Dear Readers of PCN,
Hope can be sparked one person, it can cause that individual to share their
disappointments that turned into joy with others. That in turn can stir
up a community, which could shape nation, and inspire the world. On September
11th 2001 devastation struck millions. Persons where frantic and confused.
When all seemed lost, a city came together and infused hope into the souls
of the streets that had seen its' share of sorrow. One city's determination
to stand amongst the shrapnel's of hatred caused entire country to stand
proud and face a new dawn.
When we where at our lowest and hope seemed as a mere dream. One Man came
and gave His life so others might live. On God gave His Son so that we
might have hope.
My prayer for you is that in this month's issue you will find the hope
of Christ infused in the heart of this ministry.
"In this world you will have tribulations; but take hope, for I have overcome the world..."
Sincerely Your Sister in Christ,
Cassandra E. Philogene
Editor in Chief
Patmos Chapel Newsletter
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| A look back to step forward |
| They say that pictures say a thousand words. What story do you see in the
pictures below...
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 Do you remember where you were on September the 11th 2001? Where you at home as people plunged to their deaths? Did you see the second plane crash into the building? Did you see it collapse? Did you lose loved ones in that catastrophe? Do you remember where you were?
Here is another image that resulted in the death of one that was not worthy
of such a price. Yet He did it so you and I may live. What are you doing to remember His death, His sacrifice for you? While He hung on the cross His divine mind flashed forward to see you. Knowing that you might have a chance at eternal peace and happiness He gave up all He had so that you might live. What are you doing to honor His sacrifice? Do you remember?
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Mesac Damas was being sought by Collier County Sheriff's Department
officials Sept. 20, 2009, after authorities discovered his wife and
five children dead inside their Naples, Fla. home.
Collier County Sheriff's Office
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not
lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather
than lovers of God— ...
They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed
women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil
desires... —men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone." 2 Timothy 3:1 - 9 NIV
As the text above states in the Last Days will be terrible times. How could
someone slit the throats of his wife and five children, and then leave
the country, believing that he could get away with it?
There are two powers fighting to gain control of our minds, bodies and
souls. If you do not have on you will have the other. There is not an in
between where one could float in the balance or in "purgatory".
The end of time has approached us. The devil knows he has but a short time.
What will you decide? Who will win your soul for eternity?
Are you still "deciding", not sure of what you should do? Call
on Jesus and escape the devil's snares, for he is a destroyer and seeker
and father of all evil. Could a person who had the Holy Spirit in control
of him have silt the throats of his entire family? Of course not. Seek
the Lord while He still may be found...
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| International Food Festival |
The summer is done, but the fun at Patmos Chapel has just begun!
Patmos' Chapel's International Food FESTIVAL will have food from all over
the world, presenting Patmos as a whole. You won't want to miss it!
 October is here...
This month I met a young woman of 22 years. She seemed fine, she was holding
her newborn baby in her arms and conversing with some people. I approached
her and we began to talk. She seemed fine, I wanted to know why she was
here. "I have breast cancer." I was not ready for the words that
came out of her mouth. She was only 22! Breast cancer is not age discriminatory,
it does have a favored gender, yet it attacks both. In the month of October,
please spread the information about breast cancer awareness. Below there
is a link you can click on to find more information about Breast Cancer:
www.komen.org
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| Do you want to talk about a topic? Or respond to any of the pieces that
you see in PCN? Click Here to have your ideas heard today! |
Giving God the Praise for only He is worthy.
They said that I was going to lose my home, My foreclosure date was August 28th, 2009. The bank had sold my loan to another company, and I could no longer afford the payments. The lawyers that they hired told me unless I could come up with an amount of 10,000 dollars that there was no negotiating. There was nothing I could do. I had been served with the papers, the Sheriff's Office had been notified to help with my extraction.
I was to pack up my belongings and leave my house.
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| Tune in next month to see what happens... |
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| In
This Issue... How could he have killed his family? Possessed by Evil... / Eight years later. Do you remember where you were?... / Women Elders... / 22 years old, a Mother and a Cancer Survivor... |
• As the Pastor Ponders
• Elder Mendez-Williams - A PCN first Exclusive
• Women,,, Gather Together!
• Download of the Month
• Sermon on Demand
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Dear Family and Visiting Friends,
Oh, That I Had Wings
Psalm 55:5-8
David’s life was like one big roller coaster ride, filled with tremendous
highs and tremendous lows. As he strolled back down memory lane,
no doubt there were good times and bad times. The memories of the
good times I’m sure brought a sense of joy to heart, even a tear of happiness
or smile to his face. Pleasant memories like playing his harp under the
moonlit sky while tending and guarding his sheep. The numerous battles
against the enemies of Israel in which God had given him the victory were
precious memories. The slaying of the most feared warrior in the
Philistine army just drew him closer to the Lord, a sweet memory.
