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IntroductionSt Mary the Virgin, Iffley, is a virtually undisturbed Romanesque church. There is evidence that it was built under the auspices of one of England’s wealthiest magnates, Geoffrey de Clinton, Treasurer to Henry I and builder of Kenilworth Castle. What is less clear is how it was cared for through the centuries leading up to, and following, the English Reformation of the 16th century. When the diocese of Oxford was formed from part of the pre-Reformation diocese of Lincoln in 1542, Iffley’s patronage moved from Osney Abbey to Christ Church Cathedral. At this time a new wing was added to the rectory, and not long afterwards extensive work was undertaken on the boundary walls of the churchyard, walls that define and protect the sacred space within which the church stands. This trail explores the archaeological and historical evidence for this work.Our sleuthing will highlight a key player: Archdeacon Barten Holyday (1593-1661). He lived in the rectory as both a family man and an influential representative of Iffley’s patron: Christ Church. We can trace his mark on some of the walls of the churchyard.
Medieval IffleyThe earliest known buildings of Iffley hug the contour of Rose Hill at 200 feet above sea level, high enough to command access to and a view of the river and meadows beyond, also to protect the village from flooding.From south to north, the core buildings included a hall (manor house) at Court Place (presumably where the manorial courts were held), the church of St Mary, a 13th-century hall on the site of the rectory and probably also a farm, now called Manor House. Below was a riverside mill, destroyed by fire in 1908. The de St Remy family from Normandy were lords of the manor of Iffley in the mid-later 12th century, related by marriage to the de Clinton family. It was they who most likely built the church and Court Place. They also owned the mill.Iffley was located close enough to the River Thames to use its waters for powering the mill, for protected fishing and for wider access to the Thames Valley.Access to Iffley by land was via Church Way, the modern successor of a medieval route following the 220-foot contour of Rose Hill. This route once continued south to Littlemore and Sandford, with access for pig grazing and woodcutting at Hog Common to the south of Court Place. Church Way is crossed by lanes, walls and hedges marking the boundaries of fields once worked by tenant farmers of the manor. Tree Lane and Eastchurch were footpaths to Temple Cowley and Littlemore, both once forming parts of Iffley parish.Work is ongoing to explore the links of the church to the river. Was this branch of the Thames navigable up to the mill before the lock was built in the 17th century? Was there a landing-stage below Court Place, aligning with the church? Did boats go to and from Oxford from the site of the old ferry north of the mill?
The walls around St Mary’s, and Archdeacon Barten HolydayThe boundary walls around the churchyard were probably built by masons from Oxford when the Archdeacon of Christ Church lived in the rectory at Iffley with its spacious 16th-century wing.A likely time for their first construction is after 1626, when Barten Holyday, playwright, translator of the Roman poets Horace, Perseus and Juvenal and former chaplain to King Charles I, was appointed Archdeacon of Oxford. The son of an Oxford tailor, Thomas Holyday, Barten married Elizabeth Wickham, daughter of the leaseholder of Iffley rectory, William Wickham of Abingdon. Uniquely among the archdeacons of Oxford, Barten Holyday appears to have lived with his family in the Rectory at Iffley. His son George was baptised in St Mary’s in 1634. The walls of the churchyard appear to be structurally linked with the building of a new kitchen wing on the east side of the rectory. During the Civil Wars of the 1640s, having espoused (reportedly under some duress) the Parliamentarian cause, Barten Holyday was granted a living in Berkshire. He returned to Iffley at the Restoration of King Charles II in 1660. Here he died on October 2nd, 1661, aged 68, “of the new epidemicall disease that rageth now abroad” and was buried in Christ Church cathedral.Archdeacon Holyday was a writer of notable aphorisms, of which the most famous is “A man may as well open an oyster without a knife, as a lawyer’s mouth without a fee.” Perhaps the nearby Thames inspired another enduring thought: “River is time in water; as it came, still so it flows, yet never is the same.”
START the trail at the WEST DOOR of St Mary’s church.
Start by looking at the West Door of the church.
Engraving of the 1830s showing the use of the south door as the main entrance to St Mary’s church. (Note that the west front had been restored to its original height but the nave roof had not.)
This is now the main entrance to the church. Despite its beautiful sculptured decoration, this door was probably only used for major festivals in medieval times. The main entrance to the church was on the s
The south door of St Mary’s seen from the path leading to Court Place.
The south door (now closed) is also decorated with sculpture. From here a path ran to the nearby manor house of Court Place. Imagine yourself as Lord or Lady of the Manor. How easy it would have been to slip into church, it’s almost a private chapel!
Now follow the path towards Court Place. Stop near the little doorway in the wa
TRAIL Stand 1. Entrance to the churchyard from Court Place
The door through the churchyard wall to the back of Court Place manor house. The plaque commemorating the building is boxed in black.
Look high up on the wall of Court Place to see a stone recording John Lewis’s rebuilding of the house in 1580. For the last 50 years England had been riven by religious arguments. The Reformation, begun by Hen
TRAIL Stand 2. The wall beside the lodge to Court Place
Buttress added to the south stretch of the churchyard wall. In the background is the lodge at the entrance to Court Place.
TRAIL Stand 3 The wall beside the lodge to Court Place
Circled is a butt join with a stretch of wall to the left built on higher ground. As the stones used to build the two stretches of wall are so similar,
the butt join may represent a change in ground level, rather than a lapse in time of construction of the wall- though walls are often repaired and rebuilt out of the same material!
Carry on and ta


Goff-Inspired Music Program
Boston Avenue Methodist Church
1301 S. Boston Ave. Tulsa, OK 74119
10:15 a.m. (in between 9:00-11:00 a.m. Advent Church Services)
Join B.A.M.C. Music Director, Joel Panciera for a brief presentation and performance of Bruce Goff’s musical compositions. Guests are welcome to attend either of the Advent morning services at 9 a.m. or 11 a.m. and enjoy a brief musical moment and conversation about a lesser-known extension of Goff’s multi-hyphenate genius.


© 2014 - Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries (CMM)
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Office: (617) 244-3650
Last Update: September 2, 2014
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To mobilize congregations and communities across economic, religious, racial, and ethnic boundaries so that, in partnership, we can work more effectively for a just and peaceful society and for spiritual growth and interfaith understanding.
Thank you to our staff, participants and supporters for another fantastic Interfaith Youth Initiative!
Wednesdays, October 7, 14, 21, 28
7:00 – 8:30 pm
Grace Church (76 Eldredge Street, Newton, MA)
Fee: $100; $75 for CMM Members and those who register by September 24. (Scholarships available)
Join the Rev. David Killian for this mini-course on John O'Donohue, an Irish priest-poet who influenced people from all faith traditions or “none” because he spoke to our deepest yearnings and concerns.In his writing and public life, John advocated against social injustice and inspired the wealthy and powerful in society to engage their own integrity in service of meaningful, positive change. His often quoted admonition that “the duty of privilege is absolute integrity” offers continuing inspiration for those working to open new possibilities of wholeness and grace in our visible world and beyond.
Coming this fall:
Encountering John O’Donohue: A Journey in Space and Time


How many times have you heard someone refer to themselves as “raised Catholic”? Quit often, right? Of course, those describing themselves as such are usually implying that they are no longer practicing Catholics, and anyone can anecdotally say that there’s a pretty large contingent in America that describes themselves as such.
Now there are some hard numbers to quantify this phenomenon. According to a recent study as reported by the New York Times that surveys religious life in America, Catholicism is taking a big hit:
The Catholic Church has lost more adherents than any other group: about one-third of respondents raised Catholic said they no longer identified as such. Based on the data, the survey showed, “this means that roughly 10 percent of all Americans are former Catholics.”
The article goes on to describe other trends, such as the influence of immigration on all religious groups, but as one of those who were “raised Catholic” yet is “still Catholic,” the parts about my particular faith were the most interesting to me. So I’m taking this opportunity to do a little soapbox publishing about religion.
Consider, for a moment, the strong deterrents that orthodox Catholicism has against leaving the Church (or not practicing the faith):
- Going to mass on a weekly basis is an obligation. Failing to do so is a “mortal sin,” i.e. if you don’t do it, you’re goin’ to hell.
- Attending confession with some frequency: ditto.
- As a Catholic, you have been given the supreme gift of being able to receive Christ’s true Body and Blood in the Eucharist at the above mentioned weekly mass. If you turn you back on that, well, see above for the consequences.
Now, I am leaving out a lot of nuancy in modern Catholic teachings about religious pluralism and exercising faith as a conscious choice, not out of fear or obligation. But for many of those who were “raised Catholic,” they had to overcome these and other detterents in abandoning the practice of their faith.
How does one go about doing this? Quite easily. The Church’s authority, by and large, rests in its claim to being God’s Institution on Earth: Jesus made Peter his representative on Earth before he left, who then gave it to the next guy, who then gave it to the next guy, and so on and so on up to and including John Paul II, the last pope, and the lovable Benedict XVI, the current pope. Popes have the power to invoke “infallibility” (though they rarely do so). Catholic doctrine is sold by the orthodox Church establishment as the immutable, non-negotiable, set in stone Rules of God.
The problem with this structure, of course, is that when someone comes around to thinking that the Church *might actually be wrong* about *even one small tenent* of Catholicism, then this begins the classic “slippery slope” process of gradually questioning more and more of the churches beliefs until one eventually gives up on the whole Gosh-darn thing.
Today’s modern theologians essentially accept that Catholics living in a modern world really can’t honestly be expected to abide by 100% of the church’s teachings. Gay marriage? Condoms? True Body and Blood in the Eucharist? OK, you can disagree with the Church on those things (and maybe a few others), but as long as you get the “big picture,” love your neighbor, do charitable works, etc., then that’s fine.
But in come the orthodox theologians who hold disproportionate sway over the Church hierarchy. They decry this “Cafeteria Catholicism” and say that “the Church is not a Salad Bar!” That “slippery slope” of questioning and rejecting eventually leads to a quagmire of moral relativism and hedonism. A Church without absolute rules on moral Doctrine is a meaningless Church.
As far as I go, I could easily be described as a “Cafeteria Catholic,” but I fully understand all of those “raised Catholic” and orthodox theologians who can’t deal with this uneasy middle ground. It’s a difficult place to be, and I struggle with it every time I think about these big cosmic questions about religion and morality.
But I think everyone can agree that the institution of the Catholic Church in the modern age is facing a true crisis. Look at the empty cathedrals of Europe. Look at the hard numbers from the recent survey. Look at the settlement figures from the sex abuse lawsuits.
Recently, management consultants and environmentalists (strange bedfellows as they were) have pushed through a new buzzword into the modern lexicon that aptly describes this sort of situation:
In closing, I do want to reemphasize that I simplify a lot of Catholic doctrine for the sake of playing the Devil’s advocate. I’m sure many of you out there could cite plenty of official documents that counter a lot of what I said, but the sad truth is that Catholicism still has a “do these 10 things or you’re going to Hell” reputation about it. Whether that’s deserved or not is a separate discussion, but it has a lot to do with why people so often these days describe themselves as “raised Catholic.”


