Let your prayer life be inspired by 400+ prayers of the early church fathers, Puritans, Protestant Reformers, and more, linked to key passages of Scripture in the ESV Prayer Bible. Created to help you reflect on God’s Word through prayer, this volume demonstrates the connection between the words God has spoken to us in the Bible and the words we speak back to him in prayer.
- Single-column, paragraph format
- 400+ historical prayers interspersed throughout the Bible text
- Prayer-related book introductions providing insight into how to use each specific book in prayer
- Introductory essay by professor Donald S. Whitney, author of Praying the Bible, explaining how and why to pray the Bible
- User guide
- Author index featuring bios of historical contributors and relevant page numbers
- Comprehensive index featuring every time prayer is mentioned in the entire Bible
- Reading plans
- Type Size:Bible: 9.25-point; Prayers: 7.5-point
- Sewn Binding
- Book intros
- Words of Christ Black
My initial impression of this Bible was that I love the size…it’s a bit narrower in width than standard Bibles, which makes it easier and more comfortable to hold.
This Bible has a very classic look…the cover is navy blue with gold lettering and a circle emblem featuring praying hands. It includes one ribbon bookmark, which is a downside for me as I like numerous bookmarks.The end papers are a very pretty gold color and the presentation page is simple but works with the overall looks of the Bible.
What is unique about this Bible is that it has prayers from many church reformers, puritans, authors, and more dispersed throughout the text where the person used scripture to pray. Prayer is something that I have wanted and needed to improve upon and I love the idea of “praying the scriptures”. This Bible shows the reader how to do that and through doing so, their relationship with the Lord will grow.
The margins of the book range from about 1/2″ to 1 1/2″, so journaling in this Bible could sometimes be challenging but it is possible.
The Bible has some nice extra features which include:
- A prayer index that directs the reader to each prayer that’s included in the book
- An author index that explains each author of the prayers, when they lived and who they were in life
- A concordance
- A reading plan for reading the Bible in a year
Overall, I really like this Bible and I think it will really enhance my prayer life. I highly recommend it!
I received this to review from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.


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A relationship is meant for us to have a helper in our lives and it should be mutual; nobody is above the other. Having an inventory of Bible verses like these can s… Bible Verses About Friendship – Scripture provides valuable steerage in terms of selecting friends. God knows our desire to be known and to be loved!
But among you there should not be even a touch of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, as a end result of these are improper for God’s holy folks. House and wealth are each materials issues that offer you safety in life. However, it’s attainable for these items to be taken away from you, or for them to not be enough in your wants. You can go broke, lose your job, or end up with more bills than you anticipated. And as a result of your dad and mom aren’t going to be there forever, your house and wealth may not be as safe as they seem initially. This verse is about the value of being in a relationship with someone and it makes use of the metaphor of a bunch of individuals working collectively.
Bible verses about relationships: stages of life
They aren’t laid out in an inventory kind so you’ll have to dig via the Word so as to uncover the principles which is ready to most essential as you seek to have a healthy relationship. In my view, the problem with asking, “How far can we go? ” is that if we need to positively pursue godliness, it’s simply the mistaken query. What that question actually asks is, “How close to the line (sexual sin) can I get without crossing it?
So be careful of judging others primarily based on how they appear or how they speak. In your relationship with some people, you must be careful for what they do more than what they are saying. King Solomon urges us to hearken to God’s words and trust him above our own information and understanding. This is a superb verse for anybody who feels overwhelmed or unable to make choices.
Bible verses about relationships with girlfriend/ boyfriend
God’s Word is filled with promises from our Creator to supply and deliver.
Bible verses about relationships with husband/ wife
Love will be the strongest drive in existence, but you can’t pick it up at the local big box retailer. You have to be keen to make sacrifices and to work at it. In exchange, you’ll obtain rather more than you give within the type of help, comfort, pleasure, guidance, and plain outdated good times. Maybe now’s an excellent time to take an opportunity at online dating. It’s unlikely that your associate will never say anything hurtful to you, nor you to them.
Bible verses about relationships: sustaining relationships
22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, religion, love, and peace, along with those that name on the Lord from a pure heart. If any be blameless, the husband of 1 wife, having trustworthy children not accused of riot or unruly. Paul was pointing out to https://datingwebreviews.com/ the Corinthian Christians that they need to anticipate godly folks to exhibit godly behavior. In these instances, eating with somebody was deemed as a sign of friendship and partnership. Paul was warning the Corinthian Christians that they shouldn’t fellowship with infamous sinners that recognized themselves as Christians. With that stated, the Bible is a useful supply of knowledge on relating with the other intercourse.
Bible verses about reconciling relationships
What about a Valentine’s Day message in your husband? Want Valentine’s Day messages in your partner or life partner? These Valentine’s Day messages vary from sweet to crazy and every little thing in between, so you’re positive to find one thing that may make your favorite particular person smile. As a single girl in the church, it’s very straightforward to really feel at a disadvantage. With plenty of ministries failing to handle singles and undermining their wants, it looks as if single persons are not valued as a lot.
In a relationship you each are going to learn from each other, however the girl takes the submissive position and the man takes the management position. If you’re going to be a leader you must know the Scriptures to show God’s daughter. You really can’t talk about a relationship with the opposite sex with out talking about marriage as a result of the whole point of a relationship is to get to marriage. Must I then take your son back to the land from which you came? But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, persistence, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there isn’t any regulation. Wash me completely from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
We’ve gathered 24 of the most effective Bible verses to learn after a breakup. There are many pitfalls to Christian relationship couples in the occasion that they don’t make the Word of God of nice importance and focus of their relationship. The measuring stick of how nice the connection rises or falls isn’t primarily based on worldly advice, Satan’s ideas, or carnal needs. The Bible offers fail-proof advice for any dating couple who desires their relationship to convey glory and honor to God. Serving in ministry as a pair brings to light the different religious presents and how they work collectively in service.


