en Love Flows http://www.st-pats.com © Copyright 2000 - 2008Church Community Builder. All Rights Reserved. http://www.st-pats.com/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=1 http://www.st-pats.com/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=1&article_id=80 Powerful Women Powerful People, Judges 4:1-10, From Sunday November 16, 2008 This is a wonderful story about how God uses people, in this case a woman, prophetess/judge Deborah. Here are my unedited notes. These notes are to be written from the point of view of my listener. They become personal affirmations.I must never take for granted the role of powerful women in our lives.There are many, many strong women in the Bible, including many such women in the linage of Jesus.There are many strong women in my family of origin include _____________, _____________, ____________ (fill in the blanks).Obviously there are a growing number of strong women in contemporary culturesWhat was Deborah's personality type? More than being a woman, she was the right person, at the right time with the right gifts at the right place. Social Styles Personality Types Analytical: logical, thorough, serious, systematic, prudent Driver: independent, candid, decisive, pragmatic, efficient Amiable: Cooperative, supportive, diplomatic, patient, loyal Expressive: outgoing enthusiastic, persuasive, fun loving, spontaneous Deborah was mostly a Driver personality, the kind of leader that was need at that particular time and place, regardless of gender.The truth is that God uses all personality types, even me. (What is your personality style? Try to figure it out from the list above. Still don't know? Contact Bryan@St-Pats.com for more insight.)I have God given gifts and abilities that transcend gender.I must not allow cultural limitations to hinder my call to leadership, Deborah didn't and she is a wonderful model. Gender, age, race, status, experience, appearance, educations, rules, stereo-types, are all potential limitations in my life that I must not allow to hinder my leadership role.Like Deborah, in order to fulfill my call to leadership I will have to do more that I am actually capable of doing. THIS IS POSSIBLE!God spoke to Deborah and God is continuing to speak, EVEN RIGHT NOW, about my future leadership role... I can listen and hear!There was never a time in the history of the Earth when my leadership was need more than now; Like Deborah, I am in the right place at the right time and I am the right person with the right personality style to do exactly what God wants me to do to help people. Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:41:16 MST http://www.st-pats.com/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=6 http://www.st-pats.com/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=6&article_id=28 Our Love Covenant A guide for living a life of love following Jesus INTRODUCTION We believe the best way to let love flow is to follow the teachings of Jesus as described in the Gospels. This requires some guidance. We find that guidance in Jesus' own words. When challenged to choose the greatest commandment Jesus said: "'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments." (Matthew 22 NLT) This teaching provides a framework for following Jesus today. It contains THE FIRST TRIAD OF LOVE; loving God, loving neighbor and loving self. We have come to understand that love involves feelings, thinking and behavior. We call this second triplet "the living of love." Living love involves the way we think (what we call wisdom) the way we feel (or experience) and our actual behavior (loving). Wisdom guides us in shrewd thinking about life, love and relationships. Experience relates to feeling God's love and presence and the feelings we have about others and our self. Loving relates to our behavior; what we actually do. Wisdom, Experience, and Loving IS THE SECOND TRIAD OF LOVE. In addition a third component is the prayer, commitment and the discipline of love. We see Jesus calling his followers to a commitment; a commitment to love God, neighbor and self. THIS IS THE THIRD TRIAD OF LOVE. These three units, the triad of love, the living of love and our prayer and commitment comprise Our Love Covenant. We view these three as interlocking, woven together and never ending and we use the symbol of the trinity knot to remind us of their nature and function. Men and women experience spirituality differently. For example; women use their networks more efficiently while men tend to express their spirituality practically in terms of family, children, and financial issues. Consequently Our Love Covenant is written as a broad guide. Spiritual applications can be drawn for all easily. For example; Men and women will use Godly wisdom with children and finances but, perhaps, in different ways. We also believe that children have a developing spiritual life that must be nurtured and guided. The simplicity of Our Love Covenant is especially suitable for children. OUR LOVE COVENANT, then, is our guide for and our commitment to letting God's love flow through our hearts as we follow Jesus in loving God, neighbor and self with wisdom, experience and love. Our Love Covenant I Will Love God with All My Heart, All My Mind, and All My Soul! Wisdom speaks to me about the value and necessity of loving God. God loves me and has demonstrated that love time and again throughout history and in the course of my own life. Logically I respond with love and worship God, the creator and sustainer of all existence and my own world. Wisdom guides my thinking and leads me to love and worship God. Experiencing God's love happens two ways; publicly as I worship with others gathered as a people of God and privately. In both ways I intentionally enter into God's presence through mindfulness and prayer. As I am mindful of God's constant presence God speaks directly to my heart. God speaks to me in the beauty of nature, the creativity that God endows individuals, and in providing for me daily. I also experience God's presence as I look to scripture, particularly the teachings of Jesus. God speaks to me in the still small voice in my heart, and sometime I experience God in unexpected ways. Loving is behavior. I demonstrate my love to God by my worship and prayer practices and by discipleship, which is following through on what God asks me to do in the teachings of Jesus. When combined with wisdom and experience, loving God brings balance to my life. THE FIRST COMMITMENT AND PRAYER: Thank you, God, for sending Jesus to be my guide in loving you. I see the wisdom of loving you, as Jesus did. I value the experience of your presence, as Jesus did. And I will love you in my worship and prayers and by following your teachings. This is my commitment and my prayer, in Jesus' name, Amen.   