Comunidad Del Cristo

Fw: Jesus - the Road from the Cave to Eternal Life

2007-01-07T09:38:00.000-06:00

First, let me apologize for the spam that has shown up on this site. I am doing my best to wipe it out. But, it is proving very persistent.
Lou

Hi. Peace.

Today’s readings on this Feast of the Epiphany have filled my mind with all sorts of thoughts. Denise and I went to see “The Nativity Story” at the cinema on Friday and the timing could not have been better. Of course, most people won’t go see the movie because, as our college student remarked, “It doesn’t look too appealing from the advertisements.” We all know the story and we do not need to go see it again, right? Distraction and infatuation with worldly things is unfortunate when we could change the world by focusing on beautiful things and the truth and keeping the ugliness of life in proper perspective.

The truth is that God came into the world to reconcile His beloved creation with Himself. (That’s us, folks. We are His beloved creation. YOU are His beloved creation!)

The truth is that Jesus gave us the way to be reconciled with our Creator. He told us to reconcile with each other. He told us to love each other. He told us to share our possessions with the less fortunate. He told us to strive to be perfect as God, our Father, is perfect. And, then He told us to accept our crosses, the burdens that life sends our way, and to follow Him.

Here is a reality check for you: what could our United States have done with $500 billion and 5 years and the lives that we have sacrificed to the war on terrorism?
We could have created jobs for peace rather than jobs in war-machine factories.
We could have educated 10,000,000 people at $50,000 each.
We could have developed and begun building hybrid, electric, and fuel-cell vehicles rather than more 12 mpg F150 pickup trucks and Hummer 3’s, and Chargers.
We could have created a working health care system.
We could have rebuilt New Orleans.
We could have built an effective way of staunching the flow of illegal immigrants.
We could have shut down the influx of drugs that shackle our children and our population,
We could have done something good and lasting.

Here is a reality check for me: the President could never have ordered the spending of $500 billion on any of my ideas, above, because Congress would not have approved it nor would the American people.

But, here is a reality check for each of us: we are wrong to spend our resources on self-gratification whether that comes in the form of “recreational drugs”, alcohol, illicit sex, pornography, war, gluttony, laziness, convenience, luxurious comfort and surroundings, etc. And, God will have the final word with each us when we reach the moment of our judgment before Him. So, why not embrace the Child, thank God, read His Word, and begin living as He commanded?

Let us pray:
In thanks to God that Grampa Casey reconciled himself with God before his death,
That we will have the courage to seek reconciliation with those who have hurt us,
That we will each begin today to use more of what we have to improve life in this world,
For our family and friends,
For our sick and for the dying,
For our enemies,
For our businesses,
For our Church,
For our politicians and national leaders,
For our boys and girls in the military,
For our associate ministries,
For each other and our unspoken needs.

Father, God, mindful of the wounds ‘round His head, in His hands, in His feet, and in His heart and side which your Son suffered for me. I ask you, take me, cleanse me, fill me, use me. I ask this in the name of your Beloved Son, Jesus. Amen.

Be like Bartimaeus! Pray! Trust! Expect!

In Him and in His love,
Lou

PS “the road from the cave to eternal Life?” reality is that instead of reacting to violence as rational creatures and as Jesus would have, we find it easier to pick up the larger club and to kill and punish. If that was what God wanted of us, why did He not send a powerful King instead of a helpless Child?

Wonderfully Crazy Day!

2006-11-20T19:03:00.000-06:00

Hi. Peace and every blessing to you and to your loved ones.

Today we had the “Blind Man Healing” from St. Luke’s Gospel. Wow! This reads the same as the healing of Bartimaeus! The blind man is so matter-of-fact with Jesus. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asks. “Lord, please let me see,” he replies.

Not, “If you can…” or “If you want to….” But, “Lord, please let me see.”

Do you ask in fear that God might not want to give you your heart’s desire? Stop now. If your heart’s desire is good and worthy and in keeping with God’s plan, ask! Approach the throne of God with fear and trembling. Then lay your need before Him with every confidence that He hears and answers. The answer may come differently than you expect. But, if you are honest, you will see that He answers.

But, oh, the reading that really caught my attention today was the passage from Revelation 2: 1-5, “I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate the wicked; you have tested those who call themselves apostles but are not, and discovered that they are impostors. Moreover, you have endurance and have suffered for my name, and you have not grown weary. Yet, I hold this against you: you have lost the love you had at first. Realize how far you have fallen. Repent, and do the work you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand [your sign of authority] from its place, unless you repent.”

Wow! Those of us who gauge everything and everyone by how closely they follow the Law must take warning. Love is first. If we love, we will keep the Law. The Law is important as Jesus says. But, Jesus came to take the Law beyond itself, to fulfill it. He tells us to (1) love God, (2) love neighbor, (3) love ourselves, (4) love our enemy, and (5) love one another as I [Jesus] have loved you.

Justice comes second to love.

Let us pray,

Father, God, we adore you. We worship you. At this special time in the US, we humbly lay all of our blessings at your feet and give thanks for your infinite love. We ask, Father, that you give us every opportunity to learn to love each other and even our enemies as your Son has commanded. We realize that faith is only real if we live by your commands. So, we strive to live by the Law. But, even more importantly, we strive to live as Jesus commanded, that is, in love for we know that first we will be judged as to how completely, readily, openly, and honestly we have loved. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen.

Be like Bartimaeus! Pray! Trust! Expect!

In Him and in His love,

Lou

The Coyote is Ready to Pounce

2006-11-15T10:50:00.000-06:00

Hi. Peace to each of you and to your families.

Today is a really busy day. Yet, I took some time to email the Prayer Warriors internet prayer group for some support and happened to read into Dixie’s prayer list for this morning. Take a look at this “pearl of great price” that she included this morning:

Wait for the Lord; Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14

In his book, A Turtle on the Fencepost, Allen Emery tells of a night he spent on the Texas plains with a shepherd who was keeping two thousand sheep. The shepherd prepared a bonfire for cooking supper and providing warmth. The sheep dogs lay down near the fire as the stars filled the sky. Suddenly Emery heard the unmistakable wail of a coyote with an answering call from the other side of the range. The dogs weren’t patrolling at the moment, and the coyotes seemed to know it. Rising quickly, the shepherd tossed some logs on the fire; and in the light, Emery looked out at the sheep and saw thousands of little lights. “I realized,” he said, “that these were reflections of the fire in the eyes of the sheep. In the midst of danger, the sheep were not looking out into the darkness, but were keeping their eyes set toward the Shepherd.” We’re to keep our eyes on our Shepherd, to be always looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. If a coyote is wailing within earshot of you, turn your eyes upon Jesus Christ our Lord and our Savior!

If you do not believe that the coyote is waiting in the dark ready to pounce on you, look again!

I ask the children, “Do you take the time to be sure you are properly dressed for your next social event but do not take the time to pray or go to church?”

I ask the children, “Is your social life more important than attending church each Sunday as the Lord has commanded?”

I ask the parents, “As you complain about the lack of faith and discipline in children today, do you look in the mirror to see and to talk to the most influential person in your child’s life?”

I ask each of us, “Do we pray as a family community to reinforce the concepts that we owe everything to God, that we must always stand humbly before Him, that His will is more important than our desires?”

How did we expect our kids to learn to love God? By osmosis? From the Sunday School teacher? From the minister? From the outside world?

If your children have left home, then all you can do is love them, pray for them, counsel them, butt-in if you see them doing wrong (moral error – we all remember the word “sin”), and plead that God will give them the grace to live the commitment they have made to their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

It is hard to stand for moral living, that is, living according to the Commandments of God. You will be branded a bigot when you tell a fornicator that his or her activity is wrong. You will be branded a fool for not cheating on your taxes, or for not cheating on your spouse, or for not testing out the latest designer drug, or just for volunteering to be the designated driver. You will be the “odd man out” if you do not curse with the rest of the guys or listen and tell dirty jokes. You will be ridiculed, Mom, when you choose to stay home and raise your babies rather than pursue some other career so that you can buy that nice house or car or wide-screen TV. You will. But, if you call yourself Christian, you will thank God for the persecution that will come when you stand among a pack of coyotes and call out their error or turn away to follow God’s Commandments as best you can.

With prayers for all, for courage, for trust that God’s Plan is the best of all plans, and for all our needs….

Be like Bartimaeus! Pray! Trust! Expect!

In Him and in His love,

Lou

Keepers of the Temple of the Holy spirit

2006-11-10T05:53:00.000-06:00

Good morning. Peace to each of you and to your families.

This morning’s readings focus on the beauty and sanctity and abundance to be found in God’s holy temple. St. Paul tells us that each believer is a temple of the Holy Spirit built upon the foundation that is Jesus Christ. St. John recounts the time when Jesus drove the marketers out of the Temple in Jerusalem. Jesus accused them of turning God’s holy place into a common marketplace, that is, of changing the focus from worship of God to worship of money and self.

Pulling the abundance concept from Ezekiel, the personal dwelling of the Holy spirit from Paul, and the need to focus on what is important from John, it should be clear that your and my responsibility is to jealously, yes, jealously guard the doors to our souls to ensure that evil does not worm its way into our hearts. Anything, anything which is not of God must be identified, exposed, and driven from within. Titillating little pleasures, drunkenness however we indulge in it, cursing and otherwise abusing our fellow men and women, cheating on God, our spouses, and our bosses behind the covers of our computers, and every other sin must be purged from ourselves if we are to present ourselves and represent ourselves as Temples of the Holy Spirit.

The money-changers and sellers did not just show up one morning in the Temple in Jerusalem. Neither does Satan in the temple of our souls. Satan sneaks in. We say, “Everybody does this. It is not a sin.” Or, “It’s part of our culture.” Or, “Oh, come on! How can this be a sin? It’s not against the law.” Pretty soon these little things become habitual. And, like any evil habit, they lead to the need for more and ultimately to self-destruction. A smoke leads to two packs of cigarettes a day. A raucous evening with friends leads to a weekly night out with the girls to enjoy a little freedom from the confines of family commitments. A subscription to a soft porn magazine leads to condoning “Gentlemen’s clubs”, X-rated movies, habitual masturbation or adultery and worse. Immersion in violent video gaming leads to violence in the office, in the home, on the street, and the justification of retaliatory killing.

Our best defense against Satan and our best protection against ultimate eternal death is to throw the doors of the temple open to all of the good things of God and to place armed guards at every entrance no matter how small the opening to aggressively defend against the relentless onslaught of evil.

Please say a special prayer that our newly-elected political representatives will stand firm for the greater good of our country, our citizens, and the world. Pray that they will recognize that they were elected to serve no to be served, to aid our citizens rather than to pile up riches, and to give example to us all of right-living rather than to fall prey to the temptations of position, money, and power.

Father, God, we adore you. We thank you for the bounty of your blessings. We pray for the grace to search out any evil in our hearts and our lives, to expose it to your Light, and to purge it from our selves, and to gleefully accept the fullness of You in its place. Help us, Father, to cleanse this temple of the Holy Spirit that it may be seen by you as a suitable dwelling place. May we, once again purified, rightfully begin again to witness You to the world that others may come to know Eternal Life and to turn from the road to Hell. We ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Be like Bartimaeus especially in this prayer seeking purification of heart, mind, and soul. Pray! Trust! Expect!

In Him and in His love,

Lou

Maybe We Just Don't Want To Accept Pity

2006-10-29T15:58:00.000-06:00

Hi. Peace.

My favorite Gospel!

"Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!"

"Son of David, have pity on me!"

"What do you want of me?"

"Lord, that I might see!"

Bartimaeus,a blind beggar, in need, persistent, clear and convinced.

Do you recognize your need? Are you willing to seek the pity of God?

Are you persistent in your request?

Do you know the end result you seek?

I encourage you to be like Bartimaeus! Pray! Trust that God hears! Expect His answer! Look for it! Believe that it is coming!

Make that your plea, "Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!"

Pray for all our families, pray for Jack and Stephan, pray for Kay and Larry, pray for Edwena's visa, pray for our clergy and all who proclaim the kingship of Jesus Christ, pray that our children will have the courage and the grace to turn from the many horrors that plague our society today, pray for the safety of our volunteer forces overseas, pray for people to get out and vote in this mid-term election, pray for our politicians, pray for each other.

Father, we adore you. We worship you. We seek you. Have pity on us, Father, as your Son had pity on Bartimaeus. We are as needy as he. We seek your healing. We seek your love. We seek your grace. We seek to become a holy people. The world besets us with bad example and myriad temptations to sin against you. Walk with us, Father, protect us from evil. Help us to focus on you and your promise as did Bartimaeus. In Jesus' holy Name we ask these things. Amen.

Pray! Trust! Expect! Be like Bartimaeus!

In Him and in His love,
Lou

RE: Getting It So That God Can Use You/Correcting a Horrible Typo!

2006-10-19T13:12:00.000-05:00

This should, of course, read, “God has made it possible for you to share Eternal Life with Him.”

Satan is a sneaky guy, isn’t he? Even spell-check missed the typo and I missed it when I read it prior to sending. My deepest and sincerest apologies to you and to our Father in heaven!

Sheepishly in Him,

Lou

PS Funny I would use “sheepishly” since I am just proving why I am but one of the smallest and weakest and least sheep in His wonderful flock.

From: Lou Soileau [mailto:soileau49@earthlink.net]
Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2006 8:21 AM
To: Comunidad Del Cristo
Subject: Getting It So That God Can Use You

Today, Fr. Mark Link poses a good question: "What might I do to forgive and forget...as God has done for me?

God has forgiven you your every sin - the venial and the mortal. God has made it possible for you to share Eternal Lie with Him. What greater gift could there be? God did this by allowing His Son, Jesus, to suffer the agony of persecution, ridicule, horrible physical abuse, crucifixion, further ridicule while hanging from the nails through his hands and feet, and a slow, terrible death. Have you suffered so grievously at the hands of any human being? No. Jesus forgave you for your part in His agony. Our earthly pains and sufferings are trivial in the face of what Jesus endured for your sake. So, can you not forgive others for the pain that people have caused you?

Father, God, we adore you and we thank you for our lives. You give us everything. Everything is yours to take away. We will praise you before men and angels in the pleasure of our joys, in the face of persecution, and in the pain of our suffering. We ask you to love those whom we love, to care for the sick (Demeris, Gabriel, Steve, Stephan, and so many others), to give us the grace to forgive those who have hurt us and to love our enemies, to guide our leaders, to lift up our Church, your Body, so that through us the world will find its way to You, to care for our loved ones and children who have volunteered to risk their lives for the safety of others, to hear our prayers, acknowledge our deepest needs, and answer us in ways that further the accomplishment of Your Divine Will here on earth. We ask all this in the Name of Jesus, your Son. Amen.

Be like Bartimaeus! Pray! Trust! Expect!

In Him and in His love,

Lou

Getting It So That God Can Use You

2006-10-19T08:38:00.000-05:00

Hi. Peace to you all. Thank you for your prayers for Jerry and his whole family. The funeral was very nice and well attended. One of our brothers gave us some very fine and deep thoughts to consider. All will miss Jerry. But, all are at peace that he is in the arms of His Savior and reunited with all who have loved him in this life.

Today, Fr. Mark Link poses a good question: "What might I do to forgive and forget...as God has done for me?

God has forgiven you your every sin - the venial and the mortal. God has made it possible for you to share Eternal Lie with Him. What greater gift could there be? God did this by allowing His Son, Jesus, to suffer the agony of persecution, ridicule, horrible physical abuse, crucifixion, further ridicule while hanging from the nails through his hands and feet, and a slow, terrible death. Have you suffered so grievously at the hands of any human being? No. Jesus forgave you for your part in His agony. Our earthly pains and sufferings are trivial in the face of what Jesus endured for your sake. So, can you not forgive others for the pain that people have caused you?