This past Saturday was…intense. That’s the only word I can come to, and even that seems to fall short. I’ve spent the past few days trying to absorb it all…and I know I’ve only scratched the surface. It was just that good.
Talking about grace is just that good.
Please bear with me as I stumble over my words and grasp for ways to express what I want to say. I feel as though a thousand weights have been lifted from my shoulders. As the light dawns in my heart and I embrace the idea that grace is for the whole of the Christian walk, I feel joy welling up in my soul. Not that I didn’t already know this…but the practice of my life somehow doesn’t match up to my knowledge.
I was foolish enough to think that somehow I must maintain my position in Christ by my performance, that after grace has saved me, I must now keep myself saved. I read this and marvel…surely if Paul were sitting here with me he would be crying out, “Oh foolish woman! Who as bewitched you…?” (See Galatians 4:1-4), shaking his head the entire time. Works are the antithesis of grace – the exact opposite!
The Word is plain – we are crucified with Christ. We have died and our life is hidden in Him. The life we live on this earth is by faith, by believing God. Trusting in what He says, knowing He is faithful to do what He promised. Faith is what pleases God, belief that He is and that He rewards those who seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6) I often think of Hebrews 11, and how the faith of the men and women mentioned moved them to act, to obedience. Just think of Noah: He was warned by God about things “not yet seen”. God said, “Rain is coming. Go build a boat.” Never before had water fallen from the sky…no one at that time knew what rain even looked like! Yet Noah obediently built the ark because He knew God and believed what He said.
How does this apply to me? God says I am holy and blameless before Him in Christ. This is truly something “not yet seen”! I know nothing about what it would look or feel like to be completely blameless. But God says it is true of me. He has mercifully placed me where I so obviously don’t deserve to be. I am to live each day filled with the reality of this gift of grace that He showers on me, “according to His good pleasure which He purposes in Himself” (Ephesians 1:9 NKJV). This is what gives me the power to obey, because I am obeying out of the depths of joy and gratitude such truth elicits.
How amazing is this grace!!
That’s all I can say right now…there is so much, but words failme for now. More to come…
Grace and peace…
Not to disappoint you, but there will be no scandalous, juicy morsels in this blogpost. Really this will be just my random musings and ramblings…at 1:20 AM.
I am dog tired, but can’t sleep. For some reason I am very restless; and of course, the idea for a blog post would come to me at a time when my mind should be winding down as I drift off to sleep. Not so tonight. And I know if I wait until tomorrow (or I should say, later today) to try to capture what’s on my mind, it will gone. So, here I sit in the darkness of my bedroom, laptop glowing and fingers tapping away at my computer keys. Hopefully something coherent will come from this endeavor…
To state the obvious, it has been a while since my last post. It seems that I have struggled to find things I felt warranted a posting on my blog. To be completely honest, I have questioned many times in the last few months whether or not I should even continue this blog. I have been tempted many times to shut it down, but something stops me every time. I often feel that writing is no longer something I am called to do – and then I get a spark, an inspiration and I can’t lay it down. Who’s to say that this post will be one of many to come, that my long hiatus from blog writing will finally be over, or if this is just a fleeting moment that will be gone as fast as it came? We shall see.
My reasons for considering a blog shutdown are many. They mostly stem from my own ambivalence about why I blog in the first place. When I first started blogging, it was mainly to help me to organize all the many things I was learning while in seminary. It actually became part of my study habits to blog about something as I learned it, to see if I could put the concept or the truth in my own words. The “blogsphere” was relatively small at that time; since then it has exploded. And I wonder – is another blog really necessary in the land of blogging? What is it that I really have to say?
This has been the reason for my prolonged silence – trying to figure out what the purpose of my blog is at this point. I journal a lot, but most of that writing is not fit for public consumption. I am no theological heavyweight, or a political pundit, or an expert in any particular field. I’m just me.
The long story of why I have come to this place would be quite boring, so I’ll give you the cliff notes version. For reasons I will not even venture to share in any detail (a long-standing rule of mine is that I do not get too personal on my blog, unless the sharing serves a larger purpose other than my own catharsis), I had become quite guarded in what I was willing to write about. You could say that I lost my writing “voice”. An irrational fear born of insecurity and uncertainty has kept me silent. The Lord has been rearranging my furniture if you will, and it has not been very comfortable. He has been exposing how my desires as it relates to my blogging were a bit unreasonable and just plain wrong-headed. I have been trying to be someone or something I am not instead of giving voice to the things the Lord has placed in my heart to say. The end result was frustration and discouragement. And…silence…
So, God willing, I want to find my voice again. If for no other reason than to allow the Lord’s healing balm to seep into every crevice of my life that needs it. And if by my sharing the Lord sees fit to encourage someone else, then glory be to Him for His grace and power to use the smallest of sacrifices.
We’ll see where this leads…
Until next time, grace and peace…
So my pastor said something Sunday that reverberated through my heart and sparked all kinds of thought as it bounced around within me. He made a comment about the phrase “WWJD”, or What would Jesus do? His comment was that, although it has been over marketed (which is an understatement), the question has merit and can be biblically supported. And I heartily agree with him.
The sad fact is the American propensity to squeeze every last dollar of profit out of any idea or trend that catches on has robbed this phrase of its potency in our lives as Christians. This phrase now falls off the lips of countless market-weary believers as a kind of joke – even to the point of inserting someone else’s name in place of Jesus’ name. And there are those who would say that this little catch phrase diminishes the enormity of the Gospel and its message – focusing too much on our actions and what we do versus what Jesus did. To that I say hogwash.
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. – Eph 5:1-2
You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. – 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. – 1 Corinthians 11:1
The desire of the Christian is to become more and more like Christ – to be conformed to His image (Rom 12:2). We are called to be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:16). We are called to walk in a manner worthy of our calling (Eph. 4:1: Phil 1:27; Col 1:10). In any given circumstance, we are called to live and respond in such a way that reflects the character of our Lord. To ask “What Would Jesus Do in this situation” is not an invalid question to ask. Possibly sounds corny? Maybe – because we’ve heard it so many times and read it on every marketable item imaginable, from bumper stickers to refrigerator magnets. But the desire behind the question is completely valid and absolutely biblical. Lord – help me to follow Your example as I walk through this life. Help me make decisions that are in line with Your Word. What would You do?
So, this is where I think a valid point can be made. If we reduce it all down to this one question, all we’re teaching is morality – and, as my pastor pointed out, there are many people who live very moral lives that are not Christian and have no desire to be so. So this cannot be the basis or the goal of this question. But let’s face it – if we live in such a way that is worthy of our calling as believers, we’re going to live…well…moral lives, are we not? So we can’t escape it.
But we can’t stop there either.
We’ve been going through the book of 1 Peter since the first of the year, and a few key words keep echoing in my mind: “therefore”; “in the same way”; “so then”. All of these terms refer back to something that Peter has said to them in a previous paragraph. Why should I live this way? Why should I ask what would Jesus do in a given situation? Because of all He has done for me. Because I have this wondrous salvation that was purchased for me with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect (1:19). Because I have an inheritance awaiting me that can never perish, spoil or fade (1:4). Because Christ suffered for me, leaving me an example, although He committed no sin (2:21-22). Because He has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand – with angels, authorities and powers in submission to Him (3:22).
We obey because we love; we love because He first loved us. Not because we think it earns us anything, but because we know we have received far more than we could ever afford, and it has been given freely to us in Christ. Deep, heartfelt gratitude is the phrase that comes to my mind…
I have more to say, but I just realized how long this post has become. I will have to revisit this in my next post.
Until then…grace and peace…
I love it when God puts together a string of events in my life that point to the same topic. It’s like His way of saying “This is where I want your focus right now…”. My journal entry from last Thursday started this whole thing, where I wrote, among other things: “I need to take seriously all the things that we are being taught at church – that the values of God’s Kingdom of diametrically opposed to the kingdoms of this world. And that, since I belong to God’s Kingdom, I must follow Him, even when I look silly to the world.” Then the sermon on Sunday reinforced – again – what has been spoken of over the course of the last few months. And then last night as I was working through the material for this week’s Bible study class, it was reinforced yet again. I think this is something I should be focusing on in my life right now, don’t you think?
The repeated emphasis is the fact that my values, motivations and standards should not be shaped by this world, but by the Word of God. It is easy to say, but it is not always easy to detect when it’s not true in our lives; sometimes we subtly embrace values that are contrary to God’s Word and we aren’t even aware of it. The point of my journal entry was that I was drifting in a direction that was contrary to the Word and the drift was so slight I didn’t even feel it. In God’s grace, He opened my eyes and steered me back in the right direction long before I was in danger of smashing against the rocks. It’s amazing how easily we can justify things that we know aren’t right…
The passage of scripture my pastor spoke on this weekend was 1 Peter 2:11-25. He spent a considerable amount of time speaking to Peter’s words in verses 11 and 12. In those two verses we are called “aliens and strangers” (NIV), or “sojourners and exiles” (ESV). This is not the first time Peter uses this language in his epistle. He greets his audience by calling them the “elect exiles of the Dispersion”; he refers to our time here as our “time of [y]our exile” (1 Peter 1:17). As my pastor so eloquently explained, we will not understand the things Peter is calling us to do in the passage that follows if we don’t grasp what he is saying in these two verses. What Peter is calling us to do is so counter to what our natural impulse would be, and so antithetical to the messages of our surrounding culture that we can only embrace them if we first embrace the truth that we are exiles here, sojourners who belong to another country, another kingdom, one not of this earth.
So, I want to spend a little time fleshing this out – what does it mean to live as sojourners and exiles? There are particular areas that I am focused on, although I’m sure my list is not exhaustive by any means. These are simply the areas that hit closest to home for me. Those areas would include: male-female relationships, ethnic identity, money, vocation, body image and entertainment. I don’t know which one I’ll rest on first – we’ll see where my musings take me…
More later…until then…grace and peace.
So, yesterday’s post has led me down another track about our relationship to “the church”. The question before me is this: can we love Jesus but not love His church? This is a loaded question to be sure. I have a very emphatic response to it – no, you can’t! But it is not sufficient to say just that, so I’ll need to unpack this a bit. It will take more than one post to do that, and even this post will be a little longer than I usually like, so bear with me…
I want to start by quoting a few passages of Scriptures. Hopefully, what I’m pointing to will become clear as you read through these passages.
Romans 12:4-6 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.
1 Cor 3:15-17 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames. Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in ayou? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
1 Cor 12:12-13, 27 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit…All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
Eph. 1:22-23 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.
Eph. 2:20-22 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.
Eph 4:15-17 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
Col 1:13-20 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.
So, that’s a long block of Scripture I know. And I actually trimmed it down before posting what you see here. The bolded text brings out what is on my mind right now – namely, the fact that the church is Christ’s body. Two questions come to mind as I peruse through this list.
Firstly, the Church is Christ’s body. Numerous times in the quoted passages, we are called His body. We are intimately linked to Him, and to each other, by virtue of our belief in Him. We derive our identity from Him and He has chosen us to be one with Him, providing what was required to make us holy and blameless before the Father. How can I say I love Christ but I don’t love His body?
Secondly, believers are called the “temple of God” – and it is the believers that make up the body of Christ, which we established with the first question is the church. If I am a believer, I am a part of that temple of God, a part of the body that is the church. By definition I am these things. How can I not love that which I am a part of? That which Christ sacrificed Himself?
Finally for today, let me just state the obvious: The church is messy. We can all agree with that. We are all in the process of sanctification, and therefore are not going to get it right all of the time. Put bluntly, we don’t always act “holy and blameless”. In my journey, I have been hurt the most by brothers and sisters in Christ, and even if it was unintentional, it was still painful. But they are still my brothers and sisters. Because I didn’t choose them – God did, in Christ, and placed us all in the same family. We are all together the body of Christ, the church, the very temple of the Living God.
I’ll chew on that a bit more and come back later…until then…grace and peace…
P.S. – All Scripture quotes taken from the New Living Translation.
I wrote this entry back in November 2009. I decided to unearth it, not because I’m being lazy (sheepish grin), but actually, I never really finished my thoughts on this subject. So, I’ll start with this post, and then explore the topic more in the days to come…
I have been reading and listening to some teachings that have to do with the nature of Christianity that has sparked some thought. These teachings generally run along the lines that “God did not save us to have a religion; He saved us so we can have a relationship with Him.” On the surface, this sounds good – and in a sense I believe it is correct. Those who are in Christ have access to the Father and are called sons of God and co-heirs with Christ. These very titles have relationship in view, and therefore, the idea that we are called into relationship with God is an accurate assessment.But does that jettison altogether the idea of religion? Must it be an either/or proposition, or is there room for both/and? My feeling is that this idea sets up a false dichotomy that does not serve us as we walk through this terrain called faith in Christ. My view is that we are called to both.
This is what I mean: Webster’s dictionary defines religion as follows: “A belief in a divine or superhuman power to be obeyed and worshiped as the creator and ruler of the universe; expression of such belief in conduct and ritual; any specific system of belief and worship, often involving a code of ethics and a philosophy.” Now, of course, this definition is not uniquely Christian; but it does describe the Christian faith. As a Christian, I have a belief in a divine power, namely God, or Yahweh, as He has revealed Himself in the Bible; I seek to obey and worship Him; I acknowledge Him and Creator and Ruler of all things; and this belief shapes my conduct and ritual (i.e., the things I choose to do or not do).
Additionally, as a Christian, there is certain body or system of beliefs that I adhere to: That there is only one true God, and He has revealed Himself as Trinity; that Jesus Christ is indeed God Incarnate, born of a virgin, born under the law to live out that law perfectly; and then to die for sinners (of which I am one) to satisfy the wrath of God against my sin; that He rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven; that He is coming again. I believe that we all stand guilty before God and in need of redemption, and our only hope of redemption is through faith in Christ Jesus. I stake this belief on the Bible, which I believe is the Word of God. There are many, many reasons that I have come to believes these things that I will not expound on in this short entry. That would take an entire series…I should seek to discipline myself to share that with you. But, suffice it to say, I have reasons for the hope I have, reasons that I believe what I believe. I shall share them with you in future posts.
This is just the bare minimum of what I believe, but you get the point – my faith has a particular set of beliefs that I adhere to, and in my humble opinion, one must adhere to in order to be a Christian. So, I have a religion. This is not a bad thing. Religion is not a four letter word. But here’s the twist…
One of the beliefs of this “religion” is that we enter into relationship with God through our faith in Christ. I am now a child of God, which implies a certain relationship to God – He is my Father. This is a relational term. Our God is a personal God, who seeks fellowship with us, and communion with us. That communion was a feature of Adam and Eve’s life in the garden before the Fall. That communion was broken by the Fall and has been restored through Christ. So, in order to fully express my religious belief, I must desire, crave, long for that intimacy with my Father.
It is not an either/or; it is a both/and. The problem is when we stop at the religion and never get to the relationship. We are not fully embracing our religion as Christians if we never seek that vital union with God in Christ. We do not embrace the religion of Christianity in its deepest and fullest sense until we have come to desire a closeness to Him, and draw deeply from the power of His presence and love in our lives. It is that vital union, that deep abiding that changes us, that shapes our conduct and ritual, that gives full expression to our faith. We must know what we believe about this One to Whom we have been called. We know Him by knowing what we believe about Him, obeying His Word, and experiencing His presence in our lives. These encompass both ideas proposed; in my view, they are inseparable.
I know I’ll have more to say…until then…grace and peace…
So, initially this post was to be a continuation of my touting the benefits of reading through the Bible. Somehow it morphed into the glob of rapid fire questions you see below. This list of seemingly random questions have a purpose and speak directly to my excitement about Bible reading…
It started with my musings about how reading through of the Scripture has blessed me over the years. As I mentioned in my first post on this topic, reading through the Bible can help us guard against being tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine. So much of false teaching comes from taking verses of Scripture out of their context and stringing them together to prove the doctrine you are arguing for. This was how I was first introduced to Scripture – and it led me down a path of believing things that the Bible just does not teach. I spent much of my early Christian years watching teachers on TBN, being served healthy servings of Word of Faith theology. But as I grew hungrier for the Word, I started to question most of what I was absorbing from these teachers. And as I started reading Scripture more thoroughly, I started to realize something was awry.
When I first started to step out of Word of Faith teaching, my mind began to swirl with question on top of question. At first I sought to suppress those questions – for me, that indicated a lack of faith, which must be avoided at all costs. But I could not shake them; they just kept coming. Here is just a sample:
Does the Bible teach us that we can “hear from God”? You know, that “still, small voice” thing. If so, where? And how does it work?
How do I know if I’m hearing from God, or hearing my own thoughts dressed up to sound “godly”? The heart is deceitful above all else, is it not? Besides, even the biggest of gurus on “hearing from God” don’t always agree with the how – and they usually resort to their own opinion of how it works. Did God tell them that? How do I know?
If things don’t turn out as I think they ought to, based on what God “told me”, then does that make me a failure? Have I “missed God’s will”? How do I fix that? What do I do to find the path again and go forward? Ask God to speak to me again? And what if I get it wrong again?
Do you see the treadmill? The work and toil – and STRESS – that comes along with this line of thinking? To constantly be wondering if I’ve heard God or myself; if I’m following His path; if I’m truly in the “perfect will of God”. And when it falls apart, who do I blame? Well, I certainly can’t blame God! It must be me – I must be defective; I must not know what I’m doing, or can’t hear right, or have unconfessed sin or…oh my gosh! I’m dizzy!!
And why, if God wants so much for me follow His will for my life, would He make it so difficult for me to figure it out? Was “God’s will” that obscure to the prophets, or to Jesus Himself, or to the Apostles? Why is God all of a sudden playing hide and seek with us as it concerns “His perfect will” for our lives?
Do you see what I mean? Is this the ‘freedom” God has set us free to experience? It does not feel like freedom to me; it feels like another form of bondage.
We can argue – well, you just don’t have enough faith to believe those things God has promised will come to pass. But is that what biblical faith is about? Is biblical faith trust in my ability to believe God so I can get out of Him the things He has promised? Is God that capricious that He would hold out these things that I need to have faith to receive, withhold them because I don’t have enough faith, and yet not be completely clear just how much “faith” I ought to have in order to receive them? Because that’s really what this teaching is telling me.
Let say for example’s sake that I am in a horrible accident and injure my leg to the point of being in danger of losing it. I pray for healing, and believe God for my healing, but my healing doesn’t come and I ultimately end up losing the leg. Who is to blame? Are you going to tell me that I am to blame? That my faith was deficient? That I didn’t believe God enough for Him to grant me healing that is “guaranteed” in the atonement? Are you going to tell me what is in my heart? We can’t say that God is to blame, right? But my lack of healing would indicate my lack of faith, correct? What about the thousands who come to “faith healing” services who walk in blind, deaf, mute or unable to walk, and leave out the same way they came in? Are you going to tell me that all of them did not have enough of faith? I guess so…the proof is in their lack of healing…
But wait…doesn’t the Word say “If you have faith of a mustard seed…”? That’s not a lot of faith now is it? Surely I had that much faith. Oh…but it was mixed with doubt you say. But what about the father whose son was filled with evil spirits, who exclaimed “Lord I believe! Help mine unbelief!” (Mark 9:24; see 9:14-29 for the full context) That’s a plain confession of faith mixed with doubt if I’ve ever seen one. But did his son get healed? Absolutely!
And here’s another question – Paul, arguably the greatest missionary in history was ill when he came to the Galatians, and they ended up caring for him (Galatians 4:13-14). Why didn’t he just “apply his faith” and heal himself? And if he couldn’t do it – boy am I in trouble! I mean, he was an apostle! And when he counseled Timothy on his stomach ailment, why didn’t he just say “Claim your healing, my dear son, in the Name of Jesus by Whose stripes we are healed”? No, he told him this: “Don’t drink only water. You ought to drink a little wine for the sake of your stomach because you are sick so often.” (1 Timothy 5:23)
This is just the tip of the iceberg of what ran through my mind as I began questioning what I was being taught. And it’s still on my mind, because this is so much of the teaching that comes from pulpits and televangelist shows on a weekly and daily basis. This is the treadmill I found myself on when I was captive to these teachings.
Believe or not, I hesitated in even sharing this on my blog. There is still a part of me that is affected by the teaching I was released from. I almost slipped back into it – but my reading through Scripture, taking in the sweep of the Bible’s grand story, stopped me. And I cannot share my thoughts and enthusiasm about this topic without sharing the why behind it. And this part of my faith journey is very much a part of that why.
Now, in tomorrow’s post, I will continue this stream of thought and talk about Bible reading, and why it is important. And not only Bible reading but Bible study…but that’s getting ahead of myself. But for now, I need to stop. This post has gone too long…
Until then…grace and peace…
I’ve been perusing through my old site in preparation of shutting it down, and I came across this entry from July 2009. Seems this is a lesson I must learn over and over again.
Here is a question that I’ve been thinking about lately: How do we “wait” well? Because, let’s face it: one constant in the Christian life is the notion of “waiting”. We wait on the Lord – and it is always inevitiably because He works much “slower” than we anticipate or most of the time would want Him to. He rarely works on the same timetable as we do - although, as I heard many times over growing up in the church, “He may not come when we want Him to, but He’s always on time!” How true that is – and how I appreciate that more and more as I grow in my relationship with the Lord.
When I consider this idea of waiting, one word comes to mind: patience. Let me state the obvious for those who know me well: patience is not a strength for me. And when I pray for it, I’m always in for a bumpy ride – because God always answers our prayers for patience with something that will try us. Patience does not grow in times of ease – patience must be tested and tried in the fire to be refined. And so, you are asking for it in spades when you pray for patience! But, it is indeed a characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit, and so it is in there – we must cooperate with the Lord as He seeks to bring it to full bloom in our lives.
Back to this question of waiting well…the fruit of patience must be allowed to grow in my life if I am to wait well. This hearkens back to what I wrote about meekness and humility – patience and waiting imply bowing the knee. Accepting God’s will, God’s timing, and God’s ways as good – as best actually – for the given situation in which I find myself waiting. Because He can see much more clearly than I – He has the totality of the situation in view, whereas I can only see the moment in which I am existing. And from His view He knows better than I what I need and when I need it. He also knows the purposes for which He is calling me to wait.
This is all well and good, but how do I go about being patient, meek and humble in those times of silence and waiting? What I finally rested on is that it is a simple matter of trust. Trusting the Lord’s heart; trusting His goodness; trusting His will. Trusting that He is sovereign, He is holy, He is righteous, He is pure…and He will withhold no good thing from me as His child. Also knowing that His purpose for me is holiness, not happiness (although, it is in that pursuit of holiness that I will find true, lasting happiness; but that’s a topic for another day…)…and He will do what He knows will bring about that result.
And hasn’t He done so for me so many times before? Remembering and meditating on the goodness of God will help me wait well…
So, when I find myself in those moments of impatience; when I’m throwing a temper tantrum and wagging my finger at the Lord saying, “Father, when…Father, why…”; I must ask myself if I am trusting Him in that moment. The answer is always no! I want what I want and I want it NOW! And really, if I were honest, now is not soon enough for me because my impatience is born of the idea that I should have gotten my way ages ago! How grateful I am that the Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. How grateful I am that the Lord is long-suffering (the KJV phrase for patience – I love that!) – because He certainly suffers long with me!
And when I have finished, and I’m sitting on the edge of my bed, exhausted and nearly hyperventilating from crying so hard, eyes puffy and make up gone, I am usually amazed by the Lord’s response. He doesn’t point out to me how ridiculous I look (because most of the time, it’s quite a pitiful sight!). He gently and lovingly reminds me that if I wait on Him, it will be okay. He gently calls to my mind those times and those ways He has done so before, and assures me that He will do so again.
Now, there is a certain element of melodrama to that description, but it is true that I can indeed throw “temper tantrums” with the Father. And one of the things I love so much about the Lord is how gently He restores me when I get to this place. He picks me back up, and reminds me that He is Lord and Father, and I can trust Him. His way is best; He loves me, and is working all things for my good. He is working, even though I cannot see it. And I just have to…………wait.
Grace and peace…


