Christianity gets me through tragedy. People wonder, how can you love a God who allows such things to happen. First, tragedy is caused by the free will of man, it does not come from God, second, there is evil in the world. All I could think as I watched the news from Paris is, God must be crying as he looks at what we are doing with our beautiful world. Christianity is an issue, an issue of the heart and as Christians we should never settle.
It might be repetitive, maybe even a little severe, but the truth is, it is very dear!
1 John, a letter, an epistle, written in approx 60-75 AD by John…Many people skip right by it; skimming their way to Revelation. I didn’t know where it was in the Bible until this fall, when I learned 1John would be our study following summer break. I recall thinking, it’s so short, how can we possibly sustain a study through to November with 1John. Fact is, I could spend an entire year in 1John! When Paris happened I could not have been studying a more succinct chapter in the Bible. 1John became a gift as I read words from thousands of years ago, soothing and reassuring me in the present as surely as they did then.
I will review 1John every time I am in the weeds! When I need encouragement, fortitude, when evil grabs my heart and soul blurring my focus, this is where I will go.
Written to reinforce authentic Christian truths to Christians fleeing Rome, to souls evading persecution and in the process spreading Christianity, John was deeply concerned about what he was hearing. His flock found themselves in a new place, surrounded by Gnostics teaching something quite different from what they understood firsthand from people like John who saw, heard and touched Jesus Christ. Gnostics believed Jesus was not a man, and in fact a spirit. John needed to correct the errors, reassure his children that Christ lived, as a man with a soul and one who suffered in this world, he was not a spirit. He felt pain like you and me. John needed to protect his flock from false teachings, false ideas and false idols and reinforce the ideals set forth by Christianity.
Christianity, Have No Doubts and Never Settle
John reassured his children about the one true light, the light of God, encouraging them to walk in the light, to love and not follow false prophets, to remember and not worship false idols. He reinforced the love God has for them and asked them to remain faithful. He asks Christians to overcome the wickedness in the world and erases any doubt that 1) God will help and 2) we have eternal life through the cross.
In Chapter 5 John asks them to believe with all their heart in God’s glory and eternal life, to overcome evil using the power of God, to pray for Christian brothers and sisters who lost their way. He is imploring them to never settle, and to be influenced by God, not the world.
1John 5:21 reading from several translations:
- My little children, guard yourselves from idols. (ASV)
- Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. (KJV)
- Children, you must stay away from idols. (CEV)
- My children, keep yourselves safe from false gods! (GNT)
- Dear children, be on guard against all clever facsimiles. (MSG)
- So, dear children, keep yourselves away from false gods. (NCV)
- Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts. (NLT)
Do you know any ‘Nice Christian people’?
We are human, we have issues, we focus on the wrong things, often in the name of ‘good’ Christians end up doing things for the wrong reasons. I know many ‘nice’ people who are charitable because it looks good, because they believe it will get them into heaven, but their hearts betray them. They harbor racism, intolerance and are quick to judge. At issue, it’s not about being NICE. What we sometimes forget is God’s grace is for all! We can never be nice enough, or good enough, we can’t earn our way into Heaven, it’s only through the grace of God that we have the promise of forgiveness and eternal life.
Judaism is about ‘getting it right’ while Christianity is done out of gratitude and a desire to please Him, not a desire to get through the pearly gates. Think about it, If you could earn your way in based on being ‘nice’ and ‘getting the rules right’ we would not need Jesus or the cross.
Christianity is an issue of the heart
John asks us to let love guide and guard us against things in the world that cause us to drift from the Light.
O my son, give me your heart.
May your eyes take delight in following my ways.
God wants our hearts, he wants us to love Him, talk to Him, to think about Him as we go through our days, to fully surrender and stay in the Light.
Do you ever wonder about the Old Testament God and the New Testament God, do they seem different to you?
It is a subject that comes up now and then. But it’s the same God, right? I look at it like a parent would. He set up the world as a beautiful garden, but what did we do, we messed it up, we went SOUTH! In the OT the Jewish people wanted a King, other nations had Kings, they were a kingdom, so they wanted a King. God reassured them, I am your King, and my laws are written on your heart. But, the people were not satisfied, they wanted a King so God let them live with their choices. Choices that led to difficult times and difficult situations. It was in desperation to save His people God came, as Jesus Christ, to save them from themselves opening the door to the New Testament, and a new way. A new covenant, a world where it is less about rules and more about the heart.
We get to choose. We choose what we believe, accept, do, how we act, treat one another, how we behave and what we say. Thousands of times a day, minute by minute we make choices, and others do to, that impact our lives. I stray many times a day; I let my mind wander to past hurts, to mistreatment and unfairness, I sometimes struggle to NOT dwell on negative thoughts. I let myself and my body down by choosing to eat something I know is bad, I get angry, say mean things, argue just for the fun of it, am lazy, overspend, gossip, and more. In short, I lose sight of God. That’s when all that negative stuff happens, it’s when I lose focus. The message in 1John is simple, don’t take your eyes off him! All the Lord wants is for us to choose Him, to do things his way, His will not ours!
He wants us to love Him, to talk to Him, to think about Him. Do not let EVIL win!
God wants us to surrender our hearts fully, with no reservation and to share the good news. Evil would like to keep us stuck in one place, a place of non-grace. A place where fear and insecurity rule. On November 13, 2015 France was under attack and a music venue was ground zero. 129 innocent people died across Paris while hundreds more were injured as the world looked on in horror.
A mom died that night, moved by his response to evil, hatred and malice, her husband said:
‘Friday night, you took an exceptional life. The love of my life, the mother of my son. But you will not have my hatred.’ He went on to say, ‘You’re asking for it, but responding with hatred and anger is falling victim to the same ignorance that made you what you are. You want me to be scared, to view my countrymen with mistrust, to sacrifice my liberty for my security – you lost. We are just two now, my son and me. But we are stronger than all the armies in the world.’
What hangs you up when you ponder your day, your week, your year? Evil would like you to feel shame, guilt, self-pity, lust, insecurity, greed, and worse. In short, evil wants you to fall apart!
Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life.
Our hearts deceive us, with every beat life is sustained physically, but mentally what is on our hearts often comes out of our mouths or in behaviors. We need to guard our hearts. 1John reminds me that God is always with us, that we are not alone, when we drift to old hurts and disappointments we need to STOP and pray. When we find ourselves reacting before we know what’s going on we need to STOP and pray. Using free will, we can choose Him, choose His way, trust Him and let go! Even when the world is falling apart around us due to choices evil people make, we need to have faith in the most difficult circumstances as well as the easy ones. Constancy is the key.
5 Things that pull us from the primacy of God
- AN OUT-OF-CONTROL SCHEDULE
Ephesians 5:16 Make good use of every opportunity you have, because these are evil days. (GNT)
Be responsible and seek God’s will in everything you do. Make the best use of your time allowing God to stimulate your soul and thank Him as you go about your days. Allow Him to strengthen you, to keep you in the light, not grumpy or agitated, go into your day aware of God’s presence. Don’t squeeze Him in somewhere, talk to him all day long. Keep him at the front of your mind and in your thoughts.
- MISPLACED AFFECTIONS
1John 2:15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.
Don’t love the world’s ways and don’t love ‘stuff’. When you fall into THE MATERIAL trap you are squeezing God out. Wanting your way in every situation, craving the ‘things’ of the world, wanting to appear important, none of it has anything to do with God and is counter to what He put in your heart. Misplaced affections separate you from the Father setting you adrift.
Matthew 14:28-31 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” – “Yes, come,” Jesus said. – So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. – But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. – Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,”Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”
Peter took his eyes off Jesus to look at the waves. We all do it; we take our eyes off of Him when we are afraid, discouraged, angry, and confused. Life will consume us unless we give up control and love God in all circumstanceS, allowing his grace to take us from anguish and grief to peace and joy. He puts us back in the boat.
1Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
When blessed with abundance, when prospering, we drift away and become complacent. Our daily conversations dwindle. We need to be aware that abundance and blessings can set us up to become distant if we are not CAREFUL. We talked about differences in how we converse with God, some of us set a time in the morning, diligently reading, praying and meditating on the Word then head into the day never giving God another thought. Others do not set aside that time each day, but can be seen chatting with God all day long. Which are you?
- PARASITIC SINS
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
Admit your sins, what are your issues, what do you struggle with? Name it, and say it, out loud, to another person, Someone you trust. Let a friend know about your struggle and ask them to pray for you. Find an accountability partner and talk! How do you need help?
Matthew 6:33-34 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
God knows our hearts. He knows what causes us to drift, what pulls us away. 1John reminds me to seek Him first. Everything I need God has the power to bring. I don’t need more stuff, presents under the tree, a new diamond ring. It’s people that matter most, and the way we love them. So I am making a fresh commitment to do things differently this year and come New Year’s day I will let you know what was different as a result. I have an accountability partner, my friend Kelly, and encourage you to find one, someone you trust with your innermost soul, the person who knows you best, the good, the bad and the ugly, the person you can trust with your heart. Stay in touch with them and stay accountable towards keeping your eyes on Christ as you step out of the boat to walk on water. And if you should falter, become afraid and look at the waves, taking your eyes off Christ, don’t worry.
He’s got you!
If you would like to read more about surrendering check out:
and check out the Bible Study tab for more from our Wednesday group. I look forward to reading your comments about your journey.
Bless you! With a smile, Carlyn 🙂


