Before jumping on to this discussion I had to really take a bit to calm down. My dilemma was two fold as I was offended at two different levels. The first was at the basic level of my Catholic faith. I mean to remove the term under God from our Pledge of Allegiance. The second level was my military level having served many years in the Army I do not like to see people change what to me is a part of our nation. Now as part of the Apology NBC went on to say "That under God was no part of the pledge until the late 1950's. While I grant that this was true we must keep in mind that this nation (weather those of the atheist beliefs want to destroy the beliefs of our nation or not).
This post will be a rare one for me as it will be a short one. Our fore fathers founded this nation on the principles of freedom of religion as well as the precept of rights that were God given and sent upon our nation as well as the blessing bestowed upon this great nation.
So I ask all of you who believe that God has a place in this nation as well as a role to play in this world I ask you to boycott NBC until such time as a real and heartfelt apology is made and also to boycott those companies that advertise with them. If this nation turns it's back upon God again as it has many times before. I can only pray that God never shall turn his back on us.
Thank You God Bless
.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
A day of Service
Sorry,
Have been working with my Brothers in The Knights of Columbus making and installing handicap ramps for the disabled and poor. No post for Saturday however we will post on Sunday.
Have been working with my Brothers in The Knights of Columbus making and installing handicap ramps for the disabled and poor. No post for Saturday however we will post on Sunday.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
The importance of being a Catholic 24 hours a day 365 days a week.
A little known fact is how much The Catholic Church all pulling together could affect this country. For instance it takes 68,000,000 to elect a President. There are 75,000,000 Catholics of voting age. So it goes to follow the Catholics of this nation could control the Presidency by force of vote alone. Yet in no election (including John F. Kennedy's election in 1961.) Why? The reason are perhaps more complicated than we are willing to believe. The main issue is flawed teaching in out CCD and RCIA programs and a loss of identity and union within our own Church. A fact which nobody wishes to address among the Priesthood or the body
The Priest fears internal strife within his church and the body wishes not to make waves and risk losing their social place within the Church. We have this condition in our Church due to one thing, selfishness. We want to have our faith as we want it. In a earlier post I called it a buffet type of faith, pick and chose what you want and don't have anything to do with what you don't want.
In today's world most will turn to themselves and say why not? I can go down the road to this Church and they say all I have to do is ask Jesus into my heart and I am good forever or what is called once saved always saved. What no Confession or CCD classes or rules about who I can and can't live with this is allot easier and plus all my sins are forgiven and I can do all I want to do without worry. Judas betrayed Christ for 30 pieces of silver. it is a shame that many are bought off for allot less. In a world that bombards us to look young by whatever means. That you have a right to have control over your body. Men who won't be men so women have to fill both jobs. As we are bombarded we need every new thing in site and all must be that perfect figure with that perfect hair and a computer that can do anything to include combing your hair. Pornography is readily available and if you can't get it online or in the store just stay up late and watch cable television in the wee hours of the morning.
With all this that we face can we be expected to conform to a 2000 year old church that has a rule or guidance on everything including things I like to do but can't by it's leaders? The answer is simple yes. God never said love your neighbor except when his family is starving and needs food and at the same time The Dallas Cowboys are playing. He never said do unto others except you just really don't have the time. Jesus never said at the Last Supper "do this in memory of me', Unless your hungover and there is a great game that starts at 10AM. And the second commandment has never said "I shall have no other God before me" unless something better comes along. To worship a graven image is easy today cell phones that text, IPADS that stream the Internet almost anywhere and MP3 players that are making our kids more hard of hearing by the minute. These destroy family communication and when we should be taking every chance to praise and worship God we are too busy listening to "The Safety Dace" or what ever other kind of music we desire. Yes there are still graven images they just come with transistors now and young America will someday in the not to distant future will learn to not care about anybody due to the dehumanization of society.
So with all of this working against us to include the evil one or the many things not mentioned above. Do we really have to do all that Catholic stuff when two blocks away is a Church that says come to Church get saved and your set ? In a word yes and you are still required to do more than attend Mass and sneak out right after Communion you are called to pray,Love everybody as you do yourself, help the poor,hungry,homeless and those in need of coats. And we don't just do it during a can food drive or a winter coat drive or a fan drive for when its hot, We do it everyday with deeds and prayers. All too often our answer is well I will do it later, and repeat this line of nonsense until we are out of later and are facing judgement. I can assure you the last words you ever want to hear is :"I never knew ye".
The Catholic faith has never been a faith of OK I will do this part but not that part. I will help the poor but not go to Church. You cannot bargain with God you are either a member of his Church of you are not there is no inbetweens and no half measures. You either practice the entire faith and follow all the instructions of the Church or choose not to and risk the eternal punishment that I pray nobody will ever face. Jesus said "The way to Hell is wide" so it is very very easy to get there. However the path to heaven is very narrow and few shall enter. Now I cannot say if you need to work on a few things but I sure know I need to. And this is the whole point of our faith we cannot do it alone we are dependant on God for our very breaths as well as his graces and mercies he gives us out of his love. The common notion is "well God loves man too much to send me to Hell". Are you willing to bet your eternal soul on that? I for one am not as I have found no proof of God saying to anybody "Your a great person and I love you too much to cast you into Hell. God it says wishes that no man see eternal punishment however it stops there and he speaks often of people he warns to change their ways or they will be in the eternal fire.
So what do we have to do? The playbook is in your hands in the four gospels and acts as well as many of the early Church Fathers Writings. We must be Catholic 24/7 not ever from 9 to 5. Praying,helping, working and serving God in all you do. I have in my Early years of being a Catholic been through a few times (well more that a few) times of being short on money. So often I was fond of saying "well I don't have the money I will wait till things get better". Sometimes my stupidity out paces my common sense by a mile. Will you ever be rich enough? The immediate answer is no, because the more money you have the more you have to do with it. By the time you are through and you remember you should give to the Church it's gone. If you do not have enough money to help and this is due to poverty in your house there is a simple answer. If you can't afford the money to help......pray!. Pray for everything not just yourself but the poor,the prisoners.the homeless and the sick or dying or even for the souls in Purgatory. For by this act alone you are lifting the situations to God who can do all things.
OK no money, pray easy! However it gets harder as stated in the very beginning of this blog when some more problematic things come into play. When you vote are you voting in a pro-abortion candidate and if you are, are you an accessory to the murder of our unborn children in this nation? I cannot judge weather you are or not however if the Church can at will together elect a man President by using just it's own. Then I ask why is there abortion in this nation today? You can also ask why is there a death penalty? The church is opposed to the death penalty under normal circumstance but will allow it in crimes of unusual cruelty or violence. Kill one man or two it is life. Kill your wife as well as your kids by starting a fire in your home and then locking them in so there is no escape. Death row. Now I live in Texas where we have a expressway to death row and before being re found to the Catholic Church I was very much in favor of death sentences in many cases. However because of my faith I must take a step back and look at it from a second point. It is in this way I avoid applying a death sentence against the will of God. You can apply this to all of the issues of today birth control, adultery,family abuse, and every other kind of issue we face today.
