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

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

Where do you get your NEWS from?

It has been awhile since I have blogged.  I have been busy and outside as much as I can, now that winter and our rainy Spring is over.  It is now one of the first days of summer and like everyone else I am looking forward getting together with Family and Friends.  In my family each year we look forward to the "Gatherin' at the River"... the St. Lawrence River that is.  Each year on, or very close to July Fourth, my Mom, my 7 brothers and sisters, their Families, and their families, Friends and others get together at my sister's summer Home on the St. Lawrence River near Clayton, NY.  For those of you not familiar with that area; it is the Thousand Islands Region and only about 8 miles from the 'Thousand Islands Bridge'.  In early June my sister Mary usually asks me to send out the yearly NEWS BULLETIN about the 'Gatherin'  Most people get it by email, others by snail mail, and yet others by the good old fashioned 'word of mouth' ... I like the personal touch myself.  Unfortunately many people are not real good about returning RSVPs, so i wonder... did they get the news?  I KNOW i sent it to them!  I know Ido my best to make sure to TELL them what's happening! Did they think it was junk mail?  Did they just not want to bother?  HOW do they get their other news?  DO they expect me to call their local TV and radio stations to send them a personal LIVE invitation?  Oh well... hopefully the 'word of mouth' thing still works well enough.  They all know that I send these 'invites' out!  Its been happenin' for YEARS! Are they just taking it for granted and not listening or reading my 'bulletins' any longer?

I'm beginning to feel like the Catholic Church.  No one is listening to me any more.  For so long, for CENTURIES, the Church has been the voice for Human Rights, social justice, Faith , and morality.  Unfortunately that doesn't seem to be the case any more.  NOW we let CNN, FOX, MSNBC, CBS, and ABC and the rest of our politically charged MEDIA to be the 'go to guys' for ALL of our Information.  No longer do we look to the Church for direction or context ... we look to the pundants, Politicians, and OUR FAVORITE TV NEWs 'PERSONALITIES' for what ever we think is relative.  The key word there, is RELATIVE.  WHERE do you get your news from?  DO you watch only a certain Channel for ALL your news,  Do you ever watch or read opposing Views or Networks?  Most of us TRY to do that -ocassionally.  We read and watch the 'republican slanted', or the liberal slanted, or the Democratic slanted, or the Conservative slanted, papers, magazines, and news shows.  BUT, do you every look to news sources with the view from YOUR 'Church's Slant'?  IF NOT, WHY NOT?  I would say 95% or more do not- EVER! Do you think I'm right?  Do you as a Catholic know what 'Zenit' is?  How about CNS? How about 'The World Over Live'?  Do you know what your own Diocesan Newspaper is called?  The Diocese of Ogdensburg's paper is called 'The North Country Catholic'.

Right now in NY State our Legislature is debating, scheming, discussing, lobbying, and ordering it's members to consider legalizing Same Sex Marriage as a Gay Right or Human Rights Issue.  I just heard it WILL be coming up for a Vote, probably tomorrow.  I am sure you have heard.... it's been on EVERY NEWS channel!  MOST, if not ALL those channels, except ETWN, not only support Legalizing Gay Marriage... they are SILENCING anyone who might oppose it!  What these Network Media stations are not telling you is the slurs, the insults, the lies and yes... even the Death threats that Senators opposing this legislation are receiving right along with any MINISTER, Priest, Bishop, or Cardinal that might also speak out against it.  They are told that they as 'Chruch' should not FORCE their VIEWS on the rest of society.  YET, they do not recognize that 75 to 80% of New Yorkers do NOT support this legislation AT ALL!  They don't tell us this for one reason only.  They want to JAM their views down the throats of every New Yorker that holds the same definition of Marriage as all of humanity has for the past 6 thousand years or more.  Even the Natural laws of our great universe defines, supports and AFFIRMS that male and female are the building block of society.  Male and Female coming together as one to create a FAMILY.  NOT a man and man, not a woman and woman.  The Church has taught ONLY what has been known in the hearts and minds of EVERY HUMAN that ever Lived.  Marriage is between one man and one woman. ONLY with this combination can we build the BEST home for the CHILDREN of society. IT is this ONE COMBINATION of  HUMANs and ONLY this combination that is capable of creating a FAMILY which is the first, and most basic unit of our Society! If you believe in God... our FIRST CHURCH.