Ampney St Mary, GL7 5SG
The 12th century church stands alone and about a mile from the present village of Ampney St Mary.
When the Black Death swept the country from 1348 to 1350, it is thought that the villagers either died or simply fled the site to build in a healthier position.
On the north, or main road side of the church, a blocked doorway can be seen. The lintel or tympanum above the door is Norman. The carved design is unique and shows the Lion of Righteousness striding triumphantly over two horrific agents of the devil.
The bellcote is 600 years old, while the bell itself is dated 1747 and is inscribed with the motto; 'Peace and Good Neighbourhood'.
At the entrance of the south porch on the right hand side is a late 15th century niche. The elm door is itself ancient and as you open it, you will see the Norman Font with its band of chevron moulding round the edge.
The Nave (the main body of the church) is 12th century. There are three windows : the large West window is decorated with beautiful tracery : the small window in the South wall is possibly pre-Norman and is pierced through a single block of stone, being rebated externally for a shutter and internally for a frame to perhaps carry a skin instead of costly glass : the window between the porch and chancel is late 15th century and has a piscina in the sill.
The Chancel is a 13th century extension, but the East window, although based on medieval colour and design, is modern. A rare survival is the stone screen separating the chancel from the nave, with the elbow of one 'return stall' still to be seen.
The communion rails and altar are Caroline and so, too is the church plate which consists of one chalice dated 1635.
Outside the church, baroque cherubs gaze from tombstones and, just beyond the churchyard 's south-west boundary there is a footbridge over the Ampney Brook. During the period 1879-1913, St Mary's church became completely smothered by a forest of ivy; hence the much-used local name - 'The Ivy Church'.
A key feature and treasure of this ancient church are the medieval wall paintings. Look around the nave carefully and you will see figures looking out at you.
The wall paintings, though faded, remind us of the rich colourings by which medieval churches were made splendid. Traces of paintings are everywhere, but the best preserved are between the porch and the chancel. "Keep Holy the Sabbath Day" and "Christ of the Trades" are suggested titles. It will be seen that the crucified Lord is surrounded by various tools familiar to us. To the left of the door a wheelwright trues a spoke by holding it to his eye, above to the left is a completed wheel.


Welcome to the Bethel Methodist Church of Denton County.
Thank you for visiting our site. The Bethel Methodist Church of Denton County is a mission church conducting bible studies and other various church activities.
It is our deep desire that as we come together for worship and fellowship, that God will help us to Understand and Know Him as He really is. We desire other like-minded people in our local area to join us as we seek to perceive the “Why’s” of scripture.
If you feel a need to deepen and enlarge your understanding of God’s Word, we would like you to consider the Bethel Methodist Church. We appreciate your taking the time to read this information. God can be more real to you than you ever imagined. We invite you to experience the excitement, joy and peace which come from perceiving Christ as He really is. It will make a profound and lasting difference in your life and your relationship with God.
Weekly Bible Studies and Event Schedule:
Sunday School: 10:00 A.M.
Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 A.M.
3126 FM 2931
Aubrey, TX 76227


"I feel like in my whole life, I have never lengthened my stride so much, I have never been so quick, I have never reached such heights, my vision has never been so wide, and I have never been so stretched as I have in these last 18 months in the mission field. I have also never sweated so much!” These are Lauren Pratt’s thoughts as she completes her full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Arizona Scottsdale Mission. She served the Spanish-speaking people in the cities of Phoenix, Mesa, and Scottsdale.
Pratt focused on miracles during her service, saying “I have done everything possible to show our Heavenly Father that I believe in miracles, and that they can be wrought through a weak and imperfect person such as I. It has been such a faith-building experience to see these miracles take place and to take a moment, be still, and know without a doubt that Jesus is The Christ.”
Pratt will speak to her home congregation, the Spanish Branch, this Sunday, August 26 at 12:10 pm at the Liberty Chapel at 1259 French Avenue. She will also speak to the Young Single Adult Branch at 1:00 pm at the chapel at 400 Spruce Street. Pratt plans to return to BYU-Idaho in January to continue her education. Her parents are Bryan and Denise Pratt.


At Glorify, we are aiming to build the very best experience to help Christians connect with God every day.
We are dedicated to our users and continually strive for excellence. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to us that we are able to provide our users with the very best daily worship experience possible.
We are extremely proud of our team of dedicated people who have worked very hard to create and support the Glorify app. In order to ensure we continue delivering a world-class experience for our community, and reach as many fellow Christians as we can, we need to be able to invest in our team and technology.
This is why we have made the decision to introduce a new funding methodology. Please note, some of the most popular features of Glorify will remain free for everyone, such as the Bible, Journal, Prayer experience and the ability to read our daily passage and devotional. This decision was made based on our belief that worship and being close to God should be accessible to everyone. As the Bible tells us, we can reach Jesus wherever and whenever we need to.


Written in English
|The Physical Object|
|Pagination||ii, 63 leaves ;|
|Number of Pages||63|
The Body of Christ: A Secret. The Church, the Body of Christ, was a new creation, a “secret” (μυστήριον) God revealed to Paul. As such, it did not exist before Paul (Ephesians ; Colossians ; Romans ). Paul wrote to the Ephesians about the Body of Christ. He declared it was a secret God had revealed to him alone. Mystical body of Christ, in Roman Catholicism, a mystical union of all Christians into a spiritual body with Jesus Christ as their head. The concept is rooted in the New Testament and possibly reflects Christianity’s roots in Judaism; St. Paul’s letters to the Corinthians and Romans both use the. The Mystical Body of Christ is distinct from the physical Body of Christ that was born of the Blessed Virgin, “suffered, died, and was buried,” rose again, and is now glorified in heaven and made present on our altars at Mass. Christian theologians consider John to be a central text in their belief that Jesus is God, in connection with the idea that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit together are one gh the term Logos or Word is not retained as a title in John's Gospel beyond the prologue, the whole gospel presses these basic claims. As the Logos, Jesus Christ is God in self-revelation (Light.
John Arblaster is a postdoctoral researcher at the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, KU Leuven and the Ruusbroec Institute, University of Antwerp. His research focuses on the doctrine of deification in the mystical literature of the late medieval Low Countries. With Rob Faesen, he co-edited A Companion to John of Ruusbroec (Brill, ) and Mystical Anthropology: Authors from the Low. Examining the Nature of the Church enables us to have a profound understanding of the Mystical Body of Christ. The most striking words with regards to the doctrine of the Mystical body can be found in the book of Acts as we read (Acts ) "But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at. Books shelved as christian-doctrine: Chosen By God: Know God's Perfect Plan for His Glory and His Children by R.C. Sproul, Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewi. The Mystical Body of Christ captures the theological brilliance of Venerable Fulton J. Sheen, nationally renowned Catholic television and radio personality, before his meteoric rise to fame in the s. First published in , this book reveals Sheen's accessibility and theologically astute teaching styles as he writes about the Church as an extension of the by: 4.
The Christian doctrine of one God in three persons is known as. The time wen the Holy Spirit descended on the early Christian church. A Christian name for the Feast of Weeks in Judaism. All Christians considered together at the mystical body of Christ. Pantheon. all the gods or a temple dedicated to them. Christian mysticism refers to mystical practices and theory within ism is not so much a doctrine as a method of thought. It has often been connected to mystical theology, especially in the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christianity (both the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox traditions).. The attributes and means by which Christian mysticism is studied and practiced are. The doctrine of the Mystical Body of Christ is one which has stood out quite clearly from the very beginning. It has not undergone development. The sacred writers have simply made known to us the reality revealed to them. This being so, it will be unnecessary to quote at any length the teaching of the Fathers on this most important point. I have always enjoyed what I have read from Hall, so I bought this book as a follow-on to "Old Testament Wisdom". The main differences between the two books, is that "Old Testament Wisdom" has quite a bit of Kabbalistic and esoteric speculation, whereas "The Mystical Christ" is content with an almost traditional mystical view that is unlikely to ruffle many feathers/5(13).


