Saturday, April 11, 2009

Pope's Comments on Easter

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI carried a tall, lit candle symbolizing Christian hope into a dramatically darkened St. Peter's Basilica packed with faithful Saturday night in the traditional start of the Vatican's vigil Mass on the eve of Easter.
A chant of "Lumen Christi" (Latin for "Light of Christ") echoed in the cavernous basilica.
Then the vast space began twinkling with light as cardinals and other prelates lit their candles from the flame on the pope's Easter candle and, one by one, members of the congregation lit their neighbor's candle in a quick succession of lights.
A light switch was thrown, and the Mass began, led by Benedict, dressed in gold-and-white colored vestments.
Easter Sunday is Christianity's most important feast day, when faithful mark their belief in the resurrection of Christ after Jesus' death by crucifixion. For Christians worldwide, Easter represents God's promise of eternal life after death, of love's triumph over death.
"The gravitational pull of love is stronger than that of hatred; the force of gravity of life is stronger than that of death," Benedict said in his homily reflecting on the mystery of Christian belief in the resurrection.

A motif of life overcoming difficult trials figured in Benedict's Good Friday homily, as he sought to encourage survivors of Italy's devastating quake to cling to hope and take solace in Easter's joy. The temblor in the central Apennine mountain region of Abruzzo claimed at least 293 lives and left 40,000 people homeless.
The endurance of the Catholic church itself through the ages was praised by Benedict in his vigil Mass homily, saying "it always seems as if she ought to be sinking, and yet she is already always saved."
The pope did not specify challenges facing the church he leads.
But recent months have seen Benedict criticized, including by prelates in his own church, over his efforts to reach out to excommunicated ultraconservative Catholic bishops who rejected modernizing reforms of the 1960s, including the move away from Latin to modern languages during Masses.
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Pope Presides Over Torch-Lit Way of the Cross Procession at the Colosseum in Rome
Keeping with Easter vigil traditions, Benedict baptized five adults during the Mass: two Italian men, and one woman each from Italy, China and the United States.
Using a shell-shaped silver scooper to take water from a basin, the pope poured water over the bowed heads of each of the members of the church, after he called them by name, one by one.
Before moving up the aisle of the vast basilica, Benedict took a knife and carved the Greek letters "alpha" and "omega" into the candle. Then he inserted five grains of incense into the wax.
On Sunday morning, Benedict will celebrate Mass in St. Peter's Square, then read his Easter message for the world at noon Vatican time (6 a.m. EDT.)
The "Urbi et Orbi" (Latin for "to the city and to the world") message often takes the form of a review of the world's hotspots and political and social tensions.
Some 2 1/2 hours into Saturday night's ceremony, the pope started sounding hoarse. But the stamina of Benedict, who turns 82 on April 16, has appeared to hold up well during Holy Week ceremonies, including a Way of the Cross procession he watched on Good Friday night from a terrace overlooking the Colosseum.

Happy Easter

There's so much happening in the world right now. It seems since President Obama was elected, things have been speeding up, getting closer to "end times" things coming to fruition. It's like his swearing in ushered in the next phase of the end times. I don't think he is intentionally doing it, but the things he is doing are forcing our country down the path to the end. Socialism is here, preparations for a one world government, one world monetary system and the rise of the anti-christ are coming.

All this going on, our president goes over to Europe, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Doesn't pay respects to the graves of fallen soldiers in Normandy or anywhere else we have Americans buried, but takes the time to tell the Turks we are "arrogant." He also takes the time to bow down to the Saudi king, and no American president has ever done that, not even Bill Clinton.

Obama and his administration blame everything on America. Captain of an American cargo ship gets kidnapped by thugs and thieves? It's America's fault. Terror attacks? America's fault again. Muslim radical terrorists hate us? Must be our fault. When is America going to wake up?

Lastly, Obama tells the world that America is no longer a Christian nation. Yes, America's population may have sunk to a low of 20% true Christians or less, but we were founded on Christian principles, our laws were established based on the bible. So, until the rapture of the church occurs, we must maintain our status of a Christian nation. Deuteronomy 28 tells us all. We are on the side of God's curses right now.

But have hope in this, that while we were still Sinners - Christ died for us! Not only that, Jesus was raised on the third day and is sitting at the right hand of God!!!! Thank God for Jesus, no matter what happens when Obama gives America up to the world, we are saved through the shed blood of Jesus. It's a free gift from God - all you have to do is accept it from Him.

Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and Savior, believe that God raised Him on the third day, call on the name of the Lord and you will be saved.

God Bless.

Been too long

It has been too long since I have posted, but I am going to start posting at least weekly to this blog. Things are happening so fast, especially since America elected President Obama.

