Lifehouse's Everything Skit

A Pedra

O distraído nela tropeçou;
O bruto usou-a como projéctil;
O empreendedor, usando-a, constuiu;
O camponês, cansado da lida, dela fez assento;
Para meninos, foi brinquedo;
Drummond poetizou-a;
Já David, usou-a para matar Golias,
Enquanto que Michelangelo dela extraiu a mais bela escultura;
E em todos esses casos, a diferença não esteve na pedra,
Mas no homem!
Não existe “pedra” no seu caminho que você não possa aproveitá-la para seu próprio crescimento.
Cada instante que passa é uma gota de vida que nunca mais torna a cair.
Aproveite cada gota para evoluir.
Das oportunidades saiba tirar o melhor proveito! Talvez não teremos outra chance!

Emergency Numbers

Emergency numbers may be dialed direct. No operator assistance is necessary.

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
When in sorrow, ......................................... call John 14
When men fail you, ..................................... call Psalm 27
If you want to be fruitful, ............................. call John 15
When you have sinned, .................................. call Psalm 51
When you worry, ................................. call Matthew 6:19-34
When you are in danger, ................................ call Psalm 91
When God seems far away, .............................. call Psalm 139
When your faith needs stirring, ...................... call Hebrews 11
When you are lonely and fearful, ....................... call Psalm 23
When you grow bitter and critical, ............. call I Corinthians 13
For Paul's secret to happiness, .............. call Colossians 3:12-17
For understanding of Christianity, ....... call II Corinthians 5:15-19
When you feel down and out, ......................... call Romans 8:31
When you want peace and rest, .................. call Matthew 11:25-30
When the world seems bigger than God, .................. call Psalm 90
When you want Christian assurance, ................ call Romans 8:1-30
When you leave home for labor or travel, .............. call Psalm 121
When your prayers grow narrow or selfish, .............. call Psalm 67
For a great invention/opportunity, .................... call Isaiah 55
When you want courage for a task, ...................... call Joshua 1
For how to get along with fellow men, ................. call Romans 12
When you think of investments and returns, .............. call Mark 10
If you are depressed, .................................. call Psalm 27
If your pocketbook is empty, ........................... call Psalm 37
If you are losing confidence in people, ........ call I Corinthians 13
If people seem unkind, .................................. call John 15
If discouraged about your work, ....................... call Psalm 126
If you find the world growing small and yourself great,..call Psalm 19

Alternate numbers:
For dealing with fear, ............................... call Psalm 34:7
For security, ....................................... call Psalm 121:3
For assurance, ........................................ call Mark 8:35
For reassurance, ................................... call Psalm 145:18

All lines to Heaven are open 24 hours a day! Feed your faith, and doubt will starve to death!

-- Author Unknown

Which Theologian Are You?

You scored as Martin Luther, The daddy of the Reformation. You are opposed to any Catholic ideas of works-salvation and see the scriptures as being primarily authoritative. Anselm 100% John Calvin 100% Martin Luther 100% Augustine 93% Friedrich Schleiermacher 87% Jonathan Edwards 80% Jürgen Moltmann 73% Karl Barth 73% Charles Finney 40% Paul Tillich 33% Which theologian are you? created with QuizFarm.com

Psalm 23 - - EXPLAINED

This is an eye opener... Some probably never thought nor looked at this Psalm in this way... even though they say it over and over again. Please, read and repost!

The Lord is my Shepherd
That's Relationship!

I shall not want
That's Supply!

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.
That's Rest!

He leadeth me beside the still waters.
That's Refreshment!

He restoreth my soul
That's Healing!

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness.
That's Guidance!

For His name sake
That's Purpose!

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.
That's Testing!

I will fear no evil.
That's Protection!

For Thou art with me
That's Faithfulness!

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me,
That's Discipline!


Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
That's Hope!

Thou anointest my head with oil,
That's Consecration!

My cup runneth over.
That's Abundance!

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.
That's Blessing!

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord.
That's Security!

Forever
That's Eternity!

Face it, the Lord and I think you are special.
Send this to the people you think are special.
I thought this was pretty special, just like YOU!!!
What is most valuable, is not what we have in our lives;
but WHO we have in our lives.

The U in JesUs

Before U were thought of or time had begun,

God stuck U in the name of His Son.

