Have you ever wondered ‘why me’ when something terrible happens? Or watched an earthquake on the news and thought ‘why’? in Christianity, this is what they call the ‘problem of evil’.
Basics of Christianity:
- Christians believe in God, who sent his son Jesus down to earth to save the world.
- Follow the teachings in the Holy Bible (idk who wrote it maybe Moses)
- Jesus was born of the virgin Mary (….biology? ok…) in a town called Bethlehem, now modern day Palestine. The conception was said to be supernatural, as God impregnated Mary using the holy spirit. His earthly father was Joseph.
- Jesus travelled around performing miracles like walking on water with his 12 disciples
- Jesus was sentenced to death by crucifixion under Pontius Pilate. Mainly for calling himself ‘the King of the Jews’.
- He was laid to rest in a tomb, but 3 days later he rose from the dead.
- The cross is the symbol for Christianity as a recognition that Jesus died for our sins.
God is said to have many attributes, but remember these:
- Omnipotence (all powerful)
- Omnibenevolence (all loving)
- Omniscience (all knowing)
- Omnipresence (everywhere)
Eg. God cannot be both omnipotent and omnibenevolent if evil exists, as he would have the power and the love to do something about it.
If evil exists (this fact is up to you) then God is either:
- Omnipotent but not omnibenevolent = has the power but doesn’t love humanity enough to change it
- Omnibenevolent but not omnipotent = loves us but doesn’t hold the power to eradicate evil.
It’s named the inconsistent triad due to the three pillars. The trio cannot co-exist together, thus it stands as an arguments against the Judeo-Christian God. If evil does exist then the traditional image of God has some issues. The idea of God and evil coexisting is held as contradictory. Evil in this sense is the traditional concept of the absence of good. Of course, what evil actually IS will have an impact on whether you see it as a threat to religion or humanity.
Evil can be divided; moral evil is connected with the acts of humans, natural evil is interlinked with the workings of the physical world. I think natural evil is a sign that we aren’t perhaps treating the world as we should (climate change). Yet moral evil is a different ball game: the acts and intensions of humans can be justified in alternative ways, making it all more difficult to find a moral criteria.
If this benevolent deity created all beings, and evil exists, must have he created evil too? Christians have faith in this loving creator, and prompted to seek explanations and justifications for evil and suffering. Christians came up with some answers for evil, keeping the holy image of God alive.
These are just a few…
- Evil is a test of faith, God has a plan for everyone.
- Suffering highlights what is good in the world / gives you a chance to be good.
- It is the issue of human free will.
- It is the devil’s work/ Satan/ Lucifer – the Archangel who was thrown out of heaven.
- ‘The fall’ / original sin – The disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
- Evil doesn’t exist, there is just a hierarchy of goods (Some real optimistic vibes).
An argument for the defence of God: Irenaean and Augustinian theodicy
The Irenaean theodicy defends the idea of an omnibenevolent (all loving) and omnipotent (all powerful) God, in a world of evil and suffering. The theodicy is named after Irenaeus, a Greek bishop, known for his role is Christian communities. He stated that God is not guilty for creating evil, but he is responsible. The world is the best of all possible worlds, allowing humans to fully flourish. Humans are not yet fully developed, and the process of suffering and free will allows humans to develop. Creation has two stages, the image of God and the likeness of God.
We are created in a state of ‘imperfection’ as the second stage of creation is not complete. We have been born in the image of God, yet to reach the likeness of God, we must refine ourselves and develop through suffering. This proposes that evil and suffering exists as the best way for humans to develop and learn.
This differs from the Augustinian theodicy. Saint Augustine of Hippo attempts to clear God of any responsibility, supporting the notion of the ‘original sin’. As I mentioned earlier, the original sin means humans have inherited a tainted nature. God created the world ex nihilo (out of nothing) but isn’t responsible, the fall of man is. In Genesis, Adam and Eve were created innocent, but became corrupt and disobeyed God’s orders using their own free will. This misuse of free will is the reason for moral evil ; moral evil comes from those of evil will. Thus the fault is all ours.
Irenaeus: God created evil to allow humans to fully develop through suffering and evil.
Augustine: God did not create evil, evil is the result of the original sin and the misuse of free will.
Of course, there are many Christian theodicies for the defence of the holy deity, so it’s up to you what you fundamentally believe. For me, the problem lies in moral evil and the actions of humans. The debate of ethics and morality is complicated but nonetheless essential to topics such as this…Stay tuned!
2 thoughts on “Christianity and The ‘Problem of Evil’”
Here are 4 questions from one of your sentences. I realize text carries no emotion of its own and therefore is often supplied by the reader. With that in mind, please let me assure you that I intend these remarks as a friendly challenge to your ideas in this post.
1. You said, “God cannot be both omnipotent and omnibenevolent if evil exists.” My first question is, how can you know that is true? Assuming you answer the first, my second question is: What is the standard by which you measure truth claims?
2. Furthermore, you said, “God cannot be both omnipotent and omnibenevolent if evil exists, as he would have the power and the love to do something about it.” My third question is, did you know that the work of redemption accomplished by Christ was a manifestation of God’s power and power to do something about it? Again, I assume you also knew that, and therefore, my fourth question is, why would you intentionally or unintentionally strawman the position you are critiquing?
While I strongly disagree with your conclusions, I do agree that theodicy is a significant topic. I also thought your presentation was well done. Thank you for your time. I enjoyed reading this post.
Hi! Thank you for your reply. I did just reply but it seems to have disappeared so forgive me if i’m replying twice. The views I wrote this on were mostly learnt, so I couldn’t personally answer why I think God cannot be both omnibenevolent and omnipotent whilst evil exists. The claims in my blog are more theories rather than truth, as I question these myself. However this question poses an issue for me because if God really did love humanity and had the power to do anything, why is suffering still occurring? (this is where i brought in some theodicies that I knew the basics of). I do agree that mans ignorance and free will is the cause for a lot of pain in the world, but I find the idea of being complete humans and likeness of God a bit of a scapegoat. If one is to believe God to be purely metaphysical, perhaps the problem of evil becomes irrelevant?
Your idea of God might be different to mine, but this is the argument I got my conclusion from:
P1. If God exists, then God is omnipotent, omniscient, and morally perfect.
P2. If God is omnipotent, then God has the power to eliminate all evil.
P3. If God is omniscient, then God knows when evil exists.
P4. If God is morally perfect, then God has the desire to eliminate all evil.
P5. Evil exists. (this is up for debate)
C1. If evil exists and God exists, then either God doesn’t have the power to eliminate all evil, or doesn’t know when evil exists, or doesn’t have the desire to eliminate all evil.
This is where i drew my conclusion but you can go further –
C2. Therefore, God doesn’t exist.
The so called ‘proof’ for this can be read here:
but I’m not sure if this can be seen as proof to you, do let me know!
Of course, you can claim God created evil, God is not responsible or God has already shown his power. I’d love to know if you do have ideas on this, if so please email me at firstname.lastname@example.org.
Thank you for reading this and posing your questions so politely.


Welcome to the Church of St. Jude!
Welcome to the web site of the Church of St. Jude in Rochester, Illinois. As the Pastor of this parish, it is my privilege to welcome you and express my gratitude for your interest in our parish. The Church of St. Jude strives to provide opportunities for the faithful to encounter the love of Jesus Christ and to grow as His disciples. I invite you to contact any of our parish staff for assistance in your faith journey. We hope that you find a warm welcome among our Church family as you gather to worship God at Mass or share in the other activities of our parish. May God bless you.
Sincerely in Christ,
Father Brian Alford, Pastor


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26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
Sometimes people wonder why we are called “Christians” since Jesus was a Jew. There are a couple of reasons. One is that originally they were in fact a sect of Judaism until they were thrown out of the temple. Now, Messiah is the Hebrew name for the “anointed one.” In Greek, this is “Christ.” So it follows that they would be called Christians by those who spoke Greek and were Gentiles, not Jews.
We are also “anointed ones” because of our Baptism. We often call the day of our Baptism the day of our Christening. We are anointed with the faith of Christ – The Anointed One. Christ is sometimes thought of as Jesus’ last name.
Actually, it is his title. In Jesus’ time, the last name usually referred to something descriptive, one’s occupation, the place where a person came from, or his father’s name. The people of his time would have called him, Jesus bar Joseph, and Jesus the Nazorean. Remember, Joseph was called “the carpenter.” Names were considered to be very important. In many cultures, a person may have four or five names. The relatives may have some say in the naming. A person may have names that include blessing, merciful, gift or beautiful, qualities that they either believe the child has, or will develop, as well as the name he or she will be called and then the family name. Different cultures even put the family name first. Our names are so important that the Jews will not call God by the name he gave to Moses. This is why the Jewish leaders were so upset when Jesus called himself “I Am.” The people of Antioch were convinced by Paul and Barnabas that Jesus was in fact the Messiah, the Christ, and so the followers were now named “Christians.”
Almighty God, you promised that you would send a Messiah to save your people. You sent us Jesus, the Christ, now we bear his name as Christians. Please also give us the graces and strength that we need to be worthy of the name. Amen.


