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Miracle of the Sun Witnessed at Knock Shrine in Ireland
October 15, 2009 02:06:00

Photograph by Keith Heneghan/Phocus

Thousands wait for Knock apparition - The Irish Times - Mon, Oct 12, 2009

The following excerpt is from an article published on IrishTimes.com:

THOUSANDS GATHERED at Knock Shrine, County Mayo, yesterday hoping to see an apparition of Our Lady.

There were ripples of applause from a crowd estimated at more than 5,000 as some people believed they could see the sun shimmering, changing colour and dancing in the sky.

John Tunney, from Islandeady, Castlebar, said: “I’m 53 years old and I never seen the sun go like that before. I witnessed the sun go all different colours, yellow, red and green. Then it completely darkened and began shimmering. Sometimes the sun emitted a clean, bright light, then it would darken again.”

Mr Tunney’s wife, Nina, said: “The sun was spinning in the sky. I experienced a feeling of total happiness. It is a feeling I would love to experience again. It was amazing. I felt marvellous.”

Yvonne Rabbitte, from Dunmore, Co Galway, showed other pilgrims a photograph she had taken on her digital camera which showed vivid rays radiating downwards from the sun at the time the image was taken.

Maggie Ahern, from Castlebar, had no doubt that the happenings in Knock were due to “heavenly intervention”.

Earlier in the week Dublin-based clairvoyant Joe Coleman predicted Our Lady would appear at the old parish church – scene of the 1879 apparition – at 3pm. Quite a number of those present were members of the Travelling community.

The crowds waited in the open air despite an invitation on loudspeaker at about 2.30pm from Knock parish priest Msgr Joseph Quinn that those in the grounds enter the adjacent Basilica to participate in ceremonies to mark the annual Dominican pilgrimage.

Msgr Quinn was not available for comment last night.

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An outstanding and courageous example to us all! Iranian converts unwavering in faith, despite arrest WASHINGTON (BP)–Two Iranian converts to Christianity are standing strong in their faith, according to a report from Iran by the Farsi Christian News Network. The two converts, Marzieh Amirizadeh, 30, and Maryam Rustampoor, 27, were summoned to appear in what FCNN described as [...] - [Read more]

Will the Third Temple be built next year? According to a centuries-old rabbinical prophecy that appears to be coming true, on March 16, 2010, Israel will begin construction of the Third Temple in Jerusalem.
November 30, 2009 10:54:36

I found this small article from Israel Today quite interesting:- According to a centuries-old rabbinical prophecy that appears to be coming true, on March 16, 2010, Israel will begin construction of the Third Temple in Jerusalem. During the 18th century, the Vilna Gaon, a respected rabbinical authority, prophesied that the Hurva Synagoge in Jerusalem, which was built [...] - [Read more]

Christians protest at portrayal of Jesus as transsexual woman at Glasgow’s Tron Theatre – Critics say the play, entitled ‘Jesus, Queen of Heaven’, is further proof of an agenda to use taxpayers’ money to fund assaults on Christian values.
November 4, 2009 08:03:23

Previous related posts: A play portraying Jesus as a transsexual is set to run in a Glasgow Theatre – funded by the same public body (Taxpayers money) behind an exhibition inviting the public to deface the Bible. The Glasgow gallery at the centre of a Bible vandalism row is now set to host a police drive to [...] - [Read more]

Christian RSS Feeds
January 26, 2009 21:21:15

Just been working on a Christian RSS feeds directory that publishes a rolling Christian news service. It will take a small wile to build it up, but I am looking forward to it working well. You can submit websites feeds to it and it updates constantly.

Christian Feeds

Religious Intelligence The announcement was made after his appointment was approved by the Queen. Mark, 48, has been in the Diocese of Exeter for seven years. His wife, the Rev Prebendary Amanda Rylands, has served most recently in the Diocese as the Director of Ordinands and Bishop’s Adviser for Women’s Ministry. During his time in Exeter, Mark [...] - [Read more]

The 21st Century Lord’s Prayer
January 7, 2009 22:06:19

The Lord’s Prayer

This is the newer version of The Lord’s Prayer.

