#i continue to spread the virus/gospel

[skitterenjoyer]

hey just wanted to say i've been considering reading worm for a while now and your posts pushed me over the edge and it is SO SO SO GOOD. i just finished arc 6 :)

[idolatrybarbie]

pairing: marcus pike x alex dozie (fem!OC)

word count & rating: 4.4k | explicit - 18+ only please and thanks

summary: marcus pike is the new congressman for the great state of Vermont. it's time to celebrate.

content tags: angst, takes place in 2022, alcohol, background american politics, smut - vaginal fingering, mentions of cockwarming in a way but it's more like Mormon soaking hey don't look at me like that, penis in vagina sex, painful sex, racism, slutshaming, misogyny (none of these from marcus.)

tags & notes: @atinylittlepain | still feel weird being here i am nawt back do not alert the authorities - gin really loves these two and that is inspiration enough to write and post for them.

It’s a cloudy November day when he wins. No rain, no smog; simply overcast. The weather could almost fool you into thinking that this is any other day. Another Tuesday nearing the end of the year, who cares?

If she lived a different life, maybe that would be the case. Alas, she does not—she lives this one. After a win in the primaries and an election sixteen months in the making, they’ve crossed the finish line. Well, he has. Marcus Pike, the latest (and greatest, though she’s biased) congressman Vermont is lucky to receive.

And who is she exactly? If you asked her, no one. Ask him, though—

“Everyone, please give it up for Miss Alex Dozie!” Marcus booms. His voice carries across the room easily, naturally. Like he’s made for this. He is.

They all follow his word like gospel, the raucous applause almost as loud as the heartbeat in her ears. Alex watches more then feels Marcus take her hand in his own, lacing their fingers together as he lifts their arms in the air. Together in victory. That’s what this is, isn’t it? A victory and this is their celebration party. Surrounded by staffers, donors, volunteers—you name it. A variety platter of New England’s who’s-who all here to celebrate the congressional win of Marcus Pike, a rising star and thought leader in the Democratic party.    

He’s a little too centrist for Alex’s liking, but despite being press secretary for his very political campaign, they never really get around to talking shop. Hard to chat about affordable housing with his tongue down her throat.

Alex sinks back into her body slowly. Marcus lets her go, replacing her warm palm with a glass of champagne. He continues his speech as she flutters through the crowd to the very edge of the room.

“It’s been a long journey. A lot of hard work from everybody in here. I also want to thank…”

Alex tunes it out, gazing blindly across the room. There must be almost 300 people in here. She had never known what that looked like. Does she even know that many people? One hundred living souls, and then triple it. The fact astonishes her. Even more people voted for him and got him here. They believe in Marcus Pike.

Being him right now must be about as close as one gets to playing God.

Marcus starts to wrap up his speech, catching her attention again. He’s searching for her face, bright like a beacon. He breaks into that million-dollar smile of his when sees it.

“I want to thank you,” he says. The words are spoken to a sea of suits, but she knows what he really means. “I truly couldn’t have done this without you. We are going to make a difference here. I can feel it. And for that, I am forever grateful.”

We. That alone makes Alex feel all gooey inside. A small smile fights its way across her lips.

               The crowd breaks into amiable chatter, the party portion of this formal celebration spreading like a virus as more drinks are made and softer pop music spouts out from wherever. Alex has half a mind to meander over to coat check and grab her things. Before she can convince herself, Marcus sidles up beside her near a darkened window.

“By yourself?” he asks.

“As is preferred,” she says.

Marcus hums. “Well, I guess you’ll just have to put up with me.”

“Terrible, truly.” But it’s all smiles; he is all smiles, Alex mirroring him.

They have to keep it cool here, professional. She can read his eyes. You look beautiful. The heavy blink and bashful glance down at her shoes will have to suffice as a thank you. Alex watches as Marcus readjusts his tie, thick fingers grazing the soft fabric. She wishes they were in her mouth instead.

“Great party,” she says, clearing her throat.

“Yeah. Got this press secretary, she planned it all for me.”

“You’ll have to get me her card.”

“Of course,” Marcus says. Light laughs fall from both of them. “You did a great job.”

“It’s alright,” Alex shrugs.

“It’s amazing,” he insists. You’re amazing.

“All previous party planning experience was organizing my senior prom.”

“And it’s still fantastic, look at you.”

“The process was much easier with a congressional Platinum card, trust me,” Alex says. Then she holds up her drink—not the standard fare of J. Lasalle but a Bourbon Ginger from the open bar—and lets it fall in a clink against Marcus’ half-empty flute of champagne. “To money.”

“To success,” he says.

“Yeah, that too.” She lets the prickly pleasantness of ginger root and dark liquor slide across her tongue. It burns going down, but she likes it like that. “So… What are your plans for the rest of the night?”

“I dunno’,” Marcus says, shrugging his shoulders. His voice lowers to a whisper. “I was thinking about breaking in the new office. You?”

“Does breaking it in have anything to do with fucking me in it?”

“It could.”

“I’m pretty amenable to these plans, then,” Alex says.

Marcus offers her his hand again. “Follow me.”

They wait as the tide of partygoers pushes in, making their escape when it falls back, slipping through tall double doors. Marcus leads Alex up a back stairwell, heels clicking against wood. He lets her lead the rest of the way, watching the slink in her step and the sway in her hips. He hates it when she leaves but loves to watch when she walks away—and tonight, he gets the best of both.

Alex stops at the doorway. She waits for him to cross the threshold first; it only feels right. Marcus pulls her in by the elbow, a goofy grin overtaking his face.

“C’mere, gorgeous,” he says.

They connect at the mouth, soft and gentle like Marcus’ hold on her waist. He runs a soothing finger over the material of her dress—smooth white satin that swathes over her hips and neck, leaving her shoulders bare. Vintage Ralph Lauren on loan; Alex couldn’t dream of owning something this expensive with all her lingering Howard loan debt. The dress, along with the pearly cream heels that were once her mother’s, is a drastic change from her outfit at this afternoon’s swearing-in ceremony: a dress with frumpier sleeves, sitting just below the knee in a purple bright enough to rival a red clover. She’d hated it, feeling trapped inside some illusion of a church girl with her hair pressed into long pin curls.

The way Marcus looked at her then, same as now, made it worth it. He thinks the world of her, along with the Sun and the rest of the solar system too. He slides a hand across her chest, a nipple peaking against the fabric. When he squeezes, her cunt drools. Alex slips a hand into his hair, pulling hard enough that Marcus moans into her mouth. They move as a unit, one step at a time until he has her caged against his new desk.

They break only when she looks down, hiking the smooth fabric up to expose the bottom half of her body. Marcus cups her gently over her underwear, feeling dampness against the heel of his palm.

“Couldn’t have done this without you, sweetheart,” he whispers against her lips.

“You could have,” she says between sweet kisses to each cheek.

“I didn’t want to.”

Alex smirks. “Lucky you, then.”

She likes to tease, but the self-satisfaction on her face falls when he presses his hand against her harder. The pressure against her clit makes her ache, moving her hips up to meet him. She starts to grind against his hand. Marcus watches the wet patch on the gusset between her legs grow as Alex gets herself off. Lucky him indeed.

“What do you need, baby?” he asks.

“Touch me…please.”

A small gasp falls from her lips when he peels her panties down, Alex lifting her hips to aid in the effort. They wrap around her ankles, caught by the backs of her heels. Marcus touches her bare skin, already wet and sticky when he runs two fingers against her.

“More,” she says.

"Hmm, I don’t know,” Marcus says. “I think you like it like this.”

“Marcus Jordan Pike…put your fingers inside me or get the fuck out of this office.” Her tone is breathy but commanding, drawing his attention from her hips to her eyes.

He doesn’t need to be told twice, slipping a finger through her wetness before sinking it into her cunt. Alex moans, and Marcus moans with her. His starting rhythm is slow and purposeful, searching for that spot that gets her eyes to cross as she bites her tongue to keep quiet. She cants her hips in time with him, meeting every thrust of his middle finger as slick squelches onto the webbing of his hand.

A high whine tears from the back of her throat when Marcus finds what he is looking for. He adds his index inside of her, massaging the spongy spot inside of her with deft attention.

“Fuck, Marcus,” Alex sighs, panting into his neck. She holds him close by the shoulder, arm wrapped around to his neck as she pulls lightly at his ear.

“That feel good?” he asks. All she can do is nod. “My baby feels so good, huh? You worked so hard. I’m so proud of you. Let me help you relax.”

Something about being called his baby has her weak in the knees. She likes that, just a little. Alex would never admit it, not in this environment of all-or-nothing stances, not even to him. The feminists of this town and the Internet would eat her alive for admitting even the fantasy of being a kept woman turns her on, just a little. Still, Marcus can tell by the way she clenches tight around him.

“Such a sweet thing…so smart, you know that? Couldn’t do anything without you.”

“Marcus, please. D-don’t stop, just—right there.” She stutters on a breath when he presses his thumb to her clit. Alex’s thighs clench around his hand, trapping the limb so he can only move from the wrist down.

“It’s okay, you’re okay. Feel it, baby. I’ve got you,” Marcus whispers against her ear.

He captures her for another kiss, languid as he speeds up his fingers and the circle of his thumb. She cums with a cut-off cry and a tremble of her hips, pulling him closer and pushing him away with her body as she creams over his fingers. They stay joined a few moments longer; she sits up a little more, smoothing out the collar of his dress shirt.

When Marcus moves his hand, Alex fulfills her wish. She takes him by the wrist and leads his fingers to her mouth. She tastes herself as they pass the wet heat of her tongue, swirling between the two digits for good measure. Marcus groans as he watches, mesmerized.

“You’re killing me here,” he says.

 “We wouldn’t want that, would we?” Alex asks. She reaches for the zipper of his pressed slacks, hard cock waiting for her underneath. “Public servant and all.”

The zipper needles down easily, two buttons on the inside of the linen plucked undone in a moment. She rolls Marcus’ pants down to settle over his ass, revealing to her the pre-cum stained front of his briefs. Seeing the pair of novelty underwear she got for his birthday, Alex laughs. His cock is covered in bald eagles.

“Why is you laughing at me still sexy?” Marcus asks.

Alex draws him in by his tie. “’Cause you’re a perv,” she says.

Marcus scoffs, but there’s no bite in it. “I don’t have a comeback for that.”

She works him out of his underwear, spitting onto his shaft before giving him a stroke. “That’s how you know it’s true.”

Alex sets them into motion, leaning back to signal Marcus. He immediately swipes everything—nameplate, important government documents, a miniature post holding the American flag—off the desk and onto the floor. He runs his tip, slick and swollen, through the mess of her cunt. Teasing her, he presses against her clit like a button, making Alex jolt.

“Just fuck me, dweeb,” she says.

One thing about Marcus is that he takes direction well. He slides into her with ease, both moaning in sync at the fit and feel. Filling her with one thrust of his hips, she makes him stay there for a moment, savouring the sensation. The fullness is enough to make her feel good—sometimes it’s enough to make her cum, like when they sat together in the campaign office, her on his lap as she squeezed her cunt around his thick cock to orgasm.

Then she taps at his hip, pulling at Marcus’ forearm to get him to meet her horizontally. His thrusts start quick and small, grinding against her insides as he never quite leaves her. Idly, she wonders how many times they’ve fucked in an office. The campaign office? They’d made up a bit of an accidental schedule, twice a week on Tuesday and Friday when everyone usually went home before seven. A handful of times in his car, which were always her least favourite no matter how long Marcus ate her out to make up for it.

