2
In days to come, The mountain of the
LORD'S house shall be established as
the highest mountain and raised above
the hills. All nations shall stream
toward it;
3
many peoples shall come and say:
"Come, let us climb the LORD'S
mountain, to the house of the God of
Jacob, That he may instruct us in his
ways, and we may walk in his paths."
For from Zion shall go forth
instruction, and the word of the LORD
from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and impose terms on many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into
plowshares and their spears into
pruning hooks; One nation shall not
raise the sword against another, nor
shall they train for war again.
Be sure of this: if the master of the
house had known the hour of night
when the thief was coming, he would
have stayed awake and not let his
house be broken into.
According to present [1907] usage,
Advent is a period beginning with the
Sunday
nearest to the
feast of
St. Andrew the
Apostle (30 November) and
embracing four
Sundays. The first
Sunday
may be as early as 27 November, and then
Advent has twenty-eight days, or as late
as 3 December, giving the season only
twenty-one days.
With Advent the
ecclesiastical year begins in
the
Western churches.
During this time the
faithful
are admonished
to prepare themselves worthily to
celebrate the
anniversary
of the
Lord's
coming into the world as the
incarnate
God
of
love,
In days past, when Saul was our king,
it was you who led the Israelites out
and brought them back. And the LORD
said to you, 'You shall shepherd my
people Israel and shall be commander
of Israel.'"
When all the elders of Israel came to
David in Hebron, King David made an
agreement with them there before the
LORD, and they anointed him king of
Israel.
Responsorial Psalm - (Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5):
R. (cf. 1) Let us go
rejoicing to the house of the
Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to
me,
"We will go up to the house of
the LORD."
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R.
Let us go rejoicing to the house
of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R.
Let us go rejoicing to the house
of the Lord.
According to the decree for
Israel,
to give thanks to the name of
the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R.
Let us go rejoicing to the house
of the Lord.
Reading
II - A reading from the letter of St. Paul to
the Colossians (Colossians 1:12-20):
For in him
8
were created all things in heaven and
on earth, the visible and the
invisible, whether thrones or
dominions or principalities or
powers; all things were created
through him and for him.
He replied to him, "Amen, I say to
you, today you will be with me in
Paradise."
---------------------
11/21/10- Saint Gemma Galgani -
Saint
Gemma Galgani had extraordinary mystical
experiences, some of which (using her guardian
angel to deliver letters to Father Germano)
were verified. She was miraculously cured
of terminal illness. She received the
stigmata, from which much blood flowed over
many years. She could see, touch, and
converse with her guardian angel, and even sent
him on errands for her. At the end of her
life, she offered herself to Jesus as an
offering for her own sins and those of sinners
everywhere, and the devil assailed her from
then until her death, often beating her,
leaving visible marks and bruises, and these
attacks were witnessed by others. She is
a most interesting saint, and many miracles
have been attributed to her intercession.
Lo, the day is coming, blazing like
an oven, when all the proud and all
evildoers will be stubble, And the
day that is coming will set them on
fire, leaving them neither root nor
branch, says the LORD of hosts.
But for you who fear my name, there
will arise the sun of justice with
its healing rays.
Responsorial Psalm - (Psalm 98:5-6, 7-8, 9):
R. (cf. 9) The Lord
comes to rule the earth with
justice.
Sing praise to the LORD with the
harp,
with the harp and melodious
song.
With trumpets and the sound of
the horn
sing joyfully before the King,
the LORD.
R.
The Lord comes to rule the earth
with justice.
Let the sea and what fills it
resound,
the world and those who dwell in
it;
let the rivers clap their hands,
the mountains shout with them
for joy.
R.
The Lord comes to rule the earth
with justice.
Before the LORD, for he comes,
for he comes to rule the earth,
He will rule the world with
justice
and the peoples with equity.
R.
The Lord comes to rule the earth
with justice.
Reading
II - A reading from the second letter of St.
Paul to the Thessalonians (2 Thessalonians
3:7-12):
"Before all this happens,
4
however, they will seize and
persecute you, they will hand you
over to the synagogues and to
prisons, and they will have you led
before kings and governors because of
my name.
11/14/10-
Prayer to Release 1,000
Souls from Purgatory Each Time It Is Said-
Our Lord told St. Gertrude the Great,
that the following prayer would release 1,000
souls from Purgatory each time it is said. The
prayer was extended to include living sinners
which would alleviate the indebtedness accrued
to them during their lives. (Text and prayer
copied from
http://www.ourladyswarriors.org/prayer/purgator.htm
)
Eternal Father,
I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of
Thy Divine Son, Jesus,
in union with the Masses said throughout
the world today,
for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory,
for sinners everywhere,
for sinners in the Universal Church,
those in my own home and within my family.
It happened that seven brothers with
their mother were arrested and
tortured with whips and scourges by
the king, to force them to eat pork
in violation of God's law.
One of the brothers, speaking for the
others, said: "What do you expect to
achieve by questioning us? We are
ready to die rather than transgress
the laws of our ancestors."
1
At the point of death he said: "You
accursed fiend, you are depriving us
of this present life, but the King of
the world will raise us up to live
again forever. It is for his laws
that we are dying."
as he spoke these noble words: "It
was from Heaven that I received
these; for the sake of his laws I
disdain them; from him I hope to
receive them again."
When he was near death, he said, "It
is my choice to die at the hands of
men with the God-given hope of being
restored to life by him; but for you,
there will be no resurrection to
life."
Responsorial Psalm - (Psalm 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15):
R. (15b) Lord, when your
glory appears, my joy will be
full.
Hear, O LORD, a just suit;
attend to my outcry;
hearken to my prayer from lips
without deceit.
R.
Lord, when your glory appears,
my joy will be full.
My steps have been steadfast in
your paths,
my feet have not faltered.
I call upon you, for you will
answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my
word.
R.
Lord, when your glory appears,
my joy will be full.
Keep me as the apple of your
eye,
hide me in the shadow of your
wings.
But I in justice shall behold
your face;
on waking I shall be content in
your presence.
R.
Lord, when your glory appears,
my joy will be full.
Reading II - A
reading from the second letter of St. Paul to
the Thessalonians (2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5):
8
saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us,
'If someone's brother dies leaving a
wife but no child, his brother must
take the wife and raise up
descendants for his brother.'
That the dead will rise even Moses
made known in the passage about the
bush, when he called 'Lord' the God
of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the
God of Jacob;
Those who trust in him shall
understand truth, and the faithful
shall abide with him in love: Because
grace and mercy are with his holy
ones, and his care is with the elect.
Responsorial Psalm - (Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6):
R. Though I walk in the
valley of darkness, I fear no
evil, for you are with me.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall
not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me
repose;
beside restful waters he leads
me;
he refreshes my soul.
R.
Though I walk in the valley of
darkness, I fear no evil, for
you are with me.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark
valley
I fear no evil; for you are at
my side
with your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R.
Though I walk in the valley of
darkness, I fear no evil, for
you are with me.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R.
Though I walk in the valley of
darkness, I fear no evil, for
you are with me.
Only goodness and kindness
follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house
of the LORD
for years to come.
R.
Though I walk in the valley of
darkness, I fear no evil, for
you are with me.
Reading II - A
reading from the letter of St. Paul to the
Romans (Romans 6:3-9):
We were indeed buried with him
through baptism into death, so that,
just as Christ was raised from the
dead by the glory of the Father, we
too might live in newness of life.
I, John, saw another angel come up
from the East,
3
holding the seal of the living God.
He cried out in a loud voice to the
four angels who were given power to
damage the land and the sea,
After this I had a vision of a great
multitude, which no one could count,
from every nation, race, people, and
tongue. They stood before the throne
and before the Lamb, wearing white
robes and holding palm branches
6
in their hands.
All the angels stood around the
throne and around the elders and the
four living creatures. They
prostrated themselves before the
throne, worshiped God,
I said to him, "My lord, you are the
one who knows." He said to me, "These
are the ones who have survived the
time of great distress;
8
they have washed their robes and made
them white in the blood of the Lamb.
R. (see 6) Lord, this is
the people that longs to see
your face.
The LORD’s are the earth and its
fullness;
the world and those who dwell in
it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the
rivers.
R.
Lord, this is the people that
longs to see your face.
Who can ascend the mountain of
the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy
place?
One whose hands are sinless,
whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R.
Lord, this is the people that
longs to see your face.
He shall receive a blessing from
the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks him,
that seeks the face of the God
of Jacob.
R.
Lord, this is the people that
longs to see your face.
Reading II - A
reading from the first letter of St. John (1
John 3:1-3):
1
See what love the Father has bestowed
on us that we may be called the
children of God. Yet so we are. The
reason the world does not know us is
that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God's children now;
what we shall be has not yet been
revealed. We do know that when it is
revealed
2
we shall be like him, for we shall
see him as he is.
Therefore you rebuke offenders little by
little, warn them, and remind them of the sins
they are committing, that they may abandon
their wickedness and believe in you, O LORD!
Responsorial Psalm - ("I Will Praise Your Name" by David Haas):
Refrain: I will praise your name, my King and my God.
1. I will give you glory, my God and King, and I will bless your name forever.
Every day I will bless and praise your name forever.
Refrain: I will praise your name, my King and my God.
2. The Lord is full of grace and mercy. He is kind and slow to anger.
He is good in all His works and full of compassion.
Refrain: I will praise your name, my King and my God.
3. Let all your works give you thanks, O Lord, and let all the faithful bless you.
Let them speak of your might, O Lord, the glory of your kingdom.
Refrain: I will praise your name, my King and my God.
4. The Lord is faithful in all His words, and always near. His name is holy.
He lifts up all those who fall. He raises up the lowly.
Refrain: I will praise your name, my King and my God.
Reading II - A reading from the second letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians (2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2):
We
always pray for you, that our God may make you
worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to
fulfillment every good purpose and every effort
of faith,
not to
be shaken out of your minds suddenly, or to be
alarmed either by a "spirit,"
2
or by an oral statement, or by a letter
allegedly from us to the effect that the day of
the Lord is at hand.
Gospel - A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke (Luk 19:1-10):
But
Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord,
"Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall
give to the poor, and if I have extorted
anything from anyone I shall repay it four
times over."
Teresa
de Cepeda y Ahumada was born in 1515 in
Gotarrendura, in the province of Ávila, Spain.
Her paternal grandfather, Juan de Toledo, was a
marrano
(Jewish forced-convert to Christianity) and was
condemned by the
Spanish Inquisition
for allegedly returning to the Jewish faith.
Her father, Alonso Sánchez de Cepeda, bought
knighthood and successfully assimilated into
Christian society. Teresa's mother, Beatriz,
was especially keen to raise her daughter as a
pious Christian. Teresa was fascinated by
accounts of the lives of the saints, and ran
away from home at age seven with her brother
Rodrigo to find martyrdom among the Moors. Her
uncle stopped them as he was returning to the
city, having spotted the two outside the city
walls.
In the
cloister, she suffered greatly from illness.
Early in her sickness, she experienced periods
of religious ecstasy through the use of the
devotional book "Tercer abecedario
espiritual," translated as the Third
Spiritual Alphabet (published in 1527 and
written by Francisco de Osuna). This work,
following the example of similar writings of
medieval mystics, consisted of directions for
examinations of conscience and for spiritual
self-concentration and inner contemplation
(known in mystical nomenclature as oratio
recollectionis or oratio mentalis).
She also employed other mystical ascetic works
such as the Tractatus de oratione et
meditatione of
Saint Peter of Alcantara,
and perhaps many of those upon which
Saint Ignatius of Loyola
based his Spiritual Exercises and
possibly the Spiritual Exercises
themselves.
She
claimed that during her illness she rose from
the lowest stage, "recollection", to the
"devotions of silence" or even to the
"devotions of ecstasy", which was one of
perfect union with God. During this final
stage, she said she frequently experienced a
rich "blessing of tears." As the Catholic
distinction between
mortal and
venial sin became clear to her, she says she
came to understand the awful terror of sin and
the inherent nature of original sin. She also
became conscious of her own natural impotence
in confronting sin, and the necessity of
absolute subjection to
God.
Around
1556, various friends suggested that her
newfound knowledge was
diabolical,
not divine. She began to inflict various
tortures and
mortifications of the
flesh upon herself. But her
confessor, the Jesuit Saint
Francis Borgia,
reassured her of the divine inspiration of her
thoughts. On
St. Peter's
Day in 1559, Teresa became firmly convinced
that
Jesus Christ
presented himself to her in bodily form, though
invisible. These visions lasted almost
uninterrupted for more than two years. In
another vision, a seraph[5]
drove the fiery point of a golden lance
repeatedly through her heart, causing an
ineffable spiritual-bodily pain.
