– Shining the Light
~ Colossians 3:23
News, tips, and fun! Whether you’re a busy mom or a student on the go, here’s some light inspirational reading for you, your family, and your friends.
Building a Fairer, Healthier World
By Emmy McKirgan When I was asked to write about World Health Day I thought, sure, no problem. I mean, we all try to be healthier: eat better, exercise and get proper sleep. I soon found out this wasn’t quite what World Health Day is all about. So perhaps you too have a skewed view… Continue reading Building a Fairer, Healthier World
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He Has Risen! Then, Why Do We Still Struggle?
By Emmy McKirgan The long road to recovery, the hard facts of anxiety and depression. The lonely nights, the hard-to-understand fate that has befallen you, the job loss, the spouse who walked away, the pain of losing friends, loved ones and so much more. Life can be difficult. Life can be hard to handle. In… Continue reading He Has Risen! Then, Why Do We Still Struggle?
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St. Patrick’s Day – March 17
When you think of St. Patty’s, what comes to mind? Comment below. I think of: green! Walk down any aisle, at any store, and you will see no shortage of green decorations! There are green shamrocks, leprechauns, pots of gold, you can get it on t-shirts, mugs, and even top hats. Some people celebrate by… Continue reading St. Patrick’s Day – March 17
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International Polar Bear Day
International Polar Bear Day – raising awareness on the issues facing polar bears and how we can reduce our carbon footprint.
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Social Justice for All
Social Justice for All! The view that everyone deserves equal economic, political and social rights and opportunities. Read all about it in my current post.
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Roses are Red…
Valentine’s Day .. you either love it or hate it. When did it all begin? Will the real St. Valentine please stand up..
So when did all the fanfare begin?
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The Dreaded C Word!
By Emmy McKirgan Sitting in an examination room waiting for the doctor to come in and give you the news. You know it can’t be good. They have called you in, this is serious. You think to yourself: I can handle anything – anything but the C-word. Hearing the diagnosis of cancer can be daunting.… Continue reading The Dreaded C Word!
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Philippians 4:6
Do you worry about everything? What does God say about worry? How can we combat worry?
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New Sunshine in Malawi Video – Please Subscribe to Our YouTube Channel
by Lidi For you, handmade with Canadian and Australian love! Let me know if you would like a video of your own for you to promote your business or showcase personal memories Thanks to Ash & Emblem and Gogo Grandmothers Meet Rebecca Lynch-Wells, a Canadian expat living in Australia. She’s the founder of Ash &… Continue reading New Sunshine in Malawi Video – Please Subscribe to Our YouTube Channel
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Why is it important to help kids in Malawi, anyway?
by Lidi Brock Why, hello there, heroes. It’s been a crazy couple of months organizing Planet Hope’s first startup campaign. It’s been a lot of hard work for us at Planet Hope, Gogo Grandmothers, and Ash & Emblem. But why do we do it? For glory and riches, of course. You could take me at… Continue reading Why is it important to help kids in Malawi, anyway?
