My experience at Odiyan has inspired me to follow my dreams. I continue…read moreto be involved when time permits creating sacred art. A caring attitude toward each other and Odiyan's vision keeps me involved. Alan O.

I've lived and worked both at Odiyan and nearby Ratna Ling Retreat Center for almost 3 years around…read more2012 to 2015. Since then I've come back regularly every year for a few weeks or a couple of months at a time. Odiyan is a hidden gem, an otherworldly place, like no other I've ever been. Life at Odiyan is very simple, work is very hard, but the time you spend there is so so worthwhile, heart opening and life changing. The way the community immerses itself into spiritual practice at Odiyan is through work, the daily practices and study. There's a lot to do at Odiyan. The grounds are immense and breathtaking wherever you look, and the amount and scope of projects are remarkable. The Buddhist teachings manifest at Odiyan as sacred symbols, temples, prayer wheels, stupas, books, online programs, and the grounds of this amazing unique mandala. Life and work at Odiyan are one. People there embrace the projects as their own, and the grounds as their own home. Having your mind and body immersed in the beauty of Odiyan's nature, and in the sacredness of what you work with, puts you face to face with your own idea of self, and with the purpose of being here in this planet. You meet your own resistance, and your own potential as human being to overcome it. Odiyan teaches you that you can be and accomplish much more that you ever thought you could. This is not your typical meditation retreat center, it's a place where people come to engage with concentrated spiritual practice that manifests through their work in the sacred art and construction projects, the gardens, care for the land and animals, the kitchen work and the practices and classes. My life was transformed by working and living at Odiyan and with this community, and for that I will always be thankful to this amazing community and its Founder. I don't think there's many other places on earth were you can have such a powerful experience. I would recommend anyone that is seriously considering a spiritual path or that loves simple life and hard but fulfilling work to try Odiyan for at least 6 months. This is the most amazing place to take an extended break from you habitual, worldly life.

What I Love about the Cove is that it made me enjoy church again. It is very much about coming as…read moreyou are and being real. People are genuine and caring. You won't hear any "christianese" or have a message full of acronyms and seven steps to perfection. The community consists of all ages and everyone interacts. Pastor Jeff' has an extreme amount of knowledge of scripture, history and is very relevant and real. He speaks truth. There is a great kids program and even an after school arts program (ASAP). Worship is contemporary but there is still a good hymn sung once in a while. Also occasionally a great concert, JJ Heller is coming soon!

I've only been here once to see singer-songwriter Sandra McCracken play a show. But the fact that…read morethey brought Sandra in speaks volumes. Maybe you've notices how saccharine christian music can be. But like other sugary-sweet things that will eventually kill you if you take too much of them in, people seem to love it. This Church, and their venue specifically, have taken a different path by inviting thoughtful, talented and nuanced artists like Sandra. Kudos, cheers and blessings to "The Cove."

I brought my family to Middletown Bible Church for the expository Biblical preaching, and we have…read morebeen involved there for over fourteen years. The influence on my children has been very positive. My wife and I have grown, too. I know this church and its pastor well enough to write substantively about their character and activity. I hope this inside view will help visitors and other reviewers know a bit about the church when they come to worship with us and hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This church takes God's reputation and the Bible's message of reconciliation to God through Jesus Christ most seriously. All the members see their own sin as a deadly enemy and know that they are only saved by the mercy of God, expressed in the life and death of Jesus Christ. Some mistake the church's forthright message to this community for self-righteousness, attracting hostility at times. Self-righteousness is not widespread, but living righteously is always a challenge to any growing Christian. Repentance, forgiveness and reconciliation are expected of every member when offenses or conflicts arise. The church's sign is sometimes humorous and provocative (e.g., "Jesus came to save sinners; you qualify."), but it offers hope in the Gospel, not cruel jokes. That is why it most often quotes directly from the Bible these days. And, yes, sometimes a word is misspelled. You try spelling words from a foot away when the letters are as large as your head! The office will gladly correct misspellings, so please call! Middletown Bible Church is officially independent of denominations, though it enjoys fellowship with numerous other Christian churches in surrounding counties and across the world. It is governed by a board of trustworthy elders who are selected according to the standards laid down in the New Testament, particular in Paul's pastoral letters. Although this is a "presbyterian" form, the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's supper are like those found in Baptist churches. The elders watch over the members, setting good examples, directing benevolent help and urging them to live righteous lives. Biblical principles of conduct are their guide in this work. Adult men and women have frequent Bible study opportunities. There are fellowship groups for grades 7-12 and for college and career, too. The church provides children's instruction through a Sunday School, Children's Church during the sermon for preschool through early grades, and a nursery. The members' service work touches not only one another, but the community and the world in several forms. The women make warm clothes for the homeless, assist young single mothers, and send gifts to Tibetan orphans. Students from MBC's K-12 Middletown Christian School visit the elderly in local nursing homes. Men from the church have used their construction skills to build needed facilities in Mexico. Donations often feed the hungry in AIDS- and famine-stricken regions and assist native Gospel ministries with Bibles, vehicles, and other such practical items. Training local pastors around the world is a missions focus. Sound Bible teaching is at the heart of MBC's life. The long-time pastor is Doug Thompson. He is a seasoned expository preacher and a capable musician, leading worship singing most Sundays with a choir and stringed instruments. The basic doctrinal system he teaches is Calvinism, also called the Doctrines of Grace, which he delivers with warmth, passion, and clarity. He is a diligent student as he prepares his sermons. In addition to serving in the pulpit at MBC, Pastor Doug hosts the men of the church in a systematic Bible study that emphasizes training in sound principles of interpretation. He leads a team of church members that reaches out monthly to homeless people. He also teaches Pneumonology (Holy Spirit Doctrine) at Cornerstone Theological Seminary in Vallejo, CA. Several of his students there serve churches in their home countries around the world. These students have hosted Pastor Doug in African, South Asian, and Pacific Island nations on numerous occasions. While there he teaches in their pastors' conferences, couples' retreats, and college student conferences. MBC members usually accompany him on these overseas trips, often risking their lives as they work in areas with bad roads and water and known for radical Islamic terrorism and even Ebola. Christian doctrines have crossed cultural boundaries and been expressed for the first time in new languages through these trips, so it is a precious opportunity that serves brothers and sisters in Christ around the world. I hope those who see the sign or this review will come by and see for themselves what we are about.