“
I saw in his hand a long spear of
gold, and at the iron's point there
seemed to be a little fire. He
appeared to me to be thrusting it at
times into my heart, and to pierce my
very entrails; when he drew it out,
he seemed to draw them out also, and
to leave me all on fire with a great
love of God. The pain was so great,
that it made me moan; and yet so
surpassing was the sweetness of this
excessive pain, that I could not wish
to be rid of it...
”
This
vision was the inspiration for one of Bernini's
most famous works, the Ecstasy of St Teresa
at Santa Maria della Vittoria in Rome.
The
memory of this episode served as an inspiration
throughout the rest of her life, and motivated
her life-long imitation of the life and
suffering of Jesus, epitomized in the motto
usually associated with her: Lord, either
let me suffer or let me die.
The
kernel of Teresa's mystical thought throughout
all her writings is the ascent of the
soul in four
stages (The Autobiography Chs. 10-22):
The
first, or "mental
prayer", is that of devout
contemplation or concentration, the withdrawal
of the soul from without and specially the
devout observance of the passion of Christ and
penitence (Autobiography 11.20).
The
second is the "prayer
of quiet", in which at least the
human will is lost in that of God by virtue of
a charismatic, supernatural state given of God,
while the other faculties, such as memory,
reason, and imagination, are not yet secure
from worldly distraction. While a partial
distraction is due to outer performances such
as repetition of prayers and writing down
spiritual things, yet the prevailing state is
one of quietude (Autobiography 14.1).
The
"devotion of union" is not only a supernatural
but an essentially
ecstatic
state. Here there is also an absorption of the
reason in God, and only the memory and
imagination are left to ramble. This state is
characterized by a blissful peace, a sweet
slumber of at least the higher soul faculties,
a conscious rapture in the love of God.
The
fourth is the "devotion of ecstasy or rapture,"
a passive state, in which the consciousness of
being in the body disappears (2 Corinthians
12:2-3). Sense activity ceases;
memory and imagination are also absorbed in God
or intoxicated. Body and spirit are in the
throes of a sweet, happy pain, alternating
between a fearful fiery glow, a complete
impotence and unconsciousness, and a spell of
strangulation, intermitted sometimes by such an
ecstatic flight that the body is literally
lifted into space. This after half an hour is
followed by a reactionary relaxation of a few
hours in a swoon-like weakness, attended by a
negation of all the faculties in the union with
God. From this the subject awakens in tears; it
is the climax of mystical experience,
productive of the
trance.
(Indeed, she was said to have been observed
levitating
during
Mass on more
than one occasion.)
Teresa
is one of the foremost writers on
mental prayer,
and her position among writers on mystical
theology is unique. In all her writings on this
subject she deals with her personal
experiences, which a deep insight and
analytical gifts enabled her to explain
clearly. Her definition was used in the
Catechism of the Catholic Church:
"Contemplative prayer [oración mental]
in my opinion is nothing else than a close
sharing between friends; it means taking time
frequently to be alone with him who we know
loves us."[7]
Throughout her writings, persistent metaphors
provide a vivid illustration of the image of
mystic prayer as watering a garden.
5
From now on the crown of righteousness awaits
me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award
to me on that day, and not only to me, but to
all who have longed for his appearance.
But the
Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that
through me the proclamation might be completed
and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was
rescued from the lion's mouth.
The
Pharisee took up his position and spoke this
prayer to himself, 'O God, I thank you that I
am not like the rest of humanity--greedy,
dishonest, adulterous--or even like this tax
collector.
But the
tax collector stood off at a distance and would
not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his
breast and prayed, 'O God, be merciful to me a
sinner.'
I tell
you, the latter went home justified, not the
former; for everyone who exalts himself will be
humbled, and the one who humbles himself will
be exalted."
Moses,
therefore, said to Joshua, "Pick out certain
men, and tomorrow go out and engage Amalek in
battle. I will be standing on top of the hill
with the staff of God in my hand."
Moses'
hands, however, grew tired; so they put a rock
in place for him to sit on. Meanwhile Aaron and
Hur supported his hands, one on one side and
one on the other, so that his hands remained
steady till sunset.
I tell
you, he will see to it that justice is done for
them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes,
will he find faith on earth?"
-----------------------
10/17/10- Here's
an article from MSNBC reporting how German
Catholics want to replace Santa Claus with St.
Nicholas as the icon for Christmas.
Simply stated, Santa Claus is a warped,
commercialized version of St. Nicholas, and
this warped version
imparts the wrong message to children.
Here's the article:
BERLIN —
A group of German Catholics
wants to do away with Santa
Claus because of the fictional
figure's commercial hype and
replace him with
St
Nicolas
and the selfless giving they say
he represents.
Even before shops fill with
Santa-themed goodies, the
Bonifatiuswerk of German
Catholics -- a Catholic aid
organization -- has begun
calling for "Santa Claus-free
zones."
The organization sees Santa as
"an invention of the advertising
industry designed to boost
sales" and as "a representative
of
consumer
society"
who has little to do with the
historical figure of St Nicolas.
Its website describes Nicolas,
the patron saint of children, as
"a helper in need who reminds us
to be kind, to think of our
neighbors, and to give the gift
of happiness."
The campaign is supported by
several German celebrities.
"Unlike Santa Claus, Nicolas
wants to give children inner
riches and not just encourage
them to strive for material
wealth," German TV presenter
Nina Ruege was quoted saying.
Bishop
of Myra, Defender of Orthodoxy, Wonderworker,
Holy Hierarchy
Saint
Nicholas
(Greek:
Άγιος Νικόλαος
, Agios ["holy"] Nikolaos
["victory of the people"]) (270 – 6 December
346) is the canonical and most popular name for
Nikolaos of Myra, a
saint and
Greek[3]
Bishop of
Myra (Demre,
in
Lycia, part of
modern-day
Turkey).
Because of the many
miracles
attributed to his
intercession,
he is also known as Nikolaos the
Wonderworker (in Greek: thaumaturgos). He
had a reputation for secret gift-giving, such
as putting coins in the shoes of those who left
them out for him, and thus became the model for
Santa Claus,
whose English name comes from the Dutch
Sinterklaas.
His reputation evolved among the faithful, as
is common for early Christian saints.[4]
In 1087, his
relics were
furtively
translated to
Bari, in
southeastern Italy; for this reason, he is also
known as Nikolaos of Bari.
A
nearly identical story is attributed by Greek
folklore to
Basil of Caesarea.
Basil's feast day on 1 January is considered
the time of exchanging gifts in Greece.
Naaman went down and plunged into the
Jordan seven times at the word of the
man of God. His flesh became again
like the flesh of a little child, and
he was clean.
He returned with his whole retinue to
the man of God. On his arrival he
stood before him and said, "Now I
know that there is no God in all the
earth, except in Israel. Please
accept a gift from your servant."
2
Naaman said: "If you will not accept,
please let me, your servant, have two
mule-loads of earth, for I will no
longer offer holocaust or sacrifice
to any other god except to the LORD.
Responsorial Psalm - "All the Ends of the Earth" by David Haas (courtesy of www.sweetslyrics.com ):
Refrain: ||: All the
ends of the earth have seen the power of
God. :||
1. Sing to the Lord a new song, for God
has done wondrous deeds;
his right hand has won the vict'ry for us,
God's holy arm.
Refrain: ||: All the ends of the earth
have seen the power of God. :||
2. The Lord has made his salvation known,
his justice revealed to all.
Remembered his kindness and faithfulness
to Israel.
Refrain: ||: All the ends of the earth
have seen the power of God. :||
3. All of the ends of the earth have seen
salvation by our God.
joyfully sing out all you lands, break
forth in song.
Refrain: ||: All the
ends of the earth have seen the power of
God. :||
4. Sing to the Lord with harp and song,
with trumpet and with horn.
Sing in joy before the King, the King our
Lord.
Refrain: ||: All the
ends of the earth have seen the power of
God. :||
Reading II - A
reading from the second letter of St. Paul to
Timothy (2 Timothy 2:8-13):
Therefore, I bear with everything for
the sake of those who are chosen, so
that they too may obtain the
salvation that is in Christ Jesus,
together with eternal glory.
Then he said to him, "Stand up and
go; your faith has saved you."
---------------------
10/10/10 - St. Gabriel the Archangel -
I'm reading
The Encyclopedia of Saints by Rosemary Ellen Guiley. So the other day I read the entry
on St. Gabriel the Archangel. The next
day at work, a man and his wife come to the
library to get a card. His first name was
Gabriel. Guess what his middle name was?
"Arcangel" which is Spanish for "Archangel"!
Whoaaa!
The name
Gabriel means "man
of God," or "God
has shown himself
mighty." It
appears first in the
prophesies of
Daniel in
the Old Testament. The
angel
announced to
Daniel the
prophecy of
the seventy weeks. His
name also occurs in
the apocryphal book of
Henoch. He was the
angel who
appeared to Zachariah
to announce the birth
of
St. John
the Baptizer. Finally,
he announced to
Mary that
she would bear a Son
Who would be conceived
of the Holy Spirit,
Son of the Most High,
and Saviour of the
world. The
feast day
is September 29th.
St. Gabriel
is the patron of
communications
workers. "
-----
The book I'm
reading also says the name Gabriel means "Hero
of God". And also says he's the
angel of not only mercy and wisdom, but also
revelation and important types of news.
Its other sources say Gabriel takes the soul to
the womb, from heaven, and educates the soul
while in the womb (pg. 125).
Blessed Saint Gabriel, Archangel
We beseech you to intercede for us at the throne of divine mercy:
As you announced the mystery of the Incarnation to Mary,
so through your prayers
may we receive strength of faith and courage of spirit,
and thus find favor with God
and redemption through Christ Our Lord.
May we sing the praise of God our Savior
with the angels and saints in heaven
forever and ever.
Amen.
For the vision still has its time,
presses on to fulfillment, and will
not disappoint; If it delays, wait
for it, it will surely come, it will
not be late.
1
The rash man has no integrity; but
the just man, because of his faith,
shall live.
Responsorial Psalm - (Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9):
R. (8) If today you hear his
voice, harden not your hearts.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with
thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today
you hear his voice, harden not your
hearts.
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
and we are the people he shepherds, the
flock he guides.
R. If today
you hear his voice, harden not your
hearts.
Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
"Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tempted me;
they tested me though they had seen my
works."
R. If today
you hear his voice, harden not your
hearts.
Reading
II - A reading from the second letter of St.
Paul to Timothy (2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14):
So do not be ashamed of your
testimony to our Lord,
6
nor of me, a prisoner for his sake;
but bear your share of hardship for
the gospel with the strength that
comes from God.
The Lord replied, "If you have faith
the size of a mustard seed, you would
say to (this) mulberry tree, 'Be
uprooted and planted in the sea,' and
it would obey you.
2
"Who among you would say to your
servant who has just come in from
plowing or tending sheep in the
field, 'Come here immediately and
take your place at table'?
Would he not rather say to him,
'Prepare something for me to eat. Put
on your apron and wait on me while I
eat and drink. You may eat and drink
when I am finished'?
So should it be with you. When you
have done all you have been
commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable
servants; we have done what we were
obliged to do.'"
--------------------
10/03/10- Cubans in Heaven -
Typical
Cubans!
CUBANS
IN HEAVEN
Peter came to the Lord and said, "I have
to talk to you. We have some Cubans up
here who are causing problems.
My flute is missing, mojo sauce is
all over the place, they are making
guayaberas from their robes, they have
domino tables in the cafeteria, and
they're wearing baseball caps instead of
halos. They refuse to stop making Cuban
coffee on the heaven's stairs and some of
them are walking around with just
one wing."
The Lord said, "Cubans are Cubans, Peter.
Heaven is home to all my children. If you
want to know about real problems, ask the
Devil."
Peter calls... the Devil answers the phone
"Hello? Damn, hold on a minute." The Devil
returns to the phone, "O.K., I'm back.
What can I do for you?"
Peter replies, "I just want to know what
kind of problems you're having with the
Cubans down there."
The Devil again says, "Hold on, Hold
on......" The Devil comes back to
the phone...."Man, I don't believe
this.....Hold on."
This time the Devil is gone 15 minutes!
The Devil returns and says... "I'm
sorry Peter, I can't talk right now. Those
damn Cubans have put out the fire and are
trying to install air conditioning."
Therefore, now they shall be the first to go
into exile, and their wanton revelry shall be
done away with.
Responsorial Psalm - (Psalm 146:7, 8-9, 9-10):
R. (1b)Praise
the Lord, my soul!
Blessed he who keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Praise
the Lord, my soul!
The LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who were bowed
down;
the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects strangers.
R. Praise
the Lord, my soul!