I Will Love My Neighbor! Wisdom speaks to me that my neighbor is more than the people living next door. My neighbor is every person on the earth especially those who need mercy. In Our Love Covenant I have chosen to make future generations my special neighbor. These children and unseen ones still stuck in time to be are especially vulnerable. The wisdom of loving our neighbor means thinking about them and planning for them as God would. Experiencing love for my neighbor means feeling for them deeply, the way Jesus felt for people. Jesus revealed that each one is important regardless of their life situation. It means understanding them in their culture and how and why their culture is so important for them... even when I disagree with them. Experiencing love for neighbor means feeling for them and understanding them. Loving neighbor means that I actually participate in helping programs and serve them, as Jesus did. His loving actions involved sharing the good news of the Kingdom of God, teaching, healing their diseases, feeding them, and spending time with them, among many other ways. In spite of my limitations, as followers of Jesus it is impossible for me not to help. Mercy and love work hand in hand. THE SECOND COMMITMENT AND PRAYER: Lord Jesus, there is more than great satisfaction in loving our neighbor, even future generations. There is being more like you. I promise to love my neighbor the way you did, being active helping them, for in doing so I bring honor to your name. Amen. I Will Love My Self! Wisdom teaches me to love my self because God loves me. I am important to God, who wants nothing but my well-being. One of the greatest things I can do for my self is to understand the depth of God's love for me. When I do this my distortions about my self will disappear and I will think about my self the way God does. Experiencing love for my self means feeling God's love. Experiencing love means feeling forgiveness, grace, compassion, self-discipline: well-being. Loving my self means taking great care of my whole-self; spiritually, physically, emotionally, socially, and relationally. It means taking care of my body and my spirit. It means stopping destructive activities and engaging in wholesome ones. It means healing broken relationships and seeking healthy ones. It means expressing my unique giftedness. It means walking daily with God. THE THIRD COMMITMENT AND PRAYER: Holy Spirit, give me the wisdom I need to care for my self. Let me experience all the feelings associated with love for my self and teach me to behave in God's loving ways for my life. These three, then, loving God, loving neighbor and loving self, are my ways of following Jesus in living a life of love. May love flow from God's heart, to my heart, then to my world. This is my commitment and prayer. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Signiture: _________________________________ Date ____________________ SOLEMNIZING OUR LOVE COVENANT Simply print the covenant out, sign it and send a copy to Bryan@St-Pats.com Bryan L. Martin wrote Our Love Covenant. It is former know as The River Covenant. This is the November 2008 version. If you would like an attractive brochure-like format of Our Love Covenant mailed to you click here and request one. Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:11:52 MST http://www.st-pats.com/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=1 http://www.st-pats.com/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=1&article_id=6 St. Pats is an independent congregation thinking God's thoughts, feeling for people, and experiencing love. You can read more about what makes us distinctive by clicking on the links in the left column. Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:28:22 MST http://www.st-pats.com/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=1 http://www.st-pats.com/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=1&article_id=26 Generally we observe the Christian calendar and follow the readings from the Revised Common Lectionary. You can view the lessons by clicking here. When you get to Textweek simply click on the link below next Sunday's date. To learn more about the Revised Common Lectionary click here. We will be following the Old Testament stream as the Israel makes its way to the promised land until we begin Advent on November 30. It is great stuff with wonderful applications for your life in the real world today! Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:09:56 MST http://www.st-pats.com/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=2 http://www.st-pats.com/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=2&article_id=2 Most people today associate Patrick with St. Patrick's Day, snakes, green beer, and a day that marks the beginning of spring with happiness. But Patrick was an independent, courageous, spiritual leader from the 5th century. He was one of the first to take the message of God's love to a barbarian people. He didn't let the barriers of language, and culture stop the flow of God's love. In fact he is credited with changing the culture of the entire Western Europe. He was a remarkable follower of Jesus! You can read more about St. Patrick by scrolling down. WHAT'S DIFFERENT ABOUT ST. PAT'S 1. We are an independent Christian church. We are not Roman Catholic (in spite of our name) Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Southern Baptist, Mormon, Mennonite, Pagan, Zoroastrian, New Age, New Thought, Unitarian or anything else. We are NOT any of the following; denominational, non-denominational, trans-denominational, or inter-denominational. Nor are we hiding our denominational affiliation behind a cool hip name. For better or for worse, we truly are an independent Christian people. 2. We convey our values to our children. There are a lot of things wrong with religion, we admit it. But one of the good things is passing our values, practices and priorities to our kids. We want them to know the things that are important to us and what we believe will make them better people in our world, things like faith, wisdom, courage, compassion, community, independence and love are few of them. Our church is a safe place for children. 3. We have the beautiful music of Paul and Jana Aleman to inspire us. 4. Our pastor presents a challenging and inspiring message every week. It is amazing how he takes an ancient passage written to ancient people thousands of years ago and brings modern ideas that apply to our lives today. Plus we celebrate a meaningful communion service every week. The combination of ancient rituals plus information for today is rich and speaks to heart. 5. Our goal is to live a life of love following Jesus. We think a lot of people could use a little more love in their lives; don't you? Our HELP ONE program is at the heart of what we do. Here is a great idea; everyone helps one person every day. We think we can have a significant impact in our community if we just HELP ONE. 6. We enjoy a casual environment were friends can meet, have a cup of coffee, and experience the feeling of community, pray, and hear a challenging message. 7. We are a "portable" church now and we dream of having our own home. 8. We focus on the teachings of and about Jesus. There is a lot of weirdness in the world today done in the name of God, the Church or religion and we don't like it. But Jesus and his teaching are not weird. They are life-giving. You will not find us focusing on issues that divide people. We focus on the message of God's love. 9. We want to be the best we can be with no excuses. We live in a virtual paradise compared to many third world countries, even during our difficult times. We are grateful and we feel compelled to make an impact in our world by being the best we can at what we do. 10. We are warm, personal, genuine, friendly people and we practice a practical, experiential and reasonable faith. We think you will feel God's love and presence and learn something too. You are more than welcome to visit us! Please do. Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:39:38 MST http://www.st-pats.com/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=13 http://www.st-pats.com/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=13&article_id=74 The Twelve Families of Christmas The Twelve Families of Christmas is our church's Christmas Help One Program. Borrowing from the "Twelve Days of Christmas" we are going to help three families on the four Sundays before Christmas. These four Sundays (November 30, December 7, 14 and 21) just happen to be the Sundays of Advent. Three families times four Sundays is Twelve Families of Christmas. Here is how it will work. We will find (by your suggestions) Twelve Families who need a Christmas boost this year. We will determine their needs and meet the ones we can. We use the term "family" quite loosely. It may be that a single woman or an elderly widower might be one of our "families." As I write this letter there are 56 days to the First Sunday. We are talking about it now because as you are out in the world you might find some really great bargains or something that a family might use. Since we don't know exactly what each family will need, whether it is a trip to Disneyland, new beds for kids, toys, groceries, appliances or what ever, you will have to use your best judgment until we have concrete information. Be thinking about it. This could be the most fun and the most help our church has ever done! It is like the Bible says, "For God so loved the world he gave...." Let us make this best giving opportunity! Mon, 6 Oct 2008 14:08:07 MST http://www.st-pats.com/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=13 http://www.st-pats.com/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=13&article_id=73 October 2008 Financial Support Letter Dearly Beloved, We are five weeks into our return to Sunday mornings and things are better than ever. The comments I am getting are flattering to me personally and bode well for us as a church. My teachings are being well received. That is nice, but what really excites me is the HELP ONE program. I know how compound interest works with investing and the principle of compound interest is at work in our helping people. What I mean by that is when we help others it effects more than just the people we are helping. There is a ripple effect and the love and caring involved in the helping reaches a lot more people than the target family. For instance, Peggy Allesandri helped the construction worker at her home. I told this story at church so if you missed church and the detail don't quite connect, sorry about that. Peggy helped the construction worker's four year old daughter who was sitting in her dad's car all day long while he worked. Peggy insisted that she come in to her house and Peggy watched her for three days while the work was going on. Peggy told her Kinship group the story and one thing led to another. Soon five or six people had donated over $500 to pay for the girl's day care and they promised to pay next month too. When the day care owner heard of what we were doing she was amazed. I don't know the full extent of the impact of Peggy's intervention, but by now nearly 12 people are involve or touched by Peggy's one act. That is the ripple effect. Now compound that by the fact that many people in our church are doing Help One things and you can see that we have the potential to reach hundreds of people with truly meaningful ways of helping. I'm proud of you! New topic: I need two things from you. The first is your generous ongoing financial support. Thank you for that! Second, we need more people. Let be honest; we have a unique church. Our church has the ability to help people grow in faith like none other. We just need to get them and keep them here. I will do my best to teach them and help them grow spiritually, if you will help me get them there. GIVE ME THE NAMES AND PHONE NUMBERS OF ALL YOUR FRIENDS SO I CAN CALL THEM AND INVITE THEM TO VISIT US. Most of our new growth came this way. Our church dream is three-fold; we want our own church home, we want to be the best, and we want to help our community and world. We need to work together to do this. So give me names to call and keep up on your generous financial support for our church. Okay? (Nod your head). Good. Wow. Church has been really great. Let's keep it up. Come to church every week with an open heart, help one person every day, and keep on believing that the love of God flows through your heart to our world! Peace and Love to you and yours! -- Bryan Martin Mon, 6 Oct 2008 14:06:21 MST http://www.st-pats.com/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=18 http://www.st-pats.com/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=18&article_id=68 We are going to make an impact in our community and world, one family, one person at a time with our HELP ONE program. Here is how it works. Every week our church will help one family. It could be anything from helping with a fiancial crisis to changing batteries in smoke alarms. Next, every person in our church is drafted to help one person a day. There are a million and one needs and a million and one ways to respond. Thirdly we are going to teach our children to do the same. In fact we dream of going into schools and teaching children how to help people in our community and world. Do the math with me; the church helps one family a week, every person in the church helps one person every day, and our children to the same thing. That equals a big impact in our community. Isn't that great! Why are we doing this. We have no choice! If we claim to be followers of Jesus, spiritual people, or just concerned people about the future of our world then we must be a helping people. What we do is more important that what we say. We do helping things that demonstrate, better than any words, who we are and what we do. You see, LOVE FLOWs from God's heart, through our hearts to our world. If you know a family with a need contact Katie Miller at katie.miller2@comcast.net (Pictured is Hannah Taylor of www.Ladybugfoundation.ca and a homeless friend.) Mon, 8 Sep 2008 15:28:14 MST http://www.st-pats.com/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=5 http://www.st-pats.com/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=5&article_id=25 Bryan Lee Martin has been a Christian minister since 1977. He and Jennifer have been married thirty-four years. They have four adult children and eight grandchildren. Pastor Martin's greatest desire is to pass God's love on to the generations. He is a life-long learner and sees learning as a key part of his life and ministry. His Bachelor's degree is from Melodyland School of Theology, Anaheim, CA. In the exciting days of the Jesus People movement in Southern California in the early 70's Melodyland School of Theology was a dynamic, spirit-filled place of learning and experiencing. He earned his Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA. Pastor describes the classical theological training at Fuller as a fabulous educational experience. Next, he earned a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Counseling from the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary, Fresno, CA (MBBS). Pastor credits MBBS with equipping him for life with essential relationship skills, and giving him the ability to empower others in their relationships. Pastor Martin also has a Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary. His doctoral program emphasized Christian spirituality, preaching, and popular cultural studies. His dissertation was on preaching with cultural relevance. He is a good communicator! Dr. Martin formerly served as a Chaplain at Fresno's VA Hospital. He calls this the Mother Theresa part of his ministry. Here he initiated and taught "Spirituality and Recovery." He is a Board Certified Chaplain with the National Association of Veteran's Affairs Chaplains. Another essential aspect of his ministry is his weekly Bible study at Twilight Haven. Dr. Martin has the gift of relating to Seniors. His study is well attended and very much appreciated by the residents of Twilight Haven. Sometime they even clap when he arrives. Dr. Martin has served in leadership roles in several community and non-profit organizations. He also has participated in interfaith activites in the area. Prior to starting St. Patrick's Community Church he was Pastor of Cross Church in Fresno for nearly eight years. He was the founding Pastor of Vineyard Christian Fellowship Fresno/Clovis, commissioned by John Wimber to Fresno in 1981. Those were exciting days! Dr. Martin is the author of Fun Loving: How To Have A Practially Perfect Relationship with Jennifer Martin. They lead a couple's workshop by the same name on a regular basis. See www.DrBryanMartin.com for more information. Pastor Martin enjoys a rich and diverse spirituality. He is a man of deep practical faith. His prayer is that God's love would flow through our hearts to our world. Love is the most important thing. Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:45:12 MST http://www.st-pats.com/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=2 http://www.st-pats.com/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=2&article_id=56 The Confession of St. Patrick Translated from the Latin by Ludwig Bieler I am Patrick, a sinner, most unlearned, the least of all the faithful, and utterly despised by many. My father was Calpornius, a deacon, son of Potitus, a priest, of the village Bannavem Taburni; he had a country seat nearby, and there I was taken captive. I was then about sixteen years of age. I did not know the true God. I was taken into captivity to Ireland with many thousands of people - and deservedly so, because we turned away from God, and did not keep His commandments, and did not obey our priests, who used to remind us of our salvation. And the Lord brought over us the wrath of his anger and scattered us among many nations, even unto the utmost part of the earth, where now my littleness is placed among strangers. And there the Lord opened the sense of my unbelief that I might at last remember my sins and be converted with all my heart to the Lord my God, who had regard for my abjection, and mercy on my youth and ignorance, and watched over me before I knew Him, and before I was able to distinguish between good and evil, and guarded me, and comforted me as would a father his son. Hence I cannot be silent - nor, indeed, is it expedient - about the great benefits and the great grace which the lord has deigned to bestow upon me in the land of my captivity; for this we can give to God in return after having been chastened by Him, to exalt and praise His wonders before every nation that is anywhere under the heaven. Because there is no other God, nor ever was, nor will be, than God the Father unbegotten, without beginning, from whom is all beginning, the Lord of the universe, as we have been taught; and His son Jesus Christ, whom we declare to have always been with the Father, spiritually and ineffably begotten by the Father before the beginning of the world, before all beginning; and by Him are made all things visible and invisible. He was made man, and, having defeated death, was received into heaven by the Father; and He hath given Him all power over all names in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue shall confess to Him that Jesus Christ is Lord and God, in whom we believe, and whose advent we expect soon to be, judge of the living and of the dead, who will render to every man according to his deeds; and He has poured forth upon us abundantly the Holy Spirit, the gift and pledge of immortality, who makes those who believe and obey sons of God and join theirs with Christ; and Him do we confess and adore, one God in the Trinity of the Holy Name. For He Himself has said through the Prophet: Call upon me in the day of thy trouble, and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. And again He says: It is honourable to reveal and confess the works of God. Although I am imperfect in many things, I nevertheless wish that my brethren and kinsmen should know what sort of person I am, so that they may understand my heart's desire. I know well the testimony of my Lord, who in the Psalm declares: Thou wilt destroy them that speak a lie. And again He says: The mouth that belieth killeth the soul. And the same Lord says in the Gospel: Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall render an account for it on the day of judgment. And so I should dread exceedingly, with fear and trembling, this sentence on that day when no one will be able to escape or hide, but we all, without exception, shall have to give an account even of our smallest sins before the judgment of the Lord Christ. For this reason I had in mind to write, but hesitated until now; I was afraid of exposing myself to the talk of men, because I have not studied like the others, who thoroughly imbibed law and Sacred Scripture, and never had to change from the language of their childhood days, but were able to make it still more perfect. In our case, what I had to say had to be translated into a tongue foreign to me, as can be easily proved from the savour of my writing, which betrays how little instruction and training I have had in the art of words; for, so says Scripture, by the tongue will be discovered the wiseman, and understanding, and knowledge, and the teaching of truth. But of what help is an excuse, however true, especially if combined with presumption, since now, in my old age, I strive for something that I did not acquire in youth? It was my sins that prevented me from fixing in my mind what before I had barely read through. But who believes me, though I should repeat what I started out with? As a youth, nay, almost as a boy not able to speak, I was taken captive, before I knew what to pursue and what to avoid. Hence to-day I blush and fear exceedingly to reveal my lack of education; for I am unable to tell my story to those versed in the art of concise writing - in such a way, I mean, as my spirit and mind long to do, and so that the sense of my words expresses what I feel. But if indeed it had been given to me as it was given to others, then I would not be silent because of my desire of thanksgiving; and if perhaps some people think me arrogant for doing so in spite of my lack of knowledge and my slow tongue, it is, after all, written: The stammering tongues shall quickly learn to speak peace. How much more should we earnestly strive to do this, we, who are, so Scripture says, a letter of Christ for salvation unto the utmost part of the earth, and, though not an eloquent one, yet ... written in your hearts, not with ink, but with the spirit of the living God! And again the Spirit witnesses that even rusticity was created by the Highest. Whence I, once rustic, exiled, unlearned, who does not know how to provide for the future, this at least I know most certainly that before I was humiliated I was like a stone Lying in the deep mire; and He that is mighty came and in His mercy lifted me up, and raised me aloft, and placed me on the top of the wall. And therefore I ought to cry out aloud and so also render something to the Lord for His great benefits here and in eternity - benefits which the mind of men is unable to appraise. Wherefore, then, be astonished, ye great and little that fear God, and you men of letters on your estates, listen and pore over this. Who was it that roused up me, the fool that I am, from the midst of those who in the eyes of men are wise, and expert in law, and powerful in word and in everything? And He inspired me - me, the outcast of this world - before others, to be the man (if only I could!) who, with fear and reverence and without blame, should faithfully serve the people to whom the love of Christ conveyed and gave me for the duration of my life, if I should be worthy; yes indeed, to serve them humbly and sincerely. In the light, therefore, of our faith in the Trinity I must make this choice, regardless of danger I must make known the gift of God and everlasting consolation, without fear and frankly I must spread everywhere the name of God so that after my decease I may leave a bequest to my brethren and sons whom I have