The rosary is a sacred and widely recognized prayer tool in the Catholic tradition. It is both a physical object and a form of prayer. The word “rosary” originates from the Latin word “rosarium,” meaning “rose garden.” The rosary consists of a string of beads, a crucifix, and a central medallion, typically depicting the Virgin Mary.
The structure of the rosary is divided into five decades, with each decade representing a particular mystery from the life of Jesus Christ or the Virgin Mary. The mysteries are categorized into the Joyful Mysteries (reflecting on events from Jesus’ birth to childhood), the Sorrowful Mysteries (contemplating Jesus’ suffering and crucifixion), and the Glorious Mysteries (reflecting on Jesus’ resurrection and ascension).
The rosary begins with the recitation of the Apostles’ Creed, followed by the Lord’s Prayer (the Our Father) and three Hail Mary prayers. The main part of the prayer consists of the repetitive recitation of the Hail Mary prayer while meditating on the corresponding mystery for each decade. A decade comprises ten Hail Mary prayers, recited as one meditates on the life of Jesus or Mary.
The rosary beads serve as a tactile aid to keep track of the prayers. They are divided into groups of ten beads, known as a decade, with a larger bead marking the beginning and end of each decade. The beads guide the faithful through the prayers, providing a rhythm and focus for contemplation.
The rosary is a meditative and reflective practice, inviting individuals to enter into a deeper connection with God and the mysteries of faith. By reciting the prayers and meditating on the mysteries, Catholics seek to grow in faith, express devotion to the Virgin Mary, and unite themselves with the life and teachings of Jesus.
Throughout history, the rosary has played a significant role in Catholic spirituality, offering comfort, solace, and a pathway to spiritual contemplation. It is used in private devotions and communal prayer settings, such as family gatherings, church services, and pilgrimages. The rosary continues to be a powerful symbol of faith, devotion, and a source of spiritual nourishment for millions of people around the world.


Well, it has been a good season for me up at Glacier Bay. I had to say goodbye to my Glacier Bay Lodgie family and that beautiful place. I have been blessed to have been able to serve there and am glad I returned for another season. I am now working in Olympic National Park. It is so beautiful here! I haven’t explored much yet, but I cannot wait to see what this park has to offer.
Before coming here I got to spend a few days with a good friend in Juneau named Deb! She is an awesome person who has a heart for others and loves God. One of the things I could not help but thinking about was persevering in everything that we do. Even when things are hard, keep going. I thought about a verse in John talking about Jesus overcoming the world (John 16:33). I thought about this verse before coming out here to Olympic National Park to finish out the season here. It was a reminder to keep trusting in God, but to adventure on. I will be leaving Olympic in a few weeks to go and visit Japan for two weeks. I have no idea what I will do, other than visit a friend or two, but I am excited. I cannot wait to go and see what God will do over there.
I pray that you all be blessed by God and experience the joy and love and peace and comfort that I do. Love you all and hope you keep adventuring on!!
- Those affected by the hurricane, fire, earthquake, and other natural disasters that are happening in the US right now.
- Remaining season here at Olympic National Park
- Fellow Glacier Bay coworkers that they have safe travels
- Japan trip coming up soon!


Bp. Francisco F. Claver, S.J., D.D.
Emeritus Bishop of Bontoc-Lagawe joined our Father in heaven last 01 July 2010 just before 3:00 AM at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center. Born 20 January 1929, joined the Jesuit Order 30 May 1948, ordained Presbyter 18 June 1961, ordained Bishop 22 August 1969, for Malaybalay, Bukidnon; Apostolic Vicar of Bontoc-Lagawe.
“Bishop Cisco was a great shepherd, prophet, teacher and writer. With his lucidity of thought and expression, his depth of faith and courage, his profound ability to discern the signs of the times, he contributed in countless… ways to the building up of “a new way of being Church” in Malaybalay, Bontoc-Lagawe, Mindanao, the Philippines and Asia. With his passing, we can now gratefully take stock of all that we owe to his leadership, his writing, and his person. Behind his apparent gruffness were humor, humility and humanity. Mentor, brother and friend: may you be eternally joyful with the Lord.” Rev. Fr. Danny Huang, SJ
Bishop Claver was a member of (SLB) Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan Board of Trustees from year 2006 until his death. Dying with his boots on, Bishop Claver was a true servant of his people and servant of God.
“Bishop Cisco, we thank you for your total and dedicated service.”
Thursday and Friday (July 1-2, 2010), 8:00 PM, WAKE MASSES at Loyola House of Studies Oratory, Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights Quezon City
AM Saturday (July 3, 2010), body will be brought to Bontoc, Mountain Province
Wednesday (July 7, 2010), 2:30 PM, FUNERAL MASS at Loyola House of Studies Oratory, with Fr. Catalino Arevalo, SJ as preacher
SHARED BY: SIMBAHANG LINGKOD NG BAYAN
2010 BIBLICAL APOSTOLATE
FOR NORTHERN LUZON
TO: BIBLICAL APOSTOLATE DIRECTORS/LAY COORDINATORS
RE: 2010 BIBLICAL APOSTOLATE FOR NORTHERN LUZON
GREETINGS TO ONE AND ALL!
This year 2010 calls all BA ministers of Northern Luzon for greater zeal in promoting the WORD! Like Jesus we see that “the harvest is great” and there is a great hunger for the true food that satisfies – THE WORD OF GOD!
The month of January is the month of the NATIONAL BIBLE WEEK (January 25-31). We are all encouraged to plan out activities that would make our people more and more aware that “ignorance of Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.” We have to renew our zeal to make sure that people have “easy access to Sacred Scriptures” may be made more and more possible. We have to devise ways and means to attract and inspire our people to make the Word of God the foundation of our life. We pray with all Christians
MAKE US LOVE YOUR WORD.
TEACH US TO LISTEN AND LIVE BY YOUR WORD.
BLESS ALL WHO PROMOTE THE WORD.
OPEN OUR HEARTS THAT WE MAY GENEROUSLY SHARE OUR TREASURES SO THAT MORE MAY HAVE A COPY OF YOUR WRITTEN WORD.
In February we have the NATIONAL CONSULTATION (February 8-9) and the NATIONAL BIBLE WORKSHOP (February 9-13) in Talisay, Batangas. We are looking forward to your participation in this workshop with 2 – 3 participants. There will be very interesting workshops that would serve as up-dating for our BA workers. IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE COULD ALREADY KNOW IN ADVANCE THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO ARE ATTENDING. WE WOULD BE VERY HAPPY IF YOU COULD FORWARD TO US SOONEST POSSIBLE A ONE-PAGE SUMMARY OF YOUR MOST SIGNIFICANT ACTS IN YOUR ARCHDIOCESE/DIOCESE FOR OUR REGIONAL REPORT.
In April there is a plan for a NORTHERN LUZON PASTORAL FORUM (April 12-15). The Forum will follow the four –point message of the 12th Synod of Bishops on the Word – (1) THE VOICE OF THE WORD, (2) THE FACE OF THE WORD, (3) THE HOUSE OF THE WORD, (4) THE ROADS OF THE WORD. The BA will be playing a major role in this forthcoming NLPF. (We hope we shall have some time during the National Workshop to sit down and discuss this.) Blessed be the Lord!
Sometime in June we shall have our mid-year Board of Directors Meeting. We hope that by June we shall already be ready to give updates about our MTBO CAMPAIGN! We do need to work harder in promoting the MTBO bible in our region. To date, our distribution of the ILOCANO translation has lagged behind the other regions. We should do more. We have to realize that this is a very special gift of God to us. CAN YOU IMAGINE 5,000,000 bibles being distributed in 5 years? That is 5,000,000 more families reading and living the Word! CAN YOU IMAGINE?
Sometime in the second half of 2010 – perhaps in the months of September-December we shall be engaged in THE BIBLE ENCOUNTER being organized by our very zealous bible promoter, MS. ELVIRA YAP GO. This year we may not have a BIBLE QUIZ but instead have a BIBLE ENCOUNTER. Already this early, we ask you to begin your bible formation for families. We all know from our experiences that the WORD can transform persons and families. The BIBLE QUIZ made families spend time on the Word and thus became closer. The BIBLE ENCOUNTER we expect will make our families have a deeper relationship with the WORD. With transformed families we hope to have transformed communities and then a transformed society and nation.
Finally, by December we shall schedule our 2nd BOD meeting and Christmas party. By then we hope to have time not only for business meeting but also a time for an ADVENT RETREAT! We will spend some time together as disciples. We shall encounter also the DIVINE WORD who has called us for our ministry of the Word!
Please take note of this schematic program for the year 2010!
Praying for you all who love the Word,
SGD: MOST REV. RENATO P. MAYUGBA, DD
Chairman for the BA-Northern Luzon
January 5, 2010
ECBA-CBCP and PHILIPPINE BIBLE SOCIETY
FACE BIG CHALLENGE
For Deliverance From Calamities
Almighty Father, we raise our hearts to You in gratitude for the wonders of creation
of which we are part, for Your Providence in sustaining our needs,
and for Your Wisdom that guides the course of the universe.
We acknowledge our sins against You and the rest of creation.
We have not been good stewards of Nature.
We have confused Your command to subdue the Earth.
The environment is made to suffer our wrongdoing,
and now we reap the harvest of our abuse and indifference.
Global warming is upon us, typhoons, floods, volcanic eruptions,
and other natural calamities occur in increasing numbers and intensity.
We turn to You, our loving Father, and beg forgiveness for our sins.
We ask that we, our loved ones and our hard earned possessions
be spared from the threat of calamities, natural and man-made.
We beseech You to inspire us all to grow into responsible stewards of Your creation,
and generous neighbors to those in need.
The John Paul I Biblical Center is a real blessing to the Northern Luzon Church in the Biblical Pastoral Ministry…the pioneer biblical center in the whole archipelago and an icon in Southeast Asia in doing Biblical Apostolate. We thank the Incarnate Word with our hearts on fire for gifting us with the JPIBC remembering the founders with happy memories Sr. Henrietta Sebastian, OSB our beloved Fr. Ludger Feldkaemper, SVD and the directors that served the center: Fr. Wim Wijtten, SVD, Fr. Oscar Alunday, SVD, Fr. Manolito Barona, SVD, Fr. Dominador Ramos, SVD and Fr. Jaimelito Gealan, SVD.
Today, we join Apo Wim Wijtten, SVD our former JPIBC Director in thanking the Lord for the gift of life. May your celebration Apo Wim be filled with joy and meaning as we assure you of our continuous prayers for a more intense encounter with the Word in your life and mission.
Our Dear Apo Wim,
The SIHM Family of Baguio and the Cordilleras greet you a Happy, Meaningful Birthday today!
We pray that you may have many more birthdays to be celebrated, and looking forward to your 77th Birthday for us to pray for long life so you can make more impact on peoples’ lives through the WORD that you have been promoting all these years.
Happy Birthday again from the SIHM Sisters.
You worked with Sr. Beata Balaso and Sr. Antonia Anas, SIHM
Hurray to the JPIBC for their animated Greetings to you!!!
Sr. Aurora A. Codiam, SIHM