Easter is a wonderful time to visit Jasper Alberta, with the skiing at Marmot Basin still wide open and a hint of spring in the air downtown. In 2012 Easter Sunday falls on April 8, and with record snowfall this winter, the skiing and snowboarding conditions are sure to be still excellent for the Easter holiday weekend.
Hotel Reservations for Easter
You can expect Jasper hotels to be busy for Easter 2012, particularly for the night of Saturday April 7, so if you are planning an Easter ski trip, or just a weekend taking in the beauty of Jasper National Park, you should book your lodging early to avoid disappointment.
To check rates & availability for several hotels in Jasper, click here.
Luxury Easter Hotel Package
To celebrate this special weekend in style, the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is offering a fun filled Easter Weekend Package which includes luxury accommodation, plus a whole array of family activities throughout Easter weekend.
The Easter activities include Easter egg hunt, family movies, scavenger hunts, crafts, Easter egg decorating, and lots more.
The package is valid for a minimum 2 night stay from April 6-8 2012, with rates starting at $349 per night in a deluxe room.
As usual, dining at the Jasper Park Lodge during Easter will be first class, with a Good Friday Buffet being served on the evening of April 6 (adults $58, kids 6-12yrs $29), an Easter Feast on Saturday April 7 (adults $58, kids 6-12yrs $29), and an Easter Sunday Brunch from 10am to 1pm on April 8 (adults $38, kids 6-12yrs $19).


