Monday, October 31, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Things That Make Me Think I'm Having One Of Those Weird Dreams
Ok, here's a real mind blower. Muslim students at Catholic University feel it violates their human rights to have to have an image of Christ in every room. IT'S A CATHOLIC COLLEGE!!! What are they doing at a Catholic University in the first place? They chose to go to a Catholic University. No one forced them to enroll! I'm sure there is a mosque near by where they can do their thing without having to look at the Son of God. But if they choose to go to a Catholic University, expect it to be Catholic. Duuuuuuuh!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
The 8th Sacrament
The only thing that can bring true and lasting
healing from the wounds of divorce is God's grace. We receive healing grace through the sacraments and other instruments the Holy Spirit chooses to use. One of those instruments is the Catholic annulment process. Many people refer to it as the 8th sacrament because of it's healing nature. Although it is not a sacrament, it should be approached in the same manner, with humility and openness to God's will. By detaching ourselves from our personal desires and expectations, we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us and those involved with the annulment process to determine the truth of what happened and provide the certainty we need to lay the past to rest and move into a new phase of life.
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Romans 5:5
healing from the wounds of divorce is God's grace. We receive healing grace through the sacraments and other instruments the Holy Spirit chooses to use. One of those instruments is the Catholic annulment process. Many people refer to it as the 8th sacrament because of it's healing nature. Although it is not a sacrament, it should be approached in the same manner, with humility and openness to God's will. By detaching ourselves from our personal desires and expectations, we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us and those involved with the annulment process to determine the truth of what happened and provide the certainty we need to lay the past to rest and move into a new phase of life.
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Romans 5:5
Did Jesus Condemn Masturbation? Apparently So!
I found this awesome article on Dave Armstrong's site and he gave me permission to share it. I've always suspected this to be true, but never noticed it was right under my nose in the Bible. It's amazing what you find when you read the Bible in the context it was written in. What a concept!
Dave writes:
I ran across this argument today in an article bristling with insight, by a Messianic Jew, Reb Yhoshua, entitled, The Oral Torah and the Messianic Jew. In my resulting paper, Biblical Evidence for the Oral Torah (Hence, by Analogy, Oral Apostolic Tradition), I noted (from the article) that his teaching on visual lust and on prayer (in the Sermon on the Mount) look to be almost direct citations, or at least strong reflections of the thought, of portions of the Talmud, which was an encapsulation of Jewish traditions: much of which were believed to have been passed down as oral Torah: initially received by Moses on Mt. Sinai, along with the written law.
In the same passage on lust, where a "hand" causing trouble is mentioned, Reb Yhoshua noted that this may very well hearken back to a talmudic injunction that was clearly about masturbation. First, let's look at the passage (RSV):
It had never occurred to me in 34 years of committed Christianity, and seeing this passage countless times, to see an indication of masturbation here, but now that someone suggests it, it makes perfect sense. Context is everything. Verse 30 (so I had thought) was moving onto another subject matter (hence I made no connection).
But now it seems more sensible that the topic remains within the general subject of sexuality and marriage, since Jesus continues after this, discussing divorce in the following two verses. A "flow" of 1) lust / adultery, 2) some kind of (unspecified) sin with the hand, and 3) marriage and divorce, doesn't make much sense. What sin with the hand? What would Jesus mean? But the second of three prohibitions referring to masturbation does seem a great deal more plausible in context. Jewish traditional background makes the merely plausible become quite likely. Reb Yhoshua comments (footnote incorporated):
An article on "Kosher Sex" at the Judaism 101 website confirms this:
With this previous Talmudic terminology and tradition brought to bear on the subject, not just of a hand "cut off" but also a tie-in of masturbation as a species of adultery absolutely forbidden, it seems clear that Matthew 5:30 was referring to masturbation. Thus, Jesus condemned it in no uncertain terms (virtually making it a variant of the adultery prohibited in the Ten Commandments), while not suggesting a literal amputation (since it was understood in the culture as hyperbole). The strong hyperbolic visual was the ancient Jewish literary way of expressing the thought, "this is really really bad and immoral. Don't do it!"
