Well . . . Unless You are Prepared to See Results
When Gud Lloyd received the Drain Me of Me prayer and published it on his blog site recently, I thought it was a profound prayer, and prayed it and then reposted it on mine, along with some of my own thoughts on two instances in the past (that I know of) where the essence of this prayer has had meaning for me.
But, the prayer would not let me go. So, I prayed it again. Then on Sunday, I felt that the prayer could not just languish in a blog post that falls down the list over time on my own site, so I put it near the top of the side bar, where I intend to leave it for some time. Since I visit my own blog site from time to time, (just about the only person who does), it is there to remind me to pray it again and AGAIN and AGAIN. I have taken to praying it daily.
This morning, I met my prayer partner Wayne Zimmer, in front of the tabernacle at the chapel at St. George Parish as we do every week day we are in town, to pray the Divine Office. Our brother and prayer partner Deacon George Sebok was unable to make it today, but the Lord had things He wanted to communicate to us, and I guess they were more for Wayne and me.
I had copied the Drain Me of Me prayer to my iPod, and so after we chatted for a bit about something that had happened to us yesterday during prayer, and the after effects, I suggested that I read the prayer from my iPod for us to share. So, I read the prayer, and once again it moved me, and it moved Wayne as well.
With this prayer, we are giving God permission to drain off of us, all the parts that are not of Him. But, God knew that we would pray this prayer, and so since time and space means nothing to Him, He took our permission, and used it in advance (in our time, not His) to start a process in us that is and will remain ongoing.
When I was disabled in a car accident 7 years ago, that was God draining me (or using others to assist Him) of things that separated me from Him. Who knew!! When my wife and I separated for a time 9 years ago, that was God draining me (or using others to assist Him), so that I would come to see Him in her, and love her as Christ loves the Church. That sure drained a lot of raw sewage out of me.
There are of course many instances and processes whereby God has been draining me of the me that refuses to submit to His Love and Authority in my life, as there have been for my brother in Him, Wayne. But, it is a long journey.
So, now I have new eyes to see this prayer, and to see what it has done in my life in the past, and to watch for what it does in the future.
Our God is a most awesome God, who can never be truly fathomed, but His Mercy and His Love are forever, and we can see some of his handiwork if we but look with our eyes of faith.
Yesterday, we prayed for a friend who was suddenly in hospital, and very ill. Her husband, who is a very spirit filled man, had had someone over to the house recently, and the friend and her daughter were unable to be in the presence of this other person. They reacted strongly to something. I have seen this before, and even in my own Dear Wife, who has a strong sense of good and evil. There seemed to be a connection between this visit a few days back and the illness of our friend's wife yesterday morning. In prayer, we concluded, as we saw things in the spirit world during prayer, that there had been some transference to the wife from this visit. We prayed against it.
Our friend called us later on to say that his wife, who had been so sick hours earlier, was released from the hospital with nothing wrong with her, including no pain where serious pain had been earlier. It all could have been nothing, and we might have passed it off as that. Except!!
Yesterday, as Wayne and I shared with each other this morning, we were both bombarded with temptation in areas of our weakness, which should have led us both to conclude that something was up in the spirit world.
Wayne was pretty certain about what was going on, and did what he needed to do to withstand the temptation. I was not so self aware, and only resisted the temptation that came to me partially. But, this morning as we gathered for prayer, we saw how God was using what happened yesterday to Drain Us of Us, to make us a little bit more like Him. As Wayne commented, it was a small step towards Him and the foot of the Cross.
Lord, Drain Me of Me. Don't ever stop.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
A Humorous Take on the Prodigal Son
The Skit Guys
This is not the way I remember reading the story of the Prodigal Son. It's not quite the way I remember living it either. But, it is a beautiful presentation of this story of all of our lives.
This is not the way I remember reading the story of the Prodigal Son. It's not quite the way I remember living it either. But, it is a beautiful presentation of this story of all of our lives.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Who Should Profit from Health Care? Nobody?
Get Real
Karen Selick of the Canadian Constitution Foundation recently published the below article in the Globe and Mail. Her opinion piece is a conservative opinion, so liberal thinkers will immediately dismiss it as capitalist propaganda that diminished the lower classes. So, prior to presenting her thoughts, here are a few of my own, from my personal experience.
