Stylish blogger award

  Colleen at Inadequate Disciple has awarded my blog (to my surprise) with a stylish blogger award. Thanks Colleen! Here we go. In no particular order.

1. My blog contains no humor as of yet, but I am funny, and usually never skip a beat pertaining to 1 liners and comebacks.

2. I am deaf as a doorknob, or is that selective listening? Thanks to desert storm, I wear hearing aids.

3. I like firearms, fishing, football, baseball, hiking, climbing, ice skating, in line skating, old cars, and music.

4. I played rugby in Germany, and was selected from 18 American teams to represent 1American team to play in the European tournament, we placed 2nd.

5. If given 1 wish that would come true. World peace.

6. I have been blessed with the 2 greatest women EVER, my wife and daughter.

7. I have always dreamed of playing a musical instrument, but never gave myself sufficient learning time.

 A simple list, I would have included my love for God, but I believe the rules state that it has to be something you don't know about me :)

 

Stand up....not, stand back

  I have a really hard time looking at the world around me, it seems as though people, especially fathers are not holding up their end of the bargain. Divorce is a common word nowadays, which was an abomination in biblical times. Single parents are the majority in today's society. This is not and was not the plan God gave and instructed. Here is Jesus' instructions for marriage: "But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his parents [and be joined to his wife], and the two shall become one flesh'. So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate. Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery." Mark 10 6-12   Men are the leaders of the household, and their responsibility is to teach (by example) family members what is expected of them in all areas. Take your family to church, do not send them to church. Pray WITH your family not just for them, show responsibility, take priorities seriously, such as paying bills on time, going to work whether you're "under the weather" or not, handle dilemmas ethically, do not give up easy, or take the easy way out , your offspring become what you are. Stand up for your family, not back, discipline with love, not anger, drive out the "enemy" don't embrace them. God has blessed you with these precious gifts, and has appointed you to support, protect, and believe it or not serve your family; we as men, have to stop giving up, or throwing in the towel; we must take action now, we have to make our families spiritually strong. Families that pray together stay together. Most importantly, earn respect, don't demand it! If you make a mistake, apologize, it doesn't make you any less of a man to say "I am sorry" if anything, it shows you care about others feelings and that you recognize your own faults. It also teaches humility, being humble is one of the hardest virtues to master.  EVERYTHING you do is being observed by your little ones, and however you respond in any circumstance teaches your children what is acceptable. Back up your wives, don't fight with them, if we respect our wives, kids will also, if we step all over them, children see it as acceptable.

  Yes, it is a tough role, and with what I see around me, not many qualify. It is really vital in this day and age to set an example commendable by God. Brace yourself, and your families with the word of God, read the bible, set the example. Our daughters will marry the man closest in our likenesses.
 Who do you want that to be?

 Son's copy your example...which will you set?

Love is the key

  What is life all about? To please ourselves?  To please others?  I had someone tell me the other day that "The one with the most toys wins." Really? I refuse to believe that snowmobiles, ATV's, boats and the like will be in either of the eternal resting places. (Heaven or Hell- purgatory is temporary)  Jesus lived in such a way that he never pleased himself, but emptied himself to please others, and even told his followers not to take a bag, extra shoes, or even a walking stick. Jesus never "owned" anything (other than the whole world "hee hee") or even desired to have anything other than FAITH.  Money was the last thing on his mind and He only mentioned it once in the bible " render to Caesar what is Caesar's and render to God what is God's." To me what life is all about is exactly how Jesus lived by example and in what he taught. Simplicity is the biggest key to life, as Jesus expressed by his actions, Faith, Love and Hope. Faith in God, Love EVERYONE, and Hope for the best in all things. Hope and faith will pass away, love will ALWAYS remain. Hoping to go to Heaven will not work, Faith in God and his Divine love will. Things of monetary value only take away from precious time allotted to us for prayer, studying the bible, and going to Mass. Being focused on God allows us to take our minds off of our needs and become interested in other's needs. If we are unable to help someone down on their "luck" by giving them money, why not pray for them and ask our Heavenly Father to intervene, He just might open the door that person needs, I have seen it happen. Jesus said "Love your neighbor as yourself." Just think...if we loved everyone as we do ourselves, this world would definitely be a better place.

