A Sermon Preached on Maundy Thursday 2021
They did not know, as we do now,
though empires rise and fall,
your Kingdom shall not cease to grow
till love embraces all.
The words I just quoted come from the hymn, “To Mock Your Reign, O Dearest Lord.” I wanted to start my sermon with them because I think they tell a story of a love that has teeth.
We often think of love as passive, even quaint, but these lyrics suggest that love is a force to be reckoned with. It is revolutionary, because it will not cease to grow beyond and apart from the social and political world we live in. Like ivy on a building, it covers and transforms every edifice, and every imperfect structure of human creation.
In the act of foot-washing, Jesus shows us how we can participate in this active and growing, revolutionary love.
Under normal circumstances, we would spend this evening participating in the foot washing ritual Jesus began in the Gospel. I have always found this ritual to be one of the strangest and most awkward events of the church year.
As a kid growing up in a tradition that didn’t even do communion every Sunday, I could not for the life of me figure out why we were so committed to sticking our unwashed, sandaled, Florida feet in buckets full of dirty water, while the nearest parishioner delicately took them between their hands. As a shy and germ-conscious preteen, there could be nothing more embarrassing or alarming than such an act.
And to make matters worse, the sermon for the day often honed in on just how dirty those disciples’ feet must have been, seeing how they lived in pedestrian society and walked the dirt roads in sandals all day. It made me squirm in my seat. In fact, I was so weirded out by Maundy Thursday that I refused to participate in foot-washing until I was in my mid-twenties.
On the day of my first foot-washing, I remember feeling a sudden urge to march down from the choir loft and just do it. I couldn’t explain why it suddenly felt possible for me, I just knew the Holy Spirit was calling me to confront my discomfort.
I knelt down by the altar table and washed the stinky feet of a teenage girl who had struggled to untie her Converse high-tops for the occasion. Then, an older choir member who I didn’t have a particularly good relationship with, washed mine.
All that grimy, uncomfortable strangeness! And yet, you know what I felt? I felt free. I wasn’t embarrassed or grossed out. I felt like I belonged in a way I hadn’t experienced for a long time. I found one of the clergy team afterward and remarked to her that something inside me had shifted.
You see, all this time I thought I would lose my pride in having to wash someone else’s feet, but I didn’t realize I was really trying to keep someone from washing mine. I didn’t want to be the one perceived as in need of washing. Until that experience, I had thought that foot washing was just a silly relic of the past.
Suddenly, I realized that Jesus’ remarkable act of washing his disciples’ feet was a living act that continues to teach us how to live and love well. As one commentary notes, that first foot washing revealed that: “Jesus loved them until the end of his life, and he loved them in a way that surpasses all imaginable loving.” When my fellow church member knelt down and washed my feet, I felt that I had been touched by the powerful love of Christ. And I felt a new motivation to act as a member of the Body of Christ.
So let me get back to those hymn lyrics, because I want to think about something for a little bit. If Maundy Thursday’s foot-washing shows us what Christ’s love looks like, a love that is paradoxically both humble and assertive, I wonder what that means for the world.
What it means for those “empires that rise and fall.” Because we know that Jesus’ death on the Cross wasn’t just for our personal salvation and personal transformation. Theologian Walter Rauschenbusch put it this way: “The purpose of all that Jesus said and did and hoped to do was always the social redemption of the entire life of the human race on earth.”
With Jesus’ social mission in mind, I see the equalizing act of foot-washing as an echo of Mary’s words in the Magnificat. When Mary hears that she is pregnant with the Son of God, she sings a very peculiar song:
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
This is not the passive, quaint language of a lullaby. This is revolutionary. Mary has a sudden urge to tell of God’s love by reminding the listener that God’s kingdom is a place of unstoppable growth. Like ivy on a building, it has the power to crush the brick and concrete of injustice.
Her words tell us something about the working of God in the world. And they’re often used politically to suggest that Christians should participate in uprisings and even violence. Mary’s words do sound violent, because we are so used to experiencing social transformation through acts of war.
But if foot-washing is God’s way of telling us what the Kingdom looks like, I think that means that the powerful need their feet washed.
Hear me out, because it takes one to know one. No, I may not be considered powerful in the grand scheme of things, but I know firsthand what it feels like to evade the humbling act of sitting down while someone awkwardly washes my feet.
I know what it feels like to try to puff myself up and isolate myself from others so they can’t see my faults. I know what it looks like to hoard things and count my money, and to focus on earthly power at the cost of losing sight of God’s vision for humanity.
For the rulers of this world, those inclinations must be almost unbearably strong. There’s so much to gain, and so much to lose.
In so many ways, we can find ourselves yearning for the kind of earthly power that would put us on thrones someday, a power that would make us untouchable and unquestioned, away from the prying eyes and hands of others. Whether we like it or not, we are often working to grow empires of power and wealth instead of the unstoppable love of God.
But Jesus tells us what we must do. First, we wash each other’s feet, knowing full well that it means committing ourselves to an extended community of awkward, messy, fallible people.
People we’ve been fighting with. People we hate. People who will betray us. People with stinky feet. We do this in the literal sense when we can, but we also must do it daily, by examining our hearts for resentment and self-righteousness, by asking for both forgiveness and accountability, and by continuing to show up for each other.
In giving up the fortresses we’ve built around ourselves, I think we’ll feel something we didn’t know we had lost. Freedom. Not the freedom of empires, but the wild, unstoppable freedom of Christ’s love. This love topples the mighty by revealing that political power looks like prison in light of the Kingdom of God. It humbles the rich by suggesting that pride is a poison that turns us away from the connection we long for, as people made in the image of God.
Like the act of foot-washing, Christ’s love knows no bounds, and acknowledges no hierarchies. Through each of us, Jesus’ hands reach out into the world and welcome others to a practice that makes us understand our shared humanity, with all its pain and with all its pride.
We are mutually humbled and mutually freed to build communities where all are honored and accounted for. This love requires communication, it demands humility, and it asks all to participate. Most of all, it keeps showing up. It keeps responding. And it covers us all with the sprawling ivy of God’s belonging.
In the vision and practice of foot-washing, we see a model for enacting Jesus’ love. In humility, we step forward and start saying “yes” to full participation in the Body of Christ. Let us keep saying “yes” to God ‘til love embraces all.
 Christianizing the Social Order (1912 ed.), 67


The Other St Blaise
In Dubrovnik, the image of St Blaise is prevalent. But you would unlikely find the image above upon searching the internet. It's nondescript, and easily gets unnoticed. His face is almost washed out. He is carrying the city on his right hand. All the other statues depict him holding the city on his left hand. He doesn't wear a lofty bishop hat. He stands smaller than the statues that are widespread across the old city. It' why I like it.
According to legend, St. Blaise saved Dubrovnik from an attack by Venetian forces back in 971. Venetian warships had dropped anchor around the ancient city walls on the eve of the 3rd of February. It was a dark winter’s night. The Venetians freely entered the Old City under the guise of requiring supplies for their journey eastwards. The real plan was much more sinister, they planned to invade and claim Dubrovnik for their empire. Spies dressed as sailors carefully observed the Dubrovnik defences, counting the number of guards and making notes of the cannons and archers.
Unbeknown to the Venetians, they too were being watched. As darkness fell on the 3rd of February 971 a local priest walked through the cobbled streets of the Old City to his parish church, the Church of St. Steven. When he arrived, he was surprised to find the door open. With trepidation he entered. Before him stood an old man dressed as a bishop, mitre on his head and a staff in his hand.
“Address your city fathers the Venetians plan to attack,” whispered the old man from the darkness. “Please identify yourself to me,” asked the priest. To which the old man replied that his name was Blaise.
Realising the gravity of the situation and heeding the message from Blaise, the priest did indeed inform the city fathers. Immediately the guards on the stone walls of the city were doubled, the gates were closed. Measures were put in place to defend the city at all costs. The Venetians soon became aware that Dubrovnik was arming for an attack, their plan had been discovered and the element of surprise was lost. Just as quickly as they had arrived they loaded their ships and retreated into the night. Dubrovnik had been saved. The city was safe.


If you're active on Facebook or Twitter, you may have noticed the new hashtag we've been using when promoting our church: #ConnectingChristAndCommunity.
And in case you don't know what a hashtag is, it's something used on social media sites to help explain a situation or what a group hopes to accomplish.
Our new hashtag came out of a brainstorming session that took place during a Small Church Initiative breakout discussion. We were all trying to come up with a short statement that encapsulates our church's mission, and Ginger Nichols excitedly said, "What about 'connecting Christ and community'?" And from there, our hashtag was born.
That's really what we're trying to do, isn't it? So many people are disconnected from the church or from God...and our purpose is to reach out to them and show them God's love in meaningful ways. Connecting others to God is what we're all called to do.
Last Saturday, a group of PV members did just that. We went to a home in Sachse to help the 90-year-old homeowner put up a new fence and split firewood. His fence had fallen down, and with more winter weather coming, he needed more firewood to burn. You see, the only way he has to heat his home is by burning firewood. He was so grateful for our help... his fence is fixed, and he has enough firewood for the rest of the winter... all because members of our church gave up a few hours on a Saturday morning to connect with the community.
And, if there's one thing our church does extremely well, it's build community. Our combined worship service at Cox Elementary was proof of that! We had 101 members and guests join us for a great worship service, fellowship and food. Feeling like you belong somewhere is so important in life, and our church does a great job of welcoming everyone!
So, as you're on social media sites, please begin using our new hashtag when checking in to worship or talking about our church. This is a simple way to promote what we're all about in a clear, concise way.
I am excited about the future of our church... and am so grateful to be your pastor!


