Merry Christmas

Emanuel has come, "God is among us." Jesus Christ, the Savior is born!!!

Nara Matha...Come Lord Jesus. Yes indeed it is Christmas and we welcome into the world Jesus Christ, the Lord born of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He is in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger, blessed the Son of David is here. Let us this Christmas remember the meaning of our Christ's coming and birth. There is no doubt that without the beautiful birth of our Lord into the world there could have been no salvation. Thus, the birth of Jesus marks a wonderful beginning to the New Year. He is the ultimate gift from the Father, the full expression of love who gave his everything to us to redeem us and save us. Certainly, we will receive some gifts this Christmas, but let us constantly remember that Christ Jesus is the most blessed gift that we have received and continue to receive during this Christmas season. Thanks be to God for a precious gift of a babe who is holy and infant so tender and mild. It is extraordinary to think about our Lord sharing in our own humanity, truly and fully human yet also our powerful and saving God. What a beautiful image it is to go back into the wilderness and journey that Mary and Joseph journeyed to get to that manger where they were met by Shepherds, Wisemen, and the Angels. This Christmas, let us remember, that is re-experience the birth of our Lord by Listening to the Word the Logos and placing ourselves among those who celebrate the coming of the Christ. What better way to celebrate Christmas than by going to Mass and receiving Christ in the flesh by way of the Eucharist. Not only do we recognize and remember his birth, but enter into the reality that he once a baby was brought into this world with one purpose to share the Love of the Father through his Blood, Cross, Death, and Resurrection. May you this Christmas see Jesus in the friends and family that you celebrate with. Remember the love that God calls us to share in not only on this wondrous day but throughout the Liturgical year. Behold a child has been born, Salvation has come to the house and line of David. Jesus the Christ, the Savior has come into the world. Therefore, let us remember during this Advent time and Christmas the coming of Jesus, not only in this day, but knowing in full confidence that he will come again!!! NARA MATHA...."Come Lord Jesus!!!" Bring us Home. May the blessing of almighty God and the peace and fellowship of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit be with you always brothers and sisters. Peace and Merry Christmas.

LiveSTRONG

There is no doubt that Cancer is a leading cause of death, it robs tens of thousands of people their life every year. Cancer is one battle that the human community faces and must continue to fight against in hopes of one day being triumphant as a whole. Lance Armstrong is one man who said no toward allowing Cancer to control his life let alone ruin it. The miraculous story of Armstrong who has conquered Cancer and in the meantime won countless Tour de France titles, is something we all must reflect upon. The message, LiveSTRONG is something that we as people must all endorse and live by.

I joined the support of LiveStrong because of the need to fight the devastating disease that is CANCER. Cancer has taken so many from this world, including my grandfather and I have a few friends who continue to LiveSTRONG and battle. Jim Valvano, a legendary basketball coach who battled Cancer and ended up dying due to the disease once said, "Don't Give Up, You Must Never Give Up!" This message along with the message and will of Lance Armstrong and his incredible triumph and great success story is one reason why I endorse the LiveSTRONG message.

Furthermore, I endorse LiveSTRONG because we all face difficulties in our lives, where different obstacles test us throughout this race we run called life. Essentially it must be ingrained in our will to overcome and be triumphant in life and this is only possible if we too LiveSTRONG. Whether the battle we face is Cancer, AIDS, or any other physical ailment, alcoholism, drug addiction, hardships in our family and/or community, we all face things that are hard and test our will and ability to plug on and not give up. These battles are the crosses we carry, we must accept that they are real and that they challenge us continuously, however we must not be complacent or accept that our situation is too difficult to overcome, but we must be proactive and aggressive toward liberation and life lived the LiveSTRONG way. The LiveSTRONG way is a life that can accept failure and even death in the case of a disease such as Cancer, however it cannot accept not trying to battle for our life, mental stability, and peace we all deserve as Children of God. We cannot ever give up, this would be the worst that any of us could decide to do. The LiveSTRONG way is about living life with a positive attitude with the "no quit" mindset that nothing is too big to overcome, but all things are possible for us because we all must realize that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13).

LiveSTRONG is a message that is applicable to all of us. We face devastating obstacles such as Cancer every day. Some are more difficult than others, however we cannot do it alone. LiveSTRONG is a collective response to our human situation and our own situations. As a community and as a collective whole we as people united under the LiveSTRONG mindset will conquer all things, as we must always remember to LiveSTRONG---Live, knowing life is always worth fighting for and living, and STRONG---we must stay Strong in Christ who is our Savior and Lord who liberates us from our burdens, " In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33) "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:30). LiveSTRONG!!!

Sons of God

Jesus is the Son of God who came to take away the sins of the world and to pay the ransom to save humanity. Our Lord payed the ultimate price so that we could be called Christians, we who walk in the light and not in darkness. They call us Christians because we are representatives of Christ here in this world and rep for our King who has paved the road to Eternal Life. All of us have our imperfections, struggles, and trials that push us to the brink at times and we may even feel like giving up. What we must realize is that the Faith that we have is a true miracle. Through all the hardship that comes our way, we continue to endure and do God's will. Sure, we all fall short of the glory of God every day, but our Father does not expect perfection, but a constant effort that we may strive to be like his Son. As a result of doing our best and trusting in God to give us the power to give our all, we are not only Clothed with Christ, but we are Sons of God as well. The Father has promised us life and life abundantly through our Savior Christ Jesus. We are Sons of God because we are the Children of God and by placing our faith in our Father and keeping that Faith, the gift he has given us is the promise of life. Many people do not have what we have as Christians and as Sons of God, they do not have an ETERNAL LIFE LINE. Jesus is whom we have been clothed with, therefore, whenever God looks at us he sees his Son. How awesome is this? It is the best because we are ensured that although we may fall and fall often at times, Christ promises to help us rise and grow stronger by keeping our Faith and walking hand and hand with God. Touching Jesus everyday means reading the Word, spending time with Christ in Prayer, and listening to God in our relationships and events of our daily lives. When we learn to lose our selves, be humble and totally of abundant Faith there is no way that we can be defeated for we are a member of God's army, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. So in times of despair, trouble, doubt, and depression, call on your Father to raise you as he raised Jesus from the Tomb on Easter morning. Always remember that you are God's Son, you are God's Child, you are friend of Christ. For we are all made in the image of God and it is our Creator who gave his only begotten Son to the world, so that we all might reap an Everlasting Reward. No we do not deserve it, no we cannot earn it, but we may receive it because of Faith that has come by Grace, a grace that shines light upon our Face. Let us keep in mind that to be a Christian means that we are a part of the Family of life, we are Sons of God.