Begin again

  I have been chosen to bring the "good news" however, to me it is GREAT NEWS!  Why? because Jesus picked me to share with you about his love, grace, and mercy! His love is incomprehensible to us mere humans, we can't even begin to understand what it took to reconcile the human race back to God.  I feel deeply indebted to Jesus for what he had to undergo in order to fulfill God's plan.  Have you ever been in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights without food, tempted by the devil relentlessly? What about being arrested for no reason? How about being charged with fictitious crimes? Have you ever had your clothes stripped off of you, beaten beyond recognition, until you basically have no skin left?  Have you ever been told to carry a very heavy cross up a steep hill? Now, what about being nailed to this heavy cross, and have it stand vertically to the point of barely being able to breath?  Can I answer for you? ...OK, absolutely not!  Jesus did this for you so that you can be saved from death, and to live forever. Is this not a total act of unconditional love? Especially when He did absolutely nothing wrong?  He even asked his Father, "take this cup from me, not my will, but your will be done." Luke 22:42 

  So how is this good news you ask?  Well...because of the complete sacrifice given by The Son of God, it proves that God loved us so immense that He sent His only Son to die a horrible death (for our sins) so that we can "wipe the slate clean", turn away from the sins that nailed him to that old rugged cross.  First, you have to believe in God, if you do not, I challenge you to pray and ask him to reveal Himself to you, I guarantee (if you pray from your heart and REALLY want to know) that He will, this is what He does, He offers peace like nothing else in the world can give. It is time to give God a chance to change your life, begin again, it is never too late..EVER!

  Why you? Because He chose you. "You have not chosen me: I have chosen you; and have appointed you, that you should go, and should bring forth fruit; and your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask from the Father in My name, He shall give it to you." John 15:16.

  Are you tired of being disappointed with the things in this world? Nothing satisfies anyone on a long term basis...NOTHING! Except God, it's true! Everything that gets indulged in, leaves the heart empty, however, God will never leave your heart empty, He has promised this..."Let your manners be without covetousness, contented with such things as you have; for he hath said, I will not leave thee, niether will I forsake thee." Hebrews 13:5. 

  A wise man once told me "Stand up for something, or you will fall for anything"
It is time to stand up for Jesus, and if you fall, He will catch you!

Alone

  I attended a friend's memorial service today, and as we arrived there was a long line of people (no surprise) ready to pay their respects for this man approaching his 41st birthday.  At previous services I have cried, out of either sadness or joy depending on what I knew about the soul that has passed on. This particular man that I went to see has a special place in my heart because without his existence I most definitely, without a doubt, would not have the family I currently have. My brother-in-law and I stood quietly outside in this line reflecting on his passing before viewing the body. This man was loved my many, many people, and it was because he had a heart of gold. He never judged or turned anyone away just because of how they looked, he accepted everyone as who they are. As we entered the funeral home, I got a glimpse of his lifeless body laying in the casket, but tried to refrain until I was able to kneel before him and pray for God to accept him for who he was. As we approached, I was fixated on his face when I was still a few people back. My brother-in-law apologized to me about his emotions and tears began to roll down his face, then it was his turn, then mine. As I walked up, kneeled, made the sign of the cross, and was ready to recite the prayer I had gone over in my head, knowing the time had come to pray it, was gone, all I could say looking at my friend of 20 yrs was "Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy" over and over and over. I did not cry. My emotions were "frozen".