Making plans is a part of life, it’s a necessity actually without them our lives are kind of chaos. But as a Christian our plans must yield to His plans, we must always be willing to change them and basically go with whatever God calls us to do. I mean He is the ultimate planner everything in our lives is part of His plan, the Guy even planned out the creation of the Earth. The word “plans” is every where throughout scripture and every time we see it, it basically says surrender yours to Him. This got me thinking about how much we as a society always seem to have a “back up” plan “just in case”. Just in case of what…? God doesn’t come through?
You see every time we make these back up plans we are showing something about our faith. We are saying God I trust You, but just in case You don’t come through in the way I want You to, I’m just going to have this other option over here hidden in the corner, but yeah my trust is fully in You (sarcasm)… It doesn’t really work like that, and no it’s really not okay to have a back up plan. Sure it’s okay to save money in case you lose your job or something terrible happens, but if God were to ask you to donate all that money would you do it? If all you really do is prepare for the “just in case” failure, your most likely not going to accomplish what God truly wants you to. And usually His plan does not provide security or make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, no usually His plan requires you to feel a little uncomfortable. But time and time again throughout scripture He assures us that He is never far away.
“Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.” Proverbs 16:3
“For we live by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7
“For the Lord Himself has said “I will never leave you, nor forsake you” Hebrews 13:5


In Revelation 2-3 we see John addresses each church in a way that emphasizes not only their standing before the Lord, but more importantly Jesus' authority over them. Kistemaker writes, “Jesus addresses John at Patmos and tells him twice to write letters to the seven churches on the mainland (1:11, 19). He reveals himself as the One who is the First and the Last, who is the living one who suffered death but is alive, and who has ultimate authority over Death and Hades. How absolutely encouraging this is! Also every letter following the address to each church has an opening line that is taken from the description of Jesus that John has recorded, Each of the seven churches presents a different aspect of Jesus’ appearance, power, and authority” (Simon J. Kistemaker, Revelation, New Testament Commentary [Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2001], 104, Logos). This was done most likely to provide hope and joy to those who were suffering and needed correction.
As we previously mentioned in the first article in this series, Revelation is all about Jesus! It is about Him as a person, his role, his victory and his sovereignty. Notice that the greetings describe Jesus in multiple ways—for example, the death and resurrection of Jesus (2:8–9), words that describe Jesus in royal terms (2:12), terms of power and authority (2:18), to name a few. Even though the language of Revelation can be difficult to interpret at times, there is no question that some of the churches were failing to understand Jesus’ authority and dominion , and they needed to be reminded that Jesus was sovereign Lord. While having her own status and role within the body of Jesus, each congregation is reminded that Jesus is Lord of all the churches and that each church is responsible both to him and to one another to preserve the gospel and live among nonbelievers as witnesses to it.
Several things need to be noted regarding this fact. First, this brings to light that all must live in complete submission to Christ Jesus. This brings accountability and comfort. But secondly, not only are believers to be accountable to Christ Jesus, but we are also accountable to one another as well. This "go it alone" Christianity that is so prevalent in our midst today, was not anywhere to be found in the Scripture. This brings comfort to know that we belong to Christ, and we belong to one another as well.
We see that these churches were in need of comfort and correction. Notice how John writes as directed in order to do just that. As the churches were facing persecution, they handled the persecution in different ways. As each church is addressed, most of them are encouraged for things such as endurance (2:2–3, 19; 3:10), being faithful witnesses (2:13, 19), and standing firm doctrinally (2:2, 13; 3:8). The difficulty of holding up under pressure shouldn’t be understated. As these churches faced persecution—beginning from inside the churches and then an eventual empire wide persecution—they needed assurance that Jesus was still with for them, loved them and was in sovereign control. The words of encouragement for the churches shows the love and kindness that Jesus has for His bride. Jesus’s words to Thyatira are an excellent way of describing his profound love for them: “I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first” (2:19). What an incredible thing to say! Jesus celebrates their current work as greater than the work they had done for him previously. What we learn here is that as we obey God sacrificially, he takes notice and rejoices over us!
Another major component of the letters to the churches is Jesus’s correction of particular sins that have been allowed to seep into the life of the church. Notice that John does not do this right away... He only did this after Jesus commends them for what they are doing in His name. One of the examples of correction is seen in Ephesus, the churches had abandoned their first love (2:4). There is some debate as to what this abandoned love refers to and the overall impact it had on the churches. Morris states, “It is not clear whether this is love for Christ (‘you do not love me now as you did at first’, GNB), or for one another (‘you have given up loving one another’, Moffatt), or for mankind at large. It may be that a general attitude is meant which included all three (‘you do not love as you did at first’, Phillips). Forsaken (aphēkes) is a strong-negative term; they had completely abandoned their first love (the passionate love of a newly married couple). They had yielded to the temptation, ever present to Christians, to put all their emphasis on sound teaching alone. The goal for them was loving correct doctrine with no effect on their hearts. "In the process they lost love, without which all else is nothing” (Leon Morris, Revelation: An Introduction and Commentary, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries 20 [Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1987], 65, Logos). Perhaps the most negative example of Jesus’ correction could be found in Laodicea, where the churches are found to be neither hot nor cold (3:15). The passion and hope they should have had in serving Christ are not evident, and as a result, the world around them cannot determine the worth of Jesus’ lordship in their lives or the reason for their congregation gathering in his name. Morris states, “To prefer a rejection of the faith to the way the Laodiceans professed it is startling to say the least (cf. 2 Pet. 2:21). But to profess Christianity while remaining untouched by its fire is a disaster. There is more hope for the openly antagonistic than for the coolly indifferent. ‘There is no one farther from the truth in Christ than the one who makes an idle profession without real faith’ (Walvoord). Their coolness was a denial of all that Christ stands for” (Leon Morris, Revelation, 84–85).
Walvoord's assessment is a fair indictment on the current state of our people today. I believe we are a cross between the two examples that I have aptly decided to include for this particular point. I believe that we are making strides and correcting many things as a Christian people, but where we have been is precisely these two places. Many are (or have been) so decidedly concerned with possessing sound doctrine with not Life alteration, or they have become completely docile and lifeless, with not concern for the things of God..., never moved along by the moving of the Holy Spirit of God. Indifference and apathy mark many places with a church name. This indictment is said, not in anger, but with sadness mingled with hope that God will move us from apathy to spirit filling and joy once again.
Believers must remember our identity in Christ Jesus, and one of those marks is that we are to be salt and light in the world we live in. If we are to be salt and light then we must be willing to let Jesus examine us from time to time, to ensure that the gospel means to us what it should. As we listen to his voice, it’s important to remember that sometimes Jesus uses other people to both celebrate and correct us. After all, these churches were being held accountable by John, who was relaying the message to them from Jesus. Sometimes Jesus uses others to lead us to examine our lives and to look only to Jesus, so that we can ensure we are sharing the good news that changed us with a world that desperately needs to know it’s in need of change. God uses us to help other's look to the only One who can make All Things New.
For some weeks now, our congregation at Twin Lakes has been studying the book of Revelation at an aerial view. Far too many have approached the book in years past from a dispensationalist's view, seeking to unpack the vision genre from a word by word exegetical approach, thus missing the main point of this book..., Jesus our Victor, makes all things new. This is the not only the whole theme of Scripture, but most importantly it is the summary of the final stage of the whole book's theme.
Sometimes the challenge of reading Revelation is found -not in the mystery of it, but rather in overcoming our pre-understanding of it. I believe it is due to our association of the book’s Greek title (apokalypsis) with the way we understand the idea of “apocalypse” in modern English language. When speaking of the title, NT Wright says, “This is partly because the original word, ‘Apocalypse’, wasn’t well known at the time of earlier translations into English. Now, of course, ‘apocalypse’, and its cousin ‘apocalyptic’, have become well known in English. Perhaps too well known: they have come to refer, not so much to the sudden unveiling of previously hidden truth, but to ‘apocalyptic’ events, violent and disturbing events such as natural disasters (earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis) or major and horrific human actions. In that sense, September 11, 2001 was an ‘apocalyptic’ event” (N. T. Wright, Revelation for People, New Testament for Everyone [Louisville: John Knox Press, 2011], 1, Kindle)
We tend to get lost in the interpretive trends of the last century, which often seek to fog up John’s historical vantage points, and jump headlong into the application of the book to current events. When explaining Revelation as a book, Wright argues “‘Revelation’—the idea, and this book—are based on the ancient Jewish belief that God’s sphere of being and operation (‘heaven’) and our sphere (‘earth’) are not after all separated by a great gulf. They meet and merge and meld into one another in all kinds of ways. For ancient Jews, the place where this happened supremely was the Temple in Jerusalem; this is not unimportant as the action proceeds. Most humans seem blind to this, only seeing the earthly side of the story. Some are aware that there is more to life, but are not quite sure what it’s all about. Ancient Jews struggled to see both sides of the story, though it was often too much of an effort” (N. T. Wright, Revelation, 3). Well, we of course learn in this book, it is all about the Lion and the Lamb, Jesus Christ (Revelation 5.)
The key to understanding Revelation is summed up in recognizing the significance of Jesus’s death and resurrection as the source of the believer’s victory in life and death (Revelation 1:4–6).
Jesus is described as “the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.”
Each phrase has an emphasis intended to paint a picture of Jesus as victorious and worthy of praise.
Revelation paints a courtroom scene for us, where the evidence for God’s final victory is displayed in prophecy, witness, judgment, and reward. The testimony of God’s great victory is summed up in 1:5–6, when Jesus is said to have “freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father.” Revelation seeks to remind the churches being addressed—both standalone and the Church as a whole—that the work of Jesus has given them opportunity to be complete and holy only in relation to God through the perfection of the Son. The author’s encouraging words of assurance relate both to the current historical situation of the churches during the time of John and also to the promise of Jesus’s imminent return to set all things right.
I am a great sinner saved by far greater grace. God has blessed me with a wonderful family and a beautiful Gospel congregation at Twin Lakes Bible Church.


