Brothers and Sisters,

My name is John and I am a Lutheran and I am looking into what is required to become a monk.  It has been my lifetime search to really know Christ and what God's will is for me without much success.  I have a very good knowledge of the Bible, but have never been good at verse memorization.  I want to serve God.  I am looking for answers in my life.

Yours in Christ,

John

Dear friends,

Our publishing house is preparing book about European monuments on the UNESCO World Heritage List and we cannot find photos regarding Skellig Michael. Would it be possible for you to advise us of a photographer who offers pictures of this site of the quality suitable for printing?

Thank you,

Lenka Moravcová

Otto Publishing House

(Prague, Czech Republic)

(Mrs.) Robin M.
Christian Cultural Development Foundation
(Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

8/30/08__________________________________  

Thank you for your Site and direction.                                                        Kathleen D. (Ireland)

8/5/08___________________________________

I read with interest your observations about the early forms of the cross on stone in Ireland and Scotland, especially the free standing gray stone cross with the circle around the cross.

    There is one of those free standing crosses in the sanctuary of the Church of Scotland in Kirkinner, Galloway, between Wigton and Whithorn.  I saw it there while we were on pilgrimage, and worshipped with the congregation on a Sunday morning back in 2004.  We had located that church as a possible "thin place" because my great grandparents, Peter and Jessie McDowall McK., had been married in that church in 1854, just before then emigrated to Elgin, Illinois.  Also, Peter's mother, Janet Hawthorn, had been sprinkled with water as on infant in 1800, when the present church house was quite new.  Anyway, there is the stone cross, apparently turned up in some farmer's field, cleaned up, and set in a concrete base as a reminder of the great host of witnesses who have gone before us.  I had thought that it was an English cross, possibly of a monk, who was part of a band fleeing from the Norse invasions.  I know that Cuthbert's followers had finally left Lindisfarne about 890 and wandered in what is today northwest England and SW Scotland (Kirkcudbright being marked by Cuthbert's name).  But I guess you are saying that these freestanding crosses with knotwork on the slab were Celtic in origin, and the predecessors of the massive Scripture crosses that can be seen in Ireland.

I appreciate and praise God for your website.  We are praying at fixed hours in a prayer garden behind our house that used to be a 24 foot in-ground swimming pool.  Now in our late 70s, we are finally retiring from pastoral ministry at the end of this calendar year, to give fuller attention to our relationship with God in Christ, while remaining active in the church apart from professional pastoral or clerical concerns.  In the words of our denomination's (Church of the Brethren) 300th anniversary slogan, we are yours, Surrendered to God, Transformed in Christ and Empowered by the Spirit.                                                                                                                   Jim and Letha McK. (Virginia)

Dear All,

I am from Brazil.  Nowadays I am part of Catholic Charismatic Renewal.  A famous priest here always prays the Saint Patrick Breastplate Prayer.

Due to this, every morning, I have prayed this prayer and I am spreading this so beautifully written God poetry.

I have a great admiration for Saint Patrick, his life and mission.

I am asking God to bless your Monks Monastery with His Holy Spirit.  For me was a surprise to know a non-Catholic Monastery.

Peace and All Good,

Paulo (Brazil)