“But I have this against you: you have abandoned the love you had at first.” (Revelation 2:4) This verse jumped to mind as I was deciding what to share in my final post this year. Reflecting back on this past year, Jesus’ message above to the church at Ephesus took on a new meaning for me. Yes I’m still a steadfast follower of Christ but I wondered, has my love for apologetics replaced my love for Jesus?
With the full weight of that thought sinking in I began thinking of how my relationship with God has changed recently. God certainly calls people in different ways. For me that calling has been a hunger for God’s truth and a passionate desire to share that truth with others. I know my love for God is real but my relationship with Him flows more from my head than from my heart.
I’ve been a Christian for about three and a half years now and an amateur apologist for about eighty percent of that time. I read popular and college level apologetics books almost faster than I can order them. Last year I drove to southern California to attend a three day apologetics academy. This year I’m taking apologetics courses online through Biola University. A night alone for me usually means an opportunity to watch some sort of apologetics related debate. I’m doing (or at least learning to do) what I believe God has called me to do – and I’m all for it!
But has my love for the work of God replaced my love for God?
This is a question that anyone who follows Christ needs to ask themselves. As an apologist, do I learn and share to win arguments or do I learn and share to give glory to God? If you’re a Christian and you’re serving in some capacity, do you serve to feel good about yourself? Do you serve to be recognized? Or, do you serve so people are drawn to Christ through you?
About a month ago the lead pastor at our church said something that really impacted me: “Is the way that I’m doing the work of God destroying the work that God is doing in me?” This statement wasn’t the main point of his sermon but I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Anything that we place above God in our lives becomes an idol – even the things God gives us to do.
Once a week I meet with a group of guys for an early morning Bible study. We’ve been working our way through the Gospel of Luke lately and something Luke wrote about Jesus’ mother, Mary grabbed my attention. Twice, in the second chapter of his Gospel, Luke writes: “Mary treasured these things (speaking of Jesus) in her heart.” (Luke 2:19, 51)
Mary treasured her experiences and memories of Jesus. That’s such a beautiful picture especially considering the unusual circumstances surrounding her son’s life. No matter how popular Jesus was (initially), no matter how impactful His teachings or powerful His miracles, Mary treasured Jesus as Himself.
I’ve been thinking about this lately and it seems my focus has become misplaced. Rather than studying to know Jesus better I’m usually studying to understand difficult doctrines or to refute some argument against Christianity. Neither of those things are bad but if I’m not doing it for Christ why am I doing it at all?
A question of misplaced priorities
In 1 Corinthians 10:31 Paul says: “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” He said something very similar to the Colossian church: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17)
I don’t think I can honestly say that my focus lately has been on the glory of God. Yes, I want people to accept Jesus and yes, I want to help them overcome obstacles keeping them from God. My problem as an amateur apologist though is that I often find myself wanting recognition for my work. My desire to make a name for myself is competing with my desire to make God known.
Taking a gift from God and running with it is risky. When we don’t focus our attention on the gift-Giver the gift quickly becomes all that matters. While this risk exists for anyone serving God perhaps some of us are more prone than others. How long has it been since you’ve considered, since I’ve considered, that Jesus is better than our best efforts?
A season of change
Perhaps this Christmas it’s time to reexamine the way we’re serving God. Perhaps it’s time to reflect on the way God is using us, or, (dare I say) the way we’re allowing ourselves to be used by God. I’m not suggesting we drop what we’re doing and start over – that’s not my point. I’m simply saying (to myself more than anyone) that it’s time to return to the love I had at first.
God is doing amazing things in my life. He didn’t abandon me through twenty years of indifference and He continued pursuing me through ten years where I hated Him. God has given me a purpose that I never could have imagined and a dream of entering into ministry in a full time capacity. Perhaps I’ve made myself so busy lately that I haven’t remembered what God has done for me.
I don’t know what my future holds but God does and it’s time I started trusting Him more. Wherever you find yourself in your relationship with Jesus maybe it’s time for a fresh look at who He is and what He did for you.
Jesus stepped off His throne in Heaven and willingly entered this world with all its muck, mire and suffering. Forgoing His divinity, Jesus experienced life as a man and was tempted in every way that we are. Jesus left a comfortable home life and purposely set out on a mission that He knew (because it was His plan from the beginning) would end in His death. Bearing the full weight of our sins, Jesus was beaten and nailed to a cross to die like a criminal.
Here’s the amazing part: when Jesus died, He didn’t die for us – He died AS us. Jesus suffered the penalty we all justly deserve. None of us can possibly work our way into a right relationship with God. Jesus died for our sins and rose three days later making forgiveness and eternal life possible for everyone. I hope I never cease being amazed that God would do such a thing for me.
This New Year rather than making some unrealistic resolution, I want to grow closer to God.
I want to remember that the only reason I love God now is because He loved me first. Making a case for Christianity nowdays is a process. And don’t get me wrong, my passion for that process keeps growing. But rather than getting so caught up in the process, I want to focus more on the Person. Rather than focusing on making a case for the religion, I want to make a case for the Relationship.
When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was He said: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: love your neighbor as yourself. The entire law and all of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” (Matt 22:37-40)
If our focus is anything less than “God first” we’re missing the mark. It’s only by loving God that we can be transformed and used by Him. When God’s love flows through us we experience a peace and hope that draws people to us. By loving others we’re able to model the love and self-sacrafice that Jesus embodied.
There’s so much to look forward to as we continue giving our hearts and minds to God. As a “head-first” type of Christian, I find verses like Romans 12:2 very assuring:
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
By remaining focused on Jesus I look forward to the work He’s planned for me – and that’s something worth treasuring.


How lovely on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, "Your God reigns!" Isaiah 52:7 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Romans 10:15
Friday, August 15, 2008
We love you Aunt Annie! We're all praying you have a Fantastic experience, Peace in your heart, and an unexpected Cold front! You are greatly missed by us all. Oh, we love Uncle Chad too! We pray he will not be hungry and you two will grow even closer as you minister together.
Posted by Debbie at 5:38 AM


The "Blessed" name of the business refers to Elizabeth's salutation to the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:28). Currently, the bracelets ARE blessed (as my cabinet was blessed in my house blessing) .My mission is to be able to share the rosary in such a contemporary fashionable way. To create interest anew in this treasured Catholic prayer. Working with other volunteers doing God's work, while at the same time supporting those less fortunate. The proceeds from this endeaver go to Catholic Charities.org, Catholic Relief Services or on ocassion, special missions. Usually I am not profitable.
The word rosary comes from Latin and means a garland of roses, the rose being one of the flowers used to symbolize the Virgin Mary. If you were to ask what object is most emblematic of Catholics, people would probably say, "The rosary, of course." We’re familiar with the images: the silently moving lips of the old woman fingering her beads; the oversized rosary hanging from the waist of the wimpled nun; more recently, the merely decorative rosary hanging from the rearview mirror.
After Vatican II the rosary fell into relative disuse. The same is true for Marian devotions as a whole. But in recent years the rosary has made a comeback, and not just among Catholics. Many Protestants now say the rosary, recognizing it as a truly biblical form of prayer—after all, the prayers that comprise it are taken from verses in the Bible.
The rosary is a devotion in honor of the Virgin Mary. It consists of a set number of specific prayers. First are the introductory prayers: one Apostles’ Creed (Credo), one Our Father (the Pater Noster or the Lord’s Prayer), three Hail Mary’s (Ave’s), one Glory Be (Gloria Patri).
The prayer begins, "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee." This is nothing other than the greeting the angel Gabriel gave Mary in Luke 1:28 (Confraternity Version). The next part reads this way:
"Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus." This was exactly what Mary’s cousin Elizabeth said to her in Luke 1:42. The only thing that has been added to these two verses are the names "Jesus" and "Mary," to make clear who is being referred to. So the first part of the Hail Mary is entirely biblical.
The second part of the Hail Mary is not taken straight from Scripture, but it is entirely biblical in the thoughts it expresses. It reads:
"Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen." And each decade celebrates a mystery of Christ's life.
Tinsels & Treasure
Bipana Pradhan is my main helper. She has recently immigrated from Nepal. She supports three children, her parents, husband and a sibling.


