What does it take for you to hit your reset button? For me, it was a week on Spain’s Camino.
The Camino de Santiago, or the “Way of Saint James”, is a network of pathways serving pilgrimage to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain. It was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during the Middle Ages. For centuries, many have followed the Way of St. James as a form of spiritual growth. In more modern times the route has attracted a growing number of international pilgrims and become popular with hiking and cycling enthusiasts.
In May of 2018, I had the good fortune to spend a week walking on the Camino in somatic pilgrimage with a group of bodyworkers from around the globe. I had heard of the Camino through different avenues, and each time it crossed my path, it became more compelling. Given my body’s history and injuries, I had concerns about the physical demands of walking 10-20 miles per day yet something deeper and more internal called me to go.
We traversed a special coastal stage of the Camino, the Finisterre-Muxia Way, also known as “The Pagan’s Way”. Trekking 100 miles through scenic Spanish countryside, villages and hamlets brought many lessons. The most surprising and profound was in my state of mind. I had spent months at home before the journey preparing for the Camino mileage. Most training days I would walk while plugged into headphones, using the purposeful distraction of music to combat my mental chatter. Just two days into the journey; no headphones, no music…. and my mind was quiet. The absence of incessant anxiety, of contemplating difficulties of a future that is yet to be, worrying about what might happen and creating resistance to imagined obstacles, caught in habitual negative thoughts patterns. Yet here amidst the Spanish fields and flora, the clear turquoise ocean, and my aching muscles, there was no mental noise. Where had it gone? When I realized how different it was in such a short time, I was stunned.
Since I’ve returned home, I’ve watched my mind with a greater sense of detachment. The chatter comes with the squeeze of stress driven by the fear of the unknown. It doesn’t come as frequently or as quickly as it used to, but I’ve come to realize that monkey mind is a choice. There is a moment where I can jump on the wheel, follow the thought train and increase my mental spin or I can make a different move. As I deepen my breath, I remind myself that these thoughts aren’t useful. My heart settles and my mind slows. For me, the value in this lesson was worth 100 miles.


Hope To Cope
Our Darkest Hour Is Just Before The Break Of Dawn
My Hope to Cope Specializes In Several Counseling Needs
My Hope to Cope was created to give strength to the down-hearted, encouragement in times of need and a listening ear to those to share their hurts, anxieties, frustrations, help for a wayward child, cares for teenagers and young adults, unity and understanding for a marriage and loss of a loved one. We are here to help build up self-esteem and direct you to your God-given purpose.
BENEFITS OF COUNSELING
Even though many feel that counseling can do nothing for you, some have experienced the great rewards counseling can provide for them. These reasons are why people often times continue to go to counseling and sometimes make it a weekly event in their calendar.
Even though there are many negative things that we encounter throughout our lives, and things hit us when we least expect it, always remember that life is beautiful and something positive can come out of every situation.


This is the season of joy and I hope your heart is full of holiday spirit.
We must never forget the reason we celebrate this time of year. Yes, it is the celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. There is no other reason!
For those of you who have lost loved ones or are having a difficult time, I pray that our Father grants you the strength to never give up and that He fills you with peace. Remember, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me”. Phil 4:13
Linda and I thank God for our blessings and the gift of His Son, and we pray your holiday will be full of happiness.


This week, we pause to remember the English Puritans, known as Mayflower Pilgrims, who settled Plymouth in 1620 and celebrated their first Thanksgiving the following year. Who were they? English Puritans were the radical wing of the Protestant Reformation. They shared with other Protestants in Europe the belief that the Hebrew Bible (which they called “The Old Testament”) is the source of Jesus’ faith. From 1500 to 1650, Protestants turned to the Hebrew Bible to find the roots of Christianity. They created a new movement, Christian Hebraism, which established the principle that to be a learned Christian, one must know Hebrew in order to read the Old Testament in the original.
Christian Hebraists enlisted Jewish teachers and Jewish converts to Christianity to teach them the Hebrew Bible, Jewish Bible commentaries, and to supply other Hebrew texts that could help deepen their understanding of Scripture. By 1560, Hebrew was established within the curriculum at European universities. By one count, there were 672 Christian Hebrew professorships in Europe, 677 Christian Hebraist publishing houses, and 2,000 published Christian Hebrew books. Christian Hebraist fascination with Hebrew and Judaism soon had a deep impact upon the Puritans who settled Massachusetts.
English Puritans wanted to remove every element of Catholicism from Protestantism. They disparaged the Church of England which, in their view, was too Catholic in its structure, vestments, and forms of prayer and communion. They believed that the Church should have no temporal or civil powers, no bishops, no hierarchy, and no authority to punish. They held that each church should be independent, formed by covenants entered into freely by their members, led by elected officials, and supported by voluntary contributions.
English Puritans argued that monarchy is an illegitimate form of government and that a republic, in which ultimate power is vested in the people, is consistent with God’s plan. But they also thought that the foundation of their republic should be theocracy, that is, government based on divine law. Their failure to reform the Church of England, their oppression at the hands of the Anglican hierarchy, and the looming English Civil War, led some Puritans to view England as corrupt beyond repair. Some departed for more liberal Holland and, ultimately, for Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1620. Religious migration, for the Puritans, was a sacred duty and New England, “an errand into the wilderness,” became their sacred destination.
The Puritans believed that the Hebrew Bible provided the framework for creating a new society based on the ancient Hebrew Republic, “the most holy and most exemplary in the world.” This Hebrew Republic was prescribed by God, conveyed by Moses, and implemented when Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land. The Hebrew Republic is a theocracy, “a state whose chief and ruler is God alone,” the sole sovereign who ordained one true source of laws. But it is also a republic governed by an assembly of the people with one law for all- the rich and the poor alike. In the Hebrew Republic, the law was implemented and enforced by civil magistrates and judges, not priests. Economic justice was assured by the equitable distribution of land apportioned by lot (not sold), by the prohibition against a person being forced to transfer full ownership of his property permanently under financial duress, and by a common standard of weights, measures, and currency. Each tribe had its own administrative independence within a federal system. The Hebrew Republic was also “the royal road to toleration” because government could not compel an individual in matters of conscience (“matters of the heart”), although it may regulate external behavior.
The Hebrew Republic became the original model for the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In their political Hebraism, the early New England Puritans saw themselves as “Christian Israel,” King Charles I as Pharaoh, the Atlantic Ocean as the Red Sea, America as the Promised Land, and Boston as the new Jerusalem, or as John Winthrop described it, “the city on the hill.” As John Cotton, the most distinguished Puritan minister of his time and Cotton Mather’s grandfather, said, “God, who was then bound up with the (Hebrews) to be their God, has put us in their stead and is become our God.”
The blueprint for the Hebrew Republic of Massachusetts was laid out in 1641 by John Cotton in “Moses, His Judicials.” He proposed a set of laws for the new Commonwealth based entirely on the Hebrew Bible. He described a General Court, a Council of Assistants, a civil judiciary, magistrates, a treasury, and a system of taxation, citing biblical chapter and verse as precedent. He recommended that independent self-governing towns were to be established within the Commonwealth with the right to allocate, not sell, land to their own inhabitants (and their heirs) on an equitable basis. He advocated that land could not be sold (“alienated”) to another town or party from another town without permission. He sought to have each town establish and enforce wage and price controls, along with standard weights and measures. If a debtor pledged collateral, he should not be denied its use if it is necessary for his daily labor. He sought to create a judicial system with the authority to order restitution and damages in civil matters. John Cotton ends his treatise: “The Lord is our Judge; the Lord is our Law-giver; the Lord is our King, He will save us.” While “Moses, His Judicials” never became law, many of its provisions did. Massachusetts was, in fact, a theocracy until 1684 when Charles II revoked the charter of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
The leading Massachusetts Puritans were often also accomplished Christian Hebraists. Governor William Bradford, a Mayflower Pilgrim, began his history of Plymouth Plantation with pages of Hebrew exercises. Henry Dunster, the first president of Harvard and and an accomplished Hebrew biblical translator, made Hebrew central to the college’s curriculum. His Bay Psalm Book was a direct translation from the Hebrew. Cotton Mather was the leading American Hebraist of his day and quoted widely from the entire canon of Hebrew literature including the Hebrew Bible, Talmud, Midrash, Rashi, Maimonides, Nachmanides, and Zohar. He was even reported to have started wearing a skullcap at home and calling himself “rabbi” in 1696. At Harvard, once called a “school for the prophets,” Hebrew was a required subject from its founding in 1636 until 1787. A Hebrew commencement address was delivered there annually until 1817.
The Puritans who settled Massachusetts, many of whom were Christian Hebraists, were fascinated by the Hebrew Bible. But they were not hospitable to Jews or to the Judaism of their own day. They hoped to found the Massachusetts Bay Colony as a Hebrew Republic based on the social and economic ideals established in the Hebrew Bible. Their aspirations were great but their hopes were dashed in 1660 when the Puritan Revolution in England failed and the monarchy under Charles II was restored. The attempt to create the Hebrew Republic of Massachusetts ended when the king cancelled their royal charter and brought Massachusetts under direct royal rule.