The fatherless and the widow he sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations.
Alleluia.
R. Praise
the Lord, my soul!
Reading
II - A reading from the first letter of St.
Paul to Timothy (1 Timothy 6:11-16):
And he
cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me.
Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in
water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering
torment in these flames.'
Abraham
replied, 'My child, remember that you received
what was good during your lifetime while
Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now
he is comforted here, whereas you are
tormented.
Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is
established to prevent anyone from crossing who
might wish to go from our side to yours or from
your side to ours.'
1
"When will the new moon be over," you
ask, "that we may sell our grain, and
the sabbath, that we may display the
wheat? We will diminish the ephah,
add to the shekel, and fix our scales
for cheating!
The steward said to himself, 'What
shall I do, now that my master is
taking the position of steward away
from me? I am not strong enough to
dig and I am ashamed to beg.
Then to another he said, 'And you,
how much do you owe?' He replied,
'One hundred kors
3
of wheat.' He said to him, 'Here is
your promissory note; write one for
eighty.'
4
And the master commended that
dishonest steward for acting
prudently.
5
"For the children of this world are
more prudent in dealing with their
own generation than are the children
of light.
7
The person who is trustworthy in very
small matters is also trustworthy in
great ones; and the person who is
dishonest in very small matters is
also dishonest in great ones.
No servant can serve two masters.
8
He will either hate one and love the
other, or be devoted to one and
despise the other. You cannot serve
God and mammon."
--------------------
09/19/10- Family Guy clip
- "Jesus and the Jocks vs the Meek" -
Have you ever felt like this? Trust me,
it's not like that...Jesus is on your side!
They have soon turned aside from the
way I pointed out to them, making for
themselves a molten calf and
worshiping it, sacrificing to it and
crying out, 'This is your God, O
Israel, who brought you out of the
land of Egypt!'
But Moses implored the LORD, his God,
saying, "Why, O LORD, should your
wrath blaze up against your own
people, whom you brought out of the
land of Egypt with such great power
and with so strong a hand?
Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac
and Israel, and how you swore to them
by your own self, saying, 'I will
make your descendants as numerous as
the stars in the sky; and all this
land that I promised, I will give
your descendants as their perpetual
heritage.'"
Have mercy on me, O God, in your
goodness;
in the greatness of your
compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R.
I will rise and go to my father.
A clean heart create for me, O
God,
and a steadfast spirit renew
within me.
Cast me not out from your
presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not
from me.
R.
I will rise and go to my father.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your
praise.
My sacrifice, O God, is a
contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O
God, you will not spurn.
R.
I will rise and go to my father.
Reading II - A reading from the first letter of St. Paul to Timothy (1 Timothy 1:12-17):
But for that reason I was mercifully
treated, so that in me, as the
foremost, Christ Jesus might display
all his patience as an example for
those who would come to believe in
him for everlasting life.
"What man among you having a hundred
sheep and losing one of them would
not leave the ninety-nine in the
desert and go after the lost one
until he finds it?
I tell you, in just the same way
there will be more joy in heaven over
one sinner who repents than over
ninety-nine righteous people who have
no need of repentance.
and the younger son said to his
father, 'Father, give me the share of
your estate that should come to me.'
So the father divided the property
between them.
After a few days, the younger son
collected all his belongings and set
off to a distant country where he
squandered his inheritance on a life
of dissipation.
So he got up and went back to his
father. While he was still a long way
off, his father caught sight of him,
and was filled with compassion. He
ran to his son, embraced him and
kissed him.
He said to his father in reply,
'Look, all these years I served you
and not once did I disobey your
orders; yet you never gave me even a
young goat to feast on with my
friends.
And scarce do we guess the things on
earth, and what is within our grasp
we find with difficulty; but when
things are in heaven, who can search
them out?
R. (1)
In every age, O Lord, you have
been our refuge.
You turn man back to dust,
saying, "Return, O children of
men."
For a thousand years in your
sight
are as yesterday, now that it is
past,
or as a watch of the night.
R.
In every age, O Lord, you have
been our refuge.
You make an end of them in their
sleep;
the next morning they are like
the changing grass,
Which at dawn springs up anew,
but by evening wilts and fades.
R.
In every age, O Lord, you have
been our refuge.
Teach us to number our days
aright,
that we may gain wisdom of
heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R.
In every age, O Lord, you have
been our refuge.
Fill us at daybreak with your
kindness,
that we may shout for joy and
gladness all our days.
And may the gracious care of the
LORD our God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands
for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R.
In every age, O Lord, you have
been our refuge.
Reading
II - A reading from the letter of St. Paul to
Philemon (Philemon 9-10. 12-17):
"If any one comes to me without
hating his father
7
and mother, wife and children,
brothers and sisters, and even his
own life, he cannot be my disciple.
Or what king marching into battle
would not first sit down and decide
whether with ten thousand troops he
can successfully oppose another king
advancing upon him with twenty
thousand troops?
4
Water quenches a flaming fire, and
alms atone for sins.
Responsorial Psalm - (Psalm 68:4-5, 6-7, 10-11):
R.
(cf. 11b) God, in your goodness,
you have made a home for the poor.
The just rejoice and exult before God;
they are glad and rejoice.
Sing to God, chant praise to his name;
whose name is the LORD.
R. God, in
your goodness, you have made a home for
the poor.
The father of orphans and the defender of
widows
is God in his holy dwelling.
God gives a home to the forsaken;
he leads forth prisoners to prosperity.
R. God, in
your goodness, you have made a home for
the poor.
A bountiful rain you showered down, O God,
upon your inheritance;
you restored the land when it languished;
your flock settled in it;
in your goodness, O God, you provided it
for the needy.
R.
God, in your goodness, you have made a
home for the poor.
Reading
II - A reading from the letter of St. Paul to
the Hebrews (Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24a):
"When you are invited by someone to a
wedding banquet, do not recline at
table in the place of honor. A more
distinguished guest than you may have
been invited by him,
and the host who invited both of you
may approach you and say, 'Give your
place to this man,' and then you
would proceed with embarrassment to
take the lowest place.
Rather, when you are invited, go and
take the lowest place so that when
the host comes to you he may say, 'My
friend, move up to a higher
position.' Then you will enjoy the
esteem of your companions at the
table.
Then he said to the host who invited
him, "When you hold a lunch or a
dinner, do not invite your friends or
your brothers or your relatives or
your wealthy neighbors, in case they
may invite you back and you have
repayment.
I will set a sign among them; from
them I will send fugitives to the
nations: to Tarshish, Put and Lud,
Mosoch, Tubal and Javan, to the
distant coastlands that have never
heard of my fame, or seen my glory;
and they shall proclaim my glory
among the nations.
They shall bring all your brethren
from all the nations as an offering
to the LORD, on horses and in
chariots, in carts, upon mules and
dromedaries, to Jerusalem, my holy
mountain, says the LORD, just as the
Israelites bring their offering to
the house of the LORD in clean
vessels.
At the time, all discipline seems a
cause not for joy but for pain, yet
later it brings the peaceful fruit of
righteousness to those who are
trained by it.
After the master of the house has
arisen and locked the door, then will
you stand outside knocking and
saying, 'Lord, open the door for us.'
He will say to you in reply, 'I do
not know where you are from.'
And there will be wailing and
grinding of teeth when you see
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the
prophets in the kingdom of God and
you yourselves cast out.
When you attempt to unravel the extremely complex dynamics of this total onslaught of humanity by Lucifer's army, you begin to discover a lot of new concepts, plans, terminology, and technologies. Over a year ago I began to think that America appeared to be the Great Babylon, because the descriptions of it in Jeremiah 50, 51 and Revelation 18 were so evident. I had already seen what this country was doing on a global level. I read the book by John Perkins, entitled "The Economic Hit Man" and there was no question the U.S. was "conquering" the globe under the cloak of humanitarian cause.
But then you read "Behold a Pale Horse" by William Cooper. He was a high ranking military officer involved in the U.S. cover-up of this "alien / demon" phenomena (until "they"executed him). Cooper, being on the front lines, was tormented spiritually and even began to question his belief in Christianity. Cooper was a highly credible insider who had access to Top Secret military documentation and insider sources and saw these "things" with his own eyes. He confirmed the unthinkable. He confirmed that, not only had the U.S. government known and consorted with these "alien" entities, but in FACT had actually signed "Treaties" with them. Agreements.
Or as our Lord, the Most High God, and King Jesus would put it ... they signed OATHS!
Oaths Signed Directly with the DEVIL
These "oaths" of agreement, or treaties, allowed these demonic entities to have a certain amount of freedom and secrecy in exchange for "technological know-how". In exchange for this technology, our government agreed to "allow" these demons free access to "human beings" for their own purposes. We "agreed", (with some rather pathetic restrictions), to allow them to "harvest" human beings and perform abominations on their bodies. The U.S. government told LUCIFER he could have the "bodies" and "souls" of God's greatest creations (in his "own image") to torment, torture, mutilate, and genetically alter.
THINK ABOUT THAT
In fact, (while I will try to tackle this most difficult concept in a later article), these demon entities, not only genetically tinker with our bodies and create very "human looking" versions of themselves ... BUT... they have reportedly perfected this activity referred to as "soul scalping". Suffice it to say, "soul scalping" is the act of using extremely advanced technologies to harvest the human "life force" from the living body and put it into "containers" to use in another "body-like" form for their own purposes.
Another thing these Bacchae were known for is wearing demonic bracelets or "bands". · The Bacchae are biblically famous as they would wear "magic bands" called "kesatot". These bands would entrap the souls of their victims.
Ez. 13:20
"Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold I am against your magic bands [kesatot] by which you hunt lives [souls] there as birds, and I will tear them off your arms; and I will let them go, even those lives [souls] whom you hunt as birds"
NAS
Since these "Bacchae" were able to capture souls of humans with their "magic bracelets" and demonic rituals, how arrogant must we be to think that Lucifers' own demonic alien armies have not "technologically" perfected this in their alien abduction activities?
Now that I have your attention, let's digress to a less sinister concept. Let's investigate the challenges they face with their "reporting hierarchy" ... top down.
The Question of "When"?
The question I get asked more than any other question is "when". When will this all start to happen? Will it really be 2010 that the U.S. is toppled to effect their global control objective? My answer is always the same. Only God knows for sure.
Our Lord draws lines in the sand, and allows these things to happen to OUR GLORY - AMEN! We must never forget, as this play unfolds, that WE WIN. Take the time to go back and read about the wonderful period we have awaiting us in the Millennium in the the last article posted here:
The Demonic Control Hierarchy Why is Even Their Timeline in Question?
There are a lot of fascinating "behind the scenes" dynamics at work we often overlook. For example, you have this earthy hierarchy taking orders from the "demonic". Then you have the earthly "manifestation" of the demonic in the flesh (e.g. the reptilian / alien entities and many more).
The Demons on Earth NEED the Demons in Other Dimensions
However I find it MOST INTERESTING, that these "earthy" demonic manifestations have this NEED to make contact with the "other dimensional" demons, as evidenced by their Satanic rituals and sacrificial ceremonies. I find that REMARKABLE. This implies that this "hierarchy" extends into the other dimensions (1st and 2nd Heavens) and there is a requirement for "contact" into these realms. WHY? This need is further underscored by their hunger to break-through these dimensions with "star-gate like" technologies such as the CERN Accelerator. There is no question they "need" a break-through. PUN-INTENDED.
The Earth-Bound Physical Demons
Then below that "hierarchy" you have the multiple levels of Satanic power structures here on earth. Arguably they are led by the "reptilian" entities top down. But again, this line gets blurred by the fact that these "reptilian" entities live inside the energy forces of the human bloodlines they control (in some cases, not all however). These "earthly" Satanic power structures work in concert with one another through organized and coordinated rituals on a global level and set up their power epicenters along these "ley lines".
Now amongst these "pockets" of earthly Satanic power levels (the Brotherhood, the multiple levels of the Masonic Order, the Rosicrucians, the various "Orders" of this and that, the Committee of 300, the Trilateral Commission, the "Royalty" etc.) you have some FREE WILL. You always have "free will". If it wasn't for this "free will" dynamic you wouldn't have had the Luciferian Rebellion in the first place. So THAT comes into play.
Oh and just to "wet your whistle" a bit more. Were you aware the insignia of the Trilateral Commission, is the exact insignia these "alien / demon" entities display on both their garb and their technological space buggies?
Military Commanders, Black Ops, and High Level Insiders
THEN you progress downward into the levels of the Military, and Governments. When you consider ALL the people that have been assassinated (from government / military leaders, to scientists and bio-weapons experts, to DUMB workers, to escaped Brotherhood members, to whistle blowers at all levels) you start to see that "THEY" are threatened by information leaks.
