husband Kennith Hedrick, parents Bud and Mae Holland, three brothers D.L. Holland, Elmore Holland and Gene Holland. three sisters Ethel Rouse, Agnes Work and Tula Mae Hughes and two infant sisters Jewel and Opal.
Bennie worked at Roma Memorial Nursing Home in Three Rivers for 19 ½ years.
She loved working with the elderly.
After leaving the Roma Nursing Home due to her health, she worked many jobs caring for the elderly in their homes.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Hospice of South Texas, 605 East Locust Ave, Victoria, Texas 77901.
Arrangements under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home 906 St. Paul, Gonzales, Texas
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Christian mingle hookup
- divorce dating free site?
- Christian Mingle Review - AskMen!
- Christian Mingle Survey: 61% of Christians singles are willing to have casual sex » EXTV?
After all going wayward and refusing to repent goes against you the individual. He has promised a great future of hope and an expected end for us. Jesus Loves You precious one. Give your heart fully to Him. Tell the Holy Spirit to guide you through His word and I can assure you that you will stand before Kings and Queens and above all,Jesus and the heavenly host will give you a standing ovation in Heaven. February 19, at February 18, at 9: This was a great read!
As sson as I say no cookies you should see how fast they run! February 18, at 3: It is so sad to see how Satan catches Christians in this area. When I was younger I got involved in a relationship with a young Christian who was singing in church. I thought we would have a sinless relationship because we were both serving God but he put such a pressure on me that we started to kiss and masturbate. I never had sex beside these things, in fact I was still a virgin when I got married with the man God sent to me but the practices I did in my first relationship as a teenage open a door to incubus in my life.
They used to come and rape me in my dreams. I struggled and cried to God and people prayed for me but it took a very long time for me to recover. I always wondered if that man was an occultist because all the servant of God I met did not believe that kissing and watching porn few times could open a door to demons.
God wants us to give him our entire life and trust him for our needs. I thought that no man on this planet can wait until marriage but I decided to wait upon the Lord.
God sent me a man who waited until our wedding day, he never threatened me to leave me and never put any pressure on me. I pray for all the single people. May God give you strength and help you meet the right person in Jesus name. Disturbing statistics if not surprising as one previous poster wrote.
Christian Mingle, JDate Up For 'Hottest Way To Hook Up' On Adweek Survey | HuffPost
Let young people know that God commands purity not because he wants to keep them from having a good time but he is trying to protect them from the consequences of fornication. He does this as any good father would. Sadly people fornicate and have to deal with the scars of those broken emotional and spiritual ties, over and over again. Tell young people to value themselves and protect not just their bodies but their hearts and emotions. Tell them that even if they have fornicated God can wash them and make them new again, and it is never too late.
Purity is not easy but the benefits of spiritual and emotional freedom far outweigh the very temporary pleasures of the flesh. February 19, at 3: The soul ties you speak about is something that is often overlooked if not entirely ignored when it comes to singles engaging in fornication and until more Christian singles especially women!! People are unequipped to handle the consequences from partaking in sexual immorality yet fool themselves into thinking otherwise. Straddling the fence so to speak between spiritual and secular.
Horrible way to live! February 18, at 8: I do believe we live in a culture where we follow what people say. Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: We have to be alert. In Genesis 19 it was a big issue with Joseph.
- The best dating apps to get you laid.
- i keep dating the wrong guys;
- i keep dating the wrong guys.
I do believe those passages are still important and that Jesus came to fulfill all that was written. We live in a culture where laying in bed with a person is ok. Even laying in bed with pet animals is ok also.
I could go on and list shows today and in the pass that support this life style. Also these dating sites like Ashley Madison boast that they cause infidelity between couples. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: February 18, at 1: Reminds me of Steve Hardy who was invited to tbn and megafest even though he was promoting a book that gave a 90 day waiting period for sex…go figure.
February 17, at 9: February 17, at 8: This is one of the saddest things I have seen so far this year. Is it so hard to meet someone the old fashioned way and do things the old fashioned way? The fact that the site is called Christian Mingle says it all. February 18, at 6: Thank God for Heather Lindsey sharing the truth in this article. February 17, at 4: Wow this is an interesting topic. When they saw no husband in sight they began to engage in these behavouirs. It doesnt make easier for younger women seeing their peers who are not believers marrying settling down and having children.