Please pray for our leaders, our nation and this world. Pray that we will turn from our evil ways and turn back to God. Pray that we will be obedient to God's word, and each of us follow the commandments given to us. Pray this nation will be a nation Under God again, and stand up for the innocent and abolish the murder of babies and define marriage in our constitution the way God defined it - between a man and a woman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

America - wake up - we are on the wrong side of Deuteronomy 28!

Thursday, September 4, 2008

9-11 Tribute Bible Style

The seven year anniversary of the 9-11 attack is coming up soon. I remember that day like it was yesterday. I was at work when it happened, in our morning staff meeting. Someone came in and said that America was under attack, it made us all just stop and think. I have television in my office, so a couple of us went in and turned on the news. I remember standing there speechless as I watched the planes fly through the world trade center.





I had no clue what was happening. I didn't understand who these radical muslim terrorists were. I didn't understand bible prophecy, or just about anything from the bible. I didn't have a clue what "end times" was.





What was happening in this world, what was happening to our country? Not too long after this all happened, Alan Jackson released his song, "Where were you", and he pretty much summed up what had happened and what we all needed to do. We all needed to turn to God, (who gave us faith, hope and love, and the greatest is love), turn to our parents, cling to our families and most importantly, dust off our bibles and search God's word.





I didn't join the millions who came to Jesus those first few weeks and months after 9-11. It took me some time, fact is it took Mel Gibson's "The Passion" to open my eyes, to be smacked over the head with a "spiritual frying pan" as I call it. March of 2004 I accepted Jesus as my Savior, and have never looked back.





So here is my tribute, from each book of the bible that has a chapter and verse 9:11. Nothing can give us comfort more that words from my Father in heaven. You will notice that not all of the 66 books are represented here, due to the length of the books. Only the books that had 9 chapters or more are here, which results in 37 of the 66 books.





Genesis 9:11 (NIV)

11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth."





Exodus 9:11 (NIV)





11 The magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils that were on them and on all the Egyptians.





Leviticus 9:11 (NIV)





11 "the flesh and hide he burned outside the camp".





Numbers 9:11 (NIV)





11 They are to celebrate it on the fourteenth day of the second month at twilight.





Deuteronomy 9:11 (NIV)





11 At the end of the forty days and forty nights, the Lord gave me the two stone tablets, the tablets of the covenant.





Joshua 9:11 (NIV)





11 And our elders and all those living in our country said to us "Take provisions for your journey; go and meet them and say to them" "we are your servants; make a treaty with us".





Judges 9:11 (NIV)





11 But the fig tree replied, "Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?"





1 Sammuel 9:11 (NIV)





11 He said, "This is what the king who will reign over you will do: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they willl run in front of his chariots."





2 Sammuel 9:11 (NIV)





11 Then Ziba said to the king "Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do." So Mephibosheth ate at David's table like one of the king's sons.





1 Kings 9:11 (NIV)





11 King Solomon gave twenty towns in Galilee to Hiram king of Tyre, because Hiram had supplied him with all the cedar and pine and gold he wanted.





2 Kings 9:11 (NIV)





11 When Jehu went out to his fellow officers, one of them asked him, ""Is everything all right?Why did this madman come to you?" Jehu said, "You know the man and the sort of things he says, " Jehu replied.





1 Chronicles 9:11





11 Azariah son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the official in charge of the house of God.





2 Chronicles 9:11 (NIV)





11 The king used the algumwood to make steps for the temple of the Lord and for the royal palace, and to make harps and lyres for the musicians. Nothing like them had ever been seen in Judah.





Ezra 9:11 (NIV)





11 You gave through your servants the prophets when you said: "the land you are entering to possess is a land polluted by the corruption of its peoples. By their detestable practices they have filled it with their impurity from one end to the other."





Nehemiah 9:11 (NIV)





11 You divided the sea before them, so that they passed through it on dry ground, but you hurled their pursuers into the depths, lie a stone into mighty waters.





Esther 9:11 (NIV)





11 The number of those slain in the citadel of Susa was reported to the king that same day.





Job 9:11 (NIV)





11 When he passes me, I cannot see him; when he goes by, I cannot perceive him.





Psalm 9:11 (NIV)





11 Sing praises to the Lord, enthroned in Zion ; proclaim among the nations what he has done.





Proverbs 9:11 (NIV)





11 For through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.





Ecclesiastes 9:11 (NIV)





11 I have seen something else under the sun:


The race is not to the swift, or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.





Isaiah 9:11 (NIV)


11 But the Lord has strengthened Rezin's foes against them and has spurred their enemies on.





Jeremiah 9:11 (NIV)





11 "I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, a haunt of jackals, and I will lay waste the towns of Judah so no one can live there."





Ezekiel 9:11 (NIV)





11 Then the man in line with the writing kit at his side brought back word, saying, "I have done as you commanded."

Daniel 9:11 (NIV)


11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you. "Therefore the curses and sworn judgements written in the law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you.


