Struggling with faith

Not necessarily faith in myself but my religious faith.

I was brought up Roman Catholic in a Hispanic household. Baptized at approx. 6 months of age.

Though I will always cherish the Saints and the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church I wonder though....is it the right faith for me?

An interesting book to read is My Struggle with Faith by Father Joseph E. Girzone.

Reverand Marlene S. Blackhad this to say about the book:

What I found to be refreshing was that despite the author's affiliation with the Catholic church he does not go out of his way to cast it in a particularly flattering light. His assessments are fair and honest. He plunges headlong into the religious/political 'hot potatoes' giving his take on the issues.

It is clear that Girzone longs for the type of church outlined by Jesus during His earthly ministry. He is a man not to idly follow the masses. He sets out on his own quest and brings his readers along on the educational journey. Everyone who reads this book will walk away with a new understanding of their own personal faith. All church leaders would benefit greatly from reading this inspiring book.

My Struggle with Faith opens eyes to how much more time could be devoted to the study of the Word and building that closer relationship with Jesus that the human soul longs for and was created for. Mankind looks more to ritual than relationship. I trust Fr. Girzone's book will change many lives. A tremendous addition to any readers collection.

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Looks like another book to buy and read....keep in my "forever" library.

The debate goes on..........

We are currently having an interesting discussion regarding Islam and Christianity on English Sabla......courtesy of Ice Tea.....a beloved member on the forum who causes the lot of us to think...though I know I will not change my views I do honor the intensity of his beliefs:

Question posed by Ice:

It is mentioned in the book of Isaiah chapter 29 verse 12:"And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray you: and he saith, I am not learned." When angel Gabriel came to to prophet Mohammed pbuh in the cave of 'Hira' and commanded him by saying Iqra (Read), he replied "I am not learned".Do you see any difference?

Originally Posted by Listen2theOcean
see i am not trying to say what is wrong what is right, I am not an expert in quran or the bible, I just explained what I understood from what was presented by Ice Tea.
I explained more about quran , cuz i learned it in school and at home, that why I brought up the missing words and story thats all.
debating about relgion i find it silly, cuz no one is able to prove they are 100 percent right cuz no one have 100 persent convincing evidence. let me tell you ok lets say the porhebt mohd and the porhebt jeasus. Where as all believed relaible men speaking the truth, what they said is really what happened ( it wasn't their illusion ). what makes you think what ever book was givin to them it was really from God. I don't denly the power of God book the quran and the bible as will. They are powerful, lets also believe no one can creat such books and such mericals. Isn't possible that the different relgion availabe on earth with different folowers who believe they are right, with diffrent rules and way of living is meant to be just like that. God made people different in every thing, even they have their own stamp, no one on this earth as far as i know from experts have the same stamp as yours.

Do you think all these difference was really meant to be all gether to be in one side.
I know the globe is in balance black & weight and alot of collors in between. Earth, sea, fire and earth.....act alot of things. IT IS JUST MENT TO BE THAT WAY.

PS : different people, different believes, different issues........its just in a perfect balance when it is the way it is.

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This is how I believe & I highlighted the areas that I strongly feel mirrors my own religious train of thought......................

The Bell

THE BELL
I KNOW WHO I AM
I am God's child (John 1:12)
I am Christ's friend (John 15:15 )
I am united with the Lord(1 Cor. 6:17 )
I am bought with a price(1 Cor. 6:19-20)
I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)
I am a personal witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8)
I am the salt & light of the earth ( Matt.5:13-14)
I am a member of the body of Christ(1 Cor 12:27)
I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2)
I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant ( Phil.3:20)
I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31 -34)
I am a minister of reconciliation for God(2 Cor.5:17-21)
I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18)
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)
I cannot be separated from the love of God( Rom.8:35-39)
I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor.1:21-22)
I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8: 28)
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16 )
I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12 )
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13)
I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)
I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16 ). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3). I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
I am God's co-worker (1 Cor.. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God's workmanship(Eph. 2:10 )
I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected. (Phil 1: 5)
I have been redeemed and forgiven(Col.1:14).I have been adopted as God's child(Eph 1:5)
I belong to God
Do you know
who you are!?

'The LORD bless you and keep you;

the LORD make His face shine upon you

and be gracious to you;

the LORD turn His face toward you

and give you peace..