Marriage and the Family are the foundation of society and that happy, stable marriages and families make a strong society. Today the attacks on the sanctity and stability of marriage and the family are a matter of serious concern. It is, therefore very important that our Catholic couples be well prepared to receive the Sacrament of Marriage.
The Catholic Church insists on attending Marriage Preparation Course by the couple before their intended date of entering into the Sacrament of Matrimony. The Marriage Preparation Course is not just a requirement of the Church to get married. It is also meant to help an adult, have a realistic look at how he/she can make the Sacramental Marriage work and grow, in and through the relationship as husband and wife, every day.
- Copy of the baptism certificate of the participant is required for Registration.
- Participation in the Marriage Preparation Course is a pre-requisite to receive the sacrament of Matrimony in the Catholic Church. The Course may be completed at preferably two months before the sacramental marriage.
- Marriage Preparation Course conducted by the St. Mary's Catholic Church, Dubai is held on the third Friday of every month. Reporting time is 8.30 a.m. and the programme concludes at 5.00 p.m. Details about the venue will be intimated at the time of registration at the Parish Office
- Participants must attend the FULL course. Those who arrive late or miss out sessions, for any reason, will be required to REGISTER for the next course.
- Certificates will be issued only on completion of the full course. To ensure correctness of the names on the certificates, names are required to be written IN BLOCK LETTERS while registering at the Parish Office.
- Only registered participants will be allowed in the hall.
- It is suggested that registration for the course be done at least three weeks in advance, as the number of participants is limited, on a first come first served basis.
NB: - The Marriage Preparation Course for the month of April 2017 will be conducted on Friday, April 21st from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm at the Mini hall.


About a week ago I choked on a piece of meat. Just sitting there having dinner w/my family and choked. I couldn’t breathe, talk – anything. I kept pointing at my throat and looking at Randy. As he saw my face turning red, he came over and I stood up. He did the heimlach manuever and it came up.
Amazing how just one situation can make you take a look at your life and see how blessed you are to have one more breathe. And then to look at all the blessings in your life. So many times we are looking at how bad life is for us and forget about just the little things – like breathing – that we take for granted.
I look at my family and how blessed we are. We are healthy with no serious illnesses – just an occasional cold. My husband has a job that has employed for 9 years now and he is valuable to the company. He actually likes his job which is another huge plus. He is also able to lend his talent to his sister who pays him to utilize his artistic ability with the company that they own and operate. I am very fortunate to be able to stay at home and raise my children. Many of these things are an abnormality in today’s society but one that I feel very grateful that God has blessed us with.
There have been some pretty interesting situations, too, in which I feel as though God is reaching down and giving us a hug and saying, “I love you”. Recently our van, in which we are leasing, the sliding door lock wasn’t working properly. We had it checked out and found out that it was going to cost us around $700 + dollars b/c it was JUST over being out of warranty. They called Chrysler and they agreed to cover it and it only cost us $50. How can that not be a blessing?
There has been many times in which God “hugs” us to let us know that he loves us. Situations where people have taken us out to eat – which with a family of 6 is an expense even w/discounts :), given us clothes, gave us money just b/c they love us and want to help us out, watched our kids so that we can enjoy a night out. All these are blessings to me. There are so many times I don’t feel I deserve the outpouring of love that has been shown us and I have to remember that it can teach me to be humble. To be able to receive these blessings and be so grateful for them is a humbling experience.
I am so amazed that God has allowed us to have all that we have. To look around me and see friends that are troubled with marital problems, behavioral problems with their children, difficulty making ends meet, health issues – makes me realize just how BLESSED I am. And my way of giving back is to be there for my friends and try to help them see through their trials that can definitely turn into blessings. I know – its happen to me many times.
May your day be blessed!


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學校願景 (School Vision)
本校以信德熱誠為辦學宗旨，本著基督及會祖聖若翰喇沙的仁愛精神，推行人文和基督教育，以 「 行健自強 」為訓，建立真誠、開放、積極的校園文化，勗勉學生在學習及工作上追求卓越，培育學生忠誠、廉潔的德行，並推動學生發展德、智、體、群、美五育及開拓個人潛能，服務社會，建立和平與正義的世界。
Based on our Christian belief and the LaSallian Spirit "Faith and Zeal" rendered to us by our forefather St. John Baptist De La Salle, our vision is to provide a human and Christian education. With the motto “Labore et Virtute”, we intend to cultivate on our campus an ambience of sincerity, openness and enthusiasm; instill in students a sense of loyalty and integrity; and most of all, promote the development of students' potential, while fostering the five virtues: ethics, intellect, physique, social skills and aesthetics. We want our students to be able to excel in their pursuit of work and studies, serve the community and create a world of peace and justice.


