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Question Of the Month: A few weeks ago, I went and bought my oldest 2 daughters (aged 17 and 15) a lovely new Bible each, complete with a bookmark. And after the evening meal on the Sunday I quietly announced that we were going to read and discuss the Bible together as a family. The reaction of my oldest daughter, 16 was, shall we say.... vigorous! She nearly hit the roof!!! We were ramming religion down her throat. She even accused of child abuse! Needless to say, she didn't say thank you for the Bible. Nobody else I know does...

Two years ago, the USCCB released a document of revised guidelines for liturgical music titled "Sing to the Mountains" -- er, "Lord." In its 88 mostly tepid pages are found a meditation on the scriptural and theological foundations for the use of music in worship, notes particular to the celebration of special rites within the Mass, and handy tips for ordained and lay liturgical ministers, such as the suggestion that cantors "possess the ability for singing and a facility in correct pronunciation and diction."   And, as with so many products of committee, its prescriptions perform a two-step waltz:...

I'm amazed the NEA Chairman can make such a statement since Obama is hiding everything he published.

Night of worship with Andy Chrisman formerly of 4Him. Grammy nominated w/7 Dove awards. Church on the Move (COTM) recently remodeled (unveiled this last weekend). If you are close, you need to come! Don't miss this!!!

Follow the jump for a gallery of all 26 TIME covers featuring the Obamas (lucky us!). Warning: not for the faint-hearted.

For those who suggest that the indoctrination of school children is nothing more than isolated incidents the growing list of outrageous examples proves the opposite is true. Last week there was the "Barack Hussein Obama hm..hm..hm...Hello Mr. President, we honor you today! ... Hooray Mr. President, you are number one!"This week at a PTA meeting at Sand Hill Elementary School in North Carolina we find yet another example. Since the news of this video broke, the original which was posted at Hot Air has been moved to private viewing only by the person who posted it at You Tube. However,...

(English-language translation) Havana - The Cuban authorities authorized the celebration of Evangelical services and Catholic Masses in all of the country's prisons. Cuba Council of Churches (CIC) spokesman José Aurelio Paz told AP on Tuesday that they were informed of the decision on September 10. He added that, on that day, CIC leaders met with Religious Affairs officials from the Communist Party, including [Religious Affairs] head Caridad Diego, and with prison officials. "It involved an informative meeting," Paz stated. He explained that, prior to the decision, there was "personal-level religious attention", in other words, when a prisoner or his family...

Morning Devotional "From me is thy fruit found." - Hosea 14:8 Our fruit is found from our God as to union. The fruit of the branch is directly traceable to the root. Sever the connection, the branch dies, and no fruit is produced. By virtue of our union with Christ we bring forth fruit. Every bunch of grapes have been first in the root, it has passed through the stem, and flowed through the sap vessels, and fashioned itself externally into fruit, but it was first in the stem; so also every good work was first in Christ, and then...

Morning Devotional "In the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world." - Philippians 2:15 We use lights to make manifest. A Christian man should so shine in his life, that a person could not live with him a week without knowing the gospel. His conversation should be such that all who are about him should clearly perceive whose he is, and whom he serves; and should see the image of Jesus reflected in his daily actions. Lights are intended for guidance. We are to help those around us who are...

Spurgeon's Morning & Evening - September 5 -------------------------------- Morning Devotional "Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar." - Psalm 120:5 As a Christian you have to live in the midst of an ungodly world, and it is of little use for you to cry "Woe is me." Jesus did not pray that you should be taken out of the world, and what he did not pray for, you need not desire. Better far in the Lord's strength to meet the difficulty, and glorify him in it. The enemy is ever...

Video. Obama marches out Hollywood to declare their devotion to him. This is simply remarkable. No one is buying it - the YouTube comments are priceless.

