What is Easter all about,what do you make of Jesus???

Chocolate Jesus exhibit cancelled

The sculpture was to have been exhibited over EasterA New York art gallery has decided to cancel an exhibit of a chocolate sculpture of Jesus Christ after protests by a US Catholic group.
The six-foot (1.8m) sculpture, entitled "My Sweet Lord", depicts a naked Jesus Christ with his arms outspread.
The sculpture, by artist Cosimo Cavallaro, was to have been displayed from Monday at Manhattan's Lab Gallery.
The timing, over Easter Holy Week - the most important part of the Christian year - provoked an outcry.
The Roger Smith Hotel housing the Lab gallery decided to cancel the exhibition after the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights called for a boycott.
'Strong-arming'
"We're delighted with the outcome," said Kiera McCaffrey, spokeswoman for the League.
Ms McCaffrey had called the exhibit "an assault on Christians".
"They would never dare do something similar with a chocolate statue of the Prophet Mohammed naked with his genitals exposed during Ramadan."
The Lab gallery's artistic director, Matt Semler, has offered his resignation, saying the decision to cancel the exhibition was a result of "strong-arming from people who haven't seen the show, seen what we're doing.
"They jumped to conclusions completely contrary to our intentions," he said.
Mr Semler said the timing of the exhibition - when Christians mark the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ - was coincidental.
Canadian-born Mr Cavallaro is known for using food ingredients in his art, on one occasion painting a hotel room in mozzarella cheese.
He used 200 pounds (90 kg) of chocolate to make the sculpture which, unusually, depicts Jesus without a loincloth. It showed him suspended in air with his arms spread wide, as if crucified.

He that is in us!

Bette Midler - From A Distance Lyrics

From a distance the world looks blue and green,

and the snow-capped mountains white.

From a distance the ocean meets the stream,

and the eagle takes to flight.

From a distance, there is harmony,

and it echoes through the land.

It's the voice of hope,

it's the voice of peace,

it's the voice of every man.

From a distance we all have enough,

and no one is in need.

And there are no guns, no bombs,

and no disease,

no hungry mouths to feed.

From a distance we are instruments

marching in a common band.

Playing songs of hope,

playing songs of peace.

They're the songs of every man.

God is watching us.

God is watching us.

God is watching us from a distance.

From a distance you look like my friend,

even though we are at war.

From a distance I just cannot comprehend

what all this fighting is for.

From a distance there is harmony,

and it echoes through the land.

And it's the hope of hopes,

it's the love of loves,

it's the heart of every man.

It's the hope of hopes,

it's the love of loves.

This is the song of every man.

And God is watching us,

God is watching us,

God is watching us from a distance.

Oh, God is watching us,

God is watching.

God is watching us from a distance.

The Gospel truth and nothing but the truth,not?

The gospel according to Archer
Ruth Gledhill
March 22, 2007
JESUS did not turn water into wine, nor did he calm the storm on the Sea of Galilee or walk on water, according to a "gospel" published with Vatican approval and co-written by Jeffrey Archer.
The Gospel According to Judas, introduced yesterday at a press conference chaired by the head of the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, also denies that Judas accepted 30 pieces of silver to betray Jesus.
The book represents a remarkable rehabilitation for Britain's most celebrated politician-turned-convict.
Lord Archer of Weston-super-Mare, a convicted perjurer, wrote the book with Francis Moloney, one of the Pope's top theological advisers.
Written and presented in the style of an original gospel, it is being regarded by senior Roman Catholics as a way of bringing the Christian message to a wider audience. Dr Moloney will give his royalties to charity, but Archer will keep his. In an interview in his penthouse flat in London, he said he needed to earn a living.
Dr Moloney and Archer said they did not include the three best-known "nature miracles", because they "never happened".
Nor did they include the most famous Judas story, in which he betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. The betrayal took place, they say, but Judas thought that he was acting as a double agent and was saving Jesus's life.
The idea that some miracles did not happen and were written to shore up messianic interpretations of the Hebrew Bible has been common in academic circles for decades.
Old habits die hard, however, and the partnership with Archer almost collapsed when he tried to inject unbelievable elements of fiction into the story of Jesus's life, death and resurrection. Dr Moloney agreed that Archer could invent a plausible ending to Judas's life, but drew the line at giving Judas a deathbed conversion to Christianity.
The Times

A special gift

Some lovely friends bought us a fresh pineapple, isnt fresh fruit amazing especially in season and eaten freshly prepared. So important to our dietary needs,(5 a day)

Its no wonder the bible has allot to say about it comparing those qualities that the Holy Spirit develops in us allowing us to play our part in His purposes.

Thankyou friends for the gift.

"... The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23, NIV).

"is there anybody there"

A faulty modem means no connection to the host server,no email and no Internet, sad when the technology fails. A breakdown in communication means your not up to date or you seem out of contact with the rest of the world(sad).