The past thirty minutes have looked like this: word, word, sentence. Backspace, backspace, backspace. Word, word, backspace backspace.
I have came to the conclusion that sometimes there are no words, only tears.
Our very first nephew was born this week, hours later he was called home and healed in heaven. I am not sure if Brian's brother and wife would be comfortable with us sharing this news with you, but I know there are people who read this blog who have a special place in their hearts for little angles who get their wings all too soon, and I know how prayer (and connection) can heal the deepest of hurts.
Please pray for Brian's family, who have endured more hardships in the past few years than anyone should ever have to face.


The following is a summary of Deacon Dan’s homily from February 20, 2011 – The Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Today’s readings are rich with imagery and sayings about Jewish law. To break open the word we need to put some of this in context.
Understanding the Law
In the Gospel, we hear the quote “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” which is an Old Testament saying found in Leviticus and Exodus. Many people think this is a saying about getting even (e.g., If you take something of mine, I’ll take something of yours. If you murder one of mine, I’ll murder one of yours). Actually, it is a saying about limiting violence and retaliation.
In the First Reading we hear the Lord tell Moses: Don’t bear hatred in your heart. Do not incur a sin because of them. Take no revenge and cherish no grudge. And, love your neighbor as yourself.
But Jesus takes these sayings a step further. He effectively tells his disciples – Don’t let the evil actions of another person trap you into retaliation He is saying that evil is a choice. And just because another chooses evil, doesn’t mean you have to. Jesus wants us to be the kind of person we hear about in the Psalm – “Kind and Merciful.” Jesus gives us several examples of how to put those words into action.
Putting the Law in Action – Jesus’ Way
He tells his disciples: “When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one as well” It was a Jewish custom that slapping someone on the face with the back of hand hand was twice as insulting as slapping him with the palm of your hand. So, a right-handed person slapping someone on the right cheek (like Jesus described) implies such a backhanded blow and suggests great humiliation. But, as humiliating as this would be, Jesus wants his disciples to prepare to do more when confronted by insult or hardship.
Jesus goes on to tell his disciples: “If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand over your cloak as well.” A tunic was the main garment worn in Jesus’ time. By law, a Jew could be forced to hand over his tunic to pay a debt. Now, even poor men would have owned two tunics, so losing one would not be the worst thing that could happen. But most people only had one cloak. It served as a coat by day and a blanket by night. So, giving up your tunic and your cloak was a great hardship. Again, Jesus is preparing his disciples to do more.
Finally, Jesus tells his disciples: “Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go for two miles.” Palestine during the time of Jesus was under Roman control. The Romans were permitted by law to enlist natives as guides or pack-bearers for a mile of any journey. So we hear the same message from Jesus again. Don’t bear hatred in your heart if forced to obey a one-sided law or to do something for someone who you might be at odds against. Do not incur a sin because of them. Take no revenge and cherish no grudge.
As humiliating and offensive it is to be slapped in the face, to be forced to hand over a tunic to pay a debt, to be forced to carry a foreigner’s pack in your own homeland, Jesus wants us to respond to personal insults with grace, patience and forgiveness.
Jesus gives his disciples a new insight into the Law and helps the disciples release the hidden potential of love and compassion.
He wants us to learn to be perfect and holy like his Father.
Cardinal Francis Xavier Thuan
There’s a story of Cardinal Francis Xavier Thuan who spent 14 years in prison in Communist Viet Nam. They arrested and even tortured him, trying to get him to give up his Catholic faith. But instead, he chose to live his faith passionately, even while imprisoned. Here is how he describes what happened:
“In the beginning, the guards didn’t talk to me. I was terribly sad. I wanted to be kind and polite to them, but it was impossible. They avoided speaking with me.
“One night a thought came to me: ‘Francis, you are still very rich. You have the love of Christ in your heart; love them as Jesus has loved you.’
“The next day I started to love them even more, to love Jesus in them; smiling and exchanging kind words with them. I began to tell them stories of my trips abroad, of how people live in America, in Canada, in Japan, in the Philippines … about economics, about freedom, about technology. This stimulated their curiosity and they began asking me many questions.
“Little by little we became friends. They wanted to learn foreign languages. And, in time, my guards became my students!”
Today’s Gospel message isn’t just about dealing with “evil acts”, with insults and humiliation. The Gospel also gives us a challenge to go forward and use what we have learned. (“To be perfect as [our] heavenly Father is perfect.”) Jesus is calling us to take personal responsibility for our actions and for living the Gospel message.
He tells us: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Jesus goes on to tell us it is easy love those who you love. But, sometimes, that’s where the Gospel message must begin – with those you love the most – at home, with your family. That’s where we begin learning good spiritual habits
We can all make selfless acts of generosity every once in a while. We can even give the appearance of doing it often, if we want to impress certain people – like a boss, a girlfriend or boyfriend, or a teacher. But Christ is asking each of us, as his followers, to go deeper. He wants us to form the virtue of generosity. He wants us to develop the habits of giving and forgiving.
It Starts at Home
We have to start at home. And now seems as good a time as any! So, this week, I want you to think about these things and practice developing these good habits:
We have to learn to “go the extra mile” by doing a little more than our share with the chores, and not looking for any reward.
We have to learn to “turn the other cheek” by being the first one to say we’re sorry, even if the fault is not totally with us.
We have to learn to “give over our cloak” by giving our family members the benefit of the doubt, excusing them for their weaknesses as easily as we excuse ourselves.
This is where true Christian virtue begins: at home, with those who are closest to us. Those whom we know so well … and who know us so well, and who rub us the wrong way the most often.
If we can learn to be both giving and forgiving with them, doing so with others will be a piece of cake!
Copyright © Deacon Dan Donnelly. All Rights Reserved.