'Numbers 6:24-26

Feast of the Assumption

Catholic Singles Alumni Club

Interested in learning more about what the CSAC does? Had a question about the CSAC? Looking for free food this Sunday evening?

The Catholic Singles Alumni Club invites you to our General Meeting! We will have the General Meeting this Sunday, August 3rd from 5-7 PM at the Aquinas Institute of Theology (23 S Spring Ave; 63108 http://www.ai.edu ).

If you have any questions for the CSAC; please, bring them with you or email them in advance to Steve Valko at: valksr@yahoo.com

Learn more about the World Vision

Confessions of a Jellyfish: Self-criticism is often erroneous.

O Holy Ocean, Womb of Life,
God of the Bounding Main,
Hear this confession of my faults
And take away my stain.
You'll never put me on your list
Of saints and heroines,
Of creatures tough and
firm and sure --
Not me, I'm full of sins.
A Jellyfish! All gush and squish,
No sense of wrong or right,
First, one inch wide, then, with the tide
I grow huge overnight.
I have no backbone, and no guts,
No vigor of the will,
I vacillate with every wave,
Un-firm and volatile.
What's that? YOU LOVE ME AS I AM?
"A great transparent wonder?"
"Your tentacles all spark with strength?"
No, God! I'm just a blunder!
A gutless freak! A floating joke!
Not fish! Not made of Jelly!
YOU LOVE ME STILL?
Don't hate my shape?
Don't find me gross and smelly?
PRAISE GOD, ye ocean freaks and flukes,
Ye frightening creations!
The Love who made us loves us still,
Despite our reputations!
By: William Cleary, How the Wild Things Pray

http://www.archstl.org/laityandfamilylife

The CSAC is an organization dedicated to creating and maintaining an environment for its members that is conductive to the Development of productive social, cultural, civic and spiritual relationships in a Catholic setting.

Full membership is open to Catholics between the ages of 21 and 45 years of age who are eligible to marry in the Catholic Church. Friend of the CSAC memberships are available to anyone who doesn’t qualify for full membership. Dues for all members are $25 per year. The CSAC does not discriminate against anyone on the basis of race, creed or nationality. For those events where space is limited, preference will be given to members.

What is spirituality

Is it believing in a higher power...in oneself? Nature? Humanity?

I feel that I am quite spiritual without mentioning it every day....so really what do I mean?

I suppose it means I have an intrinsic appreciation of life, of my neighbor.

I don't take life for granted. Not anymore..........

I realize how precious each day is irregardless if things will go my way or not.

Spirituality seems to take on varying forms....suppose it has different meanings for different people.

I always like to think that humanity has more good dwelling within their hearts than bad.

Maybe I am being naive but much rather believe in the positive of mankind--it gives me inner peace.

Have Faith in all you do............

Reasons why people think Catholics are "crazy"

