There is always an answer

... (for those following Jill Carroll's story, see JILL update below)


There were sixteen prayer requests today when I came into the hospital’s chapel to do my weekly prayer team commitment. As I re-read the requests, I thought about the individuals who were asking for prayer: some were praying for healing, some for peace, others for success in surgery, and a few for a healthy delivery of a child. How God must love those who are reaching out to feel His presence. What great fountains of love! There is even enough love to love those not wanting to feel His presence!

I read each request again and listened for what may be in the hearts of each request.
Each request was written because of an understanding that there is a God. Was written with the hope that God was approachable and that Her grace is palpable. I knew that the receptivity to prayer and an open acknowledgement of God were sure of success. God answers prayer. God loves His own.

A woman came in and sat down. We both were quiet and praying. At one point, I turned to her and welcomed her and asked if she needed anything. She nodded a thanks and then we went back to our own prayer work.

Soon, she whispered, “Do you think it is selfish to pray for oneself?” As we talked, she poured out her story, quietly crying. Her prayer was being answered. Gently, I assured her that turning to God is a good thing. Praying for yourself is needed as a way to nourish yourself. She turns to God because it is natural (as natural as a flower will turn toward the light.) I coudl assure her that there is always an answer and she is not alone.

In the gentleness of that quiet conversation, I hope she gained peace and hope. God answers prayers and she is one of God’s own.



JILL UPDATE: (Please note: prayer and support are being given 24/7 for Jill and for Iraq. To keep updated please click here for updates from The Christian Science Monitor and click here for updates from one of Jill's friends who tranlsates updates from Arabic newspapers as they become available.)












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The comfort from one mother to another "She will be fine"

"And to her (Jill's) mother, I say: I know how painful it is when a daughter is detained. But don't worry, madam. Your daughter is a great woman and she will be fine." (see full article below.)

Comforting words from one mother to another. Here is a poem from another mother whose son was taken from her at an early age:


MOTHER'S EVENING PRAYER by Mary Baker Eddy

O gentle presence, peace and joy and power;
O Life divine, that owns each waiting hour,
Thou Love that guards the nestling's faltering flight!
Keep Thou my child on upward wing tonight.

Love is our refuge; only with mine eye
Can I behold the snare, the pit, the fall:
His habitation high is here, and nigh,
His arm encircles me, and mine, and all.

O make me glad for every scalding tear,
For hope deferred, ingratitude, disdain!
Wait, and love more for every hate, and fear
No ill, — since God is good, and loss is gain.

Beneath the shadow of His mighty wing;
In that sweet secret of the narrow way,
Seeking and finding, with the angels sing:
"Lo, I am with you alway," — watch and pray.

No snare, no fowler, pestilence or pain;
No night drops down upon the troubled breast,
When heaven's aftersmile earth's tear-drops gain,
And mother finds her home and heav'nly rest.

Christian Science Monitor:
Posted on Thursday Jill Carroll update January 26, 2006 at 2:00 p.m.

• A group of 37 Arab intellectuals and politicians released a statement Thursday calling for Jill Carroll's release.
• The mother of one of five Iraqi female detainees released Thursday expressed confidence that American journalist Jill Carroll will be released soon. "She'll be fine and she will come out very soon because she loves Iraq and she loves Iraqis, so God will never forget her," says Siham Faraj, the mother of Hala Khalid Wahid who was detained by US forces in Iraq four months ago. But she added, "I don't think Jill Carroll's situation has anything to do with the release of my daughter, but we definitely feel her pain.... "And to her mother, I say: I know how painful it is when a daughter is detained. But don't worry, madam. Your daughter is a great woman and she will be fine."

Jill's friend continues a daily update including articles from Jordanian daily Al-Ghad translated from Arabic to English. Click here for Natasha's blog.







