I want to point out that I will not condone nor allow disrespectful dialog on this blog, my Facebook page, or any other forum. Regardless of your opinion (agreement with me, or disagreement) your comments will be deleted if they do not respect others.

So, here we go.

Item 1: Not believing in ‘gay marriage’ or that people are created homosexual means you are judgmental.

This is possibly the most frustrating element of this issue for me. The fact that I believe gay marriage is not in the best interest of society does not make me hateful or judgmental; nor does not believing that humans are created ‘homosexual’ or ‘gay’.

My personal take on this is that society has evolved over time and people no longer understand love and purpose. Society no longer acknowledges our purpose as the human creation to glorify our creator. Rather society places our purpose at the mercy of our individual emotions and desires. There is no longer a commitment to the good of the whole. People are left to simply do what they want, whether it hurts others or not. Granted there are some limits to this such as murder…yet even that is subjective as a woman can choose to kill a child if she desires.

The love element is also important. No I do not believe that ‘gay marriage’ or relationships are solely based on lust rather than love. I do believe however that we as a people do not understand love. Why is it that the mainstream Christian faith does not use Crucifixes and only uses crosses? Society removes Jesus because it does not understand True Love. True Love is about giving everything for another. But we can’t do that can we? Abortion, divorce, infidelity, care for the sick, elderly…care for the poor… All of these are signs that we do not understand true love for one another.

And why can we not understand true love for one another…because we are not willing to accept it from Jesus Christ who gave it all. Put a crucifix on your wall and daily reflect on what it took to accomplish that. The Grace is in the resurrection, the Love is in the death on a cross.

All of this is to make the point that as someone who desires to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ I do not judge anyone regardless of their actions or beliefs. However not judging is not synonymous with acceptance. I do not have to accept or condone someone’s actions. In fact, it is more the opposite than you who disagree with me can know. I love them soo much I desire for them to see who they really are as a creation of the Father with dignity.

Item 2: God created homosexuals

This is a touchy subject for many. Especially those who have a relative proclaimed to be homosexual, because for many this is emotional not theological or scientific. For this to be in proper context, we must understand the purpose for sexuality. God said to Adam and Eve, “be fruitful and multiply and inhabit the earth.” These are the marching orders for humanity. We have been given stewardship of creation, and dominion over other creatures for a purpose. Sexuality is a fundamental part of creation with a specific purpose as ordained by God. Therefore, I cannot as a Christian believe that God created people to be homosexual. Rather I believe that society as explained above has distorted love and as a result that manifests itself in people not receiving the love they need from the proper places (parents, friends, community, etc.).

There is one other element to discuss here. Since society does not understand love, it also does not then understand purpose. Our “vocation” is critical to our person. Vocation isn’t job, career, or activity; rather vocation is part of one’s identity. I believe that those who believe they are homosexual perhaps misunderstand their identity, specifically their vocation.

That in a nutshell is a glance into some of these issues. Yes, you may disagree with me or not like my beliefs and I respect that.

I pray that we find unity in our society and regain our purpose.

God bless you.

Let me clarify this post by saying (1) I am a pro-life Catholic who tries to live the teachings of the Church fully and (2) I am a very conservative voter and I do not associate with any political party or movement (3) and lastly that I am a gun owner who wouldn’t think for one second about shooting a home intruder to defend my family.

Recall that recently I wrote about the desire to seek justice and the desire to love.  These two desires are not congruent with one another.  Love is an action, or choice, which is wholly separate from justice because love is our action and justice belongs entirely to God.  This idea is fundamental to understanding my stance on political Catholics. 

The Political Catholic is a breed of Catholic who sees their ministry/passion solely as accomplishing things such as the reversal of Roe v. Wade, or the removal of guns from society, or the reinstatement of prayer in schools.  These “political” issues are, while very important, not elements of the Catholic faith.  As Catholics we are called to be pro-life, pro-prayer, and while the 5^th Commandment tells us not to kill there are no real Catholic teachings on gun ownership. 

