 | Blogs > fieldlilies > View from the Field > My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals |
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fieldlilies
12/30/2007 9:38 pm |
Liz Grossman | Newsweek March 19, 2007 issue - Under the fluorescent lights and lazy ceiling fans of a Pentecostal church in Milwaukee, I watched my oldest brother crouch down and rest his head in his hands. He began to pray silently, moving his lips. Two pastors knelt alongside him and rubbed his back. They, too, began to pray. It was a remarkable sight, because our family is Jewish. Even more remarkable was the fact that my brother was allowing himself to be touched. My brother Tim was diagnosed with autism as a young child in the ’60s, but as he grew up his symptoms seemed closer to Asperger’s disorder and severe OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), while he displayed the savant characteristics of autism. If Tim ate at a restaurant, a certain amount of time had to pass before he allowed himself to return. Before he could enter a room he would have to cross and recross the threshold. He couldn’t quite balance his checkbook, but he could tell you what the weather was like on April 17, 1981. I was 12 years younger than Tim, and out of my five brothers, he’s the one I spoke to the least. As I reached my teens, he thought I was materialistic and shallow; I thought he was intense, peculiar and downright scary when he got mad. My brother was always reliable, hardworking and could manage physical jobs based on repetition—it was his interpersonal relationships and social interactions that suffered most. At 40, Tim was college-educated with a job, a car and a small apartment I never saw, but imagined looking like his old room at home: immaculately stacked piles of old newspapers, brown lunch bags filled with broken glass from kitchen mishaps, 14 of the same style of polo shirt hanging in perfect alignment. A co-worker at his office, where he filed medical records, invited him to his first Bible study. It wasn’t long before one class became a service he looked forward to every Sunday. All the while, he continued to attend temple with our family on the High Holidays and took part in our Seders and holiday parties. “Are you trying to cover all of your bases?” our father would joke. I was intrigued. I had no idea what Tim did on those Sunday afternoons, but I knew that it filled him with a kind of peace no medication or doctor ever had. After church, he’d come over to our parents’ house for family dinners with a sense of calm, his eyes settled, his body slightly less rigid. He even began making a habit, one of his thousands, of giving our mom a quick hug before he’d head home. I realized that joining Tim in his element was the only way I’d ever elevate our conversations past a casual hello. I asked him if I could meet him at his church. That hot Sunday in July, he seemed a little shocked that I actually showed. We walked together to his usual pew, on the right side, second row from the front—the spot he always takes at our temple. In the first 10 minutes, my brother introduced me to more people than I’d known him to befriend in his whole life. A young man with a kind face, but a body that wouldn’t stop fidgeting, turned around and asked, “She your girlfriend?” “This is my sister,” Tim said with a smile I hadn’t known existed. The service started. As the emotional songs swelled, I felt the vibrations through the floor and padded pew, but my brother seemed to feel them even more strongly, and began clapping, swaying and singing. His usual straight-backed posture was softened by a ballad called “Holiness” that had him calmly lip-syncing along. He peeked over to see if I was watching him. When the pastor asked everyone to grab hands and try to feel the Holy Spirit together, I held my brother’s hand for the first time ever. We bowed our heads to pray while a slim woman, in a modest plum blouse and long flowered skirt, held his other hand and began to speak out loud to herself in an unknown, indecipherable language. Growing up, we often heard Tim talking to himself for hours on end. “Do you ever do that?” I whispered. “I have, but I won’t do it today,” he told me. When it came time for open prayer, Tim went up to the front of the room and crouched down on the gold velvet carpet in front of the altar. All around him people cried into their hands, shook their heads as they prayed, some bawling, others pleading to an invisible entity. My brother lay close to the ground, quiet, relaxed and content. By the time Tim returned to his seat, I was exhausted and drained and feeling slightly guilty. I hadn’t even attempted to pray. “How do you feel?” I asked him, “Elated,” he said, his intense hazel eyes growing wide. “Do you think the rest of the family will come, too?” he asked as he clutched a black leather Bible none of us knew he owned. I hope they do. Grossman lives in Chicago. Follow Him!    Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals |
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 12/30/2007 10:08 pm |
Wow! That's quite an article! Thanks for sharing it.  He whispers through the storm......"I am with you....." 
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12/30/2007 10:22 pm |
OH WOW!!! That was such a amazing story that brought me to tears!! Beautiful!! Thank you SO MUCH for sharing that!! Blessings, Ginny * Sin is sin. Careful what comes across your lips & out your finger tips!!! * We are all the Body of Christ. Let's treat each other as such, with the same respect we give to HIM!! * Relationship advice: DO NOT make someone a PRIORITY, when they ONLY make you an OPTION!! * A woman's heart should be so lost in God, that a man has to seek HIM in order to find her!!
