I’m listening. I see you. I understand. You don’t have to be afraid. You are beautiful and I love you just as you are. I am making you new, giving you a new heart and a new mind. I am patient and I am here when you stumble, to pick you back up again. I will always be here. I will show you the impossible is possible. One day your transformation will be complete and you will be with me in glory.
You are not alone. I am there in the darkness. I am there in the apathy. I am there in the coldness. I am there in the confusion. I am there in your heart. I made you to delight in you, to let my smile shine on you and light you up. Thank you for your honesty. Let me wrap you in my arms and help you trust me a little more each day. I’ve got you, my child, you are mine and I won’t let you go.
* * *
Inspired by a blog post I read where someone wrote a letter to God.
28th November 2014, Prismacolor pencils on A3 cartridge paper
I went through a stage where it felt like I was in a washing machine. It felt like I was being turned around, upside-down and inside-out because the way I thought and the way I saw things changed.
It happened when I went to bible college and took a Cultural Anthropology class. It opened my eyes to my ethnocentricism where I subconsciously believed my culture was superior to other cultures.
Our lecturer asked us why we sit at a table and eat with a knife and fork. I’d never questioned this before and didn’t even know I could question it. I just assumed it was the way right way people should eat. But then our lecturer said that eating with chopsticks or with fingers while sitting on the floor is an equally valid way of eating a meal.
As soon as he said this, I knew it to obviously be true, and I saw how arrogant I was about Western culture. It showed me that just because we do things a certain way doesn’t mean it’s better way than any other way.
I was raised by Western culture and accepted it without question. Now I was left not knowing what to think and started questioning everything. Why do I believe what I believe? Is it because I was taught to believe it? Why do I do what I do? Is it because that’s the way it’s always been done? Why do I want what I want? Is it because everyone else wants it?
My world that seemed so solid now had cracks appearing and started expanding. It felt like everything I’d been built up on was being torn down and I didn’t know how to live anymore. I wanted to unlearn everything so I could find out how to live Kingdom of God culture.
November 2014, Prismacolor pencils on A3 cartridge paper
This picture was inspired by a bible study and TNT session with Beth.
For TNT, she took a loaf of bread, broke it in half, and gave one half each to the people sitting next to her. We passed the bread around the circle, broke a piece off, and ate it.
It was one of the truest moments of community I’ve experienced. It was true not just because we were sharing communion together but because it was a symbol of the lifestyle of community we had committed to living at beach mission.
We were many people, but we were one. We were one team and one body who were one in Christ and one in purpose.
It was also a symbol of each of us being taken, blessed, broken, and given. This was a concept Beth introduced to me at beach mission two years earlier at a bible study.
‘At the Last Supper,’ said Beth, ‘Jesus modeled what would happen to him on the cross. He took bread, he blessed it, he broke it, and he gave it. This is what happened to his body. He himself was taken, blessed, broken, and given.’
This made me look at brokenness in a new way. I always thought being broken was a bad thing, but to see that Jesus was himself broken showed me there is purpose and value in being broken. He was taken to be broken, and he was blessed before he was broken. I always thought being broken meant I’d done something wrong and that God wasn’t blessing me. But now I saw that there is blessing in the brokenness. There is goodness in the brokenness. It was only by being broken that Jesus could be given. He gave himself to us, and he can live inside us because he broke for us.
This reminded me of something I learnt at bible college about how Jesus is like a transformer on an electricity pole. The transformer is there to take all the electricity that comes to it and sort it out so that the right amount of electricity goes to houses. The electricity comes to the transformer in something like a giant mess that houses couldn’t use or cope with, so the transformer takes this high voltage electricity and lowers it to a level that is safe to go to people’s houses.
So a transformer takes all the bad stuff that is harmful and sends it back out as something good that is useful. This is what Jesus does. He takes all the bad stuff in the world and he transforms it sending it out as something good. He took sin, persecution, betrayal, abandonment, pain, suffering, and death on a cross. Then he sends it back out as forgiveness, mercy, grace, love, and salvation. He didn’t take the bad and get bitter about it and send out more bad stuff. He didn’t let the bad stuff overwhelm him. No, he was big enough to take it, hold it, transform it and send it out as something good.
This is our example. I don’t buy for a second that Jesus died so we could live this life without suffering. We don’t get to live pain-free lives. We get to take the pain and turn it into something good for other people. We can respond badly to the pain and cause more pain for everyone around us or we can take it, hold it, transform it, and send it back out as something good.
Beth’s message encouraged me not to beat myself up about being broken.
‘When we are broken in our journeys, we become more like Christ,’ Beth said. This told me I was right where God wanted me. I was allowed to be broken. As long I remembered that I was taken and blessed by God first, I was now okay with being broken. Not broken because I was away from God, but broken by God so that he could give me. That made brokenness holy and for the first time I embraced my brokenness. I thanked God for it because it showed me I was his. He had taken me and he had blessed me. And now he was going give me, to send me out into the world so I could give what I have to others.
As we ate bread together, Beth asked us, ‘Where are you at the moment in your journey? You might be taken, or blessed, or broken, or given.’
I thought this was a great way of appreciating what season you’re in. Taken: a season of being held by God, learning to be his child, and embracing his love. Blessed: a season of favour, fruit, and harvest. Broken: a season of pain, heartache, and trial. Given: a season of work, service, and pouring into others. Sometimes we can be in more than one season and sometimes we can be in all four seasons. I wonder if that is the most holy of seasons to be in: all of them at the same.
Come just as you are
Ugly, broken, scarred
You won’t find judgement here
Only love that overcomes all fear
Come just as you are
Run into my open arms
I’ll turn your wounds into useful
I’ll turn your ashes into beautiful
You belong, you are free, you are whole
You can be at peace with your soul
You can dance, you can shout, you can sing
You can be at home in your skin
* * *
Inspired by the song ‘When The God Man Passes By’ by Casting Crowns, the book God Loves Ugly by Christa Black, and the contrast between what life can look like when you fear a judgemental God (and judgemental people) and what it can look like when you enjoy a loving God (and loving people).
At beach mission I see my life through the lens of a loving God because I’m surrounded by people who show me a loving God. I long to see this everywhere.
November 2014, Prismacolor pencils on A3 cartridge paper
This was inspired by one of Beth’s bible study about Peter’s denial of Jesus.
When I fail, make mistakes, mess up, and get things wrong, I can think I’m no good. I can think I’m the worst Christian alive and it would be better for everyone if I stopped following God.
Sometimes it feels like to keep trying to follow God will mean I’ll just hurt people and let them down. Even though I still believe in him and what he’s about, I fear the chaos I’d leave behind in my wake. I can also fear that God doesn’t love me anymore, that I’m no longer useful to him, and it can make feel like the best thing to do is give up.
When Peter made a mistake and betrayed Jesus, I imagine he would have felt like the lowest of the low. I imagine he would have wondered if Jesus still loved him. I would have thought the first question he’d ask Jesus would be, ‘Do you still love me?’ And I would have thought that Jesus’ first priority would be to comfort Peter and tell him, ‘I still love you, Peter.’
But before Peter could ask his question, Jesus asked him ‘Do you love me?’ This tells me his question is the more important one, especially since Jesus asks his question three times and Peter’s question is left unasked.
In a way, Jesus’ question is the only one that matters because the answer to Peter’s unspoken question is already known and will never change. Yes, Jesus loves us. He always has and always will. No mistake we make will ever change that. So there is never a moment in my life when I have to ask, ‘Do you love me, God?’
The real question is: Do I love God?
Peter said ‘Yes’ each time in answer to Jesus’ question. And still Jesus didn’t reassure Peter and say, ‘I love you too, Peter.’ Instead he reassured Peter in a different way.
‘Go feed my sheep,’ Jesus said. Effectively he’s saying, ‘Well, stop feeling bad about yourself. Pick yourself up and keep going. There is work to do and your mistake doesn’t change that. I’ll always love you and as long as you love me, you’re useful, so get up and walk.’
The story of Peter reassures me that no matter how many mistakes I make or how big they are, I am always loved. And as long as I love God, I am always useful to God. So instead of lying in a heap feeling sorry for myself, God tells me to get up and keep on going because there is work to be done.
Sometimes I’ll make mistakes, but this is part of what it means to be a disciple. A disciple is one who learns. We learn how to follow God. In the bible, the disciples made lots of mistakes, so I’m in good company when I make mistakes.
Beth gave me an insight when she said Jesus was calling a fishermen to feed sheep. He was commissioning Peter to do something he’d never done before, and so of course Peter would make mistakes. Jesus knew this and he was okay it. In this way, part of our commission is to make mistakes. As followers of Christ we are called to fail and disappoint as we learn how to live a different way.
So here I am, a creature of earth, called to live the heavenly way. I’m going to make mistakes along the way, but mistakes are never a reason to give up or think God doesn’t love me. And as long as my heart loves God, then my hands and feet are useful.


