Category Archives: Christianity

by | November 16, 2012 · 6:50 am

Hear, O Israel

“Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God is one LORD.” (Dt 6:4; Mk 12:29).

“The supreme being must be unique, without equal… If God is not one, he is not God” (Tertullian, Adv. Marc., 1, 3, 5: PL 2, 274).

Faith in God leads us to turn to him alone as our first origin and our ultimate goal, and neither to prefer anything to him nor to substitute anything for him.

Even when he reveals himself, God remains a mystery beyond words:

“If you understood him, it would not be God” (St. Augustine, Sermo 52, 6, 16: PL 38, 360 and Sermo 117, 3, 5: PL 38, 663).

Source: Catholic Catechism (Paragraphs 228-230)

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by | November 13, 2012 · 5:49 am

An Important Message for This Time

November 12 is the Feast Day of King Cadwallador of Wales.

Wherever the Gospel of Christ has been preached and has rooted, and wherever people have responded by dedicating themselves to the Saviour, certain souls have reached that closeness to Christ which we call sanctity. Such faith and obedience, in co-operation with God’s grace, can produce a saint even in faithless and pagan times. In the early years of Christianity, for example, when the Faith was persecuted by cruel tyrants, thousands of Christians went to their death rather than compromise their faith and worship the Roman Emperors.

It is not only at such times as this that saints have flourished; but it was nevertheless at precisely such a time that in Wales the Holy King Cadwaladr the Blessed lived and shone as a beacon of Christian virtue. We know little of the details of his life, but what we do know is enough to show that he is a most significant person in Christian history. So much so, that in the Welsh Mediaeval document known as the “Triads”, he is one of only three persons referred to as worthy of the title “Blessed”.

Saint Cadwaladr was king of Britain in the seventh century at the time when the ancient Britons, the ancestors of the Welsh nation, were losing supremacy over Britain. In fact, the history of the Welsh nation, as recorded in the Mediaeval “Chronicles of the Princes” begins with the death of St Cadwaladr.

The period was one of instability and confusion. The defeat of the Welsh, led by his warrior father, Cadwallon, shattered Welsh hopes: and that was the political situation and national mood when Saint Cadwaladr came to the throne. Divine Providence had arranged that this humble man of faith should reign at a time of despair.

St Cadwaladr inherited the throne in dark times. The enemy was powerful; but worse than that, pagan and only too ready to attack the Faith of King Cadwaladr’s people. The king faced religious persecution as well as political attack. Political hopes were slender, but St Cadwaladr was a man of strong and vibrant faith. The natural human instinct would have been to save his own skin, and protect his own possessions, but God’s grace was manifest in the Saint and as an obedient disciple of Christ, he gave him possessions and his lands to his people who were in such a lamentable state – people who sought refuge from the violence and cruelty of the enemy. “For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25)

His life is a remarkable example of faith, hope and love. He could have allowed selfishness and self-interest to get the better of him, and bitterness to permeate his life, but with the joy that springs from faith, he departed this life despising earthly honour and power and inheriting that Kingdom where there is “neither sickness nor sorrow nor sighing, but life everlasting”.

St Cadwaladr has special significance for this age. It is easy to become disheartened as we see the powers of evil flourishing; virtue despised and faith receding. But the times of St Cadwaladr were worse and he kept faithful to his vision and to his conviction that Christ is the Way whatever the difficulties, trials and dangers that face Christians. His voice resounds down the centuries urging us to be obedient to the commands of Christ for the salvation of our souls and to the glory of the One God in Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

(N.b., I received this in an email. I verified the feast day on a saint’s calendar and googled for the graphic. The text is by someone else. -CtH)

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by | November 13, 2012 · 3:40 am

The consequences of knowing God

Let nothing trouble you.

Let nothing frighten you.

Everything passes.

God never changes.

Patience obtains all.

Whoever has God wants for nothing at all

God alone is enough.

John Michael Talbot – God Alone is Enough [6:51]

Believing in God, the only One, and loving him with all our being has enormous consequences for our whole life.

  • It means coming to know God’s greatness and majesty: “Behold, God is great, and we know him not.” Therefore, we must “serve God first.”
  • It means living in thanksgiving: if God is the only One, everything we are and have comes from him: “What have you that you did not receive?” “What shall I render to the LORD for all his bounty to me?”
  • It means knowing the unity and true dignity of all men: everyone is made in the image and likeness of God.
  • It means making good use of created things: faith in God, the only One, leads us to use everything that is not God only insofar as it brings us closer to him, and to detach ourselves from it insofar as it turns us away from him.
  • It means trusting God in every circumstance, even in adversity. A prayer of St. Teresa of Jesus wonderfully expresses this trust:

My Lord and my God, take from me everything that distances me from you.

My Lord and my God, give me everything that brings me closer to you.