Tell me, have you every heard words like this on ANY one of the Network TV Channels? (other than EWTN's "World Over Live" news program?)  This explanation or Blog that i have written here, about Same Sex Marriage is VERY basic.  THERE will be COUNTLESS RAMIFICATIONS should this legislation be enacted.  Have you REALLY done your homework on this SUBJECT?  OR have you just been listening to what your FRIENDS say, YOUR TEACHERS, YOUR FAVORITE NEWS ENTERTAINMENT PERSONALITY, or Network has told you.  WHAT are your sources?  WHO is behind them?  WHO are their SPONSORS?  WHY do they sponsor them?  WHAT other programing does that Network have?  What do they 'preach' on their stations.  EVERYONE has an ANGLE... EVERYONE!  EVEN the CHURCH!  UNFORTUNATELY... they, the CHURCH, doesn't have the best connections in the MEDIA here in the USA.  And EWTN... well, lets face it.  Only People like me, that are labeled 'holy rollers' watch shows like 'The World Over Live', because I WANT TO KNOW ALL POINTS OF VIEW.  And guess what... EWTN and the COUNTLESS... CATHOLIC NEWS OUTLETS On the INTERNET and in PRINT are MUCH MORE OBJECTIVE and FACTUAL than FOX, CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, and NBC will ever be!  IF you have never looked at the World, the US, your State, or you City through the lens of a Christian news source... you are NOT WELL INFORMED.  IF you CLAIM to be a CHRISTIAN... then you need to BE one!  EVERY network and media station knows all the important 'CHRUCH NEWS' websites and they watch them closely!  DO YOU?!  They watch them so they can counter them and marginalize them, or just plain lie to you about them, so they can convince you of their veiw on subject to meet their own politically charged agendas.  IF you have never looked at 'Zenit' or CNS (Catholic News Service) or the countless other CHRISTIAN NEWS sites... you are NOT well informed.  I CHALLENGE you to take the time... FREQUENTLY... to look at your Church's newspapers and Media Outlets.  YOU WILL see a different twist on almost EVERY GIVEN SUBJECT... but it will be the MOST PLAIN, OBJECTIVE, and SENSIBLE news you'll ever read. PLEASE give it some thought won't you?  Pray about it as well?

I would be AMISS, if I did not caution you about SOME of the Christian Websites out there.  Some are "a little TOO out there"...even for me.  :-)  So, please check out your own Church's websites... IF you are NY Catholic... that would be Zenit, the USCCB, NYSCC, CNS, EWTN, Catholic Online, ...  ALL the big ones.  Go to your church's website and read around to see who they use as news sources.  Check out their 'Links Page'.  Chances are... you will find the better ones referenced.  FINALLY... SUBSCRIBE to your own Diocese's NEWSPAPER... IF you are a NORTHERN NY CATHOLIC... that would be the North Country Catholic at: http://northcountrycatholic.org/  Don't just visit and use their website! SUBSCRIBE AND SUPPORT YOUR Church's PAPER.

Till Next time, May God Bless you and Keep you,
Blogger Bill.

LIBERAL CATHOLICS = PROTESTANTS

I have recently been seeing and hearing far too many Catholics who are constantly gripping about Rome and its antiquated approach to the modern age.  So often in their ‘new’ and ‘enlightened’ way of thinking, liberal Catholics believe the Church and Our faith need to conform to the current human condition of our modern society.  They believe the Church’s Magisterium are backward and out of touch.  Yet, these same people who feel they are far more educated and enlightened by their personal opinions and knowledge are blinded to the fact that the Church has been around for 2000 years and is still the oldest most successful organization on the face of the earth.  There is only one REASON for that!  THAT cannot happen without the ability to change what is needed, and KEEP what is important! This fact alone confirms that the Magisterium and the Pope know what they are doing is right.  DON’T MESS WITH SUCCESS!

