Soon I will be gone

Happy Channukah!

2011-12-20T20:15:00.001-06:00

Happy Channukah!
The Festival of Lights....
Today is the First Day of Channukah and the Harris Family celebrated with latkes, applesauce and sour cream just like my favorite bubbie taught me. Exposing my kids to customs about Judaism is not only good for the belly, it is good for the soul. Remembering the miracle of the oil and how God gave the Macabees Eight Days of Miracles. May you have yours on this night.

THE FORGIVENESS PRAYER

2011-12-15T13:09:00.001-06:00

Fr. Robert DeGrandis is considered by many to be one of the major leaders for the renewal in the early days here in the U.S. While conducting healing masses across the country, he saw a real lack of healing and he and his prayer team begin to ask the Lord why. The Lord showed him that forgiveness was a "key" to true and lasting healing. He wrote this prayer and began to say it with all in attendance at the beginning of each healing mass. There was an immediate increase in the amount of healings at each mass.

THE FORGIVENESS PRAYER
Fr. Robert DeGrandis
Lord Jesus Christ, I ask today to forgive everyone in my life. I know that You will give me strength to forgive and I thank You that You love me more than I love myself and want my happiness more than I desire it for myself.

Lord Jesus, I want to be free from the feelings of resentment, bitterness, and unforgiveness toward You for the times I thought You sent death, hardships, financial difficulties, punishments and sickness into our family.
Lord, I forgive myself for my sins, faults and failings. For all that is truly bad in myself or all that I think is bad, I do forgive myself. For any delvings in the occult; Ouija boards, horoscopes, seances, fortune telling, lucky charms, for taking Your name in vain, for not worshiping You, for hurting my parents, for getting drunk, for taking dope, for sins against my purity, for adultery, for abortion, for stealing, for lying. I am truly forgiving myself today. Thank you, Lord, for Your grace at this moment.

I truly forgive my mother. I forgive her for all the times she hurt me, resented me, was angry with me and for all the times she punished me. I forgive her for the times she preferred my brothers and sisters to me. I forgive her for the times she told me I was dumb, ugly, stupid, the worst of the children or that I cost the family a lot of money. For the times she told me I was unwanted, an accident, a mistake or not what she expected, I forgive her.

I forgive my father. I forgive him for any nonsupport, any lack of love, affection or attention. I forgive him for any lack of time, for not giving me his companionship, for his drinking or arguing and fighting with my mother or the other children. For his severe punishments, for desertion, for being away from home, for divorcing my mother or for any running around, I do forgive him.

Lord, I extend forgiveness to my sisters and brothers. I forgive those who rejected me, lied about me, hated me, resented me, and competed for my parents' love, those who hurt me, who physically harmed me. For those who were too severe on me, punished me or made my life unpleasant in any way, I do forgive them.
Lord, I forgive my spouse for lack of love, affection, consideration, support, attention, communications, for faults, failings, weaknesses and those other acts or words that hurt or disturb me.

Jesus, I forgive my children for their lack of respect, obedience, love, attention, support, warmth, understanding, their bad habits, falling away from the church and bad actions which disturb me.
My God, I forgive my in-laws, mother, father, son or daughter-in-law and other relatives by marriage. For their lack of love, words of criticism, thoughts, actions or omissions that injure and cause pain, I do forgive them.

Please help me to forgive my relatives, my grandmother and grandfather who may have interfered in our family, been possessive or my parents, who may have caused confusion or turned one parent against the other.

Jesus, help me to forgive my co-workers who are disagreeable or make life miserable for me. For those who push their work off on me, gossip about me, won't cooperate with me, try to take my job, I do forgive them.
My neighbors need to be forgiven, Lord. For all their noise, letting their property run down, not tying up their dogs who run through my yard, not taking in their trashcans, being prejudiced and running down the neighborhood, I do forgive them.

I now forgive my clergyman, my congregation and my church for all their lack of support, pettiness, bad sermons, lack of friendliness, not affirming me as they should, not providing me with inspiration, for not using me in a key position, for not inviting me to serve in a major capacity and for any other hurt they have inflicted. I do forgive them today.

Lord, I forgive all professional people who have hurt me in any way: doctors, lawyers, policemen, hospital workers, for the things that they did to me, I truly forgive them today.
Lord, I forgive my employer for not paying me enough money, for not appreciating my work, for being unkind and unreasonable with me, for being angry or unfriendly, for not promoting me and for not complimenting me on my work.

Lord, I forgive my schoolteachers and instructors of the past, as well as the present. For those who punished me, humiliated me, insulted me, treated me unjustly, made fun of me, called me dumb or stupid, made me stay after school.

Lord, I forgive my friends who have let me down, lost contact with me, do not support me, were not available when I needed help, borrowed money and did not return it, gossiped about me.
Lord Jesus, I especially pray for the grace of forgiveness for that one person in life who has hurt me the most. I ask to forgive anyone who I consider my greatest enemy; the one who is the hardest to forgive or the one who I said I would never forgive.

Thank You, Jesus, that I am free of the evil of unforgiveness. Let Your Holy Spirit fill me with light and let every dark area of my mind be enlightened.
Amen.

God has mercifully made our fantasies the pursuit of power, of sensual satisfaction, of money, of learning, of celebrity, of happiness so preposterously unrewarding that we are forced to turn to him for reality, for help and mercy." Malcom Muggeridge

Medjugorje

2011-07-29T16:53:00.000-05:00

Medjugorje

How do you explain Mary to unbelievers? Why would Mary want to come to the middle of a mountain town in Bosnia to a bunch of kids? Why would this phenomena draw millions of pilgrims from around the world for the last thirty years? We made the journey last month with those very same questions.

In search of what it all means, I asked Jesus to show me himself there and I asked for the eyes of understanding. The eyes I got were those of a mother. I tend to look out of mother eyes quite a bit with seven kids of my own and a lot more that I love and call mine.

Mothers tend to have this problem. They like to take care of everybody. I do. It's a “built in” thing. The older I get, the stronger it gets. I saw thousands, yes, thousands, of people in search of a Mother and the Son that she introduces them to.

These are truly pilgrims. I don't think I understood the word pilgrimage until I became a part of this. These millions who come are on a search for something. I know I was. I want to understand why it takes something like this phenomena of Mary appearing to a bunch of kids to get people right with Jesus? Most of these pilgrims go to church most Sundays, I think. Probably more than that do. Why do they have to go across oceans, then clear into the middle of nowhere to really get converted to Jesus Christ Himself?

Part of the mystery is in climbing to the top of the mountain where the girls first saw the vision. As I climbed Apparition mountain, I thought about how hard it was. It is a tough climb to the young or old. Here we were trudging up a mountain with no solid footing anywhere, nothing but rocks the size of your head everywhere and for what were we doing this? Everywhere around me people of all sizes, shapes, ages, and languages were doing the same. What was running through their minds?

