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A Child's Beautiful View of Heaven

2010-02-02T16:45:00Z

I do not know if pets that we loved through the years will be waiting for us. I want to hope that they are.
Here is a story that my good friend Jerry Tomecek sent to me today. I wanted all to enjoy it as I did. I am still tearing a little. You are allowed if you have to.
God Bless Jim

This is one of the kindest things you may ever read..

It is not known who replied, but there is a beautiful soul working in the
dead letter office of the US postal service.

http://blog.coffeewithjimholmes.net/2010/02/02/a-childs-beautiful-view-of-heaven.aspx

Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey.. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:

Dear God,

Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is
with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that
you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.
I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls
and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her
You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.

Love,
Meredith

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith addressed it to God/Heaven.. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith' in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies..' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey &Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,

Abbey arrived safely in heaven.
Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away.
Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by..
Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me.. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you.
I send my blessings every day a nd remember that
I love you very much.
By the way, I'm easy to find, I am wherever there is love.

Love,

God

APOCALYPTIC (YES OR NO)

2010-01-28T20:18:00Z

Talking to a good friend today I came upon a thought that I think was of God. Here it is. IN THINKING IN ESHCATOLOGICAL (Final Things) CONCEPTS, WE SPEND MORE TIME ON THE HOW, THAN ON THE WHY.

What do I mean by that? Simple, we are in some geological upheavals, diseases that we fear could be pandemics. There are other things happening that appear also Apocalyptic. Are they? Even Jesus said that He did not know the day or the hour. But we are caught up with Mayan Calendars, Chinese Calendars, and traditions of the Hopi Indians here in the United States. Additionally, Hindus also have a tradition that too makes December 21, 2012 an Apocalyptic event.

Many have looked at it, beyond the element of curiosity. But some are so caught up in them that they are frozen with fear and preparations for the date. All mankind, that realize their own frailty, understand the Earth as a habitat for life will not last forever. Man knows that he is frail and that the systems that keep the Earth safe for man and other life are also subject to the laws of the Universe. All of which we still are learning.

In my opening paragraph I discussed the fact that we are spending more time on the HOW our end will come or calamities will come but we should be studying the WHY our .Earth will have her hiccups and catastrophes. Any of which could spell our end. However, those of the FAITH COMMUNITY know that there is an end 'a coming' . But when we spend all of our time trying to figure out the WHEN and THE HOW, we miss the WHY of the moanings and groanings that are present in our lifetime.

I, as a member of the COMMUNITY OF FAITH, believe in an entity known by many names, Lucifer, Satan etc. The scriptures say he rules the air. Many a Radio or T.V. Evangelist has used this to raise money are explain their own short comings. The Devil is blocking me. Lucifer is given too much credit at time, when it is really human failings.

But we of the COMMUNITY of FAITH know that there is an end coming. We believe in our scriptures.. Religions all over the world call for an end of days. So by definitions of all these people there is going to be an end of days. But instead of getting our head into the HOW AND THE WHEN we need to look at where we are in our individual lives as to WHY do we fear the end of days?

I really get amused at people when they convey the fact that if woke up today, it is a good day. And that God has given me another day here on Earth. Here we get into the WHY.   Why am afraid of my own death? Why am afraid of the END OF THE WORLD?

In my humble opinion it is because we either lack faith or we are not living up to what we know we are to be doing for our Creator.   So then the QUESTION we need to answer is WHY ARE WE HERE? The Book of Revelation tells us that we were CREATED FOR HIS GOOD PLEASURE. That is why you and I are here. We are here to do His Will. And the only way we can find it is through communication with Him.. It is commonly called prayer, or two-way communication between God and Man. Both speaking and both listening.

Response To Holy Family

2009-12-29T20:06:00Z

Jerry Fay gave a response to the Holy Family Blog by Father David Tokarz. I am publishing it as a blog.

It’s a Matter of Love

After reading the blog I couldn’t help but notice the relationship or connective nature in Man between Love and Sin. From the beginning of his ministry when he was driven into the wilderness, Jesus’ love for his Father was tested.

Imagine if you will, the One who existed before time being made sport by a created angel. Lucifer made empty promises to Jesus, knowing full well the divine eternal nature of the Son. There was nothing he could offer that would cause Jesus to concede to the empty promises of the King of Darkness.

Like Jesus, we too struggle against the Devil. I think the keyword is “struggle”. The nonbeliever perceives sin differently than the believer. Such could be compared to a salmon swimming and a man gliding in the water: the salmon must swim against the current, upstream during the spawning season. Such is the Christian. In contrast to this struggle, the man on the raft goes with the flow and casually coasts down stream. Such is the infidel.

This is not to say that the infidel does not have a sense of wrong and right. All men are created with this sense of the natural moral law ( Rom. 1:20). The difference is that the natural man usually makes subjective judgments in terms of reasoning and behavior for his own suitability.

I. I Love to Sin

The first point has an inherent repulsive nature. John said, If we say, "We are without sin," we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us (1 Jn. 1:8). While the Christian often falls into sin, he is not at home in it, nor is he comfortable in its arena and influence.

Yet he often finds himself being subject to the sway of the World, the Flesh, and the Devil. St. Paul experienced this struggle . . . “but I see in my members another principle at war with the law of my mind, taking me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members” (Rom. 7:23).

Why do we fail? To simply say “the devil made me do it” (as did Flip Wilson) is simplistic. I think part of the answer lies in the struggles and stressors we encounter in our modern hectic way of life. The American lifestyle fosters anxiety, anger, depression, and hopelessness. These are certainly not the fruit of the Holy Spirit; they are the antithesis of the peace of God.

