March ’13, 31st, Easter Morning
Momentum
My life has momentum. Dad made the necessary changes to the auditory practice of the CMHC in terms of decentralizing and centralizing to give the government and banking the momentum to move from prewar to postwar reality. So he is in Who’s Who. That would have been WWII involvement followed by the first concepts of infrastructure. Slums to ghettos the critics said. He fought Nazi and Canadian corruption in his lifetime. He had enemies in all levels of strata. His life had momentum. After he retired he championed affordable housing for seniors, halfway houses for people with mental illness and housing for people in the evangelical church he attended all his life.
My Mom’s life had momentum too. She was raised on a Quebec farm in a period she refused to call the good old days: before infrastructure, running water and electricity; horse a buggy days. She got a job in the big city of Montreal. She discovered she needed to make her “body and living sacrifice” to God. She started practicing her faith. He local church had an “in as much club” and she believed in their sacrificial giving. 20% of the family income was charitable donations. She helped organize the Ottawa Christian Business Women’s Society. She fought Depression. She never stopped praying for a son who had lost the faith. Such family momentum is contagious.
We are part of the family of God. The momentum of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus is contagious. Our struggle, years of decline or demise eventuate in eternal happiness in Heaven. If you’re not going anywhere this year go to church. If you renew a Confirmation in Christ every morning your day will have momentum.
My life has had a born again momentum ever since I underwent the RCIA program in our parish. The SASE courses in our diocese refresh the Christian. Our church has momentum. I’ve taken Emmaus and New Life and look forward to John. Christ appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus after He died. They were going away from Jerusalem but his Word and breaking Bread gave momentum to them to return. This is one of the many reports of the Resurrection in the Bible. It is a love of Sacred Scripture which is a theme of the Emmaus course.
Another time the resurrected Jesus appeared to disciples is after they returned to their former occupation as fishermen. The risen Lord had fish cooking even before they had brought in their miraculous catch. God doesn’t need our sacrifices but he wants our heart, praise and thanks. No wonder our lives have momentum. We have new life with the Divine Mercy in the Spirit.
Today the culture of death: New Age, Gothic, abortion, euthanasia and same sex all lead to a stagnate society. In Ontario we face an election in which for me the choice is obvious to vote for my fellow BCMF guy, Neil Ford and the Family Coalition Party. If we are going to have the momentum to return to a culture of life we are not going to be able to partner with a liberal agenda but an evangelical conservatism.
Monday, 1 April 2013
Sunday, 24 March 2013
A Couple of Days Late and a Dollar Short
World Water Day
Where, oh where;
Is my God:
Do I know?
He’s seated;
At the right hand,
Of Abba in Heave!
Lordie: the shade,
On my right hand.
“Living on the inside;
Roaring like a Lion!”
Holy Spirit fills me,
Drunk with new Wine.
The Bread, the Bread,
He is in the Sacred Bread.
He is the Bread of Life.
He is the Living water.
A well;
Never dry.
I have running water:
Thank the Lord;
Give $5,
To Development and Peace.
How many peoples;
Have we let:
Die of drought,
Or bad water?
Like we’re bad blood?
Mercy!
God is there!
Precious Blood,
And water flows
From His precious wound.
Divine mercy;
Forgiveness in Him,
Can be found.
God is
Everywhere.
In His Church,
The broken Body.
We need
To forgive.
We see Him
In the needy.
A cup of water,
Did we give?
In as much,
As we did it,
To the least of these;
We did it:
Unto Him!
Abba, Creator:
Seen in the wonderment
Of the Universe;
Made His space,
In my heart.
Where, oh where;
Is my God:
Do I know?
He’s seated;
At the right hand,
Of Abba in Heave!
Lordie: the shade,
On my right hand.
“Living on the inside;
Roaring like a Lion!”
Holy Spirit fills me,
Drunk with new Wine.
The Bread, the Bread,
He is in the Sacred Bread.
He is the Bread of Life.
He is the Living water.
A well;
Never dry.
I have running water:
Thank the Lord;
Give $5,
To Development and Peace.
How many peoples;
Have we let:
Die of drought,
Or bad water?
Like we’re bad blood?
Mercy!
God is there!