And each time U pray, you'll see it's true,

You can't spell out JesUs and not include U.

You're a pretty big part of His wonderful name,

For U, He was born; that's why He came.

And His great love for U is the reason He died.

It even takes U to spell crUcified.

Isn't it thrilling and splendidly grand ?

He rose from the dead, with U in His plan?

The stones split away, the gold trUmpet blew,

and this word resUrrection is spelled with a U.

When JesUs left earth at His upward ascension,

He felt there was one thing He just had to mention.

"Go into the world and tell them it's true

That I love them all - Just like I love U."

So many great people are spelled with a U,

Don't they have a right to know JesUs too?

It all depends now on what U will do,

He'd like them to know,

But it all starts with U.

~Author Unknown

Good-bye, dear Friend!

i was enjoying my life and, in the meantime, i start thinking about FRIENDSHIP!!!! there's a song i wrote in which i say "And just the way you are, I'll know/ and just the way you are, I am, / Because my heart is with you." so, in other words, when a friend leaves, most of the times we cannot go with them, you may think! but I say that we can always go with them! "I'll go wherever you go, as long as you carry me in your heart!" but now you say: "so, if one does not carry you anymore, does that mean you're not with them anymore?" well, first, on the one hand it's up to you to keep 'walking' with them! but to still have connection, you need, at least, two hearts! if one forgets but you still remember your 'covenant' between you and your friend, you're alone and you lose track of the other, even if you're still their friend! it doesn't mean you'll give up on them! what you'll have to do is to forgive, forget, and try to re-connect!
you know, nowadays, it's more and more difficult to have real friends because some leave, others get too busy, others for some reason i may not know! but of course, there are still cases where a friendship gets even closer and closer! but we're ''walking in the direction of a more individualist world! many times, competition destroys relationships! so, the challenge is to find time in our minds and connect through our hearts! i say this because most of my best friends moved to other countries and i always stayed in my place. many times i felt alone! i know it's hard to leave, but i believe it's even harder to stay because memories also stay in those places. every time you go back to the places you spent most of the time with your friends, they will remind you of those past times!
but then, there are two factors: time and distance! these two may, sometimes, make relationships closer. but other times, they just kill them! and the worst thing that can happen is that if you're the one that can change someone's life, and you know it, and you lose connection with that person, it's so hard to re-connect!
so, again, the challenge is to think that, if you have no physical means to act, use your heart ... and God can help :)
plus, if you look at someone and see them as a person, you'll never see them as an enemy, but as someone like you! whenever you look at them, you are looking at yourself, because both are in the same condition. so, as long as you keep this in your mind, it'll be much easier to keep a relationship!

well, if anyone reads this to the end, hope you understand! if you have any comments, just post your thoughts!

"Friendship is the most valuable gift you can get, and there's none alike to any other. Every friendship is different and it has its qualities and its defects. But to accept each one, is to have a room for each in your heart."
"My heart has many rooms. One of them belongs to you! It doesn't matter how much space it has because you'll have to conquer it!"
"Let us have two hearts that can reach each other no matter where you go!"

~ "I'll go wherever you go, as long as you carry me in your heart!"
"Most importantly, never say good-bye. Say 'See you later, friend!'"
have a blessed day!

God's Love Language

ok. this is something i wrote a while ago, but still wanted to share it with ya. enjoy and think about it!

Have you ever understood or thought about what God's language is? Just wondering, because I've been wondering about that a long time ago and i wanted to share it with you.
In the Old Testament, God spoke to the prophets about laws, future and other things by talking, visions, dreams, etc.
But I think, since Jesus came and died for us on the cross and through Jesus, God made a new covenant, God uses another language. Well, He has been using this language all the time, even in the Old Testament, but now the ultimate form of love has been shown, the death and resurrection of Jesus. I don't think God speaks a spoken language, but a language of love! How beautiful it is! So beautiful it is the language of love!
And now, maybe, you ask: What is a love language? How do we understand God's love language?
Well, sometimes it's not easy to know or to understand when we have to face a lot of things. But, when you ask God for help and for His direction, His response is a feeling of a comforted heart, peace; you feel God carrying you and your heart in His arms so carefully, patiently while saying: "My thoughts are not like yours, and my ways are different from yours. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways and thoughts above yours." And then, maybe in the next day, someone talks about what you asked God for and says exactly the right words and the answer you needed to hear; God uses, too, other people to show His love and the answers and, maybe, that person didn't even know! His language is showing love, is loving, is acting. And sometimes we don't know how we had slept well know that we had a problem crashing our heart. God just carried you in His arms. But if you couldn't sleep well, and spent all day and night worried and irritated, well, then, that's because you wanted to carry it all alone by yourself and did not want God to carry your burden!
Only children open their hearts and understand this kind of language, and we must be like them and open our hearts to understand God's love language!

