tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91475574948272824322024-03-08T16:36:46.546-08:00acatholictoddlernewly born and loving the growing up process!acatholic toddlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269064303819025278noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147557494827282432.post-68293187038432593052007-05-10T10:01:00.000-07:002007-05-10T10:51:13.266-07:00The things said against catholics...I know someone who left Catholicisn and has joined up with some end times rapture ministry run by a certain prophet who among other things prophesied the Asian Tsunami and many other things. <br /><br />They didn't know I was catholic and when they found out they did what I can only describe as EEEUUUUW! and told me to get out, of the church, as fast as I can. <br /><br />Catholicism is the only faith, apparently where people are allowed to sin intentionally because they can go to confession afterwards and have it all washed way then go do it again. In fact, the person used to hate attending mass without passing by the confessional. <br /><br />Catholics can drink, party all night and go for mass in the morning. They can live life with one foot in the world and the other with God then make one turnaround in the moment of death and make it to Heaven................that is practically verbatim. <br /><br />Now this is the intersting part I was told Catholics contradict the bible by worshipping engraven images( The cross apparently is also an engraven image here since ours have the figure of Jesus on them) that according to the bible God is Jealous and <strong>hates</strong> us for showing reverence for this engraven images and will punish us for four generations and reward those who dont for a thousand generations. Aha! <br /><br />I have heard of people who have had their faith challenged before, it happned to me when I was a kid and my friends teased me for wearing the rosary but nothing of this magnitude. <br /><br />While I pray for my person I also pray for myself and my brothers and sisters un faith? Questions: Do I give the church, the faith a bad name? Do I abuse the grace and privilege of confession, of the Holy Mass, Do I make a mockery of the Holy Eucharist?<br /><br />Peter Son of John do you love me?, Peter answered Yes Lord you know that I love you"<br />Feed my sheep.<br /><br />From what I gather Peter sounded a bit flushed and embarased at the directness of our Lord but he did live his loove for the Lord and watch over his sheep. <br /><br />The question for me and you is Do you love me? If your asnwer is Yes Lord I love you, his response is "follow me." <br /><br />I pray for purity in my desires and in my actions Lord May I never desire and anything that mocks the great privileges you offer me in the Sacraments. <br /><br />The drinking question is one that will haunt Catholicism to the end of time but I pray for the lord's grace that especially young cathlics might live and know in fullness of Grace especially this one here. <br /><br />Now about the issue of deathbed conversions C H Spurgeon the delightful preacher of what-century-was-that-again once gave a sermon where he preached that when Jesus walked into Heaven after his death the robber who repented was right alongisde him as the first convert of the Sacrifice of our Lord on the cross. <br /><br />The Mercy of God is unfathomable, there are oceans and oceans of it and so long as we have breath even if it just one and we sincerely come to before Him and beg for Mercy we will be pardoned. <br /><br />The truth is God cannot be deceived by a catholic, an Anglican, or atheist and any attempt is surely courting serious danger. In the imitation of Christ Kempis writes I am quoting from my head so dont mind if its a bit askew "Imagine if you cannot stand the wrath of your fellow man it terrifies you what about the wrath of God the Almighty ........"<br /><br />I dont believe its catholics alone who ask people to find God even with their last breath but we all know God cannot be deceived you cannot live a life of sin cognizant of the Grace of God and the greeatness of his Love and Mercy and expect to be saved with a last minute whimper! God can see the heart! <br /><br />In that case your knowledge of the existence of the mercy and Love of God and intetional disregard of the same till your moment of need so to speak will probably be your condemnation and that too will be great. Why because you know! <br /><br />Kempis writes again that those who know will be judged more harshly .........<br /><br />God cannot be deceived is the bottom line of the death bed matter as far as I am concerned. <br /><br />Comments are more than welcome.acatholic toddlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269064303819025278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147557494827282432.post-12875071132242685362007-02-08T08:09:00.000-08:002007-01-25T09:02:41.965-08:00I dont look like a believer...hahahaha! Then Sob sob sob!Sorry about the infrequency of posts I am in the middle of a very big project so a small prayer or big sometime wouild be extremely appreciated. <br /><br />I dont know if any of you have ever been told that you dont look like a christian. <br /><br />A friend found out I am the one behind this blog and he was dumbfounded! <br /><br />"You!