 Once in her bed. It was late August this year, the air balmy as she and Marcus stepped out of that upscale bar in one of those times between overcast clouds and dripping rain. He’d had a few too many to drive home, and Alex lived just three blocks over. She hadn’t meant to fuck him. It was only the second time, after a quick and easy mistake they’d made on the fold-out table that operated as the volunteer command center; that particular night, there were still Vote4Marcus stickers in her hair when she got in the shower.

But Alex did fuck him, and it was amazing. Probably what spurred her to keep fucking him. Not the money, or the potential power. Just the tender, semi-drunk sex they shared on her double mattress. The only time it ever happened.

She’s trying to calculate how many Tuesdays and Fridays are in eight calendar months when a particularly sharp thrust catches her attention. Alex groans, but not in the sexy way, as Marcus punches his cock into her cervix. It feels good still, in a way, but the pinch of pain is throwing her off.

“H-hold on,” she mutters, so quiet she can barely hear herself. Marcus keeps going, fucking her with a hand at her sternum for leverage.

“You feel good?” he asks.

“No, just—hold on,” Alex repeats. She places a hand over his as Marcus slows to a stop.

“Everything alright?”

Before she can answer, they both feel his phone buzz in his pocket. Marcus pulls away from her, wiping his hands on his pants to check. She sees his mouth screw up in a side pout as he reads whatever message is waiting for him.

“Time to go?” Alex asks.

“I just—this big donor is heading out, the McCaskills? Polly wants me to start greeting people as they leave.”

Another one of many times Alex would love to tell Polly Friedman-Blau where she can put her tight smiles and wandering eyes.

“Of course.” She’s already standing, lifting her leg to pull her underwear back up and over her crotch. They are uncomfortably sticky, but that won’t be a problem for long.

“What do you mean, of course?” Marcus asks behind her.

Alex turns, smoothing out her dress. She’ll have to find a bathroom to properly fix herself up before heading back downstairs.

“I mean, come on. What are you, the lobby boy?” The hurt anger bubbles up from nowhere, shocking her as much as him.

“They donated thousands of dollars, Lex.” She hates that name. He knows she hates it. “We wouldn’t be here without them,” Marcus says.

She makes for the door now, shaking her head. Alex ignores the burn between her thighs. She doesn’t make it to the hall, though. Marcus grabs her arm, pulling her back to him.

“What?”

“Can we just—can we not leave tonight like this?” he asks. “I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry.” He peppers her face with soft kisses, gentle with his words. “When it’s all said and done, I’ll find you. We can continue this back at my place.”

His place. The place she’s never seen. Something roils hot inside her, small fireworks snaking and sparking between her ribs.

“Okay?” Marcus asks.

“Okay,” Alex agrees.

He fixes his pants and she straightens his tie. Marcus is off again, heading downstairs. Alex lingers in his office for a minute longer, taking it all in. They made it. They are here.

When an appropriate amount of time has passed, she wanders out to find a bathroom, closing the door behind her. A few party drunkards have made it upstairs. Alex smiles politely and ducks out of any potential conversations by moving onto the stairs and heading down. A bathroom presents itself at the foot of the steps, a golden sign that says ‘Ladies’ waiting for her.

The door swings inwards silently. Alex hates to say she’s impressed, what with the horrible screech of her own bathroom’s hinges. A glance in the mirror tells her she doesn’t look too crazy. Taking advantage of the empty presence, she locks herself in the very last stall to take a piss. As she wrangles the wafer-thin toilet paper, she hears the door open again. Not so silent after all.

Two sets of expensive heels—four clicks against the stone floors—echo throughout the room. Alex is about to get up and flush before someone speaks.

“Oh, I don’t know,” one woman says, voice low. “That girl he thanked… I’ve heard some things.”

“She’s not a girl. We’re all women here,” another woman says.

“Could’ve fooled me,” the first one snickers.

Alex keeps her breathing even, still listening. “What’s the word on her?”

“Oh, you know. The usual: she’s sleeping with him.” Well, that’s not inaccurate. Still, it stings to hear coming from— “She’s only in it for the money, you know? Supposedly, she had a thing with her TA back in undergrad.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. But then she set her sights on political office. But she doesn’t want to be the man behind the desk. She just wants to reap all the benefits.”

“Little does she know, all those men have some sweet thing under there to keep ‘em warm.”

“Trust me, I think she does. Bold of her to assume he’d ever make her First Lady.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, Marcus Pike is a name you remember. Alex Dozie? Come on. We’ve already had Barack and Michelle.” The other woman doesn’t say anything to that. “There was something about his fa—”

Alex takes that as the time to strike, pressing the metal button jutting from the wall to get the toilet to flush. In a few seconds, she unlocks the stall door and saunters out to the sink. Silently, she rubs soap between her palms and fingers, sticking her hands beneath the automatic tap to rinse away the suds. The women are exactly as she expected: thin, white, and beautiful. Their dresses look much more expensive, much more modern.

She wonders if they’d say all that if she looked more like them.

Alex waits ‘til the door shuts behind her to let the tears well up. Well, shit. This is supposed to be the night of everything right, and it’s all going terribly wrong. She walks blindly, water blurring Alex’s vision as she keeps her head down and eyes forward. Eventually, she reaches an office on the first floor. Fine wood paneling and frosted glass windows. The office chair is practically calling her name. When she slumps into it, the tension bleeds from her spine. Somehow, the leather seems to have that new car smell to it.

It takes a few minutes to realize that this is her office. She recognizes it from pictures Marcus sent her. Their tiny what-ifs were turning into reality, and this was one of them. If I win, you’re taking this office. It’s the nicest one…besides mine. There were so many of those that Alex began thinking it impossible for them to lose. Like this was fate or something.

Fate; destiny. She was meant to do this. Fuck whatever Malibu Bitch numbers one and two think. Who cares what people know, or think they know? Alex is here, and she knows exactly why. It has nothing to do with the…extra-curricular activities between her and Marcus Pike. It was because she’d worked her ass off; because she deserved it. A tenuous thread of hope, sure, but it was enough to keep her from finding Marcus and quitting on the spot like she wanted to.

Instead, she heads to coat check and gets her purse and jacket. Alex tips the lady with President Andrew Jackson, calling a cab in the lobby. A long, hot shower and a good night’s sleep will make everything better; it always does.

Alex wakes at five o’clock. She does not feel better. Somehow, she feels worse. Whatever slathered over the surface of her skin last night has settled, sinking deep into her bones. It’s not quite anger, or sadness. A churning disquiet has taken up in her gut, leaving no room for breakfast or coffee. A box of things sits on the kitchen counter, waiting for her to take it into the office—her new office. Alex almost forgets it three separate times.

The drive is sure to be the only calm part of her day. Alex savours it, taking the easy route through town. The building is cute, not a monster when it’s not plugged full of people. It’s an eclectic mix of brick and metal on the outside, dated but sleek on the inside between hardwood and glass. Inside is quiet, too, which she enjoys. Still, her stomach stirs with unease. It feels like everyone stares when she walks in.

Alex’s thighs ache, a reminder of what she and Marcus did last night. She bristles at the thought, shame creeping up the back of her neck. Maybe they shouldn’t do that here. This isn’t some rental space in Downtown Burlington. This is an important office.

She puts her box down at her desk, the contents landing with a thud. At the top of her trinket pile sits a framed photo: Alex and Marcus, smiling as she waves at the camera from the hip. She forgets now what they were talking about, one of the earlier Vote For Marcus Pike banners hanging behind them, pinned to a wall. This was a month into Alex working for him. A month of wondering if he still remembered, and figuring out quickly that Marcus didn’t. The first real conversation they’d had where she had no excuse to duck out of the office or wander away. The first real conversation with the man that would change her life.

15 months ago and yet it feels so far away; unreachable. Alex wants to crawl into the picture frame, claw back time to when she knew what she was doing here. The objective was simple. Get Marcus elected. Now? One night and she’s been sent into a tailspin.

When she looks up from the photo, it’s because of all the clapping. When does all the goddamn clapping end and the real work start? Alex was starting to wonder. She moves from her desk to the doorway, catching a glimpse of what the fuss is all about. It’s Marcus, of course. He doesn’t see her; how could he with all the people in the way? He glad-hands and smiles his way through the office. Someone takes a photo—fancy camera, flash on—and Alex blinks. She’s been injected into Clinton-era comic strip, waiting for them to bring out the baby to kiss.

Marcus Pike gets applause for showing up to do his job. Sure, it happens, but when did that become her life? Her reality? Alex does not belong here. Clearly, he doesn’t need her here. He didn’t call last night when she didn’t show.

The campaign trail was then, and this is now. She is of then…Marcus doesn’t need her now.

Thank god for the printer in this office. She types up something quick, waiting for the blocky machine to whirr to life. A quick, six-sentence letter of resignation spits out moments later. Alex takes it, folding it in two. She goes to grab her box of things, Marcus’ eyes staring back at her. She leaves it.

Her heels click and clack against the floor as she makes her exit. Letter clutched in her hand, she doesn’t notice the tiny young woman in front of her until they collide.

“I’m so sorry,” she squeaks first.

“It’s my fault,” Alex says, shaking her head.

“You’re Miss Dozie?” the woman asks. She looks a little scared, a little reverent.

“Unfortunately. Why?”

“I’m supposed to bring you some briefings,” the woman says. Alex notes the badge on her lapel. Office aide. “After I bring Mr. Pike his coffee.”

“Hey, don’t worry about it. Okay?” Alex asks. The aide nods, brow furrowed in confusion. “Could you do me a favour, though?”

“That’s my job, ma’am.”

“Could you put this on Mar—Mr. Pike’s desk for me? Preferably when he’s away from it,” Alex says.

“Of course, ma’am,” the aide nods. Alex wishes she knew her name.

“Thanks,” she nods. “Good luck up there, hey?”

Alex walks away, through the lobby to the front doors. In less than an hour, the weather has changed from overcast clouds to sputtering rain. Albert Hammond serenades her with guitars, alerting her to a phone call. She almost picks it up, finger automatically reaching to press the ‘answer’ button. Alex thinks twice about it, checking who it is. Marcus, of course.

Frozen on the sidewalk, rain pelts her head as she watches the phone ring. After about a minute, it stops, his name disappearing.

Seems it never rains in Southern California

Seems I’ve often heard that kind of talk before

It never rains in California

But girl, don’t they warn ya’?

It pours, man it pours

[bockbachmann]

Coronavirus Forces Americans to find Easter Fun at A Minimum 6 Feet Apart

New York, NY Easter is a very special holiday for 6-year-old Nora Heddendorf. It's a day that she loves to dress up in fancy shoes and fancy dresses and go on a hunt with her family and friends for colorful eggs.

This year the coronavirus pandemic has forced her to adapt. She'll finish her Easter outfit by adding a white mask, disposable gloves in blue and disinfectant wipes. After hearing that her New Jersey town's annual egg hunt might be cancelled, she came up with the idea of the idea of a "rock hunt."

Content of the article Nora's hunt replaces eggs by colorful stones and lets her neighbors walk with her to hunt.

Article content "I was disappointed that it was going to be canceled because of the virus" the child told Reuters in a phone interview. "I want people to be content."

