THINGS CHILDREN SAY ABOUT JESUS

This is actually taken from letters written to God by children in a sunday school:

Are you really invisible or is that just a trick? Lucy

I want to be just like my daddy when i get big,but with not so much hair all over. Sam

Did you mean for giraffe to look like that or was it an accident? Norma

I keep waiting for spring but it never come yet,dont't forget! Mark

You dont have to worry bout me,i always look both ways. Dean

Instead of letting people die and haveing to make new ones,why dont you keep the ones you got

now? Jane

I went to this wedding and they kissed right in church,is that okay? Neil

I think the stapler is one of your greatest invention. Ruth M

In bible times did they really talk that fancy? Jennifer

I think about you sometimes even when im not praying. Elliott

I am Amearican,what are you? Robert

I bet it is very hard for you to love all of everybody in the whole world.there are only 4 people in our family and i can never doit. Nan

Thank you for the baby brother but what i prayed for was a puppy. Joyce

Please put a-nother holiday between christmas and easter.there is nothing good in there now. Ginny

If you watch in church on sunday i will show you my new shoes. Mickey D

If we come back as something please dont let me be Jennifer Horton because i hate her. Denise

I would like to live 900 years like the guy in the bible. love,Chris

If you give me genie lamp like Alladdin i will give you anything,except my money or my chess set. Raphael

We read Thos Edison made light.But in Sun school they said you did it.So i bet he stoled your idea.Sincerely Donna.

If you let the dinasaur not exstinct we would not have a country.you did the right thing. Jonathan

Maybe Cain and Abel would not kill so much if they had their own rooms.it works with my brother. Larry

I do not think anybody could be a better God.well i just want you to know but i am not just saying that because you are God. Charles

CHRIST LAUGHING - THANKS TO AN ANONYMOUS ARTIST

AND YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE ALONE!

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Anglicans seeking tradition faced with Gay Pride

By Robert Pigott BBC Religious Affairs Correspondent, Jerusalem

When 303 traditionalist Anglican bishops, together with clergy and lay members of the Church, ascended to the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem this week, they were taking the spiritual high ground in the Anglican Communion's dispute over homosexuality.
As they were photographed against a background of the Old City and Temple Mount the symbolism was clear - they were the authentic wing of the Anglicanism, going back to the birthplace of the Church and what they say was the stricter understanding of the Bible of the first Christians.
But to the evident consternation of the organisers of the Global Anglican Future Conference (Gafcon) they had travelled all this way to the Christian Holy City only to find the streets taken over by Jerusalem Gay Pride.
It was a noisy - you might even say brazen - celebration of homosexuality by the descendants of the very people who gave Christianity the Old Testament of the Bible.
As 3,000 gay and lesbian marchers gathered in a park in the centre of Jerusalem, guarded against attack by 2,000 police, back at the conference hotel contingency plans were being laid to contend with any gay raiding party sent out to beard the traditionalists in their redoubt.

Rev MelvinTinker's strong views on the march
Time to re-interpret
All the Anglican traditionalists were to join in a special hymn, and one delegate had been selected to speak to the marchers. Instead, it was a traditionalist Anglican who travelled across town to assess gay pride at first hand.
The Rev Melvin Tinker, the vicar of St John's in Newland, a parish on the edge of Hull, turned up dressed in shocking pink with sunglasses as cool as any others on display.
Mr Tinker, a prominent figure among evangelical Anglicans, took in the same-sex couples, waving rainbow flags and towers of coloured balloons wilting in the intense heat, and, despite the festive atmosphere and upbeat music said he was saddened by the sight.
"I find it strange - the fact it has to take place demonstrates that it is out of sync with the rest of society. You'd think it was odd if we had a sort of 'marriage pride' march," he said.
For Melvin Tinker - as for the other Gafcon traditionalists - the issue is not about sex, it is about how you interpret the Bible, a far more fundamental issue, and one which they believe cannot be tolerated without placing the Church in jeopardy.

That is why it is important to traditionalists to point out that they have no problem with a homosexual inclination - because it is not ruled out by the Bible - only with those who act on it.
"What is considered out of bounds in the Bible is homosexual sex," Mr Tinker said. "It's neither natural, nor acceptable from the Christian point of view."
However, liberals, like those in the American Episcopal Church who set off the crisis in the Communion by ordaining a gay bishop in 2003, say it is time to re-interpret the Bible.
Iain Baxter is at the conference to report for the Gay and Lesbian Christian Movement.
Mr Baxter joined Melvin Tinker to walk among the crowd and make his argument for the Bible to be made relevant to 21st Century life.
"The Church has interpreted what the Bible is saying through the power of God's holy spirit", he said, "and I think if we look at what the Bible is saying to us today, we can see that God never changes, and yet our revelation and understanding of him does change, and I believe the Church is moving onwards in God's revelation."

The dilemma over how far it is permissible to re-interpret the scripture on which a religion is based is not only an Anglican issue, nor even only a Christian one.
Prayers for the rally were led by a trainee rabbi, Gili Tsdikiyahn, who is herself a lesbian. She said all religions were examining what their texts said about the way they live.

"Not only is it universal, I think Judaism started it," she said. "It's definitely a Jewish thing to interpret texts, and to discuss it."
The Talmud, which is one of the most fundamental Jewish texts, is all about debate. It's taking the text and mish-mashing it, and arguing about it, and re-reading it," she added.
Some of the opposition directed at gay Jews has made the sort of rhetoric emanating from the Anglican meeting seem fraternal by comparison.
There were 2,000 police officers lining the streets of Jerusalem for the Gay Pride march because of violent attacks in the past by Orthodox Jews.
Although this time the march was left unmolested, Gili Tsdikiyahn agreed that to justify homosexuality within holy scripture was, at the very least, controversial.
"Well, Orthodox Jews are a very large group with lots of sub-groups, so if we take the extreme, that does not accept me," she said.
"I don't worry so much because I'm not accepted as a Progressive Jew, I'm definitely not accepted as a woman rabbi, so being a lesbian is just another problem to add to that, and I'm not too worried about it."
Orthodox and Progressive Jews do not have to share the same Communion of course. Anglicans, however, for all their 500 years of live and let live, are now perhaps terminally divided over how to interpret the Bible. It is a question that has the power to break the Anglican Church.

