Atheist - I do not believe in God
me - do you believe in love?
atheist - yes of course, everyone does
me - then since God is Love, then you just admitted you believe in God, have a nice day
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Learning from Tiger – Kids look to celebrities to be their role models, anyone but their parents. After all, when living with anyone 24-7 you are bound to see they are far from perfect, in comparison you usually only see the good side of celebrities since you do not see them 24-7. Since it is a kid’s job to rebel against parents, the better example that parents try to set, the more likely the kids are to rebel against that example. It’s a natural part of growing up, ironic since parents, not strangers, are the only ones who would die for you. The competition parents have from outside sources serving as role models is overwhelming these days. The entertainment industry says it only reflects society’s values. I beg to differ. It amplifies them and teaches them to our young people. As our moral values decline, movies, TV and music reinforce the notion that celebrities’ life styles are mainstream. This is why other countries do not like us. Don’t blame it all on Tiger, it is the same with many other sports figures, singers, actors, etc.. Our politicians sure as heck should serve as role models. President Bill Clinton was a pretty smart guy, but an awful role model. By his actions, he told millions of young and old Americans alike that it’s OK to cheat on your spouse – multiple times if you want to – because there really wasn’t much consequence. You could even make money writing a book about it. Hillary wrote one too. Many kids today don’t have two parents growing up. Some of them don’t even know who their parents are. Where are those kids supposed to find guidance? From the trusted liberal professor at school? At the church they don’t attend? From the scout leader they don’t know? Like it or not, each of us, young or old, is possibly serving as a role model to someone else. Might as well try to do it right.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Easter Sunday
The tomb is found empty, except for a cloth folded up inside. One of Jesus’s followers asks to keep it. Centuries go by and the cloth is found and examined, and found to have certain stain marks. Could this actually be the burial cloth of Jesus?
A photograph was taken, and remarkably the negative image appears as a positive image on the film. Facial features can more easily be seen. The positions of blood stains map to the positions described during the crucifixion, such as the crown of thorns, scourge marks, the stab wound in the side, except for the position of the nails being in the wrist instead of the palms. This seems to make sense because the small bones of the hand would probably not be able to support the weight of a body without tearing out, while the larger bones at the wrist could be a better support. Further examination showed pollen particles within the fibers that are from the same types of plants found in Israel during that time. The cloth itself was made from materials used during that time.
Skeptics claim this cloth was an elaborate fake, but there is no evidence of paint being used on it. Carbon dating at first indicated the wrong time period, but the piece of cloth used for the carbon dating was a corner piece partially burned by a fire that almost destroyed it, so the carbon dating process was invalidated. Since scientists cannot figure out how the image got onto the cloth, it seems plausible that this cloth was irradiated at the moment of resurrection, especially since the image seems to have the 3 dimensional effect of darker areas of the image closer to the cloth. The evidence seems overwhelming that this Shroud Of Turin is authentic. Do skeptics really think that anyone knew what a negative image was in the days before cameras were invented, especially 3D effects? Of course not, so this is not likely to be a fake, it is likely to be hard evidence that the Crucifixion and Resurrection took place just as described in The Bible.
The tomb is found empty, except for a cloth folded up inside. One of Jesus’s followers asks to keep it. Centuries go by and the cloth is found and examined, and found to have certain stain marks. Could this actually be the burial cloth of Jesus?
A photograph was taken, and remarkably the negative image appears as a positive image on the film. Facial features can more easily be seen. The positions of blood stains map to the positions described during the crucifixion, such as the crown of thorns, scourge marks, the stab wound in the side, except for the position of the nails being in the wrist instead of the palms. This seems to make sense because the small bones of the hand would probably not be able to support the weight of a body without tearing out, while the larger bones at the wrist could be a better support. Further examination showed pollen particles within the fibers that are from the same types of plants found in Israel during that time. The cloth itself was made from materials used during that time.
Skeptics claim this cloth was an elaborate fake, but there is no evidence of paint being used on it. Carbon dating at first indicated the wrong time period, but the piece of cloth used for the carbon dating was a corner piece partially burned by a fire that almost destroyed it, so the carbon dating process was invalidated. Since scientists cannot figure out how the image got onto the cloth, it seems plausible that this cloth was irradiated at the moment of resurrection, especially since the image seems to have the 3 dimensional effect of darker areas of the image closer to the cloth. The evidence seems overwhelming that this Shroud Of Turin is authentic. Do skeptics really think that anyone knew what a negative image was in the days before cameras were invented, especially 3D effects? Of course not, so this is not likely to be a fake, it is likely to be hard evidence that the Crucifixion and Resurrection took place just as described in The Bible.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Holy Saturday
Are our souls really worth this much? What can we possibly give Him in return?
Meanwhile, while we are grieving, His spirit is busy opening the gates of Heaven, which had been closed since the Original Sin of Adam and Eve. He visits Limbo and sets those souls free at long last.
The gates of Heaven have finally been opened, and now the rest of us have a chance to pass through those gates as well.
But at this point, nobody on earth is convinced of this, so tomorrow’s event will bring the convincing.
Are our souls really worth this much? What can we possibly give Him in return?
Meanwhile, while we are grieving, His spirit is busy opening the gates of Heaven, which had been closed since the Original Sin of Adam and Eve. He visits Limbo and sets those souls free at long last.
The gates of Heaven have finally been opened, and now the rest of us have a chance to pass through those gates as well.
But at this point, nobody on earth is convinced of this, so tomorrow’s event will bring the convincing.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Good Friday
(From the lyrics of Michael W. Smith)
Crucified, laid behind a stone
You lived to die rejected and alone
Like a rose trampled on the ground
You took the fall, and thought of me, above all
(From the Pieta)Be it known that the number of soldiers were 150 Those who trailed Him while He was bound were 23 The executioners of justice were 83 The blows received on His head were 150 Blows on the stomach were 108 Kicks on the shoulders were 80 He was led, bound with cords by the hair 24 times Spits in the face were 180 He was beaten on the body 6666 times Beaten on the head 110 times He was roughly pushed, and at 12 o'clock was lifted up by the hair Pricked with thorns and pulled by the beard 23 times He received 20 wounds on the head Thorns of marine junks were 72 Pricks of thorns in the head were 110 Mortal thorns in the forehead were 3 He was afterwards flogged and dressed as a mocked king Wounds in the body were 1000 The solders who led Him to Calvary were 608 Those who watched Him were 3 Those who mocked Him were 1008 The drops of blood He lost were 28,430
(From the lyrics of Michael W. Smith)
Crucified, laid behind a stone
You lived to die rejected and alone
Like a rose trampled on the ground
You took the fall, and thought of me, above all
(From the Pieta)Be it known that the number of soldiers were 150 Those who trailed Him while He was bound were 23 The executioners of justice were 83 The blows received on His head were 150 Blows on the stomach were 108 Kicks on the shoulders were 80 He was led, bound with cords by the hair 24 times Spits in the face were 180 He was beaten on the body 6666 times Beaten on the head 110 times He was roughly pushed, and at 12 o'clock was lifted up by the hair Pricked with thorns and pulled by the beard 23 times He received 20 wounds on the head Thorns of marine junks were 72 Pricks of thorns in the head were 110 Mortal thorns in the forehead were 3 He was afterwards flogged and dressed as a mocked king Wounds in the body were 1000 The solders who led Him to Calvary were 608 Those who watched Him were 3 Those who mocked Him were 1008 The drops of blood He lost were 28,430
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Holy Thursday
Jesus knows the end is near. He introduces the Eucharist at the Last Supper and then goes by Himself to a garden to ponder. The thoughts and anticipation of the horrible torture that was about to happen to Him caused Him such stress that His sweat becomes blood.
Think about it. There are few things in life as painful as being hit repeatedly with a barbed whip which rips the skin. We scream with pain when we get one thorn pierce the finger, imagine the pain of having dozens of thorns pressed down on the head. After that would come the nails being driven through the hands and feet and the legs broken, being left to hang there while being stabbed with a sword.
But there was another thing more painful. (From The Pieta) St. Bernard asked Our Lord which was His greatest unrecorded suffering, and Our Lord answered: "I had on My Shoulder, while I bore My Cross on the Way of Sorrows, a grievous Wound, which was more painful than the others, and which is not recorded by men. Honor this wound with thy devotion, and I will grant thee whatsoever thou dost ask through its virtue and merit. And in regard to all those who shall venerate this Wound, I will remit to them all their venial sins, and will no longer remember their mortal sins."
Jesus knows the end is near. He introduces the Eucharist at the Last Supper and then goes by Himself to a garden to ponder. The thoughts and anticipation of the horrible torture that was about to happen to Him caused Him such stress that His sweat becomes blood.
