Well next Sunday is the official beginning of Advent.
Advent is the celebration that culminates on Christmas.
We rush around looking for the perfect gifts for our loved ones.
How about we slow down.
Take a breath.
And like Martha when she poured out expensive perfume onto the feet of Jesus.
She took time to be with The Son of God.
What will it cost us to lavish our love upon The Lord?
I guarantee every second spent waiting for the Lord will be worth it.
Yes Jesus is coming one day in the clouds.
But never forget that The Holy Spirit is already here. He prepares us to bring Jesus to those who don't know Him.
For them it's a personal advent.
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Thursday, October 16, 2014
"Zombies For Our Children" (Happy Halloween)
I went to the library today to get some CD'S.
There were some Halloween and Harvest Time decorations up. Nothing really "bad".
Then as I was leaving the library I walked past the Halloween books for kids. Targeted for kids ages 6-10 or there a bouts. There were books about the origins of Halloween, Ghost stories, costume ideas, pumpkin carving tips, and zombies.
I'm a Christian and felt sick to my stomach.
Zombies? It's bad enough that teenagers and adults alike have this obsession but to bring it to the attention of innocent children?
I can't imagine trying to make zombies "cute".
Rotting corpses reanimated by evil wandering around seeking out human flesh as a meal is the thing of nightmares and down right demonic.
Is the idea to desensitize our children so that they won't find such movies as Night of the Living Dead, 28 Days Later, and Resident Evil disturbing by the time they reach puberty? Is this a tactic to have family movie night be a zombie marathon?
There are even Barbie type dolls that feature the living dead. Why? So girls can try to live up to being in a horror movie VS dolls that give girls insecurities about their bodies?
If you give out candy on Halloween be prepared to see mommies little zombie.
And for that matter a 12 year old girl not only dressed as a scantily clad cheerleader but as a zombie cheerleader.
I wonder when this all started.
A bigger question may be will it ever end?
It's true we're all going to die.
Most people are afraid to die.
But does normalizing zombies really alleviate the fears of dying?
Is this meant to say that dying isn't all that bad?
Another good question may be shouldn't parents protect themselves from zombie movies?
Why do we allow these images into our house.
Many parents make sure their kids don't watch the news. So why is it OK to let them dress as the living dead? Maybe because zombies aren't real.
I say zombies are real enough.
They are of the devil and the devil is out to keep us in our flesh and rot our brains.
God is too much to handle.Too controversial.
So why not join the crowd of people that are diving head first into the zombie apocalypse?
I say that we should dive head first into godly things.
Many churches choose to celebrate the memory of the loved ones that have made their way into heaven. All Hallows Eve (all Souls day). Or then to celebrate the people throughout history that are examples of living for God. All saints day.
We celebrate birthdays. The day life began.
The day the creator brought us into being.
In the world not of it.
Dead to sin.
Alive in Christ.
There were some Halloween and Harvest Time decorations up. Nothing really "bad".
Then as I was leaving the library I walked past the Halloween books for kids. Targeted for kids ages 6-10 or there a bouts. There were books about the origins of Halloween, Ghost stories, costume ideas, pumpkin carving tips, and zombies.
I'm a Christian and felt sick to my stomach.
Zombies? It's bad enough that teenagers and adults alike have this obsession but to bring it to the attention of innocent children?
I can't imagine trying to make zombies "cute".
Rotting corpses reanimated by evil wandering around seeking out human flesh as a meal is the thing of nightmares and down right demonic.
Is the idea to desensitize our children so that they won't find such movies as Night of the Living Dead, 28 Days Later, and Resident Evil disturbing by the time they reach puberty? Is this a tactic to have family movie night be a zombie marathon?
There are even Barbie type dolls that feature the living dead. Why? So girls can try to live up to being in a horror movie VS dolls that give girls insecurities about their bodies?
If you give out candy on Halloween be prepared to see mommies little zombie.
And for that matter a 12 year old girl not only dressed as a scantily clad cheerleader but as a zombie cheerleader.
I wonder when this all started.
A bigger question may be will it ever end?
It's true we're all going to die.
Most people are afraid to die.
But does normalizing zombies really alleviate the fears of dying?
Is this meant to say that dying isn't all that bad?