My Lord and my God, detach me from myself to give my all to you.

Source: Catholic Catechism, Paragraphs 222 – 231

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by | November 12, 2012 · 6:04 am

Shepherd’s crook rescue meditation

The image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd is the most common of the symbolic representations of Christ found in Early Christian art in the Catacombs of Rome.

And of course Psalm 23 is something like 3,000 years old.

Yesterday, when I was surfing around looking for something or other, I stumbled on to a page about how lifeguards use a tool called a shepherd’s crook to save drowning victims. Imagining myself as the victim and God as the rescuer really touched my heart, so I wanted to share.

If the person in trouble is too far from the side to reach easily while lying down, you can use a shepherd’s crook to extend your reach. Most pools should have one on the wall or at a lifeguard stand.

Dip the crook down in the water and place the curve where the victim can reach it. You might even gently try to get the victim to notice it by pushing the crook at their waist, but certainly move carefully and slowly enough that you do not hit them in the face.

If you try to rescue a victim who is struggling badly, you will have to aim the crook carefully. If they can not grab the crook, or do not see or feel it, which frequently happens, dip the crook deeper in the water and swing it around behind the victim to pull them in.

You should place the curve of the crook around the back of their chest below the armpits. Do not put it up at the neck! Slowly and carefully pull them to the side of the pool.

Please note: It is dangerous to get in the water with a panicky person. They will leap on top of and push you under. It takes a skilled lifeguard to pry apart a double drowning like that. If you’re the only rescuer available, the last place you should be is in the water with the victim. Drowning people are not rational. (Been there, done that.) If you absolutely have to swim up to a drowning victim, first grab something, anything that isn’t YOU, that you can push out in front of you for the victim to grab on to. Float board, life ring, even a towel if that’s all you have. Just don’t get close enough for them to leap on you. You’ll both end up drowning.

Source:

http://faculty.deanza.edu/donahuemary/Howtorescueadrowningvictimusingareachingassistorashepherd%27scrook

 

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by | November 9, 2012 · 2:24 am

Meditation for November 9

I like how C.S. Lewis describes living totally in the present, that when the work of today is to meditate and learn from the past or schedule an appointment for the future, then you are not dwelling in the past or the future, but doing the work of the present, which sometimes is about the past or the future.

But when you are brooding over past injuries or stewing about future worries, then you are not in the present, which is the only place we can connect with God. The past is done; the future may never come. Only in the exact NOW can we meet with the One who matters most and whose timing can be totally trusted to be for our benefit.

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by | November 7, 2012 · 11:15 pm

God’s timing is always perfect

Flight Plan By Debra Davis, Shreveport, Louisiana

www.guideposts.org/mysterious-ways/mysterious-ways-flight-plan

The woman at the airline ticket counter in Munich, Germany, just shook her head. “I’m sorry, but there’s no more availability on this flight,” she said.

Great, I thought. My husband, Bob, and I had enjoyed every moment of our dream vacation, two weeks in Europe, but I was ready to go home to Shreveport, Louisiana, and sleep in my own bed.

Bob could see how frustrated I was. “We’ll just have to try to get on the flight tomorrow,” he said. “Let’s enjoy the extra day.”

Bob’s right, I thought. There were more important things to be worried about—my son Joe, a First Lieutenant in the Army 82nd Airborne Division, would be returning to Ft. Bragg in North Carolina for a short R&R from his tour of duty in Baghdad, and we weren’t sure we’d be able to see him in the little time he’d be stateside.

Plus, the time was so up in the air! Back at our hotel, I checked my email to see if our daughter-in-law Monica had any news on when Joe was due to arrive. Sure enough, there was a message. “Joe’s been delayed again,” it read, with one of those little frowny faces.

The next morning we made it onto our flight back to the States. Unfortunately, we had to stop in Atlanta. Our connecting flight there was delayed because of bad weather. The hours passed. I felt the frustration building.

“That’s it!” I finally said. “I just want to get home already!”

That’s when I saw a group of soldiers coming down the ramp from one of the gates. I thought of Joe. They’re coming back from a war, I reminded myself. I’m coming back from vacation. What right do I have to be frustrated? Maybe the troops were God’s way of reminding me to trust in his time.

Bob grabbed my arm. “Look at those soldiers coming down the ramp.”

“I see them,” I said.

Bob persisted. “Do you see who’s in front?”

Suddenly, all those delays across all those miles made perfect sense. I rushed toward my son Joe’s open arms.

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by | November 7, 2012 · 11:12 pm

Nov 7 Meditation

We did not win the battle, but we did make a difference to each other and God honors that. All our actions are before His eyes continually.

When we confess our sins, He graciously covers them with Jesus’ blood so they are truly erased and no longer remembered. But our good works, He remembers and celebrates eternally.

What to do now we have lost the nation?