The pandemic has affected everyone from the White House to small towns parks. It has also led to the suspension of traditional Easter egg hunts across the United States. Closed churches and plans for scotched Easter dinners with extended families have been cancelled.

But many Americans are still looking for ways to have fun during the holidays for the holidays, from an Oregon candy maker making chocolate bunnies that wear masks to a Texas church organizing a virtual egg hunt with the game Minecraft.

Article content A few weeks ago, Nora and her mother began organizing her hunt in their town of Medford Lakes. She put together a number of DIY kits, each with five rocks, four paint colors, and instructions and all of it wrapped in plastic bags. Of course, she was wearing disposable gloves and spraying the contents with disinfectant.

The kits were tucked away outside her house for anyone who would like to take them home. On her Facebook page, Nora's Rocks, the young artist urged her followers to return the decorated rocks to her for her to hide.

"Thank you for helping Nora's Rocks bring our town closer but also keep us separated," said the instruction letter she included in the kits.

Her mother, Samantha Heddendorf, president of an environmental cleanup company that has been cleaning up buildings that have been affected by the coronavirus epidemic, said the hunt will begin on Good Friday and will continue through Easter Sunday, with new batches of painted rocks hidden each day.

Article content The goal is to put 500 stone "eggs" in every nook and cranny of the 1 square mile (2.6 square km) town.

"People can look for Easter eggs or rocks while walking with their friends." Samantha Heddendorf stated that they can find something to hunt for, then collect them, and have at least an emoji to commemorate Easter.

In Central Point, Oregon, chocolatier Jeff Shepherd had a brainstorm to save his Lillie Belle Farms from shutdown due to the coronavirus. He shared with his Facebook fans that he'd make "Covid Bunnies" - milk and dark chocolate ones with white face masks and white chocolate ones with blue face masks.

It was an incredible success. Shepherd was able to rehire seven of his full-time employees. He also sold 5,000 bunnies and is currently scrambling to fulfill back orders.

Article content Safe distancing to stop the spread of viruses is what convinced the Tate Springs Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas, to go digital with its Easter Egg hunt, using Minecraft but disabling potentially scary game elements such as monsters.

"Our main goal is to preach the gospel, but we want the kids to still enjoy Easter," said Reverend Curtis James.

Nora was delighted to discover that her concept was well-received in New Jersey. The mayor stopped by to see her pack the kits, and the Lions Club invited her to lunch "when the entire thing is done."

Her most loved "thanks" was gift-wrapped roll of toilet paper. This was one of the staples that people panic-shopped during the pandemic. Beware of greeks bearing gifts

"My mom smiled when the toilet paper arrived," Nora said. (Reporting by Barbara Goldberg, New York; Additional reporting by Rich McKay, Atlanta; Editing done by Rosalba Obrien

[stantondyer]

Coronavirus Forces Americans to find Easter Fun at least 6 Feet Apart

New York Easter is a memorable holiday for 6-year-old Nora Heddendorf. It's a day that she is a fan of dressing up with fancy shoes and dresses and go on a hunt with her family and friends to find brightly colored eggs.

The coronavirus pandemic forced her to change her clothes this year. She'll finish her Easter outfit by adding a white paper mask, disposable gloves in blue, and disinfectant wipes. After learning that the annual egg hunt in her New Jersey town might be cancelled she came up with an "rock hunt".

The hunt of Nora's article does not only replace brightly colored stones for eggs, which are in short supply at some stores, but also lets her neighbors hunt while they are on their walks with friends.

Article content "I was devastated that the school was going to end up being cancelled due to the virus" the child told Reuters in a telephone interview. "I would like to make people feel happy."

From the White House to small town parks The pandemic has prompted the elimination of traditional Easter egg hunts and "rolls" across the United States, closed churches and scotched plans for Easter meals with extended families.

However, many Americans are still finding ways to have fun during the holidays, from an Oregon candymaker making chocolate bunnies with face masks to an Texas church organising an egg hunt that is virtual with the game Minecraft.

Article content A few weeks ago, Nora and her mother started organizing her hunt in their town of Medford Lakes. She gathered a plethora of DIY kits, each with five rocks and four paint colors, instructions and all packaged in plastic bags. She put on disposable gloves and sprayed all the contents with disinfectant.

The kits were then placed outside her house to be picked up by those who wish to take part. The young artist, Nora's Rocks requested her friends return the rocks she left to her to keep for herself.

"Thank you for helping Nora's Rocks bring our town closer but remain separated," said the instruction letter she included in the kits.

Her mother, Samantha Heddendorf, president of an environmental cleanup company that has been decontaminating structures affected by the coronavirus crisis The hunt will begin on Good Friday and continue until Easter Sunday, when fresh batch of painted rocks to be found each day.

Article content The goal is to place 500 stone "eggs" in every nook and cranny of the 1 square mile (2.6 square km) town.

"When people are taking their walks with friends, they can look for rocks, or what are known as Easter Eggs. They could have something to look for and then grab them and at least have a smile to share the joy of Easter with," Samantha Heddendorf said.

Central Point chocolatier Jeff Shepherd has come up with a solution to save his Lillie Belle Farms in Oregon from being shut down by the coronavirus. He informed his Facebook followers that he was going to create "Covid Bunnies" which are dark and milk chocolate with white face masks , and white chocolate ones with blue masks for faces.

It was an instant hit. Shepherd was able to hire back the seven full-time staff who he had let go and has sold 5,000 bunnies and is scurrying to fill back orders. He is now restricting purchases to six per customer.

Article content Safe distancing to stop the spread of viruses is what convinced the Tate Springs Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas, to go digital with its Easter Egg hunt, using Minecraft but disabling potentially scary game elements like monsters.

Reverend Curtis James stated, "Our primary goal in life is to spread the gospel. We also want children to still enjoy Easter."

Nora was delighted to discover that her concept was well received in New Jersey. The mayor came to visit her to fill the kits, and the Lions Club invited her to lunch "when the whole thing is finished." MINECRAFT SERVERS

Her favorite "thanks" was gift-wrapped roll of toilet paper. This was among the most popular items that people shopped for in the panic of the pandemic.

Nora said, "My mom smiled when toilet paper arrived." (Reporting by Barbara Goldberg in New York; Additional reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)

[banana-with-a-bow-tie]

The world hates the church. If it could have its way the church wouldn’t exist.

I don’t think this should be a controversial statement. History proves it and most importantly the Bible proves it.

Satan is the god of this world (2 Cor. 4:4) and Satan hates the children of God. He wants to destroy and devour them (1 Pet. 5:8).

The world hates the truth. It suppresses it because it wants to sin freely (Rom. 1:18). The church when it is being faithful is fighting against the course of this world. Therefore, the world wants the church to stay quiet. If it could the world would close every church, burn every pulpit and destroy every Bible.

Little do they know that God’s wrath is upon them (Rom. 1:18) and without the church they would be already consumed.

As we see the world react to this Covid situation, we are starting to see the hate for the church come out.

If a ruler knew his Bible, he would quickly realize that it is in his city’s best interest not only to deem the gathering to be essential, but to be begging Christians to meet together, evangelize and pray for their communities.

As I was reading Romans 9 the other day, I was reminded about what Paul wrote in Romans 9:32 where it says,

“If the Lord of armies had not left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, and would have been like Gomorrah.”

This is of course a loaded verse and one could preach several sermons on the truth found therein. But I would like to emphasize one simple truth this verse contains.

Paul says that a country with enough believers keeps God’s wrath longer at bay.

Or the opposite, that a city without enough Christians obeying the Lord will decay much faster than a city with Christians.

In other words, there better be churches meeting in your city or it will end up being like Sodom and Gomorrah.

The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is renown. They are no longer around today because of their rampant wickedness. But it is a conversation between Abraham and God just preceding the destruction of those cities that teaches us an important lesson regarding the importance of having enough “righteous people” in a particular city.

We find Abraham bartering with God.

The Bible records the conversation in Genesis 16:23-32,

“Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous people within the city; will You indeed sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from You to do such a thing, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?” So, the Lord said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the entire place on their account.” And Abraham replied, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord, although I am only dust and ashes. Suppose the fifty righteous are lacking five, will You destroy the entire city because of five?” And He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose forty are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it on account of the forty.” Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak; suppose thirty are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” And he said, “Now behold, I have ventured to speak to the Lord; suppose twenty are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the twenty.” Then he said, “Oh may the Lord not be angry, and I shall speak only this once: suppose ten are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it on account of the ten.” Genesis 16:23-32

This is one of the most fascinating accounts in all of Scripture.

Here we find Abraham negotiating with God to help spare Sodom and Gomorrah. And we see God acquiescing to Abraham’s demand. If there had been ten righteous people in Sodom and Gomorrah, the cities would still be around today. But the fact of the matter is that they did not have that many righteous people and so, they did not survive God’s wrath.

Jesus tells the disciples the same thing when he calls them the salt of the earth (Matt. 5:13. He is telling them that they are the agent that is keeping the world from decaying as fast as it would were they not there. In fact, the whole point of losing your saltiness is that Christians begin thinking and acting like the world, therefore losing their power to preserve and to influence. The influencers become the influenced and therefore are casted aside by God himself.

There’s a lot of talk about loving your neighbor through this pandemic. Some Christians on social media have been very vocal about the importance of abiding by all government regulations.

In other words, they believe that Christians shouldn’t gather (or should limit the gathering) out of love for their neighbor. The potential of spreading this virus, if you gather, means that not gathering is the way to love. That the church should keep to the 15% gathering limits imposed by government; that if told, they should refrain from singing and taking communion.

Some people point to the fact that if bars have to follow rules then the church should abide by theirs as well.

The problem with this way of thinking is that bars don’t have the ability to keep the world alive by being full, while the church does. God hasn’t ordered the bar owner to gather and sing. It is more than essential for the church doors to remain open. To continue in a business-as-usual type fashion. It is the oxygen that lets this world breathe a little longer. It is the reason why God delays his wrath from being unleashed on the world. It is the reason for his overlooking wickedness in towns, cities, and countries.

What’s fascinating is that the world tries to silence and kill the very thing that is keeping them alive.

It’s like an astronaut in outer space trying to yank his helmet off because it’s bothering him. Not realizing it is the only reason he is able to live.

Of course, they killed Jesus, despite the fact that he was feeding thousands, he was healing every disease and he was casting demons. He was only improving their lives.

The world doesn’t know what is best for them.

The world has killed off Christians before. It has tried to silence the gospel. But it has never been successful and will never be successful.

I don’t write this post to criticize pastors for abiding by their city’s and country’s rules. I write this to encourage you that the world doesn’t always know what is best for them, and we should always follow God’s word above the science of the day.

I think you can be faithful and limit the amount of people who come into your doors for a time. You can be faithful and meet on zoom if you believe it is best for your church for a time. You can even do 7 services to comply with the 15% gathering demands if you want. But what is important is that you realize that the church is more than essential and that especially in times where government tries to limit churches that we understand how dangerous it is for us to limit our gathering.

It is not only dangerous for our own souls, but it is dangerous for our society.

Many pastors and parachurch leaders have been critical of pastors who don’t abide to the limits imposed by the government. One of these, James Coates, a Master’s Seminary graduate is now in jail because of his conviction to meet at full capacity.

Many Christians have been quick to criticize him for being unloving and to say that what he is facing isn’t persecution.