By: Maryn Thomas
I’ve been talking with many young women lately about the season of singleness. For each of us, that season is a different amount of time and stems from different life circumstances.
In December, I shared quite a bit about my story at the Women’s Christmas Dessert. In case you missed it, let me share a bit with you here. I came to Eugene to attend the University of Oregon in 2006. By the end of my freshman year, I was in my very first relationship. I had never had a boyfriend and was totally lost when it came to healthy relationships. As so many of us do, I became too invested too quickly.
After a few short months, I was totally convinced that we would get married. When he broke up with me, I was devastated and completely thrown off track. After all, I had put all my weight in this. I was “sure” of the future and yet it didn’t work out how I planned. It took me a long time to recover from that, mostly because my identity was placed in that relationship. I dated off and on throughout college and once I graduated, I entered the era that I refer to as the “unplanned era.” According to my life plan, I would go to school, graduate, get married, and then have kids (go ahead and thrown a mini-van, a puppy, and a white fence into that plan). So when I graduated college with no prospect of marriage, I was disappointed and terrified. I didn’t know what to expect for this season. And I didn’t know how long it would last.
It would be four years before I met my husband.
For many women, their season of singleness is much longer than mine. Yet, God taught me incredible lessons throughout that season and I wouldn’t change it for the world. What he taught me during those four years set the foundation for how I would be as a wife, a mom, and servant of God.
I had a moment a few years ago where I felt God prompting me to choose to be content, no matter how long my season of singleness lasted! I promised God that I would make the most of it, and though I had moments of panic, I really tried to use that season to grow. We will always be tempted to look toward the future and think that things will be so much better once we have something more. But God calls us to contentment now.
Our purpose as women does not depend on our relationship status. Sometimes, we make the mistake of thinking our life will really start once we get married. For me, in order to best use that time of singleness, I had to find other purpose!
I spent time serving at the church. I asked God to show me what my gifts were and then found opportunities to use them. I think once we focus on the needs around us, our heart quickly changes. If you love to cook, start cooking for those around you. Take meals to families in need or have some college girls over for dinner. If you love kids, serve in our Kids classes or offer to babysit for your friends with kids. If you’re creative, use that gift to create inspiring, beautiful art for those around you. You have great purpose in your life and the Lord calls us to use those things through serving Him. Remember that it is a JOY that we get to serve Him!
There may still be moments that are hard for some as they look toward the future and long to be married. For others, their singleness has been brought about because of hurt or broken relationships. In all cases, we get to cling to the fact that we serve a good and sovereign God. In Joshua 1:5, God reminds us that He will “not leave you or forsake you.” He has not forgotten about you, but rather, He has a great plan for your life!
“Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them” Psalm 139:16
He loves us with a love unmatchable by human love. His love is a steadfast love that never fails.
“But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” Psalm 86:15


Bishop, I want you to Know God is so faithful. You have been preaching about Believing God for what you want, standing on His Word and The renewing of your mind. Well, I had been looking for a house. But, every time I would find one, others had bid on the house and my offered was not accepted. This happened a few times. God is blessing me to have my home BUILT. It’s on a corner lot. It has everything that I believed God for, plus, my down payment was cut in half and I’m moving in it ahead of schedule. Praise God!!!


Did you ever feel like God was telling you to do something, but you held back because you were not quite sure enough of yourself? Or felt that you needed to reach out to someone but you weren’t sure how?
Well, that’s where I found myself with this post. I have done some writing for a ladies magazine; and for a long time I have wanted to write this but I wasn’t sure how to go about it.
See, when I write something that is extra close to my heart, I like to write in the same way that I speak, and sometimes my speech isn’t grammatically flawless. Sometimes I don’t speak in complete, structured sentences. And after a good editing, it starts to sound like someone else. (Plus I wasn’t sure the people I’m writing this to would even read it there.)
This is a better place for it, as most of you who I write this for, are faithful readers (not because my content is so amazing that you just can’t wait to read it,) but because you are my friends.
Some reasons I didn’t write this sooner were fear of being thought tacky, or offending someone, or making someone feel singled out. That is not my intention at all. God knows my heart and I pray I can write in such a way that you can know my heart as well.
I write this to my single friends. Not just one of you – all of you. Those who are older than me, down to those who are still in high school. Of course if you’re single by choice-as was Apostle Paul- this won’t apply as much to you. But if you find yourself looking around at your dating or married friends and asking God: “Why not me?” -this is for you.
You may see your siblings beginning relationships, and wish it could be you. You may feel like being single is somehow second best to being married. Maybe you look at your life and try to figure out what could possibly be getting in the way of you finding love, and someone to spend your life with.
Many of my dearest friends are single; and I have wrestled with it so much in my mind. I ask God: “why is it that some of us get to be married, have babies and keep house, while others have to wait? And wait. And wait. Especially since most of my single friends show much more depth and maturity than what I see in my own life… I can’t understand it.”
God hasn’t had much to say in response, but I know He has his reasons. The one I came up with is this:
He hasn’t found someone special enough yet. Ok, obviously God knows everything and doesn’t need to “find” anything. But it could be that He isn’t finished preparing that person, growing and shaping him into someone who is compatible with you, not only in your interests and needs, but also to be a strong spiritual leader.
It’s also possible that God can use you better, just the way you are, and marriage isn’t His perfect plan for you. But as you’ve waited for your someone special to come along, He has made you into someone special yourself.
He has given you a caring, ministering heart, and hands that are willing to help wherever there is a need. He’s given you a warm, open manner that makes others feel comfortable sharing confidences, and a good listening ear to hear them out.
God has made you, just the way He wanted you, and then brought you into my life as some of my dearest friends. People who inspire me with your commitment to Jesus, your vision for missions, your sweet disposition, your gift of reaching out to others- (especially the less fortunate,) your interest in the lives of others around you, your… well, I think you get it – I like you! Actually, make that “I love you, and admire you.” My world wouldn’t be the same without you.
As I look at the qualities in which I feel you put me to shame, I think of Apostle Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 7. “The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy… but the married woman careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.”
(I don’t believe this verse is intended to “let me off the hook” when it comes to keeping my walk close with the Lord. Instead, I pray I can take the examples I see in your life and strive, by the Spirit, to live them out in my own.)
You’re probably thinking “Okay, when is she going to get to the sermon?” You know, “5 Things Every Single Should Remember,” or “10 Ways To Live a Fulfilled Single Life,” right?
You’re not going to get that from me. I’m not going to tell you to “just enjoy your freedom, and be thankful for it!” (Okay, so just being honest, giving up that freedom is a MAJOR adjustment, but each time I’m tempted to wish I had it again, I remind myself of how impatient I was to give it up, and that in the big picture its a small matter.)
I’m not going to tell you “Oh just you wait! Once you get married, you’ll wish you were single again!” I haven’t found that to be true, and I want to be real here.
What I will tell you, is this. Please don’t buy into the idea that “single = second best!” It’s so not true! God’s plan is for some people to be married young, some late in life, and for some to be single. Being single doesn’t mean you don’t measure up, it just means that for now, God has other things for you. Maybe greater things!
When I think of you as my friend, your marital status doesn’t even cross my mind. In fact, I don’t even like the word “single.” I looked in my thesaurus for a word I liked better, but I didn’t like any of the options there either. However, I did make a (poorly executed) acrostic, that I think better describes you.
‘Cause that’s what matters anyway, right? No earthly relationship can come close to the relationship we can have with our Lord. I think this verse is really special and encouraging. In Jeremiah 31:3, God says: “I have loved you with an everlasting love.”
I really have nothing new or profound to say to you; I mainly wanted to remind you how important you are to me, and how very much you are loved. Loved by your Maker, and loved by so many more. You are irreplaceble,unique; and your influence in my life has helped to shape who I am.
Just a thought, all earthly relationships have to end at some point, whether it be a breakup, or a death, etc. But our relationship with Jesus will go on, even after death! Even if you are never a bride here on earth, (but oh, I pray you will be!) -we are all the bride of Christ and when He returns for us, we will be with Him forever…won’t that be a glorious wedding day ?!
Be it today, tomorrow, next week, next year… May we all be ready and waiting! Even so, come Lord Jesus! (Rev. 22:20)
Have a blessed day.
2 thoughts on “Security in Knowing God Loves Me”
I don’t know if I’m one of the single friends that you were writing, too, but I will say “thank-you” anyway. Thank you for realizing that we have the same longings but are asking Jesus to be enough. Thank you for realizing that we are not single, because we are not good enough but because of the eternal purposes of Almighty God. Thank you for caring and wanting the best for each of your friends. You have a great gift of compassion.
Aww, Yo… of course you’re one of them! And thanks for your sweet words.