Sometimes we say " Well so what if I don't do these things, they don't affect me so why should I worry. I know that in our lives we have all seen shows like "Leave it to Beaver" or "Father Knows Best" . Many of us look to that point of time with a almost wishful thinking that we too want to be there. Dad went to work, Mom stayed home took care of the house and kids went to school and played on the streets until dark and came in only when Mom had called us to come inside and was on her third warning. We had no need of cell phones,texting and the thought of our parents ever divorcing was as remote as the stars. Many will argue this is true but now women are equal. Are they? The Single Mother population is raging out of control as are STD's and rapes. Women have not become equal the pill and abortion have made them so disrespected that they are now only tools to a mans gratification. Kids have no respect in schools and not much more at home. We both in our homes as well as a member of The Body of Christ must stand up together and say enough! It took fifty years to get this way it may take another 50 years or longer to fix it. I suggest we fix it before "I'll do it later" time has ran out and we all must ask the question why have you let my people come to this.
The Priest fears internal strife within his church and the body wishes not to make waves and risk losing their social place within the Church. We have this condition in our Church due to one thing, selfishness. We want to have our faith as we want it. In a earlier post I called it a buffet type of faith, pick and chose what you want and don't have anything to do with what you don't want.
In today's world most will turn to themselves and say why not? I can go down the road to this Church and they say all I have to do is ask Jesus into my heart and I am good forever or what is called once saved always saved. What no Confession or CCD classes or rules about who I can and can't live with this is allot easier and plus all my sins are forgiven and I can do all I want to do without worry. Judas betrayed Christ for 30 pieces of silver. it is a shame that many are bought off for allot less. In a world that bombards us to look young by whatever means. That you have a right to have control over your body. Men who won't be men so women have to fill both jobs. As we are bombarded we need every new thing in site and all must be that perfect figure with that perfect hair and a computer that can do anything to include combing your hair. Pornography is readily available and if you can't get it online or in the store just stay up late and watch cable television in the wee hours of the morning.
With all this that we face can we be expected to conform to a 2000 year old church that has a rule or guidance on everything including things I like to do but can't by it's leaders? The answer is simple yes. God never said love your neighbor except when his family is starving and needs food and at the same time The Dallas Cowboys are playing. He never said do unto others except you just really don't have the time. Jesus never said at the Last Supper "do this in memory of me', Unless your hungover and there is a great game that starts at 10AM. And the second commandment has never said "I shall have no other God before me" unless something better comes along. To worship a graven image is easy today cell phones that text, IPADS that stream the Internet almost anywhere and MP3 players that are making our kids more hard of hearing by the minute. These destroy family communication and when we should be taking every chance to praise and worship God we are too busy listening to "The Safety Dace" or what ever other kind of music we desire. Yes there are still graven images they just come with transistors now and young America will someday in the not to distant future will learn to not care about anybody due to the dehumanization of society.
So with all of this working against us to include the evil one or the many things not mentioned above. Do we really have to do all that Catholic stuff when two blocks away is a Church that says come to Church get saved and your set ? In a word yes and you are still required to do more than attend Mass and sneak out right after Communion you are called to pray,Love everybody as you do yourself, help the poor,hungry,homeless and those in need of coats. And we don't just do it during a can food drive or a winter coat drive or a fan drive for when its hot, We do it everyday with deeds and prayers. All too often our answer is well I will do it later, and repeat this line of nonsense until we are out of later and are facing judgement. I can assure you the last words you ever want to hear is :"I never knew ye".
The Catholic faith has never been a faith of OK I will do this part but not that part. I will help the poor but not go to Church. You cannot bargain with God you are either a member of his Church of you are not there is no inbetweens and no half measures. You either practice the entire faith and follow all the instructions of the Church or choose not to and risk the eternal punishment that I pray nobody will ever face. Jesus said "The way to Hell is wide" so it is very very easy to get there. However the path to heaven is very narrow and few shall enter. Now I cannot say if you need to work on a few things but I sure know I need to. And this is the whole point of our faith we cannot do it alone we are dependant on God for our very breaths as well as his graces and mercies he gives us out of his love. The common notion is "well God loves man too much to send me to Hell". Are you willing to bet your eternal soul on that? I for one am not as I have found no proof of God saying to anybody "Your a great person and I love you too much to cast you into Hell. God it says wishes that no man see eternal punishment however it stops there and he speaks often of people he warns to change their ways or they will be in the eternal fire.
So what do we have to do? The playbook is in your hands in the four gospels and acts as well as many of the early Church Fathers Writings. We must be Catholic 24/7 not ever from 9 to 5. Praying,helping, working and serving God in all you do. I have in my Early years of being a Catholic been through a few times (well more that a few) times of being short on money. So often I was fond of saying "well I don't have the money I will wait till things get better". Sometimes my stupidity out paces my common sense by a mile. Will you ever be rich enough? The immediate answer is no, because the more money you have the more you have to do with it. By the time you are through and you remember you should give to the Church it's gone. If you do not have enough money to help and this is due to poverty in your house there is a simple answer. If you can't afford the money to help......pray!. Pray for everything not just yourself but the poor,the prisoners.the homeless and the sick or dying or even for the souls in Purgatory. For by this act alone you are lifting the situations to God who can do all things.
OK no money, pray easy! However it gets harder as stated in the very beginning of this blog when some more problematic things come into play. When you vote are you voting in a pro-abortion candidate and if you are, are you an accessory to the murder of our unborn children in this nation? I cannot judge weather you are or not however if the Church can at will together elect a man President by using just it's own. Then I ask why is there abortion in this nation today? You can also ask why is there a death penalty? The church is opposed to the death penalty under normal circumstance but will allow it in crimes of unusual cruelty or violence. Kill one man or two it is life. Kill your wife as well as your kids by starting a fire in your home and then locking them in so there is no escape. Death row. Now I live in Texas where we have a expressway to death row and before being re found to the Catholic Church I was very much in favor of death sentences in many cases. However because of my faith I must take a step back and look at it from a second point. It is in this way I avoid applying a death sentence against the will of God. You can apply this to all of the issues of today birth control, adultery,family abuse, and every other kind of issue we face today.
Sometimes we say " Well so what if I don't do these things, they don't affect me so why should I worry. I know that in our lives we have all seen shows like "Leave it to Beaver" or "Father Knows Best" . Many of us look to that point of time with a almost wishful thinking that we too want to be there. Dad went to work, Mom stayed home took care of the house and kids went to school and played on the streets until dark and came in only when Mom had called us to come inside and was on her third warning. We had no need of cell phones,texting and the thought of our parents ever divorcing was as remote as the stars. Many will argue this is true but now women are equal. Are they? The Single Mother population is raging out of control as are STD's and rapes. Women have not become equal the pill and abortion have made them so disrespected that they are now only tools to a mans gratification. Kids have no respect in schools and not much more at home. We both in our homes as well as a member of The Body of Christ must stand up together and say enough! It took fifty years to get this way it may take another 50 years or longer to fix it. I suggest we fix it before "I'll do it later" time has ran out and we all must ask the question why have you let my people come to this.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
A close friend there when you need them.