Moreover, it is another instance of Jesus acknowledging the authority of the original oral Torah, that was later summarized in the Talmud. Jesus observed Pharisaic regulations and teaching (Matthew 23:2); hence He accepted the oral law as a matter of course, and consistently opposed the Sadducees, who denied that an oral law was passed down as a set of traditions: originally received by Moses from God on Mt. Sinai.
Dave writes:
Babylonian
Talmud
I ran across this argument today in an article bristling with insight, by a Messianic Jew, Reb Yhoshua, entitled, The Oral Torah and the Messianic Jew. In my resulting paper, Biblical Evidence for the Oral Torah (Hence, by Analogy, Oral Apostolic Tradition), I noted (from the article) that his teaching on visual lust and on prayer (in the Sermon on the Mount) look to be almost direct citations, or at least strong reflections of the thought, of portions of the Talmud, which was an encapsulation of Jewish traditions: much of which were believed to have been passed down as oral Torah: initially received by Moses on Mt. Sinai, along with the written law.
In the same passage on lust, where a "hand" causing trouble is mentioned, Reb Yhoshua noted that this may very well hearken back to a talmudic injunction that was clearly about masturbation. First, let's look at the passage (RSV):
Matthew 5:28-30 But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. [29] If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. [30] And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.
It had never occurred to me in 34 years of committed Christianity, and seeing this passage countless times, to see an indication of masturbation here, but now that someone suggests it, it makes perfect sense. Context is everything. Verse 30 (so I had thought) was moving onto another subject matter (hence I made no connection).
But now it seems more sensible that the topic remains within the general subject of sexuality and marriage, since Jesus continues after this, discussing divorce in the following two verses. A "flow" of 1) lust / adultery, 2) some kind of (unspecified) sin with the hand, and 3) marriage and divorce, doesn't make much sense. What sin with the hand? What would Jesus mean? But the second of three prohibitions referring to masturbation does seem a great deal more plausible in context. Jewish traditional background makes the merely plausible become quite likely. Reb Yhoshua comments (footnote incorporated):
Some, understanding that vv. 27-30 are all teachings on lust, have suggested Jesus condoned castration. Origen, for example, castrated himself to fulfill Jesus’ command.. . . Jesus certainly didn’t mean for his followers to emasculate themselves. G-d forbade the Israelites to subject even their animals to painful castration. (Lev. 22:24) Mention of cutting off one’s hand within the context of a teaching on lustful thoughts and improper glances was simply a quote from the oral Torah, “The hand that frequently touches [the genitals]…in the case of a man, should be cut off.” [Mishnah Nidah 2:1] Jesus was using the same hyperbole with his audience that G-d used with Moses to communicate the sinfulness of masturbation. It is extremely unlikely that he ever intended for any kind of amputation to take place.
An article on "Kosher Sex" at the Judaism 101 website confirms this:
Jewish law clearly prohibits male masturbation. . . . Jewish law . . . forbids any act of ha-sh'cha'tat zerah (destruction of the seed), that is, ejaculation outside of the vagina. In fact, the prohibition is so strict that one passage in the Talmud states, "in the case of a man, the hand that reaches below the navel should be chopped off." (Niddah 13a)
[see a translation of the entirety of Tractate Niddah, 13, from the Babylonian Talmud. It translates the same phrase: "Whosoever puts his hand below his belly that hand shall be cut off" (13b). The same section has the following statement: "It was taught at the school of R. Ishmael, Thou shalt not commit adultery [Ex. XX, 13] implies, Thou shalt not practise masturbation either with hand or with foot."]
With this previous Talmudic terminology and tradition brought to bear on the subject, not just of a hand "cut off" but also a tie-in of masturbation as a species of adultery absolutely forbidden, it seems clear that Matthew 5:30 was referring to masturbation. Thus, Jesus condemned it in no uncertain terms (virtually making it a variant of the adultery prohibited in the Ten Commandments), while not suggesting a literal amputation (since it was understood in the culture as hyperbole). The strong hyperbolic visual was the ancient Jewish literary way of expressing the thought, "this is really really bad and immoral. Don't do it!"