----------Reasons why people think we're "crazy"--------- - We like to keep Mass interesting. We sit, stand and kneel, in no particular order. Probably just to keep the blood flowing. - It's not merlot and Ritz they're serving; it's the Flesh and Blood of Jesus...............No, really. - Forget a big meal afterwards, just pick up some of the breakfast tacos they're always selling after Mass - Purgatory. - We all have 20 cousins......................On each side of the family. - Infant Baptism isn't dumb; it's after-life insurance. - $5.00 in the collection basket is the epitome of generosity. Anything more than that, someone has hit the lottery. - A missal is a book, not a weapon. However, it has been known to pull double duty. - The signs we make aren't just a mark of respect, they're a lot of fun to do. - Every Catholic Guy tries to sit next to the really hot girl they like at Mass. This is because they really want to hug during "Peace Be With You" and hold hands for the "Our Father" - We really like statues. A lot. - After every confession, everyone hits themselves on the head. This is because they have realized that they forgot that really big sin, and they know that it'll hang over their head til the next time. - Contraceptives? Why? - Altar boys continue well into their twenties. - The 14 Stations has nothing to do with TV. - "Peace Be With You" is just a way to meet pretty girls. - We've always been taught that celibacy til marriage is the only way to go, forever and ever, amen. That being said... - "Sin on Saturday. Pray on Sunday. Confess on Monday". - The Mass doesn't start for a few minutes not because of tardy parisihioners. It's because the priest is running late. - The Virgin Mary is not a God and we don't treat her as such. But she is without sin, gave birth to Jesus and did it without having sex. That warrants more than a little respect. - 11:00 a.m. Mass means 11:15. - We actually get all the jokes in Dogma. - There are two very different, irreconcilable factions in every single church in the world. They are known as the Saturday or Sunday Mass bunch. - St. Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland. SNAKES. - You miss JPII more than you miss some relatives... but who misses that child molester uncle anyway? - Bake Sales are a way of life. - Your knees are more calloused than your feet. - Priests have been giving us alcohol since we were little kids. No wonder any one of us can drink Protestants under the table. - The Catholic way of dealing with a mid-life crisis is having another kid. - Mass is nearly unchanged after almost 2000 years. We're a little stubborn. - Catholic School Girls. - Whatever you gave up for Lent, you have it in your hands at 11:59 p.m. Saturday night, counting the seconds til midnight. - Episcopalians are referred to as "Diet Catholics" - You either love or hate the Stations of the Cross. There is no middle ground. - We all know Da Vinci code is bogus and inaccurate. Yet we'll still read it if nothing else is goin on. - "Offer it up!" = "Quit bitching!" - We have Midnight Mass so there are no interruptions on Christmas morning - You've slipped out an Amen after the Pledge of Allegiance. - Holy Water can kill just about anything. So Protestants are pretty much screwed if a vampire comes calling. - There's no way to explain it, but Catholic girls are just scorching hot. - There's no need for impromptu prayer; you can always fall back on the Rosary. - Pope Benedict XVI scares you. Badly. - It's not uncommon for just one family to take up an entire pew or two. - Boondock Saints is the greatest movie ever. E-Ver. - Confession. Enough said. - You're of the opinion that Stephen Colbert should be Canonized. - When in doubt, say a Hail Mary. - Who created Family Guy? Oh yeah, a Catholic! - Whenever anyone in Star Wars saga says "May the Force Be With You", we get the urge to say "And Also With You" - The Pope does indeed wear a funny hat. But it's way more interesting than Joel Osteen's suit and tie. - If you see a guy leaning forward, looking half-dead with his head on the pew in front of him... he's not praying. He's hungover and was guilted into coming to Mass anyway. - Even though you never met her or been to a country she's been in, you're still willing to have "seen" a miracle by Mother Teresa. - We're the oldest Christian religion. Period.

Little Girl Sings Our Lord's Prayer (VERY cute)

'What would Jesus buy?'

I agree with Bill Talen. Will love to see this movie. The older I get the more I want to put my life and life in general into a semblance of normalcy.

I think Christmas has become far too commercialized to the point the true meaning is lost between the long lines at the dept. store to the mounds of presents one receives (then discards a few days later). I love getting presents but does a person has to go broke for goodness sake just to prove their love to someone? Seems to me that special Christmas magic has been lost to the dogma of commercialization of this treasured holiday. I would much rather have the gathering of family, a nice dinner and presents that don't break the bank. Going into debt well..............THAT does not make sense:

New York-based performance artist Bill Talen assumes the persona of Reverend Billy, often accompanied by a gospel choir, to use the histrionics and cadences of a televangelist (think Jimmy Swaggart) in an anti-consumerism effort to convert people to his "Church of Stop Shopping."

And for this year's Black Friday shopping frenzy, Talen is upping his profile with a colorful campaign promoting a new documentary film about his efforts, "What Would Jesus Buy?"
It will feature "Four Horsemen of the Shopocalypse" riding down Madison Avenue in New York and "elves on strike" at the Grove outdoor mall in Los Angeles, said Morgan Spurlock, who produced the film.

Website:

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/11/23/buynothing.day.ap/index.html

http://ifc.com/news/article?aId=21655

Islam, Christianity and the Veil

Never has there seemed to be such a hot topic as this since the world has become "more aware" of Muslims. And out of this population, the practicing Muslima (woman who is of Islamic faith)...stands out more than anyone else I know.

I wonder if the average world citizens knows that even Christian women wore the veil and even pre-dating Christianity? The first recorded instance of veiling for women is recorded in an Assyrian legal text from the 13th century BC which restricted its use to noble women and forbade prostitutes and common women from adopting it. Greek texts have also spoken of veiling and seclusion of women being practiced among the Persian elite and statues from Persepolis depict women both veiled and unveiled, and it seems to be regarded as an attribute of higher status. For me, veiled women have this ethereal beauty about them. A dignity found in the simplicity of the garment.

