Drive-by Evangelism, or Missional Rescue Force?

Drive-by Evangelism, or Missional Rescue Force?

Where is the Love? A California pediatrician reportedly refused to treat a baby girl because her mother had tattoos. The doctor, whose name I won’t mention, says “his Christian faith has inspired him to enforce certain standards in his medical practice, and that means no tattoos, no body piercings, and no gum chewing.” The article goes on: “After taking one look at Tasha Childress, who has both tattoos and piercings, [the doctor] asked her and her daughter to leave.” The shunned mother, speaking about her daughter, said, “She had to go that entire night with her ear infection with no medicine because he has his policy; it isn’t right.”



Christ did not deny any who came to him. We must be prepared to do the same.



Lord allow me to see You in all who come to me for assistance, and may be be as eager to help them as I would you.

Anne Rice and Hillary; Pa. bishop responds to Catholic activist

Anne Rice and Hillary; Pa. bishop responds to Catholic activist

Is Hillary Clinton the voice of America?

I know at least some people in this country who do not believe that she is the voice of anyone else but herself and special interests wo support her.

I would sooner listen to a bishop who speaks from tradition and the bible, who holds life as a sacred creation.

RU 486 abortion pill unsafe despite media reports

RU 486 abortion pill unsafe despite media reports

Let us pray for those who take this pill. Let us pray that the word of the unsafeness of it is spread to the point where no one wants it and no one will prescribe it.

God of Light and Life enlighten our hearts to remain on your path!

A Pure Heart

A Pure Heart
by Jon Walker



“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10 NIV)

Oh God, create in me a pure heart ...


A heart that won’t run with lust after physical pleasure,
A heart that obediently refuses what you’ve rightly and wisely fenced away as sin,
A heart of love that never insists on its own way (1 John 2:16).

Oh God, create in me a pure heart ...


A heart that knows no greed when it looks upon worldly treasures,
A heart that thinks of others, and not itself,
A heart that argues for love instead of fairness.

Oh God, create in me a pure heart ...


A heart that never boasts about what it has or what its done,
A heart that walks humbly, not trying to appear more important than it is,
A heart that takes no pride in the flesh.

Oh God, create in me a pure heart ...


A heart that chases after you,
A heart that looks to you for its provision,
A heart that trusts that you are at work in others,
A heart that does not manipulate people or circumstances,
A heart that looks upon the things above and not the things below.

Heavenly Father, renew a steadfast spirit within me ...


A spirit committed completely to you,
A spirit that is not double-minded,
A spirit that is focused, and single minded on your purposes,
A spirit resolved to know Christ and Christ alone.

So what?


Start from the top of the devotional, and work your way down.

© 2007 Jon Walker. All rights reserved.

May my heart always reflect You Lord!

A Message From a Saint About Cell Phones & Life - Natural Life Magazine May/June 2007

A modern discussion about cellphones and technology with St. Francis. Yes, St.Francis somehow approves technology as the means to an end, not the end in itself.



St Francis took every opportunity to follow Christ and we must do the same.



If we figure out how to make cell phone calls, do laundry, drive our cars (see Pope Benedict's Ten Commandments of the Road) do our appointed jobs in the Spirit of St. Francis, the Peace of Christ will be with us.



A Message From a Saint About Cell Phones & Life - Natural Life Magazine May/June 2007



May Peace be with you today!

Chicago Catholics Outraged by Hillary Speech

I have shown (and currently eliminated) Rudy as my candidate.
Hillary Clinton goes even further down the totem pole. Apparantly she only cares about current voters and not the voters of the future.

Chicago Catholics Outraged by Hillary Speech

Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel for the Conversion of Abortionists

"Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen. www.hli.org/st_michael_prayer.html

Giuliani’s Catholic chameleon campaign

I am looking for a candidate who aligns with Catholic beliefs and social activism.

It appears that Rudy falls short. Catholics are not chameleons. We are what we are. We are not perfect, but we strive for the perfect kingdom of God.

Giuliani’s Catholic chameleon campaign

Bishop of Rhode Island condemns Giuliani's abortion stance

New FDA guidelines threaten religious freedoms; Holy water could be regulated as "drugs" and rosaries as "medical devices"

New FDA guidelines threaten religious freedoms; Holy water could be regulated as "drugs" and rosaries as "medical devices"

A while a go I saw this- something that made me go 'hmm'.

What kind of government would keep the health from the health seekers.

And what kind of license would the Heavenly Physician require?

And allow the perfectly created to die because they were not yet born......

Maybe "Culture of Death" is where you are when you step outside the kingdom of God.

God shows His love for us because

God shows His love for us because:

He chose us,
He seeks us,
He instructs us and teaches us with patience,
He demonstrates His love in ways we can understand,
He hurts for us,
He forgives us,
and He saves us. -

Hosea 11

What Saints Are For!