Moreover, it is another instance of Jesus acknowledging the authority of the original oral Torah, that was later summarized in the Talmud. Jesus observed Pharisaic regulations and teaching (Matthew 23:2); hence He accepted the oral law as a matter of course, and consistently opposed the Sadducees, who denied that an oral law was passed down as a set of traditions: originally received by Moses from God on Mt. Sinai.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
The Way
My next movie I want to see is The Way. This sounds like one of those movies I might have to bring a box of Kleenex to. Check it out.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Medical Tests
I can sympathize with Kermit.
As you might remember, about a year ago I had a scan of my kidneys because I have a cyst there that I make them keep track of. While scanning the cyst, they found spots in my lungs. About the same time, I told my doctor about the hearing problem I'd been having and they ordered an MRI and found a brain tumor. A while later I found out that I have Dercums Disease which is a collection of benign tumors that press on nerves and cause incredible pain.
All that took about a year or so and during that time I carried my order for a mammogram around not wanting anything else scanned. I was getting just a bit paranoid that even the dentist might come up with something questionable when he did my regular xrays.
So finally I went and had my not so yearly mammogram and I waited and waited to hear back. I finally just wigged out and called them yesterday. I need more tests and an ultra sound. They say that one of my "ladies" is more dense than the other. Great, now I have a stupid . . . you know.
I hate tests.
Update: After two mammograms and two ultrasounds, it has been determined that I need a breast MRI and a biopsy. Maybe carrying my mammogram order around for two years wasn't a good thing. I'll update as new information comes along.
Another update: My PCP is sending me to a breast surgeon. I have an appointment on Nov. 10th.
I saw the Breast Surgeon and I am scheduled for a biopsy on November 21st. I should have results before the end of that week.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
My Amazing Journey
For the last six months or so I've been on an amazing journey. I'm watching God do so much to restore me to the person I should be. It has all been hard at first. Moving out on my own and making my children do the same. That was tough and is still tough. It has forced them to make choices that I wish I could have had more influence over, but it has been good for them to have to make choices and to make their own way in the world.
Entering back into a therapy situation was a hard choice, but one of the best I've made. The steps of obedience in forgiveness, confession and attempted reconciliation with my family were very healing. That dull ache inside that never let up from my first memories of abuse to the last finally stopped and left me with a sense of wholeness and peace.
But the life I had been forced to live through my formative years taught me to think in ways that were crippling and twisted. The ripple affect in my psyche and in my understanding of God created a whole false religion dominated by a false god that continued to torment me until the true God began to reveal Himself to me.
John 14:21 says that if we have His commandments and obey them, He will reveal Himself to us. First of all we need to have the right commandments. I was raised in the "don't smoke, don't drink, don't cuss, don't hang out with those that do" fundamentalism that teaches people to watch other people and judge them by their habits rather than their character and their charity. That is just plain unbiblical. We will be judged on our obedience to the two greatest laws according to Jesus, since they sum up the law. We will be judged on our "yes" to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and our love of our neighbor. So frankly, I don't give a damn if you smoke or drink, but when you take pleasure in hating someone who you feel has wronged you or if you live your life looking down on others rather than seeking to lift them up you are trampling on God's commandments. If you present yourself as a person of great faith and harbour lust and self gratification and the objectification of another in your private life, you trample on the commandments of Christ. If you live your life alienating others because they don't measure up to your standards or you are impatient with a weaker brother and cause him to lose his faith, your trample on the law of God. If you exalt yourself over others rather than taking the lowest place and perfering others, you ignore the commandments of Christ.
So for the last sixteen years, I have come to know the true God; slowly, gradually. First as Abba, my Holy, uncorruptable, pure Father who loves me and has my best interest in mind. A Father who can be trusted. Who I do not need to protect myself against. One who is faithful to provide and protect me when life gets rough.