February 17, at 3: As a Christian I did many things that contradicted the scriptures. I knew I was wrong but I never tried to modify the bible to fit my my agenda.
Christian Mingle Survey: 61% of Christians singles are willing to have casual sex
Some of my actions came from false teaching and some from bad choices but at the end of the day I had to examine myself. He is a demon. March 3, at 5: I seek the true, living God who will return to place all the powers of darkness in everlasting chains! March 4, at 2: It made me realize if people got married younger and discipled this would not be such a major issue but when you expect a woman to wait till 5o0 something or indefinately to get married There is a possiblity they will do their own thing.
Yes its sin but hope deferred makes the heart sick. I personally myself do not know of a Christian who is married that met their spouses in a godly way Most of the ladies were saved mid twenties saw no ring was forth coming in the church. Tried different relationships found the one had kids and then came back to God. These are sad statistics but not surprising. You save yourself before marriage because God says so, no matter what the cost and no matter what the reward. It is your reasonable service.
We have to get back to not just true biblical teaching in the Church but also discipleship and accountability. My heart aches for this next generation. Amen, Naquanna, so true. Also, like you said, there is absolutely NO accountability anymore, even many pastors are running around doing what they want to do, smh!! But for everyone else, CoffeeMeetsBagel is the top option. That was followed by eHarmony, Christian Mingle and Zoosk. The rest of these rankings, though, make a great deal of sense.
OKCupid launches new features to help you navigate dating in the Trump era. But what if you want something more than just a one night stand? As for the worst places to find true romance: A real blow to the dating establishment.
Reviewers, of course, have lodged plenty of complaints. So if you're looking for someone new, it might be time to ditch the old standards and give one of these apps a few swipes.


I’m a Christian and it informs everything I do because I was reared Christian in a missionary Baptist household. We went to church every time the door opened. I was baptized in the Mississippi River, an experience I remember profoundly and am in the 8th draft of a story about. Mine was a good childhood. It was not flawless but then, whose is? I grew up with a clear sense of right and wrong and a feeling of being protected by my extended blood and church families.
Except for this post and an interview of me some years back in the Christian Science Sentinel, I don’t talk about being a Christian. I’ve written this post because I’ve been dismayed over the past several years and recently about the behavior of some people I hold dear and some new friends in the making over statements and attitudes around what they consider being Christian to mean.
So here goes:
I’m a Christian and it doesn’t mean that I need a Christian stylist to do my hair or need to find a Christian credit union or use a Christian bakery.
I’m a Christian and it doesn’t mean I can’t go places where alcohol is served. In the household I grew up in, alcohol was forbidden but it didn’t mean Uncle *** couldn’t come to dinner and have his “taste.” It didn’t make me recoil at other people drinking.
I’m a Christian and it doesn’t mean that I don’t dance or pretend that I don’t by calling my movements praise dancing. (Even though the steps and the music beats aren’t lifted straight from secular music. ) Dancing is dancing. (Liturgical dance is different.)
I’m a Christian and I’ve “peeped” that a lot of other people I’ve met who are not Christian hold and live similar values as mine…sometimes they live them better.
I’m a Christian and it doesn’t mean that I have to be narrow in my thinking or pass judgments about other people (except in these blog posts, of course). I would never say to someone else, “You’re going to hell because…” something I’ve had said to me by an oh-so-Christian childhood
friend and heard other Christians pronounce to others.
I’m a Christian and have learned that “everybody talkin’ ‘bout heaven ain’t goin’ there.” (Don’t know where this phrase comes from but I’ve heard it all my life.) This means that my red flag goes up if I hear “have a blessed day” too ardently.
I’m a Christian and I’ve learned that going in the church doesn’t mean you’re of the church.
I’m a Christian and I pray and say “Lord, have mercy” throughout my day. It helps me, I can only suggest that it may help you.


It was a blessing to be part of the Amplified coast to coast mission,i am looking forward to see what God has in store in this new year.
Very soon the international gathering of worshipers will take place on the 30th of this month, i will update you as soon as possible.
The very first Gathering of worshipers will take place probably on the 30th of November, keep on praying for me as i am currently trusting God for a particular venue. Thanks
It is my birthday today. Thank you God for the breath of life, in you i live, i move and have my being.