What Saints Are For!

(Just a Word of Encouragement from Mark Shea and Jeff Cavins)

1 Corinthians 11:1
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

If you've ever wondered why the Catholic Church canonizes saints, today's verse gives the basic reason. We don't just learn about Christ from looking at Christ. We learn about Christ from looking at how His Spirit works in the lives of all His holy saints. 'For Christ plays in ten thousand places,/ Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his/ To the Father through the features of men's faces' Gerard Manley Hopkins.

St. Juan Diego is model of lay evangelist says Mexican cardinal

St. Juan Diego is model of lay evangelist says Mexican cardinal

Echoes of St. Francis of Assisi and his evangelization entered as I read this article. St. Francis always submitted to his bishop, and then, in starting his order, to the pope. The comments about St Juan Diego and his releationship with his bishop remind me of our relationship with the Pope, who has been teaching and clarifying the position of the church.

Juan Diego's obediance to our lady and the church as personified in the bishop speak volumes of his love for Jesus. And the miracle that blessed him is an echo through history that God will bless us he will not abandon us, he will provide for us and provide abundantly.

It is said that if you look with a microscope into the eyes of our lady's image on the tilma, that the images of those present can be seen in those eyes. Just as we are always present in the eyes of God, in an eternal gaze of love.

May St. Juan Diego and our lady keep us in prayer before our Lord. May he steady our steps in walking the path set before us and so enter our eternal reward.

[LifeSupport] Encouragement Works

Author Ron Dunn tells the story of two altar boys. One was born in 1892 in Eastern Europe. The other was born just three years later in a small town in Illinois (USA). Though their lives were quite different,these two boys shared a similar experience. Each altar boy assisted his parish priest in the celebration of Mass. While handling the chalice during Holy Eucharist, they both accidentally spilled some of the wine on the carpet.But this is where their stories diverge. The priest in the Eastern European church, seeing the purple stain, slapped the altar boy across the face and shouted, "Clumsy oaf! Leave the altar." He did. The little boy grew up to become the atheist and communist dictator of Yugoslavia, Josip Broz Tito. The priest in the church in Illinois, upon seeing the wine stain,knelt down beside the boy and looked him tenderly in the eyes and said, "It's all right, son. You'll do better next time. You'll be a fine priest for God someday." That little boy grew up to become the much loved Bishop Fulton J. Sheen.We will never know how much a kind and encouraging word from the priest, or the lack of one, influenced these boys' lives. But kindness and instruction are always far more valuable than anger and criticism.Encouragement works.-- Steve Goodier

A Delicious Solution for High Blood Pressure

A Delicious Solution for High Blood Pressure
By Jon Herring
More good news for chocolate lovers. A recent study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, shows that eating just a small amount of dark chocolate can be as effective at lowering blood pressure as making major dietary changes. And it is certainly an easier regimen to maintain.
German researchers at the University Hospital of Cologne divided 44 adults with early-stage hypertension into two groups. The subjects ate 6.3 grams of either dark chocolate or white chocolate each day. While the dark chocolate contained about 30 mg of beneficial polyphenols (from cocoa), the white chocolate contained none.
The subjects who consumed the dark chocolate experienced an average systolic blood pressure reduction of 2.9 mm Hg and diastolic BP reduction of 1.9 mm Hg. Furthermore, the percentage of the test subjects who were clinically diagnosed with hypertension dropped from 86 percent to 68 percent. And these improvements were made without any changes in body weight, blood lipids, or blood sugar levels. Those who ate the white chocolate saw no changes.
The polyphenols in cocoa work as vasodilators, helping the blood vessels relax and become more flexible, and thus reducing the pressure inside. And it takes a surprisingly small amount to have an effect.
So if you love chocolate, take heart. But stick to dark chocolate. Milk chocolate has very little cocoa and too much sugar. You can also buy organic powdered cocoa at most health food stores. I often mix a teaspoon or two into my coffee, or I mix it in milk and add a teaspoon of erythritol for a tasty and healthful chocolate drink.

Letter to Amnesty International

Good Day to All!

While the proposed action by Amnesty International (in support of abortion) may appear to some to support women's freedom or provide a compassionate response to women in difficult situations of pregnancy, abortion injures the health and dignity of women at the same time that it ends the life of the unborn child. A far more compassionate response is to provide support and services for pregnant women, advance their educational and economic standing in society, and resist all forms of violence and stigmatization against them. (See Bishop Skylstad's Letter to AI .)