To proclaim as a loving community the Bible’s Christ-centered and grace-filled message.
Redeemer Presbyterian Church of Dickson is a congregation of The Presbyterian Church in America and Nashville Presbytery
Join us for worship on Sunday, January 21, at 9:30am.
Services for January 14 cancelled due to weather.
Our meeting place is located in the Valley West Commercial Park (7 Valley W Dr, Dickson, TN 37055, just off Highway 70W).
We meet for worship each Sunday at 9:30 AM.
Directions from Interstate 40: Take Exit 172 to Dickson. At the 70 Bypass, turn left (West). We are two miles ahead on left.


There’s no better way to empower a child than by offering them your personal support and encouragement. Your sponsorship will deliver the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a child, transforming their world!Sponsor a Child
Your sponsored child will receive everything needed to provide an education to help them grow, succeed and escape poverty.
Your child will become part of our Christian Character Development program, which teaches and builds future leaders.
Food security is a major component of your sponsorship. We make sure your child has enough to eat and stay healthy.
One child dies from waterborne illnesses each minute. Your child is assured of access to clean, safe drinking water.
Access to medical care, including vaccinations and doctor visits as needed, is provided to your child.
Our child sponsorship program focuses not only on immediate needs, but also on the long-term success for each child. Our focus is on education, and on the message of the Gospel. By focusing on spiritual development, we can help all our sponsored children build personal relationships with Jesus and grow into strong men and women of God.
The funds raised through the sponsorship program are used to cover educational expenses, such as school fees, uniforms and books. Sponsorship allows children to attend their local Life Center where they hear the Gospel and are encouraged to grow in their faith. Children receive additional support on a case by case basis depending upon his or her situation. This includes food, clean water, and medical attention as needed.
You bet! Each child in our program is part of a local Life Center church which provides age appropriate training and teaching about Jesus. And every child is enrolled in our Christian Character Building program which teaches Christian ethics, morals and lifestyles.
Childcare Worldwide is audited by independent auditing firms in the U.S., as well as in each country where we work. We have also been endorsed by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability and are evaluated annually by Charity Navigator. All of these “watchdog” non-profit organizations help assist prospective donors in making good giving decisions. You can view our Audited Financial Statements and Form 990 Tax Statement on our Financials page.
You should send all communications with your child’s name and identification number to our address in the U.S. you can email your letters to us at email@example.com, or you can submit a letter via this form on our website. We will gladly forward them, and we will also forward correspondence from your child to you.


Mark your calendar for Sunday, August 30, 2015, on which date we’ll be recognizing the 85th year of existence of the Lord’s church in Nitro! Coming to share our day and speaking for us will be Nathan Greene (son of a former located preacher), Andy Shamblin (grandson of the later Grover Shamblin and one of […]
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 2015 Coming soon!
Sally Shank, First Lady of Ohio Valley University will be the guest speaker this year. The theme of the retreat is “The Sweet Spirit of Sisterhood” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 The dates are Friday, April 17, 2015 and Saturday, April 18, 2015 The Ladies Retreat is now being hosted by the Alum Creek congregation!
SPRING GOSPEL MEETING The Nitro Church of Christ Invites you to hear Andy Robison (Director WV School of Preaching) Sunday, May 3, 2015-Wednesday, May 6, 2015 Schedule: Sunday: Bible Study at 9:45 am Worship Services at 10:40 a.m. and 6pm Monday-Wednesday: 7pm each evening Please be our guest at a Potluck Dinner following our Sunday […]
UPCOMING GOSPEL MEETINGS 2015 Andy Robison from Parkersburg, WV (Director-WV School of Preaching) May 3-6, 2015 2016 Bryan McAlister from Centerville, TN (Centerville Church of Christ) May 8-12, 2016 2017 Steve Higginbotham from Knoxville, TN (Karns Church of Christ) May 7-11, 2017 2018 Phillip Hines from Hartselle, Alabama (Hartselle Church of Christ) May 6-10, 2018
FRIDAY NIGHT SING NITRO CHURCH OF CHRIST 20 MAIN AVENUE NITRO, WV 25143 (304)755-5788 Please join us for a Friday Night Sing Friday, July 31, 2015 From 7:00-9:00 pm Fellowship and Refreshments afterwards We hope to see you there! Songbook: Praise for the Lord


Whitley Harris was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. She moved to Alabama in 2016 to begin her college education. She received her Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree from Alabama State University. Whitley moved to Mobile, Alabama in 2014 to begin her career. She became settled in Mobile and God led her to join Friendship Missionary Baptist Church under watchcare where she is a member of Sunday School and sings in choirs. She also praise dances. Her passion is dance and encouraging others. She is a strong believer in Christ and continuously strives to share what God has placed in her heart. She believes that we will be a stronger nation if we would lift each other up rather than tear each other down.


I don’t know whether you’ve heard people say they ‘kind of’ believe in the God who created the universe but they don’t believe in the Jesus. I guess the barren, loveless, and deterministic world of Professor Dawkins isn’t for them, but neither do they want to surrender the idea that they are masters of their own destiny. Thus, they reason that whilst the world has both material and spiritual depths the creator has no continuing interest in the creation. It is left to them to make what they will of the world, to plumb the hidden corners of creation, to discover the ‘spiritual’ meaning behind life.
It is a strange conclusion to stumble across because who would invest the time and care needed to form all the wonders of this world, the ocean deeps, the highest mountains, the impenetrable jungles, the never-ending horizons, and the perfect sunsets? Also, how might one hope to find spiritual meaning if the Creator cares nothing for His creation, and how is humanity any better for having a creator if we have been orphaned by that power?
In contrast to the cold, pre-determined, scientific world of the atheist and the creator abandoned world of the neo-agnostic, the Christian claim is that there is a God who cares for all of His creation. Indeed, the entire earth is sustained by His providence. Humans are neither an accident of science nor an orphan of the creator, but people who can receive God’s love and become children adopted into God’s family.
Still, some people will be unconvinced that the God who created the universe is the same God who raised Jesus from the dead. ‘It is against the natural laws of the universe’, such people may protest, and this is of course true. In fact, if someone were to show that Jesus resurrection was a natural occurrence then the claims of Christianity would be unsensational.
I can not hope to do justice to such a broad topic in four hundred word blog, but if you are unconvinced I can only encourage you to pray, read the bible, and listen/watch the believers. It may be that as you are seeking truth, the One who is True will find you!


