Not many people think about this, but words are sometimes the most powerful tools that a human being possesses.
One word can bring happiness...
One word can cause joy...
One word can hurt...
One word can cause hate..
One word can bring love...
One word can comfort...
One word can ruin a life...
One word can reconcile...
Just one word
We always talk about the physical abuse, which is indeed a very serious matter. But we hardly ever talk about the verbal abuse. This type of abuse (also called reviling) can be as serious as the physical abuse, and in some cases even more. We all at some point in our lives experience verbal abuse.
Did you ever get offended by what others have said to you? or worse, have you ever offended another person with your words? be honest to God. Don't try to hide the facts. If you have done so, "... first be reconciled to your brother" (Matthew 5:24). Apologize to the person you have offended. If you feel that you can't apologize to that person then ask God to give you the grace to do so. Also, and this is very important, ask Him to forgive you, for God's Word says "...'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' " Matthew 25:40. If you've been offended, forgive that person that has hurt you. If you can't then ask the Lord to give you the grace to forgive that person. Forgiveness is one of the first and most important things we have to do if we really want to live by God's commandments: "...You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." and "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37,39. And do not think that forgiveness is only for the people that we love. No! Jesus tells us "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (...) For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? (...) And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? (...) You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:44,46-48.
Remember, for God our words are very important. Jesus says "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" and "what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a man" Matthew 12:34;15:18. In fact, God's Word says that "...the tongue is a little member and boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of nature, and set on fire by hell. but no human being can tame the tongue -- a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be so." James 3:5-6.8-10. This may seem to be a very basic matter to deal with, but it's actually not. God's standards are very different and more perfect than our standards. Let's not only give Him our hearts, souls, bodies and lives but our lips as well. Let's ask Him to put the right words in our mouths so that we glorify Him and show the world that we really are following Christ.
"I tell you, on the day of judgment men will render account for every careless word they utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." Matthew 12:36-37
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Hugh Hefner, Marriage And Love
We all heard the lastest scandal surrounding Tiger Woods. We all know that Hugh Hefner is the magazine publisher, founder and chief creative officer of Playboy Enterprises - a pornographic magazine -. So we shouldn't be surprised to hear "Hef's" stance on Tiger's infidelity, marriage and monogamy:
"I think the only surprise in it, quite frankly, is that anybody would be surprised. If you're a good-looking guy and young and healthy, the notion that there would be something else going on, well, marriage is just a convenience. It's very nice for raising kids, but the notion that monogamy lasts forever is a wish!"
Like I said, it's not a shocker that Mr. Hefner thinks marriage as "just a convenience" and monogamy as irreal. He's just revealing to the world that he doesn't understand what love, marriage and monogamy really are. After all, he is a pimp. And he's made a carreer out of "pimping". But pimps aren't born, they're made. He once declared:
"I started Playboy Magazine as a personal response to the hurt and hypocrisy of our puritan heritage. Our family was puritan in a very real sense. Never hugged, oh no!. There was absolutely no hugging or kissing in my family. There was a point in time when my mother later in life apologized to me for not being able to show affection. That was of course the way I have been raised. So I said 'mom, because of the things you weren't able to do it set me on a course that changed my life and the whole world'. When I talk about the hurt and hypocrisy in some of our values, our sexual values, it comes from the fact that i didn't get hugged a lot as a kid"
Place yourself for a minute in Mr. Hefner's house, back when he was a kid. His parents are rigid and they think that by being rigid, they're giving their children a good education that's going to make them become godly men in the future. They don't kiss or hug their children and they don't even mention the "s" word, that is "sex". They can't even imagine that one of their children is going to fund one of the most recognized pornographic magazines of all times. As Mr. Hefner grew up he started to step away from his parents values and education and he began to discover sex as the world (or rather Satan) defines it: an act that it's independent of marriage and love and that should be practiced not just with one person from the opposite sex but with many. So he fed his mind and his heart with garbage and later on he fed the whole world with the same garbage. In his search for love and truth, he found lust and lies. All because of a dreadful and legalistic religious education.