Biblical references to veils

The Tabernacle (reconstruction) showing the veils which covered the sanctuary and the courtyard Hebrew mitpahath (Ruth 3:15; marg., "sheet" or "apron;" R.V., "mantle"). In Isaiah 3:22 this word is plural, rendered "wimples;" R.V., "shawls" i.e. wraps.
Massekah (Isaiah 25:7; in Isa. 28:20 rendered "covering"). The word denotes something spread out and covering or concealing something else (comp. 2 Cor. 3:13-15).

Masveh (Exodus 34:33, 35), the veil on the face of Moses. This verse should be read, "And when Moses had done speaking with them, he put a veil on his face," as in the Revised Version. When Moses spoke to them he was without the veil; only when he ceased speaking he put on the veil (comp. 2 Cor. 3:13, etc.).

Paroheth (Ex. 26:31-35), the veil of the tabernacle and the temple, which hung between the holy place and the most holy (2 Chr. 3:14). In the temple a partition wall separated these two places. In it were two folding-doors, which are supposed to have been always open, the entrance being concealed by the veil which the high priest lifted when he entered into the sanctuary on the day of Atonement. This veil was rent when Christ died on the cross (Matt. 27:51; Gospel of Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45).

Tza'iph (Genesis 24:65). Rebekah "took a veil and covered herself." (See also 38:14, 19.) Hebrew women generally appeared in public without veils (12:14; 24:16; 29:10; 1 Sam. 1:12).
Radhidh (Cant. 5:7, R.V. "mantle;" Isaiah 3:23). The word probably denotes some kind of cloak or wrapper.

Women's headcoverings

Main article: Christian Headcovering

Traditionally, in Christianity, women were enjoined to cover their heads in church, just as it was (and still is) customary for men to remove their hat as a sign of respect. This practice is based on 1 Corinthians 11:4-16, where St. Paul writes:

Any man who prays or prophesies with his head covered brings shame upon his head. But any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled brings shame upon her head, for it is one and the same thing as if she had had her head shaved. For if a woman does not have her head veiled, she may as well have her hair cut off. But if it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should wear a veil. A man, on the other hand, should not cover his head, because he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; nor was man created for woman, but woman for man; for this reason a woman should have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels. Woman is not independent of man or man of woman in the Lord. For just as woman came from man, so man is born of woman; but all things are from God. Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head unveiled? Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears his hair long it is a disgrace to him, whereas if a woman has long hair it is her glory, because long hair has been given (her) for a covering? But if anyone is inclined to be argumentative, we do not have such a custom, nor do the churches of God (New American Bible translation)

I understand that certain feminists and some Muslim women see the wording of women being the glory of man as being sexist. I personally feel anyone can take an interpretation of the Bible or any religious texts to make it suit his or her own needs. What needs to be done is to take this text into the context it was intended.

"Why do Muslim women wear the hijab?"

Canadian Muslimah Sumayyah Hussein explains: It's not the first time this has happened and it is certainly an issue that needs to be addressed.

One of the major misconceptions about the hijab (covering of the body except the face and hands) is that young women are forced to wear it by their parents or by male family members.

Sumayya Syed, 16, says that what parents or men want have nothing to do with it. In fact, she astounds people who ask by saying that every woman should have this form of liberation.
Syed maintains that when a woman is covered, men cannot judge her by her appearance but are forced to evaluate her by her personality, character, and morals. "I tell them that the hijab is not a responsibility, it's a right given to me by my Creator who knows us best. It's a benefit to me, so why not? It's something every woman should strive to get and should want."

Another viewpoint

According to Akim in his blog akim.blog-city, he states that: "What we need to note here is the article and possession, it says the head of every man is Christ, however, NOT that the head of every woman is man." This honestly makes more sense to a Roman Catholic like myself.

The woman’s prerogative

"For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
Now, this fouls up every authority man tries to exercise over the woman because it says it is the prerogative of the woman to decide on whether to cover her head or not. There is no duty of man to impose this on the woman.

This is usually read as the man ought to have power of the head of every woman and force them to appear in a wifely role or subservient role."