  The last 5 or so years of his life, "we" all had to back away from being "friends and family" to him because he got caught up in a "trap" and this "trap" just so happened to be... heroin. Even though having two beautiful daughters, a loving family, great friends, and the like, he chose drugs. Driven to do crimes, spend time in jail (which we thought would straighten him) and being disowned, he continued this lifestyle of being homeless, and abandoned, from those who loved him, by a mere substance...heroin.

  While he was serving time in jail, I printed out prayers for him, common Catholic prayers, Hail Mary, Glory Be, and the, Our Father, sealed them up, and sent them his way.  He was sober in jail "I assume" but when he got out, right back to the same old routine...heroin.  His immediate family members and close friends discussed his situation and "we" decided if he doesn't change, he will die. Sure enough, the texts and phone calls began to fly, "Ronnie is dead".  When I found out from a reliable source, an hour and a half after his being found 'alone' on the street, dead, I just prayed, made phone calls, sent texts, and prayed.  I did not cry, my emotions were..."frozen".

  He died 'alone' in the street, in an apparent drug overdose...heroin.

  I was praying, asking God to reveal the state of Ronnie's soul to me, and I received the word "darkness" which led me to believe the state of his soul was in purgatory. The next morning before I opened my bible, I prayed to the Holy Spirit to reveal to me through His Word, what I needed to make it through the day, and this is what I received: "Now this is the message that we have heard from him and proclaim to you: God is light, and in Him there is no 'darkness' at all. If we say, we have fellowship in Him, while we continue to walk in 'darkness', we lie and do not act in truth. But if we walk in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of His son Jesus cleanses us from all sin. If we say, we are not without sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and his word is not in us." 1 John 1 5-10.  This passage was not aimed at Ronnie, it was aimed at ME, my emotions were "frozen" because I had not forgiven Ronnie for what he had done in life, my anger at him, for his children's sake overrode what should have been forgiveness on my part. After all, as I have revealed, without Ronnie, I don't have what I have.

  For all I know, Ronnie, as he lay dying, in the street, 'alone' could have made perfect contrition with God, reciting the prayers I sent him in jail, and very well could be in heaven. As the tears finally start to flow,  "I forgive you Ronnie"!

  May God rest your soul!

  p.s. we NEVER know what state a soul is in at the time of death.
 
 
 

Big brother

  Right now in our lifetime, things around us are changing at a very rapid pace. Most of it has to do with technology and our privacy. In the big cities, now, there are cameras with real time footage, that can track and see everyone walking on the street, or taking the bus. (In San Fransisco, even INSIDE the bus) Cell phones can pinpoint your location ,our computers contain all personal information and we have no idea who views it, and this clashes with our privacy rights.
The government claims all of these things are for our protection. In one way, it is, this is how some terrorists have been tagged, and criminals identified by these "watch dog" surveillance systems. In some ways,  technology has made the world a "smaller" place, bringing friends and family in contact that live nowhere near each other, and this is a good thing, however, having our every move traced is not. 

  Actually none of the above is anything new, really. We have always been watched from the beginning of time. Not only what we do, how we act, what we view on t.v., how we treat each other, ect...
We get observed from our creator, not just our outward behavior, but what is in our hearts, our thoughts, and even our intentions. So guard your every thought in Christ! God knows the number of hairs on our head (yes even the gray ones) which is far more than any security camera or surveillance system will ever know. God wants us focused on Him. God will protect us from "Big Brother". Who knows (and who cares?) what plan the governments have in store for all the technology at hand. Ultimately, it has no effect on what God has in store for us. God also holds nations responsible for their actions.  So, grin at the cameras, and let them think that you're up to no good, after all, the grin is because your in conversation with the all seeing, all knowing God, who, in fact, has the greatest plan of all. Our salvation! 

 

Patronage

Karinann at Daughter of the King has tagged me this "saintly" meme.

Assuming you are a saint, and your cause has been executed, your miracles confirmed, your date on the calendar established, all that is required is to select that of which Holy Mother Church will name you Patron (ess) of.

For this meme, you must name your patronage
and then tag 5 other people who would like to play along.