Daily Reading for Saturday, September 14th, 2013
Reading 1, Numbers 21:4-9
4 They left Mount Hor by the road to the Sea of Suph, to skirt round Edom. On the way the people lost patience.
6 At this, God sent fiery serpents among the people; their bite brought death to many in Israel.
9 Moses then made a serpent out of bronze and raised it as a standard, and anyone who was bitten by a serpent and looked at the bronze serpent survived.
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 78:1-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38
1 [Psalm Of Asaph] My people, listen to my teaching, pay attention to what I say.
2 I will speak to you in poetry, unfold the mysteries of the past.
34 Whenever he slaughtered them, they began to seek him, they turned back and looked eagerly for him,
36 They tried to hoodwink him with their mouths, their tongues were deceitful towards him;
37 their hearts were not loyal to him, they were not faithful to his covenant.
Gospel, John 3:13-17
13 No one has gone up to heaven except the one who came down from heaven, the Son of man;
15 so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.
16 For this is how God loved the world: he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
17 For God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but so that through him the world might be saved.
Reading 2, Philippians 2:6-11
7 But he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming as human beings are; and being in every way like a human being,
8 he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross.
9 And for this God raised him high, and gave him the name which is above all other names;
10 so that all beings in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld, should bend the knee at the name of Jesus
Reading 1, Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18: 1 Some time later, the word of Yahweh came to Abram in ... Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9: 1 Alleluia! Give thanks to Yahweh, call ... Gospel, Matthew 7:15-20: 15 'Beware of false prophets who come to you disguised as sheep ... continue readingMore Daily Readings
The New Jerusalem Bible (NJB) is a Catholic translation of the Bible published in 1985. The New Jerusalem Bible (NJB) has become the most widely used Roman Catholic Bible outside of the United States. It has the imprimatur of Cardinal George Basil Hume.
Like its predecessor, the Jerusalem Bible, the New Jerusalem Bible (NJB) version is translated "directly from the Hebrew, Greek or Aramaic." The 1973 French translation, the Bible de Jerusalem, is followed only "where the text admits to more than one interpretation." Introductions and notes, with some modifications, are taken from the Bible de Jerusalem.
Source: The Very Reverend Dom (Joseph) Henry Wansbrough, OSB, MA (Oxon), STL (Fribourg), LSS (Rome), a monk of Ampleforth Abbey and a biblical scholar. He was General Editor of the New Jerusalem Bible. "New Jerusalem Bible, Regular Edition", pg. v.
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« السابقةمتابعة »
and malicious; take away his ungodliness, and thou shalt find none.
18 The LORD is King for ever and ever, and the heathen are perished out of the land. 19 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the poor; thou preparest their heart, and thine ear hearkeneth thereto :
20 To help the fatherless and poor unto their right, that the man of the earth be no more exalted against them.
Psalm xi. In Domino confido.
IN N the LORD put I my trust; how say ye then to my soul, that she should flee as a bird unto the hill?
2 For lo, the ungodly bend their bow, and make ready their arrows within the quiver, that they may privily shoot at them which are true of heart.
3 For the foundations will be cast down; and what hath the righteous done?
4 The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD'S seat is in heaven.
5 His eyes consider the poor, and his eyelids try the children of men.
6 The LORD alloweth the righteous: but the ungodly, and him that delighteth in wickedness, doth his soul abhor.
7 Upon the ungodly he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, storm and tempest: this shall be their portion to drink.
8 For the righteous LORD loveth right
eousness; his countenance will behold the thing that is just.
Psalm xii. Salvum me fac.
HELP me, LORD, for there is not one godly man left; for the faithful are minished from among the children of men.
2 They talk of vanity every one with his neighbour; they do but flatter with their lips, and dissemble in their double heart.
3 The LORD shall root out all deceitful lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things:
4 Which have said, With our tongue will we prevail; we are they that ought to speak: who is lord over us?
5 Now, for the comfortless troubles' sake of the needy, and because of the deep sighing of the poor,
6 I will up, saith the LORD; and will help every one from him that swelleth against him, and will set him at rest.
7 The words of the LORD are pure words; even as the silver which from the earth is tried, and purified seven times in the fire.
8 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD; thou shalt preserve him from this generation for
9 The ungodly walk on every side: when
they are exalted, the children of men art put to rebuke.
Psalm xiii. Usque quo, Domine? HOW long wilt thou forget me, O LORD; for ev r? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
2 How long shall I seek counsel in my soul, and be so vexed in my heart? how long shall mine enemies triumph over me?
3 Consider, and hear me, O LORD my God; lighten mine eyes, that I sleep not in death;
4 Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him for if I be cast down, they that trouble me will rejoice at it.
5 But thy trust is in thy mercy, and my heart is joyful in thy salvation.
6 I will sing of the LORD, because he hath dealt so lovingly with me; yea, I will praise the Name of the Lord most Highest.
Psalm xiv. Dixit insipiens. THE fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.
2 They are corrupt, and become abominable in their doings; there is none that doeth good, no not one.
3 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that would understand, and seek after God:
4 But they are all gone out of the way,
they are altogether become abominable; there is none that doeth good, no not one.
5 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues have they deceived: the poison of asps is under their lips.
6 Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness; their feet are swift to shed blood.
7 Destruction and unhappiness is in their ways, and the way of peace have they not known; there is no fear of God before their eyes.
8 Have they no knowledge, that they are all such workers of mischief, eating up my people as it were bread, and call not upon the LORD?
9 There were they brought in great fear, even where no fear was; for God is in the generation of the righteous.
10 As for you, ye have made a mock at the counsel of the poor; because he putteth his trust in the LORD.
11 Who shall give salvation unto Israel out of Sion? When the LORD turneth the captivity of his people, then shall Jacob rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.
THE THIRD DAY.
Psalm xv. Domine, quis habitabit? LORD, who shall dwell in thy tabernacle? or who shall rest upon thy holy hill?
2 Even he that leadeth an uncorrupt life, and doeth the thing which is right, and speaketh the truth from his heart.
3 He that hath used no deceit in his tongue, nor done evil to his neighbour, and hath not slandered his neighbour.
4 He that setteth not by himself, but is lowly in his own eyes, and maketh much of them that fear the LORD.
5 He that sweareth unto his neighbour, and disappointeth him not, though it were to his own hindrance.
6 He that hath not given his money upon usury, nor taken reward against the innocent. 7 Whoso doeth these things shall never fall.
Conserva me, Domine. PRESERVE me, O God; for in thee have I put my trust.
2 O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my God; my goods are nothing unto thee.
3 All my delight is upon the saints that are in the earth, and upon such as excel in virtue.
4 But they that run after another god shall have great trouble.
5 Their drink-offerings of blood will I not offer, neither make mention of their names within my lips.
6 The LORD himself is the portion of mine inheritance, and of my cup; thou shalt maintain my lot.


Pakistan (MNN) — Pakistan’s re-instated death penalty could mean trouble for followers of Christ. But, indigenous missionaries aren’t backing down.
“Every leader I met, every Bible student I met, they knew that death could be a reality,” notes Sarla of Christian Aid Mission, your link to indigenous missions.
“And yet, they’re committed to serving the Lord.”
Death penalty: unbanned
In December, Pakistani officials lifted a 7-year moratorium on capital punishment to rebuke masterminds of the fatal Peshawar school attack.
“They were trying to bring justice to those victims and have the terrorists face the consequences,” explains Sarla. “The whole country was just enraged for these actions from the Taliban.”
The death penalty moratorium was initially lifted for cases specifically related to terrorism. Nearly 50 convicts have been executed since December. However, in the rush to punish terrorists, Sarla notes, the government is actually putting more people at risk.
The lift was expanded last week for ALL capital offense crimes, not just those connected to terrorism. That means Christians accused of blasphemy or apostasy–converting from Islam to another religion–will be put to death.
Pakistani Christians at-risk
Amnesty International estimates Pakistan’s “death row” holds roughly 8,000 inmates. Among these prisoners are falsely-accused Christians like Asia Bibi, whose multiple appeals for justice have fallen on deaf ears.
According to Voice of the Martyrs USA spokesman Todd Nettleton, blasphemy accusations are often used to persecute Pakistani Christians.
“If you have a property dispute, if you have some kind of a relational dispute, you can simply accuse somebody of blasphemy and they get locked up for years even if there’s no evidence, even if there’s no case against them,” Nettleton told MNN last fall.
Despite the ever-increasing dangers in Pakistan, Mahara says believers are pressing on in faith. Will you pray for these indigenous missionaries as they boldly share Christ with their neighbors?
“Pakistani Christians are like you and [me]: their calling is from the Lord and they’re marching forward, even though it’s challenging,” Sarla notes.
Right now, indigenous ministries supported by Christian Aid Mission are putting the Gospel in action by helping survivors of Sunday’s attacks. They need help raising funds for funeral expenses, medical care, counseling and more. You can support their efforts here.


