The Reformation of the 16th and early 17th Century had a profound and lasting impact on Christianity, especially (but not exclusively) in Europe. Whether you have religious beliefs or not, and no matter what those beliefs are, it’s hard to deny the influence of the Reformation on politics, culture, economics and much more.
It’s not surprising that such a significant change would also find its way into crime fiction. The Reformation affected (still does) everyday life in so many ways that it seems natural that we would see it in the genre.
C.J. Sansom’s Mathew Shardlake, for instance, is a London attorney who lives and works in Tudor London, during the reign of King Henry VIII. The Church of England has been established as the official religion of the kingdom, and the king is determined to remove ‘popery’ – allegiance to the Roman Catholic Church. In fact, that’s one of the main themes of Dissolution, the first in this series. In it, Shardlake is commissioned to travel to a monastery in Swansea to investigate the murder of a man named Robin Singleton. He’d been sent to oversee the dissolution of that monastery, and the delivery of its property and money to the king. The first and most likely explanation is that someone at the monastery killed Singleton to prevent his completing his mission. But, as Shardlake finds out, there are certainly other possibilities. As the series goes on, we see just how important and controversial a topic religion and the Church of England are in Henry VIII’s England.
We see that also in Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall, which also takes place during Henry VIII’s reign. This is the fictional retelling of the story of Thomas Cromwell, one of the king’s most trusted advisors. Mostly through his eyes, we see how the king consolidated power and declared England free of allegiance to the Roman Catholic Church. Cromwell acquired a great deal of power and authority, but it was a very dangerous time. If you know your history, you know that not even the king’s ‘inner circle’ was safe. Among other things, this novel takes an interesting look at the controversy surrounding religion, and the impact the Reformation was having on society. It’s not, strictly speaking, a crime novel. Even so, several crimes are committed in the course of the story.
Shona MacLean (now writing as S.G. MacLean) also provides an interesting perspective on the Reformation in her Alexander Seaton novels. Beginning with The Redemption of Alexander Seaton, the series tells the story of Seaton, who is a teacher in 17th Century Banff, Scotland. It’s a fiercely Protestant place, and there’s quite a lot of concern, even fear, of Roman Catholic plots to take over the country. All of this figures into The Redemption of Alexander Seaton, in which the local apothecary’s assistant, Patrick Davidson, is poisoned. The music master, Charles Thom, is accused of the murder and even imprisoned. He says that he is innocent, and he asks his friend Seaton to clear his name. As Seaton starts to ask questions, he learns that Davidson might have been supplying maps to Scotland’s enemy, Spain. And Spain’s king would like nothing more than to bring Scotland back to the Catholic Church. If Davidson did provide aid to Spain, and anyone found out about it, that would be more than sufficient motive for killing him. Seaton finds that there are other possibilities, too. This isn’t an easy mystery to solve, and Seaton runs into danger as he investigates.
Marian Babson’s Untimely Guest, published in 1976, is the story of a large Irish family led by a tyrannical matriarch known as Mam. The real action in the story begins when the oldest daughter, Bridget ‘Bridie,’ returns from the convent where she’s been for ten years. She tells the family she had to leave because the convent was closing, and Mam’s prepared to accept that story. But there’s more to the story than that. Meanwhile, Bridie’s brothers, Kevin and Patrick, have both married Protestant women (Eleanor and Carmel, respectively). The fact that they’re not Catholic makes them, in a very real sense, outsiders. And it certainly doesn’t do much to ease tension. Against this backdrop, another sister, DeeDee, also returns to the ‘family fold’ to introduce her new fiancé, James. That fact adds even more tension, since she divorced her first husband, Terence. He doesn’t accept the fact of their divorce, and still considers them married. So does Mam. One evening, DeeDee is killed by a fall (or push?) down a staircase. As it happens, several members of the family were on hand at the time, so there is more than one suspect and motive. As we slowly learn the truth, it’s interesting to see how the fact of the Catholic/Protestant divide plays out at the so-called micro level.
The Reformation is also one of the factors that has impacted relations between the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland. The Troubles of the last few decades of the 20th Century had several underlying causes, political, economic, religious, and more. But one critical factor was the schism between Protestants and Roman Catholics. Even today, there are echoes of the tragedy of the Troubles. And we see that in several crime fiction novels and series. Brian McGilloway, Stuart Neville, Adrian McKinty, and Claire McGowan are just a few of the authors who have placed their novels in Northern Ireland or at the border. In those novels, we see the powerful loyalties people have to one or another group, and we see how the Reformation has impacted lives, even centuries later.
When you think of the Reformation, you might not automatically think of its impact today. But it still has one. And it’s not a surprise to see that such a major event also impacts crime fiction. These are a few examples. I know you’ll think of more.
*NOTE: The title of this post is a line from Tommy Sands’ There Were Roses.


Today, many people are looking behind the facades
of buildings and are asking for substance. When it comes to spiritual
life, they have deep penetrating questions that need insight. These
insights come from the Word of God, the Bible. A book that has stood
the test of time and provided millions, from all walks of life, the
guidance and comfort on which to live their lives.
If this is you, it is time for you to reconnect with
the substance of this ancient Book, and rediscover its wisdom and
guidance for your Christian life.
Prince of Peace now provides two Bible studies at
the church Sunday mornings at 9:00 am, preceding the Service. These
studies are in addition to two other Small Group studies, held later
on during the week. The Sunday study for adults will feature a new
topic each week, covering subjects from the Old and New Testament.
Childcare is available, call for locations and directions.
Sunday, 9:00 - 10:00 am Old and New Testament highlights
Sunday, 9:00 - 10:00 am Youth - Prophecies of Jesus
Tuesdays 7:00 - 9:00 pm (Galatians) Saturdays 6:00 - 8:00 pm (Youth
Saturdays 6:00 - 8:00 pm (Acts)
Come early on Saturday for a 4:00 - 6:00 pm fellowship swim!
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
Sunday at 10:00 am
CASTAIC MIDDLE SCHOOL
28900 Hillcrest Parkway
(Top of the Hill)
Castaic, CA. 91384
Phone: (661) 294-0621


Festive Chapel Choir Service
Chapel Choir Evensong at Peterborough Cathedral – Wednesday 7 December 2022
Report from Mr Brain, Head of Music:
The Autumn Term proved a busy time for Chapel Choir, singing for Speech Day and going on tour to Norfolk. It was a delight to be able to take the Choir to sing for Choral Evensong which is not only a beautiful and reflective religious service, its also part of our cultural heritage, linking together 16th Century language and theology with music and prayer.
The Choir were in excellent and excitable form, despite the cold weather, working very hard to prepare and sing the music to the required high standard. There was a lot for the children to do between processing around the large gothic cathedral and navigating their way between six separate times of music to sing. Accompanying the Choir from the Organ was our very own Fr. Toby, who in addition to being our school Chaplain is a talented Organ player in his own right. This was the first time Fr. Toby had played the Cathedral Organ, which is a very large and complicated instrument. Fr. Toby soon got the measure of the Organ and had a wonderful time accompanying the Choir.
As part of the service, the Choir had to sing Psalm 14, the Magnificat, Nunc Dimittis, and an anthem, which all form part of the daily office. The Psalms are rotated during the course of each month so that a portion of them are sung every day. The Mangificat (the song of Mary) and Nunc Dimittis (the song of Simeon) are always treated as a pair for this service and are referred to as the evening canticles. There are hundreds of different settings. The setting the Choir sang on this occasion were by the Twentieth Century composer George Dyson in the key of C minor. Although set for unison treble/soprano voices, they are a dramatic and energetic set of canticles which are a favourite of the current Sixth Form choristers.
Our anthem was called The Truth from Above by another Twentieth Century composer, Ralph Vaughan Williams. The text is highly appropriate for the season of Advent and the tune is regarded as a classic for this time of the year. The text relates first to the Adam and the ‘Fall of Man’ in the Garden of Eden before reflecting on the hope that this later gives to us all by the birth of Jesus.
The Choir sang very well indeed, and I was very proud of them all. Our visit was made all the more special by the fantastic support given to us by all the parents who came to Evensong to support us.


Who We Are - You are always welcome at First Lutheran. You will hear this as you are greeted at our Worship Services. So welcome, young and old, rich and poor, all races, all genders, all believers, all people!
New Members - Thank you for your interest in the community that is First Lutheran Church - your participation is a gift to us.
Our Church - Welcome to First Lutheran Church. We are a small-town church with a big heart.
Serve - It’s easy to get involved, and you’ll love the way God will utilize you as you serve Him here at First Lutheran Church.
Living the unconditional Grace & Love of Jesus Christ in the world.
1. Whether you are vaccinated or unvaccinated, First Lutheran Church Council is strongly recommending all people wear masks indoors. Please consider wearing a mask when you attend worship at First Lutheran for your own protection and that of your neighbors.
2. Socially distanced seating will remain in the gathering area.
3. Singing continues.
4. Communion will be offered in a wafer and grape juice communion kit.
5. Offering plates will be located in the gathering area. Please place your offering in the plates when you enter or leave worship.


Upcoming Events in the GTA
Looking for your life's purpose?
Greater Toronto Apostolics welcome you.
Who are we? Apostolics are Christians committed to the teachings and practices of Jesus Christ and his apostles. We’re embarked on the path of salvation as outlined in the Bible, in Acts 2:38 – repenting from sinful lifestyles, being baptized on Jesus’ name, and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit to empower a totally new way of living.
Across the Greater Toronto Area there are churches large and small, youth groups and seniors, Bible studies, sports teams, hot bands, activities for children and quiet places of prayer awaiting you.
People connect with Greater Toronto Apostolics for a variety of reasons. Perhaps you have recently relocated to the Toronto area. Perhaps there’s an exciting event upcoming, like a marriage or the birth of a child. Or you could be going through one of life’s passages where the need to reach out to God is so very real.
Through this site you can access information on churches, people, programs and services in your community. Click on any of the choices above to explore a new world of worship, friendship, spiritual growth and opportunities to serve.


