Sunday, July 31, 2011

Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes: Fact or Fiction?

I came across this blog that Discusses whether the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes was simply 'sharing of the crowd' or a 'MIRACLE' of Jesus'.  It is worth your attention.

http://newtheologicalmovement.blogspot.com/2011/07/multiplication-of-loaves-what-if-it.html

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Quote for Today.

"Finally, true freedom is not advanced in the permissive society, which confuses freedom with license to do anything whatever and which in the name of freedom proclaims a kind of general amorality (immorality). It is a caricature of freedom to claim that people are free to organize their lives with no reference to moral values, and to say that society does not have to ensure the protection and advancement of ethical values. Such an attitude is destructive of freedom and peace." 
                                                                                                    –Blessed Pope John Paul II






NEVER DISCUSS RELIGION, POLITICS, OR MONEY! REALLY?

I went to the Yearly “Gatherin’ at the River” this past week and I had a great time seeing my extended family and so many friends.  I saw a cousin that I have not seen in almost 25 years.  IT is WONDERFUL to be able to get together with so many of my family members.  At the Gatherin’, there were more than 75 people for dinner.  MOREOVER, there were 20 to 30 there for several days afterwards.  I thank God for my sister Mary who hosts this yearly gatherin’ with the warmest and most welcoming smile.  She truly has the gift of hospitality!  Thank you too, for all the ‘helpers’: cooks, bakers, kettle washers, and cleanup crew.   “Many Hands Make Light Work!” WE are truly a FAMILY BLESSED!

Getting together with so many people can be very interesting sometimes.  There may be a spat or brief argument, but it is quickly squashed.  In addition, sometimes there is some LIVELY discussion going on that NOT everyone is excited about.  You know what I mean… when people start talking politics, investments, and the most TABOO subject of all… RELIGON.  MANY of MY generation feel that you should NEVER talk about these subjects, because we need to be tolerant and accepting of other opinions.  However, in the process my generation has also lost the ART of CONVERSATION… REAL CONVERSATION.  You see, because we have been taught that; we no longer practice it and as a result do not keep up to date on issues of politics, history and most important our faith or religion.  We have a tendency to leave that to the Politicians, (yeah… like they are doing a great job with that in Washington?!) priest, and financial planners.  WE no longer do our own homework … but rely on these people to do ALL our ‘thinking’ for us.  IN the process… we become uninformed, we are unable to THINK critically, forget history, forget what it means to be a Democrat or Republican, and we forget the important tenants of our FAITH.  There is REAL TRUTH in… “You don’t use it? YOU LOSE IT!”

Last year in 2010, I don’t remember exactly; I was having a discussion with one of my relatives about religion.  THERE WERE SEVERAL people SQUIRMING in their seats… or shall I say CRINGING!  I was debating religion with a young man who didn’t agree with me.  YES, we both were a little heated… but stopped and said… WAIT a MINUTE… let us listen one at a time.  However, before we said that… one of my older relatives told me to stop talking about this “… you don’t talk about Politics and Religion, because we don’t want any arguments!”  He was emphatic.  I immediately said… “WAIT a minute… if we don’t ‘TALK’ about this stuff HOW are we going to LEARN (especially the younger people)?”
The problem with this mentality of NOT talking about these… the most important subjects of the human experience… we SHIRK our responsibilities as parents by not PASSING on our ‘life experience’.  Our kids learn from TEACHERS, and FRIENDS, and “ACTIVISTS”, at the bar, the street, school, and ESPECIALLY on COLLEGE CAMPUSES!  WHEN do they hear about REAL LIFE APPLICATION from US?  I am not saying that as adults we are always right.  In fact, when I talk and debate with the younger generation, I find some VERY interesting OBSERVATIONS.  THEY ARE NOT STUPID!  Misguided… maybe. J  THEY have a lot to SAY… but have only heard it from the sources I have mentioned.  THEY NEED TO HEAR it from US as well.  THEY need to know why we as adults think the way we do and they need to hear about history and life from the source itself… not from some history or sociology professor who has a liberal agenda and wants to teach their own version of HISTORY, philosophy, religion, and political agendas.

As Parents, we often have been so busy at work and making money so that we can send our kids to college to get the best education and opportunities, so that they have the tools they need to live a full and productive life.  We send them there, often with our money, to have them 'BRAINWASHED' into thinking like a 'progressive adult' and then when they get out of college we wonder WHO THE HECK IS THIS KID?   WE forget about the simple things.  EVEN I AM guilty of not giving my kids what they needed the most.  MY TIME, MY PHILOSOPHY, my LIFE experience, MY HISTORY.  THESE are the things that books can’t teach.  It is our UNWRITTEN WORDS… the SPOKEN word…that we need to give more of.  LIFE in RELATIONSHIPS… communications on the more than 'normal' or ‘surface level.'  IT’s NOT easy, it can get hot at times and IT takes a lot of work.  Maybe that is why we don’t want to talk about politics and religion…because we either don’t remember, don’t stay current, or are just plain to busy or TIRED to try.  As a result, we are NOT TALKING to our kids about what is REALLY important and IMPORTANT to US.  FOLKS… this is the ONLY way we can hand down the important things in life… the OBJECTIVE TRUTHS that we all hold dear.  WE must start anew, before it gets any later.  IF we do not build these relationships and foster them, sharpen our debating skills by studying and keeping current… they will find the information they need to go forward from someone else.  Who will that someone be?    IF your kids are saying like mine have…  “DAD, you don’t have a clue, I’m not going to listen to you.”; “YOU just are too old fashioned and you are not ‘relative’ or ‘relevant’ anymore.”; “I learned it at college and I’m out in the world every day, why do I need to listen to you anymore.  I have my own opinions” And, they will finish by saying, “You aren’t saying anything that makes sense (cause you haven’t kept up) and I know better than you now.”  Folks, this happens every day and everywhere… somewhere.

Therefore, my friends the next time you are talking with your children and they reveal that they no longer believe in God.  BEFORE you fall over from those words, because you just do not understand where your kids were in Church every week… SHARPEN UP your skills.  PRAY for the Holy Spirit to help you. In addition, TALK, NO DEBATE your (adult) children … treating them as the equals that they are.  GUIDE them.  IF YOU DO NOT… CNN, ABC, FOX, MSNBC, and CBS with all their TV PERSONALITIES will all be there, along with the Teachers and College Professors doing the job for YOU.

Until Next time, May God Bless and Keep you.
Bill