I am 60 years old, and have lived in Ontario, Canada for almost all of those 60 years. I have benefited from Canada's Medicare plans over the years. Or, at least I used to. My Dear Wife still benefits to some extent from our universal medical care,sorta.
When I say I used to benefit, I mean that for years I could see my doctor, go into hospital if necessary, even get to a specialist on a timely basis. That was back when Canada could afford to spend my grandchildren's money on such things, since the country was running up significant spending deficits. Now, my grandchildren have not complained yet, being 2 and 5 years old, so what happened to the medical spending juggernaut? Well, a certain measure of sanity crept into our government over the last decade or so, and the elected powers decided that deficit spending of money they did not have was not on (big revelation there), and started to cut back, actually creating annual surpluses to pay back some of the debt accumulated over the years. That, of course, was before they thought they should spend themselves out of the recession, like our neighbours to the south.
So, 7 years ago, when I was in an auto accident and incurred a mild traumatic brain injury, I expected to see competent specialists, and get the support of my own general practitioner. My expectations were not met. In fact, if I had not spent close to $4,000 of my own money going to the Amen Clinic in Newport Beach, California, I would still not have a clue as to what problems I was facing with my own mental health. They were able to produce pictures of the parts of my brain that were affected, and provide counselling on what I could and could not do, what meds and supplements would help me, and by the way discovered that I have lived my life with ADD, something that when presented to me made a lot of sense.
Now, my wife is another matter altogether, sorta. She suffers from autoimmune diseases, and it appears that medical care for her is on a par with most care in the US. At least, we have found no US source for better direct treatment of her illnesses. The treatment for her is meds, and she takes piles of them. She sees a neurologist, a rheumatoligist, her GP, another rheumatologist, and has been sent to other specialists from time to time. These are not incompetent people by any stretch of the imagination, but her conditions have not improved a lick, in truth, and the drug reactions make us wonder what is worse, the diseases or the treatments. So, she (with my support) is looking for alternatives that might be beneficial to her, and the clinic that she is most likely to go to is in Florida and will cost us over $10,000. There is nothing similar in Canada.
Now, as for me one other thing that seems relevant. I had the same family doc for close to 30 years, until he retired and left my file with his replacement. I NEVER had a complete physical from him in all those years. There was one sorta physical, but that was all. It was never suggested or offered.
So, this year, I went to a private clinic here in London, Ontario - Medpoint. They perform annual physicals, with followup, doing the appropriate blood and physical work to allow you to walk out with a comprehensive report on what will help you improve your health in the next year, and what steps should be taken. I met with many of their staff members during the assessment, and had two sessions with the on staff doctor, a very competent woman, with skill and bedside manner. That cost me $800, out of pocket, and I have no regrets for having had to spend it.
Subsequently, I have gone back to use their in house physical training facilities and nutrition support. Ths will cost me about $2,500, and again it is money well spent. Already, I am feeling stronger, though I have been stiff as a board, as my body gets used to the punishment necessary to make it do what I want it to do.
So, for my money, you can have your free health care. It is worth every penny you pay for it, out of your pocket.
And ObamaCare is another matter altogether. For a mere trillion or so of money that the US will have to borrow from the Chinese and Arabs, the US will get a camel of a health care system. They will have used the plans for a race horse, but with the 16,000 pages of legislative bafflegab they are already saddled with, they will end up with a camel, that eats very expensive food, leaves excrement everywhere, and has a foul disposition. Just my thoughts.
Here is the article that Karen Selick wrote for the Globe:
Karen Selick of the Canadian Constitution Foundation recently published the below article in the Globe and Mail. Her opinion piece is a conservative opinion, so liberal thinkers will immediately dismiss it as capitalist propaganda that diminished the lower classes. So, prior to presenting her thoughts, here are a few of my own, from my personal experience.
I am 60 years old, and have lived in Ontario, Canada for almost all of those 60 years. I have benefited from Canada's Medicare plans over the years. Or, at least I used to. My Dear Wife still benefits to some extent from our universal medical care,sorta.
When I say I used to benefit, I mean that for years I could see my doctor, go into hospital if necessary, even get to a specialist on a timely basis. That was back when Canada could afford to spend my grandchildren's money on such things, since the country was running up significant spending deficits. Now, my grandchildren have not complained yet, being 2 and 5 years old, so what happened to the medical spending juggernaut? Well, a certain measure of sanity crept into our government over the last decade or so, and the elected powers decided that deficit spending of money they did not have was not on (big revelation there), and started to cut back, actually creating annual surpluses to pay back some of the debt accumulated over the years. That, of course, was before they thought they should spend themselves out of the recession, like our neighbours to the south.