Don't Live as the World Lives, But Through Love and the Power of God

In today's first two readings we hear a strong message from both the Prophet Isaiah and Paul who speak about life in this world, while not being of this world. As Christians we have to go about living in a world that is broken, full of trouble, temptation, and sin, however we do not have to be of this world. Certainly, we live in a time when independence and being the best, most powerful, and of greatest success matters most to so many people. Yet, the Word we hear to today teaches us that these people may think that they have it all, but really they are missing out on the greatest thing that any man can have, a a faith and life filled with love fostered by God the Father. Love is a gift that God gives to us freely, it is something that we cannot earn but just receive because we are His children. In the Gospel story we hear of the servants who work and expect something in return, one works for the entire day, another for half the day, and the third for only a few hours. The one who worked the entire day becomes jealous and mad when he learns that the third servant only worked a few hours yet received the same wage. This story is one that we can all learn from, it is not about what we do or how much we do it, but about what God does for us and how we respond and receive what the Lord gives to us. Certainly, the first servant missed out on the blessings that he was receiving because he was focused on earning a wage for the work he did. With God, we are all valued whether we do great things, or small things in great ways. It is not so much about what we do as how we use the gifts, blessings, and love that comes our way to positively love the world in which we live. The Kingdom of God is spread on earth and is among us so long as we love others as God loves us. Saint Paul in his letter to the Philippians tells them that to be with Christ is the utmost blessing and greatest gift, namely death is gain, while life here on earth must be lived for Jesus. He also tells them that he would like to go to the Father now, however he knows that his work here on earth is not yet done and that the people of Philippi need him, they need his love. Love takes sacrifice, it is not easy while living in a world where competition, greed, envy, and pride are so ever present. Although, it is a challenge, the greatest gift of all is Love and this love that we receive while in an intimate relation with Christ and by sharing our lives with the community of believers must be spread throughout the broken world in order to make it whole and full of true life once again. For "Christ came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:28) How great a position we are in. God loves us because of who we are, and what we do by sharing this power of love that comes from our Father essentially displays our Love to the World. Therefore let us keep this love in our hearts and know that we are the children of God who are to be love for the world, love in the world, love throughout the world. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.....faith, hope, love remain, but the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:4-7,13)

We all can Relate to the Prodigal Son

It is in the Gospel of Luke where humankind can learn so much and reflect upon the story of the Prodigal Son. For many, this story hits home right away, however it has many messages as Jesus teaches us about the problems of pride, independence, and the fault of following the rules too closely. The younger son is given his inheritance and instead of being patient and listening to his father on how to manage this wealth he instead goes away to foreign lands, wastes all his money on prostitutes and empty pleasures. Eventually the youngest son has nothing left and has to fend for himself because he cannot go back to his Father, for he has too much pride and believes that even though he has been given great riches, he does not need to be dependent on his Father. Thus, the great pride clouds the young man's self being and he goes as low as working with pigs, something that is seen as a disgrace in the Jewish world. Not only does the young man work with the swine, he longs to eat of the slop which the pigs feed from because he himself has no food and the country he is in is suffering from famine. Certainly this young man hit rock bottom he was dead, yet he did not believe that he was dead. Finally the young man realized that he had to go home, he was sorry for his pride and ashamed of what he had done. He decided to go and tell his Father that He was no longer worthy to be called Son. Upon the young man's return home , as soon as his Father saw him he went to Son and kissed him, a sign of forgiveness and a symbol of the grace of life that was given back to the Son because he had returned. The Father decided to slaughter the fattened calf and clothed his son with the finest robe, providing a party for the Son and his friends. Some might ask why would a Father do this for his Son who squandered all his inheritance, committed sinful acts, and defamed the family name in the process by going as low as a Jewish man cold possibly go. Well, the Father was grateful that his Son had come back, from death to life, from being lost, to being once again found. Certainly, the Father represents God in this parable and the Son, we, the children of God. How often do we subside to temptations and things that we know we are not fit to do or should not partake in, but we do it anyway. The major problem that many of us have at one time or another during our lives is pride. When pride takes control of our hearts and we believe that we can be totally independent, we feel we no longer need God and this is extremely dangerous. However, we also must realize that God is continuously trying to reel us in, get us back on board and be arisen from the dead back to life, namely a relationship with Him, our Father. The grace that the young man received was a free gift given by his Father and presents the mercy, love, care, and investment that God has in all of us. Furthermore, this brings us to the second valuable point in this parable, that God does not care so much about the rules as He does the relationship we have with him. Certainly, the older son, the one who remained faithful to his Father and did not squander or even spend any of his inheritance but was a faithful servant all the while when his brother was gone, he missed the boat. Yes, the older son followed the rules, and yes it is good that we obey the ten commandments and statutes of the Church, but we must not get so concerned with the law to forget about the relationship that we must have with our Lord. The older Son did not have a close relationship to his Father and this was represented when he displayed jealousy and complained to his Father when his younger brother came back and received a party after squandering everything. What the older son failed to recognize was the transformation of his brother from death to life, from being a slave to sin to being freed to righteousness. What the older brother did not recognize was that all that was his Father's was his also, but he was too worried about things that did not concern his relationship with his Father. In addition, the older son represents all of us who at one time or another tend to focus on what other people are doing, whether or not they are following the rules. We at times can fall into this trap of judging others for their faults, while we ourselves are far from perfect and should be paying more attention toward fostering a better and closer relationship with Christ because with the Lord as our right hand man the rules will be taken care of. Codependence or interdependence is what we must focus on and be willing to live by, through Christ we are made complete and holy and righteous. For the Father invested so much in us, his creation. He sent his only begotten Son to die so that we may live, this is a huge commitment. Certainly God is not looking to catch us in the act of committing a sin to banish us from his Kingdom, this is a wrong idea. For our God is a God of compassion, love, and generosity. He is willing to work with us and for us, we must trust in Him and continuously foster a deep relationship through prayer, delving into the Word and living out the gospel through love. We are all prodigal sons and daughters at times in our lives and it is important for us to remember the lessons that both sons in this parable learned. We cannot go wrong with our Lord who is "The WAY, The TRUTH, and The LIFE." So lets celebrate that we are alive in Jesus Christ, we have life and by faith and grace have the promise that God our Father will make sin dead to us through the Cross and blood of the Lamb.

No ordinary Tree

Today we are in the 24th Sunday of ordinary time and we hear a message that certainly is not ordinary whatsoever. In the gospel John reminds us that Christ was sent for us as the expiation for our sin, in order to rescue us from the snares of damnation to the abundant life after death. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:16-17). This is the message of salvation, the reason why the Savior came to the world, to bring us from death to life through this incredible act of love. Love was ever present and God displayed this love for the world when he brought human kind into creation by making us from the dirt of the earth into living beings by blowing life into us, giving us our spirit. Adam and Eve betrayed God by eating of the forbidden tree, however Christ atoned for the sin by dying on this not so ordinary tree some 2,000 years ago. We live in this world a world that at times sees us as ordinary, yet we are more than what the eyes can see. Yes, we are body, but we are more than this. The flesh which we bare has no real meaning other than being the place which holds our spirit and soul. It is ever so important for us to never judge the outside of one but the contents of the heart because that is where the truth to a man or woman whom has been created in the image of God remains. The fruit of our spirit is where the essence of whom we are is and continues to develop in this world. We must continue to keep the cross, that not so ordinary tree, at our side and at the center of our life. In this world we are promised that we will have trouble as Job 14:1 proclaims, "Man born of woman
is of few days and full of trouble." Indeed we are human and with this we will have hardship and struggle in this age, however we must remember that our Lord Jesus went through the same troubles and temptations that we face, yet he conquered all without sin. How wonderful it is for us to be linked to this Savior, we was both human and divine. We can relate to him and our Lord Christ can relate to us and plead to the Father that God Almighty must remain patient with us. By bestowing this not so ordinary attitude of the wood of the cross, that expiating tree and message of life that we hear from John's gospel, there is no doubt that we can overcome all of this trouble through, faith, hope, and love in Jesus Christ. For human life is a segment of creation in which we a body, soul, and spirit are ignited and sustained by God through his Son Jesus Christ. This life we must remember has much purpose and is for serving and loving God and neighbor, as it is in the world to come which we will prosper fully and rejoice in our Heavenly Home. Thanks be to God, for the faith we receive through grace which has come to us by way of Christ Jesus our Savior and Lord. So times are never ordinary when Christ is by our side, we are linked to a not so ordinary tree which is the Cross, the sign of our faith. The message is clear and proclaimed perfectly by Saint Paul who said, "To live is for Christ, to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21). In this world we will have trouble, but we also have a Savior who gives to us and sustains us, being willing to live and help us through our tough times. We are the flock in the fold and he is our Shepherd, so long as we live for Christ here on earth we shall gain life everlasting in the world to come.