The mission of Martoos Animation is…
To provide world-class feature films that reveal God’s original purpose of happiness for humanity through creative storytelling,
redemptive themes and heart-stirring characters that engage family audiences.
We are dedicated to exploring some of life’s deepest questions through story… with a childlike curiosity and sense of wonder along the way.
The name Martoos comes from the phonetic spelling of the Greek word martus, meaning an “eye” or “ear” witness.
Our creative team dares to imagine the promised sights and sounds alluded to in 1 Corinthians 2:9, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”


Imagine if you can a story about Sherlock Holmes, only he is not a 19th century English gentleman but a 14th century English monk. This Sherlock’s Watson is a young novice monk of a different order from Germany. At this point we have the beginnings of the backdrop for The Name of the Rose – a string of mysterious murders in a remote abbey in the mountains of Italy.
While Brother William of Baskerville clearly shows parallels to Sherlock Holmes, he is much more than an intelligent monk with the past of an inquisitor. William plays a key role in the building 14th century conflict between the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and the Pope, now using Avignon as his center of power.
We begin with Brother William and his novice assistant, Adso, arriving at the unnamed abbey. William is representative of the Holy Roman Emperor at a neutral meeting between representatives of the Pope and the Minorities as the Minorities battle for official recognition in the church. The mysterious death of a young monk plagues the abbey, and the Abbot pleads for William’s aid in solving this death before the arrival of the Pope’s envoy, which could threaten his authority in his abbey. More deaths occur and the heart of the mystery is the greatest library in Christendom; a labyrinth whose secrets are known only to the librarian, his assistant, and the abbot.
We see this murder mystery and tale of division in the medieval Catholic Church through the eyes of the young novice, Adso. He struggles in circumstances beyond his modest self, with temptations, and with the horrors of the medieval church.
The Name of the Rose is a classic mystery wrapped in the intrigue of the Catholic Church. Eco writes with an almost academic prose that is at once beautiful and powerful, but not easy. The book takes time to read; time that is rewarded.
I know no Latin and very little of the history of the Catholic Church, and I still enjoyed this book. However, I am left with the impression that I could have appreciated the book much more if I had known something of those. The mystery still remains, the fascinating library is nothing short of wondrous, and the tragic end is still painful, but I’m still left with the impression that I missed something.
The Name of the Rose is a great book, but not an easy book. I can easily recommend it highly, but with the caveat that it is not for everyone. On my 10-point rating scale, The Name of the Rose rates a 7.5.
For whatever reason, the below quote feels like it captures what I was left with at the end of the book better than my own words can, so I choose to end the review with it.
And it is a hard thing for this old monk to know whether the letter he has written contains some hidden meaning, or more than one, or many, or none at all.


Happy Happy New Year, Geeezers!!!
And, once again, I remind you that you are my Geeeezers (pronounced with a 'J' sound not with a "G" sound cuz you are not old!)
Today I am thoughtful as is common to be on the dawning of a brand new year-- and what a year it has been. I could list all the strange and wonderful things that have happened this year but you all know all this stuff already and if not, just wander through my archives....
I got to thinking of what a blessing it is to not know the future. If you had told me a year ago all the things that would have happened in 2009 I would have been overwhelmed and quite sure I would not survive it all and yet here I am in a really good place. I think it is much better that God, in His infinite understanding, lets life unfold just one day at a time and gives us strength and grace for that one day as it comes along. As much as it would be nice to know that everything is going to be just fine... I think it is a lot better to trust that He has a handle on things. One of my little projects in 2009 was to memorize Psalm 91 which is my favorite Psalm and the opening line is an awesome reminder for me about where my security lies: "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty". I think that is a pretty great place to hang out-- what about you?
I pray that we all have a Healthy, Happy, Blessed New Year!
Loves to All~


February 4, 1930 - September 7, 2018
On Friday morning, September 7, 2018, God called Vernetta Louise Lee to her Heavenly reward. Vernetta was born Feruary 4, 1930, she was born in Norfolk, VA to the late Harry and Annie Lee. Vernetta was a life long resident of Norfolk and a proud graduate of Booker T. Washington High class of ‘48. She received her undergraduate degree from North Carolina A&T University class of ’52, followed by a Master’s from the University of Michigan. Upon completion of her education, she began her career as a Teacher and taught countless young men and women with love, firmness and a spirit of excellence. Her high standards and values had a great influence and lasting impact on her students’ lives. She retired from the Virginia Beach Public School System after 36 years of service. Vernetta accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age, was baptized and served faithfully in various ministries at The Historic First Baptist Church, Bute St. until her health began to fail. She was a member of the Lizzie Hinton Missionary Circle, Church Anniversary committee and served in the Soup Kitchen as well as Usher Board #2 and the Memorial Usher Board. She sang in the Chancel Choir and the Love Choir to name a few. In her community she was a longtime and faithful member of the Lindenwood-Cottage Heights Civic League. Vernetta loved her family dearly and was affectionately called “Net” or “Aunt Net”. She loved spending time with her family, telling stories, joking and admonishing them when she felt it was warranted. She enjoyed time with friends as well and proved to be a faithful friend and neighbor. "Net" had a great love for music, traveling and bowling. She loved North Carolina A&T and always beamed and boasted “Aggie Pride”. She knew the value of a good education and encouraged family and friends alike to advance themselves and pursue their dreams. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her brother John and wife Nancy P. Lee. She leaves to cherish her memory, one sister, Gladys Bishop, two nieces, Linda Bishop and Marsha Lee Jones; one great niece, Anita Bishop; two great great nieces, Sequoia Bishop and Ashley Bishop, two great great nephews, Mark Jones and Keyshawn Brown; two great great great nieces, Paris Deloatch and Hailey Jones; and one God son, Fred Young. She also leaves a host of wonderful cousins and dear friends to cherish her memory. We celebrate a life well lived! We love you and will miss you. You are forever in our hearts!!!
On Friday morning, September 7, 2018, God called Vernetta Louise Lee to her Heavenly reward. Vernetta was born Feruary 4, 1930, she was born in Norfolk, VA to the late Harry and Annie Lee. Vernetta was a life long resident of Norfolk... View Obituary & Service Information
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Flags represent every student and staff member’s home country.
THE HISTORY OF VIENNA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
In 1985, a community of missionary families asked Black Forest Christian Academy in Kandern, Germany to help them start a school in Vienna. Most of the fathers from these families worked in Eastern Europe while their families lived in the safer environment of Vienna. Black Forest Academy agreed and sent Dick Derksen to Vienna to help begin the school.
In 1986, the school was registered with the Wien Stadtschulrat (Vienna school district) and opened its doors to children of these missionary families. The school, with an American curriculum, was recognized as an official school that meets the compulsory requirements of foreign children to the age of 16.
When the school began, it was housed at Quellenstrasse in the 10th district. The first year there were only 25 students. There were two other moves before we were able to settle at Kreilplatz ½ in the 19th district in 1992. At that time there were over 100 students, overcrowding demanded a larger facility.
The Kreilplatz site was located on the second floor of an old empty paper factory. The contract was signed on July 7, 1992. With the help of voluntary work crews from the US and the UK, this paper factory was converted into a school in four months. The project was completed and VCS opened its doors in early September 1992 with 156 students and 40 faculty and staff.
In 1995 the school board made the decision to change the vision of the school. The original vision of “meeting the needs of missionary families” was expanded to include the international community of Vienna. Since this decision, the number of international students has risen dramatically and students from around the world have the opportunity to receive a sound academic instruction in an environment characterized by vibrant faith in Jesus Christ.
MISSION STATEMENT: Vienna Christian School exists to glorify God by providing high quality academic programs, in the English language, for our international student population.
High Quality Education in a Gracious atmosphere.
Whole Student Orientation
VIENNA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL’S FAITH STATEMENT
We believe the Bible to be the fully inspired, infallible, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God.
We believe there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe in both the deity and the humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, in His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His burial, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of God the Father, and in His personal return to power and glory.
We believe each human being is spiritually lost, sinful and utterly unable to save himself.
We believe explicit faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work and regeneration by the Holy Spirit are absolutely essential for the salvation of lost and sinful man.
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, whose indwelling and filling enables the Christian to live a godly life.
We believe in the bodily resurrection and judgment of all mankind. Believers are resurrected to enjoy eternal life with God and unbelievers are resurrected to eternal suffering apart from God.
We believe all who have confessed faith in the risen and ascended Son of God are members of Christ’s invisible and universal church. We also believe that the local church plays an essential role in the plan and purpose of God.
We believe in the personal return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We believe the primary purpose of man is to know God, glorify Him and enjoy Him forever.
THE STUDENT BODY AND VCS COMMUNITY
Students and staff currently represent each of these countries below. Every day we have the opportunity to share the gospel of Christ with students who might otherwise never hear it because Missionaries are not allowed in their homeland.


