A Word to the CHURCH: Pick up DISCIPLESHIP

IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE

Another Timely Word 
from Brother Brendon Patrick+ + +    ..... 

  The organized church as a whole has walked away from discipleship.

 +   +   +

The plain words of CHRIST are ignored and people are taught that if they attempt to actually do what JESUS taught,...  to actually live the way HE+ taught ... they are legalistic and are in "bondage".

.

On the other hand, the organized church systems will usually teach that you are under "grace" and can ignore the teachings of JESUS as relating to real life! That's right. You can ignore the plain teachings and commandments of the ONE+ Who+ saved you by Grace with HIS+ own BODY and BLOOD ! Untrue of course.

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JESUS our LORD did all of HIS+ part. 

.

However.... HE+ will not do our part for us.

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HE+ will not be HIS+ own Disciple for us !

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HE+ will however give us Divine help in every way in the Power of the Holy Spirit to really follow HIM+ and be Disciples in the Way HE+ has taught us.

.

JESUS plainly said, "If anyone will follow me, he MUST deny himself, take up his cross and follow me." This is NOT taught in the modern churches ... and that is an understatement, at best. 

 .

     The Power of the Eternal SPIRIT of GOD was evident in the ancient Church in all Followers of JESUS, both in their daily lifestyle and in the Supernatural Gifts and working of that same Holy SPIRIT. The things that JESUS did, they did. This was SO evident to those around them that the pagans were the first ones who referred to them as "Christians" ... because they were so much like CHRIST.

.

HIS+ SPIRIT was in them reproducing CHRIST. 

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   The necessity of discipleship for EVERY follower of CHRIST has been removed from the modern church and has left it floundering, focusing mainly on theological systems that were  formulated 1,500 years or more after The SON+ of GOD delivered the Gospel of Life to the world.

.

This modern church, this religious system, does not even resemble the original church, of course. We have the same Gospels, the same Apostles’ writings, and the same Prophetic writings that the ancient Pre-Nicene church had, but our "battery" is dead, so to speak. 

.

 It has been drained with the cares of this life and the deceitfulness of riches.

.

 

We must HAVE OUR BATTERY

CHARGED and RE-CONNECTED

TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

for  SANCTIFICATION of LIFE.

 

We must learn to YIELD to CHRIST so that the Strength and Power of the HOLY SPIRIT can flow through us as it did through the ancient Christians.

.

      Yes! Unclean spiritual forces do manifest themselves in religious systems and in their adherents’ lives. They have given themselves over to those spirits and agreed that satan’s lies are “truth!"

. 

These same unclean spirits came at JESUS, accusing HIM+, threatening, challenging. These unclean spirits have not gone anywhere. They watch for gullible humans to control and inhabit.

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As we can see, whole "churches" can be built on the foundation of demonic teaching and control.

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QUESTION:  Are we ready to do as JESUS taught and deny ourselves, pick up our Cross, and yield ourselves TOTALLY to HIM+ so that we will be equipped and prepared to stand against the reality of unclean spirits confronting and challenging The Body of Christ on this earth?

.

It is going to get worse,  

much worse, than what we now see.

 .

Scripture teaches that JESUS will Baptize us --- immerse us ---  into the HOLY SPIRIT and FIRE. We are going TO NEED THAT!

.

       Heavenly FATHER, please help us to walk before you as your Beloved SON+ has taught us to walk and to forsake the false teachings of men. Help us to OVERCOME all things,

in JESUS' Name we ask.

Bro. Brendon Patrick  + + +

Order of the GOOD SHEPHERD+ 

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DISCIPLESHIP: The Forgotten Discipline

 A Timely Word from Bro. Brendon Patrick....

IN MY FATHER'S HOUSE

  +  +  + 

The organized church as a whole has walked away from discipleship.

 +   +   +

The plain words of CHRIST are ignored and people are taught that if they attempt to actually do what JESUS taught,...  to actually live the way HE+ taught ... they are legalistic and are in "bondage".

