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Saint John ~ The Holy Apostle who Lived with Our Lady

Now beside the cross of Jesus stood His mother, His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. So when...

What is the Thorn in Paul’s side?

What does it Teach Us about Suffering? 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Because of the extraordinary greatness...

10 Inspirational Bible Characters

The bible has the most exciting books. According to numerous findings, no book has sold ever sold copies than the bible. And one of...

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Saint John ~ The Holy Apostle who Lived with Our Lady

Now beside the cross of Jesus stood His mother, His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. So when...

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Saint John ~ The Holy Apostle who Lived with Our Lady

Now beside the cross of Jesus stood His mother, His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. So when...

What is the Thorn in Paul’s side?

What does it Teach Us about Suffering? 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Because of the extraordinary greatness...
Character

10 Inspirational Bible Characters

The bible has the most exciting books. According to numerous findings, no book has sold ever sold copies than the bible. And one of...
Hungry Ghosts

The Book The Siren Call Of Hungry Ghosts

During the course of his five year research, Fisher was lead to becoming a regular attender with a gathering of people interested in paranormal...
Wicca

“Christian Wicca” The Ultimate Oxymoron!

In recent times, with the gaining popularity of the Wiccan and neo-pagan religions, there have been some attempts to reconcile Wicca with Christianity. For...

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Saint John ~ The Holy Apostle who Lived with Our Lady

Now beside the cross of Jesus stood His mother, His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. So when Jesus saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own household.

~John 19: 25-27~

Which, of the Holy Apostles, Would you Choose to Meet?

If you could meet any one of the twelve Holy Apostles, who would you choose? We know that the original twelve walked with Jesus. And it is fair to conclude that each man had a different personality, and, although they all loved Him, saw Our Lord through different eyes. So, each apostle would probably tell you something different about Him; about what He taught them, and, most importantly, about their love for Him and their willingness to be martyred for following and obeying Him.

Although we know little about some, we can get a fair picture of most of the apostles by reading the Gospels and Epistles. Considering this, who would you choose to meet?

And from that hour the disciple took her into his own household.

A wise theologian once told me, “Mathew, Mark, and Luke told the story. John explained it.”

We know that the first three Gospels are synoptic but John’s Gospel is quite different. Theologians and scholars offer much information about the differences in John’s Gospel; events, styles of Jesus’ teachings, etc.

We are told that Saint John lived for about ninety-four years. He was the youngest of the twelve and was probably about eighteen years old at the time of the crucifixion.

It is believed that Mary was about forty-seven when Jesus was crucified and she was about sixty years old when she was assumed into Heaven. Considering these ages, we can conclude that Saint John lived with and cared for Our Lady for about thirteen years, from about eighteen to thirty years of age. These are impressionable years for a young man, especially considering and adding to them, the three years he spent with Our Lord.

Can You Imagine?

Let us now go back to my original question, “If you could meet any one of the twelve Holy Apostles, who would you choose?”

As a woman with a deep devotion to Mary, I would not have to think twice about the answer. Of course, I would want to meet Saint John! Can you imagine the insight he was given to Our Lord by His mother? He lived with her as she grieved for Him. He lived with her sorrowful heart and she probably shared much with him. Can you imagine spending thirteen years of your life, on earth, with the mother of God? Imagine the stories she told, the memories she shared; memories of His childhood, the years between His teaching the elders in the temple (at twelve years old) and beginning His ministry at thirty. We know nothing about these years but Our Lady knew everything, and she most likely shared much with John. 

I don’t know that scholars have attributed this to any of the differences in John’s Gospel but it seems to me that, in living with Mary, Saint John would have come to a spiritual love and a deeper understanding of Jesus, the Godman; an insight only a mother could give. Of course, his Gospel would be different. He prayed with the mother of Our Lord. He comforted her, cared for her, walked with her, and shared with her for thirteen years.

So, yes! If I could spend time with any one of the twelve holy apostles, it would be John the Beloved. 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.


~John 1: 1-5

https://www.suscopts.org/mightyarrows/vol7_no2/stjohthebeloved.pdf

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+19&version=NAS

Marilyn Nash for the HolyApostles.com.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/m-nash-b2067b14/

Featured image credit: https://www.oceansbridge.com/shop/art-collections/virgin-mary/the-crucifixion-detail-virgin-mary-st-john-evangelist-and-st

What is the Thorn in Paul’s side?

What does it Teach Us about Suffering?

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Because of the extraordinary greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself!  Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me.  And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

What is the thorn in Paul’s side?