Frank Bennett, MDiv, BS
MDiv, Pastoral Care, United Theological Seminary
BS, Elementary Education, Educational Media & Technology, University of Oregon
Frank Bennett is the founder and program leader of Living Well/ Dying Well, and is a senior fellow at the Center For Spirituality & Healing after years of working with individuals and their families who were living with serious and life-threatening illness. As a minister, facilitator, teacher and chaplain, he provides support, education and care for the unique emotional, mental and spiritual challenges and opportunities at the end of life. Frank’s passion is to empower individuals, their providers and care partners to live well until they die well. He draws on his experience and expertise in teaching, curriculum development, writing, organizational leadership and development to support his work.
As a non-denominational spiritual care professional, Frank is committed to providing humane care for each person, regardless of their culture or beliefs. Since 2006 Frank has been a community eldercare chaplain. Since 2010 Frank has been an advanced healthcare directive facilitator. In 2009 Frank was a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) intern in Abbott Northwestern Hospital’s Spiritual Care Dept. Frank earned his Masters of Divinity in 2010 with an emphasis on pastoral care and community-based chaplaincy. After graduation from United Theological Seminary in 2010 Frank returned to Abbott to complete his CPE chaplain residency. In 2012 Frank was ordained as a UCC minister and called as Minister At Large for pastoral care at Wayzata Community Church. Frank’s work as a spiritual care professional has included acute, palliative and hospice spiritual care in a variety of settings. Frank also has a special focus on spiritual care and support for those living memory loss from Alzheimer’s and dementia.


Willow Road Elementary School recently held its annual Mitten Tree Drive in conjunction with the yearly reading of “The Mitten Tree.” The story is about a caring, kind-hearted woman named Sarah who knits mittens for children in need. She then hangs them on a very special tree for those less fortunate children to receive.
Students were asked to donate a pair of mittens or gloves for the children in our community that may be in need of a warm clothing this winter. Mittens were collected from December 1 through December 23 by Willow Road coordinator, Mrs. Lorraine Grosso and displayed in the main lobby of the school on the mitten tree!
This year, the students and families of Willow Road Elementary collected 175 pairs of mittens and gloves. The mittens will be donated to Holy Name of Mary Church in Valley Stream, Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Malverne and St. Catherine’s Church in Franklin Square.


Calvin Christian School (Coalhurst, AB)
Calvin Christian School
We are a K-12 school connected to the Netherlands Reformed Congregations, which offers education bound by the Holy Scriptures in accordance with the Reformed Confessions (Three Forms of Unity).
To provide Christian education through quality teaching and learning based on God's Word.
To ensure that all our students are instructed according to the Holy Word of God in all matters spiritual and temporal so they have the opportunity to acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to become capable, responsible, caring and contributing members of society.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.


Life and History of Saint Nicholas (Agios Nikolaos)
Agios Nikolaos lived at Myra in Asia Minor from 270 – 6th December 343. He is revered and commemorated amongst Orthodox, Anglican, Catholic and Lutheran Christians and is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker. This is because of the many miracles he is known for such as ill treatments, restorations of the poor and the release of the three commanders.
From a young age Nicholas became an orphan and air to a fortune as he was from a wealthy family. Had been raised by his uncle who was the bishop of Patara he was from a young age dedicated to the divine. He first became a priest, then abbot and finally archbishop of Myra. From the latter, he managed to help a lot of poor and needy by founding hospitals and charities and was a great influence to the people during the persecutions of the Romans.
Patron Saint of sailors
Agios Nikolaos is the patron saint of sailors as many of his miracles are related to the sea. As he was travelling to the Holy Land of Jerusalem to pray a huge storm erupted and one of the sailors fell from the mast and died. Legend says that the Saint prayed to God, the sea calmed and the sailor was resurrected.
This therefore is the reason for building the little chapel next to the fishing harbour of Protaras as locals believe that he is protecting the boats and their crew.
Saint Nicholas (Agios Nikolaos) and Santa Claus
Agios Nikolaos had a reputation for gift giving with many references of this such as putting coins in the shoes of those who left them out for him. His actions towards the poor resulted in becoming the model of the modern day Santa Claus. The name actually comes from the Dutch “Sinterklaas” which itself comes from the transliteration of “Saint Nikolaos”.


SUNDAY SERVICES - FREE ADMISSION 3562 Shepherd of the Hills Expy, Branson, MO 65616
FREE Sunday Worship Services at the Little Opry Theatre inside Branson's IMAX Entertainment Complex!
GOOD NEWS GOSPEL WITH PASTOR LEROY NEW
Good New’s Gospel Hour with Pastor Leroy New and Friends is a one hour service that features the various Gospel stylings of Pastor Leroy New, Ken Christensen and Donna Christensen. From time-to-time other Branson stars may even come and drop into share a song and testimony in this must-experience Gospel service. Do come join us at the Branson’s IMAX Entertainment Complex, in our Little Opry Theatre! This entertaining and inspirational Sunday service is complimentary, and seating is on a first-come basis.
Sunday at 9:00 am
OL' TIME GOSPEL HOUR WITH GLENN & SUE PHILLIPS
Glenn and Sue Phillips with the ol' Time Gospel band host this lively and passionate Sunday service. It is complimentary and seating in the Little Opry Theatre is on a first-come basis. Everyone welcome and hope you will join us.


II Chronicles 7:14
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Let us pray for the Church
Let us pray for the Leaders and the Pastors.
Let us pray for Repentance, Reformation, Restoration and Revival in the American Christian Churches and Abroad
Pray this Prayer:
Father God, the church in American and in many nations abroad has fallen away in many ways. We have let the spirit of the world in.
Bring a spirit of repentance upon us so we might truly repent and reform our ways and become a light to this nation and the nations once again.
Let the greatest spiritual exodus known to the church begin. A coming out of sin, indifference, passivity, unforgiveness, religion, rebellion and all kinds of ungodly deeds.
Lord, raise up true shepherds in this hour and set your people free!
Restore and revive your people in this nation and the nations so that we may serve and worship you once again in spirit and in truth, having no other gods before or after you.
Fulfill once again the scripture in Acts 15:16-17 that says,
16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
Lord, forgive and restore us so that the rest of the nations will seek after you.
We pray this in Jesus Name. Amen.
Prayer is more effective and powerful than F-35 Lightening II Bombers.
This ministry prays for the nations and for the Persecuted Church.
We Pray for a Jubilant Church, Restored Marriages, and Restored Relationships


Mental Illness is a part of my life and has been as long as I can remember. My Mam suffered a catastrophic nervous breakdown when I was very young and I remember her recovery as something very slow. When I was diagnosed with depression at the age of 20 I was terrified that the treatment would leave me like my Mam. A lot changed in the 30 years between her diagnosis and mine.
I am an Anglican priest in a small town. Mental health and Mental Illness is not something that is readily spoken of. When I relapsed after a year of marriage, my husband and I decided that it was time for me to speak out. That Sunday, instead of a homily, I shared some of my story and my diagnosis with the congregation. I was quite prepared to be told that I needed to be placed somewhere else; that the congregation was not prepared to support a Rector who was mentally ill.
The reaction was the absolute opposite.
During the exchange of the peace a parishioner whom I did not know very well came up, embraced me and said "I'm so proud of you". I was shocked. At the end of the service, after the dismissal, many parishioners told me part of their story...how long they had been diagnosed, what treatments worked for them. It felt good to know that someone they knew had the same diagnosis. Permission had been given to share, to support, and to hope.
It was as though a veil had been lifted and we could all see the sunshine a little better. There is still stigma with Mental Illness and depression, but thanks be to God, we can talk about it.
Many more of my parishioners have reached out - for support and simply to have someone to listen. We respect and support each other, each knowing that there is prayer, there is peer support, and through God, there is hope.
My world is filled with stressful situations and I know that I don't care properly for myself. Because I trusted in my congregation, they can sense when things aren't quite "right" with me. They remind me to take time off and to be gentle with myself.
It feels very good knowing I don't have to hide who I am. It feels good knowing that other members of the congregation support each other and reach out when they are struggling.
We are all in this together. And gives me great hope.


EAT.PRAY.HUSTLE - Day 11
Dream Death: Dreams Taken
No faster had Abraham believed he was settling into his dream home with his dream life, did it take an immediate turn. Abram’s, and his cousin Lot’s, shepherds were having a dispute. In fact, it was so bad the two men decided they should part ways. Abram chose the way of peace, offering Lot one of two parcels of land.
I’m sure this was hard for Abram. After all, Lot had followed him to this place. Abram was the one who had the promise. He was the one whom God had promised the land, and now he was dividing it to give the best portion to his cousin, the tagalong.
GOD WILL GET IT BACK
I think we can all learn from the life of Abram at this moment. Abram doesn’t panic. He doesn’t quickly change his mind and take the land back. He stays true to his word and lets God fight for him. The truth is, if God is going to give it to you then it’s His job to keep it for you. The moment we try and hold on to the promise, believing we are responsible for fighting for it, is the moment we lose.
CONFLICT BRINGS OUT WHAT WE BELIEVE
It’s at the moment we feel robbed, taken advantage of, or forgotten, that we find out what we believe. The enemy will always challenge your identity and ask you why you have a right to be here. If you’re not clear on your personal position in God’s story, you will feel threatened, powerless, and invisible. Grounding ourselves in the reality that no weapon formed against us will prosper will keep hope alive.


