Objets D'artagnan

Two Doors

2012-01-27T09:07:00.001-05:00

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The Church has two doors
The Entrance is marked : Truth
The Exit is Marked : Opinion
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Faith and Reason vs. Hollister Brand Christianity

2012-01-27T06:50:00.004-05:00

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Not all of our Protestant brethren fall for the moral relative pseudo Christianity of wannabe Old Navy models. The Supertones have always had extremely challenging lyrics, and I pray daily that their main song writer, and all of the band, finally come to know the fullness of Truth in Christ's church.

"Faith and reason are like two wings
on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth;
and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth—
in a word, to know himself
—so that, by knowing and loving God,
men and women may also come to the fullness of truth about themselves"

Blessed John Paul II

Sola CBS

2012-01-26T06:49:00.006-05:00

Caffeinated thought for the Day :
If Protestants truly believed in the Bible Alone,

than shouldn't "Christian" bookstores

only be stocked with Bibles? (O:

Hope for Christians Embracing Bethkeism

2012-01-25T06:34:00.000-05:00

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Watching early video of Bryan Kempler on "Politically Incorrect" balanced with his recent conversion, reminds me that there is hope for the innocent young people being lied to by the Bethke's of this world (who themselves have been lied to . . .and that hope and forgiveness is still available). . . .heck, even a butthead like me was given the grace to see the truth over the lie.

"the Church is the Church is the Church" BK

Sound Doctrine Need Not Rhyme

2012-01-24T07:30:00.001-05:00

Laziness of Jefferson Bethke Non-Religion Religion

2012-01-23T05:49:00.004-05:00

"The less you believe,
the less you have to defend"
Al Kresta - Surprised by Truth
Catholic convert on why as a Protestant his church
didn't bother with dogma or doctrine
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so goes the Nation

2012-01-22T06:05:00.004-05:00

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A more political Protestant friend noticed

"You worry more about Pro-life

than you do the economy"

I replied " Of course,

'cause God doesn't care if our money burns,

but hates that our children do".

Variation on a Theme

2012-01-21T10:56:00.006-05:00

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To Say the
Opposite
of Life
is Choice
makes as much sense
as saying
the Opposite
of Death
is Peanut Butter
(O:
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Pro-Life Troops : Stand!!!

2012-01-21T07:00:00.000-05:00

STAND!
There's a cross for you to bear
Things to go through if you're going anywhere
Stand!
For the things you know are right
It's the truth that the truth makes them so uptight
Stand!
There's a midget standing tall
And a giant beside him about to fall
Stand!
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Luther Bethke Luther

2012-01-20T06:12:00.000-05:00

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Jefferson Bethke's Kardasian-like popularity helps us understand how a monk of average intelligence and misguided passion could be turned into the prideful celebrity who had to invent Sola Scriptura rather than admit that he was wrong and had led others astray.
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Bridegroom and the Bride

2012-01-18T08:54:00.003-05:00

Saying you
"Love Jesus, but Hate Religion"
is like saying you
"Love Your Wife, But Hate Marriage"

Understanding Jefferson Bethke

2012-01-17T07:37:00.002-05:00

"For the time will come
when people
will not put up with
sound doctrine.
Instead, to suit their own desires,
they will gather around them
a great number of teachers
to say
what their itching ears
want to hear".
2 Timothy 4:3
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Another Catholic Response

2012-01-16T05:57:00.000-05:00

With and Without You : My Story

2012-01-15T13:48:00.037-05:00

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PART I: Without

"God is Good",

those were the words a chubby ten year old wrote on the movable chalkboard during Vacation Bible School at Kenwood Presbyterian Church in the summer of 1973 (Kenwood Pres is mostly known in the area, if at all, as the church Mike Rowe of "Dirty Jobs" used to attend with his parents). Yes, as a little kid I actually loved what I understood was God, even praying nightly the "Now I lay me down to sleep" my mom had taught me, with an added "and please God let my mother hear again and make Colleen normal"

See my sister has Downs syndrome, and it wasn't yet un P.C. to want her to be "normal", even if now I understand her lack of that mysterious attribute to be one of the greatest gifts God ever gave me (although I can't wait to see her on that day we both gets our new bodies).

My mother, besides being deaf, also had been in a catatonic coma for about a year when I was 6, and was never the same after, suffering many bouts of anxiety and depression. This latter part was the cause of a lot of drama and it wasn't unusual for the neighbors to hear her and my dad fighting, with silly me in the middle trying to stop the fighting, and catching a few punches and slaps along the way. Watching too many Errol Flynn movies, I always tried to be the great protector for my mom and lil' sisters . . . I failed more often than not.

A few days after I entered 7th grade I came home from school to find my dad oddly home already, and he sat me down to tell me mom wouldn't be living with us anymore. As an adult I can see how this affected me, but as a kid I was just happy to know the fighting would finally be over . . . or so I thought. It wasn't until a few weeks later when our beloved 11 year old collie "Lady" died, that I remember finally crying.

I was always an emotional youngen, as well as an emotional eater, so I started to pile on the pounds as watching tv in my dark room began to be my recreational activity of choice. Supposedly I was/am a rather a smart individual as well, with an IQ oddly around 165 ( unlike Steve Jobs, my IQ has never translated into $$$). In that same year my mom left, my over IQ'd brain that would cause my father to find me on the bathroom floor one day with me giving the excuse "I ate too many doughnuts".

This wasn't entirely a lie, did I mention I was a fatty?, but it was that earlier I had been having the "who created God, and who created God's creator, etc." thought, and it confused and scarred me so much I started to feel physical pain. As no answer came to me for that question, I than decided I was an atheist. Other thoughts such as "Why would God make my Mother deaf or my sister retarded" and "Why would He make my Father hit me so much" soon solidified that decision.

I would not enter another church for about 10-20 years. I also only mentioned my father's occasional violence so that I can show later how our mutual loving Father would bring healing and forgiveness, and a love so deep for my dad that I never knew possible.

In High School, TV in the dark bedroom was replaced by listening to depressing records in our dark basement, and recovering from my heart's attack - overeating turned to anorexia. I must point out that it really wasn't fear of death that inspired my weight lose, but something far worse to a teenager, the fact that everyone was dating but me (although I wouldn't actually kiss a girl until just before HS graduation).

It was also in High School we found out about my IQ, but I preferred bad grades to good since a "D" or an "E" meant attention from my father, and a slap or an insult is still better than the indifference of an "A" or "B".

Being unhappy and planning for the day I would finally die became my religion, and I attempted first suicide at 19 after discovering my first girlfriend aborted our child who was conceived the night I lost my virginity.

The next attempt would come a few years later, but mainly due to my inability to see any future or purpose for my life, or anyone's life for that matter. Actually, I don't really understand why every atheist doesn't walk of into the woods alone with a shot gun . . .but I'm glad they don't.

I also decided I was Pro-life in High School, but not mainly because I saw how just plain stupid it was that a child should die just so people can have 5 minutes (or less) of what they think is fun. The "it's my body" argument was just as illogical to me, because this wasn't an arm or a leg, but a separate entity living inside, but not really part, of the woman's body. I was also friends with a nice Pro-life Catholic girl who during research for an article, had been told by 3 separate Planned Parenthoods that she was pregnant, which was kinda odd because she was still a virgin.