In my days in the world when sin meant nothing to me let alone was I even aware what it was I had many friends. Now most of us can relate to that unless you were raised from birth in the Catholic Church and even then when young you error. I was 19 in the military as a Morse code interceptor it was 1981 and really I was on my own for the first time not having anybody looking over my shoulder. The saddest of stories is how many young people die in violence,drugs or auto accidents for the simple reason they don't think they will ever die. To a young man of age range 16 to 25 there is no fear of death because you feel 10 feet tall and bullet proof. This is true except (in most cases) when you sit and have a heart to heart about death,judgement and the realities of Hell, Heaven and Purgatory. If you have done this bravo if not you may want to try this as your children first enter their first taste of freedom.
Well in these days I had a friend named Mike like me he loved country music and loved to drink and in my present spiritual condition I was right there with him. Tuesday and Friday were country music night at the Torii Club in Okinawa. Now the Torri club was a on post club so the drinks were cheap and flowed freely to all 21 or not. It was said by many If either Mike or I were in jail the other would be right with them. Anybody knew ( which I did not at enlistment but found out quickly after basic training) that if you were MOS 05H better known as a Hog you drank. The reason you did was to get along with people you considered your friends. If you did not drink you did not fit in. As time went by in late 1981 and early 1982 our group was a total of 35 people both young men and women and your entire social life was within this group. You dated and drank and had parties together with the same people all the time allot of lifetime friends were made their, or at least I thought.
Well the time came and I was ordered to Colorado and most of my Friends went everywhere else. The girl I dated (and thought I loved and she me) went to Ft Lewis Washington. Of course our relationship did not last long with out being together. I was dumped promptly as she boarded her flight for Washington State. Lesson number one absence does not make the heart fonder it makes it wander. So I continued this same life I had known and was content with my time their. In 1982 I was dating a girl who was once again part of our party group, We got married went to meet her folks and came back to Fort Carson. Sadly trouble came early for us as she left the military to have a child. Money got tight and with the condition of my soul drinking and partying were important priorities. My wife on the other hand changed. I was looked down upon by her family because I was Catholic (but only in name) and she was Pentecostal. She began to demand change to fit the Pentecostal way of life no smoking, drinking of partying of any kind. I began to resent the attempts she made to change me because what I did before being married she also did. Now suddenly I was being hammered unmercifully by both her and her family. We were both miserable. We still were together when we left Ft, Carson but now we had a daughter. She was my life and I loved her dearly. we were then sent to Hawaii for a three year tour, I decided in a attempt to save my marriage to accept this Pentecostal faith I found to my core made me feel very empty. I could not speak in tongues and although I attended church I was still looked at strangely.
In Hawaii despite my attempts things went from bad to worse. My wife was miserable in Hawaii because she was so far from her family. We had our second child a boy. I loved him very much and was happy to be a Father to both of our children. However military life is time demanding and I had to spend many hours at work. So I began to realize I no longer fit in anywhere. I didn't party anymore and the Church treated me sort of like a stray dog. They kept a distance and were very nice to me but it was a plastic nice. After two years of our three year tour my wife wanted to go home. There was no other choice except to let her go. I stopped going to the Church who treated me like a leper and tried to live out my last year in relative peace. Sadly peace was not to be had. I was being hammered to get out of the military any way I could (I still had 3 years on my enlistment). So the only way out was to get a dishonorable discharge.
It was made even worse when disaster struck close to my heart. I was in charge of a bay. Now to most Army they would say I had a squad. But a bay was anywhere from 1 to 24 people. I had 13. It was approaching Christmas when one of my young soldiers asked me for leave to go home for Christmas. I submitted the paperwork and it was denied. Now I would not have any of that as I knew she had not been home since joining the Army and I was dedicated to getting her leave. After a couple of days she got her leave (I think the Company Commander just wanted to keep me away from his desk). So she flew home and her Husband stayed in Hawaii due to his job and taking care of the house she would be gone for 21 days.
One night as I was coming back from a concert at a club. I entered the company barracks and was asked by the CQ (charge of quarters) if I knew a Kelly (last name withheld) and I said yes I did I was her squad leader. I was then informed that she had died earlier that day in a traffic accident returning from a church concert. I was almost struck dead by the blow of this news. I went on auto-pilot and contacted my CO as to the situation. He said it was too late for him to go to her husbands home and deal with this. I was instructed to go to the home and make sure he was okay and in the morning lead the CO to his house. This made matters far worse for me as the thought of the hard fight to get her leave approved I began to feel responsible. I went to their home and the husband was quite distraught as he like her was all of maybe 19. The knowledge of death had all to soon came home to he and me. The next day I took the Commander to his house and was instructed to let the Army handle it now.
The emotional crisis I went through was deep my soldier was dead and I was responsible. I had no wife with me to work through it and friends were scarce. I spent a couple of sleepless nights in my barracks room getting deeper and deeper into a depression. I was asked to write a Eulogy for her as a memorial mass would be held to honor our lost comrade. I wrote the Eulogy and poured my heart out into it. I do not say this out of pride but it was beautiful. I went to sleep that night out of more emotional exhaustion than anything else. I was awakened by a knock on the door and was informed I was 15 minutes late to her service. I quickly jumped into my dress uniform and rushed to the chapel. I could hear the critical whispers as I walked to the podium. I was late, how could I be so rude the people whispered, however I was numb and delivered what my Commander called the best Eulogy he had ever heard. He sent a copy to her family. I based my eulogy on the premise as that we slept together (we worked a shift as the station had to be manned 24 hours a day). so everybody in this group had the same schedule. I really felt we were a family as we worked,slept, celebrated and everything else together. It was a work of art delivered by a suffering soul. I would spend many months in a depression and was being alienated from everybody. Most ridiculed me because I was different and the Commander decided to let me work through it. No wife (she was at her Mothers, no family in the unit and very alone. Still I did not consider going to God in prayer I tried to do it on my own.
Second rule if you think your friends are family you are very mistaken. Hard time will come and your friends will be no where to be found. Third rule You can do nothing without God so why are you trying to do it yourself you are headed for failure. I left Hawaii headed for Fort Bliss Texas in 1986. I was still dealing with these feelings of guilt and although back with my family my wife was their in name only there was no compassion, love or even friendship there. I began to spend more time away from home and in the barracks as I buried myself in my work and also joined a small group of guys who were in to gaming. Family only in name my wife announced she was leaving with the kids and getting a divorce. The next day I left for work at 6AM and by 6PM when I got home everything was gone I was left with a TV, alarm clock and decorative wall hangings three of them with the words I love you. I saw it as a pretty sick joke. The divorce proceeded and was finalized in June 1988. I was again alone.