The fuller version of the Lord’s prayer is found in the bible in the gospel of Matthew 6:10-14, as well as a part in the gospel of Luke 11:2-4.

The Lord’s prayer is the most famous model prayer that Jesus teaches us. It is therefore used frequently in Christian church services, and is often prayed as a personal prayer.

What surprises me, and disappoints me, is the continue use of the older Victorian version of the Lord Prayer. I would argue that this older version means very little to the modern, young, seeker who comes into the Church. This is because the language of English changes with time, and it becomes increasingly hard to decode by young church seekers.

To be more specific the use of old English causes a double translation, one from the original text into English, and then a further translation from old English into modern English. For example “Thy will” is well known to older generations but is not in common usage outside of church circles and should now be “Your will”.

I am not suggesting that those who like the older translations are wrong, they are not. The the older translations are equally valid. If you have learned an older version and are happy with it, that is all that matters. It is just that language changes with time, and we should be seeking to include the young in our use of English, and be seeker sensitive, without changing the meaning of the text. I am arguing for clarity, not confusion of the translation.

There may even be a case for looking at the 1977 modern version and updating it further, whilst keeping to the exact biblical meaning of the prayer.

The fuller version of the Lords prayer is found in the bible in the gospel of Matthew 6:10-14, and is the most famous model prayer that Jesus teaches us. It is therefore used frequently in Christian church services, and is often prayed as a personal prayer.

(The Lord’s Prayer - Modern Version)

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your Kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom,
the power and the glory are yours.
Now and for ever. Amen

The prayer can be broken down into sections, and each section can be contemplated as a separate topic and thought about in greater depth.

(The new English version was adopted by the Church of England in 1977)

Steve is a Christian who lives in North East England with his wife, and is web master of a number of websites including Christian Websites Directory, and Christian Article Directory

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Welcome to Steve’s Christian Blog
January 6, 2009 21:15:22

Steve is a follower of Jesus and webmaster of various Christian sites. Make yourself at home, relax,and feel free to comment and blog.

A Great Cry Bursts Forth From The Thousands During Mirjana’s Apparition Today, August 2, 2009 - Medjugorje.com

Medjugorje.com reported that on August 2, 2009, a crowd of over 50,000 people at Apparition Mountain in Medjugorje, witnessed the Miracle of the Sun while the Blessed Mother appeared privatley to visionary Mirjana Soldo and gave her a message. The apparition took place at a nearby location known as Blue Cross.

The following excerpt is from Medjugorje.com:

Mirjana came early today, around 8:35 a.m. The apparition of Our Lady began at 8:45 a.m. and lasted approximately 4 ½ minutes. Shortly after the apparition began, cries of surprise, shock, deep emotion and awe were heard rippling through the crowd from different directions, growing in magnitude. While Mirjana was enraptured in her own vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary, something had happened. A commotion in the crowd was paralleled by something that the pilgrims could not have known, by what Mirjana had seen, and Mirjana, on the other hand, while in ecstasy could not have known what the pilgrims were seeing during the apparition. During the apparition, Mirjana herself saw the sun behind Our Lady. When she came out of ecstasy, Mirjana had to be surprised at what was taking place.

As for the pilgrims themselves, they had also seen a miracle. The sun became a miraculous sign for them. More and more people began looking where the first ones were pointing—at the sun. Many were seeing the sun “dancing” or “spinning,” others saw a cross illuminated in the sun, still others saw different colors within or streaming out of the sun. Tears were streaming down many faces, others stared in wonder, others in joy. And there were those who did not look up at all, so intense in their prayer as the apparition was still taking place. It swept through the crowd what the early days of Medjugorje were like when physical miracles abounded. It was very moving as the people knew what a chance of a lifetime it was to see the actions of God take place right before their eyes. To know after the apparition that Mirjana also had the sun in her apparition behind Our Lady confirmed the pilgrims’ “vision,” and the pilgrims confirmed Mirjana’s vision that the miracle was wed to each other.