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A call for nobility; a call for a higher humanity

Statements of support for Jill Carroll from the following:
• Saeed Syam, Hamas
• Montasser al-Zayat, Head of the Liberties Committee, Egyptian Lawyers' Syndicate
• Adnan al-Dulaimi, Iraqi Accordance Front
• Iraqi Islamic Party
• Reporters sans Frontières
• The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
• Mohamed Mahdi Akef, Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brothers
• Egyptian human rights organizations
• Muthana Harith al-Dari, Muslim Scholars Association
• Muslim Brotherhood Association
• Muyad al-Lami, the Iraqi Journalists' League
Click here to read the statements

I'm learning, learning quickly the names, their titles and meaning of their titles. This statement struck me:

From Montasser al-Zayat, Head of the Liberties Committee, Egyptian Lawyers' Syndicate:
Mr. Zayat is a former member of the Egyptian militant group, Gamaa Islamiya (Islamic Group). He is also the author of the definitive biography of Egyptian Ayman al-Zawahiri, considered to be Al Qaeda's No. 2, and he has represented numerous Islamic militants in Egyptian courts.

I followed with grave concern the kidnapping of the American journalist Jill Carroll ..... I'm asking the kidnappers to release her so that it would be a clear message to the whole world - a message of a just cause and the ability to achieve justice even under the most difficult circumstances, where the Iraqi people and the resistance movements are facing the tyranny of the occupier.

It is a call to a higher purpose to the captors, but under it, I think, it is a call for everyone. These calls has been ringing out and I believe it is making a difference.

For every call to the captors to act nobly, I hope we can take that as a call to act nobly ourselves. I hope it is taken to heart that our country act nobly, that our soldiers act nobly, that we all push for our highest sense of humanity. In everything we do. These statements and prayers are making a difference.

It is a call to a higher humanity. In some cases, it has articulated a cry for many of us. In other cases, it has awakened compassion and awareness. In a response to Jill Carroll's release, a 15 year old from the heartland of the USA wrote in to The Christian Science Monitor to share how this has changed her life:

Before Jan. 14, I didn't know who she (Jill) was. But ever since, I've been hoping for her safe release. I've thought about her every day, because in a way she changed me. She changed how I look at other people. She taught me to put myself in other people's shoes, who don't have the same rights and privileges I do. I think if she can change a 15 year old girl who hardly took a second to think about how bad the war is affecting the Iraqi people, she can change other people. She has become my role model. My thoughts and wishes are with Jill Carroll and her family. Thank you for helping me understand.

---C.C. Black River Falls, Wisconsin, USA

This is a statement from a girl on the brink of adulthood. Just think of this awareness and awakening happening all over the world. In every home.

Click here to read other statements of support and to add your own.



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Prayer for peaceful resolution for Jill, for Iraq, continues

The support is multiplying as is the unprecedented media attention.

• The Christian Science Monitor update here.
• Write in your support for Jill to The Christian Science Monitor here
• Contact a good friend of Jill's and read her blog here.
• CNN reports here.
• Aljazeera.net reports here.
• Reports from the UK, India and Australia (a look at how this is impacting news worldwide)
• In Jill Carroll's own words - Why she went to cover Iraq here

I think that that is enough for now. A simple internet search for Jill Carroll will show you many more blogs, articles, etc.

This incident has captured my heart, as it has many others. Each plea for her release is evidence to me of a call for a higher humanity. Mary Baker Eddy writes in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,

The cement of a higher humanity will unite all interests in the one divinity.

Can united prayer silence the ignorance and cruelty of terrorism, war, violence? I believe it can and I believe it will. Again, from Science and Health,

It requires courage to utter truth; for the higher Truth lifts her voice, the louder will error scream, until its inarticulate sound is forever silenced in oblivion.

A higher humanity is being called for! Jill's example of a heartfelt earnest effort to understand one another, to cry out the injustice, and to respect and serve one another is such a basis for this higher humanity - based on a oneness where we all see that we are brethren, and earnestly desire to respect and love one another.

With one Father, even God, the whole family of man would be brethren; and with one Mind and that God, or good, the brotherhood of man would consist of Love and Truth, and have unity of Principle and spiritual power....

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Persistent prayer - the chorus of voices increases to release Jill

Reports from all over:

Christian Science Monitor Update - Click here

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Dozens of journalists and Western civilians have been kidnapped in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion, but few victims have commanded the Muslim sympathy that freelance writer Jill Carroll has garnered. Click here for article.