AN ACTIVIST SHAREHOLDING NUN? WHAT NEXT LORD?

Meet the activist shareholding nun.
By Anthony Reuben Business reporter, BBC News
Picture the scene: you are chairing your company's annual shareholders' meeting, there is somebody raising issues you really do not want to discuss and you are desperate for her to sit down and be quiet.

Oh yes, and she's a nun.
Sister Susan Mika is one of a group of religious activist shareholders who were raising corporate governance issues with companies before many had even heard of the concept.
"They bring a combination of owning a bit of your company and being from the religious community," says Jonathan Halpern director of research and advocacy from the consultancy Sustainability.
"That means they get a little more time at shareholder meetings and it's a little bit harder to cut them off."
Sister Susan says her work is consistent with her religious calling.
"To me it fits right in to our mission of helping people, looking at the stewardship of creation, looking at what we're doing to preserve our world and pass it on to the next generation," she says.
Factory conditions
Ten years ago, Sister Susan turned up at the Alcoa general meeting to raise the issue of how workers at plants in Mexico were being treated.
"We took workers to the annual meeting in Pittsburgh and the workers presented their information to the shareholders," she says.
"The chief executive was Paul O'Neill [later US Treasury Secretary] and he agreed to meet with us.
"He went down to the factories in Mexico himself and he made significant changes in those factories."
Mr O'Neill raised wages at the plant the following day, dismissed the chief executive of that division of the company and removed rules that required staff to ask supervisors for keys and toilet paper if they wanted to use the lavatories.
"Some of these things sound like very small things but they're very big when you're the worker that has to endure this every day," Sister Susan says.
Pioneers
Sister Susan is part of the St Scholastica Benedictine Monastery in Boerne near San Antonio, Texas.

She works with a network of other like-minded monasteries and in 1982 became director of a Texas organisation, which is now called the Socially Responsible Investment Coalition.
She is also involved with the Interfaith Centre on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), which is a New York-based coalition of 275 faith-based institutional investors.
"There are so many other institutions today doing this kind of work, but religious organisations really were the pioneers," says Professor Sandra Waddock from Boston College's Centre for Corporate Citizenship.
"They realised that by owning shares they could work within the existing system.
"There are certain nuns who are notorious for standing up at shareholder meetings and not taking 'no' for an answer."
The ICCR was very active in putting pressure on companies not to work in Apartheid South Africa.
Its first shareholder motion was an Episcopal Church resolution at General Motors against working in South Africa.
Media attention
Every now and then, Sister Susan's work attracts a great deal of attention to her monastery.

At first, she says, reporters were puzzled.
"One of the first resolutions that some of the groups that we were involved with was raising questions about the building of a nuclear plant outside Houston," she says.
"The press was quite surprised that we would get involved with that issue and the phone rang off the hook for several days."
Last year, an investigation by the Wall Street Journal attracted a great deal of interest in her work.
A former Wal-Mart employee said that the retailer had been directing surveillance operations on some of its critical shareholders, including the Benedictine Sisters of Boerne, Texas and other ICCR members.
Sister Susan says it took a long time to get to the bottom of what had been going on.
"Eventually [Wal-Mart] sent a fax saying that it was a suggestion but nothing was done about it, but it did cause an uproar," she says.
She adds that she was particularly disappointed because she had such a long-term relationship with the retailing group.
"I've been interacting with Wal-Mart for 17 or 18 years myself," she says.
"You can't argue with this long-term relationship of raising questions."
Innovative methods
Putting up resolutions at annual meetings is not their only weapon, though.
"Another is dialogue, another might be attending the annual meetings of the companies and speaking to the shareholders and the board of directors, and sometimes letter writing," Sister Susan says.
"So we use a variety of strategies with companies depending on what's working."
Other religious groups have tried even more innovative ways to put pressure on businesses.
The Evangelical Environmental Network ran a campaign against gas-guzzling sports utility vehicles under the slogan "what would Jesus drive?".
Owning the shares
The tricky part for activist investors is that if they want to put up a stockholder resolution then they have to own at least $2,000 (£1,030) of shares in that company.
The problem is that they are investing ministry funds and pension funds and have strict rules about what sort of companies they are allowed to invest in.
The restrictions are known as the screen and they stop the religious organisations' money being invested in companies involved with, for example, weapons, alcohol or gambling.
"Some of the groups that I've been working with have been raising questions for the last four years with Halliburton," Sister Susan says.
"In many portfolios that would be screened out, but some groups were able to purchase Halliburton in order to be able to raise the question."
So some religious groups have ended up owning shares in a company specifically because they object to some of its activities.

KIDS TALK ABOUT GOD

If God Gave You Unlimited Power for One Day, What Would You Do?
Carey Kinsolving



"I would give my mom whatever she really wanted. I would give my dad $100," says Kristin, 8. So Mom gets out her wish list while good old Dad is stuck with $100.



"I would slide down a rainbow. I would have a new baby brother. I would pet a lizard," says Rebekah, age 6. I didn't realize petting a lizard required unlimited power. But then again, I'm not a 6-year-old girl.



Move over, NASA. Here comes Michael, 6: "I would like to fly. I want to touch the sun. I want to fly past my house."



Michael won't be the only one in the air: "I would fly, make money grow on trees and free all the adults," says Trent, age unknown. Free all the adults? Trent, what are you trying to tell us?



Animals, beware if Hanah, 6, gets unlimited power: "I would change my dog into a cat. I would change my bird into a sister. I would like for my grandparents to come back from out of town."



No small stuff for Kagid, 6: "Build a rainbow, build a world, and make it rain."



Keep it simple and sober, says Danielle, 7: "No poor boys and girls, no lost cats and dogs, and no more beer." Does this mean no more beer commercials as well?



A lot of kids would fix school problems. Nathan, 8, said he'd "do math problems in one second and be done with homework in a half second because then I could play more."



Vicki, 11, would declare a national holiday "so everyone could get out of school."