See the problem with the Political Catholic isn’t their passion, and often times their theology isn’t faulty.  Rather it is the method of carrying out their agenda, their “mission”, which causes grave concern.  Political Catholics place the advancement of their agenda above the dignity and love of others and often are unwilling to accept any lower result than the perfect one.  This not only turns off others and alienates the Political Catholic, it alienates those that might more tact and Grace to hear the Gospel. 

An example, and an easy one at that, is quote “Pro-Life Catholics” who are overtly passionate about the issue of Abortion.  Abortion is wrong and it IS murder of the innocent.  Roe v. Wade is the most destructive law on the books in the U.S. Government and we lose millions each year because of this lie. 

The problems with the Political Catholic approach to this issue are three fold:

-          First these folks have a distorted view of the Pro-Life movement and they hijack it solely for the issue of abortion.  I am constantly amazed at those that proclaim to be pro-life and yet forget the elderly, sick, abandoned, hungry, homeless….  And don’t get me started on pro-life people who are devoid of love for those among us with disease, physical ailment, or mental ailment such as Downs or another (note that I didn’t say disease or dysfunction, these beautiful people often love better than any of us can ever hope too; would you call that dysfunction?)

-          Second, these folks place the reversal of Roe v. Wade as the number one priority of the pro-life movement.  Hear me clearly: The reversal of Roe v. Wade is an ignorant attempt by those involved.  I wish you luck in your losing effort.  The reversal of this decision will happen only when and only if we Evangelize the world to become more pro-life.  Until then the pro-life is only a movement and not a state of society….which is the ultimate goal.  It’s like a sport, almost always the way to score is not to go directly for the goal, rather it is to work as a whole team to move the ball around and find the best angle.  At this point, we need more on our team to win.

-          Lastly, these folks place their passion, in this case the anti-abortion agenda, ahead of everything else regardless of any collateral damage.  After all what could be more important right?  How about working to save the souls of those that are pro-choice, the abortionist, and those that are turned off by this agenda?  Political Catholics do not consider the negative impact of their words/actions on others.  Often they explain away those that disagree as ignorant or not faithful.

The Political Catholic does more damage than good to the Church.  Their efforts are destructive to the Body of Christ and to others perception of our faith. 

How many people proclaim to be Catholic and yet do not know the Truth?  Shouldn’t we be focused on strengthening our Body [of Christ] rather than berating those among us who don’t agree?  Don’t get me wrong, you cannot be Catholic and pro-choice.  Well, unless you like hot places….[sarcasm…].  Seriously if you are pro-choice you should not be receiving the Eucharist as you are not in communion with the Catholic Church.  You should discuss this with your Priest or another trusted person with a properly formed conscience (which means someone who believes and lives the teachings of the Church)…

Back to the issue.  The Political Catholic would rather those who are not in full communion with the Church simply leave.  Is this Christian?  Is this Catholic?  No, it’s not.  Rather it is a distortion of the Church to advance a personal political agenda.  And more importantly, it’s not acceptable.

Lastly I want to say this.  I agree with a Catholic Politician (who may or may not be a Political Catholic) being denied the Eucharist if they publically proclaim a belief not in communion with the Catholic Church.  I pray I’m never asked to carry that out because I cannot imagine the drama involved however, publically proclaiming a belief that does not fit the Church’s teachings is not acceptable.  Note however that this is a Church issue, not a politic issue. 

If you find yourself in the un-lucky position of being a Political Catholic, you should seriously consider why you say and act as you do and if those words and action reflect Christ.  I pray for you.  And I’m here to help however I can if you ask.

If you find yourself in conversation with a Political Catholic and you yourself are not one my request is simple.  Love.  Show them what real unconditional Christian love is all about.

