Blog Archives
Saturday, January 23rd, 2010 | Spirituality |
One of my favorite songs during the Christmas season is 'Joy to the World'. Christmas is truly a season to celebrate the joy that we have. Everyone can know joy as they find it in the good things that God has given to all humans so liberally, but the Christian knows a heightened joy. This joy is rooted in the bond that exists with other believers whom we have come to love. This season as we focus on the joy that can be found in the Christian life we need to remember that we should have ...
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Friday, January 22nd, 2010 | Spirituality |
One cannot ask why bad things happen to good people without also feeling the same tinge of injustice when we contemplate why good things happen to bad people. This is the question that anguished the Psalmist. He found himself in terrible distress and agony of soul. He says, "My feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold."
The Psalmist was experiencing a very old problem; one that is still with us today. He had begun to observe the prosperity of the wicked. He began to notice that ...
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Thursday, January 21st, 2010 | Spirituality |
We Must (Still!) Be Bold
by Marilyn Mackenzie
On September 11, 2001, I worked for a local mid-sized newspaper in Texas. At the time, I was the editorial assistant. I was the first one in the newsroom each day.
That day, I was running a bit later than usual in leaving my house. I saw the first plane hit the tower just as I was leaving for work. At the time, I didn't know it was anything except an accident, so I left my son sleeping and went on to work. I did know that this would be big news, ...
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Sunday, January 17th, 2010 | Spirituality |
Whether we want to admit it or not we all use self talk but sadly for most of us that self talk is very negative and results in bringing unhappiness into our lives. Negative self talk can lead to low self esteem, create a myriad of health problems brought on by needless anxiety and stress and also will result in causing us to under achieve in life.Our brain is very powerful however if we just let it run in auto-pilot continually rehashing negativity into our lives we will continue to experience ...
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Saturday, January 16th, 2010 | Spirituality |
One cannot ask why bad things happen to good people without also
feeling the same tinge of injustice when we contemplate why good
things happen to bad people. This is the question that anguished
the Psalmist. He found himself in terrible distress and agony of
soul. He says, "My feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my
foothold."
The Psalmist was experiencing a very old problem; one that is
still with us today. He had begun to observe the prosperity of
the wicked. He began to notice that ...
› Continue reading
Thursday, January 14th, 2010 | Spirituality |
The Vedas are divided mainly into two portions: the Karma-kanda and the Jnana - kanda--the work - portion and the knowledge - portion. To the Karma - kanda belong the famous hymns and the rituals of Brahmanas. Those books which treat of spiritual matters apart from ceremonials are called Upanishads. The Upanishads belong to the Jnana - kanda,or knowledge-portion. It is not that all the Upanishads were composed as a separate portion of the Vedas. Some are interspersed among the rituals, and at ...
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Sunday, January 10th, 2010 | Spirituality |
I was recently asked to give devotions at our annual family
reunion. The Bible text I used as the basis for my remarks was,
"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the
nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" (Psalm 46:10) In my
family were several preachers (my grandfather was one of great
stature), singers, piano players, church leaders, and good
Christian men and women. I talked about the Christian heritage
of our family and that through the lives of those who have ...
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Saturday, January 9th, 2010 | Spirituality |
I worship. The very word "worship" conjures up many different definitions. The dictionary defines worship, "to adore; idolize" We usually refer to it as an act, done purposefully for a set block of time. But as Christians, "worship" should actually describe our lifestyle.
When I was a little girl, going to church on Sunday was "worship." It was what we did - every Sunday - as a family. That hour in the church building with its liturgies, hymns and memorized prayers was our "worship service." ...
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Friday, January 8th, 2010 | Spirituality |
WORD POWER
'Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:'
Heb.1:3(KJV)
All that God created is sustained by the word of his power. His words are really powerful. His words will never lose their power! This power is displayed in God's acts of creation and redemption. That power cannot be diminished or corrupted by man-made ...
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Thursday, January 7th, 2010 | Spirituality |
Are we facing with any difficulties in our life? At the beginning of each year, we normally would like to lay down all our plans. We got so excited and always, we are determined to execute all our plans. Unfortunately in most cases our determination would only last for the first few months and after that everything would be a history!!! We tend to get frustrated easily and will eventually lack the strength to continue. Such phenomenon will normally continue for many years until we totally want ...
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Wednesday, January 6th, 2010 | Spirituality |
In this busy world we live in, it is so easy to go through the day focusing on problems and tasks as they appear. The things that are really important in our lives, such as exercise, family, friends, and most importantly, daily devotion, tend to take a back seat to the mundane everyday chores that we all find ourselves involved in.
Here are some easy methods for you to try which will enable you to devote a small, but important, portion of your day to spiritual renewal and, ultimately, give ...
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Tuesday, January 5th, 2010 | Spirituality |
Ephesians 4:4-6 indicates that Christians ought to practice one
single faith. It reads: "There is one body, and one Spirit, even
as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one
faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all,
and through all, and in you all."
The apostolic notion of one, uniform faith clearly does NOT
envision the smorgasbord of various worship practices -- from
the faithful to the absurd and goofy -- that dots today's
religious landscape in the name ...
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Monday, January 4th, 2010 | Spirituality |
Living the Year of the Eucharist An Author Interview with
Michael Dubruiel, How to Get the Most Out of the Eucharist by
Lisa M. Hendey
I believe that our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II left us a
precious gift prior to his death when he declared this to be the
'Year of the Eucharist'. In the weeks since his passing, I have
felt myself drawn compellingly to the Eucharist and to quiet
time spent in Eucharistic adoration. Attending memorial masses,
and now masses of Thanksgiving at the election of ...
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Saturday, January 2nd, 2010 | Spirituality |
Mom and Cantor Lights Up the World with Her Music Music
Spotlight Interview with Catherine Benskin By Lisa M. Hendey
The first time I sat and listened to You Are Child by Catherine
Benskin and Alan Marcinek, I found myself wishing I was a
parishioner at her church. This talented wife and mother of two,
who recently earned professional certification as a Cantor, has
the type of voice that fills the room with light and spirit.
What a joy it must be to sit in Mass on Sunday and listen to
Catherine ...
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Friday, January 1st, 2010 | Spirituality |
I grew up in a very religious household. That is, if you
consider going to church twice every Sunday, starting each
normal day with prayer and a reading, saying grace before every
meal, avoiding bad things and situations, etc. as being very
religious. Growing up, we were always taught to "turn the other
cheek", "follow the path of the least resistance", "do unto
others..." - I think you catch my drift. At church we always
sang the same old hymns, averting our eyes, not smiling or
looking ...
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