Moreover "they" are infinitely concerned with uncontrolled uprisings. I believe this concern over "human uprising" is a huge worry of theirs. This is probably because they have got their butts kicked in the past as a result of unexpected consequences in their own orchestrated wars etc. These unexpected uprisings have most likely caused delays which they had to work around through subsequent years of alternative strategies and manipulation. THEY are very careful about how quick "they" do something. Careful control is paramount to these entities.
We ARE a threat to them.
Department Heads and Organizational Leaders
Now further down the hierarchy you have their "commanders" or official department heads. These folks are probably not "in on the whole deal" but are good "order takers". How much any of these "order takers" know is up for grabs. I am utterly fascinated by the book "Behold a Pale Horse" by William Cooper, because "they" could have killed him long before that book got released. And they actually tried a couple times.
The fact is that THEY cannot read our minds. "They" actually need resources "on the ground" to do reconnaissance. "They" depend on "earthly" technologies to "hear and see" what we are doing. This level of "order takers" is a huge threat to "them". They know just enough to stir up a world of hurt and "they" need a LOT OF THEM to do their bidding.
This explains why "their" strategy is to kill or eliminate the x-military veterans and trained forces in the first round as a threat. When these "things" manifest in the flesh, "they" are vulnerable to our technological weaponry.
"They" are vulnerable to us, just as we were vulnerable to the American Indians arrows even though we had guns. A lot of pissed off people with rocks in their hands can overtake battalions of soldiers by sheer numbers alone.
Law Enforcement, Government Workers, The Good Ones
The next level down you have the people in law enforcement, government workers (FEMA / Homeland Security), regular military and x-military, and other people with limited powers of authority.
During Katrina, "they" actually called in "Blackwater" mercenaries. This is because there were military and regular law enforcement personnel that were extremely reluctant to do "door to door" gun confiscation. Just like with the lying situation at Waco, Texas, nobody in New Orleans shot guns at the helicopters as "they" claimed. It was a setup orchestrated to execute a plan of attack and to "practice" the drill.
The misinformation perpetuated by these lying news reports spreads like a fire throughout this "level" of much needed "law enforcement" workers to make them "think" they are threatened by the general populous. These lies are further amplified by additional military and law enforcement drills happening every month across the country. These lying drills and "exercises" have been going on for more than 15 years. If you have any doubt, watch the Police State series documentaries from Alex Jones on YouTube. Or better yet, forfeit a 12 pack, and buy one of the DVDs.
The Common Man and the Armed Citizenry
And then further down this "people control" pyramid, you have the "armed citizens" of this country. As proven by their "orchestrated" practice drill called "The War of the Worlds" radio broadcast on Sunday October 30th, 1938, the citizens of the United States grabbed their guns and went out to kill these "demon / aliens".
This was arguably one of the most important "proof of concept" drills these entities have ever executed. They needed to know what the impact might be should "they" be "announced" on a large scale. The actions of the citizens of this country at that time, almost certainly delayed their plans to "manifest" themselves even earlier than today.
The Importance of Martial Law to Their Objective
This is why martial law and the help of foreign troops is utterly key to the upset of this country. The hierarchy of the United States government structure is a major stumbling block for their control timeline. This idea of the individual "states" having veto powers over their "central command" in D.C. is throwing rocks into their "gear box" all the time. This is why the Federal Government continues to usurp the States powers at an alarming rate. This is also why you see the Federal government commandeering the National Guard and getting them out of the way as much as possible (or using them in "other" contrived emergency situations).
All things considered, it seems to me, "they" know they must have some type of martial law in place and they MUST have the vast majority of the country under their militaristic control BEFORE they spring their "alien" DELUSION upon us. Otherwise, through their own "proof of concept" testing, they know as a fact they are in for a huge hill of crap. When the "good old boy" citizenry of the USoA sees these "creatures" with their own eyes, they know - ALL BETS ARE OFF.
THE GREATEST POWER & THREAT TO THEM ALL
And indeed, the greatest threat to their cause is THE HOLY SPIRIT.
While it is not up to us to question God's authority, it is in FACT up to us to use the power of His Holy Spirit to assist in the fighting of this war. It "blows my mind" to think of how utterly ineffective we all feel amongst all this military might. We all need to take the time to read about Elijah again. We need to REMIND OURSELVES that God's army of fiery chariots can stomp out armies of nations, guns, flying saucers, laser beams and atomic weaponry LIKE NO OTHER.
I believe our Lord is WAITING FOR US to WAKE UP and start focusing our prayer power on the objectives of the LORD. We need to pray to TRIP UP the enemy's plans. We need to COMMAND IN JESUS NAME these DEMONS are rendered to "no effect" and cast INTO THE ABYSS.
While there is no question the Bible says that in the end, God will have to "step in" and dump down his Mighty Wrath to wipe out this Earth, we MUST NOT assume our contribution has anything less than the GREATEST POWER.
WE CONTROL the amount of horror we will face!
WE CONTROL the amount of power the enemy has against us!
WEARE THE DEVILS' MASTER
They might win here on the earth for a short period of time.
Sunday, August 15, 2010:
(SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY) Readings for today: Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab / 1 Corinthians 15:20-27 / Luke 1:39-56:
Reading I - A reading from the book of Revelation (Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab):
Its tail swept away a third of the
stars in the sky and hurled them down
to the earth. Then the dragon stood
before the woman about to give birth,
to devour her child when she gave
birth.
12
for "he subjected everything under
his feet." But when it says that
everything has been subjected, it is
clear that it excludes the one who
subjected everything to him.
Gospel -
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St.
Luke (Luke 1:39-56):
That night of the passover was known
beforehand to our fathers, that, with
sure knowledge of the oaths in which
they put their faith, they might have
courage.
3
For in secret the holy children of
the good were offering sacrifice and
putting into effect with one accord
the divine institution, That your
holy ones should share alike the same
good things and dangers, having
previously sung the praises of the
fathers.
R. (12b) Blessed the
people the Lord has chosen to be
his own.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is
fitting.
Blessed the nation whose God is
the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his
own inheritance.
R.
Blessed the people the Lord has
chosen to be his own.
See, the eyes of the LORD are
upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his
kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of
famine.
R.
Blessed the people the Lord has
chosen to be his own.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be
upon us
who have put our hope in you.
R.
Blessed the people the Lord has
chosen to be his own.
Reading
II - A reading from the letter of St. Paul to
the Hebrews (Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19):
By faith he received power to
generate, even though he was past the
normal age--and Sarah herself was
sterile--for he thought that the one
who had made the promise was
trustworthy.
So it was that there came forth from
one man, himself as good as dead,
descendants as numerous as the stars
in the sky and as countless as the
sands on the seashore.
All these died in faith. They did not
receive what had been promised but
saw it and greeted it from afar and
acknowledged themselves to be
strangers and aliens on earth,
Sell your belongings and give alms.
Provide money bags for yourselves
that do not wear out, an
inexhaustible treasure in heaven that
no thief can reach nor moth destroy.
Blessed are those servants whom the
master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird
himself, have them recline at table,
and proceed to wait on them.
And the Lord replied, "Who, then, is
the faithful and prudent steward whom
the master will put in charge of his
servants to distribute (the) food
allowance at the proper time?
But if that servant says to himself,
'My master is delayed in coming,'
9
and begins to beat the menservants
and the maidservants, to eat and
drink and get drunk,
then that servant's master will come
on an unexpected day and at an
unknown hour and will punish him
severely and assign him a place with
the unfaithful.
and the servant who was ignorant of
his master's will but acted in a way
deserving of a severe beating shall
be beaten only lightly. Much will be
required of the person entrusted with
much, and still more will be demanded
of the person entrusted with more.
--------------------
08/08/10- Jesus Emerges From the Tomb (Story of a
painting) -
Thanks Rose!
Here is one who has labored with
wisdom and knowledge and skill, and
to another, who has not labored over
it, he must leave his property. This
also is vanity and a great
misfortune.
R.
(1) If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
You turn man back to dust,
saying, “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight
are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. If today
you hear his voice, harden not your
hearts.
You make an end of them in their sleep;
the next morning they are like the
changing grass,
Which at dawn springs up anew,
but by evening wilts and fades.
R. If today
you hear his voice, harden not your
hearts.
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R. If today
you hear his voice, harden not your
hearts.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all
our days.
And may the gracious care of the LORD our
God be ours;
prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R. If
today you hear his voice, harden not your
hearts.
Reading
II - A reading from the letter of St. Paul to
the Colossians (Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11):
NEW YORK -- Anne Rice has had a religious conversion: She's no longer a Christian.
"In the name of Christ, I refuse to be anti-gay. I refuse to be anti-feminist. I refuse to be anti-artificial birth control," the author wrote Wednesday on her Facebook page. "In the name of ... Christ, I quit Christianity and being Christian. Amen."
Rice, 68, is best known for "Interview With a Vampire" and other gothic novels. Raised as a Catholic, she had rejected the church early in her life but renewed her faith in recent years and in 2008 released the memoir "Called Out of Darkness: A Spiritual Confession."
In a telephone interview Thursday, Rice said she had been having doubts for the past two to three years. She was troubled by the child abuse scandals in the church, and the church's defensive reaction, and by the ex-communication of Sister Margaret McBride, a nun and hospital administrator who had approved an abortion for a woman whose life was in danger.
"I believed for a long time that the differences, the quarrels among Christians didn't matter a lot for the individual, that you live your life and stay out of it. But then I began to realize that it wasn't an easy thing to do," said Rice, speaking from her home near Palm Springs, Calif. "I came to the conclusion that if I didn't make this declaration, I was going to lose my mind."
Rice said she is a Democrat who supports the health care legislation signed into law by President Barack Obama and believes gay marriage inevitably will be permitted throughout the country. Although no longer part of any denomination, she remains a believer and continues to read theology and post Biblical passages on her Facebook page. She has no immediate plans to write about her leaving the church and will continue with her metaphysical fiction series, "Songs of the Seraphim."
Rice will not be taking up vampires again, but she said she is a big fan of the HBO series "True Blood," enjoyed the first two "Twilight" movies (she has yet to read any of the Stephenie Meyer novels) and is interested in seeing her most famous character, the vampire Lestat de Lioncourt, return to the screen.
"We're in talks about it," she said. "But then we've always been in talks about it. Hope springs eternal in California."
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Suppose there were fifty innocent
people in the city; would you wipe
out the place, rather than spare it
for the sake of the fifty innocent
people within it?
Far be it from you to do such a
thing, to make the innocent die with
the guilty, so that the innocent and
the guilty would be treated alike!
Should not the judge of all the world
act with justice?"
What if there are five less than
fifty innocent people? Will you
destroy the whole city because of
those five?" "I will not destroy it,"
he answered, "if I find forty-five
there."
Then he said, "Let not my Lord grow
impatient if I go on. What if only
thirty are found there?" He replied,
"I will forebear doing it if I can
find but thirty there."
Still he went on, "Since I have thus
dared to speak to my Lord, what if
there are no more than twenty?" "I
will not destroy it," he answered,
"for the sake of the twenty."
But he still persisted: "Please, let
not my Lord grow angry if I speak up
this last time. What if there are at
least ten there?" "For the sake of
those ten," he replied, "I will not
destroy it."
R.
(3a) Lord, on the day I called for
help, you answered me.
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with
all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing
your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple
and give thanks to your name.
R. Lord, on
the day I called for help, you answered
me.
Because of your kindness and your truth;
for you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called you answered me;
you built up strength within me.
R. Lord, on
the day I called for help, you answered
me.
The LORD is exalted, yet the lowly he
sees,
and the proud he knows from afar.
Though I walk amid distress, you preserve
me;
against the anger of my enemies you raise
your hand.
R. Lord, on
the day I called for help, you answered
me.
Your right hand saves me.
The LORD will complete what he has done
for me;
your kindness, O LORD, endures forever;
forsake not the work of your hands.
R.
Lord, on the day I called for help, you
answered me.
Reading
II - A reading from the letter of St. Paul to
the Colossians (Colossians 2:12-14):
And even when you were dead (in)
transgressions and the uncircumcision
of your flesh, he brought you to life
along with him, having forgiven us
all our transgressions;
12
Jesus was praying in a certain place,
and when he had finished, one of his
disciples said to him, "Lord, teach
us to pray just as John taught his
disciples."
and he says in reply from within, 'Do
not bother me; the door has already
been locked and my children and I are
already in bed. I cannot get up to
give you anything.'
I tell you, if he does not get up to
give him the loaves because of their
friendship, he will get up to give
him whatever he needs because of his
persistence.
If you then, who are wicked, know how
to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will the Father in
heaven give the holy Spirit
5
to those who ask him?"