Throughout the centuries, theologians have speculated about the thorn in Paul’s side. Some believe that it is enemies of the Christian Church, while others believe it is guilt or depression. Considering Paul’s persecution of the Church, it is reasonable to conclude that, although he knew well Our Lord’s forgiveness, his past would still continue to haunt him. Some suggest that the thorn was sensual temptation and many have concluded that it was a form of physical illness.

There are probably many other theories, but let us ask ourselves if what this thorn is, is actually less significant than why it was given to Paul and, more importantly, what does it teach us.

Humility

Paul wrote, “Because of the extraordinary greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself……”  The expression, Pride comes before a fall, is quite fitting for those of us who have suffered or are suffering. We have all witnessed a person who exalts himself, believing he has achieved all of his accomplishments with help from no one; giving credit to no one other than himself, but we witness that same person when he is suffering and comes to realize that he needs others to help him. Perhaps, Paul, recalling his past, believed that he was given this thorn to keep him from falling into the sin of pride again. And, in sharing this, he is warning us against exalting ourselves.

 “Dear brothers and sisters, I pray God may open your eyes and let you see what hidden treasures he bestows on us in the trials from which the world thinks only to flee. Shame turns into honor when we seek God’s glory. Present affliction becomes the source of heavenly glory.”

~Saint John of Avila~

 My Grace is Sufficient for You

Is His grace sufficient for us?

Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me.  And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”

Paul pleaded with God to take this thorn from him but God said, “No.  My grace is enough for you.”  When we reflect upon it, we come to understand that God’s grace goes far beyond sufficient. It is abounding. God’s grace overflows. It is pure love. It is a divine love not comprehensible to our human minds.

When we are suffering, it is difficult to find comfort in God’s response to Paul but given the choice, we would not trade His grace for relief from our pain.  

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.  ~Psalm 34:18~

 “If only mortals would learn how great it is to possess divine grace, how beautiful, how noble, how precious. How many riches it hides within itself, how many joys and delights! No one would complain about his cross or about troubles that may happen to him, if he would come to know the scales on which they are weighed when they are distributed to men.”

~Saint Rose of Lima~

 Power is Perfected in Weakness

“…for power is perfected in weakness,” God tells Paul that through his suffering, he becomes strong. When we look back at our lives and recall the sufferings we have endured, we often can see the lessons we learned from our trials. I truly believe that, although we do not understand His reasons at the time, we must come to accept that our sufferings are redemptive and, in that redemption, lies the lessons and the light. Paul knew this and he wanted us to know it.   

So that the Power of Christ May Dwell in Me

Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  We see that Paul, struggling with the thorn in his side, chose not to complain but rather to boast about his suffering. And he tells us what some of these sufferings are when he writes, “Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” 

“The road is narrow. He who wishes to travel it more easily must cast off all things and use the cross as his cane. In other words, he must be truly resolved to suffer willingly for the love of God in all things.”

~Saint John of the Cross~

 So, we thank Saint Paul for this lesson. There is so much suffering in our world today. Homelessness, poverty, sickness, and grief are only a few in the litany. Each day we witness broken heartedness and sufferings on some level and we question why. I question why but I know it is not for me to question God. I know that I must recall what He told Paul. “My grace is sufficient for you.”

“Without the burden of afflictions, it is impossible to reach the height of grace.  The gift of grace increases as the struggle increases.”

~Saint Rose of Lima~

“If only mortals would learn how great it is to possess divine grace, how beautiful, how noble, how precious. How many riches it hides within itself, how many joys and delights! No one would complain about his cross or about troubles that may happen to him if he would come to know the scales on which they are weighed when they are distributed to men.”

~Saint Rose of Lima~

https://www.catholicgallery.org/quotes/saints-quotes-on-suffering/

https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/thorn.cfm

 Marilyn Nash for www.holyart.com.

Choosing The Best Slot Games Like Fluffy Favourites

We aren’t all about bashing the bible sometimes we like to sitback and relax on some slot games like Fluffy Favourites. The fluffy favourites series is one of the most popular games in the entire Slots Games market. So if you want to play today then check out the video below. More and more casinos are launching with the fluffy favourites serious see here: https://europeangaming.eu/portal/press-releases/2019/02/11/38581/mrq-com-wins-best-proprietary-bingo-software-award/

What is the slot machine?