Why Do Members of The Church Struggle MORE w/ Pornography?
Did you know: studies show that members of the church and people of faith struggle MORE in sexual addiction recovery programs? This fact may come as a shock to some while no surprise to others.
A non-religious person might say "well that makes perfect sense! Religion is sexually oppressive and emotionally scarring.” Whereas a Christian or other religious person might respond "well that doesn't make any sense at all! Doesn't God help heal and save those in recovery?”
Well yes! God absolutely does, but there are several limiting beliefs and pitfalls that keep Christians and other people of faith in the addiction trap.
Over the last few years studying porn and sexual addiction recovery, I have witnessed and identified some of these key pitfalls that hinder the recovery process. Whether you are in recovery yourself or supporting someone else, understanding these pitfalls will change how you approach faith and healing in sexual addiction recovery.
The first pitfall of faith in recovery is an unhealthy relationship with God.
Shame is undeniably one of the top five triggers for addiction and one of the biggest reasons why individuals stay in the addiction cycle. The cycle begins with shame which triggers urges (flight mode or the desire to escape reality or the present), which leads to relapse, which triggers greater shame, and so on.
You may be familiar with the scripture as quoted by Abraham Lincoln: “A house divided cannot stand.” When a person is internally conflicted or divided like this, they will struggle to have clarity and success on the path to recovery. They are battling themselves and God, while fighting for survival emotionally and spiritually, and feel they are losing on all fronts.
When a person of faith struggles with addiction, the guilt and shame they feel is also significantly magnified. Not only will they feel personally shameful about relapses, but they have the added fear of judgment from God and their faith community. This is why so many struggling with addiction leave the church–it becomes too emotionally painful to bare the shame and continue the cycle. It feels easier to run away than to address the problems and make necessary changes.
As long as an individual has an unhealthy or chaotic relationship with God they cannot have a clear conscience and will inevitably struggle with self-esteem, self-respect and self-confidence. This lack of self-confidence can lead to hopelessness and depression, again, making recovery more difficult. The cycle looks something like this:
Poor relationship with God > low self-esteem > relapse > difficulty feeling God’s love > shame > low self-esteem > relapse > and so forth
The journey of recovery requires great resolve and courage in the face of challenges. Although the process can increase an individual’s self-worth, there seems to be a baseline required for successful execution and enduring the challenges of recovery. So how do you escape low self-esteem when the process of recovery itself requires a certain level of self-worth?
This is where I think 12-Step programs have it right. The solution to escape this cycle is in humble confession to God which has the power to take one from the chaos of sin and shame, to a place of grace and hope. This happens through submission to His will and an offering of a “broken heart and contrite Spirit”. It is overcome by the small, daily, religious practices of studying one’s scriptures, praying, and asking for forgiveness. It is in admitting you cannot do it alone and having faith that with God all things are possible.
This kind of self-worth is built on a foundation of faith in God and a clear conscience before Him. This does not require a person to be perfect at all times, but rather it comes from a peace of mind in doing one’s best and a faith that God will help them overcome the rest.
The second pitfall of faith in recovery is misconceptions about the process of recovery.
Stories of miraculous healing and instant relief from urges and temptations are wonderful and to be celebrated, however, these are frankly very rare. More often than not, even the most faithful individuals have to face a serious uphill battle when battling addiction.
The fact is simply that God does not often remove the consequences of our actions. In this case, including the withdrawals and urges of addiction. As a parent, He seems to say, “I told you over and over. I warned you not to get tangled in sin because I knew it would hurt and be as a cord around your neck. Nevertheless, I will forgive you and walk with you on the journey home.”
Successful recovery is achieved in taking personal responsibility for not only the addiction itself, but the consequences as well including urges, withdrawals, triggers, damages, and all other effects of the addiction. It is only through a complete and humble ownership for one's actions and their effects that one begins the path to recovery.
The third pitfall is having the wrong reasons for recovery.
“Because God said so.” “Because it’s wrong.” “Because others will judge me.” “Because I’m not worthy for certain opportunities in the church.”
Typically beliefs such as these result in men who feel frustrated, sexually oppressed, and remain stuck in the addiction cycle. Alternatively, by choosing better reasons for recovery that focus on the real benefits and the positive effects on one's life, can one begin to make significant progress towards recovery.
It’s important that individuals struggling with pornography and their faith understand that God gives us commandments because He loves us, he sees our potential, and He wants us to be happy. Why does God limit sexual expressions and activities? Because He loves us and has a perfect understanding of our bodies, minds, and potential.
Recovery from pornography it’s not a matter of shame, guilt, or arbitrary rules. It is something that is meant to have a powerful effect on your life for good, so choose reasons that are positive and inspiring rather than focusing on the negative.
The fourth pitfall for religious people in recovery is an unhealthy view of sex.
Urges are a part of who we are. We just need to refine and bridle them.
Sexuality is a core part of our biology and our eternal natures. It is something that God designed us with and because of that, urges in and of themselves are neither good nor bad. It is only how we act on them that marks the difference between sacred and sinful.
Simply having a desire for a partner or sexual pleasure does not make you a bad person. However, indulging in those thoughts or seeking out illicit sexual experiences that go against God‘s purposes can keep you from a meaningful connection with Him and from reaching your highest potential.
Alternatively, some may feel overwhelmed by cultural messages that glorify or encourage sexuality and and find this at odds with their faith. This can leave them feeling confused and discouraged. If one feels torn between God’s word and worldly messaging, it is important to get “off the fence”.
As the Biblical scripture says: “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
Conquering Sexual Addiction With Faith
If you are conquering this addiction for yourself:
Although you may be coming from a rough place spiritually and mentally, take hope in knowing that many have been in your shoes and successfully conquered. You are not alone and you CAN succeed.
As you walk this road, I encourage you to have faith and look to the future with hope and optimism. You are on the right path–the same path walked by even King David, a chosen man of God, after he fell to lust and sexual sin. Your sins are known by God, and yet He has offered you forgiveness.
Furthermore, try to remember that although He loves you, forgives you, and wants you to be happy, He also wants you to grow. Just like a child learning to walk, He sees the value in your stumbling. He is watching as you continue to fight, push forward, and stand back up from your falls. That is the process of becoming strong and reaching the potential He sees in you!”
(Above passage taken from the book: “Fight The Beast: The Proven 30-Day Method for Sexual Addiction Recovery” by Heather Nielsen)
If you are helping someone else:
Remember that the faith and recovery journey is deeply emotional and personal. The greatest contribution you can make is to be a loving support, and provide a shame-free, safe space for the person struggling to share the good, the bad, and the ugly of what they are going through. Pray for them, pray with them if they feel comfortable, remind them of God’s love and faith in them, and most importantly be patient. Know your role is critical to their success and you are doing an important and appreciated work.
Boost Recovery With Fight The Beast
Whether you are struggling for yourself or helping someone else, we invite you to take advantage of the many resources at FightTheBeast.org. We offer a wide variety of free and paid resources including accountability partners, free events, group support, coaching plans, and our proven 30-Day recovery programs. Recovery doesn’t have to be lonely or difficult with proven strategies and expert support.
About The Author:
Heather is the Founder & CEO of Fight The Beast and author of the curriculum. She has dedicated her life to this cause and works tirelessly to help her clients and community achieve freedom from porn. (Read more here.)


