The Door Church
of Chula Vista
Jesus said without apology or flinching, “Follow me”.
Others who followed Jesus were bold enough to say
as I follow Jesus.”
History teaches that Jesus was born and raised in a common middle eastern home but did very uncommon things. He was born from a virgin, did incredible miracles, was subsequently crucified, speared and murdered as an innocent man. He was then buried in a grave guarded for protection by Roman authorities. The Bible also declares that after three days sealed in a tomb, watched by strict Roman centurion soldiers, Jesus came back to life from the dead. Neither soldiers, nor boulders, nor death itself was able to stop Him.
He appeared to 500 people in one setting. He walked, ate with and taught many others. Non-christian historians have wrote about Jesus’ incredible impact in human history. Our modern calendar has been divided between BC and AD based on Jesus birth and resurrection. No matter all the evidence, today mankind keeps trying to bury the facts about this incredible Jesus to no success. He continues to show Himself alive in countless hearts and minds of so many worldwide.
What makes Jesus more important than any figure in human history is not just His miracles, fame, but Jesus was more than a man… He is God. Every prophet before and after Him pointed men to God, but Jesus pointed men to Himself. He made audacious statements like: “I am the way the truth and the life” and “If you have seen my face you have seen the Father’s face.” Other genuine men of God were appalled when people tried to worship them as gods, but Jesus did not discourage men to fall down and worship Him, rather encouraged them saying “where are the others?” and “if they will not shout (to worship and exalt as I pass by), the rocks themselves will cry out.” The Bible says that even demons knew Jesus and trembled in fear.
About "The Gospel"
The Gospel simply means “The Good News”
Good news doesn’t seem good when I already have enough good things going for me. So let’s examine the bad news first. The bad news is that everyone of us was born in sin which leads to death.
What is sin?
You know what it feels like when you do something bad. That’s sin in a nutshell. I’m sure we can all agree that lying, stealing, hurting others is bad. It’s not just a learned behavior but it’s something we were born with. If you doubt that, just place innocent toddlers together in the same room. One will be selfish or steal from the other. Another will hit, lie or in any way hurt the other. No one at all had to teach them how to do those things. They just came out of the box that way. By the time they are an adult, that problem is multiplied severely.
Today’s problems are so many: Broken hearts, broken families, depression, lethargy, poverty, guilt and shame. Bad news. Right now, a lot of people are looking for good news in contrast to all we hear and see on television and the paper daily. The Good News, however, is so incredible. It’s what we’ve all been waiting for. It’s a promise that we can all receive. The promise of change, the promise of hope, the promise of a new life. That promise purchased at the cost of His life. That’s why Jesus Christ came, lived and died…to come heal your problem of sin. To erase all the years of horrible decisions, to give you a another chance. Jesus said “the enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy, but I have come that you may have life and life more abundantly.” The bible declares that all you need to do is call out to Him, confess your sins wholeheartedly. He is 110% faithful and just to forgive and cleanse of every trace or evidence of your past.
Good News! All he asks in return? Your genuine heart. Jesus said if you confess me before man I will confess you before my Father. He wants a commitment from you. Not just a token religious mantra. This is why the Good News is coupled with more good news. Jesus gave you His church. A church He also paid for by his own blood. It’s a place and a people where you can assemble with living out a new, free and forgiven life.
I am the door.
enters by Me,
he will be
In life, we often need the right contact to move forward. In heaven, Jesus said, there is only one contact to move from this life to that. Paul in 1 Tim 2:5 wrote: For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. Jesus also made this clear when he said “I am the Door.” Also, in Rev 3:20 He said I stand at the door, not as one who stands in the way but as He who invites you to come to Him. Our Church name suggests that Jesus is the only way. He is the portal. He alone is the doorway to heaven.
Our church began when that very doorway opened up to a non suspecting group of people in the 1960’s. Droves of Hippies from across the US searching for answers, began to knock on church doors. Being largely turned away by various church denominations, they were welcomed into the Christian Fellowship Ministries with open arms. They did not fit the perfect church going profile, but they fit perfectly into God’s plan. As they continued to fellowship and teach basic bible principles they set on a course to live for God, leaving behind old traditions and simply pursuing a genuine desire to serve God telling others about His wonderful plan of salvation.
Jesus said “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” He has indeed left us a powerful pattern for church fellowship by which we can be strengthened, have community and find shelter. This fellowship, which began with Pastor Wayman Mitchell, has now inspired and mobilized many pastors, evangelists , ministry workers and outreach teams who labor for the Gospel worldwide. The Church is a place to come and find transformation, meaning and refuge from a trouble-filled world. At The Door, there are many testimonies of the wonderful power of God changing hearts, lives and entire families.


At SHF, during this time, we are committed to providing our children and their families with a variety of online daily worships for thought, prayer and reflection. Please see our SHF worships below:
Additionally, The Church of England, Oak National Academy and TES have teamed up to provide national weekly worships every Thursday, which you can access via their link below
Friday Celebration Worship with Year 6
The Year 6 Worship Leaders do a fantastic job of leading our last online celebration Worship for this academic year.
Thursday Worship with Mr Gilbert
Kung Fu Panda helps Mr Gilbert to explain how we can put our trust in the Lord
Wednesday Worship with Mr Russell
We are all different and we are all loved by God
Tuesday Worship with Mrs Burton
Sit back and enjoy the music - written at a time when Sir Henry Fermor was around 50 years old
Monday Worship with All Saints
Steve heads to the beach (hot on the heels of Mrs Strand) for this week's worship!


Important dates & upcoming events
The Book Fair will take place from 27th February to 3rd March 2017.
Mission in the Parish – 27th February – 5th March 2017.
Confirmation will take place on 5th March 2017.
First Confession will take place on Thursday 16th April at 7pm.
First Holy Communion will take place on 14th May 2017.
To access our most recent school newsletter please click here.
For a list of school closures & other dates for your diary please click here.


Growing up in Penang has clearly familiarised me with the tales of the early Catholic missionaries who constructed church buildings, colleges, and orphanages there.
After all, I studied at St Xavier’s Institution, which, by the way, is celebrating its one hundred and seventieth anniversary this yr.
Next to the college is the Church of the Assumption, which was arrange by the Eurasian neighborhood who adopted Captain Francis Light from Phuket in Thailand to Penang in 1786.
Across the college is the Convent Light Street, which was established in 1852 by French Catholic nuns.
Down the street is St George’s Church, its completion in 1818 pushed by Rev Robert Sparke Hutchings, who additionally based the Penang Free School in 1816 and the Hutchings School.
The magnificent St George’s Church is the oldest purpose-built Anglican church in South-East Asia.
Despite spending over a decade in a Catholic college, I by no means grew to become Christian.
None of the Christian brothers tried to transform me, both, though I spent an inordinate quantity of time praying at the SXI chapel and at Assumption – largely to hunt non secular miracles to make sure this dummy handed his maths exams!
So, once I lastly embraced Christianity 21 years in the past and have become a Methodist, the small coastal city of Sitiawan in Perak intrigued me.
Almost all the Protestant pastors from the church that I’ve met appear to come back from this quaint place. More exactly, this sleepy hole is a producer of pastors.
So lastly, just a few weeks in the past, I took a brief drive to Sitiawan from Ipoh, the place I used to be masking the common election in Tambun.
Certainly, I had by no means seen so many Protestant church buildings, nearly subsequent to one another, in a single place, however that’s no shock.
In September 1903, Sitiawan acquired a non secular enhance when 360 Christian Foochow of us, determined to flee the poverty in Fujian, a southern province in China, made their method to this place.
They settled in Kampung Koh, the place the well-known chilli sauce maker for dim sum is situated.
The boss, Ku Sok Han, who joked he’s the authentic “Bos Ku”, is a Methodist, too.
The British colonists, fed up with the warring Chinese teams, had been pleased with the church-going arrivals who shunned playing, opium smoking, prostitution and triad actions.
They had been dropped at Malaya by a German Methodist missionary, Dr H.L.E. Luering, along with the first Foochow missionary, Rev Ling Ching Mi.
The duo was despatched by the Methodist Episcopal Mission in China to recruit poor villagers to start out a purposeful agricultural settlement in Malaya, in keeping with web site Christianity Malaysia.
“At that time, Malaya was a safe haven for the Foochow people who were escaping the heavy persecution of the Qing dynasty on Christians,” it stated, including that 484 individuals boarded the S.S. Glenfalloch.
But many died on the voyage, and when it arrived in St John’s Island, Singapore, for cholera quarantine, many additionally disappeared.
According to a thesis by Dr Khaw Sok Lee, 5 died on the excessive seas, 12 at St John’s Island resulting from a cholera outbreak, and 104 disappeared in the Singapore crowd or had been unaccounted for.
A complete of 363 individuals – 236 males, 72 girls and 55 youngsters – lastly made it in two batches in 1903.
At Kampong Koh, wells had been the fundamental supply of ingesting water for the settlers.
They had been inspired by the British to plant rice, however the soil wasn’t appropriate, and shortly, they ventured into livestock farming and rubber plantations.
The historical past of the settlers has been effectively documented in the Sitiawan Settlement Museum, which showcases the heritage of the native Foochow neighborhood with photographs and artefacts from the early days.
The museum sits in the compound of the church constructed by Dr Luering and Rev Ling in 1905 at a price of $900. Sadly, the home of worship burnt down the following yr. The present constructing dates from 1927 and is named the Pioneer Methodist Church.
In entrance of the Pioneer church is a street named after the Rev Ling Ching Mi.
He can be Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik’s nice grandfather. Liong Sik was an MCA president and Transport Minister.
The street is known as Lin Chen Mei, which is the pinyin model of Ling Ching Mi’s fuzhou identify.
My spouse and I had been fortunate to have a private guided tour by Pastor Paul Ling, who was born and grew up in Sitiawan.
“My grandfather, Ling Ting Kuai, was the founder of the Trinity Methodist Church (in Pekan Gurney, Sitiawan),” he stated, including that certainly, Sitiawan has been blessed to have such a robust Christian basis.
But there have been additionally early non-Christian settlers, which explains the widespread vacationer spots of the Wat Sitawanaram Buddhist temple and the Tua Pek Kong temple, about 7km from the city centre, with its many grand temples.
Playing vacationer, I queued up for 45 minutes – a lot to the amusement of Pastor Ling – for the well-known Kong Piah biscuits.
“No one can say they went to Sitiawan unless they’ve tasted this Foochow crispy biscuit,” he stated, including that it’s made up of flour and yeast, with fillings corresponding to minced pork, onion and sugar.
Another important is its “mee sua”, which accurately means “thread noodles”, resulting from its lengthy and skinny form.
This flour vermicelli in purple glutinous wine with rooster meat, has a close to sacred status on this coastal city. So, any detached views from this ignorant and parochial Penangite would absolutely not be tolerated!
After importing photos of my journey in Sitiawan on my Instagram, I obtained many feedback from my followers, suggesting that I ought to strive the well-known James Cendol, or James Muniandy, in entrance of the Store grocery store, however I simply didn’t have the time.
So, that calls for one more two-hour journey from Petaling Jaya to this place through the newly opened and time-saving West Coast Highway, and this time, it is going to be purely for a vacation.
Sitiawan, which continues to provide many pastors, is satirically additionally well-known for being the residence of the late Chin Peng, the head of the infamous Communist Party of Malaya.
Born Ong Boon Hua, his ancestors, too, got here from Fuzhou, China, and curiously, and in his memoir titled Chin Peng: My Side of The Story by British journalist Ian Ward, Chin Peng spoke of his childhood in Sitiawan and of his participation in the 10-boy Methodist Church choir.
He narrated about rising up in Kampung Koh, the place he was enrolled in a kindergarten run by the Sitiawan Methodist Church.
He went to a tiny wood Methodist church run by Pastor Shi Yu Shou, the place he took half in singing for Christmas or Easter.
“If my life depended on it, I could still sing Yasoh ai wor – Jesus Loves Me – in Hokkien and Onward Christian Soldiers in English,” he stated in the e book.
His life may maybe have been completely different if he had chosen a unique path. But Sitiawan actually has an fascinating previous in addition to current, one behind its sleepy façade.
This small city may effectively be your vacation spot this Christmas for a giant celebration. It’s additionally nearly 15km away from the picturesque Pangkor Island. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.