Think about it. There are few things in life as painful as being hit repeatedly with a barbed whip which rips the skin. We scream with pain when we get one thorn pierce the finger, imagine the pain of having dozens of thorns pressed down on the head. After that would come the nails being driven through the hands and feet and the legs broken, being left to hang there while being stabbed with a sword.
But there was another thing more painful. (From The Pieta) St. Bernard asked Our Lord which was His greatest unrecorded suffering, and Our Lord answered: "I had on My Shoulder, while I bore My Cross on the Way of Sorrows, a grievous Wound, which was more painful than the others, and which is not recorded by men. Honor this wound with thy devotion, and I will grant thee whatsoever thou dost ask through its virtue and merit. And in regard to all those who shall venerate this Wound, I will remit to them all their venial sins, and will no longer remember their mortal sins."
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Wednesday of Holy Week
My favorite Bible passage is Matthew 25:14-30 because it tells us what is expected of us. It is interesting how the word Talent represented a form of money, but today we see that same word as a measure of our abilities, and it seems to me this was not just a coincidence for this passage…and here it is…
For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted them to his property; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, and I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, and I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! …you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. …And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.’
This should give us some idea of what Judgment Day is going to be like. If you want to know more details about Judgment Day, keep reading Matthew 25 where this left off, which is verse 31.
My favorite Bible passage is Matthew 25:14-30 because it tells us what is expected of us. It is interesting how the word Talent represented a form of money, but today we see that same word as a measure of our abilities, and it seems to me this was not just a coincidence for this passage…and here it is…
For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted them to his property; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, and I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, and I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! …you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. …And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.’
This should give us some idea of what Judgment Day is going to be like. If you want to know more details about Judgment Day, keep reading Matthew 25 where this left off, which is verse 31.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Tuesday of Holy Week
Do you know how many heartbeats you might have left before judgment day? How about maybe only ONE? There is no guarantee that your heart will continue to beat any further, and if it does, be thankful that a heart that continues to beat automatically is only a part of the miraculous gift of life.
The point is this. Waiting too long to make peace with The Lord is a dangerous attitude because nobody’s heart beats forever.
This is explained in Matthew 25:1-13: Then the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. Afterward the other maidens came also, saying ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.’
Do you know how many heartbeats you might have left before judgment day? How about maybe only ONE? There is no guarantee that your heart will continue to beat any further, and if it does, be thankful that a heart that continues to beat automatically is only a part of the miraculous gift of life.
The point is this. Waiting too long to make peace with The Lord is a dangerous attitude because nobody’s heart beats forever.
This is explained in Matthew 25:1-13: Then the kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those maidens rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘Perhaps there will not be enough for us and for you; go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. Afterward the other maidens came also, saying ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.’
Monday, April 6, 2009
Monday of Holy Week
(From The Pieta) Our Lord told St. Gertrude that the following prayer would release 1000 souls from Purgatory each time it is said. The prayer was extended to include living sinners as well:
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the most precious blood of Thy Divine Son Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.
This would be a good one to say whenever you are stuck in traffic, or otherwise waiting around for something to begin, for example if you arrive early for Mass or other appointments.
(From The Pieta) Our Lord told St. Gertrude that the following prayer would release 1000 souls from Purgatory each time it is said. The prayer was extended to include living sinners as well:
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the most precious blood of Thy Divine Son Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.
This would be a good one to say whenever you are stuck in traffic, or otherwise waiting around for something to begin, for example if you arrive early for Mass or other appointments.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Lent Day 40 - Palm Sunday
The Lenten season of 40 days leads up to Holy Week where our salvation came to be.
Here are promises Our Lord revealed to Brother Estanislao in the early 1900's, for those who have devotion to The Way Of The Cross (The Stations):
Granting all that is asked in faith
Eternal life
I will follow them everywhere in life, and help them especially at the hour of death.
All sins erased, no matter how many, but this does not eliminate the obligation for Confession
Special glory in Heaven
Deliverance from Purgatory if needed
Blessings to follow you everywhere on earth and after death in Heaven for all Eternity
The devil will not be permitted to tempt them at the hour of death, they will repose in tranquillity.
When this is prayed with true love, they become a living Ciborium in which I will pour My grace.
I will fix my eyes on them, My hands will always be open to protect them
I will be with those who honor Me as I am nailed to the Cross
They will never be able to separate themselves from Me, for I will give them the grace never again to commit a Mortal sin.
At the hour of death I will console them with My Presence and we will go together to Heaven.
Death will be sweet to all those who have honored Me during their lives
My Soul will be a protective shield for them, and will always help them, whenever they have recourse.
The Lenten season of 40 days leads up to Holy Week where our salvation came to be.
Here are promises Our Lord revealed to Brother Estanislao in the early 1900's, for those who have devotion to The Way Of The Cross (The Stations):
Granting all that is asked in faith
Eternal life
I will follow them everywhere in life, and help them especially at the hour of death.
All sins erased, no matter how many, but this does not eliminate the obligation for Confession
Special glory in Heaven
Deliverance from Purgatory if needed
Blessings to follow you everywhere on earth and after death in Heaven for all Eternity
The devil will not be permitted to tempt them at the hour of death, they will repose in tranquillity.
When this is prayed with true love, they become a living Ciborium in which I will pour My grace.
I will fix my eyes on them, My hands will always be open to protect them
I will be with those who honor Me as I am nailed to the Cross
They will never be able to separate themselves from Me, for I will give them the grace never again to commit a Mortal sin.
At the hour of death I will console them with My Presence and we will go together to Heaven.
Death will be sweet to all those who have honored Me during their lives
My Soul will be a protective shield for them, and will always help them, whenever they have recourse.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Day 39
God’s Yellow Pages – passages for every situation
if this link does not work, just copy and paste it into the top URL box:
http://www.divinepeace.com/yellow
This is not a Catholic site, but it is pretty good.
God’s Yellow Pages – passages for every situation
if this link does not work, just copy and paste it into the top URL box:
http://www.divinepeace.com/yellow
This is not a Catholic site, but it is pretty good.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Lent Day 38
(From The Pieta) Why pray The Rosary?
Mothers can be very persuasive. If you want to ask God for something, it might be a good idea to start with the Mother of God on your side.
The word Rosary means crown of roses. The rose is the queen of flowers and Mary is the Queen of Heaven. Each Hail Mary is giving her another beautiful rose, and each complete Rosary makes a crown of roses for Mary. It is a summary of the important events in the lives of Jesus and Mary. Here are some of the promises Mary made to Christians who recite the Rosary:
Special protection Powerful armor against hell
Destroys vice Decreases sin Defeats heresies
Causes virtue and good works to flourish
Fights misfortune
Favors you at the moment of death
Aids those who need necessities
It is the scourge of the devil
It touches the heart of Jesus who so loves His mother
(From The Pieta) Why pray The Rosary?
Mothers can be very persuasive. If you want to ask God for something, it might be a good idea to start with the Mother of God on your side.
The word Rosary means crown of roses. The rose is the queen of flowers and Mary is the Queen of Heaven. Each Hail Mary is giving her another beautiful rose, and each complete Rosary makes a crown of roses for Mary. It is a summary of the important events in the lives of Jesus and Mary. Here are some of the promises Mary made to Christians who recite the Rosary:
Special protection Powerful armor against hell
Destroys vice Decreases sin Defeats heresies
Causes virtue and good works to flourish
Fights misfortune
Favors you at the moment of death
Aids those who need necessities
It is the scourge of the devil
It touches the heart of Jesus who so loves His mother
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Lent Day 37
(From The Pieta) Why go to Mass?
It is the highest form of prayer.
It pleases God.
Prayers are strongest at the Consecration when the Host and Chalice are raised.
Mass is a powerful atonement for sins, negligences and omissions.
Masses you have heard are a consolation in your favor at the hour of death and at judgment.
Power of Satan over you is diminished.
Unconfessed venial sins are forgiven.
Purgatory time is shortened.
Every Mass wins you a higher degree of glory in Heaven When heard devoutly, a saint is sent to comfort us at death.
It means you are doing your best to follow the 3rd Commandment.
Dedicating a Mass to a live person is far more valuable to dedicating a Mass to a dead person.
More reasons can be found in the Pieta prayerbook pages 23-24
(From The Pieta) Why go to Mass?
It is the highest form of prayer.
It pleases God.
Prayers are strongest at the Consecration when the Host and Chalice are raised.
Mass is a powerful atonement for sins, negligences and omissions.
Masses you have heard are a consolation in your favor at the hour of death and at judgment.
Power of Satan over you is diminished.
Unconfessed venial sins are forgiven.
Purgatory time is shortened.
Every Mass wins you a higher degree of glory in Heaven When heard devoutly, a saint is sent to comfort us at death.
