http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/religion-forum/ en-us Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:45:30 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386852/posts “It appears that Iran has walked right up to the threshold of having enough low enriched uranium to provide enough raw material for a single bomb,” said Peter Zimmerman, a former chief scientist of the US Arms Control and Disarmament Agency per Daniel Dombey at FT.com. MichNews.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386852/posts#comment Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:45:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386847/posts OREM, Utah -- Boyd J. Petersen told the Utah Valley University conference on "outmigration" about how Hugh Nibley -- and other Mormons -- coped with the divided sense of self that minorities often experience in the larger society. Petersen, author of "Hugh Nibley: A Consecrated Life," spoke on Nov. 6 about how members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints live with contradictory public images. "They are both revered and reviled, feared and revered," Petersen said. Outmigrants, those Mormons who have left Utah, "have this divided sense of ourselves." Mormons have their own sense of themselves and their... Mormon Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386847/posts#comment Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:36:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386843/posts Is Orthodox Christianity progressive?To see the spiritual leader of the world's 250 million Orthodox Christians making his rounds in Washington this week - meeting with President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, Senate leader Reid and speaking at the Brookings Institution today - you could make that case. In his talk yesterday at Georgetown University (sponsored by the left-leaning Center for American Progress), the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew spoke about the spiritual imperative for nonviolence, universal health care and reducing consumption to help the environment. But Bartholomew knows the political language of America, and he made a point in his talk to claim that... Washington Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386843/posts#comment Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:19:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386821/posts Erie Catholic Bishop Donald W. Trautman enunciated each word he spoke about the blood of Christ. "It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven," the bishop said, his voice carrying to the back of Gate of Heaven Cemetery's chapel, where he was celebrating a Mass on Nov. 2. By the time the annual service for All Souls' Day comes around in 2010, Trautman will likely be saying some different words. "For all" is due to be replaced with "for many" in a New English translation of the Roman Missal. U.S. Catholic bishops will... Erie Times News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386821/posts#comment Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:30:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386819/posts Bishop John D'Arcy has announced his retirement over the weekend. Bishop D'Arcy holds the priestly duties of the Fort Wayne/South Bend Diocese. At the Cathedral Of Immaculate Conception, parishioners will see the changing of the guard. The Bishop is retiring because of mandatory retirement age rules. He has served the diocese for 24 years as Bishop. John D'Arcy was born...... Huntington Examiner http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386819/posts#comment Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:28:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386816/posts A play depicting Jesus as a gay man played to an appreciative audience in a packed church sanctuary tonight while a handful of protesters outside called it blasphemous. It was the second showing of "Corpus Christi" in Orange County in about two years. The show sparked protests and bomb threats at its 1998 opening at the Manhattan Theatre Club in New York. The play depicts Jesus as a gay man living in 1950s Corpus Christi, Texas, playwright Terrence McNally's hometown. The cast of 13 portray Jesus and the 12 Apostles. The Church of the Foothills in Santa Ana received hate... Orange County Register http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386816/posts#comment Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:24:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386815/posts "What Is That to You?" "Peter . . . said to Jesus, ’But Lord, what about this man?’ Jesus said to him, ’. . . what is that to you? You follow Me’ " —John 21:21-22 One of the hardest lessons to learn comes from our stubborn refusal to refrain from interfering in other people’s lives. It takes a long time to realize the danger of being an amateur providence, that is, interfering with God’s plan for others. You see someone suffering and say, "He will not suffer, and I will make sure that he doesn’t." You put your... My Utmost for His Highest (The Golden Book of Oswald Chambers;1992) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386815/posts#comment Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:24:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386813/posts The Allegorical Sense of Scripture (excerpted from Chapter 7 of Making Senses Out of Scripture) This means something. This is important. - Roy Neary, contemplating his sculpted pile of mashed potatoes in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. As we mentioned in the last chapter, one of the standing temptations of the biblical student is to oversimplify by seizing on one truth and using it to discount other, equally important truths. One such oversimplification consists of the habit some modern people have of exalting the primacy of the literal sense of Scripture into a flat denial of the possibility of... Mark Shea .com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386813/posts#comment Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:20:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386810/posts Spurgeon's Morning & Evening - November 15 -------------------------------- Morning Devotional "The Lord's portion is his people." - Deuteronomy 32:9 How are they his? By his own sovereign choice. He chose them, and set his love upon them. This he did altogether apart from any goodness in them at the time, or any goodness which he foresaw in them. He had mercy on whom he would have mercy, and ordained a chosen company unto eternal life; thus, therefore, are they his by his unconstrained election. They are not only his by choice, but by purchase. He has bought and paid for... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386810/posts#comment Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:16:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386807/posts The beginnings of the Anabaptist movement are firmly rooted in the earlier centuries. The Baptists have a spiritual posterity of many ages of liberty-loving Christians. The movement was as old as Christianity; the Reformation gave an occasion for a new and varied history. The statement of Mosheim who was a learned Lutheran historian, as to the origin of the Baptists, has never been successfully attacked. He says: The origin of the sect, who from their repetition of baptism received in other communities, are called Anabaptists, but who are also denominated Mennonites, from the celebrated man to whom they owe a... Providence Baptist Ministries http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386807/posts#comment Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:11:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386796/posts November 15 Spiritual Bouquet: Labor as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. II Tim. 2:3 SAINT ALBERT THE GREATDoctor of the Chuch(1207-1280) Saint Albert the Great was born in the region of Ausgbourg, of parents rich in the goods of fortune. From the time he was a child, he manifested in his studies an unusual aptitude for the exact sciences. While he was still a boy, he had himself let down the side of a cliff to examine at close range an eagle’s nest which interested him. At the age of fifteen he was already a student of the natural... Magnificat http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386796/posts#comment Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:45:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386784/posts Wednesday, November 11, 2009 Looks Like I Need Elocution Lessons A reader writes: Mark: I saw you on TV on EWTN's Bookmark with Doug Keck discussing your books: Mary, Mother of the Son. You and Doug made reference, an off handed remark regarding someone named "Lorraine Brettler" (spelling?) referring to someone who expounds on Mary as pagan goddess. I am not familiar with this woman and there was no explanation in the show and I googled it as well and cannot come up with anything. Thanks. The name is "Loraine Boettner" and he's actually a guy. He's the author of... Mark Shea Blogspot http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386784/posts#comment Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:33:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386750/posts Saturday, November 14, 2009 Fighting Temptation A meditation on the first Mass reading from November 10th (Wisdom 2:23-3:9) by Mother Maria-Michael Newe, OSB. The first reading from the book of Wisdom is just a treasure chest. It says, “God formed man to be imperishable. The image of His own nature He made him, but by the envy of the devil, death entered the world/ and they who are in his possession experience it.” I don’t think it’s our imagination that when we come closer to God, it seems like everything goes wrong—every temptation runs head strong at us, whatever it... St. Walburga Blogspot http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386750/posts#comment Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:49:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386743/posts Holy Water 1335. On entering a Catholic Church I noticed people taking holy water Why is this? Holy water is placed at the doors of Catholic Churches to remind us of the waters of Baptism which once flowed over our foreheads, to signify that we are not worthy to enter into the Presence of Christ without purification, and to forgive us those venial sins for which we are sorry, as well as remitting the temporal punishment due to our sins according to the measure of our regret and contrition. I do not know how you feel, but I know that... Celledoor.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386743/posts#comment Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:07:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386735/posts Contrary to a popular fallacy that science and religion are at odds with each other, it's quite the opposite. Science and religion are the best of friends. And like good friends, they complement each other and produce beautiful music together. Take the recent incident of the young woman in Bryan, Texas – the director of the Planned Parenthood abortion mill down there – who had a change of heart and quit her job when she saw, for the first time, an unborn child on an ultrasound screen. As Abby Johnson related her story to Bill O'Reilly, "What I saw on... WND http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386735/posts#comment Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:52:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386720/posts November 15, 2009                                     Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time   Reading 1Responsorial PsalmReading 2Gospel Reading 1Dn 12:1-3 In those days, I Daniel, heard this word of the Lord:"At that time there shall ariseMichael, the great prince,guardian of your people;it shall be a time unsurpassed in distresssince nations began until that time.At that time your people shall escape,everyone who is found written in the book. “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake;some shall live forever,others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace.“But the wise shall shine brightlylike... USCCB.org/New American Bible http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386720/posts#comment Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:09:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386662/posts Apologies for the vanity. I'm looking for FReepers in Dallas, TX to try to regain contact with someone in an Evangelical Church there.They helped me make it through one of the toughest times of my life and promised to email me later, but never did. I never got a chance to properly thank them and tell them my life was truly changed.The only clues I have are that they had in 2006 an assistant pastor whose voice sounded like Al Michaels and they were about 20 minutes away from downtown Dallas.Can someone jog my memory? http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386662/posts#comment Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:54:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386656/posts Today many in the United States are crying out to President Obama and Government