Pope Francis refuses to accept the resignation of influential German cleric Reinhard Marx.
By stepping down as a bishop, he wanted to take responsibility for the inadequate approach to sexual abuse within the church. Marx, 67, who is also a cardinal, is not suspected of wrongdoing himself and is allowed to continue as Archbishop of Munich-Freising.
Marx is known for being relatively progressive and among the most prominent Catholic clergy worldwide. In his letter of resignation, he wrote that many mistakes had been made in addressing abuse within the church.
His departure as archbishop was supposed to be a turning point, but according to the letter published by the Vatican, the Pope wants him to stay.
Abuse scandals in several countries have plagued the Roman Catholic Church. A study carried out for the Bishops’ Conference of Germany in 2018 showed that at least 1,670 clerics there assaulted minors, mainly boys, in the period 1946-2014. There were thousands of victims.


experience will be refreshing to our patients and their families. Our goal is to renew the community’s faith in the practice of medicine. Our unique culture and caring environment will literally re-create and elevate the service level of the Family Practice experience. Our Doctors and Staff will educate, counsel and inspire our patients and community. We will serve the community to improve healthcare outcomes.
“Our purpose is to provide excellent medical care to our community in a welcoming and friendly environment. Our commitment is to provide our patients and their family members the best possible medical care available. We promise to treat our patients with respect and dignity and to always serve those in need. Our goal is to practice medicine from a Christian perspective and to love and help those who are less fortunate.”


An Epiphany Celebration for Wise Women
Women’s Christmas (Nollaig na mBan) is a cherished Irish tradition celebrated on the Feast of the Epiphany. When all the preparations, cooking and busyness of Christmas are over, Irish women gather in homes or pubs to relax, celebrate, and enjoy one another’s company – all while happily leaving the care of household duties to the men. At Marywood we believe this tradition has a place in the lives of today’s women as well. Thus we are celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany and the tradition of Women’s Little Christmas in special gatherings designed for women. Come celebrate the blessings of the past year and receive blessings for the year to come.
We have 3 celebrations this year!
January 3 – Thursday
January 5 – Saturday
January 8 – Tuesday
Gather 5:00 p.m.
Meal and Blessing Circle 6:00-8:00 p.m.
$35.00 includes social, meal and program.
To reserve your space, please include payment with registration by December 1 8.
Call: 715-385-3750 Ext 1
credit cards accepted


St. Andrew's Day is the feast day of Saint Andrew. It is celebrated on 30 November.
Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Cyprus, Scotland, Greece, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, San Andres Island, Colombia, Saint Andrew, Barbados and Tenerife.
St. Andrew's Day is Scotland's official national day. In 2006, the Scottish Parliament designated St Andrew's Day as an official bank holiday. It is also a national holiday in Romania (since 2015).
In Germany, the feast day is celebrated as Andreasnacht ("(St.) Andrew's Night"), in Austria with the custom of Andreasgebet ("(St.) Andrew's Prayer"), and in Poland as Andrzejki ("Andrew's (festivities)"), in Russia as Андреева ночь ("Andrew's night").


In Victorian England there was a tradition in which groups of singers traveled from house to house, singing carols or songs, for which they were often rewarded with money, mince pies, or a glass of a warm drink. Often money was collected and given to charity. Earlier Christmas caroling was known as wassailing.
One of the most popular Christmas carols is Silent Night. The carol was first performed at Midnight Mass in St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf, Austria in 1818. The original lyrics of the song Stille Nacht were written in German by Josef Mohr. Below is a Christmas carol published by Scribner's in 1881 and written for "the old Tyrolese melody, Silent Night."
SILENT night! shadowy night!
Purple dome, starry light!
Pouring splendor of centuries down,
Gold and purple, a glorious crown,
Where the manger so rude and wild
Cradles a sleeping child.
Silent night! mystical night!
Kings and seers sought thy light.
Where the watch of the shepherds is kept,
Heavenly hosts through the stillness have swept,
Clear proclaiming a Saviour born!
Singing the Christmas morn!
Holy night-- heralding dawn!
Far and near breaks the morn!
Breaks the day when the Saviour of men,
Bringing pardon and healing again,
Holy, harmless, and undefiled,
Cometh a little child!


1.This morning Awesome God, I come before you today With one thing to say. Thank you Abba Father, For all you’ve given to me. For my beautiful life, my family and my friends Thank you for the blessings you gave that I never deserved.For the protection your hand provides For the forgiveness you offer day after day.
2.Good morning, Lord! Today’s a new day, a chance for a new start. Yesterday is gone and with it any regrets, mistakes, or failures I may have experienced. It’s a good day to be glad and give thanks, and I do, Lord.
3.Lord, may nothing separate me from You today. Teach me how to choose only Your way today so each step will lead me closer to You. Help me walk by the Word and not my feelings.
4. Oh Lord, thank you for your steadfast love that is new every morning in Jesus name.
5. I prophesied that all the plots against my life today shall backfire in Jesus name.
6. Father grant me supernatural wisdom for my activities this morning in Jesus name
7. Father I declare that all my journeys today shall be accident free in Jesus name.
8. Father this day shall deliver unto me every blessing that you have kept for me in the name of Jesus.
9. Lord every plan of the enemy over my life and members of my family shall not come to pass this day.
10.I speak forth supernatural victories over every plans and plot of the enemies in my life today in the name of Jesus.


St. Joseph’s Residence is a non-profit, self-supporting facility operating within the Catholic Diocese of Dallas, Texas since 1955.
Our focus is on wellness, dignity, and independence of residents in a caring, Catholic community. We provide personal care for all individuals regardless of race, creed, or religion.
Licensed by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services
Certified Assisted Living Facility Directors
Director & Assistant Director
Licensed Food Manager by the State of Texas
Bishop Thomas Gorman of the Diocese of Dallas wanted to open a facility for the elderly. A friend in Panama told him about the Bethlemite Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Bishop Gorman asked the Sisters to come to Dallas and establish a ministry to the elderly. St. Joseph’s Residence opened its doors on January 23, 1955 with four Sisters and seven residents. The Bethlemite Sisters have staffed the Residence ever since. The Diocese originally purchased the property at 330 West Pembroke Avenue and paid for the construction of the building. St. Joseph’s repaid the debt for the original construction. The Residence was enlarged in 2011 with the addition of a new wing.
THE BETHLEMITE SISTERS
The Institute of the Bethlemite Sisters, Daughters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, arose from the Bethlemite Order, begun in Guatemala in 1658 by Saint Brother Pedro de San José Betancur, a native of the Canary Islands. Pedro gave his life to the service of God working with the poor, whom he sought out and aided with great love and charitable care. His house was everyone’s house; those seeking spiritual and material help including shelter, found it there. Attracted by his life, several brothers of the Franciscan Third Order, to which Pedro also belonged, joined him. He became their master and radically carried out the demands of the Gospel. Because of the message which he perceived in the Lord’s Nativity and out of his great love for this mystery, Pedro dedicated his house to Our Lady of Bethlehem, and his brothers in the community took the name, Bethlemites. In 1838, Maria Vicenta Rosal, a native of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, entered the Beaterio de Belen (Convent of Bethlehem). She took the name of Maria Encarnacion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Elected prioress in 1855, she undertook the reformation and revitalization of the Beaterio. To achieve this goal, she wrote the constitutions in faithfulness to Pedro’s spirit and to her own evangelical experience. Her reforms were not accepted and, she founded a new convent. She thus made it possible for the charisma and spirituality of Pedro to be renewed through the Bethlemite community. It was officially recognized as a new Institute in the Church on February 20, 1891, and final approval was received in 1909. The Mother House of the Bethlemite Sisters is located in Bogotá, Colombia. The Congregation is divided into five provinces. The Sacred Heart of Jesus Province encompasses the countries of Colombia, Spain, Panama, the USA, and Venezuela. Saint Michael the Archangel Province is comprised of the countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Nicaragua. Our Lady of Bethlehem Province covers Chile and Ecuador. Immaculate Province is in Italy. Saint Brother Pedro Province is in India. The Sisters teach; perform parish and social work; work with the aged, the deaf and mute, disabled children, and children of patients with Hansen’s disease; and serve in mission territories.
The Sisters are so caring. Everything is so spiritually based. It is just very rewarding.
As soon as you walk in the door you can feel how wonderful it is.