So, 7 years ago, when I was in an auto accident and incurred a mild traumatic brain injury, I expected to see competent specialists, and get the support of my own general practitioner. My expectations were not met. In fact, if I had not spent close to $4,000 of my own money going to the Amen Clinic in Newport Beach, California, I would still not have a clue as to what problems I was facing with my own mental health. They were able to produce pictures of the parts of my brain that were affected, and provide counselling on what I could and could not do, what meds and supplements would help me, and by the way discovered that I have lived my life with ADD, something that when presented to me made a lot of sense.
Now, my wife is another matter altogether, sorta. She suffers from autoimmune diseases, and it appears that medical care for her is on a par with most care in the US. At least, we have found no US source for better direct treatment of her illnesses. The treatment for her is meds, and she takes piles of them. She sees a neurologist, a rheumatoligist, her GP, another rheumatologist, and has been sent to other specialists from time to time. These are not incompetent people by any stretch of the imagination, but her conditions have not improved a lick, in truth, and the drug reactions make us wonder what is worse, the diseases or the treatments. So, she (with my support) is looking for alternatives that might be beneficial to her, and the clinic that she is most likely to go to is in Florida and will cost us over $10,000. There is nothing similar in Canada.
Now, as for me one other thing that seems relevant. I had the same family doc for close to 30 years, until he retired and left my file with his replacement. I NEVER had a complete physical from him in all those years. There was one sorta physical, but that was all. It was never suggested or offered.
So, this year, I went to a private clinic here in London, Ontario - Medpoint. They perform annual physicals, with followup, doing the appropriate blood and physical work to allow you to walk out with a comprehensive report on what will help you improve your health in the next year, and what steps should be taken. I met with many of their staff members during the assessment, and had two sessions with the on staff doctor, a very competent woman, with skill and bedside manner. That cost me $800, out of pocket, and I have no regrets for having had to spend it.
Subsequently, I have gone back to use their in house physical training facilities and nutrition support. Ths will cost me about $2,500, and again it is money well spent. Already, I am feeling stronger, though I have been stiff as a board, as my body gets used to the punishment necessary to make it do what I want it to do.
So, for my money, you can have your free health care. It is worth every penny you pay for it, out of your pocket.
And ObamaCare is another matter altogether. For a mere trillion or so of money that the US will have to borrow from the Chinese and Arabs, the US will get a camel of a health care system. They will have used the plans for a race horse, but with the 16,000 pages of legislative bafflegab they are already saddled with, they will end up with a camel, that eats very expensive food, leaves excrement everywhere, and has a foul disposition. Just my thoughts.
Here is the article that Karen Selick wrote for the Globe:
Office supply stores sell wooden pencils for as little as eight cents each. Swanky gift shops also sell pencils: gold-filled and priced as high as $1,400. Both pencils will make marks on paper, but they have another less obvious similarity: Both create a profit for their respective retailers, and for every intermediate link in the supply chain – from the tree-cutter or the gold miner to the manufacturer and the shipper.
It hardly seems possible that there can be that much profit built into an eight-cent pencil, but that’s exactly the point: “Profitable” is not a synonym for “expensive.” Consumers can buy expensive shoes or cheap shoes, luxury cars or economy cars, filet mignon or hamburger. Whatever the commodity, the free market offers goods produced at a profit, by privately owned enterprises, in a staggering range of varieties and prices.
People don’t generally accuse supermarkets of being evil for profiting from people’s hunger, or shoe stores for profiting from people’s barefootedness. Yet, Canadians have become so accustomed to thinking that health care must be provided by government that moral panic ensues the moment anyone suggests it could be provided by private, profit-making enterprises. “Nobody should profit on the backs of the sick,” opponents cry.
Like it or not, every single person who attends to the sick in our system of government-monopoly medicine is there for his or her own profit. Profit is simply income minus expenses. If our system were really non-profit, doctors, nurses and orderlies would get paid just enough to enable them to perform their duties. They would subsist on a diet of rice, possess only a single change of clothing, bunk down in dormitories at night, and walk to work.