Seasons wouldn't matter at all to Cory, 9: "Stay in bed. Don't go to school. Watch TV all day."



Cory, before television turns your brain into chicken noodle soup minus the noodles, take a tip from Lauren, 8: "I would want to go to school every day because I would still want to learn."



Victoria says she wouldn't waste her unlimited power on frivolous things: "If a boy or girl got hurt, then I will heal them. I would help God by watching people."



Often, the hurts we suffer are more than physical, says Cory, 10: "I'd have my mom and dad back together because when I'm with one I miss the other."



Andrew, 8, has a plan for transformation: "I would clear the world of litter and sin. Then, I would make everyone like Jesus." Actually, that's exactly what God wants to do with us, but he won't force us. The transformation begins with a new birth from within so that the desires of our hearts are changed. That's why Jesus said, "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life." Notice it says "whosoever believes." We have a choice.



Consider some advice from Katie, 6, who chose "being with God" as one of her wishes. But don't wait for God to grant you three wishes before you enter into a relationship with him. The power to fulfill this best of all possible wishes is already available. The Bible says, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12a). Point to ponder: God has given you power to respond to his love. Scripture to remember: "For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required" (Luke 12:48a). Question to consider: What are you doing with the power God has given you? Listen to a talking book, download the "Kids Color Me Bible" for free, watch Kid TV Interviews and travel around the world by viewing the "Mission Explorers Streaming Video" at www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org. Bible quotations are from the New King James Version. To find out more about Carey Kinsolving and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers, visit the Creators Syndicate website at http://www.creators.com/.



Copyright 2008 Carey Kinsolving - Distributed by Creators Syndicate, Inc.

A PRAYER FOR YOU

Dear Lord, I thank you for this day. I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you. I ask now for Your forgiveness. Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so tha t I can hear from You.Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things.Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over. Let me continue to see sin through God's eyes and acknowledge it as evil. And when I sin, let me repent, and confess with my mouth my wrongdoing, and receive the forgiveness of God. And when this world closes in on me, let me remember Jesus' example -- to slip away and find a quiet place to pray. It's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will. Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak. Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others. I pray for those who are lost and can't find their way. I pray for those who are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You intimately. I pray for those who will delete this without sharing it w ith others. I pray for those who don't believe. But I thank you that I believe. I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For each and every family member in their households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met. I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight. I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees them and every mouth that confesses them willingly.. This is my prayer.In Jesus' Name, Amen.

A PRAYER FOR YOU

Relax your mind and humble your heart to focus on Christ. Allow God to be the only person on your mind while you read this prayer. If we can take the time to read long jokes, stories, etc., we should give the same respect to this prayer. Friends, who pray together, stay together. If you pray this prayer, change the number in the subject box before forwarding the message so people can SEE how many people have done so.

Dear Lord, I thank you for this day. I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you. I ask now for Your forgiveness.

Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so tha t I can hear from You.

Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things.

Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over. Let me continue to see sin through God's eyes and acknowledge it as evil. And when I sin, let me repent, and confess with my mouth my wrongdoing, and receive the forgiveness of God.

And when this world closes in on me, let me remember Jesus' example -- to slip away and find a quiet place to pray. It's the best response when I'm pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will.

Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others. Keep me strong that I may help the weak. Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others. I pray for those who are lost and can't find their way. I pray for those who are misjudged and misunderstood. I pray for those who don't know You intimately. I pray for those who will delete this without sharing it w ith others. I pray for those who don't believe. But I thank you that I believe.

I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For each and every family member in their households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met.

I pray that every eye that reads this knows there is no problem, circumstance, or situation greater than God. Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight. I pray that these words be received into the hearts of every eye that sees them and every mouth that confesses them willingly..

This is my prayer.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

ESTA EN LA BIBLIA POR UNA BUENA RAZON

Why Does the Bible Say, "Honor Your Father and Mother"?
Carey Kinsolving

"Insanity is hereditary. You get it from your kids," read a sign in Brussels, Belgium. Or, as author Jean Kerr wrote, "The real menace in dealing with a 5-year-old is that in no time at all you begin to sound like one." The fifth commandment is designed to keep parents sane by giving children a principle to guide their behavior and attitudes toward their parents.

I asked my friends to tell me how they honor their parents. "I honor my parents by giving them hugs and kisses. I also honor them by buying them TCBY treats," says Angela, age 10. Frozen yogurt with hugs and kisses! If TCBY could package this combination, I'm sure its profits would soar.

"I obey my mother and father by getting up in the mornings as sweet as pie," says Kaitlin, 7. When I get up in the morning, I'm grateful if I don't hurt myself by tripping over the furniture. Kaitlin also told me, "When the Bible says your days will be longer (if you honor your father and mother), it means you will live longer." In a society obsessed with living longer through exercise and nutrition, how many doctors and health-food companies recommend honoring parents? Yet a long life is a promise from God for those who honor their parents.

"I honor my parents by obeying," says Christine, 10. "Like when they say to get them some water, I do it. I treat them like a king and queen." It's so easy to take parents for granted. It's within your power to be gracious to your parents instead of disrespectful. They're not perfect, but neither are you.

"I love my mother and father," says Gardner, 11. "They are the best. I try to obey them. I know they love me, and I love them." Something tells me that Gardner will never visit a psychiatrist's office in an effort to find himself. He knows his parents love him unconditionally. He's secure and able to love them in return. Love fosters love.

Years ago, I saw my friend Peter reprimand his 2-year-old son for continuing to throw soapsuds on a car after being told to stop. Peter calmly asked his son to hold out his hand. Following a gentle tap on the hand, his son began to cry. At first, I was confused because the light tap hardly warranted tears.

Suddenly, I understood and said to Peter, "Your disapproval hurts worse than the tap on the hand." He nodded. Only a father who loves his son can evoke such a response. This is the power of unconditional love.

God's love for his children is akin to parents' love for theirs with one very important difference: Even the best parents have flaws. God is perfect. Jesus is the ultimate example of a son honoring his father. He listened to his Father's voice and did only what he heard from his Father. His love for his Father and desire to please him was so great that he could say, "He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him" (John 5:23b). Their will was one. Obedience and honor are interconnected.

