http://www.valeriehess.com Author, Speaker and Musician Tue, 13 May 2008 14:27:04 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en In the Book of Common Prayer, page 137, "In the Morning," there is a prayer that has this phrase: "direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose." A thought to keep throughout the day could be, "Lord, what is the purpose for which you have given me this day? Help ... http://www.valeriehess.com/generalnews/a-question-to-ask I am having a wonderful time teaching the Spiritual Disciplines online for Spring Arbor University. This week, we start the Disciplines of Confession and Worship. A great quote from E. Stanley Jones in his book "How to be a Transformed Person," sets the stage well: ... http://www.valeriehess.com/generalnews/the-discipline-of-confession "Spiritual Disciplines Devotional: A Year of Readings" has been picked up by one of your publishers to be translated and made available there in the months ahead! Blessings as you seek to bring the live the love of Jesus in a tough situation. http://www.valeriehess.com/generalnews/to-my-friends-in-the-phillippines In January, the Iowa State Legislature invited Imam Muhammad Khan from the Islamic center in Des Moines to open the session in prayer. Mr. Khan asked for "victory over those who disbelieve" (translate: non-Muslims) and for "protection from the Great Satan" (translate: commom Islamic term for the USA). His prayer ... http://www.valeriehess.com/generalnews/did-the-folks-in-iowa-find-this-ok The Spring Arbor Course number is SFL 602. Sorry for any confusion. http://www.valeriehess.com/generalnews/correction Hello, friends, Starting April 7th, I will teaching an 8-week on-line class for Spring Arbor University. It will be in the area of learning to practice the Spiritual Disciplines. The course number is SPF602 and I look forward to teaching this and interacting with all of the students who, as I ... http://www.valeriehess.com/generalnews/spring-arbor-university Yana, Nigeria - A Muslim man’s frustrated desire to marry a young Christian woman resulted in him accusing her of “blasphemy,” and led to violence on February 2. One person was left dead, seven Christians hospitalized and five churches were destroyed. The Rev. Garba Gaius, pastor of the congregation to ... http://www.valeriehess.com/valeries_thoughts/something-to-pray-about I am listening to an unabridged audio version of Lawrence Wright's book, "The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11."  Every American needs to read this book! There is so much spin about Islam in the American press today. We desperately want to believe that Islamic fundamentalism is more ... http://www.valeriehess.com/generalnews/every-american-16-years-old-and-older-should-read-this (to quote Eugene Peterson's book title). Yesterday, I found out from the doctor that my focusing on my health by taking vitamins and mineral supplements as well as doing a homeopathic regimin for a couple of months, has pulled me back from the brink of some health problems that would require ... http://www.valeriehess.com/generalnews/a-long-obedience-in-the-same-direction http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_7851561 http://www.valeriehess.com/generalnews/in-case-you-are-interested