Fe y razon. Carta enciclica Fides et ratio (DOCUMENTOS) on * FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Avant d’analyser Fides et ratio, l’A. reprend les réflexions récentes sur la théologie fondamentale effectuées à partir du Congrès International de Théologie. Sorry, this document isn’t available for viewing at this time. In the meantime, you can download the document by clicking the ‘Download’ button above.
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The true meaning of life, therefore, is a person: With its specific character as a enckclica charged with giving an account of faith cf. Born and nurtured when the human being first asked questions about the reason for things and their purpose, philosophy shows in different modes and forms that the desire for truth is part of human nature itself.
It is perfect as an introduction or as a quick reference guide to John Paul II’s voluminous writings. This is why many people stumble through life to the very edge of the abyss without knowing where they are going. The second, which derives from the first, is this: Human beings would not even begin to search for something of which they knew nothing or for something which they thought was wholly beyond them. Thomas Aquinas, and even mystics like St.
Nov 25, Sergio Arrangoiz added it Shelves: Largo Dominguez – – Ciencia Tomista 2: Although this change is continuous, I do not see evidence that human nature has changed over the past 2, years.
In the field of scientific research, a positivistic mentality took hold which not only abandoned the Christian vision of the world, but more especially rejected every appeal to a metaphysical or moral vision. He celebrated beatification ceremonies during which he proclaimed 1, Blesseds; and 51 canonizations for a total of saints. In short, what for Patristic and Medieval thought was in both theory and practice a profound unity, producing knowledge capable of reaching the highest forms of speculation, was destroyed by systems which espoused the cause of rational knowledge sundered from faith and meant to take the place of faith.
These considerations prompt a first conclusion: But that encidlica not mean that they ignored the task of deepening the understanding of faith and its motivations. History therefore becomes the arena where we see what God does for humanity.
While, on the one hand, philosophical thinking has succeeded in coming fidea to the reality of human life and its forms of expression, it has also tended to pursue issues—existential, hermeneutical or linguistic—which ignore the radical question of the truth about personal existence, about being and about God.
Deprived of reason, faith is left with only feelings and experience.
Fides et Ratio (Faith and Reason)
In India particularly, it is the duty of Christians now to draw from this rich heritage the elements compatible with their faith, in order to enrich Christian thought. The Second Vatican Council, for its part, offers a rich and fruitful teaching concerning philosophy. As a result of the crisis of rationalism, what has appeared finally is nihilism. The Psalmist adds one final piece to this mosaic when he says in prayer: His pontificate, one of the longest in the history of the Church, lasted nearly 27 years.
This is the mode of truth proper to everyday life and to scientific research.
In fact, the answer given to these questions decides the direction which people seek to give to their lives. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
Fides et Ratio: On the Relationship Between Faith and Reason
No keywords specified fix it. For example, while the Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist is to be believed as a encicliica of faith, theology attempts to make it more understandable in terms of substance, accidents, transubstantiation, etc.
Battista Mondin – – Alpha Omega 3 2: On the roles of philosophy and speculative theology as manifested by Fudes. A philosophy which did not proceed in the light of reason according to its own principles and methods would serve little purpose. In both East and West, we may trace a journey which has led humanity down the centuries to meet and engage truth more and more deeply. Time and again, therefore, in the course of the centuries we have seen repeated the event witnessed by the pilgrims in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.
At the origin of our life of faith there is an encounter, unique in kind, which discloses a mystery hidden for long ages cf. On the basis of enciclic and very widespread assertions, the rationalist critique of the time attacked faith and denied the possibility of any knowledge which was not the fruit of reason’s natural capacities.
The Church received the ultimate truth about human life as a gift of love from God the Father in the revelation of Jesus Fudes.
Carta Enciclica Fides Et Ratio – Juan Pablo II | Erick Gomez –
Between these two poles, reason has its own specific field in which it can enquire and understand, restricted only by its finiteness before the infinite mystery of God. The content of Revelation can never debase the discoveries and legitimate autonomy of reason.
In other words, they seek a final explanation, a supreme value, which refers to nothing beyond itself and which puts an end to all questioning. Opposed to this kind of thinking were various forms of atheistic humanism, expressed in philosophical terms, which regarded faith st alienating and damaging to the development of a full rationality.
He states that philosophy needs to regain its sapiential dimension, fies is, it must renew its search for wisdom and the ultimate meaning of life. They are questions which have their common source in the quest for meaning which has always compelled the human heart.
As it developed, this new Christian thought made use of philosophy, but at the same time tended to distinguish itself clearly from philosophy.


Join us for a 24 hour retreat with other men from our community. This will be a great opportunity to get off the grid for a day, unplug, and connect with God and other guys.
Location: Tall Oaks Retreat Center, located at 12778 189th Street, Linwood KS, 66052.
Date: Friday, Oct 27- Saturday, 28. (Retreat will begin will Dinner Friday night at 6pm and will run through Saturday night at 5pm. Optional dinner Saturday night after the retreat ends).
Cost: $50 each.
come and check it out!
Central Teaching is an opportunity for the entire Ichthus community to gather for Bible teaching and musical worship. Come to learn the truth directly from God's word.
Thursdays @ 8P
Grace Baptist Church
2901 Dickens Ave
We believe that the way to deep spiritual growth, exploring who God is, and if you want to follow Him is in the context of deep friendships. A house church provides the ENTRY POINT into this reality.


Like probably a million or so others, I watched the latest "pastor problem" video on YouTube. I sincerely hope that Barack Obama never sets foot in that church again.
Yes, that church. What bothered me more than the anti-white vitriol that the pastor was spouting was the enthusiasm with which the congregation was cheering the pastor on. Clapping and shouting "yes," even giving standing ovations in mid speech, this crowd was loving the content of this hate monger's racist rhetoric.
Is that what "black churches" are about? Fueling racial division? Certainly that's what this black church is about. The rhetoric of the pastors at Trinity does not necessarily give me pause about Obama's character, but the actions of the people in the pews does. These are the people he has been congregating with for twenty years and more, and there is no doubt in my mind that these people are very serious about their racism.
I do not think that my belief, held from childhood, that inequality based on skin color is wrong is a false belief. I do not believe that Dr. Martin Luther King was fighting the wrong battle when he argued for justice and decried revenge. I do not believe that African Americans as a people hate whites so badly that they want revenge more than they want justice.
But people can be led down an ugly path by demagogues, hate-filled angry men who preach revenge instead of love and peace and justice. That YouTube video, Trinity Church Chicago, is what it looks like when that happens. That video showed a very ugly place.
Barack Obama has a church problem, not a pastor problem.


Global Prayer Call - A short introduction by the Founding Director of GPC
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Current Prayer Information
Global Prayer Call
Standing together for Israel and the wellbeing of our nations
We live in fascinating times. Israel is being restored before our very eyes. The Middle East is becoming more and more the central focus of most of the challenges facing the world today. Once again, Israel appears to be at the core of world tensions and questions.
The Bible tells us that since the calling of Abraham and the promise of blessings through his posterity (Gen 12), the nations have been facing a major challenge:


The Lord says, a lot of movements that has been in the land will come to an end, some to an abrupt end as I cleanse the land and prepare a people that are ripe for the harvest; for this is a season of picking as I pick off of the tree, says God! What many people did not understand they will now come into a time and a season of understanding and clarity as their portion, declares the Spirit of the Living God!
Scripture for the day – Ephesians 5:11-14, 1 Corinthians 10:20-22, and 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.
The Lord God says, I Am moving even when you do not think that I Am moving. Just because you can’t see everything that I Am doing at every turn and point of your life does not mean that I Am not moving, says the Lord God, because I Am moving in your midst and in your life, and I Am moving in and among the nations of the earth, says the Lord, and I Am reversing a lot of evil works that has long stood in the land, says the Lord! In this season, I do a new thing, says the Lord God!. Scripture for the day – Ephesians 1:3-23.


Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in Vivamus luctus urna sed.
The Catholic Diocese of Ballarat is a diverse and geographically extensive Diocese of fifty-one parishes which covers the western third of Victoria, extending from the Murray River in the North to the Southern Ocean in the South. Read More
13 August 2016
30 July 2016
St Mary's Parish Hamilton are hosting a menAlive weekend. This is an opportunity for men to explore what makes them feel fully alive.
24 July 2016
Birchip Parish - July 24; Ararat Parish - August 7; Hamilton Parish - August 21
23 July 2016
New Catholic primary school to be built in Lucas now has a name!
Diocesan Sacraments of Initiation Catechetical Resources are available for Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, "Let the Children Come”, Junior Reconciliation, "Forgiveness Is...", and Senior Reconciliation "Turn Around!"
The Diocesan Liturgical Commission will be presenting Liturgy Formation sessions in the diocese in 2016 and this includes the launch of the Sacramental Program "Let the Children Come"
The Lay Pastoral Ministry Program offers opportunities for formation, support, study and accreditation for lay pastoral employees and volunteers in the Ballarat Diocese in partnership with the Virtual Learning Community, Dayton University.
We are the Catholic Church in the Ballarat Diocese
we gather in the name of Jesus • from the Murray to the sea
in interwoven faith communities. • Spirit filled
we celebrate and share our journey • reaching out to nurture all God's people.
Diocesan Vision Statement 2005


Richard Johnson was an Auctioneer and Valuer and also a church warden at St Paul's Church, Pendleton.
He was born in Pendleton in 1832. In 1854 he married Lucy Woodhouse Lynch at Manchester Cathedral. (She was born in 1834, in Manchester). Their children were: Richard Woodhouse (born 1861 in Ancoats, Manchester and died on 5th May 1909 at Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA), Clara (born 1862 in Hulme, Manchester and married William Davies at St John's, Pendlebury) and Amy Florence (born 1863 and died 21st June 1926 aged 62). There may have been more children as Amy Florence was described on the family gravestone as "youngest" daughter. In 1881 the family was living at 102 Bolton Road, Pendleton. Richard Johnson died on 13th May 1892 aged 59, and Lucy survived him by 27 years. She died on 19th March 1919 aged 84.
The Salford Reporter of 21st May 1892 records, "We are sorry to announce the demise of a well-known Pendletonian in the person of Mr Richard Johnson, who died at his residence, 337, Eccles New Road, Pendleton on Friday week after much suffering. The deceased gentleman who was in his 60th year had not enjoyed robust health for a number of years and during the past 15 months his sufferings were much aggravated by an internal complaint, which eventually carried him off.
The deceased had lived all his life in Pendleton. His creed was Church of England, of which denomination he was a staunch member and filled the post of Church Warden at St Paul's Pendleton some years ago. In politics he was a Liberal and some years ago he was asked to stand as a candidate in Seedley Ward, but he declined. For a number of years Mr Johnson was actively connected with the Pendleton Cricket Club of which he was vice president. As a mark of the esteem in which he was held, the flag at the cricket ground in Langworthy Road was hoisted at half mast. He was also a member of the Eccles and Pendleton Horticultural Society and a life member of the Freemasons, being a member for 25 years. He resided for about 25 years at the Woodlands on Bolton Road."
The funeral was held on Wednesday 18th May at Weaste Cemetery. The service was conducted by Rev G. Morgan, Curate of St Ambrose Church, Pendleton, assisted by Rev J Garner of St Luke's Church, Weaste. Richard was interred in plot F of the Church of England portion.