What they might be forgetting, perhaps because of a lack of persecution over the years, is that the Devil hates it when you gather. The Devil hates when you sing. Demons are rampant and influencing society. Demons have used and will try to use this pandemic to try to stop the church.

If there is anything the Devil loves is when he has muddied the waters so much that when Christians are persecuted, and the church is shut down, that the world will be cheering it on and will not see it for what it truly is. Persecution. And the Devil certainly considers it even more of a success when some in the church side with the world and turn against fellow Christian that they will spend eternity with.

I would just implore the Christians, not to side with the world. You may disagree with some strong stances but don’t forget how essential the church gathering is. The world as I already said doesn’t know what is best for them. The church gathering in full is what is best for them. The church singing in full chorus is what is best for them. Pastors preaching the Bible faithfully is what is best for them. The full church gathered to be equipped to go out on Monday and preach the gospel is what is best for them.

No one can destroy the church; the gates of Hell will not prevail against it. God will win. But he will do so by empowering faithful pastors like James Coates, who has seen through the false masquerade of “loving your neighbor” and refuses to give in to overbearing self-harming limitations imposed by demonically inspired governments. He has done the most loving thing he could ever do; call his church to assemble each Sunday and equip them to fight against the devil and his lies, to live holy lives, and to preach the Gospel to a quickly dying and hell-bound world.

[spiritualdirections]

Interpretive Charity and the two paradigms of the pandemic

In the Gospel today, the woman at the well and Jesus begin by talking past each other. The woman thinks Jesus is interested in water, or perhaps she thinks he’s interested in being her next husband. Jesus is interested in her conversion. She doesn’t get what he’s saying, at all. She lacks the imagination to consider this conversation the way that Jesus does.

A lot of us are talking past each other: At MIT this week, the administration managed a giant operation to shut down the university within a few days. Every so often, there would be a conference call where exhausted members of the administration would explain what they were doing and why, receive feedback in the form of “have you thought of this?”, and then give an answer (which, as often as not, would be changed within a few hours). Their work and efforts were really quite intelligent, and earned praise from MIT’s president. Also at MIT this week, students protested the various decisions of the Institute, often in vulgar language, which really hurt the feelings of the men and women who were working long hours to evacuate (sorry, “de-densify”) the campus. But, of course, the decisions of the Institute hurt many students in obviously real ways. Both sides had a point, and yet neither was really able to get inside the mind of the other and interpret the other’s actions charitably.

A poll just came out which shows that Republicans and Democrats view the facts and dangers of the pandemic in extremely different ways. There’s a popular saying, that you're entitled to your opinions, but not to your own facts. But, the fact/opinion dichotomy is not sustainable, as anyone who ever studied the great MIT philosopher Thomas Kuhn’s work on scientific revolutions knows. 

What we seem to have here are (at least) two different paradigms for looking at the pandemic: 

One paradigm, expressed really effectively in this article, is that the pandemic is really big, really scary, and that the more governments act in a dictatorial fashion, the better we’ll all be. 

The other paradigm is that over 80% of those who catch the virus get the sniffles and can be treated with DayQuil, that of those with the virus in South Korea (where they have the best testing and thus best data)  only .06% die from this, and that it’s harder to catch than the average flu because you can’t infect anyone else unless you’re coughing and sneezing. People under 50 have little to worry about unless they have a preexisting respiratory, heart, or immune condition, and young people under 20 don’t have anything to worry about at all. 

I’ll call those who subscribe to the first paradigm Team Pandemic (slogan: “Act now to avert the catastrophe!”), the second group I’ll call Team Don’t Panic (slogan: “You can’t spell ‘pandemic’ without ‘panic’!”).

Each paradigm looks at the information available to us and evaluates things differently. Each has important “facts” to build their theory upon: Team Pandemic can point to the limited number of respirators and hospital beds and point out that there’s an absolute number of severe cases that our healthcare system can handle before being overwhelmed, even if the percentage of cases that are severe is low. Team Don’t Panic can point out that we don’t need to isolate everyone, just those who are likely to develop severe cases because of age and pre-existing conditions, and those who are symptomatic.  Team Pandemic worries that you can transmit the virus without being symptomatic; Team Don’t Panic points out that no evidence supports this. Team Pandemic points out that the regions that instituted strict policies quickly have the virus spread under control; Team Don’t Panic responds that we should adopt China’s approach of having huge numbers of “contact tracing” teams tracking down the network of those exposed to the already infected, which is a scalable response (interviewers can be trained and deployed quickly). Team Pandemic points out how one woman, Patient 31 in South Korea, who ignored social isolation policies infected thousands of people. Team Don’t Panic points out that she was symptomatic (including feverish) for over a week and didn’t self-isolate--that hardly justifies asymptomatic people being forced into isolation. Don’t Panic points out that isolating policies are likely to have devastating effects on the local and global economies. Team Pandemic points out that a global health crisis might be even worse. 

I’m not the guy to adjudicate the debate. Actually, it’s not just a debate, but a deliberation about how we should live together right now. Academics can analyze and debate things for years. But we have to make decisions about how to behave right now based upon very incomplete information. We also can’t just adopt a “live and let live” attitude, since my neighbor’s mistaken decisions might affect me. So we need to deliberate together. Unfortunately, as the philosopher Alisdair MacIntyre has shown, our society’s capacity for moral argument across competing paradigms is quite low. 

I do think that in the days and weeks to come, we should work to try to understand the other side’s paradigm. This past week, I’ve seen both sides be extremely focused on solving problems within their own paradigms, while being completely unsympathetic to the viewpoint of the other team. Because the authorities have largely joined Team Pandemic, most people on Team Don’t Panic are actually quite aware of the arguments on the other side; they just see things differently. I think most people on Team Pandemic are oblivious to the critique of their own position. That sort of imbalance in listening is a recipe for social unrest, civil disobedience, and riots. If the authorities on Team Pandemic continue to order people around without listening and responding to the arguments from Team Don’t Panic, they might lose their ability to lead. If Team Pandemic happens to be right about the necessity of social isolation, and yet people start disobeying them because of their own unwillingness to listen, they might bring about their own worst nightmare. 

But I’m a priest, and chaplain of hundreds of college students, and so my more direct concern is that people make the effort to be charitable to one another. If you are squarely on one team, don’t yell and scream at people on the other team. Try to see the world from their perspective. Try to focus on the “facts” that are most weighty in their opinion, and see if there’s some sort of compromise you can make about your own views. Investigate the facts that are under dispute, analytically, with an openness to new evidence. Check your blind spots, by broadening your vision to think about other aspects of the situation than those you usually do. Love the people on the other team, not in a condescending way, but as people who also are seeking the truth about how to live under these circumstances. If you continue to disagree, don’t be disagreeable. Bear with the faults of others, and apologize if you realize that you lost your temper or argued disrespectfully. 

And, if, like me, you’ve been forced into working from home--don’t be resentful about it. Assume God has a plan!

[pope-francis-quotes]

24th April >> (@ZenitEnglish By Deborah Castellano Lubov) #PopeFrancis #Pope Francis ‘It’s True, the People Often Tire Their Pastor: But He Still Must Always Stay Close to Them’ (Full Text of #Pope Francis’ Morning Homily). At Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis Prays for Students & Teachers.

It’s true the people of God tire their pastor, but he must still stay close to them…

According to Vatican News, Pope Francis stressed this today, 24th April during his private daily Mass at his residence Casa Santa Marta.

At the start of the Mass, while remembering all victims of Coronavirus, Francis prayed for students and teachers at this time.

“We pray today,” he said, “for teachers who have to work so hard to provide lessons via the internet and other digital ways, and we also pray for students who have to take exams in a way they are not used to. Let us accompany them with prayer.”

In his homily, the Holy Father commented on today’s passage from St. John’s Gospel about the loaves and the fishes (John 6:1-15), focusing specifically on where it says:“He said this only to put Philip to the test; He Himself knew exactly what He was going to do.”

The Jesuit Pope recalled how the Lord often tests us, and sees how we react when much is demanded of us. The Pope spoke of the demands put on pastors by their people.

“It’s true that the People of God tire the Pastor,” the Argentine Pontiff said, underscoring: “they tire him.”

When there is a good Pastor, Francis recognized, demands on him multiply “because people always go to a good Pastor for one reason or another.”

“Once, a great parish priest of a simple, humble neighbourhood of the diocese,” Francis remembered, “had the parsonage as a normal house and the people knocked on the door or knocked on the window, at all hours . . . and he once said to me: “But I would like to wall the door and the window so that they let me rest.”

“However,” the Pope continued, “he was aware he was a Pastor and should be with the people. And Jesus forms, He teaches the disciples, the Apostles this pastoral attitude, which is closeness to the People of God.”

Acknowledging how the people often exhaust their pastor, in asking for numerous concrete things, Francis stresses that regardless, the pastor must respond to these things.

The Holy Father also gave concrete advice to pastors, underscoring: “the power of the pastor is service. He has no other power. When you begin to make mistakes taking other powers your vocation is ruined.”

Pope Francis concluded, praying the Lord would speak to pastors of the Church, teaching them to be, above all, close and not afraid of God’s people.

The Pope ended the celebration with Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction, inviting the faithful to make a Spiritual Communion.

The Masses in Francis’ chapel normally welcome a small group of faithful, but due to recent measures’ taken by the Vatican, are now being kept private, without their participation. The Holy Week and Easter celebrations in the Vatican were also done without the presence of faithful, but were able to be watched via streaming.

Likewise, the Pope had a private Mass for Divine Mercy Sunday, with very limited participation by others, at the Roman Church of Santo Spirito in Sassia. One could watch via streaming.

It was announced at the start of the lockdowns in Italy that the Pope would have these Masses, in this period, be available to all the world’s faithful, via streaming on Vatican Media, on weekdays, at 7 am Rome time, along with his weekly Angelus and General Audiences.

In Italy where more than 25,000 people have died from coronavirus, public Masses are still prohibited. To date, in the Vatican, there have been seven cases of coronavirus; at least two people healed.

The Vatican Museums are now closed, along with the Vatican’s other similar museums. There have also been various guidelines implemented throughout the Vatican, to prevent the spread of the virus.

For anyone interested, the Pope’s Masses at Santa Marta can be watched live and can be watched afterward on Vatican YouTube. Below is a link to today’s Mass. Also, a ZENIT English translation of the Pope’s full homily is available below:

***

***

FULL HOMILY [translated by ZENIT’s Virginia Forrester]

This phrase of this passage makes us think: “This He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.” It’s what Jesus had in mind when He says: “How are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” But He said it to put him, Philip, to the test. He knew. Seen here is Jesus’ attitude with the Apostles. He puts them to the test continually to teach them and, when they were out of bounds and out of the function they had to do, He stopped them and taught them. The Gospel is full of these gestures of Jesus to make His disciples grow to become Pastors of the People of God, in this case Bishops, Pastors of the People of God. And one of the things Jesus loved most was to be with the crowd, because this is also a symbol of the universality of Redemption. And one of the things that the Apostles disliked most was the crowd, because they liked to be close to the Lord, to hear the Lord, to hear all that the Lord said.

