Berea Church of Christ Staff
Berea Church of Christ is blessed to have a staff who are truly dedicated to Christ and accomplishing His will.
Kevin became the Puplit Minister at Berea Church of Christ on January 1, 2021. Prior to that, he had served as Berea's Interim Minister since October 1, 2020. Kevin has served as minister for churches in Hopewell Virginia, Marianna Florida, as well as Columbia & Cookeville, Tennessee.
The attributes that best describe Kevin as a minister are strong preaching with practical application to daily living, leadership development and counseling. He has expressed a burning desire to preach at a congregation like Berea Church of Christ, where God's Word serves as the foundation for all that is done with members who care about the needs of those around them and who want to connect others to the body of Christ. Preaching, Bible Study and being involved in the daily lives of the congregation are things that are near and dear to Kevin's heart.
Kevin is an avid golfer and loves The Vols & Titans. He has coached High School and Junior Sports, as well as Little League Baseball. He's pretty handy with a grill and loves to visit the beach and Smokey Mountains. He was born in Henderson, TN and was raised primarily in Missouri. Upon graduation from High School, he came back to Tennessee to attend college.
Kevin graduated from Freed-Hardeman University in 1983 with a degree in Bible and a degree in Business Management. He continued his graduate Bible studies at David Lipscomb University with an emphasis in biblical languages.
Kevin is happily married to Delana Westmorland White, who was raised in Columbia, TN. Twins, Samantha and Sawyer are Freshmen at Lebanon High School and are an active part of the Berea Youth Group.
Lee Mangrum has been a member of the Berea Family since 1993. After graduating from Friendship Christian School in 1978 he married High school sweetheart Cindy Hitt a year later. After serving a four year apprenticeship he graduated from the IBEW industrial electricity program in 1983 and in 1987 began a thirty-two year career with The Metro Nashville Airport Authority. Since 1993 he has served as a minister or associate minister at Berea depending on the needs of the Church.
Lee, Cindy and grandson Tucker Live in Lebanon with their dogs Baby and Henry, and their chickens. He loves history, fishing, reading, gardening, Vanderbilt sports and old movies, and is a huge fan of Andy Griffith, Star Trek (original series) and the Twilight Zone TV shows.
Nathan has been with us at Berea since the end of May, 2022. He is a graduate from Freed-Hardeman University with a Bachelor's Degree in Bible (youth and family ministry emphasis) and a second Bachelors Degree in Communications. Nathan has worked two summers as a Youth Intern at the Huntingdon Church of Christ in Huntingdon, TN and has worked as a Counselor at Mid-South Youth Camp in Henderson, TN. Nathan has also led groups on VBS Mission Trips to various locations.
Megan Bradley has been the Administrative Assistant for the Berea Church since February 2017. She does a ton of work behind the scenes to add to our effectiveness as a church. A native of Spartanburg, SC, she graduated in 2014 from the University of South Carolina Upstate with a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies. She moved to Lebanon after marrying her husband, Micheal, who has been here at Berea since he was five years old! Megan and Michael were married on June 4, 2016. Their son Matthew was born on January 15, 2018. Megan has a heart for helping others and music also holds a special place in her heart.


I didn’t post anything yesterday because it didn’t go as I wished and I was pretty discouraged, but it wasn’t the end of the story.
Yesterday started with worship and teaching, then our first project was packing meals for Eight Days of Hope volunteers that would be rebuilding the city. We packed 3,200 meals in a little under an hour.
Last night was our outreach at Strawberry Park where we had games, food, drama, and evangelism teams. I didn’t know how it was going to look, but I went expecting God to show up, and He did. But I was watching kids on the inflatables while everyone was having these amazing conversations. I had got so many promises that I would spread the Gospel in a way uniquely my flavor, but I left feeling empty-handed.
When we got back the guy I’m sharing a room with and I were pretty hungry, so we walked to the only food place within walking distance, Taco Cabana. As we were waiting for our food to be brought out, I felt God highlighting a man sitting with his young daughter in the corner. I wasn’t sure on any particular word for him, but I walked over there and offered to pray for him. He declined, but on his way out he said “thanks again”. It seems like the offer at least meant something to him, and I can only leave it to the Holy Spirit to finish the rest of that story.
This morning we had worship and teaching again, and I still can’t explain what happened, but I was just very encouraged and was reminded of God’s love in these moments. I was reminded that the work of the Holy Spirit is larger than I can see, and I need to just follow even when it seems pointless and doesn’t make sense. Praise God for leaders that are spiritually and emotionally aware enough to know not everyone is having the same experience, and that protect our hearts through that. I received a word/picture from someone else on the team where I’ve typed out my testimony and everything I’ve experienced in God. Then there’s these words of what others have experienced floating around the page (healing, friendliness, and some others I can’t remember) and as I drag these onto the page, spaces open up as God provides sentences for them in my story. There’s always more of God to step into.
I went with two other guys (Cameron and Eric B.) to pick up the 1,000 water bottles from the church office to pass out at the beach. I think that 45 minute drive will be one of my best memories. I’ve loved meeting the folks from Waco and we mesh instantly because we’re one big family and maintain the same culture despite our geographic distance. On the way there we joked about how Cameron was given the keys to the truck and we had no idea who it belonged to. If we got pulled over, there was no explaining that one.
When we got to the beach, it wasn’t long before I ran into my friend Stephanie who I met through my roommate when she was in Fort Collins in January. We had a good time catching up and taking about what God’s been up to. She lives in Galveston and is transitioning from Antioch Houston to Antioch Galveston.
We started with a worship song on the beach, then headed our own ways to distribute water bottles. I spent some time walking the beach by myself waiting for God to highlight someone for me to talk to, but didn’t get anything.
I thought maybe if Stephanie and I teamed up we would be more outgoing or find some divine appointment, but nope, she’s an introvert too and wasn’t getting anything. I felt like I got a picture of a cookie the night before, so I kept it in mind, but didn’t see anything. So I left tonight with results similar to last night. But this time I felt peace and clarity about the whole thing. I felt like I answered some important questions and my faith had been purified by fire. Will I continue to be faithful and step into His promises even when I don’t see the fruit personally? Will I live on mission in every circumstance, no matter where God sends me? Will I celebrate as the Kingdom advances even when I don’t see how I had a part in it? Yes, Jesus is worth it.
We got box lunches as we got on the bus headed back, and there was a cookie in there. A sweet reminder from Jesus that I’m where He wants me.


Reading, music, travelling, dancing, cooking
Russian (native),French (fair)
Self Description: I am romantic, feminine, gentle, caring, loving and sincere. The most important in my life is to love and be loved. I want to give all my love and tenderness to my only man. I think that my strong points are a hot heart, sense of humor, open mind, decency and patience. I would like to meet my second half, my soul match and to be happy together for the rest of our lives. It is easy to say such wonderful words but it is not easy to fulfill it by a real contents. I think I can more than only to say it. I have a loving heart.
Comments: I am looking for a Christian man who is intelligent, kind, romantic, giving, with a balanced character, a good sense of humor and financially stable. Do I want too much?