Well, maybe you have already known this but i wanted to share it!

God Bless!

Inauguration and Installation Day

Hello folks! as you may know, last Sunday was the day of the Inauguration of the Chapel and of the Installation of the Pastor! we had lots of work to do during the weekend so that everything would be prepared for Sunday at 5pm. well, everything went very well. we are only 8 at church, but on Sunday we had around 70 visitors. our new chapel was full, which was AWESOME! we did have a beautiful time there!
i can hardly believe. we were really blessed! it's hard to explian... you would have to see this and experience what we've experienced!
to know more and for a full explanation and photos, check http://www.carpediem-in-the-azores.blogspot.com

sorry, guys, but i have lots to study, because i have three final exams next week!
God bless y'all

Update!

hello folks! this is a special week! first, school is ending. then, because we're preparing the inauguration of the chapel and the dedication of the Pastor. i can't wait for Sunday! i do pray that we will have a full church!

have a nice week!

p.s. tomorrow is holiday in my island.... YAY

A Guerra Santa

As tensões entre Israel e Palestina têm-se acentuado ao longo dos anos, com várias oscilações: umas vezes piora, outras melhora, mas sempre neste impasse. As constantes demonstrações e "provas" de que um é melhor que o outro, ou que um tem mais direitos que o outro, são frequentes. Do meu ponto de vista, pode-se até afirmar que estes dois grupos (Israel e seus apoiantes versus Palestina e seus apoiantes) são comparáveis com as super potências que caracterizaram a Guerra Fria. No entanto, ao contrário das super potências daquela altura, estes vivem em constantes confrontos militares.

O mais incrível é que este conflito começou com uma questão de impostos há milhares de anos, em que a tribo de Judá (agora Israel) tinha mais direitos que as restantes tribos (hoje misturadas com os Ismaelitas e outros povos formaram a Palestina). Acontece que, esta situação agravou-se, á qual se juntou questões territoriais, religiosas e ideológicas.

Algumas pessoas poderão argumentar que Israel é o principal culpado dos conflitos gerados, porque conquistou territórios a outros que não os seus. Porém, eu digo que, esse argumento não é totalmente válido porque temos de ter em conta, pelo menos, duas questões:

- Primeiro, antes de falarmos de Israel quanto às suas conquistas temos de ter em atenção que nós, Portugueses, também construímos o nosso país através de conquistas, nomeadamente contra Espanhóis e Muçulmanos! Além disso, também conquistámos terras além fronteiras e oprimimos os povos nativos desde a época dos Descobrimentos até tempos bem recentes. O que valeu a Portugal foi as suas colónias não fazerem fronteira com o nosso país!

- Um outro ponto de vista em relação à conquista é o contexto histórico dessas mesmas conquistas! O povo hebreu era uma nação numerosa e sem pátria e que, durante muitos anos, foi escravizado no Egipto e em outras potências como a Antiga Babilónia e a Pérsia! Ora, é muito natural que, após anos de opressão e anos no deserto, os hebreus suspirassem por uma terra própria e, claro, que fosse fértil, ou seja, a Mesopotâmia. E a única forma de o fazer seria conquistar territórios! Além disso, era essa a forma como os povos daquela altura viviam, conquistando territórios uns aos outros e sucedendo-se uns aos outros, como foi o caso das já referidas Babilónia e Pérsia. É óbvio que, hoje em dia, isto é inadmissível, mas foi isso que moldou a nossa história e o Mundo em que vivemos, por mais injusto/justo que seja. E a História é para isso mesmo: para nos ensinar a conviver com as Nações e promover a democracia, mas para chegar aqui foram necessárias muitas revoluções. No entanto, não podemos continuar utilizando a guerra como forma de atingir os nossos fins, pois o Mundo é totalmente diferente e cada vez mais ligado entre si através da Globalização. Por isso, para que possamos ter estabilidade, convém recorrer á diplomacia.