We didn't need a guide. They didn't exactly offer them. You just maneuver on your own. You can't see where you started and you don't know where you are going. (It is sorta like, shock here: REAL LIFE!) The way is nothing but rocks and trees and unsure. Sometimes you might need a little help from someone else. Everybody is on their own path. You can't take another's, although you can sometimes almost trail them, you can never exactly put your foot right where theirs has been. You can't really watch what the other guy is doing either. If you do, you will lose your footing and might fall.

There is something very peaceful about climbing this unknown. People are quiet and reverent. It is an almost surreal feeling. Lost in my own thoughts I wondered about innocence and purity. Most people view life through their own filter: rich, poor, city, country, jew, gentile, protestant, catholic. Everybody has on a different pair of glasses.

Thinking about puberty age kids in an obvious third world culture, it's easy to imagine true innocence thirty years ago when they encountered the Madonna giving them messages. The culture then was even more primitive than today. Why? I think it has to do with hope. That is a really great word. I hope my car doesn't die. I hope my kids live a good life. I hope. For what? I hope that the world knows Jesus. The Savior who hung on a cross for them.

Have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Whether or not anyone believes it or not, it really doesn't matter. Thirty years ago a bunch of kids in Bosnia started having visions of Mary telling them terrible things were going to happen to their land. There would be war, people needed to quit playing around with God and get right with Him. They needed to pray for the conversion of sinners to Jesus. That is not a message I can argue with.

When I reached the top of the mountain and surveyed where I had come from, I was amazed. I had actually made it there, to the place where a couple of girls had first heard messages from Mary about conversion and coming judgment. I saw the beauty that surrounded this place, the mountains and valleys in their glory. I could have never seen this from below! I looked at the people around me, everyone so very unique. A true representation of a vast and endlessly creative God, who makes all things to glorify Him!

If it takes a pilgrimage to Medjugorje for life long Catholics to be converted and get right with Jesus, then so be it. The Muslims have Mecca. Protestants have IHOP and Bethel. I don't know about other places because my glasses work ecumenically, American, Catholic and Protestant. I know that God is BIG and has a lot of variety. That is why He is God. He can do as he pleases. He does not have to work on someones presupposed theology. HE IS GOD AND I AM NOT. That should be enough for anybody.

Welcome to Narnia

2011-07-13T08:50:00.000-05:00

Alan and Lori just returned from a training trip to Ireland with our YWAM branch, Kerygma. It was hard to explain why we were going, but it was an excellent time and here's why. There will be pictures later.

Why did you have to go to Ireland and the Global Gathering?

We went to Ireland because we needed to be there.

These aren't friends who kind-of understand our vision and strategy. Kerygma is our family. They understand. These are those most able to know what we know and are on the exact same track as us: The total balance of ecumenism, Holy Spirit, YWAM, pioneering spirit, aggressiveness, global vision and youthfulness. It was the most empowering trip we could make.

These people can teach us more about what we do. They're doing things and talking about concepts we could never dream up. They've been down the roads we're walking now. There is nowhere in the US we can do that. The average YWAMer in the US has never heard of Kerygma.
This was like going home for Christmas and we're the young married couple in the family, the Yuppies. Upwardly mobile.

What we did learn:
“Reboot is about recognizing the moment we are in.” said our leader Bruce Clewett.
It was so solid, so focused on exactly what we need to discuss and and be encouraged about.
What are your non-negotiables with your partner ministry? What do you not bend on?

What are Kerygma's Distinctives? What are we saying that no one else is doing? Our Executive Team taught on:
1.    Look at all the Catholics who came to the Lord and don't evangelize.
2.    Why Catholics and Protestants should do missions together
3.    Why Protestants should serve in the Catholic World.

We found out we should work more closely with our local YWAM bases. Our relationship with the YWAM family is more important than the issues.
They brought in a top notch German Catholic teacher to inspire us, Johannes Hartl, associated with the International House of Prayer, and leads that organization in Germany. Johannes spoke at length several sessions.

Our reunion with our Kerygma Team Family is a taste of heaven It was like entering heaven, because all the key people we met in India immediately came out the door to embrace us when we arrived at 9:45 AM.

Our schedule was full and lacked opportunities to travel anywhere but the sleepy village a 7 minute walk away. We went to the church for two Sunday masses and two weekday masses, shopped at two markets and twice to an Irish Pub. Once with banjo and guitar players. We had a chance to talk to some locals, mostly merchants and shop clerks. Met a few people after masses. They are pleased to meet folks from the U.S. These people seem to live in a very small world.

How was your trip to Ireland from a personal basis?
1.    A Fascinating new culture to experience
2.    Old World, Mystical scenery and settings, like Narnia. A place I'd like to go back to.
3.    Very beautiful, Refreshing, Breathtaking, Like being in a movie
4.    The locals were very closed up. Fairly friendly, but not nosy. They thought it cute that you were from Texas if you brought it up, but that was the end of their interest in us and they didn't let you know anything about them. It would take a long term relationship for evangelism.
5.    Everyone spoke English, only kinda funny, with hilarious accents and diction
6.    Mild days and cool nights, but harsh, cold winters we heard.
7.    The local YWAM staff were wonderful. We could work at that base and live in that house.
8.    Excellent facility.
9.    Best mass choir we ever heard.
10.    A relative safe feeling.

We returned from our trip to Europe refreshed, energized, rebooted and ready to hit the floor running. Join us as we continue to touch hearts.

Shalom Jerusalem - Paul Wilbur

2010-12-23T07:30:00.000-06:00

Ashley Cleveland - Higher Ground

2010-11-30T06:27:00.000-06:00

Proclaim the good, and not the bad

2010-11-24T09:01:00.000-06:00

by Alan Harris

Thankful(? )Thoughts From My Journal

How do you reach people for Jesus? We want to place youth in front of ministry, place, point, drop it in front of them. What do kids like?

Music, social networking, popular books and movies, group acceptance, love, affirmation, escape, distraction, to speak like everyone else, to complain (just read a few Facebook walls). Hopefully they would want to get all that and know God too.

We want to provide a strong vehicle for shaking these youth. We can't change them in one weekend. We can plant a seed. We can feed them a sample. God may send others to water and tend it or we may be fertilizer or plant food for previous seed. We're small, but determined.

The world is not leading kids this way, or adults either. I stay as far away from secular media as I can. The glimpses I get still shock me and turn my stomach. I see our government as a fear machine. Everything today is trying to keep us safe from corruption. But often it is corruption that is putting that fear in us. I don't think terrorism is out there. I think the devil is, and he's a liar.

Every time I react to something that's not conforming to God's ways, I hear people say, “What's your problem? Its not that bad!” It's not that BAD? Well show me something that is promoting good. Lets not see how much of the crap in the world we can tolerate and be entertained by.

“Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Cor 10:5) I don't see today's youth casting down ANYTHING. “I'm OK, You're OK, everything is OK, especially what is in the arts, media, the movies, Barnes & Noble. Its ok if the theme is of the devil. “It's not so bad. It's a beautiful story.” Or here's one from my kids, “Let me attack something you like to prove you do the same thing! How dare you say something I feel validated with is bad?”