September 11th: A Message That Goes Beyond One Day

Today marks a sad day in American history, September 11th, the day when our Nation was brutally attacked by terrorists, causing the death of hundreds of innocent victims. September 11th, marks a day when all remember those who died in the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and the Pennsylvania field. September 11th marks a day where people across the world said, "I am an American." There is so much to say about this day which we refer to as 9/11, however there is a magnificent question about brotherhood, respect, and love which looms over America and the world. After the events that took place on September 11th, there was a remarkable display of Christian brotherhood, charity, love, and peace between all people of various races, ethnicities, religions, and cultures. The response to the tragedy that struck America was remarkable, yet sad at the same time as it lasted for a while but then faded away and now seems to merely exist on every September 11th in the calendar year. It is amazing how humans respond to tragedy and misfortune, to events that hurt our fellow man. However, why does it take an event like September 11th, to rise the multitudes to come together as brothers and sisters as one, a collective piece in this humanity we are a part of? Why does it take aircrafts being launched into buildings, and people dying to get a response from the human race? Should not we live our lives like all Americans and people who hold true to this Nation do on every September 11th? Should we not be their for our fellow Americans and fellow brothers and sisters across the globe when times are good and times are bad? Why does it take an event that is tragic to spark the love that lays in our hearts dormant until death strikes and people are so brutally affected? We live in a world where genocide, human rights violations, war, and terror are evident every day, yet response to such matters only occur for a period of time. Why is this? Why do human beings not step up to the plate and give their all to combat evil in this world, gaining peace and reconciliation for all by means of love, fellowship, and suffering for another's gain? The answer seems complex, unknown, and mysterious, however, the answer lays before us. Jesus said in the gospel of Thomas (found in the dead sea scrolls and revealed to the public after Vatican II) that "The Kingdom of God is before you, the problem is that people do not see clearly." What did our Lord mean when he said this to the disciples some 2,000 years ago? Well, God and the love of God is within us, the mission is set before us, and we are called to respond everyday, not just on September 11ths, namely tragic times. Who are we and what do we hold to be important to us? If love rules our lives then we have the Kingdom of God now and will continue to have it in the world to come. But if we do not, and we merely react to things and are those people who respond for a while and then drift away, we are lost sheep who need the Shepherd but refuse his call. So on this September 11th I urge you to reflect on your life, your situation, your past, your present, and your future. Who are you? How do you live life? Are you willing to open your eyes wide and see the Kingdom of God before you? This is a daily call to love God and neighbor. It's dates such as 9/11 that remind us of this call and then its up to us to act appropriately no matter how hard it may be. For Christ sacrificed so that all may live, the least we can do is to sacrifice so that our fellow may gain the life he and she deserves. May God grant peace and rest on the victims of September 11th and all those victims whom have been robbed of life because of tragic events.

Story of Saint Dunston

St. Dunstun lived in England during the time of the Reformation...He was a Blacksmith by trade and was the best at his trade...One night the Devil came to St. Dunstun's village...As he was walking down the cobblestone streets a rider came by at top speed with sparks flying off of his horses shoes as he sped through town...The Devil immediately noticed this display and lusted for a pair of shoes to equal the horseman's...As he strolled down the street he came across the Blacksmith Shop of St. Dunstun...Now, The Devil being as deceitful as he is realized he could not wander into the Saint's shop without be detected, So, He disguised himself as a beautiful woman in a long dress...As he entered St. Dunstun's shop he began to tempt the Saint with sexual innuendos believing that he could tempt the Saint into making him a pair of exquisite shoes for his hooves...But when the Devil bent over to pickup one of
the used horseshoes on the floor of St Dunstan's shop, The back of his dress lifted just enough for St. Dunstun to see his hooves...St. Dunstun immediately recognized the Devil and agreed to make him the most glorious pair of sparking shoes ever-made...He toiled for hours and just as he beat the last shoe into finished form he grabbed the Devil by the hoof and tied him to a chair...He then proceeded to nail the Red-hot horseshoe's to the Devil's Hooves...As the burning white hot shoes were being applied the Devil screeched in agony and as the nails were driven in, The Devil pleaded with St. Dunstun to remove them immediately...However, The Saint, Being as wise as he was saintly, Took out a piece of parchment and made the Devil sign a contract in his own blood to never enter a House, Building or Person where a horseshoe is displayed or in possession...The Devil quickly agreed to St. Dunstuns terms, But St. Dunstun was not finished he made the devil
promise to immediately leave his shop and never enter his presence again...The Devil nodded in defeat...Only then did St. Dunstun remove his shoes very slowly...That is why to this day, A House with a horseshoe displayed over the door mantle will make the Devil run in fear...Or a person with a piece of an old horseshoe in there possession will turn his head every time.

I Have a Dream

I have a dream.

I say to you my brothers and sisters, that although times are tough, we can win this fight against the enemy, Satan.

I have a dream that every man and woman will return to our Father's house in Heaven. The Gates are open and all of our names are to be written in the book of life. "I am your creator. You were in my care even before you were born," said the God. For we can be with him in Everlasting happiness, where everyone is made like Christ.

I have a dream that all people who were created by God, His Children, learn to love, serve, believe in, trust in, hope in, and know the Lord. I dream that all people have faith in god teh Father and his only Son Jesus Christ.

I have a dream that all people win the fight which is worth fighting and worth winning. That all are saved and walk with the light of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God and rejoice in his Heavenly Kingdom forever.

I have a dream that all bow down to God now in this life and in the one to come and proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and King. I dream that we all will end up in the Glory and radiance of the Lord and honor and serve him in celebration for eternity.

I have a dream that we all are healed of our impurities and return home to Aba, our Father. With the hard work of God's Disciples and all who do his works throughout the world, we all can live in the spectacular Savior's Mansion, our Father's Sanctuary.

I have a dream and it can come true because God is helping us continuously each and every day. God invites all to the everlasting party and provides directions for the journey. It is just a matter of us putting our trust in him and doing what he wills so we can make it. It is a matter of grace, a free gift given to us through the pouring out of the Love and Passion in the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who was crucified, died on the cross, and raised, so all may live. It starts with you. You must begin by living God's will. You can do it, but only with the help of the Lord your God who has countless love and mercy Live for Christ because He is the reason we have the ability to share everlasting life. "For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) "For the Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost." (Luke 19:10) God has created us all individually and we are made perfect like Jesus Himself when we enter the Heavenly Kingdom. "Everything started with Him, and it finds its purpose in Him." (Colossians 1:16b) For God has always loved us and will forever. We must seek the never-ending Palace above and return to our Father. "I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born." (Isaiah 44:2)

I have a dream that in the end all will eat at the table of God and celebrate the banquet with Christ Himself as well as with all the angels and saints. By eating His body and drinking His blood we here on earth celebrate the New and Everlasting Covenant. When we someday do so in Heaven we will celebrate along with Jesus and our Father, the spiritual food and drink for eternity. We are all here on his planet for a reason. This reason is to live to love and live to serve both God and our brothers and sisters throughout the world.