Prayer is an ongoing dialogue of intimate communion with God. God fashioned men and women as the crown of His creation, creating us in “His Image”, for this loving, relational conversation of life with Him. ... The Lord wants us to freely choose to respond to His continual invitations to love. We will only find our fulfillment as human persons by entering into that kind of relationship. This is the meaning and purpose of life itself. ...Prayer is about falling in love with God. Isaac of Ninevah was an early eighth century monk, Bishop and theologian. For centuries he was...

It is true that worship is one of the most fulfilling aspects of an individual’s life as well as an integral part of family living. But real worship must go beyond prayer and recognition. It must be a sincere desire to connect with our Creator. On the simplest level, one wouldn’t greet a member of their favorite sports team and present them with the jersey of an opposing team. One would not go to the White House to ask a favor of a Democratic president and begin their supplication by telling the President what a great Republican they are, or...

Eucharistic Season in the Year of the Priesthood By Father Mark on July 26, 2009 10:07 AM | The Seventeenth Sunday of the Year B The First of Five Sundays Focusing on the Mystery of the Most Holy Eucharist in the Sixth Chapter of Saint John's Gospel A Midsummer Eucharistic SeasonEvery three years when the B cycle of the Sunday Lectionary returns, the Church interrupts her reading of Saint Mark's Gospel to spend five weeks listening to the magnificent sixth chapter of Saint John: Our Lord's discourse on the Bread of Life. These five Sundays -- the 17th through the...

A Chilling Effect on U.S. CounterterrorismSecurity at Places of Worship: More Than a Matter of Faith By Fred Burton and Scott Stewart of Stratfor Jewish World Review July 17, 2009 / 25 Tamuz 5769 In recent months, several high-profile incidents have raised awareness of the threat posed by individuals and small groups operating under the principles of leaderless resistance. These incidents have included lone wolf attacks against a doctor who performed abortions in Kansas, an armed forces recruitment center in Arkansas and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. Additionally, a grassroots jihadist cell was arrested for attempting to...

When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor. David said, Mephibosheth!" "Your servant," he replied. 2 Samuel 9:6 This is an interesting little story tucked away in the pages of 2 Samuel. David wanted to show kindness to someone in Jonathan's lineage because he had been good friends with Jonathan, despite his extremely rough relationship with Saul, Jonathan's father. The Scriptures pointed out twice that Jonathan's son Mephibosheth was crippled in both feet. Mephibosheth knew royalty as the grandson of Saul. He had probably lived in the royal palace...

Just when things look hopeless or feeling depress; A hear of this "song of faith" will be your greatest inspiration of your life. Remember this, a prayer day keeps the devil away. Pray and say "Thank You God" God Bless to all of the breathers in the world that stand up with God PS it can make you shed a little tear

Worship: Worship Seven Days a Week But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him. --Habakkuk 2:20 So I've got to tell you that if you do not worship God seven days a week, you do not worship Him on one day a week. There is no such thing known in heaven as Sunday worship unless it is accompanied by Monday worship and Tuesday worship and so on.... We come into God's house and say, "The Lord is in His holy temple, let us all kneel before Him." Very nice. I think it's...

How many people in need of a message of comfort during tough times turn to the book of Habakkuk? I am perhaps less spiritual than most for I do not think immediately of this wonderful book. For starters a man with a weird name wrote it and secondly it is in a weird section of the Bible. By this I mean that every person that has tried and failed to read the Bible through, a wonderful thing we should all strive to do multiple times a year in my opinion, has failed somewhere between the begats and Numbers. The general...

Worship in Times of Public Health Concerns Guidance from the Worship and Liturgical Resources Section of the Office of the Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America April 30, 2009 When anxiety is high in our culture, worship continues to be a primary location for the proclamation both of the good news of Jesus Christ and of the continuing compassion and care of God in the midst of our humanity. It is a place where we can find solace and reassurance in the midst of our fears. Great care should be taken to continue this central ministry of the church,...