The word disability means lack of ability. When we talk about disabling functions on our computers or smart phones, we are preventing something from happening. So, despite what some may say to try to portray disabilities positively, the fact is that people with disabilities are unable to do something that typical individuals are able to.
Fortunately, that is not the end of the matter. People with disabilities are not relegated to live out their lives as less valuable or less useful. We know this is true, because scripture tells us that in our weakness his strength is perfected (2 Cor 12:9). But, it is only in Christ that these possibilities can be realized, and the church must be the loudest voice proclaiming this message. That is what is behind the theme for the Global Access Conference: Where disabilities and possibilities meet.
Add your voice to proclaim that people with disabilities are created in the image of God and have a place in the body of Christ. Join the conversation on the global disability ministry movement!
Read more:The Global Access Conference, presented by Joni and Friends, will bring together disability leaders, ministers, educators and practitioners from around the world. It’s an unprecedented opportunity to share experiences, forge strong working relationships, and learn how to practically and effectively promote disability ministry in the Christian community. You will learn how to create and pursue advanced disability initiatives within church and cultural communities, and will build lasting networks of support and education throughout the international disability community. http://globalaccessconference.org
This beautiful 27 minute documentary raises these poignant questions: Does God know that persons with disabilities exist? If the answer is yes, what does he expect of us? What does God expect you to do?
A family that is brought together through adoption is a family that reflects the family of Christ. Both are a collection of imperfect misfits that are united together by unconditional love. In both instances children are brought into the fold through sacrifice; one by the sacrifice of the parents and the other by the sacrifice of the Son. And in the midst of the diversity of both families, humility and grace are cultivated.
CBM was founded in 1908 in Turkey as a home for children who were blind and orphaned. Today, CBM is working to restore life to people living with various disabilities in the world’s poorest countries. Their vision is to see an inclusive world in which all persons with disabilities enjoy their human rights and achieve their full potential.
The parable found in Luke 14 has been used by various Christian disability ministry organizations to display God’s heart for people with disabilities. Jesus tells the story of a man who throws a lavish banquet and invites many guests. But, one by one, each of his guests rejects the invitation by giving a poor excuse. In response, the man tells his servants to bring in the “poor and crippled and blind and lame.” Jesus told this parable to a gathering of Pharisees who knew that he talking about the gathering of God’s elect in heaven thorough his use of the banquet metaphor . While the Pharisees thought that these “defective” people would be rejected in God’s Kingdom, Jesus was telling them that they would be the honored guests at his banquet table.
The Luke 14 Workshops offered by CBM are designed to equip churches with practical ideas, skills and strategies for including people with disabilities. There are five different workshops. A single workshop would run well as a short day event, or two workshops could be combined over one longer day. Luke14 workshops are not designed to make people “disability experts,” but to understand practical ways to accommodate different needs in the church. Each workshop includes the fundamental beliefs of Christian disability ministry, and time to work on next steps.
A limited number of FULL Scholarships are available for the Joni and Friends East Coast Ministry and Missions Academy! The CAUSE 4 LIFE Global Missions & Internships educate, train and activate the next generation of disability ministry leaders. This summer CAUSE 4 LIFE is partnering with Jill’s House, one of the leading disability care centers, and McLean Bible Church. You can choose a 4 to 8-week program, which includes a 10-day mission trip to Haiti. Apply online today or share this opportunity with all your friends in college or graduating from High School!
The joy on the face of of these young men and women affected by disability is so clear! That is the effect that a church can have on people with disabilities when they make a little extra effort to show honor, appreciation, and care to those who don’t get it.
I hope you also noticed the joy that was on the faces of those who were showing love to these individuals. It is hard to tell who benefits the most: those receiving the love or those giving the love. The thing we need to realize is that the more effort it takes to serve, the more we learn in the service.
Your church may not have the resources to put on an event like this, but each person in the church can do something to love those who are unloved. What can you do to gather people so that they can love others together? What small way can you honor, appreciate, and care for one person who desperately needs it in your church?
People affects by disability are often the lowest of the low and the poorest of the poor. Where are these people in your church or in your community? What can you do to use the opportunity God has given you to display the love of Christ?
Some passages in the Bible seem to say that God doesn’t like people with disabilities. Joni Eareckson Tada struggled with this early on after she became disabled in a diving accident. But, as she explains below, she eventually realized the purpose of those harsh requirements in the Bible. When we understand God’s heart by looking at the whole Bible, we can be sure that each person with a disability is created in his image, just the way he intended. He is sovereign over everything, including disabilities, and he makes no mistakes and he is never unjust.
“Say to Aaron: ‘For the generations to come none of your descendants who has a defect may come near to offer the food of his God. No man who has any defect may come near: no man who is blind or lame, disfigured or deformed.” Leviticus 21:16-18
When I was struggling to understand God’s view of my disability, it didn’t help matters when I stumbled across Leviticus 21:16-18. I slammed my Bible shut. I knew it — God did have a problem with my handicap. It seemed my impairment offended Him in the same way my wheelchair offended waiters in restaurants!
But then I discovered the true meaning behind these verses. Leviticus 21 is a strict list of dos and don’ts for men entering the priesthood of Aaron. A priest had to be pure, with no physical defects, because he was a physical symbol of a future spiritual reality — an important type of the coming Messiah. God was looking for a physically perfect man as a priest to represent the spiritually perfect man, the Lord Jesus.
This passage speaks to you, whether you’re disabled or not. As part of a “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9), God welcomes you into His presence, accepting you no matter what your limitations. But when you come before Him in worship, make certain that you are not harboring a blemish of pride or defect of impurity. You may not be tied to strict dos and don’ts, but if God wanted Old Testament people to be pure when they came before Him, surely He expects the same of us.
How I praise You, God, that you accept me with all of my deficiencies and limitations. However, I want to rid my life of those sins that keep me from You, confessing those hidden handicaps that are a blemish on my life. I want to be pure and whole before You.
Exoskeletons are not new, but this is the first time that I have heard of one built using 3D printing. If you are familiar with the process of fitting someone with spinal injuries in a wheelchair, you know how important it is to get a good fit. An improper fit could lead to secondary disabilities or potentially life-threatening pressure sores. But the engineers who designed this exo suit didn’t just make it practical, they made it beautiful. Check out this video for a closer look at the skeleton.
I am amazed at the abilities in science, engineering, and computer technology that God grants us that allow is to create amazing technology like this exoskeleton. I am grateful that his providence and grace make it possible for some people to walk again. This level of mobility tech is not available to everyone, especially those in developing nations. But even in these places, it is possible to give mobility through technology like a wheelchair. This also is an amazing example of God’s providence and grace.
I am excited about how various technological advancements will improve the lives of people affected by disabilities. But I don’t want to forget that the best thing that God has given us to face any trial or hardship is his presence and his promise through his word.
Every human life is sacred because each one is unique and created by God. But in countries around the world, a battle is being fought between the sanctity of human life and the utilitarian reasoning of the quality of life. The rational of the latter is that life is not worth living if it does not measure up to an arbitrary standard of quality.
Joni Eareckson Tada—author, disability advocate, and founder of Joni and Friends—recently wrote an article on the Time website entitled, Belgium’s Euthanasia Law Doesn’t Protect Children From Themselves. She asserts that the choice of whether to die or not is a terrible burden to place on a child. She writes, “Giving little ones a choice usually means that they make decisions based on what they think their families want to hear.” Children have not yet developed the capacity to make a decision of that magnitude on their own. They cannot understand the full implications of the choice that their families are placing before them. This inability to see the whole picture is why we restrict minors from buying and using alcohol, drugs, and tobacco.
But adults are placing this incredible burden on these children because they are succumbing to the cultural deception that there is such thing as a life not worth living. This comes chillingly close to the Nazi ideology of “Lebensunwertes Leben” which means “Life Unworthy of Life.” This lead to the unthinkable human experimentation and slaughter perpetrated by the Nazi regime. This same line of reasoning is now being used to advocate for the euthanization of children.
History has a way of repeating itself. This is becoming increasingly clear as we see the idea of the quality of life and the idea of a life not worth living taking hold in Belgium. As it was in Germany, people facing disabilities are the most vulnerable to these ideas and the first to suffer because of them. The arbitrary standard of the quality of life often leads to the conclusion that a life affected by disability is not a life that is worth living. And with the medical technology that is available today, we see this reasoning extending to babies in the womb. It is estimated that 92% of all women in the United States who receive a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome choose to abort the life of their babies.
As Christians, we have a strong argument against the quality of life. We know there is a creator of the universe who has fashioned each human life with care and purpose. He is sovereign over disease and disability, and his ways are perfect and just. When he allows disease or disability, he has a purpose that is for his glory and our good. We will not see all the things that he will do through hardship, pain, and suffering if we give into a quality of life thinking. We must stand for the sanctity of human life and trust what his word tells us and the promises he has given us in Christ.
God is Able International Foundation Inc. is about “Moving with People Affected by Disabilities.” This great video introducing the ministry asks the question, “Who said they couldn’t…”
This is their mission and vision statement from their website.
To serve as a vehicle of God’s love, compassion, and grace for people affected by disabilities (PADs), and to partner with faith-based groups in providing the means towards their assimilation and transformation.
People affected by disabilities living significant lives and moving towards transformation by playing meaningful roles in Christian churches and communities.
Check out the great things that they are doing in the Philippines! Click the image below.