Sometimes we are overwhelmed by mental and/or physical fatigue. Some grapple with mental illness, addiction, abusive marriage, or poor self esteem. Some believed the lies they were told about themselves in their childhood home. Others suffered various forms of abuse at the hands of parents and family. God takes these factors in consideration when his disciples fall short of God’s glory as new creatures in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). He promises never to leave us nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5).

II. Love Keeps Me from Sin

The Beatles sang “All You Need is Love.” Unfortunately the context was the love 0 the hippie generation in the Sixties. Daryl Dragon and Toni Tennille (The Captain and Tennille) were on the right rack when they recorded “Love Will Keep Us Together” in 1975:

Love, love will keep us together
Think of me babe whenever
some sweet talkin' girl comes along, singin' a song
don’t mess around, you just gotta be strong
Just stop, 'cause I really love you
Stop, I been thinkin' of you
Look in my heart and let love keep us together

For the Christian, the babe becomes the Lord. The seductive woman is Satan. “You just gotta be strong” translates into putting on the whole armor of God (Eph. 6:11). We recognize that the greatest form of genuine love—“cause I really love you”—is found in God through Christ.

Sometimes it is difficult to hold on as we cope with the issues mentioned above.

Yet we must remember that as pilgrims we are on a short journey in time and space. Jesus faced his own struggles for about three years; a relatively short time compared to those of our own.

As Catholic Christians we enjoy the mercy and grace of our heavenly Father in the sacraments. In the sacrament of Reconciliation we experience God’s love and forgiveness and are freed from sin. In the Eucharist we receive strength and mercy in the Body and Blood of Christ as we commune as his Body.

Bernard of Clairvaux said “The true measure of loving God is to love Him without measure.” As we recognize “the true measure of loving God” we “fight the good fight” to love God and others.

Holy Family Sunday

2009-12-28T13:34:00Z

Good Morning faithful readers. My Pastor put out a blog for yesterday, Holy Family Sunday, that I wished to share with you.

One of the things I like to do is bring you a variety, but consistent theologically writers and subjects. I will bring forth Protestant writers, but their Theology is basically sound on the subjects that I pick.

So read today's, and give me your contacts. I will forward them to Father David Tokarz, the author of today's blog.

If you would to read more of Father Tokarz, his blog site is musingsfromthepastorsstudy.blogspot.com.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

The “traditional” message of the Scriptures for Holy Family Sunday usually includes the following thoughts:
wives, submit; children, obey; husbands, love; parents, don’t nag; everyone, forgive

But I would rather offer a meditation on “lost” Jesus and His episode in Jerusalem, a sort of directed fantasy of how it might have been…

He came for Passover this time because he was 12 and probably just celebrated his Bar-Mitzvah, becoming an adult in the community. The commandment for pilgrimage would be on him now. But we know that Passover in Jerusalem was crowded and chaotic. Pilgrims had to remain inside the City during that great night, but because of the crowds the rabbis re-interpreted the boundaries of Jerusalem to include some outlying areas, like the Mount of Olives, just east of the City and across the Kidron Valley. Wouldn’t it be incredible if this visit was Jesus' 1st “overnight” in Gethsemane?!

Jesus was staggered by the beauty of the Temple (read Psalms 121 & 84 to get a feel for the joy of being at the Temple). My own 1st experience at St. Peter’s in Rome, visiting as a student, was probably like that—you stare up at the scale and the glory and say, “O my Lord…” Jesus stays because He cannot get enough of the Temple and needs to be there "just once more"...

He begins asking questions and discussing theology with the priests and doctors of the Law He meets there (and might one of those young priests have been named Caiaphas?):
Who is the ‘Suffering Servant’ of Isaiah 53?
Is he related to the figure(s) of Isaiah 42, 49, 50 & 61? Are they all the same? Are they a person?
David claimed not to taste corruption (Psalm 16), yet died; he’s either wrong & this shouldn’t be Scripture, or is there any third possibility?
Why must blood (Paschal lamb or Yom Kippur) be shed for salvation & forgiveness of sins?

These might have been Jesus’ questions, sitting there and loving His Father’s house so much He didn’t want to leave it (perhaps spending the next nights in the Garden of Gethsemane, as well: a location so close to the Temple, and a place from which one could sit and gaze at the Temple in all its glory, especially in the morning when the rising sun would be blazing on its façade).

It was necessary, He said when found, that He be “in His Father’s house/about His Father’s business.” Why? It’s because, humanly speaking, He fell in love. Remember, if Jesus knew He was the Son of God, He also was to “grow in age, grace and wisdom”… And we grow through the changes that occur when transforming experiences happen to us.

And if Jesus wanted to ask those questions, I have questions of my own that I would like to ask Him:
What’s the point of the teaching about prayer & asking/seeking/knocking?
If all prayer has to begin and end with “Thy will be done,” why bother praying?
If you have overcome the world why is it still so sinful?
Why did you give us your Body & Blood in the Eucharist?
Was the Crucifixion the only way to redeem us?

What questions might you want to ask?

No matter: even without absolute answers, once one falls in love, one can be faithful and obedient. Jesus was; St. Paul asks us all to do the same. In the words of Thomas More in A Man For All Seasons, when his daughter asked him if he had not done as much as God could reasonably want: "Finally, it's not a matter of reason; finally, it's a matter of love." Happy Holy Family Sunday to us all!

Footnote: the illustration is a fresco by Giotto, found in the Arena Chapel in Padua.

2 Timothy 3:7...always trying to learn but never able to reach a knowledge of the truth.

2009-12-22T17:22:00Z

Many of my friends, both Catholic and Protestant may have problems with this Posting. However, I ask you to comment on it with your thoughts. I will publish them, no matter what you say.