The following are only a few of the Parish Ministries of OLPH.
: Kindergarten thru 12th grade.
Adults wishing to learn more about the Catholic faith.
: Small Groups meet for six weeks during Lent and Advent.
C&S Mission Store
: Operated by the St. Vincent de Paul and other volunteers. The Store sells items at low prices and aid those in financial need.
Legion of Mary:
Placing themselves under the banner of Mary, the Legion of Mary strives to bring the healing touch of Christ to the people of our local community.
A fellowship gathering is arranged each Sunday after Mass. Coffee and donuts are available.
This group consists of men and women who meet each week to socialize, prepare handicaraft, celebrate birthday and regular lunch outings.
This group for 8th-12th graders gathers regularly for cook-outs, retreats, and other activities.
The Kid's Club for age 2-6th grade offers fun activities, events and outings for out children.
are scheduled for the following ministries: Lector, Ministers of Eucharist, Altar Servers, Gift Bearer, Ushers, & Greeters.
OLPH has an excellent Choir. The Choir assists the congregation in songs of thanks and praise.
Prior to the scriptural readings at the Sunday Liturgy the children, KN thru 4th grade are dismissed and gather for the Liturgy of the Word aimed at their level. The children rejoin the Liturgy during the Offertory.
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“A Book of Cheers and a Book of Tears”
I have a book near my phone – near my recliner. It is not thin, it has lots of pictures, and the pages are mounted together on a spiral ring. It is about three-years-old, and I don’t use it very often, only when I need certain information. It is a church book and I believe many churches have a similar book, either in their office or the Pastor’s study. I call it “my book of cheers and my books of tears.” You may know it as the “First Lutheran Church Members Directory”. It contains photos and addresses and phone numbers of our “membership”.
I love that directory. I can flip page after page of pictures of members in action. It has wonderful pictures of individuals and families who invest their time and lives in the worship services of the congregation. It features young people and middle-aged folks, as well as old-timers, who can be found week after week in the house of the Lord – singing, listening serving, and receiving the precious body and blood of the Savior who died for the sins of mankind . . . and rose from the grave with the promise that we too may live forever with God’s redeemed. I love looking at those pictures of familiar faces and recalling their familiar voices – “the peace of the Lord be with you.”
Sometimes I drag my weary bones to the worship services reluctantly . . . seems like such a chore. But always, always, always, the presence of being in God’s house with God’s family revives my soul again. And I rejoice; I am cheered and renewed. I say to myself, “Why were you downhearted and hesitant? Foolish man! You would have missed healing and hope and the renewed assurance of the Presence of God. You would have missed God comforting you through Holy Communion. Your week would have been a dud, a blah, blah, dud. You would have missed the memories of loved ones who have been in this place and left their mark in the atmosphere of the sanctuary. You would have missed the opportunity to publically THANK AND PRAISE THE LORD!”
That is why I call my church family directory “A Book of Cheers”. It calls to mind the beauty and wonder and majesty of people gathering together in a special place to celebrate the love of God and the love from God. But at the same time, I also call my church directory “A Book of Tears” because it also reminds me of three things that break my heart.
The first is that there are pictures in that book of brother and sister Christians who have been called to their eternal home by our Blessed Trinity. They were very faithful and now they are longer here on earth. Their leaving has made earth a little poorer, but heaven much richer . . . and I miss them.
The second reason why I call it “A Book of Tears” is because there are pictures in it of my brother and sister Christians who would dearly love to be with us at worship, but are unable to join us because of health reasons. They physically cannot leave their place of residence because they are ill, or weak, or have some difficulties which inhibit them. They are an active part of the First Lutheran Family, and we call them “shut-ins”. We know them for their love for God and His Church and we miss them. Thanks to a team of devoted members, the shut-ins are not forgotten because every month the consecrated elements of the Lord’s Supper are brought from the altar to their place of residency. Also, thanks to Bill Johnson and his helpers, recorded Sunday services are brought to many of them. Oh, how I wish that our shut-ins would be able to come to the services again! If not on earth, they will someday be in the gathering of Christians around the throne of God.
The third reason I call my directory “A Book of Tears” is because there are some listed who, for whatever reasons, have chosen not to be among those who regularly join in the worship services of the church. Perhaps they do not participate in any way in the life of the congregation. As far as I know, they are healthy and able, but for reasons of their own choice, they are absent. Maybe once they did participate and maybe they will again. I hope and pray they do. In the meantime, I am saddened if anyone deliberately chooses not to come to the weekly family reunion of church family – our worship service – and misses out on the meal prepared for us by our Lord . . . the sacrament of Holy Communion. I know their faith and their church has meaning for them because often when hospitalized many of them name First Lutheran as their church. When that happens, we are pleased to call upon them and pray with them for God’s healing Presence in their lives. We are both honored and glad to so because we are here to serve Our Lord and minister to people in the Name of Christ.
As Lutheran Christians, we affirm that there is no way we can earn salvation – eternal life – by what we do or say. Salvation is a gift to us won by God’s only Son Jesus, through his death on the cross and his resurrection from the grave. The Scripture clearly states in John 3:16 that, “God so loved the world that God give his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” At best, we accept the gift and have faith in Jesus as our Savior.
We cannot earn eternal life by worshipping God. But we worship God because God has won salvation for us by the victory of Jesus over, as Luther puts it, “sin, death and the power of the devil.” Since this is so, why then do I get hung up on the importance of being a member of the Church and attending worship?
Here is one way of looking at the importance of being involved in the life of the church which Scripture calls “the bride of Christ”. The precious title “Christian” is derived from the Book of Acts where Christ-followers are labeled such. The idea is that Christians are people who believe in Jesus and do what they are able to do to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Practically speaking, Jesus did much that only God could do. Miracles of healing, raising the dead, feeding the 5,000 with two fish and five loaves of bread, and calming the storms are examples.
Admittedly we cannot do those miracles. However it is important that we remember that Jesus shared many kind and loving actions that we CAN, and should do, in His name as Christ-followers. We do as we are able: we build hospitals; we provide life-saving efforts such as the fight against malaria initiative of the ELCA; we share our blessings through our AMELCA food pantry; we respond to calamity with disaster aid. As His followers we follow the example of His life.
The gospel of Luke 4:16 reads: “Jesus went to the temple as was his custom on the Sabbath day.” His temple – synagogue – was the equivalent of our church in the days Jesus walked upon earth. So, if we, as Christians, take the opportunity to do what Jesus did, it seems to me that we could follow the example of our Lord with His custom of going to worship services. Worshipping God in a place dedicated to God is putting into practice just one more way of following the Savior. It does not earn us salvation, but it is one more way of showing our Lord that we appreciate His gift to us. As we are able, we are always and forever welcome to the “weekly family gathering” and the meal He has prepared for us.
An additional reason I call MY directory “A Book of Tears” is because it also reminds me of my failure to walk always in the footsteps of Jesus. The book reminds me of my missed opportunities to worship God and give God thanks and praise. It is so easy to take God’s blessing for granted.
I pray that I have not confused you but rather that I have given you some helpful thoughts for your Christian walk with Jesus. Pray for me that I will become what God wants me to be, as I pray that you also will grow as a Christ-follower.
In Christian love,