It means you are doing your best to follow the 3rd Commandment.
Dedicating a Mass to a live person is far more valuable to dedicating a Mass to a dead person.
More reasons can be found in the Pieta prayerbook pages 23-24
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Lent Day 36
Tithing
We count our blessings if we have plenty of food, shelter, clothing, all the basic necessities of life, and also several of the niceties of life like our choice of entertainment, gadgets, personal luxuries, and money to use as we choose.
We also are grateful for good health, the use of our all our senses, and mobility to appreciate the wonders of life. Other less fortunate people are not able to enjoy these things.
To properly thank The Lord for whatever money might be left over, if we were to ask Him what would be enough to show our gratitude and give back, how should we split it, how many dollars out of every ten?
Here’s how the conversation might go… Lord, you have been good to me, for every 10 dollars left over, how about we split it 5 and 5?
Nope, just one.
Lord do you mean you get 9 and I get one?
Nope, you keep 9 and just give me 1.
Lord are you sure? You have already given us so much. It would only be fair if we gave you more.
Nope, 1 would be just fine.
There have been stories about people who do this ten percent rule, and by doing so they find somehow all their needs get taken care of, sometimes mysteriously.
Yet most of us still do not quite trust that enough.
Tithing
We count our blessings if we have plenty of food, shelter, clothing, all the basic necessities of life, and also several of the niceties of life like our choice of entertainment, gadgets, personal luxuries, and money to use as we choose.
We also are grateful for good health, the use of our all our senses, and mobility to appreciate the wonders of life. Other less fortunate people are not able to enjoy these things.
To properly thank The Lord for whatever money might be left over, if we were to ask Him what would be enough to show our gratitude and give back, how should we split it, how many dollars out of every ten?
Here’s how the conversation might go… Lord, you have been good to me, for every 10 dollars left over, how about we split it 5 and 5?
Nope, just one.
Lord do you mean you get 9 and I get one?
Nope, you keep 9 and just give me 1.
Lord are you sure? You have already given us so much. It would only be fair if we gave you more.
Nope, 1 would be just fine.
There have been stories about people who do this ten percent rule, and by doing so they find somehow all their needs get taken care of, sometimes mysteriously.
Yet most of us still do not quite trust that enough.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Lent Day 35
Commentary on The Creed (a statement of what Catholics believe in)
I believe in … God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth (most religions believe this)
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son (John 3:16), our Lord (only Christians believe this, others say Jesus was only a prophet)
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit (the Annunciation),
born of the Virgin Mary (some Protestant religions do not consider Mary as highly as Catholics do)
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried (this is well documented in history)
He descended into hell (defined as a place where you cannot be with God. Good souls who did not deserve to go to hell had to wait for this moment in a different place called Limbo, not Purgatory which is a place for temporal punishment, until Jesus came to them and opened the gates of heaven for them, and for us).
on the 3rd day He rose again from the dead (non-Christians say this is only a story, but the Shroud Of Turin is evidence of the truth, and I will elaborate on this on Easter Sunday).
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God The Father Almighty (two thirds of The Holy Trinity, The Creator and the Word made flesh)
from thence He will come to judge the living and the dead (this is Judgment Day, to determine whether or not we have passed the test and are saved and allowed to participate in the afterlife)
I believe in the Holy Spirit (the 3rd Person of the Trinity, the part that lives within us and acts as our soul’s companion and conscience).
the holy Catholic Church (Jesus said "thou are Peter (the rock) and upon this Rock (the first Pope) I will build My Church". Jesus did not create any other religion. He said the only way to The Father is through Him. He also said many are called but few are chosen, so it would be wise to pay attention.)
the communion of saints (those who have made it into heaven and act as our patrons)
the forgiveness of sins (Confession heals all, mercy is endless)
the resurrection of the body (on Judgment Day)
and life everlasting (in heaven)
Amen (let it be so).
Commentary on The Creed (a statement of what Catholics believe in)
I believe in … God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth (most religions believe this)
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son (John 3:16), our Lord (only Christians believe this, others say Jesus was only a prophet)
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit (the Annunciation),
born of the Virgin Mary (some Protestant religions do not consider Mary as highly as Catholics do)
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried (this is well documented in history)
He descended into hell (defined as a place where you cannot be with God. Good souls who did not deserve to go to hell had to wait for this moment in a different place called Limbo, not Purgatory which is a place for temporal punishment, until Jesus came to them and opened the gates of heaven for them, and for us).
on the 3rd day He rose again from the dead (non-Christians say this is only a story, but the Shroud Of Turin is evidence of the truth, and I will elaborate on this on Easter Sunday).
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God The Father Almighty (two thirds of The Holy Trinity, The Creator and the Word made flesh)
from thence He will come to judge the living and the dead (this is Judgment Day, to determine whether or not we have passed the test and are saved and allowed to participate in the afterlife)
I believe in the Holy Spirit (the 3rd Person of the Trinity, the part that lives within us and acts as our soul’s companion and conscience).
the holy Catholic Church (Jesus said "thou are Peter (the rock) and upon this Rock (the first Pope) I will build My Church". Jesus did not create any other religion. He said the only way to The Father is through Him. He also said many are called but few are chosen, so it would be wise to pay attention.)
the communion of saints (those who have made it into heaven and act as our patrons)
the forgiveness of sins (Confession heals all, mercy is endless)
the resurrection of the body (on Judgment Day)
and life everlasting (in heaven)
Amen (let it be so).
Monday, March 30, 2009
Lent Day 34
If you think about these words one at a time, you should know that these represent Christian behavior.
How do these words fit into your life?:
Here are the Theological Virtues: Faith, Hope, and Charity
Here are the Cardinal Virtues: Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, and Temperance.
Here are the Gifts Of The Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear Of The Lord.
Here are the Fruits Of The Holy Spirit: Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Generosity, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Modesty, Self-control, Chastity
If you think about these words one at a time, you should know that these represent Christian behavior.
How do these words fit into your life?:
Here are the Theological Virtues: Faith, Hope, and Charity
Here are the Cardinal Virtues: Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, and Temperance.
Here are the Gifts Of The Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear Of The Lord.
Here are the Fruits Of The Holy Spirit: Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Generosity, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Modesty, Self-control, Chastity
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Lent Day 33
The First Saturday Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary was first mentioned by Our Lady of Fatima on July 13, 1917.
After showing the three children a vision of hell she said, "You have seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace... I shall come to ask for... the Communion of reparation on the first Saturdays..."You at least try to console me and say that I promise to assist at the hour of death, with the graces necessary for salvation, all those who, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, shall confess, receive Holy Communion, recite five decades of the Rosary, and keep me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on fifteen mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making reparation to me."
The First Saturday Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary was first mentioned by Our Lady of Fatima on July 13, 1917.
After showing the three children a vision of hell she said, "You have seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace... I shall come to ask for... the Communion of reparation on the first Saturdays..."You at least try to console me and say that I promise to assist at the hour of death, with the graces necessary for salvation, all those who, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, shall confess, receive Holy Communion, recite five decades of the Rosary, and keep me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on fifteen mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making reparation to me."
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Lent Day 32
The tradition of First Fridays came from St. Margaret Mary's revelation from Jesus.
To all those who receive Holy Communion on nine first Fridays of consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they will not die under my displeasure or without receiving their sacraments, my divine Heart making itself their assured refuge at the last moment."
The tradition of First Fridays came from St. Margaret Mary's revelation from Jesus.
To all those who receive Holy Communion on nine first Fridays of consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they will not die under my displeasure or without receiving their sacraments, my divine Heart making itself their assured refuge at the last moment."
Friday, March 27, 2009
Lent Day 31
The tradition of wearing scapulars came from the legend of Saint Simon Stock in the 13th century.
According to the story, the Blessed Virgin told Simon anyone who died wearing the scapular would be preserved from hell.
The Church cautions this is not to be treated as a good luck charm, so treat it as a sign of faith while living your life as though you did not have to rely on such a good luck charm.
For extra credit, Google it or try Wikipedia for more information.
The tradition of wearing scapulars came from the legend of Saint Simon Stock in the 13th century.
According to the story, the Blessed Virgin told Simon anyone who died wearing the scapular would be preserved from hell.
The Church cautions this is not to be treated as a good luck charm, so treat it as a sign of faith while living your life as though you did not have to rely on such a good luck charm.
For extra credit, Google it or try Wikipedia for more information.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Lent Day 30
The Miraculous Medal was the result of Mary's appearance to St. Catherine Laboure' in Paris 1830.
People who wear this medal are granted many favors. It is oval shaped with one side having an image of Mary with arms outstretched, and around the border the words "O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee". The other side has an M with a cross above it and two hearts below it.