Singing on Tuesday evening 2nd September at the revival ministry in Wetton. Looking forward to see what God has in store for this family.
We are running in a season where God is breaking the chains and removing all the stronghold that separate us. I thank God for this album coming all together to celebrate one King.


There are some passages from the Gospels which are referred to as the “Hard Sayings of Jesus”; sometimes because they are hard to put into practice, as in the case of his admonition “If your eye offends you, pluck it out” or his remark about camels and needles; sometimes because they’re hard to understand and run counter to what we think we know.
The last is the case with a story Jesus told in Luke chapter 16, sometimes called The Dishonest Steward, but which I am going to call the Parable of the Sleazy Embezzler.
A certain rich man has learned that his steward, the servant hired to manage his business affairs, has been doing a crappy job of it. The way Jesus puts it is that the guy “was accused of wasting [the Boss’s] possessions”, so he might not have actually been dipping into the till. He might have just made some really bad decisions with the Boss’s money. The Boss tells him that he’s going to audit the books to find out exactly what he’s been up to.
“The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg…” (Luke 16:3 NIV)
Fortunately, our embezzler comes up with a Cunning Plan. One by one, he calls in everyone who owes something and restructures their debt.
“So he called in each one of his masters debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ “’Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied. “The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.’ (v.5-6)
He hasn’t been fired yet; he still has the authority to conduct business in his master’s name; and so he uses that authority to forgive a portion of the debt each man owes his boss. That way, he figures, when he does lose his job, he’ll have plenty of people grateful to him who will be happy to help him out.
The Boss sees exactly what he’s done. Since the debts were restructured in his name, he can’t very well go back and demand the full payment without looking like a jerk. The most he can do is fire the dishonest steward – which he was going to do anyway – and it will look to the manager’s new friends that he was fired because he had done each of them a favor.
Some men might be pissed at the way the steward had outwitted him. This boss seems to have had a sense of humor. At least he was capable of recognizing the servant’s cleverness. Jesus says, “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly.” (v.8)
Commentators have puzzled over this parable for centuries. Why is Jesus holding up this cheater, this crook, this embezzler up as an example?
Some interpreters have made excuses for him, saying that Jesus only said that the guy was accused of malfeasance, not of actually guilty of it. Others have speculated that maybe his master had been overcharging his debtors in order to get around the Mosaic prohibition against charging interest, and that the steward was only converting the balance to what it should have been.
Both views are over-thinking things and missing the point. If the manager had been innocent of wrongdoing, the audit would have exonerated him. He knew it wouldn’t. He knew he was toast. And Jesus repeatedly calls him “dishonest.” No, the fact that he’s a cheat who got caught and what he had to do to cover his butt is the whole point of the parable.
Another interpretation is that the steward’s reduction of what the debtors owe his master reflects him forgoing what his own commission of the transaction would be, deliberately sacrificing his own cut in order to do the right thing. Once again, I think this is over-thinking the situation. Jesus was telling the story to make a point, and if the point was the manager making amends for his misdeeds, Jesus would have said so.
The master does not commend his soon-to-be-ex manager for his virtue, but for his shrewdness. In effect he’s saying, “You’re still fired, but I gotta admit, you’re a clever scoundrel!”
“For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.” (Luke 16:8)
Elsewhere Jesus tells his disciples, “Be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” (Matthew 10:16) Or putting it in D&D terms, just because you’re Lawful Good in alignment doesn’t mean you have to be Lawful Stupid.
This next part gets even more confusing, because it seems to say one thing, and then Jesus does a complete 180 turn. Or does he? I think this is largely a translation issue. The King James Version renders it this way:
“And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.” (Luke 16:9 KJV)
This makes it sound like we’re supposed to suck up to wealthy and ungodly people in order to gain… what? Heaven? This is the exact opposite of what Jesus says elsewhere, and of what he says in the following verses for that matter. Other translations, I think, are a little more clear:
“I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” (Luke 16:9 NIV)
This makes it a little more clear that the “mammon of unrighteousness” referred to in King Jim is simply our own secular, material wealth. As a matter of simple Enlightened Self-Interest, we ought to use our wealth in such a way to “make friends”. Another commentator goes back to the parable of the Sheep and the Goats in Matthew 25 in which the Son of Man judges the people gathered before him based on how well they treated their neighbors, because “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)
Jesus concludes this discourse on money with a more famous remark: “No servant can serve two masters … Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Luke 16:13 KJV) Mammon is a Semitic word for money or riches, and Jesus uses it as a personification of materialism. In the Middle Ages the word was used as a name for a demon of greed.