Sweet Charlotte Ann.
I've had this post written. Erased. Written again. Edited. Erased. Written Again. I finally came to the conclusion that it was time for Charlotte Ann's birth story to be told (upon approval of her mommy and daddy) . On December 29th at 7:00, I received a text saying it was time. Baby girl Jacobson was on her way. The timing was perfect. Jeremy had off that week so I grabbed my gear while my own kiddos slept and was on my way to the hospital.
This was my first time in the delivery room (other than with my own babies) and let me tell you, it was just as exciting, just as nerve wracking but not quite as painful ;) I arrived to see Erik sitting next to Kerri as she labored. I unpacked my gear and started shooting this team, these parents, as they began the labor journey.
I had vivid flashbacks, recalling my owns births, and was sympathizing with Kerri. It was an incredible thing to witness and through each contraction, I prayed that baby girl would come quick. The incredible thing about any birth is that it is unique. Each woman's birth story is unique to her and the way God made women to handle labor astounds me.
At the same time, a husband's role as a supporter, encourager and coach through it all, is a real strength as well. It truly is hard watching someone go through such intense pain and not being able to do anything about it. Erik was amazing. He stood, he knelt, he held, he encouraged and he was THERE. The whole time. He was there for Kerri.
Around midnight Kerri went into the birthing room where there was a tub and, I can't speak for her, but it got quite intense. I saw a determined mother, not willing to give up and a devoted husband and father, ready to do whatever it took to lift up his wife. There were moments I was brought near to tears because I saw the intensity of their relationship. There was such trust and such reliance on one another. Erik pushed her when she didn't think she could last any longer and she clung to him when she needed him most.
Very early in the morning on December 30th, Kerri's labor stalled and she was moved to a bed. After 3 hours of pushing at around 4:20 in the morning Charlotte Ann was born. Immediately, I could tell that something was not quite right. I did not hear a cry. They moved her to the table and I began to back out of the room slowly. I shut the door behind me, took a deep breath, and prayed. I remember praying for a cry. 'Lord, let her scream.'
Over the loud speaker I heard 'code blue' being called and I knew it was getting more serious. I went to my knees outside the door as a chaotic blur of doctors and nurses rushed into the room. I prayed.
'Lord, give her a breath. Make her take a breath. Make her scream. Please, God.'
Erik came out of the room into the chaos in the hallway, clearly upset and not understanding what was going on. I gave him a hug and started praying under my breath. I stayed with him while they worked on Charlotte and Kerri. I prayed. Each minute that went past the shock of it all got worse. I couldn't believe this was happening. Erik left me and went back to the room and not seconds later I heard it.
I heard the wailing of a desperate father crying for the loss of his precious first born little girl. My eyes filled with tears, my hands began shaking and my heart just sank. Even now as I write this, I am crying just recalling those first moments. It was absolutely awful to hear. Such joy and anticipation was immediately crushed.
I sat in the hallway with some of the nurses and the counselor as Erik and Kerri held Charlotte in private. I could hear the crying on the other side of the door. Erik came out of the room and asked if I would take some photos of them holding Charlotte and I agreed.
I walked into the room and fell apart. I saw Kerri so tired and worn from labor holding this chubby cheeked, dark haired beautiful little girl. I went to her side and gave her a hug. I told her that she was incredible in labor (she truly was!) and that Charlotte was beautiful. Erik left the room to meet his family in the hall. Kerri turned to me and ask me if maybe Charlotte was just sleeping really hard. I started to sob and looked over at the nurse, who was also in tears. Erik returned and I took some photos of the three of them.
I left my home the night before with such excitement for them, knowing that they were soon becoming parents to a precious little girl. I was so excited for my first birth photography experience and first in-hospital newborn shoot. This whole experience was such a blur that ended with me bawling in the hospital parking lot trying to process it all. I left with such sorrow for our dear friends. Something so hopeful was replaced so quickly with so much grief. Throughout it all I heard this amazing couple mutter some amazing words of faith. In the midst of their intense sorrow I heard things such as, 'she isn't ours. We trust the Lord with her life.'
What intense trust.
In the days after I was contacted to photograph a few other births and I declined. I couldn't imagine witnessing something like that again and I even questioned why I had to witness it (how selfish of me).
4 months later, I know why I was there. I am thankful I was there. I was blessed, encouraged and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. Someday, when Charlotte has a sibling on the way, I will be there to welcome him or her, if Erik and Kerri will have me.
I know there are many who have walked this journey before them and I am incredibly thankful for those that have lifted this sweet couple up in prayers in the days, weeks and months since Charlotte went to glory. Thank you. Please continue to pray for them as they journey on this road.
4/30/2015 09:19:00 am
Well written and done.
4/30/2015 11:04:22 am
This is so beautifully done, Alissa. How wonderful of this couple to let you share this and for you to write it so tenderly. That must have been very difficult. Thank God for their faith in Him, knowing this precious daughter is in heaven waiting to meet them some day. And thank God for you for using your artistic talents, a God-given gift, to bring this beautiful story to light.
4/30/2015 11:23:20 am
Thank you for sharing their story, although to see Erik's face is heartbreaking. I remember how wonderful they were with all the children, and with my children in Kodiak. I know they will be wonderful parents some day. Theirs is a faith that is truly inspirational. For those of us in distant places, it is humbling to see their experience through your eyes and words. Thank you.
4/30/2015 12:51:59 pm
I have known EJ forever and these pictures portray a most passionate side of this young man. I have seen anguish on his face before, but this is to the max and breaks my heart for both of them. beautiful words and pictures! Great job! Do Not give up on your profession, please..
4/30/2015 03:09:22 pm
Oh Alissa, from the very bottom of my heart I want to say thank you. Thank you for being there with them that night. Thank you for loving them the way you do. Your talent is is such a special gift from God and our family has been so blessed by it. Though these are some difficult pictures for a big sister to see, I'm so proud of my little brother and sister-in-law. You captured both of them perfectly. Thank you again.
Mom and Dad Jacobson
4/30/2015 05:34:16 pm
Michele said well our thank you . Erik and Kerri we love
4/30/2015 05:51:48 pm
How powerful. How beautiful. How sad. How tearful. How great the rejoicing will be one day. Thanks for sharing and caring. May God continue to carry both Erik and Kerri, because He is already carrying little Charlotte Ann.
5/1/2015 12:54:14 am
Thank you for telling this story of my nephew Erik, niece Kerri, and great niece Baby Charlotte. Your words were done so beautifully and I'm sure Erik and Kerri will treasure this forever.
Sue Falzone (Kerri's mom)
5/1/2015 01:44:41 am
Thank you for posting this. I can't even imagine the roller coaster of your emotions. I appreciate being able to see and read some of what went on that night because we were so far away in NJ. Getting the phone call from Kerri that Charlotte didn't make it ripped our world apart. The comfort we had and still have is knowing that Charlotte is with God. She is his little angel.
5/1/2015 04:37:21 am
You have done a beautiful job capturing the beginning of the journey they are now and will forever go through, that of being parents to an unseen and wholly felt child with God. Keep up the good work and talent for capturing life moments God has bestowed upon you. Any accounts of this deeply personal story and journey are deeply appreciated, especially in regards to the underlying message of faith and trusting our hearts to our Redeemer. Well done all of you, and as always live and hugs to Kerri and Erik.
5/2/2015 01:26:30 pm
This is the most touching thing I have ever read. Your courage to face this was great, and greater still the faith of Kerri and Erik who have placed this precious life in the Hands of the Master Creator, Almighty God, our amazing Savior. I cannot wait to see my grand niece with Jesus. I don't think I could do that.
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Running? Why would anyone run if they weren’t being chased? What do you mean when you say “fun run”? Isn’t that an oxymoron? That’s what I used to think until about a year and a half ago when I started running for exercise and to get ready to run the Coronado Bay Bridge. After the bridge run, I felt good and wanted to continue. I kept at it with the encouragement of a few friends, and completed a half marathon last August. It was exciting coming across the finish line, but man was I sore. I thought I had trained enough so I wouldn’t feel so bad once I finished. I guess it could have been worse. I saw people at the 3 mile mark looking like they wouldn’t make it to 4. I began to wonder why on earth they signed up for a 13.1 mile run and hadn’t, at least from my perspective, trained for it ahead of time. Did they think they could just wake up, go to the start line, and finish a run like that without training for it?
Then I started wondering about our spiritual race. The one Paul talked about in 1st Corinthians chapter 9. Should we think that we can just wake up one day, become a Christian, and everything will be just peachy? That we will never stumble? Why do we think we don’t need to go to church, or hang out with and encourage other Christians? What makes us think we can run the race of life, the Christian life, without constant training? I trained for almost a year, got serious and on an actual schedule about 16 weeks before the race, and I still felt like I had my butt kicked the day after the race. Did I miss a day or two here and there during my training? Of course. Could I have trained better? Sure. Am I going to do it again? You bet! What a sense of accomplishment. I praise God for giving me the ability to do it and thank him for being with me throughout everything.
Here are a few lessons for the race of life that I learned from my run.
- It’s a lot easier to do when you have someone beside you, encouraging you, challenging you. There are those days where you don’t even feel like getting out of bed, much less going for a training run, even when everyone else is busy and you have to go by yourself. What do you do? Do you say to yourself, “I’ll just take off this week and make up for it next week”? Everyone else is going to watch the game today, so what could it hurt. After all, it’s just one day!
- It takes determination and commitment. Many a time during my training I had to ask myself what I was doing this for…especially after a hard run. I felt sore and beat up, but always came back to my motivation. We as Christians should have the perfect motivation and example in Jesus. (Ephesians 5:1-20 sets out a great example on how we should live).
- A good pair of shoes helps! Ok, that doesn’t really apply to our spiritual race, but boy a good pair of shoes helps your run. Then again, maybe Eph 6:15 applies: “For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you can be fully prepared” (NLT). Who doesn’t want to run the race “fully prepared”? God’s peace can help you to keep running and running and running and… If we’re worried about what awaits us around the next turn we won’t be able to focus on the ultimate goal. So lace up your feet daily with the Good News and run in peace!
- Training, training, training. Don’t ever stop training for something that’s important. Is our spiritual race important? I guess that depends on where you want to end up. Our pastor has been going through a series on “The Journey” and things that are important. One thing he says every week is that we will all end our journey one day, but will we finish in the location we want to be in or will we be where we want to be when it’s all over? Are we headed in the right direction and are we running in that direction on purpose? If we’re not focused on the “prize” as Paul put it, we can get distracted by all sorts of things that will waste our time and seek to keep us from reaching our goal.
- Sole-mates. Or if you wish, Soul-mates…those friends that encourage you day after day or week after week, to keep you going either by their example or their motivating words. All of us tend to hang out with those we want to be like or those who want to be like us. If your friends are not helping you reach your goal, in fact if they are hindering you from reaching your goal, it might be time to re-evaluate the friendship. I’m not saying necessarily finding new friends but maybe it’s time to help them change or get them focused and back in the race especially if it’s a Christian brother or sister.
So what’s next? Well, for me, another Half-Marathon in January. I’m already in training again using what I have learned from the last one to make sure I don’t, or at least try not to make the same mistakes I made last time. In the spiritual realm it’s time to read through the Bible in a year…again. But that’s a different story and maybe the subject of another article. Until then, keep running!!!