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You Have the Right To…
By Emmy McKirgan You have the right to party. You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to be an attorney or to an attorney? Hmmm there are so many rights we have heard, but which ones are misused? We need to be more engaged in human rights issues, knowing what those… Continue reading You Have the Right To…
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Colombia
Colombia is bordered on the northwest by Panama, on the east by Venezuela and Brazil, and on the southwest by Peru and Ecuador. Through the western half of the country, three Andean ranges run north and south. The eastern half is a low, jungle-covered plain, drained by spurs of the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers, inhabited… Continue reading Colombia
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Russia
The Russian Federation is the largest of the 21 republics that make up the Commonwealth of Independent States. It occupies most of eastern Europe and north Asia, stretching from the Baltic Sea in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east, and from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Black Sea and… Continue reading Russia
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Germany
Located in central Europe, Germany is made up of the North German Plain, the Central German Uplands (Mittelgebirge), and the Southern German Highlands. The Bavarian plateau in the southwest averages 1,600 ft (488 m) above sea level, but it reaches 9,721 ft (2,962 m) in the Zugspitze Mountains, the highest point in the country. Germany’s… Continue reading Germany
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Egypt
Egypt, at the northeast corner of Africa on the Mediterranean Sea, is bordered on the west by Libya, on the south by the Sudan, and on the east by the Red Sea and Israel. It is nearly one and one-half times the size of Texas. Egypt is divided into two unequal, extremely arid regions by… Continue reading Egypt
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Bhutan
Mountainous Bhutan, half the size of Indiana, is situated on the southeast slope of the Himalayas, bordered on the north and east by Tibet and on the south and west and east by India. The landscape consists of a succession of lofty and rugged mountains and deep valleys. In the north, towering peaks reach a… Continue reading Bhutan
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Sweden
Sweden, which occupies the eastern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula, is the fourth-largest country in Europe and is one-tenth larger than California. The country slopes eastward and southward from the Kjólen Mountains along the Norwegian border, where the peak elevation is Kebnekaise at 6,965 ft (2,123 m) in Lapland. In the north are mountains and… Continue reading Sweden
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New Zealand
New Zealand, about 1,250 mi (2,012 km) southeast of Australia, consists of two main islands and a number of smaller outlying islands so scattered that they range from the tropical to the antarctic. The country is the size of Colorado. New Zealand’s two main components are the North Island and the South Island, separated by… Continue reading New Zealand
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Welcome South Africa!
South Africa, on the continent’s southern tip, is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the west and by the Indian Ocean on the south and east. Its neighbors are Namibia in the northwest, Zimbabwe and Botswana in the north, and Mozambique and Swaziland in the northeast. The kingdom of Lesotho forms an enclave within the… Continue reading Welcome South Africa!
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World Kindness Day: “Be the light you wish to see in the world”
When I wondered what to write about for World Kindness Day, an annual celebration of kindness held every November 13th, something came to mind which I bore witness to, years ago on the streets of downtown Toronto. I was standing outside a fast food restaurant, waiting for a friend to come out and witnessed something… Continue reading World Kindness Day: “Be the light you wish to see in the world”
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Taiwan
The Republic of China today consists of the island of Taiwan, an island 100 mi (161 km) off the Asian mainland in the Pacific; two off-shore islands, Kinmen (Quemoy) and Matsu; and the nearby islets of the Pescadores chain. It is slightly larger than the combined areas of Massachusetts and Connecticut. Taiwan was inhabited by… Continue reading Taiwan
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Sri Lanka
An island in the Indian Ocean off the southeast tip of India, Sri Lanka is about half the size of Alabama. Most of the land is flat and rolling; mountains in the south-central region rise to over 8,000 ft (2,438 m). Indo-Aryan emigration from India in the 5th century B.C. came to form the largest ethnic group… Continue reading Sri Lanka
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Ireland
Ireland is situated in the Atlantic Ocean and separated from Great Britain by the Irish Sea. Half the size of Arkansas, it occupies the entire island except for the six counties that make up Northern Ireland. Ireland resembles a basin—a central plain rimmed with mountains, except in the Dublin region. The mountains are low, with… Continue reading Ireland
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Mauritius
Mauritius is a mountainous island in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar. After a brief Dutch settlement, French immigrants who came in 1715 named the island Île de France and established the first road and harbor infrastructure, as well as the sugar industry, under the leadership of Gov. Mahe de Labourdonnais. Blacks from Africa and… Continue reading Mauritius
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Switzerland
Switzerland, in central Europe, is the land of the Alps. Its tallest peak is the Dufourspitze at 15,203 ft (4,634 m) on the Swiss side of the Italian border, one of 10 summits of the Monte Rosa massif. The tallest peak in all of the Alps, Mont Blanc (15,771 ft; 4,807 m), is actually in… Continue reading Switzerland
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Giving Tuesday small beginnings, big hopes
Save the date December 1, 2020! Giving Tuesday was founded in 2012 by New York’s 92nd Street Y in partnership with the United Nations Foundation. In July 2019, Giving Tuesday spun out into its own organization, led by Giving Tuesday co-founder, Asha Curran, as its CEO. Something that started as a small idea for a… Continue reading Giving Tuesday small beginnings, big hopes
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Sunshine in Malawi – Sponsorship of GoGo Grandmothers
Thanks so much to Rebecca Lynch-Wells and Ash & Emblem for your amazing support of our crowdfunding campaign! We are so happy to work together to support Gogo Grandmothers and their mission to bring hope to Malawi. A portion of Planet Hope’s crowdfunding campaign will support the Ash and Emblem and the Gogos!Check out how… Continue reading Sunshine in Malawi – Sponsorship of GoGo Grandmothers
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What will be your future?