The diversion of slot machines is played using slot machines and is well known in the United States and in different areas. The slot machine or poker machine can be characterized as a casino diversion machine with at least three shots and a liver added to the side of the machine. Slot machines will be machines that work with coins. At the moment the liver is pulled, the inherent drums rotate and the images appear on the reels when they stop accordingly. The slot machines have turned out to be celebrated in the casinos as a betting fun. However, at this point, individuals are much more interested in online slots games. The customer can experience a similar fervor and satisfaction while playing in the web slot machines while playing in the usual casino games. The individual does not require exceptional learning or skills to play online slots. The fun of online slots is an absolutely modified deviation for PC in which numbers are established indiscriminately. At the moment the player touches the pivot catch referenced on the entertainment PC, he rotates the reels and, when it ceases, several images appear identified with this numbered disposition produced with the product that creates irregular help numbers. In this cutting-edge period, there are some accessible online regional settings that haggle with the fun of online slots. These online sites basically offer a progression of games for customers intrigued by online slots games.

Step by step instructions to choose the best slots games

There are a greater number of slots games than they know, and it is fundamental to most building rules to choose the best online slots machines. There is such a significant number of alternatives for online slot machines that you regularly need to try each of the slots games shown to you. Anyway, in the remote possibility that you do, you will try slots games for all eternity. Therefore, the Palace of Chance casino has some recommendations so you can enjoy good online spaces without much effort. Initially, be sure to choose a summary of the online slots that can intrigue you. Be as explicit as you might expect in these circumstances, however, leave room for new slots entertainment proposals that you may discover. When you have decided on a part of the online slot themes that may intrigue you, it will be less demanding that you concentrate on the things in your summary. Since you know more clearly which slot machine games you should focus on, it’s a great opportunity to attack your most beloved online casino and examine your online slots determination. Royal residence of Chance offers a wide variety of slot machines with a wide range of themes. It is almost certain that there will be a detour of slots whose theme will captivate you. To do this, the easiest route is to look up data about the particular area on the web. When all is said, the casinos offer a short section that describes the main thought of the theme of online slot machines. In any case, this is the ideal opportunity to exploit innovation and, ideally, see the detour of slots that intrigues you. The review is a short video that indicates how a slot detour works and allows you to see illustrations, movements and highlights. Try not to give up if the online website you chose does not have an alternative to consult, simply read the Internet carefully and try to discover a video of the online area. You will almost certainly discover one and see what the slot machine brings to the table in 1 or 2 minutes. Platy of Chance with the best benefits and a personalized help that will satisfy all your needs.

10 Inspirational Bible Characters

The bible has the most exciting books. According to numerous findings, no book has sold ever sold copies than the bible. And one of the reasons why the bible is an impressive book is because it has inspirational characters. Here are ten inspirational characters from the Holy Bible.

1. Abraham

If you are looking for someone to inspire you on faith, you need to read about Abraham. Abraham was one-hundred years old and Sarah ninety years old when God promised them a son. Even though they were old, they had faith in God that they will have many descendants.

faith

2. Mosses

One inspirational character in the bible is Mosses. He was a man of patience because he led a hopeless generation of Israelites for many years in the wilderness. Even though they could complain and wish they were in Egypt, he patiently waited for the Lord.

3. Elijah

He was a bold and a brave prophet. He stood against the worship of false idols. He was not afraid of the king or the consequences of not worshiping other gods. He did exactly what the Lord wanted him to do.

4. Job

Many times we undergo through challenges and hardships in life. But no one has ever come across to what Job went through. Job lost cattle, servants, and children all in one day. However, he remained strong and had faith in God. Even when his wife suggested that he stop trusting in God, he continued to be strong.

5. Daniel

Another brave man of God was Daniel. He refused to defile himself with the food from the king. Instead, he asked for vegetables and water. He did not fear any man or even death.

6. Paul

         

Before he became Paul, Saul was a persecutor of Christians. He had many Christians killed for several years. However, God chooses him to be influential and one of the most celebrated authors of the bible.

7. Noah

When God told Noah to build an ark, he did exactly what he was told. But do you know Noah was over 500-years old? Even though his sons helped him, it took more than 50-years to build the entire ark. Besides, they needed to have food, animals and other necessities in the ark.

8. Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego

The three men refused to worship an idol knowing they would be thrown into a hot furnace. But that did not stop them from believing and trusting in God. It is a great inspirational story.

9. David

If you are searching for someone who loved God with all his heart, it is David. He always wanted to do what is right before God. He sang for God and always sought out for help and guidance from God.

10. Jesus

One of the most inspiring stories you will read in the bible is about Jesus Christ. He came to the earth as an ordinary man to save the world. Even though he is the King of kings, he had to undergo suffering, pain, and death so that we could be forgiven our sins.