And a month later... So much has changed.
I have been seriously thinking about changing the name of my business, as I'm going in a bit of a new direction.
I've struggled with this off and on, wondering if I create Christian art, would I be shooting myself in the financial foot. Really honest there!
Afraid that it would turn a lot of people off, and away from my blog - you know, when I eventually actually got the courage to create more art and post it here...
Would I ever be able to get published in all my favorite Stampington magazines? Would they publish a Christian artist? I'd never seen it before, so I was afraid they wouldn't.
I have dreamed these beautiful artsy dreams for so long - for two decades!!! - and I feared there would be a 'limited audience' if I were to create Christian art solely.
I was wrong... In so many ways, I was wrong.
It is my beautiful Jesus that has given me these artsy dreams to begin with.
He knows my every need. He knows everything it will take for me to make my art dreams come true. He knows how much money I need to make so I can financially support myself.
He knows all of it.
And He is still calling me; whispering ever so sweetly in my heart and in my spirit to paint for Him, to blog about my art journey and my walk with Him, to have the courage to show my art on my blog and list it in my very new and very empty Etsy shop.
He knows all that I need. He is my light and my life. He is my everything.
And so I have nothing to fear.
God told me that directly late yesterday afternoon. Sabrina, my son-in-law's sister-in-law (but she is like a niece to me! :) ), texted me and sent me a link to a YouTube video featuring a song called No Longer Slaves by Jonathan David & Melissa Helser. She told me that the Lord brought me to her mind when she was listening to that song that day and she hoped it blessed me.
Wow! It blessed me so much. It is still blessing me. :)
There is no need to fear, for "I'm no longer a slave to fear. I am a child of God."
And one of my favorite verses in the song:
"You split the sea so I could walk right through it. My fears are drowned in perfect love."
And so, I am stepping out in faith and following what God has put in my heart.


Thank you for visiting the website of the Istituto per le Opere di Religione (IOR).
The IOR strives to serve the global mission of the Catholic Church by safeguarding the assets of institutions and individuals related to the Holy See and the Catholic Church, and providing them with payment services. The IOR's customers serve the Church in many different ways, be it through charitable institutions such as hospitals or schools, through missionary work, or as employees. The IOR does not serve business customers.
The IOR is engaged in a process of comprehensive reform, to foster the most rigorous professional and compliance standards. These efforts are based on the legal framework set forth by the Vatican, in cooperation with international bodies. This includes implementing strict anti-money laundering processes and improving our internal structures. We are conducting an extensive evaluation of all our clients’ accounts, with the aim of closing down those relationships that are not in line with the IOR's mission. This effort is closely supervised by the Vatican regulator AIF (“Autorità di Informazione Finanziaria”).
The IOR applies a zero-tolerance policy with regard to any breach of laws, rules and regulations. We strive to attain the high standards rightly expected of us.
Our mission is to serve the universal Church throughout the entire world, helping the Holy See, religious congregations and Catholic institutions in their works of charity and evangelization.
Ernst von Freyberg
President of the IOR Board of Superintendence


Thank you for taking the time to come to find out more about our forthcoming Pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Our pilgrimage has two goals:
- to provide you with the opportunity to walk prayerfully in the footsteps of Our Lord, and
- to offer support and encouragement to our Christian brothers and sisters who live in the land of Jesus
Due to the hefty increase in airfares since the pandemic, and the poor US Dollar/Sterling exchange rate at the moment (all services in the Holy Land are priced in US Dollars), prices for pilgrimages have increased dramatically this year. In order to try and offset these increased costs as much as possible I am organising this pilgrimage slightly differently in the sense that we are not buying a ‘package’ from a UK based Tour Operator, instead I have arranged a ‘ground package’ with Laila Tours and Travel Ltd based in Bethlehem and I will then purchase individual flights for pilgrims at the time I receive their completed Booking Form and de- posit.
By arranging the pilgrimage in this way we reduce the ‘costs’ and access cheaper airfares as we will not incur the ‘premium’ added to a group ticket.
I look forward to travelling to the Holy Land with you, it will be a wonderful trip for us all.
Fr. David Borland
*Price of flights will depend on the BA price at time of paying deposit.


Created for Good Works
There is this misconception that evangelism and missions work can only be done in a different country, with people who aren’t like us, for the benefit of people who have never heard the gospel. To this I want to say, don’t believe it. There are people who are sent, and there are people who remain. Both play a vital role in the Kingdom and growing the church. I want to encourage other believers to grow where they are planted and to seek the lost in the communities which they abide.
Ephesians 2:8-10 (NASB)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
These verses might be my favorites in the whole Bible. It tells us that we were saved by grace alone, through faith alone, as a gift from God alone so that no one can boast. It also tells us that in saving us according to the Lords rich mercy, he also preordained each of us for specific good works. These good works were prepared according to His will, and His good pleasure. Friends, if you are doubting if you are doing any good in the communities which you are living I want to encourage you with the knowledge that God himself has placed you there. If you feel burnt out and run down by the mundane duties of life in motherhood, marriage, work, or local ministry – I want to say, God has placed you there. Your value to the Kingdom is not less because you are not a full time missionary in Dubai, and the person in Dubai is no lesser than you. God has chosen in His wisdom to place each of us in specific roles for the purpose of glorifying God.
I want to share how the Lord has chosen to use me in my local community. The Lord has given me a burden for the Mormon people. As a result, I have spent many hours studying both the Word and the scriptures that the Mormons treasure. I have fallen more deeply in love with Jesus, and more deeply in love with those who are believing the impossible gospel of Mormonism. I have had countless opportunities to witness to local Mormon missionaries, friends, and I have participated in evangelism at the Temple. I am a mother of two, a wife, and I work full time. There isn’t a lot of time to do “intentional” evangelism. However, the Lord has specific works that he has prepared for me to walk it. So I walk gladly in the work of pursuing those in the Mormon faith. Friends, this is just one area that the Lord has used me. I think often we don’t realize all the opportunities we are given to honor Jesus through our actions. Let us walk in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord, and may we glorify Him as we rejoice in the works that he has prepared for us to walk in.
For those of you who feel the itch to go aboard, GO! But do not believe the lie that your time in your local community is wasted. Don’t believe the lie that God isn’t doing work in your life. He has prepared you for good works in Christ Jesus. Celebrate where God has planted you, fear the Lord, and seek out opportunities to witness and serve people who are literally your neighbors.
Grace and peace be with you,


Welcome bards & bibliophiles, poets & philosophers, sages & sophists, scholars & students… and regular people too.
Hi. I'm Scott Postma, a writer, and the lead pastor of Northpointe Community Church in North Las Vegas.
This blog is where I share rich insights into faith and literature, valuable tips on the craft of writing, and meaningful perspective on living a life of significance.
If you're a bard or a bibliophile, a poet or a philosopher, a sage or a sophist, a scholar or a student, or just a regular ole' person who loves books and literature, mystery and metaphysics, and you want some tips on writing and how to live a meaningful life, this blog's for you!
In just a second, I'll share some of my backstory, but first I want to let you in on something:
According to a recent national survey three-quarters of U.S. adults (75%) say they wished they were living a more meaningful life.
That means even though they live in the most free and prosperous nation in the world, only one in four Americans are living a significant life.
The rest have either settled for mediocrity... or they're still searching!
What Does a Significant Life Look Like?
When I was 18 years old, searching for my place in the world, I joined the USAF and embarked on my own quest for significance.
What I discovered, totally surprised me! It wasn't like anything I had expected.
If you're thinking I must have got married, found my dream job, discovered a new hobby, or found religion, you'd be right; but those things are not where I discovered my significance.
Twenty-four years ago I married my high school sweetheart. We have four awesome kids, one adopted son-in-law, and a beautiful granddaughter we call Maddie-cakes. These are the most important people in my life. But they are not my significance.
I have ministered as a pastor, teacher, speaker, and writer for two decades, and this work has been the most meaningful work I could have done with my life, but it's not where I found my significance.
I have some enjoyable pastimes, like hiking, reading, smoking one of my briarwoods, and collecting more books than I can ever read in a lifetime. Yet, that is not where my significance comes from.
I have been a member of and/or a leader in various Christian denominations for all of my adult life. While it has been both nurtured and tried in these religious affiliations, it's not where I derive my significance.
I discovered my significance in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Yes, that makes me a Christian. More accurately, I'm a follower of Jesus who tends to get ahead of him, and sometimes off track.
Following Jesus has taught me God doesn't show us the entire picture all at once.
He leads us through this journey called life, step by step, day by day, trial by trial, and celebration by celebration. And he tends to reveal more of our significance as we follow Him in the "already revealed."
About This BlogOn Faith
You're not going to read warmed-over, party-line, religious rhetoric here. But I do explore matters of faith--and often challenge the status quo.
Here's what's important about faith to me:
God, the Significant One, is redeeming his creation and there is a place of significance for everyone who believes the good news that King Jesus died for sinners and rose again to defeat death for us.
It's from this good news, or what the Bible calls the gospel, where real and lasting hope comes from. Everything else is screwed up.
While this is not a religious blog, per se, I believe everything meaningful in culture is only truly significant when it is filtered through the story and message of this good news.On Literature
While I read, discuss, and analyze all genres of literature, I'm most passionate about classic and redemptive works.
Classics are those works throughout the western tradition that have shaped the world we live in today.
Redemptive works are those with "round" characters who learn something about themselves and the world they live in (i.e. bildungsroman, epiphany, and absolution).
Think books like Frankenstein, Great Expectations, and Much Ado About Nothing, and writers like Plato, Dante, and Flannery O'Connor.
Since there are so many books and so little time, I tend to focus only on the best of the best.On Writing
I love words and books, and how they are created, arranged, and published. I'll share valuable tips on the craft of writing and the processes of publishing, and hope to learn from your journey as well.On a Life of Significance
Most importantly, I believe every person was created for significance. I intend to share truths and principles that will provide you with a meaningful perspective on what it looks like to live a life of significance.
If faith and literature, the craft of writing, and meaningful perspective on living a life of significance resonates with you, why not subscribe to the tribe?
It's absolutely free to join and you can opt out anytime.
Plus I'll give you my book, Discover Your Significance, along with lots of great resources and articles (also free) just for hanging out. (I promise to NEVER spam you or share your information with anyone.)


