In Spirit and In Truth

I'm back. Seven years after my last published article on this site, I've come to revisit my old, cherished friend. Taking a much-needed break from IS & IT, I've spent the last seven years nurturing my passion for holistic living , becoming a herbalist, holistic writer, lifestyle consultant and a social media specialist for the natural products industry. To those who followed IS & IT back then...I'm sure you're curious...my final tally of Crumb-Snatchers...eight. :) So, I've been called to return to write with the knowledge that I've gained these past seven years. Having been through and currently am experiencing trials and tribulation, I write with a new mind that I haven't had previously. We live in strange times. Truth, if you share any love for her, is brutally under attack. These are times that call for an exposing of the lies that mislead, ensnares souls and depresses spirits that are by principle, free to see, roam and explore Trut...

Being a member of the former World Wide Church of God, we would frequently refer to our church as "the true church".  And truly I believed I found the "true church" of God. This was an organization was extremely legalistic by standards. They imposed all sorts of rules and regulations, you'd be hard pressed to find the Good Book. Nevertheless, I felt then, it was worth it, as it was the "true church" after all. Back then, all other churches were "false", and the haughtiness we carried amongst ourselves, and neatly folded doctrinal materials, justified our judgmental behavior as we were true members.  I'd laugh looking back from where I stand now, except it's unfunny. Looking back, I see a sad, desperate, situation. A group of folks with severe self-esteem issues grasping at any resemblance of self-importance. Severe self-esteem issues, I say because it showed a true lack of understanding of God's grace and Christ'...

Okay, now this is funny. Looking at my stats for this blog a month ago, I noticed I was getting some traffic from a porn site. Yes, that's right...porn. Well, I thought, my outreach is heading in the right direction and paid it no nevermind. A month later, I was contacted by a webmaster requesting a link exchange. The webmaster believed that my blog would fit perfectly into their "collection of quality links" on their site. In hindsight, his insistence that the email was not spam should have been my first clue that this request was not your typical link exchange request. Nevertheless, I clicked on the link and was bombarded with pictures of a woman displaying her ta-tas. My blog is a perfect fit for a porn site?! I was offended! The more I thought of it the more I realized that quite possibly, the webmaster may have taken my "no judgment/no hypocrisy" message a bit too far. So, I had to laugh. Let me state, while free will exists, I will not contribut...

I received a tweet from @CoconutHealth yesterday and was riveted by their post: Medicine: Idolatry in the Twenty First Century http://bit.ly/e8cUZO Very rarely do I refer or endorse other scriptural material, but I am in agreement with the content in this article. I encourage you to read the article in full as it compares America’s love affair for prescription drugs to idolatry. It makes fascinating and thought-provoking points and comparisons. Here is an excerpt: “Are things any different today in terms of idolatry? It has taken on a different form, but it is in essence the same thing it has always been – trust in idols rather than God to supply our needs and desires. Modern-day culture has changed dramatically since the theory of Darwinian evolution came on the scene and dominated academics in western culture, so that today the physical world is exalted above all other realities. The spiritual world is either denied or ignored. Hence, creation of physical idols is very uncom...

The beauty of raising seven children is the variety of characteristics that grace our home. There is no shortage of creativity. I absolutely love the fact that these seven babes display a rainforest of personalities, exotic and unique, come from the same people. What an Artist we have in the Lord! And like a rainforest, people populate the earth, all with talents, skills and thoughts, some unique, others not so unique, but all glorify the Creative Artist in Him. Being a member of the WWCG long ago, there was a limit on uniqueness. There was no vision of creativity. Blacks and whites were not allowed to mix. Marriages that didn’t fit certain criteria were to be separated. Women were only allowed to wear specific items of clothing, devoid of makeup and allowed to work only at certain jobs. Having come from this background, there’s no wonder why I’m sensitive to any hint of mainstream conform. Many religious organizations are full of, if not mandatory, then pressured, conformity of gr...

I cannot count the number of times a Christian has used the "Body is a temple" example to justify legalistic measures or judgmental condemnation against behaviors such as smoking, drinking and sex. Yet these same people who proclaim to be holy in body are the first to blurt out "OH My God!" at the most inane and simplistic things. A proclamation that clearly uses the Lord's name quite vainly. How can such a temple speak faithless things? These same people, zealous for what they believe to be true evangelism preach this example of guilt, will in a second, wring their hands quite worrisome when their next meal is in question. How can such a temple speak faithless things? Expressions of doubt of one's salvation. Worries about food, clothing and shelter are common sentiments I have heard from Christians who chastise others who do "physical" wrongs, yet they doubt the security that comes with Christ's blood, going against the very fabric of why ...