But health-care workers don’t live like that. Instead, they have abundant food and clothing, private homes, transportation and luxuries such as entertainment, vacations and savings. These extras over mere subsistence are their profits, even though we don’t ordinarily call them that. There’s nothing immoral about their earning profits. But there’s also no contingent of saints in our society who are willing to work without a profit. The notion of non-profit health care is simply a myth.
A study published by the Fraser Institute in 2002 compared the wages of non-medical personnel such as cleaners, payroll clerks and cooks working in “non-profit” hospitals against those working in hotels. The hospital employees were paid from 9 per cent to 39 per cent more than hotel employees doing identical jobs. The layer of profit supposedly absent within these “non-profit” entities was actually being dispersed among employees rather than being shaved off the cost of services.
But wouldn’t allowing private, for-profit health care mean that some people would get filet mignon health care while others had to make do with hamburger health care? Perhaps – but, in the long run, even low-income patients would benefit.
New technology is typically expensive at first but declines dramatically in price as more people hear about it and competition kicks in. We’ve all seen this happen with computers and television sets. It even happens with medical procedures, so long as they aren’t covered by the government monopoly. Laser eye surgery, for instance (provided by the private sector in Canada), has declined significantly in price even as safety and outcomes have improved.
If we insisted that nothing new be made available to wealthy consumers until it was cheap enough to be provided to every member of society, very few new products would become available.
The big picture proves that private-sector goods and services keep on getting cheaper even as quality improves. In 1961, the average Canadian family spent 56.5 per cent of its income on food, shelter and clothing (all private-sector products). By 2009, families spent only 37.1 per cent of income on these basic necessities. Meantime, products and services monopolized or near-monopolized by government – primarily health care and education – grow ever more expensive even as quality declines.
Those who really want to help the poor and sick should be clamouring for the private sector to be allowed to do the job.
The Word of God
Or As We Like To Say In Latin "Verbum Domini"
Here is a brief news report on the document 'Verbum Domini" recently released by the Vatican on the Word of God (that would be the Bible) in the lives of Catholics around the world, and what it is meant to be. The document itself is over 200 pages long, and may be heavy sledding for many, but it is filled with treasure.
H/T Stephen Mc Elligott at Loyal to the Magisterium
The entire document is available free online here.
Here is a brief news report on the document 'Verbum Domini" recently released by the Vatican on the Word of God (that would be the Bible) in the lives of Catholics around the world, and what it is meant to be. The document itself is over 200 pages long, and may be heavy sledding for many, but it is filled with treasure.
H/T Stephen Mc Elligott at Loyal to the Magisterium
The entire document is available free online here.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Praise the Lord Oh My Soul
Kevin Prosch and Morningstar Jam With the Lamb
This is not your tight 2:30 song with three verses and a repeating chorus that we are all familiar with. This is Worship of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Let it draw you into worship of Our King. It is a joyful noise.
Listen to both parts of this timeof honouring Our God.
This is not your tight 2:30 song with three verses and a repeating chorus that we are all familiar with. This is Worship of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Let it draw you into worship of Our King. It is a joyful noise.
Listen to both parts of this timeof honouring Our God.
One Man's Take On Technology And the Older Generation
Oops That Includes Me
I thought about the 30 year business I ran with 1800 employees, all without a Blackberry that played music, took videos, pictures and communicated with Facebook and Twitter.
I signed up (under duress), for Twitter and Facebook, so my seven kids, their spouses, 13 grandkids and 2 great grand kids could communicate with me in the modern way. I figured I could handle something as simple as Twitter with only 140 characters of space.
That was before one of my grandkids hooked me up for Tweeter, Tweetree, Twhirl, Twitterfon, Tweetie and Twittererific Tweetdeck, Twitpix and something that sends every message to my cell phone and every other program within the texting world.
My phone was beeping every three minutes with the details of everything except the bowel movements of the entire next generation. I am not ready to live like this. I keep my cell phone in the garage in my golf bag.
The kids bought me a GPS for my last birthday because they say I get lost every now and then going over to the grocery store or library. I keep that in a box under my tool bench with the Blue tooth [it's red] phone I am supposed to use when I drive. I wore it once and was standing in line at Barnes and Noble talking to my wife as everyone in the nearest 50 yards was glaring at me. Seems I have to take my hearing aid out to use it,
And I got a little loud.