Also shortly before graduation my best friend had become a "born again" Christian, and I had picked up a book called "The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand.

Nothing had ever awakened me before as this novel, and not entirely in a good way. I saw in myself a few of the traits of her hero Howard Roark, but mostly I related to Peter Keating, the poor fool in the book who's ideas and values were based on not what was true but what society of the moment said. This was a sucker punch to my trendy John Lennon given liberal views, and would cause to to forever more look at things "objectively" . . . which much to my fellow Randites chagrin, would in time lead me to the one who is objective Truth.

The microscope of reason and logic would show me the folly of atheism; the prideful arrogance at the core of Protestantism; and finally the fullness of Truth in Christ's church . . .but, I'm getting ahead of myself (O:

So, after taking a year off to earn money as a day laborer, I entered College with a new vision of the world, and as a new vision to the world, for I had lost a lot of weight, and what I kept was muscle. Suddenly I had lost that thing that made girls run screaming in my school days. It now seemed my lap was the best seat at lunch time for young women, and my bag and art supply cabinet a place to find random "call me" notes. A high school teacher of mine even asked me out?

This silly stuff I mention because it is part of a duality lesson God is starting to teach me, as He truly was, and would, continually have me walking a mile in the shoes of another. . .well, except they were mine.

A liberal to a conservative, a fat kid to a buff long haired rocker, an atheist to . . . .

My friend Vic, who had become a Christian, never ever preached to me, but whether he knew it or not, was the first person who ever WAS Christ to me . . .and many times. I still remember him holding my hand, a thing us "guys" just didn't do, on the night he let me weep hysterically after I had found out about the abortion. He is one of the very best people our God has ever put in my life, and it makes me weep again now in the knowledge that somehow, somewhere, he lost his faith.

While I had this new Randite religion, I also never preached it to him, as I was aware of one very important thing - that the day I became an atheist was also a day of sadness. I knew that I did not wish to kill that hope in my friend, as I had in myself.

We were both music people, and he would continue to play in area and national acts, and I would start my DJ'ing at an infamous Hair metal club in Baltimore, as well also running sound for bands (ever heard of a band called U2?). So we drifted apart, as he toured more, and my self imposed exiles during various bouts of depression worsened.

When I wasn't feeling hopeless, I was dating and falling in love with lots of nice gals. Oddly I had a rule during a first date that the young lady would have to hear and agree on my view on abortion, if there was to be a second date. Yep, I was a Long Haired Libertarian atheist Pro-lifer who wouldn't date a girl unless she was Pro-life too . . .so o.k., maybe I didn't have a lot of second dates (O:

Continuing also to work construction during this time as now a Brick layer, I was asked by a local kid if he could labor for us during the summer. Tim is one of the smartest, and basically around great guys I had ever met, and even as a teen had sense of what was "good" that most folks will sadly never grasp. It was he who would first use logic and reason to try to change my view on God, in part by using Ockham's razor (the simplest answer is often the correct answer) to show that it makes MORE sense that this complicated world was created than to accept it "just happened". Still an atheist, but those words never left my noggin'

Granted, it was that I saw Jesus in Tim, more than anything he ever spoke.

O.k., So more years of on and off depression, of falling in and out of love, of touring with bands, and just basically existing. During this time I did become somewhat good at debate, and my favorite party trick was to argue any liberal around, hopefully to the point of tears. I had become kind of an intellectual bully, and is one of the reasons I rarely talk politics since becoming a Christian.

Not long after I turned 30 I met an amazing woman, who yes had to hear my anti-abortion speech prior to the first kiss., and although we never married, would be together for almost nine years.

She would witness me at my most depressed, my most hopeless, all the while gifting me with unconditional love. As I was someone who had been abandoned by his mother, God knew I had to witness an earthly form of unconditional love before I would ever be able to receive His.

During our time together my brother had become a Promise Keeper, and was suddenly a guy I actually liked to be in the same room with. Wishing to bond more with him, despite his living 3 states away, I started to "learn" about Christian things. I even bought the first Jars of Clay cd, as well as attended with my brother the Promise Keeper Rally on the Mall in DC (it's worth stating that though I was still an atheist, I had to admit I felt something very powerful that day). I also remembering feeling a touch of sadness that there were no Catholics at the event (or at least that I knew of), and that somewhere inside my slowly defrosting heart, God was teaching me he desired unity.

At this time another lil' Jesus entered my life. David worked part time with me, and over hearing me mention the Rally on the Mall, came over to talk. I cut him off when he started the "Jesus talk", explaining I was still an atheist, but was just a little more open than before.

Next day at work I find a little note stuck in a book by that Children's author C.S. Lewis. The note read "you seem to respect logic a lot, me too, I think you'll like this, your friend, David" and the book was of course "Mere Christianity".

I read it that weekend, butt clenched waiting to be preached at, but only found logic and reason. This book read like an Ayn Rand essay, but with charm and wit, and dare I say, a soul!

See that was the thing I always knew about the Rand stuff, that it was logical, but also very empty. I knew at my very core, that if it was true, life had absolutely no meaning. Rand was wrong!

While I could agree with Lewis, I wasn't ready to sing with Bob Dylan "I've been saved!" just yet.

The woman I mentioned, who I now lived with, started finding more things for me to read, and for us to talk about. She was not a Christian, but very much a lil' Christ too, for she saw the hope in my eyes when I read or pondered these wacky new Christian ideas, and wanted only for me to know joy.

I worked across the street from a Catholic church, St Anns in DC, that was advertising RCIA, but more as a "want to learn about the Church". So I signed up and started attending the class. Father David W. Beaubien and Deacon Robert Whitaker taught the class, and were both converts to Catholicism, which for whatever reason I respected more than if they had been cradle papists (I would later have the much undeserved honor of helping Deacon Whitaker bring others into the Church through RCIA, and would learn from this humble saint of a man how to truly serve and sacrifice as Christ would).

One day I admitted to Fr. Beaubien that I still didn't know what I believed and he so perfectly replied
" But you are walking in the right direction, just keep walking".
Not judgmental or preachy, but so loving and affirming, as if Jesus himself had uttered those very words . . . and me thinks he did.

Oh, if this is where you think I become Catholic, ya might want to skip a head a bit, although in a few years it will be in this very church that at Easter Vigil I will take the name "Rose"

On Good Friday, as I was getting ready for work, Pat Robertson asked through the TV
"if anyone wanted to know Jesus" and I did, and I got on my knees before the magic box and repeated the "sinners prayer". No blinding light, no rush of tears, I just finished putting on my tie and went off to work. The only strange feeling came when I felt oddly envious as my girlfriend went up to receive the Eucharist, but I couldn't . . .yet.

She had been raised Catholic, and although she didn't know she was suppose to go to confession first after being away so long, did receive most Sundays when we went to "church". I wouldn't find out for some time that she also, while alone on that very day, had said the same prayer. My girlfriend had now become my "sister", and while we would never marry, she would remain always my sister (God has since given her a wonderful husband and an adorable lil' son).

Part II: With

O.K. so now I am a Christian

cue crickets chirping

Now what?