In regards to Islam, I think certain forms of of the hijab such as total cover is more of a tribal customary issue rather than religious. Within Islam women are not supposed to feel forced to cover their heads, (however in certain Islamic societies I think there is religious and societal compulsion to do so)...I think again, it is all in the interpretation:

According to Dr. Ibrahim B. Syed, Hijab (head cover) for Muslim women is not mandated in the Qur’an. If it is, it is only the subjective interpretation of an ayah (verse) on the part of the reader. Hence, many Islamic scholars say that according to hadith, a woman should cover her whole body, except her face and hands. The majority of Muslims do not know in which hadith this is mentioned. A very limited number of Muslims know that this is in Sunan Abu Dawud. The English translation of Sunan Abu Dawud is in three volumes. Again, nobody ever mentions that it is in Volume Three. Actually, it is in Volume 3, Book XXVII, Chapter 1535, and Hadith number 4092, titled: "How Much Beauty Can A Woman Display?" For the benefit of the readers, the exact hadith is reproduced below:

(4092) 'Aisha said: Asthma', daughter of Abu Bakr, entered upon the
Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) wearing thin clothes. The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) turned his attention from her. He said: O Asthma', when a woman reaches the age of menstruation, it does not suit her that she displays her parts of the body except this and this, and he pointed to her face and hands. (Note 3523).

The veil has many critics and just as many supporters. It can be seen as either a liberation for the Muslim woman, (not being the object of sexual desire and basing her self-worth on looks) or as some might see it, as a repression of her spirit. I believe that it takes a strong woman to veil, especially these days within a Western country due to generalizations about Muslims. I see Muslimas as being in the forefront of their religion because when they practice hijab they are a visible symbol of their faith. Unlike some Muslim men I have known over the years, one cannot immediately recognize if they are Muslim unless they tell you. Unlike a woman....her faith is displayed for all to see...

(still under constructive thought)

Websites:

http://akin.blog-city.com/theveilamongstchristians.htm

http://www.middleastwomen.org/html/womeninarabworld.htm

http://www.irfi.org/articles/women_in_islam/is_head_cover_for_women_mandator.htm

http://www.islamfortoday.com/hijabcanada4.htm

http://www.photographersdirect.com/stockimages/h/hijab.asp

Is Christianity a religion of terrorism?

I do not think it is. I think there were leaders in place through history that promoted death and hedonistic views in the name of Christianity but if you look at the tenants of the faith...no I do not think so. I even blame the Catholic Church leadership for some of its own transgressions through the years regarding fellowship and religious compulsion. I posted this because I found the issue of interest and read this thread regarding my religion:

http://www.englishsabla.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50101

Favorite Christian verses

Found this thread interesting from www.englishsabla.com. Was posted by a member there:

There was a poll recently among Christians to find their favorite Bible verses. It's an interesting way for non-Christians to get an idea of what is at the center of their religion for most Christians. It's a bit weighted toward Protestants, I suspect, but it's still helpful and interesting.In some ways, Christians and Muslims are close. At the same time, in other ways we are not so close. We should be realistic about both aspects.Here are the results from most popular down, one through ten:

Quote:
1. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.2. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.3. John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me".4. Matthew 28:19

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.5. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.6. Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.7. Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.8. Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.9. 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.10. Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

http://socrates58.blogspot.com/2007/...-revealed.htmlDave Armstrong, who features these on his blog, gave his own favorite too:

Quote:
Romans 8:28: We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. One reader -- I'll bet he's a tired student! -- give this one as his favorite:

Quote:
Ecclesiastes 12:12 Of the making of many books there is no end, and in much study there is weariness for the flesh.

Religious Tolerance

For myself, not art and I think it is in poor taste. However, if one is to protest such religious "art" then do so peacefully and without violence:

Piss Christ is a controversial photograph by American photographer Andres Serrano. It depicts a small plastic crucifix supporting the body of Jesus Christ submerged in a glass of the artist's urine. The piece was a winner of the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art's "Awards in the Visual Arts" competition,[1] which is sponsored in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, a United States Government agency that offers support and funding for artistic projects.
The piece caused a scandal when it was exhibited in 1989, with detractors accusing Serrano of blasphemy and others raising this as a major issue of artistic freedom. On the floor of the United States Senate, Senators Al D'Amato and Jesse Helms expressed outrage that the piece was supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, since it is a federal taxpayer-financed institution.
Sister Wendy Beckett, an art critic, consecrated virgin and Catholic nun, voiced her approval of Piss Christ. She explained in a television interview with Bill Moyers that she regarded the work as a statement on "what we have done to Christ" - that is, the way contemporary society has come to regard Christ and the values he represents.[2]
Serrano produced other similar works to much less controversy; Madonna and Child II (1989), for example, in which the subject is similarly submerged in urine, is not nearly as well known as "Piss Christ".
Piss Christ is often used as a test-case for the idea of freedom of speech, and was described in the journal Arts & Opinion as "a clash between the interests of artists in freedom of expression on the one hand, and the hurt such works may cause to a section of the community on the other."[3]
Some have claimed that Piss Christ violated Separation of church and state. [1], [2], [3].