The Apostle Paul wrote that Jesus humbled himself and "became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross." Think about this: God has promised to bless those who honor their parents. Memorize this truth: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right," (Ephesians 6:1). Ask this question: How do you honor your parents? Listen to a talking book, download the "Kids Color Me Bible" for free, watch Kid TV Interviews and travel around the world by viewing the "Mission Explorers Streaming Video" at www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org. Bible quotations are from the New King James Version.

To find out more about Carey Kinsolving and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers, visit the Creators Syndicate website at http://www.creators.com/.

Copyright 2008 Carey Kinsolving - Distributed by Creators Syndicate, Inc.

WHO WAS THAT MAN?

The Most Unique Person
Jesus Christ is often compared to other prophets and teachers, but He is the most unique person to ever live. Everything from His birth to after His death was miraculous and set Him apart from everyone else. Jesus was born by a virgin -- a natural impossibility. Before His mother Mary was married, she was told by an angel she would give birth to the Son of God. When she asked him how this could be, he answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God." Just as promised, the virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ, the most incredible person to ever have lived.

An Amazing Life
Jesus' life was just as amazing as His birth. At 30 years old, He went out into the cities of Israel and began teaching and healing people. The Bible records that He was different from other preachers, for "the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." Likewise, there was no disease too great for His power. It says, "They brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments. and He healed them." Threatened by His fame and authority, the political and religious authorities conspired to kill Him.

A Sudden Death
His death had been predicted over a thousand years before. The prophet Isaiah wrote of Jesus, "He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement for our peace was upon Him and by His stripes we are healed." Jesus would pay the penalty for our sins so that we could be forgiven and have eternal life. Just as had been predicted, Jesus was given the most brutal death sentence of that day for maintaining that He was the Son of God. While hanging on a wooden cross with spikes through His hands and feet, He prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Jesus had power to come down from the cross, but He chose to sacrifice His life for others.

The Promise is for You
Just as promised, God raised His Son Jesus back to life -- eternal life -- on the third day after His burial. He was seen by His closest friends and over 500 of His followers before He went up into heaven before their very eyes. After His resurrection, his close friend Peter told a great crowd to repent from their sins and believe in Jesus Christ to be saved, "for the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call." This promise is for you! There are many religions and prophets, but no one but Jesus Christ offers complete forgiveness from your sins and eternal life with God. He has already died for your sins; now you must put your faith in Him. "For if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." If you believe in Jesus, you can pray a prayer like this right now and receive the gift of eternal life.

Receive Him Now
"Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Thank you for coming to Earth and dying so that I could have eternal life. Please forgive all my sins. I am going to follow You with my life now. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit and direct my steps. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Did you pray this prayer?

FOUR STEPS TO JESUS

1. God Loves You!
The Bible says, "God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life"
The problem is that . . .

2. All of us have done, said or thought things that are wrong. This is called sin, and our sins have separated us from God.
The Bible says “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” God is perfect and holy, and our sins separate us from God forever. The Bible says “The wages of sin is death.”
The good news is that, about 2,000 years ago,

3. God sent His only Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins.
Jesus is the Son of God. He lived a sinless life and then died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. “God demonstrates His own love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.”
Jesus rose from the dead and now He lives in heaven with God His Father. He offers us the gift of eternal life -- of living forever with Him in heaven if we accept Him as our Lord and Savior. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by Me."
God reaches out in love to you and wants you to be His child. "As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe on His name." You can choose to ask Jesus Christ to forgive your sins and come in to your life as your Lord and Savior.

4. If you want to accept Christ as Savior and turn from your sins, you can ask Him to be your Savior and Lord by praying a prayer like this:
"Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. Please forgive my sins and give me the gift of eternal life. I ask you in to my life and heart to be my Lord and Savior. I want to serve you always."

Did you pray this prayer?

Vatican hosts Mary - the Musical

Pope Benedict XVI was not among them - but his number two, the Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, was in attendance.
The Vatican had no role in producing the show, but clearly supported it, providing the venue and turning Saint Peter's Square - normally off-limits for cars - into a huge temporary car park for the audience.
The title of the show is Mary of Nazareth and its storyline is the life and times of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
First of its kind
The lead singer is A"It's a big emotion for me and a privilege and honour to play Mary" she told me in her dressing room before the performance, as her hairdresser prepared her coiffure with a curling iron.
"Mary is a great role, a great experience for me in my artistic life. I really feel this role."
She sang me some snatches of her favourite tunes from the show. "I really love the Magnificat," she said - referring to the hymn sung by Mary in Luke's Gospel.
Her mother, Maria Pia Liotta, runs a theatre company in Reggio Calabria, in Southern Italy.
The music was by Stelvio Cipriani, a pianist who trained at the Rome Music Conservatory and who has written hundreds of film scores.
Ms Liotta said it was the first musical of its kind.
"It can reach everyone's heart because it is made up of notes, melody, dance and gestures," she said.
A temporary theatre proscenium was erected inside Pier Luigi Nervi's Papal Audience Hall for the one-off performance, which was paid for by commercial sponsors, the Italian Senate, and local government in Calabria, where most of the performers live and work.
The Vatican did not contribute to the costs apart from providing the venue.
While the pope did not attend, Ms Manera told me he had expressed lively curiosity about the production at a private audience she was granted.
Southern flavour
But the audience included many cardinals, bishops, priests and nuns who work inside the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, along with thousands of Romans.
The musical begins with Mary's Jewish childhood.
Her father, singing in Hebrew, breaks bread on the Sabbath.
An angel and a demon have a fight, there is a harem scene, some vigorous folk dances with a strong southern Italian flavour, and a good deal of poetic licence is taken over the Gospel story. lma Manera. An Italian operatic soprano who trained in New York as a tap dancer, she once took part in a Miss Italy contest.