Father, God, we adore you and we thank you for our lives. You give us everything. Everything is yours to take away. We will praise you before men and angels in the pleasure of our joys, in the face of persecution, and in the pain of our suffering. We ask you to love those whom we love, to care for the sick (Demeris, Gabriel, Steve, Stephan, and so many others), to give us the grace to forgive those who have hurt us and to love our enemies, to guide our leaders, to lift up our Church, your Body, so that through us the world will find its way to You, to care for our loved ones and children who have volunteered to risk their lives for the safety of others, to hear our prayers, acknowledge our deepest needs, and answer us in ways that further the accomplishment of Your Divine Will here on earth. We ask all this in the Name of Jesus, your Son. Amen.

Be like Bartimaeus! Pray! Trust! Expect!

In Him and in His love,
Lou

The Challenge to Persevere

2006-10-16T10:25:00.000-05:00

Hi. Peace. May this rainy day (in Texas and Louisiana and, possibly, in Georgia?)) bring drought relief to both your area which is such need of rain and to your heart and soul.

Please keep Denise and her family in your prayers. Their father passed away peacefully yesterday morning. He just stopped breathing. No stress. No heart attack or stroke. He just stopped.

God is so good. At about 6:45 AM Sunday, Jerry’s second daughter was leaving the hospital room to speak to the nurses. She leaned over him and whispered, “It’s time to go, Daddy. It’s ok.” I, too, had awakened sometime in the early morning and pleaded, “I know I asked that you be gentle, Father. But, isn’t it time?” And, there is no telling how many others in our family had asked God to act. God heard and answered and He blessed us and He blessed Jerry with a gentle transition into eternity. Please pray for Jerry although any of us who knew him closely realize that he is already joined to his loved ones and stands amid the throng praising God with full voice and spirit. Please pray for Jerry’s children, step-children, surviving brother and sister, grand and great grand-children. This is a heavy loss. And, ask God to cover them all as they travel home for the funeral.

Today, St. Paul reminds us that we are children of the New Covenant. We are not bound by the chains of the Law and the Old Covenant. We are called to live according to our Faith in Jesus by loving all, everyone, our enemies, those who do not believe, and even those who are bound by the Old Covenant and the Old Law. How far are we supposed to take this “love” commandment? Well, in my life, the only way to overcome my own sinful tendencies has been to “die to self” and to trust in God’s love for me. The surest way to solve a disagreement seems to be to offer an apology and hope that the other party will reciprocate. Of course, you run the risk of appearing “weak” when you do that. At the other extreme is martyrdom and today we consider martyrdom a waste, the choice of a nut case. No. Really. Few of us would accept death without a fight – for whatever reason. Few of us would allow the violent non-believer take our life because we believe in Jesus Christ. Yet, the Apostles, St. Paul, many of the saints, and even our recent example, Cassie Bernall, the little girl at Columbine High School, all stood for Christ and braved a violent death for Him. Why? Because they understood Jesus’ promise of Eternal Life to anyone who would believe in Him and follow His commandments. They all chose love rather than violence. It is as St. Paul says it. We are not bound by the Old Covenant. We are bound by Love. We have a choice. We can choose sin. We can choose self-preservation. Or, we can choose Christ.

Let us pray for the strength of character to deny our passions for the sake of Eternal Life, to choose Love rather than violence, to accept our cross and to walk with Him on the way to Golgotha rather than to avoid the trials of life, to accept His discipline at all times, and to remain optimistic that His plan, regardless of what it means to our savings, our businesses, our lives, is always better than our plan.

Pray for our entire membership. Pray for our struggling businesses and problems at work. Pray for everyone with financial troubles. Pray for those of us who harbor secret addictions. Pray for the humility and the trust to make a good confession. Pray for all that we might embrace the Gifts of the Holy Spirit which have come to each of us through the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. Pray that all Christians and all priests and ministers will be faithful to the flocks entrusted to them by God. Pray!

Be like Bartimaeus! Pray! Trust! Expect!

In Him and in His love,

Lou

Things Will Not Go Well for Us in the End

2006-07-11T11:53:00.000-05:00

Hi. Peace.

I have been laying off writing for many reasons the key reason being that I have not been comfortable with the readings of late. This morning God decided it was time to offer a brief reflection.

The First Reading this morning is from the Book of the Prophet Hosea chapter 8 verses 4-7 and11-13. Through the prophet God says to the people of Israel, “Though I write for him (Israel) my many ordinances, they are considered as a stranger.”

Psalm 115, the Antiphon, reads:

“Our God is in heaven; whatever he will, he does. Their idols are silver and gold, the handiwork of men. They have mouths but speak not; they have eyes but see not; they have ears but hear not; they have noses but smell not; they have hands but feel not; they have feet but walk not. Their makers shall be like them, everyone that trusts in them.”

The Gospel passage is from Matthew chapter 9 verses 32-38. Jesus preaches and heals throughout the region and the Pharisees say “He drives out demons by the prince of demons.” While Jesus, “His heart moved with pity for [the crowds] because they were troubled and abandoned…said to His disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few….”

The People of Israel had abandoned the precepts of the Lord. The Psalmist bemoaned how the people had turned to idols and away from Almighty God. The Pharisees refused to believe that Jesus is of God. They blaspheme by declaring to the people that He is of the devil. They, too, have turned away from the precepts of God, from the promise of the Messiah, and have turned to things they can touch, see, feel, and sort out through logic.

So, my question is, “Have we, also, turned away from the precepts and promises and love of God?”

I believe we have.

We have elevated the Law of the Land above the Law of God. Out of necessity, of course. And, understandably, I think. But, in error.

The laws of our country allow adultery and our culture promotes it. The Way of God is fidelity.

The laws of our country allow infanticide. The Way of God respects all life.

The laws of our country allow euthanasia. The Way of God is compassion for the sick, the dying, the hurting, the elderly, the physically and mentally impaired.

The laws of our country allow “freedom of expression” even if that means all and any form of illicit sexual entertainment and behavior. The Way of God is self-discipline and respect for the human body.

The laws of our country allow violent retaliation. The Way of God is forgiveness and love.

The laws of our country promote poverty and ignorance. The Way of God is social justice for all.

This may be offensive to some. But, it is true. We defer to the laws of our country rather than to Laws of God. It is the easier way.

Things will not go well for us in the end.

Please pray for our families, our children, our volunteers in the armed forces and in harm’s way, for the sick, the elderly, the unborn, for those who would take life rather than preserve it, for our politicians that they will have the courage to change their ways and to stand for what is true and moral, for our Church and all who minister in the Name of Jesus, for our businesses, for those on retreat, for each other, and in thanks for the success of Kay’s “book-on-tape” project.

Father, God, we adore you. We thank you for your myriad blessings. These words may sound hollow to You because we are so weak and we defer to man-made law rather than to Your spoken Truth. We beg forgiveness. We ask for strength, for courage, for discernment, for the motivation to vote, for the voice to speak out to warn others of our personal, cultural, and national errors. We ask this and we lay our needs before You in full knowledge that You hear our prayers and that You answer them when we ask in the holy name of your son, Jesus. Amen.

Be like Bartimaeus! Pray! Trust! Expect!

Take hold of the Truth and do not let go. Your Eternal Life depends on it.

In Him and always in his love,

Lou

Independence Day

2006-07-04T10:09:00.000-05:00

Hi. May you enjoy today in the peace of the Lord!

Independence Day. Wow. The older I get, the more I appreciate it. The more traveled I become, the more I appreciate it. The more Christian I become, the more I appreciate it. It is almost a Holy Day on my calendar. Let me encourage you not to let it slip by in the hubbub of the commerciality of the day. Take a moment if you cannot take the day and thank God for the myriad blessings we enjoy, especially the blessing of life in a free, clean, healthy, educated, industrious, God-fearing nation like ours.

You might ask if I have lost my mind. Despite the unreasonable laws which infringe on so many of the freedoms I enjoyed as a youth and a young adult, this country is still a relatively free country. If you see a problem, volunteer to work to fix it!

Despite the increasing litter, the cigarette butts in the streets, the city air, and the polluted shorelines and inland waterways, and the shortages of drinking water, our water and air and, especially, our streets are still cleaner and sweeter-smelling than almost any other place in the world! If you see a problem, volunteer to work to fix it!

Despite all the disease we seem to experience, we still enjoy good health in America! Encourage young people, especially, to control themselves, to save their sexual activity for marriage, and to quit exposing themselves to STDs. Encourage family members to control their food intake and to exercise more. But, these problems are universal and forever. So, accept reality and work to help minimize the misery!

Despite all the hoopla about our education system, if the ACLU and the bleeding hearts would get out of the way so teachers could maintain discipline in the classroom, we have a system which can prepare anyone for any job, anywhere, at any age! If you see a problem, volunteer to work to fix it!

Despite the huge portion of the population which would rather sit and complain than take even a service job, we are an industrious and creative nation. But, if you see a problem, volunteer to work to fix it!

Despite the courts, the ACLU, the ignorant who would restrict some and enable others, and those who would stand by and do nothing, we enjoy freedom to worship in this country beyond the level of freedom enjoyed in many. Remember that many of our forefathers were exiled to the New World because of religious persecution. Remember that the Bill of Rights ensures our ability to worship God. Remember that our Constitution was written to protect fundamental rights and to serve the “common good”. We are not a nation of the minority. But, if you see a problem, volunteer to work and go fix it!

Today of all days pray for our boys and girls and our men and women serving in combat areas throughout the world to preserve our country and our government and our liberty.

Father, God, we adore you. We praise you. We acknowledge that we are completely dependent on you. We humbly thank you for the blessing of this United States of America. We ask you to protect our children and spouses serving in harms way around the world. We ask you to empower our citizens to stand for the principles on which this nation was founded. We ask that you would give backbone to the men and women we have elected to serve us in political office. We ask for the grace to be understanding, merciful and forgiving of those, ignorant, jealous or selfish people who would threaten to destroy us. We thank you, again, and lift our prayers to you in the holy name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Be like Bartimaeus! Pray! Trust! Expect!

In Him and always in His love,

Lou

Complacency

2006-06-29T11:01:00.000-05:00

Hi. Peace to all of you.

Today’s readings from the Companion are for the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. In Acts we read the story of how Peter, imprisoned for preaching is released from prison in the middle of the night by an angel. The Gospel recounts the passage in Matthew in which Jesus asks the question,” Who do people say that I am?” After being pressed for their own personal faith statement, Peter responds, “You are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

In Fr. Mark’s reflection in Vision 2000 (www.v2000.org), he asks the questions “How complacent am I about the moral status of my personal life? Of our nation?”

Although the two reflections come from different Scripture passages, they seem closely related to me. The fundamental question here is, “How strong is our faith?”

If you and I are convinced of the reality of God, Jesus, Salvation, forgiveness for sin, then we live our lives with a sense of confidence and certainty. Everything that we are tells people that we know the Truth. We can tolerate difficulty, pain and suffering because at the end of this temporary existence there is Eternal Life and Eternal Happiness. We proclaim the Good News by the fruits of our lives.

This does not mean that we do not sin. We are imperfect and subject to temptation and to falling to temptation. That is a fact and will be so until after we are dead. We will never achieve perfection until we live in perfect union with our God. The knowledge that our struggle is not in vain encourages us to continue the struggle and to grow in Faith.

But, it is easy for us to become insular and to try to shield ourselves and our children from the world around us, a world which we seem to have little chance to influence. So, we accept that abortion is a woman’s individual right. We accept that violent retaliation against other nations, or in the current situation “pre-emptive retaliation”, is acceptable to our Christian beliefs and the only logical response to worldwide violence. We support capital punishment, desecration of our bodies thru tattooing, the abuse of alcohol and drugs. We even stand back and allow school boards to approve the teaching of homosexual “marriage” as a legitimate option for living and for raising children.

It is easy to say, “Well, just don’t turn the television on.” Or, “I know lots of nice homosexuals.” Or, “A woman’s body is her own.” But, this is skirting the moral issue. As followers of Christ, we must speak out against this kind of immorality – recognizing in all humility that we have our own set of sins that we really don’t want or need to air in public.

But, we must encourage society, our nation and the world, to venture onto road to perfection with us. And, we must be merciful to ourselves and to others when we inevitably stumble along the way.

Please keep your prayers up for all of our regular intentions. There are so many needs.

Let us pray together,

Father, God, we praise you and adore you. We thank you for your countless blessings. We lay our hearts bare and ask you to forgive us our sins and our laziness. Send your Holy Spirit. Encourage us and strengthen us so that we will give best Christian example to our neighbors, friends, and workmates. Help us to build support to begin to steer our nation back to you and back to decent, moral living. Help us as a people to witness to non-believers that they, too, might come to know the peace and solace of living in love for all peoples. Dear God, we are in such need of your help. Please answer this prayer which we lay before you through the intercession of your beloved son, Jesus. Amen.

Be like Bartimaeus. Pray! Trust! Expect!

In Him and always in His love,

Lou

Matthew 7:1-5

2006-06-26T05:16:00.000-05:00

Hi. Peace.

This morning’s Gospel is another tough one from the “Magna Carta of the Church”, Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7. Jesus tells us to stop judging others until we acknowledge our own sin before God and man. Unless we are willing to acknowledge our own sin and repent, we must stand with those whom we would judge. And, we must accept the full consequences of our sinfulness.

Please pray for our sick, our dying, those who are helpless and those who care for them, those who mourn, our men and women in combat zones around the world, our Church and our leadership and all who minister in the Name of Jesus, for our political leaders, for the homeless and those who have no one to care for them, for broken relationships, for newlyweds, for our children that they will embrace their Savior and return to the Church, for each other. We have been asked to pray especially for Anna, Rebecca, Olivia, Matt Coles, Tammie, Lori, Kevin, Marla, Cheryl, Larry, and Catherine.

Let us pray together,

Father, we adore you and we praise you. We thank you for your myriad blessings. We ask you to give us the grace to recognize and acknowledge our own sins and failings. Only in first recognizing our own sinfulness can we begin to minister to others effectively in your Name. As painful as it may be, teach us to be humble so that we might worthily proclaim the Good News to others. We ask all these things in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Pray! Trust! Expect! Be like Bartimaeus.

In Him and always in His love,

Lou

FW: Novena for Matt Coles

2006-06-23T11:31:00.000-05:00

Hi. Peace be with all of you and in your homes today.

I ask this favor of you today on this Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus:

I received the email below from Greg Gorman at St. Mary’s at Texas A&M. If you feel so inclined, please commit to making the Novena asking for Zack Barcevac to intercede for Matt Coles. This must be so terribly difficult for a young man to be diagnosed with such a disease especially on the eve of his marriage. Pray for these folks, please. Sorry to have emailed this twice to some of you. As I was filling in the “To:” section, I just decided to let our whole community have the opportunity to pray for this young man and to ask for the intercession of Zack.

Be like Bartimaeus: Pray! Trust! Expect!

In Him and always in His love,

Lou

Greg, the “Comunidad Del Cristo” is a small prayer group of friends and family that put up with my prayer requests and “meditations”. I am sure that they will take up this mission with zeal for the love they have for God and because they believe in Christ’s command to “love one another”.

From: Greg Gorman [mailto:GGorman@mail.aggiecatholic.org]
Sent: Friday, June 23, 2006 9:41 AM
To: Greg Gorman
Subject: Novena for Matt Coles

Dear Friends and family,

Here is a Novena that Michele and I are praying for one of the students that recently graduated. He and his fiancée, Lucy are friends of Monica/Victor and David.

They are getting married this weekend and were very active at St. Mary’s. They are both remarkable young adults.

Just over two weeks ago Matt found out that the Asthma the doctors were treating him for turned out to be lung cancer.

Zack Barcevac was very active as a college student here during the 90’s and died of complications of Cystic Fibrosis in 2002. Fr. Mike used to say that Zack was a saint, so some of the Catholic Aggies put this novena together. By praying this we hope that we will have a complete healing for Matt and the first verifiable miracle attributed to Zack Barcevac.

If you want to join us in prayer just say this prayer for 9 days in a row to complete the novena.