When I entered the room, I expected to see a woman in the bed. Instead, the patient looked like a frail, nearly bald man with bad teeth and unruly chin hairs. I thought I must have the wrong room.
“Hi, I’m Teresa McRoberts,” I began, “I am one of the chaplains here.
I am looking for Mrs. Staples?” (not her real name)
“Yes, that’s mama,” said a woman standing by the bed.
“Whoa,” I thought, “It is a female patient—bald head, chin hairs and all.”
In this moment, seeing others took on a spiritual dimension to me. During the months I journeyed with Mrs. Staples, I learned the significance of truly seeing others. One theologian asserts "it is only in relation to others that we exist as persons." Our knowledge of each other and ourselves can be realized only through the mutual self-revelation that is shared "when we love one another." The more I saw Mrs. Staples, the less like a frail balding old man she appeared. My change in perspective revealed a woman, a mother, a grandmother, a widow, a wife, a lover. She actually looked different to me! When I looked at her face, even flushed with fever, I saw the hint of a smile rather than bad teeth. When she opened her eyes, I saw depth, humor, pain, curiosity, love—life!
When we truly see someone we convey a sense of value and significance to that person: you matter—your needs, wants, feelings, emotions, desires matter. Conveyed through our gifts of presence, time, listening, reacting, staying—and sometimespraying—is not ultimately that the person matters to us, but that the person matters to God. As we age, we are called to hear the words of a 12 year old boy written about his grandfather’s battle against Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS): “You have to remember that you are much more than your body,” and strive to see others in the light of God’s love.


Foster parents, we know how hard it can be to secure approved childcare for your little ones. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with Austin Ridge Bible Church in Southwest Austin to provide free childcare opportunities throughout the year.
Our next Foster Parent's Night Out is scheduled for September 16th from 5pm-8pm. Space will be limited, so be sure to sign up early! Dinner and activities will be provided for all of the kiddos.
VOLUNTEERS, we would love for you to join us for this event! There is a link to sign-up for you as well. Background checks will be required.
Please email us at email@example.com with any questions!


Americans on both sides of the isle noticed that Obama was skipping Rev Graham’s Funeral, now we know what he was doing instead & it explains a lot …
America News Central Reports: Many wondered why former President Barack Obama chose not to participate in any of the events honoring the Rev. Billy Graham this week. But while he didn’t find time for Graham, he did find time to go to Chicago to help promote his presidential library.
Graham had met with every president from Harry Truman to Obama, earning the name “Pastor to the Presidents.”
All the other living former presidents who were in good health found time to make it to an event honoring Graham.
From Western Journal:
As reported by The Western Journal, George W. Bush and his wife Laura traveled to Graham’s library in Charlotte on Monday to pay their respects to the late Christian leader.
Bush also came bearing greetings from his 93-year-old father George H.W. Bush — the nation’s 41st president — saying, “I know he wished he could come too, but he’s not moving around much these days, but his spirit and heart is here.”
Former President Jimmy Carter, also 93 and has experienced health challenges, sent his regrets.
Former President Bill Clinton, like George W. Bush, made the journey to Charlotte on Tuesday. Clinton told reporters that he first heard Graham preach in Little Rock, Arkansas, when the future politician was an 11-year-old boy. He said meeting him later as an adult was one of the most memorable events of his life.
Bill Clinton told the powerful story about how Graham insisted that his 1959 Little Rock crusade had to be integrated. He threatened to pull out if the city leaders didn’t agree.
The pastor became a strong supporter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s fight for racial equality.
“The ground at the foot of the cross is level, and it touches my heart when I see whites standing shoulder to shoulder with blacks at the cross,” Graham said.
Obama was “not planning to attend memorial services for the late evangelist Rev. Billy Graham this week,” according to the AP, but he did find time to make it to Chicago to help argue for the approval of his presidential library. After all, memorializing him is what’s important.
He’s getting blowback from the community who isn’t liking what they think the library may do to the neighborhood.
While he is not going to attend any events, he did tweet about Graham, saying, “Billy Graham was a humble servant who prayed for so many – and who, with wisdom and grace, gave hope and guidance to generations of Americans.” READ MORE


Read The Gospel According to John by D.A. Carson Free Online
Book Title: The Gospel According to John|
The author of the book: D.A. Carson
Format files: PDF
The size of the: 6.43 MB
Date of issue: December 20th 1990
ISBN 13: 9780802836830
Read full description of the books The Gospel According to John:In this solid evangelical commentary on John's Gospel, a respected Scripture expositor makes clear the flow of the text, engages a small but representative part of the massive secondary literature on John, shows how the Fourth Gospel contributes to biblical and systematic theology, and offers a consistent exposition of John as an evangelistic Gospel. The comprehensive introduction treats such matters as the authenticity, authorship, purpose, and structure of the Gospel.
Read information about the authorD.A. Carson is research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He has been at Trinity since 1978. Carson came to Trinity from the faculty of Northwest Baptist Theological Seminary in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he also served for two years as academic dean. He has served as assistant pastor and pastor and has done itinerant ministry in Canada and the United Kingdom. Carson received the Bachelor of Science in chemistry from McGill University, the Master of Divinity from Central Baptist Seminary in Toronto, and the Doctor of Philosophy in New Testament from the University of Cambridge. Carson is an active guest lecturer in academic and church settings around the world. He has written or edited about sixty books. He is a founding member and currently president of The Gospel Coalition. Carson and his wife, Joy, reside in Libertyville, Illinois. They have two adult children.
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Read EBOOK The Gospel According to John by D.A. Carson Online free


Elder Archie LeVias,Jr. was called to Pastor in 1989 right after the Lord healed him from back surgery. The Lord told him to come to Modesto and establish a church to be named Seed of Joy COGIC. God revealed, this name would represent the ingrowing power of the Holy Ghost to empower his people to become effective witnesses.
The Church was started in Pastor LeVias living room where weekly prayer and bible study was held. After a short time the Lord allowed this gathering to reach approximately 20, then the Lord spoke and said wait until the ministry is birthed in the hearts of the people. In January 1992, Pastor Levias and the congregation rented church facilities from the Church of God on Carver Road.
In April 1993, the Lord blessed Seed of Joy to lease/option facilities located at 3105 Carver Road. Within six months the Church was able to purchase this property with the support of our small congregation and assistance from our "Sister Church", Glad Tidings COGIC, and Eld. Jerry Macklin.
January 1996, the Lord blessed Pastor LeVias and congregation to move to 1313 Sylvan Meadows Dr. where God moved by his spirit,souls were revived,saved,healed and reclaimed. Later the church moved to 536 Kiernan Ave, Modesto California our present location.


- This event has passed.
Mass of the Holy Spirit at Westchester
September 13, 2022 @ 12:45 pm - 2:00 pm
The Mass of the Holy Spirit is a tradition among Jesuit academic institutions dating to 1548. At the mass we ask for the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit in the coming year. We pray that the spirit of the living God will guide all members of the Fordham community: our students, faculty, staff, and administrators through the year ahead. Lunch will follow. Please join us!