Ephesians 5:8-14 (NIV) For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
To avoid darkness, despair and anger, seek the light of Christ. A minister friend observed that so many people in this world are looking for something to feel whole and they walk around like zombies searching and searching not knowing that they are searching for the One who can fill their life. I envisioned that Jesus is beside them on every step of their journey just waiting for them to ask Him into their life. He is the one who wants to carry us through every turmoil and He wants to celebrate with us in every triumph as we praise Him for all things great and small.
1 John 1:5 (NIV) “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”


One of the topics we don’t hear much about is robotics and faith. Where does faith play in autonomous AI? Reverend Christopher Benek, associate pastor of Providence Presbyterian Church in Florida, is attempting to be among the open arms welcoming non-human intelligence into the Christian Faith. Reverend Benek is an outspoken contributor and critic on including religion into the future.
Here is an article Reverend Benek challenges Humanity+ and Atheism with Religion+
Famed English theoretical physicist, author, and cosmologist, Stephen Hawking went on record as warning the public about the dangers of AI to humanity, December, 2014, on BBC.
But can humanity transfer the notion of faith and spirituality into a machine learning technology? The Future of Life Institute, a volunteer-run research and outreach organization, is focused on protecting human life in the existential crisis we will all be facing when AI matures.
Here is the open letter scientists, philanthropists, and futurists like Elon Musk, Stephen Hawking, and countless others have signed. The open letter states priorities in ethical sustainability of AI.
Does the future have room for transitioning faith into the future?


A whole range of words – desire, longing, greed, craving, and lust – expresses man’s inner striving for an objective, which may be a person, a thing or an experience.
Desire: anything that attracts you. Appetite: any strong desire we have to fill a specific need. The heart wants what the heart wants.
Paul sees desire as the power of the flesh that has turned from God and seeks gratification. It urges man to activity. It expresses the deeply rooted tendency in man to find the focus of his life in himself, to trust himself and to love himself more than others.
The desirer determine and enslave a man: Ephesians 4:22, Romans 1:24.
God’s answer to desire is the Holy Spirit. The man who walks by the Spirit has power to resist desire (Galatians 5:16, Romans 8:9ff) because the Spirit replaces desire as the determining power in his life. (Ephesians 4:23)
Desire is used in a positive sense in Isaiah 58:2, yearning for the righteousness of God.
Used in a good sense: Matthew 13:17, Luke 15:16, Philippians 1:23, 1Thessalonians 2:17, Hebrews 6:11.
Used in a bad sense: Matthew 5:28 refers to sexual desire or lust. Mark 4:19 refers to desire for possessions.
Evil desires and deeds flow from the heart.
Driving power in a man’s life: Galatians 5:16, Ephesians 2:3 and 4:22.
Desires can find their expression in every direction – sex, material enjoyment, coveting (Romans 1:24, 1 Timothy 6:9, Titus 3:3, Galatians 5:16-21).
Desires determine and enslave a man when the heart comes under their control. Romans 1:24 says that God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts. They worshipped and served created things.
Originates from the world (1 John 2:16), ultimately from Satan (John 8:44).
Abstain from sinful desires that wage war against your soul: 1 Peter 2:11, 2 Peter 2:10
If you didn’t have desires you wouldn’t be tempted: James 1:14,15.
Desire within a man is lying in wait so that at the right moment, he may yield his will to it and become subject to it.


Jim and Sandy have been in ministry for over 30 years, leading youth ministry and retreats, family ministry, and men’s ministry and women’s ministry and retreats.
Jim was in full-time ministry as an Associate Pastor during his last 10 years of ministry. Beyond the responsibilities of preaching and teaching the word,
Jim has worked with Gordan Conwell Theological seminary, involved in Cohorts to help aid in the revitalization of Churches in New England. Jim also worked with Liberty University and the Liberty Church Network to gather networks of pastors with the goal of church revitalization and share best practices.
Jim had the opportunity to be a break out speaker at the Refuel Conference at Liberty University to address pastors from all over the country on the topic of revitalization.
In 2018, Jim came into a revitalization work with MeetingHouse Church Mansfield, where he is now the Senior Pastor. The church was down to twelve people, and its closing was near. Jim and Sandy have started the ministry there with three basic objectives and trusting solely on God for the results:
1. The preaching of the word – Returning the pulpit to expository teaching of scripture to aid in the growth of the congregation.
2. Prayer – Instead of relying on programs, relying on God through asking and petitioning Him through corporate prayer, that we may experience God’s power and love for His church.
3. To the fellowship – To love our congregation with an unconditional love.
He has been married to his beautiful wife Sandy for 39 years. God blessed them with three children—Bruce O’Neill, Michelle Roache, and Stephanie O’Neill—a daughter- in law, Jenny O’Neill, and a son in law Matthew Roache. They have eight grand children ranging in age from five to thirteen years old.


Western University of Health Sciences President Philip Pumerantz, PhD, received the “Community Strength Award” from the Pomona Ministry of Economics at the 24th annual City of Pomona Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, May 8, 2008 at the Sheraton Suites Fairplex.
The award is given “in recognition of untiring support in service to the community family of Pomona… The honoree must have demonstrated strength of character, longevity of commitment and a multiplicity of accomplishments which have contributed to the community as measured by the imparting of hope, comfort, motivation and courage given to others,” according to the Pomona Ministry of Economics.
“It’s an honor because their mission as clergy resonates with our mission,” Pumerantz said. “We are both engaged in the same work – our work in the education of healers, their work in spiritual development.”
The Pomona Ministry of Economics provides economic outreach and self-help programs such as employment counseling, securing housing, reducing teenage pregnancy, job training and substance abuse rehabilitation.
“The Bible tells us we should pray for our civic leaders, that we cover our community with a saturation of prayer that things will be well, gang violence will subside and people will live a prosperous and good life,” said Elder Amos Young, event coordinator for Pomona Ministry of Economics.
The event was very well received and very encouraging, he said.
“This was a wonderful opportunity for everyone to acknowledge that everyone has a heart, concern, care and the drive to make a wonderful, growing and prospering community,” Young said.
Guest speakers included Jarron O’Neal, Senior Pastor of Fountain of Love Christian Center; Chris Cotinola, Senior Pastor of Victory Outreach Pomona; and Pomona Mayor Norma J. Torres.


My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
― Psalm 73:26
I love Jesus b/c even though i deserve nothing he gives me everything
― Jenny.J (via she-lovesjc)
When you love you wish to do things for. You wish to sacrifice for. You wish to serve.
― Ernest Hemingway, A Farewell to Arms (via hqlines)
The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The Lord protects the unwary; when I was brought low, he saved me.
― Psalm 116:5-6