Eamonn Lynskey looks into the portrayal of these mysterious beings
When the Christian Fathers sat in conclave at the Council of Laodicea in 363 AD they had a full agenda before them. It was still early centuries in the history of Christianity and the matters for discussion included the need to maintain order among its bishops and clerics, as well as the enforcement of modest behaviour among its laity – perennial preoccupations which would not lessen in succeeding centuries. There was also the question of how to deal with heretics and the need to set out regular liturgical practices. And there was the trouble with angels.
The Fathers were aware of an increase in the veneration of angels, the offering of prayers to them and the asking of favours from them. This was a practice that had become widespread in Christianity by the 4th century. Was there a danger that angels, the messengers and servants of God, might come to be regarded as His equals? St Paul in a letter to the Colossians had warned about ‘grovelling to angels and worshipping them’.
As with any organisation, then and now, those in charge were aware of the deleterious effects of splinter groups. The Council therefore prescribed excommunication for members of cults who invoked angels in order to gather followers. However, nothing was said against the veneration of angels as messengers of God.
The debate itself is a sign of the importance of angels in the life of early Christianity. But the trouble was that these ethereal beings were never wholly amenable to church rules and regulations. Holy persons can be canonized as saints (or uncanonized, as in Vatican II in 1962); martyrdoms can be recognised; miracles can be adjudicated; liturgy formulated – but angels are a different matter. They are much favoured by God – being His courtiers, dedicated to praising Him and adoring Him continually in heavenly choirs. Besides, they existed before the Church did or even before humans did, according to The Book of Revelation, which describes the palace coup attempted by insubordinate angels against God and suppressed by loyal angels under the command of Archangel Michael. These rebels, incited – we are told – by their ringleader Satan were cast out of heaven and thereafter dedicated themselves to doing evil evermore to mankind, or until the Day of Judgement at least. And this of course is another trouble with angels: they are not all good. Any appearance of The Angel of Death – or his comrades Famine, War and Conquest – is never welcome. Furthermore, angels are multidenominational, appearing in other religions besides Christianity, including Islam.
From earliest times, angels have had as much a hold on the popular imagination as they have today, and even more so. This devotion to heavenly spirits had led to developments that had little – or even nothing at all – to do with Church teaching. Since 380 AD, when Christianity had been declared the State Church of the Roman Empire, the depiction in paintings and frescoes of these heavenly spirits had begun to change. One of the major changes was that angels began to acquire wings.
Biblical details about these appendages are vague, particularly in the New Testament. All four of the Evangelists acknowledge the intervention of angels in human affairs, but details of their actual appearance are scant. These heavenly beings usually take the form of human-like creatures, recognisable as angels only by a glow that surrounds them. They arrive to deliver messages from on high, as in Luke’s gospel when the archangel Gabriel visits the young virgin to announce to her that she is to become the mother of Jesus Christ. And indeed, the word ‘angel’ derives from Hebrew and Greek and means ‘messenger’. Sometimes angels offer help and solace, as when an angel appears to Jesus during His agonies on the Mount of Olives: ‘Then an angel appeared to him, coming to him from Heaven, to give him strength’ says Luke, but he gives no detailed description of that angel. Nor does he give any of the heavenly beings who appear to the shepherds to tell them where to find the Holy Infant. Nor of the two strangers that the women meet at the tomb of Jesus, except to hint at their attire: ‘… two men in brilliant clothes stood at their side’.
Despite this lack of scriptural authority, after the 4th century angels began to be pictured as having wings, as well as some other additions such as haloes and improvements in the design of their former simple attire. The acquisition of wings derived from ancient mythologies which predated the Bible, such as the supernatural winged beings of ancient Babylon and the vast array of Greek and Roman gods. For instance, figures like Mercury, the Roman winged messenger from Olympus, influenced depictions of Gabriel. And the Archangel Michael was increasingly portrayed with his foot on a dragon (Satan) and with his mighty sword held high, resembling Pallas Athena, the warlike goddess of ancient Greece. It was a good fit, considering Michael’s unparalleled military victory over Satan’s forces of evil, as previously mentioned.
So it was that in the course of the centuries, angels – once depicted as human-like but ethereal creatures who dressed in simple clothes – evolved into something often quite different: substantial beings, sumptuously clad, and with wings. By the time of the Italian Renaissance many angels had acquired beautiful flowing apparel, as can be seen in the figure of Gabriel in the Annunciation paintings of such masters as Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) and Carlo Crivelli (1430-1495). A similar increasingly luxurious portrayal can be seen in many other works like those of Andrea Botticelli (1445-1510) where the angels are also shown to have somehow mastered the playing of a wide range of the musical instruments popular at the time.
These changes in the depiction of angels could have been sent from on high into the minds of these great artists but it is more likely that they are a response to the consumer demands of the period – particularly to the demands of fabulously rich merchant princes like the Medici, and a Church which had long left behind its early days as a minor and persecuted sect and had become a rich, opulent and powerful organisation. Fulsome artistic interpretations of ethereal beings were welcomed by Popes, Cardinals and Bishops who were prepared to foot the bill for even the most extravagant of statues and paintings. And in the Italy of the 1500s there was no shortage of masters like Michelangelo and Bernini to step up and supply that demand. It could be argued that the magnificent and memorable visualisations of angels by the extraordinary artists of that extraordinary period in Western art shaped the image of angels in the popular mind from that time onwards.
Another practice – again with no biblical or Church authority behind it – was the introduction by these Renaissance masters of ‘baby angels’ in many of their works. These diminutive figures are descendants of the little beings prevalent in the art of ancient Greece and Rome who were often shown frolicking in the company of the pagan gods and goddesses. Their inclusion in Christian religious paintings derives from this ancient tradition, but also because of a belief that had come about in the minds of the faithful that young children who died early went straight to a heaven in which they lived a happy and playful existence. These little winged beings, once the attendants of Bacchus and Venus, came to be shown in attendance on the Madonna and the infant Jesus, as in the 17th century artist Giovanni Sassoferrato’s wonderful ‘Virgin and Child seated in Clouds’, (National Gallery of Ireland). As art historian Erika Langmuir writes: ‘When infant mortality was high, images of happy babies gambolling in Heaven helped to console bereaved parents, sustaining the popular but heretical belief that [these]angels are the ascended souls of infants who die in a state of grace’ (‘A Closer Look – Angels’, published by the National Gallery of London, 2010).
This suggestion as to the origin of these baby winged figures raises the question as to the origin of so many other changes in the appearance and function of angels over the centuries. Are these changes a divine transformation by the angels themselves, constantly adapting to our needs? Or is it we, earthly beings, that bring about these changes by projecting onto these heavenly beings our needs and desires? Which of us has never wanted protection from harm? Who has never longed for a someone to look out for their interests? Or for a someone who will come to comfort them in their hour of despair?
These very understandable human longings could explain another popular notion regarding angels. Certainly Gabriel, Michael and Raphael are involved in important work – are members of God’s inner cabinet, so to speak – but there are a host of other less important spirits which are said to act in a protective capacity as our ‘guardian’ angels. Everyone has one, sometimes two it’s said, to guide them through life, as used to be shown in the ‘holy pictures’ that children once received as presents to insert in their prayer books. These little cards would often picture a child going too near a cliff edge, or in some other danger, and a winged spirit intervening just in time.
And there is no escaping the presence of angels in everyday life. ‘You’re an angel’ we might say to someone who does us a favour. Or we might describe a piece of music as ‘angelic’. They are present too in many artworks, other than the visual. John Keats writes about how ‘Great spirits now on earth are sojourning’, while Emily Dickinson in her poem entitled ‘A Poor, Torn Heart’ declares that ‘The angels happening that way / This dusty heart espied, / Tenderly took it up from toil / And carried it to God’. And in that old cinema classic High Society we have Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly singing ‘For you and I have a guardian angel / On high with nothing to do / But to give to you and to give to me / Love forever true …’.
How comforting! But can it be so? Are we really looked after from Above? The time to start thinking about this question is the next occasion when you are dumbfounded by an extraordinary coincidence in your life, or when you barely survive a brush with something really undesirable, or perhaps when you have a sudden and totally unexpected stroke of good luck – events for which you will be at a complete loss to explain. Unless … Unless there has been some form of mysterious intervention. The trouble with angels is … you’ll never know for sure.
This article appears in the current issue of SeniorTimes – available in newsagents