The inaugural ceremony and his anointing by the prophet Nathan when it
looked as though another would take the throne as Israel’s king, a great
memory. Yes, some of memories are so pleasant that we wish to play
them over and over in our minds and would even go back to relive them again
if given the chance.
However, the stroll down memory lane also brought back some dark memories
that were so painful that he perhaps would just as soon forget. Doors
in his life that once he reopened them he just wanted to slam them shut,
lock and throw away the key. Disturbing memories like that of King
Saul hurling spears at his head in the palace and hunting for him like
prey. Or, what about the rape of David’s daughter by her brother
David’s own son? Or better yet, the anger and sheer hatred of another son towards David
that eventually lead to the son’s death? And then, what about the
scandal between David and Bathsheba? Their adulterous affair that
lead to her accidental pregnancy and David’s sinister plot to trick or
kill Uriah, her husband. The stroll down memory lane continued as
the Prophet Nathan peeped his hand and revealed the haunting secret that
David thought that no one else knew. Eventually, everybody knew and
God due to His love for David was forced to deal with him. The child
was born only to be eulogized a few short days after. It was truly
a nightmare of a memory. Some of our memories are equally as dark
and painful.
As David walked about his palace different places served as reminders of
a lifetime of memories. He walked back up to the roof top and looked
and saw the place where his life began to plunge into a disastrous low.
Then suddenly from out of nowhere a delicate and beautiful dove appeared
and perched on the railing of the roof top wall. He looked over and
thought for a moment at how free and carefree the little dove was and how
he wished that he could exchange places with the dove. Perhaps your
life has produced some tremendous lows that have brought you unspeakable
pain. Like David, you just want to run from it and escape from it
for a little peace of mind. Maybe, in desperation you reach for things
to sustain you like grabbing at straw. If so, what counsel can I
provide that will help you to make wise and lasting decisions? 4 principles that must be adhered to:
- Stay connected to reality – remember, you don’t have wings and you can’t fly (verse 6a). You are
where the Lord has permitted you to be at this stage in your life. There
are lessons for you to learn right where you are. Face the challenges, stay focused.
- Don’t spend countless moments day dreaming – there is no such place as “away” it doesn’t exist (verse 6b,7,8).
Don’t think about aborting the mission by imagining that you find a place
that is trouble free. It does not exist. Face the challenges, stay fixed.
- Don’t seek to attach yourself to weak things – The dove is weak and can’t handle strong currents. Instead seek
to attach to the eagle which is strong and possesses the capability to
endure turbulent winds (verse 6a). The eagle symbolizes the might and power
of God. Face the challenges, stay fortified.
- Trust in the Lord – He’s our deliverer, redeemer and sustainer, worthy of our faith and
trust (verse 22); (Psalm 22:8; 118:8; 125:1; Jer. 17:5). Face the challenges, stay faithful.
Love,
Pastor Daide
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Women have always been shortchanged in experiences when it comes to equal
opportunities. However Patmos Chapel has opened the door in which God seemingly
had unlocked. With stories in the Bible where the Prophetess Deborah was
a judge over Israel, Joel chapter 2 speaks of God pouring out His Spirit
on all persons in the last days men and women; the daughters of Philip
in the New Testament having the Spirit of God and prophesying, it still
baffles people when they see women elders and clergy in the church.
The
Adventist Church has an overwhelming unequal yoke of more women then
men in its’ congregational holdings. It would seem unfair for all the
men to labor tirelessly serving the entire multitude, when there are
capable women of God who are willing to serve.
Elder Diana Mendez-Williams happens to be one of those women who have answered
the call to the Lord of the Harvest for He stated that “The harvest is great but the labors are few…” The following interview is a brief insight of her experience in working in the harvest:
- Did you ever think that one day you would be an Elder? This is an interesting question. For years others have told me I
would be an Elder at Patmos and I knew that if it was God’s will it would
happen. I am never one to seek out a post. I have come to the
realization that when God wants you to do something, nothing on earth will
stop Him from carrying out His purpose in your life.
- What made you decide to take up this role? I believe God gives each of us various gifts and it is incumbent upon us
to utilize those gifts for His purpose. I am always afraid that if
I do not use the gifts He has given me for His purpose He will take it
away. I knew in my heart that whatever role He wanted me to undertake,
He would prepare me for it.