I pray we are able to find greater unity in the Body of Christ.  That means that the ultra-conservative and the ultra-liberal Catholics need to move to the center….where Christ is.

In Him!

In the next article I’m going to address further the Pro-Life Movement.  I’m growing tired of “pro-lifers” not being pro-life and simply being anti-abortion.  There is more to the picture than that.

See this is the lie that the mainstream Christian “faithful” believe and it is I think an attack by Satan.  The mainstream Christian teaching is that we are to make ‘reasonable” attempts to be holy, falling short is certainly okay, come as you are, there is no need to change you…Christ has already perfected you by His resurrection. 

Hmm…did ya catch that?   No need to change.  I’m already perfect.  I think I should switch Churches because that sounds a lot easier.  Perhaps my new Pastor could tell my wife I’m perfect and we will no longer discuss (not argue) the dishes or laundry since being perfect, I shall have no need for such tasks.

[back to reality]

The real question is this: Is faith reasonable?  Is it reasonable?  Come on, think long and hard about this.  Is it?  Most people immediately say “No” to the question.  Please think about this very hard.

Let me ask you something…Is it reasonable that a man, who looks like a man, walks like a man, and talks like a man…could heal someone with his words?  Or how about turn water into wine?  Or raise someone from the dead?  How about have a basic conversation with guys who we know already died? 

Wait, let me guess…you think that the Bible is a collection of stories meant to inspire faith…but they aren’t really actual factual events.  I get it, you believe the Word of God is inspired, but that it is fiction used to inspire us.  I mean come on, how is it possible that a man can raise another from the dead using nothing but his words.  Yeah right…

So tell me….What Do you believe in?  Is Jesus a happy guy who died for our sins and did so as a human, with nothing special about him except that he was a great guy?  Golly thanks Jesus.

Or maybe Jesus didn’t really exist and the stories were made up over the years to help children understand moral teachings…and then that mean old Catholic Church men’s club needed something to control people with so they made the stories part of history so that 2010 years later they could have beautiful buildings and become the largest human rights organization on the planet.  Of course that last part is an unintended consequence.  J

Let’s be serious….ah…for real this time.

If you or I say that we are “Christian” then we can no longer subscribe to “reasonable” expectations.  Jesus Christ rose from the dead and that is a fact.  Prove me wrong……  Thank you…. Now that we agree say it with me.

JESUS CHRIST ROSE FROM THE DEAD!

How is that reasonable? 

The truth is that we have allowed the Gospel of Jesus Christ to become a bedtime story meant to make people feel good about what happens when they die.  “Oh honey, if you just believe in Jesus all will be well.”  Believing in Jesus Christ means not just given rhetoric to good feelings!  It means transforming your life to a supernatural existence in which everything – all thoughts, feelings, actions, words – are all directed toward a higher purpose of achieving God’s Will in the world.  Remember that cute little prayer that the baby Jesus taught us (I’m saying baby Jesus because I like the baby Jesus!)

Our Father who art in Heaven…..THY WILL BE DONE….

If we are not focused on His Will then our faith cannot be real.  Sorry friends, no backsliding here…just real action with real purpose and a real faith.

So…is your faith reasonable?  Or are you a Christian…

As it says in Is 5:20-21

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness;
Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
And clever in their own sight!

At work I joke of having a list of ‘unapproved public discussion topics’ as in the past I have not considered the cultural affects of a politically correct society and have spoken out of desire to share what I knew, rather than out of love for another.  As I have personally matured in faith and in life I have come to understand that while I cannot keep quiet while others make false statements, incite false perception, or simply speak from ignorance…there is a time and a place for such discussion.  But that discussion Must happen.

How can we sit back and allow ourselves to be convinced by the world that Truth is relative.  Truth is constant.  There is but one.  Some, actually, many would compromise Truth to fit in, to be accepted, to not make waves.  I have trouble doing that…my conscience doesn’t allow it.  As I have learned however, these conscientious moments must derive from the common pursuit of Love, not justice.