Have you ever wondered if it’s okay to take the Bible from a hotel room?
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: yes, you can take the Bible from a hotel room.
In this article, we’ll explore the reasons why you might want to take a Bible from a hotel room, as well as some things to consider before you do. We’ll also discuss the controversy surrounding the practice and offer some suggestions for what to do with the Bible once you’ve taken it.
So, let’s dive in and explore this interesting topic further.
Why Take the Bible from a Hotel Room?
It’s a question that has puzzled many people over the years – why would someone take the Bible from a hotel room? While there is no one definitive answer, there are several reasons why people might choose to do so.
For some people, taking the Bible from a hotel room is a way to connect with their faith while they are away from home. They may feel comforted by having a copy of the Bible with them, and believe that it brings them closer to God. Additionally, some religious travelers may feel that it is their duty to spread the word of God, and taking a copy of the Bible from a hotel room is one way to do so.
Souvenir / Memento
Others may take the Bible from a hotel room as a souvenir or memento of their travels. The Bible is often seen as a symbol of the hotel industry, and taking a copy can be seen as a way to remember a trip or vacation. Some people may also view taking the Bible as a way to “get their money’s worth” from their hotel stay, as they feel that the Bible is included in the price of the room.
Finally, some people may simply take the Bible from a hotel room out of curiosity. They may not have a religious or sentimental connection to the book, but are interested in reading it and learning more about its teachings. Alternatively, they may be interested in comparing different translations of the Bible, or may collect Bibles as a hobby.
Things to Consider Before Taking the Bible
If you are planning to take the Bible from a hotel room, the first thing you need to consider is the hotel policy. Some hotels allow guests to take the Bible as a complimentary gift, while others do not. It is best to check with the hotel staff or read the information provided in the room before taking the Bible. Taking the Bible without permission may be considered theft, and you may be charged for it.
Before taking the Bible from a hotel room, you should also consider your religious beliefs. The Bible is a sacred text for many Christians, and taking it without proper reverence may be seen as disrespectful. If you do not follow the Christian faith, it may be best to leave the Bible in the room for someone who may need it for their spiritual practice.
Another important factor to consider before taking the Bible from a hotel room is the ethical implications. While some may argue that taking the Bible is harmless, others believe that it is a form of cultural appropriation. Additionally, taking the Bible may contribute to the wastage of resources and increase the carbon footprint of the hotel industry. It is important to consider the impact of your actions and make an ethical decision based on your values.
Remember, taking the Bible from a hotel room is not illegal, but it is important to consider the hotel policy, your religious beliefs, and ethical considerations before making a decision.
Controversy Surrounding Taking the Bible from a Hotel Room
For decades, hotel rooms in the United States have provided guests with a copy of the Bible, usually placed in a nightstand drawer or on a shelf. However, in recent years, the practice has come under scrutiny from various groups, including religious organizations and legal experts.
Criticism from Religious Groups
Some religious groups have criticized the practice of leaving Bibles in hotel rooms, arguing that it promotes a specific religion and may offend guests who follow different faiths or have no religious beliefs. In response to these concerns, some hotels have started offering a selection of religious texts, including the Bible, Torah, and Quran, to accommodate guests of different faiths.
However, many others argue that removing the Bible from hotel rooms is an attack on religious freedom. They argue that the Bible is a tradition in American hotels and that removing it would be a violation of the First Amendment.
There are also legal implications surrounding the practice of leaving Bibles in hotel rooms. In some cases, guests have taken the Bibles with them when they check out, prompting questions about whether this constitutes theft or is considered acceptable behavior.
While there is no clear answer to this question, legal experts suggest that taking a Bible from a hotel room is not illegal as long as the Bible is not marked with the hotel’s property tag or logo. However, some hotels have started placing stickers or tags on their Bibles to deter guests from taking them.
It’s worth noting that some hotels actually encourage guests to take the Bible with them, viewing it as a form of outreach. For example, the Gideons International, an organization that distributes Bibles, has partnered with many hotels to provide free copies of the Bible to guests.
What to Do with the Bible Once You’ve Taken It
Many hotels around the world provide their guests with a complimentary Bible in the room. While some people appreciate the gesture, others might wonder what to do with the Bible once they’ve taken it. Here are some ideas:
If you’re interested in religious texts or just curious about the Bible, you can take the time to read it. The Bible is a complex and fascinating book that has influenced millions of people around the world. You might find it enlightening or inspiring, or you might disagree with some of its teachings. Either way, reading the Bible can be a valuable experience.
If you don’t want to keep the Bible for yourself, you can donate it to a religious organization or a charity. Many churches or shelters accept donations of religious texts to distribute to those in need. This can be a great way to give back to your community and help others who might appreciate the Bible more than you do.
Pass It On
If you have friends or family who might be interested in the Bible, you can give it to them as a gift. This can be a thoughtful gesture, especially if you know someone who is religious or curious about religious texts. You can also leave the Bible in a common area, such as a hotel lobby or community center, for others to take and read.
|– Can be enlightening or inspiring
– Can increase knowledge and understanding
|– Might not be of interest to everyone
– Can be time-consuming
|– Can help those in need
– Can be a way to give back to the community
|– Might not be accepted by all organizations
– Can be difficult to find a suitable donation location
|Pass It On
|– Can be a thoughtful gesture
– Can introduce others to the Bible
|– Might not be of interest to everyone
– Can be difficult to find a suitable location to leave it
Remember: Whatever you choose to do with the Bible, be respectful of its significance to those who believe in its teachings. If you’re not interested in keeping it, don’t treat it as a disposable item. Instead, consider giving it to someone who might appreciate it more or donating it to a worthy cause.
In conclusion, taking the Bible from a hotel room is largely a matter of personal preference and belief. While some people may view it as a meaningful souvenir or a way to spread the word of God, others may see it as theft or disrespectful to the hotel and its guests.
Ultimately, it’s up to each individual to decide whether or not to take the Bible from a hotel room, but it’s important to consider the potential consequences and ethical implications before doing so.
If you do decide to take the Bible, there are many ways to use it or share it with others, such as reading it yourself, donating it to a religious organization, or passing it on to someone who may benefit from it.
Whatever you choose, we hope this article has provided some useful insights and information on this interesting topic.


Join me for a second look into Revelation Chapter 1, The Aleph, The Key Verse of the chapter. Journey with us as we discover how the letter Aleph shows us the Heavenly and Earthly realms, and how The Key Verse in this chapter contains the Father of The Alphabet.
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(732) 314 – 1956
Check out our 15 day Study Devotion, "Bearing The Burden."