Another good question may be shouldn't parents protect themselves from zombie movies?
Why do we allow these images into our house.
Many parents make sure their kids don't watch the news. So why is it OK to let them dress as the living dead? Maybe because zombies aren't real.
I say zombies are real enough.
They are of the devil and the devil is out to keep us in our flesh and rot our brains.
God is too much to handle.Too controversial.
So why not join the crowd of people that are diving head first into the zombie apocalypse?
I say that we should dive head first into godly things.
Many churches choose to celebrate the memory of the loved ones that have made their way into heaven. All Hallows Eve (all Souls day). Or then to celebrate the people throughout history that are examples of living for God. All saints day.
We celebrate birthdays. The day life began.
The day the creator brought us into being.
In the world not of it.
Dead to sin.
Alive in Christ.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Have Nothing Have Less
Taken from Luke 8:16-18
To paraphrase
To him who has much, more will be given to that person. To the the person who has little more will be taken.
This scripture baffled me since the first time I heard it.
Then today while I was at Mass The Lord spoke to me and gave me an explanation.
A person whom is full of The Spirit of The Lord, and shares what The Lord has given is filled with the energy to keep giving.
On the flip side when a person is near empty that person looses what they had and become to worn out to even try.
In other words:
Have you noticed in your own life (or witnessed in someone else) that when you run low on energy that making effort to do much of anything, including getting out of bed a task that only seems possible for a superhero?
I've been there. And it's not pretty.
In the throes of a deep depression, I stayed in bed most of the day, my personal hygiene suffered, my diet was horribly unhealthy, I gained weight, my laundry piled up, and my room resembled a garbage dump.
I had no get up and go and an attitude where I said, "Who cares. What's the point?"
If God hadn't intervened I can honestly say I wouldn't be here now.
But I am here.
And I am constantly be filled with life.
And people can tell.
When we look at the beginning of this passage from Luke I am a bright shining light that people are drawn to.
Like a lighthouse warning ships of danger.
If you're in a slump and feel empty ask The Lord to come into your life and light up your soul.
Allow the Holy Spirit to fill your soul with the oil that will keep your light shine before men.
Like the day of Pentecost when The Holy Spirit fell like fire let the zeal of The Lord burn within you.
To paraphrase
To him who has much, more will be given to that person. To the the person who has little more will be taken.
This scripture baffled me since the first time I heard it.
Then today while I was at Mass The Lord spoke to me and gave me an explanation.
A person whom is full of The Spirit of The Lord, and shares what The Lord has given is filled with the energy to keep giving.
On the flip side when a person is near empty that person looses what they had and become to worn out to even try.
In other words:
Have you noticed in your own life (or witnessed in someone else) that when you run low on energy that making effort to do much of anything, including getting out of bed a task that only seems possible for a superhero?
I've been there. And it's not pretty.
In the throes of a deep depression, I stayed in bed most of the day, my personal hygiene suffered, my diet was horribly unhealthy, I gained weight, my laundry piled up, and my room resembled a garbage dump.
I had no get up and go and an attitude where I said, "Who cares. What's the point?"
If God hadn't intervened I can honestly say I wouldn't be here now.
But I am here.
And I am constantly be filled with life.
And people can tell.
When we look at the beginning of this passage from Luke I am a bright shining light that people are drawn to.
Like a lighthouse warning ships of danger.
If you're in a slump and feel empty ask The Lord to come into your life and light up your soul.
Allow the Holy Spirit to fill your soul with the oil that will keep your light shine before men.
Like the day of Pentecost when The Holy Spirit fell like fire let the zeal of The Lord burn within you.
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Keep Praying
Many years ago a woman named Monica fervently prayed for her husband and son to come to the saving grace of Jesus. Eventually her prayers were answered.
This woman is now known as St. Monica and her well known son is St. Augustine.
St. Augustine was on the road to ruin. He was an alcoholic and womanizer to the least.
Monica knew that living a life of sin wasn't what God has in mind for any of us.
Living in sin is a life of separation from the fullness of God's presence. And a life without God isn't a life at all.
It was the fervent prayer of a concerned mother that reached her sinful son.
I can attest to the power of such prayer and intervention in my own life. I know that the prayers of the faithful have brought me and my wife to the loving grace of God. We both go to church as much as possible and prayer every night before bed.