Fourth rule even family will leave you if times get hard, When getting married ask God to help make sure your decision is a good one. I spent most of the next year alone buried in my work and was considered by all to be a quality soldier. Early in 1988 I finally broke down and begged God to bring somebody in my life that I could love and who could love me. A week later I met my current wife in a parking lot of my barracks. For the next 23 years and still today we are together and very much still in love. I cannot express my gratitude to God enough for bring her to me. She has stood by me in hard times and through times that I had sank into the depths of sin. She stood by me through it all and I today have 5 wonderful children and a new Grandchild to be thankful for. I finally rejoined the Catholic faith and have a joy I have missed beyond all imagination for many years. At my first Reconciliation since my return I wept bitterly I felt the weight of my sins leave me and said goodbye to a life in a black hole forever. However I wept most of all for 35 years of time lost that I should have been serving God there is no explanation of the sadness you fell at the lost opportunities of serving God.
Fifth rule you can never have back time lost but you can find forgiveness in God. Since rejoining the Catholic faith we have found joy in every day of our lives beyond measure. I am a new person made so by the work of the Holy Ghost and I thank God as well as his son Jesus Christ to consider someone as low as I for a second chance. There is allot I cannot change nor ever will there after all are penalties to be paid for sin both here on Earth and after we pass to the presence of God. just about three years ago I was contacted by Jim he was one of our group members from Okinawa we were both allot older. We spoke on the phone and Jim came to where I lived to visit. It was a disaster. I had changed and Jim was expecting to find the same person he knew some 25 years ago. I had changed and he had not we rarely speak now if at all. Rule six We cannot go back after coming home to the Catholic Church at least no being the same.
I spoke in the beginning about kids 16 years old and having no knowledge of death and the cost of sin. It took me 30 years of trying to do it all by myself and still after I discovered God was needed at every step and breath of my life another 4 years to come home to the Holy Roman Catholic Church. Since I have a had fire in my heart I never knew before and I thank God daily for the opportunities to serve him. If you have a young adult at home have him read this. I have been where he could end up and every word of this story is true. Rule seven pray always that your children never repeat the mistakes you have made and teach them to love God early and often it may even save their lives. Until next time my brethren May God bless you home and bless all who enter it.
Note: I apologize for the very long read but it was placed upon my heart that this story had to be told. Some may find my offenses so great they will never read this page again. To those whom I offend I ask your forgiveness for my short comings. My road was tough you may thank God yours was not.
Well in these days I had a friend named Mike like me he loved country music and loved to drink and in my present spiritual condition I was right there with him. Tuesday and Friday were country music night at the Torii Club in Okinawa. Now the Torri club was a on post club so the drinks were cheap and flowed freely to all 21 or not. It was said by many If either Mike or I were in jail the other would be right with them. Anybody knew ( which I did not at enlistment but found out quickly after basic training) that if you were MOS 05H better known as a Hog you drank. The reason you did was to get along with people you considered your friends. If you did not drink you did not fit in. As time went by in late 1981 and early 1982 our group was a total of 35 people both young men and women and your entire social life was within this group. You dated and drank and had parties together with the same people all the time allot of lifetime friends were made their, or at least I thought.
Well the time came and I was ordered to Colorado and most of my Friends went everywhere else. The girl I dated (and thought I loved and she me) went to Ft Lewis Washington. Of course our relationship did not last long with out being together. I was dumped promptly as she boarded her flight for Washington State. Lesson number one absence does not make the heart fonder it makes it wander. So I continued this same life I had known and was content with my time their. In 1982 I was dating a girl who was once again part of our party group, We got married went to meet her folks and came back to Fort Carson. Sadly trouble came early for us as she left the military to have a child. Money got tight and with the condition of my soul drinking and partying were important priorities. My wife on the other hand changed. I was looked down upon by her family because I was Catholic (but only in name) and she was Pentecostal. She began to demand change to fit the Pentecostal way of life no smoking, drinking of partying of any kind. I began to resent the attempts she made to change me because what I did before being married she also did. Now suddenly I was being hammered unmercifully by both her and her family. We were both miserable. We still were together when we left Ft, Carson but now we had a daughter. She was my life and I loved her dearly. we were then sent to Hawaii for a three year tour, I decided in a attempt to save my marriage to accept this Pentecostal faith I found to my core made me feel very empty. I could not speak in tongues and although I attended church I was still looked at strangely.
In Hawaii despite my attempts things went from bad to worse. My wife was miserable in Hawaii because she was so far from her family. We had our second child a boy. I loved him very much and was happy to be a Father to both of our children. However military life is time demanding and I had to spend many hours at work. So I began to realize I no longer fit in anywhere. I didn't party anymore and the Church treated me sort of like a stray dog. They kept a distance and were very nice to me but it was a plastic nice. After two years of our three year tour my wife wanted to go home. There was no other choice except to let her go. I stopped going to the Church who treated me like a leper and tried to live out my last year in relative peace. Sadly peace was not to be had. I was being hammered to get out of the military any way I could (I still had 3 years on my enlistment). So the only way out was to get a dishonorable discharge.
It was made even worse when disaster struck close to my heart. I was in charge of a bay. Now to most Army they would say I had a squad. But a bay was anywhere from 1 to 24 people. I had 13. It was approaching Christmas when one of my young soldiers asked me for leave to go home for Christmas. I submitted the paperwork and it was denied. Now I would not have any of that as I knew she had not been home since joining the Army and I was dedicated to getting her leave. After a couple of days she got her leave (I think the Company Commander just wanted to keep me away from his desk). So she flew home and her Husband stayed in Hawaii due to his job and taking care of the house she would be gone for 21 days.
One night as I was coming back from a concert at a club. I entered the company barracks and was asked by the CQ (charge of quarters) if I knew a Kelly (last name withheld) and I said yes I did I was her squad leader. I was then informed that she had died earlier that day in a traffic accident returning from a church concert. I was almost struck dead by the blow of this news. I went on auto-pilot and contacted my CO as to the situation. He said it was too late for him to go to her husbands home and deal with this. I was instructed to go to the home and make sure he was okay and in the morning lead the CO to his house. This made matters far worse for me as the thought of the hard fight to get her leave approved I began to feel responsible. I went to their home and the husband was quite distraught as he like her was all of maybe 19. The knowledge of death had all to soon came home to he and me. The next day I took the Commander to his house and was instructed to let the Army handle it now.
The emotional crisis I went through was deep my soldier was dead and I was responsible. I had no wife with me to work through it and friends were scarce. I spent a couple of sleepless nights in my barracks room getting deeper and deeper into a depression. I was asked to write a Eulogy for her as a memorial mass would be held to honor our lost comrade. I wrote the Eulogy and poured my heart out into it. I do not say this out of pride but it was beautiful. I went to sleep that night out of more emotional exhaustion than anything else. I was awakened by a knock on the door and was informed I was 15 minutes late to her service. I quickly jumped into my dress uniform and rushed to the chapel. I could hear the critical whispers as I walked to the podium. I was late, how could I be so rude the people whispered, however I was numb and delivered what my Commander called the best Eulogy he had ever heard. He sent a copy to her family. I based my eulogy on the premise as that we slept together (we worked a shift as the station had to be manned 24 hours a day). so everybody in this group had the same schedule. I really felt we were a family as we worked,slept, celebrated and everything else together. It was a work of art delivered by a suffering soul. I would spend many months in a depression and was being alienated from everybody. Most ridiculed me because I was different and the Commander decided to let me work through it. No wife (she was at her Mothers, no family in the unit and very alone. Still I did not consider going to God in prayer I tried to do it on my own.
Second rule if you think your friends are family you are very mistaken. Hard time will come and your friends will be no where to be found. Third rule You can do nothing without God so why are you trying to do it yourself you are headed for failure. I left Hawaii headed for Fort Bliss Texas in 1986. I was still dealing with these feelings of guilt and although back with my family my wife was their in name only there was no compassion, love or even friendship there. I began to spend more time away from home and in the barracks as I buried myself in my work and also joined a small group of guys who were in to gaming. Family only in name my wife announced she was leaving with the kids and getting a divorce. The next day I left for work at 6AM and by 6PM when I got home everything was gone I was left with a TV, alarm clock and decorative wall hangings three of them with the words I love you. I saw it as a pretty sick joke. The divorce proceeded and was finalized in June 1988. I was again alone.
Fourth rule even family will leave you if times get hard, When getting married ask God to help make sure your decision is a good one. I spent most of the next year alone buried in my work and was considered by all to be a quality soldier. Early in 1988 I finally broke down and begged God to bring somebody in my life that I could love and who could love me. A week later I met my current wife in a parking lot of my barracks. For the next 23 years and still today we are together and very much still in love. I cannot express my gratitude to God enough for bring her to me. She has stood by me in hard times and through times that I had sank into the depths of sin. She stood by me through it all and I today have 5 wonderful children and a new Grandchild to be thankful for. I finally rejoined the Catholic faith and have a joy I have missed beyond all imagination for many years. At my first Reconciliation since my return I wept bitterly I felt the weight of my sins leave me and said goodbye to a life in a black hole forever. However I wept most of all for 35 years of time lost that I should have been serving God there is no explanation of the sadness you fell at the lost opportunities of serving God.
Fifth rule you can never have back time lost but you can find forgiveness in God. Since rejoining the Catholic faith we have found joy in every day of our lives beyond measure. I am a new person made so by the work of the Holy Ghost and I thank God as well as his son Jesus Christ to consider someone as low as I for a second chance. There is allot I cannot change nor ever will there after all are penalties to be paid for sin both here on Earth and after we pass to the presence of God. just about three years ago I was contacted by Jim he was one of our group members from Okinawa we were both allot older. We spoke on the phone and Jim came to where I lived to visit. It was a disaster. I had changed and Jim was expecting to find the same person he knew some 25 years ago. I had changed and he had not we rarely speak now if at all. Rule six We cannot go back after coming home to the Catholic Church at least no being the same.
I spoke in the beginning about kids 16 years old and having no knowledge of death and the cost of sin. It took me 30 years of trying to do it all by myself and still after I discovered God was needed at every step and breath of my life another 4 years to come home to the Holy Roman Catholic Church. Since I have a had fire in my heart I never knew before and I thank God daily for the opportunities to serve him. If you have a young adult at home have him read this. I have been where he could end up and every word of this story is true. Rule seven pray always that your children never repeat the mistakes you have made and teach them to love God early and often it may even save their lives. Until next time my brethren May God bless you home and bless all who enter it.
Note: I apologize for the very long read but it was placed upon my heart that this story had to be told. Some may find my offenses so great they will never read this page again. To those whom I offend I ask your forgiveness for my short comings. My road was tough you may thank God yours was not.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
The faith of a child ...a life lesson
Jesus while on Earth going about his ministry and teaching his Disciples what they needed to know for there time of ministry talked about children. The one quote most point to is "Unless you believe as one of these you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Children are born with original sin until Baptism. Then as they grow they hit the ages I love. I call it the golden ages it is before they learn to lie or be mean or know the meaning of gossip, bearing false witness or hate. These lessons they learn later and are often taught at home although not intentionally. I mean lets face it they gotta learn it someplace.
This quote has been most often looked at as a statement about the honesty or the trust a child has but there might be one section meaning that is overlooked as a given therefore not often meditated upon by some of us of the one true Catholic and Apostolic Church so I offer just a taste of this missing element in a life lesson from when I was very young. And no not when "Dino Polo" was played in high school as some of my children are fond of thinking.
I was four at the time and living with my Grandmother who by all accounts was to me "Mom" because my biological Mother set me upon my Grandmothers porch when I was one and a half malnourished and she decided with my Father in Vietnam she did not want to deal with me anymore. I don't blame her for this, She carried me for nine months and never intentionally abused me. She was just too young and inexperienced to deal with a child and a household alone. I have always been grateful for what she did for me she loved me enough to give me away before any lasting harm came to me. So if you were named Joyce Goodboe at one time and you read this know that you are loved still by your son.
So at the age of four I had been living with "Mom" for about two and a half years and was just entering the time frame that this old man can remember about his earlier years, and no Marc Antony was not the running back on my High School Football team. It was a day like any other my Grand Mother watched her "soaps" and as usual the mail came at noon. It must have been a hard time money wise because she without thinking she said aloud " I wish I wouldn't get anymore bills. Now somehow this statement resonated with me. I loved my Grand Mother beyond measure and everything she said was very real and relevant to me. I loved her, I trusted her beyond measure and at four would have gone to any length to stop her from hurting or worrying. However at four you really don't know what is a bill and what is not, all I knew was I wanted her to stop hurting and worrying. So I engineered a plan I thought was great at the time, however hindsite is 20/20. I would during the day while playing watch for that man who was bringing this bad news here. When the mail arrived I would get it and bury it in the backyard. My "Mom" did not want anymore bills and if I had anything to say about it she would never get another bill. This was going on for about two weeks or so and I never realized my Grandmother was going crazy because she was getting no mail at all. She complained to the Post Office and to the mail man and was getting bombarded on the phone with over due bill notices. But she never thought to ask me and I was very happy with the knowledge that I was bringing joy into my "Moms" life.
Still another two weeks and cut off notices were being delivered over the phone by the utility companies. I on the other hand had lots of mail and was still burying at different points around the house. I guess it was the process of elimination or a neighbor finally tipped her off but she came to the realization that it was me. So she decided to watch one day and see what was happening to the mail. As so many days before I dutifully trotted out to the mailbox and grabbed the mail and went to my latest burying point. Now as we age we learn things and at four I was not going to talk fast enough to escape the butt whooping that was coming to me. I was confused because I was only doing what I did because she said she didn't want anymore bills.
