Welcome
to RFI
We invite you to join us and have your own experience with God. At RFI, we pride ourselves on the ability to create a strong fellowship filled with unconditional love and support. Spend a little time with us and you will quickly see that we are actively serving God through our talents, abilities, and resources.
1. There is only one God, revealed in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
2. Jesus Christ is Lord, and as God's Son was both fully human and divine.
3. The entire Bible is inspired by God.
4. Everyone has sinned and fallen short of the glory.
5. Salvation can only be attained freely through God's grace.
Visiting for the first time? Have a question?
Accepted Christ for the first time?
Whatever the reason may be, we encourage you to reach out to our team. We are excited about what God is doing, and we would be glad to hear from you!
Our response and updates
We are able to gather in the church, with proper social distancing. We will continue to be streamed online through Facebook Live as well. Praise God!
If you are in need of support during this time please reach out to one of your elders. We will do our best to help match you to someone who can help meet the need.
We love you,
Your Pastoral Team
-Practice social distancing - avoid large crowds, close contact, and public spaces except for getting essentials.
-Stay home if you are feeling sick or have an underlying health condition.
-Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap is not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol.
-Cover your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing.
-Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
-Follow all CDC travel recommendations.
-Stay in the Word of God. Worship, pray, and center your hearts on Him.
-Limit or reduce your news and social media consumption.
-Practice stress management.
-Show compassion, understanding, and kindness toward one another, expressing encouragement and love.
Looking for COVID answers?
Wyoming 2-1-1 and the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) are partnering to provide a public telephone helpline for COVID-19 questions and information.
What is Wyoming 2-1-1?
Wyoming 2-1-1 is a statewide helpline which provides free, confidential information and referrals to health and human services. By dialing 2-1-1 from anywhere in the state of Wyoming, people are linked to information about COVID-19 as well as local resources, from both government and non-profit agencies.
When can I call?
2-1-1 is available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Callers requesting information outside standard business hours may leave a voicemail message and will receive a follow-up call the next business day.
What is the number?
Service is available statewide by dialing 2-1-1 or 888-425-7138 during normal business hours. Wyoming 2-1-1 also connects callers to others health and human services in their community.
Busca respuestas COVID-19?
Wyoming 2-1-1 y el Departmento de Salud de Wyoming (WDH) se asocian para brindar una linea publica de asistencia telefonica para preguntas e informacion acerca del COVID-19.
Que es Wyoming 2-1-1?
Wyoming 2-1-1 es una linea de asistencia a nivel estatal que brinda informacion gratuita y confidencial y remisiones para servicios humanos y de salud. Al marcar 2-1-1 desde cualquier lugar del estado de Wyoming, se conecta a las personas con informacion acerca del COVID-19, asi como recursos locales, tantode agencias gubernamentales como sin fines de lucro.
Cuando puedo llamar?
2-1-1 esta disponible de lunes a viernes, de 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Las personas que llamen para solicitar informacion fuera del horario de atencion estandar pueden dejar un mensaje de voz y recibiran una llamasa de seguimiento el proximo dia habil.
Cual es el numero?
El servicio esta disponible en todo el estado marcando 2-1-1 o 888-425-7138 durante el horario de atencion habitual. Wyoming 2-1-1 tanbien conecta a las personas que llaman con otros servicios humanos y de salud en su comunidad.
NEED PRAYER?
If you would like someone to pray with you during this uncertain time, the Billy Graham Evalengical Association prayer line is toll-free, and available day or night.
888-388-2683
CRISIS TEXT LINE
If you are in a state of crisis, 24/7 support is at your fingertips. A live, trained crisis counselor will receive your text and respond.
TEXT: WYO
T0: 741741
SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE
If you or someone you know are experiencing thoughts of suicide, please reach out for help. There is free and confidential 24/7 support available.
800-273-8255
Join us in service on Sunday mornings at 10:30. We share a Live Stream via our Facebook page, and we would love to see you there!
Like/follow our page to continue to get devotions from our pastors throughout the week.
You are not here by accident, welcome to Restoration Fellowship. May God bless you and your walk with Christ!