--------------------
07/25/10- John 3:16 A Story -
A little boy was selling newspapers on the
corner,
the people were in and out of the cold.
The little boy was so cold that he wasn't
trying
to sell many papers.
He walked up to a policeman and said,
"Mister, you wouldn't happen to know where a
poor boy
could find a warm place to sleep tonight would
you?
You see, I sleep in a box up around the corner
there and
down the alley and it's awful cold in there for
tonight.
Sure would be nice to have a warm place to
stay."
The policeman looked down at the little boy and
said, "You
go down the street to that big white house and
you knock
on the door. When they come out the door you
just say
John 3:16, and they will let you in."
So he did. He walked up the steps and knocked
on the
door, and a lady answered. He looked up and
said,
"John 3:16." The lady said, "Come on in, Son."
She took him in and she sat him down in a
split! bottom
rocker in front of a great big old fireplace,
and she went
off. The boy sat there for a while and thought
to himself:
John 3:16 . I don't understand it, but it sure
makes a
cold boy warm.
Later she came back and asked him "Are you
hungry ? "
He said, "Well, just a little.. I haven't eaten
in a couple of
days, and I guess I could stand a little bit of
food,"
The lady took him in the kitchen and sat him
down to a table
full of wonderful food. He ate and ate until he
couldn't eat
any more. Then he thought to himself:
John 3:16. Boy, I sure don't understand it but
it sure
makes a hungry boy full.
She took him upstairs to a bathroom to a huge
bathtub
filled with warm water, and he sat there and
soaked for a
while. As he soaked, he thought to himself:
John 3:16
I sure don't understand it, but it sure makes a
dirty boy
clean. You know, I've not had a bath, a real
bath, in my
whole life. The only bath I ever had was when I
stood in
front of that big old fire hydrant as they
flushed it out.
The lady came in and got him. She took him to a
room,
tucked him into a big old feather bed, pulled
the covers
up around his neck, kissed him goodnight and
turned out
the lights. As he lay in the darkness and
looked out
the
window at the snow coming down on that cold
night,
he thought to himself: John 3:16...I don't
understand it but
it sure makes a tired boy rested.
The next morning the lady came back up and took
him
down again to that same big table full of food.
After he
ate, she took him back to that same big old
split bottom
rocker in front of the fireplace and picked up
a big old Bible.
She sat down in front of him and looked into
his young face.
"Do you understand John 3:16 ?" she asked
gently. He
replied, "No, Ma'am, I don't. The first time I
ever heard it
was last night when the policeman told me to
use it,"
She opened The Bible to John 3:16 and began to
explain
to him about Jesus. Right there, in front of
that big old fireplace,
he gave his heart and life to Jesus. He sat
there
and thought: John 3:16 -- don't understand it,
but it sure
makes a lost boy feel safe.
You know, I have to confess, I don't understand
it either,
how God was willing to send His Son to die for
me, and how
Jesus would agree to do such a thing.
I don't understandthe agony of the Father and
every angel in heaven as they watched Jesus
suffer and die.
I don't understand the intenselove for ME that
kept Jesus on the cross till the
end.
I don't understand it, but it sure does make
life worth living!
John 3:16- For God so loved the world, that He
gave His only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him
should
not perish, but have everlasting life.
Now that you have come this close to
your servant, let me bring you a
little food, that you may refresh
yourselves; and afterward you may go
on your way." "Very well," they
replied, "do as you have said."
3
Then he got some curds and milk, as
well as the steer that had been
prepared, and set these before them;
and he waited on them under the tree
while they ate.
4
One of them said, "I will surely
return to you about this time next
year, and Sarah will then have a
son."
Responsorial Psalm - (Psalm 15:2-3, 3-4, 5):
R.
(1a) He who does justice will live
in the presence of the Lord.
One who walks blamelessly and does
justice;
who thinks the truth in his heart
and slanders not with his tongue.
R. He who
does justice will live in the presence of
the Lord.
Who harms not his fellow man,
nor takes up a reproach against his
neighbor;
by whom the reprobate is despised,
while he honors those who fear the LORD.
R. He who
does justice will live in the presence of
the Lord.
Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
One who does these things
shall never be disturbed.
R. He
who does justice will live in the presence
of the Lord.
Reading
II - A reading from the letter of St. Paul to
the Colossians (Colossians 1:24-28):
13
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for
your sake, and in my flesh I am
filling up what is lacking
14
in the afflictions of Christ on
behalf of his body, which is the
church,
Martha, burdened with much serving,
came to him and said, "Lord, do you
not care that my sister has left me
by myself to do the serving? Tell her
to help me."
Baylor University graduates
Brett and Emily Mills of
Waco spend their days, and
many nights, reminding the
city’s 40 or so exotic
dancers that Jesus loves
strippers.
The couple’s “Jesus Loves
Strippers” ministry reaches
out to individuals they
believe the church
inadvertently casts away.
Every month, the couple and
about a half-dozen
volunteers hit the Waco
strip club circuit —
Sonny’s BYOB, Show Time and
Two Minnie’s — with bags of
gifts from local sponsors
filled with makeup,
cookies, bandages and
school supplies in August.
Co-founder Brett Mills
and volunteers Leah
Colucci, Kellie Gibson
and Kristen Campbell
gather bags of makeup
and food to bring to
Waco strippers.
Rod Aydelotte/Tribune-Herald
Wearing purple “Jesus Loves
Strippers” T-shirts, Emily
Mills and the female
volunteers approach the
dancers in their dressing
rooms early in the night.
They use the gift bags as
ice-breakers and, more
often than not,
conversations flow from
there.
The volunteers don’t bring
Bibles. They don’t launch
into talk about God.
Many of the strippers, they
find, have long felt
disconnected from faith.
“Only God can change a
person,” said Emily Mills,
a 32-year-old mother of
three. “Our goal is not to
go in and change them, but
make them realize that God
loves them no matter what
they do and where they
are.”
Instead, they talk about
their children. Their
boyfriends. School. Hopes
for the future or just for
the night.
Brett, 34, from Houston,
and Emily, from Tyler, met
at Baylor among 2,000
students in a large-group
Bible study.
They met singing in the
Bible studies and,
together, questioned the
effectiveness of what they
were doing.
“For me, there was
beginning to be a
disconnect,” Emily Mills
said. “Church was not
relevant to everyday
people. I feel like there
were a lot of people out
there who Jesus would have
walked with that probably
feel alienated by the
church.”
They visited other types of
ministries, including one
in Austin that reaches out
to strippers.
They were determined to
build a similar ministry in
Waco.
“The church can reach out
to the homeless and the
down-and-out, but it
doesn’t know what to do
with sex,” Emily Mills
said. “It’s just so taboo.”
So, in 2005, they started
Jesus Said Love, followed
by its extensions, Jesus
Loves Strippers and Jesus
Loves Truckers — all
divisions of Bartimaeus
Ministries Inc., a
nonprofit organization.
Brett and Emily also tour
as a Christian music duo,
but their full-time jobs
are expanding the ministry.
With a pack of volunteers,
they make their rounds at
the clubs once a month, but
spend the rest of their
time developing the
relationships with the
women.
Emily Mills, 32,
listens to the manager
of a Waco strip club.
Mills and her husband,
Brett, started Jesus
Loves Strippers in
2005.
Rod Aydelotte/Waco
Tribune-Herald
“Ninety-nine percent of
them don’t really want to
be there,” Emily Mills
said. “Most say that
they’re just going to do it
for six months until they
can make enough money to
get on their feet. The
danger is that it becomes a
lifestyle. That’s when it
takes a toll on a woman’s
soul.”
One 31-year-old mother of
four daughters explained
she started stripping in
September, after having
danced in similar clubs for
a decade or more.
When times got rough and
she couldn’t pay the bills
last fall, she turned to
taking her clothes off to
make more money. She told
Emily Mills in the dressing
room of a Waco strip club
that she felt she had no
other choice.
The dancer asked the
ministry volunteers if they
could help her find a
different job. Emily
promised to see what she
could do.
Forming a connection
Most of the women love the
“Jesus Loves Strippers”
shirts. Volunteer Leah
Colucci, 23, talks about
trading her ministry shirt
with a dancer who wore a
shirt that read “Sinful.”
Brett Mills and any other
male volunteers don’t go in
the clubs. They wait in the
parking lots, acting as
security and chatting with
the club managers and
patrons loitering near the
entrances.
Jennifer Ledford, a
30-year-old bartender at
Sonny’s BYOB, called Brett
and Emily her “heroes.”
Last year, when Ledford
needed extensive dental
work, Emily Mills found a
dentist to give her a
discount. When Ledford was
debating going to school,
Emily Mills contacted a
friend at McLennan
Community College, who
guided her through
registration.
“Brett and Emily don’t push
anyone to change their
life,” she said. “They just
really want to help you.
They’ve changed my life.”
Two weeks ago, when the
1-year-old daughter of a
Sonny’s dancer was taken by
medical helicopter to Scott
& White Hospital in Temple
after suffering a series of
seizures, Emily Mills had
volunteers at the hospital
to pray with the family
within hours.
The dancer didn’t believe
in God until that day, said
Heather Bonge, a
26-year-old former Sonny’s
employee.
Emily and Brett Mills
gather in the parking
lot of Sonny’s BYOB
strip club. The Waco
couple started the
Jesus Loves Strippers
ministry in 2005.
Rod Aydelotte/Waco
Tribune-Herald
“Brett and Emily deserve
everything good that
happens to them,” Bonge
said. “They are absolutely
not judgmental. If I need
anything, any time, day or
night, we know we can call
them.”
The couple’s newest venture
is Jesus Loves Truckers.
Brett, Emily and their
volunteers set up in the
parking lot of the Flying J
truck stop with bags of
burritos and travel
essentials.
“We’ve had some guys come
by who said they hadn’t
talked in two days,” Emily
Mills said. “Truckers are
lonely.”
Everyone needs to be
reminded that they’re loved
by Jesus, they said.
Their other ideas to expand
their ministry: Jesus Loves
Doctors or Jesus Loves
Housewives.
Strippers, truckers,
doctors, housewives. It
really doesn’t matter.
Because reaching out to the
seemingly very different
groups would essentially be
the same, the Mills said.
While society might
discriminate, their message
is that Jesus does not.
“I’m not going to save the
world one stripper at a
time,” Emily Mills said.
“What I’ve realized is that
I am her and she is me.
We’ve both been broken. We
both struggle. We’re all in
need of more grace than
sometimes we’re willing to
admit.”
If only you heed the voice of the
LORD, your God, and keep his
commandments and statutes that are
written in this book of the law, when
you return to the LORD, your God,
with all your heart and all your
soul.
For in him
8
were created all things in heaven and
on earth, the visible and the
invisible, whether thrones or
dominions or principalities or
powers; all things were created
through him and for him.
He said in reply, "You shall love the
Lord, your God, with all your heart,
with all your being, with all your
strength, and with all your mind, and
your neighbor as yourself."
He approached the victim, poured oil
and wine over his wounds and bandaged
them. Then he lifted him up on his
own animal, took him to an inn and
cared for him.
The next day he took out two silver
coins and gave them to the innkeeper
with the instruction, 'Take care of
him. If you spend more than what I
have given you, I shall repay you on
my way back.'
For thus says the LORD: Lo, I will
spread prosperity over her like a
river, and the wealth of the nations
like an overflowing torrent. As
nurslings, you shall be carried in
her arms, and fondled in her lap;
When you see this, your heart shall
rejoice, and your bodies flourish
like the grass; The LORD'S power
shall be known to his servants,
Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20:
R.
(1) Let all the earth cry out to
God with joy.
Shout joyfully to God, all the earth,
sing praise to the glory of his name;
proclaim his glorious praise.
Say to God, "How tremendous are your
deeds!"
R. Let all
the earth cry out to God with joy.
"Let all on earth worship and sing praise
to you,
sing praise to your name!"
Come and see the works of God,
his tremendous deeds among the children of
Adam.
R. Let all
the earth cry out to God with joy.
He has changed the sea into dry land;
through the river they passed on foot;
therefore let us rejoice in him.
He rules by his might forever.
R.
Let all the earth
cry out to God with joy.
Hear now, all you who fear God, while I
declare
what he has done for me.
Blessed be God who refused me not
my prayer or his kindness!
R.
Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
Reading
II - A reading from the letter of St. Paul to
the Galatians (Galatians 6:14-18):
3
Elijah set out, and came upon Elisha,
son of Shaphat, as he was plowing
with twelve yoke of oxen; he was
following the twelfth. Elijah went
over to him and threw his cloak over
him.
Elisha left the oxen, ran after
Elijah, and said, "Please, let me
kiss my father and mother good-bye,
and I will follow you." "Go back!"
Elijah answered. "Have I done
anything to you?"