Thank you Lord for my many blessings this year, for those I am thankful!!!
· Blessings to my mother and father, for not only being my 2 best friends but for supporting my rather good or bad, having Faith in me no matter the circumstances and just always being so encouraging in whatever I may do!
· Blessings to my Bubba, he is so loving and caring and I look up to him so much for all the pain he fights through, Lord I know it’s hard sometimes but I hope he can see the positives to his situation.
· Blessings to my wonderful boyfriend Brian, for his patience with me in times of need, his understanding with life’s up’s and down’s, for sticking by my side through all my anxiety problems and my weight gain. He is a constant supporter of me and I prayed for years I would find someone like him one day and I am so blessed that he’s the one!
· Blessings to Auntie Cousin Joy, I know it’s been a rough year but she has been so positive and strong. God you have put her to a test and she continues to fight it every day. Please watch over her and keep her pain free.
· Blessings to Frank, what another wonderful year of getting to know him, Lord Bless him for all he has done and gone through this past year. Continue to guide him with patience and understanding.
· Blessings to my extended family for the love and support over the years.. Continue to keep them healthy and safe!
· Blessings to my best friends, Megan, Danielle, Lindsey, Mike C, Rebekah, Heather, and Rachael for supporting me with me weight gain and other health concerns I have gone through over the past year. Bless them for being true friends, I have been through so many heart aches with friends in the past, and you have finally blessed me with TRUE friends! Thank you for that, keep them all healthy and safe!
· Blessings to my school friends, I don’t know what I would of done this semester without them, especially Kelli who is my school buddy, we do it all together J
· Blessings to all friends old and new for their being there in good times and bad and there unconditional bonds of friendships.
· Blessings to our Soldiers who are overseas risking their lives to make ours safer..
· Blessings to our country and know God has a plan and will not let US fall apart.
· God’s Blessings’ all over the world to those who need a little extra this time of year, may they find what they’re looking for in your love!
· Counting your blessings this time of year is common, remember them all year through.. These are just a few of mine…
Happy Thanksgiving to all!!!


Week #2 Advent Reflection
He sees who others miss. The unnoticed. The unacknowledged. The undervalued. The unloved.
He saw Mary. A poor teenage girl from an ordinary family in a town so insignificant that people asked whether anything good could come out of Nazareth (John 1: 46).
And He sees you (II Chronicles 16:9).
Would you take a moment to let that truth sink in? God sees you. Yes, you. Right now. Your heart. Your worries. Your circumstances. The number of hairs on your head.
And God yearns for you to see Him. To notice Him. To acknowledge Him. To value Him. To love Him.
That’s why He sent Jesus as the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature (Hebrews 1:3). God with skin.
But how? How do we see Jesus?
Mary shows us how.
After 400 years of silence between the Old Testament and the New Testament, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary. He told her that God had highly favored her above all women to be the mother of the long-awaited Messiah.
How does Mary respond to this astounding, seemingly impossible news?
Unlike Mary, when the angel said Sarah would birth a son even though she was post-menopausal, she laughed (Genesis 18: 9-15). When the angel appeared to Zacharias to tell him that he and his wife Elisabeth would have a son in their old age, his unbelief was so displeasing that God struck him dumb until the prophecy came true (Luke 1:11-20).
But Mary believed.
God bestowed great honor upon Mary to birth Jesus, the One whose kingdom would have no end (Luke 1: 26-33). But it would also cost her dearly. The scandalous news of her pregnancy outside of marriage would forever ruin her virtuous reputation in Nazareth and beyond. How could she ever explain a Holy Spirit conception to Joseph? Would Joseph break off their betrothal?
But even as Mary wondered who would believe her, she chose to believe God.
“Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.”(Luke 1:38 NKJV)
Why was Mary so highly favored and blessed above women? Because she believed.
Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord. (Luke 1:45 NKJV)
Notice the order. Mary believed first. Then God fulfilled the promise. Not the other way around. Before she ever conceived, she saw Jesus because she chose to believe. Believing Jesus precedes seeing Jesus.
How do we see Jesus?
We choose to believe His word.
What do we believe?
– Do we choose to believe God is good when our circumstances are not good (Psalm 119: 68)?
– Do we choose to believe Jesus is very present when it feels like He is absent (Psalm 46: 1-2)?
– No matter what evil happens, do we choose to believe God can turn awful into good (Romans 8:28)?
– Do we choose to believe God never stops working on our behalf when it looks like nothing is changing for the better (John 5:17)?
Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29 NKJV).


“And the young man walking beside me, who was working with Dr. King, said, ‘Major, give us a moment to kneel and pray.’
And the major said, ‘Troopers advance.’”
~ Congressman John Lewis, remembering Selma
A young man stood beside John Lewis, that March day in 1965 on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma. Major John Clyde of the Alabama State Troopers was facing them, in a “sea of blue”-coated officers.
Confronting these waves of intimidation and fear, this young man felt his spine reach up to the heavens, and deep down into the earth.
He knew the time had come to say grace. And perhaps he did, in the seconds before impact. But soon the troopers were upon them, and any muffled words for mercy and strength were lost.
Now, looking back on Selma from a distance of fifty years, I would like us to imagine this young man’s unheard prayer and speak it out loud.
See them now, in your mind’s eye.
Hundreds of marchers, in tidy work clothes, some in their Sunday best, kneel on the bridge in unison. A young man, his name now lost to history, leads them in prayer…
Dear Lord, dear Kind One
whose steady hands we feel
on our bowed backs
like new spring sun –
we ask for nothing but to see,
within this sea of fear that surrounds us,
the unborn souls who hover close
and allow us to glimpse
through a chink in their fingers
the beloved country we are calling up
from the deeps of our blood
and claiming here, on this bridge, this day.
This land, sown with pearls
of stolen sweat, jewels of secret pain
is promised to the meek, the stranger,
I hear you say, O Life,
this means it is promised to us all.
Help us see you, even in the faces
blurred with hate, crashing down upon us
as huge but powerless waves: we know,
O Source, the taste of salt upon our lips
and welcome with gladness
these waves of blue washing us
clean of fear and shadow
and revealing to us the light cast
in broken human form: give praise!
I close my eyes and see a smile wake in the face
of my sleeping child, sleeping in her bed
under the oak branches in Selma.
She is dreaming, O Light, and her smile
is Us. We are the sign, in this world,
of my daughter’s dream – a visible
proof of all the beauty
that brings her
in the darkness of sleep
Dear Friend, I feel your hands
on my back as a burning brand –
a burning brand
turning my shoulders
See how they unfurl
and shelter us all!
My wings stretch and open
in the hot noon sun
and allow me to stand
on this bridge


I’ve done a lot of praying this past week in the hopes of finding the strength, courage, and inspiration I need to accept a challenge facing my already fragile world. My fears are great and my confidence is weak but I have faith. And my faith will see me through.
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?
He gives power to the weak; and to those who have no might He increases strength.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you: Do not fear; I will help you.
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.


Friday, 30 January 2009
Signs of faith.
In the heart of the old town of Benidorm, overlooking the Plaça del Castell, sits the church of St. James - or to give it it's correct title, Iglesia de San Jaime. Built in 1740, the blue tiled domes of St. James' church are one of the best known landmarks in Benidorm. Seen here looking up from the walls of the harbour.Inside the church is like many others in Spain, richly decorated, beautifully adorned with icons and idols - and the entrance is usually blocked with beggars trying to rid you of your hard-earned euros! It could be argued that She has one of the finest views over Benidorm and far off into the surrounding countryside.