This day they went there to have a day of rest — say the other versions in the other Gospels, because all four speak of it . . . perhaps there were two multiplications of loaves — and they were coming from a mission and the Lord said: “Let’s go to rest a while.” And they went there and the people noticed where they went by the sea, they made a circle and waited for Him there. And the disciples weren’t happy because the people had ruined the Easter Monday, and they couldn’t have their celebration with the Lord. Despite this, Jesus began to teach, they listened, then they talked among themselves, and the hours, hours, hours went by, Jesus talked and the people <were> happy. And they the Apostles said: “Our celebration is ruined; our rest is ruined.”

However, the Lord sought closeness with the people and He sought to form the heart of the Pastors to closeness with the People of God, to serve them. And they, we understand, were chosen and felt somewhat like a privileged circle, a privileged class, “an aristocracy,” let’s say, close to the Lord and many times the Lord did gestures to correct them. For instance, we think <how he was> with children. They <the Apostles> protected the Lord: “No, no, no, the children must not come close as they bother, disturb . . . No, the children <must stay> with the parents.” And Jesus? “Let the children come.” And they <the Apostles> didn’t understand. Then they understood. Then I think of the road to Jericho, that other <man> who shouted: “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” And they <the Apostles said>: “But be quiet as the Lord is passing; don’t disturb Him.” And Jesus says: ”But, who is that? Have him come.” Again, the Lord <corrects them>. And so, He taught them closeness to the People of God.

It’s true that the People of God tire the Pastor, they tire him: things multiply when there is a good Pastor, because people always go to a good Pastor for one reason or another. Once, a great parish priest of a simple, humble neighbourhood of the diocese had the parsonage as a normal house and the people knocked on the door or knocked on the window, at all hours . . . and he once said to me: “But I would like to wall the door and the window so that they let me rest.” However, he was aware he was a Pastor and should be with the people. And Jesus forms, He teaches the disciples, the Apostles this pastoral attitude, which is closeness to the People of God. And the People of God tire one, because they always ask for concrete things, they always ask for something concrete, perhaps mistaken, but they ask for concrete things. And the Pastor must respond to these things. The version of the other evangelists when they make Jesus see that the hours were passing and that the people should go, because it was beginning to get dark, and they said: “But dismiss the people so that they may go to buy something to eat, in fact when it was dark, when it was beginning to get dark . . . But, what did they have in mind? At least to celebrate a bit among themselves, not an evil egoism but, we understand, to be with the Pastor, to be with Jesus who is the great Pastor. And, to test them, Jesus answers: “You give them to eat.” And this is what Jesus says today to all Pastors: “You give them to eat.” “Are they anguished? You give them consolation.” “Are they lost? You give them a way out. Are they mistaken? You give to them <something> to resolve the problems . . . You give them. . . “And the poor Apostle feels he must give, give, give, but from whom does he receive? Jesus teaches us, from the same that Jesus received.

After this, he dismisses the Apostles and goes to pray, to the Father, <Her prays>. This twofold closeness of the Pastor is what Jesus seeks to help the Apostles understand, so that they become great Pastors. However, the crowd errs many times, and it erred here “Then the people, having seen the sign He had accomplished, said: “This is truly the prophet, He who is to come into the world!” However, Jesus, knowing that they were coming to take Him to make Him King, retired again.” Perhaps — the Gospel doesn’t say it — one of the Apostles might have said to Him: “But Lord, let’s take advantage of this and take power” — another temptation. And Jesus makes them see that that’s not the way. The power of a Pastor is service; he has no other power and, when he errs on another power the vocation is ruined and <the Pastors> become, I don’t know, managers of pastoral businesses but not Pastors. The structure doesn’t do the pastoral: the heart of the Pastor is what does the pastoral. And the heart of the Pastor is what Jesus is teaching us now. Let’s pray to the Lord today for the Pastors of the Church; may the Lord speak to them always, because He loves them so much: may He speak to us always, may He tell us how things are, may He explain to us and, especially, teach us not to be afraid of the People of God, not to be afraid to be close to them.

The Pope ended the celebration with Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction, inviting the faithful to make a Spiritual Communion.

Here Is the Prayer Recited by the Pope:

My Jesus, I believe You are really present in the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar. I love You above all things and I desire you in my soul. As I cannot receive You sacramentally now, come at least spiritually into my heart. As if You have already come, I embrace You and unite myself wholly to You. Do not permit me to be ever separated from You.

Before leaving the Chapel, dedicated to the Holy Spirit, the Marian antiphon “Regina Caeli” was intoned, sung during Eastertide:

Regina caeli laetare, alleluia.

Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia.

Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluia.

Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.

(Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.

Christ, whom you bore in your womb, alleluia,

Has Risen as He promised, alleluia.

24th APRIL 2020 12:44POPE'S MORNING HOMILY

[a-n-i-m-e-us]

(CNN)As the novel coronavirus has spread across the globe, President Trump has repeated one phrase like a mantra: It will go away.

Since February Trump has said the virus will "go away" at least 15 times, most recently on May 15.

"It's going to disappear one day," he said on February 27. "It's like a miracle."

Invoking a miracle is an understandable response during a pandemic, but to some, the President's insistence that the coronavirus will simply vanish sounds dangerously like magical thinking -- the popular but baffling idea that we can mold the world to our liking, reality be damned.

The coronavirus, despite Trump's predictions, has not disappeared. It has spread rapidly, killing more than 90,000 Americans.

In that light, Trump's response to the pandemic, his fulsome self-praise and downplaying of mass death seems contrary to reality. But long ago, his biographers say, Trump learned how to craft his own version of reality, a lesson he learned in an unlikely place: a church.

It's called the "power of positive thinking," and Trump heard it from the master himself: the Rev. Norman Vincent Peale, a Manhattan pastor who became a self-help juggernaut, the Joel Osteen of the 1950s.

"He thought I was his greatest student of all time," Trump has said.

Undoubtedly, the power of positive thinking has taken Trump a long way -- through multiple business failures to the most powerful office in the world.

Trump has repeatedly credited Peale -- who died in 1993 -- and positive thinking with helping him through rough patches.

Norman Vincent Peale wrote the bestselling 1952 self-help book, "The Power of Positive Thinking." It sold millions of copies.

"I refused to be sucked into negative thinking on any level, even when the indications weren't great," Trump said of the early 1990s, when his casinos were tanking and he owed creditors billions of dollars.

But during a global public health crisis there can be a negative side to positive thinking.

"Trump pretending that this pandemic will just go away is not just an unacceptable fantasy," said Christopher Lane, author of "Surge of Piety: Norman Vincent Peale and the Remaking of American Religious Life."

"It is in the realm of dangerous delusion."

Trump says Peale has made him feel better about himself

Though they were professed Presbyterians, it's more accurate to call Trump's family Peale-ites.

On Sundays, Trump's businessman father drove the family from Queens to Peale's pulpit at Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan.

The centuries-old edifice was, and remains, the closest thing Trump has to a family church. Funerals for both of his parents were held there, and Peale presided over Trump's marriage to Ivana at Marble Collegiate in 1977. Two of his siblings were also married in the sanctuary.

The draw, Trump's biographers say, was Peale, who elevated businessmen like the Trumps to saint-like status as crusaders of American capitalism.

Known as "God's Salesman," Peale wrote many self-help books, including "The Power of Positive Thinking," that sold millions of copies.

From left to right, Donald Trump, Ivana Trump, Ruth Peale and Dr. Norman V. Peale at Peale's 90th birthday party in 1988.

Peale drew throngs of followers, but also sharp criticism from Christians who accused him of cherry-picking Bible verses and peddling simplistic solutions.

But the young Donald Trump was hooked.

"He would instill a very positive feeling about God that also made me feel positive about myself," Trump writes in "Great Again," one of his books. "I would literally leave that church feeling like I could listen to another three sermons."

Peale peppered his sermons with pop psychology. Sin and guilt were jettisoned in favor of "spirit-lifters," "energy-producing thoughts" and "7 simple steps" to happy living.

"Attitudes are more important than facts," Peale preached, a virtual prophecy of our post-truth age.

"Formulate and stamp indelibly on your mind a mental picture of yourself as succeeding," Peale writes in "The Power of Positive Thinking."

"Hold this picture tenaciously. Never permit it to fade."

Peale has also influenced Trump's spiritual advisers

To this day, Trump surrounds himself with Peale-like figures, particularly prosperity gospel preachers.

One of his closest spiritual confidantes, Florida pastor Paula White, leads the White House's faith-based office and is a spiritual descendent of Peale's positive thinking -- with a Pentecostal twist.

White, a televangelist, belongs to the Word of Faith movement, which teaches that God bestows health and wealth on true believers.

In a Rose Garden ceremony for the National Day of Prayer earlier this month, White quoted from the Bible's Book of Job: "If you decree and declare a thing, it will be established."

"I declare no more delays to the deliverance of Covid-19," White continued. "No more delays to healing and a vaccination."

Paula White, a televangelist and religious adviser to President Trump.

The Book of Job, a parable of human suffering and powerlessness, may be a strange book for a preacher to cite while "declaring" an end to the pandemic. If it were so easy, Job's story would involve fewer boils and tortures.

But in a way, White perfectly captures the problem with positive thinking: It tries to twist every situation into a "victory," even when reality demonstrates otherwise.

"Positive thinking can help people focus on goals and affirm one's merits," said Lane, author of the book on Peale. "But it does need a reality check, and to be based in fact."

Sometimes, the reality is that you've failed and need to change course. But to Peale, that wasn't an option. Even self-doubt was a sin, he taught, an affront to God.

"He had a huge problem with failure," Lane said. "He would berate people for even talking about it."

Peale's teachings can explain why Trump won't accept criticism

You can hear echoes of Peale's no-fail philosophy in Trump's angry response to reporters' questions about his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, said Trump biographer Michael D'Antonio.

"Nothing is an exchange of ideas or discussion of facts," D'Antonio said. "Everything is a life or death struggle for the definition of reality. For him, being wrong feels like being obliterated."

President Donald Trump answers questions with members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force on April 3, 2020 in Washington.

And that's one reason why the President refuses to accept any criticism or admit to any failure. To do so would puncture his bubble of positivity, not to mention his self-image.

So, despite his administration's early missteps in preparing for and responding to the coronavirus, Trump won't acknowledge any errors.

Instead, he has misled the public, claiming in February that the situation was "under control" when it was not; promising a vaccine is coming "very soon," which it is not; and falsely insisting that "anyone can get tested," when they could not and many still cannot.

Still, when asked in mid-March to grade his administration's response, Trump gave himself a perfect score.

"I'd rate it a 10," he said. "I think we've done a great job."

Trump's self-appraisal might not match reality. But Peale would be proud.

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[eleanorszeryk]

See It To Believe It

     Living in a state that is part of the Bible Belt, it is pretty normal to assume that almost everyone you meet believes in God. In fact, I’m sure it’s a bit of a culture shock to come into Texas for the first time and see the massive churches, billboards just off the highway with Bible verses plastered all over them, and people constantly saying “Bless your heart”. But for me, that is what I’m used to. I’m used to going into church and seeing most of my classmates there or going over to a friend’s house and all of us praying over the meal being fed to us. It wasn’t until I started living with my teammates in BC that I realized a large part of the world doesn’t know or want to believe in God. I will never forget the first time my beliefs were not shared. It was a conversation with one of my now close friends where I had brought up something along the lines of “God’s Plan”. I had no idea what he did or did not believe in but I was so used to the southern culture that the idea of him disagreeing with me didn’t even cross my mind. He looked at me confused and almost slightly disappointed and said “Yeah no, I don’t think that’s what happens”. I was stunned and had no idea what to say. I wanted to ask him a million more questions but there is no easy way to ask “Why don’t you believe in God?!” Fortunately through the years I’ve gotten to speak to him and a few of my other friends about their views on it all. The argument used most from them was “I can’t believe in something that I don’t see”. It was a fair argument and I never knew how to respond or argue against it. But I figured now was the time to speak on this since we are all locked inside due to something we also cannot see. 