Dates & Times
Aug 26, 20196:30pm - 8:30pm
NEXT is your next step in getting connected here at Turning Point Church. This a special night that takes place on the 4th Monday of every month and is an introduction to the life and family of Turning Point. If you’re wanting to know more about the church or if you’re looking to get plugged in, we invite you to join us. Dinner and childcare is provided! If you need childcare please be sure to individually register your children as well.


That being said, this morning's homily was also great. The priest spoke about one of our past Rector Majors. He quoted him, loosely, as saying that our dying unto ourselves everyday is a form of martyrdom. To continually sacrificing and living for God's glory is a form of martyrdom. What it lacks in its intensity it makes up for in duration.
Everyday in everything that we do we are making an offering to God. That offering could be something that is a joyous moment, or a moment of suffering. As long as it is done for God are we making that conscious effort to give God that glory.
As I gaze out at the congregation gathered in chapel this morning my eyes fall upon a group in the Salesian family, the Salesian Lay Missionaries. These 18 young people are truly embracing today's Gospel; they are dying unto themselves and are going out to serve others, all for the Glory of God.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad


“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
(2 Timothy 2:1)
In the 2nd letter written to Timothy, Paul offers some wonderful words of encouragement to Timothy. He starts by reminding Timothy to remain steadfast and focused on the grace that comes from Jesus. I think these words from Paul can be an encouragement to us all. Here’s why:
Have you ever gone through a difficult time in your life? Yes, that is a rhetorical question because I already know the answer. We have all gone through trials. Ok, so, let me ask you another question. One only you can answer. How do you treat yourself during those times? Have you ever considered offering yourself grace?
I have found that when I am struggling, while I strive to trust God wholeheartedly and have no negative thoughts or feelings as a result, that doesn’t always happen. Ok, it rarely happens. I also find that I tend to feel even worse about myself and my situation when I don’t trust God. So, while that clearly means I need to focus my attention more on Jesus (as Paul tells Timothy to do in the midst of persecution and suffering), it also means that I need grace. Grace towards myself that can only come because of what God has done for me through Christ. And because of the Lord’s grace, I can be strong even during the most difficult of storms.
In addition to grace, I also find that I need to give myself space. If I am having a tough time, I can’t expect to instantly feel better. Just like when you recover from an illness, you don’t typically go to bed really sick and wake up feeling 100%. Instead, it typically takes some time to recover. The fever goes down. The sneezing decreases. The appetite slowly returns. In the same way, while there are times when a huge weight is lifted off our shoulders and we breathe a huge sigh of relief, more often than not, it takes time to recover. From the loss and grief. From the frustration and fear. From the sadness and insecurity.
But. With space and grace, you can get through it. I can get through it. Only because of the grace that is in Christ Jesus that Paul was writing to Timothy about. A lesson for one that can be applied to all. Be strengthened, friend, through this grace.


First United Methodist Church St Pete
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Every Thursday evening First United Methodist Church becomes a special place of hope, grace, and healing as over 100 people gather to “celebrate” recovery through our CR St Pete ministry. Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered, biblically-based program of recovery for individuals and family members who are struggling with emotional distress, addictive issues, and other life issues. People just like you are here each week to get help, support, and encouragement with all of life’s hurts, habits, and hang-ups.
It all begins with a great dinner at 5:45 pm (cost is $5.00 per person); at 7:00 pm we experience a high energy and inspirational worship experience which includes praise music and special music; testimonies of grace-filled recoveries, a reading of the 12 Steps and their Biblical Comparisons, and a Message of Hope delivered by Dr. Gil Smith or a special guest.
Immediately following worship, we offer various small groups built around particular recovery issues and facilitated by persons who have been there and found healing. The small groups are based on an open-share model of a spiritually grounded therapeutic community. The night’s program concludes by 9:15 pm. CR St Pete is for the entire family! We have a program designed for children (ages 5-12) called Celebration Station; and, a Teen Support Group that we refer to as The Landing. We also offer Nursery Care for infants through 4 yrs. Along with our Chemical Dependency Groups, we also offer Family Support, Women’s Codependency, Eating Disorders, Men’s Issues, and a group called Life Hurts, God Heals. We also have a 12 week class on Anger Management taught by Dr. Peggy Reynolds.
You are welcome any and every Thursday evening at CR St Pete!
Every Thursday in the Sanctuary


The Cast: 10-15
The Set: Simple 1 or 2 unit set with multi-media recommended (video projection).
Approximate Length: 2 acts, 120 min
Why do seemingly tragic events happen in the lives of seemingly good people? And where is God during troubling times? These are some of the key questions raised in the biblical Book of Job. As we seek to understand these issues, other tantalizing questions arise…What if Job lived today—in modern times? What if he were part of our world, living among us?
Scholars, theologians and philosophers have wrestled with the meaning of “Job” for centuries. We will not pretend to fully address, let alone answer, all the issues and questions raised by this complex book here on our stage… Job discovers that God does not always give us the answers to our questions in this life. But he demonstrates that if we seek to know God, and to walk with Him, we may also trust Him and His plans for our lives.
Though scripture tells us God’s ways are not our ways, and often beyond our understanding, we who are His creation are in the wise, sovereign and caring hands of the One who created us. And, even in those times when God’s presence is humanly imperceptible, His power is unconquerable.
May we join the biblical Job in his own sentiments of faith as recorded in chapters 13 and 19 of the book bearing his name: “Yea, though He slay me, I will hope in Him. And as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives…and at the last, He will take His stand on the Earth.”
(Ages reflect the age of the character in the show, not the age of the actor who plays them)
Job Uziah – Successful and wealthy owner of the Canaan-Uz Corporation. He is a down-to-earth, affable company/family man. He is a man of great faith, but a bit prideful. (Age 50’s)
Meryl Uziah – Wife of Job. A woman of deep emotions, capable of great love, anguish and bitterness. (Age 40’s)
Eli Tremain – Lifelong friend of Job, both likable and argumentative by turns. He serves as Job’s lawyer and a fellow board member at Job’s church. Hint of a southern accent if possible. (Age 40’s)
Billie Shu – Forceful and slightly distrustful. She serves as the Vice-President of the Canaan-Uz Corporation. She is also a longtime friend of Job’s. (Age mid-30-40’s)
Farid Namat – Very traditional and legalistic, but he is a good friend of Job’s. His company is currently involved in a merger with the Canaan-Uz Corporation. Of Arab descent; appropriate accent required. (Age mid 30-40’s)
Michael Hughes – Wide-eyed, slightly naïve intern at the Canaan-Uz Corporation. He is able to see and evaluate Job’s trials better than Job’s friends. (Age early 20’s)
Lisa Trady – Kind-hearted and beautiful. Personal assistant to Job.
Brian Uziah – Son of Job. Easy-going, lovable and slightly irresponsible. Attending medical school, though he wants to be a filmmaker.
Claire Uziah – Daughter of Job. Frivolous and bubbly, she is a self-indulgent party-girl. (Age 18–early 20’s)
Caleb Uziah – Son of Job. Extremely self-confident pilot. Indulges in alcohol. (Age mid-late 30’s)
Satan – Strikingly handsome / beautiful, well-coifed and manipulative. (Male or Female, Age 20’s)
Matt Uziah – Job’s son with no speaking lines.
Mary Uziah – Job’s daughter with no speaking lines.
Journalist – Forthright and curious. (Age 20-30‘s)
Camera Operator – Male/ Female (Age 20-30’s)
Nurse 1 – Female.
Nurse 2 – Female. Weary, impatient check-in nurse.
Doctor – Male. He isconcerned and compassionate.
Jeff – Field journalist whose heart has been touched.
Talk Show Host – Female. Sugary-sweet and energetic daytime talk show host. (Age 20’s)
Newscasters 1 & 2 – Male/Female. Typical objective news commentators. (Age 20-30’s)
Reporters and Paparazzi – 5 Males/Females. (Age 20-30’s)
Various Film Extras – (Age late teens-60’s)


Venue: Nerve Centre
Silence follows the 1640 mission of two Portuguese Jesuit priests, Father Rodrigues and Father Garrpe, as they sneak into Japan to propagate the outlawed faith of Christianity and to search for their missing mentor, Father Ferreira. News has reached Portugal that Ferreira was tortured until he apostatised by stepping on an image of Christ. Refusing to accept this rumour, Rodrigues and Garrpe arrive to discover a land of crumbled churches and blood-soaked soil.
Nominated for an Oscar®
“One of Scorsese’s most tortured accounts of spiritual exile.” Richard Combs, Sight & Sound
Director: Martin Scorsese.
Cast: Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, Liam Neeson.


Today was a real eye opener for me. Due to some recent events I was starting to think about it the relationship that I had with my father and it made me sad all over again. I could never understand why we couldn’t get our relationship on the right track…. I always blamed myself because for a while I feel like he had disowned me. Well this morning I went to church and it just so happened that’s what the pastor was talking about. To sum it up he basically preached that although you may have family members that disown you, shame you and may not love you the way you deserve….God will love you no matter what because he has been in any situation you can think of and he is not ashamed to say that you are his child. So long story short…..despite my flaws and my mistakes I know that God will love me just the way I am.