I did admit that I was in love with "my idea of" Jesus,
I did start each day with the Bible
We started listening to Christian music, and going to Christian concerts
We even did the Protestant Church-hop for a while

Something wasn't right . . .oh yeah, you're living in sin, 'causing another to sin, but calling yerself a Christian
Granted, I had attempted our taking a vow of chastity while living together . . .yeah, like that works

During this time I was also praying "Lord, what would you have me be? a Protestant or a Catholic"
Almost every time I prayed that I would hear a still small voice say "you will be Catholic, but not yet"
As if the parables weren't hard enough to understand, this is the answer I am getting?

With our living together, and my awareness of it being wrong in God's eyes, I started to get depressed again. It was also in part because it was hard to work at a job where my faith was mocked, or more to the point, where my love was mocked.

This went on for some time and while she loved me, my history of depression didn't inspire her to want me as a husband either. We just stayed stagnant for a very long time until she, in her ever loving way, realized I needed us apart if I was to grow in Christ and in His joy.

So after much sadness and anger, we parted (but would remain friends, and the rosary that her mother gave me is the very one I will use again tonight).

Moving closer to home I church hopped a lot, not truly knowing what I was actually looking for. I settled on a rather innocuous mega-church near work that I had been attending on Saturdays, while "trying out" neighboring churches. I soon learned it was best to come fifteen minutes late to avoid the Praise and Worship music, as I wanted to be fed not rocked by musical "vain and repetitious prayer".
I attended small group and never missed a Sunday.
I was finally becoming joy filled in my faith, in my life.
But the more I read the Bible,
the more I noticed how un-biblical the pastors' talks were.

While this non-denominational denomination talked a lot about Jesus, it's building didn't have a cross or image of Christ anywhere in it.
Sure, they might put a "fish" on their Volvos, and let their kids have Hollister written on their shirts or "Pink" on their butts, but a cross would be idolatry.
Oh, and we applauded for the "rockstars" leading worship, although once I was greatly impressed when a worship leader said not to clap for them but Him (pointing upward)
. . .but this only happened once.
We would occasionally also have "communion", which I always disliked, as I knew in my heart it was fake, and seemed out of place in this warehouse. It was especially telling how the pastor would always over enunciate the word "remembrance", lest anyone know anything important (or Catholic) was happening.
This was something I have noticed at every Protestant church I have been to as well.

On Easter when they had scenes from the Passion showing on their mega flat screen, I started to realize that this church and it ideas were a fabrication, a fantasy, a movie of the week version of Christianity. I absolutely love the movie "the Passion", but felt a slide-show during a service cheapened both the film and our "worship".

The "church" had actually organized groups to see the film in the theater, but maybe because I was already unconsciously Catholic, I chose to see it alone, as a sort of pilgrimage. I still remember how I felt afterward, of sitting in my car laughing uncontrollably. Not that I found anything funny, but I suddenly felt a joy so overwhelming, a joy that comes from seeing all that Christ did because He loved me . . . .He knew me completely, every sin and mistake, every cruel selfish act, and somehow still said "Michael, for you my child!"
with every lash "Michael, I love you!"

I had been attending the annual March for Life in DC since my early 20s, even as an atheist, but I couldn't find any of theses "Christians" who wanted to attend with me, or had ever attended previously?

One quick note, I did meet individuals who were very much lil' Jesus', but it was the emptiness of the church's pseudo teachings and it's boardroom like focus on "43 kids were saved last weekend" that was showing me this wasn't Christianity (in their acceptance of the silly "once-saved" that I had always known wasn't Biblical, it was rare to count how many of those kids were still "saved" a year later, a "catch and release" style of ministry that was good only for the "stock holders").

This Church loved "Jesus", but I was starting to realize that we worshiped different Jesuses (although I wasn't even sure yet what that meant). Their Jesus could be molded into any thing current trend dictated, but I wanted Christ to mold me!

I also somehow found my self at a new job, working in a Christian company. I didn't know it was owned by a Christian, but he knew I was a Christian when he hired me. As it was located closer to DC, I started looking for a place down in that area.

I found an English basement near Rock Creek Park where the landlord proclaimed "we're all Catholics who live upstairs, and so I am sorry but no overnite guests".
I smiled and said, "where do I sign?".

One of the gals living upstairs was a bright Grad student who always seemed to bump into me in the laundry room, which would lead to hour long discussions on faith and history, and where once she proclaimed "yeah, you're already Catholic, you just don't know it"

I came to really enjoy these talks, and when I heard she was moving out I became a bit sad. Hanging out with my old girlfriend one day, and talking about this young lady who was moving, she knew me well enough to say" wow, you're in love with her" and she made me promise to ask her out.

Oddly, I didn't want to "date" her, 'cause when I thought and prayed over it I realized I wanted to "marry" her.

I finally had become the person who could love, thanks be to God, and I wanted her to be the earthly recipient of that love. She on the other hand hadn't given me a second thought, so when I did profess my undying love for her she kinda looked like a deer in dem headlights (even if I was the one who felt like I had been shot when I left with a "no")

Thankfully she called the next day to explain that it was nice that I was crazy about her, but that I never actually asked her out, so I did, and she said yes!?!

Almost immediately during our courtship she pronounced "I don't think I could marry a non-Catholic"
That night I prayed and heard that yes, it was time for me to enter His church.

I started RCIA the next Sunday , with one of Paula's friends as my sponsor. Of any of the people I saw Christ in it was this man. He was a dad with five kids (one with special needs) who worked three jobs so that his wonderful wife could raise their brood at home. Although He worked way too much, and had very little, he would stop to pray with or for anyone, and offer anything he had to another (after first knowing his family was provided for). He did all this and always had a smile . . .sometimes a tired smile, but a smile nonetheless.

Paula was the perfect gift from God in more ways than mere beauty, which she had in abundance inside and out. Her parents had been missionaries, so this was no Cultural Catholic before me. She had also been a teacher and was studying medieval history in Grad school, so my education began.

She taught me of adoration, that she took me to every Saturday
She taught me of dignity for every individual, especially in the charitable way she spoke of the unfaithful man whom she was once married.
She taught me the rosary, and helped me recite it at my mother's hospital bed
She taught me of Luther the antisemitic monk who wrote sermons about his bowel movements
She taught me of tradition and religion and virtue
She taught me of redemptive suffering, and of "offering it up"
She taught me of saints, some whom would be my friends
She taught me of hard things like sacrifice and chastity
She even taught me I looked better in short hair,
for wanting to truly give her something I had given no other,
under the scissors I went (O:
She taught me conversion was daily, instead of a one time thing
She taught me to truly forgive,
and helped me start to spend time with my dad
(and thanks to this I would be his best man when he remarried)
She also gave me the "Miraculous medal" that I would not take off until a few years later, and only so I could hide it in my Dad's pocket just before they sealed his coffin
(I wanted to make sure our Lady could find him, and take him to her Son)
She taught me that I could love
She taught me friendship as I cried the night my mother died
She smiled when I told her how I thanked Jesus for giving me His mother in replacement for mine
She guided me before my first confession and was with me when I was received into the church
She also may have giggled with my nephew when Monsignor Mosbey called me Rose at my confirmation

Sadly, the thing she also taught me was that she was not to be my wife.