Contudo, o problema de Israel não é só esse. Por mais que eles o não admitam, os israelitas estão a lidar com e lutar contra gerações da sua própria família, para além das descendências dos povos não conquistados e outros que foram subjugados ao poder israelita! E, nem mesmo assim, são capazes de se entenderem! As linhas para uma paz definitiva já foram lançadas nos Acordos de Camp David e nos Acordos de Taba, mas sempre que se tenta uma resolução dos conflitos, acontecem ataques terroristas! Ora, o Terrorismo é guerra. No entanto, há diferenças entre Terrorismo e Guerra com letra grande: enquanto que Guerra tem legislação, o Terrorismo não o tem, e este já atingiu a escala planetária! Além disso, não estamos a lidar com duas pessoas para fazer paz, mas sim com milhares de uma lado e milhares do outro. Uns querem a paz, outros preferem morrer por Alá! Ora, por muito que eu seja religiosa e por mais que eu acredite na vida para além da terrena não devo pôr em causa a vida da Humanidade e a sua sobrevivência. Se não, por qual é a razão que nós nascemos e vivemos neste mundo? Para causar terror? Vivemos para matar? Já não basta termos de morrer de morte natural? É isto o que os terroristas pensam? Afirmam que morrem por aquilo que acreditam, causando terror no mundo, para obter a vida eterna? Eu posso morrer por aquilo que acredito lutando pela paz e sem causar toda esta instabilidade!

Por mais que eu entenda a posição dos terroristas, ou seja, de o terror ser a única forma de chamarem a atenção da Comunidade Internacional, há que se notar que os que incitam as populações ao terror, e por mais que acreditem em Alá, eles são cultos o suficiente para saberem que há a diplomacia, e que há outras vias! Mas usam a religião como desculpa, assim como, infelizmente, os cristãos o fizeram, e incitam os fracos a morrerem por uma causa "perdida" (note-se, entre aspas porque é causa perdida para os ocidentais, para eles é algo que valha a pena), pois este não é o mundo que eles imaginam ser! Nós vivemos numa sociedade global tal que não vai ser fácil para os Muçulmanos conquistarem de novo os territórios que já foram seus! E é desta maneira que nós vemos a distância em séculos que estamos de uns para os outros!

Concluindo, vivemos uma situação global, e os conflitos israelo-árabes reflectem essa mesma situação! No fundo, esta situação de apocalipse do combate ideológico já havia sido predito! Agora só temos é de nos preparar para entrar na "Guerra ideológica" e fomentar a paz e, além de ter esperança, passar desta à acção! Se não for neste geração, que preparemos os líderes do futuro!

I saw Jesus last week

I Saw Jesus Last Week.
He was wearing blue jeans and an old shirt.
He was up at the church building;
He was alone and working hard.
For just a minute he looked a little like one of our church members.
But it was Jesus, I could tell by his smile.

I saw Jesus last Sunday.
He was teaching a Bible class.
He didn't talk real loud or use long words,
But you could tell he believed what he said.
For just a minute, he looked like my Sunday School teacher.
But it was Jesus, I could tell by his loving voice.

I saw Jesus yesterday.
He was at the hospital visiting a friend who was sick.
They prayed together quietly.
For just a minute he looked like our pastor.
But it was Jesus, I could tell by the tears in his eyes.

I saw Jesus this morning.
He was in my kitchen making my breakfast
He then fixed me a special lunch to take with me.
For just a minute he looked like my Mom .
But it was Jesus, I could feel the love from his heart.

I saw Jesus today.
He was praying on his knees all alone.
He then began to cry for those he prayed for.
For just a minute he looked like a lady from our church.
But it was Jesus, I could see the compassion poured out of his prayer.

I saw Jesus the other day.
He was at the grocery store talking to a friend.
He then put his arms around them to comfort them.
For just a minute he looked like a young mother in our ladies class.
But it was Jesus, I could see the concern for others who hurt.