Then, as I began to trust Him enough to follow Him no matter what others thought or said, I began to investigate the Catholic Church. I learned as a Catholic convert about the love of Christ. I learned to see the crucifix as a constant reminder that nothing and no one on this earth will ever satisfy me or love me like Christ does.
I learned to love as He loves. To see Christ in every human face. To care for those who I used to reject as "unelect" and worthless. I learned that some who care for the poor entertain angels unawares. I learned that Divine Mercy flows from the heart of Jesus like an everlasting river. That the heart of Jesus calls to every sinner from the time of their birth to their last breath and that He does not will any to be condemned to hell. I learned to love those who disagree with me. To cry for those who have no idea how much they are loved by the Holy Trinity.
I came to know the True God. The God of the Bible and the God of the Saints from Ignatius to JP2 (soon, very soon). I learned from them that this god I grew up with was an imposter, a demiurge. He sounded righteous now and then when he spouted decrees about morality but He was devoid of the true character of God. He could not love, he could not forgive, he could not protect, he could not redeem, he could not lift a soul out of the mire and give it life because he was too busy finding fault and condemning humanity to hell. He cared not if his actions caused destruction and pain. He felt glorified in taking precious things like innocense and security from his children and accepted no blame since he was god and everything he did was right!
But I struggled as I grew as a Catholic because though I knew the true God and loved Him with all my heart and soul, I was plagued by the god of my youth. Since my infantcy I had been taught that he was the god we must serve. Any time something painful happened in my life I assumed that this god was again taking pleasure in toying with his helpless daughter and still maintaining his blamelessness because he was god afterall! I struggled to trust the True God because I was afraid He was really the imposter. I confessed my lack of trust over and over. It was the theme of every confession for the past ten years that I've been Catholic. Why could I not truth the God who had come through and sustained me over and over and had never abandoned me?
My therapist helped me understand how the brain developes and how things we learn in our childhood become a reflex reaction to life because of where in the brain those things are stored. So when we experience trauma, we draw from those things that were stored away in our brains as children. You could say we resort to our lowest level of training.
Then, once we calm down and come out of our "fight or flight" state of mind, our mature brain takes over and we process the problem with the adult wisdom we have gathered since our brains matured. In other words, when I get a flat tire three days before payday and have $2 in my checking account, I resort to the heartless god who loves doing stuff like this to me because he can. Then later, when I get a grip and tap into what I have learned as an adult, I realize that God has been faithful to supply my needs and provide a way to cope with any difficulty that has come along and that he will do so again.
This might seem elementary to some, but for me it is truly a battle of between the True God and the imposted of my past. So I have been faced with a choice. Which one to believe? Which one to serve. Which one to tell to jump in the lake?
What has made this even more complicated is that I have been hanging on to the hope that someday my family would realize the truth; that my father would come clean and tell the truth and that all would be well and we could all be family again. You see, the imposter is tied into my family because the imposted in the god of my family. He and my brother and my father are all one package.
So I've come to realize in just the last few weeks that as long as I hang on to my family, I will never be free of the imposter. So my task now is to once and for all let go. To allow God to pry my fingers off what I knew before and free my hands to wholehearted embrace Who I have come to know.
I'm standing at the railway station so to speak, packing them on to the train, shoving the imposter on board and sending them off for good. I know it is what I have to do. I'm excited about having my hands free. I grieve the death of a family. I say goodbye to clinging and begging. I throw my arms open and leap into the arms of my Divine Spouse and bask in the glow of His Sacred Heart.
Entering back into a therapy situation was a hard choice, but one of the best I've made. The steps of obedience in forgiveness, confession and attempted reconciliation with my family were very healing. That dull ache inside that never let up from my first memories of abuse to the last finally stopped and left me with a sense of wholeness and peace.
But the life I had been forced to live through my formative years taught me to think in ways that were crippling and twisted. The ripple affect in my psyche and in my understanding of God created a whole false religion dominated by a false god that continued to torment me until the true God began to reveal Himself to me.