Notice: This text is customized from Denks’ e book An Invitation to Pleasure: God’s Journey to Human Flourishingprinted in April 2023.
My joyous journey started when my oldest daughter visited my reformed charismatic daughter, my missionary midwife daughter who delivers infants for enjoyable. She is without doubt one of the most mild folks I do know. As we sat at breakfast, simply the 2 of us, she stated, “Dad, you appear to have misplaced a few of your pleasure currently.” That was an understatement. And God gave me the grace to listen to it and say, OK, inform me extra.
A few of you might be little doubt extra joyful by nature than I’m. I’m a skeptic by nature, blessed (and generally ) with an analytical thoughts. It’s true that I don’t simply get depressed or discouraged, however it’s not straightforward for me thempressed both. And I am not straightforward to please. However, a way of pleasure started to permeate my life.
We’re made for pleasure and we’re meant for pleasure. As Frederick Buchner says, God’s pleasure is in our blood (Homesickness). We’ve each the capability for pleasure and a deep want for pleasure. I announce to you excellent news that may trigger nice pleasure for all folks. That is what the angel stated after Jesus got here to this world. Jesus clearly got here to supply folks a joyful, plentiful life, each throughout his earthly ministry and through his demise. But, because it was within the first century, so it’s at present: most individuals proceed to comply with their traditional, dreary, mundane existence, which they take for all times, somewhat than reply to Jesus’ open invitation to stay a joyful life. Even so, throughout every Christmas season I really feel a broad spirit of craving for pleasure, for one thing larger, simply out of attain, that emanates from the depths of the spirits of many.
The rationale pleasure appears unattainable is as a result of there are such a lot of enemies combating it, fear, concern, doubt, grief, deception, weariness, and all-around evil. All this may rob us of pleasure, and infrequently it does. So many individuals in our tradition stay with deep remorse and defeat as a substitute of hope, contentment, and pleasure.
Pleasure might be arduous to outline, however you already know it while you see it, and also you definitely realize it while you really feel it. Clearly, pleasure is a sense, though it’s not in order that. Emotions are often fleeting. Pleasure, then again, there’s a steady angle in direction of life. You’ll be able to say that there’s pleasure filled with hope and a peaceful outlook on life, a deep sense of well-being. In contrast to happiness, pleasure is impartial of circumstance or likelihood. We will expertise pleasure even in instances of bother and hardship.
As C.S. Lewis defined in his autobiography, Stunned with pleasure you’ll not discover pleasure by on the lookout for pleasure. Pleasure is a byproduct. Pleasure is all the time a shock. We’re all the time pleased above what we understand as superb. But when it’s a by-product, an addition to one thing else, we will ask: What’s a product? What else do we have to know or have with a view to be crammed with a deep sense of pleasure?
In fact, loving one other particular person and being liked brings us immense pleasure. Many individuals discover pleasure in what they love. However as Lewis found, the best and most lasting pleasure comes from figuring out God by Jesus Christ and belonging to His joyful kingdom.
Pleasure within the presence of struggling
Little doubt a lot of you, if you’re like me, are starting to really feel uneasy and cautious about this slim give attention to pleasure. You could be considering, “Effectively, sure, however what if we expertise bodily and emotional ache?” What about my buddy who suffers from continual despair? What about rampant injustice, genocide, civil wars, thousands and thousands of refugees and displaced individuals and ravenous youngsters? The world is in such a large number. How can we be blissfully insensitive to all these crying wants? Lets go on our merry means whereas the world goes to hell in a basket?
However pleasure doesn’t shut our eyes to the pressing wants round us. The truth is, it’s the pleasure in our lives that offers us the energy and motivation to achieve out to these in want. In George Macdonald’s novel Adela CathcartAdela places it this manner: Take away my pleasure and I’m powerless to assist others.
As I write these phrases, I’ve undergone 4 surgical procedures and common remedies for bladder most cancers. My spouse was battling breast most cancers. So I am not precisely in a Pollyanna temper after I strategy this matter.
However the name to pleasure within the Holy Scriptures happens straight within the presence of struggling (James 1:2-4). Each day that we stay in darkish despair, in a darkish state of blah blah, or in fear, concern, and nervousness, we miss out on the total and plentiful life that Jesus supposed for us. Jesus got here into this world in order that we may have life in all its fullness (John 10:10). Jesus himself was a joyful particular person, and he stated to his disciples: “I’ve informed you this in order that my pleasure could also be in you and that your pleasure could also be full” (John 15:11).
Pleasure within the Scriptures
The Previous Testomony bursts with pleasure. Biblical Hebrew has 13 roots for phrases of pleasure that categorical the abundance of life for God’s folks in response to God’s greatness and goodness towards them. These Hebrew phrases are sometimes translated into English as mirth, pleasure, pleased, laughter, surprise, abundance, pleasure, reward, worship, shout, sing, rapture, and blessed. Even dancing turns into a respectable expression of pleasure, as in Thou hast turned my weeping into dancing; You eliminated my sackcloth and clothed me with pleasure (Ps. 30:11).
The poetry of the Hebrew Scriptures presents all of creation as already engaged in a dance of pleasure and surprise earlier than the Creator. The earth is stuffed with reward and pleasure. The mountains and hills are bursting with pleasure. The water within the stream boils from laughter. Forest bushes clap their arms. All of this can be a great invitation for us to hitch the created world on this procession of pleasure and reward. As if the entire creation is saying: what are you ready for? Do not you perceive? You folks of religion, you youngsters of God, certainly you’ll want to be a part of within the dance too! The psalmist declares it finest:
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth rejoice;
let the ocean roar and all that’s in it.
Let the fields and the whole lot in them rejoice;
let all of the bushes within the forest sing for pleasure.
Let all creation rejoice earlier than the Lord, for He’s coming (Ps. 95:11-13a).
Within the New Testomony, the approaching of Jesus to earth is introduced with manifestations of pleasure. We’ve the acquainted message of the angel to the shepherds: don’t be afraid. I announce to you excellent news that may carry nice pleasure to all folks (Lk 2, 10). We’re additionally informed that the smart males rejoiced significantly once they noticed the guiding star (Matthew 2:10). The approaching of Jesus into this world is a joyful occasion, and the central characters are overwhelmed with celebration. In Marys Magnificat, she proclaims: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior” (Lk 1, 46-47).
The New Testomony is probably the most cheerful, transferring and joyful e book on the planet, says Scottish theologian James Denny (Research in theology). Jesus promised to present his disciples his pleasure alongside along with his peace and love (John 15:11). Followers of Jesus acquire a brand new perspective or angle in direction of life, as do the multitudes who’ve been fed, healed, let loose and touched by the teachings of Jesus and His supply of the Kingdom of Heaven.
The most typical New Testomony phrase for pleasure is the Greek phrase bowl, which happens 146 instances and is often translated as pleasure, joyful, delight, or pleasure. Within the verb type, we regularly see it as a command: Rejoice! A bowl carefully associated to the phrase charis, which suggests grace. God’s grace in our lives and on the planet is a motive for pleasure. The fantastic thing about creation, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of Jesus, the plentiful new life provided to us in Christ, and the promise of our personal resurrection are all grounds for Christian pleasure.
Kingdom of Pleasure
Jesus invitations us into his joyful kingdom. In his parables, Jesus repeatedly proclaims the enjoyment of gaining the Kingdom and being with God. The dominion of heaven is sort of a treasure hidden in a subject. The person, having discovered it, hid it once more, after which went away in pleasure, offered the whole lot he had and acquired that subject (Mt. 13, 44). In Luke 15, Jesus shares three misplaced parables: the misplaced sheep, the misplaced coin, and the misplaced son (or two misplaced sons). All three are filled with pleasure:
- Rejoice with me; I discovered my misplaced sheep (Luke 15:6).
- Rejoice with me; I discovered my misplaced coin (Luke 15:9).
- It was essential to rejoice and be merry, for this brother of yours was useless and has come to life; he was misplaced and located (Luke 15:32).
There may be nice pleasure in every of those three parables. There may be pleasure on the a part of Jesus who finds and on the a part of the Father who takes residence his misplaced son. In heaven, angels rejoice over one sinner who repents (Luke 15, 7, 10). There may be definitely pleasure on the a part of the prodigal son who was misplaced however is now discovered.
In my private conversion expertise on the age of 18, I used to be on the lookout for one thing extra. However in one other sense it was a sense that God had discovered me. I used to be prepared to surrender my infantile religion, however then God introduced folks into my life who really knew God with overflowing pleasure, and I used to be destroyed. After a interval of resistance and wrestle, I lastly gave in and pure pleasure crammed my life.
Jesus got here to carry pleasure to the world. What occurred? Many have by no means skilled this pleasure and haven’t responded to God’s gracious invitation. Many believers have misplaced the enjoyment they as soon as had. As believers, we face enemies that may steal our joys, reminiscent of nervousness and concern, despair and laziness. The slide into legalism with its fixed drive to show itself will rob us of pleasure.
In our damaged world, we have to domesticate pleasure. We will follow the presence of pleasure in our lives with the non secular disciplines of Sabbath relaxation, remembering God’s nice guarantees and His gracious work in our lives. An angle of gratitude works wonders in restoring our pleasure. We should comply with repentance from sin to the last word fruit of renewed pleasure, as in David’s last plea: Restore unto me the enjoyment of thy salvation (Ps. 51:12).
Pleasure is God’s present to us, the fruit of the Spirit. That is the distinguishing mark of a Christian. Our church buildings are known as to be joyful communities in a world that desperately wants plentiful, flourishing life.
Questions for dialogue
- How would you outline pleasure?
- Consider a second while you felt true pleasure. What was the event and why have been you content?
- Was it joyful, as you often think about the Kingdom of God? Why or not?
- What would you do subsequent week to domesticate pleasure or follow the presence of pleasure in your life?