(apparently it's shocking) You believe in God?"<br /><br />My first respnse was to laugh. <br /><br />"Yes," I said. somewhat bemused. <br /><br />"You dont look like a believer"<br /><br />That was where the funny-ness of it all ended. And the gauntlet landed with a huge thud at my feet. <br /><br />I dont blame my pal he has known me from my past and was probably not aware of my conversion, I thought everyone was, but his statement has made me examine myself on one of the most prominent issues of being a Christian. <br /><br />Action!! If you love me you will follow my commands the Lord said ................following is all action. <br /><br />I have talked a lot about my conversion and I think it's time I shut my trap and acted my age sorry faith! <br /><br />Do you act your age, sorry faith?<br /><br />Trust in the Lord with all your strength lean not on your own understanding!acatholic toddlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269064303819025278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147557494827282432.post-37152396976727134012007-01-25T08:58:00.000-08:002007-01-25T09:02:42.040-08:00Death a true gain!No I am not a big fan of death even though this is my second post on the subject. I was at a funeral mass yesterday and the question I was left asking myself was: Is death a loss or gain. <br /><br />As a christian there is only one answer to that question and I only pray that the good Lord may fill me and you with wisdom and grace to be prepared to gain eternal life when our time here is over. <br /><br />Eternal life; best bottom line you can get!acatholic toddlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269064303819025278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147557494827282432.post-68958831633635839732007-01-05T02:06:00.000-08:002007-01-05T02:20:50.547-08:00My answer to RelativismHappy New year to you all! May the Good Lord drench us with Grace and all the blessings from above this year. <br /><br />Now I am sure as most of you have noticed the Holy Father and a lot of other people are real concerned about relativism as an impediment to the full experience of faith- it's joy and sweetness- and catholicism in particular. <br /><br />Well I would like to promote a new thought today people I call it Pivotism. Pivotism is basically a modern day total dependence on Christ, a severe hunger for Him and His Love, a constant search for Communion with Him and a total openness to his will. After one has become a pivot one must then look for and being the pivot anchor at least one more Christian by means of inspiration , ministry and prayer to become a pivot as well. <br /><br />For any Christian that feels inadequate in fervor, desire and hunger for Christ they must take the reverse route and seek out a pivot to anchor and inspire them to a highler level of intimacy with Christ. <br /><br />In the end we all must be smalll pivots who are all anchored on the Ultimate and Eternal Pivot Jesus Christ son fof ther True Living God. <br /><br />I know its an old version of be your neighbour's keeper but whats important is to giv e it an identity and practice. <br /><br />I'd luv ya thotsacatholic toddlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269064303819025278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147557494827282432.post-8145789948954927812006-12-29T08:21:00.000-08:002006-12-29T08:24:37.746-08:00THE KING IS BORNJoy to the world the King is Born. The King is Born I keep meditating on those words over and over again. <br /><br />The King is Born The King is Born The King is Born The King is Born The King is Born <br />The King is Born The King is Born The King is Born The King is Born The King is Born <br /><br />Think about it!<br /><br />Then Rejoice greatly!!<br /><br />Hallelujah!acatholic toddlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269064303819025278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147557494827282432.post-85564441418185024272006-12-11T10:22:00.000-08:002006-12-11T10:27:22.883-08:00You and I are RefugeesA deacon at my church who actually lives and works in Sudan put advent in a whole new light for me. <br /><br />He says in the same way that most Sudanese people are refugees in other nations and yearning to go back home in peace and start to live their lives anew so are you and I as christians. <br /><br />WE are refugees too here on earth and we have always to keep yearning to go back home that has to got be top of our yearnings. <br /><br />Say a prayer for peace in war torn Africa today and pray that we may all end up home with the Good Lord for ever.acatholic toddlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269064303819025278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147557494827282432.post-89357679380206065532006-12-11T10:12:00.000-08:002006-12-11T10:22:32.564-08:00beatin tha devil down!Excuse the forthrightness of the title but at this stage the honeymoon of my new friendhip with the Lord is kind of over. Temptations are flooding in and it does get tough..............more than I can tell you but I always try to think of how sweet it is now being in communion with the Lord and forever in the life to come and that's where my strength comes from. <br /><br />That the good Lord is here with me and will not leave but will stand with me and hold my hand.........................