Tag: faith
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Reflections on Dante’s Inferno: Treachery and the Frozen Abyss
Part 7 As we near the end of Dante’s Inferno, we arrive at the most chilling and terrifying part of Hell: the ninth circle, reserved for those who committed the gravest of sins—treachery. It is here that Dante finds himself confronted with frozen despair, and where Satan, bound and frozen in the lake of Cocytus,…
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Reflection on Dante’s Inferno: The Great Waterfall of Blood and Fire
Part 6 As we continue through this journey, I want to briefly recap the seventh circle of Hell before delving into what lies beyond—the terrifying descent into the eighth circle, which Dante and my husband Dexter both encountered in their separate visions. The seventh circle of Hell, as described in Cantos 12 to 16 of…
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Reflections on Dante’s Inferno: The Violent Suffer
Part 5 Circle Seven of Hell is by far the most violent and brutal, it’s a place that haunted Dexter’s mind to an extreme after his vision. It left such a deep trauma that much of his experience there was buried, forgotten in the haze of horror. I had to carefully piece together the fragments…
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Reflection on Dante’s Inferno: The Fall of Leaders and the Faithless
Part 4 As we journey deeper into the testimonies of Hell, it is clear that Hell is not just for the so-called “wicked”—those we might consider the most corrupt. No, Hell has many chambers, many circles, and many souls within its grasp. Among the most tragic of these are the leaders—the evangelists, pastors and spiritual…
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Reflections on Dante’s Inferno: Lords and Beasts of the Pit
Part 3 During Dexter’s initial experience of Hell, his journey did not stop at the fiery lake. He descended deeper into the darkness, encountering sights that would chill anyone’s soul. In the midst of his vision, Dexter came face to face with four British lords, clad in Medieval armor, leading a cursed army. These lords—who…
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Reflections on Dante’s Inferno: A Descent Into Darkness
Part 2 In 2018, my husband Dexter nearly lost his life to sepsis, an infection that ravaged his body after he contracted Salmonella poisoning. The nightmare began with what seemed like a simple illness, but soon escalated into something far darker. As Dexter slipped further from this world, something extraordinary happened—he entered Hell. For hours,…
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A Reflection on Dante’s Inferno
Part 1 As I delve into The Inferno by Dante Alighieri this season, it’s not in honor of Halloween but as a reflection on profound spiritual truths. Studying English at Maryville University has greatly deepened my appreciation for ancient and medieval literature, especially works like Dante’s. I love immersing myself in the rich history and…
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Walls: A Biblical Perspective
A picture of my own prayer wall Life is full of walls—physical, emotional, and spiritual. Some walls protect us, while others stand as barriers needing to be torn down. In Scripture, walls can represent God’s protection, like the walls of Jerusalem, or challenges we must overcome, like the walls of Jericho. As a preacher’s wife,…
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Rare to Rare: Caregiving for a Rare as a Rare
Being a caregiver is a challenging role, but when you’re balancing your own chronic illness while caring for a spouse with another rare disease, the challenges intensify. I live with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a rare connective tissue disorder that leads to chronic pain and physical limitations, while my husband, Dexter, has Fanconi Anemia (FA), a…
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The Keys to a Happy Marriage
Marriage in today’s world can feel more challenging than ever, with societal pressures and personal expectations often steering couples into a “me-first” mindset. Too often, we focus on what we can get out of our relationships, rather than what we can contribute. When those desires go unmet, many of us resort to nagging, complaining, or…
Country Girl Gone City 