“Therefore God sends upon them a strong delusion to make them believe what is false, so that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thes 2:11-12

Who is calling evil-evil anymore? Is anything evil? How can we say “deliver us from evil,” when we accept every damn evil thing that comes across the screen? David Wilkerson used to say about bad TV shows, “TURN IT OFF!” Will some one raise the standard back again? Well, that's what we're doing.

Lets spend our time dwelling on good. If everything today is twisted and perverted away from God's law of love, then lets go back to things in the past. Learn from the Bible. Learn from good writers and speakers. Read God's truths and lessons. What are we doing to proclaim the good News? Who are we sharing it with?

“So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.” 2 Thes 2:15

So we will continue to proclaim the good, and not the bad.

Urging youth to hear God’s call, Pope Benedict says Christians cannot continue ‘business as usual’ :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

2010-09-21T11:59:00.000-05:00

Urging youth to hear God’s call, Pope Benedict says Christians cannot continue ‘business as usual’ :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

21 Bottles of Beer on the Wall

2010-09-15T17:28:00.000-05:00

Today my twins turned 21. Being the father of twins, everything they do happens at the same time, in two directions. Like a tennis match, on separate courts. I love all my children. My Grandfather used to say that all the time. OK, I love Charlotte. I love Sam. I love each of them differently, because they are each different. I just woke up from a nice afternoon nap, so I'm a bit dreamy.

I don't think maturity or respect is something you gain from reaching a certain age. Wine ages and tastes good because it gets to where it tastes good and matured. I don't know about numbers. I go by the taste. I've watched these two and they're still being worked on in the wine rack. In fact they need a little cheese with that whine. What have you done for me lately?

Lori and I and God put good stuff in our kids. We set the body in motion. God provides the soul and the spirit and keeps the body ticking. Sam and Charlotte have to steer the ship and make choices. What they choose has been different for each of them. I'm still observing. I will always care what they do. I want to be proud of them, for them to represent the Harris family well and God.

When babies are born you don't know how they're going to end up looking because they're funny looking. I still don't know how Sam and Charlotte will end up looking.

You can tell they are Harrises. They are tough. Bull headed. Creative. Independent. But will they follow Jesus in all things? I hope so. I'm still praying for them. Every day.

Sam and Charlotte, you've got a long way to go. We've been most of the way ourselves. We'd like to help you from what we've learned. Give us a chance.

Congratulations on staying in this world 21 years. Its been a funky ride. Not everybody gets twins. I've enjoyed it. It was cool. Where will you be in another 21 years? May I say with Jesus,

'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' Matt. 25:23

Love Dad (Alan Harris)

Repentance rather than structural change to beat clerical abuse - CathNews

2010-09-10T18:16:00.000-05:00

Repentance rather than structural change to beat clerical abuse - CathNews

HOW CAN THE CHURCH REVIVE?

2010-08-11T13:59:00.000-05:00

HOW CAN THE CHURCH REVIVE?

Stuck in the Middle

2010-07-07T15:13:00.001-05:00

Stuck In the Middle
by Alan Harris.
(Article begins below the video and song lyrics)

It's a funny world we live in

It's funny every day

Half the world prays like the preacher

The other half don't even pray

So no one understands you

If you pray in your own way

Now I'm stuck here in the middle

Everything is in a jam

Stuck right in the middle

Doors on both sides seem to slam

No one seems to want me

Only God will take me like I am

Well my brothers criticize me

Say I'm just too strange to believe

And the others just avoid me

They say my faith is so naive

I'm too sacred for the sinners

And the saints wish I would leave

Now I'm stuck here in the middle

Everything is in a jam

Stuck right in the middle

Doors on both sides seem to slam

No one seems to want me

Only God will take me like I am

Written by Mark Heard

The Protestants

I am a Charismatic Catholic Convert. Most Protestants haven't a clue why I would even give the Catholics the time of day. They have all their pat answers to the “errors” of Catholicism. They're rather squeamish about even setting foot in a Catholic church. Their opinion seems based on rumor, stereotyping and passed on gossip.

Some will listen to you, but they seem closed off and unwilling to learn more or change. They find it surprising that some Catholics are spirit filled and moving in the gifts at meetings. “But what about..,..?” They don't see how God could be in it when they still see points to condemn by.

The Catholics

Those in the Catholic Church like what they do. They see nothing wrong. They don't want to remove anything. They don't want to add anything. They have heard about these Charismatics, “but that's the weirdos. They do their own thing.”
The Catholics, for the most part, don't want to do evangelism or encourage Christian training. They don't want to have a Bible Study or a prayer group. “We pray and hear the Bible at Mass.” They might pray the Rosary. If you're really hearing a call to God they'll recommend you become a priest or nun.

Stuck in the Middle

Then here's Lori and I stuck in the middle. We are happy to be Catholic. We love it. “The smells, the bells and the yells,” says Deacon Alex C. Jones. It took a lot of listening and studying to get comfortable. We love the Sacraments and see Jesus in them.

We love the core of the Catholic faith. The part that came from the Apostolic Fathers. It seems that many of the aspects of the Church that folks have a problem with, came from taking something simple and honorable and letting it mutate into something unscriptural.

For example: (and I am not a theologian)

The Assumption of Mary: Mary is the Mother of Jesus. OK. Mary carried Jesus in her womb and was filled with the Holy Spirit. Mary saw an angel who foretold Jesus' birth. Mary was in Jesus' physical presence more than any Human. Mary died and her spirit went to heaven. Then her empty body was taken to heaven, (Protestants will ask for chapter and verse here) but she didn't need it up there.
Immaculate Conception: The church says Mary was born without Adam's sin on her. (Proof? The Protestants cry)
Statues: We have a giant statue of Sam Houston outside Huntsville, TX. We don't worship it or pray to Sam Houston. He was a good man and patriot who lived and died and we honor him. By looking at the statue, people can see what he looked like and respect what he did for Texas. We don't worship Sam Houston. I suppose people who are related to him might speak out and wonder if God allows him to hear from heaven.

Same for the Blessed Mother. In my limited human brain, I don't understand how she, or any saint, hears all the people talking to them. Its hard enough to believe that God can do that and sort out all the prayers and thoughts of every soul on earth and in heaven. (remember Its a wonderful life, when all of Bedford Falls are praying for George Bailey at the same time?)
As a Catholic Convert, I honor Mary and ask her to pray for me or for whoever I'm praying for. I don't believe she hears my thoughts. I always audibly speak to her. I don't pray in the name of Mary. I really don't ask other saints to pray for me. If others do that its fine with me. I might ask people I knew when they were alive to pray for me, or one of my children in need (Like my Grandmother or Father).
I could be wrong. So much of God is beyond my comprehension.

So as a recent Catholic convert. I'm trying to make peace with both sides. Often I feel I don't belong to either.