Morning Prayer: Ps. 19 | Isaiah 45:18-25 | Philippians 3:4b-11
Evening Prayer: Ps. 119:89-112 | Ecclesiasticus 39:1-10 | Acts 9:1-22
The account of the conversion of St. Paul is one of the most famous conversion narratives in the history of Christianity, and with good reason: Saul of Tarsus, sworn enemy of the nascent Christian Way, bound to Damascus with the authority to cleanse the synagogues of Christian heretics, encounters none other than the Risen Christ in the form of a heavenly light and voice. From that moment on, Paul becomes the greatest Christian evangelist, travelling throughout Asia Minor and Greece and ultimately to Rome, spreading the Jesus movement beyond its base in Judea and Galilee to the Jewish diaspora and Gentiles as well.
In appropriate fashion, given Paul’s theology — or at least Paul’s theology as interpreted by Augustine and the Reformers — his moment of conversion is one marked by a sort of irresistible grace, an irruption of the Divine into his life. At portrayed in the the Acts of the Apostles and as Paul himself recalls (see Galatians 1), there is no question of Paul desiring such a profound reorientation of his life – he was on the road to Damascus to rout the Christians from the synagogues there! – or participating in it in any particularly meaningful way; he is literally “cast to the ground” by the power of the Resurrected Jesus, able to utter nothing more than a terrified “Who are you, Lord?”. There is no spritual quest here. No Augustine, moving from Manicheanism to Neo-Platonism to Christianity, driven by an urgent desire for wisdom and peace. No Luther, obsessed by his sinfulness, wracking his brains for ever-more-trivial sins to confess to an exasperated and concerned confessor until at last stumbling onto the doctrine of salvation by faith through grace. No: we simply have a zealot who is quite literally knocked off his path by God.
What, then, does this mean for how we should be? For someone like me without the experience of a profound, nigh-instantaneous conversion, this story is at first glance difficult to relate to beyond the reminder that God can work in unexpected and even disconcerting ways. To be sure, this passage could be enlisted to do some work for a doctrine of God or of grace or of election, but it is rather hard to divine a moral lesson from the Road to Damascus, unless one seeks to read a (dubious, in my opinion) profound openness to God’s reorienting work in Saul’s exclamation “Who are you, Lord?” Saul is a passive agent here; he doesn’t really do anything so much as have things done to him.
If one is looking for a moral examplar in this story, the person who springs most to mind is not St. Paul but rather Ananias. Saul, remember, is headed to Damascus to persecute Ananias and those like him. Small surprise that Ananias is originally none-too-pleased about the notion of going to see Saul to heal him from his blindness. He had plenty of reasons to feel that way. Ananias may simply have been concerned about his own survival. Stephen’s martyrdom must not have been far from his mind — could one fault him for imagining a similar ending to his encounter with Saul? Or perhaps, looking at things pragmatically, he figured that Saul was likely the greatest enemy of the church and a blinded Saul was a less effective persecutor than one with full use of his senses — so , if through simple inaction, morally blameless by any typical standard, he could save his fragile community, few would fault him and many would praise him. Yet he goes. Goes to the house of the man who was likely his greatest enemy, a man he had good reason to be fearful of and a man he had no reason to aid, and prays that he may be healed and that the Holy Spirit may come upon him, trusting in the God who improbably promised him that Saul “is a chosen instrument” of His.
There are, to my mind, several lessons to take from this. All of them are rather difficult, especially for someone like me with a rather belligerent politics and a suspicion of the ways in which the preaching of Christian love of enemies by rich to poor, whites to blacks, and so on have aided in legitimating an unjust social order. The first and most basic lesson has to do, simply enough, with loving your enemies. It is remarkable to me, and a testament to both his trust in God and his charity, that Ananias consented to do good to Saul at all, given his numerous good reasons for wishing him ill. Now, the application here is not necessarily straightforward; the question of the sort of aid you are obligated to render your enemies, particularly when your enemies are more powerful than you and when providing certain kinds of aid may put you and your community at risk is a complicated one. It’s worth noting that Ananias does not go to heal Saul until he is told by God that Saul is His instrument to spread the Gospel. But regardless it is clear that Ananias is willing to love his enemy.
This love of enemy goes beyond simply wishing him well (hard enough for me!) and even doing well by him (yet harder!). In praying that he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, Ananias goes beyond caring for his persecutor to welcoming him into his own community. In my experience, people who have suffered for their politics or religion are often less than gracious at welcoming newcomers, particularly former opponents of the community. There’s often a sense that these newcomers haven’t paid their dues, or that they’ve won the benefits of belonging without the blood, sweat, and tears of their predecessors. Certainly I have felt this way over my organizing career. Now, even on a purely pragmatic level, this is clearly a self-defeating attitude. Any good trade unionist will tell you that over the the course of a union drive or a contract campaign, you’re going to need to win over workers who were originally tepid on the union or opposed to it, and many have treasured stories about formerly staunchly anti-union workers who became union militants. Yet it is one thing to recognize it as a self-defeating impulse, it is quite another to conquer it. But Ananias does. I want to be part of a church and part of a labor movement that, like Ananias, has conquered this impulse, has figured out how to genuinely welcome enemies (be they enemies of the Gospel or of the Movement) into our parishes and locals. Repentance and conversion are important, of course, but so is a joyous welcome on our part rather than suspicion or petulance. We don’t want to be like the obedient son angry at the welcome the prodigal is returning; we should seek to be like Ananias.
To conclude, I want to move briefly from the moral sense to the typological (I believe — I’m a little rusty on my types of Biblical allegory!). Be aware that this is a bit less tightly argued — I’m riffing here! — and will focus on Saul’s blindness and sight in relationship to the trajectory of his conversion. The motif of blindness to sight in which this story in the broadest sense fits is a common one in depictions of the spiritual life (“I was blind but now I see,” etc.). But even the more specific trajectory of Paul’s vision — first, seeing normally, next seeing God and being struck blind, and then having his sight restored — is one not without precedent. The experience of both darkness and light in the encounter with God (or, better put, a journey from the normal light of human reason into the darkness of God – often a darkness caused by God’s brightness – and perhaps through the darkness into light) was a commonplace in the medieval theological tradition, especially those aspects of it we now (rather unhelpfully) call “mysticism” or “mystical theology.” To the best of my knowledge, however, Saul’s blindness was not usually used as a type for the spiritual journey in medieval theology; the ascent to Mt. Sinai (where God appears in the darkness of a cloud) was much more commonly used. (I would be excited to be proved wrong on this point, though!) Non-Christian theological and philosophical systems also make use of the motif: think of Plato’s allegory of the cave, where once the man ascends from the cave (where he can see, he thinks, normally) into the light of the sun, he is blinded by its brightness and only gradually retains his sight.
In light of all this (see what I did there?), I want to offer a rather loose typological account of the Conversion of St. Paul: Dramatic irruptions of the Divine into human life occur. They may tend to occur to disciplined religious practitioners (Saul was certainly an expert practitioner!) but, as the unearned, unpredictable gift of God, they can occur to anyone (Saul was an enemy of Christ!) and certainly are due no one. One cannot earn them (think The Cloud of Unknowing here). Yet by themselves, these experiences simply produce blindness. Staring God face-to-face does not actually help you make sense of the cosmos and your place in it, and perhaps even fails to help you make sense of God — in the face of God’s awesome divinity, the most natural result is to be overcome, to be blinded, to be cast down on the ground. It is through the ministrations of the Church (as represented by Ananias) that sight can be restored; a community of faith, especially one that includes spiritual elders, is needed to make sense of ecstatic, ‘mystical,’ experiences, to integrate them into the story of the work God is doing in the world and to equip the ‘mystic’ to tell her or his story for the edification of the Church and the evangelization of those outside it.


Join us for a festive treat on December 3rd, as the Ashdown Singers perform their annual Christmas concert in aid of HOMELINK.
The performance will be held at St Thomas More RC Church in Seaford at 3pm, and will be followed by tea and mince pies. Entry is free, with a collection at the door to support our Christmas Appeal.
The Ashdown Singers are a 20-strong chamber choir led by musical director Sam Barton. Their Christmas concerts have become a highlight of the local calendar, thanks to the high quality of their performances and their wonderfully festive repertoire.
This is the sixth year the ensemble has supported HOMELINK with their concert, which last year raised £800 for the charity.


I love the song Oceans by Hillsong right now. Below is a link to a video from a conference in Sydney where they performed it last year. The venue is amazing and the number of people worshipping together is moving.
Please click on the link below and take a few minutes to listen to the song while you read this today. The link will open in a new window so you can come back while it is playing and read. Please note there is an ad at the beginning of the video that you can skip after five seconds and then the song will begin playing.
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever you would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my savior
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders.
Oh to have trust in God that has no borders. To fully put my life in His hands and trust that He will make good of all things that happen. To trust that even the painful parts of life are meant for my good. The things that happen to us that hurt beyond imagination are meant for good. The Bible says “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” Romans 8:28. Lord help me to trust deeply in that promise and live life trusting you without borders. Help me to not run when things don’t go as I want them to go but to trust that you are in control even when it looks like no one is.
Let me walk upon the waters, wherever you would call me.
Lord, take my life and use it for your good. Speak to me and tell me where you want me, where you need me. May I be willing to go wherever that is. Lord use me in great ways to glorify you and spread your love so that the pain of my life will have purpose and not be in vain. Lord, may I be willing to let my story be used to tell of your amazing faithfulness and love. May I not run and hide because the pain to too much to relive but may I follow where you lead and may you give me the strength to do what you ask of me.
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander.
Pursue me and draw me deeper in a relationship with you where I will experience you in great ways. Where I will see your work and your faithfulness. Where I will feel your love and your grace. And Lord help me to seek you as much as I am humanly able. My feet wander, my mind wanders and I am easily distracted by earthly things. Take me deeper with you into the life you have for me. Lord may my feet follow as you guide me. Lord give me the strength to follow when it is hard.
And my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my savior.
Let it be so, that as I deepen my relationship with you my faith with be stronger. Lord I confess that my faith is so weak. When life hurts, I take my life in my own hands fully trusting only myself. Myself that only sees things in the present not as you see them with the perspective of eternity. May I learn to trust deeply. May I encounter the joy you have for me when I learn to trust fully. And Lord forgive me, for I will fail. But thank you for knowing that and offering me your peace, love, joy, security, forgiveness anyway…for I deserve none of it.
Lord help me, for I want to trust you without borders. I want to go where you call me, I want to go deeper with you so my faith can be made stronger. Lord I want my life to have purpose, I want the pain of my life to not be in vain. Lord give me courage, strength and purpose. I am willing.