And if this sounds like a bunch of anti-capitalist hippie crap, the Pharisees thought so too:
The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight. (Luke 16:14-15)
I guess even a sleazy embezzler can be smart enough to keep an eye on the changing exchange rates.


3-Minutes prayer that will change your life
Making time for God and having four kids almost seems impossible some days. This 3-minute (which can be longer if you have time) prayer have changed the way I am able to communicate with God. Since I don't always have time at night, I try to wake up 30 minutes before the kids and focus on this prayer in the morning. Try it for a week and see if it changes your life the way it changed mine. Here is how it works:
1. Ask God to Be Revealed
Literally just ask, “God, please reveal yourself to me.” If necessary, imagine you’re in a dark room with a dimmer switch. In this room, it’s hard to make out what’s in front of us, though we know something is there. We ask God to gradually increase the light: “God, help me to see what’s in the room with me. Help me to see the people and things in the world before me. Help me to see you better.” Imagine the light in the room getting brighter and brighter.
2. Cultivate Gratitude
Give thanks for the day. Give thanks for the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat, the clothes we wear and the homes that provide us shelter. Give thanks for our families and friends. Try to be thankful for all the people we meet during the day, everyone from the jovial security guard to the tired waitress in desperate need of a break. Give thanks to God for that person who drove slowly earlier in the day when you were running late for a meeting. Maybe that laggard was God’s way of slowing us down to protect us from being harmed in an accident.
3. Pay Attention to Your Emotions
Sometimes our heads can get in the way of our hearts. Many of us have minds that never stop jumping from one thing to another. But it’s important to pay attention to our emotions, especially if we’re experiencing blockages. Ignatius believed that our emotions are able to carry us closer to God when they are free-flowing, just as they can stall us when there are barriers. What is God saying to us in the feelings we have about the day, in the angry, anxious, depressed, or hopeful and happy feelings we experienced at work or at home? Ask God for help to untangle these experiences.
4. Choose Something Great That Happened Today and Pray About It
Maybe you had a great conversation with a friend. Explore what made you feel good. Was it just laughs, or did you learn something? Pray for that friend; take that experience into your heart and ponder it there. Make the experience a prayer to God.
5. Ask, Where Was God for Me Today?
Was God present in your actions? Ignatius asks us to seek God in all things, so the question becomes whether or not we see God in our work, in the less fortunate, or in the friend who is going through a divorce. If we are angry at our brother or sister, we know that we are angry at God. We are called to forgive, and if we are struggling to do so, then we can ask God for help.
6. Bless the Tomorrow
We ask God to guide us on this journey we call life. Though this might seem almost rote or silly, asking God for directions is an important part of our lives. From time to time, all of us need to stop for directions. Before you finish your prayer, ask God to point you where you need to go. Then be still. Trust that God is guiding you in everything you are doing and get some sleep.
For more inspiration check out Life Everlasting by Gary Jansen.


Valletta the capital of Malta is inextricably linked to the history of the military and charitable Order of St John of Jerusalem. It was ruled successively by the Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs and the Order of the Knights of St John. Valletta’s 320 monuments, all within an area of 55 ha, make it one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world.
The top attractions to visit in Valletta are:
• St. John's Co-Cathedral
• Upper Barrakka Gardens
• Fort St Elmo - National War Museum
• Valletta Waterfront
• Lascaris War Rooms


Chosen as the royal pantheon by King Manuel I and financed by the fabulous wealth that came from trade with India, the monumental Jeronimos Monastery is a brilliant synthesis of late-Gothic and early Renaissance styles. (You’ve heard me talk about Manueline architecture and design earlier. In this building it reaches its apotheosis) Begun in 1501, it’s also an example of unquestionable technical mastery; especially in the elegant and bold ribbed dome that covers the entire church and the graceful double arches and extravagantly carved columns of the interior cloister. Standing at the entrance to Lisbon harbor in Belem, the monastery is a testament to Portugal’s continued belief in the Age of Exploration. Inside the main door of the church is another manifestation of that faith: the tomb of Vasco da Gama.