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piss_Christ
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1248/is_3_93/ai_n13487143
http://reversevampyr.blogspot.com/2006/02/piss-christ-vs-cartoon-jihad.html

What is Faith......

Faith stems from many things but primarily within your heart...your soul...the two are intertwined...so much so we can forget where one ends and the other begins.

Faith means trust..love and devotion...it can be faith in God, faith in someone, faith in oneself.

Being able to release control and understanding that no matter what happens, good or bad...you try and accept what happens and if you can change your circumstance for the better---so be it.

Faith is diverse, a complexity of emotions and even physical strength. Faith is not simple...but has layers for which we build upon in order to continue the diversity of ourselves, in our sense of being and humanity at large.

Faith is the betterment oneself and ultimately in humanity...

The essence of volunteering

What is volunteering? According to the ever-present Wikipedia...A volunteer is someone who serves in a community or for the benefit of natural environment primarily because they choose to do so. Many serve through a non-profit organization – sometimes referred to as formal volunteering, but a significant number also serve less formally, either individually or as part of a group. Because these informal volunteers are much harder to identify, they may not be included in research and statistics on volunteering.

I feel that I also volunteered to serve my country while in the army, and also when I joined the AmeriCorps-Vista program in Missouri. I think volunteering should come natural, not forced...that you do it not to make someone believe in the same things you do but to help because well...humanity frankly needs it. What with all the wars going on, now fires, the poverty and diseases...we as human beings need to go that extra mile. I would like to volunteer but feel that I should not have to push any agenda...people should try to help because well...someone else may not be able to help themselves they are completely overwhelmed by their dire circumstance. Right now trying to obtain information on what I can do for the people devastated by the California fires...Bush signed a federal disaster declaration Wednesday, freeing money to help residents rent temporary homes and repair damaged homes and businesses and to help local and state agencies pay for the emergency response.

The cost of homes destroyed by the wildfires is likely to top $1 billion in San Diego County alone, an emergency official said.

People left homeless by the fires can apply online for federal help at FEMA.gov, said David Paulison, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Recipe for volunteering

Naznin Dhanani's Recipe for Volunteering

2 cups of listening

1 teaspoon of trust1

½ cups of kindness

1 teaspoon of honesty

2 cups of happiness1 cup responsibility

1 cup of patience & laughter

1 tablespoon of communication

1 tablespoon of compromise

1 dash of commitment

2 teaspoons of give and take

2 dashes of forgiveness

2 tablespoons of appreciation of each other

¾ cup of tolerance

Method:Combine listening, trust and kindness. Mix well. Add communication, honesty and compromise. Blend. Cream happiness, commitment and responsibility until light and fluffy. Sift together patience, give and take and laughter. Fold together gently. Add dashes of forgiveness, to taste. Top with appreciation and tolerance.

Results:“Remembering the essence of volunteering”.

You will need to follow the instructions very carefully to end up with the results you want!

As an American citizen I feel it is my duty to try and help. I hope I can find an agency I can either donate to or at least give a little of my time to assist these individuals.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volunteering

http://www.americorps.org/

http://www.ypp.net/fullarticle.asp?ID=100

http://www.worldvolunteerweb.org/join-the-network/blogs/ivd2006-blog/doc/recipe-for-volunteering.html

The Presence of God...

The Presence of God
I see in every leaf movement

As playful breeze passes by

Barely disturbing a nesting bird

The presence of God.

The mantle of teeming wildflowers

Adorning the once barren plain

In the changing of the seasons

I feel the ever presence of God.

The ceaseless gurgling of the brook

As it meanders down its way,

Cacophony of myriad nature's sounds

Announce the presence of God.

