life's choices

life can be like living in a house that's divided in two. 

one half is dark and gloomy--full of guilt and fear.

the other half is filled with light, happiness, purpose and joy.

sometimes we choose to live in the dark side of our house.

at other times we choose to live in the light.

the choice is ours.

This little light of mine - YouTube

           faith 

                      hope 
                                  love

Jesus heals

41 Bible verses about Jesus Healing 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christ_Healing_the_Mother_of_Simon_Peter%E2%80%99s_Wife_by_John_Bridges.jpg

Birmingham Museum of Art [Public domain]

           faith 

                      hope 
                                  love 

what the bible says about enemies, satan, us and God

enemies: 16 Top Bible Verses about Enemies - Encouraging Scripture           
               also, Psalm 7; Psalm 27; Psalm 31; Psalm 34; Psalm 52 

satan: History of Satan 

us: What Does the Bible Say About Mankind? 

God: 11 Top Bible Verses About Salvation - Being Saved Though Christ Jesus 


Jesus answered and said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, a son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees his father doing; for what he does, his son will do also. For the Father loves his Son and shows him everything that he himself does, and he will show him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also does the Son give life to whomever he wishes. Nor does the Father judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to his Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life. Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he gave to his Son the possession of life in himself. And he gave him power to exercise judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out, those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation.

“I cannot do anything on my own; I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.

“If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony cannot be verified. But there is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true. You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth. I do not accept testimony from a human being, but I say this so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. But I have testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me. Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf. But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form, and you do not have his word remaining in you, because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent. You search the scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf. But you do not want to come to me to have life.

“I do not accept human praise; moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I came in the name of my Father, but you do not accept me; yet if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father: the one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope. For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me, because he wrote about me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

John 5: 19-47 


Glory and Praise to Our God by John Michael Talbot - YouTube

image by UnlockingTheBible

Romans 8:28 Computer Desktop Background Wallpaper | www.unlo… | Flickr

           faith 

                      hope 
                                  love 

Jeremiah 31: 1-6, "With age-old love I have loved you; so I have kept my mercy toward you."

At that time—oracle of the LORD—
I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. Thus says the LORD: The people who escaped the sword find favor in the wilderness. As Israel comes forward to receive rest, from afar the LORD appears: With age-old love I have loved you; so I have kept my mercy toward you.

Again I will build you, and you shall stay built, virgin Israel; Carrying your festive tambourines, you shall go forth dancing with merrymakers. You shall again plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; those who plant them shall enjoy their fruits.

Yes, a day will come when the watchmen call out on Mount Ephraim:
“Come, let us go up to Zion, to the LORD, our God.”
Jeremiah 31: 1-6

I Have Loved You With an Everlasting Love with lyrics - YouTube 

image by Darren Calhoun

love - his is all i need - Jer. 31:3 | I realized during thi… | Flickr

           faith 

                      hope 
                                  love 

under the waterfall

WORSHIP [TFH33: You are in Control] Vineyard - Under the Waterfall - YouTube 

Through the waterfall (C) David Robertson :: Geograph Britain and Ireland

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2

Matthew 20:16 "the last will be first, and the first will be last”

“The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. Going out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard, and I will give you what is just.’ So they went off. he went out again around noon, and around three o’clock, and did likewise. Going out about five o’clock, he found others standing around, and said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’ When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’ When those who had started about five o’clock came, each received the usual daily wage. So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’ He said to one of them in reply, ‘My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’ Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Matthew 20: 1-16

The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many.

Matthew 27: 51-53

When the Saints Go Marching In The Jeeemies - YouTube 

Yuwali [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Semana_santa_triqui_en_Santo_Domingo_del_Estado.jpg

           faith 

                      hope 
                                  love 

reality and faith, hope & love

freedom, independence, life, liberty, happiness, peace, etc. are these real? or are they just illusions?

"freedom"? to do whatever I want? an illusion. nature's laws, human government laws, my own limitations, and limitations and whims of others make true "freedom" an illusion. it's the same for independence, life, liberty, happiness, world peace, etc.

the only "realities" that I can control in my life are my own beliefs and actions. do I believe that there is a supreme and sovereign God Who created and sustains all that exists or has ever existed? do I hope that there is another life where only goodness exists? do I believe that faith, hope and love are real gifts from God to me personally that I can accept or reject to any degree that I choose? 

my belief in God, my hope in God, and my love for God and for my neighbors are mine only to control. this is reality.

   

image by Sharon Tate Soberon

https://www.flickr.com/photos/4thglryofgod/14116388037

Do You Believe? - Christian Movie (2015) - YouTube

           faith 

                      hope 
                                  love 

Jesus' last supper is the first supper for those who believe

Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me."

And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you."