baptised in the Lord - so many thousands of people. And I was not worthy, nor was I such that the Lord should grant this to His servant; that after my misfortunes and so great difficulties, after my captivity, after the lapse of so many years, He should give me so great a grace in behalf of that nation - a thing which once, in my youth, I never expected nor thought of. But after I came to Ireland - every day I had to tend sheep, and many times a day I prayed - the love of God and His fear came to me more and more, and my faith was strengthened. And my spirit was moved so that in a single day I would say as many as a hundred prayers, and almost as many in the night, and this even when I was staying in the woods and on the mountains; and I used to get up for prayer before daylight, through snow, through frost, through rain, and I felt no harm, and there was no sloth in me - as I now see, because the spirit within me was then fervent. And there one night I heard in my sleep a voice saying to me: It is well that you fast, soon you will go to your own country.' And again, after a short while, I heard a voice saying to me: See, your ship is ready.' And it was not near, but at a distance of perhaps two hundred miles, and I had never been there, nor did I know a living soul there; and then I took to flight, and I left the man with whom I had stayed for six years. And I went in the strength of God who directed my way to my good, and I feared nothing until I came to that ship. And the day that I arrived the ship was set afloat, and I said that I was able to pay for my passage with them. But the captain was not pleased, and with indignation he answered harshly: It is of no use for you to ask us to go along with us.' And when I heard this, I left them in order to return to the hut where I was staying. And as I went, I began to pray; and before I had ended my prayer, I heard one of them shouting behind me, Come, hurry, we shall take you on in good faith; make friends with us in whatever way you like.' And so on that day I refused to suck their breasts for fear of God, but rather hoped they would come to the faith of Jesus Christ, because they were pagans. And thus I had my way with them, and we set sail at once. And after three days we reached land, and for twenty-eight days we travelled through deserted country. And they lacked food, and hunger overcame them; and the next day the captain said to me: Tell me, Christian: you say that your God is great and all-powerful; why, then, do you not pray for us? As you can see, we are suffering from hunger; it is unlikely indeed that we shall ever see a human being again.' I said to them full of confidence: Be truly converted with all your heart to the Lord my God, because nothing is impossible for Him, that this day He may send you food on your way until you be satisfied; for He has abundance everywhere.' And, with the help of God, so it came to pass: suddenly a herd of pigs appeared on the road before our eyes, and they killed many of them; and there they stopped for two nights and fully recovered their strength, and their hounds received their fill for many of them had grown weak and were half-dead along the way. And from that day they had plenty of food. They also found wild honey, and offered some of it to me, and one of them said: This we offer in sacrifice.' Thanks be to God, I tasted none of it. That same night, when I was asleep, Satan assailed me violently, a thing I shall remember as long as I shall be in this body. And he fell upon me like a huge rock, and I could not stir a limb. But whence came it into my mind, ignorant as I am, to call upon Helias? And meanwhile I saw the sunrise in the sky, and while I was shouting Helias! Helias' with all my might, suddenly the splendour of that sun fell on me and immediately freed me of all misery. And I believe that I was sustained by Christ my Lord, and that His Spirit was even then crying out in my behalf, and I hope it will be soon the day of my tribulation, as is written in the Gospel: On that day, the Lord declares, it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you. And once again, after many years, I fell into captivity. On that first night I stayed with them, I heard a divine message saying to me: Two months will you be with them.' And so it came to pass: on the sixtieth night thereafter the Lord delivered me out of their hands. Also on our way God gave us food and fire and dry weather every day, until, on the tenth day, we met people. As I said above, we travelled twenty-eight days through deserted country, and the night that we met people we had no food left. And again after a few years I was in Britain with my people. who received me as their son, and sincerely besought me that now at last, having suffered so many hardships, I should not leave them and go elsewhere. And there I saw in the night the vision of a man, whose name was Victoricus, coming as it were from Ireland, with countless letters. And he gave me one of them, and I read the opening words of the letter, which were, The voice of the Irish'; and as I read the beginning of the letter I thought that at the same moment I heard their voice - they were those beside the Wood of Voclut, which is near the Western Sea - and thus did they cry out as with one mouth: We ask thee, boy, come and walk among us once more.' And I was quite broken in heart, and could read no further, and so I woke up. Thanks be to God, after many years the Lord gave to them according to their cry. And another night - whether within me, or beside me, I know not, God knoweth - they called me most unmistakably with words which I heard but could not understand, except that at the end of the prayer He spoke thus: He that has laid down His life for thee, it is He that speaketh in thee'; and so I awoke full of joy. And again I saw Him praying in me, and I was as it were within my body, and I heard Him above me, that is, over the inward man, and there He prayed mightily with groanings. And all the time I was astonished, and wondered, and thought with myself who it could be that prayed in me. But at the end of the prayer He spoke, saying that He was the Spirit; and so I woke up, and remembered the Apostle saying: The Spirit helpeth the infirmities of our prayer. For we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit Himself asketh for us with unspeakable groanings, which cannot be expressed in words; and again: The Lord our advocate asketh for us. And when I was attacked by a number of my seniors who came forth and brought up my sins against my laborious episcopate, on that day indeed was I struck so that I might have fallen now and for eternity; but the Lord graciously spared the stranger and sojourner for His name and came mightily to my help in this affliction Verily, not slight was the shame and blame that fell upon me! I ask God that it may not be reckoned to them as sin. As cause for proceeding against me they found - after thirty years! - a confession I had made before I was a deacon. In the anxiety of my troubled mind I confided to my dearest friend what I had done in my boyhood one day, nay, in one hour, because I was not yet strong. I know not, God knoweth - whether I was then fifteen years old: and I did not believe in the living God, nor did I so from my childhood, but lived in death and unbelief until I was severely chastised and really humiliated, by hunger and nakedness, and that daily. On the other hand, I did not go to Ireland of my own accord. not until I had nearly perished; but this was rather for my good, for thus was I purged by the Lord; and He made me fit so that I might be now what was once far from me that I should care and labour for the salvation of others, whereas then I did not even care about myself. On that