Leasa Hodges (North Carolina, USA)
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The Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. - 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)
Recently I had the opportunity to explore Yellowstone National Park with a small group of educators. One evening, as we walked single-file through dense woods, one of the guides signaled for us to stop and be silent. As she was staring into the thicket, her face turned pale. Then she...
“If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31)
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I looked forward to each session of the 2021 Spiritual Formation in Today’s World, and I still consider it a sacred time in my life. It renewed my love for myself, strengthened my love for God, and inspired my love for others.” Read more...


Campbell Armagh 3rd July 2020, James (Jim)
Peacefully at home in the loving care of his family
Beloved husband of Sheila,
loving father of Gerard and Keith,
grandfather of Aaron, Christopher, Amy,
Lauren and the late Baby Emma-Jane.
Brother of John, Betty, the late Peter, Mary, Anthony, Pat
Tom and Roisin R.I.P.
Funeral on Monday in St Patrick’s Cathedral at 11.00am Mass,
Streamed live on www.armaghparish.net
Burial St. Patrick’s Cemetery.
Very deeply regretted by his sorrowing, wife, sons,
grandchildren Aaron, Christopher, Amy and Lauren
daughters in law Grainne, Veronica, brother John, sister Betty,
nephews, nieces, family circle and friends.
St Teresa The Little Flower Pray for Him.
House and Funeral Mass Private Please
due to the ongoing situation
All further enquiries to J.J. McArdle & Sons 37 Thomas Street, Armagh
Have you considered?


2 Peter 1:4 (ESV) … “by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.”
Peter now speaks of the great essential: … “that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature.…” The word partakers reminds us of something we have in common with someone else. Here it refers to the divine nature. In his first letter, Peter reminded his readers that they had been “born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:23).
By natural birth we are born with a fallen, Adamic nature, a nature that can do nothing right (Rom. 7:18). By means of the new birth, we receive a new nature, one that can do nothing wrong (1 John 3:9). Our old nature is incorrigible, and God will do nothing with it but put it to death. This death has already taken place—at Calvary (Rom. 6:3–12). Paul taught the Romans that the Lord Jesus not only died for us but also died as us. In Him we already have died, have been buried, and have been raised in newness of life. We now have to reckon this fact to be so (Rom. 6:11). Our new nature, given to us at our new birth, is the divine nature, the nature of Christ Himself. It is the Holy Spirit who activates it (Rom. 8:1–4). Our two natures are at war with each other (Rom. 7). The old nature has to be reckoned dead. As we yield to the indwelling Holy Spirit, our new life in Christ is made evident. Paul’s formula is “know,” “reckon,” and “yield” (Rom. 6:9, 11, 13). One of the “exceeding great and precious promises” is that “sin shall not have dominion” over us (Rom. 6:14).
Peter now draws attention to the other side of the issue. He speaks of the great escape: “having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (1:4c). The word for “escaped” is apopheugō. Peter alone uses this word. Moreover, he uses it three times and always in a similar context (2:18, 20). It means literally “to flee away.” That is the Bibles best advice for dealing with temptation. We are to flee from it. Lingering in its vicinity is dangerous. The best thing to do is 13 put as much distance as possible between us and the source of the temptation The word here for “corruption” is phthora. Paul uses the word to describe the condition of a corpse (1 Cor. 15:2) and to depict the condition of creation under the Curse (Rom. 8:21). The word carries the idea of destruction by means of corruption. Peter uses it to portray the effect of lusts upon human society.
People tend to become slaves to their lusts. The more they indulge them, the more the appetite grows. The gospel offers us a way of escape. The Christian life, as exemplified in the life of Christ, is the very antithesis to the corrupt life that this present evil world offers.
The book of Genesis sets before us two men who are setting out for the Celestial City—Abraham and Lot. Lot ended up in Sodom, where pollution, pornography, and perversion were all part of an accepted lifestyle. He lived amid fearful corruption. Nor did he remain uncontaminated. He ended up drunk and dishonored on a hill overlooking the smoldering ruins of the vile city where he had made his home and raised his family.
Abraham, by contrast, kept himself free from entanglement in the affairs of this world. He remained a pilgrim and a stranger, living in separation from the wicked. He was in the world but not of the world. He flatly refused to have anything to do with Sodom’s king. He was content to live in a tent and to cultivate the knowledge of God. As a result, he escaped all of the things that wrecked and ruined Lot. As believers, we, too, can escape the same way Abraham escaped—by deliberately choosing the path of separation from the world.
 Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring the Epistles of Peter: An Expository Commentary (2 Pe 1:4b–c). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.


For example, in speaking of his concern about false teachers who had worked their way into the Corinthian church, Paul gives us a little insight into what life was like for him…
“They say they serve Christ? But I have served him far more! (Have I gone mad to boast like this?) I have worked harder, been put in jail more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again and again.
Five different times the Jews gave me their terrible thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I was in the open sea all night and the whole next day. I have traveled many weary miles and have been often in great danger from flooded rivers and from robbers and from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the hands of the Gentiles.
I have faced grave dangers from mobs in the cities and from death in the deserts and in the stormy seas and from men who claim to be brothers in Christ but are not. I have lived with weariness and pain and sleepless nights. Often I have been hungry and thirsty and have gone without food; often I have shivered with cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.
Then, besides all this, I have the constant worry of how the churches are getting along: Who makes a mistake and I do not feel his sadness? Who falls without my longing to help him? Who is spiritually hurt without my fury rising against the one who hurt him? But if I must brag, I would rather brag about the things that show how weak I am” (2 Corinthians 11:23-30).
Upon his return from his third missionary trip, Paul was arrested and tried before the Sanhedrin (the Jewish High Court) and two Roman governors. Paul’s case dragged on for over two years until he finally exercised his right as a Roman citizen and appealed his case to Caesar, the Roman Emperor. The Roman governor presiding over his case told him, “Very well!! You have appealed to Caesar, and to Caesar you shall go!” (Acts 25:12). And so Paul was shipped off to Rome to appeal his case before the Emperor.
This trip to Rome marked Paul’s fourth and final missionary journey. This round-about trip (which included a shipwreck off the island of Malta) took two years to finish and covered over 2000 miles (3219k). Paul finally arrived at his destination sometime around AD 62 and when we last see Paul in the book of Acts, we find him preaching in Rome and living in his own rented place while apparently waiting to go to trial (Acts 28:30-31).
Now this might be how the Book of Acts ends but it was not the end of the story for Paul, for he was about to enter a period of persecution that was far worse than any he had seen before.
You see, when Paul exercised his right of appeal before Caesar, he was demanding his right as a citizen to stand in Rome before the Emperor. The Emperor at the time was a man named Nero and he ruled from about A.D. 54 until A.D. 68. When Paul appealed his case, there was no natural way that he could have known that Nero was about to begin the first large scale persecution ever experienced by the church. Scholar-types refer to this period as “The Neronian Persecutions” and beginning in AD 64, it started to get pretty tough to be a Christian.
Here’s what happened: On the night of July 14th A.D. 64, a tremendous fire broke out in Rome. Ancient historians tell us that the fire burned out of control within the city for five days. It then stopped for a time but later broke out again in other areas and destroyed large sections of the city.
To this day, no one has been able to really determine how this fire got started although some believe that Nero himself started the fire in order to clear the way for a large building program that he was planning. This has never been proven but nevertheless, the people seemed to be convinced that Nero was responsible.
Obviously, this put Nero in a really bad position and made it necessary for him to pin the responsibility for the fire on some other individual or group. So in order to take the responsibility off himself, the Emperor made the decision to shift the responsibility for the fire to the Christian community. By falsely claiming that the Christians were really the ones who were at fault for this disaster, the Emperor knowingly chose a group of people that had very few resources to defend themselves.
As you might expect, the results were both horrible and tragic. According to the ancient historian Tacitus, those who admitted to being Christians during this period were forced to wear animal skins so they could be torn apart by ravenous dogs. Others were crucified. Still others were burned to death and at night time, their burning bodies served as torches to light up Nero’s gardens. Tradition tells us that the Apostle Peter also met his death during this time by being crucified upside-down.
But the question for us is, what happened to Paul?
Before we try to answer that question, let’s make an observation first. Most of you probably know that whenever a tragedy involving a large aircraft occurs, investigators will immediately look for that aircraft’s “black box.” In that “box” investigators will find recordings of cockpit conversations, flight data information and environmental conditions that help provide insights into the plane’s condition before any problems occurred.
Well in a similar way, there are a few verses in the Biblical book of 2 Timothy (which is actually a letter written by Paul to Timothy around A.D. 64-66) that also serve as a kind of “black box” and help give us some insight into Paul’s mindset during this time.
For example, Paul seemed to sense his impending death when he wrote in 2 Timothy 4:6-7…“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (NIV). Perhaps suspecting that his time may be short, Paul also adds in verses 9 and 20: “Do your best to come to me quickly…” and “Do your best to get here before winter” (NIV).
Did Timothy make it to Rome in time? Well, we really don’t know for sure and the Bible doesn’t tell us. However, a book called Foxe’s Book of Martyrs tells us the traditional belief concerning Paul’s death at this time…
“Paul, the Apostle, who was before called Saul, after his great travail and unspeakable labours in promoting the Gospel of Christ, suffered also in this persecution under Nero… the soldiers came and led him out of the city to the place of execution, where he, after his prayers were made, gave his neck to the sword.”
And so ends the earthly history of Paul the Apostle. Even though Paul has been gone now for so many years, he still lives on through the example that he set for Christians of every generation, even to this day. It’s impossible to overestimate the effect of Paul’s life and work and the more you read his letters and the accounts of his life in the Bible, the more impressed you become with what God can do with one man’s (or woman’s) life.