Linking your answer to your nominator's post would make it easier to get your answers.

  The Church has just canonized me as a Saint ;) and boy wouldn't that be a grand feat! When I saw that I had been tagged, it took all of about a millisecond to decide as to what patron I feel capable of being. With a military background and knowing what it is like to be engaged in war, I would be delighted to be able to intercede for those afflicted or affected by the outcome of war, whether soldier or civilian.

 
 

 

Faith reassured

  In this day and age it seems as if everything is in an uproar, minimal jobs, minimal pay, stocks up and down with no stability, crime through the roof, suicides, homicides, abortion, debt, war and this list only scratches the surface. People are scurrying about spinning their wheels trying to gain control of everything or ANYTHING.  My personal experience with "control" happens to be this: "the more I try to gain control of something, the less headway I  make." I FINALLY figured out that there is only ONE in complete control of the universe, and is not manipulated by ANYTHING. I honestly believe that we, here on earth, live on the "testing" ground  and the path we follow now is the road to our eternal resting place. Jesus said "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also your heart will be." Matt 6: 29-21

 

   

 

 

 

Lost sheep

  We are all sinners and have fallen short. God loves sinners immensely, so if you feel insignificant and far beyond God's reach, it is a false feeling, only fueled by the evil one. Jesus speaks to us in mostly parables, but the messages He delivers  are very clear. If the feeling of being lost and non findable runs through your thoughts, I have great news for you. You can be found and all of Heaven will rejoice. Here is how: If a shepherd with a 100 sheep loses 1, he will leave the 99 and scour the countryside looking for his lost sheep and when he finds it, there will be rejoicing and complete happiness, maybe even a celebration. This is the parable Jesus gives in Luke 15: 3-7. He is referring to lost individuals who have no direction of where they might be the safest. The safest place a human can possibly be is under God's wing! Jesus is looking for that lost sheep and so am I! Place all your trust in Jesus and he will caress your soul and undoubtedly reassure you that you are worthy of his love, the mercy Jesus gives us is larger than life itself, He has great hope in finding you and so do I.

                      
  Jesus offers peace, love, and hope regardless of how lost you feel inside yourself or in the world.  Be prepared to be picked up shaken off and placed in his heart. There is plenty of room! His concern is not where you have been, but where you want to be.
  
  Heavenly father, from the depths of my heart I pray for those who are in deep need of your direction, may you lead them to safety in your most Sacred Heart. Protect all men and women from the harm of the evil one and show your mercy upon the people in this world, in your precious name I pray. Amen.

The truth hurts (or does it?)

  Jesus IS TRUTH!  "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
This was proclaimed  and confirmed to me in the most profound way by Jesus himself, that He turned me into a "freight train" No stopping!

  The friends I attended church with when I returned to faith thought I was completely crazy for my Catholic conversion because I was a cradle Baptist. To this day I have no problems with other denominations, them being of the same spirit. I do though, question the fact of completeness. After all, one Church was established by Jesus, however over time people caused the reformation. One spirit, one Lord period. I really did understand as to why my friends did not believe Catholicism was the truth, Why? Because I had been in that same "fishing spot." They threw in "lines" toward me such as "Oh! You want to worship Mary, statues, Saints..etc..etc.." Having learned through a priest that this certainly wasn't the case, my response was merely this: "I earnestly wanted the truth from God, and it was given to me, if you have any issues about it, take it up with Him, not me." God has a very profound way of answering prayer, and He does it in His time, terms, and conditions, not ours. I am fine with that!

  Yes, sometimes the truth does hurt on a personal level, but I am here to tell you, certainly not on a spiritual level.

God's existence

  One of the reasons people dismiss the fact that God exists is merely this:" I can not see, hear, touch, smell, or taste God, therefore He doesn't exist." Well, if that is the case, lets take love for example. I can not see, hear, touch, smell, or taste love therefore it doesn't exist. Right? Wrong! We all know love exists because, well.. we just do.  The word love is so taken for granted, I love ice cream, or this song, or my new phone ect.. When love is used to express feelings for someone, it is taken to a "new" level, it means more that just words, which really can't be expressed, or explained by anyone in mere words, you just expect them to know. Love knows no bounds.