One of the most common blunders that prudish people believe is that sex is bad and that our bodies were corrupted by the original sin. But God has never told us that sex was evil or that our bodies are corrupted. Humans and sexual relationships were His idea in the first place. He created us in his own image and He created sex to be a sacred act between a man and a woman that love and have married each other. He wants men and women to live marriage, sex and love in the way that He created them to be, in a godly way. Marriage is in God's eyes, between one man and one woman. And spousal chastity, which is about being faithful to your husband or wife, is the key to a good, lasting and godly marriage
In fact, to say that sex is evil and that our bodies are bad is a heresy, it's unbiblical. When we cover up our bodies, we're protecting the sacredness, the holiness of our bodies from the degradation of lust.
As Pope John Paul II said in his "Theology of the Body": "The heart has become a battlefield between love and lust. The more lust dominates the heart, the less we experience the spousal meaning of the body". The spousal meaning of the body is that call to love in the image of God that is in our sexuality, deep in our hearts. Love is meant to be a gift of oneself to others without expecting any kind of reward. And spousal love should be that. As Saint Paul says: " 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' This mystery is a profound one, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church; however, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband." Ephesians 5:31-33. Spousal love should always be a reflection of Christ's love to His bride, the Church. That's what love and sex really is in God's eyes. Jesus came here to redeem us, to pay off the debt that humans had for having sinned against God's commandments. "...with his stripes we are healed" says God's Word in Isaiah 53:5. Indeed, with his stripes, with his death on the cross and resurrection we and our sexuality are healed.
"I think the only surprise in it, quite frankly, is that anybody would be surprised. If you're a good-looking guy and young and healthy, the notion that there would be something else going on, well, marriage is just a convenience. It's very nice for raising kids, but the notion that monogamy lasts forever is a wish!"
Like I said, it's not a shocker that Mr. Hefner thinks marriage as "just a convenience" and monogamy as irreal. He's just revealing to the world that he doesn't understand what love, marriage and monogamy really are. After all, he is a pimp. And he's made a carreer out of "pimping". But pimps aren't born, they're made. He once declared:
"I started Playboy Magazine as a personal response to the hurt and hypocrisy of our puritan heritage. Our family was puritan in a very real sense. Never hugged, oh no!. There was absolutely no hugging or kissing in my family. There was a point in time when my mother later in life apologized to me for not being able to show affection. That was of course the way I have been raised. So I said 'mom, because of the things you weren't able to do it set me on a course that changed my life and the whole world'. When I talk about the hurt and hypocrisy in some of our values, our sexual values, it comes from the fact that i didn't get hugged a lot as a kid"
Place yourself for a minute in Mr. Hefner's house, back when he was a kid. His parents are rigid and they think that by being rigid, they're giving their children a good education that's going to make them become godly men in the future. They don't kiss or hug their children and they don't even mention the "s" word, that is "sex". They can't even imagine that one of their children is going to fund one of the most recognized pornographic magazines of all times. As Mr. Hefner grew up he started to step away from his parents values and education and he began to discover sex as the world (or rather Satan) defines it: an act that it's independent of marriage and love and that should be practiced not just with one person from the opposite sex but with many. So he fed his mind and his heart with garbage and later on he fed the whole world with the same garbage. In his search for love and truth, he found lust and lies. All because of a dreadful and legalistic religious education.
One of the most common blunders that prudish people believe is that sex is bad and that our bodies were corrupted by the original sin. But God has never told us that sex was evil or that our bodies are corrupted. Humans and sexual relationships were His idea in the first place. He created us in his own image and He created sex to be a sacred act between a man and a woman that love and have married each other. He wants men and women to live marriage, sex and love in the way that He created them to be, in a godly way. Marriage is in God's eyes, between one man and one woman. And spousal chastity, which is about being faithful to your husband or wife, is the key to a good, lasting and godly marriage
In fact, to say that sex is evil and that our bodies are bad is a heresy, it's unbiblical. When we cover up our bodies, we're protecting the sacredness, the holiness of our bodies from the degradation of lust.