Monastery of Agios Raphael, Nikolas and Irene in Paralia Thermi
It’s a new monastery. It’s built 40 years ago, but plays a big role and is one of the most important pilgrim places of Greece.
On the hill of Karies remnants of a nunnery of the 13th century were found, on which is now also the present monastery. It was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Its head-nun Olympia was murdered by pirates around 1235 AC who also destroyed the monastery.
In the middle of the 15th century a monk called Roubem lived in solitary on that spot and it was a hiding place for St. Raphael. In 1463 Thermi was the big place of resistance against the Turks. The local people fled to the monastery.
On “Good Friday” the Turks attacked the monastery and St. Raphael, Nikolas, Vasilius (one of the leaders of the local community in Thermi), his 12 years old daughter Irene and the village teacher were captured. The local people fled into the mountains. On the Tuesday after Easter St. Raphael and the others were tortured till death and the Turks put the monastery on fire. The local people came back and buried Raphael between the ruins of the church and the others on the cemetery. For centuries the Holy Mess was held on the Tuesday after Easter on that spot, but slowly in time, it was forgotten what happened in the past. In 1959 the people of Thermi got visions in which the saints appeared. The saints told them their story of their death and the precise locations of their graves. The people decided to build a new monastery on that place again and in 1969 it was finished.
St. Raphael, born as Georgios Laskaridis, lived in the 15th century. He came from Ithaca. After his study he became an officer in the army. After he got the full privilege of a monk, he took the name Raphael and became a priest. He served the church of Agios Dimitrios Loumbardiaris, situated on the Piloppappou hill in Athens. After that he became the head of a monastery in Constantinople.
He was an extraordinary and well developed saint. Because of this he had been sent by the Patriarch as his representative on a mission to France. There he met the student Nikolas, the son of a rich family from Thessaloniki, who followed him to Constantinople where he became a diaken. After the fall of Constantinople in 1453 Raphael and Nikolas fled to Thermi, where they lived as monks.
Taxiarchis Monastery in Mandamados
There is not much historical evidence of this monastery. Some experts think that it was built in the Byzantine times and destroyed by the Turks. Other experts think that it was built in the 16th century.
Nowadays the church is a pilgrim place for thousands of Christians from all over the world because of its icon in relief of the Archangel Michael.
According to the tradition Saracen pirates attacked the monastery and killed all 40 monks, except one, who were living there. The only survivor, a young novice, could escape and hide. He mixed the blood of the monks with earth to make clay and used it to make the icon of the Archangel. This icon is one of a few icons in relief in the Orthodox Church.
The reason that the inhabitants of Lesvos offer metal shoes is the following tradition: They believe that the Archangel speeds every night over the island and therefore wearing out his shoes, but the biggest belief is that his shoes are worn out because "He goes to wars to fight for saviour, independence, freedom and human pain". These shoes are regularly found in the morning before the church.
Every 3rd Sunday after Easter a festival is held. During this festival a bull gets slaughtered and the traditional kiskeki (meat with wheat) gets prepared by all night long worship. From all over the island people walk to Mandamados or ride their horses in respect to the Archangel and to ask for health and success.
Leimonos/Myrsiniotissa Monastery near Kalloni
This monastery is one of the most important monasteries of Greece, not only because of its history or as monument, but mainly of the valuable objects. These precious things have a very big religious value, out of a period of almost 1000 years.
In 1526 Saint Ignatios Agallianos, the archbishop of Mithymna, has founded and built it on the ruins of an older Byzantine monastery. This was devoted to the Archangel Michael and was destroyed when Lesvos was attacked by the Turks. It has its name because of the rich vegetation of the valley in which it’s built. Leimonos means “meadow”. During 500 years two saints were the patron saints of the monastery. The two saints were: the founder of the monastery, Ignatios, and Saint Euthymios Agritellis, the bishop of Zela in Pontos, which is killed in 1921.
It’s a Byzantine nun monastery devoted to the place of stay of Maria, the mother of Christ. It was probably destroyed in the time that Lesvos was occupied by the Turks. In 1523 it was rebuilt by Saint Ignatios Agallianos, the founder of the Leimonos Monastery with which it is connected.
The monastery played an important role in the education of girls during the Turkish occupation. The nuns learned the girls besides reading, writing and music, also to weave and embroider. This resulted in marvelous creations which can be seen in the Leimonos Monastery. The grave of Saint Ignatios is in the sanctuarium.
Saint Ignatios was born in 1480 in the village Farangas (from which only ruins are left), close to Kalloni. As a child he was already attracted to live in a monastery, but he followed the wishes of his father and married a devoted woman, called Maria. Quickly after his marriage he became a priest. When his wife and children, except Methodios, died because of the pest, he decided to live in a monastery.
He rebuilt the old church of the Virgin, the old katholikon of the Byzantine monastery Myrsiniotissa, that was in the possession of his family. He founded a small monastery in which he lived together with his father Manuel and his son Methodios as monks. Soon other members of the Christian belief joined with them and the men and women came to live with them. This was the reason why he decided to found a monastery for women in Myrsiniotissis and one for men on another location, on the ruins of a Byzantine monastery. Also this piece of land was in the possession of his family. And so the Leimonos Monastery was founded.
In 1530 he became bishop of Mithymna. After a successful period in this function he resigned and lived in Agioi Anargyroi Monastery as a hermit.
After his death on the 14th of October 1566, he was buried in Myrsiniotissa In 1575 Sylvester, the patriarch of Alexandria visited the convent. When he wanted to kiss the tomb, he was aware of an indescribable smell. He decided to open the tomb. After the seal was broken, the church was filled with the fragrant aroma of holy remains, on which was declared that Ignatios was a saint.
Ypsilou Monastery near Sigri/Eressos
This Byzantine monastery is devoted to Saint John and is built in the style of a fortress. Since the 17th century it is known as Moni Ypsilou, because it’s built on a high mountain (Mount Ordymnos). Ypsilo means high in Greek. According to the tradition it’s founded in the 7th century by a monk out of Syria, who was forced to leave his country after Syria was occupied by Persians and Arabs.
There is not much historical evidence of the monastery. When Lesvos was occupied by the Ottomans in 1462, the monastery was robbed and the monks were killed, as the same as the other monasteries on the island. It has been rebuilt in the 16th century. There is a library and museum in the monastery.
Celebrations are held on the 8th of May and the 26th of September.
Monastery of Agioi Akindinoi near Petalidi
Monastery of Pithariou or Taxiarchis near Eressos
Monastery of Perivoli near Antissa
Built in the 16th century.
Monastery Moni ton Boukolon or Manastreli near Anemotia
Monastery of Damandriou near Polichnitos
Built in the 12th century.
Monastery of Taxiarchis near Kato Tritos
- Church of Agios Therapontas.
- Church of Saint
Athanasios (18th century)
- Church of Saint
Agia Marina: Church of Agia Marina (1797)
Moria: Church of Saint Vasilios (1769).
Pamfila: Church of Agia Varvara (1878). The marble iconostasis was engraved by Iannis Chalepas.
Pyrgoi Thermi: Byzantine temple of Panagia Trouloti. It was a temple for the Virgin Mary and probably built in the 14th century. It has a circumscribed cross-shaped dome.
Mandamados: Church of Agios Vasilios.
Agios Stefanos: Old church
Tsonia: Chapel of Agia Anastasia, remnants of an early christian basilica.
- The basilica of
- Church of Agios
- Church of Agia
Skala Sikamineas: Church "Panagia i Gorgona" (Madonna the mermaid)
- Petra is known for
the church of Virgin Mary (Panagia i Glikofilousa) on the rock in the
middle of the village. You can reach the church by taking 114 steps. There is a
saying that if you make a wish at the bottom of the stairs and you go up in
silence, that your wish comes true!
- Church of Agios
Nikolaos with 3 layers of wall paintings of which the oldest one probably dates
back to the 16th century.
Ypsilometopo: Church of Taxiarchis (1807).
Stipsi: Church of Koimisi tis Theotokou (1805).
- Church of the
Dormition of the Virgin (a three-aisled basilica of 1807).
- Chapel of Agia
Paraskevi with its well-planted precinct.
Skoutaros: Church of Koimisi tis Theotokou (1880).
Megali Tsichrada: Chapel of Agios Panteleimon.
of Taxiarchis (1856): this is the 2nd biggest church of the island.
- Chapel of Agia
Paraskevi built in the cave of the nearby hill.
Napi: Chapel of Taxiarchis or known as Trouloti.
Sigri: Church of Agia Triada
Vatousa: Church of Virgin Mary (Koimisi tis Theotokou) (1850).
Tzithra: Church of Agios Nikolaos.
Kalloni: Church of Agios Ioannis (of the Archbisshop). The church is dedicated to Agios John Prodromos.
Parakila: Church of Taxiarchis (1758).
Anemotia: Church of Agios Georgios (1702).
Papiana: Church with wall paintings (1600).
Skalachori: Church of Agios Georgios (1851)
Agiasos: Church of Virgin Mary (Panagia)
Polichnitos: Cathedral of Agios Georgios (1892)
Vrisa: Church of Zoodochos Pygi (19th century).
Panagia I Krifti (the hidden virgin) is a beach on the westside of Plomari. There is a small chapel dedicated to Virgin Mary and is built in a cave of a rock.
Mesagros: Church of Zo-odochos Pigi.
Skopelos: Enter the small cave lying under the church of Agia Magdalini.
Paleokipos: Church of Agios Ermolaos (1795).
Asomatos: Church of Taxiarchis (1796)
Ippios: Church of Agios Prokopios (1741)
Sykounda: Church (1870)