All of have called into the loving arms of God.
We are all called to be children of the king of universe.
Prayer changes things. Prayer can send pleas to The Holy Spirit to stir the hearts of those who don't know The Lord and warm the hearts of those whose hearts who have grown cold.
It's God who shows us the error of our ways and proves that indeed his ways are far above our ways.
So like the faithful St.Monica if we truly love someone who has gone astray we will see the fruits of our passion and will see the yield of the harvest when we enter the eternal Kingdom of God.
Pray without ceasing for we cease without praying.
This woman is now known as St. Monica and her well known son is St. Augustine.
St. Augustine was on the road to ruin. He was an alcoholic and womanizer to the least.
Monica knew that living a life of sin wasn't what God has in mind for any of us.
Living in sin is a life of separation from the fullness of God's presence. And a life without God isn't a life at all.
It was the fervent prayer of a concerned mother that reached her sinful son.
I can attest to the power of such prayer and intervention in my own life. I know that the prayers of the faithful have brought me and my wife to the loving grace of God. We both go to church as much as possible and prayer every night before bed.
All of have called into the loving arms of God.
We are all called to be children of the king of universe.
Prayer changes things. Prayer can send pleas to The Holy Spirit to stir the hearts of those who don't know The Lord and warm the hearts of those whose hearts who have grown cold.
It's God who shows us the error of our ways and proves that indeed his ways are far above our ways.
So like the faithful St.Monica if we truly love someone who has gone astray we will see the fruits of our passion and will see the yield of the harvest when we enter the eternal Kingdom of God.
Pray without ceasing for we cease without praying.
Monday, August 18, 2014
"Weeping Rich"
In the Book of Matthew Jesus meets a rich man who asks Jesus what he must do to have eternal life and what it would take to follow The Lord.
Jesus tells the rich man that he must keep the commandments.
The rich man smiles because he has always kept the commandments. So this eager man asks if there is anything he must do to follow Jesus.
Jesus replies that he should give away all he has to the poor. The rich man walks away sad for he had
much.
And that's the last we hear of this rich man.
But I dare say that wasn't the last that wealthy fellow heard of Jesus.
I know from personal experience that a relationship with Jesus is of utmost importance.
I have given up much to be with him. But giving up those things made me a better person.
I feel that sure when God gets a hold of a persons heart and if we nourish the flame of his love no matter how much or how little we have every sacrifice is worth it's weight.
So maybe if your unemployed and it's alcohol that got you to a state where you couldn't perform your duties at work. Maybe it's time to put that bottle down and get back on your feet. Beating addiction is
possible. I have nearly 6 years without alcohol or pot. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
Maybe you're well off. You have all you need and then some. But I've heard it said that money isn't everything. Money can't buy you love.
It can't buy you a place in Heaven either. So maybe you can give to charity. More importantly maybe you can get to church and feed on the richness of The Holy Spirit.
Maybe volunteer as an usher at church.
Go through old clothes. How long ago have you worn that "favorite" sweater?
The point is you have something you can give.
Giving=Receiving
Jesus tells the rich man that he must keep the commandments.
The rich man smiles because he has always kept the commandments. So this eager man asks if there is anything he must do to follow Jesus.
Jesus replies that he should give away all he has to the poor. The rich man walks away sad for he had
much.
And that's the last we hear of this rich man.
But I dare say that wasn't the last that wealthy fellow heard of Jesus.
I know from personal experience that a relationship with Jesus is of utmost importance.
I have given up much to be with him. But giving up those things made me a better person.
I feel that sure when God gets a hold of a persons heart and if we nourish the flame of his love no matter how much or how little we have every sacrifice is worth it's weight.
So maybe if your unemployed and it's alcohol that got you to a state where you couldn't perform your duties at work. Maybe it's time to put that bottle down and get back on your feet. Beating addiction is
possible. I have nearly 6 years without alcohol or pot. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
Maybe you're well off. You have all you need and then some. But I've heard it said that money isn't everything. Money can't buy you love.
It can't buy you a place in Heaven either. So maybe you can give to charity. More importantly maybe you can get to church and feed on the richness of The Holy Spirit.
Maybe volunteer as an usher at church.