As Pope John Paul II said in his "Theology of the Body": "The heart has become a battlefield between love and lust. The more lust dominates the heart, the less we experience the spousal meaning of the body". The spousal meaning of the body is that call to love in the image of God that is in our sexuality, deep in our hearts. Love is meant to be a gift of oneself to others without expecting any kind of reward. And spousal love should be that. As Saint Paul says: " 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' This mystery is a profound one, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church; however, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband." Ephesians 5:31-33. Spousal love should always be a reflection of Christ's love to His bride, the Church. That's what love and sex really is in God's eyes. Jesus came here to redeem us, to pay off the debt that humans had for having sinned against God's commandments. "...with his stripes we are healed" says God's Word in Isaiah 53:5. Indeed, with his stripes, with his death on the cross and resurrection we and our sexuality are healed.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Expose The Evil Actions
On January 23, 1996, Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate. But his prayer wasn't the usual, "love and peace", "politically right" kind of prayer. Instead, he said this:
"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask Your forgiveness and to seek Your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good,," but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.
We confess:
We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it Pluralism.
We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism.
We have endorsed perversion and called it alternative lifestyle.
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it choice.
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem.
We have abused power and called it politics.
We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.
Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent to direct us to the center of your will. I ask it in the Name of Your Son, the living Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen."
Many people walked out during the prayer in protest. Indeed, it was a "controversial" prayer. And it was "controversial" not for the pastor but for the non-christians and the lukewarm christians. It exposes our flaws and sins as a society. We are de-christianizing the world, not just the U.S. We are mocking God's Word, we are offending him more than ever, we are allowing women to kill their babies, we are allowing a minority to re-define marriage and family in order for them to please their selfish and abnormal desires, we are allowing people to take drugs legally, we are telling children that masturbation, pornography, prostitution, lesbianism, homosexuality, bisexuality, transsexualism, and other deviant practices are fine and even good and healthy. We are clearly living in the last days, as the Bible says:
"But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of stress. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, fierce, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding the form of religion but denying the power of it. Avoid such people." 2 Timothy 3:1-5
People, we MUST take action. We MUST defend life. We MUST defend marriage and family. We MUST defend religious freedom. We MUST combat drugs. We MUST speak out without fear. And we must do it NOW. Today is the day that we can change things. The foolish, ungodly people are going to fight back and persecute us. Yet we should not be affraid of them, for the Holy Bible says: "The LORD is my light and my salvation;whom shall I fear?The LORD is the stronghold of my life;of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1. ""Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:10
This is what God wants us to do. He commands us: "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is a shame even to speak of the things that they do in secret; but when anything is exposed by the light it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light." Ephesians 5:11-13
Expose the evil actions. Be a "good soldier of Christ Jesus" 2 Timothy 2:3.
"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask Your forgiveness and to seek Your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good,," but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.
We confess:
We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it Pluralism.
We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism.
We have endorsed perversion and called it alternative lifestyle.
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it choice.
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem.
We have abused power and called it politics.
We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.
Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent to direct us to the center of your will. I ask it in the Name of Your Son, the living Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen."
Many people walked out during the prayer in protest. Indeed, it was a "controversial" prayer. And it was "controversial" not for the pastor but for the non-christians and the lukewarm christians. It exposes our flaws and sins as a society. We are de-christianizing the world, not just the U.S. We are mocking God's Word, we are offending him more than ever, we are allowing women to kill their babies, we are allowing a minority to re-define marriage and family in order for them to please their selfish and abnormal desires, we are allowing people to take drugs legally, we are telling children that masturbation, pornography, prostitution, lesbianism, homosexuality, bisexuality, transsexualism, and other deviant practices are fine and even good and healthy. We are clearly living in the last days, as the Bible says:
"But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of stress. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, fierce, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding the form of religion but denying the power of it. Avoid such people." 2 Timothy 3:1-5
People, we MUST take action. We MUST defend life. We MUST defend marriage and family. We MUST defend religious freedom. We MUST combat drugs. We MUST speak out without fear. And we must do it NOW. Today is the day that we can change things. The foolish, ungodly people are going to fight back and persecute us. Yet we should not be affraid of them, for the Holy Bible says: "The LORD is my light and my salvation;whom shall I fear?The LORD is the stronghold of my life;of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1. ""Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:10
This is what God wants us to do. He commands us: "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is a shame even to speak of the things that they do in secret; but when anything is exposed by the light it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light." Ephesians 5:11-13
Expose the evil actions. Be a "good soldier of Christ Jesus" 2 Timothy 2:3.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Save The Babies
"You shall not kill the child by obtaining an abortion. Nor, again, shall you destroy him after he is born" St. Barnabas ("Epistle of St. Barnabas" c. 70-100 A.D.)"A woman who deliberately destroys a fetus is answerable for murder. And any fine distinction as to its being completely or unformed is not admissible among us" St. Basil The Great ("Epistle 138" c. 375 A.D.)