In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
What is meant by The Word in this sentence?
Maybe a Universal Mind.
In modern terms maybe Communication.
Jesus, a man known to very many people as Lord Jesus, certainly knew a lot about communicating.
The purpose of this website is to be a place where christian and non-christian ideas can meet with respect for Jesus and The Word, whatever it is.
Geoff Fox 18th April 2020


The worship part of service is when I first experienced the presence of God.
Throughout my life I have always connected to music. There are home videos of me singing around the house and many recorded songs & dances with friends and cousins- thank you God that YouTube did not exist in those days! If you knew me back in my Hanson days, you can attest to my passion and obsession for music. If you knew me in high school and college, I’m sure you were given a mixed cd or two, compliments of me. When my cousin Margo got her license, we would drive around with no where to go, belting our lungs out to my aunt’s Celine Dion album. The best part of a road trip is the music right? There was also a brief stint of guitar lessons for a couple of years after college, unfortunately I did not inherit my Papa’s guitar skills. I work at a place where it is my job to sing (with a smile!) all day long. My point being, when I walked into my church for the very first time, it only made sense that I would connect to God through music. Worship music is an entirely new world for me. It is something I did not grow up knowing. I liked that the music was loud, that the stage was full of anointed singers & musicians, and that people were uninhibited, some more than others, in their worship- all of it accepted. I knew I wanted more of this. It might not resonate with everyone, but that’s the beauty of having so many different churches out there and available, this one was a good fit for us.
It was during the worship part of a service at my church that I first heard God’s whisper on my heart. My pastor was encouraging the congregation to tell people what God has done for you. I wondered to myself what I would tell people? I didn’t have a huge event in my life, or some amazing testimony like the ones I had heard since attending my church. And God answered, “everything.” This was way before He led me to my support group, or before anything that has happened over the past year. He whispered this word to me so I would know in advance. So that I would recognize his favor over these past years and call them the God moments that they are. Everything before infertility, everything during, and everything that will happen after infertility. He answered me so I can answer you. So I can sit here and type each post giving Him the credit. He wanted me to tell you, everything.
Our second failed IUI hit me the hardest. Will was working out of town. He was working out of town for the second and for the third, but the second was tough. I felt like, okay God this is not how it is supposed to work. One little failed IUI out of the way and then the second one was supposed to work. This isn’t the plan. It hit me the hardest because it meant that the road was going to be longer, bumpier, than I thought or wanted. I felt alone. The kind of alone where you just want to be alone. The only person I really wanted was my husband. I cried out in my empty, quiet, childless house, “I’m so alone!” I pulled my phone out escaping into the black hole of social media and watched a YouTube video that popped up of Kari Jobe’s, “Let The Heavens Open,” and fell in love. Melissa and Beth had mentioned her to me before, but I didn’t know who she was. The song was from her album, Majestic. I immediately downloaded the entire album. And then listened to the song, “I Am Not Alone.” This was exactly what I needed to hear. God answered my cry through the form of a song that I could understand, that touched my heavy heart. I am not alone, he is present and fighting for me. I decided to get up off of the couch and get dressed to meet up with my support group buddies for dinner instead of isolating myself at home. If I had not gone to that dinner, I would not have sat across from my precious and fast talking friend, Heather, getting to know her a little better. I listened to Majestic the entire drive to dinner and the drive home. I even told Heather about it, and was glad to know she only had knowledge of one Kari Jobe song, at least I wasn’t the only one in the dark. I continued to listen to Majestic on repeat. This album speaks straight to my heart and has kept me connected to God during some of the darkest days of infertility. Days when I don’t even know what to say to God, I sing the words to these songs to him instead. Months and months later Heather, Melissa, and I attended a Kari Jobe concert together. And in my music fan obsessed fashion, I made sure to be one of the first in line to get in, snagged us third row seats, all while dragging Heather along with me.


The Feast of Christmas
It is not easy to pin-point the origins of the Christmas feast, today the more important feast of the Christmas season in most western Christian churches. One can only say for certain that the birth of Jesus Christ was being celebrated in Rome by the year 336 A.D.; afterwards the feast was celebrated in other Christian churches throughout the world.
Why it was celebrated on December 25th is another question. No date for the birth of Jesus can be found in the New Testament, which is concerned more with the question "Who is Jesus?" than the date of his birth. Early Christian speculation about his birth date was influenced by the symbolism of the changing seasons, then popular in religious thought, which paid careful attention to the equinoxes and solstices of the sun. Christian scholars speculated that Jesus was conceived at the spring equinox (March 25th) and therefore was born on December 25th, the date of the winter solstice.
In many of the Christian churches, March 25th is still the Feast of the Annunciation, when the Angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she was to be the mother of Jesus.
Possible impluse for the feast of Christmas may have came too from the establishment of the pagan feast of the "Unconquered Sun-God" by the Emperor Aurelian in 274 A.D. to be celebrated on December 25, the day of the winter solstice in Rome and throughout the empire. In response, Christians could celebrate the feast of the "Sun of righteousness" (Malachi 4,2), Jesus Christ, who called himself " the light of the world."
It is said that in the year of 300 AD, there was a kind old man and his name was Saint Nicholas. He was always ready to help the poor and often gave presents to them. (来源：英语杂志 http://www.EnglishCN.com)
Today, Father Christmas is an imaginary figure, but nearly all young children believe in him. They think he is a happy old man with a long white beard and a long red robe.
On the night of the twenty-fourth of December every year, Father Christmas from some cold northern land comes down the chimney of the fireplace to put presents by the beds of children or to fill their stockings. So when children go to bed that night, they hang up their stockings, and on Christmas morning they wake to find them full of presents. Of course, it's really their parents who fill the stockings.
Another name for Father Christmas is Santa Claus.
For today's Christian, the origin of Christmas is, and should be, the birth of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Bible. Nothing more and nothing less. However, most of what we witness on December 25th each year has absolutely nothing to do with that blessed day, which probably occurred in late summer or early fall about 2,000 years ago. In fact, most of the customs and traditions of Christmas actually pre-date the birth of Jesus, and many of them are downright deceptive in their meaning and origin. Anyway, who cares when Christ was born?
Christmas Day,the 25th of December,is the biggest festival(节日)celebrated in the Christian countries of the world.Although everyone enjoys Christmas Day,it is particularly enjoyed by children,who get very excited because of the presents they know they are going to receive.Small children believe that their presents are brought by Father Christmas(圣诞老人).Father Christmas is a kind of old man who,the children are told,lives at the North Pole.He travels through the sky on a sleigh(雪撬) which is pulled by reindeers(驯鹿) and loaded with(装满) presents.Stopping on the roof of houses,he enters by climbing the chimney(烟囱).When small children go to bed on Christmas Eve,they hang a stocking at the end of their beds.Their parents warn them not to try to look at Father Christmas,or he will not leave them anything.When they wake,they find their stockings filled with presents.Children are very excited on Christmas morning and always wake up early.
Christmas is also a family celebration.As any members of the family as possible gather to eat,play party games and watch the special Christmas programmes on TV.
回答者： 13760551 - 进士出身 八级 10-7 09:07
People send each other cards and give gifts to their families and friends. In homes and in stores, evergreen trees glitter with colorful lights and ornaments. Children look forward to seeing a jolly, white-bearded man in a red suit named Santa Claus.
It all can mean just one thing: It’s the season of Christmas, a holiday celebrated every year on December 25.
WHAT IS CHRISTMAS?
Christmas is a Christian holiday. It commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ more than 2,000 years ago. Christian churches hold religious services to celebrate Christmas. At midnight on Christmas Eve, most churches hold special candlelight services.
But Christmas is also a social and family holiday. It is a festival of goodwill, a time for family, friends, food, and gift-giving.


The True Christ Revealed (2019)
This book is to introduce to the world, the hidden true story and facts about the man who became known as Jesus. The main sources of this alternative, and I think much more accurate reveal of the True Jesus, was and is as ancient as the first century A.D., in the very life time of Jesus himself, and certainly by 70 A.D.
About His Education
Jesus and his brother Thomas were best trained and schooled in Pagan knowledge. Jesus and Thomas, while educated in different learning schools with different skills and knowledge of different 'Calendars of Reenactments', were both highly educated men of their times, or of any times. The narrative of a simple poor son of a carpenter is not only a false narrative, but an insult to Him and to the Truth.
This book brings to light the lore of the Ulster Red Branch, which records, sometimes even in fine detail, the lives and events of the Christ Family and Players. That is, when and where they actually mostly lived; which was First Century B.C. and A.D. Roman Britain, in what became the Provence of Cambria.


Ben Wiederholt became a board member in 2013. He is proud of SRC’s focus on dignity and quality of life for seniors in our community and believes the organization plays a critical role in coordinating community resources that are too often unaligned. Ben is a graduate of Edgewood College in Madison, WI with a degree in Religious Studies and a minor in Philosophy. He also earned a Master’s Degree in Theology from the Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, MO and a Master’s Degree in Health Care Administration from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.
He is a member of the American College of Health Care Executives. In his previous roles, Ben was Vice President of Mission Integration at various levels at Catholic Health Initiatives facilities in Kentucky including Saint Joseph Health System and Saint Joseph Hospital (interim); Flaget Memorial Hospital; and Saint Joseph Mount Sterling.
In his current role he helps ensure that the implementation of strategic initiatives within St. Anthony Hospital and the Centura Health Mountain North Denver Operating Group provide holistic care for all people who are ill and nurtures the health of all people in our communities. Ben’s joy is found through his wife Jessica and their six children: Joselyn, Samuel, Luke, Abiti, Joseph, and Abe. In addition to spending time with his family, he is a sports enthusiast.