Vatican City, a city-state surrounded by Rome, Italy, is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. It’s home to the Pope and a trove of iconic art and architecture. Its Vatican Museums house ancient Roman sculptures such as the famed “Laocoön and His Sons” as well as Renaissance frescoes in the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel, famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling.
Vatican City contains religious and cultural sites such as St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums. They feature some of the world’s most famous paintings and sculptures. The unique economy of Vatican City is supported financially by donations from the faithful, by the sale of postage stamps and souvenirs, fees for admission to museums, and sales of publications. Vatican City has no taxes and items are duty-free.
The two must-see sights are St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, but the Vatican Palace contains magnificent rooms decorated by the greatest artists of their time, as well as priceless collections in more than a dozen museums. In addition to the major museums, smaller collections will appeal to specialized interests: the Museum of Secular Art’s ancient sculpture, the Museum of Sacred Art’s finds from catacombs and early Christian churches, the Map Gallery, a gallery of candelabras and tapestries.
The Sistine Chapel is a chapel in the Apostolic Palace, in Vatican City and the official residence of the pope. Originally known as the Cappella Magna, the chapel takes its name from Pope Sixtus IV, who had it built between 1473 and 1481.
During the reign of Sixtus IV, a team of Renaissance painters that included Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, Pinturicchio, Domenico Ghirlandaio and Cosimo Rosselli, created a series of frescos depicting the Life of Moses and the Life of Christ, offset by papal portraits above and trompe-l’œil drapery below. These paintings were completed in 1482, and on 15 August 1483 Sixtus IV celebrated the first mass in the Sistine Chapel for the Feast of the Assumption, at which ceremony the chapel was consecrated and dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
The first stage in the decoration of the Sistine Chapel was the painting of the ceiling in blue, studded with gilt stars, and with decorative borders around the architectural details of the pendentives. This was entirely replaced when Michelangelo came to work on the ceiling in 1508.
Of the present scheme of frescos, the earliest part is that of the side walls. They are divided into three main tiers. The central tier of the walls has two cycles of paintings, which complement each other, The Life of Moses and The Life of Christ. They were commissioned in 1480 by Pope Sixtus IV and executed by Domenico Ghirlandaio, Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, Cosimo Rosselli and their workshops. They originally ran all round the walls, but have since been replaced on both end walls.
The Pinacoteca has a wide-ranging collection of Brazilian art, mainly noted for its vast assemblage of 19th-century paintings and sculptures, one of the largest in the country, as well as for a number of iconic Brazilian Modernist artworks. The collection also includes a department of works on paper, European paintings and sculptures from 19th-century artists, decorative arts, etc.
Even though it was robbed of many of its treasures by Napoleon, the Pinacoteca contains 16 rooms of priceless art from the Middle Ages to contemporary works. Arranged in chronological order, the pictures give an excellent survey of the development of Western painting. Medieval art includes Byzantine, Sienese, Umbrian, and Tuscan paintings, as well as a Giotto triptych and a Madonna and St. Nicholas of Bari by Fra Angelico.
here is a triptych by Filippo Lippi, Coronation of the Virgin by Pinturicchio, and a Madonna by Perugino. A room is devoted to tapestries from cartoons by Raphael; his Madonna of Foligno; and his last painting, the famous 1517 Transfiguration. Portraits include da Vinci’s unfinished St. Jerome, a Titian Madonna, and Caravaggio’s Entombment.
Saint Peter’s Square is a large plaza located directly in front of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, the papal enclave inside Rome, directly west of the neighborhood of Borgo. Both the square and the basilica are named after Saint Peter, an apostle of Jesus considered by Catholics to be the first Pope.
The grand Piazza San Pietro in front of St. Peter’s Basilica was laid out by Bernini between 1656 and 1667 to provide a setting where the faithful from all over the world could gather. It still serves that purpose admirably, and is filled to capacity each Easter Sunday and on other important occasions.
The open space which lies before the basilica was redesigned by Gian Lorenzo Bernini from 1656 to 1667, under the direction of Pope Alexander VII, as an appropriate forecourt, designed “so that the greatest number of people could see the Pope give his blessing, either from the middle of the façade of the church or from a window in the Vatican Palace”. Bernini had been working on the interior of St. Peter’s for decades; now he gave order to the space with his renowned colonnades, using a simplified Doric order to avoid competing with the palace-like façade by Carlo Maderno, but he employed it on an unprecedented colossal scale to suit the space and evoke a sense of awe.
Vatican City museum displaying a collection of ancient Greek & Roman sculptures.
The Vatican Museums have the largest collection of ancient sculpture in the world, mainly found in Rome and the surrounding areas, most of it displayed in the systematic arrangement designed by Popes Clement XIV and Pius VI from 1769 to 1799. These galleries contain such a wealth of magnificent and significant pieces that even a list of the highlights is a long one.
In the Sala a Croce Greca, don’t miss the red porphyry sarcophagi of Constantine’s daughter, Constantia, and his mother, St. Helen, both richly decorated with figures and symbols. In the Sala delle Muse look for Belvedere Torso, a first-century-BC work by Apollonius of Athens that was admired by Michelangelo. In the Gabinetto delle Maschere is a mosaic floor of theatrical masks from the Villa Adriana in Tivoli.
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican, or simply Saint Peter’s Basilica, is a church built in the Renaissance style located in Vatican City, the papal enclave that is within the city of Rome, Italy.
Catholic tradition holds that the basilica is the burial site of Saint Peter, chief among Jesus’s apostles and also the first Bishop of Rome (Pope). Saint Peter’s tomb is supposedly directly below the high altar of the basilica, also known as the Altar of the Confession. For this reason, many popes have been interred at St. Peter’s since the Early Christian period.
St. Peter’s is famous as a place of pilgrimage and for its liturgical functions. The pope presides at a number of liturgies throughout the year both within the basilica or the adjoining St. Peter’s Square; these liturgies draw audiences numbering from 15,000 to over 80,000 people. St. Peter’s has many historical associations, with the Early Christian Church, the Papacy, the Protestant Reformation and Catholic Counter-reformation and numerous artists, especially Michelangelo. As a work of architecture, it is regarded as the greatest building of its age. St. Peter’s is one of the four churches in the world that hold the rank of Major papal basilica, all four of which are in Rome, and is also one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome. Contrary to popular misconception, it is not a cathedral because it is not the seat of a bishop; the cathedra of the pope as bishop of Rome is at Saint John Lateran.
The Gardens of Vatican City, also informally known as the Vatican Gardens in Vatican City, are private urban gardens and parks which cover more than half of the country, located in the west of the territory and owned by the Pope.
Pious tradition claim that the foundation site of the Vatican Gardens was spread with sacred soil brought from Mount Calvary by Empress Saint Helena to symbolically unite the blood of Jesus Christ with that shed by thousands of early Christians, who died in the persecutions of Emperor Nero Caesar Augustus.
Since the end of 2014, the Vatican Museums and the Directorate of Technical Services of the Governorate of Vatican City State have been running the project of restoration and conservation of various stone artifacts in the gardens. The goal of the project has been to prevent the deterioration of the objects of art-historical interest.
There are two main floors in the museum, the ground floor and the first floor. On the ground floor there is an extensive collection of large-scale works in stone including statues, reliefs and architectural elements. These are arranged chronologically in clockwise fashion, from the pre-dynastic to the Greco-Roman period. The first floor is dedicated to smaller works, including papyri, coins, textiles, and an enormous collection of wooden sarcophagi. The numerous pieces of papyrus are generally small fragments, owing to their decay over the past two millennia. Several languages are found on these pieces, including Greek, Latin, Arabic, and ancient Egyptian. The coins found on this floor are made of many.
Also on the ground floor are artifacts from the New Kingdom, the time period between 1550 and 1069 BC. These artifacts are generally larger than items created in earlier centuries. Those items include statues, tables, and coffins (sarcophagi). It contains 42 rooms; upon entering through the security check in the building, one looks toward the atrium and the rear of the building with many items on view from sarcophagi and boats to enormous statues.
On the first floor there are artifacts from the final two dynasties of Egypt, including items from the tombs of the Pharaohs; Thutmosis III, Thutmosis IV, Amenophis II, Hatshepsut, and the courtier Maiherpri, as well as many artifacts from the Valley of the Kings, in particular the material from the intact tombs of Tutankhamun and Psusennes I. Two special rooms contain a number of mummies of kings and other royal family members of the New Kingdom. On April 3rd 2021, twenty-two of these mummies were transferred to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat in a grand parade dubbed The Pharaohs’ Golden Parade
best-mag magazine was opened in 2022, we try to provide quality and attractive content on various topics, especially tourism and travel .
California is a state in the Western region of the United States. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and the Mexican state of Baja California to the south; it has a coastline along the Pacific Ocean to the west. With over 38.9 million residents across a total area of […]
Bucharest is the capital and largest city of Romania. It is described as the cultural, financial, entertainment, and media centre in the country with a significant influence in Eastern Europe as well. In geopolitical regards, Bucharest has been and still is an important capital of a state situated in Central and Eastern Europe, where noteworthy […]
Athens romanized: Athína, pronounced Ancient Greek: Ἀθῆναι, romanized: Athênai, pronounced is a major coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, and it is both the capital and the largest city of Greece. With its urban area’s population numbering over five million, it is also the fifth largest urban area in the European Union. Athens dominates and […]