Many of you have been hearing Jeremiah 29:11 for your entire lives. But what does “hope” and “future” mean to you? Some of you may be going through a lot right now. Hardships you may never have thought possible. Maybe you’ve lost a loved one due to COVID-19, police brutality, mental health crisis, or something… Continue reading What will be your future?
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Greece
Located in southern Europe, Greece forms an irregular-shaped peninsula in the Mediterranean with two additional large peninsulas projecting from it: the Chalcidice and the Peloponnese. The Greek islands are generally subdivided into two groups, according to location: the Ionian islands (including Corfu, Cephalonia, and Leucas) west of the mainland and the Aegean islands (including Euboea,… Continue reading Greece
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Romania
Romania is in southeast Europe and is slightly smaller than Oregon. The Carpathian Mountains divide Romania’s upper half from north to south and connect near the center of the country with the Transylvanian Alps, running east and west. North and west of these ranges lies the Transylvanian plateau, and to the south and east are… Continue reading Romania
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Benin
This West African nation on the Gulf of Guinea, between Togo on the west and Nigeria on the east, is about the size of Tennessee. It is bounded by Burkina Faso and Niger on the north. The land consists of a narrow coastal strip that rises to a swampy, forested plateau and then to highlands… Continue reading Benin
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Slovenia
Slovenia occupies an area about the size of the state of Massachusetts. It is largely a mountainous republic and almost half of the land is forested, with hilly plains spread across the central and eastern regions. Mount Triglav, the highest peak, rises to 9,393 ft (2,864 m). Facts from https://www.factmonster.com Flag Photo from https://www.countryflags.com
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Austria
Slightly smaller than Maine, Austria includes much of the mountainous territory of the eastern Alps (about 75% of the area). The country contains many snowfields, glaciers, and snowcapped peaks, the highest being the Grossglockner (12,530 ft; 3,819 m). The Danube is the principal river. Forests and woodlands cover about 40% of the land. Facts from… Continue reading Austria
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What will heaven be like? – The Good Place Spoiler Alert
I think that until we really realize what life is like without God, this almost literally Godforsaken earth we’ve advocated for since the beginning of time, it would be impossible for us to truly understand that an eternity of perfect communion with God and each other is the only antidote to this aching pain we have deep within us. Once we get to heaven and our sinful, selfish blinders are removed, I don’t think we’d have eternity any other way.
