Andies Isle

I am still exploring this beautiful link.

http://www.andiesisle.com/index.html

Road to Heaven

Imagine life as a highway. Our starting point is at our conception; the ending point at our death is our ultimate destination for eternity. Our goal for our destination is heaven. This road curves and goes over bumps and hills. Sometimes we can see where we are going for miles. Other times the road curves so often that we don’t know from moment to moment where we are. The constant on this road is the white line down the center. That line is Jesus. As long as we stay close to that line we will be okay, and we know that no matter what happens to us on that road we will be okay. Since we are not perfect, though, we do not travel straight. Sometimes, we wander all over the road, and sometimes we leave the road. We can even lose sight of our destination, thinking another destination is better. This is the result when we sin. Our travel becomes erratic, and we may even leave the road. God has provided aides for us. Confession is our steering wheel putting us back next to the center line of Jesus. His laws and commandments are rumble strips telling us we are leaving the road. Even when we leave the road completely to travel in the opposite direction, there are bright lights, the Church and its saints, along the road showing where to head to get back on. Other aides God has provided for us are the Eucharist for nourishment along the way, the Bible for those who need more than to simply trust God to get them there, and sometimes the people who tell us ‘no’ are acting as curbs so we don’t stray off the road. God may even let us go into a ditch, for those of us who need to bottom out first before listening to Him. Whatever we are in need of, God will make it available to us.

The Day the Paint Box fell from Heaven

The Day the Paint Box fell from Heaven'.

(This is a real place outside Bakersfield, California)

When God Paints...

We live in an awesome world.
Make it an awesome day.
Peace To All and May God Bless You
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
Leave the rest to God.

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Thanks, Joe

Forgiveness

“Father forgive them, (for) they knew not what they do.” Luke 23:34

Jesus said these words during his final agony on the Cross. The officials, the soldiers, the people who screamed to crucify Him maybe had some sense that they were killing an innocent man, but they had no idea of just what their actions involved. Neither can we. Our minds just cannot comprehend what is God or His workings. In a like manner, though, Jesus’ words apply to all of us. Can any of us fully understand the effects of our actions on another person? Ignoring someone may seem to be a trivial slight on our part, but may result in deeply wounding the other person’s sense of self-worth. We know not what we do. Likewise, in the times that we have been hurt by other people, they may be totally unaware of what they did. Closeness to God gives us sensitivity in our relations with other people. It helps us to recognize when we are not acting out of love. Since we cannot be the other person, though, we cannot know the full impact of our words or action; but God knows, and we will be held accountable. Ann Landers or Abbie suggested that Good Friday should be a day of forgiveness. Whether the person has asked for forgiveness or not, we need to have an attitude of forgiveness for that person. Jesus asked the Father to forgive those who put Him up on the Cross (including all of us). Can we not be expected to do likewise? In the Our Father we say “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” It does not say “those who ask our forgiveness.” To forgive frees our souls from the anger, bitterness, regret, all of the negative responses we have to being hurt.

Anchors

Throughout our lives, as we encounter many joys and sorrows, because we are as humans social creatures, we turn to out anchors, family, friends, co-workers. We too often neglect our relationship with the ultimate anchor, God. We change jobs so we lose the anchor of co-workers. Friends may not be there for you because of time or distance. Family may be experiencing the same trouble so cannot be an anchor for you. The only one who can always be counted on is God. But, how can we turn to God if we largely ignore Him in our lives? He is always there ready to enfold us in His love. However, on our part, we may find it difficult to lean on Him if we do not usually include Him in our lives. Imagine calling a friend with whom you haven’t spoken or written to in many years and telling them of a great trial you are going through. It would be awkward at the very least. So it would be with God, on our part. If we wait to be with Him only in times of great need, we will have trouble leaning on Him, listening to Him, accepting His peace and graces. The Church, in its wisdom from being part of the Body of Christ, has required us to maintain a minimal contact with God by saying that is a serious sin if we neglect to worship God once a week through Mass on Sundays. The Mass-where we are compelled to be social, unlike private prayer, to be a member of the communion of saints. The Mass-where we are nourished with the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, compared to a meal with family or friends. The Mass-where we can lay our petitions and thanks before God in union with all in heaven and on earth. The Mass-where we off to God the ultimate form of worship, Jesus on the Cross. The Mass-heaven on earth.

This is the truth

I saw this on you tube. It must be read all of the way through. Awesome!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=702pdl5l6mQ

Morals

Are we really ready for Jesus’ commandments to love God and love our neighbor? Or, do we really need instead to refocus on the Ten Commandments, having God ‘spell-it-out’ for us? All of the justifications of love and good indentations do not make something right if it is intrinsically morally wrong. Everyone agrees that murder is wrong, but war, abortion, capital punishment and suicide bombings are justified. Thou shall not steal is one of the Ten Commandments, but we justify not declaring income for income taxes or accepting a discount that we are not qualified for. Living together and gay marriage is justified by love, “we love each other so it can’t be wrong.”
But what is God asking of us? The Ten Commandments are God’s “basic instructions” to make possible a stable society. Following Jesus’ two Great Commandments would enable us to make possible a better society. There are times in reading the Bible that I have thought we have grown in our understanding of how God wants us to treat others. Then I look again at society and it seems as if we are back-peddling in our morality.
All religions call us to a higher morality. However one views Jesus, as Savior, prophet, or good man, his message remains the same. His call to love God and to love our neighbor enhances rather than diminishes the strictures of the Ten Commandments. What God has declared as wrong by prohibition does not become right by love or kindness or circumstance. We are called as Christians to love as God expects not as society accepts. Those who do are saintly; those who do not are sinners. It is God’s will that we redirect each aspect of our lives from sinner to saint.

Morals

Are we really ready for Jesus’ commandments to love God and love our neighbor? Or, do we really need instead to refocus on the Ten Commandments, having God ‘spell-it-out’ for us? All of the justifications of love and good indentations do not make something right if it is intrinsically morally wrong. Everyone agrees that murder is wrong, but war, abortion, capital punishment and suicide bombings are justified. Thou shall not steal is one of the Ten Commandments, but we justify not declaring income for income taxes or accepting a discount that we are not qualified for. Living together and gay marriage is justified by love, “we love each other so it can’t be wrong.”
But what is God asking of us? The Ten Commandments are God’s “basic instructions” to make possible a stable society. Following Jesus’ two Great Commandments would enable us to make possible a better society. There are times in reading the Bible that I have thought we have grown in our understanding of how God wants us to treat others. Then I look again at society and it seems as if we are back-peddling in our morality.
All religions call us to a higher morality. However one views Jesus, as Savior, prophet, or good man, his message remains the same. His call to love God and to love our neighbor enhances rather than diminishes the strictures of the Ten Commandments. What God has declared as wrong by prohibition does not become right by love or kindness or circumstance. We are called as Christians to love as God expects not as society accepts. Those who do are saintly; those who do not are sinners. It is God’s will that we redirect each aspect of our lives from sinner to saint.