As I was saying the other day, we were talking at the Little Town Book Club about whether or not we have ever felt God speaking to us or directing our lives in specific ways. Most of the women were saying, “No, not really. No, I haven’t,” and my eyes, I believe, started bugging out of my head.
“You have felt God speaking to you I take it?” the Little Town Book Club leader asked me.
My answer, of course, it yes, yes I have. Many times, for many reasons, and in many ways.
I have felt God speaking to me as thoughts have come into my head, seemingly out of nowhere, to check up on someone or provide a service for someone. I have felt God speaking to me as solutions to problems have suddenly become clear in my mind, sometimes randomly and sometimes because the ideas have been presented to me through scriptures or through the words of another person. I have felt God speaking to me as I have prayed, and thoughts and ideas and answers have come to me so forcefully it has taken my breath away. I have felt God speaking to me as I have chosen a course of action and felt at peace with it, letting me know I was doing the right thing. Similarly, I have felt God speaking to me as I have felt uncomfortable with a course of action, letting me know it was not the right thing. I have felt God speaking to me many times through dreams.
I hesitate to share that I experience revelation through dreams for fear that people will think I take every random dream as some form of divine communication. So, just for the sake of clarity let me say this: most of my dreams are just typical, random, subconscious garbage. Very, very few are something more. I can tell the difference. I know there are those who would argue that even my meaningful dreams are just my subconscious mind working through my problems and challenges to come up with answers, but I can tell you unequivocally that, though I also have dreams like that, I am speaking of something completely different. My subconscious mind does not have the ability to teach me about experiences I have not yet had. My subconscious mind does not have the ability to tell me about events that will happen in the future and what I will need to do to help those adversely affected by the events. My subconscious mind, on its own, could not tell me the genders of my biological children before any of them were ever conceived. God, however, can, could, and does do all of that. There is not a shred of doubt in my mind about that.
Our knowledge of our ability, even our right, to receive personal revelation from God is probably one of the hallmarks of our religion. I can not imagine going through life believing that the windows of Heaven have been closed to us in that way, that prophecy and revelation were privileges reserved only for those in Biblical times. Not that I am claiming to be some kind of prophet, because, obviously, I’m not; but there is a prophet on the earth today, and I am entitled to revelation for myself and for those within my stewardship.
Here is a quote, longer than I usually pull, but it speaks so well about this topic. It is from a talk by President James E. Faust, former counselor in the First Presidency (this means he was a counselor to the prophet at the time — he is now deceased, as is the prophet under whom he served). Also, by way of explanation, he quotes some prophets of old from the Book of Mormon, so when you wonder who these people are he’s talking about that you’ve never heard of? That’s who they are. Now for the quote:
The Right of Personal Revelation
Latter-day Saints, having received the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, are entitled to personal inspiration in the small events of life as well as when they are confronted with the giant Goliaths of life. If worthy, we are entitled to receive revelations for ourselves, parents for their children, and members of the Church in their callings. But the right of revelation for others does not extend beyond our own stewardship.
David, the youngest son of Jesse, a mere shepherd boy, volunteered to fight the giant Goliath. David and all of the army of Israel were insulted by the humiliating taunts of this formidable giant, but David knew that inspiration had brought him to save Israel. King Saul was so impressed with the faith and determination of this young boy that he appointed him to fight Goliath. Goliath made sport of David’s youth and lack of armament. David responded that he came in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, and that the whole assembly would learn that the Lord does not save by the sword and the spear, “for the battle is the Lord’s” (1 Sam. 17:47). Then David threw a rock from his sling with such force and accuracy that the stone sank deep into the forehead of Goliath. Goliath fell to the earth a dying man, and the Philistines fled in fear.
What has happened to David’s living God? It is the greatest insult to reason to suggest that God, who spoke so freely to the prophets of the Old Testament, now stands mute, uncommunicative, and silent.
We may well ask, “Does God love us less than those led by the ancient prophets? Do we need His guidance and instruction less? Reason suggests that this cannot be. Does He not care? Has He lost His voice? Has He gone on a permanent vacation? Does He sleep?” The unreasonableness of each of these proposals is self-evident.
When the Savior taught in the synagogue at Capernaum, He proclaimed His divinity in no uncertain terms. The Apostle John states:
“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
“Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
“Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
“And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:66–69).
We acknowledge and testify that the same witness of Christ’s divinity as received by Peter is also our sacred knowledge.
Personal revelation comes as a testimony of truth and as guidance in spiritual and temporal matters. Latter-day Saints know that the promptings of the Spirit may be received upon all facets of life, including daily, ongoing decisions. Without seeking the inspiration of the Almighty God, how could anyone think of making an important decision such as “Who is to be my companion?” “What is my work to be?” “Where will I live?” “How will I live?”
How Is Personal Revelation Received?
Some guidelines and rules are necessary if one is to be the recipient of revelation and inspiration. They include (1) to try honestly and sincerely to keep God’s commandments, (2) to be spiritually attuned as a receiver of a divine message, (3) to ask God in humble, fervent prayer, and (4) to seek answers with unwavering faith.
I testify that inspiration can be the spring for every person’s hope, guidance, and strength. It is one of the magnified treasures of life. It involves coming to the infinite knowledge of God.
How do revelation and inspiration operate? Each person has a built-in “receiving set” which, when fine-tuned, can be a receiver of divine communication. Said Job, “There is a spirit in man: and … the Almighty giveth them understanding” (Job 32:8). If needed, it is possible, like Nephi, to be led completely by the Spirit, “not knowing beforehand” what should be done (see 1 Ne. 4:6).
How is inspiration received? Enos stated, “While I was thus struggling in the spirit, behold, the voice of the Lord came into my mind” (Enos 1:10). One does not necessarily hear an audible voice. The spirit of revelation comes by divine confirmation. “I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart,” says the Lord (D&C 8:2).
How was the voice of the Lord heard by Elijah the Tishbite? It was not the “strong wind [which] rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks,” nor “after the wind an earthquake,” nor “after the earthquake a fire.” It was “a still small voice” (see 1 Kgs. 19:11–12).
The inner voice of the Spirit has the capacity to whisper through and pierce all things (see D&C 85:6). The scriptures teach, “It was not a voice of thunder, neither was it a voice of a great tumultuous noise, but behold, it was a still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it did pierce even to the very soul” (Hel. 5:30).
Thus the Lord, by revelation, brings inspiration into one’s mind as though a voice were speaking.
And George, if you’re out there, Tewt the Newt says hello.


Rev. Dr. Frederick P. Deegbe is a minister in the Ghana Baptist Convention
He has attained the L.L.B. (Bachelor of Law) from the University of Ghana and his B.L. at the Law School along with two ministerial degrees: the M.Div. (Master of Divinity) from Southwestern Baptist Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas (USA) and the D.Min. (Doctorate of Ministry) which he received in December 2003 from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky (USA).
Rev. Dr. Deegbe has served in a number of pastoral and ministerial capacities that include working as the Assistant Pastor at Calvary Baptist Church from 1980 to 1983, as a Chaplain at Baylor University Medical Centre from 1985 to 1988 in Dallas, Texas (USA), as a Lecturer at Ghana Baptist Seminary from 1989 to 1991, as the Senior Pastor of New Tafo Baptist Church, Kumasi, Ghana from 1989 to 1991. He was appointed Senior Pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church in 1991. He also served on the following National Boards: Ghana AIDS Commission, Ghana Anti Corruption Coalition, Coalition of Domestic Election Observers, National Media Commission, Narcotics Control Board, All Africa Conference of Churches, Fellowship of Christian Councils in West Africa among others. He is currently the Chairman of the Board of the Ghana Baptist Convention. He also chairs the boards of Christian Community Mutual Fund and a board member of Christian Community Microfinance Limited.
Rev. Dr. Fred Deegbe, is the immediate past General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana
Rev. Dr. Fred Deegbe is happily married to Joana. They are blessed with three children.


Veronica Okyere founder of Grace N Favor. A firm believer of the word of God. She believe God has call her to help women in crises. She herself had gone through some challenges in life.When she was going through, she thought God had forsaking her but through it all, she realize it was for a purpose, so she allowed herself to go through it so she can be use of God. With what she had experience in life, and by the grace of God that surpasses all understanding she is ready to be use of God. There are lots of women out there that are going through some kind of challenges in life, such as marital, depression, anxiety, financial hardship, lack of direction, etc I want to reach out to them to inspire, motivate, and empower them with the word of God let them known that there is hope it is not over until God says so.
Veronica holds a diploma in biblical counseling and a member of AACC


Welcome to Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School
With God as our guide, we will learn from each other, show respect and care for His Creation. Each day is a journey with Christ. We play, learn and grow together.
If you would like a paper copy of any document held on our website, please contact the school office.
Last day of school for children is Monday 23rd July. Enjoy your summer Holiday.
New School Lunch Menu Available
18th July 2018
Apply for a school place
You are visitor number...
Meet the Governors
Visions and Values
What do the Logos on the bottom mean?
National Test Results
How does Corpus Christi know if children need extra help and what should I do if I think my child may have Special Education Needs or a disability?
How will Corpus Christi support my Child?
How will the curriculum be matched to my child's needs?
How will both the school and I know how my child/is doing and how will Corpus Christi help me to support my child's learning?
What support will there be for my child's overall well-being?
What specialist services and expertise are available at or accessed by Corpus Christi?
What training do staff supporting children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities have?
How will my child be included in activities outside school including trips out?
How accessible is Corpus Christi?
How will Corpus Christi prepare and support my child moving to the next stage of education? How will you increase their independence?
How are Corpus Christi's Resources allocated and matched to children's Special Education Need or Disability?
How is the decision made about what type and how much support my child will receive?
How can I be involved?
Glossary of Term
Transfer to Secondary School. Completed by 2018
Policies and Information
Before & After School Clubs
Newsletters & Letters
El Club Español
Le Club Français
Reading Review Club
EYFS - September 2018 - Starters
EYFS - September 2017 - Starters
General Corpus Christi
Young Voices 2019
Corpus Christi Catholic Church
Primary Catholic Partnership SCITT
QDOS - Uniform Supplers
Download Our App
Click here for


Sandy has vast ministry experience as a pastor, international missions Executive Director, Seminary Professor, law enforcement Chaplain, former Executive Director of an abused children’s foundation, and member of various Education Boards. Sandy has a passion to work with the disadvantaged and has traveled to many countries to help those in poverty as well as those in crisis. He has been integral in the forming of Lasting Change while working in law enforcement. Sandy finds joy in sharing God’s Word and regularly trains pastors. His desire is to help those who struggle with breaking from their past behavior, attitudes, and negatively influenced friends so that they can have a successful new life after incarceration.
John’s 35 years of business experience in project management, systems development, along with his organizational skills provides the tools to develop a sustainable ministry. His desire is to put his gifts to work to enhance God’s Kingdom via Lasting Change. John believes that by utilizing existing community agencies and strengthening one’s spiritual belief, an individual can be lifted up in a manner to ensure a lasting change can be made for a better life. John feels extremely blessed that the Lord has brought him to this ministry, and grateful the Lord will be glorified through it.
Scott is a church planter and pastor with years of experience in personal finance, entrepreneurial leadership, and organizational development. He is a lover of theology and passionate teacher of God’s Word. The opportunity to combine his organizational and ministry experience in his role at Lasting Change has been an incredibly fulfilling and joyful experience. Scott desires nothing more than to remain faithful to the calling God has given him, and he is grateful to be used to love and care for those Lasting Change serves.
Arlen has been active in women’s prison ministry since 2006. Her ministry background includes years of service in the areas of worship, Children’s Ministry, Women’s Ministry, Biblical Counseling, and Missions. Arlen possesses a firm belief that the church as the body of Christ, can help bridge the chasm between incarceration and an inmate’s return to society. She is committed to the work of reducing recidivism through the grace of Jesus Christ.
Ken is devoted to the well-being of his community. His first career was spent as a Rescue Boat Captain in Los Angeles. Ken now serves our community as a Pastoral Counselor at Calvary Chapel Pacific Hills. Ken also serves as a Chaplain for Orange County Fire ministering to firefighters and their families and reaches out to citizens of his community during times of crisis, bringing them faith, hope, and love through Jesus Christ. Ken counsels for a variety of needs. He is currently a graduate student at Biola University. Ken has been married for 34 years to his beautiful wife, Lindsay. They have one daughter, Chloe.
The population we serve, the incarcerated, are a metaphor of us all. All of us are prisoners in chains to sin, self, and death with no hope apart from Christ. Lasting Change is guided by the truth that God loves everyone, and the greatest display of that love is His sending Jesus Christ to suffer and die for our sins so that the chains of death are broken and we can be raised to new life, eternal life, in Christ.
No one is beyond saving. He can take the worst and most hopeless and create new life and eternal joy. As those who have received the wonderful joy of salvation in Christ, we strive to bring everlasting change to those we serve to restore lives and communities.