Thank goodness this situation is only temporary and a call to the service provider although inconvenient means i'll be up and running again soon.

Our prayer and spiritual life depends on an open channel to our heavenly Father which often feels one way, the manual says "I will never leave or forsake you".So before we start complaining that we haven't heard a reply,consider checking out the sender for the problem.

"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself."(Leo Tolstoy )

"This world was never meant for one as beautiful as you"

It is a very good thing that you read the Bible... The Bible is Christ, for the Old Testament leads up to this culminating point... Christ alone... has affirmed as a principal certainty, eternal life, the infinity of time, the nothingness of death, the necessity and the raison d'être of serenity and devotion. He lived serenely, as a greater artist than all other artists, despising marble and clay as well as color, working in living flesh. That is to say, this matchless artist... made neither statues nor pictures nor books; he loudly proclaimed that he made... living men, immortals.

Vincent van Gogh

"In Christ Alone"

In Christ alone my hope is found;

He is my light, my strength, my song;

This cornerstone, this solid ground,

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love,

what depths of peace,

When fears are stilled,

when strivings cease!

My comforter,

my all in all—

Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone,

Who took on flesh,

Fullness of God in helpless babe!

This gift of love and righteousness,

Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,

The wrath of God was satisfied;

For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—

Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,

Light of the world by darkness slain;

Then bursting forth in glorious day,

Up from the grave He rose again!

And as He stands in victory,

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;

For I am His and He is mine—

Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life,

no fear in death—

This is the pow'r of Christ in me;

From life's first cry to final breath,

Jesus commands my destiny.

No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,

Can ever pluck me from His hand;

Till He returns or calls me home—

Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.

Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart TownendCopyright © 2001 Kingsway Thankyou Music

'Let it be to me'

Luke:ch1v46-56
And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my S aviour,
for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me-
holy is his name .
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his decendants for ever,
even as he said to our fathers."



Mary's Song,
This is the great prayer of worship from Mary. It is a prayer that is based on the utter confidence of one who has known and relied on the capabilities of God.
Let's look at what Mary knows about God from learning in the ritual plan of God. She knows the architecture of her own soul that she has emotion, mentality, and a human spirit. She knows that God is the source of her salvation. She calls Him her savior. She understands the omnipresence and omniscience of God when she says that "He considered" her humble state.
EPIBLEPO is the verb here, and it means to look down upon something, and to understand it. God looked down upon Mary and He fully understood her humble state. God also knew exactly what to do about it. That is the expression of his omniscience.
Mary understands the omnipotence of God she calls Him the Mighty One, and she knows exactly what God has accomplished.
She understands the perfection, or holiness of God. When she says, "Holy is His name", she says, perfect is his essence.
She understands the implications of the birth of the Messiah. She praises God for the strategic victory of the angelic conflict, and here is her reasoning. If God can accomplish the virgin conception and birth of the Messiah, He can accomplish anything else. What is the problem to go from one impossibility to the next.
Mary was a patriot, and she understood the implications of the Messiah on her nation. She related the Messiah to the kingdom of God, and indeed she already understood some of the kingdom concepts even before Christ ever explained them.
She understood the difference between being rich and poor. This metaphor has nothing to do with food or hunger in the literal sense. It has everything to do with a desire for a relationship with God. It is all about true humility.
Those who are humble and hungry for a relationship with God will receive the intrinsically good. Those who are rich in their own minds will go away empty handed.
Mary understood the mercy of God, and its implications. She knew the history of her nation and its heroes.

Let it be to me

according to Your word

Let it be to me

according to Your word

I am Your servant,

no rights shall I demand

Let it be to me

Let it be to me

Let it be to me

according to Your word

Graham Kendrick

'Give thanks in all circumstances'

I AM THANKFUL:>FOR THE WIFE>WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,>BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME,>AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.>>>FOR THE HUSBAND>WHO IS ON THE SOFA>BEING A COUCH POTATO,>BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME>AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.>>>FOR THE TEENAGER>WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES>BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME,>NOT ON THE STREETS.>>FOR THE TAXES I PAY>BECAUSE IT MEANS>I AM EMPLOYED .>>>FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY>BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE>BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.>>FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG>BECAUSE IT MEANS>I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.>>>FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK>BECAUSE IT MEANS>I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE>>>FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING,>WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,>AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING>BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME .>>FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING>I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT>BECAUSE IT MEANS>WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH. .>>FOR THE PARKING SPOT>I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT>BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING>AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION .>>FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL>BECAUSE IT MEANS>I AM WARM.>>FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH>WHO SINGS OFF KEY BECAUSE IT MEANS>I CAN HEAR.>>>FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING>BECAUSE IT MEANS>I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.>>>FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES>AT THE END OF THE DAY>BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN>CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.>>>FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF>IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS>BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.>>AND FINALLY, FOR TOO MUCH E-MAIL>BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE>FRIENDS WHO ARE THINKING OF ME.>SEND THIS TO SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUT. I JUST DID.>Live well, Laugh often, & Love with all of your heart!

