Ephesus; A John Newton Poem

Originally posted on Levi's Daily Thoughts:

Thus saith the Lord to Ephesus,
And thus he speaks to some of us;
Amidst my churches, lo, I stand,
And hold the pastors in my hand.

Thy works, to me, are fully known,
Thy patience, and thy toil, I own;
Thy views of gospel truth are clear,
Nor canst thou other doctrine bear.

Yet I must blame while I approve,
Where is thy first, thy fervent love?
Dost thou forget my love to thee,
That thine is grown so faint to me?

Recall to mind the happy days
When thou wast filled with joy and praise;
Repent, thy former works renew,
Then I’ll restore thy comforts too.

Return at once, when I reprove,
Lest I thy candlestick remove;
And thou, too late, thy loss lament;
I warn before I strike, Repent.

Hearken to what the Spirit saith,
To him that overcomes by faith;
The fruit of life’s unfading tree,

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The Sun Stood Still

Originally posted on Paula Carnes:

Did the sun ever stand still? The only day I know that the sun stands still is that fateful day in fall when we all fall back an hour. Where I live in Las Vegas, Nevada, it doesn’t help much. The sun sets by 4:30 pm here in Pacific Standard Time. Geographically I think we should be in Mountain Time, but putting us in the same time zone as California allows millions of Californians to come here and gamble on their schedule. Where is God when the government makes stupid choices? I think I know where God is. He is looking down at us and laughing.

“He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.” Psalm 2:4

Of course, governments have done a lot worse things than create poorly drawn time zones. I can hear God now saying, “You Las Vegans want all…

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Our Featured Presentation: Nonprofits the invisible hands

Originally posted on The Neighborhood:

I have found that among its other benefits
giving liberates the soul of the giver.
- Maya Angelou

{press play}

Sometimes dreams do come true. When we are children, we dream all the time. Dreams of Santa Claus coming down the chimney with a bag of toys and ushering in good cheer. We dream of Disneyland and riding the fastest roller coaster, arms held high, screaming in delight. We have nightmares too, but those do not last, because we know our parents will protect us from the ghosts and goblins and all of those monsters hiding underneath our beds. We close our eyes and return to paradise. Dreams of sugar plum fairies and soaring with the wind. We dream of all good things, because when we are children we believe that all things are good.

As adults, dreams do not go away. They become based on reality, however, no longer the…

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Kim’s Guest Review of Mr. Darcy Came to Dinner by Jack Caldwell

Originally posted on Reflections of a Book Addict:

My latest review for Austenprose is  Mr. Darcy Came to Dinner by Jack Caldwell. The name Jack Caldwell may ring a bell for some of you. He is the author of  Pemberley Ranch, a book that Todd and I both reviewed (see Todd’s / Mine .) Caldwell is one of the few male authors that exist in the Jane Austen fan fiction sphere. As such, he captures my attention with each novel he writes as he is able to offer male insight into Darcy’s mind (and let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want to know what that man was thinking?!)

Mr. Darcy Came to Dinner is a comedic retelling of Pride and Prejudice that lands Darcy in the living room of the Bennet household as he recovers from a broken leg. How did he got that broken leg? You’d have to ask Elizabeth’s adorable cat Cassandra! What ensues in the Bennet…

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Marie Lavenders “A Year of Guest Authors”

check out Marie’s super-post with a year of her Guest Authors, it is an impressive collection.

Questions for the author

What am I working on?
I am interested in a variety of projects. I assist a community of authors through group blogs at MARSocial Author Business Enhancement Blogs and am writing a fictional history/inspirational novel “Jungle Heat”. I find these projects challenging and worthwhile pursuits. Both are complex endeavors but any steps forward are very satisfying.

How does my work differ from others of the same genre?
I have no glaring difference, my peers vary in skill and technique and I think no two are the same.

Why do I write what I do?
I write and work on the projects that will not leave my thoughts. If an idea comes to mind my brain takes control and I have little choice, but to accomplish the work. Perhaps an inner desire to expose a facet not yet considered or a perspective that must be shared is at the root. Sometimes it is simply an effort that needs to be executed, and as an author my efforts are written works.

How does your writing process work?
Diligent thought, organizational work lists and repetitive fresh-eyed editing and constant review of my progress. My favorite work to date is “The End of Humanity” it is a life-long collection of thoughts organized into a book and moving story. It can be reviewed at :
http://www.amazon.com/End-Humanity-Coleman-Weeks-ebook/dp/B00A32V1OO/

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Introduction on MARS

Our first blog on MARS. Graham Noble has provided the authors of MARSocial another opportunity, Thanks Graham.

A Prayer for Fred Phelps

Originally posted on Mind's Seat:

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.” Matthew 7:1

The Washington Post/Getty Images

by Susan Irene Fox

I have only sadness and pity in my heart for Fred Phelps and the church he started.

If the name sounds familiar, but you cannot place it, Fred Phelps is the man who beget the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC). The church that makes those of us who follow Jesus cringe. The church that causes non-believers to turn away from Christianity.

I feel no anger, no hatred, because I understand the simple yet profound truth that if they do not allow the God who loves us to transform their hearts they will never experience the eternal life that Christ so nobly and courageously gave us.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

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Journalism. Education. VAHE.

Originally posted on VAHE Magazine:

Letter of the Editor

The Estonian word vahe means “different”, and so we all are.

South Africa has lead by example to unite nations and races from all over the globe in VAHE’s Special Report by holding the annual Pick’n’Pay Momentum Cape Argus Cycle Tour, where travellers worldwide joined to head for a common goal.

Out of Africa and into Europe. This is the dream thousands of illegal immigrants wish to fulfill by becoming boat migrants heading for the small island-state of Malta. VAHE’s Expert Voice Giacomo Orsini speaks openly about the conditions families are facing when cramped onto small boats and ending up in detention camps.

Melissa Schneider is an Expert Voice on China’s “leftover women“. She explains why over 27-year-old women in China are doomed with a looming expiration date and who to turn to when everybody turns away.

This month’s most heartfelt stories take place in Northern

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Choosing Slavery

Originally posted on Paula Carnes:

Did you ever get advice you didn’t want to hear? A wise lady once told me, “Paula, you don’t have to be famous; you just have to be faithful.” It has taken me forty years to come to terms with this reality – following Jesus may mean being a nobody.

The apostle Paul got this. Even though he was a brilliant, highly educated Jewish leader, he realized that his highest calling was to be a bond slave of Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:1) A bond slave was a slave who had earned his freedom, yet chose to remain a slave the rest of his life because he loved his master. Once a slave made this choice his master pierced his ear with an awl. The post in his ear was a sign to all that he was a slave for the remainder of his life, because he loved and respected his…

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