BARI, Italy – As Orthodox chants in Russian and the voice of the Ukrainian bishop echoed through the ancient crypt, worshipers lowered their heads wrapped in headscarves to the marble floor, held candles above their Cyrillic prayer books or wept under low stone arches.
All had come to pray at the tomb of Saint Nicholas, venerated by Orthodox Christians across the former Soviet bloc, in the basilica that bears his name in the port city of Bari, on Italy’s southern coast. Although more than 1,000 miles from the conflict in Ukraine and united in their reverence for the saint, the congregation of mostly women dressed in long winter coats created an eerily out of place diorama of all that binds and tears their ancestral heritage. homelands.
A woman wearing the yellow and blue colors of the Ukrainian flag said she had asked the saint for a miracle: to stop Russia’s invasion of her home country. A nearby Belarusian woman defended Russian President Vladimir V. Putin. Likewise the Serbian monk assisting the bishop in prayers. Russian worshipers in the choir refused to assign responsibility for the war.
“It’s a sin what Putin is doing,” said Lali Bubashvili, 50, a woman from Georgia, a former Soviet republic, who was sitting in a back seat, recalling Russia’s invasion there. “Years ago, we suffered the war. We know it’s a barbaric thing.
The relics believed to belong to Saint Nicholas were brought from present-day Turkey by sailors 1,000 years ago, and his bones have since been buried in Bari. Although the basilica that houses them is Roman Catholic, once a week it invites Orthodox worshipers to hold their own service using the crypt.
The presence of the relics has long made Bari an unusual pivot in relations between Italy and Russia and between the Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches.
In 2007, Mr. Putin himself came to Bari and knelt in front of the tomb of St. Nicholas, just as the faithful did during the prayer for peace. In 2009, Italy returned ownership of an Orthodox church named after St. Nicholas to Russia to strengthen ties with Moscow.
Years earlier, Mr Putin had donated a statue of the saint which stands in the square in front of the basilica, along with a signed plaque honoring “friendship and cooperation” dedicated to “citizens of Bari”.
But Mr. Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has made the ancient crypt, and the city around it, an unexpected satellite for the pain and bitterness of the conflict. On the streets of Bari, the war has caused tension between Ukrainian and Russian residents and headaches for local politicians.
Local people recently demanded the removal of the plaque bearing Mr. Putin’s dedication. Although the mayor of Bari, Antonio Decaro, last month brought yellow and blue flowers to the foot of the statue of Saint Nicholas in sympathy with Ukraine, he opposed the removal of the dedication, saying that it would undo a piece of history.
“They won’t take down Putin’s placard,” said Inna Honcharenko, 38, from Vinnytsia near Kiev, as she led volunteers collecting donations for Ukraine in another part of town. “There is too much of Russia’s hand here.”
She said the war had revealed ugly tensions between Eastern European neighbors in the city. The Russians walked past the collection center and said the Ukrainian flag hanging in front was only good for cleaning their shoes. She said vandals smashed her window and Russian friends in Bari stopped talking to her.
But the influx of help from Italians bringing pasta, rice, nappies, baby food, canned beans and more encouraged her. “From Italy we help our boys who are fighting for our people,” she said in front of a poster of Mr Putin that read “Killer” with a bloody handprint on his face.
Nearby, at the Emerald-Domed Russian Orthodox Church, a woman behind closed doors explained that the church, despite its usual opening hours, was now closed to visitors. “This is the territory of the Russian Federation,” she said.
The church priest, Viacheslav Bachin, refused to answer when asked about the war. He referred to the position of Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, who has often aligned himself with Mr Putin and who has moved from avoiding blaming the war in Ukraine to blaming the West.
In 2017, in an effort to improve relations between the Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches, Pope Francis loaned Patriarch Kirill some of the relics of St Nicholas, which left the church for the first time in around 1,000 years. . On the day the Lenten relic – believed to be the left rib closest to the heart of St Nicholas – arrived in Moscow, Mr Putin kissed the glass case that contained it.
In the basilica’s crypt last week, Father Bachin swung incense around the tomb, hanging from lanterns and icons, and Bishop Gedeon, a prominent Kiev Orthodox bishop whose first name is Yuriy Kharon, led the prayer. It seemed to send a message of reconciliation. But the bishop is a member of the Orthodox Church of the Russian Patriarchate in Ukraine.
In 2019, amid heightened tensions with Russia, Ukraine established its own autonomous Orthodox Church, altering a centuries-old religious tradition under which the Church in Kiev responded to Moscow. That year, the Ukrainian government expelled Bishop Gedeon and revoked his citizenship for actively supporting Russia’s armed aggression in the country.
Part of Mr. Putin’s reasoning for the war has been to accuse the Ukrainians, without evidence, of planning the “destruction” of the Moscow Patriarchate Church in Kyiv. The breakaway Ukrainian Orthodox Church vehemently denounced the Russian invasion as fratricide.
Russo-Ukrainian war: what you need to know
“We say peace to all, don’t judge each other,” Bishop Gedeon, whose Ukrainian citizenship was later restored by a court, said in an appeal for the end of the service. As congregants came out, he said it was essential to “not seek to complain” and to pray and push for dialogue.
But some worshipers in the crypt had a clear idea of who was to blame.
Larisa Dimetruk, 62, from Lutsk in northwestern Ukraine, said she had come to implore St Nicholas to make the Russians “arrest their president”.
“Only the people can stop it,” she said. “We did not come here to pray together. We came here for a miracle.
But some supported Mr. Putin. Larysa Makarava, 50, a Belarusian who lives in Bari, said that before the service she took her daughter, who was standing beside her, to the eye doctor, who said he thought Mr Putin was crazy. “I told him absolutely no. I opened his eyes,” she said, adding that Mr. Putin “is obliged to do this. He is not against the people.
Others simply felt torn and had no interest in talking politics.
“We’re all out of tears,” said Olga Sebekina, from St. Petersburg, Russia, who said her grandmother was Ukrainian and she still had family there. “Which side of my heart should break the most?” »
Heartbreak was in abundance throughout Bari during the war.
As volunteers at the collection center furiously cut tape and sealed care packages, a groan erupted from the back of the room, freezing everyone to the spot. Tatiana Shyrokykh, 58, sobbed as she stared at her phone and a video sent by a relative showing an attack on Chernihiv in northern Ukraine.
“My mother’s building,” she said, as she pointed to a gaping hole in a building, the fire smoldering in the streets and ambulances navigating through the rubble. The women wrapped their arms around her and comforted her, tears wetting their own eyes. A Ukrainian teenager in an Italia sweatshirt sat silently at a table, absent-mindedly taking duct tape from scissors.
After Ms Shyrokykh made a few calls home and caught her breath, she said her adult children were still living in Chernihiv, although she urged them to flee, and they had taken refuge underground.
Her daughter had asked her disabled mother to get into the tub and keep her head down, which she said was how she had survived when the attack happened and blew out the apartment window.
“All of Europe is afraid of Putin and does not want to do anything,” Ms Shyrokykh said, starting to cry again. “He goes against the whole world, like a God.”


We believe everyone can find a place at Antioch Christian Church. We are a multi-generational church for people from all walks of life. As a church, we apply the truth of the Bible to our everyday lives and share life together as a family.
Whether you’re completely new to church or just haven’t been involved for a while, we cannot wait to meet you! Come as you are and join us on Sundays where you can expect a friendly welcome, authentic worship, and relevant teaching.
Here are a few things to help you on Sunday:
Worship Service Times
We offer two worship services each Sunday morning at 8:45am and 11:00am. We celebrate the Lord’s Supper weekly and hear a Biblically grounded sermon in both services.
- Our 8:45 Classic Service is stylistically more traditional in the music we sing, drawing more from the hymnal and carefully selected choruses. The instrumentation is comprised of piano, flute, and light drums.
- Our 11:00 Contemporary Service uses a more modern approach in music style and format. Instruments regularly used are guitars, drums, bass, and keyboard, using choruses and hymns with a modern vibe.
Casual or Dressed Up?
Be comfortable. Whether you like to wear jeans and a t-shirt or a suit, you will fit in at ACC.
Bring a Bible, if you have one
If not, we have Bibles in the Sanctuary. You can also use our free WiFi and your Bible app.
You will receive a bulletin when you enter the Sanctuary for the worship service. Be sure and read it to see what events are happening around ACC. Please fill out the Connection Card (you will find it as a tear-out) to help you get better connected to our ACC family.
Children & Youth
There is a class for all children, birth through 5th grade. Click on the Ministries – Kidszone tab for more detailed information.
Nursery Care (Birth to Age 2): The nursery is available during both services. A Mother’s Lounge is located within the first set of sanctuary doors for private feeding.
Wee Worship (Age 3 to Kindergarten): This class meets during the entire worship service in the Beginners’ Room located off the Fellowship Hall.
Junior Church (1st thru 5th Grades): For our Classic Service, children will remain in the sanctuary for worship until after the offering prayer, then proceed to the Junior Church room. For our Contemporary Service, children are dismissed after communion.
Youth (6th -12th Grades) Junior High and High School students worship in the sanctuary with their families.
For families with children, we encourage you to arrive a few minutes early to check-in. The Kidszone Check-In Station is located at the far end of the foyer as you enter from the parking lot. We have a safe and secure system that gives you and your child a matching tag, so no one can pick your child up but you!
Communion is shared as a family each Sunday and is open to all believers.
8:45am Classic Service: As the tray is passed to you, you may take a piece of bread and a cup, return the empty cup to the tray, and pass it to the person next to you.
11:00am Contemporary Service: Since this service is a bit more informal, during the Communion time, you can come forward to the front of the sanctuary to one of the three tables with trays of bread and juice. Take a piece of the bread and a cup, return the empty cup to the tray, and return to your seat when you are done. Our praise band usually leads a song as the people in attendance come forward to take communion. Feel free to sing along or sit and meditate during the song.
If you have made ACC your home or you would like to help support God’s ministry through our church, you will have the opportunity to share your offering when the offering plates are passed in the 8:45 service. In the 11:00 service, offering plates are located on the tables along with the communion trays. You can leave an offering in the plate at the time you come forward to take communion.


I have asked elders to find scriptures that say gambling,. Bible say that gambling, drinking and dancing. that gambling, drinking and dancing are.I was reading in a bible and it said that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son to. Scripture Meditation on Gambling. Gambling; Your Prayers.Don't Bet On It: Gambling And The Christian Faith. What does the Bible say about gambling? Why should legalized gambling concern the Christian?.Beyond the Scriptural issues, Anderson and others reject gambling as bad social and governmental policy as well.This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of Salem Media Group.
Browse subject: Bible -- History of Biblical events | TheGambling and Lotteries. The Assemblies of God opposes gambling from a biblical. A careful study of the Scriptures indicates that gambling is a form of.Saving money systematically during our working years requires vision and discipline, and our country would be much better off if people would quit wasting their resources trying to get rich quick.
Prayers about Gambling - Knowing JesusRather, it is based on greed and the idea that our money is ours to do with as we please.Another reason that gambling is not mentioned specifically in the Bible is that there are times when it blends into entertainment in a manner that is neither harmful nor sinful.
So if a Christian participates in organized gambling, he is not just involved with harmless fun or entertainment, because the lives of people we should love as we love ourselves are being badly hurt.Latest Biblical Research Fresh articles delivered to your inbox to bless you.Gambling (playing the Lottery) is an activity, based on chance, in which one risks the loss of money or some other valuable in order to earn a reward.
Gambling vs. Scripture - Christian Voice
A Biblical approach to addictions. pornography and gambling. Who are the Addicts?. If Scripture doesn't guide us,.These Bible verses provide. There are no references to "dice" or "cards" in the Bible. The primary reference to gambling is in the "casting.
The Bible and Gambling – Selfishness. Matthew 22:34-40 records the answer of Christ to the question, "…which is the greatest commandment in the law?".Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to one and despise the other.
The Christadelphian Advocate - Question Box: Is gambling
The Scriptures themselves, however,. Since Holy Scripture does not declare gambling to be a sin, it's a risky bet to play holier-than-thou with God.What does the Bible say about gambling? Let's look at what the Bible says about gambling and the scripture texts that address the principles involved.
Bible Verses & Quotes About Taking Chances, Chance, TakingIs It a Sin for a Christian to Gamble?. The point of this article is that gambling is not biblical. Look for regular updates including Bible Verses, Bible.
J. Kerby Anderson, author, lecturer and adjunct professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, is in the latter camp and discerns guidance by contrasting the cornerstone principles of the Scriptures with those associated with gambling.by Dr. Robert J. Hitchens & Pastor Art Kohl: The Bible Speaks On Gambling. The following Bible Study is by Dr. Robert J. Hitchens, President, Maryland Baptist Bible.Escaping the Lies of Gambling Addiction - If you have had trouble with gambling, remember, the truth will set you free.
Another problem with participating in organized gambling like at casinos or the racetrack is that it supports the gambling industry, which is responsible for ruining countless lives.Remember that as you read these articles, the Holy Spirit will give you understanding and discernment to make the right decision for your walk with Jesus Christ.