We are officially able to gather in the RFI Sanctuary, with social distancing in place. Praise God!
In addition, we will continue streaming live via Facebook.
We praise God for what He is doing, what He has done, and what He will do! We are grateful for the opportunities to have options, and remember that no matter what the circumstances may be, He remains in control! Hallelujah!
Guidlines for gathering with social distancing:
Please maintain proper distance of 6 feet from each other. You may sit with people from your household, but please distance yourself from other families in seating.
We are discouraging handshakes and hugs and this time.
Children's Church (The R.O.C.K.), Nursery, drinking fountains and kitchen facilities will be unavailable at this time.
It is recommended that you wear a mask, but not required. We will have some masks and sanitizer available to use at your own discretion.
If you are uncomfortable with meeting in person you are still welcome to join us on our Livestream from our Facebook page. You do not need a Facebook account to view the stream.
We are thankful for the flexibility of the RFI Congregation!
God is good all the time, and all the time God is good.
March
We will continue meeting for prayer on Wednesday nights for the month of March from 6 PM to 7 PM.
It will take place in the sanctuary and we will be practicing social distancing. This is a wonderful time of worship and devotion. There is truly nothing like the love and presence of God!
You are a child of God! You are loved by our Heavenly Father!
3/28/21
Greetings, RFI Family!
As we are nearing Resurrection Sunday, on April 4th, we are hoping to bless our Children with a treat bag after service that day.
We will be taking donations of candy, filled plastic Easter eggs, small party favors, etc. If you could please bring your donations to the church, no later than Sunday, March 28th, and place them in the containers provided, we'd appreciate it.
Kids R.O.C.K. has not been able to meet in over a year, and we love and miss meeting with them! We LOVE that they are all still very much a part of our services each week. Thank you in advance as we want to make Resurrection Sunday extra special for the kids by reminding them that it's never about a bunny, but it's all about The Lamb!!
Sister Teri Billiot
2/19/21
Theresa Ellen Castillo
September 11th, 1948 – February 7th, 2021
Theresa Ellen Castillo passed away on Sunday, February 7, 2021 surrounded by loved ones.
Born on September 11th in Ledoux, NM to Celestino and Patsy Pino, she was raised on a small farm with her siblings in Torrington, WY.
Theresa worked in the career field of early childhood education for most of her life. In 1968, she began volunteering at the local Head Start program in Scottsbluff, NE. Then throughout the 1970s, she volunteered and worked at the local Head Start program in North Platte, NE.
After relocating with her family to Cheyenne, WY, she continued her career at the local Head Start program. In the mid-1990s, she became a small business owner, opening her own licensed childcare center, A Bright Beginning, in Cheyenne, WY. In the 2000s, she opened her own
licensed home childcare preschool, Discovery World, in Cheyenne, WY. In 2006, she was awarded with the State of Wyoming Department of Family Services Building the Future: Outstanding Service to Children and Families Award, recognizing commitment to excellence in
early childhood education. In 2018, after 50 years of teaching 1000s of children and serving 100s of families, “Ms. Theresa” retired from the profession.
Theresa enjoyed shopping for “hidden treasures” at local thrift shops and planning celebratory events, such as baby showers, preschool graduation ceremonies, and Christmas programs. However, most of all, she enjoyed communicating with her “Lord, Jesus Christ,” attending church services at Restoration Fellowship International Church, and practicing her faith through various deeds and acts ranging from teaching Sunday school, planning and conducting donation drives for children (i.e., Christmas bags and bicycles), to providing long-term care for family members. She always said, “it’s better to give than receive” and “the Lord will always pay you back in return.” This was her ethos and calling—serving the Lord and others.
Theresa is survived by her children: Patricia (Rick) Westbrook, Eddie (Lyn) Castillo; Thomas (Minerva) Castillo, Jason (Danielle) Castillo; Marcus Castillo, and Samantha (Mike) Castillo-Vandeventer; 22 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren; former husband, Eduardo Castillo; siblings, Lydia Castro, Roque (Vicki) Pino, Ronnie Pino, Florence Marquez, Tina Barrientos, and Patty Pino; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Theresa is preceded in death by her loving parents, Celestino Pino and Patsy (Abel) Ruiz-Serna, and her grandson, Micheal Castillo.
