Recent Entries

• Crucifixion Implications

  by Rev. Anna Ruth Hollingsworth ULCM, ULC September 30, 2015
  This is a paper I did for my class. The subject is something I wanted to share; I was very much affected by it. WARNING: there are some graphic images (after all we're talking about a crucfixion here) and not everyone would like to read it. I've included the references for anyone who would like to s...

• They're for the Living

  by Rev. Anna Ruth Hollingsworth ULCM, ULC September 16, 2015
  Yesterday, we buried Blondie. It was a much better experience than I feared. I felt at peace, which I didn't expect. Ricky (a good friend) came over to help me. He dug a hole deep enough and then we placed Blondie's urn in it. He carefully added her last (nearly new) rawhide, her favourite toy (a ru...
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• Thank you GOD

  by Rev. Anna Ruth Hollingsworth ULCM, ULC September 11, 2015
  Thank you, GOD. I was in a place, a deep dark place, a place from which I wanted to run. I planned my escape but I listened. You reminded me you can't run from what's in your mind; it'll still be there wherever you are.   I thought next of just going into my mind, blocking out my body, living...

• I Saw the Sunshine

  by Rev. Anna Ruth Hollingsworth ULCM, ULC September 11, 2015
  Ah the light after darkness What shall I say? GOD loves me helps me makes me whole I remembered (at last) to give Him all my problems prayer and more prayer He lifted me from the quicksand of my mind I saw the sunshine and knew it was for me

• Authority

  by Rev. Anna Ruth Hollingsworth ULCM, ULC August 31, 2015
  When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. -- Matt 7:28-29 NIV It is easy for us to say Jesus' authority came from GOD because Jesus IS GOD. But those at that time had never e...
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• Modern Temptations

  by Rev. Anna Ruth Hollingsworth ULCM, ULC August 31, 2015
  There are several modern temptations that parallel the types of those Jesus encountered in the desert:  All of these sins have the one common thread of a false sense of entitlement. We believe we deserve everything we want. We believe that the world owes us. We believe that we can t...

• War Zone

  by Rev. Anna Ruth Hollingsworth ULCM, ULC August 30, 2015
  Bodies scattered one by one Memories as blood Wander soul move along Emotions flood Conflicts resolve Planets revolve Align destroy make new Pain wells aches swell What is one once was two Death becomes life Singe soul's strife my home the War Zone

• Birds of Pray

  by Rev. Anna Ruth Hollingsworth ULCM, ULC August 30, 2015
  Birds of pray in a row fat carcass shining Take my prayer in your greedy beak break its back hope hangs limp below your cold knowing eye Fly away Nevermore jagged rock rends your flesh My well-aimed bid for freedom cheers me on Birds of pray in a row Wary now leave my prayer alon...

• Repentance Today

  by Rev. Anna Ruth Hollingsworth ULCM, ULC August 28, 2015
  Jesus' Coming is to be a glorious event. But it has its sobering side, too. There will be the separation of the sheep and the goats. Repentance is our way to remain sheep.  It's not enough to say we're turning away from sins; we must do that, time and time again. We are living in the end...

• Doing Just That

  by Rev. Anna Ruth Hollingsworth ULCM, ULC July 22, 2015
  I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. -- Romans 7:15 NIV   Boy, can I empathize with Paul on this! I can tell myself I don't need to do something and oops! there I go. Doing just that.   Take chocolate. Please. I'm a self-avowed chocoho...
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• The Nature of Change

  by Rev. Anna Ruth Hollingsworth ULCM, ULC July 21, 2015
  Change is inevitable. Big or small, lasting or just for a short time, changes rules our lives. Change can lead us to panic, acceptance, or joy.   Many changes are seen as a threat to the self. We are, for the most part, resistant to change; it can turn our worldview upside down. The death of ...
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• Faith's Works

  by Rev. Anna Ruth Hollingsworth ULCM, ULC July 14, 2015
  ...faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. -- James 2:17 NIV I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. -- Acts 26:20 NIV   I read once that Martin Luther wanted to omit James from the Protestant Bible because it ...

• Always

  by Rev. Anna Ruth Hollingsworth ULCM, ULC July 12, 2015
  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. -- Hebrews 13:8 NIV He was the Word, before creation. He was the Son of man, the Son of GOD, while He was on earth. He, the Son, sits at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory, Judge and King of an everlasting realm. He i...
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• I Do Believe

  by Rev. Anna Ruth Hollingsworth ULCM, ULC June 30, 2015
  ..."I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" - Mark 9:24 NIV There are times this verse is my only prayer. When something happens or my faith is weak for some reason all I can do repeat this over and over. I think this verse - these words said by a man who asked Jesus for a miracle - shows us ...

• And Then...

  by Rev. Anna Ruth Hollingsworth ULCM, ULC June 28, 2015
  And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. - Matthew 24:14 Every time I hear someone talk about the end times it's talk of war and of natural disasters. Thing is, we've had wars, possible wars, earthquakes, tornadoe...
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• Rejoice and Mourn

  by Rev. Anna Ruth Hollingsworth ULCM, ULC June 25, 2015
  Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Romans 12:15 NIV Empathy: understanding what someone else feelings; putting ourselves in someone else's shoes. "Rejoice with those who rejoice..." Remember a time when you did. A time you got a great surprise, something turned out for the...

• Worry

  by Rev. Anna Ruth Hollingsworth ULCM, ULC June 22, 2015
  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? - Matthew 6:27 NIV I'm a worrier. Seems like every choice, every decision has "what if?". "What if?" the first choice. But "what if?" the other choices too. It's a world of "what if?". I could spend every hour of every day worrying. Th...
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• Confessing

  by Rev. Anna Ruth Hollingsworth ULCM, ULC June 14, 2015
  Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. James 5:16 NIV When we hear the word "confession" in a religious context the image that probably most comes to mind is that of a Catholic priest hearing a list of sins, the person expresses regret, is given...
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• Abba

  by Rev. Anna Ruth Hollingsworth ULCM, ULC June 13, 2015
  Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."  Galatians 4:6 NIV A friend of mine was in a car wreck a few years ago, rolling her truck. She told her pastor's wife later she'd prayed from the moment of accident began. What w...
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• Thorn

  by Rev. Anna Ruth Hollingsworth ULCM, ULC June 9, 2015
  ...Therefore, that I might not come too elated, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to keep me from becoming too elated...for when I am weak, I am strong. - 2 Corinthians 12:7, 10 NAB (I recommend reading the entire passage) All of us have a thorn - something physical, mental, ...
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• And Jesus Wept

  by Rev. Anna Ruth Hollingsworth ULCM, ULC June 4, 2015
  It was the story of Lazarus. He lay in his tomb as he had for days. Jesus came there, to the tomb, knowing He would raise Lazarus. The Son of GOD would perform a wondrous miracle. But He was fully divine yet also fully human. He felt the grief roll over Him. And He wept. Jesus wept and, loving child...
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• The Wise and Foolish Virgins

  by Rev. Anna Ruth Hollingsworth ULCM, ULC June 1, 2015
  Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones, when taking their lamps brought no oil with them, but the wise brought flasks with their lamps. Matthew 25:2-4 NAB The wise virgins were prepared for the possibiliy of an unexpected change. The wise virgins were prepared for the possib...