McAllen church service

The testimonies were wonderful. Cristina told of a healing between she and her husband. I almost dropped my jaw translating it. I remember last year when she vehemently told me her feelings. I'd prayed at the time for such hurt and anger must be healed. And through God's grace they have been! She is handling the challenges with grace and God's love.

Jim the institutional chair for Texas told of many healings at the prisons. Then he said Ryder is giving a lecture open to the entire prison population at Huntsville where I was just a month ago. It had taken 5 years for the prison to admit a Christian Scientist. Then after only 3 months the lady visiting arranged for me to lecture, but the prison officials said only for those who signed up a month in advance. There were maybe 10 or so at the lecture. At that time the CSist's partner had moved and she wasn't permitted to enter alone. We prayed. Now a month later, her brother who was violently opposed to going into the prison is going to accompany her and help her with the services and healing work. And they are going to have another lecture now open to the entire prison population there. God is infinite good!

Spiritual progress

It might seem self-serving if anyone ever reads this, but I've been once again forgetting to cherish the good going on and taking time to thank God for all the wonderful blessings. They are so many and they come so fast, it's impossible to record them all. Lorie, who is one of the most grateful people I know, reminds me to cherish the good and be grateful for it. So I'm posting her email.

Thanks for the notice to listen to your q&a posted on tmcyouth.com.

You may or may not remember that my family is strongly opposed to CS. Although my sister's responses to me have been softening w/ regards to CS, she continues to not want to understand anything about the religion - samenesses or differences. Just last weekend, she told me that she had left the church we had grown up in as children and started going to what is referred to in my little home town as 'the holy roller church'. They speak in tongues, roll in the floor, etc. I've never heard my sister so excited before.

My initial reaction to her news was not the best one, but I'm grateful that God put a sock in my mouth (albeit a 'spiritual one !) and I said absolutely nothing! After hearing your answer to the question of speaking in tongues, I have a much clearer picture of the whole thing and a better idea of how to conduct myself in the next conversation as I'm sure it will come up again. I think it will actually allow for a conversation which I'm sure will now be more open-minded from both of us! Thank you!!!!

I also wanted to share something with you... Matt quit his organist church job in October and aside from subbing, has been coming to church with me. He went back to his 'home' church this past Wed to play a service. He called me afterwards very excited and said that [his home] church is new for him again - that it means a lot more to him now that he's been going to the CS church. He said that iInstead of seeing the differences and not being happy about them, he is seeing the samenesses. He said that he is also now more able to turn around the differences and ask himself how CS would address the topic or question of the moment. AND, I am so happy to notice that the question 'how would LORIE answer this' is now being regularly replaced with 'how would CHRISTIAN SCIENCE address this'!!!!

Progress!

Also, thanks for the assoc blogsite. I just logged-in and got a great idea on how to be more consistent with the verse-a-day assignment.

This week I've seen on a consistent basis that humility is the answer to everything - humility to acknowledge that God IS God and that God does not require (or accept!) my/our help or input to BE God! This lesson has allowed me to more consistently identify the fact that what appears to be 'the problem' is never 'the' problem but is a mistaken sense of self and of God. And as I acknowledge this, I see progress in myself and in others.

Class instruction becomes more clear and more precious each day that I'm willing and humble enough to practice what I learned. Thanks for the millionth time for presenting it all so clearly and lovingly. I hope you don't get tired of hearing my thanks, because I imagine that I'll express it a bazillion more times before moving on!
- Lorie

Ft myers lecture

A lively group of 130 crammed the meeting room including lots of visitors and a few homeless folks. Many S&H and Bibles were shared.

From Longwood FL

As you and David settle back home and look forward to your next destination, I want to say that it was truly a pleasure working with and meeting both of you. Such wonderful ambassadors for the Christ-message!

I look forward to sharing fruitage from attendees and workers touched by the love, sincerity, and truth of the Word delivered with your honest enthusiasm.
- Cindi

Stuart FL enjoyed their talk

Thanks for your nice note. We are so very grateful for the wonderful lecture experience! I just have to tell you how very helpful the machete and helicopter explanations have been. It is difficult to put into words, but I'll try... It helps me see that the machete method is an effective way to pray and I love the suggestions you gave; but the sense of being lifted up was so vividly presented that I feel impelled to strive to work to achieve that uplifted thought. It's not that I haven't known the value of uplifted thought, but I think the way you presented it makes me feel that it's more achieveable.

The folks I talked with at church today all are most grateful for the inspiration and excitement they took from the lecture prep meeting and the lecture itself. We're looking forward to our follow-up meeting on Friday.

There was a call on the answering machine this morning from a man who lives in Indiantown (located about 30 minutes west of where you stayed) wanting to know about Christian Science. He wants us to send some information to him. This is certainly an example of God leading "honest seekers" to our church.We'll be sending more fruitage.With much gratitude and love,Doris

Valentine's Day

Dave and I agreed not to exchange cards. We're doing so much travelling together cards just felt commercial instead of special. We had Cracker Barrel in the room and a 2pm lecture. People came from Boca, Ft Lauderdale, Melbourne, Ft Myers, and Sarasota. Dave Pelton's mom was there. So was Juli Vice's mom. People that had heard me in Ohio and Michigan.

a school friend from MSU, Sandy Newville was there. She's living with her parents. There were several gay couples and single gay men. Must be an enclave here.