2 Timothy 3:7
...always trying to learn but never able to reach a knowledge of the truth.

This scripture has always intrigued me. Why? Well it could describe our generation, the Baby Boomers. How? Well we were and are on the cusp of the tech. revolution. Our children and grandchildren can run rings around most of us with computers, smart phones etc.

While we are intrigued by the technology; many of us cannot quite wrap our heads around it. But the tragedy of it all, our children and grandchildren are missing so much in their identities and life. Their social skills for the most part are suffering.

As our society has grown more secular and plagued with monetary concerns; we have thought we were seeking truth, but never quite grasping it.

Idealism has once again taken over our world. Just as we had the 'peace and love' culture in the late '60's' and early '70's', we now have liberals believing we are not engaged in a 'war of terror' but individual 'human caused catastrophes'. They believe that these 'terrorists' are criminals and not 'enemy combatants'.

I will give you the fact that they are commiting criminal acts. However, they even consider themselves soldiers; 'Soldiers in the Service of Allah'. And we need to be careful not to mistake the 'Allah' that represents an ancient moon god and 'Yaweh', the God of both Judeao and Christian faiths. 'Yaweh' is the God that has evolved in man's minds and hearts as a God of love. He has always been such, but man had to mature. 'Allah' is a God of violence. Now while we are not at war with Islam itself; we are at war with the extremists of Islam. However, moderate Muslims feel that their religion is a peaceful religion, nonetheless the Koran calls for the death of infidels or non-muslims. THAT IS NOT A PEACEFUL GOD. Understand, though, we are not at war with Islam itself; we are at war with the extremists of Islam.

Our 'western culture' has been blind sided by the 'war on terror'. While many in the 'West' claim a religious affiliation; many do not know the basic tenets of their faiths. Nor does their 'faith' give them the peace in their hearts that God promises to those that love Him.

The United States in particular have been blessed by their friendship and aide to Israel. The Bible states that they that bless Israel will be blest themselves. But the current Administration is showing signs of turning on Israel, by asking her not to build anymore settlements. While that is a sore spot in trying to bring peace to the 'Middle East'; we should not be butting in on this point. We can mediate, but we should not order either side to do anything.

Now back to our premise from 2 Timothy. The 'liberal elite' think they know what is good for the entire world. Many in this group are pushing for a 'one world government'. Note, if you will, the U.N. is pushing for a one world currency and some in the 'Global Warming Community' blatantly pushing for a 'one world government' to enforce the restrictions that they claim will ease 'global warming'.

In the 'West' many feel that we are gaining much knowledge. But when 911 happened, again, 'we were blind sided'. We are at war or are we at war? Brings to mind another scripture, about 'rumors of war'. But many in the 'West' are scared, because they do not have the 'Peace' in their hearts that God promises. Those that are scared have not learned the "Truth". Or maybe we need to say have not met the "Truth" 'Jesus the Christ'. And if they have met the 'Prince of Peace' 'Christ'; they have not learned to equate the two.

All of the technological, medical, transportation and other advances in knowledge, while it is good; does not bring the 'Peace that Passeth All Understanding' provided by 'Yaweh' through 'Jesus the Christ'.

When I became Catholic I was a conservative in the thoughts of the return of Christ. I had been leaning away from a belief in a 'rapture' or 'catching a way' as the scripture calls it, before I converted. As I studied in preparation of that conversion, I became what is known as an a-millenniest. This is the belief that Christ will return and there is no 'rapture' as in the pre-millenniest or conservative view. However, in the last couple of years I have become a pan-millenniest. That is, it will all PAN out in the end.

All kidding aside, we are in a historic period of time. There is activity moving on God's Calender. So we need to be aware of it and either meet the 'Prince of Peace' for the first time or get to know Him even better. All the signs are that this 'historic period' will be trying for the Earth. And the only way we can survive, is to know Him.

God Bless!

Where Oh Where Is My Memory?

2009-12-22T15:09:00Z

Good Morning fellow Bloggers and readers; it is a beautiful day in L.A., Lower Alabama. We have no snow on the ground, but yesterday and today have been the sort of days that convince one to live in the South. However, tomorrow, we will be getting rain storms, some severe. But even these are blessings from God; to clean the air of pollen and pollutants.

I have a question for you today. Have you ever thought of things you want to write or things you want to do, and you when you get the time to do them or write them, you forget them. It is simple to say, get a tape recorder, I have three small ones that fit in your hand. It is also simple to say to write down. The problem is I forget to take the tape recorder, and a lot of times I am driving when I get an idea.

It's not writer's block; I have not even started to write. I have a friend that says it is normal. AM I NORMAL? I hope not, because things would never get written.

What are your thoughts? Can you give me some advice?

Pharaoh's Government

2009-11-24T00:27:00Z

Again, I am publishing a posting by my good friend Jerry Tomecek. While we are not always in agreement, I do know that we intrigue each other with our views and positions.
RECENT VIRGINIA CHURCH SERVICE

-STIMULUS SERMON Genesis 47:13-27

I would love to give the preacher of this predominantly black church in Virginia a hug and a high five.

This guy is obviously a leader

Perhaps we should each decide who our real leader is...It is amazing to see that very little has

changed in 4,000 years.

---------------------------------------------------

Good morning, brothers and sisters; it's always a delight to see the pews crowded on Sunday morning,

and so eager to get into God's Word. Turn with me in your Bibles, if you will to the 47th chapter of Genesis,

we'll begin our reading at verse 13, and go through verse 27.

Brother Ray, would you stand and read that great passage for us? ..(reading)...