- Controversies always arise. What type of issues have you faced since becoming
an Elder? Thus far, I have not experienced any controversy from the current leadership
or the church membership since accepting this position. The current
leadership has been extremely supportive. In addition, I have held
many leadership positions in Patmos over the years and I have worked with
many of our church leaders and know most of them quite well.
- What have you found to be your greatest blessings? The love, support and encouragement that I have received from so many
of my Patmos church family, especially the women of Patmos.
- What is your response to persons stating that women cannot be Elders? I have been a member of Patmos Chapel for over 22 years and I know there
are some who find it difficult to accept a woman Elder. I can understand
their ambivalence, therefore, when I have been reminded by some of their
feelings, I don’t make an issue of it. I know it is human nature for people
to fear what they do not understand.
- What advice do you have for women who may feel called to be in ministry? I would say a woman needs to know how God speaks to her. God tends
to speak to me through other people. However, He speaks to all of
us differently. We need to learn how to recognize His voice.
I don’t think we can recognize His voice without spending time with Him.
I believe we must spend time in the Word and in prayer. When I speak
about spending time, I am referring to quality time digging through scripture
and the Spirit of Prophecy as though for lost treasure.
- How does your husband feel about having an Elder for a wife? For those who know Bro. Williams, they know he is a very quiet man and only speaks when he has something to say. He has not said
much about this new role I have taken on. He has however shared his
concern with me overextending myself. However, I tend to do that
with whatever task I take on. I pray to the Lord to help me be receptive
to my husband’s advice for when he does speak, what he has to say can be
quite profound.
- Understandingly there are multiple Elders in the work with you who are men, how does that fair out? I have been a Health Services Administrator for 25 years which is a predominately
male field. When I started as a Hospital Administrator 25 years ago,
I was the youngest and the only one of color surrounded by males who either
reported to me or were my peers. Working with men is second nature
for me. The current Elders at Patmos are a joy to work with.
They have been quite supportive.
- Does it help having another woman in the Eldership with you? It has been wonderful. Elder McFarlane and I have been very good
friends for 15 or more years. At least since she first came to Patmos
Chapel. We have always supported each other and have been there for
the other through thick and thin. Both of us have held leadership
positions in Patmos over the years and we both share the same passion for
teaching the Word of God. I love her dearly and consider myself extremely
blessed to be able to call her my friend and sister.
- How has being an Elder brought you closer to the Lord in the work He has
for you? It has been a humbling experience. I have grown up in this faith and I have never really felt I personally was worthy to take on such an awesome responsibility. But, what I have been learning is that it is not about what I can do but what God can do through me. I have learned that being an Elder is more about serving than leading. I find myself wanting to simply sit at the feet of Jesus and learn everything that He wants to impart to me. I feel like a little child who has so much to learn, but praise God I do have a teachable spirit and a hunger for knowledge that I know God will satisfy.
Thank you Sister Elder Mendez-Williams for taking out the time and answering
PCN’s questions; God Bless you, in this new embarking journey with the
Spirit.
Have any questions or comments about this piece Click Here
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Women, It is Time... Gather Together!
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Attention Women of Patmos
We can be used by God because He has a special work for you “For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 NIV
An example of someone who allowed themselves, to be used by the Spirit
is taken from Judges 4:4: Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that
time.
Deborah was a woman who discovered her Spiritual gift, which happened to
be leadership, and was used by the Lord. In that verse alone it states
that she was also a wife, perhaps a mother, a friend, a sister, a neighbor, perhaps Deborah could be you.
Come together on the Sabbath of the 31st in October, with the Women of Patmos for a catered even to discover your
Spiritual Gifts from the Lord. Come to dine, fellowship, get involved and
encourage one another in ministry.
Space is limited, and the event is free. Please see a Women’s Ministry Committee member to sign up today.
For where two or three are gathered, there I am in the midst of them...
Please Click Here to RSVP with name and contact information.
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Tux Paint
Tux Paint is a free, award-winning drawing program for children ages 3 to 12 (for example, preschool and K-6). It combines an easy-to-use interface, fun sound effects, and an encouraging cartoon mascot who guides children as they use the program. Click here to download |
Health Insurance for the Masses?
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42.5 Million American's without Health Insurance. Who should pay? Who should
get coverage?
What is your take on the Health Insurance Debate?
If you feel as if you have something to say in what is going on about the Health Insurance policies that are currently in place, or if you have an idea of how this situation could be fixed; that's if you think there's a problem at all..
Here at PCN would like to here from you voice your opinion Click Here.
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Patmos Chapel Internet Radio Station, Plays Top Gospel Music, Archived Sermon, And Lively Sabbath School Discussion Every Friday Evenings.
Click on the logo to start your blessing.
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