I'm just stuck in the middle. Each time I get stuck I realize how little time I spend studying the wealth of books and media out there that could help me understand. We have to take the time to know our faith.

Only One Life

2010-06-19T18:14:00.000-05:00

"We shall have all eternity in which to celebrate our victories, but we have only one swift hour before the sunset in which to win them."Robert Moffatt

Only One Life

Two little lines I heard one day,Traveling along life's busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in 'that day' my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life,'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God's holy will to cleave;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill, living for self or in His will;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e'er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, "twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say,"Thy will be done";
And when at last I'll hear the call, I know I'll say "twas worth it all";
Only one life,'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

C.T. Studd

A Matter of Humility

2010-05-11T13:33:00.003-05:00

I have known Fr. Eduardo since I came in the Church. I am thrilled to see him attain this position and know that it will not change this humble man of God a bit.
What a blessing to know him and have the privilege of seeing a Godly man exalted!
The only news that media dishes out is on things that are bad in the Church, do you think they will pick up on the good, like Fr. Ed?

Charismatic Healing Mass in Tyler, TX

2010-04-13T12:57:00.000-05:00

Thursday, April 15- TAX DAY! is the next Charismatic Healing Mass. Fr. Bob
Hilz from Ft. Worth will be here and is an excellent teacher, preacher and
minister.
Come and be blessed. Adoration will begin at 5:00 with Confession
available. Praise and Worship start at 6:30 with Mass to follow. This is
for everyone so bring your protestant friends as well and expect a
miracle!
For more information call the Church office at St. Mary Magdalene, Flint,
or Lori Harris at 903-343-3567. See http://tylerevangelization.com for
past messages and photos.

BIG HOUSE

2010-04-09T18:12:00.002-05:00

Our friend Alex Jones told this story last year when he came to Texas for the Life in the Spirit Conference. Its a great parable of how the Catholic Church is a big house and some of the kids decided to go camp in the back yard instead of live in the big house. See our Kerygma Teams USA to learn more about the next one at the end of the month!

Justice Revival

2009-11-12T11:05:00.001-06:00

Justice Revival

HEALING MASS JANUARY 20, ST. MARY MAGDALENE, FLINT- PRAYER MEETINGS!

2009-11-05T10:01:00.003-06:00

Come and be touched by the Holy Spirit!
Fr. Michael Scherry and members of the Houston Charasmatic Center will be ministering at the monthly Charismatic Healing Mass, held at St. Mary Magdalene, Flint, TX on Wednesday, JANUARY 20. Under the direction of Parish Priest, Father Tim Kelly, the Mass with Adoration begins at 6:00PM. Sacrament of Reconciliation is available. Laying on of hands and anointing for healing with personal ministry will follow. Come and encounter a fresh wind of the Spirit. The Church is located at 18221 FM 2493, Flint, TX 75762. For more information call the parish office at 903-894-7647 or Lori Harris at 903-343-3567. Feel free to forward this to your friends. All are invited and welcome!

MONDAY, January 11, will be the day of the Diocese monthly prayer meeting. (Second Monday of the Month) The Charismatic prayer meeting will start at 7:00 PM at St. Paul's Chapel, behind the Diocese of Tyler office. 1015 ESE Loop 323. Tyler. For more information call Lori Harris at 903-963-7146 or St. Mary Magdalene, Father Tim Kelly at 903-894-7647.
There are two in home prayer meetings as well that we invite you to join:
Healing & The Holy Spirit PRAYER MEETING at Dorothea Wiegman, January 19, (3rd Tuesday of the month) 10:00 AM Call Dorothea for directions 903-825-3406 or Lori Harris 903-963-7146 for more information.

Healing & The Holy Spirit PRAYER MEETING at Terry & Sherry Pettit's House, January 25 (4th Monday night of the month) at 605 Shiloh Ridge, Tyler, TX. Phone Terry for directions at 903-239-3455 or Alan Harris at 903-963-7146.

Anne Rice is Called Out of Darkness

2009-09-01T12:56:00.000-05:00

Called Out of Darkness is a beautifully written book of one woman's journey to a personal relationship with Jesus as her Lord and Savior. An intimate story that isn't overly syrupy and does not justify any of the personal choices author Anne Rice has made in life makes this book very readable to a vast audience that might not otherwise pick up a testimonial book of this type.

Her descriptions about the importance of family and moral values as well as church attendance forming character can be read between the lines. The truth and value of the "little things" that others do for and to you and how they make a lasting impact on character formation are subtle traits within the context of the story.

We are all pursued by the Hound of Heaven and the use of the poem by Francis Thompson fits into Anne's story perfectly. Her longing for the Eucharist has a depth of understanding that even protestants can relate to.

The scandals plaguing the Church did not keep her from choosing to pursue Jesus through the Sacraments that were familiar to her from her childhood. Her embracing of the modern Church service versus the Latin Mass she had grown up with are evident. She speaks with joy at not being ridiculed by those in her family who had never left the Church but instead loved her back to Jesus.

As a convert to the faith, I was overjoyed that she looked with awe at many of the same things I loved when I converted: The Nicene Creed, the Gloria, the prayers of consecration and the Agnus Dei. Her descriptions of these standards of the Church echo my own sentiments and show a woman who has come to terms with what she chose to walk away from and what she now chooses to embrace.

I have never read Anne's "vampire writings," and probably never will, but I see an amazing openness and frank love of truth and sense of justice in her clear and eloquent writings. I look forward to many more descriptive and faith conveying books to come from a woman whose obvious vocation is writing for the glory of God.

In Genesis, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers with the words, "Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good, to achieve his present end, the survival of many people." ( Gen. 50:20) I look forward to Ms. Rice's future work to draw on the past she came from to lead many to the Lord. He knows her name, as He knows each of ours and He has called her out of darkness.

CALLED OUT OF DARKNESS
By Anne Rice
ISBN:978-0-307-39759-1

For more book reviews see http://keamusa.com

You can walk the Road to Cana with Christ the Lord

2009-08-31T10:33:00.000-05:00

In Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana, we take up Anne Rice's bold attempt to continue the story of Jesus as a young man who knows who He is and what is going to happen to Him in the near future.

Jesus is a man, strong, virile and desirable.

Anne does not make him weak or un-masculine in anyway. He is a stud and those around him know it. He is a hard working and important part of a working class family and as such, has the girls giving him the eye. He is obviously marriage material.

His emotions are dealt with in a genuine manner. There is no pretense here that Jesus the man isn't a human being attracted to the opposite sex. The emotions of Jesus are dealt with honestly and you see that He was in all manners, tempted such as we. (Luke 4:15)

The sub story woven throughout brings life to Jesus the Man as we watch him die to his flesh and desires while choosing the highest good for others. The temptation during his forty days and forty nights in the desert is superb as Jesus is tempted with all the emotions that every man feels. Ms. Rice covers them all in a way that makes the reader look at his own faults and failures.