to do more and more to fix our social ills. The notion that Big Government has all our answers and the solutions we need in this very chaotic and unstable world is fairy tale. It is one that is rooted in the personal belief that Fallen Man through and by the efforts of Big Government or "Socialism" can bring security and comfort to it's inhabitants. There is no man made ideology or system that can ever usher in a world Utopia of perfection and bliss. These... The Ignorant Fishermen Blog http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386656/posts#comment Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:39:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386622/posts The Story A son asked his father, 'Dad, will you take part in a marathon with me?' The father who, despite having a heart condition, said 'yes.' They went On to complete the marathon together. Father and son went on to join other marathons, the father always saying 'yes' to his son's request of going through the race together. One day, the son asked his father, 'Dad, let's join the Ironman together.' To which, his father also said 'yes'. For those who don't know, the Ironman is the toughest triathlon ever. The Race encompasses three endurance events of a 2.4... email from a friend http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386622/posts#comment Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:55:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386618/posts Monday morning 11/16Kohen--Genesis 25:19-22Levi--vs. 23-26Yisra'el--25:27-26:5 Tusday 11/17--First Day Ro'sh Chodesh KislevKohen--Numbers 28:1-3Levi--vs. 3-5Shelishi--vs. 6-10Revi`i--vs. 11-15 Wdnsday 11/18--Second Day Ro'sh Chodesh KislevKohen--Numbers 28:1-3Levi--vs. 3-5Shelishi--vs. 6-10Revi`i--vs. 11-15 Thrsday morning, 11/19Kohen--Genesis 25:19-22Levi--vs. 23-26Yisra'el--25:27-26:5 Strday 11/21--Shabbat Parashat ToledotMORNING Kohen--Genesis 25:19-26:5Levi--26:6-12Shelishi--26:13-22Revi`i--26:23-29Chamishi--26:30-27:27Shishi--27:28-28:4Shevi`i--28:5-9Maftir--28:7-9Haftarah--Malachi 1:1-2:7 EVENING Kohen--Genesis 28:10-12Levi--vs. 13-18Yisra'el--vs. 19-22 Bible, calendar, and prayerbooks http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386618/posts#comment Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:44:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386596/posts Below is an informative piece by my friend Gary Glenn of the American Family Association of Michigan about the awful decision by the LDS Church (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) to support legislation granting legal protections based on homosexuality. Gary of AFA-Michigan writes: A Shocker from Salt Lake City: The LDS (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Church now officially endorses so-called “gay rights” laws, specifically a Salt Lake City law prohibiting “discrimination” on the basis of “sexual orientation” (homosexual behavior) and “gender identity” (cross-dressing). From the official LDS Church website: http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/church-supports-nondiscrimination-ordinances ASSOCIATED PRESS: “Mormons throw support... Americans for Truth http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386596/posts#comment Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:54:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386558/posts NEW YORK, Oct. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A relic of Saint Mary Magdalene, often referred to as the Apostle of the Apostles, is making its first North American tour. The relic, a major piece of her tibia, will be carried in a reliquary to the United States by Father Thomas Michelet, a French Dominican priest. Its first stop is on October 22nd in Gainesville, Georgia at Saint Michael's Catholic Church where it will be venerated all through the night. The purpose of the tour, which continues through November 30th, and travels to Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, New York and Florida, is to... Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386558/posts#comment Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:09:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386541/posts Campaigns The heart and purpose of this ministry is to provide Catholics with concrete means of dealing with spiritual and temporal problems facing us as individuals and the Church as a whole.Our goal is to provide plans of action to address these issues in a humble, obedient and effective manner. National Campaigns: Addressing the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) – Catholics contribute to this national collection every November. A number of the groups funded by the CCHD openly support abortion, same-sex marriage and contraception. Our goal is to have the troublesome groups removed from the grant list and encourage... Bellarmineveritasministry http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386541/posts#comment Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:31:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386526/posts The head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America reported that 40 positions may be cut as the denomination struggles financially. "These have been very painful days in this organization," ELCA Presiding Bishop the Rev. Mark S. Hanson told the Church Council Friday, according to the ELCA News Service. Lutherans are looking to reduce their 2010 budget by 10 percent due to decreased giving over the past 30 years, the economic downturn, and the decision by some congregations to withhold funding. Several congregations have decided to cut all funding to the ELCA following the controversial vote in August by the... Christian Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386526/posts#comment Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:14:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386524/posts November 14 Spiritual Bouquet: Having food and sufficient clothing, with these let us be content. I Tim. 6:8 SAINT JOSAPHATArchbishop and Martyr(1584-1623) Born in 1584 in Vladimir, a city of ancient Poland, Saint Josaphat was the son of Gabriel Kuncewicz. His was a family of honorable Christians of the Greco-Slavic rite, in use among the Russians. His mother took care to raise him in the fear of God, and in his tender heart formed the first longings for virtue. He was never in any way lightheaded, but separated willingly from the games of his companions to pray. He made excellent... Magnificat http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2386524/posts#comment Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:06:54 GMT