In December 2017, Prophetess Jada Sumter and a minister friend of hers met for lunch to discuss continuing servicing the community through various service projects. They called a fellow friend, Lynn Bookert, to ask if she wanted to join them in their endeavors, and during this conversation, Jada Sumter was asked if she ever thought about forming a sorority.
After praying and fasting, On December 27, 2017, in Columbia, South Carolina, Jada, Lynn, and another anointed friend received the vision, executed the plan, and watched God work in their favor. This organization would be for Kingdom-minded women who would not be judged by their walk-in life or the things they had endured in past relationships, but who desired to grow spiritually, physically, and socially, while serving the surrounding communities and abroad. This organization would provide women with the opportunity to become part of the Christian Greek community.
The trio continued to commune with God and collaborate regularly on this new endeavor. The sorority’s name, mission, motto, colors, flower, and symbol were revealed within days. God gave specific instructions and direction of this Kingdom movement.
On February 17, 2018 in Columbia, South Carolina, Lambda Psi Alpha Sorority, Inc. was birthed and the first line, the “LPA Council” completed the pledge process. Through commitment, prayer, and the support of our sisters near and far, Lambda Psi Alpha Sorority, Inc will be a pillar in the community spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ and serving others.
On November 3, 2018, Lambda Psi Alpha Sorority officially became an International Sorority! The legacy continues… AHAVA!
To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.


It’s Five Minute Friday time again. A time to clear your mind and write from your heart. A time to gather a community of women across the web and across the world and pour out our words as an offering to the One who gave us these words.
Today’s word is
As I thought of this word, so many things came to my mind. So many different definitions and different meanings.
And then I thought of my Nana.
I thought of the last time I was with her.
The last days before she went to be with her Savior.
The last time I lay in bed next to her and we spoke of things of great and very little significance.
And we spoke of our last name.
The last truly significant thing she said to me was that she was so glad that I was a part of this family. She told me that she hoped I never let anyone make me feel less a part of the family because I wasn’t born into it. I was chosen into it.
And I thought of what she left behind. The things that would last long after her body was gone from this world.
Six sons. Hard working, God loving men who love their wives and their families. Men who are leaving a legacy of faith and love.
Nana wasn’t a very religious person. She didn’t really like church, and she certainly didn’t care for self-righteous people [she had enough of that in the church she grew up in]. But she knew how to love. And she knew that God is love. And she taught that to her kids and grandkids.
Eleven grandkids in fact [including my step-cousins, who are family because Nana taught us that family has a much broader definition than blood.]
There are now thirty nine…yes, you read that right…39 in the great-grandchild generation. With one on the way come October. And one on the way in the great-great-grandchild generation.
When she was still living, she sent a birthday card and a Christmas present to every single grandchild and great-grandchild…usually the present was something she had made herself. She always had each of our favorite candies on hand when we came to visit. One time when I was little I left my blankie at her house. It got home before we did.
We have our flaws and our drama, plenty of issues to go around.
But we know how to love.
And that is the thing that Nana taught us that will last beyond even our life times.
My dad and his brothers. [You definitely can’t tell they’re related. 😉 ]


Allen Williams and Go Live Pure
Hi, I’m Allen Williams. I hope to encourage you, especially those living in the Holy Spirit in Yeshua (Jesus) Christ and the Father , to take a serious look at how we steward our bodies, soul, mind and overall life.
My Good Life Steps:
- First, LOVING GOD!
- LOVING others.
- Spiritual renewal of the mind and soul. THINK CLEAN and PURE!
- Proper nutrition. Primarily eating GREEN
- Adequate exercise.
I believe FOOD…
- Is not everything we choose to consume.
- Can be a major culprit in our early demise when improperly managed.
- Can dominate most of our thoughts and dictate most of our actions.
- Can become an idol in our lives.
I also believe in the spiritual FOOD.
In my case, that is the Word of GOD.
Physical and Spiritual Wellness
In my view, there is an important correlation between physical well-being and the wellness of the soul.
In my experience, when my bodily health is good, my ability to have a positive outlook seems to be greatly enhanced.
Not to say that bad physical health is always an indication of bad spiritual health or that optimum health is required to be spiritually intact.
What I’m saying is……I DO believe there’s a possible correlation between the two.
My Health History
For many years, I abused myself through massive alcohol consumption, sexual promiscuity, eating too much sugar, consuming huge amounts of low nutritional value ( junk) food and stinking thinking.
Eventually, due to some really serious digestive health issues, with the number one culprit being systemic candida albicans (overgrowth of a certain yeast in the gut that leaked into other areas of my body), I realized immediate steps had to be taken to reverse my condition.
So, I began this journey to recovery. A journey I want to share with YOU!
The Human Body
Of course, I understand this body eventually will breakdown and die: however, I do not want to expedite the process.
I believe the human body is an absolute masterpiece of craftsmanship and functionality that serves an ordained purpose to be the temple for the Spirit of the Living God.
- Suggested products e.g. foods, supplements etc.
- How I seek a healthy mind, soul and spirit.
- And other miscellaneous related information.
*NOTE: My intention is to recommend products and and services I use myself and believe will possibly be of benefit to you. For some suggested products and services I receive compensation as a merchant and Amazon affiliate.
But we can fight back.
Proper nutrition is important but isn’t the complete wholeness solution.
I believe, if you seek out the God I know and steward your life in His instructions and love, you will begin to find the answers and receive peace.
I truly hope this website will be a blessing to you.
If it’s okay with you.
This is my prayer for you:
YHVH (the LORD) bless you and keep you,
YHVH (the LORD) shine his face upon you and be gracious to you,
YHVH (the LORD) lift up his countenance upon you and give you shalom. (Numbers 6:24-26)
Shalom/Peace to you,
Be Your Best and Be Blessed,
Allen C. Williams, Jr.
A son of the Most High
PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS BELOW.
I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!


Olga and David were married at the Lutheran Church of St. Andrew. Before the ceremony the bridal party and family members gathered in historic Sandy Spring, Maryland, at the Woodlawn Manor.
The day began with a first look. David and Olga, you two have the sweetest expressions here!
This part of the day ended up being one of the couple’s favorites. Olga told me, “We both really enjoyed the first look photos and having that time with each other. It was a much more private moment than if we had chosen to first see each other at the ceremony.”
Olga and her sister, Maria, were adopted. Olga’s locket held a special tribute to her birth parents that passed away thirteen years ago. She explains, “I wanted to do something special just as a reminder that they were both still in my heart and made me who I am today and that, without their love, I would not have been standing at the altar on my wedding day.”
Olga and David were engaged on New Year’s Eve in Moscow.
Olga shared the story with me, “I grew up in Russia until I was 12 years old and then was adopted and brought to America. David knew that my dream was to always come back to Russia with him so that he could meet my family and see where I grew up. We arrived in Moscow on New Year’s Eve 2010. David knew that I really loved The Cathedral of Christ the Savior and planned to propose there that evening. After a long walk in the cold, icy weather to the church we carefully made our way inside to come upon a candlelight service. It was beautiful, warm, and romantic.
As we came upon a corridor, David turned to me with a big grin on his face. He said he had a question to ask me, got down on one knee and asked if I would marry him. I said yes. I told him to get up off the floor and he kissed me. We walked outside the church to celebrate the moment with midnight fireworks on the bridge over the Moscow River.”
After the portraits, everyone made their way to the church for the ceremony.
At the end of the day, all the guests lined the path in front of the church for a bubble send-off.
Congratulations Olga and David!
Special thanks to the vendors:
Pre-ceremony location: Woodlawn Manor
Church: Lutheran Church of St. Andrew, Silver Spring, Maryland
Caterer: Bella Napoli Restaurant
Wedding Cake: Classic Bakery, Gaithersburg, Maryland
Florist: My Creative Floral
DJ: Andy Gotsch, DJ Sparks
Bride and Bridesmaid Dresses: Natalie, Allure Wedding, Celebration Boutique
Bride’s Shoes: Isola
Hair and Make-up: Belle Soeur Bridal
Tux and Suits: Men’s Warehouse
Wedding and Engagement Rings: Zales