When Jesus returns to his own, there is no turning back. He is the Son of God and a man on a mission. He calls fishermen to come follow him and begins to speak as only the Son of God can. Ms. Rice's writing is captivating as she weaves the love story of Christ the Lord for His Bride, the Church against the story of the wedding at Cana. The wedding at Cana shows Jesus honoring his mother, just like all good boys do. As Mary tells those around her to obey her son and do as He asks, the turning of the water into wine, is recorded for us in a story that is satisfying as any beautiful wedding should be. The emotions of Jesus the Man make this book a treasure you won't soon forget.

CHRIST THE LORD: THE ROAD TO CANA
By Anne Rice
ISBN: 978-1-4000-4352-1

For more book reviews see http:// kteamsusa.com

BOOK REVIEW: CHRIST THE LORD: OUT OF EGYPT

2009-08-29T14:42:00.001-05:00

Don’t jump the gun.

In Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt, Anne Rice creates a very real little boy who happens to be Jesus of Nazareth. Ms. Rice writes like a mommy as she explores a little boy she loves and knows was born to die for the sins of mankind.

What a different twist she brings to the ordinary! The setting of a child and family leaving Egypt to return to their people of Nazareth provides background that is interesting and fresh. Whether we are seeing Jesus deal with His feelings and knowledge of who He is and who He is going to be or looking through the eyes of Mary, his mother, Ms. Rice has taken a very “family” perspective on the whole process.

The Jewish perspective is eloquent without being trite as we see families gathering and passing down the stories of the Torah in the traditional manner. The historical perspective is intact as the people struggle with oppression brought on by the Roman invasion of the country amidst the traditional life cycles of the Jewish calendar.

As the little boy tells his story and then grows into puberty and reaches Bar Mitzvah age, you see a child learning how to reason and ask intelligent “God questions,” knowing all along, what the answers are.

The book leaves you wanting more, as it should.

The real treat is the conversion story of Anne at the end of the book. You can’t jump the gun to get to this seventeen page Author’s Note. It won’t mean nearly as much if you haven’t read this reverent and captivating take on the child Jesus.

CHRIST THE LORD: OUT OF EGYPT
By Anne Rice
ISBN: 0-275-41201-8

For more book reviews see http://kteamsusa.com

BOOK REVIEW: REDISCOVERING CATHOLICSM

2009-08-27T09:04:00.001-05:00

In Rediscovering Catholicism: Journeying Toward Our Spiritual North Star, Matthew Kelly gives a compelling picture of what a Christian should be. With a clear voice, he shows how each area of society should and would inculcate a biblical worldview if those who claim to be Catholic lived what they say they believe.

Divided into readable sections, Kelly explores the need for a Savior, the relevancy of Christ today and the call for holiness that a personal relationship with Jesus requires. His look at seven pillars of Catholic spirituality is an objective take on what makes us Catholic and how, if applied, will renew the inner life of the individual. His section on fasting and discipline is a real slap on the hand to most of us, as it should be.

Kelly makes a passionate plea for a return to virtue and calls on all who claim the Catholic faith to look to Jesus and emulate His call to evangelization. Through servant leadership, courage, and Christian character that comes from a personal and growing faith in Jesus, we as a people, will draw the sinner to Christ.

This book will challenge even the weakest to become more bold in what Christ and His Church would look like if we all hungered and thirst after righteousness.

REDISCOVERING CATHOLICISM: JOURNEYING TOWARD OUR SPIRITAUL NORTH STAR
By Matthew Kelly
ISBN: 1-929266-08-1

For more book reviews see http://kteamsusa.com

Out From Under: The Impact of Homosexual Parenting

2009-08-20T19:03:00.007-05:00

Dawn Stefanowicz has boldly and openly shared a horrific life that is becoming more and more prevalent as society and its norms continue to crumble. In her personal memoir, Out From Under, Dawn reveals the mental torment she and her two siblings were raised in by a homosexual father and a weak mother.

Bravo!

Dawn's book is more than a personal analyzation of trauma caused by bad parenting. It reveals the darker side of a father's sexual appetites and how they can destroy the psyche of everyone he touches. It is not for the faint hearted. Be warned!

A thread of the religious runs through this tormented family and Dawn's ability to finally see true Christianity from the false is critical to her personal understanding of the need for a Father's love.

As Dawn openly works through her needs for love and affection it is clear this book is a manual for others that may find themselves in similar situations. She does not gloss over the ugly nor make it look like easy work. Change is never easy. But she eloquently shows her love and affection for her father and sees him as he truly was. Her ability to continually forgive the many ways her father continued to cause her pain throughout his life, show a strength that can only from the determination to deal with her own shortcomings over and over again.

Dawn's marriage and ability to be completely vulnerable with her husband show that they are in this thing together. Her self analysis by journaling was a step forward in her own healing and sharing those journaling efforts with her husband, seem to help her place her situations in perspective.

For those of us who love others in alternative lifestyles, this book is a warning of the effects of gay parenting and the backlash that it can create on the social structure of a society. Dawn speaks for those who cannot. May her work not be in vain.

Children are the most vulnerable of society and a society that will not protect its own children is a sad one indeed. May we be brave enough to love, reach out to and rescue these little ones who are hidden among us.

OUT FROM UNDER:THE IMPACT OF HOMOSEXUAL PARENTING
By Dawn Stefanowicz ISBN 1-59977-011-3

For more book reviews see http://alanandloriharris.blogspot.com

The Pain of Sin

2009-08-19T18:04:00.004-05:00

I love a lesbian.
I’ve loved her since we were girls. The feeling is mutual, I’m sure. We are as close as sisters. We grew up together. We worked together. We lived together. We fought and we dated guys together. She is one of my oldest, dearest and most precious friends.

Through the years our paths separated, almost under our noses. We weren’t concerned about God. We lived like we chose and it showed. Without a plumb line to guide us, we continued our downward spiral of what was acceptable and normal for us and those who were our friends.

Somehow, through the muddle of my mind, Jesus broke through. He reached down and began to clear the cobwebs of my mind. He began to massage my brain back to life. He began to probe my thoughts and penetrate my concepts of right and wrong, just and unjust, and to stir up something long ago lost. I became a new creation. My life changed- for the better, and that change continues to this day.

But my wonderful friend hasn’t had that renewal.
She hasn’t chosen to be renewed, but all these many years she has continued to love herself and her wants. There has been no visible work toward holy living and dying to selfish desires.

Her partners have changed. Her opinions have become more vocal and her heart has fashioned God to be someone she calls on when she has disappointments and most times, she thinks He does not care for her or take a personal interest in what she does. He doesn’t hear her. Why?

Recently we got to catch up and I was introduced to her latest partner.

I had no reaction other than, “Oh, well.”

In reflecting on my lack of shock over her choice of sin, I had to ask God why I would feel no grief about her continued lifestyle. My answer was all too evident: I have become numb to the things that break God’s heart. I have forgotten how to hate sin while continuing to love the sinner. In other ones, I continue to love her but I have grown numb to her sin.