Welcome to the website of Neshannock Presbyterian Church. We are a congregation that is diverse in age and background, people from all walks of life. Some of us are lifelong Presbyterians, and some of us are new to the Presbyterian Church. Amidst our different backgrounds and life experiences, we cherish the spirit of warmth and welcome in our congregation. We seek to be a caring community of faith celebrating and bearing witness to God's grace in Jesus Christ, made known to us in the Bible, and experienced in our life stories. Everything about us as a congregation of Christ's people flows from our joy and trust in the grace of God that we know in Christ.
We are a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and of Shenango Presbytery. We have approximately 264 members in our congregation. We greatly value being a congregation where people know a spirit of warmth and welcome, a congregation where people get to know each other and share the journey of faith and life together.
We have a variety of ministries and activities for people of varied ages and interests. We invite you to get to know us through this website, to visit with us, and to join with us in our shared journey of faith.


St. Andrew Lutheran Church
the corner of Beaver Grade Rd. and Thorn Run Rd.
Just off the
Thorn Run Exit of Business Route 376.
St. Andrew is a congregation of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
2013 marked the congregation’s Golden Anniversary, and began a period of
reflection on direction and evaluation of its ministry. St. Andrew is well grounded in the faith of
the Church, desirably located near the Pittsburgh International Airport. It is firm in its identity, growing in the
understanding of its ministry and poised for the future. We welcome all who wish to embrace the future
Spread the Word of God
Share His Love.
Service of Holy Communion
Saturdays at 6:00 pm
Sundays at 9:30 am
Sunday School follows at 10:45am
(September to Memorial Day)
giving is available at St. Andrew for both regular offering and for special
To sign up just click on the link
Pastor Mort. Director
Jessica Ohr, Teaching
Judy Brandt, Office
St. Andrew Day School
The Rev. Larry F.
The Rev. William
Hower, Pastor Emeritus
Annual Advent Dinner--December 11
Covered dish dinner begins at 5:00 pm (sign up at church)
West Allegheny Show Choir Concert Begins at 6:15-6:30 pm
Christmas Eve Celebration
Family Liturgy -- 6:00 pm
Traditional Candlelight Liturgy -- 8:30 pm
(Both celebrations include candle lighting and communion)


Pastor John Terpstra
He was born in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and is a resident of the city of Barron, WI.
Pastor Terpstra gladly offers his service to all who are in need of prayer, comfort, or spiritual counsel.
He particularly desires to meet and help those who have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, and those of the community who have no local church home.
He extends to you a double invitation to attend this church - from the entire church membership, and from his own heart as well.


Leon and Rebecca Staal were married in 2013. They live on Leon's family dairy farm that he manages in the Central Province of Zambia. Rebecca grew up in a small town in Northwest Indiana. Upon moving to Zambia, Rebecca always knew that she wanted to become involved in the lives of the Zambian children that live in the villages surrounding the farm.
Their family expanded with the birth of their little girl in 2014 and then a son in 2016. It was only in 2020 that Rebecca began searching for a way to reach out to the village kids on a daily, long-term basis. Hence, the idea for Sakamana was born.
Leon stays busy managing the dairy farm, is involved in the Dairy Association of Zambia, and is one of the leaders in our local church.
Rebecca stays busy homeschooling her children, doing office work for the farm, and overseeing Sakamana.
Our family loves Zambia! We love the friendly people and the laid-back, Christian culture as well as the amazing safaris and landscapes that this stunning country offers.


what’s the stupidest issue you’ve got visible change into a heated dispute?
Two women in church got into a loud, heated dispute before a service because one accused the other of taking herpew. (The exchange echoed – even above the organ prelude.)
The lady seated in her pew said, “It’s a church, I’ll sit wherever I please – you don’t own this pew.” The other said, “I’ve been sitting in this very spot every Sunday for over 40 years, and you’re not stealing it from me!”
It took the minister and 2 ushers to calm them down so that the church service could begin.


Acts 1:8 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends[a] of the earth.”
As I have traveled around the world to El Salvador, Africa and Israel I am always amazed at the spiritual hunger that exists in other countries. People are the same everywhere. They are sinners in need of a savior. I have always had a heart for foreign missions as well as home missions. If you have not yet had the opportunity to go on an overseas mission trip. I want to strongly encourage you to make it a priority in the near future. You will be blessed and you will certainly be a blessing. You will return changed forever by your experience I assure you.


Mark grew up in Invercargill and has long enjoyed camping at Lakeland Park Christian Camp - with many happy childhood memories made there. At the age of 30, Mark headed over to the USA where he received an education and found a wife. He and Kristen have now been married for 14 years and have three children: Micah (8), Naomi (5), and Ezra (3). After returning from the USA, Mark pastored a rural church in the Waikato for ten years and has been at Hope Church in the Tasman Region since 2017. Mark and Kristen are totally looking forward to being part of camp over the New Year - where Mark will be sharing the story of Jonah - and for them both to reconnect with old friends and make new ones too!
Mark is excited to be attending camp this New Year and to be sharing from the book of Jonah. Jonah is one of the best-known stories in the Bible but, in the apparent simplicity of the story, it opens bare our hearts to how our desires are often far from God. This - one of the shortest of books int eh Bible - packs a punch as it calls us to align our hearts with God's own. Mark's hope is that as we each enter 2020, we will be compelled afresh by the compassion and love of God.
Lakeland Park is located at 496 Peninsula Road, Kelvin Heights, Queenstown.
Dorms and Cabins make up most of the accommodation with families/ couples being allocated rooms with 2 bunks in each. Larger dorms (sleep up to 10) are also allocated based on numbers at camps. There are camp areas for people in tents/ caravans etc. and we ask that all single males bring or arrange to share a tent.
Lunch $10 per person per day
Tea $10 per person per day
Contribution to speaker costs $10 per person per day
Adult: $45 per person per night
Student/ Beneficiary: $40 per person per night
Secondary Student: $35 per person per night
Primary School Age: $25 per person per night
Preschooler: $5 per person per night
Please click on the link below to go to our registration form.


OX BERRY FARM
South Beloit, IL
So, what's an Ox Berry?
While an "Ox Berry" may sound like some type of bullish fruit, it actually serves a symbolic name that deeply reflects who we are as people and the spirit of our farm.
Even before Eva and I were married, we always had a desire to "return to the land" and become farmers. Much of what we did in our lives prior was in hopeful anticipation of this goal. Just as many people of faith ask friends, family, pastors, or whomever to pray for them, we, as Catholics, believe that not only can our earthly brothers and sisters "intercede" for us in prayer, but those holy men and women who have gone before us can do the same. We look to the example of those who have lived exemplary lives and ask them to aid us in asking God for things that we desire from this earthly life.
"Ask and it will be given unto you, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened unto you....." Mathew 7:7
The two faithful servants we turned to in prayer as we waited to move to and now tend our farm are St. Isidore the Farmer and his wife, St. Maria. Isidore is the Patron Saint of Farmers, and not necessarily because of his tireless effort toward farm work, but for his trust and desire toward closeness with God. As legend tells it, St. Isidore worked with other farmers under a wealthy nobleman to tend his crops. The other farmers became frustrated with Isidore and his devotion to God because while they started their work day early in the morning, Isidore attended mass. His work, however, never suffered. The owner of the farm used to say while Isidore was attending mass, his portion of the field would be worked by “angels leading oxen,” which is why he often depicted with a white ox. And while Isidore was working, there would be two angels working at his side so that he could do the work of three men. It is our hope that like St. Isidore we will always keep God first, trusting that if we are good and faithful servants, in some way or other, He will guide the way toward His perfect plan for us, whether it be with angels and an ox, or something else that is yet to be seen.
Sts. Isidore & Maria, pray for us!
Thank you for visiting our farm and we hope to see you again soon!
Mitch, Eva, & Family
NUTRITIOUS & DELICIOUS
While our farm is not officially certified organic due to the lengthy and excessive process for a farm of our size, we are committed to using only the Organic Materials Review Institute's (OMRI) approved inputs on our berry farm.
If you would like to read OMRI standards,
please visit OMRI.org


Funeral services were held Jan. 16 at Calvary Baptist Church in Jefferson with burial following in the church cemetery. Visitation was held prior to the service in the church fellowship hall.
Watts was born November 4, 1940 in Pageland, a son of the late Johnny A. and Mae Rollins Watts. He was a graduate of Pageland High School and a retired carpenter. He was a charter member of Calvary Baptist Church and enjoyed model railroads and working word puzzles.
Darrell was preceded in death by his parents; a grandson, Benjamin Watts; and by sisters, Lucille Funderburk, and Hattie McManus.
Surviving are sons, Steven (Evelyn) Watts and Doug Watts of Jefferson, and Ricky Watts of Pageland; brothers Willie Watson and Carson Watts both of Alton, N.C.; sister, Martha Wright of Rock Hill; grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
The Cheraw Chronicle
Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011


Was Jesus married? Does it matter to devout Christians? The Gospel of Philip is discussed in the recent addition of Biblical Archeological Review (BAR) May/June 2014 Vol 40 No 3. In this apocryphal text, discovered among the Nag Hammadi Codices in 1945, Professor Karen King of Harvard wrote The Gospel of Philip represents the incarnate Jesus actually having been married (to Mary Magdalene).” The article references some Greek terms referring to sexual intercourse and marriage.
Does this discussion offend believing Christians? Very likely it does but I believe it should not. My extensive study of many religions since my undergraduate college days at Franklin & Marshall College have led me to one conclusion– ALL religions are “man made”.
Now this does not denigrate the spiritual element of religions. I believe they represent human insight into another realm of being which follows our physical existence on this plane. What is created are the practices, rituals, details, religious writings etc. etc. Was Jesus married or not? Does it even matter?
If any religion offers its followers a prescription for living a loving, compassionate, caring life with service to others then we should all be grateful that it exists.