You see, often in my past I objected or spoke out on the basis of seeking justice.  Justice relates in definition to the “principle of moral rightness”.  It cannot be the end, nor the means.  Justice is something to be left to God.  Proverbs 16:11 states:

A just balance and scales belong to the LORD;
All the weights of the bag are His concern.

We need to speak out against injustice, but not for justice sake.  Our motivation is greater.  Our goal carries more weight than human justice.  Just as the Apostles spoke the Truth and were persecuted, so will those who speak Truth today.  We read in Acts 5:17-21 (emphasis added)

But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy.  They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail.  But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, “Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.” Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest and his associates came, they called the Council together, even all the Senate of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the prison house for them to be brought.

The angel of the Lord told the Apostles to continue speaking despite their persecution.  These men preached the Truth and were killed and/or abandoned by society for it.  Yet they still spoke of Jesus Christ to all they met.  That is faith.  That is a faith I wish I had.

I know that when I have the courage to speak the Truth it comes easily and God carries the load.

For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. – MT 10:20

If we just have faith, and say “yes” as Mary did, trusting that God will carry the weight then we can change the world.  Truth can be known by all and Christ can be advanced in the hearts of men.

Back to the issue however…we must do so out of love.

I get a lot of static from friends and family over my political and societal views.  I am not a member of any political parties because I see them all as evil.  I do not think it is okay to call ‘President” Obama, “Mr.” Obama no matter how much I disagree with him.  I’m not a fan of war, government healthcare, and many other things.  I do not subscribe to shock journalism and dislike Rush as much as Stern.  I love all men and would never desire to hurt anyone ‘and’ I do own guns for sport and defense if needed.  I believe strongly that our society is hampered by the lack of human elements.

Man cannot hunt, gather, and provide as we once did.  Women cannot nurture, teach, and care as they once did.

Rather we are stuck in a hypocritical society that fears rejection.  I can’t state my religious or political beliefs freely because what if someone is offended?  Oh my gosh!  How could we let that happen!  This is problematic.

Answer me this….Whom is more harmed, the one who hears someone else’s viewpoint, or the one restricted from sharing it.  One is protected in the Bill of Rights, the other is not.  Yet we constantly fight to keep our freedom against those who would take it.

—now Bob, you are mixing politics and religion and that is not good.

Wrong again in my opine.  Modern politics are simply copies of previous political structures which included the religious leaders within their structure such as the Jewish people, Egyptian society, Medieval European culture, and others.

The “inalienable” rights we find so valuable in our constitution were not created or dreamed up by the architects of our country.  They were God given freedoms desired by those who founded our country…so they built them into the structure.  There are TRUTHS found in the Bible.

And yes, while those who founded our country had their faults just as we all do…the Truths they laid out have not changed.  They are still God given freedoms to all who roam this land.

So…where do we go?  How do we handle this quandary?  Can I be a political activist, and a Christian?  Sure, why not!  Jesus was!

I look at it like this.  We cannot afford to not talk about the important issues.

About ten years ago a friend of mine from school committed suicide.  He was a good guy, someone who deserved more in life.  I was not a good person during the time we knew each other.  After going to college and some time later becoming a Christian, I thought multiple times about contacting him and sharing the Good News that I had come to know.  A few months later a friend told me he committed suicide.  No one could find me to tell me and so I also missed the funeral.  This story isn’t really about me, I still pray for my friend and ask God to receive him home…  But there is always in the back of ones mind…”what if”.

I will do everything I can to not have “what ifs” in my life.  Whether it is an issue of getting into heaven, being a good husband, parenting, life issues, health, or how we treat others…I will have dialog with friends on these topics.  I will point out areas where I think someone might be in danger.  And I pray my friends have the courage to do the same for me.

