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Category Archives: Christianity
The Silent Sermon
A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire.
Guessing the reason for his pastor’s visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited. The pastor made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs.
After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember’s flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more.
Soon it was cold and dead. Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The Pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave, he slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.
As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, “Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday.”
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Filed under Christianity
Shrek the Sheep
This is Shrek the Sheep. He became famous in 2004 when he was found looking like this, because he’d been hiding from his shepherd for six years.
When he was shaved, his fleece weighed an amazing 60 pounds. When sheep are shorn regularly, their fleech weighs about 10 pounds.
Poor Shrek had to carry that great burden on his back simply because he had run off and hidden from his shepherd.
Jesus said,
“I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father.” John 10:14-15
and
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” Matthew 11:28-30
Source:
Filed under Christianity
Frock Star
Jesus offers us something bigger than the World Cup!
What do players do when they are asked to join a team?
They have to train, and to train a lot!
The same is true of our lives as the Lord’s disciples.
You are Christ’s athletes!
You are called to build a more beautiful Church and a better world.
Full text of Pope’s vigil remarks:
http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2013/07/28/wyd-2013-full-text-of-popes-address-at-vigil-on-copacabana-beach/
Go and make disciples of all nations.
Careful, though!
Jesus did not say, “If you would like to, if you have the time,” but “Go.”
It is a command that is born not from a desire for domination or power but from the force of love, from the fact that Jesus first came into our midst and gave us, not a part of himself, but the whole of himself, he gave his life in order to save us and to show us the love and mercy of God.
Jesus does not treat us as slaves, but as free men, as friends, as brothers and sisters; and he not only sends us, he accompanies us, he is always beside us in our mission of love.
Full text of Pope’s homily:
http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2013/07/28/wyd-2013-full-text-of-pope-franciss-homily-for-world-youth-days-closing-mass/
Filed under Barack Obama, Christianity, Pope Francis
Chaplain Ordered to Remove Religious Essay From Military Website
I’ve got one question … did this crap happen before Barack Obama was president?
Chaplain Ordered to Remove Religious Essay From Military Website By Todd Starnes – Jul 24, 2013
A chaplain at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska was ordered to remove a religious column he had written titled, “No Atheists in Foxholes: Chaplains Gave all in World War II,” because it allegedly offended atheists serving on the Air Force base.
Col. Brian Duffy, the base commander told Fox News the column was removed “out of respect for those who considered its title offensive.”
“The 673d Air Base Wing does not advocate any particular religion or belief set over another and upon learning of the complaints from some readers, the article was promptly removed,” he said. “We regret any undue attention this article may have brought to any particular group or individuals.”
Lt. Col. Kenneth Reyes confirmed to Fox News that he wrote the original essay that appeared in his “Chaplain’s Corner” column on the base website.
Reyes recounted the origin of the phrase “There is no such thing as an atheist in a foxhole.” Father William Cummings has largely been credited with uttering the phrase in Bataan during World War II.
President Eisenhower referenced the phrase during a speech to the American Legion in 1954, noting “I am delighted that our veterans are sponsoring a movement to increase our awareness of God in our daily lives. In battle, they learned a great truth that there are no atheists in the foxholes.”
Reyes ended his essay with a reflection on faith.
“Everyone expresses some form of faith every day, whether it is religious or secular,” he wrote. “Some express faith by believing when they get up in the morning they will arrive at work in one piece, thankful they have been given another opportunity to enjoy the majesty of the day, or express relief the doctor’s results were negative.”
Reyes did not attack or insult atheists or non-believers in his column.
However, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation accused Reyes of going on an “anti-secular diatribe” and publicly denigrating “those without religion.”
They fired off a letter to the Air Force base allegedly on behalf of 42 anonymous airmen who allegedly complained.
“In the civilian world, such anti-secular diatribe is protected free speech,” wrote MRFF’s Blake Page in a letter to Col. Duffy. “Beyond his most obvious failure in upholding regulations through redundant use of the bigoted, religious supremacist phrase, ‘no atheists in foxholes,’ he defiles the dignity of service members by telling them that regardless of their personally held philosophical beliefs they must have faith.”
The Air Force agreed and approximately five hours after the MRFF complained, they removed the chaplain’s essay.
“While certainly not intended to offend, the article has been removed from our website,” Col. Duffy wrote in an email to the MRFF. “We remain mindful of the governing instructions on this matter and will work to avoid recurrence.”