A man returns to see his physician to review his recent medical tests that were ordered earlier. The doctor looks down at the floor. He pauses and takes off his glasses, sighs and says: “Well what do you want first –the good news or the bad news ? The man says “I’ll take the good news first”. “OK” the doctor says “I am sorry to have to tell you this –your lab tests have confirmed that you have only about two weeks to live. The man is incredulous..What do you mean I have only two weeks to live? How can that be the good news? What could ever be worse that that?- What is the bad news? The doctor replies “I should have told you this two weeks ago”
What Do You Choose First–The Good News or the Bad News?
We’ve all heard this question asked before and if you are like me you may have deliberated a bit as to what you want delivered first. How did you respond when the answer was better than expected or when it was worse than expected? It’s easy for praise to come out of your heart and mouth when the answer is good…but its difficult to react the same way when the news just knocked the wind out of your sails and you felt “dead in the water.” It is often difficult to acknowledge or to see the Lord’s hand in a bad answer–as we think that all our trials and struggles come from the pit and all things good come out of heaven. This is not the case.“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” 1Peter 4:12-13 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Mt 5:44
Have You Taken The Same Test More Than Once?
We all have trials and troubles in life. Some are caused by bad decisions we’ve made or from following bad advise or bad examples. Some occur from living in a cursed and wicked world. Some are directed or allowed from heaven for correction and testing and our growth. These trials or storms are sometimes a necessary part of our spiritual growth and maturity. Our growth can’t be achieved separate from these trials. If we fail to recognize this we often find ourselves taking the same test over and over and over.
Sometimes we cause the storms (Gal 6:7) We reap what we sow. Sometimes God sends the storms (2 Sam, Ch. 11-12) Sometimes Satan is behind the storm (1Peter 5:8) (Job-Ch 1-2) Sometimes they are directed for our spiritual growth and maturity. (1Peter 12:13)
These tests are a part of life and we all have to deal with them as they arrive. One minute you can be enjoying life and a phone call, or a visit with your doctor, or sudden bad news arrives and you are in the storm of your life. They can easily fill us with fear and worry. We can cry out to the Lord out of our fear and terror as the disciples did in the boat during the Galilean Sea storm. (Mark 4: 35-42) I think a better way to respond comes from and out of our relationship with the Father. If you find yourself (like I often do) responding like the guys in the boat did -it demonstrates a need for deeper intimacy. When that is allowed to grow and develop a deep inner confidence blooms out that allows you to rest and embrace that inner peace that the Lord freely gives. (John 14:27,16:33, 20:19)
“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” Rom 8:28
The Lords Purpose in Our Sufferings
These trials are allowed for our growth and maturity and without them we can stagnate. As we mature it may even be possible to come to a place where every struggle and trial is welcomed as it brings us closer to Him who allows us to share in Christs sufferings. You can get to know Christ better when you share His pain.
Rom 8:18 “I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
James 1:2-4 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing”
Our Rest Can Come Before Our Deliverance
We can rest in our trials and ask the Lord to give us favor through it, to help us to embrace it and find the peace that He promises and to give us wisdom and revelation and knowledge about what we should be learning and discovering and through that process we can achieve what He has for us. We are have already been given every thing we need to succeed. Hang onto these promises when your next trial comes upon you.
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all”. Psalm 34:19
“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you”. 1Peter 5:10


Are you an Architect or Interior designer?
Visit our Contract websiteContract
A truly beautiful, handmade Christmas nativity set. This unique nativity set will add a wonderful backdrop to any Christmas setting. This set includes 11 handmade, felt figurines, and is something that you will treasure for many Christmas’ to come.
including the three wise men, baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph, an angel, shepherd, sheep, 2 donkeys plus a lovely felt manger which can be used as a sweet box to safely pack away your nativity set each year.
Pashom have been working with producers in Nepal for over 12 years and are committed to supporting them and their families through a sponsorship programme that contributes to the education costs of the artisans' children. Pashom is a member of the Fair Trade Association of Australia and NZ and are proud to offer beautiful products that are kind to producers, consumers and the planet.
Materials: New Zealand Wool
Includes: Three wise men, baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph, an angel, shepherd, sheep, 2 donkeys plus a lovely felt manger which can be used as a sweet box to safely pack away your nativity set each year.
Click & Collect: Free
All online items are available for free ‘Click & Collect’ from our Roseberry showroom. This service is available daily from 10am-4pm (excluding Sundays). All orders must be collected from the side entrance on Dunning Ave. Same day Click & Collect is available if you order before 1pm. Please allow a three-hour window from when you place your order to when you arrive to collect.


- Sermon videos and podcasts. This is the number one content feed that every Church mobile app must have. Members who missed the sermon or would like to review it during the week can easily access the recording on their mobile device while on the train, tram or anywhere they have a spare time. Even while driving they can listen to audio podcasts. If they find a particularly inspiring sermon, they can easily share it with their social network through the mobile app’s social sharing function.
- Blog. This is another must have. The blog should be updated at least once a week. It should include various topics such as sermon summary, book reviews, mission updates, commentaries on relevant news, etc. The post can be written by the pastor/priest or any Church member. Cross posting with other Churches and outside contributors can be included sparingly.
- Social feeds. Plug in status updates from Facebook and Twitter. While the members are on the app, they might as well get all the updates from the Church in the app. This is good as not all posts on Facebook will be seen by every member, particularly those with lots of friends. They often get tons of updates and might miss an important information about the Church. But within the mobile app, all relevant posts from the Church will be available for browsing.
- Events calendar. This is another very useful piece of information that is often overlooked. How often do we scramble to find last week’s Church liturgy paper to find out the details for an upcoming event? With a handy calendar function, all event details will be available within the mobile app.
Those are four dynamic content that every Church mobile app must have. Make sure the app becomes a central point to bring various content into the hand of your members.


Written in EnglishRead online
|LC Classifications||BV3785 M36 W3|
|The Physical Object|
|Number of Pages||212|
Download Dross refined
Dross definition is - the scum or unwanted material that forms on the surface of molten metal. How to use dross in a sentence. Did You Know. Dross refined: a biography on the life of "fighting" Billy Matheson, ex-pugilist and ex-bartender Each time he raises the heat, he skims away more dross and increases the quality and purity of the refined metals.
When God turns up the heat in our lives, and we experience a particularly fiery trial, we can take comfort Dross refined book knowing that God’s refining fire is The still-solid impurities rise to the top of the molten metal.
This is the dross, and the refiner skims it off. Now he adds bits of charcoal inside the crucible. He knows this will enhance the sheen of the silver. The carbon of the charcoal will keep the refined metal from reabsorbing oxygen from › Books › Christian Books & Bibles › Christian Living.
翻译学术语词汇解释_英语学习_外语学习_教育专区 人阅读|42次下载 翻译学术语词汇解释_英语学习_外语学习_教育专区。A An abridged translation 节译本 Absorb what is good and reject what is bad; absorb the essence and › 百度文库 › 基础教育.
"Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to Me; all of them are bronze and tin and iron and lead in the furnace; they are the dross of silver.
"Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, 'Because all of you have become dross, therefore, behold, I am going to gather you into the midst of :// That is why consuming refined, processed food makes it easy for you to gain weight.
Stewart, Dr Alan & Stewart, Maryon The Vitality Diet () Other priorities for the oil giant include refining, infrastructure and :// God prepared me ahead by having me in the book of Job, the first book of the Bible I ever read at 28, and my favorite book of the Bible.
The Bible is a great comfort. I also suggest the book A Grace Disguised the authors last name is Stiltser or something that starts with an “s.” The author encounters unimaginable :// Refined By Christ book.
Read 9 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Mortality tests us all, feeling at times like a scorching crucible Unrefined definition is - not refined: such as.
How to use unrefined in Dross refined book sentence. lacking moral or social cultivation: coarse, uncouth; not separated from dross, impurity, or unwanted matter See the full definition With Dean Ornish's Response," 15 Nov.
In the beginning, the book may have been unrefined, but the core theme of. Gold, Refined by Fire. Posted on Ap May 5, But wait a second you’re working on writing a book on anorexia THE DROSS: Dross is a fancy-shmancy term for the layer of impurities that forms on the surface of the melted raw material inside the crucible.
The refiner skims off this layer of impurities. How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in His excellent word. What more can He say than to you He hath said, To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled. 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
This process oxidised the silicon to form a slag, which floated on the iron and was removed by lowering a dam at the end of the trough. The product of this process was a white metal, known as finers metal or refined iron.
Precious metals. Precious metal refining is the separation of precious metals from noble-metalliferous materials. In her book As Silver Refined, author and well loved and respected Bible teacher Kay Arthur uses the analogy of refining silver in comparison to the trials and hardships that come into every Christian'sGod does allow bad things to happen to His children.
And yes, God does bring those trials to His children. He uses them to mold us, to refine us, to be more like Him. David was sure that, despite such a searching of him through and through, Jehovah would find no “ dross ” in him, no uncleanness, no spiritually diseased condition.
Because we are confident that, under such a thoroughgoing probing, no sinful “ dross ” would come to the surface to prove that deep within us we are adulterated, contaminated, worldly, lacking in Christian integrity. I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
and yet men take great pains to test it and show that it contains no dross, and do so by means of fire. How much more may we. The metal was refined by heating it to the liquid state and then skimming or blowing off the impurities, or dross. Naturally, such refined gold or silver was more precious and expensive.
The altar of incense was made of refined gold (1 Chron ) and the Laodicean church was urged to buy such refined gold. The Bible provides some indication. Refined By Christ book. Read 9 reviews from the world's largest community for readers.
Mortality tests us all, feeling at times like a scorching crucible /5(9). Secondly, it notes the exact perfection of the word: there is no dross in silver and gold that hath been often refined; so there is no defect in the word of God.
Thomas Manton. Verse 6. Fry thus translates this verse: - The words of Jehovah are pure words -- Silver refined in the crucible -- Gold, seven times washed from the earth. refined by the fire stories from a life of a firewalker - From the Back Cover - "So that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus.
SELECT A BOOK CHAPTER Bible Verses About Refiners Fire Bible verses related to Refiners Fire from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance - Sort By Book Order. Zechariah - And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name.
And the more Qatar kills, the wiser and more refined he becomes about it. But does Morris Ware, a pervert back out on the street with his Brownie, whose art book of photos, Little Woman on the Edge, about naked girls coming into puberty, have contact with Qatar.
Read full book review >.


