Day: November 1, 2012

Marilyn's avatarMarilyn R. Gardner

There are times when we need miracles to ponder – to remind us of what’s important, to encourage us, to make us kneel in amazement. Lillian Trasher Orphanage in Assiut, Egypt serves hundreds of children and adults and is a place of many such miracles. My friends, Michele and Joseph, have a family connection with the orphanage and visit there often. The following happened just this week during their scheduled visit to Lillian Trasher.

The Big (Pint-Sized) Miracle in the Lillian Trasher Orphanage (Egypt) by Michele Rigby.

About 4 years ago, when we were visiting my in-law’s orphanage, we saw a little baby that had recently been brought into the home. She was literally at death’s door. Her mother died in childbirth, and her father kept her until she was about 10 months old but realized she was dying.

He brought her to the home and said, “She’ll probably die…

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More on: Choosing a New Coptic Pope » First Thoughts | A First Things Blog

Peanut Gallery: I confess, I’m fascinated by the papal selection process of the Coptic Orthodox Church. It’s not so much the candidate vetting to narrow the final choices down to three. It’s the God-directed final selection by lot at the hand of a random child that I find  both amazing and inspiring.

It’s so unlike the political lobbying and manuevering that I’ve witnessed in the church over the years. And this selection is so much more important in the total scheme of things… given the tenuous position of Christians in an emerging Islamic Egypt.

That’s why I’ve re-posted this article from First Things… to add additional information… and to encourage you to pray for the Coptic Church and their soon-to-be-revealed new Pope.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done
On earth, as it is in heaven!

See full article below –
Choosing a New Pope
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Mark Movsesian

In Egypt this weekend, the Coptic Orthodox Church will select its 118th pope. The new pope will succeed the late Shenouda III, who led the Coptic Church—a venerable and long-suffering communion, and the largest Christian church in the Middle East today—for forty years. The selection process, which is codified in Egyptian civil law, tracks ancient custom and is quite fascinating.

According to Eastern Christian practice, only monks—that is, celibate priests attached to a monastic brotherhood—may become pope. Continue reading “More on: Choosing a New Coptic Pope » First Thoughts | A First Things Blog” →

All Saints Day – “For all the Saints who from their labors rest….”

Peanut Gallery: Please remember today the “saints” who have gone before us.

And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this down: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them!” Revelation 14.7 NLT

Morning Reading: Revelation 7.9-12 NLT

After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar,

“Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!”

And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God. They sang,

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen.”