Few people question Jesus’ literal existence, that he lived in Israel almost 2000 years ago. What has become increasingly confusing in our culture (and across the globe) is not his existence, but his significance. Who was he? Why has he consistently ranked as the most important figure in all of history?
It is clear, Jesus saw his own life and death and resurrection as part of a much bigger story than the 33 years he dwelled in the Middle East. He himself said that “God was his Father and that he existed before Abraham (who lived many years before him)” (John 8:54-59). He himself said that he was the fulfillment of “everything written about [him] in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms” (Luke 24:44). And he himself said that there is a day coming when he would return and judge the earth (Mark 13:24-26).
Jesus said his story encompassed the entire landscape of history, the beginning and the end, the alpha and the omega, creation to restoration! And when you consider what he did while on the earth: healing the sick, curing the blind-deaf-mute, raising the dead, confronting religious hypocrisy, and proclaiming forgiveness of sins (Matthew 9:1-8 – something clearly reserved for God himself), it is plain that Jesus’ story is quite unique. Throw in the fact that the grave where he was buried after he was wrongly accused and crucified on a roman cross is currently empty, Jesus is easily the most important figure of all history! “In Christ,” one biblical author said, “God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their sins against them” (2 Corinthians 5:19). This good news: that women, men, boys and girls can have forgiveness of sins, restored life with God and hope eternal is God’s appointed means for all of Creation to delight in the supremacy of Jesus. Though often tried, there are truly none who compare to him.


With the Word of God as our foundation, Colorado Heritage Education School System (CHESS), seeks to assist, equip, and encourage homeschooling families in their endeavor to promote their children's growth - both spiritually and academically.
Please enjoy and share them with your friends and families.
Colorado Heritage Education School System is designed to meet the needs of families throughout Colorado, across the United States and internationally who have chosen to educate at home.
Ready to take the next step? Enjoy the benefits of on-site Colorado Heritage classroom instruction and/or become a member of Colorado Heritage and take advantage of the many extra services available to homeschooling families under our Independent School Program.
If you are not able to see the below calendar, please sign into your family email, ID@coloradoheritage.org. After you have signed in please refresh this page. If you do not have a family email, please contact the office.


Do you like what we do? Do you want to be a part of our mission? Here's how!
learn how you can participate by
creating an endowment gift
We believe OC Ministries has been led by the Spirit since its founding in 1989, and we look forward to seeing what is in store for the next thirty years. As has happened before, we are sure lives will be transformed. Generations will be helped in our schools, churches, clinics, agricultural programs, sewing ministries, and through our wells and student scholarships. People will understand their own cultures better after being immersed in another. Women and men will receive a call to service. We will be reinvigorated to heal a broken world at home and abroad.
Our Endowment Fund helps us in several ways. We are able to bridge the gap as annual operating funds naturally ebb and flow, so no programs have to be cut. We are able to fund new programs as opportunities arise. We are able to respond better to emergencies. And we are better able to cultivate long-term sustainability.
OC Ministries has influenced and shaped individuals of every age.
Angela (Caron) Sims writes: “OC Ministries forever changed my life and how I see the world. I went on a work team 22 years ago when I was 18. I returned to the U.S. with an opened mind and changed heart. I still carry a piece of Africa with me every day.”
Lloyd Imker, an 87-year-old participant at the time, wrote: “These mission trips have taught me that it is good to do for people what would never happen for them unless you, or someone like you, would do it.”
Co-founder Kathy Horn says: “I cannot begin to express how blessed and grateful I feel to be a part of OC Ministries. This program has been a major way God has spoken to my heart and taught me to trust God and step out in faith.”
Our Endowment Fund is invested in the Minnesota United Methodist Foundation, which has a strong history of socially responsible investing and access to services and nationally recognized investment managers who rank among the best in the industry.
For more information on the foundation, contact Sheri Meister, Executive Director: email@example.com or 612-230-3338.


So it was interesting during a recent trip to the land of Chips 'n' Chocolate [Belgium] to visit St Donaas' church in Zeebrugge and see again some fairly good and recent glass, dominant in blue. (Zeebrugge, incidentally, has a population of only 6 or so; St Donaas' is a good mariners' church, complete with boat on altar).
It's not well-known, or documented elsewhere (that I can find), so I wrote to the Pastoor to enquire. He promptly replied with two pieces of illustrative information [in English]
- A cursory description of the church and its environs, telling me "The glass panels from the church in 1965".
- Brief details of two VCs awarded to Capt. Bamford and Sgt. Finch [R.M.], who were part of the sea battle of Zeebrugge held on 23rd April 1918 (yes, St. George's Day).
Meanwhile, I'd be pleased to learn more about the Zeebrugge glass, if anyone knows.
Out of interest, Aberystwyth has some good glass in both St Michael's:St Anne's, Penparcau:


Fr. Robert Sirico’s new book, The Economics of the Parables, opens by reflecting on why Jesus chose economic imagery so often for his parables. In the Gospels, we hear stories of investing, trading, planting, and managing estates (the book covers a baker’s dozen of these parables), though not once of composing music, studying for a test, or playing sports. Fr. Sirico’s answer is that economics is a universal human experience—each person faces limited time and resources—thus economic imagery is fitting for parables intended to last throughout history. This is a point familiar to economists; indeed, my favorite introductory textbook (fittingly entitled Universal Economics) begins with the story of Adam and Eve:
Since the discouraging fiasco in the Garden of Eden, all the world has been a place conspicuous in its scarcity of resources, contributing heavily to an abundance of various sorrows and sins. People have had to adjust and adapt to limitations of what is available to satisfy unlimited desires. Some individuals and societies have been much more successful than others in thus making do.
Fr. Sirico’s approach to discerning economic lessons in the parables of Jesus is mainly pastoral, and the close reader can discern his honest effort to follow the example set by Pope Francis, who has become known for his ability to apply spiritual truths to gritty, everyday life. The spiritual significance of the parables is deepened, he argues, by a clearer understanding of the economic forces at play. Thus Fr. Sirico uses material reality to draw his reader toward the transcendent.
This essay focuses on a theme that runs throughout the book, specifically, how understanding economics can be an antidote to the temptation of envy. To quote the great Peter Kreeft: “Envy, though not the greatest sin, is the only one that gives the sinner no pleasure at all, not even fake and temporary satisfaction.” Once it becomes clear where prices (and wages) come from, the role of private property plays in society, and what profit and loss signals mean, envy is uncovered as the irrationality that it is. Economists have understood the mechanisms behind these market phenomena since the 16th-century priests of the School of Salamanca, but it is up to each generation not to forget these lessons. This latest book by Fr. Sirico is evidence that he is doing his part.
I want to begin by defining economics, as is done in the beginning of the book (and to hopefully clear it up for any students currently discerning their college major!). In Fr. Sirico’s words, economics is “the discipline that elucidates the implications of scarcity in the material world: the entire complex nature of exchange, trade, and human action.” While it deals with topics like money and financial markets, economists are also very interested in law, family, and religion, since these also facilitate trade and undergird the economy.
One common frustration with economics, capitalism, or “the market” concerns how things are valued. Economists adhere to the subjective theory of value, which simply means that goods and services have value in the market because subjects—you and I–give them value. Jesus also assumes this in his Parable of the Pearl of Great Price, as Fr. Sirico recognizes in his chapter on the subject:
The pearl was a luxury good and is presented with no condemnation in the parable. Instead, Jesus portrays the merchant as wise for having his priorities right in selling what must have been a substantial amount of property in order to obtain it. What might be seen as a pointless material good, may be seen by others as something wonderful, even a reflection of the beauty of Creation itself. People’s perspectives, and thus the value they place on objects, differ.
If high prices tempt us to view all businesspeople as greedy, or if we are angry because teachers and nurses aren’t paid as much as CEOs, we would do well to recognize that the only sustainable way to change market outcomes is by changing what people value. Valuations can be mistaken (and often are), and incomes say nothing about the objective value of persons as such. The important moral question is not where economic value and prices come from, but what we ought to value.
The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard illustrates this tension. It was not the sheer effort or time put into harvesting that determined the workers’ market wage (a denarius), but rather how their production was valued in the market. The landowner also offered a daily wage to those who began their work later in the day, perhaps because their last-minute contributions were even more valuable to him, or simply to be generous in case he needed them again in the future. Cultivating good habits like generosity and charity takes place prior to the market, as Fr. Sirico’s emphasizes: “Market exchange turns on the subjective value that a consumer places on a product, not on the objective values that are better called virtues. The critical task of forming character and conscience rests primarily with parents in the home, spiritual directors and guides, and a host of other authorities, not on economic institutions as such.”
Another common misconception about economics that invites envy concerns private property. However, this reflects a modern forgetfulness, and Fr. Sirico reminds us that St. Thomas Aquinas pointed out the social function of the private property in the 13th century:
[It] is not merely legitimate for a man to possess things as his own, it is even necessary for human life, and this for three reasons. First, because each person takes more trouble to care for something that is his sole responsibility than what is held in common or by many—for in such a case each individual shirks the work and leaves the responsibility to somebody else, which is what happens when too many officials are involved. Second, because human affairs are more efficiently organized if each person has his own responsibility to discharge; there would be chaos if everybody cared for everything. Third, because men live together in greater peace where everyone is content with his task.
Every parable relating to economic matters assumes the legitimacy of private property. This is especially notable in the Parable of the Two Debtors, which Jesus narrated after a woman used her property (an expensive perfume) to honor him while those in power looked on with disapproval. In this parable, God is portrayed as a moneylender who, though having a legitimate claim to repayment, has forgiven much. Fr. Sirico also uses the Parable of the Sower, which illustrates how seed scattered under different conditions yields varying results, to illustrate how a system of private property is the fertile soil necessary for economic flourishing. When this system of private property expands to include more people (usually via population growth or immigration), then property ownership, contracts, capital markets, and profit and loss signals encourage virtuous behavior, such as long-term thinking and deferred gratification, that Aquinas had noted.
Still, envy may tempt us to support policies of redistribution which are ultimately counterproductive. Fr. Sirico also addresses this temptation when discussing the Parable of the Rich Fool: “[Redistribution] only moves around the wealth that has already been created . . . There are times when it’s a good idea to do this, especially within families. But if the redistribution is orchestrated by officials far removed from the concrete context, or motivated by avarice, or covetousness, or envy, it can be the occasion of sin.” Redistribution is a zero- or even negative-sum game, meaning that there are always winners and losers, and the potential sum of losses may be larger than the winnings.
Finally, it is easy to misunderstand the role of profit and loss signals in the market economy. Profit occurs when entrepreneurs manage their time and resources wisely in the face of persistent uncertainty about the future. Moreover, “wealth in a market economy is dynamic because to be ‘rich’ is a reversible condition, as any perusal of the various lists of the wealthiest will demonstrate from year to year.” Due to our natural limitations, economic losses are also possible. However, it is important to note that neither profit nor loss for Fr. Sirico implies any moral successes or failures.
One parable that clearly illustrates this is the Parable of the Talents: “Religious institutions, along with all those whose task it is to form the moral consensus, should recognize entrepreneurship for what it is—a vocation, a calling in need of formation, maturation, and clarity of mission.” The Parable of the King Going to War and the Parable of the House on the Rock are rife with lessons about entrepreneurship as well. Fr. Sirico reminds his readers that entrepreneurs are successful when they fulfill the desires of their customers. Here again, the lesson is that many unjust market outcomes are the result of fundamental institutions like families, churches, and schools, not fulfilling their responsibility to form characters oriented toward the good, true, and beautiful. Much of what economists refer to as “transaction costs” would be eliminated in an economy consisting entirely of saints, but that is unfortunately not the world we inhabit. Economics reveals how we depend on God and man for our everyday needs.
When I was an undergraduate student at Creighton University, Fr. Sirico came to campus to talk about his first book, Defending the Free Market. I was just about to leave on for a semester abroad in the Dominican Republic (of which a substantial portion of the program was meant to open our eyes to the flaws of capitalism), so I thought I should open myself to other perspectives. Fr. Sirico’s talk was the first time I encountered the explicitly moral case for economic freedom, and something in me stirred. I didn’t know it yet, but this would also be the message I would devote my life to sharing. His book came with me to the Dominican Republic, and surely enough, I saw with my own eyes how economic restrictions and controls (both ill- and well-intended) harmed the people there. The rest is, as they say, history.
As a Catholic Christian and an economist, Fr. Sirico’s new book has my strongest recommendation. The Economics of the Parables is an excellent contribution to a burgeoning literature in which scholars take both their faith and economics seriously (other noteworthy examples include Faith and Liberty, Economics in Christian Perspective, and Biblical Games). The book contains much more than I was able to address, such as interest and usury, government debt, business cycles, and so on. My only word of advice is that Fr. Sirico should consider doing the Old Testament next!


The Salvation Army is celebrating 150 years of service and ministry during its 2015 International Congress July 1-5. Thousands of Salvationists and friends from all over the world…
Here at The Salvation Army, we love a do-gooder! One of our favorites is Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers. Paul’s family foundation is responsible for a lot of good around Los Angeles as is the very generous team he plays for. Last Friday we got to see what the Chris Paul Family Foundation and Denise Booth’s crew from the L.A. Clippers Foundation did to create an environment for learning and play at The Salvation Army in Compton, California.
Did you know that The Salvation Army began in East London on 2 July 1865, founded by William and Catherine Booth? Today, our international church and charity meets human needs without discrimination in 126 countries worldwide. To honor our 150 years of service, we’re asking friends and supporters to join us to send an anniversary greeting via social media on July 2. We’re using Thunderclap, the “crowd-speaking” app to send out this message from multiple accounts at the same time.
This post was contributed by The Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO) The Salvation Army continues to serve communities in and around Kathmandu following two earthquakes on April…
Have you ever wondered where a homeless job searcher would keep their pet while looking for work? Showing up for an interview with a dog on a leash or a birdcage in hand probably doesn’t make a good first-impression. And for those who live in their car, leaving a pet inside is a major no no during warm weather. On an even more serious note, can you imagine leaving your beloved family dog with an abusive spouse so you could flee to safety?
For the fifth year in a row, Entenmann’s Bakery is helping The Salvation Army celebrate the sweetest holiday, the 78th Annual National Donut Day! This year this magical…
The hurricane season in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico officially kicked off this Monday, June 1 and will run through the end of November. While forecasters…
Next week is a major holiday we observe here at The Salvation Army in the US. It’s not a religious holiday imbued with deep meaning and eternal significance. No, it’s National Donut Day on Friday June 5th.
In keeping with our tradition to honor this fine day by revering our nation’s veterans and eating donuts (surprise!), here’s a list of activities that are open to the public so you can make this holiday part of your life too!
The post Find a National Donut Day event in the Western US! appeared first on Expect Change.
Salvation Army of Staunton VA
1700 West Beverley St. Staunton, VA 24401
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Donation Pickup Call:
Tuesday – Saturday
09:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Saturdays or Sundays please drop donations in red donation bin. All donations Monday-Friday must be dropped of at the warehouse not at the store.
MissionWe are an international movement, that is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Our message is based on the Bible’s ministry of our love for God. The Army’s mission most of all, is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ while meeting human needs in His name without discrimination.
© Copyright - The Salvation Army


