Train up a child in the way he should go,

And when he is old he will not depart from it.

It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come!  

It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble. 

• It CONTAINS seeds of LOVE & CONFIDENCE

• It CHANGES the trajectory of a MOMENT

• It IMPROVES your relationships

• It can TURN ANGUISH into FLOWER GARDENS

• It KEEPS you safe

I cannot imagine Christ saying, "I can't feed these people; it will destroy their incentive to better themselves." Cany you?

I cannot imagine Christ saying, "If I feed all these people I will be condoning the bad behaviour of some in the crowd." Can you?

For the life of me I cannot imagine Jesus saying, "If I raise him from the dead, he'll just die again, so what's the use?" Can you?

if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

miraculous moments

RECLAIM
RESTORE
RENEW
RELINQUISH
REDISCOVER
REIMAGINE
REJOICE

“In our reclaiming of the fullness of Chirst and the gifts that were expressed in his earthly life, we also reclaim the power of the miracles of Christ - not just those that were witnessed more than 2000 years ago, but the miracles that we witness today in the lives of others and in our own lives.”

And that's another cool thing my Senior Pastor told us.

ARISE
SHINE
SOAR

PROGRAM LISTINGS & PROGRAM SCHEDULES

Life is a struggle, best I detect and deduce. It is a stern struggle across the board - not the same nor necessarily similar struggle for everyone, nonetheless, a heck of a struggle spurring growth! Then there is inventive suffering - unnecessary struggles.

What's your view?

High in the sky we heard that song - the one above - and I reflected on it as I have done nigh a hundred times, if not more, and am always tremendously moved. I feel a love: a healing pulse through my soul.

It is not a song my mother ever sang to me. However, it frequently calls to mine one she often did: be not dismayed what ere betide, God will take care of you!

Intriguing how these two songs have grown and changed in me, with me, and through me, across time and again during this quest. Enormously fascinating. Ever more embracing. Inspiring. Re-birthing. Enriching!

They call on me to shine!

Now I've been privileged, honored, blessed, lucky, or by happenstance - you choose - to have lived, loved, been loved, ate, slept, grown up with and alongside folks of similar, varied, and distinctly disimilar backgrounds (origins), cultures, means, status, views, outlook and up-bringing - much of which from time to time come into focus through newer lenses. It's fascinating! You may have had similar experiences.

These folks are NOT all nearly as moved by those two songs. I know. I asked.

True - considering the song above - I would never have had the gumption or audacity to even contemplate presenting my mom a bill for labors or achievements. I was way too familiar with her struggle to keep us alive and to build for us a bedrock of life for which overwhelming gratitude hardly feels like anything. (Besides, she'd just say, "shush!" to any such show.) And I suspect, had I done such a bastard thing as to hand her a bill, she would've in due time paid it (square shouldered and a stiff upper lip) and a wet pillow would be the only evidence she cried. I don't know.

Now, I share life with loved folks whose growing-into-grace struggle has nothing to do with lack or access; their only difficulty with need or want is making the decision which in the moment to satisfy. They feel blessed.

And I share life with loved folks whose most every moment is "Oh God, help me. Please!" They are grateful.

So I asked the question!

To several folks it is a deep demonstration of their love and their responsibility to ensure their child knows his/her present worth in this world - the value of his/her labors, the worth of his/her achievements - and to give their child every opportunity to practice making that value explicitly known. So, a child's bill of worth ought to be highly applauded. (Some pointed me to real-world struggles (inventive suffering) and how the rich gets richer and the poor gets poorer - see below).

To several folks, it is tantamount to delinquency, at best a disadvantage, having a child believe love will reward them free provisions for their needs. (But true love is free, I interjected.) "You see love; I see lazy!!"

I make no argument; I find it all fascinating, edifying, soul-searching, for there was more. Much more. Besides, what reason do we give ourselves for waking up each morning?

We went to institutions of learning and into our modern market places and into hospitals. We had work to do. We met many. And listened. Are you AP?

Have You Seen AP?

• amazing
• extraordinary
• outstanding
• beautiful
• magnificent
• majestic
• mind-blowing
• cool
• doggone hot!
• humble
• quiet
• reflective
• monk
• inspiring
• insightful
• joyful
• fun
• powerful
• capable
• strong