This song is, to me, what heaven will 'sound like'...beautiful song from Gateway Worship...America's leading praise and worship band, featuring Kari Jobe (although she does not sing lead on this song). Watch this on full screen and turn up the sound or plug in your head sets! Heaven's Song by Gateway Worship

Isaac Watts (1674-1748) Words:Isaac Watts, Hymns and Spir­it­u­al Songs, 1707. Charles Wes­ley re­port­ed­ly said he would give up all his other hymns to have writ­ten this one.Music: Ham­burg, Low­ell Ma­son, 1824; first ap­peared in The Bos­ton Han­del and Hay­dn So­ci­e­ty Col­lect­ion of Church Mu­sic, third edi­tion, 1825 (MI­DI, score). Al­ter­nate tunes: Eucharist, Isaac B. Wood­bu­ry (1819-1858) (MI­DI, score) Rock­ing­ham (Mill­er), Ed­ward Mill­er, 1790 (MI­DI, score) When I Survey The Wondrous Cross - Issac Watts When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all...

"When we FACE UP to the majesty of God, we will find ourselves FACEDOWN in worship." -- Matt Redman Facedown - Matt Redman Verse 1: Welcomed in to the courts of the King/ I've been ushered into your presence/ Lord I stand on your merciful ground/ Yet with every step tread with reverence Chorus: And I'll fall facedown As your glory shines around Yes I'll fall facedown As your glory shines around Verse 2: Who is there in the heavens like you/ And upon the earth who's your equal/ You are far above you're the highest of heights/ We are...

It is so easy to get overwhelmed with the news. Sometimes it takes some real effort to keep a few things in perspective. Take a moment and listen and watch Hillsong "With All I Am" Hillsong

Take My Life and Let it Be - Fran­ces R. Ha­ver­gal, Feb­ru­a­ry 1874. Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee. Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise. Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love. Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.   Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King. Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee. Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold. Take my...

This video is created for moments of peace and peacefulness, meditation and prayer. The medley instrumental consist of 5 different hymns and in this order are they played: “1. Precious Memories; 2. In The Garden; 3. Precious Lord; 4. Softly and Tenderly; 5. Lord I’m Coming Home”.

I Need Thee Every Hour – Annie S. Hawks, 1872 I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord; No tender voice like Thine can peace afford. Refrain I need Thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee; O bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee. I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby; Temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh. Refrain I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain; Come quickly and abide, or life is in vain. Refrain I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will; And Thy rich promises in me...

I Can Only Imagine   I can only imagine What it will be like When I walk By Your side I can only imagine What my eyes will see When Your face Is before me I can only imagine   [Chorus]: Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel Will I dance for You Jesus or in awe of You be still Will I stand in Your presence or to my knees will I fall Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all I can only imagine   I can only imagine When that day...

Nearer, My God, to Thee - Words: Verses 1-5, Sar­ah F. Adams, in Hymns and Anthems, by William Johnson Fox, 1841; verse 6, Ed­ward H. Bick­er­steth, Jr. Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me, Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee. Refrain Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee! Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down, Darkness be over me, my rest a stone. Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God to Thee. Refrain There let the way appear, steps unto Heav’n; All...

Message of the Cross -  Delirious?    Chorus 1 You set me free When I came to the cross Poured out Your blood For I was broken and lost There I was healed And You covered my sin It's there You saved me This is the message of the cross Verse 1 This is the message of the cross That we can be free To live in the victory And turn from our sin My precious Lord Jesus With sinners You died For there You revealed Your love And You laid down Your life Verse 2 This the message of...

Amazing grace! How sweet the soundThat saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found; Was blind, but now I see. ’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved; How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed! Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home. The Lord has promised good to me, His Word my hope secures; He will my Shield and Portion be, As long as life endures. Yea, when this...

I Stand Amazed (How Marvelous) Verse 1 I stand amazed in the presence Of Jesus the Nazarene And wonder how He could love me A sinner condemned unclean Chorus How marvelous how wonderful And my song shall ever be How marvelous how wonderful Is my Savior's love for me Verse 2 He took my sins and my sorrows He made them His very own He bore the burden to Calvary And suffered and died alone Verse 3 When with the ransomed in glory His face I at last shall see 'Twill be my joy through the ages To sing of...

Clap your hands, all you nations, shout to God with cries of joy. How awesome is the Lord Most High, the great King over all the earth! Psalm 47:1 With so much negative talk about the economy and where we're headed as a nation, it's sometimes good just to slow down a bit and worship. It's not enough to sit down once a year and think about heavenly things. Our tanks need filled regularly. I find that if I don't do worship regularly, I get lost in the cares and worries of this world. I tend to get consumed by...

Reflections: Holy Hour for Life, Graced Hour for Healing By Dawn Slike Monday, January 26, 2009 AD This past Thursday evening I had set aside a few weeks ago for our church's Holy Hour for Life. Fr. Donnelly and several people in ministry hold this event on the 22nd, for those who do not travel to Washington for the march. It is always an evening of reverence and holiness. In light of my daughter Sherrill's recent passing, I had to think about whether I really wanted to sit in a church with an any-sized group of people. I knew it...

Smith has staked his claim to play the role, even before Barack Obama has been inaugurated as president. Speaking at the premiere of his new film Seven Pounds at the Empire, Leicester Square, in London, Smith laughed about reports that the US President-elect had indicated that he would like the actor to play him if his life story were ever to be made into a movie.

Spurgeon's Morning & Evening - December 30 -------------------------------- Morning Devotional "Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof." - Ecclesiastes 7:8 Look at David's Lord and Master; see his beginning. He was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Would you see the end? He sits at his Father's right hand, expecting until his enemies be made his footstool. "As he is, so are we also in this world." You must bear the cross, or you shall never wear the crown; you must wade through the mire, or you shall never...

If John Calvin were a member of your worship committee, what comments might he have about the shape and content of the liturgy your congregation follows on Sunday morning! Would he be impressed with your creative litanies, warmed by your pastor's folksy opening remarks! Or would he be critical of some of your more innovative practices, appalled that you celebrate the Lord's Supper only four times a year? In the following article James De Jong, president of Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan; takes a look at Calvin's well-defined ideas about the nature and form of worship and reminds...

This video with the accompanied piano instrumental, Rock of Ages and view of a pet kitty and outside bullfrog was arranged to bring awareness of the need to assemble with other Christians.

The origin of Taoism Taoism is one of the main Vietnam Religion. Taoism is believed to be founded by Lao Tseu (Lao Tu), a Chinese contemporary of Confucius in about 500 B.C. The ideas and doctrines of his religion are explained in his book entitled Dao Duc Kinh (The Book of Morality). He did spend his life on searching for a way that would avoid the constant feudal warfare and conflicts that disrupted society during his lifetime. Taoism, therefore, is the natural mode of behavior that encourages one to live purely and simply. It relies on harmony between Man, Nature...

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the Lord, is my strength and my song: he has become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2 Spread plentifully throughout the Old and New Testaments are songs of praise to God. Often times those songs come at what appears to be very odd times. But God was a way of life for these people. Times were tough; life was tough. Throw in the added disadvantage of being hated for what they believe, it would have been understandable if they had fallen away. Many did. But those who remained...

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:4-5 Throughout the Psalms is a general theme of “Give thanks to God; his love endures forever." I suspect a phrase similar to that is in the Old Testament 30 times or more. In fact, each verse in Psalm 136 ends in “His love endures forever.” Obviously it’s a phrase that God wants us to be familiar with. You see, we forget easily. We forget...

The Daily Psalms: Monday Douay Rheims Version   MATINS: First Nocturn   Psalm 13Dixit Insipiens The general corruption of men, before our redemption by Christ. 1 Unto the end, a psalm for David. THE fool hath said in his heart: There is no God. They are corrupt, and are become abominable in their ways: there is none that doth good, no not one. 2 The Lord hath looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there be any that understand and seek God. 3 They are all gone aside, they are become unprofitable together: there is...

This woman's quote begins in the last 30 seconds of the NBC6 coverage of the Orlando Obama rally. She is there with her two young daughters, apperently. She says: "It was the most touching moment of my life! I never thought this day would ever happen! I won't have to work to put gas in my car! I won't have to worry about paying my mortgage! You know, if I help HIM, he's going to help us!" Man... Is this woman in for a massive letdown, or what!!! This begins at the :30 second mark of the tape!! http://video.nbc6.net/player/?id=797441

"For where two or three have gathered together in My name" Matt 18:20 9/7/08 Non-Denominational Devotional/Prayer For some time, through FReepmail, several FReepers have provided each other with a way to share prayer requests and praises. Now that the Non-denominational category has been established at Freerepublic, we are offering a weekly thread in which posts of your requests and praises are welcome. Anyone, regardless of denomination, is welcome to bring their concerns here. The one thing that we hope to establish here, is that at a set time on Sunday evening, 11:00 p.m. in the Eastern time zone, 10:00 p.m....

ZE08090302 - 2008-09-03Permalink: http://www.zenit.org/article-23539?l=englishWhy Mary Appears Interview With Mariologist Mark Miravalle (Part 1) By Irene LaganSTEUBENVILLE, Ohio, SEPT. 3, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Private Marian apparitions serve to remind mankind that God exists, and to provide an opportunity to conduct a "global examination of conscience," according to Mariologist Mark Miravalle.The professor of theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville will be a speaker at the 22nd International Mariological Marian Congress, to begin Thursday in Lourdes. The congresses, held every four years, are sponsored by the Pontifical International Marian Academy. This year's theme is "The Apparitions of the Most Holy Virgin Mary: Between History,...

The polished services at large churches today may be earnest, but spiritually, they can miss the mark. My friend Jennie is a singer with a worship team at a local "megachurch." Recently, while rehearsing songs for the next day's worship service, she found herself experiencing a deep sense of union with God. As the music faded away, she stood in silent worship, then noticed someone speaking her name. "Jennie," called the worship leader, observing the rehearsal from the front seats, "when you're worshipping, don't forget to keep your fingers evenly spaced on the microphone. Thanks, everybody. Take a break." Ouch....

Berlin - Obamania is all the rage ahead of next week's visit to Berlin, Paris and London by a man described in newspapers as a "John Kennedy of our time" and Europe's champion in the race for the White House.

Stumbling to my feet amidst this show of inspiration, Crumbling to the earth in chunks of ebony; sublime! Wonder fills my senses with divine anticipation… Peeking through the twilight; blankets laced with starry night, ______________________________________________________ Like an orange flower blooming out of just a notion, Gentle beams of sunlight soon initiate the stream, Before you know it, floods of light come streaming like an ocean The sea lay there before me basking in its radiant beam ______________________________________________________ What do I owe this pleasure? To the gods of here or there? Or to a Heavenly Father who created all we see,...

Christian Atheism The title for this post sounds like an oxymoron, and, of course, it is. How can one be both an atheist and a Christian? Again, I am wanting to push the understanding of the one-versus-two-storey universe. In the history of religious thought, one of the closest versions to what I am describing as a “two-storey� world-view, is that espoused by classical Deism (the philosophy espoused by a number of the American founding fathers).They had an almost pure, two-storey worldview. God, “the Deity,� had created the universe in the beginning, setting it in motion. He had done so in such...

A Monastery to Last 1,000 Years Traditional Benedictines Flourish in Eastern Oklahoma By Jason Adkins HULBERT, Oklahoma, JUNE 12, 2008 (Zenit.org).- It’s been said that when the revolution comes, you won’t read about it in the newspapers. Indeed, when the history of this part of the world is written, it may point to the recent establishment of a monastery amid the rolling hills and lakes of eastern Oklahoma as an event of momentous consequence for fostering a renaissance of Christian culture. On my return drive to Minnesota after living for a year in Texas, I chose to spend some time...