Hi it’s Leslie Harris, and I hate that we are already talking about school supplies, but this does happen every July. We can make a difference for local kids.
There’s going to be a school supply drive this Saturday in Wheaton. The Little Red Truck ministry is a partnership between Hope Presbyterian Church in Wheaton and the Wheaton Police Department. Hope Presbyterian Church in Wheaton delivers supplies to Hope Presbyterian Church in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago, and began during the pandemic to get needed supplies to residents of that neighborhood. They have a food and/or supply drive every month.
This month, the focus is on school supplies, and the supply drive is this Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. until noon. Please bring loose leaf paper, spiral notebooks, construction paper, folders, pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners, erasers, crayons, markers, colored pencils, glue and child scissors to Hope Presbyterian Church, 1771 Weisbrook Road south, in Wheaton.Volunteers will deliver the supplies to Englewood.
Find out more about the Little Red Truck and the great work that they do HERE


Religious Emblem Awards
Learn about the meanings behind the Scout Emblems
A Scout is reverent. He is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties and respects the convictions of others in matters of custom and religion.
To encourage members to grow stronger in their faith, religious groups have developed the religious emblems programs listed in depth on the
Cub Scouts must obtain the specific workbook for their particular religious affiliation. Catholic and Protestant workbooks are available for sale at the pack meetings ($7 each). Should you wish to obtain a workbook for another faith please contact our religious emblem coordinators, Matt and Kwitka Peratt, at [email protected] or (323) 252-9117. Once the workbooks are completed you and your Cub Scout will need to schedule an appointment with your priest/minister/rabbi or other religious leader to go over the workbook and get them signed. After that you should turn them into Matt/Kwitka. All workbooks will be returned to you. For Catholics, the workbooks must be turned in by October 1st in order that the award can be presented at a special mass held the following January. Please allow enough time to finish the workbook and schedule the required meeting with your priest.
Upcoming PACK 227 Events
Camp Tahquitz 2024
41700 State Highway 38
April 26-28, 2024
Support Scouting Lemonade Stand
5341 Heil Ave., HB 92649
May 4, 2024 • 12pm - 3pm


December 16, 2018
Main Point: God is making divine appointments.
Ask: If God scheduled an appointment with you, would you meet him?
Scripture: Gal 4:4 & John 4:4
December 9, 2018
Finance Series: Part 4
Main Point: You are an answer to someone's prayer.
Ask: Are you enriched in EVERY way.?
Scripture: 2 Cor 9
December 2, 2018
Finance Series: Part 3
Main Point: Giving is a sacred service.
Ask: Is giving really that important to my spiritual growth?
Scripture: 2 Cor 8


We are truly living in the last, of the last says for sure folks. The Roman Catholic church conferred a Papal Knighthood on a Jewish Rabbi.
You can see the melding together of the professional religionists, as I like to call them, but it has NOTHING to do with the TRUE gospel of Jesus Christ at all.
If there is trouble on the horizon, who do you think the people are going to turn to?
They will turn to the professional religionists, especially the Pope who is usually on the front pages of the newspapers whenever he does anything at all. There is a propaganda of counterfeit and religious unity, but it is not of the Lord at all.
Related Study: What Does The Word Of God Say To Catholics?


C.S. Lewis is quoted,
“If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair.”
It makes me think or redemption and rebirth in Christ Jesus. To realize our desperate need of a Savior and willingness to humble ourselves in confession, repentance, and surrendering and trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ we must see our absolute filth to begin with, it’s a brutal image looking back at us in the mirror of the perfect law. But wow, praise God for the healing balm of the true Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ absolutely granting life, hope, and purpose in abundance!
At first you must die indeed but wow is the rebirth fantastic! (Seeking truth no matter its outcome, resulting in true joy in this case. Happiness is fun and all but rather shortsighted and tempts with immediate gratification over waiting for joy which is found “deeper” I’ve found).
We have a big attraction in our society today with immediate gratification and happiness. It’s all about feeling good and having that momentary high.
This has even crept into the Church sadly. We do not preach the utter depravity of humanity, our guilty standing before a holy and *gasp dare I say wrathful God. Nor “repent and believe ” as Christ Himself did, the Apostles, all believers, etc. Nah, try “buddy-Jesus,” He’ll make you feel happy, guilt free and religious to boot. Lord. Master, God, king…that makes me uncomfortable, I’ll stick with buddy.
I for one am terrified with what we have done with our Lord’s precious sacrifice and how we’ve neutered His message. Pick up your cross, sin, wrath, judgment, denial, servanthood, sacrifice, submission?! Nonsense!
Those things dont make me “happy” at all! So be it I suppose there will be much weeping and gnashing of teeth we’re told, and sadly, many hearing “away from me workers of iniquity I never knew you” (Matthew 7:23).
Please please please Church, wake up: stop softening the call of the gospel to make it more “appealing.” Our Lord will have none of it, and truthfully neither should we!
And no, I’m not denying the incredible joy, peace, hope and purpose that is ours in the Lord Jesus Christ in any way. Life is found in abundance in Christ Jesus: truly amazing, fantastic, incredible! When we preach a different message than our Lord did,
We’re preaching another Jesus entirely which is none at all: instead a figment of modern-imagination, or even worse the deceiver himself
If your friend gave you specific directions to get to his house and you decided to throw out the bits you didn’t like, how would that work out? Speed bumps, stop signs, radar, checkpoints, no thanks! Ahhhhhh, we want all to get to be with our lord and us as well, let us preach as we ought!
I’m writing this because it’s on my heart big time. I went and returned gospel tracts today and they looked at me like I was speaking nonsense: “no repentance, no mention of sin” i explained, not the full message. Who cares?! They say Jesus dead, buried and resurrected, right? And no I’m not being all “theological,” nor a “legalist.” Our lord Himself preached “repent and believe” (e.g. Mark 1:15). Read the Bible, repentance is mentioned a lot! Especially in Revelation…the reason why Christian’s shy away from it (sin is no joke to our Absolutely Holy God).
The Lord Jesus came to free us from sin, death, and the devil and reconcile us unto our God in utter holiness as He Himself is indeed holy. I will not hand out false comfort (soft-soap: warm, sparkly, smell good, feel good lies) to someone with a tract which offers a cure without mentioning the the disease and “proper dosing” per the cure that the Great Physician Himself directed!
‘I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish” (Luke 13:3).
“I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness” (John 12:46).
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1Peter 2:9).
Father God we praise and thank You for rebirth in Christ Jesus our lord. Yes Lord, the cost was tremendous to earn on our behalf and halfhearted nonsense is not what You’re after from us. Please forgive us for neutering Your message, please have mercy Lord Jesus. May the fulness of the message be preached fearlessly trusting in you to make the seed grow, not our “trimming of the message.” And as always, thank You for being faithful even when we are faithless, and for working Your purpose in spite of our weakness. we love, appreciate You Lord. We need You everyday, every second, always and forevermore. glory, honor, authority and praise is Yours and Yours alone, You expect and we should expect nothing less. In Jesus’ Precious name. Amen.


A Christ Centered Child, Loving God and Living in Obedience to Him.
To worship God and partner with parents, to evangelise children, nurture them and meet their dynamic needs.
About Children’s Church
Children’s church is a ministry for children at all our churches across the country. It is a fully fledged ministry.
The ministry has leaders in charge, as well as volunteers who coordinate the different age groups and children’s church teachers.
On Sundays, children’s church conducts sevices for children from Pre School to 13 years of age in the three morning services.
This church exists to worship God and nurture children’s faith through God’s word. Psalm 78:4-6 reminds us of the duty we have to teach children God’s word. In Deuteronomy 6:6-9, a description is given on how we ought to teach children God’s word. Children’s church therefore endeavours to nurture children’s faith through various activities.


By Margaret Deanesly
A vintage heritage of the church from the accession of Gregory the nice to the Reformation.
Read Online or Download A History of the Medieval Church: 590-1500 PDF
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Extra resources for A History of the Medieval Church: 590-1500
Stipends consisted of payment both in money and kind. Those of the higher clergy generally after the seventh century consisted of a grant for life of certain lands or vineyards. To turn from the clergy themselves to their churches and their work. In the seventh century “ecclesia” was used for a church building, but much more often for the clergy and people of a parochia, episcopal or rural. The commonest word for the church building was “basilica,” which had been originally used for a building of a certain architectural type, but was now used for a church of any shape.
Gregory required the actionarii also to be ecclesiastics in minor orders: and it was in the case of the Sicilian actionarii that he first allowed the tonsure to be given separately from a minor order—a practice of great importance to European civilisation later, (see Chapter II). Gregory was in constant touch with the officials of the patrimonies, forced upon them in several cases mitigation of custom in favour of the peasant, and impressed upon them diligence and righteous dealing. Not only the collection of the revenue, but its distribution was the subject of his anxious thought.