Here's an interesting website called BatteredSheep.com that talks about Armstrongism . Here's a portion of what is talked about on the site: It is astonishing that many still bow at the feet of the deceased Herbert W. Armstrong as if he were God himself. There are websites by ex-members of the Worldwide Church of God, that have a great deal to say about their experiences within this modern day church organization. Some such websites are:  The Painful Truth ,  Exit & Support Network , and there are many websites about the Worldwide Church of God on the Internet. There are innumerable personal stories by ex-members of this authoritarian hierarchy and tragically some ex-members are now "atheists", while some over the years have committed suicide. Others have fanned out into many different church organizations, while others no longer attend church, and others are members of various splinter groups. Herbert W. Armstrong still has many followers, including splinter...

Redwood Trees Volcanoes are amazing creatures of nature. They are formed from the dust of the earth to expel the hottest substances known to man. Creatures of geology, they fascinate scientists and laymen alike. The most famous, extinct, volcanic crater is the Diamond Head, located in Honolulu , Hawaii. An unquestionable, landmark it takes a breathtaking landscape and makes it extreme in it's beauty...marry it to the ocean of Honolulu and you have the perfect marriage of land and water. Undoubtedly, the Redwood Trees are creatures of nature in divinity for infinity. They speak of a majestic God. Confident in His ability to create, unafraid to demonstrate the in the simplest fashion the power of his thoughts. Old Faithful Perfectly named, Old Faithful is a nature creature. A cone geyser in Yellowstone National Park of Wyoming that spews thermal water filled with complexity of minerals and dissolved gases. It has fascinated the minds of ma...

I'm afraid a dangerous practice that has long been in place has taken a hold and has had a dramatic effect on those who profess/confess Christ Jesus and Him, crucified. The practice of reading, studying and interpreting the Word of the Holy God out of it's original context has implemented the start of many denominations, false doctrines, teachings, followings and teachers. But those who do subscribe to sound doctrine and who proclaim the Word of God inerrant and consistent, also fall prey to this practice. Add to the fact that we live in a time where there are translations galore. Translations of every sort that promise "easy" Bible readings, catering to the understanding of the student as opposed to the student catering to the understanding of the Word. Proverbs 2:1-5 This practice has been devastating. It has devastated the integrity, the wholesomeness of the Word as we use stand alone scriptures to "rebuke" ,"reprove" and support a theology...

Happy New Year everyone! Wishing blessings & accomplishments your way!

As reported by CNN: http://bit.ly/hzRmx4 Westboro Baptist Church says it will picket Elizabeth Edwards’ funeral Posted: December 9, 2010, 9:20 am ET (CNN) — Members of the Westboro Baptist Church announced Thursday plans to picket Saturday’s funeral for Elizabeth Edwards in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Kansas-based Church — monitored by anti-hate groups such as the Anti-Defamation league and the Southern Poverty Law Center — is known for its extremist opposition to homosexuals, Jews and other groups. The church members also oppose the War in Iraq. According to the church’s website, members will hold a protest from 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m. Edwards, the estranged wife of presidential candidate John Edwards, died Tuesday after a six-year battle with breast cancer. ------------END OF ARTICLE----------- Huh?? What in the world does Elizabeth Edwards have to do with...ummm....anything? The fact that this...group calls itself "church" is not only laughable, but a clear lie. Churches in...

My husband led me to this scripture... Isaiah 43 8 Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears. 9 Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and show us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth. 10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. 11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. 12 I have declared, and have saved, and I have showed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God. "I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no savior." WOW! What a statement of power! So absolute and complete in it's simplicity why would we concern, fret & worry abou...

Recently a skeleton was discovered in the back of an old family closet. It was revealed the true reason why this person grew up without a parent...WWCG demanded a divorce from their parents...and the parents complied. I can not reveal any specifics out of respect of privacy. This revelation is not only shocking, but it made the insensible, sensible. However what amazes me is not the secret itself, but the utterly destructive nature of the wisdom of man. Many a life (and death) has been molded by foolishness of thoughts & perceptions of human nature. But can we hold accountable those who espouse self-righteous judgements upon others to the detriment of many? Absolutely! ...only if we recognize our own accountability in our active placement of faith in the "lower" thoughts & ways of man. Isaiah 55:9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways , and my thoughts than your thoughts." Our society has built an alter of ...