Lots of love

Greg

Novena for Matt Coles’ Healing through the

Intercession of Zack Barcevac

Most Blessed Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, You have revealed that all things work together for the good of those who love you. Through Your Son our Lord, Jesus Christ’s life, You revealed Your desire to heal those who are suffering for the glory of God. Through His passion, death, and resurrection, You revealed the power of suffering borne patiently in love. Filled with the faith, hope, and love that flows to us from You, O God, because of these revealed truths and knowing of your desire to bring glory to Yourself through forming saints into Your image and likeness through whose intercession You grant great miracles, we turn to You in this novena to pray for Matt Coles through the intercession of Your servant, Zack Barcevac. We pray specifically for the perfect, lasting, spontaneous, and scientifically inexplicable cure of the cancer in Matt Coles’ body. Through Zack, You revealed Your power in his perseverance in love throughout his life, passion, and death. Today, through Zack’s intercession, we ask that You reveal Your power and glory through the healing of Matt Coles. We ask this through Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with You Father and the Holy Spirit – one God forever and ever. Amen.

FW: RED FRIDAYS

2006-06-01T08:51:00.000-05:00

I received this from one of our members. Since Denise and I along with Louis, Christina, Kiki, Justin, Orin, Emily rose, and Christine have a son/brother in Iraq right now, this means a lot to us.

I did not support the war but I do support our boys and girls who are struggling to help the Iraqi people stand on their on feet. The one thing that has come home to me almost more than any other point is that in Iraq, just as during the Viet Nam War, our children need our support – prayers, letters, encouragement, whatever!

Without our active help many will come home emotionally wrecked, maimed, or dead. One way to get people up and alert and THINKING about our children in harm’s way overseas is to support this Red Friday initiative. It may seem elementary to you. But, very little seems to get our citizenry to DO anything except sit around and grumble.

Maybe by encouraging others to do a little thing like wearing red on Fridays. we could help stimulate voter and citizen awareness and, hopefully someday, action.

Love to all,

Lou

From: Tmz1918@aol.com [mailto:Tmz1918@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2006 9:53 AM
To: DRyan43196@aol.com
Subject: Re: RED FRIDAYS

RED FRIDAYS Very soon, you will see a great many

people wearing Red every Friday. The reason? Americans

who support our troops used to be called the "silent majority."

We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God,

country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not

organized, boisterous or over-bearing. We get no liberal media
coverage on TV to reflect our message or our opinions. Many
Americans like you and me, and all our friends, simply want to
recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops.
Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with
dignity and respect starts this Friday and will continue each and

every Friday until the troops all come home. This will send

a deafening message to the public, saying that every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar, will wear something red. By word of mouth, not press or TV -- let's make

the United States, on every Friday, look like a sea of red, much

like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If everyone of

us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances,

co-workers, friends, and family, it will not be long before the USA

is covered in RED; and it will let our troops know the once

"silent" majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more

than the media lets on. The first thing a soldier says when asked

"What can we do to make things better for you?" The answer is: usually, "We need your support and your prayers." Let's get the

word out and lead with class and dignity. By example, wear something red every Friday.

Pretty Simple Message

2006-05-21T09:47:00.000-05:00

Hi. Peace. May the Lord God who has created this Anchorage-Spring in Syracuse, New York bless each of you in a very special way today.

Today’s First Reading from Acts 10 so clearly shows that salvation is available and offered to all human beings. Peter and most of the Apostles, all being Jews, were stuck in their backgrounds. To become a follower of Christ, to receive the Holy Spirit, surely you must fist adopt Judaism and then be baptized with water and the Spirit. But, God made it clear to Peter when He descended upon Cornelius and his household that the gift of Salvation is to be offered to everyone.

Then in the reading from First John 4 and in the Gospel of John chapter 15, we are told in no uncertain terms that (1) to be a follower of Christ is to love all and (2) to be a friend of Christ is to obey His commands. The fallacy that once we have accepted the gift of Salvation we are guaranteed eternal life in heaven is destroying our country. This philosophy of non-accountability has created a people who believe that God will welcome them into heaven regardless of how they live their lives. This is not true and Jesus never said it.

Let me pose the question this way. What does it mean to love your Mom and Dad? I think most of us would say it has little to do with presents and kisses but has everything to do with honoring and obeying them. Jesus says in John 15:14, “You are my friends if you do what I command you.” The reciprocal of that would be, “You are my enemies if you do not do as I command you.”

So, let’s get real. The words of Jesus call us to speak His Name to the world and to live as He commands. To speak His name but to live in sin is to lie to the world and to ourselves. Heaven will not be open to those who do not live according to the Word of God.

Please pray for each other, for our sick, for those who are near death, for those who mourn, for our military, for our political leaders that they will begin to live the Gospel, for our Church and all who minister in the Name of Jesus, for Kay as she ministers in the Philippines with her team, for Kay’s family, for our children, and for our enemies.

Father, we adore you. We praise you. We truly do want to live with you in eternity. Lead us into your Son’s Words. Help us to not only speak them. Help us to live according to them. We do not want to be called hypocrite. We want to be examples to the world of the life and love of Jesus. We naturally retaliate. We naturally nurse grudges. We naturally want to kill those who would harm and kill us. But, as you admonished Peter on the eve of your crucifixion, we ask you, Father, teach us to think as You, our God, think rather than to respond according to instinct. We ask this and we lay all our needs before you in the holy Name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Be like Bartimaeus! Pray! Trust (that God hears you)! Expect (God to answer you. Look for it!)!

In Him and in His love,

Lou

Are You Part of the Beautiful and Healthy Vine?

2006-05-17T09:10:00.000-05:00

Hi. Peace. I apologize for my absence. Earthly issues and challenges have absorbed my time and energy for the past weeks. Even this morning my computer continues to reject the printer I have used on it for over a year. And, of course, the software offers no solution to fix the problem. But, we will press on.

Today's First Reading is Acts 15:1-6 in which there begins the discussion of who can belong to the new Church and what prerequisites must be completed for admission. It is interesting to me that Paul, the educated Pharisee and Protector of Judaism, is the one to argue that Gentiles need not become Jews first before being admitted into Christianity. If God can show St. Paul that so many of our traditions are unnecessary to salvation, can he not show you and me?

The Gospel reading is the Vine and the Branches parable or homily from John 15:1-8. The concept is simple. Without the life-giving presence of the stalk of the vine, there is no chance of life for the branches and leaves of the vine.

How do we thrive with the Life of Jesus? Jesus says, "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples."

Fundamentally, bottom line, we cannot grow and thrive as part of our Creator unless we are willing to internalize the Gospel message and live it. We must remain in Jesus. His words must remain in us.

So, once again, let me encourage you to read the Gospels. Pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit. Begin to change, re-think (repent) your ways, let Jesus change you and begin to use you for the Father's glory.

An excellent example of an area many of us need to change is in reconciliation of differences. Unwillingness to humble ourselves - despite the reaction of those with whom we need to reconcile - must be the largest lock on the door to the Heart of Jesus. Jesus has encouraged us to love our enemies and to do good for them. He has encouraged us to make peace with those with whom we have arguments and differences. He has encouraged us to look beyond the oppressive government and to be dutiful citizens. He has encouraged us to turn the other cheek, to not retaliate, to think as God would think. Justice is not the issue. Mutual forgiveness is not the issue. Even restitution is not the issue. We are called to forgive unilaterally! Jesus forgave you and me unilaterally. Can we do any less for our brothers and sisters, for our friends and enemies? Folks, unless we embrace these words of Jesus, He says in today's Gospel passage that we cannot be part of Him and that, basically, heaven will be denied us.

Please pray for each member of our group. The Schlueter Family needs our prayers to help them through the loss of their husband and father in a bicycling accident. The Templet Family needs our continued prayers to help them through the loss of their youngest son. We have many among us who are struggling against cancers. Pray for the grace of reconciliation. Please pray for our sick, for the unborn and the helpless and for those who care for them. Our greater Church is in such disunity and needs our prayers. Ministers and all who have dedicated themselves to the service of the Lord need prayer especially for strength in times of temptation - and we all suffer temptation. Our politicians need to seek the guidance of God that they might be shown the way to bring peace to the world and to our own country. Our boys and girls in the Armed Forces need our thanks and our prayers for their continued physical and spiritual safety.

Father, we adore you. We praise you. We live to glorify your Name. Thank you for your immeasurable love and blessings. We desire, most deeply, to be a part of you in this life and in eternity. Help us to live as you would have us live. We ask this and we lay our needs before you in the holy Name of Jesus. Amen.

Be lie Bartimaeus! Pray! Trust! Expect!

In Him and in His love,

Lou

Consider This

2006-05-05T10:17:00.000-05:00

Good morning. Peace to all of you.

This morning’s readings are wonderful. We read of Paul’s encounter with Christ while Paul was on his way to Damascus to root out any Christians there. In the Gospel reading, we continue in John 6 with Jesus’ assertion that He is the Bread of Life.

However, in Dixie Ryan’s Prayer Requests this morning, there was this quote and commentary. It think it is worth your time and consideration. Obviously, you and I are not the only ones who cannot understand why human beings must hate, maim, and kill each other – maybe it is because we are so proud of ourselves and our own thinking that we have forgotten that we are but a speck of nothingness in the vast creation of God. Maybe it will help you when witnessing to others about the wonder and majesty of God.

Scripture Psalm 53:1 "Only a fool would say to himself, 'There is no GOD. And why does he say it? Because of his wicked heart, his dark and evil deeds. His life is corroded with sin."
We live like a little ant on his little speck of dust out in space. We get a PhD degree and we strut across the stage and say, "Well, I don't know whether or not there is a GOD." Yet, we can't even control ourselves. We can't even keep from blowing ourselves apart. We can't even keep from manufacturing nuclear weapons that could destroy our world. We can't even keep from hating each other and fighting with each other, and killing each other. We can't even keep from stealing from each other. We can't even keep from dying because all of us are gong to die. No wonder the Bible says, "The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God," because a man that could deny the existence of God is a fool. Prayer for the day: Almighty GOD help me to live in such a way, that when I tell others of Your existence they will be drawn to acknowledge and receive you.

Please keep Mark in your prayers today and Mark’s family. Mark passed away in April. His family is taking the loss of their Dad extremely hard. May God comfort them through the arms, words, tears, and prayers of others. May He have mercy on Mark’s soul. May we all try to remember that hope is a virtue. Hope is of God. We must always know in our hearts that as weak as we are, God is always there to forgive. We must always have the hope in our hearts that assures us that nothing can separate us from Him and His love.

Pray, too, for Olivia that the doctors will treat her ear infections and bronchitis effectively so that this sweet baby may be a joy to her parents and bring glory to her Creator.

Father, God, we praise you. We adore you. We worship you. We surrender our lives to you. Let us always remember that we exist only for your glory. Let us live our lives every day in such a way as to bring glory to you, Father. Let us always remember that our lives are not our own, that we live to serve you for as long as you choose to allow us to live and breathe. We lay our petitions before you and we ask everything in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Be like Bartimaeus! Pray! Trust! Expect!

In Him and always in His love,

Lou

Two Powerful Messages

2006-05-04T06:53:00.000-05:00

Hi. Peace. May you be blessed today and give God the thanks and praise He is due.

Today’s First Reading is the account from Acts of how Phllip evangelizes the Ethiopian official, the Treasurer of Queen Candace. The key in this passage is that Phllip was available. Philip listened to the promptings of God to go to a certain place and to catch up with the official and to evangelize him. Do you listen? Do you make yourself available to God and His need of you?

The Gospel reading is probably the most demanding of all passages. We are so familiar with the Virgin Birth, with Jesus’ miracles, with the Parable of the Prodigal Son, with Jesus’ Passion, Death, and Resurrection. But, this entire chapter of John’s Gospel is the very heart of Jesus’ mission and it is the most difficult to accept. So, we tend to read it quickly and move on. Jesus says in John 6: 51, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”

“…the living bread…whoever eats this bread will live forever…the bread…is my flesh for the life of the world….”

Please pray for little Elijah who needs heart surgery now. Please pray for Robin and all those who love her. Please pray for Matt and his platoon and for all our children in danger in Iraq and around the world. Please pray for the families, especially the mothers, of all our children serving in combat zones. Please pray that we will learn to respond to hatred and violence as Jesus commanded us to. Please pray that we will ponder both of today’s readings and that we will become available to God for His use in spreading the Good News about the life-giving flesh of Christ, the Bread of Life. Please pray that people will learn to love and to work together instead of mistrust and hate and fear. Pray for strengthening love in all our marriages. Pray for Sr. Kay’s mission. Please, pray for each other.

Father, God, we adore you. We worship you. We thank you for your gifts and your constant love. We want to serve you and we ask that you make us open to the promptings of the Spirit as was Philip. We ask for the grace to read, to hear, to internalize, and to believe your Son’s teaching on the Bread of Life; the food for our eternal life with You. We lay our petitions, our sorrows, our needs, and these requests at your feet and ask you to hear us and to answer us in the Name of your beloved son, Jesus. Amen.

Be like Bartimaeus! Be bold in your prayer! Be humble before your God! Pray! Trust! Expect!

In Him and always in His love,

Lou

I Give You My Life

2006-05-02T09:38:00.000-05:00

Hi. Peace.

Today's readings from Acts 7 and from John 6 are wonderful examples of self-sacrifice. In the passage which recounts Stephen's death by stoning, we have the example of a young man who is so on fire for the Lord and so concerned about his Jewish brethren that he was willing to challenge them to the core, to risk being called a blasphemer, to risk death to get them to believe that their Messiah had come. In the Discourse on the Bread of Life, Jesus points out that God should get the credit for the manna in the desert and that He, Jesus, is the bread of everlasting life, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to me will never hunger, and he who believes in me will never thirst." (John 6: 35). Jesus gives himself to us for our eternal life.

While meditating on this personal commitment, I thought of the sinfulness of our country and our world. I wondered who might be willing to go to prison or to be killed to declare the sinfulness of killing infants and the elderly? Who might be willing to stand and be branded a bigot and a perpetrator of hatred by preaching salvation through Jesus Christ in public? Who might be willing to tell Catholics and other Christians that Jesus is the food of eternity and expect them to internalize this truth? Who might be willing to stand and declare that Satan must exist as evidenced by the lust and anger and hatred and injustice and killing that is a part of everyday life in America, in the Netherlands, in Iraq, throughout the world? Who might be willing to love and forgive despite the evil that is committed against them?

Please pray for our sick, especially Robin. Pray for those who care for the sick, the elderly, the helpless. Pray for everyone who will die to day. Pray for our politicians that they will start working for America. Pray for our Church that it will muster the guts to preach the Good News. Pray for our children in Iraq and in danger throughout the world. Please pray for the peaceful repose of the souls of two young men who died this weekend in Iraq and for consolation for their families. Pray for consolation for Lori and Kevin. Pray that somehow America will learn to talk and to compromise rather than to invade and enforce by killing. Pray that people will embrace the Gospels and strive to think like God rather than like men. Pray for our marriages that we will learn to serve our spouses rather than to dominate them. Pray for Sr. Kay and her mission in Arizona this week and her upcoming mission in the Philippines. Pray for each other. And, thank God for His continued blessings.

Father, God, we praise and adore you. We thank you for your innumerable blessings and favors. We pray for the grace to embrace the Gospels and to preach your Word by word and example. We lay our needs and petitions before you and we ask all in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Be like Bartimaeus! Pray! Trust! Expect!

In Him and always in His love,

Lou

Accepting Jesus for Who He Is

2006-05-01T05:24:00.000-05:00

Hi. Good morning.

This morning’s Gospel passage is John 6:30-35 in which Jesus is rejected by those with whom he grew up in Nazareth. This must have been tough. It is tough. I know people who minister in the Church. Often the folks who knew them before they accepted God’s call are the least willing to accept them as God’s spokespersons and ministers. All the willing servant of God can do is accept what God has asked and to go to work. When he or she is rejected “at home”, it is very hard to understand and very hard to accept. Jesus finds himself rejected in his home town and he moves on.

How about you? Is your religion and your faith so familiar to you that you have begun to ignore it? Have you pigeon-holed it into a comfortable place so that it no longer challenges you? Are you blind or neutral to the myriad blessings of each moment?