Remember that Jesus won the war.

We’ve known since Israel was reconstituted that the End Times were upon us.

In my lifetime, I’ve watched as Christian civilizations trampled on their birthright by legalizing child murder, the one crime that marked the civilizations and religions that God told us were most abhorrent to Him.

I’ve watched as the world’s population has risen by the billions and thought, “This is what God told us to do … go forth and fill the earth.” And it struck me powerfully that more human beings are alive right now than have ever lived in the history of our species.

He did not make us to live here; He made us to live eternally with Him. Our time here is temporary and its stories are not the real story. The real story is the choice each and every soul makes to be with God or apart from Him.

I had hoped this election would give us a reprieve, a time to restore the light of liberty on the world’s hill as a beacon to the oppressed of the world. Now I feel that is not to be.

I got an email today about buckling down and fighting hard for 2016. But I think the country will be as unrecognizable in 2016 as Germany was after Hitler solidified his power.

Romney should have won. If we couldn’t manage a free election this year, when we still had a lot of our freedoms, when we knew and were prepared for election fraud, then we haven’t got a chance from now on.

Obama’s DOJ suppressed a voter fraud case from 2008. There’s no way we’re going to get any fairness now. Benghazi is going to be swept under the rug along with every other dirty thing they have done and will continue to do.

Obama and Jarrett et al. have been suppressing the rule of law and stripping us of our freedoms for the past four years. From now on, I expect them to only accelerate all the things they’ve been doing all along, which in short are pushing Satan’s agenda and persecuting God’s people.

We need to focus on people, on the salvation of our own souls and the souls of our loved ones. As Dearest said, “It’s back to the catacombs for us.”

I’m also hoping that whole Rapture thing turns out to be true.

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by | November 7, 2012 · 1:12 am

Hope in God

“Our hope is not in a party or platform or candidate. Our hope is in a God who is a loving Father and who remains on his throne regardless of who wins an election. If your faith is shaken/bolstered because your candidate wins or loses, you’re worshiping the wrong god.”

Posted on my Facebook by a friend of David Peck

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by | November 3, 2012 · 9:35 pm

Violent bigot speaks in Obama’s name

Warning: Foul language and anti-Christian hatred

Dan Savage: Obama’s Bully-In-Chief [2:44]

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Filed under Barack Obama, Christianity

by | October 21, 2012 · 1:58 pm

2012 The Stark Choice

In today’s political climate, there is NO

Pro-Choice “personally opposed but” option.

There is only Pro-Abortion or Pro-Life.

  • Obama/Biden want to force all Americans to not just tolerate, but actually finance abortion “without limit and without apology.”
  • Romney/Ryan want to see Roe v. Wade overturned and legal protection for unborn citizens restored.

Christians Can’t Sit This Election Out, Most Important in History
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/10/15/christians-cant-sit-this-election-out-most-important-in-history/

Not clear about the fact that those are the ONLY choices?

Know someone who needs help understanding that those are the ONLY choices?

Check out any and all of the following.

Romney: I Want the Supreme Court to Overturn Roe v. Wade
In an interview with the Columbus Dispatch newspaper, presidential candidate Mitt Romney said, once again, that he wants the Supreme Court to overturn the infamous Roe v. Wade decision that has paved the way for 55 million abortions.
Romney wants states to be able to protect unborn children and, in his interview with the newspaper, indicated overturning Roe was more possible in the current political climate than a Human Life Amendment.
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/10/15/romney-i-want-the-supreme-court-to-overturn-roe-v-wade/

The Obama Abortion Agenda: Reviewing The Last Four Years
Over the four years of Barack Obama’s presidency, substantial damage has been inflicted to longstanding pro-life policies. In addition, new programs have been created which, during the years ahead, will result in large-scale federal subsidies to health plans that pay for abortion, other federally driven expansions of abortion, and rationing of lifesaving medical care, unless remedial legislation is enacted. In addition, Obama placed two strongly pro-abortion justices on the U.S. Supreme Court.
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/10/15/the-obama-abortion-agenda-reviewing-the-last-four-years/

Obama Campaign Can’t Name One Abortion Limit He Would Support
Leaders of President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign insisted that Obama doesn’t support unlimited abortions but, when asked, they failed to come up with a single abortion limit Obama would support. The failure is not surprising given that Obama has taken 231 pro-abortion actions as president.
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/10/12/obama-campaign-cant-name-one-abortion-limit-he-would-support/

Biden Lies About HHS Mandate; Catholic Bishops Cry Foul
The nation’s Catholic bishops said Vice President Joe Biden misrepresented the pro-abortion HHS mandate in his debate with Paul Ryan.
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/10/12/catholic-bishops-biden-misrepresented-hhs-mandate-in-debate/