Keep it handy and don’t be afraid to ask for favors, for it is written “Ask and you shall receive, knock and it shall be opened”.
For extra credit, Google it or try Wikipedia for more information.
The Miraculous Medal was the result of Mary's appearance to St. Catherine Laboure' in Paris 1830.
People who wear this medal are granted many favors. It is oval shaped with one side having an image of Mary with arms outstretched, and around the border the words "O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee". The other side has an M with a cross above it and two hearts below it.
Keep it handy and don’t be afraid to ask for favors, for it is written “Ask and you shall receive, knock and it shall be opened”.
For extra credit, Google it or try Wikipedia for more information.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Lent Day 29
Billy Joel's advice (his song You’re Only Human / Second Wind)
You're having a hard time and lately you don't feel so good.
You're getting a bad reputation in your neighborhood.
It's all right, sometimes that's what it takes
You're only human, you're allowed to make your share of mistakes.
You better believe that there'll be times in your life When you'll be feeling like a stumbling fool.
So take it from me you learn more from your accidents Than anything you can ever learn in school.
Don't forget your second wind.
Sooner or later you'll get your second wind.
It's not always easy to be living in this world of pain.
You're gonna be crashing into the stone walls that get in the way.
It's all right, don't you feel your heart break.
You're only human, you're gonna have to deal with heartache.
Just like a boxer in a title fight, You've got to walk in that ring all alone.
You're not the only one who's made mistakes,
But they're the only things that you can truly call your own.
Don't forget your second wind.
Wait in your corner until that breeze blows in.
You've been keeping to yourself these days,
Because you think that everything has gone wrong.
Sometimes you just want to lay down and die,
That emotion can be so strong.
But hold on, until that old second wind comes along.
You probably don't want to hear advice from someone else.
I wouldn't be telling you if I hadn't been there myself.
It's alright, sometimes that's what it takes.
You're only human, you're supposed to make mistakes.
But I survived all those long lonely days When it seemed I did not have a friend.
All I needed was a little faith,
So I could catch my breath and face the world again.
Don't forget your second wind.
Sooner or later you'll feel that momentum kick in.
Don't forget your second wind.
Billy Joel's advice (his song You’re Only Human / Second Wind)
You're having a hard time and lately you don't feel so good.
You're getting a bad reputation in your neighborhood.
It's all right, sometimes that's what it takes
You're only human, you're allowed to make your share of mistakes.
You better believe that there'll be times in your life When you'll be feeling like a stumbling fool.
So take it from me you learn more from your accidents Than anything you can ever learn in school.
Don't forget your second wind.
Sooner or later you'll get your second wind.
It's not always easy to be living in this world of pain.
You're gonna be crashing into the stone walls that get in the way.
It's all right, don't you feel your heart break.
You're only human, you're gonna have to deal with heartache.
Just like a boxer in a title fight, You've got to walk in that ring all alone.
You're not the only one who's made mistakes,
But they're the only things that you can truly call your own.
Don't forget your second wind.
Wait in your corner until that breeze blows in.
You've been keeping to yourself these days,
Because you think that everything has gone wrong.
Sometimes you just want to lay down and die,
That emotion can be so strong.
But hold on, until that old second wind comes along.
You probably don't want to hear advice from someone else.
I wouldn't be telling you if I hadn't been there myself.
It's alright, sometimes that's what it takes.
You're only human, you're supposed to make mistakes.
But I survived all those long lonely days When it seemed I did not have a friend.
All I needed was a little faith,
So I could catch my breath and face the world again.
Don't forget your second wind.
Sooner or later you'll feel that momentum kick in.
Don't forget your second wind.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Lent Day 28
Science vs. Religion
Scientists are trained to look for proof that everything is to be explained according to logical physics, and they are not supposed to accept any explanations based on faith. They say the earth was not created, it was simply the result of the event called the Big Bang. Come on, scientists, did the Big Bang happen all by itself? That is not logical. Something, or better yet Somebody made it happen. Who do you suppose that was? Hence the term Creator of all things.
Did mankind evolve from apes? The evolution theory is plausible, but at some point God instilled a soul into Adam, making humans much more intelligent than other animals, after all we still have apes, don't we?
Has The Bible been translated so many times that it has lost its original meanings? No. As evidence, the Dead Sea scrolls discovered in the 1940's contained passages from the Book of Isaiah in the original ancient language. When translated, it was found to be the same meanings as today's translations. It is logical to believe that anyone undertaking the important task of translation would be very careful to avoid changes in meanings.
Could there be life on other planets? Does The Bible mention anything about visitors from outer space? With a little imagination, one could say the Nephilim (Genesis 6:4) were visitors, and possible sightings of spaceships are described in 1 Kings 19:11-13, and Ezekiel 1:4-end.
So when things are starting to appear too complicated, what is the right attitude about all these things? The answer is in Mark 10:15, "Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."
Science vs. Religion
Scientists are trained to look for proof that everything is to be explained according to logical physics, and they are not supposed to accept any explanations based on faith. They say the earth was not created, it was simply the result of the event called the Big Bang. Come on, scientists, did the Big Bang happen all by itself? That is not logical. Something, or better yet Somebody made it happen. Who do you suppose that was? Hence the term Creator of all things.
Did mankind evolve from apes? The evolution theory is plausible, but at some point God instilled a soul into Adam, making humans much more intelligent than other animals, after all we still have apes, don't we?
Has The Bible been translated so many times that it has lost its original meanings? No. As evidence, the Dead Sea scrolls discovered in the 1940's contained passages from the Book of Isaiah in the original ancient language. When translated, it was found to be the same meanings as today's translations. It is logical to believe that anyone undertaking the important task of translation would be very careful to avoid changes in meanings.
Could there be life on other planets? Does The Bible mention anything about visitors from outer space? With a little imagination, one could say the Nephilim (Genesis 6:4) were visitors, and possible sightings of spaceships are described in 1 Kings 19:11-13, and Ezekiel 1:4-end.
So when things are starting to appear too complicated, what is the right attitude about all these things? The answer is in Mark 10:15, "Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."
Monday, March 23, 2009
Lent Day 27
Must religion always be so solemn?
No. Check the following passages...
Psalm 188:24 - This is the day The Lord has made. Let us be glad and rejoice in it.
Sirach 14:14 - Do not deprive yourself of a happy day; let not your share of a desired good pass you by.
Sirach 30:22-23 - Gladness of heart is the life of man, and the rejoicing of a man is length of days. Delight your soul and comfort your heart...
Ecclesiastes 8:15 - And I commend enjoyment, for man has no good thing under the sun but to eat and drink and enjoy himself...
Must religion always be so solemn?
No. Check the following passages...
Psalm 188:24 - This is the day The Lord has made. Let us be glad and rejoice in it.
Sirach 14:14 - Do not deprive yourself of a happy day; let not your share of a desired good pass you by.
Sirach 30:22-23 - Gladness of heart is the life of man, and the rejoicing of a man is length of days. Delight your soul and comfort your heart...
Ecclesiastes 8:15 - And I commend enjoyment, for man has no good thing under the sun but to eat and drink and enjoy himself...
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Lent Day 26
Imagine you had a bank account in which $86,400 was deposited every day. It carries over no balance from day to day. Every evening it deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day. What would you do with this account? Draw out every dollar, of course.
Each of us has such a bank account, and its name is TIME. Every morning your account is credited with 86,400 seconds, and every night it writes off as lost, whatever remainder of this you failed to invest to good purpose. There is no getting it back, no borrowing from tomorrow. You can only use today's deposits in the present, so all you can do with it is invest it to get the utmost in health, happiness, and success. The clock is always running, so do not waste time, make the most of today.
To realize the value of ONE YEAR, as a student who failed a grade.
To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby.
To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly magazine.
To realize the value of ONE DAY, ask the editor of a newspaper.
To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.
To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who missed the bus or boat or train or plane.
To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who barely avoided an accident.
To realize the value of ONE FRACTION OF A SECOND, ask the person who won an Olympic silver medal instead of a gold medal.
Time waits for no one. Yesterday is history. Today is a gift, that's why they call it the present.
Imagine you had a bank account in which $86,400 was deposited every day. It carries over no balance from day to day. Every evening it deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day. What would you do with this account? Draw out every dollar, of course.
Each of us has such a bank account, and its name is TIME. Every morning your account is credited with 86,400 seconds, and every night it writes off as lost, whatever remainder of this you failed to invest to good purpose. There is no getting it back, no borrowing from tomorrow. You can only use today's deposits in the present, so all you can do with it is invest it to get the utmost in health, happiness, and success. The clock is always running, so do not waste time, make the most of today.
To realize the value of ONE YEAR, as a student who failed a grade.
To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby.
To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask the editor of a weekly magazine.