To read complete story, please visit Medjugorje.com.

blogs

By Salah Nasrawi Cairo – A Christian man was killed in southern Egypt by attackers who accused his son of having an affair with a Muslim girl, police said Sunday. The officials said that Farouk Henry Attallah, 61, was shot to death while strolling through his village of Attaleen in the southern Assuit province. According to police, the [...] - [Read more]

Atheist rapist Barman Steven Relf has complained that his human rights were breached by having to share a prison cell with a Christian.
January 2, 2010 10:03:37

No mention of Relf’s victims human rights I notice. The Sun Barman Steven Relf, 40, was jailed indefinitely after admitting raping two women he targeted when he served them drinks in a pub. Police branded him a “sexual predator” and said he could have had as many as 40 victims. In a letter to an inmates’ magazine, Relf wrote: [...] - [Read more]

Operation Bobbi Bear - Africa
January 16, 2009 21:41:50

My favourite charity.

Operation Bobbi Bear exists to fight for the rights of sexually abused children in Africa. They work to minimise the risk of their HIV infection, and they help the children back to wholeness. They are a non profit organization that heavily rely on external funding to cater for the needs of the affected children.

I am personally prone to worry and anxiety and as a Christian I turn to the Biblical Scriptures for comfort (having said that I should do it more often). As I was looking for Scriptures tonight I thought I’d share some of them with you on this blog:-

Matthew 6

²⁵ “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

²⁶ Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

²⁷ Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

²⁸ “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;

²⁹ and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

³⁰ Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

³¹ “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’

³² For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

1 Peter 5

⁶Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

⁷Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you.

John 14

1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me.

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

2 Corinthians

1:4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

4:17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Psalm

34:17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears,And delivers them out of all their troubles.

37:1 Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.

37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him;Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.

37:8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm.

I was once told that scriptures concerning human worry and anxiety occur some 366 times in the Bible. I’ve never checked this out so I can’t confirm it, but if true it would indicate how seriously God views our worry and anxiety and so He gives us enough comforting scriptures for every day of the year and even one extra for the leap year

A compassionate and understanding God! Thank Him for Him!

Love and Blessings BiPolar Bear

Email Alert from Care not Killing:- Dear supporters, We invite you to sign the below petition opposing the legalisation of assisted suicide: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/notolegalsuicide It declares: “We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to retain the law that makes it a criminal offence to assist another person to commit suicide”. Thank you for supporting the Care Not Killing Alliance and our efforts to [...] - [Read more]

Pauline Howe, a 67-year-old grandmother, was questioned by police after council officials decided that her complaint about a gay pride march amounted to a “hate incident”.
October 25, 2009 09:01:49

By Jonathan Wynne-Jones, Religious Affairs Correspondent Mrs Howe, a committed Christian, said she had been frightened by the officers’ questioning and shocked at being informed she may have committed a crime. “I’ve never been in any kind of trouble before so I was stunned to have two police officers knocking at [...] - [Read more]

Breaking news: Yaakov Teitel arrested in Ami Ortiz case
November 1, 2009 20:28:58

Previous related posts:- Potential breakthrough in Ami Ortiz case This important update is taken from the excellent Rosh Pina Project including all related links:- From the Jerusalem Post: The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and Israel Police have arrested an American-born Jewish settler who is allegedly behind an unprecedented series of deadly terror shootings and bombings spanning over [...] - [Read more]

Live sheep wheeled into Bexleyheath Asda shop in a shopping trolley
November 28, 2009 11:02:29

I am sorry but I have a deviant sense of humour and this one from the BBC made me laugh my socks off:- The RSPCA has hit out at pranksters who put a live sheep in a shopping trolley and wheeled it into a supermarket in south-east London. Two youths were recorded on CCTV carrying out the [...] - [Read more]

Weeping Icon of St. Nicholas, Hempstead, New York
December 20, 2009 19:33:00

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Visitors Come to Tucson Home to Pray for Miracles
January 3, 2010 20:04:00

Believers come to her home for a miracle - Los Angeles Times

The following excerpt is from an article written by Nicole Santa Cruz from the Los Angeles Times:

Reporting from Tucson - For decades, the faithful say, a 1-foot-tall crucifix has been granting the wishes of people in need.