day, then, when I was rejected by those referred to and mentioned above, in that night I saw a vision of the night. There was a writing without honour against my face, and at the same time I heard God's voice saying to me: We have seen with displeasure the face of Deisignatus' (thus revealing his name). He did not say, Thou hast seen.' but We have seen.' as if He included Himself, as He sayeth: He who toucheth you toucheth as it were the apple of my eye. Therefore I give Him thanks who hath strengthened me in everything, as He did not frustrate the journey upon which I had decided, and the work which I had learned from Christ my Lord; but I rather felt after this no little strength, and my trust was proved right before God and men. And so I say boldly, my conscience does not blame me now or in the future: God is my witness that I have not lied in the account which I have given you. But the more am I sorry for my dearest friend that we had to hear what he said. To him I had confided my very soul! And I was told by some of the brethren before that defence - at which I was not present, nor was I in Britain, nor was it suggested by me - that he would stand up for me in my absence. He had even said to me in person: Look, you should be raised to the rank of bishop!' - of which I was not worthy. But whence did it come to him afterwards that he let me down before all, good and evil, and publicly, in a matter in which he had favoured me before spontaneously and gladly - and not he alone, but the Lord, who is greater than all? Enough of this. I must not, however, hide God's gift which He bestowed upon me in the land of my captivity; because then I earnestly sought Him, and there I found Him, and He saved me from all evil because - so I believe- of His Spirit that dwelleth in me. Again, boldly said. But God knows it, had this been said to me by a man, I had perhaps remained silent for the love of Christ. Hence, then, I give unwearied thanks to God, who kept me faithful in the day of my temptation, so that today I can confidently offer Him my soul as a living sacrifice - to Christ my Lord, who saved me out of all my troubles. Thus I can say: Who am I, 0 Lord, and to what hast Thou called me, Thou who didst assist me with such divine power that to-day I constantly exaltand magnify Thy name among the heathens wherever I may be, and not only in good days but also in tribulations?' So indeed I must accept with equanimity whatever befalls me, be it good or evil, and always give thanks to God, who taught me to trust in Him always without hesitation, and who must have heard my prayer so that I, however ignorant I was, in the last days dared to undertake such a holy and wonderful work-thus imitating somehow those who, as the Lord once foretold, would preach His Gospel for a testimony to all nations before the end of the world. So we have seen it, and so it has been fulfilled: indeed, we are witnesses that the Gospel has been preached unto those parts beyond which there lives nobody. Now, it would be tedious to give a detailed account of all my labours or even a part of them. Let me tell you briefly how the merciful God often freed me from slavery and from twelve dangers in which my life was at stake - not to mention numerous plots, which I cannot express in words; for I do not want to bore my readers. But God is my witness, who knows all things even before they come to pass, as He used to forewarn even me, poor wretch that I am, of many things by a divine message. How came I by this wisdom, which was not in me, who neither knew the number of my days nor knew what God was? Whence was given to me afterwards the gift so great, so salutary - to know God and to love Him, although at the price of leaving my country and my parents? And many gifts were offered to me in sorrow and tears, and I offended the donors, much against the wishes of some of my seniors; but, guided by God,in no way did I agree with them or acquiesce. It was not grace of my own, but God, who is strong in me and resists them all - as He had done when I came to the people of Ireland to preach the Gospel, and to suffer insult from the unbelievers, hearing the reproach of my going abroad, and many persecutions even unto bonds, and to give my free birth for the benefit of others; and, should I be worthy, I am prepared to give even my life without hesitation and most gladly for His name, and it is there that I wish to spend it until I die, if the Lord would grant it to me. For I am very much God's debtor, who gave me such grace that many people were reborn in God through me and afterwards confirmed, and that clerics were ordained for them everywhere, for a people just coming to the faith, whom the Lord took from the utmost parts of the earth, as He once had promised through His prophets: To Thee the gentiles shall come from the ends of the earth and shall say: How false are the idols that our fathers got for themselves, and there is no profit in them'; and again: I have set Theeas a light among the gentiles, that Thou mayest be for salvation unto the utmost part of the earth.' And there I wish to wait for His promise who surely never deceives, as He promises in the Gospel: They shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob - as we believe the faithful will come from all the world. For that reason, therefore, we ought to fish well and diligently, as the Lord exhorts in advance and teaches, saying: Come ye after me, and I will make you to be fishers of men. And again He says through the prophets: Behold,I send many fishers and hunters, saith God, and so on. Hence it was most necessary to spread our nets so that a great multitude and throng might becaught for God, and that there be clerics everywhere to baptize and exhort a people in need and want, as the Lord in the Gospel states, exhorts and teaches, saying: Going therefore now, teach ye all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with you all days even to the consummation of the world. And again He says: Go ye therefore into the whole world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be condemned. And again: This Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all nations, and then shall come the end. And so too the Lord announces through the prophet, and says: And it shall come to pass, in the last days, saith the Lord, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. And upon my servants indeed, and upon my handmaids will I pour out in those days of my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And in O see, He saith: I will call that which was not my people, my people; ... and her that had not obtained mercy, one that hath obtained mercy. And it shall be in the place where it was said: You are not my people,'' there they shall be called the sons of the living God.' Hence, how did it come to pass in Ireland that those who never had a knowledge of God, but until now always worshipped idols and things impure, have now been made a people of the Lord, and are called sons of God, that the sons and daughters of the kings of the Irish are seen to be monks and virgins of Christ? Among others, a blessed Irish woman of noble birth, beautiful, full-grown, whom I had baptized, came to us after some days for a particular reason: she told us that she had received a message from a messenger of God, and he admonished her to be a virgin of Christ and draw near to God. Thanks be to God, on the sixth day after this she most laudably and eagerly chose what all virgins of Christ do. Not that their fathers agree with them: no - they often ever suffer persecution and undeserved reproaches from their parents; and yet their number is ever increasing. How many have been reborn there so as to be of our kind, I do not know-not to mention widows and