<br /><br />Dont laugh ladies and gents but I am learning a pivotal lesson of faith here it is never I or me or myself it's always We me and the Lord unless I take a U turn or a side street into sin. ( Stress the world always.)<br /><br />The evil one has got unbelievable tenacity even with Jesus nigh he still tries to make a pass at me and that's ok because I am determined to avoid his kiss of death. <br /><br />Thats my prayer today that I may steer clear of evil and in the sweet company of My Lord and Saviour especially this Advent seasonacatholic toddlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269064303819025278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147557494827282432.post-63875542981372345142006-12-07T01:46:00.000-08:002006-12-07T02:03:52.379-08:00Falling into sinAfter my conversion there have been immense moments of bliss and such an awesome feeling of being right. <br /><br />However in the past two weeks I have fallen back into some shameful habits.......hard to imagine when I look at my previous posts. <br /><br />I have had moments of pure shame, swam in muck I thought I would never get stuck in again. It's annoying, sickening and painful to contemplate and remember!<br /><br />I know the Lord is beside me stretching out his hand to help me up get back on the road of righteousness again and I appreciate that greatly and Love Him for his awesome mercy and goodness. <br /><br />I know my self anger will get me nowhere and I ask the good Lord to save me from self judgement and derision. My point this is really a point of maturity for me. <br /><br />I need to stop getting mad and getiing even. How? By showing my Saviour that Yes I do Love you and my sin was just but a slip. <br /><br />I also pray for the grace of commitment that I may perservere in faith. <br /><br />I know this post is not entirely eloquent, flowing or sensible. <br /><br /><br />But my soul is developing a calm and easiness now that I really did not possess when I started writing this post. <br /><br />God Bless us all.acatholic toddlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269064303819025278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147557494827282432.post-60374425082198593772006-11-14T09:39:00.001-08:002006-11-14T09:41:10.301-08:00O come let us adore him!Thanks to Hollywood most people consider Beauty and the Beast, the frog and the princess, the film Titanic and Romeo and Juliet the biggest love stories of our time-wrong! The biggest love story in the history of humanity is contained in the little white host the priest blesses in every mass.<br /><br />The Eucharist is undoubtedly the best part of being a catholic and Eucharistic adoration is God doing only what He can do-making the best much better and even more special There is nothing greater or fulfilling than the chance to be with Jesus one on one. The Eucharist is the answer to who we are why we are here and where we are going-Through Him with Him and Him- Cannon of the mass. <br /><br />Walking into Eucharistic adoration is equal into walking into heaven only that there Jesus in the humble form of Bread and not the glory of his transfigured self. If he was in his transfigured form none of us would ever leave the church but he comes to us in humility that we may be attracted to him by love and respect instead of glamour and glory those and a lot more will come later- in Heaven. We have to share in the humility to share in the glory. How far is heaven?<br /><br />It is out of incredible love for you and I that Jesus Son of God contains himself in that little white host considering the world itself cannot contain him. His presence in the Eucharist is an extension of his death on the cross with arms open welcoming all of us to come and spend time with him saying “Come unto me all who are weary and I will give you rest Mat 6:28” <br /><br />Do not worry about what you will do or say before you enter being there is itself a great blessing “One day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere Psalms 84:1” Try and Realize who is present in the Eucharist. Present in all three meanings of the word. 1) Present as a gift, 2) Present – Now and 3) Present Physically. <br /><br />Moreover do not judge yourself unworthy to be in His Presence because He came not for those who are righteous but for sinners. “Those who are well do not need a doctor”<br /> Go in and tell Him with reference to yourself “Lord the one you love is sic Luke5: 30,31”<br /><br />Pop in and say thank you after receiving Him in Holy Communion-we do well and always and everywhere to give you thanks-cannon of the mass. Hundreds walk in through the gate, many actually receive Communion but very few pop in to say thank you. Jesus waits in the Chapel asking painfully like he did when just one leper came to say thank you…Were not all ten made whole? Luke 17:17”acatholic toddlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269064303819025278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147557494827282432.post-83912236477276607312006-11-14T09:32:00.000-08:002006-11-14T09:33:39.017-08:00Being or NothingnessI came across a blog titled Being or Nothingness?