"It's a big emotion for me and a privilege and honour to play Mary" she told me in her dressing room before the performance, as her hairdresser prepared her coiffure with a curling iron.
"Mary is a great role, a great experience for me in my artistic life. I really feel this role."
She sang me some snatches of her favourite tunes from the show. "I really love the Magnificat," she said - referring to the hymn sung by Mary in Luke's Gospel.
Her mother, Maria Pia Liotta, runs a theatre company in Reggio Calabria, in Southern Italy.
The music was by Stelvio Cipriani, a pianist who trained at the Rome Music Conservatory and who has written hundreds of film scores.
Ms Liotta said it was the first musical of its kind.
"It can reach everyone's heart because it is made up of notes, melody, dance and gestures," she said.
A temporary theatre proscenium was erected inside Pier Luigi Nervi's Papal Audience Hall for the one-off performance, which was paid for by commercial sponsors, the Italian Senate, and local government in Calabria, where most of the performers live and work.
The Vatican did not contribute to the costs apart from providing the venue.
While the pope did not attend, Ms Manera told me he had expressed lively curiosity about the production at a private audience she was granted.
Southern flavour
But the audience included many cardinals, bishops, priests and nuns who work inside the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, along with thousands of Romans.
The musical begins with Mary's Jewish childhood.
Her father, singing in Hebrew, breaks bread on the Sabbath.
An angel and a demon have a fight, there is a harem scene, some vigorous folk dances with a strong southern Italian flavour, and a good deal of poetic licence is taken over the Gospel story.

But the Vatican sent along a top theologian, Father Stefano Di Flores, all the same, to make sure there were no errors or misinterpretations of Catholic doctrine in the script.
He told a news conference earlier in the week that Mary - one of the most famous women in history - is seen as a living figure not only in the Catholic but also in the Muslim world, and her veneration is a point of contact with all religions.
The Vatican is clearly reaching out to find new ways to encourage popular devotion to the Virgin Mary.
The subtitle of the musical is "A story that continues". That this point needed to be made is one example of the decline in her cult.
Until fairly recently there used to be thousands of small roadside shrines to the Madonna all over Italy, particularly in the south.
Nowadays most have disappeared, after road widening, or simply through neglect.
You may see instead memorial tablets and a few flowers marking stretches of road where fatal accidents have occurred.
According to the producers of Mary - the Musical, the show may go on tour this autumn in Europe, Latin America and the Middle East, but no firm engagements have yet been announced.

RITES AND RITUALS

Christian worship
Christian worship involves praising God in music and speech, reading scripture, prayer and several special ceremonies called sacraments.
Eucharist
The Eucharist is a re-enactment of the Last Supper, the final meal that Jesus Christ shared with his disciples before his death. To Christians, it symbolises freedom from the slavery of sin and the promise of eternal life.
Confirmation
Confirmation is a popular practice in those churches that perform infant baptism. It enables a baptised person to confirm the promises made on their behalf at baptism.
Christian marriage and weddings
Christians believe that marriage is a gift from God. The Church of England and Catholic Church have slightly different wedding ceremonies and teachings about marriage.
Divorce in Christianity
Different churches have a variety of teachings about divorce. Often the difficulties do not arise when a couple splits, but later when one of them wants to remarry.
Christian funerals
When a Christian dies, a funeral is held to grieve for the person and give thanks for their life.
Tridentine Mass
The Tridentine Mass is the old form of Mass, in Latin, that was replaced following the second Vatican Council in the 1960s. Pope Benedict XVI has relaxed those restrictions so that it can be used again.

WILLIAM WILBERFORCE

William Wilberforce (1759-1833), anti-slavery campaigner

Outline
William Wilberforce campaigned for the abolition of the British slave trade. He was an MP, a Christian writer and a social reformer.
In 1789, following his conversion to Christianity, Wilberforce became the voice in Parliament of the Abolition Movement; joining campaigners such as the Quakers, Thomas Clarkson and the former enslaved African Olaudah Equiano. For Wilberforce the slave trade was a sin for which Britain had to repent or be damned.
It would take twenty years to end the British trade in enslaved people and almost thirty more before slavery itself became illegal.

CHRISTIANITY

Why did Jesus die?

The events leading up to the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus are well-told by the Gospel writers, as are stories of the Resurrection. But why did Jesus die?
In the end the Roman authorities and the Jewish council wanted Jesus dead. He was a political and social trouble-maker. But what made the death of Jesus more significant than the countless other crucifixions carried out by the Romans and witnessed outside the city walls by the people of Jerusalem?
Christians believe that Jesus was far more than a political radical. For them the death of Jesus was part of a divine plan to save humanity.
The death and resurrection of this one man is at the very heart of the Christian faith. For Christians it is through Jesus's death that people's broken relationship with God is restored. This is known as the Atonement.

What is the atonement?
The word atonement is used in Christian theology to describe what is achieved by the death of Jesus. William Tyndale introduced the word in 1526 when he was working on his popular translation of the Bible to translate the Latin word reconciliatio.
In the Revised Standard Version the word reconciliation replaces the word atonement. Atonement (at-one-ment) is the reconciliation of men and women to God through the death of Jesus.
But why was reconciliation needed? Christian theology suggests that although God's creation was perfect, the Devil tempted the first man Adam and sin was brought into the world. Everybody carries this original sin with them which separates them from God, just as Adam and Eve were separated from God when they were cast out of the Garden of Eden.
So it is a basic idea in Christian theology that God and mankind need to be reconciled. However, what is more hotly debated is how the death of Jesus achieved this reconciliation.
There is no single doctrine of the atonement in the New Testament. In fact, perhaps more surprisingly, there is no official Church definition either. But first, what does the New Testament have to say?

The New Testament uses a range of images to describe how God achieved reconciliation to the world through the death of Jesus. The most common is the image of sacrifice.
For example, John the Baptist describes Jesus as "the lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world". (John 1:29)

Here are some other images used to describe the atonement:
a judge and prisoner in a law court
a payment of ransom for a slave's freedom
a king establishing his power
a military victory

the Son of Man himself did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many'.Words attributed to Jesus in Mark 10:45
'Drink all of you from this', he said. 'For this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, which is to be poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.'Words attributed to Jesus in Matthew 26:28
Well then, in the first place, I taught you what I had been taught myself, namely that Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the scriptures...Written by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:3

How have later writers and theologians interpreted the Biblical accounts and theologies? In varied, and sometimes conflicting, ways.

