Arthelais is the patron saint of immigrants in exile, kidnap victims and sufferers of illness. As terror, greed and cruelty run amok in our world, may these posts taken from Scripture and other sources of wisdom give you strength, comfort and peace.
🙏
Praying for the entire planet.
"Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous—
both are detestable to the LORD."
-Proverbs 17:15
"I don't want to see religious bigotry in any form. It would disturb me if there was a wedding between the religious fundamentalists and the political right. The hard right has no interest in religion except to manipulate it."
-Rev. Billy Graham
Charles Bradley, "Golden Rule" (2011)
"The foreigner who resides with you must be to you like a citizen among you; you shall love him as yourself." (Leviticus 19:34)
Amen!
After two months of waiting for my account to be approved, I am thrilled to be here! Thank you! 🥰 Call me "Artie!" I apologize for the avatar and handle but when you live in Asia (aka "Online Bullying Central"), not being careful with what you share online can be extremely dangerous, even lethal. I hail from a strict Fundamentalist Evangelical background, primarily Southern Baptist & Pentecostal. Was a gospel singer for 2 decades and was told by a talent scout at a Christian music seminar that I "had the voice" but "needed to work on my image." (Apparently people with lipedema shouldn't be on a big stage leading others to Christ. 🤷♀️). My church family (and my own family) was essentially overtaken by a political movement based on cult of personality, material greed and political idolatry. As a result, I'm afraid to call myself a "Christian" because I don't want people to judge me incorrectly. I came to this instance looking for people who, rather than judge me for not falling in line, accept me for my genuine self.
I live with my Asian hubby in his homeland. I'm retired due to autoimmune illness, but enjoy making accessories and art. I love fiber arts, studying languages (particularly 日本語 & 한국어), birding, nature photography, cooking with spices, hiking and learning about other cultures. I've formally and informally studied zazen meditation (secular shikantaza) and practice it daily to maintain & improve mental & physical health.
Regarding my faith, having lived outside my home culture for half my life, I can no longer be ethnocentric in my core beliefs. Had I been born in Tokyo, I would have been a Shinto-observing Atheist. Had I been born in Riyadh, I probably would have been Muslim. So it is not for me to say one particular faith is The Truth. But I can still derive comfort, inspiration & joy from the precious Scriptures instilled in me from my home culture in the USA, and I believe that joy is worth sharing, no matter what happens politically to the institutions I once identified with.
I'm hoping to connect with folks with similar experiences or background as well as people curious about whatever I put out there. 😁 Again, it's a joy to be here! ☺️
-Artie
My favorite scripture, and qualities worth celebrating:
"...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." -Galatians 5:22-2