IT'S ONLY GOD!

BIG MERCIES

2011-07-20T18:15:00.000-07:00

July 11., 2011 will always be a very special day in my life. It is the day I smiled even though I was going through some changed in my life. I have always said to be thankful for small mercies but on this day we received a big mercy... the birth a a baby girl. Maija Aurora entered this world in the evening of the 11th and I was pleased to learn that our family had grown with the presence of one more girl. I know something special happened that day and I know that I will carry it in my heart for the rest of my life.

Thanks be to God. Our heavenly Father has blessed us and me in particular with a purpose to continue this life.

God bless this little girl as she makes her way into this world.

SMALL MERCIES

2011-03-09T05:00:00.001-08:00

Almost a year and five months ago I lost the love of my life in one of the most brutal forms possible. He was stolen from me while I slept, the victim of a murder that still remains a mystery today. Now, not a day goes by that I do not wonder what happened. What did he do? Who did he anger so badly that they could have stolen him from us, his wife and his girls who loved him so much. Abel Martin Lopez Rodriguez was not a saint but he was not a vicious person either. He was a very quiet speaking person but was also very intelligent and in many ways a revolutionist. He instigated many peace marches and ideas from his desk and sought always to assist those who needed his help. Our home was always open to friends and strangers. That was the type of person that he was. He would give the shirt off his back or his last dollar to you if you asked for it.

Those of us who were privileged to know him in in the music world enjoyed a voice that could touch our hearts and stay on our minds long after the music had stopped playing.
We were fortunate to have known ALDO REY. That was his name in the music world.

Chetumal, Mexico and Corozal, Belize lost a great friend that day. I lost the part of my heart that I can never replace.

I thank God for small mercies. I thank HIM for allowing me to live three wonderful years with Abel. I thank HIM for never leaving my side even when it seemed to me that HE had.

There will always be things we cannot explain and there will always be things that will make us smile or cry.

STOP FOR A MINUTE EACH DAY AND THANK GOD FOR SMALL MERCIES.

Have a wonderful day and God bless all of you who find this post today.

RIGHT PLACE OR WRONG TIME!

2010-06-26T22:52:00.000-07:00

SOMETIMES WE WONDER WHY WE ARE IN CERTAIN PLACES. SOME PEOPLE SAY, " I WAS AT THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME." BUT ARE WE REALLY? IF WE ARE TO BELIEVE IN DESTINY THEN WE ARE NEVER AT THE WRONG PLACE... THINGS HAPPEN FOR A PURPOSE AND SOMETIMES WE WOULD HAVE WISHED THEY DIDN´T. IT NOT ONLY LIFE... IT ALSO ONLY GOD!

HAVE A BLESSED SUNDAY.
ALL MY LOVE, BRENDA

A LESSON JESUS TRIED TO TEACH US

2010-06-20T12:42:00.000-07:00

"LOVE EVERYONE AND LIVE A PEACEFUL, CARING LIFE" (Brenda A. Ysaguirre)

I RECEIVED THIS LETTER FROM PETA... HOPE WE CAN DO THIS FOR MORE ANIMALS AND ALSO FOR MANKIND

2010-06-16T01:00:00.000-07:00

Good news: This year's barbaric seal slaughter ended last night, and thanks to caring people like you who repeatedly took action to save seals, we are one step closer to ending the seal massacre once and for all. More than 80 percent of the seals who had been marked for death were spared this year!

The worldwide demand for seal fur is plummeting, thanks in part to activists like you, and this is the beginning of the end for the seal slaughter. The European Union has banned the sale of seal products, and the U.S. Senate unanimously passed U.S. Senate Resolution 84, which calls for an end to the annual seal slaughter. There are few places left for sealers to sell the pelts of the dead animals because of the global outcry against the slaughter that we have created, and as a result, we are slowly but surely winning the fight against the annual massacre. Thank you for all that you've done to save the seals—your efforts have made a difference!

However, while this year's slaughter is over, we must all promise not to let up in our fight. At PETA, we have year-long plans to continue to apply pressure to the Canadian government. And we hope that you'll continue to visit CanadasShame.com to find out other ways that you can help seals. Please also visit PETA.org in order to extend your mighty reach to other animals who are suffering as we speak. Seals need us now more than ever.

Sincerely,
Tracy Reiman
Executive Vice President
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

Find THEM on Facebook and Twitter!

THANK YOU, GOD, FOR ANSWERING OUR CAUSE.

HANDY LITTLE CHART - GOD HAS A POSITIVE ANSWER

2010-01-10T08:30:00.000-08:00

YOU SAY GOD SAYS BIBLE VERSES
You say: 'It's impossible' God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)
You say: 'I'm too tired' God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)
You say: 'Nobody really loves me' God says: I love you (John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )
You say: 'I can't go on' God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)
You say: 'I can't figure things out' God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5- 6)
You say: 'I can't do it' God says: You can do all things ( Philippians 4:13)
You say: 'I'm not able' God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)
You say: 'It's not worth it' God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28 )
You say: 'I can't forgive my self' God says: I Forgive you (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say: 'I can't manage' God says: I will supply all your needs ( Philippians 4:19)
You say: 'I'm afraid' God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)
You say: 'I'm always worried and frustrated' God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)
You say: 'I'm not smart enough' God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)
You say: 'I feel all alone' God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)

GREETINGS

2010-01-01T08:32:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE. THANKS FOR VIEWING MY BLOG IN 2009 AND THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING ME AND SHARING MY MOMENTS OF HAPPINESS AND MY MOMENT OF LOSS. I WILL TRY TO BE BACK WITH THE PASSION I ONCE FELT AND THE TIME I ONCE ENJOYED IN THIS NEW YEAR. IT IS THE LEAST I CAN DO IN HONOUR OF A GREAT COMPANION, LOVER, TEACHER, AND FRIEND WHOSE LOSS HAS TORN MY WORLD APART.

ABEL, TE AMO HOY MAS QUE AYER Y MENOS QUE MAÑANA. Y LA PREGUNTA SIEMPRE ES LO MISMO.
SABES QUE, CIELO?
TE AMO!!

SIEMPRE EN MI CORAZON!!

ABEL MARTIN LOPEZ RODRIGUEZ
NOV 14, 1955 - OCT 18, 2009
GONE WITHOUT SAYING GOODBYE

REST IN PEACE, PAPI. DESCANSA EN PAZ, CIELO. YO PUEDO!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2009-12-25T00:50:00.000-08:00

At this time of the year, with pain in my heart and tears in my eyes at the loss of my best friend and soul companion, I reach out across the miles to greet all my blog readers. I promise to return in the new year with a vigor and the passion I once had. Now I wish to thank you for your support.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU ALL WELL.

ABEL MARTIN LOPEZ RODRIGUEZ

2009-10-23T20:49:00.000-07:00

NOV 14, 1955 - OCT 18, 2009

Alias ALDO REY (MUSICIAN) AND ABEL DESESTRESS (BLOG WRITER)

Darling,
You taught me to love and to give. You taught me to think and to meditate. You taught me so much and still I learn new things every day. Thanks for being a part of my life. I won´t let you down.
All my love,
Tu Negrita Latosa

Quotations About God

2009-10-18T07:09:00.000-07:00

This world is God's workshop for making men in. -- Henry Ward Beecher

The whole of creation, with all of its laws, is a revelation of God. -- Dean William Ralph Inge

Walk boldly and wisely....There is a hand above that will help you on. -- Philip James Bailey

Whether you like it or not, whether you know it or not, secretly all nature seeks God and works toward him. -- Meister Eckhart

One on God's side is a majority. -- Wendell Phillips

The stars rule men but God rules the stars. --Christoph Cellarius

All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

God helps the brave. -- Johann Christoph Freidrich von Schiller

True happiness is not found in any other reward than that of being united with God. - Thomas Merton

Every man's life is a fairy tale written by God's fingers. - Hans Christian Andersen

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. -- Proverbs 3:5-6

There is no emptiness of soul ever for those whose life is devoted to God. -- William Lawson

A true love of God must begin with a delight in his holiness. -- Jonathan Edwards

Never think that God's delays are God's denials.
Hold on! hold fast! hold out! Patience is genius. -- Georges L.L. de Buffon

All who call on God in true faith, earnestly from the heart, will certainly be heard, and will receive what they have asked and desired. -- Martin Luther

God's greatness flow around our incompleteness;
Round our restlessness, his rest.-- Elizabeth Barrett Browning

God is a good worker but loves to be helped. -- Basque Proverb

Earth, with her thousand voices, praises God. -- Samuel Taylor Coleridge

God enters by a private door into every individual. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

It's only forgetting yourself that you draw near to God. -- Henry David Thoreau

In whatever direction you turn, you will see God coming to meet you; nothing is void of him, he himself fills all his work. -- Seneca The Younger

No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. -- John 4:12

SOUNDS FROM GOD

2009-10-17T07:06:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcMoKJpXH54

This link will take you to one of the finest sounds God created. Have a great day!!

THIS SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO BRING YOU TO GOD

2009-10-16T07:02:00.000-07:00

The final words of the inscription on the Gate of Hell.

"'Abandon every hope, you who enter.'"

DOORS

2009-10-15T06:57:00.000-07:00

Look back and thank God.

Look forward and trust God.

Look around and serve God.

Look within and find God!"

God closes doors no man can open and
God opens doors no man can close.

If you need God to open some doors for you...
send the address of this blog to ten people..

..and if you don't need God to open some doors for you, just forget what you read.

DO YOU HAVE THE TIME??

2009-10-14T06:53:00.000-07:00

If God brings you to it, He will bring you
through it.

Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God.

The Poem
I knelt to pray but not for long,
I had too much to do.
I had to hurry and get to work
For bills would soon be due.
So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,
And jumped up off my knees.
My Christian duty was now done
My soul could rest at ease.....
All day long I had no time
To spread a word of cheer
No time to speak of Christ to friends,
They'd laugh at me I'd fear.
No time, no time, too much to do,
That was my constant cry,
No time to give to souls in need
But at last the time, the time to die
I went before the Lord,
I came, I stood with downcast eyes.
For in his hands God! held a book;
It was the book of life.
God looked into his book and said
'Your name I cannot find
I once was going! to write it down....
But never found the time'

Now do you have the time to pass it on? If you do, tell your friends about this blog!!!

GOOD MORNING

2009-10-13T06:50:00.000-07:00

When I say good morning I mean to say:
G-od
O-ffers us His
O-utstanding
D-evotion to
M-ake us
O-bedient &
R-eady for a
N-ew day with Him.
I-nspire others please, and
N-ever forget
G-od loves you!

BLESSINGS QUOTES

2009-08-29T15:07:00.000-07:00

And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.

Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.

Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.

Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.

Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.

Deuteronomy 28:2-6

Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies;

who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Psalms 103:1-5

GUARDIAN ANGELS ARE EVERYWHERE

2009-08-25T17:15:00.000-07:00

I am forever reminded that when we need them, angels come into our lives in the form of friends who stick by us through thick or thin.

I would like to thank all my angels for being there for me when I need them.

One of the greatest joy in life is the possession of true friends. (Brenda A. Ysaguirre

A PRAYER IN THIS TIME OF HARDSHIP

2009-08-19T19:26:00.000-07:00

God, In these times of hardship and frustration I ask you to watch over your people. Guide us, oh Lord, to do thy will. Help us to understand our purpose in this world and help us to acknowledge your presence in our lives.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for each trial and each problem that comes our way because in this way we call on you more often and You keep us forever aware of Your Power and Your Goodness.

Thank God, for each day. Thank you forever and ever, oh merciful God. All glory and praise to your Nmae and to your Son, Jesus Christ, whose love has freed us from Satan. Amen.

PRAISE GOD TODAY

2009-08-17T18:04:00.000-07:00

What would you do if you woke up one day and found that all your loved ones were gone? What would be the first thing that you would do? Think this could happen? Think you would be able to go on? Life has a way of changing, of hurting, of healing. I´ts best to take one day at a time so while we feel pain, praise God. While we feel joy, praise God. When we are alone, praise God. When we are with our loved ones, praise God.