Precious Blood,
And water flows
From His precious wound.
Divine mercy;
Forgiveness in Him,
Can be found.
God is
Everywhere.
In His Church,
The broken Body.
We need
To forgive.
We see Him
In the needy.
A cup of water,
Did we give?
In as much,
As we did it,
To the least of these;
We did it:
Unto Him!
Abba, Creator:
Seen in the wonderment
Of the Universe;
Made His space,
In my heart.
Wednesday, 20 March 2013
how an empire ends
Ode to Habakkuk
What a book is Habakkuk,
By the minor prophet of that name,
3rd last in the 1st part of the Book of books;
Times like his and ours seem the same.
He saw the rise of Babylon;
We, the American Empire.
To the watchtower he took his concern.
We still can take ours to our spire.
In the a face of violence
And economic disparity
God told him have patience:
All eventually pay for severity.
Their culture trapped people on hooks.
How many are hooked today?
They didn’t value life.
Now question right to life, lots say.
God showed him Babylonians' falls,
“He comes with the brightness of lightning;…” – note 1
“…and there is no herd in the stalls,” – note 2
The Tribulation of America is frightening!
All prophets were persecuted.
“…For its maker trusts in what has been made,…” - note 3
Christians get a bad rap.
“…let everyone on earth be silent in his presence.” - note 4
Notes
1 – Habakkuk 3:4 TEV
2 – Habakkuk 3:17 NRSV
3 – Habakkuk 2:18 NRSV
4 – Habakkuk 2:20 TEV
What a book is Habakkuk,
By the minor prophet of that name,
3rd last in the 1st part of the Book of books;
Times like his and ours seem the same.
He saw the rise of Babylon;
We, the American Empire.
To the watchtower he took his concern.
We still can take ours to our spire.
In the a face of violence
And economic disparity
God told him have patience:
All eventually pay for severity.
Their culture trapped people on hooks.
How many are hooked today?
They didn’t value life.
Now question right to life, lots say.
God showed him Babylonians' falls,
“He comes with the brightness of lightning;…” – note 1
“…and there is no herd in the stalls,” – note 2
The Tribulation of America is frightening!
All prophets were persecuted.
“…For its maker trusts in what has been made,…” - note 3
Christians get a bad rap.
“…let everyone on earth be silent in his presence.” - note 4
Notes
1 – Habakkuk 3:4 TEV
2 – Habakkuk 3:17 NRSV
3 – Habakkuk 2:18 NRSV
4 – Habakkuk 2:20 TEV
Wednesday, 13 March 2013
the 4 seasons of my life
Lent, Mercy and the Holy Spirit
If you are a practising RC or other Christian denomination that has sacred liturgy, you are aware that it is now Lent. Lent means Spring. While I am in the Winter of my life I remember the Spring. This year I gave up alcohol for Lent. I’m sure my wife would prefer it if this were for keeps. I gave it up for Lent once before but it didn’t last. I was 15 when I had my first taste of rum. When I was at an Ottawa Rough Riders football game in the end zone bleachers someone spiked my coffee. My father had rum in the house which he hide from my mother but only had it as rheumatism medicine rarely, and by the teaspoon just. My mother was tea total. I needed much mercy in the Summer of my life.
When I was a toddler I learned what mercy was. When my mom scolded me and told me to pick up and put away toys, granma did it for me. When I was 3 I prayed God watch over me always. As a small child and I wasn’t given supper, hungry, I snuck in the kitchen and opened the bottom drawer of the stove, where my mom kept dried crusts of bread. Dad came in there and just said he was hungry too. My dad had a voracious appetite, for food, work, and philanthropy. He vetoed moms decision and we had the best tasting bread I can remember. Dad let his parents stay in our upstairs. Grandpa had to go to the hospital with mental health issues at the time I was born. A former owner of the house, Mrs. Sprat didn’t want to move when dad acquired the house, he let stay upstairs too.
When I was 7 I gave my heart to Jesus and the next day asked him to keep me from sin. Many people are unchurched and have no idea what mercy is. In the Summer of my life I was one of those too. There is no point to the Prayer, fasting and generosity of Lent unless we accept the mercy of God. That is the key to Conversion, to the Sacrament of Penance. Unless we demonstrate our acceptance of mercy, others in the Church and the rest of the world will not know God’s mercy. Not unless we are merciful to all as well. We can’t do this without the gift of the Holy Spirit. In the Fall of my life there was much mercy and grace given by the Holy Spirit.