     Here’s a hot take- God and Covid-19 are extremely similar. Before you start to judge me for saying that, let me ask you this- How do you know Covid-19 is real? There’s a simple answer to that- Facts and testimony. There are research teams filled with professionals of all kinds teaching us about this virus while those who have been infected have made videos to warn us about how painful it can be. There are also over  2 million cases worldwide right now and it has the majority of the world in a panic, so you would have to be absolutely insane to think the virus isn’t real, right? Now I must ask those who believe in Jesus- How do we know He is real? Facts and testimony. Just like the many scientists that are working day and night to figure out what makes this virus so deadly as well as those who are dedicating their time to educate us further on it- we had our very own team which consisted of the Apostles. 

      Jesus chose His twelve men to walk with Him. Their main mission was to learn from His teachings and His way of life. They observed and studied the ways the Holy Spirit worked through not only Jesus, but regular people like you and me. After watching, they followed in His footsteps and went into a variety of places to spread His Good Word to others but most importantly to show the people the importance of accepting His Spirit that is already within us. You can read the ways they shared Jesus’ teachings throughout the Gospels and even further into the New Testament you can see how they brought His teachings into their own lives. But for those who believe that the Bible is a biased source- there are many non-biblical pieces confirming Jesus’ existence that even fall in line with what is exactly written within the Bible. These articles are not written by men who are exactly “Pro-Christ” in fact, one of them came from the famous Roman historian that went by the name Tacitus who wrote about the crucifixion of Christ. For some background information about good ole Tacitus, he absolutely despised Christians and it’s known that his previous job was to supervise trials and question those who are accused of practicing Christianity- those he found guilty he punished. So it is very unlikely that this man would want anything to do with Jesus or Christianity. Tacitus was writing a piece with the intent of framing Christians for starting a fire (because he despised them so much) but ended with speaking about Christ’s crucifixion and His resurrection. The timeline and the location Tacitus wrote was all accurate to what the Bible, and many other historians, believe to be true. There is no bias for Tacitus, what could he possibly gain from writing about a man, who inspired those he hated, being killed then rising again? 

     There are many more pieces just like this and even artifacts that match up with the story and timeline of Jesus. Other than multiple written testimonies about seeing Christ and all of His teachings- it is also in the numbers. If we are changing our routines and the way we see our lives for 2 million cases, then why aren’t we taking those 2.3 billion into consideration? Christianity is the largest practiced religion in the world and there is a prediction that it will continue that way for many more years to come. 2.3 billion people. That is 860,676,224 more people than the most populated country in the world. For those who don’t understand how big that number is, here is a reference- if you combine the population of China, USA, Indonesia, and Pakistan (4 of the 5 most populated countries in the world) there would still be more believers than citizens in those countries combined. Do you really think billions of people would blindly follow a Man who died 2 thousand years ago and not ask a single question? We all ask questions about His existence and He always answers us. He might not answer by writing it in the clouds or showing up at our door saying “Hi, I’m real!!!” but He does it with the situations He puts us in and the feeling of comfort within our hearts when we have fellowship based on Him. Just as you can feel the virus battling through your body and doing all the damage it possibly can, you can also feel the Holy Spirit fighting for you and working as hard as possible to heal all of your spiritual wounds. You might ask me “Ellie, where is the proof for that?” and all I can say is look at the transformation of those around you that have started walking with Christ. Their entire personality and their views on life probably took a complete 180 didn’t it? Do you know how hard it is to change the way your mind operates? That is how powerful the Holy Spirit is, for we cannot change that quickly on our own but only through Christ and His Love we can do anything. 

     Covid-19 enters the body and leaves its mark, but so does the Holy Spirit. It leaves the mark of Hope. The marking of Love, Strength, Joy, and Forgiveness which is something we all need in these times. It is time that we move our focus from one invisible to the other. From Fear to Faith. Death to Prosperity. Covid to Christ. 

[ruthnduka-blog]

BENEFITS OF LIVE STREAMING: POST CORONA VIRUS

The benefits of live streaming can never be over emphasised. It is convenient for the church and also for the congregation. Find out why your church should get started and spread its ministry beyond physical or geographical limitations

Worshipextra

BENEFITS OF LIVE STREAMING: POST CORONA VIRUS

The Corona Virus pandemic has posed as a threat not only to the Christian community but to the world at large. The global crisis has forced most churches to shut down and stop public gatherings, though incredibly difficult, this seems to be a silver lining for technology to creep into the church.

Let’s be honest, a lot of pastors and churches have been very slow to adapt to the new technology of live streaming simply because of their worries that it encourages people not to be physically present in church gatherings. They fail to understand that live streaming can never replace local church gathering, why? Because of some essential parts like the Holy Communion.

It is trite that nothing exceeds a face-to-face conversation and physical interactions but our choices should be based on good purpose and the intended solutions rather than potential abuse.

Premised on the above, we shall be discussing several benefits of live streaming church services with hope that church will continue the practice even after the corona virus is gone.

Reach a Wider Audience

Being physically present in church for services, bible study or prayer meetings can only be possible for those who live close to the church, have the time or are healthy enough.

Live streaming allows a greater number of people to connect to church services. This means that potential community members can connect to your church service.

A lot of people fear the commitment associated with being physically present in church. Given the benefits of live streaming, you can reach to these category of people without making them feel the pressure to commit or be part of any small group.

Some churches have avoided having services online because they feel it reduces attendance of church congregation. I’ve never seen anything far from the truth than this. There are many people who search for churches online especially millennials and they are the largest consumers of live content. Your church can connect and minister to these youths and also to the increasing number of older people online.

There are increasing cases of where people who watch and follow a particular church event online attend the event the next year and also where people make up their mind on churches to attend by services online.

2.Helps the Sick, Disabled and Elderly

As earlier stated, health or mind status of any church congregation is something that limits physical presence in the church.

A few segment of church congregation no longer attend church services regularly either because they are sick, disabled or old and it is quite important that churches reach out to these people. That support, companionship and connection to the church may be all they need to live a little longer.

Thus, by holding services online your church can help this segment of people feel more connected to the church.

3. Very Convenient and Timeless

The benefits of live streaming can never be over emphasised. It is convenient for the church and also for the congregation. Some churches believe it is too difficult and time consuming, on the contrary it is quite easy and convenient as ever. With the right equipment (which will be discussed on our next blog post) setting up and recording services online is quick and easy.

Live streaming is convenient for your congregation as they can watch services online from any part of the world, so distance is no longer a barrier.

It's even more fascinating that a live stream less than Eight (8) hours can last for as long as your page is valid, this way your church ministers to millions of people through the same sermon at different time.

Platforms like worshipextra has even made it more convenient for your congregation as the app can be downloaded on play store. 

4. Channel for collections, donations and giving

Online transactions have become the most preferred and convenient method of sending and receiving payments.

Churches who are part of church community like worshipextra makes it very easy for their congregation to send in their donations and offerings even while watching church services online, which is of great benefits to the church.

5. Extremely Affordable

One of the greatest myths and hindrances to live streaming is that it is super expensive. Some churches believe they cannot afford it because of their budgets.

The price of Live streaming depends on the choosing the right streaming provider, while some services are quite expensive others are very affordable.

For example, worshipextra pricing lists starts at $348 annually which is very suitable for any church.

Conclusion

The Church ultimate mission is to reach as many souls as the church can and one essential tool to spread the gospel is Live streaming.

It’s time for churches to embrace technology and use it to spread their ministry beyond physical or geographical limitations. I hope you have a better picture of the benefits of live streaming and why your church should get started.

[dailyaudiobible]

03/19/2020 DAB Transcript

Numbers 28:16-29:40, Luke 3:23-38, Psalms 62:1-12, Proverbs 11:18-19

Today is the 19th day of March, welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I’m Brian it’s great to be here with you today around the Global Campfire where we show up. Day after day we show up and in community take the next step forward through the Scriptures. We’ve been working our way through the book of Numbers for a while now, and few more days. I think we’ll finish the book of Numbers next week. So, let's take that next step forward. Today we’ll read numbers chapter 28 versus 16 to 29 verse 40 and we’re reading from the Message this week.

Prayer:

Father, we thank You for Your word. We read a lot of names in Your word today. We were tracing back the family line from which You came into the world and we read these names and their funny and interesting names and hard to pronounce names but every one of those names is…is a life and family and a story and laughter and weeping and joy and sadness like everyone else's life. Every one of those names was a life lived carrying the story forward. And as we moved back through the story, back through those lines there were names we recognized, people that we've met in the Bible. Their stories have become known to us and they carried the story forward. And even as we continue to go back, we realized we were going all the way back to the beginning, all the way back to You. You are the giver of life and every single one of us were we able could read name after name after name after name after name after name after name leading all the way until us. We got here through millions and millions of choices of people who would've gone before us, but we have all come from You. We are Your children. You are our Father. We acknowledge You. We are nothing without You. You have given us life and You gave life to all the generations before us. And, so, we honor that. It’s how we got here. And yes, life can be confusing and we can feel disoriented a lot of the time not knowing exactly what's going on, but it's becoming clearer and clearer as we have eyes to see and ears to hear and we are grateful for this gift to be here now. And may we meditate on that today - the gift that we are here and what it took to get us here over all of the generations. Thank You for allowing us to be. And Father we give our lives to You and ask that we might honor the gift of life today. Come Holy Spirits we pray. In the name of Jesus, we ask. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is home base, it is the website, it’s where you find what's going on around here. And, of course, you can access all of that, all of this, all of whatever I’m gonna say in the app as well.

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And while you’re there you can explore some of the other aspects of the website including the Daily Audio Bible Shop where there are number of resources that are…are there. They’ve been created for the journey that were on the including some of the…the different books and writings and maybe for slowing down a little bit. We have some time for that. I…I would suggest I think right now Sneezing Jesus, short little book that explores the life of Jesus, but also the way in which the gospel that we take for granted often, it’s just like all around us, how it spread, like a virus, how it was transmitted person to person who then infected more people who then infected people so that it spread all over the world and has come to us easily, but that wasn't always so. Many, many, many millions of people suffered along the way for us to have what we have. And instead of spreading an infection or instead of infecting the world with darkness, what would our lives look like if we were completely contagious with the kingdom of light? Not a bad exploration for the times that we’re in. That's available at dailyaudiobible.com in the Shop or anywhere…anywhere you can get a book. So, check that out.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, you can do that at dailyaudiobible.com. There is a link on the homepage. I thank you with all of my heart for your partnership. We wouldn't have a roaring Global Campfire that we can come around every day if we weren't in this together. And. so, I thank you. Thank you that we are. If you’re using the Daily Audio Bible app you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner, or the mailing address is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174.

And, as always, if you have a prayer request or encouragement, you can dial 877-942-4253 or you can hit the Hotline button in the app, the little red button at the top and share from there.