We're overnighting near Orlando airport. We leave early in the morning. It's been a great tour. Good lectures, plays and ballet in Sarasota, walks on the beach, new ideas and technolgy from Orlando. But I'm ready to go home. It's a long haul on the road.

Taking a walk in Sarasota

We finally took a nice walk on the beach after the Stuart prep. It's in the 70s, blue skies and dogs digging in the sand. Dave and I are so tired we checked into the hotel and promptly went to bed. I slept for a couple hours but Dave's still asleep. We'll awake for Monk and a snack. We're both ready for a break.

Dr. Compson's religion class

Spent over 2 hours with talk and questions. They got that CS is Bible-based which they hadn't before. 10 Bibles were taken and 19 S&H. This talk is perfect for university classes.

Orlando-Longwood prep

They videotaped the prep Supporting Spiritual Healing and will send me nd Greg a copy. They also had great ushers badges printed and an electronic ushers badge that was amazing. Later that night she sent me a video postcard. I want to think how to put that technology to use.

Gratitude

Thank you so much for taking me to lunch last weekend. Thank you even more for taking the time with me. It means so much to me.

As I thought about the gratitude that I felt for this kindness, I can't help but express the overwhelming gratitude that I have for the extent that your life and healing ministry has been on the many who you've extended your time to and the healing message of the Christ that you've shared with so many.

I appreciate your devotion to be an example and a blessing, your care and the leadership shown to bless others.

Much love,
Victoria

Great theater location for Melbourne FL talk

Poster outside movie theater Melbourne FL

Liked a chat

In keeping with this new resolution to value positive written feedback...
Here's an email...

I just listened to your chat on sprirituality.com "Prayer as an Effective Resource on Health and Healing".

Thank you!

Caroline Byus

Decided to post healing results

I've been in the healing practice for over 30 years, full time for 26, registered with the Christian Science church for 24. I've received hundreds of letters and emails thanking me, and never knew what to do with them. Mostly I've thrown them away, but I don't want to throw away gratitude to God or belittle the tremendous healing power of Christ on earth. So, I'm going to make an effort to save written gratitude here on my personal blog. May God's glory be sung and some day when this blog goes public, others may rejoice in the power of God on earth to save and heal.

"This is amanda writing from China. We spoke earlier, and I am writing to thank you immensely for your support; it was very effective. I was able to eat and hold down food immediately after we spoke. Thank you again and again."

Notes that make life worthwhile

Your thoughts once again hit the mark perfectly for me. I am so glad I was led to you for class instruction. It is clear to me that you are doing great work and this is embracing us, and encouraging us whenever we encounter that error called doubt. By the way, you are the best coach I have ever had. Thanks again, and know that we appreciate and support all you are doing.

Mike Jackson

Cocoa FL

Cocoa FL lecture

Lovely room ready for a wedding filled with 100 people to hear Being God's Song. Austin introduced me and did a beautiful job. One woman was a newcomer to the lecture I gave in Cocoa 2 years ago. She began attending church and now brings her granddaughters. She came this time and took lots of notes. Other visitors came to the talk. Victoria and I went to lunch at Florida Seafood afterward. It was excellent, had the shrimp volcano, yum! Had a lovely visit with Victoria.

Cocoa lecture prep

dave and I had dinner with Austin at the Seafood Grille overlooking the river at sunset. It was striking. Food was great, mahi dinner for $11. Austin gave me several ideas for youth lectures. I'm going to work on a kid's version of Being God's Song entitled How to Talk about CS.

Someone actually thanked me after the prep for giving so much to the churches by doing the preps for free. That meant a lt ti me that someone noticed. Renee was interested in class. Nice turnout which filled their SS. Different people than last time, interestingly with more young people, a good sign.

Melbourne FL prep

I didn't realize I knew so many people here! Daryl and Victoria my students are both members. A woman shared the healing results from our conversation from 2 years ago when I lectured here. The young man in question stabilized emotionally, is in college, and actively studying CS. The dad married and takes his entire family to church. The church feels good about the intervention. So grateful to hear that the healing results of turning people to faith in God.

the meeting was full with 8 or more kids.

Blue heron taking walk with us Sarasota 2009

Brown pelican in Sarasota Bay

Blue heron in tree

Asolo Theater

We saw Visiting Mr. Green, Inventing Van Gogh, Winter's Tale, and Imaginary Invalid. The later was a slapstick spoof of doctor's updated from Moliere. Hilarious!

Donohue D was gripping as Leontes. He dominated the stage. As Van Gogh, he was poignant and sympathetic. A brilliant actor playing a genius painter. We saw him play Caliban at OSF and he was powerful. I'm hooked. This is an actor worth fying to see.

Ft Myers lecture

About 150 people gathered at the Christian Science church on Super Bowl Sunday. Some drove the 2 hours from Ft Myers. Others came from Naples and Sanibel. Charles came and talked with Dave and me afterward.