A virtual pilgrimage to the Holy Land
many videos
with knowledgeable
guides,
Steve and Janet Ray
many videos
with knowledgeable
guides,
Steve and Janet Ray
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Since the doctrine of Purgatory is so misunderstood...
by Protestants and sadly, even worse, Catholics, one may like to read the
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
For those with eyes to see the TRUTH ...
Planned Parenthood Director, Abby Johnson resigns! Due to her "conversion" of heart, this courageous woman is now PRO LIFE! Praise GOD! Keep on praying that the scales will fall off others' eyes who work at abortion mills and Planned Parenthood offices. Now the ones who tout "freedom of choice" are taking it to court! That's tolerant and real "Pro Choice" of them, isn't it?
Please stop by and say "hi"...
to my friend, Stephanie. She is discerning becoming a sister of The Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary. She's just created a new blog and has made it easy for everyone to be able to help her with their prayers and a or a financial gift, if God so leads, to help her pay off her student loans. She had a most miraculous conversion in Rome, in March of 2008! Her story is just amazing and I hope it will be a book someday! She's been a bright light in my life, and a beaming, gleaming 'fountain' of "bubbling joy and a "source of smiles!" I've only known her just over a year, and her zeal, joy, and precious child-like faith and trust in Christ, renew my own desire to always be a "little girl" a "little happy one" of our Loving God. Even in a body that's growing older, the souls that belong to God just keep getting younger! Every time I'm with her and my other friend, Sarah, there's a sense of being that "child of God" that's so strong. Even older people who love God have that 'wonder' and 'zeal' of youth, and are always such a joy to be around. Please keep Stephanie in prayer, and if possible, any small financial gift would be very greatly appreciated by her. She'll pray fervently for you and your needs also. She'd love to know of your prayers ascending for her so I want to say "Thank you" to all my readers, for taking a moment to visit her site:
If anyone should go to her blog saying, "Susie sent me," or that you found out about her here, or on my FB Wall, just let her know, and I'll add a dollar to our own gift.
We NEED VOCATIONS to the RELIGIOUS LIFE! As NIKE say's "JUST DO IT!" Thanks.
PAX CHRISTI~ susie
Monday, November 02, 2009
I read Twilight Eyes many years ago...
Might have to take a peek
at his latest work.
I'm not a fan of the 'scary' or 'horror' genre, but I did like Stephen King's "The Stand" and also, "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon." I thought "Twilight Eyes" could have been a little less graphic in some places and realize these books could also be a 'near occasion' to sin in the thought life for some, so I'm not recommending it to everyone by any means. Not judging Koonz either. Once in a big while, though, I just like something 'completely different.'
The Straight Story...
We watched this movie last night. It's a touching and endearing true story. It's not 'fast-paced' at all. That's the beauty of it. It's almost like it was filmed in 'real time' so that you can 'ride along' and think about your own life, you loved ones, and join with Alvin on a quest to 'tie up loose ends' while you are able to, by any means you can find. I'd never seen it before, or heard of it for that matter. It's all about making amends for the sins of our past, and reconciliation of those we've hurt, harmed in any way by our sins. Age-old values, truths lived out on the screen by this gentle, kind man, - a "man on a mission."
A great actor, Richard Farnsworth, died the year after it was released, which is interesting to note. I loved him in so many films, but most especially as "Matthew" in the Anne of Green Gables series. He was a most perfect choice to cast as Alvin Straight.
The Straight Story is a great movie to watch today or tonight, as we celebrate the feast of All Souls Day. Another poignant one I suggest is My Left Foot.
We honor all souls, and the poor souls, today, who have none to pray for them...
All Souls Day
more reading
good site
Prayers and Collects for the All Souls Feast and the Souls in Purgatory
image found heremore reading
good site
A prayer of John Henry Cardinal Newman...
God created me
to do him some definite service;
he has committed some work to me
which he has not committed to another.
I have my mission -
I may never know it in this life,
but I shall be told it in the next...
Therefore, I will trust him...
If I am in sickness,
my sickness may serve him;
in perplexity,
my perplexity may serve him;
if I am in sorrow,
my sorrow may serve him...
He does nothing in vain;
he may prolong my life,
he may shorten it,
he knows what he is about.
found here
h/t Paula for showing me this Saturday.
to do him some definite service;
he has committed some work to me
which he has not committed to another.
I have my mission -
I may never know it in this life,
but I shall be told it in the next...
Therefore, I will trust him...
If I am in sickness,
my sickness may serve him;
in perplexity,
my perplexity may serve him;
if I am in sorrow,
my sorrow may serve him...
He does nothing in vain;
he may prolong my life,
he may shorten it,
he knows what he is about.
found here
h/t Paula for showing me this Saturday.