And that is all for today. I’m Brian I love you and I'll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

[truthpop]

COVID-19 Reflections: With Great Fear Comes Great Grace

There is no doubt that we are living in uncertain and scary times as the Coronavirus COVID-19 continues to spread throughout our world and now country. As more fear escalates and events are being cancelled it can be difficult to see the good in all of this. 

This week my husband Jake and I had to make the difficult decision to cancel our party that we had greatly anticipated and planned for months. We were heartbroken as all our hard work and planning seemed to be wasted. Although we have had a lot of disappointment, we cannot help but see the abundant grace and mercy God has been pouring down on us this week.

About a week ago last Sunday, Jake and I decided to invite friends out to brunch after Mass. We approached our friend, Judy*, who was in the middle of a conversation with a family I did not know. Judy graciously declined our invitation due to having other plans, but mentioned that the family she was talking to was from out of town and looking for a place to eat. I felt the Holy Spirit leading me to invite them to come with us, and they pleasantly surprised me by saying yes almost immediately!  We ended up having an extraordinary faith-filled experience spending over 3 hours with each other! The wonderful parents of the family,  Lisa* and Jack* had 4 children, 3 of which were present at the moment. We learned that Jack was in town for business, and his wife and 3 youngest children came up to visit for spring break. They shared amazing stories about faith, conversion, and how they chose life for their twin girls despite dangerous health risks. I was blown away by their faith, especially Lisa’s form of prayer. Lisa relied heavily on the prayer style Lectio Divina as she used this form every morning. She listened to the Gospel reading through the App “Laudate” and responded in prayer to God after hearing His word. I have the App “Laudate”, and she showed me some of its features I had no idea about. I had been inspired by Lisa to use Lectio Divina consistently in my own life, and I have been praying that way every morning since. I can hear God’s voice so much clearer, and I feel more connected to the Holy Spirit, which brings us to our next amazing experience this week.

This past Thursday, Jake and I ordered in for dinner using a delivery service. When Jake received a text that our food had almost arrived, he went outside and about 100 feet from our apartment he saw a young girl inside a car that was stuck between a rock and a mud place (yes MUD place, not hard place.) Jake immediately asked if we could help her, and I said a quick prayer to St. Joseph asking him to intercede for us in that moment. We both came outside to a poorly lit area and saw the young girl, Elizabeth*, with a terrified look of her face as the back bumper of her car was completely stuck on a tall rock that she had backed up into. Her front tires were stuck in a pile of mud which was unable to get traction to drive her car forward. We tried everything we could think of including attempting to pick up the back of the car (that did not work!) Finally I remembered we could call a non-emergency number. The operator gave us a number for a tow service. We then called the service, and they informed us that they could send help soon. Elizabeth asked us in a quiet voice, “how much will this cost?” I gently reassured her not to worry about the cost at this time. As we waited for the tow, a neighbor we had never met came over to check to see if we were okay. He introduced himself, and we learned that his name was David*. He was so friendly and joyful, and he stayed we us the entire time to provide moral support. David informed Jake that he has been unemployed recently and was looking for a job. When Jake told him that we would be praying for him, he had a confused look on his face which then slowly turned into a smile. He then said the words, “thank you.” Shortly after, the father of Elizabeth, Michael*, arrived in his car. He came out and appeared quiet with a kind and humble smile. We all stood together for a moment waiting for the tow when finally the biggest truck I have ever laid my eyes on arrived with bright and massive lights. I said a quick prayer thanking St. Joseph for coming through for us. The tow driver, whose name we never learned, seemed to know just what he needed to do. He was able to figure out how to use a crane to lift the car in the exact way it needed and he placed wooden blocks underneath the back tires so that the back of the car was over the rock. The tow driver then instructed Michael to get in the car and drive it forward. We all held our breaths hoping the car would budge out from the mud. We heard the the car engine roaring loudly and saw the front tires spinning rapidly and slowly the car started inching forward. At last it came out of the mud, and we all began to clap and cheer! The tow truck driver said with a laugh, “Would you believe me if I told you I have only been doing this for 7 months?” I told him that he was the hero of the night, but he then put his head down saying in a low voice, “I’m no hero.” The tow driver then asked how Michael and Elizabeth would pay for this, and Jake and I felt a tug on our hearts to step up. We both agreed we would cover it. Michael looked at us with wide teary eyes and asked, “are you sure?” We both smiled and said, “Yes, you have been through enough tonight.” Elizabeth then asked us where a certain address was located since she had to deliver the food, and she was already 2 hours late. Jake and I both laughed saying, “that’s our address.” She looked surprised and apologized the food had become cold. We reassured her that we didn’t mind and that we were happy to help her. She smiled gently and appeared to be shaking. She then asked if she could give us both a hug. Afterwards everyone waved goodbye to each other including Elizabeth, Michael, David, and the tow truck driver. There was a peace in the air that cannot be described in words. I believe every person that night had their own difficult story involving a heavy cross they may have been carrying, and God gave each one of us exactly what we needed.

The last story happened just yesterday on Sunday. Jake and I are involved in a young adult community who approximately 2 months ago helped a woman named Jackie* who has physical disabilities, move her things into to a new apartment. Jackie had mentioned to Jenna*, the leader of the group who organized the service, that she was Catholic but stopped going to Mass. When Jenna informed me of this news, the Holy Spirit had been stirring in my heart to invite Jackie back to Church. Finally we had the chance when Jenna returned home from a month long mission trip. I asked Jenna if we could bring Jackie and the other members of our young adult group to Mass. Jenna arranged the entire event, and 6 out of the 10 members who helped her move came to sit with her at Mass. After Mass Jackie looked all of us with tears in her eyes saying, “I am so happy to see all of your smiling faces again!” We all went to brunch afterwards, and Jackie appeared so gracious and told us with a big smile, “this has made my month; this is just what I needed!” At the restaurant when we all sat down to eat I felt called to share my conversion story with Jackie. I told her that all my life I had been lukewarm with my faith,  but after I graduated college and started my job for the first time I experienced severe anxiety and depression due to the inadequacy I felt. I began to take my faith seriously around that time and made a consecration to Divine Mercy. Two weeks after that time, I was 100% healed and met Jake at a speed dating event at a church. I had a brand new spirit within me and I was forever changed, completely devoted to God and my faith.  6 months after I had met Jake we both made the Marian consecration, and we became engaged within that year. As I told my story, Jackie looked at me with open eyes and said, "I am going through my own anxiety and depression with my job. I don’t want to just pray in my home anymore, I want to go back to Mass and I want to go with you all!” I told her that we would be there for her and would love to go to Mass with her again. Jake and I recalled that about a year ago there were bad floods in our town. We thought people would become stuck in their homes so we decided to go out and buy food to hand it out to people. We walked through the flooded streets near our home and had such difficulty finding people who needed food. We ended up dropping off the food at a random doorstep. We recalled that we longed for the spirit of service, but we tried searching for it for ourselves. We now find that God has a will for us and He’ll provide the service He wants us to do with grace that only He can provide. We find now despite all the fear and panic NOW is the time for grace and mercy. NOW is the time to shine Christ’s healing light onto others so that they may see the face of God. 

Matthew 5:16 “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

I share this all to testify that God is alive and real. These people have changed my life forever and God used them to help deepen my faith in a dramatic way in the midst of all the panic and fear of this virus. Maybe you can say a prayer that the Holy Spirit can use whatever you are going through to help others during this pandemic.

*Actual name of person has been changed

-Cathy

[barbaramoorersm]

May 17, 2020

May 17, 2020

6th Sunday of Easter

Acts of the Apostles 8: 5-8, 11-17

Joy is expressed as the message of Jesus spreads and his followers perform great signs.

1 Peter 3: 15-18

Peter shares advice for believers who may face opposition.

John 14: 15-21

In this chapter, Jesus promises the Spirit of truth who will be an advocate for the disciples.

 The 13th to the 17th chapters of John’s Gospel are filled with teachings and have are called, “Jesus’ farewell address”.  In the middle of them, chapter 15, we find Jesus using another metaphor to identify himself.  “I am the true vine”.  In these chapters, he is sharing advice, wisdom and suggestions for his friends who, whether they realized it or not, would soon lose him.

The term “farewell address” struck me because of the hundreds of men, women and children who never were able to share such words with those they loved as the virus struck them. Families and friends could not speak such farewell words at their bed sides or share stories and prayers at wakes, funerals and family gatherings.  Also, many of us were stunned by the recent death of a young emergency room doctor who, after long hours and days of service took her own life. Her “farewell address” was so tragic for many.

Jesus tells his disciples that “If you love me, you will keep my commandments”. And in chapter 15 of this “farewell address”, Jesus shares what is perhaps his most difficult commandment.  “This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you”.

Peter offers advice to his readers as they face difficult times. “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.”  I believe, today, there are three reasons we have for hope, and they are an antidote for this virus and so needed in our present day. They are, Jesus’ words and promises, the love commandment, and the reliance on the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit.

What is our reason for hope?   One reason is found in Jesus’ words and promises. “I will not leave you orphaned”. “I will ask the Father and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever”.  We are not alone on this journey of faith.  Our call is a communal one.  We as Christians are immersed into a community, and our Baptism is a powerful symbol of that reality.  That is why during this 2020 Easter season, not being able to renew our baptismal vows over and over is a loss for many of us.  But the care being shown to each one of us in the midst of our isolation, is “baptismal” and a powerful reminder of that truth about our life as Christians. It is community that is a reason for our hope.

What is our reason for hope?  In the commandment to love one another as God has loved us, we find hope.  This kind of love is much more than a feeling. It is the will and desire for the best for the other, even our enemies and those who have hurt us.  On so many levels, this commandment is exceptionally counter cultural.  As we listen to current discussions and dialogues at times we could conclude that profit and political gain carry more weight than human lives. And yet, our hope lies in the thousands of men and women who care for the world in which they live and serve.  They do this for everyone in the midst of sickness, death, hunger and isolation. That is the love of which Jesus speaks.

What is our reason for hope?  It is the promise of the Holy Spirit.  And Jesus is quite clear when he says, “This is the Spirit of truth who is with us and abides with us”.  In addition, Jesus adds that the Spirit will “…be with us forever”.  The meaning of the Greek word, “abide” is to stand with, continue with, remain with, dwell with and endure with.  If we could only believe this reality think of the many anxieties and fears we could overcome with the help of such a presence, of such hope.  

The poet Anne Weems says it all with her poem.  “Our gifts are gifts of hope”.

“Our yearning after God,  our hope for a better way creates infinite possibilities  

to touch the lives of the untouched                   

to reach the hearts of the unreached

to heal the wounds of the unhealed

to feed the bodies of the unfed

to accept the personhood of the unaccepted

to love the being of the unloved.

Our gifts are gifts of hope;

O God, touch, reach, heal, feed, accept and love us

that we might love one another.”

