Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Coalition of NC

Public-private partnership implementing statewide adolescent pregnancy prevention programs.

Alcohol/Drug Council of North Carolina

Seeks to reduce the human suffering and economic cost of alcoholism and other drug abuse and addiction. Features information on programs and contact details.

Alcohol/Drug Council of North Carolina

Seeks to reduce the human suffering and economic cost of alcoholism and other drug abuse and addiction. Features information on programs and contact details.

Bayberry Retirement Inn

Facilities located in Eden, Roanoke Rapids, and Sanford.

Carolina Donor Services

An organ and tissue donation and recovery program serving counties in North Carolina and Danville, Virginia.

Carolina Health System

Not-for-profit healthcare system offers a variety of health and human services at various hospitals.

Department of Health and Human Services

Resources and services for persons and families with physical and mental health needs focusing on disabilities including visual and hearing impairments, developmental disabilities.

Duke Diet and Fitness Center

One of the country's oldest weight management centers. Features programs, reservations, quick assessments, and FAQs.

Duke Executive Health Program

Offers comprehensive health assessments, individual and corporate lifestyle retreats.

Duke Health and Fitness Center

Offers information on healthy living, low-fat recipes and articles on special disease management programs.

(~) "God-Bearers"
All Saints Day

November 1, 2005

Revelation 7:9-17
Psalm 34:1-10, 22
1 John 3:1-3
Matthew 5:1-12

"God-Bearers"

"Bless you!" we say when someone sneezes, invoking God to ward off evil.
"Bless this house," we pray, asking for God's favor and mercy. "A blessed
event," we say, when a baby is born, giving thanks to God for this
precious gift. "We were blessed with good weather," we say, acknowledging
our preference for sunshine. We are invited to take our pets to church
once a year, for the Blessing of the Animals. We seek blessings, often,
for ourselves and for others, because we long for a life filled with warm
and happy feelings; a life full of good fortune, comfort, satisfaction,
peace, and love.

In the section found in Matthew's Gospel (chapters 5 -- 7) that is often
referred to as the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus begins his teachings with
what we call the Beatitudes, a word of Latin origin meaning "perfect
happiness." Jesus describes the kind of life God wants us to live and
what it takes to receive God's blessing. What Jesus says contradicts what
our culture tells us to value and challenges our wish for blessings
easily attained by familiar prayers.

Jesus begins: "God blesses those people who depend only on him" (or "the
poor in spirit," as the language of other translations put it) -- is this
not impossible for human beings with free will? "God blesses those people
who grieve" -- but we don't want something to happen that causes us to
grieve! "God blesses those people who are humble" -- a constant struggle
with our egos, which will have us on our knees many times a day. "God
blesses those people who want to obey him more than to eat or drink" --
surely this is asking too much. And surely it is obvious that those who
are not in control of their lives, those who must deal with tragedy,
those who are not proud of themselves, those who deny themselves, are not
considered fortunate by the world's standards.

Jesus is giving us a different understanding. He is describing life for
those who are committed to following him -- a life of discipleship. He
knows, and God knows, that we cannot do this perfectly. Jesus is telling
us that God looks with favor on those who try to live according to his
will. God has given each of us the gift of life, rich in every way beyond
our comprehension, and the promise of the kingdom of heaven. In return,
we are to accept this gift with enthusiasm and commitment, with gratitude
and obedience.

Jesus is the perfect role model. But we also find "God bearers" in our
daily earthly dealings, those who bring God's grace to us. They are found
in the Bible, telling us the story of the people of God. They are found
in history, showing us strength and courage by word and deed. And they
are foun