Don´t ever forget: THE POWER OF GOD IS THE STRENGTH THAT LEAD US TO DO AMAZING THINGS.

Love always,
Brenda

Love Quotes from the Bible

2009-08-15T17:15:00.000-07:00

And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: -- Thessalonians 3:12

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear. -- John 4:18

Let brotherly love continue. -- Hebrews 13:1

Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. -- Proverbs 10:12

And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. --John 3:23

These things I command you, that ye love one another. -- John 15:17

Love rules the court, the camp and the grove,
And men below, and the saints above;
For love is heaven and heaven is love. -- Sir Walter Scott

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself -- Galatians 5:14

Love without faith is as bad as faith without love. -- Henry Ward Beecher

He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love. -- John 4:8

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. -- I John 3:18

2009-08-05T22:45:00.000-07:00

Like any proud Grandma, today I take time to say Happy Birthday to my granddaughter, Ciarra Alexandria Thompson on her 7th Birthday.

My little Princess Aurora II is 7 years old and following in her grandma´s steps by being a dancer, a talker and a very intelligent little girl.

I love you baby girl.

From Princess Aurora I
(Grandma Brenda)

Happy Birthday, CIARRA ALEXANDRIA

2009-08-05T10:52:00.000-07:00

My little Princess Aurora II is 7 years old and following in her grandma´s steps by being a dancer, a talker and a very intelligent little girl.

I love you baby girl.

From Princess Aurora I
(Grandma Brenda)

THE SOLAR ECLIPSE AS SEEN IN ASIA TODAY

2009-07-21T23:12:00.000-07:00

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Solar eclipse pits superstition against science

2009-07-21T23:08:00.000-07:00

by Phil Hazlewood – Sun Jul 19, 10:23 pm ET
MUMBAI (AFP) – Indian astrologers are predicting violence and turmoil across the world as a result of this week's total solar eclipse, which the superstitious and religious view as a sign of potential doom.
But astronomers, scientists and secularists are trying to play down claims of evil portent in connection with Wednesday's natural spectacle, when the moon will come between the Earth and the sun, completely obscuring the sun.
In Hindu mythology, the two demons Rahu and Ketu are said to "swallow" the sun during eclipses, snuffing out its life-giving light and causing food to become inedible and water undrinkable.
Pregnant women are advised to stay indoors to prevent their babies developing birth defects, while prayers, fasting and ritual bathing, particularly in holy rivers, are encouraged.
Shivani Sachdev Gour, a gynaecologist at the Fortis Hospital in New Delhi, said a number of expectant mothers scheduled for caesarian deliveries on July 22 had asked to change the date.
"This is a belief deeply rooted in Indian society. Couples are willing to do anything to ensure that the baby is not born on that day," Gour said.
Astrologers have predicted a rise in communal and regional violence in the days following the eclipse, particularly in India, China and other Southeast Asian nations where it can be seen on Wednesday morning.
Mumbai astrologer Raj Kumar Sharma predicted "some sort of attack by (Kashmiri separatists) Jaish-e-Mohammad or Al-Qaeda on Indian soil" and a devastating natural disaster in Southeast Asia.
An Indian political leader could be killed, he said, and tension between the West and Iran is likely to increase, escalating into possible US military action after September 9, when fiery Saturn moves from Leo into Virgo.
"The last 200 years, whenever Saturn has gone into Virgo there has been either a world war or a mini world war," he told AFP.
It is not just in India that some are uneasy about what will transpire because of the eclipse.
In ancient China they were often associated with disasters, the death of an emperor or other dark events, and similar superstitions persist.
"The probability for unrest or war to take place in years when a solar eclipse happens is 95 percent," announced an article that attracted a lot of hits on the popular Chinese web portal Baidu.com.
Sanal Edamaruku, president of the Indian Rationalist Association, dismissed such doomsday predictions.
"Primarily, what we see with all these soothsayers and astrologers is that they're looking for opportunities to enhance their business with predictions of danger and calamity," he told AFP.
"They have been very powerful in India but over the last decade they have been in systematic decline."
Astronomers and scientists are also working to educate the public about the eclipse.
Travel firm Cox and Kings has chartered a Boeing 737-700 aircraft to give people the chance to see the eclipse from 41,000 feet (12,500 metres).
Experts will be on board to explain it to passengers, some of whom have paid 79,000 rupees (1,600 dollars) for a "sun-side" seat on the three-hour flight from New Delhi.
The eclipse's shadow is expected to pass over the aircraft at 15 times the speed of sound (Mach 15), said Ajay Talwar, president of the SPACE Group of companies that promotes science and astronomy.
"It's coming in the middle of the monsoon season. On the ground, there's a 40 percent chance of seeing it in India. On the aircraft you have almost a 90 percent chance of seeing the eclipse," he added.
Siva Prasad Tata, who runs the Astro Jyoti website, straddles the two worlds.
"There's no need to get too alarmed about the eclipse, they are a natural phenomenon," the astrologer told AFP.
But he added: "During the period of the eclipse, the opposite attracting forces are very, very powerful. From a spiritual point of view, this is a wonderful time to do any type of worship.
"It will bring about good results, much more than on an ordinary day."

Angel Quotes

2009-07-13T20:30:00.000-07:00

The more materialistic science becomes, the more angels shall I paint; their wings are my protest in favor of immortality of the soul. -- E.C. Burne-Jones

'Tis only when they spring to Heaven that angels
Reveal themselves to you. -- Robert Browning

We should pray to the angels, for they are given to us as guardians. - St. Ambrose

The angels are so enamored of the language that is spoken in heaven that they will not distort their lips with the hissing and unmusical dialects of men, but speak their own, whether their be any who understand it or not. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson from the Quote Garden

My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. -- Daniel 6:22

If there is anything that keeps the mind open to angel visits, and repels the ministry to evil, it is pure human love. -- N.P.Willis

If you woo the company of the angels in your waking hours, they will be sure to come to you in your sleep. -- G.D. Prentice

The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty. -- The Lord's Prayer, The Book of Common Prayer

Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth
Unseen, both when we wake and when we sleep. -- John Milton

Heaven Proverbs and Quotes

2009-07-10T20:19:00.000-07:00

And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. -- Matthew 18:3

Narrow is the road and wide is the gate that leads to heaven. -- Anonymous

The road to hell is paved with good intentions; the road to heaven is paved with good deeds. -- Anonymous

Heaven send us misfortunes as a moral tonic. -- Lady Blessington

Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads. -- Henry David Thoreau

Heaven is not to be looked upon only as the reward, but as a natural effect, of a religious life. -- Joseph Addison

Where the unveiled glories of the Deity shall beat full upon us, and we for ever sun ourseves in the smiles of God. — Ezekiel Hopkins from Inspirational Christian Quotes

Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. -- Mark 13:31

Love rules the camp, the court, the grove -- for love is Heaven, and Heaven is love.-- Lord Byron from Heavenly Quotes

As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. -- Corinthians 15:48

Heaven must be in me before I can be in heaven. -- Charles Stanford

The generous who is always just, and the just who is always generous, may, unannounced, approach the throne of heaven. -- Johann K. Lavater

And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. --Matthew 3:2

Faith Quotes and Proverbs

2009-07-06T22:13:00.000-07:00

Strike from mankind the principle of faith and men would have no more history than sheep.
-- Mark Beltare

Faith is a living and unshakable confidence. a belief in God so assured that a man would die a thousand deaths for its sake. -- Martin Luther

Not Truth, but Faith, it is that keeps the world alive. -- Edna St. Vincent Millay

Doubt springs from the mind. Faith is the daughter of the soul. -- J. Pete Senn

Beware of doubt — faith is the subtle chain that binds us to the infinite. -- E. 0. Smith

For we walk bt faith, not by sight. -- Corinthians 5:7

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. -- Timothy 6:12

Faith is to believe what you do not yet see; the reward for this faith is to see what you believe. -- Saint Augustine

For with God nothing shall be impossible. -- Luke 1:37

Some things have to be believed to be seen. - Ralph Hodgson

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. -- Hebrews 11:1

Faith leads us beyond ourselves. It leads us directly to God. -- Pope John Paul II

No cloud can overshadow a true Christian but his faith will discern a rainbow in it. -- Bishop Horne

The person who has a firm trust in the Supreme Being is powerful in his power, wise by his wisdom, happy by his happiness. -- Joseph Addison

I am one of those who would rather sink with faith than swim without it. -- Stanley Baldwin

Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light. -- Helen Keller

Faith in God, faith in man, faith in work: this is the short formula in which we may sum up the teachings of the founders of New England,—a creed ample enough for this life and the next. -- James Russell Lowell

Let us have faith that right makes might; and, let us to the end dare to do our duty. -- Abraham Lincoln

FORGIVENESS QUOTES

2009-06-20T05:53:00.000-07:00

The daily bread of grace, without which nothing can be achieved, is given to the extent to which we ourselves give and forgive. -- Aldous Huxley

Good to forgive--
Best to forget.
-- Robert Browning

Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. -- Book of Common Prayer: The Lord's Prayer

We forgive to the extent that we love. -- Francois de La Rochefoucauld

He that cannot forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass if he would reach heaven: for every one has need to be forgiven. -- Thomas Fuller

Life to me appears too short to be nursing animosity or registering wrongs. -- Charlotte Bronte

They who forgive most shall be most forgiven. -- Josiah Bailey

Life is an adventure in forgiveness. -- Norman Cousins

We are all full of weakness and errors; let us mutually pardon each other our follies --Voltaire. -- Voltaire from Tentmakers Forgiveness Quotes

Forgiveness is man's deepest need and highest achievement. -- Horace Bushnell

If thou wouldst find much favor and peace with God and man, be very low in thine eyes; forgive thyself little and others much. -- Robert Leighton

When you pray for anyone you tend to modify your personal attitude toward him. -- Norman Vincent Peale

The brave only know how to forgive. -- Sterne

He, who cannot forgive a trespass of malice to his enemy, has never yet tasted the most sublime enjoyment of love. -- Johann Kaspar Lavatar

It err is human; to forgive, divine. -- Alexander Pope

Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. -- Luke 17:3

He that cannot forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself; for every man has need to be forgiven. - Edward Herbert

Life, that ever needs forgiveness, has for its first duty to forgive. -- Edward Bulwer Lytton

God's way of forgiving is thorough and hearty,—both to forgive and to forget; and if thine be not so, thou hast no portion of His.-- Leighton

JESUS QUOTES

2009-06-19T05:49:00.000-07:00

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. -- Matthew 7:21

And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. -- Luke 23:46.

Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. -- Luke 9:1,2.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. -- Romans 10:9

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. -- Hebrews 13:8

In trouble then and fear I sought
The Man who taught in Galilee;
And peace unto my soul was brought,
All my faith came back to me.
Anonymous

If Christ is the wisdom of God and the power of God in the experience of those who trust and love him, there needs no further argument of his divinity. -- Henry Ward Beecher

Christian Quotes

2009-06-18T05:44:00.000-07:00

Christianity is not a theory or speculation, but a life; not a philosophy of life, but a living presence. -- Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Christian life consists of faith and charity. -- Martin Luther

The purpose of Christianity is not to avoid difficulty, but to produce a character adequate to meet it when it comes. It does not make life easy; rather it tries to make us great enough for life. -- James L. Christensen

Life is an adventure in forgiveness. -- Norman Cousins

The fewer the words, the better the prayer. -- Martin Luther

Whatever makes men good Christians, makes them good citizens. -- Daniel Webster

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen. Not only because I see it, but because I see everything by it. -- C.S. Lewis

To be like Christ is to be a Christian. -- Daniel Webster

The measure of a Christian is not in the height of his grasp but in the depth of his love. -- Clarence Jordan

A Christian is a keyhole through which other folk see God. -- Robert E. Gibson

We should live our lives as though Christ was coming this afternoon. - Jimmy Carter

The Power of Prayer Quotes

2009-06-17T05:37:00.000-07:00

More things are wrought by prayer
Than this word dreams of.
-- Alfred Lord Tennyson

We do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all
To render the deeds of mercy. --
William Shakespeare

Children are the keys of Paradise. They alone are good and wise, Because their thoughts, their very lives are prayer. -- R. H. Stoddard, The Children's Prayer

As down in the sunless retreats of the ocean
Sweet flowers are springing no mortal can see,
So deep in my soul the still prayer of devotion,
Unheard by the world, rises silent to Thee.
As still to the star of its worship, though clouded,
The needle points faithfully o'er the dim sea,
So dark when I roam in this wintry world shrouded,
The hope of my spirit turns trembling to Thee. -- Thomas Moore

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul. -- John Muir

Let never day nor night unhallowed pass,
But still remember what the Lord hath done. -- William Shakespeare

He prayeth best, who loveth best
All things both great and small;
For the dear God who loveth us,
He made and loveth all. --
Samuel Taylor Coleridge

I desire no other proof of Christianity than the Lord's Prayer. -- Madame De Stael

Prayers are heard in heaven in proportion to our faith. Little faith gets very great mercies, but great faith still greater. -- Spurgeon

Quotations About God

2009-06-16T17:35:00.000-07:00

FROM T.D. JAKES

2009-06-15T11:29:00.000-07:00

My prayer for you today

(1) You will find favour with someone you don't expect. Amen

(2) You will be too relevant to be ignored, Amen

(3) You will encounter GOD and will never remain the same, Amen

(4) The grace for completion will come on you, you shall be blessed till the blessed call you blessed, Amen

(5) The hand that will send this message to others shall not labour in vain, Amen

(6) The mouth saying ''Amen'' to this prayer shall laugh forever, Amen.

Very, Very, soon and I say Very, Very, Very soon, GOD is going to do a miracle and lift u up 4 GOOD.

GOD SEES ALL, KNOWS ALL AND HELPS US ALL

2009-05-01T19:10:00.000-07:00

Trust God
Even when you feel weak and powerless...

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 NIV

__________________

"For affliction does not come from the dust,
Nor does trouble sprout from the ground,

For man is born for trouble, As sparks fly upward.

But as for me, I would seek God,
And I would place my cause before God;

Who does great and unsearchable things,
Wonders without number.

He gives rain on the earth
And sends water on the fields,

So that He sets on high those who are lowly,
And those who mourn are lifted to safety.

Job 5:6-11 NASB

__________________

Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.

Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God:
for unto thee will I pray.

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD;
in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee,
and will look up.

Psalm 5:1-3 KJV

__________________

Thanks be unto God for His wonderful gift:
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God
is the object of our faith; the only faith
that saves is faith in Him.

Priest defrocked over Muslim Beliefs

2009-04-04T09:56:00.000-07:00

An Episcopal priest in Seattle who has said she is both Christian and Muslim has been defrocked, church officials said.

The Seattle Times reported Thursday that Ann Holmes Redding was defrocked over her 2007 announcement. She was informed of the decision Thursday by Bishop Geralyn Wolf of Rhode Island, who has disciplinary authority over her.

Wolf said she found Redding to be "a woman of utmost integrity and their conversations over the past two years have been open, honest and respectful," the newspaper reported.

"However, Bishop Wolf believes that a priest of the Church cannot be both a Christian and a Muslim," a statement said.

Redding has said she was sad that the church has rejected her beliefs.

The Times noted that Redding's defrocking came nearly two years after Wolf asked her to take a year and reflect on her beliefs.

At that time, Redding was barred from functioning as a priest, and was told that unless she resigned her priesthood or denied being a Muslim, she would be defrocked.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.

LETS REMEMBER WHY WE HAVE THE HOLIDAY

2009-04-02T14:40:00.000-07:00

Well, we come to the weekend and time for the Easter holidays.

While many people go of on a week´s vacation, how many ofr us will remember the reason for the holiday? I hope we have time to look back and enjoy the wonderful life and chance we were given by the Son of Man dying on the cross to redeem us from our sins.

LET US REMEMBER THAT THERE WAS A GREAT LOVE, WASHED IN BLOOD AND PAID IN FULL.

LET US LOOK BACK AND GIVE THANK TO THIS WONDERFUL SHOW OF LOVE THAT SAVED EEN AND EVERY ONE OF US FROM ORIGINAL SIN.

THANK YOU GOD FOR SENDING YOUR SON. THANK YOU JESUS FOR DYING ON THE CROSS TO SAVE US.

NO GREATER LOVE HAS EVER BEEN SHOWN.
HAVE YOU SAID THANKS LATELY? HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT HIM?

MUCH LOVE, MUCH PEACE. MUCH PRAISE.

ENJOY TODAY, TOMORROW IS FAR AWAY

2009-03-29T05:15:00.000-07:00

TODAY IS ANOTHER GREAT DAY. ENJOY IT TO THE FULLEST.
GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERYONE.

HERE IS A LINK TO A VIDEO THAT IS VERY GOOD ACCORDING THE THE PEOPLE WHO HAV SEEN IT.

Para ver el video dar clic ....> http://www.viddler.com/explore/jesucristotv/videos/1/

WHEN YOUR HAPPINESS MAKES OTHERS UNHAPPY

2009-03-16T13:25:00.000-07:00

I don't know if life is fair but lately everything seem to be falling into place and the one outstanding thing that I have noticed is that my happiness makes others mean. Today I feel like crying and as I write tears fill my eyes. I have been nice to too many people I guess because many of my so called friends have showed that they don't care for me the way I did for them. How sad to know that they can hurt me and I have done nothing but been kind to them.

God, today I ask you to give me strength to continue my life the way I was brought up. Help me to continue to see the good in others and help me to forget, if I cannot right now forgive, those who hurt me, AMEN.

2009-02-02T01:26:00.000-08:00

He left His home in Heaven, to come to die for me,
No greater love ever given than the price at Calvary,
He was mocked, battered and beaten, then nailed to a cross,
Yet Jesus paid the ultimate price, for this world so lost,
The truth in God’s word, filled with promises from above,
Is more of my legacy that shows how we’re loved,
He sent His only Son, to die upon a tree,
To pay the dreadful price of sin and shame,
The blood shed was for you and me.

The day is drawing closer, soon Jesus comes for me,
To take me to my home above, To dwell eternally,
A place where there’s no sorrow, No dying will be there,
Glorious mansions to live in, And a banquet table prepared,
Dressed in robes of white, Walk on streets of purest gold,
And I can’t even imagine, seeing the prophets of old,
Elijiah, and Abraham, David and Moses too,
Talking with the disciples, about all they went through,
Being reunited with my loved ones, that went ahead of me,
But most of all my Jesus face is what I want to see.

But while we are waiting, before he splits the eastern sky,
Many are dying lost, Satan has blinded their eyes,
We must show the love of Christ in all we say and do,
We must know the word of God, walking in the light too,
Praying and fasting in faith, that they will quickly see,
That Jesus was not just a prophet, or a teacher,
But the one who died for you and me.

He Will Always Love You!

Submitted and written by: Janet McMillian

A GREAT MAN

2009-01-21T08:47:00.000-08:00

Martin Luther
Martin Luther earned his Bachelor's degree at the age of eighteen, and his Master's three years later. After nearly being killed by a lightning bolt, he left law school behind and entered the monastery. He is most famous for his challenges to the church's theories of buying indulgences, or "paying your way" to Heaven through good deeds. This philosophy became the basis of the Protestant church. He died after a series of visits to Mansfeld to negotiate ownership of his family's copper mines.
Discuss this Author

THE WORD OF GOD

2009-01-20T20:29:00.000-08:00

Bible Readings for January 20
January 20: Luke 15, Genesis 27:1-45, Psalm 20

A CHANGE OF HEART

2009-01-20T19:16:00.000-08:00

Wright softens Obama stance in sermon
The Rev. Jeremiah Wright appears to have softened his hard feelings toward his former parishioner, U.S. President-elect Barack Obama, observers said.

In a sermon delivered Monday to attendees at Howard University's chapel in Washington, Wright -- who criticized Obama before the election for distancing himself from him after a 20-year pastoral relationship in Chicago -- instead praised him for making history, ABC News reported.

"He was able to do what nobody of African decent was ever able to do in the 211-year history of this country," Wright told churchgoers. "The Lord stepped into his story and gave him a new attitude."

In an interview with ABC after the sermon, however, Wright continued to voice anger at the network, which was the first to air clips of fiery sermons in which he denounced racism in the United States. The sermons were seized upon by Obama's opponents and prompted the candidate to break off his relationship with Wright's Chicago church.

"It was so unfair to my family and ended up hurting my daughter and it was unconscionable," he said. "ABC started a mess that was unconscionable."

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.

GOD IS THE WAY

2009-01-15T12:37:00.000-08:00

Obedience - Key to Blessing
For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

Romans 2:13 KJV

It's what we trust in but don't yet see that keeps us going.

2 Cor. 5:8 MSG

Meditation 1/11 - 17: Walk by faith - 2 Cor. 5:2-10 MSG
We live by faith

The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what's ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we'll never settle for less.

That's why we live with such good cheer. You won't see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don't get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. It's what we trust in but don't yet see that keeps us going. Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we'll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming.

But neither exile nor homecoming is the main thing. Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that's what we aim to do, regardless of our conditions. Sooner or later we'll all have to face God, regardless of our conditions. We will appear before Christ and take what's coming to us as a result of our actions, either good or bad.

2 Corinthians 5:5-10

PRAISE FOR THE NEW DAY

2009-01-07T00:10:00.000-08:00

PRAISE BE TO GOD! TODAY IS A NEW DAY. TODAY WE BEGIN TO LIVE AGAIN AS WE DO DAILY - BEGINNING FROM THE BEGINNING WITH A PRAYER OF THANK YOU TO THE MOST HIGH FOR LETTING US SEE THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY.

REJOICE IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT ALL THINGS ARE POSIBLE BECAUSE YOU ARE ALIVE. ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE BECAUSE YOU WOKE UP TODAY. ALL THINGS HAVE MEANING BECAUSE WE ARE ABLE TO SHARE THE LOVE WE HAVE WITH OTHERS.

PRAISE AND HONOUR TO THE MOST HIGH.
ALLELUIA.

MUCH LOVE ALWAYS,
BRENDA

THE THREE KINGS

2009-01-06T23:53:00.000-08:00

Today we celebrate the THREE KINGS in Mexico with the exchange of more gifts. I guess that the children really love that one because it meant that there was at least one more present to open.

So who were these three kings and why are they important?

If we read the bible we are told that three wise men came from afar bearing gifts for the King that they found in a manger where he laid. They had followed a star to that location and they knew that they would meet there the King of all Kings. In fact they told this to the king at that time and he was furious and told them that once they found this child to return to his palace so he could get the direction and go give his homage to this king also. Of course, they knew he met to injury the baby so they never returned to give him the information and thus, many male Jewish babies were killed in Pharoah's hope that he would kill the King that would replace him. Jesus was spared and grew up to be the Saviour of all Mankind. HE IS THE REASON WE HAVE THE SEASON.

We celebrate the gifts of the Magi, the gifts of the three Wise Men or the gifts of the Three Kings. We celebrate the officail notie of the birth of the KING, our Lord Jesus Christ.

And glory be HIS name forevermore. AMEN.

A PRAYER OF THANK YOU

2009-01-03T01:04:00.000-08:00

Dear Lord,
We thank you for the arrival of another year. Thank you for family and friends who made 2008 all it was and for being with us through thick and thin.

Help us to grow in love and happiness this new year. Help us to reach out to others and to learn to love one another.

Dear God, we are blessed with your most holy love and we tr=hank you for everything. From the air we breathe evey morning when we awake to the stasrs and moon we see at night before we go to bed. Thank God, for being there for us in our time of need.

Bless all our loved ones and those whom we have wronged or who have done us wrong.

Amen

HAPPY NEW YEAR, CAROLYN AND CIARRA

2009-01-02T01:01:00.000-08:00

Dearest Carolyn,
This was the first year I was unable to be with you all for Christmas and New Years Day is here and I am filled with so much love and wishes for you. Daughter, you have been and will always be the joy of my life. You have been loved from the moment I found out I was carrying you in my womb. The love your father and I had for each other and the love we had when you arrived was special.