Joe Biden Lies Again: Planned Parenthood DOES Perform Abortions”
Campaigning in Wisconsin, pro-abortion Vice President Joe Biden misled voters today by saying Planned Parenthood, the nation’s biggest abortion business doesn’t do any abortions. Planned Parenthood does about one-in-four of all the abortions in this nation. Under law, Planned Parenthood can’t use the federal funding it gets to pay for abortions, which is a distinction without a difference, since it does use federal funding for rent, utilities and staff salaries, all of which contribute toward its thriving abortion business.
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/10/12/joe-biden-under-law-planned-parenthood-cant-perform-abortion

Every Major Pro-Abortion Group Has Endorsed Obama Again
Planned Parenthood. NARAL Pro-Choice America. EMILY’s List. The Center for Reproductive Rights. These shameless advocates for the unlimited killing of unborn babies in the womb are all endorsing Obama/Biden.
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/10/12/every-major-pro-abortion-group-has-endorsed-obama-again/

Obama Campaign’s New Ad Hits Romney on Planned Parenthood Funding
The Obama campaign has run millions of dollars worth of ads attacking Mitt Romney’s pro-life views.
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/10/12/obama-campaigns-new-ad-hits-romney-on-planned-parenthood-funding/

Planned Parenthood Abortion Biz Blasts Romney in New TV Ad
The nation’s largest abortion company is up with a new television ad blasting Mitt Romney over his positions to overturn Roe v. Wade and revoke its taxpayer funding. The ad will air in the battleground states of Virginia and Colorado.
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/10/11/planned-parenthood-abortion-biz-blasts-romney-in-new-tv-ad/

MoveOn Ad With Johansson, Longoria Hits Romney on Abortion
Pro-abortion actresses Scarlett Johansson, Eva Longoria and Kerry Washington attack Mitt Romney’s pro-life positions in a new ad sponsored by the George Soros-funded group MoveOn.
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/10/15/pro-abortion-actresses-attack-mitt-romney-in-new-moveon-ad/

Romney Campaign Ad Blasts Obama on Abortion-HHS Mandate
Catholics for Romney has a new ad blasting President Barack Obama on his HHS mandate that forces religious groups to fund abortion-causing drugs.
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/10/11/romney-campaign-ad-blasts-obama-on-abortion-hhs-mandate/

Billy Graham Offers Support to Mitt Romney’s Presidential Bid
The Rev. Billy Graham, one of America’s most well-known and respected Christian leaders, told Romney he will do all he can to help him win the election against pro-abortion President Barack Obama.
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/10/11/billy-graham-offers-support-to-mitt-romneys-presidential-bid/

Chris Christie, Ralph Reed: Mitt Romney is Strongly Pro-Life
Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey and leading pro-life activist Ralph Reed have both given new interviews in which they vouch for presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s pro-life credentials. Christie said Wednesday and said he firmly believes Romney is pro-life and talked about his own conversion on the issue of abortion.
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/10/11/chris-christie-ralph-reed-mitt-romney-is-strongly-pro-life/

Bus Driver Tells Kid With Romney Sign: You Should Have Been Aborted
A bus driver recently told a 12-year-old boy who was riding the bus he should have been aborted.
The boy’s parents have a Romney/Ryan sign in their front yard and the bus driver seemed to have a problem with it. When the bus driver engaged the young boy into a political conversation, the boy told the bus driver that Obama was pro-abortion.
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/10/11/bus-driver-tells-kid-with-romney-sign-you-should-have-been-aborted/

Roseanne Barr Tweets
Romney is Pro-Rape Because He Opposes Abortion
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/10/11/roseanne-barr-romney-is-pro-rape-because-he-opposes-abortion/

Liberals Tweet
Wish Paul Ryan’s Daughter “Bean” Was Aborted, Gets Pregnant
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/10/12/liberals-wish-paul-ryans-daughter-bean-was-aborted-gets-pregnant/

Obamacare: A Pro-Rationing Law That Assaults Religious Liberty
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/10/11/obamacare-a-pro-rationing-law-that-assaults-religious-liberty/

On the Road to Death Panels: Abortion, Population and Rationing
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/10/15/on-the-road-to-death-panels-abortion-population-and-rationing/

Botched Abortion at Planned Parenthood Caused “Extreme Loss of Blood”
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/10/15/botched-abortion-at-planned-parenthood-caused-extreme-loss-of-blood/

Planned Parenthood Continues Misusing Abortion Drug, Hurting Women
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/10/11/planned-parenthood-continues-misusing-abortion-drug-hurting-women/

Planned Parenthood Disregards Women’s Health and Safety
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/10/15/planned-parenthood-disregards-womens-health-and-safety/

Planned Parenthood Sex-Ed Programs are Going After Children
http://www.lifenews.com/2012/10/11/planned-parenthood-sex-ed-programs-are-coming-after-children/

——————————————-
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