SAUDI WOMEN VIE FOR OLYMPICS RIGHT

Eight years after the Sydney Olympics Hadi Souan Somayli still finds it hard to talk about the 400 metres hurdles final.
He led for 399 metres but at the finishing line US sprinter Angelo Taylor surged forward to take gold.
When I suggest we watch the race together his face darkens. It is not until he shows me his Olympic medal that his mood lightens.
"This is special not just for me", he says. "It's special also for my country because this is the first medal that we won in the Olympics."
Somayli is going to Beijing as director of the Saudi sprint team and, like every Saudi Olympic official and athlete, he is a man.
Saudi Arabia is one of the few countries that does not allow women to take part in the Olympics, or any other major sporting event.
Court pioneers

"Some events are difficult for us, with the clothes," says Somayli. "Events like track and field, swimming, even football."
"I hope in the other events we will see Saudi women compete and soon."
Sport is banned at girls state schools. There is no federation that organises women's sport and few stadia that are open to them. However, there are pioneers.
"We we are not official or approved of," says Danaya al-Maeena co-founder of Jeddah United basketball team.
"It is a challenge and it is the beginning of something that we really believe in."

Total Lunar Eclipse on February 20, 2008
Jupiter, Venus and the Moon
An Osprey in Belizean Wildlife area

TAOISM - OTHER BELIEFS

Taoism is an ancient tradition of philosophy and religious belief that is deeply rooted in Chinese customs and worldview.
Taoist ideas have become popular throughout the world through Tai Chi Chuan, Qigong, and various martial arts.

Physical practices
Because Taoism doesn't make a rigid division between body and spirit, it recognises that physical actions have a spiritual effect.

Purity
Taoist texts teach the importance of keeping the body pure in order to ensure spiritual health. To remain pure a person should avoid certain activities and foods. Greed, lust, pride and dishonesty are examples of things that should be avoided.

Meditation
Meditation is important to many Taoists. Complex meditation rituals are practiced in various temples.
A vital use of meditation is to create mental stillness and enhance mindfulness. This can give a person the mental space to know the Tao directly.

Breathing

Breath is the most easily perceived form of ch'i, and there are many Taoist breathing exercises. Taoist breathing exercises are called Qui Gong.
The flow of life energy - ch'i - within the body can be enhanced, regulated and harmonised by various forms of exercise, meditation, and techniques such as acupuncture and moxibustion.

Martial arts
Tai Chi originally derived from Taoist exercises created by Chang San- Feng (Zhang Sanfeng) (1127-1279 CE). Modern forms of Tai Chi are more likely to be secular exercises than Taoist practices.

Diet
Classical Taoist teaching recommends abstaining from alcohol, meat, beans and grains.

The One
The One is the essence of Tao, the essential energy of life, the possession of which enables things and beings to be truly themselves and in accord with the Tao.
Taoist texts sometimes refer to the Tao as the mother and the One as the son.

Wu and Yu
Wu and Yu are non-being and being, or not-having and having. Wu also implies inexhaustibility or limitlessness. Some writers suggest that Wu can be directly experienced by human beings.

Te
Te is usually translated as virtue, but this translation uses some Confucian ideas and can be confusing.
Another way of looking at te is an awareness of the Tao together with the capabilities that enable a person to follow the Tao.
Professor Victor Mair suggests that a better translation is integrity. He writes:
There is something fundamentally honest and psychologically healthy in being oneself and striding forward with one's vision facing directly ahead, instead of trying at every turn to satisfy abstract standards of goodness established by a reigning orthodoxy. This is what te/de is all about.

Tzu Jan
Tzu Jan is usually translated naturalness or spontaneity, but this is rather misleading.
One writer suggests using the phrase 'that which is naturally so', meaning the condition that something will be in if it is permitted to exist and develop naturally and without interference or conflict.
The Taoist ideal is to fulfil that which is naturally so, and the way to do this is Wu Wei.

Wu Wei
The method of following the Tao is called Wu Wei. This can be translated as uncontrived action or natural non-intervention.
Wu Wei is sometimes translated as non-action, but this wrongly implies that nothing at all gets done. The Tao Te Ching says:
When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.
Wu Wei means living by or going along with the true nature of the world - or at least without obstructing the Tao - letting things take their natural course.
So Taoists live lives of balance and harmony. They find their way through life in the same way that a river flowing through the countryside finds its natural course.
The world is a spiritual vessel, and one cannot act upon it;one who acts upon it destroys it.Tao

Te Ching
This doesn't stop a person living a proactive life but their activities should fit into the natural pattern of the universe, and therefore need to be completely detached and disinterested and not ego-driven.
Perfect activity leaves no track behind it; perfect speech is like a jade worker whose tool leaves no mark.
This implies that Taoists take an attitude akin to Voltaire's (satirically intended) doctrine that "All is for the best in this best of all possible worlds."
And certainly pure Taoism requires individuals to live on the basis that the world is working properly, and that they therefore should not interfere with it.

Yin Yang
Yin Yang is the principle of natural and complementary forces, patterns and things that depend on one another and do not make sense on their own.
These may be masculine and feminine, but they could be darkness and light (which is closer to the original meaning of the dark and light sides of a hill), wet and dry or action and inaction.
These are opposites that fit together seamlessly and work in perfect harmony. You can see this by looking at the yin yang symbol.
The yin yang concept is not the same as Western dualism, because the two opposites are not at war, but in harmony.
This can be seen very clearly in the symbol: the dark area contains a spot of light, and vice versa, and the two opposites are intertwined and bound together within the unifying circle.
Yin and yang are not static, the balance ebbs and flows between them - this is implied in the flowing curve where they meet.