Please pray for Lori’s dear friend, Robin, who is dying from advanced cancer and for Robin’s family, for Lori and the others who love Robin so much. Please continue to pray for the peaceful repose of the soul of Chad and for the consolation of his mom, dad, and brothers. Please pray for our boys and girls in the Armed Forces, for our politicians that they will work for the common good rather than for themselves, for our Church and all who minister in the Name of Jesus, for our families, the helpless, those who care for the helpless, for those who face death today, and for each other.

Father, God, we adore you and praise you. We thank you for all that you have given us, most especially, our families and spouses. Fill us with your Holy Spirit that your presence may always be fresh and alive within us. We are your workers here on earth. By accepting our role and by working for the benefit of others, may we bring honor to holy St. Joseph whose Feast Day is today. We ask you this and we lay our needs before you in the holy name of Jesus. Amen.

Pray! Trust! Expect! Be like Bartimaeus.

In Him and in His love,

Lou

Followers of Christ or " Tell us what you really think, John"

2006-04-30T13:52:00.000-05:00

Hi. Peace. I hope that this afternoon message gives you some things to think about today and over the next days.

I really do appreciate today's Second Reading, 1 John 2:1-5. The four Evangelists were very clear in the Gospels that when Jesus used the word "believe", He meant that we know and act our faith in Him, i.e., a Christian must live his belief and give example to all. A person who "believes" but does not "live" is not a Christian at all. However, in today's world we find it easy to rationalize our faith in Jesus and not living as Jesus called us to live. However in this morning's passage from John's 1st Letter, John says, "...Whoever says,"I know him," but does not keep his commandments is a liar...."

So, how is it that Jesus calls us to live our belief? We must live the Greatest Commandments. We must "love one another as I have loved you." We must follow the 10 Commandments. We must love our enemy. We must not retaliate. We must live the Beatitudes. We must take up our cross and follow Jesus. We are not to fear. We are to evangelize the world. Basically, we are to live in the Light and in Truth.

To accomplish this, I encourage you to read and internalize the Gospels. This will cause conflict in your life as you face hard decisions about your personal entertainment, your life-goals, your fidelity to your spouse or your religious vocation, whether you strike back when someone strikes you, whether you pre-emptively strike another or another country, whether you are merciful or only just, whether you reconcile or cling to your grudges, whether you incorporate your Christianity into your business life or live by two separate codes of ethics.

As John says further, "...whoever keeps His word, the love of God is truly perfected in him." Your eternal life is worth the difficulty of living your Faith.

Let us pray for our families, our children, the elderly, the unborn, the helpless, the sick, the dying, for those who care for the helpless, for our political leaders, for our Church and our pope and priests and religious and for all who minister in Jesus' Name, especially, please pray for the peaceful repose of Chad and consolation for Lori and Kevin, and for each other and our unspoken needs and intentions.

Father, God, we adore you and praise you. We thank you for your myriad blessings. We ask you to send your Holy Spirit to fill us with courage, strength, perseverance, and knowledge that we can truly believe in thought and in action so that our lives will reflect the Gospels to everyone around us. We lay this request before you with our needs and intentions in Jesus' holy Name. Amen.

Be like Bartimaeus! Pray! Trust! Expect!

In Him and always in His love,

Lou

The Holy Spirit - Boldness - Community

2006-04-24T05:43:00.000-05:00

Hi. Peace.

This morning's First Reading is from Acts 4:23-31. It is inspiring. The early Church must have been filled with excitement! When Peter and John return from being chastised by the Sanhedrin for preaching in the Name of Jesus, the community prayed together aloud, "And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and enable your servants to speak your word with boldness as you stretch forth your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are done through the name of your holy servant, Jesus."

Further, the passage reads, " As they prayed, the place where they gathered shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and continued to speak the word of God with boldness."

We do gather as a community of believers on Sundays.

Do we raise our voices in unison and boldly, loudly declare our allegiance to God and our desire to serve Him?

Do our gathering places shake with the Presence of the Holy Spirit?

Do we ask for the graces to proclaim the Word of God in public?

Do we expect God to make Himself known to the world through healings, sings and wonders - through us?

Remember Bartimaeus. He was bold. He would not be silenced. He was clear when Jesus asked him "What do you want?" "I want to see," he answered. He was healed. Let us learn to be bold in our prayer and in our witness. Let us not be silenced by the skeptics around us. Let us be clear in asking to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Let us expect that God will hear us, will fill us, will bless us, will heal us, will perform signs and wonders through us.

We need faith, boldness, and the Holy Spirit.

Let us pray for all our families and friends, our military, our leaders, our Church, all who minister in Jesus' Name, and for each other.

Father, God, we adore you and bless your holy Name. First, Father, we ask that you lead us to reconciliation that we may, as a people, be worthy to call ourselves your people. Second, we ask as the Community of the Christ that you use the graces of the Sacraments we have received and the Presence of your Holy Spirit within us to spread your Word and to bring glory to your Name. We ask these things as we lay our needs before you in one voice in the Name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Be like Bartimaeus. Pray! Trust! Expect!

In Him and always in His love,

Lou

Clash of Cultures

2006-04-23T09:08:00.000-05:00

Hi. Peace or not peace.

Today’s First Reading for this Second Sunday of Easter is taken from the Acts of the Apostles 4:32-45. You have all heard it before. I think what got my attention as I prepared for my duty as Lector A for the 7 AM Mass were the words of guidance in our Lector’s Manual. We, lectors, were cautioned to speak the last verse carefully since there is such a difference in our thinking today as opposed to the days of our Church’s infancy. The last verse of the reading is, “There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, and put them at the feet of the apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need.” Since our government has failed so miserably to ensure security in our retirement, health care, education, and food for all our citizens, would it be so unreasonable for us to take our cue from people who actually lived and breathed the same air as Jesus, who walked with Him, who ate with Him, who learned from Him? A secular system claims no responsibility to help others. A Christian system has every responsibility to help others.

Please pray for your families, your children, our armed forces, our elderly, our sick, the helpless, those who will abuse the helpless today, our Church and all who minister in Jesus’ Name, our special needs – for Alexandra, Billy’s close friend, Aaron, Christie, all who face final exams in the next weeks, and for Barbara. And, let us give thanks to God for our very life and breath, our homes and possessions, our jobs, our families, answered prayers, everything.

Father, God, thank you for everything. We adore you and praise you. We sing of you to the heavens. We tend to forget that even our bank accounts, our homes, our cars, our children, our jobs are not from us but from you. Help us to live and to achieve humbly; remembering always that we are nothing and can accomplish nothing except through you. May we use our lives and the blessings you lavish upon us in service to all in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Be like Bartimaeus! Pray! Trust! Expect!

In Him and in His love,

Lou

Speaking and Living as Followers of Christ

2006-04-22T09:59:00.000-05:00

Good morning. May the peace of out Risen Lord be with you.

Haven't the week's readings just been inspiring? We have been enjoying the first few chapters of Acts in which Peter and the other Apostles, filled with the Holy Spirit, have been witnessing and performing miracles throughout Jerusalem. Peter, he who denied knowing Christ in the late hours of Holy Thursday, has boldly challenged the Sanhedrin by asking them "Whom shall we obey? You or God? Are we to stop proclaiming Salvation through the risen Messiah, Jesus Christ, just because you demand that we do?"

Peter's attitude is a lesson for us today. We pray together in the safety of our homes and in our churches. But, do we proclaim Him in the streets? at work? at lunch? over coffee? Our great country, founded by men who believed in the One God and many of whom believed in Jesus Christ and His teachings, today tells us that we are wrong to proclaim the "bigotry" of Christianity. Our Church is practically silent in public despite the beautiful example of its current and prior leaders, Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. In fact, many of us are be silent out of respect for the beliefs of others - beliefs we know are wrong. Or, maybe we are silent out of lack of conviction and fear. Regardless, we do not proclaim that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Light. Yet, we would call ourselves His followers. If you cannot be American without supporting America and obeying its laws, how can you be Christian if you do not do what Jesus commanded you to do?

It is time to decide, folks. Are you Christian or are you tepid, lukewarm water? Are you for Jesus or against Him? Are you for your own Eternal Life or don't you care? Are you going to embrace your salvation and the duties of a follower of Christ or do you just not truly believe? Are you going to swallow your pride and reconcile with your brother and sister or not? Jesus makes it clear that if His followers will not proclaim Him, the rocks will. Are you prepared to let rocks live eternally while you suffer eternally for your lack of courage?

Let us pray for our families, our children, our boys and girls and moms and dads in the armed forces, our Church and ministers and leaders, our politicians, our enemies, the sick and the aged and the helpless, and for each other. Let us give thanks for healings, for prayers answered, for life and breath.

Father, God, we adore you. We thank you for your myriad blessings. We repent our weakness and ask you for the courage of Peter and the apostles that we might proclaim Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior, to the unbelieving world, to weakened believers (weekend believers, too), and to each other. Help us. Enflame our hearts and enliven our tongues that we might stay true to our Salvation and help lead others into your arms. We ask these things and we lay our thanks and petitions before you in the holy Name of your Son, our brother, Jesus. Amen.

Be like Bartimaeus! Pray! Trust! Expect!

In Him and in His love,

Lou

Focus on what is important

2006-04-18T06:38:00.000-05:00

Hi. Good morning. Peace to each and every reader. May the glory and intensity of the Resurrection compel you to change, to repent, to put your trust in God, to proclaim Jesus, and to love even your enemies.

Some of us began a Novena of Divine Mercy last week and the happenings in my life, so far, are so coincident with the thoughts put forth in today’s readings and in Bo Sanchez’ reflections! Bo encourages us to “recognize that the time for earthly glory is gone and the focus is now on our spiritual lives and our salvation from sin. Let us pray that we keep this focus in our lives….” Further, he says, “…let us remember that God is in control and that when we retain control, we limit His ability to work in our lives. We are the ones who will suffer…not God, so it is better to allow Him free reign in our lives.” The First Reading is Acts 2: 36-41 in which Peter is addressing the crowd after the descent of the Holy Spirit. Peter and the apostles throw caution to the wind and preach to the assembled multitudes about how Jesus is the Christ and how we should all repent (change our thinking and our ways) and be baptized.

Anyway, since we have turned our days over to God in this novena, my business has finally after nearly 2 years seen a success with one of our projects. Further, when I returned home last week after spending the week away, two sets of Companion had come in the mail. Sure, “it was bound to happen if I just persisted.” But, folks, “it” had not happened despite our persistence, despite my persistence in trying to locate my source for Companion. “It” did happen after I turned it over to God and took my time and my attention from what I thought was important and focused my time and attention on my “spiritual life and my salvation from sin.”

Our work, if it is legitimate, is not a hindrance to our spirituality if we put our work into God’s hands. When we say our morning prayers and then “get down to reality”, we limit what can result. When we say our prayers and then turn to our work with God at our side, we enable God to do great things. By having to interrupt “my things” to make time to say prayers throughout the day, I am trusting that God will keep things on track while I am otherwise “distracted” by my “focus on my spiritual life.” Things certainly have turned out that way and I see no reason why they should not continue to do so - as long as I keep my focus and let God work in my life to His glory rather than to my success and achievement.

Focus on what is important.

Please pray for the following intentions:

- for Barbara, a friend of Lori’s, who is having major surgery in late May,

- for our families, our loved ones, our friends, our children,

- for our military and all who support them around the world,

- for our political leaders that they will allow the Holy Spirit to guide them in the leadership of our nation,

- for our Church, our ministers, and all who dedicate themselves to the service of the Lord,

- for our businesses that they might flourish to the glory of God,

- for reconciliation among friends, within our families, among nations,

- for each of our membership and your special needs.

Father, God, we adore you. We thank you for the gift of your Son, His life, death, resurrection, and His Presence in Eucharist; for our salvation from sin. Help us to trust in you. Let us begin to speak the words of your servant Faustina in the Chaplet of Divine Mercy daily. May we speak them from our hearts that we may begin to repent our past lives and to enable you to work through us to your greater glory. May we begin today to focus on what is important that we may be an example to the multitude who refuse to follow you. We ask this in the Name of your dearly beloved Son, Jesus. Amen.

Pray, trust, and expect! Remember the example of Bartimaeus.

In Him and in His love,

Lou

"I am the light of the world...."

2006-04-11T06:57:00.000-05:00

Good morning. Peace to you all. Remember that Lent is about reconciliation. Reconciliation does not have a chance if we do not surrender our pride and our whole selves to God’s Will.

Today, we read John 8:12. Jesus calls Himself the Light of the world. Fr. Mark asks us, “Do you turn to Jesus when you need light and guidance?”

I had a telling conversation with my eldest daughter last night before we all retired. We were talking about a Dr. Seuss book that I had just read my grandson. It was a cute and very odd little tale about Zooks and Yooks and was actually a parable about the Cold War of the 20^th Century. Both the Zooks and the Yooks were caught up in their very minor differences and were prepared to defend them to the death – the death of both populations. Rather than turn to God, the Almighty, they turned to darkness choosing violence over understanding and peace.

When you are in darkness, strife, turmoil, under attack, ridiculed, who do you turn to? Are you a Yook or a Zook and begin defending yourself with bigger and more technologically advanced devices, louder arguments, lawsuits? Or, do you value reconciliation with your brother or sister more than your own pride, your own possessions, your own land, your own country, your own business? Do you courageously and honestly seek reconciliation?

Don’t you recognize, yet, that your first allegiance is to God? All your possessions, this great but very confused United States, even your spouse and family and business are gifted to you from God. They are God’s to nurture or to take. The Greatest Commandments are that we should love God first and completely and love our neighbor as ourselves. Violence is a clear indication that you value these gifts more than you value living in the Light. Jesus went so far as to say, “If you approach the altar but have a grievance with your brother, put down your gifts, go and reconcile with your brother, then return and worship.” Reconciliation supersedes worship. In fact, worship is imperfect if you are not reconciled. Put God before yourself. Put light before darkness.

So, when you harbor ill will against someone else – regardless who is in the wrong – you violate the Greatest Commandments. And, actually, you have turned away from God preferring darkness to light. You are on a journey toward death.

Pride kills.

Light brings life.

Go seek reconciliation – and don’t worry if you get slapped in the face by an ungrateful and blind brother. Remember that you were just there yourself.

Pray. Pray for reconciliation with those closest to you, with your neighbors, within our country, between all countries.

In Him and always in His love,

Lou

What More Could Jesus Have Done?

2006-04-04T06:23:00.000-05:00

Good morning. Peace to you this morning.

This morning Fr. Mark poses the questions, “How does Jesus’ crucifixion strengthen my belief that he is who he said he was?”

After I got past, “The Son of God and the Savior of the world.”, I focused on his being raised up before us. Raised up that we might be saved just like Moses raised up the image of a “seraph” serpent and raised it up on a pole so that the Israelites might be cured of their wounds. The thoughts that came to my mind were:

Lord, you had to be who you said you were because no one would suffer that sort of excruciating death for a friend, let alone, for his enemies.
And, you did not have to do this, Lord.

Then, I thought, “Or did he? What else less dramatic could He have done to get people to believe in Him since suffering the pain of His passion and crucifixion has not convinced many people?” He even returned from the dead and few have believed just as Abraham tells the Rich Man in the parable.

What more do you want? What more will it take for you to believe? Sometime during the remainder of Lent, go somewhere where you can pray without interruption. Fall on your face. Tearfully apologize for needing more to truly believe - more than the life, death, and resurrection of the Son of God. Then, embrace any persecution, suffering, hunger, need, failure, or disappointment and offer it up for your sins, my sins, and the sins of a rejecting world.

Please pray! Just pray! Our world is in much more need of prayer than of whatever it is your job, your busy-ness will produce today.

In Him and in His love,

Lou

Trusting Too Much

2006-04-03T07:47:00.000-05:00

Hi. Peace.

We are in the 5^th week of Lent. Have you begun to feel the transformation? Reconciliation brings such peace. It really is difficult to share in words. Keep your focus on the change you have asked God to bring to your life. There are still a couple of weeks left in the Season. And, when you stand before the Risen Lord at Easter sunrise or during Easter services, be sure to thank Him for effecting another stage of repentance, of change in your life, your ways, and your thinking.

Today’s message from the Book of Daniel is about trusting in God. As you have trusted that He does know your heart and will help you change, Susanna, an upright woman, trusted in God to deliver her from unjust charges brought about by evil men.

