Thoughts On Faith and Prayer: BEAUTY FOR ASHES

I will give them a crown to replace their ashes, and the oil of gladness to replace their sorrow, and clothes of praise to replace their spirit of sadness. Then they will be called Trees of Goodness, trees planted by the Lord to show His greatness. (Click to hear the message.)

Song & Verse: HELLO by Adele

This song was on repeat as soon as I saw the release on my FB feed at 6am the day Adele greeted the world again in song. Love her. Love her voice. Love her expression of her life journey. That said, I just watched Joe Thomas cover Hello and that's why this post is happening! (Click to check out some covers of Hello.)

Thoughts On Faith and Prayer: ALL AND NOTHING

The Thoughts on Faith and Prayer messages are short sermons (15-20 min) given during my congregation's corporate prayer service on Tuesday nights. I'm really excited to learn that they are being recorded and can be shared. This is a great message about the totality of what we are called to be in Christ Jesus. Be blessed. Be a blessing. (Click to listen.)

Joint Statement from the Fourth U.S.-Brazil Global Partnership Dialogue

"The participants reaffirmed the shared commitment to remove barriers to access economic opportunity, education, health, and justice for historically marginalized groups, including people of African descent through the ongoing implementation of the U.S.–Brazil Joint Action Plan to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Discrimination and Promote Equality, and lauded the successful Joint Action Plan technical meeting and seminar on Equity in Education, both held in Brasilia in August 2012. The participants further agreed that empowering and protecting women and girls requires strong, coordinated action by the international community."

Joint Action Plan: Brazil and U.S.A. To Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Discrimination…

Recognizing the democratic, multi-ethnic and multi-racial nature of Brazilian and U.S. societies, which strengthens the ties of friendship between both countries; Recognizing further their governments' commitment to racial equality and equal opportunity and the historic friendship between their nations;....