Over the years I became a single parent and that did not stop me from seeing you through high school, Sixth Form and University. Today you are thousands of miles away in Georgia, USA but you remain in my heart as the ray of sunshine that has brightened and guided me over the years.

I wish you all the best, Bibs. If Tia Brenda and Chichi were alive I know they would be so proud of all that you have achieved. I know that I am proud of you and have always been proud of you. Your successes are my successes. Keep on attaining that star that shines in your eyes and heart.

As we move into 2009, I look forward to seeing you and being with you. Keep on smiling and joking and being the best friend a mother could ask for. Baby girl, you are my greatest achievement. You are the best poem I have ever written, the best song I have ever sung and the best speech I have ever given. Reach for the unreachable and remember that you can be all you want to be.

Just say I CAN and you will be surprised at how much you will be able to do.

I love you and always will.
Mama

Ciarra, my little princess,
From the first moment I held you in my arms I knew you were grandma's girl. You are my joy and my peace. You are my blooming lily, my walking happiness. God Bless you my little angel. You are loved and you are cared for. Keep on making us proud of you. Keep on smiling and keep on learning.

Your journey of life has just begun. You have much to achieve and you will!

I love you and I miss you.

Grandma's special little star, know this: I will always be there for you. Reach out and take my hand.

All my love and kisses,
Grandma Brenda

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!!

2009-01-01T01:41:00.000-08:00

For all my friends and readers of this blog: HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM MY HOME TO YOURS!!
God Bless and Keep you all safe.

TIME TO LOOK BACK

2008-12-31T01:58:00.000-08:00

Success comes to he who is willing to work hard, fight a good fight and sacrifice everything when necessary. (Brenda A. Ysaguirre)

As we near the end of another year we are faced with many new challenges. The economical situation at home and abroad dims the festive moment. If what the analysts are saying is true, we can look forward to a new year filled with more hardship as more people lose there jobs and many others graduate into a world that offers very little for them. Only the strong will survive. Only those who know the true meaning of sacrifice will succeed. Only the fearless will attain the satifaction of a hard day's work for a well earned pay.

I do not mean to dampen the eve of New Year's Eve. I only want to make sure we all understand that there will be a lot of hardship but that we can win the battle in the new year if we use stamina and sacrifice.

Good Luck to everyone and do have a Happy New Year. Go out or just stay at home and eat some grapes (12 actually to follow the Spanish tradition of one for each month of the year. You eat them just before midnight and our ancestors believed it would give you a good year.)

Have a Blessed New Year. Remember, we can make 2009 all it was meant to be if we work hard and sacrifice when necessary.

Brenda A. Ysaguirre

2008-12-30T20:56:00.001-08:00

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. And here's to 2009. May God Bless and keep you all in His arms always.

Have a happy new year!

2008-12-30T01:56:00.000-08:00

Ever figured out what is going on in the world right now? So much suffering and now we are faced with the rising cost of living. There is definately a world crisis at hand and man is on the verge of making things fall apart. What a life!. Maybe it is time to go back to that time when we had so little and were happy alot more than we are today.

Life is good. Let us enjoy it.

Blessing for all my readers. Mya God be always by your side.

ABOUT NATURE THERE IS SO MUCH TO ADMIRE

2008-11-25T11:32:00.000-08:00

LOVE, LIKE A STREAM FLOWS PEACEFULLY, AND THAT'S GOD!

ONE OF GOD'S MOST PRECIOUS LITTLE MIRACLE

2008-11-24T05:41:00.000-08:00

THE WONDER OF GOD IS SEEN IN THE EYES OF THE INNOCENT.
THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN TO BEHOLD A CHILD ENJOYING LIFE.

REINCARNATION OF BUDDHA

2008-11-23T15:59:00.000-08:00

KATMANDU, Nepal – A Nepalese teenager revered by many as a reincarnation of Buddha has returned to the jungle to meditate after emerging for less than two weeks, officials said Saturday.

Ram Bahadur Bamjan, 18, reappeared on Nov. 10 after several months of meditation to bless thousands of his followers, speaking to them on at least two occasions.

He made his last appearance on Friday and then returned to the jungle to meditate, said Biswo Prakash Newpane, a government administrator in the area. It was not clear when he would return again.

His followers lined up near the jungle of Ratanpur, about 100 miles south of Katmandu, to be blessed by Bamjan. He tapped the believers on their forehead but did not speak to them individually.

The followers believe he has been meditating without food and water since he was first spotted in the jungles of southern Nepal in 2005. Believers say he spent months without moving, sitting with his eyes closed beneath a tree.

Buddhism, which has about 325 million followers, teaches that every soul is reincarnated after death in another bodily form.

But several Buddhist scholars have been skeptical of the claims that Bamjan is a reincarnation of Siddhartha Gautama, who was born in southwestern Nepal roughly 2,500 years ago and became revered as the Buddha, or Enlightened One.

Rakesh, a Buddhist scholar, told the Associated Press last week that being Buddha means the last birth and the highest level that can be achieved and there can be no reincarnation of Buddha, even though Buddhists believe in life after death.

TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT OTHERS

2008-11-22T15:32:00.000-08:00

LEARNING FROM A MOUSE

A mouse looked through the crack
in the wall to see the farmer and
his wife open a package.

What food might this contain?'
The mouse wondered -
he was devastated to discover it
was a mousetrap.

Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning:
There is a mousetrap in the house!
There is a mousetrap in the house!'

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, 'Mr.Mouse,
I can tell this is a grave concern
to you, but it is of no consequence to me.

I cannot be bothered by it.'

The mouse turned to the pig and told him,
'There is a mousetrap in the house!
There is a mousetrap in the house!'

The pig sympathized, but said, I am
so very sorry, Mr.Mouse, but there
is nothing I can do about it but pray.

Be assured you are in my prayers.'

The mouse turned to
the cow and said
'There is a mousetrap in the house!
There is a mousetrap in the house!'
The cow said, 'Wow, Mr. Mouse.
I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose.'

So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected,
to face the farmer's mousetrap alone.

That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- like the
sound of a mousetrap catching its
prey.

The farmer's wife rushed to see
what was caught. In the darkness,
she did not see it was a venomous
snake whose tail the trap had caught.

The snake bit the farmer's wife.
The farmer rushed her to the hospital ,
and she returned home with a fever.

Everyone knows you treat a fever
with fresh chicken soup, so the
farmer took his hatchet to the
farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.

But his wife's sickness continued,
so friends and neighbors came to
sit with her around the clock.

To feed them, the farmer
butchered the pig.

The farmer's wife did not get well;
she died.

So many people came for her funeral,
the farmer had the cow slaughtered
to provide enough meat for all
of them.
The mouse looked upon it all from
his crack in the wall with great sadness.

So, the next time you hear someone
is facing a problem and think it
doesn't concern you, remember --
when one of us is threatened,
we are all at risk.

We are all involved in this journey
called life. We must keep an eye out
for one another and make an extra
effort to encourage one another.

SEND THIS TO EVERYONE WHO
HAS EVER HELPED YOU OUT
AND LET THEM KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE.

REMEMBER,,,,
EACH OF US IS A VITAL THREAD
IN ANOTHER PERSON'S TAPESTRY;

OUR LIVES ARE WOVEN TOGETHER FOR A REASON.

One of the best things to hold
onto in this world is a friend

CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY NIXES FEMENIST PROF

2008-11-03T09:44:00.000-08:00

SAN DIEGO (UPI) -- The University of San Diego has withdrawn its offer of an endowed chair to a Catholic feminist scholar who supports abortion rights.

The announcement that Rosemary Radford Ruether had been appointed to the Monsignor John R. Portman Chair in Roman Catholic Theology was greeted with dismay by many Catholic and anti-abortion groups, the San Diego Union-Tribune said Wednesday. Ruether sits on the board of Catholics for a Free Choice.

University spokeswoman Patricia Gray Payton said that one person who did not object was the anonymous benefactor who endowed the chair.

"Her public position and the symbol of this chair are in direct conflict," Payton said. "This chair is a powerful, visible symbol of Roman Catholic theology, and in Roman Catholic theology abortion is disallowed."

The news that Ruether's appointment had been rescinded has created more controversy. Two Catholic women's groups have gathered 2,000 signatures on petitions asking the university to change its mind again.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International

CROSSING THE THRESHOLD OF HOLD

2008-11-02T09:34:00.000-08:00

I AM READING "CROSSING HE THRESHOLD OF HOPE" by JOH PAUL II for one of my classes at the university.

Is there anyone out there who can help me understand it? I read and read and there is no explanation as to why it does not set in my brain. Today, I was feeling so ill with the flu that I couldn't even read it. My paper is due but I will have to ask for an extension.

God Bless all my readers. I wish you all a wonderful week.

AFTER THE STORM

2008-10-30T07:36:00.000-07:00

For the time being the rains have stopped and now we have a cold front over Belize. However, all is not over. Now is the time of recovery. The people in the areas that had the flooding ae still suffering. Many are still not in their homes and many have lost most of their personal properties.

NOW IS THE TIME WHEN WE HAVE TO GIVE A HELPING HAND.

PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY TO THE RELIEF ORGANIZERS WHO ARE GOING TO TAKE FOOD, MEDICINES AND CLOTHING ( AMONG OTHER THINGS) TO THOSE WHO NOW NEED OUR HELP.

In an effort to assist our brothers and sisters who have suffered so much in the past weeks, the YO PUEDO GROUP OF COROZAL and CCC ACE and CJC ACE have initiated a drive to collect non-persishable goods and clothing. THIS IS THE TIME WHEN WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER. LET US GIVE FROM THE HEART.

TO MY READERS ABROAD, YOU TOO CAN HELP. YOUR MONETARY DONATIONS CAN BE SENT TO THE RED CROSS OF BELIZE OR GET IN CONTACT WITH ME AT 501-607-8315 (3pm to 31am Belize time) OR AT 00521-983-131-5669 FROM 7AM TO 11AM (Mexico time).

Thank you and God Bless.

SOME OFGOD'S CREATION

2008-10-29T09:07:00.000-07:00

THE VALUE OF FRIENDS AND LOVE

2008-10-28T03:44:00.000-07:00

God is forever blessing us with great friends and with jobs we love. Here are a few of my students at CCC ACE giving a presentation on Communication. I love you all, Second Years. Thank you for keeping me sane. Hahahaha.
Ms B

SOME OF MY FRIENDS AT UNID IN CHETUMAL, MEXICO

2008-10-27T15:32:00.000-07:00

God is powerful. Just when I needed to be distrated from things that seem to be pulling me down, I found 19 new friends and a new life. I am so lucky. Thank you, God, for all your blessings!

MORE WONDERS OF GOD'S BLESSINGS

2008-10-26T15:22:00.001-07:00

THE BEAUTY OF LIFE

2008-10-24T00:35:00.000-07:00

A PRAYER FOR MY DAUGHTER, Carolyn Angela

2008-10-22T17:59:00.000-07:00

Dear God,
I come to you today to humbly beseech you to watch over and protect the joy of my life, my daughter Carolyn Angela. Bless her as she goes about her daily tasking of being a mother and wife. Bless her home and all those who enter it. Keep her safe so she may continue to care for her daughter and her husband. At her job, Dear Lord, show you mercy and your love by being at her saide daily as she goes about the tasks that she must perform. Give her strenght to keep on going and wisdom to know what to do in all the difficult situations that she will encounter. Dear God, bless her always and help her to sing your praise.
Amen.

A PRAYER FOR MY GRANDDAUGHTER, CIARRA

2008-10-21T05:46:00.000-07:00

Dear Father God,
I come to you today to ask you to watch over and protect my litle granddaughter, Ciarra Alexandria. As she grows up in a world filled with hate and suffering, drugs and wars, I ask you to continue to keep her safe from all these evils. Daily, dear Lord, we see many young people suffering from starvation and abuse, just to name a few. Poverty has now become so common that it seems we are faced with far more than our ancestors had to deal with. Crime had increased because of the economical situations that has created monsters of youths, and addicts of our people. Dear Lord, please help us before it is too late. Keep our children and their children safe. Help us to be able to bring up our children to know, honour and respect you.
Amen

A PRAYER FOR MY YO PUEDO GROUP

2008-10-20T05:28:00.000-07:00

Dear God,
Please watch over all my children. I ask you to watch over all the members of the YO Puedo wherever they may be. Help them to grow as they get older into wonderful adults, parents and friends. Bless each of them as they go about their daily tasks and keep them forever in your vision.
Amen.

My dear group,
As I sit infront of my computer in Chetumal on this Sunday evening preparing this page for tomorrow, I realize that I miss you all and the togetheness we had. I hope we can be together a a solid group again soon. Meeting is coming up and you people are not showing up for these meetings. So here is the deal, MAKE SURE YOU GET IN TOUCH. WE HAVE THINGS TO DO.
LOVE ALWAYS, Ms B

A PRAYER FOR THE LESS FORTUNATE AT THIS TIME OF BAD WEATHER

2008-10-19T16:39:00.000-07:00

Dear God,
Like many who live in areas where there is less violence and less problems, I come to you, oh God, at this time for those who do need you and those who do want all they can of YOU.

Father God, as you know there is a lot of rain right now over us in Belize and Southern Mexico. All this rain is causing flooding and loss of property to many of my Belize sisters and brothers. I humbly beseech thee, oh my God, to help those in need. Keep them safe and protect from all anxieties. Watch over them. oh, God, and renew in them a new fate to love and survive you at this time of despair and doubt.

Amen.

MYSTERY SHOPPERS FOR DEPARTMENT STORES

2008-10-14T14:17:00.000-07:00

The Mystery Worshipper
by Alexandra Alter
The Wall Street Journal

Department stores hire mystery shoppers. Restaurant chains bring in undercover diners to rate their food and service. Churches enlist Thomas Harrison, a former pastor from Tulsa, Okla., and a professional mystery worshipper.

Mr. Harrison -- a meticulous inspector who often uses the phrase "I was horrified" to register his disapproval of dust bunnies and rude congregants -- poses as a first-time churchgoer and covertly evaluates everything from the cleanliness of the bathrooms to the strength of the sermon. This summer, Mr. Harrison scoured a megachurch in Cedar Hill, Texas, and jotted down a laundry list of imperfections: a water stain on the ceiling, a "stuffy odor" in the children's area, a stray plastic bucket under the bathroom sink and a sullen greeter who failed to say good morning before the worship service. "I am a stickler for light bulbs and bathrooms," he says.

Mr. Harrison belongs to a new breed of church consultants aiming to equip pastors with modern marketing practices. Pastors say mystery worshippers like Mr. Harrison offer insight into how newcomers judge churches -- a critical measure at a time when mainline denominations continue to shed members and nearly half of American adults switch religious affiliations. In an increasingly diverse and fluid religious landscape, churches competing for souls are turning to corporate marketing strategies such as focus groups, customer-satisfaction surveys and product giveaways.

At least half a dozen consulting companies have introduced secret-church-shopper services in recent years. The A Group, a Brentwood, Tenn., marketing firm for churches and faith-based groups, now conducts mystery-worshipper surveys at 15 to 20 churches a year, up from a handful five years ago. Church marketing company Real Church Solutions in Corona, Calif., introduced mystery-worshipper services five years ago. "First-time guests, they don't come with mercy, they come with judgment," says the company's president, Chris Sonksen. "They're looking for a reason to leave."

LORD, BLESS ALL THOSE WHO SUFFER FROM CANCER

2008-10-13T07:23:00.000-07:00

All you are asked to do is
keep this circulating.

Even if it's to one more person.

In memory of anyone you know
that has been struck by cancer.

A Candle Loses Nothing
by Lighting Another Candle

Please Keep These Candles Going!

A PRAYER TO MY CREATOR AND FRIEND

2008-10-12T15:18:00.000-07:00

Dear Lord,
Watch over me today I ask,
As I go about my daily task.
Guide my hands to do only good,
As every one of your follweres should.

Take me in your arms, I pray,
And keep me safe every day.
There is much I still have to do,
That is why I truly need YOU.

So dear God, my friend and confidante,
Help me to never say "I can't".
The world is great, the world is mine,
Give my all your bless, my Friend Divine.

Brenda A. Ysaguirre
Copyright 2008 Brenda A. Ysaguirre

MIS AMIGOS DEL UNID EN CLASE de SER HUMANO

2008-10-11T14:02:00.000-07:00

There is still chance for God to make a difference. This is my SER HUMANO class in Chetumal, Mexico at UNID. Here we are learning how moral and dignity is part of a good life. At educators and future educators we will be able to pass this on to our students.

Thanks, Prof. Daniela Lopez (in yellow blouse) for been a very caring and understanding lecturer.

GOD IS ALIVE AND WELL!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BELIZE

2008-09-21T07:13:00.000-07:00

Dear Heavenly Father,
I ask you to protect and preserve Belize, my beloved, home. Lord, I know it is in your power and I come to you most humbly to ask you to keep us safe and free from all evil. Almighty Father, please bless each Belizean and help them in their aim for success.
Amen.
Brenda A. Ysaguirre

GRACIAS POR LOS BEBES

2008-09-20T19:04:00.000-07:00

11-month-old Tips Off Grandma To Trouble
BRAINTREE, England (UPI) -- The grandmother of a Braintree, England, 11-month-old said the baby answered the phone and alerted her to the fact that the child's mother was in trouble.

Grandmother Linda Wight said she knew something was amiss when she phoned Elizabeth Boyle, 20, and the cell phone was answered by Wright's granddaughter, Amelia, The Times of London reported.

Wright said Amelia tipped her off that something was wrong in the home by asking, "Who's this?" and repeatedly saying: "Mama."

The grandmother phoned emergency services and Boyle awoke to find police at her doorway. She said she had blacked out in the hallway of her home.

Boyle, who had a history of passing out, was examined by paramedics, did not require hospital treatment.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International

GOD SEES EVERYTHING

2008-09-01T05:42:00.000-07:00

The picture tells it all! This is a phenomena that occurs once in a while in the skies. It is called the Eye of God and you can see why. HE IS LOOKING AT WHAT YOU DO. SO DO IT RIGHT!

WHILE NATURE DOES THAT THING IT DOES!

2008-08-31T05:32:00.000-07:00

Father God,
Please protect and preserve this nation of ours as we entr into another month of the Hurricane season. Help our neighbours in other countries who are experincing hurricane situation as we go about our happy lives. Help u to know and love you, dear God, and to do your will.
Amen.

YOUR WONDERS NEVER CEASE - NATURE PROTECTING ITSELF

2008-08-30T07:17:00.000-07:00

Dear God, Today I want to thank you for all the wonderful things there are in nature. I also want to thank you for my life and the lives of Carolyn Angela, Ciarra Alexandra, Miya, Abel, Triccia and all the rest of my family and friends. Bless them Oh, Lord and keep them safe at all times.
Amen.

THANK YOU GOD FOR EVERYTHING AND EVERYWHERE

2008-08-29T07:05:00.000-07:00

Have you told HIM lately that you love Him?

GOD IS PRESENT IN FAMILIES THAT WORK TOGETHER

2008-08-28T04:21:00.000-07:00

ALL OUR LOVE TO OUR NEW EXTENDED FAMILY,
Brenda and Abel

GOD IS PRESENT IN ALL CREATION

2008-08-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

Even on a lagoon in a quiet little spot a water lily's beauty is untouched by nature.

NATURE TAKING CARE OF ITSELF... THAT'S GOD

2008-08-26T03:48:00.000-07:00

IF CHICKENS CAN BE SO LOVING, SO CAN WE!

2008-08-25T09:52:00.000-07:00

THIS MOTHER HEN AND HER 13 YOUNG ONES LIVE ON PANTO-HA RESORT IN XUL-HA, QUINTANA ROO, MEXICO

HIS WORK ON NATURE IS LIMITLESS

2008-08-24T09:49:00.000-07:00

A CLOSER LOOK AT THAT LAGOON IN XUL-HA

GOD IS GREAT

2008-08-22T09:42:00.000-07:00

DOWN THE ROAD IN XUL-HA, QUINTANA ROO, MEXICO. THE BEAUTIFUL SITE WE SEE IS A PART OF THE LAGOON MANY OF US KNOW FROM THE BACALAR AREA.

NATURE... GOD'S BEST GIFT AFTER LIFE TO THE HUMAN RACE

2008-08-21T09:37:00.000-07:00

LIKE JESUS

2008-08-20T09:33:00.000-07:00

PLEA TO ALL FATHERS TO PLEASE LOVE THEIR CHILDREN LIKE JESUS LOVES THE LITTLE ONES.

JESUS SMILING

2008-08-19T09:31:00.000-07:00

IF ONLY THE WORLD COULD LEARN TO DO THINGS LIKE JESUS DID. LOVE CHILDREN. DON'T HURT THEM.

THIRD CURFEW AMID KASHMIR TENSION

2008-08-18T03:38:00.000-07:00

A curfew has been imposed in parts of Indian-administered Kashmir for a third consecutive day after violence in the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley.

More than 20 people were killed when security forces opened fire on protesters on Monday and Tuesday.

Tension is also high in the mainly Hindu region of Jammu. Two people were killed in communal clashes on Tuesday.

Police have been given orders to shoot demonstrators who defy a curfew in the town of Kishtwar, in Jammu.

At least four districts in the valley region - Baramulla, Bandipora, Pulwama and Shopian - remain under curfew for a third consecutive day, a BBC correspondent in Srinagar says.

Kashmir's summer capital, Srinagar, and five other districts were hit by violence on Tuesday.

Anger and shock

Our correspondent says people in many parts of Srinagar came out of their homes before midnight on Tuesday and chanted pro-freedom slogans.

Many of them assembled in mosques where they turned on loudspeakers to relay the slogans.

This followed reports that the police had ransacked some homes in the city, and more than 30 people were injured when paramilitary forces fired at protesters in the valley.

The BBC's Altaf Hussain says there is anger and shock among people in the valley region over what they describe an excessive use of force by the police to break up protest demonstrations
Protests and counter-protests have been taking place for weeks both in the Kashmir valley around Jammu, further south.

The demonstrations in the valley are some of the biggest since a separatist rebellion against Indian rule broke out nearly 20 years ago.

Tensions are rising and threaten peace hopes after years of relative calm. Correspondents say Kashmir is now dangerously polarised by a dispute which began over the control of a small piece of land.

Violent demonstrations began two months ago in the state when a decision to transfer a small area of land to the trust which runs a Hindu shrine provoked an angry Muslim reaction.

When the land transfer was abandoned, groups from the state's Hindu minority began furious protests of their own.

POPE PILGRIMS SEEK AUSTRALIA HOME

2008-08-17T03:39:00.000-07:00

About 20 Catholic pilgrims, in Australia since the July visit of Pope Benedict XVI, have applied for asylum, a refugee support group said.

Experts say more visitors are expected to seek asylum as their visas, many of them valid for three months, expire.

Applicants were mainly from African countries, including Zimbabwe, and Pakistan, said Asylum Seekers Centre director Tamara Domicelj.

More than 100,000 pilgrims attended World Youth Day led by the Pope.
"At this stage we've had about 20 people present to us as identified pilgrims indicating they're needing to seek protection in Australia," Ms Domicelj told reporters.

"It might well be that at the end of those three months we see a spike in applications for protection," Ms Domicelj said.

Citing individuals from Cameroon, Burundi, Kenya and elsewhere, Ms Domicelj told Reuters: "We are seeing utter destitution, we see malnutrition, we are seeing depression, we see homelessness. People are coming to us from a place of crisis."

More expected

Rights watchdog Amnesty International said more pilgrims are likely to seek asylum once special three-month visitor visas expired. An estimated 3,000 were still in the country.

"There are still a number of people in the community who came out during World Youth Day. There is certainly an expectation that some will decide to seek asylum rather that return," Amnesty International refugee co-ordinator Graham Thom said.

The new Australian government led by Kevin Rudd overturned his predecessor John Howard's stringent immigration policies last month. Mandatory detention in special immigration jails forced many asylum seekers into years behind razor wire awaiting refugee visas.

Detention is now only allowed for people who pose a risk to the community.

A spokesman for the Department of Immigration could not confirm whether any World Youth Day visitors were seeking asylum but said most pilgrims had been given three-month visas.

He said all applications for asylum from the pilgrims would be treated on merit.

MILLIONS JOIN ANTI-TERRORISM CALL

2008-08-16T03:28:00.000-07:00

Millions of people in Pakistan have signed up to a campaign started by a man from Warwickshire to make a pledge against terrorism, he has said.

Writer Waseem Mahmood, from Stratford-upon-Avon, said he set up the campaign after hearing his children say young Muslims were misinterpreting Islam.

The project, called the Yeh Hum Naheen Foundation, meaning "this is not us", is funded by donations and UN grants.

It has been publicised across Pakistan by billboards and a pop song.

A total of 6,000 volunteers have been employed to help collect signatures from across the country, asking people to sign to say they do not support terrorism.

'Very moving'

A group of Pakistan's most popular singers released a song encouraging people to sign the petition, and other personalities, including soap stars, also joined the campaign.

Mr Mahmood, who has family links to Pakistan, said out of the country's population of 162 million people, a total of 50 million had already signed the petition.

He said: "It is very moving to see them. It gets me there.
"I didn't expect that much support here (Pakistan).

"I knew we would get a few million people here, but 50 million - it's almost as if we've given them something they were waiting for."

Mr Mahmood said he hoped it would make a difference to British Muslims too.

"As we know the 7/7 bombers all had links back here (Pakistan).

"A lot of young Muslims are coming back here and I think we need to address the cause of terrorism - and the root cause is here."

VANDALISED CHURCH PARTLY RESTORED

2008-08-15T03:24:00.000-07:00

A medieval church in Leicester which was vandalised two months ago has been cleaned up.

Vandals broke into St Margaret's Church on 15 June, damaging wooden altars and panelling, art deco paintings, a stained-glass window and candlesticks.

The 13th Century church has since been cleaned and will now feature in a series of guided walks through the city's historic sites.

Canon Barry Naylor said the superficial damage had been repaired.

"We have worked really hard to get the church cleaned up and to ensure that church life and worship would continue and not be disrupted by this incident.

"All the superficial damage has been sorted out, and the main structure of the church, along with much of its beauty and splendour, is still here for visitors to enjoy," he said.

'Encouraging' recovery

He added that the broken stained glass window, a smashed glass panel covering medieval stonework and some painted plaster panels still needed to be restored.

The organ is being repaired at a cost of around £9,000.

St Margaret's Church will be one of the main attractions on a series of tours to highlight Leicester's medieval heritage.

Visitors will be shown around the church on 25 August, as part of the Castle Park Heritage and Arts Festival.

Leicester City Council's cabinet member for culture and leisure Andy Connelly said: "It is very encouraging to see that this church has recovered from the vandalism it has suffered."

AUTHOR'S NOVEL INVITATION TO HOME

2008-08-14T02:49:00.000-07:00

A 93-year-old woman who has had her first novel published has bought a house in Devon so she can help friends stay out of nursing homes.

Lorna Page has moved from Surrey to the five-bedroom house in Weare Giffard, near Torrington. She has one friend staying with her already.

Her son, Robin, and his wife are also sharing the home and providing support.

The author said she wanted to buy other properties so more people could live with her in dignity.

She hopes the book's royalties will pay enough so her friends do not have to move into nursing homes, something she dreads.

'Not living'

She said: "It's pathetic. It seems to me that in those places people just spend their time alone in one room and people come in and give them food.

"Either that or they just go down to a room and sit at the edge of it. They don't seem to talk to each other at all, they're just sort of there. That's not living."

Mrs Page wrote her book, A Dangerous Weakness, three years ago.

She did not get it published until her daughter-in-law found the manuscript, read it, and convinced her to send it to a publisher.

TH CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS

2008-08-11T03:07:00.000-07:00

In the spring of 1820, Joseph Smith Jr. retired to the woods near his home in Palmyra, New York, and offered a simple prayer to our Father in Heaven. This humble prayer set into motion a series of events that brought forth The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from its obscure beginnings in upstate New York to a worldwide church. The introductory resources assembled here tell this story.

The Restoration of Truth
God is your loving Heavenly Father
God is your Father in Heaven (Matthew 6:9). We call God Heavenly Father because He is the Father of our spirits and we are created in His image ( Genesis 1:27).

God has a body that looks like yours, though His body is immortal, perfected, and has a glory beyond description. He knows you personally and loves you more than you can comprehend. To help you find happiness in this life and guide you to return to live with Him, Heavenly Father provided a plan called the gospel? of Jesus Christ, a guide based on the life and teachings of His Son, Jesus Christ.

From the beginning, Heavenly Father has called prophets? to testify, record His word, and provide His plan for His children on the earth. The teachings of prophets are found in sacred? books called scriptures? ( Amos 3:7).

Your Heavenly Father knows you and loves you and wants to help you return to Him. Your life on Earth is part of His plan for you to gain a body, learn, grow, and find joy. Sometimes life is hard, lonely, or frightening, but your Heavenly Father is always there. He sorrows when you suffer and rejoices when you do what is right. He wants to communicate with you as you sincerely pray to Him, and He stands ready to give you comfort, peace, and guidance in your life.

Jesus Christ taught that you must know the only true God to have eternal life ( John 17:3). As His child, you must know who He is and what He is like to find greater peace and joy, both in this life and in the life to come.

SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST

2008-08-10T03:03:00.000-07:00

As a Christian church, Seventh-day Adventists are a faith community rooted in the beliefs described by the Holy Scriptures. Adventists describe these beliefs in the following ways:

God's greatest desire is for you to see a clear picture of His character. When you see Him clearly, you will find His love irresistible.

For many, "seeing God clearly" requires that they see God's face. However, how He looks is not the issue. Seeing and understanding His character is what's most important. The more clearly we understand Him, the more we will find His love irresistible. As we begin to experience His love, our own lives will begin to make more sense.

God most clearly reveals His character in three great events. The first is His creation of man and woman--and His giving them the freedom of choice. He created humans with the ability to choose to love Him or to hate Him! The death of Jesus Christ, God's only Son, on the cross as our substitute is the second great event. In that act He paid the penalty we deserve for our hateful choices toward God and His ways. Jesus' death guarantees forgiveness for those choices and allows us to spend eternity with Him. The third event confirms the first two and fills every heart with hope: Christ's tomb is empty! He is alive, living to fill us with His love!

Jesus' disciple John wrote that if everyone wrote all the stories they knew about Jesus, the whole world could not contain them. Our knowledge of God helps us understand His love, character, and grace. Experiencing that love begins a lifelong adventure in growth and service. This knowledge and experience powers our mission to tell the world about His love and His offer of salvation.

Scripture is a road map. The Bible is God's voice, speaking His love personally to you today.

The Bible speaks the Creator's directions to us, like a detailed road map that clearly shows the exit ramp directly into heaven. It is also much like an owner's manual for a life ready to be lived on the cutting edge of liberty.

Sometimes His voice speaks through stories, such as those of David and Goliath, Ruth and Boaz, Naaman's little servant girl, Christ on the cross, and fisherman Peter learning how to tend sheep. Some of these stories teach us how to handle the troubles we face each day. Others fill us with hope and peace. Each of them is like a personal letter from God to you.

Portions of Scripture are direct instructions and laws from God such as the Ten Commandments, recorded in Exodus 20. These tell us more about God and His expectations for us. When people asked Jesus to summarize these commands, He focused on the way God's love affects the way we live. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and soul," He said. "And love your neighbor as you love yourself."

On other pages the Bible gives God's practical advice and encouragement through parables, lists, promises, and warnings. Amazingly, though many different writers throughout thousands of years wrote the Bible, each page describes the same God in ways we can understand and apply in our lives today. This book is always His voice talking personally to anyone who is willing to read and hear.

God loves us even when we choose to reject His love. In those times He allows us to walk away into the life of our own choices. Yet He is still there, always ready to redeem us from the results of our decisions.

Jesus is the one who never changes in a universe that always does. Jesus is Creator, Sustainer, Saviour, Friend, God's Son, and God Himself!

Everything in this world is always changing, even our desires, interests, skills, and body shapes. But Jesus? He's consistent. He's always the same. Sure, He's always surprising us and touching our lives in thousands of new and different ways, but His character is unchanging. He's God's Son, the Creator, our Saviour, and Friend.

Jesus has promised to be all of that, and more, for each of us. We can trust His promises because He is God. When the words of Colossians say "in Him all things hold together" (1:17, NIV) that includes everything in our lives. He keeps us whole when the enemy is trying to make us fall apart.

Seventh-day Adventists believe that Jesus is one of the three persons, called the Trinity, who make up our one God. The Bible describes Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit as each being committed to our growth as Christians and to our salvation as their children. They made this salvation possible when Jesus came to Bethlehem as a human baby. He lived a life perfectly in accord with God's will and then died innocently for all of our sins. He was placed in a borrowed tomb, but He came back to life three days later. Now he is in heaven interceding with the Father for us, preparing for our deliverance from sin and death.

When everything may be falling apart, when you feel totally alone in the universe, Jesus is right there in the center of it all, offering personal peace and hope. Allow Him into your life. He immediately begins "remodeling" who you are and how you live. Jesus, in fact, is busily transforming His followers into accurate representatives of God's character.

Look to Jesus, and you'll be looking into the understanding and loving face of God.

God's vision for you is life as He lives it! God loves you, and wants to give you the highest quality of life imaginable.

No, not a second-rate existence somewhere on earth, but the highest quality of life imaginable, here and in eternity with Him! That's what God wants us to have. The best!

This is why He provides church families where we can belong. This is why He gives each of us special gifts and talents, so we can live life fully. Amazingly, this is why He's concerned about what you're doing, when you're doing it, and how you relate to Him. God doesn't want anything to get in the way of our friendship. He especially doesn't want us to get involved in anything damaging or hurtful. He's like a loving father or a good big brother. He's someone who loves you so much that He's always looking out for you.

When God designed you, He included special talents and skills that will help you become a uniquely valuable individual. These may be your ability to teach, your love for others, or your leadership skills. Still, whatever special gifts you have received, God has also provided all of the energy and wisdom necessary for you to use them well.

By the way, how God feels about death is part of the quality life He offers. For followers of Christ, death holds no fear. Remember, Jesus defeated death on Calvary and has given us freedom from death. Cemeteries, then, are filled with followers of God who are in the "peaceful pause before the resurrection." Yes, they are dead, but that death holds no power over their future. Jesus is coming to take them (and those of us who are still living) HOME! Death is almost like a wintery promise of spring.

The Seventh-day Adventist faith in today and in the future comes from seeing this life "overflowing" with hope!

Because love is the key aspect of His character, God is also deeply into gratitude. Before we even finish saying thank you, He's already busy sending more blessings.

In the heart of God is a place you can experience as home. God loves you, and wants to spend time with you personally, one on one, as two close friends.

Because you and God are friends, you will spend time together as friends do. Each morning you'll share a hello and a hug and discuss how you can face the day's events together. Throughout the day you'll talk with Him about how you feel. You'll laugh with Him at funny things and ache with Him over sadness and hurts. It's pleasant being God's friend, able to snuggle comfortably into the safety of your relationship. You can always trust Him to treat you well, because He loves you.

The seventh day (Saturday) is an extra-special part of the relationship. The Bible, from Genesis through Revelation, describes the seventh day as the one day God has set aside for focused fellowship with His people. God has named that day "Sabbath" and asked us to spend it with Him. "Remember the sabbath day," He says, "to keep it holy." The Sabbath is a whole day to deepen our friendship with the Creator of the universe! A day when we're together, Jesus with us and us with Jesus.