[elizabethfink-blog]

My Voice

It has now been five days since General Conference officially ended. When I got home afterwards, I wasn’t sure how to feel. I had worked and spent so much of my time in the last three years focused on #GC2019. I had sought to learn and listen as much as possible, to be a peace maker, and to stand for what I felt was the Truth being revealed in Scripture. Now it’s over, and I don’t know what to do with myself. The Conference was fraught with such emotion, that now my body doesn’t know how to handle being in a setting that is void of all that emotion. Can I just sit and binge Netflix? Should I talk about it with anyone who will listen? Do I stay silent? Must I lock myself in my room and avoid all social media?  This is one reason why it has taken my this long to write down what is going on in my heart and head. I wanted to make sure I was not simply speaking from a heart full of emotion but speaking out of a heart rested in Christ. So here it goes…

I am grateful and feel blessed to have been able to attend GC 2016 and 2019 as a delegate. Most people wouldn't call it a blessing, but I am trying to look at it that way. I feel blessed that I was able to witness how a global church can come together and share stories of the transforming work of Jesus Christ in their home countries. I feel honored that I was able to stand up for what I believe God was calling me to stand for. It taught me greater patience. It taught me to discern when to be silent and when to speak. It taught me, though not always easy, how to love those who are different than me. It taught me faith. It taught me trust. I was greatly encouraged by the Renewal and Reform Coalition breakfasts each morning because they revealed to me that I am not in this alone.

I feel like I got a glimpse of the inner turmoil that is within all of us. The struggle between embracing "self" and denying that "self". The struggle between the world and the heavenlies. I found that 2019 was much more difficult than 2016.  This time around we were not discussing many things, but one thing. There was a heightened emotion, and everyone was on edge.  There was a spiritual battle, and still is a spiritual battle happening in and amongst us. We all need to make sure we do not have any unconfessed sin in our lives and are right before the Lord if we are to be effective in these spiritual battles.

I want to address a few things that have been heavy on my heart. I ask that you listen as a fellow disciple of Jesus Christ and not as someone of this world who is so quick to judge and demonize. I am tired of individuals stating I need to apologize or repent for being joyful and relieved that the churches definition of marriage remains between one man and one woman. I will do nothing else but rejoice when I see what I believe to be the inerrant Truth of God prevailing in a world that constantly seeks to pervert it. I am tired of individuals asserting that I am homophobic, hateful, unloving, Pharisaical, bigot, a virus, and other obscene words. Most of those individuals do not know me, and for those that do, it breaks my heart.  I have never said a harsh word or verbally attacked anyone who believes differently than I do.  If “unity” and “inclusion” was the goal of OCP supporters, it was not the message I received during or after GC2019.  The shouting, slander, unfriending, bullying, deceitfulness etc. is unacceptable especially from disciples of Jesus Christ. This is exactly the kind of behavior I have seen from my 9-year-old students which would then lead to a conversation on respect/kindness, and even having some privileges taken away. We ARE called to a higher standard.

I also ask that you stop spreading the lie that LGBTQIA individuals are not welcome in the Methodist church anymore. This is a falsehood and Satan is having a heyday with it.  All are always welcome in the church no matter what you hear, and this lie is hurting the witness and mission of EVERY Methodist Church in America. And, no, not everyone is able to be in leadership roles or be ordained as clergy. I am not going to take the time to list what would keep someone from one of those positions here because it would be too long.

I was enormously upset to hear some even joke about the lack of financial support our Central Conferences may get based upon their vote for the Traditional Plan. Using financial support as a means to extort is the very definition of colonialism.  Did anyone even listen to how some of our African brothers and sisters would be treated in their home countries if the Traditional Plan did not pass? They could be physically harmed, and it would most likely destroy their churches. I was embarrassed by the way our international delegates were treated by my fellow Americans. Can we please stop talking about them like they are not in the room and capable of understanding? I am sorry America, but it is not all about you. We are a global church and we have to think/act like a global church.

The thing that disturbs me the most was the fact that we hardly ever heard the name Jesus spoken. Even in our worship and prayer, it was all about the “issue” and trying to get a last “speech for” in wherever we could. The prayer and worship times felt forced and not genuine. Where was the gospel message? Why were the lyrics changed in some songs we sang to be more concerned with our relationship to each other than to Christ? When Jesus ceases to be our center, we have a problem.

Two of the hardest years of my life were when I served as a US-2 missionary with Global Ministries.  I had a hard time during those training's because Jesus was not the focus, and I was told my voice mattered, but it was not respected. This General Conference was a huge reminder of that time spent with Global Ministries. I had been fighting since then for my voice to be heard and understood, as well as making sure we aren’t fighting more for the “cause” than for Christ. At both times it appeared that social justice had reigned above spiritual justice.  

It is clear to me that many of the OCP supporters still do not genuinely understand why this conference was so important to us who voted for the Traditional Plan. For me it was not about getting “my way” but standing up for the Truths I believe are stated in the Holy Word of God.  I believe that Scripture is God-breathed, meaning God is breathing his life into these words just as he breathed life into Adam. It is alive and active. It is not just a reference book.  I read Scripture as saying marriage is between one man and one woman.  If we give in on this sacred belief, then what will be next? I always get worried when the church begins to blend in with the world. I believe gender, race, and sexuality are all sacred.  They are determined by God not man. I cannot withhold speaking the Truths in scripture to an individual for the sake of appearing “unloving”.  I remember reading a quote from a blog recently that stated, “a love divorced from Gods truth…isn’t love at all, but merely deceitful kisses”.  

After hearing many OCP supporters speak, it is clear we are not reading Scripture or viewing the authority of Scripture in the same way.  If we view the Bible in the same way, and still come out with such different interpretations, then I do not see how we will ever be able to have “unity” as the OCP proclaims. This is not over and will likely continue with intensity till GC2020. I believe Adam Hamilton was right when he stated that this vote to pass the TP will cause individuals who had not been previously engaged to stand up and speak out more than ever, but it won’t be just progressives and centrists like he thinks. Those evangelicals who supported the TP witnessed the true colors of those behind the OCP and will not stay silent anymore. This very well may lead to the "two church" plan in 2020. If this is the case, may we trust in where the Spirit is leading and with a genuine love part ways. I could go on in discussing GC2019 related topics, but I am tired. Many of us are tired and need to step away for a bit. I believe all the rest and hope we need is found in the promises of God.  The Jesus I serve has never failed. He is never late. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  It is true that we may not see the logic in His plan until after we have obeyed. I pray our eyes would be opened to see Him at work all around us even amid what appears to be chaos.  Now more than ever is a time to pray about it more than we talk about it.

In the season of Lent that is upon us, may we come face to face with Christ himself. May we come face to face with our need for Him. May we come face to face with the full weight of His sacrifice. May we come face to face with His Sovereignty. Lord hear our prayer.

[nijjhar]

Punjabi - Preach Sikhi through Parable expositions or get killed as Fana... Punjabi - Preach Sikhi through Parable expositions or get killed as Fanatics especially in the USA. https://youtu.be/ge8Z63o-VGE Holy spirit, common sense, shatters the fetters of the dead letters, the Holy Books. If we have One God, our Supernatural Father of our souls, then there should be one Faith. In Christianity, Jesus said One Fold called Church of God headed by One Shepherd, our Bridegroom Christ Jesus/Christ = Satguru Nanak Dev Ji, the Second coming of Jesus. Solid Proof; this Golden Temple is of the same size as the Holiest of Holy that used to be in Jerusalem and its Curtain holding the Secrets of the Oral Torah = His Word was rendered from Top, the Temple High Priests, to Bottom, the village Rabbis off you go – Luke 16v16; Law and Prophets were till John and thus, everyone makes a direct approach to God through His Word = Logo = SATGUR PARSAD. Greatest Blasphemers and Killers Blair and Bush being considered by Anti-Christ Bishops for Nobel Peace Prize. Nobel Peace Prize should rather go to Assange and the Iraqi Journalist who threw both his shoes at the hypocrite Bush in Iraq. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qHdTpTXHvE&list=PL0C8AFaJhsWz7HtQEhV91eAKugUw73PW1 Christ Jesus was killed by the Temple High Priest Hypocrite/Blasphemer against the Holy Spirit and so are these Bush and Blair who at the backing of Jewish people in the USA destroyed one country after the other starting with the cradle of Humanity Iraq, the Land of the forefather of the Chosen People who are no more faithful to Abraham but has become sons of the Highest Satan Al-Djmar Al-Aksa. Blair and Bush blasphemies against Holy Spirit are bearing Fruit in economic chaos created by Virus https://youtu.be/0WBYOmpDuCs American Jews are today – http://www.gnosticgospel.co.uk/GrimReaper.htm destroying one country after the other, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled. I Preach Christianity and its continuation Sikhism. Both Christ Jesus and Satguru Nanak Dev Ji Preached the Islam of Elohim, Allah, Parbrahm, etc., our Supernatural Father of our “souls” and it is called “Inshallah” in which you go by His Will, “HUKUM RAZIAN CHALNA” and not those of these Mullahs, Pope, Bishops, etc. called “InshMullah/Pope/Bishops, etc.” The Scriptures are the “Milk” for the once-born natural Babies whilst the hidden “Butter”, the Gospel that you get through logical reasoning is for the twice-born seeking His Word called “Logo or the Oral Torah” that cannot be written down in ink on paper but by pondering over His Word in the company of the “Virgin Brides”. Here is a taste of the Gospel Truth:- WHY JESUS WAS GIVEN THE NAME “YAHSHUA”? Jesus’ Hebrew name "YAHSHUA" is made up of two words; Yah = Yahweh and Shua = Shiva = Primordial Adam. Thus, Mary was “sired” by Yahweh in Hebrew, Brahma in Hindi and Khudah in Arabic, the Lord of the visible creation and our demiurge perishable father in heaven of the tribal sons in Adam, whom you see in his creation with two naked eyes, and Angel John, the Baptist, Prophet Elijah (My god is Yahweh, Brahma, Khuda, etc., the heavenly father of Jesus) baptized Jesus in the name of his heavenly father “Yahweh,” whilst the repentant Jews outwardly unfaithful to Abraham and Yahweh, the “Tares”, in the name of their tribal father Abraham. Thus, Mary was the surrogate mother of Jesus, a “Woman and not Mother” and Joseph from the tribe of Judah through the line of King David, his adoptive father. This is the First Proof of the Virgin Birth of Jesus. And Jesus being not of the First Adam, he had no territorial or landed property even to rest his head. He was the Anointed “Mustard Seed”, who has spread His Branches all over the world for the as sensible as the birds of the air that have very strong sensory organs or the discerning intellect to gather the material for the forebrain to be analysed through logical reasoning that Brews “Logo”, which is His Word. To learn more about this Gospel Truth and the expositions of the Parables, please watch mine OVER 8000 Youtube videos; channel nijjhar1. Finally, I need help to link my Youtube account with social media such as Linkedin, Instagram, etc. for the propagation of the Gospel Truth. I just live outside the Campus on Hamilton Road. My email is Nijjhar@gmail.com. According to the “Chosen People”, Matt 13v24-30, ATOMIC WAR could be on 14/05/2023 when Israel is 75 years old.   Watch my Youtube videos on Hajj for “The Kingdom of Heaven”:- www.gnosticgospel.co.uk/faithfat.pdf Full article available on my website:- www.gnosticgospel.co.uk/pred.htm My ebook has been published by Kindle. ASIN: B01AVLC9WO For a full description, please visit my website:- www.gnosticgospel.co.uk/Rest.htm I need IT Graphic help to finish my Books:- ONE GOD ONE FAITH:- www.gnosticgospel.co.uk/bookfin.pdf and in Punjabi KAKHH OHLAE LAKHH:-  www.gnosticgospel.co.uk/pdbook.pdf John's baptism:- www.gnosticgospel.co.uk/johnsig.pdf Trinity:- www.gnosticgospel.co.uk/trinity.pdf