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12/30/2007 10:34 pm |
That's the power of our God in action! We are what we believe we are. C. S. Lewis
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12/31/2007 3:01 am |
Wow! That's quite an article! Thanks for sharing it. Don't ya just love when God's power is evident! I was so amazed to see this in Newsweek! Have a blessed New Year! Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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12/31/2007 3:03 am |
OH WOW!!! That was such a amazing story that brought me to tears!! Beautiful!! Thank you SO MUCH for sharing that!! Blessings, Ginny Happy & Blessed New Year's to you! Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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12/31/2007 3:07 am |
That's the power of our God in action! Thanks for stopping by! Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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12/31/2007 3:40 am |
Great story. At the moment I`m reading a book,"The curious incident of a dog in the night"by Mark Haddon. It`s a story written from inside the head of a young boy who has Asperger`s,it`s fascinatingly insightful. Thanks for sharing this story. GBY stevie "This is the year of the favor of our God" "Your time has come to shine. All your dreams are on their way. See how they shine."(Bridge over troubled waters)
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12/31/2007 5:53 am |
"...I knew that it filled him with a kind of peace no medication or doctor ever had." Don't ya just love when God's power is evident! I was so amazed to see this in Newsweek! Have a blessed New Year! Thanks so much for posting it! THE SONG OF DIVINE INVITATION
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12/31/2007 7:07 am |
A tremendous article I agree! God bless you & yours this New Year !! Nite.
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12/31/2007 7:22 am |
Great story. At the moment I`m reading a book,"The curious incident of a dog in the night"by Mark Haddon. It`s a story written from inside the head of a young boy who has Asperger`s,it`s fascinatingly insightful. Thanks for sharing this story. GBY stevie Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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12/31/2007 7:25 am |
WOW...brought me to tears...having worked with (and loved) people with all of those diagnoses, i noted that line in particular as well! Wonderful that the writer had the courage to write about it in a mag. such as Newsweek! Thanks so much for posting it! Happy New Year! Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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12/31/2007 1:02 pm |
Wow, this is an encouragement to me, I will have to see if I can pick up a copy of the magazine. You see, I have three autistic children, and as of yet, we haven't found a church that they can tolerate, in terms of noise and other issues. One day maybe they will. Thanks for sharing this.
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12/31/2007 2:27 pm |
Thanks for sharing this story. Stevie mentioned to me in an email you'd posted it, I'd missed it earlier, and I'm so pleased he told me about it. Having a son with aspergers I know from experience some of the difficulties and could relate to a lot of what was written. This story showed me what an awsome God we have and how powerful he is. I've seen God working so much in my son's life over the last year, he's opening up more and sharing more and I know that God has a plan for him, especially as I've seen God's hand upon him and know that without God and many prayers from others my son wouldn't be alive today. ( He's been saved him from death 3 times in the 11 years he's been alive.) Thank you again for sharing. What a GREAT God we have. Happy New Year, May God be with you and bless you. Ruth
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12/31/2007 11:02 pm |
Wow, this is an encouragement to me, I will have to see if I can pick up a copy of the magazine. You see, I have three autistic children, and as of yet, we haven't found a church that they can tolerate, in terms of noise and other issues. One day maybe they will. Thanks for sharing this. Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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12/31/2007 11:06 pm |
Thanks for sharing this story. Stevie mentioned to me in an email you'd posted it, I'd missed it earlier, and I'm so pleased he told me about it. Having a son with aspergers I know from experience some of the difficulties and could relate to a lot of what was written. This story showed me what an awsome God we have and how powerful he is. I've seen God working so much in my son's life over the last year, he's opening up more and sharing more and I know that God has a plan for him, especially as I've seen God's hand upon him and know that without God and many prayers from others my son wouldn't be alive today. ( He's been saved him from death 3 times in the 11 years he's been alive.) Thank you again for sharing. What a GREAT God we have. Happy New Year, May God be with you and bless you. Ruth Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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1/1/2008 3:55 am |
. . .
. Happy New Year ! ! ! I will praise Him for the worst year of my life if that is His intention for this year, for me. I will praise Him if I lose whatever I have left. I will praise Him for NOTHING !!!!!!! Just as I will for the world on a silver platter. He has great plans for you, preparation and or execution this year. His will, will be done. Willingly or rebelliously. He is still in control. Amen ? Meow ? .
