Thursday, November 30, 2017

Military Health System in Washington, D.C., United States for Wednesday 29 November 2017 "Leaders to discuss Defense Health Agency in AMSUS panel session this week"

Military Health System in Washington, D.C., United States for Wednesday 29 November 2017 "Leaders to discuss Defense Health Agency in AMSUS panel session this week"
Leaders to discuss Defense Health Agency in AMSUS panel session this week
This year, the AMSUS conference theme emphasizes force health protection from the battlefield to home, with 15 countries represented by international delegates and military medical officers. DHA leaders are expected to discuss the ongoing Military Health System (MHS) transformation. (Courtesy photo) by: Military Health System Communications Office
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. –
Federal and military health care professionals are gathering this week for AMSUS’s 126th Annual Continuing Education Meeting. The conference runs Monday, Nov. 27 through Friday, Dec. 1 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Leaders from the Defense Health Agency will join Veterans Health Administration and the United States Public Health Service to discuss health readiness.
Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, Mr. Thomas McCaffery, and DHA Director, Navy Vice Adm. Raquel Bono, will join a plenary session later this week with the Armed Service surgeons general and other senior military leaders.
“We are pleased to have Vice Admiral Bono and Mr. McCaffery speak at this year’s AMSUS Annual Meeting,” said AMSUS executive director Michael Cowan, MD, Vice Adm. USN (Ret). “Their views on today’s issues will offer a unique opportunity for everyone to hear about the current state and future plans for the Defense Health Agency.”
This year, the conference theme emphasizes force health protection from the battlefield to home, with 15 countries represented by international delegates and military medical officers. DHA leaders are expected to discuss the ongoing Military Health System (MHS) transformation.
Various sessions will feature DHA experts, with topics ranging from global health engagement strategies to the new electronic health record, MHS GENESIS,.
Dr. Terry Rauch, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Readiness Policy and Oversight, and Mr. Mark Swayne, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Stability and Humanitarian Affairs, will present “Strategic Perspectives from the DoD Global Health Engagement Council” with Joint Staff Surgeon, Navy Rear Adm. Colin Chinn.
Dr. Paul Cordts, Office of the Functional Champion, will be speaking in two sessions. During “Technology is the Easy Part,” Dr. Cordts will lead a discussion on aligning MHS GENESIS capabilities with the MHS missions of maintaining a ready medical force, maintaining a medically ready force and delivering health care.
Joining a panel with Air Force Maj. Gen. Roosevelt Allen, Army Brig. Gen. Ronald Stephens, and Dr. Michael Malanoski, Dr. Cordts will talk about the decision-making process for changes or updates to MHS GENESIS in a session called, “Red Light, Green Light: Decision-Making for a Large-Scale EHR.” Speakers will discuss improvements to both patient and provider experience, how MHS GENESIS has increased efficiency and improved the quality and safety of care, and opportunities and challenges as MHS GENESIS expands to more sites.
Military and civilian medical professionals will examine the many aspects of readiness through the week. Sessions will cover the range of medical response at the point of injury all the way through transport, treatment, and rehabilitation. Speakers will also share knowledge of the latest advances in military and federal health care, including innovative medical advances and patient care practices.
The spectrum of joint medical care and healing will dive into ‘battlefront’ care topics of combat support, humanitarian missions, disaster response, global health operations, and patient movement.
‘Homefront’ care topics will include definitive treatment, rehabilitation, recovery, and return to a new normal for both patient and family members.
Also as part of the battlefield to home focus, sessions will touch on traumatic injuries, psychological health, traumatic brain injuries, disease and population health, preparedness and operational issues.
Interested parties can follow along with the conference coverage on social media using the hashtag #AMSUS17.
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Service members share ‘art’ of healing
Air Force veteran Adrianna Ruark works on a drawing. (DoD photo by Roger L. Wollenberg) by: Military Health System Communications OfficeService members, veterans and caregivers gathered to share their love of comedy, visual artistry, performance artistry, and share stories of how the arts saved their lives around the National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland, Nov.16, 2017. “A Day of Healing Arts: From Clinic to Community" is an ongoing collaboration with organizations across military health agencies, community-based organizations and the National Endowment of the Arts.
“Today is about story telling. I want us all to share stories of the resilience of our military force. Art is just as important as athletics,” said Barbara Wilson, Office of Warrior Care director of training and outreach. “I can see the spark in your eyes and how much you enjoy the work you are doing. Thank you for sharing that with us.”
Air Force Staff Sgt. Natalie Lopez talks with Army veteran, and former Green Beret, Michael Rodriguez about her painting. (DoD photo by Roger L. Wollenberg)
The event recognized wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans showcasing the various ways music, performance art, visual art and other activities inspired their recovery. Though each story and situation differed from person-to-person the narrative remained the same: art saved my life.
Guest speaker retired Army Brig. Gen. Nolen Biven expressed how art can help people navigate differences, boost self-esteem, process tragedy, and connect them with their humanity.
“We want to restore individual services members, families and caregivers,” said Biven. “This is a grassroots effort among the art community to heal service members and veterans. People can select themselves for the program and sleeve the stigma.”
Art of Healing
After a short comedy show from the Veterans of Comedy, participants were able to walk around an art gallery showcasing work created by service members and veterans. They also had the opportunity to talk with the artists, like Air Force veteran Adrianna Ruark, about their pieces, the meanings, and how creativity helped them cope.
“I’m a survivor of childhood abuse. Back then, my grandmother’s garden was a safe haven for me. Now I use my art,” Ruark said. “I love to express how I’m feeling through my drawings. I got my grandmother’s flower garden tattooed on my arm to remind me of my safe space and to remind me to be a safe haven for others.”
Art of Recovery
Rock to Recovery founder and former Korn guitarist, Wes Geer, led a group of caregivers in the vocal performance dedicated to their loved ones.
“When we end up in these dark places, whether they [are] from alcohol, isolation, etc., I think the symptoms are similar,” said Geer. “I ended up in a rough space. I lost my career. I lost my friends. Music became very important for me because it showed me that it could transform how I felt. I hear people say all the time, ‘but I’m not musical,’ but if I turn on some music right now, what’s the first thing your body does? Dance. So yes, we are all musical.”
Rock to Recovery is a non-profit that helps people in recovery, whether from addiction or trauma, learn to express themselves through songs they compose during workshops.
Regardless of a person’s prior musical experience or ability, Geer said this music therapy helps people explore their feelings and offers a creative, intimate outlet for expression.
“When you rock out, you do it organically. We aren’t trying to be perfect – this is just us trying to express [what’s in] our hearts and our souls,” Geer said.
Veteran Ja’Miracle Morant joined the Air Force for a better chance at “making her own choices,” but trauma from a sexual assault “flipped her world upside down.” Rock to Recovery helped her put her world back together.
“When [the assault] happened I didn’t know what to do. I was ready to die and didn’t feel like I had anything left in life, but then I got an email from Wounded Warriors inviting me to an event in Florida,” said Morant. “One day, someone heard me singing and told me I should try Rock to Recovery.”
Art of Connection
The artists at the event seemed to echo one point: people improve their healing when they connect with others.
“Music and poetry have always been my release, my oxygen. [Rock to Recovery] helped me express myself and realize that I’m much stronger than I thought. Having people who care and understand is the best part of the program.”
Morant, motivated by her journey, is learning how she can help others.
“I’m in college now – a double major in social work and psychology,” she said. “I want to help other people like me.”
As the event came to close participants exchanged long hugs, shared words of encouragement, and expressed gratitude.
Bill O’Brien, senior innovation advisor at National Endowment of Arts, challenged people to think differently about art and how to use it to “create an opportunity” to heal. He shared how the Greeks considered the arts as a critical element to military readiness because it helped warriors prepare fully: “mind, body, spirit and soul.”
“I'd like to use the arts to do that for our service members and veterans,” O’Brien said.
To learn more about the ways the Office of Warrior Care promotes creative expression through art, music, writing and dance for service members and veterans, visit their website.
Read More ...
Questions for MHS? 
STAY CONNECTED:
Military Health System
The Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20301, United States
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The Deaf Devo - The Deaf Mission of Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States for Thursday, 30 November 2017 "Forgive Others"