The Sunday School and Service times are as follows: Sunday Service is from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Our Sunday School program is from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. Everyone is welcome! Please join us! We are located on Route 58 in Foxburg.
ANNOUNCEMENT: The congregation of the Memorial Church of Our Father will be having our annual yard sale June 2 and June 3 from 9-4
Our craft group meets each Friday for crafting and fellowship. Bring any craft you wish to work on or you are welcome to join in with any craft the group is doing. If you are looking for a group to craft and have fun with, please join us. We usually meet from approximately 12:30 to 4 p.m. For additional details, please call the parish house at 724-659-4541.
We are so excited to announce that we now have handicapped accessible ramps at both the church and parish house!!!!
Anyone wishing to purchase the homemade Protestant Prayer Beads and Catholic Rosaries we have for sale, please call the church at 724-659-4541


Local Artist Alexander Austin Begins Work on Mural for City Union Mission's Christian Life Center
“We are very excited and honored that Alexander Austin would accept our request to paint once more at the Mission – this time outside our Christian Life Center for all to enjoy. His story shows that help and hope for a better life can always be found through these doors. — Executive Director Dan Doty
KANSAS CITY, Mo.––During the month of October, famed local artist Alexander Austin has been hard at work creating a new mural at City Union Mission. Known for his large-scale murals throughout Kansas City, Alexander Austin is an award-winning painter.
In 2009, Austin was named one of the 100 most influential African Americans in Kansas City by the Kansas City Globe News, was given the Urban Heroes Award by the Downtown Council in 2010 and was named Major League Baseball’s 2012 Hometown Heroes Artist of the Year.
But things weren’t always easy for the talented artist. When he first came to Kansas City at age 27, Austin was unable to work in graphic arts job due to his limited education. When he lost his low-paying job and apartment, Austin became homeless on the streets. He turned to drugs and alcohol to cope before hearing about City Union Mission and finding a fresh start.
“They gave me a place to stay—to sleep,” Alexander says. “The Mission was a stepping-stone for me to begin painting murals. I wouldn’t have met a guy painting signs and had that break if it hadn’t been for the Mission. I remember giving my life to Christ at the Mission one night, and my life hasn’t been the same since then.”
To give back to the Mission that changed his life, in 2009 Austin painted a mural on the wall of the multi-purpose room of the Mission’s Christian Life Center, titled “Journey of Hope.” Today, he is working on a mural on the outside of that same building (located at 10th & Troost) that will be seen by everyone going through the neighborhood. He hopes that his art will inspire others who are struggling, and lead them to the Mission to get help rebuilding their lives.
“We are very excited and honored that Alexander Austin would accept our request to paint once more at the Mission – this time outside our Christian Life Center for all to enjoy,” says City Union Mission’s Executive Director, Dan Doty. “His story shows that help and hope for a better life can always be found through these doors. It is my prayer that this mural will encourage every man, woman or child who sees it. That it will serve as a reminder that we are here for you no matter your circumstances—ready to welcome you with open arms.”
For more information on City Union Mission’s full range of faith-based programs and services, visit cityunionmission.org.
City Union Mission is an evangelical Christian ministry committed to sharing the Gospel and meeting the spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of men, women and children who are poor or homeless.
October 29, 2019
Celebrate Hope Campaign
Help Kansas City's poor & homeless Celebrate Hope. Together we can provide food, shelter, clothing, and work readiness for our poor and homeless through the Celebrate Hope Campaign. Make a donation today at cityunionmission.org.


Here We Go Again, Houston Gospel Artist Killed In Officer-involved Shooting!!
Church it been brought to my attention, the man shot and killed Friday by a Houston police officer has been identified as Adrian Medearis, a well-known local gospel artist who directed the gospel choir at Evangelist Temple Church of God In Christ in the South Acres neighborhood, friends say. Medearis, 48, was a former director for the Prairie View A& M Baptist Student Movement gospel choir and founder of God’s Anointed People, a contemporary gospel group. He also performed with choirs at other churches. Let us keep Adrian Medearis family in our prayers.


Umbrellas are great – little roofs you can take in you pocket, and whip out as needed. Instant shelter! But we’ve all recently seen the video footage of an impending tsunami, with palpable fear etched on each face, panic rising as the wave approaches, the screen rolls and blanks out… And we’ve seen the devastation. Not even the strongest of buildings are safe in such times. Umbrellas would be farcical.
This is the sort of devastation Psalm 46 is taking about. It might be physical, like the tsunami. Or it could be a personal disaster, when life crumbles, and nothing will ever be the same again – bereavement, diagnosis, redundancy, relationship break-up… How can you get by without knowing there is a shelter in these times? Not some flimsy fold-up umbrella, but a rock-solid, tsunami-proof person who will protect. Never failing; always there.
There is a stark contrast in verse 4, with the beautiful, refreshing waters of the river that runs through ‘the city of God’. This is a constantly-flowing water course, steady and reliable. Right in the place where God dwells. It reminded me of John 4:14 – “but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” My heart, the place where God dwells. I can trust that God will be my help, my ever-present fortress. I can ‘be still and know He is God’.


BARTHOLOMAEUS DE PISA (fl. 2nd half 14th century). [Liber conformitatum:] Opus auree & inexplicabilis bonitatis & continentie Conformitatum ... vite Beati Francisci ad vitam Jesu Christi. Milan: Zanotus Castilioneus, 18 August 1513. 2° (311 x 218mm). Title printed in red and black with large woodcut of St. Francis and Christ each carrying a cross, a border of small blocks and saints' portraits, full-page woodcut Arbor Conformitum with text printed in red, woocut border opening text and woodcut of crossed arms of Christ and St. Francis on the cross, fine woodcut initials from several sets, printer's device at end. With final blank leaf. (Occasional light stain, minor marginal repair in last leaf.) Contemporary Italian ledger-style binding of vellum wrapper, 4 leather thongs across spine, yapp edges, title lettered along spine and on front cover, evidence of two fore-edge ties. Provenance: one or two contemporary annotations -- Irving Davis (1889-1967; sale Sotheby's, 2 April 1985, lot 12).
AN EXCEPTIONALLY FINE COPY of a Milanese woodcut book. It is a work extensively outlining the conformity of the life of St. Francis to that of Christ. Some of the comparisons were ridiculed by Erasmus Alberus in his anti-Franciscan work, L'Alcoran des Cordeliers. Adams F-906; Kristeller Lombard. Graphik 10b; Sander 205.


I attended a poetry discussion at All Saints Church in Atlanta last week. While the priest did her best to keep us away from current events and focused on verse, we moved back and forth. I told her about my new community group Standing for Love, formed in response to all the hate speech we heard during the election. Others shared their concerns. Then she handed us poems to match our moods or goals. She gave me a poem by Rainer Maria Rilke.
I live my life in widening circles
that reach out across the world.
I may not complete this last one
but I give myself to it.
I circle around God, around the primordial tower.
I’ve been circling for thousands of years
and I still don’t know: am I a falcon,
a storm, or a great song.
The poem is a meditation on Rilke’s relationship with God and his struggles with his church’s ideology. It can also be a reflection on our relationship to our nation and our struggles to find our voice in the new order. Will you be a falcon, a storm or a great song? At first I thought great song, but we need falcons too, people who can see something the rest of us can’t and take swift, decisive action. To be the storm, the angry wind and hail. These are the people whose voices are heard as a collection. We need them to stir us up, impel us to act. To be a great song. These are the thought leaders who sustain us over time, giving us hopeful lyrics to store in our souls and stirring melodies to soothe our fears. We need everyone.
I don’t want people to stop talking about the election. It’s an extraordinary event. I do want people to decide who they are going to be and get to work. We don’t necessarily need grand gestures. I am going to count on stories of love and acts of kindness to sustain us. Every time I think I am being corny or ineffective, serving marshmallow hearts when we need bold designs, my friend Sarah sends me a story of love. They are stories about people who are gathering and making love a movement.
Our strengths are not always apparent or readily understood. Whatever they are, it’s time to use them and keep on using them. One of the gifts of this election is the call to action you are hearing everywhere. Respond with your greatest strengths. Tell me what you are going to do. It is so comforting to hear other people’s plans. It reminds me of the moment in a mass when the priest asks us to pray for someone who is sick. In the silence that follows, you imagine hundreds of people working on his or her behalf, sending messages to God.
I’ve never been a fan of the moment in church when the priest tells us to share “the sign of peace.” Everyone starts shaking hands and saying, “Peace be with you.” It feels forced and also shallow because we rush through it. The next time I am in mass, I am going to imagine hurdling over the pew and hugging people up and down the row. Instead of “Peace be with you,” I would say, “Let’s be one!”