Modesty: An Attitude
Strapless tops can be inmodest. They can show too much skin. But, can you adapt it? Latin american christian singer Luna Eikar shows us we can:
Again, layers are one of the keys for modesty. And what if you have a short summer dress? this Pure Fashion model wears a pair of leggings underneath it.
My priest told me one day: "When you're happy, you attract people. When you're unhappy you seduce people". Ask yourself: Am I happy? What are my intentions? Do I want to seduce or attract? Modesty is not just about the clothes. Modesty is an attitude that comes from a heart that is filled with God's love.
"Certain fashions will be introduced that will gravely offend my Son" Our Lady of Fatima
Again, layers are one of the keys for modesty. And what if you have a short summer dress? this Pure Fashion model wears a pair of leggings underneath it.My priest told me one day: "When you're happy, you attract people. When you're unhappy you seduce people". Ask yourself: Am I happy? What are my intentions? Do I want to seduce or attract? Modesty is not just about the clothes. Modesty is an attitude that comes from a heart that is filled with God's love.
"Certain fashions will be introduced that will gravely offend my Son" Our Lady of Fatima
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Advent!!!
We are officially into the Christmas Season. Today we're celebrating our first sunday of Advent. Advent is one of the most beautiful times of the year. It is a time of wait, but it's also a time of hope and joy, because we're getting ready to celebrate the Lord's birth: Christmas. It's not a coincidence that, in today's Gospel, the Lord is asking us to "watch at all times" (Luke 21:36) and pray. He's asking us to be prepared for the Second Coming, the day when He's going to come "with power and great glory" Luke 21:27.Let's ask the Lord Jesus to prepare our hearts for Christmas and to forgive our sins. Let's rejoice and persevere, for the Gospel tells us: "Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near" (Luke 21:28)
Saturday, November 28, 2009
The Lies That The Devil Tell Us
"For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" Ephesians 6:12
One of the hardest goals for today's christians (and non-christians) is to stay PURE. Satan knows that purity is one of the hardest things to achieve and mantain. So he tries to deceive us all the time. But if you're LGBT, the battle for purity is even worse. So I decided to expose a list of the most common lies that Satan tell to all LGBT people:
1-All sexual orientations are perfectly normal
2-Homosexuality cannot be cured through therapy or medical treatment
3-Same sex "love" is normal, healthy, and just as likely to lead to fulfilling, happy, committed relationships as straight love
4-You have to "come out of the closet" because you cannot change your orientation
5-Same sex "love" is totally natural because it occurs in throughout the animal kingdom
6-There are MILLIONS of LGBT people around the world.
7-You'll have to get some "experience" before you decide your sexual orientation.
8-There's no point in remaining chaste. You won't make it because sex is a natural need and studies show that half of the people that pledge to abstain from sex break their promise eventually. If you want to abstain for some time, you'll have to refrain from having sexual intercourse, which means that other types of "sexual relationships" are allowed.
9-Masturbation and porn are normal, healthy tools that can help you define your sexuality
The last 3 lies are for straight people as well. How many people have bought the lies the devil sells??? I have. For some time I thought all of this was true. But it's not true.