Archive for the ‘Glory to God’ Category
Here is the gospel…
Over the years I have often fallen prey to guilt evangelism. I would hear a sermon on the lost and my heart would break and then I would get up, grit my teeth, and go tell someone about Jesus. I would witness to a few folks and then my love for the lost would grow cold again. I would read a book on hell and the horrors there and would again want to witness to people to keep them from going to that awful place. But yet again my love for the lost would grow cold.
The problem with me was that I was motivated to share my faith by guilt and not by love. I would have told you that I loved the lost and had compassion on them to want them to be saved but in reality, I was just feeling a bit guilty for not doing what I knew God wanted me to do and that was share my faith. I viewed evangelism as a chore to be done and not as an act of love and mercy enabled by the gospel.
True gospel centered evangelism is not focused on sharing my faith out of guilt. After all, I am not saved because I share my faith but because of the work of Christ. When Jesus uttered, “It is finished” (John 19:30), what part was not finished? He completed the work of salvation that God required and now He commands me to repent and believe the gospel (John 6:29). God has reconciled me to Himself in His Son (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). This salvation is based all upon Jesus Christ and His shed blood and not my own works (Ephesians 2:1-10). While true faith works (James 2:14-26), saving faith focuses all on Jesus and the grace of God motivates me toward service (Titus 2:11-14). True faith does obey (Matthew 7:21-27) but true faith rests in Jesus and His righteousness and not my own (Philippians 3:7-11).
Guilt evangelism and gospel evangelism are quite easy to differentiate. Notice the contrasts:
- Guilt evangelism focuses on numbers; Gospel evangelism focuses on the glory of God.
- Guilt evangelism focuses on my efforts; Gospel evangelism focuses on the work of the Holy Spirit.
- Guilt evangelism appeases my flesh and soothes my guilty conscience; Gospel evangelism recognizes that Jesus has saved me by His grace and He uses me by His grace for His glory.
- Guilt evangelism makes me shed tears for the people; Gospel evangelism makes me shed tears for the blasphemy of God’s holy name and character.
- Guilt evangelism leads me to sow a few seeds here and there; Gospel evangelism seeks to sow seeds in every place I go for the glory of God.
- Guilt evangelism is focused on methods; Gospel evangelism is focused on the message of Christ.
- Guilt evangelism leads me to pray just a bit for the lost; Gospel evangelism leads me to pray for the salvation of souls for the glory of the King.
- Guilt evangelism places the emphasis on me, myself, and I; Gospel evangelism focuses on God alone.
- Guilt evangelism is satisfied by witnessing to a few people; Gospel evangelism is concerned that the Lamb may receive the reward of His suffering.
- Guilt evangelism rests in the ability of flesh; Gospel evangelism rests in the sovereignty of God.
I pray that you and I are motivated by the gospel and not by our flesh to share our faith. From the overflow of worship of our King comes the desire to see others saved and worshiping the King (Psalm 51:10-17). The Holy Spirit empowers us to be witnesses for Jesus (Acts 1:8). This power comes from the Holy Spirit and not from our flesh. The Holy Spirit enables us to be witnesses for the glory of Jesus so that the world can see our King. Both the fear of the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:11) and the love of the Lord motivates us to be His witnesses (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). I pray that we all would be faithful witnesses for Christ our Lord (2 Corinthians 5:20; 1 Peter 3:15-16).
Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:47; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; Romans 15:20-21; Revelation 22:17
I thought this was an excellent presentation of what it means to be gospel centered from a church website. It is here below.
What do we mean when we say that Christ Community Church is a gospel-centered church? We mean that the gospel is not simply the entry point into the Christian life but that it is also the foundation and power that shapes all we do as followers of Jesus Christ, both in our daily lives and in our experience as the corporate body of Christ.
The Good News of Jesus Christ is not only the fire that ignites the Christian life, it’s the fuel that keeps Christians going and growing each day.
The gospel is the gloriously great news of what God has done through the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ to satisfy His own wrath (or settled opposition against sin which His holy nature requires) and to secure forgiveness of sins, the gift of eternal life, a coming new creation free from decay, disasters, disease, evil, sin, and death and perfect righteousness for all who trust in Christ alone for salvation.
Therefore, the gospel is not what God requires. The gospel is what God provides! The gospel is not an imperative, demanding things you must do. The gospel is an indicative, declaring things that God has done. The gospel is not about human action, it’s about divine achievement. The gospel is not a moralistic “Do!” The gospel is a merciful “Done!” The gospel is not good advice – it’s good news! Our ministry values: worship, grow, connect, and reach are all gospel-driven. We at Christ Community Church want the gospel of Christ to inform and empower all that we do to the glory of God.
Amen! May we be more and more all gospel centered in lives.
This truth has been in my mind all day from 1 John 4:10:
In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
How precious is the love of our God for us. Let us lay aside differences over Arminianism and Calvinism and let us for a moment see how great is our Father’s love for us. Who can fathom the depth of His grace and mercy? Who can begin to swim in the ocean of His mercy? Who can ponder the greatness of our sins that God would send His Son to redeem us from the curse of sin through His Son?
I wonder at our Savior. I marvel at who He is and what He has done in saving me. I do not deserve His grace. I have not earned His forgiveness. All of this blessing comes to me simply because of the sovereign choice of our God. He chose to save. He chose to release me from the bondage of sin. He chose to send His Son. I did not earn this. I did not deserve this. This is love is simply from the hand and plan of a mighty God.
Oh for others to experience this love! Oh for others to know the blessing of repentance of sins and His great grace! May we be examples of His grace toward those around us who do not know His love.
Years ago while pastoring a small traditional church, I received a packet in the mail that told me that if I would pay this group such and such amount of money (seems like it was around $500), this group would come in and help our struggling church grow. They would do a survey of the community, break it down according to its demographics and would provide a sure plan for helping our church grow. They would provide a consultant who was “an expert in church growth” and would help me come up with ways to be more effective in our outreach, better at keeping visitors, and providing an atmosphere that was suitable for church growth. Ironically, God was mentioned only in passing. Nothing was said of prayer, of expository preaching, of repentance, of discipleship in a biblical sense, of biblical evangelism, of baptism. God was simply part of the means to the ends. The bottom line was man could teach me how to grow a church.
I take that view to Scripture and I look at the many failures in the Bible. I think of Noah and his failures. Here is a man who Scripture calls “a preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5 NASB) yet we read that only eight people repented at his preaching after over 100 years of preaching (1 Peter 3:20). 8 people after 100 years. That is not good results. Yet Scripture exalts Noah as “an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith” (Hebrews 11:7 NASB).
I think about Moses. In many ways Moses was a success. He was from a wealthy family (Hebrews 11:26) yet because of his sin of murder, he was in the desert for 40 years. God brought him back to Egypt and he came only reluctantly. He led more than three million Israelites from bondage to the promise land but in the end, he himself didn’t even get to enter the promise land because of his sins. He had all the promises of God about the promise land but his own moral failures led him to miss the promise land. In many ways, Moses was a failure in the eyes of the church growth folks. Yes he did lead three million souls but he died with them wandering in the desert.
I think of Jeremiah the prophet. Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet (Jeremiah 9:1; 13:17; 14:17). Here is a prophet of God who was threatened, tried for his life, put in stocks, forced to flee from Jehoiakim, publicly humiliated by a false prophet, and thrown into a pit. He preached over 50 years and most rejected his prophetic voice. He preached that Judah should repent and turn to God but in the end, none heeded his voice and the Jews were taken into captivity by the Chaldeans (Jeremiah 52). The book of Lamentations is Jeremiah’s weeping over the status of the Jews. Jerusalem, the city of David, now was in bondage and forsaken by God and given over to the evil Chaldeans.
I think of the Lord Jesus Himself. Would Jesus be rejected from a church growth seminary? Here is a Man who did have large crowds following Him at times yet He often withdrew from them to pray (Luke 5:16). In fact, John 2:24-25 is a powerful insight into the ministry of the Messiah:
24 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, 25 and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.
Jesus would say things that often would make the crowds smaller such as His discourse in John 6 that ended with many disciples forsaking Him (John 6:66). Jesus would tell the crowds to repent (Luke 13:5) and He would tell them how hard it was to be His disciple (Luke 14:25-35). His parables and His actions show a Man who is not focused on having large numbers but is committed to doing the will of God perfectly. In the end, all His disciples forsook Him (Mark 14:50). After His resurrection, He appeared to over 500 people (1 Corinthians 15:6) yet only 120 went to the upper room to wait as He commanded (Acts 1:4-5, 15). Here is a Man who once feed over 5,000 people (very likely near 10,000) yet in the end, He had only 120 people. Jesus never wrote a book. Never started a church. Never went far from His boyhood home. Never had much money. Died without the riches of this world, without the applaud of the people, and He was mocked in His death. I suspect Jesus would be viewed as a failure.
Even Paul the Apostle could be viewed as a failure. Yes he was a mighty man of God, planted churches, and preached the Word in many places but in the end, he was forsaken and alone in prison at the time of his death (2 Timothy 4:10-11). The church growth folks want us to believe that a clergy should be praised, held in honor, and adored by the people. You would expect crowds to mourn your loss because of your greatness to the kingdom of God but here is Paul alone in the prison cell and about to die. After years of warning and preaching and exhorting, people still are forsaking the faith and him (2 Timothy 3:1-5; 4;3-4). Even his greatest church (Ephesus) would be rebuked by Jesus in Revelation 2:1-7 for having lost her first love. No applause from men when Paul dies. No weeping over his loss. No masses of saints waiting to see the beloved Apostle. Instead, we see him alone. Where is the fame? Where is the fortune? Where are the experts waiting to hear what Paul has to say?
I write all this to encourage you. Don’t allow pragmatism to rob you of being faithful to Jesus. Focus on pleasing God and not on what you can get out of it or the applause of men. Make Jesus your passion. Seek Him for Him. Serve Him for Him. Make heaven your goal. Don’t be fooled by the lure of money (1 Timothy 6:10) nor of the flesh. Seek to please Jesus and make Him the One that you look to. People will mock you for your witnessing, saying that it doesn’t work or you are only an embarrassment to God for passing out gospel tracts but remain steadfast (1 Corinthians 15:58). People will mock you for your “old-fashioned views” regarding the Bible being the inerrant and infallible Word of God but remain faithful in your preaching just like Jeremiah and allow God to glorify His name through you even if you must die. Preach hard against sin (when no one else will) and preach hard on repentance (when few will). The Lord will be exalted and that is our aim (Philippians 1:20-21). Don’t look at your bank account as a sign of blessing or curse. Don’t look at the people standing there hearing you weep over their souls. Make your aim focused on pleasing Jesus! Perhaps you will die alone and in prison and none will mourn you when you are gone but take heart, Jesus is there with you through it all (2 Timothy 4:17-18). Jesus has promised that He will be with us to the end (Matthew 28:20). May He be exalted through what others see as our failures. We may die without a church or without anyone noticing but Jesus will and He will reward us on that day.
Doctrine is important. Scripture is clear about this. Last night my little boys and I were studying from John 7 and here Jesus makes this statement about doctrine in John 7:16-18 (NKJV):
16 Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. 18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.
Adam Clarke wrote about verse 17:
I will give you a sure rule by which ye may judge of my doctrine: If you really wish to do the will of God, begin the practice of it; and take my doctrine, and apply it to all that you know God requires of man; and if you find one of my precepts contrary to the nature, perfections, and glory of God, or to the present or eternal welfare of men, then ye shall be at liberty to assert that my doctrine is human and erroneous, and God has not sent me. But if, on the contrary, ye find that the sum and substance of my preaching is, That men shall love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, and their neighbour as themselves; and that this doctrine must bring glory to God in the highest, while it produces peace and good will among men; then acknowledge that God has visited you, and receive me as the Messiah promised to your fathers.
Doctrine must glorify God. Doctrine must focus on the work of the Lord Jesus.
In the Church of Jesus Christ, doctrine is vital. We read in Acts 2:42 that the disciples saved on the day of Pentecost continued steadfastly in the Apostle’s doctrine. Ephesians 4:14 says that the purpose of Bible teachers is to help the children of God mature and not be confused by false teachings but to remain faithful to sound doctrine. 1 Timothy 1:3 tells Timothy to charge some that they teach no other doctrine. 1 Timothy 4:1 warns that the time will come when people will turn away from the faith and turn to teaching doctrines of demons. But Timothy is to remain in faithful doctrine (1 Timothy 4:6) and he is to be faithful in teaching sound doctrine (1 Timothy 4:13) for in so doing he will save both himself and others as well (1 Timothy 4:16). Paul praises elders who are teaching sound doctrine (1 Timothy 5:17) and he tells slaves to be faithful that the doctrine of God might be praised (1 Timothy 6:1). Paul’s warning in 1 Timothy 6:3-5 (NKJV) is worth reading:
3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 says that all of Scripture is breathed out by God and useful for doctrine. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 warns that a time will come (and has come since) when people will not endure sound doctrine but will turn aside to myths.
I could go on and on. Sound doctrine is vital. It is important for the Church to study sound doctrine and to abide in the Word of God. We need to be faithful in Bible study and in sound exegesis. We need faithful Bible teachers who will stand up and teach the truth of God without fear of men (Proverbs 1:7). Sound doctrine is vital. It is possible to believe in lies and a false christ (Matthew 24:24). 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 says that when people abide in sin and do not love the truth, at times, God allows a strong delusion, that they should believe a lie. In essence, sincerity is not enough to be saved. We must have faith in one true God to be saved. I recently heard a prominent preacher say that Rahab the harlot (Hebrews 11:31) was saved and he was sure that she was not sound in doctrine. He also pointed to Acts 16:30-34 with the pagan jailer as another example of poor doctrine in which a person was saved. His point: God saves those who believe and not theologians. He went on to say that he hoped that those in cults would be saved despite poor theology. For instance, he went on to say that he hoped Jehovah’s Witnesses would be saved despite their false teachings. He believes that the JW’s teach salvation by faith in Christ.
There are many problems with his views. First, we don’t know the doctrinal understanding of either Rahab or the Philippian jailer. Yet we do know that the Israelites were worshiping the one true God in Joshua 2. In fact, Rahab acknowledges the authority of Yahweh in Joshua 2:9 by name. Rahab was not seeking the false pagan gods of her culture but the one true God in Yahweh. The same is true of the Apostles in Acts 16. Paul was clearly preaching the true God (Romans 1:16-17) and this gospel would set sinners free. Further, Paul makes it clear in Acts 16:31 that it is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who saves (John 14:6). Paul was not praising the jailer for his faith in the false gods of Rome but he is preaching the true and living God in the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:1).
Now my point here is not to simply acknowledge true doctrine. I do believe that true doctrine is vital to the health of the Church and to salvation of the lost. We can preach false christs. We can preach another gospel (Galatians 1:6-9). We must be careful to abide in the teachings of Jesus (John 15:1-11; 1 John 4:1-6).
That said, I believe that we can abide in faithful doctrine and yet love doctrine above loving Christ. We must be careful to not fall in love with teachings about Jesus Christ while not loving the person of Christ. The person of Christ is our salvation. Salvation is not found in the teachings about Jesus as much as they are found in the person of Jesus. Jesus is alive. He is not dead. Jesus is not confined to a book. Jesus is the risen Savior. Certainly we must study His Word that He has given us to know Him more and more but the knowledge of His Word is to know Him and not merely about Him. We can know about Jesus while not knowing Jesus. It is possible to sit week after week under sound doctrine and still be lost. We can think we are saved because we think that salvation comes through knowledge about Jesus. This is not true. James 2:19 makes it clear that demons acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus but they are not saved. Demons acknowledge sound doctrine about Jesus. They acknowledge He is God. They acknowledge He is Lord of lords. Yet demons are not saved.
James 2:14-26 is important here because it is not enough, writes James the Apostle, to acknowledge the truth of God. We must allow the truth of Jesus to transform us. I know of people who would claim Christ. They would acknowledge that we are justified by faith. They would acknowledge that the Bible is the Word of God and that Christ alone saves. Yet they abide in sin (1 John 3:4-9). They are not saved from the wrath to come (Romans 5:9). By their life, they testify that Jesus is not Lord of their lives (Luke 6:46-49; Titus 1:16; 1 John 2:3-6). They are not saved at all. They would claim salvation but they would not be able to point to what they are saved from. They are not saved from God. They are not saved from sin. They are not saved from the bondage of the devil. They are not saved from the fear of death.
True salvation is not simply doctrine. To love doctrine above Jesus would be idolatry. It is possible to love Arminius or Calvin or Edwards or Spurgeon above Jesus. Jesus must be our focus. Is the gospel of the Lord Jesus that saves me and not any flesh (John 1:12-13). Jesus is our salvation (Romans 3:22-27). Jesus shed His blood for our salvation (Matthew 26:28; Ephesians 1:7) and His blood alone is able to cleanse us from sin (1 John 1:7). His blood frees us and empowers us to be kings and priests unto God (Revelation 1:5-6). The truth of the gospel is contained in the powerful words of John 3:16. Our love should be for sound doctrine but even more for the person of the Lord Jesus who is alive and reigns forever. May our love and devotion be to Him always and not to our theological systems. I assure you that there will be many theologians in hell (Matthew 7:21-23) but the true saints of God are those who love Jesus and obey Him as Lord (Revelation 14:4).