The Visitation is Thursday, February 18, 2021 from 9am-4pm at Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel of the Chimes. The Prayer Service is Thursday, February 18, 2021 from 6-7pm at Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel of the Chimes, located at 1900 East 19th Street, Cheyenne, WY
82001. This service will be livestreamed. The Funeral Service is Friday, February 19, 2021 from 10am-12pm at Restoration Fellowship International Church, located at 522 Capitol Avenue, Cheyenne, WY 82007. This service will be livestreamed. Following the Funeral Service is the interment at Cheyenne Memorial Gardens, located at 4701 Christensen Road, Cheyenne, WY 82009. Due to COVID-19, masks are required to be worn during services and social distancing will be practiced . In Theresa’s memory, please take every precaution to protect yourself, your loved ones, and others around you by wearing a mask and taking COVID-19 seriously. It is real and it ended her life unexpectedly.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Restoration Fellowship International Church—use “Push Pay” text messaging from iPhone or Android (or download the app). Type “77977” for telephone number, and in body of the text messaging type “RFIchurch.” You will receive a text
message link (“Click” it) and under “Tithes” choose “Other” and make your donation or send check to the address above for Restoration Fellowship International Church.
Some helpful resources and encouragement from Pastor Tom.
Iron sharpens iron, so a person sharpens another! Proverbs 27:17
The YouVersion App is a great tool that enables you to dive deeper into your relationship with God. You can read the Bible, highlight, bookmark, create images, write notes, and share with others, all in one place!
It offers daily verses and devotional plans that you can do either publically or privately, individually or in a group, and it can even send you a daily reminder.
In addition to all these awesome features, Pastor Tom's sermons can be accessed each Sunday.
Follow along and have the outline right at your fingertips by
simply: clicking on the "More" tab, then scroll down to "Events",
There you will see a list of locations,
select "Restoration Fellowship Int'l" to access our outline.
You can also highlight and save notes from here! Neat!
It is available for FREE in your app store. :)
Pastor Tom would invite you to join him in reading the Bible Plan, "How to Battle Fear" in the app.
https://bible.com/p/25889431/1c88be7ad16a2e5e8a9e36409c291ff4
Vaccines lead the news this week, so Focus on the Family President Jim Daly addresses the subject on today’s daily radio broadcast.
There’s a lot of energy surrounding the topic and it’s one where good people might see things differently.
Over 2,000 years ago, the Latin writer Publilius Syrus declared, “Agreement is made more precious by disagreement.”
“Always be willing to look at both sides of the argument,” said the late Jim Rohn. “Understanding the other side is the best way to strengthen your own.”
1. COVID-19 Vaccines: What You Need to Know
Focus on the Family President Jim Daly writes:
You’ve no doubt heard many things about the coronavirus vaccines that are currently being rolled out.
Many of you have contacted us here at Focus on the Family with questions about the vaccine, so today on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Covid-19 Vaccines: What You Need to Know” we want to get the information you need to keep you and your family safe and healthy.
Focus on the Family has 35 medical professionals who comprise our Physician’s Resource Council and who guide our ministry’s health content. I’ve invited two of them to join me today to answer the most common questions we’re hearing from our listeners. They are both infectious disease specialists.
Dr. Daniel Hinthorn is a board-certified physician at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Dr. Scott James is a pediatric infectious disease specialist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital.
We’ll discuss questions such as:
Are they safe?
What are the risks?
What about vaccines with fetal cells from abortion?
How long does the vaccine last?
Should we take the vaccine to protect others, especially those at risk?
Do we continue with masks/handwashing even after receiving the vaccine?
What about Christmas plans with family?
Should we trust the government’s guidelines?
How bad could the pandemic have been if government protocols hadn’t been followed?
Where could the pandemic be heading in the months ahead?
While I know there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the issue of vaccines, I believe we can thank God for this provision. Even through this challenging time, God is working and will work all things for good.
Tune in to the program on your local radio station, online, on Apple Podcasts, via Google Podcasts, or on our free phone app.