I have a dream that every human being God has made will take up their cross and walk in the light of Christ. There is truly nothing better than eternal life with the One who made us all. The rewards are endless and no matter who you are or where you are from you too can get to Heaven thanks to God's abundant grace and gift of faith. One must believe in their heart that Jesus is Lord , that he rose from the dead, and have love, faith , trust, hope, and commitment to the Gospel. Come and follow Jesus Christ who has paved the road of salvation, for he our Lord and King is the Good Shepherd and we are His Sheep.

Grant Me Wisdom Oh Lord

In today's readings we learn that Solomon asked God for one thing out of anything that he could have received from God and that was WISDOM. Solomon asked the Lord for the Wisdom to understand and know that which he needed to know and understand. This was extremely important for a King who was to lead the people both in the political realm and most importantly in the way of the faith. Solomon prayed and God granted him the wisdom to understand and Solomon learned to love the Lord's commands. There is no doubt that we too must stop and pray when we face a decision in our life time. There are choices that we must make every day, some being larger than others. However, each decision that we make we make it and it has some kind of consequence, hopefully good. Well, without the guidance of the Lord we cannot really make a wise or even good and solid decision. Through prayer and asking God for Wisdom to make a choice there is no doubt that we do receive the grace that we need, as the Lord provides the Holy Spirit to speak to us and give us an answer. "Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened" Matthew 7:7. How difficult is it to choose what to do, it can be extremely difficult. How difficult is it to take some time to pray and ask the Lord for the Wisdom to understand and make the best decision possible, now that does not have to take much time but the benefit of doing so is not measurable. It is unfortunate that we do not trust in the Lord more to sit down with him and say, "Jesus I am confused, I do not know what to do, please grant me the wisdom to understand and the ability to make the best possible decision." We have been touched by God and are continuously blessed by Him each day. Love is what the Lord pours out to us and we have been granted this gift of life, both physical and the life that will never dwindle which is eternal. Eternal Life is where our names are written in the Book of Life, thanks be to God through the glorious sacrifice and resurrection of our Saviour Jesus Christ. The grace has been given to us, the faith is the gift we have received, now what we do with it is our choice and we must ask the Lord for help in order to live life in a great way. How we live our lives on a day to day basis, our relationship with our fellow man and our Lord God is the way we can display and witness our faith in Christ. Sure, we are not perfect and never will be. However, we must remember that it is much more difficult to make decisions and choices on our own, as we certainly do not know what is best. God does know, we were in his care even before we were born. It is very simple but extremely important and vital to our daily lives, to just take the time to ask for guidance and the wisdom to understand. Not only will this please our Heavenly Father, but it will grant us the grace and blessing to do the right thing. So dear Christ please grant us Wisdom Oh Lord to understand the things that we need to understand, to make the best choices that we can make, and to trust you that our future is unfolding and going to be a culmination of your will lived out by us every day. Make us wise that we may be able to live out the Gospel and witness to the world through our actions. We are predestined and called by God thanks be to grace, help us to understand and have the wisdom to make the choice to continuously follow the Word and make Christ present in what is often a dark and despairing world. Let your light shine upon us and we thank you for calling us and pray that you continue to call all our brothers and sisters whomever and wherever they may be. Wisdom Oh Lord so that we may understand. Help us Oh Lord to love your commands.

Saved By Grace: The Josh Hamilton Story

Josh Hamilton is the prime Example of a man Saved by the Grace of Jesus Christ. Certainly nothing is too big for the Lord to overcome as Drug Addiction and Alcoholism could not conquer Hamilton who turned his life over to the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. After Josh hit rock bottom and had no where else to go, he turned his life over to God and everything from then on out was much different. He no longer needed the alcohol or the drugs when times were tough or when he was depressed, but turned to the Lord who drove him to happiness through prayer and the Word. Now Hamilton, a disciple of Christ and a member of the Texas Rangers is not only a reconciled man off the field but on as well. Josh certainly has the potential and stardom for a possible MVP award after a stellar first half of play, but more importantly he is a happy father and husband who knows that he is complete. Josh is not only sending balls out of the yard but spreading the news of the Lord Jesus to kids, youth, and adults by his ministry both on and off the field. The way that he conducts himself now is incredible as he has become a prime role model for people of all ages. Josh is not proud of the decisions that he had made in the past, however he knows that he has been granted a clean slate thanks be to God who saved him by Grace through the Cross and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The past is what Josh Hamilton uses to teach children and adults of how the Lord can help one achieve victory over any addiction, problem, or test in life. This incredible man was touched by the Lord and said yes to the call, and has never been the same. Josh realizes that by being born again to new life in Christ he is the person that he genuinely was made to be, a man who loves and does does everything now for the Glory of God. Recently Josh set a record by hitting 28 homers in the first round of the Home Run Derby. He proclaimed this feat to be a dream come true, however he knows that winning over the fans with his game is good, but his change or heart and love for God far outshine the distance of any long ball. Josh Hamilton is a committed athlete, but more importantly a dedicated disciple and proud believer in Jesus Christ. Saved by Grace, Josh knows that it took only one swing, to trust God and allow the Lord into the batters box of life so that he could hit the curve balls of evil and sin out of the yard, to round the bases and reach an Eternal Home.

Seed for Eternal Life

In todays Gospel we hear about the different kinds of seed that are sown. Some seed falls on rocky soil, some on unfertile soil, some in vines, and some in rich soil. The seed that is the faith which we have received from the Lord is sown in our lives by what we do, the choices we make, and how we live in relation to both God and our neighbor. There is no doubt that at times we make bad decisions and thus our seed is choked by the vines and cannot grow further for a while. There are other times when we talk and do not walk, thus our seed falls into rocky soil. There are also times when we plant our seed in unfertile soil, where we have good intentions but the results do not follow. Although we all face hardships, temptation, and difficulties in this lifetime, there is clearly a rich soil which we also plant our seed and must continue to do so. The rich soil is where our faith blossoms and grows each day, the rich soil is Jesus Christ. Christ is our light he provides the nourishment, the waters of peace and truth, and most of all the unconditional love and friendship that we need to overcome the tough soils of the world. When we plant our seed in the rich soil we find that life is most complete and full because we become our genuine selves and are able to live a life that is holy and righteous. Through this rich soil in Christ, we who were once a tiny plant and dead because of our sins are brought to abundant life through the one who paid the price to die so that we may live. We are raised up and grow to become faithful and loving children of God who waters us each day and keeps us safely rooted in the promises of the Heavenly Kingdom. It is important for us to remember that we have been blessed with this faith and that we must trust the Lord Jesus to lead us through our earthly lives, that we may reach our Homeland with God in the world to come. St. Paul always said, "Thanks be to God for the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ." May we too rejoice because we are rooted in the rich soil of Life that is our Lord and Savior. May we take courage and know that God is there all the time and that we must continue to strive for life in all we do. There are numerous soils, but only one that leads to growth, happiness, love, and life, we we choose to be planted always in Christ so that we may be complete in this world and the one to come.