  Now, lets take the mind (thoughts) I can not see, hear, touch, smell, or taste your mind (thoughts) (neither can a doctor) therefore, it doesn't exist. Right? Wrong AGAIN! We all know everyone has a mind (thoughts) and we all think and make decisions by it. How many times have you heard or used the phrase: " I can read your mind?" plenty I am sure. The mind is a terrible thing to waste.

  It is settled then, love and the mind (thoughts) exist without verification of the 5 senses to prove it. God also exists in the same manner. Turn then to Him and his love will engulf your mind, and you will be able to love at a greater level! Don't just take my word for it, find out for yourself.  God is willing, are you?

Truth (and conversion)

  Yes indeed, God was on my side, and was ready to tell me the truth, but was I ready to hear it? Of course I was since I had fervently prayed for it. My wife and I had agreed to disagree, but there was a slight clash about each other's faith, nothing detrimental, just some uneasiness. Our Lord was more than willing to end the dissension. So here is the word I received from God that set me straight right real quick and in a hurry. Ready for this?......."I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh,which I will give for the life of the world." John 6:51
  The Jews were like" WHAT?" .."Verily Verily I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood. ye have NO life in you.Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even shall live by me. This is the bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever." John 6:53-58. AMEN! Verse 66 goes on to say " from that time on many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him." Yesiree, THAT is what did it! I certainly was NOT going back, I wanted to walk hand in hand with Him as He has asked me to do. The Eucharist He had established, and so I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt the TRUTH had been dumped right into my lap! Could Jesus have been any clearer than this? No way! After all, when Jesus saw those who chose to leave, he never exclaimed "WAIT! COME BACK! I WAS JUST KIDDING!".

  The truth you see, is given to us all, when we so choose to listen. About 6 or so months later I was confirmed in the Catholic church, and definitely had no qualms about it in the least. I decided not to be one of those who had walked away after Jesus rendered the truth. This also is the chapter in the bible that isn't taken literally by other faiths. By far the most important in my eyes. ( I took the bait and Jesus "set the hook")

 

Returning to faith

  A new husband I had become, a new bride I had received, a new state to reside in, a new little apartment for my home and a new job to support these. My lifestyle was shall we say, a little out of "whack". Deep down I knew that even though my life had taken flight, my heart was still grounded. As time went on we both decided to retreat back to our spiritual upbringing. Two different faiths, we were in an interdenominational marriage. Marriage in THE Catholic church means agreeing to raise children in the faith. I needed answers!  Being raised in a church going family as a kid, is exactly what Sundays and church were for...FAMILIES! My new immediate family was split on Sundays as we went to different churches. Something was not "clicking". My heart being troubled with this situation, I turned to God in sincere prayer to find the TRUTH.  "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness."  Ephesians 6:14

  Finally (God being beyond time heehee) I was hit with the scripture that turned "my boat" around, it was the only chapter in the bible that my Protestant brothers and sisters do not take literally. Any guesses?....

Just a little background

  I was born and raised in Texas. Baptized into the Baptist faith (who isn't down south? lol) and had "jumped" faiths to Pentecostal (a parental decision) as an adolescent. Reaching the point of becoming a man around the age of 19 with little or no direction, (other than being an avid fisherman) I joined the Army and off to Germany I went. After a two year term there, my next set of orders were to Massachusetts. The unit I was assigned to was sent to Desert Storm. (the first gulf war)  After the war I met an intriguing young lady from New Hampshire and as my "time" in the military quickly came to its end, my decision to stay instead of returning to my roots in Texas prevailed. We married shortly after and this is where the REAL journey of faith begins! Stay tuned Y'all!