But that’s not good enough for the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. They want the chaplain punished for what he wrote.
“Faith based hate, is hate all the same,” Page wrote. “Lt. Col. Reyes must be appropriately reprimanded.”
Ironically, the Air Force left six complaints about the essay on their website.
Ron Crews, the executive director of Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty, told Fox News the chaplain was well within his duties to write an article about faith.
“To say ‘everyone has faith’ is correct,” Crews said. “For Weinstein to say, ‘I do not have faith’ must mean he has never flown because to step in an airplane is to have faith in a pilot’s ability and faith that mechanics have properly maintained the plane.”
Crews said the incident is yet another example of chaplains facing attacks for expressing their religious beliefs.
“Chaplains have religious liberty as well to speak to issues,” he told Fox News. “Mr. Weinstein appears to want to silence any speech of faith in the military. It is a sad day for the Air Force and for our country when officers obey every command from Weinstein to silence even chaplains from talking about their faith.”
Gen. Jerry Boykin (Ret.) told Fox News the action taken by the Air Force is “discrimination against Christians.”
He said the “climate of intimidation within the Air Force has worsened to such an extend that even chaplains now fear carrying out the most basic duties of their job.”
“In this case, a chaplain has been censored for expressing his beliefs about the role of faith in the lives of service members,” said Boykin, executive vice president of the Family Research Council. “There has to be a recognition that this is discrimination against Christians. Chaplains are placed there for a purpose. Why do we have chaplains if they aren’t allowed to fulfill that purpose? When anti-Christian activists like Mikey Weinstein are dictating the rules for what chaplains are allowed to do, then why we must ask the question why we have chaplains?”
Following is the column that the Air Force censored:
“Chaplain’s Corner: No Atheists in Foxholes: Chaplains Gave All in World War II”
By Lt. Col. Kenneth Reyes
Many have heard the familiar phrase, “There is no such thing as an atheist in a fox hole.”
Where did this come from?
Research I verified in an interview with former World War II prisoner of war Roy Bodine (my friend) indicates the phrase has been credited to Father William Cummings.
As the story goes, Father Cummings was a civilian missionary Catholic priest in the Philippines.
The phrase was coined during the Japanese attack at Corregidor.
During the siege, Cummings had noticed non-Catholics were attending his services.
Some he knew were not Catholic, some were not religious and some were even known atheists.
Life-and-death experiences prompt a reality check.
Even the strongest of beliefs can change, and, I may add, can go both ways – people can be drawn to or away from “faith.”
With the pending surrender of allied forces to the Japanese, Cummings uttered the famous phrase “There is no such thing as an atheist in a fox hole.”
In one of my many discussions with Roy, he distinctly remembered a period on the “Hell Ships” – these were ships the Japanese used to bring POWs from the Philippines back to Japan.
They were unmarked and thus ‘fair game’ for attacks from the allies from the air and sea.
Of the 3,000-plus POWs listed on the ships, only 180 survived the journey.
“When our own planes were attacking us,” Roy said, “I remember Father Cummings calming us down by reciting the Lord’s Prayer and offering up prayers on our behalf.
For a brief moment I did not hear the yells and screams of dying men as our boat was attacked by our own men.”
He went on to say, “There was a peaceful quiet during the attack that I cannot explain nor have experienced since.”
Later on during the trip to Japan, Cummings, after giving his food to others who needed it more, succumbed to his own need and died of starvation.
Everyone expresses some form of faith every day, whether it is religious or secular.
Some express faith by believing when they get up in the morning they will arrive at work in one piece, thankful they have been given another opportunity to enjoy the majesty of the day; or express relief the doctor’s results were negative.
The real question is, “Is it important to have faith in ‘faith’ itself or is it more important to ask, ‘What is the object of my faith?’”
Roy never affirmed or expressed whether his faith was rooted in religion or not, but for a moment in time on the “Hell Ships,” he believed in Cummings’ faith.
What is the root or object of your faith?
Is it something you can count on in times of plenty or loss; peace or chaos; joy or sorrow; success or failure?
Is it something you can count on in times of plenty or loss; peace or chaos; joy or sorrow; success or failure?
What is ‘faith’ to you?
Filed under Armed Forces, Christianity, Religious Liberty
The Fifth Commandment: You shall not kill.
The Book of Exodus, translated literally, says “You shall not murder” (Ex 20:13).