The Deaf Devo - The Deaf Mission of Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States for Thursday, 30 November 2017 "Forgive Others"
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2 Corinthians 2:1 So I made up my mind that I would not pay you another painful visit. 2 For if I cause you pain, who is left to make me happy except the people I have pained? 3 Indeed, this is why I wrote as I did — so that when I came, I would not have to be pained by those who ought to be making me happy; for I had enough confidence in all of you to believe that unless I could be happy, none of you could be happy either. 4 I wrote to you with a greatly distressed and anguished heart, and with many tears, not in order to cause you pain, but to get you to realize how very much I love you.
5 Now if someone has been a cause of pain, it is not I whom he has pained, but, in some measure — I don’t want to overstate it — all of you. 6 For such a person the punishment already imposed on him by the majority is sufficient, 7 so that now you should do the opposite — forgive him, encourage him, comfort him. Otherwise such a person might be swallowed up in overwhelming depression. 8 So I urge you to show that you really do love him. 9 The reason I wrote you was to see if you would pass the test, to see if you would fully obey me. 10 Anyone you forgive, I forgive too. For indeed, whatever I have forgiven, if there has been anything to forgive, has been for your sake in the presence of the Messiah 11 so that we will not be taken advantage of by the Adversary — for we are quite aware of his schemes!
12 Now when I went to Troas to proclaim the Good News of the Messiah, since a door had been opened for me by the Lord, 13 I could not rest, because I failed to find my brother Titus. So I left the people there and went on to Macedonia.
14 But thanks be to God, who in the Messiah constantly leads us in a triumphal procession and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of what it means to know him! 15 For to God we are the aroma of the Messiah, both among those being saved and among those being lost; 16 to the latter, we are the smell of death leading only to more death; but to the former, we are the sweet smell of life leading to more life. Who is equal to such a task? 17 For we are not like a lot of folks who go about huckstering God’s message for a fee; on the contrary, we speak out of a sincere heart, as people sent by God, standing in God’s presence, living in union with the Messiah.
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When a person says something bad about his friend and hurts his feelings, the devil wants this person to feel that he is worth nothing. The devil wants him to think, "No one loves me. I am no good. I can never be forgiven." Then that person feels he is all alone, and the devil tempts him even more.
As Christians, we should not let that situation happen. When someone hurts us, we should forgive them and help them restore our relationship.
Paul talks about this kind of situation in 2 Corinthians, chapter 2. Paul says that when someone does something wrong, we should forgive them and encourage them. That will keep them from being sad and giving up completely. In 2 Corinthians 2:10, Paul continues talking about forgiveness. "If you forgive someone, then I also forgive them. And what I have forgiven - if I had anything to forgive - I forgave it for you, and Christ was with me."
We should want to be like Jesus. He came to earth to heal and forgive people. When someone sins against us, we need to forgive them and show them God's love. Be sure to be loving and forgiving today!---
Watch latest Deaf Devo in ASL on:

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The Deaf Devo - The Deaf Mission of Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States for Wednesday, 29 November 2017 "Encourage Each Other"

The Deaf Devo - The Deaf Mission of Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States for Wednesday, 29 November 2017 "Encourage Each Other"
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Hebrews 10:1 For the Torah has in it a shadow of the good things to come, but not the actual manifestation of the originals. Therefore, it can never, by means of the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, bring to the goal those who approach the Holy Place to offer them. 2 Otherwise, wouldn’t the offering of those sacrifices have ceased? For if the people performing the service had been cleansed once and for all, they would no longer have sins on their conscience. 3 No, it is quite the contrary — in these sacrifices is a reminder of sins, year after year. 4 For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.
5 This is why, on coming into the world, he says,
“It has not been your will
to have an animal sacrifice and a meal offering;
rather, you have prepared for me a body.
6 No, you have not been pleased
with burnt offerings and sin offerings.
7 Then I said, ‘Look!
In the scroll of the book
it is written about me.
I have come to do your will.’”[Hebrews 10:7 Psalm 40:7–9(6–8)]
8 In saying first, “You neither willed nor were pleased with animal sacrifices, meal offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings,” things which are offered in accordance with the Torah; 9 and then, “Look, I have come to do your will”; he takes away the first system in order to set up the second. 10 It is in connection with this will that we have been separated for God and made holy, once and for all, through the offering of Yeshua the Messiah’s body.
11 Now every cohen stands every day doing his service, offering over and over the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this one, after he had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from then on to wait until his enemies be made a footstool for his feet.[Hebrews 10:13 Psalm 110:1] 14 For by a single offering he has brought to the goal for all time those who are being set apart for God and made holy.
15 And the Ruach HaKodesh too bears witness to us; for after saying,
16 “ ‘This is the covenant which I will make
with them after those days,’ says Adonai:
‘I will put my Torah on their hearts,
and write it on their minds . . . ,’ ”[Hebrews 10:16 Jeremiah 31:32(33)]
17 he then adds,
“ ‘And their sins and their wickednesses
I will remember no more.’ ”[Hebrews 10:17 Jeremiah 31:33(34)]
18 Now where there is forgiveness for these, an offering for sins is no longer needed.
19 So, brothers, we have confidence to use the way into the Holiest Place opened by the blood of Yeshua. 20 He inaugurated it for us as a new and living way through the parokhet, by means of his flesh. 21 We also have a great cohen over God’s household. 22 Therefore, let us approach the Holiest Place with a sincere heart, in the full assurance that comes from trusting — with our hearts sprinkled clean from a bad conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.[Hebrews 10:22 Ezekiel 36:25] 23 Let us continue holding fast to the hope we acknowledge, without wavering; for the One who made the promise is trustworthy. 24 And let us keep paying attention to one another, in order to spur each other on to love and good deeds, 25 not neglecting our own congregational meetings, as some have made a practice of doing, but, rather, encouraging each other.
And let us do this all the more as you see the Day approaching. 26 For if we deliberately continue to sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but only the terrifying prospect of Judgment, of raging fire that will consume the enemies.[Hebrews 10:27 Isaiah 26:11]
28 Someone who disregards the Torah of Moshe is put to death without mercy on the word of two or three witnesses.[Hebrews 10:28 Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15] 29 Think how much worse will be the punishment deserved by someone who has trampled underfoot the Son of God; who has treated as something common the blood of the covenant[Hebrews 10:29 Exodus 24:8] which made him holy; and who has insulted the Spirit, giver of God’s grace!
30 For the One we know is the One who said,
“Vengeance is my responsibility;
I will repay,”
and then said,
“Adonai will judge his people.”[Hebrews 10:30 Deuteronomy 32:35–36]
31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God!
32 But remember the earlier days, when, after you had received the light, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings. 33 Sometimes you were publicly disgraced and persecuted, while at other times you stood loyally by those who were treated this way. 34 For you shared the sufferings of those who had been put in prison. Also when your possessions were seized, you accepted it gladly; since you knew that what you possessed was better and would last forever.
35 So don’t throw away that courage of yours, which carries with it such a great reward. 36 For you need to hold out; so that, by having done what God wills, you may receive what he has promised. 37 For
“There is so, so little time!
The One coming will indeed come,
he will not delay.
38 But the person who is righteous
will live his life by trusting,
and if he shrinks back,
I will not be pleased with him.”[Hebrews 10:38 Habakkuk 2:3-4]
39 However, we are not the kind who shrink back and are destroyed; on the contrary, we keep trusting and thus preserve our lives!
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I watched a fire blazing in the fireplace. When I left the room, there were three logs glowing brightly. Thirty minutes later, I looked at the fire again. One of the logs had rolled off the grating and was by itself. The log had turned dark and was not providing any light or warmth. The other two logs were still together and gave off heat and light.
Sometimes when we face a difficult situation in life, we become depressed and want to be left alone. We may even stop going to church. That is a big mistake. We need to continue going to church where we can receive God's love and encouragement from our brothers and sisters in Christ.
The writer of Hebrews wrote about this in Hebrews 10:24-25. "We should think about each other to see how we can encourage each other to show love and do good works. We must not quit meeting together, as some are doing. No, we need to keep on encouraging each other. This becomes more and more important as you see the Day getting closer."
When you are facing times of trouble and are tempted to be alone, depend on other Christians to encourage you and keep you close to God and His Word. ---
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The United Methodist Church Prays in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Wednesday, 29 November 2017 "We Need Christ as Our King"