Learning Goal: I’m working on a religion writing question and need an explanation and answer to help me learn.
PLEASE CREATE A POWERPOINT USING THE TEXT UNDERNEATH , PLEASE MAKE IT LOOK PRETTY AND USE IMAGES.PLEASE LABEL EACH PART
“Where there is no vision, the people perish.”
The book of Proverbs consists of short sayings of God’s wisdom, so this quote can stand on its own. However, it appears in a section of proverbs that has many sayings related to power and kings, and the rights of the poor. Being that the book of Proverbs is credited partialially to Solomon, it makes sense that these themes would appear in many of the sayings. Proverbs was written before the division of the kingdom of Israel, and wisdom was a large theme at the time under Solomon, and we can see this reflected in the proverbs as an important virtue. Many words are repeated in Proverbs to help people remember them, so the repetition of the words “vision”, “revelation”, “wisdom”, and “knowledge” (depending on the translation), show that knowledge is considered virtuous and should be remembered.
The NIV translated this quote “Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.” So this proverb is likely saying that when people don’t understand or “see” the truth or the facts of something, they won’t know to be careful and will be put in harm’s way.
Other References to Scripture
Repeated declaration of a New Covenant between the government and American citizens.
Covenants are agreements between God and his people. Old testament Covenants include the Noahic, Abrahamic, and Mosaic, and then later the Davidic. But the “New Covenant” of the Bible is the promise of a relationship with God when one declares their belief in Jesus Christ.
Since covenants are promises between God and his people, this compares the government to God and makes them seem “holy” or “righteous”. Also since God is always faithful and never breaks his covenants, using this word instead of promise or pledge, seems even more trustworthy. By describing it as a new covenant it connects to Prtestant Christian beliefs, which is the majority religion of American people.
Member of the Baptist church and has often cited his faith for his political beliefs and policies
Bill Clinton gave this speech at the 1992 Democratic National Convention after a highly contested primary.
While he was speaking to a room of Democratic party delegates, his intended audience went beyond the halls of Madison Square Garden
The American people were at their wits end and needed a positive vision for the country
Tired of a poor economy and politics as usual and were willing to look away from the traditional political parties
Clinton sought not only to bring his party together but to bring the American people together as well under the banner of a New Covenant through a powerful, positive vision.
Clinton may have also used his speech and repeated references to “vision” to offer a rebuttal to George H.W. Bush’s claim that Clinton’s hopeful view of the future is just a ‘vision thing.’
Vision is mentioned eleven times in the speech
Clinton challenges the American people to not lose faith in the importance of a vision and accuses Bush of believing that visions are meaningless and fantasy
Bill Clinton’s speech did not utilize the scripture text appropriately to an extent. However, it could be understandable why he would use that scripture. If one is not knowledgeable about God’s word it would be a perfect Bible verse to use as part of his political campaign. “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” It could be read as something we must each have a vision for our own lives either it be an academic dream or a business dream. Which is what Bill Clinton is emphasizing that he has a vision for America and that it is good to have one for the people. Although it is good to have a vision for a country that you are running for president, Bill Clinton cited erroneously to be more of a man centered verse; for Proverbs 29:18 is supposed to be a God centered verse. It is supposed to be a verse that is stating that we need God, we need His word in our life, we need HIS vision, because we need the word of God because without the word of God we will perish in this life. One can see the connection with Romans 6:23 as it states, “For the wages of Sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”.
Therefore, although Bill Clinton’s intentions were there and were noticed by the American people, the scripture was misused on a biblical interpretation level. Was he trying to gain the people’s vote? Yes. Was he trying to gain a community vote of believers? Yes. Did he use Proverbs 29:18 in the manner God intended it to? No. Therefore, we say Bill Clinton’s use of Proverbs 29:18 was used erroneously .


have compiled a list of bible study links and websites
to help you understand the Bible even more - from the
convenience of your own home. The
following links have been specifically compiled together
for your spiritual growth and enjoyment.
here for Bible Prophecy Bible Studies Links
Moment of Truth
The Moment of Truth is a 41-lesson course covering
the main elements of Christian faith, helping
you study the Bible in a systematic
way. Lesson after lesson, at your own pace, you
will discover the wonderful message contained
in the Word of God.
I Were Told The Future
If I Were Told the Future is a 102-lesson
course, helping you study Bible Prophecy in a
systematic way. Lesson after lesson, the Bible,
and the Bible only, will make you discover the
many keys giving access to the secrets of Bible
prophecy's wonderful world.
Free Bible Studies and Bible Prophecies - Daily
Devotionals and Bible Links
Healthy Heart - Healthy Bones
12 topic course offers a comprehensive and holistic
approach to health, based on sound scientific principles,
free of fads. It covers topics such as Active for
Health, Coping with Stress, Healthy Weight, Plant
Foods, Healthy Self-Esteem, plus others.
learn about Health?
We influence our health by how we live, work,
and interact, with other people and with our environment.
So our choice of behaviour will either
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yours - you can take charge and positively influence
here for more
Charge of your Life
Based on the popular seminar by
the same name, TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR LIFE, this
course provides direction and motivation for those
wanting to get the most out of life.
It covers 7 topics such as Purpose,
Relationships, Feelings, Addictions, Success and
Choices – the keys to personal power.
CHARGE OF YOUR LIFE!
here for more
you know that for every $1000 this country spends
on the costs of divorce, we spend 12c on relationship
education. Most people do more training for their
car licence than for their marriage licence - and
we wonder why there’s such a road toll on
the street of love! That’s crazy. Psychological
studies show that one of the greatest causes of
happiness is a good relationship.
This course tackles topics for
everyone - sex and money, anger and conflict.
Family issues (how not to kill your in-laws).
We look at where people got their ideas about
love (often it’s parents and movies –
scary for some people). We discuss the problem
of ‘Why can’t you be more like me?’
And listening skills which you think you have
but probably don’t.
second section is on Parenting skills. The booklets
cover different parenting styles, the five ways
to show love, how to talk so children will listen,
discipline, preventing addiction, and more.
here for more


Psalm 51:17, NKJV tells us that "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart--These, O God, You will not despise."
What does this mean to you? What do you need to bring before the Lord? Whether you answer here or keep them to yourself is wonderful...as long as you are seeking the Lord.
My encouragement to you is to never stop seeking the Lord. Whether you are on the mountaintop and everything is going great or whether you're in trouble. The Lord draws near to the brokenhearted and He binds up their wounds! Give Him praise! Give Him thanks! No matter where you are, He is with you and helping you through! Don't let pride get in the way!


theologically engaged anthropology
Joel Robbins' much anticipated second monograph promises to secure the foundation of theologically engaged anthropology. Both sociocultural anthropology and theology have made fundamental contributions to our understanding human experience and the place of humanity in the world. But can these two disciplines, despite the radical differences that separate them, work together to transform their thinking on these topics? Joel Robbins argues that they can. To make this point, he draws on key theological discussions of such matters as atonement, eschatology, interruption, passivity, and judgement to rethink important anthropological debates about such topics as ethical life, radical change, the ways people live in time, agency, gift giving, and the nature of humanity. The result is both a reconsideration of important aspects of anthropological theory through theological categories and a series of careful readings of influential theologians such as Moltmann, Pannenberg, Jüngel, and Dalferth from the vantage point of rich ethnographic materials concerning the lives of Christians from around the world. In conclusion, Robbins draws on contemporary discussions of secularism to interrogate the secular foundations of anthropology and suggests that the differences between anthropology and theology in regard to this topic can provide a foundation rather than obstacle to their dialogue. Written as a work of interdisciplinary anthropological theorizing, Robbins' book also provides theologians an introduction to some of the most important ground covered by burgeoning field of the anthropology of Christianity while guiding anthropologists into some major areas of theological discussion. This roundtable invites anthropologists to join Robbins in discussing the work, as well as the implications of its argument for the discipline.
Next from AAA Annual Meeting 2021
Association for Queer Anthropology Distinguished Achievement Award: Evelyn Blackwood and Gayle Rubin
AAA Annual Meeting 2021
18 November 2021