However it was more than that even at four I had enough love for her that I would do anything out of that love I had. If she had asked me water ski in the Mojave desert. I might have died in the effort but it didn't matter nothing mattered except for the love and trust I had in her. I would have done anything she asked because my love for her was so deep I could not possibly have done anything else. This is what I think gets looked over when Jesus said "unless you believe as one of these you cannot enter The Kingdom of Heaven. We have to love God so much that nothing else matters NOTHING! I believe this is what Jesus wanted to convey to his disciples and to us today. So if you have not told God his son Jesus The Holy Spirit and Our Mother in Heaven Mary that you loved them today do so now. I am sure they are wanting to hear from you and are wanting you to say how much you love them. The faith of a child comes from total love and trust and a willingness to do anything out of these deep feelings. Perhaps it is sad we grow up and far too often forget what that kind of love really feels like. It is a love that can bring you to tears. It is a love that never forgets, and Grandma I know you are looking down upon me and seeing this. I can say finally I am home now and back with the one true Church. And I will never forget all you have given me and how much I loved you and Grandpa Edwards. I pray that as you read this you will understand how deep my feelings run for both of you and I look forward to the day we will see each other again. As you know my Dads terminal with cancer so pray for him that he will be lifted up to heaven to spend eternity with you. With love to all my Brethren God Bless You and remember to tell those who are important to you that you love them. You never know what tomorrow brings.
This quote has been most often looked at as a statement about the honesty or the trust a child has but there might be one section meaning that is overlooked as a given therefore not often meditated upon by some of us of the one true Catholic and Apostolic Church so I offer just a taste of this missing element in a life lesson from when I was very young. And no not when "Dino Polo" was played in high school as some of my children are fond of thinking.
I was four at the time and living with my Grandmother who by all accounts was to me "Mom" because my biological Mother set me upon my Grandmothers porch when I was one and a half malnourished and she decided with my Father in Vietnam she did not want to deal with me anymore. I don't blame her for this, She carried me for nine months and never intentionally abused me. She was just too young and inexperienced to deal with a child and a household alone. I have always been grateful for what she did for me she loved me enough to give me away before any lasting harm came to me. So if you were named Joyce Goodboe at one time and you read this know that you are loved still by your son.
So at the age of four I had been living with "Mom" for about two and a half years and was just entering the time frame that this old man can remember about his earlier years, and no Marc Antony was not the running back on my High School Football team. It was a day like any other my Grand Mother watched her "soaps" and as usual the mail came at noon. It must have been a hard time money wise because she without thinking she said aloud " I wish I wouldn't get anymore bills. Now somehow this statement resonated with me. I loved my Grand Mother beyond measure and everything she said was very real and relevant to me. I loved her, I trusted her beyond measure and at four would have gone to any length to stop her from hurting or worrying. However at four you really don't know what is a bill and what is not, all I knew was I wanted her to stop hurting and worrying. So I engineered a plan I thought was great at the time, however hindsite is 20/20. I would during the day while playing watch for that man who was bringing this bad news here. When the mail arrived I would get it and bury it in the backyard. My "Mom" did not want anymore bills and if I had anything to say about it she would never get another bill. This was going on for about two weeks or so and I never realized my Grandmother was going crazy because she was getting no mail at all. She complained to the Post Office and to the mail man and was getting bombarded on the phone with over due bill notices. But she never thought to ask me and I was very happy with the knowledge that I was bringing joy into my "Moms" life.
Still another two weeks and cut off notices were being delivered over the phone by the utility companies. I on the other hand had lots of mail and was still burying at different points around the house. I guess it was the process of elimination or a neighbor finally tipped her off but she came to the realization that it was me. So she decided to watch one day and see what was happening to the mail. As so many days before I dutifully trotted out to the mailbox and grabbed the mail and went to my latest burying point. Now as we age we learn things and at four I was not going to talk fast enough to escape the butt whooping that was coming to me. I was confused because I was only doing what I did because she said she didn't want anymore bills.
However it was more than that even at four I had enough love for her that I would do anything out of that love I had. If she had asked me water ski in the Mojave desert. I might have died in the effort but it didn't matter nothing mattered except for the love and trust I had in her. I would have done anything she asked because my love for her was so deep I could not possibly have done anything else. This is what I think gets looked over when Jesus said "unless you believe as one of these you cannot enter The Kingdom of Heaven. We have to love God so much that nothing else matters NOTHING! I believe this is what Jesus wanted to convey to his disciples and to us today. So if you have not told God his son Jesus The Holy Spirit and Our Mother in Heaven Mary that you loved them today do so now. I am sure they are wanting to hear from you and are wanting you to say how much you love them. The faith of a child comes from total love and trust and a willingness to do anything out of these deep feelings. Perhaps it is sad we grow up and far too often forget what that kind of love really feels like. It is a love that can bring you to tears. It is a love that never forgets, and Grandma I know you are looking down upon me and seeing this. I can say finally I am home now and back with the one true Church. And I will never forget all you have given me and how much I loved you and Grandpa Edwards. I pray that as you read this you will understand how deep my feelings run for both of you and I look forward to the day we will see each other again. As you know my Dads terminal with cancer so pray for him that he will be lifted up to heaven to spend eternity with you. With love to all my Brethren God Bless You and remember to tell those who are important to you that you love them. You never know what tomorrow brings.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
The unexpected joy!
I found, as with every Sunday myself in Church. Here where I live it was a normal Summer day, sunny clear and temps expected to hit 100 for the fifth day in a row. I and my wife and our kids arrived about 20 minutes before the Mass so we could pray and prepare ourselves for Mass on this day of Pentecost. I was there sitting with my family when a phrase came out of my lips in what must have been a Spirit filled moment. I slowly exhaled and said just loud enough to be heard by my wife " I love being here".
Now to most they will say "So what I love it in Church too because I love God". However I did not say I loved being at Church. I said I love being here. What's the difference? Allot. Being here was the key code. I was not saying I liked being in the building, instead I said here in the Mass in the very presence of God. I felt peace and happiness and contentment. I was in that very moment in close association with the Holy Ghost.
You see my biggest fault is I am never sure I am doing much or for that matter anything that Jesus would consider of value to the Church. At times in my life I get a lack of faith issue going and therefore think I need to "swing for the bleachers" in my service to the Body of Christ. I am hopeful that some of you will pray for me to defeat this sin of doubt and pride. You see I forgot as many of us sometimes do, that what we accomplish and anything else for that matter is by the permission of God as the Bible clearly states "we can do nothing without God". St. Therese (little flower) knew this and went about doing her service in the little things. A simple action of giving a passing person a cool drink of water or looking to a waitress or store clerk and saying "God bless you" and meaning it. Sometimes I think this term is just used as a type of slogan we say at Mass and after. Yet with such a small parting word can have life changing events. The person sees your joy and wonders what you have that he does not. Soon he is at Church convinced that the joy he saw is what he wants also.
People like St. Therese and St. Padre Pio (my chosen Saint for Confirmation) show us that we all don't have to be "Babe Ruth's of the Catholic world to make a difference". We need to accept what we are given by The Holy Ghost and work with it. Perhaps we need only to look the Parable of the man who was hiring workers and paid those who worked 12 hours they same that worked two hours. Some will have been there from birth and may achieve great works in the Body of Christ. While others will come later and do very minor works for the Body of Christ and still receive the same blessings. In other words as long as you do something with what you are given you are still doing the work of Christ and his Church. Your just not going to be on the "All Star Team". This does not mean you will never make the team because as you grow closer to Christ you are given more and more graces and blessing from God.