Laughter of innocent children

Playing in parks or backyard

Enjoying their uncomplicated simple world

In the watchful presence of God.

Amidst life's tears and turmoil

Many mishaps and miscalculations

I sought solace and found comfort

In the loving presence of God.

In the hectic humdrum of daily living

Fast-paced rat race for material gain

Insatiable yearning for more, make no room

For the presence of God.

All the world's problems and woes

Are man-made, yet unacknowledged:

religious wars Hate crimes, ethnic cleansing, violence

Conveniently ignoring the presence of God.

If I am cognizant of God's love

And serve Him through my fellowmen

Then when my time comes I will bask

In the glory and presence of God.

For in the presence of God, there is no hate

Only brotherly love, peace, forgiveness

Understanding, compassion, helping hand

No evil can withstand the presence of God.

Reprinted from Heritage magazine, Vol. XIII, No. 1, Spring 1999.

What WAS the role of Mary Magdalene in Catholic Doctrine????

The Da Vinci Code lifts Mary Magdalene from her traditional status as a repentant prostitute and regulates her to a conventional role of wife and mother. (What is wrong with that???) I see nothing wrong.

The novel tells us that she sits at the table with the other (male) apostles in Leonardo da Vinci’s famous mural, “The Last Supper”—at Jesus’ right hand as his wife, and is viewed as a chalice, a vessel. The mother of Jesus' holy children. (Again I see nothing wrong with that).

Would not Jesus have lived a life as a man yet retained the dignity of his role as the Son of God.

She is specifically named as one who travels with him and the disciples (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). She witnesses his death (Mark 15:40, Matthew 27:56) and burial (Mark 15:47, Matthew 27:61, Luke 23:55), brings spices to anoint his corpse (Mark 16:1, Matthew 28:1), and is named in three of the gospels as the first to see and recognize him after his resurrection (Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:9, John 20:14-18).


According to, The Complete Gospels, by Karen King states that the theology of the Gospel of Mary is as follows:

. . . the Gospel of Mary communicates a vision that the world is passing away, not toward a new creation or a new world order, but toward the dissolution of an illusory chaos of suffering, death, and illegitimate domination. The Savior has come so that each soul might discover its own true spiritual nature, its "root" in the Good, and return to the place of eternal rest beyond the constraints of time, matter, and false morality.

The Gospel of Mary exalts Mary Magdalene over the male disciples of Jesus. (Red flag for the Church)....The Gospel of Mary provides important information about the role of women in the early church.

In her introduction in The Nag Hammadi Library, Karen King makes these observations:
The confrontation of Mary with Peter, a scenario also found in The Gospel of Thomas, Pistis Sophia, and The Gospel of the Egyptians, reflects some of the tensions in second-century Christianity. Peter and Andrew represent orthodox positions that deny the validity of esoteric revelation and reject the authority of women to teach. The Gospel of Mary attacks both of these positions head-on through its portrayal of Mary Magdalene. She is the Savior's beloved, possessed of knowledge and teaching superior to that of the public apostolic tradition. Her superiority is based on vision and private revelation and is demonstrated in her capacity to strengthen the wavering disciples and turn them toward the Good.

If one were to look at Jesus and how he was raised to live among the Jews and the culture of that day would it not also dictate he would have had a wife? Besides, what kind of sin would it be for the Saviour to have been married? Perhaps the missing years of Jesus from the bible were intentionally left out by those of the Church BECAUSE it showed he could be human. Human in terms of loving, being a father, having a wife. Could he NOT have these and yet be Divine? How would history, humanity, doctrine portray Jesus if they knew he was indeed someone who was a husband...a father????

Think about how society viewed women in these days of Jesus. Second class status. WHAT would the church have done...any church thereafter if women were given the exalted status that it appears Jesus gave to Mary Magdalene????

I realize not everyone is going to agree with me or with current literature regarding this topic of course. Everyone has their own way of worshipping the Saviour but I for one would like to check out these agnostic gospels in further depth and really learn about what is in there, what these "stories" are of the one so set high by God....about this woman Mary Magdalene...former "prostitute."

I for one think that there is more to this woman than what the church claims. Just makes sense.

http://www.uuworld.org/ideas/articles/4453.shtml

http://www.gnosis.org/library/marygosp.htm

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/gospelmary.html

Interview with God

Very moving....makes you think......

New picture of my desktop