She is/was truly the love of my life, because through Christ I finally COULD love,
and thankfully she also taught me that to love is to desire the best for "the other", so a few years down the road would find me praying daily for her and Jimmy as they began dating, and rejoicing (alone) on the day they were wed. She had, with God's grace, truly taught me love!

Yes, I now still pray for her,
and that she will now be fat . . .with child that is. (O:

Can I really complain, she gave me the real love of my life, God's most Holy Church.

So did I convert to Catholicism for a girl? no, but for True Love, yes!

Baby Catholic - Michael "Rose" only eight hours old

Part III : Prologue (because conversion is daily)

Duality/Empathy

For whatever reason, and only in hindsight, I can see the Master's hands as he gave me so many glimpses into "the other". We are called to compassion regardless of how much we relate to another, but empathy is one of the gifts of God become flesh, of truly knowing our pains and struggles (and showing us they can be overcome and offer it up for others), and another aspect of Christ to emulate.

He gave me many hats, some I out grew, and some He burned away

I was chubster who was mocked, and a rocker who was chased
I was a liberal, a conservative, and ?
I was a poor kid who ate hot dogs 5 days a week,
now I live in a beach house and hot dogs are forbidden (O:
I was an atheist, a Protestant, and now a Catholic
A pro-lifer responsible for an abortion
I was suicidal, I am filled by His life
I am thankful oh Lord for all, for I was without,
and now and forever,
I am With

God is Good!

Reasonable Response

2012-01-15T05:41:00.000-05:00

Untitled from John Hollowell on Vimeo.

Intellect trumps Emotion . . . with a backbeat

2012-01-14T11:03:00.000-05:00

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Warning to Protestants : This video contains Logic, Reason, and Truth
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Dear Ann

2012-01-14T05:43:00.002-05:00

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I am considering making theses as a response to Ann Coulter's latest bit of religious bigotry, as I wonder what Evangelicals would say to a similar statement such as "More Christian, than Conservative"?

Dear Ann,
the world needs more Catholics than conservatives, and more Dorothy Days than Ann Coulters.
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Religion is Good

2012-01-13T06:17:00.002-05:00

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You can read more from fellow convert and talented musician,Russ Rentler, at his own blog at Crossed the Tiber
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You're the Next Contestant

2012-01-12T10:23:00.003-05:00

"Evangelicals sometime think of salvation as a kind of quiz. Get the right answer and you're in! They ask people, "When you die, and Jesus asks you at the gates of heaven, 'Why should I let you into my heaven?' What you will say?"
What a question! Jesus nowhere implies that judgment will be a quiz in which the correct answer gets you in and the wrong one forces you out."

David Currie - Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic
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Now, where did I put that card?

2012-01-10T07:30:00.003-05:00

"Again, for his part, the Evangelical may need to ask whether he has taken this "so great salvation" and pocketed it like a laminated card, expecting that the door of heaven will buzz open when he arrives.” Oh, I'm saved: I accepted Jesus as my Savior on March 10, 1984."
Yes: but is your lamp trimmed?
How have you been doing in the "inasmuch as you have done it to the least of these" sweepstakes?
Have you forgiven your brother as I have forgiven you?
Remember, that decision of yours on March 10 was the opening sentence in the story.
Where has that story gone now?"

Thomas Howard - “On Being Catholic”

"C" is for Catholics

2012-01-07T06:41:00.008-05:00

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As an evangelical I always liked the logic of C.S. Lewis' "Liar, Lunatic, or Lord", but as a Catholic I realize now that he was missing the all important "All of the Above" from the selection, as it is truly this that all Protestants should be checking.

While most of my non-Catholic friends are sincere when they say "Jesus is Lord", it is acceptance of the faulty teaching of Protestantism (which ever of the 30k flavors they might prefer) that logical must dictate that they too think Jesus was a liar and a lunatic.

If Jesus broke His promise in Matthew 16 of giving Peter the "keys", than isn't He a bold faced liar?
Why did He deceive his followers with "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you" if He wasn't in fact telling the Truth?

If He did truly believe we must do this, although we couldn't, than He wasn't merely lying, He was quite delusional. Of course, according our Protestant brethren, He was not only nuts but sadistic as well, for He had His own mother (who they say has no purpose in salvation history) witness His torture and death, when as God He could have easily had her already taken safely to heaven. Sadly, according to this train of thought, He showed more mercy to the good thief than He did the "woman" who bore Him.

Too many Protestants prefer to "feel" than to think, to have their ears tickled than to have their eyes opened, to live with a liar and a lunatic who they foolishly call lord. . . . and with a heavy heart I must admit that way too many Cultural Catholics are sadly doing the same.
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Behold Your Mother

2012-01-01T06:43:00.001-05:00

It is only the ignorant that believe Catholics worship Mary,
and it is the foolish that do not realize
She is the only Woman who would most deserve it
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Pickin' n' Choose'n

2011-12-27T09:43:00.000-05:00

Holy Family

2011-12-25T05:05:00.002-05:00

On Christmas a Mother carried out the Father's will
and gave the world a Son;
On Easter a Son carried out the Father's will
and gave the world a Mother.

Merry Christmas!
.

Deliver us from the ACLU

2011-12-24T09:42:00.002-05:00

The Humility of Christ / the Arrogance of Man

2011-12-23T06:37:00.004-05:00

Christmas pondering : If we can believe that God could and would humble himself to become a man, than why do some deny that He also becomes our daily bread in the Eucharist? For in my experience man is far more closely related to baked wheat, than he is to a deity (O:

The Case for Girls

2011-12-21T06:36:00.002-05:00

.
The current issue of Fast Company has an interesting article which, unintentionally or not, helps to demonstrate just how anti-women "consumer eugenics" is.

"It may not be surprising that there's a lingering preference for baby boys over baby girls worldwide. What's alarming, however, is that this global inclination is manifesting more strongly than ever. Historically, when nature is allowed to determine sex all on its own, about 105 boys are born for every 100 girls (and because women live longer, the ratio of people on the planet evens out over time, even tilting slightly toward females). But the balance of nature has shifted in Asia, thanks to wider availability of affordable ultrasound equipment, which detects gender as early as 15 weeks, and widespread abortion. In China, after 30-plus years of the country's One Child Policy, the ratio of boys to girls is a highly unnatural 120:100 (it's even reached 150:100 in one province). In India, 109 boys are born for every 100 girls. Demographers calculate that roughly 160 million Asian females have gone what they euphemistically categorize as "missing." There's growing evidence that this pattern of sex selection is being followed in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, and similar trends seem likely in Africa and the Middle East. "
.

Know them by their fruits indeed

2011-12-17T05:22:00.005-05:00

.
As our economy dies along with our morality, it is good to see that another way Protestantism has helped in this is to re-read Pope Paul VI's encyclical "Humanae Vitae"

"Another effect that gives cause for alarm is that a man who grows accustomed to the use of contraceptive methods may forget the reverence due to a woman, and, disregarding her physical and emotional equilibrium, reduce her to being a mere instrument for the satisfaction of his own desires, no longer considering her as his partner whom he should surround with care and affection."