Christian Family Services is a private, non-profit adoption agency, which has been licensed by the State of South Carolina as a Child Placing Agency since February 5, 1990. Our license number is SR-0000008200001-CPA.
CFS provides services for birthparents and their families, adoptive parents, other agencies, private attorneys, and other persons needing such services as: counseling; educational assistance; consents/relinquishments; pre-placement investigations (home studies); post-placement investigations; background information investigations; and foster care in licensed Christian homes.
Our Mission Statement and Services Provided:
As a ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, the mission of Christian Family Services is to provide alternatives to abortion through counseling and care for the mother and her child. Our primary goal is to save the life of the unborn child, as God values human life and knows us even before our conception. We offer counseling to the woman who finds herself in a crisis pregnancy situation, striving to meet her emotional and spiritual needs, in order to help her make the best decision for herself and her unborn child, and in the process, grow closer to God. We offer services to help meet her physical needs in an effort to ensure a healthy pregnancy.
For the woman who makes an adoption plan, we provide Christian parents who are prepared, assessed, and approved for adoption. For the woman who is undecided, we provide interim foster care as she makes plans for herself and her child. For women who are working with other agencies, or for foreign-born children, we provide Christian parents who are prepared, assessed, and approved for adoption. Recognizing that adoption is a life-changing event, we offer lifelong services to all members of the adoption triad: birthparents, adoptive parents, and their children.
Statement of Faith
Our Statement of Faith Is: (as found in the Apostle’s Creed)
We believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried. He descended into hell. The third day He arose from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.
Code of Ethics
To view our Code of Ethics click HERE


"19 Prayers To Find Your Godly Spouse"
"I am a woman aged 26 and I participated in the last singles marathon prayer and God answered. I got married on 23 December 2006. I thank the Lord for answering my prayers and I thank you for sharing what you have learnt..."
"I have great news to share with you. I took in the prayer marathon December and prayed for my finances, the ministry that God has for me and my future spouse. January the 17th my husband to be came into my life and we are going to be married in June, is that not WONDERFUL!!!, I am so happy. God is GOOD."
-- Maggie, South Africa
"I got to know about you on the 14th day of the singles prayer marathon after an excited friend told me about you and she had 2 of your books Prayer DNA Secrets & Prayer Cookbook for Busy People. I downloaded "The 9 Mistakes" booklet and distributed it to over 10 singles who I knew needed help. One lady I gave it to had tried about 4 times to marry but to no avail. They attempted to wed 4 times and every time the weddings would be cancelled.. Since I caught the marathon midway I only managed to get days 14 - 21 and days 2,3,4,10,11,12 which were weekends. Those prayer points were enough to get her the victory and the good news is they finally wedded on Friday the 27th of October to the Glory of God."
- Name Withheld on Request
"I discovered your site while looking for self-deliverance prayer points on the web. My wedding which was scheduled for the earlier part of this year was mysteriously and embarrasingly cancelled by my fiance a week before the event. .When you started emailing me, i then understood that an evil gate had been opened against me at midnight. I have used your prayer points in addition to other instructions from the Lord and praise God... I got married first week in September!"
- Nana, U.K.
"I've met this wonderful guy
after doing the prayer points for
singles. Things are moving so
quickly, within two weeks he had
introduced me to his family. All his
family just fell in love with me, I
think that was God's favour (40 prayer
points). His father has already had a
meeting with us, saying that we should
go for HIV tests because they would like
to formalise things with my family. The
good thing with this guy is that he is a
Christian also. God is faithful and I am
trusting him for everything in my life.
I will keep you posted. Regards and God
"Now To The Prayers ...
Then read the following scriptures out loud:
Galatians 3:13-14, Colossians 2:14-15
1 Holy Spirit, cook my relationship in your anointing in the name of Jesus Christ.
2 Let the spirit of love and understanding prevail between us in the name of Jesus Christ.
3 O Lord, reveal to me every secret I need to know concerning this relationship in the name of Jesus.
4 I command every spirit of division to depart from us in the name of Jesus.
5 You spirit of Egypt, release my marriage in the name of Jesus
6 Let every family cage holding my godly spouse be destroyed by the fire of God in Jesus' name
7 Lord Jesus, wash away every anti-marriage stamp, label and links from my life with your blood.
8 Let every ungodly family interference in this relationship be cut off completely in the mighty name of Jesus.
9 Let all anti-marriage yokes break in the name of Jesus Christ.
10 Let all the effects of evil spiritual wedding rings, garments and shoes be completely removed in Jesus' name
11 Let any veil of hatred against me in the heart of my godly spouse be destroyed in the name of Jesus
12 Let any wicked spirit polluting the heart of my spouse-to-be against me receive the stones of fire, in the name of Jesus
13 O Lord, put the love for me back in the heart of my would-be spouse in the name of Jesus Christ.
14 Let the joy of the enemy over my marriage be converted to sorrow in the name of Jesus.
15 You spouse, you will not follow the evil patterns of any parent or ancestors in Jesus' name
16 I bind all activities of spirits from the air, water, land and family idols, and I forbid them from interfering in my relationship from today in Jesus' name
17 Let all activities contrary to my wedding day marriage be paralyzed in the name of Jesus.
18 Let all spirits of fear, depression, worry and despair release me now in the mighty name of Jesus
19 Thank you LORD for answering my prayers in Jesus' name
BUT you will only be able to access the next set of prayers if you sign up (see details below)
How To Our All-NEW Singles Community Site
"5 Tips On How To Enter The Community"
Step #2: Signup as a guest
Step #3: Upload your photo, videos, songs
Step #4: Watch videos, read FREE Reports
Step #5: Full Membership details below...


A place for mothers of preschoolers (birth to Kindergarten) to find friendship, community, resources, and support for you as a woman and a mother.
Becoming a mother is exciting, but it also means adapting to a big life-change. . . motherhood brings a variety of emotions from joy and unconditional love to feeling overwhelmed and unprepared. The Westminster MOPS group is caring, encouraging, and uplifting. . . we celebrate the joys of being a mother as well as encouraging one another through the challenges when motherhood is difficult.
We meet the first and third Tuesday, September through May, from 8:45am to 11:00am, at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Childcare is available during each meeting.
Interested in joining Westminster MOPS? Please visit our Registration and Payment page.
LET LOVE BE THE LOUDEST VOICE. BE GUTSY. GO FIRST
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor, he has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord. - Luke 4:18-19


encounter church exist
so others may live
This vision is achieved by the 4 quadrants working together.
We as a church desire for people to ENCOUNTER Jesus in a real relevant way.
- Worship Team
- Environment Team
- Children's Ministry Team
- Production Team
For people to be ESTABLISHED in their walk with God and connected to
the life of the local church.
For people to be EQUIPPED to lead themselves and to lead others.
SCHOOL OF LEADERS
For people to be EMPOWERED to reach their generation and
nation for Jesus Christ.
SOCIAL JUSTICE PROJECTS


With your help we are able to make sleeping bag donations to these organizations throughout Colorado.
Contact us if you are an organization in need of sleeping bags or if you would like to tell us about an organization in need.
Mission: To provide safe shelter, food, support services, and an avenue to self-sufficiency for homeless adults in our community.
The mission of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless is to work collaboratively toward the prevention of homelessness and the creation of lasting solutions for homeless and at-risk families, children, and individuals throughout Colorado.
The Denver Rescue Mission is changing lives in the name of Christ by meeting people at their physical and spiritual points of need with the goal of returning them to society as productive, self-sufficient citizens.
Giving Heart exists to see the community of those experiencing homelessness transformed in the name of Jesus Christ by igniting hope, investing spiritually, physically, emotionally, and intellectually in lives and to impact a greater community.
To provide homeless men, women and children with the supplies that they need to survive on the streets and the support and companionship that they need to navigate the path from homelessness to self-sufficiency.
HOPE provides life-sustaining and supportive services for homeless and at-risk individuals to encourage stability and self-sufficiency. HOPE provides emergency street outreach for the homeless in Longmont and offers supportive follow-through services.
The Salvation Army R.J. Montgomery Center is an emergency shelter for men, women, and families. The Center provides the basic necessities to the homeless, those in need or in a crisis situation. Counseling and resource advocacy is also available for those who wish to get off the streets. R.J. Montgomery Center also houses The Children’s Discovery Center, a special developmental program for families with children living at The Center. The goal of The R.J. Montgomery Center is to help lead residents out of the cycle of homelessness to self-sufficiency.
Urban Peak Colorado Springs helps young people overcome homelessness and other real life challenges by providing safety, respect, essential services, and a supportive community, empowering them to become self-reliant adults.
St. Clare’s Ministries offers short-term respite from the harsh realities of homelessness, poverty, and the separation we feel from God and each other. With God’s help, St. Clare’s is an open, welcoming, and diverse community that provides physical and spiritual nourishment, clothing, and other support to our guests and volunteers in need.