Priestblock 25487
In Arapahoe NE. there is a Fatima Shrine built by a surviving priest of Dachau, Fr. Henri Denis. This looks like the next "must read" for me.
In Arapahoe NE. there is a Fatima Shrine built by a surviving priest of Dachau, Fr. Henri Denis. This looks like the next "must read" for me.
Friday, October 30, 2009
WOW, that was fast! J. already replied! Please, someone help...
Anyone care to try to figure out this 'rebuttal' for me? I'm seriously thinking of getting myself a beer. Is it too early?? Nope, 12:19 p.m. YAY! Please see post below this one for how it all got started.
When I said "open to the Rapture or not" what I was actually referring to is the Western church's mentality that somehow, we're going to miss out on any of the persecution b/c it will occur before the real stuff happens. I've never believed that. I believe very much that we are in eiother the true end times, or the Western Civilization end times...and either way we are going to face persecution. Actually it has already begun in a mental/political sort of manner. Just as in the Hiding Place and other elements attached to WWII, many Europeans, Christians and otherwise, didn't figure out what was going on until it was too late. I will live until the Lord calls me home. That's it. Whether it's today, tomorrow or a decade or two from now, it will be in accordance to His plan for my life. That's all I'm concerned about. The scripture the Lord dropped into my life about all of this back in the 70's when it was a constant part of the church, and I can't pull it out in full form at the moment, basically that we need to do each day what we are called to do and that's it. So I've focused on that. Now whether the rapture is real or not isn't an issue. It IS. The unreal issue is "when"...and that's what the people fuss over - pre/mid/post/or pan tribulation. I have read the info that's put out by the various sources. However, I am not a 'pre trib' person in general. As my pastor in California said in '72, "What makes us think we're going to get off 'scot-free?'" I agree with that. And I've always felt that the Lord has been preparing me to deal with helping others who are undergoing persecution, helping them flee, etc. So that's my focus in that area.
When I said "open to the Rapture or not" what I was actually referring to is the Western church's mentality that somehow, we're going to miss out on any of the persecution b/c it will occur before the real stuff happens. I've never believed that. I believe very much that we are in eiother the true end times, or the Western Civilization end times...and either way we are going to face persecution. Actually it has already begun in a mental/political sort of manner. Just as in the Hiding Place and other elements attached to WWII, many Europeans, Christians and otherwise, didn't figure out what was going on until it was too late. I will live until the Lord calls me home. That's it. Whether it's today, tomorrow or a decade or two from now, it will be in accordance to His plan for my life. That's all I'm concerned about. The scripture the Lord dropped into my life about all of this back in the 70's when it was a constant part of the church, and I can't pull it out in full form at the moment, basically that we need to do each day what we are called to do and that's it. So I've focused on that. Now whether the rapture is real or not isn't an issue. It IS. The unreal issue is "when"...and that's what the people fuss over - pre/mid/post/or pan tribulation. I have read the info that's put out by the various sources. However, I am not a 'pre trib' person in general. As my pastor in California said in '72, "What makes us think we're going to get off 'scot-free?'" I agree with that. And I've always felt that the Lord has been preparing me to deal with helping others who are undergoing persecution, helping them flee, etc. So that's my focus in that area.
Thought and more thoughts...
This is an "e-mail" conversation/discussion I'm currently involved in with a friend of mine. J. is a very lovely, generous Christian woman, who'm I've known for about 12 years. We met at the Interdenom. church and being both interested in writing, I think we 'hit it off' in many ways. She's a very good author and is currently working on a book, which I've read part of the manuscript, and it's a good 'evangelical' work. I've no qualms about that at all. That's not a point of contention at all. It's only a sad reality that there are so MANY different 'brands' of Christianity.
We've had our share of disagreements over the years, even as evangelicals, though not as many as the past 5 since I've become an ardent, practicing Catholic. (NOT Pelosi style!) This seems to possibly be another disagreement. I wrote her a reply just a while ago, and it's my hope that it won't be misconstrued, but "Truth is Truth." I'm posting it only to ask my readers if they've had to deal with this particular topic. It didn't start off to be about the Rapture, per se, but it's quickly gone that direction, since she wrote what she wrote in her e-mail a few days ago. I had to mull over my reply and pray, as I prefer to do these days, rather than just 'sounding off' in a quick rebuttal, or retort. I did more praying at Mass this a.m. about it and this is how I've replied to her prior email, which was about the 'strange times' we're living in, (no disagreement there!) and how the 'strange times' have brought, to her mind, book #1 in the "Left Behind" series. She thought I'd taken her mentioning the LB book/series a bit 'too seriously.' Here's my reply:
Hi, J.
Maybe I did take it more seriously than I should have. Probably a little 'hyper-sensitive' about how the CC is maligned in that work of fiction (and in a plethora of other fiction/non-fiction titles) by a sadly misinformed author. Therefore, the mention of his book was just "unsettling."
