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A friend once told me “once a catholic, always a catholic”–ex-catholic, lapsed catholic, non-catholic, etc. Maybe he was right. Here I am blogging about Roman Catholicism years after I’ve left the denomination. But I’ve been thinking about all the notions non-catholics, and some catholics have about devotionalism as an idolatrous catholic practice. Maybe that’s a legitimate observation, but idolatry is not limited to catholics. Idolatrous behavior happens in almost every facet of our lives. It’s a question of misplaced priorities.
Worship no god but me. No carved gods of any size, shape, or form of anything whatever, whether of things that fly or walk or swim. Don’t bow down to them and don’t serve them because I am GOD, your God, and I’m a most jealous God. (Exodus 20:3-5)
God’s Word commands us to put *nothing* before our relationship with Him. However, most current cultures have an idolatrous veneration of all things tangible-possessions like cars, money, electronic gadgets, status, clothes, jewelry, power, success, human understanding, and sexual gratification–not that any of these things are wrong in themselves, but we routinely value and pursue them before relationships with our Creator and each other.
The other night I decided to make homemade cream of mushroom soup. I had the Half&Half, I had the mushrooms, I had the flour, butter, garlic and onions, and I was bored with the other choices in my freezer. But just after I sauteed everything, I went looking for the stock, and there wasn’t any. I used the last of it weeks ago and forgot to buy more. So I dumped in the quart of H&H and sampled a small bowlful. It was very thick. I put the entire pot in the fridge, figuring I’d decide what to do with it later. Read the rest of this entry »
I grew up in Roman Catholicism. I was baptized, confirmed, made my first confession and communion, was born again, and was baptized in the Spirit as a Catholic. And, contrary to all the anti-catholic myths out there, I read the bible and bible stories from childhood, had regular Catholic school classes in bible study, along with but separate from the catechism classes, and voraciously read the works of the early Fathers and the lives of the saints. I was naturally curious, loved to read, and wanted to know everything I could about God, Jesus, and the history of Christianity.
In grade school I joined the church choir, and regularly sang and worshiped at funerals, weddings, solemn religious holidays, and feast days. This is not to brag. I had some pretty strong incentives. Read the rest of this entry »
There’s a single, straggley crocus growing at the edge of my upstairs garden, its lone flower floundering in the chilly March wind. Easter is early this year, and the mountain is not quite ready to relinguish its sleepy, winter coat.
The azealea bush is struggling too. The winter ice and snow turned about 2/3rds of its branches black. But the 1/3 that is still viable is green and strong. Maybe I should have wrapped it in burlap. I’ll wait until it’s warmer to prune the black branches and see how it fares on its own. Right now I’m just grateful that the worst of the winter weather is probably over.
This winter has been really hard. I’m ready to abandon its morose, dark, cold, barren ways to see and smell wet, fertile earth, green fields and wild flowers. I need to feel life coursing swiftly again.
I’ve been thinking a lot about real forgiveness lately. Reflecting on the actions of thousands of Kenyan citizens during these last few months, I wonder how anyone would be able to reconcile with their neighbors and fellow citizens after such rampant brutality.
How do you trust the neighbor who betrayed you, or burned your house, and raped or murdered your spouse and family? How do you live, work, socialize, and worship with people who call themselves “christian” but participated enthusiastically in the widespread looting, burning, raping, and genocide? How do you forgive yourself for being one of those participants, or even look each other in the eyes after such atrocities? These are hard questions for Kenyans. They are also difficult questions for the rest of us.
I’m declaring war between you and the Woman, between your offspring and hers. (Genesis 3:15a)
Blessed are all those who choose to belong to the family of God.
Blessed is she who chooses to walk in the company of her Beloved.
Blessed is she who willingly accepts the responsibility for birthing, nurturing, and mothering future generations of believers;
Blessed is she who chooses to heal and restore, in concert with her Spouse and Lord Jesus Christ;
Blessed is the woman who seeks her direction from His Word;
Blessed is she who chooses to love in every-day ways,
patiently supporting, coaching, instructing, working, playing, and praying in the face of every challenge;
Blessed is she whose joy sometimes sags but is not vanquished;
Blessed is she whose confusion is tempered and whose faith is strengthened by her awareness of His presence;
Blessed is she who remembers that her legacy is the coming of the Kingdom of her Lord.
Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished! (Luke 1:45)