WHAT CHURCH SHOULD I GO TO?
ANSWER: You should attend a "Spirit Filled Church" where God is present! (Practices Deliverance, Laying hands on the Sick, Casting out Demons, Flows in the Gifts of The Spirit, and Teaches THE Word of GOD)
SHOULD I SPEAK WITH TONGUES?
ANSWER: Yes!!!! Acts 1:8 Jesus said you shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you. And you shall be witness unto me. We need the infilling of The Spirit so we can receive power! Speaking with tongues is evidence that you are filled with The Spirit (Holy Ghost). Acts 2: 3-4 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. This would be evidence/sign that you are filled with The Spirit ( Holy Ghost).
WHAT PART OF THE BIBLE SHOULD I START READING ?
ANSWER: We suggest you start with The Gospel /Book of John. Then go on to read the 4 Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John again).
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I GO TO CHURCH?
ANSWER: Any time the doors are open! Hebrews 10:25 forsaken not the assembling ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much more, as you see the day approaching. We should attend every church service like Jesus did. The Bible says "as his custom was" ( Luke 4:16).
WHO SHOULD I FELLOWSHIP WITH ?
ANSWER: Strong Solid Believers that has a Strong Foundation in The Word of GOD! Steer away from any old habits and old fellowship. The Bible says in 1st Corinthians 15:33 Be not deceived evil communications corrupts good manners. Fellowship with people that are walking on the same path you are, and people you can have godly fellowship with.


Pastor Aaron was raised in Sacramento, California for much of his life. His formative years involved homeschool, working in the family business (mowing lawns), skateboarding, and church. Church was a big part of his social life. Actually, outside of Church he had little social interaction. For him church was little more than a social club.
And because his relationship with Christ was not serious soon After high school Aaron grew disenfranchised by the church. His friends moved on with life, went to college, moved away, grew distant. So, without a real relationship with Jesus, Aaron found himself empty hopeless, aimlessly moving through life.
Wanting to be a counselor, Aaron went to Boise State University majoring in Psychology. The reason he wanted to be a Psychologist was because he felt Psychology was the best way to help hurting people and also because he wanted to figure himself out. It was a fruitless effort on both fronts.
The light was turned on for Aaron when he was invited to Calvary Chapel Boise’s college group. The pastor was teaching through the book of John and it was simple, straight to the point teaching. The word of God being taught this way was something Aaron had never experienced before. It was very fulfilling and enriching. The word of God being taught that way was what brought "The Light" to Aaron's life.
In the year 2000 Aaron gave his life to the Lord.


Today is Christmas Day in old Julian Calendar, which the Ethiopian Orthodox Church follows. The praying songs lasted the entire night last night. People went from church to church and paraded the streets. On Christmas Day, the tradition is to stay at home and eat with family. Most of the roads is empty, stores are closed, but surprisingly there are still a good number of business opened. Maybe they are not Christian.
I went to St George’s Cathedral in the morning, which is a good one hour climb to the hilly Piazza neighborhood. The cathedral is an elegant, octagonal shaped building, with shades and benches stretching out on every side. So many people sat beneath the trees, I was not sure if they are pilgrims or just hanging out.


SCSM provides a wide range of computer services, including consulting, editing, video clips and publishing.
Our vision is to see organisations making an impact in today’s world. We can make your voice heard.
Clips & Countdowns
As a consulting organisation we also like to give back to the wider community.
My Life II
Trials Sermon Clip
About our clips
SCSM produces clips, sermon illustrations and countdowns for use in church services.
Our clips are designed to compel, inspire, direct and lead people in worship
and godly service. They have a heavenly focus while reflecting on the practicality of daily life.
Through videos and inspirational soundtracks we can reach out to a world captivated by youtube,
myspace, facebook and other social networks. Our clips endeavour to allow people to reflect on
eternal truths that could bring about lasting change in their lives.


History of Saint Joseph's Parish
Shortly after their arrival from Ireland, the Catholic immigrants petitioned the Archbishop of New York for a priest to minister to them in this far off mission. The faithful were first ministered by priests from Troy and only later from Port Henry and Ticonderoga. In 1847 the people constructed a small church in Irishtown, but within a few years tanneries were erected in the Township of Minerva at Olmstedville. Because the majority of the parishioners lived in that community, a larger church was built there in 1871. A resident pastor was assigned shortly thereafter. At various times the priest served as pastor of missions in Wells, Indian Lake, and Schroon Lake. A pastor lived in the parish until 1989 when the priest at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Schroon Lake was given charge of the parish. Since that time the parish house in Olmstedville has been a resident first for a retired priest and later retired religious sisters. Today it is under the direction of Father Phillip Allen from Saint Mary's Parish in Indian Lake.
In September of 2014, Father Allen graciously agreed to take over the pastoring of our parish, along with his duties as pastor of St Mary's in Indian Lake and St Paul's in Blue Mountain Lake. Since that time, he has made it his goal to familiarize himself with every household in the parish. His humility, patience and spiritual wisdom make him a true father figure to our church family.
Father Allen has served as a priest in the Diocese of Ogdensburg for 56 years. He is an avid hiker and accomplished gardener.
Link to the 1971 publication of the 100th anniversary celebration of St Joseph's Parish
St Joseph's Church is a sister parish partnered with St Mary's Church in Indian Lake, and St Paul's in Blue Mountain Lake. We are under the guidance of our Pastor, Father Phillip Allen.
You are invited!
Are you waiting for an invitation? This is it! Join us for Holy Mass this Sunday! At St. Joseph's you will be welcomed by parishioners who will treat you with respect and warmth regardless of your faith background, age, race, ethnicity or sexual orientation.
St Joseph's Catholic Church
Celebrating 150 years 1871-2021


Minneapolis congregation deserves praise from Queen of Norway: NPR
MINNEAPOLIS — Before attending the crowded Sunday morning service, Queen Sonja of Norway praised the Mindekirken congregation for maintaining worship in Norwegian for the church’s 100-year history in Minneapolis.
“It is extraordinary to realize that, one hundred years later, Mindekirken still fulfills this objective” of building community and preserving culture and language, she told the nearly 500 people present. They had lined up for more than an hour in this modest neighborhood in crisp autumn weather in the 1940s – single digits in degrees Celsius, just like in Oslo – to participate in the service.
Queen Sonja received a special welcome from 4-year-old Eline Gro Knatterud, who presented the Queen with a bouquet of red roses almost as big as her. Queen Sonja stood at eye level with the awestruck maiden and told her, in English, that she had an identical traditional red bunad dress at home, before entering the large stone church.
The congregation was founded in 1922, at the end of a decades-long migration of hundreds of thousands of Norwegians to Minnesota that made the Twin Cities the “unofficial capital” of the Norwegian diaspora, said Amy Boxrud, director of the Norwegian-American Historical Association.
Lutheran churches were central to the lives of these immigrants, although some remained with the Church of Norway and others established various Lutheran synods.
The Norwegian Memorial Lutheran Church offered cultural continuity to immigrants
Den Norske Lutherske Mindekirke – the Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church – has pledged to continue to hold services in Norwegian even as many other European churches switch to English as attacks on foreign language speakers spread across the United States during the First World War.
“The group said, ‘We’ll speak American English every day, but we need the language of our hearts when we worship God,'” said Reverend Gunnar Kristiansen, the current pastor of a flock of about 200 families.
Within a few years, Mindekirken was the only one of five dozen churches in Minnesota still worshiping in Norwegian, he added.
It made all the difference for Kirsti Grodahl, who was 11 when she emigrated to Minneapolis in 1962 from the fjord-side village of Frei in Norway with her parents and siblings. She started going to church in Mindekirken a week later, sometimes on foot.
“It was so comfortable,” she said. She made her first friend there, who had arrived two years earlier, and raised her two children to also speak Norwegian.
Grodahl still regularly attends Sunday services in Mindekirken and particularly enjoys the coffee hour following the two services, one in English and the other in Norwegian.
“Dad made a lot of bløtkake for this church,” she recalled, referring to the traditional soft cake her father had perfected as a baker in Norway. “It’s a place where you always feel like it’s your home.”
Standing in line Sunday morning with her two daughters and dozens of other worshipers before the start of the service, Karen Liv Mjlølhus Cardwell said her father started worshiping here in 1929, when he emigrated to Minnesota.
“It’s like coming home to family,” said Mjlølhus Cardwell.
And the fact that this continuity of culture and worship is celebrated today by Queen Sonja and the Presiding Bishop of the Church of Norway, the Most Reverend Olav Fykse Tveit, brought tears to the eyes of the President. of Mindekirken council, Jeannette Henrikssen, whose parents emigrated in the late 1960s.
“It’s very moving that we still hold the service in Norwegian,” she said. “It’s a testament to the determination and stubbornness of these Norwegians, and the love and connection they wanted to maintain.”