John 14:21 says that if we have His commandments and obey them, He will reveal Himself to us. First of all we need to have the right commandments. I was raised in the "don't smoke, don't drink, don't cuss, don't hang out with those that do" fundamentalism that teaches people to watch other people and judge them by their habits rather than their character and their charity. That is just plain unbiblical. We will be judged on our obedience to the two greatest laws according to Jesus, since they sum up the law. We will be judged on our "yes" to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and our love of our neighbor. So frankly, I don't give a damn if you smoke or drink, but when you take pleasure in hating someone who you feel has wronged you or if you live your life looking down on others rather than seeking to lift them up you are trampling on God's commandments. If you present yourself as a person of great faith and harbour lust and self gratification and the objectification of another in your private life, you trample on the commandments of Christ. If you live your life alienating others because they don't measure up to your standards or you are impatient with a weaker brother and cause him to lose his faith, your trample on the law of God. If you exalt yourself over others rather than taking the lowest place and perfering others, you ignore the commandments of Christ.
So for the last sixteen years, I have come to know the true God; slowly, gradually. First as Abba, my Holy, uncorruptable, pure Father who loves me and has my best interest in mind. A Father who can be trusted. Who I do not need to protect myself against. One who is faithful to provide and protect me when life gets rough.
Then, as I began to trust Him enough to follow Him no matter what others thought or said, I began to investigate the Catholic Church. I learned as a Catholic convert about the love of Christ. I learned to see the crucifix as a constant reminder that nothing and no one on this earth will ever satisfy me or love me like Christ does.
I learned to love as He loves. To see Christ in every human face. To care for those who I used to reject as "unelect" and worthless. I learned that some who care for the poor entertain angels unawares. I learned that Divine Mercy flows from the heart of Jesus like an everlasting river. That the heart of Jesus calls to every sinner from the time of their birth to their last breath and that He does not will any to be condemned to hell. I learned to love those who disagree with me. To cry for those who have no idea how much they are loved by the Holy Trinity.
I came to know the True God. The God of the Bible and the God of the Saints from Ignatius to JP2 (soon, very soon). I learned from them that this god I grew up with was an imposter, a demiurge. He sounded righteous now and then when he spouted decrees about morality but He was devoid of the true character of God. He could not love, he could not forgive, he could not protect, he could not redeem, he could not lift a soul out of the mire and give it life because he was too busy finding fault and condemning humanity to hell. He cared not if his actions caused destruction and pain. He felt glorified in taking precious things like innocense and security from his children and accepted no blame since he was god and everything he did was right!
But I struggled as I grew as a Catholic because though I knew the true God and loved Him with all my heart and soul, I was plagued by the god of my youth. Since my infantcy I had been taught that he was the god we must serve. Any time something painful happened in my life I assumed that this god was again taking pleasure in toying with his helpless daughter and still maintaining his blamelessness because he was god afterall! I struggled to trust the True God because I was afraid He was really the imposter. I confessed my lack of trust over and over. It was the theme of every confession for the past ten years that I've been Catholic. Why could I not truth the God who had come through and sustained me over and over and had never abandoned me?
My therapist helped me understand how the brain developes and how things we learn in our childhood become a reflex reaction to life because of where in the brain those things are stored. So when we experience trauma, we draw from those things that were stored away in our brains as children. You could say we resort to our lowest level of training.
Then, once we calm down and come out of our "fight or flight" state of mind, our mature brain takes over and we process the problem with the adult wisdom we have gathered since our brains matured. In other words, when I get a flat tire three days before payday and have $2 in my checking account, I resort to the heartless god who loves doing stuff like this to me because he can. Then later, when I get a grip and tap into what I have learned as an adult, I realize that God has been faithful to supply my needs and provide a way to cope with any difficulty that has come along and that he will do so again.
This might seem elementary to some, but for me it is truly a battle of between the True God and the imposted of my past. So I have been faced with a choice. Which one to believe? Which one to serve. Which one to tell to jump in the lake?
What has made this even more complicated is that I have been hanging on to the hope that someday my family would realize the truth; that my father would come clean and tell the truth and that all would be well and we could all be family again. You see, the imposter is tied into my family because the imposted in the god of my family. He and my brother and my father are all one package.