To realize the value of ONE DAY, ask the editor of a newspaper.
To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.
To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who missed the bus or boat or train or plane.
To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who barely avoided an accident.
To realize the value of ONE FRACTION OF A SECOND, ask the person who won an Olympic silver medal instead of a gold medal.
Time waits for no one. Yesterday is history. Today is a gift, that's why they call it the present.
Lent Day 25
The Mystery of The Holy Trinity 3 Persons in 1 God? How can that be? Doesn’t that mean there 3 Gods?
We are taught that mysteries are things we cannot understand but should accept with faith. However, I see nothing wrong with trying to understand, so here is my take on it.
The First Person of The Trinity is God the Father, the Creator of all things visible and invisible. The earth is full of natural wonders. Life can exist only because our sun is a most stable star compared to other stars, and the distance of our planet earth is just right. If earth were further away from the sun, it would be too cold. If earth were closer to the sun, it would be too hot. The rotation of the earth is just the right speed to warm up and cool off every day. Earth’s atmosphere has exactly the right proportion of elements to provide the oxygen that enables life forms to breathe. Earth has the perfect combination of land and water, and only a small percentage of this water is drinkable. The odds are pretty small that there is another place with all the right combinations of life factors that our earth has. Take a close look at the intricate details within a leaf or a flower or even a single snowflake. Look through a microscope at the many forms of life too small to see with the naked eye, or cells which are the building blocks of all life forms. Think of how intricate, how complicated, how sophisticated our body systems are, such as sight, smell, taste, feeling, digestion, bones, nerves, and muscle structures all working together. All these things could not have happened by accident. God is Love, and He shows this Love by showing us the wonders of creation.
The Second Person of The Trinity is Love Personified - We are taught that we humans are made in the image and likeness of God. We have a free will. If we did not, we might as well be robots. Because of this free will, human imperfections were getting too far out of hand. Humans needed a Savior. About 2000 years ago God came to us in human form with the name Jesus, to teach us how God wanted us to live. If God is Love, then Jesus is Love personified. The fact that He sits at the right hand of the Father does not mean that Jesus is a separate entity from God, He is only showing Himself in human form to teach us, that is why Jesus is called the Word of God, or the right hand of God acting as Our Savior.
The Third Person of The Trinity - On Pentecost we were introduced to the Holy Spirit, the part of God that lives within our souls, showing Himself as our conscience, which sets us apart from and above other animals. Thus our bodies are called temples of the Holy Spirit, and should be given proper respect.
In summary, and again this is only my take on this, there is one God who shows Himself to us in three different ways. These 3 ways are not 3 separate entities, all are one and the same God. So why is one First or Second or Third? That is simply the order in which they were revealed to us, and in my view, all this does not seem like such a mystery to me.
The Mystery of The Holy Trinity 3 Persons in 1 God? How can that be? Doesn’t that mean there 3 Gods?
We are taught that mysteries are things we cannot understand but should accept with faith. However, I see nothing wrong with trying to understand, so here is my take on it.
The First Person of The Trinity is God the Father, the Creator of all things visible and invisible. The earth is full of natural wonders. Life can exist only because our sun is a most stable star compared to other stars, and the distance of our planet earth is just right. If earth were further away from the sun, it would be too cold. If earth were closer to the sun, it would be too hot. The rotation of the earth is just the right speed to warm up and cool off every day. Earth’s atmosphere has exactly the right proportion of elements to provide the oxygen that enables life forms to breathe. Earth has the perfect combination of land and water, and only a small percentage of this water is drinkable. The odds are pretty small that there is another place with all the right combinations of life factors that our earth has. Take a close look at the intricate details within a leaf or a flower or even a single snowflake. Look through a microscope at the many forms of life too small to see with the naked eye, or cells which are the building blocks of all life forms. Think of how intricate, how complicated, how sophisticated our body systems are, such as sight, smell, taste, feeling, digestion, bones, nerves, and muscle structures all working together. All these things could not have happened by accident. God is Love, and He shows this Love by showing us the wonders of creation.
The Second Person of The Trinity is Love Personified - We are taught that we humans are made in the image and likeness of God. We have a free will. If we did not, we might as well be robots. Because of this free will, human imperfections were getting too far out of hand. Humans needed a Savior. About 2000 years ago God came to us in human form with the name Jesus, to teach us how God wanted us to live. If God is Love, then Jesus is Love personified. The fact that He sits at the right hand of the Father does not mean that Jesus is a separate entity from God, He is only showing Himself in human form to teach us, that is why Jesus is called the Word of God, or the right hand of God acting as Our Savior.
The Third Person of The Trinity - On Pentecost we were introduced to the Holy Spirit, the part of God that lives within our souls, showing Himself as our conscience, which sets us apart from and above other animals. Thus our bodies are called temples of the Holy Spirit, and should be given proper respect.
In summary, and again this is only my take on this, there is one God who shows Himself to us in three different ways. These 3 ways are not 3 separate entities, all are one and the same God. So why is one First or Second or Third? That is simply the order in which they were revealed to us, and in my view, all this does not seem like such a mystery to me.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Lent Day 24
Once upon a time, a person was given a chance to see what hell was like.
Here is what that person saw.
Everyone had a bowl of soup in front of them.
Everyone had a long-handled spoon attached to their hand.
The handle was longer than their arm, so they could not get the spoon into their mouths.
The cries of hunger were so terrible and frustrating, that the person could not stand to watch any longer.
Then that same person was given a chance to see what Heaven was like.
Here is what that person saw.
Everyone had a bowl of soup in front of them.
Everyone had a long-handled spoon attached to their hand.
The handle was longer than their arm, so they could not get the spoon into their mouths.
There were no cries of hunger.
Everyone was happy.
They used their spoon to feed the person next to them.
Once upon a time, a person was given a chance to see what hell was like.
Here is what that person saw.
Everyone had a bowl of soup in front of them.
Everyone had a long-handled spoon attached to their hand.
The handle was longer than their arm, so they could not get the spoon into their mouths.
The cries of hunger were so terrible and frustrating, that the person could not stand to watch any longer.
Then that same person was given a chance to see what Heaven was like.
Here is what that person saw.
Everyone had a bowl of soup in front of them.
Everyone had a long-handled spoon attached to their hand.
The handle was longer than their arm, so they could not get the spoon into their mouths.
There were no cries of hunger.
Everyone was happy.
They used their spoon to feed the person next to them.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Lent Day 23
Attitudes have the following impact on your life:
Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.
Attitudes are more important than facts, than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures or successes, and more important than what other people say or do.
Attitudes are more important than appearances, or giftedness, or skill.
Attitudes can make or break any organization whether it is a company, a church, or a home.
The remarkable thing is that we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.
We cannot change our past, we cannot change the fact that people will act a certain way because they have choices too.
We cannot change things that are inevitable.
The only thing we can do is play a tune on the one string we have, and that is our own Attitude, and only we are in charge of that, nobody else.
The world will continue to throw many challenges at us.
The successful person is the one who can maintain a positive attitude in spite of all these challenges.
Are we thankful that the glass of water is half full, or complaining that it is half empty?
The glass is the same either way, how we react to that is our choice.
Attitudes have the following impact on your life:
Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.
Attitudes are more important than facts, than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures or successes, and more important than what other people say or do.
Attitudes are more important than appearances, or giftedness, or skill.
Attitudes can make or break any organization whether it is a company, a church, or a home.
The remarkable thing is that we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.
We cannot change our past, we cannot change the fact that people will act a certain way because they have choices too.
We cannot change things that are inevitable.
The only thing we can do is play a tune on the one string we have, and that is our own Attitude, and only we are in charge of that, nobody else.
The world will continue to throw many challenges at us.
The successful person is the one who can maintain a positive attitude in spite of all these challenges.
Are we thankful that the glass of water is half full, or complaining that it is half empty?
The glass is the same either way, how we react to that is our choice.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Lent Day 22
More reasons to be thankful for
... finding the silver lining on dark clouds
...Taxes, because it means that I am employed
...The mess to clean up after a party, because it means I have been surrounded by friends
....For the clothes that fit a little too tight, because it means I have enough to eat
....For my shadow that watches me work, because it eans I am out in the sunshine
....For a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need fixing, because it means I have a home
....For all the complaining I hear about government, because it means that we have freedom of speech
....For the parking space I found at the far end of the lot, because it means I am capable of walking and I have transportation
....For my huge heating bill, because I am warm
....For the lady in church who sings off key, because it means that I can hear
....For the pile of laundry and ironing, because it means I have clothes to wear
....For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day, because it means I have a job and I have been capable of working hard
....For the alarm that goes off in the early morning, because it means I have been granted life for another day
....For too much email, because it means I have friends who are thinking of me.