REMEMBER IT'S RED NOSE DAY ON FRIDAY...

I HAVE A DREAM 'THAT ALL MEN SHALL BE FREE'??

Turn up the volume and Be blessed

http://www.thekingcenter.com/

ALSO

AMAZING

GRACE

NOW A FILM

Similar to Chariots of Fire and Shadowlands in tone, Amazing Grace balances faith and filmmaking in a historical drama that depicts an ordinary Christian doing extraordinary things because of his beliefs.
For those unfamiliar with the lead character, William Wilberforce was elected to British Parliament in the late 18th century at the age of 21. Some years after that, he underwent an experience that brought him back to the Christian faith—to the point where he was prepared to leave politics behind to fully devote his life to God as a clergyman or monk. His friend from college (and future Prime Minister) William Pitt tries to convince Wilberforce to stay in Parliament because he's such a gifted orator, as seen in several debates on the floor. Pitt asks, "Will you use your beautiful voice to praise the Lord or change the world?"
To quote another character in the film, "We suggest you can do both."

In 1797, there were 11 million African slaves. Most people found the practice acceptable. In the minority, however, was William Wilberforce, an elected Member of Parliament who toiled for years to abolish slavery in Britain. Fueled by his faith, the “Conscience of Parliament” persevered and made history.Now, on the 200th anniversary of the slave trade’s abolition in Britain, comes a movie chronicling Wilberforce’s fight. This study will help you discuss the deeper themes of the movie. What does it mean to say that Christianity leads to both spiritual meditation and social action? Can any profession be used for ministry? And why do we often need to personally witness injustice to take action?

read more about Wilberforce and co.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/abolition/abolitionists_gallery.shtml

Note from a friend

I said,' God I'm hurt',

God said, ' I know',

I said,' God, I cry alot',

God said,' That's why I gave you tears',

I said,' God, I get so depressed',

God said, ' That is why I gave you sunshine',

I said, ' God, life is so hard',

God said,' That is why I gave you loved ones',

I said,' My loved ones dead',

God said,' I watched mine nailed to the cross',

I said,' God, Your loved one lives',

God said,' So does yours',

I said,' God, where is he?',

God said,' Mine is on my right, and yours is in the light',

I said,' God, it hurts',

God said,' I know'.

How do we approach the King of kings?

MajestyKing of Kings,
Majesty, God of heaven,
living in me

Gentle Savior,
closest friend, Strong Deliverer,
Beginning and End
All within me falls at Your throne
Your Majesty,
I can but bow
I lay my all before You now
In royal robes I don't deserve
I live to serve

Your Majesty
Earth and heaven worship You,
God Eternal, Faithful and True
Who bought the nations,
ransomed souls
Brought this sinner near to Your throne
All within me cries out in praise.

Grand Design

A new series of Grand Designs started this week, the program followed an architect who had grown up with a dream of one day owning a castle.

The couple eventually purchased a 400 year old ruin, literally there wasn't a wall complete in fact the main central spine wall fell down during filming.

The couple faced difficult planning procedures, and even more restrictions from English Heritage.

Eventually the architect took on a motley yet highly skilled bunch of masons to reconstruct the castle walls and consolidate the integrity of the structure. Putting life back into a decaying wreck of a home.

After two years and some £750000 the dream became a reallity, almost completed the architect and his family moved into the transformed ruin. Into a beautiful lovingly restored home.



Scripture speaks of 'God building His church'

I guess you could say Eden was the first church a place where His creation could worship Him in spirit and truth in a God created environment.

Gods dream for His creation?

Yet today what has His creation come to?

His garden is being ruined on a daily basis and His children have gone their own way.

Gods cry is for us to, with the help of His Holy Spirit to rebuild His kingdom on earth, leading the remnant of beauty that is left, bringing souls back to a loving relationship with Him through His son Jesus.He has provided all that we need. We just need to be obedient.

Let us be willing to do all that we can to play our part in this eternal restoration plan, this supernatural dream of an amazing gracious Father God. Restoring The church for JESUS 's return.


When we walk with the Lord

In the light of His Word,

What a glory He sheds on our way;

While we do His good will,

He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey,

For there's no other way

To be happy in Jesus,

But to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise,

Not a cloud in the skies,

But His smile quickly drives it away;

Not a doubt or a fear,

Not a sigh or a tear,

Can abide while we trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear,

Not a sorrow we share,

But our toil He doth richly repay;

Not a grief or a loss,

Not a frown or a cross,

But is blest if we trust and obey.

But we never can prove

The delights of His love,

Until all on the altar we lay;

For the favor He shows,

And the joy He bestows,

Are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet

We will sit at His feet,

Or we'll walk by His side in the way;

What He says we will do;

Where He sends. we will go,

Never fear, only trust and obey.