Hoskins Park Ministries (HPM) is a Christian ministry established in 2006 with the merger of Jesus Anointed Ministries (JAM), founded by Johnny Allen, and HPM, founded by Tom Wheeler. The two ministries had existed since 2001-2002 and featured overlapping missions of service to high-risk homeless men. HPM’s primary purpose is to share the love of Christ with the poor and homeless by providing transitional housing facilities, clothing, food and other necessary support to those in need. When EPIC Founder Jeremy Turner first came to know Hoskins Park Ministries in 2015, the organization had 13 houses in northwest Charlotte, all within one block of each other, and which could accommodate 60 previously homeless men. Following the departure of Tom as he pursued a new calling, HPM was left in the loving hands of Executive Director Johnny, a pastor who had personally experienced homelessness and drug abuse before finding Jesus and turning his life around. Pastor Johnny’s team included others who also had first-hand experience with drug abuse and homelessness and a small board comprised of seasoned business professionals and local ministry leaders. With an opportunity to press the reset button and begin the next chapter of the ministry’s journey, HPM found themselves in need of strategic planning assistance, fund development planning, organizational development and operations improvement to allow the organization to approach their true potential.
Over the course of nearly 2 years, Jeremy worked with the HPM board, leadership and staff to teach and mentor them and develop the ministry’s infrastructure to provide a firm foundation upon which to build for deeper impact and a sustainable future. Following a collaborative strategic planning effort between Jeremy and another local consultant, three additional engagements between EPIC Mission and HPM sought to address previously identified needs to include system and process development, such as a new participant intake process and clearly defined job descriptions for all staff positions, one-on-one and small group coaching with Johnny and his staff using DISC Profile to teach the team about communication styles and how to embrace the diversity of a team, and fund development planning, to include a deep dive into earned revenue potential around the ministry’s personal and spiritual development programming for the men they served. Hoskins Park Ministries remains one of Jeremy’s favorite clients ever as the personal and professional impact made and the relationships developed while working with Pastor Johnny, his staff and his board are a testament to just how personal this work is for Jeremy and the EPIC Mission team. This serves as yet another example of how one organization can amplify the impact of another organization with a different calling by simply jumping in, showing up and pouring everything they have into helping them to achieve their mission.


We believe in expression and movement. During our gatherings feel free to worship, journal, partake in communion, or fill out a prayer card on the prayer wall. We have a desire for everyone to grow in their FAITH and movement is a part of that.
We meet at 9am & 11am at the Bethel Campus and 10am at the Ebenezer Campus. Each gathering offers a time of worship and prayer, as well as, a relevant conversation based on the Word of God. Worship style can very from week to week, some weeks you might find yourself gathered in an eclectic acoustic worship set and others you'll be worshiping with a full band. It doesn't matter HOW we worship but WHO we worship.
We believe "everything is about relationships......the rest is just details". Our goal is that whether you've come for the first time or you've been coming for a while, you will leave full.
drink deep. live free.


Our children have a dedicated worship space in “Little Fitch” (the smaller partition of the parish hall), where they have a small altar with a cross and candles. They help to light and extinguish the candles and are led through songs and prayers using a printed Children’s Chapel program.
A simplified lesson is presented before the children are dismissed to their various classrooms for age–specific programs and crafts. St Mary’s has historically dedicated one Sunday to Children’s Sunday. The children serve as Greeters, Acolytes, Ushers, and Readers.
This program has been on hiatus while we are engaged in the discernment process for a new Rector and re–establishment of our Sunday School program, but we look forward to reinstating it in the future.


Nobody talked about homosexuality in his Oregon congregation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when he was growing up in the s. Nobody asked him about his attractions. Nobody made cruel or even not-so-subtle comments about him. Nobody made him feel guilty.
Lavender sons of Zion : a history of gay men in Salt Lake City, (Book, ) [torontotransalliance.com]
The law of chastity of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints LDS Church states that "sexual relations are proper only between a man and a woman who are legally and lawfully wedded as husband and wife. Homosexuality-related violations of the law of chastity may result in church discipline. Members of the church who experience homosexual attractions, including those who self-identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual , may remain in good standing in the church if they abstain from sexual relations outside opposite-sex marriage. The LDS Church previously taught that homosexuality is a curable condition,   but now states that "individuals do not choose to have such attractions. A recent article on a church website states that: "While shifts in sexuality can and do occur for some people, it is unethical to focus professional treatment on an assumption that a change in sexual orientation will or must occur.
A dissertation submitted to the faculty of The University of Utah in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleed-through, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction.
And none solved my need to contribute to the community in quite the way I wanted. I approached Pillar editor Todd Dailey about the possibility of me helping them do a dynamic Web site, making it timely and available to more people. Petersen published the Little Lavender Book , a directory of gay and gay-friendly businesses. He had the basic ingredients I would have needed a business partner to help gather cash for: an office, a large-format printer, a graphic designer and a salesperson, a phone system. Wow — a ready-made business!


"The question should not be 'How much can I be like the world and still call myself a Christian?' but rather, 'How much can I be like Christ and effectively reach the world.'"
Today in Chapel (I join the students occasionally for their daily chapel time), Dr. Dougherty talked about Christian living as it relates to worship of a holy, righteous God; an all-consuming fire. He made the above statement, which I thought was well-said, simple and yet very profound.
Thanks for your ministry, Doc.


Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica (French: Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Saïgon) is a cathedral located in the downtown of Ho Chi Minh City. Established by French colonists, the cathedral was constructed between 1863 and 1880. It has two bell towers, reaching a height of 58 meters (190 feet). Following the French conquest of Cochinchina and Saigon, the Roman Catholic Church established a community and religious services for French colonialists. There had been a Vietnamese pagoda, which had been abandoned during the war. Bishop Lefevre decided to make this pagoda a church. The name of the church came from the name of Peaceful Notre Dame Statue in front of this church. In 1959, it was ordered by Bishop Joseph Pham Van Thien, whose power included Saigon parish when attending Holy Mother Congress held in Vatican. When the granite statue arrived in Saigon, on February 16th, 1959, Bishop Pham Van Thien held a ceremony to install the statue on the empty base and presented the title of “Regina Pacis”. It was Bishop Pham Van Thien who wrote the prayers “Notre-Dame bless the peace to Vietnam”.
Apart from the religious meaning that attracts tourists, the even more special captivating point of Notre-Dame Cathedral is its special neo-Romanesque style of architecture. All building materials were imported from France. The outside wall of the cathedral was built with bricks from Marseille. Although the contractor did not use coated concrete, these bricks have retained their bright red color until today. The 56 colored glass windows supplied by the Lorin firm of Chartres Province, France. Tiles have been carved with the words Guichard Carvin, Marseille St André France (perhaps stating the locality where the tiles were produced). Some tiles were carved with the words “Wang-Tai Saigon.” Many tiles have since been made in Saigon to replace the broken tiles caused by war. The cathedral foundation was designed to bear 10 times the weight of the cathedral. In front of the cathedral is a statue of the Virgin Mary. On a whole, the neo-Romanesque architecture and two 58m-high square towers tipped with iron spires dominate the city’s sky line, creating a beautiful religious site.
View Notre Dame Cathedral 360
There was a story called ‘A miracle at the Notre Dame Cathedral’ in October 2005. It was said that the statue Virgin Mary in front of the church reputedly shed tears. The phenomenon attracted thousans of people visiting and stopped city traffic although the Catholic Church in Vietnam’s official stance revealed that the statue did not shed tears. This event also makes the cathedral becoming a spotlight when visiting Ho Chi Minh City.