<br />Days later I cannot seem to get that question out of my head but even worse I cannot seem to gather the wisdom to answer it correctly. Until now. To be able to answer that question I realized I needed to know the difference between being-ness and nothingness. The difference? Salvation. Jesus Christ is the difference, his love, grace and companionship are all that makes us be, all that makes us live and everything else must stem otherwise its all useless. Moreover I realized that Being or Nothingness is a choice that we all have to make and the only way to show which side we have chosen is in through our lives the way we live; the good we do, the paths we walk, the words we talk, our entire lives must are a declaration of what we are: Being or Nothingness? Which are you?acatholic toddlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269064303819025278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147557494827282432.post-35259716100827039072006-11-14T09:28:00.000-08:002006-11-14T09:29:39.080-08:00SUFFERING<em><br />“If anyone wants to be my disciple let him take up his cross and follow me.”</em> That’s a bit harsh isn’t it coming from the source of all Love and goodness? That verse used to be the most difficult in the entire Bible for me and probably a few other people to accept. However after finally graduating from spiritual baby class after twenty years that is no longer the case. Its really a very simple in the same way that Jesus suffered to be glorified so must we to share in his glory. We want his glory but are not willing to share his suffering.<br /><br />If you think the words of Jesus above are hard to hear then sample this <em>“ Depart from me ye cursed lot and into the fire of damnation.”</em> Ouch!<br /><br />Through suffering we are instructed, purified and made worthy of hearing the most beautiful verse in the bible <em>Well done good and faithful servant.”</em><br /><br />The bottomline is earth cannot be heaven otherwise we would not know the difference when we do get to heaven, au sio?<br /> Its always easier to live remembering we never carry our crosses alone God is always with us unless of course we refuse to accept his help, guidance and light by not turning to, depending on and trusting Him.acatholic toddlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269064303819025278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147557494827282432.post-6511264394470021612006-11-14T09:17:00.000-08:002006-11-14T09:28:05.203-08:00MEDITATION ON THE BEAUTY OF DEATHAs a Christian it’s foolish neither to be ready for death nor to accept the truth about that is death. We will all die me today you tomorrow. What then? In ‘the imitation of Christ’ Kempis writes of death. “If it is so terrifying to die, it is nevertheless possible that to live longer is more dangerous. Blessed is he who keeps the moment of death ever before his eyes and prepares for it every day.”<br />If you have ever seen a man die, remember that you, too, must go the same way. In the morning consider that you may not live till evening, and when evening comes do not dare to promise yourself the dawn. Be always ready, therefore, and so live that death will never take you unprepared. ”<br /><br />It is better to avoid sin than to fear death period. Postponing our preparation for death is worse than being scared of death since we totally have no clue about the day and time therefore my friends think about your moment of death and pray that the Good Lord will find you ready, willing and worthy of Eternal life.acatholic toddlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269064303819025278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9147557494827282432.post-6889204363120450002006-11-14T09:13:00.000-08:002006-11-14T09:17:21.070-08:00THE EFFORT OF CHRISTA few days ago feeling extremely tired I came home and dumped myself on the bed. When I woke up 3 hours later after a rather nice nap I did not have one of my (pricey) cufflinks on me. Having taken a shine to shirts with cufflinks (they make me look expensive) I was determined to find it and I literally tore my room apart, the bed, and clothes everything trying to find it. In the process of that frantic search the biblical stories of the lost coin, the prodigal son and the good shepherd all came to me and I collapsed back onto my bed smiling to myself. The truth of all these biblical stories was staring me right in the face! The truth of the effort of Jesus Christ each day to find me whenever I stray from the path of truth, light and grace the effort of the Living redeemer who is with me ‘till the end of time’ and who has not ‘left me alone.” When I compare that constant effort to the number of sins I commit everyday big and small yet he never tires of looking for me what I found is enough to knock out Tyson, Mohammed Ali and Holyfield put together that is the true and undying Love of God towards me. God is truly Love but the question do I return His Love? Or even try to?<br /><br />Oh yeah I never found my cufflink which is okay probably because I am not as thorough as Jesus is or love the cufflink anywhere close to how much he loves me.acatholic toddlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09269064303819025278noreply@blogger.com0