I mean the GPS looked pretty smart on my dash board, but the lady inside was the most annoying, rudest person I had run into in a long time. Every 10 minutes, she would sarcastically say, "Re-calc-ul-ating". You would think that she could be nicer. It was like she could barely tolerate me. She would let go with a deep sigh and then tell me to make a U-turn at the next light. Then when I would make a right turn instead, it was not good.
When I get really lost now, I call my wife and tell her the name of the cross streets and while she is starting to develop the same tone as Gypsy, the GPS lady, at least she loves me.
To be perfectly frank, I am still trying to learn how to use the cordless phones in our house. We have had them for 4 years, but I still haven't figured out how I can lose three phones all at once and run around digging under chair cushions and checking bathrooms and the dirty laundry baskets when the phone rings.
The world is just getting too complex for me. They even mess me up every time I go to the grocery store. You would think they could settle on something themselves but this sudden "Paper or Plastic?" every time I check out just knocks me for a loop. I bought some of those cloth reusable bags to avoid looking confused, but I never remember to take them in with me.
Now I toss it back to them. When they ask me, "Paper or Plastic?" I just say, "Doesn't matter to me. I am bi-sacksual." Then it's their turn to stare at me with a blank look.
I was recently asked if I tweet.I answered, "No...but I do toot a lot."
I thought about the 30 year business I ran with 1800 employees, all without a Blackberry that played music, took videos, pictures and communicated with Facebook and Twitter.
I signed up (under duress), for Twitter and Facebook, so my seven kids, their spouses, 13 grandkids and 2 great grand kids could communicate with me in the modern way. I figured I could handle something as simple as Twitter with only 140 characters of space.
That was before one of my grandkids hooked me up for Tweeter, Tweetree, Twhirl, Twitterfon, Tweetie and Twittererific Tweetdeck, Twitpix and something that sends every message to my cell phone and every other program within the texting world.
My phone was beeping every three minutes with the details of everything except the bowel movements of the entire next generation. I am not ready to live like this. I keep my cell phone in the garage in my golf bag.
The kids bought me a GPS for my last birthday because they say I get lost every now and then going over to the grocery store or library. I keep that in a box under my tool bench with the Blue tooth [it's red] phone I am supposed to use when I drive. I wore it once and was standing in line at Barnes and Noble talking to my wife as everyone in the nearest 50 yards was glaring at me. Seems I have to take my hearing aid out to use it,
And I got a little loud.
I mean the GPS looked pretty smart on my dash board, but the lady inside was the most annoying, rudest person I had run into in a long time. Every 10 minutes, she would sarcastically say, "Re-calc-ul-ating". You would think that she could be nicer. It was like she could barely tolerate me. She would let go with a deep sigh and then tell me to make a U-turn at the next light. Then when I would make a right turn instead, it was not good.
When I get really lost now, I call my wife and tell her the name of the cross streets and while she is starting to develop the same tone as Gypsy, the GPS lady, at least she loves me.
To be perfectly frank, I am still trying to learn how to use the cordless phones in our house. We have had them for 4 years, but I still haven't figured out how I can lose three phones all at once and run around digging under chair cushions and checking bathrooms and the dirty laundry baskets when the phone rings.
The world is just getting too complex for me. They even mess me up every time I go to the grocery store. You would think they could settle on something themselves but this sudden "Paper or Plastic?" every time I check out just knocks me for a loop. I bought some of those cloth reusable bags to avoid looking confused, but I never remember to take them in with me.
Now I toss it back to them. When they ask me, "Paper or Plastic?" I just say, "Doesn't matter to me. I am bi-sacksual." Then it's their turn to stare at me with a blank look.
I was recently asked if I tweet.I answered, "No...but I do toot a lot."
Do Catholics Worship Graven Images?
Say It Ain't So. OK, It Ain't So
Gus Lloyd, show host of Seize the Day on XM and Sirius satellite radio does apologetics CDs, and also is producing short videos called "A Minute in the Church."
Here is his latest on the subject of Statues in the Catholic Church. You can find more at his web blog here.
Gus Lloyd, show host of Seize the Day on XM and Sirius satellite radio does apologetics CDs, and also is producing short videos called "A Minute in the Church."
Here is his latest on the subject of Statues in the Catholic Church. You can find more at his web blog here.
RE Pent
Ever Wonder What it Means?
Catholics and other Christians particularly are familiar with the concept of repentance, or are we?