Many of the great figures of our time who advanced human rights and compassion for the destitute - Susan B. Anthony, Mohandas Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Archbishop Oscar Romero, Dorothy Day, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Fannie Lou Hamer - also opposed abortion. Many will find it incomprehensible that these giants of human progress must now be seen as enemies of human rights. The action of the Executive Council undermines AI's longstanding moral credibility, diverts its mission, divides its own members (many of whom are Catholic or defend the rights of unborn children), and jeopardizes AI's support by people in many nations, cultures and religions.

I humbly ask that the action be reconsidered as many lives and the quality of other lives hang in the balance. There is a great opportunity presented in this issue to defend human lives, especially those who are unable to speak for themselves.

--
God does not ask about our ability, but our availability.
-Anonymous

Sandal tracksto Paradise

PRECIOUSNESS OF SILENCE

PRECIOUSNESS OF SILENCE
'But Jesus was silent.' Mt 26:63
-----------------------------------

The Silence is Meekness.
When you do not defend yourself against offenses;
When you do not claim your rights;
When you let God defend you;
The Silence is Meekness.

The Silence is Mercy.
When you do not reveal the faults of your brothers to
others;
When you readily forgive without inquiring into the
past;
When you do not judge, but pray in your heart;
The Silence is Mercy.

The Silence is Patience.
When you accept suffering not with grumbling but
joyfully;
When you do not look for human consolations;
When you do not become too anxious, but wait in
patience for the seed to germinate;
The Silence is Patience.

The Silence is Humility.
When there is no competition;
When you consider the other person to be better than
yourself;
When you let your brothers emerge, grow and mature;
When you joyfully abandon all to the Lord;
When your actions may be misinterpreted;
When you leave to others the glory of the enterprise;
The Silence is Humility.

The Silence is Faith.
When you keep quiet because you know that the Lord will
act;
When you renounce the voice of the world to remain in
the presence of the Lord;
When you do not labour yourself to be understood;
because it is enough for you to know that the Lord
understands you;
The Silence is Faith.

The Silence is Adoration.
When you embrace the cross without asking 'Why?';
The Silence is Adoration.
-------------------------------------

Thanks to the Missionaries of Charity who shared this with our friends at http://www.cukierski.net

Silence is so undervalued and yet, sometimes God speaks in a whisper.
Peace be with you all.

The Trend of 'Believing without Belonging'

The Trend of 'Believing without Belonging'

My belief requires belonging to Church. The apostles were all of one church. Christ always sends out his own in groups of 2. Jesus said "Where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst".

One sin that is at the basis of many is pride. If you can finid your salvation without church, you are putting pride in yourself above all. Church keeps the voice of Satan in check. If the inner voice contradicts church then prayer is needed for stregnth and guidance from God. His scripture and the teaching of the church will keep the evil one in line.

Lord be with us and align us always with your church. May we be subject to your your word and law so that we may rightly call you Lord of our life. Thank you Jesus for all you have done and continue to do in our lives. May we be one in you as you are one in the Father.

Holy Week: Walking to the Cross

Holy Week: Walking to the Cross

Gods Love

Nothing we can do holds the significance of Christ's action.

So if our inner drive is to prove something to God or the world or ourselves, our actions are a poor indicator then of the effect of God's Love in our lives. It is when we come to the cross, we see the cross, we respond to the cross- this motion that is cross-oriented that centers our thoughts lives and placement in creation.

The same activity- Acolyte, minster of communion, feeder of the hungry - activities that we are moved to do because of the love of God can backfire if we say "Look what I can do!". Even "Look what I can do for you Lord" is a big "Look At Me" that smacks of the evil the Lord has warned us against. Yet it is His word that brings us to action.

So let everything we Do or Say, be it in the Church or the Living Room, Our Car or the Work Place not promote anything but Life in the Shadow of the Cross. This is the Life Francis promoted: Do not look at what I can do for God, but what God can do.

Mother Of All Peoples - Mary, First Witness of the Resurrection

Mother Of All Peoples - Mary, First Witness of the Resurrection

Were you there when they rolled the stone away?......

I found myself thinking of Mary this past Sunday, After holding her dead son on Friday, and knowing his words and having an incredible trust in Jesus and the will of God. Why would the mother of God be involved in the reserection?

1. Jesus' Mother followed Jesus. She was mentioned as travelling with him often.
2. She was present at the foot of the cross. She had a great devotion to Jesus.
3. Her faith went beyond the visible physics of the universe, the Annunciation, The miracle of water into wine.
4. Her Love was returned tenfold. She was given a Son in John at the foot of the cross, she was the example of one who does Gods will when Jesus called All who do God's will as my mother, and my brothers and sisters.
5. Jesus did appear to only a few, but the few that would testify to the truth. Mary's life was a testimony to the truth. She was also blessed among women so her hope would not go unrewarded.

Our hearts could not fathom the joy in Mary's Easter encounter. This moment is one captured in the believers heart and not words.