With regard to the rapture:
"Whether someone is "open to the rapture" or "not" wasn't my concern, necessarily, but stated that way, it's quite a curious thought, J. and it begs an honest, truth-seeking question: "Does it matter what Christians "believe" (or are "open to") about the rapture, or not?"
If it doesn't matter, (in the end) then why believe/teach it at all? If it does matter, then a whole lot of Christians are in quite dire straights to be so ignorant, are they not? Does the Lord really leave it up to us, as individuals, to "pick and choose" regarding such (important or unimportant) things and then to bicker about them, add infinitum, in 33,000+ various/diverse denominations, spreading like a cancer around the globe,with some ending up like Jim Jones' cult?
If Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit, as we know he did, to lead and guide the Church INTO ALL TRUTH...then he must have left "One body" on this earth, with the final 'say'...a "final Authority" to query and settle such contradictions and disputes. In fact, He did...
The Magisterium.
Here and here is the Catholic perspective on the Rapture. You may or may not agree with it, I may or may not agree with it, but that's the whole point. WHAT IS TRUE? What's worthy of our belief, our time, our energy? The doctrine of the Rapture only came into the forefront in the mid 1800's. 1800 years AFTER Christ instituted the Church and sent the Holy Spirit to "lead her and guide her into all Truth and keep her safe." It [Rapture] seems more like a 'dart of division" from the enemy of our souls, in his ancient attempt to "divide and conquer" the Church- he's doing a 'bang-up' job, I have to say. But we take comfort and place our hope in knowing the "gates of hell will not prevail against her. Halleluljah!
I'm not picking a fight here. A confrontation and a verbal "e-duel" is not my aim, or my current attitude. Seeking the Truth is.
We're to worship in Spirit and in Truth. That's all I'm saying.
In Christ,
susie
We've had our share of disagreements over the years, even as evangelicals, though not as many as the past 5 since I've become an ardent, practicing Catholic. (NOT Pelosi style!) This seems to possibly be another disagreement. I wrote her a reply just a while ago, and it's my hope that it won't be misconstrued, but "Truth is Truth." I'm posting it only to ask my readers if they've had to deal with this particular topic. It didn't start off to be about the Rapture, per se, but it's quickly gone that direction, since she wrote what she wrote in her e-mail a few days ago. I had to mull over my reply and pray, as I prefer to do these days, rather than just 'sounding off' in a quick rebuttal, or retort. I did more praying at Mass this a.m. about it and this is how I've replied to her prior email, which was about the 'strange times' we're living in, (no disagreement there!) and how the 'strange times' have brought, to her mind, book #1 in the "Left Behind" series. She thought I'd taken her mentioning the LB book/series a bit 'too seriously.' Here's my reply:
Hi, J.
Maybe I did take it more seriously than I should have. Probably a little 'hyper-sensitive' about how the CC is maligned in that work of fiction (and in a plethora of other fiction/non-fiction titles) by a sadly misinformed author. Therefore, the mention of his book was just "unsettling."
With regard to the rapture:
"Whether someone is "open to the rapture" or "not" wasn't my concern, necessarily, but stated that way, it's quite a curious thought, J. and it begs an honest, truth-seeking question: "Does it matter what Christians "believe" (or are "open to") about the rapture, or not?"
If it doesn't matter, (in the end) then why believe/teach it at all? If it does matter, then a whole lot of Christians are in quite dire straights to be so ignorant, are they not? Does the Lord really leave it up to us, as individuals, to "pick and choose" regarding such (important or unimportant) things and then to bicker about them, add infinitum, in 33,000+ various/diverse denominations, spreading like a cancer around the globe,with some ending up like Jim Jones' cult?
If Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit, as we know he did, to lead and guide the Church INTO ALL TRUTH...then he must have left "One body" on this earth, with the final 'say'...a "final Authority" to query and settle such contradictions and disputes. In fact, He did...
The Magisterium.
Here and here is the Catholic perspective on the Rapture. You may or may not agree with it, I may or may not agree with it, but that's the whole point. WHAT IS TRUE? What's worthy of our belief, our time, our energy? The doctrine of the Rapture only came into the forefront in the mid 1800's. 1800 years AFTER Christ instituted the Church and sent the Holy Spirit to "lead her and guide her into all Truth and keep her safe." It [Rapture] seems more like a 'dart of division" from the enemy of our souls, in his ancient attempt to "divide and conquer" the Church- he's doing a 'bang-up' job, I have to say. But we take comfort and place our hope in knowing the "gates of hell will not prevail against her. Halleluljah!
I'm not picking a fight here. A confrontation and a verbal "e-duel" is not my aim, or my current attitude. Seeking the Truth is.
We're to worship in Spirit and in Truth. That's all I'm saying.
In Christ,
susie
Thursday, October 29, 2009
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