By the thousands, people have come to pray at El Señor de los Milagros -- Lord of the Miracles -- a shrine on the side of a one-story stucco home in a working-class Mexican American neighborhood in Tucson. People have come from as far away as Germany to worship at the shrine, but most visitors come from Arizona and Mexico.

The carved wood sculpture, encased in glass, has been in the Romo family for five generations, said owner Pauline Romo.

The crucifix, which made its way to Tucson from Spain, is sacred in Tucsons Catholic community. In appreciation, people have built and maintained the shrine for Romo. From the beige tile on the floor, to the decorative ironwork painted black and gold, to the black leather benches for people to sit and pray, each component of the patio-like chapel was built by people who said God answered their prayers.

Southern Arizona is dotted with shrines. Often found in front yards or on the side of the road, many consist of just a cross or statue, sometimes decorated elaborately with flowers and candles. Such shrines are part of standard Mexican Catholic practice and are usually statements of thanks, said Jim Griffith, a retired folklorist who lives in Tucson.

Romos more elaborate shrine is the site of weekly Masses and draws thousands of yearly visitors, many of whom park in the unpaved lot next to Romos house. The shrine, Griffith said, is a "focus point for people to come and ask for help."

Romo, 84, is something of a Tucson legend. Her family has lived in the area since 1806. The spunky auburn-haired woman served as a rodeo queen in 1947, and designed jewelry at an elegant downtown shop.

Her shrine began as a result of what she calls a personal miracle.

In the 1970s, Romo was on her lunch break downtown eating a piece of pineapple pie when she started throwing up blood. The pie was laden with ground glass -- later traced to a factory accident -- and Romos insides were torn up. Five doctors told her she wouldnt survive.

In the hospital, Romo pleaded with her mother to give her the statue. "Give him to me," she recalled saying. "And I will show him to the world."

About 200 stitches and a plastic esophagus later, Romo opened the shrine on the side of her home.

Word of the shrine spread, and people began to visit Romos side yard to kneel before the crucifix and pray.

Mass is said there each Thursday evening. Quinceañeras and weddings have occurred there, and Romo said she sometimes doesnt even notice.

But what she does notice are the stories of miracles people have shared with her over the years.

There was the 3-year-old girl from Mexico who was shot in the mouth and had a bullet lodged in the back of her head. Now that child is 30, with a baby of her own. Her father bricked the floor of the shine in thanks.

"Listen, who lives that gets shot in the mouth?" Romo said. "Tell me. Come on, thats a miracle."

Gesturing around the shrine in the crisp desert wind, Romo said she welcomes everyone, regardless of religious affiliation.

"I dont care how you worship him," she said.

On the left side of the shrine is a blue notebook with a black spine where people write their wishes and prayers.

In Spanish and English, people write for relief from physical ailments or anxiety, or for happiness for their family. Some wishes span multiple pages; others are simply a sentence long.

On Dec. 23, someone wrote, "Please, please, please, heal my knees."

"I dont have to prove what the Lord does," Romo said. Minutes earlier, she had visited with a woman, congratulating her in Spanish. The woman had come to the shrine in the past to ask for help as she pursued a career in nursing. On this day she told Romo that, although she had struggled with the training, she had achieved her dream.

"I see that all the time," Romo said. "Cancer cured, you name it."

One recent afternoon, the gravel crunched as Rosario Lopezs green truck approached the chapel at the end of Melwood Avenue. In dusty blue jeans, tan work boots and a light brown embroidered work shirt, Lopez, 51, went through a chain-link fence to reach the shrine.

The carpenter knelt on a black-padded bench and lowered his head in prayer. In front of him, red and white candles decorated the tile floor, along with vivid red poinsettias. For about 10 minutes, while Lopez prayed, the only sound was the chirping of birds.

Every day for about eight months, Lopez has visited the shrine after work. Hes prayed for his own faith and also for his mothers health.

Coming to the chapel has inspired Lopez to become a better Catholic, he says: He now regularly attends Sunday Mass. Hes also receiving religious instruction as he prepares to marry his girlfriend of 33 years.

"It really changed me," Lopez said, tears welling in his eyes after his daily prayer.

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