Attractions > Brecon Cathedral & Heritage Centre
Brecon Cathedral & Heritage Centre
Come visit Wales' finest cathedral
The Cathedral and its attendant buildings, formerly a Benedictine Priory under the control of Battle Abbey in Sussex, are amongst the most important architecturally in Wales.
Brecon Cathedral has been the site of Christian worship for more than a thousand years, dating from the days of the Norman conquest.
In 1093 a Benedictine Priory linked to Battle Abbey was established here and continued in existence until the dissolution of the monastries in 1537.
The building then served the community as a Parish Church, and in 1923 became the Cathedral Church of the newly founded Diocese of Swansea & Brecon.
The Cathedral Close houses a Heritage Centre
which makes use of an important redundant 17th Century listed building, formerly a Tithebarn.
The Centre includes an interpretative exhibition, a restaurant, a shop and an herb garden. The Exhibition makes use of the latest technology in telling the story of Brecon Priory from its 1093AD beginnings to its present use. There are a series of elegant display panels dealing with the architectural changes over the years, a series of voice cones about people from the past, and 7 audio-visual vignettes of some of today's people (e.g. the present Bishop, the Organist and the Verger) who have something to say about the way the Cathedral works.
There is also a range of artefacts, including five life-size replica bells housed in the original 15th Century bell-frame that has been brought down from the Cathedral Tower. There are other features including a specially constructed model of the Cathedral suspended from the ceiling over a table mirror, and some interactive effects.
There are usually free lunchtime recitals at 1pm on the first Monday of the month.
On Sundays Evensong is sung in the Cathedral at 3.30 pm.
On Fridays it is sung at 5.45 pm.
8.00 a.m. Holy Communion (Said)
11.00 a.m. Sung Eucharist (Matins on 3rd Sunday)
3.30 p.m. Choral Evensong
Morning Prayer: Monday to Friday 8-30 a.m.
Evening Prayer: Monday to Friday 5-45 p.m. (Choral on Friday)
Wednesday 11-00 a.m.
Thursday 9-00 a.m.
Friday 12-00 noon
Saturday 9-00 a.m.
Look forward to seeing you!


Calling all student writers!
America Media is proud to announce the 2020 Generation Faith Essay Contest.
America Media is seeking submissions from young writers for this year's Generation Faith Essay Contest. We want to hear from high school and college students interested in reflecting on the joys and challenges that come with living out (or struggling with) one's faith in the midst of real life. All entries should be true personal essays, between 800 and 1,200 words.
The essays should feature strong narratives and real-life examples from the writer’s experience as a young person in the church today. Writers should think creatively and broadly about their faith experience.
The winning entry will be awarded $1,000 and will be published in America. Additional entries may be chosen for publication in America. The judging panel will consist of the editors of America and The Jesuit Post.
To be eligible, you must be enrolled as a full-time high school or college student at the time of the contest deadline. Your submission must be previously unpublished (including on personal websites) and must be original work.
You can read a previous first-place essay here.
All entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, March 8, 2020.


Archabbot Douglas Re-elected
Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki, O.S.B., the eleventh Archabbot of Saint Vincent Archabbey, was re-elected as the major superior of the Benedictine community in Latrobe, Pennsylvania on Tuesday, May 11, 2010.
In his role as the Archabbot of Saint Vincent Archabbey, Archabbot Douglas serves as the spiritual leader of the first monastery established in the United States and one of the largest monasteries in the world. He is also the chancellor of Saint Vincent College and Saint Vincent Seminary. The Benedictines operate the Benedictine Military School in Savannah, Georgia, and the Penn State Campus Ministry Program at State College, Pennsylvania. In addition to his responsibilities in this country, the Archabbot is also the spiritual leader of monasteries in Brazil and Taiwan.


St. Anne’s Concert Series: Bach’s Passion Chorales
Posted On March 21, 2009
Organist Larry Molinaro presents a concert of the Passion Chorales by JS Bach on March 21, Bach’s birthday.
The text of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion interweaves three distinct strands of texts: the first is the musical rendition of the gospel narrative itself as sung by the evangelist, soloists and chorus. Second are the poetic reflections (arias) on the events. Third, but not least, are corporate statements of faith (chorales) relating to the theology of the passion. These chorales, probably sung during Bach’s time by the entire congregation, punctuate the dramatic action at key moments throughout the entire work.
This afternoon concert is a prelude to Live Arts Maryland’s complete performances of the St. Matthew Passion (Friday, March 26 & Saturday, March 27), offering the chance to experience the extraordinary settings of these chorales as well as organ variations written by Bach on the same hymn tunes.
Tickets on sale now and will be available at the door. Free Student Rush tickets will be available one hour before the concert.


Be the Change. Be Part of Earth Day 2020!
As part of our Prioritize Climate 2020 mission, we are working with dozens of partner organizations on a host of actions and events on and during the week of April 22, Earth Day 2020. Find out more about Prioritize Climate here.
Check back regularly for important updates!
Background: April 22 is the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day, when 20 million Americans (10% of the population) took to the streets to demand environmental action, and they won. We need millions in the streets again this Earth Day to call for climate action! Multiple climate events and mobilizations will be held from April 22 to April 25.
This will be the kickoff toward the countdown to the election, when we need the climate crisis to be at the forefront of everyone’s hearts and minds. Research is clear: mass mobilization is critical for creating change!
MNIPL will be offering:
- An Earth Day toolkit to help mobilize faith communities to the Earth Day mobilization/s, and a shared calendar to compile Earth Day events that congregations are offering.
- We are challenging faith communities to have an earth focus in worship the weekend of April 17-19.
- Tentatively, we are inviting congregations to attend two key events: the Youth Climate Strike on Wednesday, 4/22 @ 1pm, and Stand Up 4 Our Future on Saturday, 4/25. More details soon!


Ella Crawford is
the founder and Senior Pastor of Old Landmark New Birth Ministries
of Roanoke Rapids, NC and New Birth Ministries International,
Inc. of Woodbridge, VA. Dr. Ella Crawford has over 40 years
of experience serving the Christian community through preaching
and teaching both nationally and internationally for the perfecting
of the saints, the work of the ministry, and the edifying of
the Body of Christ. (Eph. 4:12). She is a natural and spiritual
mother, counselor, mentor, teacher, prophet, prayer warrior,
and intercessor. After having a divine encounter with God and
recognizing his unconditional love beginning to flow in her
life, she accepted him as her Lord and Savior on April 22, 1977.
On January 24, 2004 she was affirmed in the office of an Apostle
officiated by Bishop Ocie Gorham and Prophet Anthony Moore.
She holds a Doctorate Degree in Divinity and several certifications
in theological studies. The woman of God is gifted to help others
assess and determine their spiritual gifts and callings. Dr.
Crawford seeks to develop, equip, and mature other believers
and leaders in the body of Christ. This transformation has allowed
her to advance the Kingdom. In 2003, she founded One Accord
Fellowship International Alliance, which is an Apostolic Network
that brings Ministries and Pastors together for the purpose
of enhancing spiritual gifts, increasing spiritual knowledge,
and empowering disciples to advance in the kingdom of God. Dr.
Crawford seeks to fulfill God’s will and purpose for her
Dr. Crawford’s desire is to complete the God-ordained
assignment of her life by “doing the work of an Apostle
and making full proof of the ministry.” Her objective
is to touch the world with the transforming power of God by
humbly yielding to the impenetrable charge to reach the lost,
and to speak life and hope to his people. She has seen the manifestation
of miracles, signs, and wonders throughout her ministry. Her
greatest gift to those she encounters is the Love of Christ.


Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Christmas Creche Week
Christmas has always been special to my husband and me. He presented me with my engagement ring on Christmas Eve.
This is my very first creche.
It was a wedding gift from my oldest friend Cate and her parents. They bought it in Germany. It is Lladro.
You can tell it has been loved. The stick from the Shepherd is now missing. It needs a good cleaning from little finger prints touching the figures over the years. Do I dare wash off those prints?
Here is baby Jesus. I took him out of his hiding place for the shot. As you can see the Creche is not completely together- because it is not yet Christmas Day.
I added this Precious Moments angel
to the creche in 1991 when my oldest gave it to me as a Christmas present saying- "from your little angel" . It is one of my most cherished possessions. The angel holds court behind the manger- standing guard over the baby Jesus's place till he arrives on Christmas Day.