On the other hand, the organized "church" will teach that you are under"grace" and can ignore the teachings of JESUS as relating to real life! 

That's right. 

You can ignore the plain teachings and commandments of the ONE+ Who+ saved you by Grace with HIS+ own Body and Blood!

Untrue of course.

JESUS our LORD did all of HIS+ part. HE+ will not do our part for us. 

HE+ will not be HIS+ own Disciple for us. 

HE+ will, however, give us Divine help in every way in the Power of the Holy Spirit to really follow HIM+ and be Disciples in the Way HE+ has taught us.

JESUS plainly said, "If anyone will follow ME+, he MUST deny himself, take up his cross and follow ME+." 

This is NOT taught in the modern churches ... and that is an understatement, at best.

     The Power of the Eternal SPIRIT of GOD was evident in the ancient Church in all Followers of JESUS, both in their daily lifestyle and in the Supernatural Gifts and working of that same Holy SPIRIT. 

The things that JESUS did, they did. 

This was SO evident to those around them that the pagans were the first ones who referred to them as "Christians" ... because they were so much like CHRIST.

HIS+ SPIRIT was in them reproducing CHRIST.

The necessity of discipleship for EVERY follower of CHRIST has been removed from the modern church and has left it floundering, focusing mainly on theological systems that were formulated 1,500 years or more after The SON+ of GOD delivered the Gospel of Life to the world.

This modern church, this religious system, does not even resemble the original church, of course. We have the same Gospels, the same Apostles’ writings, and the same Prophetic writings that the ancient Pre-Nicene church had, but our "battery" is dead, so to speak. 

 It has been drained with the cares of this life and the deceitfulness of riches.

We must HAVE OUR BATTERY

CHARGED and RECONNECTED

TO THE POWER SOURCE

THROUGH OBEDIENCE

and  SANCTIFICATION of LIFE.

We must learn to YIELD to CHRIST so that the Strength and Power of the HOLY SPIRIT can flow through us as it did through the ancient Christians.

Yes! Unclean spiritual forces do manifest themselves in religious systems and in their adherents’ lives. They have given themselves over to those spirits and agreed that satan’s lies are “truth” ! 

These same unclean spirits came at JESUS, accusing HIM+, threatening, challenging. These unclean spirits have not gone anywhere. They watch for gullible humans to control and inhabit.

As we can see, whole "churches" can be built on the foundation  of demonic teaching and control.

QUESTION:  Are we ready to do as JESUS taught and deny ourselves, pick up our Cross, and yield ourselves TOTALLY to HIM+ so that we will be equipped and prepared to stand against the reality of unclean spirits confronting and challenging The Body of CHRIST on this earth?

Believe me, it is going to get worse,

much worse, than what we now see.

Scripture teaches that JESUS will Baptize us --- immerse us ---  into the HOLY SPIRIT and FIRE.

 I can tell you that we ARE GOING TO NEED THAT!

 +    +    + 

Heavenly FATHER, please help us to walk before you as your Beloved SON+ has taught us to walk and to forsake the false teachings of men.

Help us to OVERCOME all things,

in JESUS' Name we ask.

Passover Meditation #36 for the Lenten Season 2012

In this is glorified My+ FATHER, that much fruit you all will bear; 

and you all will become

My+ Disciples.

John 15:8 Green's Greek Interlinear

We meet that Plural "YOU" again ! We all are to develop into His+ Disciples.

YES... WE  ALL ARE DUTY-BOUND TO DEVELOP INTO HIS+ DISCIPLES. 

A disciple  is one who trains and disciplines himself to follow ONLY a certain path; all other paths he forsakes. 

In this case, our path, our Way is making JESUS CHRIST the LORD of our Life.  

When we submit to our training, then we practice discipleship. We train to be followers of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST; it doesn't "just happen" any more for us than lifting weights "just happens" for the body-builder.

No.