The Book The Siren Call Of Hungry Ghosts

During the course of his five year research, Fisher was lead to becoming a regular attender with a gathering of people interested in paranormal phenomena. It was here that he was introduced to a number of spirit entities, including his own spirit guide, a spirit that claimed to be a Greek lady who was his former lover in a past life they shared together. Fisher became more convinced of the truthfulness of the claims of his guide, and the other spirits, which spoke through the medium, especially since some of the information that was transmitted appeared to be uncannily accurate. However, as he continued to check the information he was provided with (geographical data, historical facts, dates, times, people, places, and events), in library archives, doubts eventually began to rise in his mind. It soon became more and more apparent that significant pieces of key information was either extremely conspicuous by its absence, or directly contradicted what he had been told.

Fisher’s doubts grew more so when he measured the claims of his own guide against those of other popular mediums. Although the spirit’s that spoke through the various mediums he met claimed to be in contact with his own spirit guide much of the information they provided contradicted.

As a result of all the conflicting information Fisher began to feel that these spirits were either, at best guessing, or at worst, deliberately lying.

After lengthy in depth research, and becoming more and more frustrated with the many contradictions, and blatant lies of the guides, Fisher challenges the spirit’s with the findings his research has uncovered. The response of the guide’s, however, was not to admit falsehood but rather to be slippery and evasive.

Fisher eventually meets up with a former member of the group, Sandford Ellison, who had previously offered to tell him of the “other side” of the story of the spirit guides. Ellison reveals that his time with the guides lead him into becoming increasingly manipulated and controlled by them, eventually leading to the break down of his marriage. He explains to Fisher how the guides demanded more and more time of , while at the same time poisoning his mind against his wife. He was, in effect, turned into a puppet on a string ready to jump to do their bidding. It was only when he made the break from their control that his former relationship with his wife was restored.

“Christian Wicca” The Ultimate Oxymoron!

In recent times, with the gaining popularity of the Wiccan and neo-pagan religions, there have been some attempts to reconcile Wicca with Christianity. For example, Wiccan authors, Tony and Eileen Grist claim:

“It is also possible to be a Wiccan and a Christian who goes to church regularly”. (Tony and Eileen Grist, Illustrated Guide to Wicca, p. 13).Some have even coined the questionable term “Christian Wicca”.

Is such a position really possible? While it is certainly important that Christians and Wiccans dialogue and are respectful to each other as human beings, we should not try and fool ourselves into thinking that Christianity and Wicca are in any way complementary. It is simply not honest to declare otherwise, as the key differences are just too vast. This brief outline points out some significant differences between Wicca and Christianity to demonstrate the reasons why they are clearly not compatible.

The majority of Wiccans do not believe in a Heaven or a Hell but instead hold to reincarnation. The Bible teaches that we die but once then face judgement (Heb. 9:27). Most Wiccans believe in many god’s (Polytheism). Christians believe in only one true God (Monotheism).

Wiccans believe truth is relative and that there are no absolutes. Christianity is built on absolute truth (e.g. Jesus said: “I am the way and the truth and the life…” John 14:6). Wiccans do not accept the sinful nature of humanity or the need of salvation, but rather see a spark of the Divine in all people. Christianity teaches that all people are sinners in need of salvation (e.g. Rom. 3:23; 6:23).

Wiccans do not believe Satan exists. However, Jesus clearly viewed him as a personal being. To deny the reality of Satan is to make Christ out to be a liar. The Bible ascribes the following personal attributes to Satan: He speaks (Job 1:6-2:1-5; Matt 4:1-11); he has a will (1 Chron. 21:1; Luke 22:31; 1 Thess. 2:18; 2 Tim. 2:26); he tempts (Matt. 4:1-11; 1 Cor. 7:5); and he oppressors people (Acts 10:38), all characteristics that we would expect from a personal being, not a symbol or abstract force.

Some Christian Observations On Paganism And Wicca

The following article has been written from a variety of different sources. These include My own former experience with Witchcraft and occultism in general prior to my conversion to Christ, reading various Pagan and Wiccan literature, having Pagan and Wiccan friends, and having numerous email, message board, and chat room dialogues with those in the Pagan communities. This article will seek to identify, and assess, issues relevant to both Pagans and Christians alike, in a fair and balanced manner.

Ecology

Pagans of all persuasions revere nature. In fact, many individuals are attracted to Paganism as a direct result of a connection that they feel with the world around them and the beauty of the world they see. This reverence for nature leads many Pagans to the conclusion that the world itself must be divine.