2. Doctors Talk COVID Vaccines on Friday’s Focus on the Family Broadcast
From The Daily Citizen:
On Friday, December 18, Jim Daly, the President of Focus on the Family and host of the ministry’s daily radio broadcast, along with co-host John Fuller, are joined by two very special guests, Dr. Daniel Hinthorn and Dr. Scott James to talk about COVID-19 vaccines.
Dr. Hinthorn and Dr. James are both infectious disease specialists; Dr. Hinthorn practices in Kansas, and Dr. James in Alabama. Both are members of Focus on the Family’s Physicians Resource Council (PRC). For years, 35 to 40 doctors on the PRC have met twice a year at the Focus campus. They look at the ministry’s medical information, and our medical advice, to ensure that it’s medically accurate. They help Focus analyze bioethical issues. In the words of Jim Daly, “They have been a cornerstone to the effort at Focus on the Family for many years.”
Now that the Pfizer vaccine is rapidly being deployed across the country, with the Moderna vaccine expected to follow closely in the near future, people are seriously confronting the question of whether they and their loved ones should receive a vaccination.
While Focus on the Family won’t advise you how to make that decision, the Friday broadcast will help in answering the questions that you may have about the vaccines, such as:
How do vaccines work?
Were any shortcuts taken in the development of the new vaccines that should be of concern since they were produced in record time?
How are the new vaccines different from the typical vaccines that use weakened or dead viruses?
Is there any truth to the rumors that these vaccines can change your DNA?
3. Moderna’s Covid-19 Vaccine Gets Backing From FDA Advisory Panel
From the WSJ:
A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel recommended Thursday that Moderna Inc.’s MRNA 5.09% Covid-19 vaccine be cleared for broad use, setting the stage for the FDA to grant an expected emergency-use authorization by late Friday.
The advisory panel’s vote was 20-0, with one abstention, to recommend use of the Moderna vaccine for people 18 years of age and older. That puts it in line to become the second Covid-19 vaccine to be granted an emergency use authorization, following the FDA’s green light of a vaccine from Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE last week.
“The evidence for the vaccine highly outweighs any issues that we have seen,” said panel member Hayley Gans, a Stanford University pediatrics professor.
The vote came as the coronavirus pandemic continued its rampage, with a record 247,000 U.S. cases reported Wednesday alongside peaks in reported deaths and hospitalizations.
“We’re talking about a pandemic where we really need to move this forward, and there’s really an effort to get this done quickly,” said committee member Dr. Steven Pergam, infectious-disease specialist with Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. “There’s no doubt in my mind that it looks like the benefits outweigh the risks.”
4. What a Frank Luntz Poll Tells Us About COVID
From RCP:
Republicans and Democrats see the threat of COVID-19 very differently – both in how serious they think it is and what our country should do about it. But there is a lot of agreement about effective versus detrimental language. Respondents viewed “stay-at-home orders” more positively than “lockdowns” and preferred “personal responsibility” over “national duty.” They want policies that are based on “facts,” “science,” and “data” rather than policies that are “evidence-based,” “sensible,” or “reasonable.”
The poll revealed several tips for anyone communicating about the pandemic, such as:
Don’t make your message just about the consequences of failure. It must also be the benefits of success.
Personalize, humanize, and individualize the pandemic and its consequences.
Don’t let politics or partisanship slip into your messaging.
Emphasize that the science is settled. Wearing masks, social distancing, and hand washing slow the spread of the virus. Period.
1.‘Equality Act’ Passes House – Christians Continue to Warn About Its Dangers From The Daily Citizen:
The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5, the Equality Act, by a vote of 224 to 206 on Thursday, February 25. The Human Rights Campaign, the world’s largest LGBT activist organization, tweeted, “The #EqualityAct has passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support. We are one step closer to ensuring that every person in America is treated equally under the law.”
That “bipartisan support” refers to 3 Republicans who voted for the measure.
Focus on the Family’s President Jim Daly explained some of the dangers of the act. He wrote, “If enacted, the bill would seriously undermine religious freedom and our rights of conscience.” He explained that the bill will sanction abortions and remove pro-life protections; allow males to overpower girls in athletics; close the doors of faith-based foster and adoption agencies; deny parental rights in the name of a sexualized political ideology; and silence people of faith.