In the current 3ED of our book (out this month) we have extended a bit the consideration of religion in business ethics. After all, religion is a source of ‘right and wrong’ for a lot of people on earth.
However, the debate on religion has received an interesting twist recently with the way the Catholic Church has dealt with the child abuse cases, which have popped up recently in an unprecedented manner. The case shows that ‘business’ ethics, or more broadly, organizational ethics, is also a topic for a church.
In some ways, one could see the Catholic Church as the oldest and one of the largest ‘multinational corporations’ globally, with roughly 2,800 subsidiaries (dioceses) and 1.5bn members in nearly every country of the world. In some ways it is to no surprise that ethical infractions occur in such an organisation. Albeit that the current problems of the church are going beyond the normal ethical problems of MNCs and consist of criminal actions and human rights violations commited by their ‘executives’ (some of them senior), most notably towards children.
From a business ethics perspective, the current handling of the crisis by the official hierarchy of the church, most notably the Holy See, is questionable - to say the least. The effects on the ‘brand’ already now are disastrous. Looking at the classic tools of business ethics, such as codes of ethics, or reporting and auditing systems, the Catholic Church is virtually devoid of all these tools. But most crucially, every business ethics expert knows the pivotal role of ethical leadership – and it is here, where the Church has probably its biggest problems.
Apart from blaming all sorts of other factors, such as homosexuality (argued by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, No 2 after the Pope in the Church hierarchy) or the sexual revolution in general (by the German Bishop Walter Mixa, himself now accused of child abuse in his early years as a priest) the spotlight now focuses on Pope Benedict himself. There is ample ground for speculation that the Church has systematically obstructed justice towards offenders and has mostly attempted at covering up known cases of sexual and other abuse of children by Church officials. Even the letter of the Pope to the Irish Church is considered by many as too little too late, as it only deals with just one country, while the scandal now seems to be endemic in the church in many other countries, most notable the US, Germany and Austria.
In our book we take the simplistic starting point that ‘business ethics begins where the law ends’. For the Catholic Church this might become true in the opposite sense: Famous Oxford biologist Richard Dawkins and Vanity Fair columnist and author Christopher Hitchens have now hired lawyers in the UK to check whether the Pope himself could be arrested on the grounds of systematic cover up of criminal acts, once he visits the UK in September. However tantallizing the idea might be for some, one has to doubt whether they will be successful. But simply having a debate on legal implications of the scandal might finally accelerate thinking about change within the Church. It has happened before in many other cases of 'business' ethics. It will continue to be an interesting case. We keep you posted...


Our News And Events
In Jeremiah 7:22-24, God tells Israel that when he brought them out of Egypt, he didn’t speak to them concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices, but he did give them this command, “Obey my voice and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the...
Today on the winter solstice, the headlines read, “Christmas star is coming …” Jupiter and Saturn will be aligned such that it appears as one big star which has been called the “Christmas star.” This year has been a year unlike any other in recent memory and it will...
For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. Rom. 5.19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. John 17:19 In the networking...
6:30pm prayer – 7pm Bible Study
9:30am prayer – 10am Worship


Compassion International is a child-advocacy ministry that works to uplift children out of extreme poverty by providing long-term care. They give children life-saving opportunities to attend school, receive medical care, access nourishing food, live in a safe environment, and hear the gospel.
This organization partners with thousands of local churches in 25 different countries around the world. Their holistic child development model blends physical, social, economic, and spiritual care together to help children in poverty fully mature in every facet of life and escape generational poverty. They have supported millions of children!
BeltOutlet.com is proud to be a host for Compassion International centers in four different countries: Columbia, Nicaragua, Haiti, and Ecuador. These centers have directly impacted many families by providing services such as prenatal care, malnutrition treatment, caring for children, and supporting mothers.
A few members of our leadership team were lucky enough to have the opportunity to visit the people of Guatemala in the spring of 2023.
They experienced firsthand the difference Compassion International makes in these communities' lives. Their support is vital for families!
The community welcomed our team with open arms. They are so thankful for the services and support Compassion International provides.


I’M NEW HERE
Start your journey today
Start your journey today
We would love for you to visit our family
The Greater St. Matthew Church is rich in history and steep in the tradition of FAITH – and it’s FAITH that continues to be the force that moves the Greater St. Matthew Church Family. With a passion and zeal for helping a lost and hurting world, Greater St. Matthew Church is always looking for ways to build bridges to a troubled society. We stress cultural relevancy and utilize all medias and means to communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We’ve discovered over time that we must be intentional about how we serve God’s people and pass on our faith as a church — so we’ve targeted key areas that touch community in ways that extend God’s reach and allows the community to Experience God in a very real way.
One author puts it this way,”Watch to see where God is working and join Him in His work”… and that’s exactly what this church has done for the past 49 years … The Greater St. Matthew Church is rich in history and steep in the tradition of FAITH – and it’s FAITH that continues to be the force that moves this church family from Religion to Relationship.
There’s Room for You at the Saint!
Whether you’re just around the corner or across the country, we are excited to share with you what Greater St Matthew is all about. Feel free to navigate around the site to find out more information on the ministry of Greater St. Matthew Church.
Come by and check us out. We promise that when you arrive, you will be greeted with a warm smile. You’ll fit right in with our family-oriented, relaxed, comfortable setting. Visit us on the weekend during one of our 3 worship services in two locations. In addition, Greater Saint Matthew offers quite a few activities to connect with others. We’re certain once you’ve spent time with us you’ll say … It was Worth a Trip to the Saint!
We are one church in two locations— We Are Greater St. Matthew Church.
Another Option Thats
New, Fast, and Safe way to Give
1. Text “Give” to 936-209-8875
2. Once you text “Give”. Click the link and follow the instructions.
3. After you done, the next time you “Give” text the dollar amount to the number above and it will handle the rest.
Let’s be honest, who likes the laborious registration procedures, incomprehensible games or monotonous gaming sessions? GameTwist is THE ideal online casino for people who like to get straight to the point when it comes to free online slots with bonus rounds. From simple slots with three reels to complex casino games for real pros – we have everything you need for a long-lasting entertainment.


Announcing Living Praise’s new album – “Rebuilding the Temple of Praise”
Recorded live at the 2017 Magnificat International Leaders’ Conference in Anaheim, CA, join Living Praise in worship as we journey from the high praises into the depth of sacred adoration before the Lord. He is worthy of all our praise!
In our ministry, as our name implies, we desire to be “living praise,” sharing our unique expression of passionate worship for the Lord Jesus Christ. As we minister, we invite those whom we lead to encounter the Lord, and the power of His Holy Spirit, as we enter into His presence in praise and worship.
“Yet an hour is coming, and is already here, when authentic worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth. Indeed, it is just such worshippers the Father seeks. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and truth.”


Sacred Heart Schools Admissions Information Sessions
Welcome, Prospective Families!
“Coming to a Sacred Heart school, you have entered into a family and have come to a home.” This sentence begins one of Sacred Heart Schools’ guiding documents, “Life at the Sacred Heart.” We receive affirmation of this sense of community daily from parents, teachers, students and alumni. Sacred Heart’s education provides a tremendous academic program, coupled with an environment in which children (and their parents!) are known as individuals, thoughtfully cared for and loved for the rich gifts each brings to the community.
As a Catholic, independent PK-8 school, Sacred Heart benefits from both these identities. Our Catholic identity leads us to encourage each student to explore his or her relationship with God. As a Catholic school for families of all faiths, we enjoy the richness of the variety of faith traditions in our community and support each student’s deepening knowledge of their own faith.
As an independent school, Sacred Heart has the freedom to develop an innovative, flexible curriculum that challenges and inspires a wide range of learners. We hold ourselves to a high standard of academic excellence and ongoing evaluation of our programs.
Talk and Tour
Meet one-on-one with a member of the Admissions Team and take a personalized, virtual campus tour. We’ll introduce you to Sacred Heart and answer your questions in real-time.
For registration information, visit Sacred Heart Admissions.
Learn more about Sacred Heart Schools. Visit our website.


Dorsey's choir at Pilgrim Baptist Church. Courtesy Kathryn Dorsey and family.
By 1932, Dorsey's had already put together the first-ever gospel choir with Theodore Roosevelt Frye at Ebenezer Baptist Church and now he directed the choir at Pilgrim Baptist Church. In 1933, the first National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses was held at Pilgrim Baptist Church.
Within the next year, Dorsey established and expanded the institutions that would secure his place as a gospel legend. The growth of the Dorsey House of Music and the creation of the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses would demonstrate the power of Dorsey's commitment to gospel.