The word repent is defined as follows:
Well, the origin of the word "repent" is the Latin word paenitere (to regret, be sorry), which morphed to the Middle English pentir (to feel sorrow), and the prefix "re". "Re" comes from Latin, and is used to mean “again” or “again and again”.
So, from the original words, repent means to be sorry or regretful again and again.
So, repenting is feeling sorry each time that our conduct requires contrition, no matter how often, and no matter what new ways we find to conduct ourselves in ways that we know are wrong.
Hmmm!!
Catholics and other Christians particularly are familiar with the concept of repentance, or are we?
The word repent is defined as follows:
1. to feel sorry, self-reproachful, or contrite for past conduct; regret or be conscience-stricken about a past action, attitude, etc. (often fol. by of ): He repented after his thoughtless act.But why not just pent? Why RE?
2. to feel such sorrow for sin or fault as to be disposed to change one's life for the better; be penitent.
Well, the origin of the word "repent" is the Latin word paenitere (to regret, be sorry), which morphed to the Middle English pentir (to feel sorrow), and the prefix "re". "Re" comes from Latin, and is used to mean “again” or “again and again”.
So, from the original words, repent means to be sorry or regretful again and again.
So, repenting is feeling sorry each time that our conduct requires contrition, no matter how often, and no matter what new ways we find to conduct ourselves in ways that we know are wrong.
Hmmm!!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
The Fate of The Catholic Church In America
Holds True For Canada As Well
Father Gordon MacRae is a prisoner of the New Hampshire prison system for crimes he logically and logistically could not have committed, if in fact they occurred at all. But, as a prisoner, and a Catholic priest, he has refused to lie down and die, and he remains a witness to the faith that motivates him, and to the Saviour he loves.
He has a blog site, These Stone Walls, and there he writes heart felt and incisive articles that awaken in many the hidden depths of their faith. He recently wrote a three part series on the When Priests are Falsely Accused. From this third part, you can back track to the first two parts of this excellent series. I am grateful that a thought I had conveyed in one of my earlier blog posts became a point to ponder in the second part of this series. I had said in my article called "A Thorn in the Flesh".
I highlight this only to lead in to what Father Gordon published the other day in an article titled, "The Twilight's Last Gleaming: The Fate of Religion in America".
In the article Father Gordon postulates what many of us who are members of the Catholic Church have sensed to be a truth, and that is that religion, with particular emphasis on the Catholic religion is under attack from the media, and the American public. (Don't forget the Canadian media and public). I would further add that the Catholic Church is in particular being persecuted by some Evangelical Christians, who have fallen under the delusion that the Catholic Church is the whore of Babylon.
It seems that my above quote needs to be modified somewhat. Maybe it should read: "The Catholic Church has become the safest target for those of little faith, and those who are determined to persecute it. However, in this culture of confusion in which we find ourselves, it will ultimately stand as the only reliable guide."
For that final part, I rely on Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Denver Colorado, a voice in the wilderness, whose wisdom shines forth for all to see.
He wrote for today via Catholic News Agency, about the following:
In essence he pointed out that life is both temporary and transitional, a fundamental teaching of Christianity. It is in effect the hereafter that we are all here after.
So, in the midst of a somewhat gloomy picture of attacks on the Church per Father MacRae, all of which is true, he himself, points us to the wisdom of Father Richard John Neuhaus, who had these three words of advice and encouragement for all Catholic men and women of goodwill, by way of encouragement and education:
How do we prepare for the “Four Last Things”—death, judgment, hell and heaven", of which Archbishop Chaput reminds us - with Fidelity to the Church and to the teachings of Jesus Christ for which it stands?
Pretty simple isn't it?
All Catholic Christians are called to know their faith, live it with Fidelity, and proclaim it in word and even more in deed, for these are troubled and troubling times we live in, and many will take their hands off the plow, making them unfit for the Gospel message.
So many Catholic Christians have been poorly catechized and we deserve to be criticized for that, but I see evidence everywhere I look, that the Gospel is being preached in the Catholic Church with greater urgency and Fidelity to the faithful.
All those who have ears, let them hear.
To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of the death of the Catholic Church are greatly exaggerated.
Father Gordon MacRae is a prisoner of the New Hampshire prison system for crimes he logically and logistically could not have committed, if in fact they occurred at all. But, as a prisoner, and a Catholic priest, he has refused to lie down and die, and he remains a witness to the faith that motivates him, and to the Saviour he loves.