Your Comments about 'Preachers, Patriots and Providence'
I wish you luck with your new series. I was an avid fan of your Backstage series and look forward to watching Preachers, Patriots and Providence.
I am so looking forward to this! I've learned so much already from Frances & Friends, and I know this series is going to answer many of my questions, as well. God Bless you all!
Just watched the first episode of Preachers, Patriots, and Providence.....enjoyed it very much...and learned a lot...cannot wait until next week.
Knowledge we all need to defend our faith. Thank You!!!
Love your program it good to see beautiful picture of all and great story's and blessing you send my way thank you try to watch everyday praying for you at Sbn take care Linda
I am a media member I have learned so much from SBN and can't wait for this to air.
God Bless and keep up the Excellent Work of God.
Looking forward to this timely series - America needs to know it's roots
I absolutely love everything about it. #graphic's outstanding: teaching superb, looking forward to the remaining
lessons. Thank You What a Blessing
I absolutely love it. The graphics immediately capture your attention and the lesson is superb. Looking forward to the balance. Thank You. What a blessing .
Great show last Sat...I can't wail until tonights show!!!! God bless you and your family and SBN!
LOVE YOUR NEW SHOW!!!!! My wife and I are members of FWC and love it when you preach because of the history you give in your sermons so of course we were excited about this program. I can't wait for the companion book to come out too. We love you Brother Donnie and God Bless You!
Greetings from Germany Brother Donnie,
I am a Nigerian who live in Germany. your new programm is so helpful and so much information .
thank u so much.
I really love your new program. I find it very interesting. I have read quite a bit about Martin Luther, and appreciate his work as you do. I hope you will bring us more programing like this. Keep up the good work. God bless you.
I enjoyed the information you have shared and I am looking forward for the rest in the future, great job!! very interesting.. God blessed!!!
I especially enjoy this series as I have always liked American History! It is second only to your sermons which are phenominal!
Dear Donnie. I am so glad that you are taking your time to make the series of"PREACHERS PATRIOTS AND PROVIDENCE". The Bible tells us that"My people parish for the lack of knowledge"; and my dear brother you are a great teacher for us. I truly appreciate your knowledge on the History of how faith played a significant part in the foundation of our country. God bless you for your ferver to educate not only Americans, also those who are watching from around the world. I love my country and I enjoy hearing the history of how our founding fathers included The Word of God in their lives to build a country with the freedom to worship our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you again for your knowledge. Looking forward to new episodes. God bless you.
thank you brother donnie for this program its been a blessing iv recorded everyone of them this never was taught in our school and its a shame so i thank you love you and all your family. god bless everyone
This program is much needed today. We need all of the truthful information on how our nation really got started. Every episode has been done in a manner as to keep the viewer interested and attentive. God Bless you all family.
Love the show! Keep them coming.
My beloved brethren, of Jimmy Swaggart Ministries , I just wanna say Praise God!for your ministry and commitment to teach the truth of the word of God and now the truth about how this great land was founded .Thank u so much Brother Donnie for your enthusiasm on this project. May God Bless u and keep u! Finally,I would like to know if these programs will be put out in dvd's later on to purchase.Love u and praying for u all! from a Texan Sister.!!
Brother Donnie, I have been watching SBN about a year and enjoy it . " Preachers, Patriots and Providence" is well done and so valuable ! Thank you & your family for another
excellent program! God
Donnie, Thank you for this program, and especially your knowledge of subject, and your time to generate such valuable information. I truly believe that the most dangerous is the uninformed and misinformed. If all possible, please continue 'Preachers, Patriots and Providence'. Thank you again for your knowledge and time. Looking forward to new episodes. God bless you.
Love your new show!! It seems to be very thorough and excellently done.
Let us know what you think of 'Preachers, Patriots and Providence'
Use the form below to add your comments to this page. PLEASE NOTE: Your comments will be moderated before publication.


Sharing the Sacred
Last Thursday, I attended a L'Arche  supper that ended, as L'Arche suppers always do, with prayer time. (L'Arche is a faith-based non-profit where people with and without intellectual disabilities share life together.) As is the L'Arche DC custom, the evening's cooks led us in prayer. Cooks often lead prayer by passing a candle and sharing a favorite part of the day (or a favorite scent of fall ), but on Thursday night, the cooks decided to go a more traditional route. They asked us to say the Lord's Prayer together.
It was a good idea in theory. In actuality, though, it turned into a bit of a mess. Most of us whispered the prayer, trying not to upset one of our Spanish-speaking members who gets upset whenever people speak English in unison. Furthermore, Leo (the L'Arche resident leading us) could not quite remember the sequence of phrases that make up the Lord's Prayer. As such, he inserted hums and trills where words ordinarily would be, recommencing the prayer wherever he remembered more words.
I was trying to watch Leo's lips and follow his lead, but that meant that I was hopelessly out of step with the rest of the table, as they were saying the prayer without pauses or hums. When an “Amen!” came from one end of the table, those at the other end of the table were still speaking. My husband Jonathan and I grinned at each other. Far from being unsettled by moments like this, we've grown accustomed to finding the humor and beauty within them.
The whole experience reminded me of my brother, Willie, as he is the leader of mealtime prayer at my parent's house. I've mentioned Willie's “trail blazing ” prayers before, saying, “...when Willie leads dinnertime prayer, I am astonished at what he says every time: ‘Thank you God for heaven and for prayers and for my sister Caroline and Jonathan in Washington DC…' No one prompted Willie to do this. It’s simply how he expresses himself, a reflection of his heart. He may not always engage with me when I visit; he may not want to talk for long on the phone. But when he prays, I am clued in: He cares.”
The recent prayer time at L'Arche had me thinking about the insights that my brother's prayer has to offer. For me, Willie's recited prayer is replete with clues to his inner world. First, Willie is thankful “for heaven and for prayers.” I'm not sure what he thinks about heaven, but loving my brother has led me to believe in heaven as a place in which there are no barriers between people. It would not necessarily be a place without autism, but perhaps a place where the limits of autism on Willie's part (and ignorance on mine) would fall away, allowing us to connect and share more easily. But at the end of the day, all I know about my brother's heaven is that he is thankful for it. And that is so little to know, but in some ways, it is enough.
Next, Willie gives thanks for prayers. I wonder if he expresses this gratitude for his own prayers, or for the prayers of others, or both. Whichever it is, when Willie says, “Thank you God … for prayers,” he is glad to be able to pray. To say what's on his mind and heart. To share who he is and what he cares about with us. To lead us as a family.
Lastly, my brother prays for me first, every single time. He prays “for [my sister] Caroline” every day, without fail. Every time I hear it, I'm amazed by the importance he places on our relationship. If I ever doubt that it matters to him that I'm his sister, I just have to listen to his prayers to know that it does matter. In fact, our sibling relationship itself is akin to that L'Arche prayertime: an oft-muddled, messy, wholehearted attempt at sharing the sacred.


She starts every morning with a 3 a.m. prayer
The key to a very Dolly day is a very unappealing wake-up time.
Parton told RuPaul that she’s “almost always up” by 3 a.m. And she wastes no time as soon as her eyes are open.
Parton, who considers herself to be a “very spiritual person,” says that she prays to God first thing every single morning.
“Every single day, before I do anything, I wake up and I thank God for the night and ask Him to bless the day and to bring all the right things…all the wrong people out of my life, and bring all the right stuff in,” Parton said. “And just to guide me, lead me. And I always pray that he’ll let me uplift mankind and glorify Him.”
In addition to prayer, Parton says she has daily scriptures and meditations that she reads as well. She credits the practice to grounding her during her packed days.
“If things get chaotic and crazy around me, I can just go into that little spot of my own,” Parton said.
She spends the first four hours of her day writing


Engelbrecht of Nassau was the first man of the city of Breda, he decided to build the Great Church of Breda in 1410, also known as “Lieve Vrouwenkerk“.This Gothic church in brick, coated with natural blonde stone was a typical example of the architectural tradition of the Southern Netherlands of that time. Examples of this type of churches are also to be seen in Antwerp, Mechelen and Brussels.
The family Keldermans was responsible for the construction of this church in the fifteenth century. The church contains a number of unique tombs of the ancestors of William of Orange. In 1533 the church was expanded with the Our Lady Chapel, the chapel in Western Europe known for its unique ceiling paintings designed by da Vincidor Bolonga
The church was in serious disrepair, when architect office Van Stigt was commissioned in the early 90’s to restore the monument and paintings in the church and to take measures to improve the operation. Joop van Stigt, the founder of our office, worked for 16 years on this enormous project from 1991-2007.
First the outer skin of the church was restored, after that all the monuments and the severely damaged paintings were restored.
There is a complete book published about the restoration of the Great Church in Breda with many images of this long and intensive process.