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We would love to hear from you!
Anna Hobgood, director
Chestnut Ridge Christian Church
2663 Johnson Ferry Road
Marietta, GA 30062
Razzmatazz Music! tm
Exploring music together.
Too bad, so sad;
there is no camp space to be had.
A heart full of gratitude to the lovely community of Chestnut Ridge Christian Church for 5 years of providing a beautiful camp space for Razzmatazz. Unfortunately they were unable to accommodate us this year.
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By Aniekeme Finbarr
Some 5, 6 years ago I really use to get worried that I had up to 5000 friends on Facebook and never did I record more than 100 likes or comments on my posts.
As silly as it sounds, I use to wonder why Mark Zuckerberg calls them my friends. Such friendship!
My dear, you do not have any true friend on Facebook, on Instagram or in life. Earthly friendship is fickle and conditional. It can crumble at any time.
I have discovered that nothing excites man like the fall of another man, even a friend. Take the social media for instance, see how people quickly react anytime a scandal arises, we call it beef. Friends and enemies unite because there is a new spot to kill. See how people tag others, call them on the phone, inform others of the newest scandal and pretend they are not happy with what has happened, even your friends.
Humans just like to see others fall, especially the same people you call friends. It makes them happy, and somehow consoles them that their situation is not the worst.
I don’t know, but maybe that is why we love boxing, wrestling, action movies, even comedy, we love to laugh at people being killed, bullied, boxed, people’s downfall, people’s mistakes, we love to hear people ridiculed.
Folks, I do not know how many true friends you think you have. In this wicked world of envy, jealousy and greed, live life as if you are in the midst of wolves. Don’t lose guard. You cannot be an island, but you can be smart in the midst of people.
Don’t live for the cameras, don’t live to impress others. Take decisions that are convenient for you first. Protect your heart and your whole self. The same people who praise you today will scorn you tomorrow.
Never get carried away by likes, comments and commendations, as long as you keep winning, they will keep coming. Focus on winning in life.
You hardly see people genuinely show happiness when something good happens to others. Why? One of the virtues lacking in today’s world is that we cannot appreciate the success of others without feeling bad.
When you tell your secret to ANYONE, anyone at all, just know you have shared it to the world.
Be focused, spend your time wisely, love and serve God, read the Bible (atleast the book of proverbs and learn wisdom), pursue your goals.
And when you are down, stop lamenting to friends, they will betray you one day, keep a cheerful spirit, confuse the enemy and keep smiling.
I repeat, earthly friendship, even marriage, even family is conditional. Your only true friend is JESUS. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are my friends if you do whatever I command you” (John 15:13-14).
For this friendship, Jesus “endured the cross, despising the shame” (Hebrews 12:2).
Be friends with Jesus who shares his all with you, his knowledge, his glory, his power, his riches, his majesty. “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you FRIENDS, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” John 15:15.
Draw closer to Jesus and experience true joy. What a friend we have in Jesus!


The Church of St. Nicholas - Cavtat
Beautifully positioned to look out over the waterfront, the Baroque Church of St. Nicholas has a welcoming facade of solid, pale gray stone.
Reached by ascending a series of widely spread stone steps. St. Nicholas has a decent amount of artwork by notable artists which would be worth your time to see.
Icons of St. Nicholas, and an alabaster relief from the 15th century; works by Benedetto Genarri, and paintings by Sicilian painter - Carmelo Reggi.
Croatian painter Vlaho Bukovac also has important artwork here and is another good reason to visit.
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The Rosehill Evangelical Mission is located in the city of Rajahmundry, in the state of Andhra Pradesh, east-central India. It was founded by Rev. Joseph Babu, MA whose charitable work amongst people with leprosy and street children of the city is supported by founding director of Rosehill Instruments, Trevor Austin.
We began helping the Pastor with his work in 1998, which at the time included a home for 35 orphans and 12 widows. This side of the work developed, and in 2009 a 200-place home for 165 orphans and 35 widows was opened in Rosehill Street, Gadala (part of the Rajahmundry municipality). Over the years numbers have varied, and latterly the day-to-day arrangements have come under the auspices of the Swedish charity, Word in Action.
If you are interested in receiving further information on the work of the Rosehill Evangelical Mission, please send us an email.
Trevor Austin writes: "I received my first approach from Pastor Joseph from Rajahmundry in late 1998 because he needed additional financial help with the important work he was doing amongst orphans and widows in Andrah Pradesh, South India. As the years rolled by the relationship has developed. In March 2007, Rev. Charles Martin and I went out to see the orphanage in Gadala, which now accomodates more than 160 orphans and about 40 widows.
"The visit was life changing. The crying need encouraged us to overcome our shyness and be prepared to tell others, in the hope that some would see their way clear to help with the annual financial target. With each child costing £16.00 a month (we pay for their education as well as accomodation) and each widow £10.00 a month, we now need to raise upwards of £30,000 a year, so any contributions would be gratefully received. Perhaps you would care to sponsor an orphan or a widow?"
Rosehill Evangelical Mission is a registered charity under the Beaconsfield Churches Trust, therefore contributions benefit from the Gift Aid Scheme. Every penny contributed goes direct to the mission; there are no administration or running costs. Cheques may be made payable to:
Rosehill Evangelical Mission
c/o 64 London End
Thank you for reading our story.


The LIVING JESUS MINISTERIAL TRAINING COLLEGE…. the training arm of Sola Areogun Ministries will be resuming on Friday-the 1st of January 2021…Alleluyah!!
According to God’s servant-rev olusola areogun… IT TAKES MORE THAN PERCEIVING A CALL TO FULFILL IT… YOU MUST BE TRAINED FOR IT!
Have you sensed the Divine call on your life and want to be groomed for it?
Here’s another golden opportunity to be trained for the execution of the Holy Calling by God’s servant-rev olusola Ayodele areogun- the president of the LIVING JESUS MINISTERIAL TRAINING COLLEGE, osogbo osun state Nigeria …who does it the ELISHA-ELIJAH WAY with other well seasoned men of God.
Here are the modules available this new session:
24 months online bible school
12 months MEN IN MINISTRY MENTORSHIP PROGRAM- 3rd Saturday of every month
12 months WOMEN IN MINISTRY MENTORSHIP PROGRAM-3rd Saturday of every month
3 months School of Wealth (weekends only)
Register today at ljmtc.org or visit our office at the Living Jesus Ministerial Training College Osogbo, Osun state Nigeria.
For enquires, please call 09079912254 or send sms to 08037252124
Every Christian graduate can give this one year to God before you go for nysc or immediately after!
Remember………..Every man is ordinary until He is trained!
JESUS IS LORD!


I pray that you are well!
Years ago I heard something that was intended to make me laugh, and it did: “I am a Baptist, but I am glad that God is not.”
I have been thinking about the hateful and negative energy that we give to those of different faiths…It is wrong. And our lives and world will not be right until we learn to love, respect and cherish those who have alternate views—of God, in particular…
BISHOP JOHN SHELBY SPONG put it this way…
“God is not a Christian, God is not a Jew, or a Muslim, or a Hindu, or a Buddhist. All of those are human systems which human beings have created to try to help us walk into the mystery of God. I honor my tradition, I walk through my tradition, but I don’t think my tradition defines God, I think it only points me to God.”
God is. And He expresses Himself in countless ways…Our Sisters and Brothers of different faiths and perspectives have a lot to teach us about Him—and ourselves…Let’s not miss our blessings!
I love you! Have a beautiful day!