Fr. Mark poses a penetrating thought: “I risk being wrong if I trust too much. But I risk living in torment if I do not trust enough.”

Suzanna did not have a choice. She was helpless before her accusers and the court and the people. Her only hope was in God’s love for her. She surrendered to Him. You and I, however, have a choice. We can trust God and trust people. Or, we can reserve just enough control of each situation to almost always ensure that we succeed, we win, we do not get hurt.

Would you cast your fate in a new direction were God to call you there? Would you risk failure were you to hear His voice? Would you walk through the valley of darkness without fear were He to lead you there?

People will fail you because people are imperfect. God cannot fail you.

Please pray for:

- Mike, Maureen, Amanda and Meghann and Lori and Amanda’s family and her friends,

- Your family – each person, by name, asking God to help you bring reconciliation,

- Our sick, our elderly, our children, the babies we are expecting, and all the helpless children of God,

- Those who would kill for power, for good intentions, for convenience that they will come to know the sanctity of all human life,

- Our church, our ministers, and all our lay who minister in the name of Jesus,

- Our political leaders that they will allow God to help them lead rather than rely on their own humanity,

- Our membership and each one’s special needs and intentions.

Father, our God, our Creator, our Beginning, our Goal, our End, we thank you for your myriad blessings. We raise your holy Name above all names. We proclaim You and pledge our allegiance to You first and before everything else. We have only days left in this Season. Use them, Father, to teach us to let go, i.e., to trust in You first and in our own meager abilities and imagination second. Teach us to love unconditionally despite the cost. We lay this deep need before you with all our other needs and intentions and ask you to hear and answer our prayers. We do all this in the Name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Pray! Trust! Expect! Let the trust that is embodied in Bartimaeus be yours.

In Him and always in His love,

Lou

You Still Have Time

2006-03-01T06:29:00.000-06:00

Good morning. May the peace that comes from a closeness to Jesus fill your hearts today and throughout this Lenten Season.

The Gospel of Mark begins with the statement that after the arrest of John [the Baptist], Jesus went through all of Galilee preaching and healing. His reported words were, “Repent and hear the Good News.” Mark 1:15

During Lent we are called by the Church, just as Jesus called the people of Galilee, to reflect on our lives in the context of the Good News. That reflection is to result in change. That is what repentance means, i.e., to re-think our lives and to change our ways.

So, lets get serious. Today’s headlines in the Dallas Morning News reads “Ignorance blamed for local rise in teen STDs”. In my community our children can claim partial ignorance, I believe. They come from wealthy households and a school system that steeps them in sex education. So they are not ignorant of how STDs are spread. They are ignorant of how the spread of STDs can be controlled. They are taught that the solution is a condom. They are not taught to think. They are not taught that there is a better reason to not engage in sexual activity.

The problem is that our children have not internalized the fact that sexual activity outside of marriage is grievously sinful and could result in their going to Hell rather than going to Heaven. Our children have not been taught the value and the grace of virginity. Our children do not understand self-discipline and self-control. Our children are partially to blame since I believe they are capable of thought and reason and learning and deciding. But, we parents and community have failed – sins of omission – to teach them what is important. Rather, we taught them that winning is important, that life is competition that must be won at all costs, that education or excelling at a sport is the ultimate solution wealth and a happy life. We have focused our lives and theirs on wealth accumulation and fame. We did not focus on morality and sin and the tenets of the Catholic Church and the joy of a moral, holy life. Our children are only partially to blame.

Lent is a time for change. For the sake of your children, for the sake of your own salvation, for the sake of our country spend time this Lent talking to your children and grandchildren about the love of Jesus, the need to turn away from sin, and the value of our ultimate goal, Eternal Life, and the basic teachings of the Church. Be honest with them. Admit your own doubts and failings. Seek their help, too, in your little family community. Decide to change together.

Please pray for our families, our sick, those who are dying, our military, our politicians, our Church leaders, for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, for our associated ministries, for each other, for mass repentance.

Let us pray,

Father, we adore you and praise you. We thank you for the myriad blessings of yesterday and today. We seek forgiveness for not passing on our Faith to our children. We ask for the grace of courage to re-think our lives this Lent, to see where and how we can change our ways, to begin to change our habits so that we will become better followers of the Gospel and your Son. We ask this for our own selves and so that we can help our children and others change and come closer to you. We ask this and lay all of our needs before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

In Him and in His love,

Lou

Pray! Trust! Expect! Be like Bartemaeus.

Astounding Quote

2006-02-28T18:58:00.000-06:00

Good morning and may the peace of the Lord be with you this day.

I am still without Companion though I am still trying to solve that problem. However, in today's meditation from Fr. Mark at http://www.v2000.org we are provided with an astounding quotation. It applies today to our efforts to bring peace to Iraq and to the world. Social justice is Christianity in action. But, we are called to create and effect change peacefully without violence and bloodshed. For those oppressed this means more patience and more waiting for liberation. We call ourselves followers of Christ. But, look at Jesus. He effected change without espousing violence - ever! 21st Century American-style Christianity is in error and an abomination of the Gospels. We badly need to reread how Jesus calls us to love even our oppressors and our enemies and to forgive even those who would kill us, "If you love only people who love you, you will get no reward. Even sinners do that. And if you are nice only to your friends, you are no better than other people. Even those who don't know God are nice to their friends. So you must be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." Matthew 5:46-48

Here is what you will find on Fr. Mark's site this morning:

"Nicolai Lenin rose to power in Russia after the revolution in 1917. When the fighting and killing ended, Lenin made this amazing statement: "Without a doubt

the oppressed multitude had to be freed. But the method we used to free them only triggered more oppression and more bloody massacres. The nightmare I now

live with is to find myself in an ocean red with the blood of countless victims. We can't change the past now, but what we truly needed to change Russia was ten

saints like Francis of Assisi."

"...ten saints like Francis of Assisi." Apparently even Lenin understood the horror and mistake that is violence and the correct solution that is love.

I have watched my children grow up steeped in the joy and the rush of violence - the philosophy of modern American entertainment. It brings me great pain that I have not filled them with the joy of peace and love in all situations. But, no one taught me peace so I could pass it on. My heroes were soldiers and warriors. No one taught me that being oppressed and working "the problem" from within was the Jesus-solution. No one really taught me the Gospel of Jesus Christ which calls us to do good to those who would harm us, to pray for them, to love them. I grew up with a deep faith and a true desire to live as God would have me live. But maxims like "The Lord helps those who help themselves" and "Use common sense" were spoken louder and more often than "...love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you." Matthew 5:43-44 No one ever really said, "To live according to the Gospel is better than to kill for justice." We could learn from Lenin. We should learn from Christ. We should learn from Francis. We should learn from Gandhi. Peace and love and compassion are more important in the long run than power and wealth and comfort and a full belly and even freedom.

Please pray for all our special intentions especially for our children who are serving in our Armed Forces around the world. May they return home safe and healthy. May they perform their duties correctly. May they be compassionate when they are allowed to be. May their efforts bring lasting peace in the Name of Jesus Christ. Pray that our leaders will embrace Jesus' message. May our Church have the courage to stand firm in Christ rather than bow to politics and popular opinion. May each of us turn to Jesus this Lenten Season, confess our errors, change our ways, and embrace the Gospel.

Father, we adore you and praise you. We recognize that we have been created solely to do your will. Our own desires are for nothing if they are not your desires, also. Help us during this season of repentance and awareness to decide to change, to embrace your Son and the Good News, to become Christian. We ask this in Jesus' holy name. Amen.

In Him and in His love,

Lou

Are You Willing to Accept God's Generosity?

2006-02-13T08:19:00.000-06:00

Good morning. Peace to each of you and to your families.

James 1:5-6, "Pray to God...because God gives generously and graciously to all."

Fr. Mark asks the question, "If God offered to give me anything I requested, what would I ask for?"

The point that Fr. Mark makes this morning is that God will provide us more and with greater imagination than we could ever, ever achieve or imagine ourselves. What He provides will be in tune with His will for us. It may not be what we would expect, what we could imagine to ask for, what we had in mind. God's plan for our lives may be radically different from our own. However, we are here to do God's will with the gifts and talents He has given to us. So, how do we get from "my plan" to "God's plan"?

First, we must change our focus. We must turn to God and subject our needs and wants and desires to God's desires for us. This is hard to do since we have been raised in a society which teaches us to want more, more of everything. "More" is not important in the greater scheme of things. "More" will not get you to heaven. "More" will not preserve your eternal soul. "What good does it do a person to win the entire world if he loses his eternal soul?"

Second, we must spend more time with God so that He can communicate His will to us. For my penance after Reconciliation, Fr. Bill in Rayne, Louisiana gave me a very useful exercise. He told me to sit in the Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist and to write my thoughts and feelings and needs on one side of a piece of paper. Then, he said, turn the paper over and wait. Wait for the Holy Spirit to speak. Then write what you hear. I have done this a few times. It can be an awesome experience if I am willing to stop thinking, to stop talking, to stop praying my rote prayers, and to sit quietly and focus on the Eucharist to allow God to speak. But, once won't do it. We must make prayer a regular and constant part of our day and night.

Third, we must be willing to do something(s) with our lives which may be totally different from those things for which we were programmed by parents, teachers, and our own expectations. Take St. Francis of Assisi. He was the son of a wealthy man. He was supposed to carry on the family name and businesses and lifestyle. Francis turned his back on all that Mom and Dad wanted, which his family and friends and even his younger self may have expected and gave his life to God. St. Augustine, a wealthy Gen-Xer of his time, never turned away from his learning and oratory but used them to proclaim the message of Christianity to the known world. He was raised and educated to become a successful man. He was preparing to become a skilled philosopher. He accomplished both but in the service of God rather than the service of himself.

Fourth, we must decide that God knows best and to choose His plan. In doing so, we will find joy and fulfillment beyond our dreams and imagination. Believe it and go for it!

So, I believe Fr. Mark would encourage us to think his question through very thoroughly before answering. Do not be trite. Do not try to answer it on your own. Lay yourself and the question before God and ask Him to help you answer it. Why? "...because God gives generously and graciously...."

Please pray for all our normal intentions and for each other. More than anything else, please pray that each of us will courageously surrender to God, to ask Him what He would like for us, and to let Him bless each of us as generously and graciously as He wants.

Let us pray,

Father, God, we adore you and we place ourselves and all we have into your hands. We can no more completely worship you than to surrender ourselves to your will. Give us the grace to do this, Father, for it is hard. We are taught to define our life goals before we leave high school. We are encouraged to hold those goals sacred until they are achieved. If we set these goals without your input, we will achieve much less than you desire. Help us, Father, to ask you and to listen to you and to embrace your will for our lives. We ask this and lay the needs of our community before you in the name of your beloved son, Jesus. Amen.

Be like Bartemaeus and Padre Pio! Pray! Trust! Expect!

In Him and always in His love,

Lou

Please, Keep Praying

2006-02-08T09:16:00.000-06:00

Hi. Peace.

Just because I have not been here for a couple of days, please do not stop praying for all of those in need. I am thinking particularly of the family of a man whose brain has just been devastated by something similar to mad cow disease. He is in his early 50s and leaves behind a beautiful family. Pray for him and his family, please.

Pray for all our families, especially the sick, the very elderly, the helpless among us. Pray that children may one day come to understand the love and care that their parents showered upon them as they were growing up.

Pray for all of our volunteer forces at risk and in harm's way throughout the world.

Pray for all Church leaders, ministers, people who preach in the Name of Jesus. Pray for our associated ministries. Pray that more men and women will hear God's call to ministry.

Pray for our businesses that they might thrive to the glory of God.

Pray that our political leaders will embrace the idealism with which they first entered political life, that they will turn away from graft and corruption and toward honest concern for America.

Pray that world leaders, especially in the Muslim world, will calm their people, sit together to discuss differences, and honestly seek to live and work together for the betterment of all of mankind. Pray that Western political and industry leaders will allow the Islamic People to live according to their faith and customs rather than trying to drive them into modernization and capitalism.

Pray for each other and your own special needs.

Let us pray together,

Father, we adore you. We thank you for all your blessings. We prostrate ourselves in your presence. We ask you to give us the grace of active love, tolerance for each other's differences, strengths, weaknesses, virtues, sins. Give us the compassion and the desire to work together to eliminate hatred and sin from the world. We ask these things and lay our needs before you in the Name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Pray! Trust! Expect!

In Him and in His love,

Lou

All Praying for Amanda

2006-02-05T16:16:00.000-06:00

Lou and those praying for all....

Amanda Santos has made a turn for the better! Her doctors told her a month ago that either the chemo or the leukemia was going to take her out... a very sad prognosis.

Neither is happening at this time. In fact, Amanda is gaining strength (from all the prayers, I'm sure!) eating well and actually using her artistic skills to draw signs of hope while in the hospital. She has regained HOPE.

Thank you all for such a heavenly storm of prayers! Amanda is holding on!

C.K.

Suffering and God's Plan

2006-02-05T11:44:00.000-06:00

Hi. Peace.

This morning our readings are Job 7:1-4, 6-7, 1 Corinthians 9: 16-19, 22-23, and Mark 1: 29-39. All three are very challenging readings.

Our assistant pastor, Father Tony, took a most interesting approach to the readings. He said that all three were examples of the link between suffering and salvation. He asked us to consider Jesus’ message, “Repent and hear the Good News.” Repentance means change in thinking. Repentance requires a bit of pain and suffering since none of us really likes significant change. But, this suffering, this change, is essential to our salvation. Jesus took the message so far as to suffer physical torture and crucifixion. And, He glories in His resurrection and ascension into heaven and offers eternal life to us, as well.

Father Tony commented, too, that Job, a righteous and upright man, seemed to have to suffer without cause. Yet, as he pointed out, suffering is the path through which we are saved, through which our lives change, through which we grow. Job was a good man, wealthy and happy. He lost everything. He kept his eyes on God and admitted that God could do anything with him (Job) since he was only God’s creation. God rewarded Job’s fidelity many times over.

St. Paul speaks of adapting himself to his listeners’ situations so that he may effectively proclaim the Good News. “…I have made myself a slave of all so as to win over as many as possible [to the Lord].”

What about you and me? Are we ready to walk through a bit of suffering to reach our Eternal Reward? Jesus says unless we take up our cross and follow Him we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. Remember, though, that Jesus suffered horribly. He did not enjoy the torture and crucifixion. No one is asking you to smile through the pain or suffering. You are only being asked to accept it and to bear it and to offer it to the glory of God.

Please pray for our membership. Pray especially for the family of Anna Nguyen who passed on to her heavenly reward yesterday. Pray for our children, for our parents, for the elderly, the sick, especially, Amanda and Steve and Gabriel, for the dying and recently deceased. Pray for our volunteers in the Armed Forces throughout the world. Pray for our politicians that they will work for the American people instead of for their own pocketbooks and glory. Pray for our Church, our priests and religious, and all who minister in the Name of Jesus. Pray for all our associated ministries. Pray for vocations to ministry, to religious life, to the priesthood. Pray for the people of Iraq and the Middle East that they will find peaceful solutions to their differences.

Let us pray together,

Father, we adore you. We thank you for all your blessings. We thank you for even our suffering. Give us the strength to bear it. Use it to cleanse us and to prepare us for eternal life with You. We ask this and lay all of our intentions before you in the Name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Be like Bartemaeus: pray, trust, expect!

In Him and in His love,

Lou

How Will You and I Be Remembered?

2006-02-03T07:57:00.000-06:00

Good morning. Peace to all of you. May the Lord walk with you throughout your day.

Mark Link (www.v2000.org) focuses on a short passage from the Book of Sirach. The prophet eulogizes King David. His words are beautiful and full of praise for David’s dedication to God. Like most who remember our beloved dead, Sirach overlooks the warts and sins of David. He preserves only the best for posterity. Mark poses the question, “How will you be remembered when you die?”