those who practice continence. But greatest is the suffering of those women who live in slavery. All the time they have to endure terror and threats. But the Lord gave His grace to many of His maidens; for, though they are forbidden to do so, they follow Him bravely. Wherefore, then, even if I wished to leave them and go to Britain - and how I would have loved to go to my country and my parents, and also to Gaulin order to visit the brethren and to see the face of the saints of my Lord! God knows it! that I much desired it; but I am bound by the Spirit, who gives evidence against me if I do this, telling me that I shall be guilty; and I am afraid of losing the labour which I have begun - nay, not I, but Christ the Lord who bade me come here and stay with them for the rest of my life, if the Lord will, and will guard me from every evil way that I may not sin before Him. This, I presume, I ought to do, but I do not trust myself as long as I am in this body of death, for strong is he who daily strives to turn me away from the faith and the purity of true religion to which I have devoted myself to the end of my I life to Christ my Lord. But the hostile flesh is ever dragging us unto death, that I is, towards the forbidden satisfaction of one's desires; and I know that in part I did not lead a perfect life as did the other faithful; but I acknowledge it to my Lord, and do not blush before Him, because I lie not: from the time I came to know Him in my youth, the love of God and the fear of Him have grown in me, and up to now, thanks to the grace of God, I have kept the faith. And let those who will, laugh and scorn - I shall not be silent; nor shallI hide the signs and wonders which the Lord has shown me many years before they came to pass, as He knows everything even before the times of the world. Hence I ought unceasingly to give thanks to God who often pardoned my folly and my carelessness, and on more than one occasion spared His great wrath on me, who was chosen to be His helper and who was slow to do as was shown me and as the Spirit suggested. And the Lord had mercy on me thousands and thousands of times because He saw that I was ready, but that I did not know what to do in the circumstances. For many tried to prevent this my mission; they would even talk to each other behind my back and say: Why does this fellow throw himself into danger among enemies who have no knowledge of God?'It was not malice, but it did not appeal to them because - and to this I own myself - of my rusticity. And I did not realize at once the grace that was then in me; now I understand that I should have done so before. Now I have given a simple account to my brethren and fellow servants who have believed me because of what I said and still say in order to strengthen and confirm your faith. Would that you, too, would strive for greater things and do better! This will be my glory, for a wise son is the glory of his father. You know, and so does God, how I have lived among you from my youth in the true faith and in sincerity of heart. Likewise, as regards the heathen among whom I live, I have been faithful to them, and so I shall be. God knows it, I have overreached none of them, nor would I think of doing so, for the sake of God and His Church, for fear of raising persecution against them and all of us, and for fear that through me the name of the Lord be blasphemed; for it is written: Woe to the man through whom the name of the Lord is blasphemed. For although I be rude in all things, nevertheless I have tried somehow to keep myself safe, and that, too, for my Christian brethren, and the virgins of Christ, and the pious women who of their own accord made me gifts and laid on the altar some of their ornaments and I gave them back to them, and they were offended that I did so. But I did it for the hope of lasting success - in order to preserve myself cautiously in everything so that they might not seize upon me or the ministry of my service, under the pretext of dishonesty, and that I would not even in the smallest matter give the infidels an opportunity to defame or defile. When I baptized so many thousands of people, did I perhaps expect from any of them as much as half a scruple? Tell me, and I will restore it to you. Or when the Lord ordained clerics everywhere through my unworthy person and I conferred the ministry upon them free, if I asked any of them as much as the price of my shoes, speak against me and I will return it to you. On the contrary, I spent money for you that they might receive me; and I went to you and everywhere for your sake in many dangers, even to the farthest districts, beyond which there lived nobody and where nobody had ever come to baptize, or to ordain clergy, or to confirm the people. With the grace of the Lord, I did everything lovingly and gladly for your salvation. All the while I used to give presents to the kings, besides the fees I paid to their sons who travel with me. Even so they laid hands on me and my companions, and on that day they eagerly wished to kill me; but my time had not yet come. And everything they found with us they took away, and me they put in irons; and on the fourteenth day the Lord delivered me from their power, and our belongings were returned to us because of God and our dear friends whom we had seen before. You know how much I paid to those who administered justice in all those districts to which I came frequently. I think I distributed among them not less than the price of fifteen men, so that you might enjoy me, and I might always enjoy you in God. I am not sorry for it - indeed it is not enough for me; I still spend and shall spend more. God has power to grant me afterwards that I myself may be spent for your souls. Indeed, I call God to witness upon my soul that I lie not; neither, I hope, am I writing to you in order to make this an occasion of flattery or covetousness, nor because I look for honour from any of you. Sufficient is the honour that is not yet seen but is anticipated in the heart. Faithful is He that promised; He never lieth. But I see myself exalted even in the present world beyond measure by the Lord, and I was not worthy nor such that He should grant me this. I know perfectly well, though not by my own judgment, that poverty and misfortune becomes me better than riches and pleasures. For Christ the Lord, too, was poor for our sakes; and I, unhappy wretch that I am, have no wealth even if I wished for it. Daily I expect murder, fraud, or captivity, or whatever it may be; but I fear none of these things because of the promises of heaven. I have cast myself into the hands of God Almighty, who rules everywhere, as the prophet says: Cast thy thought upon God, and He shall sustain thee. So, now I commend my soul to my faithful God, for whom I am an ambassador in all my wretchedness; but God accepteth no person, and chose me for this office - to be, although among His least, one of His ministers. Hence let me render unto Him for all He has done to me. But what can I say or what can I promise to my Lord, as I can do nothing that He has not given me? May He search the hearts and deepest feelings; for greatly and exceedingly do I wish, and ready I was, that He should give me His chalice to drink, as He gave it also to the others who loved Him. Wherefore may God never permit it to happen to me that I should lose His people which He purchased in the utmost parts of the world. I pray to God to give me perseverance and to deign that I be a faithful witness to Him to the end of my life for my God. And if ever I have done any good for my God whom I love, I beg Him to grant me that I may shed my blood with those exiles and captives for His name, even though I should be denied a grave, or my body be woefully torn to pieces limb