Aljazeera.net - US Muslim group pleads for Carroll - Click here for article.
A US Muslim advocacy group has arrived in Baghdad to plead for the release of American hostage Jill Carroll.

Chicago Sun-Times - Praying for our colleague facing death in Iraq
January 20, 2006
BY CATHLEEN FALSANI RELIGION WRITER
Click here for article.


AP Worldstream headlines
Father of U.S. reporter kidnapped in Iraq pleads for her release AP Worldstream, Jan 21, 2006The father of abducted American reporter Jill Carroll on Friday pleaded with her captors in Iraq to spare her life

Official urges U.S. to free Iraqi women to hasten release of American reporter AP Worldstream, Jan 21, 2006A U.S. Muslim advocacy group arrived in Baghdad on Saturday to plead for the release of American hostage Jill Carroll

Many from different prayer circles and many pray-ers have shared the song from the book of Psalms:

Psalm 91
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it
shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt
thou trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

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“The power of God brings deliverance to the captive. No power can withstand divine Love.”

Re: the safe release of Jill Chapman

Click here for the Christian Science Monitor Update
Click here to feel the comfort, power and inspiration of prayer: "Prayers for a reporter in Iraq"
CNN's article today on the kidnapping. The article ended with a short, almost unnoticeable statement,

Another kidnapping in Iraq ended peacefully Wednesday.

Bless their hearts for articulating what we are all praying to hear the end of this week. This is possible.

An email from those close to the situation is circulating encouraging prayer and sharing inspiration. In it is a Bible verse that cuts right to the chase.

King James Version (KJV)

Ezekiel 11:19

I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you;
and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart
of flesh:

Here is the same verse in other translations of the Bible:

New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
19 I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

The Message (MSG)
19I'll give you a new heart. I'll put a new spirit in you. I'll cut out your stone heart and replace it with a red-blooded, firm-muscled heart.

Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

American Standard Version (ASV)
19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh;

Copyright © 1901 Public Domain

Arabic Life Application Bible (ALAB)

19 وَأُعْطِيهِمْ جَمِيعاً قَلْباً وَاحِداً، وَأَجْعَلُ فِي دَاخِلِهِمْ رُوحاً جَدِيداً، وَأُزِيلُ قَلْبَ الْحَجَرِ مِنْ لَحْمِهِمْ. وَأَسْتَبْدِلُهُ بِقَلْبٍ مِنْ لَحْمٍ،

Copyright © 1988 by International Bible Society

A correlative poem is "Feed My Sheep" written by Mary Baker Eddy

Shepherd, show me how to go
O'er the hillside steep,
How to gather, how to sow, — How to feed Thy sheep;
I will listen for Thy voice,
Lest my footsteps stray;
I will follow and rejoice
All the rugged way.

Thou wilt bind the stubborn will,
Wound the callous breast,
Make self-righteousness be still,
Break earth's stupid rest.
Strangers on a barren shore,
Lab'ring long and lone,
We would enter by the door,
And Thou know'st Thine own;

So, when day grows dark and cold,
Tear or triumph harms,
Lead Thy lambkins to the fold,
Take them in Thine arms;
Feed the hungry, heal the heart,
Till the morning's beam;
White as wool, ere they depart,
Shepherd, wash them clean.

There is an answer.












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Prayer and prayer resources for the safe return of Jill Carroll

More prayer circles are starting up. More groups are calling for Jill's unconditional release. (See The Christian Science Monitor article for Jan. 19th.)

To me, who Jill is, is just as important as what she represents. She represents that earnestness to actually come out of one's own comfort zone to go for that higher prize of peace in the world. The prayer circles and the groups are praying to preserve a life, to comfort the bereaved and distressed family and friends of Jill and her interpreter, to preserve the freedom of reporters to have access to the stories the world needs to know about, to stop the violence..............and I think maybe to even preserve a model of a global citizen - of one who has an abundance of humility, earnestness, respect, honesty, compassion, one who goes the extra mile to speak someone else's language, to walk in someone else's shoes.