Of course, most of us will not achieve the kingship of David. We will not be president of our country and probably not of our company. Most of us will not have written any great books, poetry, or song. We will not be great orators. A few may have returned from war well decorated. No one gives out medals and makes great speeches for those who devote themselves to motherhood or fatherhood. No. Most of us live our lives focused on the world immediately around us. And, that world, like a bucket of water from which we withdraw a finger, will backfill our place when we pass on.

However, in my family, a large and varied South Louisiana community, we do celebrate our dead when we gather after the burial services. Recalling the recent gatherings we have held for three loving mothers/aunts/grandmas and one dad/uncle/grandpa, we truly celebrate their lives. Near-strangers who have attended those gatherings report their surprise at the bond and the love that ties the surviving family. They retell comments and conversations about the love and spirit which the recently-deceased passed on to us and the next generation. At those gatherings, few articulate pain, suffering, or sin. We seem to only recall the good.

So, take heart. You will be remembered by someone. The question is “How will you be remembered?” If you look back over your life, will you be happy to be remembered as you see things? If not, it’s time to repent, that is, to change your thinking and your ways. With the help of your Lord, break the mold of your past and love someone, love God, learn to love yourself. In the years after your passing, it is your love that will be remembered above all else.

Please pray for our families, friends, and loved ones. Pray for the sick, the elderly, and the dying. Pray for our military and for the people of Iraq and the Middle East. Pray for all who are struggling to find God. Pray for our politicians that they will act ethically, morally, and compassionately. Pray for our Church, our priests and ministers, for all who minister in the Name of Jesus. Pray that all who call themselves Christian will turn away from violence and force and respond as Jesus did. Pray for each other.

Let us pray,

Father, God, our creator and sustainer, we commit, today, to live to bring glory to You. Lives of sin and violence are not what you desire. So, we choose to turn away from our sinfulness and to turn toward you. Help us, Father, to be remembered by our loved ones, our co-workers, our community just as Sirach remembered your servant David as a person “who loved his Creator and sang praises to Him with all his heart.” We ask this and lay the needs of our community before You in the Name of your son, Jesus. Amen.

Be like Bartemaeus: pray, trust, expect!

In Him and always in His love,

Lou

What Would You Say?

2006-02-02T06:22:00.000-06:00

Good morning and peace to each of you and your families.

Today Fr. Mark takes us to 1 Kings and beside King David’s deathbed. David advises his son, Solomon, to take counsel from God. Fr. Mark poses the question, “Were you to say one sentence to your children just before you died, what would you say?”

I thought about this a bit. But, it did not take long. I learned this from my good friend and mentor, Fr. Martin. There is only one thing to pass on. It is a lesson that we have not learned. Hopefully, our children will do better. I would require three very short sentences, though.

Love your fellow man.

Eschew violence.

Love.

Please keep all of our membership in prayer, their families, their parents, and children. Pray for the sick and this morning I think about Gabriel, Steve, and Amanda particularly. Pray for those who face death today that they might surrender to the Lord. Pray for the safety of our military and all they protect. Pray for our politicians that they will learn to be honest, to love, to eschew violence, to recognize that people and cultures are different and should be respected. Pray for our Church, our priests and for all who minister in the Name of Jesus. Pray for vocations and encourage young people to consider a life of consecrated service to God and humanity. Pray for our associated ministries and for our businesses. Pray for each other.

Let us pray together,

Father, we adore you. We acknowledge your kingship over all things and, most especially, our lives. Teach us to love. Teach us to live as your Son commanded. Teach us to trust in You in good times and in bad times. Build our confidence and dispel our fears. You are our past, our present, and our future. Nothing is greater or more certain than You. Therefore, nothing deserves to take your place in our hearts and thoughts. Nothing. We ask this and offer our prayers to You in Jesus’ holy Name. Amen.

Be like Bartimaeus: pray, trust, expect!

In Him and always in His love,

Lou

Trusting God

2006-02-01T06:55:00.000-06:00

Hi. Peace.

Today, again in Second Samuel, we read about another error on King David’s part. He calls a census so that he can get a count of the able-bodied men in Israel. He was checking to see if he had enough people to man an army. In doing this, David showed a lack of faith in God. It seems such a simple and normal thing to us to census our people, to verify our bank and savings accounts, to purchase insurance on our driving, our health, our lives, our homes. Most Americans would call this common sense. In David’s case, God would brand it a lack of faith in His love and promises. I recall Jesus’ parable about the wealthy farmer who had a bumper crop one year and built new bins to store his surfeit of grain. He died that night and his wealth was of no value to him. Where do you put your trust? I recall the story of a God-fearing widow who put her trust in her wealth and in professional help. She awoke one morning to find that her “stores” had been stolen and wasted. She could only rely on God through the gift of her children to support and to help her for the rest of her days. It was a terrible lesson in trusting God first and in trusting humanity far less.

Please pray for each other, our families, our elderly, our sick and those who are dying, our Armed Forces, our politicians, our Church and its leadership, our ministers and priests, for vocations, for conversion, for each other, and for our associated ministries, let us be thankful for new members and for the gift of returning members.

Let us pray,

Father, I adore you and I acknowledge your complete control of creation. Yet, I am fearful and I spend many resources preparing for the worst of circumstances. In doing so I admit that I think you need my help to preserve my life, my health, my wealth. Forgive me for such foolishness. I choose to not put my trust in anything or any means but You. I surrender my “stores” to You that You may do with them as You will not as I will. I choose to trust You first with my life, my family, my health, my possessions, and my wealth. At the same time, I will not foolishly ignore the valuable means for protecting my life and my world that You have made possible in this age. But, I put my trust in You not them. I lay this choice before you with the petitions of our community in the holy Name of Jesus. Amen.

Be like Bartemaeus: pray, trust, expect!

In Him and always in His love,

Lou

The Things of the Lord

2006-01-31T07:07:00.000-06:00

Hi. Peace. May you be moved to share the Lord's peace with others today.

This morning, Fr. Mark Link relates the passage from Second Samuel about the death of David's son, Absalom. And, Fr. mark asks the questions, "What person's death did I mourn most and why? And, how did the death change me?"

It may seem odd to you but this stimulated the thought, "What are the things of the Lord?" Or, "How should we really spend our lives?"

Let's look at Jesus' life. Jesus knew the importance of Faith. One of the first things He did at the beginning of His ministry was to be baptized by a lesser man. He began preaching that his Jewish people should repent, should change their way of thinking. That they should recognize that the kingdom of God was at hand, here, now. That all should hear and embrace the Good News! He spent the rest of His life in this endeavor. But, how?

He enjoyed the wedding at Cana so much so that He blessed the happy couple and their celebration with finest wine.

He strolled through the countryside.

He enjoyed many picnics.

He enjoyed the friendship of men and women.

He sought counsel among His friends.

He sang praises to God.

He ate raw grain as He walked through the fields. (My younger sister and I used to eat raw rice as we played in our grandfather's country rice mill.)

He observed nature and used it to make His points: the grass in the fields, the flowers, the fig tree, the mustard seed, the mountains, the stones, the birds of the air. He enjoyed sailing.

He liked to eat.

He was compassionate.

He taught.

He forgave.

He admonished sinners.

He cured the sick.

He raised the dead to life.

He encouraged good citizenship even under an oppressive dictatorship.

He was a peacemaker.

He was a leader.

He prayed often and for long periods.

He loved His mother, his friends, and even asked forgiveness of those who abused and murdered Him.

He rose from the dead to enjoy Eternal Life at His Father's side.

To concentrate on the "things of the Lord" does not mean to join a cloister or to become a celibate although some are called to enjoy life this way. It means to live your life fully and effectively, reflecting your Christian Faith in all that you do, bringing glory to God, avoiding sin while not condemning others who may be too weak to avoid sin, paying your taxes and obeying the laws of the land, loving and forgiving, praying long and often, preparing to enjoy Eternal Life at your Father's side.

Please pray for our elderly, especially for Ms. Helen and her daughter, pray for our families and our children, our sick, our dying, our priests and ministers, for vocations to public ministry, for our young people in the Armed Forces, for our associated ministries, for our politicians that they might concentrate on "the things of the Lord", for the Church, for each other, for Amanda, for the youth leaders and the young people of St. Elizabeth's as they prepare for this year's Getaway Weekend Retreat.

Let us pray,

Father, i worship You and am awestruck by You. I surrender all that i am, that is, everything, for i am nothing and have accomplished nothing without You. I surrender my life so that i can begin living again this time busying myself with "the things of the Lord" that my remaining years may bring You glory and may further Your kingdom here on earth. I commit to this now and i commit my needs and the needs our our Community of The Christ to you in the Name of Your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Be like Bartemaeus: pray, trust, expect!

In Him and always in His love,

Lou

Is Paul Delusional?

2006-01-29T17:50:00.000-06:00

Hi. Peace to you this day.

I am writing this at midday on Sunday because I do not want to lose the thought. Did you listen to the second reading from Mass this morning? I encourage you to pull out your Bible and to read again, 1^st Corinthians 7:32-35.

Paul says “An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord….An unmarried woman or a virgin is anxious about the things of the Lord so that she may be holy in both body and spirit.”

What? Paul must be associating with a very small group or maybe a group of aliens. Our society and the way we have raised our children, many of us, has not prepared them to be anxious about the things of the Lord. They are anxious about their pimples, their muscles, their abs, their clothes, whether they are matched up with a boy friend or girlfriend, about school, about their future and their careers and paychecks, etc. But, are they anxious “about the things of the Lord”?

What does Paul even mean? He means that before they become distracted by family and spouse, and keeping them clothed, fed, healthy, and sheltered, that the single people, the single Christians, the single believers whom he knows ponder the Scriptures and the teachings of Christ. They strive to be holy.

I am going to pick on a few unmarrieds in our group. Do you worry or concern yourself with the “things of the Lord” Matthew, Ginna, Christine, Stephanie, Maureen, Meghann, and all the rest? I know some of you do. God bless you. Those of you who are not concerned with the Truth and the Good News should begin to be. Why? Nothing is more important than to be free from sin and to walk in the love of the Lord all the days of your lives. Pray, trust, and expect. God will take care of all the rest. Teach your parents to follow your lead.

Please pray for your family and friends, for our membership, for our ministries, for our children especially those in the Armed Forces, for our politicians, for our Church and our priests and religious and all who minister in Jesus’ Name, for the special needs and intentions of each of our group, and that we may concern ourselves with “the things of the Lord.”

Let us pray,

Father, I worship and adore you. Every need of mine is satisfied in You. Yet, I concern myself with things of this world. I am anxious over money, health, reputation, and so many other things. These are not of you, Father. Help me. Guide me. Lead me in pursuit of “the things of the Lord” of which St. Paul speaks in this passage from Scriptures. Lead me that I may do your will and may one day stand before you having accomplished the mission for which you created me. I pray this in Jesus’ holy name. Amen.

In Him and always in His love,

Lou

Salvation in Action

2006-01-29T08:26:00.000-06:00

Good morning and may the peace of the Lord impact every area of your life today including a good night’s rest!

This morning we continue in the Gospel of St. Mark. Actually, we are just to verse 21 in Chapter 1 but the action has already begun! Last week’s Sunday passage told of Jesus in Galilee. He preached, “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Good News.” In that passage, we read how Jesus began choosing his Apostles. Continuing with verse 21, today Jesus has walked to Capernaum and stands up to speak in the synagogue.

“The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught as one having authority and not as the scribes.”

A possessed man stood up and cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?” And, the action began.

The people in the synagogue discern that there is something different about Jesus. Simon and Andrews, James and John discerned the difference. John the Baptist had already proclaimed the difference. And, now, Satan himself proclaims the kingship of God, “I know who you are – the Holy One of God!”

Have you discerned the difference?

Have you embraced the new kingdom?

Have you “changed your thinking” and believed the Good News?

Have you used your life and your talents and abilities to carry on Jesus’ work, to preach the Good News, to love?

Let us learn from Satan himself. The kingdom of God, our Salvation, is truly at hand.

Please pray for all our members, for our families and children, for our volunteers in harms’ way throughout the world, for the elderly, the sick, the homeless, the poor, the rich who have lost sight of God, for the powerful who have lost sight of the Good News, for the haughty who will be humbled before God, for the Church and its leadership and all its ministers, for vocations, for our associated ministries, for world leaders that they seek peaceful solutions to their differences.

Let us pray,

Father I adore you. I hear your words through the Evangelist, St. Mark. If Satan, who knows you better than we, can in public acknowledge your Son and the coming of your Kingdom on earth, so can I. I ask you to take me and all of the blessings which you shower upon me and use me to spread your Word to the world. I ask this and lay all my needs before you in the Name of your beloved Son, Jesus. Amen.

Be like Bartemaeus: pray, trust, expect!

In Him and always in His love,

Lou

Uriah, Bathsheba, and King David

2006-01-27T07:29:00.000-06:00

Good morning. Peace to you and to all whom you love.

Today’s is a most striking passage in Second Samuel 11. It is the story of a consecrated man who falls victim to his own lust. A man whom God loved, raised from obscurity to kingship and through whom God promised the Savior of the Chosen People. It is the story of a man who compounds his sin with murder to hide it. Further, it is a story of how God makes David’s sin public. And in redemption, it is a story of how David repents before God and man. And, how God punishes David, yet, continues to love him. In the end, God remains faithful to His promise that our Redeemer will be of David’s lineage.

Is this not a story which gives us hope for our own lives and our own Eternal Life? It should. It should as long as we are willing to face our sin, repent, do penance, humble ourselves before the Lord, and ask His forgiveness. That is the crux of our Faith is it not? That despite our sin and our weakness, if we are willing to repent and to embrace the Good News as Jesus commanded after the arrest of John (Sunday’s Gospel, remember?), God will accept us into His heavenly kingdom. Why? Because a parent never stops loving his child. And, our God will never abandon His children. It is only a question of whether his Children will accept the grace of God and admit their sin and ask for forgiveness or in their pride refuse His love and continue to embrace evil.

Please keep each other in prayer. Please pray for our volunteer boys and girls in uniform around the world. Please pray for your families and for the grace to love and embrace those who cause you the most grief and pain and irritation. Please pray for our businesses that we may succeed and give the credit for the success to our God. Pray for our politicians that they will begin to embrace and to serve honestly, compassionately, and courageously. Pray for people subject to violence and oppression from the poorest confused family in Iraq to the weakest infant being aborted today in the U.S. Please pray for our Church, our leaders, our priests, ministers, religious, and for vocations to the religious life. Please pray for our associated ministries. Pray that the world will come to know the love of God through the message of Jesus Christ and that we will put down our weapons and embrace all peoples as children of God. Please pray for Amanda.

Let us pray,

Father, I adore you. I come before you to admit my most-hidden sins. You know me. There is no reason for me to try to hide from you. I ask your forgiveness and I ask for the courage and strength and honesty to change my life, to seek the forgiveness of those whom I have hurt, and, Father, to begin my life anew. Help me, Lord, to follow the example of your chosen one, David, to humble myself in admission of my error, and to always remember that I exist only by your love. In Jesus Name I pray these things. Amen.

Be like Bartimaeus: pray, trust, expect!

In Him and always in His love,

Lou

Giving Thanks

2006-01-26T07:42:00.000-06:00

Good morning. Peace. May it fill your heart and mind today. May it transform your ordinary workday into the extraordinary.

In second Samuel still, David sits before the Ark of the Covenant and contemplates how wonderfully God has blessed him and his family. This fits so nicely with the continuing image of you or I sitting on the immaculate white marble floor or God’s palace – open air no roof, columns not walls, a sky as blue as Our Lady’s blue mantle, billowing white clouds wafting across the blue. And here we sit awestruck. Wondering how the Almighty could even have time to consider the all-nothing. Yet, we know so deeply that He has considered us. He has blessed us beyond understanding. We cannot speak. We can only consider this fact as tears of joy, tears of love, tears of thanksgiving roll down our cheeks and spill onto our clothes.

I live this image at each Mass when I consider Mom, when I consider our boy in Iraq, when I consider the young girl I married who still stands at my side and loves me, when I think about our children and grandchildren. There are many times when I lose my voice singing the hymns at Mass. Once in a while it is because I cannot follow the melody of a new hymn. But, most often it is because I find myself in the presence of the Almighty and I am overcome by the awareness of His blessings.