Sadly, almost ever Protestant denomination followed the Anglican lead in the notion that somehow artificial birth control is a right, instead of a direct middle finger to God's will (pun intended). Just as early in the 20th Century they turned their back on Christ's forbidding of divorce, they also rejected God's desire for human procreation (and the signs are clear that most sects will also accept Homosexuality and Abortion within the next 25 years).

Only one Church follows faithfully (and with real authority) Christ's teaching today, as it did yesterday, as it will tomorrow.
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Alexander Solzhenitsyn on the Culture of Death

2011-12-11T12:06:00.001-05:00

"that the spirit that unites communism
and decadent materialism in the West
is this secular fundamentalist materialism,
this atheism at the root of politics
and the root of society
and how that leads ultimately
to a culture of death."

St Irenaeus on Eve and Mary

2011-12-09T08:31:00.005-05:00

.
John Michael Talbot had this posted over at his page, and thought it more than worthy of re-posting.

A treatise against the heresies, by St Irenaeus

Eve and Mary

The Lord, coming into his own creation in visible form, was sustained by his own creation which he himself sustains in being. His obedience on the tree of the cross reversed the disobedience at the tree in Eden; the good news of the truth announced by an angel to Mary, a virgin subject to a husband, undid the evil lie that seduced Eve, ...a virgin espoused to a husband.

As Eve was seduced by the word of an angel and so fled from God after disobeying his word, Mary in her turn was given the good news by the word of an angel, and bore God in obedience to his word. As Eve was seduced into disobedience to God, so Mary was persuaded into obedience to God; thus the Virgin Mary became the advocate of the virgin Eve.

Christ gathered all things into one, by gathering them into himself. He declared war against our enemy, crushed him who at the beginning had taken us captive in Adam, and trampled on his head, in accordance with God’s words to the serpent in Genesis: I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall lie in wait for your head, and you shall lie in wait for his heel.

The one lying in wait for the serpent’s head is the one who was born in the likeness of Adam from the woman, the Virgin. This is the seed spoken of by Paul in the letter to the Galatians: The law of works was in force until the seed should come to whom the- promise was made.

He shows this even more clearly in the same letter when he says: When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman. The enemy would not have been defeated fairly if his vanquisher had not been born of a woman, because it was through a woman that he had gained mastery over man in the beginning, and set himself up as man’s adversary.

That is why the Lord proclaims himself the Son of Man, the one who renews in himself that first man from whom the race born of woman was formed; as by a man’s defeat our race fell into the bondage of death, so by a man’s victory we were to rise again to life.
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Q&A

2011-12-09T07:12:00.006-05:00

.
Humanity : If you are a loving God than why is there War and Disease?

God: I keep sending you Peacemakers and Doctors and Scientists,

but you keep aborting them !
.

Howdy Neighbor

2011-12-07T09:09:00.001-05:00

One of the saddest things about anti-Catholics
is that you too often find them
next to you at Mass
.

Path of Most Resistance

2011-12-03T13:12:00.004-05:00

"All human nature
vigorously resists grace

because grace changes us
and the change is painful."
Flannery O'Connor
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Re-Gifting

2011-11-30T09:38:00.003-05:00

.
I truly believe that other than the Protestant Reformation, one of the enemy's greatest successes is that foolish belief that many Catholics walk around with . . .that ridiculous idea that the Church's teachings are somehow a burden.

As an ex-"everybody is their own pope" Evangelical, one of the things that has given me the most peace is the knowledge that the Church not only WILL teach Truth, but that it Can't teach error. The wonderful charism that God has given to the Pope and the Magisterium is a not a mere protection for us, but a wonderful merciful gift from a loving Father.

We can rest in the knowledge that just as the Bible is infallible, so are the men who wrote and teach it. This Truth is not a burden but pure freedom, and a gift we all should feel free to re-gift to all.
...

2011-11-23T06:58:00.007-05:00

Is it really any wonder
why many Americans get more excited about Black Friday
than they do Good Friday,
when the only Icons they see in their Mega-churches
are of Sony or Magnavox?

Dynamic Duo?

2011-11-11T06:35:00.003-05:00

If God, the Father, truly wished us
to have the "Jesus alone" view
of many of our Protestant brethren,
than wouldn't we have a Blessed Duo,
instead of a Most Holy Trinity? (O:

The Simple Truth the Reformers Lost

2011-11-03T07:22:00.000-05:00

"Since Christ Himself has said, "This is My Body"
who shall dare to doubt that It is His Body?"
Saint Cyril of Jerusalem

All Saints in Heaven Only

2011-11-01T07:25:00.002-05:00

.
"But he who endures to the end shall be saved"
Matthew 24:13

"Not everyone who says to me,
'Lord, Lord,'
will enter the kingdom of heaven,
but only he who does the will of my Father
who is in heaven."
Matthew 7:21
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Eternal Gaze

2011-10-30T06:36:00.002-05:00

.
Life

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About Truth and Love

2011-10-27T07:28:00.000-05:00

Truth or Trend

2011-10-19T07:34:00.004-05:00

"Heaven is the place for those
who seek truth at any cost,
and than find Christ

Hell is for those
desiring status and popularity ,
and who only find
there own tail
and circle through eternity
chasing it"
.

2011-10-17T06:51:00.001-05:00

But God said to him,
"You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you;
and the things you have prepared,
to whom will they belong?"
Thus will it be for the one
who stores up treasure for himself
but is not rich in what matters to God."
Luke 12:20-21
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The Other Side of the Coin

2011-10-16T08:39:00.005-05:00

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Today's Gospel reading was Matthew 22:15-21, with the often quoted "Give unto Caesar what is Caesar's", which is generally brought up in discussion of taxes or state laws. What we usually forget to focus on is the "and to God what belongs to God".

Q: What does belong to God?
A: Everything you have and are belongs to Him, with the exception being your sin (that's all man made).

Every time I go out to dinner instead of opening that can of soup, I have in fact denied another their soup, as my money is God's money and should be used for His children.

If I live in a 3 bedroom status symbol, but am only one or two persons, I have denied others the roof and a bed God's money could have been used to build.

If I drive a $50, 000 (or more) metal cage to impress my friends and neighbors, I deny others transportation God's money could have purchased if I would have just bought a well made Honda or Toyota.

If I am too busy too volunteer or help out my neighbors, I have again squander the gift of time which He alone created and gave me.

If I am stuck in repeated sins, I end up using the confessional as a grace ATM, when instead of living holy and adding to the deposit of grace.

If I babble on this blog instead of praying for you few who read my ramblings, I . . .o.k., will go pray now.

Give unto to God what is God's . . . and you are God's!

The Fruit of Silence . . .

2011-10-15T08:59:00.006-05:00

.
"The fruit of silence
is prayer,

the fruit of prayer
is faith,

the fruit of faith
is love,

the fruit of love
is service,

the fruit of service
is peace".

Blessed Mother Teresa

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C'mon get . . .

2011-09-26T18:37:00.001-05:00

Looking for an orphanage
I'm looking for a bridge I can't burn down
I don't believe the emptiness
I'm looking for the kingdom coming down
Everything is meaningless
I want more than simple cash can buy
Happy is a yuppie word
.