Another thing RCs are aware of right now is the Conclave of Cardinals are electing a new Pope to replace Benedict XVI. There has been 2 ballots cast with nobody elected, the last I checked. Will you join me in praying that the Holy Spirit will guide them?
If you are a practising RC or other Christian denomination that has sacred liturgy, you are aware that it is now Lent. Lent means Spring. While I am in the Winter of my life I remember the Spring. This year I gave up alcohol for Lent. I’m sure my wife would prefer it if this were for keeps. I gave it up for Lent once before but it didn’t last. I was 15 when I had my first taste of rum. When I was at an Ottawa Rough Riders football game in the end zone bleachers someone spiked my coffee. My father had rum in the house which he hide from my mother but only had it as rheumatism medicine rarely, and by the teaspoon just. My mother was tea total. I needed much mercy in the Summer of my life.
When I was a toddler I learned what mercy was. When my mom scolded me and told me to pick up and put away toys, granma did it for me. When I was 3 I prayed God watch over me always. As a small child and I wasn’t given supper, hungry, I snuck in the kitchen and opened the bottom drawer of the stove, where my mom kept dried crusts of bread. Dad came in there and just said he was hungry too. My dad had a voracious appetite, for food, work, and philanthropy. He vetoed moms decision and we had the best tasting bread I can remember. Dad let his parents stay in our upstairs. Grandpa had to go to the hospital with mental health issues at the time I was born. A former owner of the house, Mrs. Sprat didn’t want to move when dad acquired the house, he let stay upstairs too.
When I was 7 I gave my heart to Jesus and the next day asked him to keep me from sin. Many people are unchurched and have no idea what mercy is. In the Summer of my life I was one of those too. There is no point to the Prayer, fasting and generosity of Lent unless we accept the mercy of God. That is the key to Conversion, to the Sacrament of Penance. Unless we demonstrate our acceptance of mercy, others in the Church and the rest of the world will not know God’s mercy. Not unless we are merciful to all as well. We can’t do this without the gift of the Holy Spirit. In the Fall of my life there was much mercy and grace given by the Holy Spirit.
Another thing RCs are aware of right now is the Conclave of Cardinals are electing a new Pope to replace Benedict XVI. There has been 2 ballots cast with nobody elected, the last I checked. Will you join me in praying that the Holy Spirit will guide them?
Friday, 8 February 2013
For the First Fruits
For the first fruits of our labour
is a peaceful calm
no more belligerant behaviour
humility is our alms
we offer to Jesus
courage for our hope
for too we have faith with Mary
we set no limits on our scope
we worship now in Spirit
for in truth here we know
our lives have merit
we have something to show
for our pilgrim's progress
for the battle rageth on
we need not always digress
our wantonness is gone
now we are drunk with Holy
Spirit from our Dad
God the Father solely
and the Beloved Lad
with the Holy Spirit
now we can cope
now we shall win it
our life has hope
Our hope is in Jesus
our brother and our Pasch
our friend through Mary
we don't just mask
our worries St. Joseph
take to your babe's throne
from the heart reapeth
a new lease we own
not to appear changist
there is inward change
we have Eucharist
our thoughts rearange
we tell a story
for a world to be
Christ child come in glory
for our eternity
is a peaceful calm
no more belligerant behaviour
humility is our alms
we offer to Jesus
courage for our hope
for too we have faith with Mary
we set no limits on our scope
we worship now in Spirit
for in truth here we know
our lives have merit
we have something to show
for our pilgrim's progress
for the battle rageth on
we need not always digress
our wantonness is gone
now we are drunk with Holy
Spirit from our Dad
God the Father solely
and the Beloved Lad
with the Holy Spirit
now we can cope
now we shall win it
our life has hope
Our hope is in Jesus
our brother and our Pasch
our friend through Mary
we don't just mask
our worries St. Joseph
take to your babe's throne
from the heart reapeth
a new lease we own
not to appear changist
there is inward change
we have Eucharist
our thoughts rearange
we tell a story
for a world to be
Christ child come in glory
for our eternity
Tuesday, 22 January 2013
10 favorite tenets to ponder
My top ten things to bring to mind.
