Five Reasons To Celebrate Advent

Last updated on: December 11, 2024 at 10:57 am By Alice H. Murray

In December, Christmas is uppermost in most Americans’ minds. While busy counting down the days until the holiday, buying gifts, and attending parties, believers often miss out on experiencing what leads up to Christmas. They overlook the sacred time on many faith calendars preceding Christmas known as Advent. Not familiar with it? Take a few minutes to learn more about and to consider five reasons to celebrate Advent. What’s Advent? In many churches Advent is a four-week season spent in... Read more

Stewardship or Earthly Riches? El Salvador Decides

Last updated on: December 4, 2024 at 12:20 pm By Alice H. Murray

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To dig or not to dig. That is the question facing El Salvador’s government. The country’s president proposes lifting the ban on gold mining which has been in place for several years. The lure of economic benefit from mining gold calls for utilizing the country’s resource to better itself. But the Catholic Church believes resulting environmental harm calls for leaving the current ban in place. Stewardship or earthly riches? El Salvador must decide. El Salvador Basics El Salvador is the... Read more

Five Reasons For Giving Thanks For Adoption

Last updated on: November 26, 2024 at 10:52 am By Alice H. Murray

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Besides being the month in which Thanksgiving falls, November also serves as National Adoption Month. President Clinton announced that designation in 1995, and the recognition continues in 2024. Even if people have never been personally touched by adoption, they can express thanks for the process. Five reasons for giving thanks for adoption allow the combination of recognizing adoption and identifying things to be thankful for during November. What’s Adoption? Adoption is a legal process which creates a parent-child relationship between... Read more

Modern Canterbury Tale: Abuse Scandal Ousts Archbishop

Last updated on: November 19, 2024 at 11:48 am By Alice H. Murray

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With an archbishop’s resignation submitted November 12th, the position of head of the Church of England is now open. Fueled by the fallout from a sexual abuse scandal, Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, took this unprecedented step. Sadly, a modern Canterbury tale involving an abuse scandal ousting an archbishop may be what it takes to sharpen the focus on the accountability of church leadership. The Church Of England The Church of England, a Christian denomination, serves as the official church... Read more

The Desirable Biblical Persimmon and the Balm of Gilead

Last updated on: October 18, 2024 at 5:08 pm By Alice H. Murray

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A familiar spiritual beautifully tells us “There Is A Balm In Gilead” While Jesus serves as a figurative balm for the “sin-sick soul,” out of what physical item did the phrase “balm in Gilead” arise? The surprising answer involves the much-desired biblical persimmon. Gilead: A Geographical Place Gilead was an actual location. The name refers to a region east of the Jordan River with a fertile and mountainous topography. The spices and ointments it produced gave Gilead its claim to fame.... Read more

The Blessing Of The Animals God Blessed Us With

Last updated on: October 15, 2024 at 6:45 pm By Alice H. Murray

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In the beginning God created the world. He filled it with birds of the air, sea life, and animals that crawled on the ground. After making the animals, God created man and put him in charge of them. One way for humans to care for animals involves seeking God’s blessing on them. This request may be made by taking part in a formal service called The Blessing of the Animals. Animals In The US Pets comprise a huge portion of... Read more

All Time Best-Selling Book Is Likely Found In Your Home

Last updated on: October 6, 2024 at 6:28 pm By Alice H. Murray

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A familiar TV ad queries, “What’s in your wallet?’ A better question to answer is “What’s on your bookshelf ?” Surprisingly, the world’s all time best-selling book is likely found in your home. That book? The Bible, at least according to Guinness World Records. Best-Seller Lists Aren’t best-sellers found on best-seller lists though? The Bible isn’t identified on any lists readers typically check. How can the Good Book be #1 if it’s not even listed on a weekly best-seller list?... Read more

Israel And Lebanon’s Hezbollah The Next War?

Last updated on: September 29, 2024 at 9:56 pm By Alice H. Murray

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A war on the horizon? The Middle East offers a likely spot for the next one to break out. Tensions are boiling over between Israel and its northern adversary, Hezbollah, based in Lebanon. So far, trading missile strikes has been the extent of their military engagements. But Israel’s targeted killing of the paramilitary’s longtime group leader, Hassan Nasrallah, may push the adversaries over the edge to war between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. What’s Hezbollah? Both a political party and a... Read more

China Finally Frees US Pastor From Jail

Last updated on: September 20, 2024 at 7:45 am By Alice H. Murray

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A US pastor held for almost twenty years in a Chinese jail is now savoring physical freedom. A combination of continued prayer by many Christians and US diplomatic efforts resulted in David Lin’s becoming a free man on September 15th. Although it’s good news when China frees a US pastor from jail, the country’s religious oppression makes it likely future detainments will occur. The Detained US Pastor The newly released pastor is 68 year old David Lin from Orange... Read more

Apache Ask Supreme Court To Preserve Their Religious Freedom

Last updated on: September 13, 2024 at 5:30 pm By Alice H. Murray

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Besides remembrance of the 9/11 attacks, another important event occurred this month on September 11th. A request to for the United States Supreme Court to accept an appeal was filed. The case’s object? Preserving Apache religious freedom. What threat to their religion are these Native Americans facing? A proposed copper mine would destroy land they consider sacred. The Sacred Land A site in Arizona’s Tonto National Forest known as Oak Flat serves as ground zero for the controversy. Forty miles east... Read more

What kind of animal did Jesus ride into Jerusalem?