We all know how I feel about the condition of the church/Christianity today :)  How do YOU feel about the direction of church/Christianity? Please do take a moment to take the IS&IT poll. Feel free to elaborate your responses in the comments! Mark 16:15-20 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Wishing all my readers a very Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy your day & eat heartedly, your waistline will worry about itself tomorrow! My contribution will consist of a garlic studded pot roast, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes with herbed gravy & greens! The honor of making this year's turkey goes to my mother-in-law. What are you making?

It has been so busy in my house that recently I realized I've yet to announce the arrival of our newest family member! After a long 9 months, our daughter Linjila Neema Joy was born on September 18th! She weighed in at a hefty 10 pounds and 21 inches long. She is simply gorgeous and sweet. Such a surprise she is after 4 strapping sons. My home birth could not have been more perfect and blessed and I fully boast in the glory of what the God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob can do! And now at 7 ½ weeks she is a smiling, blissful, beauty weighing in at 14 pounds! It is curious to me, as those who profess themselves to be Christians, are my biggest dissenters of home birthing my children. Curious because as believers in today's man-made church system, they profess they love the fellowship/accountability of like-minded members. So together they worship with lifting of hands and praises, being moved to tears they profess the Lord is mighty in His stead and can do ALL things. With uplift...

I love preventing unnecessary household costs and I love a bargain. If I can find my favorite product on sale AND have a coupon on it, I am absolutely thrilled. The same is true for clothes. Having four sons have been a blessing, especially when my firstborn son's too-small clothing can be saved and passed on to the next son. I do my very best to obliterate all of the grass, mud, chocolate and the very dreaded blueberry stains. But, for all my efforts, I just cannot prevent the split-at-the-knee holes that seem inevitable with a nice pair of jeans. So I usually end up cutting them up at the hole, for a nice pair of jean shorts for summer. My boys, I must say, have a lot of nice jean summer shorts :). No matter how many knee patches I buy, one thing is clear to me, hand-me-downs can only last for so long, until it's no longer at it's wholesome value. For me, there is one thing that must be absolutely brand-new. It absolutely must be of the utmost quality. Free from stains, ...

A few years ago I wrote a post “Confessions of a Former World Wide Church of God Member” . Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to “meet” other former WCG members online.  Some have gone on to other religions, others are still searching for a place to belong to. Most are still picking up the pieces of what was a life shattered by a church that promoted a false and apostate teaching that misled many away from the true Gospel of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Needless to say many who have left, harbor anger, bitterness towards a church that promoted such a destructive doctrine. I’ve seen marriages and lives ripped apart because the pastor/policy was against racially mixed marriage. Yes, these marriages that were considered mixed had children in some of them. Those children had to watch their other parent marry more fitting spouses while attending the same church as they did. Some of those children were my friends in WCG and harbored serious emotional issues. Now, as an hearing impair...

I received a tweet from CNN yesterday about an article on more teens becoming “ Fake Christians ”. It was a very interesting article to say the least. Mostly because it is a trend that I have been watching for a long while now. While the article’s focus is on teenagers. It should be, by default, applied to adults, as adults are responsible for shaping, teaching of young impressionable minds. Here are some quotes from the article. “Dean says more American teenagers are embracing what she calls "moralistic therapeutic deism." Translation: It's a watered-down faith that portrays God as a "divine therapist" whose chief goal is to boost people's self-esteem.” I simply cannot agree more with this statement. It applies to American adults as well as teens, quite simply because teens are being led in this fashion of “new age” Christianity. “Dean drew her conclusions from what she calls one of the most depressing summers of her life. She interviewed teens...

About a month ago I went on a fact finding mission about salt , and what I have discovered has been nothing short of a renewing in thought about refined and unrefined salt. I wrote a post on it on my second blog, Its Your Journey titled Is Table Salt Giving Salt a Bad Name? Here’s the rundown; refined salt, also known as table salt or “purified” salt has been processed to strip the salt of it’s natural minerals, leaving only sodium chloride. Sodium chloride is known to be aggressive without its natural counterparts, such as potassium, calcium and other minerals found in unrefined salt. Needless to say sodium chloride taken in large amounts has led to the belief that salt is bad and should be limited or removed completely from our diets. The truth of the matter is salt in its wholesomeness is the very essence of life without it, we would not be able to function or think. Salt, unrefined, is what hydrates a body, taken with water it is the perfect balance of hydration. As a matter of ...