The Taoist body
Taoists view the body as a miniature of the universe, filled with the Tao. The parts of the body have their counterparts in physical features of the universe, and:
The body, as much as the larger universe, is ruled and lived in by the gods-the multifaceted manifestations of spirit, the visible and accessible aspect of the Tao on earth.Livia Kohn, The Taoist Experience: An Anthology, 1993

Ch'i
Ch'i is the cosmic vital energy that enables beings to survive and links them to the universe as a whole.
Qi is the basic material of all that exists. It animates life and furnishes functional power of events. Qi is the root of the human body; its quality and movement determine human health. Qi can be discussed in terms of quantity, since having more means stronger metabolic function. This, however, does not mean that health is a byproduct of storing large quantities of qi. Rather, there is a normal or healthy amount of qi in every person, and health manifests in its balance and harmony, its moderation and smoothness of flow. This flow is envisioned in the texts as a complex system of waterways with the "Ocean of Qi" in the abdomen; rivers of qi flowing through the upper torso, arms, and legs; springs of qi reaching to the wrists and ankles; and wells of qi found in the fingers and toes. Even a small spot in this complex system can thus influence the whole, so that overall balance and smoothness are the general goal.
Human life is the accumulation of qi; death is its dispersal. After receiving a core potential of primordial qi at birth, people throughout life need to sustain it. They do so by drawing postnatal qi into the body from air and food, as well as from other people through sexual, emotional, and social interaction. But they also lose qi through breathing bad air, overburdening their bodies with food and drink, and getting involved in negative emotions and excessive sexual or social interactions.Livia Kohn, Health and Long Life: The Chinese Way

Immortality
Immortality doesn't mean living for ever in the present physical body.
The idea is that as the Taoist draws closer and closer to nature throughout their life, death is just the final step in achieving complete unity with the universe.
Spiritual immortality, the goal of Daoism, raises the practices to a yet higher level. To attain it, people have to transform all their qi into primordial qi and proceed to refine it to subtler levels. This finer qi will eventually turn into pure spirit, with which practitioners increasingly identify to become transcendent spirit-people. The path that leads there involves intensive meditation and trance training as well as more radical forms of diet and other longevity practices. Immortality implies the overcoming of the natural tendencies of the body and its transformation into a different kind of qi-constellation. The result is a bypassing of death, so that the end of the body has no impact on the continuation of the spirit-person. In addition, practitioners attain supersensory powers and eventually gain residence in wondrous otherworldly paradises.Livia

Kohn, Health and Long Life: The Chinese Way
Knowledge and relativity
Human knowledge is always partial and affected by the standpoint of the person claiming that knowledge. There can never be a single true knowledge, merely the aggregate of uncountable different viewpoints.
Because the universe is always changing, so knowledge is always changing.
The closest a human being can get to this is knowledge that is consistent with the Tao. But this is a trap because the Tao that can be known is not the Tao. True knowledge cannot be known - but perhaps it can be understood or lived.

GOD LOVES HUMOR, TOO!

SUNDAY SCHOOL HUMOR...

LOT'S WIFE: The Sunday school teacher was describing how Lot's wife looked back
and turned into a pillar of salt, when little Jason interrupted, 'My mommy looked
back once, while she was driving,' he announced triumphantly, 'and she turned into
a telephone pole!'

GOOD SAMARITAN: A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the
Good Samaritan. She asked the class, 'If you saw a person lying on the roadside, all
wounded and bleeding, what would you do?'
A thoughtful little girl broke the hushed silence, 'I think I'd throw up.'

DID NOAH FISH? A Sunday school teacher asked, 'Johnny, do you think Noah did
a lot of fishing when he was on the Ark ?'
'No,' replied Johnny. 'How could he -- with just two worms'?

HIGHER POWER: A Sunday school teacher said to her children, 'We have been learning
how powerful kings and queens were in Bible times. But, there is a higher power. Can
anybody tell me what it is?'
One child blurted out, 'Aces!'

MOSES AND THE RED SEA : Nine-year-old Joey was asked by his mother what he had
learned in Sunday school. 'Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy
lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt . When he got to the Red Sea,
he had his army build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely. Then, he
radioed headquarters for reinforcements. They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and
all the Israelites were saved.'
'Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher taught you?' his mother asked.
'Well, no, Mom. But, if I told it the way the teacher did, you'd never believe it!'

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD: A Sunday school teacher decided to have her young class
memorize one of the most quoted passages in the Bible: Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters
a month to learn the chapter. Little Rick was excited about the task -- but, he just couldn't
remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get past the first line. On the
day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congregation, Ricky
was so nervous. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly,
'The Lord is my Shepherd, and that's all I need to know.'

UNANSWERED PRAYER? The preacher's 5-year-old daughter noticed that her father
always paused and bowed his head, for a moment, before starting his sermon. One day,
she asked him why. 'Well, Honey,' he began, proud that his daughter was so observant
of his messages, 'I'm asking the Lord to help me preach a good sermon...
"How come HE doesn't do it?' she asked.

BEING THANKFUL: A rabbi said to a precocious six-year-old boy, 'So your mother
says your prayers for you each night? That's very commendable. What does she say?'
The little boy replied, 'Thank God he's in bed!'

UNTIMELY ANSWERED PRAYER: During the minister's prayer, one Sunday, there was
a loud whistle from one of the back pews. Tommy's mother was horrified. She pinched him
into silence and, after church, asked, 'Tommy, whatever made you do such a thing?'
Tommy answered, soberly, 'I asked God to teach me to whistle, and HE just then did!'

TIME TO PRAY: A pastor asked a little boy if he said his prayers every night. 'Yes, sir,'
the boy replied.
'And, do you always say them in the morning, too?' the pastor asked.
'No sir,' the boy replied. 'I ain't scared in the daytime.'

ALL MEN / ALL GIRLS? When my daughter, Kelli, said her bedtime prayers, she would
bless every family member, every friend, and every animal (current and past). For several
weeks, after we had finished the nightly prayer, Kelli would say, 'And all girls.'
As this soon became part of her nightly routine, to include this at the end, my curiosity got the
best of me and I asked her, 'Kelli, Why do you always add the part about all girls?'
Her response, 'Because we always finish our prayers by saying 'All Men'!'

SAY A PRAYER: Little Johnny and his family were having Sunday dinner at his
grandmother's house. Everyone was seated around the table as the food was being served.
When Little Johnny received his plate, he started eating right away. 'Johnny! Please wait
until we say our prayer.'
I don't have to,' the boy replied.
'Of course, you do,' his mother insisted. 'We say a prayer before eating, at our house.'
'That's our house,' Johnny said. 'This is Grandma's house and she knows how to cook!