Holy and Great Friday crucessions in Jerusalem
An African Christian woman holds her baby strapped to her back as she waits to be allowed into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Holy and Great Friday. Jerusalem, Israel. 3-May-2013.
Thousands of Eastern Orthodox Christians take part in crucessions along the Via Dolorosa, retracing the last steps of Jesus, on Holy and Great Friday, preceding Easter. Emotions climax on approach to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.


What Mama Did #fiveminutefriday
There was never a mess that my mom couldn't clean up. Those who have seen her house know that it's pristine, and any spill or speck of dust that is foolish enough to collide with her floors is soon swept away. It wasn't just houses that she cleaned, it was hearts too. After the fires I was sure my life had ended. Everything was gone- those clean floors, the memory boxes my mom had packed so perfectly with each art project and picture, and my beautiful dog, Sadie. It broke me, left a Sadie shaped hole in my heart that still has left to be filled. And I was terrible as a result. But there was no wrong my mom could not forgive, and no darkness she could not love me out of.
Four years later, my mom was meditating on the fires, and the Lord gave her a vision. She asked Christ where He was on that day, and He gave her a vision. He was crouched in the pantry, holding a scared little dog and bringing her to heaven. It gave me closure, it gave me hope. God used my mom to sweep away the despair that lingered, all those years later. I still miss my dog. I still ache in the place in my heart where she was meant to be. I'm so grateful that I have my mother. She's a lover, a fighter, a prayer warrior. She's my best friend, and I wouldn't have anyone else.