So here, I would like to address my fellow Catholics who do nothing but complain about Rome and the Magisterium.  Please understand that the Church is still here because Christ commissioned her to Preach, Keep and Protect the Christian Faith.  HE promised to keep the ‘evil one’ from overcoming it.  He also promised to send the Holy Spirit as Her permanent Guide.  I ask you my fellow liberal Catholics, who should I as a faithful catholic, follow?  YOU and your ‘withering grass-like’ whims and fancies or the  TRUE and TIME-TESTED Apostolic Faith directed by the Magisterium who HAS the Holy Spirit as their Personal Guide?  YOUR enlightened brains SHOULD tell you that it is a NO-BRAINER!  I will follow Pope Benedict XVI and the rest of the Magisterium in all matters of Faith and Morals.  Although I know, I have, and may again fail to do so, I CONTINUALLY THANK GOD for his faithfulness to OUR CHURCH and her Magisterium.  Without their guidance and direction, we would be much worse off than we find ourselves today.  The ‘enemy’ has been working OVERTIME, trying to destroy us from within.

I know that as Catholics we should be patient with our brothers and sisters of the faith.  However, many of us have been hinting and coaxing them to get in step with Rome for years.  NOW, it’s time to either NOT SPARE THE ROD, LEST WE CONTINUE TO SPOIL THE CHILDREN, or tell them to MOVE ON to their own denomination just as ‘Luther’ did.  I still pray that all may be one, but for now… if you do not LIKE the Heat in this kitchen, DON'T LET the DOOR HIT YOU IN THE BEHIND on YOUR WAY OUT!  IT is time for ALL CATHOLICS who support Rome and the Magisterium to stand up and be counted.  CLEAN out the CHURCH and get ALL the heretics out!  They do not want to listen and are just RUINING the CATHOLIC FAITH for the rest of us here in the USA.  Pray for ‘conversion’ and get BACK in line with Rome, or move on!

When they leave as I once did, they will see and discover the ERRORS of their ways.  I am SURE the Church will be there to welcome them back with open arms.  Let them go and see why so many of us (and me PERSONALLY) realize why the Roman Catholic Church is TRULY the ONE PLACE where you will find the FULLNESS of FAITH, as God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit intended!  AS those who crucified our Lord; those who oppose and persecute 'Rome' don’t know what they are doing!  THEY do not understand the JEWEL they have in the ROMAN Catholic Faith.

SUPPORT MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY

I believe that genuine marriage matters, and that my elected representatives should be working to strengthen marriage for the well-being of children and society. Authentic marriage and the nuclear family are the fundamental building blocks of our civilization.

Instead of Legislating the natural law that affirms and confirms that marriage is between a man and a woman, I would rather elected officials put our money and efforts and TIME into supporting and legislating to encourage men and woman to be married and to discourage them from just living together. The FAMILY in this country is in trouble! HISTORY has demonstrated repeatedly that when the family in a society is not supported and upheld... that civilization dies!

Additionally, I know that the State and the Federal Government have always supported marriage, because it is the building block of society. HOWEVER, neither the state nor the federal government INVENTED or LEGISLATED "Marriage” into existence! MARRAIGE and FAMILY cannot and should not be REDEFINED BY ANY BODY OF LAW OR COURT! IT IS NOT within the rights or JURISDICTION of any STATE or ANY NATION to do so! IN short ... you MUST NOT, SHOULD NOT, MAY NOT redefine marriage for all of humanity!

IF laws need to be changed so that people living together extended periods and wish to have legal permission to insure, visit in the hospital, etc… then change those laws. DO NOT Redefine the oldest institution known to man! If same sex marriage is legalized, where will it stop? I recently read that a man wanted to marry his DOG! WILL we next grant marriage to the likes of that too!

Quote for Today.

“If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful, and great. No! Only in this friendship are the doors of life opened wide. Only in this friendship is the great potential of human existence truly revealed.” – Pope Benedict XVI

Quote for Today

"We always find that those who walked closest to Christ were those who had to bear the greatest trials."
--St. Teresa of Avila

"Being Catholic is Smart" from RealCatholicTV.com by Michael Voris

This program is from RealCatholicTV.com

Happy Mother’s Day.

I wish to Thank God for my mother, M. Jeanette O’Brien.  At 81 years old she is still in good health and has a sharper mind than that of my own.  She lives with me now, and I cherish everyday that I have with her.  I am lucky to be able to spend this kind of quality time with her, as there are so many of us who don’t have such opportunities.  We have a lot of fun and we get along very well except for the occasional ‘fork’ she pokes me with as she threatens, “I’m gonna let some ‘hot air’ out‘a you!”  She makes me laugh every day.  Occasionally I may have to get vindication and or vengeance!

Happy Mother’s Day MOM!  God Bless you this day and ALWAYS! 
I Love You!