Now this may seem to be allot to put into a momentary and non-thinking act of saying "I love it here". But I think that many of you will realize that sometimes what we learn from a single moment in the presence of the Holy Ghost can be a life lesson that can change not the world, but one life at a time. Until next time my Brethren remember to keep in mind the smallest service, for it is in these moments of our service. We can lay the foundation for others to build on.
Now to most they will say "So what I love it in Church too because I love God". However I did not say I loved being at Church. I said I love being here. What's the difference? Allot. Being here was the key code. I was not saying I liked being in the building, instead I said here in the Mass in the very presence of God. I felt peace and happiness and contentment. I was in that very moment in close association with the Holy Ghost.
You see my biggest fault is I am never sure I am doing much or for that matter anything that Jesus would consider of value to the Church. At times in my life I get a lack of faith issue going and therefore think I need to "swing for the bleachers" in my service to the Body of Christ. I am hopeful that some of you will pray for me to defeat this sin of doubt and pride. You see I forgot as many of us sometimes do, that what we accomplish and anything else for that matter is by the permission of God as the Bible clearly states "we can do nothing without God". St. Therese (little flower) knew this and went about doing her service in the little things. A simple action of giving a passing person a cool drink of water or looking to a waitress or store clerk and saying "God bless you" and meaning it. Sometimes I think this term is just used as a type of slogan we say at Mass and after. Yet with such a small parting word can have life changing events. The person sees your joy and wonders what you have that he does not. Soon he is at Church convinced that the joy he saw is what he wants also.
People like St. Therese and St. Padre Pio (my chosen Saint for Confirmation) show us that we all don't have to be "Babe Ruth's of the Catholic world to make a difference". We need to accept what we are given by The Holy Ghost and work with it. Perhaps we need only to look the Parable of the man who was hiring workers and paid those who worked 12 hours they same that worked two hours. Some will have been there from birth and may achieve great works in the Body of Christ. While others will come later and do very minor works for the Body of Christ and still receive the same blessings. In other words as long as you do something with what you are given you are still doing the work of Christ and his Church. Your just not going to be on the "All Star Team". This does not mean you will never make the team because as you grow closer to Christ you are given more and more graces and blessing from God.
Now this may seem to be allot to put into a momentary and non-thinking act of saying "I love it here". But I think that many of you will realize that sometimes what we learn from a single moment in the presence of the Holy Ghost can be a life lesson that can change not the world, but one life at a time. Until next time my Brethren remember to keep in mind the smallest service, for it is in these moments of our service. We can lay the foundation for others to build on.
Friday, June 10, 2011
The world and the Church
It is often said that we are not of this world that we as Catholics are set upon worship and service to others as well as taking our place in the body of Christ. No more factual statement has been made. However I will argue that while this is true we must exist as people of this world to fulfill what Jesus wished for us to do. We are to bring the Church to those who do not know what the real church is. The real Church is of course The Holy Roman Catholic Church. Now if this offends you because you are not a part of the church don't let this statement do so. The Catholic church does not subscribe to the view that if you are not Catholic your going to Hell. It dose however state you cannot know the true fullness of Christ if you are not part of the Catholic church.
By reading the Gospels and Acts we are given a road map of what Christ wants from us. Simply we should live as he did. Easier said than done by a long shot, however as we get to know Christ better we receive more and more graces from God to learn more. By this I mean, if you attend Mass you without question will run into the couple. They are always in Mass and serve the Church and have such joy in their hearts that just by being near them you feel joyous also. They are not arrogant nor judgemental they are loving friendly and without question somebody we want to be. Sound familiar? These are the people that get it. They overflow with grace and joy because they have found completeness in Christ.
Now in my time I have wandered between a few different Churches, I won't mention their names but they were Christian Churches also. In this time though I would find there was also something missing. There was not the joy you see in the Catholic Church but instead it is replaced by smoke and mirrors. To often you found that the people who were looked upon as people to imitate were judgemental and opinionated to such a severe level that if you were not a member at birth you could never seek to sit on that high of a ivory tower. I do not say this to be harsh or mean spirited. There are several people on the lowest rungs of these churches who are very faithful and loving people who by the very nature of their church are taught feelings matter not getting closer to God. I cannot sometimes hold my temper when a man or woman comes up to me and says " I went to church last week and got saved and now I am guaranteed heaven". I will often tell them that is a good first step accepting God. All to often I hear "First step? no you don't understand this is all I need to do".
They never go back to church living their lives as they always have and die facing judgement on a lie. Meanwhile their Pastors are driving expensive spots cars and jetting all over the world spreading their version of what a Christian is.
At this point I must tell a quick story. I attended at one time a super church somewhere in Texas. They had the lights flashing the singing and put on shows and everything you could imagine. The Pastor of the Church was widely recognized and was very popular not only in his church but in the many churches he visited around the world. He was a very aggressive towards the Catholic church talking of guilt and lies and how he was raised Catholic and somebody owed him a apology. I was never at ease when he went on these tirades and often wondered how a man that preaches love could hate as much as he did. Well I left that Church and returned to the Catholic Church and found my found my place there. I immediately knew in my heart that my search was over. I needed no lights, no loud music, and no smoke to tell me why I was there. I had been away for many years and was never confirmed so i and my family entered into the RCIA program of catechism as appropriate. Now I should note this move was not sudden I began to study and reached this decision based on research and prayer. I forced nobody in my home to join with me. I asked my wife and each child what they wanted to do. Our first Mass was filled with the joy as a homecoming often is. I received the Sacrament of Confirmation and began to try to find my place in the body of Christ. I wanted to be where other Catholics were because it was where my heart now was. I joined The Knights of Columbus both because I saw my duty to the Church but also the service to the community. I was accepted and am now a Third Degree Knight and will Enter the Fourth Degree later this month. I had skipped some Fourth Degree ceremonies to remain a third degree Knight because I did not at that time consider myself worthy of that honor. However no matter where you went you always heard about a certain Knight that was talked about with such awe and admiration that it was stunning. He was among the charter members of our Council and was deeply respected for both his works within the Knights as well as the Church he was a man of exceptional faith and I am sadly left having never knew him in person.
He passed not long ago but by then I had learned much more about him. He had four sons and a very loving wife. Three of his sons were well respected members of the Catholic faith. His fourth son was the very same preacher of the church I left. This threw me for a loop as he was dripping with hatred for the Catholic faith. At his funeral Mass the fullness of his life was evident. The church was almost packed and he received a tribute by the Knights as befitting a fourth degree Knight. As I looked around it was apparent his son from the other church was not attending. Instead seated somewhere near the back of the church was his wife. It was sad to see her almost sneer at everybody there. The Mass ended and she left having never said anything to the family. It was heartbreaking to see a family in such division. I shall remember that lesson until the day I die.
I have relatives still attending that Church convinced I am going to Hell in a hand basket. Maybe perhaps because of my many sins they may be right. I have attempted to reach out to them but blindness is all to difficult to cure. If Churches from all Christian faiths preach the Jesus forgives and loves everybody and wishes no on to suffer Hell. Why do they hate us? The persecution of the Catholic Church is alive and well in today's world. So who should we look for as a example to us all how to live for Christ but exist in the present world. I only need to go to Saint Francis. He lived in a time of peril bringing many to Christ while strictly sticking to what Jesus taught. He broke no civil laws but was there to share the glory of God to many. This I believe is the finest example for us all we are here to save others not to serve ourselves. We need to both Liberal Catholics as well as Traditional Catholics come together and get on with God's work and not try to change our church to suit our beliefs.