The Potluck Dinner & Annual Congregational Meeting is scheduled for today, Sunday, January 26, at Westminster Hall for the purpose of electing at-large members to the Nominating Committee and nominated members to Session, Deacons, and
Trustees; receiving the Annual Report; and conducting other appropriate business. Dinner is at 12:00 p.m. with the meeting immediately after, around 1:00 p.m.
If you are looking for a service to do for your church, please consider cooking a night for LOGOS. We have 2 dates (Feb. 5 & Mar. 4) that we need some help with meals. Find a friend or 2 or 3 and come help us. It can be simple or more extravagant. Please see Bonnie Ratcliff for more information:
Your 2020 Pledge envelopes are now available in the Parlour and ready for pickup. If you have not yet made a pledge, please consider doing so in the next few weeks. Pledge cards are available at the usher stations or through the church office.
All of our wonderful bakers are encouraged to consider baking and freezing for the Annual Chocolate Festival, set for Saturday, February 8, 2020, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
If you have a special birthday or anniversary you would like to celebrate with the church, please contact the church office at 252-6662.
If you have an address change, name change, email address or a new phone number, birth announcement, or marriage announcement, please contact the church office by email at firstname.lastname@example.org or call 816-252-6662. Thank you!
Week at a Glance


A little over a year ago, when we moved from Mexico to Main St., God promised healing rain. It has come, in abundance, and the ways He’s taught us, shaped us, and given us rest are recorded there. And when I read in His Word a few days ago, I felt that Solomon’s sentiments echoed my own: “Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise” (I Kings 8:56).
He has settled us here in our house on Main St. “Settled” on Earth is a somewhat relative term, but I often think of it as being a circumstance of peace and rest. Just as Heaven is a safe place, away from all possibility of fear and harm, our earthly homes should be a haven for our families – a place where God is always abiding with us. As a husband-and-wife team, we are slowly learning what it looks like to build up a house and raise up a family together, for the glory of God. There is a balance to find as we work to make our physical house a place we love to be, and to nurture a spiritual atmosphere in our home that will point our children to Christ.
In this chapter of I Kings, Solomon is dedicating and blessing the temple: a house he built of beautiful earthly things for the glory of God. In verse 13, we read these words of his to the Lord: “I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in forever”. Those are words that I want to be able to say to the Lord! I want to invite Him into our home, our family, and our hearts and offer a place where He will feel comfortable and welcome.
And so here it is: pictures and stories of toddler-hood, house projects, cooking and baking, sewing, reading, and inspiration from the Word as we work to create a settled place.


Come be a part of our family
People's Church of The Harvest
People’s Church of the Harvest knows that our strength lies not only in the words we stand by but most importantly through the actions of our initiatives. The Church has been an important pillar in the Greater Westside community since 1943.
Its mission is driven by its faith-based values and seeks to meet the spiritual and natural needs of people and to develop the human potential of Greater Westside Chicago residents, to attain a higher quality of life and a stronger sense of community.
People's Church endeavors to help residents become more self-sufficient and realize their self-worth. One of the covenants made with the Lord was to give back to the community, and with the vision the Lord has given to Pastor Michael Eaddy and First Lady Christine Eaddy it is being accomplished. Simply stated "Souls matter" to the People's Church of the Harvest.


Featuring Bath Philharmonia (conductor Jason Thornton); James Atkinson (baritone); Sam Hanson (organ); the Choir of St Peter’s Church; Bournemouth School Choir and players; and Bournemouth School for Girls Choir.
This very special event, presented by St Peter’s in partnership with Wave Arts Education and SoundStorm, explores the history of the Church and its Resurrection Chapel through music and display.
The Chapel was designed by renowned architect Sir Ninian Comper to commemorate the fallen of the parish in the First World War. The concert features Stone and Voice, a world premiere focussing on the Chapel’s heritage, alongside a performance of Faure’s Requiem with a 60 strong choir, soloists and Bath Philharmonia.
The evening will also see the launch of an exhibition within the Chapel, created by young people, working with Dorset History Centre, St Peter’s, and artist Martin Coyne. For this evening only, the Chapel exterior will also be illuminated by Martin.
Wed 18 Oct 17, 19:00
£12.00 adult £9.00 concessions
St Peter's Church, Hinton Road, Bournemouth BH1 2EE


I'll be back next week with another Make Something Monday party and a bunch of features...so stay tuned!
Until then...and on a much more serious note...This past weekend was the April 2012 General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
No pressure, of course! Just click on the links above if you are interested in finding out more about the Mormons or if you would like to listen to any of the talks that were given! :)
And I'd also like to leave you with this inspiring video presentation on the Resurrection of our Savior. I feel so blessed to have the knowledge of my Savior's love and atonement for me. It has blessed and shaped my life in so many ways.
Have a wonderful Easter!


You can give securely online on this page. You may also download the Shepherd Gate App where you can give and see all of your giving records in real time.
We do not pass the plate at Shepherd Gate Church. The Bible tells us to give with a cheerful heart. So, you will see that we have a giving stations in the exit of the sanctuary and throughout the building. If you prefer to give in person, you may give in the offering receptacles or scan the QR code to give securely online.


When I was a little boy growing up in Nigeria, I was often perplexed by the great poverty and want I saw in my country. We had been blessed with education and Christian faith, but many others around us lived on meager means and in dire need. Among the poorest of the poor lived a feeble, infirm old woman. She was all alone, without family or friends, totally desolate in the world. So lowly was she that no one would even empty the bucket she filled with her waste, and it sat reeking and gathering flies. When my father saw this, he went and took the bucket and emptied it for her, without a word.
But this made a deep impression on me, little boy that I was. That was the kind of man I wanted to be; a man like my father, a man like Jesus. God has blessed me all my life, first in Nigeria and then bringing me to the United States, when I have had a successful career as a civil engineer. But I have never forgotten that incident with my father and the old woman. I have never been able to enjoy all the blessings God has given me without remembering my people in Nigeria who live in such poverty and have no access to education.
And so, many years ago, I started collecting books for these people, my people in Nigeria, with the help of my people here, my American friends who have opened their generous hearts to help. The result has been EON (Education Opportunities Nigeria). We are a small nonprofit, but we do our best to provide Nigerians with some of the resources they need to climb out of their need and illiteracy and begin the journey to fullness of life. Won’t you pray for us and do what you can to help? You will be on your way too, then to blessings and fullness of life.


Arguably, the greatest country song of all time is He Stopped Loving Her Today. The singer tells the story of a friend who never gave up on his love. He keeps old letters and his girl’s picture hoping that one day she will come back to him. The song goes on to say that the man finally stopped loving the woman on the day that he died. The song obviously resonates with many people, for it has been listed in several surveys as the greatest country song ever. George Jones, who made the song famous, claimed that this three-minute song saved his forty-year career. I have often wondered, however, about the song’s accuracy.
In I Corinthians 13, the Bible’s great treatise on love, Paul argues that “love never fails.” Paul goes on to say that prophecies will fail, tongues will cease, and knowledge shall vanish away. Obviously, throughout the history of the church, much time and effort has been spent to argue about the meaning of the phrase “tongues shall cease.” Some argue that the coming of the perfect thing is the completion of Scripture and that tongues ceased when the canon of Scripture was closed. Others have argued that the coming of the perfect is Christ or the maturation of the body of Christ, and that consequently tongues will not cease until the return of Jesus when the body of Christ is brought to complete maturation.
I tend to believe that knowledge and prophesy will be done away at the second coming (I Corinthians 13:9-10). But tongues will have already stopped themselves by fulfilling their completed purpose. Notice that the coming of the perfect does away with that which is “in part.” And only prophecy and knowledge are said to be “in part.” Tongues have already dropped from the discussion and will not need to be stopped by the coming of the perfect, because evidently they have already stopped themselves by fulfilling their completed purpose.
The big point of the passage, however, is not that tongues will stop. This is parenthetical. The big point is that love doesn’t stop. Even the coming of the perfect doesn’t stop love. It may stop the gift of knowledge. I won’t need your gift of knowledge in heaven; I will know as I am known. I won’t need your gift of prophesy; I will have no need of further instruction. But in heaven, I will still need your love.
I Corinthians 13:13 seems to argue this same point with reference to faith and hope. There is no need for faith or hope in heaven. In Heaven, there is no longer anything to hope for. Faith will be swallowed up in sight. Yet in heaven, there is still apparently a need for love.
Some theologians have argued this provides some rationale for the Trinity. If God is love and God is eternal, then there must have been an eternal object of love. This was accomplished in the Trinity as Christ served as the Father’s “beloved Son.”
When Paul wrote to the Thessalonian believers to encourage them concerning the dead in Christ, he told them that at the rapture we will be caught together with these departed loved ones to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17). This reunion is intended to provide us with deep comfort (1 Thessalonians 4:18).
My associate pastor in Philadelphia was Al Johnson. Al had been a widower for many years before we had the privilege of working together. And Al never quite got over his deceased wife. Many widow ladies set their affections on Al, but he was having none of it. He never got over Mary. If you were to walk into his home, you would find Mary’s soaps and perfumes still out. It was almost as if Al was waiting for her return.
Several weeks ago, my dear friend Al Johnson went home to be with the Lord at the age of 99. I have no doubt that he was thrilled to be in the presence of the Lord who he loved so dearly. But I am equally confident that Al was excited to see his deceased wife that he loved dearly. It must have been a great reunion day!
I understand that in the resurrection we are neither married nor given in marriage (Matthew 22:30), but by the same token, God comforts our hearts by letting us know that we will be reunited with our departed, saved loved ones. So when Al breathed his last breath, he did not stop loving her. To contrary, he will be able to love on Mary again.
Heaven is a place where the love never dies. Is this in part why God calls love the distinguishing hallmark of Christianity (John 13:35)? Love apparently is the lone remaining thing that we will “need” in heaven. There will no need of insight, preaching, faith, or hope. But there will be a need for love. We could say that love is the eternal hallmark of Christianity. With apologies to George Jones, there never will be a day when we stop loving, for in heaven love will still be “needed.” So practice for heaven by loving on someone today!


In the city of Nain, notice that when the young man sits up he speaks. What does he say? I wonder if he says to the Lord, “Thank you!”
Now we are Christ’s body and individually parts of it. That is why Jesus has to raise the widow’s son from the dead. Individually she is a part of his body and she needs to be restored back into society along with her son.
That is why at his resurrection the young man says, “Thank you.”