Below are listings for churches in Sandhurst and the surrounding area. You can add your listing to this category here.
|Peasmarsh, 6.8 miles from Sandhurst|
The Church of St Peter & St Paul, Peasmarsh lies about a mile to the south of the village. It is sited on one of the only two areas in the parish to rise above 65 metres and commands fine views over the Rother and the Tillingham valleys. Peasmarsh, known ... more
|Hawkhurst, 2.6 miles from Sandhurst|
|01580 753 397|
St Laurence Church is the Parish Church for Hawkhurst and is the centre of the spiritual, social and community life in the village. The Church Council has been pleased to generously support the Hawkhurst Community Partnership as a part of the church's mission to the parishioners in Hawkhurst and the ... more


What We Believe
We are a Web-based ministry founded on a twofold belief in the primacy of SPIRIT, and the oneness of TRUTH. Our goal is to attract an all-inclusive, international membership that brings together sincere seekers-of-Truth from every part of the globe, all denominations, and every religious persuasion. You can join us, while remaining a member of your present church. You can also make us your main, or only, church. We seek to be of service to all human souls by offering multiple modes of support and assistance that promote the attainment of deeper spirituality and higher levels of religious understanding.
Rendering service to the cause of "Universalism" is one of the most important priorities of the I-FESS Church & Seminary. Dr. Sterling -- the I-FESS founder -- feels a special sense of commitment with regard to specifically Christian Universalism. For it is absolutely indisputable that Universalism was the original teaching of the early Church, and that the loss of Universalist Wisdom within post-Augustinian Christianity led to a multitude of tragic developments in Western history. Fortunately, at the present time Universalism is gradually being re-discovered, and positively embraced, by growing numbers of contemporary Christians. The I-FESS Church & Seminary aspires to make a contribution to this ongoing process of re-awakening that is currently taking place among Christians. In keeping with that aspiration, we strongly urge you to set aside some time to peruse, carefully-and-prayerfully, the recommended books on Christian Universalism. To see list, CLICK the link "Books on Universalism":Books on Universalism
Billy Phillips Explains Some Basic Concepts VIDEO:
Moving Testimony by Rev. Gerry Beauchemin My Pilgrimage (PDF) (by I-FESS Founder)
From Our Founder:
The following are 9 key propositions that I have come to embrace during the course of my own individual search for God. Acceptance of these beliefs is in no way a requirement for I-FESS church membership. However, it is my hope that members, as well as other visitors to this Website, will keep an open mind about these ideas, and prayerfully inquire into their possible truth:
Mystery of Golgotha (More Briefly Explained)
(The links below will take you to other Websites. Use your "BACK BUTTON" when you're ready to return to I-FESS.) Visit CUA Website HOPE BEYOND HELL VIDEOS: "Enter the Zohar"
Our only requirement for church membership is acceptance these articles of faith:
FORUM & LIVE CHAT
Rev. Torkelson "Awakes"
Rob Bell Defends Book LOVE WINS VIDEO:
Kabbalah in US History VIDEO:
Christian Mysteries I VIDEO:
Christian Mysteries II VIDEO:
Billy Phillips' Journey to Kabbalah VIDEO:
There is No Death VIDEO:
3 Secrets of Happiness VIDEO:
Purpose of Creation VIDEO:
Kabbalah in the 21st Century VIDEO:
Trust in God Alone VIDEO:
The Secret of This Day VIDEO:
INRI: What does it mean? VIDEO:
Story of Rav Berg VIDEO:
But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.
Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists. Herein lies the peace of God.
Miracles reawaken the awareness that the spirit, not the body, is the altar of truth. This is the recognition that leads to the healing power of the miracle. . . . Spirit is in a state of Grace forever. Your reality is only Spirit. Therefore, you are in a state of Grace forever. (A COURSE IN MIRACLES, Preface and Chapter 1)
Spirit, the ONLY Reality
"It is well never to lose sight of the fact that, fundamentally, there is nothing in the universe but consciousness. Everything outside the consciousness of Beings -- of whatever order -- belongs to the realm of Maya, the Great Illusion. . . . The only true realities of the universe are therefore Beings in different states of consciousness.
(Dr. Rudolf Steiner)"
The "Great Illusion"
"Materialism is a weak flame that is blown out by the breath of mature thinking."
Perhaps a new spirit is rising among us. If it is, let us trace its movements and pray that our own inner being may be sensitive to its guidance, for we are deeply in need of a new way beyond the darkness that seems so close around us.
(Dr. ML King, Jr.)
WRITE TO US:
P.O. Box 50181
Midwest City, Oklahoma 73140


|August 2015 ||September 2015 ||October 2015 |
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Wednesday June 5th 2013 at 10:30 pm
The revamped website sharing about our ministry is going live in the coming hours. Not all of the functionality is programmed yet --- please be patient if you find an error. We are making this change to serve you to the fullest with the love of the Lord Jesu Christ. Thank you for your continued support.
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+ THE VEN TOM HENDERSON-BROOKS
THE VEN TOM HENDERSON-BROOKS
ACTING PRESIDING MEMBER
Director since June 2021
Tom is the Diocesan Archdeacon for the Canberra/Goulburn Anglican Diocese, with responsibility for Mission and Chaplaincy. He has been an Anglican Minister for 30 years. Immediately prior to moving to Canberra, Tom led the Diocese of Rockhampton for 15 months in the transition between Bishops, having been the Diocesan Archdeacon for Mission and Training since 2016.
Tom has served in ministry leadership in multiple contexts across Australia including North Rockhampton, South Turramurra, Bondi and Kings Cross. For a decade, in Kings Cross, his ministry was amongst the homeless, the drug-affected and sex workers including PJ’s Café, a safe space for Transgender Sex-Workers. He helped establish Rough Edges in 1995, the Anglican ‘equivalent’ of the Wayside Chapel. Then for a decade Tom combined his Bondi Church leadership with being the Anglicare Regional Manager across the Eastern Suburbs, City and Inner West of Sydney. He also had the joy of leading a vibrant, prayerful and missional church on Sydney’s North Shore where he enjoyed mobilising people for world-wide mission and church planting.
His most recent ministry in Central Queensland has given him experience of the rural context. He was a Board Director for Anglicare Central Queensland for the last 4 years. He has Degrees in Science and Theology and Post Graduate Diplomas in Education, Ministry and Arts.
+ DR DAVID WALLACE
DR DAVID WALLACE
Director since 2018
David has extensive experience serving on the Board of Anglicare Sydney (from 2009 – July 2016), and experience as Chair of the Mamre Anglican School Council in Sydney, and member of the Sydney Local Health District Ethics Review Committee. David started his career as a social worker in local governments in Sydney, he went on to teach a range of welfare programs at TAFE before moving to the NSW Department of Education and Training where he worked on VET policy. He brings a range of skills in the social work and education sector to support the work of the Anglicare Board.
+ JOSEPHINE SCHUMANN
Director since February 2022
Ms Schumann has had extensive experience with the Commonwealth Government working at senior levels in the provision of corporate services at the Murray Darling Basin Authority, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and Department of Veterans Affairs. She also provides mentoring and coaching services and is involved in the delivery of staff development programs for the public service.
Ms Schumann was appointed to the Anglicare Board Risk Committee in early 2018 and has been Chair of the Anglicare Board, Clinical Governance Sub-Committee from July 2018 to January 2022.
Ms Schumann also serves on several Commonwealth independent audit committees. Ms Schuman is a member of the Council of Burgmann College, ANU and a Council member of SHFPACT and Board member for Women’s Centre for Health Matters.
+ JOHN WILLS
Director since 2023


I am a nursery leader in my ward and I can't believe how much fun it is. The kids are so sweet and innocent and they teach me patience and kindness. I have begun to realize the importance of teaching them about Christ and letting them know who he is and that he cares about them individually. I have noticed that so many people in my life feel alone and have not been taught the importance of the Savior in their lives. These two year olds know so much about Jesus I was shocked. They knew he loved them and their parents and their brothers and sisters and their teachers...they are so sweet and I am grateful to their parents for teaching them. Hopefully when hard times come as they grow up, they will know they are not alone and that the Lord loves them.
Whenever I go to church I bring my sketchbook to write notes or doodle, ha. I decided to turn some of my doodles into free printables to put up in frames in your little kids rooms to help teach them. Enjoy:)


Jesus said something so astonishing; “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart! And the peace I give isn’t fragile like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” Read John 14:27 (TLB). In other words PEACE is a gift which you can’t earn. Selah. You accept peace into your heart and mind. Think with me for a moment, peace seems an elusive commodity in peoples lives and the world today; and why is this so? Because we have refused to accept Jesus’s gift of PEACE. In my culture where I come from, when a legitimate gift is presented, especially one from God, it is customary to receive it and be thankful for it. Listen to this statement beloved, ‘A lack of peace would lead to impaired hearing.’ And I believe this is the reason God wants PEACE to reign in our hearts. Not being able to hear God can be one of the most dangerous thing, and why do I say this? The Bible says, “Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” In other words, where there is no word, no voice, then there would be no direction which eventually leads to a lack of PEACE.
Let us dig deeper into a Biblical verse which says, “The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You.” Read Isaiah 26:3 (NASB). Steadfast of mind refers to “not given to fluctuation or moving off course.” Mind refers to “the God-given capacity of each person to think.” Now, let us super-impose the words and see what it says, Gods peace rests with, “The one who is not given to fluctuation or moving off course because he has the capacity to think.” To think about what? Gods goodness, favor and faithfulness.
Dearly beloved, there are times in my life when peace has eluded me in so many ways, even as a Christian, and I wondered out aloud saying, God has given me His promise, so why am I not walking in the reality of the promise – PEACE? The answer comes so quickly I must admit, and it was simply because I did not attend to Gods word; it was not my priority in the midst of the challenge, hence PEACE eluded me. However, the moment I embraced Gods word, and meditated and praised His name, I could sense PEACE rising up in my heart. Sometimes as a writer, you share personal thoughts with the hope and expectation that people can identify with what is being said, and somewhat employ the same or similar tactics in their own personal life.
I am sure the next question to ask is where does PEACE come from? Quite simply, PEACE comes from God as a gift which I encourage you to receive. Hallelujah. Watch this beloved, Gods PEACE is an everlasting Rock; see what the Bible says, “Trust in the Lord forever, For in God, we have an everlasting Rock. Read Isaiah 26:4 (NASB). ‘The peace of God is your everlasting Rock, hence the Bible says Jesus is, “Our Rock of Ages.” Glory to God, Hallelujah. And since He is the foundation of our lives, and we are anchored to Him; who is the Rock of Ages, how then can we be defeated? Impossible, because my PEACE is anchored on the Rock of all Ages, therefore, I am immovable like Mount Zion.
We write. You read. Be encouraged.
One thought on “Wake up to a brand new day: Awaken to Peace – Part 7”
Great insight Pastor Ricky.
I release and accept Gods peace into my life, home and family in the Name of Jesus. God is my peace and joy.
Blessings upon blessings
LikeLiked by 1 person