On November 1, 1625 Oliver Plunkett was born at Loughcrew Cairns, Oldcastle, Ireland
Read his remarkable story below.
Bishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, was hung, drawn and quartered, on July 1, 1681 at Tyburn Gallows, London. That barbaric act made him the last Catholic victim martyred as a direct result of the devious ‘Popish Plot’ instigated by rogue Clergyman Titus Oates.
To be hanged, drawn and quartered became a statutory penalty for men convicted of high treason in the Kingdom of England from 1352, although similar rituals are recorded during the reign of King Henry III (1216–1272). The convicted traitor was fastened to a hurdle, or wooden panel, and drawn by horse to the place of execution, once there he was then hanged (almost to the point of death), emasculated, disemboweled, all while still alive and finally beheaded, then when dead he was quartered (chopped into four pieces). His remains would then often be displayed in prominent places across the country, such as London Bridge, to serve as a warning of the fate of traitors.
The Popish Plot.
The so-called ‘Popish Plot’ concocted in England by Oates, led to further anti-Roman Catholic action including the arrest of Archbishop Peter Talbot of Dublin, and forced Plunkett to go into hiding again. Despite being on the run and with a price on his head, Plunkett refused to leave his flock and at some point, before his final incarceration, he took refuge in a church that once stood in the townland of Killartry, in the parish of Clogherhead in County Louth, seven miles outside Drogheda.
The Protestant parliament in England, still in a very strong position, finally forced its will on the restoration king Charles II, and issued a decree dissolving all Church property. Oliver Plunkett’s schools in Drogheda were burned and razed to the ground and a short time later, on January 18, 1674, he and his close friend John Brennan, Bishop of Cashel, were forced to flee and seek shelter in the South Armagh hills, coming first to the area around the foothills of Slieve Gullion. This flight is well documented by Oliver Plunkett himself, in a letter written by him to the Internuncio in Rome on January 27, 1674 from his first hideout, the house of a 'reduced gentleman who had nothing to lose' and who gave them shelter as they fled, fearing for their lives, through the valleys around Mullaghbawn in County Armagh during a violent snowstorm in the winter of 1673-74. After a short respite the ‘reduced gentleman’ directed them to a second ‘safe house’ in an area known as the ‘Doctors Quarters’ near to an old limestone quarry at Lislea.
Plunkett writes of their hardship in one of his own letters:
"The snow fell heavily, mixed with hailstones, which were very large and hard. A cutting north wind blew in our faces, and snow and hail beat so dreadfully in our eyes that up to the present we have scarcely been able to see with them. Often we were in danger in the valleys of being lost and suffocated in the snow, till at length we arrived at the house of a reduced gentleman who had nothing to lose. But, for our misfortune, he had a stranger in his house by whom we did not wish to be recognized, hence we were placed in a garret without chimney, and without fire, where we have been for the past eight days."
On the run in South Armagh.
On a stark, frigid night in January 1674, Bishop Oliver Plunkett and his close friend John Brennan, Bishop of Cashel, were forced to flee the town of Drogheda and run for their lives. Wearing long, hooded cloaks and veils, and with a price on their heads and the dreaded Priest Hunters snarling at their heels, they followed the old royal roadway out of the town, crossed the Boyne valley and fled north toward the sanctuary of South Armagh in the province of Ulster. Their journey would take them across the Boyne river and over the hill of Slane, past the old moss-covered dolmens and burial place of the nobles at Ros na ri, then on past the ancient Viking settlement at Annagassan and the hamlet of Dundalk, through the gap of the north and into the foothills around Slieve Gullion. In a gale driven, blinding snowstorm they passed in silence through the gap and arrived exhausted below the steep slopes of Slieve Gullion. After trudging through the snowdrifts that covered the wide valley of Mullaghbawn, they arrived at a prearranged hiding place known locally as the Doctor’s Quarters, close to the old lime kilns at Lislea. There they met with Bishop Patrick Donnelly, aka Phelim Brady, the Bard of Armagh, himself no stranger to the same vicious head hunters. The bard provided the two men with temporary shelter, food and warm beds. Donnelly was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Oliver Plunkett at Dundalk in 1673. Recognising his considerable academic ability Plunkett sent him to Paris for further study. Again on his return the Archbishop appointed him in 1679 as Bishop of Dromore. He acted as parish priest too to Lislea and is said to have resided at Doctor’s Quarters (named after him). When not resident there as an ordinary citizen he travelled on foot (as a minstrel) in the Counties of Louth, Armagh, Down Tyrone and Derry, guiding, encouraging and advising his outlaw priests and his unfortunate people.
Eulogy for Oliver
Beneath the tree near Oswulf’s stone, where the roman roads met the river,
a blood-soaked spot and a hangman’s knot would soon a soul deliver.
No guilt nor shame would mark the name of this man from the royal vale,
tho’ a king’s command forced him to stand three miles from Newgate jail.
From proud Loughcrew in royal Mide all the way to the apostle’s ground
his journey took him far and wide to spread the word around.
Brutal laws were passed to bind him fast to a foreign cruel hand
but with cloak and veil and a well-worn trail, he fled north to Macha’s land.
With Phelim the bard he found shelter and slept in the minstrel’s bed,
while on Gullion’s slopes roguish Titus Oates and his popish plot brought dread
to the Doctor’s house in the valley, near the lime kilns at old Lislea,
to Mullaghbawn and O’Hanlon’s fort and Forkhill beyond Sturgan Brae.
The hunters dogged his footsteps and sought after him night and morn
for the bounty set and the fear of the threat that his words would lead and warn.
From Charles and his vile henchman and their masters in London town
he shifted and shaped across field and wide lake and fooled both a king and his crown.
But up on the back of a horsecart with his arms and legs tightly bound
the time was now come to stand and not run for escape would never be found.
As the rope drew tight and took his light and the bright sun turned to grey,
he offered it up in a martyr’s cup and departed this world on that day.
*note: The man who gave them shelter is believed to be Bishop Patrick Donnelly, also known as Phelim Brady, the Bard of Armagh.
1 November 1625 – 1 July 1681
Oliver Plunkett was born on the 1st of November 1625 in Loughcrew, County Meath, Ireland, to well-to-do parents with Hiberno-Norman ancestors. As an aspirant to the priesthood he set out for Rome in 1647, under the care of Father Pierfrancesco Scarampi of the Roman Oratory. At this time the Irish Confederate Wars were raging in Ireland, a series of violent conflicts between native Irish Roman Catholics, English and Irish Anglicans and Protestants. Scarampi was the Papal envoy to the Roman Catholic movement known as the Confederation of Ireland. Many of Plunkett's relatives were involved in this organization.
He was admitted to the Irish College in Rome and was ordained a priest in 1654, and deputed by the Irish bishops to act as their representative in Rome. Meanwhile, the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland (1649–53) had defeated the Roman Catholic cause in Ireland and in the aftermath the public practice of Roman Catholicism was banned and Roman Catholic clergy were exiled or executed. As a result, it was impossible for Plunkett to return to Ireland for many years. He petitioned to remain in Rome and, in 1657, became a professor of theology. Throughout the period of the Commonwealth and the first years of Charles II's reign, he successfully pleaded the cause of the Irish Roman Church, and also served as theological professor at the College of Propaganda Fide. At the Congregation of Propaganda Fide on 9 July 1669 he was appointed Archbishop of Armagh, the Irish primatial see, and was consecrated on 30 November at Ghent by the Bishop of Ghent, Eugeen-Albert, count d'Allamont. He eventually set foot on Irish soil again on 7 March 1670, as the English Restoration of 1660 had begun on a basis of toleration.
After arriving back in Ireland, he set about reorganizing the ravaged Roman Church and built schools both for the young and for clergy. As the Penal Laws had been relaxed in line with the Declaration of Breda in 1660, Plunkett was able to establish a Jesuit College in Drogheda in 1670. A year later 150 students attended the college, no fewer than 40 of whom were Protestant, making this college the first integrated school in Ireland.
On the enactment of the Test Act in 1673, to which Plunkett would not agree for doctrinal reasons, the college was closed and demolished. Plunkett went into hiding, travelling only in disguise, and refused a government edict to register at a seaport to await passage into exile. For the next few years he was largely left in peace since the Dublin government, except when put under pressure from the English government in London, preferred to leave the Catholic bishops alone.
The so-called Popish Plot, concocted in England by clergyman Titus Oates, led to further anti-Roman Catholic action. Archbishop Peter Talbot of Dublin was arrested, and Plunkett again went into hiding. Despite being on the run and with a price on his head, Plunkett refused to leave his flock. At some point before his final incarceration, he took refuge in a church that once stood in the townland of Killartry, in the parish of Clogherhead in County Louth, seven miles outside Drogheda.
Oliver Plunkett was arrested in Dublin in December 1679 and imprisoned in Dublin Castle, where he gave absolution to the dying Talbot. Plunkett was tried at Dundalk for conspiring against the state by allegedly plotting to bring 20,000 French soldiers into the country, and for levying a tax on his clergy to support 70,000 men for rebellion. Fearing he would not be found guilty in Ireland he was moved to Newgate Prison in London in order to face trial at Westminster Hall.
Unfortunately Plunkett had his fair share of enemies even in the staunch area of South Armagh. As Cardinal Fee wrote in his book on Plunketts' life and times:
‘..where Slieve Gullion stands out against the skyline nestles the secluded hiding place where Archbishop John Cashel and Archbishop Patrick Donnelly [the Bard of Armagh] spent a year ‘on the run’ from their relentless persecutors. The ‘Great Road of The Fews’ which Oliver Plunkett so often travelled to visit the northern part of his Archdiocese, led him through the historic parish of Creggan to Dorsey where he often rested at the inn kept by the friendly Cromwellian planter George Bleeke. The inn was the scene of many a conference of the northern clergy and one of the underground centres of administration of the Irish Church. But if this district of South Armagh helped to shelter the hunted archbishop, it also helped to send him to the scaffold. From it came the MacMoyers [ironically the name derives from ‘keepers’ of the Book of Kells] and Murphy and several of the other minor witnesses who gave evidence in London against the archbishop in London. Around the firesides of South Armagh were whispered the poisonous accusations that the Archbishop had been somehow unpatriotic, that he had taken the side of the Government against the Raparees, that he had little sympathy with the Old Irish of the North. It was a shameful tragedy that internal dissentions should have been allowed to deter the people of South Armagh from rallying around their great spiritual leader as he faced, alone but undaunted, the common Foe of Faith and Fatherland.’
Cardinal Fee went on to name two Franciscan priests Father Edward Daly and Father Anthony O'Neill, son of famed chieftan Owen Roe O'Neill as conspirators against Plunkett.
Oliver Plunkett was found guilty of high treason in June 1681 "for promoting the Roman faith", and was condemned to death. He was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn on 1 July 1681, aged 55, the last Roman Catholic martyr to die in England.
His body was initially buried in two tin boxes, next to five Jesuits who had died previously, in the courtyard of St Giles in the Fields church. The remains were exhumed in 1683 and moved to the Benedictine monastery at Lamspringe, near Hildesheim in Germany. The head was brought to Rome, and from there to Armagh, and eventually to Drogheda where since 29 June 1921 it has rested in Saint Peter's Church. Most of the body was brought to Downside Abbey, England, where the major part is located today, with some parts remaining at Lamspringe. Some relics were brought to Ireland in May 1975, while others are in England, France, Germany, the United States, and Australia.
Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich
On July 1st 1981 South Armagh native Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich, together with twenty bishops and a number of abbots stood on a stage beneath a scaffolding on Clapham Common, London. The Cardinal had flown there in a helicopter with the remains of Oliver Plunket’s body, for the 300th anniversary of his death. A spectacular rally and Mass was held in his honor.
Recently, a record-breaking heatwave in Ireland led to the discovery of a Neolithic henge circle, which was clearly visible in the crops of a farm. Now, the continuing high temperatures may have revealed the location of St. Oliver Plunkett’s childhood home. The Irish Mirror reports that as the sun scorched the grass of Loughcrew Estate, near Oldcastle in Co Meath, the distinct outline of a building appeared on the ground: The outline of the house, containing three big rooms and four smaller rooms, with a pathway leading to the church in the grounds of Loughcrew Estate, became apparent during the heatwave.
It was known that St. Oliver grew up on the estate, but over the last 400 years, the exact location of the building was lost. This revelation has excited the current owner of the estate, Emily Naper, who is a direct descendant of St. Oliver.
Naper told the Irish Mirror:
“I’m not an archaeologist by any means but it’s a fair assumption to make that this is the house, especially as the path seems to be linked straight to the church,” she said. “The 1612 civil survey describes the tower house, motte and bailey and ring fort, which are still in the estate. It also mentions the church, a millhouse as well as 60 cabins in the garden, along with what was then the main house. You can make out three big rooms of the same size and then four smaller rooms at the back which could have been bedrooms. It would be lovely to have the site examined, dated and verified.”
Bishop Patrick Donnelly.
The subordinate Protestant Dublin parliament passed the Popery Act with the aim of expelling all Catholic bishops and higher clergy. Priests who agreed to swear allegiance to the Crown and abjured the right to go about their priestly duties, to be secular rather than religious, and who registered with the authorities, who could then monitor their activities, were permitted to stay. A small number agreed to these conditions rather than leave their flock without spiritual guidance. The penalty for non-compliance was execution or transportation and those who would not accept these conditions had to go into hiding. It was this period that saw ‘mass-rocks’ flourishing.
By the turn of the century, Dr Patrick Donnelly, who ministered in South Armagh, was one of only two Catholic bishops said to be operating in Ireland. He of course had to operate in disguise. His normal disguise was that of a wandering minstrel. He assumed the title of Phelim Brady, the Bard of Armagh. The illustrious title lives on in several forms, notably in song, which has itself seen many incarnations.
Patrick Donnelly was born in Desertcreaght, Cookstown, County Tyrone in 1650. Some part of his education was at the hands of the Jesuits at their hedge-school in Drogheda. He was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Oliver Plunkett at Dundalk in 1673. Recognising his considerable academic ability the Archbishop sent him to Paris for further study. Again on his return the Archbishop appointed him (c. 1679) as Bishop of Dromore. He acted as parish priest too to Lislea and is said to have resided at Doctor’s Quarters (named after him). When not resident there as an ordinary peasant he travelled on foot (as a minstrel) in the Counties of Louth, Armagh, Down Tyrone and Derry, guiding, exhorting and advising his outlaw priests and his unfortunate people.
Bishop Donnelly’s hut of refuge was said to be located on the site of the house of the last native Irish speaker in the area, Sally Humphrey (who died c. 1918). Interviewed by Fr Laurence Murray (local historian, folklorist and archivist) Sally became indignant at the ‘mere doggerel’ of the words of that song (Bard of Armagh) that he recited to her. She had a clear recollection of an Ulster Gaelic folksong of that theme being sung to her in her youth, with the same haunting air that, in comparison, she regarded the modern ballad in English a poor, unworthy and senseless imitation.
Despite his mastery of disguise Bishop Donnelly did not forever escape detection. On 15 September 1706 he was arrested in Father John MacParlan’s house in Lathbirget by Walter Dawson. It was well into the following year before he was released for lack of evidence against him. He immediately resumed his sacred mission. He consecrated Edmund Byrne as Archbishop of Dublin and elevated another priest to the Bishopric of Killala.
He remained in Doctor’s Quarters until his death in 1716 at the age of 66. The great devotion in which he was held was illustrated in the funeral cortege afforded to him by his loving people. Having to act secretly by night for fear of the authorities, still they carried his coffin from parish to parish across the hills of Armagh and Tyrone and laid him to rest eventually in his native parish and in his own family grave at Desertcreaght.
Along with Saint Oliver Plunkett, Dr Patrick Donnelly, the Bard of Armagh was one of the most revered Bishops of all Penal Days.
Many thanks to Wikipedia for some of the info. used in this article.
© John A. Brennan 2015. All Rights Reserved.
From "Out of the Ice: Ireland Then and Now."
Available at: https://www.amazon.com/author/johnabrennan.
© 2023 Created by Gerry Regan. Powered by
Powerful stuff John. As before, you've filled in many gaps for me. Thanks.
Thanks Colm, It is a fascinating albeit cruel story.
Great account, John but I dunno how I didn't notice the 'John Brennan' name in it before. Is he any relation of ur famous relative, Brennan on the moor or to ur family atal...
Mebbe you need new specs, like myself Norah. As for the Brennans, as far as I can gather, I've traced them back to approximately 2500 years ago when they arrived in Ireland. Four septs then split up and went their separate ways. My people settled as chieftains in Ossory, Co. Kilkenny. William Brennan was of the Kilkenny sept and the "wrestling doctor" John Brennan was also. As for the bishop of Cashel. I'd love to think so, but I can't find any proof.
Another grand and well written story, thanks. Lesson to be learnt,... people always do better when they don't base their actions on fear. Slainte
Thanks Richard. And yes, fear is insidious.


Brandon Pitt joins us at Lebo Baptist as our new Youth Pastor. He comes to Lebo from Colorado via Manhattan, KS.
Brandon grew up and graduated high school in Colorado Springs, CO before making his journey to KS to attend Manhattan Christian College. He will graduate MCC in December with his Bachelors Degree in Pastoral Studies and Counseling. He plans to continue his education with a Masters of Divinity Degree from Liberty University with Doctorate aspirations to follow.
Brandon's parents continue to live in Colorado, where his mother is a marriage & family therapist at Pitt State Therapy and his father is a retired colonel for the Army and is an Aero Space Engineer. He has a younger sibling, a sister Stacy, who is attending SW Baptist University in Bolivar, MO.
Brandon has held various positions and done several jobs in ministry in the past 5 (five) years. LBC is excited to see how God moves and uses Brandon in his position here in Lebo.
Copyright © 2023 Lebo Baptist Church - All Rights Reserved.