There's another great truth about friendship with God. It doesn't end in a cemetery, for God is planning a homecoming better than anything we can dream. A homecoming filled with angels, trumpets, Jesus, and resurrections! He's promised to bring His followers, those who have accepted the offer of His life-changing love, from this earth to His home, a place He calls heaven. A place where our friendship can go on growing forever, endlessly, joyfully!

God keeps a family album-and your picture is in it. God loves you and has a plan for your life.
God's love is about you. Personally.

God made you and has a very special plan for your life. It's a plan that will fill you with hope, love, peace, and activity. In fact, when Christ paid the penalty for sin on the cross, that gave Him the right to claim you as His own. As a result, you can experience His love and priceless salvation freely and fully without limit.

By the way, pictures of everyone fill that album: Nepalese, Brazilians, Nigerians, Yupiks, Germans, people of every nation, culture, background, gender, hair color, and foot size. In God's eyes all are equally "children of the King"!

Salvation? God cleans away all our sins and replaces them with His goodness. We don't have to be "good" for Him to accept us. Nevertheless, we must accept His promise and allow Him to clean out everything the enemy has left in us. Then we begin to experience the transforming power of His love. It's like a giant war: one side pulling us toward empty pleasure and destruction, and God urging us to accept His offer of peace and purpose.

Remember, Jesus has already won the war. He is victorious! We celebrate His victory in our lives when we participate in the Lord's Supper. This meal includes three symbols:

Foot washing (which symbolizes our commitment to love others as Jesus loves us),
bread ("This bread is my flesh," Jesus said, "which I will give for the life of the world," John 6:51, NIV), and
wine or grape juice ("Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life." John 6:54, NIV)
To help us understand how God can transform us into His children, Jesus modeled the process of baptism for us. Baptism symbolized dying to self and coming alive in Jesus. Seventh-day Adventists practice full immersion baptism because by being fully buried beneath the water we symbolize that God's grace fully fills us with His new life for the future. Through baptism we are truly born again in Jesus.

Eternal life, peace, purpose, forgiveness, transforming grace, hope: Everything He promises is ours, because He's offering it and He's shown we can trust Him to do exactly as He promises. Accept His gifts, and you immediately become an active part of His family, and He joyfully becomes part of yours.

A LITTLE INFORMATION ABOUT JOHN WESLEY OF THE WESLEY CHURCH

2008-08-09T01:02:00.000-07:00

John and Charles Wesley were born in Epworth, Lincolnshire, into the large family of Samuel and Susanna Wesley (of about nineteen children, three sons and seven daughters survived). Both parents were devout and strongminded people.

Samuel had been raised in a Dissenting academy, but became a high church Anglican and was Rector of the parish at Epworth. He was a man of faith and spoke of ‘the inward witness' as ‘the strongest proof of Christianity.'

Susanna Wesley, who seems to have had a considerable influence over John, raised and educated her enormous family with great competence and discipline – the children had 6 hours of home schooling a day. She also found time, during one of Samuel's absences, to set up a Sunday afternoon house group in the rectory kitchen, which eventually attracted 200 people.

Samuel had a turbulent relationship with his flock and when in 1709 the rectory was destroyed by fire, some speculated that disgruntled parishioners might have been responsible.

John Wesley, who was six at the time of the fire, was caught in the house but was rescued from an upstairs window. This gave rise to a belief in his family that he had been spared for some special purpose, and later John used to refer to himself as ‘a brand plucked from the burning'. This literal event was a powerful image of having been saved ‘from the wrath to come'.

ST. JOHN'S ANGLICAN CATHEDRAL OF BELIZE

2008-08-08T01:18:00.000-07:00

The Diocese of Belize serves as the Anglican Church home for the people of Belize, the new Central American nation in the heart of the Caribbean.

Established in 1883 as a member of the Church of the Province of the West Indies, today the Diocese is comprised of 31 churches spread throughout the country, and is engaged in missionary outreach on a national and international scale. In partnership with the government, we also operate 20 schools across the country.

MISSION STATEMENT:

To help all our members seek Jesus as the Christ and discover the authority within us so as to:

Be faithful stewards of the church and of God's creation.
To be in fellowship and partnership with all other Christian denominations, bodies, governments and states in creating a nation to love God, and love our neighbors as ourselves.
To be an open, growing, nurturing and worshiping community of faith for all of our multi-racial and multi-ethnic society.
To proclaim the Gospel of Christ through meaningful programs, to seek the root causes and address crime, violence and other social challenges of the nation.
History of the Anglican Diocese of Belize

In some sense, to understand the history of the Anglican Church in Belize, one has to look back to the Indian tribes of the Moskito (or Mosquito) Shore in the mid-eighteenth century. After repeated appeals by the Rev. Mr. Peat, Rector of Jamestown, Jamaica, the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts (SPG) sent a succession of missionaries to work among the Indians. Thsi started sometime after 1747 with the Rev. Nathan Prince. Many of these missionaries did not fair well, succumbing to the harsh conditions and dying shortly after arrival in the region.

The Early Chaplains to the Belize Settlement
The Moskito Coast Mission received the Rev. Robert Shaw in 1774. However, in 1776, due to illness and inability to bear the climate there, Shaw was forced to return to England--being replaced by the Rev. William Standord. On his way from the Moskito Coast, Shaw made a stop in the Belize settlement (the 'Bay Settlement') which then comprised of British buccaneers living on St George's Caye, located a few miles offshore the mainland. Shaw stayed on to become the first chaplain of the Belize settlement.

Shaw's chaplaincy was interrupted by a Spanish invastion in 1779 from which Shaw escaped to the Moskito Shore. The public records make no mention of a permanent chaplain between the late 1780s and 1794. Ecclesiastical functions were carried out by the magistrates during this period.

In March 1794, Rev. William Stanford was appointed as chaplain. By this time the settlement had moved to the mainland, developing into what became known as Belize Town (today's Belize City). Despite early confrontations with the settlers and Superintendent, Stanford later became a Police Magistrate. This was a full-time administrative and judicial office in the local government and a most influential position. In 1803, by resolution of the magistrates, and through the efforts of Stanford, public funds were used to support the chaplaincy.

Between 1776 and 1810, the two chaplains (Shaw and Stanford) were more involved in the affairs concerning the government of the settlements than to that of the Church. They were more social stabilizers than evangelists. Yet partly due to their efforts and a growing sense of permanence among the settlers, the settlement was preparing to build a church building, call a rector and establish a school by 1810. on the twentieth of July, 1812, that the foundation stone of what was to become St John's Cathedral was laid by the then Superintendent, Lt. Colonel John Nugent Smyth. By 1817 the magistrates were petitioning for assistance for the completion of the building. in 1818 the SPG approved $200 for the project.

The Evangelical Influence
Around this time the Rev. John Armstrong arrived to replace Standford as the third chaplain of the settlement. His arrival was to produce remarkable changes in the relationship between the Church and the community at large. Armstrong was the product of the Wesleyan-initiated Evangelical Awakening that was taking place in England. Armstrong thus marked the start of the evangelical influence in Belize.

Two years later, in 1814, when the settlement received its new Superintendent in the person of George Arthur, the evangelical influence intensified. Arthur was also an Evangelical Anglican with very strong Calvinist views. He and Armstrong embarked upon a program to reform the society much to the disgust of many of the settlers. He condemned their drunkenness, immorality, cruelty to the slaves and the injustice of their courts.

Armstrong and Arthur did not always agree on certain issues of government, however. Arthur's constant meddling in Armstrong's work often created tensions between them. Yet both men were driven by similar religious convictions. They did their best to advance the work of the Church in the settlement by erecting chapels and opening schools. Armstrong periodically expressed his desire to extend his ministry to the Indians near the settlement and at the Moskito Shore, but was never able to pursue this goal.

By 1825 the evangelical influence had all but come to an end following the departure of Arthur and Armstrong, and thanks to the efforts of the majority of the settlers. Arthur was replaced by General Edward Codd, and Armstrong by the Rev. Dr. Matthew Newport in 1824. Newport was 'a high Churchman of the old eighteenth century type' who believed in the historic orthodoxy of the Church. His determination to return to traditional Anglicanism characterized the approach to his chaplaincy. He was to make the settlement his home for the next thirty six years.

Under the Jurisdiction of the Diocese of Jamaica
On the thirteenth of April, 1826, St. John's Cathedral was consecrated by the Rt. Rev. Christopher Lipscombe, Bishop of Jamaica. He had earlier, in July 1824, been consecrated and appointed to the Jamaican See with jurisdiction over the Church in the Belize settlement, with state-supplied stipends for two clergymen. His visit marked the first such visit of a bishop to the Belize settlement.

This relationship with the Diocese of Jamaica proved beneficial for the Church in the Bay Settlement. A grant from the SPG's Negro Instruction Fund was secured for the erection of a school at Belize Town as part of the effort to provide education for the slaves who were now legally free. SPG missionaries could now also be sent from Jamaica to Belize, such as the Rev. Charles Mortlock in 1844--the first in over forty years.

The expansion of Belize Town to the north in the mid-1800s necessitated the construction of a second church building. A small wooden building was erected on the north side of the town dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin. It was consecrated by Bishop Aubrey George Spencer of Jamaica in 1852.

The Bishop of Jamaica in 1862 sought the support of the SPG in a scheme for the establishment of a mission in Northern British Honduras. By 1868 the bishop was able to send the Rev. A. T. Giolme to Corozal.

Disestablishment

On the second of August, 1872, the Anglican Church in British Honduras was disestablished following that of Jamaica in 1870. Some have suggested that by this time the prominence of the Anglican Church was already on the wane due to internal differences within the Church concerning 'High' and 'Low' church forms of worship; the growing strenth of the non-conformists (primarily Methodist and Baptist); and the arrival of the Roman Catholic Church within the influx of the Yucatan refugees. These developments changed the status of the Church in the settlement which then had to become more self-supporting.

The disestablishment of the Churches in Jamaica and British Honduras also placed both Churches under separate jurisdictions. When the Bishop of Jamaica, the Rt. Rev. R. Courtenay, resigned in 1879, his successor, the Rt. Rev. W. G. Tozer, was separately appointed as Bishop of Honduras, holding the title even after he had resigned the Jamaica See. Tozer's replacement, the Rt. Rev. Enos Nuttal, was then requested by the Archbishop of Canterbury to reorganize the Church in British Honduras. Nuttall succeeded in getting the Colonial Office to make some amendments to the Disestablishment Law thereby securing the property of the Church. During a visit to the colony in 1883, Nuttal was able to supervise the reorganization process.

A Separate Diocese
On the tenth of August, 1883, through Instrument by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Edward White, the Church in Belize was duly constituted into a separate bishopric and diocese. Nuttall of Jamaica continued to exercise jurisdiction over the diocese until 1891.

An Extended Diocese
The Venerable Archdeacon Henry Redmayne Holme was consecrated first bishop of British Honduras in St. Michael's Cathedral, Barbados, on the first of March 1891. This was the first such consecration in the West Indies. Holme arrived in the colony on the fourth of April but died shortly thereafter. He was succeeded by George Albert Ormsby whose appointment took place in 1983 with the SPG contributing to his stipend.

A year later, on the tenth of January, 1894, Bishop Ormsby's jurisdiction was extended to include Guatemala, Spanish Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. By 1895 it was further extended to include Panama, Bolivia, Magdalena, Isthmus of Panama, and the City of Panama. Ormsby divided the colony of British Honduras itself into eight large mission districts and had eighteen clergy at work throughout his extended diocese. Grants from the SPG were a great support for these expansions.

Ormsby was succeeded in 1908 by Herbery Bury. At this time the diocese was reduced by transferring the Isthmus of Panama and all areas south of it to the jurisdiction of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the USA. Bishops to follow Bury included the Rt. Rev. Walter Farrar in 1912, and the Most Rev. Edward Dunn in 1917.

By 1927, Bishop Dunn had ten clergy to serve six countries. Much work was maintained among the Moskito Indians who gave generously to the Church, longing to live under the rule of the Britsh flag, as their ancestors had so done.