Elisha left him and, taking the yoke
of oxen, slaughtered them; he used
the plowing equipment for fuel to
boil their flesh, and gave it to his
people to eat. Then he left and
followed Elijah as his attendant.
Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 1-2, 5, 7-8, 9-10,
11:
R. (cf. 5a)
You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Keep me, O God,
for in you I take refuge;
I say to the
LORD, “My Lord are you.
O LORD, my
allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who
hold fast my lot.”
R.
You are my inheritance, O Lord.
I bless the LORD
who counsels me;
even in the night
my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD
ever before me;
with him at my
right hand I shall not be
disturbed.
R.
You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Therefore my
heart is glad and my soul
rejoices,
my body, too,
abides in confidence
because you will
not abandon my soul to the
netherworld,
nor will you
suffer your faithful one to
undergo corruption.
R.
You are my inheritance, O Lord.
You will show me
the path to life,
fullness of joys
in your presence,
the delights at
your right hand forever.
R.
You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Reading
II - A reading from the letter of St. Paul to
the Galatians (Galatians 5:1, 13-18):
2
I will pour out on the house of David
and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem a
spirit of grace and petition; and
they shall look on him whom they have
thrust through, and they shall mourn
for him as one mourns for an only
son, and they shall grieve over him
as one grieves over a first-born.
He said, "The Son of Man must suffer
greatly and be rejected by the
elders, the chief priests, and the
scribes, and be killed and on the
third day be raised."
I gave you your lord's house and your
lord's wives for your own. I gave you
the house of Israel and of Judah. And
if this were not enough, I could
count up for you still more.
Why have you spurned the LORD and
done evil in his sight? You have cut
down Uriah the Hittite with the
sword; you took his wife as your own,
and him you killed with the sword of
the Ammonites.
We who know that a person is not
justified by works of the law but
through faith in Jesus Christ, even
we have believed in Christ Jesus that
we may be justified by faith in
Christ and not by works of the law,
because by works of the law no one
will be justified.
16
yet I live, no longer I, but Christ
lives in me; insofar as I now live in
the flesh, I live by faith in the Son
of God who has loved me and given
himself up for me.
she stood behind him at his feet
weeping and began to bathe his feet
with her tears. Then she wiped them
with her hair, kissed them, and
anointed them with the ointment.
When the Pharisee who had invited him
saw this he said to himself, "If this
man were a prophet, he would know who
and what sort of woman this is who is
touching him, that she is a sinner."
Then he turned to the woman and said
to Simon, "Do you see this woman?
When I entered your house, you did
not give me water for my feet, but
she has bathed them with her tears
and wiped them with her hair.
1
Afterward he journeyed from one town
and village to another, preaching and
proclaiming the good news of the
kingdom of God. Accompanying him were
the Twelve
Sunday, June 6, 2010:
(CORPUS CHRISTI -
SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST) Readings for today: Genesis 14:18-20 / 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 / Luke 9:11b-17:
In the same way also the cup, after
supper, saying, "This cup is the new
covenant in my blood. Do this, as
often as you drink it, in remembrance
of me."
As the day was drawing to a close,
the Twelve approached him and said,
"Dismiss the crowd so that they can
go to the surrounding villages and
farms and find lodging and
provisions; for we are in a deserted
place here."
He said to them, "Give them some food
yourselves." They replied, "Five
loaves and two fish are all we have,
unless we ourselves go and buy food
for all these people."
Then taking
7
the five loaves and the two fish, and
looking up to heaven, he said the
blessing over them, broke them, and
gave them to the disciples to set
before the crowd.
playing on the surface of his earth;
and I found delight in the human
race.
Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9:
R. (2a)
O
Lord, our God, how wonderful
your name in all the earth!
When I behold your heavens, the
work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars which you
set in place —
What is man that you should be
mindful of him,
or the son of man that you
should care for him?
R.
O
Lord, our God, how wonderful
your name in all the earth!
You have made him little less
than the angels,
and crowned him with glory and
honor.
You have given him rule over the
works of your hands,
putting all things under his
feet:
R.
O Lord, our God, how wonderful
your name in all the earth!
All sheep and oxen,
yes, and the beasts of the
field,
The birds of the air, the fishes
of the sea,
and whatever swims the paths of
the seas.
R. O Lord, our
God, how wonderful your name in
all the earth!
Reading
II - A reading from the letter of St. Paul to
the Romans (Romans 5:1-5):
5
But when he comes, the Spirit of
truth, he will guide you to all
truth. He will not speak on his own,
but he will speak what he hears, and
will declare to you the things that
are coming.
Everything that the Father has is
mine; for this reason I told you that
he will take from what is mine and
declare it to you.
--------------------
05/30/10- Christians
(not) by Maya Angelou - I got this
in email and felt it was worth sharing, even
though when I googled it, Snopes.com says that
not only did Maya Angelou not write this, but
she denies writing it on her website. So
I'm gonna say it's by "Anonymous", and I share
it because I like it:
While meeting with them, he enjoined
them not to depart from Jerusalem,
but to wait for "the promise of the
Father
3
about which you have heard me speak;
6
But you will receive power when the
holy Spirit comes upon you, and you
will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,
throughout Judea and Samaria, and to
the ends of the earth."
They said, "Men of Galilee, why are
you standing there looking at the
sky? This Jesus who has been taken up
from you into heaven will return in
the same way as you have seen him
going into heaven."
if that were so, he would have had to
suffer repeatedly from the foundation
of the world. But now once for all he
has appeared at the end of the ages
19
to take away sin by his sacrifice.
so also Christ, offered once to take
away the sins of many,
20
will appear a second time, not to
take away sin but to bring salvation
to those who eagerly await him.
let us approach with a sincere heart
and in absolute trust, with our
hearts sprinkled clean from an evil
conscience
12
and our bodies washed in pure water.
1
Some who had come down from Judea
were instructing the brothers,
"Unless you are circumcised according
to the Mosaic practice, you cannot be
saved."
2
Because there arose no little
dissension and debate by Paul and
Barnabas with them, it was decided
that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the
others should go up to Jerusalem to
the apostles and elders about this
question.
Then the apostles and elders, in
agreement with the whole church,
decided to choose representatives and
to send them to Antioch with Paul and
Barnabas. The ones chosen were Judas,
who was called Barsabbas, and Silas,
leaders among the brothers.
This is the letter delivered by them:
"The apostles and the elders, your
brothers, to the brothers in Antioch,
Syria, and Cilicia of Gentile origin:
greetings.
Since we have heard that some of our
number (who went out) without any
mandate from us have upset you with
their teachings and disturbed your
peace of mind,
namely, to abstain from meat
sacrificed to idols, from blood, from
meats of strangled animals, and from
unlawful marriage. If you keep free
of these, you will be doing what is
right. Farewell.'"
Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 67-2-3, 5, 6, 8:
R. (4)
O God, let all the nations
praise you!
May God have pity on us and
bless us;
may he let his face shine upon
us.
So may your way be known upon
earth;
among all nations, your
salvation.
R.
O God, let all the nations
praise you!
May the nations be glad and
exult
because you rule the peoples in
equity;
the nations on the earth
you guide.
R.
O God, let all the nations
praise you!
May the peoples praise you, O
God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the
earth fear him!
R.
O God, let all the nations
praise you!
Reading
II - A reading from the book of
Revelation (Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23):
It had a massive, high wall, with
twelve gates where twelve angels were
stationed and on which names were
inscribed, (the names) of the twelve
tribes of the Israelites.
Jesus answered and said to him,
"Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him, and we
will come to him and make our
dwelling with him.
13
You heard me tell you, 'I am going
away and I will come back to you.' If
you loved me, you would rejoice that
I am going to the Father; for the
Father is greater than I.
After Paul and Barnabus had
proclaimed the good news to that city
and made a considerable number of
disciples, they returned to Lystra
and to Iconium and to Antioch.
They strengthened the spirits of the
disciples and exhorted them to
persevere in the faith, saying, "It
is necessary for us to undergo many
hardships to enter the kingdom of
God."
And when they arrived, they called
the church together and reported what
God had done with them and how he had
opened the door of faith to the
Gentiles.
Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 145-8-9, 10-11, 12-13:
R. (cf. 1)
I will praise your name for
ever, my king and my God.
The LORD is gracious and
merciful,
slow to anger and of great
kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his
works.
R.
I will praise your name for
ever, my king and my God.
Let all your works give you
thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless
you.
Let them discourse of the glory
of your kingdom
and speak of your might.
R.
I will praise your name for
ever, my king and my God.
Let them make known your might
to the children of Adam,
and the glorious splendor of
your kingdom.
Your kingdom is a kingdom for
all ages,
and your dominion endures
through all generations.
R.
I will praise your name for
ever, my king and my God.
Reading
II - A reading from the book of the revelation
of John (Revelation 21:1-5a):
I heard a loud voice from the throne
saying, "Behold, God's dwelling is
with the human race. He will dwell
with them and they will be his people
4
and God himself will always be with
them (as their God).
This is how all will know that you
are my disciples, if you have love
for one another."
--------------------
05/02/10- The Impala That Didn't Get Away:
My only
question is "Was this right before they ate
him?"
Photographer Michel Denis-Huot, who captured
these amazing pictures on safari in Kenya's
Masai Mara in October last year, said he was
astounded by what he saw:
"These three brothers have been living together
since they left their mother at about 18 months
old,' he said. 'On the morning we saw them,
they seemed not to be hungry, walking quickly
but stopping sometimes to play together. 'At
one point, they met a group of impala who ran
away.
But one youngster was not quick enough and the
brothers caught it easily'".
Many Jews and worshipers who were
converts to Judaism followed Paul and
Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged
them to remain faithful to the grace
of God.
Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out
boldly and said, "It was necessary
that the word of God be spoken to you
first, but since you reject it and
condemn yourselves as unworthy of
eternal life, we now turn to the
Gentiles.
12
The Jews, however, incited the women
of prominence who were worshipers and
the leading men of the city, stirred
up a persecution against Paul and
Barnabas, and expelled them from
their territory.
I, John, had a vision of a great
multitude, which no one could count,
from every nation, race, people, and
tongue. They stood before the throne
and before the Lamb, wearing white
robes and holding palm branches
6
in their hands.
Then one of the elders said to me,
"These are the ones who have survived
the time of great distress;
8
they have washed their robes and made
them white in the blood of the Lamb.
For the Lamb who is in the center of
the throne will shepherd them and
lead them to springs of life-giving
water,
9
and God will wipe away every tear
from their eyes."
Gospel -
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St.
John (John 10:27-30):
"We gave you strict orders (did we
not?) to stop teaching in that name.
Yet you have filled Jerusalem with
your teaching and want to bring this
man's blood upon us."
R. (2a)
I will praise you, Lord, for
you have rescued me.
I will extol you, O LORD, for you
drew me clear
and did not let my enemies rejoice
over me.
O LORD, you brought me up from the
netherworld;
you preserved me from among those
going down into the pit.
R. I
will praise you, Lord, for you have
rescued me.
Sing praise to the LORD, you his
faithful ones,
and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger lasts but a moment;
a lifetime, his good will.
At nightfall, weeping enters in,
but with the dawn, rejoicing.
R. I
will praise you, Lord, for you have
rescued me.
Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me;
O LORD, be my helper.
You changed my mourning into dancing;
O LORD, my God, forever will I give
you thanks.
R. I
will praise you, Lord, for you have
rescued me.
Reading II - A reading from the
book of Revelation (Revelation
5:11-14):
I, John, looked again and
heard the voices of many
angels who surrounded the
throne and the living
creatures and the elders.
They were countless
5
in number,
and they cried out in a
loud voice: "Worthy is the
Lamb that was slain to
receive power and riches,
wisdom and strength, honor
and glory and blessing."
Then I heard every creature
in heaven and on earth and
under the earth and in the
sea, everything in the
universe, cry out: "To the
one who sits on the throne
and to the Lamb be blessing
and honor, glory and might,
forever and ever."
3
Simon Peter said to them,
"I am going fishing." They
said to him, "We also will
come with you." So they
went out and got into the
boat, but that night they
caught nothing.
So he said to them, "Cast
the net over the right side
of the boat and you will
find something." So they
cast it, and were not able
to pull it in because of
the number of fish.
So the disciple whom Jesus
loved said to Peter, "It is
the Lord." When Simon Peter
heard that it was the Lord,
he tucked in his garment,
for he was lightly clad,
and jumped into the sea.
So Simon Peter went over
and dragged the net ashore
full of one hundred
fifty-three
5
large fish. Even though
there were so many, the net
was not torn.
8910
When they had finished
breakfast, Jesus said to
Simon Peter, "Simon, son of
John, do you love me more
than these?" He said to
him, "Yes, Lord, you know
that I love you." He said
to him, "Feed my lambs."
He then said to him a
second time, "Simon, son of
John, do you love me?" He
said to him, "Yes, Lord,
you know that I love you."
He said to him, "Tend my
sheep."
He said to him the third
time, "Simon, son of John,
do you love me?" Peter was
distressed that he had said
to him a third time, "Do
you love me?" and he said
to him, "Lord, you know
everything; you know that I
love you." (Jesus) said to
him, "Feed my sheep.
11
Amen, amen, I say to you,
when you were younger, you
used to dress yourself and
go where you wanted; but
when you grow old, you will
stretch out your hands, and
someone else will dress you
and lead you where you do
not want to go."
He said this signifying by
what kind of death he would
glorify God. And when he
had said this, he said to
him, "Follow me."
--------------------
04/18/10- Letter from the
Netherlands:
Back in January, I received a letter
in the mail from the Netherlands,
addressed to my website, with my name
on it. I have no idea how the
two were linked, the person probably
used the whois.com search feature,
but probably found my website from
another website listing unusual
churches (I posted this website as
one). At first, I thought it
was a joke, possibly friends playing
a trick on me, but no one I know had
gone to the Netherlands...I knew
someone in Switzerland, but they
probably don't know of my website,
and probably wouldn't have played a
joke if they did.
Anyway, here it is. I present
it to answer the guy:
Dear Leo Steijn,
The Lord Jesus Christ only recognizes one church, and that is His people, the ones who believe in Him and follow Him. The divisions in the churches today, especially between Protestants and Catholics, and all others that think they're better than the other Christian groups or sects, is man-made and divisive. We believers are all of the same church, that of Jesus the Lord, the Christ, the Anointed One, whether we be Catholic, Protestant, Gentile Christians, or Judeo-Christians...we are all the church of Jesus, we humans are just too short-sighted to see that one group may be the eyes, another group the ears, another group, the feet, another group the mouth, etc. The body has many parts that look different, seem different, but together work as one body.
So, to answer your question, the church is already in the Netherlands, now go find where you feel you belong.
May God bless you and keep you, and guide you in life.
- Friday I found a book called "The Year of Living Like Jesus" by Ed Dobson. Ed Dobson had read a book called "The Year of Living Biblically" by A. J. Jacobs, who is a non-practicing Jew who decided to live for one year as close as possible to being compliant to all the laws, rules and regulations in the Old Testament books of Moses. Ed Dobson, an evangelical Christian minister, wanted to do the same, but to live as Jesus lived. The only thing was, he knew there was a stigma when people heard the word "Evangelical", and he wanted nothing to do with religious secular rules or associations while he did this. The other problem was that he knew he'd have to hang out where the sinners were, and that meant at times bars and drinking, things he never practiced in his own life.
I just had to read it, so I checked it out at the library. So far, a great and interesting read, just him preparing for the role and things he didn't expect or think about upon beginning his adventure...can't wait to get further.
- Today I felt like I got an Easter miracle healing. My pain/hip weakness seemed gone. I've felt this before, but this time (I'm writing this a week after Easter) I really thought it was a permanent reprieve from the pain, but yesterday (2nd Sunday of Easter) the pain slowly has been coming back. I enjoyed the one week free of pain, and am thankful to God for it. I may have to live with the pain, but I'm going to try my best to get rid of it so I can enjoy life again. My mood was so elevated and I enjoyed moving around freely without effort and pain. Maybe God was kicking me in the butt to catch up on updating the webpage, which I hadn't done in almost 2 months. We'll see. Lord, give me strength to endure.
--------------------
04/04/10-
What Does the Easter Bunny Have To Do With Easter?
*By Lauren Effron*
*Fri Apr 2, 2010 07:59 AM ET*
There's no story in the Bible about a long-eared, cotton-tailed creature
known as the Easter Bunny. Neither is there a passage about young
children painting eggs or hunting for baskets overflowing with
scrumptious Easter goodies.
Easter Sunday? And what do they have to do with the resurrection of Jesus?
Well, nothing.
Bunnies, eggs, Easter gifts and fluffy, yellow chicks in gardening hats
all stem from pagan roots. They were incorporated into the celebration
of Easter separately from the Christian tradition of honoring the day
Jesus Christ rose from the dead.
According to University of Florida's Center for Children's Literature
and Culture, the origin of the celebration -- and the Easter bunny --
can be traced back to 13th century, pre-Christian Germany, when people
worshiped several gods and goddesses. The Teutonic deity Eostra was the
goddess of spring and fertility, and feasts were held in her honor on
the Vernal Equinox. Her symbol was the rabbit because of the animal’s
high reproduction rate.
Spring also symbolized new life and rebirth; eggs were an ancient symbol
of fertility. According to History.com, Easter eggs represent Jesus'
resurrection. However, this association came much later when Roman
Catholicism became the dominant religion in Germany in the 15th century
and merged with already ingrained pagan beliefs.
The first Easter bunny legend was documented in the 1500s. By 1680, the
first story about a rabbit laying eggs and hiding them in a garden was
published. These legends were brought to the United States in the 1700s
when German immigrants settled in Pennsylvania Dutch country, according
to the Center for Children's Literature and Culture.
The tradition of making nests for the rabbit to lay its eggs in soon
followed. Eventually, nests became decorated baskets and colorful eggs
were swapped for candy, treats and other small gifts.
So while you're scarfing down chocolate bunnies (hey, I hear chocolate
is good for you!) and marshmallow chicks this Easter Sunday, think
fondly of this holiday's origins and maybe even impress your friends at
your local Easter egg hunt.
Thursday, April 1, 2010:
(HOLY THURSDAY EVENING MASS OF THE LORD'S SUPPER) Readings for today: Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14 / 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 / John 13:1-15:
- I did notice growths about 2 or 3 weeks before Easter, but wasn't fortunate enough to see the crosses...too early at the time. You'll have to click the link below to understand.
Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family.
The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guest room.
Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement.
As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it.
When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied,
"Things aren't always what they seem"
The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife.
After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest.
When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears.
Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field.
The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel how could you have let this happen?
The first man had everything, yet you helped him, she accused.
The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die..
"Things aren't always what they seem," the older angel replied.
"When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall.
Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it."
"Then last night as we slept in the farmers bed, the angel of death came for his wife I gave him the cow instead.
Things aren't always what they seem."
Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things don't turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage. You just might not know it until sometime later...
Oooo
Some people ( )
come into our lives ) /
and quickly go.. (_ /
oooO
( ) Some people
\ ( become friends
\_ ) and stay awhile...
oooO
( ) and we are
\ ( never
\_ ) quite the same
because we have
made a good
friend!!
Yesterday is history..
Tomorrow a mystery.
Today is a gift.
That's why it's called the present!
I think this is special...live and savor every
moment.... This is not a dress rehearsal!
(\ /)
( \__ / )
( \()/ )
( / \ ) TAKE THIS LITTLE ANGEL
( / \/ \ ) AND KEEP HER CLOSE TO YOU
/ \ SHE IS YOUR GUARDIAN ANGEL
( ) SENT TO WATCH OVER YOU
____
A lady
goes to her priest one day and tells him,
'Father, I have a problem.
I have two female parrots,
But they only know how to say one thing.'
'What do they say?' the priest inquired.
They say,
'Hi, we're hookers!
Do you want to have some fun?'
That's obscene!' the priest exclaimed,
Then he thought for a moment.
'You know,' he said,
'I may have a solution to your problem.
I have two male talking parrots,
Which I have taught to pray and read the Bible.
Bring your two parrots over to my house,
And we'll put them in the cage with Francis and
Peter.
My parrots can teach your parrots to praise and
worship,
And your parrots are sure to stop saying . .
That phrase . . In no time.'
Thank you,' the woman responded,
'this may very well be the solution.'
The next day,
She brought her female parrots to the priest's
house.
As he ushered her in,
She saw that his two male parrots
Were inside their cage holding rosary beads and
praying.
Impressed,
She walked over and placed her parrots in with
them.
After a few minutes,
The female parrots cried out in unison:
Hi, we're hookers!
Do you want to have some fun?'
There was stunned silence.
Shocked,
One male parrot looked over at the other male
parrot
And exclaimed,
'Put the beads away, Frank.
Our prayers have been answered!'
03/07/10- Citrus Christ? A Collection of Religious Sightings- If the link doesn't take you straight to the slideshow on the Today Show website, just enter the above in the search box (Citrus Christ, etc). Click here to see it.
5
It was on that occasion that the LORD
made a covenant with Abram, saying:
"To your descendants I give this
land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the
Great River (the Euphrates).
As they were about to part from him,
Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is
good that we are here; let us make
three tents,
17
one for you, one for Moses, and one
for Elijah." But he did not know what
he was saying.
After the voice had spoken, Jesus was
found alone. They fell silent and did
not at that time
20
tell anyone what they had seen.
-----------------------
02/28/10- 12 Year Old Artist Paints Visions of
Heaven -
My
parents sent me this email with a link to the
video of this 12 year old girl that paints
pictures of her memories of and visits to
heaven and God. Enjoy:
1
Then you shall declare before the
LORD, your God, 'My father was a
wandering Aramean who went down to
Egypt with a small household and
lived there as an alien. But there he
became a nation great, strong and
numerous.
Therefore, I have now brought you the
first fruits of the products of the
soil which you, O LORD, have given
me.' And having set them before the
LORD, your God, you shall bow down in
his presence.
You who dwell in the shelter of the Most
High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
say to the LORD, “My refuge and fortress,
my God in whom I trust.”
Be with me,
Lord, when I am in trouble.
No evil shall befall you,
nor shall affliction come near your tent,
For to his angels he has given command
about you,
that they guard you in all your ways.
Be with me,
Lord, when I am in trouble.
Upon their hands they shall bear you up,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.
You shall tread upon the asp and the
viper;
you shall trample down the lion and the
dragon.
Be with me,
Lord, when I am in trouble.
Because he clings to me, I will deliver
him;
I will set him on high because he
acknowledges my name.
He shall call upon me, and I will answer
him;
I will be with him in distress;
I will deliver him and glorify him.
Be
with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.
Reading
II - A reading from the letter of St. Paul to
the Romans (Romans 10:8-13):
4
Then he led him to Jerusalem, made
him stand on the parapet of the
temple, and said to him, "If you are
the Son of God, throw yourself down
from here,
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God. For
gracious and merciful is he, slow to
anger, rich in kindness, and
relenting in punishment.
Gather the people, notify the
congregation; Assemble the elders,
gather the children and the infants
at the breast; Let the bridegroom
quit his room, and the bride her
chamber.
1
Between the porch and the altar let
the priests, the ministers of the
LORD, weep, And say, "Spare, O LORD,
your people, and make not your
heritage a reproach, with the nations
ruling over them! Why should they say
among the peoples, 'Where is their
God?'"
Then the LORD was stirred to concern
for his land and took pity on his
people.
Responsorial Psalm - Psalm
51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14 and 17:
R. (see 3a) Be merciful, O Lord,
for we have sinned.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe
out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. Be
merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
“Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight.”
R. Be
merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. Be
merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
R.
Be
merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
Reading
II - A reading from the second letter of St.
Paul to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians
5:20-6:2):
For he says: "In an acceptable time
3
I heard you, and on the day of
salvation I helped you." Behold, now
is a very acceptable time; behold,
now is the day of salvation.
Gospel -
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St.
Matthew (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18):
When you give alms, do not blow a
trumpet before you, as the hypocrites
2
do in the synagogues and in the
streets to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you, they have
received their reward.
"When you pray, do not be like the
hypocrites, who love to stand and
pray in the synagogues and on street
corners so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you, they have
received their reward.
"When you fast,
12
do not look gloomy like the
hypocrites. They neglect their
appearance, so that they may appear
to others to be fasting. Amen, I say
to you, they have received their
reward.
so that you may not appear to be
fasting, except to your Father who is
hidden. And your Father who sees what
is hidden will repay you.
----------------------
02/17/10- Cinnamon and
Honey Promote Good Health -
Cinnamon and Honey Honey is the
only food on the planet that will not spoil or
rot. It will do what some call turning to
sugar. In reality honey is always honey.
However, when left in a cool dark place for a
long time it will do what I rather call
"crystallizing". When this happens I loosen the
lid, boil some water, and sit the honey
container in the hot water,turn off the heat
and let it liquefy. It is then as good as it
ever was. Never boil honey or put it in a
microwave. To do so will kill the enzymes in
the honey.
Cinnamon and Honey
Bet the drug companies won't like this one
getting around. Facts on Honey and Cinnamon:It
is found that a mixture of
honey and Cinnamon cures most diseases.