Sign for the Times

2011-09-24T08:26:00.005-05:00

Putting it in Perspective

2011-09-11T05:35:00.001-05:00

Johnny Cash Walking Stick Blues

2011-09-08T15:13:00.002-05:00

I am embarrassed to say that it took me several months before I started using my cane in public, and even longer before I started telling folks the reason. I had even switched from daily mass to only Sunday mass, and even missed a few of those when I had a bad fall or two the week prior.

Now that I am out of the closet about my illness I have been so richly blessed with the chance to have others tell me about their experiences, as well as the illnesses that they too hide from most of the public. Also I get allow folks to feel a sense of service and charity for easy things like letting me pass in a line, or picking up my keys or walking stick (or whatever else I drop . . . and I drop everything). Every time I fall to the ground I can lift up my sufferings for another, and every time I suffer one of the many embarrassments associated with ALS is another chance to suffer in exchange for grace to be given to another.

Yep, I'll never be a husband or Priest, never be a dad or a Father, nor will I have to worry about retirement or social security. I can instead be thankful for the knowledge that so many folks ignore, that a successful career doesn't matter to God unless those successes are given up to Him, that a big house is vile in a world while others are homeless, and that serving others even in our own sufferings is the only true joy.
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He calms the storms

2011-08-29T09:10:00.005-05:00

.O.K., my handwriting ain't so great, but this was the only piece of Foam Board I had available.
Lots of folks took pics as they walked by, including two of the Dominican Sisters who live in town, but hopefully more were comforted by my little reminder of the One who calms the storms.

When I went to take it down afterward my neighbor said "don't who dare take that down, you need to keep reminding folks who to thank for us all coming through safely!"

yeah, I ain't in D.C. anymore (O:
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"but She is still our Mother"

2011-08-10T08:11:00.002-05:00

Scriptural Rosary

2011-08-09T08:21:00.001-05:00

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. (Luke 1:28)
...Blessed art thou among women (Luke 1:41-42, Luke 1:48),
Blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus (Luke 1:42)
...Holy Mary, Mother of God (Luke 1:43)
Pray for us sinners, (1 Tim 2:1-4)
now and at the hour of our death. Amen (Luke 2:35, John 2:3-5)

Our Foolish Lack of Heart

2011-08-06T06:22:00.000-05:00

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Many folks use Church scandals as an excuse for ignoring the inconvenient truth of the Church's teachings, and many respond that this is "throwing the baby out with the bathwater". I say it is actually even worse, as it seems our country only throws out the baby(s) yet keeps the filthy bath water (not that they would use it to bath, as bathing is intolerant, as it presupposes a person might get dirty, and who are we to judge).
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On the road again

2011-08-05T06:17:00.004-05:00

Complaining that the Church
is too "strict"
is like complaining your GPS's directions
are too "direct"

The Anti-birthday

2011-08-04T07:32:00.004-05:00

Gotta wonder if the Anti-birthday President will raise a glass of Dom today for 50 Millions plus innocents who he has helped to deny the chance to ever do the same.
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Luther on Luther

2011-07-27T19:34:00.002-05:00

"When the devil wants to cause offense
against the true doctrine and faith,
he does not do so through insignificant people,
who do not rate highly with the world,
but through those who are the very best,
the wisest, the holiest,
and the most learned."
Martin Luther
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Klavan on the "logic" of Abortion

2011-07-27T06:28:00.002-05:00

"And if we as a free people decide that unborn children
are children indeed,
there is no moral alternative:
we must not only end abortion
but put our full efforts into supporting humane
and broadly available methods
of welcoming the unwanted."

On Liberty and Abortion - Andrew Klavan

Consider the Source

2011-07-26T06:20:00.000-05:00

Expecting to understand the Catholic Church
by reading "The Da Vinci Code"
is like trying to learn about Judaism
by reading "Mein Kampf"
.

Pride before a Fall

2011-07-25T07:02:00.001-05:00

This re-working of the Mark Stivers' cartoon was inspired by the eye-rolling I get from non-Catholics when I make the dreaded
"the Church teaches . . . ." statement.

FILE UNDER : The Reformers New Clothes (O:
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File Under : Channeling Chesterton

2011-07-24T09:24:00.001-05:00

If you want Politicians to vote Pro-life,
just change the voting age to
"Moment of Conception"

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Truth over Fiction

2011-07-24T08:07:00.001-05:00

A lil' taste of Eternity

2011-07-23T07:57:00.001-05:00

Protest-ant

2011-07-22T08:13:00.004-05:00

We.

"Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people.
They have eyes to see but do not see
and ears to hear but do not hear,
for they are a rebellious people"
Ezekiel 12:2

We can sadly too often Sub "Protestant" for "Rebellious" to understand why many of our separated brethren will not listen to
"sound doctrine"
.

Myth No Conception

2011-07-20T18:04:00.000-05:00

Up a Creek without a Flying Boat

2011-06-27T08:03:00.003-05:00

.

Breaking News: After years of closed minded mechanics and intolerant engineers labeling my car an "automobile"; the North Beach City council - soon up for re-election - have voted to have my CRV re-listed as a Flying Aquatic Supercar.

While there have been celebrations all night following the voting, I have yet to find anyone who cares to join me on my maiden voyage off Fairhaven Cliffs.
.

Drawn to Unity

2011-06-22T07:23:00.001-05:00

"It broke my heart that Christians were so divided and superficial. I stumbled onto a few things—Thomas Merton and then St. Francis of Assisi. I got into radical gospel living, mystical prayer, contemplative life, and they were all Catholic."

John Michael Talbot in Mass Appeal in Christianity Today

2011-06-12T11:06:00.002-05:00

in all fairness, we'll give ya all of our CINOs
.

Welcome St. Luke's

2011-06-06T13:21:00.002-05:00

Episcopal Parish Community in Maryland to Join Catholic Church

After a period of deep discernment, the rector and parishioners of St. Luke’s Episcopal parish in Bladensburg, Maryland have decided to seek entry into the Roman Catholic Church through a new structure approved by Pope Benedict XVI called an ordinariate. Saint Luke’s is the first church in the Washington metropolitan area to take this step. read the rest here

Who Would You Follow?

2011-06-03T06:40:00.002-05:00

.
“Reason is the greatest enemy that faith has;
it never comes to the aid of spiritual things,
but - more frequently than not - struggles against the divine Word,
treating with contempt all that emanates from God”
Martin Luther

"Faith and reason are like two wings
on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth;
and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth—
in a word, to know himself
—so that, by knowing and loving God,
men and women may also come to the fullness of truth about themselves"
Blessed John Paul II
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Thank you Martin Luther

2011-06-02T20:59:00.000-05:00

Catholic + Picture Framer =

2011-05-23T15:39:00.006-05:00

How to End the Protestant Heresies

2011-05-14T10:37:00.005-05:00

Me thinks the best way to get a Protestant
to accept one of their teachings as heresy
is to just tell'em it's Catholic (O:

I See Love

2011-04-21T05:58:00.000-05:00

My Answer to Church Scandals

2011-04-14T07:18:00.001-05:00

.
If a mathematician
commits a heinous act,
does 2 + 2
no longer equal 4?
.