Truth does not change.  We will be persecuted when we speak it.  We will be attacked by the devil, who is as real as you and I.  As Jesus Christ tells us through John

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. – John 10:10

I pray that we all seek to have life abundantly by destroying political correctness and fear.  Tear down the walls that prevent us from loving one another as Christ calls us to.  Yes, I’m a sinner and I need the help of the Christian community to grow in holiness and the likeness of God…and so do you.  Receive the words of a friend with care, and offer them with even greater care.  In doing so God will use you to show His love and His justice will be done.

God bless.

We live today in a world of comfort.  You may disagree…perhaps you will tell me of the number of people suffering from hunger, poverty, and the like.  And you are correct, a portion of the world suffers, but overall we are an ungrateful glutton bunch.  Look around, note the number of things people own…the amount of wasted food at any restaurant or house…the amount of apathy among men. 

Last night while in Adoration I read this:

And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job, and that there is no one on earth like him, blameless and upright, fearing God and avoiding evil?” But Satan answered the LORD and said, “Is it for nothing that Job is God-fearing? Have you not surrounded him and his family and all that he has with your protection? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock are spread over the land. But now put forth your hand and touch anything that he has, and surely he will blaspheme you to your face.”  - Job 1:8-11

While Job had everything he praised the Lord who is worthy to be praised.  Satan argued that Job is of course an upright servant of the Lord, for God has allowed him to have many possessions and a wonderful family.  The Lord hath looked with favor on Job.

So the Lord, knowing the strength of Job’s faith allowed Satan to test him.  In the first trial all of Job’s livestock is stolen and all of his seven children are killed on the same day at the same time.  Job, being the upright and fitting servant of the Lord responds by saying this…

Then Job began to tear his cloak and cut off his hair. He cast himself prostrate upon the ground, and said, “Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I go back again. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!” In all this Job did not sin, nor did he say anything disrespectful of God. – Job 1:20-22

BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!  Are you kidding me!  Job praises God on the very day when his livelihood is taken from him!  And on the same day in which his children are killed!  Are you kidding me!!

See if you can follow me on this.  The U.S. is the richest country in the history of the world, we all have houses, cars, refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, Costco, Wal-Mart, Target, Guitar Center, Lehboner Children’s Hospital, St. Jude, and on and on and on.  People born in the U.S. are the luckiest people on the planet because no matter your race, in the U.S. you have more opportunity to survive then anywhere else. 

We have all of this, and yet we are not upright and worthy servants of the Lord.  You tell me how many people here truly, honestly, when attacked by Satin say, “Blessed be the name of the Lord!”  Rather people respond “God why have you forsaken me!” 

America…you are weak.  We call ourselves a Christian nation and then we live and act like pagans. 

Christ tells us in the Gospel of Matthew (7:21) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”

I wish to be like Job.  I wish to honor the Lord with all of my being every day, despite the weather, or my house, my car, my groceries, my friends, my family.  I wish to be like Job more today than ever before in my life.  Bring it on Satan…you haven’t met a man more focused on Praising the Lord.  I will not be stopped because I do not walk under my own power but only by the Grace of God go I. 

Please don’t mistake this as a woe to us post.  I am writing this more as a join me, let’s change the world, let’s make Christians Christian again.  We know that Christ has the victory!  This time will pass and He shall reign again in the hearts of all men.  Let us answer God’s call to carry our crosses, not count the cost of our labor, accept a fair daily wage, and Love unceasingly.  That maybe we could answer the Lord as Job does…

Then Job answered the LORD and said: I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be hindered. I have dealt with great things that I do not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know. I had heard of you by word of mouth, but now my eye has seen you. Therefore I disown what I have said, and repent in dust and ashes. – Job 42:1-6

 I wish not to understand what God calls me to, but to have the Grace to say Yes and do it.  I pray that we all have this Grace and that, like Mary, we respond “Let it be done to me according to THY word.”

God bless you today and deliver you from all evil…because Satan isn’t done working, so neither should we be.