“You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34 ESV)
“But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.”
(Matthew 15:18–19 ESV)
Tim Keller says that “the key difference between a Christian and a Pharisee is motivation. One obeys to get God’s stuff, the other obeys just to get God.” This is true and we see it cover to cover in the bible. God is not after any kind of obedience, God is after our JOYFUL obedience.
We are leaky people – what is on the inside leaks out of us. If we are angry people, it has a way of leaking out on others; if we are anxious, then it leaks out; if we are discontent then it leaks out; whatever is on the inside leaks out of our heart in the form of our feelings, words and behaviors. This is why simply trying to manage our sinful behaviors never works. We might try to buckle down and be extra disciplined to guard our tongues against gossip, our eyes from pornography or our quick whit from injuring others, but we ultimately fail. The reason we fail is because we are fighting a losing battle because we have not destroyed the supply lines that keep the battle raging.
Should we not be concerned with our sinful words and actions? Of course! We should work with all of our might to align them with the words of scripture. But, ultimately, just managing behavior will never make you free and it’s for freedom that you have been set free (Galatians 5:1). Our real problem is the heart. It is the GPS for our entire life (see Matthew 12:34, 15:18-19). The heart is much harder to manage than our actions. It seems to have a mind of its own! It is easily distracted by random thoughts, emotions and desires. We don’t really know what to do with it, so we tend to ignore it.
Our heart’s problem is a treasure problem – “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21 ESV). Trying to manage its thoughts, emotions and desires will never lead to freedom. What we need is a better view of what is really worthy of captivating our hearts. We far too easily believe that worldly wealth, good relationships, success, acclaim, Christian service or comfort will provide us with what we are longing for. Until you come to a point to which you see that these things, as good as some of them are, will never sustain you, you will never be free. The “perfect” marriage will not set you free, the “perfect” job will not set you free, “perfect” relationships of love and acceptance will never set you free.
Until we see that chasing good things, believing that they will satisfy us, is like running a marathon on a treadmill, we will never be free. Jesus said that “the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” (Matthew 13:44 ESV). Don’t miss the fact that the man JOYFULLY WENT AND SOLD EVERYTHING THAT HE HAD TO ACQUIRE THE FIELD. Is there a cost to following Christ? Absolutely! But when you view it at 20,000 feet, like the man in this parable, you will see that the cost is infinitely small as compared with the infinite joy that you receive.
How do we do this? Paul tells us that “if then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:1–3 ESV). What are you seeking? What are you telling yourself will make you happy, content or complete? Start there and beg God to change your heart to see Him as the greatest treasure and to cause you to long for Him more than you long for the things that He can give you.


The Power of Kind Words | Ephesians 4:29-32 Lectio Divina Guided Christian MeditationOctober 23, 2023 ● 20 min
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This week’s podcast is a Lectio Divina guided Christian meditation on the Fruit of the Spirit of Kindness.
Words have power. They can tear down or build up; heal or wound. We’ve all experienced destructive words and the deep wounds they leave behind. And hopefully, we can also recall words that have been spoken to us in kindness and love. Words that have encouraged us to be brave and take a leap of faith or to persevere when times feel challenging.
How do we use our words? Are they full of kindness and love – or do they tend to be critical and harsh?
Thankfully kindness is a Fruit of the Spirit, which means God longs to help us speak words of kindness.
As you meditate on this passage from Ephesians, allow the Holy Spirit to guide you to what he has for us – and trust him to cultivate the fruit of kindness in your life. He will do it.
The full meditation passage is:
29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
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You can find Jodie at http://www.jodieniznik.com/
Download free sample chapters from my Bible studies here.
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A Morning Prayer to Count Your Blessings - Your Daily Prayer - February 25
I invite you to join me in taking a pause in your morning, even if it is after all the kiddos are in school (or you have to hide in your closet), so you can truly honor God for all His goodness and faithfulness. Because the truth of the matter is that when we give thanks to God in the morning, it sets the tone for our day and gives way for us to praise Him throughout it.
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10 Best Hymns and Songs For Lent
As we prepare for Christ's Resurrection during the season of Lent, we must praise God's sacrifice of His only Son. Whether you connect through traditional hymns or modern worship songs, sing from your heart and rejoice in God's gift of salvation! Here are the 10 best hymns and songs for Lent.


At Bethlehem, we desire to see people authentically worshiping God for who He is and what He has done. Although styles change, the timeless truths of our God never change.
To best allow for people to worship in a way that is most familiar and authentic to them, we offer two worship services in two different styles. Our 9:00 AM Contemporary Worship Service is more casual and laid back while our 11:00 AM Traditional Service is done in a traditional style.
about Our Worship Services
9:00 AM Contemporary
With modern worship songs, a more laid back, casual feel, and a more contemporary, fast paced order of service, our contemporary service is great for people who are looking for an energetic, passionate worship experience with sound biblical teaching.
11:00 AM Traditional
With hymns you know and love, a traditional sermon structure, and a traditional order of service, our traditional service is a great fit for those looking to worship service that feels familiar and comfortable.


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82. Matthew continues his account thus:
And when He was departed thence, He went into their synagogue: and, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered; and so on, down to the words,
And it was restored whole, like as the other. The restoring of this man who had the withered hand is also not passed over in silence by Mark and Luke. Now, the circumstance that this day is also designated a Sabbath might possibly lead us to suppose that both the plucking of the ears of grain and the healing of this man took place on the same day, were it not that Luke has made it plain that it was on a different Sabbath that the cure of the withered hand was wrought. Accordingly, when Matthew says,
And when He was departed thence, He came into their synagogue, the words do indeed import that the said coming did not take place until after He had departed from the previously mentioned locality; but, at the same time, they leave the question undecided as to the number of days which may have elapsed between His passing from the aforesaid grain-field and His coming into their synagogue; and they express nothing as to His going there in direct and immediate succession. And thus space is offered us for getting in the narrative of Luke, who tells us that it was on another Sabbath that this man's hand was restored. But it is possible that a difficulty may be felt in the circumstance that Matthew has told us how the people put this question to the Lord,
Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day? wishing thereby to find an occasion for accusing Him; and that in reply He set before them the parable of the sheep in these terms:
What man shall there be among you that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it and lift it out? How much, then, is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath-days; whereas Mark and Luke rather represent the people to have had this question put to them by the Lord,
Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath day, or to do evil? To save life, or to kill? We solve this difficulty, however, by the supposition that the people in the first instance asked the Lord,
Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath day? that thereupon, knowing the thoughts of the men who were thus seeking an occasion for accusing Him, He set the man whom He had been on the point of healing in their midst, and addressed to them the interrogations which Mark and Luke mention to have been put; that, as they remained silent, He next put before them the parable of the sheep, and drew the conclusion that it was lawful to do good on the Sabbath day; and that, finally, when He had looked round about on them with anger, as Mark tells us, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man,
Stretch forth your hand.
Source. Translated by S.D.F. Salmond. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 6. Edited by Philip Schaff. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1888.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1602235.htm>.
Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is feedback732 at newadvent.org. (To help fight spam, this address might change occasionally.) Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.


