General Chat

Thank you Tabitha. Mary's occupation as a prostitute is said to be an invention of the Vatican, God knows why.
Peter and other male Disciples fled the scene of the Crucifixion, yet Mary Magdalene
remained and later assisted Mary the Mother to bathe the dead Jesus. It is important to acknowledge he was dead, otherwise how could he rise from the dead. I've
often wondered who raised him as so many say Jesus and GOD are one and the
same. It took some believing 2000 years ago, more so in present time.

The film

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Magdalene_(2018_film)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5360996/

Judea, 33 AD. Mary is a faithful young girl from the village of Magdala (close to Galilea Lake) unsure to follow the traditions and destiny reserved to the women, living only as wife and mother, in her wish to be free. After to reject a marriage proposal of Ephraim, a family friend, her brother Daniel and her father Elisha make her an exorcism in the belief that she is possessed by a demon. Trying to find a solution Elisha asks help Jesus, a healer who is earning fame between the Jews of the zone with his speeches about a kingdom of peace and love free of hate, tyranny, oppression and prosecution, to heal Mary and that finally she obeys and submits to their will. Astonished by the charisma, personality and words of Jesus, Mary decides to follow him despite the strong opposition of her family. She meets a few men who too walk with Jesus as Peter, Andrew, James, John and Judas, who have their personal interests and ideas about Jesus' words and his revolution. At the same time that Mary feels more passionate about Jesus and his vision of the world and people, Peter starts to feel a progressive resentment to her, in the belief that Mary's presence in the group weakens Jesus and his message, who each time pays more attention to her. Arriving at Jerusalem, Jesus and his apostles try to transmit the message against Roman Empire and Jews' authorities, but the events soon will turn dramatically against Jesus, as well as the confrontation between Mary and Peter about Jesus' not only will change they both, too will change the whole world.

I copied over a brief plot - Not seen it or heard of it myself.

The de-cuttering spiritually sounds good - just how to start, thats the question.

Hello all

Today is International Nurses Day and the 200th year today since Florence Nightingale was born. We owe our thanks more than ever today. Let's honour them all in our thoughts and prayers today.

The de-cluttering sessions sound interesting Cynthia. Thank you.

Good morning :-)


No, not that film David, a more modern one. It was released in 2018 and the name was Mary Magdalene - no idea what it was like.


I can imagine that most of us have, during the lockdown, been tidying things up around the house – de-cluttering is the word! I have found some weird and wonderful things lately.

Something caught my eye yesterday – how about de-cluttering our spiritual lives? I was happy to give it a go and I hope you will be too. First, an explanation…….

Just as our cupboards and ‘junk’ drawers get stuffed with things we think we will need at some stage, but rarely do, clutter in our homes can take over our lives. The same process can happen in our spiritual lives. Spiritual clutter is anything that comes between us and our relationship with Jesus - when we get caught up in our own wants and needs.

Where to start? (Don’t rush the unpacking; take your time. If you get overwhelmed, stop. Start again another day).

Firstly, we begin with prayer.

Dear Lord, as we begin to look at making more space for you in our lives, help us to be willing to let go of the things which may hold us back. Help us to know the difference between what should be kept and what should go and, in this process, may we draw nearer to you. Amen.

Tomorrow we will open a few drawers :-D


Cx :-)

There was allegedly a Gospel of Mary Magdalen, excluded from the NT.
In France the Priest at Rennes le Chateau (sp) found some concealed
information which allegedly made him a wealthy man through monies from
the Vatican (paying for silence ?) Or his sudden wealth may have come from selling
indulgences ?.

Hello all

I do count my blessings every single day. In life I see many who appear to be better off than I am and others who appear to be worse off, I'm blessed daily.

Bless the Lord and forget not all his benefits.
Psalm 103 v 2.

David ..............

the name Magdalene is extremely common in Catholic countries around the world, including the French areas of Canada, Louisiana in the US, the Philippines, etc, and of course in Ireland where it is infamous for being associated with the Magdalene Launderies and convents.

They were supposed to rehabilitate "bad girls", and have gone down in infamy in very recent years for the ill-treatment of girls, women and children.

The film Cynthia was Jesus of Nazareth

The actress playing Mary was in The Graduate opposite Hoffman.

In France the name Magdalene is everywhere.

Good morning :-)


I think there was a film released about Mary Magdalene in the last couple of years.


For today, a story - something different the rest of the week!

An old man lived in the village. He was one of the most unfortunate people in the world. The whole village was tired of him; he was always gloomy, he constantly complained and was always in a bad mood.

The longer he lived, the worse he became and the more poisonous were his words. People avoided him because his misery became contagious. It was even unnatural and insulting to be happy next to him. He created the feeling of unhappiness in others.

But one day, when he turned eighty years old, an incredible thing happened. There were rumours that the Old Man was happy – he wasn’t complaining about anything and he was smiling!
The whole village gathered together and asked the Old Man what had happened. He replied… “Nothing special. For eighty years I’ve been chasing happiness, and it was useless. And then I decided to live happiness and just enjoy life. That’s why I’m happy now.”