It does not get easier. Who ever said that? Must've been someone who just wishes all is well. I think last year I was so anxious anticipating March 14 that when the day actually came I had already had my catharsis and did "okay." Not to say I am not anxious this year, I feel I am just as much, but I think I thought the pain, the longing, the healing would have happened by now. I am reminded daily that this is a life long process, that I will never "get over it" nor should I. I was placed in this role for a reason. I have learned so much about who my family and friends really are, how I want to surround myself with love and not worry about petty things that ultimately do not matter, but to live each moment.
I am not going to lie. I ache and I hurt, but I also love and want to seek more. I am constantly reminded of all the lives Joshua has touched: the NICU staff still talks about him, other hospital staff through the parent advisory council, Easter Seals, my "real job" when I work with trached and g-tube fed kids, all the people involved in the CHARGE runs, the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation, our friends, family, our immediate family, and so many others. Still, I sometimes feel Josh's memory is slipping away. Jillian is getting bigger and the comparisons of Josh are escaping...there isn't a baby around doing the things that Josh did. Looking at Joey, I can only wonder what Joshua would be doing now.
Still with each teary moment, sleepless night, unending desire to see, dream, smell, suction, hug, feed, bathe, do anything with Joshua again I find great comfort in knowing Josh is with the Lord. At our church when a child is baptized our previous pastor would hold up the baby after being baptized in the holy water and say "Behold the face of God." Josh was baptized in the NICU in a much more intimate spot with only his Godparents, parents, and Father Tony present. Josh did not have the opportunity to be held up in front of a big congregation with those words rejoicing out loud. I remember Phil and I loving that phrase, and each of us crying our own renewing tears when Joey was baptized by Father Tri in our church with Josh a few mile away resting in the NICU. I am comforted by the fact that Josh moved into heaven during the Lenten season. It is a reminder to me while I am waiting to be called home, that Josh has seen the face of God, he is one with his maker, and there will be a day when I will be reunited with Joshua and see the face of God.


The Transfiguration 1442 Other
The Transfiguration 1442 Other by Fra Angelico.
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In the beginning, when God created the universe, before man came into existence, there was a rebellion in His kingdom. Lucifer, a cherubic angel, perfect in his beauty, ( called satan after the rebellion) wanted to be higher than God His creator, and called many angels ( called demons after the rebellion) to follow Him in His ways, and this is the first sin commited in the history of the creation. After this great rebellion, God casted them out of His kingdom, for their evilness and rebellion.
When God created mankind, being just, He showed them what was good and what was bad and also what would happen if they went on the wrong path. Adam and Eve, the first human being God created, both of them cunned by the old serpent, the devil, commited the first sin on the planet earth, and after this sin, the cause of all troubles on the planet, they both got expelled from paradise, loosing their state of immortality, brigning suffering on them and all mankind, their decendants.
Sin is the cause of suffering on the face of the earth and, by sin covetousness, pride and idolatry came into existence. Idolatry is the worshipping of false Gods, man made objects, animals, and mens, worshipped and adored as Gods. This is how perversion came into beeing and corruption filled our world. False religions was given birth to and deception decieved whole nations.
Since the world became extreemly perverted with corruption in early human history ,God decided to kill every human flesh on the face of the earth, sparing only a handfull of faithfull people and some animals. By a great flood that submerged all the land of the planet, God put an end to the lives of all the inhabitants of the world, except, as stated before a handfull of persons and animals, because of their viciouss way of life.
The planet became inhabitable once again and God's faithfull, began to populate the earth, but soon afterward it became corrupted once more. And again God punished the inhabitants, but made a covenant never to destroy all living flesh again, because since man's birth, evil lies within him.
God chose for Himself a population, a chosen people, to set an example to all the other nations on earth. God chose Israel as His chosen ones and gave them many blessings. The God of Israel was their king and governed them for a while, until they asked to have an earthly king as the other nations. God warned them of troubles ahead if He gave them their request, but nevertheless Israel insisted and God gave to their request. It was not soon that Israel started sinning, so God sent them prophets to warn them of the consequences of their rebeliousness and their chastisements if they did not amend their behavior, but still they persisted in their sins. Finally God punished them with famines, pestillences, wars and other righetouess judgment which He warned them would fall on them because of their corrupted ways. Israel still remained God's chosen people, but as a Father He corrected them for their evil ways.
God is just, perfect and the greatest good in the universe and up to this days, He punishes people for their wickedness and rewards them for their good actions. Today, innocent people suffer as a consequence not of their sins, but because of other people's sins. As propheciesed in the scriptures our troubles will get worse , especially if we do not repent and behave according to His goodwill. Unfortunatly the Holy scriptures prophecies that still there is great suffering on our way and it will be felt all over our planet, but the good news is that His son, Jesus Christ is coming back with His angels and priest ,to restore the order on the planet and end all sufferings plaguing the world.
It is by solidarity, by joining our hands together, that we can speed the progress of healing and minimize the extreem suffering coming ahead in the near future. If we are faithfull our lives will be saved but if we are obstinate, hell is waiting at the door.


Iranian Christians have requested our renewed prayers for Pastor Farshid Fathi, a believer from a Muslim background, who is serving a six-year prison sentence.
Farshid was arrested on 26th December 2010 along with a number of other Christian leaders. He was taken directly to Evin prison, Tehran, and has remained there ever since. Initially placed in solitary confinement, he has also been subjected to periods of intense interrogation and denied communication with his family. In March 2012 he was convicted on charges of anti-state political activity, charges that were derived from his leadership of a network of house fellowships. In June his appeal was rejected and the six-year sentence upheld.
Across Iran, at least 19 others are known to be in prison because of their Christian faith or activities. Some, like Farshid, have been convicted and sentenced, though many have not yet been formally charged.
Christians supporting Farshid request our prayers that:
a. Farshid, his wife and their two young children will know the presence, peace and protection of Jesus each day
b. Likewise for others convicted and imprisoned for their Christian activities
c. All those detained unjustly will be released
d. All officials involved will love mercy, act justly, learn about Jesus and choose to follow Him.
Open sources used: Elam
URL of this prayer request: http://www.meconcern.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=551:iran-pastor-serving-six-year-prison-sentence&catid=7:prayer-requests&Itemid=12
"Often I have been insulted, humiliated and accused, but I have never doubted my identity in Christ. Some have deserted me, some have fled from me, of course in no way do I pass judgment on them. ..."
Mohabat News – Farshid Fathi is a Christian convert who has been sentenced to six years in prison by the Revolutionary Court in Iran. The court announced his accusations as, "action against the regime's security, being in contact with foreign organizations and religious propaganda". Mr. Fathi has spent several months in solitary confinement and has never received a leave permission during his imprisonment. He was born in 1979, is married, and is father of two children. He was arrested by security authorities in Tehran on December 26, 2010 as part of a crackdown before New Year celebrations. Currently, he is serving his six year sentence and his wife and two children were offered refuge by Canada in February 2013, after they fled to Turkey.
Farshid had written a letter in November 2012, which was published just recently. The letter is addressed to Farshid's father and in it he pours out his heart to his father. The letter is as follows:
Please accept my warmest greetings from the heart of prison in the name of Jesus. It has been a long time since I have been able to hear you. But I sense the fragrance of your prayers as a cool breeze on my heart and it strengthens me from afar. I have gone through difficult days, but more than ever before I have seen myself in the bosom of the Lord, which is full of love. I have had a deep experience of loneliness, but I have never felt alone.
Often I have been sorrowful because of certain things, but I have never been a slave of sadness. Often I have been insulted, humiliated and accused, but I have never doubted my identity in Christ. Some have deserted me, some have fled from me, of course in no way do I pass judgment on them. My Lord has never left me.
I spent 361 days in a locked cell, and I did not see the sunlight for days, but the mercies of the Lord were made new every morning. I have many things to say, but I like to say how much I love you. I miss you, our other brother and my dear aunty. I miss the little ones and their parents. Please give my greetings to my dear uncle. I know that with power and love he is praying for me and my family.
Probably I cannot be with you for a few years. However your word and exhortations are in the ear of my soul. I hope that at the end I will be able to see you. But if the Father calls me to the eternal abode, please protect and support my family more than before, especially my children who are dearest of my heart.
The narrow way that I am passing through I see as a cup that my Beloved has given me, and I will drink it to the end, whatever that end might be. What really matters is that I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine. This possibly is the sweetest truth of my life that I am His and He is mine.
Two of the brothers send you greetings from here. Also two sisters who are separated from us by a few high walls. I too here am continuously praying for you and your loving family. Please convey my greetings to all dear brothers and sisters who have been praying for me and my family and tell them: In our land the fig tree does not blossom, the produce of olive has failed. The flock is cut off from the fold. Yet we rejoice in the Lord and take joy in the God of our salvation. Because neither the walls nor the barbed wires, nor the prison, nor suffering, nor loneliness, nor enemies, nor pain, nor even death separates us from the Lord and each other.
With love and greetings in Christ,
(CBN) 03 April 2013 - The family of an imprisoned Iranian Christian leader has been safely evacuated from Iran. Just a few weeks ago the family of Pastor Farshid Fathi secretly escaped to Canada.
Pastor Farshid is serving a six-year sentence in Evin Prison, Iran's most notorious prison known for brutal treatment and even torture. His crime? Being a Christian evangelist.
CBN News has reported on several pastors who are imprisoned there, the most recent beingPastor Saeed Abedini.
When Farshid was first arrested in 2010, he was held in solitary confinement for more than 100 days. He's now been separated from his family and loved ones for over two years.
Elam Ministries is asking Christians to send Farshid a letter of encouragement. The letters also remind the Iranian government that people know what they're up to.
Farshid Fathi, who was arrested in December 2010 for his Christian faith. A court sentenced Farshid to 6 years in prison. Very impressed by Farshid and his other Christian friend, Fariborz Azarm's kind and selfless service to fellow prisoners, Dr. Khazali, expresses disgust at the notion of condemning someone to imprisonment because of his Christian faith and possession of the Holy Bible.