Wedding & Ceremony
In India 2% of
the population is Christian Christianity is India's third-largest religion, following Hinduism and Islam. The major centers of Christianity in India are Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Manipur and Mizoram. There is also a big community of Christians in Mumbai. The main division of Christians in India is like in the Christian world, Protestants and Catholic. There are also different denomination among them, Syrian Church, Armenian Church, Anglican Church and others. Most of the India Christians were converted by the Portuguese. There is also an Anglo-Indian community in India.
Although a Goan Christian
wedding may vary in some details to a western church wedding, it
basically follows the diktat of a catholic wedding. The wedding is attended by friends and relatives of the bride and groom. An Anglo Indian Christian bride traditionally wears a white gown in western style and the groom
wears a suit.
Find out about some of the most well known and much enjoyed pre-wedding
customs of a Christian Wedding.
Bridal Shower is one of the major
pre-wedding customs of a Christian Wedding. This is basically a
fun-filled and entertaining informal hen party, which is hosted by the
bride's female friends. It is mainly a female get-together that is
enlivened by songs, dance and joyful game sessions. Friends and
relatives present gifts to the bride-to-be and give blessings for a
blissful married life. Following the tradition, the bride serves a pink
cake to all present. Uniqueness of the cake is that there is a thimble
hidden inside this cake. It is believed that a girl who receives the
piece of cake with a thimble will be the next to get married.
Bachelor Party is hosted by the
groom for his friends. It is essentially a stag party organized on the
eve of the wedding or a couple of days before the wedding where a groom
is expected to enjoy his last evening as a bachelor. A Bachelor's Party
typically begins by raising a toast before the drinking begins in
earnest. It is mostly celebrated to have fun and enjoyment with close
Wedding Dress or Saree
The full skirted gown is usually made of around five to seven
meters of material but can vary according to pattern. In other sects of Christian community the bride's dress is usually a white or cream saree. Brides head is covered with a white veil and a crown - a tiara or a bunch of white flowers and she holds a flower bouquet in her hand.
The ceremony of welcoming the
bride is conducted on the day of a Christian wedding. Groom sends a car
to pick up the bride and waits for her outside the church. Following the
tradition, when the bride arrives, the Best Man welcomes her with a kiss
on either cheek and hands her a bouquet of flowers. Following this
ritual, the couple walks down the aisle slowly and gracefully
accompanied by the wedding procession. Inside the church, the couple
walks up to the place where the priest stands for the wedding mass. The
priest then welcomes them and offers his best wishes.
The Christian matrimonial ceremony is simple and involves the exchange of wedding bands and marriage vows by the bridal couple. The proceedings of the marriage ceremony is accompanied by a group of choir singers.
The rituals are conducted along with the holy mass. The couple walks down the corridor slowly but gracefully till they reach where the priest stands, who welcomes them and offers his best wishes. The priest then commences the procession of reading psalms from the Holy Bible. He then renders a sermon called Homily, which dwells on the sacredness of the wedlock.
Like in all Indian matrimonial rituals, this community too, has an interesting lecture with an emphasis on the sanctity of marriage given by the priest. The Homily being over, the bride and the groom hold each other's right hand and make the Solemn Promise of lifelong loyalty stating that they will stay together in thick and thin to each other, in the name of God. This is followed by Blessing and the exchange of the wedding rings, which are first blessed by the priest to instill in the bearers an everlasting love and an earnest faith.
Another common feature of the Indian community, that has been extended to the Christian community matrimonial alliance is the Mangalsutra. In the Roman Catholic Saraswat Brahmin community this is known as Piduk. In the Syrian Christian community the groom presents his bride in church with a sari. This is known as 'Mantra Kodi'. A Taali, a leaf shaped gold pendant with a cross sealed on it, is worn on thread created with strands drawn from this sari by the groom's sister. The priest prays for the couple and the couple renders a thanksgiving prayer to the Almighty.
The ceremony comes to an end with the priest giving the final blessing to the couple. The gathering, towards the end, shower their blessings on the newly weds. The last formality is the couple then signs the register and walk down aisle, arm in arm.
Like all weddings in the Indian community, the holy matrimonial alliance in Catholic weddings is followed by a reception for celebration.
the ceremony ends with a blast at the reception by a live band. The newly married couple is greeted at the venue with showering of confetti.
Following the tradition, the happy couple also cut a wedding cake and
feed each other a bite of the first slice. The Toastmaster proposes a
toast in honor of the couple. The reception is mostly celebrated with
dance and dinner party.


The Matriarch Society hosted an appreciation day for the “Single Moms,” at the Lydia’s House on May 9, 2015, for “Mother’s Day.” On this day with the help of donations from Family of Faith Christian Center, our Matriarchs invested the day celebrating and saluting these moms that thought they had been forgotten. We entered on common ground as mothers as we laughed, cried and empowered each other as women and single-mothers. This day was an unforgettable day and truly meaningful for everyone involved. We learned the power of unity and coming together for a cause bigger than ourselves. The Matriarch Society embraces the opportunity to give to mothers that are in need of help and support.


Melissa Marote, Worship Associate
The ritual of communion began as a time set aside to welcome everyone to a communal table to share food and give thanks. Several members of our Emerson community have graciously offered to bake bread that we will share during our service to celebrate the gifts of the earth, and the gifts of our own hands and hearts.
Special Music: “Breaking Bread” by Randy George, performed by Rhonda Plank-Richard, Melissa Marote, and Kevin Mathie.
Topics: Blessing, Communion, Community, Environment, Gratitude, Harvest, Interdependent, Memory, Nature


It has been with a heavy heart that we have had to close our doors to future services until further notice.
This has been based on current government advice and the continuing situation with the Coronavirus outbreak.
Foremost in our minds has been the safety and well-being, physically and spiritually, of our congregation.
If you want to get in touch with us please do so by either calling 01787 378532, or email firstname.lastname@example.org.
We will continue to keep in touch with those who regularly attend, and also to those who want to reach out to us for prayer and spiritual help.
God bless, Grace Baptist Church in Sudbury. ... See MoreSee Less
3 months ago ·
11 months ago ·
2 years ago ·


I have another question for my Catholic friends, does the Catholic church condone and/or allow marriages where prenuptial agreements have been signed? If they do, then they are being very hypocritical about their stance on marriage, since a prenuptial is no more than one or both partners hedging their bet that the marriage won’t last. They are saying that they don’t trust the institution of marriage as the solemn obligation between two loving people, which the Catholic Church demands of its followers. So how can they allow prenuptial agreements to be sanctioned within the church, if they do?
P.S. Actually, this goes for any church that has strict policies concerning the sanctity of marriage.


It is a warm May night in Richmond Virginia and tonight, everyone is Greek.
The smells of pork and chicken kabobs float over the area. There are Gyros and Baklava and enough pastries to feed half of Richmond.
It is the annual Greek Fest in Richmond.
For four days on the last weekend in May, the Greek Orthodox Cathedral puts on the annual Greek Fest. You don’t have to be Greek to be Greek Orthodox nor do you have to be Greek to have a good time at the festival.
Greek bands entertain along with youth from the Cathedral doing traditional Greek dances. And there is wine, as the psalmist says, “Makes glad the heart of man.”
The Greek Fest is one of those must go to events in Richmond.
If you missed it, here are a few photos from the event and a few behind the scenes photos as the Cathedral got ready for the Festival.


Having accepted the impossibility of letting go of my Love for Marilyn, the question was whether I can ever Love again. Let’s call it a “new love.” A love created in its own right and on its own terms, not in competition with my Love for Marilyn—but in addition to that Love.
Human beings are capable of great love. Spousal love is perhaps the purest form of love this side of heaven. That’s why marriage is a sacrament of our church. Yet, together this married couple created children who begot them grandchildren and all are loved deeply with all my heart and soul. Clearly, the capacity to love is not one dimensional.
Thus, finding and creating love in a new female relationship is not only possible—but coming from a lifetime of a magnificent Loving relationship, it is necessary if I am to continue my life as a whole person. The desire for a new love simply grows out of my need to exist in a loving man-woman relationship because of the former loving relationship that was the driving force of my entire adult life. It was my reason to exist and do all that was expected of me and more—to do it willingly with Love.
For those who have never experienced True Spousal Love, they may think my comments and concerns are corny, or exaggerated. I pity their loss but hope and pray they will come to believe in the redeeming grace of pure spousal love between a man and a woman and pursue such Love as the Holy Grail of our mortal life. This is a personal belief not intended to belittle the lifestyle and loves of others who have chosen to live alone or in non-marital relationships, or those who have chosen an alternative same sex lifestyle.
“Love” is the essential ingredient in whatever lifestyle a person chooses. It transcends all judgmental norms if it is pure and true. For me it was found in my perfect marriage that produced the family of children and grandchildren that expanded that love exponentially. It is up to others to create their own perfect love and those who do will know of what I speak. Until then, love is an abstract theoretical concept.
Our society has begun to grasp these concepts as we implement civil union and same sex marriage laws. The Catholic Church is still struggling with the concept, but our new Pope Francis is leaning in the right direction on this issue. Hopefully, he will embrace the importance of women in the Church’s hierarchy as well. Until then, it seems hypocritical for an all-male priesthood to criticize the treatment of women under Sharia Law in the Islamic world.
There is a practical side of new love. Living in the “present” while making plans for the “future” and then working together to fulfill those dreams is a time honored ritual of young lovers. We were once innocent, unworldly young adults when everything was possible. Those vibrant and joyful years are mere memories for senior citizens. They cannot be recaptured, merely recalled. Living in the “present” for us older folks too often involves health, family and financial concerns as life’s fuse burns shorter. Planning for the future is of necessity a relatively short term enterprise involving retirement, access to healthcare and living on a budget that doesn’t include your earned income. Basically, the end game has come and there are diminished opportunities for the joy of dreams fulfilled— and then making and pursuing new dreams. For widows and widowers who had happy marriages, all this is transcended by an acute awareness of their own mortality. Their spouse has died! Doing this last act alone is even more desperate. How do you write a happy ending? That is my burden and it must be undertaken without the Love that brought joy to my life every day in the years past.