Think of yourself on your upcoming holiday: you probably picture yourself walking through downtown, staring up at the monuments or the gorgeous environment wherever you look. Still, there's one attraction you're especially anticipating: Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels. For a while, you've wanted to escape there, and right now is the time to get there.
What Are Your Best Places to Stay at Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels?
Hotels near St. Mary of the Angels
Even though this area is brimming with places to explore, St. Mary of the Angels has to be at the top of your to-do list.
It is situated in Assisi. If you plan to visit Rome, the national capital, you'll need to travel 80 miles.
Accommodations close to St. Mary of the Angels are certainly plentiful. 36 hotels are available within a radius of 2 miles. Check out the Hotel Valle di Assisi Spa & Golf, just 2 miles away, the Dal Moro Gallery Hotel, 0.06 miles away, or the Casale San Rufino d'Arce, 1 mile away.
Hold on to your hard-earned dollars and book one of the many budget hotels positioned in the area. Placed 0.5 miles away is the Hotel Cenacolo, but you might also want to have a look at the Porziuncola if you're looking for another option. It's 0.05 miles away.
If you don't mind splurging on a place to stay, why not take a look at one of the various upmarket hotel options in the area? Inject some pizzazz into your vacation experience at the Hotel Bellavista, (0.9 miles away), or the Valle di Francesco, (0.7 miles away).
If the delectable coffee at GOTHA café doesn't prepare you for some time at St. Mary of the Angels, the tasty treats will. This popular place is close by. After that, you really ought to grab a table at Hotel Moderno Assisi for a hearty dining experience. If you're not ready to head back to the hotel, wander to Piadina Più.
Ensure you put aside time in your busy schedule to go experience some of the other things that are happening in the vicinity of St. Mary of the Angels:
- Reconnect with your spirituality while traveling and offer up your own prayer at St. Peter's Abbey.
- Quiet inside and visible from afar, Papal Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is not just a house of prayer, but a well-known tourist attraction too.
- Whether you've come to worship or gain a deeper understanding of the story behind the building, Oratorio dei Pellegrini is a fascinating place to visit.
- Go on a tour of Roman Temple of Minerva, and explore this fascinating historic building.
- If you enjoy strolling around and investigating the local area, your time will be well spent at Piazza del Comune.
Tourists visiting St. Mary of the Angels often arrive by light rail. Assisi is the nearest terminal and is only 0.3 miles away.
Our places to stay in Santa Maria degli Angeli deliver all you want, so you are certain to get venues near Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels that you'll fall in love with. Get hunting lots of people visit from everywhere on the planet. You can rest easy when it's time to reserve your spot, too: all kinds of travelers would propose their Santa Maria degli Angeli hotel to a friend or coworker. We have all the information you're searching for right here.
- From families with children to solo travelers, we've got pleasant accommodations for everyone.
- The guest service at accommodation close to Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels will be great, which will only enhance your visit to this dazzling feature.
- Discover that hotels in Santa Maria degli Angeli are always fresh and orderly.
And thanks to our big roster of hotels near Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, your desired place lies in your future.
Learn All About Santa Maria degli Angeli
After you've accomplished Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, there are still more activities to do in Santa Maria degli Angeli.
- Savor a delicious supper of its regional foods and happen upon the perfect shop to purchase a few mementos.
- You will realize Santa Maria degli Angeli also knows a thing or two about setting out the red carpet after you spend a time on its ample activities.
- In order to really dig into all the area has to provide, go over adventures near Santa Maria degli Angeli.
Paying a visit to Santa Maria degli Angeli is always a good strategy, especially when you cash in on the phenomenal deals on accommodation near Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels from Expedia. Say goodbye to the same old sights and tip your hat to some amazing photo ops!


Vas Honorabile Tournament
MD Saints vs OLMC Templars
This year the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Templars made the trip from Ontario, Canada to take on the Mater Dei Saints in our annual tournament. Matching head to head in chess, ping-pong, soccer, volleyball and other competitions, the OLCMA Templars were able to pull off the win this year, taking away the coveted "Vas Honorabile cup"...until next year!
The cup, named for that title of the Blessed Virgin Mary taken from her Litany ("Vessel of Honor" ), is a good reminder of what unites us: the love and service of Our Lord and the Lady whom both schools call their patroness. The sung Mass on Laetare Sunday, chanted and served by boys from both schools together, reinforced that union.


I don’t know about you, but getting ready for Christmas at our house entailed some “winter cleaning.”
Christmas Day offered a good excuse to clean this place up – stem to stern – and make this home *sparkle*
Housekeeping – my little gift to my husband.
I’ve shared with you before that “The Hub” is a neatnik. And I am not. So, when he gets into Mr. Clean mode, I put on my gloves and jump in with him – and we CLEAN! (Gotta give “The Hub” a little shout-out here – he really helps me with this project – he’s such a KEEPER!)
OK, looked up “cleaning” in Sharon’s Synonym Dictionary (NOT to be confused with the many other Sharon Dictionaries out there…)
Scrubbing, scouring, wiping, waxing, polishing, vacuuming, hanging (I hear you asking – hanging?? That would be hanging as in “hanging up my clothes” – after all, this is Sharon’s dictionary, and Sharon has a BAD habit of NOT hanging up her clothes. Mrs. Messy is a diehard…)
One of my tasks was cleaning the mirrors.
Oh, how I love this task. Really!
Why? Well, for one thing, you can see instant results! You can see the grime come off. You can see the dust particles wiped away. You can see that filmy thing that happens with mirrors disappear. You can see…well, you can SEE!
Windex is my friend.
When I was done, I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I could see myself so much clearer, because the dingy mirror now *sparkled*
It’s the same way with God.
We were made in the very image of God. Beautiful, sparkling, clear reflections of Him. Perfect in every way…
Then we got dirty.
We let the dust of disobedience dim our glow. We let the grime of self and pride accumulate. We let that filmy thing that happens with sin dull our reflection of God.
I don’t want to be a dull reflection. Do you?
I want to reflect my Savior’s glory. I want to reflect His kindness and love. I want to shine forth His image. I want people to look at me, and see Him.
I want to mirror Jesus.
How can we accomplish this?
We give God the cleaning rag, and we let Him “have at it.” Every single part of us. Every hidden corner. Every dusty, grimy, filthy, filmy thing inside.
That’s what I’m talking about!
Oh Lord, I just want to be Your reflection. I want others to see You in me. Do what You have to do to clean me. Make me Your image-bearer. Make me sparkle with Your Spirit, and shine with Your Love.
BLOG = “Blessedly Leaning On God!”


Both the Revd Catherine and Marie-Lyse joined the Chapter in the new year, during the lockdown, and were legally installed as members of Chapter on Zoom by the Diocesan Registrar in February.
Marie-Lyse, will receive her license as a Lay Canon from the Bishop and then be installed by the Dean in the Cathedral during Evensong at 3.30 pm on Sunday 25 April.
Marie-Lyse said: “I have been in Norwich for seven years now and I can now say that God has guided me to my purpose in this world. I survived the Genocide in Rwanda 26 years ago and I knew that I was given a second chance to live because I was meant to serve God but didn’t know how?
“I am honoured to be the Lay Canon at Norwich Cathedral as I see myself being the link between the community and the Cathedral, to those with faith and those with none. The Cathedral is the house of God, my role as Lay Canon is to bring to the people of Norwich and Norfolk at large what the cathedral represents which is healing, hope, and joy.“
The Revd Catherine Dobson, Rector of the Coastal Group of Parishes on the North Norfolk coast and Rural Dean for St Benet at Waxham & Tunstead Deanery, was already an Honorary Canon and as such had been installed in the Cathedral previously, she will be informally welcomed as a member of Chapter at Choral Evensong on Sunday 16 May.
Catherine said: “I am passionate about the rural church as a vital part of the community, and making church relevant, accessible, and inclusive. My role on the Cathedral Chapter is to bring a voice from the wider Diocese and to represent the College of Canons. It will be an honour and a pleasure to be part of the Cathedral Chapter and to work alongside the Dean and Chapter in this way.”
The Rt Revd Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich said:
“I am glad to appoint Marie-Lyse and Catherine to their roles in the Chapter to further develop the diverse team leading our Mother Church in this diocese. May they discover joy in their service to the Chapter and to the Cathedral community across Norfolk and Waveney as they seek to make Jesus known.”
The Dean of Norwich, the Very Revd Jane Hedges, said:
“On behalf of the Chapter, I would like to thank Bill Armstrong and Ian Bentley for the wonderful service and support they have given to the Cathedral over the last few years. I am absolutely delighted that we are now welcoming Catherine and Marie-Lyse to serve in their place and they will both bring many gifts to the life of the Cathedral and help us to reach out into the wider community and diocese.”
What is the Cathedral Chapter and a Chapter Canon?
The Cathedral Chapter is the governing body of the Cathedral and is made up of the following people: The Dean, four Residentiary Canons, one Chapter Canon, and three Lay Canons.
The Chapter Canon is an Honorary Canon who has their main ministry elsewhere in the diocese and the three Lay Canons all give of their time in a voluntary capacity. All of the Canons, whether lay or ordained are part of a larger body called the College of Canons (which is made up of 24 Honorary Canons and 12 Lay Canons from all over the diocese)
The Lay Canons serve for a maximum of six years on Chapter and just recently Bill Armstrong completed his time in office and the Bishop has appointed Marie-Lyse Numuhoza to take his place on Chapter. Also recently, Archdeacon Ian Bentley, who had been the Chapter Canon for several years, stood down and the Bishop has appointed the Revd Canon Catherine Dobson to serve in his place.
The Lay Canons bring a variety of skills and expertise to the life of the Chapter and the Chapter Canon brings the breadth of experience of a Parish Priest and in the case of the Revd Catherine, of a Rural Dean, which all helps the Cathedral to fulfill its role of Mother Church, serving the diocese.