A body-builder must train his muscles, tendons, and ligaments to lift those weights in a certain prescribed manner or he will hurt himself badly.   

He must train his mind to focus on the task at hand; he will hurt himself if he gets distracted while bench-pressing 250 lbs.

When...

Yes, when 

we

practice...

yes, practice 

discipleship,

i.e., when we

submit unto our training... 

we

will bear

fruit

for JESUS. 

This fruit comes in no other way.

It is fruit that is noticeably peculiar to Christians: it doesn't show how "good" we are... rather, this fruit shows how "good" Our Heavenly FATHER is !

• NO OTHER human beings in this world can bear this kind of fruit except those who are willing to be trained, be discipled by Our LORD JESUS CHRIST.

• NO OTHER human beings in this world can glorify The HEAVENLY FATHER except those who do bear such fruit.

• NO OTHER human beings in this world can bear fruit that is accepted in Heavenly Places  except those whose fruit comes from their attachment to Our LORD JESUS CHRIST.

The husbandman

looketh for the FRUIT.

The CURE for Spiritual Sleep...

A Cure for Spiritual Sleep

This topic is so important that it bears repeating. Most of us are SLOPPY when it comes to discipleship. No military commander would let such sloppy discipline be established by his troops.  We neglect it and fall flat on our faces.  Even so, we must get up and work at discipline, PRACTICE IT, repenting for putting our sleep, our comfort before our disciplined worship towards The LORD. Let us ARISE AND GO FORWARD! The LORD LOVES discipline.

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+  +  + 

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How do you "cure" the condition of spiritual sleep ? [Assuming you love the LORD and have entered into the Covenant through Holy Baptism and Communion, you are then able to put this into practice.]

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Spiritual discipline awakens the soul. It becomes watchful, on a spiritual level.

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The first step is to submit the physical body to a spiritual life. 

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Flesh must become

subject to the Spirit.

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If you don't rule over the flesh,

your flesh will rule over you.  

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Thus, you must put into practice those things which will bring your flesh into submission:

>>> Make the flesh a wee bit uncomfortable. Walk in the cold or rain or snow, if you must, while you pray or recite Psalms or Scriptures. Do something. 

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>>> Pray outloud. Clean the atmosphere around you, as it were. Find a room... attic, cellar, or other place where your eye will not be tempted to think of temporal duties or things.

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>>> Change physical position.  Get on your knees with nothing to lean on. Stand. Walk. Make the sign of the cross as you mention HIS+ Name in your prayers. Raise your hands, your arms. Kneel as the knights did, on one knee, with their arm and fist across their body and heart, pledging their fidelity to their king.

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>>> Pray the Scriptures. Chant the Psalms with an easy one or two-note chant of your own making.

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.>>> Keep the 9, noon, and 3 o'clock prayer stations. Set an alarm to remind you. If you have children, call them into order at that time: stop your and their activities for a 5-minute prayer station.
It will teach them to honor The LORD, that HE+ comes before temporal activities... a valuable training! When they are old, they will not forsake your training.
.
The Prayer Stations:  Recall the time of HIS+ crucifixion, for us. Recall how the world was darkened at the noontime hour. Recall HIS+ Words at 3 p.m.: FATHER, forgive them for they know not what they do. Give thanks, give thanks, give thanks... and repent of any sins The LORD brings to mind.
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[ Email me if you would like copies of the prayer stations we use here. They are Scriptural in nature, recalling what happened at those 3 hours. We also have worship Scriptures from Revelation. To do these stations takes less than 5 minutes, but they become anchors for your day, recalling you to CHRIST'S side every 3 hours. ]

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>>> Set aside the 6 p.m. hour for prayer and meditation with HIM+.

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>>>> Relate to all through CHRIST JESUS our LORD. Do not allow carnal nor simply "natural" interactions with others. Be pleasant, but redeem the time with your attitudes and words. Pray even as you interact with them.  

>>> Do what you can and HE+ will meet you there.

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Awake, Sleeper!