The Anglican Church believes the body of Charles Shepherd is buried underneath St Peter’s Church in Proston. Photo: Dafyd Martindale/South Burnett Online St Peter’s in Proston shut its doors last month after more than 70 years. Photo: Dafyd Martindale/South Burnett Online
For close to 80 years, the body of a reclusive Queensland grazier was presumed buried inside a church that was built with his life savings.
It seemed logical to think Charles Shepherd’s final resting place would be inside the church crypt – those were the instructions in his will, and they were reflected in church records.
Last month, the Anglican Church decided to close St Peter’s Church in Proston, located about 280 kilometres from Brisbane in the South Burnett region.
Bishop Cameron Venables, as part of the formalities, headed down to the crypt to locate Mr Shepherd’s casket.
“We opened it to find the crypt was empty, and in fact it must have been empty from day one. The only thing inside were some roof tiles,” Bishop Venables said.
The mystery of the missing grave was the chatter around Proston as locals tried to figure out where Mr Shepherd’s remains could be.
After an article was published on South Burnett Online, Bishop Venables believes the mystery may be close to being solved.
Mr Shepherd, who was a recluse with no current living relatives, was buried in the local cemetery in 1935. His body was dug up two years later and that is where things become a little unclear.
However Bishop Venables said a 100-year-old Proston local had come forward to say he remembered the day the body was shifted to the church.
“In this particular case, it looks like the casket is under the floor of the church in the ground and sufficient time has elapsed for there to be no signs of where that is. The inference seems to be it is under the church,” he said.
It means the Anglican Church will patiently scour underneath the building until, they expect, the casket is found. It could take several months.
Once found, Mr Shepherd’s remains will be shifted back to the same Proston cemetery from where they were disinterred almost eight decades ago.
Bishop Venables said St Peter’s Church had become a victim of the times, with its congregation numbers dropping to one or two each month.
“When it was built Proston was a big and thriving place,” he said.
“There were seven fuel stations and butcher shops, and the railway was built to the town. The church was built with a sense that it was going to continue to thrive and grow. But Proston hasn’t flourished, the demographic situation has changed.”
Indeed, according to the 2011 census, the town’s population was hovering around 500.
Bishop Venables believes St Peter’s Church will either be re-located or used as a local community hall.
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This story Administrator ready to work first appeared on 苏州美甲美睫培训学校.


The Cathedral of Matera is dedicated to Maria Santissima della Bruna and Saint Eustace and is situated in the Civita few steps far from the Residence San Gennaro. The construction works started in 1230, in place of the Benedictine Monastery of Saint Eustace. The base was made 6 meters higher so it could dominate the Civita and Sassi from above, and for this reason you can see the Cathedral from every part of the ancient city.
In the central facade there is a Romaneque rose window, surmounted by the Archangel Michael, which recalls the concept of the wheel of fortune. In the tympanum of the main door there is the statue of the Madonna della Bruna that during the Festival in honour of the Patron Saint is carried in a procession along the streets of the city. The 52 meters tall steeple overhangs the both Sassi, Caveoso and Barisano.
The interior of the Cathedral is a latin cross with aisles divided by round arches. On the ‘Bruna‘ altar is situated a valuable fresco in byzantine style representing the Madonna della Bruna with Child.
On the night of 2 July the float moves towards the town and arrives in Piazza Duomo where it leaves the statue of the Virgin and make three turns of the square to symbolize that the city belongs to her Patron Saint. At the end of the three turns it returns to the center of Piazza Vittorio Veneto where in the frenzy, the crowd of spectators rips papier machè relics off the chariot which is completely destroyed in a matter of seconds.
Many people don’t know that there are two statues of ‘Madonna della Bruna’, one called the “Brave” because is used during the float procession through the streets of the city, and the other called the “Coward” that remains in the Cathedral exhibited for the veneration of the faithful.


OUR 141 YEAR HISTORY
Beargrass Missionary Baptist Church's 141 Year History
One hundred and forty (140) years ago (February 8, 1880) the Beargrass Baptist Church was organized in a two room cottage at Guetig (at the time an area of St. Matthews). It all began with a small group of African American men who wanted to have a church of worship in their own community. The early membership included William Pendergrast, Oliver Fountain, Edward Humble, Ed Dickerson, Robert Jackson and Thomas Jackson.
The officers were Henry D. Cox, Jr.; clerk, Cicero Strickland, James Lawrence, and Richmond White as deacons. Rev. Elijah P. Marrs was the pastor. (The 1880 stone cornerstone is now in the vestibule of our current church).
In 1889 Rev. Marrs purchased Lot Number 54 of the Raymond Subdivision at Jane and Payne Streets. He and his wife Bettie sold the lot to Beargrass in 1890. It was during the same year that the church became officially incorporated. The cornerstone was laid by Rev. D.A. Gaddie, pastor of Green Street Baptist Church, on May 18, 1890. Our church, at its current site, was the first African American Baptist church built in the Clifton community.
Rev. Marrs helped to establish and became the first administrator of State University (now Simmons College of Kentucky). He is credited with being the organizer of Louisville's Pleasant View Baptist Church and Marrs Memorial Baptist Church. Under Rev. Marrs' leadership the membership at Beargrass grew. He served faithfully for thirty years until his death on August 30, 1910.
Over the years other ministers followed who preached the Word and the membership increased. These included Reverends J.W. Lewis (1880-abt. 7 weeks), G.W. Ward (1911-1922), G.H. Winstead (1922-1929), C.A. Saunders (1930-1936), C.H. Owens (1937-1942) and W.H. Sullivan (1942-1959).
A building fund was started by Acting Pastor J. Purvis (1959-1960). Thereafter when Rev. B.T. Bishop became the minister, he and the church members built the fund to the sum of $35,000. The Church had no trouble getting a loan for $30,000 more to build a new house of worship. Plans were then drawn and a committee selected to erect our present building. Rev. Bishop, who had served from 1960 through 1966, resigned to accept the leadership at First Baptist Church of Elizabethtown, KY.
On July 3, 1966, Rev. Joe Brown was selected as Acting Pastor. He served the church faithfully and was the minister during the construction of our present building. On November 4, 1966, Rev. C.C. Wood accepted the pastorate. The old building was raised and a new one started. During the construction, our church worship services were held at the Simmons Bible College (now Simmons College of Kentucky). On December 18, 1966, a motorcade of members singing “We’re Marching to Zion" left Simmons traveling to our new church where we had our first worship and Lord's Supper. Rev. Wood later resigned to become the pastor of a church in Indianapolis, IN.
Rev. Brown again served as Acting Pastor until God sent us Rev. Charles H. Duncan who was unanimously chosen by the members. He became our pastor on November 3, 1968. Thanks to Mrs. W. G. GIies, a benefactor, the mortgage burning was held February of 1973. In March of 1985, after seventeen years as our pastor, Rev. Duncan accepted the call to become the pastor of the First Virginia Avenue Baptist Church. He did not leave until the congregation had selected another minister. We were blessed to have one unanimously selected by the church from our own membership.
Rev. Calvin D. White was officially installed on July 14, 1985. Under Rev. White's leadership, the church grew in membership and financially. Additional properties were acquired for church use and financial assistance was provided for the building of sister churches in Ghana and Nigeria West Africa. Rev. White, after eighteen years of service, on June 2, 2003 announced his retirement and moved with his wife Patricia to Hampton, Virginia. The Lord called him back Into service in 2005 as the minister of Union Bethel Baptist Church (Chesapeake, VA) until his death in 2011.
Rev. James Hinkle, a member and an Associate Pastor of Beargrass - upon the recommendation of Pastor White and the consensus of the entire church - became our Interim pastor in 2003. We saw him respond to the call which he had prepared for under the leadership of both Rev. Duncan and Rev. White. The membership and financial contributions continued to grow under the leadership of Rev. Hinkle. We thank God for his year of leadership and the work he continued to do at our church.
In November of 2004, Rev. Matthew E. Smyzer, Jr. formerly of Zion Hill Baptist Church of Park City, KY became the pastor of Beargrass. In June of 2006, Rev. Smyzer, Rev. Dr. Ogedl Omenyinma, Deacon Dennis White - both also of Beargrass - traveled to Nigeria to see the progress of the new church under construction with financial assistance from Beargrass and Union Bethel Baptist Church of Virginia. Since that time - including 2020 - Dr. Rev. Omenyinma has returned to Africa with some contributions from church members to help finalize the construction of the Umuod Village Church In Nigeria
Under Rev. Smyzer's leadership, 5.3 acres of land has been contracted for purchase at 5101 Fegenbush Lane for the future building of a new church sanctuary. New members, by baptism, as the result of souls being saved through the Lord's work has increased our church membership.
In 2019 the women's restroom was beautifully remodeled bringing great joy to the women of the church!
Our prayer is that the Beargrass family and all who come to know her will continue to grow in Jesus Christ and live His teachings so that others will come to know Him also. This ls our prayerful mission and has been since 1880. We will continue this mission until Jesus Christ comes again.
J.L White -Acting Historian 2020


Windows into Palestine is a 3-day festival in Minneapolis, celebrating the art, culture, and people of Palestine.
This collaboration between Bright Stars of Bethlehem, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Bethlehem Lutheran Church Foundation, and Lord of Life Lutheran Church includes art exhibits, musical performances, film screenings, cooking demonstrations and more! Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb will be presenting at several of the events.
On Wednesday, May 16, at 6pm Lord of Life Lutheran Church is hosting a free speaking event with Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb. Learn More Note: this event is not officially part of the Windows into Palestine Festival.
See Windows into Palestine website for Full Program Schedule
Thursday, May 17
11:30-1pm Festival Kick-off!
Featuring Palestinian Soccer Star Honey Thaljieh, George Lamman ensemble, Mediterranean reception
5-6:30pm “Windows of Hope” Art Exhibition Opening Reception
Featuring Palestinian art, live music, and refreshments
6pm Film Screening of The Wanted 18
A comical stop-motion animation that tells the story, of a small Palestinian town that started a local dairy industry during the First Intifada. Presented by Munir Nassar, who is the son of one of the film’s main characters. Discussion following screening.
6:30-8pm Musical Performances by Georges Lammam Ensemble
8pm Iftar Dinner
Friday, May 18
11am-1pm al Fresco concert with Georges Lammam Ensemble on Nicollet Plaza
1-3pm Film Screenings
3:30-5:30 Chef Showcase
Saturday, May 19
12pm-6pm Movie Marathon
6:15pm Celebration Dinner for Bright Stars
The weekend’s festivities culminate in a celebratory evening featuring four-course dinner, live auction and presentation by Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb. Tickets purchased raise funds for scholarship in Palestine. Learn more and register here.