On the way of St. James
Extending 500 miles across northern Spain, walking the Camino de Santiago is anything but the average vacation. Adventurous pilgrims from all over the world hike from St. Jean Pied du Port, France to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, where legend says the bones of Jesus’ apostle St. James the Elder (Santiago in Spanish) lie.
Recent books and films, like Paulo Coelho’s novel “The Pilgrimage” and Emilio Estevez’s 2010 film “The Way,” starring Martin Sheen, have drawn new generations to the journey. However, the Camino’s true heyday was in the Middle Ages, when visiting St. James was one of the three most important pilgrimages a Christian could make, along with those to Rome and Jerusalem. Around 1140, one of the world’s first travel guides, the Codex Calixtinus, was written to help pilgrims on the Camino. It included information about towns and landmarks, as well as the many miracles associated with the route.
Today, most pilgrims are drawn to the Camino for a variety of reasons: spiritual journey, the adventure of a mega-walk and interest in the historical and cultural attractions in Spain. Although walking is traditional, bicycling and riding the route on horseback are also options. Special accommodation is available for pilgrims in hostels, restaurants and museums, decreasing expenses for what can be a month-long journey or more.
The Camino offers a lush assortment of characters to meet and attractions to pull you through the miles. Here are some of the stories and sights from the road.


Our mission is to inspire and develop more faithful, passionate, and fruitful disciples by connecting people with God's love through prayer, spiritual nurture, mutual accountability, and opportunities to reflect upon everyday experiences of God's transformative grace at work in the world.
NEWS FLASH: I have recently been appointed as the Associate Pastor at Suncreek United Methodist Church in Allen, TX effective July 8, 2018. Therefore, I am unable to take new Spiritual Direction clients or make long-term commitments at this time. However, if you are interested in one-day retreats or formation events, please feel free to contact me to check my availability.
If you are longing for something more to life, asking deep questions of faith, wanting to learn new ways to pray, seeking to discern your calling and gifts, or going through a major life transition, then we are here to accompany you on your individual journey.
If you are a church or community organization seeking to strengthen your discipleship program through spiritual practices, wanting to learn more about Christian contemplative prayer, or planning your next retreat, please give us a call!
Clergy, if you are seeking spiritual renewal, re-energized focus for Spirit-led service, or simply time away with God, we also coach peer groups and offer special retreats just for you!
Browse our website to learn more, or contact us about customizing services to meet your needs!


It has arrived. Today marks the half-way point of the GAP: the perfect opportunity for nostalgia and reflection. But first, a brief summary of the past month.
I got to visit my beloved hometown Minnesota for Christmas. Twelve full days of once again sharing life with my family and friends. The longer I stayed, the more absurd it seemed to leave this haven of fireplaces, snow-forts, and close friendships.. but in the end I was pulled back by two important things: first, the realization that every person I talked to is fighting alongside me with their very own battlefields on their campuses, in their homes, or traveling the country. and second, that I had signed a 10-month contract and was obligated to return.
So I came back.
And I spent a lovely New Year's with one of the families of the community high up in the mountains. The next day the entire Arbol de Vida youth group was off for an international youth conference in Honduras. Witnessing over 400 youth from Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Costa Rica gathered together to grown in faith was in and of itself incredible. But that was not all that I found there. One of the other gappers and I were put in charge of caring for a few girls whose leaders were in another part of the conference. And what on earth could I offer them? Four girls, whom I knew nothing about, whose language and culture I did not share. Incapability: the bane of my GAP year. But this time, it was through the realization that I had nothing great to offer them, that I could love them more freely. And it was through loving them despite my nothingness that I saw in a more clearly the kingdom of Heaven on earth; not because I did such an excellent job caring for them, but rather because it was so clear that I had so little to do with their encounters with Christ. I was merely a tool in His precious hands. Every difficulty that I had faced in the previous few months was rendered insignificant by the love freely given that I encountered in and through these girls.
Now, the first 5 months. I have heard that the first half of the GAP is the hardest, but then it gets better. I dearly hope so. To say I have cried more in this first half of the GAP than in my entire collective life including infancy would be an exaggeration. But not a large one. Yet in this I have been formed, and made stronger, and maybe even less melancholic. And I have also been greatly blessed, and my eyes have been and continue to be opened to the goodness and faithfulness of God. I have witnessed a hundred acts of chivalry on city buses, a thousand acts of charity within the community. I have been daily greeted, confronted, and cared for by youth, university students, and parents: to none of whom I have given any great thing. I have been guided and supported by the wisdom of my leaders. I have been gifted with the opportunity to wake up and come home every day to an amazing family. And above all, I have daily been confronted by the mercy of Christ not only in all of these things, but much more in the stillness... But what have I done? I have washed a lot of dishes, and learned to pray and walk at the same time. And I have tried to love those around me. And I have failed in doing so. I have learned to rejoice in silence. But have I blessed or changed this community? I don't think so. Have I converted thousands of souls? No. But if I can be an instrument through which one life is brought one step closer to Christ, I will be content. Thus I have reached this half-way bridge, and thus I hope to continue. I have no idea what these next few months will hold, but I am comforted by the realization that maybe the reason for my GAP year is not purely to suffer. As always, you are in my prayers. Please keep me in yours.
the heart of the people and you will discover the truth. The common sand
you tread underfoot, let it be cast into the furnace to boil and melt
and it will become a crystal as splendid as that through which Galileo
and Newton discovered the stars" -Victor Hugo, Les Misérables


The term “church” implies a living entity. This entity is not merely a building, but a community of people. In the following paragraphs, we will look at what makes it a church, as well as some of its defining qualities. Ultimately, the church is an institution of faith that exists for the benefit of mankind. The Bible calls the church both a congregation and a body. Nevertheless, we should not confuse the two.
It is a living entity
Some decry the church, describing it as an organization. However, organisms require organization to function properly. Amoebas, armadillos, paramecium, and porcupines all possess organizational structures. Likewise, the church must have organization in order to perform tasks and fulfill duties. An organization is essential to a living organism. Here are some reasons why a church must have organization. This will help us understand how to define and evaluate church leadership.
It is a congregation
A congregation is a community of believers who worship together. A local church has officers, usually deacons and elders. Christ, the Head of the Church, is its true leader. Ephesians 1:22-23, Colossians 1:18, and Hebrews 10:19-25 are all references to the true Church. The members of a congregation are called “congregants” when they follow Christ’s teachings. The church has two primary rituals: water baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
It is a group of people
What is the definition of a church? In a simple sense, a church is a group of people who come together to worship God. However, there are some differences between worshipping God and praising God. A church is a group of people who sing songs and praise God. A church is also a group of people who participate in miracles. In the latter case, the people worship God by performing miracles.
It is a building
Nigerians have a way of being humorous, and this is especially true when they have a problem with a church building. They will take the lowest jokes possible, and this includes demolish the building if they violate state laws. In this case, it was a church building, but the state governor wanted it torn down. His reason was that the structure violated the residential master plan of the estate. The state governor, Adejuwon Soyinka, stated that the building was demolished because the state had not approved it. Nonetheless, the building’s owner, Adebola Adeife, did not respond to text messages and phone calls.
It exercises church discipline
Church discipline refers to actions taken by a local church to remove sinners from its community. Church discipline can take the form of forgiveness or excommunication. The goal is the same: to restore the offender to a relationship with God through forgiveness and love. The Belgic Confession of Faith notes that a true church exercises discipline and corrects sins. This action requires both mutual love and repentance on the part of the offender and is always based on the Word of God.
It is a visible representation of the kingdom of God
The kingdom of God is a metaphor for the reign of God. It has specific characteristics and is not exclusive. In Jesus’ teaching and example, the kingdom prioritizes the poor and oppressed. In the same way, the kingdom of God has different characteristics. For example, it is inclusive of all people – the king is the one who gives, not the one who takes away. Moreover, the kingdom of God is not limited to the Jews; it also includes all those who live outside the church.
It is a place to encourage you, build you up, and rebuke you when you veer off course
There is no greater encouragement for the Christian than the words of God Himself. The Bible is filled with many great stories of faith, prayer, and perseverance, and you can learn from them. In addition, the book of Nehemiah is full of practical lessons on perseverance, prayer, and faith. Read on to learn how you can find inspiration in this book!