I remember being sixteen, pregnant, unmarried, and absolutely terrified. I remember hearing, "You only have one option!" and "This is not a doll you are carrying!" I remember running away to another state and hiding out for a time for fear that others might be able to kill my baby. I remember the two years of nightmares that someone took my child. I remember being told repeatedly that I was an idiot and that there was no way that I could possibly be a decent mother. I remember my failures. I also remember the things that my child suffered because of my immaturity. I can't tell you all of those things without also telling you that I remember standing by the crib day after day as my baby slept and marveling how God knit this child together in my womb and that I look at her today and the many, many grandchildren the Lord has blessed me with through her. Yes, there were things that we suffered because of my youth and immaturity. However, I have never once looked at her and thought that she had been better off aborted! I remember looking at her as she lie on a hospital bed at the age of 27 when we didn't know if she would live or die. I watched as the toxicity from a spider bite drained the life out of her and praised the Lord that He had allowed me to conceive her, Love her, birth her, raise her, and know her. I praised the Lord for the many wonderful things He had manifest in her life even using those painful times of being raised by such a young, immature mother.
I also saw my parents suffer before the Lord took them home, but never once felt that euthanasia had been a better option for them. As the phrase, "Death With Dignity" becomes increasingly popular; I realize that this is a term created by those who didn't want to be bothered with the care and nurturing of those whose conditions were more needy. According to my heart, my parents did die with dignity! They were not perfect people, but I know that they always did the best they could with what they had. In the last days of their lives on this earth, I was able to tell them how deeply I Love them and how thankful I am that they gave me life.
A few years ago after very reluctantly agreeing to have lunch with an antagonist, I learned something I will never forget. I had agreed to the lunch with hopes that this individual with whom I am forced into association would understand that she was not going to make me see things in her liberal view and that, for the sake of the relationship we could not avoid, we needed to agree to disagree. Soon after we arrived at the designated meeting place, it was clear that this was just another attempt on her part to wear me down. I was irritated and certainly had no appetite for food as I sat there listening to her drone on about why her liberal views were imperative. Then I saw him. There was a man, probably about forty, sitting in the booth across the isle from us. His countenance was one of the utmost despair and I was immediately drawn into instant prayer for him. He sat slumped forward with his head in both hands. Although I had no idea whatsoever what was wrong, I knew that he was in terrible physical, mental, and/or emotional pain. I continued to pray throughout the meal and my heart truly wept for him. As we were leaving, I felt that there was something I should do. I sat in my car for a couple of minutes asking the Lord to inspire me. And so He did. I grabbed my small notebook and penned a short note to him. I told him that he could be assured of God’s Love for him and presence with him because He had taken the time to press his need upon the heart of a complete stranger. I signed it, “Another child of God.” I then took the note to his waitress and asked if she could pass it on to him.
As I drove away that day, I realized that God had a plan. He desired to press a need on my heart for a fellow human being, for this is how we are made. We are not to cast aside one another when the need is great, but rather we are to Love one another and lift one another up. I then came home and wrote the following poem:


Join Dr. Joel C. Hunter this fall as he teaches several series on how to love God more personally by better loving others, especially those who have been previously left out. Sessions will begin in September and be held weekly at 5:41pm and end at 7pm.
(Day to be determined)
Why a 5:41 gathering?
Because you and so many others are followers of Jesus who want to go beyond the first mile. You are ready to meet the challenge of
Matthew 5:41 “...If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles."
Meeting location to be announced soon!


I have a confession to make: I’m crazy about Robin Jones Gunn’s Christy Miller series. Just ask my husband. And I didn’t discover the series until I was a college…graduate. The comforting fact is that the teen series follows Christy all the way through her college and married years. Reading about Christy in her married years feels a little more normal, considering my age.
Not that reading young adult fiction as an adult is a bad thing. I’ve learned a lot from Christy and the gang over the years, especially Katie Weldon, Christy’s best friend (who has her own spin-off series). Katie is known for coining clever phrases like the “Land of If Only,” which is a place we all find ourselves in from time to time. Pondering “what if?” or asking God “why did this happen?” delivers you right smack in the middle of the “Land of If Only” where the weather forecast is always 100% discontentment and confusion.
When I find myself lost in discontentment and confusion, I think of a poignant moment in Katie Weldon’s journey. Katie, a native Californian, is serving the Lord at Brockhurst in Nairobi, Africa, and waiting to see what God has in store for her and Eli. The wait is painful and she begins to doubt her own instincts. Maybe Eli is not the one. Maybe Africa was not meant to be her lifelong mission field. In the midst of her “waiting season,” a Godly woman sits with Katie to share a piece of advice. The Godly woman’s husband has just returned to Brockhurst after being MIA on the mission field. While the Godly woman waited for any scrap of news, she chose to be thankful instead of fitful. She says:
“And as I recalled all the things God had done for us in the past, it was like I wasn’t alone in the waiting room of my heart any longer. I hung every one of those memories like pictures on the wall, and then I would look at each one of them in my mind’s eye and say, ‘Thank you, God, Thank you.’ I started to praise God instead of question him.”
I don’t know about you, but lately life has left me with a lot of questions. I made a list, and sadly it was easy to generate.
Why didn’t God save my parent’s marriage?
Why doesn’t God spare my loved ones from painful journeys?
Why did Kentrell drown?
Why am I still afraid to write and submit my stories?
Why, when I pray for what I believe to be Godly and good things, does the opposite or nothing seem to happen?
That last question always gets me. I’m not sure how to resolve such a question, but stay tuned. God has been teaching me a little more about prayer and His sovereignty day-by-day, step-by-step. I’ll be sure to share with you whatever I learn.
But for now, I am thankful for the reminder to switch gears. When one question leads to another and another, I need to stop and replace my questions with thankfulness. David was faithful to do just that and his thankfulness kept him afloat. For David, it was not the “Land of If Only” that threatened to bring him down, but the “Pit of Despair.” A little more dramatic, but for good reason. First Saul sought to kill David, then David’s own son, Absalom, wanted him dead. In Psalm 42, David does not question God and then succumb to grief. Instead, he shares his questions, grief, and despair with God. Then he recalls the better times and the goodness of God. “These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng” (Psalm 42:4).
David’s pain is still real, but he concludes his prayer time with hopefulness (Psalm 42:11). He chooses to praise God in the midst of sorrow and it gives him the strength to go on.
Friend, it is hard to thank God in the midst of sorrow. It’s even harder to catch yourself in the act of questioning God and then turn your questions into praise. Perhaps that is why I love the Godly woman’s visual so much. As we wait on God, it is better to decorate our hearts with “pictures” of God’s grace and mercy instead of cluttering up our hearts with questions. One leads to peace and hope, the other leads to bitterness and anger. God desires peace and hope for our hearts, even as we go through the crucibles of life.
Challenge: Don’t let the bad things and questions in life rob you of the joy God has for you even today. Instead, “count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings, see what God hath done.” I gaurauntee the sum of your blessings will outnumber your questions.


Many men and women of importance in the Bible practiced fasting. Moses, David, Elijah, Esther, and Jesus, are just a few of the many people in the Bible who took part in this practice.
When Jesus taught on fasting, He said, “when you fast” not “if you fast.” He assumed that we would.
We were created with fasting integrated into our lives. If you think about it, when we sleep an average of 8 hours a day, that is equivalent to 1/3 of our life. If you live, say, 75 years, that’s 25 years asleep. When you sleep, you are fasting, that’s why the morning meal is called breakfast – it’s when you break your fast.
4 Reasons Why You Should Fast:
It helps us overcome the calamities of life.
Fasting is the Biblical way to humble ourselves (Psalm 35:13; 69:10). The Bible tells us that Esther did it when faced with danger (Esther 4:16). Ezra fasted for protection (Ezra 8:21-28). Jehoshaphat did it in the time of the invasion of the confederated armies of Canaanites and Syrians (2 Chronicles 20:3).Fasting is a tool that you can use to help you go through very difficult situations in life. Click To Tweet
It renews our connection with God.
Jesus said that His disciples will fast when He is gone (Mark 2:20). When we do it, we get our hunger back for the presence of God.
If you are struggling in your relationship with God, or if you’re trying to rekindle the flame you once had for God’s presence, fast.
It empowers us to fulfill God’s calling in our life.
Most of the people in the Old Testament fasted in a crisis; It’s evident in the Bible that Jesus fasted for His calling. We should not only do it during problems but also for our purpose. Anna did it for the coming of the redemption of Israel. (Luke 2:37).
Many people wonder what their calling is in life. If you truly feel the need to know, spend time with God in a fast. Dedicate time to seek His face and He will make His purpose for your life clear to you.
It defeats the devil.
The Bible tells us of a time when the disciples of Jesus could not cast out a demon. Jesus said, “This kind does not leave, but by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21). You’ll notice it helps to break the bonds of wickedness, undo heavy burdens, and empower us to break every yoke (Isaiah 58:6).
If you are facing demonic attacks in your life, in your home, or in your family, God may be calling you to a fast. It is a very powerful tool that will strengthen you to fight against every power of darkness that comes against you.
Read: How To Fast Correctly
If you have been on the fence about fasting, let this be an encouragement to you to take the step in trusting God.
The power is not in fasting alone, but in choosing to submit, surrender, and humble yourself before the Lord.
Make that choice, and watch what God will do.
Have you fasted before? Leave a comment and let me know how it went!
Read Other Topic Here:
- Should Christians Use Birth Control?
- How to Stay Sexually Pure
- 5 Things That Cause Church Growth
- Mentally Preparing for Spiritual Battles
- Needing Spiritual Strength?
- 13 Signs They’re Not “The One”


[1Jo 5:5 NIV] Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
[1Jo 5:6 NIV] This is the one who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
[1Jo 5:9 NIV] We accept human testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son.