I cannot, as a Christian, make the two one. I must separate my friend whom I love, from her sin of choice. All sin breaks God’s heart. Some sins ensnare with strangling cords because they have a Trinitarian grip on the person. They ensnare the body, soul and spirit and these sins choke the life from the individual.

I’ve had to repent.

I’ve had to ask Jesus to forgive me for not seeing my friend’s hurts and ministering to them again and again, with the love of Christ. I am not called by God to judge her but to love her. I want to look like and strive to emulate a savior worth living for because she is someone He was worth dying for.

Intercession of Mary & the Saints

2009-08-18T14:08:00.005-05:00

The Cultural Experience of Mary and Prayers to the Saints

When I began to look at the truths of the Catholic faith, one of the first I had to deal with was the “Mary talk.” As a Protestant, Mary was only mentioned at Christmas and prayer to the saints was never even discussed. Protestants just don’t do that.

But the Jew in me that loves and relishes tradition and the generational traditions of cultures and peoples, had to recognize that these aspects of the faith are based on just that- tradition.

Truths about Mary are important to the basic gospel message but they aren’t central. Many Protestants believe wrongly that Catholics think they are and to some, this may be so. Her role in the Christian life does not compete with the role of Jesus. Anyone who confuses the role of Mary and Jesus does not have a problem with their “Mariology”; their problem is that they have never really met Jesus Christ. Those who know the life and power of Jesus will never be tempted or able to confuse Jesus’ role with that of Mary.

Mary is special, in that she alone was chosen by God to be the “ark of the new covenant” by which God entered into the world. She is considered the “New Eve” in typology because, unlike the first Eve, who said “no” to God, Mary willingly said “yes”. She is the first person who received the Holy Spirit in the New Testament (Lk 1:35). Luke declares Mary highly favored by God ( Lk 1: 28-30) and she declared herself to be the servant of the Lord ( Lk 1:38). At the cross Mary was there, and artists throughout the years have depicted her holding his lifeless body, the “sword” “that pierced her heart,” as Simeon prophesied (Lk 2:35).

Mary’s prophetic prayer of praise, Luke 1:46-55 (the Magnificat), glorifies God and brings to light the mission of Jesus to bring the Good News to the poor and downcast. She prophecies over herself that, “all generations will call me blessed” (Lk 1:48). This prophecy is fulfilled through all Christians who call Mary the “Blessed Virgin”.

Catholics look to Mary as our mother in the faith, but they do not “pray to Mary” as they pray to God. Worship belongs to God alone. Catholics do ask Mary to pray for us and believe that her intercession can call forth God’s grace because of her special relationship with Jesus.

God provides and accomplishes everything that man needs, but he also asks us to have a share in his work. Jesus is our high priest ( Heb. 8:1), but he calls us a “priestly people” and invites us to share in his priesthood ( I Pet 2:9). He encourages us to bring our intentions to him (I Tim 2:1-6) and to pray for others.

Ultimately, Mary is honored because God has honored her by choosing her to be the mother of Jesus. She is the example of the perfect disciple and shows us as human beings, how we are to relate to God through Jesus. She always points us to her son, Jesus.

Along this same line, prayer to the saints is a misunderstood. Catholics use the term “saint” to refer to people of outstanding holiness. In the New Testament, the word is used in a broader term, Paul calls all his fellow believers “saints” ( Rom 12:13, 16:15, I Cor 16:1,15; 2 Cor1:1; Eph 1:1; Phil 1:1; 4:21-22, Philemon 5). The Apostles’ Creed also states, “I believe in the communion of saints.”

This phrase, “the communion of saints” refers to that bond of unity among all those, living and dead, who are, or have been committed followers of Jesus Christ. We know that those who have died in Christ are still saints and are only physically dead. Their spirit is still alive. God is not the God of the dead, but of the living ( Mk 12:26-27; Lk 20:34-38; Mk 5:39; Mt 9:24; Lk 8:52). Jesus even demonstrated this principle of those saints being alive in Christ when Moses and Elijah appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mk 9:4). The story of the “good thief” also illustrates this point (Lk 23:43).

One of Satan’s chief strategies is to defeat the Church is to cause division. One divisive tactic that has been successful has been the strategy of dividing and isolating the Body of Christ from one another- those on earth and those in the heavenly. Hebrews 11 calls us to remember those who have gone before and Hebrews 12:1 states, “WE have so great a cloud of witnesses…” These men and women of God, who have gone on before are there, encouraging us to holiness and discipleship.

The Catholic church takes this a step further through the process of “canonization“, a way the Church discerns the life that someone has lived on earth. The custom of honoring the lives of holy people with the title of “saint” dates back to the first centuries of Christianity and comes from the apostles and martyrs who sacrificed their lives instead of abandoning their faith in Jesus ( Rev 6:9-11, 7:13-15).

Jesus is the ultimate model of holiness, but there are many role models that the average person can look to for an example to follow. Since we believe that this great cloud of witnesses is available to us, we choose to ask for their intercession and prayers to the Father on our behalf. What an army of witnesses!

Many of us ask one another to “pray for me”. As Catholics, we not only ask those “saints” on earth to pray for us but those in the heavenlies, who are already united with the Lord. This can be abused and become a form of worship, as St. Augustine warned but it doesn’t have to be.

When we ask the saints in heaven or Mary to intercede and pray for us, it cannot detract from the unique mediation of Jesus, anymore than asking someone on earth to pray for us would. Worship is due only to God. All Christian prayer, whether asking that of a saint, through a written prayer or a heartfelt plea, is directed to the Father through Jesus Christ, who is the “one mediator between God and men” (I Tim 2:5).

Book Review for Left To Tell

2009-08-17T17:07:00.004-05:00

Left To Tell is a personal story of survival in the midst of the Rwandan holocaust. Immaculee Ilibagiza shares her nightmare of terror with the reader in a way that shows this killing frenzy could happen to people within any nation.

The prejudice between the Hutu and Tutsi people groups show that skin color isn’t the only way man judges man. The spirit of death and murder walked hand in hand with hate as neighbor turned against neighbor and found a reason to machete and bludgeon one another to death. The stench of rotting bodies and blood ran throughout the villages as Immaculee realized the death of her loved ones even as she hid with seven other women for three months in a bathroom four feet long and three feet wide.

Insanity could have engulfed her at any moment if she had not chosen to take every thought captive and keep her mind occupied by prayer and thoughts of survival. When the chance to escape came after three months, her sheer determination caused all eight women to press through to safety.

Her story of forgiveness is just as riveting. The miracles God provided for her encouraged and kept her faith alive. Far from being overwhelmed by man’s inhumanity to man, Immaculee’s ordeal uplifts and inspires because of her ability to forgive and continue forgiving those who perpetrated the crimes against her.

Immaculee is a woman that has suffered and lost much but her willingness to bring her story of hope and healing one heart at a time is a story of love worth reading. You won’t be disappointed.

