Enjoying Spring Break at Home!
This has been a very interesting year. It's only the 4th month of the year and it seems that we have done so much already. Usually we take the children out of town for a few days while on Spring break but this year we decided to break at home. Bishop returned from Belgium on Tuesday and yesterday and today he has been re-entering and getting reconnected to the family.
I completed another major accomplishment, finishing my Th.M. thesis paper that is due on next week. The children have been sleeping in and enjoying that wonderful yard that we pay a mortgage to own. It's amazing how much we can get done and accomplished when we take some time to slow down, enjoy our family and home, and take in the things we take for granted like peering out into the backyard.
I'm sure we will not spend every spring break in Atlanta. We enjoy the beach and travel like every other American family. But this year we decided to do something different, we decided to have spring break right here at home.
Sunday is Easter and we will be celebrating the fact that Jesus secured our salvation and victory at Calvary. Wouldn't it be a tragedy to know that he died that we might have life more abundantly and we miss life working and running all of the time and never stop to break for reflection and rest?
Next week life will return to normal. We will be getting up before the break of day, going through our morning routine and rushing out of the house to work and school. I think we will all return better and refreshed because we decided to do spring break at home! Enjoy the rest of your week.
Still In His Presence,
Dr. Toni
3 Comments: Read Them or Post Yours Here:
It is good hear that Bishop returned home safely. I am excited that the influence of Total Grace is growing momentum internationally.
It is also good to hear you discuss opening the need for rest. My research and experience suggests that creating margin is the single hardest discipline for leadership. ( more so for faith based leaders)
You set a great example for those that follow!!!!!!
Michael Young
Grace to you Bishop and Dr. Toni,
I still want to know what our theological position is on In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)? I have been struggling with this issue ever since my cousin’s youngest child (son) – raised in the pentecostal church, now married with his own children – didn’t think he was doing anything wrong by donating his sperm as a favor to this friend (unmarried lady) who wanted to have children and has now ended up with -- well you know the story!!
Apparently, IVF is regarded as immoral according to the official teaching of Catholic church. The Catholic church believes (as do many religious traditions) that human life begins at conception.
They also believe in the integrity of conception. According to Catholic teaching, a truly responsible procreation must be the fruit of marriage whereby the husband and the wife collaborate with the power of the Creator;“the procreation of a new person must be the fruit and the sign of the mutual self-giving of the spouses, of their love and of their fidelity. (Donum Vitae, p. 34)
I have been trying to find answers in the Bible. Genesis 38 comes to mind. Judah told his second son, Onan to have intercourse with his dead brother Er’s wife and conceive a child with her. But Onan knew that the child would not be his. So when he had intercourse with his brother’s wife, he spilled the semen onto the ground. The Lord was angry about what Onan did and the Lord killed him. My problem is that this text relates to the Levirate custom, not specifically to assisted reproductive technology obviously not present at that time.
So I am asking, what is our theological position on IVF? What support do we find in Scripture for our theological position? If you recommend a book on the subject, I will read it!
Thank you.
Blessings!
Grace to you Bishop and Dr. Toni,
I just wanted to say how much of a blessing the easter resurrection service was to me and I truly believe God sent a word to me thru Bishop! I needed that word after everything that has happened to me in the last week. I continue pray for my total grace family! I love you all so much!
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