The legislation now moves to the Senate, where it faces a more difficult battle, as it will need 60 votes to break a legislative filibuster from Republican senators who oppose the measure.
2. Senator Rand Paul Questions Dr. Rachel Levine Over Supporting Sex Changes for Children
From The Daily Citizen:
Earlier this week, the United States Senate had a contentious confirmation hearing for Xavier Becerra who President Biden has nominated for Secretary of Health at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Yesterday, the Senate held another combative hearing for Dr. Rachel Levine to serve as Assistant Secretary of Health at HHS.
Senator Rand Paul, R-Ky., questioned Dr. Levine over the nominee’s support for giving puberty blockers to minors who believe they are members of the opposite sex.
Sen. Paul followed up with the story of Keira Bell, who began to believe she was transgender when she was 14 and was given hormone blockers and opposite-sex hormones by the Tavistock and Portman Trust, a British transgender clinic. Bell also underwent a double mastectomy.
She eventually realized that “the medicalized gender transitioning was a very temporary, superficial fix for a complex identity issue,” Sen. Paul quoted.
Additionally, Bell filed a lawsuit against the clinic, getting a British court to rule that it was “highly unlikely” children and teens were “competent to give consent” and could “weigh the long-term risks and consequences” of drugs, hormones and surgery.
As Senator Paul noted, Bell knows that she will now suffer lifelong consequences due to the treatment she received.
Dr. Levine again evaded Sen. Paul’s question, instead asserting that transgender medicine was “very complex.”
3. Not a fair fight: Our athlete daughters shouldn't have to compete with transgender women.
From USA Today:
Participation in sports has had a positive impact on countless young women, helping them to develop leadership skills and learn to work together as a team. Striving to be the best is the goal, and valuable opportunities can stem from the competition. However, these lessons and opportunities would be seriously endangered if transgender women are allowed to compete in girls' sports. Indeed, the entirety of women's athletics would be deeply imperiled.
The reason is obvious. Biological male athletes have an insurmountable physical advantage over biological female athletes. They have greater muscle mass,bigger and stronger bones, and larger hearts and lungs than women. Moreover, one new study shows that even after taking female hormones, transgender women athletes still enjoy at least a temporary physical advantage on the playing field.
Our daughters, and those of every American parent, deserve to compete in a fair environment and have their futures open to them without being crushed by politicians who are caving in to ideological interest groups. Given how much progress has been made since Title IX was enacted nearly half a century ago, we cannot afford to go backward.
Instead, we concerned parents must stand up to save women’s sports. We strongly urge the Biden administration to reject this extreme agenda and for Congress to bolster protections for female athletes, not weaken them. To ensure the next generation of girls enjoys the athletic opportunities we have come to take for granted in this country, the time to act is now.
4. Prayer and Science Led Me to the Vaccine
Pastor T.D. Jakes writes in the Wall Street Journal:
I received invaluable advice from my longtime physician, a black woman and member of my church who has herself received the vaccine. Because I believe in the multitude of counsel, I also spoke with several leading infectious-disease specialists here in the Dallas area, a metropolis that is home to many globally renowned health-care facilities.
I don’t consider myself an advocate for taking the vaccine. That is a personal decision. But you shouldn’t make a critically important personal decision with no information—or poor information. In an age when the line between fact and fiction is gradually eroding, it has never been more important to keep people from being swayed by misinformation or by the innumerable falsehoods spreading throughout the internet.
Here’s my unsolicited counsel: Do your own research. Pray. Consult multiple credible sources, from your personal physician to federal agencies like the CDC. Your earnest quest for the truth could save your life—and your loved ones.
5. Religious Freedom Law Introduced by Georgia’s Governor: ‘I Want Georgia to be Known as a Sanctuary State for People of Faith’
From The Daily Citizen:
Reacting to the spate of church closure orders issued around the country from various governors during the COVID-19 pandemic, one governor has drawn a line in the sand and, in effect, said, “Not in my state.” Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (R) has introduced a bill in the state legislature entitled the “Faith Protection Act” to shield churches in his state from being ordered closed by him or any future governors acting under the state’s emergency powers statute.