The Adoration of the Magi “was the single most popular religious theme featuring blacks in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century European art” (Blakely 84). Blakely analyzes how black people are portrayed by Dutch art, and notes that this is one of the few instances in which a black person is portrayed positively. In almost every work featuring this theme, “The black king was usually depicted as the youngest…[and] was also often strikingly handsome” (84-85). She argues the continued reverence for the African king is due both to the influence of Religion in early Dutch art as well as evolving European perceptions of black people.
Westermann’s analytical approach reflects on how artists and their customers use art to project authority. He would likely note the massive reproduction of this image as a function of the Church’s extensive patronage. He might attribute the black king’s continued portrayal as young and attractive to a desire for consistency and tradition, as well as an extra facet for the exultation of Jesus Christ. Finally, he would remark at how the king is furthest from the baby Jesus, a fact that could reflect the artist’s desire to portray white Christians as closer to God.


Master's Hand Longmont
CHRISTIAN HOMESCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
Master’s Hand Longmont is a Christian-based PreK-12 homeschool enrichment program offering high-quality, affordable core and enrichment classes to homeschool families along Colorado’s Front Range. We have talented and loving teachers that are dedicated to integrating godly truth into their carefully selected curriculum and lesson plans. We strive to set personal examples of a godly life to our students and their family members. It is the goal of our staff to truly be an extension of the "Master's Hand" in the life of every student we teach.
- Master’s Hand has been the greatest blessing to our entire family. My children have thrived in their classes, learned new things from the loving guidance of their teachers, and gained lifelong friendships. Master’s Hand is so much more than an enrichment program for homeschool families, It's a treasure.
- Jenny Ciepiel
-My kids LOVE Master’s Hand!
This is, in my opinion, the best option for a private, Bible-based enrichment program. The students are respectful, fun to be around and friendly. The talented teachers are caring, thoughtful and organized. I feel good about bringing my kids each week and when I pick them up, they are in a thankful, happy mood.
- Heather L.
- Our experience with Master's Hand over the last 8 years has been a blessing. My two kids have made lifelong friends as they learned from group activities in a wonderful loving environment. We started Master's Hand for Theater when my daughter was seven, Julie Magalong was recommended to us for my daughter who has an interest in acting. Although both of my kids are still in Theater and love it, the other classes have grown them in ways I could not have seen back then. Between PE growing them physically and mentally; science with dissections we would have never done at home; art classes developing skills I would never have been able to see; and all of this with an emphasis on God the Creator. Every class they have been involved with has explained the subject of study in the context of a Godly World View enhancing their faith while expanding their curiosity in the God we serve.
I would recommend Master's Hand to anyone looking to enhance their children's school experience. I love homeschooling my kids and being with them most days, but having a chance to grocery shop, run errands or grade papers on their Master's Hand days had been a blessing for me as well.
- Stacie Osmus


Thanks so much! Keep up the good work posting prices, and God bless you and your family.
Happy Easter to you, my friend.
Thank you for your kind words Igppa! That's very thoughtful of you. Have a great day!!!
Thanks for the congratulation and congratulation to you on reaching 1300 consecutive days. (HAPPY EASTER)
Thanks for the congrats. You and your family have a wonderful HAPPY EASTER.
A big congrats on reaching 1300 consecutive days!
Wishing you a safe, healthy and Happy Easter.
btw, congrats on reaching 1300 consecutive days!
Thank you for the congrats for 1 mil! Sorry for the delayed response, I've been quite busy, haven't been looking at my whiteboard much.


ST HILDA’S, COWCLIFFE, HUDDERSFIELD – A PLACE TO MEET GOD
People nowadays often don’t know what to make of the idea of ‘God’. When some family catastrophe, like the serious illness of a child, strikes they say ‘I can’t believe in a God who allows this kind of thing to happen’. How much more when the catastrophe is on a mega scale? We hear about natural disasters, disease and starvation and the horrors of war, violence and ethnic cleansing, dreadful acts sometimes committed in the name of ‘religion’.
People who go to church don’t necessarily have a nice tidy answers to the problem of how people can still say they believe in God in the face of suffering and evil, but they do know about some of the questions.
What do we actually mean when we say ‘God? –not an all-powerful ‘old man up in the sky’ certainly. A loving and strengthening force maybe. A force which people experience and which keeps them going when times are hard?
How does Jesus fit into all of this? He experienced a lot of bad stuff in his life. Christians believe that God was with him in a special way so that in his life and death and teachings he communicated what God s is like – bothered about people in trouble and suffering with them.
People who go to St. Hilda’s feel they are on a journey – coping with their own problems, trying not to run away from the world’s problems – caring for one another, caring about the community around, seeking the help and strengthening of God.
Our Sunday services are at 5pm, except the first Sunday in the month when we celebrate Holy Communion at 10.30am
We recently were pleased to hold Rachael & Mick’s wedding blessing service at St Hilda’s Church in May 2019.
If you wish to arrange a baptism; wedding; marriage blessing or funeral, please contact our Vicar Ian Jamieson (e mail:email@example.com Tel: 01484427838)
Have you ever been to Whitby on the East coast? If so you will probably have noticed some ancient ruins high above the town. If you visit again go and look at them. They were originally an abbey. This place was home to a very special lady, Saint Hilda. She was the abbess and the story of her life is extraordinary – for several reasons.
She lived from 614 to 680 and was a great niece of the king of Northumbria. She was baptised at the age of thirteen and became a nun twenty years later. She eventually became abbess of Hartlepool and later of the great monastery of Whitby. We usually think of a ‘monastery’ as being a home for monks, but in this case it housed members of both sexes. We may be surprised to find that it had a female leader, given the problems the Church of England has had in recent decades about accepting female priests and bishops!
People wonder if she was a ‘bossy’ person but the evidence is that she was regarded as a woman of great compassion, sought out for her wise counsel by ordinary folk and rulers alike. Some came from as far away as mainland Europe.
Down the ages Christians seem to have got bogged down with things that do not seem to us nowadays to be of major importance. In the days of Hilda the issue was the right way to calculate the date of Easter. The original British Celtic church had one tradition. A newer grouping, who owed allegiance to Rome, had another. It was really not desirable for different members of the same family to be celebrating this major festival at different times! A special meeting or ‘synod’ was called at Whitby to deal with this and a few related issues.
It was decided to follow the Roman way. Hilda may well have been disappointed but she accepted the decision pf the synod and called on others to do likewise. She believed in the primacy of peace and love.
Under Hilda, Whitby Abbey became a great centre of learning. At this time books were expensive and hard to come by, but she began to build a library. This was long before the invention of printing.
Although she lived a long time ago, well before the coming of William the Conqueror, she is still a powerful example to is all. She is remembered by the Church of England each year on November 17th.
The following ‘Hilda’s blessing‘ was written in her honour by Barrie Williams:
Have peace with one another as children of one mother.
Let each defer to other and may your hearts be one.
Have peace with all around you; sweet love of earth surround you;
and may no harm confound you or break the peace within.
Have peace with God your maker. In Jesus be partaker
and Spirit consecrator. God, three in one, grant peace.
The peace of God possess you. The love of God caress you,
The grace of heaven bless you; peace everlastingly.