LEFT TO TELL
By Immaculee Ilibagiza
ISBN: 1-4019-0897-7

For more book reviews see http://kteamsusa.com

Jesus- On the Cross

2009-07-16T17:36:00.001-05:00

As a Protestant I didn't like the respect given to a Crucifix. My Jesus came off that Cross!

But as a Catholic, I understand that ONLY Jesus can be "ON"that Cross. It can't be Buddha, or Mohammed. It can't be Confucius or Hare Krisna. It can't even be John the Baptist. It can only be Jesus, the only living Son of the Father. He alone can save us from our sins. He alone can forgive sin and bring life.

When I enter the Church, I kneel and make the sign of the cross. Jesus is in the house and we should be in awe of that. I want to honor the God who became man and came to earth to hang on the that Cross for me.

Protestants can drape Jewish prayer shawls and purple cloth on empty crosses all they want but as for me and mine, we will gaze on

JESUS- the focal point of His Story.

The Church, Walking With the World

2009-06-18T15:08:00.004-05:00

THE CHURCH, WALKING WITH THE WORLD

The Church and the World walked far apart

On the changing shore of time-

The World was singing a giddy song,

And the Church a hymn sublime.

"Come, give me your hand," said the merry World,

"And walk with me, this way!”

But the good Church hid her. Snowy hands

And solemnly answered, "Nay,

I will not give you my hand,” she said,

“And I will not walk with you;

Your way is the way of eternal death;

And your words are all untrue.”

“Nay, walk with me but a little space,”

Said the World with a kindly air;

"The road I walk is a pleasant road,

And the sun shines always there;

Your path is narrow and thorny and rough,

While mine is flowery and smooth;

Your lot is sad with, reproach and toil,

While in rounds of joy I move.

The sky to me is always blue,

No want, no toil I know;

The sky above you is always dark,

Your lot is a lot of woe.

My way, you can see, is a broad fair one,

And my gate is high and wide;

There is room enough for you and for me,

And we'll travel side by side."

Half shyly the Church approached the world

And gave him her hand of snow;

And the old World grasped, it and walked along,

And whispered in accents low,

"Your dress is too simple to please my taste;

I have gold and pearls to wear,

Rich velvets and silks for your graceful form,

And diamonds to deck your hair.”

The Church looked down at her plain white robes,

And then at the dazzling World,

And blushed as she saw his handsome lip

With a smile contemptuous curled.

"I will change my dress for a costlier one,

Said the Church with a smile of grace;

Then her pure white garments drifted away,

And the World gave in their place,

Beautiful satins, and fashionable silks,

And roses and gems and pearls;

While over her forehead her bright hair fell

Crisped in a thousand curls.

"Your house is too plain,” said the proud old World,

"I will build you one like mine;

With walls of marble and towers of gold,

And furniture ever so fine.”

He built her a costly and beautiful house;

Most splendid it was to behold;

Her sons and her beautiful daughters dwelt there

Gleaming in purple and gold;

Rich fairs and shows in the halls were held ,

And the World and his children were there,

Laughter and music and feasting were heard

In the place that was meant for prayer.

There were cushioned seats for the rich and gay,

To sit in their pomp and pride;

But the poor who were clad in shabby array,

Sat meekly down outside.

"Your preachers are all too old and plain,"

Said the gay World with a sneer

"They frighten my children with dreadful tales,

Which I like not for them to hear.

They warn of judgments- and fire and pain,

Of doom of the darkest night,

And speak of a place that should not be,

Mentioned to ears polite.

I mil send you some of a better stamp;

More brilliant and gay and fast,

Who will show how men may live as they list,

And then get to heaven at last.

The Father is merciful, great, and good,

Tender, loving and kind,

Do you think He would take one child to heaven!

And leave another behind?”

So she sent for pleasing and gay divines,

Deemed gifted and great and learned,

And the plain old men who had preached the cross

Were out of her pulpits turned.

Then Mammon came in supporting the Church,

And rented a prominent pew;

And preaching and singing and floral display

Proclaimed a gospel new.

Then fair and festival, frolics untold

Were held in the place of prayer,

And maidens, bewitching as sirens of old,

With worldly graces rare,

Thought up the very cunningest tricks,

Untrammeled by gospel or laws,

To beguile, and amuse, and win from the World

Some help for the righteous cause.

The angel of mercy flew over the Church,

And whispered, “I know thy sin!"

Then the Church looked sad and earnestly longed

To gather her children in.

But some were out at the midnight ball,

And some were at the play;

And some were drinking in gay saloons,

So she quietly turned away.

Then said the World in soothing tones,

"Your children mean no harm,

Merely indulging in innocent sports."

So she leaned on his proffered arm,

And smiled, and chatted, and gathered flowers,

And walked along with the World.

While countless millions of precious souls

O'er the fearful brink were hurled.

“You give too much to the poor,” said the World,

"Far more than you ought to do.

Though the poor need shelter, food, and clothes,

Why should that trouble you?

And afar to the heathen in foreign lands

Your thoughts need never roam-

The Father of mercies will care for them.

Let charity stay at home.

Go, take your money and buy rich robes,

And horses and carriages fine;

Roses, and jewels, and dainty food,

And rarest and costliest wine;

My children just dote on all these things,

And if you their love would win,

You must do as they do, and walk in the way

That they are walking in.

So the Church drew tightly the strings of her purse,

And gracefully lowered her head,

And simpered, "I've given too much away,

I will do, Sir, as you have said."

So the poor were turned from her door in scorn;

She heard not the orphan's cry;

She drew her beautiful robes aside

As the widows went weeping by.

Her missions treasuries beggarly pled,

And Jesus commands were vain,

As half the millions for whom He died

Had never heard of His name.

Then they of the Church and they of the World

Walked onward hand and heart,

And only the Master, who knoweth all,

Could tell the two apart.

Then the Church sat down at her ease, and said,

“I am rich and in goods increased;

I have need of nothing and naught to do

But to laugh and dance and feast."

The sly World heard it and laughed in his Sleeve,

And mockingly said, aside--

"The Church has fallen, the beautiful Church;_

And her shame is her boast and her pride."

The angel drew near to the mercy seat,

And whispered in sighs her name;

Then the loud anthems of rapture were hushed,

And heads were covered with shame;

And a voice was heard at last by the Church,

From Him who sat on the throne,

"I know thy works, and how thou hast said

“I am rich” but thou hast not known

That thou art poor and naked and blind,

With pride and with ruin enthralled.

The intended bride of a heavenly groom

Is companion of the World.

Go, humble thy heart and confess thy sin,

Let shame now cover thy face,

Or else--alas--I must cast thee out,

And blot thy name from its place.

Matilda C. Edwards 1874

The Great Speckled Bird

2009-06-06T09:45:00.010-05:00

Bare with me please.
I grew up in the south in a Holiness/Pentecostal church. I was raised knowing I was in the only “true” Church of God (of Prophecy). Other churches were only a poor imitation of what Christianity should look like. We were holy people and we were proud of it. I loved church and wonderful worship, knowing a personal Jesus and what a good “Holy Ghost” message sounded like. We were quite clannish and were willing to “pray it through” until the Lord gave clear direction.