What should Catholics make of cryptocurrency, blockchain, and Web 3.0?
Let the conversation begin!
THE WORLD IS CHANGING
Many believe that blockchain, crypto, Web 3.0, and the metaverse will change nearly every aspect of society. We Catholics must be present at the advent of these new technologies.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Catholic Ministries. Learn how you can enrich your outreach to those you serve.
Lay Catholics. Understand how this technological sea change will affect your everyday life in ways both large and small.
Clergy and Religious. Educate yourself in the next wave of technology and how it will influence those to whom you minister.
WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND
- gain a deeper understanding of the next tech wave that is now upon us, and be prepared for how these changes will affect your family, social relationships, faith, business, and finances.
- be positioned to help the Church have a seat at the table as these new technologies unfold.
- understand the essential investments that are building the future of finance.
- stay ahead of the curve as you minister to the people of your parish or diocese.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
- hear from crypto experts, tech experts, and Catholic theologians bringing you thought-leadership from the faith and tech/crypto realms.
- explore what changes are coming, what they mean, how it all works, and how the Church and laity can leverage this technology missionally.
- join the conversation in breakout groups and panel discussions. You will leave understanding the jargon of the crypto world, and be equipped to navigate its challenges and opportunities.
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What we need might be called a criticism of criticism. That manner of proceeding is often a condition arising from a deeper conviction.
Blavatsky believed that through esoteric, occult magical practices, mankind could ascend and evolve to god-like status.
However, upon basic scrutiny, the claim falls apart. Price claims that if the resurrection could, in fact, be proven through science or historical evidence, the event would lose its miraculous qualities. She was setting herself up to be Holy Spirit to me, to lead me and guide me in the ways she deemed righteous.
Herrick references the theologian Henning Graf Reventlow as saying deism included the humanist world viewwhich has also been significant in biblical criticism.
Indeed, the work is magisterial in its contribution to this effort in at least two ways. Furthermore, this relief dates to 4th century A.
His pioneering studies in biblical criticism shaped research on the composition of the gospels, and his call for demythologizing biblical language sparked debate among Christian theologians worldwide. Dionysus also known as Bacchus was a Greek and Roman god of wine. Unprecedented deception would be a major sign and Zeitgeist, The Lost Symbol and books like the Christ Conspiracy are just a few of the examples.
Paul because of lost contextual knowledge, the probable tampering of the texts by later authors, and St. In other words, even if there was seeming continuity with tradition, the reasons behind such a continuity were just as innovative and arbitrary as the rest of evangelicalism.
Examples of such scholarship might include Thomas L. They smooth down the rough edges and abstain from asking tiresome questions. Therefore, separating these methods, and addressing the Bible as a whole, is an artificial approach that is necessary only for the purpose of description.
Summarizing its traditional analysis, the Catholic Church stated in its Catechism: Moore, aka Acharya S. In my mind it should have been the most joy filled environment in the world to work in and the lack of levity concerned me.
In fact, operating with a presuppositional blind spot seems to characterize some historical critical scholars themselves, a weakness in no way unique to the field of biblical studies, but rather a common hazard of modern academic specialization wherein islands of intra-guild peer interaction, isolated from inter-disciplinary influences, too often breeds an unhealthy academic parochialism.
He remained almost reverently subdued in criticizing his former employer, once interrupting my questioning to pray for guidance before answering.
We are not broken. Yet they do not make a positive case in any substantial form for either Aristotle or St. The game seemed pointless to me.
Luther felt that it was necessary to separate from the Catholic Church, Zwingli from Luther, the Anabaptists from the Magisterial Reformed, the Calvinists from Arminians, and on and on—all on the conviction that I have the correct interpretation of Scripture:This article looks at proof that Jesus was not a copy of pagan gods.
Historical evidence for the Gospel account of Jesus Christ. Welcome to the home of First Baptist Church, a body of Christians who meet in Sidney, New York.
We believe the Bible is the inspired and inerrant Word of God, that Jesus Christ is its grand theme, and that salvation is wrought through the atoning blood of Christ alone by the convicting and regenerating power of the Holy Spirit. Justice reform sounded like a good idea in Albania, which like many former communist countries, is dealing with the hangover from a decades-long legacy of corruption.
MAIN STREET WILL NEVER be the same if the flood of “legal” immigrants from Third World Nations is not brought to a definitive halt. In a Presidential Memorandum to the US State Department dated 8 OctoberObama announced that he will import an additional 80, immigrants — mostly from.
Scott Hahn and Benjamin Wiker’s Politicizing The Bible: The Roots of Historical Criticism and the Secularization of Scripture masterfully supplies precisely this need for deep historical analysis of the genesis and growth of historical-criticism.
Indeed, the work is magisterial in its contribution to this effort in at least two ways. In the first place. The Day the Revolution Began: Reconsidering the Meaning of Jesus's Crucifixion - Kindle edition by N.
T. Wright. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading The Day the Revolution Began: Reconsidering the Meaning of Jesus's Crucifixion.Download


On Sunday, April 5th, I participated in a prayer & praise service at my church. Our normal Sunday evening, laid back, casual service was filled with prayer, singing, sharing and community. It was an amazing evening of glorifying God for all He has done and all He will do.
We prayed through the crucifiction and resurrection of Christ. I prayed through Mark 16:1-8. I've included the prayer I prayed, mostly just so I always know where it is. Please keep in mind this isn't word for word. You know how you can plan something out, work it all out in your head and then God takes you down another path... Well... a change or two here and there but it was enough. Nothing dramatic, you'll still get the point but, well, God changed a few words.
On this Good Friday - I only ask that you ask questions, look deep, listen closely (with your heart more than your head) and believe. Believe.
Here is the prayer:
We thank You for Your willingness to hear us today, Oh Lord. We thank You for being willing to listen to our hearts and we pray, Lord that even as we leave here tonight, our hearts and minds are open to listening to You.
Hope, Oh Lord, is often something so many of us see as being in things of this world. Hope gets placed in our jobs, our children, our spouses – even “chance” or “luck.”
Mark 16 verses 1-8 reads:
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"
But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' "
Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
Lord Jesus, that resurrection Sunday so long ago… As those women approached Your tomb, bringing what was needed to honor You in death, their minds swirling with all they thought they had lost that horrible Friday. Were they thinking of the hope they had placed in You and thought they had lost? Were they then brought up short by the greatest, the only true hope:
He has risen. He is not here.
We hear those words, Oh Lord and our hearts leap in our chests; we can’t contain our joy: He has risen.
Our Hope did not remain in that tomb. That Scripture tells us: He is not here. See the place where they laid Him?
Our Hope asks us to speak of Him: Your Word states: But go, tell of Him to His disciples and Peter.
Our Hope goes before us: The Bible says: He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him…
Our Hope keeps His promises: The man in the white robe reminds us: just as He told you.
As the women left the tomb, trembling and bewildered, were they thinking and feeling some of the same things we think and feel as we live our lives, the power of the enemy around us, seeing the havoc sin has wreaked on this earth? Did their thoughts lead them back to You, to realizing what You had done? Did they begin to feel Your hope again, Lord as they had just seen it in that empty tomb?
We praise You, Father God, that You are our Hope. We lift our hands in praise to you, Father God. We lift our voices in worship to you, Lord Jesus.
Our Hope is found in You and You alone. That first Sunday, despite bewilderment and trembling, Your Word tells us to ask: O Death where is your victory? O Death where is your sting?
As the saints pray in Revelation, Oh Lord, we praise You and You alone.
"Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages. 4Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy.
All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed."
In the power and the most precious name of Jesus Christ I pray,


This is not meant as a political comment, but Brexit will not keep us out of Europe. Nor will building walls stop Central America from being next to the United States.
More importantly, nothing can stop clear and easy communication from taking place between these nations. We live in a Global World. That world is facilitated by the Internet and social media. If it’s blocked, it going to get through anyway.
Much of the recent popular protests in countries as diverse as Hong Kong and Lebanon started life on WhatsApp, Facebook and other forms of social media.
We trade globally too. If my wife (who is of Indian heritage) wanted to buy a new sari a few years back, she would go to the Melton Road (‘Little India’) in Leicester. She’d pay a premium for it. The shopkeeper had had to pay a wholesaler. He’s had to pay transport costs as well as dealing with wholesalers in India. Today she can go online and buy directly from the factory in India.
Sure, there may be tax and tariffs -the financial equivalent to a wall- but it doesn’t stop the trade.
And all that brings me to another thought. As a Christian, I hold in my hands the Book of Life. When people read the Bible, lives change. There’s power in the words. It’s God speaking with lives changed as a result.
I love that we no longer have to smuggle Bible’s into China. Even if Bible’s were banned, they’d still get through – thanks to the Internet. Electronic versions -legally and illegally- get through any barriers that nations and ideologies may care to put in its way.
I love that in Iran, a nation that outwardly prohibits Christian conversion, there’s one of the biggest Christian revivals taking place right now.
I love that one of the major celebrities of our age has found a faith in Christ and is reading his Bible every night before he sleeps. There’s power in God’s Word.
I love that in our own family we are spread around the world. Our oldest son and daughter in law are in China. Our youngest daughter and son in law are in Africa. Our ‘adopted daughter’ and husband are in New Zealand. Our sponsored child is in Ghana. I can -and do- travel globally and find Christian friends and family wherever I go.
We live globally. We trade globally. And we share our faith globally. God does not recognise geography, politics or ideologies. I’m part of the biggest family in the world – one that transcends every barrier.