What does it mean to meditate on the Word day and night?
Meditation leads to depth and stability. As David points in Psalms 1, the Christian who meditates day and night on the word of God shall be like a tree that is planted by the rivers of water. In other words , meditation will lead to depth and stability.
What does the Bible say on meditation?
When the Bible mentions meditation , it often mentions obedience in the next breath. An example is the Book of Joshua: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it.
How do you meditate on the Word?
Open the Bible and read the verse or verses you plan to meditate over. Spend as much time as you need to gain a basic understanding of the words , then bookmark the verse for later; you’ll need to refer to it continually throughout your meditation . After you read through the passage, try reading through it again.
Whose delight is in the law of the Lord?
Blessed is the man [ whose ] delight is in the law of the Lord , and on His law , he meditates day and night. Maybe you have read this verse before. The man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of scoffers is blessed.
How can I talk to God meditate?
Jesus Prayer: How to Meditate and Talk to God Seek a quiet place. Sit in a comfortable, upright position. Remain as still as possible. Think on God’s Word — any phrase, or command, or even just a singular word like “Jesus”. Return to your word or phrase whenever other thoughts or images pass your mind.
How do I meditate on God?
Be Direct: Ask For What You Want Get Quiet. Begin by sitting in a posture as for meditation . Greet and Offer Praise. Spend a moment or two setting the stage with a prayer of invocation or praise, or an offering of gratitude. Speak Your Truth. Acknowledge your interior truth for that moment. Connect. Make a request. Let Go. Immerse Yourself in the Sacred.
Can meditation be dangerous?
Popular media and case studies have recently highlighted negative side effects from meditation —increases in depression, anxiety, and even psychosis or mania—but few studies have looked at the issue in depth across large numbers of people.
How do you meditate in bed?
How to meditate Find a quiet area. Sit or lie down, depending on what feels most comfortable. Lying down is preferable at bedtime. Close your eyes and breathe slowly. Inhale and exhale deeply. Focus on your breathing. If a thought pops up, let it go and refocus on your breathing.
What does the Bible say about tattoos?
The verse in the Bible that most Christians make reference to is Leviticus 19:28, which says,”You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord.” So, why is this verse in the Bible ?
Why do I feel sleepy when I meditate?
First thing’s first: Falling asleep during meditation is an incredibly common occurrence. And according to Headspace, one of the main reasons behind the phenomenon is simple: It can be really hard to find the perfect balance between focus and relaxation, especially when you’re first starting out in your practice.
How long does it take for meditation to change the brain?
Q: So how long does someone have to meditate before they begin to see changes in their brain? Lazar: Our data shows changes in the brain after just eight weeks . In a mindfulness-based stress reduction program, our subjects took a weekly class. They were given a recording and told to practice 40 minutes a day at home.
What do I think about when I meditate?
Lots of people think meditation is about clearing your mind, or stopping all thoughts. Our brains are thought factories, and we can’t just shut them down. Instead, just try to practice focusing your attention, and practice some more when your mind wanders.
What does the Bible mean by Delight yourself in the Lord?
It is an action of taking great pleasure in God, to please Him or to be His pleasure. When a man’s heart is tender toward a woman, in wooing her he will want what he is, does and says to be pleasing to the woman; he is delighting himself in her. This is a specific way to live yielded to God.
Who wrote Psalm 119?
The psalm (118 in the Septuagint) figures prominently in the worship of the Orthodox Church. There is a tradition that King David used this psalm to teach his young son Solomon the alphabet—but not just the alphabet for writing letters: the alphabet of the spiritual life.
What does delight mean in the Bible?
To “ delight ,” says Webster’s Dictionary, is to “take pleasure” or “to give keen enjoyment” or to “give joy or satisfaction to.” Therefore, to delight in God’s Law/Word is to “take pleasure in the Word of God.” In simple words, it means we enjoy the Word. It is like your favorite desert or food.


"The Nifty Notters of St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Beaverton have been practicing the recycling and reusing of fabric for many years. Women gather twice a month to assemble quilts that are then donated to local and international benevolences. Baby quilts are donated to the Virginia Garcia Clinic where they are distributed to mothers to swaddle their newborns on their journey home from the hospital. Adult sized quilts are given to Safeplace, a program that offers temporary housing to homeless teens in Hillsboro. And still others are donated to Lutheran World Relief, an international benevolence that provides quilts to victims of natural disaster and poverty. What makes these quilts so special? The fabric comes from donations of scrap material such as draperies, bed sheets or unused yardage. Heavy weight fabric unsuitable for quilts is sewn into school bags that are then filled with school supplies for children living in poverty. Nothing goes to waste. This process gives the quilters a connection to those in need while re-purposing what we have for something of value."


Here’s how you can pray for the Colorado shepherds’ ministry:
- Pray for spiritual wisdom for Steve Kreis as he talks to shepherds about the new life Jesus offers them and teaches them from the Word of God.
- Pray for opportunities for Steve to connect with more shepherds and ranchers and build friendships with them.
- Pray for the shepherds, who are often very lonely, to feel the presence of God in their everyday lives and to come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord.
- Pray that the shepherds who already know Jesus will grow closer to Him as they study the Bible with Steve.
- Pray that the shepherds’ families will begin relationships with God through Jesus and will be kept safe from physical harm.
- Pray that the conversation and tangible gifts the shepherds receive from the Kreises’ ministry will allow them to feel the love of God and know it is real.
- Pray for health and safety for Steve, Mary, and the shepherds they visit.
- Pray for more people to support Steve and Mary financially and in regular prayer as they bring the love of Jesus to the shepherds.
- Pray that God will call others to serve in this ministry so that more shepherds can experience God’s love through Jesus.
In addition to shooting video footage in Colorado, our film crew took a lot of still photos. This collection of images includes some of the best shots we captured on our iPhones and cameras during our time in in the high country.


eReaders and More
Are you interested in buying an eReader this holiday season, but not sure where to begin? Have you wondered why some eReaders are in color, but most are in black and white? Do you want to make sure the eReader you buy will be compatible with TCPL's eBooks? And what's the big deal about Amazon's newest reader, the "Kindle Fire"? Then bring your questions to the Tazewell library on Monday, December 5 at 6:00pm to hear library staff discuss the basics of eReaders and tablets. They will also provide brief demonstrations with some popular devices. Seating is limited, so call now to reserve your space!
King James Bible 400th
This year, the world recognizes the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible, named for James I, who ordered the translation from the Hebrew and Greek into English so everyman could read it for himself.
Today we take for granted that anyone can read the Bible in his own language, but this was not the case up to the Elizabethan era. The Bible was written in Latin, the language of the Church, and only accessible to the priests, who controlled what to present and how to present it to their flock. When James the Sixth of Scotland and the First of England took the throne after Elizabeth's death, he sought to unite rival political factions of monarchists and Puritans, and commissioned an official translation of the scripture into the vernacular. The King James Bible represented a religious and political declaration of independence from the controlling power of the papacy in world affairs. The effect of this action was revolutionary and led to the English Civil War, the American Revolution, and the rise of democracy around the world.
The way in which this powerfully influential translation came to be is the subject of God's Secretaries by Adam Nicolson, who also has an article on this subject in the current issue of National Geographic magazine. Nicolson provides historical context, brings vividly to life many of the 50 scholars who worked on it, gives a plausible account of how the task was accomplished, and conveys the full grandeur of the translation. These men spent seven years, from 1604 to 1611, poring over Greek and Hebrew texts, comparing previous translations, and arguing over fine details to produce what is widely recognized as a highlight of English literature and a milestone in the Protestant movement in Britain.
Historian Melvyn Bragg writes about the worldwide significance of this book in The Book of Books: the radical impact of the King James Bible, 1611-2011. He tells the engaging story of the creation of the KJV, and then assesses its influence on culture, including science, language and literature, and its impact on society. The social reach of the KJV extends to widely varying attitudes toward slavery and the American Civil War, views of sex, and advocacy for women's rights, the social gospel movement, and democracy.
Prolific literary critic Harold Bloom presents the book he has been writing "all my long life", a perceptive reading of the King James Bible as a literary work of art in The Shadow of a Great Rock. Comparing passages from William Tyndale's Bible, the Geneva Bible, and the original Hebrew and Greek texts, Bloom illustrates how the translators improved upon earlier versions to create a sublimely beautiful masterpiece of literature.
Food for Fines
Cancel $5 in overdue fines for each book returned in good condition, along with a can of food, during holiday Food for Fines, now through 30 December. This is the perfect opportunity to clear outstanding accounts. Beginning in January, items remaining overdue may be sent to collections. Avoid damaging your credit record by bringing those books back during this last free opportunity.
To reserve your space for the eReader showcase, or to discuss an overdue account, call 988-2541, or visit us on the web at www.tcplweb.org.