Thank you for that fine reading, Brother Ray... So we see that economic hard times fell upon Egypt , and

the people turned to the government of Pharaoh to deal with this for them. And Pharaoh nationalized the grain

harvest, and placed the grain in great storehouses that he had built. So the people brought their money to

Pharaoh, like a great tax increase, and gave it all to him willingly in return for grain. And this went on until their

money ran out, and they were hungry again. So when they went to Pharaoh after that, they brought their

livestock -their cattle, their horses, their sheep, and their donkey - to barter for grain, and verse 17 says that only

took them through the end of that year..

But the famine wasn't over, was it? So the next year, the people came before Pharaoh and admitted they

had nothing left, except their land and their own lives. "There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our

bodies and our land. Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for food,

and we with our land will be servants to Pharaoh." So they surrendered their homes, their land, and their real

estate to Pharaoh's government, and then sold themselves into slavery to him, in return for grain. What can we

learn from this, brothers and sisters?

That turning to the government instead of to God to be our provider in hard times only leads to slavery?

Yes. That the only reason government wants to be our provider is to also become our master?

Yes. But look how that passage ends, brothers and sisters! Thus Israel settled in the , in the

land of .. And they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly." God

provided for His people, just as He always has! They didn't end up giving all their possessions to government, no,

it says they gained possessions!

But I also tell you a great truth today, and an ominous one. We see the same thing happening today - the

government today wants to "share the wealth "once again, to take it from us and redistribute it back to us. It

wants to take control of healthcare, just as it has taken control of education, and ration it back to us, and when

government rations it, then government decides who gets it, and how much, and what kind. And if we go along

with it, and do it willingly, then we will wind up no differently than the people of Egypt did four thousand years

ago - as slaves to the government, and as slaves to our leaders.

What Mr. Obama's government is doing now is no different from what Pharaoh's government did then,

and it will end the same. And a lot of people like to call Mr. Obama a "Messiah," don't they? Is he a Messiah?

A savior? Didn't the Egyptians say, after Pharaoh made them his slaves, "You have saved our lives; may

it please my lord, we will be servants to Pharaoh"?

Well, I tell you this - I know the Messiah; the Messiah is a friend of mine; and Mr. Obama is no Messiah!

No, brothers and sisters, if Mr. Obama is a character from the Bible, then he is Pharaoh.

Bow with me in prayer, if you will. Lord, You alone are worthy to be served, and we rely on You, and

You alone.

We confess that the government is not our deliverer, and never rightly will be. We read in the eighth

chapter of 1 Samuel, when Samuel warned the people of what a ruler would do, where it says "And in that day

you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer

you in that day." And Lord, we acknowledge that day has come. We cry out to you because of the ruler that we

have chosen for ourselves as a nation. Lord, we pray for this nation. We pray for revival, and we pray for

deliverance from those who would be our masters.

Give us hearts to seek You and hands to serve You, and protect Your people from the atrocities of

Pharaoh's government.

In God We Trust...

CANCER FREE

2009-11-23T14:47:00Z

    I have been somewhat slack in my posts the last several months. It was un-intentional, however, I have been factually ill some of the time. However, I had been given some depressing news about 4 months ago. It had the potential of capping my life at 5 more years. Now do not misunderstand, I am ready to go. But like the old joke I told many times from the pulpit, {There was a firey evangelist pouring on the coals at a summer revival. He asked the question, "How many here want to go to Heaven?" Everyone in the Church raised their hands, except two men in the back.
    The evangelist asked the question three times. And all three times, he got the same results. He finally walked half-way down the aisle and asked those two men, specifically, "Don't you two want to go to Heaven?" Their response was quick, "Oh Yes Sir, but we thought you were trying to get a boat load up tonight."}
    Most of us are ready to go, but not tonight.
    It has cast a pall over my psyche. Even with all of the promises of Scripture, I just felt I had so much more to do for God, and yes there are some relations I need to heal. So I was not ready in the Earthly sense.
    I had been given a test here in Mobile, that I learned last week, is no longer used at your major Cancer Centers. I was at M.D. Anderson in Houston when I learned it. Dr. Word, a surgeon at the Genito-Urinary section of M.D. Anderson had done a masterful job of doing a 'Reclamation Cyro' procedure a year earlier. But indicators showed that it might have rfeturned, along with this test I mentioned.   He walked in the morning of my appointment and explained 'false-positives'. It seemed that this test 'smelled' live cancer cells as well as live cells. Biopsies proved, I had no Cancer.

I do not mean to make a case for Health Care Reform. I believe we need some reform: tort reform; cross state purchasing and other very simple fixes. However, what is on the table now is not Reform, but take over. I am almost 64 years old. If we had some of the measures on the table now, I would probably have died years ago or at best, would still be depressed, because I probably could not get to M.D. Anderson.

God Bless

Re: Tragedy at Fort Hood by Dr. Jerry Fay PHD.

2009-11-11T15:36:00Z

Dr. Jerry Fay has again mastered my Blog on the Tragedy at Fort Hood. I wanted you to read it. He brings up many valid points.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Blame Game

Lady Nancy Astor, a 20th century member of the British Parliament said, “I would like to say that the first time Adam had a chance he laid the blame on a woman.” Mankind has been in the “blaming business” since Eden.

Thus, we use this psychological tool to rationalize, defend, manipulate, or to explain the thinking and behavior of ourselves, and others.

Major Nidal Malik Hasan was apparently angry over the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Then in a matter of minutes 13 people were dead and 29 others were wounded. Hasan had commented that the war on terror was "a war on Islam."

Blame friends and coworkers. Osman Danquah , a retired Army first sergeant, had told the shooter that Muslims were fighting each other in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Palestinian territories.