The United Methodist Church Prays in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Wednesday, 29 November 2017 "We Need Christ as Our King"
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2017
A Word from John Wesley
Q:
Do we not then need Christ, even on this account [the perfect law of liberty]?
A. The holiest of persons still need Christ as their Prophet, as “the light of the world.” For He does not give them light but from moment to moment: the instant He withdraws, all is darkness. They still need Christ as their King; for God does not give them a stock of holiness. But unless they receive a supply every moment, nothing but unholiness would remain. They still need Christ as their Priest, to make atonement for their holy things. Even perfect holiness is acceptable to God only through Jesus Christ. (John Wesley, The Character of a Methodist, ¶25.)
A Hymn from Charles Wesley:
1. Partners of a glorious hope,
Lift your hearts and voices up.
Jointly let us rise and sing
Christ our Prophet, Priest, and King.
2. Monuments of Jesu’s grace,
Speak we by our lives his praise,
Walk in him we have received,
Show we not in vain believed.
3. Hence may all our actions flow,
Love the proof that Christ we know;
Mutual love the token be,
Lord, that we belong to thee.
4. Love, thine image love impart!
Stamp it on our face and heart!
Only love to us be given—
Lord, we ask no other heaven. (Collection-1781, #508:1, 4)
Questions for Reflection:
  1. In John Wesley’s description of the character of a Methodist he wants believers to know that the holiest person, perfected in love, will never be in a place of spiritual independence from Jesus Christ. We are always in a relationship of spiritual interdependence. Why is this important to John Wesley? Is it important to you?
  2. The gift and the challenge of the Wesleyan way of discipleship is this vision of Christian perfection and spiritual transformation. What difference does this make for you? For your family? For your church?
  3. What is the meaning of Charles Wesley’s hymn for us today?
Prayer: You raised up your Son, O God, and seated him at your right hand as the shepherd and king who seeks what is lost, binds up what is wounded, and strengthens what is weak. Empowered by the Spirit, grant that we may share with others that which we have received from your hand, to the honor of Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Wesley excerpts are from A Disciple’s Journal—2017: A Guide for Daily Prayer, Bible Reading, and Discipleship, by Steven W. Manskar. Copyright © 2017 Discipleship Resources, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved. Used by permission. The prayer is reprinted with permission from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers, copyright © 2002, Consultation on Common Texts.
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Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - WordAction - The Foundry Publishing House of Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Thursday, 30 November 2017 "Irrefutable Evidence" by Duane Brush - Acts 4:8-22

Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - WordAction - The Foundry Publishing House of Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Thursday, 30 November 2017 "Irrefutable Evidence" by Duane Brush - Acts 4:8-22
Acts 4:8 Then Kefa, filled with the Ruach HaKodesh, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being examined today about a good deed done for a disabled person, if you want to know how he was restored to health, 10 then let it be known to you and to all the people of Isra’el that it is in the name of the Messiah, Yeshua from Natzeret, whom you had executed on a stake as a criminal but whom God has raised from the dead, that this man stands before you perfectly healed.
11 “This Yeshua is the stone rejected by you builders which has become the cornerstone.[Acts 4:11 Psalm 118:22] 12 There is salvation in no one else! For there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by whom we must be saved!”
13 When they saw how bold Kefa and Yochanan were, even though they were untrained ‘am-ha’aretz, they were amazed; also they recognized them as having been with Yeshua. 14 Moreover, since they could see the man who had been healed standing right there beside them, there was nothing they could say to discredit the healing. 15 So they told them to step away from the Sanhedrin while they discussed the matter privately. 16 “What can we do with these men?” they asked each other. “Why, anyone in Yerushalayim can see that a remarkable miracle has come about through them — we can’t possibly deny that. 17 But to prevent it from spreading any further among the people, let’s warn them not to speak any more to anyone in this name.”
18 So they called them in again and ordered them under no circumstances to speak or teach in the name of Yeshua. 19 But Kefa and Yochanan answered, “You must judge whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than God. 20 As for us, we can’t help talking about what we have actually seen and heard.” 21 They threatened them some more but finally let them go — they couldn’t punish them because of the people, for everyone was praising God over what had happened, 22 since the man who had been miraculously healed was more than forty years old.
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The sceptic’s axiom, “Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence” certainly fits the scene in Acts 4. The day before, Peter and John had healed a lame beggar “in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth” (3:6). The man began “walking and jumping, and praising God” (v. 8). This attracted a large crowd, to whom Peter began proclaiming Jesus. Temple officials were disturbed by Peter’s preaching and tossed the apostles in jail overnight. The next day they were called to explain themselves. Peter stated, “It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed” (4:10). He further declared, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (v. 12). The officials wanted to deny this extraordinary claim, “But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say” (v. 14). The world still finds it hard to refute a life visibly transformed by the power of Jesus Christ.---
Hymn for Today: "Give Him the Glory" by Elisha A. Hoffman
1. It was down at the feet of Jesus,
O the happy, happy day!
That my soul found peace in believing,
And my sins were washed away.
Refrain: Let me tell the old, old story
Of His grace so full and free;
For I feel like giving Him the glory
For His wondrous love to me.
2. It was down at the feet of Jesus,
Where I found such perfect rest,
Where the light first dawned on my spirit,
And my soul was truly blest.
Refrain: Let me tell the old, old story
Of His grace so full and free;
For I feel like giving Him the glory
For His wondrous love to me.
3. It was down at the feet of Jesus,
Where I brought my guilt and sin,
That he cancelled all my transgressions

And salvation entered in.
Refrain: Let me tell the old, old story
Of His grace so full and free;
For I feel like giving Him the glory
For His wondrous love to me.
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Thought for Today: Then my enemy would say, “I was able to beat him”;
and my adversaries would rejoice at my downfall.
But I trust in your grace,
my heart rejoices as you bring me to safety.
I will sing to Adonai, because he gives me
even more than I need.
(Psalm 13:5)
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Please pray: That many people in a lot Armenia will come to know Yeshua the Messiah and receive the Ruach HaKodesh.
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Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - WordAction - The Foundry Publishing House of Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Wednesday, 29 November 2017 "Accept Cleansing Way" by Duane Brush - Isaiah 1:21-31

Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - WordAction - The Foundry Publishing House of Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Wednesday, 29 November 2017 "Accept Cleansing Way" by Duane Brush - Isaiah 1:21-31
Isaiah 1:21 How the faithful city has become a whore!
Once she was filled with justice,
righteousness lodged in her;
but now murderers!
22 Your silver is no longer pure,
your wine is watered down.
23 Your leaders are rebels, friends of thieves.
They all love bribes and run after gifts.
They give no justice to orphans,
the widow’s complaint doesn’t catch their attention.
24 “Therefore,” says the Lord, Adonai-Tzva’ot,
the Mighty One of Isra’el,
“I will free myself of my adversaries,
I will take vengeance on my enemies.
25 But I will also turn my hand against you!
I will cleanse your impurities as with lye
and remove all your alloyed base metal.
26 I will restore your judges as at first
and your advisers as at the beginning.
After that, you will be called
the City of Righteousness, Faithful City.
27 Tziyon will be redeemed by justice;
and those in her who repent, by righteousness.
28 “Rebels and sinners together will be broken
and those who abandon Adonai be consumed.
29 You will be ashamed of the sacred oaks you desired,
you will blush at the gardens you chose;
30 for you will be like an oak whose leaf fades,
like a garden without any water.
31 The strong will be like tinder
and [the idol’s] maker like a spark;
both will burn together,
and no one will put them out.” 
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My mother is a great believer in bleach. Bleach kills bacteria, mold, all that yucky stuff you don’t want part of your life. A clean house requires thorough cleaning, and for her that requires bleach. However, bleach is powerful, so it must be used carefully. Bleach can spot and destroy fabrics; get enough in or on your body and it can be harmful, even deadly. Such power requires respect and careful use, a place on the highest shelf away from little hands.
God’s list of Jerusalem’s crimes in Isaiah 1:21-24 is disgusting and dispiriting. The once bright city where righteousness dwelled had become a place where corruption, murder, greed, and exploitation was common. Such foul behavior required the strongest cleansing, a purging by the fiery wrath of God against His enemies. This “strong medicine” is not pleasant, but it is necessary. All impurity, "dross" of sinful rebellion, must be removed. Half clean is never really clean.
Only submission to God’s cleansing fire will restore the relationship corrupted by sin. Yet, there is hope, “Afterward you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City” (Isaiah 1:26b).---
Hymn for Today: "Cleanse Me" by J. Edwin Orr
1. Search me, O God, and know my heart today,
Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts, I pray;
See if there be some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from every sin, and set me free.
2. I praise Thee, Lord, for cleansing me from sin;
Fulfill Thy word and make me pure within;
Fill me with fire, where once I burned with shame;
Grant my desire to magnify Thy name.
3. Lord, take my life, and make it wholly Thine;
Fill my poor heart with Thy great love divine;
Take all my will, my passion, self and pride;
I now surrender, Lord, in me abide.
4. O Holy Ghost, revival comes from Thee;
Send a revival, start the work in me;
Thy Word declares Thou wilt supply our need;
For blessings now, O Lord, I humbly plead.
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Thought for Today: For the leader. A psalm of David, when Natan the prophet came to him after his affair with Bat-Sheva:
God, in your grace, have mercy on me;
in your great compassion, blot out my crimes.
Wash me completely from my guilt,
and cleanse me from my sin.(Psalm 51:1-2)
---Please pray: For development of Christian leaders in Albania.
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The Henri Nouwen Society of Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Daily Meditation: "Our Lives, Sowing Times" & "HNS Christmas Appeal - Reminder" & "Spiritual Bodies" for Wednesday, 29 & 30 November 2017