He has a blog site, These Stone Walls, and there he writes heart felt and incisive articles that awaken in many the hidden depths of their faith. He recently wrote a three part series on the When Priests are Falsely Accused. From this third part, you can back track to the first two parts of this excellent series. I am grateful that a thought I had conveyed in one of my earlier blog posts became a point to ponder in the second part of this series. I had said in my article called "A Thorn in the Flesh".
“The Catholic Church has become the safest place in the world for children, but the most dangerous place in the world for our priests.”
I highlight this only to lead in to what Father Gordon published the other day in an article titled, "The Twilight's Last Gleaming: The Fate of Religion in America".
In the article Father Gordon postulates what many of us who are members of the Catholic Church have sensed to be a truth, and that is that religion, with particular emphasis on the Catholic religion is under attack from the media, and the American public. (Don't forget the Canadian media and public). I would further add that the Catholic Church is in particular being persecuted by some Evangelical Christians, who have fallen under the delusion that the Catholic Church is the whore of Babylon.
It seems that my above quote needs to be modified somewhat. Maybe it should read: "The Catholic Church has become the safest target for those of little faith, and those who are determined to persecute it. However, in this culture of confusion in which we find ourselves, it will ultimately stand as the only reliable guide."
For that final part, I rely on Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Denver Colorado, a voice in the wilderness, whose wisdom shines forth for all to see.
He wrote for today via Catholic News Agency, about the following:
Over the centuries, the Church has often called her people to reflect on the “Four Last Things”—death, judgment, hell and heaven. She has a good reason for doing so. Life is brief. And all of us, whether rich or poor, unknown or famous, will very soon encounter the Four Last Things, directly and personally.
In essence he pointed out that life is both temporary and transitional, a fundamental teaching of Christianity. It is in effect the hereafter that we are all here after.
So, in the midst of a somewhat gloomy picture of attacks on the Church per Father MacRae, all of which is true, he himself, points us to the wisdom of Father Richard John Neuhaus, who had these three words of advice and encouragement for all Catholic men and women of goodwill, by way of encouragement and education:
Fidelity, Fidelity, and Fidelity.How do we overcome attacks on our Catholic faith - with Fidelity to the Church and to the teachings of Jesus Christ for which it stands?
How do we prepare for the “Four Last Things”—death, judgment, hell and heaven", of which Archbishop Chaput reminds us - with Fidelity to the Church and to the teachings of Jesus Christ for which it stands?
Pretty simple isn't it?
All Catholic Christians are called to know their faith, live it with Fidelity, and proclaim it in word and even more in deed, for these are troubled and troubling times we live in, and many will take their hands off the plow, making them unfit for the Gospel message.
So many Catholic Christians have been poorly catechized and we deserve to be criticized for that, but I see evidence everywhere I look, that the Gospel is being preached in the Catholic Church with greater urgency and Fidelity to the faithful.
All those who have ears, let them hear.
To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of the death of the Catholic Church are greatly exaggerated.
Drain Me of Me
A Prayer of Reflection and Metanoia from Gus Lloyd (Well God Really)
Gus Lloyd does the morning show (Seize the Day) on XM Satellite Radio, channel 117. It is a great show, and I get opportunities to hear only some of it many days, though I hope one day to be able to hear more. Gus is a man after God's own heart. Last weekend, while he was speaking at a retreat in Missouri, he awoke early and this prayer came out of his fingers and pen. It is far too anointed to have been of his own devising, but is the result of a life of prayer and commitment to becoming more like Jesus day in and day out.
Here is the prayer:
I have had in my life at least two experiences that coincide for me with this prayer that Brother Gus prayed and transcribed for us to pray as well.
Many years ago, I was in the kitchen area of the offices of the small computer service company that I owned. I was frustrated and could not resolve problems that were plaguing the business, and my family life. I looked up at the ceiling tiles, not knowing what I was expecting to see there. In my frustration, I asked God: "What do You want from me?" In a very audible voice inside me, I heard the answer. It was one word: "Everything."
Though the answer made little sense to me on one level, on another it made all the sense in the world, and I returned to my office somehow knowing that He was in charge.
Of course, I immediately turned my whole life over to Him, and all was well. OK. I did not immediately or ever since then turn over my WHOLE life to Him. In spite of that, all is well.