It takes a little of the past and a little of the now and a little of the future for a church to know it's own destiny. We as Catholics know our destiny but want to play tug a war as to what the Church is like. Yes even today there is division but there is a way to stop this division. Accept the Church for what she is and don't worry about the turns of the Church. God declares that Satan will not overcome the Church so it is our job to remain silent on the differences and approach our God as a member of the body of his church. No self interest but always focused on what our job here is on Earth, to love and bring others to the real Church.
Now I know some are saying "hey wait a second earlier you wrote on veiling women and no meat on Friday etc... these are rules that many believe gone but are not. I do not attack those who don't wear veils nor anybody else, however just pointing out facts is not a act of judgement nor censure. We can become a great body of service as the parts of the body of Christ today and in the future. So let it be our sacred duty to serve Christ and do what he wishes for us. A new rising of faith is needed in this country and the Church nor Jesus will always be here. For at a point we will be with God in heaven and Earth minus God can't survive. It is my most serious prayer that this nation as well as the rest of the world come to realize we are all one nation (in the body of Christ) and as one nation we are under God. I believe we could not aspire to any higher level.
Until next time.
By reading the Gospels and Acts we are given a road map of what Christ wants from us. Simply we should live as he did. Easier said than done by a long shot, however as we get to know Christ better we receive more and more graces from God to learn more. By this I mean, if you attend Mass you without question will run into the couple. They are always in Mass and serve the Church and have such joy in their hearts that just by being near them you feel joyous also. They are not arrogant nor judgemental they are loving friendly and without question somebody we want to be. Sound familiar? These are the people that get it. They overflow with grace and joy because they have found completeness in Christ.
Now in my time I have wandered between a few different Churches, I won't mention their names but they were Christian Churches also. In this time though I would find there was also something missing. There was not the joy you see in the Catholic Church but instead it is replaced by smoke and mirrors. To often you found that the people who were looked upon as people to imitate were judgemental and opinionated to such a severe level that if you were not a member at birth you could never seek to sit on that high of a ivory tower. I do not say this to be harsh or mean spirited. There are several people on the lowest rungs of these churches who are very faithful and loving people who by the very nature of their church are taught feelings matter not getting closer to God. I cannot sometimes hold my temper when a man or woman comes up to me and says " I went to church last week and got saved and now I am guaranteed heaven". I will often tell them that is a good first step accepting God. All to often I hear "First step? no you don't understand this is all I need to do".
They never go back to church living their lives as they always have and die facing judgement on a lie. Meanwhile their Pastors are driving expensive spots cars and jetting all over the world spreading their version of what a Christian is.
At this point I must tell a quick story. I attended at one time a super church somewhere in Texas. They had the lights flashing the singing and put on shows and everything you could imagine. The Pastor of the Church was widely recognized and was very popular not only in his church but in the many churches he visited around the world. He was a very aggressive towards the Catholic church talking of guilt and lies and how he was raised Catholic and somebody owed him a apology. I was never at ease when he went on these tirades and often wondered how a man that preaches love could hate as much as he did. Well I left that Church and returned to the Catholic Church and found my found my place there. I immediately knew in my heart that my search was over. I needed no lights, no loud music, and no smoke to tell me why I was there. I had been away for many years and was never confirmed so i and my family entered into the RCIA program of catechism as appropriate. Now I should note this move was not sudden I began to study and reached this decision based on research and prayer. I forced nobody in my home to join with me. I asked my wife and each child what they wanted to do. Our first Mass was filled with the joy as a homecoming often is. I received the Sacrament of Confirmation and began to try to find my place in the body of Christ. I wanted to be where other Catholics were because it was where my heart now was. I joined The Knights of Columbus both because I saw my duty to the Church but also the service to the community. I was accepted and am now a Third Degree Knight and will Enter the Fourth Degree later this month. I had skipped some Fourth Degree ceremonies to remain a third degree Knight because I did not at that time consider myself worthy of that honor. However no matter where you went you always heard about a certain Knight that was talked about with such awe and admiration that it was stunning. He was among the charter members of our Council and was deeply respected for both his works within the Knights as well as the Church he was a man of exceptional faith and I am sadly left having never knew him in person.
He passed not long ago but by then I had learned much more about him. He had four sons and a very loving wife. Three of his sons were well respected members of the Catholic faith. His fourth son was the very same preacher of the church I left. This threw me for a loop as he was dripping with hatred for the Catholic faith. At his funeral Mass the fullness of his life was evident. The church was almost packed and he received a tribute by the Knights as befitting a fourth degree Knight. As I looked around it was apparent his son from the other church was not attending. Instead seated somewhere near the back of the church was his wife. It was sad to see her almost sneer at everybody there. The Mass ended and she left having never said anything to the family. It was heartbreaking to see a family in such division. I shall remember that lesson until the day I die.
I have relatives still attending that Church convinced I am going to Hell in a hand basket. Maybe perhaps because of my many sins they may be right. I have attempted to reach out to them but blindness is all to difficult to cure. If Churches from all Christian faiths preach the Jesus forgives and loves everybody and wishes no on to suffer Hell. Why do they hate us? The persecution of the Catholic Church is alive and well in today's world. So who should we look for as a example to us all how to live for Christ but exist in the present world. I only need to go to Saint Francis. He lived in a time of peril bringing many to Christ while strictly sticking to what Jesus taught. He broke no civil laws but was there to share the glory of God to many. This I believe is the finest example for us all we are here to save others not to serve ourselves. We need to both Liberal Catholics as well as Traditional Catholics come together and get on with God's work and not try to change our church to suit our beliefs.
It takes a little of the past and a little of the now and a little of the future for a church to know it's own destiny. We as Catholics know our destiny but want to play tug a war as to what the Church is like. Yes even today there is division but there is a way to stop this division. Accept the Church for what she is and don't worry about the turns of the Church. God declares that Satan will not overcome the Church so it is our job to remain silent on the differences and approach our God as a member of the body of his church. No self interest but always focused on what our job here is on Earth, to love and bring others to the real Church.
Now I know some are saying "hey wait a second earlier you wrote on veiling women and no meat on Friday etc... these are rules that many believe gone but are not. I do not attack those who don't wear veils nor anybody else, however just pointing out facts is not a act of judgement nor censure. We can become a great body of service as the parts of the body of Christ today and in the future. So let it be our sacred duty to serve Christ and do what he wishes for us. A new rising of faith is needed in this country and the Church nor Jesus will always be here. For at a point we will be with God in heaven and Earth minus God can't survive. It is my most serious prayer that this nation as well as the rest of the world come to realize we are all one nation (in the body of Christ) and as one nation we are under God. I believe we could not aspire to any higher level.
Until next time.
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