The Henri Nouwen Society of Toronto, Ontario, Canada - Daily Meditation: 
"Our Lives, Sowing Times" & "HNS Christmas Appeal - Reminder" & "Spiritual Bodies" for Wednesday, 29 & 30 November 2017
DAILY MEDITATION: "Spiritual Bodies" for Thursday, 30 November 2017 
Photo courtesy of Judith Leckie
In the resurrection we will have spiritual bodies. Our natural bodies came from Adam, our spiritual bodies come from Christ. Christ is the second Adam, offering us new bodies not subject to destruction. As Paul says: "as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man [Adam], so we shall bear the likeness of the heavenly one [Christ]" (I Corinthians 15:49).
Our spiritual bodies are Christ-like bodies. Jesus came to share with us the life in our mortal bodies so that we would also be able to share in his spiritual body. "Mere human nature," Paul says, "cannot inherit the kingdom of God" (I Corinthians 15:50). Jesus came to dress our perishable nature with imperishability and our mortal nature with immortality (see I Corinthians 15:53). Thus it is in the body that our spiritual life finds its fullest manifestation.

For further reflection...

"For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive." (I Corinthians 15: 21-22 (NIV))
Your response...

What does this mean for you?
Comment on this meditation. 
Continue the Inspiration
Purchase your copy of Henri Nouwen's book "Here and Now".
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Christmas Appeal 2017
 
Christmas Appeal Reminder
Dear Friends,
A sincere thank you to all who have taken the time to respond to our annual Christmas appeal. If you haven't had a chance to support us this year, please take a moment to click on the donate button below.
This year we will be giving added focus to connecting with young seekers who are unfamiliar with Henri Nouwen. Henri has so much to offer young people. From what I have seen, this younger generation longs to reconnect to God and find God's purposes for their lives. They want meaning, they want something other than the end goals offered by culture and society.
Your support will enable us to expand our outreach to young people while sustaining our other vital initiatives.
This Christmas season, please consider a donation, or invest in our various outreaches by becoming a monthly donor. We are so grateful for your gifts and to have you partner with us to extend the work and ministry of the Henri Nouwen Society.
On behalf of everyone at the Henri Nouwen Society, I wish you a very meaningful and blessed Christmas and a happy New Year.
Faithfully,

Karen Pascal,
Executive Director
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DAILY MEDITATION: "Our Lives, Sowing Times" for Wednesday, 29 November 2017
Photo courtesy of Paul Williamson www.colourbox.ca
Our short lives on earth are sowing time. If there were no resurrection of the dead, everything we live on earth would come to nothing. How can we believe in a God who loves us unconditionally if all the joys and pains of our lives are in vain, vanishing in the earth with our mortal flesh and bones? Because God loves us unconditionally, from eternity to eternity, God cannot allow our bodies - the same as that in which Jesus, his Son and our savior, appeared to us - to be lost in final destruction.
No, life on earth is the time when the seeds of the risen body are planted. Paul says: "What is sown is perishable, but what is raised is imperishable; what is sown is contemptible but what is raised is glorious; what is sown is weak, but what is raised is powerful; what is sown is a natural body, and what is raised is a spiritual body" (1 Corinthians 15:42-44). This wonderful knowledge that nothing we live in our bodies is lived in vain holds a call for us to live every moment as a seed of eternity.
The wonderful knowledge, that nothing we live in our body is lived in vain, holds a call for us to live every moment as a seed of eternity.

For further reflection...

"Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together." (John 4: 36 (NIV))
Your response...