(added)
I've seen Jesus every Sunday.
Even though we were a minority, He would
face the world just because He loved us.
For just a minute He looked like our Lay Leader.
But it was Jesus, i could tell by his persistance and responsability.

I've seen Jesus lately.
Last year, He came from Missouri to work
at the Lajes Field, American Air Base, as a
Speech Therapist Pathologist.
For many times, He looked like a young lady
who had just found out there was a Lutheran
church in the island and made our dreams happen:
to have our very own Pastor and chapel.
But it was Jesus, I could tell by His care and devotion to us.

I've seen Jesus from far away even close.
He has given us support even though in a distant country.
Many times He looked like our brothers and sisters in America.
But it was Jesus, I could tell by the support, prayers He prayed,
and the trust He placed in us.
(added)

I see Jesus everywhere,
Taking food to the sick,
Welcoming others to his home,
Being friendly to a newcomer
And for just a minute I think he's someone I know.
But it's always Jesus, I can tell by the way he serves.

May someone see Jesus in you today.
Remember to encourage those you see living for Jesus!
"You are My witnesses," says the Lord." (Isaiah 43:5)

Evil is the absence of God

Does evil exist? Did God create evil?

A University professor at a well known institution of higher learning challenged his students with this question. "Did God create everything that exists?"

A student bravely replied, "Yes he did!"

"God created everything?" the professor asked.

"Yes sir, he certainly did," the student replied.

The professor answered, "If God created everything; then God created evil.

And, since evil exists, and according to the principal that our works define who we are, then we can assume God is evil."

The student became quiet and did not answer the professor's hypothetical definition. The professor, quite pleased with himself, boasted to the students that he had proven once more that the Christian faith was a myth.

Another student raised his hand and said, "May I ask you a question, professor?"

"Of course", replied the professor.

The student stood up and asked, "Professor, does cold exist?"

"What kind of question is this? Of course it exists. Have you never been cold?"

The other students snickered at the young man's question.

The young man replied, "In fact sir, cold does not exist. According to the laws of physics, what we consider cold is in reality the absence of heat. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-460 F) is the total absence of heat; and all matter becomes inert and incapable of reaction at that temperature. Cold does not exist. We have created this word to describe how we feel if we have no heat."

The student continued, "Professor, does darkness exist?"

The student replied, "Once again you are wrong sir, darkness does not exist either. Darkness is in reality the absence of light. Light we can study, but not darkness. In fact, we can use Newton's prism to break white light into many colors and study the various wavelengths of each color. You cannot measure darkness. A simple ray of light can break into a world of darkness and illuminate it. How can you know how dark a certain space is? You measure the amount of light present. Isn't this correct? Darkness is a term used by man to describe what happens when there is no light present."

Finally the young man asked the professor, "Sir, does evil exist?"

Now uncertain, the professor responded, "Of course, as I have already said. We see it everyday. It is in the daily examples of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil."

To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist, sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat, or the darkness that comes when there is no light."

The professor sat down.


--If you're a believer in God then repost this...Evil is the Absence of God...and let everyone know that evil only exists with the absence of God in their heart!! If you are not then think of why you opened it when it said Evil is the Absence of God...

Dying to Self

I absolutely LOVE this passage. I'm not sure who wrote it but it goes through my mind a lot.

"When you are purposely set aside, rejected, forgotten, and hurt with the insult of oversight--but your spirit sings because you are being counted worthy to suffer for Christ, that is "Dying to Self". When your advice is disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, and all manner of evil is spoken against you, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart, or even defend yourself, but take it all with patient, loving silence, that is "Dying to Self." When you do not allow any disorder, irregularity or arrogance to come against your peace, when you are face to face with filth, waste, stupidity, or spiritual pride, and endure it as Jesus endured it, that is "Dying to Self." When you are content with the location you live, the climate, the society, the solitude of the "backside of the desert", and are willing to have your plans changed or interrupted by the will of God at any moment, that is "Dying to Self." When you never care to have others know of your good works, and never refer to yourself in conversation, or even care to have anyone commend you, when you truly love to be the unknown, that is "Dying to Self." When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met, and can honestly rejoice with him in Spirit, and feel no envy, nor question God as to why your own needs are not being met, that is "Dying to Self." When you can receive correction and reproof, finding no rebellion, or resentment rising up in your heart, that is "Dying to Self."