So I've come to realize in just the last few weeks that as long as I hang on to my family, I will never be free of the imposter. So my task now is to once and for all let go. To allow God to pry my fingers off what I knew before and free my hands to wholehearted embrace Who I have come to know.
I'm standing at the railway station so to speak, packing them on to the train, shoving the imposter on board and sending them off for good. I know it is what I have to do. I'm excited about having my hands free. I grieve the death of a family. I say goodbye to clinging and begging. I throw my arms open and leap into the arms of my Divine Spouse and bask in the glow of His Sacred Heart.
Monday, October 17, 2011
The Greatest Miracle
This is one I want my Grandchildren to see. I've been praying that someone would make a video that would hold kids' attention and teach them the Catholic faith. Thank you, Lord!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Friday, October 14, 2011
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Occupy An Adoration Chapel!!!
With revolution in the air and socialism the apparent answer of the masses, it's long over due that Catholics and all Christians get on their knees before God and beg his forgiveness and his mercy and his intervention for this nation and the world. While our brothers and sisters around the world are being murdered for their faith, it is the least we can do to Occupy An Adoration Chapel and pray for them and ourselves while we still have the freedom to do so.
Sign up for a Holy Hour. Bring your family. Stop by on your way home from work. Find any opportunity to spend some time in prayer before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament! The time is now and time is running out!
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
They'll Believe in Hell When They Get There
Father Dwight Longenecker-Padre Pio was asked what he thought
about modern people who didn’t believe in hell.
They’ll believe in hell when they get there.” he replied.
There’s pretty much packed into that little riposte, and what I like most about it is that the last judgment will be a time when things are stood on their head.
I’m reminded of one of the great judgment carvings which is on the South portal at Chartres. It is one of those scenes with Christ enthroned in glory, St Michael weighing the souls in judgment and the demons taking some below and angels lifting others up above.
I was visiting there and the old Englishman who used to give tours said, “Notice that both the damned and the saved have expressions of surprise on their faces.
The damned are surprised to be going to hell because they were proud and self righteous (and didn’t think they were headed for hell) or scornful and unbelieving (and didn’t believe such a place existed) The saved are surprised because they were humble and didn’t think they would make it into heaven.
So as you read this, ask yourself where you think you might go when you die and then stand on your head and check again.
It’s troubling isn’t it?
They’ll believe in hell when they get there.” he replied.
There’s pretty much packed into that little riposte, and what I like most about it is that the last judgment will be a time when things are stood on their head.
I’m reminded of one of the great judgment carvings which is on the South portal at Chartres. It is one of those scenes with Christ enthroned in glory, St Michael weighing the souls in judgment and the demons taking some below and angels lifting others up above.
I was visiting there and the old Englishman who used to give tours said, “Notice that both the damned and the saved have expressions of surprise on their faces.
The damned are surprised to be going to hell because they were proud and self righteous (and didn’t think they were headed for hell) or scornful and unbelieving (and didn’t believe such a place existed) The saved are surprised because they were humble and didn’t think they would make it into heaven.
So as you read this, ask yourself where you think you might go when you die and then stand on your head and check again.
It’s troubling isn’t it?
Monday, October 3, 2011
October 4th, Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi
Meditation of St. Francis of Assisi
Let everyone be struck with fear,
the whole world tremble,
and the heavens exult
when Christ, the Son of the living God,
is present on the altar in the hands of a priest!
O wonderful loftiness
and stupendous dignity!
O sublime humility!
O humble sublimity!
The Lord of the universe,
God and the Son of God,
so humbles Himself
that He hides Himself
for our salvation
under and ordinary piece of bread!
See the humility of God, brothers,
and pour out your hearts before Him!
and pour out your hearts before Him!
Humble yourselves that you may be exalted by
Him!
Hold back nothing of yourselves for
yourselves,
that He Who gives Himself totally to you
may receive you totally!
that He Who gives Himself totally to you
may receive you totally!
Sunday, October 2, 2011
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