New Covenant

Jesus has freed us from the bondage of sin and has promised us that we are no longer under the law, but that we must obey one commandment to love God and love our neighbor. When we follow this command and live as people of the New Covenant, we certainly fulfill the old one and the law of Moses and go beyond to live out Christian love. It takes a big effort to resist the temptations and hardships in life. There are physical struggles that we go through and must deal with such as losing a loved one, or financial burdens, however the things we must be more concerned about are the moral struggles. The small moral struggles are very tough to overcome if we do not nip them in the bud early on. When things get too big and we become too comfortable with them it is extremely hard to deal with them and we can lose much of our relationship with God and with our neighbor. With Jesus at the center of our life we can overcome all things and will get back on the right track when things go south so long as we keep our trust in Him, are persistent, and do not give the Devil any ground. We must be willing to fit as much as possible the hardships and temptations we struggle, just do not give in. If we do give in and fall away from the Lord, be certain that He still loves us the same and will call us back to Himself. At times such as these we must be willing to do away with the things that are causing our separation from God. When we do this and get back on track, walking in the light and by loving God and neighbor on a daily basis we will be relieved of the burdens of the world. Not only will we be able to live more at peace and have a good conscience because our morals and values are in line with what God wants of us, we will also be able to confidently say and live out the Gospel on a daily basis. There is nothing better than knowing that we are people of God and Children of the Lord who made us, who is with us, and who is in us. When times are tough and you need help call to the Lord for He will send His Holy Spirit and fill you with Joy and lasting peace. For in this world we will struggle but we must remember that the victory goes beyond this earthly life and it is our hope and joy to triumph with Christ in Heaven. Eternal Life is available to all people thanks to the gracious act Christ Jesus did to free us from our sin and open the gates of Eternity. Therefore, the New Covenant has been made, the blood has been shed. We are no longer living in darkness but in the light of life. May God be our guide and lead us away from all sin and evil and to the joy of Christ where we live in blessed love of God and neighbor in all that we do.

Who are my Brothers and Sisters?

Many times Christians misunderstand whom is meant when Jesus says love your neighbor and love your brothers and sisters. As Christians we are called to love all people, whether they are fellow believers or are Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, or do not believe in God at all. By loving all people and treating everyone we come in contact with through genuine love we show them the love of Jesus Christ. It is important for us Christians to remember that our Lord Jesus loved all people, especially those who were outcasts, the lame, the crippled, the blind, tax collectors, and sinners. Therefore, we must follow the Lord's lead and love all people whomever and wherever they may be. Christian love does not shun or put down people because their faith or beliefs are different but it is a warm welcome and a brotherly kindness and care that is shown to strangers and friends alike. One must never force his faith on another person but be willing to teach and preach the word of God to his fellow man when he wishes to learn the message of salvation. We must always do our best to be inviting and not drive people away from the Cross of the Lord of Glory. Whether one is Christian or not, this should not affect how we treat them and love them. For it is by accepting all people for who they are where Christian brotherhood can come into affect most certainly. This does not mean that we have to necessarily agree with what others believe, but we must treat them with respect and not say that we are right and others wrong. Encourage one another to walk the way of Christ each day because this is how both fellow Christians and non believers will see the face of God. We also must remember that we do not know how people of other religions or even other Christians interact with God on a daily basis. A relationship with God is communal, but also very personal and by being non judgmental we can assure that we will not make enemies but only friends. Therefore, let the Holy Spirit guide you to speak and live the Gospel each day in order to love all your brothers and sisters. For Jesus calls us to live love and in order to do so we must be willing to love all people whether they are Christian or not. Many times we would be surprised at how close to God people are we just have to love them and give them a chance.

Life on the ROCK

Throughout life we go through ups and downs, but regardless of how good or bad things can be we must have a consistent foundation if we hope to walk in the light each day. A house built on sand is weak and will collapse, while one built on rock will withstand all the tests of time. As Christians we must build our house, namely ourselves on the Rock who is Jesus Christ. The foundation of faith in Christ is solid and cannot falter it will never fail and if we remain faithful we will stand strong forever. Those who choose to build their house on God do not have to worry about the troubles and tribulations that come in life because through Christ we can overcome all because our Lord is all. For building our foundation on the Rock which is the Lord of Glory provides the only way to withstand the Devil's attempt to destroy our house, which is our Spirit. The Holy Spirit which is the advocate sent to us by way of the Father gives us the strength and reinforcement each day so that our Rock can never crumble. Although at times our foundation can be shaken, it can never be uprooted and destroyed so long as we rely, trust, and believe on Christ who is solid and makes us solid. So when you are weary and need rest go to the Lord and when you feel weak remember that you are strong because with Jesus in your heart you are set upon solid Rock that cannot and will not be destroyed. Christ proclaims it best in the Gospel, "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart I have overcome the world." Let us remember that we can do all and overcome all through the Lord who is the Rock that provides the solid foundation of faith that has been, is, and always will be. Life on the ROCK is the solid choice, it can be hard at times but it will not break and shall last forever.

Trust the Lord For He Will Lead You to Life

In today's gospel we hear the message of John who proclaims the promise of life if we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him might not perish, but might have Eternal Life" (John 3:16). Faith is a gift from God freely given to us. We have this gift and must use it, putting our trust and believing in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior who came and redeemed the world. God so loved us that He gave His only Son to us in order to cleanse humanity from sin and death and free us to salvation and Eternal Life. There are times in our lives when we feel quite alone, but we must always remember that it is at these times that God is most present to us. The Lord is always there, we must look for Him in prayer, in others, and in the scriptures. The Good Shepherd will not leave our side so long as we believe and continue to trust in Him. For the word says that He will not betray us, even though we have betrayed Him time after time by committing sin. As Christians we have failed, but we have grown and are continuing to triumph over the evils of the world and the darkness around us. Christ is the light that shines forth and brings Glad Tidings and Peace to the Earth. With Jesus at our Side and in our hearts no evil can snatch us from the the Hands of our Loving Creator. Life is filled with obstacles and times when we have to move on to new experiences and challenges. We must remember that we are not alone and that God is forever with us along the journey of life. We have the support of our friends and families, the community of the Church, and most of all and most importantly the Lord who is always reliable. By trusting in God and the Love and fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ, and being empowered by the Spirit it is us Christians who have the Key to Eternal Life. For the Lord promises all those who believe the Kingdom of God, being in the presence of our Maker for all Eternity. By trusting this belief turns into acts of love, essentially where our Christian faith is put into action. We proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ through what we do and how we do it. Therefore, it is so important that we take this free gift God has granted us and use it, trusting the Lord and living life to its fullest as we spread the Love of Christ throughout the world in all that we do. It is true that "What we do in life echoes through all Eternity." Trust that you are never alone and that by Faith you have received grace, this grace through the strength of the Spirit enabling you to do whatever the Lord calls you to. The road is not easy because many times it hurts to love. Jesus knew this, as He died on the Cross for us so that we may Live with Him and be made at one with God. Now it is our turn to trust in God and to sacrifice in order to love one another and our Lord. "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23). The message is clear the path straight, our God reliable, trust that you are a disciple of Christ. For God promises us "I will not leave you orphans" (John 14:18). We are not alone we are protected by the Lord here in this World and Forever so long as we trust, love, and believe.