by limb by hounds or wild beasts, or the fowls of the air devour it. I am firmly convinced that if this should happen to me, I would have gained my soul together with my body, because on that day without doubt we shall rise in the brightness of the sun, that is, in the glory of Christ Jesus our Redeemer, as sons of the living God and joint heirs with Christ, to be made conformable to His image; for of Him, and by Him, and in Him we shall reign. For this sun which we see rises daily for us because He commands so, but it will never reign, nor will its splendour last; what is more, those wretches who adore it will be miserably punished. Not so we, who believe in, and worship, the true sun - Christ - who will never perish, nor will he who doeth His will; but he will abide for ever as Christ abideth for ever, who reigns with God the Father Almighty and the Holy Spirit before time, and now, and in all eternity. Amen. Behold, again and again would I set forth the words of my confession. I testify in truth and in joy of heart before God and His holy angels that I never had any reason except the Gospel and its promises why I should ever return to the people from whom once before I barely escaped. I pray those who believe and fear God, whosoever deigns to look at or receive this writing which Patrick, a sinner, unlearned, has composed in Ireland, that no one should ever say that it was my ignorance if I did or showed forth anything however small according to God's good pleasure; but let this be your conclusion and let it so be thought, that - as is the perfect truth - it was the gift of God. This is my confession before I die. Information obtained from the following Web site: http://www.ccel.org/ Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:56:57 MST http://www.st-pats.com/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=10 http://www.st-pats.com/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=10&article_id=33 Ok, ok, we've unpacked. It has been an invigorating and interesting year filled with drama, laughter and tears (isn't every year lke that?) and we are settled in. We welcome the opportunity to meet you, sing and play with you, to lead you in your Sunday morning worship, and to encourage you to SING and DANCE and LOVE with all your heart. I have it on good authourity that GOD loves music. I have an "in." Trust me. Anyway.... St Pat's is a casual, informal, LOVING environment that is safe for your kids, welcomes discussion, and all in all, is a FABULOUS place to be. See you SOON!!! --Jana Aleman PS: You have the same "in" I do; take advantage of it : o) Thu, 28 Jun 2007 23:31:26 MST http://www.st-pats.com/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=5 http://www.st-pats.com/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=5&article_id=19 I'm for the next generations. Not just the X Generation or the Boomers. I'm for the ones that are just now coming up, the ones that are merely a gleam in their daddy's eye and a dream in the hearts of their mothers. I'm for them. I'm for Ivan and Jay, Emma and Lauren; I'm for their new baby brothers and sisters. I'm for their spouses, some of whom have not been born yet. I'm for the really helpless; those still stuck in time to be. I want them to know the Wisdom of my faith; how to live life to the fullest, how to be all they can be. I want them to Experience my faith; what if feels like to be with God, to hear God's voice. I want them to live a life of Love. I want love to flow from God's heart to their hearts and to their world. I want them to act and behave with love. This is what I want to do. As the leader of my home, and my faith community I will do everything I can to ensure that the Wisdom, Experience and Love of my faith in Jesus Christ is passed on to the next generations. CONTACT PASTOR MARTIN BY CLICKING HERE or email Bryan@st-pats.com, or call directly 559-259-8154 Thu, 1 Mar 2007 18:23:20 MST http://www.st-pats.com/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=14 http://www.st-pats.com/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=14&article_id=30 Nearly fifty years ago six churches decided to take better care of their elderly so they organized and built Twilight Haven. Today it has senior apartments, long term care and living, and nursing care for senior. Pastor Martin started a Wednesday morning 10:15 am Bible study at Twilight Haven ten years ago! It continues to be a popular weekly event. Ministry to the elderly is one of the most Jesus things a person can do. If you'd like to join Pastor, give him a call, he'll be glad to take you with him. He also offers a monthly worship service on the second Sunday of the month at 2:30 pm. You can join him for that too. Sat, 19 Nov 2005 00:34:12 MST http://www.st-pats.com/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=12 http://www.st-pats.com/app/w_page.php?type=section&id=12&article_id=38 We now have the ability to support St. Pat's, with our gifts and offerings, on line. Just click on the Pay Pal link below for safe giving. It is easy, just click on the button and follow the simple instructions. Thanks for your generosity. Thanks for working together. Thank you very much! Thu, 29 Sep 2005 00:53:53 MST http://www.st-pats.com/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=19 http://www.st-pats.com/app/w_page.php?type=group&id=19&article_id=29 St. Patrick's Breastplate (The Deer's Cry) I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, through belief in the Threeness, through confession of the Oneness towards the Creator of Creation. I arise today through the strength of Christ with His Baptism, through the strength of His Crucifixion with His Burial, through the strength of His Resurrection with His Ascension, through the strength of His descent for the Judgment of Doom. I arise today through the strength of the love of Cherubim in obedience of Angels, in the service of the Archangels, in hope of resurrection to meet with reward, in prayers of Patriarchs, in predictions of Prophets, in preachings of Apostles, in faiths of Confessors, in innocence of Holy Virgins, in deeds of righteous men. I arise today, through the strength of Heaven: light of Sun, brilliance of Moon, splendour of Fire, speed of Lightning, swiftness of Wind, depth of Sea, stability of Earth, firmness of Rock. I arise today, through God's strength to pilot me: God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to guide me, God's eye to look before me, God's ear to hear me, God's word to speak for me, God's hand to guard me, God's way to lie before me, God's shield to protect me, God's host to secure me: against snares of devils, against temptations of vices, against inclinations of nature, against everyone who shall wish me ill, afar and anear, alone and in a crowd. I summon today all these powers between me (and these evils): against every cruel and merciless power that may oppose my body and my soul, against incantations of false prophets, against black laws of heathenry, against false laws of heretics, against craft of idolatry, against spells of women [any witch] and smiths and wizards, against every knowledge that endangers man's body and soul. Christ to protect me today against poison, against burning, against drowning, against wounding, so that there may come abundance of reward. Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ where I lie, Christ where I sit, Christ where I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me. I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, through belief in the Threeness, through confession of the Oneness towards the Creator of creation. Salvation is of the Lord. Salvation is of the Lord. Salvation is of Christ. May Thy Salvation, O Lord, be ever with us. Thu, 29 Sep 2005 00:53:52 MST