Cyclopædia of Political Science, Political Economy, and the Political History of the United States
CLERICALISM. This new word, used only in religious and political discussion, is said to have been first employed by Belgian journalists, about the year 1855.
—The words "clerk," "clerical," "clergy," suggest ecclesiastical functions. "Clericals" and "clericalism," suggest the abuse of those functions.
—Abuse of priestly power is manifested, either by a tendency to an unlimited control of the faithful, or by encroachments of the clergy in the domain of civil and political authority. These usurpations of the clergy are possible only in churches which recognize the authority of a priesthood. They are dangerous only in those churches, which, united to the state, are really political establishments, whose only object, as such, is to increase their privileges, and whose aim, consequently, is to transform the government into a theocracy pure and simple. Those among the laity who declare themselves partisans of this religious mysticism, are termed "clericals" and accused of "clericalism." Religion, however, must be carefully distinguished from clericalism. If we compare the tendency of clericalism with that of Christianity, it seems to us that the salutary influence of the latter on modern civilization is much more beneficial when acting independently of any church establishment, which, following the example of Rome, puts itself in opposition to the liberal tendencies of evangelical doctrine, with its respect for the sovereignty of conscience. This tendency of Christianity, broad, tolerant and humanitarian, affords us the glorious spectacle of an interminable struggle against ignorance and superstition, and of its efforts to restore to conscience the feeling of individuality and liberty by the assimilation of the religious truth which propagates itself unaided by any external power. It is only by persuasion, unassisted by force, that Christian truth can influence morality and effect a moral reformation. In that way truth may prevail, even against those who arrogate to themselves the right to hold the exclusive monopoly of truth, and to propagate truth among the nations.
—The policy of clericalism, on the other hand, is sectarian and intolerant. In spite of the evidence of facts, priestly power persists in maintaining that, existing by divine right, itself and religion are identical, and that it is the church in all its original purity and integrity. By means of this confusion of the ideas of the temporal and spiritual power, of the times of the primitive church, and the time of the decay of its ecclesiastical institutions, clericalism troubles and demoralizes the timid, weakens character, and attracts to itself the weak by saving them the necessity of distinguishing between right and wrong, truth and falsehood. For the authority of the priest is ever present to the conscience of the true believer. It becomes a sort of artificial substitute for conscience itself, assuming to be an infallible criterion of religious truth.
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Brother david jardine free
Brother David Jardine, founder of Divine Healing Ministries, will be installed as Canon of St Annes Cathedral, Belfast, on December 2. David said his appointment was a great honour, not only for him but for the many people who have helped in his healing ministry over the years.
Apr 06, 2019 Alf McCreary in conversation with Brother David Jardine of the Society of St Francis David Jardine was born in 1942 and spent his
David JardinePaterson's brother is J J JardinePaterson James JardinePaterson. David JardinePaterson's in laws: David JardinePaterson's grandfather in law was Pownoll Pellew 9th Viscount Exmouth David JardinePaterson's father in law is Robin D'Erlanger David JardinePaterson's mother in law is Mary D'Erlanger David JardinePaterson's
Equipping for Life is a Belfastbased charity set up in the Spring of 2018 by its founder, Brother David Jardine. Equipping for Life aims to enable people of faith to equip others for life by partnering with existing initiatives that are seeking to improve education, employability and social cohesion.
Sep 02, 2008 Brother David Jardine, the head of Divine Healing Ministries, will lead a series of Monday night services on healing in St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast. Brother Jardine will talk about the healing that is available for those suffering from depression, fear, anger, anxiety, guilt, hurts from the
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Mission & Vision
Chaplains on the Way (COTW) believes that no person living in homelessness should feel they have to walk alone. We live out our mission by building trusting relations with people in Waltham, MA who are experiencing homelessness and struggling with mental health and/or substance use issues. We offer compassion and companionship through life’s struggles and triumphs, welcoming all into relationship and loving community.
In working toward our vision, we expand the circle of care for those we serve by providing a bridge to social services agencies. We also act as a bridge with faith communities and schools to educate and raise awareness by providing opportunities to become involved and experience our chaplaincy. This work inspires us to advocate for systemic change on the issues of homelessness, mental health, and substance use.
CHAPLAINS & STAFF
Chaplain & Executive Director
Jill was hired as Chaplain on the Way’s Executive Director in 2021, after serving as a chaplain intern in 2018-2019 and a part-time chaplain in 2019 and 2020. She attended Harvard Divinity School, completing Clinical Pastoral Education at Beverly Hospital and Boston Medical Center, and receiving her Master of Divinity in 2020. As a former cognitive scientist, civil-rights lawyer, law professor, and nonprofit leader, Jill likes to contemplate the intersections between cognitive science, social justice, and theories of personal and societal change. As a chaplain, though, she thinks the most important thing we can do for one another is to try to listen well.
Assistant Director of Communications and Development
Heather joined Chaplains on the Way in 2022. She is currently pursuing her Masters of Social Work at Boston College School of Social Work. Previously, she worked as the Marketing and Development Specialist at Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Boston. She attended Emmanuel College and received her Bachelors in Political Science and Sociology.
Chaplains on the Way began in 2008, when Rev. Joan Murray, a United Church of Christ minister, began walking along the streets of Waltham to meet people experiencing homelessness. Rev. Murray’s intent for COTW was to offer a ministry of presence on the streets, at soup kitchens, and in shelters.
In 2013, Rev. Murray hired Rev. Becky Sheble-Hall, a Unitarian Universalist minister, to serve as a second chaplain. When Rev. Murray retired in 2014, Rev. Sheble-Hall became Executive Director of COTW. Justi Godoy, a Buddhist chaplain, joined as Chaplain and Development Director in 2018. In 2021, when Rev. Sheble-Hall stepped down from her position, Jill Gaulding, a Zen Buddhist, former student intern, and part-time chaplain with COTW, was hired as Executive Director.
Chaplains on the Way is a non-denominational interfaith organization. Our work is done by Jill and Justi, as well as a chaplain intern, several part-time chaplains, and many volunteers, all from a variety of faith backgrounds and traditions. We continue to offer spiritual companionship to people experiencing homelessness in Waltham, wherever they may need to be. In addition to a ministry of presence, we offer one-to-one spiritual direction; hold weekly interfaith spiritual practices; help to facilitate weekly meetings of the Waltham Community Leadership Group (a grassroots action group started by Chaplains on the Way); and provide a five-day Winter Breakfast Program.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mary Ann Gibbons


Pastor's Anniversary Breakfast
New Member Fellowship
Leader's Conference 2019
First Lady Sylvia's Celebration Continued
Celebration of Life-First Lady Sylvia Morgan
Abiding Faith Baptist Church
Saturday, December 22, 2018- Main Sanctuary
Viewing - 11:00 A.M.
Celebration of Life - 2:00 P.M.
Burial - Monday, December 24, 2018, VA Houston National Cemetary (TBA)


July in our Parish
‘Jesus our Protector’
“Lord God, heavenly Father, you know that we are set in the
midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the
frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright: grant
us such strength and protection, to support us in all danger,
and carry us through all temptations.
Through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen”
With the last six months of 2020 upon us we are going to continue to face the difficulties and uncertainties of the effects of the Covid 19 virus. We need to remain strong for the sake of our families and friends. When feeling alone and discouraged be strengthened by the words of Psalm 91 below:
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. –Psalm 91:1-4
‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life’
Although we are still unable to attend Mass in person pre-recorded weekend Masses celebrated by Fr Michael Nadaraju and Deacon Trevor Kondiah may be viewed on www.youtube.com (search The Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and click on subscribe) from 5.00 p.m. onwards each weekend. The weekend’s reflection in Zulu may be viewed from 9.00 a.m. each Sunday from this weekend onwards.
You may obtain a copy of the Southern Cross – google search www.scross.co.za for all the info.
To obtain a copy of the Catholic Link go to google and search www.rpp.org.za or go to ‘bulletins’ on this web page and view the current weeks edition of the Link.
For more up-to-the minute parish news please join the parish’s Facebook group.
Please email the parish (firstname.lastname@example.org) to book your Mass Intentions and for the banking details if needed.
Until we are able to meet again, please stay safe and take all the precautions necessary to protect yourself, your families and all those you may come in contact with.
May God Bless You All


Meet the Author and their Products
West MTS, Christopher
Christopher West is a renowned speaker, writer, and authority on the late Pope John Paul II's groundbreaking "Theology of the Body." Christopher is a graduate of the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family and a visiting professor at the Instituteâ€™s Melbourne, Australia campus. Formerly Director of the Office of Marriage and Family Life for the Archdiocese of Denver, he currently serves as faculty for sexual ethics at the Institute for Priestly Formation at Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, he is also the Theology of the Body Staff Advisor for the GIFT Foundation. His books and CDs have been distributed around the globe. He lives near Lancaster, Pennsylvania with his wife and their two sons and daughter.
For more information contact:
Theology of the Body Institute
Telephone: (610) 696-7795, ext. 206


From the coast of the Mediterranean to the shores of the Sea of Galilee, a flood of emotions is to be expected on this moving religious tour through Israel and Jordan. What better way to immerse yourself in the treasured stories of Scripture than by standing at the very sites where Jesus walked on water, turned water into wine, and was baptised by John the Baptist? Follow in every footstep as you travel from the site of Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem to the site of the Last Supper on Mount Zion. Tears of joy are balanced with bellows of laughter as you float effortlessly in the salt-laden waters of the Dead Sea, go four-wheeling through the sand dunes of Wadi Rum, and channel “Indy” as you navigate the narrow gorge of the Siq at the rock-cut archeological site of Petra made famous in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
Please note: Itinerary is based on 2021, and is subject to change. Full details will be confirmed in June 2021.