Rowena's HomeItaly 2006Rome & the Vatican City
|Today we ventured to the Vatican City. We joined hundreds of people who were paying a visit as well. We hired a audio comentary to learn more about the building and art work that is there, but it took us a bit of time to finally work it out. We saw many famous works of art, such as a sculpture of Mary holding Jesus after he had died, St Peter and his foot that has been worn away from people kissing it. It felt more like a museum than a church. We also went below the Vatican to the cript where all the popes have been buried. We went past where Pope John II was buried, and there were many people who stopped to pray at this spot. Later in the afternoon we joined a huge line to go into the Sitine Chapel, which is part of the Vatican museum. This line went for blocks, it took us about 40 minutes to get in the doors. We went through many glalleries, each had on display a variety of different types of art works, there were marble sculptures, paintings, early maps of Italy etc. We finally made it into the chapel, where you are not to talk or take any photos. the chapel was packed wall to wall with hundreds of people, it was so crowded! It was very difficult to really take your time and look at the most famous painting in the world. Once again we had had another long day.
Locations Visited: Vatican City
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1st Sunday with Platytera Up
Nov 27, 2016
This has been an exciting and busy week in our parish! I trust you are inspired with the long awaited Platytera Icon with angels that now graces our altar cove.
Painted in the traditional Byzantine style, Christ (depicted) as a young child seats on Panayia's womb - often called "Christ the Emmanuel" He who is with us - meaning "God with us."
Holding up the medallion of Panayia with Christ are 2 of the archangels - Michael on the left and Gabriel on the right.
To accomplish all this - the pipes previously there, were cut back...425 of them and then the cove was re-plastered, in fact 3 layers of plaster. Each had to dry of course, so last Sunday you noticed as we did the liturgy on the solea (outside of the altar due to the scaffolding in the altar), the church was very hot - at 77, in fact early in the morning on Sunday we opened the side doors and the windows to cool it down a bit.
The artisans started the project in earnest on Tuesday morning Nov 15 the first day of Advent, and thought they would have the icon up last Friday, perhaps Saturday for sure. (The icon was previously painted on canvas and ready to be clued on the surface.)
But on Wed & Thu the furnace kept shutting down and would not heat up, to dry the new plaster, even though the previous weekend it was serviced and in proper working order.
I truly believe that Panayia did not want to be placed in the cove on what would have been Nov 18 or 19, but rather wanted to enter our church, on her feast day, on Nov 21, that of the Entry of the Virgin to the Temple in Jerusalem which in fact occurred this past Monday afternoon - evening after the feastal liturgy.
I pray beloved, that the vividness of this icon will be inspiring and comforting to you. It is warm as opposed to the cold pipes previously there.
It is all embracing as well....as you enter the narthex and look straight ahead and her hands are outstretched. It fills the space so perfectly.
Let me share with you that the project is not over.....there is a 2nd group of painters who will now come in to restore the surrounding space with the sparkling texture as previously there. They will begin tomorrow and the altar will once again be sealed and perhaps next Sunday we might again need to serve the Liturgy on the solea, but that is to be determined.
Let me also use this day to say a few things about our Orthodox iconographic tradition ...
Byzantine Iconography is the art of the early Church. In fact St. Luke was the first Iconographer. He painted icons of the Virgin Mary Jesus, some of which still exist today. We call icons “the Bible of the Illiterate” because during the middle ages when not everyone could read, people were still able to understand the message of salvation through pictures.
What the Bible reveals about God through words, icons reveal in pictures. Icons are not idols, they are "windows to heaven". They reveal the reality of God’s kingdom on earth. They make visible the invisible. With this in mind, we decorate our churches to serve as inspiration. The church building is a "small" Kingdom of heaven and these are the people we will see in heaven.
When we enter an Orthodox Church, we are leaving time and space and entering eternity. You look up and see the dome. This physically represents the heavens, Christ the all powerful the Creator of all (PANTOCRATOR) is there looking down on His creation. If you consider it the beginning of time, we find there Christ the pre-eternal word, the logos, the second person of the Trinity.
In the Apse, above, or behind the altar we have the Virgin Mary holding the Christ child (which we just installed here in Cranston!) We call her in Greek, PLATYTERA - more expansive than the heavens, because she contained within herself, the creator of the universe.
Fr Anthony Salzman, our iconographer, who was with us all last week writes the following...
Icons are not works of art per se. They always are used within a context of worship, whether at home or in the church. We call it “Hagiograhia” or “Holy, or Saint writing.” “Grapho” means to write. So we are writing the gospel with a brush.
Icons are painted the way they are on purpose. Their flatness and expressiveness make them alive and engaging asking the viewer to participate and interact with them. They do not create an illusion of space, but use reverse perspective to come out to the viewer. They do not use foreshortening, but draw people in profile or frontally, thus maintaining the integrity of the two dimensional surface.
Two elements constitute and icon, line and form. We draw exactly what we will paint before we pick up a brush. Once we have the entire image drawn out, and the expression resolved, then we begin to paint.
We call it "process painting", because we follow step by step building up layer upon layer to get the final image. Each icon is meticulously modeled with thousand of strokes using the tip of the brush. Line gives life to the form, and the modeling of the form through color, brings it to life, making it real and relational for us.
They are not sentimental but expressive. They do not show the human being as fallen, but they transcend physical reality to reveal a deeper reality, a transformed reality. That is why not every icon looks exactly the same, we are not copying physical reality, but trying to capture something deeper.
If an icon moves you in your spirit to glorify God, then it has done its work. If it brings you to repentance then you have become sensitive to its reality. Byzantine icons lead us to God and they bring God to us.
Yes beloved - it has been an exciting and significant week in our parish, one that will last beyond our life time!
+ Fr. Andrew


Since we're already on the subject of religion from Monday's post, I'd like to share this archived New York Times article I found.
The gist of the article is that the Vatican, in an attempt to preserve religious orthodoxy, randomly punished a bunch of local church leaders who didn't conform perfectly to established Catholic doctrine. For instance, the article mentions one Archbishop Hunthausen who was stripped of most of his authority after the Vatican started suspecting him of "tolerating liberal practices in marriage annulment, liturgy and other spheres."
Not believing in or practicing, you'll notice. Just tolerating. Stay classy, 80's Vatican.
Fortunately, someone was willing to speak out against this madness. Rembert G. Weakland, Archbishop of Milwaukee and owner of one of the most incredibly Dickensian names I've ever encountered, wrote some columns criticizing the Vatican's methods. This was the first time someone so relatively high in the Church hierarchy had ever openly spoken out against the Vatican's methods, so this was a fairly big deal.
He was pretty sassy, too. He accused the Church of "fanaticism and small-mindedness" and claimed that their practice of "theological suppression" had caused "a total lack of theological creativity in the U.S.A. for half a century." BURN.
Then the story took a dark turn.
I looked up this Archbishop Weakland on Wikipedia to learn more about him.
Turns out he's a bit of a shithead. Of the protecting pedophile priests and intimidating child victims of sexual abuse into not coming forward kind. The kind who told children reporting sexual abuse that they were "squealing."
Damn. Now I'm not rooting for anyone in this story except good ol' liberal-theology-tolerating Archbishop Hunthausen. But I'm not looking him up on Wikipedia. With my luck, I'll probably find out that he habitually drop-kicked baby bunnies or fed orphans to tigers or something, and I don't want to know.


A legacy of a joy filled life
I haven’t personally known too many people that have lived almost a 100 years, but our family had the privilege to know grandma Anna, Steve’s paternal grandma at 98 years old. We just returned from her funeral in CA and beautifully celebrated a life lived well! This is how i would describe Grandma Anna...She LOVED people, no one was a stranger and she was so so kind to everyone. She ALWAYS had a smile on her face and twinkle in her eye, she was HOSPITABLE and she drank enormous amounts of coffee with her family and friends! Every California visit included sitting in the kitchen with her and the other sweet ‘ol ladies hearing them laugh and share. Priceless. She seemed so HAPPY, even in her old age when she had to move into the home the last 3 months of her life. Grandma Anna was someone that you felt joy and love just by being around her. She loved Jesus well.
Sitting in the pews yesterday at church and hearing what others said about Grandma encouraged me to live my life with intention, joy and enjoying the moments and not sweating the small stuff. I remember at my own mom’s funeral almost 11 years ago the beautiful things i heard people say about her; her love, care, beautiful smiles, faith, generosity, sacrifice for others, and that no one was a stranger to my mom. It was overwhelming and beautiful!
So after a funeral, life goes on for the rest of us. So i ask myself and you, what are we giving meaning to in life? What grabs our attention and to what are we giving most of our attention? The pastor repeated this at Grandma Anna’s funeral yesterday, “happiness is not a byproduct of pleasant circumstances”. I am not promised a happy life. Grandma always seemed happy. I am sure she had some tough, hard, challenging, disappointing and awful days. But she seemed to carry a joyful disposition that was genuine and real, not fake. She seemed to live with an eternal perspective in mind and chose to not let her circumstances dictate her mood, her attitude or her demeanor. I have a LOT to learn from this!! I want to live with joy and intention and heart, blessing my family and others and leaving a legacy that makes a difference for my kids and the good of others. Seems lofty, challenging, hard, but worth fighting for and choosing a path each day that builds into that vision and dream.
We need more of these ladies, my mom, Grandma Anna, in this world that leave an indelible mark on others and changes lives. I believe the baton was passed and I’m ready to run my part!


Student Service Night - A weekend of serving
Apr 22, 2017
Join us on April 22nd from 5pm to 8pm to be part of our Do.Love.Walk: a Weekend of serving - Student Night. We will use this time for students (5th through 12th grade) to get together and serve through Rise Against Hunger. During this service opportunity, we will be packaging high-protein meals that will be sent to people in need. This event will take place in the Gloria Dei Life Center. We will have pizza at 5pm and begin the meal packing at 5:30! Afterwards, we will wrap up with a short devotion.
Houston, TX 77058
Time: 5pm to 8pm


New Methodist Children’s Home Announces Job Opportunities in Tangipahoa
For More Information Call: Angela deGravelles 225-202-5073 or Otey White 225-907-6839
For Immediate Release
Louisiana United Methodist Children and Family Services (LUMCFS), a non-profit organization, is now
accepting job applications for many positions at its new Methodist Children’s Home of Southeast Louisiana.
The new $10 million home is located on 126 acres in Loranger, just 15 minutes from Hammond, in Tangipahoa
According to Marlίn Giacona, director of the new home, LUMCFS is seeking employees in nursing,
direct care, dietary, maintenance, and clinical services.
“Our ministries to children and families offer our staff opportunities every day to make a real difference
in the lives of children, families, and communities. Our staff members are the difference who make a difference.
We are eager to open our newest home in southeast Louisiana as we begin moving the children who are in our
care in Mandeville into our new, permanent home in southeast Louisiana,” said LUMCFS President and CEO
These new staff members will join nearly 600 employees of LUMCFS who pursue the organization’s
Mission throughout all of Louisiana. LUMCFS is 120 years old and provides a continuum of child welfare and
behavioral health services to children in Louisiana and to foster care families throughout the state. LUMCFS
also manages Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home in Ruston and Methodist Children’s Home of Southwest
Louisiana in Sulphur.
Construction of the new south Louisiana facility began in 2019 and the facility is expected to welcome
children into its care in December. An official opening for the public will be held in the Spring of 2022 due to
Job information is available at WorkForMethodist.com and additional information about the
organization and its missions are available at LUMCFS.org.