To learn another language and culture, to live outside of everything that is familiar to you makes you vulnerable. I have experienced that much in life so far. But, I know that it also takes you to new heights of understanding the power of universal love. Humility, respect and great love for one another is desparately needed. Oh that we would all feel this love for all mankind!

Below are a mix of sites for background, inspiration and information

• Christian Science Monitor update
• Prayer article about praying for hostages from spirituality.com
• Aljazeera.net's story
• Background on concern for female Iraqi prisoners from The Christian Science Monitor
• Excerpts from a weekly Bible lesson published by spirituality.com. It contains six sections of selections from the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. This week's lesson in on Truth. The excerpts are from Science and Health in the first section (listed by page:line number) and I found them particularly meaningful.

Science and Health
293:28
Christian Science brings to light Truth and its supremacy, universal harmony, the entireness of God, good, and the nothingness of evil.
559:8-16
The "still, small voice" of scientific thought reaches over continent and ocean to the globe's remotest bound. The inaudible voice of Truth is, to the human mind, "as when a lion roareth."
It is heard in the desert and in dark places of fear. It arouses the "seven thunders" of evil, and stirs their latent forces to utter the full diapason of secret tones. Then is the power of Truth demonstrated, — made manifest in the destruction of error.
367:30
Because Truth is infinite, error should be known as nothing. Because Truth is omnipotent in goodness, error, Truth's opposite, has no might. Evil is but the counterpoise of nothingness. The greatest wrong is but a supposititious opposite of the highest right. The confidence inspired by Science lies in the fact that Truth is real and error is unreal. Error is a coward before Truth. Divine Science insists that time will prove all this. Both truth and error have come nearer than ever before to the apprehension of mortals, and truth will become still clearer as error is self- destroyed.
130:26-2
If thought is startled at the strong claim of Science for the supremacy of God, or Truth, and doubts the supremacy of good, ought we not, contrariwise, to be astounded at the vigorous claims of evil and doubt them, and no longer think it natural to love sin and unnatural to forsake it, — no longer imagine evil to be ever-present and good absent? Truth should
not seem so surprising and unnatural as error, and error should not seem so real as truth.
142:31-2
Truth is God's remedy for error of every kind, and Truth destroys only what is untrue.

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Share your prayers for Jill with Jill's friends

Re: the kidnapping of Jill Carroll in Iraq. (See 2 blogs down below).

Thank you Christian Science Monitor for the regular updates!
Click here for the update of January 13.
Click here for an update for January 17.

For those who want to share your prayers and good thoughts with Jill's friends, click here for the Treasure of Baghdad blog and the 24 steps to liberty blog.



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If you're not swimming, you're not trying!

I used to do lots of whitewater kayaking. When I first started, I quickly made friends with a number of other new and experienced paddlers and we would kayak on various rivers. On one trip, after having tipped over my boat way too many times, having failed to do the proper eskimo roll to right the boat, I was getting discouraged fast. George, one of the more experienced paddlers, saw that and called out "If you're not swimming, you're not trying!" This helped me so much. He saw that I was earnest, loving what I was learning and he wasn't going to let me get away with being discouraged. And in addition, he let me know that I wasn't alone. We were all trying!

From then on, I could dismiss any sense of shame, or guilt that I wasn't doing things right and get on with what I really wanted to do. I really put my heart into learning and became quite good at whitewater kayaking and racing.

Mary Baker Eddy has a somewhat similar quote when she says:

If you launch your bark upon the ever-agitated but healthful waters of truth, you will encounter storms. Your good will be evil spoken of. This is the cross. Take it up and bear it, for through it and crown you win and wear the crown.

The crown, in this case, was experiencing the thrill of playing in some of the most beautiful rivers and learning the freedom that comes with conquering fear.

In other parts of my life, this lesson was really helpful. When struggling with an illness, an arduourous task, an injustice, or a difficult relationship, I have seen where it is so important to let go - to stop being impatient, or feeling ashamed that I was not making the progress that I felt I should be making or being concerned what other people thought. I realized that I could pursue what I was after with love, persistence and humility and realize that I am not alone.

