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“THE SPIRITUAL SCOOP”

Monthly Newsletter
of the
American Fellowship Church
April 2011 Issue #7

The Potential of May

MAY we always keep hope in our hearts
and
REALLY WANT the best for all!
Reverend Theodore H. Swenson, Founder
American Fellowship Church, since 1975

May we? Can we? Should we? What Is Coming

The month of May presents us with spring in
full bloom, bursting with possibility. Historically,
May derives its name from Maia, Roman goddess
of spring. For English speakers, the word “may”
not only means possibility, but also opportunity,
even permission. I may, you may, we may!
Think of that! We may…! The month of May
give us permission to take action, to take a stand,
to make a difference. We may not know the result
in the real world, or in the grand scheme of things,
but WE MAY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Let us use the month of May to care, to share, to
dare to make a difference. May we offer help to
those in need, whose loss to floods, tornados and
tidal waves has been catastrophic, who survived a
homeless winter only to go hungry on today’s city
streets, to God’s creatures whose very extinction is
threatened, to whatever cause calls to our mind,
heart and soul. May the month of May inspire our
potential and purpose to “Do what we can, with
what we have, in the time we have, in the place we
are.” (Nkosi Johnson, quoted by J. Wooten, 2004)
May we? Yes, we may, we can, and we should!
“The dawn of a new day for all of humanity is just now
peaking over the ridge of a distant horizon, and we are
roused by the turn of events of our still-lived-in darkness to
arise quickly, that we may ready ourselves for the
brightness of the sun..
“Throughout human history we have come to this
precipice; across the span of time have we approached this
border; and once again our choice is clear: Enlightenment
and Paradise or Anarchy and Chaos.
“Our options lay before us in sharp contrast. We can
move creatively and joyously into the possibility of a
brighter tomorrow, or we can huddle fearfully as we
wallow in the expectation of inescapable misery.
“We can press forward into the splendor of A Future
More Wondrous, or we can fall backward into the
wretchedness of A Past More Depraved. We can elevate to
our highest hopes or gravitate to our lowest expectations.
“What we think and do and say in the days ahead will
add to the rapid collection of energy that is producing our
destiny. How we imagine it today will determine how we
experience it tomorrow.
“This I tell you because it is true.”
From A World in Turmoil and
What It All Means by N. D. Walsch,
2011, p. 21.

Let us hear from you! Comments are always welcome. Newsletter contributions are subject to editorial review.
Email us at: TheScooop@amfellow.org
 Web site: http://www.amfellow.org/home.php?ss7
Getting Ahead
From the AFC Well-Being Course, Lesson 6
Scientists tell us that we utilize only a small
portion of our brain….. If we don’t develop our
potential, it doesn’t do us much good to have
“extra” brain power.
When asked why people don’t “get ahead,” we
offer lots of reasons: bad luck, not too bright, lazy,
don’t know the right people, disabled, not enough
education, and on and on.
We don’t know if you’re having trouble getting
ahead but we do know that no matter who you are or
what your problem is, you can improve your
situation. The only catch is that you must REALLY
WANT to improve. Wishing is not enough. It’s easy
to wish you were rich or smart of lucky or whatever
but wishing REALLY MEANS you can’t have it! If
you thought you really could have something, you
would go after it instead of merely wishing for it.
Many of us have been programmed to think we
don’t deserve to get ahead or that we don’t have what
it takes to get ahead. In fact, we will only get ahead
and STAY ahead if that is what we REALLY WANT
and what we feel we REALLY DESERVE.
In sum, to get ahead, we much feel 1) we have the
ABILITY to do it; 2) we DESERVE to do it, and 3)
we REALLY WANT to do it.
For information about our Minister’s Training,
Well-Being, Bible Study, and Counseling, courses,
click here!
Marriage Law in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, a minister, priest or rabbi of any
regularly established church or congregation, is
authorized to solemnize marriages. BUT, a ruling of
a York County judge says weddings conducted by
Internet-ordained ministers aren't valid unless those
ministers have a “regularly established church or
congregation.” We do not think this ruling will stand
but you are forewarned.
Since then, a Bucks County judge upheld the
legality of a marriage performed by a Universal Life
Church minister. This is the latest ruling on whether
marriages performed by clergy without a regular
congregation are valid under Pennsylvania Law. The
ruling is binding only in Bucks County. However, the
ACLU has won similar victories in recent months in
Montgomery and Philadelphia counties.
Let us hear from you! Comments are always welcome. Newsletter contributions are subject to editorial review.
Email us at: TheScooop@amfellow.org
Email: TheScoop@amfellow.org 2
AFC Ministers’ Message Board
Ministry in nursing home doing great special
ministry to Jews and Catholics, lso Hindu nurses. All
in the Glory of God. Could not have done it without
you. Next to Jesus, you are my best friend!
Rev. Carl
***********
With much prayer and counsel, we are getting
ready to launch "Thunder Road Biker Church". We
are doing a couple of Bike Nights in Rancho
Cordova as an introduction to the church and we
would like to invite everyone to show up, have fun
and join in the vision. Attached is a flyer for
directions and activities that will take place. First
bike night is April 28th (every 4th Thursday through
the Summer; April through September).
It is an exciting time as we are called to reach all
people for the Gospel of Christ. God points us in
directions sometimes we can't understand, but if we
follow the path he has laid for us, it is surely His
way we go. I look forward to partnering with other
ministries, organizations and churches as we fulfill
the great commission in Mathew 28: 19-20. We will
be outreaching and helping other ministries and
organizations like "Awakening in Him ministries",
SCBC , Teen Challenge of Sacramento and other
motorcycle ministries throughout the region.
Please go to the website for more information.
www.thunderroadchurch.com Rev. Johnny
The Message Board is available for brief posts from you,
our AFC clergy. All submissions are considered for
publication and are subject to editorial review.
Our Thanks…
…to each of YOU, our Spiritual Scoop readers.
We welcome you to the American Fellowship Church,
your on-line neighborhood church, always as close as
your computer keyboard and your iGadget.
The American Fellowship Church is here to support
your ministry, ethically and practically. For certificates
and other documentation, for training courses and
professional development, we are your primary source
and resource.
__________________
The Spiritual Scoop is published monthly for the
ordained ministers of the American Fellowship Church by the
Church Board of Directors; editor, Rev. B. L. Mallory. Please
address all correspondence to TheScoop@amfellow.org