Jesus said in Luke 24:47 “…and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem…”
Is that the same thing as having influence and dominion over culture? In some Christian circles there are some preaching about the “7 mountains” of culture that Christians should influence, even overtake and control. Is this what Jesus meant?
The largest and most powerful church in history overtook the known world and established influence. They did it by force. The advocates of the “7 Mountain” philosophy say we do it by overtaking the world of Entertainment, Business, Media and others and thereby obtain enough money to spread Christendom.
Is this what Jesus had in mind?
In his address to a National Bible Conference in 1919, George E. Guille, of the Moody Bible Institute said this: “Religion is the domain of Satan’s influence. Not our holy Christianity, but the religion of Christendom. Thousands have mistaken the religion of Christendom for Christianity.” “Working in this sphere, Satan has robbed the church of her blessed hope-the coming of our Lord-and she is forsaking her divine commission to preach the gospel and bring sinners to Christ, and has gone at world-mending.”
In their efforts to rally the Body of Christ to righteousness, I’m sure many behind the pulpit mean well and have good intentions. Social grace and loving others is part of living in this world and cannot be denied as part of the Christian walk. Just read Romans 12-14 to find this is true. But, in these preachings we are also being told that thinking in terms of our unseen, Heavenly hope is reducing Christianity to something invisible. Well, 2 Cor. 4:18 tells us it IS invisible. And, 1 Cor. 1:9 tells us we can’t even imagine it.
So in our quest to “influence” the world for Christ, let’s not just “influence” the world. Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to change men’s hearts by sharing with them the Blessed Hope of a future finalizing of the Holy Adoption process: Rom 8:23-25 “And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”
For further reading which you may find interesting, check this out;


By Josh Troy
The City of Clarksdale began its second Jericho Week on Sunday night. Jericho Week runs from April 23 to 29, and faith-based leaders and citizens walk from one church to another location each day. The group prays at the ending point of each walk. A Jericho March refers to a group or congregation coming together for a prayer walk.
Clarksdale first celebrated Jericho Week in 2019, but then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The walks for the 2022 Jericho Week begin at 6:30 p.m. from April 23 to 28 and at 10 a.m. on April 29. A bus will be available to take everyone back from the ending to the starting point, beginning Wednesday, April 26.
“The purpose of this is to bring about unity in the community because we’re dealing with such separation and division in our community,” said the Rev. Freddie DeShazer of Dennis Chapel and Calvary Baptist Church. “We need to come together in the community. Certainly, that can start with the faith-based community to reach out and bring others into it.”
A total of 72 citizens participated in the first day of Jericho Week. City Chaplain John Givins, who is also the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church pastor, hopes for even more participation for the remainder of the week. “I just want the whole City of Clarksdale to come out, to be a part of what God is doing in the City of Clarksdale,” he said. “God bless everybody and everybody’s family.”
The walk on April 23, named the “Day of Peace,” was from Kings Temple Missionary Baptist Church to New Covenant Baptist Church. The April 24 walk on the “Day of Love” was from New Jerusalem Church to Chapel Hill Missionary Baptist Church. The walk on April 25, the “Day of Justice,” was from Metropolitan Baptist Church to Martin Luther King Park. The “Day of Deliverance” was on April 26, but there were some weather issues. The walk was initially intended to be from Old Harvest Food to Oakhurst Intermediate School. Instead, the majority of participants drove in their cars and continued to Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, where everyone came together.
The “Day of Healing” is on April 27, and the walk is from Oakhurst Baptist Church to Sunshine Church. The “Day of Unity” is on April 28, and the walk is from True Light Mission Church to Booker T. Washington Elementary School. The walk on the final day, Saturday, April 29, begins at 10 a.m. and starts from Dennis Chapel, ending at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church. Saturday is the “Day of Praise.”


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MEET OUR SPEAKER
For 15 years, Kelly had been running from the Lord, desperate to fill the hurting places in her heart with men, drugs, and every other kind of coping mechanism. But after nearly losing her life in a violent domestic fight, Kelly came to a place of surrender to the question God was asking of her.
Kelly’s story is one that covers so many difficult and painful topics in our world today. Child molestation, raped as a teen, several abortions, drug dealing, eating disorders, homosexuality, pornography, prostitution, and even working in the clinic where she had her first abortion. But beauty triumphs from the ashes, and Kelly is a testament to how God can clean all the dirty parts of a painful life story and make it brand new.
Now a wife and mother of six children, Kelly loves to share her story to give hope to the most desperate situations proving that God can save anybody. She is currently a client advocate for LoveLine Ministries, works in Outreach and Government Engagement for And Then There Were None and Pro-Love Ministries, and a board member for Village Ansanm: Living Stones Ministries.


wife, mom of two, hopelessly addicted to fabric.
loves: Indian food, Death Cab for Cutie, gray, skirts, coffee (lots and lots of coffee.)
I am a sinner, saved by grace.
“But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.” Ephesians 2:4-5
Wife, Mom of two, addicted to Magazines, Fabric, Yarn, and Fashion.
Loves: Coffee, Seal, Pride and Prejudice, and Fish Tacos from La Fonda
contact us at
sewhipmama (at) gmail (dot) com


There are so many sites on the web to help people finding the perfect match, but very few of these are directed against Christian singles. If you are looking for a meaningful relationship with someone who shares your same beliefs, "Christian mingles" by https://christian-mingles.com and "Meet Christian Singles" by https://best-dating-site.org/ are two good places to help you meet your special someone .
"Christian mingles" by https://christian-mingles.com is a dating site with over 189,000 members. All members are just like you who are looking for someone who shares their same beliefs and values ??to share the rest of their lives. In today's society, it can be difficult to find time to go on more dates in their search for the perfect match. https://christian-mingles.com offers thousands of profiles for you to search for free so you can take your time and find someone who looks like they are compatible with you. The profile itself is short and to the point so you do not have to spend hours filling in information. Their goal is to help you find a perfect match, so the sooner you get started, the closer you are mingling with Christian singles.
If you are looking for great Christian mingle with Christian singles, https://best-dating-site.org/ is another great site. They use Duet ® profiles to help you meet Christian singles that are compatible with and complement you. They also offer guidance while you fill out your profile, so you can be sure you are completing it in the best way. This compatibility tool uses your personality, values, lifestyle and preferences to match you with people who will help you create successful relationships. "Meet Christian Singles" will allow you to connect with Christian members from around the world, and you can browse their profiles and pictures for free!
Christian mingles is ??the place to go if you are trying to find the perfect Christian single for you. https://christian-mingles.com and https://best-dating-site.org/ are good places for Christians mingle with Christian singles. They both work hard to help you find your perfect soul mate, and they offer free samples so you can get your search started as soon as possible. If you're ready to share your life with someone who shares your Christian values, "meet Christian singles" by https://christian-mingles.com and "Christian mingles" by https://best-dating-site.org/


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News & Events
Obituary for Dr. William Russell, Previous Registrar and Professor of Church History
Dr. William Russell, who served as Professor of Church History and Registrar at the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary from 1985-1996, passed away last Wednesday, May 6, 2009. He was 85.
He was a devoted husband, father, teacher and friend. We are grateful that he is now rejoicing with our Lord in heaven, but know that he will be sorely missed by all who knew him. Dr. Russell also served as a Professor of History at Geneva College, and was named Academic Dean in 1963. He was an active member of College Hill Reformed Presbyterian Church in Beaver Falls, PA, where he also served as an elder for many years.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Martha, and his children, Mary Louise and Dale.
Memorial contributions may be made, if desired, to the College Hill Reformed Presbyterian Church, 3217 College Ave., Beaver Falls, or to Geneva College, 3200 College Ave., Beaver Falls, PA 15010.
Here is a link to his obituary in the Beaver County Times: http://www.timesonline.com/articles/2009/05/07/news/obituaries/iq_0005667087-01.txt
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Blessed was a hobby run a-muck. After 20 years struggling with the golden handcuffs of corporate America, I stepped out on faith. I left my job as a sales person for an international corporation and set out to make a living honoring God and sharing the message of Christ. I am thankful to have a wonderful supportive husband who stood beside me all the way.
I started by making jewelry and peddling my wares in local boutiques, coffee shops and church bookstores. I then branched out to a pavilion at First Monday Trade Days in Canton, Texas. After being asked a dozen times every month where my store was the idea started to stick. God opened the door to a temporary space on Grapevine Main Street, October 2007, Blessed was born. A few months later GOD provided a beautiful 3000 square foot showroom. In June 2012, we closed the boutique in Grapevine.
My ministry was not from a pulpit but from a boutique where I could meet people from all over the country and share what I love most, Christ and also what I like a whole bunch, gifts, handbags, jewelry, & fun clothing. Please pray that I am wise enough to hear what GOD has in store for me in the next phase of my life. I know it is now time to support my husband, which means we will be moving to another state. I’m not sure where God is taking us but I’m excited about the journey.
In His blessed love,


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The power of the Lord’s anointing will grant you peace, motivation, inspiration, and blessings to go through any program of your choice at our college with the good health and needed resources to complete and achieve your ultimate goals and accomplishments. Our online degree programs can be completed from the comfort of your own home, at any location of your choice, from any country of residence. The programs are affordable, flexible, achievable, faith-based, and useful for all religious vocations.
The non-denominational programs strongly emphasize the Kingdom of God, the development of the ministers of God, the growth of the Church’s evangelical mission, and the salvation of our souls. Each course is designed with the purpose of pointing our hearts and minds back to our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the author and finisher of our faith. Finally, we are grateful for His power through the Holy Spirit that strengthens our faith in the fulfillment of our college’s mission.


