I hope that you and yours have enjoyed a safe and happy 2020, and will enjoy an even better 2021! All the best!
Happy Holidays!
Faith
Easter Blessings (By: Michele Babcock-Nice)
Easter Bouquet (April 5, 2015)
May this beautiful bouquet of Spring flowers find you enjoying a blessed and happy Easter!
Happy Easter: Stations of the Cross at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Roswell, Georgia (By: Michele Babcock-Nice)
Station of the Cross, St. Andrew’s Church, Roswell, Georgia, May 2010
At this time four years ago, I was dating a man who lives in Roswell, Georgia, within one mile of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Roswell, Georgia near Atlanta. One day, I attended Mass there, and walked through the beautiful area behind the church and next to the Chattahoochee River in which there are life-sized statues of the Stations of the Cross. These statues are really beautiful, and are presented in a lovely and serene location, perfect for religious and spiritual prayer, meditation, and awakening. I will include several of those photos in this post for your enjoyment and reflection on Easter and this beautiful time of spiritual renewal. The pictures are not necessarily in the correct sequence of the Stations, nor do they necessarily represent all o the Stations. Happy Easter!
Station of the Cross, St. Andrew’s Church, Roswell, Georgia, May 2010
Station of the Cross, St. Andrew’s Church, Roswell, Georgia, May 2010
Station of the Cross, St. Andrew’s Church, Roswell, Georgia, May 2010
Station of the Cross, St. Andrew’s Church, Roswell, Georgia, May 2010
Station of the Cross, St. Andrew’s Church, Roswell, Georgia, May 2010
Station of the Cross, St. Andrew’s Church, Roswell, Georgia, May 2010
Station of the Cross, St. Andrew’s Church, Roswell, Georgia, May 2010
Station of the Cross, St. Andrew’s Church, Roswell, Georgia, May 2010
Station of the Cross, St. Andrew’s Church, Roswell, Georgia, May 2010
Statue of Mary Holding Baby Jesus, St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, Roswell, Georgia, May 2010
These pictures represent most of the Stations of the Cross that are presented in beautiful, statue-form at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Roswell, Georgia. There are few churches that present such beautiful representations of Jesus, Mary, and the Stations; these are among the best that I have ever seen.
“Prayers and Support Needed for St. Rose of Lima Parish, Newtown, Connecticut” (By: Michele Babcock-Nice)
St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, Newtown, Connecticut (Reference: http://www.strosechurch.com/prayers-for-newtown/ ).
Prayers and support are still very much needed for parishioners and employees of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Newtown, Connecticut, as well as for the survivors and residents there for coping with grief and healing. Postings on Facebook, CatholicVote.org, Change.org, WordPress, LinkedIn, Twitter, and other organizations speak to the continued need for prayers, support, and good works for the people of Newtown, Connecticut.
My own regional Women’s Catholic Bible Study group at St. John Neumann Parish in Lilburn, Georgia is also involved in spreading this message, as well as in providing encouragement, prayers, and support for – in particular – the religious employees of St. Rose of Lima Parish. Please continue to spread the word and share supportive, encouraging words and works of healing for the people of this parish and of Newtown.
The church’s address is:
St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church
47 Church Hill Road
Newtown, Connecticut 06470
Priests at the Church include: Msgr. Bob Weiss, Fr. Luke Suarez, and Fr. Ignacio Ortigas.
There are also many religious sisters, deacons, education employees, office staff members, and others who are doing their best to emotionally and spiritually support others while also coping with their own grief; and it is my understanding that they really need all of the support that they can get to heal and cope.
Additionally, the church website that shares prayers of supporters to the parish can be found at the following link: http://www.strosechurch.com/prayers-for-newtown/ .
Please do whatever you can to help, encourage, and support the people of Newtown, Connecticut, and St. Rose of Lima Parish there. The Church website also has a link where one may make monetary donations for the Sandy Hook families.
References
St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church. December 28, 2012. http://www.strosechurch.com/prayers-for-newtown/ .
(Note: Please know that I do not support or endorse any of the advertisements that may appear in conjunction with my blog posts. They are placed there by WordPress, and I have no control over them. I appreciate your understanding.)
Book Review of “Back to the Source: The Spiritual Principles of Jesus” (Dr. Mic Hunter); Book Review by Michele Babcock-Nice
Jesus Died so we May Live
Back to the Source: The Spiritual Principles of Jesus, by Dr. Mic Hunter, is a provocative, open-minded, “think outside-of-the-box”-type of work that appeals to the individual of any faith and who desires questions, answers, and principles about God, Jesus, and Jesus’ teachings to be explained and supported in an extremely “real-life,” highly-rational, thoroughly-contemplative, and wonderfully-inspirational manner.