I am thankful for my roots.

My greatest memories and some of my happiest, are remembering the closeness of Jesus to us, His people. I go to bed at night and follow the prayer patterns my grandmother taught me of calling out to God for those I love, asking the Lord first for my husband and children and then my extended family and church family. I follow a pattern of history that my mother and grandmother shared and I have passed that on to my children. Prayer does change things.

The Lord recently reminded me of an old song we sung in church.
You will have to use your own imagination ( or find a rendition on the web) but try to hear the pedal steel guitar carrying the tune and make sure you sway a little while you pitch just a tad “southern.”
Today, even with it's pretribulaton message, I think much of it is true to my understanding of church:

The Great Speckled Bird

What a beautiful thought I am thinking
Concerning a great speckled bird
Remember her name is recorded
On the pages of God's Holy Word.

All the other birds are flocking 'round her
She is despised by the squad
But the great speckled bird in the Bible
Representing the great church of God.

All the other churches are against her
They envy her glory and fame
They hate her because she is chosen
And has not denied Jesus' name.

Desiring to lower her standard
They watch every move that she makes
They long to find fault with her teachings
But really they find no mistake.

She is spreading her wings for a journey
She's going to leave by and by
When the trumpet shall sound in the morning
She'll rise and go up in the sky.

In the presence of all her despisers
With a song never uttered before
She will rise and be gone in a moment
Till the great tribulation is o'er.

I am glad I have learned of her meekness
I am proud that my name is on her book
For I want to be one never fearing
The face of my Savior true love.

When He cometh descending from heaven
On the cloud that He writes in His Word
I'll be joyfully carried to meet Him
On the wings of that great speckled bird.

I am very proud of the way I was raised and the heritage I am from. My grandmother came from her Baptist background to a fuller understanding of the gifts of the spirit during WWI. The story of the angel of the Lord who came to her as she prayed in the smokehouse are what family history is all about. This angel told her to not fear the pentecostals, that what they brought from the Lord would bring salvation to her family. It did.

All through the war and the dark days of the depression, the church was the Rock for my grandmother and her large family of nine kids on a cotton farm. Hard times and a drinking man, no money and plenty of nothing, insured that all kids were in church with my grandma every time the doors were open. They can all tell the stories of walking miles on black topped roads in the sunset and coming home in the dark, bringing the “travelin' preacher” home with them to have a hot meal and sleep in the barn.

The snake handlers and bare-foot hot coal walkers were real people that I grew up loving and trusting. They knew how to get God's attention. By the time I knew them they were old, with only their stories left to tell, but I understood God answered their prayers. They didn't have to do the wild things anymore to have others believe them about what Jesus could do, they had already lived it.

Scripture was always touted and I was raised to believe, “Know the truth and it shall set you free!” Truth had it own price tag and every man had the right for more of it. It was free but it might cost you everything.

Coming from good stock that loves the Lord like that, means you really can't be complacent in your own walk. There is something in my family tree that says I can't just “ get by.” I was raised to want and know truth. That “want to” led me into a discipleship program as a young adult, kept me involved in missions, and has led me into studying more theology and church history than any sane person should.

In my denomination ancient church history couldn't be studied. Hey, we might have been the true church of God but we weren't formed until 1903! I had never heard of the Church Fathers, the Nicene Creed or anything historic, until I was an adult. Then I studied everything: Anabaptist, Reformed, Calvinist, Arminian; you name it – I tackled it. The one place I didn't care to go was to Catholicism. It just wasn't for me. It was too weird and they were the guys that always tried to kill off people that differed with them. I knew they had some great reading material but it really didn't seem very relevant to real life situations or practical, for that matter. The saints were all dead and what made them a saint anyway?

God has a way or weaving His own story and certain things happening the way they do, might just be His way of getting your attention. A series of life changing events led my own family through a very similar depression, much like my grandmother's. How blessed we all were to have Jesus as our anchor. Without the strength of the Lord, we would not have survived as a family. I had prayed for God to do whatever it took to make us look more like Him. He did. He is good like that. When it was all said and done, I was looking square into the face of Rome.

How did a Holiness pastor's daughter become a Catholic? I wanted more truth of WHO God was. Because of His love for me, I followed a very clearly marked trail. That roadmap took me to the true Church of God. This church is very real, like God's family should be. It has nastiness and wickedness along with everything beautiful. With all of the good it has, there is still plenty of bad because it is made up of many, many kinds of people. Some desire more of Jesus in their own life and some are happy just “getting by.” It has withstood the test of time and trials and even being wrong but the rightness of it far outweighs the sinfulness of men that might be in it. It still takes the blows from the world. There are those who would want the Mother Church to lower her standard. She doesn't. She has holiness as her claim and she sticks to it.

This Church is the Great Speckled Bird I grew up singing about:
and She's Catholic!

Easter!

2009-05-28T05:58:00.002-05:00

I loved this piece when I found it on Catholic Culture and it caused quite a stir when it went up in parts on my facebook. Here it is complete. As a convert to Catholicsm, I am thrilled at the rich treasures of the Church. What a wonderful, wonderful piece to dwell on for the Easter season.

Ad regias Agni dapes (At the Lamb's High Feast)
In this 7th century hymn there is a reference to the ancient custom of administering to catechumens the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion. Originally there was no Mass on Holy Saturday proper. The long but beautiful ceremonies began Saturday evening and lasted throughout the night. The Litany and Mass were sung towards morning. During Mass the neophytes, vested in beautiful white robes, were admitted for the first time to the "banquet of the Lamb," i.e., to the Eucharistic table. The white garments were worn during the week following Easter, and on Low Sunday the newly baptized appeared for the first time without their white robes.

At the Lamb's high feast we sing Praise to our victorious King, Who hath washed us in the tide Flowing from His pierced side।

Praise we Him whose love divine Gives the guests His Blood for wine, Gives His Body for the feast, Love the victim, love the priest.

Where the Paschal blood poured, Death's dark Angel sheathes his sword; Israel's hosts triumphant go Through the wave that drowns the foe.

Christ, the Lamb whose Blood was shed, Paschal victim, Paschal bread; With sincerity and love Eat we manna from above.

Mighty Victim from the sky, Powers of hell beneath Thee lie; Death is conquered in the fight; Thou hast brought us life and light.

Now Thy banner Thou dost wave; Vanquished Satan and the grave; Angels join His praise to tell— See o'erthrown the prince of hell.

Paschal triumph, Paschal joy, Only sin can this destroy; From the death of sin set free, Souls re-born, dear Lord, in Thee,

Hymns of glory, songs of praise, Father, unto Thee we raise; Risen Lord, all praise to Thee, Ever with the Spirit be.

Source: Hymns of the Breviary and Missal by Matthew Britt, Benziger Brothers, 1922