“Love at first sight… wasn’t quite their case. They met at a church retreat, interacted in Bible studies, went on mission trips together, but they never thought of themselves as a potential couple. It wasn’t until October of this past year that Steven took notice of Hayley and pursed more than a friendship. They were leading a small group together at their church, helping people grow to love Jesus more. Little did they know, another love was growing. A few short weeks later, the timing was right and Steven asked Hayley out on a date. A little nervous to cross the friendship border, he went for it. All was going great. Until it wasn’t.
She dumped him after the 2nd date.
Steven held onto hope that she would come around- which she did. (Actually, it the very next day)…and they were off at it again! Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years passed as their love grew deeper and they realized they couldn’t imagine a future without each other.
This past March, while serving on a mission trip in Tijuana, Mexico they both realized… they had found the one.
They put the saying “absence makes the heart grow fonder” to the test. She spent the summer in Germany, he was in Cambodia. Seven long weeks passed, and during that time apart Steven began planning his proposal. A few short hours (36 to be exact) after their reunion, Steven surprised her with a tandem bike ride, breakfast, and a quiet morning walk along the lake. He then bent down on one knee, washed her feet in the lake and committed to serve her the rest of his life. The moment they had both been dreaming of was here. Speechless, and overwhelmed with joy- she accepted his proposal. Their journey is just beginning, and they are enjoying every second. They will become husband and wife this October. Until then, enjoy a few favorites from our engagement session this weekend:


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S y n o
p s i s
Tonight, we expose the rot at the heart of the Vatican
and the Roman Catholic Church today. Our special guest has created a brilliant
piece of investigative writing based on four years of authoritative research,
including extensive interviews with those in power. The celibacy of priests,
the condemnation of the use of contraceptives, countless cases of sexual
abuse, the resignation of Benedict XVI, misogyny among the clergy, the
dramatic fall in Europe of the number of vocations to the priesthood, the
plotting against Pope Francis - all these issues are clouded in mystery and
secrecy. If you are ready, you will learn the secrets and penetrate this
enigma. It derives from a system founded on a clerical culture of secrecy
which starts in junior seminaries and continues right up to the Vatican
itself. It is based on the double lives of priests and on extreme homophobia.
The resulting schizophrenia in the Church is hard to fathom. But the more a
prelate is homophobic, the more likely it is that he is himself gay. "Behind
rigidity there is always something hidden, in many cases a double life." These
are the words of Pope Francis himself and with them, the Pope has unlocked the
Closet. No one can claim to really understand the Catholic Church today until
now. What you are about to listen to is the truth revealed and it is
extraordinary and disturbing.
B i o
Frederic Martel, Ph.D. (PhD) is a French writer and
researcher. He is also a journalist at National Public Radio and the author of
ten books, which have been translated and published in more than 25 countries.
He lives in Paris. His latest book is titled: In the Closet of the Vatican:
Power, Homosexuality, HypocrisyÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢ which has been published in eight


This week has been a learning experience for me. Elder Iribar, Assistent to the President, told us this week that we needed to make a change in the mission: Having daily contact with EVERY investigator we have. When I heard him say that over the phone, I knew it was right because that´s what it says in PMG, but I also knew that it would be a big challenge.
This week we have worked hard to have contact with our investigators every day. That has meant that we have been running between appointments trying to catch our investigators. However, I can say that it is helping.
This last week we have had MULTIPLE investigators reading and praying about the Book of Mormon. :) It´s truly the first time in my mission that I have had so many investigators that are truly making progress in that way. Many of them are noticing a big difference too, and have even told us that they don´t know why, but they have a lot of desire to come to church! This Sunday we had 3 people there, so we still need to help them come, but I still feel like this is a great change.
One of our investigators, Rosa, has accepted a baptismal date for the 24th of this month! I´m confident that she will follow through with that. About 3 months ago, her mother and niece were baptised. She´s seen a huge change in them and wants that change for her family. She accepted the baptismal date with more confidence than I´ve ever seen in the mission! We´re also teaching her husband and daughter, and have a lot of hopes for them! Rosa and Waldemir, her husband, came to church this Sunday! Haha, it was kind of funny because they got there just as the deacons finished passing the bread...and they forgot to close one of the doors, right in the front! So, Rosa and Waldemir came in, in front of everyone, in the middle of the Sacrament! It was kind of awkward...but I was glad to see them there. :) Waldemir was super impressed and told us that he will be there next Sunday as well.
We also had a huge blessing this week with a reference from a member! Santiago Calle is 16 years old, but has helped us out a lot! This week he told us he has a friend that wants to go to church! On Saturday we had a lesson with him that just went AMAZING! We taught about prophets, the priesthood, the church of Jesus Christ, and baptism! He understood it ALL! He even understood Apostasy, which is SUPER hard to help people understand here! I was very excited. Then he came on Sunday and had the opportunity to witness a baptism! He was joking a bit about falling back into the water in his own baptism...but at least he´s thinking about being baptised!
The other amazing thing this week was my first baptismal interview. :) I was a tiny bit nervous but honestly, I felt prepared. It´s not that huge of a thing. I knew the spirit would be there.
The one weird thing is being in a room alone with a 17 year old girl...it was always in my mind that my companion and some other guy needed to come in the room with me, like the rules are outside of baptismal interviews, but it was fine. :) Jenny was SUPER ready for her baptism. When she came in, I just asked her how she felt about everything. She said she was nervous, which is normal, but super excited. I asked her about her testimony of the Book of Mormon and that was the key...she had gotten an answer. :) She even made a comment about how the catholic church doesn´t have the Book of Mormon, and that´s something that it was lacking. Halelujah! I, like Jenny, could NEVER go to another church because I have simply fallen in love with the Book of Mormon...I don´t know how any member of our church could possibly begin going to another church because of that...
Which brings up another topic! Aparrently a story has gotten out about a Mormon who became a Jehovah´s Witness here. The JW´s are going around passing out their monthly newsletter with this story in there and so we´ve gotten quite a few questions, even from members. Honestly...it makes me sad, but I know one thing: this man did NOT put Moroni´s promise to the test, and if he did he is rejecting the answer he got from God. I want to bear my testimony that NO ONE can read and pray about the Book of Mormon without receiving an answer, that is if they do it with faith. I also want to bear my testimony that any member of the church that chooses to follow away is NOT reading the Book of Mormon on a daily basis. Here in Peru, some members get defensive when we tell them to read the Book of Mormon every day instead of just the Bible. Listen: the Bible is NOT PERFECT. There are errors. However, I bear witness that the Book of Mormon is pure doctrine from Christ, and will never lead us astray. Anyone within the sound of my voice can put it to the test. Read for 10 minutes every day, and you will notice a big difference in your life. Read for 30 minutes a day looking for personal revelation and you will find that God is directing your every step.
I know that this is true. 1 hour is simply not enough time for me to study the scriptures personally...how could I have possibly gone through middle school and high school without putting as much time into it??
Well...I hope you all know that I love you! I´ll try to get some pics in now...Love you tons!!!
El misionero mas alto de la Misión Perú Piura. ;)
The picture with Elder Uceda!!! I´m kinda tall here....don´t ya think?


Sotiris Christou was born in a farmhouse near the southern Greek city of Dimitsana to sheep and goat farmers. He and his sisters had daily chores and they walked barefooted to school an hour each way. He lost both his parents at seven years old, yet God worked through this tragedy.
Sotiris was brought to an uncle in Athens where he was trained as a shoemaker and delivery person. He continued his schooling and had an opportunity to learn English, which would prove useful later in life.
Everyone wanted to go to the United States for the opportunity to make a fortune, and Sotiris made it to America as well, but found a different type of fortune in Jesus Christ. Everything changed when he surrendered his life to the Lord, and with God’s help, he was able to establish a dowry and home for his sister. He thanks the God for the opportunity to help others.
God showed Sotiris a different plan for his life and the Lord has given him a gift no one can buy… eternal life! Since then, Sotiris has not stopped sharing the good news of what God has done for him alongside offering quality products at reasonable prices through Sotirios Food Products.