Luke 22: 19-20
Matthew 26: 26–30
Mark 14: 22–26

"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 Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever."

John 6: 51-58


One Bread One Body - with lyrics.wmv - YouTube

image from Boston Public Library

["The Last Supper," after Leonardo Da Vinci.] | Accession No… | Flickr

           faith 

                      hope 
                                  love 

psalm 118:This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad.

I

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,

his mercy endures forever.
Let Israel say: his mercy endures forever.
Let the house of Aaron say,
his mercy endures forever.
Let those who fear the LORD say,

his mercy endures forever.

II

In danger I called on the LORD;
the LORD answered me and set me free.
The LORD is with me; I am not afraid;
what can mortals do against me?

The LORD is with me as my helper;
I shall look in triumph on my foes.
Better to take refuge in the LORD

than to put one’s trust in mortals.
Better to take refuge in the LORD
than to put one’s trust in princes.

III

All the nations surrounded me;
in the LORD’s name I cut them off.
They surrounded me on every side;
in the LORD’s name I cut them off.
They surrounded me like bees;

they burned up like fire among thorns;
in the LORD’s name I cut them off.
I was hard pressed and falling,
but the LORD came to my help.

The LORD, my strength and might,
has become my savior.

IV

The joyful shout of deliverance
is heard in the tents of the righteous:
“The LORD’s right hand works valiantly;
the LORD’s right hand is raised;
the LORD’s right hand works valiantly.”
I shall not die but live
and declare the deeds of the LORD.
The LORD chastised me harshly,
but did not hand me over to death.

V

Open the gates of righteousness;

I will enter and thank the LORD.

This is the LORD’s own gate,
through it the righteous enter.
I thank you for you answered me;
you have been my savior.
The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.

By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice in it and be glad.
LORD, grant salvation!

LORD, grant good fortune!

VI

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.

We bless you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God and has enlightened us.
Join in procession with leafy branches
up to the horns of the altar.

VII

You are my God, I give you thanks;
my God, I offer you praise.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
his mercy endures forever. 

psalm 118 

This is the Day That the Lord Has Made/ Alive Alive Forevermore - Joyful medley - YouTube 

image by Church Inglesia

Psalms 118:24 "This is the day the Lord has made." #love #… | Flickr

how are cradle catholics dealing (or not) with their disgraced church?

this is a question with as many answers as there are cradle catholics. 

• some no longer call themselves catholics.
• some are "on the fence".
• many (probably most) are feeling angry, sad, betrayed.

here's a sampling:

The Catholic Voice - an online publication of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland

CAN A CHURCH BETRAYED BECOME A CHURCH REDEEMED? – PAX CHRISTI USA 

for me personally, 

• I feel betrayed, sad and angry. 
• I'm "on the fence".
• it's hard to walk away from your church for 70+ years.
• in the 4th quarter of my life, I see myself as a christian--not so much as a catholic.
• it's back to basics: 
• bible
• prayer
• God's supremacy and sovereignty
• man's sinfulness and wickedness
• God's love and mercy for those who love God and who are sorry for their sins

image by Church Iglesia

Mark 12-30 "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all … | Flickr

Eye Has Not Seen - Marty Haugen - YouTube 

Isaiah 64:3, 1 Corinthians 2:9

           faith 

                      hope 
                                  love 

what is love?

we think we know what love is. 

how would we define it? 

how does our culture define love?

in chapter 13 of his first letter to the church at Corinth, Paul defines love:

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.  

1 Corinthians 4-8

I met Jenny 55 years ago when she was 15 and I was 17. For as long as I've known Jenny, she's had cats. for most of our married life together, we've had cats. Nicholas is our most recent--we adopted him from the animal shelter about a year ago. Before Nicholas there was Mocha, and Claude, and many others. 

When I saw Nicholas at the shelter for the first time, there was something about him that attracted me to him. Nicholas looked like he needed some love. 

Jenny adopted Mocha when she was volunteering at the animal shelter in Bluffton, SC. someone found Mocha abandoned at the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, and brought him to the animal shelter. The vet guessed that Mocha had been on his own in the refuge, with alligators, for more than a week. 

Mocha needed some love--and he got plenty of it! from me, from Jenny's mom (who was living with us) and, most of all, from Jenny. The bond that developed between Jenny and Mocha was amazing to witness. small wonder that I married Jenny 52 years ago!

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

Nicholas and I are lucky guys! 

we ALL need love. we ALL need to receive love, and we ALL need to love. 

Nicholas

we cannot thank Him enough

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Museum_-_The_Death_of_Jesus_(La_mort_de_J%C3%A9sus)_-_James_Tissot.jpg

James Tissot [No restrictions or Public domain]

Commons:Copyright tags - Wikimedia Commons

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life." John 3:16