Pentecost Sunday

"Lord Send down your Spirit and renew the face of the Earth!" This is the message of Pentecost Sunday, as we celebrate the 50 days after the Lord's resurrection from the dead. Pentecost marks the time when the Holy Spirit was sent by our Lord to reveal us all things once again, this promise being renewed from the time when Jesus breathed on his disciples at Passover and said "Receive the Holy Spirit." The Spirit is a wonderful gift that God our Father grants us. This force and third person of the Blessed Trinity is God manifest in the world, revealing and teaching us all things. The Holy Spirit is what guides us day by day and gives us the power to proclaim that Jesus is Lord. By the Spirit of the Lord we are free and protected from evil and sin. With the Holy Spirit ruling in our heart we are made one with the Father and the Son and are capable of anything and everything. Pentecost Sunday also marks the time when we shift from Advent-Christmas-Lent-Easter- to Ordinary Time. However, ordinary time does not mean for us as Disciples of Christ to sit back and be ordinary people. We certainly are not ordinary and are not like the rest of the world. We have an ongoing mission that requires even more focus during this "Ordinary Time" to proclaim the gospel at all times, living it out at all times. God has certainly sent us his Spirit and through the grace and power of the Lord's guiding fire of life we are called to share the Love of Christ with our Brothers and Sisters throughout the world, giving all honor and glory to the King who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

Christ is Always Present

In today's Gospel we hear the story about two men who are walking with the Risen Christ to Emmaus. The two men are frustrated and confused because they heard of the tomb being empty. When Jesus comes to them and walks on the road with these two, the men suddenly gain more and more hope and begin to believe. Although the two men do not recognize Jesus, the risen Christ, they invite him to stay with them for the night. At table Jesus breaks the bread and this lifts the veil from the eyes of the two men who realize it is the Christ. It is in this breaking of the bread, an event that we take part in so many ways in our daily lives that Christ is made present to us. In sharing of a meal, a conversation, or a past time we bring out the risen Christ in others and our Lord is made present in us. Christianity is centered upon the fact that we as a community of believers make up the body of Christ in this world. It is up to us to make sure that not only our family and friends experience the joy of the Lord each day, but that all people may know that they are children of God and members of the family of faith. By the power of the Spirit, Christ is poured out to us in the celebration of the Eucharist at Mass. By taking part in and taking in the body and blood of our Lord and Savior we are filled with his presence, grace, and love. May we remember that although we have fallen short of the glory of God because of our human weakness and slavery to sin, Christ has broken the chains of this slavery and given us new life. May we as Christians always allow Christ to be present in us and see the Lord in others.

Jesus Christ is Risen

Today Christians all over the world celebrate the rising of our Savior from the dead. Easter Sunday marks the third day from the time when Christ was crucified, died, and was buried and has risen from the grave. Jesus, the blessed Son of God was not conquered by death, by overcame the throws of human sin and physical death to raise to new life. As Christians we believe that we too will die, but we trust that this physical death is the gateway to new and everlasting life in Heaven with our Lord. Jesus will raise us from the dead and has already prepared a place for us in his Kingdom. During the season of lent we had a chance to examine our lives and assess our faith and our relationship with our Lord. With the resurrection, we too are raised now from death in sin to life in the Spirit. Christ's death on the cross and rising from the grave mark the ever so important faith statue that we are no longer slaves to the chains of sin but are free in Jesus the one who has saved us yesterday, today, and forever. There is no doubt that all who believe and walk by way of the cross are promised everlasting life. What can be better than knowing that physical death is merely the time when we become no longer constrained by sin, but we are released from this bondage and raised to eternity to forever be with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. May this Easter bring you joy and hope that now you are raised from sinfulness to life in the Spirit and that in due time Christ will raise us all from physical death to eternal life. For Jesus has told us that He came to do the will of the one who sent up, the will of the Father is that we all share with Him Paradise.

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, as Jesus enters triumphantly into Jerusalem. We hear the proclamation "Hosannah to the Son of David!" and "Blessed is He Who Comes in the Name of the Lord!" As Christians, we must remember that Jesus is our Lord who overcame all obstacles, including crucifixion and death, conquering both by way of the resurrection. Holy Week is a time for us to reflect upon lent, how we have grown as Christians and where we look to continue to improve, being born from death to new life in the resurrection. There is no doubt that Christ is present with us now, as he was with the disciples two thousand years ago. Jesus is here in our midst and when we proclaim the Gospel of the Lord and shout and proclaim that Christ is King, we too are on our way toward being resurrected and united with our Lord for all eternity. Palm Sunday reminds us that Christ is the vine and we are the branches, that we too like our Lord and Savior carry the cross every day in our lives. The intensity of the passion must have magnified for our Lord as he faced the Sanhedrin and Pontious Pilate. Barbas, a man who was the true criminal was released to the people upon request, while the innocent one died out of love for humanity. Christ is the Messiah, the "anointed one" who came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for all. Like the scriptures say "He humbled himself to obey death, even death on a cross." May we take this humility to the for front of our lives and into a world which is plagued with pride, injustice, hatred, and violence. May Christ continue to be our light, as we can and will overcome all evil and darkness with the Good Shepherd at our side. For Jesus is the "Way, the Truth, and the Life," as no one can reach the Father except through Christ. During this holy week let us continue to follow the way of the Cross, the Truth which rests in God, and the Life which is not earthly but is spiritual and eternal. Someday we too hope to enter the gates of the New Jerusalem to share in the glory and love of God in unity with the Holy Spirit and Jesus the Christ our everlasting King forever and ever. May we be not afraid and hold high the Cross, knowing that we are called to holiness only obtainable by means of the grace of our Lord and by humble servitude called love.

All Are Invited

In today's Gospel we hear the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Lazarus had been dead for over four days and his sisters Mary and Martha were very upset that the Lord did not come in time to prevent their sick brother from death. Jesus, a friend of Lazarus himself, told the women that their brother would be raised if they only believed. Martha said to the Lord, "I know he will rise,in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die" Because Martha and her sister believed, Jesus brought Lazarus back to life, raising him from the dead. It is important to understand that Jesus told the women to role the stone in front of the tomb, that their brother might come out. The women who told the Lord they did believe, still were confused because their brother had been dead for over four days, they said the stench would be awful. Jesus yet again assured them by reminding them of what He told them, that if they believed their brother would be brought again to life. Sure enough, Jesus completed the miracle as He said, "Lazarus, Come Out!" The dead man arose and came out of the tomb with burial clothes tied around him. This miracle performed by Jesus tells us much about our own salvation. We are all dead at times because of sin in our lives. Christ calls us from death to life and ensures that Salvation is a free gift that is ours if we say Yes to it. Christ came so that all would be saved, that humanity would be reconciled from the separation from God caused by sin. The crucifixion and ultimate love that Jesus showed on the Cross is the invitation to all that salvation is ours if we want it. It is by the grace of God, through the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ and the mystery of the Cross and Resurrection that all are called to salvation in the Lord. Like the Gospel says, this is a free gift given to all. Our life mission is to accept the invitation and say yes to this call to salvation. The Gospel explains that salvation and eternal life is ours as a gift from God, we just have to be willing to receive it. Those who do not say yes and take up their cross and live life in a constant effort to love God and neighbor, and by relying on God's grace are those who are invited, but not chosen because they themselves choose not to be saved. On the other hand, those who say yes to the call and respond positively working to gain relationship with God through prayer, sacraments, service, love, and sacrifice are invited and chosen. Therefore, it is not God who condemns, but we who condemn our selves. God loves us all and wants us to be with Him forever in Paradise, that is why He sent His Son so that this might be fulfilled. Yet, it is up to us as Christians to say yes to this graceful and loving invitation. For that is why the Lord tells us that, "Many are invited, but few are chosen." (Matthew 22:14) All of us are invited to the banquet of everlasting life, unfortunately only few choose God over the world and say yes to the call. Remember that the invitation is yours, it is never too late, pick up your cross today and walk in the light that leads to life. Be a disciple of Jesus Christ and you are promised the Heavenly Kingdom, Eternal Life!!! May the grace of the Lord be upon you and may the Holy Spirit dwell within you always, for as the Father Has Love the Son so also does He Love YOU.