CAVE FOUND MAY BE OLDEST CHURCH IN THE WORLD

Archaeologists in Rihab, Jordan, say they have discovered a cave that could be the world's oldest Christian church.
Dating to the period AD33-70, the underground chapel would have served as both a place of worship and a home.
It is claimed that it was originally used by a group of 70 persecuted Christians who fled from Jerusalem.
These early Christians lived and practised their faith in secrecy until the Romans embraced Christianity several hundred years later.
'Beautiful things'
Rihab is in Northern Jordan. The cave is beneath the ancient church of St Georgeous, itself one of the oldest known places of worship in the world.
According to Dr Abdul Qader Al-Hassan, the director of the Rihab Centre for Archaeological studies, the cave site shows clear evidence of early Christian rituals that predate the church.

Dr Al-Hassan says that steps lead down into the chapel which is approximately 12m long and seven metres wide.
There is a circular area of worship with stone seats separated from living quarters. This circular element, called an apse, is important says Dr Al-Hassan because there is only one other example of a cave with a similar feature, which was also used for Christian worship.
Dr Al-Hassan said: "We found beautiful things. I found the cemetery of this church; we found pottery shards and lamps with the inscription 'Georgeous'".
In the cave there is also a tunnel that leads to a cistern which supplied water to the dwellers. An inscription in the floor of the church above refers to the "70 beloved by God and the divine" whom the archaeologist believes were refugees from religious persecution in Jerusalem.
Dr Al-Hassan says that excavation of the tunnel and the cistern may yield yet more evidence about the lives of these early Christians.
"From the tunnel to the cistern is very important. We want to clean it and make an excavation inside it. We found a very old inscription beside it and coins also, and crosses made from iron."
Other experts say they are cautious about the claim. They want to examine the artefacts and see clear dating evidence. The earliest confirmed examples of churches date from the third century, they say.

LA PAPA CAMINO EN ELLO

Store Gives out Carpets walked on by Pope
FLEMINGTON , N.J. (UPI) -- A New Jersey store owner says he is giving away sections of carpet walked on by Pope Benedict XVI during his visit to New York's Yankee Stadium. Ted Resnick, Flemington Department Store owner, supplied 20,000 square feet of carpet used for the pope's April 20 mass at Yankee Stadium and his April 19 trip to St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, N.Y., Newhouse News Service reported. Resnick said people from across the nation are asking for pieces of the carpet. "There was one woman who wanted a piece for her son to kneel on when he got married," he said. Part of the reason people are eager to get their hands on the carpet is that a papal visit to the United States is a rarity. Benedict's trip marked only the third such visit in history. Copyright 2008 by United Press International

PHOTOS THAT SHOW THAT GOD IS BUSY KEEPING US HAPPY

Me in Atlanta, Georgia at Christmas time!

This is how complete my world is. World's Best Daughter and Granddaughter of my life! This is the reason I live! Miss you girls but looking forward to seeing y'all soon. Give my love to Georgia!

It's all in the eyes! Triki at Consejo. Happy to be alive. We'll have more fun days, daughter No. 2

Mathematics Teacher- Roy Smith in his First Year Class at 6:00p.m. If 9x+3y isn't equal to one happy smile, I don't know what is!

Mathematica Teacher, Eduardo Itzab t4aching Evening Division at 8:00p.m. Thanks, Itz!

Second Years enjoying their classes at 8:00p.m. Third Years Stand for Class Picture with Director

THIS WAS THE FLOODING AFTER HURRICANE DEAN LAST YEAR

As we can see Belize and Belizeans know what it is like to have floods. Unfortunately it is costly and the country of Belize cannot really deal with it. But, what can we do? This is life!

SE SALVO PORQUE SABIA NADAR!

Parents should make sure children can swim like Riley!!!

This young lad of three survived the flooding because he was able to swim.

It is fortunate for three years old, Riley Rubio that his mother had taught him to swim from a very young age because when the flooding started he was being transported by dory ( a dugged out canoe) when his ability came into play.

The canoe capsized and when he was found later, Riley was on land.

Riley Rubio is from Mullins River a community in Belize. This commuinity suffered greatly from the flood that came when Tropical Depression Arthur caused four days of countinuous rain on Belize.

GOD IS EVERYWHERE

If you think about the life you are fortunate to have, THAT'S GOD! The scuba divers are able to enjoy a world hidden from those of us who fear water or can't dive. They experience nature in a way few people can. It is a marvel of God and one that is so peaceful.

Friendship is special and is something to be enjoyed. This group of students have spent as much as five years together and the friendship that has formed this last year will take them to the next step in their lives. Some of them will continue studying while others will be heading off into the working arena. The power of friendship shows the presence of a greater being. THAT'S GOD!

Look into the eyes of this proud father and see the tender love he feels for his new born child. That is true love and that is what being a father is all about. That's a feeling that can only be sensed and guided by a higher being. THAT'S GOD!

FLOODING CAN ALSO MEAN CLEANSING, I GUESS!

COROZAL TOWN, HOME OF THE WRITER OF THIS BLOG HAD FOUR DAYS OF RAIN FOR THIS TO HAPPEN AS TROPICAL DEPRESSION ARTHUR CAME OVER BELIZE. THE RAIN STILL CONTINUE AND NOW PEOPLE ARE HAVING TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES DUE TO THE FLOODING. A LEAST 5 PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER DUE TO THE FLOODS. SOME IN TRYING TO HELP BRING OTHERS TO SAFETY. AND WHILE WE DEAL WITH HELPING THOSE IN NEED WE HAVE TO CONTEND WITH THIS AS THE FIRST OF WHAT COULD BE A LONG HURRICANE SEASON FOR US. IN FACT THE SECOND STORM IS ALREADY FORMING AS WE SPEAK AND IT WILL BE UP TO GOD IF THIS SEASON WILL BE ANY KINDER TO US.
GOD BLESS BELIZE!!