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Sign of the Cross (Payne & Jones, #2) On a Danish shore, a Vatican priest is foundhanging on a cross. The next day, the same crime is repeatedthis time in Asia and Africa. Meanwhile, deep in the legendary catacombs near Orvieto, Italy, an archeologist unearths a scroll dating back two thousand years, revealing secrets that could rock the foundations of Christianity. Its discovery makes him the most wanted criminal in all of Europe. But his most dangerous enemies operate outside the law of man...


In accordance with the teaching of our Lord and practice prevailing among evangelical Christians, the United Church of Christ recognizes two sacraments: Baptism and the Lord's Supper or Holy Communion.
— From the Preamble to the Constitution of the United Church of Christ
For in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ Jesus have clothed yourself with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.
— Galatians 3:26-28
At Pilgrim we believe that the sacrament of baptism is an outward and visible sign of the grace of God. Through baptism a person is joined with the universal church, the body of Christ. In baptism, God works in us the power of forgiveness, the renewal of the spirit, and the knowledge of the call to be God's people always.
Baptism with water and the Holy Spirit is the sign and seal of our common discipleship. Since baptism is God's gift, the Holy Spirit is called to be upon the water and those being baptized. The act of baptism also marks the beginning of a new journey of discipleship with Christ, the human response to that gift.
At Pilgrim we use water as the essential element of baptism. Water is a prominent symbol of cleansing and life in the Bible - the water of creation, the great flood, the liberation of Israel through the sea, the water of Mary's womb, the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River, the woman at the well, and Jesus' washing of the feet of the disciples. That is why water is visibly present in the service. At Pilgrim, we make use of the practice of sprinkling water on the one to be baptized. All are welcomed to be baptized from infants to adults and we recognize the validity of all baptisms, therefore there is no need for re-baptism.
If you are interested in receiving the sacrament of baptism at Pilgrim Church please contact our Pastor at 216-861-7388.
(Adapted from www.UCC.org website)
In accordance with the teaching of our Lord and the practice prevailing among evangelical Christians, the United Church of Christ recognizes two sacraments: Baptism and the Lord's Supper or Holy Communion.
—From the Preamble to the Constitution of the United Church of Christ
The Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body that is for you do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.'
—1 Corinthians 11:23-25
At Pilgrim Church we practice two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion. Holy Communion recalls the table fellowship Jesus shared with his disciples and in particular the Last Supper on the night before his death as well as his appearances to the disciples during meals following his resurrection. Throughout its history these Biblical events have been central to the Church's worship life. In the sacrament of Holy Communion, also called the Lord's Supper or Eucharist, meaning "thanksgiving," Christians hear, taste, touch and receive the grace of God revealed through Jesus Christ in a unique way. The United Church of Christ Book of Worship reminds us that "the invitation and the call [to the supper] celebrate not only the memory of a meal that is past, but an actual meal with the risen Christ that is a foretaste of the heavenly banquet at which Christ will preside at the end of history."
At Pilgrim, the broken bread and poured grape juice represent - present anew - the crucified and risen Christ. Although there is a variety of practices in how communion is served, here at Pilgrim we use the ancient form of Intinction, the dipping of the bread into the grape juice. We also use grape juice instead of wine, so that all God’s children can partake of this Holy Sacrament. Communion is "open to all Christians who wish to know the presence of Christ and to share in the community of God's people." (Book of Worship). Children are welcomed to the Table at their parents' discretion.
(Adapted from www.UCC.org website)
New Member / Inquirers class
Are you interested in learning more about Pilgrim United Church of Christ? Come join us on a Journey that will last a lifetime. Every 6 weeks we offer an Inquirers Gathering in which you can learn and ask questions about the United Church of Christ, Pilgrim Church, and what it means to be involved in this community. Please see our Church Calendar for the next Inquirers Gathering.


The middle of the night can be a very surprising time. It's the time when memories of the past can suddenly come from "out of nowhere" to haunt us.
You may be wondering, "Is reminiscing bad? I seem to lie awake many nights mulling over incidences of the past."
I don't think there's anything wrong with reminiscing in itself. But please, don't let it control you. If it does, it can drain your mental and emotional energy.
Once the enemy gets you hooked on paying too much attention to the past, he can rob you of the vital refreshment the Lord wants to give you in sleep. As a result, you won't awaken refreshed.
Instead of focusing on the past as you go to sleep tonight, foil the enemy's plan. Re-focus your mind on the Lord instead. Fill your mind with a scripture or meditations of Him so He can do a deep, revitalizing work and give you peace.
As the prophet Isaiah said: "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You" (Isaiah, 26:3, NKJV).
Accept the peace and relief He wants for you from all unsettling memories. Experience the deep rest that will come from fixing your mind totally on Him as you go to sleep.
Heavenly Father, I accept Your offer tonight to exchange the sleeplessness caused by agitating memories, for the peace You will give me when I fix my mind and trust on You. Let Your Holy Spirit guide me into living nighttime thoughts of You, and fill me with passages of Your Word to nourish me even as I sleep. I praise You for the new vitality I will experience as I awaken to a new day! In Jesus' Name, Amen.


June 23, 2015
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Saturday, June 27, 2015, 9:30 a.m.
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Pearl River
The Rt. Rev. Andrew R. St. John, Presiding
The Rt. Rev. Johncy Itty, Preaching
Visiting Clergy: Cassock, Surplice, Tippet
Friday, June 26, 2015
3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
St. Stephen's, Pearl River
Born on August 4, 1934 in Kerala, India, Bishop Ninan was raised an Anglican. After studies at Leonard Theological College in Jabalpur, he was ordained in 1964 as an Anglican priest and began what became a ministry of global significance, serving in India, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and Canada.
His ministry especially focused on the poor. During the 1970s, his leadership in the Bombay Urban Industrial League for Development (BUILD) and the innovative programmes he initiated to help people living in the slums of Mumbai manifested Christ's own mission to the poor. He encouraged committed Christians to minister in rural and urban situations of poverty and exploitation, and he urged the churches of India to advocate for the poor and participate in the struggle for social justice. From 1979 to 1985, Bishop Ninan served as Executive Secretary of the Urban Rural Mission of the Christian Conference of Asia, and the programs he developed to support pastors and church workers were at the forefront of the human rights movements in Asia. These programs aided church workers and human rights activists imprisoned by dictatorships, as well as leaders and activists of trade union movements working with the slum dwellers in many parts of Asia.
His gifts as a visionary, organizer, and practical theologian eventually led him to higher office within the churches of Asia. From 1985 to 1990, he served as the Associate General Secretary of the Christian Conference of Asia. In 1994, he began his ministry as the Bishop of Nasik, a diocese of the Church of North India, a united church of several Protestant denominations that is a successor to the Church of England.
Bishop Ninan and his wife Rachel, whom he married in 1961, first came to the United States during the 1970s for his doctoral studies at Phillips University in Oklahoma. They returned in 2004 to be near their three adult children and their grandchildren, making their home in our diocese. In the decade of his ministry among us, Bishop Ninan served as Vicar of All Saints' in Valley Cottage, Interim at St. Mary's, Scarborough, and Pastor of St. Andrew's, Brewster. He was also a beloved preacher and spiritual leader for Asian Indian Christians throughout the United States.
When he first came to the Diocese of New York, I was introduced to Bishop Ninan by two of our Indian priests with the words, "We would like you to meet a hero of human rights." A warm friendship quickly grew between us. Over time spent across the table from one another and in our common life in this diocese, I came to know and understand more of the courage and faith with which he advocated for Dalits in India and witnessed to justice and reconciliation within the wider Anglican Communion and Church.
I also came to know Bishop Ninan as he helped to build the Malayalam-speaking membership of All Saints', Valley Cottage, culminating in this congregation of the Church of South India choosing to accept the jurisdiction of the Bishop of New York and join The Episcopal Church. Today, All Saints' is a beautifully harmonious community of long-time Episcopalians and Malayalam-speaking Indian Christians. Just last April, we held a memorial service for the Reverend John Fredenburgh in our cathedral, and Bishop Ninan was present. On that occasion, he shared with me his memories of the holy partnership between that priest and this bishop in bringing to fulfillment the vision of the community which All Saints has become. I express my condolences to the Reverend Jacob Nanthicattu, a newly ordained priest in our diocese who now leads All Saints', for whom Bishop Ninan was a dear mentor and friend, and to all of our sisters and brothers in Christ in that good parish.
Bishop Ninan's funeral is expected to draw many Asian Indian clergy and will be a truly cross-cultural liturgy. Because of my responsibilities at General Convention, including the election that same day of The Episcopal Church's next Presiding Bishop, I profoundly regret that I will not be able to participate. To Bishop Andrew St. John, who will represent me, to Bishop Johncy Itty, who will preach, I extend my gratitude. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Episcopal Charities, in honor of Bishop Ninan's care for the poor.
Please remember our brother George in your prayers and at your altars, and please pray for God's consoling presence with Rachel, the children Reny, Reena and Rajive, their wider family, and all who mourn. With every good wish, I remain