Whoever Humbles Himself Will Be Exalted

In today's Gospel we hear about two men who go to the temple in prayer in drastically different ways. The first is a pharisee, a man who claims to offer much to the Lord, boasting about what he has done, how he is better than others, and even boasts about being better than another sinner present in the temple. The second man, the sinner in the temple, says only a few words to the Lord in prayer. This man beats his breast and asks God to have mercy on him, for he admits that he is a sinner who is nothing without God. The parable concludes with the beautiful scripture, "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted." There is no doubt that both men went to the temple for two different reasons. The first went boasting and had no love in his heart for God, as he did not really pray but went about speeking of his good and the bad of the other man in the temple. On the other hand, the sinner and man the pharisee claims to be a horrible man, is the man who takes himself to the Lord in genuine prayer and is transformed from death to life because of his understanding that God is the one who makes us complete and holy. God loved both men before they entered the temple, He loved both men in the temple, and loved both men after they left the temple. For the Love of God cannot be earned. However, it is evident that the sinner, not the Pharisee, was the one who was justified because the sinner was the one who proved his love for God in his humble prayer and reliance on the Lord. The Pharisee was too caught up in what he had done, and did not even realize that he needed the Lord because he was much worse off than the sinner, the Pharisee's soul being misdirected by his boasting and lack of humility. Therefore, let us strive to be like the second man, the sinner, as we are all sinners who must be humble and realize that all we have and all we are is dependent on the Lord our God. For those who rely on the Lord and remain humble in this lifetime surely will be made pure and holy and will rejoice in the Eternal banquet, exalting with the Lord forever in paradise. "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted." Its the humble heart that justifies and its the humble one whom pleases God.

Life Giving Water

In today's gospel we learn that Jesus tells us that he is the Life Giving Water that we all need, and those who come to Him will never Thirst. Christ promises to fill us with water that will spring us to Eternal Life, for in Him all of our thirsts are quenched as our Savior grants us life, peace, happiness, joy, faith, hope, and love. Jesus provides the spiritual nourishment that we need as Christians and ensures that we are filled with the Lord and the Holy Spirit every time we celebrate the Eucharist. The message is clear and simple, those who take of Christ's body and blood are filled with the Savior and those who believe in this miracle shall be some day united with God in the world to come. When we hear the voice of the Lord we must remember to not harden our hearts, but be receptive and take Him in for He will always help us in times of trouble and times of need. For we know how much God loves us in that like the gospel says, "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." There is certainly no greater gift than to "lay down one's life for one's friends." We are friends of God and He has sent us His Spirit to reveal and teach us all things. It is our test as Christians to remain faithful and trust and continue to drink of the cup of salvation that is available to us all in our Lord. As Jesus said, "I came not to be served, but to serve and to give my life as a ransom for many," we too must remember that life is not going to be easy but by persevering and withstanding all tests we too will reign with our Lord as He has promised us. So let us go therefore and drink of this Life Giving Water and do our part as disciples of Christ to share this cup of Salvation with all those around us by living a life of honesty, love, compassion, and friendship.

Listen to Him

In today's gospel we learn how important it is to listen to the Son of God Jesus Christ who is ever present and interactive in our daily lives. God said to the first disciples "This is my Son with whom I am well pleased, Listen to Him." It is important for us Christians to respond to this message from God. The only way that we can become renewed in multiple areas of our lives is to work with the Lord through obedience and by listening to him in the events of our daily lives, as well as while in prayer. It is important that we do God's will because His will is what will ultimately bring us to become full human beings and our complete selves. God knows what is best for us and wants us to be co-creators to His will. The future is certainly not set in stone, God has given us the ability (free will) to choose the ultimate good that will lead us to become closer to Him and become better people. Our lives are continuously unfolding and developing so we just have to be aware of the presence of God all around us and respond positively. We have to try our best to embrace challenges and look at them as opportunity's to grow closer to God who makes us holy by helping us to persevere and overcome temptation and sin. By staying in touch with God and noticing Christ in the lives of others, as well as making Him present to others we fully can experience the Lord in our lives and will understand this transfiguration we too are going through. Although we probably will not be shining as white as light or as snow, as Jesus was in THE TRANSFIGURATION when He appeared to the disciples conversing with Moses and Elijah, we will be transformed from our old ways to new ways of life in Christ. Therefore, by continuing to listen to Jesus and learn from our old selves, we have the best chance of being born as new creatures in Christ to God the Father who will continue to Love us the same yesterday, today, and forever!

Lent A Time of Reflection and Evaluation

Today marks the first Sunday of Lent, a time of reflection, evaluation, and preparation for our Lord's Resurrection on Easter Sunday. We learn in today's gospel that Jesus was tempted by the Devil in the dessert, first to make stones into bread, second to cast himself down from a high point to allow the angels to save Him, and lastly to gain all the Kingdoms of the world if He would bow down and worship the Devil. Jesus did not give in to any of these temptations, but continuously relied on God and trusted in the Lord when He was tempted. Like Christ we too during this Lenten season as well as every day of our lives will be tempted to do certain things. We are left with decisions to make, when we choose what is good we better our relationship with God through perseverance, while when we go down the dark road we separate ourselves from the Lord because of sin. Lent is a time in the Church calender which allows us to reflect on our actions and behaviors, in order to evaluate ourselves and make necessary changes. Lent is a time of repentance, where we die to our old selves, sinful ways, and are born in Christ to new life through the passion, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. Christ invites all of us to this spiritual birth, however we must act upon this incredible invitation positively with full confidence that we no longer have to live in bondage to sin. It is important to realize that we can only overcome the troublesome matters of our lives with the Lord by our side. We must continuously work at the things we are not good at and avoid the situations that lead to our sinfulness. Then and only then will we be able to overcome the evil things that are holding us back from gaining closer to our Lord God and His Son Jesus Christ. Through the grace of the Holy Spirit we can do all and overcome all. Therefore, continue to make the effort and stay strong, reflect and evaluate who you are. For Christ is always near, it is just a matter of allowing God into our lives and then we will see clearly that the possibilities in life are endless.