More reasons to be thankful for
... finding the silver lining on dark clouds
...Taxes, because it means that I am employed
...The mess to clean up after a party, because it means I have been surrounded by friends
....For the clothes that fit a little too tight, because it means I have enough to eat
....For my shadow that watches me work, because it eans I am out in the sunshine
....For a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need fixing, because it means I have a home
....For all the complaining I hear about government, because it means that we have freedom of speech
....For the parking space I found at the far end of the lot, because it means I am capable of walking and I have transportation
....For my huge heating bill, because I am warm
....For the lady in church who sings off key, because it means that I can hear
....For the pile of laundry and ironing, because it means I have clothes to wear
....For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day, because it means I have a job and I have been capable of working hard
....For the alarm that goes off in the early morning, because it means I have been granted life for another day
....For too much email, because it means I have friends who are thinking of me.
Lent Day 21
Lent is a great time for self improvement in specific areas. Do something specific in each area...
Physical - get in the habit of simple exercises every day. Eat and drink only what is healthy.
Mental - Learn one new thing every day. The internet and local libraries are full of information.
Spiritual - Say a decade of the Rosary, read a page of the Bible every day. My favorite chapters are Sirach, Proverbs, and the New Testament.
Family - Do something for a family member without being asked.
Social - Do something for a friend without being asked.
Recreational - Try an activity or a game that you have never tried before.
Community Service - Volunteer for something, write letters to the local newspaper or to city hall.
Career - Take at least one small step every day toward a job you would someday like to have.
Education - Instead of TV sitcoms or ordinary movies, learn something from channels like the History Channel, Travel Channel, Discovery Channel, Public Television, etc.
Financial - Decide which things are Musts to buy, distinguish between those and the Niceties which are not absolutely necessary. Build a reserve to handle unexpected Musts. Have a plan A (best case) and plan B (how to handle when things are not going well).
Lent is a great time for self improvement in specific areas. Do something specific in each area...
Physical - get in the habit of simple exercises every day. Eat and drink only what is healthy.
Mental - Learn one new thing every day. The internet and local libraries are full of information.
Spiritual - Say a decade of the Rosary, read a page of the Bible every day. My favorite chapters are Sirach, Proverbs, and the New Testament.
Family - Do something for a family member without being asked.
Social - Do something for a friend without being asked.
Recreational - Try an activity or a game that you have never tried before.
Community Service - Volunteer for something, write letters to the local newspaper or to city hall.
Career - Take at least one small step every day toward a job you would someday like to have.
Education - Instead of TV sitcoms or ordinary movies, learn something from channels like the History Channel, Travel Channel, Discovery Channel, Public Television, etc.
Financial - Decide which things are Musts to buy, distinguish between those and the Niceties which are not absolutely necessary. Build a reserve to handle unexpected Musts. Have a plan A (best case) and plan B (how to handle when things are not going well).
Monday, March 16, 2009
Lent Day 20
I once heard a good sermon from a priest who said instead of giving up something for Lent, he is TAKING up something, and suggested that others can do the same.
I guess that is what I am trying to do by taking up this blog.
There are also other ways of fasting...
Fast from judging others and feast on The Holy Spirit dwelling in them, just as He dwells in you.
Fast from words that pollute and feast on speech that purifies.
Fast from discontent and feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger and feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism and feast on optimism.
Fast from grudges and feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern and feast on compassion.
Fast from suspicion and feast on trust.
Fast from gossip and feast on purposeful silence.
Fast from problems and feast on soothing prayer.
Fast from worry and feast on faith.
Fast from fear of illness and feast on the healing power of God.
I once heard a good sermon from a priest who said instead of giving up something for Lent, he is TAKING up something, and suggested that others can do the same.
I guess that is what I am trying to do by taking up this blog.
There are also other ways of fasting...
Fast from judging others and feast on The Holy Spirit dwelling in them, just as He dwells in you.
Fast from words that pollute and feast on speech that purifies.
Fast from discontent and feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger and feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism and feast on optimism.
Fast from grudges and feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern and feast on compassion.
Fast from suspicion and feast on trust.
Fast from gossip and feast on purposeful silence.
Fast from problems and feast on soothing prayer.
Fast from worry and feast on faith.
Fast from fear of illness and feast on the healing power of God.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Lent Day 19
An extension of the Eighth Beatitude is "Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad for your reward is great in heaven".
Some people make fun of those who have religious beliefs, saying how can anyone believe such nonsense? They might even single out some points that do not seem to make sense. How do you respond to such people? The answer is found in Mark chapter 10, verses 13-15: And they were bringing children to Him, that He might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, He was indignant, and said to them "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."
John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life". Believe this like a child, without questioning it. Jesus wants believers, not people who overanalyze every aspect of our religion. He worked enough miracles and gave His life for us.
That still was not good enough for doubting Thomas. Jesus said to doubting Thomas, you only believed because you saw. Blessed are those who believe and have not seen.
An extension of the Eighth Beatitude is "Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad for your reward is great in heaven".
Some people make fun of those who have religious beliefs, saying how can anyone believe such nonsense? They might even single out some points that do not seem to make sense. How do you respond to such people? The answer is found in Mark chapter 10, verses 13-15: And they were bringing children to Him, that He might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, He was indignant, and said to them "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."
John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life". Believe this like a child, without questioning it. Jesus wants believers, not people who overanalyze every aspect of our religion. He worked enough miracles and gave His life for us.
That still was not good enough for doubting Thomas. Jesus said to doubting Thomas, you only believed because you saw. Blessed are those who believe and have not seen.
Lent Day 18
The Eighth Beatitude is "Blessed are they who are persecuted for justice’s sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven".
Be brave when you are criticized for your beliefs. Trust the Holy Spirit to support you. Respect proper authorities. Develop the personal self discipline to do what you are asked, even when you may not entirely enjoy it or agree with it.
Here is how to get blessings for suffering. Learn the daily Morning Offering prayer "O Jesus, thru the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer Thee all my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day, for all the intentions of Thy Sacred Heart, in union with the most holy sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, for the intentions of our associates, and in particular, for the Pope’s intentions and the souls in Purgatory. Amen.
The Eighth Beatitude is "Blessed are they who are persecuted for justice’s sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven".
Be brave when you are criticized for your beliefs. Trust the Holy Spirit to support you. Respect proper authorities. Develop the personal self discipline to do what you are asked, even when you may not entirely enjoy it or agree with it.
Here is how to get blessings for suffering. Learn the daily Morning Offering prayer "O Jesus, thru the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer Thee all my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day, for all the intentions of Thy Sacred Heart, in union with the most holy sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, for the intentions of our associates, and in particular, for the Pope’s intentions and the souls in Purgatory. Amen.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Lent Day 17
The Seventh Beatitude is “Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they will be called Children of God”.
Discourage arguments by staying calm and speaking politely.
If you cannot say something nice, do not say anything at all.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace, so to be His follower, it stands to reason that peaceful solutions are to be sought at all times.
The Seventh Beatitude is “Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they will be called Children of God”.
Discourage arguments by staying calm and speaking politely.
If you cannot say something nice, do not say anything at all.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace, so to be His follower, it stands to reason that peaceful solutions are to be sought at all times.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Lent Day 16
The Sixth Beatitude is “Blessed Are the Pure in Heart, for they shall see God”.
Be honest and considerate.Show some care about how others feel about things and what their needs are.
There is an amazing movie called “Pay It Forward” that serves as a great example of this.
I am sure you would enjoy seeing this movie.
Do not give in to the temptations of poor morals as displayed on many TV shows and movies.
Purify yourself by going to Confession.
The Sixth Beatitude is “Blessed Are the Pure in Heart, for they shall see God”.
Be honest and considerate.Show some care about how others feel about things and what their needs are.
There is an amazing movie called “Pay It Forward” that serves as a great example of this.
I am sure you would enjoy seeing this movie.
Do not give in to the temptations of poor morals as displayed on many TV shows and movies.
Purify yourself by going to Confession.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Lent Day 15
The Fifth Beatitude is “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy”.
Give people a break, it is called the benefit of the doubt.
Be quick to forgive and slow to criticize.
If you must, be constructive in your critique.
Criticize the deed, not the person.
Here are the Corporal Works of Mercy
Feed the hungry
Give drink to the thirsty
Clothe the naked
Visit the imprisoned
Shelter the homeless
Visit the sick
Bury the dead
Here are the Spiritual Works of Mercy
Admonish the sinner
Comfort the afflicted
Forgive offenses
Bear wrongs patiently
Counsel the doubtful
Instruct the ignorant
Pray for the living and the dead
The Fifth Beatitude is “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy”.
Give people a break, it is called the benefit of the doubt.