GENEVA — Authors of a report on minority groups in Iraq and Syria say the possible ouster of the radical Islamic State group from the Iraqi city of Mosul won’t be enough alone to encourage to Christians who have long faced inter-communal tensions there to return from exile.
Arne Saeveraas, an adviser for Norwegian Church Aid, says a survey of Christians who have fled Mosul found that nearly 75 percent reported facing threats and violence even before IS took over the city in 2014.
He says Iraq’s population of Christians has fallen from about 700,000 to 250,000 since 2003. Most of those remaining are internally displaced.
Saeveraas was presenting a report released Monday by his group and the World Council of Churches on the protection needs of minorities in Iraq and Syria.


Sundays 10:00 am
Sunday 8:00 am
Saturday 5:00 pm
Mondays – Tuesdays, Thursdays
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Fridays: 8:30 am – noon
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Ph: (419) 595-2567
Fax: (419) 595-2303
ALL SAINTS WEATHER ADVISORIES & MASS GUIDELINES
Level 1 Snow Emergency-
Use extreme caution. Masses will be celebrated.
Elderly are advised not to attend Masses.
Level 2 Snow Emergency-
Necessary travel only.
Elderly should not attend Mass.
All weekday Masses/Services will be cancelled
Level 3 Snow Emergency-
Emergency vehicles only. All others will be arrested. Check local media, parish website and friends for any other Mass information.
All scheduled Masses will be cancelled-Saturday Vigil, Sunday, Holy Day & weekday Masses.
Level 3 Snow Emergency Guidelines for the Diocese of Toledo-Whenever a county/city within the Diocese of Toledo is placed under a Level 3 Snow Emergency, during which all roadways are closed to non-emergency personnel, the Catholic Churches within that geographic region will cancel the scheduled Saturday Vigil, Sunday, or Holy Day Masses. Roman Catholics in that region, therefore, are dispensed from the obligation to attend Mass. If Masses are cancelled, Catholics are encouraged to participate in Holy Mass via television, radio, or internet, making a spiritual Communion. When Mass is cancelled, all other diocesan, parish, or school events in that geographic region are also cancelled.
WINTER WEEKDAY PARKING REQUEST
During the winter months we request that parishioners park in the North parking lot when attending weekday Masses. This will allow the snow/ice removal team to focus on that lot to ensure a safe walking surface early in the mornings.
Morning of Grace – 1st & 3rd Saturday
9:00am, 10:00am, 11:00am – Every hour on the hour.
5:15pm – 6:15pm
If you are in need of pastoral care from Fr. Tim or want to recieve Holy Communion from one of our Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, please call the office at (419) 595-2567. Messages on Facebook are sometimes missed.
College Grad Pics
First Communion Prayers
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39 N. Perry St.
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New Riegel, OH 44853
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"Nadine, I love it!! You've pulled together all the things I want. It's colorful, vibrant, "happy," and inspiring.
I am so excited about what you are doing, and relieved that I was able to get my idea across to you. I'm not usually very good at that. You have done an excellent job of capturing the mental image that I have! Actually, this is a vision that the Lord gave me years ago. In this vision, Jesus is actually standing in this valley with the flowers and mountains and He is laughing. The flowers that are all around Him represent how He sees people--their various colors, shapes, etc are like people's different personalities and characteristics. (That's why the kids are in solid, bright-colored shirts in the pic.) He showed me through this vision that He enjoys and values each of us and the unique qualities He placed in us when He created us. The contrast between the mountains and valley are also symbolic. I tend to think the "mountain-top" experiences of life are desired and the "valleys" are dreaded and avoided. But He showed me that when He's present in our lives, the valley is a vibrant, lush place full of life and joy. In this vision, He extends His hand and invites all His children to come and dance and laugh with Him, and enjoy abundant life. I'm looking forward to having the kids in this vision and to be able to see it and share it with others.
A few years ago (after the vision), I found the painting entitled "Jesus laughing" and it hangs over our fireplace. It's 11" X 14" and will be to the right of your painting of the kids. That way the kids and Jesus will be "looking" at each other and it will express the joy that they have in His presence. I included the link to it so that you can see what I'm trying to pull together. That's why I need the kids to face to the right. http://www.jesuslaughing.com
Nadine, Hope your trip home is good. I don't know how to put into words how much the painting means to me! You are such a blessing! And, I'm grateful to be a recipient of the gift the Lord has given you. I never dreamed I would have a painting, much less one that captures the vision that the Lord showed me several years ago! Only He could bring all this together. It works beautifully with the "Jesus Laughing." I will be reminded how each of us is special to Him every time I look at it!
We really enjoyed y'all's visit today. I'm so glad you could stay awhile.
(Bob and Cindy gave Bill and Ann two paintings as a surprise present. #373 Alex Bradford and #374 Calley Bradford. Ann is Bob's sister.)
Ann was sooo surprised! She LOVED them! She had already decided before she left the farm today on where she was going to display them.
Thanks, again, and I know you will continue to have much success! We'll be following your website to see your work.


Jesus Christ in His Own Words: Taking The Teachings of Jesus Seriously
The Genesis of this Book
This in my third book about God, and Jesus as The God. The first attempts to establish the rational case for the belief in a deity, the second seeks to establish the case for Jesus as the deity. What actually spurred me on to pen this current work was encountering the work of Michael Satlow who is Professor of Religious Studies and Judaic Studies at the prestigious Brown University, USA. Shockingly, in his book “How the Bible Became Holy” he makes the following statements:
“ … and I must confess that to this day I have not read the Bible , or even a single testament , cover to cover.” (Satlow, 2014)
“Jesus himself, growing up in Galilee, had very limited knowledge of scripture.” (Satlow, 2014)
Concerning the first, it is hard to take such a person seriously as a scholar of Judaism, especially from such a leading university, though fair play to his honesty in the matter. The second statement is equally as extraordinary as Jesus regularly quotes scripture, and makes reference to much in the Old Testament. I take a dim view of the ‘quality’ of his scholarship and naturally want to address some of its shortcomings. Initially I sought to just look at the Gospels and pull out each scriptural reference to satisfy myself that this particular professor was profoundly wrong, and that I was not imagining that I thought I saw in the Bible.
When reading the Bible, I have always understood Jesus as a man, fully aware of, and readily using, scriptural references to demonstrate His fulfilment of a lot of the prophetic material in the Old Testament – indeed, Jesus’ very own coming, to be the Messiah no less springs vividly to mind. It became clear to me that in doing this I was actually enjoying a richer learning experience by looking at each and every scriptural reference and focusing on what Jesus himself was teaching. Addressing the shortcomings of this professor paled into insignificance as I then took time to look at everything Jesus had said and taught and investigating where, if at all, in prior scripture, these ideas came from. At this juncture, I should add, although Jesus is an expert Bible scholar, what he was quoting from in the Old Testament was of course always inspired by God. So when I say Jesus is teaching, being inspired from this or that part of scripture, this should come as no surprise as it is the other Fatherly part of the Godhead, that is doing the inspiring with the prophets in the first place. It soon became apparent that so much of what Jesus was teaching was tied up inextricably with prior scripture that I might as well begin by systematically studying and noting down all His teachings independently of their prior scriptural antecedents. Jesus said He came to fulfil the Law, so we should expect to find all His teachings in prior scripture. That we do. However, we also can see that He clarifies, refines, fine tunes and gives us some more extensions of the Law with His teachings in the New Testament. My project was becoming more ambitious, but certainly more fulfilling.
So many people over the centuries have said Jesus has said X,Y or Z or meant A,B or C, or did not say M,N or O. Without a line by line study of the complete recorded words of Jesus, it is hard to make any factual comment on the matter. Often, what one great scholar asserts with confidence will be flatly contradicted by another. So what did Jesus actually say? What were His inspirations? What were His teachings? The purpose of this book is to be able to provide the reader with only the recorded words of Jesus Christ in one clear text with a supportive narrative just exploring what these words or teaching actually mean to us today.


When God chose your kind as the object of His love, I was the first in all Heaven to bow down before you. My love, my hope for mankind was no less than His. But I have watched you trample that gift. I've watched you kill each other race and greed, wage war over dust and rubble, and the words in old books. And yet in the midst of all this darkness, I see some people who will not be bowed. I see some people who will not give up... even when they know all hope is lost. Some people... who realize that being lost is so close to being found.
So even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American Dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.' (applause) I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former of former slave owners will they be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.


“My heart goes out to the youth…so I pray” – Dusty Batten
- Prayer Team Volunteer
God is our hope, refuge, strength and deliverer and He is mighty to save. These characteristics of God are what I desire the youth at Clubs In The City to know every day of their lives. My heart goes out to the youth… so I pray. This is how God has called me to serve this wonderful ministry– to pray earnestly for the lives of these children. I pray they know the love of God stronger than any relationship in their lives. I pray that they know the purpose and worth He has given them. I pray.


BACICCIO (GIOVANI BATTISTA GAULLI)
Vision of Saint Ignatius at La Storta, about 1684-85
Oil on canvas
Charlotte E. W. Buffington Fund
This painting is thought to be a model for a large altarpiece intended for Sant' Ignatio, one of the major Jesuit churches in Rome. The final commission, however, appears never to have been completed. Appropriately the subject represents a key event in the life of Saint Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuit order. In 1537, while on his way to Rome, Ignatius had a vision in which God the Father and Christ instructed him to establish a religious community in that city. The Jesuit order grew dramatically, helping to spread the influence of the Catholic Church around the world during the late sixteenth and seventeenth century, the period of the Counter Reformation. It was toward the end of that time that Baccicio became one of the most prominent painters in Rome. His skill at depicting mystical visions make him one of the masters of Italian Baroque art.