The bill is fairly straightforward. In one short paragraph, the proposed language states:
“Chapter 3 of Title 38 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to emergency management, is amended in Code Section 38-3-51, relating to emergency powers of Governor, termination of emergency, limitations in energy emergency, and immunity, by adding a new subsection to read as follows:
“No power granted under the provisions of this Code section shall be utilized to specifically limit the practice of any religion.”
6. Fallout from Ravi Zacharias’ abuse begins
From World Magazine:
It appears possible the global ministry’s headquarters in the United States will shut down entirely, according to several employees. In late February, Vince Vitale, RZIM’s director of the Americas and the Zacharias Institute, released a statement with wife and RZIM apologist Jo Vitale confessing their personal culpability in how the organization handled the accusations, and the possibility of shutting RZIM down.
“So much is uncertain about the future, but what we do know is that we serve a God who is infinitely more concerned about the cries of victims than about our reputations, and far more interested in repentant hearts than rebranded ministries,” the Vitales said. “In light of the severity of what has occurred, it may be right for this organization, at least in its current form, to come to an end. We are at peace with that. We have absolutely no interest in getting back to business as usual.”
The week after it released the Miller & Martin report, RZIM temporarily stopped accepting donations. RZIM United Kingdom split from the U.S. organization and will change its name. RZIM Africa shut down its website except for a statement saying it would consider how to continue its work in light of the abuse reports. RZIM Canada announced it will close its organization with no signs of further investigation into possible abuses in Canada. Lori Anne Thompson, who in 2017 was the first publicly to accuse Zacharias of sexting, lived in Canada at the time.
The U.S. RZIM board and senior staff members are wrestling with the next steps, according to staffers: Some seek to continue the organization’s ministry as before. Others argue it has permanently lost credibility.
7. Obesity can alter the timing of puberty in young girls
From Study Finds:
A team from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has discovered that overweight girls can have more testosterone in their bodies. This can lead to irregular periods, acne, and excess body hair. Researchers add that puberty looks different among obese girls in terms of breast growth and reproductive hormones.
According to previous studies, young, overweight females start puberty and experience their first menstrual period earlier than girls with a normal weight. However, it has not been clear if obesity can change not only the timing of puberty, but also a girl’s reproductive hormone levels too. This can impact how females develop reproductive organs such as breasts, ovaries, and a uterus.
“We found that in mid- to late puberty, girls with greater total body fat demonstrated higher levels of some reproductive hormones including follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), inhibin B and male-like hormones such as testosterone,” study author Dr. Natalie Shaw says in a media release.
8. The Old New York Won’t Come Back
Peggy Noonan writes in the Wall Street Journal:
You can know something yet not fully absorb it. I think that’s happened with the pandemic. It is a year now since it settled into America and brought such damage—half a million dead, a nation in lockdown, a catastrophe for public schools. We keep saying “the pandemic changed everything,” but I’m not sure we understand the words we’re saying.
It will be decades before we fully appreciate what the pandemic did to us, and I mean our entire society—our culture, power structures, social ways, economic realities. We’ll see it more clearly when we look back from 2030 and 2040. A lot is not fully calculable now, and some problems haven’t presented themselves. One is going to be the profound psychological impact on some young people—how anxious and frightened this era will leave them, even how doom-laden.
Kids 5 and 7 years old were trapped in a house surrounded by screens, and the screens said “germs” and “death” and “invisible carriers.” The pictures were of sobbing people on gurneys. We should be especially concerned about kids who are neglected and have no calm in the house, because they were left most exposed to the endless vibrations of the adults on the screens, and had no schools or teachers to help them.
No one can stay fixed in the old world, in the Before Times. We’re in the After Times, and every stakeholder, as they say, is going to have to be generous, patient and farsighted in a way they’ve never been before. That’s the kind of bargain people who know how to survive make. We’re in a battle for our survival, and should start absorbing this.
9. TobyMac says new song represents 'first time' he could 'scream hope' since son Truett's death
From the Christian Post:
Just over a year after the untimely death of his firstborn son, TobyMac has released a song he says marks the first time he felt he could "scream hope from the mountaintop.”