.

+  +  + 

Practice discipline.

Practice discipleship.

Practice putting your priorities in order to please The LORD.

Remember: The LORD LOVES DISCIPLINE.

+  +  +  

BLENDERS...

Blenders ... instead of CHRISTIANS ?

Are we blending into the world...

or are we a distinct people?

There are ways for us to measure ourselves.

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<(((><

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One of the first signs of a true disciple of CHRIST ~ one who applies discipleship to his own life ~ is the fruit that is growing quietly. The ripening and maturing of the fruit is visible to all who come near. Everbody notices it. The neighbors see it, the friends sense it, the children feel it, the husband or wife become slowly aware of it... everybody notices the fruit of discipleship.

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<(((><

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What is some of that fruit?

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Fruit that is Holy makes a distinction between the disciple and the world, which can be seen at a glance. For instance, one fruit of discipleship is the thought-life. Thoughts are made evident to others through conversation, or more apply put, perhaps, through those things NOT said nor discussed. The early Christians were distinct because of how they conducted their conversations ~ and the topics that DID NOT INTEREST them. [Now, that's a thought!]

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<(((><

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Thoughts are apparent through attitudes. Are we defensive? Ready to argue? Grim when things are done NOT our way? These are some of the measuring sticks to see if we qualify as disciples or spiritual babies.

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Discipleship will change all that. A disciple ~ a true disciple of CHRIST ~ will be so involved in CHRIST JESUS that earthly concerns will not matter too much anymore. PEACE will be one distinct fruit. Irritability will be gone with little effort, you see, when one's mind is on Spiritual things of The LORD. A disciple keeps his mind on things which The LORD deems important.

.

<(((><

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Another measuring stick to see if we qualify as disciples of CHRIST is our visible, silent witness. Many people will not go into a church because they are afraid "they" will "GET" them ! [Who they is, is not quite clear... but to those who are afraid, they is real.] Supposedly, to be "gotten" by a church (?) means that some kind of discomfort is very real in the mind of that fearful person. So, how does one witness to such a person? How could one let him / her know that CHRIST is available to meet the needs of whosoever would come unto HIM+ ?

.

<(((><

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Again, separation from the world is the rule to follow. How do we measure if we Christians are sufficiently separated? This one is simple: we use our eyes. While we are walking in the supermarket or across the parking lot, can someone SEE AT A GLANCE that we follow CHRIST? If not, then we must change our clothing so that a constant visible witness THAT MARKS US AS CHRISTIAN is evident, even without the spoken word.

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<(((><

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This is not radical: we all recognize policemen, firemen, soldiers, and ball team members AT A GLANCE, don't we? We recognize orthodox Jews and orange-clad disciples of an eastern religion at a glance. Even children in Britain and many other countries usually wear uniforms to school to set them apart.

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The early Christians dressed oftentimes to blend in with the earth, not the crowd. In other words, their simplicity and modesty and lack of adornment marked them as belonging to CHRIST. And they lived in a most pagan era!

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<(((><

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When we look over the playground, do our little boys stand out as CHRISTIAN by the way we dress them... or do they blend in with the crowd? Are our girls separated from the world SO MUCH SO that you can identify "those girls are from a Christian family" on the playground or in the neighborhood? We know of two families ~ one in Kentucky, one in Alabama ~ who are NOT members of a "group" which tells them what to do. But their walk with CHRIST is such that they dress their children so noticably Christian that anyone looking will know they come from a Christian family. And that simple fact opens up the doors for witness.

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<(((><

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Why is it important for the children to be dressed differently? One important reason is the witness for CHRIST: others who see the Christian children will come looking for their parents if they are spiritually hungry.

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<(((><

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The other important reason is that we are training the children, no matter how young, to be different from the worldlings... instead of blending in with the non-disciples. We train them to be comfortable with a separate identity.