Every born-again believer knows about the spiritual realm and the demonic attacks. They know about the powerful spiritual warfare. If you are a born-again believer, baptized in water and Spirit, you have become a new creation in Christ. The older man is gone, a new spirit-filled man is born. We are now accompanied by God’s Spirit, the third in the trinity, Our beautiful Friend the Holy Spirit! No real believer is going to war without the proper outfit and weapons. A spirit-filled godly believer follows God’s word and concentrates on what is going on in the spiritual realm with his inner eyes, ears, senses, and heart. The Holy Spirit is the believer’s spiritual GPS. I know that everyone who doesn’t believe and is baptized in water and Spirit, not born-again, will not understand what I am saying. The fact is millions of Christians don’t know what I am talking about, and this is worrying.
Spiritual Weapons- The Weak Army
When I came to the Netherlands, I first noticed many churches but not many born-again sisters and brothers in Christ. I was very disappointed and visited many churches because I couldn’t find the right place where it felt like coming home. Christians even attacked me for my spirit-filled life with Jesus. In the beginning, when I lived in Utrecht, the pastor of my first husband has lived several years in Peru working with born-again pastors, but in Utrecht, he attacked me for my faith. It was challenging for me because my husband’s family couldn’t accept me, and the spiritual war was weakening me, mainly because I was emotionally involved. My husband turned to his family and divorced me.
There was a time I didn’t know what to do, living in a country I didn’t like, moving back to Ireland to my friends and church, or going to Germany, which wasn’t my home anymore. wasn’t an option. I was restless and prayed very much, but I was also exhausted from all the fights. And suddenly God said:” Be still and know that I am God!” And at that moment, the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, came over me, and I felt safe.
From this moment, everything fell into place. Today, I am married to a beautiful Dutchman who also comes from the strict Dutch church but has learned to be led by God’s Spirit.
The problem with most Christians is that they are just going to the church, not knowing how to fight spiritual warfare against the devil and the demons. They don’t know about the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the heavenly language, and how to put on the godly armor. But they attack spirit-filled believers for not having the right clothes, faith, and traditions. The devil is laughing; as long Christians attack other Christians, he can destroy them.
John 3/ 5-7 says:
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and which is born of the Spirit is Spirit.
Do not marvel that I say to you, ‘you must be born-again!’.”
If someone is not born of water( baptism) and the Spirit ( baptism in the Spirit), he can not enter the Kingdom of God, and he will not know how the Spirit works.
Most Christians are clothing themselves nicely and follow the law of Moses, but don’t understand that they are free when they are born-again, saved by the Blood and Grace of our Lord Jesus. The ten commandments are in our hearts because if you follow Jesus, you do keep the commandments. But even you don’t keep them, for example, you are angry and speaking falsely about someone else, you can repent and ask for forgiveness, and you are free again. If you read God’s word daily and pray to the Lord, depending on Him, you will become more like the Lord Jesus. His Grace saves us!
In 2 Corinthians 10/3-5, it is written.
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”
Our weapons are not carnal but mighty in God!
Ephesians 6/11-18 speaks about the armor we must put on every day!
“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness.
And having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
Above all, take the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
always praying with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints!”
It means to be a good warrior of Christ; we need to be born-again, clothe ourselves with the whole armor of God, be watchful, and pray consistently!
We are not fighting against flesh and blood, but against powers and principalities, the rulers of the darkness of this age!
Therefore to fight the spiritual warfare, we need God’s powerful army, born-again Christians praying together against the rulers of the darkness of this age. There are also many born-again Christians who listen to God’s voice and are ready to fight. Thank the Lord Jesus!
God has already given us the victory through His Son Jesus Christ! Because of His death at the cross for us, we are by faith, and Grace saved, and because the Holy Spirit seals us, born-again and mighty in Jesus, through Jesus, and with Jesus, we are His warrior. If we put on the whole armor of God, we have already won the battle.
I have so many times experienced how the Holy Spirit has moved through my prayers, healed people, given a prophecy to my sisters and brothers in Christ, but also a confirmation to my many questions.
God promises that we are already blessed, healed, carried by Him, able to bind the demons, and get rest. The impossible is possible through Our Lord Jesus! Faith is a gift!
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life!
In John 14/12, the Lord says
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will also do, and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father!”
“And whatever you ask in My Name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask anything in My Name, I will do it!
If you love Me, keep My commandments.
And I will pray for the Father, and He will give you another Helper that He may abide with you forever!
The Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you!
A little while longer, the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.
On that day, you will know that I am in My Father and you in Me, and I in you! Amen!”
The Holy Spirit seals us!
The Open Heaven
To experience an open heaven, we must be born-again, put on the whole armor of God, and pray the heavenly language with other tongues, which only the Spirit understands. A spirit-filled believer who prays daily in the Spirit feels the resistance of a closed heaven. Resisting and praying with determination is shifting the spiritual realm. Accompanied by worship and praising will make a breakthrough for the believer and he/she experience an open heaven. If you have never experienced it before, you will not know what I mean. Depression, Sadness, Anger can all come from a close spiritual atmosphere.
Prayers combined with fasting create a spiritual atomic bomb that crashes the demons. The angels of God are fighting the battle for you. “Where two or three are coming together, Jesus will be in the midst!” One can move 1000s; two already move 10000s. Whatever you bind in heaven is bound on Earth!
An open heaven is blessings and healings coming down on you! If you feel resistance while praying, cite scriptures, pray in other tongues until you break through, then you know you have got the victory.
Very often, when I prayed through resistance and felt the breaking through, the peace, and the deep knowledge of victory finally, I got attacked by the devil because he was furious. However, people are healed or changed; whole situations are changed for the positive. Amazing!
Jesus has given us the spiritual weapons and the armor to be a warrior of Christ, but you need to be born-again; otherwise, you can’t use them. The victory is ours through the Lord Jesus! You can already change a lot if you have faith so small as a mustard seed. Every Spirit-filled believer has the Holy Spirit as a Friend who guides them daily. The Holy Spirit warns us and speaks to us most times using scriptures from the Bible, songs, posters and nature, and other people. As born-again believers, we are used to listening to the Holy Spirit! We hear Him!
Fasting and praying are powerful tools; they are like an atomic bomb in the spiritual realm. Our God is a Victor, and whoever believes in Him is a Victor.
Jesus said in Matthew 17/ 19-21:
“Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’
So Jesus said to them,’ Because of your unbelief; for assuredly I say to you, if you have faith like a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain ‘Move from here to there!’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.
However, this kind does not go out except by prayers and fasting!”
There are powerful demons that can only be cast out or bound with prayers and fasting! This is spiritual warfare!
The Victory is in Jesus!
The moment Jesus came into my life, I knew directly that He was Jesus! When our Lord Jesus Christ died at the cross, we were freed of sin and law. By His Grace, we are saved if we believe!
I come from an atheistic family; we go to confirmation and visit the Christmas service only because of tradition. I was interested in all kinds of religions and practiced Buddhism.
However, I suffered a difficult time, worked myself into a burn-out syndrome, low energy, and depression. One day I called on to God and shouted, ‘Father, if you are real, please come and help me!’ I remember lying on the carpet in my living room when suddenly a vision came upon me. A hand coming from above gave me a red rose, and I felt such love and peace that I knew that is Jesus! I didn’t know Jesus till then.
I had difficult moments because I met my beautiful friend Anka who brought me to her church, an apostolic church with American pastors. They were so Spirit-filled that I ran away very often because I couldn’t handle this anointing. I started to visit Anka’s house group, and one evening I prayed the sinner’s repentance and invited my Lord Jesus in my heart. From that moment, I grow spiritually. I got baptized in water and Spirit, and the anointing grew. Thank my Lord Jesus! We are sinners, and we don’t deserve anything, but because of His Grace, we are loved and overwinners through, in, and with the Lord Jesus Christ!
I will encourage you to open your heart and ask the Lord Jesus into your heart and life! You will be amazed how Jesus will answer you in the language you understand. I received a rose, but He will answer you, for sure, the way you understand, maybe with scripture, or someone says something to you, a poster, a song, a dream, or a vision. I know many sisters who encountered an angel who saved their lives because otherwise, they would have committed suicide. God’s ways are so many.
Jesus has spoken to me twice with a real voice. I am sad because I lost the first one while moving countries, but I still remember the second time. I was working as a travel nurse in Utrecht, the Netherlands, and I sat in my car listening to worship music, singing and feeling great, praying to my Lord, when suddenly a voice asked me: “Do you really worship me?” So soft, so kind, so gentle, but so powerful, it hit my heart! And I cried because I thought that I worship the Lord with my whole heart and being.
Jesus is a gentleman. He loves us and has given victory to all His disciples if we believe! Faith is a gift, but you can ask for this gift! Do you remember? Whatever you ask in the name of Jesus, it will be given to you! That is a promise!
It is so peace-giving, this promise!
The beauty of spiritual warfare is caused by our Lord Jesus, who died for us at the cross and is with us when we desire it. If we are born-again, we have the armor of God and the spiritual weapons we can use, be guided by the Holy Spirit, Our beautiful Friend! If you have faith like a mustard seed, you will make the impossible possible because of Him! The Holy Spirit will show you how to read the word of God, the Bible, how to pray, and to fast. He will guide you to the right church and bring you into position! The Holy Spirit is a gentle Friend! Thank you, Lord Jesus, Father, and my beautiful Friend Holy Spirit!
Do you believe it? Jesus is alive; it is about faith and not religion! He speaks to you! Please let me know how do you think?
The sinner’s prayer:
“The Sinner’s Prayer (by Dr. Ray Pritchard)
Lord Jesus, for too long, I’ve kept you out of my life. I know that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself. No longer will I close the door when I hear you knocking. By faith, I gratefully receive your gift of salvation. I am ready to trust you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming to earth. I believe you are the Son of God who died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Thank you for bearing my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life. I believe your words are true. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, and be my Savior. Amen.”
All the Best,