Dear Parishioners and friends around the world,
The word that best describes Advent and the approach of Christmas is ‘expectation’. I suspect, however, that for many
people the feeling that this season causes is anxiety. Life never seems to get simpler. As the festive season comes
into focus, the temptation is for some people to sense a new anxiety, which we may describe as the fear of having so much
to do and so little time in which to do it. Our society is riddled with anxiety. From the young child at school made anxious
by social media-fuelled expectations, to parents anxious not to let down their children as the list of Christmas gifts grows and affordability is out of range. For many people with the rising costs of food, heat and light, luxuries seem a thing of the past. On top of that many senior citizens can feel the anxiety of loneliness.
The above does not create a great atmosphere to wish someone ‘A Happy Christmas’. However, Mary and Joseph must have been anxious about how to explain to family, friends and neighbours the mystery of the coming birth of their child, who was the incarnate Son of God. Their anxieties must have intensified when they realised that they would need to be away from home at the time of the birth of their baby. Going through the birth in a stable, away from family and friends must have been worrying, frightening even, for an incredibly young mother and her husband (who was not the child’s father). The anxiety of Mary and Joseph was dispelled wonderfully by the birth of Jesus. They witnessed the heavens rejoice. They saw their child worshipped by people of high and low rank. They remembered what the angel had told them, and they realised with joy and wonder that the arrival of their most holy child changed everything for them and for the entire world. As we approach Christmas, that same child now the Risen, Ascended Jesus can change our world too. His presence and His peace are the best cure to anxiety. Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28)
As we enter the year 2023, I pray that the spirit of Christmas continues to linger in our hearts. The reminder of Christ’s coming, His abiding presence with us and the love, joy and hope our Saviour brings are tremendous gifts for our troubled world. The new year provides the opportunities for us to turn a new page in our lives. We remember and give thanks for the blessings of the past year, despite the challenges, adversities and uncertainties that we continue to endure.
Thank God for Christmas, renewing our confidence that God sent his Son, our Saviour to bring new light and life to our world. The new year gives us the chance to look forward in hope. It also presents us with a fresh start, new perspectives and new opportunities as well. As a Cathedral Parish we look forward to the coming months when we complete our Quadricentennial Celebrations (see page 16 in our magazine - available to read on-line). Plans are underway for us all to journey together to worship, pray, listen, celebrate, enjoy, live out our Christian lives. Let us be bearers of joy and hope during these challenging times and to generously share that joy and hope with others.
There will also be an opportunity to share love, joy and hope with those in need on 22nd December. On that day I will take part in a ‘Sit Out’ at the front of the Cathedral to raise money (see page 24.) Over these past few years we have been ‘building focused’ - now let us be ‘people focused.
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing.
Wishing you every blessing this Christmas and in 2023.
Welcome to our website! To be sure you are looking at the latest update, please reload/refresh the page NOW!
A refresh button is found close to the top of a webpage and looks something like one of these, but smaller. Just click on it to reload the page.
Streaming of each Sunday morning service normally starts at 10.55am on Sunday mornings - if you see no pictures after that time, refresh/reload the YouTube Page - look for a refresh button at the top looking something like one of these:
A poet by the name of Dr Neil Rhind is currently part-way through writing, for reasons of personal devotion, a 365 poem sequence celebrating various saints on their appropriate feast days. As part of this project, he has composed a poem about the saint after whom our two Anglican diocesan cathedrals and the Roman Catholic one in Monaghan are named. (even if we don't agree about the spelling!) He has kindly given permission for us to do with it as we will - so here it is!
A poem about Saint Macartin (St. MacCairthinn of Clogher)
St. Mac Cairthinn of Clogher
Saint Patrick's staff, son of the Rowan tree,
Would be built from no bough
But from a Munster man whose brawn
Made him Saint Patrick's champion.
Found faithfully at his right hand
The length and breadth of Ireland
Supporting him at streams and on rough ground,
As bound as an ox team.
During 2021, the Church of Ireland Bishops’ Appeal released funds to support Covid relief efforts in India and also in Haiti following a devastating earthquake. And now the crisis in Ukraine has displaced numerous refugees in need of support by relief agencies and the Bishops' Appeal seeks urgent donations to go towards such humanitarian work. Individuals and parishes are invited to contribute to support these and other efforts. Taxpayers in the U.K. can give more help by “Gift Aiding” donations. For more details and to read a special press release, click on the Ukrainian flag here.
Please note that our archive links (services, weddings,
funerals etc are now hosted on a separate page. Click on the picture to the left to access.
And view recordings of three Christmas services by clicking on the buttons on the right.
We are surprised and delighted to see the interest in our services on-line, not only in our own country but also in foreign lands. There may be those who would like to make a donation towards the heavy costs entailed in maintaining the cathedral and to this end, we have set up an account with PayPal. Those who wish to contribute are invited to use the following button.
Please note that this PayPal link should only be used by visitors to this website who are NOT registered members of our cathedral community, but wish to so kindly make a donation. If you are a church member, we would respectfully ask that you donate directly by other means.
We now have a new facility in the entrance hall of the cathedral allowing us to accept donations by credit/debit card. Should you wish to use this, our church wardens will be pleased to assist you. This must NOT be used for the regular Freewill Offering.
The Church of Ireland’s Daily Worship app brings content from the Book of Common Prayer and the Bible to your computer, smartphone or tablet, displaying readings and liturgies for each day of the year. Using it, you can grow in relationship with God through daily prayer and also by reading and meditating on Scripture. Click on the icon above to view on PC, or the app can be downloaded from Google Play or the Apple Store.
For people of faith in these difficult times, listening to Christian music, or better still, watching it being performed on line, is very uplifting - a real spiritual experience. During the Coronavirus crisis, we introduced a page carrying links to music videos which we hope will be a blessing to all. You can access the page by clicking HERE
This button will open the recording during the six days following the service.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Service on 18th January at 7.30pm with special guest preacher, the Rt Rev Trevor Williams (former Bishop of Limerick & Killaloe). Click on the picture to view the recording.
With great sadness we report the untimely death of Florence Charlotte Edwards (née Lucy) on 27th January 2023 (peacefully) at South West Acute Hospital Enniskillen. Late of Tullyavey Road Laragh Enniskillen, she was the dearly loved wife of David, devoted mother of Jake, Luke and Adam, beloved daughter of the late Charlotte and Teddy and sister of Daphne, Linda, Joanne, and the late Patricia and Kenneth. The funeral service will be in our cathedral in Enniskillen on Monday at 11.00am followed by burial in Cross Cemetery. To view the live stream, click on Florence's photograph.
It has been requested that there be family flowers only. Donations in lieu if desired to St Macartin’s Cathedral Enniskillen. Cheques should be made payable to W T Morrison, Funeral Directors and sent to Ballycassidy House, Funeral Home, 101 Killadeas Road, Enniskillen, BT94 2ES. Further details are on the Funeral Times website (click on the link below):


frustrated, or discouraged, when I believe God is totally sovereign. Impossible to be pride-filled — feel like a failure or a success, when I believe God is totally sovereign. Ahhh, the healthy-indifference, the bliss, of being DumbSheepDave.
But when I’m ShepherdDave, I NEVER believe God is totally sovereign. I only believe He’s sovereign when I’m DumbSheepDave — when I’ve been freshly convicted of my unbelief in His sovereignty — convicted of feeling all alone, that my life is UP TO ME.
ShepherdDave CLAIMS to believe in the sovereignty of God, but it’s mere theory, a sham, fraudulent, because he lives as though it’s UP TO DAVE. Intense, agendafied, willful, stressed. Feeling unrelenting pressure to be worthy, choose right, be right, all day long. ShepherdDave lives in bigtime denial of who he really is — a nonbeliever in God’s sovereignty, and in the imputed worthiness of Jesus. Left to his own devices. Choices. Scripture does not inform reality, but eyesight.
Only DumbSheepDave, who is clueless-he-knows-what’s-best, so asks for direction, believes in God’s sovereignty. Only DumbSheepDave is thankful for everything just as it is. ShepherdDave, independent/confident-he-knows-what’s-best — what’s thankable and not, imagines he believes in God’s sovereignty, but is bigtime self-deceived, is never curious and expectant to see what Jesus does NEXT, in Dave, others, circumstances, because his life is UP TO DAVE. Idolatry/addiction is central to the daily life of ShepherdDave, because the sovereignty of God is not central to his daily life. So Jesus is not ENOUGH. An idolator/addict like ShepherdDave only experiences the peace that passes understanding, when freshly convicted of his unbelief. His confidence-he-knows-what’s-best — his unbelief in Jesus’ sovereignty, ruins his happiness as a believer. Though he unconsciously suppresses his unhappiness, unable to bear being so pathetic.
—ShepherdDave/AddictDave, needing fresh conviction by the Spirit, of unbelief in Jesus and His sovereign reign, so he might momentarily be DumbSheepDave, enjoying the bliss of Jesus-dependency/Jesus-contentment/Jesus-humility, so the nonbelievers around him might experience the other-worldly humility and other-worldly love of Jesus
To receive my weekly posts, email me, or subscribe to my blog: dumbsheepdave.com


Katie has just gone in for surgery to repair her bowel block. This should be a relatively minor surgery and will enable her to eat food and start getting her nutrition back. Please pray for the wisdom and skill of her surgeons and surgical team.
She wrote this last night and wanted me to share it with you while she is in surgery.
There is a lot that has gone “wrong” on this road. I won't go into details, but the fact of the matter is, I have a very aggressive cancer and at this point in the juncture we don’t know what treatment options look like (for a lot of reasons that I won’t bore you with on here, but some really cool science stuff).
As David and I were talking tonight, I was telling him about something that came to mind in prayer - that I am nothing.
Katie, whachoo talkin? Those IV drugs doing strange things to your brain. Lemmee asplain.
In the past I have read works from the saints where they mention that they are “nothing,” “dirt,” as Fr. Margil said “la misma nada.” If I weren’t in the hospital tonight, I would be searching through all of my saint books at home to come up with accurate quotes, but believe me, it’s a thing. I never understood where they were coming from. I always though 'Wow - that’s humility taken too far.' God made you. You aren’t “nothing.” You are His greatest creation. Get off of the ground, you great creation, you.
I am now beginning to understand it. In this life, all that matters is what brings God glory. Read that again. That’s it sisters and brothers.
For members of a religious order, your rule is very clearly spelled out, and living by that rule is for the purpose of glorifying God. As a member of the religious, you tend to have less attachments. They include: what you eat for lunch, what your daily tasks look like, when to wake up in the morning. This lack of attachment ultimately gives you the freedom to go where God sends you. Another town from your family, another state, across the world, in a war-torn country, or to your martyrdom.
As a member of a religious order how much more can you live that motto out - that everything is for the greater glory of God - Ad Majorem dei Gloriam - the motto of St. Ignatius of Loyola and his Jesuits. We would naturally conclude that it is easier to live that when you do not have the attachments of a spouse, family, home, etc. Consequently, how much easier is it to know you are nothing, but God’s instrument.
But what about me? Wife. Mother of 4 under the age of 6. How do I live this motto of everything being for the Glory of God?
Do I do it like all of those grandiose Saints of the Church - that was pretty grand stuff for your glory, God. Like Saint Catherine of Siena who, at the age of 29, told the Pope to bring the papacy back to Rome. All you have to do is read about one quarter of John Paul the Great’s life to see all the grand things he accomplished in his life for the Glory of God. Saint Helen, Saint Maria Gorretti, Saint Paul, Saint Kateri (read her story if you don’t know it already), and the man we are asking you all to ask the intercession of - Fr. Antonio Margil de Jesus. I am still learning more about him and am floored by this man’s testimony. Truly heroic lives of virtue.
So, then there’s us, little people walking on our paths. Ok let’s see here, we made 4 PB&J’s which at least one of our kids will take one bite of and throw it on the ground. In my house, at this point, his only choice is nap or a dirty pb&j (because I have 4 kids - my floor ain’t clean). Back to our days, we made them make their beds, some of us are doing homework with our kids, making a dinner that we know at least one will never like and not eat. On a good day 50% are happy. I could type more but you can see how this is sounding less and less like our beloved saints.
How do we do this all for the glory of God. I’ve had over 9 years of learning to be a wife and 6 learning how to mother. Not a lot of years in the grand scheme of things, but lots of lessons learned. We can make it for the glory of God just because we said so and we did it with an attitude of understanding that growing a family is not in the big moments, but in these small moments and how we respond to each of the situations by offering them to God. That is how we will grow our own little saints. Also, in her wisdom, the Church gives moms a lot of really cool saints to admire.
But how does this lead to being “nothing”? I am at a point in my life where I am flirting a little closer with death (which is why we are praying for a miracle), and finally it hits me. I am nothing. I am a pawn put on this earth to bring Glory to God. How do I come to terms with being nothing? Doesn’t that sound like a terrible thing to say in my line of work? But here’s the deal, if my only goal is to glorify God, then I am truly nothing, but His. Wholly His.