I hope that you have already found this “place” yourself or that you will very soon.

Please pray for each other, for the world – maybe especially the U.S. – to embrace the full awareness of the dignity and worth of every human being and to abandon the thriving culture of violence, killing, and abuse, for our ministries (PWI, Arms of Jesus, “Come, Lord Jesus”, Embrace the Faith Communications, Family Missions, Radio Maria, SEAS Clowns, and so many other good works our people do), for our families and our spouses, for our Church, for vocations, for our politicians, for our volunteer forces around the world, and for all your special intentions and needs. Please remember Amanda.

Let us pray,

Father, I am awestruck by your majesty. I am overcome by the awareness of your blessings and love. I adore you in my minimal capability to even understand only part of what You have done for me and continually do for me. Most especially, in concert with King David, your chosen one, I thank you for the blessing of my family. Help me this day to approach worthiness of Your immense love just a little more. I offer this and everything to You in the holy Name of Jesus. Amen.

Be like Bartimaeus – pray, trust, expect!

In Him and in His love,

Lou

God's Timing

2006-01-25T08:12:00.000-06:00

Hi. Peace. It was so good to hear from so many of you. Let me assure you that I, too, have missed these near-daily notes. The time God gives me to spend with the Scriptures and to spend thinking about my life, your lives, and His Will is the most peaceful and encouraging time of each day. May He continue to bless us all.

Today, in the reading from Second Samuel, God promises David that the Messiah of the Chosen People will come from David’s blood line. According to St. Luke’s Gospel, Jesus was the 14^th generation of David’s line. There is a valuable lesson in these two simple facts.

How often have you and I been impatient with God? When Mom was struggling with her physical and mental deterioration, we knew that she was getting impatient for God to answer her prayers. She so wanted to be with Him, with Dad, with her Mother and Father and favorite Aunts and Uncle. Yet, God, who had promised her, seemed to require much more of her. It seemed there was something more she needed to accomplish. It seemed there was someone else whom she was to impact before joining Him eternally. Mom could not “see” that, of course, and she was impatient to move on.

We should take a lesson from this. God’s timing is so different from ours. He answers our prayers and fulfills His promises when the time is right – and only He knows when the time it right. Our job in life is to keep putting one foot before the other, to keep walking the path of righteousness, to persist and persevere in loving God and neighbor and ourselves as we await Him.

You may remember one note a while back in which I presented the image of sitting on a gold-trimmed pillow before God the Father and all His angels. That is who I am and who you are. We are insignificant before the majesty of Almighty God. Yet, we are blessed with the promise of Salvation that we will live eternally in the presence of God. Remembering that, we must be humble and patient and wait for Him.

God bless you all. Please pray for each other. I especially ask those of you out there who may be suffering with cancer to lift up Amanda before the Lord. Amanda is a young friend and loved one of Lori and Meghann. Amanda is suffering from leukemia. Her treatments have taken a turn for the worst. Her prognosis is not good. Please ask God to bless her with healing, her parents and friends with comfort, peace, and consolation, her doctors with skill and wisdom. Of course, let us pray for all those intentions we normally list. Our related ministries are in need of prayer, of hands, feet, and voices, of money to get the job done. Offer yourself to someone today, help them, share the blessings in your life with someone who need you right now. Please, also, lift up Kay and Diane and Arms of Jesus Ministry as she leaves for a mission in Arizona today.

Let us pray,

Father, I adore you. I surrender all I am to you. But, Father, I do not understand your timing. I am impatient yet have no right to demand that the Almighty respond to my insignificance. So, I place myself before you in all humility. I lay my needs and prayers before you with complete confidence that you hear and will answer. My sense of timing and my self melt before you. I await you. Amen.

Be like Bartimaeus: pray, trust, expect!

In Him and in His love,

Lou

When Do You Notice God in Your Life?

2006-01-24T06:49:00.000-06:00

Hi. Peace. It has been a while. I apologize. Mom's death really has impacted me and I have not been able to find a suitable replacement for The Companion.

Sunday's message was about changing our lives: hearing God's call and answering it - regardless of the near-term impact. Jonah was called to get up and to preach repentance to the Ninevites: "...change your ways or your city will be destroyed." Jesus preached repentance after the arrest of John the Baptist: "...repent and hear the Good News. The kingdom of God is at hand." In the next passage in this first chapter of the Gospel of Mark, Jesus calls Simon and Andrew, James and John to follow him.

Have you ever heard the warning of Jonah in your life? If not, maybe you should sit down with God and get honest with Him because we are all in need of repentance.

Have you ever heard or felt the call of Jesus to change your ways, to substitute love for justice, to follow Him? If not, then maybe you should sit down with God and ask Him to lead you His way because He is calling.

We are here to serve God. Self-actualization is secondary to doing God's will. Our fulfillment will come when our lives are completely in tune with God's desire for us and we are truly living and acting as His hands, feet, voices, and hearts.

Please let us pray for each other and your special needs (there are about 60 of us in this prayer group), for our children, for our boys and girls in harm's way overseas, for our police and fire and emergency personnel, for our teachers, our moms and dads, our politicians that they will try to be ethical everyday and with every decision, for the poor and hungry and cold, for the lives which will be snuffed out today through abortion, for the unfortunate mothers who choose abortion today, for the fathers of those murdered children that they will repent their decision, for anyone chained in living hell by an addiction, for our Church, our pope and bishops and priests and religious, for vocations to ministry, and for all the intentions of our associated ministries (Prayer Warriors, Arms of Jesus, "Come, Lord Jesus", Bilingual Prison, Family Missions, Embrace the Faith Communications, e5men, Childguide, and all the others I may have omitted).

Let us pray together,

Father, I adore you. Hear my prayers. If I have not been paying attention to your call to love, to change, to accept the Good News as your personal message of love and encouragement for me, I ask you to speak to me in ways that I can hear, in ways which will catch my attention, in ways which will require me to decide for You or against You. I do, deep in my heart, want to live with you in Eternal Life. Help me, Father. Let me waste no more precious time nor these precious talents that you have bestowed upon me. I ask this in the Name of Jesus, your Son. Amen.

Be like Bartimaeus: pray, trust, expect!

In Him and always in His love,

Lou

Being Alert to God's Guidance

2005-12-28T06:12:00.000-06:00

Hi. Peace. May the peace of Our Lord fill your consciousness today.

Today’s Gospel tells of how Joseph was warned by an angel to pack up and take his family to Egypt. King Herod went on a killing spree to eliminate any “King of the Jews” who might threaten his throne. I wonder how many baby boys were murdered to sate Herod’s fear? Do you think it was as many as we abort in one day here in the States?

I pray that each of us might be so aware of the Lord’s presence in our lives today that we will respond to His urging. Would you pack your family and flee to Mexico if you had a dream in which you were told to flee to avoid persecution here in the States? Joseph and Mary had nothing to fear. They were law-abiding citizens. They were of the King’s house, that is, of David’s house. Yet, Joseph was so aware of God’s working in their lives that he obeyed the order of an “angel” that appeared to him in a dream. Are you so aware? Would you follow? Do you trust God enough to rip your life apart for Him?

Please pray for

- travelers’ safety especially our family members,

- our sick and dying and those caring for them

- our boys and girls serving in the military around the world,

- our Church and our pope and our clergy and religious,

- our nation’s leaders,

- in thanksgiving for our children who are at home with us for school break,

- your own special needs.

Father, we adore you and we lay ourselves before you. We thank you for all of the blessings you shower upon us this Christmas Season. Help us to subjugate our desires to yours. Help us to be so aware of you in our lives that we work to accomplish your will daily and to abandon our own for your sake. Make our lives coincident with your will. Please hear our petitions. Please care for our loved ones especially those in physical and spiritual danger today. We ask all these things in Jesus’ holy Name. Amen.

Be like Bartemaeus! Pray! Trust! Expect!

In Him and always in His love,

Lou

Merry Christmas!

2005-12-25T07:15:00.000-06:00

Hi. May the peace that is Jesus Christ reign in your hearts and homes today especially. Wishing you a very Happy, Holy, and Merry Christmas!

Please pray for our boys and girls in the Armed Forces around the world that they, too, may experience the peace of Christ today.

Please pray for the safety of travelers.

Please pray for our sick, those who may be dying, and those who love and care for them.

Please pray for each other, for our Church, our Holy Father, and for our national leaders.

Please pray that in 2006 the world may experience an attack of love, that the killing in the name of God will stop, that we will learn to live with and to respect each others’ differences.

Be like Bartemaeus! Pray! Trust! Expect!

In Him and always in His love, Merry Christmas,

Lou

Be on watch!

2005-11-27T12:38:00.000-06:00

Hi. Peace.

In today’s Gospel passage from Mark 13:33-37, Jesus tells us to be alert for His return – not in some mystical way made popular by the “Left Behind” series. But, in a real way as when the owner of the estate returns after a long business trip. We are called to be ready to welcome our Master into His house.

I think we have abandoned this call and I think our “church” is near dead.

Why? Because we go to war in the Name of God under Christian leadership like a bunch of Medieval servants of the Holy Roman Empire, like the rabid Saracens, like the Moors and the Spanish Christians, like street gangs bent on retaliation, or like the Northern Irish who ignore the God they profess. Here we are in the 21^st Century claiming that God approves of our violence. We have incorporated so little of the Gospel into our daily lives.

Why? Because I have witnessed nearly complete indifference for the Mass in two Catholic Churches on two different Sundays in two different towns in two different states. In one church, the pastor braves his congregation and prays and sings with joy and enthusiasm. His congregation neither sings nor responds. In the other church, the priest acts out his part with no enthusiasm, the congregation responds with an equal lack of enthusiasm while the choir and the lectors do their best to encourage us to participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Why? I write this email and hope to receive prayer requests and notes of thanks to God and thanks for prayers. Yet, at best I receive one a week. And we have so much to ask God for: cessation of the killing in the Middle East, health or at least a peaceful death for our loved ones, protection for our travelers, protection and courage for our clergy and our Holy Father, success for our businesses, patience and love and compassion among our married children so they can work thru their problems instead of abandoning their marriage vows to divorce, courage and strength for our priests, brothers, and sisters who have taken vows of celibacy.

Why? We are bombarded with examples and celebration of adultery to the point that the practicing homosexual justifies his or her behavior, divorce is no longer a scandal but a solution, adultery, especially among entertainers, seems the norm. Yet, we would castigate the priest who has an affair with a female parishioner without asking why his act of adultery more heinous than that of a married man. Without asking why his act more heinous than that of a practicing homosexual? Is his vow to God more serious than my vow to my wife and God? Go back and read your catechism. It is not.

Why? Children are born out of wedlock (or aborted) at an astounding rate. Grandparents can only accept and love the babies who are allowed to live and make room for them in their families. But, where are our children? Why have they abandoned the idea of the beauty of virginity? Why is the condom and the pill seen as the answer instead of self-discipline and love of God?

Why? Because out of 60 members of this prayer group, only one has asked for a set of the Companion for 2006. Either few read this meditation or few care.

Why? Because maybe the article in today’s Dallas Morning News, “10 Ideas On The Way Out”, covers it all. The self-appointed “inteligencia”, that is, the educated in the nose-bleed section who look down on those of us who still read the Bible and try to believe and live the Gospels, have declared that the things we hold sacred like our marriages and ordination vows, like the sanctity of life from conception to natural death, like the Pope, like our Catholic Faith – all these things – will no longer exist by the year 2040. Such arrogance. But, of course, maybe our behavior gives these people evidence and hope that they will not have to face a God because no one really behaves as though there is one.

I can assure you that if we do not stand up and grasp our Faith firmly with heart, mind, soul, body, and complete enthusiasm, we are at risk of eternal punishment. Laugh or agree. Believe or not. The Truth is the Truth and I encourage you to read and reread it.

I would like to give thanks for the beautiful and healthy twins born to Mel and Jay! There is a whole miracle story here. It would astound you all.

I would ask God to bless Kay and her ministry in Pennsylvania this weekend and to forgive me for not supporting her.

I would pray for Earl, Gabriel, Steve, Marilyn’s family, Glen, and the CREW.

I would ask for prayers for my mother whom the doctors can no longer assist.

I would like to give thanks for our son in Iraq and to ask God to protect him and his platoon both spiritually and physically.

I would like to thank God for Christine’s safe return to college and for her love for her Dad.

I would like to thank God for my wife and family, my Faith, my brothers and sisters Jessica, Shannon, Maureen, Teri, Mark, Susanne, Larry, Kay, Steve, Barb, Lori and Kevin, Edwena, Marisol, Lolly and so many other friends in Christ.

I would like to ask God to send St. Michael and his army of angels to surround and to protect Pope Benedict XVI, our priests and religious, and all who have dedicated themselves to preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I would like to ask God to admonish our nation in such a way as to shock us back to the Christian, God-fearing roots of our Founding Fathers.

I would ask Him to hear and to answer every intention and need in your heart and to bless you with His love.

I ask God to send someone committed to the Gospels around whom His few remaining believers will rally and step forward to live and to preach the Good News.

Love to you all in His holy Name,

Lou

PS If you would like a set of the Companion, please write.

PPS If you would like to be removed from this mailing list, I would be happy to stop annoying you. Please write and request removal.

Persecution for your Christian beliefs - expect it!

2005-11-23T07:47:00.000-06:00

Hi. Peace to all of you and to your families. Most especially, may the peace of Christ fill your hearts, you who serve in our military throughout the world.

Today’s Gospel passage comes from Luke 21:12-19. Jesus, in speaking of the end times, tells his disciples that they should expect to be persecuted for their faith. You will be persecuted by your church and by your families and fields, he says. Some of you will even be killed for my sake. “You will be hated because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance, you will secure your lives.”

Clearly, Jesus is telling us that the day will come when faith in Him is considered a crime, when living according to the laws of God will be punishable by death, when our closest family and friends will turn us in for preaching the Word of God. Further, Jesus makes a distinction between our human life and eternal life telling us that we may be killed for the sake of Him. But, that by persevering in our faith we will secure eternal life and not a hair on our heads will be destroyed.

This is the promise of our salvation that by loving God, proclaiming Jesus, loving others including our enemies, we will enjoy Eternal Life.

Bo Sanchez asks a very pointed question today, “Is my life a crusade against evil?” Here was my response this morning, “Yes. But, my focus is as the Lord’s. I do not rant and rave against the individual atrocities I observe lest my life be consumed by Satan’s agenda. My focus is on Jesus’ teachings, i.e., to love one another, that love is the fulfillment of the Law, that we are loved by our God. I do object to corruption and war. But, these objections are futile. Those who would be corrupt and would initiate wars will do so for their own profit. Only the realization that they are loved and are called to love can change their hearts. Argument and violent resistance only cements people more firmly in their opinion and lifestyle. Change happens only when the heart is softened and realizes the evil of its ways when the heart is confronted with pure and vulnerable love.”

Don’t waste your life crusading against the evil around you. Devote your life to the promotion of love of God and neighbor and self even if it results in your own humiliation, persecution, or death. You will accomplish so much more. Study the Gospels. Jesus did not allow himself to be distracted by evil. He cured, served, loved, preached, encouraged. He only spoke out against something when confronted with church leaders who lived a lie in the name of God (hypocrites), who oppressed God’s people in God’s name, who allowed God’s house to become a marketplace. He never spoke against civil authority, dictatorship, oppressive taxation, even the evil of crucifixion. His focus was the love of God for his people. Of course, Jesus was turned in by his followers, condemned for his teachings, and murdered. Please reread paragraph 2, above.

Please pray for all our regular intentions especially for:

- our sick including Lolly’s father-in-law, my mother, Kelly’s uncle,

- those undergoing treatment such as Steve and Gabriel,

- our friends, family and children serving in the Armed Forces especially those in combat zones,

- our families that they may give thanks this season for each other and all the blessings God has bestowed upon them,

- our Church, its leadership, and all who minister in Jesus’ Name,

- for the Arms of Jesus Ministry day of reflection coming this Sunday,

- for all our ministries: Arms of Jesus, Bilingual Prison Ministry, Come, Lord Jesus!, Embrace the Faith Communications, Family Missions Company, PWI, Radio Maria, our little prayer group,

- for all who seek to know Jesus and to enjoy the knowledge of their Salvation,

- for our politicians that they will reject violence, stand firm in the Christian foundation of our nation, and work for the common good of our people,

- for each of you, your special needs and your intentions.