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

In today's Gospel we hear "Blessed are the poor in Spirit" in the Beatitudes. Christ calls each of us to be poor. What does this exactly mean. Jesus calls us to poverty, not in the sense of destitution, but to be poor as to be dependent on God. Many times we get accustomed to or comfortable with the lives we are living, especially with our material possessions. Whatever we have it is important to remember that it is a gift from God, blessings that we cannot receive without the Lord's abundant grace and mercy. Without God we are nothing. With Him we are made complete, His people who are dependent on the Lord and on Love which rules our lives. Material wealth and possessions can be dangerous if we do not remember that God grants these gifts to us. People can fall away from God and become independent of Christ, which in essence is suicidal. The poor in spirit are those who rely on God and spiritual wealth which rules their lives and allows them to use material gain to benefit the society at large. We are called to this poverty to trust in our Lord and realize that we must live in communion and dependence with Him, as well as our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. The Gospel is very clear in saying, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness, and all these (other) things shall be added onto you." When the Holy Spirit is ruling our lives and we have dependence on God we cannot go wrong and we may have full confidence that the Lord will take care of our every need. Psalm 23 puts this message very clearly saying, "The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want." Material wealth and pleasure in this world will end, however a relationship with the Lord and the promise of Eternal life will last forever. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theres is the Kingdom of God."

A Prayer for Evangelization

LOVING GOD

You called us each by name
and gave your only Son to redeem us.
In your faithfulness, you sent the Holy Spirit
to complete the mission of Jesus among us.

Open our hearts to Jesus.
Give us the courage to speak His name
to those who are close to us
and the generosity to share His love
with those who are far away.

We pray that every person throughout the world
be invited to know and love Jesus
as Savior and Redeemer.
May they come to know His all surpassing love.
May that love transform every element of our society.

We make this prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ,
your Son, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and forever,
AMEN

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Change, A Necessary Thing

In Today's Gospel we learn that change is something that is necessary, something which brings forth new doors and opportunities in our lives. Without change we would not be able to respond to where God continues to call us and lead us throughout our lives. Change is something we all need to participate in. It is God who calls us to change when our vocation continues to shape as our relationship with our Lord develops and matures. Change is also necessary for us because we are sinners who need to repent and rid of our old sinful ways. We all have things that hinder our relationship with God whether it be the use of fowl language, over indulging, our sexual appetites, or some other iniquity, we have to change our ways to follow the Lord more closely. It is evident that we can become caught up in our sinful ways and become used to living in this sin. We may even become comfortable with it, therefore we don't feel that it is such a "big" deal, when reality is that we cannot grow in the life and love of the Lord if we do not make the effort to reform our ways. It is by the grace of God and His loving Holy Spirit that we are able to be set free from the bondage of our sins, thanks to Christ who died on the Cross for us. God calls all of us not only to reform our lives, but to be accepting to the new relationships, opportunities, and conditions that come about even when we least expect it. We see in this weeks Gospel that Peter, Simon, James, and John accepted the change which God called them to. Christ came to them as they were fishing and said, "Come follow me." Jesus told them that he would make them "fishers of men" and that they would be his disciples to spread the Gospel to all nations, through baptism and proclamation of the Word. These men took on Christ and changed, maybe something that was not necessarily all too comforting at first, yet they realized that God had plans for them that would allow them to become their authentic selves. Therefore, we urge you to not resist change when things develop in your life, but to embrace it as the disciples did and trust that God will lead you on your way in this life and forever in the life to come. Change is a gradual process and we all will face the temptation to go back to our old sinful ways, but behold as the scriptures say those who accept the Lord have become new creatures in Him. Live in the Spirit and in the Lord and allow God to work in your life for change and repentance is the way we can grow in love and relationship with our Lord and our brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world.

Listen to the Lord

A true and personal relationship with God is what Christians stride for. We know that God is our everything making us who we are, the Lord making our lives complete, for without Him we are nothing. There are many ways to walk with the Lord each day as our lives can be a constant prayer with Christ by our side. When we are with others, when we are alone, when we are going about what we view as meaningless daily routines, God is there with us. It is certainly important to take time out of our busy schedules to devote some quiet time to our Lord and Creator. When we do spend time with God, whether in formal prayer and through the constant prayer of our daily lives we must do our best to listen. Listening is the most imperative thing in order to know what God is calling us to do, what He is asking of us, and what He has in store for our future. We can hear God through other people. We can hear God through His Word, the Bible. We can hear God speaking to our hearts when we spend quiet time with him. We just have to take the time to listen. The important aspect of listening is something that will take us beyond, something that will make our relationship with God the best it can possibly be. To be a friend of Christ is to listen to not only our Savior, but to accept what He has to say and make changes when the Spirit speaks to us. Most of the time it is us doing the talking and although we do have to share with God our concerns, frustrations, and joys, He knows what is best for us, what we need, and everything else because He knows us better than we know ourselves. So we urge our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to first listen to God for He will reveal all to those remain faithful and has much to tell you in a multitude of ways. By listening to the Lord our lives will be different because Christ is at the wheel, in the driver seat, and we are passengers along for the ride. Be God’s right hand man by listening to the Holy Spirit, praying, serving, and loving on all as Jesus the Son did. Remember God blessed us with the ability to hear and to listen. Put his Word into action in this world, listen to what He has to say and become the man or woman the Lord made you to be.

WOW This Pastor Has Guts

This Pastor Has Guts

When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas
Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what
they heard;

"Heavenly Father,

We come before you today to ask your forgiveness and
to seek your direction and guidance.

We know Your Word says,
"Woe to those who call evil good"
But that is exactly what we have done.

We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.

We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.

We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.

We have killed our unborn and called it choice.

We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.

We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building
self esteem.

We have abused power and called it politics.

We have coveted our neighbor's Possessions and called it ambition.

We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography
and called it Freedom of speech and expression.

We have ridiculed the time Honored values of our Forefathers
and called it enlightenment.

Search us, Oh, God,
Cleanse us from every sin
And set us free.
Amen!"


The response was immediate. A number of legislators walked out
during the prayer in protest.

In 6 short weeks, Central Christian Church, where Rev. Wright is pastor,
logged more than 5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls responding
negatively.
The church is now receiving international requests for copies of this
prayer from India, Africa and Korea.

Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio Program, "The
Rest of the Story," and received alarger response to this program
than any other he has ever aired.

With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our Nation and
wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called
"One Nation Under God."

If possible, please pass this prayer on to your friends "if you
don't stand for something, you will fall for anything."

Live in the Present for the Present

Summary of Sermon from Sunday 1/20/08

This Sunday the message was clear and simple, to live in the Present for the Present. We all have done things we are not particularly fond of, things we regret, and things that have separated ourselves from god, these being sins. However, we must not dwell on the past, but focus on the present. The past is valuable that we may learn from our mistakes and build upon our successes. Yet, many times we get so caught up in what we did rather than focusing on what we are going to do NOW. We cannot change the past, however we can determine the present and how we will live our lives with our ever present God who gives us life and forgives us of our sins. Not only do we become troubled by the past, but sometimes look too far ahead to the future. Our future will be shaped by the way we live life now, in the present and this is what Christians need to focus on to live and walk with the ever present Christ in our daily lives. Taking one day at a time by living and striding to do our best while relying and believing in God this day is the way toward a better relationship with our creator. By doing things for God and with God in the present the Holy Spirit, God's Spirit is promised to be poured out to His people to help us do all things. Although we are sinners, we can no longer live life in the past or in the future but in the now, the present with our present Lord who both loves and cares for us that He gave His own Son to wash us clean from our transgressions and grant us the gift of a present life here on this earth, and an eternal life in the world to come.