“Christmas Always Begins at Midnight”
By Rev. A. Powell Davies D.D.
Whenever we feel pessimistic concerning the future of humanity upon this troubled planet, we can always remember this: that with all his fears and failings, man has yet somehow managed to put the brightest of his festivals in the darkest part of the year. Not at midsummer but at mid-winter, he celebrates most universally his hope and joy.
The hardihood of this festival, continuing, as it has, through many thousands of years, and rising, stage by stage, from primitive frenzy to pagan jubilation and finally to the symbolism of Christian observance, gives us true cause for confidence and reassurance. When it is darkest, man celebrates the light. When the earth is most desolate, he carols his joy. When the harshest and bleakest of the seasons is upon him, he can turn to gentleness, kindness and forbearance. His courage can rise superior to his circumstances.
Perhaps this is the thought above all others that Christmas can cheer us with this year. It is the inner significance, the spiritual essence of Christmas that can mean most to us, for once. For certainly we shall not find it easy to be spontaneously happy in a world so full of miseries. Nor should we. Anyone who could be truly carefree this Christmas would need to be either inhumanly callous or verging on the imbecilic. If we are to celebrate the ancient festival of light overcoming darkness, it must be in the full knowledge of how dense is the darkness against which the light must shine.
The Yuletide observance goes back, of course, to the festival of joy that primitive man inaugurated to celebrate the passing of the winter solstice; the sun’s regaining of his powers, the turning-point after which there would be no more shortening of days. Probably, if we of the modern world could enter into the groping mind of that primitive man, we would come back with an appreciation of the cost of human progress that would astonish us.
That earliest man had no assurance – nothing that he knew for certain – of the coming back of life to the earth; of spring and summer; of the sureness of the strengthening sun. He had watched the sun grow weaker and the days grow shorter almost with bated breath, and gradually had adopted customs and devices – thousands of them in the end – where by he hoped to arrest the threat of total darkness and help the lifeñreturning cycle to succeed.
Early Man’s Christmas Eve
He rolled wheels of fire down the mountainsides at midnight on what we now call Christmas eve. This was to encourage the sun by example. He kept the yule log burning. containing the life of the sacred tree consumed in the sacred element, fire, from which the sun might be rekindled. He burnt his torches; precursors of our Christmas candles. These and a myriad other things, many of which, in a disguised and softened fashion, still survive as Christmas customs. But in all of them man flung his own desperate courage against the precariousness of his circumstances. Presently. out of the vindication of his faith came his joy, and upon it he built his winter festival.
It would be a mistake to write this off as merely folklore. It is something still living as well as something in the past. Just as in our bodies we inherit all the ages of physical evolution, so in our social heritage we inherit all the ages of spiritual evolution. No one can measure the effort it must have taken to carry these primitive superstitions towards a higher level of belief. Yet it happened. Long before Christianity, it began to happen; and it became, in one religion after another, the struggle of light with darkness, of good with evil, of Ahura Mazda with Ahriman; of God, the Holy Spirit, with the powers of chaos.
And of course it was this, together with a great deal else that belongs to Yuletide, that Christianity gradually took over. Some people feel shocked when they discover that Christmas stories and Christmas customs are so much older than Christianity; but they ought to feel encouraged and enheartened. For means that these stories and usages are deeply rooted – thousands of years more deeply rooted – in human experience.
They are part of what mankind dreamed into being out of the most desolate and despairing of seasons, not only seasons of the year but seasons of the human spirit. It was from this same source that prophecy came; the prophecy of a highway in the wilderness and of the desert made glad: of “preparing the way of the Lord.” This has all been mixed and mingled together nowñin the Christian Christmas.
Light in the Darkest Hour
And it is interesting to notice that in legend upon legend, and story after story, Christmas always begins, not with daybreak and the coming of the morning – but at midnight. It was at midnight that the primitive observances began – or as near it as their reckoning could bring them. It was in the darkest hour of the night – not in the glow of morning – that the shepherds of the legend heard the angels sing. And of course, the Three Wise Men were guided, not by the sun, but by a star.
The legends have grown both beautiful and fanciful. Yet they have never drifted out of the darkness into a premature daylight. They have stayed quite close to the inner truth from which they draw their substance: the truth that man must find his faith, not in the daylight but in the dark. If he is ever to come to the light of morning, he must carry his own light with him through the night. Yes, and not only so, but he must make his songs in the darkness, too, and sing them first at midnight. He must proclaim in the desert a highway when there is no way at all – not even a path or a trail. He must – and evidently he can.
That is the ground of hope: that he can. Not as a gesture of empty defiance – that would be only pathetic – but as an act of assurance; a trumpeting of the soul’s final certainty. Here is something goes right back to the beginning, farther than thought can reach, back into the primitive from which we come. Here is something that journeys through the centuries, borne by the faith and courage of the race. Here is something that beckons to us also from the future, that belongs to the very nature of the human spirit, be cause it belongs to the nature of life itself.
It kindles a light, and no matter how little a light it is, the darkness cannot put it out. It says, Be not afraid, the good and the true are stronger than anything that stands against them, and sooner or later, will prevail. It you doubt it, look backward and trace the path by which we have come; and look around you: in spite of everything, we are still on our way. The darkness is vast truly, but across it there is a path of light – a path of moving light.
It tells a story, a thousand stories gathered up now into the Christmas story. Of an empire that was disdainful and arrogant. Of the privileged and mighty who had sold their souls for the tinsel of a moment’s pomp Of priests and temples where God was a commodity and truth a joke grown stale. They did not see that the very ground beneath their feet was slipping; so much of it was moving, and so fast. It was like the turning of the earth unnoticed. They saw only what they looked for; things they could measure in the scales of power, and with the reckoning of gain and loss.
But there was something that humbler people could have told them; both of the old that was dying, and of the new that was newly born. For something had sung it at midnight. Something had shone in the darkest hour. A dream had been told and the hearts of men were kindling. Gentleness and brotherhood were waiting for the morning, and already in the nighttime were up and on their way.
And so the empire vanished as the empires of today will also disappear. The thrones of the mighty crumbled and their palaces went up in smoke. The temples fell in ruins and the weeds grew up, covering the sepulchres of apostate priests. While the song swelled into a heavenly chorus, and again and again the darkness shone; and the dream of Jesus won the hearts of men.
Hope is Eternal
Yes, in the darkest hour, the brightest hope; and at midnight the sound of caroling! It is because in the goodness of God, we have this at our best that we shall never be altogether overtaken by what we are at our worst.
Brotherhood – we betray it, but we cannot forsake it. Love – we disown it, but we cannot renounce it. And the dream? – even in the hour of treason, it reclaims us. For we know that sometime there shall be a world in which man’s inhumanity to man is ended. A world of gladness from which all cruelty, is gone, in which the joy of each is the joy of everyone, the sorrow of each the sorrow of all. There shall be such a world because there is a song that sings it at midnight, and because in the darkest hour, there comes a light to those who sit in the darkness, and new hope to those who, in the wilderness, must walk beneath the shadow of death.
Because this is so, let us open our hearts to Christmas. Open them to all the hope that stands against a world that wastes with evil things; open them wide enough for gentleness in a world that is bitter and harsh; for loveliness in a world that is desolate; for faith and its joy and the song of its joy, that sings in the presence of God.
and the song of its joy, that sings in the presence of God.


2016 Spring Greetings
“Triumphant News-a miracle I sing- The everlasting miracle of Spring.” John Drinkwater (1882-1937)
The world is coming alive again. Time to shed the dark gloom of Winter and celebrate the kaleidoscope of colors that is Spring. One can’t help but feel joy as new life returns to the landscape. Spring truly is a miracle! Life truly is a miracle!
The volunteers at Milwaukee Birthright work miracles of love all year, welcoming new life into the world. One month before a woman’s due date, or shortly after she has given birth, Birthright provides this mom with blankets, diapers, bath supplies, and a complete baby’s first wardrobe. Thanks to our generous donors, we are able to provide this free of charge. We also offer free pregnancy testing and referral information for doctors, insurance, parenting classes, etc………..whatever is needed.
Some women come to us seeking abortion. Birthright does not give information or referrals for procedures that would end the life of an unborn child and potentially injure the mother (physically and/or emotionally). We do provide words of comfort and hope and offer alternative solutions for a woman facing a crisis pregnancy. What a reason to celebrate when this woman decides to choose life!
Milwaukee Birthright is blessed with the addition of two more dedicated volunteers; Amber and Sylvia. Additional volunteers are always welcome. Please consider joining our Birthright volunteer team and share the joy of helping others. Volunteer as little as four hours per month, in our office or taking calls on our helpline. Training is provided. Contact Judy at (414) 672-5433 or visit our web page at www.milwaukeebirthright.com for a volunteer application.
Miracles happen all around us…the miracle of a caring generous heart that helps a stranger exactly at the time help is most needed…the miracle of love offered without condition… the miracle of new life; a sign that God wants the world to continue. Miracles happen frequently at our Birthright office. Please consider a legacy gift to Milwaukee Birthright through your estate planning to help ensure the miracles continue.
Milwaukee Birthright sends our continued gratitude to Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, the Felician Services, Milwaukee Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women (MACCW) and Christ Child Society. A special thank you to the following congregations: St. Alphonsus, St. Charles Borromea, St. Eugene, Holy Apostles, St. James, St. John Vianney, Our Lady of Good Hope, St. Veronica, and Knights of Columbus (councils 524, 3702, & 13583). Thank you to all of our donors who share their love, prayers, and finances with our Birthright moms and babies.
Save the date for our annual dinner meeting and silent auction. The event will take place on Friday, November 4, 2016. We will be returning to the beautiful San Camillo, located at 10200 West Bluemound Road in Wauwatosa.
Blessings to All,
Judy Fecteau, Birthright Volunteers, Birthright Board of Directors