“Our religion is about the sacredness of this life on this Earth, here and now. We are “Nature worshipers” so Nature is a sacred study for us. To paraphrase, we want to see Her more clearly, love Her more dearly, and follow her more nearly. Any ecological study, any bird watching, or other such activities, help us to understand Mother Gaia.” (Chas S. Clifton (ed.), Modern Rites of Passage: Witchcraft Today, Book Two, 1994, p. 99). Many Christians could probably be more involved in the preservation of the planet in which we live. This, in and of itself is indeed a noble cause. Christians also recognize the beauty in the world around them but stop short of seeing it as divine in some way. The Bible speaks of the wonder of the created realm in which we live, but goes on to reveal that this has been put in place so that people would go further and reach out for the Person who created it:

“…that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power, and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood by what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

A Christian View On The Practice Of Spiritualism

The main attraction, for many people to the practice of spiritualism, is the professed ability to contact the dead. Many spiritualists are normally acting out of genuine motives and feel that they are doing good by helping those who are grieving by putting them in touch with their departed loved ones. People are often amazed at the supernatural display of information that is channeled through the medium about the departed person whom they have sought to make contact with. The supposed spirit of the departed, speaking through the medium, will give intricate details of the person’s life and have access to details that only that dead relative could have possibly known. This is enough for some people to convince them that they really are speaking to a departed loved one. Because people are so desperate to be in the company of the person they miss, many do not question that there may be another reason for the things that they are hearing and experiencing.

I heard a story a long time ago, and although I unable to provide references for it, think it is worth telling anyway. I once heard of a family who were convinced that a relative they had lost contact with in another country was dead. They sought to contact him through a spiritualist medium and were pleased to discover that they were able to make contact with him. The deceased relative proved to them that it was really him by detailing his life and knowledge of deeply personal family events. The dead relative further convinced them that it was truly him even down to peculiar personal habits and quirky personality traits. They continued these sessions with the medium for some time until a surprising thing happened. Out of the blue, the `dead relative’ turned up alive! He wasn’t dead at all, but was alive and well and had been living in another country! The natural question in the mind of the family was therefore, “What on earth was the thing we were talking to that was pretending to be this dead relative of ours?” Good question.

Journalist, Joe Fisher (not a Christian), embarked on a 5 year study of mediums, spiritualists, and spirit guides. After becoming discouraged by some of the conflicting facts the guides gave him he meets up with a former member of the spiritualist group that he was an active member in. The former member, Sandford Ellison, had previously offered to tell Fisher of the “other side” of the story of the spirit guides. After explaining to Fisher how the spirits had nearly utterly destroyed his marriage and enslaved him, he was left to conclude:

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Eph. 6:12).

Is There Such A Thing As “White” Witchcraft?

In dialogue with those in the Pagan communities, I have often heard it said that the term “White Witchcraft” is a phrase that they do not use. It is even being said that this term is purely a Christian label used to distinguish some Witchcraft from darker more diabolical Witchcraft. Firstly, I would like to say that I do realize that the majority of modern Wiccans, neo-pagans, and Witches, do not seem to use this term a lot these days. However, the term was in common usage a number of years ago and is certainly still used by those in the pagan community. Here are a few representative quotes from Pagan sources that freely use the terms “white witchcraft/magic”:

Respected Wiccan author, Vivianne Crowley talks about:

“…the direction of good, white, or right-hand path magic.” (Vivianne Crowley, Wicca, p. 84, italics added). In the book The Magic Power of White Witchcraft: Enjoy a Life of Profound Happiness, Unbelievable Riches, and Long-Lasting Love with the Secrets of White Witchcraft, by Gavin and Yvonne Frost (founders of the School of Wicca and who have been teaching Witchcraft for 80 years between them), it states:

“In using Witchcraft powers, especially those of white Witchcraft, you want to make sure that your motivation is positive.” (p. 16). The back cover of the book states that the book is a “personal guide into the mysterious and enchanted world of White Witchcraft”.

The Farrars have this to say on the subject:

“The observance or non-observance of these rules is precisely what distinguishes ‘white’ from ‘black’ workings.” (Janet and Stewart Farrar, A Witches Bible, 2:141). Witch, Jean Williams, writes under the heading of “White Witchcraft Blessing Spell”:

“I will begin with this “white” spell which is to be used only in a case of where you know the identity of the person trying to injure you through black witchcraft…Another spell of the “white” variety for dissolving a psychic attack is tho following one of Kahuna origin…” (Jean Williams, Winning with Witchcraft, pp. 61, 65).