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1/8/2008 11:48 am |
What a nice and touching article. It is good it even touched the sister herself. You know this was the right place for him to fellowship. God bless you
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1/8/2008 2:03 pm |
What a nice and touching article. It is good it even touched the sister herself. You know this was the right place for him to fellowship. God bless you Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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1/16/2008 9:50 pm |
I've read this before, our God is an awesome God! GBU
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1/16/2008 11:01 pm |
I've read this before, our God is an awesome God! GBU I must say I'm more inclined to subscribe to Newsweek over that other national magazine now... I think maybe the miracle of God is not necessarily in the huge universe that He created but that He ministers to individuals in the little things. Blessings! Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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1/17/2008 7:07 am |
Thank you for sending me this link...My heart was Blessed no end. Angel looking 4 her wings.. I will loosen myself from what has held me in the past, and from all the things that claw at my soul and threaten to pull it away from Gods purpose. In Him, I need never worry. God is God–be humbled. God is good–be encouraged. God is great–be thankful [post 116968] This is Mia's blog and worth reading. It blessed my soul. "Showing Me Jesus" Hey everyone come say HI ..to My daugther..Sunnie How to Dance in the Rain? A Beautiful Tongue
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1/17/2008 1:51 pm |
Thank you for sending me this link...My heart was Blessed no end. Isn't it great when you do a simple thing 'cause it's on your heart and God uses it to bless your friends!? God is SO good! Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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1/17/2008 10:14 pm |
I LOVE your testimony, thank you so much for sharing it. Oh Jesus, thank you so much for being such an awesome God. Bless this man and all his prayers. I pray that there will be endless moments that you experience the presents and power of our loving and almighty God. Keimone
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1/18/2008 6:55 am |
I LOVE your testimony, thank you so much for sharing it. Oh Jesus, thank you so much for being such an awesome God. Bless this man and all his prayers. I pray that there will be endless moments that you experience the presents and power of our loving and almighty God. Keimone I, too, pray her brother, Tim, continues to be a powerful witness to Christ's love. The Pentecostal church that prays for him is my hero too - we are commanded to love one another and they show us how! Thanks for stopping by! Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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1/20/2008 3:32 pm |
Lord help me to remember that the power of God is able to save, to heal, to comfort, to change lives that seem unchangeable, and to pull scales off the eyes of an unbelieving world. Awesome. Thank you for sharing this my sister.
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1/20/2008 8:13 pm |
Lord help me to remember that the power of God is able to save, to heal, to comfort, to change lives that seem unchangeable, and to pull scales off the eyes of an unbelieving world. Awesome. Thank you for sharing this my sister. Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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1/21/2008 7:25 pm |
This is an awesome article. The Word of God is all powerful. WHAT A BLESSING!!!
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1/21/2008 8:01 pm |
This is an awesome article. The Word of God is all powerful. WHAT A BLESSING!!! Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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1/23/2008 4:45 pm |
Love this article - thanks!
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1/23/2008 7:11 pm |
Love this article - thanks! Welcome to Blogland!! Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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1/29/2008 7:00 pm |
It brought tears to my eye's, so full of love Don't believe everything you think, God is not a cookie cutter God!
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1/29/2008 7:51 pm |
It brought tears to my eye's, so full of love Blessings to you! Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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2/2/2008 9:51 am |
Hi Lilli, My son has aspergers syndrome, adhd. dyspraxia and scoliosis, although he now has rods fixed to his spine to straighten it. unfortunately, he has found attending church very difficult. This was encouraging to read, and perhaps my son, when he is a little older, may find the peace again he found at church camp at 9 years old and gave his life to Jesus. He is now 14 and doesn't even want to talk about God, unfortunately his father, my ex husband, is not a believer but I continue to pray for him, that he will come back to his faith. Very moving article, thank you.