This all applies to Christian healing and in my healing work for myself, for others and for the world.

 Another idea from Science and Health has helped me, as I have focussed my efforts on helping others:

Whoever would demonstrate the healing of Christian Science must abide strictly by its rules, heed every statement, and advance from the rudiments laid down. There is nothing difficult nor toilsome in this task, when the way is pointed out; but self-denial, sincerity, Christianity, and persistence alone win the prize, as they usually do in every department of life

.

Persistently yours,
Kim






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Prayer for Jill Carroll, prayer for Iraq

From the Christian Science Monitor:

Jill Carroll, a freelance writer currently on assignment for The Christian Science Monitor, was abducted in western Baghdad on Saturday morning, local time. Her Iraqi interpreter was fatally wounded in the kidnapping. Her Iraqi driver escaped unharmed. At this point, no one has claimed responsibility.

Jill, 28, is an established journalist who has been reporting from the Middle East for Jordanian, Italian, and other news organizations over the past three years.

The Monitor joins Jill's colleagues - Iraqi and foreign - in the Baghdad press in calling for her immediate and safe release.

"Jill's ability to help others understand the issues facing all groups in Iraq has been
invaluable. We are urgently seeking information about Ms. Carroll and are pursuing every avenue to secure her release," says Monitor Editor Richard Bergenheim.

"Jill is the latest of 31 journalists to have been kidnapped in Iraq since the beginning
of the war according to Reporters Sans Frontieres, an advocacy group in Paris. Thousands of Iraqis and more than 250 foreigners have been abducted, some by gangs seeking ransom, others by insurgents demanding the departure of US troops from Iraq. Four Christian peace activists are among the dozen or so foreigners still
being held captive.

Last night and this morning I have received a number of prayer requests about this situation. This already proves a fundamental principle about prayer -- we are never alone. The journalist involved, as a reporter for the Christian Science Monitor, hits me a little closer to home.

This is what I know and how I am praying:

• Jill is not alone. She can feel God's presence.
• Her kidnappers are not alone. They can feel the influence of prayer lifting their motives higher.
• "Truth is always the victor." writes Mary Baker Eddy. Truth destroys only that which is untrue. Truth shines on man's higher nature as a child of God.
• There is one God. One Mind. God's ideas cannot prey on one another.

I know that these prayers are effective. A recent incident cements this for me. Before our family made a major move cross-country, we had become very good friends with a family who recently came to the United States from an African country experiencing political strife. The husband had been abducted and the family forced to flee. They did not know the whereabouts of the husband.

The mother and I became close friends. Our prayer centered on seeing them and her husband as in the kingdom of God - the structure of Truth and Love, safe, guarded, and that God is guiding each individual home. Home is the embodiment of all right ideas: peace, companionship, mercy, affections.

We prayed like this for months. Soon we had word that he was found, and a week before we were to move, the husband returned to his family.

I know prayer is effective. In this situation, we saw that every day our prayer had an impact. This helps me see that every day we pray about the situation in Iraq and this situation in particular, it will have an impact. Whatever the outcome, prayer is operating on the behalf of all that is good, right now.

Please see other articles:
A kidnapping in Iraq - spirituality.com
Prayer for the missing - spirituality.com
Hope in Iraq - spirituality.com

Prayer Circles with beliefnet.net
Prayer Circles for Iraq
Prayer Circles for peace






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"Keep praying for us," he said - Sago mine tragedy

'Outside Weaver's funeral, 72-year-old Sam Felton said that's just what the families of those killed at Sago mine need. "Keep praying for us," he said.'

Our Sunday School discussion today was all about prayer, its centerpiece being the Lord's Prayer given by Christ Jesus to his disciples and used for centuries throughout the Christian world. "How would you use this prayer for someone caught in a cave?" one of the students asked. So off we went talking about how the Lord's Prayer was probably prayed during the ordeal at the Sago mines and still continues to be prayed for the families and for Randall McCloy, Jr., the sole survivor who as of this writing is still hospitalized.