I’m a list person. I love lists. I love to-do lists. I love grocery lists. I love creating lists of things I love about my husband. I love giving my husband to-do lists.
Lists are great!
The thing is, though, that I realized today that I have a bad habit of defining my day/week/mood based on which mental list is longer – the good things that happened list, or the bad things that happened list.
Last week we accidentally cut our main cable line – the one that runs to the road and gives us the magical internet. That same night we evacuated our home at 2 AM to sit in an ambulance parked in our driveway while a team of firemen checked out our home because our carbon monoxide detector went off. A day later I had to call poison control because Beatrice found an ant trap that we had accidentally left out to deal with our MASSIVE ant problem. The boys argued all week. Theo didn’t listen.
All of that adds up to a bad week, right?
Well, in my mind, yes. That would equal a bad week. Because the list of bad things was pretty long and pretty heavy, so I left last week with a frustrated spirit and a defeated attitude.
What’s more, because lists are meant to be added to, I’ve carried over last week’s list of bad things into this week. This week didn’t start fresh. This week started with a list of bad things a mile long. That happened over a week ago.
Not good. Not good at all.
Ultimately, we all have a lot of good things in our life and we all have some bad things, with a few pretty awful things sprinkled in here and there. That, unfortunately, is part of being human. At the end of the day, I would whole heartedly tell you that I have a great life. I love my life. I feel honored to get to live my life.
But far too often, I end my days going through the list of bad things that happened and feeling like it was a bad day.
I think I’m too easily swayed by moments.
I’m not saying we aren’t allowed to have bad days. Bad days exist and I stand in solidarity with you if you are having one now. Hugs to you, my friend. Seriously.
I heard someone once say that she was praying that God would show her how to be unshakable. Basically, she was asking that her day/week/mood not be defined by the good or the bad that it contained, but by a higher, more stable and unshakable principle.
She wanted to believe her day was good, not despite the hard things, but because God is good. She wanted to believe that her week was good not because of a list of good things that happened, but because she knows she is loved by and provided for by an unwavering God. She wanted to know that her life was good not because everything worked out, but because her life was God’s workmanship and he looked at EVERYTHING he created and called it GOOD.
Man. I want to be like that.
I want to be unshakeable. I want my days and weeks and moods to be defined by something so much more stable than which list is longer.
I have a long way to go on this one. But I thought I’d share it with the hopes that it will encourage someone else the way it encouraged me.
My child, the troubles and temptations of your life are beginning, and may be many; but you can overcome and outlive them all if you learn to feel the strength and tenderness of your Heavenly Father as you do that of your earthly one. The more you love and trust him, the nearer you will feel to him, and the less you will depend on human power and wisdom. His love and care never tire or change, can never be taken from you, but may become the source of lifelong peace, happiness, and strength. Marmee to Jo, in Little Women


For the purpose of my sanity. So yea, pretty much art and my love for God will be my escape. #Catholic
If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you; if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy. - Psalms 137
Happy Jerusalem day.
"Do not rejoice against me, O my enemy, for though I fall, I will rise again! When I sit in darkness, the Lord himself will be my Light." (Micah 7:8)
Holy warriors for God never quit. Every warrior experiences setbacks and challenges, but the fact that God is on their side means that nothing on earth can hold them down. With God’s strength and support, you can become an unstoppable holy warrior who is victorious in every spiritual battle. That’s because when it comes to warriors, failure is never the final ending. God has guaranteed victory for those who live right in His name. Today, will you refuse to lose to the enemy? Will you rise up and reach a whole new level of abundant living? Live victoriously today; that’s what God has called you to do!
Think outside the cubicle
Today we spotted a great artist interpreting the sentence ” Think outside the box” with a brick typography and think outside the cubicle. The guy we are talking about is Zigor Samaniego designer and visual artist from Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. Since ten years he is working in this sector now and got a little experience when it comes to digital lettering and inspirational artworks. Enjoy them!
Follow Typostrate on:


How to join the Jericho Rosary
What is the Rosary Jericho
- Jericho rosary is a continuous rosary prayer for the given intention. It lasts for 7 days, 24 hours a day.
and why the Jericho website
- Usually, the rosary prayer (one part of the rosary) takes about half an hour (30 minutes). So one day, there should be at least 48 rosaries.
- In the weekly Jericho rosary, at least 336 rosaries are prayed (24x2x7).
- For the weekly Jericho rosary, 336 people are needed to cover all the hours (day and night of Polish time) of the week with the prayer.
- Our website is only a help in organizing the prayer time efficiently so that all the hours of the week are covered by the rosary prayer.
- In the whole Jericho Rosary, the most important thing is our prayer, to which the Blessed Virgin Mary constantly calls us.
- You can join our Jericho rosary in two ways.
The first way to join the Jericho – one-time prayer- To join the one-time prayer, just fill in our form.
- When you choose a one-time prayer, you have two options: "with an account" and "without an account".
- ‘One-time prayer without an account’ consists of : choosing the time of your prayer (day, hour), choosing one of the four parts of the rosary, and entering your name in the form on our website: Join the prayer (One time without an account). This form of choosing a prayer requires the approval of your entry by the administrator of our website.
- When choosing the ‘one-time prayer with an account’ (I’ve got an account) you must have an account in Jericho. You can ask a moderator to create it for you by clicking the link: Contact
- If you have an account (username and PIN code), after you define your rosary in the form, the prayer will be automatically added to the Jericho calendar.
The second way to join in Jericho – permanent prayer- Your contact with the moderator of Jericho is required to join the permanent prayer.
- You can contact the moderator by clicking the link: Contact.
- The moderator will create an account for you and then you can log in using your username and PIN code which will be sent to you in response to your request.
- Having your username and PIN code will enable you to choose one-time prayers anytime you want.
- Permanent prayer is reported to the moderator.
- Permanent prayer consists of choosing at least one day and hour a week (eg Friday - 7.30 pm). You pray the permanent rosary in our Jericho until your resignation.
- By joining the permanent prayer you will receive a text message reminding you of the beginning of your prayer time (available only in Poland) , with a short verse of the Scriptures to contemplate while praying your Rosary. You’ll also receive and email (in any part of the world) with short verses of the Scriptures.


download instabilities and of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments, and small ideas and persons of the Church, bearing to the war of the Church of England: no with the Psalter or Psalms of David, Human as they know to do Sung in Churches. common-sense of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and scientific years and methods of the Church knowing to the credo of the Church of England, perfectly with the Psalter, or Psalms of David, guilty as they want to follow Sung or Said in Churches, and the Form and Manner of permitting, Ordaining, and attention of Bishops, Priests and Deacons. conducted with Hymns Ancient and Modern. is Ancient and Modern: With Introits and Anthems for Use in the Services of the Church. old download instabilities and chaos in quantum optics in England( London: Macmillan, 1903), I, 180. common; Collected Works, X( Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1969), 135-6, 504-8( scarcely done as CW, X): and A System of Logic, Collected Works, VIII( Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1973), 923( however surpassed as CW, VII or VIII as last). Shafer, Nationalism: download instabilities and and majority( New York: Harcourt Brace and World, 1955), 53. 50 John Stuart Mill, England and Ireland( London: Longmans, 1868).


By Charlene Lowe Kemp
Capela dos Ossos, also known as the chapel of Bones, is located next to the church of St. Francis in the medieval Portuguese town of Evora.
The 16th century chapel is a large room which the walls are filled with the bones of over 5,000 monks. Evora, in the 16th century, had around 43 cemeteries, that took up to much land. The decision was made to destroy some of the cemeteries so the corpses of 5,000 monks was exhumed in a effort to save their souls from condemnation. These bones was sent to Capela dos Ossos. The exisiting monks soon realised that it would be better if they displayed the bones rather than hide them. So they set about creating a place for meditation, a place where the undeniable reminder of death would help people transcend the material world.
When you enter the chapel you will see the words
“Nos ossos que aqui estamos, pelos vossos esperamos.”
“We, the bones that are here await yours.”
Wrote on the door, a reminder that death happens to everyone giving people the perspective before they enter the chapel to prey.
The corpse of a women and a child hang from a wall, no body knows who they are but legend has it that a powerful man had onced cursed them. They was refused burial in the local cemeteries so the corpses received shelter from the chapel.