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2/2/2008 10:36 am |
Hi Lilli, My son has aspergers syndrome, adhd. dyspraxia and scoliosis, although he now has rods fixed to his spine to straighten it. unfortunately, he has found attending church very difficult. This was encouraging to read, and perhaps my son, when he is a little older, may find the peace again he found at church camp at 9 years old and gave his life to Jesus. He is now 14 and doesn't even want to talk about God, unfortunately his father, my ex husband, is not a believer but I continue to pray for him, that he will come back to his faith. Very moving article, thank you. Two of my three children are not walking with the Lord as they once were. May God draw yours and mine with cords of loving kindness in what ever way speaks to them. Blessings to you! Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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2/3/2008 10:31 am |
Wow! Just saw this post. Wonderful! I was once watching a boy who was severly autistic. I was singing Praises to God and it was a Holy Ghost time of great joy. I grabbed this boys hands and looked deep into his eyes and sang to Jesus. We were on the verge of something big and Boom! He went into a grand mal seizure. He could not talk or much of anything, but I prayed for him for years, I loved him! He is gone now, and he wasn't healed here on earth. But he is healed now in Heaven! GBU From one bride to another, God keep you, bless you, increase you, Rhonda 
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2/3/2008 11:15 am |
Wow! Just saw this post. Wonderful! I was once watching a boy who was severly autistic. I was singing Praises to God and it was a Holy Ghost time of great joy. I grabbed this boys hands and looked deep into his eyes and sang to Jesus. We were on the verge of something big and Boom! He went into a grand mal seizure. He could not talk or much of anything, but I prayed for him for years, I loved him! He is gone now, and he wasn't healed here on earth. But he is healed now in Heaven! GBU Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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2/25/2008 8:56 pm |
yeah. it is like that
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2/25/2008 11:48 pm |
yeah. it is like that Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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2/26/2008 8:27 pm |
Great article. May many more appear full of the goodness and reality of God. I have heard of a much more severe case of autism in a three-year old completely healed by God... overnight. We will see much more of His power and goodness in the days to come...as the Church arises and takes Her place beside Him. Thank you, encouragers. Integrity Leap Whispers
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2/27/2008 5:55 am |
Great article. May many more appear full of the goodness and reality of God. I have heard of a much more severe case of autism in a three-year old completely healed by God... overnight. We will see much more of His power and goodness in the days to come...as the Church arises and takes Her place beside Him. Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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2/27/2008 11:15 am |
Wow, wonderful article! I kind of want to know the end. Did the rest of the family come? I guess we won't know that. God is so great and I love how He tends to do things that are medically 'impossible' or 'highly unlikely'. My friend was diagnosed w/ cancer a few months ago and we prayed, including BC people and now it is gone. What is impossible with man is possible with God.
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2/27/2008 1:39 pm |
Wow, wonderful article! I kind of want to know the end. Did the rest of the family come? I guess we won't know that. God is so great and I love how He tends to do things that are medically 'impossible' or 'highly unlikely'. My friend was diagnosed w/ cancer a few months ago and we prayed, including BC people and now it is gone. What is impossible with man is possible with God.Thanks for your comments! Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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3/18/2008 6:53 am |
That is what the power of God is all about. It CHANGES people and we are a people in despirate need of change. There is no sickness in heaven. Jesus taught us to pray. "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven!"
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3/22/2008 10:22 am |
That is what the power of God is all about. It CHANGES people and we are a people in despirate need of change. There is no sickness in heaven. Jesus taught us to pray. "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven!" Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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5/17/2008 7:52 pm |
WOW SOOOOOOOO GOOD, THE POWER OF OUR HOLY GOD. I WAS CHOKING BACK TEARS THROUGH OUT THE ENTIRE STORY. JOANIE
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5/17/2008 8:27 pm |
WOW SOOOOOOOO GOOD, THE POWER OF OUR HOLY GOD. I WAS CHOKING BACK TEARS THROUGH OUT THE ENTIRE STORY. JOANIE [ Isn't God GOOD!!! ] Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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6/22/2008 6:18 am |
Thanks to you and her for sharing that article, but now I want to hear the follow-up!
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6/22/2008 8:49 am |
Thanks to you and her for sharing that article, but now I want to hear the follow-up! Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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7/3/2008 9:34 am |
I'm sorry I missed this story. My daughter has autism, and she loves church. She's gotten more affectionate since she started going to church. Thomas and Robin
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7/5/2008 5:33 am |
I'm sorry I missed this story. My daughter has autism, and she loves church. She's gotten more affectionate since she started going to church. Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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8/7/2008 8:24 pm |
I LOVED this story and the meaning of JESUS'LOVE to all. We only have to OPEN our HEARTS to feel this in so many of our churchs. Praises unto HIS name as YES,,He can and will touch all those who seek him completely! GRATEFUL TO READ THIS AWESOME SHARING OF MY LORD AND SAVIOR AT WORK@ THANKS CEE Yesterday is past and gone, but tomorrow is forever.
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8/8/2008 3:07 pm |
I LOVED this story and the meaning of JESUS'LOVE to all. We only have to OPEN our HEARTS to feel this in so many of our churchs. Praises unto HIS name as YES,,He can and will touch all those who seek him completely! GRATEFUL TO READ THIS AWESOME SHARING OF MY LORD AND SAVIOR AT WORK@ THANKS CEE Follow Him! Dance as a Metaphor Now Accepting New Members... My Favorite Secular Magazine Article from 2007 - Autism & Pentecostals
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