The shortage of priests remained, however. In 1930 the Diocese of Derby in England sought to assist by sending priests to work in the Diocese of British Honduras. The Rev. Steven L. Caiger was among the first to go. He first served in British Honduras itself and later in Guatemala. He was followed by the Rev. R. A. Pratt, who later became Archdeacon of Belize.

The 1931 hurricane that devestated the colony caused tremendous damage to church property. The Cathedral, St. Mary's Church, and their respective rectories were seriously damaged. Again the SPG came to the rescue making a grant from the Marriot Bequest. Further depression set in when the United Fruit Company began to suffer serious losses in the 1930s.

Between 1947 and 1957 the diocese was reduced by transferring Panama, El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala to the jurisdiction of the Episcopal Church of the USA. The diocese was now back to its original geographical area of British Honduras.

The Church in its Wider Context
In 1973, when the name British Honduras was changed to Belize, the diocese became known as the Anglican Diocese of Belize. It is one of eight dioceses that constitute the Church in the Province of the West Indies (CPWI) which was formed in 1883. The Anglican Church in Belize is a member of both the Belize Council of Churches (BCC) and the Caribbean Council of Churches (CCC). The Church is also seeking to establish relations with a newly formed Province consisting of Episcopal Diocese of Central American countries.

Starting in 1975, the Belize Diocese established a 'companion relationship' with the Diocese of New York. This was to be followed with similar relationships with the Dioceses of North Carolina (1984-1993), Georgia (1990-1996), and Los Angeles (1996). Today the diocese maintains a relationship with the Diocese of Southern Virginia. These relationships have consisted primarily of exchange programs involving youth groups and other church organizations. There has also been tremendous financial support for the Diocese of Belize as a result of these companion relationships.

The USPG is also active in the diocese.

AN AWESOME PRAYER

2008-08-07T07:47:00.000-07:00

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 that I can hear from You.

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

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 with others. I pray for those who don't believe. But I thank you that I believe.

I believe that You change people and You change things for good reasons. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For each and every one of my family members and friends and their families. 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 You. 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.

TODAY'S WORDS FROM JOEL AND VICTORIA

2008-08-06T07:42:00.000-07:00

Today's Scripture

“ It is an honor for a man to cease from strife ” (Proverbs 20:3)

Today's words from Joel and Victoria
Strife is a very destructive force. It can creep into relationships by starting small, maybe through a comment or a wrong look from someone, and can then escalate into something much bigger. But when you choose to cease from strife and overlook an offense, you are acting honorably, and you are honoring God. How do you avoid strife? The Bible tells us that love covers over many offenses. It means that you give people the benefit of the doubt. You consider what they may be going through over how they reacted to you. Maybe someone was short with you at the office, but they may have a loved one in the hospital, or they may have some other concern. Instead of getting upset, walk in love—be patient, be kind to them. Choose to avoid strife. Look for ways to walk in unity with the people in your life. The Bible says that He has commanded the blessing when we walk and live in unity. Choose unity today and watch the hand of the Lord move mightily on your behalf!

A Prayer for Today

Father God, today I choose Your ways. I invite Your plan to unfold in my life. Help me to avoid strife so I can walk in peace and unity and honor you all the days of my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

YOU CAN ALL HELP THROUGH SENDING THIS INFO AS AN EMAIL TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU KNOW

2008-08-05T07:38:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Reader,
The following email message is of great importance. KINDLY READ, COPY AND PASTE TO YOUR EMAIL AND FORWARD TO AS MANY PERSONS AS YOU CAN SO WE CAN HELP THIS MOTHER TO CARE FOR HER CHILDREN.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL,
Brenda

EMAIL INFO:

Dear Reader

I am a single mother of four kids: ages five, three and a half, 17 months, and a two week old baby girl. God has blessed me with three beautiful, healthy children. Until recently, things were going great for us even though we struggled financially at times (my part-time job was not enough to support us).

Then, the tragedy struck on January 13th. My oldest, Matt, got hit by a car while playing outside. ( The driver was never found - it was a hit and run). After agonizingly long weeks of hospitalization, we did not think he would live but thank god he is alive right now ... but barely. He is still in the hospital in a comatose condition. Doctors say he will be a vegetable for the rest of his life, if he ever comes out of the coma - his brain is too damaged for him to live a normal life. My insurance coverage ran out and I can't afford the hospital bills. Right now, I owe the hospital over $500,000 dollars soo far.

Shortly after the accident happened, my 87-year-old grandmother, with whom I was really close to(she raised me as a child), suffered a stroke and could not live on her own anymore. I took her in.

All of this happened while I was pregnant with Carissa. Therefore, this severe stress that I've been through caused Carissa to be born a premie with Down's syndrome as well as chronic colitis. She is also missing fingernails on her right hand. She is in the hospital as well because she needs to be monitored 24/7. Right now I am at the lowest point of my life. I don't have a job. I'm taking care of three sick family members that are so dear to me, and it is a full time job. I can't afford to pay for my tiny apartment. My car got taken away because I couldn't make the payments, not to mention the debt with the hospital!

I know you are not obligated to do anything. You are free to delete this email without giving it a second thought, but please listen to the cry from a mother's heart! We worked out a deal with AOL where for every 12 forwards I will get 15 cents. Please don't harden your heart. If you can spare the time, then send this email to everyone on your list. This is crucial for our survival!! God bless you all!

Sincerely,

Debbie Shwartz

CON SUERTE ESTA VIVO

2008-08-04T01:57:00.000-07:00

Benjamin Mullany, who is critically ill after he was shot in his hotel on his Caribbean honeymoon, has arrived back in the UK from Antigua.

His air ambulance touched down at Cardiff earlier. The body of his wife Catherine, who was killed in the attack, is being flown back separately.

The couple, from Pontardawe, south Wales, were attacked on Sunday, the last day of their two-week honeymoon.

British officers are to fly to Antigua to help police with the investigation.

Scotland Yard confirmed it was sending a team following a request from Antigua's police commissioner.

A spokeswoman said the team would include one officer from South Wales Police, and would "support the local senior investigating officers".

Bungled robbery

Mr Mullany's flight landed at Cardiff International Airport at 3.40am, several hours later than expected due to "refuelling difficulties".

He was then transferred by ambulance, with a police escort, to Morriston Hospital in Swansea.

Alison Gallagher, senior nurse manager at the hospital, said: "The medical and nursing handover between the clinical team, which accompanied him here, and the intensive care team at Morriston has now taken place.

"Initial medical assessments are now being undertaken by the Morriston staff and it is too soon to give any further details."

Mr Mullany's parents, Marilyn and Cynlais, requested the transfer from the intensive care unit at Antigua's Holberton Hospital.

The body of doctor Catherine Mullany is being accompanied home by her parents.

The couple, both 31, were shot in a suspected bungled robbery at the Cocos Hotel.

On Friday, police commissioner Gary Nelson said the shootings may be linked to another murder which happened about two months ago in a house in the Antiguan capital, St John's.

It also appeared to be a robbery and the young male victim was shot in the back of his head, he said.

Mr Nelson confirmed that Mr Mullany, a trainee physiotherapist, was shot in the back of the head with a handgun.

The bullet remains lodged in his brain and Mr Mullany is in a coma, he added.

Mr Nelson, who was brought in from Canada earlier this year, is in charge of a 350-strong police force which operates with no computers and no crime database, and only one forensics officer.

Police have now questioned 31 people in the investigation, and four people remain in custody.

A reward of £67,000 has been offered for information leading to the conviction of the killer.

AVECES SOLO UN ABRAZO ES SUFICIENTE

2008-08-03T23:43:00.000-07:00

'It's a place I can go for a hug'

Paul Steinberg, BBC News

I don't know what will happen to us when we don't have this safe place to visit."

Eighteen years ago, aged 28, Maria was diagnosed with HIV.

Given just five years to live, she became depressed and lost her job and desperate to escape the negative reactions of her family and friends, she moved from her home-town of Madrid to Brighton.

"I didn't think I'd reach 40. Even when I came here and started working, I felt constantly sick, depressed and lonely."

But almost two decades on, Maria is alive and relatively well and about to enter the final year of her degree in fine art.

Her health has also improved, thanks to anti-retroviral medication.

Closed door
She has benefitted from the emotional and practical support of staff and volunteers at Open Door, a charitable day centre located in a discreet terraced house by the seaside.

It currently assists more than 200 people with HIV and Aids from across Sussex.

But the centre, which began its work in the mid-1980s at the height of the Aids crisis, is set to close this autumn.

It is not the only such service under threat. Others are closing or merging, which campaigners say is a sign of the changing nature of the HIV epidemic in the UK.

As drug therapies improve the prognosis of people with HIV, and the provision of support services takes lower priority.

For regular clients like Maria, however, the closure makes no sense

"With the statistics showing HIV infection increasing in Brighton, it seems crazy to close it down."

People who use the centre have written to the Diocese of Chichester, which owns the premises, as well as to local HIV commissioners and MPs, urging them to intervene in the planned closure.

Maria said: "I've used this service for almost a decade. One time I came in for lunch and I felt out of sorts, but thought I was just having a bad day.

"As soon as the staff saw me, they knew something was wrong. They arranged for an emergency taxi to the hospital as I was so ill. So many times, they've saved my life."

With HIV costs soaring as a result of effective - but expensive - combination drug therapy, health commissioners are being forced to make difficult decisions about funding for services like Open Door.

'I'm not judged'

But Maria said: "Just because we have drugs now, it doesn't mean we're not suffering. Sometimes I just need a hug."

"This is the only place I've found people who care about me and don't judge me for being HIV positive.

"I can be myself without worrying about people's reactions, and it's where I get the help, love and support I need to stay alive.

"Just being able to talk to other people in the same situation can be as helpful as seeing a counsellorOriginally set up in his home by the late Reverend Marcus Riggs, Open Door has continued under the auspices of the Diocese of Chichester, funded by the NHS and Brighton City Council.

But, announcing its closure, the diocese said there had been a decline in demand for such drop-in services.

Reverend Barry North, from the diocese, said: "The decision to close is very regrettable, but the demand for services has changed, as the nature of living with HIV has also changed.

"Open Door tried to respond to this challenge over recent years, but it was increasingly clear that the current set-up was not suitable twenty years on."

It had originally been decided to move the project to new premises, but in the end the costs involved were deemed to be too high.

'Still ignorant'

Maria says this is short-sighted.

"All the emphasis in recent years has been on us going back to work and study.

"That's fine, but we still need support when we're having problems with our health or finances.

"If they only run a drop-in one day each month, it's very difficult to fit that in around other commitments."

And she said support was harder to find when someone had HIV.

"If you go to a supermarket and feel dizzy, you can tell people 'I have cancer' and they'll be sympathetic.

"But if you tell them you have HIV, they'll run away. People think you're a potential bomb just waiting to go off and infect them.

"Even in the 21st century, the world is so ignorant of HIV."
Changes in the way people demand and access services like Open Door reflect developments in the progress of HIV care in the UK. In the 1980s and early 1990s, gay men were the main group of patients with HIV infection.

When Open Door started, it offered a safe meeting place and counselling as well as practical help with things like laundry.

Since then, the so-called 'imported epidemic' of HIV-positive people from sub-Saharan Africa coming to live in the UK as well as effective drug treatments, have meant that services have had to adapt to the needs of increasingly diverse groups.

Now Open Door has to provide services ranging from interpreters to powdered milk for HIV positive mothers to give their babies.

Continued support

Robin Brady, chief executive of Crusaid, which provides funds to HIV organisations said: "Over the years, as the profile of HIV has changed, there has been a shift in the way services are delivered.

"We have to do something about the increasing level of new diagnoses we're seeing every year."

Reverend North said he hoped to continue providing some essential services in Brighton, particularly those targeted at asylum seekers and refugees with no recourse to public funds, and he said other organisations in the area should take over some of Open Door's work.

But Maria is less hopeful.

"We've written letters of protest but nothing has changed. It's as if the church has closed its doors on us without providing much alternative. It's a sad end to a great service."

The BBC's health correspondent, Jane Dreaper, will be reporting from the 17th International AIDS conference in Mexico throughout next week.