How can you live this out today?
Comment on this meditation.
Continue the Inspiration
Purchase your copy of Henri Nouwen's book "Bread for the Journey".
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Text excerpts taken from Bread for the Journey, by Henri J.M. Nouwen, ©1997 HarperSanFrancisco. All Scripture from The Jerusalem Bible ©1966, 1967, and 1968 Darton, Longman & Todd and Doubleday & Co. Inc. Scripture chosen by L. Yeskoo.
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The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, United States Weekly Devotions: Grow Pray Study Guide - "Giving thanks every day" for Thursday, 30 November 2017

The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, United States Weekly Devotions: Grow Pray Study Guide - "Giving thanks every day" for Thursday, 30 November 2017
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Questions in this GPS marked with Ø are particularly recommended for group discussion. Group leaders may add
other discussion questions, or substitute other questions for the marked ones, at their discretion.
Each day this week we’re sharing one tip from Robert Emmons, “Ten Ways to Become More Grateful.” November 17,
2010 from Greater Good Magazine. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/ten_ways_to_become_more_grateful1/
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"Giving thanks every day"
Thursday, 30 November 2017
Psalm 96:1 Sing to Adonai a new song!
Sing to Adonai, all the earth!
2 Sing to Adonai, bless his name!
Proclaim his victory day after day!
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Make a Vow to Practice Gratitude. Research shows that making an oath to perform a behavior increases the likelihood that the action will be executed. Therefore, write your own gratitude vow, which could be as simple as “I vow to count my blessings each day,” and post it somewhere where you will be reminded of it every day. * If we associate expressing gratitude to God only with “worship,” we might think that gratitude is a once-a week experience. Psalm 96 anticipated much of the modern psychological research we’ve reviewed
during this series, as it invited us to express gratitude for God’s saving work “every single day.” The apostle Paul similarly urged Colossian Christians to “overflow with thanksgiving” and “be thankful people” (cf. Colossians 2:7, 3:12-17).
• “96:2 the news: The Greek word that translates the underlying Hebrew is usually translated as ‘good news’ or ‘gospel.’ See Isaiah 52:7, where ‘good news’ is also associated with the proclamation of God’s rule.” * What are some ways (besides standing on a street-corner handing out tracts) you can share the good news of God’s saving work every day?
Ø Some of us are musically gifted, and we like the idea of “sing to the Lord a new song.” Others, of course, tend to suffer in silence through the singing parts of worship, whether traditional or
contemporary. Regardless of our musical aptitude or tastes, what is the heart attitude expressed by the poetic imagery of singing to the Lord a new song? How can all of us join in that spiritual experience?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, many more of us sing in the car or the shower than we do in public. Help my heart to overflow with inner songs of gratitude to you, no matter what kind of singing voice I have. Amen.
* Each day this week we’re sharing one tip from Robert Emmons, “Ten Ways to Become More Grateful.” November 17, 2010 from Greater Good Magazine.
** J. Clinton McCann, study note on Psalm 96:2 in The CEB Study Bible. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2013, p. 946-947 OT.
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Janelle Gregory
Janelle Gregory serves on the Resurrection staff as a Human Resources Specialist. Janelle finds that her heart is constantly wrestling with the truth that she needs a Savior, and the times when she's at her very best are when she's just too tired to put up a fight.