We should easily understand the distinction, since our own laws distinguish between First Degree (pre-meditated) Murder, Second-Degree (meant it but didn’t plan it) Murder, Manslaughter (my own actions could and did cause the death of another), Self-Defense (it was him or me), and Accident (someone died because of me, but I had no way of foreseeing or preventing it).
This is why Catholics are not forbidden to serve in the military, where killing is possible and possibly for many even likely, but where murder is never condoned. Not ever. (I’m a military mom. Do NOT get me started on the slander the Left spews about MY KIDS on this and other — e.g., torture — topics.)
Why does the Church teach that it is never permissible to murder?
God alone is Lord over life and death. Human life is sacred, because it belongs to God. It is His property. Therefore, an attack on human life is a sacrilege committed against God.
What sorts of attacks on human life are forbidden by the Fifth Commandment?
- Murder and acting as an accomplice to murder are forbidden.
- Killing unarmed civilians during a war is forbidden.
- The abortion of a human being, from the moment of conception on, is forbidden.
- Suicide, self-mutilation, and self-destructive behavior are forbidden.
- Euthanasia—killing the handicapped, the sick, and the dying—is also forbidden.
Today people often try to get around the Fifth Commandment with seemingly humane arguments. But neither euthanasia nor abortion is a humane solution. That is why the Church is perfectly clear on these questions. Whoever participates in an abortion, forces a woman to undergo an abortion, or merely advises her to do so is automatically excommunicated—just as with other crimes against human life. If a psychologically ill person commits suicide, responsibility for the act of killing is often diminished and in many cases completely annulled.
Filed under Abortion, Christianity, Euthanasia, Life Issues
Publickly acknowledging God
You can’t really understand what Congress passed on July 4, 1776 until you understand what Congress passed on March 16, 1776.
IN times of impending calamity and distress; when the Liberties of America are imminently endangered by the secret machinations and open assaults of an insidious and vindictive Administration, it becomes the indispensible duty of these hitherto free and happy Colonies, with true penitence of heart, and the most reverent devotion, publickly to acknowledge the over ruling providence of God; to confess and deplore our offences against him; and to supplicate his interposition for averting the threatened danger, and prospering our strenuous efforts in the cause of Freedom, Virtue and Posterity.
The Congress therefore, considering the warlike preparations of the British Ministry to subvert our invaluable rights and privileges, and to reduce us by fire and sword, by the savages of the wilderness and our own domestics, to the most abject and ignominious bondage: Desirous, at the same time, to have people of all ranks and degrees, duly impressed with a solemn sense of God’s superintending providence, and of their duty devoutly to rely in all their lawful enterprizes of his aid and direction–do earnestly recommend, that FRIDAY, the seventeenth day of May next, be observed by the said Colonies as a day of HUMILIATION, FASTING, and PRAYER; that we may with united hearts confess and bewail our manifold sins and transgressions, and by a sincere, repentance and amendment of life, appease his righteous displeasure and through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, obtain his pardon and forgiveness; humbly imploring his assistance to frustrate the cruel purposes of our unnatural enemies; and by inclining their hearts to justice and benevolence, prevent the further effusion of kindred blood.
Read the rest @ https://itooktheredpill.wordpress.com/2008/10/15/in-congress-march-16-1776/
Filed under Christianity, History
Blood on their hands
The Obama administration has decided to put off imposing the “must provide health insurance to employees” mandate on businesses with more than 50 employees. It’s not gone, just … you know … POSTPONED … until … wait for it … AFTER the midterm elections next year.
And oh by the by, those of us who do not have insurance at work? We are not getting any deferral. We either have to purchase an individual policy or pay the fine.
And either way … policy or fine … that money WILL GO TO PAY FOR FREE STERILIZATIONS AND ABORTIONS.
I made the Moloch cartoon during the 2008 campaign. It was NO SECRET that Obama and the Democrat Party were not pro “choice” but PRO ABORTION. It seems to me that unrepentant Christians who support(ed) them and their ungodly agendas are going to be hearing, “I never knew you”, when they get to the Judgment Seat.
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Filed under Abortion, Christianity, Democrats, Elections, Obamacare
At least we’re all clear whose teams we’re on
June 2, 2013: Texas Pro-Abort protesters chanted “Hail Satan” while the Christian Pro-Lifers sang Amazing Grace.
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Filed under Abby Johnson, Christianity
polination.blog 