Honey is produced in most of the countries of
the world. Scientists of today also accept
honey as a 'Ram Ban' (very effective) medicine
for all kinds of diseases. Honey can be used
without any side effects for any kind of
diseases.
Today's science says that even though honey is
sweet, if taken in the right dosage as a
medicine, it does not harm diabetic
patients.Weekly World News, a magazine in
Canada , in its issue dated 17 January,1995 has
given the following list of diseases that can
be cured by honey and cinnamon as researched by
western scientists:
HEART DISEASES:
Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder,
apply on bread, instead of jelly and jam, and
eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the
cholesterol in the arteries and saves the
patient from heart attack.
Also, those who have already had an attack, if
they do this process daily, they are kept miles
away from the next attack.. Regular use of the
above process relieves loss of breath and
strengthens the heart beat. In
America and Canada , various nursing homes have
treated patients successfully and have found
that as you age, the
arteries and veins lose their
flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon
revitalize the arteries and veins.
ARTHRITIS:
Arthritis patients may take daily, morning and
night, one cup of hot water with two spoons of
honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon
powder. If taken regularly even chronic
arthritis can be cured. In a recent research
conducted at the Copenhagen University, it was
found that when the doctors treated their
patients with a mixture of one tablespoon Honey
and half teaspoon Cinnamon powder before
breakfast, they found that within a week, out
of the 200 people so treated, practically 73
patients were totally relieved of pain, and
within a month, mostly all the patients who
could not walk or move around because of
arthritis started walking without pain.
BLADDER INFECTIONS:
Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one
teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm
waterand drink it. It destroys the germs in the
bladder.
CHOLESTEROL:
Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of
Cinnamon Powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea
water, given to a cholesterol patient, was
found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the
blood by 10 percent within two hours. As
mentioned for arthritic patients, if taken
three times a day, any chronic cholesterol is
cured. According to information received in the
said Journal, pure honey taken with food daily
relieves complaints of cholesterol.
COLDS:
Those suffering from common or severe colds
should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with
1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for three days.
This process will cure most
chronic cough, cold, and clear the
sinuses.
UPSET STOMACH:
Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures
stomach ache and also clears
stomach ulcers from the root.
GAS:
According to the studies done in India and
Japan, it is revealed that if Honey is taken
with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of
gas.
IMMUNE SYSTEM:
Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder
strengthens the immune system and protects the
body from bacteria and viral attacks.
Scientists have found that honey has various
vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant
use of Honey strengthens the white blood
corpuscles to fight bacterial andviral
diseases.
INDIGESTION:
Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of
honey taken before food relieves acidity and
digests the heaviest of meals.
INFLUENZA:
A scientist in Spain has proved that honey
contains a natural 'Ingredient' which kills the
influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.
LONGEVITY:
Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when
taken regularly, arrests the ravages of old
age. Take four spoons of honey, one spoon of
cinnamon powder, and three cups of water and
boil to make like tea. Drink 1/4 cup, three to
four times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and
soft and arrests old age. Life spans also
increase and even a 100 year old, starts
performing the chores of a 20-year-old..
PIMPLES:
Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of
cinnamon powder paste. Apply this paste on the
pimples before sleeping and wash it next
morning with warm water. If done daily for two
weeks, it removes pimples from the root.
SKIN INFECTIONS:
Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal
parts on the affected parts cures
eczema, ringworm and all types of skin
infections.
WEIGHT LOSS:
Daily in the morning one half hour before
breakfast on an empty stomach, and at night
before sleeping, drink honey and cinnamon
powder boiled in one cup of water. If taken
regularly, it reduces the weight of even the
most obese person. Also, drinking this mixture
regularly does not allow the fat to accumulate
in the body even though the person may eat a
high calorie diet.
CANCER:
Recent research in Japan and Australia has
revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach
and bones have been cured successfully.
Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer
should daily take one tablespoon of honey with
one teaspoon of cinnamon powder for one month
three times a day.
FATIGUE:
Recent studies have shown that the sugar
content of honey is more helpful rather than
being detrimental to the strength of the body.
Senior citizens, who take honey and cinnamon
powder in equal parts, are more alert and
flexible. Dr. Milton, who has done research,
says that a half tablespoon of honey taken in a
glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon
powder, taken daily after brushing and in the
afternoon at about 3:00 P.M. when the vitality
of the body starts to decrease, increases the
vitality of the body within a week.
BAD BREATH:
People of South America , first thing in the
morning, gargle with one teaspoon of honey and
cinnamon powder mixed in hot water, so their
breath stays fresh throughout the day.
HEARING LOSS:
Daily morning and night honey and cinnamon
powder, taken in equal parts restores hearing.
Remember when we were kids? We had toast with
real butter and cinnamon sprinkled on it!
He is like a tree planted beside the
waters that stretches out its roots
to the stream: It fears not the heat
when it comes, its leaves stay green;
In the year of drought it shows no
distress, but still bears fruit.
Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6:
(40:5a) Blessed are they who hope
in the Lord.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked,
nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
but delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
Blessed are
they who hope in the Lord.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
that yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
Blessed are
they who hope in the Lord.
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives
away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the
just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
Blessed are
they who hope in the Lord.
Reading
II - A reading from the first letter of St.
Paul to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 15:12,
16-20):
9
Jesus came down with the twelve and
stood on a stretch of level ground
with a great crowd of his disciples
and a large number of the people from
all Judea and Jerusalem and the
coastal region of Tyre and Sidon.
4
Then I said, "Woe is me, I am doomed!
For I am a man of unclean lips,
living among a people of unclean
lips; yet my eyes have seen the King,
the LORD of hosts!"
(1c) In the sight of the angels I
will sing your praises, Lord.
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with
all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing
your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple
and give thanks to your name.
In the sight
of the angels I will sing your praises,
Lord.
Because of your kindness and your truth;
for you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.
In the sight
of the angels I will sing your praises,
Lord.
All the kings of the earth shall give
thanks to you, O LORD,
when they hear the words of your mouth;
and they shall sing of the ways of the
LORD:
“Great is the glory of the LORD.”
In the sight
of the angels I will sing your praises,
Lord.
Your right hand saves me.
The LORD will complete what he has done
for me;
your kindness, O LORD, endures forever;
forsake not the work of your hands.
In the sight
of the angels I will sing your praises,
Lord.
Reading II - A reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 15:1-11):
But by the grace of God I am what I
am, and his grace to me has not been
ineffective. Indeed, I have toiled
harder than all of them; not I,
however, but the grace of God (that
is) with me.
Getting into one of the boats, the
one belonging to Simon, he asked him
to put out a short distance from the
shore. Then he sat down and taught
the crowds from the boat.
and likewise James and John, the sons
of Zebedee, who were partners of
Simon. Jesus said to Simon, "Do not
be afraid; from now on you will be
catching men."
But do you gird your loins; stand up
and tell them all that I command you.
Be not crushed on their account, as
though I would leave you crushed
before them;
For it is I this day who have made
you a fortified city, A pillar of
iron, a wall of brass, against the
whole land: Against Judah's kings and
princes, against its priests and
people.
And if I have the gift of prophecy
and comprehend all mysteries and all
knowledge; if I have all faith so as
to move mountains but do not have
love, I am nothing.
4
Love never fails. If there are
prophecies, they will be brought to
nothing; if tongues, they will cease;
if knowledge, it will be brought to
nothing.
He said to them, "Surely you will
quote me this proverb, 'Physician,
cure yourself,' and say, 'Do here in
your native place the things that we
heard were done in Capernaum.'"
11
12
Indeed, I tell you, there were many
widows in Israel in the days of
Elijah when the sky was closed for
three and a half years and a severe
famine spread over the entire land.
But he passed through the midst of
them and went away.
--------------------
01/31/10- Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Beers - I remember hearing this in college, and it came to me again as an email, and since it's full of basic wisdom I thought I'd share it:
Mayonnaise Jar & Two Beers...
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 Beers.
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.
When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.
He then asked the students if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.
He then asked the students again if the jar was full.
They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He asked once more if the jar was full..
The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'
The professor then produced two Beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand.
The students laughed..
'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.
The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.
The sand is everything else---the small stuff.
'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.
The same goes for life..
If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Spend time with your children.
Spend time with your parents.
Visit with grandparents.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your spouse out to dinner.
Play another 18.
There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.
Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter.
Set your priorities.
The rest is just sand.
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Beer represented.
The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.'
The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of Beers with a friend.
LIFE ISN'T ABOUT WAITING FOR THE STORM TO PASS... ...IT'S LEARNING HOW TO DANCE IN THE RAIN !
(This
article has been across the Internet a dozen
times, but it is worth repeating.)
It's
been said that God first separated the salt
water from the fresh, made dry land, planted a
garden, made animals and fish... all before
making a human. God made and provided what we'd
need before we were born. These foods are best
and more powerful when eaten raw. God
left us a great clue as to what foods help what
part of our body!
A sliced Carrot looks
like the human eye. The pupil,
iris and radiating lines look
just like the human eye... and
YES, science now shows carrots
greatly enhance blood flow to
and function of the eyes.
A Tomato has four
chambers and is red. The heart
has four chambers and is red.
All of the research
shows tomatoes are loaded with
lycopine and are indeed pure
heart and blood food.
Grapes hang in a
cluster that has the shape of
the heart. Each grape looks like
a blood cell and all of the
research today shows grapes are
also profound heart and blood
vitalizing food.
A Walnut looks like a
little brain, a left and right
hemisphere, upper cerebrums and
lower cerebellums. Even the
wrinkles or folds on the nut are
just like the neo-cortex. We now
know walnuts help develop more
than three (3) dozen
neuron-transmitters for brain
function.
Kidney Beans actually
heal and help maintain kidney
function and yes, they look
exactly like the human kidneys.
Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and
many more look just like bones.
These foods specifically target
bone strength. Bones are 23%
sodium and these foods are 23%
calcium. If you don't have
enough calcium in your diet, the
body pulls it from the bones,
thus making them weak. These
foods replenish the skeletal
needs of the body.
Avocadoes, Eggplant and Pears target
the health and function of the
womb and cervix of the female -
they look just like these
organs. Today's research shows
that when a woman eats one
avocado a week, it balances
hormones, sheds unwanted birth
weight, and prevents cervical
cancers. And how profound is
this? It takes exactly nine (9)
months to grow an avocado from
blossom to ripened fruit. There
are over 14,000 photolytic
chemical constituents of
nutrition in each one of these
foods (mo dern science has only
studied and named about 141 of
them).
Figs are full of seeds
and hang in twos when they grow.
Figs increase the mobility of
male sperm and increase the
numbers of Sperm as well to
overcome male sterility.
Sweet Potatoes look like
the pancreas and actually
balance the glycemic index of
diabetics.
Olives assist the health
and function of the ovaries
Oranges, Grapefruits, and
other Citrus fruits look
just like the mammary glands of
the female and actually assist
the health of the breasts and
the movement of lymph in and out
of the breasts.
Onions look like the
body's cells. Research shows
onions clear waste materials
from all of the body cells. They
even produce tears which wash
the epithelial layers of the
eyes. Garlic also helps
eliminate waste materials and
dangerous free radicals from the
body.
Sunday, January 10, 2010:
(BAPTISM OF THE LORD) Readings for today: Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 or Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11 / Acts 10:34-38 or Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7 / Luke 3:15-16, 21-22:
1
You, Bethlehem-Ephrathah too small to
be among the clans of Judah, From you
shall come forth for me one who is to
be ruler in Israel; Whose origin is
from of old, from ancient times.
2
(Therefore the Lord will give them
up, until the time when she who is to
give birth has borne, And the rest of
his brethren shall return to the
children of Israel.)
He shall stand firm and shepherd his
flock by the strength of the LORD, in
the majestic name of the LORD, his
God; And they shall remain, for now
his greatness shall reach to the ends
of the earth;
(4)
Lord, make us turn
to you; let us see your face and we shall
be saved.
O shepherd of Israel, hearken,
from your throne upon the cherubim, shine
forth.
Rouse your power,
and come to save us.
Lord, make
us turn to you; let us see your face and
we shall be saved.
Once again, O LORD of hosts,
look down from heaven, and see;
take care of this vine,
and protect what your right hand has
planted
the son of man whom you yourself made
strong.
Lord, make
us turn to you; let us see your face and
we shall be saved.
May your help be with the man of your
right hand,
with the son of man whom you yourself made
strong.
Then we will no more withdraw from you;
give us new life, and we will call upon
your name.
Lord, make
us turn to you; let us see your face and
we shall be saved.
Reading II - A reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Hebrews (Hebrews 10:5-10):
First he says, "Sacrifices and
offerings, holocausts and sin
offerings,
4
you neither desired nor delighted
in." These are offered according to
the law.