If you have no desire for obedience, you are not a Christian. I’m sorry. You might have seen a sketch about hell when you were 7 years old that scared you, but if there is no desire in your heart for obedience, if you can posture yourselves (“I don’t care what the Bible says, I don’t care what God says; I’m going to do it my way”), you’re not a believer. The Spirit testifies to our spirit that we are children of God because we desire to do what the Lord would have us do. That’s how the Spirit testifies to our spirit.


Discovering, Embracing, and Becoming what pleases God.
Preaching the Grace of the Cross and the Fire of Pentecost.
APRIL 2017 CALENDAR
Sat 1st Ladies Barn Meeting, 4-6 PM
Sat 8th Ladies Of Grace Special Breakfast for the participants in this all-church work day for Easter, 8 AM
Sun 9th EZRA Int. during the 6 PM Service
Thu 13th Mens Barn Meeting, Van Departs Church at 5:45 PM
Sat 15th Men Of Grace Breakfast, 8 AM
Sat 15th Easter Block Party, 4-6 PM
Sun 16th EASTER SUNDAY, 11 AM. NO Evening Service
Wed 19th Advisory Board, 6 PM
Fri 21st & Sat 22nd E-Women’s Conference, Pensacola Bay Center
Please Call The Church, 850-623-4795, If You Have Questions About Any Of These Events!
Balanced, Relevant, Anointed and Simple.


Hope Renewed - Randy Dokens (Paperback)
Dispatched in 20 to 25 working days
This product is allowed to be delivered during Lockdown Level 4
- R 358
- 8 Oct 2019
- Supply Source
- Carpenters Son Pub
- Number of Pages
- 216 x 140mm
- A predetermined life feels like a destiny stolen. At least that is how Ya’akov feels. In a couple of years, he will be the first priest in the King’s Promised Kingdom, a destiny bestowed on him at birth. Feeling he is destined for a confined life, he wants a true adventure to provide more life-experiences before he commits to be a priest for the rest of his foreseeable future. The King allows him to go with the team placing teleporters throughout the world. He is excited for this adventure, and even finds a potential love interest as he works with the team. Yet, his adventure turns into a nightmare which leads him to become stranded at sea without any memory of his past. He is saved by a family who takes care of him while he recovers. As he rediscovers himself, he gains a new perspective on his life and on what true love means. When his memory returns, he has choices to make. Will he return to his bitter outlook on life, or keep his renewed perspective and the hope he has gained? Will he embrace his destiny or still push back to follow his own desires?
- A priest of the Promised Kingdom goes on an adventure to gain life perspective, but finds more adventure, deception, and life-changing experiences than he expected.
Dockens, Randy: - Randy has a doctorate in both pharmacokinetics (how drugs work in the body) and in Biblical prophecy. He wants people to understand that science and faith can exist together, and, in fact, go hand in hand. He believes our future will be a positive one and be scientifically advanced where technology itself will become a way one can offer up worship. He likes for his books to be both fun to read and have a strong scientific bent. He lives with his family outside Philadelphia in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.


God's Answers 4 UR LIfe by Steve Russo
Rating: 5 / 5 (☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼)
NetGalley is awesome. I love it, and this is how I found this book.
As you know, I'm not really much of a person that reads realistic books or Christian-based books because I'm more of a YA fiction nerd, but as you can tell, the day has come where I am reviewing a Christian book.
And what an awesome one it is.
It's a teen guide to all the topics and situations teens are going through today, varying from sex to pornography to even vampries! Yes. I thought it was a silly thing to add, but the entry actually makes sense. Each topic provides a little section where the author relates the topic to your relationship with Jesus, and how the world can glorify it, but following Jesus is the way to go.
Here's an excerpt of a hot topic: Lust
Lust is a struggle for lots of people living in our seductive culture. Being bombarded daily with advertising for material stuff every day can cause us to have an uncontrolled appetite for bling and bank. These intense feelings or cravings for things like cars, clothes, and cash can easily own our emotions and consume us. But even worse can be intense feelings of sexual desire. These thoughts and feelings can quickly and easily become uncontrolled in our life. And it’s not just a guy thing. Girls struggle with lust just like guys do. And all of us can have trouble sorting through our emotions to discover if we are dealing with lust or love. We might think that we really care about someone when instead we really are craving them. Lust can get so intense and out of control that we end up in a type of emotional prison. It can be a tough one to escape from. But if we truly want to escape from the bondage of lust, God can give us the strength and courage we need to be free. It takes time and discipline, but with His help it’s doable.
Behave like obedient children. Don’t let your lives be controlled by your desires, as they used to be.This is a very helpful guide for a lost and faithful teenager. I will definitely be buying this one to keep with me at all times. Very, very refreshing reminder that God is always with us, and there is a way out even if the path looks dark. Bravo!
~1 Peter 1:14 CEV
Don’t lust for her beauty. Don’t let her coy glances seduce you.
~Proverbs 6:25 NLT
“But I tell you that if anyone looks at a woman and wants to sin sexually with her, in his mind he has already done that sin with the woman.”
~Matthew 5:28 NCV
And because we belong to Christ Jesus, we have killed our selfish feelings and desires.
~Galatians 5:24 CEV
Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.
~1 Peter 2:11 NLT
Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.
~Romans 13:14 NLT
For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.
~1 John 2:16 NIV


The Knights Templar were a Catholic military order founded in 1119 to protect Christian pilgrims on their way to the Holy Land. The order grew rapidly in membership and power, and its members became known for their military prowess and their strict religious vows. However, the Templars also became the subject of much controversy, and in 1312 they were disbanded by Pope Clement V.
The Knights Templar were founded by Hugues de Payens and eight other knights. De Payens was a French knight who had fought in the First Crusade, and he was inspired to create a religious order that would protect pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land. The Templars were initially based in Jerusalem, and they soon established a reputation for their bravery and their willingness to fight for the Christian cause.
The Templars quickly grew in membership and power. They were granted land and wealth by European monarchs, and they soon became one of the wealthiest and most powerful organizations in Europe. The Templars also developed a sophisticated financial system, and they became the bankers of choice for many European nobles.
However, the Templars also became the subject of much controversy. Some people accused them of heresy and of engaging in homosexual activity. In 1307, King Philip IV of France arrested all of the Templars in France and accused them of a variety of crimes. The Templars were tortured and forced to confess to the charges, and many of them were burned at the stake.
In 1312, Pope Clement V disbanded the Knights Templar. The order’s assets were seized by the Catholic Church, and the Templars were forced to disband. The Knights Templar have been the subject of much speculation and debate ever since their dissolution. Some people believe that they may have discovered the Holy Grail or other religious treasures. Others believe that they may have survived and continue to exist in secret.
The Knights Templar were a fascinating and controversial organization. They played a significant role in the Crusades, and they left a lasting legacy on European history.
- Barber, Malcolm. The New Knighthood: A History of the Order of the Temple. Cambridge University Press, 1994.
- Demurger, Alain. The Templars: A History. Profile Books, 2008.
- Nicholson, Helen. The Knights Templar: A New History. Boydell Press, 2001.
- Runciman, Steven. A History of the Crusades. Cambridge University Press, 1987.


Father Gerard Pantin (Founder of SERVOL) passes away
The Right Livelihood Award Foundation mourns the death of SERVOL’s founder, Father Gerard Pantin, who passed away yesterday, June 23rd, at age 85.
SERVOL, the organisation he initiated in Trinidad was awarded a 1994 Right Livelihood Award for “fostering spiritual values, co-operation and family responsibility in building society.”
Their work focuses on educating young people all around the country in a way that goes beyond the traditional school system, where literacy skills are just as important as family values. Fr Pantin was a Trinidadian Catholic priest, a member of the Holy Ghost Order and recipient of the Trinity Cross, now known as the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. He was also a dedicated biology teacher, praised for his contribution to youth education and to the Trinidadian community in need. He made a lasting memory with his non-preaching approach, by listening to people before making assumptions about what they would need. His approach stood at the basis of the success of Servol’s education methods.