"Praise the LORD, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s." Psalm 103:2-5
I have always wondered why people who don't really give much thought to God blame Him when catastrophes happen. They ask, "Where was God?" Most of the time they say it when especially evil people do terrible things to innocent people. Every terrible event in history it seems to come up again. I heard it concerning the Holocaust, events in Africa, every war that has ever been fought. And here at home it came up again after 9/11.
When it's a natural disaster, the question comes up again. They say: "Why did God allow this? I have also heard some Christians try to pin it on God as His judgment on whoever got struck down.
Why didn't God do something? The question should rather be, "Why didn't we do something, or for that matter, "Why didn't I do something?" We are creatures of free-will, and that was given to us as a supreme gift from God. This is a sacred gift, and He will not take it away. We can use it to do good, or use it to cause tremendous grief and suffering for others. Yes, He could certainly stop all evil for good, and someday He will. But the time is not now. It has been said.....
“Evil flourishes when good men do nothing.”~British statesman Edmund BurkeThe truth is, evil flourishes anyway. It just flourishes more when good people do nothing. It is the result of sin, and that is a word we don't use much anymore.
God was watching, has been watching, and His heart has broken along with all those who have suffered loss. He has been there in every foxhole and trench, every death camp and burned village, in the towers that fell. I have heard the stories. His Spirit was there residing in people who came alongside to help, hiding people at the risk of their own life, putting people on trains to freedom, getting people to safety, jumping in front of bullets raining death.
Believe me, I understand about asking why and where when you are in deep sorrow. Some people have gone through some things so horrific, so unimaginably terrible that I can't imagine how they got through it, are getting through it. But I do know this, it is possible to get through it victoriously with Him but not without Him.
When Jesus was on the cross they scoffed, "Where is Your God?" What they couldn't understand was that by His very act He was saying....."I am right here."
“He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”
If you are going through something right now that you think is unfair, unwarranted and you feel neglected and abandoned by God, please draw comfort from the fact that He is surely with you. He still loves you and He is working for your ultimate good.
Maybe you are asking where He is. He understands that. The asking is in itself an acknowledgement of Him. That is something He can work with.
photo credit: http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/ Anna Cervova


In words that might be addressed to so much of 21st century Western Evangelicalism, Ortlund Jr.comments on Old Testament Israel’s spiritual adultery as found in the book of Hosea,
The people failed to make meaningful connections between their theology, history and worship, on the one hand, and their real-life problems, on the other hand. They put God, his covenant, his power, his wisdom, into a limiting category of thought – they could not bring themselves really to believe the assurance of Deuteronomy 28:1-14 – while ‘the real world’ was another category altogether with its own rules and its own resources. They acted as though faith in Yahweh alone were an impracticable policy for life. As a result, they dishonoured him even as they thought they continued to honour him.
Moreover, unalloyed, classical Yahwism was losing its compelling power among the people. It was being redefined with fewer sharp edges and more open doors as a broadly inclusive religion, increasingly tolerant of elements of paganism.
(Ortlund Jr, Whoredom: God’s Unfaithful Wife in Biblical Theology, 48)


A knife-wielding man in Egypt stabbed a Coptic Orthodox priest several times in the neck, which led to his death. The country’s interior ministry says the accused, a 60-year-old man, has been arrested.
Arsanios Wadeed, an archpriest of the Church of the Virgin Mary and Mar Bolous in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, was stabbed Thursday while he was walking in the Corniche area, a popular seaside promenade, Egypt Independent reported.
Egypt’s Ministry of Interior announced Friday that the suspect had been arrested.
“The security services of the Alexandria Security Directorate were able to arrest a 60-year-old man who assaulted a Christian cleric while walking on the Corniche in the Sidi Bishr area of Alexandria using a knife he possessed,” it said in a statement, adding that the priest died while being treated in a hospital.
The accused had not been identified as of early Saturday, and the motive of the stabbing also remained unclear.
The Coptic Church posted photos on social media showing the priest’s funeral at the Saint Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria Friday, according to ABC News, which said a Bible was placed on the priest’s chest and a cross around his neck.
“While many details about the incident remain unclear, it does highlight the vulnerability that many Egyptian Christians face, particularly during the religious holidays of Ramadan and Easter,” Jeff King, president of the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern, said in a statement.
“It is normal for Christians to face increased persecution during these seasons, and such an incident could inspire further acts of extremism,” he warned.
King added, “Unfortunately, within the Egyptian context, it is common for the attacker to be accused of having a mental illness rather than addressing underlying extremist motivations. This trend is not only a disservice to authentic religious freedom, but also increases the marginalization of those with genuine disabilities.”
The Copts, who make up about 10% of Egypt’s population, are the descendants of a long line of ancient Egyptians who later converted to Christianity in the early first century, according to Encyclopedia Britannica.
According to the persecution watchdog group Open Doors USA, Egypt is among the 20 worst persecutors of Christians in the world.
Incidents of Christian persecution in Egypt vary from Christian women being harassed while walking in the street to Christian communities being driven out of their homes by extremist mobs, the group says on its website, adding that Christians are typically treated as second-class citizens.
Egypt’s government speaks positively about the Egyptian Christian community, but the lack of serious law enforcement and the unwillingness of local authorities to protect Christians leave them vulnerable to all kinds of attacks, especially in Upper Egypt, it explains. “Due to the dictatorial nature of the regime, neither church leaders nor other Christians are in a position to speak out against these practices.”
Churches and Christian nongovernmental organizations are restricted in their ability to build new churches or run social services, it adds. “The difficulties come both from state restrictions, as well as from communal hostility and mob violence.”


Holy Week | Tuesday
Week 6: What Can We Expect as Followers of Jesus?
Jesus Sends out the Seventy-Two: A Mission
by Janet Nygren
Read: Luke 10: 1-12
5 “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
- Who is on this “mission team”? Notice the numbers, the strategy, the expectations for growth.
- How will each person who is sent out be challenged to live in faith?
- What indications does Jesus give that this task will not be easy?
- It’s significant that Jesus is not just sending out his twelve chosen disciples here, but a large number of followers. How might these same questions apply to you? Do you have a place/people you think of as your mission field that you are preparing ahead of Jesus’ arrival? Do you have a partner to share your vision with? Are you praying for others to help you expand the vision? Is there an urgency to your mission?
- How might Jesus be challenging you to live in faith in whatever mission he has for you?
- Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.” Can you make this your prayer today as well?
- What/who do you consider to be your mission field? This could be people in your immediate context, or someone/somewhere you feel called to go in the future. If this is not the way you are currently thinking, perhaps you could pray that God would put something like this on your heart. Either way, share with us–perhaps you will find a like-minded partner in our midst!
We just watched a powerful episode of “The Chosen”- season 3 episode 2. Jesus is preparing to send out the 12. They are going out by 2’s, but they feel so inadequate and unsure. I found myself thinking about the very topic we are considering today. I know in contrast to the 72 who are sent out, we do know the “rest of the story”. Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection are not known by the 72, and they have not experienced the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Equipped with the full Gospel and in-filled by the Spirit, we should be ready for the challenge of being sent out. Though this is the case, I feel the same sense of inadequacy that the 12 and later the 72 felt. But still they go! They come back with stories of how God has used them. In like manner, when I have stepped out in faith I have seen God use me. I want to be ready to do whatever He asks me.
I find it reassuring that Jesus knew some people would welcome the disciples and some wouldn’t. Our responsibility is to be faithful and share the message. If people don’t respond, it’s okay to just move on. I think I used to have a more compartmentalized view of my life: i.e., work, family, and ministry. In recent years, I am learning to see every aspect of my life as some kind of ministry to others. But I do think it’s easy to lose the sense of urgency. And it makes a huge difference being in partnership with others.
I tend to think of my gifts more suited to strengthening and encouraging the "family," whether biological or faith-related. But sending out followers two by two doesn't allow for that sort of differentiation, so I think there are certainly times when we are called to be stretched beyond where our strengths lie. I am surrounded by a whole mission field in my own building, but I'm still trying to figure out what that looks like as someone who tends to keep to herself in my little "sanctuary." Meanwhile 3 neighbors have already come and gone immediately next door since we've lived here.
This passage is very timely for my husband and me. We retired in late 2021 and our great ambition right now is to be “sent out.” We have applied to serve up in Alaska with Samaritan’s Purse at their veteran lodge. In December we did something very different for us. In a strange way it reminded me of this passage again. We went ahead of a big Mike Silva Evangelistic festival in the Dominican Republic. We “prepared the way” before the festival. It was a very interesting experience and a different type of mission. This is so exciting for me to be able to be in this position. I have to pinch myself to remind myself that it’s really happening! God has been so good to give me a husband who is now, so on board with this. That is another amazing story. . . .
Yes it was eye opening to see how the apostles felt unprepared during the Chosen episode. Our Palm Sunday walk through Cohoes gave me a sense of mission.