In Recovery

2011-03-31T06:37:00.003-05:00

.
Yesterday I heard the tired ol' bromide " I'm a recovering Catholic" by a shop owner as I wandered through their shop.

"oh, I did it the other way, I'm a convert" I spoke up

"Convert from what" she asked, and I explained that for most of my adult life I was an atheist, than Evangelical, and now a very happy Catholic.

I than boldy mentioned that her statement had an touch of spite in it, as well as being in my view kind of illogical, as to me "saying you are a recovering Catholic makes as much sense as an alcoholic saying they are recovering from sobriety, or a lunatic saying they are recovering from sanity"

But than I said, one thing is for sure "we are all sin addicts, none of which who have finished the 12 steps of recovery"
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Love's Cost

2011-03-28T06:22:00.006-05:00

I generally don't like electronic media during any events in a Catholic church (I am still recovering from my time as a Protestant where big screen TVs and rockstars on stage replaced a crucifix or statue of the Mother of God. . .but were somehow not idolatrous), so I am somewhat surprised by my reaction to a slideshow which used images from The Passion of Christ during Stations of the Cross on Friday.

This image of my Lord scourged helped me to remember how much I am loved (and how I am to love), and that each lash or cut or gash could easily be named for each and every time my sin did (and sadly, still does) wield that whip.

Jesus have Mercy on us all,
and thank you!
.

Dr. Peter Kreeft : Rationality of Belief in God

2011-03-27T12:07:00.000-05:00

Of God and Monks

2011-03-03T06:08:00.002-05:00

Coming to theaters in the DC area starting March 11, just in time for lent . . .um, if ya gave up "movies", just go on a Sunday (o;

If ya can't wait 'til next week to get yer Monk fix, go rent "In Great Silence"

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Through the Heart

2011-02-21T18:36:00.013-05:00

.

"Going against Church teaching yet still callin' yerself a Catholic
is like sittin' down for a Steak at Ruth's Chris
and still callin' yerself a Vegetarian"
..

Last Lecture or First Homily

2011-02-16T07:05:00.007-05:00

Seminarian Philip Johnson from Deacon Watkins on Vimeo.

Like everyone, I was suckered into watching "The Last Lecture", but unlike most folks it made me sad in a different way. It was full of the Oprah-esqe type of "live life to the fullest" kind of bumper sticker philosophy that I had already heard a bazillion times, but yet the "why" seemed to be somewhat absent and although it of course pulled at the heartstrings of this ol' sap, it left me feeling it lacked truth somehow.

The young seminarian in this video understands both the "why" of his/our life, as well as , at least as much as anyone can, the purpose in his suffering. Diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor while in the seminary, he speaks of finally knowing his vocation and his hope to one day, God willing, becoming a priest. After you watch, please add this young man to your prayers, with the hope that he will be able to be the celebrant at Mass at least once, before he joins in the great mass in heaven.

No Sola Silly

2011-02-12T15:13:00.002-05:00

The media was a buzzin' about the new "Confession" app available for the iphone, which is really more an "Examination of Conscience" tool. From what I've read, it was mainly designed to help poorly catechized Catholics get back into the pre-Vatican II habit of regular confession.

While the hype is somewhat annoying, though not as bad as it could be, I for one am happy for anything that helps my brothers and sisters take advantage of Christ's gift of this sacrament. So many "Catholics" I have met rarely if ever go for reconciliation, but yet still receive communion (another sin in itself). I have met daily communicants who are also on the daily "pill", and others weekly members who are shacked up . . .this is the state of our family's ignorance, and if this app can help, I say I'll pay the $2 for ya.

Regular reception of God's mercy is also the way we become merciful.

This is is also a great opportunity for us all to help educate our non-Catholic brethren, as it never fails to start a nice dialogue when I exclaim how much "I love confession!". There is too also a chance for us to remind the Bible-worshipers that the idea of "confession by i-phone" is just as silly as that wacky concept that Christ would, during a time when 90% of the world was illiterate (and would remain so for the next millenium), leave sole authority for His church to a book (something, the average Joe wouldn't be able to afford until the invention of the printing press some1500 years away).
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Touched by an . . .

2011-02-11T05:57:00.003-05:00

.
One of the common problems with my condition is that my legs occasionally decide it's their coffee break, and I take a lil' stumble. The other morning as I made my way down the spiral staircase to make my whole body some java, the legs decide they wanted to go back to sleep . . .and so D'art fall down and go boom! (which woke me up considerably, so that no coffee was needed this particular morning).

When I realized I wasn't dead, I gave God , and the angel he has assigned to me, a "thank you". I did cut several of my fingers rather badly, as well as busted up my knee and ankle, so I've been mending them this week. . . and yes, no medical insurance does in fact suck eggs!

But anyway, I am not writing to whine, but to share to the blogsphere (because I'm actually a lil' timid about sharing this next bit of info any other way) something else that came from this this event. After my shower yesterday I happened to spot some other bruises, but this time under my arm and in an area that wasn't touched by the fall. As I looked closer at the cluster of five blueish-purple marks, I realized that they were arranged with four above one, looking very much like the marks I once had when I was 8, after my dad yanked me from the path of an oncoming car.

Yes, these discolorations very much resembled a hand print, and all I could think was that my poor guardian angel must have been holding on pretty hard that morning, and I wondered how bad it might have been if he wasn't there.

Anyway, you are free to believe as you like, just as I am free to again thank and praise God for His constant presence in the life of someone as thoroughly unworthy of it as me.
.
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Ave Maria

2011-02-09T05:58:00.000-05:00

Words of a truly Rich man

2011-02-06T12:48:00.008-05:00

.
"See, I believe that if you were chosen, that if you were elected. I believe if God has anything for you, it's not just to make you happy. God did not choose you and call you out of this world just to make you high.
And God didn't choose you and God didn't call you out of this world just so you that could be pious.
Because there are enough pious people and enough happy people in the world.
What God called you for, and what God called you to is to make a difference in the world.

You know, there are a lot of people who have never heard the gospel of Christ. Somehow, I have a little bit of trouble when I see people spend fifteen, sixteen bucks a hit to hear some flashy Christian group say 'Jesus is Lord' to the tune of fifteen bucks a person when there are people who live not far from here who can't even afford to buy a Bible. And somehow, it seems a little bit weird that we should have more ministers in this country and fewer people, when in the world where there are so many people who would give anything to have a minister, they can't find them, because they're not there, because they're in our country.

I don't believe that God chose you and blessed you so that you could heap those blessings up upon yourself.
I believe God chose you and you and you and every one of you others, because He wants to make a difference in this world.
And you know what?

What I think is scary about God is He didn't come up with any 'plan B.'

That He left the church here, and the church is the only group of people and the church is the only institution in the world that can bring about a change. This government cannot do it, so stop depending on the government. Educational systems cannot do it, so stop trusting educational systems. The church was chosen by God to make a difference.

