Rehoming your adopted child………

Adoptmomof6's Blog

Can you say WOW!!! There is a lot in the news right now about rehoming your adopted children. Although the two stories that I saw were very disturbing I feel that these are the exception. At least I pray they are………

At the same time parents are forced into a corner and sometimes have no where to turn to for help. Many don’t realize that in some states you can’t get help for your child unless you relinquish your parental rights……don’t want to do that and face abandonment charges? Well here’s the other option that parents are told…… if your child hurts one of your other children then the state can remove all of your children for failure to protect……..

About 4 years ago our daughter was 9 years old and was very violent. She wanted to kill us and we would find knives in her room that she intended…

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Seven (7) things your church should not do in missions

A Twisted Crown of Thorns ®

The Great Commission is a clear command of Jesus to his church. By and large, part of what it means to be an evangelical church is to support the spread of the gospel to those who have never heard it. Based on decades of experience on the other side of the equation (Zane Pratt as a field worker living overseas), has a list of 7 things your church should NOT do as it considers its involvement in fulfilling the Great Commission:

1. You should not ignore the missionary imperative.
Lots of excuses can be given for doing nothing about global missions other than, perhaps, an occasional missions offering. Taking the gospel to the unreached is expensive, uncomfortable, inconvenient, and sometimes even unhealthy or dangerous. There are so many lost people right around you where you live. You have so many needs within your own church. The list could go on.

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The Path of Repentance

nunspeak

Many times in our rushed day-to-day existence we have the tendency to rush along, and in moments of grace we lift our eyes to heaven with desire to walk closer with God. It is these moments that our hearts are open to reform our lives.

For those of us who work in pastoral ministries, we encounter souls in these moments. When we do, we can point them on the right path with a little help from Saint John Chrysostom. In his homily, De Diabolo Tentatore (2,6: PG 49, 263-264), he writes:

Would you like me to list also the paths of repentance? They are numerous and quite varied, and all lead to heaven.

A first path of repentance is the condemnation of your own sins: Be the first to admit your sins and you will be justified. For this reason, too, the prophet wrote: I said: I will accuse…

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What Nikita Read: February

Source: What Nikita Read: February

Abandonment

Source: Abandonment

Shalom Community thanks Pope for approval of statutes

Video post by @Felipebzr.

Source: Shalom Community thanks Pope for approval of statutes

What Child is This?

Our Franciscan Fiat

How well do you know this beautiful hymn, set to an English melody from the 16th century?

Having prayed the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary during my high school and college years, I was privileged to become familiar with the full text, which is so beautiful.  (It was used as the hymn every Thursday evening.)

There are references in this text, written 150 years ago, that I find touching.  Their poignancy seems a fitting match for the almost-haunting melody of Greensleeves, to which they are now set.

This seemingly simple Christmas carol, What Child is This?, has a way of combining some important aspects of our faith all in one place.

This evening, we again sang this hymn at vespers.  This was my second time today of hearing it, since this morning we sang and learned about several familiar carols at the Bible Study I lead for our residents.

Crib…

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Who Did You Go Out to See?

Dr. Linda L. Powell

“As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: What did you go out into the wilderness to behold?  A reed shaken by the wind?  Why then did you go out? To see a man dressed in soft robes? Behold, those who wear soft robes are in kings’ houses.  Why then did you go out?  To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.’  Matthew 11: 7-10

St. John is no “reed shaken by the wind.”  He is not diverted from the path of discipline or mindful of earthly pleasures.

He is the greatest and last Old Testament prophet.  Jesus tells us though that even the “least” saint in the New Testament outshines St. John. John bears witness to…

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Michael Shermer: the pattern behind self-deception

Be their voice. They are helpless.

Rosie Malezer

A friend in Australia contacted me today, advising that their neighbour of a few doors down had gone on holidays and left their dog on a short chain in the yard with no food, water or shelter.  I urged this friend to contact the RSPCA in the local area or the police and report the matter.  Their response was that “maybe they will come back soon” and that they “didn’t want to get involved” with such things.

I have worked as a veterinary nurse for the RSPCA in Australia.  Emergency officers work 24 hours per day, attending to cases of abused animals.  If you ring their emergency number (1300 ANIMAL – 1300 264 625) and nobody picks up – which is highly unlikely, regardless of the time of year – then contact your local police on 131 444.

When you see an animal hurting, ask yourself a question that might…

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