Just a few of the Susquehanna Valley’s Easter Egg Hunts
An Easter egg hunt for ages up to 12 will be held at the White Deer Valley Baptist Church, 572 White Deer Baptist Church Rd.
Rain or shine event. Prizes will be awarded.
Bloomsburg Sykes Enterprises is holding its annual Easter egg hunt at 10 a.m. at Columbia Park. More than 10,000 eggs, prizes and free face painting.
Lewisburg American Legion Auxiliary will hold an Easter egg hunt for ages up to 11, at 1 p.m. behind the East Buffalo Township building, Fairground Road.
EGG HUNT & FAMILY EVENT/ Middleburg
The Port Ann Wesleyan Church’s children’s ministry offers “More Than an Egg Hunt” starting at 11 a.m. at the church along Troxelville Road two miles west of the town of Penns Creek. A short program with games, songs and a message will be followed by an egg hunt with thousands of candyfilled eggs and numerous door prizes. Lunch for the whole family follows.
For more information, call Robin Kratzer at 570-8373096.
Kohl’s seventh annual Easter egg hunt held 1-3 p.m. at Kohl’s Stony Hill Tree Farm, 3319 Mexico Rd.
An Easter egg hunt will be held at 1 p.m., for all children ages 2-10, at Amazing Grace Community Church, 138 Leed St. Easter bags, crafts, and refreshments will be provided. Preregister and receive a special prize at www.amazinggracecommchurch. org/easteregg.
For information, call 844- 374-AGCC (2422).
EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA/ Northumberland
Easter Eggstravaganza held 10-11:30 a.m. at Sunbury Bible Church sports Complex (across from UPS). For toddlers through fifth grades. Featuring professional juggler, Forrest Davis. Event includes Easter egg hunt, activities and refreshments. Bring your Easter basket for theegg hunt. All children must attend with an adult.
An Easter egg hunt will be held 9:30 a.m.-noon at Selinsgrove Church of the Nazarene, 543 W. Sassafras St. Event features the Easter egg hunt, inflatables, prize giveaway, food and more. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. Children will be split into smaller groups for the egg hunts: 2 and younger, 3-4 year olds, 5-7, and 8-12.
An Easter egg hunt for children up to 12 years old will be held at 10 a.m. at Upper Augusta Volunteer Fire Company, 2188 mile Hill Rd. There will be four different age groups. Each age group will have prizes.
A bunny egg hunt held 6-7:30 p.m. in the Community Room at Degenstein Community Library, 40 S.
Fifth St. For children birth to 10 yers old. Children will be divided into different age groups. Crafts, stories and more will also be available. More information, 570-286-2461.
Ralpho Township egg hunt held at 1 p.m. at Knoebel’s parking lot. Held rain or shine. Ages newborn to 10.
St Paul’s United Church of Christ, 1473 Urban Rd., will host its annual Easter egg hunt at 10 a.m. in the church grove. The egg hunt is for children up to age 12.
In conjunction with the egg hunt, there will also be a chicken barbecue. Chicken is $5 per half. Pre-order by April 12 by calling 570-7582713. Baked goods will also be available for sale.
An Easter egg hunt held at 2 p.m. on the front lawn of Line Mountain High School.
The Bucknell Student Government will present its annual Easter egg hunt from 10 a.m.-noon in Lewisburg’s Hufnagle Park. All ages are welcome with the hunt having two different sessions — one for children ages 4 and younger, and the other for children 5 and older. More information is available on the BSG Facebook and Instagram sites.
A community Easter egg hunt for children ages newborn to age 12 will be held at 1 p.m. at Christ’s United Lutheran Church, 13765 Old Turnpike Rd.
EGG HUNT/Mount Pleasant Mills
The Fremont Ladies Auxiliary will host a community Easter egg hunt at 10 a.m.
at the Fremont Social Hall, 299 Millrace Rd. Bring your own basket. Questions, 570-541-1423.
An Easter egg hunt begins at 11 a.m. at Hope United Methodist Church, 1623 Main St. Bring your own basket. Lunch will be provided following the egg hunt. All are welcome.
The Southside Fire Company will hold an Easter egg hunt at 10 a.m. at the fire company along Avenue D.
An Easter egg hunt begins at 2 p.m. at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church, 426 Sunbury Rd. Ages infant to sixth grade.
EASTER OPEN HOUSE & EVENTS/Selinsgrove
Dauntless Hook and Ladder Fire Company Easter open house held from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the fire company, 713 Bridge St.
This event will include tours of the firehouse, displays of firefighting equipment, fire truck rides, an Easter egg hunt, and a visit by the Easter Bunny. There will be many photo opportunities for the whole family, and the first 200 kids in attendance will receive fire safety activity gift bags.
Doors open at 10 a.m. and the Easter egg hunt will begin promptly at 11 a.m. Fire truck rides will begin after the Easter egg hunt.
First Reformed Church will sponsor an Easter egg hunt at 10 a.m. at Fort Discovery Playground. All children 10 years old and younger are welcome. The Easter Bunny will be there to greet everyone.
An Easter egg hunt begins at 1 p.m. at Otterbein United Methodist Church, Fourth and Vine streets. All children welcome — ages 1 through 12.
An Easter egg hunt will be held at 11 a.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 24 State Route 304, pavilion on the hill. Prizes (four age groups).


There has been ample opportunity in recent months and years to talk about wealth, inequality, and a whole host of things around these issues. It has been front and center in conversations about race, about tax policy, about healthcare, about abortion…frankly, if you name an issue, you can probably find a way for it to connect into the discussion about inequality. And let’s be honest: inequality exists. We shouldn’t use Jesus’ statement in Matthew 26.11 (“For you always have the poor with you”) as a prediction of the inevitability of this (to do so is to miss the context and the point Jesus did make), but so far the poor have always been with us. There are those who never seem to lack for anything they desire, but there are also those who seem to have to struggle for even the most basic of needs.
In the last couple of posts, we’ve been discussing the value that God has placed on human life. In considering that, we need to consider this area in which probably all of us could stand to do at least a little better in valuing the life of others: in considering those whom Jesus called, “the least of these.” That is, those who were the least in the view of society. That includes the poor. That includes the widow and orphan. That includes the stranger (i.e., the foreigner). God has placed on them the same value that He has those who are the greatest in society. All of us, no matter where we fall in the spectrum, are valued by God as being worthy of His Son sacrificing His life for the hope of us being with Him in eternity.
When you read the Old Testament, one of the things that pops up over and over is that the treatment of the least in society—as exemplified by the widow and orphan—is a benchmark for determining the righteousness of the nation of Israel. This was enshrined in the law of Moses both generically (“You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child,” Exo 22.22), and in specific provisions, such as not fully harvesting a field or vineyard. In Deuteronomy 10.18, it is said of the Lord, “He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.” In Isaiah 1.17, when God was telling the people what they needed to do, He told them, “Bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.” A few verses later, He condemns the rulers by saying, “Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves. Everyone loves a bribe and runs after gifts. They do not bring justice to the fatherless, and the widow’s cause does not come to them.”
God’s attitude toward the poor didn’t change in the New Testament. While there are certainly lists of sins like adultery and murder and so on that appear in the New Testament as things that will keep one from dwelling with God for eternity, one of the most familiar scenes of judgment mentions none of those things. Instead, the righteous are told that when Jesus was hungry they gave Him food, when He was thirsty they gave Him drink, when He was a stranger they welcomed Him, when He was naked they clothed Him, when He was sick they visited Him, and when He was in prison they came to Him. And that they did all these things to Him by doing it “to one of the least of these [His] brothers.” Matthew 25 by no means sets this out as the only standard of judgment, but it did provide some needed refocusing for disciples who could be preoccupied with being “the greatest” in the kingdom.
The message of Matthew 25 is reinforced in James 2, where James says that partiality—in context, looking down upon a poor man or giving excessive deference to a rich man—is just as bad as any other sin. He calls the love of neighbor as self the “royal law” and the “law of liberty.” In verse 13, James writes that “judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” This verse has been used to talk about how we should act with people who disagree with us on doctrinal issues or who struggle with sin, but that isn’t what this verse is about in context. We will be judged by God on whether we have shown mercy to the poor, the widow, the orphan—the least of us. Mercy—doing good to all regardless of circumstance or ability to repay or human ideas of “worthiness”—triumphs over an attitude of judgment that looks down upon those we do not consider as good as ourselves or who we do not consider to be “worth it.”
But it isn’t enough merely to talk about doing good for the least among us. We must do something about it. James 2 began by warning against holding the faith in Jesus with partiality, and the second half of the chapter comes back to this by saying,
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
It is well and good for us to talk about what “ought” to be done. We can even have philosophical discussions about the role of government and the church in doing the things that ought to be done. But once we figure out who ought to be doing what, we need to do our part. I need to do my part. What have I done with the opportunities I have to take care of the least of these? That’s the question God is going to ask me. I may not be able to donate large sums of money to charity. I may not be able to travel to distant lands. There is something—there is always something—I can do. There is always an opportunity for me to do good. I just have to be willing to do something about it.


What is go + tel l co?
We formed go + tell co to unite our visions of Bible Adventures and
the GO+TELL Collection to share the Good News!
Scroll down to learn more!
go + tell co welcomes you
We're so glad you're here!
go + tell CO?
Hi! I’m Martha North, also known as “Miss Martha” by the kids I teach.
In 2023, with over two decades in kids' ministry, I formed go + tell co to unite the visions of Bible Adventures, which I founded in 2017 and our GO+TELL Collection which launched in 2022. In the Bible, Jesus commands us to GO and TELL others about His love and show them how to live like Jesus taught. go + tell co seeks to embody this through Bible Adventures programming and events, and our GO+TELL Collection.
I was inspired to create The GO+TELL Collection of tools and activities to help all of us be more mindful of what Jesus commanded us to do: “Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, ... Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20 MSG)
Bible Adventures was founded based on my passion for introducing Bible stories and truths to kids and their families.
"Thank you for doing these service projects! It's a great opportunity to teach our kids about generosity."


http://www.sukuhistoria.fi/sshy/kirjat/ ... 70/142.htm
Parents: Joseph Pääkölä and wife Maria
Emergency baptised by Johan Holk.
Baptism was confirmed by the pastor in December, maybe due to poor traveling conditions.
Here's the family in communion book 1824-1830:
https://www.sukuhistoria.fi/sshy/kirjat ... 69/124.htm
Modern spelling of Pääkölä or Pääckölä would be Pääkkölä.