I wanna Stop, and thank Him, baby

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I love this arrangement (and I highly recommend this gal's debut), and for someone so bloody unlovable as this worthless ol' piece of blogshite, it truly is even sweeter somehow to know that Jesus loves me still (O:

Screwtape on Match.com

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"If Horns are not a deal breaker"

About Me: Many tell me I look younger than I am, and am often called a "handsome devil". I like to stay busy and active (the gym,dining out, blogging, etc . . .no time to worry 'bout eternity and such), and I like to keep in shape and dress well ('cause outward appearance is everything). I have a very large group of friends, and while most of them are well educated, we're always up for the latest wine bar or urban fad (education is just a means to $$$). I get along with almost everyone, except stuffy pious types (although I count many a minster, and even a couple of priests, as friend) .

My Job: Trained as a Messenger, but that was beneath me , so I went into Advertising (I dabble in theater and music as well).

Exercise: Yoga is my favorite, as I like it's focus on self and teaching that we can all become God-like

Religion: Spiritual, not religious (all religions are fun, although those dogmatic papists annoy me . . .I can find god anywhere, even the mirror)

Politics: Independent, although I find a lot to like in both parties, and our new Prez rawks!!!

Favorite Authors: Philip Pullman, Dan Brown, and anything Oprah recommends

Favorite Music: "My Way" Sinatra/Sid, "It's My Life" Bon Jovi

Favorite Places: Well, DC has the most like minded people, but Hollywood and Manhattan always make me feel at home, and college towns are great for an easy getaway.

For fun: Although not religious, I am always up for helping folks interpret the Bible (have even helped found a few thousand denominations), and am pretty good at getting CINO's to think that "Catholic" is just an ethnic identity (instead of some kind of revealed truth).
I enjoy volunteering at various media outlets as an editor.
Guilty pleasure : Big into decorating for the holidays (love Santa and the Easter Bunny).

Personal Quotes: "There are many paths to God",
"Nobody has a monopoly on the Truth",
and "Do what makes you Happy"
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A Better Question

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One of the big questions we Catholics are often asked is
"Why do you people focus on Mary so much?

While I have amassed a nice little arsenal of answers,
me thinks the best answer is actually a question, as
"Why do Catholics focus on the Mother of God?"

isn't as curious as the real question of
"Why do Protestants ignore the brave lil' jewish girl
who sacrificed her life and her Son, for all Mankind?"
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The Constipated Monk as a Dumb Blonde Joke

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An aging Martin Luther goes to the post office to buy stamps for Christmas cards
He says to the clerk, "May I have 50 Christmas stamps?"

The clerk says, "What denomination?"

The ex-Monk says, "God help us, what have I done?
Give me 26 Lutheran, 12 Presbyterian, 10 Baptists,
and oh heck, 2 Catholic"
(O:
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Supernormal or Supernatural

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The world tells our bothers and sisters with Homosexual tendencies that they can be married, they can be soldiers, they can be "normal"

The church tells them they can be Saints

It is one or the other, as sadly there is nothing "normal" about picking up your cross daily.

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Scriptura Redundantia

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Today's ponderings are about a certain aspect of that whole "Bible Alone" silliness that my Protestant brethren propose to believe in.

Seems the Bible-worshippers, regardless of that bothersome disunity among the 30,000+ denominations, are under the impression that the Holy Spirit will reveal to every single person the fullness of knowledge and truth in the scriptures.

If we are all given a Divine Download the second after we say the sinners prayer, than doesn't that actually make the Bible, or it's authority, irrelevant?

just thinkin'
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Jesus - Mary = ???

Is it any wonder that the world has removed Christ from Christmas, as they are only following the example of the Christians who first removed His mother.
D'art

"If anyone does not wish to have Mary Immaculate for his Mother, he will not have Christ for his Brother."
St. Maximilian Kolbe

Wasted Resources

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With the 30k plus denominations out there, you can guess I spot tons upon tons o' churches each day on varying routes. Big or small, traditional or modern, with or without a Starbucks (yes there are even a few mega-churches with coffee shops . . .no crosses or pictures of Christ, but lattes to go), and all I can think of is what a friggin' waste.

No, not just that most of these folks are being fed poor doctrine and soul damaging theology, but a true waste of resources this dying world so desperately needs. Building taxes, rent, electric, water, insurance, salaries, etc . . . .per building.

How much of this money could go to the sick and impoverish if there was only One church per town instead of twenty.
How much more prayer from those now freed from anxiety over the next church split.
How much more powerful the Christian voice would be if it was a unified One.
How much bigger the Christian heartbeat if it beat as One.

This is what He prayed for before His passion,
and what we should be striving to restore if we actually wanted to do our Lords will.

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The Seeds of Cancer

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Recently my boss asked me to read a new Christian health book, "Setting Yourself Apart from the Seeds of Cancer", by Morris Keller (and in this economy I'd put on a chiffon dress if my employer asked, so reading a book is easy enough). Both the medical and religious aspects of the book are all over the place, with both being anywhere from old school organic to new age weirdness (although the health aspects are fairly sound). Mr. Keller's theology is rather confusing, but it is enough to say that it does minic that of most non-denom Christians out there.

You know the "Jesus is Lord", whatever that means to you
You are "Saved", whatever that means to you
You should be a "servant", whatever that means to you

I do think that is really what denomination most modern Christians belong to,
the "Church of Whatever it Means to You".

While trying to get past the rather muddy theology of the book, I started to realize that if Keller, and most of his readers, would aim that same , and not without merit, distrust for the medical establishment towards their own church's teachings (or lack thereof), they might begin to realize that these unbiblical views are the very cancer trying to attach itself to Christ's body.

Protestantism really is very much like a cancer, in that it in many ways seems like a product of the original body, but is really a collection of mutations which mimic and weaken that which gave it life. A malignancy which constantly changes direction (over 30,ooo denominations!), selfishly growing uncontrollably due to our pride, bad habits and even worse lifestyles.

I am like Dr. Keller, in that I see that to make the body healthy and strong we must give it what God created it to receive, and stop pumping it with artificial ingredients that we've been marketed to desire .

"For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. "
John 6:55
As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew
and were not walking with Him anymore
John 6:66
yep, 666

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