On another occasion I saw a vision. I have seen a number of visions in my life, and though I cannot describe the phenomenon accurately, I can tell you that I saw something that was not there in the normal realm, and it affected me profoundly.
I saw a lump of clay on a potter's wheel, and I knew that the lump of clay was me, and the potter was Jesus. He worked diligently on the clay, shaping it into a lamp base, then a bowl, then various other things, reshaping it every few moments. The results kept getting smaller and smaller until finally there was only a small speck of clay (me) left on the wheel. The most profound part of the vision then happened. Jesus took his middle finger, curled it up into His thumb, and then flicked the last speck of clay off the wheel. He then turned and smiled, and said: "There. Perfect."
Thank you Brother Gus for sharing this with us and for the other reflections that you share on your web site, and on satellite radio, and in your other areas of ministry.
Lord, while you are about draining Brother Gus of him, would you please Drain Me of Me?
Gus Lloyd does the morning show (Seize the Day) on XM Satellite Radio, channel 117. It is a great show, and I get opportunities to hear only some of it many days, though I hope one day to be able to hear more. Gus is a man after God's own heart. Last weekend, while he was speaking at a retreat in Missouri, he awoke early and this prayer came out of his fingers and pen. It is far too anointed to have been of his own devising, but is the result of a life of prayer and commitment to becoming more like Jesus day in and day out.
Here is the prayer:
Drain Me of MeHearing him speak this morning about this prayer, I had to go and look it up and read it and let it enter my spirit, for it is a prayer that we all need to pray, if we ever hope to become more like Our Precious Saviour, and if we hope to be able to do the things that He did while here on the earth. The world is hurting. Our families and friends are hurting. The pain is from lack of Him in our lives. Even if we are committed to Him, we can never be full to the brim with Him, as long as there is pride, ego, insensitivity looming.
Father, I am so full of myself.
I know that if I truly wish to serve you,
If I truly wish to share your word and your love,
This must not be the way.
And so today, Father, I ask you:
Drain me of me
Of all the self-inflated ego
Drain me
Of all the harsh judgement that comes so easily
Drain me
Of all jealousy and resentment
Drain me
Of all the desire for attention and adulation
Drain me
Of all attachment to the flesh
Drain me
Of all that is not of you
Drain me
And when I am emptied, unencumbered by
The stuff and nonsense of the world,
No longer weighed down by the heaviness
And burdens put upon me by myself
Or the dark forces of the evil one
Fill me with your Spirit,
For your Spirit has no chains,
Your Spirit recognizes no boundaries,
Your Spirit is lightness and light,
Your Spirit allows me to soar
As on eagle’s wings.
And so, Father, right now, this moment
I give you permission to
Drain me of me,
That I may be more like you
Through your Son, Jesus Christ
In the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
I have had in my life at least two experiences that coincide for me with this prayer that Brother Gus prayed and transcribed for us to pray as well.
Many years ago, I was in the kitchen area of the offices of the small computer service company that I owned. I was frustrated and could not resolve problems that were plaguing the business, and my family life. I looked up at the ceiling tiles, not knowing what I was expecting to see there. In my frustration, I asked God: "What do You want from me?" In a very audible voice inside me, I heard the answer. It was one word: "Everything."
Though the answer made little sense to me on one level, on another it made all the sense in the world, and I returned to my office somehow knowing that He was in charge.
Of course, I immediately turned my whole life over to Him, and all was well. OK. I did not immediately or ever since then turn over my WHOLE life to Him. In spite of that, all is well.
On another occasion I saw a vision. I have seen a number of visions in my life, and though I cannot describe the phenomenon accurately, I can tell you that I saw something that was not there in the normal realm, and it affected me profoundly.
I saw a lump of clay on a potter's wheel, and I knew that the lump of clay was me, and the potter was Jesus. He worked diligently on the clay, shaping it into a lamp base, then a bowl, then various other things, reshaping it every few moments. The results kept getting smaller and smaller until finally there was only a small speck of clay (me) left on the wheel. The most profound part of the vision then happened. Jesus took his middle finger, curled it up into His thumb, and then flicked the last speck of clay off the wheel. He then turned and smiled, and said: "There. Perfect."
Thank you Brother Gus for sharing this with us and for the other reflections that you share on your web site, and on satellite radio, and in your other areas of ministry.
Lord, while you are about draining Brother Gus of him, would you please Drain Me of Me?
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