My name is Miss Mikaela Merten, and I am the kindergarten teacher at Sacred Heart. I am delighted to become a part of the Sacred Heart family, and look forward to learning from this community!
I grew up seven miles north of Rose Creek and attended Southland Schools from elementary through high school. I grew up Catholic and still practice my faith everyday. Growing up I was able to attend religion classes through Sacred Heart, I made my Reconciliation, 1st Communion, and Confirmation through the Sacred Heart Parishes. My family belongs to St. Augustine Parish in Austin, but we did occasionally attend mass in Rose Creek, Johnsburg, and Adams. I am thrilled to be back in the community and serving in a occupation I love!
I have my elementary education degree through Winona State-Rochester, where I attended two years of schooling to receive my bachelors. My student teaching was spent at Pinewood elementary in Rochester, a relatively small school for the big city of Rochester, with two sections per grade.
Please feel free to contact me anytime with questions, concerns, comments, or any fun or interesting stories of what the kindergartners are up to at home!


THE TWO FEET OF SOCIAL JUSTICE
Monday, February 25
Sister Jeanne Wingenter, School Sisters of Notre Dame, St. Paul, Presenter
In every faith tradition, there is some emphasis on caring for the needy, feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless through prayer and action; the “two feet of social justice.” The first three words of the Constitution — “We, the People” — remind us that it is our duty as citizens to “promote the general welfare.” We do that not only through our prayer but also through our charity and our advocacy on the personal and governmental level. It is our duty to support and demand a government of the people, by the people and for the people. That is social justice. It’s a long-term commitment.
Cost: No charge for members; $5 for non-members.
Register before 2/22.


pastor jasmine jones
As an ordained Apostle and Founding Pastor of Reignite Palm Springs, Brian is a testimony to the redemptive, transformative power of God. Although raised in the church, he actually didn’t have a personal revelation of Jesus Christ until the age of 26. During the next 12 years he was ministered to by some of the great generals of the faith in the Charismatic Movement. Many laid their hands on him, imparted their anointing, and prophesied of the incredible future God had in store for him in the ministry. Brian served on the crusade team of an international ministry for a time, but God’s plans seemed like nothing more than delusions of grandeur when he walked away from his faith while trying to reconcile it with his sexuality. The following years would leave Brian a homeless meth addict, who believed the lie that God didn’t love him because of who he was.
Restored and redeemed, Brian now preaches with great passion the message of grace and inclusion to a community of people that the enemy has told the same lie. The grandson of a German Jewish immigrant, Brian has reconnected with the roots of his Christian faith through studying his Jewish heritage. He is a passionate lover of Israel and the Jewish people, and considers himself “Messianic” in his core beliefs.
rabbi roi Hudson-anaya
Rabbi Ro'i is an ordained, Messianic Rabbi. Saved and called to preach at an early age, he preached his first sermon at 12 years of age.
Ro’i came out in his early 40s and experienced a crisis of faith walking away from his ministry, the church, and God, walking into deep sin. Four years later he discovered that God still loved him, that the atonement still applied regardless of how far he had strayed or what he had done, and that God still had a plan for his life. He joyfully returned to God, the church and ministry. Over the last 50 years he has studied the Jewish roots of our Christian faith and brings a rich knowledge of those roots to his preaching and teaching.


One of the things that gets glossed over with a particular statement Jesus makes in the Bible (and Gnostic gospels)… “the kingdom of God is within you”… is not just the meaning of Jesus’s statement regarding divinity lying within us. That certainly gets glossed over in most every church I’ve been to due to leadership’s inability to fully understand that statement, and also the typical doctrine of the Church to teach against it. But something else that gets ignored is the simple inarguable fact of who Jesus is speaking to in Luke 17:20 in that particular instance when he says, “the kingdom of God is within you”.
If you’ll notice in (reading from the King James or New King James versions) it was the Pharisees to whom he was speaking. The Pharisees. The group of folks who often stood against Jesus and John the Baptist in both Biblical and secular histories. The group of people who were never to be expected to follow Christ, believe in Christ, take the path to God by way of Christ… and basically, who were the folks simply lost to the message of Jesus and any potential salvation delivered by Jesus.
Yet Jesus himself was telling the Pharisees that the kingdom of God was within them. And so from a popular Christian perspective that “Jesus is the only way”, how could Jesus himself have been telling the anti-Jesus people that the kingdom of God lay also to be found within them?
I’ll let that sink in for a moment. Think about that question. How could Jesus himself have told an anti-Christian mindset that the kingdom of God was within them?
Could it be that Jesus himself was preaching that following Him was NOT the only path to God? Or if He IS the only path to God, how then could Jesus have taught non-followers that the divinity of God was within them also?
What are your thoughts on this quandary? FYI, a more accurate translation of this saying can be found within the Gospel of Thomas, Verse 3, where it was also recorded.
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In the steps of Christ
When most people hear the word disciple they immediately think of the twelve disciples of Jesus, the men who were chosen by Christ Himself and were appointed to follow Him and bear fruit (John 15:16). However, these twelve men are certainly not the only disciples of Jesus. For example, in John 6:60-66, “many of His disciples” had a difficult time with His teaching about the bread of life (v.61), and “as a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore” (v.66). Although the term disciple is used many times in the New Testament to refer to the twelve, in the most general sense, a disciple is a follower or student of a teacher. In this respect, all Christians are disciples of Jesus Christ!
The term disciple is also used as a verb. Here discipleship is defined as the process by which believers mentor and assist (i.e. disciple) other believers to greater levels of biblical knowledge and spiritual maturity. As modeled by Christ to His closest twelve disciples, the discipleship process includes teaching as well as living the Christian life together.
The “In the Steps of Christ” discipleship curriculum is made up of four twelve-week courses:
Primary Christian Doctrine
Personal Growth in Godliness


CNN’s Brooke Baldwin talks to Jackie Sing, who was born and raised in Moore, Oklahoma. His house was severely damaged but is still standing. Sing said he’d gladly trade places with neighbors who lost homes, especially a young couple with a newborn baby.
Thanks Brooke for sharing this wonderful Christian testimony of the Lord's faithfulness.
What a powerful testament of faith in Jesus Christ. Jackie's message is a blessing to all those hear it. Thank you Brook
I can't imagine what it's like to survive a tornado “Tornadoes are changing us” I could imagine what that even means.
Brooke Baldwin the was a great post.
I hope all couples and family's young and old are ok and i hope we can get better prepared for these horrible storms.
CNN keep the reports coming we need updates.
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"I don't know how You do it but You make my heart so happy about everything in my life.
I know You had planned my life differently and I may not understand things sometimes but I trust You. Thank You for being patient on me whenever I throw tantrums and thank You for always making me understand and feel happy at the end of the day.
I am aware that I am facing problems right now. I am dealing with it and I am not worried.
I don't know why and I think it's crazy to feel happy when we have this over flowing trials to get through.
Maybe happy is not the right word. Maybe I am calm, confident and excited to see You work on me. It has always been that way; You give us trials we thought we could never survive but there You are, You give solutions, You send people at the right time and things just amazingly fall into place.
I am not going to tell You about my problems, You know it Lord.
Deal with it, I surrender everything to You. Instruct my heart. Lead me Lord,
I am ready to walk with You.
Whenever I think about the trials that we've been through together, I just couldn't help it,
I admire and adore You more. I fall more deeply in love with You. Your love for us is amazing.
Lord, thank You for always being there for me. Thank You for this moment.
Thank You for Your love. Thank You for guiding me and teaching me how to be patient.
I know You miss me. I miss You too and I've been longing to have this moment with You again.
Lord thank You for the music.
Thank You for all the instrumental songs that You always use to lead me to a world where we can sit and talk about random things.
Lord, I love You so much.
Thank You for touching my heart and letting me walk with You again. You're simply amazing!"


Welcome! I'm glad you are here.
I am an inspirational speaker, lover of music, and pursuer of joy. I strive to live my life creating purpose and finding joy in all things.
I will encourage you to journey through your own life, understand your identity, connect with your joy and find the purpose you were created for.
The struggle is real, and walking through the challenges of life is necessary to finding freedom and victory. Let's journey together to help you live your best life now.
We were made to thrive!
"Krystal's message for you will be inspiring and practical; using humor, story, and biblical truths to encourage your heart and soul. "


A Pioneer Minister is someone whose ministry is primarily outside of the existing church. They are tasked with finding new, imaginative and exciting ways to engage with people who otherwise wouldn’t have the chance to explore faith and spirituality. Some Pioneer Ministers are also ordained to administer the sacraments.
Nurturing and leading ‘fresh expressions of church’ amongst those who are exploring discipleship and faith for the first time.
Diocese of Monmouth
Who am I and what do I do?
My name is James Henley and I am training for ordained pioneer ministry in Newport. I lead The Lab in Newport, which started as a group of young adults looking to ‘do church’ in different ways. Things have now developed into several different fresh expressions of church including a messy church congregation, a community of young people who are exploring discipleship together.
Training/Qualification to do the role
I originally trained as a youth worker and completed a degree in Applied Theology. I am currently studying a Masters degree as part of my ordination training.
What Ministry means to me
For me, pioneer ministry is exciting, but also a big challenge: it can be really hard work to build meaningful, trusting relationships with the wider community, which requires a huge amount of perseverance. But ultimately when we’re able to see people’s lives being changed for the better, and perhaps even making their first steps in a new journey of faith, it’s incredibly rewarding!


