Christ the Redeemer

Dear Sisters:

I wanted to share this picture with you on our blog. It is a photo of Christo Redentor in Rio de Janeiro. In English, that means Christ the Redeemer. It was erected in the 1930's and is regarded as one of the Modern Wonders of the World. The day I went to see the statue, it was a cloudy day, with lots of mist. There were lots of tourists with cameras, and it was hard to see the statue. Suddenly, the mist cleared and I was able to get this picture - it was truly a spiritual experience for me. Please know that even though this is only a statue, it is true that Christ will reveal himself to anyone who seeks to know Him, and who is willing to wait! Have happy summers all of you! Linda

Sisters Field Trip Pictures

Lynda - will write a report but here's my few pictures.

I Believe

Birth Certificate shows that we were born

A Death Certificate shows that we died

Pictures show that we lived!

Have a seat . . . Relax . . . And read this slowly.

I Believe...
That just because two people argue,
it doesn't mean they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue,
it doesn't mean they do love each other.

I Believe...
That we don't have to change friends if
we understand that friends change.

I Believe...
That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt
you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I Believe...
That true friendship continues to grow, even over
the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I Believe...
That you can do something in an instant
that will give you heartache for life.

I Believe...
That it's taking me a long time
to become the person I want to be.

I Believe...
That you should always leave loved ones with
loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I Believe...
That you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I Believe...
That we are responsible for what
we do, no matter how we feel.

I Believe...
That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I Believe...
That heroes are the people who do what has to be done
when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I Believe...
That money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I Believe...
That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I Believe...
That sometimes the people you expect to kick you
when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.

I Believe...
That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry,
but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I Believe...
That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had
and what you've learned from them and less to do
with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I Believe...
That it isn't always enough, to be forgiven by others.
sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I Believe...
That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I Believe...
That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are,
but, we are responsible for who we become.

I Believe...
That you shouldn't be so eager to find
out a secret. It could change your life Forever.

I Believe...
Two people can look at the exact same
thing and see something totally different.

I Believe...
That your life can be changed in a matter of
hours by people who don't even know you.

I Believe...
That even when you think you have no more to give, when
a friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help.

I Believe...
That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I Believe...
That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

I Believe...
That you should send this to all of the people that you believe in, I just did.

"The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
they just make the most of everything."

Michael Oliver

Personal Share

He's a short movie of Eleanor playing in the honors recital at the Fort Worth Teachers Association Solo Competition. She got a high enough rating to get to play in the recital

Agency withdraws petition on Caterpillar divestment

By United Methodist News Service*
April 17, 2008

After direct meetings with Caterpillar Inc., the United Methodist Church's social action agency says it will withdraw a petition calling for divestment from the heavy equipment manufacturer.

The petition, sent to the denomination's top legislative body, charged that the company profits from illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian land and contributes to the occupation by supplying Israeli Defense Forces with heavy equipment.

Sending the petition to the 2008 United Methodist General Conference has achieved positive results, said Jim Winkler, top executive of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society in Washington.

Since January, Caterpillar has opened discussions with the board, issued a statement denouncing immoral use of its equipment, and agreed to continued dialogue.

The 2008 General Conference will meet April 23-May 2 in Fort Worth, Texas. The legislative body meets every four years.

The Caterpillar statement sent to Winkler said, "Caterpillar's products are designed to improve quality of life. ... We do not condone the illegal or immoral use of any Caterpillar equipment. ... We expect our customers to use our products in environmentally responsible ways and consistent with human rights and the requirements of international humanitarian law."

The statement affirmed the importance of continuing dialogue between Caterpillar and The United Methodist Church. "We are committed to further conversations and possible philanthropic activities in Palestinian areas."

About $5 million of the denomination's estimated $17 billion pension portfolio is invested in Caterpillar stock.


But for interest

Church of England votes to disinvest in Caterpillar
By staff writers
7 Feb 2006

Christian peace campaigners are this morning welcoming the vote last night by the Church of England's general synod - including the Archbishop of Canterbury - to disinvest church funds from companies profiting from Israel's illegal occupation of Palestinian territory.

The main target of the plan will be the US earth-moving equipment company Caterpillar which has supplied vehicles used by Israel to demolish Palestinian homes.

It follows examination by the Churchís Ethical Investment Advisory Group of whether the shares currently held in Caterpillar were consistent with the Churchís ethical investment policy, which prohibits investment in arms companies or companies making ëweapons platformsí such as naval vessels or tanks.

When the worldwide Anglican communion called for such a move, at a meeting last summer, there followed protests from Israel and Jewish groups.

The church currently invests about £2.5m of its £900m share portfolio in Caterpillar and had been engaged in negotiations with the company about its activities. Caterpillar insists it has not provided the earth movers directly to Israel but to the US military which sold them on.

But the BBC reports that Caterpillar has faced criticism from UN officials. As detailed in War on Wantís recent ëalternative reportí on Caterpillar, thousands of Palestinian homes and vast swathes of agricultural land have been destroyed by the Israeli military using armoured Caterpillar D9 bulldozers.

Caterpillar bulldozers have also been used in the construction of Israelís Separation Wall, ruled illegal by the International Court of Justice in July 2004.

One of the companyís machines killed American peace activist Rachel Corrie two years ago and Christian churches in the USA have also begun discussions over divesting from Caterpillar.

On the first day of its meeting in London, the general synod, the church's parliament, heard denunciations of Israel's use of the machines from one of its own bishops and from the Anglican bishop of Jerusalem, who is Palestinian, whose letter was read out.

The Rt Rev John Gladwin, Bishop of Chelmsford, who is chairman of Christian Aid, told the meeting that the problem in the Middle East was the government of Israel rather than Caterpillar but that it was vital that the church should invest only in organisations which behaved ethically.

So passionate was the debate that it squeezed out an equally contentious decision last Friday by the Church commissioners, managers of the church's investment and property portfolio, to sell off the century-old Octavia Hill housing estates for more than 1,000 poor tenants in south London to property developers.

This decision has itself been branded "unethical" by campaigners.

Paul's Blog

I found Paul's Blog online today. Thought I'd share with all - so added a link to the left so you can just click on that to go and read what he has to share!

Ronnie

Spring in Texas

Dear Father, please forgive me for the times I have doubted You. Forgive me for the times I haven’t had faith in You and Your plan for me. I know, God, that I may not understand the reasons for the way You work in my life, but I pray for the strength and wisdom to trust in You completely. Father, thank you for all that You have done and all that You will do in my life. In Your Son’s precious name, Amen.