Dr. Hunter’s book is one that readers will find difficulty putting down once they have begun reading it. When one starts to read it, he or she develops a hunger to read and learn more about what Dr. Hunter has to say. The reader may even re-read and re-examine part or all of the book several times because it is so well-thought, provocative, and insightful.
Especially for those who are interested in religion, Jesus’ teachings, Christianity, self-education, and lifelong spiritual growth and development, Dr. Hunter’s book is the epitome of works that reach the very depths of the human soul, and honestly and realistically examine the meanings behind the manner by which Jesus desires people to live.
A very modern, up-to-date, and quite all-encompassing work, Back to the Source: The Spiritual Principles of Jesus examines many present-day issues within society, including war, homosexuality, wealth, poverty, child abuse, universal health care, sexuality, divorce, capital punishment, and the manner by which women, children, and homosexuals are viewed and treated.
Jesus Finding the Lost Lamb
Highly-supported are the themes that Dr. Hunter presents, with quotes and references to the Bible, as well as his utilization of additional published resources. Dr. Hunter’s writing is based in the principles and teachings of Jesus – in the manner by which they were originally written, understood, and translated – rather than the “watered-down” versions of today that may exclude or conceal true meanings and understanding.
Dr. Hunter, in his sharing and support of his information in Back to the Source, successfully tells many sides of a story or theme. In other words, he gets down to the “nitty-gritty” of current, real-life events, as well as particular events and issues in the Bible and in Jesus’ time. Dr. Hunter tells it like it is, basing his writing in the love that Jesus has for each person, no matter what background, faith, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, gender, or social status. In fact, Dr. Hunter is so honest, sincere, and genuine in his writing in that it is so “real” that some readers may get a true education regarding Jesus’ teachings in comparison to certain “popular” societal views and practices.
In Dr. Hunter’s book, we are consistently reminded that we should seek to orient ourselves and our thoughts and actions in the manner of Jesus. We are informed to recall that we should and must behave with genuine love and compassion toward everyone, including our enemies. We are called to remember that we must employ peacefulness and nonviolence in our lifestyles.
In the manner of an enlightened individual who has had life experience and who is a man of deep faith, Dr. Hunter states that behaving in a loving, compassionate, and peaceful manner is a sign of strength rather than of weakness – as so many in our world seem to believe. We are reminded that we must be open-minded, tolerant, forgiving, and supportive of others, especially those who are most in need, including the poor, children who are abused and neglected, and those who experience violence and discrimination, such as homosexuals. We are reminded that people in need and in crisis are worthy of our aid and support.
Jesus Being Crucified
Back to the Source: The Spiritual Principles of Jesus is a work that has taught me more in my faith than I have learned as a lifelong Roman Catholic. So often, we are “preached at” by our religious institutions without being provided with a greater understanding of Jesus’ teachings and principles. Dr. Hunter’s book provides the instruction and education that is necessary and that is presently lacking in people’s everyday “going-through-the-motions” type of faith.
This work further shares and describes genuine observations on how Christians and others of faith in God are not living as we should. Dr. Hunter calls us to recognize that we should not point fingers at others without first reflecting upon ourselves, on whether or not we hold true the Ten Commandments, and on whether or not we are truly living in the manner that Jesus taught. To support his observations, Dr. Hunter shares research and statistics of countries throughout the world that are comparable with each other, most particularly the United States of America.
Therefore, by no means is Back to the Source: The Spiritual Principles of Jesus your common, everyday book about religion, religious faith, and spiritual principles. It is a book that should be considered a thorough and educational research and reference guide to many Biblical passages and interpretations, the spiritual principles and teachings of Jesus, and a text that tackles current, important issues within our society and how they are – and could be – resolved and improved.
Back to the Source: The Spiritual Principles of Jesus is a spiritually-enlightened work, written by an open-minded, educated, experienced, wise, and professional individual, who is courageous and unafraid of addressing what occurs, what is good and beneficial, what is lacking, and what is still needed in our society – in order that people may truly practice, understand, and “live” their faith. Dr. Hunter’s many years of experience as a psychotherapist also give him the knowledge that certain programs for people who are struggling with addictions are based in Jesus’ teachings, and are beneficial, in practice and commitment, to those whom they serve.
Dr. Hunter provides for the reader an opportunity to increase his or her faith, to improve his or her life through a greater understanding and practice of Jesus’ teachings, and to truly, genuinely, and sincerely “live” as Jesus wants us to live. We are challenged to examine our patterns of thought and action, as well as our lifestyles, so that we may more appropriately follow and understand what Jesus expects of us. We are reminded to be guided by Jesus’ holy teachings in our lives, to correctly understand the true meaning of his principles, and not to stray from His real expectations.
I, therefore, am extremely pleased to recommend Back to the Source: The Spiritual Principles of Jesus with the highest of praise and compliments, and without any reservations.
Source
Hunter, M. (2011). Back to the Source: The Spiritual Principles of Jesus. Charleston, South Carolina: Mic Hunter.