A Bishop is an Overseer, and title of an ecclesiastical dignitary. He has spiritual or ecclesiastical supervision, like that of an Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and Roman Catholic clergyman. A bishop possesses the fullness of the priesthood, and in regards to Catholic faith, is of Divine institution. Bishop’s rank over priest, and have authority to ordain and confirm, and govern a diocese.
An Archbishop (also known as Metropolitan) holds the position of the highest-ranking bishop. He governs over his own archbishopric or archdiocese. At the same time, he governs over bishops of a well-defined district, which are composed of dioceses, but not of the provinces. These bishops called suffragans or comprovincials are subordinate, and do not rule over others.
Bishop's Dispensation - a bishop may grant dispensations. That is, remove the impediments and allow administration of the sacraments. As a bishop, I grant dispensations for all of the dispensable impediments. I have Vatican succession as well as multiple lines of Eastern Orthodox succession. (Anyone of which is considered valid.) I am dedicated to providing solutions to those who need them - marriage is a very beautiful and serious institution. You and your loved one are entitled to the blessings of a priest. My book includes the Ecclesiastical Petition for Dispensation and Decree of Nullity. You may have access to the form by clicking its link.
Bishop's Dispensation - Requirements:
A bishop is a successor to the Holy Apostles and may grant one a Dispensation. A priest alone is not sufficient if you have an impediment. I am here to help you as much as I can. I know that there are many numerous reasons why you might need a bishop's dispensation. Therefore, a bishop's dispensation is required for the following situations:
A Previous Marriage
Difference in Religion
Lack of baptism of one party
and numerous situations
Note: "Archbishop Cooper never claimed to be a Roman Catholic bishop; he claims to be Orthodox. It is the Vatican that has said that the Orthodox share the Catholic Faith and are separated sister Catholic Churches. The Envoy Magazine article about Bishop Cooper is misleading. The terms Orthodox Catholic and Orthodox Christian are synonymous. There are independent Western Rite Orthodox jurisdictions all over the world. Bishop Cooper's Order does NOT have gay or women priests." Here is my Consecration Certificate for verification.
In Papal utterances regarding the Orthodox, we are called ". . . Orthodox brothers of the Catholic faith which by God's grace we share."
Pope John Paul refers to the Orthodox churches as ". . . sister Catholic churches . . ."
Apostolic Succession - David Leon Cooper:
Here is the Independent proof that validates the Apostolic Succession of +++David Leon Cooper via the George Bussmann line.


THE WORD. The Lexical Inventory of Holy Scripture In The Original Biblical Languages Of The Hebrew Tanakh (Old Testament) And The Greek New Testament And The Septuaginta (LXX) (kartoniertes Buch)
Umfang: 684 S.
Format (T/L/B): 4.2 x 27 x 19 cm
Auflage: 1. Auflage 2018
Einband: kartoniertes Buch
Erschienen am 26.04.2018
This book contains the complete word lists with lexicostatistic data on their relative frequency of occurrence of the following Biblical original language texts: the Hebrew Tanakh (Old Testament), the Greek New Testament and the Greek text of the Septuaginta (LXX). Such basic data are essential and a pre-requisite for any further research work in the analysis of these texts with a view to the grammatical structures used in these texts and the shades of meaning in the literary contexts in which they are actually used. For the latter task, the use of reliable word concordances to these original Biblical language texts is highly recommended (such as ISBN 9783959353625 and 9783959353588, Hamburg 2017). For textual exegesis and interpretation, text-critical research of original Biblical language texts and linguistic text analysis.
The compiler of this book, Dr Muhammad Schmidt, graduated in Linguistics, Sinology, African, English and German studies as well as Theology and Comparative Religion from universities in Germany and the United States of America and gained rich teaching and research experience at universities worldwide (Europe, Asia, Africa and USA) with numerous publication to his credit. Dr. Schmidt is a Presiding Bishop Emeritus of the Christian Missionary Anglican Communion (CMAC).


WHAT IN THE WORLD IS A "MYSTIC"? by Eric Rose
The words "mystic" and "mysticism" date back to the 17th century, although the experiences that define this group of Godly individuals go back to the time of Jesus' early disciples. Mystics dotted the pages of church history throughout the past two thousand years in the Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant streams of the Body of Christ. What unified them all was experiencing supernatural encounters with the Presence of God.
While Christians as early as the second century used the word "mystical" to describe their supernatural encounters with the risen Lord, they would not have considered themselves to be "practicing mysticism" any more than they would have considered themselves to be "practicing Christianity." Christianity was inherently mystical because it expected individuals and local bodies to experience and respond to the immediate experience of Jesus Christ. through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Over the centuries, as the study of doctrine, knowledge about God, gradually supplanted ever increasing experience with God as the central element of Christianity, the number of people having intimate encounters with the Lord dwindled. Because their experiences were so different from the norm, these people became to be known as mystics, or contemplatives, which simply means "those who behold the Lord." Mary of Bethany and John the beloved disciple became their role models for abandonment and single minded passion for Jesus.
What we call Christian "mysticism" is a collection of practices, which these people found effective for encouraging this abandonment and opening their hearts to receive the love of God. Among the better known mystics in the western church are John of the Cross, Jeanne Guyon, Bernard of Clairvaux, Teresa of Avila, and Julian of Norwich.
The mystics considered the goal of Christian experience to be an intimate, abiding spiritual communion with Jesus Christ or what the apostle Paul described as "being filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." This goal has gone by many names over the centuries, but it is most commonly described as a spiritual marriage between the individual soul and Jesus, the heavenly Bridegroom. Not surprisingly, the mystics' theology was heavily colored by the language and imagery of the Song of Songs.
The mystics describe the spiritual pathway as the experience of having one's heart progressively captured by the loveliness of Christ. They described their road something like this: in the beginning we knew God at a distance, through the testimony of others and the written word. As a result we began to desire Him and seek after Him, opening our hearts to Him so that the Holy Spirit could communicate the love of God to us directly. This love became like a blazing fire that began to burn up the roots of sin and purify us of our self seeking motives so that we could come to love Him and all things for His sake alone. For them the spiritual marriage was a state of learning to abide in the loving embrace of Jesus and, from that place, looking only to Him and doing what He wanted for their lives.
Experiencing the loving embrace of Jesus Christ is not reserved for a few super spiritual people. Jesus has offered to come and dwell fully in all of us to make us all "mystics." Maybe that's one reason why we've all been praying, "More, Lord."


It is hard to believe its only been two weeks here in Ecuador! It seems so much longer... Not sure if its the altitude, cultural adjustment, language and life assimilation or the simple fact that Ann isn't here to pick up after us? All three families are adjusting well while trying to navigate a technological tightrope with WiFi to stay in touch with home. Today, the orphanage had its annual reunion in which several hundred people showed to celebrate their time here. God is still in the business of changing lives and it was evident on the faces of the parents, grandparents and children. There was prayer, traditional Ecuadoran dancing and a contemporary dance performance in which Maggie, Kayla, Katelyn and Lydia participated with other E -kids their age. They did well with less than a weeks practice! The last two weeks have been filled with getting adjusted and this week we're gearing up for our first teams this upcoming weekend. In addition, our niece Kirby will be joining us thursday coming fresh from Peru serving at another orphanage. Please pray that we are properly prepared and that the Lord determines the appointments and outcomes for the week!
Que Dios le bendiga!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
It's very hard to let go of something. For example, our friends, family, our house, and Sadie, our dog. We have had that experience. For our family it is very hard to say goodbye. Us kids have grown up in such a good christian community. We are thankful for an amazing pastor, friends, church, and most of all, our GREAT GOD! For Bobby (little Bob) and Ann, we will be staying back until July 17, due to Bobby's drama camp. We said goodbye yesterday to Big Bob, Maggie, and Tim. They are getting things ready in Ecuador. Just as we said before it's very hard to let go of family. But we know God's purpose in our lives and we are setting out to do it. As it says " For greater things have yet to come, greater things are still to be done in this city"... and every single state, country, continent, and in every corner of the Earth.Posted by Bobby (little Bob)


I’ve been attending church here for about 6 weeks now. But, it’s not giving me what I need.
It really feels like everyone is there out of obligation and only obligation. I get it – as a Catholic – going to church on Sunday IS an obligation. But, it has always been so much more than that. It has been a sense of community and belonging. It has been a place to reconnect with friends, makes new ones and be surrounded by familiar faces and a warm presence.
Here it is hundreds of people pushing their way through like a salmon going upstream to get into church and get a seat. It is being surrounded by people of every ethnicity but my own who are speaking in languages I don’t understand. It is being pushed aside while waiting my turn to go to communion. (Yes, someone ACTUALLY pushed me aside on the way to communion – at church. Pretty sure there was enough host to go around…..)
It is being moved like cattle, shoulder to shoulder on my way out the door and then being greeted by people yelling bus numbers and waving signs as people are corralled to the proper place to head out. There is no community. There are no friendly, familiar faces.
But – I go week after week. The service is in English. The choir sounds nice. I’m getting a little out of it. But – not enough.
My kids had a sleepover at a friend’s house last Thursday night and then they went with the family to church. They go to an Evangelical church around the corner from ours. We picked them up on the way to our own service on Friday morning.
It looked lovely. I saw familiar faces. There were lots of Americans. Saw a few families from school. They were all relaxing outside after church and talking with each other. No one was yelling a bus number. My kids came running out of church happy from bible school and talking about enjoying it.
The word evangelical makes me think of bible-thumping. I don’t know if that’s even accurate – it’s just what I think of.
I talked to my friend and she said that lots of people attend who are actually different religions – Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, Baptist, etc… The church provides the sermon without the ritual of some of the specific religions.
I felt warm and friendly.
I’m going to try attending next week to see if it’s a good fit. I think church is important for our family – especially when we are so far from home. But – I just need to find the right one.