What do you think your non-religious friends or family members think about Christianity? Unfortunately, the first things that come to mind for me are not pretty: hypocritical pastors; strict school nuns; pushy street evangelists; watered-down, feel-good spirituality; a holier-than-thou presence; a general inconvenience. I hear things like, “Christians are bullies,” “Christianity is irrelevant,” or “I wouldn’t want to be associated with them.”
The unfortunate part of this picture of the faith is that I get it. It’s not as if I don’t see the hypocrites or that I haven’t ever felt judged by other Christians. I see the dark side that others are seeing. Sadly, there are times when I have been the dark side. This often causes me to feel shame for being a Christian. It’s difficult to be excited about sharing my faith with others when I am embarrassed by how it is represented. Therefore, I often don’t. I shrink from talking about my faith with others, holding on to what I believe for myself.
There’s an issue with this. Why would I so strongly believe in a faith if it was all about the dark side? I don’t come to worship every week thinking I’ll be judged. I don’t seek out the wisdom of hypocritical pastors. I don’t pray to a powerless, feel-good God. That’s not what I believe. That’s not why I believe.
I believe because I love Jesus. I love the forgiveness of sins. I love the hope of the Kingdom. I love the community of believers. I love the power of God. I love the resurrection. I love the transformation of the world. I love the wooing of the Spirit. I love the eternal story and our opportunity to be a part of it. The gospel is GOOD NEWS! It is good news for me, it is good news for you, and it is good news for our non-religious family and friends.
I’m not saying that being a Christian is always easy or always convenient. God often challenges me to do things that are out of my comfort zone or that shatter the comfort zone completely. Being a Christian can be difficult, it can be risky, but it is always good.
The gospel with its goodness is available to us and available to all. The value of the gospel should not be viewed with the economic approach of supply and demand. Just because there is an endless supply, this should in no way decreases its demand. We all need the gospel all the time. This is true for everyone we know and all we encounter. God freely and eagerly invites everyone into his glorious gospel. How grateful we should be for such good news and how delighted we should be to share it!
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"Thanks for God’s forgiveness, healing, rescue and faithful love"
Friday, 1 December 2017
Psalm 103:1 (0) By David:
(1) Bless Adonai, my soul!
Everything in me, bless his holy name!
2 Bless Adonai, my soul,
and forget none of his benefits!
3 He forgives all your offenses,
he heals all your diseases,
4 he redeems your life from the pit,
he surrounds you with grace and compassion,
5 he contents you with good as long as you live,
so that your youth is renewed like an eagle’s.
6 Adonai brings vindication and justice
to all who are oppressed.
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Watch your Language. Grateful people have a particular linguistic style that uses the language of gifts, givers, blessings, blessed, fortune, fortunate, and abundance. * Sometimes even without a conscious intention (perhaps influenced by what we hear others saying), we adopt a "linguistic style” full of words like earned, deserved, produced, accomplished and achieved. There is nothing wrong with being conscientious workers, of course. But when the psalmist said, “Let my whole being bless the Lord,” it was not because of a belief that God should be grateful for what he had done, but because of gratitude for what God had done for him.
• Verses 3-4 strongly suggest that the psalmist had been through a hard time, perhaps a severe illness from which he could not deliver himself. What reasons for gratitude and praise has God helped you find in the wake of your painful experiences? How can you grieve life’s tragedies, personal or communal, and yet stay open to God’s healing Spirit and God’s pledge of a future free of terrible tragedies?
• 1 John 1:8 says “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” How does the first phrase of verse 3 in this psalm show that the psalmist felt no need for denial or deception about sin? How do God’s grace and compassion create a space in which moral honesty, with ourselves, others and God, is cleansing, rather than scary? In what area(s) are you particularly
grateful for God’s forgiveness?
Prayer: O God, grow my comfort and enjoyment of language that recognizes you, and not my own merits, as the ultimate source of so much of the good in my life. Thank you for your many gifts to me. Amen.
* Each day this week we’re sharing one tip from Robert Emmons, “Ten Ways to Become More Grateful.” November 17, 2010 from Greater Good Magazine.
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"Giving thanks to God eternally"
Saturday, 2 December 2017
Revelation 7:9 After this, I looked; and there before me was a huge crowd, too large for anyone to count, from every nation, tribe, people and language. They were standing in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palm branches in their hands; 10 and they shouted,
“Victory to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb!”
11 All the angels stood around the throne, the elders and the four living beings; they fell face down before the throne and worshipped God, saying,
12 “Amen!
“Praise and glory, wisdom and thanks,
honor and power and strength
belong to our God forever and ever!
“Amen!”
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Go Through the Motions. If you go through grateful motions, the emotion of gratitude should be triggered. Grateful motions include smiling, saying thank you, and writing letters of gratitude. * A prisoner of conscience wrote the book of Revelation. The Romans exiled him for his faith on the small Mediterranean island of Patmos, isolated from the Christian churches he led and loved (cf. Revelation 1:9). Yet he produced (and somehow sent from the island) a work of awesome vision and praise. At its heart was the scene of “a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language” in the courts of heaven praising Jesus as the self-giving, saving Lamb of God. Gratitude isn’t limited to this life or this world, Revelation said. Gratitude to our God and Savior is the vocabulary of eternity.
Ø Jesus called his followers to have the same positive impact on our world as light in a dark place, or salt on flavorless food (Matthew 5:13-16). In what ways is your life brighter (not flawless, but brighter!) because of God’s love, forgiveness and presence with you? In what ways does the promise of an eternity of praise and gratitude shine into your life, your heart from day to day? How can you refract the light of God’s eternity in ways that brighten the lives of others, and add zest and joy to their world? Ask God to direct you to at least one person for whom you can be God’s gratitude-inspiring presence in this holiday season.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I offer blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might to you forever and always. (And when I don’t, please remind me.) Amen.
* Each day this week we’re sharing one tip from Robert Emmons, “Ten Ways to Become More Grateful.” November 17, 2010 from Greater Good Magazine.
Family Activity: Play “Penny Praise!” Get one or two rolls of pennies from the bank. (Warning: Pennies are a choking hazard, so if you have very small children in your home, use an item larger than pennies.) Hide individual pennies all over the house, in the car, in shoes, backpacks, etc. Gather the whole family, set a timer for two minutes, and go on a penny hunt, with each person finding as many pennies as possible. Every time someone finds a penny, they shout out a praise to God for something or someone they are thankful for. Your house will be filled with voices shouting praises to God simultaneously! When the timer sounds, come back together. Have everyone share the number of pennies they found and name a few of
the praises they shouted. Some pennies are probably still hiding, so continue the game all week, with everyone shouting a praise whenever they find a penny. Thank God for all the reasons to praise Him!
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Prayer Requests – cor.org/prayer
Prayers for Peace & Comfort for:
• Mary Fry and family on the death of her aunt Lavon Hill, 11/18
• Margaret Dack and family on the death of her sister Lola Charlene Prather, 11/18
• Gisele and Mike Shore and family on the death of their son Danny Shore, 11/14
• Ralph Waters and family on the death of his wife Jo Ann Waters, 11/14
• Carol Horsch and Debra Tidmore and family on the death of their mother Jo Ann Waters, 11/14
• Family and friends of Connie Hines on her death, 11/11
• Lacey Finley and family on the death of her father Paul Kaberline, 11/9
• Judy Bass and family on the death of her brother-in-law Donald R. “Don” Rogers, 11/8
• Family and friends of Georgia Walker on her death, 11/6
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The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
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Leawood, Kansas 66224, United States
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