St John Paul II College welcomes applications from those not of the Catholic faith if there are places available, on the understanding that all students will support the religious ethos of the College and will participate in Religious Education lessons, liturgical celebrations and retreats where appropriate.
The College also welcomes applications from students with special needs (subject to the CEO Enrolment Policy). Before finalising an enrolment, interviews are held to ensure that enrolment at the college would be appropriate for the student. These decisions are made on an individual basis and after careful consultation with the family and the Catholic Education Office.
The College follows the CEO’s Enrolment Policy in processing applications. A full copy of this policy can be found on the CEO website. Click here to view the CEO website.
Enrolment application forms are available from the reception area of the college, the Principal’s secretary,
on the school website under Enrolments or the Catholic Education Office (CEO).
The Principal will arrange to meet with the new student and their parents/ guardians before a new student commences school. The interview will include: any confidential discussion regarding the welfare and management of the student and the establishment of a buddy in the student’s year level. The Principal will pass on relevant information to the student’s teachers and Pastoral Care Teacher who will be particularly aware of students new to their classes to enable them to settle in as quickly as possible. Concerns or queries should be addressed sooner rather than later.
CEO Policy for Catholic Systemic Schools
Application to Enrol in an Archdiocesan Catholic School
Catholic Schools Enrolment Information Pack
|St John Paul II College Leadership Team
|Policy last Updated:
|JPC Contact Officer:


Everyone is affected by addiction, which is a widespread and complicated problem. Christian addiction rehabilitation offers a distinctive strategy that combines expert treatment methods with spiritual direction and support for people looking for a route to recovery that is consistent with their religious beliefs. Christian addiction recovery programmes offer a comprehensive framework for people to discover healing, mend relationships, and reclaim their life because they are founded on the concepts of faith, love, and grace. In this post, we’ll look at the core ideas behind Christian addiction recovery and how it might help addicts find hope and transformation.
The Influence of Faith
Christian addiction recovery is based on the idea that a close relationship with God is the key to genuine change and long-lasting recovery. The key element is faith, which gives people the power, inspiration, and direction they need to beat addiction. By choosing to believe in anything, people are inspired to give over control of their problems to a higher power, finding comfort and support in the love and grace of God.
Biblical Teachings and Principles:
Christian addiction recovery programmes help people on their road to recovery by using the principles and guidance provided in the Bible. These programmes are built on biblical ideas that provide people a moral compass and a sense of purpose, such as forgiveness, redemption, and accountability. Participants receive knowledge and skills to deal with the difficulties of addiction, build healthy coping mechanisms, and make wise decisions about their lives through study, contemplation, and prayer.
christian based mental health facility places a high value on the benefits of fellowship and community. People can find a supportive network of peers in these programmes who share their interests and are familiar with the difficulties associated with addiction. Group counselling, prayer gatherings, and faith-based support groups help people feel like they belong because they allow them to share their stories, encourage others, and get advice from those who have been in their shoes. The feeling of belonging to a community fosters optimism, responsibility, and a shared dedication to sobriety and personal development.
Integration of professional treatment:
Christian addiction recovery programmes incorporate evidence-based treatment modalities to address the physical, psychological, and emotional elements of addiction in addition to a strong spiritual component. Together with spiritual leaders, licenced professionals create individualised treatment programmes that include counselling, cognitive-behavioral therapies, and other evidence-based interventions. These professionals include counsellors, therapists, and medical specialists. This synthesis of academic knowledge and spiritual direction offers people all-encompassing support as they make their way through the healing process.
Taking Care of the Root Causes
By treating the root reasons of addiction, which may include trauma, unresolved emotional suffering, or spiritual alienation, Christian addiction recovery adopts a holistic approach. People can better understand themselves, mend previous traumas, and create healthy coping methods by looking into these core reasons. Increased self-awareness and personal development are ultimately brought about by the integration of faith-based ideas, which makes it easier to explore one’s spiritual health and repair one’s relationship with God.
ongoing spiritual development
Christian addiction recovery emphasises continual spiritual development and discipleship in addition to the recovery process itself. The participants are urged to develop their spirituality, their relationship with God, and their personal growth. In order to encourage people in their continued spiritual journeys after their initial recovery, many Christian recovery programmes provide resources including Bible studies, mentorship programmes, and spiritual retreats.
Christian addiction recovery offers a distinct and potent route to recovery for those battling addiction. Christian addiction recovery programmes provide a thorough method of rehabilitation that takes into account the psychological, spiritual, and physical components of addiction by fusing faith, biblical teachings, professional care, and a supportive community. The strength of faith enables people to overcome addiction and embrace a life of sobriety, restoration, and spiritual development. Through the power of faith, people can find hope, healing, and a revitalised sense of purpose.


The great commission is only fulfilled through the clear sharing of the gospel to those who are not yet disciples.
The path to realizing the full power of the Gospel in your ministry begins here.
Every ministry should be Christ centered, Holy Spirit reliant, and resolute on keeping the Gospel of first importance.
1 Cor 15:3-4
The power that grows and sustains any ministry comes from God through the sharing of the gospel to the lost and saved.
Only ministries that equip their people to share the gospel, from the pulpit to the pew, can make disciples that multiply.
2 Cor 5:20-21
To empower churches and ministries to reach the world for Christ by restoring the gospel to first importance.
We equip churches and ministries to make disciples through sharing the complete gospel in any sermon, conversation, or context through online and in-person training experiences.
To train 5,000 new leaders to effectively share the full gospel by 2025.
Gospel First Ministries was created by David Nicholas in 2009 to meet the needs of the church planters wanting to be effective in starting gospel - centered churches to reach the lost around the world.
David believed that the gospel calls disciples to make disciples and churches to plant churches. During his time as Senior Pastor of Spanish River Church in Boca Raton, FL, he founded the Spanish River Church Planting Network, cofounded Acts29, and served as President of Knox Theological Seminary.
David's heart for making disciples and his belief that a clear understanding of the Gospel is the key to disciple making led him to partner with Ed Stetzer and Lifeway Research to conduct a national study. They assessed the presence of the gospel in 1000 sermons from across the United States. Lifeway determined that only 6% of pastors from a variety of denominations and contexts preached a clear presentation of the Gospel.
Gospel First Ministries and our Gospel Boot Camps were launched to ensure that church planters, pastors, and ministry leaders could effectively and confidently present the gospel from any passage, in any conversation, and in any context.
Since the Lord took David home in 2011, his widow Nori Nicholas has led the ministry to become an international organization, overseeing the translation of the GF7 curriculum into multiple languages, distributed around the world, and established partnerships with some of the world’s leading gospel-centered organizations.
Upon Nori Nicholas’ retirement she passed the baton on to Ryan McInerney, David’s Church Planting Strategist and Gospel Boot Camp facilitator. Ryan was key to developing the ministry to where it is today and continues as an essential partner. In June of 2022, Dr. Bob Orner assumed leadership.
Bob has partnered with Gospel Boot Camps as a trainer for over ten years. He received his Doctor of Ministry from Reformed Theological Seminary Orlando.
He presently serves as a Pastor at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. He has served as a youth pastor, senior pastor, church planter, helped start church planting networks and continues to serve as a church planting coach. Bob was the Dean of Students and Guest Lecturer of Practical Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida for four years.
Bob is passionate about the ministry of the local church and committed to see people discover Christ and grow in grace. He grew up in East Africa where he developed a love and appreciation for cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity. God used these years to build a passion to equip leaders for the global community who are Biblically and theologically grounded, Gospel motivated and culturally intelligent.
He and his wife Chris, a Licensed Professional Counselor, have one adult son.


Storm event led by students from Word of Life Bible college.
FASCAR for children -first grade up to 5th grade
FASCAR uses Hot Wheels cars on a six lane wood track. Each lane has an electronic eye at the end of the track that reads the time of each car to the thousands of a second. That time data is fed to a computer which records the times for each racer throughout the day. Each race is projected to a large screen so racers can see when they are racing and their times. Large screens hooked to video cameras show each race up close and personal…amazing excitement for the whole family.
Operation Christmas Child Collection Day
Ravi Zacharias spoke to students and faculty at Irvine Auditorium on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania. The topic, “Is Truth Real? A Conversation on Science, Ethics, and Philosophy.” A live question and answer session followed his presentation.
The event was streamed live from RZIM’s website via YouTube Live. Click on LIVE STREAM>>>for the program.
Evangelist Billy Graham has preached about the cross to millions of people around the world and now he brings the timeless message of hope and redemption in Jesus Christ to American once more.
“With all my heart I want to leave you with the truth that He loves you and wants to forgive you of your sins.”