The truth is:
1-God created men and women in his image & likeness (Gen 1:26)
2-He created them for the purpose of getting married and having a family (Gen 1:28. 2:24)
3-He created sex as a marital act of intimacy between the spouses (Gen 2:24) and opened to life (Gen 1:28.9:1.35:11). The marital act is sacred and blessed by God when practiced in marriage and between a husband and a wife.
4-Contraception is a sin and a punishment in His eyes (Hoseas 9:10-17; Exodus 23:25-26; Deuteronomy 7:13-14;Genesis 38:8-10)
5-Sexual impurity like lust, adultery and fornication are condemned in the Bible (Matt 5:27-32; 1 Thes 4:3-5.7;Ephesians 4:22-24. 5:3;1 John 2:16;Jude 1:7; Gal 5:19; Col 3:5; 1 Cor 6:18)
6-Homosexual relationships are not blessed by God (Lev 20:13.18:22)
People, God called us ALL to be holy and pure (Matt 5:8). Do not be deceived by Satan. He wants you to believe that you cannot reach purity, that you cannot be loved by God, that you cannot change. Do not believe him. He is "...the father of all lies" (John 8:44).
Jesus Christ came here to redeem us, to make us pure. In Him we will have eternal happiness and eternal life (John 3:16). He is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6). Seek Him and you will be truly happy. You are beautiful in God's eyes and He wants you to come to Him. Remember: He loves you
"For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost" Luke 19:10
One of the hardest goals for today's christians (and non-christians) is to stay PURE. Satan knows that purity is one of the hardest things to achieve and mantain. So he tries to deceive us all the time. But if you're LGBT, the battle for purity is even worse. So I decided to expose a list of the most common lies that Satan tell to all LGBT people:
1-All sexual orientations are perfectly normal
2-Homosexuality cannot be cured through therapy or medical treatment
3-Same sex "love" is normal, healthy, and just as likely to lead to fulfilling, happy, committed relationships as straight love
4-You have to "come out of the closet" because you cannot change your orientation
5-Same sex "love" is totally natural because it occurs in throughout the animal kingdom
6-There are MILLIONS of LGBT people around the world.
7-You'll have to get some "experience" before you decide your sexual orientation.
8-There's no point in remaining chaste. You won't make it because sex is a natural need and studies show that half of the people that pledge to abstain from sex break their promise eventually. If you want to abstain for some time, you'll have to refrain from having sexual intercourse, which means that other types of "sexual relationships" are allowed.
9-Masturbation and porn are normal, healthy tools that can help you define your sexuality
The last 3 lies are for straight people as well. How many people have bought the lies the devil sells??? I have. For some time I thought all of this was true. But it's not true.
The truth is:
1-God created men and women in his image & likeness (Gen 1:26)
2-He created them for the purpose of getting married and having a family (Gen 1:28. 2:24)
3-He created sex as a marital act of intimacy between the spouses (Gen 2:24) and opened to life (Gen 1:28.9:1.35:11). The marital act is sacred and blessed by God when practiced in marriage and between a husband and a wife.
4-Contraception is a sin and a punishment in His eyes (Hoseas 9:10-17; Exodus 23:25-26; Deuteronomy 7:13-14;Genesis 38:8-10)
5-Sexual impurity like lust, adultery and fornication are condemned in the Bible (Matt 5:27-32; 1 Thes 4:3-5.7;Ephesians 4:22-24. 5:3;1 John 2:16;Jude 1:7; Gal 5:19; Col 3:5; 1 Cor 6:18)
6-Homosexual relationships are not blessed by God (Lev 20:13.18:22)
People, God called us ALL to be holy and pure (Matt 5:8). Do not be deceived by Satan. He wants you to believe that you cannot reach purity, that you cannot be loved by God, that you cannot change. Do not believe him. He is "...the father of all lies" (John 8:44).
Jesus Christ came here to redeem us, to make us pure. In Him we will have eternal happiness and eternal life (John 3:16). He is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6). Seek Him and you will be truly happy. You are beautiful in God's eyes and He wants you to come to Him. Remember: He loves you
"For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost" Luke 19:10
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