Go through old clothes. How long ago have you worn that "favorite" sweater?
The point is you have something you can give.
Giving=Receiving
Saturday, June 7, 2014
May The Force Be With You
Ah, Facebook. Just another place to discuss whatever is on our minds.
This includes Star Wars.
You might think that Star Wars fans could discuss things peacefully. After it's all one franchise right? You would be wrong.
A Star Wars fan group I'm in can argue and cuss just as much as any other group where freedom of speech allows.
It often starts with arguments over The Prequel Trilogy. Then it drifts into online gaming and then the novels.
Then there are arguments about Light, Grey,and Dark Jedi's.
Then comes name calling and personal attacks all based on a Sci-Fi entertainment franchise.
Isn't Star Wars supposed to be entertainment?
Why is it that the human race seems set on destroying each other?
Why isn't there peace?
We know that religion and politics are the biggest causes of conflict.
It seems that human beings will find any reason to fight.
We've all been hurt by people (including our closest friends and family members) who don't agree with our point of view.
They just don't see it.
So we clam up. We fight back. We find a weakness and attack. We bring up the past. And we lose friends. I have.
Why do we put so much energy in fighting when we can put that energy into:
Healing
Praying
Loving
Laughing
Creativity
Peace
Understanding.
I don't have all the answers. None of us do. And that's the point.
Instead of defining the truth in terms of my way is the only way. Why don't we look at what is missing?
Peace is missing.
If you're a Catholic are you going to let what something a Baptist preacher said that you don't agree with ruin your day?
Or will you take a piece of The Prince of Peace and let offenses roll away?
If you're a Muslim will you allow something a Christian said ruin your day or will you find peace in the fact that there is a God and that only He is all knowing?
If you're a Democrat will you're life be ruined by the ways of Republicans or will you see that there are problems that need to be fixed and setting aside differences and just find a solution?
Instead of being afraid of what we don't understand why not find a way to try to understand it?
If you value life then live!
If you want peace create it.
If you desire beauty make beautiful things. This would include saying beautiful words.
Life is short.
Make every moment count.
I assure you we won't argue about anything in Heaven so why argue about it here?
Instead of Hell on earth why not create Heaven on earth.
May the Force be with you
May Peace be with you
This includes Star Wars.
You might think that Star Wars fans could discuss things peacefully. After it's all one franchise right? You would be wrong.
A Star Wars fan group I'm in can argue and cuss just as much as any other group where freedom of speech allows.
It often starts with arguments over The Prequel Trilogy. Then it drifts into online gaming and then the novels.
Then there are arguments about Light, Grey,and Dark Jedi's.
Then comes name calling and personal attacks all based on a Sci-Fi entertainment franchise.
Isn't Star Wars supposed to be entertainment?
Why is it that the human race seems set on destroying each other?
Why isn't there peace?
We know that religion and politics are the biggest causes of conflict.
It seems that human beings will find any reason to fight.
We've all been hurt by people (including our closest friends and family members) who don't agree with our point of view.
They just don't see it.
So we clam up. We fight back. We find a weakness and attack. We bring up the past. And we lose friends. I have.
Why do we put so much energy in fighting when we can put that energy into:
Healing
Praying
Loving
Laughing
Creativity
Peace
Understanding.
I don't have all the answers. None of us do. And that's the point.
Instead of defining the truth in terms of my way is the only way. Why don't we look at what is missing?
Peace is missing.
If you're a Catholic are you going to let what something a Baptist preacher said that you don't agree with ruin your day?
Or will you take a piece of The Prince of Peace and let offenses roll away?
If you're a Muslim will you allow something a Christian said ruin your day or will you find peace in the fact that there is a God and that only He is all knowing?
If you're a Democrat will you're life be ruined by the ways of Republicans or will you see that there are problems that need to be fixed and setting aside differences and just find a solution?
Instead of being afraid of what we don't understand why not find a way to try to understand it?
If you value life then live!
If you want peace create it.
If you desire beauty make beautiful things. This would include saying beautiful words.
Life is short.
Make every moment count.
I assure you we won't argue about anything in Heaven so why argue about it here?
Instead of Hell on earth why not create Heaven on earth.