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Yes, we can choose their clothes for them now, but we will not be able to choose the consequences for them later... if we train them up to enhance their "self" identity. Self expression instead of expressing CHRIST is the lesson the children learn, much to our regret in later years. Then we hear the parents' lament, "Oh, what have I done wrong?" And then, it is too late.

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<(((><

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Being conservative, decent, hard-working, and modest citizens of ANY country is not equivalent to being Christian. Many, many persons live and dress moderately. Many, many persons love their children deeply and work hard. They wouldn't even think of robbing a bank or committing murder.

.

But... they bear no witness for CHRIST JESUS the LORD. In their public talk, walk, thoughts, attitudes, and dress no-one would run to them for spiritual help. No stranger laden with sin and dispair would even imagine that CHRIST may dwell in the hearts of the blenders.

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<(((><

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Instead, a person troubled over his spiritual plight would slip next to a priest, a nun, or even an Old Order Mennonite / Amish to talk with them about their problems. Why? Because they can identify them at a glance!

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The evangelical Christians who do know CHRIST JESUS simply are blending in with the majority of conservative society today. And the witness is greatly blunted, if not eradicated altogether.

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<(((><

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True, we may not be able to go to the far-out tribes in the Gobi Desert to witness for CHRIST, but we can do those little things at home and in the public ~ right where we live ~ to lift CHRIST JESUS up. The promise is certain because HE+ said it: If I + be lifted up from the earth, I + will draw all men unto ME+ .

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What, dear friends, is keeping us from doing that?

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Let us make a decided effort to discipline ourselves to separate from the world and its ways and learn to lift JESUS up as our LORD in everyday things, in everyday life... every day.

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<(((><

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Come out from among them;

and be ye separate,

saith the LORD,

and touch not the unclean thing;

and

I+

will receive

you.

.

(The Apostle, 2 Cor. 6:17,

quoting the Prophet Isaiah )

.

Shake loose the rocks; break up the fallow ground and the hard-packed soil. In our prayer closets, then, let us judge and measure ourselves lest we be judged... and found wanting in the balance.

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<(((><

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In the name of The FATHER,

Who created thee;

The SON+

Who+ saves thee;

and the blessed HOLY SPIRIT,

Who sanctifies thee.

.

Sister Judith Hannah + + +

A Return to Discipleship...

A Return to Discipleship...

...is not an option.

.

<(((><

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Discipleship is what keeps the train on the track. It is what keeps us moving forward, on toward CHRIST.

.

.

Some Christian Believers have discovered discipleship through a submissive obedience to the leading of the HOLY SPIRIT. Others have stumbled across the necessity of discipleship purely by accident... when they have been frustrated with ~AND REJECTED~ their bone-dry "walk" with CHRIST. Still others have been pushed to it by sorrow, injury, illness, or handicap.

.

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One thing is certain: there is no growth without a determined, purposeful discipleship.

.

.

WRONG.

.

In all truth, there really is growth... but not towards CHRIST. The growth will be towards the world in dress and thought, towards secret and open indulgences of the flesh, towards deadness and numbness and coldness towards CHRIST. In our daily busy-ness of mind, body, and duties... is our on-fire effort going toward something(s) other than CHRIST ?

.

.

Many of us have come so far from the old man. Is it worth losing what we have gained in CHRIST through so many tears and renderings of our flesh...

...to let it slip away

due to

spiritual laziness?

.

.

Are we content with this ?

.

.

Making the effort toward a determined discipleship is NOT SALVATION BY WORKS: it is simply staying on track towards The LORD JESUS our King.

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Now, here's the scary part:

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HE+ won't keep you on track...

.

...unless you make the effort.

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<(((><

.

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And HE+ said to them all,

If

any man

will come after ME+,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross daily,

and

follow

ME+.

.

~ The Word of The LORD,

recorded in Luke 9:23

+ + +

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In the name of The FATHER, Who created thee~

The SON+, Who+ saves thee~

And

The Blessed HOLY SPIRIT, Who sanctifies thee.

.

Sister Judith Hannah + + +