Don’t chase happiness. Enjoy your life. Count your blessings.


Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.


Cx :-)

A much under estimated character in the scriptures is Mary Magdalene

She was present at the Crucifixion, she helped wash the body of Jesus before

his being wrapped and placed in the tomb, she was the one who found his tomb empty

She was the first to see him risen, mistaking him for the gardener

Why seek ye the living among the dead ? But she is hardly mentioned otherwise.

Evening all :-D One of my brothers was 73 on Friday, I've mislaid his telephone number :( but I did send him a birthday card.

In a few weeks I will be 75 :-0

Good morning :-)


One of the drawbacks to this site is the fact that we cannot post good sized photos as such on the threads. I guess that is a really good photo Sylvia and the memories will be priceless.


The Collect (special prayer) for today :

Almighty God,
who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ
have overcome death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life:
grant that, as by your grace going before us
you put into our minds good desires,
so by your continual help
we may bring them to good effect;
through Jesus Christ our risen Lord. Amen.


More inspiring stories this week hopefully :-D


Cx :-)

Hello all

A very special photograph for you Sylvia.

Joining Emma sending many thanks for all posts.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me
Philippians 4 v 13. King James bible.

Keep safe everyone.

My temporary avatar is of a street party for children 75 years ago.

I am the 5th child from the left, far side of the table, and the small lady standing behind me is my grandmother

Memories, memories.

Another week of uplifting words, thank you Cynthia. x

Good afternoon (just) :-)

Did everyone have scones with jam and cream yesterday? Any street parties - socially distanced of course?

We had the eats but there was no party but I have read about lots of other places having a wonderful time!


There once was a very wealthy and curious king. This king had a huge boulder placed in the middle of a road. Then he hid nearby to see if anyone would try to remove the gigantic rock from the road.

The first people to pass by were some of the king’s wealthiest merchants and courtiers. Rather than moving it, they simply walked around it. A few loudly blamed the King for not maintaining the roads. Not one of them tried to move the boulder.

Finally, a peasant came along. His arms were full of vegetables. When he got near the boulder, rather than simply walking around it as the others had, the peasant put down his load and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. It took a lot of effort but he finally succeeded.

The peasant gathered up his load and was ready to go on his way when he saw a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The peasant opened the purse. The purse was stuffed full of gold coins and a note from the king. The king’s note said the purse’s gold was a reward for moving the boulder from the road.

The king showed the peasant what many of us never understand: every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

God our Father, we ask for your guidance as we encounter the obstacles in our lives. Help us not to back away from them, but to face them in your strength and your courage, that we may grow in experience to continue life’s journey. Amen.


Cx :-)

Hello all

I hope you have enjoyed the very special VE Day along with the added bonus of sunshine.

Heavenly Father

As we recall the events of VE Day 75 years ago,
thinking about all who endured fighting and hardship for six long years during wartime. Today we give thanks for a more peaceful world and trust in your strength for a better future for us all. Amen

Good morning :-)


Sorry to hear about your wife's friend who has died David.

Vera, your granddaughter sounds like an incredible young woman and you are rightly proud of her. Bless her for wanting to work with those who have dementia such a challenging thing to do.

Glad you are enjoying the stories everyone

Keep positive

Once upon a time a daughter told her father that she was very miserable and didn’t know how she would get through life. Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pans with water and put them to boil. He placed potatoes in one pan, eggs in the second pan, and ground coffee beans in the third. He then let them sit and boil, without saying a word to his daughter.

After twenty minutes he took the potatoes and eggs out of the pots and put them in a bowl. He poured the coffee into a cup. He said to his daughter “What do you see?” “Potatoes, eggs and coffee” she said. “Look closer,” he said, “and touch the potatoes.” She did and noted that they were soft. He then asked her to peel the hard-boiled egg. Finally, he asked her to sip the delicious coffee, which made her smile. “Father, what does this mean?” she asked.

He then explained that the potatoes, the eggs and coffee beans had each faced the same adversity– the boiling water. However, each one reacted differently. The potato had been hard, but in boiling water, it became soft.

The egg had been fragile, with the thin outer shell protecting its liquid interior until it was put in the boiling water. Then the inside of the egg became hard.
However, the ground coffee beans were unique. After they were exposed to the boiling water, they changed the water and created something new.

“Which are you?” he asked his daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a potato, an egg, or a coffee bean?

In life, things happen around us, things happen to us, but the only thing that truly matters is what happens within us.

Which one are you?

Father God, I pray that You will build my faith so strong that I can stand up to any adversity in my life with great confidence. I know I do not walk alone and that you God, are my strength and guidance. Amen.



Cx :-)

Sorry to hear of your loss David.

Your granddaughter sounds a wonderful person Vera and must have great patience and courage to choose such difficult but what can be uplifting work. I wish her well in her gap year.

Having gone through this with my father in law & friends parents I know its not something I am cut out for. However should the necessity arise in the future I know I would meet the challenge head on.

Look after yourselves.