Hosea 9:11 (NIV)


11 Ephraim's glory will fly away like a bird - no birth, no pregnancy, no conception.


Amos 9:11 (NIV)


11 "In that day I will restore David's fallen tent. I will repair its broken places, restore its ruins, and build it as it used to be"


Zechariah 9:11 (NIV)


11 As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.


Matthew 9:11 (NIV)

"When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

Mark 9:11 (NIV)

"And they asked him, Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?"

Luke 9:11 (NIV)

"But the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the Kingdom Of God, and healed those who needed healing."

John 9:11 (NIV)

He replied "The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see."

Acts 9:11 (NIV)

The Lord told hm, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying."

Romans 9:11 (NIV)

"Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad - in order that God's purpose in election might stand"

1 Corinthians 9:11 (NIV)

"If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you"

2 Corinthians 9:11 (NIV)

"You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God."

Hebrews 9:11 (NIV)

"When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation."

Revelation 9:11 (NIV)

"They had as king over them the angel of the abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek Apollyn."

Sunday, August 31, 2008

Catholic Church Takes a Stance against Biden

Amen! I am glad the Archbishop decided to take a stance for life! Thank Jesus for those that stand up for God's word and God's children!

By Bill Sammon

Irked by pro-choice Democrats who tout their Catholicism, the archbishop of Washington is chiding House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for misstating church history and the archbishop of Denver is warning vice presidential hopeful Joe Biden not to take Communion.

The unusual public rebukes come as both Pelosi and Biden are talking up their faith in a bid for swing voters as Democrats stage their national convention in Denver. In an interview Sunday, Pelosi claimed to be an expert on the church's abortion stance.

"As an ardent, practicing Catholic, this is an issue that I have studied for a long time," Pelosi told NBC's Tom Brokaw, who had asked her when life begins. "And what I know is, over the centuries, the doctors of the church have not been able to make that definition. And St. Augustine said at three months. We don't know."

When Brokaw pointed out that the Catholic church "feels very strongly" that life begins at conception, Pelosi said: "I understand. And this is like maybe 50 years or something like that. So again, over the history of the church, this is an issue of controversy."

In an interview with FOX News on Tuesday, Archbishop Donald Wuerl said people need to reflect more before they start talking about church doctrine. He also issued a statement calling Pelosi's explanation of the church's abortion stance "incorrect."

"The current teaching of the Catholic Church on human life and abortion is the same teaching as it was 2,000 years ago," Wuerl noted. "From the beginning, the Catholic Church has respected the dignity of all human life from the moment of conception to natural death."

Wuerl cited a passage from the church's catechism that condemns abortion as "gravely contrary to moral law."

"Since the first century the church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion," the catechism states. "This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable."

Biden disagreed, as evidenced by a 2006 interview he gave to C-SPAN, which asked him about abortion.

"That debate in our church has not morphed, but changed over a thousand years," Biden said. "It always is viewed by the church as something that is wrong, but there's been gradations of whether it was wrong. You know, from venial or mortal sin, as we Catholics say, and versions of it."

But Biden added that since Pope Pius IX's reign (1846-1878), "it's been pretty clear that's been automatic - moment of conception."

Over the weekend, Biden's pro-choice views raised the ire of Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput.

"I presume that his integrity will lead him to refrain from presenting himself for communion, if he supports a false 'right' to abortion," Chaput told The Associated Press.

As for Pelosi, Chaput called her "a gifted public servant of strong convictions and many professional skills. Regrettably, knowledge of Catholic history and teaching does not seem to be one of them."

Chaput added that abortion "is always gravely evil, and so are the evasions employed to justify it."During that 2004 presidential campaign, Chaput and a dozen other bishops called on Democratic nominee John Kerry to refrain from taking Communion. The church has also objected to former GOP presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani taking Communion.

"I think some of it is regional," said Pelosi, whose district encompasses San Francisco, in a recent interview with C-SPAN. "It depends on the bishop of a certain region and, fortunately for me, Communion has not been withheld and I'm a regular Communicant, so that would be a severe blow to me if that were the case."

On Saturday, when Obama introduced Biden as his running mate, both men made a point of mentioning Biden's Catholicism. Obama has struggled to win over Catholics, 52 percent of whom voted for President Bush in 2004.

South Korea Discrimination

First, I am glad that the President of South Korea favors Christians. What is upsetting is the rest of the country isn't, but worse yet is the fact that they protest Christians. We all need to pray for the people of this country. God loves all of us, but some people don't know that, yet.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,411541,00.html

Russia Blames US for attack on Georgia

This story was amazing. Russia starts a war, then blames it on the United States.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,412621,00.html