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Thailand
Thailand occupies the western half of the Indochinese peninsula and the northern two-thirds of the Malay Peninsula in southeast Asia. Its neighbors are Burma (Myanmar) on the north and west, Laos on the north and northeast, Cambodia on the east, and Malaysia on the south. Thailand is about the size of France. Facts from https://www.factmonster.com… Continue reading Thailand
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United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, in the eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula, extends along part of the Gulf of Oman and the southern coast of the Persian Gulf. The nation is the size of Maine. Its neighbors are Saudi Arabia to the west and south, Qatar to the north, and Oman to the east. Most… Continue reading United Arab Emirates
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South Korea
Slightly larger than Indiana, South Korea lies below the 38th parallel on the Korean peninsula. It is mountainous in the east; in the west and south are many harbors on the mainland and offshore islands. Elections were held in the U.S. zone in 1948 for a national assembly, which adopted a republican constitution and elected… Continue reading South Korea
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Hong Kong
Hong Kong consists of the island of Hong Kong (32 sq mi; 83 sq km), Stonecutters’ Island, Kowloon Peninsula, and the New Territories on the adjoining mainland. The island of Hong Kong was ceded to Britain in 1841. Stonecutters’ Island and Kowloon were annexed in 1860, and the New Territories, which are mainly agricultural lands,… Continue reading Hong Kong
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China
The greater part of the country is mountainous. Its principal ranges are the Tien Shan, the Kunlun chain, and the Trans-Himalaya. In the southwest is Tibet, which China annexed in 1950. The Gobi Desert lies to the north. China proper consists of three great river systems: the Yellow River (Huang He), 2,109 mi (5,464 km)… Continue reading China
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Netherlands
The Netherlands, on the coast of the North Sea, is twice the size of New Jersey. Part of the great plain of north and west Europe, the Netherlands has maximum dimensions of 190 by 160 mi (360 by 257 km) and is low and flat except in Limburg in the southeast, where some hills rise… Continue reading Netherlands
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South Africa
South Africa, on the continent’s southern tip, is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the west and by the Indian Ocean on the south and east. Its neighbors are Namibia in the northwest, Zimbabwe and Botswana in the north, and Mozambique and Swaziland in the northeast. The kingdom of Lesotho forms an enclave within the… Continue reading South Africa
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Pakistan
Pakistan is situated in the western part of the Indian subcontinent, with Afghanistan and Iran on the west, India on the east, and the Arabian Sea on the south. The name Pakistan is derived from the Urdu words Pak (meaning pure) and stan (meaning country). It is nearly twice the size of California. The northern and western highlands of Pakistan contain… Continue reading Pakistan
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A Sense of Comfort – featuring Viola Fullerton
There’s nothing like connecting with a group on a lovely weekend. What did you do this weekend?
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France
France is about 80% the size of Texas. In the Alps near the Italian and Swiss borders is western Europe’s highest point—Mont Blanc (15,781 ft; 4,810 m). The forest-covered Vosges Mountains are in the northeast, and the Pyrénées are along the Spanish border. Except for extreme northern France, the country may be described as four… Continue reading France
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Barry Danylak – Everyday Christian
What’s a better way to kick off your weekend than a Friday morning chat with your Pastor? I say give it a try. You might be surprised at what you learn. Rev. Dr. Barry Danylak (or “Apple or Strawberry as my son calls him – confusing fruits”) is a highly educated pastor with a Ph.D.… Continue reading Barry Danylak – Everyday Christian
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Turkey
Turkey is at the northeast end of the Mediterranean Sea in southeast Europe and southwest Asia. To the north is the Black Sea and to the west is the Aegean Sea. Its neighbors are Greece and Bulgaria to the west, Russia, Ukraine, and Romania to the north and northwest (through the Black Sea), Georgia, Armenia,… Continue reading Turkey
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Mexico
Mexico is bordered by the United States to the north and Belize and Guatemala to the southeast. Mexico is about one-fifth the size of the United States. Baja California in the west is an 800-mile (1,287-km) peninsula that forms the Gulf of California. In the east are the Gulf of Mexico and the Bay of… Continue reading Mexico
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Bulgaria
Bulgaria shares borders with Serbia, Macedonia, Romania, Greece, and Turkey. Two mountain ranges and two great valleys mark the topography of Bulgaria, a country the size of Tennessee and situated on the Black Sea. The Maritsa is Bulgaria’s principal river, the Danube also flows through the country. Facts from https://www.factmonster.com Flag Photo from https://www.countryflags.com
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Nigeria
Nigeria, one-third larger than Texas and the most populous country in Africa, is situated on the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa. Its neighbors are Benin, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad. The lower course of the Niger River flows south through the western part of the country into the Gulf of Guinea. Swamps and mangrove forests… Continue reading Nigeria
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80 Days Prizes from PHCE
