Saturday, August 18, 2007

Idolatry in the Home

Idolatry in the Home : A Catholic Reflection
Today we don't get into statues of idols, but many homes still worship "the god of the present age" (2 Cor 4:4), that is, a lifestyle of comfort, sex, money, power, and secular humanism as presented through the media. Often, today's homes enthrone the TV or home entertainment system. It's not an idol of gold or silver, but it's still surrounded by "worshipers" who eat sacrificial meals (or at least snacks) as they sacrifice their prime time prostrating themselves before the household "statue."


Ummm...Computer? Food as emotional crutch?

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Focus on Jesus

WorldNetDaily: Why so many Americans today are 'mentally ill': "Toward the end of my son's Boy Scout troop meeting not too long ago, the scoutmaster stood up and used his customary 'Scoutmaster Minute' to retell the famous story an old Cherokee chief supposedly told his grandson. The chief said: 'A fight is going on inside me. It is a terrible battle – between two wolves. One wolf represents fear, anger, pride, envy, lust, greed, arrogance, self-pity, resentment, lies and cruelty. 'The other wolf stands for honesty, kindness, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, friendship, generosity, truth, compassion and faith. 'This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other person, too,' he added. The grandson reflected on these words for a minute and then asked his grandfather, 'Which wolf will win?' The old chief simply replied, 'The one you feed.'"


My 'Table of the Lord' mentor gave me some encouraging words yesterday that go along with this very well...she said..."Glance at the circumstances around you, BUT focus on Jesus."

Abundant Life

> .=: M O R N I N G P R A Y E R :=.
> From Father Pat Umberger
>
.=: S C R I P T U R E F O R T H E D A Y :=.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may
have life, and have it abundantly." ~John 10:10

.=: M E D I T A T I O N F O R T H E D A Y :=.

We can have life and have it more abundantly--spiritual, mental, physical,
abundant life--joyous, powerful life. These we can have if we follow the
right way. Not all people will accept from God the gift of an abundant
life, a gift held out free to all. Not all people care to stretch out a
hand and take it. God's gift, the richest God has to offer, is the
precious
gift of abundant life. People often turn away from it, reject it, and will
have none of it. We need not let this be true of us.

.=: P R A Y E R F O R T H E D A Y :=.

I pray that I may hasten to accept the gift of abundant spiritual life. I
pray that I may live the good life to the best of my ability.

Monday, August 13, 2007

follow His ways exactly...

USCCB - (NAB) - August 13, 2007

"Moses said to the people:
“And now, Israel, what does the LORD, your God, ask of you
but to fear the LORD, your God, and follow his ways exactly,
to love and serve the LORD, your God,
with all your heart and all your soul,
to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD
which I enjoin on you today for your own good?
Think! The heavens, even the highest heavens,
belong to the LORD, your God,
as well as the earth and everything on it."

Wow...what a week...I can't even begin to write it all down. It has just been one long attack on the family after another. The damage has been done and I'm now 'limping' along. It is now time to re-start. Step one is to re-focus on the Lord instead of all the troubles surrounding me...it doesn't mean that I will shut my eyes to those that are hurting...but merely that I choose to ponder on the workings of the Lord and marvelous deeds that He will do with all of this mess that I have placed in His hands, instead of on the problems themselves. Step 2 is full throttle obedience. Little disobediences open the door to the evil one's workings and full obdience does the opposite...it shuts doors in his face.

Tatoos and body piercings

The Latin Mass – The Journal of Catholic Culture and Tradition

I've recently started seeing the trend towards lots of of tatoos and body piercings and not all in younger people who don't know better. I've also seen some of these people's lives take a really wrong turn and I started wondering...which came first? Did they open themselves up to evil at the time of the tattoo...or was the tattoo merely an outward expression of what was going on inside them already? I still don't have those answers...but the above article clearifies things alot...especially in an era where everything is 'ok'.