Be quick to forgive and slow to criticize.
If you must, be constructive in your critique.
Criticize the deed, not the person.
Here are the Corporal Works of Mercy
Feed the hungry
Give drink to the thirsty
Clothe the naked
Visit the imprisoned
Shelter the homeless
Visit the sick
Bury the dead
Here are the Spiritual Works of Mercy
Admonish the sinner
Comfort the afflicted
Forgive offenses
Bear wrongs patiently
Counsel the doubtful
Instruct the ignorant
Pray for the living and the dead
Lent Day 14
The Fourth Beatitude is “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied”.
There is a lot of injustice in this world, and it frustrates us. Just remember “Vengeance is Mine, says The Lord”, so those who cause injustice will have to answer on judgment day.
Not everything is going to go your way. Have patience, be fair to others. Practice the Golden Rule by treating others the way you want them to treat you. When in doubt, take your guidance from Bible passages and other religious material.
The Fourth Beatitude is “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied”.
There is a lot of injustice in this world, and it frustrates us. Just remember “Vengeance is Mine, says The Lord”, so those who cause injustice will have to answer on judgment day.
Not everything is going to go your way. Have patience, be fair to others. Practice the Golden Rule by treating others the way you want them to treat you. When in doubt, take your guidance from Bible passages and other religious material.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Lent Day 13
The Third Beatitude is "Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted".
Show caring and sympathy to others. If you were in their situation you might understand how they feel.
Find the silver lining in every dark cloud.
Sincere mourning is a form of love, and love is what will help you pass the test on Judgment Day.
The Third Beatitude is "Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted".
Show caring and sympathy to others. If you were in their situation you might understand how they feel.
Find the silver lining in every dark cloud.
Sincere mourning is a form of love, and love is what will help you pass the test on Judgment Day.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Lent Day 12
The Second Beatitude is "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth".
To be meek is to handle situations gently. If you cannot say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. Be a good example to others. Be patient and forgiving. Don’t yell because that makes others lose face. Give people the benefit of the doubt. Put yourself in their shoes and maybe you will understand them better. If you were in their situation you might have made the same decisions they made.
This is the meaning of the parable about people who take the best seats at the banquet, and then are asked to move back, while those who take the lesser seats are welcomed to move up. Another Bible statement illustrates this by stating the last shall be first, and the first shall be last.
The Second Beatitude is "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth".
To be meek is to handle situations gently. If you cannot say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. Be a good example to others. Be patient and forgiving. Don’t yell because that makes others lose face. Give people the benefit of the doubt. Put yourself in their shoes and maybe you will understand them better. If you were in their situation you might have made the same decisions they made.
This is the meaning of the parable about people who take the best seats at the banquet, and then are asked to move back, while those who take the lesser seats are welcomed to move up. Another Bible statement illustrates this by stating the last shall be first, and the first shall be last.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Lent Day 11
The First Beatitude is "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven".
To be poor in spirit means that you do not consider yourself any better than anyone else.
Sure, there are certain things you may be able to do much better than most others, but at the same time there might be some other things that those people can do better than you.
Therefore there is little to be gained by bragging, so practice some humility. Put the interests of others ahead of your own interests. Let others go first, give them the right of way.
When wronged, you have a choice to either be negative and complain or be positive by turning the other cheek and offer up your sufferings to atone for sins as suggested in the prayer called the Morning Offering.
The First Beatitude is "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven".
To be poor in spirit means that you do not consider yourself any better than anyone else.
Sure, there are certain things you may be able to do much better than most others, but at the same time there might be some other things that those people can do better than you.
Therefore there is little to be gained by bragging, so practice some humility. Put the interests of others ahead of your own interests. Let others go first, give them the right of way.
When wronged, you have a choice to either be negative and complain or be positive by turning the other cheek and offer up your sufferings to atone for sins as suggested in the prayer called the Morning Offering.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Lent Day 10
During His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus not only proclaimed His Kingdom, but also gave us the Beatitudes.
Instead of a list of things "thou shalt not", He gave us a list of blessings for our positive actions.
The way some of them are worded suggests that even if you could only follow just one of them, you still might be in pretty good shape on judgment day. But what if you followed more than one, or better yet ALL of them? Well I guess it stands to reason that these just make your chances better, right?
In the upcoming days we will take a closer look at each of them.
During His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus not only proclaimed His Kingdom, but also gave us the Beatitudes.
Instead of a list of things "thou shalt not", He gave us a list of blessings for our positive actions.
The way some of them are worded suggests that even if you could only follow just one of them, you still might be in pretty good shape on judgment day. But what if you followed more than one, or better yet ALL of them? Well I guess it stands to reason that these just make your chances better, right?
In the upcoming days we will take a closer look at each of them.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Lent Day 9
All the aforementioned 10 Commandments are summed up in the two Great Commandments, which simply put are Love God (covers 1-3) and Love Your Neighbor (covers 4-10).
If you really can do those two simple things, you are probably not going to be able to break any of the 10.
The words of a church hymn really make me think about the true meaning of existence. "God is Love, and they who abide in Love, abide in God, and God in them."
That is utterly profound. Without Love there would be absolutely no reason for existence of any kind, therefore Love is the Creator and Love is the only way to salvation.
All the aforementioned 10 Commandments are summed up in the two Great Commandments, which simply put are Love God (covers 1-3) and Love Your Neighbor (covers 4-10).
If you really can do those two simple things, you are probably not going to be able to break any of the 10.
The words of a church hymn really make me think about the true meaning of existence. "God is Love, and they who abide in Love, abide in God, and God in them."
That is utterly profound. Without Love there would be absolutely no reason for existence of any kind, therefore Love is the Creator and Love is the only way to salvation.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Lent Day 8
The Seventh Commandment is "Thou Shalt Not Steal", which goes along with the Tenth Commandment "Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor's Goods".Most of us have violated this in one way or another, office supplies might be one example, and we can usually make rationalizations that this is no big deal.Just be sure to make restitution somehow, and when you do, give back more than you need to, whether it is in materials or extra efforts beyond what is expected of you.
Some people get jealous if their neighbors have more possessions. Some have earned it, some have inherited it. That's life. There is no point in being jealous. If these things are the most important things in life for you to get, then when is enough ever enough?Success is not measured by what you have, it is measured by what you were able to do with what you have.It is like a card game, some people get dealt a better hand than you. All you can do is play the cards you have, as well as you can.
The Seventh Commandment is "Thou Shalt Not Steal", which goes along with the Tenth Commandment "Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor's Goods".Most of us have violated this in one way or another, office supplies might be one example, and we can usually make rationalizations that this is no big deal.Just be sure to make restitution somehow, and when you do, give back more than you need to, whether it is in materials or extra efforts beyond what is expected of you.
Some people get jealous if their neighbors have more possessions. Some have earned it, some have inherited it. That's life. There is no point in being jealous. If these things are the most important things in life for you to get, then when is enough ever enough?Success is not measured by what you have, it is measured by what you were able to do with what you have.It is like a card game, some people get dealt a better hand than you. All you can do is play the cards you have, as well as you can.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Lent Day 7
The Sixth Commandment is "Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery". The message is the same for the Ninth Commandment “Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor’s Spouse”.Isn't it amazing how many TV shows and movies portray this as our normal way of life?This was the way of life in Sodom, Gomorrah, and ancient Rome. What do you suppose happened to those civilizations?The only thing mankind learns from history, is that mankind learns nothing from history.
It would not be surprising that other countries see the movies and TV shows we produce, glamorizing immorality, and form the opinion that all people in our country behave that way. If so, no wonder they call our country the great satan.
So unless our country changes its public image and position on morals, we should fear for the future of this country.
The Sixth Commandment is "Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery". The message is the same for the Ninth Commandment “Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor’s Spouse”.Isn't it amazing how many TV shows and movies portray this as our normal way of life?This was the way of life in Sodom, Gomorrah, and ancient Rome. What do you suppose happened to those civilizations?The only thing mankind learns from history, is that mankind learns nothing from history.
It would not be surprising that other countries see the movies and TV shows we produce, glamorizing immorality, and form the opinion that all people in our country behave that way. If so, no wonder they call our country the great satan.
So unless our country changes its public image and position on morals, we should fear for the future of this country.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Lent Day 6
The Fifth Commandment is "Thou Shalt Not Kill". This means more than just the physical aspect, and this includes the Eighth Commandment "Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness Against Thy Neighbor".Sirach 28:17 says... “The blow of a whip raises a welt, but a blow of the tongue crushes the bones. Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not so many as have fallen because of the tongue”.