Father, we worship and adore you. We thank you for myriad blessings. Send your Holy Spirit in times of challenge that we might have the strength and courage to stand firm in our faith in you, your son, and our salvation. We desire never to reject you. We seek only to know you more. In Jesus Name we ask this and declare our needs be fore you. Amen.

Be like Bartimaeus! Pray! Trust! Expect!

In Him and always in His love,

Lou

Permission to be bad!

2005-11-10T08:19:00.000-06:00

Hi. Peace.

Say, it is time for me to order the Companion for 2006. If you want a copy for yourself, I can order it for you. Last year the 4-book series cost $39. Let me know soon since they are published in the Philippines.

I have not written to you in a while but I am finally back in Houston and in possession of my Companion. So, “look out, persimmon!” as my dear mother would say. I found this in the PWI prayer list from Dixie. I thought many of you might be able to use it especially those of you who work with young people.

While shopping at a local Walmart, I spotted a man with an acronym on his shirt that had B.A.D. Me, being the person that I am (curious), I stopped the man and asked, "What does B.A.D. stand for?" And trust me, you'll be amazed at what his response was. He replied that B.A.D. stands for: "Blessed And Delivered". That thought stuck with me as I finished doing my shopping that day. So I came up with a little advice for you today. 1. When the enemy tries to attack you, be B.A.D. 2. When things don't seem to be going right on your job, be B.A.D. 3. When things are not looking good in your marriage, be B.A.D. 4. When folks scandalize your name, just be B.A.D. Get with somebody who you know that you can be B.A.D. with!!! May God Bless You And Have A B.A.D. Day! Now send this to the people who you know don't mind being B.A.D.

Let me ask you to pray for a few special intentions of mine, please:

For my Mom, Virginia, who is back in the hospital after only a couple of days at the nursing home,

For Jim’s Dad who is ill and suffering, as well,

For Mark and Missy as they travel to their new home and to Mark’s new assignment in Kazakhstan,

In thanks for the blessing of a wonderful concert at the Methodist Church in Georgetown last night, for a wonderfully receptive and attentive audience and for Lolly’s support and encouragement,

That Lolly will finish her new Christmas Carol recording soon!

For Lori and her success in her new job as Youth Coordinator for the parishes in Donaldsonville and Smoke Bend,

In thanks for Jimmy’s job opportunities! God is so good!

For Larry and his restaurant in Virginia Beach (Pancho Villa’s) that investors will come forward to save them,

For our children and their leadership in combat zones in the Middle East and around the world,

That the other 80% of voters in Texas who did not “waste” their time to exercise their American privilege will realize that change can only come about when they vote.

Be like Bartimaeus! Pray! Trust! Expect! Why? Because, without God there is no hope. So, if you are depressed and hurting, turn to your Faith. People who do not know the God of Love have absolutely nothing to look forward to. You are not one of those people. You know that there is a God. You know that He loves you beyond your understanding. You know that when all else fails and when everyone abandons you, He is there to console you and to give you the strength to get through yet another challenge. So, smile through your tears and your fear and say a prayer for the millions of Americans and the billions around the world who do not have the hope and the conviction that you have. Now, get up! Wash your face! Get back to your life and await God’s answer to your prayer with joyful expectation! You are so blessed!

In Him and in His love,

Lou

The difficulties of being a Christian

2005-11-02T06:24:00.000-06:00

Hi. Peace.

Today’s Gospel passage continues in the Gospel of Luke Chapter 14 with verse 27. Fr. Mark makes the point that life as a disciple of Jesus is hard. Living your Christian Faith is not easy. If your life as a believer is without pain and suffering and persecution, you had better take a hard look at how you are living your Christianity. Chances are good you are not. Today’s reading coupled with yesterday’s reading of the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5 makes it clear that counter-cultural living is the way of the follower of Jesus. Blessed are the poor, the meek, the humble, those who strain for righteousness’ sake, the sorrowful, you who are persecuted for My Name’s sake. Go ahead, boldly and joyfully take up your cross and follow Jesus. He promises that you will not see the kingdom of heaven if you do not.

Please pray for our regular intentions and for each other and especially remember

- Lolly’s husband Jim, Earl his dad who is very ill, and Jim’s brother, and all our sick,

- Pancho Villa’s and the little company’s community of employees and owners as they struggle to survive, and all our companies,

- Our families, our children, especially those who have volunteered to protect our nation,

- The helpless, especially the most elderly and the unborn,

- Our Church and all its ministers, especially our related ministries,

- Our political leaders,

- Each other.

Father, we worship and adore you. We thank you for the blessings of this day. Give us the courage and the abandon to take up our crosses as your Son commands us today and to follow Him through Calvary and into Eternal Life through Resurrection. We ask this and lay our special needs before you in His most holy Name. Amen.

Be like Bartimaeus! Pray! Trust! Expect!

In Him and always in His love,

Lou

What is the reason you do not act?

2005-11-01T05:07:00.000-06:00

Hi. Peace to you and to your household.

Today Fr. Mark quotes chapter 14 of the Gospel of Luke. And, Fr. Mark asks a very pointed question, “What is it that you want to do but you never quite do?” He reminds us that good intentions, to go out and to help someone, to tutor the slow student, to become a Big Brother or Big Sister, to help a hurricane victim, to join the church choir, unless acted upon are the same response to Jesus as the response of the people who excused themselves from the wedding feast. Let us not wag our heads at “those people”. Let us realize that we find excellent reasons to not respond to Jesus’ invitation, too. Then, let us repent and change our wicked behavior.

Please pray for our regular intentions and especially for

- Brad and his business that things will improve for him,

- all our sick,

- Earl, who is in the hospital and for his kids, Jim and Jim’s sister who are trying to care for him,

- Virginia, who is back in the hospital that her doctors may discover the source of her problems,

- Matt, Zachary, Travis, and Stephen who are back or headed back to serve us in Iraq,

- Stephen wherever he is currently assigned,

- all our boys and girls around the world who have volunteered to serve for our country,

- us and our country that we may be worthy of the personal sacrifice our children are making,

- politicians everywhere that they will stop using God and righteousness as their justification for the violence and face the fact that their own pursuit of power and economic gain is what drives them to sacrifice someone else’s children in war,

- our Church, priests and ministers and for the Arms of Jesus Ministry, the Bilingual Prison Ministry, “Come, Lord Jesus!” Prayer Team, Embrace the Faith Communications, Family Missions Company, PWI, Radio Maria, and our prayer community,

- each of our membership and your unspoken needs and intentions.

Father, we worship and adore you. We thank you for the blessings of yesterday and in advance for your myriad blessings today. Give us the strength and courage to keep our eyes on you and our feet churning toward the finish line of which St. Paul speaks. In our perseverance, may our love for strangers move them to find their hope in You as well. We ask this in the Name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Be like Bartimaeus! Pray! Trust! Expect!

In Him and always in His love,

Lou

The Correct Reason for Giving

2005-10-31T06:36:00.000-06:00

Hi.

I apologize for the absence. I am caring for my mother right now and request your prayers for her.

Here I am without my Companion and on the road again. But, Fr. Mark at www.v2000.org, gives us an excellent opportunity to reflect on the motivation for our actions. He quotes Jesus in Luke 14:13-14 in which Jesus encourages us to care for those who cannot repay, i.e., the poor, the street people, the sick. Caring for anyone on our own social and economic level is not really caring it is only trading favors. There is nothing wrong with trading favors. We just should not fool ourselves into thinking that we are doing something good or charitable when we do.

Take a moment to consider what motivates you to reach deep into your pockets for the victims of major disasters, for the poor, the immigrant, the sick in your local “Charity” hospital.

Please pray for the following:

- our families, especially our sick and elderly,

- travelers

- our businesses,

- our boys and girls in combat and those who support them throughout the world,

- our politicians that they will finally decide to work together for the good of the nation instead of against each other for their own local or private agenda,

- for the helpless especially the unborn who will be slaughtered in the US today at 200 times the rate of killing in Iraq today,

- that the Iraqi people will do more than vote that they will take control of their land and their government and let us go home,

- that people will begin to realize that there is no glory in killing, especially in the name of God,

- for our Church, our priests, ministers, and all who spread the Good News,

- for the Arms of Jesus Ministry, Bilingual Prison Ministry, Family Missions Company, “Come, Lord Jesus” Prayer Team, Embrace the Faith Communications, Radio Maria, PWI, our little community,

- for each of you and your special, unspoken intentions.

Father, God, we worship and adore you. Thank you for the blessings of the day and those we can look forward to today. Please, Father, teach us to be humble and to share our wealth freely with those who have nothing. We ask this in Jesus holy Name. Amen.

Be like Bartimaeus! Pray! Trust! Expect!

In Him and always in His love,

Lou

Not unity...division

2005-10-22T09:21:00.000-05:00

Good morning. Peace to all of you. May you be blessed with serenity throughout the day.

You are not likely to receive this until late today since I no longer have access to the network herein the hotel this morning. I am thinking of you anyway.

Today's Gospel passage continues from Luke 12. In verses 49-53, Jesus says something amazing. He says, "I have come to set the earth on fire and how I wish it were already blazing!...Do you think I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division."

Do you know someone who is a firebrand for the Lord?

If you do, are they a close friend of yours or are they someone you avoid?

Jesus declares in these verses that families will be divided over Him. That His word will cause strife and division.

What do we see today? Did Jesus foretell the animosity that seems to reign between Jews, Christians, and Moslems? Further, did Jesus predict the division that reigns among people who all claim to follow Him? It is easy to look at places like Northern Ireland where Protestants and Catholics are at war. We can look into the Southern United States where the KKK is still very active. We can see the division within our families over abortion, the papacy and so many other issues.

So, were you to answer Jesus' call and take up His Word and begin preaching it in your home, workplace, or out on the street, in our "Christian" country, how do you think you will be received? Would you have the courage to persevere?

Please pray for our regualr intentions and especially for:

- Bill and I while we travel over the next few days,

- our families,

- our children and all our boys and girls in the Armed forces around the world,

- our country and all who have been elected to positions of leadership and representation,

- our Church and all who minister in the Name of Jesus,

- for our businesses and our ministries that they might flourish to the glory of God,

- for eachof our membership and our special intentions and needs.

Father, we worship and adore you. We thank you for the blessings you shower upon us constantly. We pray for the grace and courage not to fear division caused in your Son's name but to embrace it, to accept Jesus' prophesy and to persevere in teaching the Truth to any who would hear. We ask this and we lay our needs before you in complete confidence that everything works to your glory for those who believe. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Not a one-time thing - an every moment thing

2005-10-19T07:07:00.000-05:00

Hi. Peace.

Today’s Gospel from Luke 12:39-48 speaks so clearly to the fact that although we are believers and although we know the way to heaven, we are expected to remain diligent and to struggle to overcome sin in our lives. Jesus makes it clear that we should defend our sanctity at least as much as the householder defends his home and possessions against the thief. He tells us not to grow tired of waiting “for the master’s return”. Rather, we are to persevere and to be alert for his return. Why? So that when He comes for us He will find us struggling to live according to His teachings, combating our weaknesses, and yearning for His presence. So that we can enjoy the Eternal Life He has promised.

Don’t’ let your guard down. You believe in Jesus Christ? You are a Christian? Live like you are every moment of every day. Show the world that you believe in His forgiveness by offering it to those who offend and by learning to forgive yourself for your own failings and weaknesses. Be joyful in your knowledge of the Truth.

Please pray for our normal intentions. We do have a special request for Luis Ramirez who is scheduled for execution in Texas soon. His family is convinced that they have proof of his innocence. Pray that the Governor will grant a stay not just a temporary stay but will preserve this man’s life that he might reform and come to know God before his natural death. Pray for our troops and their families, too. For our Church and our various ministries. Pray for our businesses and for each other. And, pray that our politicians will one day try to work together for the nation rather than for their own agendas.

Father, we worship and adore you. We thank you for all the blessings of yesterday and in anticipation of the love you will shower upon us and our families today. Give us the support to persevere in our journey toward Eternal Life. Help us through whatever means, especially, through the care and love of other believers to continue the struggle against sin in our lives and in the world. We lay our needs before you and seek special graces that we might run the entire race to you. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen.

Be like Bartimaeus! Pray! Trust! Expect!

In Him and always in His love,

Lou

RE: Completely defenseless and unprepared

2005-10-19T01:21:00.000-05:00

Howdy,

Gee whiz Dad, have you looked at Chevron recently, its gone down almost $10 in the past few weeks. Is this the 4^th qtr fall you were predicting? It looks like its no where near the bottom yet because it just steadily drops every day.

Sincerely,

LC Soileau V

Concrete Paving Engineer

Office: 225-906-1125

Cell: 225-241-3273

lsoileau@jcgllc.com

From: Lou Soileau [mailto:soileau49@earthlink.net]
Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2005 7:11 AM
To: Comunidad Del Cristo
Subject: Completely defenseless and unprepared

Good morning. Peace to all of you this beautiful morning.

I am in Bogota, Colombia this morning. The mornings here at nearly 9000 feet in the Andes are always spectacular! Since the country does not subscribe to Daylight Savings, the sun is up very early each morning – probably 5 AM. It reminds me a lot of when we lived in Anchorage. Anyway, as the song goes, “The sun is up, the sky is blue, it’s beautiful, and so are you!” Makes for a great attitude first thing.

Today’s Gospel from Luke 10: 1-9 is all about going new places and running risk. Jesus sends out the 72 in pairs to the towns ahead that he intends to visit. He sends them out with nothing. They are to “carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals….” They are to go out completely defenseless and unprepared, that is, completely dependent upon God.

Can you imagine making a journey without even a sandwich in the cooler or the money to buy one along the way?

Can you imagine making a journey without having at least some idea of where you are going to stay?

Ever taken a long journey without a change of clothes and shoes?

This is what Jesus commanded the “72” to do. “Trust me guys and gals! You are going to be fine. If anyone rejects you, don’t stay at their house. If the town rejects you, don’t stay in the town. There are plenty of people out there dying to hear my word, plenty of people needing to be cured and healed. Go find someone who wants to change, who yearns for the Messiah, who is in physical or mental need of healing. With those people you will find shelter and food and clothes for as long as you need to stay there. Trust me. Trust my Father in heaven.”

What are you willing to do? Were Jesus to somehow ask you today to put down what you are doing and go out to preach the Good News to strangers, would you? Were He to go further and tell you to go out without any provisions for yourself, would you? Do you trust completely in your heavenly Father?

Please pray for our regular intentions especially for

- Larry for his peace of mind and that others will accept responsibility for the business,

- for me, please, while I am on this business trip in this beautiful but somewhat risky country,

- for our families,

- for the helpless especially the unborn,

- for our nation and our leadership that we will look beyond partisanship andbegin working for our country,

- for our military and all who support them, Lord, protect all our kids spiritually and physically,

- for our Church and all who minister in the Name of Jesus,

- for the Arms of Jesus Ministry, Bilingual Prison Ministry, Con, Lord Jesus Prayer Team, Embrace the Faith Communications, Family Missions Company, the PWI, Radio Maria, and the Comunidad Del Cristo,

- for each of you and your unspoken needs and intentions.

Father, God, we praise and glorify you. We stand ready, although we stand in fear, ready for you to call us to your mission, ready to surrender all to you for the sake of the salvation of others, ready to sing the Good News to all in need and to care for them curing them of sin and ailment. You said we would do these things if we only believed in you. We surrender, Lord. Use us to your greater glory. We lay our needs before you and we ask this specific thing of you in the Name of your beloved son, Jesus. Change our lives today, Lord! Amen.

Be like Bartimaeus! Pray! Trust! Expect! (As Padre Pio said, “Pray! Hope! Don’t Worry! There are a lot of you out there worrying. What good does it do? Do your best and let God do the rest!)

In Him always and in His love,

Lou