The first holiday up is Halloween! Halloween sometimes sparks a dilemma in the church. To celebrate or not?!?! Some feel that it is the devil's holiday and centers around evil. Some feel that it is just good hearted fun for the kids. They get to dress up and gather candy from neighbors and friends.
It's important to look at the history and origins of Halloween. The source of all of my historical information here is from Wikipedia. Halloween or Hallowe'en (a contraction of it's original title "All Hallow's Evening"), is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31. Halloween is commonly thought to have pagan roots. All Hallow's Eve or Halloween initially incorporated traditions from pagan harvest festivals and festivals honoring the dead.
Halloween is also thought to have been heavily influenced by the Christian holy days of All Saints Day (also known as Hallowmans, All Hallows, and Hallowtide) and All Soul's Day. They were a time for honoring the saints and praying for the recently departed who had yet to reach Heaven. It was believed that the souls of the departed wandered the earth until "All Saint's Day, and All Hallows Eve provided one last chance for the dead to gain vengeance on their enemies before moving into the next world. To avoid being recognized by a soul, Christians would wear masks and costumes to disguise themselves. The Vatican has now strongly condemned these traditions as being "pagan" and "anti-Christian."
Thoughts on Halloween throughout today's Christian community are diverse. In the Anglican Church, some have chosen to emphasize the Christian traditions associated with All Hallow's Eve. Some of these practices include praying, fasting, and attending worship services. Other protestant Christians celebrate the holiday as Reformation Day, a way of celebrating the Protestant Reformation. Harvest festivals are held and children dress up as Bible characters or Reformers.
Some Christians reject the holiday because they feel that it celebrates paganism, the occult, or other practices that are incompatible with their beliefs. Many fundamentalists or conservative evangelicals use "Judgement Houses" and other Christian literature such as "tracts" to take advantage of Halloween's popularity as an opportunity to evangelize. Some considered Halloween to be completely incompatible with Christian faith and believing that it originated as a pagan "Festival of the Dead."
Okay, so how does our family handle Halloween? As a result of our position as Christian leaders, people often look to us for understanding of how they should handle certain issues in life. This makes me anxious most of the time because I simply do not feel qualified. However, it is part of the job, so I try to do the best I can and follow how the Lord convicts me on issues. That in no way means I expect people to share my thoughts and beliefs on all matters. People are convicted on many different levels. You have to deal with the Lord in your own time on your own level! It's not one size fits all.
First I will say that I know there are many, some even within our own church that would disagree with me, but the Hamby's do participate in Halloween activities. Usually in the middle of September my kids are begging me to bring out the Fall/Halloween decorations. It marks the beginning of a time in our home when our surroundings are not the norm. I put away all of my treasured Willow Tree figures, pack up some of my pictures and other everyday decor and things look quite festive until the New Year.
I use a combination of Autumn and Halloween decor. Much of it was passed down to me from my mom and are items from my childhood. Some were even made by my grandparents, so they carry lots of memories. Yes, some are jack-o-lanterns and ghosts. For us it is not about celebrating jack-o-lanterns and ghosts, but simply setting a mood, making memories, and warming up our home. The joy on my middle child's (Aiden) face when those bins come out of the basement is priceless. By the way, he gets this excited about the 4th of July, Thanksgiving, and Christmas decorations too. I have wonderful Halloween memories from my childhood. Like the book Five Little Jack -O- Lanterns my mom used to read to my brother and I that I now read to my children. Growing up, our yard was the best decorated yard in the neighborhood. Our house was at the top of a steep hill, so my dad built a coffin and tombstones with all the neighbors last names on them and placed them at the bottom of the hill. All the new neighbors that moved in heard about it and made sure that my dad made a tombstone for their family. One year we even had a haunted house with dry ice for fog, peeled grapes, and cold spaghetti to stick our hands in while blind folded. It was all in good fun and fellowship for the neighborhood. Let me be very clear, jack-o-lanterns, ghosts, costumes and Trick or Treating simply mean childish fun for our kids. That is all. They have no meaning and hold no religious importance in our home. We celebrate and worship Christ alone in this home.
In the years since we have had children old enough to Trick or Treat, we have participated in that as well. The past several years we have hosted our friends and their families in our home for chili and treats after Trick or Treating. This year will be different since we no longer live in a neighborhood and our location is not well suited for Trick or Treating. We are excited that our church has decided to hold a Trunk or Treat event. This is when people park their themed, decorated cars in the church parking lot and pass out candy, church information, and share the Gospel with the children and families in the community.
Halloween 2010 (Community Helpers and Lady Bugs)
Halloween 2011 (Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Toad)
Now, I guess we could take the stand that Halloween is incompatible with the Christian faith. The truth is, it's roots most certainly are. I am not denying that. We do not condone any of the historical pagan traditions and do not celebrate Halloween in that way. But, how would turning out our lights and locking our doors or condemning the children and families who are participating do anything to reach people for Jesus. People are GOING to head out with their candy bags on October 31st. Why not seize the opportunity to tell them about how much God loves them and about the sacrifice He made on their behalf. I don't really support the "Judgement House" type events. I feel like people have to be brought to the Lord through brokenness and love, not fear. The Church must be relevant in today's society in order to reach people! We must meet people where they are! We must reach into their lives! And we MUST MUST MUST reach the children! A local church that fails to reach the people and the children, faces a certain death. Isn't this what Christ did?
When I think about those people that turn off their porch lights and condemn Halloween and those who participate in it, a chorus in the Casting Crowns song Jesus Friend of Sinners comes to mind. It goes, "Nobody knows what we're for, only what we're against when we judge the wounded." Don't you want people to know WHO you are for? Isn't that more important than what you are against? I respect your right to have that opinion, but I challenge you to search yourself and ask "what AM I doing to reach the children and families in my community. What is my church doing?" If not in this way, then how? There are many ways to do that. Be a voice in your church for the children and the lost! God will honor that!
I encourage you to find a church that is hosting a trunk or treat or fall festival event. They are a safe place to let your kids have fun, collect Halloween candy, and learn about the Lord at the same time. This year our family will have 4 pirates and a baby sea turtle. Our van will be the ship and our slogan will be "Jesus is our buried and risen treasure." Trunk or Treat is right up my alley because I LOVE to theme my kid's Halloween costumes.
Have fun, be safe. and don't forget to brush your teeth! Happy Halloween!
This is the closest to the original rhyme from when I was little that I could find! Enjoy!
Five Little Jack-O-Lanterns
Five little jack-o-lanterns sitting on a gate.
The 1st one said, "It's getting late."
The 2nd one said, "I hear a noise."
The 3rd one said, "It's only some boys."
The 4th one said, "Let's run, let's run."
The 5th one said, "It's Halloween fun."
Then oooooooo went the wind, and out went the light.
And away ran the jack-o-lanterns on Halloween night.
Our 2013 Halloween Announcement


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Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” -- Matthew 19:14
Welcome! Faith Kids worship is designed for kids ages 3 years* - 5th grade and occurs at both our 9am and 11am service. We strive to help our children learn about God's love through the stories of Holy Scripture and build relationships that matter.
Faith believes in one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins. Through the waters of Baptism, we are made new and experience God’s grace. We invite all who are beginning their faith journey, babies through adults, to receive this gift.
If you are interested in baptism contact Pastor Nick.
Faith welcomes all people to the Lord’s table for Holy Communion. A discussion and activity is offered to children and their parents during Lent to understand the meaning and significance of the gift of Holy Communion.
First Communion is celebrated at the Family Easter Service on Holy Saturday.
Families who desire communion instruction for their children are invited to contact Pastor Nick to set up a time to discuss what First Communion means. All people are welcome at the table, and this discussion is not a prerequisite for children to receive communion. Instead, it is a tool for parents to utilize in partnership with the church, as together we nurture children in their walk of faith. We will cover what happened at the Last Supper, the elements of bread and wine at communion, and what it means to receive this gift from God freely.


Heart of Jesus.
If your church does not do a First Fridays devotion, you can ask your pastor to consider it. Sacred Heart of Jesus may your love transform me.
Lord, have mercy.
Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Ghost in the womb of. . Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Prayer Card.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world R Spare us, O Lord. Heart of Jesus, abode of. In 1899, Pope Leo XIII approved the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus for public usage.
. Almighty and eternal God, look upon the Heart of Thy most beloved Son and upon the praises and satisfaction.
Since Pentecost is always celebrated on Sunday, Feast of the Sacred Heart will be on a Friday.
have mercy on us.
The Litany. The product you.
The Anima Christi of St. .
Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Prayer Card. . love and radiate your mercy.
Cards of Christ > Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Prayer Card. Heart of Jesus, one with the eternal Word have mercy on us. . O Sacred Heart of Jesus, living and quickening source of eternal life, infinite treasure of the Divinity, and burning furnace of divine love. .
The devotion involves various practices and prayers, including the Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart, the Litany of the Sacred Heart, and the Nine First Fridays. He fulfilled the duties of the sacred ministry by devoting himself to the laborers, herds, and teamsters of the Campagna, preaching to them early in the morning, or late in the evening, at the old.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
The Anima Christi of St.
have mercy on us.
B R I A N K I C Z E K (therosarydoctor) on Instagram "The names of those who promote this devotion will be written in My Heart, never.
In 1899, Pope Leo XIII approved the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus for public usage.


It's Time to
Change the World.
Is the Lord calling you?
NET Ministries exists to Challenge young Catholics to love Christ and embrace the life of the Church. Over the past 40 years, NET has sent out more than 2,000 missionaries to over 150 dioceses across the country. Not only do NET teams minister to over 100,000 young people each year, they also reach out to thousands of parish workers and host families across the country.
A SPECIAL VIDEO MESSAGE JUST FOR YOU
What Does Serving
with NET Mean for Me?
Serving with NET Ministries means giving 9 months of your life to live a radical life for the Lord and inspire young people across the country to pursue a deeper relationship with Christ and increase their connection to the Catholic Church.
While serving with NET you will be placed on one of two types of teams. Each team will have 8-14 young men and women from all across the world. As a team you will push each other to grow in holiness as you work together to minister to youth. You will stay with families in the area you will be ministering in along with creating meaningful, lifelong relationships with all those you meet.
As a missionary you will learn life long skills that will be beneficial in any future vocation or career. Some of these are:
Having a personal prayer life
Public speaking skills
Having authentic Christian brotherhood and sisterhood
Since 1981, NET retreat teams have evangelized the nation. These teams travel thousands of miles from town to town and parish to parish, leading young people in dynamic retreats ordered toward an encounter with Christ. As a retreat team missionary, you will meet more people but for a briefer time, with many high-impact moments each day. In particular, missionaries who serve on retreat teams require:
a personality suited to meeting new people constantly
and a desire to share their testimony daily
Team members will conduct close to 120 retreats and reach almost 1,000 youth personally in small-groups. Retreats include large group activities, talks, dramas, skits, small-group discussions, prayer, and music.
In 2005, NET discipleship teams came on the scene. These teams travel to one specific area, embedding in a town and in a specific school, parish, or group of parishes, leading young people in large events and in small discipleship groups as together they follow Christ. As a discipleship team missionary, you will meet fewer people but for a longer time, with profound, long-term investment. In particular, missionaries who serve on discipleship teams require:
a personality suited to investing long-term in people
and a desire to go deep in ministry
Team members will minister to hundreds of teens 1-on-1 in small-groups, on retreats and in their day-to-day life, helping them to grow in relationship with God and to seek a life of holiness.