One. God is number one. There is one Way. We are of one mind. There is: one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one Baptism and one God.
Second; salvation: Jesus saves us from our sins.
Third, the truth of the Trinity; Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
The right ring of our real reward for righteousness through grace solely.
Finally forgiven we are when we forgive.
From the evening of January 19th, ’13 and Ephesians 4:4-6, on one hand and the other:
God is love,
God loves us,
we must love God,
we must love one another;
Love never fails!
One. God is number one. There is one Way. We are of one mind. There is: one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one Baptism and one God.
Second; salvation: Jesus saves us from our sins.
Third, the truth of the Trinity; Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
The right ring of our real reward for righteousness through grace solely.
Finally forgiven we are when we forgive.
From the evening of January 19th, ’13 and Ephesians 4:4-6, on one hand and the other:
God is love,
God loves us,
we must love God,
we must love one another;
Love never fails!
Saturday, 12 January 2013
post epiphany from yesterday
The Baptism of Our Lord January 11th ‘13
In these last days of the Christmas season and first days of the New Year, I see I haven’t posted anything and I really don’t know what to do but try to start to blog some more. I did make resolutions, but am not sure how determined I am to keep them. Ones like spend more time writing and less time at work may have been born from laziness, and discontent, rather than commitment to improvements. What seems as an epiphany sometimes comes from delusion.
In the Gospel readings at Mass this past week we are reminded how many times, in Christ’s time, God showed the world the divinity of Jesus. There was the Visit of the Wise Men, dreams and angels’ warnings and prophetic messages for this time. Jesus touches a leper clean. Jesus starts to preach in the home town. Jesus walks on water and calms the storm. Jesus multiplies bread and fish to feed five thousand men. From the first Jesus performed miracles and healings of everything.
John 3:27 John answered, “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven.
Luke 3:21&22 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
Even though Jesus came in the room with me and I could see him like he ascended into heaven as everybody shall see him at the end of time I still did not experience an epiphany. I could hear him say I am coming back for you but it was many years later that I would give him any reason to do so other than to send me to purgatory or worse.
Many times the disciples’ hearts were hardened and many times the chosen people were stiff necked. It seems no matter the profundity of revelation we fail to see Jesus, fail to see the Father. What would it take? Obviously it takes the grace of God for us to have the virtues we need to experience Conversion.
And thanks be to God these graces can come from the Sacraments. With the gift of the Holy Spirit we can bear fruit. What gift did you give Jesus this year? I want to make the gift of my heart most complete.
In these last days of the Christmas season and first days of the New Year, I see I haven’t posted anything and I really don’t know what to do but try to start to blog some more. I did make resolutions, but am not sure how determined I am to keep them. Ones like spend more time writing and less time at work may have been born from laziness, and discontent, rather than commitment to improvements. What seems as an epiphany sometimes comes from delusion.
In the Gospel readings at Mass this past week we are reminded how many times, in Christ’s time, God showed the world the divinity of Jesus. There was the Visit of the Wise Men, dreams and angels’ warnings and prophetic messages for this time. Jesus touches a leper clean. Jesus starts to preach in the home town. Jesus walks on water and calms the storm. Jesus multiplies bread and fish to feed five thousand men. From the first Jesus performed miracles and healings of everything.
John 3:27 John answered, “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven.
Luke 3:21&22 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
Even though Jesus came in the room with me and I could see him like he ascended into heaven as everybody shall see him at the end of time I still did not experience an epiphany. I could hear him say I am coming back for you but it was many years later that I would give him any reason to do so other than to send me to purgatory or worse.
Many times the disciples’ hearts were hardened and many times the chosen people were stiff necked. It seems no matter the profundity of revelation we fail to see Jesus, fail to see the Father. What would it take? Obviously it takes the grace of God for us to have the virtues we need to experience Conversion.
And thanks be to God these graces can come from the Sacraments. With the gift of the Holy Spirit we can bear fruit. What gift did you give Jesus this year? I want to make the gift of my heart most complete.
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