Blame the Army. Dr. Val Finnell said of Hasan that he should have been confronted about his radical beliefs. "In retrospect, I'm not surprised he did it," Finnell said of the shootings. "I had real questions about what his priorities were, what his beliefs were."

Blame the Islamic Community. "I told him, `There's something wrong with you,'" Danquah, co-founder of the Islamic Community of Greater Killeen, told The Associated Press on Saturday. "I didn't get the feeling he was talking for himself, but something just didn't seem right."

In a sense, blaming is pointless; it will not justify the shootings nor change the reality of the tragedy.

Blame Terrorism. Hasan is said to have jumped on a desk and shouted "Allah akbar!" ("God is great!"). The Catechism of the Catholic Church (2297) says, “Terrorism threatens, wounds, and kills indiscriminately is gravely against justice and charity.”

Blame the wickedness of the human heart. Jeremiah 17:7 says “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

History is filled with episodes of misguided violence in the name of Religion.

What can we learn from this tragedy? Perhaps Marcus Aurelius, Roman emperor and philosopher, (121-180 A.D.) gives the best answer when he said, “The best part of revenge is not to be like him who did the injury.”

The Persecuted One said, “. . . Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you . . .”

Tragedy at Fort Bliss

2009-11-06T16:05:00Z

I have not posted in over a week. Unlike my last announcement that I was back, I had to leave again. My sugar became unstable, and I was unaware of it, as I got sick like a stomach flu, until one of my medical friends suggested that I test my sugar (I do not do it every day. Because my diabetes has been controlled so well, that I do not even think about it). It was my sugar, do to my lack of medication for about two weeks. I borrowed some medication from my pharmacist and will be getting the rest later this week-end. Thank you for your prayers.

Today is not a Bible or Theological Blog. My mind, as the nation has been overwhelmed by the tragedy at Fort Hood, Tx. Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan has captured the attention of the nation. I, like many others, are appalled at the situation that unfolded in Texas yesterday. This smells of Bureaucratic Blindness. We have all heard of Officers that have been falling down in proficiencies being shipped to war zones. However, with his well known extremist views, shipping him to the War Zone in the Middle-East, adds credibility to the old joke that Military Intelligence is a conflict in terms. During World War II, we allowed ethnic groups to fight, but for the most part they were in theaters that did not put them in a position of having to choose between their heritage and the Allied War Effort. The War on Terror (not politically correct), is so rife with these conflicts for most Muslims, it is terrible to put them in this position. However, many Muslims can serve in the War on Terror (not politically correct), honorably because they can understand the difference in their faith and the extremist element of Islam.

The last paragraph lays out the problem that should be recognized by the Military. However, with Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, his postings on the Internet and his comments amount other officers should have shown he had problems with the War on Terror (not politically correct). This is not even considering his bad proficiency reports.

Like Islam, the whole Religion is not of this mind-set, the Military is not this stupid. We have the best Military in the World. But a small group of non-thinking, ready to retire, fat a____, pardon my french, Senior Staff apparently dropped the ball.

Most American Islamists abhor what happened in Texas, yesterday. We can not indict both Islam and the Military as a whole. But hopefully those with the authority and the American Islamic community can work together to see this never happens again.

Comment On Pray for Clergy Converts

2009-10-20T19:17:00Z

This was a comment by Dr. Jerry Fay on the blog from yesterday, Pray for Clergy Converts
Those that hit the Blog to check for new blogs may not always bring up the comments. I believe this is one that should be read by all, so I am posting it as a blog. God Bless

Dear Jimmy:

I don't think this topic can be overemphasized. There is a goldmine of "converted" talent out there ready and willing to serve Christ and his Church.

A comment on four points of emphasis from the bog:

I. "I do not believe any of my converted brothers feel that their ministry was wrong or “Spiritual Illegal.”

Before we were Catholic we did the best we could do with what we knew about Christ, the Bible, and ministry. Most of us have respectable academic credentials and field experience.

II. "And do not believe that the people we left behind are not saved. There is Salvation outside the Catholic Church."

Many Catholics and Protestants have misunderstandings about Salvation.
Some Catholics believe Protestants are not saved. Some Protestants believe Catholics are not saved. This is not necessarily true.

For example, baptism outside of the Church is considered valid. In reality, there are people on both sides of the fence that "don't get it" when it comes to the Gospel.

III. "We miss fellowship with clergy."
And how! We miss preaching and teaching as well as the camaraderie among pastors. We have sacrificed much but none of us regret our allegiance to the Bishop of Rome.

IV. "That truth is “Real Presence” of the Lord, in the Eucharist."
As a convert we now realize that nothing is as important as the fullness of Jesus in the Eucharist.

This and other apostolic truths have become for us the "pearl of great price." There is nothing in this life as exciting and satisfying as being part of the Church that has prevailed for almost 2,000 years!

Comment On Pray for Clergy Converts

2009-10-20T19:17:00Z

This was a comment by Dr. Jim Fay on the blog from yesterday on Clergy Comments.
Those that hit the Blog to check for new blogs may not always bring up the comments. I believe this is one that should be read by all, so I am posting it as a blog. God Bless

Dear Jimmy:

I don't think this topic can be overemphasized. There is a goldmine of "converted" talent out there ready and willing to serve Christ and his Church.

A comment on four points of emphasis from the bog:

I. "I do not believe any of my converted brothers feel that their ministry was wrong or “Spiritual Illegal.”

Before we were Catholic we did the best we could do with what we knew about Christ, the Bible, and ministry. Most of us have respectable academic credentials and field experience.

II. "And do not believe that the people we left behind are not saved. There is Salvation outside the Catholic Church."

Many Catholics and Protestants have misunderstandings about Salvation.
Some Catholics believe Protestants are not saved. Some Protestants believe Catholics are not saved. This is not necessarily true.

For example, baptism outside of the Church is considered valid. In reality, there are people on both sides of the fence that "don't get it" when it comes to the Gospel.

III. "We miss fellowship with clergy."
And how! We miss preaching and teaching as well as the camaraderie among pastors. We have sacrificed much but none of us regret our allegiance to the Bishop of Rome.

IV. "That truth is “Real Presence” of the Lord, in the Eucharist."
As a convert we now realize that nothing is as important as the fullness of Jesus in the Eucharist.

This and other apostolic truths have become for us the "pearl of great price." There is nothing in this life as exciting and satisfying as being part of the Church that has prevailed for almost 2,000 years!

Pray and Use Clergy Converts To the Catholic Church

2009-10-19T16:40:00Z

Good Morning Readers, I am back and hope to stay for a while.

This morning I would like to start with a prayer request. Michael Cumbie, www.mikecumbie.org, is in two different events this week. Mike is one of our brothers that have converted to the Catholic Church. He and part of his family are in Victoria Texas. They started the Mission there Sunday night and are going through Wednesday night October, 21^st. Then he will be in Columbia South, Carolina on Friday night the 23^rd and all day Saturday, at the Charsamatic Catholic there.

Today I would like to discuss a subject that some people in the Catholic Church are aware but there others that are not. Last year some 50 of us, many spouses, met in Columbus Ohio for a weekend retreat, under the auspices of the Coming Home Network, an Apostolate, ministering to any Protestant Clergy that has or desires to convert. We do not proselyte, but they and all of us that are involved with them, simply answer questions by those inquiring.

Last year Mike Cumbie and his wife were there. We had had a very good and successful retreat. But Marcus Grodi, the founder of the Coming Home Network, asked Mike to share his testimony. Mike, as all that attended will attest, was the key to a great retreat. We did not want to go to bed that last night. We simply wanted to be with each other for as long as we could.

There have been 1700 Protestant Clergy converting to the Catholic Church since 1993. These were only the ones known by Coming Home Network. Why would we do such? The answer, like other Spiritual Experiences, is a little harder to explain, than it is to know internally.

The ultimate seal on this writer’s life was the same as with many other converts. This was something that goes beyond experience, but rather goes to a factual revelation of Truth. That truth is “Real Presence” of the Lord, in the Eucharist.

This revelation, in this writer’s life, came through reading of the Early Church Fathers, and their specific statements that “This is The Body And Blood of Jesus Christ”. And as I have stated on this Blog before, when I wrote of my testimony, I knew beyond the shadow of doubt that the Church with the unbroken line of Apostolic Succession and belief in “Real Presence” of the Lord, in the Eucharist, was where I had to be. If one looks at secular as well as Church History, there is no doubt that there is only one Church that fits this criteria. Every other Christian group, while they have part of the “Truth” they do not have the “Fullness of Truth”. I do not believe any of my converted brothers feel that their ministry was wrong or “Spiritual Illegal.” And do not believe that the people we left behind are not saved. There is Salvation outside the Catholic Church. We wish, however, they could understand the “Fullness of the Faith, and Truth”, which we have found in the Catholic Church.

Today I want to address the plight of many of these converts, especially in the South and other areas of the country that are primarily Protestant. There are several things that we would like Bishops and other Clergy in the Dioceses to understand. But in stating them we sometimes feel that we are being disrespectful. However, in not stating them, we also feel that we are not being received or understood.

These things affect our very spiritual life. We miss fellowship with clergy. Some of our numbers have been fortunate enough to become Deacons or even Priests. But for those of us that have not, we miss that fellowship. Many have not been utilized in any ministry, because in the areas that are not strongly Catholic, the Clergy do not know how to receive us.

I was fortunate. I was able to present several Missions and present my testimony as far away as Massachusetts. I now am limited to writing. This is where God has me for now.

But there are many other clergy converts that have not been able to find a niche. If you are a Priest in any Diocese, please consider using these clergy converts for a Mission or other type teaching ministry. If you are concerned about their theology, don’t be. You will find that clergy converts are, for the most part, are very conservative and know what they believe. We also take the teachings of the Church as our life. We would not have given up years of service and prospects, turning our back on families at times, to become a convert.

Consider these things as you lay out your Church Calendar each year. For a larger list of clergy converts, you may contact the Coming Home Network, http://www.chnetwork.org.

God Bless

What's Goes To Rio, Stays In Rio

2009-10-02T19:25:00Z

How many of you have heard that Chicago did not get the Olympics? They were voted out in the first vote.

Our President's time and the money for Air Force One and the second decoy plane and the staff that he must take where ever he goes.

His wife's trip and plane could be explained. But the President's is a little over the top.
It gives him a political black eye, both here and abroad. He could not bring home the goods, with an all out push. Watch Glenn Beck tonight. I know he is over the top in many things, however, his facts are correct.

Last night he showed a scandal that he uncovered concerning Valarie Jarrett, President's Obama chief counsel. Go to Fox News website and try to find last night's show.

Now Newt Gingrich put it very succinctly. President Eisenhower had a rule; never go to a meeting, unless the outcome is assured.

We pray that the President will get out of the campaign mode and move to a Presidential posture.

JOY IN THE LORD

2009-09-29T17:19:00Z

I found this under http://www.tbm.org/joy.htm. Again I do not see the need to reinvent the wheel. This says it all.

Also, check out http://shouttothelordcanada.com/Fruits3.htm. It will put a song in your heart.

Joy of the Lord

by Tom Brown

One of the most popular passages in the Bible is Nehemiah 8:10: "Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

Why is joy important? Because the "joy of the Lord is your strength!" Joy produces strength. And strength is needed to fight. You are called to "fight the good fight of faith" (1 Timothy 6:12). I sense in my spirit that many people in the body of Christ are tired of fighting the good fight of faith. They are struggling to fight because they have lost their joy.

Perhaps you are tired of fighting for your marriage. You are fed up with your spouse. You think that he doesn't love you any more, so why fight for his love. You are ready to throw in the towel.

Maybe you're sick and tired of being sick and tired. You have been sick for so long that you don't remember what it's like to be healthy. At one time, you battled this sickness, but the sickness seems to be winning. So you think, What's the use, I might as well accept this sickness and learn to live with it. I'm never going to get well.

Possibly you once waged war against your financial debts. But things haven't changed much, and you're beginning to get discouraged. You think that you are never going to get out from under all your bills.

You might be having trouble with your children. You wonder if they are ever going to straighten up. You are exhausted from their rebellion. Is God ever going to change them? you wonder.

EVERYONE HAS TROUBLES

I know how you feel. As a pastor, I face many trials every day. I do my best to be a good pastor. I teach the word of God, counsel the distraught, visit the sick, etc. Yet there are always people who are never happy with my performance. People complain:

"I don't get fed spiritually." "The pastor didn't visit me in the hospital." "The pastor was not available to counsel me when I needed him to." "I'm not going to church because brother X is a hypocrite." "I didn't go to church because the Dallas Cowboys were playing an early game." "The people at church are not friendly." "The church is not open for me to use my gifts." "Nobody cares about me at church."

After experiencing these and many other trials, I too want to give up. I lament over my troubles, What's the use of trying to be a good pastor. They don't appreciate me. I want to say, "Forget them!" Of course that's my flesh talking, not my heart.

My heart says, "They don't know what they are doing. They are simply frustrated themselves. They don't mean to hurt me. I'm going to rejoice." This is what you need to do: Rejoice!

REJOICE ALWAYS

Philippians 4:4 says, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" How often are you to rejoice? You know the answer, Always! You are to rejoice always, because "joy" is the easiest fruit to lose. You can't live off of the joy you had yesterday. Joy can give you strength only when you possess it.

If you had joy last week, that joy will not give you strength today. Joy can only give you strength today, if you have it today. This is why you must rejoice always.

You might say, "I don't feel like rejoicing." God didn't say, "Rejoice, only if you feel like it." No! He said, "Rejoice always." Obviously, God knows that you don't feel like rejoicing always. Yet you need to rejoice always because if you don't then you lose the strength to fight.

James 1:2 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds." Pure joy is not happiness. "Happiness" comes from the word "happen." Happiness, therefore, is based on what is happening. If something good is happening, then you are happy. However, God says that pure joy occurs even in the midst of trials--even when the car breaks down, or when the kids get sick, or when the boss cuts your hours, or when your spouse is in a bad mood, etc.

Why is James telling us to count it pure joy whenever we face trials? Because joy gives you strength to fight your trials, and if you'll fight the trials, you will overcome. James continues, "Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" (v. 4). You see, James has in mind "victory over trials", not "acceptance of his trials." So by rejoicing, you overcome your trials.

YET I WILL REJOICE

I love the verse in Habakkuk 3:17:

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crops fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls..." (Sounds like this fellow has problems.) Look at the next verse:

"Yet...Yet...Yet...Yet...Yet."

Notice, he is not going to surrender to his problems. He is going to do something about his problems.

He says, "Yet I will REJOICE IN THE LORD, I will be JOYFUL IN GOD MY SAVIOR" (v. 18).

He is going to REJOICE because, "The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights" (v. 19).

You see, Habakkuk had no intention of staying defeated. He may look defeated, but he is not going to stay defeated. The difference between the person who is defeated and the person who is victorious is their attitude.

An attitude of gratitude will put you over in life. This is the kind of attitude that this prophet had. Even though nothing good was happening in his life--no fruit, no crops, no sheep, no cattle--yet he rejoiced.

In our modern world, Habakkuk might have said it this way:

"Though there is no food in the refrigerator, and there is no money in the account, though the sickness gets worse, and the pain persist, though my children are on drugs, and my spouse does not appreciate me, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior."

Regardless of the circumstances, you can rejoice!

WELLS OF SALVATION

Let's look at one last verse of scripture: "`Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.' WITH JOY YOU WILL DRAW WATER FROM THE WELLS OF SALVATION" (Isaiah 12:2-3).

Did you know that there are "wells" (plural) of salvation? When you got saved, you inherited many wells. Each well contains a unique blessing:

One well has a sign on it that reads: HEALING. Another well says: PROSPERITY. Still another well says: SOUND MIND. As you look around at all the wells, you notice another one with a emblem saying: FAMILY RESTORATION.

The more you look at the wells you inherited, the more your heart rejoices.

Notice that this scripture says that with joy you will draw from the wells of salvation. You need muscles--strength--to draw water from wells. Without strength you can't draw from the wells. This is why Isaiah says, "With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." It takes joy to draw from the wells of healing, prosperity, soundness of mind and family restoration. Without joy, you can't draw water from these wonderful wells.

Joy keeps you strong and enables you to draw from the wells of salvation.

You may be facing sickness. Yet God has provided the well of "healing." But only through joy can you draw from this well. So rejoice despite your sickness.

You may be experiencing poverty. But through joy you can draw from the well named "prosperity."

You may be tormented with fear, worry and depression. However, you can draw the water called "sound mind"--through joy!

Don't get down. Don't get discouraged.

The devil may be able to attack you (after all, he is the god of this age) but he has no power to steal your joy. Joy is a spiritual force inside your human spirit. Satan can touch your body, finances and family as the book of Job teaches, but he can't touch your spirit. Your spirit is off limits to the devil. And since he can't touch your spirit, he can't rob you of your joy.

Satan can not steal your joy since it is spiritual. If you lost your joy it is because you gave it away. However, if you will keep your joy, Satan has to release your blessings.

In All Things Give Thanks

2009-09-28T13:14:00Z

I have been dealing with the subject of Thanksgiving for the last week, in my mind. Things have not exactly been rosy for this author. However, I knew that God was still in control. I wanted to write on it this morning, so I did a google so I could get all the scriptures I wanted to use, in one place. At least that was my thought. I found this posting from INTO THE LIGHT MINISTRIES. It said what I was thinking all weekend. So again, not to reinvent the wheel, here is their offering. You may contact them at www.intothelightministries.org.

The Lord has been dealing with me lately on the issue of thanksgiving and I felt to share the revelations He has shown me with His people.

Let us start with Psalm 100:4:
"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name."

As you can see we are commanded first of all to enter His gates with thanksgiving. We are to have an attitude of thankfulness before we even come before God. Now before we go any further I should establish just what it means to be thankful. Matthew 11:25 says, "At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes."

The root meaning of the word thank in this verse comes from the Greek word: Exomologeo, which means to acknowledge and agree fully. This word in turn comes from two Greek words: Ek or Ex which denotes the origin or beginning of action, and Homologeo which means to give thanks.

So as you can see, thanksgiving is not passive, it is an action. We are to show our thankfulness to the world for all that God has done in our lives. We should be happy that we even have breath in our body and acknowledge that the only reason we do is because it is part of God's plan. It is to give Him glory, and that is the only reason. Thank God that you are healthy and show others that thanks in the way you live your life. And if you are not whole and healthy then thank God that in his infinite wisdom He has a plan for you, and think how much more of a testimony you can give by showing others your willingness to love and follow God in spite of infirmities.

I know of brothers and sisters in the Lord that, in spite of debilitating infirmities, still show others the glory of God. Why should we boast or have pride in anything that we can do when the only reason that we can is because God, in His love and mercy, gave us the ability.

So we have established that thanksgiving is an action. And as James 2:17 tell us: Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

So faith without the action of thanksgiving is no faith at all. How can you have faith if you do not agree fully with what God is doing in your life? You cannot! Let us use Jesus as an example. Jesus gave thanks to God at both ends of the scale. He gave thanks for the wisdom of God acknowledging that His plan was right and good and He agreed fully with God's plans for His life, even though it meant that He would have to die on the cross. And in numerous verses in the Bible Jesus gave thanks to God for the everyday things, like food. Jesus is the example of how we are to live, so we must give thanks to our Lord in all things even if it leads to our death. Even Jonah who was stuck in the belly of a fish for three days was thankful, as we see in Jonah 2:9:
"But I will sacrifice unto Thee with the voice of thanksgiving: I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord."

Jonah was in one of the most disgusting places on earth for three days. He was languishing in the intestines of a fish covered in the remains of its last meal and probably up to his neck in intestinal acid. Now if he can be thankful to God in that situation then how much more can we, who do not have it that bad, give thanks in our everyday lives. We are to be cheerful that we are counted worthy to be called children of God, to suffer for His name. And we are to reflect that cheer in our life without ceasing. This is the part most people have trouble with; we are to be cheerful about it.

Let us look at 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18: "Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

Even though we cannot know what God's complete plan is for us we must be happy about it. This ties in with Hebrew 11:1 where it says: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Let me go back to a previous point. Jesus thanked and agreed with His Father's plans, even though it meant that He would suffer the rejection of His own people, that He would be ridiculed, flogged, beaten, spit on, forced to carry the cross (the instrument of His own death), and ultimately die on that cross, one of the most agonizing means of execution ever devised. (Read Pastor Ron Bernier's message on the crucifixion for a better understanding of what Jesus went through.) Even though it meant He would have to endure all of this Jesus still did the will of God cheerfully. How much more should we, who do not have do endure anything like what our Lord did, be thankful and happy to be part of God's plan. And yet the Church today is full of sniveling, weak people who call themselves men and women of God. They complain about the smallest thing and then wonder why God does not bless them with more. WAKE UP PEOPLE!!! If you cannot be trusted with the smallest of things then what makes you think that you can be trusted with anything more? (read the parable of the talents). It is simple enough to understand. God is in charge. This is His creation. We are His, to do with as He chooses. We are to follow His plans not ours, because we were bought with a price and are no longer our own person (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We do all things for His glory and any thought or action to the contrary is pride and as I mentioned before we can do nothing except that which God has given us the ability to do.

Now do not get me wrong, I am not perfect in any way and I have fallen into the same traps, but the Lord in His great mercy has shown me how to escape, and it is not because of anything that I have done but because of His love and mercy. Acts 10:34 tells us that God is no respecter of persons. What He does for one He will do for all. If God can show me my sin and a way to escape from it then He can and will show you. All you have to do is believe and obey. Be Warned, if you do this then you will be tested. I was and still am being tested daily, but God does not want passive Christians, He wants soldiers, real men. You have probably seen the bumper sticker that says "Real Men Love Jesus." I would like to add a line that I once heard in a song "Get on your knees and fight like a man." How can you show your thankfulness to God if you are trying to stand on your own? You will fall. Get on your knees before God in supplication and thanksgiving and only then can you show God and the world the glory of our Savior. It will not be easy. The devil will come in like a roaring lion to try and drag you away from God and devour you. (1 Peter 5:8). We are tested for a reason as we are shown in Romans 5:3-5. And remember above all, that all things are possible through God (Matthew 19:26). So I urge you to wake up, get on your knees and fight for the glory of our God.