19 Jun Thank You
Firstly, to every person that has had any connotation with this business, no matter how big or small, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. Every order, every like and share on Facebook, every referral, every word of encouragemenet has helped to make this possible.
I grew up with an entrepreneur as a dad. Even though it was tough sometimes, it exposed me to the idea of being my own boss. Looking back, I leaned so much through seeing my parents work extremely hard to make a success of their business. So to my dad, thank you for what you have taught me, I will always treasure it in my heart.
In school, I made one very good friend, that is close to my heart to this day. Who just by chance had to sell her Kitchen Aid at exactly the same time that I needed a new one. Thank you Mieke.
During my time at University, God blessed me with amazing friends that tried (not always to their success) to keep me on the narrow road. But without them, I would definitely not be where I am today. Thank you, Anouchka, Deo-Dané and Chantelle. Deo, you always just showed up at the right time, thank you for your help on so many orders.
During my engineering studies, God put an incredible person on my path. A connection that would one day open doors for my business like no other, packaged in the form of a friend for life. Your friendship, unwavering support and advice, means more than words can describe, thank you Jana for the person you are to me.
To Willem Duursema, thank you for being the contact point God used to get me and Reinhardt closer to Him. You have done more that you will ever know.
To WG, thank you for your leadership. For guiding me back to God and showing His love in every situation. For keeping us accountable even though we were so stubborn. Thank you for teaching and showing me what it is to serve God, and most of all, for connecting me to Unite180, where I found my purpose in Christ.
To my mother-, father-, and sisters-in-law, for your creative inspiration and support. Leareyn, for wanting that Teddy Bear cake for HJ’s birthday, which was the start of everything. Marné, for helping me on my first exhibition, I could not have done it without you. Mom, for you investment, love, advice and recipes. Dad, for you interest and concern. You mean so much to me.
To Charlene, for giving me my very first order. God used that order to open so many different doors. Thank you for playing a part in my journey.
To Rudi, thank you for believing in me and wanting to give me a chance. Those first couple of orders, your encouragement and business knowledge is worth so much. And to everyone else at DDP, your support has not gone unnoticed.
To Ané, from Crate an Arrow, for wanting that very first wedding cake for your styled shoot. It broke barriers that I set for myself and was a gateway to so many new things that would come. You connected me to Carli as well as Leandra and great things have come (and is still to come) from those connections. Thank you.
To Collin, for planting the seed of an online bakery in my head. Even up until two months before my website would launch I still did not want an online shop, but after repeat requests I gave in. If it was not for that first though that was planted, I probably would not have recognised God’s plan in it all.
To Leandra, from Brood en Botter, for my amazing website! That you have shown interest from the earliest days and also encouraged an online shop. I am grateful.
To Natasha, from Forever After Photography and Design, for your amazing pictures of our styled shoots. Your talent and passion is contagious and your love of God is pure. Thank you for becoming a friend that always reminds me of God’s hand in my business and every aspect of life. And most of all, thank you for my incredible pictures that completes my website. I don’t have enough words.
To Pastor Chanelle, that gave me a chance to serve God with the passion and talent that He gave me. Making 2000 cake pops, 1700 cupcakes and numerous other treats (many times at rather short notice) has really taught me that I can TRULY do all things through Christ that strengthens me. It is a privilege to serve in this house, under your and Pastor David’s leadership.
Anke, Righardt, Somé, Clerisse, Ankia for your help with orders, marketing and words of encouragement. I appreciate you.
To the gurls of Lion Heart, Nikki and Karmen, thank you for being an inspiration and allowing me into your bakery to pick your brains. Thank you for your advice and open hearts. You continue to inspire me every day.
Troné, my #bestie and “cheap labour” assistant. You are a machine. Your encouragement, help, support, humour and love has made this journey SO much easier.
To Anti Arina, thank you for your encouragement and relentless support on social media. But most of all, for your investment in my business. It means more that you can imagine!
To my number one fan, my sister, Carin. I know you would buy (and eat) every single cake I ever made if you were closer. Thank you for choosing my name, Melissa, which would one day become a door to this business. Thank you for your excitement with every project I undertake. Everybody needs a cheerleader, and you are certainly mine! I love you!
To my mom, for showing me what it means to be a strong woman. For showing me to keep going NO MATTER WHAT. For allowing me the opportunity to work from home. This would not have been possible if it was not for you (and your love of dark chocolate cake and brownies). I love you!
My husband, Reinhardt, I don’t even know where to start. In all honesty, you are the founder of this business. Thanks to you, I discovered my passion. Your profuse promotion of everything I have ever made, your endless (literally, ENDLESS) patience, your advice, the multiple times you said: “jis Lissa, jy is m*er goed”, your honest opinion, your critique and encouragement, is what made this business what it is today. It has not always been easy, but it has been worth it. Thank you for finding the purpose that has been locked up in my name for so long, due to your ridiculous ability to form nicknames. “Heuning Bytjie Bakker” is by far my favorite. I am forever thankful for who and what you are to me. I love you with my whole heart!
To my Heavenly Father, none of this would even exist without Your hand on my life. I thank You that You have chosen this vessel to glorify Your Name. I thank You for Your grace and mercy that has brought me this far. I thank You for Your favour in every aspect of this journey. Everything about this business is a testimony pointing to Your greatness. God, I ask that You do as You will, and that You use this space as You please. That you bless this business as you see fit, for I place it all in Your Hands.
– May this generation profit from the seed that You have placed in my hand to sow –


How Old Was Eve When She Died? Later, when Satan used a snake to trick Eve, she ate the fruit. Even though Adam knew it was wrong, he ate the fruit after Eve gave it to him. They started to die spiritually, and soon after, they died physically, because they didn’t do what God told them to do and instead chose to believe Satan.
Eve was probably at least 100 years old when she died, but the Bible doesn’t say how old she was. She was the oldest person ever to give birth, at 130 years old.
She was also the mother of everyone alive today. She was also about 200,000 years old, which means she lived around the same time as people today. Some people think Eve was 100 or 130 years old, but one thing is for sure: she was not a young woman.
Adam’s Age at Death
The Bible says that Adam and Eve died when they were 930 years old, but no one knows exactly how old they were. The Bible says that Adam lived for 930 years. That’s still pretty old, especially since she gave birth when she was 130.
She was also the mother of all people alive today, and her mitochondrial DNA dates back about 200,000 years. So Adam was at least 930 years old when Eve died, but a lot younger than she was. Adam and Eve were 930 years old when they died, so it’s possible that he lived a little longer.
But in Genesis 5:5, the word “died” refers to a natural death, not a sudden one. After Adam ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, his children and grandchildren inherited his sin and passed it on. Adam’s death probably shocked them, and they used it to look at themselves.
Adam and Eve had a lot of kids. Cain married Adam and Eve’s daughter, Awan. Methuselah, their son, died at the age of 969. Noah, Lamech, and Cain were all his children. Adam was 930 years old when Eve died.
The Bible is mostly about the connection between people and the earth. In Genesis 1-8, this connection is made clear. Adam and Eve were made at the same time, and their relationship is looked at in great depth.
Verloren’s Age at Death
There are two ideas about how old Eve Verloren was when she died. One is older than the other, but only a little bit. Eve was just a baby and Verloren was a young man when they first met.
It’s not clear which one is right. Even though Eve died at the same age in both versions, the stories about how she died are different. Eve was a god, but her father locked her up as a human because she was doomed to die.
When Adam and Eve first lived together, they were both close to God. But because they were still growing, their relationship with God was different from that of Jesus and his parents. Adam was still young and hadn’t yet reached the level of True Son or True Daughter.
Jesus is the first ancestor of all people. “Lust leads to sin, and sin leads to death,” James says in his first chapter.
Adam is known as Protanthropos in Christian Gnosticism. The Apocalypse of Adam says that at first, man and woman were one, and that the first “man” was better than Samael, one of the eternal angels.
Then, Samael split Adam and Eve apart, taking with him their better knowledge of God. Protanthropos is sometimes seen as a spirit that comes from God or even as the Son of God.
The Bible says that Seth was at least one of Adam and Eve’s children. Then, when Adam and Eve died, Eve said that God had given her another child to replace Abel.
This is how Seth became the father of Enosh. Seth was the father of Noah, the first person to come out of the Great Flood. In the end, there would be another Noah, and this man’s family tree would last for the rest of human history.
Even though the Bible doesn’t say for sure how old Eve was when she died, it does say some things that can be taken as a good estimate. We can pretty much assume that Eve lived to a pretty old age for a person. But we can’t guess well if we don’t know how old she is. If Eve died or not is a totally different question.
The Greek version of The Life of Adam and Eve tells the story of how Adam and Eve lived after they were kicked out of the Garden of Eden. In this Bible story, Eve was given to Adam to help him do his job as a person. Genesis 1:26–5 tells us about Adam and Eve’s life.
Many people think it’s interesting that God gave Eve to Adam as a gift. Because of this, the book gives more than one age for the first people. In another version of what happened, Eve’s death is due to an accident.
Eve was the daughter of the Chief of Heaven, but Verloren, the God of Death, killed her by mistake. Verloren was in charge of all of heaven’s workers, and it was his job to send souls to the afterlife. So that his work wouldn’t be affected by how he felt, he made a mistake that made everything black. During this time, Verloren and Eve started to feel feelings for each other.
Adam’s Second Wife
The Bible doesn’t say whether or not there was another woman there when God made Eve. But when Adam’s rib turned into Eve, God told Adam about Lilith, a demon who wanted to be God’s favorite creation. So that she could be Satan’s wife, Lilith slept with him and got pregnant. In the end, Lilith had 100 children at once.
There are many ideas about where the woman Lilith came from, such as the idea that she was made from Adam’s rib. The Bible doesn’t say Eve’s name, but it does say the name of Adam’s second wife, Lilith, who died. The Bible also talks about her, but we have no proof. Lilith was probably Adam’s first wife, but we don’t know for sure. She was called “Lilith” by the devil.
In the Alphabet of Ben-Sira, which is thought to be the oldest source of the Lilith legend, it was first written down that Lilith was Adam’s first wife. It was written down for the first time in the 1600s, but experts think it happened between the eighth and tenth centuries. Even though Lilith is mentioned in many of the stories about Eve, the story is not a retelling of how the world was made.
Adam’s Son Seth
You’re not the only one who wants to know how old Eve was when she died. In 1 Chronicle 1 and the Gospel of Luke, the Bible talks about Seth’s family tree. Both books talk about Seth as one of Jesus’ ancestors.
But what does each of these stories really mean? How can we be sure that the story is true? It’s important to remember that we can’t answer this question until we know what the stories are about.
One of the most well-known stories in the Bible is about Cain and Abel. Cain was a farmer, and Abel was a shepherd. But Cain was angry that Abel was doing well and killed him.
Cain was made “restless on the earth,” so he couldn’t farm, because he was jealous. The Bible doesn’t say how old Cain was when he killed his father.
The Bible says that Seth was Adam’s third child. Cain, Adam’s first child, killed Abel, Adam’s first son, before Seth was born.
Eve said that God gave her another child to replace Abel, but the Bible doesn’t talk about him until after it talks about Cain’s descendants. The events in the Bible were not written in order, so Seth may have been born after Abel.