Agnostic to On-Fire Catholic– Conversion Story
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You’re Not the Boss of Me– Holiday Survival Kit
As the holidays are upon us, this topic caught my ear when I was working out the other day. The radio show is called More 2 Life, featuring psychologist Dr. Greg Popcak and his wife Lisa. The topic, “You’re not the Boss of Me” covers a lot of territory. The premise of this segment was to respond to callers who deal with pushy, bossy people and the Popcak’s offered ways to set respectful limits on bossy people. Just in time for all the holiday gatherings!! Yeah!!!
Do you have a bossy person in your life? Well, if you don’t please share your secret with me!! LOL!! I could recount plenty of bossy people in my life whether it be family, work, church groups, or among friends. There is always this ONE person who has to have things THEIR WAY. Ha Ha, Okay, I admit, I can be one of those sometimes. (Though, I like to categorize myself as a recovering bossy person.) Continue reading
Missionary Disciples
In today’s Gospel (Luke 10: 1-9) it shows us what Jesus wants his followers to be doing and how they ought do it. We are a missionary church. We are sent by the Lord to spread his word and do his work. The Gospel is just not something that we are meant to cling to for our own benefit; it is seed that we are meant to give away.
Prayer is not incidental to ministry. It is not decorative. It is the lifeblood of the Church’s efforts. Without it, nothing will succeed; without it, no ministers will come forward. At all times pray, pray, pray.
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Consume or Consumed?
“Eat this scroll, then go, speak to the house of Israel.” —Ezekiel 3:1
Rebellion against the Lord entails not only doing evil but also refusing to totally consume and be consumed by His callings (Ez 2:8). We must eat the scroll of God’s plan for our lives. We must internalize it, digest it, and make it part of ourselves. As we consume God’s callings, we are consumed by God (see Heb 12:29). When we internalize God’s plan, God lives in us and we in Him (see Jn 17:23). We lose our lives (Lk 9:24), and it is no longer we who live but Christ Who lives within us (Gal 2:20). Then, paradoxically, as we lose our lives, we find our lives in Christ (Lk 9:24).
Top Ten Ways to Fast
Field of Dreams- Weeds Among Wheat
“The field is the world.” —Matthew 13:38
The field is the world. “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son” to give up all that He owned, purchase that field, and die in agony on His cross so the field and its inhabitants might not perish, but have everlasting life (Jn 3:16; Mt 13:44).
The field is full of people. Jesus loves all people, for they are made in His image and likeness (Gn 1:27). To Jesus, this field of humanity is a treasure. He gave all He had to purchase this field (Mt 13:44). Jesus treasures us, and where His treasure lies, there His heart is (Lk 6:45).
Reins of Grace Therapeutic Riding Center
The Secrets of Fasting
(Part three, of three in series on Scandals.)
Fasting is one way to address certain kinds of evil. In recent weeks in the Catholic Church, very dark, evil acts that have been exposed among the clergy and church leadership. In Mark’s Gospel chapter 9:29, Jesus tells the disciples some demons or evil cannot be cast out, (or eradicated), but by prayer and fasting. There is lay movement calling faithful Christians to address the recent clergy sex abuse scandal with the response of prayer and fasting. The movement is called #sackclothandashes. You can read more about it here.
Christians of all types can benefit from fasting. What exactly is fasting? Father Al Lauer of Presentation Ministries offers this perspective on fasting and how you can use fasting to advance your own relationship with God and build the kingdom.
Chastity & Parenting for Purity
Jesus on Scandals
(Part 2 in a series on Scandals)
“Scandals will inevitably arise…” —Luke 17:1
I just returned from the store, where I heard a man talking disgustedly on his cell phone about yet another sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church. What does Jesus say about scandal?