Oil painting on linen of healer leaning over a bed where a sick woman in lying. The healer has a fern in her had. There is a young boy with a red ball leaning on the foot of the bed. There is a vaporizer in the room, medicines on the stand by the bed, an old sewing machine at the window, and a chest of drawers with a portrait of the Virgin of Guadalupe, flowers, and a picture of a soldier in uniform, and a small figure of a seated man. Over the bed is a cross flanked by portraits of a man and a woman.


From the summit of the Mount Ibisi, I gaze in contemplation at the distant hills and valleys. What greets me from below is literally the silence of the dead. The sound of the blacksmiths’ anvils of my native village of Gishamvu no longer reverberates. The neighboring village of Sheke, formerly full of people, is deserted.
The flour mill has ground to a halt. Its owner, François Mukimbili, was assassinated during the first days of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. He had survived a horrible motorcycle crash 15 years earlier, that had left him crippled, but he was a very popular man. Mukimbiri was not originally from Gishamvu, but he had settled there in the ‘60s and he worked as a tailor for the seminary of Nyakibanda.
He was born in Nyarurembo, in the region of Bufundu, about 20 km southeast of Butare. François was a true gentleman. For years he was a reference point, a role model, and the village bread-winner. Since there was no ambulance in the area, he would use his van to drive pregnant women and sick people to the local free health center of Sheke or the main university hospital of Butare.
In addition, he was the first businessman to open a pub, called ‘Bon Sejour ‘in our local small burg. Anyone visiting Gishamvu would definitely stop there for a pint of Primus, the national brew. In my life, I spent many long evenings talking with François.
He, who had given me a cow as a sign of our friendship; he, who had entrusted to me his daughter Christine Murekatete and the bride price that would one day come with her marriage. Now, he is no longer there. Neither is Christine.
Neither is my childhood friend Lambert Rugamba. They are all dead. In a few minutes, I will begin the descent down Mount Ibisi to pray at their tomb. They were targetted and killed, simply because they were Tutsi.
Farther away, beyond the hill of Muboni, the church spire in Nyakibanda points up from the horizon. The corrugated iron roofs that covered the Grand Seminary buildings have been painted blue.
I recognize the building where I stayed for four years studying philosophy and theology. In my mind, I can still hear the inspirational hymn of Nyakibanda, that beautiful valley chosen by God to train the shepherds of his flock. But the tears that well in my eyes stop me from singing that tune which was a symbol of our pride.
I am in tears for the hundreds of innocents who were massacred in the chapel where I recited from my prayer-book every morning when I was a seminarian; for the women raped in this house of God, for the children thrown into nearby mass graves. I have walked barefoot from Butare, to remember all those who were slaughtered to death in only 100 days,
As I turn my gaze to the left, I see the hill of Nyumba, my parish building, my primary school and Alexis’s bakery, where as a young child I would go to buy bread, especially with my friend Rugamba. Lambert, I have missed you for the past 23 years and so do I today.
Now that I am there, rather than counting the deserted hills that breathe nothing but death despite the presence of survivors, I am going to leave my mountain and descent to touch, for the first time, the soil that covers the graves of my father Ndekwe, my brother Kayanza and my sisters Shamagira who had survived in 1994 but died a few years later, and Concessa, whose children, born Tutsi where also murdered at the beginning of the genocide in April 1994.
Now, I am going to her tomb to speak with her, the sister who I played with in the tall grass of my hill, an accomplice and friend who died too young and had a lot to teach me, as she remained in the country when the genocide occurred, while I was in Nairobi where I had been evacuated by the United Nations, powerlessly watching the death of my people.
For me, my homecoming represents a return to my roots and a communion with the enchantment of an eternal Rwanda. I feel a duty to bear witness to memory so that no one forgets the thousands of victims and so that their names may be written in golden letters in a new history of a Rwanda that has reconciled with itself.
Venuste Alexandre Nshimiyimana


by Frank Desiderio, C.S.P.
7. Don't Give Up
Bud referred to himself as a stubborn German, others said he was uniquely aggressive or didn't know how to take no for an answer. What he taught me was the value of being single-minded. In fact, that is what I think of when I hear the teaching of Jesus, blessed are the pure of heart.
8. Be Positive
In the hospital, Bud told each nurse the he or she was the best, that he or she was taking great care of him. I learned the value of affirming people from Bud. He was successful because his optimism bordered on being delusional. My lesson is to be optimistic. After all, we believe in a God of hope, in a religion based on resurrection.
9. Never Stop Learning
Not only did Bud leave behind a tremendous legacy in Paulist Productions and the Humanitas Prize, he also left behind a huge library. Bud was a voracious reader. He credited it to his seminary summers at Lake George N.Y. where they weren't allowed to do much else but read.
10. Remember The Poor
Jesus, in his inaugural address that we heard in the gospel, came to bring Good News to the Poor. Bud never forgot his responsibility to the poor. He not only went to the soup kitchen to help, but he made a movie about Dorothy Day, the American un-canonized patron saint of justice for the poor.
To order the book click here or call 1-800-624-8613.


There are many good things that come from loving someone who struggles with addiction.
Yes, you read that correctly.
I know it feels dark and hopeless sometimes. But… addiction can be a gateway.
An opportunity to grow into the women we are meant to be.
To learn healthy boundaries that should have been there all along.
To trust friends and family who will love and accept us as we are.
Addiction provides us with stories to encourage and inspire other women.
Addiction can be our greatest teacher.
I am so incredibly grateful for addiction. And I am not alone.
We’ve asked the loving, wise, and willing women in our community to share how they are grateful for loving someone suffering from addiction. Their voices will inspire you to focus on the glimmer of light in the darkness.
Here’s why they are grateful for addiction:
“I have grown into a more independent woman setting really great boundaries...for all relationships in my life…when at one time, I completely lost who I was. Thanks to the Love Over Addiction programs for helping me with the tools to implement the NEW ME.”
“I realized how strong of a woman I am.”
“By telling my truth to people I trust, I gained a wonderful community who care for me. Addiction has shown me that even though my husband broke my trust, it’s still ok to trust others and share my story.”
“Learning what I need from this program helps me be there for other women. To empower women. I can’t think of anything more rewarding.”
“I have become a stronger woman who can do things for herself.”
“This disease has caused me to look within so often. To grow and mature in ways that benefit every person in my life.”
“This disease has reminded me not to judge the term “drug addict” or “junkie.” Addiction opened my eyes to the world around me. It changed this once naive girl, into a strong woman.”
“Addiction has helped me remember who I am: wickedly capable, fearless, and smart. Also, bringing me fully to God. I have always been on the borderline of faith, but this disease allowed me to surrender so I could lean into God as I have always wanted.”
“Addiction reminded me that I am responsible for my self-care, and has helped me see the beauty of learning about myself. I am exploring the world now and everything it has to offer. I am also spending more time with my son. Addiction has taught me to spend time on things and people that matter, starting with me.”
“I was completely terrified of MYSELF before this program. I never felt stable with any decision I made. I would beg, plead, cry, become depressed, and suffer from extreme anxiety, and I thought (mistakenly) that I could make all these feelings go away if I just figured out somehow to control the situation. I have grown so much in this program. I took my power back. I no longer feel weak or incapable. That is the true blessing.”
“Addiction pushed me into full-time work in a job that I love, I am good at, people appreciate and respect me, and I am helping people every day.”
“Addiction has made me stronger in so many ways. It has taught me to rely on God fully. I learned there is a plan for me, and I deserve happiness.”
“Addiction has helped me become a better mom who can talk openly and honestly with my kids about anything and everything.”
“Getting to learn - really learn and internalize - that my worth, my love-ability, my value, and so much more, come from within. Knowing that I am worthy of love, worthy of all my dreams coming true, worthy of whatever God and the Universe have in store is not tied up with whether someone else values what I do or how I love.”
“I am stronger and smarter. I’m learning my value and worth again. My kids are safe and protected with me. And my home is peaceful again. I’ve learned to say no and stand up for myself.”
“For the first time in my life, I chose to put myself and, ultimately my children first when I ended my marriage. I decided not to settle. Usually, I would accept whatever crumbs came my way, but THRIVING my way out of addiction taught me to trust in myself and stop fighting all the signs. This has been a blessing because I grew so much as a person, and I started to like and admire myself.”
“Life with an addict has made me think about who I want to be, and take steps to become that person.”
“It has given me the confidence to face up to and admit my fears and codependency, and begin to own and come to terms with my past. To really acknowledge and stand up for my own values and beliefs rather than just accepting everyone else's and ignoring or discounting my feelings.”
Addiction is always difficult, but perhaps for this moment, we focus (if just for a moment) on some of the good things that have occurred from loving someone suffering from addiction.
Absolutely. Loving an alcoholic for 3+ years opened my eyes to who I was and changes I needed to make in my life. I will never regret the journey though it was painful and I almost lost myself trying to find a way to save him. I am a strong, healthy, confident woman now because of that time. I just completed EMDR therapy to process the physical and mental trauma--one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself. I am becoming whole and happy thanks to the lessons I learned from that experience.
Yes. Loving a man with an addiction opened up my eyes/soul to therapy to process the body of trauma in my life. It might have taken me a lot longer had that period of my life not been so extreme and chaotic. It was a shameful, secretive time in my life but I’m so glad to be on the other side of it. Boundaries. Green flags. And a whole lot of humility and respect for recovery/addiction.