Why, hello there! We at PHCE are so excited about our first annual Around the World in 80 Days Christian Charity contest! Don’t forget to go to the main page of PHCE.ca to nominate your charity to win! Please consider sponsoring this contest through our GoFundMe campaign for the HOPE Business Program, and have a… Continue reading 80 Days Prizes from PHCE
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Qatar
Qatar (pronounced KAH-ter) occupies a small peninsula that extends into the Persian Gulf from the east side of the Arabian Peninsula. Saudi Arabia is to the west and the United Arab Emirates to the south. The country is mainly barren. Oil was discovered in the 1940s, bringing wealth to the country in the 1950s and… Continue reading Qatar
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Portugal
Portugal occupies the western part of the Iberian Peninsula and is slightly smaller than Indiana. The country is crossed by three large rivers that rise in Spain, flow into the Atlantic, and divide the country into three geographic areas. The Minho River, part of the northern boundary, cuts through a mountainous area that extends south… Continue reading Portugal
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On Profit and Poverty
“The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” Proverbs 21:5 NIV Well, isn’t this quote a gem. I should actually frame this one for my wall in my imaginary office. I think I might be the queen of haste. A lot of the times I don’t care if… Continue reading On Profit and Poverty
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Ecuador
Ecuador, about equal in area to Nevada, is in the northwest part of South America fronting on the Pacific. To the north is Colombia and to the east and south is Peru. Two high and parallel ranges of the Andes, traversing the country from north to south, are topped by tall volcanic peaks. The highest… Continue reading Ecuador
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Philippines
The Philippine islands are an archipelago of over 7,000 islands lying about 500 mi (805 km) off the southeast coast of Asia. The overall land area is comparable to that of Arizona. Only about 7% of the islands are larger than one square mile, and only one-third have names. The largest are Luzon in the… Continue reading Philippines
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United States of America
On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress appointed a committee consisting of Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson “to bring in a device for a seal of the United States of America.” After many delays, a verbal description of a design by William Barton was finally approved by Congress on June 20, 1782. The seal shows an American bald eagle… Continue reading United States of America
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United Kingdom
The United Kingdom, consisting of Great Britain (England, Wales, and Scotland ) and Northern Ireland , is twice the size of New York State. England, in the southeast part of the British Isles, is separated from Scotland on the north by the granite Cheviot Hills; from them the Pennine chain of uplands extends south through the center of England, reaching its… Continue reading United Kingdom
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India
One-third the area of the United States, the Republic of India occupies most of the subcontinent of India in southern Asia. It borders on China in the northeast. Other neighbors are Pakistan on the west, Nepal and Bhutan on the north, and Burma and Bangladesh on the east. The country can be divided into three… Continue reading India
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Australia
The continent of Australia, with the island state of Tasmania, is approximately equal in area to the United States (excluding Alaska and Hawaii). Mountain ranges run from north to south along the east coast, reaching their highest point in Mount Kosciusko (7,308 ft; 2,228 m). The western half of the continent is occupied by a… Continue reading Australia
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Canada
Covering most of the northern part of the North American continent and with an area larger than that of the United States, Canada has an extremely varied topography. In the east, the mountainous maritime provinces have an irregular coastline on the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Atlantic. The St. Lawrence plain, covering most of… Continue reading Canada
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80 Days Details
The weekly winning charities receive a 30 minute interview to create a 500 word story posted on our blog. After Day 80, our grand prize winners will receive additional prizes. See our 80 Days Sponsors for a list of additional available prizes. To increase the chances of your charity winning, don’t forget to share on your own social media pages as well and invite your friends to like your comment.
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Hades by Alexandra Adornetto
Even though [Arakiel’s] virtuous displays are few and far between, they occur enough to make Lucifer wonder whether his brother has gone soft. Lucifer only intended to start a war, not a silly romance between an angel and a demon. He orders Bethany to be burned at the stake in front of an audience of demons and lost souls, but not even hellfire can destroy the young angel.
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Do not boast!
http://www.bible.com/bible/111/eph.2.8.niv My prayer for today is that we can give honour and praise to God when we are tempted to boast. I definitely get caught up in my own illusions of grandeur and completely forget who actually allows me to have this life. You’ve got this, heroes!
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Overcomer
Why, hello there! This is your spoiler alert. Watching Overcomer with my church over Zoom. Already saw the Say Movienight Kevin Review, so I’m already pretty biased. Some of the jokes are pretty funny. Generally a basic underdog sports movie with a random prodigal parent thread thrown in. I feel like the two plots could… Continue reading Overcomer
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