On Friday, the 56-year-old Grammy Award-winning singer dropped his first single of the year, along with a music video for "Help Is On The Way (Maybe Midnight).” With lyrics including the lines “Some face a lifetime of fallen tears / But He's in the darkness, He's in the cold / Just like the morning,' He always shows,” the song offers an upbeat reminder that God is present, even amid pain.
TobyMac knows firsthand what it means to walk through unthinkable suffering. In October 2019, TobyMac’s 21-year-old firstborn son, Truett, an aspiring artist, died from an accidental drug overdose.
In a recent interview with ReelFaith’s DeWayne Hamby, the artist said he “didn’t do anything for a few months” following the death of his son. When he did finally reenter the studio, all he could write were “sad, teary-eyed ballad-y songs,” he confessed.
“That was all I had in me,” he said. “I just started asking God, ‘What is going on? Is that all I’m going to be able to write? For the rest of my life?”
10. A Transgender Potato Head? Hasbro's Classic Plastic Toy Experiences a Change
Down with the potatriarchy! From CBN:
Hasbro, the company that makes Mr. Potato Head, announced the potato-shaped plastic toy has been given a gender-neutral new name: Potato Head.
Mr. Potato Head first hit the toy scene in 1952, when it didn't even come with a plastic potato — kids had to supply their own vegetable to poke eyes, a nose, or mustache into. Hasbro, which also makes Monopoly and My Little Pony, bought the brand and eventually added a plastic potato.
Shortly after the hot potato announcement went public, Hasbro appeared to be working on damage control, saying (in a tweet) Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head aren’t really gone after all:
Hold that Tot – your main spud, MR. POTATO HEAD isn’t going anywhere! While it was announced today that the POTATO HEAD brand name & logo are dropping the ‘MR.’ I yam proud to confirm that MR. & MRS. POTATO HEAD aren’t going anywhere and will remain MR. & MRS. POTATO HEAD
"Blessed and encouraged by your continued faithfulness in hard times."
-Pastor Tom
From Anger to Affection in marriage. We pray it is a blessing! https://youtu.be/xthzLXmJIqI
Also check out these helpful titles from the series that focus on the value of intimacy with your spouse.
Video 1: The Moment Right After Conflict
Video 2: The Wrong Question to Ask in Marriage
Video 3: Telling Your Spouse They Are Valuable
Video 4: Serving One Another and Building Spiritual Intimacy
Knowledge is power. We have resources available to assist you in your research. Above all, we encourage you to pray for God's guidance and intercession.
Stay tuned for information about several newly visible bills on the Legislature website at https://wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2021.
Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 1 Timothy 2:2 NLT
Please see the Capitol Watch blog website: https://wyofamilywatch.blogspot.com
click on the left side "HB0085 – Unlawful…"
-This page has information about how to support this bill, how to watch the hearing on YouTube, and how to email the committee members.
-There are instructions on how to register to testify, online or in-person, in the Capitol.
-Even if you don't email or testify on this bill now, watch the hearing so you will be better informed as it goes further in the process and will be better acquainted with how to influence other Pro-life, Marriage, and Religious Liberty statutes for Wyoming.
The Capitol Watch blog is frequently updated on this and other bills. The bottom of the page allows you to comment.
HB73 passed the House Judiciary Committee 6-3, despite opposition. You may watch the deliberations on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/hrhX14mey9g
(HB73 is addressed from timestamp 00:17:15 through 01:19:00.)
Check out one or more of the references in the "Rationale" section of the Capitol Watch blog (https://wyofamilywatch.blogspot.com/) about this bill.
Email WY State Representatives to (OPPOSE) HB0073 -Birth certificates-gestational agreements.
-Concisely share a few reasons it should be defeated.
-At least contact your own Representative by email; a polite phone message helps too, and be sure to say you are a constituent.
-It would be good to contact all representatives by email to explain problems with this troubling bill.
Pray, and share insights about this bill with others.
Looking to stay on top of all things with the church?
Click the field below to sign up for our monthly Newsletter!