During Dr. Dean’s Absence
We will continue to have BIble class and Sunday morning worship service while Dr. Dean is leading the tour to Israel. Please plan to attend to support our guest speaker who will be filling in. The Bible class schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, June 5 - Dr. Dean will virtually teach a Bible class from his 1 Thessalonians series
Thursday, June 7 - Ray Mondragon (Bible teacher from Chafer Seminary) will be in the pulpit teaching about a Scientific Exposition of Genesis 1
Sunday, June 10 - Ray Mondragon: World History is Jewish
Tuesday, June 12 - Ray Mondragon: Scientific Exposition of Genesis 1
Thursday, June 14 - Ray Mondragon: Scientific Exposition of Genesis 1
Sunday, June 17 - Ray Mondragon: World History is Jewish
Sunday School Helpers Needed
If you have even an inkling of desire to communicate truth to our young people, we have an opportunity for you. Come observe our Sunday School classes and see if you'd like to participate in this vital ministry within WHBC.
Camp Arete Garage Sale
This year there will not be a Camp Arete garage sale to raise funds for transportation to the camp. However, Camp Arete will be held July 15–21 in Benton, TN.
For more information visit: www.camparete.com
Keeping Worshippers Safe Inside the Church
HPD, pastors brainstorm church security after Sutherland Springs
WHBC church leadership is implementing additional security procedures since the shootings at First Baptist in Sutherland Springs. Several of our leaders attended a recent seminar sponsored by the Houston Police Department for awareness and training.
Some security procedures have already been implemented while others are being developed at this time.
Chafer Seminary Training for YOU – Tuition Free!
Have you ever thought about taking a seminary-level course to expand your biblical study skills or knowledge of Scripture and theology? Or, do you desire to learn more about biblical or church history? How about learning some Greek or Hebrew?
Maybe your focus is not on being a pastor, but you teach Sunday School or are in church leadership. Here’s a wonderful opportunity for you.
If you are a member of West Houston Bible Church then you can take up to two Chafer Theological Seminary (CTS) course offerings tuition free. CTS has a partnership program whereby members of churches that contribute beyond a certain amount to CTS each year can take courses tuition free (maximum of two courses per student per semester). You just need to cover the cost of the registration fee ($30) plus any textbooks required for the course.
Registration for the Spring semester is under way.


to view pictures from the trip)
On May 31st
2012, the Bermuda Divisional Band travelled to Chicago, Illinois for five days to minister to the Metropolitan Division in the U.S. Central Territory. Our hosts for the trip were Captains Keith and Michelle Graham and the Chicago Midway Corps.
God used the band to minister in many different ways including...
- Providing opportunities to share about God and answer questions about The Salvation Army, whilst travelling through various airports in uniform;
- Sharing meals and daily devotions with each other;
- Ministering at The Salvation Army Donut Day Kick-Off, outside in downtown Chicago, in freezing cold weather (as far as this Bermudian is concerned!).
The next day the band was warmed by the midday sun as well as the Holy Spirit as they shared in the Open Air during a thrift sale at Norridge Citadel. After lunch, they toured the USA Central Territorial Headquarters and the new Chicago Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center. This was a real eye opener. It was great to see the different aspects of Salvation Army ministry.
One unexpected memorable happenstance was being involved in a highway accident, when the band’s vehicle was cut off by a lady on a cell phone. Our driver swerved but hit the rear of the van in front of us causing damage to our vehicle. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured. The van however, did not fare as well and had to be retired.
God was, and is always good and he showed up for us many times. He protected all of the bandmembers in the accident, which could have been much worse. What Satan intended to be a disaster was turned into an opportunity for the band to witness, develop relationships and remarkably, the band still made the service at the Harbour Light in a timely fashion. Despite the ordeal, the band shared testimonies and played extremely well. The Spirit powerfully moved during the service.
At the service the band played a new arrangement by one of its members, Sheldon Fox II, of William Himes’ famous chorus “God in You, God in Me.” It was written as a tribute to Bandmaster Himes for his faithful service to music ministry in The Salvation Army, and its playing was made all the more meaningful because Bandmaster Himes was himself present in the congregation.
On Sunday morning, the band led the morning worship service at Chicago Midway Corps, while Captain Keith shared the Word. After fellowshipping with the soldiers for lunch the band kicked off the afternoon with a march of witness in the neighboring area, followed by a Praise service with members of the Metropolitan Division. After the service, the Divisional Commander gave a heartfelt thanks to our band for sharing in such a creative and Spirit-led way.
During the trip, some of the band members were taken over by illness but God proved that He is the great Healer. Some members also experienced financial challenges but, God made a way for all who were available to travel. Throughout the trip, God was faithful.
This was my first overseas ministry trip with the Salvation Army and I found it very exciting. I learned that it is so gratifying being obedient, serving the Lord and making people happy. I grew as a Christian in several ways. All the preparations drew me closer to God. My relationship with my wife and other bandspersons grew as well. My musicianship also improved, as we had practiced until our lips were sore! While I know we blessed others through our ministry, I felt that I got more than I gave!
Steve Bean attends the West End Community Church of the Salvation Army in Bermuda. He currently plays 2nd cornet in the Bermuda Divisional Band.


Find purpose in your life. Choose the things you would like to do, and educate yourselves to be effective in their pursuit. For most it is very difficult to settle on a vocation. You are hopeful that you will marry and that all will be taken care of. In this day and time, a girl needs an education. She needs the means and skills by which to earn a living should she find herself in a situation where it becomes necessary to do so.
Study your options. Pray to the Lord earnestly for direction. Then pursue your course with resolution.
The whole gamut of human endeavor is now open to women. There is not anything that you cannot do if you will set your mind to it. You can include in the dream of the woman you would like to be a picture of one qualified to serve society and make a significant contribution to the world of which she will be a part.
I was in the hospital the other day for a few hours. I became acquainted with my very cheerful and expert nurse. She is the kind of woman of whom you girls could dream. When she was young she decided she wished to be a nurse. She received the necessary education to qualify for the highest rank in the field. She worked at her vocation and became expert at it. She decided she wanted to serve a mission and did so. She married. She has three children. She works now as little or as much as she wishes. There is such a demand for people with her skills that she can do almost anything she pleases. She serves in the Church. She has a good marriage. She has a good life. She is the kind of woman of whom you might dream as you look to the future.
For you, my dear friends, the sky is the limit. You can be excellent in every way. You can be first class. There is no need for you to be a scrub. Respect yourself. Do not feel sorry for yourself. Do not dwell on unkind things others may say about you. Particularly, pay no attention to what some boy might say to demean you. He is no better than you. In fact, he has already belittled himself by his actions. Polish and refine whatever talents the Lord has given you. Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, but with great and strong purpose in your heart. Love life and look for its opportunities, and forever and always be loyal to the Church.


A lot of people are going through and they are partaking of other people's stuff example....oppression, depression, anger, discouragement, bitterness, resentment, unforgiveness and tormentation (yes I make up words) *smile*
Here's a word out of the word in Esther 3rd chapter, I'm going to highlight Haman's response to Mordecai's decision not to bow down to Haman and Mordecai's decision to praise and obey God in spite of what it looked liked or how he felt.
Mordecai's decision pleased God and God kept him through the persecution that came because of Haman's hatred, jealousy, insecurities and stubborn prideful, self-seeking, self-centered, attitude and treacherous motives against Mordecai
Romans 12:18-20 (King James Version)
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head
Let's take a look at the book of Esther 3rd chapter
1After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him. 2 And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence. 3 Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?
4 Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew. 5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. 6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
7 In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar. 8 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them.
9 If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries. 10 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. 11 And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.
12 Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.
13 And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey. 14 The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day. 15 The posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed
Our Key Scripture Reference For This Lesson Is Esther 3:5 Key:
And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
What is Wrath?
1. great anger: strong anger, often with a desire for revenge
2. divine retribution: in some beliefs, God's punishment for sin
3. vengeance: the vengeance, punishment, or destruction wreaked by somebody in anger ( literary )
Let's take a look at the definition of torment for a moment so that we can connect this through Haman's story with the spirit of anger, which is wrath.
What is torment?
Torment is to:
1. inflict pain on somebody or something: to inflict torture, pain, or anguish on a person or animal
2. tease somebody: to tease a person or animal persistently
3. torture: severe mental anguish or physical pain
4. cause of anguish: a source of severe mental anguish or physical pain
5 cause of annoyance: a source of annoyance or anxiety
What was Haman angry about? Why was he full of wrath?
The answer is in Esther 3:5, And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
Haman, who was being controlled by the spirit of pride, was full of wrath because:
- Mordecai did not bow down to him
- Mordecai did not reverence him
Haman was so tortured (suffered mental anguish) over Mordecai's decision not to bow down to him and not to reverence him that he devised a device to kill Mordecai
What are some of the lessons that we can learn from this story?
The Dangers of responding to and walking in pride like Haman did.
Proverbs 16:18-20 (King James Version), Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he. The blessings of responding to and walking in humility like Mordecai did?
1 Peter 5:5-7 (King James Version), Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. *Click on the open door for direct access to part 2*