The Rev. Dr. Charles McGathy, “Chuck” to most who know him, takes a look at an audio book that tackles one of the most difficult books in the Bible – and some of the most difficult questions for struggling human beings.
By Charles McGathy
THE BOOK OF JOB: When Bad Things Happened to a Good Person. By Harold S. Kushner. Random House Audio. 6 hours; 5 CDs. $30.
Unlike with many audio books, the author Rabbi Harold Kushner reads his own unabridged commentary on the Book of Job. His soothing, pastoral voice lends comfort to this work, a work that is, after all, about suffering. And perhaps no other voice is as well respected as Kushner’s because of his own story of suffering (he had a son die of a rare disease) as well as his best-selling When Bad Things Happen to Good People.
What he does in The Book of Job is provide commentary (in Hebrew, midrash) on the Biblical Book of Job. Using the best sources available plus his own observations and interpretations, Kushner examines Job from beginning to end to try to make theological sense of this beautiful and sometimes puzzling piece of literature. The final result is that one cannot help but feel uplifted about both the nature of God and humankind as the rabbi explores a plausible and optimistic interpretation of Job.
This book is for everyone because everyone will suffer. And if in that suffering the question, “Why, God?” is ever asked, then understanding and embracing the God of love will make all the difference. Harold Kushner believes in and points to that kind of God. But, and perhaps most important, Kushner provides a challenge to suffering humanity as well. Job is, after all a book about us.
“Who will we be; how shall we act when suffering besets us?” That is Kushner’s way of moving the listener into a consideration of how in our suffering, and especially in our alleviation of the suffering of others, we find our humanity. Because of Kushner’s insight and comforting presence, this is an audio book worth listening to again and again.
- Chuck McGathy, a retired Navy chaplain, is the pastor of First Baptist Church of Madison, N.C.


LOMPOC, Calif. – A California bill advancing in the state Senate would require clergymen to report child abuse, even if they learn of it in confession.
Leaders of the Catholic Church claim the legislation would violate their freedom of religion.
Father Joy Lawrence Santos, of the Queen of Angels Church in Lompoc, says confession is one of the most sacred sacraments of the church.
“It’s all about God’s love, God’s mercy and forgiveness.”
Lawrence Santos says when a parishioner opens up to him about their sins, it stays between them and God.
“They confess, and then we give the pennant absolution. We cannot reveal anything that was confessed.”
SB 360 proposes to change that if a confession involves child abuse or neglect.
“This bill would level the playing field by holding [clergymen] to the same standard as every other mandated reporter,” explained the bill’s author, State Senator Jerry Hill.
In California, there are 46 categories of mandated reporters including teachers, therapists, doctors, peace officers, and even priests. However, current law exempts them from reporting abuse if it is disclosed in penitentiary confession.
The San Mateo senator accuses the church of exploiting this exemption.
“Members of the clergy have confessed to other members of the clergy about their abusive behavior or the fact that they know of someone who is abused and that has gone ignored.”
The Lompoc priest insists the legislation infringes his freedom of religion.
“The information received by a priest in confession doesn’t belong to him, it belongs to God alone.”
Senator Hill says no freedoms are absolute.
“I mean in freedom of speech, you can’t walk into a crowded movie theater and yell ‘fire!’ Polygamy is not legal and there are some religious practices that condone or promote polygamy.”
According to Father Lawrence Santos, if priests do learn of wrongdoing in confession, they can provide advice. However, he adds that it is ultimately between the penitent and God, and it is up to the offender to come forward.
The Appropriations Commitee is set to discuss the legislation over the following week. If signed into law, California would join 12 other states in removing clergy exemption from mandatory reporting laws.
On Thursday, Pope Francis issued a statement requiring men and women of the cloth to report clergy sex abuse and cover-ups to church authorities.
The letter does not address penitentiary confessions, but it does ask priests and nuns to adhere to state laws:
“The crimes of sexual abuse offend Our Lord, cause physical, psychological and spiritual damage to the victims and harm the community of the faithful. In order that these phenomena, in all their forms, never happen again, a continuous and profound conversion of hearts is needed, attested by concrete and effective actions that involve everyone in the Church, so that personal sanctity and moral commitment can contribute to promoting the full credibility of the Gospel message and the effectiveness of the Church’s mission….
These norms apply without prejudice to the rights and obligations established in each place by state laws.”
Thursday’s statement is Francis’ latest effort to hold Catholic leaders accountable for their role in the number of sex abuse scandals plaguing the religion’s reputation.
Central Coast counselors say child abuse is heavily under reported.
“It’s definitely a national crisis,” said Heather Guthrie-Knowless, director of counsel at Stand Strong in San Luis Obispo (formerly the Women’s Shelter). “I think that there’s a lot of folks that feel like it’s a behind closed doors kind of problem.”
The agency offers victims shelter, legal help, and therapy.
“With very very young children we employ things like thera-play, where they work out their trauma through play,” Guthrie-Knowless says.
The experts explains signs of abuse will vary, but could involve a drastic change of behavior in minors.
“For some children it might be like a change in their grades.”


Some say there should be a theology on women. The zeitgeist says it’s time to develop a robust one. Should its starting point be the Son of God? No. Mary? No. Sophia? Yes. And here’s why.
The Father did Creation. But it is Sophia who sets up the relationships once Creation is done. Who is she? She is that part of the Father that has to do with his wisdom. The Old Testament was translated into Greek many years before Christ. Wisdom in Greek is the word Sophia, a female noun. She is described in Proverbs 8. Below is what she does.
She sets up our relationships—the relationship we have with ourselves, our family and friends, the stranger, and the natural world. Sophia, also called Woman Wisdom, is the glue that holds the moral order together, an order that is highly interconnected, a spider web of personal relationships where each creature affects every other, positively or negatively. Woman Wisdom becomes a “dynamic, relational reality within creation that is personified.”  Relatedness is the fundamental character of creation with Woman Wisdom as the “relational infrastructure” of creation. In other words, there is something basic about the very structure of creation that can be properly understood in relational terms only, and for us humans, only in personal terms. Through Woman Wisdom, all creatures are related to every other creature for the benefit of all. Our efforts to understand the variety of relationships that God has built into his created order will more closely attune us to his desires for us and our world.
Surprisingly, disorder can play a positive role in a world built around relationships. “Moreover, disorderly elements are inherent in wisdom (as with persons); such disorder is essential for creativity, growth, and the emergence of genuine novelty. As such, elements of disorder are necessary for wisdom’s ways to be truly benevolent.”  Disorder coupled with the dynamic character of Woman Wisdom as a dynamic, relational reality, means that wisdom for us is a process of always learning more. We need to be on the lookout where wisdom might be found; where it will show up next.
Woman Wisdom delights in us and our world (v. 31). “Wisdom does not set absolute standards or norms; Wisdom does not fix life in place … she is always ready to take new experience into account, recognizing that God may be about new things for new times and places.”  For the most part, these experiences come from us. Through our unbound free will, unbound reason, unbound power, and unbound service to others, we can modify old relationships or design new ones and propose them to Woman Wisdom for her acceptance. It is our initiative which brings about this dynamic quality of Woman Wisdom as God’s ordering power. Disorder, as understood here, is a positive force that becomes the catchword under which Woman Wisdom changes her inventory of proper relationships.
In summary, the starting point for a theology on women is the Father, or more accurately, that part of the Father which has to do with his wisdom. That part of the Father is female. Her name is Sophia.
 Terence E. Fretheim, God and World in the Old Testament: A Relational Theology of Creation (Nashville, TN: Abington Press, 2005), 207.
 Ibid., 209.
 Ibid., 209.
 Ibid., 209-210.
 Ibid., 218.
The above is an extract from the chapter “The Personification Sophia” in my book The Prodigal Son Revisited: Exit and Return of Angels, Humans, and the Trinity.


So we are coming home from the doctor yesterday, Will has strep, and he is quietly riding in the back seat, when the following conversation occurs.
Will: "Mom, did you know that I love God?"
Me:"I thought so Will, but I am really glad to know that you do."
Will: "Mom, it makes me sad that not everybody loves God."
Me: "I know Will, me too."
I was in awe! What a precious child! He went on to tell me about about a boy in his class, we will call him J. J is some what of a hand full. Anyway, Will has been praying for him. He is praying that God will help him make the right choices. He said God answered his prayer one day last week, J went all day with no card pulled. Will was so excited that God heard his prayer. I feel so blessed that God has placed church teachers in Will's life that have him excited about praying for his friends. I always love when my kids teach me something and yesterday was no exception. I am truly blessed...