Do any of u know Diane Spangler ... Diane was an abusive cruel alcoholiv step mother ... Diane…read moreslowly and pushed me out of my fathers life. When I was 12 years old I came up to see my dad . Diane bought two kittens same litter . Diane I insisted they stay in my room . I had chronic asthma and used inhalers ... I would wake up at night fighting to breathe and ask if I could take the cats out of my room ... It was like she trying to push me out of my fathers life .. Diane would whip at her horses erections with a whip .. Those two kttens she the brother and sister ? , well she bred them and sold the kittens ... Diane was so controlling and cruel .... Once some horse trainers took an interest in me asked me if I had any bothers or sisters ? Diane interrupted and said yeah but they are not even his real brothers only half brothers ! I watched her beat my dad down relentlessly ... My dad could not say a word in my defense .. U knew he hated that part of her but he couldn't defend me . If he did there would be hell to pay when I went home ... Diane once took a outside hose and hit me in the back with it ... That was the first time anybody ever abused me and u was 12 years old...Diana May Spangler God does forgive the abuse of children

Isis Oasis Grand Lodge was like nothing I've ever experienced before. As you can tell by the…read morepictures and videos, it's a beautiful piece of land with cool animals and is SO COLORFUL. My dog and I just so happened to be doing something in a nearby town and decided that we MUST stay at Isis Oasis. This town is awesome and the people who run the lodge are so welcoming. I loved my stay at the Oasis Lodge. Thank you for hosting us. Also, such comfortable sleep!

Creepy. It should be a haunted museum. Smells old. All the peacocks are kept caged up. The people…read morethat run it are super weird. I called to inquire about a room and wasn't told the water would be shut off for the next two hours when I arrived. I toured the room and decided I couldn't stay there. No thanks. It should be closed in my opinion.

What a splendid visit. The beautiful garden has so many unique touches along with flowers such as…read more5' tall calla lilies and many colors of roses. It overlooks a small brook remaining from the heavy rains this past winter. The bookstore is small stand-alone beige structure. It's chock full of different-themed akathists (booklets of standing prayers). Sister Marie graciously helped me pick the perfect booklets as gifts for my family. I also got a brochure that concisely explained how the Greek Orthodox Church evolved from the beginning of A.D. year 1. Additionally, I got a lip balm with calming lavender and calendula made by nuns from another monastery. Sister Marie is an absolute delight, compassionate, and kind. She mentioned that beautiful renovations are under way to finish building with plans to host the public overnight by autumn. The option of a quiet retreat might be possible by then. When I was there, a gal had driven all the way from Mountain View (about 2.5 hours drive) to replenish her parish with a Holy Assumption wine order she placed online for pickup. I also bought freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies--they remind me of the ones my gramma used to bake. The bookstore also had many gift items including honey, beeswax candles, books, lavender oil from flowers hand-picked by the nuns, and religious items. I'm still buoyed today by my uplifting and heart-warming visit yesterday to this monastery. Thank you, Sister Marie.

I haven't been to the monastery in Calistoga yet (planning on it soon) but I have tried a variety…read moreof honey's from the Nuns who have brought honey from Holy Assumption to different events that I've attended. As a huge honey fan (I use honey in my coffee and I drink coffee all the time) I can't speak more highly of the quality and price of the honey that you can get from the monastery. I've tried a few 1lb jars of different flavors including blackberry, wildflower, orange blossom and clover. One time they even had a buckwheat honey that was almost black it was so dark. At first I thought something was almost wrong with it when I opened it up and it was incredibly thick, but it turns out that that's how buckwheat honey is. The darker the honey, the more the buckwheat. They all tasted great and I couldn't be happier with the price. Last time I saw the nuns at the yearly Bazaar at St. Peter and Paul I purchased a gallon of clover honey! I'm talking 11.5lbs of delicious honey cultivated by those who have dedicated their lives to an ascetic path, I didn't even know I could get honey by the gallon let alone get it from Nuns! For 75 dollars it really is the deal of a lifetime, and if you're a fan of honey and/or supporting a local monastery consider making this the place where you get your yearly gallon of honey. The Nuns also make fantastic wall crosses and necklaces that I would highly recommend if that's the thing you're interested in.

family centric, relaxed, and welcoming atmosphere…read more Bible-centered teaching. great music and coffee. gender neutral restrooms available