There are so many praying about this situation now. To Sam and all those praying, we join you. I have always learned that the Lord's Prayer is a prayer that meets every human need. Below, is the Lord's Prayer from the King James Version of the Bible, the second line, Mary Baker Eddy's spiritual sense of each verse and the third line, inspiration that came to me as I was praying.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father which art in heaven,
Our Father -Mother God, all-harmonious,
Our Father - We are all under one God, we are all in this together

Hallowed be Thy name.
Adorable One.
Life is sacred.

Thy kingdom come.
Thy kingdom is come; Thou art ever-present.
God was here with us during the tragedy, is with us now, and will be with us in the future

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Enable us to know, — as in heaven, so on earth, — God is omnipotent, supreme.
Imagine God filling all space, the space we breathe, the dark corners of doubt and the brilliant heights of praise -- God is the power we can lean on.

Give us this day our daily bread;
Give us grace for to-day; feed the famished affections;
Nourish us with your peace; we are united with those we love and all can feel that satisfaction and love.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And Love is reflected in love;
Forgiveness frees us to get on with the business of loving one another.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil;
And God leadeth us not into temptation, but delivereth us from sin, disease, and death.
Wherever we are, God gives us a way to deal with any situation we are confronted with. God helps us.

For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.
For God is infinite, all-power, all Life, Truth, Love, over all, and All.
Amen! One of the miner's wives, Debbie Grove, said it best during her husband's memorial service. "Eternity is forever."

When hearts and hopes are broken, divine Love rushes in.

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Honesty and purity in business

My husband and I are actively pursuing the start up of his new business. He is an artist blacksmith and brings to his business a rare combination of engineering and construction skills, an edgy contemporary aesthetic and the tools and passion of an old world craft. (See http://www.islandcityforge.com/

As we ventured out, we prayed to see this business in a spiritual light. Out of this foundation will come out all the issues of business - our vision for the work, customer service, types of products, how we market, who we collaborate with and what we hope the business will achieve.

When I was reading Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, I came across her definition of "church" (p. 583)

Church - The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from
divine Principle.
The Church is that institution, which affords proof of its utility and is found elevating the race, rousing the dormant understanding from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the demonstration of divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick.

Although we were not setting out to have our business be a church, this definition gave us some very good guidelines with which to start our business.

"...affording proof of our utility..."
We expanded the business concept to not only develop products useful and beautiful to the home, but we also saw that we could have a positive impact on the community. Dealing in products that may be deemed luxury, we saw that beauty increases the value of one's environment. This made us realize that we could expand the business to include not only residential, but public sculpture and projects.

"...elevating the race..."
Good art engages the soul. Our purpose is to elevate thought above the mere acquisition of things to transforming thought to a higher ideal. When you bring a thing of original beauty into a space, it stirs thought. Our hope is that it lead thought to inspiration, inquiry and appreciation of authenticity and originality.

"...rousing the dormant understanding from the material to the spiritual..."
We also saw that we had the opportunity to challenge the complacent thought that the economy cannot be stimulated "in these times"; that prosperity is something afar off or only for a few; or even that there is no market for these products.
We countered those ideas by understanding that things that inspire easily circulate and bear fruit. Gratitude, the currency of love, is prosperous and brings prosperity. Prosperity, defined as an economic state of growth with rising profits and full employment , is a noble and unselfish goal for the whole community. God's law of supply and demand are natural and are fulfilled.

"...whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle..."
Operating from our highest ethics, we hold honesty, accountability and trust in God as our modus operandi. Honesty in business dealings, now again in the headlines, is the soundest way to do business. (See article on Honesty is good business from spirituality.com) This is what we are banking on. Early on, it was necessary for us to get very clear that we are not dependent on material personalities for our supply, but our supply comes from God and our business is a reflection of God meeting our neighbors' needs. Each job that comes along is a God-job, and we are grateful!! As Mary Baker Eddy writes in Miscellaneous Writings

God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies. .... and if you wait, never doubting, you will have all you need every moment.

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