Non-constructive criticism and gossip can kill another person's self-esteem and motivation.How would that person feel if he or she could hear what was being said? How would you feel? You may not be too crazy about your neighbor, but you do not have to lie or gossip about them. The Golden Rule says to do unto others as you would have them do unto you, so would you prefer that they gossip against you as well?Nobody is perfect, so why should you expect your neighbors to be perfect? Nobody is as good as they think they are, and nobody is as bad as they think they are, so give them a break and only speak about the good in everyone.It has been said to avoid judging other people unless you have walked a mile in their shoes. In other words, if you have been faced with their same trials and tribulations, maybe you also would have made the same decisions they did, so do not be too quick to criticize.
The Fifth Commandment is "Thou Shalt Not Kill". This means more than just the physical aspect, and this includes the Eighth Commandment "Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness Against Thy Neighbor".Sirach 28:17 says... “The blow of a whip raises a welt, but a blow of the tongue crushes the bones. Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not so many as have fallen because of the tongue”.
Non-constructive criticism and gossip can kill another person's self-esteem and motivation.How would that person feel if he or she could hear what was being said? How would you feel? You may not be too crazy about your neighbor, but you do not have to lie or gossip about them. The Golden Rule says to do unto others as you would have them do unto you, so would you prefer that they gossip against you as well?Nobody is perfect, so why should you expect your neighbors to be perfect? Nobody is as good as they think they are, and nobody is as bad as they think they are, so give them a break and only speak about the good in everyone.It has been said to avoid judging other people unless you have walked a mile in their shoes. In other words, if you have been faced with their same trials and tribulations, maybe you also would have made the same decisions they did, so do not be too quick to criticize.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Lent Day 5
The Fourth Commandment is "Honor Thy Father And Thy Mother". So why should you honor them when you don’t like some of the things they do? Well, for starters, can you think of anyone else who would be willing to die for you, right now?They gave you the gift of life. If you are not happy with that gift, would you rather be born an earthworm, so you can be plucked from your home, pierced with an iron hook and dangled in the water until some fish eats you? No, you would rather be the fish, right? But if the bigger fish don’t get you the humans will. So you would rather be a human, even if you happen to live in a place like Ethiopia where there are no fish to eat, or anything else to eat for that matter. No, you would rather live where there is food, even if you happen to live in Iraq where every step you take could set off a land mine. No, you would rather live where it is safe, even if it is Siberia where the temperature is a bit uncomfortable to say the least. No, you would rather live in the good old USA, even if you are homeless and broke. No, you would rather have a home and money, even if you happen to be blind, or deaf, or paralyzed, or mute. No, you would rather have the gifts of sight, hearing, motion, and speech, even if you happen to have health problems like cancer, AIDS, diabetes, asthma, food allergies or various other diseases. No, better to be healthy, even if you happen to live in a ghetto where dangers abound. No, you would rather live in a suburb of one of the world’s greatest cities where it is relatively safe and has all the conveniences you could ever need. Wake up. Over 99 percent in the people in the world wish they had things as good as we do. If we cannot give thanks for that, perhaps we take too much for granted, and our thought processes are in need of adjustment.
The Fourth Commandment is "Honor Thy Father And Thy Mother". So why should you honor them when you don’t like some of the things they do? Well, for starters, can you think of anyone else who would be willing to die for you, right now?They gave you the gift of life. If you are not happy with that gift, would you rather be born an earthworm, so you can be plucked from your home, pierced with an iron hook and dangled in the water until some fish eats you? No, you would rather be the fish, right? But if the bigger fish don’t get you the humans will. So you would rather be a human, even if you happen to live in a place like Ethiopia where there are no fish to eat, or anything else to eat for that matter. No, you would rather live where there is food, even if you happen to live in Iraq where every step you take could set off a land mine. No, you would rather live where it is safe, even if it is Siberia where the temperature is a bit uncomfortable to say the least. No, you would rather live in the good old USA, even if you are homeless and broke. No, you would rather have a home and money, even if you happen to be blind, or deaf, or paralyzed, or mute. No, you would rather have the gifts of sight, hearing, motion, and speech, even if you happen to have health problems like cancer, AIDS, diabetes, asthma, food allergies or various other diseases. No, better to be healthy, even if you happen to live in a ghetto where dangers abound. No, you would rather live in a suburb of one of the world’s greatest cities where it is relatively safe and has all the conveniences you could ever need. Wake up. Over 99 percent in the people in the world wish they had things as good as we do. If we cannot give thanks for that, perhaps we take too much for granted, and our thought processes are in need of adjustment.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Lent Day 4
The Third Commandment is "Remember thou keep holy The Lord's Day".
Does that mean we have to spend the whole day in church? No, but if there are 168 hours in a week, is it too much to ask that you give only one of those hours back?
Some do not attend Mass because they get bored, but that is missing the point. You are not there to be entertained, you are there to give thanks for the many blessings you have been given.
Are there other ways to keep the day holy? Yes, spend time with your loved ones, doing what THEY want to do instead of what YOU want to do. Jesus Himself once said whenever two or three of you are gathered in My Name, there I am in the midst of you. That makes it holy.
The Third Commandment is "Remember thou keep holy The Lord's Day".
Does that mean we have to spend the whole day in church? No, but if there are 168 hours in a week, is it too much to ask that you give only one of those hours back?
Some do not attend Mass because they get bored, but that is missing the point. You are not there to be entertained, you are there to give thanks for the many blessings you have been given.
Are there other ways to keep the day holy? Yes, spend time with your loved ones, doing what THEY want to do instead of what YOU want to do. Jesus Himself once said whenever two or three of you are gathered in My Name, there I am in the midst of you. That makes it holy.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Lent Day 3
The Second Commandment is "Thou Shalt Not Take The Name Of The Lord In Vain".
What is vain? Figure it out. When we use God’s name are we praying or cursing?
If you ever heard of Charles Barkley, you know that he was one of the nastiest basketball players who ever lived, yet when he gets frustrated, he says something like “God...bless...mah...mutha”.
If we are not smarter than Charles Barkley, then maybe we would be better off to make up our own substitute phrases. If not, just bite your tongue and say a silent prayer instead.
The Second Commandment is "Thou Shalt Not Take The Name Of The Lord In Vain".
What is vain? Figure it out. When we use God’s name are we praying or cursing?
If you ever heard of Charles Barkley, you know that he was one of the nastiest basketball players who ever lived, yet when he gets frustrated, he says something like “God...bless...mah...mutha”.
If we are not smarter than Charles Barkley, then maybe we would be better off to make up our own substitute phrases. If not, just bite your tongue and say a silent prayer instead.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Lent Day 2
The First Commandment is "I am The Lord thy God, thou shalt not have strange gods before Me". In the George Burns movie “Oh God”, the idea came up that Jesus was God’s Son, and so was Buddha and so was Mohammed, and so were others who were spiritual leaders for their people, indicating that Jesus was no more special than any of the others. However, did Buddha or Mohammed or others rise from the dead, or raise others from the dead, or instantly heal the sick, or walk on water, or perform many other such miracles? I think not, therefore it stands to reason that Jesus is indeed much more special than the others, and we had better pay attention to the things that He said, such as He is God’s only Son, and the only way to the Father, the only way to salvation is thru Him.
The First Commandment is "I am The Lord thy God, thou shalt not have strange gods before Me". In the George Burns movie “Oh God”, the idea came up that Jesus was God’s Son, and so was Buddha and so was Mohammed, and so were others who were spiritual leaders for their people, indicating that Jesus was no more special than any of the others. However, did Buddha or Mohammed or others rise from the dead, or raise others from the dead, or instantly heal the sick, or walk on water, or perform many other such miracles? I think not, therefore it stands to reason that Jesus is indeed much more special than the others, and we had better pay attention to the things that He said, such as He is God’s only Son, and the only way to the Father, the only way to salvation is thru Him.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Lent Day 1
As in years past, rather than giving up something for Lent, instead I am going to make a daily entry here.
Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. The ashes remind us that we are made from dust, and to dust we shall return.
Nobody lives forever, and we are going to be dead a lot longer than we are going to be alive, so think about where you would prefer to spend eternity, with God or apart from God?
The answer to that question is a result of the way we choose to live our lives right here and now, in other words we are being tested.
Instead of saying you wish you could live your life over again, consider that you really can, because the test is not over yet, today if the first day of the rest of your life, so make the most of it.
As in years past, rather than giving up something for Lent, instead I am going to make a daily entry here.
Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. The ashes remind us that we are made from dust, and to dust we shall return.
Nobody lives forever, and we are going to be dead a lot longer than we are going to be alive, so think about where you would prefer to spend eternity, with God or apart from God?
The answer to that question is a result of the way we choose to live our lives right here and now, in other words we are being tested.
Instead of saying you wish you could live your life over again, consider that you really can, because the test is not over yet, today if the first day of the rest of your life, so make the most of it.
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