I get asked a lot, what does a “quiet time” look like? As Christians, “quiet time” is a phrase that has been coined to mean that time in our day when we sit down to pray and read the Bible. This is totally a Shade of Shay since I do start each and every day with my quiet time.
Here’s how I got started…
When I was 15 years old, I had a fabulous youth minister named Todd tell me (and the other students) over and over again that the only way to deepen and strengthen our faith was to make sure we were spending quiet time with Jesus every day. I’m constantly talking to God. Constantly. But every morning when I get up, I set aside a few precious minutes to really sit in the quiet and pray, read my Bible, read some other devotional books and thoughtfully and purposely prepare for my day ahead while chattin’ with the Lord (and chatting with the Lord is just praying).
And this morning quiet time is one of the best moments in my day.
Listen, some mornings, I just have 2 minutes…some morning, I have more like 20. There isn’t a wrong or right amount of time. It’s just a conscious effort to make sure I have my priorities straight and my heart in the right direction before I set out for my day. This is also such a valuable time to read the Bible and really hear what God says about you and your life. Reading the Bible will change your life more than anything else in this world.
Here is what I personally do (and again, this is just me…since this is my shade)…
1. I read my Bible.
Right now, I’m reading through the New Testament along with reading one Proverb a day. I read and think about how the verses can apply to my own life. I also take notes in a little notebook of scripture or phrases that really stick out to me personally.
2. I pray.
I’m of the faith that prayer does not have to be perfect. Prayer does not have to be uniform. Prayer is just me pouring out my heart to the Lord, praying for others in need, praying for myself and my family, repenting from all of the crappy choices I make in life, thanking God for everything he does for me (even the hard days when I know my life is being strengthened through adverse circumstances) and just sitting in the stillness and reflecting.
I’ve learned that praying is not hard…it’s setting aside the time that usually is. I really encourage you to pray.
3. I read books by Christian authors.
Reading a book does not in any way, shape or form take away from me reading my Bible. The Bible is the way, the truth and the light…a book by a great Christian author about a specific topic is just a nice little addition but it’s not a supplement. That being said, I always enjoy reading a little at the end of my quiet time about certain topics. Lately, my books have all been around parenting. I’ll read a chapter or so for motivation and encouragement…or just to learn or maybe laugh. This kind of reading just rounds out those quiet minutes in my morning.
Here are some of the books I’ve read so far this year during my quiet times…
All of these books either motivated my faith, encouraged my faith, strengthened my faith, or maybe just gave me the kind of laugh I needed to start my crazy day. I love them all for different reasons.
So there you have it…if you ever wonder why I wake up so stinkin’ early, one reason is to set aside a few minutes for my quiet time. If you don’t think you could ever be a morning person, you should read this Shade of Shayhere :). You can be. You will love how peaceful your days can begin with just a few extra minutes.
I highly, highly, highly recommend doing a quiet time at the beginning of the day instead of at the end of the day. Start your day with Jesus. Start your day on the right track…don’t wait until the end of the day to do clean-up work…begin your day in the quiet. I promise you…you will find so much peace throughout your day if you start it off this way.
And yes…I drink coffee during my quiet time…it just makes it even that much better :).
This is my quiet time every morning…at my desk with my coffee, my Bible, my book, my notebook and my pen.
Two weeks ago, I mentioned on my blog how I was reading John Croyle’s Raising a Princess and the nice people at his publishing house, reached out to me and said they would love to give away three copies of the book to my readers. A very nice and unexpected surprise for you and me!
Today only, I’ll be giving away three copies…just enter the Rafflecopter below and the winners will be announced tomorrow!


How Do You Measure Your Worth?
“You say I am loved, when I can’t feel a thing”
“ You say I am strong, when I think I am weak”
“You say I am held, when I am falling short”
When I don’t belong, You say I am yours….And I believe…Oh I believe, what you say of me.”
That song of Lauren Daigle’s gets me every time. When it comes on, I turn up the volume, and I sing as tears well up in my eyes…God’s Promises to us are so sweet, they are true, and we have no reason to doubt them. But do we truly believe them?
Dare I say it…Do you love yourself?
Who are you?
Who’s are you?
The Devil wants us to hate ourselves, he wants to use our pasts against us, he wants to use our fears and our failures as weapons of destruction against us…He is a liar and seeks to destroy any shred of happiness or joy we may have…. We know all of this and yet we continually fall into that same rut…. the place where the devil has us right where he wants us…. defeated, weak and depressed…. our spiritual armor is gone and we start to believe the lies….
You will never be good enough.
You will never overcome your addiction…
No one will ever love you…
You don’t deserve anything good…
You are fat and always will be…
You will always be ugly…
You all this was me…..everything I just shared was me to the very core…I was a girl on the run, broken, rebellious, defeated and NOT WORTHY of anything good. I didn’t deserve any good thing. I left a not so good home life, at the young age of 18 ready to escape it all and start a new chapter in my life. Now mind you I was not the perfect child… I had been rebellious and disrespectful towards my parents as a result of things I had experienced… things that happen to you as a child stay with you forever..the awful bullying in school led me to believe that I was fat and ugly and no one could ever love me. I didn’t feel loved by anyone, I was so insecure that I desperately searched for love because I though that would for sure change things for me.
But i’m getting ahead of myself, back to leaving home..I had a Holdeman mennonite friend that was my constant through everything I had going through. She was dependable and my best friend. So naturally I wanted to stay in that safe little bubble forever. So it was then that I joined the Holdeman Mennonites, moved away from home and into the Teacher house and began my very first year as a teacher! I loved everything about it! In my mind, this was the best year of my life! I was safe, and I was cared for. But in my mind I still wanted to be loved. Because in my mind that was what I needed to heal. And that is what would be my undoing…that sheer desperation for “earthly”love, got me expelled and I had to leave. After that my life became a blur….I was angry! Angry at God and at the church for expelling me! I was worthless….My life took such a downward spiral of all things that Satan delights in….Convincing myself that this is what I needed to do to be loved…this is what I need to do to be accepted…...but all of it was only temporary solutions.
3 years pass…I was so far gone, that I didn’t even know what to do anymore…I knew I needed God but had no idea where to start. So I decided to try and go back to the one thing, in my mind, I knew was stable…. the mennonite church…. I had made plans to go to Kansas to stay with a friend there until I got my life figured out….BUT GOD….it was then, about a week before I was to leave PA, that my future husband walked into my life, very unexpectantly. Only Jesus could take this stubborn person who had forsaken Him, and given up on everyone, and reach down and give me a blessing in the midst of utter chaos….How does that happen?! I still marvel and praise Him for that exact moment in my life… Jesus loves us that much, that even though we feel worthless and unworthy, He still delights in blessing us! That was such a turning point in my life! The day Jesus reached down, and I reached up!
Healing is a journey, that takes time…we’ve been married 6 years now and I still struggle to believe my husband when he says he loves me or for me to be vulnerable and completely trust him…My scars run deep, but my Jesus runs deeper! And everyday I am reminded that I am daughter of the King! I am His! He loves me, will never leave me, and created me for a purpose! He wants to use my past and my baggage for something beautiful! I don’t want my battle scars to disappear, because they are a reminder of the battles won! I continue to fight every single day, to keep those scars from reopening! There is healing in Jesus and I have learned that! He know our deepest heart cry and seeks to fulfill them!
Now, I don’t want you to think I don’t struggle, I do! But I now know what it means to be loved by a good Christian man, who truly loves me! Who thinks i’m beautiful, even tho I don’t. Who thinks i’m perfect, even though i’m 30lbs heavier, who has walked through my valleys and seen me at my lowest, and stuck by me, who knows my past, and chooses to love me even more.. That is the beauty of a Jesus Plan….Only He could have made all this possible for me….
To this day I still marvel at how Gods plan for my life is unfolding…..So I’ll keep playing my worship songs on repeat, and ill let the tears flow..because I BELIEVE…..I believe what you say of me Lord! Because in you I find my worth!! In you my identity! You took my every failure, my every sin and all my baggage and bore it all willingly on the cross for me, so I can be free!!
Lord Jesus thank you for all that you’ve done and are doing in my life! I pray you bless each person that reads this Lord! Let them feel your goodness and your love in their life! Bless them Lord! Let them know that they are loved and deeply treasured by you! Their pasts DO NOT define them! Their sins are remembered no more! They are forgiven! And their baggage from this life, is being carried willingly by you! Thank you Jesus.. In your precious name, Amen.
Go forth with boldness & hold your head high, because YOU MY DEAR, ARE A CHILD OF THE KING!