May the Force be with you
May Peace be with you
Thursday, May 22, 2014
"They're Ruining The Country"
I've heard it being said that fighting for equal rights for the LGBT community is ruining the country. Many times these words are being said by people that claim that the Christian savior Jesus, hates gays.
I've made this point before.
If Jesus is the Son of God and if God is love then how can Jesus hate gays?
Simply stated, He can't.
Some Christians like to put the "sin" of homosexuality (or any lifestyle that isn't heterosexual ) the greatest of sins.
Some of these people say that allowing gay marriage in this country is inviting wrath upon The United States. So let me point something out.
Many Native American tribes allowed gay marriage. It wasn't a taboo. It wasn't a sin. It was a celebration of two people in love forming a sacred bond.
Then the white man came.
They brought the values of Christianity with them.
They brought slaves here.
They killed "savages" one village at a time.
I suppose that the Native Americans thought that Christianity ruined the country.
So before their was a fight over who can get married me must look at other things that are destroying The United States.
Religious intolerance. This includes infighting among many Christian denominations.
Looking the other way when someone that we trust puts our children in danger.Whether it be a doctor touching a young patient in a sexual manner. Or maybe a teacher having sex with an underage student.
Pornography often portrays women as being "daddy's little girl" and yet we wonder why so many of these girls are being sexually abused and even sold so that girls who ARE underage can become the play things of men that prefer prepubescent girls as a conduit for their depraved sexual cravings.
No matter how you feel about abortion Christian extremists take it upon themselves to kill abortion doctors After all it's a life for a life. But doesn't The Bible say that vengeance is the lord's and that he'll repay?
Mocking, hating, and killing Muslims is OK because we're in a Holy War.
Mocking, hating, and killing Christians is OK because we're in a Holy War.
Perhaps if homosexuality wasn't seen as an abomination perhaps Christian ministers wouldn't lead a double life where they have to sneak around to have sex with people in their own gender. While covering their tracks by getting married and having kids.
Adultery is a sin but isn't stopped husbands from cheating on their wives.
Lust is a sin but some of our pastors look at pornography. They even download pictures of children being sexually exploited.
I'm not saying all of this to declare that I'm not guilty of sin.
I need not point out the speck in your eye.
I need to allow God to help me remove the beam from my own eye.
I've made this point before.
If Jesus is the Son of God and if God is love then how can Jesus hate gays?
Simply stated, He can't.
Some Christians like to put the "sin" of homosexuality (or any lifestyle that isn't heterosexual ) the greatest of sins.
Some of these people say that allowing gay marriage in this country is inviting wrath upon The United States. So let me point something out.
Many Native American tribes allowed gay marriage. It wasn't a taboo. It wasn't a sin. It was a celebration of two people in love forming a sacred bond.
Then the white man came.
They brought the values of Christianity with them.
They brought slaves here.
They killed "savages" one village at a time.
I suppose that the Native Americans thought that Christianity ruined the country.
So before their was a fight over who can get married me must look at other things that are destroying The United States.
Religious intolerance. This includes infighting among many Christian denominations.
Looking the other way when someone that we trust puts our children in danger.Whether it be a doctor touching a young patient in a sexual manner. Or maybe a teacher having sex with an underage student.
Pornography often portrays women as being "daddy's little girl" and yet we wonder why so many of these girls are being sexually abused and even sold so that girls who ARE underage can become the play things of men that prefer prepubescent girls as a conduit for their depraved sexual cravings.
No matter how you feel about abortion Christian extremists take it upon themselves to kill abortion doctors After all it's a life for a life. But doesn't The Bible say that vengeance is the lord's and that he'll repay?
Mocking, hating, and killing Muslims is OK because we're in a Holy War.
Mocking, hating, and killing Christians is OK because we're in a Holy War.
Perhaps if homosexuality wasn't seen as an abomination perhaps Christian ministers wouldn't lead a double life where they have to sneak around to have sex with people in their own gender. While covering their tracks by getting married and having kids.
Adultery is a sin but isn't stopped husbands from cheating on their wives.
Lust is a sin but some of our pastors look at pornography. They even download pictures of children being sexually exploited.
I'm not saying all of this to declare that I'm not guilty of sin.
I need not point out the speck in your eye.
I need to allow God to help me remove the beam from my own eye.
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