And you know what, people? You ain't going to make a difference by building more bombs. And you ain't going to make a difference by putting on more makeup and showing up on more television shows. And you're not going to make a difference by having the loudest P/A or the biggest crowd at your concerts.
You're gonna make a difference when you lay down your life, and in complete submission to God, choose to die with Him in service to other people.
And I had this great realization one night, and that's when I wrote this song." Rich Mullins

And as I lay me down one evening,
I thought of Jesus on the hill
And how for men He was weeping,
When it was Him they were going to kill
And I know it would have saved them
Had they only just allowed
None are stronger than the humble
And few are weaker than the proud

And then my thoughts, they turned to David,
And how he watched his father's flocks
How the music that he was playing
Could calm the demons in a mighty man's heart
And when the prophet came round looking for a king,
He sought young David out,
'Cause none are stronger than the humble
And few are weaker than the proud

And I know that you know about Moses,
And how he left the Pharoah's courts
When he saw the injustice
Done to the people, the people of the Lord
And though his fears drove him to hiding,
The Lord his heart with courage soon endowed
'Cause none are stronger than the humble
And few are weaker than the proud

And none are stronger than the humble
And few are weaker than the proud
.

Rich Mullins' "Creed"

2011-01-31T06:01:00.000-05:00

New video featuring Third Day and Brandon Heath (who has a new disc out) covering Rich Mullins' classic tune "Creed"

And I believe what I believe
Is what makes me what I am
I did not make it, no it is making me
It is the very truth of God
and not
The invention of any man
.

Does Richard Dawkins Exist?

2011-01-30T09:44:00.001-05:00

why yes, my neighbors do know I'm . . .

2011-01-29T18:35:00.002-05:00

CATHOLIC
(O;
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The Harmonious Reason of Aquinas

2011-01-28T07:57:00.001-05:00

"How can we live in harmony?
First we need to know
we are all madly in love
with the same God."

"There is but one Church
in which men find salvation,
just as outside the ark of Noah
it was not possible
for anyone to be saved. "
St. Thomas Aquinas

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Morning has Broken

2011-01-25T07:56:00.006-05:00

As the ice melts from the slight warmth of the morning sun, so too I pray that the warmth from the Risen Son I receive in the Eucharist this day, might melt some of the ice around my frozen heart and stone cold soul.
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How things have Changed

2011-01-24T08:53:00.003-05:00

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"Is birth control abortion? Definitely not. An abortion kills the life of a baby after it has begun. It is dangerous to your life and health. It may make you sterile so that when you want a child you cannot have it. "

Is Birth Control Abortion, Planned Parenthood pamphlet, Aug. 1963
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The Blogger as Artist as Photographer

2011-01-23T08:34:00.004-05:00

Just taking a pic of a frame I designed
(it's actually two frames . . . two frames in one)

Moral Relativism = Protestant Dogma?

2011-01-22T08:52:00.007-05:00

I must admit that Derek Webb was once one of my favorite song writers, as well as a truth seeker who I hoped (hope) might one day discover the authentic Christianity of our Holy Catholic Church. Lately though it seems his new religion is that of arrogance and pretense.

This "controversial" video (the controversy being he says a PG rated potty word in it, which his Christian record label objected to) has him in full self righteous/self pity expounding the moral relativistic bromides of tolerance for the homosexual lifestyle (sadly, his tolerance doesn't extend to anyone who disagrees with him, as he accuses them of "hate") and that we should be just worried about the poor and starving first, not considering that if he looked through Christ's eyes he might be able to see the emaciated souls dying of the spiritual anorexia of a lifestyle of sin.

Now, Derek is still a Protestant, and of course hasn't considered that the "sola scriptura" bible-worship in the land of a million popes means that each person is free to interpret the Bible as the spirit (or low blood sugar) leads, and in turn that Fred Phelps is as much a child of Martin Luther's pride as he is.

The odd thing is that I think Mr. Webb and I are coming from the same place. With me the thirst for Jesus (and frustration over the superficiality of big screen Evangelicalism) lead me to seek the Truth which lead me to the Church Christ gave us. Sadly Derek is still part of the never-ending Protestant reformation that is built on sinking sand, and continues to pull others, whatever their sexual orientation, down into it.

Granted, in this Disney version of Christianity, you are "once saved, always saved", so Webb is blissfully ignorant that he is actually calling for us to willfully "love our brothers and sisters" right into hell.

He, as a Protestant, has also most likely never been taught the Christian virtues of humility or obedience, as all the so called controversy over this song, was really about a guy (or musician) disobeying his boss (or record label) . . .and I can't help but wonder if he ever even pondered how many starving mouths coulda been fed with the all money that was instead used with legal fees over this little boy's need to say "s@#t"?
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Rrrr-i-i-i-g-h-tt

2011-01-21T07:16:00.000-05:00

with roses

2011-01-19T09:09:00.003-05:00

.“Every day unbelievers and sinners cry.
‘Let us crown ourselves with roses.’
But our cry should be,
“Let us crown ourselves with roses
of the Most Holy Rosary’”
St. Louis De Montfort
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Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas

2011-01-18T06:30:00.003-05:00

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"Almighty and eternal God, behold, I approach the Sacrament of Thine only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ...as one who is sick to the physician of life...unclean to the fountain of mercy... blind to the light of eternal brightness, as one poor and needy to the Lord of heaven and earth.

Therefore I beseech Thee, of Thine infinite goodness, to heal my sickness, wash away my filth, enlighten my blindness, enrich my poverty, and to clothe my nakedness, that I may receive the Bread of Angels, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords with such reverence and humility...contrition and devotion...purity and faith...purpose and intention, as may conduce to the salvation of my soul."

St. Thomas Aquinas

Tom O'Toole has a nice article on this prayer, at his blog Fighting Irish Thomas
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Klan Parenthood

2011-01-17T09:35:00.004-05:00

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“The great irony is that abortion has done
what the Klan only dreamed of.”
Dr. Alveda King
niece of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr

The In Crowd

2011-01-17T08:29:00.003-05:00

"A crowd, including priests and nuns, sings in the rain at a speech by Martin Luther King Jr. outside of Brown Chapel. The church served as the headquarters for civil rights activists during marches from Selma to Montgomery". photo by Flip Schulke
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Creed : AD 325

2011-01-11T06:32:00.000-05:00

Mary, Mother of God

2011-01-01T09:50:00.008-05:00

"Woman, behold your son"
"Son, behold your Mother"

For those who actually wonder about all the churches and all the denominations, and if maybe Christ only meant for there to be One true church, the words above are one of those helpful lil' clues.

The fact that most non-Catholics ignore Mary is very telling, and should be obvious to anyone that a church that denies Her place in salvation history is not a church seeking to honor Christ, but one (consciously or not) that is molding Christianity into it's own image.

Actually, to follow the Protestant Jesus, who for no apparent reason (as per their theology), made His mother watch Him suffer and die a horrible death, is kinda nuts. If she was to play no part other than birth chamber, a loving God would have sent her to heaven much earlier, as He did with St. Joseph.

Either She was to play a larger part, as Catholics are taught (and most early reformers believed), or we are serving a very cruel savior indeed!
. . . .thankfully, that is not the case.

"And I will put enmity between you and the woman"
Genesis 3:15

So, if the woman referenced in Genesis is our Lady, who other than our Lord does Satan fear and hate more? . . . and if your church denies our Mother, who are they really serving?

Dawn of a New Year

2011-01-01T08:23:00.003-05:00

I wanna Stop, and thank Him, baby

2010-12-31T13:27:00.007-05:00

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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: